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to cover him with the robe, Marcellus reacts violently to the cloth’s touch.
Demetrius, ripping the robe off, screams a curse at Marcellus and stalks
away in the rain.
On the galley headed back to Italy, Marcellus experiences nightmares
about the crucifixion, and he implores the dumb-founded crewmen: “Were
you out there?” Arriving at the emperor’s palace on Capri, Marcellus is
reunited with Diana, and tells her how he became mad. The elderly Tiberius
summons him to an audience, and asks him about Pilate’s government
“out there.” When the question triggers another bout of madness, Tiberius
commands Marcellus to control himself, and demands to know the whole
story. The emperor’s physician and soothsayer weigh in with their opinions
about how to cure Marcellus of the evil Christian “magic.” Tiberius
gives Marcellus an imperial commission to return to Palestine, find the
robe that bewitched him, and compile a list of the followers of the traitorous
sect for punishment. The emperor frees Diana from her bond to
Marcellus, but she remains steadfast in her love. Marcellus goes to Cana, a
village in Galilee, disguised as a wealthy Roman cloth merchant. He hires
an informant, Abidor, an entrepreneurial Syrian guide. Abidor tells him
he has many names for his list, and he has discovered the Greek slave with
a man they call the Big Fisherman. The village elder, Justus, reproaches
the villagers for taking too much money from Marcellus, and the honest
villagers all return some of the payments. Justus talks with Marcellus about
the teachings of Jesus, and Marcellus listens to a beautiful song about
Jesus’ resurrection sung by a village girl, Miriam. Justus tells Marcellus
that Miriam is crippled, but she is filled with faith and love.
Back at camp, Abidor informs Marcellus that the governor has ordered
the arrest of Christians, and wants to turn in Justus for bounty. Marcellus
beats him, and he slinks off. The next day, Marcellus talks with Miriam,
who tells him the villagers know why he is there, looking for believers, but
he says he only wants to cure himself. Miriam, assuring him Jesus can heal
with love, directs him how to find the Big Fisherman and his Greek friend.
Marcellus confronts Demetrius and demands that he burn the robe, but
Demetrius forces Marcellus to pick it up. Burying his face in the robe,
Marcellus is transformed, no longer mad or afraid, as Demetrius declares:
“Now you remember the man.” In the village square, Demetrius introduces
Marcellus to the Big Fisherman, Simon, whom Jesus called Peter. As
Justus gathers the crowd to hear Peter speak, an arrow pierces Justus in
the chest and kills him. A unit of Roman soldiers arrives with Paulus at
its head, and the informant Abidor lurking in the ranks. Paulus informs
Marcellus that Tiberius is dead, and they are rounding up Christian traitors
THE ROBE (1953) 37