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farewell: they embrace and kiss, and Judah shows her the ring he pledged
to wear. When Esther realizes Judah is burning with hatred and plans to
seek vengeance, she begs him to stay away from Messala. At the Roman
garrison, Messala is presented with a splendid dagger from Arrius the
Younger, and then is astonished when Judah confronts him and demands
to know whether his family is still alive. Messala sends Drusus to the
prison, where he discovers in horror the prisoners have contracted leprosy,
so they are released and sent to the Valley of the Lepers outside the
city walls. Huddling together in tattered rags, Miriam and Tirzah stop at
their home for one last visit. When Esther spies them hiding in the courtyard
next to the empty fountain, she approaches them, but through tears
they warn her to stand back: “We are lepers.” Miriam learns that Judah is
alive and searching for them, so she begs Esther not to tell Judah: “Let him
remember us as we were.” When Esther keeps her promise and tells Judah
his mother and sister are dead, Judah is full of anguish and rage.
In the baths at the Roman garrison, the Sheik announces the Prince of
Hur will drive his team of white Arabians in a race against the tribune’s
undefeated blacks, displaying a chest deep with gold for wagering. A glowering
Messala grants him four to one odds, and agrees the amount of the
bet will be one thousand talents. In the Sheik’s practice ring, Judah trains
and bonds with the horses. As the charioteers prepare for the race, Judah
prays to God for forgiveness for seeking vengeance. The Sheik presents
Judah with a silver Star of David to wear during the race. At the starting
position, Judah calms the Arabian team as Messala enters driving his black
steeds. The Sheik warns Judah that Messala’s chariot is outfitted with
revolving blades at the end of each axle. Before the race, the charioteers
parade their teams for one lap in a display of pomp and pageantry. The
new governor, Pontius Pilate, addresses the eager crowd, dedicating the
games to the divine Tiberius and announcing the international competitors.
He promises a crown to the victor, the first man who completes nine
laps.
At Pilate’s signal, the race begins. As the teams drive ferociously around
the arena, Messala eliminates his competitors one at a time with his spiked
wheels, sending their chariots crashing into the sand. The climax comes
when Messala crowds Judah’s chariot close against the center divider, and
turns his riding whip on him. Judah seizes the whip’s end, and tries to
shove Messala away. As their locked chariots separate, one of Messala’s
wheels snaps off, overturning the chariot and throwing Messala to the
ground. Still holding the reins, Messala is dragged by his team, then trampled
and run over by other chariots. Bloodied and broken, Messala rolls in
64 BEN-HUR (1959)