(haunting music) (men shouting) (man screams) (man shouting, man pleading) (haunting continues) Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Able 2017 COMMANDER: It's true, the Hittite army has 16,000 troops camped outside Kadesh. What's less clear is why. RAMSES: The Hittites are trying to cross the border. Obviously. What else would they be doing? Anticipating an invasion by us, according to our information. They think we are preparing an attack, which we are not. What I don't want to do, and won't do, is sit here and wait until we're fighting Hittite armies outside the palace walls. Come. What do the entrails say? They don't say anything. They imply, and that's open to interpretation. So interpret them. We'll win or we won't in a preemptive attack? It's a yes or a no. And it's not clear. (praying quietly) But something else is. In the battle, a leader will be saved, and his saviour will someday lead. (quiet laugh) Then the entrails should also say that we will abandon reason and be guided by omens. (laughs) Great Sekhmet, Pharaoh drinks in your name and prays for victory over the Hittites at Kadesh. Your first order of business, when the time comes, you retire her. I will. I don't know why my father hasn't. But just in case, if you see me in any real danger out there, ride the other way. I'm serious. SETI: When I look at you, I still see the two boys, who grew up together, close as brothers. If, for any reason, you ever forget that, let these remind you. Long enough to be effective from horseback, not so long that you'll trip over them. This is his. - You've got mine. - That's right. That's how I want it. You have each other's, to keep each other safe. Promise me you'll do that, always. - Oh. - (horse neighs in distance) (clapping, horns playing fanfare) (horses neighing) (cheering, fanfare continues) (cheering, fanfare continues) (horses neighing) - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hyah! - (cheering continues) - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hah! (men shouting) PEOPLE (chanting): Seti! Seti! Seti! Seti! Seti! (chanting): Seti! Seti! Seti! Seti! (dramatic, grand music) (music continues) (horse snorting) There! (man shouting) (birds screeching) Deploy Amun division to the north, Ra division to the centre, Ptah to the south, and we hold Seth in reserve. In reserve? Yes. We should concentrate our strength in the centre. You should concentrate yours on fighting. - Leave the generalship to me. - (horse neighing) (lively, indistinct conversations) (conversations continue) (laughter) (unsettled music) (shouting) (shouting continues, people chattering) (people clamouring, weapons clanking) (shouting continues) (shouting continues) (hoofbeats thundering) (shouting) (soldiers shouting, horses neighing) ARCHER: Fire! (shouting) ARCHER: Fire! (shouting) Fire! (groans) (yelling fiercely) (shouting) (dramatic music) Charge! (shouting) (grunting) (grunts) (shouting) (horses neighing, man screaming) (shouting) (horses neighing) (shouting) (grunts) (grunting) - (yells) - (horse neighing) (grunts) (grunting) (grunting continues) (yells) (man yelling) (dramatic music continues) (sinister note) (yells) (grunts) (grunts) (men shouting) (panting, groaning) (horses neighing, snorting) - (grunts) - (man screaming) (men shouting, muffled) (breathes heavily) (shouting) (grunting) (man yelling, grunting) (screams) (grunting) (breathing deeply) (haunting music) (breathes heavily) (grunting) (grunting) (yells) (breathing slows) Take Ramses! Go! Now! (clamouring) Turn! Turn around! Turn around! (flame roaring) (dramatic music) (cheering) PEOPLE (chanting): Moses! Moses! Moses! Moses! Moses! Moses! Moses! (cheering continues) (bird screeching) Moses... what happened out there? Nothing. I asked the commanders the same thing. - They too lied. - (chuckles) - And I'm tired of it. He thinks something happened. - But it didn't. - Meaning? The High Priestess, her prophecy. She said she couldn't see who would win. The other one. 'The leader will be saved...' and... so on. You saved my son's life? (softly): Yes. Sit. 'Thank you' is not sufficient, but... thank you. I know you don't believe in omens or prophecies, but I do believe. And I respect that. But this isn't anything. This doesn't even make any sense. Because you're not my blood. (softly): Yes. It's true, you can't succeed me. - Not in the usual way. - Not in any way. - In any way imaginable, sitting here. It's horrible to say this about one's own son, but I... trust you more than him to lead. SCRIBE: 'The Hittite chariotry 'crashed through our defence and began its attack. 'I found myself surrounded by the enemy, 'no soldier, 'no shield-bearer, 'facing a desperate fight for my life. 'Only with the help of the gods 'did I defeat our attackers - and rejoin Ra division.' - Stop there. SETI: Anything you'd like to rephrase? No. Shall I go on? No, I'm sure the rest is fine. What's next? Pithom. - What about it? - The situation. - The slaves. - Fine. Ramses. - What? - Go up there, meet with the viceroy, look around, make a report. - Me? - It'll be yours someday. Take an interest in it. What else? I'll go to see the viceroy. No. - I'll go. - (sighs) It's beneath you. It's beneath any general. I'll do it. Ramses, can we forget what happened on the battlefield? If our positions had been reversed, - I would've saved your - life too, so... - I know. I know. (hissing) It was a good shot. Even if the gods did guide your aim. A little venom in your blood is a good thing. Makes you less vulnerable to the next poisonous bite. Maybe even my father's. (hisses) (men shouting) (shouting continues) (indistinct conversations) (camel grunting) (haunting music) (shouting continues) Welcome to Pithom. (sniffs) You get used to the smell. (shouting) (various conversations in native language) MOSES: The viceroy seems to be enjoying a good share of his resources. This isn't a job everyone wants to do, my lord. A certain degree of comfort is necessary to keep up his spirits. HEGEP: You know what the problem is? People live too long these days. Every year the death rate lags further behind the birth rate, and these people, they reproduce like it's a sport. This is the problem? A growing work force? Oh, no, no, of course not. It's good for production. Of course it is, but only to a point. When that population wants you dead, yes, it's a problem, so either I'm given more troops to maintain order,... or I start thinning out the herd. You start slaughtering people for no reason other than this... precarious theory, you will provoke the very thing you say you wish to avoid. Fine, then give me the troops. Let's go down and talk to them. - Why on earth? - You're worried about sedition. Let's find out if that worry is real. (scoffs) By talking to them? By looking at them when I talk with them. You can tell a lot about somebody, looking him in the eye. Well, let me tell you something... about Hebrews. They are a conniving, combative people. - Do you know what 'Israelite' means in their own language? - Yes. - 'He who fights with God.' 'He who WRESTLES with God.' There is a difference. HEGEP: Look, I may not be as educated as you ` which, apparently, you want to remind me of ` but I have to deal with them every day. I know what I'm talking about. You don't have to come. I'll go down there myself. (men shouting in distance) (haunting music) (shouting) (spirited music) (speaking native language) (whip cracking, man grunting) Stop! Why is he being punished? Persistent troublemaker, my lord. Why is he smiling? He says he feels no pain, my lord. Then why whip him? (men conversing in native language) - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hyah! You were not gathered up at random. I asked to see... the elders. Come on. What do you pray for? We pray to see Canaan again. Canaan again? You've never seen it. I've seen Canaan. I've seen that it's inhabited by tribes fiercer than Egypt's military. So you won't be returning to it, or if you do, from it. - God says otherwise. - Which god? Your god? The God of Abraham? The god that says that you are special, that you are chosen? Let me tell you... Come here. Up. Come here. (Moses clears throat) He's wrong. I can see you're unconvinced, and that's a problem. Because next to unrealistic belief lies fanaticism, and next to that, sedition, and next to that, revolution. And it all starts with the elders. What's your name? What's yours? (chuckles) I'll tell you. I am Moses, son of Bithia, grandson of Horemheb. Record this one's name, and the rest of them. Bring in the next group. My name is Nun. My lord! - Stop there! - Let him through. There's something the elder has to tell you. But not here. Say where and when. The prayer house, tonight. Here. HEGEP: I see you've survived your adventure. - Sorry to make you wait again. - I'm not waiting. How was your trip to the quarry? Fine. - You saw what I'm up against. - Mm. Tell me, is there any more of my records I could get for you before you leave? You can tell me, has all of this... been reported to Memphis? Was it approved? Do you have it in writing? Of course. It's on record. So you don't mind if we check? Of course I don't mind. But I don't understand what's gone wrong. Have I done something to displease you? And if so, is there any way I could please you? You can stop living like a king. You're not one. (horses neighing) - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hyah! (unsettled music) (dramatic, unsettled music) (man speaking native language) (man speaking native language) (low, foreboding music) (dog barking) - (dog barking) - NUN: ...God had in mind when he said, 'I will make nations of you and kings from your seed 'and you will occupy the land of Canaan.' - MAN: Canaan is already occupied. - NUN: God promises we will return. - MAN: In chains or in coffins? - laughter) NUN: As free men into a land flowing with milk and honey. NUN: Can they at least wait outside? We are not dangerous. Wait by the horses. Do you believe in coincidence? As much as anything else. I don't think this is one. What isn't? You coming to Pithom. Why did you come? Business. (inhales sharply) Sit. Who's your father? I know you don't know his name, only that he was a general in Pharaoh's army unnamed by your mother. I can see this is making you uncomfortable. This will interest you. There was no general. Your mother ` the woman you call your mother ` has no children. You were born a slave. Don't go. Don't go. It's better for you that I do. I'm leaving. If you leave now, you'll just come back, because you know something's wrong. You've always felt it. Please. Everybody out. Out. (low, sombre music) The year of your birth, there was a prophecy that our leader would be born to liberate us from our bondage. And so, there was an edict from Memphis to kill every firstborn... Hebrew boy. Your parents didn't wait for that to happen. Any chance of your... survival was better than no chance. They handed you to your sister. She took you in a basket to the banks... of the river, and she floated you to where she knew Pharaoh Paramesse's daughter, Bithia, bathed. Bithia took you and your sister, Miriam, as a maid and raised you as her own. She probably even loved you, but she never told you,... or anyone else, the truth. You are Hebrew. The truth? The truth is, it's not even that good a story. And I thought you people were meant to be... good storytellers. (breathes deeply) You, slave. You! (thumps) (grunting) (groaning) (panting) (sword clatters) (panting continues) (unsettled music) Do you expect a reward for this information? Our reward is being of service to you. That said, if there were some, uh, token you had in mind beyond that, we wouldn't refuse it. Well, how about this, then? What about if I don't kill you? - Hm? - That... would be sufficient payment. You people. (speaking native language) (man shouting) (coughing) (coughing continues) MAN 1: He will be gone soon. - (Seti gasping) - MAN 2: His heart is weak. He's so sick. MAN: Pray for the gods. - (man speaks quietly) - What are we going to do? MAN 2: The problem seems to be the pulse. The pulse is weak. Bring more leeches. - (man whispers) - MAN 2: He's dying. - It's getting worse. - There is nothing we can do. (grand vizier claps twice) GRAND VIZIER: Please leave. SETI (weakly): Please. How did it go? We can talk about that another time. We can talk about it now, if only as a respite from this army of grim-faced physicians. (quiet laugh) Sit. (sighs) We're taking a, uh,... thorough look at the city records, and the man is clearly a thief. It's one of life's more depressing ironies that the men who crave power are best fitted to acquire it, and least fitted to exercise it. (quiet laugh) What's wrong, Moses? You're sick. Something else is troubling you. I can tell. No, nothing else. (sombre music) RAMSES: May you be alert,... rejuvenated and protected by the gods... every moment of your eternal life. (grand music) (solemn music) (sharp note) (man calling out) (people respond in unison, continue chanting) RAMSES: And to the left. No, your left. More, more, more. Good. It is tall. Monuments are monuments for a reason ` they inspire. Inspire what, in this case? In this, and in every case, power. (man whispering) Say it out loud, whatever it is. - (quietly): He's waiting outside. - The Viceroy of Pithom is outside. He's not on the agenda. - Well, he can go back to Pithom until he is. - No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We should deal with this. Bring him in. If you came here to beg the new king's forgiveness, it won't work. - Arrest him. - Oh... wait, please. May I at least respond? I beg you. It's in your interest. - MOSES: You make it short. - I will... to the king alone. My advice is that he, and the other generals, also leave the room. Really? That's your advice? Hm. Well, you are not his advisor. Oh, that's right. - You are. - That's right. RAMSES: Moses... (firmly): Moses. Everybody but the viceroy,... out. (low, intriguing music) (music continues) Terrible news. There you are. So... - (Ramses grunts) - The viceroy. You didn't arrest him. You didn't take your chief advisor's advice. Oh, he came. Uh... he told me of an incident involving two guards, one of which survived the attack. And I told him I did not care... and then, he told me the most unbelievable story. Told to him, he said, by very reliable sources. And when pressed,... he admitted that they were Hebrew spies. You know what I'm talking about. Yes. And what do you make of it? I think it's offensive, - and I think it's ridiculous. - Yes. Yes! You, of all people, a Hebrew. (Ramses chuckles) - (laughs) Then I said, how-how can I believe such a story? Cousin... - you can't. - What if I take the chance of not believing it, Moses? What am I to do? Bithia! Mother. BITHIA: The man is a thief. My son discovers this, not you. And he reports it to your father, who would have hanged this thief, if he hadn't been dying himself. - You believe his feeble, self-serving lies! - All I want to know is if it is true. I didn't ask for a tirade. To talk about this any longer would dignify it, and I won't do that. Answer the question. Yes or no? Was I talking to you? Bring her in. Bring her in. Now! Miriam! Come. Sit. Sit down. Now, I'm going to ask you some things that are going to seem very strange to you. I just would like you to answer them truthfully. How do you know Moses? You know how I know him. And you. I helped raise you both. So you are not his sister, then? Of course not. And you're not a Hebrew. No. Place your arm on the table. - Ramses... - Don't be stupid! - Ramses! - I am not talking to you! I'm talking to her. Your whole arm on the table, Miriam. Thank you. Ramses... don't take this any further. Don't take this any further, or what? - Do not take this any further. - Are you quite sure about that? Get your hand off it, or use it now. Or perhaps you'd like to answer the question? Then I'll proceed. Miriam, I'm going to ask you again, and if your answer is again no, I apologise for what happens next. Are you his sister? No. RAMSES: Hm. Yes! Yes! (sword thuds) (sword thuds) (water dripping) (dog barks in distance) TUYA: You don't need a reason to kill him, but you have one. - This was treason. - How was it treason? - He just admitted he knew. That wasn't an admission! Simply did not want her arm lopped off! I saw it in his eyes. He does not believe this story. I don't want to believe it! You want to believe it, because it's an opportunity to be rid of him, which you always wanted. I didn't say 'exiled'. I said 'dead'. That, I'm sure, will follow, where he's going. MOSES: Khyan, allow me to talk to my mother. Yes, sir. Yes. (sighs) Come, Miriam. It isn't every man who would protect a servant who is nothing more to him than that. Certainly no one else in this family, including me. I wouldn't have said what he wanted to hear. And neither would she. That's how much we love you. (quietly): 'We'? It's not true. It is true. You were wearing this when I brought you to the river. I took it off you for obvious reasons. That's you. The connection between you and our mother. Your sister saved your life. Now you saved hers,... Moshe. (poignant music) Miriam. (wind whistles) (poignant music continues) Sorry, sir. - COMMANDER KHYAN: Moses! - (soldiers cheering) - Hah! - Hyah! (speaking native language) (poignant music intensifies) (wind gusting) (bird screeching) (horse snorting) (solemn music) (music continues) (horse neighing) (eerie music) (wind gusting) (horse whimpers weakly) (horse whinnies) (groaning, gasping) (horse braying, thudding) (sighs) (huffs, whimpers weakly) (continues huffing, whimpering weakly) (Moses breathes heavily) (low, foreboding music) I have nothing to steal. My horse is dead. We're not here for your horse, Moshe. (grunting) (grunting, groaning) (grunting) (yells) (gasping) (exhales heavily, pants) (grunts loudly, breathes heavily) (sword clatters) (horse snorts) (ethereal music) (horse snorts) (horse snorts) (squealing) (intriguing music) (music builds gradually) (horse snorts) (unsettled music) (birds screeching) (people conversing in distance, bleating) Little bit higher. (men shouting, whistling, goats bleat, dogs bark) DROVER: What are you doing? Don't stop. Keep working. DROVER 2: You, get water for our goats. Psst! You! Wait your turn. (low, unsettled music) Move your animals away from the troughs. (speaks quietly) (whistling, shouting) It's yours again. (women speaking native language) (intriguing music) (indistinct conversations) JETHRO: Where are you from? West of here. Where are you going? East. What did you do? What do you mean? You committed some crime? With respect, your daughters invited me for some food. They did not tell me there would be an interrogation. I'm sorry. I'm just curious. You are welcome to get cleaned up before dinner, if that appeals to you, and stay the night, if you want, before continuing on... to wherever it is. MOSES: Thank you. (goats bleating) (grunts) (grunts) (goats continue bleating) Describe Memphis to someone who's never been there and never will. (sighing): It's... I don't want to say 'civilised', because I don't want to offend, but it is, it's civilised. There's more there than... sheep and goats. (both chuckle) There's more here than that. Really? Where? (laughs) I'm sorry, that was rude. That was rude. I'm not ignorant just because I live here. Mm. I can see that. I can tell you one thing: This is, by far, the nicest place... between here and there. And so you are leaving? Of course. There's nothing here for someone like me. When? Today? (laughs quietly) (lively, percussive music) (music continues) (man sings in native language) (people clap in rhythm) (music ends) JETHRO: Remember this moment in time,... for after these vows, you shall say to the world, 'This is my husband.' 'This is my wife.' - I, Zipporah... - I, Moses... - ...accept you, Zipporah... - ...accept you, Moses... BOTH: ...to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you,... trusting what I do not yet know. With respect for your integrity and faith - in your abiding love for me. - ...in your abiding love for me. BOTH: In all that life may bring us, MOSES: I pledge my love. ZIPPORAH: I pledge my love. Who makes you happy? You do. What's the most important thing in your life? You are. Where would you rather be? Nowhere. And when will you leave me? Never. Proceed. (gentle music) (laughs gently) (winds whistles) (man calling out in distance) (people respond in unison) (call and response continues) (men call out) I said 'per se'. I don't want to discuss my tomb, per se. I want to discuss why you seem to want to discuss it all the time. Respectfully, it should have been your first construction order on taking the throne. It'll be a big project, as you might imagine. So is my house, apparently. Is there a problem with the palace? It's not done. It won't be long now. You said that months ago. Meanwhile, I'm living there like... a Bedouin. Get it done! Faster! Or do I have to kill somebody? - I think you made your point. - (chuckles) (men shouting) GERSHOM: Good throw, Father. MOSES: Just aim a little higher. - Almost. - (groans) Have you ever been to the top? No. Would you like to? Mother says it's forbidden. By who? Our god. Our god stops us from climbing mountains? Not every mountain. Just that one. It's God's mountain. (Gershom groans) (bleating) (bleating) You're confusing him. I'm not trying to. Is it good for a boy to grow up believing in nothing? Is it bad... to grow up believing in yourself? - It's my faith. - I know. - And it's his, too. - I understand. He can make up his mind when he's older. - Yes. - Just like you. He's a lot like me already. (unsettled music) (thunder rumbling in distance) Hey, hey! Hey! Hey! (calling out) (grunts) (calling out) (sheep bleating) (panting) (thunder rumbling in distance) (panting) (thunder crashing) (thunder crashing, bleating) (breathes heavily) (yells) (grunting) (thud) WHISPERING VOICE: Moshe! (breathes heavily) Help me. I think my leg is broken. More than that. What did you say? Who are you? Who are you? I'm a shepherd. I thought you were a general. (low music) I need a general. Why? To fight. Why else? Fight who? For what? I think you know. I think you should go and see what's happening to your people now. You won't be at peace until you do. Or are they not... people,... in your opinion? Who are you? (sighs) (echoes): I am. (Moses breathes shakily, thunder rumbles in distance) (echoes): I am. (Moses shivers) ZIPPORAH: You were hit on the head. Anything you saw, or think you saw, afterwards, - was an effect of that. - The storm... The storm started before I was hit on the head. - It was... it was not a storm, it was something... - Fine, fine. - Fine, the storm was something. - It was something else. It was something... it was something else. - But the boy was all in your head. - How do you know? - How do you know? - Because God isn't a boy. Then what does he look like? Describe him. Describe him to someone like me. Do you know what you sound like? (panting): Yes. I sound... I sound delusional. Yes... Yes... - You just need more rest. - Yes, yes... I have to tell you something. I have to tell you something. I've not been completely honest with you. About what? About who I am. About what I've done and who I was... and how I feel. - About what you feel about me? - No. No, I've been honest about that. Rest. - Rest. - Don't leave me. - Mm-hm. - (breathes shakily) (kisses) MOSES (softly): Moshe. (soft rattling) MOSES: Gershom? (cup clatters) What are you doing out here? Nothing. I can't sleep. Are you worried about me? Yes. Don't. Don't be frightened. What's that? What's it look like? Come inside. Come inside! (unsettled music) (music continues) What are you going to do with all that? Make sure I see you again. Put it down and you can see me forever. (poignant music) (woman sings in native language) What's this mean? It's someone I used to know. This is not forever. I will see you again. Do you believe me? - (sighs) - (sighs) Good for you. Don't ever just say what people want to hear. But I will. I will see you again. (poignant music continues) Will you keep this for me? Gershom. Gershom, please look at me. (poignant music continues) What kind of god tells a man to leave his family? If you understand it, I'll understand it. I don't. So I can't answer that question. If that's what faith means... I will trade mine to keep you. (voice breaking): Don't touch me. Go. Go! (horse snorts) (poignant music continues) (music builds) MOSES: Hyah! Hah! Hah! (solemn, resolved music) (birds squawking) (whistling) (man whistles, calls to herd) Father, have you some milk to spare? Yes. Where did you come from? I come from the sea. It's a narrow and dangerous path. Thank you, Father. (men shouting, yelling in distance) (shouting, yelling continues) (men screaming, shouting in distance) (birds screeching) (men shouting, screaming) (man shouting in native language) (men shout in distance) (sighs deeply) (indistinct conversations) (knocks) (eerie music) Joshua. I remember you. Do you still feel no pain? Keep your eye on the horse. - MOSES: Thank you. - Welcome back, brother. Aaron... your brother. Ithamar. Ithamar, this... is your famous Uncle Moses. He was once a prince of Egypt. (distant, echoing boom) (exhales heavily) I'm fine. Everybody's fine. (insects chirping) (unsettled music) (child breathing) (Ramses sighs heavily) You sleep so well, my boy... because you know you are loved. I've never slept so well. (unsettled music continues) (gently): Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. (horse whinnies quietly) - I can't sleep. - I'm told I should address you as Ramses... the Great now. Moses. You're alive. I'm glad you're alive. Really? Is that why you only sent two assassins to kill me? - My mother. - Don't blame her. - She wanted you dead. Who do you think... hid your sword where you would find it? Moses. I'm not here... to take your throne. It's not about the prophecy that worries you so much. This is something else. (men whispering) I have been told... that things here have become... much worse. Things are better than... they ever have been, Moses. No. - We have order. - Order? Order? The slaves... their bodies burn night and day now ` I've seen it with my own eyes. You call that order? - They're slaves. - No, they're not. - What would you expect? They're Egyptians; they should be treated as Egyptians. They should have the same rights, they should be paid for their work, or... you must set them free. They're not Egyptians. They are slaves, Moses. What else do you expect? They wouldn't know what to do if, all of a sudden, they were left to fend for themselves like animals. Do not call them animals! Lis-Listen, from an economic standpoint alone, what you're asking is problematic, to say the least. I didn't expect to hear... a simple yes, but I do not want to hear... a simple no. Is that what you're telling me? Are you saying no? I'm not saying no. I'm saying time. Time. You're listening to Hebrews. I'm not listening to Hebrews. Who are you talking to? God. (stammering) God. Which god? (unsettled music) (horse snorts) (horse snorts) Oh, you're not seriously considering his proposal. Is it a proposal? If a man is holding a dagger to your throat, Minister? - Is it? - I stand corrected. That's a demand. He has lost his mind. He's found a god. His God. Not one of ours. So... I would like... Moses... I want Moses dead. Did you hear me? Yes. Then... go. And (clears throat)... his family, too. (shouting, screaming) (dramatic music) Moses. Where's Moses? (woman screaming) (soldier grunts) Moses! Where's Moses? (shouting, screaming, horse neighs) - MAN (in distance): Kill him! - (clamouring) (indistinct shouts outside, bleating, chickens clucking) (men shouting) (grunting, screaming) (yelling) (dramatic, menacing music) (clattering from above, muffled sobbing) (man speaking native language) Moses. His family ` where are they? (grunts) (birds cawing, drum beating a sombre cadence) (drum cadence stops) This... is not Moses. This is not his family. This is a man... his wife... and his child... who when asked the simple question, 'Where is he?' answered, 'We don't know.' (wailing) (wailing continues) (cracking, loud gagging, groaning) (distant wailing, sobbing) RAMSES: Carry this image home with you tonight, and discuss why you would protect him, knowing that tomorrow, at this time,... there will be another family where this one is. And another the day after. And the day after that! Dare I say yours? (unsettled music) - I've come to fight with Moshe. - In there. Isaac... go ahead. I want to join the fight. In there. (overlapping conversations in native language) Joshua, use your knee. See? It's good. (lively conversations continue) (drum playing rapid cadence) (man shouts) (cracking, people exclaim) (woman wailing in distance) Both eyes open! Nock! Draw! Loose! Advance! Nock! Draw! Loose! Draw! Loose! Draw! Loose! (dramatic music) Again! (gentle music) (clucking) MOSES: There are two kinds of warfare. Each is dictated by numbers. With greater numbers, you attack the enemy head-on! You stab it... in the heart. With fewer numbers, you come at it from the side. You cut off the blood... that pumps the heart. The army supply lines. No. The people's supply lines. Their food, their property, their comfort. What would that achieve? Everything. Only the Egyptian people can force him to accept our demands for freedom! We must force THEM... to make him say yes. - MOSES: Yes? - MEN: Yes! - MOSES: Yes? - MEN: Yes! (militaristic music) (music continues) (whispering urgently in native language) (people exclaim) (shouting in native language) (explosions thundering, indistinct shouts) (men shouting) (shouting, excited chatter) Hyah! Hyah! Hyah! (men shouting) (yelling, shouting) (man shouts command) - Hyah! - Hyah! - Hyah! (man shouting) (tense music) (music continues) With me! With me! Ready. (whooshing, whistling) (men yelling, screaming) (screaming) (men yelling, screaming in distance) You're not going to do anything? I didn't say that. (baby fussing) (shouting, horses neigh) (people shouting, screaming) (panicked shrieking) (panicked shrieking) (screaming) (panicked shouts, yelling) (screaming) (unsettled music) (soft scraping) Where have you been? Watching you fail. Wars of attrition take time. At this rate, you'll take years... a generation. I am prepared to fight for that long. I'm not. MOSES: I thought we were making progress. Now you're impatient. After 400 years... of slavery. Am I the only one sitting here who's done nothing about this until now? I do know a few things about military action. Still, if you're not going to listen to me, then why did you take me away from my family?! I didn't. You did. You don't need me. Maybe not. So what do I do, nothing? For now... you can watch. (hissing, chirping, chittering) (growling, chirping, chittering continues) (shouting frantically) (shouting, yelling) (muffled yells) (shouting, yelling) (frantic shouting) (yells) (screaming) (yelling) (dramatic choral music) (music continues) (men conversing in native language) (conversation continues) (unsettled music) HIGH PRIESTESS: Divine Goddess Kebechet, I humbly call upon you to purify the waters of our life-giving river. How long will it take? Not long. (sighs) But longer than that. (chatter, flies buzz) (unsettled music) (music continues) (distant chatter) (chatter continues) (unsettled music continues) (croaking) (gasping) (croaking continues) (men speaking native language) (croaking continues) (screaming) Ramses! Ramses! RAMSES: Nef? (Nefertari sobbing) Nef? Do something! They're just frogs. (insects buzzing) (chatter) (buzzing continues) MAN: Back away! Back away! - Unclean! - (shouting) No, no, no, no, no. Don't drink. Unclean. (buzzing continues, woman screams) (buzzing continues) (men shout in distance) (buzzing continues, people screaming) (screaming) (yelling) - (exhales sharply) - MAN: The Nile, as we know, carries a certain amount of clay. This year, there's much more of it than unusual drifting in on the currents, settling in the riverbeds and kicked up by the wild thrashing of the crocodiles. This thrashing not only dramatically changed the colour of the water, but it fouled it, to the point of killing the fish. But frogs, as we know,... can get out of the water when they have to. Which they did. But frogs still need water, and when they can't find it in the streets of our city, they what, hmm? - (insect buzzing) - (spits) - Oh, they die? They die! And then they decompose. And then the gnats come and the maggots come and the flies come. And then... - And then what?! - (dog yelps) (insects buzzing) The flies die. (unsettled music) (people clamouring) (coughing) (woman sobs) (breathes shakily) (speaking gently in native language) - Speak up. - It's... in Hebrew. Hebrew? Read it. 'These catastrophes 'are the work of God, 'and they have not finished. 'They will get worse. 'We need to reach a settlement 'for both our sakes.' So the work of God. RAMSES: Here is my settlement to you. - Work quotas shall be doubled,... - (groaning) - ...and you will get no straw to make your bricks. Perhaps your god will provide it for you. (indistinct shouts, groaning) (solemn music) (thunder rumbling) I was impressed at first. - Not any more. - (thunder rumbles in distance) This is affecting everyone. So who are you punishing? - (coughs) - (horse neighs) (whinnies) (neighs weakly) What's wrong with him? (gurgles) - SERVANT: It's sick. - (neighs weakly, huffs) SERVANT: There, there... What is this? - Did you do this? - Not me, not me. - Is this you?! - No. No, no. SERVANT: Here, come, please. What's happened to him! There's blood in his mouth. (people clamouring) - Bull, move! Bull, move! - (bull grunting) - Bull, move! Oh... oh... (crying, speaking in native language) (men speaking native language) (solemn music) MAN: We have made great strides in medicine. However, there are still a few hidden diseases that we don't completely understand. Animals are not exempt,... and there is some conjecture that these maladies can migrate from the smallest creature, like a... A fly? (coughs, gags, screams) RAMSES: Have you been out to the river lately? I appealed to Kebechet again, and six more gods. (clanging) (gagging) (thunder rumbling, crashing) (yelling, shouting) (shouting, screaming frantically) (both gasping, screaming) (all shouting) (shouting) (thunder crashing) (thunder crashing) (dramatic music) (thunder rumbling) (thunder fading) (low, unsettled music) Is that it? - Are you done? - (thunder crashes in distance) I am. (thunder rumbling in distance) Are you trying to say something with your absence?! (thunder rumbling) Is it meant to humble me?! Because it will not! (thunder rumbling) (whooshing, fluttering) (shouting in native language) (men shouting) (shouting, screaming) (shouting continues) (panicked shouting) (unsettled music) (music continues) (shouting) Initial reports suggest more than 10 million square cubits of crops have been lost. The quartermaster has suggested we return a portion of the supplement to the civil granary ` an act of mercy. Your people are starving. Are you suggesting that I should starve, too? No. People have plenty of water. They'll endure. (man shouting, people clamouring) (clamouring continues) (clamouring continues) (shouts) (screaming) (screaming continues) (shouting, screaming) (man shouts command) (dramatic music) Aim! - Fire! - (yelling, grunting) Aim! - Fire! - (people screaming, grunting) (man shouts command, screaming, grunting) (woman screams) (people screaming, grunting) (thunder crashing) (clamouring echoes, screams fade) (sniffs) (blows) (sniffs) (whispering a prayer) (faint rustling nearby) Is that you? (whispers): 'Moses? 'Brother?' Have you come to negotiate? Because I'm ready... as I have an offer for you. One more thing happens... and I will bring my own plague... to you. You see, every Hebrew child... not yet walking... they never shall, because I will drown them in the Nile. As you should have been. Oh, you say that you didn't... cause all this? Your God did? (echoing): I am the god! I am the god! So let's just see... who's more effective at killing. You... this god... or me. (unsettled music) (goats bleating) Nice of you to come. He's given you what you asked? Not yet, but his own people are turning against him. - And his army? - It will. I disagree. Something worse has to happen. I disagree. Anything more.. - would be` - Would be what? What were you about to say? Cruel? Inhumane? It's not easy... to see the people who I grew up with - suffering this much. - What about the people you didn't grow up with? What thought did you give to them? You still don't think of them as yours, do you? As long as Ramses has an army behind him, nothing will change. - Anything more is just revenge! - Revenge?! After 400 years of brutal subjugation? These pharaohs, who imagine they're living gods, they're nothing more than flesh and blood! I want to see them on their knees, begging for it to stop! I'm tired of talking with a messenger! (echoing): General! I've heard Ramses' final threat. So let me tell you what's going to happen next. MOSES: No. No. You cannot do this. I want no part of this! (whooshing) (unsettled music) (man shouts, soldiers chanting cadence) (shouting) (men shouting) MAN: Stay. - Hold! - Moses? (men speaking native language) Leave him. (man speaks native language) Khyan. Moses. (speaks native language) I could have you killed. I don't think so. Unless you do it yourself. Your own soldiers let me in. I am not negotiating any more. That's not why I'm here. I came to tell you... that something is coming that is out of my control. Something that will affect thousands and thousands of citizens. And it will affect you very personally, Ramses, unless you accept what I've asked for and announce it publicly... before the sun goes down. (scoffs) Ramses, do not... do not turn your back on me! This has nothing to do... with you and I. This is far beyond that. This is about Egypt's survival, do you understand? Sunset. After that, it will be too late. What will be too late? You protect your child. You protect your child tonight. My child? Is that a threat? Is that a threat? Moses! Moses! (door creaks, thuds) Tell everyone... to slaughter a lamb... and mark their doors and their doorposts... tonight, with its blood. Why? Pity the lambs if I am wrong. If I'm right... we will bless them for eternity. MAN (whistles): Hay! Hey! Hey! (dramatic music) (men speaking native language) (low, unsettled music) (music continues) (breathing quietly, steadily) (baby crying in distance, dog barking) (deep rumbling, whooshing) (rumbling) (whooshing) (rumbling) (whooshing) (whooshing) (eerie music) (rumbling) (whooshing) (eerie music continues) (breathing with difficulty) - (whoosh) - (breathing stops) Bennu? Bennu! (gasping) - (whoosh) - (breathing stops) (whoosh) - (whoosh) - (inhales) (grunts, stops breathing) (sudden whoosh) (whoosh) (whoosh) (whoosh) (whoosh) - (whoosh) - (exhales) (stops breathing) (gasps) (breathes heavily) (Ramses screams in distance) (Ramses sobbing) Ramses? Ramses? (grunts) - Ramses? - (grunts) (breathes heavily) (unsettled music) (shouts, sobs) (Nefertari sobs) WOMAN: Zechariah? (speaks native language) Zechariah?! (sobbing) - (sobbing, man shouts in grief) - (woman speaks softly) - (man shouts in distance) - (speaking gently) (woman sobs, wails in distance) (woman crying softly) (people shouting, wailing) (wails and sobs echoing) (sobs, wails echoing louder) (solemn music) Kneel! (man shouts in native language) (horse neighs) MAN: Get out! MAN 2: Murderer! (men shouting) Their children died... last night. As did mine. (whispers): Is this your God? Killer of children? What kind of fanatics worship such a god? No Hebrew child died last night. Get... out. Go. Every one of you! Go! Go to Canaan, if that's what you want. Back to the Holy Land of your dreams. But go! As you command. (low, poignant music) MOSES: This is the route I took. From here, we go south to the Red Sea. The straits are here. At low tide, we can cross on foot. (people clamouring, conversing in native language) (overlapping conversations) (man shouts in native language) (man speaks native language) (poignant music continues) (shouting) (shouting) (shouting) (inhales deeply, sighs) (low, solemn music) (shuddering breath) (quietly): You know why you sleep so well, my boy? Because you know you are loved. (low, solemn music continues) (haunting music) (unsettled music) - (horse neighing) - HEGEP: With respect, if we're going to recapture 400,000 slaves, we might need more than three divisions. We're not recapturing anyone. HEGEP: Ah. RAMSES: Forward! - Hah! - Hah! - Hyah! (men shouting) (shouting continues) Hah! Hah! - Hyah! Hyah! - (men shouting) (breathes heavily) (dramatic music) (clucking) JOSHUA: We should rest. No. We're not safe until we cross the sea. AARON: Moshe! - (panting) Whoa! - (horse whinnies) Ramses. 4,000 men, a thousand chariots. How far behind us? Four days. Less, if they don't rest the horses. (dramatic music) KHYAN: Ramses! Ramses! We need to rest the horses and the men! - RAMSES: Go, go. - Hyah! Hyah! - Hyah! - Hah! - Hyah! The straits are that way. The longest, easiest route... is down the western coast. Or we go through the mountains. AARON: The mountains? Why? Why don't we take that route? We can, but so can Ramses. The mountain passes are dangerous, but they are too narrow... for Ramses' chariots. He couldn't follow. That would give us needed time. What does God tell you? The mountains. AARON: Can we make it? Forward! (people shouting in native language) (unsettled music) (music continues) Hyah! Hyah! (solemn music) JOSHUA: Which way from here? (horse whinnies) Stay here. (exhales) (quietly): We need your help. (poignant music) I don't know where I am. (bird screeches in distance) (poignant music continues) You won't help me? You won't help them. (people conversing in distance) MOSES: This way! Move out! (chatter) (bleating, man whistles, calls) This way! Are you sure? Oh, I'm very sure. I mean, are you sure we can make it across with our equipment, our chariots? They didn't think they could with theirs. RAMSES: How would they know? They've never been here. Moses may have. (Ramses grunts) (shouting) (men grunting) - (men shouting) - Hah! (men shouting) Hah! Yah! (birds screeching) (birds screeching) (waves laps) AARON: Is this high tide or low tide? Doesn't matter. This isn't the straits, is it? No. AARON: Do you even know where we are? Yes! We're at a point on the Earth where there is a sea ahead and an army behind! So now what? Army or no army, we have to rest! (distant, overlapping chatter, birds screeching) (people speaking indistinctly nearby) I have misled all of them. I have abandoned my family. I have failed you. I'm not what I thought I was. (unsheathes sword) (breathes heavily) (grunts) (continues breathing heavily) (poignant music) (goat bleating) (goat bleating) (waves lapping on shore) (whooshing, crackling) Hyah! Hyah! - Hah! - Hah! - Hah! - Heh! Heh! Hah! (birds screeching) (chatter) (chatter continues) (birds screeching) (chatter continues) (birds screeching) (chatter continues) (birds screeching) (birds continue screeching) (warm, poignant music) (music continues) (man shouting in native language) (chatter) What is it? The current. It's strong. We need to cross here. We need to cross now. We cross here. We cross here! Ready yourselves! We cross here! Go tell them! Go! Your orders are like the lash of the Egyptian whip. We are no longer slaves. And yet you are not free. You have lost sight of Canaan... land of your forebears. You have honoured me... with your trust. Now I honour you with my faith. Follow me and you will be free! Stay and you will perish! Do not be afraid! God is with us! Go! Ready yourselves! Go! God is with us! Pass the word! We cross here! AARON: As quickly as you can, gather your things and form in groups! (shouting) AARON: Quickly! (shouting) Come on! (noble music) (music continues) (man shouts in native language) (shouting continues) (dramatic, solemn music) (men shouting) Hah! - Yah! - Steady! - (man shouts) - Hah! Hah! To the right, to the right! Tight! (dramatic choral music) (ethereal music) Let's go! Let's go! Whoa-oh! (man whistles, shouts) AARON: Keep moving! There's nothing to fear! (grunting and gasping) Don't worry! You'll be safe! (yells) (coughing) (panting, grunting) (coughing, grunting) Keep walking! KHYAN: Keep to the right! - Bear right! - (man shouting) (men shouting) KHYAN: Ramses! - Hyah! Hyah! - Hah! Hah! (dramatic music) (man shouting) - (man shouting in native language) - Hah! - (man shouts) Hyah! Yah! Yah! Yah! (men shouting) (yelling) (shouting) Stop! (man shouts in native language) (screaming) (screaming) (men screaming) (man shouts) (men screaming) (screaming continues) RAMSES: Stop! Stop! Whoa! Whoa! - (screaming continues) - Whoa! Whoa! (dramatic music) (speaks softly in native language) Go. - Hyah! Yah! - KHYAN: Keep moving! Keep moving! Forward! (birds screech) (ethereal music) (thunder rumbles in distance) (man shouts) (thunder rumbles in distance) (birds screeching) There. (chatter) (unsettled music) (sharp notes) Joshua! Aaron! (panicked shouting) (panicked shouting) JOSHUA: Run! Everyone, run! Move! - JOSHUA: Run to shore! - AARON: Move now! (panicked shouting) (horses neighing, men shouting) (men shouting) (thunder crashing) (panicked shouting, screaming, thunder rumbling) (thunder rumbling) (panting): Moshe! (thunder crashing) (thunder rumbling) (shouting) (thunder rumbles) (clamouring) (panicked shouting) (dramatic choral music) (man speaks native language) (people clamouring) (dramatic choral music continues) (anxiously): Moshe... (horse neighs) We must leave! - Hyah! - Ramses! - Ramses! - Yah! Rah! (man shouts) Go! Ramses, stop! (grunts) (man screams) Yah! Halt! Turn around! Turn around! Khyan! (thunder rumbling, men shouting) (dramatic music) Leave. - Brother... - Leave now! That's an order! - Hah! - Hyah! - Hyah! (men shout, thunder crashing) (birds screeching) (grunts) (thunder rumbling) (thunder rumbling) Come! You'll never make it back! (water roars) (yells) (shouting) (clamouring) - Faster! - Yah! Yah! (men shouting) (screaming) (panicked shouting) (shouting) (screaming, shouting) (boom) (screaming, shouting) (clicking, grunting) (birds screeching) (eerie music) (thunder rumbling in distance, excited chatter) (grunts) (gasping) (coughs) (coughs, pants) (grunts) (panting) (poignant music) (music continues) (lively chatter nearby) (lively chatter continues) It's just me here. Sit. My family... - is not far from here. - Your family? My other family ` my wife and my son. I was thinking... maybe I could convince them... convince them to join us. Or perhaps that's... perhaps that's not wise. Of course they should come. We have a long way to go. A lot can happen. And then... we get there, if we get there. You don't think they'll let us settle in Canaan? They'll see us as invaders. They won't have a choice. - We're as big as any tribe. - We're as big as a nation of tribes, and that concerns me even more. Why? This many people? You have to ask? But we all have the same goal. We do now. What happens when we stop running? (birds screeching) (solemn music) (birds screeching) (solemn music continues) Ramses... the Great. - (whistling) - GERSHOM: Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! (speaks native language) Thank you. GERSHOM: Hey! Hey, hey, hey! - Hey! Hey! Hey! - (bleating) (herders whistling) (Gershom speaks native language) (poignant music) Gershom. (bleating) (grunts) (poignant music swells) (music continues) Did you do what you said? What did I say? That you would trade your faith... to keep me. No. (whispers): Good. You may need it more than ever now. (low, indistinct chatter) (gentle, poignant music) Who are they? They're my people. (cries quietly) Who makes you happy? You do. What is the most important thing in your life? You are. You are. When will I leave you? Never. May I proceed? Proceed. (clinking) (gentle music) (music continues) (lively chatter, laughter, music in distance) (chatter, laughter, music continue) (foreboding music) (thunder rumbling in distance) (rapid tapping) (tapping continues) (scraping) (scraping) (gently blowing air) What do you think of this? I wouldn't do it... if I didn't agree. That's true. I've noticed that about you. You don't always agree with me. Nor you me... I've noticed. Yet here we are, still speaking. But not for much longer. A leader can falter, but stone... will endure. These laws will guide them in your stead. If you disagree, then you should put down the hammer. (tapping) (horse neighs) (solemn music) (music continues) (sighs deeply) (solemn music continues) (music continues)