The Book of Daniel Page #3

you too will prosper."'

This is good.

So now even your God

commands you to serve me.

I have no need

of lap dogs.

Would you dare

to tell me the truth...

even if you knew

it would displease me?

Lord, king,

it must be so.

I will speak only the truth,

and when you

would not hear it,

you must ask me nothing.

I pronounce them worthy.

Have their names be written

in the Book of the Wise.

Nebuchadnezzar's

questioning showed wisdom.

A former enemy

can be a good counselor.

If they can be trusted.

And a wise king is capable

of choosing whom to trust,

for are you not Croesus,

formerly king of Lydia...

and once the richest

man in the world...

whose name alone

signified riches...

almost beyond

comprehending?

I am he.

Trusting the words

of the Oracle of Delphi,

I went to war with Cyrus

and was defeated.

Cyrus pardoned me

and my family.

I am eternally grateful.

Worthy

counselors, rare indeed,

as Nebuchadnezzar

came to learn at a time...

when his Babylonian

counselors, his magi,

sorcerers, diviners,

magicians, and astrologers...

were unable to help him.

were unable to help him.

No!

What is it, my king?

Summon my counselors.

The enchanters, the sorcerers,

or the astrologers?

All of them!

Oh, king!

Your wisest subjects

have arrived.

Command, and it is done.

I've had a dream

that troubles me.

I need to know

what it means.

Oh, king, tell your

servants your dream,

and we will

interpret it for you.

No.

What need I have wise men

who are not wise, hmm?

Astrologers who read

nothing in the stars.

Magicians who

perform children's tricks.

Sorcerers who divine nothing

except what I tell them.

No, it is enough for the

king to dream his dreams.

It is up to you

to discern and interpret them.

But, my lord, if only

you would tell us your dream...

we could interpret it,

as we have always done.

Always.

I know you're

trying to gain time...

or trick me into revealing

what I've seen.

Either may I'll have none of it.

But there's no man on

earth who can do what the king asks.

No king has ever asked

such a thing before.

Only the gods

could know these things,

and when we ask

they don't answer.

Well, I suggest you try

and get them to answer,

or beg that they endow you

with the necessary skills...

to divine it on your own,

for as I am king I swear

that when the sun rises,

if my dream is not

made known to me...

along with its interpretation,

you will all be made shorter

by the height of your heads.

You may withdraw

Now!

Lord Ashpenaz, is it true?

It is.

Why has the king

issued such a harsh decree?

Why don't you come along with me

and ask him yourself?

- Lord, king.

- What?

Belteshazzar

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote