Alexander the Great Page #5

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If I brought you proof, and you brought

me proof, and we swore to heaven?

Here we stand,

and you believe in me or you don't!

I want to.

- And I want you to.

- Then listen.

And listen carefully, boy. This woman...

- My mother.

...wants to rule.

She is the queen.

You asked for blunt words -

so she's called.

There is no love between us. She can

only rule through you. You are her power.

And her pawn.

- I'm no one's pawn.

- Are you sure?

A rumour here in Pella -

the Macedonian army is defeated.

Philip is dying. Philip is dead.

Rumours, rumours.

- Spread by whom?

- By her. Here in Pella, chaos.

Who rules? She does.

Antipater, my regent, dare not oppose her,

for she claims she rules for you.

To back up that claim, she calls on

her brother, the king of Epirus.

For the first time

since I took power in Macedonia,

a foreign army stands on its borders.

Now she has the power she seeks, for

Antipater dare not use his troops in war.

So he gives in to her, for he knows that

I may need those troops. And I do!

Now there's no longer chaos in Pella,

there's murder.

Some of my best men died.

What does it matter that the Macedonian

Empire crumbles? She rules in Pella!

This is why Attalus

stood opposed last night at Mieza.

Is it?

And why Parmenio stood in silence.

They were afraid of her hold on you.

I am not.

Alexander, as your first act as regent,

send your mother away.

- Exile my mother?

- Back to her kinsmen in Epirus.

- She'll be happy.

- Is that the cost of my proof?

How do you think I came to power?

My brothers...

I know. You slew them.

Do you want me to do that, too?

Why didn't you ask me this

last night in Mieza?

And if I do this, then, Father,

I'll be your pawn, won't I?

Aristotle was right.

You're not ready to rule.

All you're fit for is to fight and die

like any Macedonian soldier.

Then at least live like one.

Get drunk. Choose a woman.

I do!

I choose her!

Young fool!

Fool! You fool!

By my right as king,

I give you, Alexander of Macedonia,

the seal of regency.

With this seal, you rule in my absence

as though you were king.

You have the power to collect taxes, raise

troops, make war and hold royal court.

For as it is with the king,

according to ancient Macedonian law,

so it is with his regent.

He is, in his single person,

lord of all things,

both open and secret,

at once general and absolute.

I am leaving Antipater

here as your adviser.

Alexander, there's another

ancient law of kingship -

to trust no one,

and to learn how to be alone.

Are you asleep?

No.

You're regent now.

Not because he wanted it so,

but because he had no choice.

You're regent now.

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