David and Bathsheba

IRA:

Wait here.

Lord Commander.

- Well?

- The king is not in his tent.

- Not in his tent?

IRA:
No, sir.

Well, he must be somewhere.

Have you searched the camp?

Yes, sir. I have brought the aide

you assigned to him.

I think the man knows something.

That is the man, sir.

You were assigned

to attend the king?

- Yes, sir.

- Where did he go?

Sir, I...

I cannot tell you.

As your commander

I order you to tell me.

The king pledged me to silence.

Where is he?

He went with the scouting party.

Scouting party?

JOAB:

What scouting party?

Every night, sir, we send out small

patrols to test the walls of the city.

And tonight?

Tonight, the waterway

under the north wall.

A patrol of 20 men

under Captain Uriah.

- You let him go?

- I could not stop him, sir.

We had finished the dispatches.

The king stood in the mouth

of the tent as the patrol went by.

He looked after them...

...and suddenly he took up

a sword and followed them.

Take 100 of your best men

and go after them.

Sir.

IRA:
To arms, men.

- King.

IRA:

Ira's hundred. To arms.

King of all Israel out there

in the darkness...

...exposing himself to the enemy...

...crawling on his belly

like a common soldier.

[MEN WHOOPING]

Attack.

[SHOUTING]

JOAB:

Sire, I am the commander of the army.

JOAB:
My orders...

DAVID:
Yes, I know.

We'll speak of it later.

Come in, Uriah.

I apologize for delaying your supper.

DAVID:

Sit down, Uriah.

Pour us some wine.

Sit down.

[DAVID GRUNTS]

Sire.

DAVID:
Hmm?

JOAB:
You are wounded.

JOAB:
Let me call the physician.

- No, no, let it alone.

It's a long time

since I've shed any blood.

It's good to have proof

that it still runs in my veins.

Sit down, Joab.

[JOAB SIGHS]

We must decide on our strategy,

for Rabbah is well defended.

Unfortunately, there are no Joshuas

among us:
::

...to command the walls to fall down.

DAVID:

What would you do, Uriah?

URIAH:

I can speak for them, sire.

Every man in the army

would be glad to die for David.

A thousand dead, perhaps two.

A thousand vineyards

and flocks left untended.

A thousand women

wailing on my doorstep.

You have a wife, Uriah?

- Yes, sire.

- She will come to my door in tears.

If I am unlucky.

No, it is a certainty.

In wartime,

the best are always the first to die.

Then her tears will be tears of pride.

You are young to know much of women

and too brave, whereas I'm a coward.

A coward, sire?

[CHUCKLES]

My men go into battle

singing an old song.

"Saul has slain his thousands

and David his ten thousands. "

That was years ago.

When I was captain of a hundred,

like yourself.

I was not the king.

You will serve me better

if you live, Uriah.

Come, Joab.

Remain seated.

Continue with your meal.

DAVID:
I will return to Jerusalem

in the morning.

AMBASSADOR:

Oh, King of Judah and Israel, live forever.

The pharaoh of Egypt sends greetings

to his beloved cousin.

The pharaoh bids me...

...prostrate myself

before the great king...

...and to present this humble token

of Egypt's regard.

The king of Israel warms himself

in the sun of the pharaoh's regard.

My beloved cousin,

the pharaoh probably hopes...

...that I'll cut my throat with this.

8FLUNKY:

Nathan, the prophet of God.

May God walk with David.

It is his custom to walk with Nathan.

God looks with favor on you to bring

the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.

Excellent.

NATHAN:
But as to your intention

of building a temple to receive the Ark...

...he has commanded me

to say this to you.

Thus speaks the Lord:

"Should my servant David

build me a house to dwell in.

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