All language subtitles for Samson.And.Delilah.1996.720p.BluRay.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

[music playing]

(Narrator) To all things
there is a purpose.

It was the time
of the judges.

The Lord had punished
the children of Israel

for their sins against him.

He had delivered them

into the hands
of the Philistines.

Conquerors of the people
of Israel,

they exploited their empire
with cruel efficiency.

But they were also
an advanced people.

In a world of bronze,

they had discovered
the secret of iron.

And with this, they crushed
any disobedience swiftly

and without mercy.

[men chanting]

[chains clinking]

[horse whinnying]

God's punishment of the people
of Israel was severe,

but he did not abandon them,

and their faith grew
in their struggle

against their
Philistine oppressors.

[groans]

[laughing]

[bleating]

[gasps]

[chanting]

[screaming]

[men yelling]

Do not fear, woman.

The Lord of life
has not forgotten you

in your barrenness.

I am the messenger

come to tell you
that your womb will bear fruit.

You will conceive a son,

A Nazarite dedicated to God.

He will eat no unclean food
and drink no strong drink.

And he will grow stronger
than 100 men.

He is the Lord's gift,
chosen to begin the liberation

of your people
from the Philistine.

Look through me

and you will see
where his future lies.

As a mark of obedience
to the Lord,

his hair shall never be cut.

This shall be the symbol
of his alliance with God

and of his consecration to Him.

His strength resides
in the Lord.

This secret is his
and yours alone.

Do not break this pact
with the Almighty.

[panting]

Manoah.

A man...
Back there at the well.

A strange man.
Listen to me.

He appeared to me,
at the well.

A Philistine?

No. No.
A stranger.

What are you
talking about?

Listen to me.

“The Lord of life,"
he said.

He said I would conceive
and give birth to a son.

If he said we were rich,
would you believe that too?

He was an apparition.
It was...

it was like a miracle.

Mara...

You are barren.

You know that.

I have lain with no one
but you, Manoah.

The child will be ours...

and a gift to our people.

(Narrator) And the land
yielded its harvest.

And upon it,

God began to sow the seeds
of justice for his people.

For they did not
bow down their heads,

or worship the false idols
of their masters.

[chanting]

But after 40 long years,

deliverance was at hand
for the children of Israel.

Their prayers had been heard
by the God with no face

and a name
that is never spoken:

The one true God.

[baby wailing]

[panting]
Do you...

want to hold him?

But he's so small.

I might drop him.

[man speaking Hebrew]

[group responds in Hebrew]

[chanting in Hebrew]

[chanting continues]

[chanting]

(Man)
Amen.

(All)
Amen.

[resumes chanting]

Samson.

[whinnying]

[screaming]

[man laughing]

Father,

how will I know when it is time
to fulfill my destiny?

The Lord will tell you.

When?

When the time is right.

A sign?

Perhaps.

What kind of a sign?

I don't know.

He gave you strength.

He will also give you
understanding.

I am but one man. One.

A Nazarite,

bonded to the Lord.

There's no need
to search for signs.

Your birth was the sign.

The stranger said
"chosen to deliver his people"?

Those were his words.

“To deliver his people.”

It will be hard.

Every gift is also a burden.

[cheering]

Father says he's lazy.

And slow-witted.

Samson!

[yells]

(Boy)
Put them in the net!

Samson.

Let me down.

Samson, no.

Let me out
of this net now!

Samson, get us down.

[all laughing]

Samson, get us
out of here.

Stop, Samson, stop.

Let me down!

Samson, stop now.

Samson. Samson.

Let us down now!

[Samson laughs]

(Narrator) Samson was gentle,
good, thoughtful,

and unsure, as all men are,
of the purpose of his life.

He began to walk the long road
to understanding and faith,

a journey which must be made
by every man, alone.

That's it, your highness.
That's it.

Watch your guard.

(Narrator) In the palace of
the king of the Philistines,

Another young man was learning
the skills of life

through the games he played.

Watch your guard.

Intelligence, attention,
concentration.

I watch you.
You're like a butterfly.

You're here, you're there,
you're gone.

Focus your attention.

Your highness,
focus your mind completely.

Yes. Yes, I know.

Try again, general?

As you wish,
your highness.

Never underestimate
your enemy.

No, father.

- Good day, Delilah.
- General Tariq.

[giggles]

You may rise.

I wonder what her father would
think of her now, eh, commander?

Ah, a true friend
and a fine soldier.

Who I'm told never
underestimated his enemy.

Here, use this one,
commander.

Huh. An Israelite sword.

What's an Israelite sword?

Bronze.

They're very
primitive people.

Who have only ever found
a single God to worship.

Attack!

Even a broken sword

will kill you if you let down
your guard, your highness.

You remind us every day
of the reasons why my father

values you so highly,
commander.

He's possessed of a soldier's
most powerful weapon...

His intelligence.

[woman singing]

[giggles]

(Narrator)
My name is Yoram.

I was more than 10 years
younger than Samson.

I loved him as a brother.

We were both Nazarites,
dedicated to God at birth.

Did I know, even then,

that within him
lay the destiny of our people?

Perhaps I knew only

that I would be with him
until the end.

There was no warning?

The Philistines came
from over there,

out of the sunset.

There was no time
to run.

And we had no arms.

My father...

My mother...

And my brothers.

They killed them all.

I was not spared
but overlooked.

The only one who escaped.

Naomi...

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

For bringing back
that memory.

It never leaves.

(Naomi)
Come with me.

You will hear.
You will learn.

Please, Samson,
come with me.

For me.

For you, anything.

Except one
of those meetings.

I have to go.

Naomi...

You are far too gentle for
the harsh words of rebellion.

And you can hardly
even lift a sword.

It is you
who has been chosen.

I doubt it.

Your mother refuses...

Naomi, stop this.

If I am to be called,
God will call me.

Not you and your rabble.

I am a Nazarite.

I pray. I try.

But there is
a great absence.

Seas can open, Samson.
Bushes can burn.

For Moses and for you.

I am one man.

How can one man destroy
the Philistines?

Tell me.

Our army wi...

Your army has wooden clubs
and swords of bronze.

And righteousness.

Why is it that
every people think

they alone are
the righteous ones?

You doubt it?

Anyway, righteousness
never stopped

the Philistine spear
that killed your mother.

Righteousness did not
give them weapons of iron.

Do not make me beg.

Open your eyes.

I have seen nothing.

I have heard nothing.

I am nothing.

A man is what he chooses to be.

And I choose nothing.

[girls giggling]

Why?

Tell me, Samson.
What are you frightened of?

Nothing.

Then what do you want?

I want...

everything.

[girls giggle]

(Shepherd)
Come, come, come.

[soldiers shouting]

How is it, Ira,

that we are still bent beneath
the heel of these Philistines?

It's God's punishment.

When our people
abandoned his ways,

he brought them down on us

that we might atone
for our sins.

But things are better
than they were.

No more burned villages.

No more young people
taken into slavery.

And the fruit
of suffering...

is wisdom.

Then we must be
the wisest people on Earth.

Ira, you are the elder
of our village.

I need your counsel.

It's freely given.

And often wrong.

What's Samson done now?

Nothing.
And more nothing.

He leads an empty life.

It's as if he believed
the world owed him something.

Moses too was raised
as a prince.

My sons are just the same,

and without Samson's
special gifts.

"Samson caught us in the net.
Samson caught us in..."

[both laugh]

Tell me.
Has Samson ever cried?

One hour
after he was born...

As if he feared the pain
that life had in store for him.

Since then, never.

Truly, he is remarkable.

His temperament is kind,
his wit is quick,

and his strength...

He has all the gifts...

But one.

Purpose.
It is the fuel of life.

[people cheering]

Come on!

[people cheering]

Come on.

[laughs]

Pull!

Naomi?

What?

Maybe we should go.

They come by every day
at about this time.

No.

It's your turn, Yoram.

Go on.
It's your turn.

Come on. Philistines.
Let's go.

No.

Go. Fetch Samson, quickly.

Hey!

I've never seen goats
riding on goats!

[laughs]

Why don't you get off
and milk them, huh?

Go!

Ooh, does the smell
come from the beasts

or from the masters, huh?

(Yoram)
Samson!

Samson, come quick!

The Philistines.

They have Naomi!

Samson, please hurry!

Move away! Move!

Come on.
Come on, quickly!

Come on, let's go!

Pig!

Your mother was a donkey,
and yours a mule!

Hold her!

I have two swords here.

Impaling you with either
will give me great satisfaction.

Best be the iron one.

Save the other

for your mother!

Israelite whore!

Naomi, stay there.
I'll help.

No, no. Stay here.

Samson!

(Samson)
Go!

Go!

Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!

[cheering]

You broke them
without a weapon!

Samson broke them!

Yea! Yea!
You have been chosen!

How can you doubt it?

Yea! Yea!

Yes! Samson!

Without a weapon,
Samson broke them!

(Man) Please, Manoah.
Let us in.

At least talk
to these people.

You know us all.
There's nothing that we...

(Manoah) You're not going
to get into this house.

Go now. You hear me?
I said now!

(Man) This is important.
Mara, you must speak to him.

We need him. A leader.

Someone our people
will stand with.

I need him too.

Mara, these are the...

I know who they are.

Carpenters, shepherds,
plowmen.

The leaders of our rebellion.

Rebellion.
How many weapons do you have?

How many made of iron?

Mara,

God's will brought us your son

to destroy the enemies
of our people.

Manoah,
you must speak to Samson.

With his father's urging, he...

What am I to urge?

That he die before his time?

The son Mara and I prayed for
all our life!

Manoah, listen to us.

I've heard you.

Our son is
the lord's instrument.

And in the lord's time,

He will obey.

In God's good time.
Not in yours!

(Outside) You should
have insisted.

(Outside) Why wouldn't
he listen?

Well, I don't know.
You were there.

You saw him.

[panting]

Lord, tell me what to do.

[thunder rumbles]

Enslave him, father.

Burn his village
before the Israelites

rally to a new hero.

There is nothing
to be gained by burning

an Israelite village.

In a week
it'll be old news.

Legends grow, father.

Ask your courtiers
what they have heard.

Single-handed,
two patrols. Some say 10.

Only an empty head can be
full of these tales.

And what do you think,
Commander Tariq?

I think all people
need their heroes.

If they don't exist,
they must create them.

You know what it means?

What?

His name, Samson.

Tell me.

The son of the sun.

The son of the sun?

Mm-hmm.

And your name?

Mine?

Delilah is an ancient word.

It means desire.

And do you think that
appropriate, commander?

[softly]
In every way.

Hmm, but the son
of the sun.

I'd like to see
this Samson for myself.

You're a loose woman, Delilah.

And if I weren't,

I'd find that remark
offensive, general.

His hair is long.

He wears it in seven braids.

Some kind of
religious significance.

Is there anything
you don't know?

I'll never know how to, uh,

please a loose woman.

Our requests of a man
are very modest.

That is the principal part
of our charm.

Only by very
modest requests

could any man meet
your expectations.

Except, perhaps,
this Israelite hero.

Mm-hmm.

Men like him are either

quickly forgotten...

Or never forgotten.

Nothing certain, eh?

Nothing but death.

Is that it?
It seems very little.

And encompasses
everything.

[hissing]

[playing calm, peaceful melody]

[roars]

[yells]

[gasps]

No!

[neck snaps]

[chattering]

[Delilah laughs]

(Delilah) Strong, yes,
but with a sweet modesty.

Did you see how he ran?
Like a gazelle.

A woman would die
for a man like that.

Out of the way, fool.

[Delilah laughs]

A gazelle is so much more
graceful than a baboon.

Is it not?

General?

If the future of our people
is to be secured,

perhaps the time has come

to think of
different stratagems.

Such as?

The greatest victory
any general can achieve.

Peace.

(Mara)
I knew something had happened.

You haven't been fighting
over a woman, have you?

All the single girls in the
village are in love with you.

Some of the married ones, too.

It wasn't a fight
over Naomi was it?

- No.
- Who, then?

No one.

- I saw...
- Saw what?

A woman. Like no other.

No woman gave you these wounds.

Samson, be careful.

Father. Father...

Now, now, wait.

General, continue.

Well, it would take time.

But once they saw

how a lasting treaty
would benefit them,

we could focus
our attention elsewhere.

A treaty? With who?
What is this?

This is something
kings must learn

and princes must practice.

It's called listening.

No one in this royal house
should listen to any proposal

for a treaty with
the tribes of Israel.

Their subjugation
is their treaty.

It's only by listening
that one hears.

The general's proposals
have merit.

Continue.

If we might consider
making official peace with them,

turning them into
independent allies.

Allies?

The Israelites?

Better to plunge your hand
into a basket of vipers.

The art of making a decision,

is firstly, to know
what your choices are.

General.

What would we achieve
by having a vassal state

on our eastern borders?

Nothing but a breeding
ground for rebellion,

draining my manpower
and your treasury.

Our treasury.

You always know
where I'm vulnerable.

[laughs]

But...

we would allow
them access to the sea

and allow them to trade.

My experience of life,

beginning with my own family,

is that by giving some
of what is wanted

only whets
the appetite for more.

We would
continue to

maintain complete
control, majesty.

Oh. The illusion
of independence.

It would take a magician
mightier than any I've met.

And their religion?

No, no, general.

Beliefs are more dangerous
than a hundred armies.

Our Gods have the tail of fish,
because our ancestors

were seafaring people.

What does it matter whether
a handful of our people

decide to believe in
a single deity?

It's poor exchange.

Perhaps so.

But I sometimes feel
that a single sun in the sky.

Is better than two or three.

It would burn us all alive.

But if we control
the Israelites by a treaty...

No, commander.
This is treason.

You do not accommodate
an enemy.

You eliminate him.

At what sacrifice?

A thousand of our young men?
Five thousand?

How many widows do you want to
make before you say "enough"?

The Israelites lay claim
to our kingdom.

And we are contemplating
giving it to them?

No.

Only that we make peace,

the price for which is small.

They believe their God will send
them a savior to destroy us.

It is, above all else,
this foolish belief

that holds them in our power.

They wait patiently,
passively.

Perhaps we should be encouraging
them in this belief.

We should make an example
of their new hero, this Samson.

Before it's too late.

Draw them too close,

and they will discover one of
the secrets of our power.

How to make iron.

That is true.

[sighs]
Perhaps there are ways...

You wish them to learn how
to make real weapons, general?

This year, next year.
Whatever.

They will learn.

Man climbs upon
the shoulders of man.

But a treaty is not the answer.
It's too dangerous.

Let us leave them as they are,
waiting for their savior,

and hope he does not come
'til our reign and yours

are no more than
great memories.

Yes, your majesty.

You're my first general.

And what is a first general
without an army?

What is a scorpion
when it loses its sting?

Your highness.

Will you mourn me
after my death, Sidqa?

Of course, Father.

Very good.

I want you to
contact our agents,

arrange for the capture
of this Samson.

You will command
the operation yourself.

I want him brought back
to Gaza, alive, if possible.

Alive?

Yes, alive.
Living. Not dead.

More difficult,
but essential.

But it may be that
they already believe.

Myths and legends

wrap themselves around the dead
and make them martyred heroes.

They are remembered.

I want this Samson
brought back here to Gaza,

a prisoner,
in chains of iron.

He will be quickly forgotten.

[horse whinnying]

Here is your money.
Now show us where he lives.

A stranger.

He said...

[inhaling]

He said...

Wait.

Come, brother.

Our work is done here.

Father!

- Mara!
- Please, God.

- Mara, are you hurt?
- Please, God!

[Samson yelling]

Please, God, no!
Samson.

(Manoah) What are you doing?
Where are you taking him?

- Let him go!
- Samson!

(Guard)
Stay where you are!

With Samson gone,
we shall lead the rebellion.

People will look to us
to inspire them.

They'll bring their hopes,
fears, doubts, to us.

We will become the true
judges of Israel.

See there,
in the stars...

when Samson
has been netted.

[thunder rumbles]

(Manoah)
Help him! Help him! Stop them!

(Manoah) You've got
no right to do this!

What is happening?

They've taken Samson.

What?

(Man)
Where are they taking him?

[people clamoring]

(Naomi) Do something.
Help him. Do something.

Yoram, come on. Come on.

(Naomi)
Samson. Let me through.

Go! Take him!

No.

Samson.

Go! Seize him!
Go!

Stay back!

[guard screams]

You! Go on!

Manoah.

Yah!

Go! Stop him!

You! Get him!

Go on!

[whinnying]

[cheering]

[screams]

Yah! Aah!

Aah!

Where were you?!

We outnumbered them
by more than 100.

Lead you?

Shall I kill him for you, too?

(Naomi)
Where are you going?

(Samson)
Kill him yourself.

(Yoram)
Samson.

Samson!

[thunder rumbling]

Cowards! Traitors!

We should have stayed to watch.

No.

Being at home asleep
proclaims our innocence.

He'll be halfway
to Gaza by now

in chains of iron.

Lord!

Lord!

Yoram?

We'll find somewhere
to hide you!

Hide me?

They might come again.

Let them.

Come.

You have a friend,
one who will never betray us.

(Ira)
How many of them were there?

We outnumbered them
by more than 100.

He fought them
like 200.

(Ira)
God is good.

Not one of them
tried to help,

except you.

The others begged
rebellion of me one day

and abandoned me the next.

They were frightened.

And you weren't?

I'm not old enough
to know better.

Nor are my parents.

Naomi cracked
a few skulls.

Love is a powerful
conqueror of fear.

Surely, if he had been taken,
Father would have been told.

He would have
awoken us by now.

Father is asleep
in his...

[people chatting]

You were dedicated
a Nazarite at birth?

Yes. Like you,
I belong to the Lord.

We belong to the Lord.

He is a strange master

who tells us nothing,
asks nothing of us.

His ways are unknowable.

He moves beyond
our understanding.

Or not at all.

He gave you strength enough
to break a lion's neck.

You...

knew?

(Ira)
Knew what?

Nothing.

Nothing.

There are many ways
to be strong.

- Huh?
- Samson.

What are you...?

We heard voices.

What's he doing here?

The Philistines
tried to capture him.

He beat them back.

He did?

(Ira)
God be praised.

Yes, God be praised.

With him here,
we will a-all be in danger.

What if they come
back again, tonight?

They won't look here.

If they come back again,
search the village, then what?!

We'll be taken
to Gaza in chains!

He can't stay here!

Jehiel... Amram...

Leave us.

If you are in fear
of your lives,

Find another place to sleep.

Father, the Philistines...

If the Philistines come...
they come!

Now, leave us!

Come, brother!

My son.

Has your father ever told you
how proud he is of you?

But my sons...

[mockingly]
"Samson caught us in a net.

Samson caught us in... ".

A net.

How else did they know
where you slept?

Jehiel.

Amram.

Oh, no.

Ohh! No!

No! My own sons!

Traitors! Fools!

If a man sins against another,
God may intervene in his favor.

But if a man sins against
the Lord and his consecrated,

who shall intercede then?

Father, somebody's
been lying to you.

Jehiel. Amram.

They betrayed me.

(Yoram)
Samson, no!

We haven't sinned,
father.

You have disgraced me!

We haven't...

My own sons have
torn out my heart!

(Ira)
Samson, no!

[all yelling]

[screaming]

(Ira) Samson, don't kill them,
I beg of you.

[gasping, coughing]

Samson. Samson!

We thought that we were attacked
by a superior Israelite force.

You keep telling me
they have no superior force.

Never underestimate
the enemy?

In the circumstances,

I thought it prudent
to withdraw, to regroup.

Back here in Gaza?

Well-ready for another day.

But he was just one man.

One man!

But with the strength of 50.

And others attacked us.

With their bare hands?

It was dark.
Who knew what weapons?

Did they all have
the jawbone of an ass?

The Gods give an ignorant
Israelite peasant

Samson for a son.

And they give me,
the king of Gaza...

You!

I have but one duty,
that's to outlive my heir.

Is there no justice
in the stars?

Get out of my sight.

Father.

Are you deaf
as well as brainless?

I said, get out of my sight.
Go!

(King)
I want an emissary to inquire

and report to me
on exactly what happened.

(Soldier)
Yes, my lord.

Well, General Tariq,
is there justice in the stars?

Apparently not.

The number of kings
who outlive their heirs

does not give us
grounds for confidence.

[screams]

Samson.

Go back to the village.

Where are you going?

Away.
I don't know.

Samson, I am lost
without you.

Ever since I was born,
you've been there.

Since I was born,

I have been told that God
punished our people

because they failed
to heed him.

Perhaps if I can distance myself

from my people
for a while,

I can hear his word and obey.

Go.

Back to the village.

Now your manhood

begins.

As does mine.

[panting]

[lion growling]

[bees buzzing]

[man laughing]

[speaking foreign language]

[speaking foreign language]

(Man)
I wouldn't, if I were you.

Looking is one thing,
but touching,

that's something else.

The men could turn nasty,

and you could end up
with one less body part

than God gave you,

if you know what I mean.

You're an Israelite.

Amrok.

Lost in the desert
as a child,

raised by the Philistines.

A wanderer by upbringing,

a curious man by nature,

homeward bound after

three weary years of putting
one foot in front of the other.

And you?

Samson.

I expected a giant, a wrestler,

but, you look like
any other man.

You are the one they speak of?

And betray.

But you, an Israelite,

have lived amongst
the Philistines.

I was taken in by a family.
Good people.

How could you
live with them

when they crushed your
own people under their heel?

Have you seen so little of life
that you don't know?

When a people are controlled
by a strong king,

it is the will of the king
that prevails,

not the will of the people.

It wasn't the king who destroyed
our villages in the old days.

Yes, but those who did
are fed by him,

advanced by him,
rewarded by him.

The court controls
everything.

If men devised a weapon
to destroy the courts,

in one single blow
all of Gaza is destroyed.

They are a cruel people.

Because they are afraid.

Afraid?

Of losing
what they have.

If you could drive
them into the sea

and take their land,
you would, wouldn't you?

Right now I would not raise
my finger against them.

Then we can be friends.

Friend.

The prince of the Philistines
seeks my head.

Friendship with me
could be dangerous.

The best friendships
are always risky.

The prince who seeks your head
must first find his own.

Tomorrow night, we'll feast
with my father in Timnah.

Timnah.

Are these your father's fields?

As far as the eye
can see.

You chose
your parents well.

[laughs]

Amrok!
Welcome back!

Thank you.

Master, master!

Master! Your son!

Your son is back!

Thank you.

Master! Your son!
He's come back!

Let me speak for you,

then everything
will be all right.

You'll see.

"My son!
Y son, my son.

Father, this is Samson.

Samson?

Yes, my Israelite
friend.

Samson, this is
my father.

If you are
my son's friend...

Then you are
my honored guest.

My house is your house.

- Rani!
- Amrok!

Dear brother.

Samson, this is my sister, Rani.

Rani, this is Samson.

[chattering]

[Rani singing in Hebrew]

[singing]

It is beautiful.

Only sung by women,

in the presence of a man
at certain times.

Samson.

Drink.

Thank you.

Wait, wait.

I saw you once before.

In the land
of the Israelites.

It was only
for a moment.

You were working in a field.

I remember.

You remember.

As you do.

Do you ever dream, Sidqga?

Yes.

I do.

Since I was a child
I have never dreamed.

Never.

The doctors tell me
you're getting stronger.

That's true.

You thought your time had come,
didn't you, Sidga?

A little longer.

A little longer.

Child, tell me what it is
you want.

If it is within my power,
I shall grant it.

I want... I want...

Yes?

I want Samson as my husband.

He is a good man.

But is he not
an enemy of our people?

Not of mine.

You love him?

With all my heart.

Has he spoken
words of love to you?

A woman sees the heart of a man

through the doorway
of his eyes.

And you see?

A man who loves me
as I love him.

That's what she said?

Her exact words.

But could she truly love me,
an Israelite,

as a wife must
love her husband?

Is such a thing
possible?

You know, my mother and father.

Would say, "never."

My teacher would say,
"think again."

And have you thought again?

She's all I think of.

And each time,

The thought fills me
with happiness.

Hmm. Then the question is:

Could you truly love her,
a Philistine,

like a husband must
love his wife?

As surely as the sun dies
beyond the hills each night.

Come and speak to her.

Tell her how you feel.

She knows. She sees it.

She knows, but women like
you to tell them.

Especially
if it's the truth.

[laughing]

What about these stories
that he has slain our soldiers?

That the Israelites beg him
to lead their army against us?

He's here. He refused them
and they betrayed him.

He's a man of peace.

As am I.

You know him now.

You know he's
an honorable man.

Will you,
that are kind and just,

let rumor or gossip
stand in his way?

It is said he humiliated
prince Sidga himself.

From what we are told,
this is not difficult.

True.

But if they found
he was hiding in my home,

if they came for him...

I'm not thinking
of myself.

The danger to you,
to Rani.

They would surely
kill us all.

Father, I am an Israelite.

You are my...

Hear me out.

You are my son.

Hear me out.

I'm an Israelite.

But I honor you as my father.

Perhaps Rani's love for him
is the very way towards peace

between our two peoples.

And the king himself
is wise, is he not?

Well...

If I were to send
a message to Gaza,

if the king gave it
his blessing...

Then all would be well.

This farmer from Timnah
is a traitor.

You must deny his request.

Sidqa...

when I'm gone
and the throne is yours,

let me give you
a word of advice.

Always, always ignore
those of your counselors

who say you must.

But, Father, now we know
where Samson is.

Yes, my son. Now we know.

A Timnite woman.

They're supposed to be
very beautiful, are they not?

If she were that beautiful,
she'd be here, in the palace.

If you say so.

Do not humor me, commander.

I would hate to think
you believe me jealous.

And are you jealous?

What's the man to me?

I don't know.

Uh... he saved your life.

I owe him thanks.

No more than that.

So, uh, he is, uh, unimportant.

Nothing.

Then why are you
telling me about him?

[giggles]

Because I tell you
what I hear in the court.

And I you.

And the arrangement makes us,
both, formidably well informed.

Hmm.

So the poor Israelite
is to be denied

even one night
of marital pleasure.

You feel sorry for
an enemy of our people.

Enemy?

Where are his armies?
Whose downfall does he seek?

You're remarkable, Delilah.

I had assumed that you would
share the anger of our prince

with this Israelite.

The prince and I have
very different tastes.

[laughs]

The prince will never
be known for his taste,

but for the size of his feet.

He'll never fit
his father's shoes.

You know, General Tariq,
I've known you all my life.

But at this moment,
I know you not at all.

I'm a man

in the wrong place
at the wrong time.

For whatever it's worth,

I, too, have known myself
all my life,

and yet not at all.

[growling]

[both laughing]

My son.

Mother? Yoram.

Sit. Drink.
You've traveled far.

So... is it true?

Is what true, Mother?

That I live and work here among
people who ask nothing of me?

Yes, that is true.

You know of what I speak.

The story is abroad.
Everyone speaks of it.

That you are to marry
a Philistine. Is that true?

Her name is Rani.
Yes, it is true.

The ceremony is tomorrow,
and you are welcome.

I'm glad you are here.

Oh! Among all the women
you might have chosen,

was it truly God's will,

that you bring
a stranger to your bed?

She is a good woman.

Her father is honorable,
just and kind.

And I love her, Mother.

And is this love

greater than the bonds
that tie you to our people?

Greater than our traditions?

Do not turn your back on us

by marrying a foreign woman.

(Yoram) Come back with us,
Samson, before it's too late.

My home is here now.

You have punished us enough.
I beg you.

I have heard you,
and you have heard me.

That is an end to it.

Beware this woman, Samson.

Be it on your wedding day

or within the first circle
of the moon,

she will betray you.

My father.

You have no father.
And he has no son.

Mother. Yoram.

Mother!

See? I bleed.

Like any other man.

[wild, festive music playing]

(Yoram) Samson stayed in the land
of the Philistines

where he had found
the woman he loved.

And it seemed the king

had given his approval
for the marriage.

But those he sent to celebrate
had come for another purpose.

And thus did Samson's love
for the Philistine woman

begin to fulfill
the word of God.

[people singing & clapping]

Philistines.

Philistines!

[music & singing stop]

I give you a riddle.

What's the prize?
There has to be a prize.

(Man)
Yes, there must be a prize.

Very well.

If you solve the riddle,
30 linen garments.

And a flock of sheep.
And two shepherds.

And 100 silver pieces.

[men laugh]

Out of the eater,
something to eat.

Out of the strong,
something sweet.

(Amrok's father)
Impossible.

Out of the strong?
This is Samson himself.

No.

[laughing]

[music & singing resume]

Tell me the riddle, Samson.

Why, so you may
win the prize?

No, to share
in your enjoyment,

as I hope to do
throughout our life together.

I don't think...

(Man)
Tell her. She's your wife.

(Man 2) No secrets.
A man must trust his wife.

You won't trust me?

Excellent.
You'll never get it.

My husband not only trusts me,

he gives you
a true riddle to solve.

[laughing]

You keep your guests
very happy.

I'm glad you're
enjoying our wedding.

The king is well-pleased,
Harach.

Good, good.

He honors us
with your company.

And we'll bestow more honor
with the answer to this riddle.

The riddle?

I need a pretext,
a reason.

A reason? For what?

A reason not to
seize your land,

cut off your
thieving fingers.

Sir, you are my guest.
This is outrageous.

The answer!
I will have it.

Go, fetch it
from your daughter,

before I order your house
burned to the ground.

Rani. Rani.

Come here,
Rani. Come.

My father calls.

Then go to him.

But return to me.

All right.

Come, Samson,
we submit.

Tell us the answer
to your riddle.

A Philistine submit
to an Israelite?

Shame.

A father submits
to his son.

You will never
get to bed with my sister.

Until this riddle is solved.

Now, there's
a good reason.

All right.

All right! All right.

I see I have you all.

(Man) All?

No.

The answer is plain.

(All)
Tell us!

What is sweeter
than honey?

And what is stronger
than a lion?

It is surely a honeycomb,

A beehive inside the entrails
of a desert lion.

Right?
The lion and the honey.

That's right.
You have it.

[laughing]

That's no riddle!

How could anyone guess
an answer like that?

How, indeed?

Wife!

Why, Rani? Why?

(Rani)
No.

Why, Rani? Why? Why?

[people screaming]

(Harach)
Samson! It was me!

They threatened to burn
down the house unless I...

She knew nothing.

(Rani)
Stop it!

[roaring]

No! Stop! Please!

[screaming continues]

Take him!

Come, Rani.

Let me go!

Seize him!

Go!

Aah!

Come on!

Aah!

Aah!

[all screaming]

Samson!

(Rani)
Samson!

[screaming]

No. No, please.

See?

See?
Yes.

You threatened the life
of my father, of my friend,

Of my wife!

The garments are yours.
You won them. Pick them up.

I said, pick them up!

Now, go.
Go back to Gaza.

Tell them Samson did this.

And tell them
I have only begun!

I have only begun!

[echoing]

(King)
All of them?

Yes, majesty.

His strength
is... not human.

Not human?

(Man) The fields!
The fields are on fire!

[horse whinnying]

[both screaming]

(Harach)
No! No! No!

(Harach)
No! Rani! No!

(Harach)
No!

Execute them.

Burn their fields.

No!

[screams]

Here! Make it here!
It belongs to your enemy.

My love, who I betrayed!

(Harach)
Rani!

[screams]

Rani! Rani! Rani!
Oh, no!

[yells]

[whispering]

[horse whinnies]

[whimpers]

[people murmuring]

General Tariq should be ordered

to burn down
every Israelite village.

Every village that makes
payment to our treasury?

This isn't war.

Samson doesn't lead an army.

Not even his own people.

He fights us alone.

He must be stopped.

The dignity of your throne
is at stake here.

Do not mistake my throne
for your pride.

Consider this,

A farmer's field,
Israelite or Philistine,

is more than just a crop.

It's a life's work,
a child's future.

We will send an emissary
to these men of Judah.

Giving us Samson
is a small price to pay

for leaving
their fields untouched.

But he's one of them.
Why should they betray him?

It is a foolish man
who cannot be made afraid,

and these men we treat with
are not foolish.

Samson.

Amrok?

They are dead.

They're all dead.

They came from Gaza.

We were surrounded, trapped.

There was no time to run.

The laborers were killed.

They took your wife.

Beat her. Father too.

They left me for dead.

There was nothing
I could do, Samson.

Nothing.

I can still hear him laughing,
their leader, I mean.

Laughing and laughing.

Amrok, who?
Who was their leader?

[sniffles]

[sighs]

The laugh, the scar.

His name is Mahal.

Was it my fault, Samson?
Was it?

[whispers]
no.

I brought you in.
I begged for the marriage.

I loved her, Amrok.
The fault was not yours.

The innocent are punished
for my sins.

(Samson) Come with me.
I am going home.

- No.
- Amrok.

Go, my brother.

Go.

(Yoram) And so Samson returned
to the land of the Israelites,

to a people confused
and angry with him

for having stirred
the wrath of the Philistines,

to a people no longer
seeking rebellion,

but willing subjects
of the Philistines

and of their own fears.

[people chattering]

Let me pass.

What is it?
Have I done you harm?

Why are you doing this?

We will not lose our lives,
our homes, our crops

at the altar of your anger.

Then take me.
Have done with it.

You, you or you,
come take me!

Take hold of me!
Bind me!

I have not changed,
you have changed.

Yes, I want vengeance

for the betrayals
that were done to me,

and I will have it.

But you would betray me

for fear of what might
happen to you?

Once you asked me to lead you

into what I believed
would be madness and slaughter.

Well, now I believe it more.

But I will go.

You'll hear no more of me.

Out of my anger and my hate,

I'll try and find
a peace with God.

(Yoram) Thus did Samson return
to his home,

hiding in his heart

the revenge which one day
he would wreak.

And the hand of God
brought him back,

just as the life
of his father, Manoah,

was drawing to a close.

[weakly]
my son.

I'm here, Father.

I have loved you,
since before...

I know, Father.
I know.

Since before
and always.

It does not end.

Give to your people.

To God.

Reach out.

You have the gifts.

Share them.

It is your destiny.

It does not end. Remember.

It...

(Mara)
He is dead.

[women wailing]

(Yoram) Even at the death
of his father,

Samson did not weep.

Though in time,

his tears would be shed
for all the people of Israel.

In the days that followed,
Samson set aside his revenge

and worked only for
the good of the Israelites.

And he became a judge
of his people.

Wise, good, helpful,

in every way

the son his father
had wished and prayed for.

You'll stay with us?

My father,
as he died, said...

if I stay
with my people,

the Philistines
will not attack us.

They threatened
to burn the crops.

And cut off
their own supplies?

No. Empty threats.

Would they rally our people
against them, provoke war?

No.

I am here now...

until the wheel
turns again.

I have come home.

What is strength?

[gasping, giggling]

A stone which nature formed
is now just dust.

Yet what has changed?

The greater strength
is to do as God asks of you.

Faith, that is real strength.

To bend your will to God's,

that takes courage,
that takes strength.

My son has many
friends and admirers.

I wish I could count
myself among them.

When you forbade him
to capture Samson,

you took from him the prize
with which he hoped to win you.

Samson has not gone.

He's stepped back,
the better to leap forward.

They say he teaches.

They say he's
plowing the fields.

And I say
he's not gone away.

My son prepares.
He's right.

Perhaps I should
admire him for that.

(Samson) All God asks of us
is that we do his will.

For more than half my life,
I did not hear him,

until I began to realize
that his voice,

speaks to the heart of man
as well as the mind.

His generosity and love

may sometimes seem
difficult to understand,

but it is
always present.

[singing in Hebrew]

[singing resumes]

(Yoram) Samson led his people
as a judge.

Yet in his heart,

the dark desires of man still
sought to hold sway over him.

The desires of the flesh

and the flame of revenge
had not been quenched.

During all the time of peace,
when he stayed with his people,

two flames burned low in him
but were never extinguished.

The flame of lust
and the fire of revenge.

Please think again.

There must be something
I could do

to help you
change your mind.

No, I'm certain, Ira.
My mind is made up.

When a man is thirsty,
so must he drink.

My need is as strong
as thirst.

But God has bound you
to himself.

You cannot leave him now.

I do not leave him.

I ask him only to come
with me for a while.

No.

Yes.

I've decided.

God decides.

I decide.

Then you have
abandoned him already.

Please. Stay.

I cannot.

I fear for you.

You, my only child,

whom I've prayed for
every hour of my life.

Mother.

I am leaving,

but will always be
with you in my heart.

Then may the Lord
protect you.

Goodbye, my son.

Go. Quickly.

Samson!

Samson,
where are you going?

Where are you going?

To Gaza.

Gaza?
But you can't!

I must.
I have an appointment there.

No, Samson!

She's gone. It's over.
Put revenge behind you.

It is finished!

It is never finished.

They will kill you!

If that is my destiny...
then so be it.

Come back.

Come back to us.

[soldiers shouting]

[men laughing]

[woman singing]

[man laughing]

I take her to my bosom, yes

and in my arms enfold her

[continues indistinctly]

I take her to my bosom, yes

and in my arms enfold her

[humming]

Out of my way.

[panting]

You should have
heard them...

screaming!

Scream, Philistine!

For all eternity.

[both shouting]

[panting]

I am the instrument
of the Lord!

[rumbling]

[rumbling stops]

General Tariq!

General Tariq.
General Tariq.

On your feet, boy.

Samson.
S-Samson, he's...

Now, take a deep breath,

And you tell me
like a soldier.

Samson.
He's been here.

He's murdered a soldier,
Mahal.

The officer
with the scar.

Has he been apprehended?

No, he escaped.

The city gates...

They were still open?
By all the Gods...

No, commander,
they were closed and barred,

But they...

Well, out with it, boy.

- The city gates...
- Yes, yes.

They are torn off.

They're gone.

[men chattering]

Firstly, cut out the tongue
of anyone spreading this story

beyond the city limits.

I don't want them laughing at us
all the way to Ramah.

And then we send our whole army
into Israelite territories,

not just the borderlands.

We should burn them all, Father.

Commander.

Withdraw the whole army
from Israelite territories.

And the borderlands, too.

Order it back here
to Gaza.

Father?

Continue, commander.

If we attack,

the Israelites
will simply disperse.

Let them form an army,
attack us.

I will meet them
in the field,

and I will destroy
them all in open battle.

And Samson?

He must not be allowed
to lead a rebel army.

Without him,
we will defeat them.

With him at their head...

we must find a way
to prevent that.

They say their God
gives him his strength.

I'm just a simple soldier,
majesty, not a priest.

Your plan hardly indicates
a military cast of mind.

Well, a soldier can only deal
with what he knows,

and what we know of Samson

is he prefers
our women to his own.

The allure of strange flesh
is strong within him.

(Sidga)
This scheme is preposterous.

What certainty do you have
that this Samson

will take
the bait you offer?

Ha, ha, ha.
Well, wouldn't you

if she was offered to you?

What are we?
Panderers?

This is no way to
neutralize an enemy.

(Tariq) There is no general
on this earth

could devise a better plan
to lay his enemy low

than to capture him
by that part of his body

in which he is the weakest.

(King)
The fish will take the bait.

But will the bait
agree to the fish?

In fishing
there's only one certainty:

You can never be sure
of your catch.

There's always the danger
that the fish may escape

with the bait.

Is that not so,
general?

(King)
Very well. Agreed.

Delilah?

I'd be proud
to serve my people,

in return for
financial consideration.

(King)
Ah, yes.

Your loyalty to the throne
is measured in silver.

I'm offended,
but not surprised.

How much?

Eleven hundred pieces
of silver,

from everyone
in this chamber.

Agreed.

Let us proceed
with all haste.

Promise me, general,
never to devise a scheme

that puts me in that one's bed.

Careful, madam.
You speak treason.

No, I speak as a woman.

A woman now
of independent means.

Well, a girl must
look to her future.

A future wealthy enough

to escape when
the old king dies?

Exactly.

And Samson?

[inhales]

Would it be treason
to tell you I'm excited

by the prospect,
as a woman?

Would it be treason
to tell you,

I'm excited

by your excitement,
as a man?

[giggles]

Tell me.

Have you ever wondered
what it would be like,

you and me, together?

Several times.

I mean...

several times
each day.

And each night.

[giggles]

Let's hope Samson
provides the same service.

(Yoram)
Come home to us, Samson.

Have you not quenched
the fires within you?

Soon, now.
Soon I will come home.

Revenge is not the only cold
dish on which I have supped.

So tell me news
of our people.

They plan rebellion.

Who does?

Jehiel. Amram.

Since you left,

the only way
they can advance themselves

is to lead our men into war.

They should be
stopped.

Naomi supports them
in this?

Surely.

And what of my mother?

[chuckles]

Age is her only enemy now.

Age is no enemy.

It brings a courage
and a wisdom like no other.

The courage
to face God.

Samson, nothing will stop
them taking arms.

Not even you.

But if you would
come back now...

lead them, then maybe...

No, my friend.

No.

Rebellion will make martyrs,
but will not bring victory.

A generation will die
on Philistine swords.

If you are not there
to lead them.

The Lord God of Israel
calls you, Samson.

Why do you not hear him?

He gave me my strength.

He gave me water
when I was thirsty.

Well, then,

surely that's enough...

But he has never told me how
to destroy the Philistines.

He has never told me to join in
this March to certain death.

It's hard to hear
someone's voice...

when your back
is turned to him.

If I came back,
it would be to stop them.

I could prevent them,
show them their foolishness.

Then do it, Samson.

Save them from themselves.

I beg you.

(Yoram) But though I begged,
he did not hear me.

A voice greater than mine
drew him towards his destiny.

They said there were
fish in the river.

But not one that walks.

Samson.

Who are you?

Who would you like me to be?

Samson.

That means
"the son of the sun,”

doesn't it?

Yes.

I prefer the dark.

Looking up at the stars,

where everything
is written.

Perhaps you don't
believe in that?

At this moment, here, now,

I believe in
the woman beside me.

You and I are
supposed to be enemies.

But I don't see that
written in the stars,

so, therefore,
it cannot be so.

You are cousin to the king?

So they say.

And you?

You are the chosen
of your God.

So they say.

Chosen for what?

Hmm?

To lead your people?

Lead them away
from foolishness, perhaps.

And why do you not do so?

Because I choose you.

Are you tired?

No.

Good.

Do you want to sleep?

No. Do you?

No.

Chosen one.

I chose you, too.

[flute playing peaceful melody]

[chattering & laughing]

[women laughing]

This is beautiful.

You see, we're also
a simple people.

We love our childish games.

We have lives and loves.

We laugh and play.

Wait here.

[grunts]

[excited chattering]

[giggling]

Where does your strength
come from, Samson?

Like all strength,
it comes from within.

What would someone have to do

to make you powerless
in their arms?

To make me weak
like other men?

Yes. What?

Oooh!

Even if I told you,
you wouldn't believe me.

Oh, I love secrets.

Why would I
give up my strength?

It's all I have.

Well, except for me.

I want you,
powerless in my arms.

You would tell no one?

Who would I tell?

All right, if I were tied
with seven new bowstrings,

I would lose all my strength.

Seven new bowstrings?

(Yoram)
And thus did Delilah

begin to seek for the secret
of his very soul.

And as the Philistines
waited for him

to be delivered to them,

there was a man among them
who doubted, perhaps,

the wisdom of his own plan.

(Delilah)
Seven new bowstrings.

Tell me.

(Yoram)
In the innocence of his love,

beguiled, lost in Delilah
and in their lovers' games,

Samson did not see danger.

Samson.
Samson, the soldiers.

(Yoram) The first test,
he kept his pact with God.

Why do men always lie?

What?

[whispering]
Samson.

Samson, soldiers.

Soldiers, Samson.

You do not love me, Samson.

Yes.

More than reason itself.

(Yoram) And did Delilah herself
begin to doubt?

Was the sign of his faith

also the sign
of her true love for him?

For nine days and nine nights,
they were as one.

Samson fell beneath her spell.

It was beyond lust.

He loved her truly,
as a man loves a woman.

Her flesh, yes,

but her heart, her soul,
her every breath.

And blinded by that love,
he forgot his mission.

(Delilah [whispering])
Tell me.

(Samson [chuckles])
You know already.

(Delilah)
Tell me.

(Samson) Bind me...
with your arms and love.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Delilah, tell me.

What do you think?
You keep lying to me.

They're games.
They're not lies.

So why not the truth?

Because you are not
of my people.

And I've never told anyone.

I'm not of your people?

I am you.

We're one.

The rest is nothing.

Even my own have betrayed me.

And you think
I will, too?

I've given you my life.

I am giving you my life.

Do you doubt my love?

No.

Do you doubt me?

No.

Of course you do.

I cannot give up
my only gift.

Your gift?

Do you think I really want
you weakened, powerless?

I love you.

The man that you are.

Why would I want
to change you?

These...

These are games
we've been playing.

If I told you the truth,
you could not test me.

I would not.

To test me is to destroy me.

I understand.

You could not.
No games with the truth.

None then. None ever.

You're so beautiful.

No more tests.

Just love.

The proof of love.

I cannot be betrayed in this.

I give you my word.

We are as one.

As one.

[people chattering]

Huh?

Why have you been crying,
my only love?

Have you not slept?

I've been watching over you.

And you were sad?

My heart is... heavier than
all the iron in our land.

Why?

While you were sleeping,

I held the power of life
or death in my hands.

The life or death
of the man you love?

But you did not cut.

No. I did not.

But now...

Now?

Now I must.

Put that away.

When power is given,
how can it not be used?

Because love is stronger still.

Oh, yes.

Love.

Love.

[screams]

[gasps]

[whimpering]

Take him!

Remember me,
Israelite?

Where is your strength now,
savior of Israel?

And where is your God?

Cut!

Bring him out!

Delilah!

(Delilah)
No!

[screaming]

(Delilah)
No!

[Samson continues screaming]

[continues screaming]

[people clamoring]

My son.

My son.

Enjoy yourself, Israelite!

Aaah!

[prisoners moaning]

[panting]

(Samson)
You have forsaken me?

Look.

It is there.

The sign.

Praise the Lord.

Now we can begin.

The time has come!

[cheering]

And the time is now!

[cheering]

We shall no longer
bow our heads!

We shall no longer
bend our knees

to the Philistines
and their images of gods!

[cheering]

Our seed shall multiply
and flourish in freedom!

And we shall come to know
how they walked as free men!

Lord, forgive Samson.
Stay by his side.

Please, stay by his side.

Do not abandon him now.

Please, Lord, help him.

Please.

Now it shall begin!

[cheering]

We shall take off the yoke
of the unclean!

[cheering]

No, I beg you!

I beg you, stop!

It is the will of God.

No, it is the will of men!

Silence!

The Lord is with us!

[cheering]

We shall be cloaked
in divine armor!

For Gaza!

[cheering]

For Gaza!

[prisoners moaning]

[chattering]

[clamoring]

Where is he?

Disturbed from our sleep
for that... that piece...

Move your feet!

You maggot-ridden vermins.

On your feet, Israelite.

On your feet!

Up! Up!

Yes.

There's somebody to see you.

And if you know
what's good for you... move!

Behave yourself!

Up the steps. Come.

Sit him down.

No, lay him down.

[moans]

Wait outside.

Drink.

Who are you?

Your enemy.

[gasps]

Do not be afraid.

I cannot restore
his sight.

But you can ease the pain?

Yes.

Then use all your skill.

Tell me about your God, Samson.

He is the one God,
the true God.

And he has brought you to this?

Yes.

Then he is a harsh God.

I have been a great sinner.

You think he punishes you?

I know it.

[scoffs]

Then how do you make amends?

I pray for the courage
to repent.

[prisoner screaming]

I will speak to the jailer.

I will see to it that, uh,
you are treated better.

Will you speak to them
of the other prisoners also?

That I cannot do.

Then neither must you
speak to them of me.

You are stubborn.

And proud, yes.

But no longer vain.

Why did you come?

To see you.

To learn.

And to tell you...
that tomorrow...

I will lead our army
against your Israelites...

and I will win.

I will surely win.

Yes, I know.

You know?

How do you know?

I see it.

As I see into your heart.

[chuckles]

I am the first general
of the Philistines,

your enemy, Samson,
and I have no heart.

You are not my enemy.

At last I understand...

how I have filled
that role myself.

[crowd still clamoring]

Thousands of them,
cavalry, chariots,

old Tarig's commanding them.

The Israelites are for it now.

They won't stand a chance.

You! Get away from there!
Get down! Get down!

Go on, get away from there!
All of you! Get back!

[all shouting]

In the Philistines,

strike fear, o God,
in their hearts!

Scatter them!

What is this place?

We are above a valley.

At this end
is our Philistine army,

and at the other...

Israelites.

Yes.

With weapons of bronze
and foolish generals.

And empty certainties.

A soldier of mine
who spoke those words.

Would lose his head
as a traitor.

Truth betrays
no one.

Was this
really necessary?

Does it not amuse you,
general?

No.

I thought you were a man
of wit and humor.

I thought you were
a prince of dignity.

The only pity
is that he cannot see

his people meet their destiny
with death.

[yelling]

The Israelites
are coming forward now.

They advance.

In moments our own army
will step out to meet them.

Soon now.

Soon.

The Philistines
hold their position?

Yes.

General Tariq,
give the order to attack.

(Jehiel)
Scatter them!

There. A signal
has been fired. Now.

What? Tell me.

The Philistine foot soldiers
in the center...

They are retreating.

(Samson)
Retreating?

(Sidga) General Tariq,
forbid your men from retreating.

They obey my orders.

(Sidga) What kind of soldiers
are they?

(Tariq)
Skilled in the tactics of war.

They are pulling back.

No.

No, they are leading
the Israelite lambs...

to my slaughterhouse.

(Tariq)
I hate an incompetent enemy.

They make me less.

Less?

They turn a general
into a butcher.

Charge!

Our foot soldiers
have stopped retreating.

The cavalry detachments
on each flank are advancing.

The bowmen are ready.

The trap is sprung.

They stumble into it.

[warriors clamoring]

[whinnying]

[laughs]

[sobbing]

Amram.

[whinnying]

Tell him!

Now the chariots
swing round.

They ride them down.

Their lines are broken.

[screaming]

They are broken.

Where are you going?

Battle's over.

God, forgive my people.

Don't you want to watch?

No, your highness.

Like watching
the ocean tide come in,

it's inevitable, but dull.

Magnificent, general.
This is your victory.

A tide is a tide,
your highness,

even when it's measured
in blood.

[gasping]

[yells]

[panting]

Samson.

[weeping]

Jehiel. Jehiel.

Samson! No!

[screaming]

Bravely done, your highness.

Bravely done.

[falcon cries]

[sobbing]

[cheering]

It pleases the people.

But did it please our Gods?

It was a great victory,
my old friend.

Yes, majesty.

A great victory.

[men moaning]

[man shouting]

Go on!

When his eyes were taken...

Your beauty was taken
from him too.

Now you're the same to him
as any other woman.

(Yoram)
And thus in his suffering

did the faith of Samson
begin to grow.

How could God's design
be fulfilled

by a powerless blind man
chained to a wheel?

The mystery of God's plan
could be seen by no one,

except, perhaps, the one man
who could see nothing else.

Even as the Philistines
rejoiced,

there was still one who knew
that the shadow of doubt

can darken
man's brightest day.

[rumbling]

(Yoram)
In all of Gaza,

the one who had doubted
began to wonder,

if he, too, was part
of the instrument

of God's unknowable design.

(Man)
Quickly, now!

Quickly!

Go on!

Samson.

Yoram?

Yoram?

It's not much,
but the lamb is good.

How did you get...?

I found work here.

Drink.

God is good.

A beard.

You're a man, Yoram.

No longer the child
I used to know.

And one day I'll be old.

Drink, eat.

My mother?

Living.

And Naomi?

Here, in Gaza.

She's here?

She's mad.
The danger.

Ira is dead.

His sons killed in the battle.

He lived a few weeks, then died
with God's name on his lips.

Ira.

He kept showing me the way,
and I kept looking elsewhere.

(Man)
All right! Finish now. Come on!

Eat and remember
what he taught us,

God's hand writes straight
even when the lines are crooked.

(Man)
Come on, come on! Come on, up!

God is my strength.

God is my strength.

God is my strength.

Your highness?

What do you want?

Someone wishes to see you.

A woman.

An Israelite woman.

How much did she bribe you?

Highness.

Fetch her.

Leave us.

Who are you?

Just a woman.

Well? What do you want?

I want you to help me
to see someone.

You do, do you?

And who might
that be?

Samson.

Just a woman.

This will be
a feast to remember,

my faithful friends.

Majesty, to make
the celebrations complete,

could you not order Samson
be brought down and displayed?

You are cruel,
Delilah.

The savior of Israel, Samson,
brought here in chains?

Ha.

What do you think,
my old friend?

Well, surely, uh...

If Delilah wishes,
majesty.

The weakness
of beautiful women

is that they become soft because
men can deny them nothing.

Surely, Delilah, above all,
deserves to be rewarded.

Rewarded, yes. And consoled, eh?

So it shall be.

God is my strength.

God is my strength.

God is my strength.

Why did you ask for Samson
to be brought here?

To entertain his captors.

Has he not suffered enough?

All the world's
a wheel, commander.

You taught me that once.

I did.
And when was that?

Before I knew
the pain of feeling.

You did not want him here
just for display.

No.

Then what?

Because even though I sold him,
he's still mine.

Is he?

Samson.

I have sinned against him.

[sobbing]
Every law, every commandment.

How can he forgive me?

The mercy of God
is infinite.

And his punishment severe.

You've looked all your life,
Samson, for a sign.

And I never knew that
the need to search...

was itself the sign.

[chuckling]

But now?

Now everything is dark.

And within the darkness...

I see the Lord.

The only world I see now
belongs to God.

Oh, Samson.

Yes.

On your feet, Israelite.

Boy, help him.

[chuckling]

(Man) Out of the way there!
Come on, get back!

Move. Move!
For the savior of Israel.

The savior of Israel.

The savior of Israel.

[crowd clamoring]

Are you his woman?

I thought you were.

No.

I'm the woman he trusted.

When he looked into my eyes,
I was the last he saw.

You hated him so much?

They paid me well.

You hated him so much.

He'd become too dangerous.

You hated him...

So much.

No. I loved him too well.

Yet, still
you brought him down.

Yes.

That's enough.

This is not love.

And you?
Do you love him?

Since I first knew him.

And he... loved you?

Come. I'll make a bargain
with you.

Come.
A very small bargain.

So everything is ready?

Good.

(Samson) Yoram, where are we?
Where are they taking me?

(Yoram)
To the pillars.

Yoram!

I'm here.

I'm here.

Now, go.

Yoram, know that
I have loved you.

(Yoram)
But I can stay.

(Samson)
Go!

Go quickly.

(Yoram)
Samson.

Go quickly.

Go to him.

(Yoram)
Samson.

Samson.

Naomi?

Naomi?

Naomi.

Samson.

Take her with you, Yoram.
Take her.

No. Not yet.
Give us a few moments.

For all the years.

Ye... yes.

A few moments.

And when I tell you to go,
you will leave at once,

out of the temple,
out of the city.

Yes, yes.
What is it, Samson?

Do you swear?
Both of you?

Yes.

Yes. I swear.

I swear.

Here I am.

Beside me,
where you've always been.

And now my body wears chains

that have always been around
my heart.

And yet I see you as you are.
Free.

It is they who are enslaved.

They will all die.

What?

All men must die.
Only the hour is unknown.

Will you kiss me
farewell, Samson?

Naomi, do not torture me.

(Naomi)
Please.

With the mark of your kiss,
I will always be blessed.

Dry your tears... woman.

It has taken me
a lifetime to understand

that God is the God
of forgiveness.

Now. Leave me now.

It is over.

(Tariq)
Boy...

I want you to do
something for me.

Leave the temple.

Ride away from Gaza.

General?

Do as I say, boy.

Ride like the wind.

Yes, commander.

Hurry.

In which direction,
general?

West.

To the sea?

Yes.

And then?

Submerge yourself
in the water...

then ride back.

Go!

Now, o God of Israel,

grant me that
for which I was born.

Ah, there is Samson,
hero of the mighty Israelites,

come to worship
at the altar of our gods

whom you defied.

Grant me the strength again
just once.

O God!

[stone cracking]

Forgive Samson, God of Israel!

[rumbling]

Kill him!

Kill him!

[yells]

Kill him!

[groaning]

[yells]

[crowd screaming]

My son. My son! You knew.

You knew!

[roaring]

[screaming]

[rumbling]

Oh!

Forgive my son,
o God of Israel.

With me die the Philistines!

[yelling]

(Man)
Run for your life!

At last, o God of Israel!

[screams echoing]

[wind whistling]

[man chanting in Hebrew]

(Yoram) And thus did Samson return
to the land of Israel.

Thus did my friend,
the son of Mara and Manoah,

judge of his people,
return to his home,

passing on the way
the very well

where the stranger
had foretold his birth.

The will of God
had been fulfilled.

And the faith which
in his life he had sought

was now finally
and certainly found.

It was not the least
of his gifts to me.

To all things
there is a purpose.

It was through
the Philistine woman Delilah

that Samson finally came
to the faith

which began the liberation

that the Lord God of Israel
had promised.

He will not be forgotten.