PILATE 

And so the king is once again my guest. 
And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?

CAIAPHAS 

We turn to Rome to sentence Nazareth. 
We have no law to put a man to death. 
We need him crucified. 
It's all you have to do. 
We need him crucified. 
It's all you have to do.

PILATE 

Talk to me Jesus Christ. 
You have been brought here 
Manacled, beaten by your own people. 
Do you have the first idea why you deserve it? 
Listen King of the Jews, 
Where is your kingdom? 
Look at me. Am I a Jew?

JESUS 

I have no kingdom in this world. 
I'm through. 
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere. 
If you only knew.

PILATE 

Then you are a king?

JESUS 

It's you that say I am. 
I look for truth and find that I get damned.

PILATE 

But what is truth? 
Is truth a changing law? 
We both have truths. 
Are mine the same as yours?

MOB 

Crucify him! Crucify him!

PILATE 

What do you mean? 
You'd crucify your king?

MOB 

We have no king but Caesar!

PILATE 

He's done no wrong. 
No, not the slightest thing.

MOB 

We have no king but Caesar! 
Crucify him!

PILATE 

What is this new respect for Caesar? 
'Till now this has been noticeably lacking. 
Who is this Jesus? Why is he different? 
You choose Messiahs by the sackfull.

MOB 

We need him crucified, 
It's all you have to do. 
We need him crucified, 
It's all you have to do.

PILATE 

Talk to me, Jesus Christ.
Look at your Jesus Christ. 
I'll agree he's mad. 
Ought to be locked up, 
But that is not a reason to destroy him. 
He's a sad little man. 
Not a King or God. 
Not a thief, 
I need a crime!

MOB 

Crucify him!

PILATE 

Behold a man, 
Behold your shattered King. 

MOB 

We have no King but Caesar.

PILATE 

You hypocrites, 
You hate us more than him.

MOB 

We have no King but Caesar, 
Crucify him!

PILATE 

I see no reason. I find no evil. 
This man is harmless, so why does he upset you? 
He's just misguided, thinks he's important, 
But to keep you vultures happy I shall flog him.

MOB 

Crucify him! Crucify him! 

(Thirty-nine lashes, Pilate counts) 
PILATE 

Where are you from Jesus? 
What do you want Jesus? 
Tell me. 
You've got to be careful. 
You could be dead soon, 
Could well be. 
Why do you not speak when 
I hold your life in my hands? 
How can you stay quiet? 
I don't believe you understand.

JESUS 

You have nothing in your hands. 
Any power you have, comes to you from far beyond. 
Everything is fixed, and you can't change it.

PILATE 

You're a fool Jesus Christ. 
How can I help you?

MOB 

Pilate, Crucify him! 
Remember Caesar. 
You have a duty 
To keep the peace, so crucify him! 
Remember Caesar. 
You'll be demoted. 
You'll be deported. Crucify him!

Remember Caesar. 
You have a duty 
To keep the peace, so crucify him! 
Remember Caesar. 
You'll be demoted. 
You'll be deported. Crucify him!

Remember Caesar. 
You have a duty 
To keep the peace, so crucify him! 
Remember Caesar. 
You'll be demoted. 
You'll be deported. Crucify him!

PILATE 

Don't let me stop your great self-destruction. 
Die if you want to, you misguided martyr. 
I wash my hands of your demolition. 
Die if you want to you innocent puppet!