Trial Before Pilate
Jesus Christ Superstar
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!
