Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Barry Dennen: Pontius Pilate

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Quotes 

• Pontius Pilate : I dreamed I met a Galilean, a most amazing man. He had that look you very rarely find, the haunting, hunted kind. I asked him to say what had happened, how it all began. I asked again, he never said a word, as if he hadn't heard. And next, the room was full of wild and angry men, they seemed to hate this man. They fell on him and then disappeared again. Then I saw thousands of millions crying for this man, and then I heard them mentioning my name, and leaving me the blame.

• Crowd : Crucify him! Crucify him!

  Pontius Pilate : What do you mean? You'd crucify your king?

  Crowd : We have no king but Caesar!

  Pontius Pilate : He's done no wrong! No, not the slightest thing!

  Crowd : We have no king but Caesar! Crucify him!

  Pontius Pilate : Well, this is new, respect for Caesar! 'Till now, this has been noticeably lacking! Who is this Jesus? Why is he different? You Jews produce Messiahs by the sackful!

• Pontius 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.

• Pontius Pilate : [after the 39 lashes]  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 have 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.

• Pontius Pilate : [singing]  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!

  Crowd : Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him-Crucify him-Crucify him-Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him-Crucify him-Crucify him-Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him-Crucify him-Crucify him-Crucify!

  Pontius Pilate : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39!

• Pontius Pilate : Then you are a king?

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

  Pontius Pilate : And what is "truth"? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours?

• Pontius Pilate : Who is this broken man cluttering up my hallway? Who is this unfortunate?

  Soldier : Someone Christ, King of the Jews.

• Pontius 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.

  Crowd : Talk to me, Jesus Christ...

  Jesus : There may be a kingdom for me somewhere, if you only knew.

• Pontius Pilate : 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!

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

• Pontius Pilate : [to Jesus after the 39 lashes]  You're a fool, Jesus Christ! How can I help you?

• Pontius Pilate : [singing]  Oh, so this is Jesus Christ, I am really quite surprised, You look so small - not a king at all...