Bob Schwartz

“Your plea has moved me. Your people are free to go. You have a long and perilous journey ahead of you.”
Rameses

The movie The Ten Commandments (1956) is a famous and spectacular wide-screen reimagining of the Passover story. Following is a revision of that reimagining.

The scene here, adapted from the original movie scene, is one in which Moses approaches Rameses and makes the legendary demand “Let my people go!”

Instead of hardened heart, Rameses relents. He sees that a peaceful resolution will be best for all concerned and will avoid conflict and unnecessary death and destruction.

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Rameses sits on his throne. Moses approaches, with the calm, stern face of a prophet, staff in hand and wearing a Bedouin robe. The white-robed Wazir moves to bar their way.

WAZIR
What kingdom has sent you?

MOSES
The Kingdom of the Most High.

The Wazir looks bewildered but makes no further effort to detain their approach to the dais.

FANBEARER
These must be ambassadors from Midian, Divine One.

RAMESES
Oh – Bedouins.

FANBEARER
What gifts do you bring?

MOSES
We bring you the Word of God.

Rameses, puzzled, tries to recall some association with the voice. His features harden ­ then change into a grim smile. Rameses is prepared to be amused.

RAMESES
What is this word?

MOSES
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go! Men shall be ruled by Law… not by the will of other men.

RAMESES
I recognize you now my brother. How you have changed! You and I have had our bitter differences. I do not know your God. I thought our God was your God, but now I see that is not so. I am not as hardhearted as you believe. Your plea has moved me. Your people are free to go. You have a long and perilous journey ahead of you.

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© 2025 by Bob Schwartz