Great Performances (TV Series)

Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)

Fred Johanson: Pontius Pilate

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jesus : I have got no kingdom in this world, I'm through, through, through.

  Crowd : Talk to me, Jesus!

  Jesus : I may have a kingdom somewhere, if I only knew!

  Pontious Pilate : Then you're a King?

  Jesus : It's you who say I am! I know the truth, and find that I get damned!

  Pontious Pilate : But what IS truth? Not easy to define! We both have truths! Are yours the same as mine?

• Crowd : Crucify him! Crucify him!

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

  Crowd : We have no king but Caesar!

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

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

  Pontious Pilate : What is this new respect for Caesar? 'Til now this has been noticably LACKING! Who is this Jesus? Why is he different? You Jews produce messiahs by the sackful!

  Crowd : We need him crucified! It's all you have to do! We need him crucified! It's all you have to do!

  Pontious Pilate : Talk to me, Jesus Christ.

• Pontious Pilate : Look at your Jesus Christ! I'll agree, he's mad! Ought to be locked up! But this is not a reason to destroy him! He's a sad little man! Not a king or a god! Not a thief! I need a crime!

  Crowd : Kill him! He says he's God! He's a blasphemer! He'll conquer you and us, and even Caesar!

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

  Annas : Someone Christ, King of the Jews.

  Pontious Pilate : Oh, so this is Jesus Christ; I am really quite surprised, you look so small! Not a king at all! We all know that you're a news, but are you King? King of the Jews?

  Jesus : That's what you say.

• Pontious Pilate : Why is he different? You Jews produce "messiahs" by the sackful!

• Pontious Pilate : And so this 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.

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

• Pontious Pilate : Talk to me, Jesus Christ. You have been brought here, manacled, beaten by your 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?

• Crowd : Crucify him! Crucify him!

  Pontious Pilate : Behold the man! Behold your shattered king!

  Crowd : We have no king but Caesar!

  Pontious Pilate : You hypocrites! You hate us more than him!

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

  Pontious Pilate : I find no reason! I see 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!

• Pontious 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'd 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.

  Pontious Pilate : You're a fool, Jesus Christ! How can I help you?

• Crowd : Pilate, crucify him! Crucify! 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!

  [crowd repeats "Remember Caesar! You have a duty, etc." two more times] 

  Pontious Pilate : [shouts]  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!