ABC PREMIERE EVENT: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS {PART 1 OF 2} (TV)
Summary
Part one in this two-part adaptation of "one of the greatest stories ever told," the biblical tale of Moses' efforts to free the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and take them to "the Promised Land." This program begins with Egypt's pharaoh dreaming of plagues, learning that "danger" approaches from a slave child who will become a prince of Egypt and "bring down both horse and rider." The pharaoh then orders all the Hebrew newborns to be slain. Meanwhile, a young boy is born to the slave family of Amram and Jochebed. With the child about to be killed, Jochebed rushes him away to float down the Nile River in a basket. Later, the boy is found adrift on the river by Princess Bithia of the royal household. Though she knows he is a slave, she adopts him and calls him Moses, against the advice of royal consort Rani. Rani fears that Moses is the child destined to lead the slave rebellion. Jochebed serves as the wet nurse for Moses. Later, the princess gives birth to another son, Menerith, but she loves Moses as much as her real son. Growing up as children of privilege, both Moses and Menerith are trained to be princes of Egypt. One day, the princess tells Moses that he is not only adopted, but that his parents are slaves. Moses is brought to meet Amram and Jochebed, as well as his sister Miriam and older brother Aaron. Jochebed explains why she needed to give him away, upsetting Moses. Later, Moses visits the tomb of Joseph and learns how Joseph's journey to Egypt led to the Hebrews being enslaved by the Egyptians. Moses also learns about the Hebrew God and how they do not worship false idols. Amram is angered at how God has seemingly turned his back on them. Amram's outburst frightens Moses, inciting him to run back to the palace and seek comfort from Rani, who assures him that he is a prince of Egypt. Years later, Moses and Menerith walk through the city as young men, watching as the slaves build pyramids. Meanwhile, Moses intercedes when a soldier tries to rape a slave, accidentally killing the man. The pharaoh orders Moses to be arrested and Menerith secretly leads his brother to safety. Deep in the desert, Moses and Menerith have a teary goodbye, with Moses thinking that he doesn't "belong" in either culture. Alone in the desert, Moses struggles to survive. Meanwhile, some bullying shepherds try to take over a field from a woman, Zipporah, who's minding the flock of her father, Jethro. Moses appears and stops them. Afterward, Moses is brought back to Jethro, who questions him on his Egyptian upbringing and seemingly being "a man without a past." Moses remains in the desert, finding himself at home and happy with the life of a shepherd. He falls in love with Zipporah, marries her, and she soon gives birth to a son, Gershom. One day, Moses defies Zipporah's advice and climbs the "holy" Mount Horeb. There, he sees a burning bush from which God speaks, telling him to return to Egypt to free the Hebrews from slavery. Moses is scared to accept his responsibilities, thinking no one will believe him. God turns Moses' staff into a cobra to showcase his powers. Moses then returns to Zipporah and Jethro, who tells him that he must listen to God and help his people. Moses says goodbye to Jethro and heads back to Egypt with Zipporah and Gershom, trying to speak to God en route. The journey is arduous, but soon enough they are back in Egypt. There, Princess Bithia recognizes Moses, telling him that he no longer needs to hide since the old pharaoh is dead, replaced by Ramses. The princess offers to have Moses and Zipporah live at the palace but he instead chooses to live amongst the Hebrews. There, he reunites with his sister Miriam, who tells Moses that Amram and Jochebed are now dead. Moses informs Aaron that he has spoken with God and is acting on his orders. He shocks his brother by stating that he was sent by "I am who I am." Aaron recognizes the words through which God was prophesied to reveal himself and immediately joins up with his brother. Moses speaks with the other Hebrew slaves, who question whether Moses truly spoke with God and is able to lead them to freedom. Moses and Aaron march into the palace, asking Ramses to free the slaves after four-hundred years of service. Ramses thinks his gods are more powerful than the Hebrew God. To demonstrate his powers, Moses lets his staff become a snake, after which the priests do the same. However, the snake from Moses kills the other serpents. Moses then gives Ramses three days to change his mind but the Pharaoh refuses to haggle with slaves. Afterward, Menerith catches up with Moses, wondering if he found the God he was always seeking. Menerith calls Ramses "weak," thinking Moses humiliated the pharaoh in public. Moses is forced to go back to laboring with his fellow Hebrew slaves. Later, Moses gathers the other Hebrews, curious as to why they would rather remain as slaves than follow him. Moses tries to create an uprising amongst them. Then, Moses gives Ramses one final warning to free the slaves, but he refuses to listen. Moses sends Zipporah back to Jethro as he and Aaron prepare to take on "the might of Egypt." First, Moses turns the Nile to blood, amusing Ramses until he realizes that it's not a simple magician's trick. Then, reptiles such as frogs invade the land before the cattle begin to die and starvation sets in. Again, Moses speaks with Ramses, who wonders why all his people must suffer. Next, the locusts come and eat the little food remaining. Later, Menerith tells Moses that Ramses is scared of his God. Soon, citizens are plagued by boils, then witness a violent hail mixed with fire. Ramses learns that the Egyptians are beginning to fear Moses, causing him to ask Menerith how much longer he can count on his army. Menerith responds that many feel that the slaves should be freed. However, Ramses thinks himself a god and decides to stand firm, refusing to sacrifice anything. Then, Ramses learns about the former pharaoh's vision and hears from Princess Bithia that Moses is a prince of Egypt. Moses orders Ramses to release all the slaves but he again refuses, saying that Moses will be killed the next time he enters the palace. Moses goes back to his people, saying that freedom is near and that they are in their last hours as slaves. He instructs them to put animal blood above their doors as protection from God's next act: the death of the first born in unmarked houses. The next morning, the son of Ramses as well as Menerith's son are among the dead Egyptian children. Menerith tells Moses that his God "won" and that now Ramses will finally grant the slaves' freedom. Menerith is angry at both God and Moses. Then, Moses collects the remains of Joseph at his grave as he prepares to take the Hebrews back to the desert. Leading them through the gates of the city, Moses hurries them along, fearful that Ramses will change his mind. His followers wonder where he will take them and how long it will take. Meanwhile, Ramses, accompanied by Menerith, decides to pursue the fleeing Hebrews with the army. After following a pillar of whirling sand, the Hebrews end up trapped on a cliff at the edge of the Red Sea. Moses again hears from God before he parts the waters, enabling his people to pass between the liquid walls safely. Moses remains on the cliff for the arrival of Menerith, who holds his spear high, prepared to strike down his brother. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: April 10, 2006 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:56:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:89560
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2006
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Hoot" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Mission Impossible III" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - ABC for a better community
- TV - Commercials - ASPCA for animal cruelty prevention
- TV - Commercials - Aleve arthritis pain relief
- TV - Commercials - Aveeno lotion
- TV - Commercials - Bayer Easy Accuracy blood tester
- TV - Commercials - Bertolli frozen dinners
- TV - Commercials - Carnival cruise lines
- TV - Commercials - Claritin-D allergy medication
- TV - Commercials - CoverGirl lipstick
- TV - Commercials - Crest whitening strips
- TV - Commercials - Dr. Scholl's insoles
- TV - Commercials - Farmer's Insurance Group
- TV - Commercials - Folger's Breakfast Blend coffees
- TV - Commercials - Gillette Fusion razors
- TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Toasted Honey Crunch cereal
- TV - Commercials - Kraft's South Beach Diet breakfast wraps
- TV - Commercials - Lamisil toenail infection medication
- TV - Commercials - Lipitor cholesterol medication
- TV - Commercials - Listerine breath spray
- TV - Commercials - Lubriderm lotion
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Mylanta antacid
- TV - Commercials - Nasonex nasal spray
- TV - Commercials - Neosporin antibiotic ointment
- TV - Commercials - Olay face cleanser
- TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
- TV - Commercials - OneTouch diabetes tester
- TV - Commercials - Payless shoe stores
- TV - Commercials - Salute America's Heroes organization
- TV - Commercials - Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Splenda artificial sweetener
- TV - Commercials - Sprint calling plans
- TV - Commercials - Subway restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Target stores
- TV - Commercials - Tylenol pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - USO.org
- TV - Commercials - Uno Attack! card game
- TV - Commercials - Verizon wireless
- TV - Commercials - Walt Disney World vacations
- TV - Commercials - Zatarain's Complete Meals!
- TV - Commercials - Zetia cholesterol medication
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "American Inventor"
- TV - Promos - "Commander in Chief"
- TV - Promos - "Desperate Housewives"
- TV - Promos - "Freddie"
- TV - Promos - "George Lopez"
- TV - Promos - "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown"
- TV - Promos - "Lost"
- TV - Promos - "Nightline"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime"
- TV - Promos - "Supernanny"
- TV - Promos - "The Evidence"
- TV - Promos - "What About Brian"
CREDITS
- Robert Halmi … Executive Producer
- Robert Halmi … Executive Producer
- Paul Lowin … Producer
- Laura Julian … Production (Misc.), Line Producer
- Harriet Donington … Production (Misc.), Visual Effects Producer
- Dan Barrow … Production (Misc.), Visual Effects Producer
- Victoria McDowell … Production (Misc.), Visual Effects Line Producer
- Robert Dornhelm … Director
- Ron Hutchinson … Writer
- Randy Edelman … Music by
- Dougray Scott … Cast, Moses
- Linus Roache … Cast, Aaron
- Naveen Andrews … Cast, Menerith
- Mia Maestro … Cast, Zipporah
- Paul Rhys … Cast, Ramses
- Richard O'Brien … Cast, Anander
- Silas Carson … Cast, Jered
- Padma Lakshmi … Cast, Princess Bithia
- Susan Lynch … Cast, Miriam
- Claire Bloom … Cast, Rani
- Omar Sharif … Cast, Jethro
- Rachid Abbad … Cast, Overseer #3
- Latefa Ahrrare … Cast, Tribes Woman #3
- Ashley Artus … Cast, Sichem
- Said Bey … Cast, Tribesman #3
- John Boswall … Cast, Egyptian Priest
- Hicham Bahloul … Cast, Tribesman #2
- De Selva, Simon … Cast, Overseer #1
- Julius D'Silva … Cast, Pharaoh
- Pascal Friel … Cast, Egyptian Officer
- Peter Gevisser … Cast, Reuven
- Patrick Gordon … Cast, Balaam
- Ben Hammersley … Cast, Young Moses
- Arrun Harker … Cast, Young Menerith
- Greg Hicks … Cast, Jekuthiel
- Louis Hilyer … Cast, Amram
- Hanana Ibrahimi … Cast, Tribes Woman #2
- Lisa Jacobs … Cast, Jochebed
- Maria Jettou … Cast, Chief Maid
- Stefan Kalipha … Cast, Chief Minister
- Tom Keller … Cast, Yitzchak
- Khanssa Mazhkkour … Cast, Young Miriam
- Marina Morgan … Cast, Leah
- Hamid Nider … Cast, Palace Sorcerer
- Firlid Othminni … Cast, Young Gershom
- Mehdi Ouazzani … Cast, Leah's Husband
- Sally Patrick … Cast, Tribes Woman #1
- Peter Renaday … Cast, Narrator
- Ian Ricketts … Cast, Heber
- Rudy Ruggiero … Cast, Tribesman #1
- Karim Saleh … Cast, Joshua
- Adrian Schiller … Cast, Shemaiah
- David Schneider … Cast, Tobia
- Matthew Sim … Cast, Soothsayer
- Taylor Gordon, Hannah … Cast, Rachel
- John Wark … Cast, Laban