[Jesus has just been returned to Pilate after King Herod finds him innocent of the Pharisees' charges. This causes an uproar across the city and Pilate sends out soldiers to pacify the growing mobs]
King Herod has found no fault in Jesus, and neither have I. [the crowd jeered in disappointment, prompting Abenader to deploy soldiers to keep them under control]
[to the crowd]
Silence! Have you no respect for our kind Roman procurator?! [the crowd laughs]
I have made it customary that every year, I release a prisoner to you, and right now, we are holding one: the murderer Barabbas!
[the Roman guards bring a filthy and bloodied Barabbas before the jeering crowd]
Now who among these two men do you want me to set free? Barabbas? Or Jesus, your "Messiah"?!
[referring to Jesus]
He is no Messiah! He's an impostor! A blasphemer! [turns to Pilate] Set Barabbas free.
[in a gleeful unison]
FREE BARABBAS!
[the crowd repeats the same line, and Pilate acquiesces to their demands. Barabbas is then released, much to his joy while the crowd looks at him in disgust]
What do you want me to do with Jesus?!
CRUCIFY HIM!
[looks at Claudia, who is watching the trial from the veranda nearby]
No! I will chastise him, and then I will set him free!
[the crowd is dismayed by the decision and they jeered at Jesus and the Romans] [to Abenader]
See to it that the punishment is severe, Abenader, but make sure they don't kill the man.
