Alexander Revisited:
The Final Cut

PTOLEMY (v.o):

The conspiracy, such it was, deeply upset Alexander. Not only because it involved the young people who shared his dream, but more intimately, it implicated Philotas, his companion from boyhood when a page confessed that a few days before, he’d informed Philotas...

PTOLEMY (v.o):

…of the plot.

PTOLEMY (v.o):

We all felt there was more here than sexual bickering. Alexander wanted the truth and Philotas’ answers were lacking merit.

Alexander: Please take him away.

PTOLEMY (v.o):

Alexander put him silently and quickly to trial by his peers, and whether a plotter or opportunist, Philotas was found guilty of treason.

Philotas:

No, Alexander, no!

PTOLEMY (v.o):

The suspects were all executed. None of us defended Philotas, but then again, none of us ever liked him. And of course his power was carved up by the rest of us. Before he died, we tortured him to find out what his father, Parmenion, knew. But this we never learned. What to do with Parmenion and his 20,000 troops guarding our supply lines was a far more delicate matter. Was he innocent in this? Or had he decided to act before age further withered his power?

PTOLEMY (v.o):

Necessity required Alexander to act and he sealed the camp within the hour of the first accusations against Philotas.

PTOLEMY (v.o):

Three days’ hard riding sent Antigonus and Cleitus to Parmenion, the general most loyal to Philip. His soldiers accepted the finding of guilt against Parmenion as they understood well the code of vengeance that made the head of family responsible for the behavior of all. Many of us felt we were better off without that pompous thorn, Parmenion, as Alexander promoted all of us generously.