Messala offers an ultimatum - be with him in helping o eliminate rebellion or against him."If that is the choice, hen I""m against you," Judah affirms.Marking him as a troublemaker, Messala breaks off their friendship abruptly.Miriam and Tirzah are saddened to hear that Messala has suddenly left their home, hearing hat he wanted to use Ben-Hur to betray their people." They further described the bout as a charity event, to occur in Las Vegas, but Rocky was unsure and uncertain now that he had actually been approached to be in a fight, and wanted time to think about it.Douglas Fairbanks wrote the story (under the pseudonym Elton Thomas), performed in, and produced the film.Citizens were ordered to no longer occupy private residences, no matter how safely they were protected or well-stocked.