G L A D I A T O R by David Franzoni FIRST DRAFT Revised April 4, 1998 FADE IN: EXT. NEAR THE GERMAN FRONT - 180 A.D. - DAWN The rising sun unveils steep hills and luxuriant mountains untouched by man. Snow flurries dart in the frigid air and on the horizon CROWS gather. EXT. DIRT ROAD A column of Praetorian Cavalry flank two enclosed wagons as they rattle along a rock and log accordion road. On all sides a forest rises like some kind of primordial soul: limitless and dark. With every step 'steam' whooshes from the nostrils of the horses. The first wagon halts as a Praetorian Guard jogs back. He straightens his tunic and helmet and raps on the wooden door as the second wagon stops behind. The door swings aside and another Praetorian Guard leans out. 1ST PRAETORIAN GUARD Sir, we must be getting near. INT. FIRST WAGON LUCIUS AELIUS AURELIUS COMMODUS huddles in the back of the wagon: Dark hair, handsome, beard; as Commodus rises we see he's a large, powerfully built young man and though barely twenty years old he already has the caution and arrogance of a Caesar. Opposite A GAUNT MAN climbs from a heap of blankets: GALEN of PERGAMUM, probably the most frozen, unhappy man on earth. The wagon is lined with pillows and blankets. Baskets of bread and dried fruit are stacked in one corner and an oil lamp hangs from a pivoting cleat like the swinging lamp in a ship. 2ND PRAETORIAN GUARD Caesar, we're nearly there. EXT. WAGON Commodus steps down and pulls his cape up against the bitter cold. Galen follows, curiously overcoming his natural hatred of discomfort. TRIBUUS, burly Praetorian Guard commander salutes Commodus and leads him to the edge of a gully. Tribuus is an old-timer for whom Commodus is just another royal pain-in-the-ass. THE GULLY IS BLACK WITH CROWS -- with their endless "CAW-CAW-CAW" they feast on corpses and in the shadows below ROMAN SOLDIERS bury dead comrades. Compared with the burnished perfection of the Praetorian Guards these typical infantry grunts are grizzled and battered. COMMODUS Soldier! What happened here! A legionnaire stops working, spits, leans on his shovel so he can shout up toward Tribuus and Commodus. Galen squats beside a corpse, fascinated. LEGIONNAIRE We had a battle! COMMODUS I can see that. You leave your dead on the field? LEGIONNAIRE General Narcissus beat the Germans here and now the whole army is moving fast! No time to let them get away! THE SECOND WAGON -- as a twenty-five year old ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMAN opens the door. She is LUCILLA -- Commodus' sister. Lucilla pulls her coat tight against the wind. LUCILLA Where are we now, Commodus? Can you see the camp? My Gods! The air is turning into ice! COMMODUS We're nearly there, Lucilla. LUCILLA That's what you told me two days ago! COMMODUS Will you please get back in your wagon? And stay there? LUCILLA I'm tired of being stuck in that wagon. Embarrassed by Commodus' childish spat with is sister, Tribuus gestures to the 2nd Praetorian. TRIBUUS Soldier, help the Emperor's sister. As a soldier jogs back up toward Lucilla Commodus looks down at the legionnaire leaning on his shovel. COMMODUS Where is my father? TRIBUUSWhere is the emperor and the army, soldier? The legionnaire points up the road. Commodus and Tribuus return to the wagon. Galen rolls the dead soldier over and sticks his finger into a gaping chest wound, then notices the legionnaire glaring at him. GALEN I'm a doctor. The legionnaire studies him a second, then the corpse as if giving a second opinion. LEGIONNAIRE Well, you're too late. Galen pulls back in revulsion at his impudence. He scrambles to follow Commodus. The legionnaire spits and gets back to work. EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAWN The wagon crests a hill with a precipitous view of the valley and torches that seem to fill the lingering dark far below. The wagon makes straight for them. AND COMMODUS... Riding on a seat on the front of the wagon, wrapped to his chin in a bearskin blanket -- absolutely set on catching up with the army. EXT. GERMAN FRONT - VINDOBONA - 182 A.D. - NIGHT On the edge of a forest sixty year old EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS stands in the back of an unharnessed supply wagon surrounded by a dark so black it's barely moved by blazing torches. A WOLF -- living symbol of Rome -- stand before the wagon held on a leash by a battle-hardened SENIOR CENTURION: SERVIS. Marcus wears the purple robe of imperial power over his leather and copper segmented upper body armor (LORICA SEGMENTATA). His breath clouds in the bitter cold; the man is tired to the bone. OPPOSITE STANDS THE ROMAN ARMY This is the mighty army of the Danube, yet it seems like these men -- buried in the shadows and as frozen and worn as their leader -- have come to the very edge of the world to be swallowed by this wilderness. NUMIDIAN ARCHERS, tall Africans, out of place in this freezing land, stand behind their leader -- JUBA -- who has the whip-like body of a dancer. Each carries his recurve bow as if it were a delicate musical instrument. Quivers of brightly colored arrows hang from their backs. Field commanders -- CONTUBERNIUM -- stand by each row of soldiers. Less numerous, and above the Contubernium, are the CENTURIONS, and at the front line of the mass of cohorts are four TRIBUNES. BEFORE THE ENTIRE ARMY mounted on magnificent grey horses, are two LEGATE, the overall commanding generals, wearing ornate lorica segmentata. The first Legatus is QUINTUS CLARUS, Rome Army General: fair-haired, fit, forty. He has the face of a boy. The second is NARCISSUS MERIDAS, General, Spanish Gemina Felix VII Army: dark hair, proud and though about Quintus' age his face is like a map of a soldiers's hard life. Narcissus' eyes are locked on Marcus like the eyes of a long-suffering pilgrim on the icon of his single hope. THE WAGON Just before Marcus is about to speak, Commodus steps into the wagon looking out of breath. Surprised, Marcus embraces him and then Commodus stands behind his father wrapped tightly in his bearskin robe. He's trying to look tough but unlike his father he's not used to this rigorous life. NARCISSUS & QUINTUS swap looks as if Commodus were the last person they were expecting... MARCUS AURELIUS Citizens! Marcus' voice booms out tough and firm as if defying the cold and dark. MARCUS AURELIUS Today may be the last day in the life of Rome... For nine hundred years Rome has lived! For nine hundred years architects, mathematicians, poets, and philosophers have fled within her arms sheltered from superstition, prejudice, hate, and every form of human cruelty. We Romans have become a light in the barbarian night! ON NARCISSUS No trace of feeling, just his breath slowly clouding in the frigid air. AND MARCUS... Seeming to look at each legionnaire as he speaks. MARCUS AURELIUS For nine hundred years this one heart of humankind has been defended by the likes of Pompeii, Mark Anthony, Julius Caesar, The Divine Augustus, Claudius, Trajan, Hadrian, and my own father Antoninus Pius. Now, it has come down to us! It has come down to this one day... He leans forward on the rail of the wagon, a gesture that seems to bring him closer to the men. MARCUS AURELIUS Five years we've lived together, you and I, in a state of total war. We have shared cold, rain, heat, bitterly watched the deaths of beloved friends. We are not alone. Look around you! Consuls and Senators have forsworn the luxuries of home and moved with us to the front to ensure that the administration of our government radiates from the source of her bravest citizens. OUTSIDE A FIELD TENT Stand SENATOR GAIUS and SENATOR FALCO wrapped to their chins against the staggering cold. Both men are in advanced middle age. Gaius looks like a stoic: impassive, plainly dressed. Falco wears an expensive fur trimmed robe with gold and asbestos. Flanking them are CONSULS and various OFFICIALS. Lucilla stands by Gaius and a very stately, attractive NUMIDIAN WOMAN, MELA, Juba's wife. MARCUS AURELIUS (O.S.) The link between us and Rome is a solid chain of unbroken purpose! For nine hundred years the Roman Senate has stood one with the army in dignity and resolve! AND COMMODUS... watching the troops, seeming to weigh any response with the utmost calculation. AND MARCUS eyes dead-ahead on the troops. MARCUS AURELIUS But on this day I ask you to put those nine centuries down -- they're too heavy for us to carry into battle again! So, we'll leave them here for the Senators to guard for us! QUINTUS allows himself a smile as the troops grin and laugh. He looks across at Narcissus who manages the faintest of smiles -- a very serious man... MARCUS AURELIUS This day I want you to fight for the cold and the heat and the filth -- and for all those friends who will never feel the sun on their faces again! I want you to fight for you! For at the moment of battle you and you alone are Rome! THE SOLDIERS... Rank after disciplined rank: not one sideways look, not one sound... AND MARCUS... As his eyes pass from cohort to cohort. MARCUS AURELIUS How quickly all things sordid and perishable in the universe disappear. Yet throughout time the remembrance of great deeds grows only fresher bringing life again to those who dare perform them... (pause) Legate Narcissus Meridas and Legate Quintus Clarus, I must ask you and your legions for one more day out of nine centuries! Will you give it to me? The troops HOWL their support. Marcus pulls his sword and half turns aiming it behind him. MARCUS AURELIUS There is the enemy of Rome! Commodus steps forward to join his father and the uproar grows. NARCISSUS removes his helmet as a sign of respect. Now the stoic veneer of his face cracks into a mixture of reverence and perhaps even love for the emperor. AND COMMODUS... taking every single bit of this in. He seems particularly interested in Narcissus. NARCISSUS & QUINTUS Move their horses close and dismount. QUINTUS I see the emperor's little boy has finally caught up with the army. NARCISSUS Let's hope he doesn't start giving orders. Servis approaches and salutes. It starts to RAIN. SERVIS At your command, sir. EXT. FOREST - EARLY MORNING In a howling RAINSTORM Felix Division breaks through the dense woods like a moving human wall behind their rectangular shields. They're in the midst of MASS COMBAT -- spears, arrows and stones crash off shields, taking out soldiers. The ZING of arrows and WHOOSH of spears saturate the air. Because there are no explosives EVERY SCREAM and ARROW SHOT is HEARD. NARCISSUS leads his troops on foot in the thick of battle. A CONTUBERNIUM walks beside Narcissus tugged on by the leashed WOLF MASCOT as painted GERMAN WARRIORS dart out of the woods hurling spears. NARCISSUS YELLS OVER THE SOUNDS OF BATTLE, WIND AND RAIN. NARCISSUS Tribune! The right flank is falling back! If we lose the flank we're all dead! The Tribune salutes and dashes off and Servis rushes in from another direction. SERVIS Sir! There's a fortification ahead! The Germans are waiting for us! Should we slow the men down? AHEAD Juba leads his Numidians in a fluid, disorderly formation into the thickest part of the forest. Just before he dodges into the woods Juba locks eyes with Narcissus -- and he's GONE. NARCISSUS -- jerks his shield up in time to stop an ARROW. But a LEGIONNAIRE is SLAMMED IN THE CHEST by another as sniper-shots whiz in. Now, from the distance comes the rolling roar of DRUMS and HOWLS. Then a horrendous THUNDERCLAP and a bolt of lightning tears the lead grey sky. NARCISSUS Come on, Servis! Forward! Servis turns and runs down the front line as the storm becomes more intense. The YELLING and DRUMMING get LOUDER... THE GERMAN FORTIFICATION A chaos of interlocked logs rimmed at the top with sharpened stakes. GERMAN WARRIORS SHOUT WAVING SPEARS AND CLUBS. THE FELIX DIVISION scatters the German snipers and rearguard before it, closing on the fortification. TRIBUNE Where the hell are the damned archers? NARCISSUS Don't worry about Juba; just keep our own damned troops moving! German warriors loose an avalanche of rocks and spears. NARCISSUS Tortoise! TRIBUNE Tortoise! Form a tortoise! As the call echoes legionnaires furiously overlap their shields on all sides and overhead forming a perfect BOX just as the stones and spears crash against them... INSIDE THE TORTOISE rocks slam the wall of interlocked shields with ear-splitting resonance. But the tortoise holds. OUTSIDE soon as the barrage stops the Germans unleash FIGHTING MASTIFFS. The dogs tear into the legionnaires. One leaps at Narcissus and he kills it with a single chop of his Spatha sword. SERVIS Here they come! German warriors charge the shields as the legionnaires level their spears. Singing and screaming the warriors IMPALE THEMSELVES ON THE SPEARS and grasp the shafts. A SECOND WAVE charges the line on the heels of the first. THE LEGIONNAIRES -- In a well rehearsed movement twist their spears releasing the tips. As the dying warriors drop with the quick- release spear tips embedded in their bodies, the Romans reverse their spears over the top and -- no problem: Roman spears have points on BOTH ENDS. So the German second wave is met by an intact position. Still they power into the line chopping at the Roman shields with axes. FAR BEHIND... a legionnaire blows a piercing note on a brass horn and a second, thin line of legionnaires APPEARS OUT OF THE FOREST. Narcissus turns, yelling to a contubernium behind him. NARCISSUS Answer that signal! A red 'flag' on a long pole goes up answering the trumpet, and the line of the fresh cohort parts in segments revealing ONAGERS -- portable catapults -- and SCORPIONS -- powerful precision-fire crossbows that launch javelins. THE ARTILLERY FIRES... cannonball-size shot driven at a hundred miles an hour rip over the heads of Narcissus' troopers and slam against the fort walls. ONAGER CREWS reload with incredible speed from wagons filled with hand-picked rocks -- some bear SCRAWLED EPITHETS essentially the Latin equivalent of "EAT THIS HANS!" Onagers launch barrage after barrage, their backs leaping off the ground like recoiling 45 millimeter field guns. SCORPION OPERATORS picks their targets. The Germans are leveled by a sheet of scorpion javelins as their crude log fortification splinters under the onager barrage. The Germans are being pulverized by superior technology. THE WHOLE GERMAN ARMY -- led by tall GREY BEARDED MAN, pours from the log blockade and hurls itself against the Roman line. Again the Romans are staggered as the Germans collapse more of their shields, battering through the front line with clubs and axes. NARCISSUS -- fights desperately refusing to give ground. A German rears up from behind and slams Narcissus in the back with a club and HE GOES DOWN. Narcissus is nearly trampled as another GERMAN WARRIOR throws himself on Narcissus holding his sword arm about to kill him with a club -- there's a blur of fur and blood as the ROMAN WOLF LEAPS INTO THE WARRIOR'S FACE. Narcissus lurches back to his feet and seeing he's in the midst of the whole German army he goes wild. Yelling and slashing out with his sword and the knife-edge top of his shield, in seconds he's drenched with blood. LIKE SOME FANTASTIC ROMANTIC PAINTING -- Narcissus climbs onto a HEAP OF BODIES flashing his sword with the snarling Wolf of Rome at his side. CENTURIONS AND LEGIONNAIRES -- see this supernatural vision of their leader battling forlife -- SERVIS Romulus! The gods of Rome are fighting with general Narcissus! Others join the cry as more legionnaires turn and there's an irresistible surge of the army back toward Narcissus. NARCISSUS joined by Servis, then another, then two Contubernium, then ten legionnaires... the legionnaires fight desperately to hold their ground around Narcissus. Then with a sound of a hundred out-of-tune violins the Germans are SWEPT FROM BEHIND BY ARROWS. JUBA'S NUMIDIANS line the edge of the forest four deep pouring arrows into the Germans. Juba stands on a log in front shouting PIERCING SING-SONG ORDERS easily heard over the screams of battle. NARCISSUS & HIS TROOPS DIVE behind their shields for cover from the cloudburst of arrows. Arrows fired by almighty recurve bows hit the Germans with the power of .44 magnum rounds: arms splinter like twigs; shields are nailed to chests; skulls explode. The Germans turn and charge the Numidians but they may as well hurl themselves against a machine gun nest as they're mowed-down in whole lines. They hurtle back in disorder into the forest. THE ROMANS lower their shields. Narcissus catches a fast smile from Juba, then jumps to his feet... NARCISSUS Come on men! Forward! RIVER BANK The retreating German army spills out of the forest following their leader into a shallow narrows, Narcissus and his division on their heels. ABOVE on the opposite bank is a single Roman on horse back. It's Quintus. He draws his sword and spurs ahead -- then right behind him rush his fresh ROME COHORTS. THE TWO ROMAN ARMIES -- crash into the Germans in the middle of the river -- throwing aside his shield and holding his sword with two hands Narcissus chops his way into the enemy with a fury. Wild chaos of horrendous fighting in knee-deep water -- spray, blood, flashing swords and flying spears as men desperately kill to stay alive. Then the two Roman armies close like a fist and the surviving Germans squeeze through the fingers in disarray. NARCISSUS & QUINTUS meet in the middle of the river and at that moment the legionnaires realize they've won. They howl and stab at the heavens with their swords to intimidate the gods. Narcissus pulls off his lorica segmentata which literally drools blood and heaves it into the water. Then in the vortex of the cheering cohorts, he and Quintus embrace. FROM ABOVE The Danube runs RED... EXT. ROMAN CAMP - VINDOBONA - NEAR DUSK Surrounded by cheering legions Narcissus rides his grey horse slowly into camp. Servis walks ahead leading the beloved wolf mascot on a leash. Quintus rides beside Narcissus, but it's clear all this adulation is for Narcissus. Narcissus dismounts and finally the crowd parts revealing Commodus outside the Roman headquarters flanked by slaves and Praetorian Guard. Commodus strides forward and embraces him as a cheer goes up from the soldiers. COMMODUS Welcome back from your great triumph Narcissus Meridas. My father sends his heart felt praise. Sadly, Marcus is in dark humors -- nothing to worry about, but he needs rest. Likely just the weather. NARCISSUS Respectfully Caesar, Quintus and I must report. COMMODUS Of course, but not now. However, if he continues to be unwell, you may report to me. A challenging look from Commodus -- clearly Narcissus is not in the mood to report to this boy. Quintus steps in. QUINTUS Gladly, Caesar. And, if you'd like we can take you for a tour of the front at first light. COMMODUS I'm certain father will be in better humors by then. Now, honor us with your presence at dinner. I'll join you as soon as I see my father's physician. For a second Commodus eyes the shouting army... it makes him NERVOUS. Then he turns to enter the building. NARCISSUS What the hell was all that about? QUINTUS What the hell do you think it was about? There's nothing an unproved heir to the throne likes less than glaring competence in others. NARCISSUS Why don't we try to keep politics out of the conversation. QUINTUS Well, we can try... INT. ROMAN HQ - EARLY MORNING Inside the single large building at the Vindobona central base, a wraith-like FORTUNE TELLER stands with her eyes closed, hand on Falco's head. TRIBUNES and high ranking HANGERS-ON bask near a blazing hearth like over-fed dogs. Senator Gaius sits apart near Juba and his wife Mela. All are fixated on Falco. FORTUNE TELLER ... a great man: great of birth -- great of girth! (laughs all around) Your fate in flame and bronze is wrought... the rest in haze is sought. FALCO Smoke from the fire no doubt! She opens her eyes and Falco hands her a coin. NARCISSUS Fire and bronze -- symbols of strong character, Senator! All turn toward Narcissus and Quintus. FALCO General Narcissus, it's your turn! Everyone in this room would love to know your future. Go on, ask him if he'll stand for the Senate! Applause as Narcissus catches a smirk from Quintus. NARCISSUS No future-telling, please, I've been terrified enough for one day. LUCILLA Narcissus! Terrified? You? The only thing he's scared of is me. Lucilla greets Narcissus with an embarrassingly intimate embrace. Looks like she's been hitting the sauce pretty good. GAIUS Slave! Wine and meat for our generals! The saviors of Rome! FALCO Judging from your adoring troops and what we heard, Narcissus, you are personally responsible for our victory. Lucilla hangs onto Narcissus' hand taking him around the room like he was her date. LUCILLA You know our two most senior Senators: Gaius Cantus and Falco Verus? NARCISSUS Only from a distance. GAIUS Well let's not be so distant, general. Now that this war is ending Rome needs good men off the battlefield as well. JUBA The Wolf of Rome fought beside him. I saw it with my own eyes. Narcissus looks at Juba as if to say 'thanks a lot.' LUCILLA You see? The Gods favor you for greatness! Tell us about it -- all about it. VOICES Yes/Tell us/Tell all! NARCISSUS The truth is I got into a little trouble and when the army came to rescue me the German counterattack broke around us. An example of being in precisely the wrong place at exactly the right time. (off their laughs) It was Juba and his archers who finally got them running. Then Quintus arrived with the Rome legions just in time to cut off their retreat. Commodus and Galen suddenly step into the light; it's unclear how long Commodus may have been listening in the doorway. Everyone rises... COMMODUS Narcissus Meridas, you win the battle and deny you had any hand it it. But if we had lost, you would have taken complete responsibility. Senators, Rome needs more such models of humility and courage. (pause) My father sends regrets that he will not join us after all as he continues to be unwell. Commodus reaches over to fill Lucilla's cup which is nearly brimming. COMMODUS More wine, sister? Surely you can drink more than that. LUCILLA I was suddenly thinking about going to bed. COMMODUS Oh, stay... (that was an order) Don't you want to join the chorus of praises for Narcissus' glory? Just remember, he is a married man. NARCISSUS Do you expect Marcus to be well enough by morning for an audience? COMMODUS That's difficult to say, general. NARCISSUS Perhaps, Master Galen, you may say. GALEN It's difficult to name a time... COMMODUS May I remind everyone that Master Galen is the finest medical philosopher in the Empire and his detailed assessment of the Emperor is delicate and confidential and is the business of the immediate family alone. NARCISSUS I would venture, with all respect: the Emperor's health is the business of every soul in the empire. GAIUS Yes! The days of Imperial Prerogative and disdain for the Senate are over -- thanks to your father! Now report to the Senate, Master Galen: what is Marcus' state? COMMODUS Report, Master Galen, by all means. The Senate demands it... GALEN We are talking simply about a disturbance of the hues. Nothing more. In precisely one hour I will analyze the Emperor's bile and then my assistants and I will stand by in an unfailing vigil until his fever breaks. Now with your permission Caesar, Senators? I must return to my patient. Commodus gestures him out as if he were just amused. COMMODUS One doctor now knows his place in the empire. Congratulations, general, your victory seems to inspire courage everywhere. Quintus stops flirting with Lucilla's slaves and starts paying close attention to the developing dynamics. NARCISSUS The battle was won, today, and I prefer to believe it was a gift of Janus, the eldest God of Rome. God of my ancestors. FALCO God of passages and changes? NARCISSUS I believe we are arriving in an enlightened age; an age of peace that will bring Rome her greatest glory. Thanks to Marcus Aurelius. FALCO You know, general, there is a Gate of Janus in Rome which is only closed in time of peace. Sadly, it has remained open for three hundred years. NARCISSUS I've read of it. FALCO But have never been? NARCISSUS My only visits to Rome, Senator, have been through books. But the war's over, time to close the door of war once and for all. COMMODUS Then you'd be out of a job. NARCISSUS Gladly Caesar. COMMODUS Or perhaps into a new one. But here's to your God and the courage of our legions... GAIUS And the man who gives them this extraordinary courage. Gaius stands and raises his cup. But Quintus is amused to see him get as close to Narcissus as he can -- nearly hiding behind him. COMMODUS Quite so. Narcissus and his courageous men; may they live long to serve Rome... LUCILLA And Caesar! Let's not forget to serve Caesar! Falco in turn moves to stand near Commodus. FALCO They are one and the same my lady. Which is why we senior Senators have chosen to be here on the front to share the hardships of our courageous Emperor -- Marcus Aurelius and his son -- may the gods protect them! LUCILLA Oh, yes, my father is a raving genius -- poet, essayist, philosopher, warrior... It's a wonder he doesn't drift off like a cloud he's so damned ethereal. 'Marcus Aurelius Etherealus'... But he should cast his divine eyes earthward once in a while and see how fallible some of his decisions have been! Of course I don't mean you, Commodus -- gods know you're perfect. As far as sharing in his glory and suffering -- well, I certainly didn't want to be here. Isn't that true, darling brother? Commodus, I believe, was afraid that if I stayed in Rome I might foment a rebellion! Seize power for myself! Commodus glares at Lucilla as she trails off in laughter. Mela decides it's time to rescue Lucilla from herself. She rises and crosses to sit beside her. MELA If you men are going to talk politics leave us out of it. JUBA She's not so bashful about politics when we're alone. MELA Only when it concerns Numidia. And, we're far from home so I'll play the good Roman woman and listen -- perhaps Lucilla we could play that part together. COMMODUS What do you say, Narcissus? Where are you in this great new balance between the Emperor or the Senate? GAIUS Are you for the Senate, Narcissus Meridas? Or do you back the emperor? NARCISSUS I back Rome against all her enemies -- if that answer disappoints you, I'm not a politician... COMMODUS Oh, but with the army behind you, you could become extremely political. Not a Republican by any chance? FALCO Be as brave here as you are on the battlefield... QUINTUS In the presence of such fearless senators there's little need for loyal soldiers to speculate on politics. COMMODUS Ah, Quintus famous for his perfect timing. But we want to know what the hero of the Danube thinks. Dead silence. Every face in the room turns to Narcissus. NARCISSUS A republican is a man who strives to create equality among all classes. At the core he's a man who believes in doing what's right. GAIUS The trouble is defining exactly what 'right' is. NARCISSUS We all know what right is, Senator. COMMODUS I would say there's nothing more dangerous than a man who knows what 'right' is. NARCISSUS The dangerous man, Caesar, is the man who doesn't care. Stony silence. A SLAVE enters. SLAVE The emperor is awake. He asks to see his generals. INT. MARCUS AURELIUS' ROOM - LATER Marcus Aurelius sits up in his bed and watches with a seasoned campaigner's eye as Narcissus and Quintus lean over a large, beautifully hand-drawn map. Commodus sits by his side, the attentive son. NARCISSUS Felix Army controls the narrows. Four cohorts from Quintus' legion hold the opposite shore and once we repair the German fort we'll be able to reinforce and supply them at will. Seeing he's having trouble seeing, Narcissus holds the map up for him. MARCUS AURELIUS Can the Germans cross up stream on boats or float bridges? QUINTUS Not through those rapids. They're disorganized and their army barely exists. NARCISSUS But they're not destroyed, not yet. COMMODUS Do we really need to repair this fort? It seems like an expensive undertaking. I propose we burn it to the ground. That way if the Germans cross the Danube here there will be nothing to help them build an offensive position. MARCUS AURELIUS Commodus, it's we who are going on the offensive. NARCISSUS The fort helps position us for a final invasion in the spring when they're most vulnerable. MARCUS AURELIUS Commodus -- listen to Narcissus, listen to the man who has never lost a battle for Rome! You're young with years ahead of you before you gain the experience to wear the purple! Commodus visibly reacts, but swallows his anger. Marcus sits back, weakened from the exchange. COMMODUS Father, you have to rest... MARCUS AURELIUS I'm sorry... all of you, excuse me. They all make shallow bows and turn to leave, but Marcus holds Narcissus' hand. Quintus sees and politely leaves, but Commodus only goes reluctantly. MARCUS AURELIUS I want you to start your work for the last phase of the campaign. NARCISSUS I will, Marcus. But you're going to be well enough to direct it yourself. MARCUS AURELIUS I've made so many mistakes, Narcissus. We all put off the very last duties of our lives because we're afraid of admitting when our lives are over. NARCISSUS There's no reason to say that. Everyone knows you're going to be well. I had Servis groom your horse for a triumphal visit to the front at first light. MARCUS AURELIUS Servis made it through again? NARCISSUS He's like you, sir, too tough for the Gods to swallow. Marcus laughs and looks like he's better just talking with Narcissus. But now he holds Narcissus' hand with both of his. MARCUS AURELIUS If I'd ever had a sign that you wanted to rule I would have... no, again, it's my own bullheadedness. Narcissus, I should have adopted you years ago. And now the Gods are begging me to make you my son! NARCISSUS Commodus is just a young man, he'll learn what you had to learn. MARCUS AURELIUS It's not because he's young, it's because he's ignorant and arrogant. His sister is a better man. That's why I have undertaken to begin sweeping changes in the relationship between the emperor and the Senate. NARCISSUS So I understand. MARCUS AURELIUS Everyone talking about it? I wouldn't wonder. All I seek is a genuine balance of power between the Emperor and the Senate. Thus I have transferred legal power -- which was theirs to begin with -- back to the Senators. This includes a shared right to taxation too but some bite in the plan. It's a start, only a start. If the Emperor and the Senate can share power then the people will be ready to take their share. This means Commodus has to bend; does he strike you as that type? NARCISSUS You're too hard on him. He is a strong young man, with you as his guide... MARCUS AURELIUS A man should be upright, not be kept upright. (pause) History shows us that a good general is quick to recognize opportunities -- even if it means making a complete about face at the last minute. I want you to consider becoming my heir. NARCISSUS Marcus, you honor me, but I'm a soldier, politics scare the hell out of me. MARCUS AURELIUS The Senators admire you. NARCISSUS They fear me. MARCUS AURELIUS They fear change. The new Caesar must be honest enough to know when the emperorship is no longer feasible. You could be the one, the Emperor, the man who oversees the rebirth of the Republic. NARCISSUS I'll do anything in my power to help you restore the Republic but I can't be that power. The door creeps open and Galen slips in followed by Commodus. GALEN General; the emperor needs my full attention. Please? He must have his elixirs. MARCUS AURELIUS Don't waste time. Finish our work... Swear! NARCISSUS I swear, Marcus. Marcus smiles, but grips his hand. MARCUS AURELIUS I'm going to miss riding the lines with you, Narcissus... HALLWAY Commodus walks Narcissus to the door himself. COMMODUS You and my father have become very close. Perhaps one day I may say the same for us. NARCISSUS You flatter me, Caesar. COMMODUS Being as close, I'm certain you've noticed what we all have noticed. NARCISSUS Caesar? COMMODUS That this illness has clouded his mind. He shuts the door with an ominous finality. EXT. MARCUS AURELIUS' QUARTERS - NIGHT Narcissus turns and runs straight into Lucilla who's been waiting for him. Her reaction is to put her arms around his neck and look up into his smiling face. But he's just amused. LUCILLA I thought all good generals were quick to recognize opportunities. NARCISSUS Sneaking around with your brother? LUCILLA Without him. He'd be weeping if he overheard that. Well? The idea of you as my adopted brother is very... exciting. NARCISSUS I'm not fit for the job and as a matter of fact I'm not taking the job. LUCILLA Why do you keep playing at being so humble? It's a little embarrassing. NARCISSUS Why do you play at being drunk? LUCILLA How do you know I am playing? Well, the clown is always harmless. Isn't that right? And how did you ever get to know me so well? The last we spent any time together I was fourteen. I think you know me better than my father. (pause) He's going to die, isn't he? NARCISSUS I don't believe that. He's got the best doctor in the world and a will of iron. You know we're preparing for a full-blown invasion of Germany. LUCILLA Of course I know -- who do you think is paying for it? The Emperor himself, didn't you know? Why do you think Commodus came rushing up to the front? Burning patriotism? Filial love? He wants to be sure when he takes over there's enough cash left in the treasury to... play Emperor. Watch out for him, Narcissus; he's inexperienced, but... be careful. INT. NARCISSUS' TENT - NIGHT Narcissus painfully pulls his toga over his head and for the first time we really get to see his battle wounds. All the dressings have bled through. He dips fresh bandages in a bowl of hot water... then reaches back and peels off a dressing. FIVE LITTLE FIRED TABLET PORTRAITS OF NARCISSUS' ANCESTORS... each in an individual stand on a tiny alter. Narcissus' table is set with five colorful wooden plates with food and drink for each. Dressed again, he not so much as prays to the tablets as carries on a conversation. NARCISSUS Postumas, Lilliana, Guyan, Agrippina, Lartes. The battle is won, my family. Of course, I'm sure you were there with me, Guyan. Grandmother always said you loved a good fight. Lilliana, I set some local fruit at your place tonight. They're not bad. And don't tell me you don't like exotic food. He lights incense that goes up fast seeming to flood the tent with smoke. NARCISSUS Welcome to the table of life, my ancestors. Narcissus hoists his arm onto a folding stool and leans his head on his arm, exhaustion finally taking over. In the dark and the smoke of the incense he falls asleep. THE ANCESTORS... There's a moment when their faces seem somehow alive in the ghostly, shimmering smoke. VOICE Daddy... Daddy! Daddy wake up! NARCISSUS slowly focuses on the portraits in the muted dawn light. In front of the portraits is the beaming face of a YOUNG GIRL. She's his six year old daughter THEMIS, a black-haired, dark eyed beauty. NARCISSUS Themis! She holds a DOLL up in his face: it's a doll dressed up like a Roman General. THEMIS This is you, daddy. He picks her up and spins around to find his wife SELENE with their older daughter MANTO. Now the others rush to embrace him. A thirty-year old male house-hold slave -- LINDO -- enters carrying woven bags of personal belongings. NARCISSUS Selene! Manto! Lindo, too! Oh, gods... how did you get here? EXT. CAMP - NEAR THE DANUBE - MORNING As the family walks along the edge of a slow moving, peaceful bend of the great river, Themis holds her doll for Narcissus' approval. Lindo walks close; though a slave he's clearly part of the family. Narcissus takes the toy likeness, makes sure his daughter sees he's giving it a serious scrutiny. NARCISSUS He's very realistic. SELENE Isn't the helmet magnificent? THEMIS I made the plume from a quail feather. NARCISSUS Much more colorful than the ones we wear. And, of course, less dented. MANTO Father, is it true the Germans are just fighting to protect their land? Narcissus and Selene swap a fast look. SELENE Well, you wanted the girls to have the best teachers. NARCISSUS Greeks? SELENE Athenians... That sounds even worse. MANTO Teacher says that the divine Julius used the Germans as a pretext to dissolve the Republic. NARCISSUS Did he now...? MANTO And that the Germans are only struggling to keep their honor and the ways of their people. And that throughout history Rome has always been the aggressor. NARCISSUS Well, remind teacher: once upon a time it was the Hebrews over the Philistines; the Babylonians over the Hebrews; Egypt over Babylon; the Greeks over the Trojans; Persians over the Greeks; Etruscans over the Latins; Sabines over the Latins and Etruscans. Now it's Rome over everyone and I don't know when the world has known such peace. MANTO I can't wait to tell my teachers all that! Can see Narcissus feels better about this already. NARCISSUS What about their philosophy lessons? SELENE They're studying with Cynics. NARCISSUS Of course... THEMIS Daddy, Lindo says these forest are haunted by sprites and spirits! Can we go to bed early so we can meet them in our dreams? Narcissus and Selene catch Lindo's smile... INT. TENT - LATE NIGHT Narcissus and Selene making love in the dark. From outside come distant lightning flashes followed by the hollow roll of far off thunder. Finally Selene collapses against Narcissus, but it looks like she could go on for another hour if she just weren't simply exhausted. They laugh quietly at their passion. SELENE You need to come home! NARCISSUS I can see that... SELENE The battle is over. The war is over. You've won! NARCISSUS If you win, you know, you have to stay. It's the losers who get to go home. Besides, I'm not so sure it is over. Centurions report enemy scouts probing our lines. Selene sighs, then gets an idea and slides out of bed; she returns with a long necked jug. SELENE Look what we've brought you all the way from Spain. He looks at the jug and the label. NARCISSUS This is our oil from our estates? SELENE I've been overseeing production myself for the past three years, you'll be surprised at how wonderful our oil has become. She pushed the bottle neck between her naked breasts and smiles. SELENE If you want to know, you'll have to come and get it. Narcissus puts his hands on the base of the bottle, then lets his hand slide to her breast. But she moves the bottle aside, pulls him close -- but he snatches the bottle and gives it a good look. NARCISSUS Very fancy. Did you design the bottle? SELENE Who else? I'm the one who runs the estates while you're here risking everything we have for the glory of Rome! Or for the glory of you! NARCISSUS I'm a soldier -- we're at war. I can't stay home tending the damned olive groves? SELENE We don't need your help we're doing great on our own. Narcissus cools down, sees this is going a bad way. NARCISSUS I want to come home, of course I do, I'd have to be mad not to want that. It's just that Marcus trusts me. SELENE Let him trust Quintus. NARCISSUS Quintus is overly idealistic. SELENE I never knew a more idealistic man than you. NARCISSUS Me? Well, I believe in Rome... you'd have to after what I've seen, how people outside the empire treat each other. SELENE I don't even want to imagine the things you've seen... NARCISSUS What you don't want to imagine is the things I've done. Silence. All the while they've been talking the storm has been slowly approaching, thunder beating ominously closer. Selene embraces him. Suddenly Manto and Themis leap into bed with them and push beneath their bearskin blanket. Themis is crying and Manto is shaken. SELENE Girls! What's the trouble? Manto? MANTO Lindo was right! This is a haunted place! The night spirits came to us... THEMIS We had horrible nightmares! Lightning flashes and thunder drops like a bomb as the storm settles on the camp. The girls pull themselves close to Selene and Narcissus. INT. NARCISSUS' TENT - LATE AFTERNOON Themis and Manto help Selene and Lindo pack the last of several baskets. NARCISSUS Don't stop to visit -- take the children straight home and I'll follow as soon as I can. THEMIS Tomorrow? NARCISSUS As soon as I can. THEMIS On your honor as a Roman officer, daddy? NARCISSUS On my honor as your daddy... One of Narcissus personal guards enters. PERSONAL GUARD Sir, Caesar Commodus and Quintus Clarus to see you. NARCISSUS Tell them to come in! Commodus and Quintus enter as the guard returns to his post. Quintus sets his helmet down. He's wearing his lorica segmentata. QUINTUS Selene, girls. Commodus nods as Selene motions for the children to sit quietly. QUINTUS Marcus Aurelius has died. COMMODUS He left us at dawn. Everyone stunned. Selene embraces the children. Narcissus slowly sits back at the table. COMMODUS Please accept my deepest sympathy as you were one of his most loyal officers. Narcissus takes out four scrolls, hands them to Commodus. NARCISSUS These were my latest reports to Marcus. But Quintus takes them. COMMODUS I want to extend my hand in gratitude for what you have done for my father and Rome, and to offer my friendship. The next few weeks will be trying. As you know Marcus wisely or unwisely laid the foundations for greater Senatorial control and there are those likely to take advantage of his good intentions. Will you join me in strengthening my government? As you know your support, your friendship at this critical moment would silence a dangerous faction. While they speak Quintus unrolls the documents. He's not happy reading them. QUINTUS Serious stuff... NARCISSUS Centurions on both sides of the river are convinced the Germans will try one last offensive. They've got nothing to lose and it's so very like them. Commodus and Quintus swap a fast look. COMMODUS I'm ordering a general stand-down in preparation for withdrawal back across the Danube. NARCISSUS We have to stop the Germans now! QUINTUS We must obey our emperor and the Senate. COMMODUS I met with Falco, and the Senators have agreed to call for a truce with the Germans. NARCISSUS Forgive me, Caesar, but do two Senator represent the mood of the whole Senate or the will of the Roman people? Besides, every truce we make with the Germans they break! COMMODUS They won't break this one. NARCISSUS Apparently my opinion wasn't needed. QUINTUS Everyone knew you would have been outspoken against this deal. NARCISSUS What deal? QUINTUS Rome is going to pay an allotment to the German tribes on an annual basis. Narcissus reacts as if he'd been stabbed. NARCISSUS Rome is going to pay tribute -- like a defeated nation begging for mercy? Have you told your troops that? QUINTUS My troops don't make policy. NARCISSUS Well, they die for it! SELENE Narcissus -- it's over! Pack and come home with us... COMMODUS You have a wise woman by your side. NARCISSUS On his death bed I promised Marcus I would complete our work here. The Senate may be vacillating, but I have the army behind me. I'm taking half a cohort and restocking that fort. QUINTUS I can't let you do that. Narcissus turns and for the first time really looks Quintus over. NARCISSUS In you armor, Quintus? Is that how you come to visit a friend? They stare at each other. Narcissus goes for his sword just as LEGIONNAIRES rush in. Commodus backs against the tent wall. Narcissus heaves one soldier into the furniture, fells another with a chair and grabs his sword... QUINTUS Don't kill him! Three soldiers tackle Narcissus to the floor. Soldiers grab Selene and the children -- Lindo reaches for a knife and he's immediately killed. The children SCREAM... SELENE Narcissus...! INT. CELL - NIGHT Narcissus sits in the dirt leaning against the log wall, his hands chained in front of him. The door opens and four heavily armed Praetorian Guard enter. EXT. CELL - NIGHT Narcissus stands in the pouring rain facing Falco, Gaius, Tribuus and several tribunes. Four slaves hold a canvas over Commodus and the others -- as they talk Narcissus continues to be drenched. NARCISSUS Where is my family? COMMODUS Cooperate and they will be returned to your estate. I could have executed you. NARCISSUS And my army would have thrown your body into the Danube. They glare at each other in the dark; Commodus' eyes seem to burn in the lamp light. COMMODUS The army is a problem. They love you. You have led them from victory to victory in the name of Rome and they love you. And after all, you're just a hothead acting from a misguided sense of loyalty -- who could fault you for that? (nods to Falco) Thus have I reached a compromise with the Senate over your fate: instead of executing you, I'm sending you to Rome where you will be tried... NARCISSUS On what charge? FALCO Insubordination. To the Emperor... and the Senate. COMMODUS Quintus will tell the army that you are being called to Rome to celebrate your victory. They will hear that you are living in luxury. He will let them feel you have betrayed them for the good life. And soon the army won't even remember your name. All turn and leave but Gaius. Two soldiers hold Narcissus while a third goes through the process of chaining his wrists. NARCISSUS The Senate too? GAIUS The moment you returned from the battle your options were clear. If you are a friend to neither side, legate, you must be an enemy to both. We needed to know what you believed. NARCISSUS I hope you live to see what I believe... At that the soldiers drag Narcissus toward a wagon with tiny barred windows. INT. PRISON WAGON - NIGHT In the dark Narcissus is chained to a bench and the door slams shut. EXT. PRISON WAGON WHEEL - DAY The thick spoke wood wheel slams over rocks and ruts of a primitive forest road. INT. WAGON - DAY Narcissus jars awake and flies swarm off his face. A GERMAN PRISONER is chained to the wall, a rag-wrapped chain around his mouth as a gag. His head nods forward; could be asleep, could be dead. Narcissus leans forward and is stopped by his own chains. He glares at the rusted iron links as if they were the most unbearable insult. JUBA Narcissus! At the far end of the wagon is Juba. Looks like he's been worked over pretty good. They stare at each other. JUBA You on your way to trial, too, general? Or do you think they've already had our trial? NARCISSUS Why you? JUBA My loyalties... were in doubt. NARCISSUS Fools to let us both live; we'll be our own best witnesses at our trial. JUBA That's what worries me... Suddenly hands LURCH FOR HIS THROAT but are stopped by chains. It's the gagged German. He drops his arms, but keeps his eyes lowered staring at the Imperial Roman Eagle around Narcissus' neck. FADE TO: EXT. ROME - DAY Wearing a flowing toga and golden laurel, Commodus rides into Rome in a military chariot through the Arch of Titus that leads down the 'Sacred Road' through the Forum. A skeleton force of legionnaires parade just behind as DRUMMERS beat a brisk tattoo. Tribuus walks ahead of the chariot as two legionnaires hold military standards on high. First they pass the Senate on their left where the Senators stand on the steps to greet him. Falco is out front and raises his arms in welcome. As they pass the Senate they're surrounded by citizens. TRIBUUS Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Emperor of Rome, conqueror of the German tribes! Master of the Danube! All of Rome salutes you! Citizens of Rome line the way. Some cheer, but most are quiet. And that silence is unnerving. Then: VOICE Romans do not pay tribute! And that causes a landslide of yelling. Commodus stares dead ahead as they're now forced to run a gauntlet of outraged citizens. Finally his chariot picks up speed as it continues through the forum toward the palace on the Palatine Hill. INT. IMPERIAL PALACE - DUSK While Commodus paces like a caged animal, Falco walks to and fro oddly trying to keep up with him. Lucilla sits stretching her legs; after the long trip she looks exhausted. A slave pours wine. FALCO The Senate is out to sink you. I swear it, Caesar, your generosity is being repaid with public attacks on your honor. Your enemies want you weak enough so by the first of Janus when you must be confirmed the Senate will be able to deny you. COMMODUS How can they? Who else is there? I have no heir... LUCILLA That's the point, dear brother, your 'heir' is the Senate. And believe me, they know it. FALCO Do not take this lightly, Caesar. They mean to abolish the Emperorship. If they do you and your sister will be executed. You've got to plan your moves as seriously as if you were going to war. EXT. PRISON WAGON WHEEL - DAYS LATER - NIGHT The wheel bumps up from a rut and onto a road of precisely cut polygonal lava blocks. INT. PRISON WAGON - DAY The wagon STOPS. Narcissus wakes and looks across to Juba. With a horrendous BANG the entire side of the wagon falls away as it's unhinged by SOLDIERS. EXT. PRISON WAGON The prisoners are lined up facing a rank of soldiers holding them at spear-point. Narcissus now sees that their wagon is part of a convoy of four; all unload prisoners on the edge of a forest. JUBA Is this Rome? Are we just going to be executed? NARCISSUS They can't... if this is Rome... Narcissus is chained wrist-to-wrist with the German as all the prisoners are CHAINED IN PAIRS. Juba gets chained to a tall blonde German WARRIOR. NOW EVERYTHING HAPPENS FAST -- A DOZEN ARMED MEN with feathers woven into their hair charge at them from the far end of the path and dive them down a trail that leads between a double row of tall oaks. Cries, hoots and cheers surround them like an INVISIBLE MASS OF HUMANITY and at the end of the grove there's this unnatural GLOW. IN THE GROWING LIGHT they emerge into the center of a VAST ARENA that's been 'planted' with trees to imitate a forest. From the tops of the sheer twelve foot perimeter walls, banks of seats slope away tier after tier until, at the very tops of the seating are arch after arch, each framing a marble statue of a different Roman emperor. THE PRISONERS... gawk at the enormous proportions of the building: it's the COLOSSEUM of Rome. Looking back at them are FIFTY THOUSAND FANS -- and as one, like some surreal canned sound track they all LAUGH. Then to a fanfare of horns and drums a corpulent, self- important man rises. This is JERSES -- head of the Roman Circus. Jerses turns to the imperial box, but the marble throne-like seat which has a carved wolf relief, is EMPTY. JERSES On this dawn! In celebration of the New Caesar, Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus' glorious triumph over the German tribes I declare these games -- which will run without interruption to the month of Janus -- open to one and all! HOWLS and CHEERS from the audience -- many in the 'best seats' (nearest the arena) rise and directly applaud Jerses. NARCISSUS Searching the row of prisoners he sees Juba staring dead ahead. JERSES In sacrifice for Rome that the world might know the new Emperor's love for his citizens, during these games two hundred pairs of gladiators will fight to the death...! (deafening cheers) One thousand criminals will be devoured by wild beasts... there shall be venationes! Battles be-twixt elephants and rhinoceroses; bears and bulls; leopards and lions; exotic animals never seen in Rome -- captured by our legions in their triumph in Africa -- will be hunted to the death! Narcissus is staggered -- his head pivots around at the frantic, blood-lusting crowd. ARCHERS... emerge from a door in a wall of the Colosseum, bows strung over their shoulders, each carries a small jug and each archer approaches a pair of chained-together prisoners. As they DAUB PAINT on the prisoners' arms -- a particular NUMBER for each pair -- spectators rise, pointing at different pairs, some jotting notes. Juba and the Blonde get daubed with a red 'III'. SLAVE #1 Wagers! Make your wagers -- visit the Blue Betting booths! Remember the number of your favorite pair! SLAVE #2 Red Booths -- bet at the Red Booths! The Red Booths always give you the best odds! The Red Booths -- open until curfew! A young, SURLY-LOOKING ARCHER gets to Narcissus and the German. He snorts his disdain, then daubs a black Roman numeral 'V' onto the German's arm -- but when he paints Narcissus he decks the archer with his free hand. The audience CHEERS and there's a spurt of note-taking in the stands. FROM THE CHEAP SEATS -- a lanky GREEK, PROXIMO PALINDROMOS, instantly flashes his dark eyes down into the mass of prisoners. PROXIMO'S POV Hard to see anything from this far up. He starts to turn away when the German Warrior steps aside and as Narcissus is revealed his ROMAN EAGLE FLASHES. AND PROXIMO suddenly very interested... Quickly he looks across to the opposite side of the arena where a pencil-thin man in a dark green toga sits beside Jerses, also scrutinizing the prisoners. He looks RIGHT UP AT PROXIMO. The man is LYKAS. INT. COLOSSEUM Narcissus is shoved down an immense stone hallway mad with activity. Juba is rushed along twenty feet ahead. Behind the huge doors are drawn closed by two burly slaves but at the last second they stop to let Proximo in. RAMP Narcissus herded with the others down a steep ramp. They pass... -- huge baskets of FLOWERS being ground to juice and dumped into a sluice. -- the side of a cage; as Narcissus passes, a leopard SLAMS against the bars. -- Narcissus is pushed on, deeper into the guts of the Colosseum. He gets a fast glimpse of a room where BUTCHERS chop out slabs of meat. Bleeding ribs dangle from hooks... -- SLAVES charge in opposite directions along a tunnel yanking pulley ropes as a CAGED BEAR rises from below. -- But now they're pushed deeper into the darkening 'basement' until finally they reach -- THE 'HOLE' Slaves wait with oil lamps to light their way as they run in a semi-squat beneath the low stone ceiling. Prisoners GASP in the choking air while around them come the banshee wails of other PRISONERS. Finally they stop and Narcissus and Juba come face-to-face. JUBA Fight! Feohtan! But Juba is knocked down by two guards -- one rears back to spear him when Narcissus throws himself in front of Juba... PROXIMO Stop! Stop! The guard instantly backs off as torches converge lighting up the claustrophobic tunnel. Proximo steps into the light as Narcissus stands. Then he takes hold of Narcissus' Roman Eagle. PROXIMO Is this yours? Narcissus GRABS the eagle and shoves Proximo back. Proximo nods to slaves and Narcissus' chain is held up against the wall and with two blows the links are broken with a hammer. Narcissus is yanked back the way he came. He just has time to look over his shoulder to see Juba shoved into the hole and the door SLAMS behind them. MAIN HALL Exhausted, Narcissus is rushed back up the ramp into the main hall where Proximo waits. Then a side door opens and OUTSIDE LIGHT explodes in like a flashgun. EXT. COLOSSEUM - DAY Narcissus is led -- chained -- into the streets, armed slaves urge him along as ahead Proximo rides in a sedan chair. -- FOOD AND DRINK VENDORS shout and wave samples of their wares; -- TICKET SCALPERS hold up IVORY TICKETS yelling out Colosseum seat numbers; -- BOOKMAKERS stand on tables -- some with RED headbands, some with BLUE -- screaming out names of various gladiators and indicating their 'odds' with fingers as citizens queue up to bet; -- RELIC HAWKERS hold up pieces of gladiatorial armor yelling the name of the dead gladiator and the number of his victories; -- Lion paws and leopard ears are touted as potency medicines; -- WHORES bare-chested with wildly painted breasts line the road taking customers into the alleys... EXT. PROXIMO'S GLADIATORIAL SCHOOL - DAY They approach ornate double wooden gates with carved action scenes of gladiators in battle. INT. PROXIMO'S INSULA - GLADIATOR SCHOOL - DAY Narcissus enters with two powerful armed SLAVES who unchain him and give him water and bread. Proximo sits behind his 'desk' which is a slab of thick rose volcanic rock polished to a high luster, its corners supported by salvaged marble BUSTS painted in the original garish Greek style: faces pink, hair brown or blond, eyes white with brown or blue irises. Gaudy mosaics of gladiatorial battles hang on the wall over his table. Narcissus eyeballs the setup: everything but pink flamingos. With Proximo is ADONIS THE BOXER: a tall, thick man, face deeply scarred, nose pulverized. The other is an albino dwarf -- DALA. Dala has Jimmy Winters -- white hair and almost crimson eyes. Proximo stares at Narcissus for a time as Dala pours him a cup of wine. Finally, Proximo drinks. PROXIMO Welcome to Rome. (pause) Who are you? Instead of answering, Narcissus holds out his cup. PROXIMO You're a legate in the Roman army. Huh...? and you act like one. What was your crime? NARCISSUS I killed too many barbarians. PROXIMO I'm a Greek, thank you. And I was brought up believing Romans were the barbarians. (to slave) Give our new colleague some of the Cretan white. Relax, tell me everything, I'm your friend. Dala fills Narcissus' cup. After a second of hesitation Narcissus drinks... and it's good. NARCISSUS Who the hell are you? PROXIMO I am the man who might save your life -- give you a bit more life at any rate. I am Proximo Palindromos head of this gladiatorial school which is named after me. I own this school and everything that's in it. (laughs) You're in it! But why? What did a Roman general do to get himself condemned to the Colosseum? Understand, we usually get corn thieves and pick pockets. Please, I separated you from the others because... (sniffs loudly) ... my nose tells me you've been condemned for important reasons. NARCISSUS Condemned? Aren't I owed a trial before being condemned? PROXIMO General, all I know is you have been condemned to the Colosseum, and a trial is nowhere to be seen. NARCISSUS Impossible! Every citizen has a right to trial -- this is Rome! One of the attending SLAVES chuckles and is hushed by a glare from Proximo. PROXIMO In Rome, you will discover, all things -- especially the most unthinkable -- are possible. What were you charged with? Now Narcissus won't talk. PROXIMO Well, it probably doesn't matter. Probably you'll be dead tomorrow. But it might matter tonight because I'm going to plead with Jerses head of the circus to have you instituted as a gladiator immediately. He's a loathsome pig but in this business one doesn't get to choose one's friends. Your business too, maybe? Oh yes, the arena slaves took this from you. It's yours, isn't it? A slave hands Narcissus' small box of ancestors to Proximo who hands it to Narcissus. NARCISSUS Thank you. What is going to happen tomorrow? Exactly? PROXIMO You are to be killed, exactly. They'll give you a sporting chance, but just enough to make your murder... entertaining. Romans like to mix their metaphors: laughter with their executions, you know? If you survive, though, you will become a gladiator. A gladiator at least gets a fair fight. NARCISSUS Death is a very light thing for you. PROXIMO Death is... everything for me. Now you have to go to your cell, and I to dicker with Jerses... you'll be fed well. I want you to be fit as you can be; I want you to win for me tomorrow! I want all my gladiators to win and be happy! Besides, I've never owned a Roman general before. EXT. GLADIATOR SCHOOL YARD - DAY Narcissus is led through the yard -- notes Adonis on his right and Dala following along behind. Two armed slaves flank them in a tight formation. Dala and Adonis watch Narcissus with a mix of curiosity and awe; Adonis knows what he's thinking. ADONIS Escape is impossible, general. First you have these guards who will not hesitate to kill you. Then you have the Praetorian Guard, and then the Rome city police... DALA The vigiles, Vigilant Patrols. They're everywhere... you don't know if maybe even your best friend could be a spy. GLADIATORS range around the walled-in open space -- like a mini-arena -- working out in the sunshine. Some lift WEIGHTS made from crude chunks of iron or rock; there's a primitive BOW-FLEX DEVICE made from real bows. Bored armed GUARDS range the walkway atop the wall. A PIECE OF CLOTH WEIGHTED DOWN WITH A ROCK flutters over the wall and thuds in the square and there's a short scramble as gladiators rush for it. Finally the 'note' is passed on to Adonis. ADONIS Crassus, it's for you. A tall, handsome gladiator: "CRASSUS THE SPARTAN" whose hair is woven with TINY SILVER BELLS, stands beside Adonis in expectation. CRASSUS Come on! Tell me what it says! ADONIS (reading) "I dream of your muscles, dear Crassus!" (howls from the others) "... and pray the one between your legs is as large as the one between your ears is small!" Hoots as Crassus grabs the 'note' away from Adonis. DALA For a price Proximo can manage a meeting for any lady... A gladiator with Bad Teeth moves up to intercept Narcissus. The man's lost teeth are replaced with glued-in bits of colored stone. He looks Narcissus over, scoffs and returns to his friends. As they pass along a wall it dips to waist level over a sheer drop. Narcissus stops at the view. FAR BELOW ... is the FORUM OF ROME with its bustling street and squares and magnificent buildings. From here Narcissus can see the Roman Temples: that of the Divine Claudius; Venus and Rome; Mars Ultor; the Temple of Minerva; of Peace; the Divine Julius; of Castor and Pollux; of the Vestal Virgins. Each like a miniature Parthenon seems to faintly GLOW. FURTHER... Beyond are the Domus of the upper classes and the insula of the poor. Actually overwhelmed by the sight; perhaps it gives Narcissus hope. INT. CELL - DUSK TIGHT ON the ceramic FACE OF HIS ANCESTORS looking like a row of hollow caricatures. They seem to be watching... NARCISSUS who sits in the shadows of his cell that's twenty feet square. There are two barred windows, one on the rear wall and another on the side wall. Finally Narcissus rises... he takes up one of the ceramics, snaps a piece off on the side of the table to get a nice sharp edge. He rolls back his sleeves and starts to open the vein of his left wrist. FROM ABOVE Dala shouts down from a small window in the roof. The cell door flies back and TWO SLAVES tackle Narcissus. Dala enters followed by Proximo. Dala pushes one of the slaves aside and grabs Narcissus' wrist. NARCISSUS Take your hands off me animal! PROXIMO Chain him. The slaves immediately bind Narcissus' wrists with a leather strap that's locked with a metal cleat. PROXIMO Sorry but I have to get at least one fight out of you otherwise I won't even get back the cost of the bribe I had to pay the arena slaves to get you here. I know what you're trying to do: kill yourself and trust in the Roman tradition of justice that the emperor will let your family survive and keep their lands. The only thing you have accomplishes is to prove you're a very important individual. You make me feel good about my investment! And that puking pig Jerses -- he won't even discuss you. Both of you have clamped mouths! But I love all my fighters -- I'll find out about your family. And about you. That I promise. NARCISSUS I refuse to be your slave. I refuse -- PROXIMO -- to fight? We'll see... Proximo leaves and the door shuts behind him. Narcissus is left chained in the dark. INT. GLADIATOR WAGON - MORNING The side of a broad barred opening like an animal circus wagon designed to show-off the creatures inside. The gladiators watch Narcissus: various men, all colors, all showing battle scars... GANG KIDS dressed like gladiators chase the wagon shouting: "Gladiator -- Hey, Gladiator!" "Crassus! Crassus The Spartan! Throw us a head" "Hey -- Bad Teeth!" Who you going to skewer today?!" Most catch up to the wagon slogging along in rush-hour traffic and hammer the sides with their FISTS. Fascinated, Narcissus leans close to the bars -- LITTLE KID FACES peer back. BLOND KID You're new! Hey! A new one! MANY KIDS You're dead! They're gonna rip your guts out! You're dead -- dead! Dead guts! Then they pass the senate steps -- Senator Gaius and an AGED SENATOR who seems from another era, GRACCHUS, address a crowd. The kids peel away from the wagon and shove through the audience. Narcissus presses to the bars for a good look. BAD TEETH Friends of yours? The gladiators laugh. But as they pass, Narcissus watches the senators. GAIUS Shall we allow Commodus to turn the labor of Marcus Aurelius upside down? Are we Romans or dogs?! The KIDS START BARKING. The cart veers toward the enormous flank of the Colosseum. A FAT PERSIAN TICKET SCALPER and his two young SONS man a table holding ivory Colosseum tickets like fans of cards, shouting seats and prices. FOUR ROME WHORES ending their day laugh and wave at the cart. A CUTE WHORE in a yellow wig blows them a kiss. SOUNDS OF THE COLOSSEUM CROWD RISE OVER... EXT. COLOSSEUM ARENA - DAY FEET of the MOB in the Colosseum stamping as their chanting VOICES echo in shock waves through the giant marble chamber. AND COMMODUS Standing for the crowd. He's surrounded by members of the Imperial Household -- Lucilla on his right beside Falco. Commodus sits, seems nervous. LUCILLA Don't you think you should at least wave? COMMODUS Why? Then they'll notice when I'm gone. Well. I'm making a public appearance aren't I? ARENA GLADIATORS parade single file through the arena. They strut their stuff: flexing their muscles, gesturing obscenely as they receive the cat-calls of young girls. SATURNUS -- a muscular gladiator with waist-length wavy hair stops to bask in the animal howls of the crowd. NARCISSUS stands inside a heavily guarded double door watching the action. As the 'Proximo gladiators' come in off the field they sit on blocks of stone lining the wall. Then, Narcissus spots Commodus and moves closer to the opening. Saturnus stops directly in front of the Imperial Box, lifts his hand in the Roman salute -- which was the model for the Fascist's salute. SATURNUS Caesar! Those who are about to die, salute you! It's the cue for the crowd to go WILD. Again Commodus looks around at this vast arena. He tentatively makes a broad wave and instead of getting the expected universal cheers, some LOUD BOOS jab up at him from the cheap seats. Commodus is outraged. FALCO Caesar, ignore them. COMMODUS Ignore that?! The sooner we leave this disgusting place the better. FALCO At least stay for the running of the animals. You are paying for it you know... A set of tall doors are pulled back by pairs of slaves and ANIMALS RUSH INTO THE ARENA. WILDEBEESTS -- HYENAS -- ANTELOPE -- ZEBRAS -- WILD ASSES -- BEARS -- JACKALS -- even a LONE HIPPO... blunder off the smooth marble walls in terrified confusion. Commodus seems physically struck. FALCO The money was set aside for your father's triumph. The people expect it. COMMODUS Gods of hell! This must cost a fortune! How many days is this going to go on? FALCO Until your confirmation date. Commodus looks back out on the arena where every animal must look like a heap of cash. COMMODUS A month! The treasury is bleeding... and these pigs expect me to sponsor their amusement while they boo me? Commodus turns and his entourage follows him out. NARCISSUS moves closer to the opening, trying to see through the dust and animals but gets shoved back. The other gladiators sit on stones, backs to the action. There's an 'imminent feeling' like soldiers gathered in a trench before battle. Narcissus turns back to the arena. MOUNTED HUNTERS -- Carrying javelins charge into the arena. And while they corner animals and impale them a LONE MAN -- a 'Colosseum Clown' rushes across the sands with a furious BEAR hot on his heels. The Colosseum Clown reaches the far end of the arena and 'runs' up the slick marble side using his momentum. As the bear lunges for him he flips off the wall, over the bear and starts running the other way. The crowd goes wild for it. LOWER CELLS/THE HOLE... ABSOLUTE BLACKNESS. A solid door pulls back and faint light reveals Juba collapsed in the filth of the cave-like cell. Drenched with perspiration he gasps in the 'fresh' air and like the other prisoners looks nearly asphyxiated. Arena Slaves poke torches at them. ARENA SLAVE Come on! Time to meet Pluto! GLADIATOR AREA As Dala jabbers on, the PRISONERS are rushed up from the depths of the Colosseum. DALA I usually fight women gladiators or other dwarfs. Sometimes I ride into battle on an ostrich. Women are ruthless! Ostriches can break your arm with a single kick! Narcissus is yanked to his feet by armed slaves and chained to the German Warrior who bears the same blue paint smear as he. They study one another, brothers in pain. Narcissus searches the faces and sees Juba is one of the last men being pulled out of the 'hole' by a chain. Bad Teeth looks up: BAD TEETH They're going to bet on you: whoever dies last wins! So long general... AT THE DOOR The prisoners are lined up as the last of the dead animals are dragged off. A slave dumps short gladius swords from a sack, the prisoners scramble to arm themselves. At the last second Proximo shoves through and grabs hold of Narcissus' arm. PROXIMO Legate Narcissus Meridas, general of the Spanish Felix Legions! I'm proud to have you in my school! (picks up a sword) Now, show them what you can do! NARCISSUS I'm not a gladiator. I refuse to fight. PROXIMO Then, you'll die... (off his silence) Just, know this: because you asked I asked: I'm sorry but... A HORN BLOWS and the Colosseum Slaves herd the prisoners out in a rush. PROXIMO ... the emperor has executed your family! Narcissus is YANKED ahead. EXT. ARENA Narcissus is so staggered by this news he seems barely able to walk. JUBA Narcissus! A sword! Get a sword! As the prisoners are double-timed around the arena spectators rise like a Dodger Wave, shouting and pointing out pairs -- money swaps hands. Arena Slaves circle quickly with rakes smoothing the sand over the animal blood. JERSES Citizens! Make your final wagers! Jerses unrolls a scroll. As he speaks ARCHERS line up against the wall directly beneath Jerses facing the prisoners. JERSES Prisoners, you have been found guilty of offenses against the Fatherland: In the name of Caesar Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus and the Senate of Rome, you have been condemned to the arena, beneath the beneath. Fight well -- live long! NARCISSUS barely has time to absorb this when the archers take aim. PANICKED prisoners trip over their own chains, colliding with each other. The German crosses in front of Narcissus and is hit square in the chest with an arrow. Instinctively Narcissus tries to help the German but the man slides out of his arms and crumples dead in the sand. Narcissus looks UP as the crowd cheers... ANDABATAE ENTER... They're gladiators with faces hidden by helmets; carrying THRUSTING SPEARS they look like EXECUTIONER ROBOTS. Narcissus sees that one man of each chained-together pair has been killed and then that Juba is still alive. Each Andabatus squares off with a surviving prisoner. JUBA Narcissus -- fight! Fight! The crowd ROARS as the Andabatae attack. The 'joke' is Narcissus -- like the other prisoners -- has to drag a dead man around while fighting for his life. Narcissus dodges the first blow but the movement yanks his chain taunt and he falls -- barely rolls clear of the next blow. Spectators CHEER and LAUGH; the Andabatus circles keeping Narcissus stretched to the limit of his chain. Juba lurches, nicks the Andabatus and has time to grab the sword of the dead Blonde German. JUBA General! Juba heaves the sword toward Narcissus, turns to parry away the Andabatus. The crowd HOWLS... Narcissus sees the sword is within grabbing range but he still won't go for it. Then the crowd SHOUTS... JUBA GOES DOWN... The Andabatus straddles the badly wounded man, salutes the audience and kills him. Narcissus now sees he's the last prisoner left alive. Narcissus' Andabatus lunges and as Narcissus quickly pulls out of range he falls forward foot coiled in the chain. Now it looks like it's all over -- the crowd goes wild with expectation. The Andabatus raises his weapon over Narcissus as spectators poke their chest with their thumbs to symbolize they want Narcissus killed. He looks to Jerses for orders. NARCISSUS sees Juba dead, his blood in the sand. And suddenly something happens to him -- with every once of energy left, Narcissus grabs the sword, and CHOPS through the ACHILLES TENDON of the Andabatus' left leg. The Andabatus DROPS as Narcissus lunges out with the sword and the man FALLS on the blade. It's over. Narcissus rolls on his side to face up at Jerses who still stands about to give the death command -- his mouth DROPS. AND PROXIMO got those Don King Eyes... Adonis and Dala come forward. PROXIMO Did you see that?! Did you see?! I knew he was a fighter! A real fighter! THE AUDIENCE -- GOES WILD. Especially those in the cheap seats. Narcissus stands with the chain to the dead German in his hand. Then he looks over to where Juba has fallen in the sand. A man dressed in A COSTUME OF BLACK SCALES and a monster head walks to each prisoner administering a coup de grace by clubbing them with a big HAMMER. He's 'PLUTO'. Narcissus drags the chain with the body of the German behind him until he reaches Juba's side. Pluto sees Narcissus protecting Juba's body and decides to take a 'pass'. Finally, exhausted, Narcissus drops to his knees on the burning sand. Lowering his head as cheers of the crowd surround him... IMPERIAL ENTRANCE - COLOSSEUM At ground level at the dead end of a long hall Lucilla watches through an ornate stone grate. Of course, she's seen everything. TRIBUUS Lady, are you coming? She's startled to find Tribuus has come looking for her. She nods, shoves past and he follows her down the hall without a single backward glance. INT. IMPERIAL 'CHAIR' - LATER AFTERNOON Commodus and Lucilla ride along in silence, Praetorian Guard walking ahead to part the crowd. As they pass the Senate, Commodus points to a clutch of CITIZENS gathered on the steps. COMMODUS They're talking about me. Lucilla gives him the hard stare. But then all the citizens turn to watch the Imperial Chair pass. COMMODUS They hate me, they really hate me don't they? LUCILLA Maybe you should get married. Pick one of your cousins, it would demonstrate a profound stability. Commodus puts his hand on her leg. COMMODUS What about you? They just stare at each other. As he talks he continues to feel under her toga to her hip. She tries to remain amused. COMMODUS I should at least have you, don't you think? LUCILLA If you get me pregnant with a boy he'll be a double direct heir and will end up killing you for the throne. He freezes -- absolutely turned off -- and takes away his hand. COMMODUS Did Narcissus die today? Wasn't this his day to die? LUCILLA I'm sure, I don't know. Finally he removes his hand and leans out the opening to Tribuus who rides alongside. COMMODUS Tribuus, what happened in the arena? Was Narcissus killed? TRIBUUS He must have been. He was on the list of prisoners to be executed. LUCILLA No one in Rome has ever heard of him. Do you want to remind those few in the Senate who have? The whole sordid thing is far beneath your position to begin with. Forget about him. COMMODUS Let some time pass... then ask, quietly, without anyone knowing it comes from me. TRIBUUS Leave it to me, Caesar. INT. NARCISSUS' CELL - LATE AFTERNOON Narcissus has drunk himself unconscious and lies face down on the table. The door swings open and Proximo enters with an armed guard and COS, a handsome young man who looks like a student. As the light sweeps in through the open door Narcissus blinks awake. PROXIMO Narcissus Meridas, general of the Spanish VII, famed Felix Legions. I'm proud to have you in my school! Narcissus staggers to his feet and crosses to the rear window. He leans against the bars and gulps cool air. PROXIMO General, do you realize what happened out there today? NARCISSUS I didn't get killed and everyone else did. PROXIMO That's one way to look at it. COS You won an impossible fight. You got the attention of the crowd, legate... PROXIMO This is Cos, this precocious young man. A scribe for the Daily Action.(1) I've invited him to write a small piece about you... COS I'm mentioning you in tomorrow's athlete's section, legate. So, I'd love to know your birth sign; it effects how people bet. And perhaps you could tell me a bit about... well, who are you? Narcissus looks from one to the other then back to his view of Rome which looks like lead in shadows. NARCISSUS I don't have a birth sign... Cos looks to Proximo who starts to speak but realizes the interview is over... INT. NARCISSUS' CELL - LATE AFTERNOON Narcissus crouches in the corner slowly sipping his wine staring at the 'faces' of his ancestors. NARCISSUS Janus, God of passages, I know you exist... (pause) I beg you open the door for Selene, Manto, and my little Themis to the land of our ancestors. I have no fit offering for the task I ask, but if you save my ladies one day I will find a sacrifice worthy of you. Dala's face peers in from above. DALA Don't let Proximo push you around. Proximo must, by law, give you a third of everything he makes off you outside the arena. Popular gladiators get rich! Narcissus grabs his wine jug and throws it at Dala who leaps out of sight. Then Narcissus picks up a stone and stands over the images of his ancestors. ON HIS ANCESTORS... One by one he SMASHES EACH FACE. SOUNDS OF THE COLOSSEUM RISE OVER as if cheering him on... INT. COLOSSEUM - GLADIATOR AREA - MORNING A SWORD drops in the dirt. Narcissus looks up to find Proximo with an Arena Slave who holds a sack of swords. PROXIMO We're calling you "Narcissus The Good." It's in the Daily Action. A CHEER from the crowd and Narcissus glances toward the arena. HE SEES... Crassus has speared a panther which drops, clawing hopelessly at the blade stuck in its throat. To resounding cheers, Crassus holds up his arms, playing to his audience. Then with a huge show he straddles the cat and kills it with a dagger -- the crowd erupts... NARCISSUS picks the sword up so fast the point almost catches Proximo in the face. Proximo straightens, scowls and moves off. Bad Teeth chuckles. But when he gets the cold stare from Narcissus he turns away, chuckling to himself. ARENA Narcissus faces a Hoplomachi. The Hoplomachi looks completely protected in lead grey armor. He carries a round shield and a long sword. Narcissus walks slowly toward him and the audience hushes. NARCISSUS Surrender or I'll kill you! People just crack-up... SPECTATOR Narcissus The Good! As one the audience howls throwing trash down into the arena. Narcissus drops his shield, grips his sword with both hands -- feints -- the Hoplomachi misses left and Narcissus comes down full force on the man's helmet. Narcissus' sword SPLITS THE HELMET AND STAYS THERE. The Hoplomachi takes two more steps and drops dead. Narcissus turns and strides back the way he came ignoring the crowd as it GOES WILD. INT. GLADIATOR WAGON - LATE AFTERNOON Narcissus sits rubbing his wrist where he's cuffed. The others watching him. Crassus hands him a small jar and a rag. Narcissus wipes his wrist -- and it stings. Bad Teeth chuckles. Now, heading away from the Colosseum are Four Whores, today the Cute Whore wears a BLUE WIG; they blow kisses... EXT. FORUM - LATE AFTERNOON Outside the Senate Tribuus with ten Praetorian Guard face down an angry demonstration. INT. SENATE - LATE AFTERNOON Commodus faces the challenging, stoic wall of Senators in their pure white togas. Falco sits prominently near the front. From outside come the sounds of the mob. COMMODUS Senators. There was no more fair man than my father. A man of learning who dreamed the fondest of all Roman dreams: restoring the Republic. Still, my father ruled. And though I seek only to fulfill his dream, I too must rule. For despite the gossip of philosophers men are not born free; they must have freedom given them by the state. GRACCHUS Are you alleging, Caesar, that our citizens' desire for the Republic is infantile? COMMODUS Men who believe they can truly be free, like it or not, are necessarily children. FALCO And like children everywhere they scream "freedom" the most when they desire it least. I beg you, please continue, Caesar. COMMODUS At the opening of the month of Janus, I will ask this noble body to confirm my emperorship... Gracchus points out toward the street. GRACCHUS We don't have to wait for the month of Janus, the people deny you already! COMMODUS It is you, Gaius and you Gracchus who incite the people until they are out of control! GAIUS It is not the Senate's duty to control the people, rather to allow them the right to control us! FALCO Gentlemen, gentlemen: our emperor has come here humbly to address us about his confirmation... VOICE If there is a confirmation! FALCO ... and I insist we show him the respect and honor he is due. GRACCHUS Caesar, what are you doing about this growing grain shortage? If there is unrest now, what happens when there is no bread at all? GAIUS And that treaty! By giving the Germans money and letting them remain on the Danube at arms do we not run the risk of essentially financing their next invasion of Italy? GRACCHUS Caesar, the Senate must answer to the people... EXT. SENATE - LATE AFTERNOON As Commodus comes out protected by a line of Praetorian Guard; he's scared, but smiles like a politician. TRIBUUS Make way! Make way for Caesar! Son of Marcus Aurelius! VOICE To hell with the son! Give us back the father! The crowd breaks into a chant for Marcus Aurelius. As Commodus and Tribuus move faster to get clear of the crowd people actually begin THROWING TRASH. INT. IMPERIAL PALACE - PALATINE HILL - EVENING Lucilla watches as Commodus heaves statuary, paintings, even furniture into a heap on the central room floor; slaves scurry to pick it up. LUCILLA Those are priceless sculptures. COMMODUS I want every single thing that belonged to my father out of this house! If it's worth something then sell it! Falco enters with Tribuus. Commodus rages at him. COMMODUS It's disgusting! Animals! I had to come here under armed guard. Slaves -- get this junk out of my sight. LUCILLA Commodus is heaving out every thing that belonged to our father. Except that he can't heave out his ghost. Commodus hits her hard across the face. She staggers back against the edge of a fountain. COMMODUS Shut up! This is no joke! I am no joke! You understand me! Only her anger keeps back her tears. LUCILLA Yes... brother. For a moment everyone is overwhelmed -- and Falco steps between them. Lucilla sits, washes the corner of her mouth from the fountain. FALCO Gracchus and Gaius are inciting the crowd by holding you up for comparison. You must kill that ghost that's haunting you. Commodus turns and comes nearly nose-to-nose with a statue of Marcus Aurelius. He grabs a slave. COMMODUS I told you to get that bust out of my sight! The hapless slave hugs the statue but no way will it budge. SLAVE Caesar -- it outweighs me! TRIBUUS Guards -- help us here. COMMODUS Throw it down into the streets! Down into the Forum. If it's my father they want then give him to them! FALCO Yes. You know, that's not a bad idea. COMMODUS Maybe it'll crush Gaius. FALCO I'm serious. COMMODUS So am I. FALCO We can crush Gaius another way. What if you do throw something to the people they really want? Make them a gift of food. COMMODUS Give away food? FALCO Sacks of grain, even bread. I own the grain licenses for the military, I can arrange to divert a shipment bound for the army of the Danube. COMMODUS Take grain away from the army? FALCO Make a gift to the people. It's your money anyway so it's only fair. Lucilla seems very interested. LUCILLA And make a huge deal out of it... If you want the people to truly remember the gesture, that is at least until the first of Janus, it must be an event, an occasion of celebration. FALCO She's right about that. It's going to be damned expensive so better get your money's worth. COMMODUS How about in the forum. Right in front of the Senate. LUCILLA If I may be so bold... COMMODUS For the gods, spit it out! LUCILLA Why not do it in the Colosseum? Hard to tell exactly what Commodus thinks of this. LUCILLA When Julius Caesar overthrew the Republic he held massive games at Circus Maximus to divert the people. By the time they came home from all their fun... they were living in a dictatorship. That gets him interested. Tribuus and the guards begin to wrestle the statue of Marcus Aurelius out of the hall. INT. NARCISSUS' CELL - DAY LATER - DAWN The door bangs back and Narcissus wakes. Adonis enters with two guards. Narcissus gets up from the floor where he's been sleeping on a blanket. ADONIS General... Other cells can be heard clanking aside, men cursing and laughing. Far off ROOSTERS CROW. Adonis steps out and Proximo pokes his head in. PROXIMO Like an animal. I give you one of the best cells -- look at you, on the ground. And the crowd -- you win and they hate you because you never ask them for permission to kill your opponent! You could win the wooden sword if the crowd loves you enough! The wooden sword! It's freedom -- you listening to me? Gladiator has the chance of winning it... technically. Narcissus just shoves past. PROXIMO This isn't a war, you know! Have some fun with it! EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD - DAWN Narcissus pauses to watch the other gladiators herded together from the pitiful cells, some naked pulling on ragged togas. In the yard steaming cauldrons of food are prepared by slaves. Dragged from his cell a new, young gladiator -- VEDNAS -- weeps and screams that he doesn't want to die. Bad Teeth crawls out of his cell like a bear, punches Vednas in the mouth to shut him up and moves on before the guards can get to him. Already dressed, Crassus kneels before a crude stone alter, praying to his God. INT. GLADIATOR WAGON - MORNING Silence from the gladiators as the wagon squeaks and thumps through Rome. The Gang-Kids race alongside, shouting. Bad Teeth reaches under his rough toga and comes up with a small jug of wine. He hands it to Narcissus. BAD TEETH This is my God. Narcissus eyeballs the jug, then takes it and turns away from the rest to drink. The others swap looks. Gathering his courage, Vednas crawls near. VEDNAS They say, you are a general... Narcissus looks him over a moment, says nothing. But Vednas pours forth in desperation. VEDNAS I don't belong here! I'm Vednas the scribe! I can read and write Etruscan, Greek; I can read the pictures of the great Pharaohs and the tongue of Cyrus the Younger! I once translated the whole Epic of Gilgamesh from Babylonian into Greek for the library of Ephesus! My ancestors were scribes at the Great Library of Alexandria! BAD TEETH I'll bet he can scream in ten languages! Howls from the others. Narcissus remains unmoved. VEDNAS I never bothered anyone. I had a corner, out on the verge where the insula and the domus meet. Anyone with good taste came to me to write their letters. Love letters were my specialty! General, I can compose like no other man! BAD TEETH Yeah, but pretty soon you'll be decomposing! More laughs... Vednas gets desperate. VEDNAS Please! I was condemned for over charging for a document! They need bodies for the arena! I did nothing! Help me! Narcissus has another sip of wine. NARCISSUS You want to live? (pause) Kill. INT. COLOSSEUM ARENA - DAY/MONTAGE: Narcissus circles a 'THRACIAN' GLADIATOR: small round shields with a curved scythe-like sword. The Thracian whips the sword overhead in a circle with enormous agility... Narcissus watches and then circles in the opposite direction. In a flash he races at the Thracian... NEW ANGLE That scythe-sword spinning off into the ether. THE THRACIAN... Dead in the sand as Narcissus walks away paying no attention to the cheering crowd and getting some BOOS as a result. COLOSSEUM ARENA - ANOTHER DAY On a 'COLOSSUS OF RHODES' design on a shield showing an image of the legendary copper giant. A RHODIAN faces Narcissus. He wears a shiny lorica segmentata designed from copper, armed with a splay-edged sword. Narcissus approaches him, this time carrying his small shield. The Rhodian slashes at him and Narcissus deflects the blow with his shield. As the crowd HOWLS they crash together... THE COPPER SHIELD... sticking on the edge in the sand, the giant -- feet up... beside the body of the Rhodian. Narcissus again strides away, victorious. COLOSSEUM ARENA - ANOTHER DAY A MYRMIDON gladiator in black leather... 'Antenna' poke from his leather helmet, and a symbol of an ant of his shield -- rears backward as Narcissus fells him with a powerful blow... COLOSSEUM ARENA - ANOTHER DAY A MIRMILLONES -- a gladiator with scale-like armor and a fish-shield -- tumbles dead in the sand... AND THE CROWD... Cheering, stamping their feet. AND NARCISSUS Once again striding off the sand. But this time he stops, turns and looks back at the crowd. HIS POV The uninhibited proletariat in the upper seats howl. Their area is littered with trash and a few women even NURSE BABIES. THE FRONT SEATS Some slaves of the upper-class 'fans' smack long WOODEN HANDS(2) together overhead as their MASTERS recline in luxurious padded seats. Others -- equally wealthy -- leap up cheering and one even grabs the 'souvenir hands' away from his slave and whacks them together himself. AND NARCISSUS... Taking this all in, his eyes shift to: THE IMPERIAL BOX Empty... the relief marble Wolf of Rome glares in the burning sun. INT. ARENA - ANOTHER DAY Narcissus, armed with just his sword, faces a LAQUEARIUS, a 'lasso man'. Shirtless, but wearing leather fringed pants he whirls a rope overhead like Hopalong-fucking-Cassidy. Narcissus circles. NARCISSUS Surrender, or I'll kill you! VOICE Go ahead and kill him! Laughter... but as Narcissus circles he stumbles. PROXIMO watches from the 'trenches'. He turns to Adonis. PROXIMO He's drunk... he's going to die this time. ARENA The Laquearius almost magically spins his rope so the loop straightens and he snaps Narcissus' cheek with it like a whip. The crowd loves it. Narcissus grabs his cheek, puzzled by what's happening. For a second he seems to clear his head, but now the crowd is into the thrill of the hunt. When the Laquearius turns to close the distance -- in a flash that whirling rope is back defining the limit of Narcissus' approach. Humiliated and just not thinking straight he makes a sudden rush -- and Laquearius lassos him... Narcissus tries to pull his arms loose but the Laquearius yanks the noose so tight Narcissus' arms are frozen with his sword against his body. Now the Laquearius plays to the crowd -- he yanks Narcissus to his knees and dances around him, winding himself closer as the rope twists around Narcissus. Then he kneels behind Narcissus, pulls his head back by his hair and puts the knife against his throat... he look up to the crowd. THE MOB... Shouting, stamping, all plunging their thumbs down against their chests. PROXIMO turns away. He sits on Narcissus' rock beside Dala. He just can't watch. LAQUEARIUS smiles for the fans -- but Narcissus sees that exposed wrist and sinks his teeth into the man's artery -- Laquearius rips his arm loose and blood spews like a broken garden hose. Laquearius grabs his wrist and drops his sword -- Narcissus kicks him, flips him and pins him with his knees. He gets hold of the sword, jams the blade under the ropes and slices himself free. In a flash he turns the sword and drives it into the Laquearius' chest. He stands, catches his breath -- the crowd cheers. Narcissus turns face smeared with blood, watches them yell and gesture at him. He looks like an ANIMAL... INT. 'TRENCHES' The gladiators silently watch Narcissus as he comes in from the arena and crosses to a stone cistern to splash cold water on his face and hair. Proximo gingerly approaches. The CHEERS now include more calls for "Narcissus." Proximo snaps his fingers -- a slave brings Narcissus wine. PROXIMO That was one of the most impressive feats I've ever seen. You hear them calling your name? (Narcissus drinks) You scorn them. But, they admire you. When Emperor Trajan had his victory over five thousand gladiators fought to the death -- out there. So, they know a good fight. As a soldier you must have fought very well for Rome. INT. GLADIATOR WAGON - LATE AFTERNOON Silence, all the gladiators focused on Narcissus who couches in the corner, face on his folded arms as if he were asleep. As usual the kids chase the wagon, taunting. Suddenly Bad Teeth shoots his hand through the bars and snags the little Blonde Kid by the throat. The kid gags, dragging as his friends try to pull him loose. Bad Teeth just grins his grin and hangs on -- strangling. Out of nowhere Narcissus grabs Bad Teeth's arm -- they look each other in the eye and Bad Teeth drops the kid in the dirt. BAD TEETH Narcissus The Good! INT. GLADIATOR AREA - THE 'TRENCHES'... As Narcissus, Bad Teeth, Vednas, Adonis, Crassus, Dala and others enter, Proximo follows in the wake of an Arena Slave who's handing out bread and wine. A few VOICES call Narcissus by name... PROXIMO You hear, General? Some people remember you. You're a surly bastard and still they like you. An ARENA SLAVE hands Crassus a long spear and he enters the arena -- CHEERS of the mob welcome him. Narcissus turns toward a horrendous clank of CHAINS: two arena SLAVES race in opposite directions down a long hall yanking chains that lift a cage to ground level. ARENA Crassus faces a scenery facade that's shaped like a STONE CAVE. A TIGER rushes from the cave. NARCISSUS sits on a stone block beside the other gladiators. DALA Bad luck! A tiger. Someone important must be betting against Crassus... A LIGHT FEMALE VOICE calls Narcissus' name. The sound is so strange that at first Narcissus doesn't respond. Then he sees the FOUR WHORES at a barred window. The Cute Whore wearing a wig with spring-like curled hair waves Narcissus over. Fascinated, he crosses to the bars. CUTE WHORE Narcissus The Good! Can you afford me today? Narcissus turns away toward a SHOUT from the arena. ARENA Within twenty feet the tiger crouches to spring. Crassus SHAKES HIS LONG HAIR and the TINY BELLS FLASH AND TINKLE. Baffled by the glinting bells, the tiger stands out of his crouch. NARCISSUS turns back to the Whore. She smiles. CUTE WHORE Pay the guard something. They'll let me in and we can do it here. Narcissus seems confused and maybe he would except: NARCISSUS I... have no money. ANOTHER WHORE She's in love with you! She'll do you for free! The Whores break into laughter. Then the Cute Whore gestures Narcissus to the bars like she wanted to whisper and when he gets close she kisses his cheek -- they break off laughing again and suddenly GUARDS outside shoo them away... Proximo puts a hand on Narcissus' shoulder. PROXIMO The Emperor is here. He's come here himself to distribute bread to the people! It takes Narcissus a second, then he slowly rises and looks through the bars. EXT. IMPERIAL BOX Six Praetorian Guard flank the Imperial seat. The crowd shouts as the tiger CHARGES -- Crassus DROPS and the SUN CRASHES INTO THE TIGER'S EYES... Crassus angles the spear to catch the blinded tiger straight in the chest. He flips the impaled cat onto its back and LEANS on the spear. The tiger tears out with a paw and SINKS ITS CLAWS INTO CRASSUS' SHOULDER, pulling him down. DALA Watch out for the back claws! Crassus is pulled down as the tiger's thrashing rear legs tearing into Crassus' gut. Crassus falls on the cat with his huge hands around its throat. Face-to-face, their foreheads touching -- the tiger, fangs bared, Crassus grimacing -- they die. IN THE BEST SEATS A bleak looking PROCONSUL hands a fistful of GOLD to a self-important MERCHANT who makes a big show of winning his bet. ALL THE GLADIATORS stand, watching. Bad Teeth is the first to sit. Proximo waves a pair of slaves out. PROXIMO Shit! Get his body! Damn! Damn hem all! Then, with a RUMBLING FANFARE of DRUMS and staccato horns Commodus makes a grand entrance. Lucilla, Tribuus and Falco are at the forefront of an entourage which includes all manner of wealthy hangers-on. JERSES (O.S.) After an absence of nearly an entire generation... JERSES stands on Commodus' left side. JERSES ... great Caesar, Emperor of all Rome has returned to our beloved Colosseum! Commodus stands receiving the unbelievable howls and cheers of the crowd. Even he is amazed by the reception and stands grinning and waving. Commodus finally turns, nods to Jerses and sits. More drum and horn effects and then silence. JERSES In his boundless wisdom, and with the generosity of the gods, Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus... GLADIATORS By now all watch the display. With every second Narcissus' interest grows. Crassus body is brought in and the others crowd around. Even Proximo steps up to put a hand on him. JERSES (O.S.) ... in keeping his sworn trust to Rome's Citizens... ARENA Jerses reaching an apoplexy of passion. JERSES ... will distribute as much grain or bread as each man, woman or child present here may carry! The crowd goes wild. Commodus rises and the crowd begins a football-like chant of CAESAR-CAESAR-CAESAR... He holds up his arms welcoming the adulation. Commodus is almost physically effected by the cheers the power and psychological rush is so tremendous. NARCISSUS... turns away from the sight. Arena Slaves move through the ranks, two flank Narcissus and one hands him a sword. Proximo pats him on the shoulder and moves down the ranks. PROXIMO You're next. All of you, Caesar is here. Perform well and who knows? Someone might get the wooden sword! BAD TEETH At least you'll make some big bets on us with Caesar here. Snorts of disdain from other gladiators. IMPERIAL BOX Falco leans over and plops down five gold coins. FALCO Caesar, let me sponsor your first wager in the arena. COMMODUS I wouldn't know who to bet on. NARCISSUS (O.S.) Great Caesar! We who are about to die, salute you! The sound of Narcissus' voice hits Commodus like a blow. Stunned he and Falco rise and gawk down into the arena -- Commodus locks eyes with Narcissus. Narcissus stares at Commodus... then turns as the people cheer and give cat-calls. Narcissus faces a gladiator approaching from the opposite side. He's a THRACIAN GLADIATOR; he holds up his round shield and curved sword to the crowd. COMMODUS -- just gawks at Narcissus. COMMODUS Why isn't he dead? Damn you, you promised me he would be dead! TRIBUUS Caesar, I did my best. The Colosseum isn't under my control... Sudden panic from Jerses who realizes the ball's in his court. JERSES Truthfully, Caesar, the crowd doesn't care for him. He wins, but... COMMODUS Wins? What in hell are you talking about? That man is my enemy! Lucilla, you knew he was here! You did this to humiliate me! LUCILLA Don't be ridiculous. Come on; he's just a gladiator. Will you sit down? Everyone's watching. NARCISSUS & SOME CROWD Surrender, or I'll kill you! This does not help Jerses' case. LUCILLA The crowd does seem to know him... JERSES But just a handful in the cheap seats. NARCISSUS watches the Thracian very closely. Obviously the man is not going to surrender. They circle as the crowd shouts -- the sound of the full fifty thousand people is deafening. For a second Narcissus stops paying attention, and he looks up toward the Imperial Box. The Thracian charges and Narcissus just has time to block his sword and shove him aside. Now Narcissus gets furious and bangs away at the Thracian. JERSES He's making a mistake. He'll lose now, he can't match the Thracian's strength. He's one of the best from School of Lykas. COMMODUS And Narcissus...? JERSES School of Proximo! If anyone's responsible for his life it's Proximo, he saved him. Just as those words leave Jerses' mouth Narcissus shoves his sword right through the Thracian's shield with a tremendous blow that kills him. AND COMMODUS He just turns away. COMMODUS As soon as he goes, distribute the grain. Jerses? JERSES Yes. I can hold the rest of the fights until the food is given out, that's why everyone came anyway. Honestly, he's not really that popular, Caesar. A MUG on Commodus' table suddenly SHATTERS. He looks at it like "what the hell?" The crowd HOWLS. BELOW Narcissus picks up ROCKS and throws them up at the imperial box. Adonis tries to drag him off as Dala clutches the swords. The audience goes completely NUTS -- some spectators in the cheap seats actually keel over from spasms of laughter. Praetorian Guard immediately move in front of Commodus and the crowd BOOS them. At the same time more and more call Narcissus name. Dala and Adonis grab Narcissus and pull him off the sand as the crowd continues to go nuts. COMMODUS Kill him! Tribuus -- execute that bastard. LUCILLA You can't do that! You came here to turn the crowd around not make them hate you. Commodus stands and pushes aside the Praetorian Guard so the crowd can see him. He smiles, making the best of it. The Good Seats applaud his effort. COMMODUS Tribuus... tomorrow. LUCILLA You're coming back? COMMODUS I have to come back. If I don't come back the people will think I'm a coward. Tribuus, tomorrow he dies -- I want his blood on the sand. Do you understand? TRIBUUS Yes, Caesar? COMMODUS Jerses -- tomorrow... THE TRENCHES As the other gladiators hold Narcissus back -- his eyes are wild, months of hate crashing to the surface. He pulls loose and sits. JERSES (O.S.) On this next day, Emperor Commodus will give out double this same amount of grain and loaves of fresh bread from the Imperial ovens! COMMODUS STANDS and the crowd goes wild... he smiles and nods grimly. Looks like today he's had the last word. INT. GLADIATOR WAGON - LATE AFTERNOON Narcissus breathing hard as if he were still resonating from a rush of renewal. Proximo sits opposite with a guard, absolutely gleeful -- wrapping his hands together and all but muttering "O-boy, o-boy, o-boy!" PROXIMO Throwing rocks at the Emperor! I can't tell you how much I love that! Oh, Gods, thank you! (to Adonis) When we get back -- wine for our hero. The best red from Moselle! Not that piss from Crete! Wine that's not the color of blood is no wine! Kids race alongside the wagon shouting his name -- people they pass wave and shout for Narcissus. Now PEOPLE mob the wagon, and it slows. Narcissus still seems to be recovering, it's as if his mind were ascending from hell back to the daylight. Proximo edges closer so no one else will hear. PROXIMO At the end of the day I was approached by the Golden Pompeii Olive Oil company. Small, but profitable. They asked if you would endorse their oil. We could get some very nice posters. Make some very big money... NARCISSUSWhat would the poster say: "Narcissus would kill for a taste of Golden Pompeii Olive Oil?" PROXIMO Think about it! Just think about it! DALA Look at that! That's new! Narcissus looks out through the bars as they pass a square and a large STATUE OF COMMODUS. PROXIMO The big push is on, for the month of Janus approaches! EXT. PROXIMO'S SCHOOL - NEAR DUSK As Armed Slaves unload the gladiators, two separate Narcissus and bring him to Proximo. PROXIMO We're going some place tonight. Don't even think about trying to escape you'll be heavily guarded. We're going to a party where Adonis will beat the brains out of some fool. Your presence has been requested. INT. DOMUS - PRIVATE GYMNASIUM - NIGHT A palatial private residence in Rome. Judging from the heavily embroidered togas this is a high-end crowd: 'equites publicani'. Narcissus sits on a chair, wrists cuffed, flanked by armed slaves, watching as Adonis squares off with a tall, lean EGYPTIAN. They both wear leather gloves studded with spikes. The Egyptian nails Adonis who totters bloody from the blow -- and the CROWD moves in blocking the view. A SERVANT sets three dishes on tripod stands for guests to wander past and help themselves. The FIRST is a pile of FISH HEADS -- remarkable for their ENORMOUS GAPING EYES. The SECOND is a spiral of multi- colored BIRD EGGS. A YOUNG MAN cracks an egg, hold it up and a whole BIRD EMBRYO drops into his mouth. He clamps down on it with a CRUNCH. Narcissus sees TWO ATTRACTIVE GIRLS watching him from across the room. They whisper, giggle, and approach. Then they pause by the three dishes. The girls are suddenly right in front of Narcissus. GIRL #1 You're Narcissus, aren't you? The gladiator? My sister has something she wants to give you... Girl #2 kneels, parts his legs so she can get very close and opens her mouth. In the cup of her tongue is a huge FISH EYE. Apparently she wants him to suck it off. Narcissus might actually be tempted, but... NARCISSUS I've eaten, but thank you... Girl #2 makes a show of swallowing the eye. She climbs off her knees, kisses Narcissus, then arm in arm she and her sister leave. Narcissus' eyes are drawn to the third bowl and it seems to contain BRIGHTLY COLORED CHIPS. But they MOVE... they're LIVING BUTTERFLIES dusted with a sparkling colored coating of diluted honey. Helpless in the bowl, their wings fold and unfold. Proximo arrives with six very wealthy-looking MEN in tow. While slaves bring up chairs Proximo casually scoops up a handful of butterflies and pops them into his mouth like Fritos. Chairs are brought up for each and they all sit directly opposite Narcissus and study him as if he were some piece of art. PROXIMO Gentlemen, Narcissus The Good! Hmm... they continue to study him. Then a GREY HAIRED MAN sorts himself out of the guests and approaches. It's Gracchus. GRACCHUS Who are you? Narcissus The Good? I have heard of Narcissus Meridas. That's who I hear you are. NARCISSUS You're hearing about somebody else. GRACCHUS How did you get condemned to the arena without a trial? NARCISSUS When the Senate and the Emperor agree miracles can happen. GRACCHUS Would you support the Senate if they would give you a trial? You'd have to give me your word. NARCISSUS I need to give you my word when yours is worth nothing? GRACCHUS You're a citizen and a soldier. Not a gladiator. NARCISSUS You don't know how wrong you are. INT. COLOSSEUM - NEXT DAY Narcissus waits with the other gladiators. Proximo approaches Narcissus. An Arena Slave hands Narcissus a sword and shield. PROXIMO Jerses is pitting you against one of Lykas' Dimachaeri -- Saturnus... BAD TEETH A two-sword; light armor, Saturnus is one of Lykas' best, very fast. The Emperor is behind this. First Crassus, now you're dead. CENTER ARENA As soon as Narcissus steps out the crowd goes wild. Dozens of people call his name. Saturnus holds two swords, one short and the other long with an X-shaped head. For a moment the audience goes quiet as the two face off. Narcissus YELLS: NARCISSUS Surrender or I'll kill you. The crowd loves it -- some cheer. Saturnus flips his short sword into a stabbing position, holds out his long sword. Narcissus charges whaling at him with his shield. Taken completely off-guard Saturnus dodges -- and TRIPS. Narcissus is on him -- crushing down on his head with his shield. Saturnus flails wildly -- cuts Narcissus on the right with the long sword. Narcissus yanks the short sword out of the man's hand and kills him with it. The crowd GASPS. Narcissus reels to his feet, drops his shield and grips his wound which spews blood. Then he sees 'PLUTO' approaching with his death hammer. THE GLADIATORS rush to the doorway, shout his name, urging him on. NARCISSUS Staggers, keeps moving as Pluto dogs his steps waiting for Narcissus to fall. He gets within twenty feet of the doorway... suddenly looks like he's going to fall -- there's a GASP from the crowd. AND COMMODUS -- On the edge of his seat. NARCISSUS Gives Pluto the hard stare... and DROPS -- but all the Proximo gladiators rush out and he falls into Bad Teeth's arms. The crowd ROARS. COMMODUS Give out the food -- quickly! INT. GLADIATOR WAGON - AFTERNOON Narcissus barely wakes. Adonis works desperately to stop the wound as Proximo squats nearby crazy with anxiety. The GANG KIDS jog along side the wagon, deathly quiet as they watch. The Blonde Kid reaches in through the bars with a small mug of water. BLOND KID Don't die Narcissus! It's Narcissus! Narcissus The Good! Narcissus agonizingly reaches up and clasps it -- for a second the boy holds on, then lets it go. Now the Cute Whore appears frantically blowing him kisses as if they could somehow save him. Now more and more hands reach in through the bars as citizens hear his name and crowd around. PROXIMO Don't die, general! One third! One third! After today everyone will know your name! INT. SENATE - MORNING Gracchus stands before the body of Senators. GRACCHUS No trial! No defense! Narcissus Meridas, general of the VIIth Felix Gemini legions! How could this happen? Senate breaks into muttering and some yell for Falco to speak -- very reluctantly he does. FALCO I was one who agreed with the Emperor to do this thing along with Senator Gaius! Shouts of outrage. FALCO And with good reason: we were trying to avoid civil war! VOICE But he deserved a full trial! Sit down, Falco! Gaius! Gaius! GAIUS Narcissus Meridas deserves a full trial! Yes! Let the Senate become the champion of the people! VOICES Yes! Yes! GAIUS And then let the Senate crush their hopes, further humiliate Narcissus by sending him back to the arena, and let us by all means make the Emperor look good while we do it! FALCO The truth of it is that he defied a direct order of his Emperor and the acting Senate! GRACCHUS It was a disgraceful order! More shouts as Senators stand at will. GAIUS Narcissus is guilty as charged and this body would have to lie long to find otherwise! VOICE Sit down you traitor! GAIUS I will not sit down! I will not sit down! The Senate disintegrates into squabbling. INT. NARCISSUS' CELL - NEAR DUSK Narcissus slowly wakes. He sees Adonis and Dala. Though Dala slumps in a corner, asleep, Adonis carefully crushes garlic bulbs in a mortar. Confused, his eyes stray around the room and fix on a CRUDE POSTER OF HIMSELF holding up a sword nailed to the wall. Proximo enters, kicks Dala awake and kneels beside Narcissus. He helps him sip water. PROXIMO General, hang on... drink slowly. You are blessed by the Gods to have a physician and a Divine of Janus with you tonight. A fan sent them to you. NARCISSUS Alive... I'm alive... Narcissus seems disappointed, disoriented and at first, possibly delirious. The doctor kneels on his right, the Divine on the left. PROXIMO Your fans have gathered below in a vigil. Even the Senate, that swamp of double talking dung beetles is discussing you. The Doctor carefully works on his arm taking garlic from Adonis and smearing it on the wound. DIVINE I'm here to guide you through the gates of Janus, general. NARCISSUS My daughters, my wife. Are they there? But the Divine shuts her eyes, muttering almost inaudibly. The Doctor works -- as if it were a contest between the pair. The door opens and Vednas pokes his head in, gestures to Proximo who exits. Narcissus looks up at the two windows and sees FACES peering in at him. They're the other GLADIATORS who live in Proximo's school. One is tying a charm of leopard claws to the bars. Then the door opens and Lucilla is ushered in by an ultra fawning Proximo. Lucilla wears a veil which she lowers as she sits beside Narcissus. LUCILLA I knew they'd never kill you. It takes Narcissus a second to focus and when he sees he grabs her by the throat with his good arm -- Proximo and Adonis pry him loose... for a second Lucilla chokes. LUCILLA It's my brother's neck you want, not mine. NARCISSUS Yours will do! Narcissus winces with pain from the effort and Lucilla leans beside him against the wall. DOCTOR General, you nearly opened your wound. LUCILLA Keep that up and you'll make everyone happy. NARCISSUS Proximo, if this is her doctor he's an assassin. PROXIMO Don't be ridiculous. ADONIS If you die,