Age of Treason Page #3

And during all that time, you've

never been through the city?

Until last night, just Casca's

gladiator school, the arena,

nowhere else.

Nowhere?

Not even to visit someone?

I had to kill everyone I know.

FALCO:
On second thought, maybe it was

better to keep an eye on this bruiser

before he killed

somebody I knew!

Well, since

he whole of Rome's seen you,

I suppose you've earned the

chance to see part of Rome.

But the it's straight back to Casca's

school until I sort this out with Garrus.

-By your honor?

-By my honor.

Then let's go. I want to get this nephew

of mine off the streets by nightfall.

And try not to look so big.

PETRO:
A list of convictions awaits

your sentencing, Lord Pertinax.

-Crime?

-Tax evasion.

(INHALES PENSIVELY)

Have him

drawn and quartered.

Next!

Helping an escaped slave.

Burned. Alive. In public.

-Writing graffiti on the palace?

-Disembowelment.

-Christian.

-Lions.

-Christian?

-Lions!

-Christian.

-(SIGHS FORCEFULLY)

Lions.

Stealing food.

Death by starvation.

I know this last man.

He's a veteran, sir.

We fought together

in the Carthage campaign.

He's a good man.

Just fallen on hard times

and needed to feed his family.

I see!

Well, I suppose

there's no harm

in showing a little mercy

to our boys in bronze.

Strike death by starvation

and just hang him.

Yes, sir.

All hail the Emperor,

Vespasian Caesar!

Uh, come, come, Petro,

is this going to take all day?

I have far more

important things to do

than dispose of Rome's refuse.

PETRO:
Yes, sir. Here it is.

Treason against the state.

Treason, eh?

I want that one crucified

in the Valley of Death.

(PEOPLE GROANING)

Falco, wait! This place!

Not exactly the Forum, I know.

Since we looked

all over this city...

No one's seen anything of my nephew

lately. I thought we should look here.

The Valley of Death.

Maybe you know more

about this city than you claim.

I only know,

when I lose in the arena,

this is where I end up.

Hail Simplex,

ruler of the valley!

Who calls me "ruler"?

Why not "king" or "emperor"?

Why not "god of the valley"?

'Cause it's late,

I'm in a bad mood,

and it's gonna cost me

no matter what I call you.

So let's get down to

business, shall we?

Oh, it's Falco, is it?

And a gladiator!

I don't like gladiators.

It takes four slaves to lift them,

and they smolder for days.

But you mention business.

A young soul. Twenty-five

to look, 80 if you find him.

Forty to look,

100 if we find him.

It's games week.

What with the crowds and the arena,

I've got everyone

on overtime.

Thirty-five and 90.

Or we leave him in peace, and I spend

your money on a sacrifice instead.

Nobody cheats death

like you, Falco.

-Who we looking for?

-Teenage boy, maybe 15.

If he's here,

he won't have been here

for long.

-Teenage boy, 15! Find him!

-Yeah.

No! No! No! No!

-Take it easy, Justus!

-No! No!

Justus! Calm down!

-FALCO:
You knew this man?

-Ajax. We fought yesterday.

-A friend.

-We were all friends.

We trained together, we ate together.

Brothers of the Sword, they call us.

We know the day to fight

will come.

But to end up here like dogs?

Who would kill his own brother for that?

In Rome, you'd be surprised.

Then take me back

to Casca's school.

I've seen enough of your Rome.

FALCO:
Don't tell me this trained

killer actually had a conscience!

This city never lacked

for wonders,

but Justus here was proving

to be a new one, even for me.

Put that impressive dagger away

and tell me, O god of the valley,

how much to see this Ajax

gets a decent burial?

Decent burial?

For a gladiator?

How much, damn you?

Well, what with mourners,

masks, musicians,

a plot in the temple grounds,

I couldn't touch it

for less than 400 sesterces.

-Done.

-Cash in advance!

You can come by and get it

tomorrow morning.

Just make sure

you treat him gently.

I'm told

he was a man of honor.

Move!

Well, if I can take 1,200 sesterces

for a job I don't want,

what's a few of them to see your friend

safely across the River Styx?

SIMPLEX:
Falco! Wait!

You are in rare luck,

my friend.

I think we've found your boy.

-Oh, no.

-Your nephew?

Guess again.

It's Cato.

(DOG BARKING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(POUNDING ON DOOR)

Helena! What's happening?

It's nothing, Father.

I'll see to it.

-Go back to bed, please.

-Yes, do that, Senator Verus.

This nothing of ours would be of little

concern to a man of your reputation.

You insolent commoner.

How dare you come to

my father's house like this?

I warned you, Falco.

I'll have your head on a platter.

Save your sweet talk for your

father or your husband, Helena Justina.

I'm only here to finish our business,

if we ever had any.

Found Cato? Where?

Your plaything's right here,

but I warn you,

he was carried in

and he'll be carried out.

-Cato!

-(CLATTERING)

I'd offer my condolences,

but I'm sure you'd prefer the balance of

your money back. It'll be here by morning.

No, your work is not finished.

Oh, no? He was your lover,

you dispose of him.

Cato wasn't my lover.

He was my brother.

And I want to know

who killed him.

-Who says he was murdered?

-Don't toy with me, Falco!

Then do the same

for me, Lady.

You conceal your name when you come

from one of Rome's most famous families,

and your husband, Pertinax,

sits beside the Emperor Vespasian

as head

of the Praetorian Guard,

who could, with one single word,

turn this city inside-out

to find your brother's killer.

So why soil your patrician hands with me?

Because the Emperor and my husband

now have enemies too numerous to count.

Even the hint of a scandal would

be seized upon to discredit them.

And if you're shrewd enough to find

my brother and bring him here,

then you know

what I'm saying is true!

Maybe.

But on your side of the Tiber, the truth

can change more often than your clothes.

Hate me

if it suits you, Falco.

And I won't pretend

to like you.

But as a wife, I must protect

my family and my husband.

And what man could ask more

from a wife than that?

Pertinax, my lord!

What is this midnight meeting that now

requires me to seek my wife's protection?

Cato has been killed.

Killed?

Or was it murder?

I do not know.

When I noticed Cato's bed had

not been touched for two nights,

I grew worried.

So I engaged this freeborn,

Falco, to look for him.

The rest is

as you see.

Falco, is it?

Tell me everything you know

about this now

or so help me, you'll curse the day

you were ever given a tongue.

I only know we found him in the valley

from which none of us returns.

Have you been paid

for your trouble, citizen?

Generously.

Then we need trouble you

no longer for your services.

But I warn you...

No warning is needed, Praetor.

My lips are as silent

as the boy's.

See that it stays that way.

You may go.

(METAL WHOOSHING)

-SULLA:
Jump to your left!

-(SWORDS CLANGING)

Don't you know

which one's your left?

Keep your shield up! Up!

Idiots! Kill him!

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