Age of Treason Page #6

-I, uh...

(CLEARS THROAT NERVOUSLY)

I thought you'd never come.

I wonder,

does your wife ever kiss you like this?

-(LAUGHING)

All I ever wanted from that

woman was her royal name,

so that when the moment comes,

the Senate will have no choice

but to confirm me.

So you don't plan to keep her?

Not her,

not her father,

not even her kitchen slaves will be

kept alive once I'm on the throne.

It's a pity

she couldn't join us in this.

She's so pretty.

(LAUGHING)

FALCO:
Knowing I'd most likely

be dead within the week,

I'd gone back to the office

to start drinking my way to it

when guess

who was waiting there for me,

and just brimming

with questions, too.

HELENA:
This is not the knife

that killed Cato.

I'll wager it is.

Which reminds me,

I wonder how the Blues did

in the fourth race yesterday.

Damn you, Falco,

whose knife is this?

Domitian's. Perhaps you know him?

He's the Emperor's son.

-Domitian? -A piece of information

I could well have lived without.

-Falco, I never told you...

-You never told me half what you knew

when you dragged me into this,

which is more than enough now

to have me killed.

I admit I've been

cautious with you.

Maybe too much.

But we've had four emperors

in the last year alone.

The power in Rome shifts

faster than the wind.

Then go tell your husband.

His sails are more than full just now.

That's not as simple

as you might think.

And why not?

My marriage to Pertinax is one

of politics, not romance.

His loyalty is to the Emperor,

not to me.

That is why I still need you to find

out why Domitian would do this.

You hear that, gods?

My life's not enough.

She wants more.

Domitian and Cato were

friends, Falco.

If he killed him, I need to know if

my whole family is now in danger.

Perhaps the High Priestess Saleena

can answer that for you.

So you know

about the cult, then.

Enough to detest it.

And now your brother's

mixed up in it.

He only joined because

Domitian asked him to.

And that's all I know.

So how much will it take

to keep you on this?

You can keep your money.

I don't want it.

Then what do you want?

Because I still

need you, Falco.

And I've seen enough men to know

that, even in the face of death,

they all want something.

And what could you imagine

I'd want?

Me.

(CHUCKLES)

You're not serious.

Even if you despise me, Falco,

the thought of commanding a woman of

my rank to fulfill your every pleasure,

it must arouse something.

Did once.

But she left a scar on my

heart that's yet to heal.

Afraid you won't

enjoy it, then?

I'm more afraid I will.

We belong

to different worlds, Lady.

And I've strayed

too far from mine as it is.

You're not the only one

with a family to protect here.

So you won't do it,

even to have me?

I'll have the contents

of this jar,

and then try to forget

that I ever saw you.

I'm sorry for us both, Falco.

And sorrier still for Rome.

FALCO:
Sorry for Rome?

To offer herself like that could only

mean she was more deceptive

or more desperate

than I thought.

But why for Rome?

The truth was, the man in me

was already regretting

that I would never have

the pleasure of finding out.

(SNORING SOFTLY)

(GRUNTS GROGGILY)

MAN 1:
Every room!

MAN 2:
This way! This way!

MAN 1:
Through here!

MAN 2:
Those to the right!

FALCO:
Oh, Petro,

it's too early for this!

Gods, I hate to flee

with a hangover.

(POTTERY SHATTERING)

(CLATTERING)

No doubt they'd already torn

through my apartment by now,

so there was no point

heading back there.

So which way to head, Falco?

-(WHIP CRACKS)

-(GROANS)

Falco!

Just like that bastard Nero to come

back from his grave to finish me off.

...cannot be disturbed!

Go away!

Don't tell me Lady Helena

cannot be disturbed, woman!

Or I'll show you

what "disturbed" can mean!

It's all right, Camilla.

Tell Falco these are the last

of these intrusions I will tolerate.

Falco's been arrested.

I no longer see how

that's any concern of mine.

You got him into this!

He was working for you!

I had nothing to do

with his arrest.

Then at least tell us

where they've taken him.

We've been to the Tullanium Jail.

He's not there.

Your husband is commander of the Guard,

Lady. Surely you can give us that much.

I have nothing to tell you.

Please leave this house now.

Come on, Justus.

We're wasting our time here.

You should help him.

What did you say?

Justus, don't.

You should help Falco.

You realize, slave, I could have you

killed for even speaking to me like that.

Then have me killed.

But please tell her

where to find Falco.

How long has Falco owned you?

Two days.

And already you would sacrifice your

life for even the chance to spare his?

Why is that?

Answer me!

I cannot say

what Falco does or is,

but I know I have never met

anyone like him.

I will make inquiries

with the Guard.

Now go quickly, before this fit of

madness passes and I return to my senses.

(CROWD CHEERING)

FALCO:
Given my profession, I

assumed my end would be a violent one.

But I always thought the animals that got

me would be at least be vaguely human.

-(MOANING IN TERROR) -That cross!

Are you one of those Christians?

When I'm not a prostitute.

Some of my best friends

are prostitutes.

(GRUNTING)

This Jesus fellow,

they say that when he was crucified,

he rose from the grave and walked again.

Is that right?

Do you believe in this Jesus?

Yes. I do. (SOBBING)

-(ROARING)

-(WOMEN SHRIEKING)

Calm yourself, child.

When the time comes,

I'll go out there with you.

And I'll stand in front, and after

they've tasted my stringy hide,

well, maybe

they'll lose their appetite.

(TRUMPETS HERALDING)

Lady Helena, so where's Falco?

He's here.

Falco's to be thrown to the lions

when the games begin within the hour.

(CROWD CHEERING)

Is there no way

we can get to him below?

Wait here.

(INAUDIBLE)

MAN:
Keep moving!

What did you tell those guards

to get us through?

I told them I had a taste for

gladiators before they went to fight.

What man could be more passionate than

one that knows this time may be his last?

Is that true?

We'd best split up

to look for him.

MAN:
You there! Move!

(SCOTTISH ACCENT) Hand me a sword

and I'll give you something to stare at,

you Roman pig!

You already gave me something.

And I'm not Roman.

Then you're a Roman slave.

It's all the same to me.

I was a slave.

Oh, and what are you now, eh?

A senator?

I don't know.

I move like a freeborn,

but my master is in here.

Then run while you can, fool!

Before these monsters eat you

the way they devour everything.

Escape back

where you came from.

Now!

I don't know where that is.

MAN:
Bring

the woman gladiator!

Quickly, tell me,

who you gonna fight now?

I think they call him Atticus.

Then listen.

Atticus likes to slash high,

but only strikes low.

If he does it, he leaves

an opening right here.

MAN:
Bring her now!

-MAN:
Come on!

-(DRUIDA GRUNTING)

I found

where they're keeping Falco,

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