Attila Page #2

Oh, I was afraid to believe it.

I came to the prison

but they wouldn't let me see you.

My God, look at you.

You're a young woman,

and a lovely one at that.

The villa's really ours again?

Yes.

And the one in Sicily too.

Tomorrow I'll bring in workers.

It'll be as beautiful as ever.

(Galen ) Come on, move!

You wretches, move!

Ha, ha, you're in my lot now!

(Attila ) King Rua,

I bring you tribute from our victory.

(Scoffs ) A victory over farmers?

The people are watching.

You are brothers!

Embrace like brothers.

Let us see the treasures

that Attila has brought us!

Attila, don't let your brother's

envy spoil your victory.

(Attila ) He's right.

It was a village defended

by peasants and farmers.

We fight peasants

because no one else dare fight us!

Yes. Not even the Romans.

- Rome? That's a different matter.

- We are Huns. We fear no one.

True.

But, uh, why wake a sleeping lion?

We were 50 leagues

into their territory.

There were no legions,

no soldiers. Not one.

Let me take a larger army

and go further.

- How much further?

- To Rome itself.

What will you do when you get there?

Scratch against the walls?

They're wide as wagons,

but they're made of stone,

not of wood!

(Roars )

I scared you.

Galen scared the great Attila.

- I could have killed you.

- What did you bring Galen?

- Nothing.

- Attila always brings something.

- You did, didn't you?

- Maybe.

Did you have another vision

while I was gone?

- Maybe. What did you bring me?

- And no more about the god of war?

That vision has been in our tribe

since we crossed the great marsh.

After a hard battle,

the war god fell asleep.

His sword dropped from his hand.

Whoever finds it will rule the world.

You must believe it, Attila.

Why?

Because when you're

in my visions, so is the sword.

A handle of gold and ivory,

crowned with rubies.

I won't even rule the tribe.

When my uncle dies,

Bleda will be king.

Bleda's not in my visions. You are.

Go away, woman!

Leave me alone.

To think of the red-haired woman.

The whole tribe knows.

A red-haired woman

has caught Attila's eye.

A red-haired woman has caught...

(Yells)

Tonight we celebrate

the victory of Attila,

the first with Roman spoils.

(All cheer)

Bleda, as the eldest,

you take precedence, however.

Choose wisely.

Attila, your raid

has brought us many riches,

and I commend you.

Since I did not fight,

I claim nothing of value.

Only...

an animal, unknown in these parts.

A strange creature

with piercing eyes and red fur.

(Crowd laughing)

Bring it in.

Later tonight,

I may start my own race.

Huns with red hair.

(Crowd laughing)

Attila, what are you doing?

You can't kill Bleda. You can't!

Not in Rua's tent,

but when he comes out,

I will be waiting.

No. Your time has not yet come.

This morning I had another vision.

Destiny has chosen you,

but only if you bide your time.

I'm tired of your visions!

No! I won't let you.

(Groans )

A woman.

Hey, Galen.

If you fight with Bleda over a woman,

the tribe will turn its back on you.

Even if you win, you lose.

Go back to Rua's tent,

claim your share of the spoils,

claim the conquered village.

- Am I a farmer, that I need land?

- Claim the village.

It was in my vision.

Next!

The horse shied.

You and your horse are one.

His mistake is your mistake.

(Yells)

The beast with red fur.

The toadstool who talks.

Bleda mounts you

more often than he does his horse.

It is no choice of mine.

I'd sooner die than bed a Hun.

Then why don't you?

My sister and mother.

If I kill myself,

Bleda will kill them.

They live because of Attila.

I've seen the way he looks at you,

and the way you look at him.

I belong to Bleda.

A Hun doesn't possess a woman

until she bears his child.

If you bear Bleda's,

Attila won't want you.

And how can I help it?

These seeds.

Swallow one every day.

They will keep

little Bledas out of your womb.

Attila or Bleda?

Bleda or Attila?

I know who Galen would choose.

We don't even know

if the Huns will attack again.

Trust me, they will.

I lived among them when I was young.

How did that happen?

There was a treaty,

an exchange of hostages.

They are brave, strong,

and far from stupid.

Is it true their women

walk around naked?

They crossed the border

here above Cologne.

They sacked 20 villages.

As I told Felix, we should

send troops to punish them.

And as he told you,

we have none to send.

If we pull legions from the west,

the Goths will pillage us instead.

The Huns have violated

our territory,

and therefore

insulted my divine person.

The insult must be avenged.

It was the Huns that drove the Goths

against us in the first place.

And split the empire.

That's why I rule the West

and Theodosius the East. I know.

Yet your divine brain

does not grasp the point.

What we must avoid at all costs is

fighting the Huns and Goths at once.

(Girl giggling)

Mmm!

Traitor. I'm your sister.

You're supposed to help me.

You wanted to be kissed.

Flavius Aetius.

The divine Honoria.

I hope you're

behaving yourself, Aetius.

If you don't, Mummy said

she'll throw you right back in jail.

Forever.

Mummy will have her joke.

- Shall we continue, divine one?

- We're going to the Forum.

Pritella's daughters

will be there.

We'll finish later.

I have to talk with Mummy, anyway.

Later, Aetius.

I...command it.

(Honoria giggles )

Goodbye, Mummy.

Where is my son going?

To the Forum.

He needs rest

from his intellectual labors.

- But he is progressing?

- No.

Nevertheless, whatever steps

you take, you will take through him.

After he obtains your approval.

Some things need immediate attention.

Training of troops,

stockpiling of supplies.

See to that on your own.

- It would help if I had your seal.

- Why?

Three years in prison

have destroyed my reputation.

I need proof

that I act on your behalf.

The Huns are at our border, Placidia.

We must both forget old hatreds.

(Aetius ) Petronius...

Don't worry.

If I wanted you dead, you would be.

(Petronius ) I beg you,

forgive my foolishness.

I was not well in the head.

How does your head feel now?

Ready for whatever service

you require, my lord.

Good.

I require you to kill someone.

Who is it, my lord?

The Emperor Valentinian.

It's all arranged. You'll be gone

before anyone knows.

Ten gold talents now,

ten after it's done.

A fortune.

- I'll be a hunted man forever.

- No, no, no.

The Emperor's mother herself

will protect you.

She's tasted power.

She doesn't want to give it up.

Her seal.

She gave it to me for this purpose.

Keep it with you.

If you're taken,

it'll be your protection.

Tomorrow noon, the Garden of Corona.

Use the south gate.

I'll see that he's alone.

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

Halt.

How dare you raise a weapon

against the Emperor!

I was walking by.

Thought he looked out of place.

Thank God I followed him!

What are you doing here?

I had an invitation from Mummy

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