Attila Page #7

(Attila ) Place the sum in a sack,

hang it from his neck,

and let him return wearing it.

The emperor will be humiliated.

The blame lies with him

for giving the order, not this man.

There may be other attempts, sire.

Rome has spies throughout the city.

It's not my fate to be assassinated.

There are slaves, merchants, even

mercenaries who sell information.

Today a peddler asked my servant

your pretext for invading the West.

I'll find work near the bath,

sell myself as a slave if I have to.

Sooner or later, he'll notice me.

He will not be what you expect.

The other woman's village

was destroyed the same as yours.

She too began by hating him,

but her hatred turned to love.

Then she was weak.

(Horses neighing)

Is this the man you spoke of?

- Yes.

- Take him.

Kneel before the King of the Huns.

Leave us.

About an hour ago, a plot to kill me

failed. Were you part of it?

If I were, you'd be dead.

Yet you come disguised as a peasant.

Why not openly, as a friend?

To see what I wish to see,

not what you wish to show me.

And?

You've done well.

The lands I rule are as vast

as both your empires put together.

There's more to empires than land.

Where are the Forums?

The Colosseums? The great Circus?

Theatres? Aqueducts?

Give us time, Aetius.

It took Rome centuries

to become what it is.

And what happens to us

while you're learning?

- Do we sink into chaos and ruin?

- Only if you resist us.

Civilized men are easy to conquer,

but civilization...

still belongs to the civilized,

not the barbarians.

It belongs to whoever

is strong enough to take it.

Aetius, join me.

Once, you invited me to Rome.

You said we could

do great things together.

We still can.

Only now I invite you to stay here.

To serve you?

I'm a better man

than the emperors you serve now.

I serve Rome.

Speak frankly. Do you plan

to attack the Western Empire?

I have no such plans at the moment.

But in the future?

No one can tell the future.

Let's strike a bargain here and now.

A treaty of peace

between your people and mine.

I think that's the first sign

of weakness I've ever seen you show.

Will you make the treaty?

Empires expand until someone

is strong enough to stop them.

So it was with Rome, so with us.

And so it will be

as long as men walk the earth.

Then our business here is done.

So it seems.

Well done, Orestes.

I will use it tonight.

Bring my wives.

Which ones, Your Majesty?

All of them.

It's the only way to avoid a fight.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Majesty?

That girl, who is she?

- A slave.

- How long has she been here?

Where is she from?

Newly arrived.

I don't know where she's from.

- I can find out.

- Yes.

Find out everything about her,

and bring her to me tonight.

But your wives, Majesty,

and the bath.

Tell them it's not finished.

Spare their feelings,

but tell them...whatever you wish.

Come closer.

Don't be afraid.

I won't hurt you.

What are you frightened of?

Among my people,

a woman who is taken before marriage

is dishonored forever.

You won't be dishonored.

Why else do kings

bring slaves to their quarters?

You won't be dishonored. I swear it.

Your name is Ilidico,

from a village to the north?

- My village was destroyed.

- And your family?

- Killed.

- I'm sorry.

Those things happen in war.

But whatever can be done

for your comfort will be done.

Why?

- You please me.

- You don't even know me.

But I will come to know you...

and you will come to know me.

As you wish, Great King.

When my village was destroyed,

I stayed in the forest for days.

Finally, I came to a road,

and the next day,

some travelers took me in.

I will have them rewarded.

They were killed by robbers,

but I was lucky again and escaped.

It wasn't luck

that brought you here.

The gods work in mysterious ways.

They take with one hand

and give back with the other.

I don't understand.

- Are you still frightened of me?

- Great King, I...

Call me by my name.

- Is it permitted?

- I command it.

Then, no,

I'm not still frightened of you...

Attila.

News from Pannonia.

Attila is getting married again.

- Is he?

- Yes.

To some slave girl

who suddenly took his fancy.

I suppose, in addition to the fortune

he already extracts from me,

I shall be expected

to send a royal wedding present.

That's what you get

for trying to kill him.

Why don't you stop being so smug

and form a plan of your own?

- That's what you're here for.

- I did form a plan.

And I have every reason to

believe that Attila's marriage

may not turn out

to be an entirely happy one.

Gods of my father, curse this root,

and make it deadly.

And curse he who drinks it.

And give me the strength to hate

till my father's death is avenged.

Your Majesty, Lord Orestes.

- What is it?

- A message from Constantinople.

- From the emperor?

- No, my lord,

- a Roman princess named Honoria.

- This is her ring.

She wore it often.

Read it.

She says she's being held prisoner

on her brother's orders.

If you rescue her, she'll marry you.

I have no need of another wife.

She promises, as her dowry,

one half of the Western Empire.

There is my pretext.

She has no right to half the empire.

Perhaps you should consult a lawyer.

Attila is already

gathering his forces.

The wedding to the slave girl?

Postponed indefinitely.

All nations north of the Rhine

are to join the Huns

in a mighty crusade against

the wicked forces of the West.

Then we must present a united front.

Attila has hammered us long enough.

It's your turn now, Flavius Aetius.

I'm sending Honoria

back to Rome on the next ship,

and I wish you the best of luck.

He marches on Rome within the month.

I've neglected you

for the past few days.

I apologize.

There was much to be done.

They tell me you're going to war

to rescue a Roman princess.

I will probably never even meet her.

But it's given me

a reason to invade Rome.

And our wedding?

It will have to be postponed

until I return.

Several months at least.

And if I am not here

when you return?

I will tell my servants

you are free to leave at any time.

Wait.

I've displeased you.

We could marry before you leave.

My weddings are state affairs,

for royalty from many nations.

There is no time.

I thought I was the one in a hurry.

Perhaps I've changed.

I'm glad.

May I speak freely?

You may.

I've been told of another woman,

named N'Kara.

My first wife.

She died giving birth.

They say I'm of her very likeness.

You resemble her closely, yes.

Then who is it you marry?

Me or N'Kara?

If I had wanted nothing

but her likeness,

I would have taken you by now.

But I haven't, have I?

No.

Then wait until I return,

and you, not N'Kara,

will be queen of the world.

(Cheering)

(Yelling)

(Roaring)

(Screaming)

(Screams )

Battering ram!

(Screams )

(All yelling)

He's taken 30 cities in Gaul. Some

surrendered, some were destroyed.

- While we did nothing.

- They weren't necessary to us.

- Nevertheless, they were Roman.

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