Attila Page #8

- I understand your distress,

but in a crisis, that which is

unnecessary must be dispensed with.

Attila's carving a path wide enough

to protect him, but no further.

Clearly, he intends

to press on further west.

If he wants to conquer Rome,

why doesn't he

march south into Italy?

Then the free tribes of Gaul

might threaten his rear.

So he plans to conquer Gaul first?

As I would in his place.

Then where do we stop him?

Here, at Orleans.

He cannot afford to bypass the city.

He must be near there already.

- The siege began two days ago.

- We should send troops.

(Aetius ) I sent them some time ago.

- The city can hold for months.

- And then?

with winter coming on,

he'll have to withdraw.

- He'll be back next year.

- By which time, other plans of mine

will have taken effect.

Flavius Aetius, once again,

you have done Rome a great service.

What if Orleans falls?

I'm confident that it won't.

You should have a contingency plan,

and it should be

an alliance with the Visigoths.

- Theodoric wouldn't consider it.

- He might, at the right price.

She's his daughter, Aetius.

Can't blame him for wanting her back.

She's my child in every way.

Except by blood.

The fact of which

she is completely ignorant.

Whoever enlightens her dies.

I wouldn't meddle in family affairs,

but you always talk about

making sacrifices for the empire.

That sacrifice is not necessary,

because we don't need Theodoric.

Attila will be stopped at Orleans.

(Screaming)

Get those ladders back up - now!

(Confused shouting)

Move in there!

Bring the battering ram!

Train all the catapults at this

point, to the right of the gate.

It is done.

(Man ) Clear!

Pull!

Your Majesty.

Everything is in position.

Pull!

Pull.

Clear!

Pull.

Pull!

Pull!

Pull!

Pull!

Pull!

Pull!

- You are certain?

- Yes, my lord.

- I saw it with my own eyes.

- The troops?

- Those who survived were executed.

- The population?

Enslaved, and every building

burned to the ground.

Leave me.

(Giggling)

I think he loves me, Father,

even if he hasn't said so yet.

Who?

Livius. Who else?

Oh, yes, of course.

What's wrong?

- Attila's taken Orleans.

- You said that wouldn't happen.

It seems I was mistaken.

What will you do?

Take a journey to Gaul.

I'd like you to come.

Now? Just when Livius is...

If you think you'll need me.

- I think I might.

- I'll make ready.

(Valentinian ) Mmm...

(Laughing)

What's she doing here?

Take her back to prison at once.

- Valentinian, she's your sister.

- Well, tell her that.

She plots against me,

then offers my empire to barbarians.

She's come to beg your forgiveness.

Haven't you, Honoria?

As your sister and loyal subject,

I humbly beg your forgiveness.

I'm touched!

- I told you!

- Honoria, please.

You can't keep her locked up forever.

Can't I? We'll see.

- Guards, take her back to her cell!

- Valentinian...

Mother!

Tell me, Mother.

How can you be so concerned for one

child and so unfeeling to the other?

- What are you talking about?

- Let's stop pretending.

Your attempt to have me killed

in the Garden of Corona.

You thought I didn't know.

I've known since it happened.

- You're mad.

- If not for Aetius, I'd have died.

- The assassin carried your seal.

- Impossible.

I saw it myself.

Since you became emperor I've only

given my seal to one person.

Aetius.

(Aetius ) He's three days' march

from here and moving quickly.

(Theodoric) I'll withdraw

into the mountains,

or perhaps I'll join his army,

leaving you to stand alone.

Then you would be his servant.

I would also see Rome crushed.

I think I would enjoy that very much.

You and I have fought over land,

but we've also shared it.

We fought over religion,

but we're both Christian.

This isn't just

you and me against Attila.

It's our world against his world.

Name your terms.

My men to fight under my banner.

You and I to command jointly.

You will return my daughter to me.

- Ask for something else.

- I want my daughter.

She doesn't know she's your daughter.

She's lived as a Roman.

Without me as an ally,

there will be no Rome.

Hello, Father.

Who's this?

Father? Father?

Father!

Father...!

She'll be taken over the mountains

to Spain. You'll never see her again.

And now you know what it is

to have your child stolen from you.

Gather your army.

- We must withdraw at first light.

- And leave my villages unprotected?

Burn the villages.

Burn the crops.

Burn anything that doesn't travel.

Attila commands many nations,

but his best troops are still Huns.

If we take away his horses...

we can win.

Galen...

I used to make fun of your visions,

but I wish you were here now.

God of war,

you once gave me this sword

as a token of your favor.

When I've been in need,

you've guided me by sending a sign.

If I am still your chosen one,

if it is my destiny

to rule the world,

send me a sign now.

Send me a sign!

Your Majesty,

we were concerned about you.

- What's happened?

- Aetius has stopped retreating.

He takes position ten leagues away,

by a village called Shalom.

I thought the war gods refused me

a sign, but I was wrong.

What better sign than

an enemy prepared to fight?

Visigoths, the land

we fight on belongs to you.

Fight well, or it belongs to Attila.

Your wives and daughters

will be his slaves.

Romans, you too

fight for your country.

For if we fail,

Attila will march on Rome,

and there's no one to oppose him.

Remember your ancestors.

Add their strength to yours,

or a flame that has lit the lives

of men for a thousand years

will perish from the earth!

(Attila ) They retreat,

burn their own fields,

choose their ground with care.

They use tricks

because they are weak!

We are strong and so they fear us.

Huns, it's enough to remind you

that we've fought many battles

and never been defeated.

To you nations and tribes

who fight alongside us,

I say you are Huns in spirit!

You are invincible.

There is no retreat

from this place, Valorus.

We must hold this hill at all costs.

All is set, my lord.

They'll never make it up the hill.

It's marshland and they've dug pits.

We'll proceed on foot.

Dismount!

Archers to the front! All-out attack!

(Yelling)

Send a reserve unit to the line.

Second Cohort, forward!

Orestes!

- Orestes, fall back!

- Fall back! Fall back!

Fall back!

(Men moaning)

It's well entrenched, sir.

Keep half the company in reserve.

Send the other half

to aid against the Visigoths.

- On the flank?

- Yes.

Aetius will have to weaken

his position to reinforce them.

And when we does, we'll attack him.

Yes, sire.

Forward!

(Yelling)

It is done, sire.

They're attacking the Visigoths.

Hold this hill!

Reinforcement! Flank attack!

More men now!

Let me have three cohorts

to lend support.

General, we'll be outflanked.

- It could be a diversion.

- It's an all-out attack.

Why isn't Attila leading it?

General, I beg you.

- Take them.

- Third Cohort with me.

It's working, sire.

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