Demetrius and the Gladiators Page #4

And so forth.

Where shall I put these?

Back on the floor.

Tell me, are Christian wives

all so ugly that no one desires them?

I didn't say they weren't desired. I only

said there's a commandment against it.

A commandment against everything.

Don't look, don't touch, don't fight,...

...don't breathe, don't live.

Is there nothing human in your religion?

Well, there's no commandment

that says a woman can't talk like a fool.

Be careful, Demetrius.

My claws can be sharper than the tiger's.

My lady, the emperor

wishes to see you at once.

Come with me.

Do you knowthese objects?

Yes. They're my uncle and my cousin.

They made an attempt on my life.

What should be done with them?

- The penalty for such a crime is death.

- You have sentenced them.

Macro, take them out.

Sire, I claim my right of trial

before the Senate.

You've had your trial!

Let their heads be hung

in the Senate House as a reminder.

Go.

They said that I must die because

I aspire to be a god, because I'm mad.

- Butyou knew about their plan, didn'tyou?

- No, sire.

Don't lie to me!

I've heard who put them up to it.

There isn't a man in Rome who'd dare.

Butyou'd dare, Messalina.

You'd dare anything. Deny it!

- Deny it, I said!

- Sire, I didn't!

I'll give you witnesses to your treachery.

You, you'll swear she's guilty.

- Yes, sire.

- And you! And you! And you!

You hear?

I deny nothing, sire. But what I said

was falsely reported to you.

Do you deny saying that I aspire to be a god?

I said you are a god.

Isis herself revealed it to me in the temple.

Isis?

That I'm a god?

She said the gods themselves

look upon you as one of them.

I spoke of this wonder in the court, but

your faithful courtiers laughed in my face,...

- ... the same who have accused me.

- Is this true?

- Is it true?

- (all) No, sire.

Liars! Traitors!

So, you deny that I am a god.

I'll hang your heads in the Senate House!

I'll have you torn to pieces!

Kneel.

Kneel!

Kneel to your god!

Some wine. There on the table.

Now you've seen it. Now you know.

Do you wonder that I behave as I do?

That we're all a little mad here?

Many innocent people

know what it is to be accused.

Innocent? Who said I was innocent?

Caligula was right.

I put those two up to it and they bungled it.

Oh, if I were a man... If I were Claudius,

I'd have killed Caligula long ago.

I'd have won the guards to my side

and taken the empire for my own.

But he's no better than the rest of them.

Where was he tonight when I needed him?

I had only my wits to save me.

And not for the first time.

I don't want another night like this.

I have a villa by the sea.

Claudius never goes there.

I need protection, and I wantyou

to come with me. Will you come?

Why do you ask me?

You said yourself I was your property.

I'm not asking you as my property.

I can free you. We'd be equals.

I'm offering you life, Demetrius,

and a great deal more.

Why do you choose me?

Because you'd never crawl to anyone.

Because you're a man.

Think, Demetrius. You're not blind.

Do I have to say it all?

For ten years I've been married

to a man old enough to be my father.

I've never been close to another man.

I've never wanted to.

I need you, Demetrius. I need your strength.

You don't need me, Messalina.

A woman with your wit,

your courage and your reputation.

All Rome knows why you married Claudius.

If anything happens to Caligula,

Claudius becomes emperor.

Since then, all Rome knows that a procession

of men has stood guard atyour door.

Albus!

When the truth is ugly,

only a lie can be beautiful.

It would have been better

if you'd believed me.

- My lady.

- Return this man to the gladiator school.

Tell Strabo I'll send instructions

in the morning.

Yes, my lady.

White ball.

- Lycidas draws a black ball.

- Last week and this week, too!

Dardanius draws a black ball.

- He has a right to choose like the rest of us.

- He has a right, and I have orders.

Demetrius draws a black ball.

White ball.

- What do you want?

- This is Kaeso's pottery?

- I've been a while finding you.

- We don't sell at this hour.

I didn't come to buy.

You are friends of a Corinthian

named Demetrius?

What do you know about Demetrius?

You've seen him, he's alive?

Yes, he's alive.

He told me about this place and you.

I couldn't get him out of my mind.

- That's why I came here.

- Where is he?

It won't do you any good to know,

but I'll see him tonight,

- if you want to send him a message.

- Where is he? Tell me.

He's been sentenced to the arena.

He's in the gladiator school.

- Can you read?

- A little.

What does it mean?

It's the pairings for the combat tomorrow

in the palace enclosure. There - his name.

Take me to him.

To the gladiator school? They'd never

let a girl like you through the gates.

Please. I don't know your name

or why you came here, but please help me.

Please.

Here they come!

Lucia!

Who is that girl with Demetrius?

I've never seen her before, my lady.

- She hasn't quite the look of the rest of them.

- No, she hasn't.

Sometimes a man's sweetheart

finds out he's here and sneaks in.

Please don't be angry.

I took another's place. I had to come.

You're not angry?

Of course not.

We tried to find out what had

happened to you. No one would tell us.

I prayed that...

Oh, Demetrius.

I'm very grateful, Lucia,...

...butyou can't stay here.

- You must go.

- No, Demetrius, I won't go.

I have a right to be here.

Tomorrowthey'll... they'll kill you?

Yes.

I've loved you since you first came to us.

You never knew.

And I'd never have told you.

No, Demetrius. I won't letyou send me away.

These last few hours belong to me.

I've changed my mind, Strabo.

The Christian's not to fight tomorrow.

I'm glad, my lady.

Then he isn't entitled to entertainment.

Send him out.

- But, my lady...

- You knowthe rules.

Yes, my lady.

(Lucia) Demetrius!

- Demetrius!

- Stop!

Demetrius!

Get back, all of you. Backto your quarters.

You're wasted on that Christian.

- Forget him.

- No. No!

(laughter)

(Lucia screaming)

Demetrius!

Demetrius! Demetrius!

God, help her!

If you are a god, help her!

Demetrius!

Get away!

Move!

She's dead!

(cheering)

- Give me a sword.

- You're not fighting today.

I said give me the sword!

Let him have it, Strabo.

If you want to give the emperor some sport,

send these others out to him one by one.

Why, it's the Christian.

- Again?

- He wasn't to fight.

(cheering)

(cheering)

I didn't draw him, Strabo!

You can't send me out there!

- You knowthe rules!

- We've changed the rules!

- We go now, together.

- Come on.

(Demetrius) Not Glycon! Go back!

(cheering)

Sire, I speak for the guards.

The Prefect Cassius Chaerea may speak.

Never at any games in history have Romans

seen what we have seen here today.

We say that this man

has earned his freedom for life.

(cheering)

And we'd like to have a sword like his

in the Praetorian Guard.

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