Gladiator Page #10

---

We stay with Maximus as he cuts through the four Celts

like a scythe through wheat and then we dramatically pull

up and away --

Taking in the roaring arena and the hero.

EXT. PROXIMO'S SCHOOL - COMPOUND - NIGHT

A large mess area has been set up. The tables around the

compound are crowded with gladiators. Guards everywhere.

Maximus and Juba enter. Move to get food. All

conversation gradually drains away as the other gladiators

watch them. Silence.

Maximus and Juba note the strange silence as they move to

a large table.

Vibius is at the table with a number of other gladiators.

There are no places for Maximus and Juba.

Vibius stands and kicks two other gladiators off their

bench.

VIBIUS:

MOVE ASIDE! THIS IS A TABLE FOR

MEN!

Maximus and Juba sit.

Vibius remains standing. He begins to pound on the table

with his fist. Soon all the gladiators are pounding on

their tables. It is a cacophonous din honoring Maximus.

INT. PROXIMO'S SCHOOL - PROXIMO'S CHAMBER - NIGHT

Proximo sits on a terrace overlooking his compound,

sipping wine. Various gladiators can be seen working out

below.

A guard brings Maximus. Proximo nods for the guard to

leave.

PROXIMO:

(holding up a plate)

Butterfly?

The plate is filled with honeyed butterflies, their wings

still moving slightly.

Maximus shakes his head. Proximo pops one into his mouth.

He chews as he looks at Maximus.

PROXIMO:

Perhaps you'd like a woman?

Maximus shakes his head.

PROXIMO:

Boy?

Maximus shakes his head.

A beat.

PROXIMO:

Gold?

Maximus shakes his head.

PROXIMO:

Well, I have nothing left to offer

you! A man who turns down a

butterfly, a woman, a boy and gold

confuses me. Personally, I'd grab

them all and then grab some more

because the Gods are fanciful and

take us at their whim. Does the

Spaniard have any needs?

Maximus shakes his head.

A beat. Proximo studies him.

PROXIMO:

You fight like a soldier. You have

wounds like a soldier who has been

on long campaigns. You eye the

world around you like an enemy.

What is your name, Roman soldier?

MAXIMUS:

Gladiator.

A beat.

PROXIMO:

And nothing more?

MAXIMUS:

Nothing more.

A beat.

Proximo watches Maximus very closely for the following:

PROXIMO:

In two days we leave for Rome.

Maximus' eyes suddenly flash to Proximo. He is

transfixed, his eyes burning.

PROXIMO:

Ah... so it's Rome you want. Well

you shall have her, Gladiator. The

new Emperor has ordered a series of

matches to culminate in a grand

spectacle. If you do well I shall

become very, very rich. If you do

well enough I shall set you free.

Is it freedom you want?

A beat.

Maximus shakes his head.

PROXIMO:

(quietly)

Not even that.

MAXIMUS:

(barely controlled)

The Emperor -- will he be there?

PROXIMO:

Oh yes. He's apparently quite mad

about the games. Spending a

fortune, which is, needless to say,

good for me again. But what is good

for you, Gladiator?

MAXIMUS:

Have you -- how does one meet the

Emperor?

PROXIMO:

As a gladiator?

MAXIMUS:

Yes.

PROXIMO:

One doesn't.

A beat. Proximo sees that Maximus' mind is racing.

PROXIMO:

Except... If one has proven oneself

in battle. If at the end of the

games you are the final man standing

-- the Emperor will present you with

a small wooden sword. The sword is

your freedom.

MAXIMUS:

He give it personally?

PROXIMO:

He did to me...

(Maximus is surprised

at this)

Our great father Marcus Aurelius

looked into my eyes and touched me

on the shoulder.

MAXIMUS:

You knew Marcus?

PROXIMO:

I didn't know him. He touched me on

the shoulder. Just once. But that

was enough.

A beat.

PROXIMO:

All right, Gladiator. We shall go

to Rome together and have bloody

adventures. The Great Whore will

suckle us until we are fat and happy

and can't suck another drop. That

is Rome.

INT./ EXT. SLAVE WAGON - OUTSIDE ROME - EVENING

Maximus is crouched in the back of an enclosed slave wagon

with Vibius, Juba and a few other gladiators.

In the distance, Rome.

INT. PALACE - COMMODUS' BEDROOM - NIGHT

Commodus sits on his bed, rubbing his aching head.

Lucilla is preparing a drink for him, a medicinal tonic.

COMMODUS:

All my desires are splitting my head

to pieces -- there's so much I want

to do -- but all my efforts to show

my children they are loved go

unappreciated by those dragons in

the Senate --

LUCILLA:

(mixing tonic)

Quiet, brother...

Unseen by him, she adds a little special powder to the

drink from a vial secreted in her robe.

LUCILLA:

Leave the Senate to me. Don't

trouble yourself.

COMMODUS:

All I want is to be a good father to

my people. Why don't they

understand that?

She goes to him.

LUCILLA:

Shhh. The tonic will help...

She takes a sip and then hands it to him.

LUCILLA:

Yes, just drink this down.

She sits on the edge of the bed. He drinks as:

COMMODUS:

I must take a firmer hand with them.

They must know their father can be

firm. As our father was firm with

us.

LUCILLA:

Our father lost his way. His

mistake was believing the old songs

of the "Republic." We know better.

So let the Senate talk. They have

no real power.

COMMODUS:

Yes... yes... you always know the

way. You were always so wise in

these matters...

(he takes her hand)

You know if I didn't have my duty to

Rome I think I should be an artist.

I should go away and paint pictures

of the sea and leave all the

politics to you...

A beat. He is sleepy, he lies back on his bed.

COMMODUS:

Will you stay with me?

LUCILLA:

(smiles gently)

Still afraid of the dark, brother?

COMMODUS:

Still. Always.

A beat.

COMMODUS:

My dreams would terrify the world.

A beat.

LUCILLA:

I'll stay with you until you are

asleep.

COMMODUS:

(falling asleep)

And after... just sit with me. Keep

me safe...

He is asleep.

She watches him for a moment and then rises.

She goes.

INT. PALACE - HALLWAY - NIGHT

Lucilla moves down a long corridor in the palace and blows

out candles as she goes.

She finally arrives at her own chamber and enters...

INT. PALACE - LUCILLA'S CHAMBERS - NIGHT

Senators Gracchus and Gaius and Captain Marcellus are

waiting.

LUCILLA:

He's asleep. Be quick.

GRACCHUS:

We've taking a sounding, the Senate

is with us.

LUCILLA:

Good.

GRACCHUS:

But we are only words. We are air.

We need steel.

MARCELLUS:

The City Guard is faithful to the

Republic. But we don't stand a

chance against the Praetorians.

LUCILLA:

Can they be bought?

MARCELLUS:

They are zealots -- totally

committed to your brother.

GRACCHUS:

Well, can they at least be rented

for a day?

MARCELLUS:

I doubt it. He pays them exorbitant

salaries and lets them loot and

extort as they see fit. The city

belongs to them.

LUCILLA:

And they've started arresting

scholars now. Anyone who dares

speak out -- even satirists and

chroniclers.

MARCELLUS:

And mathematicians and Christians.

All to fill the arena.

GAIUS:

And what pays for it? These games

are costing a fortune and yet we

have no new taxes.

LUCILLA:

The future. The future pays for

it...

A beat. She looks at them.

LUCILLA:

He's started selling the grain

reserves.

Rate this script:3.7 / 6 votes