Gladiator Page #15

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All eyes turn to the Emperor.

Commodus slowly stands and steps to the edge of the

Imperial Box. He raises his arm and gives the fatal

thumbs down.

Maximus looks up at him.

And then defiantly tosses the sword to the ground,

refusing to kill Tiger.

Commodus is stunned.

The crowd gasps -- a collective intake of breath -- and

then an enormous roar building. It cascades around the

Colosseum. It is a roaring celebration of the unexpected

act of mercy. And the delicious act of defiance of the

Emperor.

Commodus slowly sits.

Maximus walks across the arena -- the people stand and

cheer for him. Cries of "Maximus the Merciful" can be

heard.

It is the birth of a hero.

INT. COLOSSEUM - HOLDING CELLS - DAY

Maximus is resting in his cell after the battle, head

down, deep in thought.

LUCIUS' VOICE

Is it true you're a General...?

Maximus looks up, Lucius is standing at his cell. Maximus

has no idea who the boy is -- just another young fan --

but Maximus is immediately struck by Lucius' resemblance

to his own son.

MAXIMUS:

I was a General.

LUCIUS:

I saw you fight. The Carthage

battle too. I've never seen so much

courage.

MAXIMUS:

It doesn't take courage to kill.

LUCIUS:

My father was killed.

A beat.

MAXIMUS:

I'm sorry.

LUCIUS:

He still comes to me in my dreams.

Do you have a father?

MAXIMUS:

I had a father. He wasn't really my

father but I cared for him very much.

LUCIUS:

I hope he comes to you in your

dreams. My father and I ride horses

in mine.

These simple words strike something deep in Maximus.

Lucilla appears from the shadows and puts her hands on

Lucius' shoulders.

LUCILLA:

Lucius, run along now. I need to

talk to the General.

Lucius runs off to his Male ATTENDANT, who leads him away.

A long beat as Maximus and Lucilla look at each other.

Finally:

MAXIMUS:

Where is my army?

A drum beat is heard. It increases throughout the

following scenes, building momentum like a Roman gallery

accelerating to ramming speed.

The conspiracy scenes are enclosed in a montage of scenes

in and around the arena showing Maximus' growing

popularity with the People of Rome...

EXT. COLOSSEUM - ARENA - DAY

Maximus is fighting an opponent.

The drums continue...

INT. THE SENATE - DAY

Lucilla conspires with Senators Gracchus and Gaius and

Captain Marcellus in a dark corner of the Senate.

Whispers.

LUCILLA:

... Maximus will summon his army

from Ostia and he will strike from

the inside as his army strikes from

the outside. But he insists that

the Senate be present.

GAIUS:

We've been ordered to attend.

LUCILLA:

How many are with us?

GRACCHUS:

About half. But once the tyrant is

dead. All.

A beat.

GRACCHUS:

I want to meet him.

LUCILLA:

I'll arrange it.

GAIUS:

And what of the Emperor?

A beat.

LUCILLA:

He has withdrawn. He's not eating.

He doesn't go out. He won't even

see me... I don't know what tempests

rage within him but...

GRACCHUS:

We should fear for the blackest

storm.

LUCILLA:

Yes.

A beat.

GAIUS:

One question... who is to be the

actual Regicide?

A beat. She glances at him.

The drums continue...

EXT. COLOSSEUM - ARENA - DAY

Maximus defeats his opponent. He stands over him. He

does not kill him.

He tosses his sword down and walks away. The crowd goes

crazy, roaring their approval of Maximus.

Senator Falco, sits in the stands and watches with some

alarm. He glances around as the crowd exalts Maximus. He

is becoming a hero to the people.

The drums continue...

INT. COLOSSEUM - HOLDING CELLS - DAY

Maximus returns to the holding cells. Vibius and Juba are

waiting.

VIBIUS:

You didn't kill him.

MAXIMUS:

I will not kill another warrior.

There is no honor to it.

Maximus goes. Vibius thinks about it, listening to the

adulation of the crowd.

The drums continue...

INT./ EXT. SLAVE WAGON - ROMAN STREETS - DAY

Maximus and the other gladiators are in a slave cart on

the way from the arena. A gang of children run alongside

the cart, cheering and chanting:

KIDS:

Maximus the Merciful! Maximus the

Merciful!

The drums continue...

INT. PROXIMO'S COMPOUND - CELL - NIGHT

Maximus and Juba are with Lucilla and Gracchus. Lucilla

is writing on a piece of parchment.

MAXIMUS:

Tell him we will enter Rome on the

first day of Commodus' festival.

LUCILLA:

And they will march on Rome for you?

MAXIMUS:

Yes. But this letter must go to the

lieutenant named Titus, no one else.

LUCILLA:

Captain Marcellus will take it. And

his City Guard will by with you when

you get to Rome. Is that enough to

face the Praetorian Guard?

MAXIMUS:

(looks to her)

The Felix Regiment will never be

defeated.

A beat.

GRACCHUS:

I only have one question for you,

General... Why?

A beat.

GRACCHUS:

You will lead an army of your

brothers on Rome. Many will die.

Why?

MAXIMUS:

I want Commodus dead.

GRACCHUS:

That's not the reason. Tell me the

truth.

A beat.

MAXIMUS:

Because one night an old man

whispered to me about a dream. I

will die for that dream.

A long beat.

GRACCHUS:

I knew the old man well. And I

loved him very much. In our youth

we would spend hours building that

dream together. After he went to

the wars and lost his way... I was

very cruel. I tormented him to

remember that dream we spoke of.

MAXIMUS:

He did.

GRACCHUS:

You can have no idea how much that

means to me.

A beat.

GRACCHUS:

Any man who will die for a whispered

dream deserves my respect. I honor

you, General.

The drums continue...

EXT. COLOSSEUM - ARENA - DAY

Vibius defeats an opponent -- he stands over him. He

looks around at the crowd. Then he tosses down his sword

and walks off.

The crowd goes mad with pleasure. Vibius eats it up,

raising his arms and soaking up the applause.

Maximus watches from the holding cells. He smiles.

The drums continue...

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Proximo supervises as a huge banner is unfurled. It

covers the side of a tall building.

It shows a dramatic painting of Maximus.

Proximo supervises happily as torches and braziers are lit

to illuminate the mammoth banner.

The drums continue...

EXT. COLOSSEUM - ARENA - DAY

The ending of a group fight -- Proximo's gladiators

triumphant.

The crowd waits for the delicious act of defiance. We

note many placard and banners honoring "MAXIMUS THE

MERCIFUL."

Maximus, Vibius, Juba and a few other gladiators toss down

their weapons and walk off, leaving their opponents alive.

The crowd roars. They have completely embraced Maximus

and his fellow gladiators.

Gracchus, in the stands, laughs.

The drums finally conclude.

INT. PALACE - LUCILLA'S CHAMBER - DAY

Lucilla is with her HANDMAIDEN. They sit before a large

mirror, the Handmaiden perfecting Lucilla's makeup for the

day.

One of Commodus' Centurion Body Guards enters, bows.

CENTURION:

Madame, the Emperor would like to

see you.

Lucilla quickly glances to her Handmaiden in the mirror

and then braces herself, stands, and quickly leaves with

the Centurion.

INT. PALACE - HALLWAY - DAY

Lucilla strides quickly, nervously, down the long corridor

to Commodus' chambers. She enters...

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