Gladiator Page #2

---

The Felix Regiment warriors slash ruthlessly with short

swords -- slicing a path of sheer destruction through the

Germans -- but the Germans fight with equal brutality --

and the Germans also fight with the desperation of a

hopeless last chance -- they pull and spear Roman soldiers

off horses whenever they can --

Maximus spins his horse and swings his sword with expert

efficiency -- a spear stabs through the neck of his horse

and it immediately collapses forward --

Maximus sails over the horse's head and crashes to the

muddy ground -- he jumps up and is in the midst of the

battle --

The flaming arrows and exploding fire pots create a

ferocious inferno everywhere around the battle -- the

flames silhouetting the fighting --

On the ground, Maximus proves his absolute worth as a

warrior -- he hacks and dodges -- ghastly images of true

ancient warfare -- Maximus' eyes burn with a zealous fire

as he fights for his life --

He finds he is momentarily at a terrible disadvantage --

Germans are surrounding him from all sides -- as he fights

he looks for an advantage -- for his soldiers -- for

anything -- he is doomed --

Then -- an almost mystical image -- Maximus' wolf leaps

through a wall of flame --

"The Wolf of Rome" savages several Germans around Maximus

-- giving him the help he needed.

The wolf and his master fight, side-by-side.

EXT. HILLTOP - TWILIGHT

We see an old man's face, staring down at the battle. The

face is weather-beaten, ailing. The roaring flames from

the battlefield below flicker in his sad eyes.

MARCUS AURELIUS, the Emperor of Rome, is on a horse. A

metal brace extends from the back of his saddle. He is

strapped to the brace with thick, leather straps.

He watches as the Felix Regiment below concludes the

battle. The cheering of the Regiment can be heard as the

final, isolated pockets of Germans are cut down.

Behind Marcus the sun is setting, painting the world blood

red.

EXT. BATTLEFIELD - SUNSET

Maximus, bloody and spent, walks through the aftermath of

the carnage. The Wolf of Rome is at his side. Dead and

dying by the hundreds are scattered everywhere. Roman

surgeons are attending to the wounded.

Marcus walks to him, embraces him warmly.

MAXIMUS:

Caesar.

MARCUS:

Maximus, you prove your valor again.

Let us hope for the final time here.

MAXIMUS:

I don't think there's anyone left to

fight.

MARCUS:

There are always people left to

fight...

Marcus takes Maximus' arm and they walk through the masses

of bodies. Maximus holds Marcus' arm firmly, quietly

supporting him as they walk.

MARCUS:

But this night, at least, Germania

is at last defeated... What will you

do now, my friend?

MAXIMUS:

Should Caesar permit, I'll go home.

I've been away too long. I've

forgotten my wife's face and I

barely know my son.

Suddenly, a tethered GERMAN PRISONER they are passing

calls out to them:

GERMAN PRISONER:

THIS BLOOD MEANS NOTHING, CONQUEROR!

Maximus and Marcus stop. A soldier moves quickly to

silence the German Prisoner.

MARCUS:

(to Soldier)

Stop...

(to Prisoner)

... You speak our language?

GERMAN PRISONER:

You have been in my homeland for

twelve years. Of course I speak

your language. So did my son, who

you murdered. So did my daughter,

who you raped.

MAXIMUS:

(to Marcus)

Come, Caesar...

MARCUS:

No. Let him speak...

(to Prisoner)

... I am Rome, what would you say to

me?

GERMAN PRISONER:

(points to sunset)

You are that sun, Rome, and your

time is over... You can slit a

thousand throats here, and you can

put a thousand babies to the sword,

but it will always be our home.

MARCUS:

Now it is Rome.

GERMAN PRISONER:

It will never be Rome. Not as long

as one German breathes.

The soldier moves to kill the insolent Prisoner.

MARCUS:

No... Release him. Give him safe

passage. Let him go to his family.

The soldier leads the German Prisoner away.

Maximus and Marcus continue walking in silence for a beat.

Then:

MARCUS:

Tell me again, Maximus, why are we

here?

MAXIMUS:

For the glory of the empire, sire.

MARCUS:

(quietly)

Yes. I remember.

They continue walking through the mountains of bodies...

EXT. ROAD - SUNSET

Maximus and Marcus are now walking along a road through

the dense forest. Slaves follow behind them, leading

their horses.

Both sides of the road are filled with the men of the

Felix Regiment. As Maximus and Marcus pass, the battered

and bloody soldiers drag themselves to their feet, raising

their swords, paying silent homage.

MAXIMUS:

They honor you, Caesar.

MARCUS:

I don't think they're standing for

me, Maximus. They honor you.

Just then Commodus canters into view with his Praetorian

Guard escort. He watches the army honor Maximus with rank

envy as he nears.

He rides up to Maximus and Marcus.

COMMODUS:

Have I missed it?

He leaps from his horse.

COMMODUS:

Have I missed the battle?

MARCUS:

You've missed the war. We're done

here.

Commodus embraces him, awkward.

COMMODUS:

Father. Congratulations. I shall

sacrifice a thousand doves to honor

your triumph.

MARCUS:

Spare the doves and honor Maximus,

he won the battle.

Commodus embraces Maximus, even more awkward.

COMMODUS:

General, Rome salutes you and I

embrace you as a brother.

MAXIMUS:

Highness.

They walk, Maximus still supporting Marcus, as:

COMMODUS:

Your Spaniards seem invincible. May

the Gods favor the Felix Regiment

now and always...

(to his father)

Here, Father, take my arm.

MARCUS:

(ignores this)

Where's your sister?

COMMODUS:

She's at the camp. She had no

desire to see the gore of the

battlefield.

MARCUS:

(smiles)

Lucilla would eat every corpse here

if it brought her one step closer to

the throne.

Maximus laughs.

MAXIMUS:

(smiles)

Caesar, you do the lady injustice.

MARCUS:

It's a foolish old cobra who doesn't

recognize his own off-spring...

(he suddenly stops,

not feeling well)

I think... I should ride now.

Maximus waves for Marcus' horse. It is brought up.

Several soldiers carefully help the old man into the

saddle. He is then tethered to the brace on his saddle.

It is a slow, graceful and embarrassing ordeal for the

Emperor of Rome.

When at last he is strapped in, he looks to Maximus.

MARCUS:

So much for the glory of Rome.

Without a word to his son, Marcus nods and the horse is

slowly lead away.

Commodus and Maximus watch him go.

COMMODUS:

(neutral)

He's dying.

A beat.

COMMODUS:

Poor old man.

MAXIMUS:

(terse)

If you'll excuse me, Highness.

He turns and stalks away.

EXT. TENT CITY - NIGHT

We see the Roman encampment, a sea of tents. Hundreds of

campfires burn before the tents.

INT. HOSPITAL TENT - NIGHT

Maximus enters a large tent and is met by a spectacle of

the dead and dying. Roman surgeons are working feverishly

to save lives. Limbs are amputated, the bloody stumps

quickly cauterized with hot irons. Leeches and bronze

cups are employed for blood-letting to balance "humours."

Anesthesia as we know it is nonexistent. Wine amphoras

are passed around and orderlies fan narcotic smoke toward

the patients. Mostly, though, they just hold down the

writhing patients.

Rate this script:3.7 / 6 votes