Gladiator Page #7

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Proximo moves to Maximus. The Slave Trader forces open

Maximus' mouth.

PROXIMO:

Good teeth --

Proximo notes the many old battle scars on Maximus' body.

PROXIMO:

Where did you get those scars?

Maximus doesn't respond.

PROXIMO:

Are you a soldier?

Maximus doesn't respond.

PROXIMO:

Do you speak? --

(he roars back to a

slave)

KEEP THOSE DAMN FLIES OFF ME!

(back to Maximus)

He's dying.

SLAVE TRADER:

1,000 sesterces.

PROXIMO:

My ass...

(moves to Juba)

You throw in this one and we'll make

it 7,000 sesterces for the whole

lot.

SLAVE TRADER:

I have to eat, Master! He's my

finest, I couldn't let him go as

part of the lot for less than 9,000

total...

(back to Maximus)

I tell you this one is prime. He's

a Spaniard and killed fourteen of my

men before he could be subdued!

Proximo looks at Maximus, notes the many battle scars

again. The scars, and something he senses in Maximus'

eyes, is enough for Proximo to consider it.

PROXIMO:

(to trader)

All right, let's see.

The Slave Trader and his colleagues grab Maximus and

bustle him across the market, unlocking his chains.

Maximus has no idea what's going on.

In the center of the market place, a veritable GIANT of a

man sits on a small stool, a wooden sword in his hand. He

is hunched over and chained to the ground by a ten foot

chain shackled to his ankle. A think metal helmet is

riveted around his entire head, only long turfs of hair

emerging. His dim eyes stare listlessly through a slot in

the helmet.

The Slave Trader puts a wooden sword in Maximus' hand and

shoves him toward the Giant. The Giant stands. He towers

over Maximus.

The Giant suddenly swings his sword -- he moves with

remarkable quickness -- Maximus makes no attempt to block

the blow -- it sends him flying to the ground.

Maximus pulls himself up.

The Giant moves in and hits him again -- Maximus recoils

-- the Giant hits him again -- Maximus falls.

Maximus pulls himself up.

The Giant moves in again -- he slams him a few more times

-- Maximus makes no attempt to protect himself -- he

falls.

Maximus pulls himself up.

The Giant is about to attack again --

PROXIMO:

(to Slave Trader)

That's enough.

SLAVE TRADER:

STOP! STOP!

His colleagues race into the ring and haul the Giant away

from Maximus. The Giant quietly sits back on his stool.

Proximo studies Maximus for a moment and then glances to

the Slave Trader.

PROXIMO:

I'll give you 500 sesterces.

SLAVE TRADER:

No -- no -- 1,000!

PROXIMO:

(laughs)

Come, don't quibble with your old

friend. I'll take the lions, the

panther, the Numidian and this one

for 7,000. And I'll buy you the

best whore in the town for two

nights. She's an enormous mountain

of flesh who craves a stern hand.

SLAVE TRADER:

How could I say no to my old friend

Proximo?

EXT. PROXIMO'S SCHOOL - DAY

Maximus and Juba are crammed into a wagon with about ten

other slaves, including a very scared and reedy SCRIBE.

Other wagons are filled with exotic animals, including

several lions.

The wagons move through a crowded casbah and are taken

through an imposing set of gates to...

EXT. PROXIMO'S SCHOOL - COMPOUND - DAY

An open compound in Proximo's school. On one side of the

compound is a series of cages filled with wild animals of

every description -- including Proximo's two hapless

giraffes.

Proximo's house slaves begin unloading the newly purchased

exotic animals into cages as Maximus and the new slaves

are unloaded. Heavily armed guards supervise everything.

But Proximo's slaves are having a bit of a problem with

one of the new lions -- it growls and resists them.

Without the slightest hesitation, Proximo thunders to the

lion and grabs it by the mane -- manhandling it into a

cage.

PROXIMO:

COME ON, YOU FILTHY BEAST!

He kicks the lion in the rear as he shoves it into the

cage.

Proximo's provincial school resembles nothing so much as a

seedy prison. The fading grandeur of the decaying

battlements and the sweeping North African architecture

only slightly mitigate the brutal feel of the place.

And if Maximus had any doubts as to Proximo's profession

-- all doubts are washed away when he sees the compound.

Twenty GLADIATORS are working out in the compound --

hacking at practice dummies and sparring. The many

heavily armed guards oversee everything. The gladiators

stop working out as they see the new slaves enter. They

eye their potential new opponents warily.

One huge, glowering gladiator -- VIBIUS -- watches with

particular interest. His eye is quickly drawn to the most

obvious athlete:
Juba.

The new slaves are herded to the middle of the compound

and house slaves immediately begin throwing buckets of

water on them, cleaning them.

Meanwhile, Proximo shrugs off his cloak. A slave brings

him wine as he give his "welcoming speech" to the new

slaves:

PROXIMO:

Slaves. I am Proximo, trainer of

gladiators. You live and die at my

pleasure. Fight well and you will

live. Fight poorly and you will

die. It is better to live.

Slaves now toss thick handfuls of powdered lime on the new

slaves -- they cough and clench their eyes shut, the lime

coats and stings their wet bodies.

PROXIMO:

Here you will be trained in the art

of combat. Here you will be given

the tools to survive. Please my

patrons in the arena and all the

gifts of the world will be showered

upon you. Imagine riches beyond

your paltry dreams of riches!

Imagine fame beyond your rude

understanding of the word! All this

can belong to the select few who

prove their worth in the arena.

Slaves throw more water on the new slaves -- washing off

the lime.

PROXIMO:

If... on the other hand... you

disappoint me... you will be

dismembered and fed to my jackals

limb by limb.

He gazes evenly at his new acquisitions.

PROXIMO:

And my jackals are always hungry.

He strides off and the guards shove the new gladiators

toward their cells.

INT. PROXIMO'S SCHOOL - MAXIMUS' CELL - NIGHT

Maximus and Juba share a small, filthy cell. The cell

door faces the open compound. Across the compound they

can see the much more comfortable cells of the "star"

gladiators such as Vibius.

They both sit on the floor, leaning against the wall.

Juba is eating a bowl of food with a wooden spoon.

Maximus' bowl and spoon are at his side, he has not

touched them.

JUBA:

Have you killed a man before?

Maximus does not respond.

JUBA:

You should eat. You'll need your

strength tomorrow.

Maximus does not respond.

JUBA:

I've never killed a man. But I

think you have.

Maximus does not respond.

JUBA:

I almost killed once. The Romans

destroyed my village. I was with a

hunting party and when we

returned... I would have killed

every Roman in the world.

A long beat.

JUBA:

If you don't eat you will die.

Maximus does not respond.

A beat.

JUBA:

In the village I come from there was

a man once. He went fishing one day

and his boat was attacked by

crocodiles. One of them ate his

leg. He pulled himself to the shore

and a lion attacked him. It ate one

of his arms. He dragged himself

through the desert on the way home

and a scorpion stung his eye. So he

only had one eye. When he reached

the village I sat with him. I said,

"You have lost a leg, an arm and one

eye. You must have a mighty will to

live." He said, "No, Lord, it's

just better than the alternative."

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