Pompeii Page #2

Where's Felix?

I heard tomorrow is your last fight.

That's right.

After I kill you, they

will give me my freedom.

They won't do it.

Not while your arm's still strong.

Freedom is Rome's promise.

You trust them to keep that promise?

I trust their law.

There's only one freedom for a gladiator.

When you die in that arena,

you die unconquered.

And you spit in the eye of Rome.

Then this is your future.

And you die a slave.

But not me.

Tomorrow, Rome will make good

on its promise.

You, unfortunately,

will not be alive to see that I am right.

So sure?

Today you showed me your weaknesses.

Your left arm is weaker than your right.

So you protect your ribs

at the expense of your neck.

And you should learn how to thrust

when you're shifting your weight

and stop favoring a high guard.

It would make you less predictable.

This one.

That one.

These two.

On your feet, slaves.

All right.

You, here.

You, barbarian, here!

Both excellent fighters.

One, a champion,

and the other,

tried and proven in the provinces.

I want to see him from behind.

Why so serious?

Not so bad for a night's work.

Firm.

But what of his weaponry?

That is an inspection

you'll have to pay for.

And this will be the new arena,

specifically designed for chariot races.

Yes.

Very detailed, Severus.

But I don't believe that this project is

really suitable for an Imperial investment.

These dalliances in the countryside

hold very little interest for the Emperor.

I was led to understand...

No. No. Unfortunately, the Emperor's vision

for the future is firmly fixed on Rome.

I, however, am interested in investing.

Good.

Have the pledges drawn up.

You'll have my mark on them tomorrow.

After your games.

I do believe a drink is in order.

Of course. Shall we join our guests?

Perhaps your daughter can bring it.

My daughter?

Look over there.

The slave who can talk to horses.

He is a fine specimen.

Well, you can't deny it.

Turn around.

Cassia.

May I impose upon you for a moment?

Your presence has been requested.

Yes, of course, Father.

You will need this. It is not for you.

- Cassia, may I introduce...

- Senator Corvus.

Lady Cassia.

My, how I have missed you.

You are exquisite.

Senator Corvus, I don't know what to say.

For me? How kind.

You two have met?

Severus, you're still here.

I did not know you knew my daughter.

Then you should hear the whole story.

Tomorrow in the arena

when I sign your pledges.

Thank you.

Marcus?

The Senator and Cassia

have already met, in Rome.

Then she requires a chaperone.

She survived a year in Rome without us.

I'm sure she can survive 10 minutes

on our balcony.

In Rome, I thought we had an understanding.

No. You had an understanding.

One for which I gave you no cause.

Your mere presence gives me cause, My Lady.

A beauty such as yours has no place

in a holiday resort like this.

Surely, a creature such as you

can have no home but in the Eternal City.

Senator, I have no intention

of returning to Rome.

And if you were to return as my wife?

Your wife?

You may consider it a compliment.

Senator Corvus,

I believe you have mistaken me

for the kind of woman who drapes herself

across your lap in Rome.

I have no wish to become your wife.

A spirited refusal.

I would have expected nothing less.

Enjoy the remains of the Vinalia, Senator.

Good night.

Is this normal?

It is the mountain.

It grumbles from time to time.

Bring this man. I need him.

- 'My Lady...

- Now!

My Lady, it's Vires!

Please, before he injures himself.

I have to go in alone.

No.

Let him.

My Lady, he's a savage.

Let him.

Easy!

My Lady, he's not safe.

Move.

Wait outside.

How did you do that?

I asked him.

You could ride before you were a gladiator?

I could ride before I could walk.

My people were horsemen.

"Were" horsemen?

My family were butchered by the Romans.

- I'm so sorry.

- "Sorry"?

What would a Roman know of such things?

I am not a Roman. I'm a citizen of Pompeii.

Then why do I see Rome's eagle

everywhere I turn?

I'm no part of that.

After a year in Rome,

I hoped never to see that eagle again.

And yet, here it is,

thrust into the soil outside my home.

My father believes that

he can bargain with those animals.

My father...

He would have killed

every last one of them.

My Lady?

If they catch you up there

they'll punish you.

My Lady?

My Lady, is everything all right?

Wait! Come back!

Come back!

What's wrong?

If they catch you up here with me...

I'll tell them it was my choice.

There they are!

I have to take you back.

No. You go and leave me here.

If you ride you have a chance.

- A chance at what?

- At freedom.

But at what cost to you?

Tell the guards I brought

you here by force.

The blame is mine.

Get him off that horse!

It wasn't his fault. The horse bolted.

It was out of control.

Senator, please. This slave saved my life.

He does not deserve this.

- Lady Cassia, you were unharmed?

- I'm perfectly all right.

If I were to spare the life of this slave,

what would it be worth to you?

Senator?

I believe you understand the question,

my dear.

I would be grateful for your mercy.

Well...

This is your lucky day, slave.

The Lady Cassia has saved your life.

Who owns this slave?

I do, Senator.

Then I suggest you punish it

and then remove it.

Fifteen lashes should suffice.

After all, mercy is a virtue.

Father, you have to stop this.

There's nothing I can do about it.

You saved his life.

Content yourself with that.

Senator Corvus requires a service of you.

Of me?

This gladiator.

What do you have planned

for him tomorrow?

He fights last.

- Single combat against my champion.

- No.

He fights first. And he dies first.

Fifteen lashes and he didn't make a sound.

I could have prevented this.

I don't know what I was thinking.

That he made you feel alive?

He made me feel safe.

A man like that does not deserve

to die in the arena.

This is not your fault, Cassia.

He has caught the Senator's wrath.

I thought that, in leaving Rome,

that man would forget about me

and turn his attentions toward

some other poor victim.

I saw a look

in that man's eye tonight, Ariadne.

The same look I saw in Rome.

But the Senator never laid a hand on you.

Only because I left Rome before he could.

Now Rome has followed us back to Pompeii

to turn the world inside out.

You certainly know

how to prepare for a battle.

I hope she was worth it.

A terrible waste of good wine.

Can you feel that?

It is the gods.

- They have a plan for us all.

- Perhaps.

What do you mean?

Tonight I saw the man

who killed my whole family.

Perhaps the gods spared me for a reason.

The Romans took my family

from me 20 years ago.

At night I try and remember their faces,

but I cannot.

But I know one day,

the gods will bring me to them again.

My name is Milo.

Atticus.

You, that tunnel.

Send The Celt into that tunnel.

I thought he was to fight Atticus.

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