Pompeii Page #3

- You're being given new instructions.

- Yes, Master.

And Atticus?

He'll fight single combat as billed.

Put him with the big Spartan.

He'll give the audience a good show.

And Atticus will beat him

and win his freedom.

Is that really what the audience

will want to see?

What are you saying?

Don't you think they'd rather see

a gladiator meeting death rather than life?

Especially a death as glorious as his?

Stop.

You.

That way.

You too, barbarian.

Senator Corvus.

Lady Cassia.

Come sit beside me.

Give me the benefit of your wisdom.

Do YOU enjoy the sports?

Men killing each other

for our amusement is not a sport.

Everywhere. All new.

I don't have time for this, Graecus.

What are you suggesting?

That we cancel the games?

Of course not. Merely postpone them.

This amphitheater

has stood for a hundred years.

It withstood the great earthquake.

It may not be safe. Use your eyes.

I'm just saying I cannot be held

responsible for what may happen.

Then don't be. I take full responsibility.

How can we expect Rome

to trust us to rebuild an entire city

if we can't stage a

simple bloody spectacle?

Fetch my litter.

I'm leaving town for a few days.

Move.

Stop. Shackle them!

What is this?

This is your greatest moment, Atticus.

Your final day in the arena.

I'm supposed to fight single combat.

Bring them their weapons!

Good fortune, Atticus.

To those about to die, we salute you!

By the patronage of Marcus Cassius Severus

and for the glory of Emperor Titus,

remember, all here, the mighty victory

of Senator Quintas Attius Corvus

and his annihilation of

the Celtic Rebellion.

The Celtic Rebellion?

Your great and noble victory

for the Empire, Senator,

re-opening the northern trade routes.

The history books record it

as your finest hour.

I thought perhaps you might like the honor

of opening these games in a similar manner.

Severus, you flatter me.

We'll make a Roman out of you yet.

People of Pompeii!

May Jupiter and Venus bless the Vinalia

and honor these games!

Let the games begin!

- This isn't a battle.

- What?

This is a massacre.

How do you know?

Because I was there.

The rebel Celts are in retreat,

leaving rape and slaughter in their wake,

returning to their unholy lair to feast

on the flesh of their innocent victims.

This is what you've trained for, scum.

Now get out there.

Quintas Attius Corvus gave them

every chance to surrender.

But mercy was an alien concept

to these savages,

and with heavy heart, Quintas Attius Corvus

ordered his mighty legions,

in the name of the Emperor, to attack.

Shields up!

Push!

Is this what you call sport?

No, Lady Cassia, this is not sport.

This is politics.

We can't hold them!

Back!

Severus, this is not exactly

how I remember it.

What exactly is that slave to you?

Everything that you are not, Senator.

Then you should be pleased to learn

your father has granted me

your hand in marriage.

- What?

- I made no such arrangement.

Because he knows that if he does not,

I will inform Titus that your father

has called into question

our "new" emperor's ability to rule.

Titus will have your entire family

hung from the city walls.

Milo!

If I were to marry you...

- Cassia...

- If I marry you,

is my family spared?

Your family will become my family,

under the protection of the Emperor.

With all of the benefits that implies.

Pompeii! Pompeii! Pompeii!

Senator!

I do not yield to the power of Rome!

I spit on it!

He would not dare.

Pompeii! Pompeii! Pompeii!

Get a detachment in the arena now.

Now!

You were right, brother.

Everything they promised, nothing but lies.

Live! Live! Live!

What do you think you're doing?

Madame, take your seat!

If you want to live you will sit down!

Now!

If you kill him now,

on the tip of 100 Roman arrows,

you make him a martyr to the mob.

Is that what you want?

To take home to your Emperor a revolution?

And if you reverse this decision,

how will it be spoken of in Rome?

They will whisper it behind your back,

that you have a wife

who does not obey your will.

Can your reputation bear such a weakness?

I might become your wife,

but you will never break me.

But I will break you,

and you will stay broken to stand,

sit or crawl as I decree.

Do you understand me?

Proculus, have your guard

take her back to the villa.

Keep her there.

I think the wedding shall be in Rome.

People of Pompeii!

People of Pompeii!

Vulcan speaks!

Vulcan decrees that man

to be the champion of Pompeii!

Decrees that he is worthy to stand

face-to-face against the might of Rome!

Great Vulcan,

we hear you speak and will obey!

Proculus...

Show these cowards what really happens

when you dare to challenge

the might of Rome.

With pleasure.

Come on! Come on!

Faster! Move it!

What's going on? My Lady?

Don't touch her! Let her go!

Cassia!

By the patronage

of Senator Quintas Attius Corvus,

the champion of Rome, Marcus Proculus,

hero of the Celtic Rebellion,

will now face the new champion

of Pompeii, The Celt,

in single combat!

All hail to Emperor Titus!

I know you.

Really?

Well, whatever revenge

you think you're going to have,

I'm afraid you'll be disappointed.

Bring this slave a better sword.

- This blade's dull.

- Is it?

Let's give them a good show, huh?

Kill him!

Kill him now!

No!

You're brave. I'll give you that.

But no savage could ever be the match

for a Roman.

How about 20 of us?

No!

Wait! Wait!

No!

Mercy!

No!

Good to see you, brother.

And you.

Aurelia.

Kill him.

Kill him.

On further consideration, I have decided

not to invest in your little city.

Get me to the harbor.

I'm sorry.

Move. Move it!

You! Come here!

For my passage.

Let him aboard.

You must leave now!

Cast off! Prepare to set sail!

Help me! Please!

You...

You have to help us.

You have to save Cassia.

Where is she?

The villa.

- Where are you going?

- I have to find her.

Milo, this is madness!

We have to get to the

harbor and find a boat.

The mountain is going to kill us all!

She risked her life for me, Atticus.

Risked everything for me!

Without her, they would have killed us

in that arena!

Then we will go together.

No.

You have your freedom, my friend.

Now she is mine.

Then we meet at the harbor.

At the harbor.

Please, give me the keys!

Cassia, they've taken the keys!

No!

Where is she?

Water!

You came back for me.

Drink. Drink.

Thank you, sister.

No!

No!

Look at me.

We have to get to the harbor.

This is suicide. Turn around! Back!

Out of the way!

Get out of the way!

Enough!

Kill them! Kill them all!

Row, you idiots! Row!

Turn around! You have to turn back!

Come on. Get up! Get up!

No! No, my daughter!

Get up!

No!

My daughter!

Mommy! Help!

Is this the end of the world?

Why would the gods let this happen?

- Milo!

- Atticus!

I knew the gods would never catch you.

There's none faster. And now I see why.

- It's time to go, my friend...

- No.

The harbor's gone.

We have to find another way.

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