Spartacus Page #3

You are clever!

Open up.

Through that door.

But you will have

to watch him, Claudia.

Father almost disinherited him

because of slave girls.

The marriage contract

absolutely forbids a harem.

What about your litter bearers?

After all, every one of them

is under 20...

and taller than they should be.

She sets rather a high standard

for you, does she?

Your pleasure, Your Highness.

To you, my dear, shall go the honour

of starting this poetic drama.

Open up!

First pair:

Crixus and Galino!

Those who are about to die

salute you.

Crixus.

Next pair!

Those who are about to die,

salute you.

Your Thracian's doing well.

How were you able to get my appointment

without Gracchus knowing?

I fought fiire with oil.

I purchased the senate behind his back.

I still think

the trident's going to win.

- Why doesn't he kill him?

- Kill him.

What's the matter now?

- Kill him!

- Kill him, you imbecile!

He'll hang there till he rots.

Take a last look, Spartacus.

She's going to Rome.

She's been sold.

She's been sold?

No talking

in the kitchen, slave.

There's trouble in the mess hall.

They killed Marcellus and maybe others.

Call out the guard!

Move, move!

On second thoughts,

I'll deliver the girl personally.

Ride to Capua. Call out the garrison.

I don't trust this lot.

- I hold you responsible.

- Yes, sir.

Around Capua,

they ravaged the countryside...

forcing other slaves to join them.

Looting, robbing,

burning everything...

while they make their camp

in the escarpments of Vesuvius.

Each day swells their numbers.

The situation presently lies

in the hands...

of this august body.

Where's the mighty Crassus?

- Out of the city.

- At least you're here.

No need to fear for Rome

as long as Glabrus is with us.

Let me add:
Over 100 estates

have been burned...

among them, gentlemen,

y own...

burned to the ground

and three million sesterces lost.

I propose the immediate recall

of Pompey and his legions from Spain.

- I could bring them in with 500 men!

- Don't make a fool of yourself.

Why call back the legions...

when the garrison of Rome

has nothing to do...

but to defend us

from sausage makers?

Let's send Glabrus

against these scoundrels!

Give 'em a taste of Roman steel.

I protest.

I most strongly protest.

There are more slaves

in Rome than Romans.

With the garrison absent,

what's to prevent them from rising too?

I did not say

the whole garrison.

Six cohorts will

more than do the job.

The rest can stay in Rome

to save you from your housemaids.

Will you accept

such a charge, Glabrus?

I accept the charge

of the senate...

if the senate truly charges me.

The garrison of Rome

stands ready.

Slave hunting's a dirty business.

It takes a brave commander

to consent to it.

I propose we turn

the city out tomorrow...

in tribute to Glabrus

as he marches through.

And...

for temporary command

of the garrison during his absence...

I propose Caius Julius Caesar.

You don't look very happy

over the new job.

It's not a serious disturbance.

Glabrus will be back.

Maybe.

At least it gives me a chance...

to separate Glabrus

from Crassus for a while.

You know, this republic of ours

is something like a rich widow.

Most Romans love her

as their mother.

But Crassus dreams of marrying

the old girl, to put it politely.

Hail Glabrus!

Hail Glabrus!

- God be with you, Glabrus.

- And with you too.

I hope he returns

to such applause.

One fat one, Fimbria!

No, keep the change.

Give it to your wife.

- May the gods adore you.

- Only through your prayers.

Let's make an old-fashioned sacrifiice

for Glabrus' success.

I thought you had reservations

about the gods.

Privately I believe in none of them.

Neither do you.

Publicly I believe in them all.

Greetings, Marcus Clodius Flavius!

Is Marcus Glabrus in attendance?

- He awaits you in the atrium, sir.

- Excellent.

What have we here?

A gift from the governor

of Sicily, sir.

Antoninus.

Sicilian, age 26.

Singer of songs.

For whom did you practice

this wondrous talent?

For the children of my master...

whom I also taught

the classics.

Classics, indeed.

What position have we, I wonder,

for a boy of such varied gifts?

You shall be my body servant.

Instruct him.

All of you, come with me.

Are you on guard duty?

My dear Crassus,

congratulate me.

Or better still,

let us congratulate each other.

I congratulate us.

Tomorrow I lead six cohorts

of the garrison...

against the slaves on Vesuvius.

The whole city

is turning out to see us off.

Great merciful

bloodstained gods!

Your pardon.

I always address heaven

in moments of triumph.

Did Gracchus have something

to do with this brilliant affair?

Yes, he even proposed it.

Rather decently, too.

And you? Do you think I made you

commander of the garrison...

to control some rock patch

on Vesuvius?

It was to control

the streets of Rome!

I only take six cohorts.

The rest of the garrison remains.

- Under whose command?

- Under Caesar's.

Excellent, excellent!

Finding Gracchus in control

of the mob and the senate...

you felt compelled to hand over

the garrison to him also.

I see.

I'll refuse. I'll withdraw

from the expedition.

One of the disadvantages

of being a patrician...

is that occasionally

you're obliged to act like one.

You pledged the senate to go,

and go you must.

If Gracchus should decide

to move against you--

He won't!

Has no need to.

He has, with your assistance,

immobilized me altogether.

Your legions are still in camp

outside the city walls?

My legions?

Do you truly believe I'd order

my legions to enter Rome?

I only point out that

you can if you have to.

Are you not aware

of Rome's most ancient law...

that no general may enter the city

at the head of his armed legions?

- Sulla did.

- Sulla? To the infamy of his name!

To the utter damnation

of his line!

No, my young friend.

One day I shall cleanse this Rome

which my fathers bequeathed me.

I shall restore all the traditions

that made her great.

It follows, then, that I cannot come

to power or even defend myself...

by an act which betrays

the most sacred tradition of them all.

I shall not bring my legions

within these walls.

I shall not violate Rome...

at the moment

of possessing her.

Go.

Prepare your troops

at once.

March out of Rome tonight,

but the city tribute is impossible.

We've already been made to look a fool.

Let's not add the trappings of a clown.

Leave by unfrequented streets,

without fanfare, without even a drum!

Sneak out.

As you wish.

And for heaven's sake,

my young friend...

try and see to it that you don't have

to sneak back again.

Farewell.

Come on, fat boy!

Noble Romans...

fiighting each other

like animals!

Your new masters,

betting to see who'll die fiirst.

Drop your swords.

I want to see their blood

right over here where Draba died!

When I fiight matched pairs,

they fiight to the death.

I made myself a promise, Crixus.

I swore that

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote