Spartacus Page #6

of firm resolve...

and unshakable dedication...

which is why I nominate

as general...

Publius Maximus.

I never promised you leadership

of the new army.

Did it ever occur to you

that I might be...

exactly what Rome needs

right now?

If Spartacus defeats this army

and turns on Rome...

where will your precious little

democracy be then?

It reminds me of the Nestros

Valley where I grew up.

I thought you didn't remember

anything about Thrace.

I remember a few things.

Our farm. Sheep and goats.

- You still have kin there?

- No.

I know your mom died in childbirth,

but you never talk of your father.

My father's dead too.

- How?

- He was the village headsman.

The Romans crucified him because

our people were late with taxes.

We've never talked of where you

and I will go once we leave here.

We haven't left yet.

And at this rate...

Did you notice on the

road how quiet it was?

The slaves have stopped

joining us.

They're afraid.

Rome has made its decision. They

won't let us go without a fight.

We saw two full legions of the

Transalpine Gaul force encamped...

less than ten miles

north of there.

- Can we get around them?

- They've picked their site well.

Blocked all major passes.

- And who's their general?

- Publius Maximus.

What do we know about him?

Publius runs his army

with a firm hand.

Fierce but unimaginative.

- Two legions.

- Frontier soldiers.

We better start fighting early or

we'll still be killing by night.

We won't surprise this army at

night like the last one.

This battle is on their terms.

How do we fight that?

I remember a story about Hannibal

fighting a rock.

- A foolish tale.

- Tell me.

In the Alps, Hannibal's army

came to a pass...

blocked by a huge rock.

No way around it.

For three days and nights

he thought.

And then it came to him.

He ordered fires built

against the rock.

All the precious wood that they

had carried for themselves...

was sacrificed to the rock.

How the people cried.

But when the fires

burnt out...

he ordered vinegar to be poured

on the hot rock.

- And?

- It cracked.

Nordo, you're a genius.

You cannot beat the rock...

unless you use the strength

of the rock...

against itself.

The advantage of the Roman army

is size and discipline.

But if you force their lines

together, if you crowd them...

their strength becomes

their weakness.

The rock will

break against itself.

If the slaves don't move out

of those woods soon...

drive them out with the archers.

Gannicus, your cavalry...

will attack the Roman cavalry

on the wings...

and destroy them or

draw them away.

Next we drive off their skirmishers

with slings and arrows...

and then you, David, will

charge the Roman center.

On my signal, break ranks in

the middle of your line...

fall back as if in a panic...

and make them believe

you're running for your life.

The Romans expect us to run...

and will charge after you

into the center.

Crixus, you wait for my signal,

not a moment before.

Enough talk. Let's fight.

- Tell the skirmishers to move.

- Skirmishers!

- Send in the first line.

- First line!

Since when do slaves

fight with cavalry?

Stop the Romans!

Slings and arrow!

Now!

Hold your positions!

Stay firm!

- They're killing them!

- Stay where you are!

Signal the retreat!

Retreat!

- They're breaking, my Lord.

- Finally.

Allow the men to follow at will.

And take no prisoners!

I killed him!

Publius Maximus is dead!

Where is the rest

of the Roman cavalry?

- Those we didn't kill we drove off.

- In which direction?

South, I think.

We've left the camp unguarded!

Give me a horse!

Varinia!

Varinia!

Varinia!

We could.

We... we...

It's all right.

- What are you doing out here?

- Thinking.

You shouldn't be off by yourself

like this.

Am I in danger?

She's carrying my child.

I was trying to pray...

but I don't know

who to pray to.

My people pray to a god

who doesn't answer.

Who leaves it up to us

to decide how to behave.

A good god for a free man.

Not when answers

are what you need.

Maybe that's the price we pay...

to live in a world where

we get to choose.

- What is it?

- Crixus.

Why should we leave?

Rome threw their best at us...

- and we slaughtered them.

- We cannot fight...

- the whole Roman army.

- Let them come.

I will hammer them

to an early grave.

And when we've destroyed

their armies...

we will be kings!

- We're with you!

- Yeah!

Unless, of course, you haven't got

the stomach for it.

In that case...

run away.

No one here will stop you.

If we separate,

we will be destroyed.

No.

Crixus is right.

He is right!

How clearly my wise brother

Crixus sees the future.

Why should we run? But let's

not settle for a little plunder.

Let's turn south...

march to the sea and cross

the straits to Sicily.

The slaves there will

surely join us...

and we'll be kings of the island,

the breadbasket of Rome.

And they'll come crawling to

us, begging for mercy.

Who is with me?

Spartacus!

Who is he?

What kind of man

am I dealing with?

Everybody blames me

for this mess.

Nobody has suffered

like I have.

I'm ruined.

I've lost everything.

My villa burned down, my slaves

went away, the school...

and thirty years of work

destroyed.

Perhaps this will ease

your suffering.

Thank you, my Lord.

- Spartacus?

- Yes, yes.

You met him once, Spartacus.

He was one of two pairs you

hired a year ago...

to entertain Cornelius

and Helena Lucius.

Terrible thing, their murder.

I never trusted him. My trainer

Cinna thought the world of him...

but I always saw that

he was trouble.

Too much pride.

I heard rumors that

Spartacus was wed.

You mean Varinia?

That b*tch from hell

disguised as an angel.

I never get sentimental

about slaves.

I mean, they're animals,

nothing more.

But those two, they worked

something out.

You could see it when

they looked at one another.

- How did he become a slave?

- They say that...

as a young boy...

he watched his father crucified.

His father.

If we split up before we're ready

for Orsino we're doomed.

Our strength is in our numbers.

We could go.

Just you and I.

Leave them to this madness

if that's what they want.

We are entitled to a life.

These people put their trust in me.

How can I desert them?

You are an honorable man.

But if you are dead it will be

of little comfort to your son.

What else do I have to leave him

but my honor?

Two legions destroyed!

And now the slave army...

glutted with blood and victory

turns south...

perhaps to sack Rome herself.

We have listened to the

fainthearted for too long.

No more half measures.

I pledge...

upon the sacred honor

of my ancestors...

to raise and equip

six full legions...

at my own expense.

I will lead this army myself...

and I will stamp out

this rebellion...

- for once and for all.

- Yes!

Noble Senators!

Do not rise to

this honeyed bait!

What Crassus proposes is nothing

less than a private army...

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