The Last Days of Pompeii Page #5

Try to save him.

No.

When your world crumbles about you...

...you'll understand

what you have done today.

You have rejected him.

Don't look back, Flavius. Look ahead.

Think how happy we're going to be.

We're going to be rich.

Now we can have that big house.

The finest house in Pompeii.

That's more like it.

- Good steel.

- The finest Damascus.

- What do you think of it, Leaster?

- I'm not a judge of swords, master.

Flavius will be proud of this.

A noble's son couldn't have better.

- How much?

- Six thousand.

- What?

- Well, what is 6000...

...to the richest man in Pompeii?

The head of the arena.

- You old robber.

- Give him a note to Burbix.

My money is in the strongroom

at the arena.

The whole town is looking forward

to the games tomorrow, Marcus.

It's going to be a good show.

The new prefect wants to be popular

with the citizens.

My son is coming. Be off.

- Hail, Flavius.

- Greetings, Crassus.

Good morning, Father.

- What's Crassus been selling you now?

- Oh, nothing much. Wait.

- Look at that.

- What a beauty.

Draw it.

The finest steel. Go on, try it.

Feel the balance.

- What do you think of it?

- I never saw better.

It's finer than any of your others.

I'm glad you like it.

It's for you.

Thank you, Father.

It's for a special occasion.

A messenger came overland

this morning...

...brought word that an old friend of

mine is stopping at Pompeii to see us.

- His ship should arrive in a few days.

- Who is it, Father?

A man I haven't seen in many years.

He laid the foundation of our fortune.

Do I know him?

You saw him once

but you wouldn't remember him.

- Where did I see him, what's his name?

- We were in Jerusalem.

His name is Pontius Pilate.

- Could he be the man I try to remember?

- No, no.

How many times have I told you

that's only a childish dream?

There never was such a man.

Greetings, Marcus, Flavius.

The new prefect is coming down

to the quadrangle.

He wants to see the preparations

for the games.

- He's afraid we won't do him credit.

- He is, is he?

I'll come at once.

My cloak, Leaster.

Show Burbix your gift, my son.

By Jupiter, what steel.

- You could out through chains with that

- Could I?

Well, you might

if you were fool enough to try.

I suppose there's no use asking you

to come to the arena with me.

- Well, Father, you know I--

- That's all right, my boy.

I have bigger plans for you

than following in my footsteps.

- Where's that cloak?

- Be sure to speak to the prefect...

-...about the slaves we need.

- Of course.

I was at the jail and they've only

a handful of condemned men...

-...and one escaped on the way.

- Another runaway slave?

Where do they go?

If the prefect expects his games

to do him credit, he'll get me the men.

- Father, must you have more men to kill?

- Now, Flavius...

...we won't go over that again.

We decided long ago to let

that subject alone.

Don't you fret about

how I make my money...

and I won't worry about

how you spend it.

Those horses for tomorrow...

-...you made a good deal.

- I was always good at a horse deal.

Remember the first one

I helped you with?

You see, it's useless.

He'll never listen to me.

He'll never change.

Come, help me to get ready.

Clodia will be wondering

what's become of me.

Leaster, I've got a ship at last.

The day for action is almost here.

If only the danger for you

were not so great.

Only one thing worries me.

- Are you sure that island is still free?

- I am.

There's no wealth,

no people to enslave.

No Roman soldier

has ever set foot on it.

An unspoiled world.

When we go, come with us.

Marcus will be glad of me

after you're gone.

If only I could tell him the truth.

But he'd smash the whole thing.

And I can't let him.

Come.

I'll make sure the way is clear.

I'll be back tonight. Watch for me.

Oh, it's the friend.

Greetings, friend.

- Is all well, Phoebus?

- It's good to see you.

- We've missed you.

- What's kept me away, do you think?

Great news! I have a ship.

- For us?

- To escape to the island?

Yes. Some night soon, you can reach the

waterfront in twos and threes unnoticed.

- How soon?

- After the games are over.

The search will be relaxed. They won't

need slaves for the arena then.

Before anyone knows what cargo the ship

carries, we'll be beyond their reach.

You've saved us from torture and death.

You've hidden us here, kept us fed

and clothed, given us hope.

But do you really believe

there's any place...

-...where runaway slaves can be safe?

- I know the place where I'm taking you.

Where Rome cannot reach us?

- Rome owns the world.

- This island is forgotten by the empire.

The man who brought me up

told me where it is.

- I'll lead you there. Have faith in me.

- Yes, friend.

You know, I haven't seen Clodia

for two whole days.

- It's been so long.

- Soon we'll be together forever.

- Is it really true?

- Yes.

I won't be hiding and trembling

at every sound? I'll be free?

Except for me.

It seems so strange.

You risk disgrace and death to help us,

yet none of us know who you are.

I'm a man who loves you.

- Isn't that enough?

- I suppose it is, since you're the man I love.

But why do you do all this for slaves?

Clodia, did you ever try

to recapture a dream?

A dream?

It's like strain of music

I can almost remember...

...and yet it slips away.

- I've been haunted by it since I was a child

- But what is it?

It was a voice. I can't hear the words,

but I can see a man's face.

He looks as though he pitied

the whole blind and suffering world.

As though he knew the world

could be so brave and beautiful.

That men could help each other

to live and be happy.

That's not a child's dream.

My father says there was no such man...

...but even if it is only a dream,

I believe that such a world could be.

On our island,

we'll try to make it true.

There will be no more slavery,

nor flogging and torture and agony.

Who's there?

- Hide me.

- I know him. His name is Drusus.

- He's been flogged.

- Drusus.

He was running.

Soldiers may be on his heels.

- Could they have followed you here?

- No, I threw them off.

They've gone...

-...north.

- Why did you run away?

They said I was a thief.

I was condemned to the arena.

I never stole.

But Marcus needs slaves...

...for the games tomorrow.

Marcus, the butcher.

Excellency, why can't your soldiers

capture these runaway slaves?

Singular that so many

have been able to avoid capture.

Someone is helping them.

What fool would risk death by torture

for the sake of slaves?

I should like to know.

What do you keep behind

those locks and bolts?

My fortune, Excellency.

It's a safe place.

Would the prefect care

to inspect the barbarians?

- The Britons who are to fight tomorrow?

- Yes.

Captives from Agricola's campaign.

I wonder why we trouble ourselves

with that wretched island.

- After it's conquered what good is it?

- Don't you believe we can civilize it?

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