The Last Legion Page #2

I'll do my best.

(Squelches)

Save yourself.

Yah.

(Horse whinnies)

Aah!

(Hooves pounding)

(Flies buzzing, fires crackling)

King, the emissary from Constantinople.

ODOACER:
Welcome, Excellency.

The city is ours.

I ask that your empire recognize me

As the sole ruler of Rome

and all her dominions.

My emperor is in Constantinople.

I am his eyes and his ears,

But I cannot speak on his behalf.

Then go and seek his word.

Master!

Aurelius! Fetch water.

The boy, Caesar--

Is he alive?

I couldn't find him.

His mother and father were

killed, as were my men.

How did this happen?

Some of your men

survived, that I do know.

Vatrenus was taken prisoner.

There may be others with him, but...

They're to be executed as an example

To those who would

stand against Odoacer.

(Chains rattling)

Come to me.

Is it for you that so

many people have died?

Such an innocent face.

The blood of the Caesars

flows in his veins.

Old Wulfila here thinks

that I should fear you.

Is this true?

He is the last of the

bloodline. End it now!

Old Rome will die, and we rule!

We?

We rule?

Take care, Wulfila.

Sometimes your tongue

runs ahead of your brain.

What do you say, boy?

Should I be afraid of you?

Why is Caesar treated so?

Why is Caesar treated so...

Perhaps Wulfila's right.

Perhaps I should end

this here, right now.

Can you see yourself?

Can you see your face?

What do you see?

Do you see a boy?

Or do you see a Caesar?

I see...

Tell me.

I see a Caesar.

I am Caesar.

Wrong answer.

Take him away. Cut his head off.

AMBROSINUS:
That will be a

grave error, Lord Odoacer.

ODOACER:
Who are you?

You kill the boy, you

make a martyr of him,

And Caesar's ghost will

haunt you ever after.

Is that so?

- Read the signs.

- What signs?

An omen.

Do not mistake it, Odoacer.

(Caws)

If you hear one thing, then hear this.

What now happens in this room

will echo across an empire.

A city may be won by blood.

(Caws)

It takes a man of vision to rule.

All empires are built on blood.

People will judge you.

The people will thank the

gods that they survived

And serve their new master.

Now, I asked. Who are you?

Will they respect a leader

who's so afraid of a Roman child

He had to butcher him?

Perhaps the boy is more

use to us alive than dead.

Do you want to look a

fool? Kill them both!

Fool!

Your best hope for the future,

Lord Wulfila, lies in silence!

Give me your hand.

(Groans)

Now, I ask, who are you?

I'm known by many names.

Like a thief.

Here I'm called Ambrosinus.

The boy will be taken to

the island fortress at Capri.

You--You will be

his prison guard.

That's your reward.

No harm comes to him unless I say so.

Not a hair on his

head, you understand me?

And take this one, too.

I don't trust him.

Someone's here.

Where?

Please.

Wait, Aurelius, I know this man.

He speaks for the Eastern Empire.

Is the boy alive?

I saw him in chains.

They're taking him to Capri.

I'll find him, bring him back.

From Capri? That's impossible.

- It's an island, a natural fortress.

- I'll need my men.

We've long been allies, Senator.

Free your Caesar.

My emperor will give him sanctuary until

it is safe for him to return to Rome.

We meet at Fano in

six days, on the beach.

If you bring back the boy,

there'll be a boat to take us east.

Six days, then.

- To the last breath.

- To the last breath.

What's this?

One of the ambassador's guards.

You'll need help to free your men.

These people are our allies. Use them.

(Sighs)

Follow me.

Act as my prisoner. When I

give the signal, try to escape.

You understand what I've told you, yes?

Then do as I've said and nothing more.

(Demetrius groaning)

Uhn!

(Spits)

Him first.

- Stop!

- (Horse neighs)

Another prisoner.

I'm to take this one's

head back to Rome,

An assassin sent to kill Lord Odoacer.

(Quietly) Go.

Uhn! Aah!

Get him!

(Yells)

(Blades ring)

(Horse whinnies)

(Yelling)

Uhn!

(Swords clanging)

Ambrosinus...

I want to be with them.

I want to be with my mother and father.

You are with them.

They live on in your heart.

You cannot see them,

But it's as if you're in one

room and they're in the next.

I should have died, too.

Not your destiny.

I have no destiny.

Every living creature has

a destiny, be sure of it.

But when the pathway gets dark and

it's difficult to see the way...

Well...

That's why you have me...

For all that I'm worth.

(Raven crowing)

Dumb bird. Forgot to feed it.

Pugie. Pugie!

I knew it.

I knew it was a trick!

Shh.

ROMULUS:
Is this our destiny,

To be prisoners here for

the rest of our lives?

AMBROSINUS:
Have faith.

There is a purpose behind all things.

- (Chuffling)

- Where is he now?

No sign of the Goths.

But we should stay close to the river.

The river, yes.

They'll have scouts all the way.

- Agreed, so

we-- - Mira.

Yes.

What?

My name. Mira.

There's your boat.

How d'you want to do this?

If we all go down there,

we'll scare him off.

He'll be gone before we get there.

Wait here.

He's a woman.

Uhn!

AMBROSINUS:
This fortress

was built as a palace

By the great emperor

Tiberius, who, it is written,

Was a man of great

dignity and bearing--

Both of which you've inherited.

So my ancestors built my prison.

A prison it is.

You thirsty, boy, hmm?

Go on, drink.

Mm?

(Spits) Drink.

You dare insult me, boy! Huh!?

It is a long way down, no?

How many fingers will

it take you to learn

Your fate lies in the

palm of this child's hand,

As sure as Odoacer is your master.

Throw this boy to the

rocks, you will follow.

When the time comes, boy,

I will send you to join

your mother and your father.

You.

Odoacer said nothing of you.

String him up!

Hold.

What is this?

Are you some kind of priest?

A sorcerer?

Just a seeker after the truth.

You would never understand.

Put him up.

(Grunts)

(Wulfila laughs)

How long is it to climb to the top?

BATIATUS:
An hour. Faster coming down.

Take up all the wood

we can spare. And rope.

You stay on the boat.

- You may need me.

- No.

The pentangle!

Of course, of course, of course!

This is the place.

The sword! Tiberius must

have brought it here.

And the boy will find it!

Romulus!

Ambrosinus?

Go to the temple.

Look for your ancestor, Julius Caesar.

There is something he guards for you.

Look under the gaze of Caesar!

ROMULUS:
Under the gaze of Caesar.

I told you to stay on the boat.

You will need my help.

You know what happens to a soldier

of mine who disobeys an order?

Your men are too slow.

Stay out of sight.

I don't see why you take the risk.

I serve my emperor.

He's your country's

ally, so I am with you.

Where did you learn to fight?

I come from Kerala,

in the south of India.

We were taught to fight

like our forefathers.

It is called Kalarippayattu.

When I was 14, I was at the 7th level.

Out of how many?

Seven.

Shall we talk all day, or climb?

Julius Caesar.

"One edge to defend;

"One to defeat.

In Britannia was I forged to fit the

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes