VESPASIAN: Previously on Those About to Die...
That's what happens to slaves when they don't accept their fate.
CALA: Newly bought slaves, where would they be taken?
(MEN GRUNTING)
TENAX: You need money.
-Lots of money. -You play a dangerous game here.
MARSUS: Do you think Scorpus is leaving us for another faction?
He's up to something.
This one is a virgin.
-Three thousand sesterces. -JULA: Mother!
Five hundred.
You seek to use this daughter as a go-between to spy on your enemy.
I will be your go between.
Titus, you will be Emperor.
(HORSE WHINNIES)
(PANTING)
The trick with the yellow ash of Mount Vesuvius
is not using too much.
Too much, and the cure is worse than a curse.
How much is too much?
That's the art of it.
(GRUNTS)
(CHIPPING)
(DONKEY BRAYING)
(GROUND TREMBLING)
The Gods reside within.
Where do they stay there?
You should change the positions of your middle two horses.
You have your big horse left center,
and he should be right center.
I've done all right.
Of course, I'm... just saying.
Do you drive, Andria?
Two horse gigs mostly.
But I've driven fours,
and I once drove a six.
Impressive.
I know I have a lot to learn.
I'm a provincial boy,
just as you once were.
But you learned, so will I.
And, one day, I, too, will drive in Circus Maximus,
like you.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Nobody drives like me.
Let's get back to Rome.
(HORSE SNORTS SOFTLY)
Elia, the mottled one just died.
Lenno. The same mare and sire as Ferox, a season younger.
He was never as fast as Ferox, but what a heart he had.
He would have run until it exploded.
(OPENING THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
CALA: Tell me of this man Tenax.
CLAUDIA: Better than some, worse than others.
He does business betting at Circus Maximus.
Buying, selling, doing things I don't see.
I would not speak of, even if saw I them.
TENAX: Get her to the House of Consul Marsus, and make sure she contacts her daughter.
I need ears on Marsus and Antonia.
(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER) -CALA: Please.
One moment. Please.
(CHATTER CONTINUES)
Are you intact?
Come closer.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(BREATH TREMBLING)
Good. Drusilla here will train you in what you need to know.
Speak.
You could not know her virginity from a single touch.
It wasn't my touch that confirmed it.
It was her tears.
-Drusilla. -Claudia.
This is the mother of the new girl in your house.
Go, to the kitchen.
Jula.
How can you be here? What are we to do?
(SHUSHES) Quiet.
We don't have much time.
There are things you need to do.
Now listen carefully.
My son is in Rome as well,
taken to be a gladiator.
Where would he be?
The Ludus Magnus. Come.
This is madness.
I will have no part of this.
-Go then. -What?
(SCOFFS)
Wait. He said it could kill them.
I mean, what else can we do?
Put crows in their stalls, bells to scare away the spirits?
Gavros?
They'll die, if we do nothing.
With this, perhaps they have a chance.
(CLANGING)
Let me do it.
-(GAVROS SHUSHING) -(HORSE GRUNTS)
Easy, easy, easy, easy. Gently. Yes.
(MEN GRUNTING)
-(GRUNTS) -No. I saw that coming.
Use the net.
Forget the trident until I'm snared.
-(GRUNTS) -No.
You have to trick me.
Men are smarter than animals.
(BOTH GRUNTING)
-Now you're learning. -(CLANGS)
Reverse. Attackers, defend.
(BOTH GRUNTING)
ATTICUS: Good.
Move! Move!
Confuse me.
If I move, you will learn. You will know.
If I'm still, you have to guess.
(GRUNTING)
(CLANGING)
ATTICUS: Water.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Who taught you the hunting of animals?
Animals?
When I was a boy,
my father would say that and laugh.
"Learn from the prey, not from me."
But I learn it all from him.
He was from Nubia,
the land of the Black Pharaohs,
where we have hunted with kings, since the dawn of time.
When I could crawl, he taught me to catch mice and moles.
When I could walk, it was lizards and hares and foxes.
When I could run alongside him, we took all the worthy prey.
How did he die?
Romans killed him.
Why?
Because they are Romans.
It was what they called the Year of The Four Emperors.
Romans fighting Romans.
My father fought for the wrong Roman.
Vespasian won and took his vengeance against the losers.
The first of the Romans were twins.
Romulus and Remus, abandoned by their mother, left to die.
A she-wolf found them, suckled them and raised them as wolves
in a cave on a hill called Palatine.
Where the palace of Vespasian and his sons now stands.
Dogs, even savage ones like Laconians and vulpines only kill when hungry.
Even hyenas.
The nasty creatures they are, they only kill when hungry.
Wolfs are different.
Wolves kill for pleasure.
Like the Romans.
And what of you?
Taken from a battlefield?
No, on a battlement, with our women and children behind us.
In the north, there is shame and surrender.
But it was the only way to keep our families alive.
My wife and son are here in Rome.
From the first to the 12th hour, she weaves for them.
My son is seven.
He has spent the last two years hooking a rug,
that will be walked on by the feet of rich Romans.
I get to see them on the Kalends and, sometimes, the Nones of each month.
And so you dream of gaining the Wooden Sword.
Maybe one day.
Colon, Flamma, come here.
Colon, you will fight Flamma in two days in Circus Maximus
before the chariot races.
Viggo,
you and Kwame will be Colon's weapons men.
Make sure you get a good price for his body.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Is there a way to enter?
Easy. Be a well-muscled, manly slave ready to be butchered for the glory of Rome.
(CHUCKLES) Be off.
You are not Roman.
You're Syrian.
(IN ENGLISH) Please.
My son is in there.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DISTANT INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Hey, wait!
Kwame!
(IN ENGLISH) What of Jula and Aura?
Jula is a slave in the house of Consul Marsus,
and Aura, she is owned by a criminal, a man called Tenax.
Are they well?
They're alive.
-Watch out. -Hold your anger.
Don't make more trouble.
I'll free you from here.
-I don't believe so. -I will. I promise.
You must go.
GUARD: What are you doing? Huh?
HERMES: Why do you hate your brother so much?
I don't know whether I love you in spite of your stupidity or because of it.
It's not a stupid question.
Why aspire to be Emperor?
Without it, you can still have everything once could possibly want.
I am a danger to Titus.
That's why he convinced my father to deny me military command.
It's why I've been kept on such a tight leash,
begging for enough money to live,
even after cajoling the Senate,
winning them over to my father's cause,
giving him the curule chair.
I've been made what?
Aedile Ludi?
-Aedile Ludi is a position of respect. -I'm a showman.
My brother, the soldier, is respected.
When I was a boy, he tormented me.
It amused him.
He'd strike me in front of his soldier friends and make me cry.
On the training field,
he would put a sword in my hand and dare me to attack him.
But when I did, he would strike me again and again.
Laughing.
-Humiliating me before all of them. -He was young.
He was cruel!
Eventually, that torment turned to tolerance.
But when my father dies, that tolerance will become fear.
And he will kill me.
And unless I've disposed of you already,
he'll kill you along with me.
If I'm not ambitious, I'm dead.
(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)
I'm sorry.
No reason to stay now, I suppose.
GAVROS: Elia!
Come.
Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.
Quickly, quickly.
Ferox. Ferox!
(EXCITED LAUGHTER)
Good boy.
(NEIGHS SOFTLY)
African.
I need work.
And a wage.
-(BANGING ON DOOR) -I have a betting tavern at the Circus Maximus.
You two could work there.
Pay?
-We'll see about that. -The horses!
TENAX: Back from the dead.
I owe Neptune a sacrifice.
-GAVROS: They are weak. -But getting stronger.
How much stronger? We race tomorrow.
Stronger than the nags we bought.
Did you find me a second driver?
No one else is as foolish as you and I.
No one wants to shove their thumb
in the eye of tradition and join a fifth faction.
-Two horse gigs? -And fours.
You're in.
(CHUCKLING)
(SIGHS)
DRUSILLA: Come.
Pretend. It won't go easier.
ANTONIA: (MUFFLED) Have I ever told you how highly I think of you as a husband?
MARSUS: No, not that I can remember. Have you ever had such a thought?
ANTONIA: More times than you might think.
So Scorpus told us he's leaving the Blues for good.
-MARSUS: Hmm. -But he didn't even know it was me
who ordered his horses poisoned.
-MARSUS: What? That was you? -Of course.
You regain controlling interest of our faction, and I protect it.
MARSUS: I suddenly remember why I married you.
-To what do I owe this expression of... -Respect?
-And love? -Love as well.
Mm-hmm.
Scorpus is too good a driver to let him take the truck against us.
Do you mind if I arrange his death?
MARSUS: No, I don't. (CHUCKLES)
ANTONIA: Come.
MARSUS: What's this?
A gift.
She's intact.
It's the same scent you used to wear.
I thought you might enjoy that.
Go. Go!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Where is he?
Jula's here.
Come.
TENAX: Did anyone see you leave?
-JULA: No. -TENAX: Good. What do you have for me?
-They said they're gonna kill someone. -Who?
-It could be something with an S. -Scorpus?
Yes. Scorpus.
Get her back, make sure no one sees her.
Oh, Jula.
How are you? Do they treat you well?
I'm fine.
Come. Quickly.
I wanted to see what the running surface is like.
Yeah, they switched the coarser grain sand on the turns.
We have to pull hard left to hold the line.
(CHUCKLES)
People think I'm a gifted, drunken fool.
That I win because Fortuna touched me in my mother's womb.
My mother was a whore. Fortuna never came to visit us.
I win, because, like you,
the night before a race, I come to the oval and I test the sand.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Tomorrow, I die.
Yes.
When Flamma killed the Gauls,
I helped carry what was left of them to the animal pens.
No one came for their bodies,
and Atticus got 20 sesterces for the meat.
I'm a warrior, son of a warrior,
the last of the Cimbri people.
And I do not wish to end up as shit from a tiger.
I wish to end as my father and grandfather did,
as smoke rising from a warrior's pyre, ascending to the stars.
I will see to your pyre.
COLON: Thank you.
I don't wanna end up as shit from a tiger either.
If I'm still alive, I'll see to it.
What of you?
Who will attend to your pyre?
I like tigers.
I wouldn't mind ending up as shit from a tiger.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
-WOMEN: Scorpus. -Ladies.
What?
Huh? (GRUNTING)
WOMAN: What are they doing?
-WOMEN: It's Scorpus! -MEN: It's Scorpus!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
They're attacking Scorpus.
-(BLADE SLICING) -(PEOPLE GASPING)
MARSUS: Out.
(CHUCKLES)
You astonish me.
What are you talking about?
All of Rome knows, Scorpus is dead.
A street crime with no hint of who did it.
Well done.
It wasn't me.
-What? -I wanted to kill him in the early morning,
so there will be no time to replace him.
Oh, well, all the better for us.
Our hands are clean.
Add to that, that the new faction's horses
can barely run and they're being driven by nobodies.
A pair of Spanish grooms.
There's one thing we need to take care of.
We need a new driver.
Do you have any thoughts?
I do.
We are here to tally the Imperial Accounts.
Some light.
Maybe some privacy?
Each of you. Five of these.
Why the intrigue? It's yours.
Well...
in a sense.
(BUBBLING)
Halt.
Lucius.
Spread the bets. No more than 10,000 sesterces each.
All to lose.
Your Highness, with respect, that makes no sense.
You can't win betting against everyone.
Do as I say.
All of this, quiet bets,
that Green, Red, Blue and White shall lose.
I expect excellent odds.
Hermes.
GOLDSMITH: My Queen.
What have you brought me, Goldsmith?
The mark of the Imperial Treasury.
We've recast 40 gold bars for Domitian.
(DOOR OPENS IN DISTANCE)
TITUS: Praying to your one, lonely God?
-Yes. -What do you ask him for?
Forgiveness.
There are some things only God can forgive.
Try me.
I pray for my family.
Families are dangerous.
They can ensnare you more completely than your retiarius in the Circus.
Oh, so you mean my family.
Well, Domitian is a boy, and I am a soldier.
You think your sword will protect you?
That and those of the Praetorian Guards, yes.
(CHUCKLES)
My grandfather, Herod the Great, always said,
"It is not easy to kill a scorpion with a sword."
Your brother grows more open in his ambition.
(DOOR SLAMS LOUDLY)
What's this?
Appears to be a gold bar with an Imperial Stamp.
-Where did you get it? -No, the question is, where did you get it?
-Well, I'm not the one who has it, you are. -Do not toy with me!
You took it from the Imperial Treasury.
I did no such thing.
And whoever told you I did, they're lying.
Why would they do that?
There are many who would benefit from driving a wedge between us.
If you wish, I'll look into it.
I've already done so.
I've ordered an accounting of the Treasury.
Well, forgive me, but that is my domain.
Not for long.
(DOOR CLOSES)
HERMES: He will kill you.
He may.
What are you going to do?
The Treasury is large, an inventory will take time.
When I win today, I'll return what I borrowed and fill my coffers.
Hopefully enough to buy some Praetorians.
-They're expensive, Praetorians. -And if you don't win?
Then I expect I'll die.
You can die with me.
XENON: Are you mad? I can't drive for Blue.
White has made me rich.
And besides, Leto would kill me.
ANTONIA: He may try.
We will protect you.
How much does Leto pay you now?
All Rome knows.
600,000 sesterces a season, equal to what you pay Scorpus.
-We will triple that. -Antonia...
1,600,000 a season?
I believe it's 1,800,000 a season.
(SIGHS SOFTLY)
Right now, today, for today's race?
Right now, or no deal.
I get to drive Incitatus.
Of course.
I'll drive for you.
But you have to keep Leto from killing me.
We'll try our very best.
-(BANGING) -(CROWD CHEERING)
Father, you're not ready.
-Father? -Huh?
I made a mistake.
I made a terrible mistake.
-A mistake? -Yeah.
Our infantry is too far away.
I should have kept six cohorts of infantry in reserve.
-You should rest. -Huh?
-You should rest. -Who?
-Come. -Oi.
(GROANS SOFTLY)
Thank you.
I know I can always rely on you...
Titus.
(WHISPERS) Titus.
Yes, Father.
Do what needs to be done.
(CROWD CHEERING, APPLAUDING)
(CROWD CHEERS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
You should trust me more, brother.
There's nothing I'd like more.
I'll wait for the count of the Treasury to tell me if I can.
Well, I'll accept your apology when the time comes.
Father is, uh, indisposed.
He won't be joining us today.
By the Gods, I'll kill them all!
Marsus, Antonia, Caltonia!
Most of all, Xenon!
Where are the new special chariots from Lentullus?
He claims that they were stolen.
-Stolen? -ZANIO: Yes.
-(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY) -What should I do?
Bring up a reserve driver!
And use the old chariots!
-Dear Gods! -You three, prepare this chariot.
You, prepare the horses.
Come on!
ANNOUNCER: Citizens of Rome!
I present you, our first bout of today.
The Great Flamma, killer of killers,
colossus, will do battle
with the mighty Colon!
(CROWD CHEERING)
BOTH: We who are about to die,
salute you.
ANNOUNCER: Gladiators, ready!
Engage!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(FLAMMA LAUGHING)
(CHEERING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
(ALL JEERING)
(GROWLS)
(GRUNTING AND SCREAMING)
(LAUGHS)
You, a soldier, finding blood distasteful?
Not distasteful.
Wasteful.
(SCREAMS)
Whether it is shed, defending or expanding our frontier,
that's where blood serves a purpose.
DOMITIAN: It serves a purpose here as well, brother.
(GRUNTING)
(SCREAMING)
(GRUNTING)
(CHEERING)
(GAGS)
(ALL CHEERING)
(CROWD CHANTING) Flamma! Flamma! Flamma!
(GRUNTS)
-CROWD: Flamma! Flamma! Flamma! -(GRUNTS)
(IMPERCEPTIBLE)
VIGGO: Hurry. Come.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
-...sentimental. -What is this?
Caltonia.
Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you knew.
We've acquired another 500 shares.
I believe that makes us the leading shareholders.
I'm sure you'll find those seats quite comfortable.
Oh, and by the way, although we all mourn
the passing of our beloved Scorpus,
we've taken it upon ourselves to hire Xenon.
He'll be driving for us today.
Marsus, how dare you?
Xenon is my driver.
Then you should pay your people better, Senator. Enjoy the race.
(FLUTE MUSIC PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENS)
(GROANS)
By the name of Atargatis, where am I?
Oh, shit. (PANTS) I'm bleeding.
We had to make it look real.
That was you?
You filthy Roman.
(GROANS)
So, you tried to kill the great Scorpus, huh?
No, of course not.
Antonia ordered your death.
-What? -I'm trying to keep you safe.
If you're dead, no one will try to kill you.
Antonia?
(EXHALES)
No, she loves me.
She has a very particular way of showing it.
And one other thing.
A delivery from your tailor.
(BANGING DRUM)
ANNOUNCER: Today, just literally four factions are running for victory.
For the first time in history, we present you...
The Gold Faction!
(CROWD CHEERS)
ANNOUNCER: With driver, none other than
the great Scorpus!
MAN: I thought he was dead.
Those are ours!
They're ours!
-Scorpus is alive? -Worse.
Look, Xenon is driving for the Blues.
(EXCITED CHATTER)
MAN: Scorpus is alive!
-(ALL CLAMORING) -MAN: Three hundred on Scorpus! Gold Faction.
A plebeian, called Tenax somehow raised enough money
to form a new faction and hire Scorpus away from the Blue.
That's him, over there.
As Aedile Ludi,
I thought it might please the crowd to see one of their own up here.
Apparently, I was right.
(FANFARE PLAYS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(HORSE WHINNIES)
Remember, no whip.
-Just a snapper. Where is he? -Boy,
get out of there.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ANNOUNCER: Chariots!
Ready!
(BELL CLANGING)
CALA: Wait. Wait.
On Scorpus.
(SCORPUS GRUNTS)
(CROWD CHEERING)
Come on!
Yah! Yah!
(GRUNTS)
I placed the bet on Scorpus.
-Come on! Come on! -Come on!
Come on!
Yeah. Yeah.
ELIA: Come on, let's go. The race is on. Come on, let's go.
Mother.
Yah!
(GRUNTS)
(CHUCKLES)
Now!
(GRUNTS)
How have we bet?
Heavily.
(BELL DINGS)
Last round! Last round! Go now!
(GRUNTING)
Yah!
-Go now! Go! -(GATE THUDDING)
(CROWD JEERING)
Come on. Come on. Come on.
Go. Go. Go!
(GRUNTS) Come on. Faster.
More. Give Scorpus more!
ELIA: Stay strong, Ferox.
(HORSE PANTING)
Incitatus, hold.
-Hold, Incitatus. -What are you doing?
Yah!
Yes!
(EXCLAIMS)
-(CHEERING) -Oh, thank you!
(EXCITED CHATTER)
(CROWD CHEERING)
You're not going to stay and present the laurels?
No.
Because I have an accounting of the Imperial Treasury to attend.
CALTONIA: Quite a day.
I can only guess what's next for our faction under your stewardship.
I shudder to think.
MAN 1: Damn the Gold Faction! Go to hell!
MAN 2: There's only ever been four factions!
MAN 3: It has been that way for centuries!
Scorpus! Where's that bastard?
I'm gonna report everything you did to the faction owners.
Leave Incitatus alone.
Well, me and Incitatus are old friends.
Friends, my ass.
Just leave him alone and stop playing dirty.
(MOANS)
(CHUCKLING)
Go.
What was your name?
Sofia.
We should do this again.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
MAN 1: You can't just add another faction.
MAN 2: Absolutely ridiculous!
(CHATTER STOPS)
(THUDS)
(COINS JINGLING)
(CROWD MURMURING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(COINS JINGLING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(ALL CHEERING)
Two thousand sesterces for my daughter Aura's freedom.
Where did that come from?
I won it here,
from you.
We agreed.
I decide the price when my troubles are over.
From what I've seen of you, your troubles will never be over.
One thousand.
You owe me for the secrets I shared with you from Jula.
(CHUCKLES)
-Fifteen hundred. -One thousand.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Fine.
You are free.
Why me?
Mother, what about Jula and Kwame?
One step at a time, daughter.
-(PEOPLE YELLING) -(GLASS BREAKING)
MAN 1: Tenax!
MAN 2: It's four factions. You hear me? Four!
This is your tradition.
Who are you to change everything?
(MEN YELLING)
Boys, we need to close up.
-There's only four factions! -The rules were broken!
(MEN YELLING AND ARGUING INDISTINCTLY)
(ARGUING CONTINUES)
(YELLING AND CLAMORING IN DISTANCE)
(CLAMORING CONTINUES)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(LABORED BREATHING)
(RINGING)
SERVANT: I hear it, the Emperor.
What took you so long?
Huh?
I'm dying.
(PEOPLE CLAMORING)
TITUS: After the accounting is done,
send more troops to quell the riot.
MAN: Yes, my lord.
It is all here, to the last denarii.
So, she deceived me.
GUARD: General Titus.
The Emperor.
VESPASIAN: Lift me up.
Yeah.
Take me to the middle of the room.
-Bosa! -BOSA: Yes.
VESPASIAN: My laurel.
(VESPASIAN EXHALES)
An Emperor of Rome
must die
standing
to become divine.
Yeah.
Now I am ready...
to become...
a God.
A God.
(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)
Your father.
Take him to the bed.
(CROWD YELLING IN DISTANCE)
(YELLING CONTINUES)
(CLOSING THEME MUSIC PLAYING)