movie structure

The Stilling (opening chapters)

2010-01-14T03:00:00.001-08:00

by Stephen Carter

Chapter One

The convoy of three shuttles drifted along at factor 2 FTL. All three were in desperate need of several months in a maintenance facility, and only one had any crew on board – the Arcturus-4.

The Arc-4 had entered the local star system several months earlier. It had become little more than a silent, solemn sentinel orbiting the planet below once every thirty-three hours. The ship’s life support systems were operating in stasis hibernation, barely enough to keep the bodies’ in its care alive. In fact atrophy had claimed much of each body’s systems, yet not irretrievably so. The six bodies had a few weeks until they passed the point of no return.

The ship’s thousands of other internal systems were no less busy. The ship’s computer, Maude, had decided it was time to wake her human cargo. Tentacles of phosphorescence writhed along the surface of the six pods, which technically were not material in constitution, nor did they have a stable, continuous shape. Each pod was an energy field with a body suspended inside. In fact, each individual thus housed was not unlike each enveloping pod, a body not fully there, not quite possessing the integrity of matter and form. Waking up was more than simply becoming conscious; each person in hiberstasis in effect re-manifested into material form. Briefly intensifying its symbiosis with its human guest, the phosphorescence of the pod broke down, and the individual’s material form began taking shape. The pod itself seemed to vanish into the body manifesting under its care. One of the six empty pallets was now replaced by an opaque, cocoon-like bubble.

When Mick’s increased metabolism breached stasis, his bubble receded. He stretched and awkwardly sat up. Reaching back he picked up a robe from an inset wall shelf. As he struggled to pull it on he glanced at the five remaining, empty pallets. A miniature electrical storm was visible through the screen of Turok’s bubble – his friend would join him soon. The others had not yet begun. He stood up unsteadily.

“Good to have you back, Mick,” the ship’s computer said.

“Thanks, Maude.”

“How do you feel?”

“I’ve felt better.” He walked towards the holo-monitor. “It’s good to be back.”

“Prepare yourself, Mick,” Maude said cryptically.

“Why?” he asked, as a projection of their region of space took form around him, the lights in the cabin simultaneously dimming. Mick looked at the sun on the event horizon, perspective adjusted to compensate for its proximity. He turned and looked into several points of the digital 3D compass. His brow creased in confusion.

“Amplify,” he said.

Three star clusters in two of the densest regions of deep space dissolved, then leapt nearer. Mick rubbed his eyes.

“What the – ” he said.

He walked closer to one of the brighter star systems. “It can’t be.”

“What can’t be, Mick?” Turok said as he walked slowly into the holofield, his robe flapping as he tied it.

Mick was shaking his head. “You tell me.”

The other hiberstasis crewmembers emerged from the alcove behind Turok, and stood outside the holofield. Carmen, who had changed into her ever-practical shorts and T-shirt, crossed to the wallmonitor. Aleesha, immaculate in a tan sleeveless turtleneck, stood in the doorway. Bringing up the rear was Sorel, who stopped and leaned against the wall by the doorway.

They all watched as Turok stood beside Mick near the projected star cluster, glancing nervously at each other. Turok shrugged and walked ahead into the cluster. He whistled. “Mick, this isn’t where we’re supposed to be.”

“No, it’s a different quadrant.”

“How?” Turok asked.

“Explain, Maude,” Mick said.

“Our present location,” the ship’s computer said, “is a distance of 93.6 quadrants from our pre-hiberstasis location.”

“Hey guys, don’t mind us,” Giorgi said as he entered the holofield.

Carmen activated the wallmonitor, and a 2D image of the planet appeared.

“Maude, one question. Am I now looking at Ramses?”

“No,” the computer answered.

Mick interrupted quietly, “How long were we in hiberstasis, Maude?”

“185 days.”

“Six months? Come on, no way!” Turok objected.

“Tell us everything,” Carmen asked, a touch of fear in her voice. “What happened?”

“After the incident on the Surprise,” Maude answered, “my new subroutine prime became –seek a habitable planet.”

The room fell silent.

“What incident?” Mick asked.

“The Surprise came under attack. The six of you were already in hiberstasis for the excursion to Ramses. But after Ramses was impacted – "

The six survivors gave a collective gasp.

“What do you mean ‘impacted’?” Carmen repeated.

“A force of unknown nature and origin,” the computer began, “struck the planet, Ramses, instantly causing a global tsunami that flooded 80% of the planet’s exposed landmass. Ramses has been returned to the exocene era.”

“Nothing survived?” Carmen asked, in a barely audible voice.

“What about the Surprise, and the convoy?” Turok added.

“Unknown. I’m sorry.”

“Maude, this force,” Mick began, “… you must have some … the fact you can identify it means you observed something.”

“No, Mick,” the computer replied. “I observed a disturbance in space-time which seemed to approach Ramses just prior to the impact. I infer this disturbance was the force I referred to.”

They kept trying to take it all in.

“Maude, speculate please from what you observed,” Carmen said brusquely. “Could this force have been a naturally-occurring event?”

The computer hesitated a moment. “Improbable,” it said.

“So it was very likely a weapon of some sort,” Turok said quietly.

“Yes, that’s possible. If I speculate beyond given parameters,” the computer added, “its behavior suggests it could be a lifeform.”

Turok shook his head.

“Let’s set that possibility aside for now,” Mick said. “Maude, for an observer in the nearest inhabited system, how would this event appear?”

The computer replied instantly. “It would appear as a natural disaster.”

“Like a large piece of space debris had impacted the planet?”

“Yes.”

Carmen had brought up a 2D file image of Ramses on the holoscreen. “Maude, was anything missing in this disturbance? Was anything absent that should have been there?”

“Charged ions,” the computer answered. “The disturbance was briefly empty of all ions.”

“An ion hole in space-time,” Turok said.

“Its speed?” Mick asked.

“Inferred, hypothetical speed – factor 11 FTL.”

Factor 8.9 FTL was the theorized limit of quantum velocity, excluding implied velocity in the zero point field – quantum particles that instantly emerged, exchanged energy, and subsided, impossibly vast distances apart.

The computer changed tack, volunteering additional necessary information.

“Given the Ramses incident, my prime changed. This planet where we are now
was the nearest. I brought us here.”

“Maude, let me ask again,” Carmen said, “what are the odds that any of the convoy ships survived?”

“They were not in the immediate vicinity of Ramses,” the computer explained. “It’s possible they survived.” They could almost feel the shrug behind its words. “Yet I must add, it disappeared from my sensors at the moment of impact. The probability of survival is low. I’m sorry.”

Sorel pushed away from the wall. “So you were cruising along towards Ramses, and slam!” he said, bringing his hands together in a loud clap. “Then you brought us here. Brilliant!”

“That is an accurate summary, Sorel,” Maude replied, immune to sarcasm.

“So there’s nothing for us to return to.”

Carmen whirled around. “Is that all you can say!”

“Deal with it,” Sorel said under his breath.

“Look, guys,” Mick said. “The people on Ramses. It could be they had time to get offworld safely. We don’t know.”

“Yeah,” Turok nodded. “Let’s not jump the gun.”

“And we don’t know what’s happened to the convoy,” Mick continued. “Until we know different, let’s assume they’re okay.”

“When we left the mother ship,” Maude interrupted, “I attached two additional shuttles, Arcturus-5 and 6.”

“Jambo!” Turok said.

“Why attach two more shuttles?” Giorgi asked, puzzled.

“It increased our energy supply by 130%,” the computer said.

“Well, that’s good news,” Mick said. “How much do we have?”

“At our current rate of consumption, it will he exhausted in 3.4 months.”

Turok groaned.

“It is one reason I woke you,” Maude said.

Mick walked to the holo-array and touched the pad. The holofield dissolved and the lights came back up. Turok sat in one of the chairs by the elevator.

Maude outlined their options. “You can return to the Surprise’s last known location. Or – drop into an orbit around this planet, touch down, and establish a base. It’s habitable, G-class, and it appears to have been settled almost three centuries ago.”

“But not by the Alliance,” Mick added.

“No.”

“Not much of a choice,” Giorgi said.

Mick considered the planet on the monitor. “We have a decision to make.”

“There’s just enough fuel,” Mick continued, “to get back.”

“What’s the point in that?” Sorel said. “I vote we take our chances here.”

Carmen shook her head. “I vote we turn back. The others may need our help.”

Mick turned to Aleesha and Giorgi.

Aleesha shrugged. “The Surprise should be doing the rescuing, not us. I vote we sit tight here on this world. And wait.”

“Giorgi?” Mick asked.

“Frankly, I look at that landfall,” he said, “and it’s a total blank to me. I vote we turn back. The Surprise is probably looking for us. We’ll likely meet them on the way back.”

Turok spoke up. “Well, I can’t wait to get off this bucket! I vote we set up base.”

They all looked at Mick.

He was still looking at the planet. Turning away from the monitor, he faced the others. “Our first priority has to be our own survival. I vote we establish a base on this planet.”
______________

Fine-tuning their orbital heading and uncoupling but not separating the two piggybacking shuttles had taken most of that day. Some of that time had been spent drawing up and revising a list of gear to take. They all knew this could very well turn out to be an extended stay on the planet. The other shuttles were shells, their energy stores depleted.

Arc-4 pulled away from the other shuttles to begin its descent to the greenish-blue surface below. The two drogued shuttles receded smoothly, getting smaller, as though the auto-zoom in a camera was gently pulling back. The two shuttles continued on their programmed orbit against the infinite backdrop of deep space.

Maude inserted the ship at the correct angle to the planet’s atmosphere, and the Arc-4rode the turbulence as the exosphere’s density grew. A long thirty seconds later they were through. Maude gradually disengaged the ship’s artificial gravity as the planet’s pull increased. After one minute they had transferred to full planet gravity. Maude initially leveled the ship off at an altitude of thirty miles. They were searching for a relatively flat plateau, preferably one on the outskirts of a heavily-populated or built-up area, and if possible, near a large body of water contiguous with the surface water system – the oceans – that skirt the globe, much like Earth.

Mick turned off the opacity of selected panels out on the forward bulkhead. Although such real-space windows, which showed their progress above the planet, were in fact technically inferior to the virtual viewing monitors, Mick preferred them. Land appeared on the horizon, which at this speed and altitude was no surprise. The silence stretched out again as Maude cruised lower, soon reaching an altitude of ten miles. As the Arc-4 swung over the coast they could see much clearer the nature of the landscape.

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Turok said conversationally. “But aren’t those buildings.”

“Yeah, sure looks like it,” Carmen agreed. “Which makes no sense at all.”

“No surface comm systems down there?” Turok asked.

“Nope, nada,” Carmen replied. “I tried the full spectrum. Nothing.”

“Maybe their power grid is down,” Mick suggested.

“Even so, I should have got something. There was nothing on any bandwidth, not a whisper.”

“Buildings equal people,” Sorel said. “And people equal comm links. You must have jimmied it somehow.”

Carmen addressed the computer. “Maude, can you detect electronic activity anywhere onworld?”

“Negative, Carmen.”

Carmen gave Sorel a level stare; he shrugged and returned his attention to the window.

“Maybe there are no comm systems,” Giorgi said, “because nobody’s left alive down there.”

“Speculation is good, but that’s morbid,” Aleesha said.

The landscape rolled majestically by beneath them.

They all watched as Maude banked Arc-4 in a slow turn to follow the coast. As she took them down to 30,000 feet, they continued looking for any built-up area along the coast.

“Don’t look now, but there’s a city coming up,” Carmen said suddenly.

“Anyone mind if I pilot her down?” Mick asked the others.

“Take us in, Mick,” Turok said.

“I just feel antsy.” Mick explained. “I need to be doing something.”

“He feels antsy?” Maude repeated. The others laughed.
______________

The Arc-4 sat perched in the rough center of the plateau, a shelf that leveled off half-way up the side of a gently sloping hill. Mick had brought them in without incident.

They were all standing at the port hatch, small backpacks slung on their backs.

“Everyone ready?” Mick asked.

They all nodded. “Is this world ready for us?” Turok said.

“Do it, Mick,” Carmen said.

The hatch irised open, and they stepped into the airlock. When the hatch behind closed the one in front opened, and they walked out into the midday glare. Mick stepped out and paused, letting the others walk ahead. He looked affectionately at the exterior of the shuttle. He thoughtfully palmed the hatchway icon’s default code. As he walked away the ship settled back, its portals went opaque, and its unfettered exterior evanesced behind an energy field. The Arc-4 looked like an elongated egg resting on the stubble grass of the plateau.

Turok had quickly covered the twenty yards to the crest overlooking the plateau’s northern slope. The city was to the south, on the other side of the hill. Turok called from the crest. Mick turned and strode towards the others standing in a row. They faced out over the land that fell gently away to the ocean. Mick followed their gaze, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

“Do you see it?” Turok asked after a moment.

“See what?”

“Just keep looking.”

Mick glanced at the others, then turned back to the horizon. “Looks peaceful,” he said.

“Yeah, you could say that,” Sorel said.

Mick shrugged. “What am I looking for?”

“The ocean, Mick,” Turok said.

Mick’s eyes scanned the coast, then stopped. “What –”

“What do you make of it?”

“It’s like looking at one big holofield – on pause.”

Turok nodded. “No wind.” He tilted his head. “No sound, no taste. No nothing.”

“And no waves,” Carmen added.

The ocean was like a sheet of tinted glass extending as far as the eye could see. They exhaled slowly at the strangeness of it.

“So much for this being a normal G-class planet,” Giorgi complained.

Carmen knelt down and ran her hand across the surface of the grass. She pulled out a clump, exposing the soil. Mick leaned down beside her. Taking up a handful of the soil he held it a few inches from his face. Carmen dipped her finger in the soil in Mick’s hand, then inclined her head slightly and tasted it.

“Seems normal enough,” Carmen said.

“So the water is probably okay,” Turok added.

“But obviously it’s not,” Aleesha said impatiently, still looking at the horizon over the ocean.

Mick shrugged. “It’s like this world’s climatic metabolism has somehow slowed down.”

“Or this could just be a season here,” Turok said. “A weird time of the year when everything kicks back …”

Rolling her eyes Carmen dusted off her hands and stood. “Well, I’m stumped.”

“Turok could be right. Maybe this is how it’s always been here,” Giorgi said.

Sorel sauntered back. “I don’t see how any of it matters now.”

Aleesha compressed her lips. “I suppose as long as there’s food to eat, water to drink – ”

“Listen,” Turok said suddenly, cocking his head to one side.

What sounded like maser fire suddenly echoed from the other side of the hill. The sound had a metallic, shallow quality in the late afternoon stillness.

“We have company,” Turok said quietly.

“Let’s check it out,” Mick said, breaking into a jog back towards where the Arc-4 sat perched in the grass.

“We should stay out of sight,” Turok said, pulling up alongside Mick. The others followed.

The plateau didn’t extend around the south side of the hill, but the slope wasn’t steep, so they crossed the hillside’s southern incline on a diagonal, running hunched over. A deep bass growling came from the street below them, a sound like feral dogs cornering their prey. The six observers ducked into a hollow behind a scree on the lower bank of the hillside and lay on the ground. They could just see over the rim.

The commotion came from an area of tall buildings about half a mile away in what appeared to be the city’s central district. In the courtyard of the nearest building about twenty people were standing in a rough circle. Ten dogs roamed about five yards outside the circle, leaping up, threatening, but as yet not attacking. Suddenly one dog came at them fast – impossibly fast – springing forward, forelegs outstretched. Three of the people shot at the same instant, and a hole appeared in the dog’s side. Its momentum carried the dog, and its body landed on one of the smaller figures, a youth of slight build. The masers fired again, and two more of the dogs were lifted off the pavement to fall in a drooping tangle of entrails and blood. The rest of the dogs hung back for a moment, and seemed about to surge forward again, but then turned and ran. Not one of the dogs had made any sound during the attack. The people had also remained silent throughout.

Two of the boys walked forward and lifted the dead dog off the adolescent. They helped him up, and he staggered along between them as the others turned and calmly started walking toward one of the buildings.

“What the hell was that?” Sorel whispered.

“This place is getting weirder by the minute,” Carmen said.

“Why is it so quiet?” Giorgi asked. “The only sound I heard was the masers.”

“I’m in no hurry to go down and meet the locals,” Turok added.

“More company,” Mick whispered. He had turned around, and was looking up and to the side, towards the coast.

The others turned and stared. Eight figures were walking in single file along the hill’s ridge. They dipped down and vanished over the other side, towards the Arc-4.

Mick half-crouched. “Come on, but stay out of sight.” They ran back the way they had come, and soon reached the eastern edge of the hill where it leveled off on the plateau.

Mick cautiously came around to within sight of the shuttle, and crawled the last few yards. The eight figures, males about their age, were about 20 yards from the ship, walking towards it.

Mick motioned for the others to pull back. He crawled back to them.

“It’s probably best if we just leave for now,” he said softly. “We can come back later.”

“We might as well make our way down into the city,” Carmen suggested as he ran up.

“And the dogs?” Aleesha asked.

“Think happy thoughts, Aleesha,” Carmen said.

Turok had walked back further than the others from the embankment. After approaching a clump of bushes he reached in and pulled out a suddenly struggling tangle of arms and legs – an adolescent had been hiding there. He looked about fifteen years old. Turok held the young man’s arms behind his back.

Mick looked inquisitively at Turok.

“First contact,” Sorel drawled.

“He’s been shadowing us for a while now,” Turok said.

The young man looked up and saw the eight figures suddenly appear on the crest of the hill above them – a look of fear crossed his face. Their own movement must have caught the attention of the eight, who stopped dead and stared down at them. As the figures broke into a sudden run along the crest the adolescent’s struggles acquired a renewed urgency. Any moment the figures would veer down and cross the hillside to intercept them.

“Come on, down this side,” Mick said.

Turok shrugged and released his captive, who tore off at a diagonal to the direction Mick had indicated. They hesitated, and Turok gestured after the fleeing youth.
“Follow him?”

“Yeah,” Mick nodded, and they sprinted off after the young man.

The eight had veered down from the crest. Mick and Turok surged forward, Carmen and the others a few steps behind. Carmen turned and saw Giorgi not far behind. They piled down a set of concrete stairs set into the side of the hillside. The nearest tallish building was scarcely a quarter-mile away, down one street and half a block over. Its windows all along the ground floor had been shattered.

Turok nodded to the building, “There?”

Mick shrugged, “Yeah.”

“That hellion can run!” Turok said admiringly, grinning.

Their guide was indeed setting quite a pace. As they clambered down into the street they heard their pursuers behind them hitting the stairs. Carmen turned again and saw Giorgi stumble on the stairs. He fell hard, but staggered up quickly. In a matter of seconds they surged around him, two of them pinioned his arms behind his back.

Carmen knew it was too late to turn back to help, but she still hesitated. The others were twenty feet ahead of her, pelting down the street’s first block. Tears appearing in her eyes she reluctantly tore herself away and set off after the others, giving no heed to the empty lots and nondescript two-storey buildings she passed.

The others ahead of her cleared the corner and caught sight of their guide as he ran past the building that Mick had pointed to. They slowed as they reached the building – Turok pointed as the adolescent disappeared inside another building about the same height as theirs but lacking ground floor windows. Carmen ran up and joined them.

“They got Giorgi!” she said, her voice breaking.

“But he was right behind us,” Mick said.

“I know,” she replied. “He didn’t make it past the stairs.”

Turok glanced back as a pack of dogs cleared the corner. Their eight pursuers were nowhere to be seen. “Can we talk about this later!” Turok said quickly.

They set off again when Mick gestured grimly to the building their guide had vanished into. Within seconds Carmen and the others went pounding in through the doorway behind Turok and Mick. Sorel leaned over with his hands on his knees, gasping. The others stood, their chests heaving. The youth was standing at the side opposite the door, looking oddly composed, only mildly winded. He reached up and depressed a switch on the wall that had been jury-rigged below the lobby’s electrical panel. They watched, astonished, as steel blinds clattered down over the entrance. The building looked to be effectively sealed, at least on this floor, or unless there was a back entrance. They heard the arrival of the silent dogs outside.

Their guide turned and started up the firestairs. Turok followed without a word, the others falling in behind. The building had four floors. The adolescent climbed to the third and exited into the elevator lobby. He turned down the corridor and waited on the far side of a heavy steel fire-door that stood ajar. Motioning for them to join him, he hit another jury-rigged switch, this one set next to a fire-hose panel. The fire-door swung slowly closed with an odd suction sound and a series of clicks. He turned his expressionless face on them, nodded and walked away. He turned in at an open doorway about half-way down the hall.

Mick looked at the others, and shrugged. Sorel grabbed Mick’s sleeve, “Exactly why did we follow this guy? It could be a trap.”

The young man’s head loomed out of the doorway and nodded once in their direction.

Turok smiled, and walked up the corridor towards the doorway. Mick and the others fell in behind him. Sorel pulled up the rear. Their guide ushered them in and activated an energy field shielding the door. At the sound of their entry an older adolescent walked in from an adjoining room.

“Seamus, what is this?” the second young man asked.

“Strangers. They were being chased by Levrok’s men.”

“And you followed Seamus here?” the older one asked, turning to Mick and the others.

Mick nodded. “Yes. We’re grateful,” he said, looking around the nondescript, unfurnished room.

The young man shrugged. “I am Joel,” he said, coming forward. He shook hands all around. “This building and room are secure.” Turning to Seamus, he said, “Franklin was right.”

“Franklin?” Mick asked.

“An old friend,” Joel replied. “And a scientist. He has helped us survive.”

“He’s being held by Levrok,” Seamus added quickly.

The two young men moved to one side and sat on the floor. Mick and the others followed suit. Turok stayed by the window, listening.

“Who’s this Levrok?” Carmen asked when they were settled.

Joel looked across at them. “A man with big plans,” he said, looking out the window. It was early evening. “The mutes outside will leave eventually. All we can do is wait.”

“Mutes?” Mick asked.

“Partial-synth mutants, posted here by Levrok’s men.”

“Posted … why?”

“To prevent you from following them.”

“So the men will return,” Aleesha said.

Joel shook his head. “Levrok must know your ship arrived. How could he not?” He shrugged sympathetically. “He probably sent his men to bring one of you in – to question.”

Mick looked up and caught Turok’s eye.

“Is Giorgi in danger?” Carmen asked.

Joel turned and looked at Seamus.

“Well?” Mick asked, an edge in his voice.

Seamus leaned forward. “Your friend is probably safe enough, for now. Levrok hasn’t harmed anyone so far. But he’s getting – ”

“Unpredictable,” Joel interjected. “More so with each week the stilling advances.”

“The stilling?” Mick asked.

Joel gestured out the window to the early evening dusk beyond. “You must have noticed?”

Turok spoke from the window. “We did. The ocean especially.”

“That surreal calmness,” Joel said quietly. “It comes and goes. Each time it deepens, lasts longer. Tomorrow it’ll be gone again.”

Seamus had stretched out beside Joel, and lay his head on his folded arms. Joel turned back from the window and glanced down at his younger friend. He leaned towards his guests. “Tomorrow you can come to our base.”

“Alright,” Mick replied. “And we’d like to visit this Levrok.”

Joel nodded as he lay back. He glanced at them a last time, smiled, and closed his eyes.

Carmen looked at the others, and whispered, “

Mick nodded and stood up. He joined Turok by the window. It looked out over the dark street they had entered from.

“Anything?” Mick asked.

Turok shook his head. “I can’t see them,” he said. “But they’re so quiet, I wouldn’t want to risk it.”

“They chased us like we were their prey,” Aleesha said, shivering.

“The mutes or the men?” Turok said.

“Both.”

Turok nodded towards Seamus. “Lucky for us we followed him.”

Mick leaned his hand against the energy shield blocking the window. “Let’s hope Levrok listens to reason.”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Aleesha said. “Once he sees we pose no threat.”

Turok looked sidelong at Mick. They said nothing.

2010-01-14T02:57:00.001-08:00

Chapter Two

In the morning all was quiet when they emerged from the front of the building.

“I know where there are some scooters,” Seamus said casually.

“Things are looking up,” Turok said.

Joel quickly led the way across the street and down an alley, the others following. He entered a warehouse through a side door, and passed thousands of empty pallets stacked within a scaffolding of ceiling-high alloy girders along the far wall. They exited the building at the rear and immediately entered another, lower building – this one filled with moldering boxes stacked within a similar assembly of grey plastic tubes. The shelves sagged; a thick coat of dust covered everything.

Carmen had filled in Aleesha and Sorel on their talk with the two youths. Sorel had just shaken his head. Aleesha, like Carmen and Turok, was just glad to be on the surface of a planet, any planet.

Emerging into bright sunlight Mick thought he could smell the sea. That puzzled him for a moment, then it clicked – there had been no smells since leaving the ship. ‘Part of this strange climate,’ he thought idly.

They turned up yet another alley, which spilled out into a street of much taller buildings. Joel stopped at a light metal door. It swung inwards when he pushed it. He stepped inside and latched the door open. Turok followed him in, and Mick heard him whistle. Stepping into the gloomy room Mick saw rows of low-slung scooters parked neatly along all four walls.

“Pick any machine,” Joel said. “I disabled their security systems months ago.”

Turok was walking down the nearest row, shaking his head in disbelief. “I never thought I’d get the chance to ride again.” He stopped beside a midnight blue machine with tongues of orange flame painted on its side. “Hey, baby,” he cooed.

“Just press the ignition switch on the right handlebar, near the grip,” Joel explained.

Turok’s midnight blue machine purred to life. In one fluid motion he swung his leg over, released its kickstand and powered it up. He drove it out the door seconds later, and parked it on the street. Sorel and Aleesha were sitting on two machines, both bright white with one diagonal black stripe down their sides. They followed Turok’s lead, though they had to manhandle their machines out into the aisle first. Mick chose a light green scooter with a sidecar. Joel nodded, and gave a thumbs up in approval.

Mick started his machine and drove it out onto the street.

“Training wheels, Mick?” Sorel asked.

“Yeah, and for storage,” Mick explained, resting his hand on the sidecar. “We’ll have stuff to carry.”

“Our practical leader,” Sorel said neutrally.

Mick ignored the taunt.

“Frankly, guys,” Sorel added. “It we’re stuck on this world, what I want is a way to defend myself.”

Mick and Turok exchanged a glance and nodded, conceding he had a point.

“Which way, Joel?” Turok asked.

Joel had driven his smaller scooter out onto the road, followed by Seamus on an identical machine. He nodded up the street between the towering buildings, as Seamus moved off ahead. Joel swung his machine in an arc, and took off.

Turok grinned at the others, “Follow the hellions!” He gunned his machine once and stepped it into gear, and moved off up the street. The others followed. Mick brought up the rear. They turned onto a road that hugged the waterfront. Mick’s gaze wandered out over the shoreline. He noticed that the water was not in fact as stationary as they had thought the day before. The ocean was definitely moving, not strong movement, but some. There were waves, sluggish and small, like on a lake in the still moments before a spring storm.

They turned again, this time away from the sea, and passed more buildings. He made a quick examination of several ground floor lobbies. What made it spooky, he realized, was the absence of people everywhere. It made the city unreal, like he was riding through a dream. They turned onto a road next to an open field across which Mick could see the hill where they had landed. The upper outline of the Arc-4 was briefly visible. They came to the largest street they had seen so far, six lanes. They turned again, this time uphill until they reached what looked to Mick like a department store. The others parked.

Mick did a three-point turn and backed in. They looked at him quizzically.

“Good for a quick getaway,” he explained.

“You planning on robbing a bank, Mick,” Turok said, smiling.

Joel hurried through the open front doors, and Carmen followed.

“I’ll stay out here,” Sorel said.

Mick and Turok entered the building and moved immediately towards the motionless escalator that Joel and Carmen had walked up. They trotted through sections devoted to household effects, and could see the two ahead passing the neutronics counter. They caught up with them as they were turning into a 2nd floor pedestrian walkway that connected two buildings. They saw the bodies on the floor in front of a set of half-open double doors. The two mutes, their limbs splayed, lay just outside a security field. They hadn’t been shot – the field had brought them down.

They moved ahead quietly as Joel went to a panel in the wall. He gestured to Seamus that the field was down, who slipped stealthily around the door. He called out for the others to join him. They found Seamus standing motionless, looking down at a young man’s body. The corpse was face down, a maser hole in his upper back. Joel brought over a light sheet from one of the beds and covered their friend.

The others looked on sadly. Mick took in their surroundings quickly. The wide corridor was filled with furniture from the adjoining store – beds, tables, desks, chairs, computers, lamps. Both ends had security fields; the main entrance at the other end had also been physically barricaded.

Joel stepped over to a desk and sat down heavily.

“Levrok’s people must have taken them,” Seamus said, his voice cracking. He sat on the floor by the covered body.

Mick and Turok wandered away, moving among the mismatched pieces of furniture.

“Call me a jerk,” Turok said quietly, “but this world is turning out to be trouble.”

Mick nodded, and looked again at the flotsam of furniture. “Looks like ten or so people were here.”

They walked to the far end, and saw that the intruders had managed to breach the security field there.

Joel walked over, his face set in a look of determination.

Mick looked up and nodded. “Let’s go, Joel,” he said.

“Where?”

“To get Giorgi and your people back.”

The young man’s eyes lit up.

“You know where they were taken?” Turok asked.

“Yes, the same place they’re holding Franklin. But it’s well defended.”

“So?” Turok said. “We like a challenge.”

Joel smiled wanly. “Defended with mutes.”

Mick ran his hand along the surface of a table. “They killed those mutes yesterday without much problem,” he said evenly.

“The ones at their compound are much worse than the ones you saw yesterday.”

Carmen came up and gave them a questioning look

“Look, I know a gun shop,” Joel said suddenly. “We can suit up before we go.”

Turok smiled.

“Joel, can you draw us a map of this compound, the grounds?” Mick asked.

The young man nodded.

Turok stroked his chin. “While you’re doing that I’ll go to this gun shop. That is, if Joel can tell me where it is.”

“Sure.”

“Sorel should be happy,” Mick added wryly.
______________

Turok pulled up at a nondescript storefront followed by Sorel and Aleesha. It had no sign, and was graced with an alloy mesh that lay behind the disabled display holowindow.

Turok had emerged from the front of the department store intrigued at the prospect of checking out what Nebu City, as Joel and Seamus called it, offered in the way of weaponry.

“We need some guns,” he had said to Sorel as he swung onto his machine. “You still interested?”

Turok had pulled away from the curb and driven off. Moments later he had smiled when Sorel and Aleesha’s bikes appeared in his rearview mirror.

He removed a loose brick above the wall-mounted mail slot, and reached in. His hand emerged with a flourish holding a key. The shop they walked into looked like it had been undisturbed for decades. Telltale tracks of small animals crisscrossed the dust on the floor and countertops. The shop’s current visitors’ footfall created dust clouds in the enclosed space, and they hastily retreated, hands over their mouths, back out into the street.

They found several unbroken 5-liter plastic water bottles and a couple brooms in another shop. Slopping out the contents of one and raking up the gunk with the other, they got the dust down to a manageable level, and cleared off most of the counter surfaces. They walked among several rows of emptied shelves. Product tags indicated that the shelves had once held the usual array of low-level masers, stun charges, and approved low-density pulse guns. There was apparently not a weapon left in the store.

Turok walked to the rear wall, as Joel had explained, and found two release latches concealed within the underside of the wall-mantel. A section of the wall swung aside to reveal a pitch-black interior, a set of stairs led down into the darkness. Bowing towards Sorel and Aleesha he held out a hand towards the passageway.

Sorel crossed his arms and said, “After you.” Aleesha smiled.

Turok shrugged as he reached for another switch. Bright fluorescents flickered on and he started down the stairs.

“Funny guy,” Sorel said.

Aleesha stepped through. When Sorel hesitated Turok walked through. Sorel looked back suspiciously towards the street, then he too started descending the stairs. When he was half-way down he heard the wall section above him re-seal, clicking into place. He swore, and was about to turn back.

Turok called out, “I just closed the door from down here. Come on down.”

“You’re a jerk, Turok, you know that?” Sorel said.

Turok and Aleesha stood in front of a thick, round, transparent panel. They looked through into the room beyond. Modular shelves formed several wide aisles that extended back to a rear wall. On the shelves were row upon row of destructive hardware that glinted and gleamed within lightweight, transparent, vacuum-sealed storage bags

“The sanctum sanctorum,” Turok said.

He flicked another switch. The panel irised open. They stepped through into the low-ceilinged grey room.

Sorel scooped up one of the storage bags off the nearest shelf, and examined the maser rifle inside. “This one’s been modified,” he said.

Turok walked down the same aisle, glancing at the multiple sizes of semi- and fully-automatic masers and pulse guns. Aleesha stayed in the lateral row at the head of the aisles that abutted the wall and stairs beyond. She picked up one of the bags, surprised at its lightness. “This one has a kill setting,” she said.

Turok nodded. “Looks like they all do.”

“So these are all illegal?” Aleesha asked.

“On Earth, yeah,” Sorel said with a laugh.

Using pulse or maser weapons to kill had been so successfully stigmatized centuries earlier that statutes against their use had been passed in most jurisdictions.

Sorel hefted a Heckler and Koch EM Particle Beam Weapon System, better-known as an HK Maser Rifle, or simply a maser, and slung it over his shoulder, cinching the strap on its acrylic bag.

“Let’s take one each for all seven of us,” Turok said, gesturing at the masers, “and better grab some palm masers and pulse pistols too.” He looked around. “But what we really need …” He set off down the aisle.

Sorel picked up more of the bags while Aleesha gathered up seven of the smaller pulse bags. She also scooped up a dozen disposable palm masers.

“Back here,” Turok called out.

As the others trotted awkwardly down the aisle he lifted a gleaming black, ancient but lethal ballistic gun – a fully automatic, very compact, FN sub-machine gun.

“It’s a relic,” Sorel said. “Leave it.”

“No, it’s exactly what we need,” Turok said.

Sorel looked hard at Turok. “Why?”

Turok sighed. “We don’t know for sure,” he said, shrugging. “Mick thinks the slowing environment might affect the planet’s EM field, and that might affect – ”

“Conventional weapons,” Aleesha said.

Turok nodded.

“Well, as of now,” Sorel said, “I’m officially in charge of quality control.” He activated the release seal on the bag, lifted out the maser, raised it and let off a burst. It left a discolored splatter on the ceiling.

“That proves nothing,” Turok said.

“Looks fine to me,” Sorel said, hefting the maser appreciatively. “Of course, a living target would tell us for sure.”

“Safety it and stow it,” Turok said.

“Oh?” Sorel asked.

“These weapons are for our survival. Not for whatever you have in mind.”

Sorel smiled, secured the rifle, and slung it over his shoulder.

Aleesha gestured to the ballistic gun Turok was still holding. “How many of those things do you want?”

“Only a couple,” Turok said with a smile. “I’ll get the ammunition.”

“Anything else?”

“One more thing.” He ambled off towards an adjacent aisle.

A few minutes later the three emerged back into the front room of the shop. Turok activated the two switches and the missing wall section swung back in, sealing off the now-darkened stairs.

“Come on, let’s go get Giorgi,” Turok said.
______________

The five survivors and their two guides stood in the street by the parked scooters, directly across from the park entrance. Seamus had insisted on riding shotgun behind Mick, with the guns and gear stowed in the sidecar. He looked at the others and thought they looked like seven avenging angels.

They had spent two hours at the mall sanctuary going over the holomaps of Levrok’s swamp compound, considering and discarding options, before downloading the map into the optical display drives in their balaclava-like synth-helmets. Then another half-hour bled away putting on the protective beamsuits, a quarter-inch of liquefied titanium set between creosote prophylaxes of pressurized synthetic albumen, hyper-elastic, and virtually impregnable to any low-density beam weapon on the market. Seamus pulled two bags out of the sidecar and set them on the ground. In the larger one were the maser rifles and sidearms, and in the smaller were the ballistics. The others walked over and retrieved a maser rifle each. Turok strapped one of the 14-inch submachine guns in a back-holster, and over that slung a compact, cylinder-shaped device. Finally he picked up one of the rifles to carry.

“It’s just a city park,” Carmen said.

“It was a park,” Joel said. “Now it’s – ” He shrugged, at a loss for words.

“They only have pulse rifles inside?” Mick asked.

“As far as we know,” Seamus said.

“What about laser platforms?” Turok asked. “We saw a few of those at the gun shop. Real behemoths.” He slipped on his helmet, which instantly expanded and molded to the shape of his skull, small ridges appearing around his ears.

“They could have platforms anywhere, all automatic,” Joel said. “Mostly on the hammocks, but they could be in the water too. Stationary ones.”

“Our remote motion sensors should help with that,” Turok said, pointing at the convex bubble of his visor.

“The platforms we can handle,” Mick said. “What I’m worried about – ”

“The mutes,” Aleesha said quickly.

Mick nodded.

“The mutes patrol,” Joel said. “They attack without warning, and in total silence. But they have a weakness.”

“And that would be – ?” Turok said.

“Their bones. They’re engineered for speed, and to be terrifying.”

“They score a perfect 10 on that,” Aleesha said.

“Genetically-enhanced speed makes them vulnerable. I don’t know why, but hit them once, and they’re down. It’s like their bones – just dissolve.”

“The ultimate scarecrows,” Turok said.

“Scarecrows that bite,” Aleesha added.

Seamus watched as Turok helped Joel pull on his helmet. Joel opened out the strange piece of material and pulled it over his head like a diving mask. Seamus was surprised again to see it inflate into the same helmet-like shape as it had for the others. The faceplate section of the visor turned transparent as small whorls of green light crisscrossed its surface.

“How are the optics?” Turok asked.

Joel held up a thumb, grinning through the faceplate.

Seamus repeated the same steps, and Turok stepped over and tapped a knuckle on his faceplate. He reached around to activate the optics stud. Seamus nodded.

“Your suit will absorb any beam for about 3 seconds max,” Turok explained.

“After that it’ll burn through. And once it’s through it’s so fast you won’t even
know you’re hit. But you’ll know later on, believe me,” Seamus nodded again. “Play it safe and dive fast if you feel even a tickle on your suit.”

They set off in single file towards the embankment that led down into the water, and walked a short distance along its ridge. The pond, originally the central feature of the park, was now supplemented by all the flooded, low-lying areas which had transformed the area into what on Earth would be a tropical fresh-water marsh. Seamus looked out across the bog that completely surrounded Levrok’s compound not visible from where they were. Mick took the lead. They turned down and walked slowly out into the cordgrass bordering this side of the water. The deep verge was broken here and there by skeletal-shaped swamp trees, their strange aerial roots twisted up out of the ground.

“It likely won’t be more than waist-deep in even the worst areas,” Mick said over his shoulder, though Seamus wasn’t particularly reassured.

Mick stepped gingerly into the water, his foot sinking about 3 centimeters as mud rose up and enveloped his feet. He took a few tentative steps further out. It remained about the same depth, and the bottom didn’t suddenly drop off.

Speaking from the rear, Turok had them spread out. Seamus was second from the end.

“Carmen,” Aleesha said, “when should I start with the happy thoughts?”

“Now would be good.”

The small troop moved forward in an elongated zigzag pattern, the top of the Z narrower than the bottom. Mick and Joel had point. The lateral bottom, with Turok at the extreme open end, had Carmen and Aleesha walking side by side about two yards apart. The others walked on a diagonal connecting the top and bottom lateral lines.

Everything was quiet; the swamp seemed indifferent to their presence. After a quarter-mile Seamus started to relax. Just concentrating on setting one foot after another was calming; he ignored the turbid brown water that concealed his legs almost up to his waist. The others, anything but calm, were constantly scanning their section of the zigzag. Seamus found it hard to believe this had ever been a simple city park.

Spearworts prowled the surface around Mick’s waist, spreading their long stringy mass of thin leaves. To Seamus it looked like a watery graveyard, the long hair of submerged corpses reached up to them. His vision went blurry, the sky tilted, and he felt Turok’s hand on his shoulder.

“Steady on, Seamus,” he said.

Seamus clenched his fists and breathed in deeply to clear his head, and resumed walking. He thought he saw movement beneath a bog willow that rose up from a large hammock directly ahead. Twining supplejack swayed slightly within the drooping foliage of the tree, wrapped round and round the tendril-like branches that leaned down into the brackish water. Seamus’s eyes scanned the shoreline, trying to identify the movement. He decided it must be the weight of the vines shifting.

“What is it, Seamus?” Turok said behind him.

Seamus realized he had stopped walking. “Nothing,” he said, and started walking again.

The mute exploded from the middle of the bog willow’s mass of drooping branches, as though part of the tree itself had suddenly come to life and launched itself at them. Two maser rifles swung up, their particle beams exploding through fur sent a stream of entrails out the mutant’s other side. It fell into the water about a yard in front of Mick and sank slowly out of sight. It left a slick of blood on the surface.

Mick stood as if paralyzed. “Thanks, guys,” he muttered.

Carmen cleared her throat. “Joel, how much further?” she asked.

He shrugged nervously. “We’re about half-way. This park is eight miles long, and the compound is dead center.”

Mick looked back at Turok, who pointed back towards the center of their section of the swamp. Mick nodded, and began moving away from the hammock. There was a similar landmass further along, and bigger.

As they trudged on Seamus looked down and realized he could see his feet, the water was getting clearer. The mud turned to pebbles that rolled underfoot, and a few meters further on these turned to larger rocks, slick, slippery. They slowed. Mick veered again, and they were past the hammock. They were nearing the bigger one, moving alongside it, but they kept their distance. There was another bog willow near the water’s edge, its trunk gripping tenaciously to a sheer side, about two meters up, that fell into the water.

They brought up their maser rifles as they pulled alongside the tree. All was quiet except for the sound they made schlepping through the water. There was no movement around the tree. Turning around another bend took them past the second hammock. Suddenly they could see the compound. Maybe it was the distraction of the buildings, or perhaps they were just getting tired, for they heard the mute before they saw it. It came from behind a large boulder and went straight for Aleesha and Carmen in the bottom line. Aleesha froze as the sleek form’s shadow sailed across the water towards her. Turok’s maser caught it behind the shoulder, burning a hole through its ribcage. Its momentum carried it on until it slammed against Aleesha’s side, driving her down underwater. Turok was surging forward to help when another mutant sprang down the slope, its forelegs and paws landing on the same boulder, compressing and crouching, and then it was a blur shooting up and out, a stronger leap, faster. But they had had more warning. Mick and Sorel turned around and shot their masers simultaneously, yet inexplicably both had missed. Its shadow passed over Aleesha and the mute followed, its outstretched forepaws reaching for Carmen. She had seen the shadow and her rifle was up. Its barrel wavered as she slipped on the slick rocks. As she fell the trigger was depressed and the beam shot out, catching the mutant full in the chest and passing down the length of its body. Its fully-extended claws raked against her beamsuit leaving narrow grooves from her shoulder down past her solar plexus. Two of the claws managed to pierce the suit’s outer dermis, driving in and down.

Carmen looked down in shock. A gash about four inches long blossomed red across her left upper chest, just below her shoulder.

Mick was at her side, ripping open one of the flat mediseal sheaths he retrieved from his inner breast pocket.

“Sorel, her suit!” Mick said.

Blood was pumping from the wound.

Turok had pulled the first mute’s corpse off Aleesha, and she came up spluttering. As Sorel activated two of the release valves on Carmen’s suit, its upper section opened. Mick placed the mediseal firmly over the half-inch deep incision, surprised by the surgical-like straightness of the cut. The sheath expanded, and made a slight hissing sound as pressurized antisepsis rippled beneath the seal, molding itself to the contour of her traumatized upper body, and then became still. Mick reactivated the valves and her suit resealed itself, though he couldn’t do anything about the tear in the suit.

Carmen seemed groggy, then came round. “What – ? ”

“Carmen, can you keep going?” Mick asked. “We’re almost there.”

She nodded, and brought her right arm up close to her chest. There was no pain from the gash, though she felt a little light-headed, though even that was passing. The auto-release of field-meds surging through her body made her right upper chest and shoulder feel slightly numb. She could still move her shoulder, even flex her right hand, but there was little sensation in either. She wondered idly if this was how the world felt for a synthetic.

Mick had moved back. He and Joel still had point, and were pushing forward again. Seamus tried not to think what they would do if there were more attacks. They slogged on. It felt to Seamus they were moving slower now, but in fact it was the opposite. Believing they had seen the worst the swamp could dish out, the uncertainty that had dogged their progress so far began to lift.

The spearwort gave way to horsetails as they pulled alongside the last large hammock between them and hard ground, about fifty yards away.

Joel held up his hand, palm forward. “See those small black swamp trees,” he said, as they all stopped.

The outline of gnarled black limbs didn’t quite look right.

Mick peered ahead. “Yeah, except they aren’t swamp trees, are they?”

“No. Those are laser platforms.” Joel looked worried.

“What’s the matter?” Mick asked.

“They’ve been set up in a ring. I didn’t think they would have them that close to the compound.”

“Remote or automatic?” Mick asked.

“Does it matter?” Sorel muttered.

“Automatic,” Joel replied. “See the sensors?” Then he smiled, “They aren’t mobile, though. Their wheels are all gone.”

“You still don’t think we can trick their sensors?” Turok asked.

Joel shook his head. “We have to take them out.”

“But how?” Mick said. “They’ll rip into us once we’re within range.”

They broke formation, Turok advancing to stand beside Mick and Joel. Turok placed a hand on Joel’s upper arm.

“If those turrets can’t move, and we destroy two of them –” Turok said.

Joel nodded. “Yeah, then we could walk through.” The three smiled.

They moved forward cautiously, uncertain what the range of the compound lasers was. Mick nodded towards the flat section of the shore. There at the base of several of the squat, ugly platforms grew a rich bank of swamp taro. “Those two, with the flowers. Let’s hit those.” He glanced at Turok.

Turok smiled, and unslung the one explosive-charge weapon they had brought along. He unfolded the stock from the shoulder-rest, released the safety, and raising the lightweight Bofors Anti-armor Grenade Launcher to his shoulder, took aim. Seamus covered his ears, half-expecting to see the primitive weapon explode and tear away Turok’s shoulder. But it gave a quick, sharp bark, and a fraction of a second later one of the platform turrets exploded.

“One down,” Turok said.

Another two mutes appeared. They came from behind the building that reached closest to the water’s edge, gathering speed as they sped towards the seven intruders.

Turok steeled himself to ignore them, and raising the Bofors he fired again, destroying the other turret. Mick had brought up his maser and sent a beam ripping through the throat of one of the mutants, its muzzle flopping back and down as its front legs crashed into the ground. Sorel caught the other above and behind its sleek muzzle, a hole instantly opening out on the other side of its skull, as it too crashed into the hard shale-like sand.

They were kneeling, the water reaching to below their knees, on the verge of panic. Their breath came in gasps as they looked desperately in all directions. The third was completely unexpected. It had crept forward in the water through the sedge and rushes that reached out from the compound’s side. It bolted awkwardly, up and out, rising about a yard in the air, water dripping from its light coat of luminous grey fur. It landed on Joel, its powerful jaws closing around the boy’s throat, slicing through his suit. Joel thrashed once, tried to bring up his rifle, and then fell limp. The others stood paralyzed until a beam from Carmen’s maser ripped through the beast’s arched back, immediately severing its spine. The mutant’s jaw shuddered open and Joel’s body flopped down into the water, blood surging from his throat. His head, hanging at an unnatural angle, floated for a moment as the body sank, then it too sank to the shallow bottom.

They were all shaken out of their shock by the screaming, including Seamus. He was even more shocked when Turok slapped him twice, hard. The screams stopped. He shuddered, heaved in a deep breath, and asked himself why he felt so dazed.

“—Did you hear me!” a voice shouted at him. Turok was holding his shoulders, looking at him with a fixed intensity. “Seamus, we need you to walk now.” Then Turok’s hand was on his back, pushing him firmly forward. So he walked. He looked down and was surprised to see the maser in his hand – the maser he hadn’t fired. As he stumbled forward, he glanced to his side and saw what remained of his friend. He bit down hard as the memories resurfaced, until his jaws hurt. He kept walking.

Turok had unzipped the upper half of Joel’s suit, pulled the hood insert up and over the boy’s head, and reactivated the front seal. The beamsuit looked more like a body-bag now. He held it about where Joel’s upper chest was, and dragged it along as they moved forward. They were at the shore in moments. Turok pulled Joel’s body up on the shore. Seamus looked again at the body of his friend, and was surprised at how the numbness he felt was almost a relief.

The other platform lasers off to their left and right registered no reaction to their presence. They walked quickly between the two destroyed platforms.

Three connected buildings stood directly before them, an open-ended lopsided rectangle, the longer side almost reached the shore. As they walked past that building, avoiding the open end, the shale-like sand turned to a rough turf, with clumps of cord grass. They crossed over behind the side building, placing themselves outside the inner courtyard. Seamus noticed that this close to the building the ground was a greener, healthier-looking grass, almost a typical park lawn.

This building, and the ones beyond, was as quiet as everything else. Seamus supposed they had originally been park administration buildings. He wondered if the numbness he felt was being extended to everything else, to these new friends, this swamp – everything.

They were nearing the rear, exterior, wrought-iron firestairs that led to the roof that Joel had told them of. He insisted there was an old rooftop patio with a set of stairs down to the kitchen. They had been suspicious of such an easy entry. Joel had explained that Levrok’s slack security team hadn’t expected anyone would ever get past the swamp, the mutes, and the lasers, or come to that, even attempt it. They quickly clambered up the three flights of stairs and jumped down onto the flat roof. There was a low partition separating this end closer to where they had waded ashore. They stole a quick look over the partition, and the far end looked empty.

They crossed the roof towards a small closed-in patio that abutted the sidewall overlooking the courtyard. They were about half-way along this long building. A dozen rusted, rickety tables and chairs filled the patio. At the back, set into the corner between the sidewall and the partition, was a dumbwaiter – a small service elevator. Beside that was the entrance to the stairs, which Mick discovered was locked. The dumbwaiter, however, was not. He opened the vertical panel to the box and saw it was operated by a hand pulley.

Mick turned to Seamus. “Are you up for it?” he asked, glancing at the dumbwaiter.

“Guess so,” he answered. “How much do you think it can take?”

“Fifty kilos, easy.”

“And if the stairs are blocked? What if the lock on the other side can’t be released?”

“And what if downstairs is the gateway to Hell,” Turok said.

“You never know,” Seamus said, closing his eyes.

“It’s probably just a dead bolt,” Mick said.

“If it isn’t,” Turok said, “just knock on the box a couple times and we’ll haul you back up.”

Sorel had walked into the patio area, and was sitting with his back against the cooler.

“I’m small enough,” Carmen said. “I’ll go.”

Mick and Turok exchanged a glance. “You sure?” Mick asked.

“Yeah,” she said, holding her palm over the mediseal patch. “I won’t be able to do much else for a while. But I can do this.”

Seamus shrugged, and looked over at the patio’s nearby low sidewall. “Somebody should keep a lookout.” He walked over and crouched by and
overturned dessert cart. He had the detached air of someone young and old at the same time.

Mick looked back across the roof at the route they had just taken. “Somebody should watch the back stairs too,” he said.

“I’ll go,” Aleesha said, and she scrambled away.

“You realize they know we’re coming,” Mick said to Carmen.

“Yes, but they don’t know how, or when,” she replied. “I figure they’ve barricaded themselves in the far building, the one furthest from shore. Wouldn’t make sense for them to have anybody downstairs.”

“We hope,” Mick said.

Turok opened his beamsuit and reached into his chest-holster. “Take a palm maser,” he said. “The rifles won’t fit in the box.” He handed her the sidearm.

“Relax, guys,” she smiled, slipping the gun inside her suit. “You’re making me nervous.”

She stood up. “Let’s go.”

Mick lifted the panel and held it up as Carmen turned around, stepped up with a wince and scooted in. She pulled her knees to her chin and scowled out at them.

“Lower away,” she said.

Mick scrolled down the panel. He knocked once on the panel window, and she knocked back. He grabbed the thick cord and started gently lowering her down, hand over hand. Sorel and Aleesha stood up. Aleesha walked over to crouch behind Seamus.

“All quiet?” she asked.

The adolescent nodded. He wasn’t comfortable being up here. He had the creepy feeling it made them exposed, on the other hand he liked the clear line of sight it gave on the three quadrangle buildings.

Moments later Mick’s hand over hand movement slowed. He felt the box thump gently. He stuck his head in the chute and heard the panel slide up, followed by a muffled scrabbling, then another soft thump.

He withdrew his head. “She’s in,” he said.

Sorel came over and leaned by the door to the stairs. They listened for the sound of her footsteps on the stairs. The seconds ticked by. Mick leaned back into the chute, listening for telltale knocks. Nothing.

“What’s she doing?” Sorel said.

Seamus called softly to them from his position by the sidewall. His expression looked tense as he beckoned at Mick and Turok. Mick couldn’t leave the chute. He nodded at Turok quickly, who scrambled over. The two looked towards the rear building. Four of Levrok’s men had come out a side door and were moving along the wall towards the rear of the building.

“It’s just swamp beyond there, isn’t it?” Turok asked.

“Yeah,” Seamus answered.

“I wonder where they’re going?”

“If there’s a door at the far end of this building – ” the adolescent shrugged, not taking his eyes off the two figures below.

“They could swing round behind us.”

Seamus nodded; it was what he had feared. ‘There!’ The four figures dashed across behind the far end of this building.

Turok swore, and quickly returned to the dumbwaiter.

Seamus glanced over as the two fell into an animated exchange. He exhaled slowly and resumed his watch over the courtyard – all quiet now.

Mick leaned forward inside the dumbwaiter and called down.

Sorel, crouching by the door, turned to Turok. “If they were barricaded safe inside the other building, why send four guys over here?”

Turok nodded. “A diversion, but why? What are they planning?”

Mick called again down the shaft. They heard a door below at the far end being forced open. Mick leaned back. “She’s nowhere near the box down there.” Suddenly the sound of pulse fire could be heard at the stairs door. It was a sound differently-pitched than the masers, a result of the more elliptical backwash the pulse produced.

Aleesha called out softly from her position by the stairs. “Two coming!”

They heard Carmen’s voice through the door. “You guys there?”

Turok stepped over to the door. “Yeah. But they’re breaking in down there!”

“Thanks for that bulletin, Turok.”

Sorel picked up his maser and moved off unobtrusively towards the stairs. Mick stood by the door with his mouth next to the doorjamb. “Can you open it from there?”

“No,” her voice said. “Dead bolt and a remote lock.”

“Then get back to the box, now!”

“Right.” And she was gone.

Mick waved once at Seamus, motioning for him to stay where he was. He turned quickly to Turok. “Bring her up. We’ll try to get in behind them.”

As Mick turned and dashed off towards the stairs he heard the impact of pulse beams against the side of the building. Sorel was crouched against the sidewall by an inner railing at the stairs, looking like he had no intention of going anywhere. Mick sped past him to the outer railing – flat alloy slats that encased the stairs down the side of the building. Mick glanced over and saw Aleesha standing motionless on the landing, her legs spread apart. She fired her palm maser between the slats. They heard a grunt and the sound of a body thumping against the steps as Mick took the steps down two at a time, staying close to the wall. He came up beside her, and a voice swore. A pulse ripped past Aleesha’s shoulder. Another grazed her upper arm, the beamsuit repelling it easily.

Mick put a hand on her shoulder. “Overlapping fire, then down one by one.” She nodded.

She fired a couple bursts before Mick leapt down, touching three steps on his way to the next landing. He stopped and fired off three bursts as she hurtled past him and got to the next landing. A pulse caught Mick’s leg for a full second as he dodged ahead past her; it felt like his leg had gone asleep, then a tingling sensation as the circulation returned. Mick favored that leg as Aleesha joined him, now only one flight of steps away from the ground.

Their sustained fire caused the second man to reconsider his options – he hastily retreated to ground level. A body lay on the ground one floor below them, the limbs splayed. The second man turned the corner at the end of the building.

“Follow him?” Aleesha asked.

Mick nodded, and made his way down the steps, limping slightly. She hit the ground a moment before him and moved alongside the building as he stumbled along the base.

She moved quickly round the corner and along to the side door.

Mick laid a hand on her arm. “They’ll spend a few minutes trying to flush out Carmen.”

“Then that’s our chance.”

Mick looked to their side. “More might be coming from the other building.”

“I’ll stay. I’ve got your back.”

Mick smiled, nodding. She watched as Mick stole across the threshold, his limp mostly gone.

2010-01-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

Chapter Three

Carmen turned away from the locked stairs door, moving down the steps silently and quickly despite her numb chest wound. She knew she had only moments before whoever had broken down the exterior door showed up in the center of the building. Half-way down the steps she froze.

She saw flakes of crystalline, synthetic bitumen on the floor below; she heard a telltale footfall. The dumbwaiter was on the courtyard side, she remembered, and the kitchen reached back from her right to the end of the building, near where they had beached. She steeled herself, descended a few more steps. Taking a breath she leapt off, careened off the opposite wall – veering right she launched herself through the door into the kitchen, the door swinging closed behind her. She felt her chest wound seeping again, and a dull ache blossomed there. Pulses blasted the doorjamb above and behind her sending a plaster shower down into the corridor she had just left. In a half-crouch she pivoted sideways round the second corner, and was up and running for the large walk-in freezer half-way down the kitchen. She snagged its handle, pulling hard as she passed. Pulses slammed into the inside surface of the open door. She heard their steps and reached her hand out, firing a burst with the maser. She heard a body fall, followed by the sound of feet rushing up the corridor.

‘Not more of them,’ she thought, groaning in frustration.

She almost collapsed with relief when she heard her friends’ maser beams.

“Hey guys,” Carmen called weakly to her friends.

More pulses spat and sizzled on the other side of the freezer door. She was looking for a service door into the dining room on the inner courtyard side. She backed slowly away, stepping sideways, her back against the freezer. She slipped around a protrusion and skittered sideways against the perishables cooler. Beams bit again into the freezer door, far behind. She heard a crash in the back corridor she had just passed through, turned and saw another of Levrok’s men come barreling through into the kitchen. She looked to her other side past the cooler, and saw the dining room door. She reached it in a half-crouch, slivered it open and pushed through. There was no way of locking it.

She had entered what looked like the dining room of a luxury liner after several decades on the ocean floor. Tables lay up-ended, chairs were thrown back, broken glass and porcelain were everywhere underfoot. She crossed towards the wall that led out into the courtyard, its length made to appear longer by the French windows onto a promenade deck every few yards. She looked up, suddenly aware of daylight from above, and was surprised by the skylight, shaped like the end of a flattened cone. Dust motes danced in the daylight streaming down. It occurred to her that the building couldn’t be easily secured, not with so many points of ingress. She was half-way across to the nearest window when she heard the kitchen doors swing open. She froze, a low laugh made her shiver, and she swung around.

A man stood watching her, motionless. She glanced back at the windows, and from the corner of her eye it was like he slid away. She looked back and he had not moved. She was aware of the maser in her hand, but any thought of using it fled at the sight of her pursuer. He stepped lightly to the side, and she was shocked to see a distortion of his movement repeating in its wake. She tore her eyes away, and again it was like he retreated inward. She swiveled her eyes back in his direction. His stillness was absolute, yet his eyes glittered with alert malevolence. ‘He’s there,’ she thought, ‘and he’s somehow also where he will be.’ She shook her head to clear it. He reached back over his shoulder, his arm moving as if in a loop, and suddenly a knife appeared in his hand. He started walking towards her, a blur that made her dizzy, yet he was walking slowly.

Carmen heard the crash as if from a distance. Dazed, she raised her head, and
saw Turok struggling on the floor with her attacker. The knife lanced upward toward Turok’s lower chest, as his hand slammed into the man’s arm, gripping it round the wrist and wrenching it to the side and down, the elbow of his other arm fishtailing up into the man’s face, smashing his nose back. Turok slammed the man’s knife-hand down on his knee, then again, and the knife skittered along the floor. The man looked up into Turok’s eyes.

Turok released him and staggered back, dropping into a crouch.

The beam hit the man square in the forehead, sheering away the top of his skull. He stood suspended, swaying, as though awareness still pulsed in his eyes, weakening, flaring, and then – gone. He fell heavily.

“Not a moment too soon,” Turok said, catching his breath.

Carmen lowered her arm, the maser dropping to her side. She looked dully at the body on the floor. “How were you able to–?”

“Shoot for the center,” he said.

“What?”

“When he moves, you focus on the center,” he repeated, shrugging. “That’s what Seamus said.”

“I don’t understand.”

He smiled. “I don’t either. Time radiation, he called it.”

She gave him a blank look.

They heard the deadbolt on the kitchen door give way. There was a scuffle of footsteps as Mick and Aleesha came barreling in. They stopped dead, glancing quickly at the body on the floor.

Mick exhaled heavily, and smiled. “I thought for sure … I’m relieved to be wrong.” He made his way to one of the floor-length windows as Aleesha walked over to Carmen.

“It’s very quiet all of a sudden,” Turok said.

“They must all be holed up in the next building,” Mick said.

From across the courtyard came the sound of hinges creaking open. Mick looked out. On the deck before the next building’s door there stood a figure, a bit unsteady on his feet.

Mick chuckled. “It’s Giorgi.” The others rushed over.

They stepped hesitantly out into the courtyard. Their friend looked up and saw them, a smile spreading across his face. He waved, and stepped down off the deck onto the grass.

“It’s okay!” he shouted, waving.

As the others walked forward Mick turned and looked up at the roof two floors above. “Seamus, how does it look?”

Seamus looked down into the courtyard. “After those crashes,” he said, his voice carrying easily, “one of them came out of this end of the other building. He ran off into the swamp out behind … looked like.”

Mick looked off towards the end of the building and the swamp beyond.

“Probably long gone,” Mick replied. “You might as well join us down here – if you want.”

Seamus shrugged, and stood up slowly.

After crossing the courtyard, Mick walked up to Giorgi and reached out his hand.

“You okay?”

“Never better!” their friend declared, despite looking a little disoriented.

Seamus joined them on the building’s wide front deck. Leaning towards Mick he volunteered to recon the area behind the building. Mick sensed that the adolescent’s real reason was just to be alone. Mick thought of Joel’s body down on the shore. Mick hoped that Seamus would want to join their group. He nodded at the young man, and suggested he wait for the others before venturing into the swamp.

As they trooped behind Giorgi into the building’s wide vestibule Mick glanced back and saw Sorel join them. The vestibule opened out onto a landing before a wide staircase. Giorgi started up the stairs.

“Are you and Franklin the only ones left here now?” Mick asked.

“And Rainer,” he said. “He’s from the south. He’s not from this place, Nebu City. And … he’s dying.”

He pointed to a door down the hall. “That room at the end was where they kept us, the three of us. I was only here one night, but that was enough,” he said. “Double-locks on the door, bars on the windows, the whole nine yards.”

Turning away he set off down the long corridor. “They’ve been dumping all the bodies into the swamp,” he said as he walked.

“What!” Carmen asked.

He turned and looked at them levelly. “Many of Levrok’s men, and Rainer’s people before that, died of the CTT.”

“CTT?” Mick asked.

“Cellular temporal – something. Rainer’s name for some local disease.”

He stopped suddenly in front of a large double door, and pulled it open. They found themselves peering into a large room with high windows, bright with late afternoon sunlight. Off to the right a high-backed Morris chair was silhouetted against one window. A man in his early 60’s turned and looked in their direction.

“Are these the newcomers?” he asked.

“Yes,” Giorgi answered.

“Well, come in, come in,” the old man said impatiently.

Mick and Turok glanced about as they entered the room.

The old man rose and crossed toward them. “I am Franklin,” he said.

The others introduced themselves.

“What do you think of our world?” Franklin asked, gesturing out the window.

“We’ve seen better,” Turok said.

Franklin smiled. “I don’t doubt it. But to be fair, we aren’t seeing her at her best. Far from it.”

“What was her best?” Carmen asked, curious.

He shrugged. “What she was – before. The normal cycle of seasons before the stilling began.” He raised a hand, as if to push away their questions, and looked at them more closely. “Excuse me. Where are Joel and Seamus?”

Mick cleared his throat. “Seamus is outside. I’m sorry, but Joel was killed in the swamp.”

The old man inhaled abruptly, and looked away.

“How?” he asked softly.

“One of the guard animals,” Mick said.

“A mute,” the old man said. He seemed to gather himself. “I must speak with Seamus.”

“He’s in the grounds out back,” Mick said.

Franklin nodded, and glanced towards to a low partition that extended out from the furthest window, near the corner. “Rainer is resting there,” he said. “He wants very much to speak with you.” The old man walked out of the room.

The others looked at each other. Carmen stepped across to the corner, the others following. “Hello,” she said from her side of the partition, “can we do anything for you?”

A mild voice addressed them. “No. But please, come around so I can see you.”

Carmen stepped past the partition, Mick and Turok following behind. A middle-aged man lay in a low bed – it had been pulled out from the wall so it caught the light from the window. The bed was more of a cot, easy to move from room to room. There was little else, except for the analgesic patches laid out on a side table. The man was looking out the window, gazing absently at the sky. He turned and looked at them.

He waved off their introductions.

“You know that I am Rainer,” he replied. “I heard you and Franklin. He’s not half as frail as he appears.” He smiled. “Or as – unhelpful.” He looked again out the window. “In fact, he may be more help to you, eventually, than you can imagine.”

“Are you injured?” Carmen asked.

“I am from south of here, from a much larger city than this,” he said without emotion. “Before I left, most of my people had succumbed to Nebura’s – unique disease.”

Carmen knelt by his bed.

“Cellular temporal – ?” Mick said.

“Tetraparesis. CTT,” Rainer said, nodding. “Or more simply, bioatomic paralysis. It cascades, reaches groups of cells, then specific cells.” He looked at the ceiling, and seemed far away. “As the Kalaal had to adjust, so have we, their descendants. Levrok found that amusing.” He turned to look up at them. “The Kalaal settled this world almost three centuries ago.” He looked out the window. “Nebura has had no rainfall for some time. Even the ocean is affected.” Carmen held the back of her hand to his forehead.

Mick nodded, thinking of the waveless harbor and ocean, the windless skies.
“When did it start?”

“A few months ago,” Rainer said. “In my father’s day there were some who spoke of … the slowing, they called it. As no one but they could sense it, their warning was ignored. To be sure, the effects were minimal.” He shrugged. “No one wanted to believe the same phenomenon of two centuries ago had returned.”

“How many of there are you?” Carmen asked.

“Down south, very few. Here –?” He shrugged. “Why do you ask?”

“Maybe we can join forces,” Mick said, intervening. “There are six of us, and the three of you held here.”

Rainer smiled.

“There are others, from Seamus’s group,” Mick added. “Hiding somewhere in Nebu City.”

The invalid again turned his face to the window. “So many were lost.” He sighed. “When we arrived we hoped these people would help.” He looked at the buildings around the courtyard. “They did, at first … or pretended to. But over the weeks the CTT took most of them.” He shrugged. “Levrok blamed us. He is of the Siqdori, ancient enemies of the Kalaal.”

“We’ve only been here a couple days,” Mick said.

“Ah. You have a starship?”

“A launch shuttle,” Mick said. “And two others the same size in orbit, but their reserves are finished.”

“So you’re marooned here,” Rainer said, and smiled again.

“For the present, yes.”

“You hope for rescue?” he asked. “A neutronics beacon won’t work in Nebura space, but I suppose you found that out. There may be an alternative. The Kalaal, ever resourceful, developed a form of holoreal technology – on the cusp between material and virtual.”

Carmen leaned forward. “Is there nothing we can do for you?”

He shook his head. “If your people fall ill – there is a time of false recovery. Walking ghost phase. Ten to fourteen days later.”

Mick wondered if some of what the dying man said was the product of his disease.

“It could be worse,” Rainer continued. “Some, after walking ghost …” He paused to catch his breath. “Disorientation, aggressive neurosis, body shifting … A few of Levrok’s men were like that.”

Turok glanced at Carmen. “Time radiation?”

Rainer looked at him sharply. “The weapons of two centuries ago … were proscribed.” He fell into a sudden fit of coughing. They looked on awkwardly.

When the spasm passed the wizened man gestured at himself. “The last phase,” he said, “you see before you … lasts two or three days.”

No one said anything.

“I heard of your ship,” he gasped, struggling again. A brightness shone in his eyes. “This disease, and the planet’s disease, are different – I’m sure of it. Each needs … a different cure.” He raised his shoulders painfully, his eyes hooded, his throat muscles constricting suddenly. He clutched Carmen’s arm, his eyes bulged. “The slowing ... swallows worlds.”

His shoulders sank slowly. His locked throat seemed to send a roiling wave down through his body. His eyes locked in place, unseeing.

Carmen placed a finger on his neck. “He’s gone,” she said.
______________

With a heavy heart Turok started digging graves for Joel and Rainer, and gradually everyone joined in, taking turns digging. The reunions with Giorgi and Franklin were subdued. It was a chance to take their first tentative steps in adapting to the trials the coming months, or years, might bring. The labor of digging graves was not as demoralizing as Mick had feared.

Each group felt the other’s loss almost as intensely as its own. They looked hesitantly at each other, waiting for someone to volunteer a few words. It was better for anyone to say anything, Mick decided, than to let the awkwardness become something worse. He remembered his grandfather’s favorite Psalm, which he had said at his grandmother’s funeral. He couldn’t remember all of it. But no matter, better to start, he told himself.

He said the familiar words – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” The others waited patiently.

Carmen almost whispered, “He bids me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters.” They felt the rightness of the words. The survivors wended their way haltingly through the Psalm, offering up phrases, verses, or just single words. The recitation went around the small gathering several times.

Finally it reached Seamus. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” he said, his voice breaking.

A silence settled over them. They looked at each other, tears streaming down their faces.

The distant call of a seagull dragged Mick’s eyes up. The bird stood out nakedly free in a landscape where they had heard nothing – not the call of any living thing –
since they had disembarked from the Arc-4 two days ago. He turned away from the twin graves. Mick reflected that a similar ceremony back on the Surprise would have left them speechless with grief over a friend’s death, or awkwardly detached if it had been a stranger. Turok fell in quietly beside him.

They left Carmen and Seamus kneeling by the graves. Seamus wept silently.
______________

Mick watched as their bedraggled group of eight emerged from the fetid water of the swamp. Though it was only a few hours since they had last stood on this embankment, it seemed like a great expanse of time had elapsed. They were relieved, but also a bit surprised, to see the scooters were as they had left them. Their beamsuits, unsealed for the walk back, were quickly removed. Mick and Turok finished first, and after stowing the guns and other gear in the sidecar, the line of scooters moved swiftly out of the park precincts.

Thinking back on their last hour at the compound, Mick felt a renewed gratitude for Franklin’s idea about the mutes. The old man had taken Mick and Turok to the mutants’ control array. They had stood there in the small ground floor room, puzzled by what he was showing them. He had been right that the console was not shielded by security protocols. Standing behind Franklin, they had watched as he brought up the screen showing the twenty-one cybernetically-altered animals dispersed about the swamp, still patrolling.

“Like I said, we can’t reprogram their target parameters,” Franklin said.

“But you can turn them off?” Turok asked.

“Yeah, this will erase their target and attack subroutines.”

With a flourish he pressed a key on the keyboard, and the red and yellow icons on the inset map of the park grounds winked out, leaving the light green markers for each of the animals.

“Look at that!” Turok said, as each of markers suddenly stopped dead. What had been the smooth, purposeful patrolling movement of twenty-one deadly mutants was transformed.

“What’ll happen to them?” Mick asked.

“I have no idea,” Franklin admitted. “They weren’t just genetically altered. They’re true hybrids, organic and synthetic. They couldn’t occur in nature.”

“Won’t instinct take over?” Mick asked.

“What instinct? These animals have never existed independent of their programming.”

“But if they’re partial organics,” Mick mused out loud, “no amount of genetic overlapping could erase the inherited instinct entirely?”

Carmen ducked her head into the room. “Hey guys,” she said.

Engrossed by the image on the monitor, and each other’s comments, Mick and Franklin nodded without turning around.

“Or not,” she had said, smiling, and was gone.

Mick was abruptly brought out of his reverie when he was forced to bank his scooter on a tight corner. He reminded himself Seamus was in the lead. Apparently Franklin had told Seamus that the youth’s band had not been brought across to the compound – they must have suspected a raid was coming, and broken camp. Seamus was now taking them to where he thought they might have fled. But after seeing two safe-houses in the past thirty minutes, they still had not turned up. He said this third try was a long shot, in a rundown section of the lower town near the docks.

Chapter Four

should old acquaintance be forgot ...

2006-12-31T08:17:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! to all bloggers, readers, & surfers. Here's wishing ya'all a prosperous & productive 2007 ...

Sample Screenplay: 'GLADIATOR'

2006-12-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

GLADIATOR

by

David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson

A hand is passing over a field of ripe, waist-high grass, ready for harvest. (Red-gold, bright earth tone). Very peaceful.

01 EXT. BATTLEFIELD IN GERMANIA. DAY.

MEDIUM on MAXIMUS, a grim expression, looking into the frame. (Blue, dark tone.)

He sees a bird, small and indifferent to what is occurring around it, and smiles.

PULL BACK to Maximus walking alone through an empty battlefield, smoke rising from charred tree stumps. The campaign has been going on for some time.

LONG SHOT on mounted troops riding by.

MEDIUM on MARCUS AURELIUS, standing on a hillside, among a company of Praetorian guards, surveying the preparations on the battlefield.

MEDIUM on Maximus walking among the infantry, greeting soldiers

MAXIMUS
(smiling)
Lean and hungry.
(nodding to the enemy side)
Nothing yet?

QUINTUS
Not a sign.

MAXIMUS
How long has he been gone?

QUINTUS
Nearly 2 hours.

2nd OFFICER
Will they fight, sir?

MAXIMUS
We shall know soon enough.

QUINTUS
(calling out to nearby soldiers)
Soldier! I ordered you to move those catapults forward, they’re out of range.

MAXIMUS
The range is good.

QUINTUS
A danger to the cavalry --

MAXIMUS
-- is acceptable. Agreed?

Sudden unearthly shouts of one of the barbarian leaders come from the forest.

A horse with a rider emerges from the trees, and walks towards the Roman forces.

MAXIMUS
(as if to himself)
What do they say now.

The horse is carrying a Roman soldier's headless body, the scout who was sent out 2 hours ago to reconnoiter. More shouts of other chieftains emerge from across the battlefield as the horse gallops between the Roman squadrons.

QUINTUS
(to Maximus)
People should know when they’re conquered.

The shouts rise to a scream. One long sentence in the ancient German language.

One of the barbarian chieftains walks out onto the field.

Maximus, kneeling, takes up a handful of earth and rubs it between his hands. The action has a ritual air. He glances at a dog, sitting on its haunches, which returns his look.

MAXIMUS
(looking up)
Would you, Quintus? Would I?

He brushes off his hands, stands, and shakes hands with Quintus and other lieutenants standing nearby.

MAXIMUS
(to Quintus)
Strength and honor.

QUINTUS
(to nearby officer)
Strength and honor.

OTHERS
Strength and honor.

Maximus mounts his horse. The dog looks up, aware his master is preparing to leave.

Maximus looks down at Quintus and the others officers.

MAXIMUS
At my signal, unleash Hell.

He rides off, the dog running at his side.

MEDIUM on Marcus Aurelius, observing closely as the troops are mustered.

QUINTUS (O/S)
Load the catapults!

Large arrows are lowered into the war machines.

QUINTUS (O/S)
Infantry, form up for advance.

Groups of soldiers run forward.

LIEUTENANT (O/S)
Archers ready!

SARGEANT (O/S)
Archers! Nock!

They place arrows against the bowstring of their bows.

ARCHERY LEADER
Nock!

Maximus rides into the forest on the Roman side. He rides up to the center of the cavalry and looks around at his men.

MAXIMUS
(shouting)
Comrades!
(soldiers cheer)
Three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops.
Imagine where you will be, and it will be so!
(pauses)
Hold the line! Stay with me!
If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled --
(joking)
-- for you are in Elysium --
(laughter)
-- and you are already dead!
(laughter rises)
(pauses)
Alas! What we do in life … echoes in eternity!

Out on the field, catapult winches are turned.

On the enemy side, an archer dips a nocked arrow into a fire, and shoots it. The flaming arrow crosses over and lands on the Roman side.

Rows of Roman archers shoot their first wave of arrows.

LONG on the phalanxes of Roman troops moving forward toward the forest.

LIEUTENANT (O/S)
Archers ignite!

A long line of Roman archers lower their nocked arrows into a shallow firetrench at their feet.

Catapults are fired.

Flaming arrows are shot, and land in the foliage of trees, starting fires.

Large catapult arrows land in the forest, impaling warriors, smashing into the trunks of trees.

MEDIUM on Marcus Aurelius up on the hillside, his gaze following the incendiary missiles.

LONG on the forest, where pockets of fire have sprung up.

Maximus and the cavalry ride into battle.

MAXIMUS
Roma victor!

Maximus, mounted on his horse, kills two of the enemy.

He cleaves an enemy soldier’s head, the blade of his sword lodging itself in a tree-trunk.

MAXIMUS (cont’d)
(shouting above the din of battle)
Hold the line!

Maximus is knocked off his horse. In close combat, he falls, and fights his way back up.

MAXIMUS (cont’d)
(shouting)
Hold … the … line!

The battle rages on.

Maximus is again knocked down, and again fights his way back.

MAXIMUS (O/S)
Stay with me!
(louder)
Stay with me!

One of the barbarian leaders is killed.

The dog attacks one of the enemy chieftains.

Maximus raises his arms.

MAXIMUS (O/S)
Roma victor!

02 EXT. FOREST. DAY.

A heavily fortified war-coach, drawn by 4 horses, is moving through the forest.

03 INT. IMPERIAL WAR-COACH. DAY.

An aristocratic pair, a young man and woman, are reclining on cushions, on opposite sides of the coach.

COMMODUS
Do you think he’s really dying?

LUCILLA
He’s been dying for 10 years.

COMMODUS
If he hadn’t really dying, he wouldn’t have sent for us.

LUCILLA
Maybe he just misses us.

COMMODUS
And the senators. He wouldn’t have sent for --

LUCILLA
-- Please! Two weeks on the road and your incessant scheming are hurting my head.

Commodus gets up and sits on her side of the coach.

COMMODUS
He’s made his decision. He’s going to announce it. He will make me … The first thing I shall do when … Is honor him with games worthy of his majesty.

He smiles. She smiles back.

LUCILLA
And now the first thing I shall do is have our bath.

A sudden knocking on the coach door.

DRIVER
We’re almost there, sir.

The door is opened. Commodus emerges into the daylight, squinting.

OFFICER
Sire.

COMMODUS
Where’s the Emperor?

OFFICER
He’s at the front, sire. He’s been gone for 19 days. The wounded are still coming in.

COMMODUS
(to his adjutant)
My horse.

The horse is quickly brought up.

OFFICER
My lord.

04 EXT. BATTLEFIELD. DAY.

CLOSE on Maximus’ sword, still stuck in the tree.

Maximus pulls it out.

The Emperor Marcus Aurelius approaches.

AURELIUS
You have proved your valor yet again, Maximus. Let us hope for the last time.

MAXIMUS
There’s no one left to fight, sire.

AURELIUS
There’s always someone left to fight.
How can I reward Rome’s greatest general?

MAXIMUS
(hesitates)
Let me go home.

AURELIUS
Ah, home!

Commodus rides at the head of a mounted imperial guard, coming down onto the battlefield.

TROOPS
(cheering)
Roma victor!

Maximus and Aurelius look round at the army.

MAXIMUS
They honor you, Caesar.

AURELIUS
No, Maximus, it’s for you. They honor you.

Commodus arrives, dismounts and walks quickly towards them.

COMMODUS
Have I missed it? Have I missed the battle?

AURELIUS
You have missed the war.

COMMODUS
Father, congratulations. I shall sacrifice a hundred bulls to honor your triumph.

AURELIUS
(drily)
Save the bulls.
Honor Maximus. He won the battle.

COMMODUS
(turns to Maximus)
General. Rome salutes you. And I embrace you as a brother. It has been too long, my old friend.

MAXIMUS
(bows his head)
Your Highness.

Commodus turns back to Aurelius, taking hold of his father’s elbow.

COMMODUS
Here, father, take my arm.

Aurelius gently removes his arm.

AURELIUS
I think it is time for me to leave.

Aurelius mounts his horse. Maximus comes over and helps Aurelius with his stirrup. Aurelius leans down.

AURELIUS
(to Maximus)
So much for the glory of Rome.

Commodus watches with a cold expression.

05 INT. OFFICERS’ TENT. NIGHT.

Maximus walks up to the exterior forecourt of the main tent. Inside a celebration of the victory is in progress.

OFFICER (O/S, bgd dialogue)
It was 3 of our legions against 4000 of their …

He greets several soldiers, and enters the tent.

MAXIMUS
(calling out)
Faro, you’re still alive! Your luck is still with you.

FARO
And you, General! The gods still have a sense of humor!

Maximus laughs.

He turns to a washstand and washes his hands.

He glances up and sees Aurelius, seated on a throne, speaking with Commodus and several officers.

He walks on among the soldiers and political guests.

In an adjacent reception area of the tent, Lucilla and another woman of the imperial court are looking through a flap in the tent. Lucilla nods, pointing out Maximus.

Maximus walks up to the two officers from the battle, Quintus and a second officer.

2ND OFFICER
(to Maximus)
General.
Back to barracks, general?

MAXIMUS
Back to my wife, my son, my harvest.

QUINTUS
Maximus, the farmer. I still have difficulty imagining that.

MAXIMUS
You know, dirt cleans off much easier than blood, Quintus.

Commodus approaches. Two senators, standing nearby, turn as the Emperor’s son joins the soldiers.

COMMODUS
(to Maximus)
There he is.

MAXIMUS
Your Highness.

COMMODUS
(greeting)
Senator Gaius, Senator Falco.
(to Maximus)
Beware of Gaius. He’ll pour honeyed potion in your ear, and you’ll wake up one day and all you’ll say is: “Republic. Republic. Republic.”

GAIUS
Well, why not? Rome was founded as a republic.

COMMODUS
Yes, and in a republic the senate has the power. But of course, Senator Gaius is not influenced by that.

FALCO
Where do you stand, general? Emperor or Senate?

MAXIMUS
A soldier has the advantage of being able to look his enemy in the eye, Senator.

GAIUS
Well, with an army behind you, you could be extremely political.

COMMODUS
(to Maximus)
I warned you. I shall save you.
(nods to the others)
Senators.

Commodus walks alongside Maximus.

COMMODUS
Rome may soon need good men like you.

MAXIMUS
(cautiously)
How may I be of service, Highness?

COMMODUS
You’re a man who knows what it is to command. You give your orders, the orders are obeyed and the battle is won. But these senators, they scheme and squabble and flatter and deceive.
(moves closer to Maximus)
Maximus, we must save Rome from the politicians. Can I count on you when the time comes?

MAXIMUS
(resolutely)
Highness, when your father releases me I intend to return home.

COMMODUS
Well, no one’s earned it more. But don’t get too comfortable. I may call on you before long.
Lucilla’s here, did you know? She’s not forgotten you.
(pauses)
And now you’re the great man.

06 INT. ADJACENT RECEPTION AREA OF TENT. NIGHT.

Aurelius walks in, turns and sees Lucilla and the other woman, still looking through into the reception area. The other woman steps back, bowing. Lucilla turns and faces her father.

AURELIUS
If only you had been born a man. What a Caesar you would have made.

LUCILLA
(bows her head)
Father.

AURELIUS
(pensive)
You would have been strong. I wonder, would you have been just?

LUCILLA
(matter of fact)
I would have been what you taught me to be.

AURELIUS
Ah.

They start walking along together.

AURELIUS
How was your journey?

LUCILLA
Long. Very comfortable. Why have I come?

AURELIUS
I need your help, with your brother.

LUCILLA
(smiling)
Of course!

AURELIUS (cont’d)
He loves you. He always has. And he will need you now, more than ever.
(brusquely)
Enough of politics. Let us pretend that you’re a loving daughter, and I am a good father.

LUCILLA
This is a pleasant fiction, isn’t it?

07 EXT. FIELD FORTIFICATIONS. DAY.

Maximus is out walking among the troops, greeting soldiers.

He comes to the stables, and strokes the mane of one of his horses. He smiles.

At the sound of swords CLASHING, he turns and looks on as Commodus, with a group of several soldiers, all stripped to the waist, practices the sequence of slashing movements in a swordfight. Maximus pauses, watching.

08 INT. EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS’ QUARTERS. DAY.

Marcus Aurelius is writing at his desk, a scholar at work, completely absorbed.

Maximus, in formal general’s attire, enters and stands at attention.

MAXIMUS
You sent for me, Caesar?

Aurelius continues writing. His infirmity is apparent.

MAXIMUS
Caesar?

Aurelius speaks familiarly, picking up the thread of a debate they have enjoyed together before.

AURELIUS
Tell me again, Maximus. Why are we here?

MAXIMUS
For the glory of the empire, sire.

AURELIUS
Ah. Hm, I remember.
Do you see that map, Maximus? That is the world which I have created. For twenty-five years I have conquered, spilt blood, expanded the empire. Since I became Caesar I have known four years without war. Four years of peace in twenty! And for what?

He stands and walks round his desk.

AURELIUS (cont’d)
I have brought the sword, nothing more.

MAXIMUS
(protesting)
Caesar, your life is --

AURELIUS
Don’t call me that.

He walks from this study over towards the reception area.

AURELIUS (cont’d)
Come, please. Come, sit.

Maximus sits on a bench.

AURELIUS (cont’d)
Let us talk now, very simply, as men.

Aurelius sits on a sofa.

AURELIUS (cont’d)
Well, Maximus, talk.

MAXIMUS
(respectful, but angry)
Five thousand of my men are out there in the freezing mud. Three thousand of them are bloodied and cleaved, two thousand will never leave this place. I will not believe that they fought and died for nothing.

AURELIUS
And what would you believe?

MAXIMUS
They fought for you. And for Rome.

AURELIUS
And what is Rome, Maximus?

MAXIMUS
I’ve seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal and cruel and dark. Rome is the light.

AURELIUS
Yet you have never been there. You have not seen what it has become.
(firmly)
I am dying, Maximus.

Aurelius speaks of things he has clearly reflected on for many years.

AURELIUS (cont’d)
(gently)
When a man sees his end, he wants to know there was some purpose to his life. How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be known as the philosopher, the warrior, the tyrant, or --
(hesitates)
-- will I be the emperor who gave Rome back her true self?
(wistfully)
There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it! Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter.
(moves over beside Maximus)
Maximus, let us whisper now, together, you and I.
(settling back)
You have a son. Tell me about your home.

Maximus relaxes, warmed by the memory.

MAXIMUS
My house is in the hills above Tejilla, a very simple place. Pink stones warm in the sun, a kitchen garden that smells of herbs in the day, jasmine in the evening. Through the gate is a giant poplar. Figs, apples, pears, and soil, Marcus! Black. Black like my wife’s hair! Grapes on the south slope, olives on the north, wild ponies play near the house, I tease my son he wants to be one!

AURELIUS
When was the last time you were home?

MAXIMUS
2 years, 264 days from this morning.

AURELIUS
I envy you, Maximus. It’s a good home. Worth fighting for.

Aurelius stands slowly.

AURELIUS
There is one more duty I would ask of you before you go home.

Maximus stands and faces Aurelius, at attention.

MAXIMUS
(formally)
What would you have me do, Caesar?

AURELIUS
(issuing command)
I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die.
I will empower you to one end alone: to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it.
(pauses)
Would you accept this great honor that I have offered?

MAXIMUS
With all my heart, no.

Aurelius reaches out and places his hand on Maximus’ shoulder.

AURELIUS
Maximus, that is why it must be you.

Aurelius drops his hand.

MAXIMUS
Surely a prefect, a senator, somebody who knows the city, who understands her politics?

AURELIUS
But you have not been corrupted by her politics.

Aurelius turns and walks away a few steps.

MAXIMUS
And Commodus?

AURELIUS
(turning back)
Commodus is not a moral man. You have known that since you were young. Commodus cannot rule. He must not rule.
(wistful)
You are the son I should have had.
(firmly)
Commodus will accept my decision. He knows that you command the loyalty of the army.

Aurelius sits.

MAXIMUS
I need some time, sire.

AURELIUS
Yes, by sunset I hope you will have agreed. Now, embrace me as my son.
(smiling)
And bring an old man another blanket.

09 EXT. OUTSIDE AURELIUS’ TENT, ADJACENT TO LUCILLA’S. DAY.

Maximus emerges from the imperial tent. He paces, his mind in turmoil over Aurelius’ request.

Lucilla walks out from under the awning of her tent. He turns and sees her.

LUCILLA
My father favors you now.

MAXIMUS
My lady.

LUCILLA
It was not always so.

MAXIMUS
Many things change.

LUCILLA
Many things. But not everything.

He turns away.

LUCILLA
Maximus, stop. Let me see your face.
(looking more closely at him)
You seem upset.

MAXIMUS
I lost many men.

LUCILLA
What did my father want with you?

MAXIMUS
To wish me well before I leave for home.

He again turns away.

LUCILLA
You’re lying.

He pauses, turning back.

LUCILLA (cont’d)
I could always tell when you were lying because you were never any good at it.

MAXIMUS
I never acquired your comfort with it.

LUCILLA
True. But then you never had to. Life is much simpler for a soldier.
(pauses)
Do you think me heartless?

MAXIMUS
I think you have a talent for survival.

He turns away yet again.

LUCILLA
(impatient)
Maximus, stop!
(laughing gently)
Is it really so terrible seeing me again?

MAXIMUS
No, I’m tired from battle.

LUCILLA
It hurts you to see my father so fragile.
(he nods)
Commodus expects my father will announce the succession within days. Will you serve my brother as you’ve served his father?

MAXIMUS
I will always serve Rome.

LUCILLA
You know, I still remember you in my prayers. Oh yes, I pray.

MAXIMUS
I was sad to hear of your husband’s death. I mourned him.

LUCILLA
(quietly)
Thank you.

MAXIMUS
And I hear that you have a son.

LUCILLA
(brightening)
Yes. Lucius. He’ll be nearly 8 years old.

MAXIMUS
My son is also nearly eight.
(bowing his head)
I thank you for your prayers.

He turns and leaves.

10 INT. MAXIMUS’ TENT. EVENING.

CICERO, Maximus’ soldier manservant, is washing drinking mugs in the corner of the tent.

Maximus is kneeling before a small shrine.

MAXIMUS
(praying)
Blessed mother, come to me with what the gods desire for my future.
Blessed father, watch over my wife and son with a ready sword.
Know that I only live to hold them again.
Ancestors, I honor you, and I will try to live with the dignity you have taught me.

He picks up two small figurines from the low table before the shrine. One is a carving of a woman, the other a young boy. He kisses the one of the woman, and then places them into a small satchel. It has a ritual air, the conclusion to his prayers.

He stands and sits down in his field chair.

MAXIMUS
Cicero!

Cicero brings Maximus a drink.

CICERO
Sir.

Cicero blows out the candles on the altar to Maximus' ancestors.

MAXIMUS
Do you ever find it hard to do your duty?

CICERO
(reflecting)
Sometimes I do what I want to do, the rest of the time I do what I have to.

MAXIMUS
We may not be able to go home after all.

11 INT. IMPERIAL TENT, ANTECHAMBER TO AURELIUS’ QUARTERS. EVENING.

Commodus walks out from behind a shroud, and approaches one of the Roman busts displayed in this small reception area. He comes up very close to it and touches its face.

Aurelius walks into this formal reception area.

AURELIUS
Are you ready to do your duty for Rome?

Commodus turns to face the emperor.

COMMODUS
Yes, father.

AURELIUS
You will not be emperor.

COMMODUS
(choking)
Which of the nobles will take my place?

AURELIUS
My powers will pass to Maximus to hold in trust until the Senate is ready to rule once more. Rome is to be a republic again.

COMMODUS
(shocked)
Maximus.

Auelius reaches to stroke the side of Commodus’ face, who leans his head away. Aurelius drops his hand.

AURELIUS
My decision disappoints you?

COMMODUS
(dignified, harsh)
You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues: wisdom, justice, fortitude, and temperance. As I read the list I knew I had none of them. But I have other virtues. Ambition, that can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. Resourcefulness.
(voice breaking)
Courage, perhaps not on the battlefield, but there are many forms of courage. Devotion -- to my family. But none of my virtues were on your list.
(near tears)
Even then it was as if you didn’t want me for your son.

Aurelius kneels before his son. A terrible guilt moves across his face.

AURELIUS
Commodus, you go too far.

COMMODUS
(weeping)
I searched the faces of the gods for ways to please you. To make you proud. One kind word. One full heart as you pressed me to your chest would be like the sun on my heart for 4000 years.
(a confused child)
What is it in me you hate so much?

AURELIUS
Commodus.

COMMODUS
All I’ve ever wanted was to live up to you, Caesar … father.

AURELIUS
(reaching up towards his son)
Commodus, your faults as a son is my failure as a father.

Commodus embraces his father’s head, his hands gently holding the older man’s head. Emotion drains from Commodus’ face, as he woodenly pulls Aurelius tightly against his chest.

COMMODUS
And I will go to the whole world until you have heard me.

Commodus’ grip on his father tightens; the son is strangling the father.

Aurelius, flailing, tries to push himself away from Commodus.

Commodus groans deep as his father’s struggling arms slowly go limp. Aurelius dies.

12 INT. MAXIMUS’ TENT. NIGHT.

Maximus wakes suddenly, drawing a dagger by his pillow. Quintus faces him.

QUINTUS
Maximus, the emperor needs you. It’s urgent.

13 INT. AURELIUS’ TENT. NIGHT.

Maximus walks quickly into Aurelius’ bedchamber.

COMMODUS
Amend with me, brother. Our great father is dead.

Maximus walks to the side of Aurelius’ bed, and holds his hand against the Emperor’s forehead, and neck, feeling for a pulse. Commodus stands at the threshold, watching.

Lucilla is standing off to one side, looking on, tears on her cheeks.

MAXIMUS
(evenly)
How did he die?

COMMODUS
The surgeons say there was no pain. His heart gave out as he slept.

Maximus leans down and kisses the corpse on the forehead.

MAXIMUS
(to Aurelius, softly)
Father.

Maximus still does not turn round.

COMMODUS
Your emperor asks for your loyalty, Maximus. Take my hand. I’ll only offer it once.

Maximus turns and looks hard at Commodus, and aside at Lucilla. He does not take Commodus’ hand. He strides out of the room.

MAXIMUS
Quintus!

Quintus hesitates, then follows.

Lucilla steps towards Commodus and forcefully slaps him twice. He does not respond.

She takes his hand, raises it and kisses the imperial ring.

LUCILLA
(grieving, angry, ironic)
Hail Caesar.

14 INT. MAXIMUS’ TENT. NIGHT.

Maximus walks in quickly from the forecourt of his tent. He is putting on his leather field armor.

MAXIMUS
(to Cicero)
I must talk to the senators. Wake them, I need their counsel. Quick, Gaius and Falco.

CICERO
Gaius and Falco.

MAXIMUS
(nodding to the corner)
Sword.

CICERO
Sword.

Quintus strides into Maximus’ tent.

QUINTUS
Maximus, please be careful, that was not prudent.

MAXIMUS
Prudent? The emperor has been slain.

QUINTUS
The emperor died of natural causes.

Maximus looks up at Quintus.

MAXIMUS
Why are you armed, Quintus?

QUINTUS
(calling out)
Guards!
(to Maximus)
Please don’t fight, Maximus.

Behind the curtain Cicero has started to draw Maximus’ sword.

MAXIMUS
(to Cicero, under his breath)
Don’t.

The guards enter.

QUINTUS
I’m sorry.
(issuing orders)
Caesar has spoken. Ride until dawn and then execute him.

MAXIMUS
Quintus, look at me.
(shouting)
Look at me!
(one soldier to another)
Promise me that you will look after my family.

QUINTUS
Your family will meet you in the afterlife.

MAXIMUS
NO!

Sudden sound of THUNDER as dark clouds move (FAST MOTION) over Maximus’ villa.

15 EXT. FOREST. DAY.

Maximus, bound and mounted on a horse, is being led by a small company of soldiers.

They dismount and a soldier moves into position beside Maximus. He holds a sword, ready to behead Maximus.

MAXIMUS
(praying)
Blessed father, watch over my wife and son. Know that I only live to hold them again.

SOLDIER
Kneel!

MAXIMUS
(to Centurion)
At least give me a clean death, a soldier’s death.

The Centurion nods to the soldier.

The soldier moves behind Maximus, and holds his sword up, preparing to drive it vertically down into Maximus’ body, an honorable death. He suddenly thrusts back with his head, a forceful blow into the soldier’s lower chest. Maximus stands, seizes the sword by the blade and drives it into the soldier’s chest like a knife, retracts it, then whirls round and tosses it in the air, catching it by the hilt. The Centurion is trying to draw his sword.

MAXIMUS
(crouching)
The frost. Sometimes it makes the blade stick.

He lunges and kills the Centurion.

Another Centurion, mounted and posted as guard 20 paces away, turns at the sound.

MAXIMUS
(calling out)
Praetorian!

The sound of a sword CUTTING through the air end over end. The sword impales the mounted guard.

A third Centurion, also mounted, positioned 20 paces on the other side, draws his sword.

Maximus picks up a sword, preparing to strike the Centurion as he charges.

The Centurion rides past Maximus, who, at the last instant, crosses to the other side of the running horse, and strikes.

The Centurion finishes his pass. He turns round, as if preparing to charge again, but falls slowly to the ground.

Maximus leans forward, blood flowing from a wound in his shoulder.

16 EXT. COUNTRYSIDE. DAY.

Maximus is riding across a far vista, leading a second horse tethered to his own.

17 EXT. COUNTRYSIDE. NIGHT.

Maximus is sitting next to a fire. His armor is on the ground. He is gazing into the flames.

The remembers fragments of his conversation with Aurelius, and his nightly prayers.

AURELIUS (V/O)
When was the last time you were home?

MAXIMUS (V/O)
(overlapping)
2 years 264 days from this morning. Blessed father watch over my wife and son … protect my wife and son with a ready sword … for all else is dust and air and know that I only live to hold them again. For all else is dust and air …

He’s exhausted, and deeply frightened for his family’s safety.

18 EXT. MAXIMUS’ VILLA. DAY.

Peaceful-looking sentries are standing at attention in a field outside the perimeter wall of Maximus’ villa in Spain.

Maximus’ son, who is standing at the center of a circle, is holding a rein and leading a white pony in exercises around him.

A regiment of mounted Roman troops approach down a road leading to the villa.

The wife and son look up, and the son smiles. He starts running to meet the troops.

Maximus is riding along a road.

SON
(running)
Papa! Papa!

Maximus hears his son’s voice, not physically, intuitively. He wakes from his exhausted sleep, and spurs his horse afresh.

The son waves and grins. He hesitates on the broad avenue between two rows of trees, for a moment uncertain about the troops galloping towards him. He starts running forward again, deciding that his father is teasing him.

His mother follows a short distance behind. She looks up, uncertain.

The boy pauses. The troops are approaching even faster, and ride over the boy..

His mother raises her hand to her mouth in shock.

Maximus’ horse takes a fall, throwing him to the ground.

The troops ride on in the direction of the mother.

Maximus walks across his fields, now a smoking ruin of bare, blackened ground, littered with the charred bodies of the sentries.

The shoulder wound and an injury from his fall slow him down. He is inside the villa grounds, walking towards the buildings of his home.

MEDIUM ON Maximus as he staggers up the walkway, passes the poplar, and hesitates at what lies before him.

PULL BACK to the lower half of two bodies hanging from the porch of the main building. In the frame Maximus stands between them, at a distance, looking on.

He lurches forward, falling to his knees. He covers the last few steps on his knees, reaching up up to them. He holds and kisses the blackened, smoking feet of his wife and son.

He collapses in grief.

He is asleep.

CLOSE ON his head, cradled between the mounds of two graves.

A foot steps into frame beside his head. The sound of VOICES, speaking in Arabic. Hands roughly pick him up.

19 EXT. DESERT, NORTH AFRICA. DAY.

Maximus’ hand is passing over a field of ripe grass, ready for harvest. Dream-image of his villa in Spain.

A landscape shuttles across the frame. The dream being displaced as he wakes. The sky darkens and moves by. His body is moving horizontally, as if floating a meter above the ground.

The sound of children LAUGHING, monkeys SCREECHING, swords CLASHING, wheels slowly TURNING, and metal implements suspended from the cart swinging back and forth, CLANGING.

He wakes slowly, to discover he is lying on his back, shackled, riding on a cart. A black man, JUBA, is walking behind the cart. He looks down at Maximus, and in voiceover speaks of Maximus’ family.

JUBA (V/O)
You will see them again. But not yet.

Maximus looks down at his wound, at slugs crawling in it. He tries to reach up to brush them away.

JUBA
Don’t. They will clean it.

Maximus looks up at the desert sun, and is dizzy for a moment.

JUBA
Don’t die. They’ll feed you to the lions.

He looks over at the next cart, an elaborate wagon with a cage. A lion is inside.

JUBA (cont’d)
They’re worth more than we are.

Camels and horses and other shackled men walk in front of and behind the two carts, a slave train crossing a desert.

What Juba is chewing on -- an herbal medicament -- he takes from his mouth and spreads on the open wound in Maximus’ shoulder.

JUBA
It feels better. See?

LONG SHOT from a cliff, showing the procession of slaves and animals moving across the desert.

20 EXT. ARAB MARKETPLACE. DAY.

Title on-screen: ZUCCHABAR, Roman Province

Sounds of people CALLING OUT in the market, dogs BARKING, and the SCREECHES of monkeys.

MEDIUM ON an old man, PROXIMO, sitting in an open-air drinking bazaar. He is hunched over, drinking from a small mug.

A slave and livestock dealer calls out.

SLAVEDEALER
Proximo, my old friend!
(approaching)
The days greet day when you are here.
(standing by Proximo)
Today is your most fortunate day.

Proximo reaches under the slavedealer’s robe and seizes him. The man cries out.

PROXIMO
Those giraffes you sold me. They won’t mate. They just walk around, eating, and not mating. You sold me queer giraffes. I want my money back.

SLAVEDEALER
Not a chance.

Proximo tightens his grip, and the slavedealer cries out again.

SLAVEDEALER
(gasping)
A special price for you!

PROXIMO
On what?

SLAVEDEALER
Have you seen my new stock? Come and see them.

21 EXT. SLAVEDEALERS’ MARKET AREA. DAY.

Proximo is being carried through a market street in an ornate litter.

The slavedealer and Proximo enter the grounds of the slave and livestock market. Maximus and Juba are manacled to posts.

PROXIMO
Do you have any that fight? I have a match coming up.

SLAVEDEALER
Some are good for fighting, others for dying. You need both, I think.

Proximo turns to Juba.

PROXIMO
Get up!

Juba stands.

Proximo takes hold of Juba’s shoulder, then slaps his buttock in an appraising manner. He takes hold of Juba’s hand, and turns it over to look at the palm.

PROXIMO
Your trade?

JUBA
I was a hunter.

SLAVEDEALER
No, no. I bought him from a saltmine in Carthage.

Proximo walks across to Maximus, and prods with a stick at the wound in his shoulder. He sees the Roman military ‘SPQR’ tattoo on Maximus’ upper arm.

PROXIMO
Mark of the legion. Deserter.

SLAVEDEALER
Maybe so. But who cares. He’s a Spaniard.

PROXIMO
I’ll take six, for one thousand.

SLAVEDEALER
A thousand?! The Numibian alone is worth two thousand!

PROXIMO
These slaves are rotten.

SLAVEDEALER
It all adds to the flavor.

Proximo turns to leave.

SLAVEDEALER
(rushing after him)
No, no. Wait. Wait! I’m trying to negotiate.

PROXIMO
(his last offer)
I’ll give you 2000, and 4000 for the beasts. That’s 5000 for an old friend.

22 EXT. STREET. DAY.

Proximo’s litter is approaching his compound.

PROXIMO
(shouting)
Hurry up! How long will it take me to get home.

23 EXT. WITHIN WALLS OF PROXIMO’S COMPOUND. DAY.

Proximo is walking along, inspecting the newly acquired slaves/gladiators as they fall into formation along the wall.

PROXIMO
I am Proximo! I shall be closer to you for the next few days, which will be the last of your miserable lives, than that bitch of a mother who brought you screaming into this world.
(pauses)
I did not pay good money for you for your company. I paid it so I could profit from your death. And as your mother was there at your beginning, so I shall be there at your end. And when you die, and die you shall, your transition shall be to the sound of --

He slowly claps his hands together several times.

PROXIMO (cont’d)
Gladiators, I salute you!

24 EXT. COMPOUND TRAINING AREA. DAY.

Proximo is watching as the new slaves are being drilled. After watching one gladiator’s response, he turns to a clerk.

PROXIMO
Yellow.

The clerk writes in a large ledger.

DISSOLVE TO the inner training area, where Proximo’s chief gladiator, HAGEN, used also as a trainer, is fencing with Juba. Hagen is using a wooden sword, attempting to bait Juba..

Juba lunges suddenly, tries to return Hagen’s blows.

Hagen pulls back, pushing aside Juba’s sword. He laughs appreciatively.

HAGEN
Good!

Proximo, sitting nearby under an awning, nods.

PROXIMO
Red.

HAGEN
Red.

Hagen picks up a brush and splashes red paint on Juba’s tunic.

PROXIMO
The Spaniard.

Maximus is pushed forward. He stands motionless, then raises in one hand the sword given to him, and tosses it to the ground. Hagen glances at Proximo, who nods. The trainer slaps the flat side of his sword against Maximus’ stomach. Maximus makes no reaction. Hagen glances again at Proximo, who nods again. The trainer slaps the sword agasinst Maximus upper arm. Again no reaction. Hagen pulls back his arm, readying to strike Maximus in earnest.

PROXIMO
Enough! His time will come.

HAGEN
Next!

25 INT. COMPOUND, SLAVES’ HOLDING CELL. NIGHT.

Juba turns from the doorway. He looks over at Maximus, who is sitting on a low platform with his back to the wall.

JUBA
Spaniard. Why don’t you fight? We all have to fight.

Maximus is using a knife to cut into the SPQR tattoo on his arm, removing it.

JUBA
(looking at the tattoo)
Is that a sign of your gods?

Maximus smiles at the irony, and nods.

JUBA
Will that not anger them?

Maximus smiles again as blood flows down his arm.

26 EXT. MARKET. DAY.

Bright red blood is poured on the backs of goats, as the gladiators are led through the streets. Hagen runs alongside Maximus.

HAGEN
(to Maximus)
The gods favor you. Red is the gods’ color. You will need their help today.

27 INT. ZUCCHABAR ARENA, CELLAR. DAY.

Proximo is walking in front of the seated gladiators in a low-ceilinged room. He is between them and a table.

PROXIMO
Some of you are thinking you won’t fight. And some that you can’t fight. They all say that …

He looks up at the ceiling, in the direction of the sounds of the arena above.

CROWD (O/S)
Kill! Kill! Kill!

PROXIMO (cont’d)
Until they’re up there.

He pulls a sword from a scabbard hanging on the wall

PROXIMO (cont’d)
Thrust this into another man’s flesh. They will applaud and love you for that. And you --
(thrusts the sword)
-- you may begin to love them --
(thrusts the sword again)
-- for that.

He drives the sword into the surface of the table, and steps away. He turns back.

PROXIMO (cont’d)
Ultimately we’re all dead men. Sadly we cannot choose how, but we can choose how we meet that end … in order that we are remembered … as men.

Maximus leans down and takes up a handful of sand. He rubs it between his hands.

28 EXT. FLOOR OF THE ARENA. DAY.

Four large gladiators who will be fighting the new slaves are slowly moving about in the arena. They wear leather tunics and large metallic bull-heads with horns, making them seem less-than-human.

29 INT. ARENA CELLAR. DAY.

The bolts holding the manacles in place round the ankles of the new gladiators are being struck off with a large mallet. They are being chained together in pairs, with one long chain to one wrist of each gladiator.

They walk up a set of stairs leading to a small holding area. A gate across one side leads out into the arena.

30 EXT. ARENA. DAY.

The four bull-head gladiators are ranged in front of the gate, swaying back and forth, readying their swords. The largest among them is swinging a studded iron ball at the end of a chain. The sound of the CHAIN, and the CROWD.

31 INT. ARENA HOLDING CELL. DAY.

Maximus, Juba, and Hagen are standing with several other gladiators in a small group, waiting for the gate to be opened.

Uncertainty is on the faces of Maximus and Juba.. And standing in front of Maximus, terror on the face of one of the other men. Urine runs down his leg. Maximus steps back.

32 EXT. ARENA. DAY.

The gate is pulled open. The men spill out in a disorganized mass. The studded iron ball swings and crashes against the skull of the man standing in front.

Maximus is chained to Juba, Hagen to another, and the one who was killed to another, and a last pair.

Maximus uses his shield to bludgeon one of the bull-men.

Hagen kills one of them.

The man chained to Hagen is killed, and Hagen severs the man’s hand at the wrist, freeing himself. He kills another.

Maximus and Juba working together kill another.

Two of the other new gladiators are killed.

Hagen kills another by lifting him and impaling him on a decorative horn fitted into the wall.

Cheers from the crowd after each death.

A net is thrown over the partner of the new gladiator just killed, and he is impaled on a trident.

Maximus and Juba face down another with a net and trident, getting the trident from him, and impaling him with it.

Bodies lie around the surviving gladiators: Hagen, Maximus, and Juba.

CIRCULAR PANNING SHOT moves round Maximus and Juba several times after the last death, showing the crowd behind them cheering and waving. They look back at the crowd, perplexed, horrified.

LONG SHOT, SPIRALLING UP above the arena, clouds swirling.

33 EXT. ROMAN FORUM. DAY.

LONG SHOT descending through clouds.

Far below, the environs of Rome, come into view. Color scheme is dark metallic blue, black & off-white, evoking a neo-fascist political landscape.

PANORAMIC SHOT above the buildings of the city.

LONG SHOT of an Imperial Procession entering Rome, moving up towards the forum.

GROUND-LEVEL SHOT of infantry walking in formation. A chariot rides within their ranks, carrying Commodus and Lucilla.

On the steps of the forum stand a reception party, among them several senators and a young boy, LUCIUS, Lucilla’s son.

GRACCHUS
He’s entering Rome like a conquering hero. What has he conquered?

FALCO
Give him time, Gracchus. He’s young. I think he could do very well.

GRACCHUS
For you, or for Rome?

The chariot pulls up at the foot of the forum steps.

FALCO
(to Lucius)
Go to your mother, Lucius. That’s what she’d like.

Lucius runs down the steps.

LUCIUS
(calling out)
Mother!

The music builds, forming a contrast to Maximus’ own ‘homecoming’.

Commodus and Lucilla walk up the steps. Lucillas embraces her son with pleasure.

COMMODUS
(to the senators)
Senators.

FALCO
(to Commodus)
Rome greets her new emperor. All your loyal subjects bid you welcome.

COMMODUS
Thank you, Falco. And for the subjects. I trust they weren’t too expensive.

34 INT. EMPEROR’S RECEPTION HALL. DAY.

A celebration is in progress at the return of Emperor Commodus. Gracchus is addressing the guests.

Commodus sits in a chair in the hall, holding a sword vertically, with its point against the floor, spinning it absently.

GRACCHUS
For your guidance, Caesar, the Senate has prepared a series of protocols to begin addressing the many problems in the city, beginning with basic sanitation for the Greek quarter, to combat the plague which is already springing up there. Caesar --

COMMODUS
(hushing him as one would a child)
Sh-sh.

Commodus stands and walks across the room.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
Don’t you see, Gracchus? That’s the very problem, isn’t it. My father spent all his time at study, at books and learning and philosophy. He spent his twilight hours reading scrolls from the Senate. And all the while, the people were forgotten.

GRACCHUS
But the Senate is the people, sire. Chosen from among the people to speak for the people.

Commodus holds the sword like a staff behind his head, resting his arms on it.

COMMODUS
(turning back)
I doubt if many of the people eat so well as you do, Gracchus. Or have such splendid mistresses, Gaius. I think I understand my own people.

GRACCHUS
Then perhaps Caesar will be so good as to teach us, out of his own extensive experience.
(laughter)

COMMODUS
(he believes this)
I call it love. I am their father, the people are my children. And I shall open to my bosom and embrace them --

GRACCHUS
(scornful)
Have you ever embraced someone dying of plague, sire?

Commodus brings the sword down slowly, and walks towards Gracchus.

COMMODUS
No. But if you ever interrupt me again, I assure you that you shall.

Lucilla smoothly walks forward between the two men.

LUCILLA
Senator, my brother is very tired.

Commodus turns away. She accepts the scrolls from Gracchus.

LUCILLA
All that Rome requires will be done.

GRACCHUS
(to Lucilla, bowing)
As always, your lightest touch commands obedience.

35 INT. IMPERIAL CHAMBERS. DAY.

Commodus storms in, followed by Lucilla.

COMMODUS
Who are they to lecture me?

LUCILLA
Commodus, the Senate has its uses.

COMMODUS
What uses? All they do is talk. It should be just … you and me … and Rome.

He sits. Lucilla paces in front of him.

LUCILLA
Don’t even think it. Rome has always had a Senate.

COMMODUS
Rome has changed. It takes an Emperor to rule an Empire.

LUCILLA
Of course, but leave the people their --

COMMODUS
Illusions?

LUCILLA
Traditions.

COMMODUS
In father’s war with the barbarians he said himself it was an empty victory. Yet the people loved him.

LUCILLA
People always love victories.

COMMODUS
Why? They didn’t see the battles. What do they care about Germania?

LUCILLA
They care about the greatness of Rome.

COMMODUS
The greatness of Rome.
(leaning forward)
And what is that?

LUCILLA
It’s an idea.
(pauses)
Greatness … greatness is a vision.

COMMODUS
Exactly, a vision. Do you not see, Lucilla? I will give the people a vision of Rome, and they’ll love me for it. And they’ll soon forget the sermonizing of a few dry old men.
(with conviction)
I will give them a great vision of their past.

36 INT. EMPEROR’S BEDCHAMBER. DAY.

Commodus is standing over a model of his ‘vision’: the Colisseum. He places a small figurine of a gladiator on the floor of the model arena.

37 EXT. FORUM OF ROME. DAY.

AERIAL LONG SHOT of the buildings of Rome, the forum and Colosseum.

MEDIUM ON Falco, who stoops and picks up a flyer off the ground” it advertises the gladiatorial games in the Colosseum.

He sees Gracchus sitting in a drinking house and joins him. Falco slaps the advertisement down on the table as he sits.

FALCO
Games! 150 days of games!

GRACCHUS
He’s cleverer than I thought.

FALCO
All of Rome would be laughing at him, but everyone’s afraid of his Praetorians.

GRACCHUS
Fear and wonder. A powerful combination.

FALCO
Do you really think the people are going to be seduced by that?

GRACCHUS
I think he knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjuring and magic, and they’ll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they’ll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the Senate, it’s the sand of the arena. He’ll bring them death. And they will love him for it.

38 EXT. ARENA IN ZUCCHABAR. DAY.

AERIAL LONG SHOT of the desert, and then the town, and then the arena.

MEDIUM ON the arena, the crowds looking on expectantly.

MEDIUM ON the holding cage, Maximus at the far end. His name is called. He stands and walks between the seated gladiators. The others greet him as he calmly makes his way to the door.

OTHERS
Spaniard! Spaniard!

Five large masked gladiators stand looking uncertainly at the gate where Maximus stands waiting. They are ranged in front of it. But now they are the prey, and Maximus the predator.

The gate opens and he comes out, unhurried. He bows to his opponents. His attitude is different from when he was a soldier, he’s more casual now. It’s as though he has nothing to lose, except his life, which he values at nought.

The sound of the crowd CHEERING on its new hero.

The masked gladiators hesitate, then one attacks. Maximus kills him swiftly, easily.

He kills a second, third, fourth.

The last he kills by grabbing up a second sword and driving both into the man’s chest. He pulls out both swords and brings them together and across in a scissoring motion, beheading the other..

The sound of CHEERING rises.

Maximus walks further into the center of the arena. He throws one of the swords into the audience, overturning a table, scattering a few spectators.

He roars back at the crowd.

MAXIMUS
Are you not entertained!
Are you not entertained!
(pauses)
Is this not why you are here!?

CROWD
(chanting)
Spaniard!
Spaniard!
Spaniard!

He tosses the other sword to the ground in disgust, spits, and walks away towards the exit.

The sound of the crowd’s CHEERING continues.

39 INT. PROXIMO’S OFFICE. DAY.

PROXIMO
What do you want? Girl? Boy?

MAXIMUS
You sent for me?

PROXIMO
Yes, I sent for you.
You’re good, Spaniard, but you’re not that good. You could be magnificent.

MAXIMUS
I’m required to kill, so I kill. That is enough.

PROXIMO
That’s enough for the provinces, but not for Rome.
(walking away)
The young emperor has arranged a series of spectacles to commemorate his father, Marcus Aurelius. I find that amusing, as it was Marcus Aurelius the wise, the all-knowing, that closed us down. So finally after 5 years of scratching a living in flea-infested villages, we’re finally going back to where we belong – the Colosseum. Oh, you should see the Colosseum, Spaniard.
(relishing the memory)
Fifty thousand Romans following every movement of your sword, willing you to make that killer blow. The silence before you strike, it rises, rises up like a storm, as if you were the thunder god himself.

MAXIMUS
You were a gladiator?

PROXIMO
Yes. Yes, I was.

MAXIMUS
You won your freedom?

PROXIMO
A long time ago the emperor presented me with a rudius. It’s just a wooden sword, a symbol of your freedom. He touched me on the shoulder and I was free.

MAXIMUS
(laughing)
You knew Marcus Aurelius?

PROXIMO
(angrily)
I did not say I knew him. I said he touched me on the shoulder once.

MAXIMUS
(serious)
You asked me what I wanted. I too want to stand in front of the emperor, as you did.

PROXIMO
Then listen to me. Learn from me. I wasn’t the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd, and you’ll win your freedom.

MAXIMUS
I’ll win the crowd. I’ll give them something they’ve never seen before.

Proximo laughs, excited.

PROXIMO
So. Spaniard!

He turns and walks to the window. He looks out onto the desert.

PROXIMO (cont’d)
We shall go to Rome together and have bloody adventures. And the great whore will suckle us until we’re fat and happy and can suckle no more.
(turning round to face Maximus)
And then … when enough men have died … perhaps you will have your freedom.

Proximo picks up a Roman soldier’s leather breastplate, and tosses it to Maximus.

PROXIMO
Here, use this.

Maximus turns to leave.

40 EXT. ROOF OF PROXIMO’S COMPOUND. EVENING.

Several guards are posted.

Maximus is seated on a low stool.

Juba turns from the parapet and gestures to the horizon.

JUBA
It’s somewhere out there. My country, my home. My wife is preparing food. My daughters carry water from the river. Will I ever see them again? I think not.

MAXIMUS
(quietly)
Do you believe you will see them again when you die?

JUBA
Yes. But then I will die soon. They will not die for many years.

MAXIMUS
But you would -- wait?

JUBA
Of course.

MAXIMUS
You see … my wife, and my son … are already waiting for me.

JUBA
(uwavering certainty)
You’ll meet them again.
(pauses)
But not yet. Not yet.

Maximus is comforted by this new knowledge.

MAXIMUS
(under his breath)
I’ll see them.
(quietly)
But not yet.

Transition shots:

(Sudden SUNLIGHT fills the frame).

(LONG SHOT of horizon).

41 EXT. STREET IN ROME. DAY.

LONG ON the environs of Rome, ground level. A road leading into the city.

A cage-like gladiatorial coach is moving down a street, towards Proximo’s Roman compound. The gladiators sit inside, leaning against the bars. The coach enters the compound, the gates are locked.

Proximo gets down and walks up to a tall statue of a Roman god. He kisses his hand and then touches the foot of the statue.

PROXIMO
(to the statue)
Good to see you again, old friend.
(whispers)
Bring me good fortune.

The three gladiators, Maximus, Juba, and Hagen, stand and look up at the Colisseum, an awe-inspiring structure that towers above them.

JUBA
Have you ever seen anything like that before? I didn’t know men could build such things.

Proximo walks over and faces Maximus.

PROXIMO
(to Maximus)
Win the crowd.

42 INT. IMPERIAL BEDCHAMBER. DAY.

CLOSE ON Commodus, looking down, his attention focussed.

CLOSE ON Lucius, sleeping peacefully in bed.

Lucilla enters, sees her brother, a look of concern crosses her face. She comes up and stands by Commodus.

COMMODUS
He sleeps so well because he’s loved.

LUCILLA
Come, brother. It’s late.

They walk into an adjacent room. Lucilla prepares a sedative in a drink for her brother.

COMMODUS
I would make Rome the wonder of the ages. That’s what Gracchus and his friends don’t understand. All my desires are splitting my head to pieces.

She walks over carrying the drink.

LUCILLA
Commodus, drink this tonic.

COMMODUS
I think the time is almost right. I’m going to announce the dissolution of the Senate and a celebration to honor my father. Do you think I should? Are the people ready?

LUCILLA
(as if to a child)
I think you need your rest now.

COMMODUS
Stay with me.

LUCILLA
Still afraid of the dark?

COMMODUS
(looking away)
Still? Always …
(turning back)
Will you stay with me tonight?

LUCILLA
You know I won’t.

COMMODUS
Then kiss me.

She leans towards forward and kisses him on the forehead, then turns and walks to the door.

LUCILLA
Sleep, brother.

43 EXT. STREETS OF ROME. DAY.

The gladiators are being led through the street from Proximo’s compound to the Colosseum. People are gathering round them, women are coming up to Maximus and several of the others.

44 INT. COLOSSEUM FORECOURT. DAY.

Proximo is walking along with the Games Manager.

PROXIMO
The Emperor wants battles and I don’t want to sacrifice my best fighters.

MANAGER
The crowd wants battles and so the Emperor gives them battles. You get the battle of Carthage.

PROXIMO
The massacre of Carthage. Look, why don’t you go down to the prison, round up all the beggars and thieves.

MANAGER
We’ve done that.

PROXIMO
If you want to give away the best gladiators in the whole of the Empire then I want double the rates.

MANAGER
You’ll get the contract rates or you’ll get your contract cancelled. If you don’t like it you can crawl back down that shithole that you came from.

He puts on the gaudy Announcer’s wig and smiles scornfully. He turns and walks away.

45 EXT. LARGE COLOSSEUM CELL. DAY.

The gladiators’ cell has bars on one side, open to privileged visitors, for viewing. A young patrician boy walks up to the bars, accompanied by a man-servant.

LUCIUS
Gladiator! Are you the one they call ‘the Spaniard’?

MAXIMUS
Yes.

The boy gestures for him to come to the bars. Maximus stands and walks over.

LUCIUS
They said you were a giant, and they said you could crush a man’s skull with one hand.

MAXIMUS
A man’s? No.
A boy’s?

Lucius smiles at Maximus’ joke. Maximus smiles with him.

LUCIUS
Do they have horses in Spain?

MAXIMUS
Yes. Some of the best.

Maximus points to 2 small carvings of horses on the front of his breastplate.

MAXIMUS (cont’d)
This is Argento, and this is Lauto. They were my horses. They were taken from me.

LUCIUS
I like you, Spaniard. I shall cheer for you.

MAXIMUS
They let you go to the games?

LUCIUS
My uncle says it makes me strong.

MAXIMUS
And what does your father say?

LUCIUS
My father’s dead.

The man-servant steps forward.

MAN-SERVANT
Master Lucius, it is time.

LUCIUS
I have to go.

MAXIMUS
Your name is Lucius?

LUCIUS
My name is Lucius Varrus, after my father.

Lucius leaves.

Maximus leans back into the dark of the cell, concerned.

46 INT. COLOSSEUM, ARENA BASEMENT. DAY.

The gladiators are preparing for their first time in the arena.

Maximus kneels and picks up dirt, rubbing it between his hands.

He comes out into the armoury section and chooses a mask from a rack.

The gladiators assemble at the base of the long sloping ramp that emerges through one of the arena walls into the arena.

47 EXT. COLOSSEUM, EMPEROR’S SEATING AREA. DAY.

Commodus and Lucius come out into the imperial viewing area, his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

The Manager speaks to the audience.

MANAGER
On this day we reach back to hallowed antiquity to bring you a re-creation of the second fall of mighty Carthage.
(crowd CHEERS)
On the barren plains of Zarma there stood the invincible armies of the barbarian, Hannibal. Ferocious mercenaries and warriors from all brute nations bent on merciless destruction.
Commodus, your Emperor, is pleased to give you … the barbarian horde.
On the ramp, a games official speaks loudly to the assembled gladiators, standing in formation.

OFFICIAL
When the Emperor enters, raise your weapons, salute him, and then speak together. Face the Emperor, and don’t turn your back on him! Go, and die with honor!

The gladiators climb the ramp in 2 columns, emerging into the sound of the ROAR of the crowd in the colosseum.

In the imperial stands, Lucius, sitting now next to his mother, points out ‘the Spaniard’ to her.

Commodus comes to the railing of his viewing area, and nods down at the gladiators, now in formation on the arena floor.

They hail the Emperor, saluting. Maximus neither speaks nor salutes.

GLADIATORS
We who are about to die, salute you.

Maximus speaks quickly, while still standing in formation, to several of the gladiators around him.

MAXIMUS
Anyone here been in the army?

1st GLADIATOR
Yes.

2nd GLADIATOR
I served with you at Vindeburnum.

Maximus glances quickly at him, and nods.

MAXIMUS
(to 2nd Gladiator)
You can help me.
(to everyone)
Whatever comes out of those gates, we’ve got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together, we survive --

The Manager’s voice rings out.

MANAGER
-- pleased to bring you the legionnaires of Scipio Africanus.

Gates swing open at both ends of the arena and five chariots come rushing out.

A driver, an Amazon archer, and a javelin thrower ride in each of the chariots. They ride around the loose cluster of gladiators, shooting arrows and throwing javelins.
Two of the gladiators are killed immediately.

The gladiators come closer together. The chariots come in nearer. The gladiators bring their shields together in a loose, square-shaped testudo, its members ranged only on the perimeter (not a solid square). Javelins and arrows now land repeatedly, but harmlessly, against the overlapping shields.

LONG SHOT from a viewing box of the 3 chariots driving around the now disciplined knot of gladiators. Proximo rushes to the parapet, grinning at the gladiators’ surprising defensive manoeuver.

MEDIUM ON a chariot turning round, and charging directly for the testudo, to break into it.

MAXIMUS
(calling out)
Fall!

The gladiators drop to the ground, bracing the bottom of their shields together, against the ground, interlocked. The first chariot approaches. A long blade extending out from the axle of this chariot, as with the other chariots intended to maim and cleave in mid-calf, is driven to the side by the wall of shields.

A second chariot turns and charges towards them. Archers from the other chariots continue firing arrows.

The gladiators rise, reposition themselves, and kneel again into the testudo.

MAXIMUS
Hold! Together! Together!

The second chariot nears them.

MAXIMUS
Fall!

This time the side of the chariot comes closer.

MAXIMUS
As one!

They lift their shields together, like a flat iron plate, overturning the chariot. A third chariot piles up behind the overturned one, colliding and itself overturning against the wall.

Maximus releases and mounts one of the horses from the first chariot. The two chariots remaining are at the far end of the arena. Reaching down he picks up a jvelin and gives chase to the first chariot. He throws the javelin and kills one of its riders. He rides out in front of this one, and as they turn the bend, his horse conceals the earlier, overturned chariot. At the last moment he veers to the side and the chariot behind him collides into the first one. He slows down, and as he rides by, another gladiator tosses him a sword. He reaches the end of the arena.

MAXIMUS
(calling out)
Form two columns here!

The gladiators form into a long column, one beside the other, as the chariots, a few paces apart, charge towards them. The gladiators shoot arrows and fling javelins at the passing charioteers.

Maximus rides down the center between the two approaching chariots. As he passes he thrusts up, cutting the throat of the driver on one side. Bringing his sword-arm round he thrusts down, cutting the throat of the driver on the other side.

The gladiators break formation and overwhelm the other riders on the chariots.
The sound of the crowd in an UPROAR, CHEERING wildly, gesturing and waving.

Maximus drops the sword and picks up another javelin. He rides to the far end of the arena, opposite the imperial stands.

In the Emperor’s box, Commodus nods to the Manager, who comes over.

COMMODUS
My history is a little hazy, Cassius, but shouldn’t the barbarians lose the battle of Carthage?

MANAGER
Uh, yes, Sire. Uh, forgive me, Sire.

COMMODUS
No, I rather enjoy surprises.

COMMODUS
(pointing at Maximus)
Who is he?

Maximus is pacing his horse back and forth before the Emperor’s box.

MANAGER
They call him the Spaniard, Sire.

COMMODUS
I think I’ll meet him.

MANAGER
Yes, Sire.

Maximus tosses down the javelin and dismounts.

A door opens onto the arena floor and two long columns of Roman soldiers file out quickly.

Maximus returns to stand with the others.

The soldiers form into a square, surrounding the gladiators.

The company sargeant strides forward.

SARGEANT
(to the gladiators)
Drop your weapons!
(to Maximus)
Gladiator, the Emperor has asked for you.

MAXIMUS
I am at the Emperor’s service.

Commodus comes out through the same door. The crowd CHEERS.

Maximus believes he has arrived at the moment of his vengeance. He sees a broken-off arrowhead on the ground, and kneels, as if in obeisance, as the Emperor crosses the arena. He picks up the arrowpoint, hiding it under his hand and sleeve.

In the stands, Lucilla leans forward, half-suspecting who ‘the Spaniard’ is.

As Commodus nears Maximus, Lucius suddenly runs out and joins his uncle, who rests his hands lightly on the boy’s shoulders.

COMMODUS
(to Maximus)
Rise, rise.

Maximus stands.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
Your fame is well-deserved, Spaniard. I don’t think there’s ever been a gladiator to match you. As for this young man, he insists you’re Hector reborn …
(half-turning to Lucius)
Or was it Hercules?
(to Maximus)
Why doesn’t the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name. You do have a name.

MAXIMUS
My name is gladiator.

Maximus turns and walks away.

COMMODUS
How dare you show your back to me!
(grumbling of surprise from crowd)
You will remove your helmet and tell me your name!

Maximus slowly takes off his helmet and turns around.

MAXIMUS
My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commander of the armies of the north. General of the Felix Legions. A loyal servant to the true Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance, in this life or in the next.

Commodus looks at Maximus in shock. He looks down, and nods at Quintus, who gives a command.

The soldiers draw their swords, and take two steps towards Maximus. The other gladiators come round and close ranks near Maximus.

It is a momentary stand-off between the two groups.

The crowd begins chanting.

CROWD
Live!
Live!
Live!
Live!

Commodus’ expression of shocked fear is replaced by one of indulgence … of ‘his’ people.

He ceremoniously holds out his hand, and slowly turns his thumb up.

The sound of the crowd CHEERING.

Maximus raises a clenched fist to the crowd, as the CHEERING continues.

The gladiators run in disciplined formation back towards the center of the arena.

The elevator platform used to raise and lower gladiators into the arena, descends into the complex of basement chambers, where the sound of the gladiaors chanting takes over, leaving behind the sounds of the CHEERING of the ‘people’.

Maximus walks between rows of CHANTING gladiators.

GLADIATORS
Maximus!
Maximus!
Maximus!
Maximus!

48 INT. EMPEROR’S STATE HALL. EVENING.

Commodus is at his desk, signing scrolls. He hands one to a scribe standing nearby, and turns to the next.

COMMODUS
Why is he still alive?

LUCILLA
I don’t know.

COMMODUS
He shouldn’t be alive. It vexes me. I’m terribly vexed.
(guiltily)
I did what I had to do. If father had had his way, the Empire would have been torn apart. You do see that?

LUCILLA
Yes.

COMMODUS
What did you feel when you saw him?

LUCILLA
I felt nothing.

COMMODUS
He wounded you deeply, didn’t he?

LUCILLA
No more than I wounded him.

COMMODUS
They lied to me in Germania. They told me he was dead. If they lied to me, they don’t respect me. If they don’t respect me, how can they ever love me?

LUCILLA
Then you have to let it the legions know that treachery will not go unpunished.

COMMODUS
(admiring)
Oh, sister. I wouldn’t want to be your enemy.

LUCILLA
What will you do now?

49 INT. PROXIMO’S COMPOUND, CELL. NIGHT.

The cell door us unlocked and Maximus is led into another, adjacent cell, where his arms are shackled to the wall. A figure in the corner turns round, lowering a heavy cloak to her shoulders.

Lucilla looks across at Maximus.

LUCILLA
(ironic)
Rich matrons pay well to be pleasured by the greatest champions.

MAXIMUS
(angrily)
I knew he would send assassins. I didn’t know he would send his best.

LUCILLA
Maximus, he doesn’t know.

MAXIMUS
My family was burned and crucified while they were still alive.

LUCILLA
(softly)
I knew nothing --

She has stepped within the range of his chains. With one hand he grabs her by the throat, and holds her at arm’s length. She does not flinch.

MAXIMUS
(furious)
Don’t lie to me!

LUCILLA
I wept for them.

MAXIMUS
(scornful)
As you wept for your father?
As you wept for your father?

LUCILLA
(fiercely)
I have been living in a prison of fear since that day. To be unable to mourn your father for fear of your brother. To live in terror every day because your son is heir to the throne.
(sadly)
I’ve wept.

MAXIMUS
My son was innocent!

LUCILLA
(flaring up)
So … is … mine! Must my son die too before you’ll trust me?

He releases her, abruptly, harshly.

MAXIMUS
It doesn’t matter if I trust you or not.

LUCILLA
The gods have spared you. Don’t you understand?
(declaring)
Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome!

MAXIMUS
The gods have spared me? I am at their mercy! With the power only to amuse a mob.

LUCILLA
This is power. The mob is Rome. And while Commodus controls them he controls everything. Listen to me. My brother has enemies, most of all in the Senate. But the people follow him. No one would dare stand up to him, until you.

MAXIMUS
They oppose him, yet they do nothing.

LUCILLA
There are some politicians who have dedicated their lives to Rome. One man above all. If I can arrange it, will you meet him?

MAXIMUS
Do you not understand? I may die in this cell tonight, or in the arena tomorrow. I am a slave. What possible difference can I make?!

LUCILLA
This man wants what you want.

[He resists this call to return to the world, to fight for something more than his own vengeance.]

MAXIMUS
(angrily, overwhelmed)
Then have him kill Commodus!

LUCILLA
(calm, saddened)
I knew a man once. A noble man. A man of principle, who loved my father. And my father loved him. This man served Rome well.

MAXIMUS
(self-controlled, quietly)
That man is gone. Your brother did his work well.

LUCILLA
Let me help you.

MAXIMUS
(softly, as if agreeing)
Yes. Help me.
(leaning nearer to her)
Forget you ever knew me. And never come here again.
(calling out harshly)
Guard! The lady is finished with me.

[CRISIS: Maximus is faced with a choice: whether to continue living only for himself, for his desire for vengeance and his own death (to achieve reunion with his family), OR, to live beyond his own life and help those around him, including Lucilla, the Senate and Rome. He refuses this challenge. The succeeding scenes show his reversal of that decision.]

50 EXT. PROXIMO’S COMPOUND, LARGE COMMON CELL. DAY.

Guards are patrolling the corridor. In the large common cell a group of gladiators are playing a game at a table.

Maximus, Juba, and Hagen are sitting at another table. Juba and Hagen are eating.

HAGEN
Maximus, you commanded legions? And had many victories?
(Maximus nods)
In Germania?

MAXIMUS
(smiling)
In many countries.

The cook calls out to Maximus.

COOK
General!

Maximus stands and goes to pick up his plate of food. He returns, and Juba signals that the food may be poisoned. Hagen takes a spoonful, tastes it and gags, as though poisoned. He starts laughing. The others join in with him.

Juba grows serious again.

JUBA
(to Maximus)
You have a great name. You must kill your name before he kills you.

51 EXT. COLOSSEUM, SENATORS’ SEATING AREA. DAY.

Trumpets BLARE.

Gracchus arrives and joins two other senators.

GRACCHUS
(greeting the others)
Senator.

GAIUS
Senator Gracchus. I never thought I’d see you enjoying the pleasures of the vulgar crowd.

GRACCHUS
I’ve never pretended to be a man 'of' the people, Senator. But I do try to be a man 'for' the people.

CLOSE ON Cicero (Maximus’ servant on the Germania campaign) in the crowd.

MEDIUM ON the Manager, rising to address the audience.

MANAGER
People of Rome! On the 4th day of Antioch we can celebrate the 64th day of the games. And in his majestic charity the Emperor has named this day to favor the people of Rome with an historical final match. Returning to the Colosseum today after 5 years in retirement, Caesar is pleased to bring to you the only undefeated champion in Roman history, the legendary Titus the Gaul.

52 INT. COLOSSEUM BASEMENT, END OF RAMP. DAY.

Maximus is about to board the ramp that leads up into the center of the arena. Proximo is trying to caution Maximus.

PROXIMO
He knows too well how to manipulate the mob.

MAXIMUS
Marcus Aurelius had a dream that was Rome, Proximo. This is not it. This is not it!

PROXIMO
Marcus Aurelius is dead, Maximus. We mortals are but shadows and dust.

Maximus strides up the ramp.

PROXIMO (cont’d)
(shouting after him)
Shadows and dust!

MANAGER (O/S)
Caesar is proud to give you … Gaius Maximus.

[Maximus acknowledges Marcus Aurelius’ dream of what Rome might again become, and with it, his promise.]

53 EXT. COLOSSEUM, EMPEROR’S SEATING AREA. DAY.

Commodus is standing, looking out over the crowd, as Maximus is announced and comes out. Lucilla stands beside him.

COMMODUS
They embrace him like he’s one of their own.

LUCILLA
The mob is fickle, brother. He’ll be forgotten in a month.

COMMODUS
No, much sooner than that. It’s been arranged.

54 EXT. FLOOR OF ARENA. DAY.

The crowd is chanting Maximus’ name.

CLOSE ON Cicero in the crowd.

Maximus approaches Titus the Gaul, a gladiator a head taller than himself, bulkier.

Moments after their swords first come together, two columns of arena attendants run into the arena. The first column lifts up a heavy chain hidden in the sand, and pulling it, releases a spring-driven cage-door set into the floor of the arena. A large tiger pounces out.

The chain the attendants are holding is the tiger’s leash. Four men in the first column hold back the tiger. Titus tries to trick Maximus into the tiger’s path.

Their swordplay continues, several times Maximus is driven close tothe tiger.

The second column pull on another chain.

Maximus rolls and springs away from a second trap door, which releases another tiger.

Titus leads Maximus into the path of the third trap-door, which opens and a third tiger emerges. It lands on Maximus’ back, and he swivels over and drives his sword into its neck.

He stands and Titus stands over him, holding a sword in each hand. Maximus blocks one thrust, and wrests that sword from Titus. Maximus rolls again and picks it up as Titus swings and misses, driving the second sword down into the sand. Maximus, still lying, picks up and hefts the narrrowed pick-axe end of a short sword through Titus’ foot, nailing him to the ground. He reaches up and pushes Titus over, who lands heavily on his back.

Maximus rolls again and stands.

The sound of the crowd CHANTING.

CROWD
Death!
Death!
Death!
Death!

Maximus picks up a long sword, goes over to the former champion, and raises Titus’ visor with the end of the sword. Commodus, looking vexed, signals with his thumb down. Maximus pauses, turns away, and drives the sword into the ground, sparing Titus.

The crowd falls silent.

A single voice in the crowd calls out.

VOICE
Maximus the Merciful!

CROWD
Maximus!
Maximus!
Maximus!

A company of soldiers comes out onto the arena sand. They surround Maximus. The Emperor comes out and enters the circle of soldiers. He walks up to Maximus.

COMMODUS
What am I going to do? You simply won’t die. Are we so different, you and I? You take life when you have to, as I do.

MAXIMUS
I have only one more life to take, then it is done.

COMMODUS
Take it now!

Maximus turns, and walks away in the direction of the arena exit, beyond the perimeter of soldiers.

COMMODUS
(to Maximus’ back)
They tell me your son squealed like a girl when they nailed him to the cross. And your wife … moaned like a whore when they ravaged her … again … and again … and again.

Maximus turns around and advances a couple steps.

MAXIMUS
The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end, Highness.

He turns and leaves, walking towards the exit.

55 EXT. ON THE STREET. DAY.

Maximus emerges from the Colosseum out into the street, flanked by guards. Crowds line the street. Cicero calls out repeatedly from the edge of the crowd.

CICERO
(calling out)
General! General! General!

MAXIMUS
(calling back)
Cicero!

Cicero runs along behind the crowd.

MAXIMUS
Where are you camped?

CICERO
At Ostia.

Cicero pushes through the crowd to the street opposite Maximus, who steps over to him.

MAXIMUS
Tell them their General lives.

Cicero pushes a small satchel into Maximus’ hand.

GUARD
(impatiently, to Cicero)
Move along!

56 INT. PROXIMO’S COMPOUND, CELL. NIGHT.

Maximus takes out the figurines. He kisses the one of his wife several times, then sets them on a small ledge before him.

He prays.

Juba looks on.

JUBA
Can they hear you?

MAXIMUS
(thickly)
Who?

JUBA
Your family. In the Afterlife.

MAXIMUS
Oh yes!

JUBA
What do you say to them?

MAXIMUS
(warmly)
To my boy … I tell him I’ll see him again soon … and to keep his heels down when he’s riding his horse … To my wife …
(he smiles)
… that’s none of your business.

They laugh together quietly.

57 INT. EMPEROR’S CHAMBERS. NIGHT.

Commodus is pacing, Quintus of the Imperial Guard is seated against the wall.

COMMODUS
And now they love Maximus for his mercy. So I can’t just kill him, that would make him even more merciful. The whole thing is like some crazed nightmare.

QUINTUS
(cautiously)
He is defying you. His every victory is an act of defiance. The mob sees this and so do the Senate. Every day he lives they grow bolder.
(firmly)
Kill him.

COMMODUS
No! I will not make a martyr of him.

QUINTUS
(pedantic, and quietly vicious)
I have been told of a certain sea snake that has a very unusual method of attracting its prey. It will lie at the bottom of the ocean as if wounded.

Lucilla enters the forecourt of Commodus’ chambers, and overhears them.

QUINTUS (cont’d)
Then its enemies will approach while it lies quiet and still, and then its enemies will take little bites of it. And yet it remains still …

COMMODUS
So, we’ll lie still and let our enemies come to us, and nibble. And then … let the Senate approach.

58 EXT. PROXIMO’S COMPOUND. DAY.

Cicero enters the viewing area adjacent to the gladiators’ cell, and walks up to the bars.

Maximus comes up, and they hunch over to speak quickly.

MAXIMUS
Cicero, an old friend. I thought I’d seen you for the last time.

CICERO
I thought you were dead!

MAXIMUS
How long have the men been in Ostia?

CICERO
All winter.

MAXIMUS
And how do they look?

CICERO
Fat and bored.

MAXIMUS
Who’s in command?

CICERO
Some fool from Rome.

MAXIMUS
How soon do you think they can be ready?

CICERO
For you, tomorrow.

MAXIMUS
I need you to do something for me.

59 EXT. IN THE STREET. DAY.

Cicero, in the street, buys food from a stall. An open-air puppet show is in progress with a life-size Maximus and Commodus. A narrator satirizes their rivalry at Commodus’ expense.

Lucilla’s litter is carried past. Cicero approaches, bowing.

CICERO
(calling out)
My lady! I served your father in Vindeburnum!
(running alongside)
My lady, I served your father in Vindeburnum!
(bowing again)
I served under General Maximus. I serve him still.

Lucilla leans forward in the litter.

LUCILLA
(calling to litter-bearers)
Stop! Stop.

LUCILLA (cont’d)
(to guards)
Stand back!

CICERO
The General sends word he will meet your politician.

She hands him a few coins.

LUCILLA
For your loyalty, sir.

The litter continues on its way.

[CRISIS: Maximus has shown here that he has now decided to help the Senate.]

60 INT. PROXIMO’S COMPOUND, CELL. DAY.

Proximo opens a cell door.

Lucilla walks in.

LUCILLA
(to Proximo)
Leave us!

Proximo leaves.

LUCILLA
(calling out quietly)
Senator Gracchus!

Gracchus enters through another door from an adjoining cell.

MAXIMUS
(mildly ironic)
Hail!

GRACCHUS
I hope my coming here today is evidence enough that you can trust me.

MAXIMUS
The Senate is with you?

GRACCHUS
The Senate? Yes. I can speak for them.

MAXIMUS
You can buy my freedom and smuggle me out of Rome?

GRACCHUS
To what end?

MAXIMUS
Get me outside the city walls. Have fresh horses to take me to Ostia, my army is encamped there. By nightfall of the second day I shall return at the head of 5000 men.

LUCILLA
But the legions all have new commanders, loyal to Commodus.

MAXIMUS
Let my men see me alive and you shall see where their loyalties lie.

GRACCHUS
This is madness! No Roman army has entered the capital in a hundred years.

LUCILLA
Gracchus.

GRACCHUS
(protesting)
I will not trade one dictatorship for another!

MAXIMUS
The time for half-measures and talk is over … Senator.

GRACCHUS
(facing down Maximus)
And after your glorious coup, what then? You will take your 5000 warriors …
(ironic)
… and leave?

MAXIMUS
I will leave. The soldiers will stay for your protection, under command of the Senate.

GRACCHUS
(mildly scornful)
Once all Rome is yours, you will just give it back to the people.
(pauses)
Tell me why.

MAXIMUS
Because that was the last wish of a dying man. I will kill Commodus. The fate of Rome I leave to you.

Gracchus hesitates, reflecting.

GRACCHUS
(deciding)
Marcus Aurelius trusted you. His daughter trusts you. I will trust you.
But we have little time. Give me two days and I will buy your freedom.
(grimly)
And you. You stay alive, or I will be dead.

61 INT. PROXIMO’S OFFICE. DAY.

Proximo turns around. Maximus is leaning against a table. A guard stands at the door.

PROXIMO
It won’t work. The Emperor knows too much. And as for me, it’s becoming dangerous.

He glances in the direction of the guard.

MAXIMUS
You’ll be paid on my return. I give you my word.

PROXIMO
(laughs)
Your word. What if you don’t return?

MAXIMUS
Do you know what it was to have trust, Proximo?

PROXIMO
Trust! Who am I to trust?

MAXIMUS
I will kill Commodus.

PROXIMO
Why would I want that? He makes me rich.
(pauses)
Alright, I know that you are a man of your word, General. I heard that you’ll die for honor, die for Rome, that you would die for the memory of your ancestors.
(shrugs)
But I, on the other hand, I am an entertainer.

Proximo rests his hand on Maximus’ shoulder a moment.

PROXIMO
(calling out)
Guard!

Maximus steps to the door, and turns round.

MAXIMUS
He killed the man who set you free.

62 INT. EMPEROR’S CHAMBERS. EVENING.

Lucilla walks into the room, then turns to leave. Commodus is sitting in shadow, by his model of the Colosseum.

COMMODUS
Where have you been? I sent for you?

She turns back into the room.

LUCILLA
Please, brother.

COMMODUS
What’s troubling you?

She makes no reply.

COMMODUS
Does Gracchus have a new lover?

LUCILLA
I don’t know.

He stands and walks across to his bed, and sits.

COMMODUS
I thought you’d seen him. He affects everyone like a putrid fever. For the health of Rome the Senate must be bled, and he will bleed too. Very soon.

LUCILLA
Not tonight.

COMMODUS
Do you know what someone said to me once? It’s a dream … a frightful dream … life is. Do you think that’s true?

LUCILLA
I don’t know.

COMMODUS
I think it is. And I have only you to share it with.

She comes over and sits beside him. He rests his head on her shoulder, and then slowly pushes her down. He traces her lips with a fingertip, and then places his finger against his mouth. He rests his head against her neck and shoulder.

COMMODUS
You know I love you.

LUCILLA
(without emotion)
And I love you.

Two beats.

She moves out from under him, and stands.

She comes out of the room and walks quickly down the corridor past the guards, pulling her scarf over her head.

63 EXT. GRACCHUS’ VILLA. DAY.

Gracchus is in the courtyard, feeding a flock of tame geese. A male attendant looks towards the gate where a company of the Emperor’s soldiers (Praetorians) have entered the grounds.

ATTENDANT
Sir, Praetorians.

The soldiers march into the courtyard. Gracchus walks over, saying nothing.

They lead him away.

64 INT. PROXIMO’S COMPOUND, CELL. DAY.

Proximo is at the cell door. Maximus turns towards him.

PROXIMO
Congratulations, you have very persuasive friends.

Lucilla comes in.

LUCILLA
My brother has had Gracchus arrested. We can’t wait any longer. We must leave tonight. Proximo will come at midnight to take you to the gate. Your servant, Cicero, will be waiting there with horses.

MAXIMUS
You have done all this?

LUCILLA
Yes.

MAXIMUS
(alarmed)
You risk too much.

LUCILLA
I have much to pay for.

MAXIMUS
You have nothing to pay for. You love your son. You’re strong for him.

LUCILLA
I am tired of being strong. My brother hates all the world. And you most of all.

MAXIMUS
Because your father chose me.

LUCILLA
No. Because my father loved you.
And because … I loved you.

MAXIMUS
(gently)
A long time ago.

LUCILLA
Was I very different then?

Three beats.

MAXIMUS
You laughed more.

She smiles ruefully.

LUCILLA
(vulnerable)
I have fought all my life alone … except with you. Understand?

MAXIMUS
Yes.

He kisses her.

65 INT. EMPEROR’S BEDCHAMBER. EVENING.

The sound of Lucius PLAYING in the hall. He is fencing with two slaves, hitting a wooden sword against theirs, as he walks forward.

LUCIUS
Back!
Back!
Back!
Back!

Commodus rises from his bed and comes out into the hall.

COMMODUS
Lucius, isn’t it a little late to be playing a legionnaire?

Commodus takes up one of the toy swords.

LUCIUS
I’m not a legionnaire.

COMMODUS
Not a legionnaire?

LUCIUS
I’m a gladiator.

COMMODUS
A gladiator? Gladiators only fight in the games. Wouldn’t you rather be a great Roman warrior, like Julius Caesar?

LUCIUS
(still playing with the sword)
I’m Maximus, the savior of Rome.

COMMODUS
The savior of Rome?
He kneels beside the boy, leaning in close to him.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
And who said that?

Lucius whispers into Commodus’ ear, as if they are playing a game.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
(aloud)
Were they?

66 INT. EMPEROR’S BEDCHAMBER. EVENING.

Commodus and Lucius are sitting up on the bed. They are playing and laughing.

LUCIUS (O/S)
She couldn’t!

COMMODUS
Yes she did.

Commodus lays his hand against the boy’s chest.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
A viper pressed here, right into her heart.

Lucius laughs again, as if at a ghost story.

The sound of Lucilla’s FOOTSTEPS.

COMMODUS
Yes, you see, Lucius, sometimes royal ladies behave very strangely and do very odd things when they ought not to.

LUCIUS
Well, I think it’s silly.

COMMODUS
Yes. So do I. So do I.
(calls out)
Sister! Join us. I’ve been reading to dear Lucius.

LUCIUS
I’ve been reading too.

COMMODUS
Yes. He’s a very clever little boy. He’ll make a grand Emperor one day. We’ve been reading about the great Mark Antony’s adventures in Egypt.

LUCILLA
And the Queen killed herself with a snake.

COMMODUS
And I’m just waiting to hear what happened to our ancestors.
(to Lucius)
If you’re very good tomorrow I’ll tell you the story of Uncle Claudius.
(watching Lucilla)
He was betrayed by those closest to him, by his own blood. They whispered in dark corners. They went out late at night, and conspired … and conspired. But the Emperor Claudius knew they were up to something … he knew they were busy little bees.

Lucilla is shocked. Tears flow freely, silently down her cheeks.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
And one night he sat down with one of them, and he looked at her and said: ‘Tell me what you’ve been doing, busy little bee, or I shall strike down those dearest to you. You shall watch as I bathe in their blood.’ And the Emperor was heartbroken. The little bee had wounded him more deeply than anyone else could ever have done.
(turning back to Lucius)
And what do you think happened then, Lucius?

LUCIUS
(near tears, frightened)
I don’t know, Uncle.

COMMODUS
The little bee told him everything.

67 EXT. A STREET OUTSIDE PROXIMO’S COMPOUND. NIGHT.

Troops are marching through the streets, approaching Proximo’s compound.

68 INT. SENATOR’S BEDCHAMBER. NIGHT.

An assassin releases a snake into Gaius’ bed.

69 EXT. PROXIMO’S COMPOUND. NIGHT.

The troops arrive at the gates of Proximo’s compound.

SARGEANT
(banging on the gate)
Open up in the name of the Emperor, Proximo!

In his cell, Maximus looks up.

SARGEANT
(at the gate)
Open the gates in the name of the Emperor! Proximo!

Proximo walks quickly down the corridor, carrying a large ring of keys.

SARGEANT (O/S)
Open the gates!

Proximo arrives at Maximus’ cell.

SARGEANT (O/S)
Open the gates, Proximo! Do you want to die, old man?

Proximo hands the keys through the bars to Maximus.

PROXIMO
Here. Everything has been prepared. It seems you have won your freedom.

MAXIMUS
(hesitates)
Proximo, are you in danger of becoming a good man?

Proximo makes a guttural noise and quickly turns away.

At the gates, the troops throw grappling hooks along the top.

SARGEANT (O/S)
You. In the name of the Emperor, die.

Maximus unlocks his cell door.

MAXIMUS
Juba!

He gives the keys to Juba, who starts unlocking the other cell doors.

The grappling hooks are pulled by soldiers on horseback, and a section of the wall comes down.

The troops file quickly into the compound.

Maximus meets with the others, all assembled now in the largest central cell.

MAXIMUS
I only need those among us who will not be careless with their lives. If you don’t want any part of this, go back to your cells.

HAGEN
We will wait here for you, Maximus.

In the cell, Maximus hestitates to leave.

ALL
Strength and honor!

Maximus stands and faces Juba. He presses his forehead against Juba’s, in farewell.

MAXIMUS
Strength … and honor!

The troops are spreading out in a disciplined line, archers in behind, as the gladiators come out through several doors of the large cell into the courtyard, carrying swords.

The archers shoot a wave of arrows.

Several gladiators fall. Others come forward fast, fighting hand to hand.

Maximus runs through the stable, picks up an unlit torch, lights it, and runs down a flight of steps into an underground passageway. A suit of armor and sword have been placed in the corner at the foot of the steps. He picks them up and moves on into the dark passage.

On the upper floors of the Compound, soldiers are climbing the stairs towards Proximo’s room.

Proximo takes out the wooden rudius sword, the emblem of his freedom given him by Marcus Aurelius.

The soldiers burst into his room, raise their swords behind his back.

PROXIMO
(gently, stoic)
Shadows and dust.

The soldiers give him a soldier’s death, driving their swords down into his body.

In the courtyard, the fighting is at its peak. Three arrows rip into Hagen’s back, two more enter his chest, as a soldier drives a sword into him.

Maximus emerges from the rear of the Compound into a woods. The sounds of the NIGHT.

He sees a man sitting on a horse under a tree in the distance.

He makes a whistling call.

CICERO
(calling out)
Maximus!

The horse bolts and Cicero is suddenly swinging, being hanged from the tree. Maximus runs to him, and lifts him up, trying to save him.

CICERO
(gasping)
Maximus, I’m sorry --

Three arrows slam into Cicero’s chest.

MAXIMUS
No!

Archers appear all around, above on the parapets, with their crossbows pointed down at him.

70 EXT. IMPERIAL BALCONY. NIGHT.

Waves of white-gray pigeons rise against the early morning sky. The sound of their FLAPPING WINGS.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL Commodus, standing on the balcony, watching the sunrise.

COMMODUS
It’s done.

He turns. Quintus is standing behind him.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
And what of my nephew?
And what of his mother?
Shall they share her lover’s fate? Or shall I be merciful?
(savoring it)
Commodus the Merciful.

He walks inside, where Lucilla is sitting upright, motionless, deathly pale.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
(to Quintus)
Lucius will stay with me now.
(glancing at Lucilla)
And if she ever so much as looks at me in a manner that displeases me, he will die. If she decides to be noble, and take her own life, he will die.
(to Lucilla)
And as for you. You will love me, as I’ve loved you. You will provide me with an heir, of pure blood, so that Commodus and his progeny will rule for a thousand years.
(pauses)
Am I not merciful?

He leans very close to Lucilla. He tries to kiss her, but she averts her face. He leans back and, taking hold of her chin, he roughly pulls her so she is facing him again. He leans close to her again.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
(screaming into her expressionless face)
AM I NOT MERCIFUL!?

CLOSE ON her expression, wooden, defeated, yet still defiant.

71 INT. COLOSSEUM. DAY.

Trumpets blare as the crowd chants.

CROWD
Maximus!
Maximus!
Maximus!
Maximus!

In a room beneath the arena floor Maximus stands in chains, his arms manacled and pulled up. His head is sagging.

The gates to this platform open, and Commodus enters. He walks forward and stands opposite Maximus, close.

COMMODUS
(whispering, imitating the distant,
muted chant of the crowd)
Maximus!
Maximus!
Maximus!
(to Maximus)
They call for you.
The General who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an Emperor. Striking story.
(speaking to ‘both’ audiences)
Now the people want to know how the story ends. Only a famous death will do. What would be more glorious than to challenge the Emperor himself in the great arena.

MAXIMUS
You would fight me?

COMMODUS
Why not? Do you think I’m afraid?

MAXIMUS
I think you’ve been afraid … all … your … life.

COMMODUS
Unlike Maximus the Invincible, who knows no fear?

MAXIMUS
(laughs softly)
I once knew a man who said death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back.

COMMODUS
I wonder. Did your friend smile at his own death?

MAXIMUS
You must know. It was your father.

COMMODUS
You loved my father, I know. Well, so did I. That makes us brothers, doesn’t it now.

Commodus embraces him as a brother.

COMMODUS (cont’d)
Smile for me now, brother!

Commodus stabs him in the side, deep, and quickly kisses him on the neck.

Commodus steps back.

COMMODUS
(to Quintus)
Strap on his armor. Conceal the wound.

The platform starts rising. They are being lifted up to the floor of the arena. Commodus looks up, light streaming on his face.

72 EXT. ARENA FLOOR. DAY.

LONG ON a large square hole in the sand of the center of the arena floor. On the platform slowly rises up into it, a perimeter of soldiers, in testudo formation, are kneeling in a square ring around Maximus and Commodus. The platform comes to rest.

Sound of the SHOUTS of the crowd.

The soldiers stand and step back to form a large ring around Maximus, Commodus, and Quintus.

Commodus accepts a sword from Quintus.

Maximus is leaning forward slightly. Quintus approaches him, then throws a sword to the ground in front of him.

He kneels, staggering a little, picks up a handful of the arena sand, and rubs it between his hands.
He picks up the sword and stands, with effort.

Commodus hurls himself at Maximus. Their swords come together. Maximus is pushed back, almost losing his balance. He lifts the sword and fends off Commodus again. Commodus lunges again. Maximus turns round and catches Commodus’ leg behind his own, throwing him to the ground. Comodus loses hold of his sword. He stands quickly.

Maximus tosses his own sword to the ground.

He sees his villa and the wall. He is gliding towards it over a field of grain.

COMMODUS
(to Quintus)
Quintus, sword! Give me your sword!

Quintus makes no move.

COMMODUS
(to the soldiers)
Sword! Give me a sword!

Several soldiers begin drawing their swords.

QUINTUS
(to the soldiers)
Sheathe your swords!
Sheathe your swords!

Maximus sees the door in the villa wall. He is approaching it.

Commodus pulls back the sleeve of his tunic and draws out a long knife strapped to his forearm.

Maximus returns to himself at the last moment as Commodus lunges at him, moving to slash down into Maximus’ chest. He dodges away. Commodus attacks again, and Maximus seizes him and surges forward with unexpected force, punching him in the gut, then an elbow to the face, and again, throwing him back.

Commodus is standing, stunned from the punches, and lunges again, this time with less force and speed, his knife-arm extended. Maximus grabs the extended arm at the shoulder, his other hand clamped now on Commodus’ other wrist. Maximus slowly brings the wrist back toward Commodus’ own chest. Commodus pummels Maximus with his free arm, bringing down blows on his shoulder and side. The knife gradually descends … slowly … into and through Commodus’ neck, and down into his chest.

Commodus dies.

Maximus is swaying on his feet, unable to move.

He sees his villa wall again, and the door. He reaches forward and pushes it open. He can see inside, and smiles. His wife and son are coming towards him.

QUINTUS
Maximus!
Maximus!

Maximus comes back again.

MAXIMUS
(with effort)
Quintus. Free my men. Senator Gracchus is to be reinstated. There was a dream that was Rome. It shall be realized. These are the wishes of Marcus Aurelius.

QUINTUS
(to guards)
Free the prisoners. Go!

Maximus falls.

Lucilla comes out onto the arena floor. She rushes across to Maximus.

LUCILLA
Maximus!

Maximus 'returns' again, and looks up at her.

MAXIMUS
Lucius is safe.

She nods. A distant look enters his eyes.

LUCILLA
(voice breaking)
Go to them.

His eyes hold hers for a moment longer, then let go. His head falls to one side.

Maximus dies.

He is inside the villa walls, crossing the fields towards the buildings, his hand brushing over the grain. His son is running towards him along the long avenue. Maximus’ wife is standing in the distance, on the hillside. The tableau mirrors the scene in which they were killed.

Lucilla weeps, and closes his eyes.

LUCILLA
(gently)
You’re home.

She gathers herself, and stands. She turns round and faces the onlookers.

LUCILLA
Is Rome worth one good man’s life? We believed it once.
(to Gracchus)
Make us believe it again.
(turning round)
He was a soldier of Rome! Honor him.

Gracchus walks forward and stands over Maximus’ body.

GRACCHUS
Who will help me carry him?

Soldiers and gladiators come forward, stooping to lift him up.

LONG ON Maximus’ body as they raise it up, and start walking slowly across the arena floor.

Lucilla follows behind, as the image FADES TO DARK.

73 EXT. ARENA. DAY.

CLOSE ON a hand digging in the sand.

Juba is holding Maximus’ small satchel. He takes out the figurines, and lets them rest a moment in his palm.

He buries the figurines in the sand.

JUBA
Now we’re free! I will see you again. But not yet. Not yet.

He smiles.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL Juba kneeling in the arena. Alone.

He stands and pulls his cloak up over his shoulder, as he walks towards the arena door, a free man.

PULL UP through the awning of the Colosseum, the sun setting over the seven hills of Rome…

… CREDITS …

“For our friend,

Oliver Reed.”