"What is it?" "My brother." "Slave masters took him to be a gladiator." "Is he here?" "We cannot be sure." "You have to let him know you're here." "And the boy." "Take him too." "Let him go!" "You don't need to keep him here." "Oh, but I do." "Get in." "What's going on?" "They should both be back by now." "Now he knows what he'll have to do when he faces me tomorrow." "The girl has promised her father that she will stay home and look after his house." "If all goes to plan, she'll still be here for you." "Before he learns how to fight, a gladiator must first learn how to die." "You're in here with us, so you're already in enough danger." "He's up to something." "We're all going to die." "Hey!" "Useless!" "Clean it up!" "Move it!" "You!" "Round the back!" "In the middle!" "Come on, get over there!" "Stay in one spot!" "Just wait there." "It's too heavy for her." "I will help her." "No." "You can carry it on your own." "Why are you waiting here?" "Cos we were told to." "But why?" "He's gone to fetch someone." "He'll say if we're good enough." "For what?" "To dance in front of Domitian, the Emperor's brother." "How many girls do they need?" "They won't want you, Miss Nose In The Air." "What makes you say that?" "Cos they've asked for slave girls or orphans." "Look at us, and look at you." "I think they'll notice the difference." "We're here for the free meals and the chance to dress up." "Why do you need this?" "I have my reasons." "All slaves and orphans?" "I made sure of that." "Very well." "They know what they have to do?" "Make the circle." "Come on, come on, come on!" "A circle." "And..." "What have you brought me here?" "Never mind!" "They'll do for what I want." "Have them scrubbed down and made ready." "What are you doing here?" "They imprisoned us." "They're making us fight tomorrow." "You cannot fight." "You'll die!" "You're right." "Nubia, get out of here while you can." "I must speak with my brother." "So that IS your brother." "I asked him if he knew you, but he wouldn't answer." "He does not know Nubia." "Shepenwepet!" "Is it really you?" "It is." "Why do you not smile to see me?" "Little sister, I am glad that you live, but sad that it is as a slave." "I am no longer a slave." "Then why do you act like one?" "To get close to my brother." "Don't touch me." "We're being watched." "Don't you want yours?" "Flavia!" "Have you seen your brother?" "Yes." "And Jonathan and Caudex." "They make them fight tomorrow." "Jonathan?" "A gladiator?" "With swords, not sticks." "And guess what?" "I'm going to be dancing." "But you cannot dance." "And Jonathan can't fight." "But no-one seems to mind, and we've both been chosen to perform in front of Domitian." "Something's very wrong here." "You!" "No talking." "I've left Mordecai a message." "He'll know we're here." "It's Africanus, the senator we saw at the harbour." "He's come to check on the condition of his livestock." "Why would he buy the lives of condemned men and then train them so hard, just to beat opponents like us?" "What do you think you're doing, boy?" "TIGER SNARLS" "And who told you to do that?" " Answer me." " He can't." "He's a mute." "Did I tell you to feed him?" "Then, don't!" "We want him kept hungry till his next meal." "Take that away." "Should provide an amusing diversion to set things off." "Bit of blood on the sand before the main event." "What a main event." "The killing of the Emperor's brother." "The boy!" "Who's he going to tell?" "And how?" "He's a dummy!" "Try to catch your opponent out." "Stare at his head and that's where he thinks you're going to throw the net." "Then you can wrap it round his legs before he has a chance to move clear." "All right?" "Lupus!" "What are you trying to say?" "You want to play Caesar?" "Steps?" "Up steps?" "Hitting someone?" "Oh!" "Stabbing!" "Who do you want to stab?" "Throne?" "Someone's going to attack Domitian?" "To kill Domitian?" "Who?" "Are you sure?" "How does he know this?" "Doesn't matter." "Get out of here." "Raise the alarm!" "Those steps are a way up to the Emperor's brother." "Thinking of asking Domitian if he'll swap places with you?" "If it all goes to plan." "I was joking!" "No." "It's what Barbatus said to Tyranus." "Do you remember?" "It's not us they're training to fight." "It's Domitian's guard." "They've got to get past them to kill him." "Got ya!" "I've had enough of your running around." "I think it's about time I put you on a lead." "Come on, get in." "Move." "This could ruin everything." "Why didn't you mention this before?" "I forgot." "Forgot!" "This has always been my favourite weapon." "Short, sharp and ideal for this." "Forgot!" "It's the Emperor's signet ring!" "I know." "I've won some contests with these beauties." "So that means the boy that was wearing it knows Titus and may know Domitian." "Obviously." "So if he suspects anything he may warn Domitian!" "He'd have to get to him first." "That won't happen." "I've put him with the other gutter sweepings who are going to die in the arena tomorrow." "Excellent." "Excellent." "If we're to stand any chance of warning Domitian, we must delay his attackers for as long as we can." "But you're no match for them." "We are if we stand together." "No." "That would allow them to finish us off quickly." "We must scatter in different directions." "Then they have to break ranks to come after us." "You've met Domitian." "He knows you." "You stand the best chance of warning him." "He had me branded as a slave." "Why should I risk my life for his?" "He's the Emperor's brother." "You owe him your loyalty." "We all owe Rome our loyalty." "Besides, we've been brought here to die." "Now we can die for a reason." "I'll do it." "Good lad." "I won't." "I won't run away in the arena." "It's a tactic." "It is cowardice." "I won't do it." "Come on, girls, hurry up!" "Grant us the courage for the fight and the strength to accept victory or defeat." ""Arena."" "TIGER GROWLS" "We're just letting him get your scent." "It'll save time when he's looking for you later on." "Ah." "This, this is Drusus." "He's a thief." "But today he's Orpheus, God of Music, here to entertain the Emperor's brother." "These are your nymphs." "I hope you can sing better than they can dance." "What happens if Domitian doesn't like your singing?" "Just do your best for me, girls." "You're dancing for my life." "In that case, I think you might be in trouble." "Oh, come on, ladies." "Why is he up there?" "Good musicians are expensive." "# Eurydice" "# Eurydice" "# Come back to me now" "# Come back to me" "# My love, she stepped upon a serpent" "# Now she's lost to me" "# The river Styx was my first test" "# But soon, it's far behind... #" "No." "Not you!" "# Eurydice, Eurydice... #" "TIGER ROARS" "CHILDREN SCREAM" "What's happening?" "That man's a condemned criminal." "I thought his death would amuse you." "And the girls?" "Slaves, and orphans." "Stay calm." "Let me out!" "Let me out!" "Move toward the entrance." "Slowly." "Not my idea of a fair fight." "Let me out!" "Shut it now!" "Minim yemiyasfera neger Yelem." "There is nothing to fear." "Leave." "Slowly." "Follow Daddy." "That's a good boy." "Get the door open." "Is that door open?" "Come on, boy." "Was that meant to happen, Africanus?" "All part of the show, my lord." "Really?" "You looked a bit surprised." "Oh, no!" "Although I do have a surprise in store for you." "Let's see it, then." "DOOR SLAMS" "No visitors allowed." "Stand aside!" "Nobody passes without an invitation." "I do not need an invitation." "I am medicus to these games." "SCATTER!" "He's run away!" "What are you waiting for?" "Get amongst them!" "SHOUTING" "I can't do it!" "I can't do it!" "Jonathan!" "Caudex!" "I'm all right." "I'm all right." "Get to the steps, Jonathan." "Warn Domitian." "Go!" "Jonathan!" "The net!" "His legs, now!" "Guard?" "Domitian!" "You know me!" "I'm Jonathan ben Mordecai, son of Mordecai ben Ezrah." "He is!" "That is my son!" "Let him through." "There are men down there who plan to kill you." "Which ones?" "The Thracians." "Only the Thracians." "The others are fighting to save your life." "Guard!" "Stop!" "Halt!" "Drop your weapons!" "Do you recognise the Emperor's ring?" "Now escort us to the carriage." "He's losing a lot of blood." "The medicines I have with me are not enough." "There are no medicines that can save me." "So you know more than a physician?" "I know when a wound is fatal." "Thank you, Doctor, but I'd like to be left alone with my comrades now." "I said this would be my last contest, one way or another." "But your retirement." "The house, overlooking the sea." "Not in this world." "This was a fight I didn't expect to survive." "None of us did." "But we stood our ground." "Especially Taharqo, whose tactics were better than mine." "You have a great career in the arena ahead of you." "I have fought alongside better gladiators... ..but none braver." "HE CHUCKLES" "I believe you have something belonging to my brother." "Not the greatest games I've ever seen, but I've decided to take you two to our new amphitheatre in Rome to see how it SHOULD be done." "In fact, I've decided to make you the main event." "And MY tigers are always hungry." "I feel for your loss, my son." "But that could have been you!" "Or either of you, at the jaws of a wild beast." "You come to this place without telling me, and after you've made a promise to your father!" "I don't know what to say." "Start by giving thanks they're alive." "They risked their own lives to save mine, and did Rome a service" "I won't forget." "What can I give to reward you?" "There's nothing I want." "Then take this back until I can repay the debt my family owes you." "The ring." "My brother!" "His freedom!" "It is his." "Thank you, my lord, but I wish to remain a gladiator." "Is there nothing I can give to show my thanks?" "You could free Drusus." "Drusus?" "The thief who was supposed to be eaten by the tiger." "Consider it done." "But only if he promises never to sing again." "TIGER GROWLS" "The tiger!" "Lupus!" "Why do you turn your face from me?" "Why didn't you let Domitian set you free?" "Free?" "To do what?" "You could have come to live with us." "As a servant?" "I don't feel like a servant." "You answer to a slave name." "I am not a slave!" "Sometimes..." "I feel as if I belong." "Sometimes?" "When I am among men like Venator, I feel I belong." "Always!" "Because I don't fetch and carry." "I fight." "This is my home until I retire with my money and freedom to buy my own land." "And if you are killed?" "Then I will die like a man." "How could we have forgotten Lupus, Jonathan?" "I thought you weren't talking to me." "Can't you resist telling me how pathetic I am?" "That was someone else." "Not you." "Give me those." " Nobody should be chained." " I thought he was a slave." "Nobody!" "Why is it so calm with you?" "I cannot explain." "But I knew in the arena that we were safe." "Where's the meat that was in this?" "It's inside the tiger?" "All of it?" "No wonder he never attacked." "He was too full!" "All he'd have wanted was a place to sleep." "So much for your control over this beast." "I was right." "We were safe." "Only cos Lupus fed him." "Hmm." "If I'd known that, I would have been braver." "But not as brave as you."