" Sir." " General." "Sir." "Lean and hungry." " Still nothing?" " Not a sign." " How long has he been gone?" " Nearly two hours." " Will they fight, sir?" " We shall know soon enough." "Soldier, I ordered you to move those catapults forward." " They're out of range." " Range is good." " The danger to the cavalry" " Is acceptable." "Agreed?" "They say no." "Steady!" "Steady!" "People should know when they're conquered." "Would you, Quintus?" "Would I?" " Strength and honor." " Strength and honor." "At my signal, unleash hell." "Load the catapults." "Infantry form up for advance." " Archers ready." " Archers!" " Nock!" " Nock!" "Fratres!" "Maximus!" "Three weeks from now, I will be harvesting my crops." "Imagine where you will be, and it will be so." "Hold the line!" "Stay with me!" "If you find yourselfalone... riding in green fields with the sun on your face... do not be troubled." "For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!" "Brothers... what we do in life... echoes in eternity." "Pull!" "Pull!" "Pull!" "Catapults ready, sir!" "Archers, ignite!" " Ignite!" " Ignite!" "Archers, draw!" "Loose!" "Loose!" "All right, men, ready!" "Hold the line!" "Draw!" "Loose!" "Loose!" "Loose!" "Reload!" "Hold the line!" "Draw!" "Loose!" "Stay with me!" "Stay with me!" "Roma victor!" "Roma victor!" "Do you think he's really dying?" "He's been dying for ten years." "If he weren't really dying, he wouldn't have sent for us." "Maybe hejust misses us." "And the senators?" "He wouldn't have summoned them if" "Peace, Commodus." "After two weeks on the road, your incessant scheming is hurting my head." "He's made his decision." "He's going to announce it." "He will name me." "The first thing I shall do... when" "is honor him with games worthy of His Majesty." "For now, the first thing I shall do is have a hot bath." "Your Highness?" "We seem to be almost there, sir." " Sire." " Where's the emperor?" "He's at the front, sire." "They've been gone for 1 9 days." "The wounded are still coming in." "My horse." "My lord." "Kiss?" "You have proved your valor yet again, Maximus." "Let us hope for the last time." "There's no one left to fight, sire." "There is always someone left to fight." "How can I reward Rome's greatest general?" "Let me go home." "Ah." "Home." "They honoryou, Caesar." "It's for you, Maximus." "They honoryou." "Have I missed it?" "Have I missed the battle?" "You have missed the war." "Father, congratulations." "I shall sacrifice a hundred bulls to honoryour triumph." "Save the bulls." "Honor Maximus." "He won the battle." " General." " Highness." "Rome salutes you, and I embrace you as a brother." "It has been too long, my old friend." " Highness." " Here, Father." "Take my arm." "I think it is time for me to leave." "So much for the glory of Rome." "Magnificent battle." " General." " Still alive?" " Still alive." " The gods must have a sense of humor." " The gods must love you." " Valerius." "Back to barracks, General?" "Or to Rome?" "Home." "My wife, the son, the harvest." "Maximus the farmer." "I still have difficulty imagining that." "You know, dirt cleans off a lot easier than blood, Quintus." " Here he is." " Highness." "Senator Gaius, Senator Falco." "Beware of Gaius." "He'll pour a honeyed potion in your ear... and you'll wake up one day and all you'll say is, "Republic, republic."" "Well, why not?" "Rome was founded as a republic." "Yes, and in a republic the senate has the power." "But Senator Gaius isn't influenced by that, of course." "Where do you stand, General?" "Emperor or senate?" "A soldier has the advantage of being able... to look his enemy in the eye, Senator." "Well, with an army behind you, you could be extremely political." "I warned you." "Now I shall save you." "Senators." "Maximus." "I'm going to need good men like you." "How may I be of service, Highness?" "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 scheme and squabble and flatter and deceive." "Maximus, we must save Rome from the politicians, my friend." "Can I count on you when the time comes?" "Highness, when your father releases me, I intend to return home." "Home?" "Well, no one's earned it more." "Don't get too comfortable." "I may call on you before long." "Lucilla's here." "Did you know?" "She's not forgotten you." "And now you're the great man." "If only you had been born a man." "What a caesar you would have made!" "Father." "You would have been strong." "I wonder, would you have been just?" "I would have been what you taught me to be." "How was yourjourney?" "Long." "Uncomfortable." "Why have I come?" "I need your help." "With your brother." "Of course." "He loves you." "He always has." "And... he will need you now more than ever." "Enough of politics." "Let us pretend that you are a loving daughter... and I am a good father." "This is a pleasant fiction, isn't it?" "Good morning." "I need three more horses." "Two!" "Three!" "Four!" "One!" "Two!" "You sent for me, Caesar?" " Caesar?" " Tell me again, Maximus." "Why are we here?" "For the glory of the empire, sire." "Ah, yes." "Ah, yes, I remember." "Do you see that map, Maximus?" "That is the world which I created." "For 25 years..." "I have conquered, spilt blood, expanded the empire." "Since I became caesar, I've known fouryears without war." "Fouryears of peace in 20." "And for what?" "I brought the sword." "Nothing more." "Caesar, your life" "Please." "Please don't call me that." "Come." "Please." "Come sit." "Let us talk together now-- very simply-- as men." "Maximus, talk." "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." "And what would you believe?" "They fought for you and for Rome." "And what is Rome?" "I've seen much of the rest of the world." "It is brutal and cruel and dark." "Rome is the light." "Yet you have never been there." "You have not seen what it has become." "I am dying, Maximus." "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 will I be the emperor who gave Rome back her true self?" "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." "Maximus..." "let us whisper now... together, you and I." "You have a son." "Tell me about your home." "My house is in the hills above Trujillo." "A very simple place." "Pink stones that 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." "The soil, Marcus-- black." "Black like my wife's hair." "Grapes on the south slopes, olives on the north." "Wild ponies play near my house." "They tease my son." "He wants to be one." " Remember the last time you were home?" " Two years, 264 days and this morning." "I envy you, Maximus." "It's a good home." "Worth fighting for." "There is one more duty... that I ask of you before you go home." "What would you have me do, Caesar?" "I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die." "I will empoweryou to one end alone-- to give power back to the people of Rome... and end the corruption that has crippled it." "Will you accept this great honor that I have offered you?" "With all my heart, no." "Maximus... that is why it must be you." "But surely a prefect, a senator... somebody who knows the city, who understands her politics." "But you have not been corrupted by her politics." " And Commodus?" " Commodus is not a moral man." "You have known that since you were young." "Commodus cannot rule." "He must not rule." "You are the son that I should have had." "Commodus will accept my decision." "He knows that you command the loyalty of the army." "I need some time, sire." "Yes." "By sunset, I hope you will have agreed." "Now embrace me as my son." "And bring an old man another blanket." " My father favors you now." " My lady." " It was not always so." " Many things change." "Many things." "Not everything." "Maximus, stop." "Let me see your face." " You seem upset." " I lost many men." "What did my father want with you?" "To wish me well before I leave for home." "You're lying." "I could always tell when you were lying because you were never any good at it." " I never acquired your comfort with it." " True." "But then you never had to." "Life is more simple for a soldier." "Or do you think me heartless?" "I thinkyou have a talent for survival." "Maximus, stop." "Is it really so terrible seeing me again?" "No." "I'm tired from battle." "It hurts you to see my father so fragile." "Commodus expects that my father will announce his succession within days." "Will you serve my brother as you served his father?" "I will always serve Rome." "Do you know..." "I still rememberyou in my prayers." "Oh, yes." "I pray." "I was sad to hear of your husband's death." "I mourned him." " Thankyou." " And I hearyou have a son." "Yes." "Lucius." "He'll be nearly eight years old." "My son is also nearly eight." "I thankyou for your prayers." "Ancestors, I ask for your guidance." "Blessed Mother, come to me with the gods' desire for my future." "Blessed Father, watch over my wife and son with a ready sword." "Whisper to them I live only to hold them again." "Ancestors, lhonoryou... and will try to live with the dignity you have taught me." "Cicero." "Sir." "You don't find it hard to do your duty?" "Sometimes I do what I want to do." "The rest of the time I do what I have to." "We may not be able to go home after all." "Are you ready to do your duty for Rome?" "Yes, Father." "You will not be emperor." "Which wiser, older man is to take my place?" "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." " Maximus." " Yes." "My decision disappoints you?" "You wrote to me once..." "listing the four chiefvirtues." "Wisdom, justice... fortitude... and temperance." "As I read the list, I knew I had none of them." "But I have other virtues, Father." "Ambition." "That can be a virtue when it drives us to excel." "Resourcefulness." "Courage." "Perhaps not on the battlefield, but... there are many forms of courage." "Devotion to my family... and to you." "But none of my virtues were on your list." "Even then it was as if you didn't want me for your son." "You go too far." "I searched the faces of the gods... for ways to please you, to make you proud." "One kind word... one full hug... where you pressed me to your chest and held me tight... would have been like the sun on my heart for a thousand years." "What is it in me you hate so much?" "All I've ever wanted... was to live up to you, Caesar." " Father." " Commodus." "Your fault as a son... is my failure as a father." "Come." "Father." "I would butcher the whole world... if you would only have loved me!" "Maximus, the emperor needs you." "It's urgent." "Lament with me, brother." "Our great father is dead." "How did he die?" "The surgeons say there was no pain." "His breath gave out as he slept." "Father." "Your emperor asks for your loyalty, Maximus." "Take my hand." "I only offer it once." "Quintus." "Hail, Caesar." "I must talk to the senators." "I need their counsel." "Wake Gaius and Falco." " Sword." " Sword." "Maximus, please be careful." "That was not prudent." "Prudent?" "The emperor has been slain." "The emperor died of natural causes." " Why are you armed, Quintus?" " Guards!" "Please don't fight, Maximus." "I'm sorry." "Caesar has spoken." "Ride until dawn... and then execute him." "Quintus, look at me." "Look at me!" "Promise me that you will look after my family." "Your family will meet you in the afterlife." "Kneel." "BlessedFather, watch overmy wife andson." "Whisperto them that llive onlyto holdthem again." "At least give me a clean death." "A soldier's death." "The frost, sometimes it makes the blade stick." "Praetorian!" " Rememberthe last timeyou were home?" " Twoyears, 264 daysandthismorning." "BlessedFather, watch over my wife andson with a readysword." "Whisperto them llive onlyto holdthem again, forallelse is dust andair." "Whisperto them llive onlyto holdthem again... forallelse is dust andair." "Papa!" "Papa!" "Don't die." "You'llmeet them again." "Notyet." "No." "They will clean it." "Wait and see." "Don't die." "They'll feed you to the lions." "They are worth more than we are." "Better now?" "Clean." "You see?" "Proximo!" "My old friend." "Every day is a great day when you are here... but today is your most fortunate day." "Those giraffes you sold me... they won't mate." "Theyjust walk around eating... and not mating." "You sold me... queer giraffes." " I want my money back." " Not a chance." "I do special price for you." "On what?" "Have you seen my new stock?" "Come and see them." "Do any of them fight?" "I've got a match coming up." "Some are good for fighting, others for dying." "You need both, I think." "Get up." "What's your trade?" "I was a hunter." "I bought him from a salt mine in Carthage." "Sit down." "Mark of the legion." " Deserter." " Maybe so." "But who cares?" " He's a Spaniard." " I'll take six." " For one thousand." " One thousand?" "The Numidian alone is worth 2,000." "These slaves are rotten." "It all adds to the flavor." "Wait, wait." "Wait!" "I can negotiate." "I'll give you 2,000... and four for the beasts." "That's 5,000 for an old friend." "Come on!" "How long does it take to get into my own house?" "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 that brought you screaming into this world." "I did not pay good money for you for your company." "I paid it so that 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" "Gladiators..." "I salute you." " Red." " Red." "Yellow." "Yellow." "Good." " Red." " Red." "Spaniard." "That's enough for the moment!" "His time will come." "Next." "Spaniard." "Why don't you fight?" "We all have to fight." "Is that the sign of your gods?" "Will that not anger them?" "The gods favoryou." "Red is the gods' color." "You will need their help today."