Demetrius and the Gladiators Page #3

Unchain them.

It may seem in being sentenced here

you're being sentenced to death.

That's not necessarily true.

I, Strabo, was sentenced here

as you are, but I fought well.

I won fame and a fortune, too.

And I won my freedom.

The emperor himself calls me by name.

Even the most famous of the charioteers

has to give way to me.

I fought 52 times in the arena.

I killed 52 men.

Perhaps one of you will do as well.

Come.

Dardanius here is the best of netmen.

You've seen his name often where the girls

have scratched it on the walls of Rome.

He likes the way we live here.

He likes to kill. He's a born butcher.

But he can have his choice

of fair ladies. Tonight he will.

And so will you

when you're ready for the arena.

Glycon was a king in his own country.

Now he's the king of swordsmen.

Learn to use a sword like him

and you may earn your freedom,...

...as he'll earn his very soon,

perhaps tomorrow.

You'll train with wooden swords

till you're ready for the steel.

(angry voices)

These men here will fight tomorrow.

Half of them will live.

Half of them will die.

They know it.

Some men who are sent here

don't seem to like it.

They'd rather live badly than die well,

so they try to escape.

Like this one.

- (fanfare)

- All his training was wasted.

He dies badly like a common criminal.

Try to escape and this is your reward.

Strabo, Claudius is arriving.

Line up the men who fight tomorrow.

You're luckier than most recruits. On your

first day you'll see the owner of the school.

Come.

My lord Claudius.

My lady.

So these are the men, eh?

I hope you drew up a better list than last time.

They know it's for

a special occasion, my lord.

Oh. Probus.

Dardanius.

Barak. Good.

Tomorrow is the emperor's birthday.

You men will have the honour

of competing in the palace itself,...

...in the emperor's private arena.

I expectyou to make a good impression.

You are my birthday present to Caligula.

They'll do you proud, my lord.

Every man has sworn to die well

if he has to, to die with style.

I've also told them there's some special

entertainment tonight, thanks to our lady.

Say a word to them, my lady.

I'm sending you a feast

prepared in my own kitchens.

Rare delicacies from

every province of the empire...

...and wine from the imperial cellars,...

...packed in snow and

brought by runners from the Alps.

I can assure you the rest of the entertainment

will be... of the very highest quality.

Guard! Guard!

Lockthe gate! Stay where you are!

Mark him!

- Stay where you are.

- Stop him!

Stop him! Mark him!

Lockthe gate!

- The best prospect had to be a coward.

- I'm no coward.

Then why did you run? Bind him!

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