Demetrius and the Gladiators Page #4

Messalina) Wait.

Why did you run?

I don't think you're a coward. You had no real

chance of escaping. You must have known.

This is a place where men are trained

to kill each other like animals.

- And men aren't animals?

- No.

We admire a magnificent animal who fights.

Why not a man who fights?

Because God didn't put man on earth

to destroy his own kind,...

...nor a woman to enjoy

their agonies as they die.

- Dog!

- Wait.

- What's your name?

- Demetrius.

You spoke of a god, Demetrius. Which god?

There is only one God.

He's one of them. This is very interesting.

A Christian.

- Are you a Christian?

- Yes.

- And you won't fight?

- No.

- He can't. It's against his religion to kill.

- We'll see about that.

- Strabo.

- Yes, my lady.

Put him in the arena tomorrow.

Messalina, he won't fight.

You know what Caligula will do.

I'm more interested in what

this Christian will do...

...when he sees that his choice is kill or die.

Here they come!

- Look, Dardanius!

- Sit here and watch the game.

- Watch me win this.

- Get on with the play. Ah!

You may see a fewthings you didn't

bargain for. These men aren't children.

- They know half of them will die tomorrow.

- I'll try not to be shocked, Strabo.

Your name is Demetrius?

I'm from Corinth, like you.

This is my first time here.

- Do you always eat like this?

- I don't know.

This is my first time, too.

And you're fighting tomorrow!

You must be a famous warrior.

I'm a potter.

Only a potter? And they're sending

you into the arena tomorrow?

You must have done something awfully bad.

I did.

I'm a Christian.

Strabo,...

...when you were fighting in the arena

what did you think about the night before?

It doesn't pay a gladiator to think, my lady.

When you caressed a woman,...

...was your mind on her or on death?

You don't expect to die.

You never think it'll be you that gets it.

There's only one man down there

who knows he's going to die.

You're wrong, Strabo.

When the time comes, he'll fight...

...because he wants to live, like any other man.

My lady, I tried to train him this afternoon.

He wouldn't make a move to defend himself.

And he was a warrior once.

He was brought to Rome

as a prisoner of war, but he won't fight.

Why, you...!

- All right, you're out of the game. Get back.

- He's out. Come on, whose throw?

- Mine. Let's go.

- Throwthe dice.

Watch this one.

(laughter)

The stakes must be high.

They're gambling for a longer life. The winner

gets me for his opponent tomorrow.

Venus. I threw Venus.

I win.

I won you, Christian.

Tomorrow you're mine.

Now I want to show you something.

Watch.

Is it true that when you strike a Christian,

he must turn the other cheek?

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