I'm sure you can play better than that.
The answer is, of course, is not to be caught playing it.
Oh, so you want the pint, do you?
So you want the pint, do you?
Come along, my friend.
Hey, what's the matter with you?
Want a pint, is it?
Don't say nothing.
Don't say nothing. What's happening?
Young lady, why did you have to come in and interrupt?
Just as I got him all softened up and ready for the old one, too.
You're all right.
All right, of course I'm all right, my child.
You know, I am so constantly outwitting the opposition,
I tend to forget the delights and satisfaction of the arts,
the gentle art of fisticuffs.
I realize you're a man of many talents, doctor, but I didn't know fighting was a...
My dear, I am one of the best.
Do you know it was I that used to teach the mountain mauler of Montana?
Oh, what? Do you remember? Have you never heard?
No? Of course, no, no, of course you haven't, have you? No.
Well, never mind.
I think after all that wonderful exercise,
I should be able to get a very pleasant night's sleep.
Right, off you go. Good night.
But, doctor, surely we're not going to stay here?
Why not? What, him?
Oh, my dear child, I don't think he'll come back again.
Oh, no, I think I can promise you that.
Oh, doctor, I was coming to tell you another thing.
You know the centurion who brought us here?
He seems to have gone too.
Well, I'm not surprised.
It was he who obviously hired the man to kill me.
Or rather, to kill this fellow Maximus, um...
What is it? Petulian.
The what? Petulian.
Yes, yes, of course, yes.
I must remember that name. Yes. Good night.
But, doctor, if he wanted you dead, why didn't he take care of it himself?
Because this way he couldn't be charged with crime.
Yes, but if you were going to be killed anyway, I can't seem to...
My dear, it was an accepted thing in this age to hire an assassin.
Preferably, preferably someone dumb.
And then he couldn't have done so.
Ah, so he must have been looking in the bushes for the body when we first met him.
Just as I suspected at the time.
Now, good night.
And remember, we make an early start tomorrow.
You don't mean to say we're going on?
Oh, goodness me, goodness me, child, how you do talk!
Yes, we are.
But they might try and kill you again.
Well, of course, they might.
But who am I to worry about such little things like that?
Hmm?
Now then, there's one thing you've got to learn about me.
When I say we go to Rome, then we go to Rome.
Good night.
Wait here.
There's no more walking.
You can rest now.
Thank you.
You're kind.
You're very kind.
I'll have to see about getting you some new clothes.
You needn't bother.
Ah, it's not for your sake.
I want you looking special at the slave auction.
We arrived.
Is this Rome?
Yes, this is Rome.
How are you feeling?
Are you more comfortable now?
Much better.
It's just this cough.
It was a long march.
Thirty-four days it took us.
Thirty-four days?
You said your friend would meet you here.
Did I?
On the road.
You told me all about him.
Yes, sir.
Ian.
Strange name.
I never heard it before.
I hope he finds you.
I'll never see him again.
That's right.
Take the best of it.
There's supposed to be bad weather coming up.
Five days, Stevens.
Five whole days.
Days.
They soon melt into weeks.
And months.
And years.
I've got to get away from here.
It's land.
Ian.
It's land.
It's a long way.
I'm not a great swimmer, dear lass, but I won't take any risks, believe me.
If the plan works.
There's only one way to find out, isn't there?
Get him, master.
He's dead.
Dead.
Move away.
Let me see.
You'll have to do better than that.
Are you all right, sir?
Right.
Prepare your oars.
Ready?
Row.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
But you must try and eat something.
There is not enough for two.
Besides, I'm damn hungry.
Oh, come on.
Look, don't be silly.
Slanky.
What's your name, young woman?
Where do you come from?
I'm a poor man.
I want to help you.
Of course, you have to trust me.
Would I get out of here?
Oh, yes.
And be free to go where I choose?
No, I'm afraid not.
You see, I should have to buy you.
Now, please, let me explain.
I'm not interested.
But you will be when you hear my proposal.
Oh, go away.
Greetings, Tavius.
How much, young woman?
How much?
I'm sorry, Tavius.
No private sales.
She's to be sold by auction.
I'll give you a fair price.
Oh, I believe you would.
But the answer's still no.
You think you'll get a higher figure than I can pay?
We shall set the auction then, won't we, Tavius?
Yeah.
Here.
There's only one.
What about her?
She won't be wanting any new clothes.
Why not?
Where's she going?
She wouldn't fetch any price at all at the auction.
She's to be taken to the circus.
Thrown in the arena.
Throw harder.
Throw harder, do you hear?
I can ride the horse.
Put your hands over the horse.
You'll kill you.
Keep going.
Keep going, do you hear?
In, out.
Keep going.
Keep going, do you hear?
In, out.
Oh, isn't it wonderful, Doctor?
Can we explore?
Oh, I don't see why not, my child, for a while anyway.
Then we must present our credentials, so to speak.
Poor knife-alls.
You're not planning to visit, are you?
Now, now, now, now, don't tell me what I'm not going to do.
I've been invited.
I can't disappoint Nero.
What's going on over there, Doctor?
What is it?
Oh, well, nothing to interest you, my dear.
We're going to Rome.
Come along.
Don't let us delay.
I am delighted, gentlemen, to see how much you have appreciated today's merchandise.
Let us prove how much so when you begin the bidding.
Very well, gentlemen.
How many, Sistercia, am I bid for this fine female example of the beautiful, hard-working Britannic race?
Five hundred.
Come, come, sir.
We all enjoy a good joke.
But today we are interested in serious office only.
Take note, gentlemen, of the fiery spirit.
Think about your bid, then double it.
Two thousand, Sistercia.
Yes?
Ten thousand five hundred.
Nearly a good offer, gentlemen.
But come, you can do better than that.
Ten thousand.
Ten thousand?
Yes.
You go to Tavius after all, my dear.
sure, mortal.
Oh, Delos.
Now you've come too. We'd better get these off. I found a couple of rocks.
Timber, you've been unconscious a long time, Ian. I was beginning to worry.
What happened? I remember the storm.
The ship was smashed to pieces and you were struck by some falling timber.
Oh, that's what it was.
Do you remember when you grabbed the galley, master?
Yes, yes, I remember that.
Well, I got the key from him and I managed to free us, except for our wrists.
Afterwards, I managed to get to here. The ship went down.
You saved my life, Delos.
Yes, well, let's get on with these, shall we?
Here. Ready?
Ready.
Oh!
There we are.
Oh, thanks.
Just one more.
I've managed to look around. We must be somewhere near Rome.
Nice. We can't be far away.
The boat was heading south. Perhaps we were going there.
Perhaps. You ready?
Yes.
Oh!
There we are.
You, uh... You feel all right? To travel, I mean.
We must get away from here.
Yes, yes, I feel all right.
Oh, good. I think it's better if we stick together.
If we head north, we can...
Sorry, Delos. I'm afraid we can't.
I'm afraid we can't.
We must stick together. If we head north, we can...
Sorry, Delos. I'm going to Rome.
Rome? But, Ian, you're mad.
You don't have to come.
I have a friend who was taken there.
I have to find her.
Rome?
So, you see, young woman, that's the whole story.
I saw you with that poor woman slave,
and I realized by the way you were looking after her
that I should have to help you.
Why, I only did what most people would have done.
No, no. No, I think not.
Most people under such circumstances
would have looked after themselves.
No, you're kind and considerate.
Thank you.
Unfortunately, I'm not able to give you your freedom.
You'll still be a slave, but at least here,
in the hero's house, as a servant of Poppaea,
life will be more pleasant than it could have been.
I'm grateful for what you've done.
But I must tell you that I have no intention of staying here.
Escape, you mean?
Well, of course, I can't stop you,
but I think you should consider it very carefully.
If you should escape and you're recaptured,
it would mean your death.
Yes, I know.
I only select and buy the slaves.
Fortunately, I'm not answerable for them.
You?
Maximus Petallion from Corinth has arrived, sir.
And with a small girl.
He requests an audience with Caesar Nero.
Petallion?
Very well. Ask him to come in.
No, wait.
On second thoughts, perhaps it would be better
if I came out to see him.
Thank you, sir.
If you'll excuse me.
I'll instruct you in your duties later.
I shouldn't think there's a soul in this place
that knows me, my dear, so there's no cause for you to worry.
I'll try not to, doctor.
You're not trying, my dear.
If I say... And don't make that funny noise.
What?
What is it?
Maximus Petallion!
That's you!
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
I am Tavius.
There was trouble, but I settled with it.
What's happened?
He's in the apoditarian.
The apody what?
The apoditarian.
Oh, really. Well done, well done.
Caesar Nero, emperor of all Rome.
Nero, I've got to see him.
Royal felicitations.
Most grandiose.
Someone spoke.
Did I give permission to speak, Tavius?
Did I give permission?
Caesar Nero...
Now, is that it?
How am I supposed to compose with all this noise going on?
Maximus Petallion.
Maximus Petall... He is Maximus Petallion?
Yes.
The liar play from Corrid?
In person.
Play.
Hmm?
Play.
With such a great musician as yourself present,
I would take the inspiration from your example, sire.
Oh.
A stool.
Oh, this is an inferior instrument. I cannot.
Bring the imperial lyre.
Beautiful.
Beautiful!
Did you not hear that, my child?
That instant composition?
Oh, yes.
Maximus, could you play it?
Me?
Well, I'll try.
That is, with Caesar's permission.
That is the best I can do, I'm afraid.
Oh, no. It wasn't as good.
Of course it wasn't.
Try this one.
That, Your Excellency, would be an impossibility.
After such exquisite playing,
I cannot presume it would be out of the question.
May I suggest that this instrument goes to your temple?
To the temple?
Yes.
I would like to see it.
This instrument goes to your temple.
To the temple.
And the imperial footstool.
Have you eaten, Maximus?
To delight.
We will talk and play together later, Maximus,
when you have eaten and practiced.
Mmm. Mmm.
Well, I must say I got out of that one rather well.
What happens when he asks you to play next time?
Yes. Mmm?
Well, here we are, Ian.
Rome. Now what?
To tell you the truth, Delos, I hadn't really thought.
I suggest you start.
It doesn't exactly look like respectable citizens of the capital.
No.
Well, first of all, let's find somewhere to clean up, eh?
I suppose Barbara must have been sold.
We'll make a start there.
It would be hopeless. I mean, there must be...
You don't have to come, Delos.
I know. I know.
Well, luck's been with us so far. Who's to say it won't hold?
Good, now. Come on.
Well, this seems to be the apoditarian.
I wonder what Tavius meant.
Oh, how should I know, my child?
I can't for the life of me understand why I agreed to come here.
Because you're as curious as I am.
Me, curious? Huh! Nonsense.
Someone made a mistake.
He thought he was talking with somebody else, I shouldn't wonder.
Well, we might as well have a look round now we're here.
What?
Or would you rather we forgot?
No, no, no, no. We may as well look around, as you say.
You know, we may as well look around, as you say.
Strange, very strange.
Doctor, that's the centurion of Founders and North Star House.
I'm quite aware of that, my child, but what does it all mean?
What does it all mean?
I don't know what all the fuss is about.
You're lucky the soldiers brought you to me.
Lucky? That's hardly the word I'd use.
Well, you know as well as I do.
Escaped slaves are put to death automatically.
This way at least you'll have a chance of fighting for your freedom.
A chance? How?
By putting on a good show in the arena.
And hoping Nero's in a benevolent mood.
The arena?
Well, it's so-called the arena.
The arena?
It sounds as if we're going to be trained as gladiators.
To fight what?