Cut off his head.
Kill him!
Look out, Dino!
That's better, my dear. Now they really are fighting their line.
Get up, you darned vikings! Get up! Your Caesar commands it!
Here, we get out this way! Come on, Barbara!
Kill them! Kill them!
I'll come back for you somehow!
You'll never catch them now!
Back to your posts!
I'll teach you to turn against me.
We could have caught them, Caesar Nero.
Fool, you'd never have stood a chance in the street outside.
But I'll see them dead. I'll see them dead.
You think they'll come back, Caesar Nero?
For her. And when they do, you'll recognize them.
Take my guards and bring them to me.
I understand, Caesar Nero.
If you succeed, you will be rewarded.
If you fail, you die.
So you are a friend of the gladiators, are you?
Give me your sword.
He didn't fight hard enough.
You sent for me, madam?
Tavius, yes. Come here.
The new slave you bought for me.
Yes, madam.
I find her unsatisfactory. Get rid of her.
Of course, as soon as I can find a replacement.
Immediately.
If she's not out of the palace today, I'll take my own measures.
And they'll be successful this time.
But the Caesar Nero...
How dare you speak to me like that?
My orders are to be carried out.
Otherwise, your own life will be in danger.
Tavius, I've been looking for you everywhere.
Oh?
Is there anyone inside?
No.
Well, I think it would be safer if we talked in there.
Tavius, I'm desperate.
You're the only one I can turn to.
I can't move anywhere in the palace.
The guards watch me all the time.
Now, please, slowly. I don't understand.
Well, you remember when you first brought me here?
Yes.
I told you that I didn't intend to stay.
Yes.
Well, that time has come.
I was planning to leave.
A friend of mine, Ian, is coming to collect me.
Go on.
Well, Nero's found out about it.
And he intends to use me to trap Ian.
I see.
When's your friend coming?
I think it's tonight.
Good.
Now, don't worry.
I'll think of something, I promise you.
Everything will be all right.
What can I say?
I can't repay you.
I need no reward.
Besides, I have my own reason for helping.
The Payer instructed me to dismiss you.
I shall say I did.
Thank you, Tavius.
You've given me new hope.
Oh, do you know Maximus Battalion?
Yes. Yes, I do. Why?
Nero is planning an appearance for him in the arena.
It seems...
Two off.
March.
One off.
March.
Two off.
March.
Maximus Battalion to appear in the arena?
Tavius, they're posting the guard.
It must be to trap Ian.
If we've got to waste time until tonight, I suggest we get undercover.
Sometimes safer to hide in the open, Delos.
We won't get near the palace, you know that.
They'd have heard you shout. They'd be waiting.
Perhaps.
I've got a friend who specializes in trouble.
He dives in and usually finds a way.
I think I'll take a leaf out of his book for once.
Come on.
You know what this is, child, don't you?
Plans?
Yes.
Caesar Nero made it.
Rebuilding Rome.
Let me see.
When are we now?
64 A.D.
July.
Yes, of course.
He sets fire to Rome.
I know about that, Doctor.
Yes, he must respect his plan.
We'll be ready at any time now.
Maximus, must you hiss my name from all corners?
I'm sorry, but I have news.
Yes?
Nero has arranged for you to play in the arena.
Oh, has he now?
Well, I must have misjudged the fellow.
And as you play, the lions will be released.
Oh, that will be charming.
Well, obviously you must leave here before this concert.
Oh, obviously.
So if you still intend to carry on with your plan,
today is your last chance to kill Nero.
Yes, yes.
Kill Nero?
I beg your pardon?
Maximus, when you first sent word from Corinth
of your intention to murder the Caesar Nero,
I informed your allies in the court.
Oh, yes, you did, did you?
Yes.
And when the assassins left here to waylay you on your journey,
naturally I thought that was the end.
Yes, but I arrived here.
Yes, Maximus, you arrived here.
And the centurion who was killed by my allies
was the man that knew all about my plans and Nero didn't.
Yes, we all know that.
My main concern now, Maximus, is that you should act on what I say.
I shall certainly act on what you say.
Immediately.
Good, good, good.
And the lions will go hungry after all, eh?
Yes.
Hmm?
Hmm.
Well, that settles that little bit of intrigue.
I'm a would-be murderer, am I?
Hmm.
Well, we must be going, child.
I want to leave here as soon as it's dark.
Oh, but don't.
Now, now, now, there'll be no arguments.
You will do as I say.
Maximus, my dear.
Oh, my dear Caesar Nero.
Ho, ho, ho, ho.
I have a surprise for you.
Guess what it is.
Well, now, let me think.
Ah, you want me to play in the arena, hmm?
You guessed.
Well, it's no problem at all.
After all, you want to do your very best for your fellow artists.
Why not?
The arena, hmm?
Yes, yes, of course, that is exactly right.
Yes, well, I promise you I shall try to make it a roaring success.
You'll have to play something special, you know.
Oh, yes, of course, of course, yes, something serious, yes.
Something that they can really get their teeth into, hmm?
You can't.
No, you can't.
I've told no one, Caesar Nero.
I've always wanted to put on a good show, to give a great performance.
But after all, who knows?
If I go down well, I might even make it my farewell performance.
Ha, ha, ha.
You see, I've always wanted to be considered as an artist of some taste.
Generally regarded as, well, palatable, hmm?
But I must be bored, hmm?
Oh, I must.
Surely you have so many other important things to attend to without standing here,
shooing over the facts with me.
Good gracious, there's something burning.
My pens, my drawings for the new room!
You fool, you idiot!
A lifetime's worth, I'll have you both killed over and over again!
Guards, guards!
Fool, idiot, traitor, big...
I've mistakenly entered the arena on an island with water all round.
And in the water there will be alligators, and the water level will be raised,
and the alligators will get you!
Fool, traitor!
Brilliant!
You are a genius, a genius!
I will make you rich, rich!
Father said it wouldn't pass my plans, eh?
Wouldn't let me build my new Rome.
But if the old one is burnt, if it goes up in flames,
they will have no choice!
Rome will be rebuilt to my design!
Brilliant, brilliant!
Well, there you are, Ulysses, you heard what the other said.
Brilliant, brilliant.
Let us go, will you?
Otherwise you'll be getting some of that alligator treatment.
Go on, on your way.
Bound to business.
Go along.
We'd better be going, child, and I want to leave here as soon as it's dark.
I didn't think that was going to work.
Wasn't going to work? What next?
I never had any doubt in my mind, my dear.
Fantastic, brilliant!
It's a fantastic idea, Poppea!
It's all right, it's all right, at least it must be.
Well, nearly all, my dear.
You know how I've always longed to rebuild Rome, name it after myself.
Yes, I know.
At last, here's a chance of making it all come true.
Burn the old one, and the cynic will have to pass my plans.
It is a good idea, isn't it?
Yes, very.
If you want me.
Only to find out why the palace was being surrounded by guards.
Guards?
Oh, yes, of course, yes, that new slave of yours, that girl.
She and some of her friends are coming here tonight.
They'll be captured and killed.
I must get someone to stop the fires.
Tonight.
No time like the present.
Stand up straight, soldier.
It's keeping them.
The guards should have returned hours ago with my torchbearers.
You, go and see if they're outside.
Here, guards.
There must be some way of getting in there.
Quick, Delos, get in the line.
Hurry, hurry, go.
We'll pick them up.
I don't know.
I'll tell you one thing, if I get the chance, I'm going to find Bob.
That's enough.
Silence.
That was just a sample.
There will be more for you, if you carry out a task that I have for you.
I want you men to start fires in the hutments next to the city.
I want you men to start fires in the hutments next to the circus.
The fire will spread quickly.
By tonight, all Rome will be ablaze.
Kill anyone who tries to stop you.
You are acting on orders from Caesar Nero, emperor of all Rome.
Yes, come with me.
Then the rebuilding will commence.
A new city will arise from the flames.
Neuropolis.
Neurosis.
Or...
just plain Nero.
Yes.
They may have got in with the crowd.
If they did, they won't get out.
But how did you know I'd get in that way?
I didn't. I just put myself in your place and that seemed the logical entrance.
Come with me.
Barbara!
Ian!
Put this on.
Will we get out of here?
There's a chance, Barbara. Just a chance.
See what that is.
This way, child.
Try and be quiet.
The place is swarming with guards.
It's only us.
Silence!
Leave now and start the fires.
What have done to you?
The emperor's instructions.
Now you've found Barbara, what are you making for?
We don't know.
A cesium.
Well, I've travelled some of the way with you.
And it's home for me.
They won't catch me a second time, I promise you that.
Come, come.
Good luck, my child.
Good luck.
I think the road's just up ahead.
Good, good.
I expect Ian and Barbara will be wondering when we are going to get back.
Doctor!
Look!
The great fire of Rome, my dear.
My first real sight of history.
Yes, the most memorable occasion.
Isn't it strange to think that people will read about that in books for thousands and thousands of years
and here am I sitting here actually watching it.
It's a pity they got it all wrong.
Got it all wrong? What do you mean, child?
They didn't mention you.
Of course not. Why should they?
Well, it was you who gave Nero the idea, wasn't it?
I gave him?
Honestly, Doctor, and after that long talk you gave me about not meddling with history,
you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
It's got nothing to do with me.
You burnt his drawing.
Oh, it's an accident.
Well, maybe it was, but if you hadn't...
Well, he could have been told somewhere else.
You can't possibly accuse me of... of... of... for that.
All right, you have it your way, I'll have it mine.
Now look here, young lady, let's settle this insinuating that all this is my fault.
Hmm? Hmm.
My fault?
Ha ha!
Ho ho! Ha ha ha ha ha!
What are you about?
It's a bit early, they might not be up yet.
If the master was back, the servants would be.
Surely Vicky or the doctor would have cleared up this mess.
Ah, that's what they hit me on the head with.
Yes.
Surely the doctor wouldn't have gone back to the TARDIS without us.
No, I don't think so.
All in all, I think we've got back before them.
Yeah. Oh, I'm so hungry.
Yes, so am I.
Um, Barbara, there must be a bit of that cold peacock of yours left in the fridge.
Hey, you're right.
Why don't you have a look?
Oh, very funny.
Instead of sitting there making stupid jokes, why don't you get yourself cleaned up?
As a matter of fact, you can start with this.
Oh, Barbara.
Well, you broke it.
I did?
Yes.
I mean, I know I picked it up to help, but you got your head in the way.
You hit me on the head with that?
Well, yes. You see, um, well, in the struggle...
So I've got you to blame for being thrown into jail, eh?
Made to row in a galley! Fight like a rowman!
I'll show you what I'm going to do!
No!
All right. I'll clear it up.
Ah. Better.
Oh, tempura! Oh, mores!
Well, well, well, well.
Oh, don't cut!
Oh, you're back!
Oh, what's this? What's this?
Oh, it's a little...
Oh, don't cut! Oh, you're back!
Oh, what zest! What youthful exuberance!
Try not to look at them, child. Their outburst of energy could make you go dizzy.
Barbara, we went to Rome. We met Nero.
They all thought the doctor was a musician, and he gave a concert.
All these people were listening.
My dear Barbara, the young lady doesn't want to listen to people who've been idling away their days.
I haven't been idling!
Well, now you've had a nice long holiday, I'm sure you can't wait to get back to the TARDIS, hm?
If you'd let us get a word in edgeways, we'd...
We'll have to keep. Have a great...
Come along, my dear.
Well, how do you like that?
Oh, well.
Even if we had told them, I don't think they'd have believed us.
No. Said we were dreaming.
Oh, it isn't fair, Ian. Is it?
No, it is not.
You know, it's got a funny side to it, hasn't it?
Ha ha!
Ha ha ha!
Hmm. Roman souvenir.
And you see, after that, he got up and he started pretending to play the lyre, and the point was he wasn't really playing it at all.
But no one would admit that they couldn't hear him.
Exactly! He fooled everybody!
Ha ha ha! Usually does, Vicki. You'll see.
Oh, well.
Much as I like these clothes, I really think we ought to change into something a little more practical.
Yes, you're right.
Where will we go next? Has the doctor told you yet?
Oh, no. He never does that.
You mean it's a surprise?
Yes. To everybody.
But the doctor can work the ship, can't he?
Er, yes.
Sort of.
Go on. He must know what he's doing. He's been at those controls for hours.
I don't believe you. Come on, Barbara.
Anything wrong, Doctor?
Huh? Oh, Chesterton, yes, you know, I wouldn't have thought it possible, but somehow we've materialized for a split second of time and been imprisoned in some kind of force.
I simply can't break it whole.
Somewhere, somehow, we are being slowly dragged up.
Hm. Hm-hm. Dragged down? Hm. To what?
To be continued...