See their hatred
burning beyond control!
I fight to honour these walls,
You fight to leave them.
Fight as one!
Or die as two.
Spartacus champion,
I've awoken to a world of shit.
My thoughts are with you.
I'll send my slave naevia
often to attend your needs.
Do you know who I am?
I've seen you, with legatos glaber.
I am his wife.
You are no longer of Thrace.
Embrace the path the
gods have set you upon,
And you will embrace your destiny
As Spartacus.
I - am - Spartacus!
{ yelling }
Yes!
Spartacus,
Victor again!
{ chanting Spartacus }
It's a marvel good
solonius has any men left!
Must the Thracian
appear in every primus?
Does the house of not
deem another gladiator
Worthy of spectacle?
They have no one else of note.
Crixus will return to glory,
presently.
As you say.
A welcome addition.
I grow tired of this
Thracian and his victories.
Perhaps something of
note to erase the tedium.
I purchase a fresh batch of
slaves at auction tomorrow,
To be trained as gladiators.
We would be honoured if you would
Grace us at the unveiling.
What sort of beasts
shall you procure?
Only the most ferocious,
To be displayed for your pleasure.
Our next auction is
about to begin.
Fortune favours us!
A fine selection,
enough coin to take our pick.
Your competitor approaches.
Solonius, my heart brims with joy!
I had hoped to see you here,
Buying new men for
Spartacus to slaughter!
Batiatus, now purse-proud
and so potent with charm.
How quickly Fortuna
shifts her blessings. Huh?
A fact that beloved ovidius
was unexpectedly made aware.
You speak truth.
His murder was a deep tragedy.
Indeed.
One can never know who is
plotting violence, can one?
Or when they may commit the act.
Good citizens of Capua.
The auction begins, dominos.
To business, then.
Behold the finest offering
of flesh and bone...
The Gaul segovax
will demand expense.
And perhaps the German brothers,
duro and agron.
The others?
Of little worth.
Let us begin with a Celtic Gaul
Of imposing virtues!
I give you !
Segovax, an imposing Gaul,
is pulled forward.
Skin, his armour!
Hands, his steel!
Who would claim such a man?!
Bid!
Five denarii!
Five denari from good vibius!
Ten denarii!
Twelve!
Fifteen!
Twenty!
Twenty-five denarii!
I grow tired of bidding.
A hundred denarii!!
{ crowd reacts }
A hundred?
For the entire lot.
Sold!
To batiatus!
Saviour of Capua!
With respect dominos,
Your coin far exceeds their value.
Fuck value!
None can be placed on seeing
That cock eater's pride
ground beneath my heel.
Solonius, consider the whores!
Perhaps you will
have better fortune
Fighting women in the arena!
{ laughter }
{ grunting }
Have I not pleased you, domino?
Does your cock stand dry?
I fear you have not quaked.
Apologies.
My wounds have yet to fully heal.
Well you will recover and
all will be as it was.
{ clearing throat }
Forgive me.
Dominus returns from the market.
Get out.
What would you have me do?
If I refuse, domino
will grow suspicious.
I know.
I perform as weakly as I can,
Hoping she will lose interest.
I am not angry with you.
It's only...
I find it difficult
That you and domino
share what we have not.
For some time.
You alone occupy my thoughts.
You're going to die!
You're going to die!
You're going to die!
I'm going to kill you.
You're dead.
I'm going to kill you!
You're dead, you're dead,
Now you're dead, you're all dead.
What is beneath your feet?
Sand?
{ chuckling }
Fucking idiot.
Spartacus.
Sacred ground, doctor!
Watered with tears of blood!
Your tears.
Your blood.
Your pathetic lives,
Forged into something of worth...
Five denarii on the fool who spoke.
Listen. Learn.
And perhaps, live.
As gladiators.
Now, attend your master!
You have been blessed!
Each and every one of you,
To find yourselves here,
At the ludus of Quintus lentulus
Purveyor of the finest
in all of the republic!
{ cheering }
Prove yourselves,
in the hard days to follow.
Prove yourselves more
than a common slave.
More than a man. Fail, and die.
Your husband speaks
as my father would
Before the senate.
He's quite the orator.
The tongue of Apollo.
Succeed, and stand proud
among my titans!
{ the roar their approval }
Batiatus, batiatus, batiatus!
A gladiator does not fear death.
He embraces it.
Caresses it.
Fucks it..
What make you of the new men?
They are spectacles!
I find myself growing
quite fond of this
Sordid business of gladiators.
Perhaps you should
consider purchasing
One of your own.
A gladiator?
I could never.
Could I?
Choose a recruit, and he is yours,
For a nominal fee, of course.
Such funds to cover the expense
Of his upkeep and his training.
Every victory in the arena,
Is an honour to his domino.
Who should I choose?!
May I offer a suggestion
to aid your dilemma?
Doctor!
Our honoured guest wishes to
access the recruits' virtues.
{ laughter }
Remove your cloths!
I wish to alter my bet.
Everything on the one
with the horse cock.
The one on the left...
Segovax, Gaul.
He has truly been blessed
by the god priapus.
A fine specimen!
We must celebrate!
See to the wine.
Has a man ever had such a wife?
She but loves her husband,
And would see him elevated.
A gladiator of my own,
Mined from the same
lands as crixus!
The envy of my friends
shall spread like locusts,
Their hearts devoured.
Who would you torture so?
No one of my acquaintance, I hope.
Doubtful.
Caecila, Emilia...
Licinia.
Licinia, cousin to Marcus Crassus?
The wealthiest man in Rome,
According to him, at least.
Licinia, in particular
enjoys the games.
More so the beasts who
do battle in them.
You must make
invitation for private
Introduction to your man segovax.
Here at the villa.
Uh, these are proper roman women.
They only mingle with
families of equal standing.
Oh, perhaps it's for the best.
Seeing your man in the flesh
Would only inflame their envy.
I will arrange it
And I shall even help
you with your hair.
We must make you look suitable
for such elevated company.
Shit baking in the sun.
Seems only yesterday we
were of a similar position.
Much has changed.
You became the fucking
champion of Capua.
Your myth to echo for
a thousand years.
And I... Became a good friend.
Varro.
The die call your name!
And Varro answers.
You continue to gamble.
A few coins to pass the time.
You fucking wait until gladiators
Have filled their bellies.
Crixus.
{ laughter }
Do not mistake me, crixus.
I give no shit about these men.
But you are no longer
the champion of Capua.
You do not take lead here.
You follow.
The man who follows is
forever at your back.
Something to consider champion.
Fucking gauls.
Much gratitude.
Men should not die
with empty stomachs.
Rhaskos.
Um, end of the month
already, is it?
According to the
calendar you cannot read.
Your winnings amount to
three and a half denarii.
Preserve coin, or indulge yourself?
When do I ever take coin over gash?
I expect her ass to be
returned free of blood.
Ashur, you pass my cell by mistake.
Where is my coin?
The mistake is yours.
You do not fight,
you are entitled to neither coin
Nor cunt.
The dominos shall hear about this.
Oh {laughs} his very
hand set the names.
Perhaps next month you
should find yourself
Again among them,
Should your wounds ever heal.
Varro, a moment.
{ sighing } your victories
amass much coin.
Shall I see it transferred
to your wife as usual?
Or--
Would you prefer a small portion
Applied towards more
pressing concerns?
{ grunting, groaning }
That tiny man is the
fucking champion of Capua?
Fucking Romans swell his legend
To their advantage.
We could easily
best the man, agron.
Spartacus defeated theokoles.
And the skies wept to
honour of his victory.
The two of you would
present challenge
Equal to piss and shit.
You find my words amusing?
Your words, no.
The stupid fuck that speaks them,
Very fucking amusing.
Spartacus is a man to be
held as an example.
The slave ignites the arena.
One day the flames
shall set him free.
I've witnessed such a thing.
The roar of the crowd,
demanding a gladiator
Be granted freedom for
his showing in the arena.
You haven't even earned the mark
Of the fucking brotherhood
And you cluck about freedom.
Segovax is right.
Spartacus shows us the way.
I will train as he trains,
Every thrust and counter
committed to memory.
And one day...
I too will become legend
in the arena.
Raaa!
His wounds need yet more time.
How much longer?
A fortnight or two.
Perhaps three.
Uhh...Jupiter's cock!
His recovery may be
aided by certain herbs
Absent the apothecary.
Dominus, I've been without
sword for too long.
Let me resume training.
I will see all on
the list procured.
Heed medicos' warning.
Your sword will return
to your hand soon enough.
Mandragora... Henbane..
Lye... Thorn apple...
Hemlock... Belladonna...
Half a dozen more.
Substantial lists,
requiring substantial coin.
Procure the highest quality.
A justified expense,
should remedy result.
May the gods see it fucking so.
Too many days pass
without progress.
When doctor suffered
wounds from theokoles...
Did they require equal
time in the healing?
Considerably less.
There might be a blessing
Hidden among such a curse.
Talk of crixus' true condition
Surely has not escaped
beyond these walls. Yet.
Your meaning?
Inquiries for his
purchase could be made
In a delicate fashion.
My visit to the market
could serve dual purposes.
Remove the thought.
There'll be no talk
of selling crixus.
I only fear for the future,
dominos.
One that does not see
Spartacus erased from it.
Straighten your fucking tongue
And speak plainly.
Yesterday I witnessed
the hatred cultivates
Towards Spartacus,
grow beyond measure.
If in his mad passion
Crixus, were to make
attempt on his life...
Solicit numbers from sextus, alone.
Word of crixus' stunted
recovery must not to spread.
I wish only to discover
his current value.
You would sell crixus?
I would explore all
avenues of reason.
Which has flown if you
consider such a thing.
Crixus will fight again.
But will he ever be the man he was?
Give him time to heal, Quintus.
He bleeds when pierced,
as does any man.
The crowds do not see a man.
They see him a god,
and we present him as such.
Should that myth evaporate,
so goes his worth.
Then we'll find worth
in another role.
Well surely his knowledge
would aid instruction
To the lower men?
We already have a doctor.
The finest in any ludus.
He could work beside you, then.
Crixus has no head for numbers.
The sword is his only purpose.
He's part of the family, Quintus!
He is a fucking slave!
This house, this family,
is a business, lucretia.
As much regret results from
selling a gladiator like crixus,
When the time arrives,
and it fucking will for them all,
It's a necessity that
must be swallowed.
No decision has yet to be made.
He may still prove himself fit.
Turn your mind towards
and her friends.
Win their favour, and see
this family rise ever higher.
Good.
But you lower your
shield when you thrust.
It leaves you open
from shoulder to neck.
Again.
Crixus.
What are you doing?
Doctor’s gaze misses nothing.
A risk made necessary
by unfortunate events.
Has something happened to you?
I am ever safe.
But dominos...
He considers selling
you to another master.
You're mistaken.
Ashur has been sent
to market for herb...
And to question vibius on
his interest towards you.
Vibius? Lanista of
shits and mongrels!
The glory I have earned this ludus,
This is my fucking reward!
Crixus, you must prove to dominos
That your time has not passed.
To step onto the
sand as a gladiator
Is the highest position
a slave can pray for.
Prove yourselves.
Earn the mark of the brotherhood.
You strike a solid blow.
Against an ill-trained fool
Who taints the name of Gaul.
He may be a fool.
But he is one who is fit to train.
Again.
You doubt that I am fully healed?
Coz I will show you otherwise.
Doctor, crixus offers
a demonstration,
To the benefit of the recruits!
Shall I indulge?
He believes himself ready.
As do I.
Segovax, your sword and shield.
Attend!
Show then whose champion, crixus!
Show me.
He attacks boldly
To hasten victory.
Counter to proper training.
Defeat is delivered
not only by the sword,
But also the crowd.
Fall from their grace,
And you may never rise
to former glories.
A true gladiator is
taught to embrace
Pain and suffering.
To fight until life flees
from his worthless body.
{ grunting in pain }
Learn from this man.
Or share his fate.
Spartacus!
Return to training.
Dominus.
Rhaskos, hamilcar.
See him to the medicos.
A fine offer, good vibius.
I shall hasten to
present it to my master.
A moment, slave.
You frequent the
market absent batiatus?
I conduct important
business on his behalf.
Regarding the former
champion of Capua?
I discuss no business of the like.
I would, if found in your position.
Crixus is champion in name only.
He is but limbs,
dangling from a skewered trunk.
Your master would be well served
Pawning him off on
a toad like vibius.
Your concern for my
master is well received.
My concern is not for him,
but about him.
Are your ears receptive?
I cannot stop a free
man from speech.
Were batiatus, were to
seek reprisal for offenses
He believes I have made,
I would wish warning in advance.
I am a villain.
But I'm not your villain.
Seek another slave.
Loyalty can become
a crushing weight,
If not braced by proper support.
When your back begins to break,
You'll find my shoulders
broad and welcoming.
You overreach.
And here is the result.
Do not address me as
you would a recruit.
Then do not act like one.
Words of import from
the mighty Spartacus,
Bringer of rain!
Slayer of theokoles!
As if you stood against
him on your own.
Without my aid,
you would have nothing.
Not even your miserable life.
True.
But here I stand.
And there you sit.
You know shit about being champion,
Of being a true brother.
You are only playing
at your own part.
And one day the game will end.
Death comes to us all.
Press me again,
and you shall find yours.
{ laughter }
Gratitude for joining
us this evening,
At the house of batiatus.
Indeed has spoken so
very highly of you that,
I feels if I'm with old friends.
Oh, that's a disadvantage.
Ilithyia neglected to
mention she was acquainted
With the wife of good batiatus.
I am sure I must have.
She is quite the bitch,
if you have not noticed.
Which is why we love her so.
I grow rather fond of her myself.
Mmm, I could use a cup of
wine to wet the tongue.
You could be drowning,
and gurgle the same.
Oh!
Mmm. Is this sestian?
Valerian.
Mmm, she is trying hard,
is she not?
Only because I have told her
how important you are to me.
Yes, we all love each other
And have orgies under the new moon.
Now tell us stories!
Yes, tell us everything
about this horrid place!
She means the ludus below.
Do I need an interpreter?
Apparently.
Do be quiet, let her speak!
How do you live among such beasts?
My husband sees them well tamed.
I pray not fully.
Some instinct remains.
So that they may yet unleash
their savagery in the arena.
I would go insane here!
Surrounded by all these animals,
high atop this mountain.
Would you not prefer
to live in the city,
Surrounded by real people?
I find that we are
perfectly located.
I need only step
out onto my balcony
And all of Capua kneels at my feet.
Well stated.
But are you not bored?
Up here, all alone?
Nothing but slaves and beasts,
Not even children to occupy..
Boredom?
Impossible with so
many distractions!
I stay quite occupied.
Each day brings
with it opportunity.
Yesterday, in fact,
six new recruits
Began their training.
One of whom fights under
ilithyia's patronage.
Ilithyia?
Claudius gave you approval?
He does not know.
A few coins,
parcelled from my allowance.
He will kill you when he finds out!
And I will kill the first
who tells, caecilian!
Mmm, a gladiator of your own!
May we see him?
Course, he's not yet a gladiator.
He must pass the final test
Before he earns the
mark of batiatus.
Oh. So he is only a slave, then?
Oh, for the time being but..
I would lay eyes upon
a real gladiator.
Yes!
A champion!
Bring Spartacus up!
Spartacus, oh yes!
You must!
Bring the champion.
Let us all revel in his since.
Gratitude.
For your aid in my training today.
I would be eager
to hear any advice,
To further my cause.
Your cause?
Victories in the arena,
and freedom.
Forsake any thoughts of freedom,
And the life you once
had beyond these walls.
Accept your fate...
Or be destroyed by spectres
of a past never to return.
Spartacus, you are summoned.
Mmm, he stands as mars,
ready for war.
Is there truth to the legends?
Gladiators share the
blood of the gods?
The mighty crixus, most certainly.
Now there was a man!
Truly blessed by the gods!
When will we see him
in the arena again?
Soon.
What of you, Spartacus ?
Are you a blessing to us?
To some.
To others, a curse.
A duality of his kind.
Admired as a gladiator.
Yet despised as a slave.
He is much more
than a common slave.
You can feel it radiating
from his flesh...
I have heard tale of
a champion's blood
Possessing many restorative powers.
A few drops in a
glass of wine is said
To make a man hard for days!
Such are the legends.
Well I would test them
for myself, if I could?
Certainly.
I'll send a messenger with a vial..
I would have it now.
May I have the honour?
Take care not to cut too deeply.
The legend does call for the
blood of a dead gladiator,
Does it not?
But such details
should not concern us.
Spartacus will die soon enough...
To the roar of the crowd.
I do not believe he will
ever fall in the arena.
He is a god among men.
He's nothing but a Thracian dog.
His treachery dishonoured Rome.
It is your husband who
bears the dishonour.
Guards!
He abandoned defenceless
women and children.
Left to be raped and murdered.
Get him out of here!
What a bold tongue!
Apologies.
Were he my slave,
I would have him crucified!
For what?
Speaking the truth?
We've all heard the
rumours about your husband.
The hour grows late,
and I'm expected.
Gratitude for a most
interesting evening.
One that begs a repeat soon.
{ snickering }
Apologies.
None required.
You will soon learn
that women of note
Have a rabid taste
For the embarrassment
of their friends.
Well I would not see
mine treated so.
May I have words with segovax,
before I take my leave?
I wish to bid my man good
fortune in the days to follow.
Ahh!
Ah, my fortune returns!
Varro.
I'm of a winning mind.
Save your words of caution.
I'm not here for words.
I'm here for dice.
You and dice?
I am of a mood tonight.
I would have distraction.
And coin.
The rules, then.
Should I need instruction,
I shall ask.
{ laughing }
Leave us.
Do you know who I am, slave?
Apologies.
I do not.
I am your domino.
My coin pays for your training.
Water.
Food.
The very air you breathe.
Survive to receive the mark,
And you will become my gladiator.
My champion.
Domino.
Please me,
And the rewards
will be substantial.
Wine...
Women...
Even freedom, perhaps.
You desire such a thing?
Freedom?
Yes, domino.
There is something I desire.
See it attended to,
And your freedom will be secured...
Should never have been summoned!
I had little choice.
Ilithyia, and the man
should be kept separate.
Throwing them together
invites calamity.
The risk bore fruit.
Lincinia, intimates another visit.
Spartacus her purpose?
Undoubtedly.
Then we shall accommodate.
Her cousin good Crassus
owns the fucking heavens,
Even if he is not
currently favoured by
His fellows in the senate.
Your efforts raise us ever higher.
And how do yours fare?
Have you received
offers for crixus?
I meet vibius tomorrow.
Vibius?
His ludus is in Damascus!
Crixus will fare better
in the smaller venues,
Until he is healed.
Well, tomorrow, then?
His glory fades.
I would not have it
extinguish beneath our roof.
Damascus?
Dominus meets with tomorrow.
I've never seen Damascus.
Do you think I'll like it?
You cannot go.
The decision is made.
Even domino doubts me.
I see it in her eyes.
Then convince her otherwise.
My words carry no weight.
I do not speak of words.
You would have me do this?
I would have you stay.
The coin you lost to me.
Which makes it yours.
You are a fool.
You have thrown dice before.
I turned from such
things years ago.
For my wife.
You are a better man than I.
Do not forget why
you are here, Varro.
Remove your hand.
You dishonour your family.
You dishonour your own wife.
My wife is a whore!
She carries another man's child.
How did this come to be?
A friend, from the marketplace.
She claims he forced
his way onto her, but..
And you find fault with her?
She did not fight.
Had you not left to pay your debts,
She would not have had to.
She lives, Varro.
She lives.
You may yet hold her in your arms.
A thought a decent
man would cherish.
My husband is at market on
business concerning you.
He believes your day
may have passed.
And you?
I pray he is mistaken.
And your gods?
Do they answer your prayers?
They're silent.
Then let us crack
open the heavens...
And gain their attention...
Remove any doubt...
That my day has passed...
Ah!
Ah!
Oh!
{ groaning }
She seemed... Pleased.
Naevia.
You did what you had to.
What I asked of you.
Dominus is already at market.
Speaking with vibius.
There is nothing that
cannot be undone.
You are a good man, crixus.
The gods will not
see you treated so.
They now favour Spartacus.
They give no shit for me.
Forgive me, champion...
You'd kill a fellow Gaul...
To save a man you hate?
I do not save Spartacus.
I saved a brother
who shares the mark.
You have earned a glorious death...
And will die at the
hands of a gladiator.
I leave these walls
for a fucking moment
And a recruit tries
to kill Spartacus,
Ilithyia's own fucking man?!
And he would have succeeded,
if it weren't for crixus.
His days not passed.
Oh fuck!
Send note to vibius.
Crixus is no longer for sale.
Oh, I feared term sere
already agreed upon.
Well fuck the terms!
Should he have issue,
he can reason to my cock.
Ahh, the snake arrives,
walking as if human.
I pray I have not missed the test?
Delayed, due to most
unfortunate events.
Spartacus, the champion of Capua,
Was attacked unawares in the baths.
Attacked?
By your recruit, segovax.
How unfortunate.
For your man, yes.
He had to be punished, of course.
{ screaming }
{ screaming }
Spartacus yet lives.
Yet.
Your man would not
speak as to his reason,
Even when parted from his cock.
He gave you no sign of cause
When you met with him
last night did he?
No. It is a mystery.
I will regain my position,
champion.
I welcome the attempt.
