Those About to Die (2024) s01e10 Episode Script

It seems today we fight
alone.
There's no telling
what they'll pit us against
An army, animals?
We go back-to-back.
Let's see how many we can take with us.
[crowd cheering in distance]
Thank you
for what you have taught me, Northman.
No.
Thank you, my Numidian brother.
Today we live together,
or die together.
Fire and ice.
[crowd cheering]
Brother, you seem agitated.
[scoffs]
My only concern is that
the Inaugural Games are perfect.
[chuckles]
Yes.
Well, perhaps the cool air of Ostia
will calm you.
Ostia?
Yes, yes.
A navigator
waits for us there after we finish
this day of games.
[footsteps approaching]
[guard]
Soldier, go get the Praetorians! Move!
Keep everybody back! Get back!
I said get back!
Move, keep them away.
I don't want anybody near here, understand?
The sector is closed.
Move it! You as well.
All of you, go around!
Soldier, keep them back!
[Manilius]
Understood.
[whispers]
A navigator has arrived in Ostia
with proof that Domitian
was behind the grain delays.
Come with me.
- [Cala] Please!
- Mum! Mum!
Please, just tell me
why you are taking her.
No women at this gate.
No! No, no. Please, I'm her mother.
I need to know what this is about.
- Fuck off!
- [guard chuckles]
How dare you talk to me like this?
[guard]
Go away!
I'm her mother. I won't leave without her.
- Leave!
- You can't arrest people like that!
[Cala]
She has done nothing wrong.
[guard]
You bastards!
[fanfare]
Citizens of Rome,
we present you
[crowd cheering]
[Tuccian]
a warrior pair!
[cheering]
- Kwame! Kwame! Kwame!
- Come on!
[Viggo]
Instead of gladiators,
we are to die at the hand of
Roman legionnaires.
As did my father.
Good.
A warrior's death.
Two gladiators, having fought
back-to-back,
as savage Achilles
and sensuous Patroclus.
Fast friends,
bonded in life and death.
Viggo, the Northman!
- [cheering]
- [man] Viggo!
Whoo!
[crowd chanting]
Viggo! Viggo! Viggo!
And Kwame,
the lion killer!
[crowd cheering]
- Yeah!
- Come on, Kwame!
Come on, Kwame!
After 11 victories,
today
Viggo fights
the great
Kwame!
[crowd cheering]
Killer
of the invincible Flamma!
These two,
the greatest of all gladiators,
will, for your pleasure,
fight each other now to
the death!
[cheering]
[crowd cheering outside]
[crowd cheering]
[Tuccian]
Gladiators
engage!
[Viggo]
Kwame.
Be strong, brother. Be strong.
I have your back.
Come!
[crowd murmuring]
Fight! Fight!
[booing]
You're a monster!
They've taken my daughter!
Where have they taken her?
Where?
[crowd shouting]
I've paid my ticket!
Come on, fight!
[chanting]
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Is this part of the entertainment?
[crowd chanting]
Fight! Fight! Fight!
I expected this.
Citizens of Rome.
I present to you
[gates open]
[Tuccian]
Jula.
[crowd gasp]
[Tuccian]
Little sister
of the lion killer, Kwame!
[crowd cheering]
Jula!
[Tuccian]
A slave.
The property of Rome!
And the son
of the Northman, Viggo!
[crowd gasp]
- Seven years old, and the light
- No!
of his father's eye.
No. No.
No.
[Tuccian]
What better encouragement to fight,
brave gladiators,
than to save the lives of your family?
[crowd gasp]
[Tuccian]
Who will die?
And who will live?
[cheering]
[sobs]
- No!
- [all gasp]
[cries out]
Did you devise this entertainment?
Brother.
Huh?
Was this your idea?
- Yes.
- Ah, well.
Then the goddess Discordia
lives within you.
For only a devious mind
could conjure such a thing.
[crowd cheering]
[whimpers]
My friend,
I have no choice but to kill you.
Please forgive me.
If you succeed,
no forgiveness is needed.
The blame will lie with
these ravening wolves.
The bastard children of Romulus.
Kwame!
[grunts]
[shouting]
Hey! Girl!
Where is that woman?
[Manilius]
Tenax.
He works with the Aedile Ludi.
Where do I find him?
[guard]
Tenax. He's somewhere inside.
Split up. Find him.
Kill him.
It's time to tie up loose ends.
So, there is nothing I can say.
You're certain about leaving?
- [whistles]
- [Ferox grumbles]
Easy, boy.
I would so love to take you with me.
But you know what they do
to horse thieves.
[nuzzles]
Elia! It's Jula.
They've taken her to the Amphitheatre.
What?
They're using her to force her brother
to fight his best friend.
[cries out]
[all gasp]
[breathes heavily]
No!
[crowd gasp]
[gasps]
[Titus]
Strangely compelling to watch
two supposedly
loyal friends.
Could call them family.
Fighting to the death.
Don't you think, brother?
[Manilius]
You didn't find him?
Right, sir.
Go and check the Royal deck. Now.
Good.
[man]
We're not gonna miss anything.
Let's get back to our seat.
No!
[gasps]
[Ferox whines]
Here.
Hey, you can't leave
your fucking horse here!
Whoa!
[cries out]
[cheering]
[woman in crowd]
Kwame!
[whimpers]
[gasps]
[gasping]
Stop!
Stop!
Is that your son?
There.
[whimpers]
Get up! Get up!
Get up!
[sound distorts]
[cries out]
[sound resumes]
[gasping]
No!
[groans in pain]
[applause]
[Kwame]
Viggo
has fought
bravely.
Let him live!
[silence]
Live!
- Live! Live!
- Live!
[chanting]
Live! Live! Live!
Let him live!
To fight for you again!
[chanting continues]
Give him quarter!
[chanting continues]
[chanting continues]
I have a decision to make, brother.
Mercy or death?
What's it to be?
Mercy.
Perhaps not today.
[crowd booing]
No! No, no, no.
- No. What?
- What?
No!
No!
No!
No!
Son.
It's all right, son.
It's all right.
You will rest with the Gods
and visit me in my dreams.
Please.
Please do what you can
to keep my son alive.
I will.
I will.
[crowd gasp]
No!
[cheering]
No!
[screams]
[sobs]
The house of death.
I will have no more of this.
[man in crowd]
Wooden Sword!
[crowd chanting]
Wooden Sword!
[chanting]
Wooden Sword! Wooden Sword!
[chanting continues]
[chanting continues]
Brother
[chanting continues]
[chanting continues]
[chanting fades]
With these games
our city
our empire
celebrates its most important virtue:
martial valour
and duty to Rome.
With his victory today
let this gladiator
celebrate freedom!
[cheering]
- [both] Yes!
- Kwame!
[cheering continues]
[chanting]
Kwame! Kwame! Kwame!
[chanting continues]
[chanting continues]
Free her!
[chanting stops]
This gladiator
has earned the right
to deliver his freedom,
however he sees fit.
Let
his
gesture
stand!
[crowd cheering]
[cheering continues]
Take it.
Take it!
[crowd cheering]
You're free now.
You're free.
You're free.
Jula!
Are you okay?
Thank you.
Go!
Come.
Thank you.
[crowd chanting] Kwame! Kwame!
[chanting continues]
[sobs in relief]
Mother.
[chanting continues]
Take her to Tenax's apartment
and wait for me there.
We need to talk.
Go, go!
[chanting continues]
What's wrong?
I bare your child.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because I was afraid
it would make you leave.
Jula
I'm not going anywhere.
[crowd cheering]
[whispering]
[Porto] Our escort to Ostia
is mounted and ready, Lord.
Very well.
Brother
we have business in Ostia to attend too.
I think it would be best
if I stayed for
Your Emperor
commands it.
The Northman's son, kill him.
You heard me, kill him.
Kill the boy!
[Viggo's wife]
Ahren!
No! No!
No!
- No!
- [screams]
[cries out]
No!
[screams]
Brother!
[screams]
And with this,
the first day of
the Inaugural Games closes.
Ahren!
[guards speak indistinctly]
[exhales]
Who did this?
[Porto]
We don't know, Caesar.
Nobody saw what happened.
Is this your handiwork?
No.
Take her to the palace.
[guard]
Yes, my Lord.
You heard him.
To Ostia.
[Cala sobs]
[sobs]
[Cala inhales sharply]
You are filthy, betraying shit!
There is no betrayal.
Only survival.
You're a gambler. You simply lost.
Domitian will die by his brother's hand,
you will die by my sword here,
and our little arrangement will die,
along with you.
[chuckles]
Survival
Hmm.
And the ten million sesterces.
[chuckles]
We all have expenses.
[groans in pain]
[grunts]
[lion moans]
[lion moans]
[lion moans]
[Carpo breathes shakily]
[screams]
[screams]
[cries out]
Tenax!
[cries out]
Never pit a soldier
against a street fighter.
[Manilius falls]
[Manilius strains]
[grunts]
[lion snarls]
You betrayed me!
[Cala gasps]
You lied.
Betrayed, perhaps,
but I never lied to you.
I've killed men for far less.
I'm sure you have.
[lion snarls]
[snarls]
[growls]
[guard cries out]
Hug the wall.
[lion snarls]
[snarls]
[lion snarls]
I'll deal with you later.
[people cry out]
[shouting]
Hey!
Everyone get back!
No, no. No, no, no.
What have you done?
I had to.
[footsteps approaching]
I don't understand you.
You never did.
[screams]
[shouts]
[screams]
[indistinct chatter]
How much did Manilius say
he was gonna pay you?
We have orders to kill you.
How much?
A hundred thousand.
Each.
I paid him
ten million.
Come with me
and you can share all of that.
The die is cast.
[lion snarls]
Hey!
[man shouts]
[screams]
[screams]
[horse whines]
- [lion snarls]
- Hey!
[Kwame]
Hey!
[both]
Hey!
[Kwame]
I will lure it away.
Protect mother!
Come!
[lion snarls]
[sniffs]
[shouts]
[both gasp]
[shouts]
Come!
Come on!
[shouts]
[scream muted]
[sound cuts back in]
We are one.
You and I.
Children from Apedemak.
Let us curse these Romans
and make them suffer!
[Cala and Aura sob]
[guards]
Yah!
How long
did you lay at anchor off Corsica?
Three weeks.
Upon whose order?
Your family will be protected
if you tell the truth.
Domitian Flavianus.
I saw his orders
and followed them.
Get him out of here.
[footsteps receding]
Oh, I am twice the fool.
Firstly, for trusting you.
Secondly, after that trust had gone
thinking I could control you.
He should die.
Here and now.
No, no. He will.
But
in public.
Thrown from the Tarpeian Rock
after conviction in the Senate.
[guards]
To horsemen! Ready your swords!
It's an ambush!
Emperor! Get back, behind me.
[Porto, shakily]
Forgive me, Lord Titus.
I have failed you.
[gurgles]
[Domitian]
Ah, brother.
The Fates toy with the threads of life.
Bind him.
Time to cut that soiled thread short,
I think.
You think assassination will save you?
[scoffs]
Well, it's a start.
You'll play Morta, will you,
and kill me yourself?
I thought I might.
Brother
Little brother.
Hide your fears and hide your tears.
Do you remember what I told you?
You're no soldier.
That in the moment
you'd be unable to kill anybody.
What makes you think you could do it now?
- You underestimate me.
- Do I?
Whatever he said he'll pay you,
I'll pay you ten times as much.
- [Domitian] He's lying.
- Am I?
I swear by Saturn,
you'll have all you desire.
Anything, it's yours!
Whatever he paid you,
it would be nothing compared to this.
- [Domitian] Do not listen to him.
- [Titus] Look.
He cannot have witnesses to this evil.
Oh, no!
Listen to me!
Your General,
your Emperor.
Fools! You do not understand.
He will kill you all.
- Kneel!
- [scoffs]
Kneel.
Kneel!
My brother is just a child.
He's just a weak, petulant, little child.
So consider this.
Who's more likely to let you live?
I'm a soldier.
Just like you.
I'm a hard man, but I'm a just man
and I'm an honourable man. Look at him.
Look at him!
It's the fear that drives him.
Who can you trust more?
That fear will be your death.
- Shut up.
- [Titus chuckles]
Do not listen to him.
My brother is right, yes.
Do not listen to me.
Listen to your hearts.
Think of your families.
Think of those you love.
And above all else,
think of our beloved Rome!
Who is the greater guardian of this city?
Me
or this vile,
desperate, weak,
despicable worm.
[gasps]
[Titus cries out]
[wheezing]
[strained breaths]
[strained breaths]
Look, brother.
[Titus whimpers]
Bitter tears.
Can you taste them?
From the humiliation and cruelty
I suffered at your hand.
Well, now you can choke on them!
[strains]
Look, brother.
Here come the Fates.
Snip.
Snip.
Snip.
[strained wheeze]
[fading breaths]
[silence]
Well done.
[exhales]
I live to serve you
Caesar.
Continue to serve me well,
and I will let you live.
Now leave.
I'll speak to Tenax under four eyes.
[footsteps receding]
See me now, Father?
I am the ruler you should have chosen.
Your greatest show yet.
His bulging eyes.
Almost as entertaining as watching
traitors be eaten by crocodiles.
You will make
an excellent Aedile Ludi.
You honour me.
[exhales]
Now clean up this mess.
My brother died of natural causes,
poisoned by
spoiled fish or something.
Ride ahead.
Have the Senate assemble.
[guard]
Whoa.
[horse whines]
- [horse whines]
- [dog barks]
[indistinct chatter]
My brother
is dead.
- [senator] What?
- [murmuring]
Some will say he was killed.
But that is a lie.
I have heard my brother
has promised a portion of the income
from our Flavian Amphitheatre
be given to the four
No.
The five
factions.
This arrangement
is no more.
The Flavian Amphitheatre
belongs to the people
of Rome.
To confirm my brother died
of natural causes,
his body will be brought here,
to the Senate,
where each of you will see
there is not a mark
on him.
I've been told my brother died
from bad food.
A tragedy.
There are some who think me ill-suited
to be Emperor.
In Indeed
there are some of you
who think yourselves better suited
for the curule throne than I.
Disabuse this notion
now.
May the fate of your Consul Marsus
and his co-conspirators
in our Flavian Amphitheatre
tell of how futile such attempts are.
Now rise
to acclaim your new Emperor!
[all, half-heartedly]
Hail Caesar.
[guard]
Orders?
Secure the armoury, the treasury
and the palace.
Inform the legions.
A detail of guards for you.
At a distance.
I wish to be alone.
Yes, my Lord.
[horse whines]
How will you provide for her?
I am riding for the Blues.
- I am their lead charioteer now.
- Hmm.
And when you are killed?
We drivers have a club for that.
We save for
Well, just in case.
Do you love him?
Yes.
I do, Mother.
[Cala sighs]
Love,
a weak basis for marriage.
But it will do for now.
Thank you.
[door opens]
[Rufus]
Tenax wants you to come.
Take good care of her.
Or you will answer to me.
And to the Gods of Numidia.
[nervously]
Mm-hmm.
- [door closes]
- [Elia chuckles]
[man] I'm going to make sure
he knows what his duties are.
No more faffing around.
Your new home?
Scorpus isn't using it.
Anyway, he hated it.
He preferred brothels.
[Cala]
Mm.
Domitian, our new Emperor,
has made me Aedile Ludi.
You know what that means?
Julius Caesar, himself,
served as Aedile during his rise.
A deserved prize.
For putting our new Emperor on the throne.
[chuckles]
Now we both know that,
but it's not to be said out loud.
Especially to Domitian.
You understand
that I need to kill you, don't you?
I understand
that you believe that.
[chuckles]
No surprise then.
I expected you to try
and bargain your way out of this.
Hmm.
It's only through dumb luck
that I'm alive.
Had that scroll reached Titus,
I would be dead and Domitian as well.
Then you should thank
your Roman God, Fortuna.
[Tenax]
I do!
I take no pleasure in killing you.
But you've given me no choice.
I betrayed you.
But did I ever lie to you?
You are from the gutter.
Your money,
your betting,
your allies,
all your allegiances,
your very being all reek of the sewer.
But you live on the Esquiline Hill now!
You need someone honest
to manage what you leave behind.
Without an endless flow of money,
all this will fall apart,
and the senators will roar with laughter
as they kick you back to the gutter.
[gasps]
Why should I trust you?
Who else?
For my children
I will betray you in a second.
But beyond that,
I will never lie to you.
I never have.
Who else can offer you that?
You terrify me.
Good.
You know where to find me.
[Tenax]
I killed an emperor,
but the reward was to become Aedile Ludi.
This was only a first step in my journey.
At some point,
I will travel to Syracuse
to find out if I am truly a Patrician,
as Ursus told me.
Maybe this will come with some land
I will inherit.
We will see.
I need to be watchful of Domitian.
He's like a petulant child.
Cruel
and an unpredictable schemer and killer.
Hopefully,
I will be able to control him.
Let the games begin.