INT. CAMP CICERO, CATWALK – NOON
Centurion Titus Sextius grips the wall tightly for
some support as it briefly shakes from the impact of a large boulder. He raises his bow and is ready to take aim
at the first Gaul that catches his attention.
Looking down at the battering ram, he catches a glimpse of flesh
protruding from the protection the hides provide.
SEXTIUS
Well, well,
what do we have here?
Sextius takes aim at the careless Gaul’s thigh and
lets loose an arrow that hits its mark.
As the Gaul falls to the ground, the upper half of his body now exposed,
Sextius quickly retrieves another arrow from his quiver and lets it fly.
SEXTIUS
Enjoy
the Infernus, savage!
The arrow plunges deep into the Gaul’s chest, the
man giving a final convulsion of agony before dying. Sextius draws another arrow, and is once again looking for
another unfortunate Gaul whose destiny will end rather abruptly, stopping to
brace himself as a large arrow bolt smashes into the side of the stone wall
thanks to one of the ballistas stolen from the late Sabinus’ razed camp.
CUT TO:
INT. CAMP
CICERO, CATWALK – NOON
A DOZEN ROMAN LEGIONNAIRES fire arrows and throw
javelins, managing to kill several Gauls.
A spear is thrown from below, surprising all the Romans as it strikes
one of their comrades and knocks him back, sending him tumbling over the edge
and falling forty-five feet to his death, a spear lodged in his abdomen.
The Romans are further shocked as a rather large
boulder from one of the stolen catapults strikes the wall and sprays large
pieces of stone debris, hitting the Romans and knocking them over the edge to
their deaths below.
CUT TO:
INT. CAMP
CICERO, GATES – NOON
The camera shows A GREAT GATHERING OF ROMAN
LEGIONNAIRES AND CENTURIONS; among them are none other than Titus Pullo and
Lucius Vorenus.
PULLO
It looks like everyone has
assembled, Vorenus.
VORENUS
Yes, they’re all here. Go ahead and give your orders, that is if
your boring voice doesn’t put them to sleep first.
Pullo ignores Vorenus’ comment and steps in front
the army of Romans, who quiet down as they realize a superior officer is about
to address them.
PULLO
(very
loud)
Remember the goal of our plan,
legionnaires and fellow centurions! We
are not moving out to attack the entire Gallic army, but to demolish the
battering ram and protective sheds! Of
course, that doesn’t mean you can’t kill as many Gauls as you can along the
way! When our objective is completed,
we will fall back into the safety of Cicero!
Remember that you are soldiers of Rome, and that no filthy pack of
savage Gauls are a match for us, no matter how badly the odds are stacked
against us! Open the gates!
Titus Pullo’s orders are executed quickly, and the
gates are swung inward, revealing the battering ram whose iron rams head is now
hitting nothing but thin air and a sizeable number of Gauls.
PULLO
Why are you hesitating,
Vorenus? What better opportunity is
there to win glory through your supposed courage? Today will decide between our rival claims of superiority,
Vorenus!
Before Vorenus can respond, Pullo lets out a FIERCE
BATTLE CRY and charges the battering ram.
His arm shoots forward, letting his javelin cut through the air and
pierce into a Gaul’s abdomen, killing him instantly. A Gaul hurls a javelin of his own, which pierces Pullo’s shield
and gets stuck in his sword belt, forcing his scabbard out of place. The force of the javelin knocks Pullo onto
his back. He desperately struggles with
it, but he cannot draw his sword.
VORENUS
(enraged)
You
savage bastards! You’ll pay for that!
Thinking Pullo dead, the Gauls focus their
attention on Vorenus, who throws his javelin, which takes one of the Gauls
down. Vorenus draws his sword quickly
and meets the Gauls in close quarters combat.
He stabs, killing one of three Gauls who are on him. He blocks both Gauls’ swords with his shield
and makes an upward slash, severing one of the Gauls’ hands from his
wrist. Vorenus makes a quick wide
swing, which the other Gaul blocks. The
Gaul charges forward and tackles Vorenus, both men falling into a ditch. The Gaul is on top and raises his sword high
and stabs downward, but Vorenus grabs his wrist and holds him at bay. But the combat of strength is going in favor
of the Gaul as the tip of his blade draws ever closer to Vorenus’ chest.
The Gaul suddenly lets out a SCREAM OF PAIN as a
javelin is stabbed into his spine.
VORENUS
(confused)
Pullo? But what about the javelin...?
Vorenus pushes the convulsing Gaul off of him and
takes Pullo’s extended arm by the wrist.
With the help of Pullo Vorenus climbs out.
PULLO
It just got caught in my damn
sword belt. I would’ve been dead,
though, if you hadn’t come along.
VORENUS
It wasn’t much of a
rescue. You ended up having to save me.
PULLO
Then let’s just say we’re even.
VORENUS
Fair enough.
The Roman legionnaires and centurions arrive on the
scene, engaging a charging Gallic force.
Pullo and Vorenus make their way to the battering ram, slashing the
hides and thus making anyone who uses the ram susceptible to Roman arrows,
which now support the Romans who get caught up in close quarters combat with
Gallic forces.
CUT TO:
INT. OUTSIDE OF CICERO, A PROTECTIVE SHED – NOON
Vorenus charges into the shed, four Gauls within
it. Vorenus throws a javelin that
catches one of the Gauls in the ribs.
Drawing his sword, Vorenus slams one of the Gauls across the skull with
his shield and slashes another one across the chest. The fourth charges, but a javelin pierces his stomach and he
drops dead. Vorenus turns to Pullo who
is standing behind him and has just drawn his sword. He gives a nod and points forward.
VORENUS
Silanus was right. They are making tunnels.
PULLO
Yes, digging tunnels like the
rats they are.
The camera gets a CLOSE UP of the tunnel the
centurions are talking about. It is
wide enough to fit two men at a time.
Pullo orders two centurions to go into the tunnel and kill whoever is
unlucky enough to be digging at this time.
Vorenus makes short work of the hides with his blade in just a few
hacks.
VORENUS
One
down, many more to go…
PULLO
We have to pick up the
pace. Once the whole Gaul horde knows
what we’re doing, we’ll have thousands of them coming upon us.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE
OF CICERO, A PROTECTIVE SHED - NOON
THREE ROMAN LEGIONNAIRES storm into the shed, but
after hearing a great deal of commotion earlier the Gauls are not caught off
guard. FIVE GAULS WITH SWORDS charge
the legionnaires. After some fancy
swordsmanship the five Gauls and one Roman lie dead. After slicing up the hides, the two remaining Romans crawl into
the tunnel to finish the job.
CUT TO:
INT. CAMP CICERO, CATWALK – NOON
Titus Sextius watches Legate Silanus’ plan in
action, his bow ready to aid any fellow Roman who will need it.
SEXTIUS
(whispering)
This foolhardy plan of Silanus’ may actually work…
CUT TO:
Sextius’ POINT OF VIEW:
After finishing off a Gaul digging in the tunnels,
TWO LEGIONNAIRES exit the remains of the protective shed. They do not notice A GAUL hiding, which
allows him rush them from behind and drive a spear into one of the Romans’
spine. As the Gaul is ready to make a
fatal stab to the other Roman, an arrow digs its way into his upper back. The Gaul lets out a CRY OF PAIN and tries to
pull the arrow out, but he doesn’t even come close to reaching it. The remaining legionnaire detaches the
Gaul’s head from the rest of his body with one clean sweep of his sword.
CUT TO:
INT. CAMP CICERO, CATWALK – NOON
Sextius smiles at his handwork and begins to look
for a new target, when he lets out a YELL OF SURPRISE as a flaming arrow comes
at him, hitting its mark and stabbing into Sextius’ sternum. As the still burning flames of the arrow
cauterize Sextius’ wound, he drops his bow and clutches at his chest before
collapsing backwards off of the catwalk, dead before he even hits the roaring
flames that have enveloped a hut below.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE OF CAMP CICERO – NOON
The camera shows off several short battles between
Romans and Gauls, the Romans winning for the most part while the dead Gauls are
quickly replaced by the abundant number of Gauls still breathing. Several scenes are shown of Vorenus and
Pullo fighting side by side against the Gauls, spilling much of their blood and
cutting apart several protective sheds.
FOCUS IN ON Pullo and Vorenus as they slice apart
the hides of the very last protective shed against the winter camp’s wall. Several legionnaires and a few centurions
join them. A number of Gauls move on
them, but with their superior skill with a sword and help from the Roman
archers up above, they manage to hold out.
PULLO
This isn’t looking good,
Vorenus. We’ve done what we came here
to do, but with all these Gauls coming at us I don’t think we’ll make it back
to the gates of Cicero!
A beat as Vorenus guts a Gaul and is too busy with
that to talk.
VORENUS
That may be true, Pullo, but we will cost the Gauls dearly for every one of us
that they kill.
PULLO
Well, just don’t die quite yet,
Vorenus. Reginus still needs to be
avenged!
Pullo kicks a charging Gaul in the groin and
slashes upward, sending his severed head sailing through the air. A hail of arrows from Cicero thin out the
ranks of a charging group of Gauls, but Pullo and Vorenus and their comrades
still have a plentiful amount of Gauls to slay in that group.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE OF CAMP CICERO, OUTSIDE OF THE
BATTLEFIELD – NOON
An armored man on a splendid looking steed is busy
surveying battle as his horse trots into the area. The camera shows the man’s face, and it is none other than Julius
Caesar.
CAESAR
Cassius,
come forth!
Also on a horse, Cassius’ horse trots up next to
Caesar at Cassius’ command.
CAESAR
Inform each legion that they
will each break apart into several wedge formations, and when I give the word
they shall charge forward and split the enemy.
When the Gauls are divided, we shall conquer them.
CASSIUS
As you
command, Caesar.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE
OF CAMP CICERO – NOON
SMALL
GALLIC MAN
Ambiorix! Ambiorix!
Caesar is here! He’s here!
Ambiorix doesn’t bother acknowledging the man’s
presence with so much as a glance for he is much to busy watching Caesar’s
legions with his own eyes as they draw nearer.
AMBIORIX
I know that, fool! We must act quickly. Call our forces together, we are too spread
out. If our ranks are this far apart
when Caesar’s legionnaires arrive, we will be slaughtered. So be quick about it!
SMALL
GALLIC MAN
Yes, of
course, Ambiorix! Of course!
The small Gallic man forgets to bow as he runs as
fast as his legs will carry him to spread Ambiorix’s orders to the somewhat
scattered Gauls.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE OF CAMP CICERO, DESTROYED PROTECTIVE
SHED – NOON
PULLO
We have fought as fiercely and
as bravely as one can ask, but there are just too many of the savages. Die well, Vorenus!
Vorenus makes a wide swing, missing a Gaul who
returns with a swing of his own.
Vorenus ducks, the Gaul’s sword cutting the horsehair crest from
Vorenus’ helmet. Vorenus runs forward,
driving his shield into the Gaul and knocking him down before plunging his
sword deep into the man’s chest.
VORENUS
Die well, Pull—look, the Gauls…
They’re falling back!
PULLO
What? Surely it’s not because of us!
VORENUS
(excited)
No, it’s not. Caesar must be here! They’re regrouping to battle Caesar, a much
greater threat than a mere battered legion!
PULLO
By Jupiter, I think you’re
right! Well let’s not just stand
around, Vorenus. Let us show these
Gauls that it is not just Caesar they should fear, but us as well!
VORENUS
I have never agreed with you
more, Pullo.
Pullo, Vorenus, and the remaining Roman soldiers plunge
into line of Gauls who are pulling back to regroup, catching them completely by
surprise.
A montage of battle is shown. The Gauls manage to group up into a large
mass of soldiers, but it does little good as the Roman wedge formations break
them apart into smaller groups and therefore seal the outcome of the
battle. Many scenes of Romans killing
Gauls and Gauls killing Romans are shown, especially of Pullo and Vorenus
slaying Gauls. The thousands of Romans
that were still in Cicero pour out of the gates with Legate Marcus Silanus in
the lead and they plough into the enemy.
Despite ferocious resistance from the Gauls and superior numbers, many
of them realize they are destined to lose.
Hundreds of Gauls break rank when this realization hits them, and among
them is Ambiorix. Too further
demoralize the Gauls and exhilarate the Romans Julius Caesar himself rides into
battle, cutting down several Gauls in the course of the montage.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE OF CICERO, BATTLEFIELD – AFTERNOON
The camera PANS WIDELY AND SLOWLY to give a good
view of the aftermath of the battle both on the battleground and at
Cicero. Thousands upon thousands of
dead Gauls litter the grassy knolls while there are very few Roman dead in
comparison, only a few hundred. A few thousand
more Gauls are not dead but are now prisoners of the Roman Republic. The fires have somewhat subsided in Cicero,
but a plentiful plume of dark smoke still rises from the camp.
CUT TO:
INT. CICERO, GATES – DUSK
A GREAT ASSEMBLY OF ROMAN SOLDIERS is within
Cicero, all watching and listening to Julius Caesar as he addresses them.
CAESAR
(loudly)
It is true that Sabinus and
Cotta’s legion was wiped out and they themselves killed. But the disaster they suffered was because
of the rashness of the legates and you should not take it too much to heart;
with the help of the gods and your own valor you have avenged the defeat. The enemy’s triumph was short-lived and
there is no need to let it rankle you any longer. I am proud of all of you, especially you that held out at Cicero
for seven days against great odds. You
have done the Roman Republic well!
The Roman soldiers ROAR WITH CHEERS at Caesar’s
words. Caesar beats his arm against his
breastplate and holds it aloft, every last one of the legionnaires, centurions,
and military tribunes in the gathered crowd returning the Roman salute.
Marcus Silanus approaches Caesar, the men clasping
hands.
CAESAR
I am quite impressed
Silanus. It was no small task surviving
the siege of that band of Gauls.
SILANUS
No, it wasn’t. Especially since they had our siege weapons
at their disposal. But I can hardly
take all the credit. The legion fought with
utmost determination and valor and enormous courage. Have you heard about what the senior grade centurions Titus Pullo
and Lucius Vorenus did?
CAESAR
No, I have not, but I am
interested in hearing what all those under your command did during the siege
and final battle.
Caesar and Silanus make their way towards the stone
structure in the center of the camp as Silanus begins to tell Caesar about some
of the brave performed during the seven-day siege.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE OF CICERO, BATTLEFIELD- DUSK
Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus are two of many
Romans who are busy with spades, digging graves for their fallen comrades. They set their spades down as they finish
digging and together lift a Roman legionnaire’s corpse, gently setting it in
the grave before dumping the dirt they had dug onto the man’s body. Shortly after starting they are interrupted
by an APPROACHING CENTURION.
CENTURION
Titus
Pullo and Lucius Vorenus?
PULLO
Yes,
that’s us.
VORENUS
What
do you want?
CENTURION
Legate Silanus sent me to tell
you to meet him in his quarters. Julius
Caesar would like to meet the two of you.
Both men drop their spades in shock, which their
faces reflect.
PULLO
(stuttering)
Did…did you s…say Caesar? Julius Caesar…
VORENUS
…wants to talk to
us?
CENTURION
Yes, he does. The Legate also requested you not waste time
and get there immediately.
PULLO
(still
stuttering)
O…o…of course…
The centurion gives the Roman salute and walks away
back towards Cicero, seeming to pay little attention to the fact that the two
senior grade centurions didn’t return it.
Pullo and Vorenus look to each other, suddenly breaking out into large
smiles.
VORENUS We
better hurry, Pullo!
PULLO
Yes,
I think you’re right.
Two legionnaires take over for Pullo and Vorenus at
the nearly finished grave as the two centurions head for Cicero’s gates.
VORENUS
Why do you think Caesar wants
to talk to us?
PULLO
Us? I think that centurion made a mistake and meant to just say my
name, not yours.
VORENUS
What makes you so special,
Pullo? We did save each other’s lives,
right?
PULLO
True… but I didn’t fall in a
ditch.
CUT TO:
INT. CAMP
CICERO, SILANUS’ QUARTERS – DUSK
A fire has been built in the legate’s quarters,
Silanus standing close to it to soak up the warmth from the crackling
flames. He turns to look at someone
else in the room, and the camera follows his gaze to Julius Caesar, sitting at
Silanus’ desk writing something up on a parchment, several parchments that have
already been written, rolled up and sealed off to the side.
The door swings open and the centurions Titus Pullo
and Lucius Vorenus enter the room. At
first they only notice Silanus, but it doesn’t take them long to spot the most
renowned man in the Roman Republic.
Silanus steps away from the fire and moves closer to the two
centurions. Caesar stops his writings
to look up at the two men.
SILANUS
Caesar, allow me to introduce
to you the men I mentioned earlier.
Senior grade centurions Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus.
Julius Caesar nods at the introduction and smiles,
holding his hand out which the two centurions take turns shaking, careful not
to knock any candles on the desk over.
CAESAR
Silanus told me of your deeds
during the siege, Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus. I am honored to meet such outstandingly brave individuals.
PULLO
We are the ones who are honored
by just being in your presence, mighty Caesar.
CAESAR
Two of my senior centurions
were unfortunately killed when we engaged Ambiorix’s forces. The reason I called you here, besides to
meet you, is to inform the both of you that you will now be in the legion I
personally command, the Tenth.
PULLO
We would be honored to join the
ranks of the Tenth, sir.
Vorenus makes a quick glance to Silanus, which
Caesar notices.
CAESAR
No need to be concerned for
Silanus’ legion, Vorenus. When several
more legions arrive here soon Silanus’ ranks will be replenished. Now, I must get back to my writings. It was a pleasure meeting you, Pullo and
Vorenus. I look forward to seeing what
you two can do on the battlefield when we pursue Ambiorix.
VORENUS
We
will not let you down, sir.
Vorenus and Pullo beat their fists against their
chest and hold them out in the air in the Roman salute which Caesar returns,
though a little less enthusiastic than the centurions. As Pullo and Vorenus leave Caesar returns to
his parchments.
CAESAR
I
expect great things of them, Silanus.
SILANUS
As do I. I shall miss having them in my legion.
Caesar seals the last parchment and motions for
Silanus to come forward. He hands the
legate the parchments.
CAESAR
Have the cavalry send these out
as quickly as possible.
SILANUS
Yes, sir.
As Silanus leaves the room Caesar stands and walks
over to the fire, holding his hands near it for heat.