All language subtitles for 5 Fight For Glory

♪ ♪

[distant yelling]

Commodus.

I don't know how
things have gone so far.

There have been mistakes.

Unlucky breaks.

But the idea that I'm
somehow behind all this...

it's insane.

These were freak accidents,

one after the other.

No one could have prevented them.

The plague was a freak accident.
Without question, Emperor.

But the grain shortage?

Now that was a calculated act.

You'd have me believe Cleander
wanted my people to starve?

I'd never presume to
know the mind of any man,

but I do know that this grain
shortage was no natural occurrence.

How do you explain it, Cleander?

[Cleander] Simply.

Dio is trying to
overcomplicate the matter.

There was a grain shortage.
We tried to resolve it.

The plague prevented us from doing so.

It's a catastrophe, but that's all.

[Dio] A grain shortage.

In Egypt.

Where else?

[Dio] What was it? Drought? Blight?

We've heard nothing on our end.

The Senate will never understand

the details that go
into running an empire.

[Dio] You're right, Cleander.

But reports have made their way to me.

And all of them say the grain
shipments have continued uninterrupted.

[Cleander] Shipments are
disrupted all the time.

Marauders. Storms.

[Dio] You're right, Cleander.

It happens constantly.

But it's never been enough
to cause a shortage before.

Commodus,

what possible reason could I
have to see the people starve?

There isn't one.

[Dio] That depends on
where the missing grain is.

If it's at the bottom of the ocean,

or in the hold of a renegade
ship, then I would agree.

And where else could it be?

Commodus.

If your people are starving,

if their very lives are in danger,
the lives of their families,

and then one man swoops in to save them

at the last minute with his
own personal grain supply,

well, that man would be called a hero.

With one act, that man would
win the people's undying love.

Ambition knows no limits.

You would speak of ambition? You, who...

[Commodus] Enough.

♪ ♪

[Cleander] Who do you trust, brother?

Dio?

Or your brother, who has stood
beside you your whole life?

Right now, I don't trust either of you.

[narrator] At the end
of the second century,

a shortage in grain has
devastated the Roman Empire.

And with riots in the streets,

the Emperor's closest advisor
and members of the Roman Senate

now blame each other for the chaos.

[theme music]

Synced and corrected by Aaronnmb
www.addic7ed.com

[narrator] With no one he can trust,

Commodus is forced to
face the possibility

that he's been betrayed by his advisor.

It doesn't make any sense.

- Senator Dio is hiding...
- [Commodus] No.

Cleander.

Nothing he's saying makes any sense.

I don't trust the Senator either.

I don't trust what he's
doing, or why he's doing it,

but...

What?

Speak.

Even if he's doing it
for the wrong reasons,

that doesn't mean it's not the truth.

You're right.

I want nothing more than to
believe what Cleander is telling me.

But he's lying.

What are you going to do?

[narrator] Responsible for
the Empire's grain supply,

Cleander must now stand trial...

to determine who's to
blame for the shortage.

Cleander, my entire city
is calling for your head.

[Cleander] There have been oversights.

- I've admitted that already.
- That's not enough.

I've done all I can to relieve
you of the burdens of government.

Perhaps I put too much on myself.

But everything I've done,

I've done for you.

My loyalty cannot be questioned.

With your permission, Emperor.

I have someone, I believe, who
can speak to Cleander's loyalty.

You and I both know
Dio cannot be trusted.

Remember the lands with the military?

He's betrayed us before,
he's only trying...

Tell him.

[servant] I, uh...

You understand, Emperor,
the awkward situation...

You were my sister's servant.

Yes, Emperor.

I'm well aware of
Cleander's affection for you.

What's Dio giving you?

Nothing.

You wouldn't be here if what
you'd say wasn't beneficial to him.

But I can't see why you'd
speak against Cleander for Dio.

It's not for Dio.

It's for my mother. She died.

Earlier this week. From the plague

From Cleander's plague.

You're only repeating
the word on the street.

Emperor. He knew.

He knew of the grain shortage, yes.

He was working to stop it.

No. Not the grain shortage. He
knew of the plot to kill you.

I overheard Lucilla talking
about it with Senator Quintianus.

Cleander pushed me to find
out more and I told him.

I told him everything,
but he didn't just know.

He helped them.

He was angry, with you.
Saoterus. He killed...

- he killed him.
- [Cleander] Oh, bitch!

- He bragged about it before.
- You bitch!

Dio must be paying her! You lying bitch!

You hear me? You filthy
whore. I'll kill you.

I'll fucking kill you!

[exclaims]

[Cleander] Commodus.
Commodus, she's lying.

Dio must have gotten to her.

I would never do such a thing.

You know me.

Dio must be paying her.

[Cleander] Commodus. You're my brother.

I wouldn't...

[screams]

[gurgles]

[coughs]

♪ ♪

[Prof. Corey Brennan] When
Cleander is killed,

it was very clear that
all the important elements

of Roman society were against this guy.

I mean now you had the people rising
up, the Senate hated this guy,

He just had to go.

[narrator] The Roman Emperor has
been betrayed by his closest advisor,

the one man he trusted, to
help him rule the Empire.

And now, Commodus has no choice

but to give the Roman
people what they want.

With the people demanding justice,
Commodus hands over Cleander's body,

and it's soon decapitated and
dragged through the streets.

[Prof. David Levene] Rome is
an extremely violent place.

In the case of Cleander, it's
fairly clear that there was, in fact,

a mob calling for his blood.

There were people who
were literally out there,

ready to tear him to pieces.

[narrator] Commodus has
killed his closest friend,

and to bring order to Rome,

he looks to his only
remaining source of support.

[Dio] My apologies for
keeping you waiting, Emperor.

I was not expecting visitors so late.

My city's in chaos. We must act.

I couldn't agree more.

The question is, what do we do?

We go to war,

expand our borders,
strengthen our glory,

show the people what
it means to be Roman.

And with victory, we'll prove
the Gods are still behind us.

Do I have your permission

- to speak candidly?
- Of course.

Wars take time, money, people.

All things we are dearly lacking.

Well, I won't just sit
here while my people riot.

So tell me, Dio,

what should I do?

Grain? Land?

[Dio] Well, those things have
worked for you before, but...

we have never faced anything like this.

Well, then what, Dio?

I'm afraid there is no clean answer.

There is no one action you
can take to correct this.

Commodus...

the Empire works best with balance.

The Emperor provides
strength for the people, yes,

but the Senate must
filter that strength.

Our job is to act as a shield
between you and the people.

Otherwise, there is just
a single man at the top,

one person they can blame
for all their problems.

And we've seen the danger in that.

- So this is my fault, then?
- No, Commo... no, Commodus.

We must all share the blame for this.

We failed in our duty to prepare you.

I see that now.

So what would you have me do?

Let us help you.

Trust us to help you.

Trust you?

[Jeffrey Stevens] While many people may
accuse Commodus of having been paranoid,

if you've been raised with
this power from birth,

there had to have been a legitimate
concern on the part of Commodus

that there is something to be feared.

It is not paranoia if people
are actually trying to get you.

♪ ♪

[narrator] As conditions in
Rome continue to decline,

Commodus begins to realize that
he has no one left to turn to.

[thunder cracking]

[crowds yelling]

And just when it seems the state
of the Empire can't get any worse,

catastrophe strikes
in the heart of Rome.

[fire crackling]

[crowd yelling]

[narrator] Triggered by a passing storm,

a massive fire erupts in
the center of the city,

causing widespread
destruction and panic.

[Prof. Aaron Irvin] The fire was
started by a lightning strike

within the city itself,

leading immediately to rumors
of divine wrath and retribution.

The Gods themselves were
angry with Commodus,

were angry with the city of Rome,

and were therefore going to
gut it and going to destroy it.

[narrator] In just days, the fire
destroys ancient government buildings

and religious shrines,

devastating the Roman people,

and their Emperor.

[yelling]

[chalice crashing]

Commodus was affected by many of these

traumatic experiences in the
various stages of his reign.

He faced all of these other
plots, plagues, fires,

and these forms of disasters,

and it's not surprising,
having faced all of these plots,

that he did not necessarily
trust the old system anymore.

[narrator] With the city in ruins,

Commodus realizes he has
no one to turn to for help

and begins to believe that he's
the only person who can save Rome.

♪ ♪

With a plan to gain
control of his Empire

and restore glory to Rome,

Commodus calls a
meeting with the Senate.

To start this formal session,

I have the honor of
introducing Emperor Commodus.

I've heard talk of omens,

of dissatisfaction amongst the Gods.

Our great city has been devastated

with famine, plague, fire.

Streets have been destroyed,

temples burned to the ground.

Lives have been lost.

But I'm here to tell you
this is not a bad thing.

In a forest, fire is
far from a catastrophe.

It's a necessity.

It burns out the dead wood,

allowing new growth, new life.

Senators, we stand at the
dawn of Rome's rebirth.

A new age is upon us,
and we must embrace it.

To celebrate this new age,

and the coming of the new year,

I'm announcing 14
days of Plebeian games.

They'll be the greatest
games that Rome has ever seen.

An excellent idea, Emperor.

I'm sure I speak for all the Senate

when I say I cannot wait to
watch these games by your side.

No, Dio.

My place will not be
in the Imperial box,

but on the battleground.

The greatest games in our history

will have its greatest
gladiator as well,

the Emperor himself.

- [murmuring]
- [shouts of outrage]

Emperor,

gladiators are slaves.

The Emperor cannot be...

I'm not asking for your permission, Dio.

The Senate will be in attendance.

You and all of Rome will
bear witness to my triumph.

[outraged chatter]

♪ ♪

This fool will destroy Rome.

If he survives.

[narrator] To restore his city and
regain the faith of the Roman people,

Commodus will put on the biggest
show of games Rome has ever seen.

And for the first time, at
the center of the arena,

the Emperor will fight as a gladiator.

[Prof. Irvin] All of a sudden,

Commodus decides that
he wants to be involved

in the governing of the city.

All of a sudden, he wants to
be there, he wants to be known,

he wants to be praised by the people.

You might almost think of
it as an apology of sorts

for those years when
he wanted nothing to do

with being Emperor and now he does,
and now he's going to make it right,

but he needs to prove himself first,

and he does so by becoming a gladiator.

[narrator] For the people of Rome,

no figure is more inspiring...

than the man fighting to
the death in the Coliseum.

[Prof. Marden Nichols]
These gladiators allowed

the Romans to indulge in a fantasy world

that had a very close relationship

to their views of themselves

and the values that they
considered important.

[narrator] By staging 14 days of games

and starring as a gladiator,

Commodus is certain...

that he can usher in a new
era for the Roman Empire.

[Prof. Berman] Commodus, as an
Emperor, went one step beyond.

Many emperors had given
expensive, lavish games.

But up to this point,

no one had ever fought as a gladiator.

I mean, it's one thing to give a show,

it's another to give the show
and also star in the show.

[crowd chattering]

♪ ♪

[narrator] Knowing the
dangers of the Coliseum,

Commodus enlists a slave
who will train him to fight,

a skilled Roman gladiator
named Narcissus.

[Toner] Narcissus was
an athlete, a wrestler,

and Commodus looks to him

to train him, because he wants to
achieve the kind of level of fitness

that you need need to have
to appear in the games.

If he wants to pass
himself off as a gladiator,

then he himself has to look the part.

He has to look as fit as
someone like Narcissus.

[narrator] With shows of
strength and survival,

Narcissus has made a name for himself

as an invincible Roman gladiator,

and will now train the Emperor to
fight to the death in the arena.

You summoned me, Emperor.

You're going to train me, Narcissus.

Every day.

Starting now.

[careful breathing]

[grunting]

Again.

[grunting]

[yells]

That's good, but don't stop
when you have the advantage.

We'll reset.

Down.

Let me steady my feet.

[grunting]

Look at me, not my blade.

Come on, Emperor, push harder!

Harder!

Again.

Come on!

Enough.

[heavy breathing]

Enough for today.

Not bad.

Not bad.

See this? This is simple.

Out there, you stand before
your enemy face-to-face.

There's no tricks.

It's not simple.

Maybe not simple, but it does
all come down to skill in the end.

Skill plays a part.

I saw you fight. You were unbeatable.

I'm a man, just like everyone.

But you're right. People
thought I was unbeatable.

You see, it's not enough just
to be better than your opponent.

That leaves room for
Fortuna to play her hand.

No.

See, I won my battles before
I even entered the arena.

Men came to me hopeless.

How did you make the
people believe that?

I gave them something
they'd never seen before.

I was invincible.

♪ ♪

Eclectus.

Emperor.

Cancel the meetings. I need
to increase my training.

As you wish.

[Prof. Nichols] Commodus
was all about image.

He is someone who is

eager to prove himself,
prove his masculinity.

He wanted to be loved and adored.

Commodus was very concerned
about the populace.

[people murmuring]

[birds cawing]

[narrator] As Commodus
continues to train,

members of the Senate look to
put an end to the Emperor's plan,

including Cassius Dio.

For years, Dio has watched the Emperor
violate centuries of tradition,

and defy the authority of the Senate.

But with the announcement of his games,

Dio believes the Emperor
has gone too far,

and knows there's only one person

in a position to change
the Emperor's mind.

Senator Dio is here to see you.

Send him in.

- I hope I'm not interrupting.
- [Marcia] Not at all.

Are you here to see the Emperor?

No, no.

I'm here to see you Marcia.

Now, you and the Emperor, you've, uh...

become quite close.

I'd like to think so.

Oh, I'm sure there's no
one he feels closer to.

There's no one he talks to more.

I'm sure you've heard all about
his big announcement today.

He plans to fight in the games.

I'm afraid the Senate is more
upset than the Emperor realizes.

I'm not sure Commodus cares
if the Senators are upset.

And why would he?

He's the Emperor after all,

and we are but a bunch of old men
rattling on about tradition and honor,

but I've known Commodus
since he was a boy.

I don't want to see him hurt,

or even worse.

Marcia...

Commodus will be entering
the arena as a gladiator.

He will fight to the death
against a trained killer.

These are uncertain times.

Now, please...

forgive me for
interrupting your evening.

[Stevens] Marcia, under
the Emperor Commodus,

does seem to have been
able to almost rise

to the level of a significant advisor.

She was trusted by Commodus, and
what is interesting with Marcia,

is that even though she comes
from a very low background,

the sources suggest that
the amount of influence

that she actually had over him may
have been very, very significant.

It's natural to be worried.

You doubt me?

No, no.

[Eclectus] Emperor.

What is it, Eclectus?

Well, I can return.

[Commodus] Just be quick.

I have reports on the
capture of the exotic animals

that you requested for the games.

They were able to retrieve everything.

Yes, but there appear
to be complications

in keeping the crocodiles
alive during transport.

Have them collect twice what we need.

Some are bound to survive.

- Yes, sir.
- Good.

What was that about?

The Games.

♪ ♪

[Narcissus] Emperor.

No!

It's time I learned what
it's really like in the arena.

No more practice swords.

Today we use live steel.

Give me everything you have.

Is this wise?

- [grunting]
- [steel clanging]

I order you to fight me.

- [grunting]
- [steel clanging]

If only the people could see you now.

Narcissus,

the feeble gladiator!

The weak, the ignoble,

the disgraced, the dishonorable!

[Narcissus yelling]

[Toner] It wasn't just about

violence and machismo.

It was also about skill

and self-control.

When a gladiator fell,

he had to accept the death
blow from his opponent,

with a calm expression.

He had to stare calmly ahead as the
blade was plunged into his throat.

♪ ♪

Leave me.

♪ ♪

What's happened?

- Are you sure you want to do...
- Leave me, please.

[narrator] After months of training
and preparation for his games,

Commodus begins to realize
he's not ready for the arena,

and with the games quickly approaching,

he starts devising a way
to secure his victory.

[chattering]

On the eve of the games,

Commodus hosts an elaborate
feast for the gladiators,

honoring Roman tradition.

On the evening before
gladiators appeared in the arena,

they were given a last supper.

Spectators were actually allowed
to come and watch them eat this,

and we have descriptions
of how some ate heartily

and seemed to enjoy the occasion.

[cheering]

And it must have been
a very poignant scene.

[Narcissus] How's your neck, Emperor?

It's just a scratch.

The badge of any true gladiator.

Wear it with honor.

Look...

you were right to push me.

It would have been unfair to send
you into the arena unprepared.

I failed my duty as your
trainer. Will you forgive me?

I already have.

[crowd cheering]

Listen to them.

You are part of a brotherhood now.

"To be burned, to be
bound, to be beaten,

"and to be killed by the sword."

Those men out there in
the pit, they're your...

they're your family.

So am I,

and I know you will do us honor.

Brother.

[murmuring]

[narrator] Commodus
has laid the groundwork

for the most impressive show of games...

the Empire has ever seen.

And while the Emperor knows
he's not ready to fight,

he still decides to move forward,

determined to secure his legacy.

My brothers.

Tomorrow is the beginning
of 14 days of games.

The greatest that have been since
the dedication of the Coliseum.

Untold glory awaits us.

By the time the festival is over,
Rome will have been born anew,

into an era of unprecedented greatness,

and she will have been lifted
there upon your mighty shoulders.

As Emperor, I salute you.

And as a Gladiator,

it's an honor to be one of you.

I will endure to be burned,

to be bound, to be beaten,

and to be killed by the sword.

[swelling music]

- "I will endure to be burned..."
- "I will endure to be burned..."

- "... to be bound..."
- "... to be bound..."

- "... to be beaten..."
- "... to be beaten..."

- "... and to be killed by the sword!"
- "... and to be killed by the sword!"

- "I will endure to be burned..."
- "I will endure to be burned..."

- "... to be bound..."
- "... to be bound..."

"... to be beaten..."
"... to be beaten..."

- "... and to be killed by the sword!"
- "... and to be killed by the sword!"

- "I will endure to be burned..."
- "I will endure to be burned..."

- "... to be bound..."
- "... to be bound..."

- "... to be beaten..."
- "... to be beaten..."

- "... and to be killed by the sword!"
- "... and to be killed by the sword!"

[cheering]

[narrator] Despite the Senate's outrage,

and his unknown fate as a gladiator,

Commodus will enter the
arena in the morning,

not knowing if he'll exit alive.

[theme music playing]

Synced and corrected by Aaronnmb
www.addic7ed.com