Original subtitles

You can leave.

By the Gods!

What are you doing?

What do you want?

What's this?

One cotter pin, cut halfway through.

My racing partner is dead,

and I would be if I hadn't switched rigs.

Was this one of your fixes?

Scorpus loses, you collect big.

I break a few bones or my neck to make it look real.

No, of course it's not.

I told you, I have much bigger plans for the both of us

than a few more rigged races.

Then find out who sabotaged my rig

and kill them.

Oh.

Nice.

Looks just like my horse Incitatus.

Go.

And take your winnings from today.

Don't take me for granted.

I don't.

Yes. Good boy.

How do you know Andalusians?

I drove them.

A long time ago.

You raced?

Well, there are no horses out there to equal our Andalusians.

How are they?

Sorna and Sista got their legs cut from the debris.

We'll have to rest them for a week.

Andalusians, huh?

- Yes. - Oh.

Gavros has a high opinion of Andalusians.

I think they're pigs.

They're faster than your Bays,

sturdier and more nimble.

If they're pigs,

what does that make your Bays?

Listen to the boy, who does he remind you of?

I was thinking me.

But now...

I'm thinking you.

Tomorrow afternoon...

I'll take a look at your Andalusians.

Gavros!

Your brother has a way with words.

You're running your horses for Scorpus tomorrow afternoon.

Well done, little brother.

Imagine, our horses running for the Blues in Rome.

Where are you staying?

I know a place. Follow me.

One of Tenax's.

This one has fewer vermin than the others.

Who's Tenax?

You'll find out soon enough.

Thank you, Gavros.

Nine sesterces a month.

Each.

I only have two.

What did you spend it on?

You've already spent enough time in a bed, Fonsoa.

Now, you get the floor.

What's happening?

Papa!

No! No! Please...

Shh.

Who told you to do this?

I didn't do it, Tenax.

Please, believe me.

So you're more afraid of whoever it was than you are of me.

No, no. Please, please. I know nothing about this.

Believe me.

- Please! - You disappoint me.

- No, no, no, no. - I know who.

He had red hair and he was in the shop.

He said it was a surprise for you, Papa.

Said it was a secret.

Lucky you.

Yes.

That's your day.

You're new to Rome, yes?

Who are you?

I'm Tenax.

Ask around.

People will suggest you be polite to me.

What do you want?

The way things work around here is that before you fuck with a chariot race,

you ask me nicely,

and if you want do it in a way that might kill the most valuable charioteer in Rome,

who happens to be my friend,

then I say no.

And I cut off your balls.

Your name again?

Tenax.

I've heard of you.

You're very powerful in your little world.

The person who hired me

is from a much, much bigger world.

Perhaps this person will protect you.

We'll see.

Come on, Lucius.

He didn't even stand up.

You should have killed him.

I will.

But first I have to deal with the one who hired him.

How do we find out who he was?

He just told me.

I will not send you away.

But you must.

I'll be Emperor soon.

No one will challenge me.

If your brother takes the curule chair, what then of me and my people?

Nothing would delight him more than...

filling his arena with our blood.

It's not his.

It's Rome's.

It's mine.

You stay here...

in Rome.

You two, out.

Did you kill the little shit who tried to kill me?

Not exactly.

It was Domitian who ordered your chariot's sabotage.

Domitian?

Why would he want me dead?

He just needed some money so he...

nudged the odds a bit.

Why would Domitian need money?

His family rule the fucking world.

Yes and no.

His father keeps him on a tight leash.

Remember, he's the lesser of the two sons.

He has to tread very carefully with his father.

He owes millions to betting taverns all over Rome.

Which tells us just how desperate he's become.

It's good news, really.

This is the final piece of the puzzle we need...

to get our faction.

What? How?

Well...

in you we have the best driver in history.

- Agreed. - And when I sell the shares in the Blue,

we'll have enough to fund our own faction.

Then, all we need is permission from the Aedile Ludi,

Master of the Games,

who happens to be...

The noble,

but skint,

Domitian, son of the Emperor.

Yes!

That's what happens to slaves...

when they don't accept their fate.

Take them.

- No! - Kwame.

Look at me. Be strong.

Be strong.

Help.

Aura, look after her.

No!

Kwame! No!

No!

No!

Ah, Farid.

What do you have for me?

Feast your eyes.

By the Gods!

I've heard of such beasts but thought they were imaginary.

Oh, he's real,

and you're going to pay real money for him.

He killed two men in the taking

and ripped apart another during transport.

Wonderful!

I like him already.

Who's he?

Kwame, his captor.

He fears the beast is protected by demons.

I fear claws and teeth,

not magic.

You should fear...

both.

How much for three Levant pearls?

If the pearls are real...

300 each.

400.

Five.

One moment.

Some Numidian is selling pearls.

Ah.

Newly bought slaves.

Where would they be taken?

Near the forum.

Thank you.

How many pearls do you have?

And the money you got for the one you sold.

What else might she have?

Can't you see?

Psst!

Hurry!

And to think my brother were to throw him from the Tarpeian Rock.

What a waste that would have been.

Flamma!

Flavius Domitianus.

Are they still feeding you well?

Yes.

- Women? - My pick...

on the Kalends and Ides of each month.

Hmm.

Good.

New arrivals.

Good.

Good.

Too light,

even for Retiarius.

I've seen him fight.

He's fast.

He is said to have killed a lion

- with his bare hands. - Hmm.

With his bare hands?

I'd like to see what you can do.

Put him with this one.

Viggo.

Medium tether.

Ah!

He's not allowed to do that.

A gladius.

Stop!

Stop.

Forgive me, Flavius Domitianus.

Viggo has a following.

Isn't it perhaps better to let Flamma kill him

before a crowd?

Very well.

A lion...

without a weapon?

A lie, of course, but a bold one.

North Africa, filled with filthy vermin and dogs,

pacified by my august father,

but, thankfully, not pacified too much.

So, tell me,

what could you kill with your bare hands?

You!

Restrain!

Buy him.

Make a good show of his death.

With me!

Where is he?

Don't worry.

He'll be here.

Here he comes.

They're small, your Andalusians.

It is not their size that makes horses fast.

And no whip.

They run better without it.

Hey! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

Hut, hut, hut, hut!

Whoa!

They're fast.

Whoo.

Easy.

- Yes, yes, you. - Hey.

- Have you thought about my offer? - Yes, I have.

Twenty thousand sesterces for the ten. But...

the three of you stay on as stable hands to get the most out of them.

- We accept. - Both offers.

The hell we do! We agreed to go back!

Elia.

Look around.

Do you really want to go back?

Yes!

We're in Circus Maximus,

and this is Scorpus,

he's trying to buy your horses and hire us.

Exactly. He wants to trap us in this sewer of a city.

Twenty thousand sesterces.

I will take the money,

but we agreed to sell the horses and go back.

We could really be someone here.

Make a name for ourselves.

Horses, as many as you want.

I have all the horses I want, back in Baetica.

Boys.

Scorpus is waiting.

Yes.

We vote.

I'm in.

Yes.

I am not voting.

I'm leaving.

Elia!

Hmm.

- He'll come around. - Mm.

We have a deal.

The little shit stays as well, yes?

Yes.

I have just driven...

the fastest horses in my life.

Are you sure?

They fly on the wings of Pegasus.

So I bought them.

Well, with your money.

- So you're in? - Of course I'm in.

Yeah, I've always been in.

What do you want?

Isn't it normal for Scorpus to buy horses?

With your money, yes.

This was on his own.

Do you think Scorpus is leaving us for another faction?

He's up to something.

Consul, there is a man here

requesting an audience.

Tenax, a Plebeian.

No. Of course not.

Send him to one of my clients.

He is very insistent.

He says he has something to offer you

regarding the Blue Faction.

Five hundred shares of the Blue Faction.

How did you get these?

A gambling debt.

Why did you come to me with them?

Because these shares will make you lead owner of the Blue Faction again.

Meaning you'll pay more for them than anyone else.

Perhaps.

For certain.

The Blue Faction was prosperous when you were lead owner.

It's no secret that Caltonia married Old Linius

because of their combined shares

and then he died

and she remained lead owner.

And it's no secret that

you want that position back.

Seven hundred thousand sesterces.

That's absurd.

Eight hundred thousand sesterces.

This is an insulting way to bargain. Be off.

As you wish.

I assume Caltonia will want

to permanently solidify her position as...

lead owner.

Stop.

Five hundred thousand.

Nine.

Fine.

Nine hundred thousand.

But we tell the world it was five.

As you wish.

Enjoy your revenge, Consul.

Vile man.

Why did he sell to us and not to her?

Because he correctly measured my hatred of Caltonia

with my desire to be the lead owner.

What a face she'll make when she learns of this.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Beyond.

If these Judeans waged war with the same facility they have to build,

we never would have defeated them.

Flavius Domitianus.

Thank you for agreeing to see me.

You can thank Scorpus for that.

Please tell me you're not here to ask what I owe you.

No.

I've long since come to realise that taking bets from the Imperial family

- is no more than a form of taxation. - Good.

Speak.

This conversation should be held under four eyes.

Go.

Look, I don't care about what you owe me.

I don't care that you tried to rig the race yesterday and all.

It just tells me one thing:

you need money.

Lots of money.

You play a dangerous game here.

As do you.

The grain supply,

food riots,

ambition,

they're all dangerous.

I don't know whether I should listen to you...

or simply have you killed.

You could do both.

Why not listen to what I have to say first.

Very well.

Like you, I am an ambitious man.

My partner, the great charioteer Scorpus, and I...

wish to form a new racing faction.

You would break away from the Blue?

After everything they've done for him?

He's ambitious.

Same as me.

Same as you.

I'm enjoying this.

Continue.

Scorpus and I have the money to start a new faction

and we've recently acquired some horses,

astonishing horses,

that will ensure victories.

All we need now is Imperial permission from you, as Aedile Ludi,

to race them at the Circus Maximus.

How would this benefit me?

A river of money.

Half-ownership, in secret,

and all that it will yield:

victory purses,

gate percentage,

seat fees, stud fees,

betting proceeds,

as well as the value of the shares themselves.

These "astonishing" horses?

Andalusians,

with, in the words of Scorpus,

"the wings of Pegasus".

With Scorpus driving them, we'll never lose.

Unless, of course,

the odds make losing more profitable.

And, one other thing.

I'd like to formally become your client

- in order to better serve your interests. - My client?

That is a big step.

The responsibility goes both ways.

Up...

and down.

I'll consider it...

and your other offer as well.

Leave now.

Brothers!

Whoa!

Gotta take a piss!

Ah! See if you gotta go after I'm done.

Ooh.

My pearls, or I cut it off.

I only have one left.

I swear!

I used the rest to pay debts.

That's all that's left.

On the ground.

Elia, how many times do I have to say it?

It's not forever.

We'll all go back together soon.

When, exactly?

After you're grooms instead of stable hands?

After you start driving?

Give it a chance.

One fortnight,

then decide.

No.

You've lied to me.

Both of you.

You never intended to go home.

Did you?

Take good care of Ferox.

Barley in the summer.

Don't forget to take him to the pasture.

Water brushes only.

Never oil.

Carrots for his teeth.

Elia! Come.

Quickly, come!

Ferox.

Come closer.

Yes.

It is that time.

Since Caesar Augustus, no emperor...

has been succeeded by a true son.

They've all been followed by adopted sons or by usurpers.

Until now. Until me.

Ah.

Look at the two of you.

Both more than capable of taking my place.

Titus the solider, like myself,

with a string of victories.

And Domitian,

our politician...

of insight and subtlety,

so adept at handling the Senate in our absence,

and helping me secure the curule chair.

It is a difficult choice.

But nothing,

and nothing is more important,

than protecting our beloved Rome.

Our foreign enemies are dangerous,

and our enemies here in Rome itself

are also dangerous.

Ready to sacrifice this city on the altar of their ambition.

But of the two,

our foreign enemies,

the Parthians, the Gauls,

the Britons, the Huns,

they are the greater danger.

Therefore...

a solider must sit on the curule chair.

Titus...

you...

will be Emperor.

Domitian...

I will serve my brother in every way I can.

That is good.

Door!

Do you strike now?

Against Titus's legions,

his riches and the loyalty of the Praetorian Guard?

No.

Let Titus believe he's won,

while I fight him with the weapons I've been granted.

No, no, no, no.

I must look like...

Alexander the Great, not a street whore.

Something much more dramatic for my grand entrance.

Scorpus the Great, driver of...

his own faction.

Yes?

Out.

Hmm?

Is this what you call discreet?

Word will get out, once we get Domitian's approval.

If... we get approval.

Come. He's meeting us at the stables to look at the Andalusians.

Ah-ha.

Fuck.

Gavros went to get a physician.

Why didn't someone tell me?

Domitian, he's here!

Outside!

As I said...

Fuck!

All right.

I'll divert him.

Close the curtains.

Go. Close them.

Come on.

Come. Help me.

Here.

Flavius Domitianus.

Where are these horses with the wings of Pegasus?

First, how about some food or wine, perhaps?

No.

Girls? Or maybe boys?

I was thinking...

the stables don't... show them at their best.

You should see them on the track, running, perhaps, tomorrow?

Tenax! I have no time for this.

Where are they?

I know horses well enough to see them running or stabled.

Flavius Domitianus, you...

honour us.

Scorpus...

and sober.

Impressed already.

Is this one of them?

Yes, yes. Ferox, the lead.

Oh.

Why is he in a sling?

It's a Spanish technique, your Highness.

We sling them for a day after a long, uphill run.

It makes them faster on the flat.

Yes.

Yes, I've heard of this technique.

Where are the others?

At pasture.

Outside.

It's OK.

Circus Maximus now has five factions.

Each of you will own one quarter.

My ownership of one half shall remain...

in the shadows.

- As you wish. - As I command.

Do not disappoint me.

Your Highness.

One more thing.

I've decided to make you one of my clients.

You honour me.

'Till my death I will serve your interests.

And, should it suit me,

I may protect yours.

With me.

Shh, shh, shh.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

Augendus, the best there is.

He was once veterinarius for the Greens.

You were right, Gavros.

Most definitely nightshade.

What can you do for them?

Bury them.

I'm not in the mood for jokes.

There's little you can do.

A magnus might say put crows in their stalls

for three nights...

and use bells to call out Orci spirits from their livers.

I'm not gonna bet my life on that one.

Do what you can.

No one has seen this.

If you tell a single fucking person,

you will die in ways you cannot imagine.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Remember...

the only person you have to fear more than Domitian...

is me.

We understand, sir.

We have seen nothing here.

You two.

Andria, Elia, come.

All right, little brother, you win.

This is getting too dangerous.

I say we play along until dark

and then slip out of the city.

To go where?

Anywhere other than here. Home?

I'm not gonna leave our horses to die.

Now he wants to stay?

We have reared these horses ever since they were foals.

I love them.

And I am not going to leave them behind.

The Emperor's son has seen us.

How far would we get if we run?

We have no option.

We throw in with Scorpus and Tenax.

And get guards. I'll send more.

Who did this?

I was about to ask you the same thing.

I told no one.

Except your bloody tailor and who knows who else.

Antonia, perhaps?

Domitian has slaves and attendants. They talk.

It's too late now.

In my first year of racing,

the Red's lead horse was poisoned with nightshade.

The physician, Caldus, cured it with yellow ash.

No, yellow ash is poison.

It will kill quicker than cure.

It worked for Caldus.

Can you get him? Where is he?

Pompeii. I'll go.

You go with him.

Keep him safe.

Try not to be seen.

Let's get some fresh horses.

- Guards. - Yes.

Tenax.

I paid your men already.

- A fortnight ago. - I'm not collecting.

I'm buying.

Nightshade.

I...

don't sell poisons...

anymore.

I sold all I had.

To whom?

Come.

Let's go.

I know that you poisoned my horses.

Who hired you?

You're going to kill me anyway.

Why should I tell you?

Don't be so sure I'm going to kill you.

You might be more use to me alive.

Salto, there,

only he knew.

He spoke to someone...

in a litter.

I was across the square.

Describe the litter.

Fancy.

Gold and green stripes...

with wooden handles.

Remember my mercy.

Find out who owns that litter.

How many have died?

This is the first.

I have saved the others thus far.

Gavros.

Find other horses to buy.

All the good stock is owned by the factions.

Anything we find will not be as good.

They'll be alive.

No more.

We pack and we'll be ready to leave

as soon as Andria returns.

I've told you. I am not leaving.

You're a child.

You've always been a child.

Andria and I have spoiled you

since the moment our mother died giving birth to you.

Fine.

Go.

Mother, are you all right?

Can I help you with that?

Yes, please.

What do we say?

Thank you.

- Make way. - Woola.

- Woola, get up! - Huh?

That's the one.

Come on. Let's see where it goes.

Make way.

Make way.

Gold and green stripes.

This is definitely the litter.

Go get Tenax.

Yes, of course, for you I'll rush.

I can have them ready in less than a month.

I don't have a month. I'm not sure I have two days.

What about these?

Ah. These are...

my best work.

I can build a pair exactly like these for you.

- I'll take these. - No, these are Leto's, erm...

He ordered them for Xenon.

They're mine now.

Repaint them.

Er, no, I can't...

We found the litter!

Repaint them.

What colour?

Gather round! Gather round!

The auction's about to begin.

All right.

For our first offering,

look at this Briton!

Not only beautiful,

but she cooks all wonderful dishes

for which the Britons are so famous!

Who will give me 100 sesterces?

Oh, come on!

Eighty then?

Ah, excellent.

This one's yours.

Step right up and come and get it.

Up next...

this workhorse of a girl.

Suitable for either type of ploughing.

Who will give me 50?

I'll give you 50.

Fifty over here.

Come and get the key.

And now for our main attraction.

A pair of Numidian sisters.

Sold as a set or individually.

Any bids?

One hundred.

One-eighty.

Two hundred.

I'm told this one is a virgin.

Untouched by man or beast.

Who'll give me 250?

Now, any bids?

Four hundred.

Five.

Six hundred.

Seven hundred.

Eight!

Three thousand sesterces!

Sold for 3,000 sesterces.

Come and get your goods.

Mother.

- Please, please. - I'm sorry.

Mother! Mother!

And next...

...her sister.

Mother!

Perhaps not a virgin but...

sturdy...

and well-formed.

Five hundred.

I bid 800.

Sold to Tenax for 500.

No, no, no. No. No.

I bid 800.

- Sorry, didn't hear you. - Here.

One thousand!

She's already sold.

No, no.

One thousand. I double your bid.

Sorry, the deal is done.

Claudia, leave us.

Sit.

I said sit.

After you take me,

sooner or later you will fall asleep,

and when you do, I will slit your throat.

You're going to slit my throat?

I own you.

You are my slave.

I can do whatever I want with you.

You don't give up.

I'm her mother.

My girl.

Aura! I'm here.

You're okay?

I already told you.

She's not for sale.

Everything is for sale.

- At the right price. - Not her.

Why did you buy her?

I need to know things about the person who bought your other daughter.

I see.

You seek to use this daughter as a go-between to my other daughter

to spy on your enemy.

I have an alternative.

I'm listening.

I will be your go-between.

But you don't touch her.

And when this is over, whatever it is,

you allow me to buy her...

at your cost.

No.

When all this is done,

I will consider selling her to you

for whatever price I like.

I need lodging.

I have a room at the back.

You can stay with your daughter for a couple of nights.

My name is Cala.

Are you all right?

Hey. Shh. Shh.

Water.

Not poison.

You did well against me.

What do you want?

A deal.

Did you see the big gladiator watching us?

The giant one with the markings on his neck.

Yes.

He is Flamma.

He's going to kill me.

Pity you.

Yes. Yeah. Pity me.

See, from the time I was a child, I've always been the biggest,

the strongest,

the fastest.

And, as a warrior, I have always killed with ease.

Perhaps you will surprise this Flamma.

No.

He is going to kill me with ease.

He is bigger than me, faster than me,

stronger than me

and he has an endless well of tricks,

any of which can put a sword through my belly.

What is this to me?

The trader...

Farid.

He said that you killed a lion

without a weapon.

That is a lie I tell you Romans

to get hired for their hunts.

I did once kill a leopard without a weapon.

It was almost full-grown and...

sometimes a leopard can kill a lion.

So that is almost like me killing a lion.

Almost.

Perhaps in that there is some little thing I can use against Flamma.

With what you know,

which is nothing,

you will not survive one day in the arena.

But...

if you tell me what you know about

fighting animals bigger and stronger than you,

I can teach you our weapons

and give you a chance to survive

and dream of the Wooden Sword.

The Wooden Sword?

Freedom.

If a gladiator entertains the crowd well enough,

the crowd can demand he be given the Wooden Sword,

which takes him out of this place.

A worthy want.

And what is yours?

To free my sisters...

and kill Romans.

Pity we can't kill them all.

What of the one who was watching us?

The one with the eyes of a hyena.

Mm. Domitian.

He is the son of the emperor, Vespasian.

Then he will do.

What?

You want to start with killing Domitian?

Then that's what we will do.