Original subtitles

(theme music playing)

- (whip cracks) - Doctore: Switch!

Switch.

(cracks whip) Switch.

Crixus!

Did you not hear my instruction?

Apologies, Doctore.

I did not mean to scare the rabbit.

The games of the magistrate approach.

Listen carefully to my instruction,

and every man chosen

will see victory in the arena.

Perhaps not every man.

- (laughter) - Pietros.

Save the water for men who deserve it.

Rain. By Jupiter's cock, would you fucking rain?

Lucretia: What are you doing?

Praying.

Blaspheming.

The two are narrowly separated in these trying times.

Perhaps the gap widens.

More creditors seeking action?

Something of more cheerful note, recently delivered.

From Magistrate Calavius.

He is coming here to personally select men for his games.

Games to appease the gods and end the drought.

The biggest games since Theokoles bested 100 men in the arena.

But why come himself? Unless...

The primus.

If we were to secure the main event at these games...

He arrives within the hour.

Prepare food. And gather all the water we have.

- Quintus, your robe. - It's nothing.

Fetch the medicus.

Lucretia.

I should talk to the magistrate about it.

Those men tried to kill you... an honest man.

In a dishonest place.

No, we won't concern the Magistrate with these things,

not with the primus in the balance.

I'll tend to the matter myself.

That was the mark of one of the slaves who tried to kill Batiatus.

The mark is unknown to me.

Perhaps a closer look.

Details of such craftsmanship should not be viewed in haste.

I may have seen a similar mark.

Ahh.

So what do you think?

You adorn them like a god.

I would be out of them and deep into you.

Apologies. Magistrate Calavius arrives.

Our fortunes rise

like your cock.

Stay wet and we'll make it rain presently.

(groans)

Magistrate,

you do us honor with your...

presence.

Good Batiatus, I was telling Solonius

how I knew your father.

Now there was a true Roman.

A great man,

none of his like to follow.

I will attempt to fill your needs as he would have.

To business then.

Magistrate: As you well know,

the drought has parched the city to the point of madness.

We've tried everything to tempt the sky into tears,

even to the point of a hecatomb.

100 cattle sacrificed, yet not a drop,

because the gods do not want the blood of cattle.

They want the blood of men.

Good Solonius has been kind enough to lend a hand

in organizing games to appease their appetite.

It will be sine missione...

no draw, no mercy shown.

Only the finest gladiators will be invited to participate.

Only the finest are offered in the house of Batiatus.

Come, examine my wares.

An impressive selection,

rivaling that of good Solonius himself.

Yet I have the primus.

Half,

your opponent still to be chosen.

Batiatus: If you wish to appease the gods,

you must have one upon the sands.

Crixus, the champion of Capua,

will willingly fight anyone that Solonius has to offer.

Excellent.

It will truly be a contest between legends.

Legends?

Oh, did I fail to mention?

Good Solonius has secured Theokoles for the primus.

Theokoles?

Solonius: I managed to coax him to our fair city at great expense.

With our gratitude.

If the gods fail to grant us rain with such a tribute,

then we are surely cursed.

I fear the gods will be displeased. The match is unbalanced.

Only one man has ever stood against Theokoles and lived.

What if Crixus were joined by your man Spartacus?

His death was fated in execution,

yet he refused to own it

and cost me four men in his defiance.

Your debts are well-known, Batiatus.

Even if you lose the men, the purse is enough

to hold off your creditors for a moment.

Unless of course you would rather sit out these games

or any others that follow, which...

No, I will set my men to the task.

My titans!

Pause and hear glorious news.

Magistrate Titus Calavius

has invited our best men to fight in his primus.

Crixus, step forward.

Spartacus, step forward.

You have been chosen to fight as one

against Theokoles,

The Shadow of Death.

Fuck! Ow! Ow!

Fuck. Shit. Fuck.

Ow. Ow. Shit.

Fuck. Ow.

I think you two will make a fine couple.

I'd rather fight without him.

And die the same.

This Theokoles...

the legends can't be true.

He's been cut a thousand times in the arena.

He's never fallen.

I fear you would have been safer in the pits.

If we were to win,

how large would be the purse?

Large enough to wrest 10 wives from the Syrian.

Doctore: You send them to certain death. Let me fight in their stead.

Lucretia: That's an excellent suggestion.

- I owe Theokoles a debt of pain. - You were not requested.

Look, no one has forgotten how bravely you fought

- against Theokoles, old friend. - Yet without victory.

You stand the only man to face him in the arena and live.

That in itself is a victory.

Set your purpose to the task of training Crixus and Spartacus for the match.

I fear no amount will save them from The Shadow's grasp.

Then prepare them for a glorious death.

The brand belonged to Remus,

a slave trader plying wares north of the city.

Remus? The name holds no recognition.

Nor to I. Yet, if I were to purchase a slave,

intent on foul designs...

Then it would be from outside Capua,

to avoid simple discovery.

Find Remus and bring him.

I would have conversation.

Dominus.

Water.

From Domina, to help with your training.

Wait a moment.

To what purpose?

Need there be one?

You shouldn't look at me in that way.

I try with all my strength not to.

But I am weak.

Sleep then.

And regain your strength.

I seek no quarrel.

Your presence here would state otherwise.

We've had our differences.

I own my part in them. Yet if we are to defeat Theokoles...

We?

There is no such thing in the arena.

You believe

you can slay the giant alone?

As I always stand.

This time you do not.

When Theokoles falls,

the glory will be mine.

And if we do not come to common ground,

the death shared will be ours.

Oh, as if they stand a chance against Theokoles.

Perhaps the gods will favor them.

Yes, and perhaps I should sprout wings and flutter off.

The odds lay a thousand to one against them.

No man has ever won betting against Crixus.

I would lay coin towards their victory.

A fool's wager, happily received.

- You leave without words? - None to give.

Each time you step beyond these walls,

I fear for you and what...

Grab hold of your cock and be a man.

I do what I must, Pietros.

I'll return soon.

Mind the birds.

Pietros, weapons.

- Ilithyia? - She comes at my invitation.

Now's not the time to be entertaining that spoiled little bitch.

Her father Albinius holds the magistrate's ear.

If he were to place a word in it, then Crixus may be replaced in the primus.

He could place a thousand and to no result.

Solonius maneuvered you.

With the aid of the magistrate. Refuse and

we would quickly find ourselves excluded from the arena altogether.

And if Crixus falls? Who will be our champion?

Who will the crowds clamor to see from the house of Batiatus?

Not Spartacus, that thing from the pits?

(door opens)

Your guest arrives. Do not broach the subject with her.

Ilithyia, you do us honor with your presence.

I would trade honor for water.

Oh, the heat is a thing living, crawling down the throat.

Well, let us quench that thirst.

I must attend the business of the games.

I leave you in loving hands.

- Is it true then? - What?

Crixus and Spartacus face The Shadow of Death?

They do.

Blood will surely flow on the day.

I long to see it pour from the Thracian.

Doctore: You attack as you would a man.

Theokoles is beyond flesh,

beyond blood and bone.

He is the shadow that precedes death.

Allow him to fall upon you alone,

and you are dead.

Now rise,

and come at me as one!

Give way, you fuck.

The advantage was mine.

How Crixus moves.

The way his muscles catch the sun.

Truly the champion of Capua.

None his equal.

You jostle and trip over the other like fools.

You face Theokoles in the primus!

Prove yourselves worthy!

Pathetic.

I crave a closer look.

Can we go down among them?

My husband would never allow it.

The bowels of a ludus are no place for a senator's daughter.

A private viewing then, in the villa?

I would pay for it, of course.

A favor amongst friends.

You must let me return it then.

I've given thought to your problem

and have discovered a solution.

Problem?

Children.

Yes?

I've heard of a woman, a priestess of Juno,

blessed with certain gifts of fertility.

Many prominent women speak of her...

Servillia, Cornelia, Laelia.

Ovidius's wife?

You know her?

Oh, in passing. She has a small boy.

And would have none, if not touched by the woman I speak of.

Will you let me arrange it for you

as a gift for your hospitality?

We are friends, aren't we?

The very best.

How are we to fare against Theokoles

when we cannot even best Doctore?

I could have bested him a dozen times

if you'd not gotten underfoot.

I take the sands beside you in this fight, Crixus.

Just because you stand beside me with sword and shield,

do not mistake yourself as a gladiator.

I fight to honor these walls. You fight to leave them.

You fight

because you are a slave

like me.

No. Not like you.

I accept my place here.

I embrace it.

But you...

you still dream of a life beyond the arena

where that wife of yours we've all heard about

is still nestled by your side.

And that is all it is, Spartacus... a dream.

And one day soon you will awaken to the truth.

You will never leave this place.

And your wife, if she's not dead already,

has been fucked to madness by a hundred Roman cocks.

Get yourselves cleaned up.

Domina requests your presence,

both of you.

Do you know who I am, Thracian?

Speak.

I have seen you

with Legatus Glaber.

I am his wife.

He is regrettably abroad

and will not be able to witness

your death against Theokoles.

But...

I shall whisper of it to him,

replaying the moment

when we are entwined in our bed.

Apologies. I require the Thracian for a moment.

Extend it by a lifetime. I am done with him.

(snaps fingers) My office.

The champion of Capua...

a rare honor to receive a private audience.

One I am most appreciative of.

Although

he does seem

a touch overdressed for the occasion.

Your subligaria... remove it.

Your champion is bold to his purpose.

I take my leave.

His flesh is hard.

Like marble.

Would that every man were carved so.

We'd best not keep him.

His training resumes at first light.

Do you think he will survive against The Shadow?

Only the gods know.

It would be a pity to see such a man marred.

Perhaps there is a way to see such a tragedy averted.

If your father were to speak to the magistrate perhaps...

To what end?

To seeing Crixus replaced in the games.

Is that what you want?

Do you fear entering the arena with Theokoles?

I long for it.

As I long to see it.

Batiatus: You survived being dragged from your homeland

by Legatus Glaber.

You survived execution by four gladiators in the arena.

You even survived the horror of the pits.

Can you survive this?

Crixus and I fight at cross purposes.

Then find a way to unite them.

You may have saved my life,

but yours is yet worth little in the arena.

But to lose Crixus along with you...

that would be a blow from which this ludus would not recover.

My concern is only for my wife.

And her fate is tied to these walls.

If they collapse around me, then I will be unable to help her

from beneath the rubble.

I will not die until she is safe.

Well, prove it so.

Fight as one with Crixus to best Theokoles

or we are all fucked.

Yes?

Barca has returned bearing gifts.

Remove him to the barracks.

Two slaves broken by your hand

made attempt on my life.

Who purchased them?

I know not of what you speak.

I speak of being fucked

by the gods, by the magistrate,

by that cocksuck Solonius

and his grinning schemes.

I'm of proud family,

a family of means and history,

you fucking cunt.

You sold the men,

common slaves

who tried to kill me,

tried to fuck me like a whore.

But I will not be fucked.

I will not... not be fucked,

you fuck, you fucking cocksucking

you fucking hemorrhoid sucking fuck,

you fuck.

Ovidius.

What?

Ovidius.

Sold to Ovidius.

There. Was that so fucking hard?

Ovidius's cousin is the magistrate.

He could be cousin to Jupiter himself.

I don't give a shit.

I will have satisfaction.

You dishonor me.

The Thracian impedes my attack.

- I seek to strengthen it. - I seek no aid.

No.

You need the gods to descend and fight by your side.

Even then victory is doubtful.

Words falling on deaf ears.

Attend your eyes then.

My failure...

your lesson.

His first cut...

dealt when I thought him vulnerable

and pressed my attack unwisely.

His next assault

came as I fell back

to regain position.

Yet these wounds are nothing...

a game of blood to amuse the crowd.

And when he tires of playing,

he will move

to separate your head

from your neck.

I live because I survived longer

than any man that stood against him.

Some herald that as a victory.

I am not among them.

You tell us The Shadow wounds

both when he is pressed and when he is given ground.

How will he to be defeated?

By accomplishing both at once.

Press and defend;

Distract and strike;

Fight as one

or die as two.

Now

show me the way to honor.

The game's tomorrow, and yet he presses them.

To their benefit.

I have business in town.

It'll take me until late into the night.

- Lucretia. - Hmm?

Business.

Yeah, business. I heard you.

If you would prefer I delay...

No, I have diversion.

Ilithyia's coming with her priestess.

May the gods grant us miracle.

They fucking owe us something.

A word of advice, Spartacus.

(Ashur sighs)

At what cost?

Freely given.

Do not think you can come to terms with Crixus.

I trusted him once in the arena

and this was the result.

He may as well have cut the balls from my shaft.

He'd turn a sword against his ally?

Even Barca, if stood between him and glory.

The only way to survive against Theokoles

is to consider Crixus an equal enemy.

How often do you engage in intercourse?

Several times a week, sometimes more.

Has seed ever taken hold?

Never.

Have there been other men besides your husband?

What bearing does that have?

Well, it will inform the correct combination of elements.

The ritual is usually a private matter. Perhaps...

Oh please, can I stay?

I've never seen one of these.

It's so intriguing.

Other men...

have there been any?

Yes.

How many?

One, but frequently.

Then the difficulty lies not with the seed

but within the vessel.

You mean there's something wrong with her?

The gods have decided to withhold the joy of children.

But we will entreat them to reconsider.

(speaking in Latin)

Drink.

Juno has blessed you.

You must copulate within the hour.

So soon?

Before the flame of life expires.

Good fortune be with you.

Only an hour?

You think she would have told you that before she started,

considering her price.

Gratitude for arranging this.

Unnecessary words from a friend.

And I being yours,

I'll leave you to complete the ritual.

Although tales of this other man

will be most expected when time is not of issue.

Why are the fucking torches not lit?

Laelia.

I owe you a debt, Ovidius,

I've come to repay.

Please.

The boy is unstained.

No child is unstained by the deeds of his father.

They are not my own.

Two slaves sent from Remus to take my life.

Do you deny giving coin to the cause?

I hired the men, yes,

but to another's purpose.

Whose?

Speak the name and I swear to the gods I will not kill you.

Solonius.

He paid the balance of your debt to me

in exchange for me arranging your death.

Gratitude for your honesty, Ovidius.

You're not going to kill me then?

No.

My slave is going to kill you.

Burn this fucking place to the ground.

But first

take care of the child.

You were right.

I do not honor these walls.

A fact well known.

Has it always been so for you?

When you were brought here for the first time

against your will,

your life

traded for a few coins?

More than a few.

Is that your worth then?

Has it ever occurred to you why the great Theokoles

would grace us with his presence?

A promise of wealth.

The Shadow has earned a thousand fortunes.

He comes here not for coin.

He comes here for the glory

of facing the champion of Capua,

the undefeated Gaul.

Glory.

There is no greater thing

than standing victorious in the arena.

Is there no purpose

beyond the blood,

no dream

beyond the cheering crowd?

Is there nothing else you fight for?

Crixus, you are summoned.

Step into the light.

Let me gaze upon the champion of Capua.

You truly are a wonder.

As are you, Domina.

We don't have much time

and I would see it well used.

Do I stir you to passion?

Yes, Domina.

Your cock would disagree.

Excuse my distraction, Domina.

I have thoughts of tomorrow.

And I would have you in the moment

deep inside me.

I've never faced an opponent like Theokoles.

And he has never met a man like you.

I beg a favor, Domina.

Love makes a man weak before battle.

I would have you strong.

We will forgo the pleasures of a single evening

and pray to the gods for many more to come.

Domina.

(crying)

You are going to die tomorrow, aren't you?

Only the gods divine the future.

Why didn't you let llithyia help you?

She could have spoken to her father.

To what end?

Humiliation?

Honor and glory...

that's all you care about, isn't it?

Not all.

Still a fool.

Still.

You said love drains a man.

It can give him hope

in the right arms.

The odds do not favor you.

They seldom do.

I've heard Barca has laid a large amount of coin on you.

More towards Crixus, but still...

And you?

If I had the means,

I would wager all with Barca.

You're too fucking stubborn to die.

(chuckles)

Every man has his end.

I pray to the gods you have not yet reached yours.

If they do not answer,

I would ask a thing of you.

I will do everything I can to find her.

Now sleep.

Tomorrow you face a legend

and may yet become one yourself.

(crowd cheering)

Did you see it?

Septimus... the victor, as I said.

Valerius always drops his shield when he attacks...

a disadvantage against the spear.

The boy has a keen eye.

Towards gladiators, yes. His studies are another matter.

My hour of glory is long past.

Yours stands before you.

Heal old wounds.

Kill that fucking son of a whore.

Finally the primus.

Another moment and my tongue would turn to dust.

Water.

Apologies, Domina.

We've used our last.

Please share some of mine.

You're too kind, good Solonius.

You'd do the same if you were able.

No matter.

Soon Theokoles will honor the gods with blood,

and they in turn will bless us with endless rain.

I pray for the truth in it.

This drought is driving the city mad.

Unfortunate word has reached us that our dearest cousin Ovidius

was murdered in his home.

Ovidius?

Llithyia: No.

I mentioned his wife not a night ago.

What of his son?

He was so young.

Magistrate: Their villa was burnt,

only a few bodies yet recovered.

I fear the boy is among the ruins.

A tragedy.

One cannot but wonder what might prompt such an act.

Magistrate: Let us turn our minds to thoughts of rain

to cool the fevered brow of our city.

Citizens of Capua,

brothers of Rome,

in the name of my forefathers,

I, Titus Calavius,

present to you the final event,

- a spectacle... - Your woman...

...of blood and death... ...is she the reason you refuse to die?

Magistrate: ...a sacrifice to Ceres...

Spartacus: She is.

...the great goddess of renewal. May her lips...

Then perhaps there is something beyond glory.

Magistrate: Then shower us with an ocean of rain.

From the house

of Quintus Lentulus Batiatus,

behold Spartacus Thraex...

(crowd booing)

...joined in battle today

by the undefeated Gaul...

- (cheering) ...the champion of Capua!

Behold Crixus murmillo!

Crixus! Crixus! Crixus!

Capua!

Shall we begin?

Together they stand

against a man who has never fallen,

a beast that has never been tamed,

a legend that has never been tarnished.

By the grace

of Marcus Decius Solonius,

behold Theokoles,

The Shadow of Death!

(crowd murmuring)

(yelling)

Begin.

They draw blood.

Yes!

Yes! (laughs)

(crowd cheering)

Yeah!

Yeah, Capua!

Capua, shall I begin?

(thunder crashing)

Get out of the way.

Give ground or I'll kill you myself.

- (screams) - (gasps)

Theokoles!

Crowd: Kill! Kill! Kill!

Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

(screaming)

Yes!

(thunder rumbling)

Spartacus! Spartacus! Spartacus!

(crowd continues chanting)

(theme music playing)