S P AR T ACU S

Revised Final Screenplay

JANiJ~.RY 16, 1959

Screenplay by

-·
DALTON TRtn1BO

Based on · t~e novel by HOWARD FAST

Revised Final Screenplay

mdg #1888 - Name Change 6/5/59

NOTE

The name PRABUS or PHABRUS has been changed to

-- ,/
DIONYSIUS - Di o NISH 1 us
 r.
.
·
.. ==== . · ih::t · '-::rori.:.r•--x:-i :;· ' +t±:H'' -

1 '
i ..
Prod.· 29 R:C:VISED 6/10/59
SHOOTING SCHEDULE

O
~, -..,.: r
HO, 1888 TITLE SPARTACUS DIRECTOR
ASST. DIR.
S. KUBRIC'a
M. GREEN
CJ.MERA DAYS BUS. MGR. N. DEMING

WARD- DAY
CAMERA DESCRIPTIOfl 01" SET OR LOCATION ACTOFIS FIOBE SEQ PAGE LOCATION OR
DAY ANO OATIE WORKING CHANGE OR STUOIO NI GHT

THURS. EXT. APPIAN GA'l'E {RETAKE) BATIATUS l/4 GAUSMAN D

6/ll/$9 VARINIA ' GULCH
. · Sc. part 4191 420 CENTURION
6. .PRAETORI \NS
Batiatus and Varinia pass 2.0 SOLDIER 5
through gate on wagon - WAGON
.st.o pped · by centurion.
• I •
HORSE

FRI. EXT. APPIAN GATE SPARTACUS 4 GAUSMAN N

MON. ANTONINUS GULCH
TUES. Sc. 361 thru 380 DBL CRASS{S
6/12/59· DBL CAESAF
6/15/59 Spartacus and Antoninus 24 SOLDI;EBS
6/16/59 talk - fight to death - 4 CAVALRY
..Antoninus killed. CRASSU~ 1 lORSE

tNT. SPARTACUS' CELL SPARTACUS 3- STAGE 2.0 ' N

VARINIA l/l
119-C, · 120
I
Sc •.

Varinia says goodbye to .

Spartacus.

THURS. EXT. SPARTACUS I CAMI' AT SPART4CUS 4 FOX RANCE D

FRI • . VESUVIUS ANTONINUS
MON. CRIXUS
6/16/59 Sc. 217 thru 223 .DAVID
6/19/59 ,DIONYSIUS
6/22/59 Antoninus arrives - plays - ◊LDCRONE
egg trick on Spartacus. CARPENTER ·'
1st MAN <

2nd MAN '

250 SLAVES .
I . 20 CHILDRE~
2 WELFARE iORKE S
l
-EXT-- .-SLAVE
- - -ENCAMPMENT
- - - - -·- - - - - - -·- - ·- - .... - - - ---------
SPARTACUS· 1~ FOX . D
ANTONINUS 3/4 RANCH
Sc. 226 VARINIA
DICNYSIUS
Antoninus plays egg · trick 150 SLAVES_
·again ·- - Spartacus. 20. Ch'ILDRE i
2 WELFARE fORKEt S
 REVISED 6/10/r:.9
SHOOTING SCHEDlJL'f: 2

TITLE SPARTACUS DIRECTOR S.' KUBRICK

ASST. DIR. M. GREEN
CAMERA DAYS IUS. MGR. N. DEMING

WARD- CAY
CAMERA Ol!SC:AIPTION 01' SET OR 1.0C:ATION ,_CTOl'IS ROBE SEO PAGE l.0CAT ION OR
OAY ANO DATE WORKING CHANGE OR ST UD I O NIGHT

TOES/ EXT. SLAVE ENCAMPMENT ANTONINUS 2- STAGE 12 N

6/23 59 SPARTACUS 1/2
Sc. par·t 224, 225 VARINIA
CRIXUS
Antoninus sings. DAVID
;

WED • • EXT. BEACH SPARTACUS 1- SEQUIT D

6/c4/59 ANTONINUS. l/2 POINT
Sc. 271, 271-B 12 RIDERS
J.4 HORSES ..
Spartacus .and Antoninus
look do~ and see pirate
s_h ips.
I
..
THURS. INT. SLAVE HDGTR. TENT . SPARTACUS · 3- STAGE 12 N
?~/S9 VARINIA 3/8
'. J Sc •. 272, A, B, C ANTONINUS
ORIX.US
Spartacus decides to march DAVID
.on . Rome inste·a d of. taking DIONYSIUS '
ships. OFFICER
,50 .SLAVE OF 1;,ICER
!
'
FRI. .EXT. S~UARE ~N.TONINUS 1 ST. CLAII D
6/26/59· SPARTACUS HOME
Sc. 254, 255 . TIGRANES ..
.25:.SLAVE .A.R f1Y
Antpninus ·b rings . Tigranes
into camp.
-·- -·- - - - - - - - - - - !'-- ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - -·- - -- - -
~

EXTo ROAD. (RAIN). SPARTACUS 1/2 BACK -LOT . D

.~NTONINUS
Sc. 356- I thru ·256~I~J DAVID
LEGIONARY .
Crucifying slaves in rain. 150 SLAVES
20 SOLDIERS
CRIP.PLE .
, .....
·U

I I
 /
.,.,oc:t, -29 REVISED 6/10/59
,/
SHOOTING SCHEDULE 3

. rOo. 1aaa · TITLE SPARTACUS DIRECTOR S. KUBRICK

~ ,. ,.RT
CLOSE
ASST. DIR.
BUS. MGR.
M. GREEN'
N, DEMING

j C:AMltRA
0AY ANO DATI!
Ol!SCRIPTION OF SET 0111 LOCATION ACTORS
WORKI NG
WAR0•
ROBE
CHANGE
SEQ PAGE LOCATION
OR STUDIO
OA'f
OR
ltlGHT

MON, INT. HDQTRS. TENT SPARTACUS . 2 STAGE 12 N

6/29/59 A NTONINUS
Se. 2.56 VARI NIA
C,RIXUS
Bargain with pirate over DAVID
ships . DIONYSius·
TIGRANES
4 SLAVES
TUES. EXT. SUPPLY DEPOT CRIXUS 2- CALIF. N
WEDo- SPARTACUS 1/, ST.
6/3%59 Sc. 258., A, B, C, D, E, G DAVID
7/l .59 . DIONYSIUS
Spartacus catches Crixus . 150 SLAVES
stealing supplies. 4 WAGONS &: TEAJ.'-13

~
;,\' ,__.,as. EXT. SLAVE CAMP - DEPOT SPARTACUS 2- CALIF. DAWN
_. .:.i io CRIXUS 1/2 ST.
7/2159 Sc. 259, A., B, c, D, E, F, ANTONINUS
7/3/59 G VA.RINI.A. ,.
'
I
DAVID
Spartacus hangs Crixus, DIONYSIUS -
-------------- -- 10150CHILDRE1i
Reaction shots Tony
SLAVES
2 WELFARE \1 bRKER~
4 WAGONS & !I'EAMS
2 MULES
...

EXT. SLAVE CAMP IJ.J. SPARTACUS l STAGE 12

m,s9
MON.

7/7/59
..
Sc. 290·, 291
.. ANTONINUS
CRIXUS
DAVID
N

Spartacus discusses 100 SLAVES

·strategy - goes to tent .
--------- ------ ------ - - ,.. - - - -·-- - - - - - -
Sc • . 290, 291
Reaction shots of Tony.

( , ..')
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 ·m,·ar-w rar-· nne:erz n

REVISED 6/10i59
SHOOTING SCHEDULE 4
SPARTACUS OIREC:TOR S. KUBRICK
ASST DIR M. GREEN
CAMERA DJ.YS BUS. MGR. N. DEMING

WARO- OAY
Dl!tSCl'II PTION OF SET OR L.OCATION ACTORS R08£ SIEQ PAGE 1..0CATION OR
WORKING CHArlGf: OR STUDIO NIGHT

EXT. AUTUMN CO'NTRYSIDE SPARTACUS 4 LOCAL . D

ANTONINUS LOCATION
Sc. 262, A,B,C,D,E,F, 263, SLAVE LEADER
A,B,C,.D.,E,F,G 3 AD LIBS
300. SLAVES
Runaway slav.es want to join 20 CHILDREN
Spe.rta~us. Re .t ells them 2 WELFARE WDRKERl ·-
.. he has too tnany already. 10 HO~ES

EXT• .TOWN SQUARE SPARTACUS 5/8 MEXJ:CAN . l)

•ANTONINUS STREET
DAVID
DIONYS!US
Spartacus sees slave leader SLAVE LEADER
tortured - orders town 20 St.AVES ( ~OUllTl ~)
b'Ul'ned. , 15 SLAVES - DEAD
<:') ~. ~~W;REN
· !WELFARE tfOR~
SPARTACUS t ~ORSE
23 HORSES
RAIN

EXT. SPARTACUS CAMP - SPARTAC:US 2- FOX D

VESUVIUS VARINIA l/4 RANCH . -
CRIXUS
·sc. 217 tb.ru 220 DAVID
IDIONYSI.US
Opening - · Exere:1:se & train- .· 2.50 SLAVES
I ing slave army. 20 GH::T:LDREN
I 2 1-IELFARE W)RKER~
I 10 PACK MUL ~S
I
I 6 HORSES
l
I
· 3 .<;:AflTS & H )RSES

EXT. SLAVE CAMP - · 2nd NIGHT SPARTACUS 5- STAGE 12 N

VESUVIUS VARI NIA l/4
CRIXUS
Seo 229 thru 240 ~AVID
.
1( --..'p.J.s
wants tc go. to Rome~ SENTRY Sc. 33
)~Jry warn.s t ha t Romans !MAN Sc. 236
. DIONYSIUS
f
a.re near - a~gue about VOICE Sc. 2 7
.
\ running away. ,. dscide to
a. t t.a ck,
?10THER Sc.
1150 SLAVES
r>-37

l .
A.CROBAT
1$ CHILDREN ,
 §PA.'l'l'ACtT§ Feb. 11, 1959

: .• . . &STD'aAffD POO!AGI • - ReT. Final Soreenplay,

Jaa. 16tb, &ev. tbru Feb. 5, 1959.
Feet
1 • ,o ft!$ per page - llt[age - 81 plQI 1,359
Cr••••• and pany arrive at enoaapaeRt to ie•u• new battle
•r4•r• tor th• eaoowater wi Ua Sparta.ou. Flashback begin• u Crasst,■
relat•• Spartao••• 'baokgroa.nd u a Thracian elave working in the Egypt-
ian ■ ine. V• ••• hill hala•iring a pard tor whioh he i• aentenced 'io
die at aundowa. Batiatu 'bay• hi■ •ong othen to lte tr&inecl 1.n hia
Gladiatorial So~o•l at Capua.
.\1 - 78 P\• per Pl• - ayer. - 75 pluf 1,1-'17
. Tar1a1a, a fre ► bora •l:a•• girl ia t••••• · 1nto Spartaou••
oell to ·p•zsle and intripe ·bia ~Y her ■ pirite4 detianoe and retu•al
to It• • OWJaed• no ■atter what he · doe·• to her. She agree.■ to teaoh b~.
. to rea4. The lulrall ,trainillg prooee4• 111 the ■ ohool and Spartaou~ learn:9
tut fair play oa:n be oo•tly whe11 Draba take• adv~tage ot it and giYea
Spanaou■ a blaok ■ark. Vartaia Rll&&le• ~h• alpha.bet 111.to hi• cell •
79 • 116 19 · ES, per Pl• ~ &Yer, -· 69 ■ina• . 1,307'
Cru•11•, Glabrua aa.4 two l&diee arri Ye at tbe aohool t the
,.,- 1&41•• d•u4ing u exhibition ot two pair of Gladiators tightiq to
' t.lllri.. 'ill• clea'tb. Batia't•• ••oorte th• t .o the cell• where they choose Draba

I _
_,. · ~ and Spartaou• tor oae _pair.. Var1n1a·, 1D eerving the gue•t•, purposely
•Pill• vine· Oil the 041011■ Glabrus:. Cruau• q-aiokly bay■ b.er to avert
Batia:iu•• wrcih. Draba tight• Spanaou in tbe arena but •udclenly
I ••rn• to attaok tlie pe■t• GD the Jua:. Cra■aua etude b.ie groud and
1
bit•• Jaia ccpertl7.
117 • 18J D• per Pl• - ayer. - 89 plus 1,497
Spart-aou■ &Rd Varinia draw oloaer together ae each uader-
•'iaada tile other•·• yearDine; tor treedaa •. She tell■ him goodbye be-
tore ah• is .to le••• tor Cru ■ ua• hou■ ehold in ·aaa.e •. Marcellu•, the
·· trainer,, tawit'.■:,.-.: spar.taou■ :wtth. Var.1n:ia.· and:;prOYokea . the · reY.olt of the
• :8la4iat·-ors,~.·-·,.•,'fh•7•-":&re' ·J ,olned-. by ··..the· •field hands ·u . t .hey· take· to -the
· .open oOWltry., Vamia aaro.hing vi th. the WOiien and chi lclr.e o. · Under
Spartaou■' leaderahip :they ·defeat th• G.a rrison ot Capua. Be now claim•
a willing V.arinia . aa his own. · · ·
18.\ - 210 ll• per pg. - aver. - 83 ainus 1,200.
Gr~ohm leaves hie oonetituen.t s to at-t end the convening
Senate. Glabru1·, Cauiander ot tile acme Garrison, 1• charged. with the
oapture ot Spartacus. Crassus returns to i.nfoni Glabru• .that Gracchus
ha■ .tri.oked hµt into the asa i g.a::aent that · cay ruin hia,· in order that h i •
ovn protlg,, Juliua Cae■ ar may take oOGU11and. Gracohue pays B~tlatua · ·
I· .i in advanoe tor Varinia in caee abe 1• oapiu.red 4lld sold.
~- -.,,.,..~--·-· • ··· --··"···· ···-·:r m· r: ... ·· s ·· ,-,.· -,·-·- -,-o-a ·· - ·r·· n-a ---·-· ··· nc · -· - · rwn - ·z
==
.J
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t
. 2 r

SPARTACUS -:-ESTIMA'fEP F9QTAGE - feb • 11. 1959

ftt per pg. -

. &Yer. - 67 DiDUS 916
I-
!· .

Crue11a inatruot• ht•· new ala..-e-boy, ADtCJ1inu, but loaea

hill when tile bey jU11pa oft the balcony and is lost 111 the passing _
Garris OD aa it. leaves the ci t.y. Spartacus assert• hi1 authort ty oTer
Crtxws who ta-ror• ■arching on Rc:ae. Varinia tell• hill •he is with
obild. AlltODinua, captured aa a •PY, in.tons Spartacua tbat Glabrus
plan.a to attack his army ill the aonuq.
2-'18 - 270 n. per pg, - aYer-. - 69 plu1 · 1,168
The Senate conTene• to hear Paribiaa•• aocowit ot the
annihilation ot the Qarriaon. Spartaoua exhort, his :followers to
deal with the pirates tor trnasportation and leave the country since
all the,. want is treedca. Crusus trie1 to 1te&11 Caeaar away trGII Gracchus
and e·a tablieh hia•el.t· aa· a dictator -

271 - 289 Ft. per pg. - ayer •• . 79 plus

Sparia.oua lea.ma that Crusua ha• been outbidding hi ■ and
causing delay int.he arriYal ot the pirate sbipa. Intur•ated, he de-
c14ee-.to ■arch on -Rc:ae • . Gracchus bri~fa. Caesar 011 political strategy
wbi le Crasaua is aoolai■ed Pirat consul and ta1'es tbe field himself
against Spartacus. Be cC1111ands Batiatua to s'iand by &Ad identity
Spartacus tor hia in the c01ting battle.
r. r, .

:C
..
-,- · 3'39
, ._,_.,./ ,_
17 ·n . ·per
.
pg.
'
- aver. - 79· plus l,'.551
Spartacua plan• bi• strategy wi tb his leaders then goes to
Varinia vho expects the· child ■ caentarily. Remembering that David t.be·
~- 1• alao a pries~. though o! a different reli~ion, be orders a mass
•arriage cermsouy for ~11 who wish it, including hi.aeelt and Vatilia.
Vbile this 11 being pertomed, Lucullus• and POllpey•s armies approach
to Join Crasau• •.· · The· batt.le is played o:ftaiage OYer the River Silarus.
Cra&sus and Battai~s searching th~ s1a111- tor Spartacus find only Vami a
and her nev-born .•on. .She insists that Spartacus is dead. Crassus
doesn't believe this and ·orders _her sent to bis palace in R<11e.

'.539A • ')56 1,04 3

When Batiat·ua deliTers a •e•'!r-e d be,d, supposedly Spartacus t,
C-r aaaua orderB bi ■ flogged .. Batiatus wins Craaaua • grudging respect
by claiming death first, _ hi• due as a R<1111an knight. He also reainds
. Cr.as sue -that h~ trained the · ,greatest general of t .he tiaes, Spartacus.
Among the passing prisoner•, Spartacwi bear• tlli• &Ad reacts, knoving
that Batiatu■ baa ao _intent1on of giving hia away. Tbis group· ot
prisoner• is quartered in. Craseus • . taai ly t<Jlllb vbere he lat.e r visits
thee and aab. .Spartacus,. if present, to give h,iaaelt up and save the
.l1Tea ot _the otbe·r•. Yhen be does so, the other9 quickly ridicule h i :a
hoping to contuse c·rassus.· They ■ ust fight to th~ death in ~he fam i l .v
arena, in aatched, pairs with the sole aurTiY-or to be crucified at da'k'll .
C~uau1 is farther int'u.ri~ted by Varinia•s interpretation of love as
•he a.bared it with Spartacua.
 ·--·srwzwars·a·rm r r SC 1 ' .. s , ·: : · s;p - .., ....

i
SPARTACUS ESTIMATED FOOTAGE - Feb.11.1959

'·n
li { '- ....,,
I J56A .. .\OJ Ft. per pg. - aver. - 2iA plue 1,371
I Spartaou• inapirea bia ■ en to die like Goda, bow, and
i at the acaent of their own obooeing, ineiead of like aniaala and
alaTe• •• tbey b&Te had to live. Graoohu• ocmai••iona Batiatu1
io kiclnap Varinia and deliYer her to hi■• Craa•u• and hi• guest•
are pazzl•d by the &ladiaton aubai•aion to death, •e•ingly at•
pre-arranged ament. All1.oninaa diaregard• preTioua iutructione
aa4 tries deaperately to ' kill Spartacus in order to be cruoified
1n hi• plaoe. · Craaau 1oe• to Spartacua in adairaiiOll tor hi• leader-
1b.1p u4 ofter• hi.a hand. Spartac11• rem•••• preferring bis fate.

15-1/2 D• per Pl•• ayer. - 70 plu 1,068

&raoolma 1• ••nut tl••tered vhea Batiatu deliTer•
l'&rilli& tobi■ , wi"ih the lJaby, "lloqh it baa aothing. te do witll
hi• plan to aend her baok to her own Qenanio trUie ancl reaoTe
lier for•••r tx-<11 .bi• aroa riTal, craaeu•. Be oharc•• Batiatus
with her aate delt••ry before he leave• the ocnmtry witk the tor-
tue he ia being paid to acocapliall thia. GracoJ:au• quietly retire•
to hia bath to oCllllli'S auioid.e before Cru1u arriT••, afier watohiq
Uae cnoiti%1oa WiiJa C&•••r anfl part7. Batiat•• approaobe• &be
pard.a and uu p•ra1••1GD tor tlM Yic·u.a•• w1:t• to •peak to h1a.
!hi• 1• treated aa a joke bu tbey air••• Varinia hold• ap ~1•- 1011
tor Sp&rtaoaa to ••• ill 111• dyin& agony. Bia laa"i Tieioa ot her 1•
u •h• Y&Tea tr•
th• - ~Ja&~~t diaappeartq to tr••••
1a ihe diaiaace.

1.-tal I 19'-1/3 Pga • rt. per PC. • &Yer. • 76 pl••

l r~
61 DISSOLVES

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 #1888
PHONETICS BASED ON U.S. USAGE
SPARTACUS - SPAR/ta•kus
0 LUCIUS POLYBIUS PETRONIUS
.
-
- ~~
LO' ' /shus Po•LIB/ 1•us Pe TRv'ni•us
MARCUS LICINIUS CRASSUS - MAR/kus L1•SIN/1•us KRAS/us
SEPTIMUS PUBLIUS - . SEP"'t1•mus PUB'l1 •us
/ ,. /
LIVIA DRUSILLA - LIV i•~ Dro•SIL A
1
GANNICUS - GAN 1•kua
BRUCULLUS - Bro• KUL/us
LENTULUS BA'l'IATUS -
✓- .
..
LEN tu •lus Ba •TI a•tus
/

LUCANO - tl5°KAN/o
CRIXUS - KRIX!°us
CAIUS - KA'us
SEPTIMUS - SEP/ti•mus
MARCELLUS - Mar•SEL 1us
RAMON - . R~•MON" .
VARINIA · - Va•RI"ni•-a
DRABA' - --
DRA /,ba or DRA/ ba
..
V.ARINIUS GLABRUS ~ ·Va• RI/n1 • us GLA1b~s
HELENA GI.ABRA HErf e • na GJ:,A/bra .
CLAUDIA MARIA KrZ /di• a rdri1 1 ... a.
SEPTIMUS CAIUS. MARIUS. - · SEP/ti•mus KA/us MAR/i•us
ANTATAXES ~ An•ta•TAKS /es -

ANTONINUS · - An.-to Nf{ius

/t- ./
LEN'.I'ULUs · qRACCHUS - ~ U•lus GRAK us·
. PUBLIUS . VARIUS - PU:Bl'i1..:us vAfi/1 •us
.· CAIUs .··METALL;rus - ·. K'i~a•. Me•TA.r l'1-~a
P AR.IBIAN . - Pa• 1frg·/1 •an
:PATROCULus··.FABIUS - ·Pa.TRO~kul-us
It
FA1bi•us
PRAET'ORIAN ( A1iMY) - Pre .To "z-1 • an
VELLEIUS HECT.OR COMMODIUS
P/.TULUS - PA"tu-•lus .
-1 ·
...
/ ' -/-
Ve •LE .us HEK tor Kom• 0 de .us

/
PARABUS: - PA ra•bus
LUCULLUS. IE ;KUL /us

. . .. _,C
 #1888 PAGE 2
PHONETICS BASED ON UoS• USAGE
/_ ti#

CAPUA KAP u.a

METAPONTUM
.. .
Met•a•PON tum
/

COMMODIUS KOM.,,,O<!dUS

LUC'ERIA Lo• SER,, i· a

. / . -✓ ,.. "
DECIUS CAIUS MARIUS DESH us KA us MAR i• us
,,, .. ,,,
PUBLIUS MARCUS PUB li•us MAR kus
CAPITOLINE HILL
,,
KAP i•tO•line
- Hill
,,,
CIRCUS MAXIMUS SEirkus MAK si•mus
woLA No/1a
CORA K0 1ra
TARRA.NTINE BAY .,. ~-. . -
TAR an•tin Bay
BRUNDUSIUM
-~
Brun DU zhi • um

lo PUBLIUS FABIUS CORNELIUS

PICENUM - -/
Pi•SE num
lI QUINTUS FABIUS OPTiltIUS KWIN tus
-/
~ -/
FA bi•US
-/.
/
Op•TIM i•ua
/
ONAEUS POMPEIUS MAGNUS O• NE us Pom • PE us MAG nus
/
LANISTA lan • IS ta
-
- /num
TREBINUM

CIS-ALPINE:
tre-BI
.

.Sis•AL pine
,_

l
i
II .'
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 #1888
PHONETIC KEY
·r'i
4', .,•./
A as in rat
It
A II
fate
., n II
far
-
A
It
A " bear
A a-sound 1s obscured, as in rural
••

E .· as in net
i'. It " meet
a-sound is obscured, as in towel

I as 1n pin
y It II
pine

:, ; ~
....... __/
_
0 as in dog
0 It
" note
n It It'
0 spoon
~ II
" song
.,,0 o-sound i -s ob~cured·, as in actor

u as in up

u fl " . mute

denotes syllable having primary accent

·• denotes d1v1~1on between syllables.
 r·.- . ....... . .. r:-z--··-- ,.... . . . . . ... . ... . ;;;,,,· · ::-· :+- .
. ·; I

~ C #1888 - 2/24/59

In
j • .. . ...... ,
WILD CDT ?OR '!JSE Ill 0
TRAI1Ul-!G HOl!TAGE"

I-
.j
MED. CLOSE SHOT - I?~\LCOlTY - BA~IATUS AJ:rD RAHOH

Ramon is standing besi de his master, stylus and papyrus in

hand, taking dot-m his instructions . Batie.tus is seated.,

I
J
leaning forward on his bands which al:'e folded on the balcony.
He 1s obse:t>ving the SCEITE below with the intent, critical
eye of an expe.t't. Hot once , while be speaks., does he take
b:i.s eyes from the SCElIE below.

BATIATUS
Tbe Lybian ohorsD He'll never do
. for swo:rd-play. Shift him to tbe
sbo%'t daggero
(Ramon writes)
The Ethiopian coesn 1 t even pretend
to defend hir:isel!'. He must. Number
!'iv~ flinches. He must not.
;'
f
Ramon takes the message mechanicallyo The mastel", without ev.on. I
a glance at him, bas ~isen and is now starting for the stairs l

tbat lead to t !;e area below. Ramon burl:'iedly i'ollows. '

i
I'
! I

; I
;i
J:
!; 'I
,'.
,_'
 mdg l
and
~

. . • t

l
l EXT. ROAD - LONG SHOT - CRASSUS AND ESCORT - NIGHT l
(X)
Mounted escort of twelve men and three staff officers. Occa-
sional rumble of THUNDER. No rain but inte.rmittant flashes of
' dazzling sheet l ightning. They ride OUT of FRAME.
DISSOLVE TO

2 EXT. JtI.LL - MATTE - FAVORING CRASSUS 2

{X)
The horsemen pause on crest ot hill. A flash qf lightning
reveals the massed legions several miles below on the broad
plain. The. group MOVES OFF.
DISSOLVE TO
3 3
thru OMITTED thru
5 (X) :5
6 t5
The command headquarters is sheltered by a magnificent tent
patterned in gay colored stripes. Guard of honor stands at
attention as Crasaus and his party pull their sweating, excited
mo~rtts to a halt. They dismount • .crassus, -without a word or
sideglance, moves swiftly up the brief steps to the entrance
of his headquarters, his associates following behind. They
ENTER the tent •.

7 INT. COMMAND HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT 7

Perhaps twenty ranking o.f:f1cers of the army come instantly to
attention as Crassus ENTERS. · Guards and attendants spring into
action. Crassus, without locking directly at his waiting sta£f,
merely says "GENTLEMEN," begins ·to divest himself of his cloak,
gloves etc., keeping in physical action all the while, picking
up a dispatch from one desk , crossing with it as he reads it,
.dropping it on another. When his gloves, helmet and cloak are
removed, he turns to the entire room.
CRASSUS
Have your dispositions been made?
FIRST OFFICER
Each maniple knows its position in
line, sir, and exactly wha.t .1 s expected
of 1t . Every l egion commander has re-
l ceived his battle orders .
l CONTINUED
l
II ..
 "
.. .. .. .. .

Js #1888 3

'li (0 1
7 CONTDruED 7
. ~~
,.......// CRASSUS
Excellent. All positions w
changed. New battle orders
be issued in the morning.
(they react
in surprise)
_Spartacus takes great interest n

I our .plans. At Metapontum he kne

more about Commodius• order of
battle than Commodius himself. \ •I
,I
SECOND OFFICER ;i·'
Conunodius had slaves attached te° iI
his a:rmy·. They betrared his plans. I
I
iI
CRASSUS I
!
True. Yet.· Lentulus had no slaves '
at all with his forces, and still
he lost thirty thousand men.
SECOND OFFICER
He divided his army.
Crassus turns sharply on Second O.fi'icer.
CRASSUS
A blunder is the etrect of something,
never its cause.
(to room in
general)
All rank~ of legion commande.r and
above will Join me in my quarters.
He turns, moves swiftly across room EXITS thro another
doorway. P~rhaps twelve of the officers in th room move
.b ehind him. .

8 INT. · CRASSUS' PERSONAL HEADQUARTERS 8

It 1s richly furnished. A low table is• fl . ed by the
Consular banner and Crassus' own personal ,6anner . The
t ·able contains maps; parchment scrolls, fruit·~ wine, and
the go.lden baton, or .wand, .wh 4ch is the ,symbol cif Crassus'
authority as commander-in-chief. Crass.us begins to ·roam .
the room. He begins to speak before e last of his com-
mander.~ has actually entered. The c anders remain standing,
paying him. the . most painf'ully alert· att.e ntion.
CONTINUED
 . i-- .. ... . . ... ~ . . ., ... .. . .., .

!.
J J.J3 #1888
1 4
I;
8 CONTnroED . \J 8 I

CRASSUS
Nine Roman armies have been destr
by
~ yed
Spartacus because they went out\
o··, \
to fight slaves. Unless I am able\
to persuade you that the enemy we \ •
engage tomorrow consider the.~selves \
£ree men and .fight like free men---\
_then we shall be defeated. And our \
defeat will mean the fall of _Rome. \
He starts across the room toward his carved chair behind the
low table, · pauses, and stabs the air incisively with his
forefinger. · \:,
CRASSUS
The question is !h!§.: why has a

l.
rabble of slaves been able to destroy ,
the best troops the world ever saw? 1
To answer such. a question, you must 1
1
understand that rabble. And most
particularly, you must understand
the man who commands them.
There is an uneasy stirring; muttered affirmat, ves. Crassus
!.lings h11llself into his chair, indicates parchment rolls before

him. CRASSUS J
Experience has taught me the conven-
ience or knowing not~hing about, my
friends and absolutely everything
about my enemies. My informers
range from the gutters of Antioch
to the temple ·of Jupiter in Rome
herself. Since the first beginnings
of this accursed rebellion, they
have concentrated on one man, and
one ·man only--~Spartacus. Before
we move on to tactics I am there-
·fore determined to confront you with
the essence of our problem. With
the man himael~. With Spartacus.
(stares coldly around)
I Is there anyone here who considers
this slave unworthy of his attention?

~
I

l
l
. .
',
No, sir!
Etc.
ROUND OF AD LIBS
. Perfectly right I •••

! ... ~,,,' Crassus ·relaxes once more, sinks far back in his ch~ir. His
eyes assume a faraway gaze, as if he were actually witnessi:ig
and evaluating that which he describes.
j

l
r ~ · ~• .d'.:/Jv,>;,,~"•••.. • .:t.·• ..,,•.• .... • · -•.:..f: .. :f"i:r<:,.,,.,:•· 4 · ..• , ·,• .~---z•'• •·•- r:'11' . . re·, ·, , -« .•
i

ab #1888 5

10 CONTINUED - 10 .i
I
CRASSUS .I
Spartacus is what the Egyptians call i
l
a koruu. That 1s to say, he is in : '
''
the third generation of born slaves.
He was sold from Thrace as a boy into
Egypt. At fourteen he went into the
mines. I've seen those mines • • •
DISSOLVE TO
I
'. 11 FULL WIDE ANGLE EGYPTIAN OR LIBYAN DESERT - HIGH, HOT NOON ll
The desert blazes beneath the sun's direct and shocking rays.
Heat waves distort vision. There is a sense of fever in the
1
air. In the b.g. a jagged rock escarpment frames the end of
a low range of craggy., barren hills. Through the crevices and
over the surface of the escarpment crawls a swarm or male slaves
of varying age, each wearing leg chains but devoid of all other
shackles. They are almost naked. Whip-carrying guards are
'.
1
lI
l
i
stationed at every strategic spot, urging the slaves to great&r
exertion. The slaves, with pick., spike., iron spear and hammer, .I
hack away at the veins or gold-bearing quartz which ribbon the
grey rock of the es.oarpment., and give it all its value.

12 CLOSER SHOT - GROUP OF SLAVES WITH GUARDS 12

The slaves are in the last stages of' physical exhaustion and
their work.ing day is scarcely at the half-way mark. Their
bodies gl1sten · w1th sweat which runs in rivulets down the scar-
troughs that cover their backs and 'buttocks. ·They work bare"foot,
with scarcely more than loincloths for clothing. Their mouths
are dry for lack of water;· their eyes large and wide from inces-
sant suffering. _T.heir ·beards are matted, their bodies scaled
with .filth, for they have not bathed in years. On all sides of
them stand the .guards., prodding a man here, slashing him there
wi~h a: whip. ·
COMMANDS OP GU
Move on to the next!
b~'llm&Pe e¥eP-h~rel
OU Gallic dogl•;r---JL

13 MBD.. SHOT - A-~LAVE BOY ~ . CiJi-2· 13·

Barely in his teens, thin• and emaciated and cov ed with sores,
.h e • struggles f eebly to dislodge a section of rock' ·with his long,
iron-tipped ·s pike. Suddenly the rock come.a loose, crashes down
on h1m ·as he st~~bles. He falls to earth, the rock crushing in
on his midriff'. He SCREAMS. . .
r· ·· · r -··· ·· ··'· .. ,.,,..,.. , .,. i ··•; '-eile7A i
;

l js

14
#1888 ·

ANOTHER ANGLE - BOY - SPARTACUS

6

14
I .<--";
j •• , SPARTACUS is working with his spike perhaps eight feet distant.
He whirls at the SOUND or the CRY,throws down his pike, moves
~ over to the boy, begins to strain against the rock which pins
the victim down.· As he topples the rock, a guard, whip in
I
. i
hand, APPROACHES from b.g. .
GUARD
Back to work, Thracian!
Spartacus, having shoved the rock off, now takes the victim's
~
'
I
~;
head in his arms. The boy SCREAMS again. '
~
ti
15 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS - BOY . 15 ;j
1
SPARTACUS
(softly)
Juat hold still.
yell any more.
And try not to l
.l
t

The boy open~ his eyes, stares up at Spartacus as GUARD rushes.

into SCENE, brings his whip down hard across Spartacus I back.
GUARD
Damn ·you\ Get~ --
Spartacus, his face suffused. with rage, wh1rls from his crouched
position, ·rushes the guard. The guard catches him with the
hard butt-end. of the whip squarely on the skull. Spartacus,
clawing the air, go·es down.

16 CLOSE SHOT - GANNICUS 16

A great, bearded Gaul. He looks ott at ·the struggle, lifts
an enormous rock with his .right hand, draws back to throw it
as a. guard, spotting him, . smashes the butt ot. a pilum over his
head. Gannicus goes down •

17 . CLOSE ON SPARTACUS' HEAD - GUARD'S FEET ON GROUND 17

Spartacus tr~es to· cover himself from the blows. He grabs tor
the guard's .leg. With a ·YELL of· rage, the guard brings the
heavy ·butt ~this whip down against Spartacus• head. Within
six inches ot his head is the guard's sandaled foot. Spartacus
slnks his teeth into the guard's exposed heel in such a way as
to hold the Achille' s tendon between them. He bites down hard.
Guard gives an anguished YELL~

18 ANOTHER ANGLE - SPARTACUS, GUARDS, SLAVES IN B.G. 18

The guard, be.ating Spartacus frantically, tries to hobble to-
ward his • rel lows, dragging Spartacus along behind him .•
CONTINUED
 .. T ' MIF:&:H?Sa· s

js #1888 7

18 CONTINUED 18
·O Helpl Help!
oo~

Other guards rush over, begin to belabor Spartacus, who twists

and writhes over the blows, but keeps his hold on his enemy.
Slaves watch from the corners of their eyes, too frightened to
stop working even when their guards are otherwhere engaged.
Spartacus' guard goes down with a wild SHR~.

Help.I
I
I
•
I
I
l
Other guards arrive. 'Two of them· carry the wounded guard away.
His right ·foot hangs limp. He SOBS uncontrollably.

I'm crippled!
GUARD I
I
Captain of the Guard ENTERS SCENE. Boiling group over Spartacus
separates, and we see Spartacus, panting and barely conscious,
stretched on. the ground.
l
CAPTAm
The Thracian again, eh?
SECOND GUARD
He hamstrung Brucullus.
(indicated Gann1cus)
,Thia one tried to help him.
CA.PJ.'AIN
Tie them up. A hundred l~shes for
the Gaul. The Thracian dies. Wait
till ·sunset . so they can all' see it.
Guards bend down to obey order. Captain, dismissing the whole
business, moves away · from the scene~- CAMERA TRUCKmG with ~im.
He . s.q uints · up at the· sun, · takes a whistle that .hangs around his
throat, blows two ..sharp BLASTS', continues on his way·.

19 FULL SHOT - ESCARPMENT 19

The slaves boil up out of their crevices, guards urging them
to greater speed, following them closely. The slaves fall into
line, ·start off toward the distrib1,1t.ion point for water and
bread, their chains CLANKING. · .
j
!.
20 ANOTHER ANGLB - CAPJ.'AIN OP GUARDS 20 1

In the b.g. guards ar·e doling out a cup of water, a chunk of

bread. to each slave .• · The slaves grab ~he ration, immediately
sit down ~nd greedily begin to eat.. In f .g. Captain is gazing
off 1n some surprise toward:
 ab #1888 8

21 REVERSE ANGLE . END OF ESCARPMENT 21

Coming around the base ot the escarpment, which is e. very

short distance frcm the Captain, ia the• entourage of Lentulus
Batiatus. It consists of Ba.tiatus, mounted on a mule, several
following slaves carrying provisions and water, and two guards
bringing up the rear. It approaches t he Captain.

ANOTHER ANGLE - CAFTA!N

He turns back to the guards.
22
I
The slaves are still being rationed. !
CAPTAIN j
It's Lentu.lus .Batiatua. Hurry i
them up:.
Guards begin urging the line forward, jabbing them with the
butt end or whip, pushing them, commanding them.
GUARDS
All right, faster there.
Move ahead, move ahead!
Etc.

23 ANOI'lJER ANGLE - CAPTAIN - ENTOURAGE OF BATIATUS 23

BATIATUS is tanning himself, an exhausted look on his face. He
is a man of middle weight and middle years, sott as butter from
.good living, and keen as a lmife from acquiring the wherewithal
ror his way of li~e •. Although or lowly origin, he has achieved
the rank of knighthood -- not very much as Roman honors go, but
wh1~h, combined with money, can make a man acceptable anywhere.
With a heavy sigh, patting his beaded brow with a scarf, fannin&
himself exhaustedly,. rolling his eyes heavenward at the bleakness
ot the situation, he steps to the ground .and greets the waiting
Ca.-pta:1.n.
CAPTAIN
Welc.ome Lentulus Batiatus.

Batiatue, despite his air of languorous exhaustion, scarcely

looks at. the Captain; . Instead, he sweeps past him, his eyes
beadily intent upon the squatting line of slaves, toward which
he instantly moves, talking all the while to the Captain,
CAMERA TRUCKS WITH HIM. .
BATIATTJS
f
I'
(fanning selr) .
Welcome, indeed., my dear Captain•!
I 1ve never seen a griniier day,
CONTINUED
;--··· .,. ·• . ·-,.. . .. "" . ... . .. . ·.J · .

~
ab . #1888 9

23 CONTINUED
BATIATUS (Cont'd)
Eleven miles through this disastrous
heat, and the cost of renting an · i i
I ''
escort is absolutely ruinous. Even
so, I'll wager, you've not hing fit
to sell me. I've wasted both time 1r
and money, haven't I, Captain? Now 1·
1,
S2_ tell me the truth for once.
CAPTAmN !/
it
r
(tollowing him) i1
I think we've got several you•ll il'
be interested in.
BA'l'IATUS
{a sigh)
Lying' s such a bad policy.
. (pauses, gestures off)
_These?

24 ANOTHER ANGLE - THE SQ,UA'l'TING SLAVES

Filthy, worn out, exhausted, tearing at their bread like beasts,
slopping their water greedily.

25 MBD. SHOT - BATIATOS, CAPTAIN - SLAVES IN B.G. 25

Batiatus turns to the Captain, his eyes wide and innocent and
shocked.
BATIATUS
carrion. How do they tight orr the
buzzards?
CAPTAIN
Fourth· one down' s not · bad~ He I s
a Gaul. \
f, .
BATIATUS
I'm not fond of Gauls. They're too
hairy.
Re comes up to the slave fourth down, a dessicated giant. He
looks carefully, but swift ly, at every lineament 6£ his almos t
naked body, shaking his head reprovingly.
BATIATUS ·
Can he come t o his fee t unassisted?
CONTINUED 'j

I
I
ab #1888 10

25 CONTINUED 25
II
1
I
CAPTAIN I
(to Gaul)
Get up, Gaul I .I
The Gaul glares at them, wearily rises. Batiatus fastidiously
touches the Gaul 1 s biceps. He shakes his head wearily.
. ,
BATIATUS
Be good enough to let me see his
teeth.
CAPTAIN
( to Gaul)
Open your mouth!
For a moment it appears the Gaul will decline; then a threaten-
ing gesture from the Captain causes him to open his mouth. In-
stantly Batiatus, wi.th his thumb, pulls the lower lip down,
while the thumb of his other hand curls the upper lip toward the
nose. He peers into the mouth right and left, up and down, with
an alert interest that seems what ·1t is; obscene.
. BATIATUS
(examining mouth)
As the teeth go, so go the bones •••
( shocked tones ..=--"'""'·~
This mouth 1s rea y impermissable
He takes his thumbs away# the slave•s mouth goes shut again.
BATIATUS
The fellow's made. of chalk.
CAPTAIN
There I s another.. one down here. that
Batiatus lifts a hand in .pious disclaimer •
.BATIATUS
Perjure yourself no further, Captain.
I'll see for my-self.

TRUCUNG SHOT - BATIATUS .AND CAPTAIN 26

They pass along the lines of crouched slaves, Ba.tiatus shaking

hi~ head sadly all the while.
. BATIATUS
(points):
-
What 1 s this?
He turns away from the line of squatting slaves (all of whom he
has inspected carefully despite his apparent rejection of them)
and moves, CAMERA STILL .TRUCKING, to: .
I
)
ab #1888 ll
I
I.
27 MED. SHOT - SPARTACUS - GANNICUS 27
spread-eagled on a huge rock, their bodies covered with welts,
their legs and arms bound with chains. Batiatus and the Captain
COME INTO THE SCENE. Batiatus regards Spartacus with sharp
interest. Spartacus' eyes are closed; his breath still heaves
from his exertions.
CAPTAIN
The big one 1 s a Gaul. This one 1 s
Thracian. I'm making an example
of him.
Batiatus bends down., his eyes wander over the powerful body or
the Thracian.
BATIATUS
(softly).
What a pity.~ ••
If
28 MED. · CLOSE ON BATIATUS, SPARTACUS, CAPTAIN 1 S LEGS IN SCENE 28 !/
Spartacus• eyes st1.ll closed. Batiatus slides the palm of his
right hand along Spartacus' shoulders, forearm, and thigh. The .
slave's flesh quivers delicately, withdraws in wavelets under
the soft touch, and this must be photographed. Batiatus smiles,
looks up at o.a. Captain!
BATIATUS
You see? He reacts. Good muscle
tone. Have h1m open his mouth.
Captain now _bends down INTO scmm·.
CAPTAIN
Open your mouth, Thracian!
Slowly Spa~tacus opens his eyes. He .glares balefully at
Ba:tiatus., the muse.lea of his jaws lmotted. Batia:tus watche.s
him, his eyes gleaming· .with interest. He snif'fs del_icately.

(wri$11~:T~:t .)
smells like a rhinocerous. ·
(looks . up to Captain
delieately)
The teeth, Captain. You told. him
to open his mQuth. Doean 1 t he
obey y-ou?
CAPTAIN
His teeth are the best thing about
•him. He· hamstrung a guard with them
not more than an hour ago.
CONTINUED

' .I
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·· ~..:.:................._____.~----........~-~~..........__._~......____~
.. ... ,. ·• ••.... ... . . ~ --....--..........................,
,,
I
Js #1888 - Changes l/22/59 12 ? '
l.
J I
I
• 28 CONTINUED 28 I:
Batiatus looks from guard back to Spartacus·.
BATIATUS
(enchanted) .
Hamstrung? How marvelous! I'll
take him.
( to Spartacus)
You're an ugly brute, but if you
please me, I'll give you anything
you want. •
(pause; very softly)
What -9.2. you want, slave? i

Spartacus almost spits th.e word out---his ~~aponse is not a

request, it is derision born of hate.
SPARTACUS
I
d
•!
1
Fr.eedoml ;
'
Guard laughs; Batiatus shrugs. I
BATIATUS
You'll have it. Day after day I
promise you one moment of choice.
And where youli'ave choice, you
have..freedom.
As Spartacus glares at hi.a new master, we

29 THE DESERT - NEAR SUNSET - ENTOURAGE OF BATIATUS - LONG SHOT 29

It is moving across the many-colored sunset desert---Batiatus,
mounted guards and aoldiers---all on horseback. Behind the!r
owner, chained together through metal collars, are perhaps
~en slaves.

30 MED. TRUCK.ING SHOT FAVORING BATIATUS 30

Batiatus takes a bottle o·f wine from his saddle-bag, drinks
deeply at it. Then he takes a look at the setting sun,
calculating the time. Next he looks rearward, shrewdly
estimates the capacity o~ his sweaty, sullen acquisitions.
He turns back, calls forward to·lead guard.

BATIATUS
Faster, up there I It I s almost
( \ nigh.t fall.
\

CONTDTTJED

I
r ·· ~ .-.~~~·••"' .,;,-..
:-ie s' a-t e e tic k EE if re zM'. · · •·.
:E l !
~

1,
l: :
l •

#1888 - Changes 1/22/59 l

Js

30
CONTINUED
LEAD GUARD
( turning back) .
Are you sure it won 1 t destroy
their wind?

I. BATIATUS
They don't need wind, they need
strong legs.
I
Lead guard spurs his horse, as do all behind. i
I

30-A FULL TRUCKING SHOT - THE SLAVES BEHIND 30-A t

Exhausted though they are, the pace now compels them to
break into a slow run. We see Spartacus and Ganni~us
among them.
I
i
~
I
}
DISSOLVE TO «
\
!
!
t
?,.'
 my #1888 13
•
J
r -(",.
·'
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"· ...:;;:;-- ..
;
31 EXT. courvTRYSIDE - F'ULL S.HOT -
NEAR CAPUA - DAY .
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BATIATTJS - 31
,I
• ' i
We see the imposing resid,ence of the owner, a typical Roman coun- 1
try-seat, but different than most in that it is connected to all I:

its outbuildings by high walls. To the left of the residence. •

massive gates give onto a thick-walled alleyway which, in its ::1
I: own turn, opens onto the grounds beyond; invisible from our angl'e. ' '
Guards in the uniform of the garrison of Capua are stationed on ·I
either side of the front door to the residence. and half a dozen i
are stationed by the gates, wl)ich swing open as Batiatus and his ·: I
string of newly purchased slaves approach the establishment. i
Be.tiatus is carried in a litter by e;ight slaves, preceded by two •
mounted guards. Behind his litter sµuffle perhaps twenty male !j
slaves, all strong men in · thei r pri~, shackled by leg-chains.
Other guards on foot · walk alongside t\1,e slaves. The srr1all pro-
. cession begins to· pass through the o gates to th~ left of the
res idence .

FULL SHOT - AT GATES - PASSING THROUGH 32

i

In b . g . we see household dignitaries lined up to welconte their·

returning master. The slaves, among whom w~ observe Spartacus.
,.
'i
i
and Gannicus, look at the ~assive walls or ~~e enclosure through
which they pass , exchange inquir~ng glances \ongst themselves.

33 TRUCKING SHOT - BATIATUS AND SLAVES \ 33

They pass down the narrow. high-walled passageway toward a gate
cut through the right hand wall which gives onto the principal
enclosure of the c9rr1pound. Batiatus and his gua-pds turn into .
the gate • . Slave s, herded by guards , obediently follow.

34 TRA.INING AREA
.
~ GLADIATORUL SCHOOL - CAPUA - J L SHOT. - DAY
i
I
3!i :
Batiatus and his charges arrive at the point ·where MARCELLUS ,
t he.· school's head trai.rier, RAMON, the majordomo .and accountant,
guards and household slaves, . a.re lined up ·to gr~et the master ,
As Batiatus' litter comes to a ·stop, and. is geqtly lowe r ed to
the ground, Marcellus and Ramon - step rorw:ard, ~a\ h bowing.

GUARD O , S. . ;\ i°'-
Hal tt \

35 ANOTHER _ANGLE .- THE SLAVES IN' CHAINS 35

They . shuffle to a stop , their wide eyes ,-staring off in surprise,
wonderment, or horror to b. g·. scenes wnich tell them at last what
their fate is to· be. _,.,"
 I
!
gl #1888 - Changes 2/2/59 14
,./:
36 ANOTHER ANGLE - POINT OP VIEW - .SLAVES 36 : ;
:
The training area consists o!' a large open arena, above 'llh1ch
stands a high pavilion for spectators. Opposite it is a long
barred cage, and behind the cage, the area which contains
gladiators• ce~ls. To the left 1s
the kitchen. In the area a
group· ot gladiators is engaged in training under the watchful
eyes ot guards, responding energetically to the SHOUTS and
ORDERS or their conditioners. Various apparatuses are seen
{not 1n detail). (X)
BATIATUS O.S.
Ah gentlemen, gentlemen!

37 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING BATIATUS, MARCELLUS, RAMON - NEW 37

. SLAVES IN B.O.

Batiatus•, Just descended, extends a limp hand to Eamon, who

kisses it fervently.

BATIATUS
How very good or you to receive me .
(to Marcellus,
indicating slaves) .
Well. there they are, Marcellus. A
dirty lot~ but the best I could do.
Marcellus 1a a squat, powerful, dehumanized brute, clad in
leather and mail, whip, brass knuckles and dagger hanging .from
his broad brasa-studded belt. A former gladiator himselt, hi.s
tace and arms are covered with the scars ot combat. His

MARCELLUS
I've seen worse. And better. (X) ,

BATIATUS
{gently) .
· All .I •.ve ever askec1 .ia that you. 40
1. your best. ·\
(turns toward slaves.) \
And ~ou, .slaves .-- I ask the best \
trom you also, You have arrived \ J""'\
at the glaalatorial school 0£ Capua. \ l
Here you will be. trained by experts ,:
to t'1ght 1n matched pairs. To the ·~'.",. • ·, _
death. '-... 1 \ '-J,..\
(stir among newcomers) '\ \{
I Compose yourselves. Obviously we
shan't t'ight _you to the death here. ) ·
That will oacur after you•re sold.
\ ·i
/
And only for the edification of /
ladies and gentlemen ot quality.
I congratulate _you.
i
CONTINUED
r · ·• ___ ._.,._ _
cl #1888. Changes 2/10/59 15

37 CONTINUED 37
BATIATUS (Cont'd)
(pause)
_A pproximately half the graduates
of our school live on into their
forties. Some of them even gain
their freedom~ and become trainers
themselves. Eh, ~.arcellus?
(Marcellus leers)
A trained gladiator is like a · f'ine
stallion. Re must be pampered. You
will be bathed and shaved, conditioned
and oiled and massaged. (X)
(touches Marcellus'
cauda)
You will be given your caudas. You
will be warmly clothed, and your
food will be the best money can buy.
(smirk)
At certain intervals you will even
be given the ·companionship of a girl.
(to Marcellus, indi- \
cating Spartacus) 'Il
Watch the fifth from the end. He's
a Thracian. They were going to kill !
· h1m for hamst ringing a guard.

MARCELLUS
We'll break him cf that.
BATIATUS
(to Ramon)
Well, you sly Greek dog -- let's go I' ,
to the ho.use and have a look at the
books. I could hear you diddling
them all the way to Alexandria.
{starts . out of scene )
And has !12. one the dec~ncy to offer
me a cup of Wl.ne'?
He EXITS, FOLLOWED by Ramon.
MARCELLUS
(to all of them)
All I want is for you to get along
with me.
( goes up- to Spartacus:)
What's your name, slaye?
SPARTACUS
(spitting i t )
Spartacus ..... ·slave.
Marcellus stares hard at him for an instant, then gestures with
his head to a guard. · :I
MARCELLUS
Unchain h im.
CONTih'UED

.. J
~ ,;,i.,i D e ~~;j,lo_)A,~.it;-,_ •• _ ,. ,, ( 4'"ai £TC ..'- ·e ·,; d -! - •
• .., • ... &a- a ..♦. - · --- ?:: 15:i'" • 1f..f5::& .
0
i
I

eva #1888 - Changes 2/3/59 16

37 CONTI~1JED - 2 37
{X )
Guard steps forward, takes chain from Spartacus' iron collar.
MARCELLUS
Give him your sword.
Guard draws his long sword, gives it to Spartacus, who reacts
w~th the quick suspicious. inquiring glances of an animal.
Marcellus draws the short eight-inch dagger from his belt.

f) MARCELLUS

. ·, 6 This 1s the only fair chance you'll

. _ ever have) Kill me. ..
Spartacus' grip tightens on the sword, he hesitates, then leaps
forward, thrusts viciously with his sword. The routine of this
tight has been worked out elsewhere in detail.. It is simply a
demonstration of the trained gladiator's marvellous skill, not
only in evadin~ in'jury and defending himself with a dagger
against the long sword, but also his ability to inflict terrible
damage on bis opponent. Marcellus only pricks the wildly swing-
ing Spartacus with his dagger, but each tiny skin-break could . be
a death blow. Most of the punishment he administers with his
feet, knees, hips, his free fist, or the broad ed ge of his hand
which finally cho~s down across the back of Spartacus' neck like
an axe.
Panting, bleeding, . exhausted, and now stunned, Spartacus sprawls
at Marcellus' feet. Marce llus looks down at him contemptuously,
then nods to .the guards . Guards come forward; one retrieves t he
sword that has fallen from Spartacus' hand; the other hauls him
to his reet, snaps the chain to his collar. · As the guard re-
leases him, Spartacus, conscious but practically paralyzed,
begins to sag. CRIXUS, the slave next to him, a young man of
thirty with the fierce eyes oi' a hawk, takes Spartacus I a.rm to
keep hirn on his .feet. Wlthout a secon.d· glance at his :victim, . i

Marcellus turns to the others. 1\ ,l· ~ ( ,. ·'\ '\ · \ '·( : i

t !.\ ' ~\.,. • .) I C :\ 't J ' . I
. . . MARCELLUS ,j'J
·cdeadly .f-eroc i ty)
\ • I

Dt ·-\
r'~ ·,\ {f\ l '~ · \ ' ·
!\.. " ' ' . . \ ·•\~I, c\,l...':v 1 \ ·.
Ge.t · along with me. That• s all I say. 1 -. , , \ 0

Get alo(g with me! '- •,' . ...,_

~~ th!~ ~~.r ds) f\(\;_<~~l_\\tY

\ .,_ v\..
Guards leap into action. :~\',;.: .,
GUARDS
All right, now! Get along there!
Mareh!
38 OMITTED 38
39 REVERSE ANGLE - THE SLAVES .39
( X)
:Prodded by their guard~, t he y move rearward toward the gladi -
atorial qu,arters.
DISSOLVE TO . '
:!
. _ __ ,j
 I
#1888 - Changes 7/10/ 59 16•·A · 1

INT. STEAM ROOM - DAY - SPARTACUS, DIONYSIUS, CRIXUS,

DRABA, DAVID THE JEW
They are in vario~s stat es of dress or undress, washing them-
selves in the great central basin, etc.
I· DAVID
I You did the right thing. Every once
in a while Marcellus likes to kill
a man as an example. I think he I s
picked you. Watch out for him.
SPARTACUS
What's your name?
DAVID
David.
SPARTACUS
How long have you been here?
DAVID
Six_ months.

. DIONYSIUS
I wis h he 1 d pick -me. I want just
one chance at him before they carry .,
me out of here.•
t
Guard 1 s VOICE O.S.
GUARD
No talking.
CRIXUS
(disgustedly)
Diot\ysius, you always talk too
much. You'll get us -all in trouble •••
jus.t like- in the • mines.
Spartacus, who has been lis.tening intently, walks over to
·Draba.

SPARTACUS
(to Draba)
How l .o ng have ,you been here?
.Draba. doesn't answer.
SPARTACUS
(puzzled )
I'm from Thrace, wher e do you come
f'rom?
An air of sull enness seems t o settle over everybody in t he
scene. CONTIMUED

.J
 ,-- J .

ha #1888 - Changes 7/10/59

40 · CONTINUED
DRABA
. (tla tly}
. I don 1t want to know anything about
you.
SPARTACUS
·· "(shrugs)
Just trying to be friendly.
DRABA
.rust stay away from me. Because
if we 1 re ever matched out there in
the arena, I 1m going to have to
kill yciu. Gladiators make no
friends • .
He ~urns, strides out of scene.
DISSOLVE TO

i
iI
.;
i
iI ! '!
ii
I
:
(
,I
i
I r ll
: :
 - .,. ...., . . - . ·er j , • •

mdg · #1888 - cnan.ges 7/10/59 17

(X)

41 INT. CORRIDOR BETWEEN GLADIATORS' CELLS NIGHT 41

It 1s a narrow stone corridor, lined up on either side with ·
heavy, rough-hewn, bar-locked doors which give onto the gladi-
ators1 · 1ndividual cells. Down . the corridor, headed by Marcellus
who supervises the operation by the light of slave-borne torches,
come guards herding slave girls. The girls are dressed in
simple home-spun dresses -- actually sacks. They are bare-
legged, bare-foot. Their hands are tied behind them. Cell
doors are opened right and lert, and a girl is thrust uncere-
moniously through each door; after wh1ch the door is swiftly
locked and-barred again. The girls, thrust about like sacks 01'
grain, say nothing, make no protest • . They know their rate, and
are accustomed to 1 t. · But the1r 1'ace.s, their eyes, are dead,
utterly devoid of. emotion. ·

MED. SHOT. FAVORING BATIAT"JS 42.

He stands alone, watching benignly as the girls shu.ffle past
him. Var1nia appears in the line. Re reaches out, takes her
arm, disengages her from the line,

43 CLOSE SHOT - BATIATUS, VARINIA

Batiatus extends his right hand reproachfully.
-BAT!ATUS
Observe. The kindly hand that · reeds
you. Nipped beyot.d recognition.
(she stares at the
hand; no reaction)
Have you nothing to say? No word of
p~ty? No remorse?
(she hae none)
Very well. I've f.ound a ~reature
who sh~~e9 your 'beastly appetites.
Come along •
. He takes her arm, starts down passage· with her, motioning to .;,,
{. Marcellus as he goes.. CAMERA trucks with them to: \.,

44 SPARTACUS' .CELL DOOR - MARCELLUS, BATIATUS, VARINIA 44

·Marcellus unbolts the door, throws it open.
INT. SPARTACUS' CELL - FULL SHOT
.
Spartacus glares at the three who stand in the open doorway.
BATIATUS
I bring you a g1£t, Spartacus.
. (pushes Var!riia i:1to
the cell ·r-.:,ughlY) ·
Beware of her. She bites too·.
Re steps backward into th~ passage; the g.oor slams. shut.
 r,.,. . . . . ...
'
, , ; , .«~....~- .. ··-·-·~-··~ ...........
...____..........___. . . . . . . , _ . . _ _ , , _ _ . . . . . . . . . _ ~ - " " ' - - - ' " ' - - - - ~.............- .. ·······- . . .·. .··-·
~ .... ·--·-· . . ...·-.·-
. ·... ....
,,_
,~~ ·~-...........
. ... . ~ - -~

mag-· 18
(X)
45 CLOSE ON SPARTACvS 45
He has not mo ve•:: a muacl,e since the a.ppearance of Batiatus
with 'larir::!.a . No•,,;, alcne with her, he remains seated on his
stool, his l -oc.y ti:nGe as that of a wild creature which has
seen, for the £irst ~lme and race to face, the shocking, unex-
pected figu~ e of a man. nis eyes stare out at her with the
most urgent inquiry; th.ay flicker like serpents• tongues over
every aspect of her body. Occasionally he may even stare away
from her, at the floor> o::- toward the wall, as if trying to
evaluate and understand her presence without her immediate I
I
image 1n his retinas to dec~1ve or baffle him. I
!
46 · CLOSE ON VARINIA
She stands almost midway between door and Spartacus, where the t
impact or Batiatus 1 thrust has sent her. She gazes squarely
at Spartacus, her eyes cold and knowing and remote . She knows
what is in store for her; she proposes to resist or outwit him
if and as long as she can; a.~d, when her strength is gone, to
•yield to him coldly, emotionlessly, and without surrender. A
flicker of curiosity creases her forehead as she observe~ him.
b~rore her, so at111, his eyes so filled with questions.

ANOTHER AliOLE - SPARTACUS AND VARINIA 47

Slowly he r ise s, approa.~he.s her from one side, almost sniffing
the air, almost listening for her slightest reaction . She
stiffens impe~ceptibly, preparing herself for what she knows
must come. Spartacus comes very close to her.

48 MED. CL-OSE SHOT - SPARTACUS 48

He has never seen such beauty so close at hand. Her loveliness
stuns him, !ills him with wonderment and unbelie!' and .something
. ~lose to fear. He simply can.~ot comp~ehend her presence, nor
wll~l't 1 t implies. · Abruptly hia eyes ·turn !'loorward to:
;I
49 CLOSE UP - VARNIA ' S BAP..E FEET - FROM SPARTACUS' P. o.v.
CAMERA slowly ?ANS upward 1n CLOSE uP~ examining her parts as
1 they come i~to view, lingeri~g her~, yearning for a moment
there, fir.ally completing the tour with the slim column of ' her
throat and t hen:
I
I
1
50 CLOSE UP - VA...-qINIA 50
Her e·yes watch h!.m as alertly as if he were some deadly snake : ~
\ .., .,,/i
which at ar.y m0-r::ent is cat:"ehle of sudden death. But behind 'i
I
her wat ch!.';l.i ness is a growing ques tic:1, a growing doubt and
curiosi ty --- perhaps -=Ven a growing hope.
r"t "Ci:t wo·5,;.z,~ ,5; ··- ,_, £ ·-·-••wr••--···rnr· · r:- mm ....
I
!

#IB88 - Change·s 3/6/59

MED. CLOSE SHOT - VARINIA AND SPARTACUS 5·0-A •i

Slowly he reaches out w~th the flat of his hand, barely !j

touches her hair. At the instant of contact his hand flies
backward two or three inches, as if burnt. Then the hand
comes forward again, not flat this time, but with finger-
tips distended like the antennae of' an inset . . With the utmost
caution, with the most exquisite delicacy, his finger-tips
touch the skin or her cheek, move slowly, downward to the side
of h~r throat, where they pause for a moment and withdraw. He
looks from her throat to his fingertips, and then into her eyes.
His face mirrors.a struggle of confli cting emotions: fear,
desire, wonder almost to the point 0£ worship, eagerness ---
·and shame. He shakes his head once or twice, tries ~o find I
his voice. 1t
,........, (
SPARTACUS ~ ~)Ii ,,!,
(huskily, softly, a / \~ I

cry of hunger, a n /
.,.4! appeal for help ~ )t ·.. \
I --- I --- I've never ~ a woman -- I
Her eyes widen wi.th surprise. She makes no other movement,
for suddenly their moment of recognition :'..s interrupted by tire,-.
obscene GIGGLE of Bat1atus o.s. Spartacus freezes, his head

, 50-B
swiveling toward the SOUND, until he discovers:

THE GRILL IN CEILING -:ABOVE - FROM. SPARTACUS 1 P.o.v.

I Batiatus, Marcellus and the guard are watching, all of them

convulsed by the shameful confession they've overheard.

50-C ANOTHER ANGLE - INCLUDING SPARTACUS, VARINIA, 'GROUP· AT 50-C i

GRILL .
:J
•J
Spartacus 1s still st.a r1.ng upward, hatred freezing on his
face. Varinia· watches only Spartacus.
.,
BATIATUS . }
(softly.) :. t
Now that you do have one, you must ~ ;
'', I ,,
take her. What will she think of
you? Indeed, what shall I think l;
of you? - (X) L
l
Spartacus still glares up at his tormentors, dazed and unbe-
lieving. All three at the grill ' involuntarily duck . Spartacus
if
: .
takes the stool which falls back at his feet, -Jumps onto it,
leaps convulsively toward the bars, hangs dangling in air, .
held by a single hand clenched to the bar., while the other i s
thrust between the bars, blindly groping for throat e . '• 'i
' I
' ,,
CONTINUED

.:
j
l
 + ; •• . . ,., .. . ..
. :XZ'.15 77" ·ts:n · 1
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/6/59
: .
''
,, i ( ;
50-C CONTINUED
~ ( ··•·······
SPARTACUS
'
{gasping) l
I'll kill youl
:/
Marcellus' boot comes down on the doubled fist . that keeps ·f
Spartacus aloft. Instantly he crashes to the floor. Batiatus l
peers down as he struggles to his feet.

(gently)
BATIATUS
Direct your courage to the wo~~n,
Spartacus.
,•
l
As Spartacus scrambles to his feet, all three faces disappear
£rem the grill above.

50-D MED. SHOT - SPARTACUS AND VARNINIA 50-D

Spartacus, panting, his hand bleeding, turns from the grill
to face Var1n1a • . He shakea his head fiercely.
SPARTACUS
(barely a whisper)
I'm not an animal!
A ripple 0£ physical 're1.1ef' passes through Var1n1a 1 s body.
Her surprised, unbelieving eyes examine every line of his
pale, tight face. A smile touches her lips.
VARINIA
(softly)
Neither am I ...
A hot, anguished· torrent of shame for his confession causes
.him to avert his face, even, .perhaps, to cover 1 t from her
- ~y~s.
. · SPART~
(th1ckl~
~ b o r n a slave. I was
e~ y:~~S'\_old when they --- when
~ jL__hl pped me to the mines. I
.
they---· I never
(a ges ture of help- ,.,,,,-
less11ess, both arms ,.. ,
extended; a cry. of ..- , "
t'ury subdued to an (-<'-1:,
agonized whisper).-~ . ·
" I
:~~o_:_-j- I've r.eve~d --- a

CONTINUED
 ri:f --- · ~ ,5· =;;;;:~<£1W-+t ¥i'U«?6 . . . ..t· itc'· -· «;. $ 1 ' •••. • ,. • • • • - A· j ' t •· ,.., • . ,. •.•.. • ... _ ,., : ·sr:~····· · ·····r·m:c:r:z: " .,.., ...,. o - r · · m:r- -- · ..w,·· .. I
l

2-0-A I, ,
(l
mdg #1888 - 6/8/59 - ~~ian;_, ... ;.;
Ii
50-D CONTINUED 50-D I
For a moment he le t s her look full at the nakedness of his
life. Then he turns away. During this shamed explanation,
a look of infinite pity has come to Var1nia 1 s face. With a
swift, birdli ke movement, she reaches out, touches his shoul-
der in a delicate gesture of sympathy, of consolation. It is
her touch which causes him to turn to her, this time without
shame. His eyes frankly drink in her l oveliness. , He shakes
pis head. He smiles. A long, quivering sigh pronounces his
i recovery from crisis. Miraculously, she smiles back at hi m.
At this moment the door opens to admit Batiatus and Marcellus.
j. Both of them whirl as the cell door opens.
BATIATUS
Marcellus take her out.
Marcellus se·1 zes her, starts out with her.
BATIATUS
. (to Spartacus)
Perhaps you may not be an animal,
Spartacus, but this sorry show gives
me little hope you'll ever be a
man.
Batiatus EXITS, and the door closes behind him barely in time
to save hi~ from the lunge which hurls the gladiator ful l
. tor~e against the door ...
DISSOLVE TO

;
I .

\
I
 gl #1888 - Changes 2/3/59 21

I
51 EXT. EXERCISE GROUNDS - GLADIATORIAL SCHOOL - FULL SHOT - DAY ~l
( X)
In the far b.g. we SEE a twin line ot experienced gladiators,
clad in the uniforms ot their profession with the right-arm
I
j
guards, violently feinting and thrusting with wooden swords.
Trainers watch; guards are in evidence everywhere. There is
a closer o .s. SOUND OF FEET beating against the earth in unison.
In. the r.g. we see our newly arrived gladiators working with
H
,,
the blade machine and the mechanical shield-and-mace. Marcellus ,
I _
is 1n charge, watcping them closely. The great blades are ii
sheathed with padded leather; nonetheless they are still able {
to send a man spinning to the earth 1f he misses a leap, or I1
tails on the next turn, to duck and let the blade pass over
him. Spartacus 1s not in scene. WHISTLE BLOWS. The two
machines lumber to a halt. ·The trainees, their bodies running
with sweat, their breath coming in gasps, line up under the
prodding or the guards: ·· Marcellus .faces them.
MARCELLUS
Pay attention to this.. I 1 111 only
going through it once.
Spartacus, in _charge ot two guards, is thrust INTO scene. He
is clad only 1n breech-cloth. His naked body has been marked
ott:, like a map, in various colors. Marcellus draws his sword.
During the ~ollowing scene, as he indica tes on Spartacus' body
those anatomical details which are important, he lightly flicks
the skin with his swordtip. Sometimes the flick merely tickles;
sometimes it draws a tiny bead of blood; sometimes it cuts
deeper. Spartacus, his race pale with rage, refuses to move
a muscle. His eyes remain through scene fixed in a glare of
hatred upon Marcellus• ·race.
MARCELLUS
You get an instant kill. on the red.
· (touches red with
his sword}
Here---here-~-here---here---and here.
Slow kill, yellow: here---here---
here---here---here---here·. Cripple
on the blue: here---here---here---
here---here---here---her.e---and
sometimes here.
Batiatu-s ENTERS quiet-ly from behind •.
MARCELLUS
Always _go for the red. If you don't,
your opponent will. Second rule:
try ror a cripple over a slow kill .
A slow kill may have enough left to .l
kill you before he dies. A cripple
you lalow you've got if you keep
your<ITstance and wear him down.
The rest-~- ·
CONTINUED
 - --- -·- :]
gl #1888 - Changes 2/ 3/ 59 22 ! .'.
i i
i:
I >
51 CONTINUED ·51 l ·
(X)
MARCELLUS (Cont'd) .: ·i
(indicates other body I
areas with sword )
- 1s all right tor a public spectacle
in Rome, but . in Capua we expect more
than simple butchery. We get it, t oo.

52 OMITTED 52

53 MED. REVERSE SHOT - VARINIA 53 /I

She• 1s barefoot, 1n kitchen rags, carrying across her shoulders i
a yolk from which two wooden pails or water are suspended.
Despite her burden, her head 1s held high, and her gait is· "
that o~ a young goddess. j
54 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS 54 r
j

I His eyes tollow Varinia hungrily. fi

MARCELLUS' VOICE i:
(
(sharply, o.a.) !
! Thracian•, .r

I
)
Spartacus' head snaps back to: -
II
55 ANOTHER ANGLE - SPARTACUS IN LINE - MARCELLUS - BATIATUS IN
B.G.,
.,..,
, MARCELLUS 1.
(taunti ngly) ·· J:
What are you looking at that girl i:
· tor?
Spartacus doesn't answer; Varinia. in b.g. hastens her ste?,
BATIATUS .
Don't tease . him, Marcellus. He's
a .house slave at heart.
MARCELLUS
(sharply)
Stand still, girl!
Varinia treezes, but scorns to look at he r tormentor.
i
.I MARCELLUS
(to Spii!,rtacus )
All right, he ro~ Ir all you can do
with girls is look at theµi---then
look!
CONTINUED

,_j
 >> 1 · - ·• . • . itc:rif Z ·1 . ., :C . .. , •• .. . • ' • C' · t t
·x:rrtt
' - l li<Tt': f
23 f..' I'
t gl #1888 - Chang~s 6/1/59 thru
24-B
,,---\ 55 CONTINUED
I .
! L / ' MARCELLUS (Cont 1 d)
(to · other guards}
I
J
Take the rest for a ·. hundred rounds at
·a job.. Finish with twenty on the run.
I (to aide) j
Check their legs, when they• ve finished.
Aide nods. Others, with guards, start OUT OF SCENE. Varinia
in b..-g. quietly starts to exit.
MARCELLUS
(sharply)
Hold it, girll
(she f reezes; he
turns to Spartacus;
very so!'tly) ·
Keep on looking ••• slave.

Spartacus, rigid with fury and humilia t ion, stares off to

Varinia, who stands tall and straight a~d aloof, showing no
emotion at all. ·

DISSOLVE TO
56 INT. SPARTACUS' CELL - NIGHT 56
Ille cell door opens, Spartacus rises. One or two guards
appear with Varinia in tow. She looks across at him, her face
'blank of any emotion. · The 'humiliation of being disposed of'
like an animal permits no emotion; · she simply withdr•aws from
·J
herself, ~emoves herself from her body , so to speak, so that
it is not she at all who is being deal t with, but some strang er,
some other person altogether. Spartacus stares at her, almost
wild with the wonder t hat she should be bestowed uuon him a
second 'time. •
Marcellus APPEARS in b.g. of doorway.
MARCELLUS
No, no , thi s one go es to the Spaniard.
(guards instantly
remove Varinia .
trqm scene; Marcellus
grins · at Spartacus) .J
Have a good night's rest, Thracian.

'
I

'
Spartacus Lunges for him. With a soft laugh, Marcellus side-
steps, slams the cell door. Spartacus crashes into the door.
DISSOLVE TO
57
thru . OMITTED 57
57;..E th!'ti
57-£
 eva #1888 25
' '
.58 EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - DAY - BARRED CAGES IN B.G. - .58 iJ
BLADE MACHINE . (X} ~, Ii
The new gladiators -- Spartacus, Gannious and Crixus among them I.
'I .'
-- are lined up before machine. Guards are peeling off the :1
padded· leather she·a ths, revealing the naked -blades, razor-sharp . '
on either edge, glistening cNelly in the sunlight. Marcellus
watches the gladiators, a thin smile touching his lips. The
gladiators glance at the blades, and at each other. A terrible,
eXpectant silence falls over them. The sheaths are now oft.
Marcellus blows his WHISTLE. The giant blades begin to turn,
slowly at first, then faster. Marcellus gives an approving nod.
He turns to trainees. He blows WHISTLE again. The. first pair
disengage themselves from the line. They move reluctantly into
opposite posi ti.o ns at the circuznf'erence ot the blades' path. /.
Then, crouched low, they rl.ln into the pattern, alternately duck- fi
ing and leaping as the blades revolve. WHISTLE. They run out. H
I•

Ii
Two more trainees step rorth,. move into the pattern. A moment of !:
duoking and leaping -- and one of them miscalculates. A terrible •;
SCREAM rends the silence. The man fal·l s to the ground. WHISTLE.
I The ·s econd man runs out of the pattel"n.

I Move him out!

MARCELLUS
(to guards)

Guards, creeping on their bellies, enter the pattern beneath the

whirling blades, r ~move,the fallen man. WHISTLE.
MARCELLUS
Next pair!
Spartacus and Gannicus disengage themselves, approach the circurn-
.ferenoe. They run into t:he pattern. They duck and leap alter-
nately.

58-A CLOSE ON MARCELLUS

MARCELLUS
( to slaves
turning blades)
Faster! ' • I
.I
- i

l! 58-B CLOSE ON -GANNICUS

over and under, as the blades tlash by.
58-B
:

J
58-C CLOSE ON SPARTACUS
race beaded with sweat, rigid with terrible concentration,
58-C I·'
leaping and ducking.
DISSOLVE TO
 • ¢,' •. ~ 'i . ? t • ., .. ¥ •• e .....;,,g..;.;. e ;
- f

r.:ci i .l
thru
eve. #1888 - Changes 2/3/59 30
i
I •
!

I :
.58-D EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - DAY - COLUMN OF TRAUl'EES ,58-D
among them Spartacus. They are jogging around the arena, guards
attentive.

ANOTHER ANGLE - VARIN!A 58-E

(X)
She is pulling a hand-cart loaded high with squashes. Her ·
position is such that the curve of the jogging men is for a short /I1·
time parallel to her course. Spart.acus passes by on the Jog. I/1 ·
With a grin he seizes her cart, drags it along with hirn ror a jl;
distance. Guards, on other side of oolUilln, cannot see. Varinia j;
gasps indignantly, runs after her cart. Spartacus laughs. d

DISSOLVE TO

58-F CLOSE ON WOODEN SWORDS 58-F

(X)
with leather tips bein~ 1-nserted 1n a box of lamp-black.

.59
tb.ru
CAMERA PULLS BACK TO:

OMITTED 59
thru r'
I3

63 63 ,::
}
•
~

64 EXT. MAIN TRAINING· AREA - DAY - FULL SHOT 64, '

The arena swarms with guards, attendants, trainers; who are here
shaping up the full man-power of the gladiatorial school in
various areas. Most of these are experieno ed gladiators, at ti-red ,·
in the conventional dress of the arena, including the leather
sword-a.rm pad. All a~e a:rmed with wooden swords, the edges of
which have now been heavily tipped with la."Tlp-black, or soot.

\ •,.... , / : i
. I
!
.I
·i
 I , , c~- •~• - --, : - •: •: e-,- ··
-ii
, JS #1888
31
I
\-1

65 MED. FULL SHOT· - TRAINEES 6s .I

For the first time we see them in the traditional garb ot their
profession. Under the watchful eye of Marcellus> and at the
command 0£ his WHISTLE, they file by guards to receive, for the
first t1me, . the1r leather sword-arm pads.
MARCELLUS
Fasten them on so they stay I Ir
7our sword arm's crippled in a
matched pair, we have to replace
you with a fresh man. That costs
mone:r. You I ve got to take ~
ot yourselves!
(blows WISTLE)
Shape upl
Other WHISTLES blow in other parts of arena; in b.g. we SEE
other gladiators falling into line.
:I
f:
66 FU'LL SHOT - ·Tlm ARENA - DAY 66 .!
.,
The entire gladiatorial personnel or the school now £ace each !
other in two parallel lines, about twenty teet separating them.
Guards are everywhere •

67
.
MED. CLOSE SHOT - MARCELLUS, GUARDS, BATIATUS 67
They are watching.
MARCXLLUS
(qu1etl~)
Now we•·11 see how they do against
protessionals.
· (blows WHISTLE again)
Up .and down the lines ring the SHOUTS ot the guards.
J
!
I
68 FULL SHOT - ARENA - DAY 68
I. The two lines charge at a dead run, · each man engaging his
opposite number as they come t .o close quarters. In an instant
the field becomes a boiling sc~ne of struggle, none the less
serious for the ract that the swords are of wood. Basically?
these meh are fighting for their lives, and they take the work
seriously. ·

69 MED, GROUP SHOT - GLADIATORS

.At· close quarters, using every trick or their deadly trade,
guards leaping in and out ct the foray, watching alertly. The
black sword-tips mark wher~ _thrusts have been successful by
leaving smudges en the rec~p1ent 1 s body.
 gl #1888 - Changes 2/3/59 32

70 MED. CLOSE SHOT - GANNICUS AND DAVID. THE .JEW 70

DAVID. THE JEW, a powerful man in his thirties, with keen in-
telligent eyes and a black beard, rends Gannicus off with cool,
professional skill. Gannicus• rushes are almost overwhelmL"lg

I
in their ferocity.

71 ANOTHER ANGLE - CRIXUS AND OPPONENT 71.

i
t.

Crixus f'lghts like a tiger, his eyes gleaming w1th an excite-

ment that has turned to hatred. He feints, retreats, thrusts,
trips his opponent, lunges the sword against his breast. A
guard rushes IN. He points to the smudge on the fallen man's
breast.
GUARD.
A kill!
· {to loser)
Out!
Loser rtses wearily to h1s feet, trudges out of the melee.

72 MED. SHOT - SPARTACUS AND DRABA - MARCELLUS IN B.G.

There are, or course, others f1ghting in b.g.. Draba is a."l
enormously tall and .handsome Negro . Draba fights coolly, his
taoe impassive, his eyes.a.a a.lert ·aa an animal's. The advantage
or his great height is overcome somewhat by Spartacus• dazzling
speed and intensity. Draba lunges at Spartacus, who fends the
blow, turns Draba on his hip, sends him sprawling to earth.
Spartacus' face shows a curious kind. of Joy in this activity,
the Joy of a healthy man winning a contest that carries no
.implication of death. As Draba strilces the ground, he is kicked
in the head by another contestant passing through the scene.

73 MED. SHOT - DRABA

Somewhat dazed, he-tries to pick nimself up. He has to pause on
all fours to shake the fog from his b~ain. Spartacus bounds INTO
SCENE, offers his hand. Draba, his face expressionless, accepts
the proffered aid. Then, as he almost achieves his feat, he j
gives Spartacus·1 hand a . swift, fierce tug which sends Spartacus j!1
sprawling face forward on the ground. Spartacus twists like a i
cat, starts- to rise---to find Draba I s sword-tip at his throat. 1:
He stares up at Draba in shocked surprise, h1s~eyes wide and J
questionipg. Draba simple gazes down at him, and holds the sword 1·
at his throat. Marcellus bounds INTO SCENE, fol l owed by Ba.tiatua. :

/
MARCELLUS ..
• I told you gladiators have no friends I
\
l\ '·..-'· .·, . . .I · .
· . ~--_; · ·:_. . (X)
ii
: ~

\
CONTINUED
r

i
:I
 pg i/-l88fJ - Char:.gss 33 j j

73 CONTilWED 73
MARCELLUS (Ccnt 1 d)
(Draba wi4;hdrews sword)
Get otr ~he field.
:.i
Spartacus rises 9 casts a f urious glance et Drabs, starts off.
BATI.ATUS
(rep.roaahfully)
!n a re.s.l f!i;ht y,-:;u 1 d have cost me
three thous&nd sestePcesl
Spe.rtacus EXITS. Ba. tiat 1.1s tl4rns to Marcellus.

:3ATIATUS
-They stood up ra~her well. It
calls for a di ·~tr 1.bution of young
ladies tcr:.ii)1.t . Virtue must nev.er
go unrewarded.
Ma·rcellus nods, puts whis~le to mouth, WHISTLES.
DISSOLVE TO

74 INT. · TRAINING AND STE;..H ROOM ~ DAY - FULL SHOT 74

In b.g. 1 :ls acurtain of ste·am. arising i'rom hot rocks, above
which, on b'9ncb.e~, a:.e :-:.i.:.n.~ted naked gladiators. In the f . f., ..
is a dark p:)01 :•f ~r:•c l W•'.:lter in which the e:;ladiators plunge
after their st~arn. I~ f. ;,.? ~re wooden slabs filled with F,lad-
iators in various s~s ~es cf undressi being oiled and ~assaged
by slave at :;er:da.n'::so A:..;:.es pass among them; examining feet ar.d
other members~ aa ':hsy i.:;;u.:i.d examine horses after a workout.
Light is dima ft l~e r inE ln through . cracks in the board walls.
Here and there a~ :.:::j'~!'ed fighter receives bandages and unguents.
They are most car~fullJ caree for.
75 ANOTHER ANGLE - TOWARD POOL - FAVORING DRAI,A 75
The tall African is just pulling himself out of the pool •
.Spa.rtac.u s sp.o ts himp g:r,ins, slips up from behind and with the .: ;
flet of his foot 9 top~:, le$ Dra.ba back into th.e water. · Draba.
comes up spitting w&ter he h,s swallcwe~ looks at Spartacus
with unsmilinr; eyes o ·

SPARTACUS
( mocklu,:·1 v \
Now I know h•:-,;·~yo{1 play the game .
! 7 11 pley it thst woy too~
iI
i '
Draba give.s him a scornful lock. W~th one powert'ul stroke
reaches the edge of the pool aga~n, pulls himself out anc
faces Spartacus.
DRAB.A
( +-·•~••v-
"""'"", e"'
•--"'-,- ,1)
" '
Killlng 1 :; 1:c cs.me.
Spartacus, 3mil~r..g , ~limbs or.t~ one of t he slabs. He turns
... .,..i' · on his belly as the s:~v0 begins massaging and oilins his bsck.
 34
cl #1888 - Changes 3/6/;•9 and
35
75 CONTINUED 75
He turns away, adjusts himself on his side, his back to
Spartacus.
DAVID
(-quietly)
He's right.
Spartacus turns his head. David the Jew is Just unwinding
from his middle torso a dirty, fringed, rectangular cloth.
He touches it to his lips, folds it carefully, places it be-
side him.
SPARTACUS
What's that?
DAVID
A tilluth. A prayer shawl.

SPARTACUS
What do you do with it?

DAVID
(lies down on back)
1 was a rabbi.
SPARTACUS
What kind or work is a rabbi?
DAVID
A teacher. Some might call me a
priest. I teach the law of the
one true God. Jehovah.
Spartacus considers this frowningly for a moment.
SPARTACUS
lf he's the ·true god, why doesn't
he get you out of here? ·
While David, frowning at the ceiling, considers this, Draba,
on the other side of Spar·tacus, answers without turning his
race toward them. ·
DRABA
The true gods are all dead.
· All lapse ihto silence.
DISSOLVE TO
i
\, .. /·· 76 76
thru OMITTED · (X) thru
78 78
 36 ,.
cl #1888 - .Changes 3/6/59
(X) '
I :_:

79 EXT. SCHOOL OF CAPUA - DAY - FULL SHOT - TOWARD ARCHED 79

MAIN ENTRANCE
A magnificently outfitted cortege, consisting of four glitter-
ing litters, mounted guards, and attendant slaves, is just
approaching the archway to the courtyard that separates the
front of Batiatus• residence from the outer wall.
.I
1.
80 OMITTED. 80

81 BALCONY - BATIATUS' RESIDENCE - MED. CLOSE TRUCKING SHOT - 81

WITH RAMON i
t' .
i .
as he rushes INTO residence. I
i
'
82 mT. BATIATUS 1 OFFICE - DAY 82
Batiatus, lolling at his ease, is being shaved.
\
BATIATUS \
Gently, gently. I can I t . s.t and the \
sight of .my own blood. · /'
Ramon bursts INTO tbe room.
RAMON
We have visitorsl Tremdous visitors!
Two simply enormous Roman lords! .
The~ want you at once.
CONTINUED

·''
 cl #1888 - Changes 2/24/59 37
(X)
82 CONTL1UED 82 • I

,,.-----..\ BATIATUS
Tell them I'm occupied. As you see. t
How tall do these lords grow? :l
RAMON
One or
them is Marcus Licinius
Crassusl
BATIATtJS
:I
i'
Hey'? · q
(flinging towels) /I
p.
Get me out of this! Wipe me off,
you fat-head!
/ .
"-.!le leaps from the chair, suddenly has an appalled second thought.
BATIATUS
Crasaus -- I
{whirls on Ramon)
The bust! The bust! Take it away!
Get rid or itl
RAMON
(blinking stupidly)
What bust?
BATIATUS
The bust of Gracchus that sits in
the atrium. You know how· Crassus
hates h1ml Smash i t l I
(eyes to heaven) I
:I
Forgive me, dear Gracchus_.
Ramon turns, dashes OUT of room. Batiatus hastily begins to
don tunic.

82-A FULL SHOT - COURTYARD BEFORE BATIATUS' 'RESIDENCE - DAY 82-A

The richly dressed visitors are just debouching from their
litters.

8g-B mT. ATRIUM - DAY - CLOSE SHOT - BUST OF GRACCHUS 82-B

l
Carved from white marble, Gracchus wears a bland smile. His 1
eyes have a slight leer to ' them. The brow is crowned with a
wreath of freshly cut flowers. ·The bust stands on a marble
column in the most _prominerr part of ~he atrium._ I1
Ramcn rushes 1n ca~rying a clotti, skids to a stop, hurls the
cloth over t he offending bust, lifts the oust from its pedestal,
starts out with. it, pauses indecisivelj., then rushes OUT O? SCE:3.

I
 I

'
C #1888 - Changea 2/24/59 37-A {
X I

83 COURTYARD B.s;:;'ORE B!tTIATus:~~1;;;;NCE - DAY 83

Tbe litters a:re being loweriealto tbe ground. HARCUS LICIHIUS
CRASSUS is the first to DESCEi·!D; F0LL0:.JED by VP..~IHIUS GLP,oRUS.
Glabrus is younse~ than Crass s, ricbly dressed but lacking
botb ba~dnesa &nd ~aal di~ni·yo Th e softness of his face
bespeaks indulgence and diss · pat ion. He defe.l"s gl:'e~tly to .
Crassua, but he ~e.nnot suppr ss tbe look of weary boredom and
vacuity wbicb constantly sha ows his lustrous eyes.
He assists two handsome wome from the remaining two litters.
One of them is hi s sist er, LENA GI.ABRA, and the other is
CLAUDIA IiAJIA. Tacy a,r,e exq isitely gowned · and bejeweled,
the obvio·us pt-oducts of big fashion and enormous we alth. Tbey
look about fastidiously, ha ten to i'ind a place in the s hada .
At this point., 'Eat1.atns t.•us' es INTO SCENE, FOLLOWED by a swal:'ln
or SE:fl1HI'i'S, caz,ryinr, cba_il"s cushions, f'ood, w•ine., fans. He
rushes di.l:'e c tly t o c,~assus., makes a deep bow.
BA' IATUS
(bows low o Orassus )·
Marcus Licinius c~assus., most noble
.t•eve rence . f irst eneral oi' the
Republic; defenda and father of
Ror,1<:l 1
. (gesture to ard
entran~:e) I

j
Honn!'
oresence1
r.iy
I
buus .J l B).ess it with your

IHtb s. slisbt i.r1cli.n.ation oi' the head, Orassus acknot-rledges the

gt-eating., t··urnn , a11d., ·tmder ~he humbly agile · guidance of
Bat1atus and the ifow - towir..g pf slaves, mov.e s with his party
toward the enia•anne. I

INT. AIITRIUM 1!0USE OF BATJ~TUS 84

·A noble, · seni-c pen l 9or.1, wiJh a reflecting ·pool , giving at its
1

far end onto a balcony i':r-0rri /wbich . .ftp,bts may be -;,;i tnessed ir;
the private arena below at -Ube rear of' the house. Batiatus
CIAPS band s b~iskly. Se~va~ts leap into action. Amongst the~
we see Varinia. I
!
B.A':rIATUS
A.rl."ange~ Ho11e qu.icklyt Oan 1 t you
see tteir wcr-sb ips are eAhausted?
Varinia places chair- for. Gras~us·.
BATLt\TtrS
Rave the gcodue2s to sit .
C.t-assus ttU:>ns , sees Va1•ir,ia . A slight !'!'own cones to bis ±'.ace w

J
 C
\
85 MED. ctosE SHOT - VARnnJ BEHIND CF..AIR - c~..?s:rs F:.. cnm HER 85
There is something in his\1 direct, inquiring ~·l ance that causes
Varinia almost visibly to i withdraw into he!'s e l_:C. C.rassus' eyes
Ii
s~eep her from bead to foot, not insolently, n9t even sensuously
-- but with tbe considered admiration of a connoisseur. Batiatus

li
I
nervousl1 ENTERS. \
UTIATUS
Is something wro~g, you~ highness?
I
\

\
\
CnASSUS \
(still ga;ing at Varinia) \
No. i . i
{slight bov of beaa and 1
shoulders to Varinia } '\
Thank you. I ·. prerex- to stand. ..

86 ANOTHER ANGLE - INCLUDING THEH ALL

BATIATUS
. (salaams to
Crassus)
As your.divinity desires.
(bows to Claudia}
Welooine~ most blessed Claudia :;:,:az-ia,
:t'ot-r.ier wife of Lucius Caius Harius
whose e~ecution touched us all so
deeply1
. (.faims to. Frelena) .
Honoi' to the lady Helena, daughter
0£ ·tbe late Septir:1us Opti.::.us Glabrus,
whose fame shall live forever in
tbe person o.f. your noble brother and
his he~oic son- )
- ( genuflects to Glab.rus )· i
'
I
-Publius Marcus Glabrus, hero of
tbe easte.t'n wars. I
i
HELENA !
(to ·o thers) l
How ve'X'y much he knows . ;
:l (to Batia:tus)
r
I Allow me to bring -you 'J.? to date.,
) lanista • . We .a!'e he.t>e to cele.bra·i;e
1· tbe· me.rria·g e of ~Y brother ---
'('indicates Glabt-Us)

Il - t o the lady Claudia..

(·raptly., to bot h
A mating of eaglesl
BA'l'IA'i'D'S
of them)
i~ ( t o. Gle. b rus )
\'· I
l Your sa,nctityl
:t (to sla11es)
.,,, Fan his bestitudel ne sweats!

i
:l ·- · --- __ _,, _____ ... . . ...... ·- -- - -- - - - ··· ·•-.-- .... ..'" ..... . ...,. •.
C #1888 - Ghange3 2/24/59 39
X
86 CONTINUED 86
Slaves leap forward wit fans . All four are now at their ease in
chairs, the .la.dies' fee J r,a3ting on sma~l coloxied cushions. Trays
o!' wine and :r-ai'::ies\1,";lent are offered.
CRASSUS
My young f~te ds desire a private
sbowine o~. t;w pairs .
BATIATUS
Ab-bat :i:;lyl

I
CLJ.UDL.\
To the dee.tho .
There is a moment ,~!"' stuimed silence, while Batiatus blinks at
tbera in disbelief. \

.IBATIATUS
To tbe -- deat~., your ladyship?
IH:Ir.L.SNA
Do you tl:link wEi t:raveled all the way
to Capua f v'!.' gy.n!n!\atics?
I
i

But I d:, beg yciu;:, wcz,ships -- here

at Car,ua we bav:e tbe mcst highly
t.raine-3 gladia'tDl's in Italy. Tbey 1 11
give ycu an e:(ii:~bition of sword-play
y~u coul:Jri 1 t ouy at the Circus
r-fa.xi..mus f o!l a1-i~ pt'i ce. A.ft e.r they r re
solo, o.f c;oU!'E':), their new masters .
may us'3 them a s they wisb. But
whil'3 thsy? !.'e ~ere we never figbt
them to tbe dea-:;h .

,CP.J\SSiJS
. Today 1.s an 9;:;c:.spt:i.o:n.
-BATIATUS
( diatx,-:;; ssed .
and g_r-e:, -:, dy)
A fight t0 th e death would raise
bad feel i nc., tl1r.ough t he whole
school. And dear, Odear: O dearl
Bct-i' ., os t ly .!::.h!t could be•
:G;1/::SSCTS
( c ,)1.dly:i
Whatever ~a~9ans, I sball accept full
1-espons ib 11:i. t:;· . ~1a:-1e your price.
Batiatus t bea dy e:yes .f"l ickfl:' llk-9 se:i:pents t tongues .from· ~be
ladies to Crassus, a n<l ba c~ a g ain.

CO!rl'Hfv'ED
r··••'-·-· 37,e- e.- --,= -···· -,····..c,;,_,,. - ,,, ; -r + -s - a-•· -·-·-·a, ..,,....,,,....... .,,.,,,.,, ..... 11' . , ...., • - · -- · . , • .
• , , . . ., .... , w ..5 ,·• 'ik##NW'Sr±Mf 7

'
.,
i~-
gl #1888 - Changes 7/27/59 40 •·
l
86 CONTINUED - 2 86 t:
Ii
BATIATUS
Ah·:..-·rorglve ·me., serenity -- twenty-- I
five thousand denaril1
CRASSUS
Arrange it immediately.
BATIATUS
This instantl
. HELENA
O! course we want to choose them
ourselves. You do have a -- certain
variety, don't you?
BATIATUS
Inexhaustible!
.(blows . WHISTLE)
Allow me to show you the way.
They start OUT of the atrium, CAMERA TRUCKING with them, down
the outer staircase and onto the training area below.

·INT. STEAM ROOM - SPARTACUS., CRIXUS, DRABA., DAVID., DIONYSIUS.,86-A

AND OTHERS
•
David ENTERS.
DAVID
.Spartacus, there's going to be a
fight to the death.
AD LIBS
(quiet; a.t unned)
To th,e d.e a th, • . • • J
To the· . dee.th~--1.
. CRIXUS
(to David}
Row do you know?
DAVID
I heard Marcellus tell one of the
guards.
There is a .long momerit of silence.
OONTINUED
;'
 gl_ #1888 - Changes r/27/59

n
c ····"·
86-A CONTINUED 86-A
DIONYSIUS
Who fights?
DAVID
I don't know.
CRIXUS
(strangely)
To the death • • •
(looks at
Spartacus)
What if they matched you and me?
SPARTACUS
We have only one possession - lite.
And to us that must be all and
everything.
..
CRIXUS
Spartacus, what it they matched you
and me? Would you. fight?
SPARTACUS
(after a moment)
I t·d have to. So would you.

CRIXUS
{quietly)
Would you---kill?
A silence; all eyes on Spartacus.
SPARTACUS
(after a long
thought; very
quietly)
Yes, I---I'd kill.. I'd try to stay
alive, and you will too.
A guard ENTERS.
.GUARD
-Form up in. t he training area.. Some
visftors want to admire you.
~ They look silently· at one another, then move out at the
prodding of' the guard.
DISSOLVE TO
 gl #1888 - Changes 7/27/59 40-B
..
87 FULL SHOT ACROSS ARENA TOWARD ASSEMBLY CAGES - DAY 87

.,j
The puzzled gladiators are ENTERING the cage. They press
toward the rear, compelling those who follow to assume
positions closer to the front. No one wishes to be against
the bars, open to public inspection. They peer curiously
across to mid-field at the approaching procession. .1
,.' 11
II 88 MED. TRUCKING SHOT - BATIATUS AND HIS GUESTS - FAVORING 88
Ii
CR.6.SSUS AND HELENA
I
A slave with umbrella shades the lovely Helena from the sun.
.. HELENA
(gaily}
Thracians are a fad, anyhow. They're
flashy with the knife, but they don't
kill well.
CRASSUS
Whel'e did you acquire this refined
taste 1' or brutali t:y.?

I .. . HELENA
{mocking smil e)
When I was a l'ittle girl, and saw
two thousand Syrians fought to the
death in the Circus Maximus. They
were your prisoners.
CONTINUED

·-·--'
 r · ·-·P-iiib\# 1· ·-;,;,;;,c·~o;· ·· g;, .., .........,. ,,'0-7f'E'5°-···i 5lif-·•s-£5ia-75· ffiiiwl&f;;p;a;:Us,• •· ·w II • . S .. • ... . •· . .. ·:.. .··+ 1 •
. . -.-- -,
;) . ,
"
C #1888 - · Chances 2/24/59 41
X

~ ..-...... 88 COlfl'IliUED \ 88
u .( \ ~RA.SSUS
.j
I (dryly)\
Brutality is perfectly justified as
I

an instz,u,r.:ent oi"j ·state power. But

it makes atrocio~sly dull entertain-
mento \ l
•I
i
HELENA i
.I
(bull.fight\ terms)
Not enter-taim1.e11t ~ Art---soulpture
poetry! \·!hat ·; greater drama could
there be than two :men do\-m there in
the al:'ena, dl:'encbe1d witb sunlight • • •
and fighting to the death?
I .
CRA~
·sus
· There 7 s no drama in death unless
you•re ai'raid of it
. cu~urlµ
Ohl Th~;~;~t;.~~ifi~ent1
---:-------__._ __
_..._..:___...,;--.-- · -··· _. .. -- ---·· ·.................. . ................

e 89 ANOTHER ANGLE . - · TOWARD ASSE~··

Tbe men~ each one oi' tbera e. upe.rb .fighting me.chine, peer
curiously r wi tb a certain sh r.ie 3 at the gala procession tbet now
89

arrive s fo~ insoection tb~ee feet distant on the other side of

the bars. As the distinguisled guests come up to the cages,
chairs are placed for tbemt brellas are lovingly interposed
between their £air skins and the suno

90 CLOSE on SPARrACUS - IN FRO ROW 90 .

Ha is sta~ing at theri as ii' ey were the anL~als on display
rat.bar than himself,. Varinia, scarcely ten feet away, watches
Spartacus with dread in ber e eso

91 . REVERSE Al!GIB - THROUGH~ EtRS - ;."JE GUESTS 91

Crassus and Glab!'l.ls are seating themsel\res . _At · no tine thrqusbo:..1.t
this . and the successive fiishi scenes does Crrssus pay tbe · sligtt-
est att ention to the gladiatprs, or their contest. Either he is
engaged in c onvel:'sati on witb/ Glabrus., or devoting bis attentior.. to
thoughtful sc~ut.in:r cf Va:~irJia. 1Ieam-1hile., the young wonen.i>
shepherded by 3a", ;iatus anu ~:railed by !-Iarcellus,. pace slctrl:, al::ms
the peri.'ilet e:r of the case s; ;-;;beir eyes i'illed with pleasm.~e at
tbe s!gbt o:f so r.ia.ny suj?c rt: ;?':!ale physiaues o
i
j ' .
I • •• ••• • •
!
CON'l'I1'.11.JED
 • • ld - "ti:i· · "-'°•X--S!cvS'Ei:TS:F iFE:i£iZFEffilEff. i
;;

C #1888 - Changes 2/24/59 42

X

91 CONTINUED \ 91
BATIATUS
Prac~ically ev~ry man here is an j
expert with the Tbl'acian Imif'e.
But the trident is sozaething rare.
I'd recor.1r.1end ~bis .fellow here.
Ethiopiano l
i
Re indicates a .fie.l:'oe-loo\dng, swarthy rnan; but. Helena and
Claudia have tbeir eyes o~ Drabao
\ ,· ,i•''-
GIAUDIA \ (l U~ Ii._ ; .., ' ]
I like · this one :betterl \ i v 1\ t \\" •' '
Batiatus sbudderso He ha~ the· b~nest merc~~~t•s instinct to
.ke~pbis best merchandise -~~d sell his sbodd
1. -
~TIATUS /
Draba? Oh no, he 1 d never do.
For you I want o~ly the best.
CLAUDIA
i .'
i

,1

But I want tbe most beauti~ul. -- !

I 1 11-take hL"!lo .i
BATIAT1JS
Very wello
(to Harcellus)
Draba, curse iti
. (to Helena)
And now for yout Lady Helena, I
suggest. e o ah yes, Praxue!
A veritable tiger~
HELENA
I don 1 t like him.
(indicates Crixus)
'I mueb p~efe'.t' ~ one.
BATIATU'S . I

{distressed)
Eh? This one~ your ladyhood?
7she nods; . he .
rolls his eyes
to Narc ellus)
Crixue for the short swo~~.
( eag0.l l j sug$est1ng
1
.j
tbe next· one) I
Observe thi.D tellot-1! Did you ever I
see such splendid shoulde~e? ·I!
CL\UDL,
Yes.. Ri bilt hei'e ...
(1ndicat~s Gal1no)
CONT:GJUED.
r~•
~·,,,; ""···;;,,·-±a:::==--====
··:..;,.. ·· ,:;··~..,;;:,s
·......,....,·=;.;,.
··,,.;e'r..l'
...i!i6<~..o..;.y,,.---· ·~·· ·-·;:;·eai-;r. · -::· ...... ,. . ..;•:1..· •. ··.··· w- uw ·~-·-· - -:M.'.i:ei:iftii::iir·-···-·~··-·-··s:····,_..:+ . .... ........ » ... . ,, ... _

i .
·l pg #1889 - Change s 2/24/59 43 i-·
I (X)
I

'
j 91 COUTHTUED 91
/-------1

I
1
\ /
BATIATUS
(can 1 t believe it )
Ah?
(can)
Ah-huh .
- (to Ma ~ellus, dead
voi~e)
Als o Galino.

92 ANOTHER AN.GLE - OUTSIDE AGE - TOWARD IT 92

i.
Crassus and Glabrus !)&y~ € no heed, taking no part in the :j
'. l
selection. Helena and Cl udia heve moved e bit away from ,1
Batiatus and Mar:!ellus. atiatus is holding a soft, inaudibl e • I
conversation with his . tra Helena's eyes wander over . I
several gladiators includ ng Spartacus, then return to
Spartacus. Her eyes swee him from head to toe, then slowl y
back again. Spartacus gl res at her--- then insolently permits
himself the same inspecti n. Batiatus realizes they're about
to :neke &nc:':1.er ~hoi ~-e, ?' ·"'h.e s 1.1.p t o them.
B TIATUS
(urgentl .)
For the Thracian knife I have the
most fsro8ious -
""·NA·
(as Spart ~us completes
his intim te inspection)
OhX He 1 s .impe.rt nen t l
BATIATUS -
And a coward to b ott I ' l l hav
hi m f'logged l:
(takes he!' arm)
There f s only one ,an in the entire
school who stands · s · chance. with
the Thracian kn'if- against the
tridento
(points him out)
Behold---the beast of Lybial
·.HE NA
(eyes on S artacus}
I prefer th~
(tp ?a rini, in B.G . t
o?waid•
Girl~--some wine. ·.
(faint smi e to
Batietus)
Watching us ch~os' has bored you .
CONTI:tfUED

i.
 pg #1888 - Changes 2/24/59 44
{X )
I· 92 COtITHTUED
~

BATIATUS
(ace ptinc fate)
Scarcely, y ur blessedness. lt 1 s
been---most exciting. I tingle .
Varinia advances with a tray of wine. Her eyes meet S.pertacus 1 •
Helena takes a glass , sips it, her eyes still on Spartacu~.
Then she turns to Bat[atus . ·
HELENA
I t both men are down and ~efuse to

no tricks. 1
continue th 1 fi[ht, your trainer
will cut th~ir throats . We want

· BATIATUS
(shoe ed reproach)
Tricks? At the school of Batiatus?
We 1 ll. slit their throats l ike chickens l
An audible GASP goes u from those within the packed cage. Th9y(
stare at Helena with believing eyes . Varinia gazes mutely
at Spa.?>tacus.

BATIATUS
e You hear, M~ cellus?.
Marcellus,. who himself is staring et Helena as if she were
some new and malignant type of monster , bobs his head .
BATIATUS
Then get abo t itl
Marcellus turns, bows , EXI TS .. Without loo.king for the tray,
Helena places her un:fi ished wine glass on it. She gives a
last .flashing glance a Spartacus, turns awe:, .
HELENA
-And do •let us get i:mt of this sun.
'
CLAUDIA
Yes, lets1 .
(look~ at Draba)
I feel so · sc~ry for the poor things
in a.ll thi~ he.at .
(to Batiatus)
Don't put tnem in those suffocating
tunics . Let.. them wear---just enoueh
t: or mo ....rl es. t y . ,' • .• . •. ·.
i BATIATUS
They 1 ll figh~ in loincloths and
bless your nar.ie.
. CONTI~lUED
 ~
~
-ii~;,;, :;.,,;,, . ....,....·
··· --=· ····=·•··"-=-
. . ·.. .. . . - .. '. -~
··=...:......---.:.-~----..............:-.......~-----------...__;_~.............____.._.__._,_~ ~ . - . . . . . .~ = . . ;
. ~-··· -

.i cl #1888 .. Changes 3/5/59 45 1·

(X) :
92 CONTINUF..D - 2 92
BATIATUS (Cont'd)
( to cellus)
Arrange! I
(to Ra on) i
Conduct their magniricenses to the
gallery I
They move back toward balcony-pavilion I
93
trom which

AT REAR OF CAGES
ll.-Ji.~trthe-'.~r;m.:1;..,,...--

93
]!
;
i
WHISTLES BLOW. Spartac s, Draba, Crixus and Galino, their
heads down, as the men 41le .p~~t them returning to the cell
b_lock.

94 INT. BOX IN· GALLERY OOKING ARENA - CLOSE ON BUST OF 94 I

GRACCHUS - DAY
.!;
It has been hastily depo 1ted on the floor} only partly con- I
cealed by its covering c oth. As we come in oh scene Crassus' I
j

hand is delicately f'l1c ng the cloth off, revealing the bust, :

tipped at a rakish angl~, its wreath of flower3 Slipped forward '

\

to conceal the eyes.

CRASSUS' VOICE
(wry a sement, o.s.)
Ahl An eaves ropperl ./
CAMERA NOW PULLS BACK t reveal: I,

94-A THE GALLERY - DAY - CRA SUS, GLABRUS, HELENA, CLAUDIA, 94-A .
ATTENDANT SLAVES I
In this lUX"J.rious box, protected from the sun, cushioned and
draped with silk, the four Romans take their ease on soft
sofas. Slaves pass am'?ng them with food, wine,. sweetmeats.
Varinia is prominent among them . As we come in on scene they
are all regarding the exposed bust of Gracchus with a certain
fastidious distaste. i
, CRASSUS

II
(cont:1.nuing; as he
adjusts the wreath) ''
How far from Rome must I go to avoid
that cunning face?

' (petulantly)
· CLAUDIA

Let•s not talk about Grac chus.

He bores me. Besides, all he
~ is hate us .
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/5/59 46

CONTINUED
\ CRASSUS
For Grac9hus, hatred of the patrician
clas~ is ia profession.
· (pauses briefly, while
Varinia replenishes
wiJ1,e; his eyes follow
het')
And not a \ bad one, either. Row else
does one Qecome master of the mob
and first \senator of Rome?

·
4.
Varinia passes behirh Claudia, comes up to Glabrus, pours wine.
CLAUDIA
(s fting the air)
I believe hat girl smells of
.

per.fume l \

I
Glabrus reaches out, 1takes the hem of Varinia's skirt, thus
detaining her, sniff'~ it.
. I GLABRUS
(nodbing)
Whatever itl is, she smells good.
Var1n1a starts to mov away, but Glabrus holds •~n to he:::- hem,
thus preventing her.
HELENA
(cas ally)
You can't k~ep slaves from· stealing
any more un ess you chain them.
1
. I CLAUDIA
W)1en. a slav~'s as pretty as this
one, she do~sn't have to steal. An
arrangement i.s made.
. ' 1
! GLABRUS
(lift;tng her
I
skirt~ slightly) i
If her ankles are good, you may be !
.I
:.I
sure an arrangement was made.
-
Crassus has his eyes
~
directly on Varinia's face. She flares
(I
red. With cautious aim, she drops her tray squarely on Gl abrus '
head, spattering him with wine.
. j'
i VARINIA
(gasp)
Oh, master!
CONTINUED
 r~--·---~=-:-•~-~~=--~- -~-~'""'"··--=·---~--=-~-=~-~--=-
,
1
m.dg #1888 - Changes 3/5159 47
(X)
94-A CONTINUED - 2 9·4-A
/~
l
· '- '
l
She pretends terror
with her robe.
·rd begins to wipe the wi ne from Glabrus

. GLABRUS
1 1 ve been tointedl
CLAUDIA
You filthy \trollop! You. did that
on purpose! I
i
At this point, Bat1at~s RUSHES INTO the SCENE, gasps _with
horror at the shambles Varinia ha·s made.
!
\ BATIATUS ·
Oh merciful heavens, a catastrophe!
· \ CRASSUS .
(seve~ely)
It was an ac~ident.
(to Vcµ-inia)
-Come here, girl . .
Varinia stands before nim.
I
,u (gentl~)
CRASSUS
Don 1 t be i'riwtened . Where are you
I
;
from'?
VARINIA
Br1ttan1a.
CRASSUS
ijow · long have you been a slave?
. ; VARINIA
Since I ;was th:Lrte.en.
: eRASSUS ·
You have a certain education.
'. VARINIA
My first master had. me tutored f or
his children.
Crassus nods, turns t o Batiatus.
CRASSUS-
I like her. - ~he has spirit. I'll
buy her. ,
·~
Varinia stares· at . Crasstis unbelievingly.
CONTINUED
mdg #1888 - ChangeJ 3/5/59 48
(X)
94-A .CONTI.NUED - 3
BATIATUS
Buy her, you lordship? Of course!
She I s yo1irs I
(to V ir.ia)
You' re· lucky, you clumsy cow I
(to er asus}
She I ll be wai i!ig at your 1.1 tter.
CRASSUS
I 1 ve no transp rt for her, and I
don't want her feet spoiled by walk-
ing. Send her t.o me with your.
steward on his next trip to Rome.
BATIATUS
He goes tomorr w, your ·ma~nitudel
· (as Vari ia reacts)
And with him t wench.
(to Vari ia)
Clean him well, and praise your
gods!

Varinia resumes her ~~~~Js to __clean Glabrus •.....soiled robe.

95 ANOTHER ANGLE - GROUP ~N 'ALCONY - OVERLOOKING AREl!A 95

kLENA
You provoke me, !Crassus. r · shan 1 t
be nice to yo~ c-Y more.
Batiatus EXITS.
ssus
Why distress me , so?
I
ltELENA
You•re horribly:rich, yet you're
the only one .o.f ·r:iy brother•a .friend,s
who hasn ' t yet . given him a wedding
present. ·
I
Crassus shrugs, reach.e.s 1z;.s1de his cloak, takes out a golden
medalian attached to a chain. He hands it to Helena •
.I
. CRA.SSUS
I was saving it !or a bettfrr time•.
Give it. to him, hild. •
Helena stares at the badge passes it to Claudia who do<~s likE-
wise a.~d hands it to Gla:;r-qs. Crassus watches them l(c-=nly.

CONTilr!JED
 •i: ''
0
• • • - · e- .•• , d :eb •' 11 '

)
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/5/59 49
(X)
-I 95 CONTINUED 95
CRASSUS
(to Cl udia)
As of this mo,ent, your husband is
.
Commander of he Garrison of Rome •
GLABRUS
I -- I don•~ ow how I shall ever
be'able to rep y you.
CRASSUS
(faint mile)
Time will solv that mystery.
LAUDIA
(to eras us)
The Garrison o Rome 1s hardly more
than a police orce l I wanted him to
be at least a ribunel
CRASSUS
Nonsense ! Th Garrison of Rome / '

ccintrols the s
mob., puts down
reets, curbs the
civil disorder, and
.
ent'orces the l w. It's the only
power in Rome hat 1 s strong enough
to check-mate racchus and the senate.

96 ANOTHER ANGLE
Batiatus enters to group bows, hands Crassus a silver whistle.

BATIATUS
At your pleasu e, excellency.
Batiatus EXITS. DRUMS in o. s. -Crassus gives the whistle
to .Helena.
RA'SSUS
The honor of st rting _this ·poetic
drama shall go fq you, my dear.
Helena, flushed with exciltement, takes the whistle, looks
toward the arena .
.__ r BISSOLVE TO

97 NEAR TRAINING ' AREA - FULL HOT - DOWN LINE OF GUARDS 97

As a .guard turns the winch t hat raises the gate - Marhellus
ENTERS in t he training are - followed by Crixus, Spartacus,
Gal1no and Draba. The .fou are now ·co11ered by their green
CONTINUED
r mdg #1888 - Changes 3/5/59 .........___.,,.,.
r:r::::: :z;;::r: -::arc::::v:r:

· 50
(X)
ISi

97 CONTINUED 97
'
poncho~. Marcellus steps ough the opening and stands in
front of the guards as Cri sand Other Three step through.
MAR ELLUS
(pointing t o.s.
waiting she)
Through that door.
CAMERA DOLLIES BACK and PANS Cri:irus, Spartacus, Galina,
Draba and Marcellus as they m ve down the line of guards and
are herded into the wai.ting s ed. Marcellus watches as the
door is locked af."ter them, an he EXITS f.g.
98 98
thru OMITTED thru
99-A 99-A
100 INT. GLADIATORS' SHED - SPAR ACUS, DRABA, CRIXUS AND GALINO 100
It ia dark inside the shed. They sit in silence. DRUMS o.s.
Draba i .s stern and impassive Spartacus · watches him covertly,
as one has the right to watci his future murderer. Crixus
glares fiercely straight ahe d. Galino 1s completely wrapped .
in his thoughts. There is n thing to say, nothing to do but·
wait for the .f.atal SOUND of he WHISTLE. WHISTLE BLOWS. All .
freeze. .D oor swings open. arcellus APPEARS in bright shaft
of sunlight , Guards behind h m.
LLUS
Crixusl
Both men slowly rise. For a instant each looks straight into
the other's face. Then they !turn and EXIT together . Door
closes behind them. Spartacus and Draba, alone with each
other., exchange no glances bdtween themselves. ROLL of DRUNS
ou.tside. They stiffen s1ight~y. SOUND of fighii beginning.
Spartacus rises, moves silentp.y to the arena-side. wall. He
puts his eyes to a crack, peers out.
,' '

100-A FLASH REVERSE - SPARTACUS' POINT OF VIEW 100-:A

The merest impression ot two nearly naked men in swift, fero-
cious combat.

100-B 100-.B
thru OMI'ITED thru ·
102~c 102-C
 cl #1888 - Changes 3/5/59 50-A
(X)

102-D INT. GLADIATOR 1 S SHED - SPARTACUS - DRABA 102-D :

(~-.......
' \ ..... -' Spartacus is still peer ng through the crack. WHISTLE SOU~DS.
. Slowly Spartacus rises. Slowly he turns, . hi.s face white, and
moves back toward the p~nch. Draba watcnes him. The door opens.
Cr1xus RE-ENTERS. He ia stained with blood and sweat and dirt.
His face. is a gray .mask. He looks neither at Spartacus nor
Draba. Instead, like a man dreaming but ambulan t , he moves
slowly to the bench, sis down carefully, stares straight ahead.
Spartacus and Draba, wh se eyes have been fixed on him from the I;

moment or his entry, ex hange their first glance with each other . ,'
Marcellus APPEARS in do rway.
MARCELLUS /
Second pair I I

I
· They rise like aut.oma.to move toward the door. .CAMERA
TRUCKS with them Just f to carry them through the door
~nd into the sunligpt b

102-E EXT. ARENA - FULL SHOT .

Guards stationed, DRUMS eating faster . . Spartacus receives

his short, curved Thracia knife. Draba is given his iron-
spiked trident and his fi h-net. Guards place them in position
tor combat. They begin slowly to manoeuvre for position.
e l

I
,\
 51
cl #1888 - Changes 3/5/59 (X) and
52 I.
l
!, .
1~ ·'\ 102-F MED. SHOT - GROUP IN BOX . 102-F I ·.,
.i.. ___ ,)
Helena and Claudia are wa t hing the f .ight in the arena below . '
Crassus and Glabrus are ho ding a quiet conversation about
business. _From time to tin\e, this scene is INTER-CUT with
ANGLES which keep Roman ch1racters in f.g., showing the a~ena
action in b.g. Var1nia is in b.g. of Roman char·a cters, some-
times watching fight below sometimes averting her eyes in
horror. Batiatus is in th, remote b.g., nervously waiting fight
slaves, everything, to makf certain his guests are pleased and
well attended. }

103 REVERSE ANGLE - SPARTACUS AND DRABA

In dodg1ng a deadly thrust of the iron hooks, Spartacus has
gone into a rolling spip. It brings him up against the fence.
He kicks away from the fence, tries to bound up to his feet
again. _At this point, Draba deftly drops the net over him:
tugs hard. ·spartacus goes .down. Hopelessly entrapped in the
net,. he threshes about ·11ke a wild. animal, slashing vainly his
lm1fe to free himself. Draba., trident at aim, approaches him
cautiously f'or the kill. -

104 DfT. BOX - CRASSUS, GLABR S, HELENA, CLAUDIA, VARINIA,

BAT!ATUS IN B.G.
(Dialogue During Spartacu -Draba 11'1ght)
RASSUS
(quietly
Don 1 t · underesti ate Pompey. They've
packed him off to Spain, but he'll
be, back. And ttlen will the senate
smart for its p 1ns.
1
qLAUDIA
It's an absolut1 rnls-ma.tch. The
trident's bound f to win ..
i
. ORASSUS
Invariably. i
. iLENA
It's dull. The~racian's fading.
i·
GLABRUS
(to Crassus)
How did ,you get :my··appointment
without Gracchu~ knowing?
CONTINUED
 !
cl #1888 - Changes 3/5/59 53 .,:
(X) . t .
!·.
104 CONTOOJED 104 ! I

CRASSUS
I fought fire with oil. I purchased
the senate behind his back.
(indicates badge)
Use 1t well. · you've no idea how
many millions it co.st.
(suddenly grim)
Nor how deeply the senate will regret
its easy virtue before I'm through.
HELENA
(scream; watching
tight) . .
Kill him.l
105 105 .
thru OMITTED thru .
106 106
1O6-A · MED.- CLOSE SHOT - DRABA AND .SPARTACUS 106-A I
Draoa is now ready to d 11ver · the death.Spartacus, panting,. · 1,
exhausted, utterly defe ted, helpless, understands. He stares :j
up with stunned reco~ni ion at the face of death. .,,
HELENA, CLAUDIA, !
'.i i
• GLABRUS . :J !
(o.s,, .!'iercely) :n
The kill I Ki 1 him l The lli!, I .n
~ ~

Jin
106-B CLOSE ON BATIATUS - VAR IA IN F.G. 106-E. l
Eager to please his gue Batiatus cups hands to mouth:
BATIATUS
KILL HIM, YOU_ IMBECILE!

106-C .MED. CLOSE - SPARTACUS A . : DRABA 106-C _;

Spartacus, utterly immo ilized, watching, waiting for death.

Slowly Draba turns, sta es up into the stands. His face i s i.i
covered with sweat, his :mouth is anguished, his eyes are wide
with horror and · the ex.eJtions or this life-and-dea t h str,.'.ggle . I
; .

But now he sees, in the:lbox, something even more horrible than

death.· His whole body turns toward the stands. He begins to
shamble toward his tormeptors, forgetting his prey. Spartacus)
in b.g . , is rising f rom the sand.
the fence, and the geller and box Draba charges straight
beyond and above it.
for

_I
i -- -- - ~- -····-···... . _53-7
1 mdg #1888 - Changee 2/24/59
(X) 1::
107 FLASH SHOT - OCCUPANTS OF -cox 107 ,l
1·1
Crassus, a brave man who h s faced. death so many times that he '!. ·j'
neither fears it nor over- alues life, sits immobile, profoundly
absorbed in what is happen~ng. Helena, her eyes wide with
horror, cowers behind him.,Glabrus' reaction is one of stimu-
lation, excitement. Claud. a. has risen as if to flee. Varinia,
in b.g. watches the approa of Draba with a prayer in her eyes
tor his safe arriYal at th ·box, and for the success of the
deadly'enterprise he there 111 carry through.

BA IATUS
Run, your lordshi I Flee, your
ladyhoodsl
(bellowing ff)
ouardsl Guards -- I

108 FULL SHOT - F_IELD AND GALLERY 108.-

Drabahas reached the fence. 1There a guard tries to intercept
him. Draba skewers him and f~ings his body away as if .scatter-
ing trash . He climbs the fence, lunges up~ard into the gallery
and toward the bo.x. Other guards are now closing in from all .
directicns. As Draba leaps t9ward the box, the first .guard·
. gets within throwing distance~ He hurls his heavy pilum at
Draba. The eighteen inches of steel imbeds itself in the glad--
iator' s ebony body, but s t il~ he plunges upward, h~s trident in
position to throw, his eyes ~n his deadly enemies in the box.
A second pilum finds its mar~, but already Draba .has groped his
way almost to the box, the s : ars dr~gging from his body.

109 FLASH SHOT~ ARENA - SPARTAC S 109

·S tupe.fied, . staring, just ·ext icating himself from net.

110 FLASH SHOT - THE BOX 110

Bat1atus hides behind ii;. Glabrus leaps in alarm to his fee.t.
Crassu~ moves not a muscle Chill as. steel, utterly fascinated
by the possibilities, hew tches the. approach of Draba, Claudia,
trying t o get out of the bx, stumbles, falls and SCREAi'1S .

ANOTHER ANGLE - INCLUDDl'G OX AND DRABA 111

Guards rushing UP c-n h l r:1 1 b ,g . Draba:, the two spears still
\ sticking in his be,ck, make, a. f'irial lunge. His hands grasp
the edge of ·t he box_. His ··es glare up at the occupants, ,fierce
CONTINUED

_ _, .... . . ·- · · .,
... ... t
 mdg #1B88 - Changes 2/24/59

lll CONTINUED
(}
........
\ /
and horrible and lost . era sus, ~n the meanwhile, has slowly
r1sen. Calmly, he slips a iny be j eweled dagger from his belt.
And then, as Draha 1:s great ns :r.each out to seize him, he bends
forward between those terrib e arms (exactly aa a bullfighter
risks life by bending forwar between the horns tor the death-
thrust) and deftly inserts t. e knife into Draba's spinal cord
Just above the shoulder-line Even before the knife is with-
drawn, Draba is dead. Thee feet is instantaneous (again as
1~ a bullfigh~ when a member of the corrida severs the spinal
cord of ;i wounded and dying 11.) The great African, like his
counterpart the bull, curls c n~1lsively . into the birth posi-
tion, his head forward betwee his arms, his knees drawn upward
-- but he was dead ~9R'iL.th.a.'.r.e.t.:l.eX-.a.C.t.ion....of. ...death. was. ma.de . .. __
Visible. - - - - - - - . . - -,

112 ANOTHER ANGLE - OCCUPANTS OP BOX 112

a taring at Draba'1 s o. s. body. Crassus wipes the tip of his
kn11'e on a cushion to clean. it, and replaces it in. his belt.
Be turns, smiles with faint· contempt at Helena.

CRASSUS.
Welli child -- has your ardor some-
what cooled?
HELENA
(weakly)
I'm

Let's gol get out ot here! \

}
·-· .,.--/
113 WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE vmttNIA - GU'JmDS IN B.G, JUST 113 .. i
STARTING TO DRAG DRABA'S BODY AWAY
·01abrus gives a fastidi ous glance at the dead African. Guards
begin to drag.him OUT.

Ugly fellow.
GLABRUS

. CRASSUS
i
}I
l
He died rather well, I thought.
He takes Helena's arm. They start OUT of the box behind
Glabrus , Claudia already oeing under way.

)
 !j
I
-:
mdg #1888 - Changes 2/24/59 53-C I •
;

114 ANOTHER ANGLE - C:1ASSUS, HELENA, VARINIA 114

As Cras·sus passes a few :'eet in front of' Varinia, he pauses,
gazes ·at her intently. Varinia, pale and straight, stares
back at him. Cra.ssus bows. Then he turns and EXITS. Varinia
gives no sign of recognizing his gesture, or even or having
seen him. Eatiatus APPEARS behind her, peering timidly over
the rear of the box •. He sees that the danger. has passed -- and
with it, his guests. He rises,· starts off ai'ter them, hi·s
voice piteous.
BATIATUS
Your lordships ! Oh, your dear,
dear excellencies -- I
He moves OUT OF SCENE, "FOLLOWING them.

115 115
and OMITTED and
. -116 116

j.
' )
 54
dg #1888 - Changes 6/23/59 thru
56-A

117 EXT. TRAIUUTG AREA - NICii'I' - A FIGURE IH t·f.dII'E 117

Moving stealthily from one pool of shadow to the next, keeping
close to walls, darting ac ros s open spaces like a frig~tened
bird. It is Varinia, pursuing her stealthy way towar'd the
cell house. Remote somm of a man sL"lging a lament in some
foreign tongue COMES OVER this and subsequent scenes.

118 EXT. CE:.L HOUSE DOOR - HIGHT - A GUARD 118

::.• I
He stands before the door, a weary, middle- aged rna.~ , absorbed ".
in his secret thoughts. He looks off. · He sees Varinia ap- !l ·1
proaching. He appears not surprised. I!

119 ANOTHER ANGLE - WALL OF CELL HOUSE - VARIN IA 119 r

shrinking close to the wall, she approaches the door and the I
guard. l
11.9 -A MED. SHOT - DOOR - GUARD

Ve.rinia slips !~TO '!HE SCEME. · From beneath her robe she bring_s
forth a jar of wine. She hands it to the guard. He nods,
circles the training srea with watchful eyes, then- opens the
door· ever so slightly.. Varinia slips silently inside. Door
CREAKS as it opens and closes .

119- B INT. CEtL HOUSE CORRIDOR - MIGHT - VARIN!A 119- B

She flickers doim the corridor like a ghost toward the stone
·s taps. somm of the foreign LA:<ENT is louder inside the cell
hou~e.

NOTE: 117 thru 119-B RAVE BEEN SHOT, BUT ARE

- BEING ELI11INATED AT THIS TIME.

119..;.c 119-C
thru OMITTED thru
120 120 .!
I
:'
i
 eva #1888 - Changes 2/3/59 57

120-A INT. GLADIATORS' CELL BUILDING - MORNING - FULL SHOT - FAV0R- 1 20-A : ,
ING ENTRANCE ARCH TO STEAM AND CONDITIONING ROOM {X)

Suspended rrom the arch, in its precise center, swin~s the

I body of Draba. He has been hung by his heels. His wounds have
crusted over. He wears only a loincloth -- or, if it can be ..: 1
I
;
discreetly shot, nothing, as the case would ac.tually be. His 1
long anns, stifrened now by rigor mortis, seem to clutch downward .Ji
/
I at the stone floor, some six inches below their grasp . The body 11)
turns slowly from right to left, pauses, and then just as slowly
begins to turn in the other direction. O.S. SOUNDS of tramping i
feet against stone pavement. The gladiators are marching toward . ' I

the. mess kitchen and their morning meal. SOUND INCREASES in \I

volume, until w~ go to: 1 ·
I

:' :
120-B ANOTHER ANGLE - FROM INSIDE STEAM ROOM - SHOOTING TOWARD 120-B•
CORRIDOR - DRABA 1 S SWINGING BODY IN IMMEDIATE F.G. (X)

SOUND of approaching FOOTSTEPS draws very close. We are SHOOTING

INTO the corridor, our shot divided in the immediate f.g. by
D~aba's body, which looms large in CAMERA. Now the gladiators,
marching in~ single line, file past the steam room entrance on
the way to the mess hall, guards pacing with them at regular
intervals. Each gladiator, as he sees the body of his dead com-
rade thus defiled and dishonored as an exa~ple to his survivors,
gazes straight into CAMERA. Spartacus passes. He stares at the
body with horror. Gannious' face is filled with rage; David the
Jew's with pity; Crixus' 1'7ith admiration. We gain the impression I
that the lesson of the display is perhaps a different one than 1
Marcellus and Batia.tus intended. ~
f
:,
DISSOLVE TO

121 · !NT • GLADIATORS I MBSS HALL - MORNING - FULL. SHOT - DINING 121
ROOM AND KITCHEN (X)

At eaoh end of the kitchen stand Roman guards. Six more . stand in
·the central portion, which is open to the sky. The gladiators .(
pick up wooden bowls as they ENTER the mess hall, pass along the :
ki to hen l ine be.fore the slave women, who fi-11 their 9owls with ,.
food; then they move out of the kitchen area and eat on the floor, i:
either cross-legged or crouched with the bowls on their laps, j
using wooden spoons. ,

l-
122 ANOTHER ANGLE - FEATURING SPARTACUS 122
(X)
'. I
He stands about fifth in line from those who are receiving their 11
food from the women. Spartacus' eyes, with growing alarm, searc:1 ·1
among t he women_. Third man behind hi~ is Gannicus. Ahead of hi::r,
1s David the Jew.
 ·(
I
eva #1888- - Changes 2/J/59 58
..,
·123 ANOTHER ANGLE - THE WOMEN SERVING - GUARDS nr B.G. 123
The men shuffle forward. Spartacus at last arrives with his '!
bowl before the first woman.
SPARTACUS
( softly)
· Where I s Varinia?
The woman, about to answer, is prevented from doing so by the
sudden appearance of Marcellus. He grins at Spartacus, points
toward the barred window,
· MARCELLUS
(tauntingly)
l·
Take a last look at her, Thraoian. l

Spartacus stares toward the window, sees:

--1
REVF;RSE ANGLE - THROUGH BARRED WINDOW - VARINIA, ,kAMoN, OTHERS 12! !I
Var1n1a. is already seated in the rear of a cart. / She i.s simply f
dl'essed. A slave holds the horses, another sits in the driver's I
seat. Ranton 1 s just ascending the c art • ,1

MARCELLUS• VOICE ·it

!!
( soi'tly, o. s. )
She's going to Rome.

125 MED. SHOT - sr;ARTACUS J MARCELLUS, SERVING WOMEN

Spartacus, his face blank and wild, turns baok to Marcellus.

f:
r•
. MARCELLUS f.
( chuo kling) 'f
Why should you care? She won't be
any farther from you than she's tI
always been. I
i
He reaches out, still chuokling, jabs Sp,artacus ,,ii th the tip of '
his pike. Spartacus, in a convulsion of pure ra~e, turns toward
the enormous cauldron that bubbles and steams on its tripod
above the open r1re. With a tremendous shove, he upsets t he
scalding mass so that Marcellus, with a te·rrible SCREAM, i .s
buried beneath it.

126 FLASH SHOTS - THROUGH MESS HALL

thru
126-E A dozen .faces, including those of Gannicus and· David,stare off
at the sudden UPROAR, then excitedly join it.

.:
 eva #1888 - Changes 2/3/59 59

127 FULL SHOT - MESS HALL 127

With. a .s pontaneous ROAR the gladiators riae -- all their tensions
set of"f by the excitement of this direct conflict between gladi -
ator and guard. Hot food flies through· the air. The room is
tilled with SHOUTS, SCREAMS, IMPRECATIONS, GROANS.

128 GAN'NICUS - AND OTHERS

Gannicus lifts a writhing guard high above his head, and then,
with fearful force, hurls him to the !'loor, where others starnp
him to death .

129 . SPARTACUS - AND GUARD

With one terrible, chopping blow ot h1s · t1st to the nape of a

guard's neck, he kills him. j

130 SLAVE WOMEN 130 I,

They have seized spits, knives" pots, and are joining the
Ii
assault. ,j
A guard bears down on an old woman. She scoops a ladle of fl.am- ii
ing ooals from the open hearth, dashes them full in his face. . li
He SCREAMS. One section of the wooden kitchen uprights has ::
caught fire; flames lick toward the roof'. !:

,,l/
131 LONG SHOT - TOWARD DOOR
. The door guards are being methodically slaughtered.
131
r i

132 MED. SHOT - VARINIA IN CA.RT 1.32

With a sudden movement, she trips the sl~ve who has charge of
the reins, rolls him off the wagon, leaps onto the ground, and
runs across the arena toward the supply house. l,
j
!:· j.
133 EXT. TRAINING. AREA - DAY 133
Some forty or fifty Rom.an legionaries (part of the seouri ty
staff) are running toward the mess hall , SHOUTING !'or others.
Plames now break through roof of mess hall.

134 EXT. TRAINING AREA - ANOTHER ANGLE - · BATI ATUS AND RAMON 134
Batiatus, terrified, is SCREAMING at the little Greek.
!~ '; BATIATUS
\.. I Ride to Capua! Call out the Garrison!
RB.?llon starts OFF at . a dead run, CAMERA TRUCKING WITH :S:IM. He
starts to cross at an angle be£ore the mess hall, from which
emanates a ROAR of sound. 3atiatus rushes BACK into the house.
- - - - -- - - - - -· ... .. . --

mdg #1888 - Changes 4/21/59 60

(--': 135 FULL SHOT - TOWARD MESS HALL 135

'• · .. • . .•••i'

The massive doors burst open. The SHOUTING, maddened gladia-

tors burst OUT into the grounds. Some of them carry arms ta~e~
rrom the slain guards inside the hall. Others have clubs. The::,,·
charge int o the guards outside the mess hall, who seek to bar
their passage. The scene becomes a seething mass of bodies,
blood and fury. (X)

136 FRONT OF BATIATUS' HOUSE - TOWARD THE ARCH 136

Batiatus, Ramon with Varinia at the cart, at the point of (X)
break-out by gladiators.
BATIATUS
(to Ramon) .
.And remember to collect for her
before you give the receipt. Money's
so unimportant to the extremely rich
they often forget about it altogether.
RAMON
I'll remember.
Guard runs up.
GUARD
There's trouble in the .mess hall.
They've killed Marcellus, and maybe
the others tool
Bat1atus iooks sharply off toward the mesa hall. He does~'t
like what he hears and sees; he takes immediate measures t c
save both his property and hts hide.
BATIATUS
. (to Ramon)
Keep .them locked· in, and call out
·t_he guard [
(to guard)
Ride to Capua and notify the garrison.
(climbing into
cart, grabbing
rei:ns)
I'll deliver the girl myself!
(po .stupefied
Ramon) . -1
Well, get .about it, ma.n:I I'm leav- .I
l
ing you in charge, and I hold you
responsible for · a11 losses!
\' He brings his whip down hard •. The cart sta!'ts ou t a t. a run. I
. Guard dashes in one: direct ion. Ramon in anothe r. .!
I
mdg #1888 - Changes 4/21/59 60-A
•• I
'.. I
137 ANOTHER ANGLE - TOWARD BATIATUS' QUARTERS 137
/.j
The house slaves, armed with staves; slave-women brandishing
knives, pokers, ~orks, - begin to pour INTO the arena, to join
· the gladiators in revolt.

137-A INT. STEAM ROOM

Slaves have trapped three or four guards; they drown them in
the pool; incinerate them against the gloWing hot rocks;
strangle them in vats of bubbling water.
i
137-:B ENTRANCE STEAM ROOM - THE ARCH - DRABA'S BODY 137-B ·/
An old Crone, With two other women, is cutting the body down.
They lower 1 t gently, turn 1 t on 1 ts back. They begin to wind ;I
a white sheet around it. :i
~
138 TRAINING AREA - FAVORING SPARTACUS. 138
l
In b.g. we see another building catch fire from the flaming
mess hall. Also another small detachment of guards APPROACHING
1n an attempt to rescue their fellows. The gladiators, unen-
cumbered by armor, move freely among the armored gua~ds,
dragging them down, literally killing them with bare hands,
then seizing their arms and leaping· upon the next. We see
Var1n1a RUN THROUGH THE SCENE.

139 EXT. BLAZING ARMORY - DAY - CLOSE ON DOORWAY 139

The door has been broken open. Half a dozen women are pass-
ing out arms from the arsenal of Batiatus. Among them. is
Va'r1n1a.•

.I
. .,
I
 eva #1888 - Changes 2/3/59 61

140 FULL SHOT - FROM INSIDE GROUNDS - TOWARD l"'.iAIN GATE 140
Here a -handful of the remaining guards are putting up a desper -
ate battle to hold the gate until help can arrive. Slaves scale
the walls, drop down on the guards .from above; they dash IN with
burning firebrands, or hurl their naked bodies reckle$sly against
their enemies' cold stee1. One by one, the guards sink in death.
---.,-.:._
INT • BUILDING - CLOSE SHOT - THE BODY OF DRABA 140·:::A I
(X) . !
The entire structure . around Draba's body is a glowing hell o.f /
.fire. Draba has been placed on a cot, which is his bier, He l'·.l
11.e s stiff and implacable, hands folded on his breast, h is face
stern, as the flames grow closer. He is an Ai'rican king on his
funeral pyre. Flames rise to shut him from sight in a curtain
o.f fire. /

/
,/
141 THE ARENA - FULL SHOT 141 1
.\
Blazing buildings. Slaves packing o.ff loot, Arms being snatched ,
from the bodies of guards, _which litter the' grounds, Suddenly
there is a tremendous SHOUT from 0;S. CAMERA, with all heads in
scene, TURNS TOWARD:

I~
·, ...... '
142 FULL SHOT - FROM INSIDE TRAINING SCHOOL AREA - TOWARD THE
GREAT GATES
¥1
142 :
! ~
;

The guards defending them are all dead. The gates are slowly !i
being pushed outward. THROUGH them the SHOUTING, cheering, laugb- ; I
1ng mass of slaves and gladiators already is beginning to pour.

143 EXT. GATES - FULL SHOT 143

(X). .
A triumphant torrent of gladiators, house-slaves, ~omen, children
BURSTS THROUGH -the gates~ and begins to str·eam into the 001.mtry ~
side,. while behind them towerin~ flames and great columns of
smoke mar.k the death of the gladiatorial sohoo;l. of Capu·a .

144 FRONT OF BATIATUS I HOUSE - FULL SHOT 144

Another torrent of slaves BURSTS THROUGH the great front doors,
rushes SHOUTING and YELLING through _·the archway into the open
land beyond.
i
145 FULL SHOT - TOWARD CREST OF A LOW HILL 145 :
·i
l
.Against ·the crest, .field slaves may be seen, silhouetted at thei:,
work. One of them looks off, points: others stop to look: t ~ey
clu~ter -- gesticulating excitedly amongst themselv es .
- - - -- - - - - - - -- - - -- --------·---···-···

145-A EXT. APF:A!·i WKI - ;JAY - TEF.OUGH WOODED AREAS - T!IB CART 145- A

Dr!v~n at full .:rpeed '\:.y BatiatuaJ while Varinia swaye f:-om

side to !:>ide.

145-B CLOSE ON WHEEL OP CART

It is begi~nir..g to ~ome ofr its axle.

145-C ANOTHER ~JGj;.E - THE CART

The cart begi ns to shudder; Batiatus 1•ein:J in the animals 1
but be!cr-e he su<:ceed,:; in hal tingj the ·1i'lheel comes off the
j

car't ls dragged vn its side f'vr a short distance. Varinia ia

thrown !'ree o~ the 1:a:-t, lands be:3ide the ~oad on her side.
Batiat-u.:: ride.:; i t dow:1 without 1.njury., c·l imbs rrom the wre,Jk-
age: s1.:rvey:: 1 t. Va.r in.la. begins to worm her- way slowly, pain-
t·ully., toward the woocs ,
BATIATUS
( :!.ns·p ec ts wheel 1
ahakeJ his head)
We're. d~n~ tor, now , 1,
(locks of! at ;-

Va!"i :11a) !

Ccme here. wo::nanl !'ll cut the

horse l·,cs~
ar.-d ride• him, You 1 1:!.
W.:11-k , Well --- get up)

VARINIA

With a gesture of imPatienceJ Bat1att1.s moves to her, take s an

a.rm, helps h~1· t.,:;, ~e-=- .teet •.
•j
BATIATUS
(as he d.oea so)
I be_gin to thirik yo,..l were not one •
o.!' my mcr-e !'c:-tunate purcr.ases .
(she •' s up ) ·
T'nere. Corns along.
H.e t1.1rnsj -5 tarts for t~e horse. varinia· ti..:.rns away i'rom him,
starts running towa!"-:i t he woods-. Hearing the SCUND of her foot~
stepa, Batiat~~ whi~l3, stares after her in stupefaction, then
calls out :
BATIAT'JS
Come Dack r.erel Come back at
on-::e!
r------·-- --
'
'
mp #1888 - Changes 5/29/59

145-D ANOTHER ANGLE - VARINIA 145-D

She turns her head at the SOUND of his voice, then continues
toward the woods, running like a deer.

145-E MED. SHOT - BATIATUS 145-E

With a ROAR he starts out after her, CAMERA TRUCKING With him
. as he lumbers . along, obviously no match for her.

145-F LONG SHOT - VARINIA - 145--F

With another swift backward glance, she vanishes into the
woods.

145~0 TRUCKING- SHOT - WITH BATIATUS

Thor?ughly Winded, he pauses, BELLOWS:
BATIATUS
(shouting to nothing)
Come back! Come backt I command
:you!
Then, with something almost like a SOB of :f'ru9tration, he low-
ers his heaving frame to the ground, sits there to regain his
breath, the picture of desolation.
BATIATUS
{panting)
It takes a great soul----to stand
up---to the mis.fortunes .o.f---my
~iserable life----!
DISSOLVE TO

j
----~- - .i
 r - -- ···-· - . .1
:
rrry #1888 - Changes 6/22/59 iI
\ j
)
,~t. 1l ~A
~ . Li
I1G
}
146 EXT. VESUVIUS DAY - THE SLAVE ENCAMPMENT \\
·
J.I1
j.~~
.

It is the day after the outbreak. or the sec~nd day thereafter

at most. The encampment boils with activity_~ but it is' in the
most primitive state of organization. Men .may be felling trees
.
1
i
(

Ir .,1
:
!
l

I
. tor stockades to be set up on peripheral a~~as of the encampment
not naturally defended by the lofty position of the site; wo~en !
may be pulling the trees after they have ~een split to a point l
where others hoist them up as additions· t;6 the stockade. l~at-
;1 ever the specific nature of the activity/ shown in this scene,
I its real purpose is to show the newness / of the encampment, and
that such measures as are taken are purely defensive measures.
as would be natural to men and women who wish to make thenselves
safe in orde~ to stave off attack w~!le they effect some sort of
permanent organization and form. The scene also can be very
brief -- merely the impress.:~n rather than the de,tail of wha.t 1s
suggested above. '\'\'Y'-'\ J<).\\\\).:~\\i~\'') ~\)-...\ X.
Crossing t ~ rides a company of horsemen, . numbering
perhaps s~~~y-~e3J. under the leadership of Spartacus. Crixus
rides b e s ~ leader. They are all armed. They proceed
through the raw, bustling encampment, CAMERA FOLLOWING.

147 ANOTHER ANGLE - EDGE OF ENCAMPMENT - DAY - FULL SHOT 147

I
i
This .is the per.iphery of the natural :fortress they have select.e d; 1
·here the escarpment gives way to serrated cliffs which descend /
abruptly to the valley below. Spartacus and his horsemen appear; ; ,
they .hang on the horizon tor an instant, then begin ' the descent, i ,·
threading their way through the clefts and ravines. /.1
DISSOLVE. TO
':tt
r
I
~ ,•, •. • I••.. \ ,/ I
/ ·v'·· ·... "
148 APPIAN WAY - DAY.-FULL SHOT - SPARTACUS AND HORSEMEN 148
I .-.
The great highway ·is emptied of all- traffic; alongside the road
may be seen the. .debris of wrecked baggage trains which. have
fallen afoul o.f the slaves' fury as they swept d·own ·the road.
Tbe feeling is one of de.sols. tion and aoandonment.

149 ANOTHER ANGLE - HIGHWAY AND COUNTRYSIDE - SIX HORSEMEN 149

They gallop toward Spartacus and his men, corning .from the direc-
i tion in which _S~artacus 1 group is pointed.
r . .i
150 ANOTHER ANGLE - SPARTACUS AND HIS HO°RSE!'1EN ~ ·THE SIX HORSE ~1EN 150 . j
(
l
They ·a re led by Dio.nysius, who rides .up and reports to Spartacus. lj
CONTINUED
I
my #1888 - Changes 6/22/59

150 CONTINUED
DIONYSIUS
The school's deserted and the whole
countryside's run away. We buried
our dead and stacked theirs. All
the equipment's still there.
SPARTACUS
(to leaders around
him)
We need wagons, horse r you oan \ ~
.rind any, food,ro:l."?.;- ing, all kinds \\'"
of supplies. fan put and find I em. \ \.J
We,1 11- mee•t at ~ s c h o o ~

151 'FOLL SHOT WIDE ANGLE - HORSEMEN 151

F~nning out from the highway through. the countryside, splitting
up in.to groups. ~i' perhaps three or i'oor each. There is real
spirit behind this movement; they start theiI' horses out Jast.; ·
and they pay no at.tention to obstacles. They could evep ' YELL,.
one to another, from the she~r plea.sure of be.ing- free, of raid-
ing a countryside that held them so long in~ndage.
:. ~r~~~~"
152
thr.u
SER!ES OF RAID DISSOLVE~ - THE MO rm GLADIATORS - DAY 152-
154
154 The. various small parties. sweep . thr ugh abandoned estates, search
.farmhouses, outbuildings,· villas-. ey sweep through over flelds
and through woods. Among the spe ci ie FLASH SCENES are:
l. FLASH - GLADIATORS rush into a chicken-
house (or hen-run) f'ill.e d with white
poultry. In an instant fe·athers are
flying like snow •
.. 2~ They LIBERATE ·a wagon. •
3. ·They load three ca:ptur.ed mules with
cheeses or other . products from
looted plantation storeroom.

15 EXT. PLANTATION HOUSE - CRIXUS AND THREE OF HIS !![EN' 155

· They· emerge from the gutted buildil')g herding t wo l'lliddle-aged
Romans ahead of them. The Ro'mans have their hands tied behind I
their backs. The SCENE should be very brief;. since i t speaks
for . itself, no dialogue is necessary. It is !'llerely one of a
number of RAID DIS$0LVES, · occuring . in the l.atter portion of
i
the sequence.
DISSOLVE TO.
 my #1888 - Changes 6/22/59 61-E

156 MED, CLOSE TRUCKING SHOT - SPARTACUS - DAY 156

·He is walking his horse up a slight hill or promontory, surmounts
it, reins his mount in, gazes thoughtfully off and down to:

157 REVERSE ANGLE - FOOM SPARTACUS I ANGLE - THE GV.DIATORIAL 157

SCHOOL OF CAPUA - DAY
Gladiators 1 horses are tethered ..ihere the guards I horses formel'l1 ;'J
were quartered. Five or six wagons are drawn up be.fore the ,,
r 1;_·

I
establishment, some hitched to. mules, others to the riding horses. ,
The day's loot is being loaded into the wagons. while others pa.ss I ·
back and forth be.tween the wagons and the school, leading the
booty that has been discovered in the warehouses and house -o~
Be.tiatus.

158 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS 158

staring down at the activity. Then he spurs his horse .forward,
starts to canter down the incline toward the school.

159 EXT. GLADIATORIAL SCHOOL - DAY 159

Spartacus arrives, dismounts. The whirling knife machine is
being loaded onto a ..ragon, al-ong with the mechanical man. Arm-
loads of swords, tridents. pllums, shields, armor are being
transported rrom school. to wagons. Horses are being loaded
behind saddles with sacks of grain, bolts of cloth, etc.

160 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS

Re watch~s the activity for a moment, then turns, and slowly

orosses to the walled drive by which he first entered the school.
(Loot 1'r.om the establishment, aside from massive items like
whirling knives, is _ca.rr·i e.d out through the other. gate -~ a
shortet- route). ·
. 1

TRUCKING SHOT - WITH SPARTACUS 161

Re passes between those long walls,. utterly alone, regarding the .: ,~
desolation e:nd wreckage which prese·nts itself on every hand with
something close to wonder. He recognizes everything, yet so,ieho;,.1 :
it is entirely different. And he, of course, is entirely <liffer-
ent. While he Makes t hi s solit.ary, !1'led1tative walk-through, he
is ·actually not aware of the SHOUTS. AfTD SO.IDIDS ot bustling acti v--
tty which proceed frC1."\ other side of the wall.

J
:~
,1 .

L,_ ____ __-·· ·-· ··------··- ·····- ·- .. .

 bm #1888 - Changes 6/22/59 61-F

162 CLOSE TRUCKlNG SHOT - SPARTACUS - DAY 162

He reaches the end or the walled roadway, turns towards the
cell house ..

163 INT. CELL HOUSE - CLOSE TRUCKING SHOT - SPARTACUS · 163

He· walks slowly throu.gh the center passageway., Doors hang
crazily on their hinges, debris and marka or the fire are
apparent everywhere. Spartacus, moving as in a dream, slowl7
approaches the steps; at· the .top of which 1s the arch i'I'om which
Drsba's body was sµspended. He pauses, gazes up at it for a
moment .. Only the cut rope remains. Then he turns, rett-aces
his steps to his .~wn cell. He enters the cell.

164 !NT. SPARTACUS CELL - FULL SHOT - SPARTACUS 164

He ~tands in the center 01' it, taking in every aspect of slavery
and degradation. Then his eyes slowly 111'.t to:
t

l! 165 THE GRILL ABOVE - FROM SPARTACUS'S POINT OF VIEW BELOW 165

I Ther~ is no one there. She is . gone. Nothing remains of her

presence .b ut the whisper of her MUSICAL THEME.

166 FULL .ON SPARTACUS 166

..
He takes his eyes away from the grill, casts a .final glance
around cellp EXITS slowly.

167 INTo CELL HOUSE -TOWARD EXIT SPARTACUS 167

He emerges from his cell, passes slowly OUT or the cellhousep
Varinia THEME still haunting him.

t68 INT. KITCHEN AREA - SPARTACUS - DAY 168

He ENTERS» gazes about him. All is desolation, all is wreckage.
A stray dog might be investigatirlg the remains of a kettle of
f'ood that has been spilled onto the :t'loo.r. Dog slinks away as
Spartacus approaches .. SpaJ:"tacus sits on the bench, where he has
sat so many times before, waiting tor Varinia to arrive before
him. He looks down to the area of the pots and firesp where she
should be this instant, just beginning her journey down the line·
to him, watching him, as he watches her. But there is no one
there. Nothing but Varinia 1 s THEME.

I
.•. l
 #1888 - Changes 6/22/59 61-G

CLOSE ON SPARTACUS 169

Gazing into the past, and the memory or the girl who made it
barely tolerableo His intense absorption in the past,·1n the
dream of Varinia, has subdued. all SOUNDS or external activity.
Now, however, the quality of outer. SOUNOO changes. As his
attention is diverted to them, he listens, frowns. Outside the
men are JEERING, HOOTING, MOCKINGo He rises slowly, still
listening, still puzzled.
OoSo CRIES
Kill him, Romanl
Here's a matched pair you 1 11 never
f'orgetJ
(etc)
He turns and EXITS.

170 SPARTACUS - AT ENTRANCE TO ARENA 170

He rreezes as he stares into the arena, sees:

171 FULL SHO'r - THE ARENA AT CAPUA 17-1:

In the midst or this bumt-out desolation, we see the two
middle-aged Roman captives, stripped down to loincloths,
bleeding, exhausted~ slowly circling each other with knives,
while slaves _prod them on with l:tghted torches, spears and
sword-tips, HOOTING and JEERING. In the balcony from which
Crassus viewed the . fight and killed. .. Draba, sits Crixus,
surrounded by others or · his comrades~ ·They are enjoying the
affair i tnmensely o
SHOUTS
Get in there, Roman!
Draw a little blood!
Fight like gladiatorsl
Look at him --- ·be doesn't like itt
The big one's almost througho Losing
too much blood.
This is to the death, .Roman --- don't
be afraid of a little cold steell
I wouldn't give twenty-1':1.ve sesterces
for the pair of 'em • .
(etc}

172 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS ..., JUST INSIDE GATE 172

He drinks in the scene; the ~ernory oi' his own sui'ferings in
this same arena, his fears and his hatred and his abasement,
sweep over himo A spasm of revulsion crosses his face. He
starts f'orward grimly 9 CAMERA TRUCKING with him.

•,
···-····- .... ,........ . .. ·••- . - ·· · - -.. ···~--... , . ....... . • ........ · .. , • • -*--••
gl #1888 - Changes 7/27/59

17.3 TRUCKINQ SHO~ - WITH SPARTACUS 173

to the center of the arena. As he passes t hrough the men who
are tormenting ·the Romans and goading them on, they sense the
grim displeasure of his :!'ace, and :!'all silent, or draw back
somewhat. The Romans, panting, expecting death any moment,
observe his approach uncertainly. •

174 ME1;>. SHOT • SPARTACUS AND ROMANS •

H I

.I
Sudden s.ilence has fallen over the group in the pavilion, and .l

those who have been goading the fight forward in the arena •.
Sparta-c us step.s be-t ween. the two Romans.
SPARTACUS
How do you like it? Fighting each
other like animals while your new
masters bet whi_ch one o:!' you' 11 be
the first .to die?
(pause; a surge
of di-sgust · and
anger).
Tb.row yoUl' swords down.
·The Romans stand stupefied. Spartacus, all his thoughts on.
Varinia, is he.vi ng difficulty con.tro·1 1ing himself, so terrible
is his hatred: ot Rotne and the Romans. The Romans can't beli eve
what· is happening to thEnn·. They· blink stupidly, remain trana·-
f'1xed.
A rising OUTCRY -troll!. tb.e disappointed spectators.

AD LIB PROTESTS
They didn tt even get ·s tartedl

At least they ought to fight till

~ne of' 1 el'll. 1 s downl
Tbey nev~r turned us t'reel
' '

Let them fight-1 -- they~

matched pairs, .
I had t'i ve sesterc.e s bet on the
little one1. 'He 1 d have won, tooJ
SPARTACUS
What are we becoming -- Romans?
Have we won nothi'ng but t heir games?
CONTINUED
 gl #1888 - Changes 7/27/59 61-I

i ( j\ ..\
; ..,/
,
174 CONTINUED 174
CRIXUS
(angrily)
I want t9 see their blood
(points)
~--right over there whera Draba
diedl
SPARTACUS iI
l
We 1 ll see plenty of Roman blood, I .

but we're through with their games. 11

· (to Romans)
Now g~t out of b..ere l
FlRST BOMAN
(hoe.:rsely)
May the gods attend you fo:reverJ
SPARTACUS
.I'm not· doing this to save. you.
I~m doing it to save us. Let's
burn this place down.-
That his perception of their emotional needs was correct is
evi_d enced by the SHOUT that rises among them, and the eagerne;J&.
with which ·they swarm off, torches high, to carry forward the
happy labors or destruction.
DISSOLVE TO

175 EXT. GLADIATORIAL SCHOOL OF CAPUA - DAY 175

The entire establishment is roaring inferno of flames. Before
it the YELLING, Joyous gladiators, already mounted· and just
getting under· way, are standing. back for Vesuvius.

175-A WIDE ANGLE - 'IHE GLADIATORS - BURNING SCHOOL IN B.G. 175-A

They SWEEP BY CAMERA at fill speed -- fifty or sixty mounted
men; loot tied to . their saddles; five to eight wagons drawn
by mules, running f ull tilt, the drivers hang ing on ror dear
life and SHOUTING for more speed; and the pack horses (or
mules) plus the horses of those who had to dismount and drive

I
the teams. They. pass in a swirl .of dust and SHOUTING triumph.
. ' 4
DISSOL\'E TO
176
and OMITTED
177

;
l
L, .
 dg #1888 - Changes 6/25/59 62
.. I
178 ESTABLISHING SHOT 178 I
:I
as Spartacus and his men ride away from Capua; that two or iI
three field slaves, newly escaped, run al.ongside the wagons
trying to clamber aboard; that helping hands assist them.
'
179 ESTABLISHDTG SHOT 179 I~
r:
as the riders sweep back toward Vesuvius, that two or three
bands of escaping slaves wave to them·, SHOUT to them, and
the raiders SHOUT back, indicating for them to follow. Then:
DISSOLVE TO

180 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - FOLL SHOT - SPARTACUS AND HIS HORSEHEN -180
NIGHT . .• .

They are riding in a colr.l.mn. A group of two or three slaves,.

escapees, may also be seen.

180-A EXT. COUMTRY ROAD - ELDERLY ESCAPED SLAVE - PRECEDING

VARINIA - NIGHT
A SOUND of approaching horsemen o.s •. Va.rinia turns, looks back-
\ ..> ward. Elderly Slave,trudgfn~ with a staff, continues ahead
and passes OUT of scene.

18O-B REVERSE AIWL-E - FROM VARINIA 1 S POINT OF VIELv -

SPARTACUS AND LEP.DERS OF 'COLUMN - NIGHT
Moving toward Varinia. She stares almost unbelievingly at
Spartacus -- .a man somehow she has never known before, a man
in action, a man in command of himself and his surroundings.

180-C ANOTHER ANGLE - VARINIA - HORSEMEN INCLUDING . SPARTACUS 180-C

approaching Varinia, and ' now beginning to pass her .

180-D CLOSE - SFARTACUS 180-D

He sees her standing and watching him. For an instant he .
can't believe it i s she. He rides on .

180-E ANOTHER AHGLE - FAVORING SPARTACUS Pl-TD HORSE1·1EN 180-E

Now he realizes it was she, s t ares off a t her unbelievingly.
He mo tions the r est of column on." He starts back toward
Varin.i a., CAHERA TRUCKING, l1~3R-CU TTING be tween the:n until
we come to:
 dg. #1888 - Changes 6/25/59

181 MED. SHOT - VARINIA AMD SFARTACUS 181

/,.-,-~\
'>. .... ..., / £acing each other. Both seem to be fighting ror words, both
seem to be seeing ~n the other something never per_ceived before.
SPARTACUS
I thought you were in Rome. I
thought I 1 d never see you again.
Still she remains silent, as if contemplating some profound
my-stery. Spartacus dismounts.
SPARTACUS
Why -- why don't you say something?
. VARINIA
You're so dirrerent. •The only
memory I have of you is the last
one. It blotted all the others
.out. You in the arena -- waiting
to die.
. (pause)
I ;was waiting tpo. Out there 1n
the sand I was dying with you.
SPARTACUS
(sees the horror in
her eyes)
You shouldn't have watched.
VARINIA
I had to. I loved you.
Stunned silence;· a long pause.
CONTINUED

l --------------- -- . -----
dg #1888 - Changes 7/6/59 64
181 CONTINUED 181
SPARTACUS
{whisper)
-
What---?
VARilrIA
{nodding her head)
I loved you, Spartacus, I loved
you. I love you now.
He · makes a move toward her, stops, tries to comprehend the .full
meaning of what ~he has said, the wonder of it, the surprise
ot it, the stunning shock, the incredible joy. His lips try
to form words·; the words ca., 1 t come. The thought behind them
is still incoherent. Suddenly he turns away from her as i f to
leave her standing there, a problem too great to cope with.
He takes two short steps, halts, turns back in a little circle
to confront her once more.
SPARTACUS
You -- love me?
Tsne" nods)
All my life I never dared dream of
love. When I was in the mines I
squeezed my heart so tight there
was no room for love -- only hate.
And then that night you walked into
my cell and I looked at you -- and
.touched your skin. and felt your hair.
For a momerit I dared t o dream again.
Then suddenly you were gone. I .
squeezed my heart tighter than ever.
There was no room for anything but
hate.
, VARIUIA .
C.so!'tly)
Make· room f'or me, Spartacus.
Please •. • • ?
Sb.e sinks slowly to her knees, and he with her.

SFARTACUS
(quietly)
You•re free now.
VARINIA
I know.
SPARTACUS
Nobody can sell you. Nobody can.
give you a;;ay. Nobody can :nake
you stay with anyone.
COUTINUED
dg #1888 - Changes 7/6/59 65

181 CONTINUED - 2 181

VARIMIA
(softly)
Nobody.
SPARTACUS
You don't even have to stay with me.
You could leave me if you wanted to.
VARINIA
I love you, Spartacus. I give my-
self to you. Forbid me ~ to
leave you.
A look of pride, of relief, of conquest in its loveliest and
most loving sense, suffuses his face. He reaches out, touches
her shoulders with both or his hands.
SPARTACUS
( softly)
I do forbid you.
He squeezes her tightly. We must remember the ferocity of
passion in such a man when ·for the first time in his life he ·
holds a .woman in his arms. He understands none of the deli-
cac.y of love-making. He is like a bear in his inexperience.
He hurts her.
SPARTAC·US
I :forbid youJ
VARINIA
(rnu.ffled voice)
You're hurting me.
He rele ases her instan.t ly.
VARINIA
(smile)
~- ..
You c.rush my lips. Kiss me like

l8I-A CLOSEUP - SPARTACUS AND VARillIA 181-A

Very lightly she touches her lips to his. The ensuing kiss
develops into passion.
DI-SSOLVE TO
 ·I
I

66 I
};la #1888 • Changes 6/24/59
thru
70-F
I 182 182
I
I
--- \
.!
and
183
OMITTED and
18.)
l
? 184 INT. PUBLIC HOUSE - MED. SHOT• LENTULUS GRACCHUS - DAY 184
Lentulus Gracchus is dining, as he al~ays does, prodigiously.
Great joints of meat , massive pastries, goblets of wine,
f stacks· of cheese and fruit. In this crowded room he is sur·
rounded by petitioners and politicians, and he obviously loves
his association ·w1th them as dearly as he does his food. He
is a man of universal tastes, or universal likings; a man who
takes pleasure in every act of his life -- direct, physical ,
sensual pleasure. Throughout this opening scene he masticates
vigorously, drinks deeply, yet never ceases talking, be his
mouth full, empty, or merely in the process of being filled.
CONTINUED

'i
I
L
l---·····
re••··· i . Q
7 ... 7 t-t::1± 3 £rt;tt· ;§;;;t·e:-± -·
ca~l
.i
I mdg #1888 - Changes 3/10/59 71
: :
'

184 CONTINUED 184 I

r '\ , I

,L ...J GRACCHUS .I
(to a petitioner)
It's ·all arranged . Your permit was
drawn up this morning. But only. to
sell fish . It's not a license to
steal.
PETITIONER
I told my wife Gracchus could do it
1£ anyone could.
GRACCHUS
Anyone couldn't, Only Gracchus.
(to nex'tJ
Well, Marius?
MARIUS
When are we going to get another
distribution cf grain?
I
GRACCHUS !1
Soon. Soon, -we hope. Pirates i'I
are still raiding the grain-.t'leet
but we've requisitioned 500 wagon-
loads from the south.
2ND PETITIONER
Yes, but will they get through? I
hear thereis a slave revolt down
there. They're raid1ng 'the h~ghways~
GRACCHUS
Two or• three hundred bandits don't
make a re~olt. They've raided a
few baggage trains and burnt a house
or two. We 1 11 t-..ave ·them all. on ·
crosses within the week. Bes•i des,
. you · shouldn I t spread rumor.s . ·
3RD 'PETITIONER
About my poor mother, air.
·-GRAC0HUS
(thinks,·· remembers )
Yes, Serverus, your poo~ mother.
She'll be released tomorrow.
(dryly)
P.or. the third tj_me • Try to keep her
out of fights, and never let her use
a club.

3RD PETITIONER
She'll bless yc~r name!
co:NTINUED
 mdg #1888 .. Changes 3/10/59 72

184 COtlTINUED - 2 184

( ~

.. ......•· GRACCHUS
(to next)
Well! What brings you here, Otho?•
In b.g. WE SEE Caesar ENTER the room. He is richly attired,·
thirty years old, a patrician, dissipated, reckless, intelligent,
ambitious -- and, at the moment, coldly disapproving of this
noisy public place. His eyes swiftly search the room, spot
Gracchus. He frowns, and, gathering his robe close about him
so it shan 1 t get soiled., he moves through the crowded room like
I a great lord.
I
OTHO
The Garrison broke up a reast or the
I college ot sausage-makers last night .
GRACCHUS
(instantly interested)
They did, eh? Tell me more.
OTHO i
I
They said from now on. we'll have to
hold our assembl~es outside the .city fr
walls. ,.i i
GRACCHUS
:
I . {nodding thoughtfully)
This Crassus moves fast. I'll look
into it.
Caesar comes up to Gracchus, leans down, whispers into the
older man ' s ear. (NOTE: We shall not name Caesar until the
climax or the forthcoming senate scene.) Gracchus makes a
face, nods, starts to draw back from the table.
GRACCHUS
(a sigh) ·
The senate's convening.
( call'ing. to woman
slave) '. I
Woman I Divide a skin or wine . a'l!long f ,
my friends.
(to group)
i At least ~ou'll .be .enjoying · your-
I . selves.
. (as he turns away) .
Don't forget the twelfth preci nct
assembly tomorrow night •. I
·j
Amid a babble of farewells~ Gracchus and Caesar EXIT.
185
and OMITTED
186
 cl #1BeS - Changae 3/10/59 73

187 EXT. SLUM STREET - ROME - DAY - FULL SHOT 187

Tenement buildings, five to seven s t ories high, shut out the
sunlight from the teeming s t reets below. Dogs, cats, children,
hucksters, dice shooters, beggars, brawlers, prostitutes,
fiercely bargaining housewives, make the day hideous with their ..
clamor. Gracchus 1 litter and Caesar's horse wait outside a ..
·1
·

shabby doori'fay, which now opens as Gracchus and Caesar ENTER

SCENE.

188 ANOTHER ANGLE - GRACCHUS .AND CAESAR 188

They move toward a carriage. A beggar-woman extends her palm
to Gracchus. Like everybody else in Rome, she knows his name.
BEGGAR WOMAN
!
,'I
Have pity, great Gracchus!
GRACCHUS
(gives her a coin)
Remember me in your prayers, grand-
mother. ·
(they continue on;
Gracchus looks at
Caesar with wise
amusement )
Don't - turn up your nose, young man.
I was born on this street.
CAESAR
I was born on the Capitoline Hill.
But :i:- moved.

GRACCHUS
I didn't. The Forum may be the
mind of Rome , but her heart and
most or her belly's right down
here in t he Fourth.Ward. I love
this street. ·r might even be
willing to die for it.
(climbs into carriage)
He settles himself. Caesar climbs in be·s ide him~ Carriage
s tarts.

188-A TRUCKillG SHOT - WITH CARRIAGE - GRACCHUS AND CAESAR 188-A

Caesar turns his fastidious eyes from the teeming street to

Gracchus.
CONTINUED
'../
 #1888 - Change 3/16/ 59 74

CAESAR
(sardonically)
And since most of them ha~_re votes,
they return your love.
GRACCHUS
(cheerfully)
Yes -- don't they though? Every
mother's son of •em votes with
Gracchus. If I were an ambitious .
young aristocrat I'd take a house
1n this ward. Cultivate these people.
Learn from them. They can 11ft you
• higher than you think. ·
(inhales deeply)
Smell . that?
CAESAR
I 1 ve been smelling it steadily.
GRACCHUS
It's the perfume or Rome. The
smell of power. We reek of power
down here. -
DISSOLVE TO
•!

188-B TRUCKING SHOT - GRACCHUS AND CAESAR - Ill CARRIAGE - STREET 18.8-B
APPROACHING FORUM
GRACCHUS
You look cheerf'~l enough after yester-
day's bad luck.
CAESAR
(a little startled)
I didn't have sud1 a. tad day, (X)
GRACCHUS
In the morning you lost 300,000
sesterces ·at th e races. In the
afternoon you were hailed up on
charges of adultery with the wife
of Callistus.
CAESAR·
And cleared.
CONTINUED I
I
~
L -····· ···· ·· ..
 mdg #1888 - Cnanges 3-16-59

188-B CONTL'W'ED 188-B

GRACCHUS
Technically. In the evening you
flogged a cormnittee of creditors,
and spent the night brawling in
your palace with sixty guests.
(pause)
Thiia morning you via1 ted y_o ur money-
lender.
I. CAESAR
At least I keep his money in action.
Where do - you get all t~is information? (X)
GRAP,QHUS
Your money-lender. You've got him
scared.
(benign smile)
I told him your future had the color
of gold.

189 INT. VESTIBULE - ROMAN SENATE - DAY~ MED. SHOT - GRACCHUS, 189
. CAESAR - GLABRUS m B. G.

as they ENTER through the great doors of the building. The

vestibule 1:s an apartment where :senators may goaaip informally,
or plan strateg-1J, while the Senate is conducting its business
in the great chamber immediately beyond. Through the open
doorway into the senate chamber proper we can catch a BACKGROUND
glimpse of the Senate in session: We HEAR the DRONE or sena-
torial VOICES, indicating that the Senate is in session .
. Gracchus, while he and Caesar are divested of their outer
garments by attendants, goes to the door, his eyes sweep the
chamber beyond, then he turns back and addresses Glabrus.
GRACCHUS
· ( to Glabrus)
Where's _the mighty Crassus?
GLABRUS
Out or the city •
. GRACCHUS
Well, at least you 1 here. .re
(mov~s to Caesar) ·
No reason to worry for Rome as long
as we~ve got Glabrus with us.
He takes Caesar's .arm·, and they pass INTO the Senate Chamber,
followed by Glabrus.
i
cl #1888 - Changes 3/ 10/ 59 76

190 INT. ROMAN SENATE - DAY - MED. SHOT TOWARD ENTRAJiCE - . 190
GRACCHUS AND CAESAR

ENTER. The Senate Chamber is an apartment of grave and sombre

magnificence. It. is a circular room, as if -the speakers' area
were th~ crescent apron or a theatre, around which two rows or
senators I seats form a semi-circle. Thus, the person who ad-
dresses the Senate stands, so to speak, in the midst of it --
a theatre in the semi-circle rather t han in the round. Behind
the two rows o~ Senatorial seats stands a low semi-ci rcular
wall, behind which are two rows of seats for guests and spec- i
tators. !
J
I
CAMERA TRUCKS with Caesar and Gracchus as they quietly take !;
their seats in the second Senatorial row, while a speech goes
on.
.SYMMACHUS
(the speaker)
From Capua they swept through the
cov.ntryside,. forcing other slaves
to. join them, looting, robbing ,
burning everything i n their path. j'
I
Now' they pause in the escarpments I
·I
of Vesuvius, wh~re each day swells !
their numbers. The situation pres-
ently lies in the hands of t his
august •body.
Ther.e 1s a BUZZ in the Senate. · Another senator arises.
LAELIUS
Not to mention over a hundred estates
that have been burned, among them,
gentlemen -- my o~m. Burned t o the
ground and threeriirllion sesterces
lost I I . propose the 1mmediat .e re-
call. of Pompey and his legions from
Spain.. · ·

191 MED. CLOSE SHOT-· GRACCHUS AND CAESAR 191

Caesar leans •to Gracchus, whispers in his ear ..
.CAESAR
I'll raise .five hundred men and
. bring the whole lot of them in·!
( starts to rise). . .1

GRACCHUS
(restraining him)
Sit down! Don't make a fool of
yourself I
ci #1888 - Changes 3/10/59 77

192 FULL SHOT - THE SENATE 192

Gracchus rises. i
i.1
GRACCHUS i~
II
Why call back the legions when the
Garrison of Rome has nothing to do
but defend us from sausage-makers?
Let.• s send Glabrus against these
scoundrels and give them a taste of
Roman steel.
LAELIUS
(in high alarm)
I protest! I most strongly protest!'
There are more slaves in Rome than
Romans. With the Garrison absent,
what's to prevent them from rising•
too?
.GRACCHUS
(to Laelius)
I d1.d not say the whole Garrison.
Six cohorts will more than do the
job. The rest can stay in Rome
to save you from your house-maids.
(turns to Glabrus)
Will you accept such a charge,
Glabrus?

193 CLOSE ON GLABRUS 193

He's pleased at the idea. He hears a rising MURMUR of approval.
He rises.
GLABRUS
I accept the charge or the Senate,
it it truly charges me. The ·oarrison
of Rome stands · ready.

ANOTHER ANGLE - 'FULL SHOT - FAVORING . GRACCHUS 194

He extends his h§lnd toward Glabrus in a gesture of gratitude.
GRACCHUS
Of c·o urse it does.
(to all)
Slave hunting's a dirty business, and
it take~ a brave commander to consent
to it. I propose that we turn the
city out tomorrow in. tribute to Glabrus
as he marches· through .' .
CONTINUED
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59 77-A

194 CONTINUED 194

BUZZ -:;,f approval .
GRACCHUS
And for temporary commander or the
Garrison during his absence., I
propose Caius Julius Caesar.
DISSOLVE TO

195 INT·. SENATE VESTIBULE - DAY ·. 195

Senators a~e passing from· the chamber into the · vastibule, and
thence out onto the broad steps cf the buildinb. They chat
quietly amongst themselves. Caesar and Gracchus pass through
the great doors onto the steps.
I
196 TRUCKING SHOT - CAESAR AND GRACCHUS - DOWN SENATE STEPS 196
They· s.t art s~owly down ~he steps .
GRACCHUS
I think you shou ld pay a visit to
the sausage-makers. Tell t hem to
meet wherever they want .
(glance)
You don't look very happy about the
new job • .
CAESAR
Why should I? Glabrus 1 ll be back.
GRACCHUS
('shrugs dubiousl y)
Maybe.
CAESAR .
(looks at him
sharply)
But this isn't a serious outbreak. ·1
I
.I
GRACCHUS
Anything can become serious. Even
the dreams of a man like Crassus .
Tha.t' s why I wanted Glabrus out of' '
the -way for a while.
i
•
· (chuckle) <J

You know, most decent Romans lovP

the Ri;public as a mother is loved . ;j
But this crassus wants t o marri her! · I
I

~OUND of O.S. CRIES and CHEERS from steps above.

• ~ l
,... 1
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59 77-B 1

197 EXT. SENATE BUILDING - TOWARD SENATE DOORS - GLABRUS

,,.,----.,
\,,·..... ; as he· passes through the door, the citizens on. the steps, as
•·,
well s.s senators who have remained, CHEER and APPT,Arrn. CRIES
of "Fail, Glabrus 1 11 "Great Glabrus I 11 "Hail I" Glabrus pleased,
bows right and left and starts down the steps attended oy a
retinue.

198 ANOTHER ANGLE - AMIDST CROWD AT BASE OF STEPS - GRACCHUS, 198

CAESAR, FDmRIA IN B.G.
FIMBRIA, an elderly man, carries a string of live pullets r.or
sale. Gracchus and Caesar are both watching the descent down
the st~ps of Glabrus. They are APPLAVDING.
GRACCHUS
(ironically)
Hail , Qlabrus, haill
( to CaP.sar)
I hope he returns to such applaus e.
He now turns to F1mbria. ''
!
GRACCHUS
.Two. fat ones, Fi-mbria.

Fimbria gives them to him; Gracchus pays.

GRACCHUS
No change. Take it to your wife .
FIMBRIA
May the gods adore you!

I GRACCHUS
Only through your prayers, Fimbria.
I CONTINUED
I
I'
i
l
~
..
·,;
-~
\: .
·.:.
\ },lJ
' ·1
:i
~
J
l
~t

_ ____
..... ·'
 mdg #1888 - Chang~s 3/10/59 77-C

198 CONTINUED 198 .. 1

GRACCHUS (Cont'd)
· (hands chicken
to Caesar)
Let's make an old-fashioned sacri-
fice £or Glabrus' success, eh?
CAESAR
(as they start off
again)
I thought you had reservations about
the gods.•
GRACCHUS
(.c huckles)
Privately I don't believe in any of
them, and neither do you • . Publicly
I believe in them all.
(bows off}
Greetings, Marcus Clodius Flaviusl
DISSOLVE TO

199 OMITTED 199

200 EXTo THE PALACE OF CRASSUS - FULL SHOT DAY 200

The travel-stained cortege of Marcus Licinius Crassus has just
drawn up to the courtyard of the palace, which is a princely
Roman residence. Crassus steps OUT of his litter, to a bowing
of slaves like wind touching a field of ripe wheat. He passes
with swift ~tep into the open patio which is the rectangular
enclosure that gives entry into the palace proper.

t
j

!· i
;
! '

...
!. i

----- ·----· _.._ ... .......- -··--··-·-·· -·· -- ··- · -·...·- ··-· __... . ........ .. .. . . .. .
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59
1;,,

201 INT. PATIO - CRASSUrcE - : ; - - -

________ . 201

As Crassus ARRIVES,/ ~ d o ~ we have seen a ~

slave market bows low in greeting, h a l ~ house-
dignitaries behind him.
CRASSUS
Send a courier to the palace of
Marcus Glabrus. I wish him to attend
me at once.
MAJORDOMO
pleasure in the

CRASSUS
cellent.
(sees something off)
What have we here?

·202 · INT •. PATIO - ANOT~ ANGLE 202

Crassus in f.g. looks shar-ply across to half-a-dozen newly-
purchased slaves in b.g. There are two middle-aged women,
three adult males, and a strikingly beautiful young man,
scarcely out of . his teens. They may, if we wish, be secured
to each other by rope. Each wears around his neck the plaque
which he wore in the slave market, announcing his name,. age,
origin., etc.
MAJORDOMO
They arrived as a gift from the
provincial government of Thessaly.
Crassus nods slowly, his eyes still on the new slave~;then he
walks across the patio, CAMERA TRUCKING with him to:

203 MED. SHOT - · CRASSUS AND ANT0NINUS ·- . FAV0RINO ANTONINUS 203

who is shy as an animal in new surroundings, and filled with
the shame of his condition. Crassus looks keenly into his
eyes.
CRASSUS
Your name?
· ANT0NINU_S
Antoninus.
CRASSUS
(gently correc~ing him)
Antoninus, master.
CONTINUED
I.

mdg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59 79

203 CONTINUED . 203

ANTONINUS
Master.
CRASSUS
Do you have a skill, Antoninus?
ANTONINUS
I am a poet. I trained the children
of my master in the classics.
CRASSUS
{thoughtfully)
A poet ••••
(nods)
You'll be my body servant.
(to majordomo}
Instruct him.
iJ
I He shoots a final keen glance at Antoninµs, and EXITS.
if
204 INT. SALON - PALACE OF CRASSUS GL.ABRUS - DAY . 204
This_ set can be as opulent as we desire -- or as .s,1 mple. ·
crassu~ lived in the style of a great prince, so at the very
least there should be a profusion of marble and gilt and
~
, .......
/ statuary. A section of one side of the salon gives onto a
_columned courtyard in which a fount~in sends up crystal spray.
Glabrus looking stern and verymartial, is pacing backand forth
before this open section of the room, ramrod-stiff, hands - I
clasped behind him, the very picture -of a hero. He snaps his
turns like a guardsman, measures his steps like a Beefeater.
He is absorbed in thoughts of l'i1.ilitary glory, stunned by the
mea·s ure of his own greatness.

ANOTHER ANGLE - TOWARD SALON ENTRANCE - CRASSUS · 205

He APPEARS in_ the doorway, advances a few steps into the room.
Th~re he stops, his eyes narrowed in speculation:, as he ob-
s~rves the stern posture of his protege. · A faint smile- of.
contempt touches his lips.
CRASSUS
Are you on guarq duty?
Glabrus, startled, whirls; then advances eagerly to his patron.
GLAERUS
My dear Crassus·J Congratulate me I
Or better still, let us congratulate
each other. ·
CONTINUED
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59 80

205 ·coNTINUED 205

CRASSUS
(dryly)
I congratulate us.
GLABRUS
Tomorrow I lead six cohorts o!' the
garrison against the slaves on
Vesuvius. The whole city's turning
out to see us otf.
A look of sheer rage mounts to Crassus' face.

CRASSUS
May the Palatine Apollo forgive met
(hastily composes
himself( manages
a smlleJ
Your pardon •. I . always address
heaven in time of triumph . Did.
Gracchus .have something to do with
this brilliant affair?
GLABRUS
(nodding) i .. .
He even proposed it. And very de- ✓
cently, too.
. . CRASSUS
(sortly) !

And you? Do you. think I made you

commander of the garrison to· control
some rock-patch on Vesuvius?
(sternly)
Nol It was to control the streets
ot Rome herself!
. GLABRUS
(placatingly)
But I only take six cohorts. The
rest of the garrison remains.
CRASSUS
Under whose command?
GLABRUS
Why --- under the command of Caesar.
CRASSUS
Oh excellent, excellent. Finding
Gracchus in control of the mob and
the senate , you fe l t impelled to .
hand the garri son over to him also,
CONTINUED
 I
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/i6/59 81
)
i..() 205 CONTINUED - 2 205
I GLABRUS
\ Only temporarily.
I · CRASSUS ~
Perhaps. In the meanwhile, one
word from Gracchus can destroy us l
all. If he chooses to speak it. ,
GLABRUS __J~
I
· Then I'll refuse .
the expedition.
I'll withdraw from ·\
llj
CRASSUS ' <: ·\°"· ll
I

· The great disadvantage of being an ) ·,J:;__ I

ar1stocrat is that occas1onally ~
you're obliged to act like one. You · \
have pledged the senate to go --- { J;,_·
go you must. f ~
. GLABRUS
But if Gracchus should move against \~ -

you
)~
\
CRASSUS
He won't. He doesn't need
has, with your assist ance, ~~ob~!iz~;--\ ·~ '-I ·
me ·altogether-.

GLABRUS
11 "
,·
\\
1'.. .:.·.t _'-. ~--·
\

Your legions are still in camp out- .~ ·, \-<,,,,..

side the city walls.
~ -~.:~~~ '
CRASSUS - ~ -~ . 1-.._ ·'\.
(softly) · ~ .... 't) . \ ..."·

The legiqns? - Do you truly believe V

I 1d · or.der· my:.legions .to enter Rome?

GLABRUS
I only. point out that you can if
you have to.
. . CRASSUS
·No man has to dQ a thing· if he wills
d1£fer~n'rryl Are you not_ aware of
Rome's· most ancient l aw that no gen-
eral may enter the city at the7iead
of his· armed legions-?
GLABRUS
_ (sullen defense)
.1· . \
'\ .. ../· Sulla did.
I

· CONTINUED
 ____________________ --
,.._. .

mdg #1888 - Changes 3/26/59

205 CONTINUED - 3 205

CRASSUS
To the infamy of his name. To the
utter damnation of his line. No,
Olabrus. One day I shall cleanse
this Rome which my tathers beaue::i~hed
me. I shall restore all the tradi -
tions that made her great. It
fo.llows that I cannot come to power
--- or even defend myself --- by an
act which betrays the most sacred
tradition of them all. I will not
bring my legions within these waITs.
I will not violate Rome at the mo-
ment ofpossessing her.
GLABRUS
But if Gracchus ---
CRASSUS
Go.I Prepare your troops at once.
M~rch out of the city tonight . ·
Leave by unfrequented streets and
withou t far.fare. Without even a
drum. Sneak out.
GLABRUS
(humbly) I
As you wish.•
CRASSUS
And remember there's nothing more
horrible than a slave war. It's
as if the world of beasts first
·began to think and then .went mad.
Please go.
He turns and EXITS. Glabrus, utterly bewildered, moves toward
the exit that gives onto the forecourt.
DISSOLVE TO
206 ·OMITTED 206
207 INT. DINING SALON - HOUSE OF GRACCHUS - GRACCHUS AND 207
BATIATUS AT TABLE
The room, altnough in a slum area, is riGhly decorated and
luxuriously furnished: G~acchus 1 entire house 1s s t affed by
slave w.omen: _ peasant girls arid women from a dozen conquered
provinces and kingdoms • . '!'hey are plainly dressed, and -wear
no make-up. One or two are on the plump side. 'l'hey are ex-
tremely c.ompetent servants, amiable and more conten~ with
CONTINUED
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/26/59 82
-I
, I
207 CONTINUED 207
their lot than most Roman household slaves. As they go about I
their work or serving the food, the occasional glances they
cast toward their master give one a feeling that they are in-
terested in him, that they like to serve him: and the gl ances
he gives them, never leering nor lasciviouo, t ell us that he
keeps an· eye on their work, and that he is fond of them all.
The .feeling is that of a wel'l-run and contented harem.
Batiatus, unshaven and clad in a tunic that ls both soiled
and worn, sits across from Gracchus, the very image of misery,
self-pity, and dignity brought low . He is extremely hungry,
and Gracchus, who eats more moderately, continually thrusts
more food upon him. Batiatus, a ruined man, is desperately
• eager to agree with everything his host says, for in this
crisis of his lit'e he sees the .Criends.hip and patronage of
Gracchus to be his only hope for -salvation.
· BATIAT'JS
How good you are to me, if I may
sal so.
GRACCHUS
You may.
BATIATUS
' Thank you.
GRACCHUS
Don 1 t Just eye the birds. Eat them.
There is no need for you to be on
your best- behavior here .
Batiatus takes a bird. Their eyes meet for a moment.
GRACCHUS
In case it puts ~ou
at your eaee, I
may as well remind you that you have
been very good to me in the ·past.
BATIATUS
I good to you? How., pray.
~-
GRACCHUS
You sold me slaves at extremely

i reas9nable prices, you -arranged

private· gladiatorial Jousts at cost,
or practically .•• you were both ·eth-
1ca1 · 1n ousineos matters and fa~
\ sighted socially .

.,.~
} BATIATUS
' .......r
I have always regarded you as my patron .
~
CONTINUED
.,
r
}
 [
!
#1888 - Changes 3/26/59 83 I
..
. '
l
207 CONTINUED - 2 207 I
.i
GRACCHUS I
We both have a tendency towards
corpulence. Corpulence makes a .l
man reasonable, pleasant, phlegmatic.
Have you noticed that the nastiest
or tyrants were invariably thin •••
depressingly thin?
BATIATUS
No, I hand't noticed that, but now
that you mention 1 t ,. how profound •
. (takes a great
deal or :food)
GRACCHUS
Now-~-let us mix business with
pleasure. How may I help you?
BATIATUS
(his mouth full)
Believe me, I f~nd it hard to hate,
but there 1s one man I cannot think
of without fuming.
GRACCHUS
And who 1s that?
BATIATUS
Crasaus.
GRACCHUS
(genuinely surprised)
You have grown very ambitious in
your ·hatred.
BATIATUS
Haven't I every reason, great.
Gracchus.? There I was, better than
• a millionaire in the morning -- by·
nightfall a penniless refugee, with
only my poor ·r1esh and a few rags
to call my own, and all because
Crassus decid.e s to break his journey
at Capua. with a couple of· capricious,
overpainted nymphs, the widow of
Lucius Caius Marius, whose execution
deli'ghted us all,and the daughter .
of that s.u peram.mated oaf Septimus
Optimus Glabrµs whose son made such
a royal mess of the Eastern Wars.
These two spoiled daughters of Venus
insisted on taunting the gladiators ,
then had ·them fight to the death
CONTINUED
 I
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/26/59 84

207 CONTINUED - 3 207 .I

I
i

BATI ATUS (Cont'd) :·)

1
next thing I kne_w, I had a revolu- ; !
tion on my hands .
GRACCHUS
(staring at him) I
Have you_ever thought of entering
politics? You woul~'t last long, r
l'
but it would be a colorful career
for a week or two ••• what revenge
have you in mind?
BATIATUS
I . sold him a woman, Varinia,. may the
gods gives her wens. I din't even
ge t a deposit on her, but she was
clearly his· $lave from the instant
our deal was made. Now she's off
w1 th Spartacus,. murdering people
in their beds, and he has made ·no
mention of the money.
GRACCHUS
You never offered me this woman.
Why not?
BATIATUS
She i sn't remotely your type. Thin.
GRACCHUS
Look around you. You will see
women of all sizes .
(slaps money on
table) .
Five hundred sesterces deposit on
Var.inia. Since tie hasn't paid for
her this gives .me first call over
-cr·a ssus· when she I s .caught and ·
auctioned.
BATIATUS
May the gods adore youl But why do
you buy a woman you've never seen?
GRACCHUS
To annoy Crassus, of course. And
to help you.
BATIATUS
In spite of your v1.,-:es, you are. the
most generous Roman of cur time!
CONTINUED

[ ____
~-- - - - - - -- -- - --- -- ··-

j'
l I
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/36/59 85 t

,,,,......_,_ . '1
, \ 207 CONTINUED - 4 207
I \ /
) GRACCHUS I
Vices? i
!
I The ladies.
BATIATU'S
.,i I
I,
GRACCHUS ,f
•i '
(grunting)
The ladies. Since when are they a II I .
vice? Ii
BATIATUS .I
Not a vice. I used the wrong word.
An eccentricity, a foible -- I
trust I pronounce that properly --
why, even your butler and your groom
j
are women.
~:
~!
Amazons.
GRACCHUS
I am the most virtuous man
(
).
in Rome. ~

BATIATUS
!
1
How extraordinary, yes.
!
GRACCHUS '
I keep these women because of my
respect for Roman morality.
BATIATUS
(dark daylight)
Ah -- 1
GRACCHUS
That morality which has made Rome
strong enough to steal two-thirds
of the world from its rightful own-
ers. Founded on the sanctity of
Roman marriage. The Roman family.
Try .t he ·sauce.

BATIATUS
The sauce. Thank you.
GRACCHUS
(ruminative)
The sauce. I 1 m a sensual man. I
happen to like women. I have a
promiscuous nature, And unlike
these. aristocrats, I refuse to take
a marriage vow which my nature -wil l
prevent me from keeping.
CONTINUED
 mdg #1B88 - Changes 3/36/59 85-A

207 CONTINUED - 5 207

BATIATUS
You've too great a respect for the
1·
purity of womankind.

II
GRACCHUS
Exactly.
BATIATUS
I
{a!'ter a moment's
j reflection - looking
around)
It must be tantalizing to be sur-
rounded by so much purity.
GRACCHUS
(sighing)
It is.· Mind you, I don I t include
slaves under the heading of woman-
kind. That would be revolutionary
thinking. I am not like t his mur-
derous Spartacus who demands an
impossible future with no slavery
at all but nor am I like Crassus,
who lives in the past and who can't
imagine a world withou~ slavery .
I live in. that most difficul t of
all times -- the present. I have
no ambitions to tame the elements.
Like a gr eat ship, I am conscious
of-wind and tide, and I obey them
only in order to stay a!'loat. The
future is for dreams, the past for
regrets. The present !'or livi ng.
BATIATUS
.(humbly)
Like a small ship, .I. settle in your
wake, and seek protection.
{indicating one
of the girls) ·
May I?
GRACCHUS .,l
I believe in total hospitality.
Enjoy the purity of your surround-
ings.
SOUND of HORSES' HOOVES against the pavement outside; the
TRAMP of MARCHING FEET.
ORACCffiJS
Listen --- I
CONTINUED

. I
iI
- I
.. ·--- !
mdg #1888 - Changes 3/26/59

207 CONTINUED - 6 207

He rises like a cat, makes for the front door of his house .
Batiatus following .

208 208
and OMITTED and .- 1
209 209

210 MED. CLOSE SHOT - GRACCHUS AND BATIATUS 210

A knowing smil e comes to Gracchus' face. He smiles at the
II
I
discomfiture of his enemies, and the pains he has put them to :I
I
1n order to disengage themselves, at least partially, from j I
the trap he has set. I
I
GRACCHUS
The garri son. What a pity. I had II
such a splendid farewell planned
for them .
I
. (shrugs., smiles)
Crassus has returned to hi s nest,
an~ found my gift. A cuckoo ' s egg.
I
'

BATIATUS
Noble bird .
DISSOLVE TO

211 INT. CRAssus• · PALACE- MARBLE BATHROOM CRASSUS AND SLAVES 211
NI GHT
A sunken tub in. its center .dominates this magnificent apart-
ment. Crassus lolls at his ease in the tub. Two slaves stand
at his head, alert to his every want . A third slave, on hands
and knees, shampoos his master ' s hair. Some distance
CON'ITNUED
-------- ------ -- - ----- - -··- .. --

mdg #1888 - Changes 3/26/59 85-C

211 CONTINUED · 211

I away stands Antoninus, silent and watchful and withdrawn, hold~
)
1ng a folded robe over one arm. crassus, as we COME IN on
the SCENE, is in the course of a gentle, ironic inquisition
ot his ne,..,, young slave.
.l
CRASSUS
Do you steal, Antoninus?
11
ANTONINUS
No. ll
I
CRASSUS
No, Master.
ANTONINUS
No, Master ..
CRASSUS
. Do ypu lie?
ANTONINUS
No, Master.
CRASSUS
Have you ever dishonored the gods?
ANTONINUS
No, Master.
CRASSUS
Do you refrain from these vices
out of respect tor the moral virtues?
CONTINUED
Js . #1888 86 ,

211 CONTINUED . 211 -r

:· I

ANTONINUS
Yes, Master.
CRASSUS
Do you eat oysters?
ANTONmtrS
When I have them.

CRASSUS
Do you eat snails?
ANTONINUS
No, Master.
Crasaus laughs softly.
CRASSUS
Do you •cons1der the eating of oysters ;
to be moral, and-· the eating ot snails !
to be immoral? f
i
ANTONINUS .l
I . - - - I don't think so. i
i
t

' CRASSUS
0:f course not, It' s a matter of
appetite, isn't it?
ANTONINUS
Yes, Master.
CRASSUS
Anappetite has nothing to do with
morals, has it?
ANTONINUS
No, ·Master.
CRASSUS
(to servant)
I'm finished.
One servant assists him from the tub, while anothe~ swathes
him completely in a deep-pile towel.. Crassus, paying them ·
no heed, continues to keep his eyes on Antoninus, and addresses
him throughout the above action.
CRASSUS
Therefore no appetite is immoral,
is 1t? It's -~erely d1rferent.
ANTONINUS
. Yes, Master.
CONTINUED
 js 87

211 CONTINUED - 2 211

While the two servfillts are ~~tting Crassus dry through the .,
swathing towel, a third powd~rs his feet. I
CRASSUS
My r obe, Antoninus.,
'
I
I
i:i; I:
Antoninus slowly approaches his master, uni'olds the robe, and :I ,
holds it forth for himo As the towel is removed, the robe "I
H
,.
replaces it . ·,
CRASSUS q
My appetite includes both snails ',I
and oyste:i:-a. ~
H
· A servant has now placed soft white kid sandals on his feet . '
Without a word to ·anyone, Crassus turns and EXITS into his
.I
bedchamber. •'
~I
•~~
. 212 INT.- CRASSUS 1 BEDCHAMBER - NIGHT - CRASSUS 212 '.I
as he ENTE.'C:{S this spacious _a partment; he HEARS the SOUND of
marching men • . He crosses swiftly, throws open the French doors I
t hat l ead onto .the narrow balcony beyond, looks down into the
street . He turns, calls out:
CRASSUS
Antoninus!
ANTON.Il'nJSi VOICE
(from within)
Yes, Master?
CR.ASSUS
Come here. Onto the ba·l cony . There's
somet hing you must see.

2 13 EXT·~ BALCONY - .CRASSUS AND ANTONINUS - NIGHT 213

Antoninus, his 1'ace pale arid wary, reluctantly COr.iES ONTO the ..
balcony . '·

CRASSUS
Down ·t hereo 11
I!
t
214 REVERSE ANGLE~ FROM BALCON".f 1'0 DARKENED .NIGHT STRF:E'r 214 II
i.
The City Garris on is defiling through the street, s·:1.1ently, !
evers,1 foot in the dull , brute r.'hythm of Rome . This somrn '
cont inues throughout our SCENE .
CRASSUS 1 VOICE
There, ycu see Rome. The might ,
tl'?.e majezty, t he t -;rror of Rome.
!
I ·,
IL ·---- i
I
 -~- - - - - - - -- - - -- -- - - -- ·-- -

mdg #1888 - Changes 7 /6/59 88

215 MED. CLOSE SEOT - CRASSUS AND AN'l'ONINUS ON BALCONY LOOKING 215 .I
DOWN - lITGHT
·I
Craasus' eyes are still on the marching cohorts ~elow. Here, l
he is speaking not only 0£ the power of Rome, but of' crassus
also. ;I
CRASSUS
There is the power that bestrides
;I
the known world, like a colossus.
No nation can w:1.thstand Rome. No
man can withstand her. And how much
leas - a boy.
He cl~sps bot h of his handa tightly against the balcony rail-
. ing, continues.

CRASSUS
(boy edges toward . '
end or 'balcony)
There's only one way to deal with
Rome, Antoninus. You must serve
he~. You must abase yourself bef'ore
.her. You must grovel at her ~eet.
Silently Antoninus, with a frantic backwarj look, scrambles
onto the b~lcony ledge, jumps, DISAPPEARS below into the night.
SOUND or marching feet covers all SOUNDS of hls lar.ding, or
any outcry •. i lI
;
·;. '
CRASSUS !' I'
You must love her.
(siiiIIes ·to himself)
Isn't that true, ~nto!linus?
When he recei ve a no answer, .he turns. H:1.s race goes wh1 te
as he con:t'ronts t he empty balcony. He turns, rushes i nto his
bed chamber.
- CRASSUS
Anto.r..inu.s J Antoninus J

DISSOLVE TO

216 OMITTED 216

I
L-, ..
 r - - -~ ---·-·---- -·-
1 I
l

89
:i
bm #1888 -· Changes 6/24/59

/\ 217 FULL WIDE ANGLE - CAMP OF SPARTACUS AT VESUVIUS - DAY 217

•• ( I .1
I
·,
.
~
.... /
The lofty, tree-ringed redoubt teems with activity. Carpen- - ,
ters repair wagons, setting up rude s.tructures; butchers ..i
1 slaughter animals and fowl, prepare them for cooking; there ·.]

Ii
is. a centl'al t'ood depot, and ovens with women baking bread,
spits with halves of beeves roasting above them. The vari·e ty
of trades is infinite. Most importantly, we see the COlllill.unity
of male slaves receiving training exactly like that which was
._. ·· r·.

,1
received by the· gladiators at Capua, yet more severe, The :j•
Capua machines are in use; trainees carry t he log beams, they 1
·
chin with the weight or rocks, they work with the awords---yet \ '
everything has a quicker tempo than at Capua, everything has a 11
greater air of determination bacause, of course, it is voluntary. !
In far t.g. teams or men scale the rocky sides or the escarpment, ·1

crawling u.p like !'lies, then leaping down incredible distances. ,,

!{
218 MED. SHOT OF ENCAl4PMENT - SPARTACUS. - DAY 218 ~1
Re is riding through t~e camp, observing all the activity. il!l l
He approaches Crixus who is supervising the training of the ",,'
men. '.j
!~
SPARTACUS
How are they doing?
,,..
CRIXUS
Give me s. thousand more like them and
we can ma?>Ch on Rome! ·
Spartacus tAUGHS, rides on.
219 DIFFERENT CAMP AREA - NEW' RUNAWAYS - GUARD, DAVID THE JEW - 219 . j
DAY
The newly arrived escapees are ragged, dirty, hopeful---and
much impressed with the varied. ac.t ivity they se.e on all sides o
At all times SOUNDS of training, of. calls and orders, should
pervade these sceneso A.~ong the newcomers is Antoninus. The
latter ·1s s _t.11,1 clad in . the r .i ch ga·rments in which we las.t sew
him, but dirty and ragged from ·travelo They are all listening
attentively to David the Jew, to whom they have been conductedo
DAVID .!
i
Here on Vesuvius we're safe from
a-t tack while we organize ourselves
into an army. It may take six months,
it may take a year, we don't know.
Once we 1 re strong enough, we're going
to fight our way· south to ~he see.
We're going to arrange for ships with
Cilicianso . Then the sea will be a
road home for us ~11. If you agree,
you may join us. If you don't a gree
---go back before your es~ape is
discovered.

L - . ··- -·- . ·- .... - .. ,._,_,

 bm #1888 - Changes 6/24/59 90

219 CONTINUED 2·1 9 : I

!
There is a MURMUR among the escapeeso A middle-aged Man who :I
appears to be their leader finally speaks for them.
FIRST SLAVE
We want to stay.
OLD CRONE
.And we want to see Spartacus.
Spartacus has just ENTERED., and has watched them. briefly:
thoughtfully.
SPARTACUS
(.advancing)
I 1m Spartacus.
They stare at -him with something close to awe---a slave who has
rebelled against his master and still lives.
SPARTACUS
( tr owning) .
You people bring too many women. ·
The Old Crone., ragged and almost toothless, leaps forward, faces
him at a foot's distance, her eyes blazing •
• OLD CRONE
'What·1 s wrong with women? Where
would Spartacus be now if some .
woman hadn't gone through all the
pains of hell to bring him into
this accursed world? I c·a n handle
a knii'e in the dark as well as any-
oneo . I. can .lie and cast spells and
brew poisons., and I've made death
shrouds for seven Roman masters 1n
my timeo · Have you?

Spartacus, frowning with amusement at her ferocity, reaches out

swiftly, places the flat of his hands against her bodJ beneath
her arms, as one does with a child:- and lifts her clear oft the
ground, until she is staring down at him while his laughing face
looks directly into herso
SPARTACUS
All right, grandmother---stay with
USo We'll need a million Roman
shrouds before we 1 re through!
He swings ber to the groundg turns to the general group.
' . CONTINUED

·•--
i
.... - - - - --, .... , _ ,.,, .
• ... , • I
bm #1.888 - Changes 6/24/59 91

219 CONTilfGED - 2 . 219

SPARTACUS
Our rules are simple: hard' work, no
·s tealing, and the women belong to
them.selves. Now where are you
people from?
FIRST SLAVE
Most of us come from the estate of
Quintus Laelius. ·
SPARTACUS
(nodding) .
What work did you do there?
FIRST SLAVE
Sixteen years a carpenter and mason.
SPARTACUS
We need .carpenters.
( to next man)
What do . you do?
SECOND SLAVE
I was. chief steward in the house-
hold of Quintus Laelius.
, SfARTACUS
Tb:en you can take charge of our
rood supplies . Report to the
woman Varinia.
(passes to Antoninus,
notices his clothes,
feels his garments)
Well. What kind of work did you do?
ANTONINUS
I 1 m. -~ ·singer of songs • .
SPARTACUS
umni. A pet slave •
.Antoninus does not reply. His eyes flashing, he merely looks
at Spartacus.
SPARTACUS.
(amusing the ·c rowd
and him.a e li' )
Di you do anything else?

(resent~ully)
ANTONINUS
.
I juggle. I perform tricks of
i
!

magice
CONTINUED
 ha #1888 - Changes 6/25/59 92
L
'
219 CONTINUED - 3 219 l

SPARTACUS
Ahl Magic. We need all the magic
we can find up here.
(to crowd)
Maybe he can tnake the Romans dis-
appear.
(back to
Antoninus)
It you're going to stay here you'll
have to learn something useful.
Patulus will teach you to be a
butcher. Crixus will teach you to
kill with the short sword. We want
men here .... not poetsJ
He turns away from them, EXITS. Antoninus is still flushed from
embarrassment and anger.
DISSOLVE TO

220 CLQSE SHOT• ANTONINUS .. BY FIRELIGHT• NIGHT

He is juggling three eggs. As he completes a very brief
routine with them, CAMERA DRAWS BACK with his action, to revea.r:
:f
;i,
221 GROUP AROUND CAMPFIRE - SPARTACUS, VARINIA, DIONYSIUS, DAVID,
CRIXUS,- SUCH OTHERS AS ARE NEEDED .. NIGHT
221 jj
• I
ii
ANTONilIUS '..
'
~ !

Each of you take an egg and hold it. :; .

. ·r

Re hands an egg to David,. to Varinia, and to Spartacus •

. . SPARTACUS
(smiling)
Thanks. I haven't bad an egg in
days.

ANTONINUS
You ms.y not hava one yet. Some- ;
times there are chicks inside. ' ;

(to Varinia)
Crack yours open. Carefully.
1 She cracks her egg; opens it; a tiny yellow canary- cheeps; jumps
out· onto her finger, takes wing. Genera~astonishment. Varini a
I laughs.

I
ANTONINUS
J (to David)
You crack yours.
CONTINUED
 bm #1888 -· Changes 6/24/59 93

221 CONTINUED 221

All eyes on David; he cracks his- egg; another canary :flies out.,
tliokers directly to a tree, perches. Increased awe.
ANTONINUS
(to Spartacus;
faint sa2>cas01 )
Crack yours -- General.
Spartacus., lips pursed, begins to crack his egg. He is cupping
his hands about it awkwardly.
SPARTACUS
) . (as he cracks)
This i's one bird that isn't going
to get away.
He· separat~s the shell--~and his hands are covered with running
s
e.gg. Moment ot shocked 1lence while he stares at the mess.
David bursts into hearty laughter. Escapees titter nervously.

222 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS 222

Slowly he lifts . his face and ~yes from the mess in his hands
to· the face of Antoninus. He is compelled to smile.

222-A GROUP SHOT 22·2-A

DAVID
Ma~be we'd better go on to the
~ongs.

223 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING ANTONINUS 223

He swallows the laughter · :that :Cills his face, picks· u.p b.is
. stringed ·instrument, STRUMS an opening chord or two. The
CHORDS serve to quiet the merriment of the preceding enter-
tainment. CAMERA MOVES from Antoninus to the faces of other
principals, registering· their reactions as Antoninus' voice
takes commapd of their etruotions:
ANTONINUS
(quietly., and with
deep .feeling and · ·
dignity)
When the blazing sun hangs low in the western skies,
When the wind dies away on the mountain,
When the song 0£ the ·mea dowlark turns still.,
When the field-locust clicks no more in the field.,
When the sea-foam sleeps like a maiden at re s t,
And twilight touches the shape or the wondering world,
CONTINTJED

... ., - - .... ,. '. ·- ·- . ..

 ·!
94
and ; ·J
mdg #1888 - Changes 6/29/59
95 I

223 CONTINUED 223 i

ANTONINUS (Cont'd)
I turn nome.
I
Through blue shadows
And purple woods
Ii
I turn home. ;1
I turn to the place I was born,
To the mother _w~o bore me, r ;
The father who taught me,
And the god who watched over that place
Long Ago; long and long; long ago.
iiiI'1'
1j
· Alone am I now, a-l ost and alone, I·11
In a far, wide-wandering world; I
Yet still when the blazing sun hangs low,
When the wind .dies away,
_When the sea-foam sleeps, i
I
I
I
And twilight touches the wondering earth, I
l.

I turn home.
Through blue and purple-shadowed woods I go,
Bewitched by the distant bellowing of cows,
And the smell of pine-smoke,
And a faraway light,
And the voices of kinfold
Together at night ••.
The last chord quivers from the strings of Antoninus' .instrument , id
and his voice dies into silence which continues for a long moment-.. ::
Var1n1a breaks it : ,·i
VARINIA
(a whisper)
Oh Antoninus., I love it., I do love
1 t. . . I .

Antoninus. nods ·gravely: he ·does too • . Spartacus stirs, rises on

one elbow.., · stares intently across at the youth. I.

f'
I
SPARTACUS
Where did you learn songs like that?
ANTONINUS
My father taught me.
SPARTACUS
Who did you sing them for?
ANTONINUS
My masters. •
' '
''
CONTINUED
 mdg 61888. Changes 6/29/59 96

I· 223 CONTINUED - 2 223

SPARTACUS
I - was wrong, poet ••. you will not
learn to kill. You will teach us
songs.
ANTONINUS
I joined to fight.
SPARTACUS
(simply)
• No. Anyone can learn to fight.
ANTONINUS
I want to fight.
SPARTACUS
(pauses)
There's a .time for fighting .•. and
the~e 1 s a time f'or singing. Now
you will teach us to sing. Sing,
Antoninus.
Re turns away, the matter settled. He and Varinia EXIT. As
they do so, Antoninus strikes perhaps two more CHORDS, sharp,

224
loud, angry. ·

TRUCKING SHOT - SPARfACUS AND VARINIA - NIGHT 224

l
Moving through the darkened encampment together, SOtJNDS of' a
new MUSICAL THEME coming o.s. in diminishing volume f'rom
Antoninus and his group.
VARINIA
You like him, don.' t you?
SPARTACUS
· · An19ne can. learn to tight. But to
s1:ng -beaut1f'ul things and make you
believe them. Var1.l'.'.1a, when· does 1 t
begin?
VARINIA
What troubles you, Spartacus?
J
SPARTACUS
l 0
I'm free and what do I know? I
don•t even know how t o ~ , varinial
l VARINIA
You know things that can't be
1
taught.
- /-
CONT!:t-fJED

.., ,_,. .. - . . ~
1
.. - ------------- -· .~
 97
:-f
#1888 - Changes . 6/29/59 &
98 il
,
I
( ··-·\
··<
224 CONTDWED 224
I,
I j
<....'· , · "SPARTACUS '

I
~

I know.nothing. Nothing. I want to

know - and I want - I want to know -
.
At some point in the scene, CAMERA bas halted with our char-
acters., delivering them to the place and position in which
their love scene 1s to be played.
S~e draws his head back to her lap., crosses h1m. He stares up
a·t the warm summer slcy'.
VARINIA
Know what?
SPARTACUS
(dreamily, yearningly)
~veryth1ng. ·why a star falls and a
bird doesn•t. Where the sun goes at
n1g~t •. Why the moon...changes shape.
l · (sof't breez.e f'lutters her
· hair;, he toilches the look)

I~
. I want to know where the wind comes
trom.
VARINIA .
(responding to his touch)
'••·-:~ The wind begin:, 1n a c·a ve •
.._ /
(as if remembering)
Far to the north a young god slee-ps ,.
1u that cave~ He dream~ ot' a girl.
And be ·s ighs. And the night wind ·
stirs with his breath.
SPARTACUS
I want to kriow ·why a man:•'·c an love so
much and .hate at the same time. And
I want .to know about you •. I want to
know every part or you. · Every curve
·and line. · .Eve:r7 thought. Every
beat 0£ y.our beart.
' '

··vARINIA
(kissing his cheeks, his
eyes; his · throat)
Learn me. ··Memor 1ze me •••
She kissea·h1a·11pa, and he hera: on this night, th~y con-
ceive their child.
DISSOLVE TO·
 , r
!

dg #l888 - Changes 6/24/59

) et iV-l- ~ :: :
, . ht
~~
?
,
98-A
I
,.- ··,\ 225 CLOSEUP - GLADIATOR - !TIGHT \\'D t) -' r -.i,.• ·-' 1 22$
i :\·\. ·. ....
Actually he is mounted on a horse riding .t"Ull tilt. His ft1ce
is pal.e, shocked. He SROUTS ash goes:
f
MOUN~GLADL~ TOR 0.
Romanal Romansl
~/f. \~ ~/ /
'
I

I
!
226 FULL TRUCKING S!lO'.l' - WITH Tl!E llORSEMAN - Jll:!:Gll'.r . \

He· has just whipped his horse over the periphery pr the r~-
doubt, i~ now riding wildl~ through the encampm_,2t•
• ! !'--'' , '226

MOUNTED .GL~DIATOR
Tb.e Garrison or RomeJ Theytre in
the Valleyl

227 . FLASH SHOTS - GROUPS OF SLAVES AUD DlDIVIDUALS 227

They· start up, panicked, grab children or -possessions, and
start running aimlessly in v.arious directions.
CRIES
Romansl The Romans are hereJ
Etc • .

228 MED. CLOSE SHOT - SP ARTACU$ AND VARIMIA 228

Startled,. they rise~ ·as cries of "Romans 1 tt come from the
throats of a dozen other sentries on t he periphery of the
encampment. They start OFF at once. '

. "229 CENTRAL AREA IDTC~MPMENT - FULL SHOT - AROUND F!!1E ·- NIGHT 229

o.s. CRIES redouble. All are leaping .to their feet, talking
excitedly, ·some ·rushing oft, other.s ,fron1 other areas :running
up.

230 .FLASH SHOT - MAN RUNNING WILDLY THROUGH SLAVE· C01·lMUNITY - 230
NI.GK'?
f
His face is stark with terror.
i MAN

I Romans l
( top or voice)
Run for. your 11 ves l fuml

-.
 . •.il

ij
gl #1888 - Changes 6/26/59 98-B
I.
.1 ,
.I
2.:31 CENTRAL AREA - FILLED WITH SLAVES AND GLADIATORS - NIGHT 231
Man of our previous s \lot rushes IUTO SCENE, amidst growing
signs o~ panico He is still SHOUTING, and others begin to :I
join. Crixus steps up swiftly 1 fells the man with one blow.
Dionysius, Old Crone and many others are in scene.
CRIXUS
( ra.i n1ng kicks on
moaning figure)
You coward of a house slave•&
Spartacus arrives IN SCENE 6 touches Crixu.s• arm.
SPARTACUS
(quie t ly)
Leave him alone •.
By now the area is crowded, with new a1•ri:vals. They all
watcli Spartacus and Crixus. Spartacus reaches down, takes
the man by the arm6 helps him (not too gently) to rise.
SPARTACUS
Where do you think you 1 d run to?

e 232 CLOSE TRUCKING SHOT - A YOUNG GIRL CHILD 233

She has been terrified by the shouting, and now rushe s through
the group, running as hard as she can, and CRYING loudly,
tears strea~~ng do~-n he r frightened little race.
LITTLE GIRL
I want to go home! I want to go
homeJ

233 FULL SHOT - GROUP - ·FAVORING SPARTACUS AN'D CHILD 233

i
Something about the urgent terror in the infant·• s voice pro-
. duces a lull ~n the excited conversation. As the child crosses
' Spartacus 1 . pate., :i.:; bends down, sweeps her into his arms.
LITTLE GIRL
(sobbing)
I wa,1t to 8,0 ~ 1
Spartacus lii'te the child, h.o::!..ds it in front oi' his face,
smilea into her wide 9 f'righter.ed, lonely eyes.
CO?lTINUED
gl #1888 - Changes 6/26/59

233 CONTINUED 233

SPARTACUS
(gently)
Shb.b.1. Shhhhh:
(child quiets,
looks at him
. curiously)
Now what is it?
LITTLE GIRL
(more coherently,
although dry sobs
still come)
I ~ant to g-g-go h-b.ome.J
Spartacus draws her close to his shoulder, cuddles her th.ere.
SPARTACUS
(tenderly}
We have no home. We're free.
The crowd is not completely silent. Still holding the child
to his breast, Spartacus turns, faces Crixus, smiles.
SPARTACUS
Well, Cr1xus---vou 1 ve b~en wanting .
to march on Rome. We don 1 t ·have to
now. Rome I s come to us •.
He hands the child to Varinia, who takes it lovingly.
SPARTACUS
( to all ot them)
Now let's see what we :s.do about
·this army ·o f theirs. .
He starts off, others· follow.i ng qui, tly, confidently.
I DISSOLVE TO

234 ROMAN ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT

) C l\.12.:C(t·/') 234
The entire cs.mp is in flail}.es; · CLAMOR of diminishing ba.ttlej
hundreds of slave figures carrying torches, passing at a run
through the destroyed Roman encampment.
I
f:
~ ';I
'
I
_,,,....'\
l .,, ..,....,J
gl #1888 - Changes 6/26/59 98•D Ii
I 235 SHOTS OF BATTLEFIELD - BY FIRE AND TORCHLIGHT
Men, women and children are pass i ng through a sea or dead
235

I
Romans., s earching the bodies, stacking arms, organizing
looted supplies, hitching horses and mules to carts.
i

236 INT o GLABRUS HEADQUARTERS TENT - NIGHT 236

Present are Spartacus, David, Crixus, others. '!hey are
systematically going through chests, papers, etc.
SPARTACUS
{sni!':Cing deep)
Place smells like a rose-garden.
(picks up .
lega.t e ts wand)
· What's this?
DAVID
The Commander's baton.
Spartacus makes a 11 ttle face, thrusts it inside his belt.··
· Antoninus, bearing the stains and bruises of battle, ENTERS.
Ii
f
I
ANTONINUS !
They're bringing in a prisoner.
~e only one they could find alive. I
CONTINUED
i

I!
j !
i;
I I

/j

I
,.I
 ps #1888 Change's 6/25/59

CONTINUED
SPARTACUS
I've been look~ng for you.
ANTONINUS
{cletensively)
What did you expect me to do?
SPARTACUS ·
(grin)
What you did. You tought well, too.
Rising SHOUT from outside; all start ror tent exit.

I
f
I 231 EXT. OLABRUS HEADQUARTERS TENT - PULL SHOT - TORCHLIGHT -
NIGHT
237

A glad1ator is ·J ust · dragging Glal:>rus up the steps onto the plat-

form. Olabrus 1s panting, and so many have kicked or struck
out· at him as the gladiator bore him through the crowd that
he is understandably daz.ed. The gladiator delivers. him onto .
the platform and Spartacus; David, D1onys1us and the others
EMERGE rrom the headquarters tent. Crowd in UPROAR of enthusi-
asm. Spartacus moves up to the captive, peers at him. ,.,
SPARTACUS
Put a light on h1m! \
1\ d
y)>\ \/\ f
NJ.,\'/
;

A torch 1s thrust full into Glabrus' race, .1n such a way that
the audience will reasonably feel that he cannot clearly recog-
nize the features around him because or the glare in his eyes.
He stands 1n the glare, ·exhausted, panting, his head sunk.
SPARTACUS
Look at me, Roman! Should you hang
J
your head in the presence. of slaves?
Glab'rus ra1se.s hJ:s ·.head, looks at. Spartacus.
SPA:FtTACUS
That's better. And stop shaking.
What•a your name?
GLABRUS
(hideously ashamed) .._
Marcus Glabrus, Commander of the
Garrison o~· Rome.
HUBBUB from crowd that presses in on all sides, as far as
CAMERA extends.
GLADIATOR
(short laugh)
He was cozrur.anding it on his belly
when we found him. Playi ng dead.
CONTINUED

i.... ... .
 ir
I I

bm #1888 - Changes 6/24/59 98-F

i.l
237 CONTINUED 237
\ ······"' · j
J ;
Spartacus goes over to. Glabrus11 t'ingers the tunic he wears,
looks at the golden brace1et on his wrist. Glabrus, out of
tear end shame, wilts againo
;
I
SPARTACUS I
Stand upl That ' s better. That's \
the way a noble Roman should stand -i '
before his mastero Do you think ! -j
we rre going to k111 you? Are you
afraid of dying? You shouldn't be .
Raven 1·t yot.\ seen enough gladiators
in the arena to learn how easy it
is to. ~ie? Of course you have.
Speak to me, Romano
Crixus EMERGES, clad 1n p1umed belmetD cloak and breastplate.
GLABRUS
\olhat are you going· to do to me?
CRIXUS
Let •s have s matched pair---bim and
I'
me.,

CRIES of approval from the crowd.

SPARTACUS
(nodding)
That's a good ideao
(to Glabrus).
Shall we strip you down to your
loincloth ·and give you a knife and
find out for ourselves the color
of Roman blood?

GLA.BRUS
(sullen pride)
I'll not fight -like .a . gladiator.
YELLS ot resentment from crowdo
SPARTACUS
Maybe you _should haveo And your
men tooo You might have won.
{pause) .
You fil fight .tonight, didn't you?
LAUGHTER tr.om the crowdo
Crixus draws his sword from the scabbard and advances toward
Glabrus.

· CONTINUED
dg #1888 - Changes 7/6/59 98-G I
237 CONTilWED - 2 237
CRIXUS
(fiercely)
There's only one thing to do with
a Roman -- kill him!
SPARTACUS
No, Cri.xus. Put your sword back.
Cri.xus reluctantly lowers his sword. The crowd, torn between
disappointment and curiosity, quiets to see what will happen.
Spartacus reaches into his belt-, withdraws the ivory baton
which he picked up while inside the tent.
SPARTACUS
{holding it close
to Glabrus' face)
Do you recognize this be.ton? You
should. The man who carries it
carries all .t he power of the senate,
aJ,.l the power of Rome.
· (breaks it, thrusts
it into Glabrus 1 belt)
Take it back to your senate. Tell
rr'
I

them you and that broken s t ick are

all that's left of the Garrison. of I

ca
Rome. Tell them we donrt want any-
thing except our freedom. Tell them
all we want is to get out of this
cursed Tell tnem we 1 re
marching outh),t o the sea, and we .111
smash ever hey send against
ual
( to ·others)
Put him on a horse%
While the crowd HOWLS its delight; Glabrus is rushed OFF the
.platform and onto the back of a horse • .
CROWD
B-ackwardl
Tie- him on backward! l
. I
To ·ROARS of LAUGH.TER he. is reversed. A sword smacks the
horse's rump ••• The horse bolts forward, .runs OUT of the
scene . pursued by HOWLS of LAUGHTER.
SPARTA-CUS
Now we can start for brundusium1
 II
I dg #1888 - Changes 7/6/59 98- .H l
thru II
I (',. . . _
98- M
WIDER ANGLE - PORTION OF' SLA.VE COMHUNITY 238
I
I
·•
!
238
I -~- /
waving their torches, SffOUTING, ad libbed ROARS:
AD LIBS I
To the seal
To the sea!

239 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS

His face is now filled with joy end exultation.
PISSOLVE TO

240
240 thru
thru OMITTED
247 247

i
I i
! l
. i
: I

.l ;
 l
I
cl #1888 Changes 3/11/59 99 I:
!;
248 INT. ROMAN SENATE - DAY - FULL SHOT 248

I
. · ....... . .·'

The benches are full. Symmachus is at the podium. Standing

beside the podium, erect, lllma.culately uniformed, and filled
with shame, Glabrus is concluding his report of the catastro_p hy
that befell his six cohorts of the Garrison.
GLABRUS
i:
!: :l
He said their hatred of Rome was '
1 '

such that all they wished was to

excape from her rule. If unopposed,

I he promised a peaceful march t o the

sea. If opposed~ he threatens to
ravage the countryside and destroy
evecy. legion sent against him.
iII
I
I '

SYMMACHUS . I
And once they get to the sea?
.GLABRUS
They plan to take ship with the
Silician pirates and return t o
their homes.
SYMMACHUS
From which port do they propose
to embark?
GLABRUS
Brundusium. City- garrisons can't
stand up to them. If they'rP. to
be intercep t ed, 1t 1 s work for the
legions.
LAELIUS
(interrupting)
e p ted I This Spartacus has i
lrea4,y cos.t us a thousand millicn !
.I
-~~~ · ces! If now he wants to re- ·!

lieve us of his ·r11thy presence, in

the name of· all the gods let him S,2.11
I l
248-A ANOTHER ANGLE . - FAVORmG :CAESAR, GRACCHUS 248-A : '.
I
\ 1~
Caesar rises angrily. Gr~cchus, slumped well back in his seat, '.
i ..
is appar ently sleeping peacefully. ' !

' \.__· f. CA:&SAR'\ ' 'i

:I
'I
---==------c.respohding .hotly)
Impossib:t.er· ·fAtready ) ;hey Ive infected !I
halI' o~ Ital 'Y\_. I_.t:.,.-we permit them to
esca pe t hei r :ti'r!'ection will spread
through the whole world.
CONTINUED
 mdg #1888 - Changes · 3/17/59 100
~I
248-A CONTINUED 21t8 -A
SYMMACHUS I
Before we discuss pol i cy, let us !

continue with t he r eport of Marcu s

Glabrus. Are there further questions
to be put to him?
There is a STIR as Crassus rises. Gracchus• sleeping featur e s
twitch fretfully. Crassus' face is stern, hi s f i gure st r aight
as a . lance.
CRASSUS
What sort of man is this slave who
calls himself Spartacus?
GLABRUS (X) il
(embarrassed)
I was blindfolded-. I · saw none of
·them. ii
l
I

CRASSUS I.·1
After he· fini shed taJ.king to you - - (X) i
what then happened?
OLABRus·
(li'Vid with shame)
I -- I was tied to a horse and
lashed out of camp.
CRASSUS
How many of ·your command escaped?
. GLABRUS
Fourteen have repor ted thus far.
I myself was taken prisoner in my
own command tent. The camp was
thoroughly i nfiltrated before an
alarm could be sounded .
.CRASSUS .
Did you· sur.r ound your camp wi t h
moat and stockade?
GLABRUS
(after a long pause)
No. We arrived after suns.e t. . Sen-
tr1es were. posted every ten paces. .
We had. no reason t o expe ct an attack i
by night. · And then agai n, they --- i
I
Glabrus breaks off, his eye s haunted, as i _f t rying to gr.asp .
some incomprehensibl e i dea. ·
CRASSUS
Continue.
GLABRUS
1· (softly)
They wer e slave s .
CONTI NUED

. ·-·--.....··-·---·--·-----....- ~..
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/1.1/59 100-A

CONTINUED - 2 248-A
For a long moment Crassus stares -at his protegeJ his eyes
icy with anger.
r. CRASSUS
(softly)
Ah. Sla_v es. Did they fight well?
GLABRUS
(note or horror)
They founght -- like no B1thyn1an
or S111c1an you ever saw. The
women beside them.
.I
CRASSUS
(turns to senate
as a whole)
I submit that Publius Marcus
Glabrus has disgraced the arms of
Rome. Let the punishment of the.
senate be pronounced.
Glabrus squares his shoulders and manfully waits for the
blow to fall . crassus resumes his seat. Gracchus stirs,
wakens, cas~s a ·sharp look at Glabrus, and then at Crassus.
The eyes of the whole senate are now covertly watching. Crassus,
like the eyes of those at a funeral who peer incessantly at
the chief mourner for s i gns of grief. Crassus ' face reveals
nothing. He might be sitting in the privacy of his own salon.
Gracchus COUGHS, rises.
GRACCHUS
If we punished every cormnander who
made a fool of himself we wouldn't
have anyone le.ft above the rank of
centurion.
LAELI.US
.But this is a case· of criminal
carelessness! Six cohorts have
·b een slaughtered I

GRACCHUS
Crassus sponsored.this young man.
Let ~ pronounce sentence.
He ·sits down · abruptly. · All eyes go back to Crassus·. Only a
slight flicker of the eyebrows indicates his momentary surprise.
He rises swiftly to the challenge, not casting so much as a
glance. at Grac·chus ~
CONTINUED
 my #1888 - Chan'.!,es 3/16/59

CO NTHTUED - 3

(-quietly)
CRASS US

The pun ishment is well known:

Gl abrus be interdicted from fire,
water, food and shelter for a dis-
0 \

tance of four hundred Miles in all

directions from the city of Rome.
There is a rising !-tURHUR of admiration that could
have imposed a lesser sentence upon his protege, refused to ~o
so. Glabrus ' race goes white. Crassus continues standing.
CRASSUS
One thing more.•
(instant silence)
Publius ·tarcus Glabrus is my friend.
I wil l not dissociate myself' from
his disi:;,race o I now lay do,m my
co1"l"T!and ·of the legions of Italy . and
return to private life.
He looks strai.r .ht ::1 t Gle.brus. who raises his head ana e;azes
into the proud face of hi.s patron, judge, and friend. Glabrus
bows stiffly ;;o the senate, exec.ute·s a s"l!art right turn. star~
for the senate exit. Crassus, f'roM his position in the benches1
turns and slo .•Jly advances to the exit, where he ,joins the wait~
0

ing Glabrus, and they t'love i nto the vestibule together. They;.:;;
are followed by f'i~,e or six other senators of Crassus' par'ty.
Their exit is carried out in silence, save for the stir of
shi.fting bo'dies , the rustle of robes as the senato·rs nod and
. gest~culate t c, each other, or softly whispe r. As soon as the
withdrawal is ~o~plete, the WHISPERS rise t o a vague BABBLE.
Gracchus re~a:ns s t anding. This exit should be i nter-cu~ with
a CLOSE or two of Gracchus , watching the whole display with
amusemen:t;, dis g ust,. and scorn.

248-B =• SHOT - PAVQRI!IG GRACCHUS. . · \~\ \ .~ 248-B

He rises slowly to his f'eet, looks abo1lt ., ~e PQor.z • ~ a monN1t
to attract -sheir attention before be·giwg /t'"'s~~~~
L\
GRACCHUS (',_ ~ ~(':\ .'\. '
We I re ene:aged in tHo p.:reat wars --- A~ . .. \ ~
one in Spain, the other in Asi-a. '\J\. , ~ , ':> ~-r---..
Pirates hc1ve cut off our Egyptian " ... , '. ·:i ;
grain supply. Spartacus raids the , /l, :~ ~ --.,..J
corn...,erce of all south Italy. Hal.f ·, ,, -~-- ·
the rirec inc ts of Ror,e e_-r e without " \.....,· \-.::: '•
bread . I s11sgest this is no t.i:11e "~
/
I for a ~~n of -honor to withdraw fro~
public affairs.

CONTINUED

l
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59 100-C
t

II . t....'..-· 248-B CONTINtrJ:ill

. CRASSUS' ADHERENTS
(while crassus re-
mains immobile)
Shamel Sit down! For shame!
GRACCHUS
This sort of heroic public beha,1iour
is nothing new. I've seen it before,
as we all have, and I know the mean-
ing of 1t.

I 248-C
'
INT. SENATE. VESTIBULE - MED. SHOT - CRASSUS
·ms supporters in b .g. crassus has frozen to attention as he
listens to the insulting words of ·a n enemy be cannot and will
not answer in kind; but the look of cold anger in his eyes
is a threat of death itself •
. A SENATOR'S VOICE
(o.s., from the
chamber)
Crasaus acted on a point of honor!

248-D FULL SHOT - THE SENA'n 248-D

GRACCHUS
Patrician honor. No matter how
noble i~ appears from the outside
I don't like the color of it.
LAELIUS
Crassus is the only man i_n Rome
·who hasn't yielded :to Republican
corruption, and never willl
GRACCHUS
I'll take a little Republican
corruption along with a little
Republican freedom. But I won•t
take t he dictatorship of Crassus
and no freedom at al'll
He is interrupted by a burst of CHEERS and APPLAUSE. He glow-
ers about the chamber till it subsides.
GRACCHUS'
That•s what he's out for, and that's
why he'll be back. And when he does
return, you 1 ll cheer just as loudly
for him. In the meanwhile, if we·
CONTINUED
 gl #1888 - Changes 6/1/59 1OO-D

248-D,, CONTINUED 248-D

GRACCHuS (Cont'd)
can clean up this mess without run-
ning to him for help, he may regret
this noble scene today. '.Ihere are
two things we must do immediately:
confirm Caesar as permanent comman-
der of the Garrison, and assign two
legions to intercept and destroy
Spartacus at the city of Luceria. .;

A ri.s ing ROAR of_ approval. Repetition of the word "Luceria" iI

if practical. :1
DISSOLVE TO · .,.i I
')
./,
248-E OMITTED 248-E j I
i
:: I
I

'. I

i
./
 gl. #1888 - Changes 7/lJ/59

249 MARCHING SHOTS

through .town at the climax of which we SUFERIMPOSE the word:
LUCERIA 1tl,/t[ 1--ov'\ i·-~ kf,r ,:J i -~

0o f.J...O_.Q,:f::J· i.t. /......., DISSOLVE TO

,250 FULL SHOT - SLAVE LEADERS

"Cr-·l--vt..L/) "' 250
mo1,1nted, riding INTO CAMERA, triumphant. I .
DISSOLVE TO L
.I
2$1 .EXT. SLAVE CAMP - DAY 251
Spartacus, Crixus, David, Dionysius and Antoninus are sprawled
on the ground studying a group of maps ., Behind t hem we see . I
the general activity or the 1 encampment.
DIONYSIUS
I can't read these maps and I don•t
believe they tel1. the truth. A f t ~ r
three months, is this all the farther
we•ve ·got? -
DAVID
Don't forget our numbers have doubled.
CRIXUS
lfehave got to stop taking e.v erybody
that comes along.
SPARTACUS
We can't stop. How can we decide
who to take and who to leave behind?
. ·CRUD'S
But they'll hold us· back.
DIONYSIUS
At this rate we c ould take a. year
getting to Bru,idusium.
· cRIXUS
You can•t train an . army and figh t
Romans at the same time.
CONTINO'ED

)
 i
1.
gl #1888 - Changes 7/13/59

251 CONTINUED
SPARTACUS
That•s what wetve been doing -
isn't it? The real problem i ·s
when we do get to Brundusium there
won.' t be e h ships.
'-

CRI
When we th with the
I- pirates we didn't have all those
women and old men.
i DAVID
What can we do, Spartacus?
SPARTACUS
We'll get more ships!
. CR!XUS
Who'll get more ships?
Spartacus looks at Antoninus.

(quietly)S P A R ~
Antoninus. You 1 re 1~ a with
Brundusium, aren't
ANTONINUS
I us~d to work in ~airs all around
there.
SPARTACUS
Do you st11l remember enough about
the country to t'ind your way there?
ANTONINUS
Easily.
SPARTACUS
Go.od. Nobody ever suspects a
travelling Juggler and magician.
Tell them we'll need twice as many
ships as we thought. And when we
get there we'll bring another
hundred thousand gold sesterces.

ANTONINUS
(realizing the
resl)onsibility
he's being given)
I'll . do my best.
CONTINUED

L
 .'
mdg #1888 - Changes 7/13/59 102
251 CONTINUED 251
SPARTACUS .I
If you can make canaries come out
ot chicken eggs - you'll find two ,, .
ships where there was only one.
DISSOLVE TO
252 252 i
thru OMITTED and ..
.. '
253 253 .' >
254 COUNTRYSIDE - OUTSKIRTS OF ENCAMPMENT FROM LEDGE DOWNWARD 254
TQ RIVER - BRIGHT SUNSHIN.E
In the river below children are bath1ng ·naked, women are wash-
ing their arms and legs, and some are washing clothes.
254-A ON LEDGE - ABOVE RIVER - SPARTACUS - DAY 254-A .
Re surveis the crowd below, as if looking for someone in par-
ticular. Then he continues ·a1ong the ledge upstream.
DISSOLVE TO
255 ANOTHER PORTION OF RIVER AND LEDGE SPARTACUS - DAY 2.55
He stops short as he discovers what he's been looking for:

256 REVERSE ANGLE~ TOWARD RrvER - VARINIA - DAY

In a quiet backwater, protected by trees, she has taken orr
her clothes, and. is bathing, neck-deep in the cool waters. She
has no idea he is near. She starts to come out onto the bank.
257 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS - WATCHING VARINIA BELOW 257
257-A 257-A :
tbru OMITrED thr\l' :
259 259 .
260 . REVERSE ANGLE - VARINIA BESIDE RIVER - 'FROM SPARTACUS' 260
·ror.NT OF VIEW - DAY
When we last saw her she was emerging from the water. Now she
1s seated on a log~ back to camera, lazily allowing the current
to wash against her legs. A rock strikes nearby. She turns
her head quickly, .. scans· the ar.ea. She sees .not hing. Perhaps '.
· the sound or the rock was imagination. Everything is motion- !'· :i
less .• . She turns back to the wat er again. ;i
. '

L. -- •-..---- -·----. -. ,..__. . . . _. . . _. . . -.·.. . .... ·-· i

 my #1888 - Changes 7/6/59 103

J ... ~~
II {l ..... .'
2()1 CLOSE ON S?A.RTA.CUS
..
261 )
•'
I
Silently laughing, he tosses anoth~r stone.
}
I
262 LONG SHOT - REVERSE ON . VARINIA - FOOM SPARTACUS 1 POINT 262
j
V!EW - DAY
This .. tlme the rock hits wit."11n inches ot her, spatters sand onto
her body, and sl1ce·s oft into the water before her. Without
even a backward glance Varinia instantly throws . herself behind
the protection of overhanging foliage, from which her head and
shoulders cautiously emerge as she peers about for the aggressor.

262-A ··MED. CLOSE - SPARTACUS 262-A

He laughs out · loud, moves from his concealed position, starts
scrambling down the hill, producing a miniature avalanche in
his haste.

i~
!
'
"-..,../
r
bm #1888 - Changes 6/26/59 104

·262-B MED. CLOSE VARINIA - HEAD AND SHOULDERS - ABOVE FOLIAGE

Her eyes widen with outrage.
VARINIA
(indignantlt}
Spartacus!
Instantly she disappears behind the foliage, reappears with
large towel or sheet thrown over them •

.. 262-C WIDE ANGLE - SPARTACUS AND VARINIA - DAY 262-C

. AsSpartacus completes his tumultuous descent, crosges a small
interval of level ground, halts perhaps ten feet from where she
still hides in the bushes.
VARINIA ·
You sea.r ed l!leJ · ·

SPARTACUS
Tha·t•s what happens when people
· l'Uil around without any clothes on •

. VARINIA
(sputtering)
I . wssn l't running around. I was
bathing.
. SPARTACUS
$&me thing. Come here.
VARINiA
No, I won't. · I want to get dressed •
. S·PAR,TACUS
(shrug)·
·Then get dressed.
VARINIA
(on her. dignity)
Not till yo.u go away.
SPARTACO'S-
(starting towar·d her)
I 1 11 · c ome and get you • .
VARINIA
Don.'t you dsi-e!
He continues steadily. She edges to one s ide. She slinks
around the other side ot the foliage. Now it is reveal~d •S he
CONTINUED

I
.. . .. -· - ······•- I
bm #1888 - Chsnges 6/26/59 10.5

262-C CONTINUED 262-C

is completely swathed in the towel which she holds·tightly
clutched at the throat with one hand, below with the other.
She is try-ing to evade his advance (which is teasingly deliberate)
and at the same time to cut across to where she has laid her
clothes.
VARINIA
(as she manoeuvres)
Spartacus! I'll hit you!' You
stay away from me!
With a laugh and a rush he is on her. She shrieks as he swings
her into his arms, struggles es he lifts her clear off her feet.
. VARINIA
Stop it now!
You Just stop it!
I ~ being picked up! SpartacusJ

262-D CLOSE ON SPARTACUS - VARINIA - DAY

She 1s struggling furiously in his aI'llls, and he is laughing.
VARINIA
I · really ~ hurt you!
She begins. furiously to beat a tattoo against his chest with
he~ doubled £ists. He gathers her close~ and kisses hero She
is. still off the ground. She tries to avoid the kiss, but
can't. When it is finished. she is a little breathless~
VARINIA
You should be more careful of me!
You shouldn't be so rough!
SPARTACUS
(burrowing in for
a not her •kiss )
Why?

VARINIA
(evading this second
. kiss)
Because I'm pregnant, that's why1
I 1m going to have a baby! Now let
me~! ·

262-E ANOTH.ER ANGLE - SPARTACUS 262-E

For a moment he simply stares at her, unable to speak$ unable
even to think8 Then, very slowly, as if she were unbelievably
CONTINUE~
 ..
;

I
bm #1888 - Changes 6/26/59 lv'- .f

262-E CONTINUED 262-E

fragile,· he sets her onto the groundo
SPARTACUS
(awed, apologetic voice)
Oh, I'm sorry 9 Varinia. You should
---you should ill! peopleo A thing
like that. Did I hurt you?.
Var1nia is pleased with the cowed look she has produced in place
of his insolent, con.fiden.t laughtero She decides to forgive iI
.I:1
him.. But slowly. ·
j' I
VARINIA ! I
Well---a little bit. You probably lI
bruised me. But I don 1 t think
it was enough to hurt the baby. Il
, . . . ~ · SPARTACUS
[(shake )
Well I~--I s re hope not.
VARINIA
(still teasing him}
Why don't you---kiss me, or some-
thing? This is the first time
I---I was ever going to have a babyo
SPARTACUS
{huskily, nodding
placatingly)
Sure.
He approaches her as carefully as 1f she would crumble at toucho
Delicately one hand touches each o.f her shoulderso Gently he
brushes his lips against. her 's~ Then he · releases hero She still
stands., clutching her sheet about her • . · This kiss was simply
disgustingo She is alarmed lest its sc.rt characterize her
entire pregnancyo She glances at his poncho---her glance
directing his attention 't o it.
VARINIA
--;> I :'!_/
i1
r :.r ,,,. ./' -- -' :.-~ .·•/
I . , !
'
. '.,,/ / . / ,.'._ ✓' -

Let me in.
He looks down at his poncho, then at her. He-smiles, lifts ~he ---~ ::> 4'U
poncho high, drapes it over her s.o that its throatline encircles
both . their throats, arid they are both protected by the common
garment.
VARINIA
(looking up into
\ his face soberly ) • I
;
.I
You don't kiss hard enough, Spa~t~cus •
CONTINUED

" _.. ... .. , ..

i
_..- , .. - )
 r
.I
f,;
bm #1888 - Changes 6/26/59 106-A
ij
Ii
262-E CONTINUED
VAR!NIA (Cont 1d )
(almost with fear)
I won't break. I 1m the same ss I
always was" .I
(her lips at his ) j
Kiss me like~---
Re gladly surrenders to her wishes. 11J
I
DISSOLVE T· !

26.) EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - FULL SHO'l' - VANGUARD OF T.HE SLAVE ARMY • 263
DAY · ~
Spartacus a.nd·. his leaders, mounted, ride from the MONTAGE '
.._,___
tower~ the camera, pennons flying, vanguard of a victorious /

263-A ANOTHER ANGLE - BAGGAGE WAGONS 263-A

·Pass · b-y camera, loaded with 1;1upplies, arms; loaded also with
women, and particularly with children. CAMERA TRUCKS with:

263-B WAGON - FAVORING VARINIA 263-B

She is among the women and children riding atop the cargo., She· ',
is visibly pregnant. l

263-C S-PARTACUS AND LEADERS 263-C ~

l!
;.
. Faint o.,s o SHOUTS, CRIES.
They slacken their pace, shade their
eyes against the sunlight, look OFF to:

264 REVERSE ANGLE - THE HIGIDvAY BEFORE THEM - A RABBLE OF ESCAPED 264
SLAVES.:. FROM SPARTACUS' POINT OF VIEW

A thin, scraggly line of men a_nd women or all ages, and or

children., They have caught sight of the advancing slave army;
and 0 are runni ng toward it 9 almost dancing toward it, waving
their armsg calling out their delight.
THEIR vo:r.CES
(from a considerable
distance)
Spartacus!
Spartacus!
SpartacusJ

L, - -
r - - - -- - - - -- - -- - - -- ------···-- - - .. - ; ·1
I
106-B
I I
gl #1888 - Changes 7/27/59 thru i-
106-L t I
: I
264 CONTINUED 264
i'
Nothing but that one magic word, rising and dying away aa the l \
wind shifts, and the slaves sweep forward. SUPERIMPOSED OVER I .
SCENE: i I
I
MET APO NT UM _
I
DISSOLVE TO

264-A LONG SHOT - DAY - A COVE BY THE HARBOR OF BRUNDUSim1

The sea is filled with pirate ships anchored a few hundred
yards from the shore. There are approximately four hundred
s?i~S., in s;ght. (MATTE SH-OT)
On the beach, a group of Cilesian pirates may be seen in
various activities, which include the launching of two or
three long-boats. Into the shot RIDES Antoninus. He stops
ror a. moment, taking in the sight of the ships; then gallops
down toward the group of pirates.
DISSOLVE TO

I
: !

i
l
I

-!
) jg ii
1·

INT. POYER - PU-.B:.:r:c BAI'HS -- DAY - JULIUS CAESAR 1'

Re wears a uniform we have s een only once before -- when a
similar one wae W0 !'!'l ~Y V?.rir.11.~s Glabrus. It is t he unif orm
of' the Cor.unande.;- of ' the Gs rr.15 .:m of .Rome , prom1nen tly di sp laying
the ins igni a of' t h3't high offic e . The foyer 1s a handsome marbl e
enclosure , ~eadlng t o t h e ma in a ~ea of the baths- beyond . '!'he re
is a bus t le o f arrival a r,d 6.epa rture. Caesar, nodd i ng left and
right to occas ional greetings, passes through the colonnade
beyond, into :

266 INT. THE APODYTERIA - {DRESSillG ROOMS) - DAY - FULL SHOT 266
The room is filled wi t h patrons and slaves. Caesar passes to
the nearest bench, sits down. Instantly a slave appears, begins
t o. relieve him of h1s boot3 , O~hers 1n the scene are in vari ous
stages of being undreeded , or be i ng dressed again. Their nudi ty
1a swathed i n fi ne whi t e t 1, wel s . T'nere is a BUZZ of conversa tion ,
for the baths are like a men 1 s club, where pol i tics, business
and gossip domi na t e . A'di gni fied mar. in his middl e years in-
stantly approache s Caesar . Two or three others Join in, eager
to hear what the cornmanc.er or' t he Roman Garrison may have tc
r eport . During ~he course of this scene, slaves di s robe Ca es a r,
and drape hlm with sheet or towel. In SCIDTE: La.elius Symmachus,
Metallius .
META'LL!US
(with a certain urgency)
Are there any repo:-t s on M~'t,a:pontum?
CAESAR
(nodding gravelyj
Heralds a~~ c r-y~ng the news now,
We lost 19 ~000 dead . Including \
Commodius and al l his og:!J;j~
Audible MURNURS from the grou; stares at Cae::iar wi t h.
a.tunned, hoJ;?el ess eyes.
META1LIUS
(toneless )
-~ · Dead , • . l
'...-;::ly~tarts b lindly to turn away.
~ METALL!US
(somewha t ~ hoked )
With your permission. ·
First Roman not es f'cr the f i rst time the other man 1 3 ob'Jicus
distress .
.$7}1!'...'\CmJS
{gravely)
My dear Metall1u s you have es t a t ~s
CONTINUED·
- - -·- - - -- - - ·--··-··- -·-··-··· . .· ····- -·--'
jg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59

266 CONTINUED
Metallius turns slowly, draws to his full height, shakes his
head slow,.y.
METALLIUS
Only a son with Commodius.
(short bow)
Good day.
He turns once more away from them, passes FROM SCENE . The others
regard his departure grave.ly, ~J11npathe~ically.
, LAELIUS, '
( indigri.~ntly) ·
We take five years to train a legion.
Bow can this slave train an army in
seven montqs? There's s·omething wrong.
Something very wrong. There should be
an. 1nvest1gafion.
CAESAR
(wryly)
Ah; yea. By all me~ns an investigation.
SYMMACHUS
Where -i s Spartacus now'?
CAESAR
He's reached the Calabrian seaport or
Brundusiwn.
CRASSUS
Good day.
They all turn to face Crassus, who regards them with cool ami-
ability. His slim, muscular torso is bare. A towel secured
around his waist extends down somewhat below his knees. He
passes into their· midst like the aristocrat he 1s - - c o.o l,
cour.te.ous, aloof. Wn1le they mutter their respectf'ul greet:l.ngs,
Cra.ssus gives a slight bow, turns and takes Caesar ' s arm.
CRASSUS
(a continuance of
his previous speech)
I need a moment of -the commander's
time. ·w11r· you excuse us?
He assumes the affirmations they instantly give. He and Caesar
move OFF . together, Crassus I arm still on · the young.e r man I s.

MED. CLOSE TRUCKING SHOT - WITH CAESAR AND CRASSUS 267

They cross t}:le width of the apodyteria, through . an archway.·
and ~nto · the tepida~ium beyond.
CONT!NUED
 r ,- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - --·-· - - · -
!.

jg _ #1888 - Changes 3/16/59

CONTINUED
j CRASSUS
{casually)
Let's have a stroll in the tep1dar-

I 268
1um. Private conversations should
always be conducted in the most public
fashion.

INT. THE TEPIDARIUM - nAY - FULL SHOT

This is broad, richly decorated marble gallery, decorated with
mosaics and statuary, fully equipped with upholstered marble
benches, flo.o r mats, small serving tables, etc. Through exits
1n all four directions one may go to the cold plunge, the warm
plunge, the hot baths, or the s t eam and massage rooms. Cluster-
ed in groups all through the expansive apartment are Roman dig-
nitaries in various stages of undress, attended by wine-bearers,
mass·eurs, etc. Crassus and Caesar ENTER the tepidarium together,
move side by side into the central promenade.

MED. CLOSE TRUCKING SHOT - CRASSUS AND CAESAR

Crassus, who has g·reat reserves of' personal charm, who can be
as warm in his relat'lons with others as he can be chill and
aloof, chooses at this moment to t urn his better side to the
younger man.
CRASSUS C

I'm told you 1 ve taken a house in the

.fourth ward.
CAESAR
(wryly)
Not too pleasant a house, either.
I
CRASSUS
And feasted 11,000 plebians in the
!field of Mars.
CAESAR
It was scarcely a feast.
CRASSUS
l'or two hundred years your family and
mine have been of the equestrian order I
and the patrician party -- servants I

and rulers or Rome. Why have you left l

:
us for Gracchus and the mob?
CAESAR
I've left no one. And least of all
·I;
' !•
I Rome. This much I've learned from
I
Grac·chus: Rome is the mob.
'
i'
! CONTINUED

·- -- - - --------- ·--·-·-··-· .. ' . . ' . ..

. I
......... 1
 -i

#1888 - Cha.nges 3/24/59 110

CONTI.NTJED
CRASSUS ·
(quietly)·
No. Rome is an eternal thought in
· the mind of God.
CAESAR
(startled glance)
I I didn't know you 1 d grown religious.
CRASSUS
It doesn ' t matter. If there were no
gods at all I'd revere them. If there
were no Rome, I'd dream of her. As I
want you to do .
(simply)
I want you to come back to -your own
kind. I beg you to.
CAESAR
Is ·it me you want, or the Garrison?
CRASSTJS
Both.
CAESAR
Gracchus ism~ friend. I'll not
betray him.
CRASSUS
Which is worse-- to betray a friend,
or to oe~ray Rome? ·
CAESAR
I race .no such choice.
CRASSUS
You will . Sooner than you think.
(impatiently) ·
Tell me f~anlcly --- if you were I ,
would you take the field against
Spartacu~'?
I
CAESAR
J Of course.

I CRASSUS

CAESAR
To sa v~ R,:)r..e •

GRASSUS
Ah, c·a.1:s.s.r 'b:.rt which Rome ?

CONTI?1UED
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/24/59 110-A

(--._, CONTINUED - 2
./
·•·......
CRASSUS (cont'd)
Theirs --- or mine?
(here lies his
heart)
In our fathers' time the values of
Rome blazed like cornet-fire through
the darkness of a barbarian world.
The poorest Roman citizen stood
equal in dignity to any king. Now,
we cherish drunkenness above philos-
ophy -- gluttony above perception
-- riches above honor.
GRACCHUS ' VOICE
(o.s., heartily)
Good afternoon, crassust I've beeri
looking for you all day.
cRASsus ·
(under breath)
Your new master.
They turn, move toward:

270 ANOTHER ANGLE - GRACCHUS AND GROUP CAESAR AND CRASSUS 270
ENTER.ING
Gracchus lies on his back on a low bench, his head propped by·
pillows, his middle-parts covered with a snowy white sheet.
CONTINUED

,.
lI
·1
I
I
jg #1888 - Changes 3/16/59 . 111

270 CONTINUED 270

Beside him is a tray with wine and grapes. He has a glass in

his hand. He looks rosy and cheerful. Crassus and Caesar
arrive before him.
CRASSUS
You should take better· care of your-
self. You're growing stout.
GRACCHUS
You 1 re blind if this is the first time
you 1 ve noticed it. Sit down. Have
some wine.
Crassus and Caesar seat themselves. Caesar, sitting in on a
battle betweell titans, contents:-himself with lis·tening. His
dark, intelligent eyes follow e.very feint and counter-thrust or
the exchange.
GRACCHUS
The senate's been in session all day
over th.i s business of Spartacus...
We 1 ve. got eight legions ready to
march against him, ~nd no one to lead
them.
CRASSUS
Deplorable.
GRACCHUS
Who'd have thought eight or nine· L
I.
,,,
defeats · in a row would spoil the I .
the· health of so many generals? The
minute you offer them command they
start wheezing like winded mules .
. CRASSUS
I 1 ve seen such epidemics before.
GRACCHUS
How I s your_·hei;il th?
CRASSUS
Excellent. Which means, I presume,
that the senate now offers .command
of the legions to me.
GRACCHUS
You've been expecting it.
CRASSUS
. (thoughtfully) .
.Naturally. But have you thought
what· my services may c.o st.
GRACCHUS
We buy everything else t hese days,
there's no reason we shouldn't be
charged for patriotism. What's yqur
fee'?
CONTINUED
 =• rmr....--... -r2K :r:rc :m • •• • nsnr ·r•• -=w: 11
i

mdg #1888 - Ch~r.ges 3/17 /59 l'i2

270 CONTINUED - 2 270

Crassus is utterly untouched by the insult, gives no reaction

to :1,t.
CRASSUS
My election as consul, command of
all Italian legions, and abolition
of senatorial authority over the
courts .
Gracchus casts a keen glance at Caesar, almost a triumphant one;
then peers across to Crassus. He chuckles.
GRACCHUS
Dictatorship.
CRASSUS
Order.
(he rises)
Let me know if the terms are accept-
abl.e.
GRACCHUS
I _c an tell you now. They' re ;:!!.-
·acceptable. -
CRASSUS
Por the present. Times change, gen-
erally for the ·worse . And so does
the Senate. on that day I shall be (X)
ready. ·
(bows to Caesar)
Convey my respects to your wife. (X)

CAESAR ·
She'll receive them ·with pleasure.
Crassus EXITS . Both men stare ai'ter him, Gracchus with a
certain shrewd amusement, Caesar frowning heavily.
CAESAR
(thoughtfully)
. He's. right., you know. Unle·s s some-
thing Is done _about Spartacus, the
Senate will change. And so will the
pepple.-
GRACCHU.S
· Then Crassus will move . in and save
Rome from the slave . army by assuming
di.c tatorship. But that, like every-
thing else, depends on which way
Spartacus Jumps. Right now he's
trying to get out of Italy. If he
succeeds, the crisis is over, and
Crassus may . stay. in re t irement in-
defini t ely.I But if he doesn' t
CO}lTINUED

___ __ _ .J
my . #1888 · - Changes 6/26/59 113

270 CONTINUED - 3 270

GRACCHUS (Cont'd)
succeed, the situation leaves him
only one further choice. He has to
take the terrible gamble of marching
on Rorite herse 1 f.

CAESAR
Giving Crassus his chance.
GRACCHUS
Well -- to deny him that c hance. I've
arranged for Spartacus to e.sca:pe.
CAESAR
·(.startled)
How?
GRA.CCRUS
I made a little deal with the Silician
pir~tes . I 1 ve ass~red them privately
that we'll not interfere if they trans-
port Spartacus and his slaves out of
. ·J;taly • .
For a long moment Caesar stares a t him iri shocked silence. '
Grac·c hus ~atches the r eaction with wry amusement.
CAESAR
(involuntary :revul-
. sion) .
So now we begin to deal with pirates.
We ba~gain with criMinals.
GRACCHUS
No need to get stiff-necked about ·it.
:Poli tics . :i$ a practical pro.t'es.s ion.
-If a criminal 1·s got what you want,
_y ou do business· wi th him.

fl DISSOLVE TO

271
continued novement of the slave army.
DISSOLVE TO
2.71-.A. VANGUARD. - SPA~TACUS_, CRIXUS, DAVID , DIONYSIUS, OTHSRS -;} 271-A
DAY· - · RIDilvG L •,TO CAAERA . fu'\\:,.,>,.\'i\.\J. j .
·They halt , look off and· down, tre1r faces f1ill _or"' triu!'!ph and
e.xciteMent. Crixus turns i n his s~ddle, SHO'(JTS to t:1ose be~i rad .

CONTINUED
 - * e • :w,ws- .15:FilS,...... . .

11
!:

eva- #1888 - Changes 7 /27 /59 114

I'
II
271-! coNiINUED 271-A ~ ;

i,i,
CRIXUS :1
The seal The sea!
. .
The cry is taken up instantly, welling louder and louder.
The sdvmce guards flow past theU- leaders and cam.era.
11
I
, ..
. · 271-B RnERSE J.NGLE . - FROM ATO:P OF RILL DOWN TO SEA - DAY -
LEADERS' POV
271-B Ii
The.sea, sparkling white and blue in brilliant sunshine,
lapping a narrow beach at the base of the hill.
!
The sea!
o.s·.
The!!!,!
SHOUTS
The SEAl
I
27.l-C FROM BEACH TO TOP 0~ HILL - DAY - FUU. WIDE ANGLE 271-C
S-partacus and hi's leaders, D1ounted, are silhouetted agains~
the top of _the hill. The advance g:t-ou.p, l.aughing and shouting.,
pour down the soft breast of the hill, spilling across the
narrow beach, rushing waist-deep into the sea which is .the
road to freedom, the road to home !'or them all. Spartacus and
his leaders re~ain et the top of the hill, observing and sharing
t~:e wild emotions of the molllent. Everything is in tumu.Jh .,.
· every-thing in action; men embrace each other .in their joy.

271-D MED, FULL SHOT - LEADERS ,.T TOP OF HILL

They are gazing at the scene and at the surrounding country-
s'ide w.ith the thought.t'ulness of men whose responsibilities don't
penit a moment of relaxation. . · .
. PIONYSIUS
(pointing)
Brundusium's in that direction?
..;
. SPARTACUS
(looking off,

i
I
nodding)
iboil.t twelve miles. The ·garrison
bas run away, and we control all
the back cou.ntcy.
.i
:,

l C:RIXUS e
In t\Jo· weeks we 1 11. all be aboard.
·~hip!
CONTI!.T'Q'ED ·
i
l

:i
(X)
gl #1888 - Changes 7/27/59 lJ.4-A

271-D CONTINUED 271-D ,,,

DIONYSIUS
I'd like to see Crassus 1 face when
he gets the news ~re I re here.-
.. - . DAVID .
He hasn•t even reached Luceria yet.
we•re a .full month ahead of him!
Spartacus nods with satis!'.action, turns to a subordinate.
SPARTACUS
Take word to the rear. Tell all
units we camp by the sea tonight.
CONTINUED
 eva #1888 - Changes 7/13/59 115

211-n comnroED 271-D I:

The messenger rides our of scene.

DISSOLVE TO

272 CENTRAL AREA - SLAVE ENC.AMPMENl' - ON THE BEACH - EVENIID - 272

WIDE ANGLE .
Amidst the tents .end cempf"ires, the slaves, for the first time
since their grea.t adventure began, are in a state of complete
· security, exhilaration end relaxation. They've reached the sea,
accom]>lished the impossible, and soon they will take ship fCI!'
homelands and freedom. 'There is no sense of organization to
the general rejoicing; everything is spontaneous, everything is
· di.f.terent. trere ana there men and women, or boys end girls,
may be ·seen strolling, arm in arm, or lying before campfires in
~ach other's arms. Younger children scamper about at their
games~ their SHOUTS and LAUGHT:EE indulged by their eldeI's.
Hel'·e a rathex- lies on hi·s back, holding a year-old infant high
.in his arms, laughing at the child• s antics. Some are f'east.ing,
some are drinking.. In ·b .g. a .figure riding on horseback can be
seen approaching, CAMERA FOLLOWS figure es it rides toward
command tent,
.-
'k. .../ 272-A. INT. SPARTACUS 1 TENT - N!GET 272-A
Twenty leaders are present along with Varinie and certain of
the women. Wine is being passed, and the atmosphere is one of
joviality and relaxation. From outside come the jubilant SOUNDS
0£ the slave c6mmunit.y rejoiolng. CAMERA PANS AROUND t ·ent and
PICKS UP the following group ad libs.
AD LIBS
·My ·village i s ~ Thessaly. I 1 ll
open up a blacksmith's forge,. and
ge~ ·:r.ich.. ·

You can get to Byth1nia from the

sea, can't you?
You can get anyynere by sea·l
·r had a ·wii'e. She was young and
round as a peach. Now r may . see her
·a gain.
And she'll be old and shriveled as
a tig.

A farm. That's all I want. J~st · a

piece of land . and a few goats. I
don't care how big it is, just so
it 1 s mine.
CONI'INUED l
!
!
i
I
.. _ _J
 . (

116
ha #1888 - Changes 7/13/59
272--A.
272•A CON'ITNUED
ONE MA.1~
(seoffingly)
~ killed sixteen Rom.ansl How?
SECOND MAM II
He talked them to death ! q
,·
!j i
A. LFADER
(be has a ii
bowl of stew)
Why is it that eve'l7 ti.Ine I eat
stew I think of Marcellus?
SECOND L~DER
(in chuckling
agreement )
lfe t'ixed him.. up with everything
but salt and pepper.
THIRD
If we could only' bilve got Batiatus
in the other potJ

ANO'lHER
. (pensi vely)
You know who I wish could have
been here today?
RESP01IDENT
Who?
FIRST ONE
·(quietly)
Draba.
.CRIXUS
Wait till you see .Cypress standing
up out of the sea .all covered with
vineyards. Best winein the worldJ
. DAVID
Fo~ wine you have to go .to
Acqui tania. S:weetest grapes on
earth.
AN OTHER LEADER .
Sweet grapes make the worst wine.,
Come to Lybia if you want winel

I CONTlln:raD

l
j
. -- ..
_ ·.••-----·--· --·· ·~·· ... ..
_,, __ .... ___
;
.....
 eve #1888 - Changes ?/ 13/ .59 ;
' .
I' .
f· ~
272-A CONTINUED - 2 I:
1 ·,
I'
DlOlriSTUS 'i
The best wine comas f.r ~•n-. Gr-9ece, and
always has. Everybody knows that .
'l
1 •.

Even tne R::>mans. '

.i
i
AD LIBS
N'o, no, the best wine ccmes from
Dalmatia.
Gaul!
Numidial
·Mauretania:
Pennomia!
SyriaJ

SPAATJ.CUS

. (leughir.g, she .~
over them
You 1re all wr "- ,
home,
The best wine.

e
~o~~:, r,r~. wher~ it is!
NTERS. There is a general UPROAR of greetina.
/' C?

. AD LIBS
Antoninus!
Sit down! Have a ·drin.k!
Re looks . like he 1 d come from a funeral.
Come over here·, Antoninus, see if' you
can play chat trick with !!:Z. eggs.
SPARTACUS
Well, Antoninus -- how many ships
have we got?
. ANTONI11JS
We have no ships .
There. is a moment of nesr silence wnile they gaze at him per-
plexedly, incredulously, Then one or two burst into uneasy
laughs. But Crir~s i~n 1 t laughing; he goes up to Antoninus,
i
j grasps his should.er -- ha:-d.
)
CRIXU'S

I All right, let's get the jokes

over wi tt-... !row many ships are
waiting for us et 5t>und.usium?

i A1i'I'OUI1"US
Pompey is laniiri.g a:; Br'..l.t".dusium in
a few Jay~ w.ith t he a.1"111'! 01· Spain.
The pire-ces to::.-k their ships back
to Cilicia. ·
CONl'INUED
 ..
, I
i :
' '
#1888 - Changes 7/13/59 '\
i
I

---
I 272-A CONTINUED - 2
l () There 1s a long tn.o?'(lent of thundei•st:ruck silence •
.......----------
,
..
. ~ ·~·· · ~ ;--.
. / . CRIXvS "" y ,; • )
Then we r~_!J!arched half the length ' ~ ;-. / .-
1
of Italy for-!-iocc1:ng¼.___ .

( to Crixus)
-------
DIONYSIUS
_,,.✓ _ /./' ,1 i.,L.,/
I t V✓ i
,1~
. \j~,. h,
1 ·-

What would you have had us. do'?

Stand still at Vesuvius'?
ANOTHER LEADER
Let 1 s build our own shipst

DIONYSIUS
Do you think t"be Romans w11·1 sit
back and wait? We can beat Pompey.
r..et·•s take h!!, ships.
~
i
FULL SHOT - THE GROUP 273 :
:t
DAVID '
We couldn't. sail t he ships if we .,'
took them. For · that we'd need
sailors •.
ANTOMINUS
And we .might not beat Pom-pey.
There's no .~oint in fighting a battle
we can't gain anything from.
ANOTHER LEADER
What else can we do?
St'ARTACUS
(with deci·s ioti)
Since they Wun't let ~s escape from
Italy there's only one thing we
can do.
C~IXUS .,.,j-.'i. 1
March orl. Rome! ~. )Ii • (
. / f\ /\ ' ;
SPARTACUS / 'J
Cta int smile) //') .! /.1\ t1.
Yes, Crixus - · Rome. / / VJ
DIONYSIUS ,~ ) . j
Wber.e's crassus and his ar~~?
. SPARTACUS
(indicating on n,..ap)
Marching ·s outh. As soon 2s he
lands Pon:.pey will march nor th .
CONTilrnED · .

l _·. - ~ ~----·--·· ··-·- - ----· .. -··· . . . . ·--·- · ·- · - ·· · ···-· .... . ···-· -····· ···- ·· ........... -- .. ···-·- . ,. -
mdg /11888 - Changes 7/13/59 119

273 CONTINUED
DAVID
We'll be caught between them.
. ;
..,
SPARTACUS
If we turn north and smash Crassus
before Pompey catches up to us from
the rear, Rome is ours. And we'll
end this war the only way it ever
could have ended -- by freeing every
slave in Italy.
1·
CRIXUS l
When do we march?
SPARTACUS
Tonight.
•There is a moment. of silence.
DAVID
(gestures toward
the outside SOUNDS ·
of jubilation)
Listen to them out there. What
will we tell them?
SPAR'l'ACUS
Tell. t hem we've smashed nine Roman
armies in a row, there's no reason
why we can't smash the tenth. Just
tell them the truth. Explain to
them we haven't any other choice.
one by one they all file OUT. Spartacus and Varinia are left
alone. SOUNDS of Jubilation continue from o.s. · For a moment
they gaze . across at ea~h other in silence.
SPARTACUS
It'll be hard on you -- travelling
and the baby so near.
VARIMIA
This child of . ours is used to travel-
ling.
SPARTACUS
No pains yet?
VARINIA
No • He ' s a bad child, though. . He
doubles up his fist and hits me. I
can fee l him do i t .
CONTINUED
 gl #1888 - Changes 7/15/59 120

273 CONTINUED - 2 273

SPARTACUS
.
He wants to see his mother. Can
you blame him?
VARINIA
(firmly)
He can wait. I 1 11 not let him out
till we get to Roma.
The SOUNDS of jubilation outside ar.e fainting away, as news
about the ships spreads among the community. Varinia comes
to a sitting position.
· VARINIA
They•ve never beaten us yet.
SPARTACUS
No, but something•s happening to
us, Var1n1a. No matter how many
times we. beat them -- still theyill
have anotm r army to send against
us. · And another.. 'Ibey I re too
many, and we 1 re too few. And so •••
next month or next year ••• 1t ends.
VARINIA
If it ends· tomorrow it was worth it.
SPARTACUS
If they all die? ! gave the orders,
Varinial I 1 m·the one who brought
them heref How can I be sure I was
right? .
VARINIA
You have to _g-o .to the very end.
ill of us have to. We .~ to.
SPARTACUS
I fe.el so lonely.
Her eyes widen. A look of infin_i te pity comes to her !'ace.
,• .
With both arms she draws his head downward to her breast, as
if he were a child, and she his comforter. A!'ter his brief
instant of surrender to the warmth other sympathy and love,
he jerks his head away from her embrace.
QONTINUED

I__--- -- -------- - --
gl #1888 - Changes 7/15/59 121

273 CONTINUED - 3 273

SPARTACUS
Don•t · make me weakl 1
i•
I'I
VARINIA I
You're strong enough to be weak. i
I
l

, SPARTACUS
Varinia -- I love you more · than my
life -- but, if anything should
happen to me -- and if you and the
baby stay alive~- tell him the
truth about what we did. There'll
be plenty of others to tell him
lies.
. VARINIA
I 1 ll tell him the truth. Always
and always I'll tell it. to him.
But · Spartacus -- I don 1 t want to .
stay alive without you. If I have
to -- part of me will be dead.
SPARTACUS
And pa·r t of me will be alive. Stay
alive for~, VariniaJ
DISSOLVE TO
273-A 273-A
thru B OMITTED thru E
274 EXT. SENATE BUILDING - DAY - FULL SHOT 274
The steps are crowded with pale, silent, fearful citizens, all
staring upward toward the ominously locked doors of the senate.

215 FULL SHOT - THE DOORS AND THEIR FACINO- .PLATFORM 275
Soldiers are lined to keep the pack of citizens off the
platform. Four guards at attention st.a nd in front of t h e
doors. There is a sudden stir as, very slowly, each in its
own turn, the doors swing · inward, revealing . darknes·s beyond
1n contrast to the dazzl·e of the outside sunshine reflected
against white marble. A MURMTJR arises from the crowd. Then
a Herald of the Senate APPEARS. Trumpets on his either side
call for silence -- and receive it instantly. ·
I
.i
;
 gl #1888 - Changes 7/15/59 122

276 MED. CLOSE SHOT - ON SENATE HERALD 276

TRUMPETS cease.
HERALD
(calling it out) !
By order of the Senate: be it known '
that we have this day elected Marcus
Licinius Crassus First Consul of the
Republic and Co?llllander-in-Chief of
the armies of Rome.r
Tremendous ROAR goes · up as Herald bows, vanishes into the
dark oblong of the doorwayo

_,. -

_j
r M > ~•M• W •- , ,.. • -,r •

~-

I.f mdg #1888 - Changes 3/27/59 123

l
277 FULL SHOT - SENATE DOORS AND TOP PLATFORM 277
Trumpeters line up splendidly on both sides of the doors
a.nd across the platform. As they deliver their first BLAST,
Crassus APPEARS in the doorway, surrounded by an honor guard .
of senators, amongst whom may be seen Gracchus and Caesar.
PANDEMONIUM from the o.s. crowd. Crassus pauses, looks
calmly over the crowd, lifts his hand.

278 ANOTHER ANGLE - CRASSUS AND CROWD 278

The instant hi·s hand is lif'ted, the crowd stands silent. He
speaks calmly amidst the profound stillness.
CRASSUS i·
I p~omise you a new Rome, a new i
Italy, a new empire. I promise. the
destruction .of the slave army and
the restoration of order throughout
our territories. I promise the
living body ot Spartacus for such
puru.ahment as · you deem fit . That
--- or his head. This I vow by the
bones of all my forefathers. Thia
I have sworn in the temple of my
fathers.
;
He inclines his head slightly~ indicating termination of his f
address. A TREMENDOUS OVATION ensures . . Craasus crosses the j '
I I

platform, and, behind a wedge of guards, starts to penetrate ; i

the dense mass of citizenry that crowds the steps.

279 ANOTHER ANGLE - TWOARD CRASSUS - IN CROWD 279

Despite the sturdy efforts of his soldier-wedge, he 1s Jostled
by the pressing throng which celebrates his ascension to power.

THE CROWD
Hail, Crassusl
Gre_a t Crassus l
Favorite of the gods!
Long live Cr~ssusl
All po~er t o Crassusl
Haili · Haili Haili
DISSOLVE TO . .'
I
280 280
thru OMITTED (X) th:-u
283 283

- - -- - -----~----- · ·------- ----·-·-- ... ·..-...--..... .- .

 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/27/59 124
I
J
:I .·.·-, 284 INT. GRACCHUS' HOUSE - MED. CLOSE SHOT - CAESAR AND 28.L:.
j '.,, .,,.,; GRACCHUS (X)
CAESAR
1 We 1 ve given crassus everything he (X)
asked for.
GRACCHUS
Except victory over the slaves.
That .he must arrange tor himself.
This Spartacus has a ~ertain talent
~hen it comes to handling an army.
CAESAR
(the true patrician)
He's a slave and he thinks like a
slave. He's won with numbers, ·not
talent.
Gracchus casts at. him a glance of ve11.e d contempt.
~
GRACCHUS
Call it luck. He's developed such
t
a bad habit of winning that Crassus J
may not be able to cure him or it. tl
CAESAR
{grimly)
Then we ' ll be 'f1ght1ng slaves 1n
the streets . of Rome.
·GRACCHUS
Not at all. If Spartacus wins
I'll ask the senate to emancipate
his entire army.
CAESAR
. (instantly)
The senate will never treat with
slaves.\
GRACCHUS
It the. slaves win, the senate may
have to. Once emanci.pa.ted they i
; !
won't be slaves anyhow. They'll
be free men.
~ . . CAESAR
And .finally citizens, . I presume?
CONTINUED
)

·i
'J

~ ', __ ,. ., ___ ....

 --·•=·- -•-==·=•= ·- ••

mdg #1888 - Changes 4/29/59 125

284 CONTINUED · 284

GRACCHUS
Yes •. One can presume that.
Spartacus has the best army on
earth. I'd. much rather it !'ought
f£::. the Republic than against her.
CAESAR Ii ,'
(quietly)
You want these slave to win. !
t
GRACCHUS
I want the Republic to survive.
In my opinion it can't survive if
Crassus comes to power. You're still
young. Later on you'll learn to
accept the truth even when it's
ugly -- and it generally is.
DISSOLVE TO
285 OMITTED 285 :1
i,
i:

286 INT. CRASSUS' TENT

CRASSUS !
HavingJ as I hopeJ struck a note i' j
or· caution in your heartsJ I aek 1: l
l- r
you now to return to your commands. H
1, r
OFFICER
Allow us to pledge you the most
..
'
I
)
I

glorious triumph of your: career. 'j

1
CRASSUS •I
i
I'm not a:t'ter glory, I.'m after !
Spartacu_s . And gentlemen · --- I j.
·mean to have him. However, the !
object of this campaign is not ! .
alone to kill Spartacus ---it is !

to kill the .legend of Spartacus

as well. New battle orders will
reach you within t _h e hour. Only
now .and only if we make no mi.stakes
-- do I look !'orward to ·this battle
with .a certain confidence.
(bow)
You·may go,· gentlemen.

287 OMITTED 287

.....
/

H. ••~4·-·~ i
 mdg #1888 - Changes 4/30/59 126
I
288 MED. CLOSE SHOT ON CRASSUS 288 )
He observes their departure for an instant •. Then he resumes
! his seat, and begins at once to run through lus maps and or-
ders.

l Admit him.
ORDER.LY'S VOICE
The lanista, your excellency?
CRASSUS
l
ii
lI
j
I

I
t
289 ANOTHER ANGLE - CRASSUS AT TABLE - ORDERLY AT ENTRANCE 289 ;
BATIATUS ENTERS
(X)
A swift spasm of disgust passes across Crassus' face.
crassus leans back in his chair, touches the fingertips of his j
two hands, and stares thoughtfully ahead as Batiatus ENTERS. 1
Th~ lanista 1s travel-worn and shabby, but filled, as always
with the urgent joy of self-abasement. He moves swiftly toward
crassus, bobbing and bowing like a cork' on troubled waters.
BATIATUS
Most blessed Excellency! The moment
the message arrived I cast aside the
mo·st urger~t personal matters and
hastened into your distinguished
presence.
CRASSUS
(studying him coldly)
I am glad you could find the time.
Sit down.
· Crassus smiles, nods. his head ruefully .
BATIATUS
(seatir.g himself)
How gracious!
CRASSUS
I wish you to give me a physical
description of Spartacus.
BATIATUS
( startled) ·
Spartacus? You saw him in the ring
the day you visited my school with
those charming ladie s . I trust they
are in good heal th, .1.'hey . selected
him to fight agains t Draba the Negro.
CONTINUED

- -- -..-...-·-- .... ...

 127
mdg #1888 - Cha.."lges 4/30/59 thru i:
129 j. I
289 CONTINUED 289 l.
CRASSUS
(X) LI
I remember the Negro~
BATIATUS
Who had cause to, 1f I may say so,
your holiness. A brill+ant· dagger
stroke from a most difficult angle.
CRASSUS
And yet, I cannot visualize Spartacus.
How many, many times t.hat. must have
happened before in history. The man
and the moment -- botp at hand --
and no one with the wits to see it.
What does S~artacus look like?
BATIATUS
I-a that a matter of some importance
to your blessedness?
CRASSUS
It is a matter of importance to
every man who loves Rome and wishes
to see her strong.
13ATIATUS
We are both patriots, your honor,
even if you are a great one and I,
moat modest in size. We both bel~eve
in Roman fair play. Since you wish
something from me, I would be untrue
to my convictions if I did not admit
that I want something from you.
CRASSUS
(dryly)
Name 1.t.

BATIAT"JS
It -- when you win the battle to-
morrow su~h slaves as survive will
no doubt be auctioned off .to pay for
the· expenses of this heroic expedition.
Could not the agent for their sale., be
he who shares t his tiny moment of
history with your holiness?
CRASSUS
I appoint you agent for the sale of
all survi vo.:-s . In ret .1rn you will1

·remain here until after the battle,

and aid me in identifyir.g Spartacus.
CONTINUED

____ ___
,, .. , , ........ ..
mdg #1888 - Changes 4/30/59 130

289 CONTINUED - 2 2~9

BATIATUS (X)
(with quick alarm)
After the battle?
(as Crassus nods)
What if the unexpected occurs?
CRASSUS
Have no fear on that account.
BATIATUS
· (hastily)
None, none. None at all, in tact.
Still I feel bound to remind your
honor that I am a civilian. More a
civilian than most civilians. I
could take a room in a neighboring
Village --
CRASSUS
(sternly)
Sit down! You remain with us until
we have Spartacus.
BATIATUS
It 1 s inhuman, your excellency. You
are asking me to have no faith in my
own training methods . I am a theorist,
sir, not a practical man of waz,. I
like to see history unravel from afar
-- you get a tar more objective view-
point. ·.
CRASSUS
Tomorrow · you will pas.s through the
battlefield and identify Spartacus
for me .•
BATIATUS
I see. But my dear, all-conquering
Marcus Licinius Crassus -- what if
it be Spartacus who passes t hrough
the battlefield searching for you?
CRASSUS
{a smile) .
In such circumstances, I have no
doubt you will be helping him.
(calls_ out) ·
Guard APPEARS instantly.
CONTINUED
r-•==-·= -• - x v · r·,.·• - · N· ·· N ••· · , • · ·, w • •··• ···

I
.I !I
r. ,0

mdg #1888 - Changes 7/28/59 131

289 CONTINUED - 3 289

I CRASSUS.
This fellow stays with us till the
battle is over. Take him away.

!
I
Yes, sir.
GUARD

The Guard .puts his hand on Bat1atus 1 arm. Batiatus• lips

r tremble, he sets up a soft blubbering. Batiatus is lifted
trom his chair, and with the guards fierce grip on his biceps,
1s started out of the room.
BATIATUS
(as he goes) .
Pray tor us, your worship! Put
_ not your faith 1n strategy but · in
prayer -- not Just to Mars, but ·
Venus, Jupiter, Vulcan, t he lot •
.Risk offending none of them.
He 1s thrust ·by his ·guard through the doorway·, abruptly termin·- ·
ating his lamentations.
DISSOLVE TO

./ .
Note - 7/28/59 132
th:t"U
141·

NOTE

290
-thru O~TTED
318

THESE, PAGES AND SCENES WILL BE REPLACED

WITHTJIE BATTLE SEQUENCE WHICH IS FORTH-
COMING:.
 #1888 - Changes 4/28/59

319 FULL WIDE ANGLE SHOT - THE BATTLEFIELD 319

L
Utter silence. A nightmare landscapeof dead animals, dead
inen, dead women, thousands upon thousands of them, extending
as far as the eye can see in this dim light -- the field of
i.
death, silent, lost, breathless. Although historians differ
on the number of slave and Roman dead at the Battle of the
Silarus River, it seems clear that between fifty and a hundred
thousand lay on the battlefield. It is a field of death, ex- :iII
tending as far as the CAMERAS eye can penetrate.
Amidst the awesome litter of war we observe smashed baggage- I'J
wagons, tattered .remnants of tents, shattered arms and snields.
The arms and legs of dead horses, mules,. men, women, children,
convulsively up-thrust like columns . or-· cacti against the low
horizon, impart a grotesque sense of unreality. It seems that
no breathing thing can possibly exist in this . land o:f death,
nor hear amidst this silence. Abandoned by the world, lost and
forever forgotten, frozen 1n the positions at which death found

I them, the vanquished have at last achieved their dream of

freedom_ and o~ peace.
In the immediate foreground a slave soldier sits erect, his
b.ead bowed .forward as it in prayer. The shi.fting balance inside
his congealing body causes him abruptly to topple over sidewise
......
' \J
with a shocking THUMP. At this moment our CAMERA begins to
TRUCK FORWARD. We see the body of David the Jew., trans.fixed
by a: spear through his chest. CAMERA· MOVES FASTER -- then more
and more ewi.ftly, giving us the impression of passing upstream.
thro~ a swift-flowing river ot corpses.
SOUND o.f a GROUP walking o.s. CAMERA PAUSES, seems almost to
listen, then swiftly SWTVELS TO:

320 CRASSUB AND STAFF OFFICERS INSPECTING THE BATTLEFIELD• 3.20

LONG. SHOT
They move thr.o ugh ·the dead, talking softly amongst· themselves.,

321 MED. TRUCKING SHOT - FAVORING CRASSUS 321

His face is .expressionless, utterly contemptuous., as he regards
the endless panorama of death. This is, a.fter all, a pro.fes-
sional matter, a clin~cal matter. He is scientifically inter-
est~d. While he inspects, be attends to other details of his
I profession.

i Has
CRASSUS
an estimate been made of the
dead?
j
{
CONTINUED
 gl· #1888 - Changes 4/28/59 143

.321 CONTINUED .321

OFFICER
Over sixty thousand. It may reach
seventy. The greatest victory of
your career.
CRASSUS
Ummmm.
·
i They have now entered an area which contains many bodies of
" women. Crassus looks at them•
. CRASSUS
Women ••••• an1malso
CAMERA CONTINUES TRUCKING BRIEFLY with. him. We may, at this
point,· observe in b.g. (but no.t identify) Batiatus, back to
i[ camera and under guard; bending over corpses in his task of
identification. Crassus suddenly comes up short as his
, shocked eyes -Pehold:
I

322 MED. CLOSE SHOT· - BODIES OF SLAVE BOY AND SLAVE GIRL J22
This is the co·uple whose first night of love we saw in the
slave: encampment after tQ.e break- out; whom we saw married la· st-
night. They are now in the same position against the earth in
which we saw them 1n the slave encampment. They have both
been skewered by the same pilum. Their position against the
earth's bed in not one to suggest an emqrace consciously
achieved. The posture of their bodies does suggest, h oweverl>
the desire of ea.c h to shield the other from harm. The boy's
face is eternally frozen in a grimace of exertion. and hatred.
The girl's white faces- glowing in the morning sun 9 suggests a
di!ferent emotion. Her forehead is knotted in a fr own, as if
the sharp pain of death has surprised her; yet upon h er lips
· there: still ·11ngers· the memory of a ·smile, as if. she had known
happiness in life and still ·remembers. it •

.32.3. CLOSE ON CRASSUS .323

staring down. at the dead ·lovers. In b.g. we .see officers
exchanging puzzled glances. They perceive nothing extraordinary
in the sight that compels their general's most painful. a t tenti on.
Crassus, however, senses in this dead couple a menace, a power~
a threats that suddenly makes his victory tas~e l ike ashes.
CRASSUS
(quie.tly)
Horrlble.
CONTINUID

L ,.
 Jg #1888 - Changes 5/4/59 144

323 CONTINUED 323

CRASSUS (cont•d)
{ to otr1c ers )
I 1ve neve~ seen a sight like this
on a battlefield.
(glances at bodies again)
It's rather -- remarkable.
(to officers)
Observe them well and remember them.
Ir this can be called love, and 1r
it 11! permitted to thrive among
slaves, I can think ot nothing more
dangerous to the state.
(pauses -- then,
impatiently)
Nothing about this battle pleases me!
(starts out again,
pauses, turns to them)
How many prisoners were taken?

I . OFPICER
Between two and three thousand thus
tar. We are still . bringing them in.
They're in quite bad condition·.
(X)

CRASSUS . (X)
Their condition doesn 1 t matter. I
am · go1ng to c~cify them anyhow.
OlPPICER
All o~ then, ~ir?
CRASSUS
Allot them. I 1 m going to make
certain nothing like this --
(indicates whole
battlefield)
ever· again marsthe history of
Rome.•

OlPPICER (X)
Yes, eir.
CONTINUED.

I
l
I.

.. .. -•-- -
............ .. .. ........... -- - -'
mp #1888 Changes 4/30/59 145
'

323 CONTINUED - 2 323

(X)
Bat1atus, who has heard in b.g. the sentence of crucifixion,
now rushes up to crassus, followed by his guard.
BATIATUS
(agitatedly}
Your excellency! Forgive me for being
one of the last to congratulate you.
Did I hear you say you were going to
crucify your prisoners? ·
CRASSUS
(to guard; ignoring him)
Where was this. hero last night?
GUARD
Hiding in a wine barrel, wearing
the skirts of a camp-follower.
BATIATUS
(teeth chattering)
. A ·most unfortunate lapse, _your
serenity, brought on by a nervous
affliction that's made my life
miserable since childhood!
CRASSUS
What afflict~on?
BATIATUS .
Wby---c-c-cowardice. your grace!
A --- a certain tendency to----
to avoid skin punctures!
(urgently)
Did. I hear you say you were going
to crucify your prisoners?
CRASSUS
You: did.
BATIATUS
But last night you assured me I
could be your agent in. auctionir.g
them off! I nave your word for it.
CRASSUS
You promised me Spartacus and have
not delivered h im . I promised you~
the survivors and there ·w111 'oe no
survivors. Last night I did not
know what I should encounter on this
battlefield today. Now that I nave
seet1- it, al.l private agreements
must yield befor~ the ~tern necessities
of the Roman. State and people •.
CONTINUED
 .,
mdg #1888 - -Changes 6/1/59 146

323 CONTINUED - 3 323

BATIATUS
Who am I to say this but the Roman
State rests not only on the stern
necessities of war, but on a fabric
of sound business ethics. .,
..
Suddenly the WAIL of an int'ant disturbs the morning air. The
entire company freezes, looks oft', while a subaltern darts
OUT amongst the corpses toward the SOUND.

324 ANOTHER ANGLE - BATTLEFIELD 324

(X)
Subaltern ENTERS, preceding Crassus and others; he looks
among the silent corpses. There is no evidence of life any-
where. Then, Just as Crassus, Bat1atus., etc. ENTER, CRY . comes
again. Subaltern whirls to~ard it, peers suspiciously at the
body .of a woman lying face down upon the earth, bends toward
her.
SUBALTERN
( to Crassus) .
Over here, sir. Playing dead.
Crassus and his group come up, stare down ·at:

325
.
MED. CLOSE SHOT - AMONG THE CORPSES - VARINIA AND HER BABY 325
(X)
Her position above the child, sheltering him from all view
with .her body, indicates that in the course of trying to
escape, the approach of Romans has caused her to feign death.
CRASSUS' VOICE
(o.s., to subaltern)
Turn her over..
Subal te-r.n doe a so. Now she is . REVEALED to us as . Varinia .
Resigned,· she begins to adjus t her infant , preparatory t o
rising •.
BATIATUS' VOICE
(as her face is revealed:)
It's Varinial The woman who ran
away with Spartacus!

326 CLOSE ON CRASSUS - STARING DOWN 326

(X)
He, too, recogni zes her; he gazes at her with the most pro-
.found intere st.
CONTINUED
, mdg

326
#1888 - Changes 6/1/59

CONTINUED
147

326
( ----..,) {X)
'\,.,-,' CRASSUS
Yes, I remember.
Varinia has now risen; she faces him, holding her infant
tight agains t her. Her eyes dart from face to face, as if
ready to defend herself against one or all of them.
CRASSUS
Don't be afraid ot me.
-VARINIA
I'm not.
CRASSUS
You. are the woman of Spartacus?
VARINIA
I •am his wife·. This is his son •
. . CRASSUS
Anq where is Spartacus?
A cold mask settles over her face.
VARINIA
Dead.
•. CRASSUS
( calmly., quietly)
You're lying. It shows in your
eyes. Tell me the truth. Where
1.s Spartacus?
.VARINIA
Dead.
CRASSUS
Did you see hi'm killed?

VARINIA
(pause)
. \
Yes •
CRASSUS
Where?
There is a moment of sil ence. Varinia tugs the child closer
to her breast.
VARINIA.
Look where ~he Roman dead are piled
I highest.
' I
CONTINUED
I
'
l
i
r:
!
'
!
.. .... i
L._...
r=•rr:z--•== ==-==ee::::e ett·:c·e
-----·-- ( ., =>

mp #1888 - Changes 6/1/59

326 CONTINUED - 2 326

Crassus ·turns from her instantly. (X)

CRASSUS
· ( to officer)
Convey .this woman and her child to
my house in Rome.

OFFICER
Yes.- sir.
( takes her ·arm)
Come along.
Crassus' eyes remain on her retreating figure for a long
moment a..fter she has left the scene. Then he turns to an (X)
·officer.
CRASSUS
How many females have we taken?
OFFICER
Unoer forty. Most of those that 1
f
weren't killed ran away ·to the hills t
with the children. f
BATIATUS
·May .I recall our bargain to your
enormity? I'm commissioned to sell I

all survtvors---and the woman and

child have clearly survived. I
)I
have a market for them.
CRASSUS
f
'. I
I
You may sell the other women, but
not this one.
BATIATUS
It's· clear your beatitude ·hasn't
inquired int-a the quality ·.of his_
female prisoners. I have, unfort-
unately. Those tha·t don't buckle
with. .age are so ugly you can rt look
at them without blinking. No ~an
~ould sell tpa t collection or harpies!
CRASSUS
Do with them what you will. The
woman and her child remain with me.
He strides off, Batiatus stumbling piteously after him.
DISSOLVE TO

- - - --·-- ·--····· . . .. ···•· .......

f 11.p #1888 - Changes 6/1/59 148 'I
,,
i'·J
I '.
1-l
;,
327 OMITTED 327 i
and (X)and i
328 328
.
328-A ASSEMBLY POINT OF PRISONERS - DAY - PULL SHOT 328-A
r
/
The ragged survivors of the slave army, disarmed, many of "
them wounded, still d~zed by the fury of battle and the
trauma of defeat, stand, or sit, or lie on the ground. They
ar_e chained to each other. Guards pass among them. In b .g.
other small gangs of exhausted prisoners are being rounded up,
added to the main body. The attitude of all is one of dispair,
defeat, anguish, numbness.

328-B ANOTHER ANGLE_;, LOW HILL IN B.G. - CRASSUS AND MOUNTED 328-B
OFFICERS
They are at the crest of the hill, gazing down at the huddled
remnants of the slave army. Crassus turns to one of his
officers, speaks. The officer salutes., turns his horse. canters
down the hili toward the prisoners.

328-c ANOTHER ANGLE - PRISONERS - SPARTACUS AMONG THEM

He is sitting, stari~g at the ground between hi~ knees. Those
around him are slave-soldiers we have never seen before, the
anonymous rank and file who have, by accident, round them-
selves among the prisoners. BUGLE sounds. Spartacus lifts
bis grim face toward:

I
. I
 mdg #1888 - Changes 5/12/59 148-A

328-D ANOTHER ANGLE - IN MIDST OF PRISONERS - THE MOUNTED OFFICER 328-D

,0
··· ..._/ A legionary has SOUNDED the bugle for silence. The surround-
ing prisoners look up dull~ at the splendidly uniformed symbol
o.f Roman power.
OFFICER
I bring you a message from your
master., Marcus Licinius Crassus,
commander •or Italy. The first man i
. among you who identifies .the gladi- l /
ator called Spartacus, whether dead ' I
I
or alive, will be granted uncondi-
tional freedom.

328-E · PLASH SHOT - ANTONINUS AMONG PRISONERS

He looks quickly from the mounted officer to:

. 328-F PLASH SHOT - SPARTACUS AMONG PRISONERS 328-F

A certa:tn distance apart from Antoninus. Spartacus looks at
Antoninus :

328-G MED. SHOT - THE MOUNTED OFFICER

He gazes s1owly around among the prisoners. His face hardens-
as nothing but silence greets his offer.
OFFICER
Well --- speak up! Freedom's what
you fought for., isn't it? Show me
Spartacus .and win it!

328-H SLOW PAN SHOT - AMONGST PRISONERS 328-H

These are the G.I. Joes of' ·the slave .a rmy, the Mauldin run-o!'-
the-mill average. They stare at the officer with eyes full of
hatred. Suddenly one of them, meaty-faced and powerful, lack-
ing an ear, blood cover1ng ·one arm which dangles at his side,
Jumps up, shouts as if .hurling~ threat:

PRISONER
~ Spartacus I Turn me loose!
Ris'ing MURMUR·among slave army.

328-I FLASH SHOT - A YOUTH AMONG THE PRISONERS 328-I

He leaps to his feet, points to his own chest.
CONTINUED

- - -----·· -- - -- - -
 ;l
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mdg #1888 - Changes 5/12/59 148-B /
· 'I
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328-I CONTINUED 328-I

~ PRISONER
He lies! l:!!!_ Spartacus! Let me
go free!
#3 PRISONER
(middle-aged man)
This one's a baby! I'm. Spartacus]

328-J PULL SHOT - THE SLAVE PRISOW...JtS

The 1n1'ect1on of self-1dent1f1cat1o-n spreads through the slave
ranks like a prairie fire. They rise by twos and threes and
then by the score, each SHOUTING his own identification:
SLAVE PRISONERS
No, over here --- I •·m Spartacus I
Me --- I'm SpartacusJ .
Here's Spartacus right here!
Look at the real Spartacus\
I'm Spartacui;"set me free!

I
j
328-K FLASH SHOT - ANTONINUS

Here I am!
ANTONINUS
Spartacus I
328-K

. 328-L FLASH SHOT - SPARTACUS

Looking at Antoninus, others , his eyes moving almost wildly
from face to !'ace, unable for the moment, ·to comprehend the
full signi!'-i cance of what they are doing.

328-M .MED.•. SHOT - THE OFFICER 328-M

Prozen in his saddle, his £ace suddenly .d rawn and pale with
rage., he kicks his horse, wheels, starts at a gallop back ,
toward the crest of the hill and the intent, watchful figure
of Crassus who awaits him there.

328-N ' FULL SHOT - PRISONERS 328-N

j Now wildly yelling, laughing, identifying themselves or others,,
i slapping each ·other on the back, roaring their meol~y of iden-
tification.
f
~ .PRISONERS
What makes you think you're Spartacus?
I I m Spartacus . ·
CONTINUED
 -1 l
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mdg #1888 - Chang=S 5/12/59 148-C
i
_328-N CONTINUED 328-N :-I
:I I•
"PRISONERS ( Cont d)
I i i
No there 's Spartacus. over there I Il
No, no, I saw him killed! He's just
over the hill!
You saw somebody -else -- I'm Spartacus!
So you are, so you are --- hail,
;!
Spartacus I :I

328-0 GROU~ AROUND SPARTACUS

They have all joined in, each pointing to himself, or to some-
body else. Spartacus remains sitting, understanding it now,
dazed by it, tears in his eyes, tears of joy and an agony of ,·
Joy on his race . Prisoner beside him thumps him lustily on
the back.
PRISONER
Get up, Spartacus! You~ Spartacus,
aren't you?
Spartacus looks up at him, chokes back the sob 1n his voice,
nods as if aware or it for the first time.
SPARTACUS
Yest
(he rises)
Me --- I'm Spartacus tool I'm
SpartacusT
· (begin."'11.ng to laugh
with those around him)
I ~ Spartacus I

328-P CREST OF HILL ... CRASSUS 328-?

He looks down at the prisoners whose SHOUTS now fill the air.
: I

~8-Q REVERSE ANGLE - SLAVE PRISONERS

SHOUTING, laughing, gesticulating. Officer of previous scene
just reaching crest of h~ll.

328-R CLOSE ON CRASSUS 328-R

·• I
A shocked look in his face. Stiffly he turns away from the
scene, rides out of CAMERA as officer follows.
DISSOLVE TO
;
.J
mdg #1888 - Changes 5/12/59

329 EXT. CRASSUS ' HEADQUARTERS - DAY 329

Present are Crassus and hts staff; guards and other officers;
Batiatus. A line of prisoners is in the scene, they are
chained and manacled, bearded, their faces.covered with filth
and blood. Among them, Spartacus and Antoninus. Batiatus
starts violently as he recognizes Spartacus. Spartacus, aware
of the recognition, gives him a terrible glare of warning and
hatred. Batiatus rushes to Crassus.
BATIATUS
(rushing up)
Perhaps we could make a bargain,
Your Holiness.
( drops vo1 ce so
Spar.tacus can I t ,·
overhear)
If I identify _Spartacus, will you
gi.ve me the woman and her child?
CONTINUED
 my #1988 - Changes 5/4/59 149
., ( X)
:i 329 CONTINUED 329
f ·r ""\
1 ······ CRASSUS
I am no longer interested in Spartacus.
I want him dead and for gotten. I
want his name and his rebellion and
his de~eat and his death erased fro m
the miros of men forever.

BATIATUS
(insinuatingly)
Are you that afraid of him great
Crassus?
CRASSUS
Flog this scoundrel out of campl

Batiatus is seized, carried oft' shrieking. Crassus mounts his

horse.
BATIATOS
Curse you, Crassusl May your belly
be covered with boilst
CRASUS
( to centurion)
Are your prisoners assembled and
ready to march?
CENTURION
Yes, sir1
CRASUS
You will crucify them as you go,
one man each five hundred feet, the
full distance from here to the gates
of ' Rome.•
· CENTURION
Yes sir!

Crassus spots Antoninus.

CRASSUS
(to officer)
One moment.
Crassus crosses to Antoninus, stares at him with cold astonish-
ment.
CONTUTUED

..J .I

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 jg , #1888 - Changes 5/4/59 150
thru
150-C
329 CONTINUED 3?9
(X)
CRASSUS
I have a special punish.~ent tor
-runaway slaves . .
(to or fie er)
Save this one for last.
As Crassus starts to return to his Starr Officers, Spartacus,
bel!lide Antoninus, gives an ugly laugh.
CRASSUS
(without glancing back)
•.• along w'ith his :'r1end.
CENTURION
Yes sir·!
(to prisoners)
March! Get along, there! Step
out!
The prisoners start to shuffle oft under command or the centurion
and soldiers. - Crassus glances at them briefly, casually, then.
wheels his horse and rides OPF.

330 OMIT?ED 330

thru thru
354 354

)
4 l·

-~
bm #1888 - Changes 6/1/59 151
:I thru
156
·; ·1

.....J
. (-~\

ii
~1·
355 OMITTED 355
·
356 DINING TERRACE - NIGHT - FULL SHOT. - CRAS'SUS 356
A low marble table has been set with crystal silver and gold,
pale linen, and serving plates heaped with delicacies.
Candles float in a reflecting pool, and from somewhere in the
blue twilight of the garden beyond, a lute TINKLES languor-
ously.
I'
I
•I

Varinia ENTERS. l
She stands tall as a princess, her race utterly co1?1posed, sub-
mitting herself to his inspection. She wears an exquisitely
flowing embroidered cotton stola, caught up at the waist with
a belt wb.ich is tied in f'ront with an ornamental bow. The
only decor on the st01a ·1s the gold braid that emphasizes its
perpendicula·r lines. Over her shoulders she wears a pale
yellow shawl, which she now pulls somewhat closely about her
body, as if to spare it the glance of Crassus. Her face has
been made up according to Roman fashion of the time: base
powder, cheek and lip rouge, black carbon shading beneath her·
eyes, beaded lashes, arched brows. She wears a golden tiara
in her hair, glistening with rubies. Sapphire earrings set
of£ her. lobes. Her wrists and ankles are circled by bracelets
matching the collar in design and stones. On the little
fing er of each hand a ring of clustered diamonds has been
placed. Her sandals are of gold.
Crassusg after a lo~g inspection of her beauty, inclines his
head.
CRASSUS
Come here.
She does. He touches the shawlo
CRASSUS
Why do you hide your dress?
(X)
Varinia removes shawl 11 tosses it aside.
CRASSUS
That's better. The embroidery
alone took two years or a woman's i
lifeo You should respect the work !'
of slaves and wear· it proudly-. iI
•'
He takes from the table a massive and magnificent. necklace,
places it around- her throat, stands back to admire ·the et'fect.
CONTINUED

I
__ j
 mdg #1688 - Changes 6/1/59 157

356 CONTI~u"ED 356

CF.AS.SUS
It once belonged to a queen of
Persia.
.I .

VARINIA
· It's heavy.
CRASSUS
In time it'll tur.n light as a
:feather.
(indicating table)
Please sit down.
Obediently she sits. Crassus takes a plate, begins to poke
amongst the delicacies.
CRASSUS
Have some squab in honey?
· (putting it on a plate)
You'll enjoy 1t·,. And a bit of
pineapple.
· . (places it before her)
. And wine, of course.
She remains perfectly passive while he serves the wine.
CRASSUS
(gently)
Eat.
Obedi.ently she takes a bi.t of squab, pops it whole into her
mouth, begins to masticate. Crassus, serving himself, watches
her with amusement~ a certain frustration.
CRASSUS
I di.dn't command you to eat, I
invited you.
Variri1a continues eating.
CRASSUS
Do you fi~d t hat the richness of your
surroundings makes conversation
d1:f'f'1cult? ·
VARiNIA
Why am I here?
CRASsus·
A good question. I wish the answer
could be ·a s good, as honest . The·
infant? It thriYes?
i
···"'
VARINIA
· (nodqing)
He thrives.

'
'
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· ·· ··· ···· - -- ...,- ---1
~

4: mp #1888 - Changes 6/1/59 158

;·
.,.
i
356 CONTINUED - 2 356
~0
'1 . , ..../ CRASSUS
I purchased a wet-nurse for him to-
l day. Does her milk agree with him?

I
C
myself'.
VARINIA
I sent her away. I suckle the child

CRASSUS
I'm not sure I approve . It ties
you to your old life, when you
should be looking forward to the new.
VARINIA
I don't care about my new life here. ·
CRASSUS
But you would care if it came to that
baby of yourst You would care if it
meant the . life of that child!
VARINIA
Whi do you threaten me with ·my baby?
I belong to you • . MY child belongs to
you. Do you think that by threatening
to kili my child, you make me love you?
. CRASSUS
I didn•t. threaten to kill your. child.
I'm sorry, Varinia ••
· ( pause)
one can•t grieve forever •.
VARINIA
I'm not grieving • .I'm remembering~
· CRASSUS ·
Do I interf~re With your memories?
VARI NIA
Oh- no.
CRASSUS
( wryly amused)
You tread the ridge. between t ruth and
insult with the sl<:111 of• a mountain
goat. What do ~ou remember · about
Spartacus? ·
I
i

Varinia thinks a moment. I

CRASSUS
You don't mind discussing him?
CONTINUED
!
I
L -- .......----- ·- .... ···-·"·J
 bm #1888 - Changes 6/1/59 159

356 CONTINUED - .3 356

VARI.NIA
No.
CRASSUS
(quietly)
What .sort of man was he really?
VARINIA
('thinking)
He was a man who---who began all
alone like an a.nimal. Yet on the
day he died thousands and thousands
would gladly have died in his place.
CRASSUS
What was he? Was he a god?
VARINIA
He wasn't a godo He was a simple
man, a slave. I loved him. (X)
CRASSUS
· ( vi9lently)
He was an outlaw! A murderer! An
enemy of' everything fine and decent
and good that Rome builto Daron
you~ tell me wby did you love him?
VARXNIA
I cant t tell yo,u - I can't tell you
things you can. never understand.
CRASSUS
Don't you see I want to understand
---I !!!!:!tl understand.
Varinia, watching him, is puzzled for a moment·. Then she begins
to discern the heart ot the mattero A smite that is almost
mockery comes to her face.
VARINIA .
. (surprise in her voice)
Why you're afraid of him, aren't
you?·~.-.Tbat 1 s why you want his wif'el
H0 .-.- ~o s~~~he your fear by having some-
thing~ he had.
· · tshakes her head)
But when you're that afraid, nothing
can help. Nothing • • •
• He stiff ens, turns, and EXITS swiftly :t'rom the roomo Varinia
watches him, her eyes wide with the su~prise or her discovery,
j with the realization of her and Spartacus I victory.
DISSOLVE TO
~
I
., . ... .7." " ....,., ..... . , ·· -·r· e-r:zp>,-::e:-:r::e;e-:rffl::Cffr«iP"'e«::ES: -....,..,:e::w::·r,,:e,w•:ti'9' o/'tt •e:c· 2 •:, • · e 1 · ' et:•· ·u t tr · .. •........... _..,
,,.,. , , , '"'
I

. mdg #1888 - Change~, 5/29/59 160

thru
161 - B I
.r'""-.I
-
.
' /
I 356-A 356-A
thru- OMITTED thru
356-B 356-B

I~ 0 GRACCHUS' HOUSE - DAY - GRACCHUS AND BATIATUS

A cold, suckling pig and wine and fruit have been brought
for Batiatus, who., ,-1eather-stained and .famished, as usual,
addresses himself assiduously to his victuals, responding
to hi s patr on ' s conversation between bites.
BATIATUS
My back has more stripes than a
zebra. Every time I touch my ·
wounds, they sing like larks, but
I don't complain. I found what
had always evaded me before, with
all my wealth.
GRACCHUS
And what is that1
BATIATUS
Don 1 t laugh at me, but I believe
it to be ~ignity.
CONTINUED

r.'
I
I
I
:f.. .
i..
I
I

\
I I

') l! .
.,",. i
l.
• l
i

I'
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mdg #1888 - Changes 3/26/59 161-C

CONTINUED 356-c
GRACCHUS
In Rome, dignity shortens life even
more surely than disease. The Gods
must be saving you for some great
enterprise.
BATIATUS
You think so? Anybody who thinks I'll ·
turn informer for nothing is a fool.
I bore the whip without protest --
in silence.
GRACCHUS
(sighing)
Yes indeed, it sounds like a bad
attack of dignity ! I hope, however,
that this will not deflect you from
the revenge you were going to take
on Crassus.
· BATIATUS
Not for a minute. It only strengthens
my resolve.
GRACCHUS
I'm glad to learn it. This woman
Varinia is in his house. All Rome
knows about it. Malicious tongues
even say that he is in love, for
the first time in his life.
BATIATUS
I noticed a strange light in his eye
the first time he saw her. . ;
I

. · GRACCHUS I'
It would take a great· woman to make
Cras·sus fall out of love with himself.
' i
BATIATUS
She's an impossible woman.
GRACCHUS
Beautiful • • •
BATIATU_S
Beautiful, yes. The more chains
you put on her, the less like a
slave she looks.
GRACCHUS
Proud .••
CONTINUED
 . mdg #1888 - Changes l~/1/59 161-D . I

356-C CONTINUED - 2
· BATIATtJS
Proud, and yet every inch a woman·.
You feel she'd yield only to the
right man.
GRACCHUS
. {smiling conspiratorially)
I understand i .t all. crassus had to
make war on a slave as though that
slave were his equal. That was th~
first humiliation. Then, when he
won his battle, he failed to find
Spartacus, thanks to you. All he
found was his wile, but she is still ;
fighting. her husband's war, and she
is winning it because she lies out-
side Crassus' experience and her he
must win away·rrom Spartacus, or
face total defeat. He offers her
all he has ••• and she refuses.
BATIATUS
. ( eyes wide open)
Yes ••••
GRACCHUS
I like Crassus. Let 1 s save him from
his agony. Let I s steal the woman •.
BATIATUS
Steal her? Why?
GRACCHUS
I have no more power. to hurt cr·a ssus
in the Senate ••• but I can hurt him ·
where he will i'eel it most, in his
pride ••• attack our enemy from within.
. BATIATUS
The scheme is excellent, but I hope
you don't suggest that I carry it out.
GRACCHUS
You bore the whip in silence. The
whip 1s but a training for the sword.
uc.•,· rHoweve:r:-, it· may· never come to that
if you are clever.Buy some horses and
a wagon with a canopy. Take the woman
to Aquitania; The governor is .one of
my inumerable cousins. He . will h~lp
you and sett le the girl in one of the
t'. \ free villages.· I have written you a
senatorial pass which is valid in all
"\ ..,_,, ../
the known world_-
CONTINUED
 mdg #1888 - Changes 5/13/59 161-E
I
,.r-\
356-C CONTINUED - 3 356-c :i
i,......,..J BATIATUS
Is it valid even in Crassus ' court-
yard?
GRACCHUS
Add courage to your other new-found
virtues. Would half a million ses-
tercea make you brave?
BATIATUS
Half a million! Already Crassus
seems to dwindle in my mind.
l
GRACCHUS :I
Let us reduce him even further. A
round million.
BATIATUS
With such a sum I could bribe Jupiter
himself.
GRACCHUS
For a lesser sum, I have.

e 356-D REVERSE ANGLE~ .DOWN CORRIDOR

GARRISON WITH FIVE MEN
The officer bows.
AN OFFICER OF THE

GRACCHUS' VOICE
Well, gentlemen?

356-E ANOTHER ANGLE - GRACCHUS AND SOLDIERS 356-E

OFFICER
You are under the protection of the
Garrison of Rome.
Gracchus, not at all surprised, rooks at .h1m quizzically.
GRACCHUS
Ah I So , soon?
DISSOLVE TO
356 FIRST SLAVE MARCH SCENE-· NIGHT 356
E-1 E-1
Wagons preceding the line of chained slave-prisoners, (X)
loaded with freshly°-hewn crosses. • At point we pick waeons up,
WE SEE a freshly-dug hole . Legionaries pitch a cross onto
the ground beside the hole, wagons pass on. i
 r
~
! mdg
ec:,ee•'e:;e-

#J888 -
e ♦ rr :tt, e •:tt ' C: C•· • ~,.,.. • il'l• fl ;' • ~ t rsr::He f

Cl.:::mgc~ 5/13/59 ·
:u·r· ?'"· ' .-,, ls n tt 11'r::::rre'• ··n ~-:eea·r·-::e:• e:ee--ee

·lfl - f'
) l
356 356
l0 E-2
CLOSE TRUCKING 81-!0'1' - lfIGHT - LIHE OF NARCH - ANTONINUS
AND SPARTACUS E-l?.
(X)
l)

I
j
They are merely in the scene with others , some of whom have
to be helped by their comrad.e s . They hear SOUND of HAMMER- I
) I NG: look off to:
l
' 356
E- 3
A CROSS - PRISONER ON I T - NIGHT 356
E- 3 I
j

Legionary on scaffolding just hammering nails in, Merely (X)

a FLASH or this, and from a distance .

356 CLOSE TRUCKING SHOT - ANOTHER AREA OF MARCHING PRISONERS 356

E- 4 INCLUDING THE LARGE MAN vmo FIRST IDENTIFIED SPARTACUS - E- 4
NIGHT lXJ

Plodding along, they hear a slave•s SCREAM . SOUND of HAMMER-

ING. continues .
DISSOLVE TO
I
356-F INT. SENATE VESTIBULE NIGHT - LIGHTED BY TWO BLAZING 356- F iI
BRAZIERS r
rr,
Half dozen senators consul tirig each othet• in whi spers .
Graechus ENTERS. They fall s-il e~t , tu;in a~1ay . Gracd~us !'
~I

smilE:s benevolently s.t them. ' Caesar ENTERS from the Se!!.at e .
He moves at once to Gracchus, indicating w;tth a movement of f:
h is head to the officer in charge of his guards to -remain in r
the Vestibule. i
l
CAESAR i·
(indicating door
to Se~ate ; polit~ly)
After you.
GRACCHUS
(shoots him a keen
glance) ;.
Thank you., .·Caesar.
He ENTERS the Senate, followed by Caesar .

356- G I NT. SENATE - NIGHT - FULL SHOT

The chamber is a cavern of darkness, i lluminated by two
br~zier.s en either side of the table. Crassus, standing be-
s i de the table , is being consulted in hushed tones by Laelius,
Metallius , Symmachus . Crassus hands a paper t o a Courier,
who salutes, moves brj_sk.ly toward the exit. Two senators ar-e
huddled on the front bench, leaning together, whispering .
Gracchus -stands just inside the entrance from the vestibul!:! ,
Caesar directly behind him.
J
GRA~CHU3
Shall I assume -- my r•eGu.lar place?
CONTINUED

.r
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/30/59 161-(,

356- G CONTINUED 356-c

All look up at the sound or his voice.
CAESAR
Of course.
The three senators beside Crassus take their papers, and
quietly move toward the vestibule exit, as do the two who were
whispering on the front benc:h. Gracchus slowly moves toward
his customary position among the benches. Crassus continues .
i
)
scanning a paper. Caesar remains perhaps six feet inside the
,chamber:, before the open doors to the vestibule. The flames
from the 'braziers le~p fi tf'uJ.1-y, sending long shadows in move -
ment against the walls. Laying his paper aside, Cras~µs looks
up at Gracchus, who has remained standing.
CRASSUS
You may sit if you wish.
GRACCHUS
Occasions were invented to be risen
to.· Allow me to r ise to this one.
Crassus, as he begins to speai<, actually is not addr•essing
Gracchus at all. He speaks to history and to Rome.
CRASSUS
I have returned as you ~oretold,
To this holy pla.~e. To this temple
~
. of Rome. ·
I. (glance around)
Where even the stor.es bleed with
j history. How many kingdoms have
j died on the spot V-ihere now I stand?
How many p~inces ·P-"'l'i potentates have
ti
1\
. entered this chamoer , oen~ the knee;
I; and left it slaves?
i! . (he pauses) ·
I'
i And the shouts that went upl
(softly)
Do you hear thej_r_ voices :l.n this
quiet air --- the echoes of Rome'? .
You do. And a thousand years ---
five-· -thousand years from now, some
ll<"' ..... ofilier Roman ·standi!lg in this Roman
place will hear them still.
(the mood preaks;
cold feroeity)
Did you truly think five centuries
of Rome could sa ea~ily be delivered
.,0) into the •clutchc ~ of a mob? Already
~
'\ .......~/
six thousand slaves decorate the
Appian way. Tomorrow the last of
their fellows fight to the death
CONTINUED

...... ' . .
 ,-.;e-71·• e::tt:r1'r1· ·t·110 J1tt · w,e- e·v; t 1 · 1«: •=• « «·eer: c:r ·· I
= --- --

.J

mdg #1888 - Changes 3/30/59

356-G CON~INUED - 2
ORASSUS (Cont'd)
in the temple of my fathers. As
the slaves died, so will your rabble
if they falter one instant in loyalty
to the new order of affairs~ The
enemies of the state are known.
Arrests ·are in progress; the prisons
begin to fill. In every city and
province 11sts of the disloyal have
been compiled. Tomorrow they will
learn the cost of their terrible
folly, their treason.
GRACCHUS
And where does my name stand on the _I
list of disloyal enemies of the state?
CRASSUS
First. Yet upon you I have no
d~sire for vengeance. Your proper-
ties will not be touched. You will
retain the rank and tftle. of Roman
senator. A farmhouse in Picenwn
has been provided for your exile.
:Y:ou may take your women with you.
GRACCHUS
Why am I to be left so conspicuously
alive?
CRASSUS
Your followers are a surly lot, but I
l
l
they.trust you. I intend for you !·
to speak to them tomorrow. · And , i
1
• !
from time to time thereafter I may
find it profitable to bring you . back
yo Rome. You will · calm their envious
spirit. You will persuade them to
accept destiny and trust the gods.
You may go.
He turns to Symmachus .and Laelius who have entered carrying
papers and stylus. Paying no more attention to Gracchus,Crassus
.1 places the papers on the table, begins to sign decrees •
i Gracchus moves slowly, ponderously toward the exit into the
vestibule, before which Caesar awaits him.

356-H MED. SHOT - CAESAR, GRACCHUS

- \~~
._j :.. Caesar's' face shows a decent concern for his former relation-
ship with his patrop.
CONTINUED
 mdg 161-I
:--~, 356-H CO?rl'INUED 356-H
,.i
r \ _.-J.
i.
1·
J
CAESAR
j: (quietly)
,, Crassus s,1ved us .f."rom def.eat by the
slaves. Be sa~ed Rcme. What I
have done i::; not for. mys_elf, but for
t Rome. ·
t· GRACCHUS
I
i (with weary disgust)
j: Please leavt~ Rome out of it. You'll
I: only start making one of my speeches
i· less _w ell t,ha.n I do it rny::.elf. Wnen
I do I have to get out 0£ the city?
r
I
CAESAR
! Within twe:;ty-four hours. · You I re·
' n(.it unde!' arrest. You may conclude
:• -
i your af'.fa1r~) without interference.
r-
Crassus wi l]_ call 1';or you · in the ·
morning. -Ycu ar•e to make a speech
l with him on the Fie!d of Mar~.
GRACCHUS iI
If I had. a. ta.il,·I 1 d wag it.
(starta into v~sti-
buJ.e ~ plluse:s, turns
i'
I
\
ba,~-k to C&as-.a.r )- i
An apt stu:k,nt 1s a j ffwel in the '.
crown ot his teacher ; ! should
have been lear ning from-:vou.
CAMERA TRUCKS with him as he p ass1;:s tlu'ough the:

356-I VESTIBULE - OTHER SENATORS 356-I

. .
No one speaks to him; all s el!':--consciously appear not even
to see hi.m. With a. e.rni 1e cf' contemp tuou s amusement, Gracchus
passes through the great doors of the senate for the last time.
DISSOLVE TO

356-J INT. CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE GRACCHUS' BATBROOM - NIGHT 356-J

.All the assorted women of his household are assembled around
·the· bathroom door, which stands el:i.ghtly ajar. Their !'aces
are pale, sad. Sev E:~ral of' t hem e·i~e. re.d-eyed from weeping.
Those near~~;t the hathroom door listen to what is said 1na1de.
Sylvar.a E!lTERS corridor !'r·c-m bnthro·om •
. SYLVAllfi.
(whisperi-r.g:)
He wants wlne.
CONTINUED
 rndg #1888 - Ch~nges 5/13/59 161-lo

356-H CONTINUED 356-H

CAESAR
(quietly) ·
Crassus saved us from defeat by the
slaves. He saved Rome. What I have
done is not for myself , but for Rome.
GRACCIIDS
(with weary disgust)
Please ieave Rome out of it . · You'll
only start making one of my speeches .,I'.
I
less well than I do it myself. When
do I have to get out of the city?
I

CAESAR I

Within twenty-t'our hours. You're

not· under arrest. You may conclude·
your affairs without interference.
9rassus -will call for you 1~ the
morning. You are to ma.ke. a speech
with him on the Field of Mars. ·

SECOND SLAVE MARCH SCENE - DAY - RAIN 356-I

(Xj '1
(So that we can better establish passage of time, by having
e~ 356
the next slav~ march scene shot in dust and sunlight.)

CREST OF HILL~ SHOOTING DOWN - DAY - RAIN

•

· 356
I-1 I-1
The tag end of the slave prisoners, followed by legionaries, (X)
is just psssing over the crest. On its decline, stretching
out behind the urisoners who move toward CAMERA, WE SEE the
row of crosses left as a trail by the victors.

356 GROUP CF.· SLAVES MARCHING THROt~GH RAIN 356

I-2 ' . I-2
Among them one who has to be supported by the you.th who (X)
was the second to identi£y himself as Spartacus . The man
is obviously hopelessly cripple. Legionaries ENTER, quickly
uncuff him.
LEGIONARY IN CHARGE.
1w ,..,. ; , ·· -(as they enter,
he iildi;;ates the
c.r ipple)
This one can't walk anyhow.
They take the luckless ma11, carry him out of the line., and
the· line shuft'les on.
 .mdg #1888 - Changes 5/13/59 161-Ib

356 TRUCKING SHOT WITH SPARTACUS AND ANTONINUS - OTHERS - 356

.I-3 DAY - RAIN . I-3
(X)
They are passing the point where the cripple is just being
attached to the cross before hoisting. As it is hoisted the
cripple emits a despairing cry. Spartacus reacts with impo-
tent fury and pain, slogs ahead -bitterly.
I

DISSOLVE TO

3"56-J INT. CORRIDOR - OUTSIDE GRACCHUS' BATHROOM - NIGHT 356-J

All the assorted women of his household are assembled around
the bathroom door, which stands slightly ajar.. Their faces
I . are pale, sad. Several of them are red-eyed fr om weeping.
Those nearest the bathroom door listen to what is said inside
Sylvana ENTERS corridor £rem bathroom.
·SYLVANA
(whispering)
I. He wants wine.
CONTINUED

--· . . -· .. . ·---- - - -----· ..... ····---

 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/30/59 161-J

356-J COMTINUED 356-J

() She hastens down the corridor. .!
GRACCHUS' VOICE
.
(o.s.a irritably)
Your hand wobbles all over the•
place I
(continues in
next scene)

356-K INT. BATHROOM - GRACCHUS' HOUSE - ARTIFICIAL i,IGHT 356-K

·rt .1s a room of marble, with the sunken bath usual i n homes
or the rich. Gracchus is in the water-filled tub, a pillow
at his head. The arrangement is sucn that the tub is covered,
permitting us to see only his breast, arms·, shoulders and head.
Julia st.ands beside him, holding his right wrist. His left
wrist is :!.n the water, under .the cover. Julia has a small
silver knife, the t ip o.r which she holds against his wrist.
Her·face is contorted with a grimace of revulsion.
GRACCHUS
(irritably)
All you do is incise this vein as
accurately as you did the o t her.
(as she sobs)
Oh come, come, stop blubbering and
get ~ it.
A movement of her arm indicates she has done it. Gracchus
lowers the arm into the water under the cover, without any
blood made visible to the au_d i ence.
GRACCHUS
Well! Thank heaven I 1 ve only got
two of them.
(wriggles lower
in tub)
Now move the pillow a little lower.
( a.s she does)
Ah-h-h-hl Splendid.
(indicates with a
jerk of his head)
Go ·to t he stand and take the scroll
and parcels I've laid out.
She goes, picks them up, turns around questioningly to Gracchus.
But Gracchus is paying her no heed. He is staring straight up
at the ceiling., th:!.nking with bemused detachment of other mat -
ters, but·compelled by good manners to cqnclude his business
with the s l ave woman. ·
CONTINUED
mdg #1888 - Changes 4/1/?9 161-J( I

356-K
GRACCHUS
(impatiently)
Well --- do you have them?
JULIE
(timidly)
Yes, master.
GRACCHUS
(eyes on ceiling)
I own fourteen women in this house.
By those papers I set them free
and divide my estate amongst them.
JULIA
(covers her race;
a great sob)
But mas-ter --- why do you do this'?

GRACCHUS
(irritably)
so you won't be beggars, why else?
(as she weeps
quietly)
Stop sntftling.
(X)
JULIA
(covering her face)
You 1 ·v e been so good to us, and I
. --- I --- I----
Gracchus' hatred of sentimentality causes him to shut her off .
swiftly.
GRACCHUS
(sternly)
· r 1 11 have none of that. Leave me.
(as she hesitates)
Now!
CONTINUED
 mdg #1888 - Changes 3/30/59 161-L

356-K CONTINUED~ 2
She turns, moves to the door. As she opens it and prepares
to exit, she turns, makes a last appeal to him.
JULIA
Is there pothing more I can do
!'or you?
Gracchus thinks for an instant, has an amusing thought, reacts
to it, and says:
GRACCHUS
Yes. The new master of Rome will
call for me tomorrow. He want.s me
to make a speech. Take him to
wherever I am, ar.d shew me to him.
. (pau.se; a wicked
. smile)
When I meet you in paradise, describe
to me the look on bis face whenhe
saw me dead. That's an order. You
may go • .

JULIA
( turning away)
Yes, master.

. 356-L MED. CLOSE SHOT - GRACCHUS 356-L :

He sighs, and smiles. He l ooks up at the ceiling, contem-
plating the thought of Crassus• frustration.
GRACCHUS
(pure delight)
Hah l

Then, like a content'9d, wicked chil d,. he turns his head to one
side against his pillow (facing the door), and closes his eyes.
He · means to enjoy the luxury of. this painl·e ss end of life, so
similar to sl.e ep. Syl va.na Al?PEARS IN SCEHE, very quietly .sets
a small tray containing an opened bottle or wine and a filled
wine-glass on the ma~ble ledge of the tub.
Gracchus•eyes open a tiny slit, watching her movements alertly,
but pretending to be ao l eep so she won't make a scene. She
casts him a sorrowful glahce, departs. His eyes open wider,
watching her .r e tree.\ . S:h~: EXITS., clcses the door. Gracchus'
eyes pop wide open. He lo0ks at the '9ine, smiles, and reaches
tor the glass. As he does so :
DISSOLVE TO
 .mP #1888 - Changes 5/13/59

357 THIRD SLAVE MARCH SCENE - DAY - BRILLIANT SUNSHINE 357

( X)
The slaves are passing through a dus t y countryside of vineyards .
They are parched, covered with dus t, and their . passing leaves
a long serpentine trail of dust behind them, almost obscuring
the crosses which also tell of their passage.

358 ROADSIDE - FIELD SLAVES AND OVERSEERS - DAY 358

(X)
The over s eers are quite content t o have their slaves look up
with horror and awe at:

359 ROADSIDE CROSS - BEARING THE MAN WHO FIRST IDENTIFIED HIMSELF 359
AS SPARTACUS - DAY (X)
His head· flops from one side to the _other: no SOUND.
Back to :

360 ROADSIDE - FIELD SLAVES AND OVERSEERS - DAY

OVERSEER
( pointing)
Here go the last of •em. Look
slaves!
They all look off' to:

. 360-A TRUCKING SHOT - THE MARCHING SLAVES - AMONG THEM ANTONINUS 36Q-)A
AND SPARTACUS - ·DAY (
Their faces are caked wi t h dust and agony. They can barely
shuffle along. under their chains·.

360-B MED . SHOT - FIELD ,SLAVES· 360 ..3

(X)
· One, . and suddenly all of them, s·uddenly begin to wave .
SLAVES
Goodbye!
Goodbye, Spartacus !
Goodbye and may •all the gods bless
you!
OVERSEERS ·
(whips flailing)
Quiet, there!
Silence !
CONTINUED
 .
mdg 162
#1888 - Changes 5/13/59

360-B CONTINUED 360-B

(X)
While the slaves endure their lashes sullenly, there ar1·se s
a broken chorus from the doomed slaves.
SLAVES (o.s.)
Good-by! · Good-by! Good-by!
j·
360-C MED. TRUCKING SHOT - THROUGH SUN AND DUST - SLAVES, AMONG 360-c i·
T'.dEM ANTONINUS i AND SPARTACUS (Xj
SOUND of the WHIP o. s. Despite their thirst, their e:r-.haus t -
ion, despite their legionary guards who suddenly bustle about
among them with activity and the whip, they continue, so£tly,
brokenly, and some £iercely:
SLAVES
Good-by! Oood-byl
DISSOLVE TO ,,
I
I
CRASSUS - VARINIA SCENE - NIGHT

SPARTACUS ANTONINUS - CRASSUS - CAESAR CONFRONTATION - NI.GHT

MORNING: VARINIA AND HER CHILD to the

FADE OUT

BA-LANCE, OF -SCENES BEING REWRITTEN

 gl #1888 - Changes 7/10/59 163

,361 MED. CLOSE SHOT - SPARTACUS AND ANTONINUS - NIGHT - 361

~ , OUTSIDE WALLS OF ROME
I
........1
They are chained together. Whether they are chained to a
cross, or whether a cross is even in SCENE is to be determined.
They are filthy, exhausted, hungry; utterly defeated. From
somewhere in distance comes the s trange SOUND of a nightbird ·
singing. Antoninus opens his eyes, looks into the night sky.
ANTONINUS·
A bird.
SPARTACUS
Yes.
Another bird respo.nds thrillingly.
SPARTACUS (Cont 1 d)
And there's his mate. Antoninus,
do you remember that egg trick you
used to play?
I
ANTONINUS

SPARTACUS
(with a smile)
I have thought about it often.
ANTONINUS
Don't you ever weep, Spartacus?
SPARTACUS
(nodding slowly)
I think of that row of crosses. I
think of Varinia. I think of my
son -- dead. ·
(paus~)
Yes, ·r weep, Antoninus. ·
ANTONINUS
Could we have won, Spartacus?
Could we ~ have won?·
. SPARTACUS
Just by fighting them we won something.
· When just one man says "no, I won I t"
Rome begins to !'ear. lie were tens
Qf thousands who ·said 11no".

ANTONINUS
Yet we 1 ll die.
(no answer; after
a silence)
Do you believe in th~ gods?
CONTINUED
 gl #1888 - Changes 7/10/59 164

CONTINUED .361
Spartacus turns, gazes at him for a moment, his brow wrinkled
with speculation, with· thought, perhaps with hope.
SPARTACUS
I don•t know. Yet sometimes I close
my eyes and think to myself', "Tomorrow
I'll know."
{pause)
Why do I keep thinking that tomorrow
I'll know something?
ANTONINUS
Maybe after it's all over, we will.
SPARTACUS
Nol Slaves have no gods1 I never
believed in gods, I believed in · menl
And• now I can•t believe any more;--
The world is a pig,-sty --- a pig styl
Antoninus ' looks at Spartacus. The full impact of Spartacus'
depression reaches him. Desperately trying to help, he begins
to sing.
ANTONINUS
When the blazing sun hangs low in the western ski.e s,
When the wind dies away on the mountain,
When the song of the meadowlark turns still,
When the field-locust clicks no more in the field,
When the sea-toam sleeps like a maiden at rest,
And twilight touches the shape of' the wondering world,
I turn home.
O.S • . OFFICER'S VOICE
Open the gatesl
Both Spartacus and Antoninus look off to:
'

362 EXT. GATES OF ROME - NIGHT - REVERSE ANGLE .362

The gates sw:fng open. Crassua on. a white charger. Caesar on
a bay:pass slowly through them. Sentries salute. Here and
. · .there .gleam ..i;he n1ght .fires •.of' the legionaries,··with small
groups of men huddled about them. Crassus in the lead, the
two commanders ride up to the nearest camp.fire. · The men
instantly spring to attention as Cra·s sus addresses them.
CRASSUS
. ,,-· --.,
Where are the gladiators?
. ! \
\,,.. .~ ; CONTINUED
 gl #1888 - Changea 5/20/59 165

-~ ,362 CONTINUED 362

·, •,.,_./
The centurion pointso
CENTURION
· over theres siro
Cra·s sus gazes of:f for a moment, then dismountso .Caesar does
likewiseo
. .. CRASSUS
(to guard)
Hold my . hor.s e...
. · · (guard does so)
A torch, centuriono
A torch is handed crassus. He holds it high$1 start~ toward
the chained p_a ir of gladiatorso Caesar starts to followo
CRASSUS
(qui.etly) ,
I ·wish to be . alone with them.
Caesar instantly halts, Crassus continues$ CAMERA TRUCKING
~ith him as he moves verJ delibe~atel~ across to:

1-!EDo SHOT ·- ANTONINUS, SPARTACUS, CRASstrs · ,TITH TORCH - NIGHT 363

Crassus peers at Antoninus thoughti'u.llyi> paying rio heed to .
Spartacus · at all. We must remember· that this SCENE is the
culmin~tion of Crassus' personal problem and of his defeat,
his _doubts,11 his fearso They began on the battlefield when
he saw love unto death, and feared it, and ordered - the cruci-
fixi ona; they increas-ed when he ende.s.vored to have the help-
less, ho;,fll<.'!S::t prisoners betr.ay Sparta-~ us to him, and they
unanimously rei'used, less than hour ago$ in his final scene:
with Varinia 0 he has per-c~ived that no power on ea·rth can make
he.r . yi,e ld to him as a woman _,.._ only as a slave, a mer~ li'ving
body which he happens to own but can never really possesso
NowJ) reatlessil filled wi·th f'orebodir,gs. and .the most searching
interest, he has come outs_ide the gates to seek to enlighten
the mystery of why slaves behave as the Spartacists have
b ·e havedJ) by confronting a slave who ran away from ·his own
househ:qld. t;p join the _rebelliono Quiet., restrained.s, urgently
attentive, and somehow saddened by all that has happened, he
still seeks his anawerso ·
CRASSUS
(almost regretfully)·
Well, Antoninus ·o o • the~ night (X)
pas~es slowly, doesn't it?
CONTINUED
.;.. ... .... ,. . . .,.............. •·--J
t! .1
ii!
l
cl #1888 - Changes 5/20/59 166 i
363 CONTINUED 363
(X ) .I
'
:!
Antoninus. glares at him. Crassus walks over to Spartacus.

CRASSUS I
:

Who are you, gladiator? What is

your name? ii
Spartacus doesn 1 t · answer,
CRASSUS
(to Centurion)
Unchain. him.
Centurion comes quickly and unchains Spartacus.
CRASSUS
Look at me slave. I am the Consul,
Marcus Licinius Crassus. Speak when
I ask you something. · Are you Spartacus?
Spartacus looks him straight in the fac.e; doesn't answer.
Suddenly, Crassus slaps him viciously across the face.
SPARTACUS
(with a smile)
What troubles you, Crassus? Where
is your victory? Has it eluded you?
Has Spartacus eluded you? Look at
· me, Crasaus -- could I be Spartacus?
Craasus will never know, will he?
Why do you want Spartacus so much?
Was your victory nq victory unless
you could look into his eyes and
laugh at him -- and spit in his
face? Well, r ·am just a gladiator
just a slave, *but I am laughing at
you, and .I spit .. in your face I . __,.-?'
i· (NOTE: ALTERNATE VERSION) . ---------
* but, I am looking at.. y ~ I am
.laughing in .y.our· race.
~ . ; •"""'~_:---.~-;.;:-.;;. ~~•""' .

He ~its f'u°f1 .1n•'crassus 1 .face. Crassus doesn't react at all.

He 1s·~sti'll ·held in the terrible spell t hat this scene has
thrown over him. He takes a handkerchief rrom his belt and j

wipes his face, still staring at Spartacus. ' Then he turns t

l·
away, calls off. ·
I
J.
CONTINUED
·, r
·~ I
. ·~..~ )
 --..:,
mp #1888 - Changes 5/20/59· 167
.:1
CONTINUED - 2 363 I

CRASSUS '
Centurion ! . j
(centuri on comes
forward) !( 1
Unch.a in them.. Let them fight now . ,.,.,
Centurion sets about bis task. Caesar moves up to crassus,
concerned by the order.
CAESAR
But the whole c~ty's _been told they'll
f ight tomorrow in the temple ·or your
ance_s tors.
CRASSUS
We 1 ll t .e st this mytti of slave brother -
. hood, They will fight ·for me and
n·ow,"and to the death, and ttie
victor will be cr~cified.
Activity shots . Circle of torchbearers forming; Spartacus
and .A~toninus being unchained; ci-rcle o.r spears formi ng;
0
Crassus watch i ng coldly. Iri the .cowse. of , them;. MED . CLOSE
SHOTS - SPARTACUS AND AN-TONINUS. ·. ' '

CONTINUED

},
·•• ~,J,,:.:~:'

·· ·--·· ····· ·· - - - - --
 mdg #1888 - Changes 6/15/59 168

363 CONTINUED 363

Spartacus has been freed; Antoninus is Just being unchained.
They stand up unsteadily, the red illumination of the torches
su1'fusing their figures. While they pretend to knead their
muscles, they conduct a whispering and surreptitious conver-
sation.
'i
ANTONINUS (X)
Spartacus -- I am afraid.
.I
SPARTACUS (X)
There•a nothing to fear. We have
lived with death too long. It•s
like an old friend t o us. It will
come quickly Antoninus. One swift
thrust and i .t Will be over.
ANTONINUS (X)
Then you'll be cruc1i'iedl

WIDER ANGLE - CENTURION 3'64

He throws two knives at t he feet of the liberat ed slaves.
'~I CENTURION
\ .......__ .....,../
You·~ ".leapons, slaves I
Both. men look at the kni.v es on the earth. They slowly bend to
r,ick them up.
CENTURION
Take your .Positions I

365 FULL SHO'l'.:. CIRCLE OF SPEARS - CIRCLE OF TORCHES: CRASSUS - 365

CAESAR - CENTURION~ SPARTACUS AND ANTONINUS
Antoninus, knife in hand,. keeps ·his eyes f'ixed on Spartacus.
He says nothing. Spartacus, with tears in his. eyes, moves ·
slowly, knife dr~wn toward Antoninus • . Suddenly Antoninus makes
a vicious lunge at Spartacus. With a stunried look, Spartacus
leaps instantly backward but not before receiving a wound from
the at tla(ek': r, ..
SPARTACUS
Why are you doing this? It takes
days ~o die on the cross.
ANTONINUS
I won I t le t them .cruc,1:f'y · you.
mdg #1888 - Changes 6/15/59

366 WIDER ANGLE~ THE TWO 366

thru thru
366-B They now begin to fight, cunningly, warily, circling, 366-B
waiting for some fatal weakness in the other. REVERSE (X)
ANGLE, CRASSUS' POINT OF VIEW. The two gladiators are en-
gaged in a rushing fury of action.

REVERSE ANGLE - THE FIGHTERS

The fight that now goes on is clearly to the death. The
contestants lunge, ,feint, duck -- crouched low like animals,
circling warily, their sides heaving for lack or breath, both
or :them covered with wounds.
368 CLOSER ANGLE .,, SPARTACUS AND ANTONINUS 368
so we better can view the desperation of their charges and
evasions. Both men have the look of . death. Antoninus lunges.
Spartacus swivels, throws him over his hip, chops down hard at
the base of his neck, Antoninus falls, Spartacus is on him
like a panther. ·

369 CLOSE - SPARTACUS AND ANTONINUS 369

Antoninus, exhausted, lies on the ground. Spartacus 1s
astride him. Antoninus still makes a desperate pretense of
resistance. The THEME of the gladiat ors' march now COMES
OVER THE SCENE, falnt!y, muted, in a minor note.

CLOSE SHOT ON SPARTACUS 370

heaving with exhaustion. · He stares down at Antoninus with
a~ expression of intolerable agony.

371 CLOSE ON ANTONINtTS - GAZING UP INTO ·SPARTACUS 1 FACE 371

Now that he knows death is at hand, Antoninus can put aside
the terrible burden of_ responsibility that caused him to t ry
· to kill his commander and t ake his place on the cross. In-
_s tead, his ·e yes are filled with love, and a wondrous smile
steals over his young face.

372 CLOSE TWO SHOT - 3PARTACUS AND ANTONINUS 372

very close to each other, Antoninus smiling, at peace;
Spart acus knowing that not for one second of life remaining
to him will he ever have peace.
CONTINUED
, -,,... m::i rl&7Yt::.-..:r::·,..:8:1'dft::,....._
-
II
Ii
mdg #1888 .. Changes 6/15/59 170

.I:1 --) 372 CONTINUED 372

I[ ,._,,,,,.,.
i SPARTACUS (X)
I I love you Antoninue, like the
I! son I will never see. ·1
IiI I
I
I Spartacus• face twitches; we do not see his hands; but the
I! . movement or his body indicates that his right arm has made
! a short, swift, terrible motion. The light fades instantly
I' rrom Antoninus' eyes. His head gently turris until his cheek
I touches the blood and di rt of .h is last bed .
11
II SPARTACUS (X)
G·o to sleep.
I

~.
I
373 PAN SHOT - GUARDS AND TORCHBEARERS 373 I
They stare with something between awe and reverence at the
I!
/

i
sight of the dead man and t he live one. ,They sense what has
gone. on, and th~ir faces reflect their wonder at a love which
can find exp~ession only in the act of killing. CAMERA con-
.I
i

tinues its MOVEMENT to :

r
..
I
'·,..../
•
374 CLOSE ON CAESAR - WATCHING CRASSUS 374
II

l
l
I
i.
l
I.
1
l
..'i
I

.1
t
I
I
tI
mdg #1888 - Changes 5/2.0/,59 171

375 CLOSE ON CRASSUS ,375

l
~
He, too, knows he has seen something he would never otherwise
have believed; he has seen the terrible power and determina-
tion of the love which he first recognized on the battlefield
l as the deadliest, most constant, and most fatal enemy of Rome.
Now he moves forward slowly, CAMERA TRUCKING with him to:

376 MED. SHOT - SPARTACUS EMBRACING THE DEAD ANTONINUS 376

Then, dazed and tilled with death, he gets onto his knees,
lifts the dead body in his arms, a.she would a child, and in
· utter silence (CAMERA TRUCKING WITH HIM) carries his burden
t to Crassus.

377 · MED.

I
SHOT - CRASSUS - CAESAR IN SCENE· 377
Spartacus, the image of death·, his eyes· wide with horror and
hate, arrives before the Dictator of Rome, carrying Antoninus<
He extends ~he body, as if offering it to Crassus.

I SPARTACUS
(dead voice, filled
with hatred and horror)
He'll ccme back. And he'll !:le millions.
Altern.ate Line: Here's -- ·your victory. (X)

378 MED. CLOSE - SPARTACUS, CRASSUS, BODY OF ANTONINUS

Crassus glances at the body of Antoninus~ looks in Spartacus'
face, and turns aside. He starts off, leaving Spartacus (X)
staring after him., still ho.lding the murdered body of Antoninus.
Suddenly, however, he turns back.
. CRASSUS
What do you think :spartacus would
say if he knew that the woman
Varinia and her child -now live in
my household -- as my slaves?
The fook of pure horror, or utter agony and anguish that
suffuses 'Sp'a rtacus' face, tells Crassus that which, until
now, he could not be certain of .
. SPARTACUS
(a chocked gasp)
Varinia --- I ·
CONTINUED
 mdg #1888 - Changes 5/19/59 172

378 CONTINUED 378

I
I
Involuntarily his muscles go slack; the body of Antoninus
drops from his nerveless arms, crashes to the earth at
Crassus' f'eet.
CRASSUS (X) ,;1
Yes --- you·are Spartacus . ,.
:• l

(pause; i
Great enemies become almost necessary
to one another. And when one of' them
dies the other 1 s great purpose in
life dies with him •
. (pause - to
Centurion)
Crucify him.
Guards seize him fiercely from behind, drag him OUT or SCENE .
Crassus stares down for a moment at the sprawled and lifeless
body of Antoni~us; then silently, forever haunted, he turns
and moves back toward .the ca.~pfires and his horse, Caesar
following.

379 TRUCKING SHOT - WITH CRASSUS

If
Walking alone., Caesar behind; a look of brooding, or naunted
memory forever engI'aved upon his consciousness. He comes up
to his horse, silent takes the reins, mounts it. Caesar does
;Likewise . The two ride of'f together through the night toward
the Appian Gate.

380 TRUCKING s·H oT - CRASSUS AND CAESAR - ON HORSES - NIGHT

Crassus, stiff in his saddle, his face sombre, stares

straight ahead, his horse at a walk. Caesar, riding_beside
him, has the opportunity to examine his superior's face
keenly.
. - CRASSUS
(staring ahead)
I want no grave ror him, no marker.
· Have his body burnt. and his ashes
scattered in secret.
Leng silence, while Caesar regards him •
. CAESAR
(quietly, a veiled
probe for weakness)
Were you afraid of him~ Crassus?
Crassus thinks for a moment; he replies witho~t deigning to
look at the Garrison Commander.
CONTINUED
l mdg #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 173
tht'U
182-P.
380 CONTilWED 380
CRASSUS
(thoughtfull y)
When I tought him --- no. I knew
he could be beaten. :sut now ••.. ?
(pause) .
Yes. I fear him terribly.
· .(looks at Caesar H
for the fi~st time) !jI,
-Even more than I fear you. !.
\j
CAESAR i
I
(sta+"tled)
Me?
CRASSUS
(nods; voice soft)
Yes, my dear Caesar --- you.
Both men lapse 1nto silence; both gaze straight ahead as they
pass through the Appian Gate into the Rome for which they will
shortly contend.
DISSOLVE TO :

381 381
thru OMITTED thru
413 413
 mp #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 183 :I
414 FULL SHOT .- THE EASTERN HORIZON - THE SUN 414 i
I

It is just rising. BUGLE CALL O.S.

415 FULL SHOT - FROM OUTSIDE APPIAN GATE - TOWARD THE GATE 415 :.
I
We do not see any crosses from tbis ANGLE. The gate is closed.
Just outside the gates, which have, or course, a guard detail, · I I
early-comers to Rome have assembled, waiting for the gates to
open and the commerce of the new day to begin. The whole mood II
I .

of the ·scene, and the attitudes of those :who wa 1 t, should be 1

• ·I
one of placidity, of patient, waiting inactivity. A teamster,
his wagon loaded higli with squashes, arrives before the gates !;
as we come· into the SijOT. Already there are half a dozen I
slaves in qbarge of their master, a .small merchant.· They have
laid aside their burdens, and are sitting on the ground beside
them, resting. A farmer dozes in the sea·t of his ox-ca.r t, and II
. the ox dozes too.. .An elderly ?'ich man, seated in his sedan
chair which has been lowered to the ground .by its slave-bearers,
(who squat beside it on their haunches) kills the time by I
; !
peeling and eating a banana. i
I
!

BVGLE inside gate RINGS out. outside guards come to attention. !

Baggage slaves stir, resume their loads. Slave-bearers lift
t .h eir master's litter. The gates slowl~ o?en, revealing others
on the inside similarly waiting for exit from tb~ city. The
J·
traffic of people and vehicles begins to move in both direct- . I
ions through the gate. a Centuri·on with two ·or thre.e legionar- l·
ies· to a~_s ist him, checks, either by direct questioning, or
swift visual. search, each· person and vehicle. Rome is· still
under the· military a~ter crassus 1 take-over.

416 MED. SHOT - LEGI ONARIES AROUND FIRE

They, like everyone els.e in this scene, have probiems, tasks
and interests which, to them., are much more important than the
fate of Spartacus, who hangs . o.s. · on his cross.
FIRST LEGIONARY
My arm isn't healed yet, I've cap-
tured no loot from these accursed
slaves, I'm over two hundred sester-
ces in debt,· I get back to Rome---
nc-, ,...,. 1and my, wife.•s living with another
. t .
man.
SECOND LEGIONARY
In his house or your's? That makes
ail t~e difference.

·,. __..l CONTINUED

 ;
,·.1
¾ mp #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 184 ;I
·I
'l
'1 416 CONTINUED 416 ,
' "',
~ .FIRST LEGIONARY
'----./ In.!!. house.

J• SECOND LEGIONARY .
Then she's unfaithful, no two ways
about it. Did you have i~ out with
l her?
d
l
!
FIRST LEGIONARY
She began to err and I forgave her >t c)
'' THIRD LEGIONARY . . ..
1l
fl uf
,i What about the man?
FIRST LEGIONARY
1{ Oh, he admitted he was in the wrong.
!

'
SECOND LEGIONARY
nI Well? Ia that all?
\ FIRST LEGIONARY
( sternly)
1r No, by the gods, it isn't! I had
I! I
tey' satisfaction with him. From
! now on he sleeps in the kitchen.
I'm not a man to be trifled with.
~
' •...._..
,
(frowns) .
At least that's what we agreed on.
(looks resentfully
up at Spartacus on
O.S. cross)
I could go home and check .up on him
right now 1£ this dog of a sl~ve
would only die!
THIRD LEGIONARY
( ;t:o.o king· up 'J udiciously
to ,the cross)
You 1 11 be home in a·n hour, and
. probably regret it. You can't
expect them to last when they're
. bled as much as this . one was.
SECOND LEGIONARY
(looking up also)
You can't tell. We crucified a
Byth1n1an once who lasted three
. days. ··

FIRST LEGIONARY
Look at him! . He's staring s t raight
down at us.
All now look up. as we go to:

,.j ·
 mdg #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 185

417 REVERSE ANGLE - THE CAMERA AS SPARTACUS 417

It is angled from the .top of the unseen cross straight down
t9ward the legionaries around their fire. The legionaries are
staring up at the CAMERA.
SECOND LEGIONARY
(soberly) ·
I don't like that glare.· He'd still
come for us if he could.

·\
,. / \ THIRD LEGIONARY
(scoffing)
~
.(
"-J J ~ That I s no glare, he 's dying. They
all look that way.
f),/\\ ,</J among
K \ (\
("'\ '
A ragged woman ENTERS SCENE, carrying a stone Jar.
the soldiers with her wares.
She goes
t
II
I
i.l '
~ -K · WOMAN
(\ n\l' Hot chestnuts? Stuf'fed derma?
I

._;v Legionaries busy themselves purchasing or rejecting her wares. ! I

CAMERA (eyes of Spartacus leaves the group, PANS TO:

18 BAREFOOT SLAVE CHILD ,.....--,.,""'fC{ \v._..1-.0 t_Q_. . 418

Carrying four 11.ve tfu~'sea-Jrlffc·kens, padding along toward
the g9:!,'i!c.. .. Peyond._,,~··.A..(mangy ,.b.ou..i;d) comes up, sniffing, toward the
gate/~ As ne'--passes-·~---0-re-ss.. fr.9m which CAMERA is suspended
he l~oks _up --•st?,-ra1ght into the l~tis. He is not horrified at
wba-~htr- se~sf onl;r-int eres-Ce--a-:- The child carries a stick •
.f mangy dog~; trots up, shows carnivorous interest in the chickens.
~ d g e 1 s him fiercely:. ·
BOY
Get away, chicken:-thiefl
Dog YELPS, starts to run. · CAMERA (the eyes of' Spartacus) fol-
lows dog in:

BRIEF PAN SHOT .. WITH DOG 419

The animal scuttles between the legs of a donkey loaded with
faggots (middle-aged ones). The proprietor of' the donkey stares
up into CAMERA as he passes toward Appian gate. Dog, moving
· away from Appian gate, terminates his fligh t be.Core a charcoal
brazier. The woman or the previ ous scene is returning to her
£ire for fresh wares . She looks casually up at CAMERA, then
. ,..M:iresses hersel!' to her roasti ng che stnut s and smoking sausages •
.'Jo~ sni!'1"s i;he air hungrily.

CONTINUED

- - -·- ····---·- -·
 7"!!
····••==ft:' ½- " di ·:,·rtt ' ti:'i: · ti:Qt':;;iet ...... ¥ # 1 4

mdg #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 186

419 CONTINUED 419

BATIATUS I VOICE
(o.s,, from Appian gate)
I object! I most strongly object!

CENTURION'S VOICE ~\
(sternly; o.s.) _ ·
I• ve got my orders. Climb down and , /-:_, __J
identify· yourselves. . .
BATIATUS' VOICE
Lentulus Batiatus, the la~sta QL___
· \
1 /\)' \
lv
<J
Capua. -- V ,
This is the free wo~VVZJarr11n1n
. I(\
11 11
CAMERA, at the word Var1n1a instan y -wltIPS a fuli. 180 d~gr.ees
to : . u..·-J ~(~i_ \pJ\(, r. . .-S) ·.J
, . ;,- ..••
_

420 THE APPIAN GATE - .DAY - FROM: SPARTACUS I POINT OF VIEW - ':jj ' 420
CEN~ION, GUARDS, BATIATUS, VARINIA AND HER CHILD
Batiat us has Just indignantly descended. Varinia and her
child are now following. ·
BATIATUS
(continuing. speech
of previous scene) \
-- and her child •. Travelling on
senat·o rial pass to Aquitania. ·.
. \
As he hands CENTURION the papers, he glances casually .up toward
· the O.S. cross, reacts v101·e ntly. He is · a:f'raid Varinia may see
and make a scene; he is fearful of this inspection; he sees the
sudden possibility of paying for this trip with his life.

l' (to guards}

CENTURION

Take a lo~k through. his baggage.

\ I

i
Batia,t us tri·e s awkwardl.y to turn Varinia aside, t o insert his
own ampl e body: between, her. and the sight of her cruci.fied hus-
band.
BATIATUS
{all -a-steam from ,
trying to do two /
things at once) /
Never befqre have I . known Roman /
citizens to be searched in this ./'
.fashion!
C~nturion pays him no heed, begins to finger through his papers.
·To Bat1atus 1 horror, Vari nia suddenly looks up, sees -the cross
and the person on- it, and. freezes.
CONTINUED

J
--y·• ·•:r·e· · . .-..-,e-, ·e ·et sv ' •te ort< . ....., _ .. .... ~ .... ~ .,. ..,.dht ·tt r t ' ±s-t•Vfflir#: ·· - trm#:'ifrf-
-
111 mdg #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 187
f
1, 420 CONTINUED 420
1 (}
.!.

r1i ·.. ...,,,

, BATIATUS
fi (f'rant1cally, to Varinia)
f Not a word l Not a word!
If
,i Centuri on looks up at Batiatus curio~sly.
t
'
It
~ CENTURION
: What did .you say?
I{
'l
If BATIATu,S
ijl Not a wor d! I mean that's what I
i, said to you. I made a citizen's
l
i i, comment on this search you•re con-
ducting, and you ignored me. You
,t s aid not a wor d.
I
,.i (both to him and
f Var1n1a)
,;. Not a word! Not a single word,
I
} you understand?
'
t Var1n1a now ·s lowly moves toward the cross.
her depar ture with agony.
Batiatus regards ::,i I
If,.
t
;lr CENTURION
(flatly)
~I
•
\ .. ..,/,
~ou must be out of your mind.
K BATIATUS
Oh, I am! A citizen inquires why
he's beihg searched and you don•t
show any recognition .
(loudly, for Vari nia)
Don •t show any recognition at all!
CAMERA (eyes of Spartacus) is now following Varinia•s move -
ment toward cross. Thus Batiatus and Cent urion PASS OUT OF
SCENE as Varinia leaves them behind . She runs ·. t-hree steps for-
ward·, walks two., · then runs three or more until -she 's very close
to the. base of the cross. Her emotions, one must only hazard;
Joy -at seeing him alive; horror at the cruelty being inflicted
upon him; ~ympathy for hj,,s pain, love; grief'. CAMERA (eyes of
Spar tacus), has moved with her advance; now has her in:

421 MED. CLOSE SHOT - VARINIA AND CHILD - SHOOTING DOWN FROM 421
SPARTACUS POINT OF VIEW AT TOP OF CROSS
Tears could flow freely down Vari nia •s cheeks as she gazes up
i nto Spartacus• face -- but I think the grief should be so pure
t~at her f'ace has none of the contort ions, the grimace of a
. / • -- ...
I
p .: rson weeping •
... -j VARINIA
(softly)
· Oh Spartacus - -- Spartacus
422 CLOSEUP - SPARTACUS

The cross, of which V(;ry little 1s visible.,· should be of the T

rather than the Christian conformation. Spartacus stares down
at Varinia through eyes that have already scummed over with
death. Each line of his face is etched with agony. He is
dying of thirst, of exposure, of wounds, of shock. His lips
seem to struggle frantically for speech, but nothing comes,
not even the discernible shape of a single silent syllable.

423 CLOSE ON V~INir... - FROM. SPARTACUS' 'POINT OF VIEW 423 1

Tears still flowing. from her eyes, she begins. hastily to un-
bundle the child, exposing its head, shoulders and tiny arms.
She holds it as. ..high as she can.
VARINIA
He•s tree, Spartacus! He •s not a
slave!

424 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS

He seems to be looking down at the child.
VARINIA 1 S VOICE
(softly, o.s.)
He's a free man • • • 1!
The awful struggle on the dying man's face continuss.
CENTURION'S VOICE
Everytbing 1s in order h~re.
De?arting now from Spartacus' POV, we go to:

425 t'1ED. SH.OT - ~'PP-II\N GATE : - BATIATUS, CENTURION, OTHERS

The centurion hands Batiatus I papers back to him.
· BATIATUS
(sna~ching them)
I should' hope sot
He clambers into his vehicle, reins the horses. Vehicle starts
forward, CAMERA TRUCKING with it until it halts before Varinia
and the cross.

426 ~:um. SHO'l' - BATII\TUS n~ CARRIAGE, VARINIA BEFORE CROSS 426

Vehicle comes to a stop.
 mdg #1888 - Changes 6/4/59

427 CLOSE ON VARINIA AND CHILD - BENEATH CROSS - FROM SPARTACUS' 427
POINT OF VIEW .
She is just lowering ;the child. It CRIES out in protest, as if
desiring to be closer to his father rather than farther 'from. him.

428 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS 428

SOUND of nis son's WAILS over SCENE. The struggle still
ravages his face --- whether to compr~hend. or to acknowledge
we do not know.

• I
429 VARINIA AND CHILD - FROM SPARTACUS' POINT OF VIEW 429
She clutches the child to her breast, shaking her head, as
if unable to tear hers~lf away from Spartacus,

ANOTHER ANGLE - LEGIONARIES OF PREVIOUS SCENE AROUND FIRE . 430 .

IN F.O. - BATIATUS, VEHICLE, SPARTACUS, VARINIA AND CHILD
IN B.o.
431 ANOTHER ANGLE - BATIATUS, VARINIA 431 '
BATIATUS
(urgently)
we 1 ve got to get out of here!
432 CLOSE; ON VARINIA AND CHILD - FROM SPARTACUS' POINT OF VIEW 432·
Varinia clings -helplessly to the child, almost reeling from
her agony.

(who mus?!~:.~on
one of her men tor.
·tv·.( ~
\,, v ··
. . the other) · {'YJ .
I want to die with you, Spartacus, \ •. \
.•.I dpn t want you to die all alo{le I i
1
j\Jl~ ·i
n
~ .I have to go. with the baby.;---,
J
He can 1 -t;;_ 11 ve without me. He I s ·
,.,. ~~o 11 ttle to be left alone --- J
>rl'
\ \

f.Jf(J,J,
·\
i t,A.

433 CLOSE ON SPARTACUS 433

The struggle continues.

,·· . ·· ~.\ ; A.-.JOTHER ANGLE: - BATIATUS, VARINIA, CHILD 434

.\ . . _ /,)·
_Excluding Spartacus from SCENE.
CONTINUED
 HIW:aet .,.... :. ..fr -I ' • • H • ·s e t:-:1±:cs t 1 >M · ·• •rtM

indg #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 190

CONTINUED 434
THIRD LEGIONARY'S VOICE
Hey you! He's about dead anyhow! .
Leave him alonef •Stop teasing himf
BATIATUS
(desperately)
Do you want us all to be up there
with him?
VARINIA
(in agony)
Don't you understand, Spartacus?
Can 1 t you hear me at all? I'm
leaving you here because of the
baby. He's free, Spartacus ---
he1s free.
THIRD LEGIONARY'S VOICE
Did you people hear what I said?
Batiatus brings the whip down hard on horse's rumps •. They
leap forward. CAMERA TRUCKS with vehicle.

BATIATUS
· {from the safety of
increasing dist ance)
~ · 1
You don•t know what troubl e is, you
pig-snouted garbage-fed son of a
camp-I'ollower•s cuckold!
J _.

VARINIA
(looking rearward;
despairingly)
He's free, Spartacus --- I
The horses are now racing down the highway.

435 CLOSEUP - SPARTACUS 435

His eyes follow the.departing vehicle that carries Varinia ·and
the child away from him forever.
VARINIA 1 S VOICE
(fainter, o.s ..)
Your son --- he '.s. free --- I
His face, ·1n the t hroes of a final spasm to tell her he does
indeed understand, he's simply too· filled ·wi t h death to t ell
h9r so --- his face for t he first time organizes itsel f into
a pattern of response. Despite the sufferi ng, despite the
touch of' death so near t o i t , his eye s fo llow th_e retl'.'ea t 1ng I
CONTINUED
i
'I

,'.
.

l
'
 mdg #1888 - Changes 6/4/59 191

435 CONTINUED 435

vehicle ~1th 1ntell1g~nce, even with triumph; his lips are
able to form a smile, all the more wonderful in its sense of
relief and gratitude, for the agony that lies behind it; and
his lips at last come under his control sufficiently to form
a single word:
SPARTACUS
(hoarse whisper) \puf
Freel
1\01/l
REVERSE ANGLE FROM HIS POINT OF VIEW~ VEHICLE 436
Fleeing down the Appian Way, varinia st~1} looking back, still
· wa.Ving 1:n the hope that an instant I s undjrstanding may make
her farewell comprehensible to him.

437 CLOSE UP - SPARTACUS 437

He utters the word again •.
SPARTACUS
(hoarse, but a voice
now, and not a whisper;
a voice that thrills
with victory)
Free
He dies. He dies instantly. The effort to utter, above a
whisper and in recognizable human voice, the one word that
symbolizes his life and his victory, has killed him. But his
son goes free. 1 ('. .

I \ ,,\ ,j t:(,i...1
,,r1··r· !
) ' f1 '
• \ ....., .; \ .,/ J • '

438 I
MED. TRUCKING SHOT THE VEHICLE - VARINIA AND CHILD ' •
l
/ Vari_nia is still looking toward ·Rome., toward the cross, toward
the eyes of Spartacus which she hopes will see and understand
--- and she is waving --- and the child is held in such a
position that if the s lightest flicker of consciousness, how-
ever mute, remains in Spartacus., he will see and know. But he
does not see. He has seen everything. Varinia has shared with
.! him the last unhappiness: she does not know that he heard
i everything; and he, who wanted her so to know, couldn't tell
' { her: But the audience, which has shared Varinia I s frustration,
l_ knows. And it is the a~dience's triumph that it knows, For . \; :
t if our previous efforts have been successful and., in some 11 .
.,I'
\ . degree, true, the audience very much wanted communication be- j!
tween· the two principals at that moment . And it got what the I' .
r
{
'
t . ··-,\ principals could not get (but did), and could never know . The t
audience will feel the victory too, for we -shall have made it
'
.....___;'
I
theirs, .j
I
l'
mp #1888 - Changes 6/4/59
t .
439 CUTS OF ROME FADING INTO THE DISTANCE FROM VARINIA'S POV 439
' ;

to and to

445 CUTS OF VARINIA AND HER CHILD 445

;.

They look back on vanishing Rome w,ithout seeing it; they see
the husband and rathe1.1 who made them free. He doesn't see
them, but the audience will feel ti~ does, for 1n the moment. or
uttering the last word of his lif~---"Free! 11 ---he, too, became
free. And to be free 1s to see ahd to know.
I
FADE OU'!'

THE· END