Spartacus

Switch!

Switch!

Switch!

Crixus!

Did you not hear my instruction?

Apologies, Doctore.

I did not mean to scare the rabbit.

The games of the magistrate approach.

Listen carefully to my instruction,

and every man chosen

will see victory in the arena.

Perhaps not every man.

Pietros.

Save the water for men who deserve it.

Rain! By Jupiter's cock,

would you fucking rain!

What are you doing?

Praying.

Blaspheming.

The two are narrowly separated in these trying times.

Perhaps the gap widens...

More creditors, seeking action?

Something of more cheerful note,

recently delivered...

From magistrate Calavius!

He is coming here to personally

select men for his games!

Games to appease the gods and end the drought!

The biggest games since Theokoles

bested 100 men in the arena!

But why come himself? Unless...

The Primus.

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

He arrives within the hour.

Prepare food.

And gather all the water we have.

Quintus, your robe...

Uh, it's nothing.

Fetch the Medicus.

Lucretia..

I should talk to the magistrate about it.

Those men tried to kill you, an honest man.

In a dishonest place.

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

not with the Primus in the balance.

I'll tend to the matter myself, um.

That was the mark of one of the slaves

who tried to kill Batiatus.

The mark is unknown to me.

Perhaps a closer look...

Details of such craftsmanship

should not be viewed in haste.

I may have seen a similar mark...

Ahh.

So, what do you think?

You adorn them like a god.

I would be out of them...

And deep into you...

Apologies.

Magistrate Calavius arrives.

Our fortunes rise, like your cock.

Stay wet and we'll make it rain presently... ohhh.

Magistrate!

You do us honor with your...

Presence!

Good Batiatus! I was telling Solonius

how I knew your father.

Now there was a true roman.

A great man, none of his like to follow.

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

To business then.

As you well know, the drought has parched the city

to the point of madness.

We've tried everything to tempted the skies into tears,

even to the point of hecatombe.

A hundred cattle sacrificed, and yet not a drop.

Because the gods do not want the blood of cattle.

They want the blood of men!

Good Solonius has been kind enough

to lend a hand in organizing games

to appease their appetite.

It will be sine missione.

No draw. No mercy shown.

Only the finest gladiators

will be invited to participate.

Only the finest are offered in the House of Batiatus.

Come, examine my wares.

An impressive selection,

rivaling that of good Solonius himself.

Yet I have the Primus.

Half.

Your opponent still to be chosen.

If you wish to appease the gods,

you must have one upon the sands

Crixus the Champion of Capua,

will willing fight anyone that Solonius has to offer.

Excellent!

It will truly be a contest between legends!

Legends?

Oh, did I fail to mention?

Good Solonius has secured Theokoles for the Primus!

Theokoles?

I managed to coax him to our fair city,

at great expense.

With our gratitude.

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

then we are surely cursed.

I fear the gods will be displeased.

The match is unbalanced.

Only one man Theokoles

and lived.

What if Crixus were joined by your man Spartacus?

His death was fated in execution,

yet he refuse to own it.

And cost me four men in his defiance.

Your debts are well known, Batiatus.

Even if you lose the men,

the purse is enough to hold off your creditors,

for a moment.

Unless of course you would rather

sit out these games

or any others that follow, which...

No. I will set my men to the task.

My titans!

Pause, and hear glorious news!

Magistrate Titus Calavius has invited our best men

to fight in his Primus!

Crixus!

Step forward!

Spartacus! Step forward.

You have been chosen to fight as one...

Against Theokoles, the shadow of death!

Fuck! Ow! Ow!

Fuck! Ow!

Shit! Fuck!

Ow! Ow! Shit!

Fuck! Ow! Ow!

I think you two will make a fine couple.

I'd rather fight without him.

And die the same.

This Theokoles.

The legends can't be true.

He's en cut a thousand times in the arena,

he's never fallen.

I fear you would have been safer in the pits.

If we were to win,

how large would be the purse?

Large enough to wrest ten wives from the syrian.

You send them to certain death.

Let me fight in their stead.

That's an excellent suggestion.

I owe Theokoles a debt of pain.

You were not requested!

Look, no one has forgotten how bravely

you fought against Theokoles, old friend.

Yet without victory.

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

That in itself is a victory.

Set your purpose to the task of training

Crixus and Spartacus for the match.

I fear no amount will save them

from the shadow's grasp.

Then prepare them for a glorious death.

The brand belonged to Remus, a slave trader

plying wares north of the city.

Remus? The name holds no recognition.

Nor to I. Yet,

if I were to purchase a slave, intent on foul designs...

Then it would be from outside Capua,

to avoid simple discovery.

Find Remus and bring him.

I would have conversation.

Dominus.

Water.

From Domina.

To help with your training.

Wait a moment.

To what purpose?

Need there be one?

You shouldn't look at me in that way.

I try with all my strength not to.

But I am weak.

Sleep, then.

And regain your strength.

I seek no quarrel.

Your presence here would state otherwise.

We've had our differences.

I own my part in them.

Yet if we are to defeat Theokoles..

We?

There is no such thing in the arena.

You believe you can slay the giant?

Alone?

As I always stand.

This time you do not.

When Theokoles falls, the glory will be mine.

And if we do not come to common ground,

the death shared will be ours.

Oh. As if they stand chance against Theokoles.

Um. Perhaps the gods will favor them.