The Eagle (2011) - full transcript
In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.
(LOUD MOOING)
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Fourth Cohort of Gauls,
Second Legion.
Come to relieve the command.
Lutorius Drusillus Salinator,
acting senior officer.
Where's the garrison commander?
He left this morning, sir.
Couldn't wait to get away.
Duty roster and the
keys to the pay chest.
No paymaster?
We're too small a garrison.
Unfortunately, that
job falls to you.
As you probably noticed,
we've had a little trouble
with the latrines,
but we have someone
working on it.
Unsuccessfully.
So far.
This your first command, sir?
It is.
What made you choose Britain?
You have family
connections, I believe.
No.
I've noticed the fort.
It's in a poor state of repair.
We'll need to do
something about that.
Yes, sir.
(RHYTHMIC DRUMMING OUTSIDE)
CENTURION 1: Move, soldiers!
Move, move, move!
CENTURION 2: Get in line, soldier!
You, fall in!
(DRUMMING STOPS)
LUTORIUS: Our new commander,
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Where's our newly-
minted commander?
Probably unpacking
his rule book.
GALBA: You mark my words.
Marcus Aquila is tainted.
LUTORIUS: Well, you know
who his father was.
GALBA: The man who lost
The Eagle of The Ninth.
LUTORIUS: Not to mention
5,000 men.
GALBA: That was a little
absentminded.
LUTORIUS: I heard he asked
to be sent here.
GALBA: To this shithole?
LuToRius: (LAUGHS) Yeah.
I'm telling you.
I've marched with the Eagles 23 years.
I know a bad omen
when I see one.
The boy's a bad omen.
Mithras, lord of light,
please help me,
father of our fathers.
Help me lead my men well.
Do not let me
dishonor my legion.
Please help me regain
my family's honor.
(HORN SOUNDING)
Dig it deep, boys!
(PANTING)
Your lives depend
on these defenses!
CENTURION: Move those
poles over there.
You must be accurate
with your striking!
Power, speed and accuracy!
Just been told the grain
delivery hasn't arrived.
I want you to send out
a patrol to investigate.
GALBA: I wouldn't worry, sir.
One day late, it's nothing here.
Well, it is to me.
Send out the patrol.
Believe me, sir, too dangerous.
We've had reports of a Druid
roaming the villages.
Right now, I would
not send out a patrol.
The men, they need to eat, too.
CENTURION:
Patrol, forward march!
Left, right, left.
(GASPING)
Wake Lutorius. Yes, sir.
(FAINT RUSTLING)
Did you hear that? Sir?
I hope the patrol's all right.
Seems I may have
got you up for nothing.
What did you hear?
It's cattle, most likely.
(RUSTLING)
There. That.
Did you hear it?
(EXCLAIMS SOFTLY) Damn the dark.
Should I call the men to arms?
If it's only cattle,
they won't thank you.
Better angry than dead.
Call them out. But in silence.
Yes, sir.
Soldier, wake up.
(EXCLAIMS) Bloody helmets.
CENTURION: Come on, come on.
Move, move, move.
(SIGHING ANGRILY)
(BATTLE CRY)
MARCUS: Hold the line!
LUTORIUS: Legion, hold your positions!
Hold your positions!
Bring me a torch!
Hold steady!
Hold your line!
MARCUS: Centurion,
hold the cohort!
(MEN SCREAMING)
It's coming out!
Sir. Well done, sir.
Well done, sir. Sir.
Light of the sun
be with you, brother.
Many more of us would
be lying there, sir.
Is there any sign of the patrol?
LEGIONARY: Sir!
(GRUNTS)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(ALL CHEERING)
(CHEERING)
I'm not leaving them to die.
Muster 50 of the reserves
and hold them at the gate.
Sir, let me lead them.
It was my decision
to send out the patrol.
It's my responsibility
to bring them back.
Muster the men.
(CHEERING)
CENTURION: Move it! Move it!
Prepare for battle.
MARCUS: Mithras, lord of light,
father of our fathers, let me not
bring misfortune to my legion.
Mithras, lord of light,
father of our fathers,
accept whatever sacrifice that I may
not bring misfortune to my legion.
On my command, we form testudo!
Ready! Open the gates!
MARCUS: Legion,
double time, march!
(BATTLE CRY)
Testudo, form!
CENTURION 1: Move forward!
CENTURION 2: Move forward!
Move forward! Advance!
Defensive circle, forward!
Defensive circle, forward!
CENTURION 3: Hold the circle!
MARCUS: Hold the circle!
Hold the circle!
Tighten the circle!
Hold the circle!
(ALL SHOUTING)
Here, cut the others free.
Hold the circle! Hold!
(HORN SOUNDING)
Close the circle!
(HORN CONTINUES SOUNDING)
Fall back!
Fall back! Run!
Charge!
(URGING HORSES)
MARCUS: Run! Run!
(NEIGHING)
MARCUS: Father, where
are you, Father?
(YOUNG MARCUS LAUGHING)
(INAUDIBLE)
(MARCUS SHUDDERING)
Father?
(EAGLE SCREECHING)
Rest now.
Lie still.
Still.
Where am I?
You're still in
Britain. Calleva.
Calleva?
Your fort surgeon had
you transferred here.
200 leagues in a mule cart.
With your wound,
it's a wonder you didn't die.
I'm your uncle on
your father's side, Aquila.
No, these are not the
best circumstances
under which to meet,
but assume you're gonna live,
so we'll have plenty of time
to make your acquaintance.
Now, please lie still.
The patient must rest.
I hope the medicine he's gonna
give you does you some good.
It smells repellent.
Like one of his farts.
My men.
What happened to my men?
Your men were saved.
Thanks to your effort.
Rest now.
AQUILA: Marcus?
Marcus?
You have a visitor.
Lutorius. Sir.
The men have been
asking after you.
And how are they?
Anxious to know how
their commander fares.
You have some
news for my nephew?
Yes. Sorry.
We have received word from Rome.
For holding the fort
under extreme duress,
the Fourth Cohort of Gauls
has been awarded
the gilded laurel.
From today, their standard
will carry its first wreath.
Tell the men I could
not be more proud.
That's not all, sir.
They've awarded you
a military armilla
for conspicuous gallantry.
And an honorable discharge
because of your wounds.
The citation reads,
"Honor and faithfulness."
MARCUS: Honor and faithfulness.
LUTORIUS: May I be the first
to offer my congratulations?
It was good of
you to come so far.
Sir.
Thank you, Lutorius.
(MARCUS SCREAMING)
Stephanos.
Leave him.
There's no medicine for that.
(MARCUS GRUNTING)
(SHUDDERING)
CENTURION: Run!
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
AQUILA: Ease him down.
Careful.
Gently.
Fun.
MAN: Go, little guy, go!
What was my father like?
Your father?
Your father was a perfect Roman,
and everything
that that implies.
The man who lost The Eagle
was the perfect Roman?
How The Eagle was
lost, no one knows.
But if your father
died defending it,
he died honorably.
That's what we tell ourselves.
But what if he didn't? What?
What if he was a coward and ran?
And now a fight to the death!
(ALL CHEERING)
AQUILA: It's a slave.
A gladiator and a slave's
never a fair contest. Never!
Come on.
Come on. Fight.
Fight!
AQUILA: There's bravery.
He's going to give
himself his death.
(ALL CHEERING)
MAN: Come on, fight.
AQUILA: Look at that.
Look at that.
(GRUNTING)
Go! Come on, come on, go!
GLADIATOR: Fight!
Fight.
Fight mm!
MAN: Fight, slave.
WOMAN: Get up and fight.
Get up. Fight.
Come on.
(PANTING)
(CHEERING)
MAN 12 Kill him!
MAN 23 Kill him!
ALL: (CHANTING)
Kill! Kill! Kill!
(PANTING)
Kill him!
Life. Life!
Life!
Come on, let him live.
Come on, get your thumbs up!
Come on, you fools!
Life! All of you, life!
Let him live.
Get your thumbs up!
Get your thumbs up!
Life!
MARCUS: Come on, you fools!
Get your thumbs up!
Life!
Life!
Come on! Let him live!
(ALL CHEERING)
AQUILA: Now, that I was
not expecting.
Why did you save him?
Stephanos!
Stephanos!
I decided Stephanos is too
old to serve two masters.
I bought you your
own body slave.
I don't need my own slave.
Marcus.
I should have been consulted.
Yeah, well, you weren't.
Slave!
His name's Esca.
I've no use for you.
I had no wish to be bought.
You should have run.
My uncle wouldn't
have stopped you.
You saved my life.
I have a debt of
honor to you now.
Against your wish.
No man should ever
beg for his life.
You didn't.
I did, on your behalf.
And I meant nothing by it.
I am a son of the Brigantes,
who never broke his word.
My father's dagger is my bond.
I hate everything you stand for.
Everything you are.
But you saved me.
And for that, I must serve you.
SURGEON:
Who searched this wound?
The surgeon at the fort.
Was he drunk?
I've never seen such a mess.
You must have been
in constant pain.
AQUILA: Sent him 200 leagues
in a mule cart.
Nearly killed him.
SURGEON: I'm gonna have to re-open it.
There's still metal in there.
Well, if it's got to be done,
let him do it, right?
It'll be over
before you know it.
I have the best knives
in the business.
Some wine.
Ready? Ready.
You can go.
No! I'm gonna need the
slave to hold you down.
MARCUS: Can't my uncle do it?
Me? No.
No, I've grown to hate
the sight of blood.
Especially the blood of
someone I'm quite fond of.
Be strong.
Quickly now. Hold him down.
Put your weight on him, slave!
Harder!
Take a deep breath.
When I say, "Now," let it out.
Now!
(GROANS)
(EXHALES)
Did I shame myself?
Thank you.
There he is.
(LAUGHS)
(GRUNTING)
Spear!
Now!
Cut him off! Cut him off!
CLAUDIUS: As I remember it,
he seemed pretty fond of you.
Marcus.
May I present my nephew,
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Claudius Marcellus,
my old friend,
and the esteemed Legate
of the Sixth Legion.
Your uncle's an
old sparring partner.
Tribune Servius Placidus.
An indispensable member of my staff.
Pleasure.
Supper's ready.
Boiled eggs and fish.
Don't all rush at once.
(ALL CHUCKLE)
PLACIDUS: If it was my choice,
I'd be a soldier all my life.
However, my father will
insist I go into politics.
Have we met before?
Your name sounds familiar.
I doubt it.
The Tribune's Club, in Rome?
(CHUCKLING)
No, I was only
a Cohort Centurion.
Ah, right, I remember now.
Flavius Aquila.
Your father marched with the
Eagles, too, did he not?
He commanded the
First Cohort of the Ninth.
Of course. The Ninth.
Every Roman remembers the Ninth.
Talking of the Ninth,
there's been rumor
recently along the wall.
Rumors. Rumors!
Britain's full of
nothing but rumors.
CLAUDIUS: They say
The Eagle's been seen
receiving divine honors in some
tribal temple in the far north.
An Eagle in the hands of the
Painted People. A potent weapon.
One has to wonder how any
Roman could let it go.
If this were to be true,
surely we should act.
Well, what would Rome say?
Eagle lost, honor lost.
Honor lost, all lost.
Rome would love
to get The Eagle back,
but politics being politics,
no senator's gonna risk thousands
of lives on a tainted legion.
My hands are tied.
MARCUS: Not if you sent one man.
AQUILA: North of the wall?
No Roman could survive up there.
Has anyone ever tried?
No, and that's
the point, militarily.
To try would be to fail.
How do you know?
One man can hide
where an army can't.
No one would even
know he was there.
It's too risky.
PLACIDUS: Quite right.
The loss of the Ninth
was humiliating enough
without adding another
pointless death.
AQUILA: Marcus.
Marcus.
You can't let the likes
of him do this to you.
He has no notion of how you
and I have lived our lives.
Ever since I can remember,
all I've ever wanted to be was
a soldier, like my father.
I know.
I can still see him now,
riding away for the last time.
I can still feel
how proud I was.
My father,
Centurion of the First
Cohort of the Ninth Legion.
Can you imagine
anything more magnificent
than to be a soldier
and to serve Rome
with courage and faithfulness?
But you did, son. For what?
For what?
An honorable discharge?
That is fate.
That's in the hands of the gods.
When I made Centurion,
they asked me where
I wanted to be posted.
I knew the answer before
they had even asked it.
Britain. Britain.
This is where my
father lost The Eagle.
This is where I was
gonna win so much glory
that no Roman would ever dare
bring up his name again.
What do I do now? What do I do?
I sit and I listen to some
silk-ass politician's son
piss on our family's name!
I will not sit in some villa
for the rest of my days,
rotting and remembering.
(LAUGHS INCREDULOUSLY)
If I can't win back
my family's honor
by being a soldier,
then I'll do it by
finding the lost Eagle.
You can't.
No Roman can survive
north of the wall alone.
You can't. Then I'll take Esca.
I can use his knowledge.
He speaks the language.
Esca? Why not?
Because he's a Briton.
He may not be from
north of the wall,
but he's a Briton.
And he will slit your throat
the minute you're alone.
He wouldn't do that.
How do you know?
He gave me his word!
His word?
He's a slave!
He says what he says and he does
what he does because he has to.
Once you're beyond
the territories...
MARCUS: If I'm wrong,
then I'll die.
And that's how it should be.
Where are you headed?
North.
(GUARDS LAUGHING)
Didn't they tell you this
is the end of the world?
Just open the gate, soldier.
(RATTLING)
GUARD: See you in the
afterlife, Roman.
MARCUS: Who did this?
Rogue warriors.
You know, sometimes,
I dream that I'll find
my father alive up here.
That he survived in
some hidden place.
Is that why you're here?
To find your father?
No.
We're here to find The Eagle.
How can a piece of metal
mean so much to you?
The Eagle is not
a piece of metal.
The Eagle is Rome.
It's a symbol of our honor.
Every victory.
Every achievement.
Wherever The Eagle is,
we can say that Rome did that.
You wouldn't understand.
How could you?
My father was Cunoval,
bearer of the Blue War
Shield of the Brigantes.
Lord of 500 spears.
Seven years ago,
you took our lands
and we rose against you.
My father and two brothers died.
My mother, also.
My father killed her before the
legionaries broke through.
He knew what they
would do to her.
She knelt in front of him
and he slit her throat.
Rome also did that.
The Highlands.
Which way?
It's up to you.
Five thousand men can
disappear in a single glen.
There are thousands of glens.
ESCA: We could search for
months and still find nothing.
(EAGLE SCREECHING)
North.
ESCA: Whoever we meet,
let me do the talking.
If they find out you're a
Roman, they'll kill you.
And me.
(MEN SPEAKING GAELIC)
Don't look.
There's three rogue warriors
behind you across the river.
How many behind me?
I don't see anyone.
They're there.
Are you ready?
(PANTING)
(PANTING)
Next time, don't hesitate.
Stay back.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
He remembers seeing
the legion march north,
but they never came
back this way.
He must know more than that.
He says not.
Ask him again. No.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
What are you doing? Stay back!
Enough!
Enough. No more games.
No more lies.
Ask him where the legion went.
Ask him!
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(REPLYING IN GAELIC)
Come on.
(NEIGHING)
Kill him!
Kill him.
Do it now! Chin-strap scar.
Only a Roman helmet does that.
He's a legionary.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
What's your name?
What's your name?
I'm called Guern.
My name is Lucius
Caius Metellus.
First Cohort of
the Ninth Legion.
How have you survived
up here for so long?
My tribe is called the Selgovae.
They took me in, made
me one of their own.
I have a woman, two sons.
My life is here now.
I don't trust him.
He's a deserter.
MARCUS: We don't know that.
He's still a Roman.
He was a Roman when he ran.
I don't know what your
father's orders were,
but all I know
is that we had it coming.
Why did they have to come north?
There's nothing
here worth taking.
Couldn't they have been
satisfied with what they had?
They always have to punish
and push on looking
for more conquests,
more territories, more wars.
MARCUS: Just tell me
what happened.
When the order came
for the Ninth to march north,
it was autumn.
The worst weather
they'd had in years.
For weeks we marched.
No sign of them.
Suddenly they just
appeared out of the mist.
(VOICES ECHOING)
We could hear them, picking the
men off at the back, one by one.
Finally, we just stopped
trying to find open ground
and we turned and faced them.
GUERN: Those last few days
of the legion,
I've never been so frightened.
We fought back-to-back.
No sleep. Pissing
where we stood.
They came at us like animals.
This is the killing ground.
All the northern
tribes were here.
But the worst
were the Painted Warriors
of the Seal People.
They hacked the
feet off the dead
so their souls couldn't
walk into the afterlife.
They used those stones as
altars to kill the officers.
They ripped their hearts out
while they were still alive.
We could hear them
being sacrificed.
My father?
What happened to him?
The last time I saw your father,
he was surrounded by the
warriors of the Seal People.
Did he die fighting?
Did he die fighting?
I don't know.
I ran before the end.
A lot of us did.
You coward.
No.
You weren't here.
You don't know what it was like.
Who has The Eagle?
They say the Seal
People have it.
How do I find them?
He knows.
He's Brigantes.
They fought here.
You always knew that place
existed, didn't you?
We've wasted weeks searching,
and all this time you
could have told me.
Your tribe was there.
And they butchered my
father's men like dogs!
Your father came to kill!
He came to punish us
'cause we would not
bow to the name of Rome!
Yes, I'd heard of this place.
To me and to all my people,
it is the place of heroes.
How dare you?
You're still my slave!
And you'd be dead in
a ditch without me!
I saved your miserable life!
(PANTING)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
No! What's happening?
No! Esca?
Esca? Esca!
Esca!
(MEN LAUGHING)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SEAL PEOPLE CHUCKLING)
(SEAL PEOPLE MUTTERING)
ESCA: Marcus Flavius Aquila.
SEAL CHIEF:
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
(SEAL PEOPLE LAUGHING)
Esca, what's happening?
You're my slave.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(ALL CHATTERING)
(MAN SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(WOMEN LAUGHING)
(ESCA SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SHOUTING) Knee!
Get on your knees!
Do it!
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
When I get the chance,
I will kill you.
(SEAL CHIEF SPEAKING GAELIC)
(BEATING DRUMS)
(MEN CHANTING)
(CHANTING LOUDLY)
(MEN SHOUTING)
Marcus.
Marcus.
Marcus!
(GASPS)
It's time.
We have to do this now.
It's our only chance.
While they sleep.
I thought I'd lost you.
Quickly.
(MEN SNORING)
(PANTING)
There's no time now. Let's go.
We have to go now.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(BATTLE CRY)
Where'd you get
my father's ring?
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
What did he say?
We have to go.
BOYS Esca?
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
Esca.
If he wakes them, we're dead.
And you know it.
He has no reason to protect us.
Do you trust me?
He won't betray us.
(URGING HORSE)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
Come on! Come on, boy.
(DOGS GROWLING)
How many days to the wall?
If we ride hard,
four, maybe five.
They'll never catch us on foot.
Have you seen them run?
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
You're wounded.
Why didn't you say?
It's nothing.
It's your bad leg. Sit down.
We don't have time.
Just sit down.
In the cave, the chief,
what did he say?
Come on, there's
no time right now.
(DOGS BARKING)
(DOGS BARKING)
They're coming.
Half a day behind.
The wind always lies.
(URGING HORSE)
(EAGLE SCREECHING)
(SQUEAKING)
No fires. It's too risky.
I'm not eating that.
I'm not a savage.
Then die a Roman.
You've lost a lot of blood.
You need to keep
your strength up.
Eat.
(GAGGING)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
It's time to go.
They can take shortcuts
that the horses can't.
(HORSE NEIGHING)
ESCA: Come on.
Keep going. Come on!
(URGING HORSE)
Come on!
No!
(HORSE NEIGHING)
(SCREAMING)
(CALLING OUT)
ESCA: We need to
stick to the river.
They'll double back soon enough.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(MARCUS GROANING)
(GASPING)
(MARCUS BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
Rest.
We can't.
You need to rest!
Marcus.
You need to rest.
(COUGHING)
Come on.
Come on.
(GASPING)
I can't go on.
Yes, you can.
You just need to rest.
Take The Eagle.
If you find horses, come back.
(COUGHING)
If not, just keep south.
Make sure this
gets back to Rome.
I'm not leaving you here.
Do not dishonor me. Take it.
I came this far with you.
I won't leave you now.
Esca,
I order you.
Take it.
I swore an oath of honor
never to abandon you.
If you want me to leave,
set me free.
Give me my freedom.
You're free.
You're free, my friend.
Take it.
No.
I will return.
(SHUDDERING)
(THUNDER CLAPPING)
(PANTING)
(PANTING)
(DOGS BARKING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Legion, halt!
ESCA: Your father's legionaries.
You were wrong.
The dead can live.
My shame would not allow me
to tell you this before,
but I watched your father die.
Whatever anyone tells you,
he was not a coward.
He stood his ground
to the very end.
I saw it.
The last Roman to hold The
Eagle was your father.
The order, sir.
You've honored my
father's memory enough.
You don't have to do this. No.
When I ran from your father
(DOGS BARKING)
I ran from myself.
(SEAL PEOPLE CHATTERING)
Give the order, sir.
Prepare to defend The Eagle!
Esca!
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
Out swords!
(BATTLE CRY)
(GRUNTING)
(PANTING)
MARCUS: Let us remember the men who
fought and died in the name of honor.
Romans and Britons.
My father and yours.
Fathers,
brothers,
sons,
may peace and honor follow you.
May you know no more strife.
May your souls
take flight and soar
with The Eagle of The Ninth.
For my father.
My dear boy.
I congratulate you.
Rome congratulates you.
And your family's
good name is restored.
The Senate will want
to re-form the Ninth.
Perhaps they can reward
you with its command.
However did you do it?
With only a slave to help you.
He's not a slave!
And he knows more about honor
and freedom than you ever will.
So what now?
You decide.
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Fourth Cohort of Gauls,
Second Legion.
Come to relieve the command.
Lutorius Drusillus Salinator,
acting senior officer.
Where's the garrison commander?
He left this morning, sir.
Couldn't wait to get away.
Duty roster and the
keys to the pay chest.
No paymaster?
We're too small a garrison.
Unfortunately, that
job falls to you.
As you probably noticed,
we've had a little trouble
with the latrines,
but we have someone
working on it.
Unsuccessfully.
So far.
This your first command, sir?
It is.
What made you choose Britain?
You have family
connections, I believe.
No.
I've noticed the fort.
It's in a poor state of repair.
We'll need to do
something about that.
Yes, sir.
(RHYTHMIC DRUMMING OUTSIDE)
CENTURION 1: Move, soldiers!
Move, move, move!
CENTURION 2: Get in line, soldier!
You, fall in!
(DRUMMING STOPS)
LUTORIUS: Our new commander,
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Where's our newly-
minted commander?
Probably unpacking
his rule book.
GALBA: You mark my words.
Marcus Aquila is tainted.
LUTORIUS: Well, you know
who his father was.
GALBA: The man who lost
The Eagle of The Ninth.
LUTORIUS: Not to mention
5,000 men.
GALBA: That was a little
absentminded.
LUTORIUS: I heard he asked
to be sent here.
GALBA: To this shithole?
LuToRius: (LAUGHS) Yeah.
I'm telling you.
I've marched with the Eagles 23 years.
I know a bad omen
when I see one.
The boy's a bad omen.
Mithras, lord of light,
please help me,
father of our fathers.
Help me lead my men well.
Do not let me
dishonor my legion.
Please help me regain
my family's honor.
(HORN SOUNDING)
Dig it deep, boys!
(PANTING)
Your lives depend
on these defenses!
CENTURION: Move those
poles over there.
You must be accurate
with your striking!
Power, speed and accuracy!
Just been told the grain
delivery hasn't arrived.
I want you to send out
a patrol to investigate.
GALBA: I wouldn't worry, sir.
One day late, it's nothing here.
Well, it is to me.
Send out the patrol.
Believe me, sir, too dangerous.
We've had reports of a Druid
roaming the villages.
Right now, I would
not send out a patrol.
The men, they need to eat, too.
CENTURION:
Patrol, forward march!
Left, right, left.
(GASPING)
Wake Lutorius. Yes, sir.
(FAINT RUSTLING)
Did you hear that? Sir?
I hope the patrol's all right.
Seems I may have
got you up for nothing.
What did you hear?
It's cattle, most likely.
(RUSTLING)
There. That.
Did you hear it?
(EXCLAIMS SOFTLY) Damn the dark.
Should I call the men to arms?
If it's only cattle,
they won't thank you.
Better angry than dead.
Call them out. But in silence.
Yes, sir.
Soldier, wake up.
(EXCLAIMS) Bloody helmets.
CENTURION: Come on, come on.
Move, move, move.
(SIGHING ANGRILY)
(BATTLE CRY)
MARCUS: Hold the line!
LUTORIUS: Legion, hold your positions!
Hold your positions!
Bring me a torch!
Hold steady!
Hold your line!
MARCUS: Centurion,
hold the cohort!
(MEN SCREAMING)
It's coming out!
Sir. Well done, sir.
Well done, sir. Sir.
Light of the sun
be with you, brother.
Many more of us would
be lying there, sir.
Is there any sign of the patrol?
LEGIONARY: Sir!
(GRUNTS)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(ALL CHEERING)
(CHEERING)
I'm not leaving them to die.
Muster 50 of the reserves
and hold them at the gate.
Sir, let me lead them.
It was my decision
to send out the patrol.
It's my responsibility
to bring them back.
Muster the men.
(CHEERING)
CENTURION: Move it! Move it!
Prepare for battle.
MARCUS: Mithras, lord of light,
father of our fathers, let me not
bring misfortune to my legion.
Mithras, lord of light,
father of our fathers,
accept whatever sacrifice that I may
not bring misfortune to my legion.
On my command, we form testudo!
Ready! Open the gates!
MARCUS: Legion,
double time, march!
(BATTLE CRY)
Testudo, form!
CENTURION 1: Move forward!
CENTURION 2: Move forward!
Move forward! Advance!
Defensive circle, forward!
Defensive circle, forward!
CENTURION 3: Hold the circle!
MARCUS: Hold the circle!
Hold the circle!
Tighten the circle!
Hold the circle!
(ALL SHOUTING)
Here, cut the others free.
Hold the circle! Hold!
(HORN SOUNDING)
Close the circle!
(HORN CONTINUES SOUNDING)
Fall back!
Fall back! Run!
Charge!
(URGING HORSES)
MARCUS: Run! Run!
(NEIGHING)
MARCUS: Father, where
are you, Father?
(YOUNG MARCUS LAUGHING)
(INAUDIBLE)
(MARCUS SHUDDERING)
Father?
(EAGLE SCREECHING)
Rest now.
Lie still.
Still.
Where am I?
You're still in
Britain. Calleva.
Calleva?
Your fort surgeon had
you transferred here.
200 leagues in a mule cart.
With your wound,
it's a wonder you didn't die.
I'm your uncle on
your father's side, Aquila.
No, these are not the
best circumstances
under which to meet,
but assume you're gonna live,
so we'll have plenty of time
to make your acquaintance.
Now, please lie still.
The patient must rest.
I hope the medicine he's gonna
give you does you some good.
It smells repellent.
Like one of his farts.
My men.
What happened to my men?
Your men were saved.
Thanks to your effort.
Rest now.
AQUILA: Marcus?
Marcus?
You have a visitor.
Lutorius. Sir.
The men have been
asking after you.
And how are they?
Anxious to know how
their commander fares.
You have some
news for my nephew?
Yes. Sorry.
We have received word from Rome.
For holding the fort
under extreme duress,
the Fourth Cohort of Gauls
has been awarded
the gilded laurel.
From today, their standard
will carry its first wreath.
Tell the men I could
not be more proud.
That's not all, sir.
They've awarded you
a military armilla
for conspicuous gallantry.
And an honorable discharge
because of your wounds.
The citation reads,
"Honor and faithfulness."
MARCUS: Honor and faithfulness.
LUTORIUS: May I be the first
to offer my congratulations?
It was good of
you to come so far.
Sir.
Thank you, Lutorius.
(MARCUS SCREAMING)
Stephanos.
Leave him.
There's no medicine for that.
(MARCUS GRUNTING)
(SHUDDERING)
CENTURION: Run!
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
AQUILA: Ease him down.
Careful.
Gently.
Fun.
MAN: Go, little guy, go!
What was my father like?
Your father?
Your father was a perfect Roman,
and everything
that that implies.
The man who lost The Eagle
was the perfect Roman?
How The Eagle was
lost, no one knows.
But if your father
died defending it,
he died honorably.
That's what we tell ourselves.
But what if he didn't? What?
What if he was a coward and ran?
And now a fight to the death!
(ALL CHEERING)
AQUILA: It's a slave.
A gladiator and a slave's
never a fair contest. Never!
Come on.
Come on. Fight.
Fight!
AQUILA: There's bravery.
He's going to give
himself his death.
(ALL CHEERING)
MAN: Come on, fight.
AQUILA: Look at that.
Look at that.
(GRUNTING)
Go! Come on, come on, go!
GLADIATOR: Fight!
Fight.
Fight mm!
MAN: Fight, slave.
WOMAN: Get up and fight.
Get up. Fight.
Come on.
(PANTING)
(CHEERING)
MAN 12 Kill him!
MAN 23 Kill him!
ALL: (CHANTING)
Kill! Kill! Kill!
(PANTING)
Kill him!
Life. Life!
Life!
Come on, let him live.
Come on, get your thumbs up!
Come on, you fools!
Life! All of you, life!
Let him live.
Get your thumbs up!
Get your thumbs up!
Life!
MARCUS: Come on, you fools!
Get your thumbs up!
Life!
Life!
Come on! Let him live!
(ALL CHEERING)
AQUILA: Now, that I was
not expecting.
Why did you save him?
Stephanos!
Stephanos!
I decided Stephanos is too
old to serve two masters.
I bought you your
own body slave.
I don't need my own slave.
Marcus.
I should have been consulted.
Yeah, well, you weren't.
Slave!
His name's Esca.
I've no use for you.
I had no wish to be bought.
You should have run.
My uncle wouldn't
have stopped you.
You saved my life.
I have a debt of
honor to you now.
Against your wish.
No man should ever
beg for his life.
You didn't.
I did, on your behalf.
And I meant nothing by it.
I am a son of the Brigantes,
who never broke his word.
My father's dagger is my bond.
I hate everything you stand for.
Everything you are.
But you saved me.
And for that, I must serve you.
SURGEON:
Who searched this wound?
The surgeon at the fort.
Was he drunk?
I've never seen such a mess.
You must have been
in constant pain.
AQUILA: Sent him 200 leagues
in a mule cart.
Nearly killed him.
SURGEON: I'm gonna have to re-open it.
There's still metal in there.
Well, if it's got to be done,
let him do it, right?
It'll be over
before you know it.
I have the best knives
in the business.
Some wine.
Ready? Ready.
You can go.
No! I'm gonna need the
slave to hold you down.
MARCUS: Can't my uncle do it?
Me? No.
No, I've grown to hate
the sight of blood.
Especially the blood of
someone I'm quite fond of.
Be strong.
Quickly now. Hold him down.
Put your weight on him, slave!
Harder!
Take a deep breath.
When I say, "Now," let it out.
Now!
(GROANS)
(EXHALES)
Did I shame myself?
Thank you.
There he is.
(LAUGHS)
(GRUNTING)
Spear!
Now!
Cut him off! Cut him off!
CLAUDIUS: As I remember it,
he seemed pretty fond of you.
Marcus.
May I present my nephew,
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Claudius Marcellus,
my old friend,
and the esteemed Legate
of the Sixth Legion.
Your uncle's an
old sparring partner.
Tribune Servius Placidus.
An indispensable member of my staff.
Pleasure.
Supper's ready.
Boiled eggs and fish.
Don't all rush at once.
(ALL CHUCKLE)
PLACIDUS: If it was my choice,
I'd be a soldier all my life.
However, my father will
insist I go into politics.
Have we met before?
Your name sounds familiar.
I doubt it.
The Tribune's Club, in Rome?
(CHUCKLING)
No, I was only
a Cohort Centurion.
Ah, right, I remember now.
Flavius Aquila.
Your father marched with the
Eagles, too, did he not?
He commanded the
First Cohort of the Ninth.
Of course. The Ninth.
Every Roman remembers the Ninth.
Talking of the Ninth,
there's been rumor
recently along the wall.
Rumors. Rumors!
Britain's full of
nothing but rumors.
CLAUDIUS: They say
The Eagle's been seen
receiving divine honors in some
tribal temple in the far north.
An Eagle in the hands of the
Painted People. A potent weapon.
One has to wonder how any
Roman could let it go.
If this were to be true,
surely we should act.
Well, what would Rome say?
Eagle lost, honor lost.
Honor lost, all lost.
Rome would love
to get The Eagle back,
but politics being politics,
no senator's gonna risk thousands
of lives on a tainted legion.
My hands are tied.
MARCUS: Not if you sent one man.
AQUILA: North of the wall?
No Roman could survive up there.
Has anyone ever tried?
No, and that's
the point, militarily.
To try would be to fail.
How do you know?
One man can hide
where an army can't.
No one would even
know he was there.
It's too risky.
PLACIDUS: Quite right.
The loss of the Ninth
was humiliating enough
without adding another
pointless death.
AQUILA: Marcus.
Marcus.
You can't let the likes
of him do this to you.
He has no notion of how you
and I have lived our lives.
Ever since I can remember,
all I've ever wanted to be was
a soldier, like my father.
I know.
I can still see him now,
riding away for the last time.
I can still feel
how proud I was.
My father,
Centurion of the First
Cohort of the Ninth Legion.
Can you imagine
anything more magnificent
than to be a soldier
and to serve Rome
with courage and faithfulness?
But you did, son. For what?
For what?
An honorable discharge?
That is fate.
That's in the hands of the gods.
When I made Centurion,
they asked me where
I wanted to be posted.
I knew the answer before
they had even asked it.
Britain. Britain.
This is where my
father lost The Eagle.
This is where I was
gonna win so much glory
that no Roman would ever dare
bring up his name again.
What do I do now? What do I do?
I sit and I listen to some
silk-ass politician's son
piss on our family's name!
I will not sit in some villa
for the rest of my days,
rotting and remembering.
(LAUGHS INCREDULOUSLY)
If I can't win back
my family's honor
by being a soldier,
then I'll do it by
finding the lost Eagle.
You can't.
No Roman can survive
north of the wall alone.
You can't. Then I'll take Esca.
I can use his knowledge.
He speaks the language.
Esca? Why not?
Because he's a Briton.
He may not be from
north of the wall,
but he's a Briton.
And he will slit your throat
the minute you're alone.
He wouldn't do that.
How do you know?
He gave me his word!
His word?
He's a slave!
He says what he says and he does
what he does because he has to.
Once you're beyond
the territories...
MARCUS: If I'm wrong,
then I'll die.
And that's how it should be.
Where are you headed?
North.
(GUARDS LAUGHING)
Didn't they tell you this
is the end of the world?
Just open the gate, soldier.
(RATTLING)
GUARD: See you in the
afterlife, Roman.
MARCUS: Who did this?
Rogue warriors.
You know, sometimes,
I dream that I'll find
my father alive up here.
That he survived in
some hidden place.
Is that why you're here?
To find your father?
No.
We're here to find The Eagle.
How can a piece of metal
mean so much to you?
The Eagle is not
a piece of metal.
The Eagle is Rome.
It's a symbol of our honor.
Every victory.
Every achievement.
Wherever The Eagle is,
we can say that Rome did that.
You wouldn't understand.
How could you?
My father was Cunoval,
bearer of the Blue War
Shield of the Brigantes.
Lord of 500 spears.
Seven years ago,
you took our lands
and we rose against you.
My father and two brothers died.
My mother, also.
My father killed her before the
legionaries broke through.
He knew what they
would do to her.
She knelt in front of him
and he slit her throat.
Rome also did that.
The Highlands.
Which way?
It's up to you.
Five thousand men can
disappear in a single glen.
There are thousands of glens.
ESCA: We could search for
months and still find nothing.
(EAGLE SCREECHING)
North.
ESCA: Whoever we meet,
let me do the talking.
If they find out you're a
Roman, they'll kill you.
And me.
(MEN SPEAKING GAELIC)
Don't look.
There's three rogue warriors
behind you across the river.
How many behind me?
I don't see anyone.
They're there.
Are you ready?
(PANTING)
(PANTING)
Next time, don't hesitate.
Stay back.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
He remembers seeing
the legion march north,
but they never came
back this way.
He must know more than that.
He says not.
Ask him again. No.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
What are you doing? Stay back!
Enough!
Enough. No more games.
No more lies.
Ask him where the legion went.
Ask him!
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(REPLYING IN GAELIC)
Come on.
(NEIGHING)
Kill him!
Kill him.
Do it now! Chin-strap scar.
Only a Roman helmet does that.
He's a legionary.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
What's your name?
What's your name?
I'm called Guern.
My name is Lucius
Caius Metellus.
First Cohort of
the Ninth Legion.
How have you survived
up here for so long?
My tribe is called the Selgovae.
They took me in, made
me one of their own.
I have a woman, two sons.
My life is here now.
I don't trust him.
He's a deserter.
MARCUS: We don't know that.
He's still a Roman.
He was a Roman when he ran.
I don't know what your
father's orders were,
but all I know
is that we had it coming.
Why did they have to come north?
There's nothing
here worth taking.
Couldn't they have been
satisfied with what they had?
They always have to punish
and push on looking
for more conquests,
more territories, more wars.
MARCUS: Just tell me
what happened.
When the order came
for the Ninth to march north,
it was autumn.
The worst weather
they'd had in years.
For weeks we marched.
No sign of them.
Suddenly they just
appeared out of the mist.
(VOICES ECHOING)
We could hear them, picking the
men off at the back, one by one.
Finally, we just stopped
trying to find open ground
and we turned and faced them.
GUERN: Those last few days
of the legion,
I've never been so frightened.
We fought back-to-back.
No sleep. Pissing
where we stood.
They came at us like animals.
This is the killing ground.
All the northern
tribes were here.
But the worst
were the Painted Warriors
of the Seal People.
They hacked the
feet off the dead
so their souls couldn't
walk into the afterlife.
They used those stones as
altars to kill the officers.
They ripped their hearts out
while they were still alive.
We could hear them
being sacrificed.
My father?
What happened to him?
The last time I saw your father,
he was surrounded by the
warriors of the Seal People.
Did he die fighting?
Did he die fighting?
I don't know.
I ran before the end.
A lot of us did.
You coward.
No.
You weren't here.
You don't know what it was like.
Who has The Eagle?
They say the Seal
People have it.
How do I find them?
He knows.
He's Brigantes.
They fought here.
You always knew that place
existed, didn't you?
We've wasted weeks searching,
and all this time you
could have told me.
Your tribe was there.
And they butchered my
father's men like dogs!
Your father came to kill!
He came to punish us
'cause we would not
bow to the name of Rome!
Yes, I'd heard of this place.
To me and to all my people,
it is the place of heroes.
How dare you?
You're still my slave!
And you'd be dead in
a ditch without me!
I saved your miserable life!
(PANTING)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
No! What's happening?
No! Esca?
Esca? Esca!
Esca!
(MEN LAUGHING)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SEAL PEOPLE CHUCKLING)
(SEAL PEOPLE MUTTERING)
ESCA: Marcus Flavius Aquila.
SEAL CHIEF:
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
Marcus Flavius Aquila.
(SEAL PEOPLE LAUGHING)
Esca, what's happening?
You're my slave.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(ALL CHATTERING)
(MAN SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(WOMEN LAUGHING)
(ESCA SPEAKING GAELIC)
(SHOUTING) Knee!
Get on your knees!
Do it!
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
When I get the chance,
I will kill you.
(SEAL CHIEF SPEAKING GAELIC)
(BEATING DRUMS)
(MEN CHANTING)
(CHANTING LOUDLY)
(MEN SHOUTING)
Marcus.
Marcus.
Marcus!
(GASPS)
It's time.
We have to do this now.
It's our only chance.
While they sleep.
I thought I'd lost you.
Quickly.
(MEN SNORING)
(PANTING)
There's no time now. Let's go.
We have to go now.
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
(BATTLE CRY)
Where'd you get
my father's ring?
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
What did he say?
We have to go.
BOYS Esca?
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
Esca.
If he wakes them, we're dead.
And you know it.
He has no reason to protect us.
Do you trust me?
He won't betray us.
(URGING HORSE)
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
Come on! Come on, boy.
(DOGS GROWLING)
How many days to the wall?
If we ride hard,
four, maybe five.
They'll never catch us on foot.
Have you seen them run?
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
You're wounded.
Why didn't you say?
It's nothing.
It's your bad leg. Sit down.
We don't have time.
Just sit down.
In the cave, the chief,
what did he say?
Come on, there's
no time right now.
(DOGS BARKING)
(DOGS BARKING)
They're coming.
Half a day behind.
The wind always lies.
(URGING HORSE)
(EAGLE SCREECHING)
(SQUEAKING)
No fires. It's too risky.
I'm not eating that.
I'm not a savage.
Then die a Roman.
You've lost a lot of blood.
You need to keep
your strength up.
Eat.
(GAGGING)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
It's time to go.
They can take shortcuts
that the horses can't.
(HORSE NEIGHING)
ESCA: Come on.
Keep going. Come on!
(URGING HORSE)
Come on!
No!
(HORSE NEIGHING)
(SCREAMING)
(CALLING OUT)
ESCA: We need to
stick to the river.
They'll double back soon enough.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(MARCUS GROANING)
(GASPING)
(MARCUS BREATHING RAGGEDLY)
Rest.
We can't.
You need to rest!
Marcus.
You need to rest.
(COUGHING)
Come on.
Come on.
(GASPING)
I can't go on.
Yes, you can.
You just need to rest.
Take The Eagle.
If you find horses, come back.
(COUGHING)
If not, just keep south.
Make sure this
gets back to Rome.
I'm not leaving you here.
Do not dishonor me. Take it.
I came this far with you.
I won't leave you now.
Esca,
I order you.
Take it.
I swore an oath of honor
never to abandon you.
If you want me to leave,
set me free.
Give me my freedom.
You're free.
You're free, my friend.
Take it.
No.
I will return.
(SHUDDERING)
(THUNDER CLAPPING)
(PANTING)
(PANTING)
(DOGS BARKING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Legion, halt!
ESCA: Your father's legionaries.
You were wrong.
The dead can live.
My shame would not allow me
to tell you this before,
but I watched your father die.
Whatever anyone tells you,
he was not a coward.
He stood his ground
to the very end.
I saw it.
The last Roman to hold The
Eagle was your father.
The order, sir.
You've honored my
father's memory enough.
You don't have to do this. No.
When I ran from your father
(DOGS BARKING)
I ran from myself.
(SEAL PEOPLE CHATTERING)
Give the order, sir.
Prepare to defend The Eagle!
Esca!
(SPEAKING GAELIC)
Out swords!
(BATTLE CRY)
(GRUNTING)
(PANTING)
MARCUS: Let us remember the men who
fought and died in the name of honor.
Romans and Britons.
My father and yours.
Fathers,
brothers,
sons,
may peace and honor follow you.
May you know no more strife.
May your souls
take flight and soar
with The Eagle of The Ninth.
For my father.
My dear boy.
I congratulate you.
Rome congratulates you.
And your family's
good name is restored.
The Senate will want
to re-form the Ninth.
Perhaps they can reward
you with its command.
However did you do it?
With only a slave to help you.
He's not a slave!
And he knows more about honor
and freedom than you ever will.
So what now?
You decide.