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Plot Outline
In the mines of North Africa, a Thracian slave named Spartacus is being
starved to death for helping another slave. Lentulus Batiatus, an affluent
Roman businessman, visits the mines to buy strong male slaves to train as
gladiators: he is a lanista, the owner of a ludus, or gladiatorial school.
Batiatus likes the sturdy look of Spartacus, so he and others are taken to
the school in Capua, near Naples, where the men will be trained to fight.
There Batiatus tells the new slaves they will be rewarded for their hard
work, then turns them over to his chief trainer and overseer, Marcellus,
warning him that the Thracian is rebellious, but “he has quality.” During
a drill, Marcellus challenges Spartacus to kill him, but Spartacus wisely
restrains himself. Later in the steam bath, the other gladiator trainees
warn Spartacus that Marcellus may have chosen to make him an example.
Spartacus attempts conversation with Draba, another slave, but is rebuffed.
In the gladiator quarters, the men are rewarded with a female servant to
use for their sexual pleasure. Batiatus assigns Varinia, the most beautiful
slave woman, to Spartacus. Varinia enters Spartacus’ cell, and he admires
her beauty, admitting he has never had a woman before. As Varinia undresses,
Marcellus and Batiatus spy on them through a grate in the ceiling
of the cell. Spartacus erupts in anger at the intrusion, “I am not an animal!”
and refuses to perform for their amusement, so Varinia is led out of
the cell. During a gladiatorial lesson, Spartacus steals a look at Varinia
doing her chores, and Marcellus mocks him. Later, when the women are
again assigned to the cells, Marcellus shows Varinia to Spartacus then
gives her to another gladiator. In the kitchen area at mealtime, as Varinia
pours water for the men, Spartacus touches her hand, and she responds to
him cautiously as they exchange warm glances.
The school’s routine is disrupted when the steward announces the
arrival of Marcus Licinius Crassus, the richest and most powerful man in
Rome, who brings with him a lady friend, Helena, and another patrician
couple, Glabrus and Claudia. Batiatus welcomes the group with flattering
compliments, and invites them to sit in his gallery overlooking the training
yard. Varinia serves the guests, and Crassus is struck by her beauty.
Crassus requests a private showing of two gladiator pairs in combat, and
Lady Helena stipulates “to the death.” When their host demurs, explaining
the show would damage morale and be prohibitively expensive, Crassus
says: “Name your price.” The show is immediately arranged. A rumor
goes through the gladiator quarters there is to be a fight to the death,
while Spartacus and his fellow slave Crixus agree they would have to kill
90 SPARTACUS (1960)