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ACT THREE - RESOLUTION
Let's examine what needs to be resolved in the final act (Act III), before the hero's journey comes to an end.
We need to resolve: the confrontation between Commodus and Lucilla - between the Supreme Enemy and the Subsidiary enemy; and the confrontation between Maximus and Commodus (Protagonist and Antagonist).
We need to know whether or not the hero will achieve his dramatic need and return home to his family?
Also, will Rome be restored to its former glory according to the wishes of Marcus Aurelius?
Firstly, in her attempt to defeat the Supreme Enemy, Lucilla is destroyed. Commodus informs her that her son will stay with him. If she looks at him, she will die. If she commits suicide, he will die. The Antagonist prepares for the confrontation with the hero. Now is his opportunity to eliminate all competition and prove himself the sole heir to the highest office in the land: the throne.
Now, the conflict splits into two arenas: a one-on-one fight between the hero and the Supreme Enemy, and a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil.
THE OBLIGATORY SCENE - THE CLIMAX
The hero is tested for the final time. Bound in chains, once again imprisoned, he is confronted by Commodus, who sums up Maximus' journey:
COMMODUS
The General who became a slave.
The slave who became a Gladiator.
The Gladiator who defied an Emperor.
He also proclaims the end of Maximus' journey:
COMMODUS
Only a glorious death will do.
MAXIMUS
I knew a man who said that death smiled
at us all ... all we have to do is smile
back.
When Commudus questions who the man was, Maximus says that he ought to know. It was the man he killed, his own father. Commodus embraces Maximus and whispers in his ear:
COMMODUS
I loved him - that makes us brothers ...
Smile for me now brother!
Commodus lovingly embraces Maximus, then fatally wounds him by stabbing him in the back. He instructs the guards to conceal the wound for their final confrontation in the arena. Maximus resolves his personal conflict and kills Commodus in a tender moment. It is not brutal. They look each other in the eye as Commodus dies. Maximus' last course of action leads to the complete solution of the threat/problem. His enhancing characteristic is now the complete reverse of what began as his inhibiting characteristic.
The hero applies the Personal Lesson or Truth he has learned. He tells Quintus to free the slaves and reinstate the Senator, thereby fulfilling Caesar's wish.
MAXIMUS
There was a dream that was Rome and
it will be realised.
THE HERO'S JOURNEY COMES TO AN END
Totally oblivious to the cheering and bloodthirsty crowds of the Colosseum, Maximus returns to his mundane world, the afterlife, touching the field of wheat he stroked in the opening scene. He reaches for a door. His world changes accordingly, reflecting a shining new reality. He collapses and is rewarded by society and fate, and he receives generous compensation for his sacrifices.
Lucilla embraces him. He looks at her, reassuringly. He tells her what she wants to hear
MAXIMUS
Lucius is safe.
LUCILLA
Go to them.
She understands Maximus and tells him what he wants to hear. She sympathises with his lonely quest. He dies peacefully. We see vivid, happy images of his wife and boy waiting for him at the other side of the door. His wife smiles and his son runs towards him.
LUCILLA
You're home.
His heroism is celebrated with ceremony, ritual, and public honour. The hero has now completed the journey; from strength in the beginning to honour in the end. Gladiators carry Maximus' body out of the arena. His rank is elevated both privately and publicly.
Lucilla has become what her father wanted her to be. We know that she will be "just".
THE ENDING
Maximus enters the afterlife. Juba buries the figurines of Maximus' wife and child in the earth where he died. He smiles. In contrast to the sunrise of the opening scene, Juba walks out of the Colosseum into a glorious sunset.
This ending is vastly different from the scriptwriters envisaged the ending in the first two drafts of the screenplay.
THIS IS HOW THE FIRST DRAFT ENDS:
He crushes Commodus' throat with his bare hands. Quintus stands over him as the rest of the guard battles the crowd. Quintus raises his sword and slams it down… beside Narcissus in the SAND.
EXT. MERCHANT SHIP - OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA - DAY
Narcissus with Selene, his arms around Themis and Manto
on deck watching the coast approach.
HERE IS THE ENDING OF THE SECOND DRAFT.
Maximus return the salute and then leaps onto his horse. As he canters toward the exit he turns for one final look at Lucilla.
He sees that Lucius is now at the foot of the stairs, on the arena sand, gazing at him.
Maximus stops his horse.
He canters back to Lucius. The boy looks up at him. A moment between them.
Lucius thrusts up his hand. Maximus grabs his hand and swings him onto the horse behind him.
A look to Juba. Juba bows his head with respect Farewell.
Maximus spins the horse around and begins cantering out of the Colosseum.
Juba disappears into the crowd.
Maximus and Lucius canter across the arena and through the huge doors…
EXT. COLOSSEUM - DAY
From high above we see Maximus and Lucius riding out of the Colosseum and disappearing into the streets of Rome.
FADE TO:
EXT. VINEYARD - DAWN
Maximus stands with Lucius at his old vineyard.
It is still scorched and dead, weeds overgrowing the vineyards, the house ruined.
Maximus puts a hand on the boy's shoulder, this boy so like his own son.
MAXIMUS
It doesn't look it now... but soon
we'll have it growing again… Next
year there will be vines, and then
there will be grapes... It will be alive.
We leave them, dreaming of the future.
FADE OUT
RETURN TO FIRST PAGE
Copyright © 2001--2007 Excerps from screenplays: Dreamworks/ Analysis Daniel E. Dercksen
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