| Missio | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Season | Prequel: Gods of the Arena | |
| Number | Episode 2 | |
| Date Aired | January 28, 2011 | |
| Writer | Maurisa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon | |
| Director | Rick Jacobson | |
| Guests | {{{guests}}} | |
| Previous | Past Transgressions | |
| Next | Paterfamilias | |
Missio is the fifteenth episode in the Spartacus series and the second episode of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.
The term missio refers to the sign given by a gladiator in battle when he surrenders and does not want to die, the two raised fingers. When showed, the surrendering gladiator is shamed because he has given in to fear of death.
Synopsis
Batiatus, safely back in the ludus, still has nightmares of what happened in Capua and flashbacks of being violently beaten. Lucretia and Gaia enter as he wakes up, and Lucretia expresses her fears for his health. She suggests he talk to Sextus, but Batiatus refuses because the magistrate and Tullius are too close. He decides to take the matter into his own hands.
Solonius is in town, buying wine as a gift for Batiatus, when he is approached by Tullius and Vettius, who buy the wine so that Solonius may take a message to Batiatus. Solonius, against his better judgment, tells Batiatus that Tullius has offered double the original price to buy Gannicus. Batiatus reacts to the offer in anger and recalls the champions of his forefathers; Adrianus, Acolytus, Dola, Zephyros. He states that he will not give up his own champion, even though Solonius tells him that if Batiatus holds back, he too will be excluded from the games.
Amongst the gladiators, Crixus improves and manages to best Oenomaus in a training spar. Batiatus and Solonius watch over them as they discuss what to do. Solonius mentions that Quintilius Varis is visiting Capua to pick gladiators to fight in the games, and that Vettius will be meeting him in town. Gaia knows the man and says that he is quite influential. As Batiatus stands thinking, he spots a gladiator making the missio sign, raising two fingers in surrender, if only in jest. He shouts at him to be removed to the mines, and states that nobody gives up in his house. Batiatus then makes up his mind and decides to gain Varis's favor to get Gannicus into the games.
[[Melitta|
Ashur and a recruit ambush Vettius.
Melitta]] arrives in Oenomaus's room to find he and Gannicus sharing wine. She berates Gannicus for discussing the possible death of her husband so lightly, and asks him what he would do if he could not laugh or fight his way out of a situation, which is what he would normally do. He replies that he may have to f*** his way out, as he does later in the episode when Varis requests it.
The next day, Batiatus takes the two Syrian recruits (Ashur and another) and the recruit who was to be sent to the mines into town. Barca accompanies him as his personal bodyguard. He goes against Doctore's better wishes, who feels as if his gladiators are being misused. Once in town, Batiatus sends the recruits to their tasks, promising them the mark of the brotherhood if they succeed. One recruit meets Vettius, who is out to find Varis, and tricks him into a side alley, where Ashur and the other recruit ambush him. They kill his slaves and beat Vettius until he is unconscious, then one of them urinates on his face. Ashur and the other Syrian kill the third recruit who, against Batiatus's orders, allowed Vettius to see his face.
Meanwhile, Gaia and Lucretia find Varis in the market. They charm him into coming to Batiatus's house to wait for Vettius, who is late to meet him. They pass the afternoon talking and drinking and Batiatus arrives in the early evening. He suggests Varis pick some of his gladiators for t
Varis admires Gannicus.
he coming battles, and shows him a demonstration of Gannicus's skills. Gaia choses Crixus as his opponent because she is enthralled by the Gaul's fighting. The battle commences with metal swords instead of wood, and Crixus proves to be a strong fighter. Even though he manages to rid Gannicus of one of his swords and down him, he loses in the end, and Gaia decides to let him live.
They head back into the villa, but Varis appears to be more interested in Gaia than the gladiators. Gaia insists that she has the situation under control, and that Gannicus be prepared and oiled and placed before Varis. The magistrate admires Gannicus's physique, but declines the option of sleeping with him, claiming he is too tired. Instead, he asks that Gannicus have sex with one of the slaves, particularly Melitta. The two are hesitant at first and Gannicus appears apologetic, for Oenomaus is a close friend of Gannicus, and Melitta does not usually sleep with anyone other than her husband. Eventually, however, Melitta starts to show enjoyment, which is replaced by shame and tears when it is over. When she returns to Oenomaus in the evening, she mentions nothing of it to him.
Outside in the ludus, Ashur and the other Syrian receive the mark of the brotherhood for the service they did for Batiatus. Doctore argued with Batiatus and said that they did not deserve the mark, and for it Batiatus strip
Oenomaus is promoted to Doctore.
ped him of his title of Doctore and told him that Oenomaus was to take over the role. When Oenomaus comes out of the ludus and confronts Doctore about the marks, Doctore challenges him to a battle. Even though they are well-matched, Oenomaus receives a deep slash to the chest. He is eventually forced to stab Doctore through the stomach, inadvertedly killing him. In his last moments, Doctore grins and holds Oenomaus's face fondly, saying he taught him well.
Pleasured by the events of the evening, Varis states that he wishes to see Gannicus perform again, in the primus. Once he has gone, Batiatus and Lucretia celebrate their triumph with wine and sex. Gaia is noticed as she watches from behind the curtains, aroused, and joins them for a threesome.
Characters in Order of Appearance
- Batiatus
- Lucretia
- Gaia
- Naevia
- Diona
- Tullius
- Vettius
- Solonius
- Adrianus
- Acolytus
- Dola
- Zephyros
- Ashur
- Crixus
- Gannicus
- Auctus
- Doctore
- Barca
- Oenomaus
- Gnaeus
- Melitta
- Quintilius Varis
Quotes
Gaia (to Diona and Naevia): "I envy your youth, and all the wonders you have yet to discover. Do not be afraid to pursue every delight this world has to offer."
Batiatus (gesturing to his wounds): "Do you see these marks upon me? Do you f***ing see them?"
Solonius: "... I see them."
Batiatus: "That is the man's true gesture, the only to be considered. You counsel to suck the cock that pisses on me!"
Batiatus (pointing to the recruit who gave the missio sign): "Doctore! Take that f***ing man to the mines! Do it! We do not surrender in this f***ing house! I would see these walls fall to ruin before missio is given!"
Melitta (to Gannicus): "You joke of killing a man you love when someday you may be asked to."
Gannicus: "We are slaves. The burden of choice and conscience equally removed. We are truly free when we fight, or when we f***, which I shall leave to do presently."
Batiatus: "Pleasing this man must now become your sole f***ing purpose."
Gannicus: "Please him? In what manner?"
Batiatus: "I have had my fill of being questioned by slaves! If Varis wishes you to suck his cock dry, you will savour every drop. Are we of a singular mind?"
Gannicus: "Dominus."
Doctore: "I have done a terrible thing."
Melitta: "We do what me must in this house."
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