The Eagle

Aquila:
No Roman can survive north of the wall alone. You can't.

Marcus Aquila:
Then I'll take Esca. I can use his knowledge. He speaks the language.

Aquila:
Esca?

Marcus Aquila:
Why not?

Aquila:
'Cause he's a Briton. He may not be from the north of the wall, but he's a Briton, and he will slit your throat the minute you're alone.

Esca:
[to Marcus] I hate everything you stand for, everything you are, but you saved me, and for that I must serve you.

Esca:
How can a piece of metal mean so much to you?

Marcus Aquila:
The eagle is not a piece of metal. The eagle is Rome.

Marcus Aquila:
[from trailer] Who has the eagle?

Guern:
[pointing to Esca] He knows. He's one of them.

[from trailer]

Esca:
[coldly] You're my slave. Do as I did for you, and you'll survive.

Marcus Aquila:
[to Esca] You're free, my friend.

[last lines]

Esca:
So what now?

Marcus Aquila:
You decide.

Marcus Aquila:
[about Esca to Placidus and other elevated Romans] He's not a slave. And he knows more about honor and freedom than you ever will.

[Marcus regains consciousness after his surgery]

Marcus Aquila:
Did I shame myself?

[Esca shakes his head]

Marcus Aquila:
Thank you.

[first lines]

Marcus Aquila:
Marcus Flavius Aquila, Fourth Cohort of Gaul, Second Legion, come to relieve the command.

Lutorius:
Lutorius Drusillus Salinator, acting senior officer.

Marcus Aquila:
Where's the garrison commander?

Lutorius:
He left this morning, sir. Couldn't wait to get away.

Marcus Aquila:
[praying] 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.

[preparing to lead a sortie from the fort]

Marcus Aquila:
[whispering] 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.

Marcus Aquila:
[shouts] On my command, we form testudo! Ready... open the gates!

Guern:
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.

Marcus Aquila:
You've honored my father's memory enough. You don't have to do this.

Guern:
No. When I ran from your father... I ran from myself. Give the order, sir.

Marcus Aquila:
Prepare to defend the eagle!

Roman Soldier:
Where's our newly-minted commander?

Lutorius:
Probably unpacking his rule book.

[after being told he has been discharged from the army, Marcus asks to be left alone. Walking away from the room, Stephanos hears a scream of pain, and turns back in alarm]

Aquila:
Stephanos, leave him. There's no medicine for that.

Marcus Aquila:
Who has the eagle?

Guern:
They say the Seal People have it.

Marcus Aquila:
How do I find them?

Guern:
[pointing to Esca] He knows. He's Brigantes.

Aquila:
What would Rome say?

Claudius:
Eagle lost; honor lost. Honor lost; all lost.

Aquila:
[to Marcus as the doctor works on him] I hope the medicine he's gonna give you does you some good. It smells repellant - like one of his farts.

Marcus Aquila:
How many days to the wall?

Esca:
If we ride hard, four... maybe five.

Marcus Aquila:
They'll never catch us on foot.

Esca:
Have you seen them run?