Disclaimer: I do not own Gladiator, if I did, Gladiator 2 would be a
prequel and explain how Maximus rose in the ranks and how Maximus and
Lucilla met, but nooooooo, the real owners of Gladiator decided to do the
story of how the throne of the Roman Empire was handed to a general, a
completely unrelated story, or they will do the picture about Lucius,
Lucilla's (Connie Nielsen) son, and how he survives the new Rome.
Author's Note: In the first drafts of Gladiator's screenplay, Maximus lives and Lucilla is killed by Commudus. In the scene between Lucilla and Maximus in his cell (in the first drafts) they have a conversation over what will happen if the other dies. Lucilla promises that she will continue to pray for Maximus and his family if Maximus dies. Maximus promises Lucilla that he will raise Lucius and take him far away from Rome, if Lucilla dies. In the original screenplay, Maximus actually reaches his army and while Lucilla is in the Colloseum, she grabs a knife and rushes toward Commodus, but in the attempt, Commodus turns the knife and stabs Lucilla, and places her dead body on the throne. Maximus returns with his army, kills Commodus, finds Lucilla's body, pays respects and raises Lucius in his old home in Trujillo. This fanfic is based on the original screenplay and is Maximus's thoughts as he finds Lucilla's body.
I'm sorry, Lucilla. But is sorry enough? I wished I loved you but I did not, what could I have done? You were beautiful, and you still are, but my heart led another way. You expressed your feelings for me, but what could I say? That I felt nothing?
Why did you love me, Lucilla? I do not deserve your love. And now you torture me, as you always have. I know I wounded you. And there's nothing left to say.
But this I promise you, Lucilla, I will raise your son. He looks so much like you, a fine boy. I will raise him to be a fine man. I only hope that I will have your guidance as I raise him, and that him and I make you proud.
Goodbye, Lucilla. Always in my memories and always in my thoughts. Be glad, for now you are free. Free of your forced marriage, of your corrupted brother, of your duty, of this world. Of me. I was not meant for you, Lucilla. You were not meant for this life. And this life was not meant for you.
Author's Note: In the first drafts of Gladiator's screenplay, Maximus lives and Lucilla is killed by Commudus. In the scene between Lucilla and Maximus in his cell (in the first drafts) they have a conversation over what will happen if the other dies. Lucilla promises that she will continue to pray for Maximus and his family if Maximus dies. Maximus promises Lucilla that he will raise Lucius and take him far away from Rome, if Lucilla dies. In the original screenplay, Maximus actually reaches his army and while Lucilla is in the Colloseum, she grabs a knife and rushes toward Commodus, but in the attempt, Commodus turns the knife and stabs Lucilla, and places her dead body on the throne. Maximus returns with his army, kills Commodus, finds Lucilla's body, pays respects and raises Lucius in his old home in Trujillo. This fanfic is based on the original screenplay and is Maximus's thoughts as he finds Lucilla's body.
I'm sorry, Lucilla. But is sorry enough? I wished I loved you but I did not, what could I have done? You were beautiful, and you still are, but my heart led another way. You expressed your feelings for me, but what could I say? That I felt nothing?
Why did you love me, Lucilla? I do not deserve your love. And now you torture me, as you always have. I know I wounded you. And there's nothing left to say.
But this I promise you, Lucilla, I will raise your son. He looks so much like you, a fine boy. I will raise him to be a fine man. I only hope that I will have your guidance as I raise him, and that him and I make you proud.
Goodbye, Lucilla. Always in my memories and always in my thoughts. Be glad, for now you are free. Free of your forced marriage, of your corrupted brother, of your duty, of this world. Of me. I was not meant for you, Lucilla. You were not meant for this life. And this life was not meant for you.