Episode 8

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Previously on "Gladiators." Reverend Clarence baptized Jamal, who swore to never again take a life. Sarah went to the church to hear about Clarence's offer regarding the Underground, while Reese and Lindsay stayed behind, getting closer to shooting each other. Our soldiers had York, Mcnamara, Gaines and Mandy trapped in an old office building. Mcnamara and York escaped, but Mandy and Gaines were trapped. They were forced to play russian roulette, with a head start promised to the victor. Mandy lost and paid for it with her life. Gaines promised to kill major Barnes for this, but he ultimately fled. Who will be the next gladiator to fall? And who will ultimately win? Stay tuned to find out.

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2:43

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Gaines ran to his car, it was already raining hard. Hopefully the rain might be able to hide his route a little, he had maybe ten minutes before Barnes and the others began following him. Gaines checked his phone, hoping that maybe another had fallen, but no such luck. 8 gladiators remained, including himself. He also saw the message from reverend Clarence about fleeing the country. As much as Gaines wanted to kill Barnes and avenge Mandy's death, he wanted to live a lot more than he wanted revenge. This seemed like as good an opportunity as any.

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2:46

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Sarah listened to reverend Clarence talk about the possibility of accepting help from the Underground. Clarence admitted he couldn't be certain that the offer was legitimate. Before the sniper had died he admitted the rumor that Barnes might have made an agreement with one of the gladiators. At this point Sarah checked her smartphone, Mandy was dead, it was now round nine. Assuming that Barnes kept his word and was able to protect this collaborator, it could be any one of the eight. It also seemed possible that the collaborator was already dead. In any event Sarah decided to trust the reverend and call Lindsay and Reese.

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2:49

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Alan York and colonel Mcnamara were in hiding. They were hiding as much from Barnes as the rain. The two men checked their phones and learned that Mandy was dead. Other than themselves there were six gladiators remaining, and they wondered how Gaines was still alive. They also saw Clarence's claim about the Underground.

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Mcnamara: You think this is true, about the Underground?

Alan: I don't know. It hasn't escaped my attention that Clarence has survived pretty well by claiming to be a pacifist.

Mcnamara: It's become a surprisingly effective strategy. Still, this would be the only way for both of us to survive.

Alan: I never thought I'd be fleeing, working with this Underground.

Mcnamara: Me neither, but I'd like to survive and I'd like for my comrade to survive. I'll check it out, you stay here.

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2:58

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At the church Lindsay and Reese arrived, ready to listen. Meanwhile Jamal spoke with his mother.

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Jamal: I'm going to take my chances and go with him, but I want you to be safe first.

Mother: I'll stay here, can you take me home.

Jamal: Are you sure you'll be safe in this country?

Mother: As safe as I can be these days. But I've lived my whole life in this neighborhood, and I'll die here.

Jamal: I'll take you home mom.

Mother: I will pray for your safety Jamal. But if your life can't be saved, I have faith that you will go to heaven. I want you to know that I am proud of you.

Jamal: Thank you mom, that means more than I can say.

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While Jamal took his mother home, Reese and Lindsay contemplated Clarence's offer.

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3:00

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Reese: How do we know this isn't some trap. Lindsay set me up once.

Lindsay: I didn't set you up. I was late and you were the one who tried to stalk and kill Jeffrey. And while we're talking about dishonor, who shot early in out duel?

Reese: The three of us were seperated when this message was sent. You could have sent it when you were alone.

Lindsay: So could you.

Clarence: Clearly there has been some bad blood between all of you. But ask yourself, don't you want to live more than you want revenge?

Reese: Ofcourse I do, I just don't know if this is really the Underground. Whoever sent this message didn't even give their names.

Clarence: Ofcourse not, the state classifies the Underground as criminals, why would they reveal their real names. They have however given us a location where they can help us flee. It's an airport, supposedly the plane to the border will show up once we arrive.

Lindsay: Even if it's legitimate, the state could find out about our plans.

Sarah: The collaborator could be anyone, if he or she is still alive.

Reese: We've already established that.

Sarah: My point is, we might be safer if all eight of us are together. Assuming that the collaborator is still alive, Barnes might not take the chance of killing them. The collaborator could be a valuable hostage if it came down to it.

Gaines: Sounds like a good plan.

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The group was surprised that Gaines had entered this church, but he seemed willing to go along with their plan. Of the eight remaining gladiators five were now here and willing to take their chances with the Underground. Only three, York, Mcnamara, and Jamal were out. If all eight agreed, they might all make it.

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3:15

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Jamal brought his mother to her house. He didn't want to leave her alone, but she was adament that Jamal should try to survive, so he left. As Jamal left his mother's house he was spotted by Alan York. Alan had a clear shot, but then his mother would have seen his body. Alan held back and decided to follow Jamal, make sure he could at least spare his mother some pain.

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3:24

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Mcnamara arrived at the church and heard Clarence's sales pitch. Gaines also said how he and Mandy were forced to play russian roulette. If either had been the collaborator, it was unlikely that Barnes would risk their life. Ofcourse that assumed that Gaines was telling the truth, Mcnamara was on the fence on that one. At any rate Mcnamara called Alan York, if he and Jamal returned to this church then all eight would be present, and the collaborator would be a human shield.

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3:27

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Alan York pulled Jamal over and forced him out of the car. It was raining hard, but it seemed unlikely that they'd both have to feel this inconvneience for very long.

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Alan: You know why I'm here.

Jamal: Yeah, I have a good idea.

Alan: Pick up your gun and we'll have a duel.

Jamal: No. I have given my heart to God, I won't take a life, even yours.

Alan: You actually fell for the reverend's bull? He said the same thing to those love birds, they're both dead now.

Jamal: They're in Heaven now, which is where I'll go if you murder me now. But personally I'd rather flee with the Underground. You can come too, we can abandon all of this crap and live out our lives.

Alan: How do you know this is legitimate?

Jamal: We don't, but I figure this is our best chance to survive.

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Alan wasn't sure what to make of Jamal right now. Was it real, or a trap? Then Alan saw something, in the rain he wasn't sure what it was, but he wasn't taking chances. Alan shot Jamal in the head, killing him instantly. After this Alan saw nothing in Jamal's hands. Could a weapon have fallen out into the gutter, or was he imagining things the whole time. Alan wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel right now. But a part of him was relieved, one less opponent that stood between him and survival.

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The following is an excerpt from Jamal's last recorded statement.

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Jamal: I don't consider myself a bad person, but I can't say for certain I'm a good person. I just never saw the point of being good, getting good grades, when I was probably going to be thrown in prison no matter what I did, or shot by some racist cop. So I joined the Bloods, sold drugs for free pizza and game tokens because I believed that game tokens and pizza were as good as it would ever get. My main regret was in letting my mother down. If I believed in God, I'd ask that she forgive me, be proud of me. That's all I could hope for right now.