Episode 9
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Previously on "Gladiators." Reverend Clarence tried to convince his fellow gladiators to abandon the game and flee with him and the Underground, but the existence of the collaborator was revealed to all. Noone knows who the collaborator is, causing tensions to rise. Jamal tried to reason with Alan York, but ultimately Alan killed Jamal. Now Alan must choose, will he seek refuge amongst Jamal's friends, or will he abandon his comrade, colonel Mcnamara? Who will be the next gladiator to fall, and who will ultimately win? And who is the collaborator? Stay tuned to find out, for in tonight's episode we reveal the collaborator's identity.
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3:33
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Alan saw Jamal's dead body, no visible weapons. He did feel bad about killing, but it was ultimately about survival of the fittest, he had no choice. After this he called colonel Mcnamara.
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Alan: Jamal is dead. I killed him.
Mcnamara: I'm sorry to hear that.
Alan: It was him or me.
Mcnamara; I'm at the church. Reverend Clarence thinks he can help us escape with the Underground.
Alan: You think the offer is legitimate?
Mcnamara: I think Clarence is. Whether his source is, that I don't know. I do think there is safety in numbers.
Alan: Okay, I'm on my way.
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When Mcnamara hung up he talked to his group.
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Mcnamara: Jamal is dead.
Clarence: I'm sorry to hear that. But I know he is in Heaven right now.
Gaines: Is it me, or does everyone who follow you wind up dead?
Clarence: I preach to those who have little time left. You are surprised that they die?
Gaines: Maybe, but for someone who renounces violence, you have a talent for surviving.
Clarence: Do you really believe those are unconnected.
Gaines: You might be right. And I don't say that as an insult, it seems to be a pretty good strategy.
Reese: Yeah, but he ain't the collaborator, Lindsay here is.
Lindsay: That's a lie and you know it.
Reese: You set me up.
Lindsay: You're the one who left to chase down Jeff, and the one who cheated in our duel.
Sarah: Can I point something out? If the collaborator is here, then the rest of us are relatively safe from a bomb. But if it's Alan York, then Barnes has nothing to lose by blowing us all up now. What do you think colonel?
Mcnamara: I doubt it, but I've been wrong before. He was in danger from Gaines and Mandy.
Gaines: That's true, but Barnes and his soldiers couldn't be everywhere at once. Really it could be anyone.
Sarah: Yeah, why should we trust you?
Gaines: No reason, except that it's in your own interest. If I were the collaborator, you could use me as a human child, or a hostage. And if I'm not the collaborator, I cna help fight the soldiers if they ambush us. But in all honesty, I would betray any of you if I had to.
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3:45
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Alan York arrived at the church. All seven remaining gladiators were now here, including the collaborator.
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Clarence: I suggest we all leave now. The church van will be a tight fit, but we should all be able to fit.
Alan: I'm sorry about Jamal, but it had to be done.
Clarence: Did it?
Alan: I thought he had a weapon, maybe I was wrong.
Clarence: You continued to participate in killing, and my friend is dead because of your choice. But I don't mourn for Jamal, I mourn for you. We will all have to stand before Allah and face judgement, some sooner than others. Will he be merciful to those who kill?
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By 4pm all seven were crammed into the church van and driving towards the airport. It was not comfortable, but they were fighting for their lives. They reached the airport and made their way to the designated spot. By this point it had stopped raining, but it was still very cloudy. Regulations prohibited pilots from flying under these conditions, but they hoped the Underground pilot was willing to risk it. For now all they could do was nervously wait for the plane to arrive, if it was going to come at all. The collaborator was as nervous as any of the others, in that sense they didn't stand out.
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4:32
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Sarah and Reese stood near each other. As much as any of them could trust each other, they seemed to. Sarah hated to admit this to herself, but she was attracted to Reese. This was hardly the ideal way to meet a girlfriend. If this escape plot failed, there could be only one. Alan and Mcnamara also stuck together, but Alan thought Mcnamara looked at him different now.
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Alan: I'm not the collaborator.
Mcnamara; I believe you.
Alan: Is it about Jamal, it had to be done.
Mcnamara: He was trying to save us.
Alan: You trying to make me feel guilty?
Mcnamara: Not my style. I've been to war, done things I should probably feel guilty about. But only you can make yourself feel guilty, and only you can forgive yourself.
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4:35
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Lindsay seemed to be isolated from her former comrades. Gaines noticed this and approached her.
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Gaines: You trust them?
Lindsay: I want to, but the collaborator could be anyone, including you.
Gaines: I know I'm not the collaborator, but I'm not offended if you don't take my word for it.
Lindsay: What's your point?
Gaines: My guess is that Sarah is the collaborator. She'll make sure Reese doesn't trust you, and convince her to kill you. After that she'll eliminate Reese, or you if you manage to kill her. After that all she has to do is escape to Barnes' people. They'll protect her while the rest of us are hunted.
Lindsay: Why are you telling me all of this?
Gaines: I have no allies to speak of, and I'm not sure you do either. Maybe we can work together. I know you'll do whatever you have to do to get back to your baby, and you I'll do whatever I have to do just to survive.
Lindsay: In other words we trust each other as much as we can in this late stage in the game.
Gaines: Exactly. If somehow we both make it to the final two, then we do what we have to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with escaping the country.
Lindsay: But we need to prepare in case this falls through.
Gaines: You're learning quickly.
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4:41
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Sarah and Reese stood together, smoking and talking.
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Reese: You really trust any of the others?
Sarah: I don't know. I half-trust the preacher. I also somewhat trust you.
Reese: Thanks, I somewhat trust you too.
Sarah: This is one sick game, whatever happened to baseball?
Reese: I don't know. I guess that people just began craving more blood sports.
Sarah: Yeah, they want to see a real "Highlander."
Reese: What's "Highlander?"
Sarah: An old movie and television series. Characters lived forever, but they had to behead each other to survive. That's where this show got the catchphrase "There can be only one."
Reese: Who created those immortals?
Sarah: It was never revealed. Apparently some malevolent diety wanted to create a race of sociopathic warriors.
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4:44
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Reverend Clarence stood alone, not part of any specific group. He was ready to mediate any kind of truce between the other teams. He feared that his time was almost over, and there were still six souls who could be saved. When Lindsay approached him he hoped he could still lead her on the path to rightousness.
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Lindsay: Can I talk to you for a minute reverend?
Clarence: Ofcourse my child.
Lindsay: In private, I'd rather the others not hear.
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As they walked towards the tool shed, Reese and Sarah followed covertly.
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Clarence: What can I do for you?
Lindsay: I just wanted to say, I'm sorry.
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Clarence knew what was coming when she said this, and he didn't try to resist. He tried to say that he forgave Lindsay, but he didn't have time. Lindsay took her gun and shot Clarence, killing him. Once she did Barnes and the other soldiers began firing on the other gladiators. Lindsay tried to escape, but Reese and Sarah knocked her out and dragged her into the tool shed. Gaines, Alan, and Mcnamara realized what was going on and fled towards the relative safety of the shed. They made it inside, and could use Lindsay as a shield and hostage. But that would really only buy them a limited amount of time. Barnes didn't want to take the chance of killing his collaborator, but the other five gladiators couldn't last forever.
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The following is an excerpt from reverend Clarence's last recorded statement.
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Clarence: I am afraid, I won't lie and pretend I'm not. But I also know that God wants me to preach his message of peace, as it is outlined in the Bible and the Koran. If God chooses to allow me to live through this, while the others kill each other, I would not be ungrateful to Allah. But I will try to bring my opponents towards God before this ends for me. If my life, and my death, can bring even one soul to God and to Paradise, than all the credit goes to God. Only the mistakes have been mine.
