Hannibal is joined by several senior Carthaginian
military officers. He places a map of Spain around a table and draws a
box around Barcelona.
HANNIBAL
The Romans are here, here, here, and here. Now,
this is the plan. I want our elephants to strike at the corners
of the box. Once the elephants crash through the corners, I want
our Greek allies to rush toward the corners and surround the
outside perimeter. Don't attack. Just position yourselves. Give
us two hours of battle before you strike. I want to wear down
the Roman army. Move in on my command. Move. Let's roll!
CUT TO:
FULL SHOT OF THE BARCELONA BATTLEFIELD -- MOMENTS LATER
Strong prevailing winds.
Hannibal and a large legion of his troops ride out to
meet the Roman army. Cornelius Scipio rides out alone to greet Hannibal.
Hannibal rides out alone to greet Cornelius.
Both men face off in their chariots.
SCIPIO
So, you are the infamous Hannibal Barca?
HANNIBAL
Hannibal, yes. Infamous, no.
SCIPIO
You do realize that I have you boxed in.
Furthermore, I am twenty years your senior.
HANNIBAL
The point is?
SCIPIO
The point is, power backs down in the face of
bigger power.
HANNIBAL
Oh well. Make a believer out of me. I don't see
bigger power.
SCIPIO
Why don't you let go of that vain African pride
and spare these men their lives?
HANNIBAL
Vain African pride? Allow me to define a
Carthaginian. Being a Carthaginian is more than just being an
African; it is the exclamation of our attitude! We and the
Greeks gave Rome its culture, its architecture, and its
political system. So, just being a Carthaginian gives me the
right to be vain!
BOTH MEN GIVE ONE ANOTHER A LONG, HARD STARE.
SCIPIO
So be it. If war with Rome is what you want,
then war with Rome is what you'll get.
HANNIBAL
Let's do this!
Both men return to their armies.
CUT TO:
EXT. SCIPIO'S BATTLEFIELD POSITION -- CONTINUOUS
Stronger winds, heavier blackening skies.
CALVERY MASTER
How did it go?
SCIPIO
Prepare to charge. We're going to war.
CUT TO:
EXT. HANNIBAL'S BATTLEFIELD POSITION -- CONTINUOUS
THUNDER & LIGHTNING.
HANNIBAL
Is everyone in position?
HUSDRUBAL
They're ready.
HANNIBAL
Great! First platoon, form the wall. Second
platoon, stand fast. Move!
CUT TO:
EXT. SCIPIO'S BATTLEFIELD POSITION -- CONTINUOUS
Crack! Lightning strikes the ground surface. The
rain starts.
SCIPIO
Charge!
FULL SHOT OF THE BATTLEFIELD. -- CONTINUOUS
In an attempt to close Hannibal in, the Roman infantry,
cavalry, and chariot divisions rush down from the surrounding hills.
Carthaginian elephants rush toward the corners of the attempted boxed-in
formation.
Under heavy WIND-BLOWN conditions, in the midst
of knee-high grasses, both armies' cavalry divisions are the first to
make physical contact. Several Carthaginian soldiers dive from their
horses onto the Roman cavalry riders. After both hit the ground, a
brutal hand-to-hand battle begins.
As the Roman chariots come within striking distance of
the Carthaginian chariots, both sides release their arrows from their
bows.
Both sides encounter heavy loses from the
swiftly-fleeing arrows. As many of the chariot drivers are struck, still
connected to the horses, the speeding chariots are over-turning
and tumbling several times in the high grass. The horses run for
cover.
SPRINTING through the tall grass, the Carthaginian
javelin throwers LAUNCH their spears. Many of the Roman soldiers
are struck.
The Romans begin releasing more arrows from their
charging chariots. More Carthaginians are struck from their chariots.
Those unable to break free from their chariots are DRAGGED along
the bumpy terrain by their runaway chariots.
Running at full speed, both side infantry division
square off. Under a HEAVY DOWN-POUR of rain, a brutal wrestling
match and sword fight begin. An out-of-control chariot PLOWS into
a crowd of battling soldiers.
As the elephants rush to their planned battlefield
position, they TRAMPLE many Roman soldiers. The Carthaginians
toss javelins from the platform tops of the elephants.
Greek allied soldiers position themselves close to the
elephants. Swiftly running, they hurdle over many fallen Roman soldiers.
Once they reached their planned destination, they position themselves on
the outside perimeter of the battle. Under DARK, BLINDING, and RAINING
conditions, they assume an attack stance.
CUT TO:
EXT. VARRO'S BATTLEFIELD POSITION -- CONTINUOUS
Under a heavy rain down-pour.
Varro dodges a Carthaginian chariot and rushes over
toward Paullus.
VARRO
(covered with mud)
Paullus, I think we're in trouble.
Paullus is fighting two Carthaginian soldiers. They are
in a sword fight. Varro STABS one of the soldiers.
PAULLUS
(between blows)
What do you mean?
VARRO
It looks like Hannibal has reverse his position
against us.
Paullus STABS the second soldier. He takes a
moment to review the battlefield situation.
PAULLUS
Hummmm. This doesn't look good at all. Why are
the Greek soldiers just standing there?
VARRO
They are saving their energy. They are waiting
for us to exhaust ourselves.
Paullus reviews their battlefield situation once more.
CUT TO:
EXT. HANNIBAL'S BATTLEFIELD POSITION -- CONTINUOUS
Under heavy rain down pour.
HANNIBAL
(from his elephant platform)
Elephant tank division, charge!
He TOSSES a tomahawk at a fleeing Roman soldiers.
The soldier is struck in the back. He tumbles in the tall grass.
CUT TO:
EXT. VARRO'S BATTLEFIELD POSITION -- CONTINUOUS
Under heavy rain down pour.
PAULLUS
Let's get out of here. Hannibal has done it to
us again. This is going to be a slaughter.
VARRO
What about the brothers Scipio?
PAULLUS
I don't see them anywhere. Hopefully, they'll
see we're in a retreat and follow suit. Nonetheless, we can't
win in this situation.
VARRO
I'll meet you at the Mediterranean shore. I'm
out of here!
Both men climb into abandon chariots and SHOUT to
their men.
BOTH MEN
Retreat! Retreat! Follow me!
CUT TO:
EXT. HANNIBAL'S BATTLEFIELD POSITION -- CONTINUOUS
Hannibal spots several Roman soldiers pilfering the
Carthaginian supply depot. He Leaps from his elephant and climbs into an
idle chariot. He races toward the supply depot.
CUT TO:
EXT. SUPPLY DEPOT -- CONTINUOUS
Hannibal exists his chariot, lights a torch, and sprints
up four flights of stairs.
CUT TO:
INT. SUPPLY DEPOT -- CONTINUOUS
Several Roman soldiers load up on food, blankets, and
silver. One of the soldiers accidentally knocks over a large barrel of
kerosene. The kerosene SPILLS and quickly spreads over the
floor surface.
With a burning torch, Hannibal quietly approach the
soldiers.
HANNIBAL
Hey, want a light?
Hannibal tosses the torch onto the floor into the
spreading kerosene. The fire catches and spreads rapidly toward the
soldiers. Hannibal breaks out into a sprint toward a large, hay stack
window opening. Resembling a long jumper, he leaps from the opening.
BOOM! The entire storage depot explodes. Hannibal SPLASHES
into a spring-fed reservoir at the base of the depot. He resurfaces and
watches the EXPLODING depot CRASH and BURN to the
ground.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BATTLEFIELD -- LATER
A cool, clearing night.
The battle is over. Many Roman, Greek, and Carthaginian
soldiers lie dead on the battlefield.
Hannibal greets Husdrubal with a forearm shake.
HANNIBAL
Well, another one bites the dust.
HUSDRUBAL
(muddied)
Yes, another one bites the dust. Your plan
worked brilliantly. My congratulations on a job well done.
HANNIBAL
Thank you, my brother. I see we didn't loose
nearly as many as the Romans. I suspect that for every one we
lost, they lost four.
HUSDRUBAL
I'd say so. So, what now?
Both men walk together.
HANNIBAL
We move according to plan. Next week, I'm
heading north for Italy via France. I want you to guard Spain
against another Roman invasion. Can you and Mago handle it?
HUSDRUBAL
Sure. Hey, isn't that the Roman general you met
before the battle?
BOTH SCIPIO BROTHERS LIE DEAD ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
HANNIBAL
Yes, it is. And that's his brother next to him.
HUSDRUBAL
