The Slave that the Emperor Cannot Slay (A scene from the movie Gladiator)

Commodus (Emperor) : Rise, rise.
[Maximus (Gladiator) stands up, clenching an arrow head in his right hand]

Commodus: Your fame is well deserved, Spaniard. I don't think there's ever been a gladiator to match you. . . Why doesn't the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name? You do have a name.

Maximus: My name is Gladiator.
[turns away from Commodus]

Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name.

Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

[Commodus trembles in disbelief. Praetorians point their spears at the gladiators while the Collosseum crowd chants for them to live. Commodus shakes his head and motions the crowd for silence but the crowds shout "Live! Live! Live! . . ." He then raises his fist and reluctantly gives the thumbs-up signal. Maximus takes a bow, and walks away, to the cries of acclaimation "Maximus! Maximus! Maximus! . . ."]

All the power of an Emperor is not great enough to allow him to take the life of a gladiator. Even the tyrant is but a slave of public opinion.