All language subtitles for Rome - S01E12 - Kalends of February

Kalends of February

* That is to say,
the first of February.

Pullo ! Pullo !

It's quite good but...

they are far more handsome
in real life.

What are you doing ?

Sorry, sir, sorry, sir.
Just taking your likeness, sir.

Taking my likeness ?

What do you mean ?
Speak, thief !

Sir, Aventine cloth dyers
association

are paying me

to do a mural of you and

Lucius Vorenus
in the arena, sir.

Explain yourself.
Why would anybody do that ?

Why, sir ?

You're famous, sir.

There's paintings of you
all over.

Not good accurate ones
like I'm gonna do, sir.

- Famous ?
- Certainly.

- Me ?
- The whole city loves you, sir.

You and magistrate Vorenus

are symbols of brotherly love
and redemption.

If you were in Rome today,
I doubt there's a lady in the city

wouldn't open her doors
for the mighty Titus Pullo.

Would you let me go,
please, sir ?

Beautiful, hmm ?

We own all of it,
as far as the river.

Lovely.

Best get used to it.

Caesar might well exile
me from the city.

Just for saving Pullo ?

We'll live off the land
like peasants.

- He wouldn't be so mean.
- He might do far worse.

- Like what ?
- Nothing.

I'm joking.

I don't suppose
we can lay down a blanket.

I shouldn't think so.

Well, if we ever do this again,

I'm not wearing my best.

Too soft, you city girls.

Hush you, I'm down here,
aren't I ?

Get on with it
before I die of cold.

How long like this ?

Till the priest rings his bell.

Juno help me.

- It's good earth, this.
- It's wet earth.

Dark, loamy, not much clay.

You can grow anything
in soil like this.

Where should we build
the farmhouse ?

That ridge over there.
Close to the water and wood,

good command of the valley.

In case we get
attacked by Gauls ?

You never know.

You're meant to be pretending.

I am.

You're not.

Come to papa.

Bitch.

Well, how was the farm ?

Clarissa, wait till you see it.
It's beautiful.

It's very fine, I'm sure.

What's wrong ?

- You'll never guess.
- We'll never guess.

- Pullo ran away from the hospital.
- What ?

Some carters found him lying
half dead by the Appian.

- He asked to be brought here.
- Here ?

He's inside.

Gods beneath us.

He should not have been on his feet,
never mind on a horse.

All his wounds have opened up,
fresh as flowers.

- Poor stupid thing.
- I've given him

henbane to dull the pain
and immobilize him.

If by any chance he lives,

he shouldn't move
on any account

for at least
ten days and nights.

I'll send him back to the country
as soon as he is mobile.

He won't cause any trouble,
not like this.

Like old times.

Pullo.

Pullo ?

Lucius Vorenus, sir.

What are you doing here ?

- Where am I ?
- Rome, in my house.

You should be
in the hospital at Avernum.

And miss all the fun ?
Why am I tied up ?

What fun is that ?

We're famous, aren't we ?
Heroes.

Songs, plays,

pictures on walls, eh ?

Damn foolish fuss.
What of it ?

You are a slow one,
aren't you ?

Women.

Women.

They like nothing better
than a man with a big name.

Please, you are lucky
to be breathing.

Even if you
survive your wounds,

Caesar will probably
throw you back in the arena,

and me with you.

Do you think he'll do that ?

Throw us back in ?

I'll find out tomorrow.
I've been summoned.

"Women," he says.

If you took
a woman now,

you'd come apart
like an old sack.

Just like old times.

I don't mind.

It's good to hear your father
laughing for a change.

Eirene,

it's good to see you.

Fair enough.

If you can't do it,

that's all right too.

Eirene !

- What are you doing ?
- Nothing. Nothing.

Don't lie.
What's that in your hand ?

We were just talking.

- Talking ?
- Catching up.

You fool !

What if you killed him ?
What then ?

Everybody would know
it was you.

A freedwoman who killed
her old master, very nice !

And where would
you go, hmm ?

- What would you do with yourself ?
- She has a point.

Go to bed.

We'll say no more of this.

She's looking well.

Good night, Pullo.

Juno protect you.

Don't worry.

I can't keep Caesar waiting.

Eirene, when you finish that,
check on Pullo's dressings

and change them if need be.

Me ?

You.

And feed him some porridge.

Thank you.

As of this day,

the Kalends of February,

our beloved father dictator,

Gaius Julius Caesar, has decreed

that 100 new men* be raised

* A "new man" (in Latin "homo novus") is
a person who is the first of his family to
serve in the Roman Senate. Cicero is a
homo novus and is very proud of it but
to become a senator, he has to make the
complete cursus honorum to be a politician,
contrary to the men Caesar wants to raise.

to the Senate of the republic.

The third day before Nones*,

* That is to say on the 3rd of February.

a public banquet will be held

to celebrate those senators.

Slaves and freedmen
are not eligible.

Any repetition
of recent disorders

will be punished with severity.

I shall divert
the river here, you see,

by digging a canal
to the Vatican hills.

Splendid.
You shall divert the river.

Splendid and useful,
I have no doubt.

Indeed.
It will prevent flooding and

give easier access
to the Fields of Mars*.

* Area out of Rome for some assemblees,
civic meetings with weapons, and where soldiers
can train themselves.

And on the reclaimed land,
I shall build

new civic offices for the courts.

I shall also construct

a temple to Venus Birthgiver*.

*In Latin, Venus Genitrix, "Venus the Mother",
godess of the love, beauty and fertility.
The Julii revered especially this goddess
that they claimed to be the ancestor of
their family.

Another temple...
Excellent.

But if we might
for the moment speak

of this... expansion...
of the Senate ?

We might.

Gauls and Celts, old boy.

Long-haired Gauls
and blue-faced Celts.

You're joking, of course.

He is not joking.

Gauls and Celts ?
In the Senate ?

From the tribes that have
served Rome longest,

- the best of their nobility.
- I'm astonished.

Good.

Astonishment is my intent.

Here comes
the hero of the hour.

What ?
No wreath of oak leaves* ?

* It's an allusion to the "civic wreath"
in metal representing oak leaves. It's
given to a citizen who saves, on the
battlefield, the life of another citizen.

Well now, Vorenus,
what am I to do with you ?

Defying my express orders,
you dared interfere

in a legally sanctioned
execution...

An act of gross criminality
and disobedience.

I humbly apologize, sir.
I have no excuse.

You present me with a dilemma.

By right, I could have you thrown
off the Tarpeian* rock.

* Murderers and traitors were flung from
this cliff near the Capitoline hill until
the end of the Republic. Its name comes
from Tarpeia, a Vestal, who, for golden
bracelets, betrayed Rome by opening the
gates to the Sabine army. The Sabine soldiers
crushed her to death with their shields.

But the people, simple souls
that they are,

have made great heroes
out of you and Pullo.

If I were to punish you,

the people would be made
extremely angry.

I do not wish to make
the people angry,

ergo*, I cannot punish you.

* ergo = therefore

If I cannot punish you,
I must reward you,

else I shall seem weak.

Listen to this now, Cicero.

By popular acclaim,

I shall name Lucius Vorenus

a senator of Rome.

Good, eh ?

Now you're all astonished.

Vorenus, you look like
you've seen the Gorgon*.

* The Gorgons are three sisters, monsters
with golden wings, coper claws and fangs
of boar. Their hair is snakes and they can
turn into stone whoever looks them into
the eyes. The most famous Gorgon is
Medusa.

Excuse me, sir...

I'm stunned.

What do you say ?

Will you speak for your
people in the Senate ?

I'd be honored to do so,
if you think me worthy.

There's none worthier.

You shall make
an excellent senator.

Very touching.

For the first few weeks,
you will stay close by me.

Learn the drill.

Thank you, sir.

Forgive me, but really
I must, as a friend...

I must protest !

A lowly pleb in the Senate ?

That's going too far !

No offense to you, Vorenus.

I do not wish to jump
in any arenas, Cicero.

I must please the people
in some other fashion.

Build yet another temple.
Kill someone.

The people are
easy to please.

Not this !

I wish the Senate to be made
of the best men in Italy,

not just the riches
old men in Rome.

An intriguing notion.

You'll make a lot of men
very angry

with your Gauls
and your Celts

and your plebs and such.

I'll have to double your guard.

That's what I told him.
Will he listen ?

Guards can keep
my enemies away.

They can do nothing
about my friends.

You don't mean me,
do you ?

I can assure you
I have no ill intentions.

I know.

Not that you were not
perfectly capable of

- any manner of wickedness.
- Thank you.

...but if you were going to betray me,
you would have done it long ago.

Don't think I wasn't tempted.

So, no more guards then.
You will trust Fortune.

- Very good. Very pious.
- Stop your grizzling,

you old woman.

Who will dare
raise a hand to me

with the ferocious
Lucius Vorenus at my side ?

Clever.

All these years together,
and it still surprises you

I can tie my sandals.

Sleep sound, little man.

Your mother and I
have been thinking

About finding you that husband.

A senator's daughter cannot be

running around
unattached.

There's no hurry.

Don't worry, we'll find you
a good rich old man

you can wrap
around your little finger.

Beauty like you
can have your pick.

I told you,
I don't want a rich old man.

Of course you do.

Just think of all those

fine dresses and jewels
and slaves you'll have.

I don't care about
such trivial things.

Trivial ?

When I was your age,

I had to eat bones
from the gutter.

Dresses and jewels
are not trivial.

They show others
that your people

are rich and powerful
and that you are

loved and protected
and valued.

But I want to marry
someone I love.

Love doesn't come unbidden,
you have to work for her.

Strange marriage it would be
if you loved him from the start.

That's right.
It takes a while.

Now you be a good virtuous wife,
and love will come.

Your mother and I,
we had our troubles, didn't we ?

Look at us now.

Happy as you like.

I suppose.

So...

A good rich old man
it is then.

I was about to wake you.

Wherever you were,
you were not enjoying yourself.

It was another
dream of omens.

You're becoming
quite the oracle.

Shall I send
for some willow water ?

- You'll sleep better.
- I was in the country.

Please, I have had
such dreams for years.

Bloody rain,
black dogs,

hooded ferrymen...
For years.

Here I am,
still alive and well.

I've never had
such dreams before now.

What am I to do ?

Should I quit Rome
and hide

because you have
bad dreams ?

Why not ?

I'm serious.

Are you not weary
of this toil ?

I am.
I am extremely weary.

But there is
much more to be done,

I'm afraid.
Much more.

There's always
more to be done.

To what end ?

What end ?

Good question.

I shall ask Posca.

Go to sleep, my dear.

Ancestors of the Junii,

we ask for your blessing

on this man of your blood.

Let his arm be strong.

Let his aim be true.

Let his heart be filled
with sacred rage.

Good boy.

Hello.

Hello.

Hey, Venus,

I have a question for you.

Guess who I am.

Thanks very much.

It was nice
to meet you.

I can manage from here.

Wait.

So, where is everybody ?

I'm sure I saw that one
selling fish in the forum.

At least he's Roman.

A good Roman fishmonger
is a fine nobleman

compared to some of these
Belgian and Celts

that call themselves "chiefs"*.

* Strangers on the Senate was considered
as an outrage so much that a placard
was posted, telling that there was forbidden
to show the new senators the way to the
Senate. There was also this song:
"Caesar led the Gauls in triumph, led
them to the senate house; then the Gauls
put off their breeches, and put on
the latus clavus.'' The latus clavus is
the purple border on a senator toga.

There's one over there
with earrings.

It's good to see you.

It's the end, eh ?

The Gauls have invaded.

Well, don't be so glum.
They will return

to their ghastly
mountain hovels soon enough.

Caesar will only
summon them back

when he needs their support
for some fresh outrage.

The red man
shadowing Caesar is

The famous Lucius Vorenus,
one assumes.

- Indeed.
- Affectionate, aren't they ?

Might be father and son.

Caesar would have
the humble people think so.

He keeps the wretched man
by his side constantly.

This beast of the fields
is a senator of Rome !

Do not fret so, Casca.

Timid subjects of king Caesar

must learn to be tolerant, hmm ?

I believe I shall go home

and stupefy myself with wine.

Good day to you all.

Old fool.

He knows, I'm sure of it, he knows.
You saw how he looked at us.

Be calm, Cimber.
If he knew, we would be dead already.

He's playing the blind man.
He's waiting for us to betray ourselves.

- Exactly.
- He's not worried about us !

He thinks we are cowards.

Well, in any case,
we must act soon.

Today he brings in Gauls
and Celts and low plebs.

Tomorrow it'll be
Belgians or freedmen,

and he won't rest
until he's turned the Senate

into a bawdy house !

We good noblemen will be
outnumbered by foreign rabble.

We will be degraded,

powerless.

We must act soon.

What about bloody
Lucius Vorenus ?

- Lucius Vorenus is a son of a whore.
- You know him personall, it seems ?

I know him.

I know him.

Who is Lucius Vorenus ?

You remember, mother,
the low soldier

that jumped into the arena
to save a comrade ?

I remember something
of the sort.

Well, Caesar's pandered to the mob
and made him a senator.

And when Caesar's in the Senate,

the dog never leaves
his master's side.

And a fearsome dog it is.

So...

if we are to reckon
with Caesar on the Senate floor,

we must reckon
with Lucius Vorenus also.

Kill him as well.
What's it matter ?

He is a popular man.

- So ? I'll kill him.
- It is most important

that we keep the people
on our side.

We cannot kill
one of their heroes.

That would sully
the whole business.

Only the tyrant dies.

Kill Caesar in his bed then.

- He doesn't sleep with this man, does he ?
- Quintus !

It's not
such a bad thought.

We could...

...bribe
some of his slaves.

Buy off his cook.

Buy off his taster.
Poison him.

Gentlemen, this is not
some cheap murder !

It is an honorable thing

that we do, and it must
be done honorably.

In daylight.

On the Senate floor.

With our own hand.

With my hand.

You're right, of course.

Forgive me.

That's all very well,

but how ?

How ?

What's wrong ?

Are you still awake ?

You were worrying very loudly.

I feel like everything
seems to be moving so fast.

It feels like...

I'm...

I'm scared sometimes.

- Lucius Vorenus, was that his name ?
- What ?

The low soldier
that Caesar made a senator.

Was that his name ?

Lucius Vorenus.
Why ?

I have heard the name before.

"My dear friend,

I regret I have not seen
you or yours for some time.

Two families as entwined as ours

must not be strangers.

Would it be
convenient for you

to come and
visit me tomorrow ?

With great affection, Servilia."

How strange.

Is it ?

Why would she want to see me ?
She hates me.

So do I.
It's no bar to friendship.

What is she thinking ?

Nothing to your benefit.

- What will you do ?
- I shall accept, of course.

- Is that wise ?
- Probably not.

Her rage amuses me.

You shall come with me.

- Why ?
- To be my protector, of course.

Who knows what the mad
old turtle will do ?

Please don't
speak of her so.

Well she is
a mad old turtle.

Anyway, I thought you were above
such petty emotions nowadays.

I am.
I try to be.

You still have feelings for her.

- There's nothing wrong with that.
- I feel nothing

but pity for her.
And for myself as I was then.

And for you.

Me ?

You silly goose.

- Why are you dressed so ?
- I'm going to the country...

Just for the day,
to get some fresh air,

stretch my legs.

I was thinking of stopping by
the shrine of sacred Rusina*,

* Rusina is a goddess protecting the fields
("rus" means "country" in Latin).

asking her if she'll forgive me for
all the bad things I've done.

You think she might ?

Forgive me ?

Who knows
what the gods will do ?

Come along,

if you like.

Senate in session today.

No assemblies in the vicinity.

No gaming.
No prostitution.

May all the gods
bless our sacrosanct father

Gaius Julius Caesar.

- Good day, senator.
- Good day.

Sir, sir, a moment
of your time !

Read my petition !

Caesar ! Caesar !
Caesar !

My dear Atia,

how wonderful to see you.

Wonderful indeed.

And Octavian !

You're practically a man !

I like to think so.

And so handsome.
Come in, come in.

It's looking lovely here.

Have you redecorated ?

Pull !

Pull !

Pull !

Pull !

Senator Vorenus,

I come about your
grandson, Lucius.

...Servilia of the Junii,
and what I tell you now

is the truth.

You're alive !

Answer me,
what child is that ?

Where is Vorenus ?

He was with us
a moment ago.

Never mind.

Mark Anthony, why don't you
give us a moment ?

You must be wondering why I
invited you here today.

I am rather puzzled.

Well, it's important to me

that I be the first to tell you

what has happened.

Why ?
What has happened ?

- Trebonius.
- Great Caesar.

I know, Barca, I know.
I have not forgotten.

If I may, gracious Caesar,

you were going to consider
revoking my brother's exile.

I'm still considering it.

Take your hand off me.

What are you waiting for ?
Now ! Now !

- Now.
- Now !

- Wait !
- Get off me !

Do it.

Stop it !

What's wrong ?

- Where is he ?
- Who ?

Your son !

Tell me it's not true.

Tell me !
Tell me !

Tell me !
Tell me !

Tell me.

I thought you were dead.

Lucius.

Lucius.

Lucius,

the boy is blameless.

Thus ever for tyrants.

No !

So you see,
the tyrant is dead,

the republic is restored,

and you are alone.

Would you like
some honey water ?

I won't, thank you.

Please don't be afraid.
I won't harm you.

Not yet.

Harm ?

Why would you wish us harm ?

We've always been
great friends.

- Politics is for the men, I always...
- Not yet.

I will make you suffer slowly.

Slowly and deeply,

as you made me suffer.

First, I want to see you run.

Run for your life.

Run to some rathole

in Greece or Illyria*,

* Illyria is Western Crotia and Slovenia.

wherever you like.

I shall come and find you.

Thank you for the visit.

* You can compare Caesar's murder
(March, 15th 44 B.C.) to Suetonius,
"The Life of Julius Caesar", LXXII:
"As he took his seat, the conspirators
gathered about him as if to pay their
respects, and straightway Tillius
Cimber, who had assumed the lead,
came nearer as though to ask something;
and when Caesar with a gesture put him
off to another time, Cimber caught his
toga by both shoulders; then as Caesar
cried, "Why, this is violence!" one of
the Cascas stabbed him from one side just
below the throat. Caesar caught Casca's
arm and ran it through with his stylus,
but as he tried to leap to his feet, he
was stopped by another wound. When
he saw that he was beset on every side
by drawn daggers, he muffled his head in
his robe, and at the same time drew down
its lap to his feet with his left hand,
in order to fall more decently, with the
lower part of his body also covered. And
in this wise he was stabbed with three
and twenty wounds, uttering not a word,
but merely a groan at the first stroke,
though some have written that when Marcus
Brutus rushed at him, he said in Greek,
"You too, my child?" All the conspirators
made off, and he lay there lifeless for
some time, until finally three common slaves
put him on a litter and carried him home,
with one arm hanging down. And of so
many wounds none turned out to be mortal,
in the opinion of the physician Antistius,
except the second one in the breast. The
conspirators had intended after slaying
him to drag his body to the Tiber,
confiscate his property, and revoke his
decrees; but they forebore through fear
of Marcus Antonius the consul, and Lepidus,
the master of horse" (translation by J. C. Rolfe).
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus is the big
missing character of the show.

www.tvsubtitles.net

Best watched using Open Subtitles MKV Player