Original subtitles

Stop!

- I'll put you down like a dog! - No, Ulmar! Wait!

You, Domitius?

You idiot.

You're just as inept of an assassin as you are a poet!

Your blade is as blunt as your pen!

I would have composed a masterpiece with your blood, Caligula!

Everyone would have cheered.

I'd have titled it "The Downfall of a Lunatic"!

And I shall name my masterpiece "The End of an Imbecile"!

Spare me your irony, Caligula!

Keep it for your friends.

- I'm not afraid of death! - Who said anything about death?

You'll live.

I'm going to make you wish you'd never been born, you rotten swine!

History will punish you and your madness.

I will make history.

And you are going to witness it.

Your mind won't cease to compose many revenge-filled verses

overflowing with hate.

But your hand won't write them down.

And your lips won't recite them.

Guards!

Cut his tongue off.

And the tendons of his arms and legs.

No! Get your hands off me!

Scream while you still can!

We should ride our horses on the beach more often.

The sand strengthens their legs and improves their speed and stamina.

This is where it happens.

Every night.

The same dream every night.

Dreams are different from reality, Emperor.

Or perhaps reality is just another dream.

It was a dream that revealed to my mother Tiberius' plot to have her killed.

She was assassinated.

The sand is red with blood.

Bits of human flesh are scattered everywhere.

Don't let such grim thoughts ruin your day, Emperor.

There's Ulmar.

The mighty shield that will protect you against all nightmares.

Every man has a price.

I still don't know what Ulmar's is.

Emperor, look.

There's an amusement for you.

Hey, look!

What a tasty treat.

You all are.

Don't you think, Messala?

Such are the fruits of your realm.

They sure look ripe enough, even if a little green.

What is your name?

Livia.

Come closer.

A fish.

What a curious amulet.

What does it mean?

It's the symbol of a new religious sect from Palestine.

Why, I thought Rome already had enough Gods.

- Are you Jewish? - No.

Why aren't you worshipping the God of the Romans, then?

Don't you know which god you must worship?

I asked you a question.

You are, mighty Emperor!

I beg you to forgive her.

She's like a frightened lamb, as you can see.

What could be more exciting than a lamb ready for the sacrifice?

Careful, Emperor.

I know that boy.

He's the son of Consul Marcus Tullius Gallius.

Gallius has a fiery temperament and he's loved by his legionnaires.

Don't be afraid of the emperor.

He's like a father to us.

Once I grow up, I'll ask my father to let me join the praetorians.

Why?

Being part of the imperial guard is the highest honor for a young man.

They're elite soldiers, and everybody respects them, even tribunes.

And that way I will always protect the emperor.

I wish you wouldn't do that.

I hate weapons and instruments of war.

I've never heard you talk like that before.

Is this what your new god teaches you?

Yes. My god preaches love and peace.

Well, I'm interested in the love part.

Not that kind of love.

A different one.

I bet it was Miriam who managed to convince you.

You're wrong, believe me.

Miriam is a priestess of the Egyptian god Anubis.

But Miriam is a slave. How could she be a priestess?

Miriam is not a slave. My father freed her before his passing.

She's like a sister to me.

She raised me.

I'm very attached to her.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize you two had such a bond.

No, please.

Why not?

It's not the right time.

When it happens, I want it to be beautiful and eternal.

As you wish. But I already know [I'll love you forever.

My, such beautiful words.

Carry on with your amusing spectacle.

Isn't that right, Messala?

You've done right by refusing him.

Virginity is a flower that must not be wasted.

Especially with a child like this boy.

It would be like gifting a cithara to a deaf man.

Virginity must be given to a real man.

Or, better still, to a god!

- No, leave her alone! - How dare you be so insolent?

On your knees!

- Go away, kid. - No.

I want him to stay.

Maybe this way he'll learn something.

Try to put this lesson to good use.

No.

No! I beg you!

Gaius, watch out!

Livia!

Livia!

Kill him, Messala.

She was beautiful.

Kill him!

Who did it? Who murdered my son?

The Christians, a group of religious fanatics.

The emperor is as upset as you.

He found the body, and ordered the culprits to be found and punished.

Noble Messala himself is dealing with the investigation.

How does the emperor know those fanatics killed my son?

Your son was holding their symbol in his hand. A golden fish.

They're hiding in the deeper galleries.

- It will be hard to take them all out, Messala. - Just capture five or six.

- Shall we take them to the praetorium? - No.

They've already been sentenced. Take them to the Appian Way and crucify them.

Why are you tormenting us? What harm have we done to you?

Get out of my way.

Bad news, Marcellus. Domitius tried to do it on his own.

He was found and arrested.

Let's inform the others.

Out, you two.

What's wrong, Marcellus? I know we're friends, but you can't be so impolite.

I could gladly do without a disgusting friend like you.

Domitius has been arrested.

Did he talk?

I don't think so. Our heads are still attached to our bodies, after all.

- Did they Kill him? - No.

The emperor had him mutilated, including his tongue. A miserable end.

Heh, at least he'll never reveal our names.

- You rotten swine! - Hold it, Marcellus.

This is not the time to fight each other. I have more bad news.

The body of Consul Tullius Gaius' son has been found today. Murdered.

People say Christians killed him.

- Along with a young girl. - Christians? Impossible!

Those poor wretches do nothing but preach love and peace.

They're utterly harmless.

It seems the girl had been violated.

The boy was killed trying to protect her.

- Who found the bodies? - Praetorians.

He's mad. A bloodthirsty lunatic. And we put him on the throne.

- We simply respected the will of Tiberius. - The will of a demented old man.

And look at the price we're paying.

- How long will we put up with this? - For as long as he wants.

He believes himself to be a god who can do anything with impunity.

He creates catastrophes just to revel in chaos.

He orders granaries to be closed to cause famines.

He orders the heads of all the statues of Jupiter to be lopped off

and replaced with his own likeness.

He invites us to dine with him, and then makes us serve food like servants.

And, to add even more insult, he makes his horse a senator.

Such impudence cannot be tolerated.

We could convince Consul Gallius to side with us.

His legions are currently camped around the city, as you know.

It would cause a civil war.

Don't forget some senators are still loyal to Caligula.

He's too cunning to only have enemies.

He'd rather turn us against each other.

He must meet a quiet end, then.

Good plan indeed, Marcellus Agrippa, but how will we carry it out?

Miriam! Promise you will never leave me.

Yes, I will always be with you, Livia.

- Do you swear it? - I do.

Nothing will ever divide us.

Miriam, please let us bury Livia according to our Christian ritual.

No. Her body will be cremated.

According to the law of my gods.

She was a Christian.

I prefer my vengeful gods to your kind and peaceful one

who couldn't even protect her.

And here's the imperial palace.

Two hundred large rooms.

And here we'll build some terraces,

all of them with a swimming pool with both cold and hot water.

The swimming pools will be surrounded by gardens as beautiful

as those of Babylon.

What do you say, my friends?

It'll be more incredible than Olympus itself.

- It will be sublime, Emperor. - Worthy of your greatness.

I didn't hear your voice join the bleating of these sheep, Marcellus Agrippa.

How much will this cost, Emperor?

If you don't mind me asking.

How vulgar of you to ask about cost, Marcellus.

You've disappointed me once more.

As usual, of course.

Here am I showing you a true work of art,

an immortal masterpiece the world has never seen before.

Something that will forever link the name of Rome to my own.

Yet, you dare ask me how much it'll cost.

Can you put a price on the empire?

I'll use all my personal wealth,

I'll put everything I own up for auction in order to complete this immortal project.

I order this auction to take place during the magnificent celebrations

I will have at this palace.

Messala, you're in charge of organizing everything.

Invite all my friends and the provincial governors,

as well as anyone wealthy enough to pay for their invitation.

I'm sure no one would offend the emperor by refusing to participate in the event.

As long as there'll be ladies worthy of the guests.

Of course, the women will be worth the price of admission.

I promise you many girls from the Orient, as well as some exotic rarities.

We'll even have some virgin maidens of the goddess Vesta.

As you said, Emperor, those are virgin maidens.

Vestal priestesses are sacred.

I guess they'll have to choose another job, then.

I'm sure Vesta won't mind another deity asking her such a little favor.

Quite the opposite. But maybe you'd rather have your emperor

ask this little personal favor from your wives and daughters?

Very well. Since we're all in agreement, let's get some wine and have a toast.

I drink to your project and your greatness, divine Emperor.

I think you should drink to your cowardice, Galenus.

You live hoping for the dagger that will stab me,

or for the poison that will spoil my wine.

This very cup might be poisoned, perhaps.

This very cup I'm about to drink from.

You cannot possibly believe that, Emperor.

No?

Then, my loyal friend, let's swap cups and see who gets poisoned.

Well? Aren't you thirsty?

What is it?

Not in the mood for toasts anymore?

Go on.

Drink.

Drink it in one gulp.

Oh, that's enough.

You would die of fright,

even if this cup of wine weren't poisoned.

My personal wine is more safely guarded than your wives' private parts.

Back to work, Demetrius.

I demand that construction start as soon as possible.

Mighty Emperor!

- What's wrong? - The wine was poisoned!

Leave him alone! Try to vomit, Emperor!

Try to vomit the poison, Emperor! It's the only way!

You must vomit the poison!

Come on, do it!

Yes, this way, come on! Don't stop, keep vomiting!

Vomit! Keep doing it! Come on!

I implore you, gods, take my life instead of his!

Yes, that's it, come on. Keep vomiting.

Mighty gods, if you spare his life I vow to give

all my wealth to build a temple in your honor.

Thank you, thank you.

Dear friends, the gods have listened to your prayers.

Your wishes have been granted.

Your prayers have worked a miracle.

Marius, I stand by your decision.

I'll take care of building the temple using all your personal riches.

I wonder if your wish to give your life to save mine was sincere, Galenus.

It was, Emperor.

Seize Galenus and hold him still.

No! Divine Emperor!

What are you doing? Mercy!

No!

No!

Do you realize what you're doing?

He offered his life to save mine, didn't he?

Now he must pay the price.

Get out now.

All of you, out!

Out, I said!

I'll build something immortal.

An eternal city.

The greatest work of art in human history.

My name will live forever.

Look, isn't it amusing?

What do you say?

He's still a man. What's left of one, anyway.

Even if it's not much.

You wouldn't believe it, but parts of him still work.

His brain, for instance, or his penis.

You don't believe me?

You should touch it! He's rather well-endowed!

You can take my word for that.

Trouble is, this poor wretch

can't even masturbate anymore.

Now listen, my sweet Clizia.

I've got an idea.

Why don't you try to give him some pleasure?

See, Domitius?

Your emperor wants to show you his generosity

by lending you his most beautiful mistress.

Stop! You're committing sacrilege!

Get out of our way. We're following the emperor's orders!

Where are you?

Would you like to play with me, Ulmar?

Sorry, but I'm not allowed to.

I'm sure he'll give you permission, just this once.

Why don't you ask him?

My duty is to protect the emperor.

Not to play with whores.

Didn't I tell you, Clizia?

My loyal Ulmar can't be convinced.

No one can distract him.

Except his emperor, of course.

Isn't that right, Ulmar?

Tell me, Petreius. How did that slave end up here?

Ulmar was the best among the gladiators that arrived from the North.

That's the reason our divine emperor put him at his service.

I guess he doesn't trust his praetorians, then.

Praetorians care more about their pay than the emperor's safety.

Caligula has many flaws, but he's not stupid.

Ulmar is a slave here, but he was a prince in his land.

Come forward, let's see your teeth.

Let's see the rest.

Hired. Next.

- Tullia Quinta. - Be here tomorrow. Same time.

Very well.

- I've brought the Vestals. - Take them in.

Next. Come forward.

- Sorry, but you'd make the guests vomit before dinner. - Please, I need the money.

I'm good, and experienced.

I could hire you, yes, but not to please the men.

What for, then?

- Dogs and horses. - Deal.

Very well, then. Next, please.

I don't need to see anything, you're hired.

- Next, please. - All right.

What's your name?

Miriam Celsia.

Come back tomorrow, same time.

Well, at least they hired us for the dogs and the horses.

I thought I was too old for this.

I don't care, as long as they're paying.

Miriam.

Mighty lord of life and death, prince of darkness,

I offer you my virginity in order to complete my vengeance.

Your sacrifice was useless.

Even if you manage to get close to Caligula,

how do you expect to assassinate him?

I don't know what you're saying, Cornelius.

What I mean is that several men, stronger and more determined than you, died trying.

If you really want to avenge Livia,

you must trust me and accept my help.

Stop here.

Take off your clothes, girls.

Jump in the pool.

Come on, quick.

Your turn.

Good girl.

My duty, dear ladies, is to train you to provide

our emperor's guest with the greatest possible pleasure.

Some of you may believe such training is unnecessary.

You believe yourselves to be sufficiently skilled.

I'm not counting those of you who have not yet tried the men's honey.

Now remember, it's perfectly natural for a woman to be dominated by a man,

but being able to dominate a man isn't as innate.

The power to dominate a man and enslave him through the pleasure you'll give him.

I will teach you the art of seduction, but you'll need perseverance and practice.

Eimos here is a Greek slave.

You'll practice with him.

Let's begin today's lesson, shall we?

You'll be first, Lavinia. Come forward.

Yes, stand here.

Now, girls, I want you to observe Lavinia carefully.

I want you to identify with your companion.

Take some initiative, Lavinia. His pleasure depends on your skills.

Don't be afraid to use your hands, dear.

Very good, Lavinia.

Yes, that's the center of his pleasure.

That's where the bravery, the fears, and the desires of all men reside.

That's where their very essence lives.

Good.

Now his life essence is in your mouth.

That's how you can dominate his mind and body.

He has no defense against your power.

He's your slave now.

He knows you could annihilate him at any moment.

But he won't stop you.

Indulge him, Lavinia.

Be sweet.

And now his male nature will get the better of you.

He wants to dominate you.

Indulge his belief that he can.

Surrender to his will.

Open yourself, Lavinia.

Open yourself to him.

Don't stop until he fills your belly with his virility.

He has no defense against you.

He's your slave now.

He won't stop you.

Indulge him, Lavinia.

Be sweet.

And now his male nature will get the better of you.

He wants to dominate you.

Indulge him to believe he can.

Surrender to his will.

Open yourself, Lavinia. Open yourself.

Open yourself to him.

Don't stop until he fills your belly with his virility.

Stop, now. Stop, I said.

Go back with the others.

Your turn, Miriam.

Step forward, come on.

Gaius Caesar Germanicus.

Father of our homeland.

Master of all armies.

Divine Emperor of the world.

Hail, Caesar!

- Long live to our emperor! - Hail, Caesar!

Hail, my dear friends.

I'm glad to see you all here to honor me.

Is everything good?

Yes.

Let's proceed.

Spare him, divine Caesar.

I believe so.

Why, of course.

Yes.

- Why don't you come with me? - Leave me alone.

- Leave me alone, I said! - Come on.

- Get your hands off me! - I paid for all this. Come with me!

- Leave me alone! - Come with me!

Ulmar.

- Come on! - Leave me alone, you're drunk!

- Get your hands off me! - Stop struggling!

Come on, let's go!

What's your name?

Miriam, divine Caesar.

Drink this.

You're now going to witness something uncanny.

Observe.

What's wrong? Don't you like animals, Miriam?

Look.

Ulmar.

Our emperor demands to see you immediately, Miriam Celsia.

You're very beautiful.

Aren't you afraid of me?

Why should I be?

It would only take one word from me.

One word for your head to roll on the floor.

What use would it be, then?

Your empire is full of heads who should be lopped off for much better reasons.

Give me a reason to spare yours.

Getting ready to leave, Agrippa?

Only my family.

I'm staying here.

Right.

Nobility and courage, above all.

You have no fear.

Isn't that right?

Not even death scares you.

Your newborn, huh?

A beautiful baby.

Beautiful, truly.

A brave little Agrippa.

Little and helpless.

So little and helpless today,

but surely a murderer of tomorrow.

- I shall deal with him immediately. - No!

Please, stop!

Stop torturing them!

Slow down, they're not ready to die yet.

I want them to suffer a while longer.

Take care of their families, now.

Don't, Gaius. The gods will be outraged at such affront.

- You can't murder innocents. - Innocents, you say?

There are no innocents in my empire.

You two aren't innocent either.

You're guilty and conniving, all of you! You should all meet their same end!

Even if you weren't among the conspirators.

You must pay, each and every one of you.

Messala.

Killing innocents is not a soldier's duty.

It's a treacherous man's task.

A task for cowards who cling to life

as if they were infants clinging to their mothers' teat.

You're offending the whole Roman senate, Caesar.

- Not to mention our sense of duty. - Your sense of duty is rotten!

Just like your breath.

People like you will always revel in infamy, no matter what.

But if you don't want to end like your worthy friends,

then I demand you carry out this sentence. Did I make myself clear, Cassius?

Bring the wife and daughter of Agrippa.

No!

No! Let go of me!

Give him your sword.

Ulmar.

Kill him if he doesn't obey.

- Mercy! - It's time, noble Cassius.

Time to make your choice.

If you do not kill these women, their lives will be spared.

But you will die in their place.

Is that clear?

- Mercy! - Look at them.

They are the wife and daughter of your dear friend Agrippa.

- You are going to execute them. - No! No!

Kill me, but spare my daughter!

Mercy! Have mercy!

Ulmar. Kill him.

No! No!

You did your duty, Cassius.

That's enough.

You've given me enough proof of your honor.

Now bring me the sister and children of Catullus.

What do you want?

Your friends have been executed.

They weren't my friends.

I've saved the emperor's life.

He doesn't possess any form of gratitude.

And the blood of his victims will never be enough.

It drives him even more insane.

You should leave this place, Miriam.

How could I leave?

There are guards everywhere.

I can get you out of the palace.

And even help you to leave Rome, if you wish.

You'd be risking your life, Ulmar.

I don't care as long as you manage to escape.

I'm not going to leave.

Why are you willing to risk your life for me?

Because I'll have to stop you, once you finally carry out your plan.

And I don't wish to Kill you.

Blood.

It excites me.

Even the gods would pale at the sight of so much blood.

Petreius.

You hate me, don't you?

Hate you, Caesar?

As strange as it may seem, I can't bring myself to hate you.

I can see you're just a poor, miserable soul.

A perverse, cruel, miserable soul.

All this because of a little bloodshed?

Have you ever killed?

Not even when you were soldiering in my father's legions?

Yes, my dagger is guilty of killing, but only in battle.

Always so humble, Petreius.

I envy you.

I envy you because an emperor doesn't possess humility.

You don't envy me, divine Caesar.

You envy the power of the gods, which is what you really desire.

But you must remember, Caesar, that gods use their power to create, not destroy.

Is there any difference between the two?

Envy the gods, you say?

You're right.

Provocation is the only road left to a man seeking the power of the gods.

That's why I'm showing the world that even a man can challenge the gods,

if he's not afraid to! And I'm not afraid of them.

- This is blasphemy. - It's not.

It's a revelation.

Would you like to know the way to be equal with the gods?

The way is to match their cruelty.

Then, the impossible becomes possible.

Do you also believe, like all the others, that I'm an insane murderer?

A bloodthirsty monster?

I do.

Why did you stop those conspirators from killing me, then?

I don't know.

But I do.

It's the same reason, my dear Miriam, that keeps me from killing you.

They're beautiful.

Much too beautiful for me.

Not at all.

They're nothing.

These jewels pale in comparison to what you've given me

without asking anything in return.

You've given me something I cannot even define.

Something incredible.

She's a slave and you're the emperor! No law would permit you to marry!

Quite the contrary. No law can stop me from marrying her.

I am the law.

Messala.

I want the greatest sculptor of my empire

to carve Miriam's image in the best and whitest of marbles.

I want the statue to be ready for my wedding day.

Miriam.

Miriam!

Miriam!

Miriam, where are you?

Miriam!

Come with me.

Miriam!

Miriam!

What shall I do?

Gods, help me.

Leave. Now.

Leave Rome.

I don't want to run away.

You want to kill him?

No. I couldn't do it now.

But I must know the truth.

Then let the gods do as they wish.

Livia...

Forgive me!

- Clizia! - I couldn't see him suffer like that! I had to do it!

Forgive me!

Why are you getting drunk?

I had a dream. I was among the dunes, and you were dead.

I was desperate.

Dreams don't kill.

No. But they can make you suffer.

They can create tortures worse than real ones.

And nobody can stop bad dreams from happening.

Not even an emperor.

But the worst thing is that you can't even decide when to wake up.

Why did you leave?

Because of this.

What does it mean?

There was a girl who wore it around her neck. Livia.

Don't you remember her?

I don't know what you're talking about.

You killed her, didn't you?

No, that's not true.

It's not true.

I didn't kill her!

What's happening to me?

The wine.

The wine.

There was something in the wine.

Don't be afraid, you're not going to die.

You?

It was you?

Why?

To know.

Sleep, now.

Try to remember.

Caligula.

Don't go on.

Turn back.

Where are you, Petreius?

Where are you?

Miriam?

Don't go on, Caligula.

You have no idea what's awaiting you.

What's awaiting me?

The truth, Caligula.

Come. You'll find the knowledge you seek.

Eternity will be yours.

And so will immortality.

Immortality.

Eternity.

Don't go on, Caligula.

There are trials no man is strong enough to win.

A man?

A man, no.

But a god, yes!

Turn back, Caligula.

Turn back.

No!

Wait for me, Caligula.

I want to be yours.

No! No!

Go away! Go away!

Go away!

She's yours. Take her.

No.

I'm yours.

- Take me.

You couldn't be afraid of a poor, helpless girl.

This can't be real, Miriam.

Go away! Away!

Away!

Caligula.

You've joined us, at last.

Caligula.

Caligula!

No! No!

Miriam.

No. This isn't real.

No, you're not real.

You're just an illusion.

You're nothing but an illusion!

- This is just a dream. A nightmare. - No, Caesar.

I had a nightmare.

Miriam! Miriam!

Miriam!

Miriam!

Miriam!

Miriam!

Miriam!

I too agree with choosing Claudius Tiberius.

As long as he'll restore all our privileges.

I believe Claudius will follow our suggestions.

We will soon have to decide the matter of Caligula's death.

I will handle it personally, if you wish.

I know just the man who can Kill him.

A man who can Kill that monster.

Caesar, look!

It seems that Claudius Tiberius is among those men.

It's the first time I've seen those mummies come out of their tombs.

What does their presence mean?

Let's ride, Messala!

Gaius.

How do you feel?

Splendid.

This is a historic day.

It's beautiful.

A new era begins today.

I want to send out a new edict immediately.

I want all the statues depicting my divine status to be torn down.

The same goes for my project to build a new Rome.

One last thing.

I want it said that today a god has died

and a man has been born.

A man, Petreius.

A man.

A man who will live for eternity.

A man

who will live for eternity.

Subtitled by Francesco Massaccesi