Original subtitles

Whoa.

Thank you.

Four hundred years after the last king was driven from the city, the Republic

of Rome rules many nations, but cannot rule itself.

The city is constantly roiled by conflict between the common people and

the nobility.

Power is shared and order maintained by two soldiers, old friends, Gnaeus Pompey

Magnus and Gaius Julius Caesar.

Once... Pompey was acknowledged by all to be the greater man, but for the last

eight years, while Pompey has kept the peace in Rome, Caesar has waged a war of

conquest in Gaul that has made him ever more rich and popular.

The balance of power is shifting, and the nobility have grown fearful.

Though of noble blood himself, Caesar stands with the common people. A man

like that, an aristocrat with soldiers, money, and the love of the people.

might make himself king.

Get back in formation you drunken fool

Reform!

Legionary Titus Pullo is a hero of the 13th Legion, but look at him now.

Justice knows every man's number.

He has committed a terrible sacrilege, and he will pay for it with his life, as

will any man here who breaks the law.

and drunkards will be flogged. Thieves will be strangled.

Deserters will be crucified.

Is that it?

I was just beginning to enjoy myself.

Before you, Vercingetorix, son of Celtil, chieftain of the tribe of the

Averni, commander of the rebel stronghold of Alesia, king of all the

Gauls, what would you have of him?

He's out!

Hey, what's going on?

Hey, here!

You piss-drinking sons of circus whores! The chief of the Gauls has surrendered

to Caesar.

The war's over.

Don't say that.

The boys have been given two days' liberty to sack the town and take

personal spoils.

Then I'll be rich.

And me in here!

400 denarii. Are you insane?

That's a floor price.

We'll pay the usual premium for tradesmen and fertile women, etc.

Mr. Poppy Magnus, sir.

Set the floor closer to A.

My dear friend and partner Gaius, I have terrible news.

Forgive me.

Forgive me.

to my slaves and to my father.

This isn't a miserable eastern peasantry. This is the cream of the

Gallic nations.

The draft's on the market.

He won't be able to give them all that. Sell them and be done with it.

On delivery to Massilia? Oh, please. Agreed.

See to the details.

You've got a decent price off those parasites.

Good enough.

News from Rome?

Pompey writes, my daughter Julia has died in childbirth.

I grieve with you.

The child?

A girl, stillborn.

Pompey will be needing a new wife.

Caesar's spoils from Gaul.

What a dreadful noise plebs make when they're happy.

This is music.

Wait until Caesar starts them howling for our blood.

Then you'll hear something dreadful.

From the house of Marius Dolabella.

Under the protection of Pompey Magnus and Julius Caesar.

Senate sits tomorrow.

Be aware.

No disorder will be tolerated.

That was lovely, Tymon.

Two stallions have come to Rome today.

Of course.

How childish of me.

You want the horse.

I do.

But don't be sullen now.

This was not a hardship for me.

I've always found something perversely erotic about goaty little men.

Do please don't look Octavia come in

I've

bought

a horse have you the best horse in round by all accounts

I'm very happy for you.

It's a gift for your great-uncle.

I want you to take the animal to Gaul and give it to him in person.

Why? When he's back in Rome, everyone will be giving him gifts.

We must be first.

I doubt he'll return to Rome any time soon.

The Senate's hostility will prevent him.

Legally speaking, it is not clear... Please don't start speaking legally. You

know how it bores me.

It's a long way to Gaul. Exactly.

While yet a mere boy, you would risk your life to honour your beloved great

uncle. You ride into Caesar's camp alone on a noble white stallion. That's a gift

he won't soon forget.

Alone? You'll have plenty of slaves.

You'll be perfectly safe.

And you'll make your mama very proud and happy.

Yes, Lord.

Pompey Magnus, I have a question concerning your friend and co-consul,

the darling of Venus, Gaius Julius Caesar.

Why does his chair remain empty?

Why does he not come home?

His illegal war is over.

Gaul is long since on its knees.

Why does Caesar keep his brave soldiers from their families and friends?

eight long years he has gorged himself like a wolf on the blood of Gaul and

thereby made himself monstrously rich.

Why?

Why does he ply the mob with races and fights and gaudy feasts?

Why has he paid the debts of every reprobate fool in this Senate House?

Why?

I'll tell you why he does these things.

He wants to buy himself a crown.

He wants to destroy the Republic and rule Rome as a bloody tyrant.

That's why.

Therefore, I move that Caesar's governorship in Gaul be terminated

immediately, that his armies be disbanded, that he be recalled to Rome

to answer charges of illegal warfare, theft.

Bribery and treason!

Very good,

Cato. Full of vim and verve as usual.

Caesar has been generous to the people because he loves the people as

I do.

Not you fine noblemen. It is pompous soldiers that rule, not we fine

noblemen. I'm going to save us all hours of useless clamour and use my consular

veto on your notice.

I do not.

I do not. Silence!

Are we children?

Let the consul speak.

Thank you, Cicero.

I do not. However.

If I might say a few words before you continue.

When confronted by a hungry wolf, it is unwise to goad the beast as Cato would

have us do.

But it is equally unwise to imagine the snarling animal a friend

and offer your hand as Pompey does.

Perhaps you would have us climb a tree.

Caesar is my brother by sacred oath. I know his heart. He is my friend and a

faithful son of the Republic.

And until anyone proves that he is not, I will never betray him.

Magnus, my dear fellow, you're well met.

Scipio, Cato, I would not take you for lovers of the mind.

You know my daughter, Cornelia, widow of noble Puglius, who died at Clara.

Cornelia, your husband, and a fine woman.

I thank you.

Father, my presence is not appropriate.

There's a lewd woman on the stage.

I had no lotion.

We will not linger then.

Pompey, a pleasant good night.

If it please you, might we speak alone?

Neither we aristocrats alone nor you and your soldiers alone can crush Caesar.

Stop there.

I do not say that you wish to crush Caesar. I only say that if you did wish

it, you could not do it alone.

I have no need of you noble gentlemen.

I've only to stamp my feet and legions will spring up all over Italy.

I can squash Caesar like an insect.

If I wished it so.

I do not wish it.

Renounce him, Pompey.

Renounce Caesar.

Ally yourself with us and his strength will wither away.

It is you who has the real power.

It is you that people truly love.

Think you they will still shout Caesar's name when he runs out of Gaelic trinkets

to throw to them? Think you I care what names are shouted in the streets?

Nothing is more important.

You asked me to openly betray a friend.

I cannot do it.

Good night.

Everything will be all right.

Is he not perfect?

Proper little soldier.

He's scared.

Nonsense. Roman men are never scared.

He's just sad to be leaving his mama. You're not scared, are you, Octavia?

No, of course you're not.

Time flies. Give me a kiss, my love.

Andros?

Bring him back safe or I'll use the eyes of your children for beads.

Lyco.

The horse.

Not too expensive, I hope.

I'm sorry, sir. The horse was sold already.

To Atia of the Julii.

Atia? She's sending it to Gaul.

A gift for Caesar.

Damn him!

Must he have everything?

As you are going to be in Gaul anyway, I might kill two birds with one stone.

Let's go.

Let me look at you. As ugly as ever, I'm afraid. Not at all. Age suits you,

Brutus. How long has it been?

Five years?

Six.

Oh, how clever.

It's almost like a proper house.

Oh.

I deeply regret your loss.

Julia and so forth. A horrible business.

Condolences, really.

Now tell me, how's your mother?

Same as ever.

She sends her love, demands to know why you haven't written during months.

I can remedy that if you'll be my courier.

I've several letters to send.

If I can ever bring myself to get another horse.

I had no conception of Gaul so far away.

Brutus, me old cock!

What on earth are you doing here? Mark Antony, how nice.

I've been visiting my cousin in Narbo. Huh?

How is that idiot cousin of yours?

Actually, I'm sorry. I'm a bit of a rush.

I need, say, a half-talent of gold.

Do you?

See how he trusts me.

For the eagle.

Of course. Strabo!

Give his honour, Mark Antony, a half-talent of gold.

A half-talent of gold? And not a penny more.

Dominus.

I don't know how you troll about that, man.

He likes to fight.

Well, he carries on. One might think he came from no family at all.

He does have a Bulgarian streak. I don't mind it.

What is this about the eagle?

My personal standard was stolen by brigands.

Bad business.

The legions were already homesick and surly when the eagle was taken. Now

they're positively mutinous.

The men think it's a sure sign of my doom, and...

They're clamoring like geese for disbandment. They did not seem so

unhappy.

Well, they never flaunt their discontent.

Gets them whipped.

I tell you, Brutus, I'm at my wit's end.

Master Octavian.

Vazio's only a few more miles.

Do not touch me without permission.

Water.

Lucius Varinus.

You have a brain.

So the tribunes say.

So tell me, if it were you who had to retrieve Caesar's eagle, how would you

go about it?

Take captives from every tribe in Gaul and crucify them one by one until

someone tells me where the eagle is then I would go in quick and quiet with one

or two men and Steal it back good We are of one mind do it

Do it I believe there's a torture detachment with the third, but you may

choose your own men if you wish

There's a court of talent there, for bribes and such.

Spend it wisely.

Sir.

They came to stay for one night.

And then rode to the Kodachi lands. Please.

Please, please. Let me down.

The Kodachi.

Fortune pisses on me.

Please, let me down. Take them down.

Four cures.

If you be the right gods of the business here, I call on you to help me.

If you would open this door, then...

I would kill for you a fine white lamb, or failing that, if I couldn't get a

good one at a decent price, then six pigeons.

This, Forculus, I vow to you.

Legionary Titus Pulo, stand up.

What's he doing here? You are to be released to the command of Second Spear

Centurion Lucius Varinus.

Do your duty to his satisfaction, and you will be spared damnation in the

arena. I won't even stand next to this short ass shit, leave alone serve under

him. I'll stay here, thanks very much. These orders come direct from His

Excellency Mark Antony himself.

You are to retrieve Caesar's eagle.

Me? Retrieve Caesar's eagle?

We can't imagine how good it is to be home.

You're as brown as a bean.

Makes me look quite soldierly, no?

It does, it does.

How's cousin Marcellus? Tedious but healthy.

And Caesar?

Who? Don't be cruel.

Is he well? Did he ask of me?

Did he? I can't recall. I think not.

He did write you a letter, though.

Dearest Sevilia, forgive my long silence.

These last long months were all blood and iron and mud, and no time for

letters to friends.

Be sure that I have been thinking of you with great affection.

I long to be together and alone with you.

Great affection.

Longs to be alone with you.

You think he says such things to his wife?

Affection? What's that?

He could not say no.

Would you have him pluck a harp? He's a soldier, not a poet.

The day to end goes.

Our guest will be arriving.

You write well.

Almost as well as me.

Although you will address me correctly.

Almost as well as me, sir.

Me, I'm a natural. My father was an Oobian, probably.

Where did you learn to ride so nice?

Please yourself.

Only trying to be pleasant.

My mother's people raised horses in Mutina.

Mutina? Near Regium, up around there?

Up there.

Good country.

Listen, sir, thank you for taking me on this job.

A noble way to make amends. Amends?

for getting me into this cack by calling me names. Think nothing of it. Never. I

won't forget.

Titus Pullo never forgets a favor.

Ha! What do you mean, ha?

What do you think our chances are of finding the eagle?

Thirteenth never fails, eh? Little or no chance.

The eagle might be anywhere.

Buried, melted down, sunk to the bottom of the sea. We are hunting a black dog.

In the night, not finding the eagle is much the same as losing it. We'll be

disgraced. Now, I chose you because you were disgraced already and condemned to

die. So you weren't making amends at all, then?

In effect, you're dead already.

The loss of one drunken fool does little damage to the Legion.

If I'm dead already, then, sir, you should take care how you speak to me. If

I've got nothing to lose, what's to stop me cutting you into little gobs and

riding off?

Eh?

What's to stop me, sir?

Well, if your honor as a soldier of the 13th isn't enough, then I'll have to

rely on my superior fighting skills.

Superior fighting skills?

Very good.

Of course, you have to imagine, long hair down to here, huge mustaches, the

most horrific stench. They eat only raw meat and never wash.

Though they do have one admirable custom. They settle their political

disputes by a single combat to the death. Excellent idea.

Isn't it?

Mother was always nagging me to attend politics.

Well, it's been our family's tradition and duty for 500 years. It is such

dreadfully dull stuff. Now, you see, if our Senate conducted business in the

German stuff, I should certainly go and watch.

You know, no tedious lawsuits, endless debates, just swords, daggers.

Brutus, away.

Tell me, you are a good judge.

How is my...

Dear friend, Caesar.

Well, he is... He has been better, I think.

Very... very weary, to be honest. A little demoralized. Caesar demoralized?

Never. His standard was stolen.

How did another foolish thing like that happen?

I don't know, but his men are in uproar about it.

You know how the Beans can be about such things.

Desperate to come home, mutinous. I had heard there was some discontent.

Mutinous. Hard to believe.

Can you imagine?

After all he has done for them, he is not sure whether they will fight for him

anymore. The lower classes have a very, very crude sense of loyalty.

No offence. I don't mean you.

You are lower class, but that is to say, the lower class in general have a very

crude sense of loyalty.

Excuse me.

My dear niece, I hope you and the children are well. I have a task for

you. Policy dictates I give a new wife to Pompey, but I have been gone too long

to know who among the females of our family would be suitable. I would ask

Calpurnia, but though an excellent wife, she has no eye for this kind of

business. Do me the favor of selecting whichever girl you think most likely to

please, and offer her to him in my name.

Excuse me, I was far away.

Caesar has no bad news for you here.

No, not at all. Not at all.

It's a lovely party.

Thank you.

Not as lovely as you look in that dress.

Flesh.

And Octavia.

Beautiful.

Well, I try.

She will insist on slouching.

Where's Octavian?

He's in Gaul.

Oh.

Great Mother says no harm shall come to your boy.

Good.

Tell me now, how goes your marriage?

Glabius is a good man.

You surprise me. I always thought there were difficulties between you.

Must you always have a needle in hand? I was only asking. Excuse my curiosity.

There were some difficulties in the past, but we overcame them.

We love each other very much.

Well, that's a shame. Now I feel bad. I thought you'd be overjoyed. What do you

mean?

Uncle Julius intends to marry you to Pompey Magnus.

Uncle Julius? I know Pompey's a touch low in manner, but I'm told he's a

perfectly adequate lover.

And you should be the first woman in Rome.

We shall have to get you divorced from Glabius, obviously, quick as poss.

I will not do it. I love my husband.

If you do not divorce Glabius willingly, then Caesar will ask Glabius to divorce

you. And Glabius will refuse.

Doubtless. And then he'll be killed. And does anybody want that to happen?

Caesar would not do that. The man's been in Gaul for eight years.

He's practically a wild beast.

The man has tears in his eyes.

Tears?

He loves me.

A womanish husband is no use to anyone.

Your servants, what a fuss.

I think he sees them too much.

A little more arsenic, I think, Gaia.

Try to look a little more cheerful, Octavia.

It's for the good of the family.

I don't care.

You and I and your brother are alone in the world.

We have to be strong.

We're not alone.

Caesar is in Gaul. Caesar is in Gaul.

Pompey is here.

Courage, my love.

The Parthian were threatening my left flank.

But so, rather than shorten the line, as would be conventional, I sent in my

cavalry reserve.

and outflanked the flankers.

Bravo, Magnus. Masterly.

Is he not, Octavia, masterly?

Masterly.

Magnus, tell me something, and be honest.

Does my daughter please you?

Very pleasing, no doubt.

Then I can tell you that Caesar, as a token of his abiding friendship, would

like to offer her to you in marriage.

Ah.

Um.

She's not married to young Cleavis. Divorced.

Ah.

Perhaps you need time to think.

Excuse me. I was taken unawares.

How could I refuse such a worthy and dignified bride?

Caesar is far too generous.

Excellent. We would have to wait until next month for an actual ceremony, of

course, when Julia's mourning days are over. Of course, of course. But you may

take your betrothal privileges any time you wish.

Now, if you like.

Really, that's not necessary.

Don't be silly.

Octavia would love to.

There's no need for shiners.

We're all family now, after all.

British women. Now that's savage cunny. You have to hunt them down like deer.

Might want you to get them under you.

Slack is your best narbo-scorter.

I care for nothing but women.

What else is there?

Food, I suppose.

You don't like women?

Of course I do.

I'm married to one.

I have a wife, Niobe. I see.

Centurions can marry, then. I received a special dispensation.

Special dispensation?

She must be some good...

Woman.

She is.

Been a while since you've seen her, then.

Seven years, 140 days.

That's that.

A fortune smile on you.

Me? I have simpler tastes.

I like to kill my enemy, take their gold, and enjoy their women.

That's it.

Why tie yourself to one?

Where's the flavor? Where's the joy?

When was the last time you had a woman who wasn't crying or wanting payment?

You're on first watch. Wake me when the moon's at the zenith.

Right you are, sir.

Sons of death!

They weren't such good horses anyway. My people fought at Zama and Magnesia. My

father rode with Sulla, and I'm reduced to this, unhorsed and robbed by

children.

Nice horse.

Look here, Mars.

Look here, Mars.

I am Titus Pullo.

These bloody men, my gift to you.

Thank the gods you came.

I'm extremely grateful to you.

Listen to me.

I order you to release me this instant.

Fine way for a slave to talk. He won't get far with a mouth like that on you.

I'm no slave.

I'm Gaius Octavian of the Julii, great-nephew of Julius Caesar.

Gaius who? I am a Roman citizen of noble birth, and I order you to cut these

ropes. Say please.

Please.

Be assured you will be amply rewarded for your services to me.

See how good he talks?

He's convincing. I'll give him that.

Caesar will prove who I am. Take me to him.

Cannot do that as yet. We have orders.

What orders?

To retrieve Caesar's stolen eagle. Caesar wouldn't pull a hair for his

eagle. You're on a fool's errand.

If Caesar doesn't care about the eagle, why did he send us to find it? It would

look strange if he made no effort.

Actually, losing the eagle is useful to Caesar.

Why would that be useful to Caesar?

Because Pompey is no deep philosopher, he will take a symbolic loss for a real

weakness. Explain.

Caesar doesn't want to strike the first blow against an old friend, so he wishes

to lure Pompey into attacking him first.

Pompey will only do this if he believes Caesar is weak.

No. They're as good as brothers, those two.

When Julia died, the last true bond between them was cut.

Caesar has taken the love of the common people from Pompey, and that was his

most prized possession.

A battle is inevitable.

Hello?

Blue Spaniards

Octavian? One of Pompey's men.

I misjudged him. I thought it would take strategy to turn him against me, but he

must have turned the moment Julia died.

And all the while he was defending you in the Senate.

Here's the cunning of a sardine, poor fool.

The battle begins.

About time.

Dearest Pompey, I believe the enclosed man belongs to you. A quick note to tell

you I have decided to winter the 13th Legion closer to home, at Ravenna. So I

shall soon have the pleasure of paying you homage in person.

All of you, this is my new wife, Cornelia.

Maybe if you'd summoned a little charm instead of moping about like some torpid

old she-cow, this would never have happened.

Please, I was only speaking in anger.

Everyone knows it's a political repudiation on account.

Pompey and Caesar are enemies now.

One only has to look at Cornelia.

Poor sad chicken, plucked and boiled.

Maybe Glabius will take me back.

We're well rid of him.

We're going to find you somebody much more worthwhile than Glabius.

I've been dishonoured and shamed before the whole city.

Nonsense.

A girl from a good family can never be dishonoured by a villainous little pleb

like Pompey.

Oh.

It is I who has been made to look foolish.

It is I who have lost face. I want him dead.

I want him dead.

And that you shall have.

Pompey will need to stand for this.