Original subtitles

No.

so so

The day was hot.

Well, the night turns chilly fast, it seems.

For the time of year. Day after tomorrow, we shall be in Capua.

You will sleep in a good, warm house.

Though goatskin has its virtues.

Here we are, refugees in our own land.

We are not refugees.

We are manoeuvring.

As you say, here we are, manoeuvring, while a tyrant sits in Rome.

Yet in my...

I sleep sound and deep as a child.

Though perhaps not tonight.

I'm sorry it bothers you.

You'll be finished soon enough.

Quintus has a knack for this kind of thing.

I hope so.

Your son Quintus?

I did not know he was with us. Arrived this morning from Brindisi.

Ah, that's better.

Screaming makes poor sauce, I find.

Quintus has his faults, but he is loyal and fearless.

A father cannot ask more.

I have never heard nor thought otherwise.

Dog confessed at last.

Torn up good and red. Blood on your face. Wash yourself.

Well? Where is Durio? Where is the gold?

They killed Durio, as you suspected.

Then they took the gold north on the Via Flaminia and slapped into Caesar's

scouts. A pair of Romans, 20 head of Ubian.

Too many for our boys.

They ran.

Filth that they are.

Left the gold to the scouts.

Can't be so.

I've heard from Rome this last hour Caesar has not got the gold. My man

Volpi always gets to truth, father.

Caesar does not have it, then his scouts must have kept it for themselves.

Go find these scouts. I will. Now!

You see, the tide turns already. Without the gold, Caesar will find Rome a little

harder to subdue.

Without the gold, we're not very well placed either. Without gold, he will

have to use violence.

Once he starts spilling blood the people will turn on him with a vengeance

Without the people he has nothing

Martial

law is in effect for the safety of all citizens groups of more than three

men

shall not congregate in public spaces.

A curfew is in effect.

Any person found on the street after dark will be subject to summary

judgment. Long live General Gaius Julius Caesar, savior

of our republic.

Jupiter Optimus Maximus Jupiter Optimus Maximus

Name yourself, citizen.

Gaius of the Julii, called Caesar.

Speak, then.

I humbly ask that auguries be taken, that Rome might know that the gods

favour my actions.

You enter the city under arms.

I must warn you that seldom augurs well.

The gods know my intentions are peaceful.

The people must know it also.

So be it.

Auguries will be taken on the first clean morning.

Let the birds fly where they may.

How be, Paisan?

Miserable.

Slave of a rebel.

A successful rebel, at least.

The jury's still out. And you, my child?

For true misery, try bondage to a bloody-minded woman.

This dinner tonight, Caesar asks, no shellfish.

Here is a guest list.

I hope your lady is aware of the honor done to her.

She's very aware.

Caesar's hostess is first woman of the city, in effect.

Excepting Caesar's wife.

Alpurnia. Caesar requires that she's still and handsome and dignified and...

She is a species of statue.

A very fancy list of people.

Every aristocrat and optimist left in the city.

He's not planning on killing them, is he?

I shouldn't think so.

My mistress doesn't like surprises.

Sevilia?

Why invite her?

Can there still be something between them? A rattled old sandal like her?

Surely not.

Some juice in her yet.

I will not let that woman get between me and Caesar.

Why is Sevilia invited to the party?

Sevilia of the Junii, why is she invited?

Because of her son, obviously.

For this, you wake me?

Of course.

He needs to keep Brutus as his symbolic friend.

That's all.

It would look ill with the people if Brutus were his enemy.

There's no love there.

It's just politics.

Dear God, woman, will you let me sleep?

They're goat testicles, Domina. Not for me, for Octavian.

Fetch the meat up.

Eat them while they're warm, my dear. It puts oak in your penis.

I would rather not.

Nonsense, you must.

You've been developing a distinctly feminine anima, and I do not like it.

Although I am only a boy, it is entirely natural that I'm not. When my mother's

father was your age, there was not a slave girl safe.

The men of the Julii are masculine men. Now do as I say.

And eat them. I will not.

Well, you'll not leave this room until you do.

Demeter, the banquet this evening.

No shellfish.

And be sure the lampreys are not overcooked. Boil them long enough to

kill them, no more.

I'm waiting.

Rather. Hmm?

Did Mother have babies killed?

Of course not.

You're sure?

Well, I cannot prove a negative, but I'm sure as can be.

Swear on Jupiter's stone?

I swear on Jupiter's stone.

If she did, if she did kill him, by the furies I'll open

her throat with my teeth.

Thank you.

In Narbo, I could buy ten feasts for this.

Narbo isn't full of corpses and soldiers and decent people too scared to come out

of their houses.

Only time to throw a do if you don't mind me saying. I cannot start a

business without a feast, can I?

Today is auspicious and it's perfectly safe.

I remember the last time when Sulla had soldiers in the city.

Blood, you could paint houses with it.

Caesar's not Sulla. He's declared martial law not to spill blood but to

keep the peace.

We'll see, won't we?

I invoke Ceres and Bacchus, you'll not be dissatisfied. You find me a pig and

I'll make you a feast. In Hades, if need be.

And charge a courting?

Musa, your old man's wife, served whelks instead of oysters at her womb funeral.

And nobody would let her forget it.

Laughed at in the street.

Brian Janus, I offer this feast to you, and humbly beg that you will be gracious

and merciful to me and my house, and that you will smile upon this new

business venture I begin today.

Lucius Varinus, His Honor Mark Antony orders your presence.

Now? Of course not.

Next year.

Varinus, my dear comrade.

I barely recognize you without a bloody sword in your hand.

Off with you now, Cato.

Amusing, eh?

Cato.

How did you say?

Of course you don't find it amusing.

So, how is civilian life treating you, eh?

Well enough so far, sir.

You know, of course, I could have you nailed to a cross for desertion. I am no

deserter.

My time was served.

I abided my sacrament. It is you that... It is I that what?

Once over the Rubicon, Romans are citizens, not soldiers. I could not

legally do other than I did. Foolish.

Like a priest.

Blinded by a cowl. Since the founding of Rome... Oh, please, spare me the

founding, Varinus.

Things change.

Life is water, not stone.

Then I suppose I will drown.

Do you not see that your precious republic has long since died?

Do you not see that Caesar is trying to save Rome from ruin?

I do not see that.

Enough.

What wretched trade is it you intend to follow then, eh?

Imported goods from Gaul.

Slaves, truffles, wine, that sort of thing.

A grocer?

Honest fighting man like yourself?

Counting cartons, scribbling accounts.

You've swift gone mad.

That may be.

I need you, Varinus.

Caesar needs you.

There's no better man in the legion, none more respected by the men.

We have hard fighting ahead.

Hard fighting against Romans. Blood is blood.

Would you really have the 13th fasten their crest without you?

You come back to the legion.

You shall be inducted into the evocati as a prefect.

Of the first grade.

With a signing bonus.

Say, ten thousand sesterci.

I chose this path.

I will follow where it leads.

Grieve me, Varinus.

You grieve me deeply.

Go on.

Off with you.

Good day, citizen.

Marinus.

Next time I see you, I may not be so kind.

What does it say?

It's not certain, but I'd say your secret's safe.

Not certain?

The signs are mixed.

What good is that?

Tell me what it is you're hiding and I can be more precise.

There's a child involved.

A male child, a baby.

But never mind.

Best leave it.

As you please.

If it's any help, it does say your husband's going to be rich.

Rich as creases.

Well, that's something, isn't it?

Thank you.

Good.

Done.

What did I look like eight years ago?

Just the same.

Eight years. Eight years of leathery, gallic trollops. When did he last see a

real lady?

And such a beautiful one.

Flowers in blue.

Fifty thousand to each of the magistrate's clerks.

So much?

I wish to buy the allegiance outright, not lease it.

Have them sign for the money.

And how much for these sub-breeders?

Nill.

When they hear how much the clerk's got, they'll come begging.

We leave us penniless without means to run the city.

We must kill some rich men and take their money very soon.

Else the well will run dry.

Very soon.

I plan on killing no one unless absolutely necessary.

Fine, noble strategy. An element of surprise, no doubt.

Later you may nag me.

I believe this is appropriate.

Exactly right, my dear.

Regal, but not excessively so.

A fine start to the business this'll be if nobody comes.

Don't worry, they will come.

Maybe I should have waited, as you said.

They will come.

And mind now, when they do come, try to smile occasionally.

And don't bark at them.

Use this.

The rest is for you.

Remember, our guest of honour.

Building trades, fire insurance... Lucius Vorinus.

Naomi.

Thank you for coming, honest neighbour.

I know it can't be easy on such a day.

Lots of you soldiers, eh?

Wife Phyllis Please please sit down and take a cup of wine. I will

first he rode her

Sister

All right all's right don't worry

This can't be little lady surely not long time This

is my husband Vanda Palkia. Vanda, welcome.

Honored, Lucius Freenas. Thank you for the pig. With all the shops shut, we

would have whistled for meat.

Happy to be of service.

Thank you so much for inviting me. My pleasure, my pleasure, Sevilla.

I insisted you come.

Whatever misfortune befalls you, we're still friends, no?

She's a good cosmetic slave, I grant you, but a lover for Caesar?

Absurd.

Make way for the proconsul Gaius Julius Caesar, son of Venus!

Imperator of the Gallic Legions, stand aside and open up!

Please, you mocked me. It's only your Uncle Gaius. Lift your heads.

All of you, lift your heads.

Revered uncle, welcome.

Welcome home.

Civilia of the Junii, a pleasant honor it is.

Delightful. Your pleasure is mine.

I'm very sorry your son is not here with you.

I'm sorry also.

I hope you will forgive his absence.

He is ever your friend.

I understand completely.

Please send Brutus my best regards and assure him he will never have reason to

regret our friendship Nor will any of you regardless of

where your allegiances may have lain in the past

Any

weapons

none sir Where are you coming from? Come from Aeternum, Dominus. In what trade?

Corpse collectors, bone grinders, dead business in general.

You've come to the right place, then.

What people are they?

Scythians, chief.

They don't speak our language.

On your way, then.

Tell your brooch to stay away from decent women.

I'll do that.

Fine bit of plunder and rapine you made off them bloody Gauls, I bet.

I'll not complain.

I need to have cash in these uncertain times.

A man can't flee with his house and fields if he's chosen the wrong side.

True.

Who do you reckon will come out on top?

It's hard to say.

You'll be hoping it'll be your man, though, eh?

I mean, Caesar, he's not my man anymore.

Oh, you're spoils.

You'll be lending the proceeds.

I expect.

I won't.

I'm buying back this insurance, so I'll not have spare cash.

I plan to take over the trading space for an import business.

Slaves, mostly.

Slaves?

But listen, I have friends.

Boner friends.

If you want any help, you come to me.

Eh?

More wine here, sweetie.

There are even those unwise men who say that a white bird in a southern quadrant

is neither indicant nor negation.

Such are the barbarous innovations of our day.

Barbarous. We might as well be Syrian.

Point to Pommel, I agree.

Syrians, indeed.

Scythians, even.

As chief augur, I'm gratified to hear you say so.

It was heard you are a man of modus opinion.

That's pure scandal.

I believe that religion is the province of our worthy priests.

Mere soldiers like myself best not interfere.

That's very gratifying.

Octavian, don't sit there like a pro.

Say something witty.

I have nothing such to say. You know I cannot talk small, Mother.

You, then. Some poetry, nay?

She can rattle off pages of this stuff.

Easy it is to go down into hell.

The gates of death are ever open.

To climb back out again, that's the difficulty.

It's a touch dark, my love, but never mind.

She lost her husband, you know.

Let's get your sister gone.

I told you it was a mistake to let her come. I had to let her come. It would

look odd if she wasn't here.

Sleep to a van, will you?

Butcher man, time to take your wife home.

She doesn't want to go.

Let's make her go, then, eh?

Time to go.

Not yet. I like it here.

Time to go.

Let me go, my love. Let me go.

Or I'll tell our brave soldiers such a good tale.

Kill us all?

Is that what you want?

I love you.

Why don't you love me?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm your wife.

You have an agreement.

You vowed to Persephone. You vowed you would hold your peace. I not held my

peace. My husband... Your husband is a blind fool.

Cecilia.

Tell me, how is Cecilia?

She's healthy, I thank you. Good.

I recall I forgot her last birthday.

Her birthday?

Remiss of me, I know. Perhaps she would forgive my rudeness were I to send her a

gift. Oh, really? That's not necessary.

Hard to find the right gift for a woman. What one loves, another scorns.

Perhaps she would accept some money.

There's an idea.

A hundred thousand sesterci, say?

Oh, that's very kind of you.

I'm afraid my wife is a woman of expensive tastes.

The best women often are.

A hundred and fifty thousand.

She would dress her slaves in silk if I would let her.

She eats oysters for breakfast daily.

She should be most careful.

People often choke on oysters.

Two hundred thousand.

That is a very generous and, I may say, appropriate gift.

She would be under great obligation to you. To think well of me would be her

only obligation.

She's always thought well of you.

It is not unethical she continue to do so.

We understand each other.

Make a note of it.

Two hundred to the chief, all go.

Thinks he's Midas the loon.

We'll go to the priests of Janus tomorrow, first thing, and have the day

absolved. It's costly, but... An omen is an omen, and this is as bad as they

come. No point throwing money at it.

Your sister and her husband can never come here again.

As you say.

Salve, pleb.

Centurion Lucius Varinus?

Who asks?

is Honor Quintus Pompey.

You best have good reason for this insult.

Tell me where the gold is.

And quick about it, dog. What gold?

Speak sense.

Sense enough?

Not near.

I ask again, what gold?

Stubborn, is it?

This trollop, we can assume, is your wife.

Hold her.

I cannot speak what I do not know. I do not know of any gold. You know very well

I seek the treasury gold you took from my father's men.

I took no gold from any man.

You are misinformed.

Misinformed?

You are not Chief of Scouts 13th Legion.

I was. And last week, did you not stop a grain wagon on the Via Flaminia?

We did.

Driven by soldiers disguised.

We chased the soldiers and left the wagon.

You never thought to look inside.

There was no time.

We had orders.

Your wagon is still there for all I know.

Lies. Cut her.

Boys, a clamor for my beloved friend Lucius.

Why so glum and gloomy?

Who's this, then?

His noble honor, Quintus Pompey, commander of Tyrrhenian fleet.

Neptune's scourge.

Neptune's scourge?

Looking for a wagon of treasury gold.

Treasury gold.

How exciting.

Do not test my patience, peasant.

You be off now, short-arse. I'll take this stone with me.

The way I see it, we put little Quintus here in the Tiber right off, get us a

wagon, sneak out to where the gold's buried, dig it up, ride like Zephyrus

for the coast, and get the first time to stay.

Shh, I'm trying to think.

What was wrong with that?

What's wrong?

Even if it were not a monstrous sin to steal sacred property of Rome... Well, I

wasn't to know, was I? You then ride through the streets on a litter...

shouting and singing and broadcasting your theft to all and sundry.

By sunrise, everyone in Rome will know what you did and where you are, here in

my house.

So what's to be done, then?

You will have to give it back.

You go direct to Caesar now, bring him Pompey's son as a sweetener. He might

show mercy.

Give it back?

I don't think so. That's not advice. That's an order.

Here's me, come to share a godsend gift with you. An order!

Damn you, my home was invaded and my wife near killed on your account.

All right.

All right.

But you'll come with me, though, eh? This is your mess. You get yourself out

of it.

Fine, then.

I'll be off then.

Good luck to you, sir.

Forgive me, I will try to return swiftly.

Excuse me, my dear.

Pullo, you scum.

What have you done now?

I, um... Your Honor, uh...

Lucius Verena said I should come to you. Easy, soldier.

Who is this?

Quintus, son of Pompey.

So it is.

Quintus Malcom.

How good to see you, sir.

Explain.

Well, it's like this, Your Honor. He, this one, come to find the gold.

What gold?

The gold that Pompey's boys stole from the treasury, sir.

Pompey does not have them.

He doesn't, sir.

Now, I meant no disrespect, and had I known the gold was from the treasury,

I'd not have touched it, but... There was this girl here, sir. Never mind the

girl. Speak to the point.

Where is the gold?

It's all safe, sir.

I buried it.

Deep in the woods, a couple of miles from the Flaminian Gate.

You will pay for this.

Surely you can do better than that.

Leave him be.

I'm sorry we meet like this, Quintus. I have only deep respect for your father

and his family.

Kiss my arse, you traitorous dog.

Elegant little fellow, isn't he?

You need not fear.

Your life is yours still. I'm sending you back to your father with an offer of

truce. A truce?

Quiet. Are you run mad?

And we have them on their backs in the sand.

Be quiet.

An offer of equable truce on good terms.

If violence continues, it will not be my doing, but that of your father and his

allies.

My father needs no truce.

Two full moons will see you on a spike in the fall. You wretch.

Put him on a horse.

They never told me Caesar had such a passion for you.

Not, sir.

I saw the way he looked at you.

Like the bull that tucked your rope up.

I can't blame him.

Such... beauty.

Caesar has no inclination to me, nor I to him.

And such modesty.

Is she not beautiful, Calpurnia?

She has none of the goatishness one normally sees in women her age.

She has some secret potion, perhaps.

You are attempting levity, I believe.

Forgive me if I do not indulge in such talk.

You're sure to regret letting that one live.

He has a malevolent spirit.

There's many left undead I'll regret before I'm done.

Take Pullo and retrieve the gold.

Legionary Pullo!

You're a thief.

A foolish, incompetent thief.

But you have served us well in the past so we will pretend your foolishness is a

species of honesty and let you go unpunished In fact, I think we shall

reward you I Do not like to quarrel with fortune and clearly she's taken you for

a pet when you find the trove give him a hundred gold pieces Thank you, sir

By-the-bye, Anthony.

Never question my judgment in the presence of our enemies.

You have a good memory, so you will remember that.

I will remember.

Dismiss.

Men! Horses!

Think about it! Go on!

Death! Death!

Why do you frown, little owl?

Mark Anthony speaks sense.

Truce now does not seem tactically correct.

Depends on terms.

Ah. Ah.

You offer terms that Pompey cannot accept, but Cicero and the Senate can.

Swift.

Hold up, Dominus. There's people watching.

Sir, take us somewhere none can see us.

What's in him? Is he poisoned?

He has the Morbus Comitialis. It will pass in a moment. Please, Dominus, shut

the door.

Should we not fetch the doctor?

We should not.

At all costs, he cannot have his affliction known.

No one will follow a man whom Apollo has cursed with the Morbus.

Never speak of this.

Are you quite well, husband?

Nothing serious.

Come.

Atia.

I'm growing tired. I think we shall leave you.

Oh, well.

As you wish, of course.

Good night, my dear.

Did you have a pleasant evening?

I did.

Your niece Atia is most polite, and the chief augur made many edifying remarks

on religion.

I regret I will not be coming home with you immediately.

But you're not well.

Oh, really, I'm quite recovered.

I have urgent business with my marsupial clerks.

Business at night?

It is not proper.

Not proper, but necessary. I have to be ready to leave the city and pursue

Pompey as soon as he refuses truce.

You will refuse.

I believe so.

What's wrong, mother?

I'm all alone.

What does he say?

Ridiculous. What does he say? Nothing. Nothing worth repeating.

But he offers a truce. On what terms? A truce? With that scum. Are you women?

I will have them raped by dogs. Silence!

Get out!

Excuse him. He has been ill-used, but he is right.

There can be no truce. Of course not. But Caesar does not ask for so much.

Legal immunity.

Mutual disarmament. I must disarm, aye.

I'm lawful consul of Rome. He is a criminal.

There is nothing mutual in it. He may be a criminal, but he has the city. We must

deal with the facts. He is. He is a traitor.

Now, let us be fair.

Consul, he has been remarkably peaceable.

He has not killed your allies or violated your property. We should look

on this offer seriously.

Do you not see his stratagem? He is trying to drive a wedge between us.

Perhaps so, but... A truce would buy us time, at least. Quintus is right. You

are women.

Fools.

Tell me you love him.

Tell me that.

And I will go away and I will never come back.

I love him.

And the souls of my children, I love him.

Titus Pullo, what joy!

They let you go alive then?

They did.

Where's Berenice?

He's gone to make amends at the Shrine of Janus.

You know Evander Pulcio, my brother-in-law? My sister's husband.

Evander, you say?

Good health, soldier.

And you.

Will you take water?

I will.

Sit you down.

Great Jupiter, graciously give us clear signs within the bounds I have traced.

The auguries are good.

Thank you.