Original subtitles

Bye.

you

Dominic. Oh, Dominic, please don't do that.

I'm so sorry.

Why don't you lie down? You're very tired.

Yes, I'm very tired.

Would you like some willow water?

Would I?

We'll help you sleep.

No more sleep.

Come along.

Cheer up.

You can't cry at your own wedding.

Show her how lovely she looks.

I look horrid.

No, you're beautiful.

Oh, God, still weeping.

I went to a great deal of trouble to arrange this marriage. Please don't ruin

it.

There's not many men willing to marry a penniless orphan.

I'm sorry.

I am very grateful.

It's just...

I'm sure he's a very nice man.

It's just I'd always imagined I'd wed someone... someone different.

You won't wed anyone at all if you come out all red and puffy.

I know men.

And this one will make a lovely husband.

When and where you are, Gaia?

There and then, I am Gaius.

Sorry.

When and where you are, Gaius? Then and there, I am Gaia.

Makes you think, doesn't it?

About what?

About marriage.

Does it?

Two of us.

Oh, hmm.

It would be awkward. You might as well do it now.

It's simple.

When we get married, it'll have to be the best wedding you've ever seen.

You deserve nothing less.

Just a thought.

No, this ogre moves like a snail.

Excuse me for a moment.

Atia of the Julii, I call for justice.

At year of the Julii, I call for justice.

At year of the Julii, I call for justice.

At year of the Julii, I call for justice.

At year of the Julii, I call for justice.

At year of the Julii, I call for justice. At year of the Julii, I call

for justice.

What shall we do?

It should go away soon enough if we just ignore her.

Hey, wife.

The sun's been up for hours.

It's time to get up.

Soon.

Hmm.

Well, while we're here... No.

You don't know what I was going to ask.

You want to make love?

Oh, that's an idea.

Not good for baby.

He won't mind.

Maybe she.

She won't mind neither.

Not good for baby.

Priest says so.

Priest? Priest?

What priest?

Priest in my country.

Aha.

Well, we're not in your country, are we?

When babies start to move, no love is rules.

Baby's moving?

Yes.

Feel.

So we have no choice but to use the deeper births in Ostia. We now have

grain ships in excess of 10,000 amphorae. Hmm.

Tricky.

Those births have been reserved for our royal ships since fuck knows when, way

back. Well, that's no reason to keep it so.

Times change.

So you keep saying.

I'll allow you to use our births.

But we'll take 5% of the grain and the ships will be unloaded by my own men.

Bollocks. There's a license for thievery.

If we were thieves.

I'll give you the 5%. Maskey is here. We'll go down to Ostia and he will

supervise the dock work.

I'll leave today.

As you wish.

Atia of the Julii, I call for justice.

Good morning all.

You're late.

Posca's wedding yesterday.

I'm afraid I drank rather too much. I could not get out of bed, no matter how

hard I tried.

I have the most shocking headache.

So you must both speak very quietly, or I shall shatter into a thousand little

pieces.

I've been approached by a number of eminent friends among the Senate.

They're troubled.

And I do not say that they have grounds for anxiety, but I feel I would be

remiss if I did not... Oh, get on with it, man. Yes, yes.

They're worried that perhaps we three intend to establish some form of

tyranny. And who are these worriers?

Give me names.

That's awkward.

They spoke to me in confidence.

I'll bet they did.

You tell your eminent friends to shut their mouths.

Tell them to go look on Cicero's hands in the forum.

And remember, what happens to those that prattle of tyranny?

I only mention it. I would be remiss if I did not. You're quite right, Lepidus.

Quite right.

Now, shall we get down to business?

Yes, by all means.

Clearly, we three cannot all rule together at once.

We shall only confuse and contradict each other. True enough.

We must divide responsibilities.

What are you proposing?

I suggest we divide the territory of Rome into three.

Each one of us shall assume command of one region.

Sounds reasonable.

Who gets what?

I haven't considered that yet.

But Rome is a very complex machine.

One can't simply chop it up like cabbage.

You should have Rome and the West.

I will make do with Egypt and the eastern provinces.

Objections? Rome in the West has what?

Rowdy Gauls, Germans, a fractious Senate, all the trouble of keeping the

Roman mob happy.

The East is where the money is, the grain supply, most of the tax revenue.

Well, all the revenues would be divided equally, of course.

It would be a purely administrative division.

All monies would be held in a single treasury.

That would work.

And I?

What would I get?

Africa.

Atia of the Julii, I call for justice.

Atia of the Julii, I call for justice.

Atia of the Julii, I call for justice.

Atia of the Julii, I call for justice.

Atia of the Julii, I call for justice.

How goes your day?

Mine went extremely well.

She's driving me mad.

It's completely unfair. It wasn't me who killed her precious son.

She should be waiting outside your house. She just wants a little

attention.

Go out.

Let her rent at you a while.

She'll soon leave.

And have her cursed at me in front of a mob of ogling plebs? Never. I wouldn't

give her that pleasure.

It's up to you.

But I guarantee she won't leave until she's seen you.

Seen you online before?

Me? No.

This looks like a fake to me.

I bet you don't even live on the Aventine, do you?

No fake. All good. I swear to you, by the sacred black stone... Get out.

And don't let me catch you round here again.

Did you bring in wood?

Not yet.

Good.

Now hurry.

Get wood. Now.

Get it yourself.

I'm busy.

I give you an order.

Kiss my ass.

Go ahead.

Try.

I'll shove it down your throat.

You'll be sorry.

My husband will beat you in thought.

Fake.

Half the people in the line had them.

Well made.

Maybe one of the other collegia tried to fuck things up.

Memio, I expect. Very likely.

What do we do?

Nothing.

Lost me there.

Memio is dishonest and greedy. Nothing we can do can change that.

If he thinks he's deceiving us, then he's happy.

And I want everyone to be happy. That's how we keep the peace. We do nothing.

But he's stealing from us.

People who need food are getting fed.

What matter where they live exactly?

You must go to beat her dead.

Calm down. Beat who?

That whore, that Gaia. You beat her dead.

What's she done now?

She won't bring in water like I tell her. Then she says she's gonna chug me

with a steak.

What? She says she's gonna chug me with a steak.

I don't understand. Why would she do that? What did you do to her?

Oh, perfect.

Now it's my fault.

Thank you. Thank you very much. You ready?

Oh, Jack.

What do I do?

Don't look at me.

Very funny.

Well, if I do go and beat Gaia now like she deserves, what do you think Mascius

is gonna do? She's his girl, innit?

It's a puzzle, all right.

Where's Mascius? Maybe if I go and talk to him man to man, he can give her the

chastisement himself.

He's in hospital next month. New grain ship business. Oh, Jack.

Maybe if you were to give her the beating.

I will if you want.

No, no.

It's my wife she insulted.

My responsibility.

Marriage, eh?

It's complicated.

With her pregnant now, I think it drives him a little mad.

Here's to a boy.

A boy.

Chief.

What are you set for?

Don't make a fuss now.

What?

You're gonna whip me?

I am.

Why would you want to do that?

You know damn well why.

Tell me.

You disrespected my wife.

Know that?

She tried to hit me.

She's lady of this house. You're just a damn slave. She's allowed to hit you.

Now come here. Let's get it done. It's just hard to remember she's married to

the boss.

I mean, nothing against her. It's just not natural.

She's such a mouse of a woman.

You're such a lion of a man.

You're right.

You know nothing of us.

A mouse.

Lion.

Anyone can see.

What kind of animal does that make you, then?

What kind of animal do you want me to be?

The kind that will bend over and take her whipping without complaint.

I could do that for you.

But you've got to treat me nice first.

Just shut it, all right?

Just shut it and come here. What do you think Maskis is going to do when he

finds out you beat me? I don't give a fuck what Maskis will do. Maskis will do

what I tell him. No.

Maskis does what I tell him.

More for him.

What

are

you gonna do now?

Ugh!

Okay.

I give up. I give up! I give up!

At ear of the Julii, I call for justice.

At ear of the Julii, I call for justice.

At ear of the Julii, I call for justice. Here, then.

Here I am, you crazy bitch!

Speak your piece and then be gone.

Here I am.

Gods below, I am

Sevilia of the most ancient and sacred Junii,

of whose bones the seven hills of Rome are built.

I summon you to listen.

Curse! this woman.

Send her bitterness and despair for all of her life.

Let her taste nothing but ashes and iron.

Gods of the underworld, all that I have left I give

to you in sacrifice, if you will make it so.

is an exit.

Come.

Come back inside.

She's dead.

All citizens, be aware that the vassal, Prince Herod, tetrarch of Galilee,

has come to the city. By order of the triumvirate, during his residence here,

all mockery of Jews and their one God shall be kept to an

appropriate... I am

told Roman gentlemen do not solicit bribes.

One must offer the bribe as a gift.

Is that so?

Yes.

Yes, that is so.

We are the most dreadful hypocrites, I'm afraid.

I offer you a gift, then.

Help me take the throne of Judea.

Make my enemies your enemies, and I offer you a substantial gift.

How substantial would this gift be?

How substantial does it need to be?

20,000 pounds of gold.

Done.

I said we should have asked for more.

You must guarantee, of course, to keep your Jews in line.

They will do as I say, or they will suffer the consequences.

Congratulations, then, Herod. You have the full backing of Rome.

One question.

Yes. Our friends Octavian and Lepidus, you speak for them, too?

I do.

We speak with one voice.

So they will not come to me later expecting gifts of their own? No, no.

No, your gift...

It's for all of us.

Good. One.

To have such trust between friends.

That

is

what I call a good morning's work.

Indeed. A good morning's work. May I inquire what my share will be?

Share? Share of what?

Of Herod's gift.

What gift? I see.

Here.

Let me be clear.

There was no gift.

Herod came here today to discuss administrative issues of taxes on olive

groves, of border defenses against the Parthians.

There was no gift. I understand.

Really, Posca.

Ever since you got your freedom, you have become insufferably greedy.

Now go home.

Have a good lunch. Make love to your pretty young wife.

But do stop grubbing about after other people's money.

Trust me.

You'll be far more content.

Scum. Shh.

Bastard scum. Shh.

What good is shouting in the street?

It's childish.

You're only going to get yourself into trouble. I'm telling you, he's worse

than his father.

He'll not stop until he's made our people slaves and idolaters. He should

die. Bastard should die.

Well, it would be a mitzvah, no doubt.

I'm serious.

Come on.

Us?

If not us, then who?

Herod is here.

We are here.

The future of our people is in our hands.

Salve, Messinas.

Hello, Posca.

Might I have a word?

I suppose, if you must.

It strikes me you're the sort of man that knows how to keep a confidence.

Yes.

If a man were to tell you something in confidence, you might tell others,

but you would not reveal your source.

No.

And perhaps you're the sort of man that knows how to properly

reward...

Those who confide in him?

You have me exactly.

You're a fine judge of character.

Those lions you bought me were useless.

Wouldn't pull my chariot for shit and fit the arm of a perfectly good groom.

They are temperamental animals.

I am very fortunate to have a giraffe, should you be interested.

What would I do with a giraffe?

Camels, perhaps.

Camels? Do I look like a fucking date merchant?

Lions that run.

Get out.

Now, what news, young Caesar?

What is one third of 20,000?

6,666 or thereabouts.

Do you take me for a fool?

Question after question.

Makes for a very poor conversation.

If you have a grievance, just say what it is.

We had an agreement.

We would share all revenue.

Yes?

Herod has agreed to give you 20,000 pounds of gold.

I want my share.

Who told you this?

You deny it?

Who told him?

I have bought one of Herod's people.

Do you deny it?

If Herod is kind enough to give me a gift, what business is it of yours?

A gift is not revenue.

It is not a gift. It is a bribe for political and military favors, the cost

of which favors shall be borne by the state.

Pedantry. Let us be realistic.

This arrangement of ours cannot work if you seek every opportunity to aggrandize

yourself at my expense.

I aggrandize myself.

This from the boy whose so-called father has been declared a god.

An honor he well deserves.

You only did it so that you might be known as the son of a god.

You have no accomplishments of your own, so you seek to borrow the glory of

others. It's true. It was no accomplishment to defeat you at mutiny.

You defeated me.

You cowardly little shit.

He never even left his tent.

You have never defeated me in anything.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, let's not get overheated. I'm sure we can come to some

kind of reasonable agreement.

I had hoped you might have learnt some humility and discipline.

I see now that you are still the same crude...

arrogant lech you always were.

That's right.

Just the same.

And still fucking your mother!

You all right?

Yes, nothing.

Do you want to go lie down?

No, it's fine.

Anything else, mistress?

Water.

Master.

No. Nothing.

See? Good slave now.

Ever since you gave her a good beating.

There you go.

You should feed her the same way every month.

If

she

wakes before I'm back, tell her I've gone to Leidy's temple.

Tell me again about the farm.

What kind of animals will we have?

Sheep.

Boats.

Pigs. And chickens.

Yeah, horses as well.

Elephants, if you like.

Sons of this, will you?

What's the matter? I'm sorry, it's not you. It's, um... It's business matters.

I'm... Forgive it.

Give me a kiss.

Do you still love me?

Ah, of course.

Very much.

Omnipore, I've been looking.

Oh, excuse me.

Is that...? It's nobody.

It's just a girl. I see you outside.

That's the daughter of Lucius Varinus. No, it's not.

Don't fuck me about. I've got eyes, haven't I?

How long's this been going on?

A few months.

Are you insane, girl? Don't you know what disrespect this shows to your

father? I don't care. I hate him.

That's all very well, but think what will happen if he finds out. As long as

I smile at him and serve his damn soup like a good daughter, he thinks

everything is fine. He won't find out. Will he not?

Him and me are friends by oath. It is my duty to be honest with him. I'll have to

tell him. You can't. You can't tell him. I'm sorry, love, but if I don't tell

him, then I'm just as guilty as you two, aren't I? And what if he finds out some

other way? He's never going to believe I didn't know. His precious daughter and

one of my men.

He'll have my guts.

This is the right fucking mess.

Please, sir, don't tell him.

Or kill her.

Oh, he won't go that far, I shouldn't think. Yes, he will. You know him.

He's an animal. He killed my mother. He killed me.

But what am I to do? You've put me in an impossible position here.

I'll do anything you say. Just please don't tell him.

I don't know.

Maybe.

Maybe I can help you out.

Thank you.

Would you do something for me in return?

Anything. Me and him do a lot of business together.

If you kept your ears and eyes open, tell me what was going on, that would be

very helpful to me.

I can do that.

Good girl.

It's settled then.

Herod's gift will be shared three ways.

Minus finder's commission.

Each of you agrees to consult the other before naming any officials above Eadar

rank. The same goes for the appointment of foreign chieftains, princes, kings,

and so forth.

Now, all monies received, including taxes, customs revenue, military spoils,

and informal gifts and bribes, will be placed in the treasury under the

supervision of a saturnine priest.

Fine.

And now you must shake hands.

Lovely friends again. That wasn't so hard, was it? No.

For all done, I have work to do. You do realize your two bickerings put the

whole city in a panic.

I'll have the newsreader say something.

Renewed vows of amity, and so forth.

No one believes what the newsreader says.

You have some notion you wish to suggest.

I do.

If a marriage was to happen between our two houses,

No one could doubt all was well.

I don't care if all Italy burns.

I'll not marry him.

It's not a bad idea.

It would be a strong expression of unity.

And the plebs love a good wedding.

I have no objection.

Thank you, I should think not.

We should discuss it, at least.

We could do it after Lupercalia. It's very auspicious.

What?

If we are to discuss a marriage contract, it's hardly appropriate for a

woman to be present.

Yes, sorry.

Be sure to leave enough time for my dressmaker to make me something nice.

Yes, madame.

Getting married.

Auntie and I are getting married.

Where's Octavia?

This wedding of Anton is tomorrow.

I've just heard.

The dog Herod will be there.

Him and a thousand other aristos. They'll be lictors all over. Soldiers as

well, probably. Watching the bride and groom. They won't be paying any mind to

Herod.

There'll be a big crowd.

Lots of noise.

Chaos. It's the perfect time.

I don't know.

You're not losing your nerve, are you?

No. We've made an oath on the Torah.

And I'll not break it. I'm just saying.

We've got to be sure.

We'll only get the one chance. This is it.

Who knows?

If we're lucky and the crowd's thick enough, we might even make it out alive.

Nah.

There's no chance of that.

We'll be out to base as quick as Pam.

His will be done.

Tomorrow, then.

Yes? What are you doing?

You scared me.

I was looking for you, but you weren't here.

Here I am.

You all right?

You look feverish.

No, no, I'm good.

What do you need?

Nothing.

Sister needs a new dress.

Gee.

Grows like mustard, hm?

Thank you, Father.

Nothing for me?

I was thinking we should take a little break.

A break? From sex.

Just until our wedding night.

I want our wedding night to be something special.

Don't you agree?

And we have so many practical things we need to discuss.

Where we're going to live, for one. I'm perfectly happy moving into your villa,

but it will need to be redecorated from top to bottom.

And I insist you sell your slaves, male or female, who you've previously fucked.

How do you... I insist.

And another thing, you still haven't bought me my wedding gift.

I need to talk.

Well, I'm not stopping you.

When and where you are Gaia, I then and there am

Gaius.

Then and where you are Gaia's.

I then and there am Gaia.

Why so gloomy?

Bad.

No reason to.

Bit of a headache.

Poor Attia, eh?

I feel for her.

I always thought her attachment to Anthony was purely practical.

Look at her.

I think the old girl's genuinely in love with him.

Why did Octavian do this?

Simple.

Octavia's more likely to provide children.

What is marriage if not a machine for the production of babies?

It's wrong.

It's just... wrong.

Careful, friend.

Anyone who didn't know better might think you were in love with Octavia.

I'd rather eat shit.

Please try to see beyond your own desires.

I couldn't very well let you marry Anthony.

Everybody knows you were lovers.

The public would assume it was a marriage of mere sentiment, of lust.

Whereas this matches clearly a political statement of unity.

Go away.

You cannot stay in here. Our guests will wonder where you are. Well, our guests

can go and fuck themselves.

There was no choice. Your son would have it no other way.

And he is your master?

He is my political partner.

Policy dictates that. Policy be damned. Speak plain.

You love power more than you love me.

They are two completely different things.

This marriage has nothing to do with us.

It changes nothing.

Love and you and I.

It changes nothing.

Oh, I see. First you betray me and now you propose to betray my daughter.

Forgive me.

You ready?

Let's go.

Wait. They're coming.

Sorry, I can't do it.

What?

No more killing.

Herod is just a man. His death is useless. It's just more blood. If we

kill him...

Another will take his place. We'll kill him too.

Not by my hand.

You made an oath.

I break it then.

Brother.

I have a wife.

I have children. You're a coward.

A slivelling coward. You always were.

I'll do it alone then.

This is strange, isn't it?

Look, I... I know you're not exactly happy about all this, but...

It is our wedding night.

Do as you like.

If you wouldn't mind, just...

Send her bitterness and despair for all of her life.

Let her taste nothing but ashes and iron.

I need silphium from Hellebo.

You caught it early.

Yeah.

Drink this.

Before bed.

And when you wake in the morning, problem is over.

How's it taste?

I hate strong flavors.

If you put it in willow tea, you won't taste it at all.

I'll give you some horsetail in case there's much bleeding. No, that's all

right.

I don't need that.

Bye.