Original subtitles

No.

you

He's gone. Put him over.

Sir.

Huh?

Oh.

Salve, Varinus.

How are you?

Good enough.

Water. Thank you.

I was far away.

All my life, I've been fearful of defeat.

But now that it has come, it's not near as terrible as I'd expected.

Sun still shines.

Water still tastes good.

Glory is all well and good, but life

is enough, nay?

Glorious news!

At Actium, in Greece, the navy of our Imperator, Octavian Caesar, under the

command of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, has won a decisive victory over Queen

Cleopatra and her slave, Mark Antony, the Egyptian fleet has been

destroyed.

Even now, Octavian Caesar advances on Alexandria, where the witch and her

creature take refuge.

Apparently, Cleopatra took fright and fled as soon as the battle started.

And that cowardly villain Antony jumped in a boat and chased after her.

left his men to die for the sake of lust.

Antony's no coward.

As soon as they knew they'd lost the battle, they fled to save the gold that

they'd stowed on Cleopatra's ship.

They plan to fight on, no doubt.

They cannot do that without money.

It wasn't cowardice. It's not what my husband says.

Your husband's a liar.

Dear me, one might wonder whose side you're on.

He wasn't like that as a child. He was a good, honest boy.

I'm to blame, probably.

If you maintain Cleopatra and her progeny on the throne, his honour Mark

Antony, by his sacred oath, will withdraw from public life.

He will reside quietly in Egypt as a private citizen and promises never to

engage in any way whatsoever with politics. Tell him no.

He will put himself and his woman in my hands without conditions.

Yes, sir.

There is a man close to Antony. His name is Lucius Varinus.

I want you to speak to him alone.

Tell him Titus Pullo is here and will answer for his safety if he can find a

way to open the gates.

You can tell him that, but it won't do any good.

Is there some word we could send him that he knows comes only from you?

Pullo, if need be, I will burn down the palace with all inside.

Tell him that his children are well and that I hope my child is well also.

Private joke.

You'll understand.

Speak. His Honor Gaius Octavian Caesar states that his answer is no.

At all?

He demands that you surrender yourself and your people without conditions.

You go and tell that frog-spawned homunculus

that I... We must remain calm.

Varinus, find this man a drink or something.

Surrender, he said.

I'd sooner eat my own children than surrender to him. We could escape by

night. In disguise, we could go south.

And hide under bushes like... Like hunted animals.

No.

No, I cannot run. I will be guided by you.

Naturally. If you think there is some other path available to us.

Death?

Death is available to us.

It's a military trick. Some...

Some clever rooster turns things about. You're so good at that sort of thing.

Oh, piss and blood, woman.

I'm a soldier.

Not a fucking magician.

Look around us.

Whores, hermaphrodites, and lickspedals.

This is our army now.

This... is all we have left.

Titus Pullo says that your children are well.

He hopes his child is well also.

He says it is a private joke that you will understand.

So he's here?

And close to Caesar.

He answers for your safety.

If you will forsake Antony and find a way to open the gates. You tell Titus

Pullo that his son is well.

But he has forgotten who I am. Maybe you should think on it a while.

What other way... You!

Emissary!

A challenge.

I challenge your master.

To single combat.

Sir? Let him meet me face to face with sword and shield, just as our ancestors

did. Then we shall see who is the better man.

Anthony. Oh, this is the way?

How can he refuse?

His honor is a stake he must accept.

Or he will be exposed as a coward.

Go, tell him. Tell everyone in his camp.

Mark Antony has called the dog out.

Run!

Bring us.

Fetch some weapons.

We shall practice.

Highness.

Octavian's going to kill me.

Is he not?

They're negotiating.

It'll be all right.

Do not lie to me.

There can only be one son of Caesar.

If anyone dies, it will be me.

Talk that way loud enough, the gods will hear you and they'll make it so.

Come with me to the armory.

I'll get you a decent sword.

If it comes to a fight, you can give as good as you get.

Single combat?

With sword and shield.

He's gone mad, has he?

I'd say more drunk or drugged than mad, sir.

What of Cleopatra? Is she in the same condition?

No, sir.

Sober.

Alert.

And Lucius Varinus? Remains loyal to Antony.

Thank you.

Stay close by.

A siege, then?

I'll inform the engineers.

Even a madman could hold that palace for weeks.

Months. Burn it down then. We need to keep the Egyptian people quiet. I

suspect destroying the royal palace with their queen inside might make them

rather peevish.

What then?

This

is

for your queen alone.

No other. Is that clear?

Enough!

amuse you.

No, sir.

I assure you I'm not. You're a fucking clown.

Am I?

Eh?

Oh, sure.

Shall I do a little dance for you?

Did that please you?

Your Highness.

Disturbed.

Give him your sword and shield.

Let's see if he can do any better. Antony.

Come. Okay.

Take them.

Queen Majesty, please. Don't look to her.

I'm the master here.

Now take them.

Oh!

So what does the boy say when we meet?

Sir, Octavian Caesar respectfully refuses

your challenge and asks the same terms as before.

If those terms are not accepted, fire and siege works will begin tomorrow.

You tell him to shove his terms up his ass.

Good luck.

Fucking coward.

He always was. Fucking coward.

Enjoy yourselves, you scum!

Ace!

Ace! Ace! Ace!

Drink music!

Come and have a drink with me.

Now, do you see that?

Do you see that, you gypo cunts?

That is how a real Roman drinks.

To Her Majesty, Queen Cleopatra Philippata.

I fully understand that you have been led into this predicament through no

fault of your own by the renegade Mark Antony. If you will deliver him to me,

either alive or dead, being no matter, I promise to you on my oath that you and

your people will be unharmed and treated with all respect.

You shall retain your crown and all continent rights.

He asks me to bring return or dishonour. Oh, my name.

And in return, your empire, your people,

Majesty's life. My life.

For my honour. Good enough.

Isn't it? That is a slave's answer.

I felt Anubis breathe on her before now.

She knows her slave is right. She wants to live.

There you are.

What are you doing here?

Come back to the party.

Maybe later.

What's the matter, poor baby?

Are you sad?

Of course I am sad.

Look at you.

Look at us.

Apollo and Isis, it's perfect.

I'm sorry.

I do not mean that.

No.

No, it's true.

These years together have been the happiest of my life.

We lived, didn't we? We did.

Octavian will burn the palace tomorrow.

We must decide how to end this.

And win.

Yes.

Why not now?

Not yet. Let's not go in darkness.

Tomorrow in the sunlight.

Shall we go back to our guests?

No.

I'm tired.

You go.

I don't mind.

Just for a little while, maybe.

We had that lovely singing voice.

Took a spear in the eye in Cagovia. Oh.

Yes, cancer.

Yeah.

I haven't.

What of him?

I forgot.

Fuck him.

Do you believe there is an afterlife?

And this is all there is. Who says that?

Learning men.

Greeks, probably.

Greeks.

Greeks talk a whole...

Mark Antony?

Sir?

What's happened?

Dearest love, forgive me for leaving you this way.

You know how I hate to say goodbye.

I will see you again on the other side.

Please, come quickly.

The Queen's die alone.

It's the custom.

With her last breath, she caught your neck.

Here it is then.

Anything to be rid of the fucking hangover.

This won't do.

Let's use a proper Roman sword.

It's a good place to die at any rate.

Could have been a ditching ghoul.

Men that knew Alexander once stood here.

Good a place as any, I suppose.

Lois is Varunas.

Iron to the end.

Don't you die here with me.

You'll get out what you can, huh?

I'll do that.

It's been an honour... serving with you, sir.

Caprice is dead.

Any instructions or messages, sir?

No.

Just tell the people I died well.

I died Roman.

Oh!

My poor love.

Bring the children.

Lucius Perrinus wishes to speak.

No. Then he shall stop looking at me.

I gave you an order. I take no orders from you. I let you live because Antony

was fond of you. Do not test me now.

Kiss my ass!

You're lucky I don't open your stomach!

I wonder that you had not done the honourable thing and followed your

captain. Oh, I would.

But I have to get Caesarian out of here.

What do you mean? If he stays, Octavian will kill him. He's perfectly safe. I've

made a pact with Octavian. I keep my crown and no harm will come to my

people. Octavian may let you live so he can parade you through the forum in your

crown. To Antony's children, he will show public mercy and kindness. But

Caesarian, another son of Caesar, Octavian will kill him. No.

He's just a child.

He'll die.

And for what?

We both know he's not the son of Caesar.

We know nothing of the sort. I was there at his conception.

It doesn't matter what you say.

He is the son of Caesar.

Well, whoever he is, if he stays here, he dies.

You'd see that if your desire to live hadn't blinded you. And you, why would

you save him? What is he to you? He's nothing, but his father is my friend.

I'll take the boy to him.

Man. What's his name? Titus Puller.

Yes.

Is he a good man?

Define good.

Children, come.

See?

That is how nobility dies.

Put on your travelling clothes.

You're leaving with Lucius Varinus for your safety.

But my place is here, with you.

travelling clothes.

Now,

My condolence for your loss.

He died well.

If there's anything we can do for you, anything you need.

It's so kind of you to ask.

Your well-being is my chief concern.

Thank you.

I have been so scared.

I'm not anymore.

No? Antony painted you as a cruel monster.

But it is not so.

I sense that you are a good and honest man.

I'm not wrong, am I?

No.

My children and I are perfectly safe.

You are.

Even Caesarian.

He's just a boy.

He's no threat to me.

I keep my crown.

I remain Queen of Egypt.

You are Egypt.

How could I replace you?

I am content.

We shall be good friends.

We shall.

As a friend, would you grant me one favor?

Of course.

Come with me to Rome.

Let the Roman people see and rejoice that Egypt and Caesar are reconciled. I

would like that very much.

Perhaps next summer, when our mourning for Antony is done.

Yes.

Or perhaps sooner.

My ship is large and comfortable.

It's so good of you.

I shall have to consult my priest, a voyage so soon after her death. Please.

You would be doing me an immense honour by coming with me as a guest.

I would be eternally grateful.

How can I refuse?

And the children, of course.

You must bring the children.

Naturally.

Caesarion is longing to see Rome again.

Good.

We sail tomorrow.

So soon?

The winds are with us.

We'd be ashamed to delay.

Tomorrow, then.

I'm so angry to live that you were right about that boy.

The monster.

He only wants me alive to parade me in chains for a mop to spit on.

I lied to you for nothing.

Bring the old woman.

She's a sharp little piece, eh?

She'll look well in nothing but chains.

We should have taken her there and then.

Why abduct her when she'll come of her own accord?

And what if she follows Mark Antony instead?

She betrayed Anthony so that she might live. Why would she lose heart now?

You can have that effect on people.

No, I was all sweetness and light with her.

Charm itself.

Yes, that is your most disheartening manner.

The belladonna is not fast.

But it is least painful.

Yes, I know.

Which leaves one looking best? I want no bloating or discoloration.

The snake, but... Is it quick?

Forty breaths.

The snake, then.

Cousin Seth was green to remember they vary.

This is the needful animal Where's the best spot

wrist or breast no matter

Thank you

Make sure the children are safe before you follow me. Yes majesty

It goes away toward the end.

She said I had a rotten soul.

Huh.

Find the children!

Caesarion has escaped.

With Lucius Varinus.

The man turns loyalty into a vice.

Any notion where they might have gone?

Big country, Egypt.

Even now, I would be happy to forgive Varinus if he surrendered himself and

the boy.

He's made his choices.

Yes. It's a shame when it's just the boy needs to die.

If only you could talk to him, Pullo.

I'm sure you could persuade him of the right course to take.

I'll have to find him first.

Yes.

I could look for him.

Why don't you do that?

To recover my rightful place, I shall be sure that you are properly rewarded.

You may choose a province to govern, and any woman of the court.

Oh, thanks.

That life is over.

It's best you forget about it.

Nonsense. My mother would set things all right.

I doubt it.

I wonder my father tolerated such a pessimist around him.

There'll be no more talk of that sort.

It's just a bird.

I've not been in the desert a night before.

It does not please me.

We shall not do this again.

Get some sleep. We've got a long ride tomorrow.

I will sleep when I like. You will sleep when I tell you.

What's wrong?

How's it going?

Not so bad, you.

Same.

I never thought I'd see that ugly bastard glaring down at me again,

though. I knew you'd remember.

This is him, then? This is him.

Who is this man?

Name's Titus Pullo. I do not like your manner.

Handsome, isn't he?

What news of my mother?

She's dead.

Killed herself.

Best way to go.

Honourable. Do not touch me!

Thought he'd be bigger.

There are ten legions out looking for him.

Patrols on all the roads west to Africa.

All the upper Nile ports.

The only way to go is south.

So we can cut back across the desert towards the river of the Cataracts.

I'll go with you as far as you dare. You can get a ship from there.

You can buy a ship if you want. His mother gave me a heavy purse.

You'll not come with us?

No Head out east maybe. We always need soldiers out there.

Probably won't even make it out of Egypt.

How are the children?

Well enough.

Verena the Elder's at the temple of Obonah with Lydi.

Lucius got apprenticed to a stonemason.

Stonemason? Now that's a decent trade.

He's on fire to be a soldier.

You're not encouraging him, are you?

No, of course not.

Verena the Younger, now, um... She's a little tiger.

Still doesn't speak much mind, but practically runs the tavern.

Anyone misbehaves, she gives him a look like Medusa on the rag.

And Gaia?

That didn't end so well. No?

Monk story.

When did you return?

We had no news of your arrival.

We docked this morning at Ostia. I came directly here.

Mother, Anthony is dead.

By his own hand.

Thank you for telling me.

My congratulations.

You're as good as king now.

Not king.

Merely first citizen.

Would you care for some refreshments and water?

Thank you, no.

I'm glad you're not upset.

The display of grief now would have been impolitic.

Of course.

I've no intention of grieving.

So who are the children?

They're Anthony's children, Helios and Selene.

Trophies.

Poor things.

Perhaps you will look after them for me.

They seem amiable enough, as far as I can tell.

It would be the charitable thing to do.

Kindly, Uncle Octavian shows mercy.

People will love it.

Clever. No end to your cleverness.

Oh, you murdered the other one, did you?

Cesarean?

Not yet.

Soon, I hope.

He only offers to parley and says the whole thing was your fault in the first

place and that me and him should make peace.

What did you reply?

I headbutted the cunny and bit his tongue out.

Took that as a no, then, did he? You bit out his tongue? I did.

Taste it like chicken. That is disgusting.

Cat.

Fifty in Gaul says I kill more than you. Best keep clear, boy, it's gonna get

wet. Wait, we can talk our way past.

Okay, right.

As soon as His Majesty opens his mouth, we're cooked.

Let's just go at him. No, that's an order.

Grumpy and cautious as ever.

Like an old sheepdog, you.

Salve, Captain.

Romans, are you? We are.

I don't see many citizens out here. What's your business?

Hunting sphinxes.

No such thing as sphinxes.

Now you tell us. We're grain merchants. We're on the road to Memphis. We've just

lost our way.

Grain merchants.

Lost your way.

What's your name, boy?

Aeneas. A bit haughty for a slave? He is.

I beat him regularly, but it doesn't do any good.

On your way, then.

Told you.

You'll be fine.

No, I'm done.

Get up, you big girl.

It's just a few scratches.

We just need to lay up somewhere for a rest.

A couple of days, you'll be back on your feet.

Take me home.

Home?

Home's a long way. Best we just... I don't want to die in this fucking shit

hole.

I want to see my children.

We'll do that.

Have you chosen a dress?

I think you should wear that blue thing.

I'm not going.

It's not a matter of choice.

I don't feel well.

No wonder.

You could choke Vulcan in here.

Today is your triumph as much as his.

Mother to the first citizen, you should be happy.

Ray.

All my life I've watched you strive for this moment.

Look at you.

It's amusing, isn't it?

I don't know what I shall do if you give up.

Today we celebrate the glory of our beloved Imperator, Gaius.

octavian caesar and the glorious rebirth of our republic at the third hour all

trading will cease the sacred way must be cleared of traffic serval violators

will be whipped

are

you sure you won't come i've seen a triumph you three upstairs

tend to the cart

Hello. Hello. You're back.

This is Anais, my friend.

Blessings. He's from Egypt.

Children, I brought your father home.

Why did you bring him here?

He wants to see you.

He's been wounded.

He's going to die, likely.

Should have died weeks ago, but he wanted to get home.

Won't last long now.

Thank you, Dr. Pullo. You're awake then.

Make up your mind.

Heidi. Hello.

Where are the children?

Shh.

Lie still.

You don't want to see me.

What's that?

That's alright.

Stubborn.

Stubborn like their mother.

Octavian Caesar.

Making his official return today.

In parade.

That's funny. I thought he was dying.

Father.

Ladies, we shall be taking our places very shortly.

I hope you're all ready.

I'm sorry Mother Attio could not be here.

I'm afraid my husband will take it as an insult.

Oh, it isn't meant as such.

I know. I know how fragile she is.

But dear Octavian is so touchy about these public events. Everything must be

just so.

He has such faith in your judgment.

I'm sure he'll forgive her.

If you speak kindly of her.

I will.

I will.

It is time. In order of precedence, please.

Hello, ladies.

Mother.

Yes, here I am. Let's just get this charade over with, shall we?

Excuse me.

Yes.

Oh, I don't mind, really.

But it is I who should go first.

You will find if you consult the priests, the wife takes precedence.

I don't give a fuck what the priests say.

I'll not let a vicious little trollop like you walk ahead of me.

I go first.

I take no offence, of course.

You are not yourself.

I know who you are.

You're swearing now, but someday you'll destroy me.

Remember, far better women than you have sworn to do the same.

Go and look for them now.

Pullo. We've given you up for dead.

Nah. One of these days, maybe.

But not yet.

Well, I'm very glad to see you alive.

Old friends are a rare commodity.

It's been a long road we have travelled together.

It has.

I sent you to find Cesarean.

What happened?

I found him.

He's dead.

You're certain?

Killed him myself.

How?

Cut his throat.

Where was this?

In the desert, some 40-odd miles south of Alix.

I brought his head to show you, but it went bad and didn't look like anyone, so

I tossed it.

And Lucy's for Enos?

Didn't make it.

It's a shame.

It is.

He was a good man.

I suppose you'll be wanting the reward, then.

Oh.

I hadn't thought of that. I wouldn't say no.

So?

He bought it.

Brother Osiris, let me live to spit in his face and remind him of this day.

Didn't I tell you there'd be no more of that blather?

Blather?

It is my sacred duty.

By my blood I'll not rest until I have avenged my mother and redeemed my

father's name.

Listen.

About your father.

Oh, yeah.