All language subtitles for Domina 1x03 - Family (English)

'Good and beautiful Proserpina.

'Queen of the dead
and wife of Pluto,

'Lord of the Underworld.'

It's me, Scribonia,

daughter
of Lucius Scribonius Libo.

'Today I ask you
to make burning pains

'in the womb of Livia Drusilla.'

Let the baby of Gaius Julius

'in the womb of Livia Drusilla

'die in writhing agony.

'Let the baby of Livia Drusilla
and Gaius Julius

'slither out onto the floor'

stinking and dead
like those before it.

'Then let blood pour from
the vagina of Livia Drusilla

'until she dies
in grief and despair.

'Take mother and child into your
underworld, kind Proserpina.

'And let them rot there
in darkness

'for the rest of time.

'Do this for me,
generous Proserpina,

'before the Ides of January,

'and in return I will give you
red wine, dates,

'and a litter of pink piglets.'

The Saturnalia is an ancient,
religious festival.

Not an excuse
to get blind drunk.

A day of freedom is a privilege,

so this year anyone
coming back after dark

or soiling the floor

will be dealing with me.

The Ladies Octavia and Scribonia
are invited today,

so those responsible

will make sure the dinner
is left out ready in the kitchen

and the table is set.

Thank you.

Hey.

Lord, forgive me, but...

you've got visitors.

It's a holiday.

Senators.

Corvinus and Crassus.

Murena, too.

The rest I don't know.

We knew someone would come,
sooner or later.

Didn't think Crassus
would be one of them.

Your enemies
are coming out in the open.

It's better that way.

They haven't come
to kill you, not here.

Not now.

Those two are smarter than that.

That's what Caesar thought.

Crassus.

Murena. Corvinus.

Welcome.

Welcome.

How's Livia?
Will she be joining us?

You're referring
to the malicious rumour

that my wife has opinions
on politics.

And that I actually
listen to them.

Forgive this intrusion
on a public holiday,

but we wanted to talk
unofficially

before the Senate reconvenes
in the new year.

On behalf of the Senate
as a whole,

we were hoping to get some sense
of your views on the future.

- The future?
- How you see things evolving.

Or not.

Huh.

We've all lived
through turbulent times.

Since the killing of Caesar,

an entire generation
has known nothing but civil war.

But now the wars are over
and have been for a while.

Yes, how time flies.

Amazing to think
it's been fifteen years

since you, Marcus Antonius
and Lepidus were granted

complete and absolute powers
over everything.

By the Senate itself.

For a certain fixed term
which lapsed some time ago.

Well, special measures
were necessary.

And now
Marcus Antonius is dead,

and Lepidus may as well be.

So, suddenly...
there's just you.

All of which the Senate has been
wondering leaves us where?

Legally.

Constitutionally.

Practically.

Now that the peace
has been restored

and your work is, well...

done.

You were right.

The Senate just told me
step down or else.

Caesar chose "or else",
and look what happened to him.

I'm not fucking
stepping anywhere.

Alright.

But we can't make
the same mistake.

Father...

this is the cheese you like

from our old farm in Caperna,

which did very well last year.

Gaius won't give back power.

Like Caesar,
he's defying the Senate.

Anything could happen.

Gaius has been a good husband

and a father
to Tiberius and Drusus.

You know I've come to love him.

I don't want him
to die like Caesar.

Maybe there's still a way
to restore the Republic.

Help me find it.

You ready?

Come on, Romulus. Come on.

Tiberius...

- you'll lose again.
- Come on.

Oh, yes.
Let's keep going Remus!

All the way,
all the way, all the way.

Romulus is catching up.

That's cheating!

Hey, you put him
ahead at the start.

Tell me
who else knows about this.

Maecenas.

Ah!

Agrippa.

I was just saying, we should
tell Crassus to fuck off.

I know, I heard you
from the garden.

And I was just saying
they are forcing him to choose.

Either step down

and formally hand everything
back to the Senate,

which is effectively
restoring the Republic,

or... tell the Senate to go
formally fuck themselves,

which would be admitting
you're now a dictator.

Why can't we just ignore them?

Because they're right.

My position is illegal
and unconstitutional.

So... fine.

You'd make a great dictator.

That was never the idea.

Was it?

Well, the minute we
step down, we'll be vulnerable.

We've made a lot of enemies.

We'll make a lot more
if you don't.

Caesar was stabbed twenty-three
times outside the Senate.

Those mad-dog Republicans
are all dead now.

Sorry, Livia, I, uh...

I meant no disrespect
to your father.

It's alright, Agrippa.

He was a mad-dog Republican.

What I'm saying is,
people are sick of war.

They'll take a dictator
in return for peace.

For a while.

Until suddenly they won't.

Alright. You're right.
Let's kill them.

Corvinus and Crassus
and the rest of them.

- That's not what I was saying.
- Well, it worked before.

That's sounds just like
"Go fuck yourselves" to me.

So what? You just want
to give it all away.

To an ambitious little fuck
like Corvinus?

He doesn't care
about the Republic,

he just wants to be you.

And Crassus.

He fought against us with Sextus
and then with Antonius.

We've been at war
all our lives.

We earned this.
The hard way.

Why should we hand it back?

It's yours, Gaius.

Take it.
Take it now.

You're better
than that, Gaius.

It's time to show it.

They're both right.
You have to choose.

One or the other.

And fast.

Where are you going?

I promised to take the boys
to see their father...

while you make your mind up.

Oh, please
don't stop there. Come on.

No, he's gonna catch up.
Quick! Keep going. Keep going.

- Come on.
- Tiberius, Drusus.

- Your mother's here.
- Quick.

Are you gambling?

It's the Saturnalia, Antigone.

We're allowed.

Yeah?

Come! Quick!

Come! Quiet.

- Wait. OK, go, go.
- Go, go, go!

Make sure it's
Tiberius's terrapin.

- Stop ordering me around.
- Go!

It's my plan!

Let me see this.

- Careful. Careful.
- It's the right one.

Let's go. Let's go.

Iullus, wait. I'm not allowed
to leave the house alone.

You're with us.
Come.

Greet your father.

Hello, Father, it's us.

Father, please accept
this gift of wine

- from our estate at Privernum.
- He can have the cakes.

They're stale.

He'll like them that way.

The wine's for your grandfather.

You're always mean about Father.

He betrayed the Republic.

We keep that to ourselves.

Marcellus said
you poisoned him. Father.

He says everyone knows

that you invited him to dinner
so you could poison him.

Marcellus said that?

Listen to me.

Both of you.

I had nothing
against your father.

But if I wanted
to poison anyone,

the last place I'd do it
is my own dinner party.

It was just some bad oysters.

And you know how your father
loved oysters.

I told Marcellus
he was a liar.

Then he stuck your head
in the toilet.

No, he didn't!

Tiberius!

I got Marcellus back after.

A Roman fights
his own battles.

I'd like to know where Marcellus
heard that rumour.

Why?
It's not true.

Exactly.

Look at his little
terra-penis.

- No, it's a tail.
- That is a terra-penis.

Whoo!

Now what?

Well, now we just wait until
Tiberius finds out it's gone.

Right, and then it's, "Sorry,
we stole your stupid terrapin."

He's not coming out.

No Iullus,
we'll just quietly put it back

after he's spent ages
looking for it.

- And is that... funny?
- It's the Saturnalia, stupid.

People play jokes on pe...

Marcellus!

What did you do that for?

Because it's Tiberius's.

Antonia!

OK. Go, go, go.

Vinnius is here.
We're late for dinner!

Where are Marcellus and Iullus?

Behind you, Mother.

Where have you...
You have not been out alone?

We saw a dead body.

Well, Vinnius will get rid
of it. What were you thinking?

We will talk about this later.

Julia?
I shall tell your mother.

Tell me what?

Marcella,
where's your husband?

Agrippa's already here. Uncle
Gaius called him over at dawn.

- So who will?
- I'm not scared of Livia.

- Then you're stupid!
- You're stupid.

Why don't you kill him, too?

- Welcome, everyone!
- Ah!

Happy Saturnalia.

So good to see you.
These are for you.

Thank you.

- How's the bump?
- I felt a kick this morning.

- I've been praying for you.
- Thank you.

Oh, Julia.

Don't worry.

We'll find him.

I heard a rumour today that
I poisoned my first husband.

Yes, I heard that, too.

- I hope you did.
- I wish I had.

Can we please eat, Gaius?

We ask great Saturn,

to whom these days of freedom
are devoted,

to bring us health
and prosperity.

May he remember this family

and keep us safe
from our enemies.

We are all of us here
bound together forever by blood.

And there is nothing greater
than that.

Family.

- Family.
- Family.

Stop. Stop it.

What did I tell you earlier?

Marcellus!

I don't know
what you were thinking.

Hello? Marcellus, Iullus,
I'm talking to you.

Taking Julia out
in the street...

Did you make up your mind yet?

- He always takes forever.
- I know.

Wasting his time,
thinking about stuff.

Huh! Exactly.

We need to find Romulus
whilst they're at dinner.

I've already searched
the house twice.

Ugh!

Mm.

It's those kids again.

Come on.
Let's look outside.

Mm.

You alright?

Yes.

Just pregnant.

I've made up my mind
about the Senate.

But I still want to know
what you think I should do.

You won the war,

made your fortune and brought
honour to your family.

You have nothing left to prove
to me or anyone else.

We have everything
we'll ever need.

Step back.

Live life.

And make history as the Roman
who restored the Republic.

The Republic
was corrupt and lazy...

and complacent.

We can achieve so much more.

So, a dictator, then?

No, Livia.

I don't want to be a dictator.

I want to be a God.

Alright.

Then that's what we'll do.

We found Romulus.

- What?
- Tiberius's terrapin.

Down a sewer opening
in an alley near the house.

They tried to hide the body
there after they killed it.

Who knows about this?

- Only Tycho and me.
- Keep it that way.

I've been telling you to step in
and stop them bullying Tiberius.

He's nearly a man.

He needs to stand up
for himself.

- It's gone too far.
- This city will eat you alive.

You need to speak to Octavia.

I've spent the last ten years
making friends with Octavia

and pretending to do the same
with Scribonia.

I'm not blowing that
over a fucking terrapin.

We don't need to make
an announcement.

There's no point
provoking the Senate.

And we don't want to start
another war, unless we have to.

We already gave control of
the treasury back to the Senate.

We re-opened the law courts.

They want their legions back,
Gaius.

That's what this is all about.

You control the army,
you control everything.

You know that and so do they.

You give the army back,
you're nothing.

- They know that, too.
- I'm not giving the army back!

I'll buy Crassus off
with a big campaign.

He can avenge his grandfather's
defeat in Parthia,

get the lost army standards
back.

You promised me that campaign.

I also need you to resign
as consul for next year.

I have to give it
to someone else.

Corvinus. Murena?

Piso.

Gaius, he was my father's
closest friend.

He fought against Caesar.

He fought against you.

He's the leader of
the old Republican faction,

such as it is now.

Having him as the other consul

will make everything
feel very... reassuring.

He'll know that.
He won't take it.

He will...

if you ask him.

Go to him, privately.

For me.

- He loves you like a daughter.
- He did till I married you.

- He owes you his life.
- He doesn't know that.

If anyone can get him
to be consul with me,

it's you.

Should you be riding?

You did promise Agrippa
that campaign.

What do you want,
Marcellus?

Can we help you?

We, um... we heard you were
looking for your terrapin.

We're very good
at finding terrapins.

You're not good at anything,
Marcellus.

What did you say?

I said, "Fuck you."

Let go of me!

- Alright.
- Enough!

I don't need your help.

Leave my boys alone and get out!

My father was a Roman consul.

You were a slave and a whore.

Don't!

Drusus.

Let's go.

Crassus! You...

You can come now.

- Mother?
- Who's that?

- Your wife.
- Mother!

- What?
- Wait here.

You'll never guess
what Antigone just did.

You fought together nobly.
Like Romans.

- It isn't over yet.
- Yes, it is.

No.

It isn't.

Ha!

Livia Drusilla.

Who taught you to ride a horse?

He did.

What?

Livia Drusilla?

Piso.
How are you?

The boys?

Alive.

You?

Pregnant... again.

Huh!

Can I speak to you?

In the new year,

Marcus Agrippa will resign
as the second consul.

It is my husband's wish
that you take Agrippa's place

and serve Rome alongside him.

Oh, he sent you.

Well, he believes
Rome would be lucky

to have a man
of your experience.

Hunted through the sewers
with a price on my head.

Condemned to death
without trial,

which is the right
of every Roman citizen.

You were pardoned.

Anyone would be lucky
to have my experience.

You know the system
of two consuls

was devised
to provide a balance.

My husband knows your political
views, and he respects them.

The offer's genuine.

But his mandate from the Senate
ran out years ago.

What, is he going
to give back that power?

Hand over control of the army?

- He...
- Oh, don't bother.

- Piso.
- You married a thief, Livia.

And I won't stand next to him
to make fools believe he isn't.

Nobody can hold on to power
legitimately

unless the Senate of Rome
chooses to grant it!

Think of your sons, Piso.

How it would help
their prospects.

Is that a bribe?
Or a threat?

I embraced your father
after Philippi.

With his last words
he asked me to look after you.

But you betrayed him
and everything he stood for.

You married the man
who destroyed him

and everything
he believed in.

For the first time, truly...

I'm glad my friend is dead.

I betrayed him.

You let him die.

Did you take your life with his?

No. You came crawling back
to hide out here.

I begged my husband
for your life!

On my fucking knees!

And you took that pardon
and you saved yourself.

He should've come home.

He put his honour before me.

He left me on my own.

Thank you for your support.

What's wrong?

Nothing. Just...
Just get rid of her.

Domina.

You're not normally
so timid with her.

I hate it when you watch.

I wasn't watching.

Why did you kill the terrapin?

I don't know.
I just did it.

- I suppose Julia blabbed.
- Listen to me.

You are Marcus Claudius
Marcellus.

Your uncle is the most
powerful man in Rome,

and you are his favourite.
You can't just do things.

I'll try to make this go away,
but...

if it comes to it, you'll
have to stand up straight,

speak the truth
and tell everyone it was Iullus.

Iullus?
But that's not the truth.

Iullus is not our blood.

He's the son
of Marcus Antonius,

and if Octavia hadn't
adopted him, he'd be dead.

He's expendable.
You are not.

Do you understand?

You have a brilliant future,
Marcellus.

Don't mess it all up.
Not for Tiberius or anyone else.

Iullus will understand.

Mm?

OK?

The Lady Octavia is here.

I'm sorry to have
to bring this to you.

This morning,
my son Marcellus,

he offered to help Tiberius
look for his missing terrapin.

Both your sons assaulted him.

Your freedwoman Antigone,
she then stuck him,

without provocation,
on the face,

and she scratched his eye.

I'll... I'll talk to her,
of course.

No, no, no, Livia.
I don't want you to talk to her.

This behaviour cannot be borne
from a free woman with her...

past.

She must be sent away.

Well, this account as presented
to me is clearly false.

I'm sorry, are you saying
that my son is lying?

You always look
for the best in others,

and Marcellus has nothing of
your intelligence or character.

You spoil him, but you
don't seem to know him at all.

Well, maybe if you hadn't
neglected your son,

he would've turned out normal

and not an embarrassment
to our family!

A family such as yours
is surely beneath embarrassment.

Oh, you, you.

You who seduced another woman's
husband while you were pregnant.

You're no better than an actress
for all your heirs and graces.

There is much
in what you say, Octavia.

But, while I live...

Antigone will never be sent away
from this house.

Good night.

You were right.

I should've stopped them
bullying Tiberius.

Octavia won't help us now.

No.

One of our friends
left the signal tonight.

The German.

Let me know
what she has for us.

And... what about Tiberius?

Get Tycho to put some ash
from the ovens in a box.

Tiberius?

Little Bear, Romulus is dead.

Tycho found him in the kitchen.

He must've eaten something bad.

We didn't want to upset you.

I'm so sorry.

Here.

We cremated him like a Roman.

Go to your lessons.

Sorry.

- You offended my sister.
- She offended me.

And Piso?

- You're losing your touch.
- What?

I told you to fix this
with the Senate two years ago!

- I would've looked weak!
- How do you look now?

We need to do something.
Something they're not expecting.

Like what?

How would I know?
I've lost my touch.

I'm not in the mood
for this, Livia.

Ask me nicely.

What?

Very nicely.

Piso's sheep
have given Livia an idea.

Piso refused...

as I said he would.

He also said nobody could ever
hold power legally.

Unless the Senate
chose to grant it.

- So?
- So...

let's get them to do that.

Let's get them
to give it to you.

Legally.

And why would the Senate do
that, exactly?

Because enough of them
are sheep.

How are you, Fortunata?

I'm a slave, Lady.

How are you?

At your age,

I was sold
into a whorehouse.

We look after all our friends.

I can't believe
you're even considering this.

It's a totally insane risk!

So is defying the Senate.

This at least has the appearance
of legitimacy...

If it works.

which makes him different
from Caesar...

If it fucking works!

Who was stabbed to death
outside the Senate.

You want to gamble everything
on a hunch about Piso's sheep?

It's just too... clever!

Why are we even
listening to...

A woman?

The day before the battle
at Actium,

we found out
he was planning

to make a run for it
with Cleopatra.

I said, let them go,

then their fleet
will surrender,

and we'll win
without fighting.

But you said...

Bollocks to that.

Let's end this now.
Once and for all.

One throw of the dice.
All or nothing.

You really want to gamble
everything on this?

We're loading the dice.

I mean, why would Livia
say such things?

And Antigone. I mean, what's
got into her? Of all people.

Oh, Livia's just ambitious
for her sons.

What Roman mother isn't?

I know for a fact she wants
Julia to marry Tiberius

- when the time comes.
- I should talk to her.

Not Marcellus or anyone else.

I said some...

I said some terrible things,
Scribonia.

If I were you, I wouldn't
mention any of this again.

Or maybe...
maybe a small gesture

to show you're bigger
than she is.

A new terrapin.
A present...

from Marcellus
to his dear cousin Tiberius.

We can expect about five hundred
to attend the session.

The usual suspects.

This list is the men
that we can rely on.

Either they owe you or they
don't care about the Republic.

They just want stability
and some room at the trough.

- A hundred plus.
- Mm-hm.

These are the men
we cannot rely on,

uh, for all sorts
of reasons.

Plus men who owe
some allegiance

to the families
of Crassus and Corvinus.

Just under a hundred.

These men probably
will oppose you

because they want the Republic
back in some form or another.

Maybe twenty.

The rest of these men
can go either way.

Our sheep.

Cheer up, Agrippa.

If it doesn't work,
you can always kill everyone.

Do we have
any kind of leverage on anybody?

What about him?

I mean, I know Taurus has
gambling debts. We can get him.

You asked to see me?

Um, we're really sorry,
Aunt Livia.

It... It was Iullus
that killed the terrapin,

and we got Tiberius another one,
just the same.

It wasn't Iullus.
It was me.

And I'm not sorry at all.

Well, can I go now?

Poor Tiberius.

You should've left him to die
on that mountainside.

I'm really sorry.

Apartment block on fire.
Look.

Not one of mine.

Did it occur to you, Agrippa,
if this goes wrong tomorrow,

we'll have the fucking Republic
back by dinner?

I sometimes wonder how much
that would bother Livia.

Well, it's a bit late
to question her loyalty.

I'd never forgive her.

ungrateful fucks!

Never before has Rome...

Cheer up, Gaius.

If it doesn't work,
you can always divorce me.

Do you remember that time,

we were stood outside
the fucking tent...

thinking we were going
to get killed inside?

Of course,
I might be wrong about this.

The augur pronounces
the flight of the birds

favourable to the business
of this house.

Senate is now in session.

Conscript Fathers.

- Here we go.
- I call on the Gods...

I can't wait to see
how he gets out of this.

The dice are rolling.

If it works, you may have just
saved Rome from herself.

I'll settle for saving Gaius.

I have done what had to be done.

I have avenged my father
Julius Caesar

and acted to save the state
in time of war.

Now, Rome is at peace!

The law courts are open.

The treasury is full.

Our seas are clear of pirates!

Temples have been rebuilt.

Roads and aqueducts repaired.

Our borders are secure.

Our enemies are crushed!

Never before
has Rome enjoyed such honour

or faced so great a future.

And that is why...

I am resigning all powers...

and returning absolute control

of the city, the provinces...

and the army
to the Senate.

And the people of Rome!

What the fuck's he doing?

Crassus.

On behalf of the Senate
and the people of Rome,

we thank you for all your
victories and achievements.

And we thank you also
for this...

magnanimous
and generous gesture.

Libo.

For twenty years,

the terrible civil wars that
tore us apart are finally over.

Trade is returning slowly,
but confidence it's...

It's fragile.

And so too is
this hard-won peace,

and we should not likely
throw that away.

Rome needs stability.

- Rome needs...
- It's true.

Rome needs certainty.

Now, there will be a time

when it is right
for you to step down,

but that time has not yet come.

On behalf of the Senate
and the people of Rome,

I beg you to reconsider.
I beg you to stay.

Asprenas.

I don't think
I have ever knowingly agreed

with my fellow senator...

but for once
I think he may be right.

Our troops are still fighting

in Gaul, Spain, Germany
and Macedonia.

The Senate must consider what
our enemies in the provinces

and the tribes massing
on our frontiers will think

when they see the man
who has led Rome for so long

suddenly giving up.

What they will see
is weariness and weakness.

Sabrinus.

Then let the Senate act
and show their power.

Let the Senate vote
to give back to the consul

command of those provinces where
danger still threatens Rome!

Where all the legions
are stationed.

- Oh, he's fucking us!
- If the Senate is to consider

that proposition,
it must have a strict time limit

to be renewed or not
as the Senate sees fit.

Stay, stay, stay, stay,

stay, stay, stay...

Stay, Stay, stay...

You did it, Livia.

Stay, stay, stay, stay, stay,

stay, stay, stay, stay...

Agrippa's right.

He'll make a great dictator.

Stay, stay, stay...

I call for a vote.

So, I found a way.

Gaius has to become a God.

But the God will have a son.

And I will teach him
what needs to be done.

Oh, we have time.
We can wait.

But to restore the Republic,
we first have to destroy it.

I need you to understand.

And forgive me.

Great and powerful Proserpina,

with these humble gifts

I gratefully
fulfil our contract.

Hey.

We won.

It was a boy.

We'll have other boys.