Original subtitles

Seneca was a senator

and was considered the wisest man in Rome.

He also had the job of instructing Nero in all matters

and became a life coach

of the mass-murdering president for life.

A bad idea, that would later cost Seneca his life.

"I understand the grief about the passing away

From some friends in our midst."

I understand the sorrow

about certain friends, who are different from our midst.

No... "I understand the grief

about the passing away of some friends..."

Do you notice? Understand, decide, befriend?

Sounds presidential.

Yes!

"If there are any fishermen fishermen, or fisherwomen..."

If today among us fishermen are, or fisherwomen...

Right! Be a friend of the common people.

-Do as if you were one of them! -Yes!

"I share your worries and your problems.

I am better than you only by the small of 10 million times better than you!"

"You know when you find a rotten shell..."

You know, if you take a rotten shell...

Not "rotten." "Rotten" suggests old, senile, demented.

"If you find a rotten mussel, you have to...

... throw away, otherwise it will spoil all our food."

When you find a rotten shell, you have to...

- ... you have to take them away... -... throw.

Otherwise, all the food will be spoiled.

Very good! And now once again from the beginning.

I know people are sad,

even angry that certain people had to leave our midst.

But all fishermen know,

when you have... has a rotten oyster...

... throw the thing...

... into the broth...

for dinner!

All right...

Again. From the beginning.

Seneca was the establishment in Rome

and the ruling class was lining up,

to pay him for his profound thoughts pay,

who mostly told his rich customers said exactly what they wanted to hear.

What makes a good life? One that is worth living?

Peace of mind and serenity.

My friends, do not neglect your spirit,

with which nature has gifted you,

by pursuing only the physical pleasures.

Eat less.

Not nothing, my good man. Certainly not that.

Certainly not. But less.

Strive for virtue. Happiness will follow.

Although Nero was married to Octavia, he had fallen for the charms of a whore.

And yet the reason is that, what gives the universe its form.

Reason beats back passion and leads to a good life.

A life that is simple and in harmony with nature.

It was rumored that Nero shared with her shared a love of a drug.

A vice of the lower class,

that often ruined the appearance of young girls often ruined.

Mr. President.

You are my only scholar.

Seneca should teach Nero how the world works.

But for Nero, who owned the world,

the "honeymoon" with his teacher with his teacher was over quickly.

Lord, purely visually...

or ethically speaking, it's a shaky proposition,

to physically harm one's own wife.

A president has to be feared. I expect only one thing from this job.

And that would be: because of my cruelty to be the talk of the town.

I understand that, yes. And frankly, I admire it.

I know someone like you has this irrepressible...

... masculine nature,

seeking to express itself, but....

An average commander commands with fear.

A good one with respect.

But a great one, a unique leader

shows mercy

and demonstrates with every gesture of gentleness,

that he can govern without spreading can govern.

The gesture, that will bring him eternal prestige,

is not the hand that chokes the throat

but the fingertips that gently

the bloody plumage of an injured pigeon.

Be quiet!

Does anyone ever actually tell you that?

That you should save your stupid Life wisdom should save

and just shut up!

Don't look at me. The boy is right.

-You're putting on quite a show. -Madame, I...

You think you are a Socrates, but in reality

you have no more profound wisdom than my son's wrestling coach.

Lord, I must ask for mercy for the sake of your wife Octavia.

She is an old and valued friend of mine.

Are you stupid?

Stop talking.

I told you not to.

Shut up if you don't want your brain to be brain to be squashed with this stick.

Look at him!

-Yes, that's a stick. -Exactly!

So stop bugging me

and maybe... maybe...

I'll let you run again today.

I do what I want.

Whether you agree or not.

Listen up, everyone!

No one does this man today anything to this man.

He is a very respected man. You all know who he is.

He believes, that grace is mightier than strength,

because the noble man

values grace more highly.

So be it.

I do not believe in this noble spirit.

And I don't think much of grace.

From today on I don't want to hear of these bad ideas.

Never again!

From now on we will play by different rules.

From now on!

Nero's wife Octavia was tied up.

Her veins were slashed.

Her head Nero sent to Poppaea, his new bride, as a wedding gift.

This man had the power over life and death

of a quarter of humanity on earth.

And Seneca knew the odds were all too good,

that Nero, this unstable, manic child,

would soon have a go at him, too.

Senator, I know, you're historically literate.

Surely you know the story

of President Tiberius and his teacher Vipsinius on the journey through Africa?

Vipsinius said to Tiberius:

"You must show yourself as a leader, as a figurehead!

You must be at the head of the caravan,

and show the people that you lead the world". Literally.

This flattered Tiberius.

And he went to the top and marched...

and as was to be expected...

Zack!

Suddenly there appeared a damn panther appeared.

He bared his teeth.

Fortunately, Tiberius' bodyguard arrived

with 100 spears

and turned the panther into a porcupine.

The same evening at dinner

praised Tiberius

Vipsinius.

Vipsinius said:

"Mr. President, aren't you upset?

I delivered you to a panther!"

"Quite the opposite," he replied.

"You have taught me the most important lesson of my life.

Even for a president

is to overcome fear and shame

the most important thing in life."

But then...

Vipsinius was dragged deep into the jungle dragged deep into the jungle,

where a cannibal tribe awaited him.

And it was the cannibals the greatest pleasure,

to nail him to the trunk of a tree and eat him alive.

While he was fully conscious, they cut strips of flesh from his body

and to the music of his howling they ate and laughed

and had their fun, until he bled to death and finally died.

Madame?

What should I learn from this now?

You are an expert when it comes to survival!

You know, that it is your only task,

to look my son in the eye and say

"Yes, Mr. President.

In fact, it's the wisest choice you could ever make."

Then go home and count your money.

Not that I regret it yet, saving you from exile.

I hope your kidneys are doing better,

Seneca was many years before

because of his cheeky nature has already been sent into exile once.

This was a brutal punishment.

Exile did not mean that one withdrew retreating to lick one's wounds,

but that one more or less

was abandoned naked in the wilderness and had to feed on vermin.

Most of them got sick, starved to death or committed suicide.

But Seneca survived.

And he knew,

that he would not survive a second round of mistreatment would not survive.

Nero got more and more out of control and became more and more unpredictable.

He had killed his wife,

the stepfather and the half-brother poisoned.

All this under the supervision of his mother.

But nothing could save Agrippina,

once Nero's heart had once turned against them.

Nero planned a shipwreck, but Agrippina miraculously survived.

I have survived!

My child, I am alive!

Seneca.

I have saved you!

I saved you from exile!

Made you rich!

Please.

Seneca! Don't pretend to be hard of hearing!

I bought you your first house!

Seneca became immensely rich by writing speeches,

that justified Nero's crimes, like the murder of his mother.

I am the mommy. Don't hurt the mommy.

Mom loves you!

He received the nickname "Seneca praedives": Bonzen-Seneca.

ABOUT THE BIRTH OF EARTHQUAKES

While Nero became more and more dissolute and more aloof,

many simple Romans fell into abject poverty.

The elites had had enough of Nero. They had had enough.

Finally, Senator Gaius Piso his friends together to kill Nero

and restore order in the state.

We're gonna take this fucking guy out. Right now.

But his co-conspirators could not keep their mouths shut.

Nero took advantage of the elimination of the conspirators to clean up.

And one face he would like to never see again was that of Seneca.

Nero knew that Seneca had nothing with Piso's conspiracy,

but he felt a deep contempt

for the hubris of this old man.

Besides cheerful life advice for Rome's wealthy

Seneca led a double life.

Figs!

He staged brutal and nightmarish horror plays horror pieces for the chic upper class.

It is beautiful!

I think, beauty is good for the soul, right?

Seneca knows this.

It's just his childish sense of humor, that he's giving us all this...

vile stuff in front of you.

We dream of justice, but cannot believe in it.

Except as a fairy tale, that our grandparents told us.

Who ever looked at Argos with love or affection,

felt a certain affinity to his homeland felt,

it should appear now, for heaven's sake,

to prevent a disaster beyond all imagination to prevent.

Let the anger run free, without limits, without shame,

only monstrous evil, like sparks, that strike hateful flames.

Feast your eyes on this bloody spectacle,

that I have prepared for you!

Feast on this explosion of evil,

until your bellies burst!

I must dare something terrible!

-Not something political again? -Something monstrous!

Destroy my brother's spirit,

to heal mine!

Lord, have you learned nothing from your mistakes?

That violence, physical violence against his own flesh and blood

is an unforgivable sin?

A president must be feared!

Oh, shit! I knew it, that it would become political again.

He loves to mocking the president.

He believes he can talk his way out of anything.

Let the mob praise what it fears!

His temper cannot be controlled.

This irrational passion, this anger, this rage

must lead to disaster!

If you force recognition through fear, fear and hatred will haunt you.

True fame, true respect

does not come by command, but from the heart.

I have been brooding over my revenge for years!

All right. Which weapon shall it be? The sword? Fire?

My brother Thyestes himself will be the weapon.

THYESTES BOOK AND DIRECTION BY SENECA

Let the Father the Flesh

of his children eat.

Let him drink the blood of his blood.

Gnawing on the bones gnawing on his own flesh!

So that he feels the same ardent hatred

against himself that I have against him!

And you will make sure that no one learns of our plans!

The whole planet should shudder and break,

but we know how it will be.

Everything continues as usual

and evil becomes the norm.

God in heaven! Much too clumsy.

This fashionable pessimism! Everybody picks on past crimes.

He would get a prize for it, if only there were a sympathetic figure.

Sorry!

No, no.

Please don't!

Caught! The whole brood.

Oh, how the thought of their pain delights me!

My bloodlust, my rage!

What obnoxious delight!

How nice to see my brother!

The greatest happiness of an exile is to be back home again.

It's time for tears of happiness!

I have never begged, but, please, take my beloved children.

-As proof of my good intentions. -My brother!

Wear this crown

while I offer the chosen sacrifices to the gods.

Now they will kill the little slave boys?

I have hardly eaten, my stomach can't cope with that.

No!

No, please!

Please, no!

-Is that real? -You'd better not ask.

Damn Seneca! Always one over the target.

Are you horrified?

If the crime had stopped here, it would have been a blessing!

Even the sun was frightened before the horror that it saw there,

and stole away from the sky.

But too late to make the cruel feast unseen,

that Atreus offered to his own brother.

Now I know how the gods feel.

Their power flows through me, fires my synapses.

To my will alone the world must submit to.

It is good to be a man, better still a king,

but a God with infinite power,

this is the best thing in the world!

So.

The human soup is served up.

The father cuts up the bodies of his children,

chews the flesh of his meat.

He sips blood-soaked wine,

to wash down a piece of meat in his throat down his throat.

The last mercy for poor Thyestes

is his ignorance, but it does not last.

The blow has already been dealt and what follows now,

is the pain, the realization,

how sick the world is.

Insane and sick.

Home at last, safe and sound, my exile over, my worries forgotten!

The only thing that would sweeten would sweeten the evening are my children.

Your children are here. They can never never be taken away from you again.

I promise your paths will never part.

Your boys will nurture you. They will fill you up.

-I swear. -I will gladly accept this feast.

Thank you, my brother!

Let us drink wine in honor of the gods and be drunk!

Let it rip!

Hold on.

What about me? I can't move my hands.

The cup is like lead. The wine does not want to pass my lips.

What has come over me?

Something is not right here.

What is it?

I feel a tremor in my stomach, a quaking.

I hear noises from my stomach, that are not mine!

My heart beats with fear!

-My children! -Brother, here I have what you are asking for.

This is unbearable. What are we going to tell him?

How...

can life go on after such an evil?

How can all this shit, piss, all this poison

not penetrate the heart of the earth and blow it up?

"I want my children back!

God, give me back my boys!" Here you have them!

So give them a hug. Give them a kiss.

Nibble on her little lips.

Indulge me and give me...

... her remains, so I can give her a proper burial.

What's left of them, you already have.

What is no longer left of them... that you have too!

What is this mystery? Are they being eaten by beasts?

There is only one here, who ate them, and that's you!

You yourself have devoured your sons!

Who has ever seen seen such a terrible act?

Are there no limits?

Is there no decency in this world?

No humanity?

Who made this world what it is? what it is?

Where are they, protecting the innocent?

Whoever is in charge here, for your honor's sake,

for the sake of the world that you rule,

send down your mighty, purifying wrath upon us!

Burn this scum with your righteous fire!

Do it! Now! I beg...

No, I demand it of you!

I challenge you! Go now!

We all deserve to die!

Or...

admits once and for all that there is nothing up there.

Nothing but black emptiness.

And then we must worship the night and worship the cold

and learn death,

corruption,

the lies

and to love the hatred, because that is all there is.

Everything else was just imagination.

The gods have left us and the earth is nothing

than a miserable lump.

Why has everything beautiful disappeared?

Why did the night rise,

to drive out all light to drive out in the middle of the day?

Either we have lost the sun

or we have driven them away.

Are we of all generations the ones,

who have earned the ruin of the earth?

And their fall from the cosmic axis?

Could that be?

Applause, please!

Go! Come on! Get up, motherfucker!

Come on, you fucking pig! Go!

Go! Go!

March, march, march, march!

I told you to come up! So get your ass up!

I'll count to three, then I'll make you legs!

One!

Two!

Three!

What the fuck did I tell you? Do your fucking duty!

-Do your fucking duty! -Excellent!

I love him

Fellows like him have their uses, Mr. President.

But I'm a little worried....

... about this one. He's got a lot of energy, he's a good spender.

But I wonder, if he can keep that under control.

Watch. You can learn something from me. I know how to get it tender.

Use the time you have, and do it right.

Listen.

I have a job for you.

You seem like a good guy.

You're not afraid to lend a hand, when you have to.

If someone did something...

You know: something evil.

Do you know who Senator Seneca is?

No.

Oh, that's good.

I'll have a horse brought to you.

Friends! Here your nightmares come true!

A tremor, a cold shiver.

Truly not for the faint of heart.

Well, there is a moral to our story.

After all, this was not senseless violence.

What is required of those who are allowed to sit at the table with the president?

What are the conditions for a comfortable life?

For the many benefits, the food, the drink?

Exactly this:

to smile at the atrocities to smile at your loved ones

and say, "Thank you, boss. Any seconds?"

You eat the shit they feed you and ask for more.

As in love everything is based on transactions. Unfortunately!

Whether it is worth paying such a high price for life,

is a completely different question.

We know what makes you write to write these cruel stories,

who are so far from everything that you to the decision makers of Rome.

You spend so much time advising this soulless pack,

how to live a righteous life, but tell it only what it wants to hear.

-It'll make you mad. -I don't want to be a know-it-all.

I sense that something is bubbling up inside you, that moves you to these events.

I can't say for sure, but it is not beneficial.

Let's not read too much into it.

The piece is not about about Rome today, is it?

But about ancient Greece.

Oh, you're terrible!

But I'm worried about you. All this political stuff.

You have to be more careful when you talk about the president.

Nero would hang you by your balls... hang you by your balls.

If he knew we were watching, we'd believe in it right along with him.

Keep going! Go, go! Do not slacken!

Do not slacken!

There were rumors... jerks, that went through the capital,

that Seneca had fallen from grace.

But Seneca, Mr. Establishment, could talk his way out of anything.

Tonight's theatergoers, the crème de la crème,

were happy to be guests of the great man at his country estate,

the most sought-after place for a souper in the noble Rome.

At least in the beginning.

Remember, we die every day.

Death follows us everywhere.

How useless it is, then, to fear or shun death!

Let's say, a noose is choking your throat.

Or you fall off a cliff: Flatsch! Right onto a rock.

However you die, even if it's horrible,

at least it's over quickly!

How embarrassing to have spent so much time to have spent so much time on it,

something to fear, that will be over in a second.

Better to imagine our demise over and over again,

before he arrives, so that he can can no longer instill fear in us!

Drink up, kids. It's later than you think.

Listen, I understand. We expect a certain quid pro quo from this world.

You have done everything as the gods commanded you.

Perhaps you have even learned to practice abstinence today,

in order to get tomorrow into an even greater enjoyment or in more security.

And yet one day...

So.

you ask yourselves:

Why do bad things happen to good people?

People like us.

People like you, my dear.

And you, you bon vivant.... Oops!

Even you.

And me.

The answer is: so that others learn to endure through us.

Do you understand? That is our privilege.

We are born to serve as role models.

Well, I don't want to pat myself pat myself on the back too much...

... but fear is not on my is not on the list of contents.

Can I help you, my friend?

I am looking for the senator by name...

S... Seneca?

I am Seneca.

I...

Would you come outside come outside with me?

Everything that you have to say to me can be said be said in the circle of my friends.

No...

I don't... think so, sir. With all due respect.

Be it an overdue tax assessment

or a neighbor who wants to move the boundary between our properties wants to move,

or a distinguished fellow citizen who thinks,

I would have initiated a friendship with his most marriageable daughter.

All these disputes are for me only cause

for a conciliatory conversation among decent men

and therefore also for the ears of my best and closest friends intended.

Nothing that happens to me, I will ever ever take with a gloomy expression.

Well...

President Nero has decided that you should be executed,

because you led the assassination plot against him.

And.

he himself said to me,

that he wants to give you wants to give you a "very special gift".

You may take your own life.

Because the way I'm supposed to do it....

That would be terrible, Lord!

I would not wish I wouldn't even wish that on a dog.

So, in your place...

I would follow his advice

and would do it yourself, Lord.

Officer, what is your name?

Felix, my lord.

Felix, there's been quite a bit of quite a bit of turmoil at court lately.

Quite a lot of arguing. Loud voices. Squabbles!

Sometimes these disputes get get out of hand...

-No, sir... -Go back.

-Tell him I'll go see him.... -No.

-Mr... -We're clearing that up.

I will come to him, whenever it suits him.

And so I invite you to dine with us to dine, and over a cup of wine....

Lord!

No! No!

Lord!

The president said that you have to die! And that's all.

He said that you would try all kinds of Sperenzchen would try.

Don't try to talk your way out of it. It's no use.

You should understand that you are going to die.

Either the hard way or the soft way.

It is only up to you, but there is no other way.

There's no way out, Lord.

I can dump you right now.

But I swear, the way he wants it, it won't be pretty.

Or...

I will come back tomorrow

and collect your body.

And you do it much nicer yourself.

Then you are in the circle of your friends, if that is what you want.

My wife will be back in a minute. She'll be here any minute.

I can do it, but you don't want to. You really don't.

I understand. Thank you, sir.

May I offer you a meal before you go on your way again?

No, Lord.

You must now think about so many things.

I will not take up any more of your precious any further. Have a nice evening.

Have a good trip, officer.

-... it's not poison, but... -Paulina!

-Ah! Look at you! -Paulina!

Paulina, look at you!

-How fresh you look! -I recognize this kind of silk.

From spiders from Madagascar!

Look how your skin glows!

All the trouble and worries are blown away!

-As a friend, I'm allowed to tell you this. -Oh, dearest!

My dear husband?

Is something wrong?

With the garden, I mean. On the property?

The servants did not steal anything?

Nothing I need to take care of?

Beloved. Please. Would you?

With me...

-This green! -Who did she fuck for the dress?

Seneca would not pay it.

Beloved, outside.

Please...

She needs a new designer.

What is she wearing on her head? A snake?

Do not look for a suitable wording. What happened?

Well...

the president...

-Please... -What? -Just say what it is!

Look, dearest... Well, the fact is this:

He... He has...

... sentenced me to death.

Please, dear... Listen.

Listen.

-Listen. -What did you do?

What?

Why did you have to get involved with these people?

There were so many patrons who would have given you vineyards.

-Instead of taking them away from you! -Loveliest...

Why did you get involved with these vicious people?

I always told you, they not only have no manners,

they... they don't even have feelings

or morals or...

They are not human beings! They are miserable donkeys!

Or jackals!

Or... or hyenas!

-Did you try to kill him? -Naturally not!

I know you love drama and all that. But we have to fix this.

What do we have to do or pay, to get out of it?

That is not an option. I will...

You understand... How shall I say?

-They're going to kill me. -No.

-Yet. -No!

-Yet. -No!

No! No!

-No! -Stop it!

Why is everyone hitting me today?

You are a self-destructive ass!

Look! Look in the mirror! Look at your face!

Does this look like a with a healthy lifestyle?

A virtuous advisor for the state?

To me it looks more like like an old drunk,

who dines too well.

And Nero...

your masterpiece!

You are suffocating on the ashes of the relationships, that you yourself have torched.

My mother never wanted that I marry you.

-She said you were my ruin. -Stop it.

That I would sacrifice my best, most beautiful years I would sacrifice.

-And she was right. -Stop it.

I never told you,

but I told her that I owe it to you,

because you are a great man....

and you have earned my respect!

And now look at me! Look at me!

What will become of me?

Everyone knew that the president is a madman.

What kind of moron would take this job even take it?

Knowing that he...

Guys! You can not believe what Surprises I have brought you!

Don't be so damn timid!

You will not break tonight not the water.

While Nero celebrated,

colonized his armies other territories,

to gain resources for Rome.

When Seneca was asked to comment on this was asked, he remarked:

"A leader of a state has the right to take what he believes his people need."

Like many honorable men before me I was ready,

support a corrupt government.

But you know I did this for Rome, my friends.

You understand? For our traditions.

Don't we have to preserve our wonderful traditions?

We can not simply such crackpots

the government of our country.

Had I left the Senate or my post

as an advisor to the president,

Nero would have been been an even worse president

and Rome would be subjected to even worse abuse.

He owes me!

He owes me.

I am not talking about money.

Everything about him that resembles a human being, he owes to me.

I owe him one.

In your plays he appears as a sadistic fatso.

-You mocked his singing. -Right under his nose!

What I'm getting at: I put my life on the line,

to protect the people

from a very dangerous child with far too much power.

Always hoping...

to be able to shape his mind into something to be able to shape it.

I have tried...

Teaching someone,

who was born with the brain of a scorpion was born,

about mercy.

No! For heaven's sake, forget mercy!

I could just tell...

from my attempt to give him any

something about reason itself to teach.

I realized something today about you today, Senator.

They are supposed to educate the rich,

but really with heart and soul you are only there,

when it comes to your terrible theater performances.

They like to permanently scare spoiled little brats permanently.

Bull's eye! And now you have become become a spectacle yourself.

Devastatingly revealing. I am in agony.

-That reminds me of a story.... -Listen, Seneca.

I have to go. I have a busy day ahead of me.

-And you have a lot on your plate. -Yes!

It's not a good time for socializing.

You have decisions to make, business to take care of.

Putting things in order.

Oh, I've dealt with a thousand times I've dealt with a thousand times worse!

-Sit down, I'll get you some wine and... -Really, the children are already asleep...

You will miss an important moment in the in the history of rhetoric...

Can't you hear what he's trying to say? We don't feel safe here.

And with everything that's going on,

we can do nothing and we have to go now.

Cecilia, my darling...

I don't want you to think that I'm pressuring you or hindering you.

We're going too. With such a chaotic situation.

Everything is very emotional.

-You're very emotional. -We're sure you'll work it out.

We don't want to leave you alone, but it's hard.

We don't want the government not to have it breathing down our necks.

-You are a unique man! -Listen!

Everyone, no matter who they are, succumbs to panic,

when our senses sense that an earthquake is coming.

Is there anything that causes more horror,

as if the whole world suddenly goes "boom, boom, boom"?

Imagine. The whole world is collapsing.

There is nothing you can do about it. So there is no reason to panic.

Because you do what you can,

but let's accept it, that this is all that is possible for us.

After all, what loophole are we left with?

What help can we hope for,

when the world itself is the cause of our ruin?

The defeated are left with only one certainty:

that they cannot can hope for security.

Yeah, all right. But you are a great man!

What she wants to say: We are not philosophers.

We just want to survive.

You're Rufus, right?

-I only know you through your wife. -Everyone knows Balbina.

You have been invited here

because of the beauty of your wife and her charm?

Never mind!

I appreciate a man who recognizes and seizes his great opportunity.

Although I do not I don't share your taste in clothes.

Allow me to ask you a question. Do you know why you beat your wife?

You beat them to feel the pain and terror in your own heart

to alleviate

but it only makes the shame inside you only grow bigger.

In a few miserable years you will be dead

and all the pain, misery and shame shame weren't worth shit.

Trumpet! Lessons over!

So you can go. Let's go. Get out of here. Get out of here.

Tonight I leave behind the legacy of my life

to those who really deserve to hear this.

people, who themselves should be remembered.

So go out and be disappointed.

Go! Yes!

You fucking...

You fucking...

You fucking, fucking, fucking rich snobs!

You have too much to lose to maintain even a semblance of virtue.

Senator?

It's hard to accept such nasty rich-bashing from someone,

who, and I'm not saying this out of jealousy, lives like a maggot in bacon.

That sensual voice you have,

comes certainly well, when you get fucked.

But, "Why are you mocking me, Senator,

if you give wealth the same value as I do?"

-Did you mean something like that? -Yes, exactly!

They do not deserve your wrath!

I am Seneca.

I warn, I awaken,

i admonish, i accuse,

but I do not know anger.

Would you like to know how differently we deal with wealth?

Just out with it!

Wealth has a place in my life. In yours, it is at the center.

In summary: My wealth belongs to me, you belong to your wealth.

I see wealth as a slave,

you see him as your master.

So no more of that, philosophers from having money.

No one has condemned wisdom condemned to poverty.

Got that, folks?

Now fuck off! I'll have you pack I'll have you pack food for your dogs.

At this moment

the penny dropped for Seneca.

How he had thrown the guests had thrown out of his house,

he was suddenly struck by the realization

like a lightning strike: This is the day he would die.

And he would die soon.

It is very unpleasant to throw out unwelcome guests.

And now you may feel not welcome here either.

My God!

If you could taste of the berries, I ate last week!

From the center of Africa. I have forgotten the name of the city.

But... they just blow you away so right!

You know, the special thing about this berry

are not only the visions that causes them,

but what happens to you.

I was carried away

into a sea of stars!

It was like a hundred million bonfires.

I felt the power

of a hundred million souls,

that unite into one,

in line.

Can you feel it?

Do you feel, how the stars caress us gently?

And now I have the power,

to take in all the love and sweetness and pass it on to you.

Can you feel it through my fingertips,

how the universe wraps you in affection and care?

And wraps you up like a baby in a blanket?

I want everyone to pause!

Close your eyes!

Feel the love in the heart

and the sweetness and the goodness towards yourselves,

that my journey has brought you.

It is a special gift.

Use it while it still flows through this room!

Dear Lucia, you are...

How shall I say?

Well, shit... You are totally on drugs.

And.

before you know it,

your girlish beauty will be gone

and you will look like your sister.

Just don't go for it, Lucia.

-He mocks those he loves the most. -Are you sure?

Or maybe the people, who no longer love him. After something like that!

You get cranky, and all of a sudden we are the worst people in the world.

-I'm trying to help you! -I don't need that kind of help.

-It gives me a fucking headache. -Yeah?

Well then...

Let me tell you something,

Senator,

that you may not be aware of:

Most Senators

and most of the people who work in the Senate,

see you as this great, wise man

With great advice for life.

And then they see these ridiculous leather ankle boots

with extravagant double lacing,

which were greased with a special butter greased by virgin fingers.

And do you know who they're looking at?

A hillbilly!

A country bumpkin!

An ass-licking upstart, who wants to belong

to noble people, whom he will never understand.

-Aristocrats! -Stop it. That's enough!

Stop it, when it's at its worst, child!

-You're a walking opium crisis. -They laugh at you.

The great stoic preacher

of the simple life,

who as Nero's ghostwriter has become filthy rich!

You are a vain, hypocritical jerk.

And a coward.

You wanted to make a wig from the hair of slaves to make a wig,

to hide your cuckold bald head!

You didn't know that?

Get your fucking paws off me!

It's time for you to go, madame.

It is getting dark. Night is slowly falling.

This was an enlightening conversation.

Have a safe trip home.

And should you ever need anything, whatever,

for example, protection from common robbers,

do not hesitate to ask me for help.

Good luck!

I curse you! Only you!

Not your child bride. But your legacy.

This curse shall haunt your words,

not your stinking carcass!

For a hundred thousand years.

And no matter how much

cheap blood and guts trash theater you write,

it will not change anything.

You think we're scum, don't you?

And you are a great man, a superhuman?

Now listen to me carefully, my dear!

Let's talk turkey.

The thing that absolutely no one says to your face is...

The old woman is disturbed.

Her son has died. She is delirious with grief.

Uh, that was her sister's nephew. Actually.

Really? Be that as it may.

Here we are.

I have a gift for you, my darling.

My sweet little one.

I have been traveling. Believe me, I am overwhelmed with gifts.

I have so many gifts.

I have an ostrich egg like this....

Not this kind of gift.

I mean the ultimate gift.

Something that we as two lovers, who have enriched their minds together,

can achieve together.

Dearest...

i am so tired

I'm not in the mood for puzzles.

Take my hand and come.

Let me show you what I mean.

We used to come here all the time. Remember?

Our secret place. That was a long time ago.

-Love. We had many quarrels. -A whole lot.

If I had known how hard it would be,

to sleep next to someone who is so much older...

Dearest! My love. Please.

Just saying. If I had known about all your digestive problems,

let alone about your erectile dysfunction,

your "special preferences": the nurse, the ping-pong paddle.

Back when you could finally excrete finally excreted, and...

Dearest, shh!

Please. For me. Just listen to me for a moment.

You know, despite all our differences

I love you more than anything.

So much, it feels as if my chest could explode.

Yes, I...

I know you feel that way!

I am sorry that I hit you. I, uh...

Dearest, let me explain to you what it's like here.

-Here? -Here on this earth of ours.

Yes! I love that! Even when I was your student.

You explained everything to me.

Why things are... the way they are.

-You're not doing that anymore. -Dearest, yes I do!

Just listen.

You may think, it's the worst thing to age,

to be exhausted and die or, as my generation says,

to fade.

We do not suddenly collapse and disintegrate.

We are slowly drying up.

As I already to your body parts.

All the things, Paulina, that are so beautiful about you,

that are special about you, and I don't mean not your physical beauty...

-I want you to know that.... -That would be absurdly superficial.

-I don't even think about it anymore. -Because you are a strong personality.

Very strong.

But I want you to know,

that all the things, that are special about you,

your erudition,

your great sensitivity,

your compassion for animals,

your tenderness towards children...

That's another story. I never got over it.

The loss, the emptiness...

Could we not have a child somewhere?

We could afford We could afford an orphan.

-You wouldn't have to worry about it! -Love, stay on topic.

Concentrate. Just...

Just listen.

We all know we have to go sometime.

But when the time comes and death knocks at our door,

we cry and tremble and ask: "How can I possibly escape this?"

Save your breath.

Every journey has an end, and I must go.

And you, Paulina,

with you it takes the same course, as with all things.

That's how it was with your parents, so it would be with our children,

if we had any.

And now our time has come.

Just the two of us.

The time for a great exit!

Think of the billions and quadrillions people who will die after us.

And isn't it wonderful,

that you, Paulina, are so much braver than they are?

So much braver. You were only an actress for a short time.

But you were very good.

You know, we don't applaud and reward most of the acting,

but the best acting.

And you shall always

with a good, absolutely unforgettable finale.

You have given them something that they will remember.

And they will remember Paulina

at the absolute peak of her beauty and charm.

I know that's not as you imagined it.

But listen...

I promise you:

If you do,

the name Paulina

resonate so loudly for all eternity.

We are so privileged.

So privileged.

-So honored. -Will they...

-I'm afraid to ask. -No, no. Go ahead.

Will they not only remember my name,

but also to my face?

It's so stupid and wrong, but....

I want to be remembered how I was young and beautiful.

They will remember your face remember your face.

And beyond.

Tonight...

on this special evening

I present to you,

my loyal friends,

the yield of my lifelong contemplations.

The humble wisdom of a simple man,

of a provincial teacher,

if you want to consider Rome as a small town,

which it is.

I want to entrust entrust my legacy to you.

And PS: Paulina and I are not in the least afraid of it,

drop the curtain forever

tonight.

It is well-known, already almost a part of the Roman cultural canon,

that Socrates' last words were before his death:

"Kriton!

We owe Asklepios a rooster!"

A-S-K-L-E-P-I-O-S.

"Please, Kriton, do not forget, to pay our debt."

Since Asclepius is the god of healing,

many have concluded that Socrates gave him

for a good and peaceful departure from this world.

But maybe it was also meant as a ordinary joke! You know:

"Cock", after all, means "cock".

However. Socrates...

Who can look into the genius brain

from this record holder of the Olympic Suicide Games,

in whose shadow we all live and above all die?

He exte...

the cup full of hemlock and said: "I can't wait to see,

What's going on in the next world."

Old joker! But seriously, friends...

Wow, what a night! Wasn't it?

First of all I would like to thank you all,

dear people,

for my smooth exit from this world.

Especially probably you,

dearest Paulina,

for making my salvation beautiful

and comforting.

Well, friends, you know,

that a man himself is to blame if he suffers,

because he can put an end to his misery an end at any time,

by putting an end to himself.

I imagine God saying:

"Of all the things in this life, I have nothing easier than dying."

Pick any vein. Slit it and bleed.

I promise. You'll be gone in less than three minutes.

Suicide is a real superpower!

Death comes. He rides at night.

Show grace and let him have his way.

Be nice to him and do not resist the bridle

in your mouth.

Death comes to us all

to make equal.

Here is death, my dear.

Not as cute as my little Paulina,

but still very sweet.

Friends...

We are ready to go.

Ready to go, ready to go.

Ready to go. Ready-ness-ness!

No. I insist.

I get ready for death just like as I get ready for bed.

Just as cozy, just as happy.

Just as I would jump into bed and pull up the covers,

I will jump into my grave and cover myself.

Here. Feel my pulse. Steady blood.

Not a bit increased.

I have lived well! Now I will die well.

That is, like to die.

Friends!

My most humble thanks.

Farewell!

Friends! Oops! Where are your philosophical convictions?

Your reason, with which you to the threatening darkness

and prepared the downfall?

Have you not read my works?

Look at Paulina, this girl.

She understood, my best student.

My only masterpiece, my equal.

-When we met, she told me to me... -Love!

I am here to follow you.

My love, you prefer the glory of dying.

I don't want to forgive you your noble example your noble example.

Our bravery in the face of of our brave end

may be the same, but may your passing

win the respect of all the women who will be born after you.

I live to live up to your legacy to your legacy, master.

I am coming with you.

No, I'll do it sober. You take it, dear friend Statius!

Gentlemen!

I think we have to still have to cut something.

Friends, once again. This is it!

The grand finale.

That's it!

My Legacy.

My own death is my ultimate...

Legacy. It is...

Isn't it a wonderful thing to learn so thoroughly how to die?

He who has learned to die has escaped slavery. He is...

How could the grids...

How could...

How could...

How could the bars of a prison...

The room is spinning, really spinning!

... frighten this educated man? His way out is free.

There is only one shackle, that chains us to life,

and that is the love of life itself, and so I say to you: Farewell!

-Mr. -No, I insist. Time to go.

Senator, I am sorry. We can't take this any longer.

-What? -The girl!

Sacrificing this beautiful girl for your theatrical fantasies,

that's easy...

You should be terribly ashamed of yourself!

What? Gentlemen!

Gentlemen!

Don't ruin this moment for me!

This is a historic moment!

Wait.

Do I no longer have any authority in my own house?

Never mind!

It's okay! There is no reason to attack me in my own house!

I am peaceful!

I am peaceful!

Let me go!

Seneca...

What?

Look at you!

Obviously, this is not working.

Just as I have always said:

I truly have sawdust in my veins!

We should move to move to a more traditional solution.

Lucilius, I always have some hemlock at hand

for the purpose of contemplation.

Prepare me a cup of hemlock!

From hemlock this poison is obtained.

Thank you, my faithful friend, for letting me...

into the next scene of our drama.

Whether I give my best Seneca, when I play Socrates?

Farewell, my friend!

Guys... So once again.

One last time.

The...

is the end.

Really now.

My eyes look back many centuries.

The different eras pass by.

I see kingdoms, that rise to wealth and glory

only to plunge into nothingness.

I see magnificent cities, that degenerate into hellish places.

I see vast lands sinking under a rising sinking under a rising sea level.

Understand that there is such a thing as permanence,

the whole concept of duration, does not exist!

Time destroys everything that one has ever loved.

Everything on which one has ever has let his eyes rest.

Time is our landlord and has the last word in everything.

And not only people are toys and victims of time.

Time doesn't give a shit, whether we exist or not.

Also whole planets, galaxies,

galactic star systems

will be wiped out!

Mountains completely leveled!

Oceans evaporated!

Vaporized! Vaporized!

Affiliations, trading, leveraged.

Complete. Everything, all ties dissolved.

Cities engulfed by earth fissures, shaken by earthquakes.

Smelly, contaminated with plague fumes.

And with a devastating deluge

the planet itself will wipe out entire species

and cause a worldwide conflagration that no one can escape!

And everything that now shines in beautifully arranged splendor,

will perish in a single fire,

until everything is destroyed by the flames!

Such thoughts always cheer me up always cheer me up somehow. Funny, isn't it?

Even if it gets so bad that it leaves me at a loss for words.

Because how can something else still exist

when I am dead?

That's it.

Finally. Last but not least. The end.

I can see it.

I can see the end approaching.

The soul falls silent.

Silent. For all eternity.

I dreamed of sweets and chocolates. So...

Not dead. Whew!

Look.

Very cold.

The hemlock...

does not lead to the goal.

That worked for Socrates, but not with me.

My friend...

My good friend...

My helper, my countryman.

My dearest collaborator at my life's work.

Let's end it now.

Draw me a bath, so boiling hot...

that even the rising steam may scald you.

And without hesitation, throw me in,

even when I beg for mercy.

Throw me in there. I say let's finish it!

Do it. Please. I don't care if you burn the skin off my body.

I can no longer do the shaking....

-... endure from cold. -Master...

Don't call me that. Please. Never.

You know, it stands for everything that I despise.

But Lord, Senator, my friend!

Yeah, sure. That's what we are... Of course... What?

Lord, I know you well. I know your philosophy well.

And I feel...

-I can pass on your legacy. -My legacy! That is why we are here.

To the thoughts

of all future generations.

I have enough and I know enough of your thoughts,

that I can still add.

No! No!

-I'm not done yet! -Yes, sir.

-But the fact is, I'm not sure here. -Not ready!

-As you can see. -No, Lucilius.

-Yes, and therefore... -I assure you, dearest friend....

Nothing will happen to you. Zero, nothing.

What is more important now are these my words, these specific ideas.

These last words of the noble Seneca,

Senator Seneca, Bonzen-Seneca, who smiled kindly at every dollar.

These words, these imaginings, these fantasies,

spasms of curiosity and spontaneous perceptions,

Memories, flashes of thought, tender shivers of sensation.

You will be the foundation

of the future civilized world.

You will be the backbone

and the blood and nutrient

of this new world, which will redeem this fallen world.

This cruel world that devours us.

Don't you want to be a part of it?

A co-creator?

Do you understand? You would share the glory with me then!

How can you refuse this fame I am offering you as a gift? I offer you as a gift?

You have talked enough!

We have listened enough. And we have listened long enough.

There are enough of you, Lord, for all eternity.

I take your words with me

and you have my word that I will with the world after you.

But now let me go, damn it!

Noble, kind, good-natured Lucilius!

There were times when I had more followers than anyone else in Rome!

I need pendants!

We had a deal.

A gentleman's agreement, that you will not return until the morning,

to pick up my body.

In the morning! It's not even morning yet!

You promised me!

You promised.

I lost a tooth when I slipped.

I think I swallowed the tooth.

What happened to Paulina?

Where did she go?

My wife!

Wait! Wait!

Wait! My tooth hurts!

The president told me that you you've been pulling pranks. And indeed!

Instead of preparing for death, you tell jokes to your friends!

These are not jokes!

These are lessons for life!

The gentlemen write down down my words of wisdom.

For the future generations.

-The time is up. -You promised me until the morning!

You promised.

You promised me by morning.

Do you know what a code is, sir?

Honor?

Surely you know the word. I bet, I bet you gave a speech about it once!

Where I come from, honor means to do one's duty.

You are ordered to go into battle, then you go!

Death is waiting. You march anyway.

No crying and grumbling will help. There is no postponing.

You go in there and you do, what has to be done!

And you don't whine about it!

Now!

-Go! -You said, see you tomorrow.

It's not ready yet. Just give me...

Just give me fifteen minutes!

Is it really true? Are my words just stupid, empty talk?

Am I just speaking bold thoughts?

Or do I feel them too?

Was my contempt...

of all wealth just played?

Nothing more than a mediocre afternoon performance at the municipal theater?

How are we to know Whether our end is truly virtuous

or just another self-deluded gimmick

in the life of a man who was not only the playwright, but also the star?

The day is here,

where all masks and disguises fall.

The props are put away, the makeup removed.

The moment has come when I review my behavior

and with myself have to be hard on myself.

Everything I have said I have said or done,

means nothing anymore.

Now the going gets tough.

No turning back.

Death will pass the final judgment on me.

I will not shirk shirk my duty, my good man.

Oh, no.

Everything has its time.

And now...

harvested.

And I am prepared for it.

Wait! Wait!

One second!

See you in the morning.

My followers!

Gentlemen!

My murderer!

Have you left me too?

No matter.

I'm going to keep talking.

Until the end.

Well...

here i am

Finally.

The end.

We are born for a very short life span.

A short life span.

And even these...

Time...

flies by.

So fast, so quickly, that...

with only very few exceptions

all betrayed by life

and feel abandoned.

Is it worse for a lamp,

to be set on fire or extinguished?

We are also set on fire and extinguished.

And, ah, you know what?

The most unpleasant part of life happens in between.

What am I doing here?

Comfort.

The desperate.

They protect.

Before her... terrible...

Fear.

That is my job!

What is the word...

for a candle...

This thing.

Not that, it's different.

It is brown.

It is round.

It is small.

It's a thing...

What is this thing?

Words leave...

... me.

How...

my friends.

Can't...

Can't...

die...

Can't...

not die...

Will not die.

Because my heart and...

Brain...

and lips and tongue

do not want to give up.

Because they are afraid.

I am afraid

It hurts.

It hurts!

It hurts me.

Mommy...

it hurts me

And in the end, civilization, which Seneca had valued so much,

torn by hundreds of fractures,

like tiny cuts along the veins of a fragile of a fragile and old body.

Rome "fell" not so much, as we often hear,

but it slowly disintegrated.

Later Nero left his post as commander.

He was sentenced in absentia sentenced to death.

He killed himself in a more cowardly way than Seneca,

but faster.

It was reported by Seneca's scribe,

that his last words were a quote from Cicero,

that Seneca often repeated, as if they were his own.

The words apply to our world perhaps more than to his.

Badly started,

ends badly.

© 2022 Film Gallery 451 Subtitles: A. Bitter, H. Kimber u.a.