Original subtitles

We were all wondering

if you poisoned Marcellus.

I'm sorry, what?

Your husband's been seeing a slave.

It's betrayal, the whole secret life.

I think this is payback for Marcellus.

And I didn't see it.

- Do I know you? - I'm Vilbia.

And I'm the daughter of Augustus.

What do you need, Vilbia?

An audience with Livia Drusilla.

And what do you want with her?

My son... I want Gaius to adopt him.

I need your support.

I'm running for consul this year.

Expensive.

Domitius...

he's ruthless, ambitious.

He's the coldest thing I've ever touched.

Domitius is your direct rival for any kind of power.

Iullus has been intimate with Julia,

Iullus and I, this only happens when I'm pregnant,

so I always know my husband's the father.

Well, the party's over, Julia. So is this.

Porcia.

You are my only family, Livia.

I don't know who else to turn to.

But you need to leave Rome.

Look after my daughter.

- Oh! - Go to Egypt...

Don't forget me.

...it's there we find out who was behind the famine,

for sure.

I am pregnant...

...with your husband's son.

Find out who did this.

Whatever it takes.

You betrayed me, my love.

I never cared that she killed Marcellus.

I care that she got caught.

I need you to do something for me.

Divorce?

Exile.

She's been exiled.

Without the marriage connection,

we're meaningless to him.

We'll never avenge our grandfather

and never restore the republic.

The office of Consul

is the greatest honor Rome can bestow.

It is my honor tonight

to introduce the winners of this year's elections.

Publius Cornelius Scipio!

And Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Anything you need. Always.

Mother used to love these election night parties.

Bitching, backstabbing...

plots.

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm starting to wonder

whether she's coming back from this.

It's up to us now, brother.

Everything.

No point in being envious, my love.

If you'd taken my advice, Domitius might be ash by now.

Agrippa will be out of Rome in the morning.

I'm going to pop any day now.

Might be our last chance for a long time.

Congratulations, Consul.

You said you'd think about it.

Revenge on Livia is your passion, not mine.

There will never be a better time.

She's alone and weak...

and out of Rome.

She's already dead, Marcella.

- You just haven't noticed. - Well done, Domitius.

- Richly deserved. - Thank you.

Augustus and Agrippa won't live forever,

and sadly, your mother's gone.

We need to plan for what comes next,

unless we want it to be Domitius.

What did you have in mind?

A Triumvirate.

Everything divided equally between the three of us...

power,

land, and army.

We'd have to liquidate Domitius.

And his supporters.

I hope we don't have to liquidate Iullus, too.

My friends, can I offer either of you a dancer?

No. You can scrap the regulations

which limit the height of the tenement buildings.

I still need to see Livia.

She's still away.

I don't know where she is. What can I tell you?

Try asking Piso.

Who's that with Domitius?

Vilbia and his brother.

Businessman, sold votes to Domitius.

Thank you.

You heard from your wife yet?

Last letter I received was from Egypt,

and that was a while ago.

It's been nearly a year, brother.

You must miss her.

I know I do.

I can't bear this ludicrous charade for another moment.

- What? No, Mother... - Shh!

- Mother! - Quiet.

I know that nobody is supposed to know

what really happened,

and nobody's allowed to mention it.

But you can't keep secrets in this family.

Everybody knows what Livia did to that poor girl.

And you were right to exile her.

You know, it's not natural for a man to be alone,

and as your sister, it is my duty to tell you.

You must divorce Livia now.

You deserve to be free, to get married again

to some nice, young... girl from a suitable family...

...who can give you a son.

Not opinions,

endless scandal.

I'll take that as a yes then.

Fuck.

All your life, Livia,

you've lived with that oath you made to your father.

You were a child when you made it.

Are you giving up on me, Piso, or just the republic?

Neither.

But I know what a weight it is you carry.

And if you're weary of it all, I'd understand,

and your father would understand.

He'd want you to find something else to live for.

He would release you.

Don't worry about me.

I don't have to wake up...

every morning and look perfect,

and I don't have to clear up some fucker's mess.

I can be just...

me.

I'm happy.

I don't miss it.

This may be your life...

from now on.

Forever.

Are you prepared for that?

Nah.

Gaius will come.

Someone will come in the end,

some fucker with a mess.

They'll come.

That slave you're sleeping with...

he's getting ideas.

Waiting.

What?

We're always waiting for something.

Both of us.

Waiting for this baby, waiting for my husband to die.

Waiting for my father to die.

We're just... waiters.

And people like Domitius don't wait, Iullus.

They take what they want.

Oh, don't worry.

I'm taking it.

- Ah! Ah! - Gently.

Iullus, the baby.

It's coming, now!

Get the midwife!

- Get me home! - Fuck, oh...

Ugh!

Oh, please, let me live!

Let me live!

Ah! Ah!

Dominus!

You are the most beautiful woman in the whole fucking world!

Fuck off, Agrippa!

Four hours from start to finish! I couldn't believe it.

I love you, Julia.

- I love you, too. - I just heard!

Another boy...

- Time for a drink. - Always is.

Yes!

You're a grandfather.

Again.

Since it's you, I don't mind.

Ah.

Lucius Vipsanius Agrippa.

Welcome to Rome.

And you, little Gaius,

you get some sleep while you can.

In 20 years, you'll be drilling your cohort and...

flogging the stragglers in some camp somewhere.

And you'll be married, Julila,

with kids of your own,

and your husband stumbling round,

pissed in the nursery.

Hmm.

And...

If Drusus has any boys,

I'll set you up with one of them.

Magic.

Let's get out of here.

I want to go shopping so badly.

Were you actually having sex

when the contractions started?

I was just about to come.

It was so annoying. I couldn't believe it.

And where was Agrippa?

He was out of Rome all morning.

We knew it might be our last chance to be together,

before I gave birth.

- Ooh, the gods, I feel faint. - Oh, no.

Marcella.

Have you seen the baby?

Uncle?

Uncle.

Can I speak to you?

Now. It's really important.

I hate to be the one to have to tell you this,

but sometimes one has to do unpleasant things,

and I consider it nothing less than my duty

to you and the family.

Is this about your husband?

No, Uncle, It's not about Iullus.

It's about Julia.

Capria! Where's the Domina?

Julia! He knows... Uncle.

- He knows. Marcella told him. - Told him what?

She overheard you and Antonia talking.

She was outside your bedroom.

What?

About your affair with... you know.

I knew the minute I saw her face that she was up to something.

She was always such a sneak!

- Did we mention his name? - No.

Uncle wanted to know, but Marcella couldn't tell him.

Agrippa will kill me.

And Iullus and the children!

- But they're all his! - He won't believe that.

Tell Antonia and Iullus I have to go.

No! You can't just run away!

Not forever!

Protect my children. Swear on all the gods.

I swear.

Livia! Livia!

Piso says to tell you, someone's come!

So, these are dangerous people,

connected in Rome at a certain level,

and very unpleasant.

Even you need to be careful,

especially now, you're, er, unprotected.

This is Livia Drusilla.

Lady, my name is Vilbia,

and I come humbly to ask for your help.

My grandfather came here on a fishing boat.

Rome, the city of opportunity.

He couldn't read or write

or speak Latin...

but he was smart. He knew how to work.

And now my brother and I have land and businesses

and slaves.

But, of course, it's considered vulgar

to make money through hard work and talent,

and I'll never be accepted, politically or socially,

without the right wife.

Yours is one of the five great families of Rome.

With your influence and personal connections,

I was hoping you would arrange my marriage

to a woman of your class...

in return for my silence.

Everyone knows Augustus has brought in legislation

promoting traditional family values.

How disappointed he would be to find out his stepson,

Tiberius, once drunkenly murdered a teenage girl

in one of my brother's brothels.

Or that his other stepson, Drusus,

owes me hundreds of thousands in gambling debts.

And, yes, I have his signed markers.

As a woman, of course, you might not know

that gambling with dice is illegal in Rome...

by Augustus's own laws.

I'll find you a wife.

Don't make me come back.

Blackmailed by a pimp.

Me, daughter of Marcus Livius Drusus.

Get my sons!

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Is that wise?

All this time you've had no contact,

for their sake, and obviously you're still

toxic, politically and socially.

Get her sons.

You malicious,

stupid, little bitch!

You have destroyed my daughter and her marriage!

What?

How is it my fault that she's a slut?

She took my husband Agrippa,

and now he isn't good enough and...

I'm supposed to feel sorry for her.

That spoiled little princess bitch!

It serves her right!

Everybody has to bear their sorrows,

and you bear them like a fucking Roman!

- Fuck off. - You do not turn on your family!

Iullus.

Augustus wants us.

Who is it this time?

It's Iullus.

I cannot lose another son.

And I cannot lose my daughter!

She has disgraced the family!

- How dare you blame her! - Because she is to blame!

She has fallen well

beneath the required standard, Scribonia.

You have to go to your brother.

You have to go to Livia. Both of you.

What can she do?

She's gone, and she's never coming back.

Gaius hates her.

He won't listen to anything she says,

and what can she say anyway?

They did it!

She's not even allowed to enter the gates of Rome.

It's death if she does.

I thought you'd like that.

Nobody even knows where she is.

We know where she is.

She killed your son!

Octavia, she killed Marcellus.

My daughter has dishonored her marriage to Agrippa.

Julia's run.

But I will find her.

If Agrippa finds out,

he will divorce her.

She will be publicly shamed.

I will be publicly shamed.

Our relationship would never recover.

Bring me the head of Julia's lover.

I want him found...

Whoever he is.

Whatever it takes.

Of course.

Does anyone know who it is?

Honestly...

I-I'm just shocked.

It's hard to believe.

We need to work together, find this man.

Our wives are all close to Julia.

One of them will know who he is.

Hey.

We're with you.

We're Romans.

We hold the fucking line together.

He'll hunt me down like a dog.

Antonia will never betray you.

You should probably get over there right now.

Domitius.

What are you doing here?

Julia's lover... who is he?

I don't know.

You're her best friend.

I know you know.

Give me his name.

We know them.

- It must be someone we know. - Ow! You're hurting me!

- Who is he? - Ow, my finger! No...

No. She was too terrified of anyone finding out,

I swear on all the gods, she wouldn't tell me.

She wouldn't even tell me.

You're lying!

Ow! Aah, aah!

- Who is he? - No...

Who is he?

Domitius, please, please.

- Domitius, I'm... - Who is he?

He's...

Iullus, no! Iullus! No.

Brother, no. No!

What's happened?

Fuck, I nearly fucking killed him.

It's okay, it's okay.

Fuck.

It's happening!

The terrible thing.

My wife seems to have disappeared.

I see you knew.

I will deal with it.

With what, brother?

With what will you deal?

Where...

is...

my...

wife?

It is my understanding...

Julia has...

...dishonored her marriage...

...and her family.

"Dishonored"?

And I will deal with it.

With whom...

has she dishonored it?

I will deal with this.

She is not to be touched.

I don't kill women.

Men, though...

different matter.

She is the bond between us that cannot be broken.

There will be no divorce.

It would shame my family.

And what about my family?

I will deal with her.

I want her...

and the man...

by tomorrow night.

After that, it's over.

If you divorce her...

...we're finished.

I know.

I'm not tired.

Aren't you sleepy?

Agrippa.

- Get out. - No.

We won't.

- We swore we'd protect them. - Get out!

Out! Get out!

Get out! Get out!

Father...

Give him to me.

- He's my brother. - No.

He's my brother.

Agrippa!

Agrippa, please!

Go, go.

Livia.

Someone else has come.

And unless I'm going blind, it's a fucker with a mess.

Livia?

Why are you still here?

I told you I can't help.

Please. I don't care about myself,

but if they find out about Iullus,

he'll have to take his own life.

Well, Agrippa might kill him first.

Livia, I am begging you.

I told you to end it with Iullus years ago.

Now you get caught. What do you want me to do?

You can stay here for now, but that's all.

"That's all"?

- I'll be exiled. - Well, you get used to it.

You owe us, Livia!

When everyone was saying you killed Marcellus,

me and Iullus, we stood up for you!

Livia, she's here.

Well, I have my own problems.

Stay hidden. He'll send soldiers.

I'm not running.

Not from this.

I am going to see Livia.

- Porcia. - Cousin.

I thought you were never gonna speak to me again.

Well, you weren't straight with me.

I was in a difficult position.

Underneath Crassus with your legs open.

I heard you've been traveling.

How have you been?

You must know that I'm living under the charity

of my great uncle, Junius.

Oh, is it true what they say about him?

Worse.

He's completely impotent

and makes me submit to cunnilingus.

Yep. Debases himself like a slave.

What's it like?

Cunnilingus?

Well, Junius is 82,

but I'm just a poor widow, so there it is.

I got you a husband, if you want.

- Is that why you sent for me? - Your age.

Healthy, good-looking and rich.

But?

He's a businessman.

I will pay you well,

and the marriage will buy me some time.

Will it buy me some forgiveness?

Stay to dinner. Hmm?

I just want you to kill him.

You're supposed to be the mediator.

Kill him later, then.

Thank you both for coming.

Iullus?

Hmm.

I was wrong to interfere.

Forgive me.

I thought that I could help you talk to my sister.

She'll return to your house this morning.

For what it's worth,

she's the only person in this family incapable of lying.

She doesn't know who Julia was with.

Domitius?

Our fathers were friends.

- They fought together. - And died together.

When all this is over,

we should talk about the future, you and me.

Rome needs leaders.

Let's do that.

Off you go, then.

Nothing yet.

Apologies from Drusus and Tiberius.

They left before dawn.

They might have a lead on Julia.

I had to tell Agrippa.

We have until tonight to find Julia.

She will give us the man. We will give him to Agrippa.

It's my only shot at making this right.

Marcella has given us a list of people

who might be hiding Julia.

You two will organize the search with Strabo and the Praetorians,

my authority,

but nobody can know what you're looking for.

Domitius,

there's a house I want you to search personally.

Drusus.

Julia.

How's Iullus?

Well, he's busy looking for himself

so Agrippa can kill him.

Tiberius.

- Well, how does she think he is? - Well, fuck you!

I'm glad we killed your stupid, fucking terrapin!

Fuck!

We got your message, Mother.

Piso told us about Vilbia.

We're both very sorry.

Sorry?

Oh. I missed you.

I missed you.

Oh, fuck it. You know, I was no kind of mother.

Babies are boring. So are children.

And I loved... parties and politics,

but I mean, who doesn't?

And I hated housework, too.

All that... Roman matron shit.

Is that so bad?

Livia! Soldiers!

They're searching the house.

Stay here, out of sight, all of you.

Livia.

I'm glad to see you well.

Domitius.

What's going on?

Looking for Julia, apparently.

Caesar wishes his daughter returned to him today

to avert a severe political difficulty.

If she's not back by nightfall,

her personal slaves

will be interrogated under torture.

They will give him the name of Julia's lover.

Wow.

But why are you telling me this?

Honestly, I have no idea.

But Augustus asked me to mention it

if I happened to bump into you.

[suspenseful music plays

How's your wife?

Antonia's well, thank you.

And I'm sure we both look forward

to seeing you back in Rome... soon.

Hmm. As do I.

Well, send her my love.

Fuck.

Wait here.

How could you do this?

Well, I didn't ask her to betray her husband.

Take it all off.

Everything off.

What's going on? We wait for the Dominus.

There's no need for that.

Their clothes will remain on.

Analysis.

Julia's slaves will give up Iullus.

There's now no scenario in which he survives,

which simplifies your plans for the succession.

It might have to come to that in the end, anyway.

What?

Iullus thinks he's going to share power with me and Drusus.

What?

He certainly won't like us handing it back to the Senate.

Otherwise, the beneficiary of this mess is Domitius.

Of course.

With you in exile and Agrippa estranged,

a space opens up right next to Augustus.

And we don't want that, do we? Mother?

If anyone can get Agrippa to back off, it's you.

Am I missing something?

Is Julia not the fucker with the mess

that we were hoping for that gets you back in the game,

remind your husband that you're still alive?

Why should I? Why should I help Julia?

Hmm? Her mother put me here.

You helped with that yourself.

And Iullus is one of us!

Livia.

So, you're aware of the situation?

Yeah.

Iullus was a beautiful little boy.

Image of his father.

Sometimes even now, I feel like I'm seeing a ghost.

He is just my stepson.

But he is...

He's the only son I have now.

You are the only one that can move my brother

and control Agrippa.

Yeah, I know.

- I know. - Hmm.

You owe me, Livia.

You owe me this.

I don't know how.

I don't.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Oh.

Oh, right.

Right.

What?

Nothing.

We've been out looking for Julia.

Oh, stop it.

It's not fair.

I don't know why I did it.

I didn't think. I just did it.

Now everyone hates me.

Yes.

Are you ready?

There's no other way.

You must go to your father and confess.

You must tell him everything.

If you don't, your slaves will betray Iullus anyway.

There must be blood.

The men will have it, Agrippa will have it.

You can still save yourself and your marriage.

Your father will forgive you because he has to.

He cannot allow a divorce with Agrippa.

So, you just go and tell them exactly what I told you.

Tiberius will go with you.

Can't it be Drusus?

Oh, he has his own mess to clear up.

Don't worry.

Right.

You, um...

Porcia... she has agreed to marry Vilbia for the family.

You will take her back to Rome and arrange it.

- Now? - Right now.

Yes.

No sign of Julia.

Livia?

She was there, yes.

What did she say?

She asked after my wife.

We're waiting for Agrippa.

Will they make it back by nightfall?

Just about.

That should be it. Write it down.

Vilbia!

Drusus!

- My mother sends you a wife. - That was fast.

My mother's very efficient, and she always keeps her word.

This is Porcia,

daughter of the Senator Marcus Porcius Cato,

and a close relative of ours.

She's a widow,

and desperate to get away from her guardian

who always treats her badly.

My mother will pay the dowry.

Can she have children?

I gave my first husband two sons.

They both died young.

And you will marry me?

I will.

Her guardian's in Rome expecting you now.

Now?

My mother wants the terms of the marriage contract

agreed in principle tonight,

so there's no further misunderstandings

between our families.

I'll take care of everything.

We're going to be relatives, you and I.

I might pay you back one day.

Well, if you're going to do it, do it.

No, no. Please, no.

No!

- Help me. - That won't be necessary.

Stepfather.

Agrippa.

Julia's back, of her own free will,

and asks humbly for your forgiveness.

She swears before the gods... her children are Agrippa's.

Her brief and only disgrace

began during her most recent pregnancy.

I want his name.

Please...

Who is it?

Tell him.

...towards the dowry.

Fuck.

Wedding's off.

Excuse me.

I'll send someone to clear up.

I had no idea it was Vilbia.

I barely know the man. I don't know what to say.

You could always say sorry for bringing someone like that

into our house, given the consequences.

This...

stays in the family.

Forever.

Of course, Augustus.

Thank you, Tiberius, Iullus.

- What the fuck? - Leave us.

Livia.

Of course.

You didn't deserve it.

I'm really sorry, Iullus.

I never regret a moment.

You had everything you wanted, and you threw it all away.

I had everything you wanted.

Maybe that's why.

Oh! Oh, my... Oh!

It's all right. Someone's coming to clear up.

Oh...

- Go on, then! - Daddy?

Ah!

Oh, so you hadn't forgotten me.

I had.

What took you so long?

Oh...

It was Domitius behind the famine.

As you suspected.

Can we prove it?

Well, the proof died while we were talking to him.

Welcome back, Tycho.

What do they want?

Gaius.

I missed you.

Oh... same.

She's fucking done it.

We're back.

Thank you for finding Julia.

Well, Julia's a free spirit.

She hates other people's rules.

She is absolutely your daughter.

It's not her I'm worried about.

It's Agrippa.

Has he ever spoken about adopting his sons?

- Agrippa? - Yeah.

No.

Well, he probably thought you might refuse.

He knows it's a lot to ask.

A special honor...

which would bind you together.

Again.

Agrippa, Julia.

Tonight we celebrate the adoption of my grandsons,

the sons of Agrippa,

Gaius...

and Lucius.

One day they will join Domitius,

Iullus,

Tiberius,

and Drusus...

in shaping the future of Rome.

Family.

- Family. - Family.

- Family. - Family.

Wine's good.

Oh, no.

Livia.

Well, thank fuck for that.

The cockroach you can't squash with your sandal.

We'd cut the role of Senate.

It wasn't Vilbia Julia was sleeping with.

Who was it, then?

Exactly.

It was fun while it lasted.

No, it wasn't.

My Lord, the Chief Vestal is here with your will.

Excuse me. I'll get rid of her.

- Gaius. - Turia.

- Good to see you. - Welcome.

We have brought you the will, as requested.

Is he changing his will?

Agrippa's sons are next in line to succeed, suddenly.

A sacrifice I had to make.

We need to talk tomorrow.

It took you long enough

to come through on our deal.

Nothing in it for me.

Some people might think you were kidding.

No one who knows me.