03x01 - The Return of the chosen one

[bunniefuu]

This programme contains
violence, very strong language,

and scenes that some viewers
may find distressing.

QUANE: All the
children must suffer,

and all must play their part.

Perish or transcend.

Why me?

AULUS: Wait, stop, stop.

Are you pissing in my bath?

Nobody

pisses

in my bath.

♪ BAKER GURVITZ ARMY:
HEARTS ON FIRE ♪

VERAN: May the gods speak!

The demon of Rome is
here. [CROWD CHEERING]

♪ Miles of blaze In
the evening sun... ♪

There'll come a day when
I will call upon you.

You must be ready.

ANDRA: There remains one hope.

A maiden,

who, if she pleases the gods,

may save us.

Actually...

You will actually become a fish.

You mean the same way I actually

became a bird?

[SPLATS] Oh, sh*t.

♪ ..The battle has just begun ♪

AULUS: True battle

does not always
unfold upon the field.

Sometimes, it's the one
man you need to fear.

Brother...

You want the Druid,
I want the maiden.

MAN: I will find her.

[SCREAMS]

[YELLS]

The prophecy, the whole story
is about to come crashing down.

HARKA: Hello, little brother.

[SWORD SQUELCHING]

[GASPS]

This guy was going
to k*ll you, right?

[DISTANT INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[CHILD LAUGHS]

AULUS: Oh, oh...

[AULUS LAUGHS]

Woah, watch your flank.

You watch your flank.

Come on, you call
yourself a soldier.

[AULUS IMITATES SCREAM]

I am vanquished. [GRUNTS]

BOTH: LAUGH

When is the ceremony?

When I get back from Egypt.

Do you get new armour?

Yeah, and a helmet. And
a bust in the Senate.

Will I be a general one day?

Well, that depends.

On what?

On whether you'll
make it as a soldier.

I mean, can you march all
day, can you sleep in a ditch,

live off spiders... Spiders?

And frogs. [LAUGHS]

General Aulus...

Mighty emperor.

When you travel to
conquer distant lands,

I command you to take
your son with you.

Come here. Come.

[KISSES]

Do you still miss her?

I want to show you something.

You see that star?

The tiny one, far away
from all the others?

The yellow one?

Exactly.

That was your
mother's favourite.

She called it her little light.

And she'd sing to it at night.

So, whenever it gets
dark and you're lonely,

you look up into the sky,

and you find that
star and you sing.

And she'll be listening.

Will you ever marry again?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
[DOGS BARKING]

You need to come with me.

Where are we going?

It's not far.

What is this place?

WHISPERS: A tunnel.

Which God does it honour?

The only God.

Dad?

I'm scared.

We'll meet again.

You go now.

[AIR BLOWING]

[KNIFE SQUELCHING]

- ♪ T.
- REX: CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION ♪

♪ Yeah!

♪ Well, you can bump and grind

♪ It is good for your mind

♪ Well, you can twist and shout

♪ Let it all hang out

♪ But you won't fool the
children of the revolution

♪ No, you won't fool the
children of the revolution

♪ No way!

♪ Hey!

♪ Woah! ♪

People of Verulamium, on
behalf of the emperor,

Aulus Plautius is
this day honoured

for the capture and
quelling, this past winter,

of the fortress of Isca.

[CROWD INDISTINCT IN BACKGROUND]

Hail the gods!

ALL: Hail the gods!

Hail the gods!

You know, I've been about,
north, south, east, west,

never in all my time
have I met a bigger bunch

of devious, lying,
untrustworthy, ungovernable...

And don't get me started
on those two twice-in-line,

pious, pompous,
skinny-arsed brothers!

Don't know which one
I'd sooner throttle.

And now, just when I get
an inch with one of them,

he f*ck' dies!

And you know who this makes look
like a prize twat, don't ya?

Me!

Why is the girl so
important to you?

What did she do? It's
not what she's done.

It's what she's going to do.

I don't understand.

[SIGHS]

Forgive me.

I know what Isca
cost you personally.

I only did what I wanted to.

Your bidding.

Come here.

What's the matter?

What's that?

Aulus, what is it?

♪ DAVID GILMOUR: m*rder ♪

Hello, old friend.

♪ Some of them standing
Some are waiting in line

♪ As if there was something that
they thought they might find

♪ Taking some strength from the
feelings that always were shared

♪ And in the background
The eyes that just stared

♪ What was it brought
you out here in the dark?

[GRUNTING]

♪ Was it your only way
Of making your mark?

♪ Did you get rid of all
the voices in your head?

♪ Do you now miss them and
the things that they said? ♪

[DRUMMING AND CHANTING]

Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!

Not now, love. Daddy's having
runes carved into his head.

WOMAN: Behold! ALL: CHEERING.

Oh, thank you.

I look forward to
one day finding out

what they may possibly mean.

Phelan is no more.

From this day forward, you shall
be known by your novice name.

From now on, you are...

Quant.

Quant?

Quant.

Excellent.

[CROWD CHEERING]

If you ask me, and you didn't,

that's a mistake.

There's no way he's
Druid material.

Then you won't like
what I'm about to say.

Oh, no.

School him in the
ways of the Earth.

No, no, no... The wind,
the fire. Show patience,

forbearance, force when
necessary... Sweet gods, no.

As you in turn were shown
by me many, many moons ago.

I'm Veran's Arrow, the Guardian,

mentor to the Chosen One.

Really?

And how did that go?

It's Veran's will.

Do the Veran's
will, Veran's Arrow.

Not a moment to lose.

Qua...

[SIGHS]

[SCOFFS]

Morning, princess.

That's close enough.

How's the child? Make
it through the winter?

It's tough out there in the
cold, especially for royalty.

What do you want?

Rome will meet with
the Veran, alone.

Tell Rome to go f*ck himself.

[LAUGHS]

Ah, princess.

It's priceless.

One minute she's sat on
her arse in a castle,

two winters on, she knows
the mind of the Veran.

Why should I trust you
when Veran doesn't?

Because unlike you,
I actually know him.

Think I'm stupid, witch?

Easy, princess.

You call me that once more.

Where's the meeting?

The first full moon,

less than two days' time.

Well, I can hardly wait.

ANIA: The witch spoke
of the Chosen One.

What did she say?

Rome would stop at
nothing to get her.

But, if we give her up,
there would be peace.

There is no peace
but through her.

And Rome knows that.

That's why he
wants her so badly.

How did Rome know of her?

Druids are not the only
ones with the prophecy.

And what if it's a trap?

Who says it isn't? Hya!

[GUARDS STOMP]

I'll be back in three days.

Aye, General.

Make sure no one comes in and
out of the villa while I'm gone.

You can manage that,
can't you? Of course.

No, I'm serious. I want you to
keep an eye out. Come, let's go.

Hya. Hya.

Hya.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

That's amazing.

Ten thousand years old and
you never look a day older.

Oh, is that new?

The, uh, scar?

Now, don't get me wrong, I like
it, you know. Adds something.

Makes you look rugged.

Well...

I don't wanna keep you, so
I'll get right down to it.

It seems to me I've
got you over a barrel.

And not just over a barrel,

but, tied to it,
frock up, pants down.

And I don't have to tell
you, a man of the world,

what happens next.

Fourteen moons ago,
I came to bargain.

And you told me the
gods don't deal.

And I thought to
myself, you know what,

I'm gonna have to teach
that skinny c**t a lesson.

So, with your Cantii
queen, your witch

and your mysterious if
slightly irritating brother,

I walked into your gods' house
and I blew it to kingdom come.

And the best part is,

I didn't even have to
get out of bed to do it.

Listen, Hallam.

Oh, do you mind if
I call you Hallam?

[CHUCKLING] From
the western hills.

Son of a shepherd.

You know, when I found out
you weren't 10,000 years old,

you could have knocked
me over with a feather.

Just plain Hallam.

Last in a long
line of poor fools

who call themselves the Veran.

We both know why
you're here, Rome.

Forty moons and you
still haven't found her.

How is that playing
with your master?

How patient is he, Rome?

I've come to make you an offer.

What offer?

Your time is over.

I mean, you know it, I
know it, your gods know it.

We know which way
the wind is blowing.

It doesn't have to be like that.

I can make it stop.

What's the offer, Rome?

A sanctuary.

All the lands from the black
mountains to the southern plains.

And Isca with it.

Your lake of tears,
all returned.

Place where you and you
guards can thrive and prosper.

Unbothered by us.

Just like the old days.

In exchange for what?

The girl.

[SCOFFS]

Now, I know what
you're thinking.

What with your prophecy
and all, but things change.

I know you can go back

and square this with the
Druids and the tribes.

Come on.

I mean, we've helped
each other out before.

When you chopped up
that king for me, huh?

What's his name?

You would not be here
if you were not afraid.

The Chosen One was weak once,

but with every moon,
she gets stronger.

And your master grows
more and more restless.

More angered by your failure.

Do not presume to
know my master's mind.

Oh, I know your master
better than you think.

Have you never asked yourself why
I let you in to the Underworld?

It's because you don't
enter the Underworld.

The Underworld enters you.

You know I never thought I'd say
this, but I miss your brother.

[DOVES COO]

You think you understand
this game, Rome?

Think again!

[BONES CLACKING]

Morning. Morning.

Sorry, I don't know your name.

Quant. [SCOFFING]

Quant? I think that's
how you say it.

[SCOFFS] Alright.

Well, I'm, uh...
I'm here to, uh...

I was chosen by Veran
to mentor the Chosen One

and I'm going to be
teaching you some stuff.

So, you're my mentor?

No, no, no. Not your
mentor. More of a...

A what?

You know...

I genuinely don't.

Sorry, I'm not being clever,
I just don't have the first

idea about being a Druid.
Let's jump in, shall we?

I mean, I know they
k*lled both my parents.

And stopped me being king.

And were key players
in my sister's m*rder,

but, apart from that,
they're a complete mystery.

So, let's get started.

See this?

This is frog moss. Yeah.

This...

Paper weed.
WHISPERS: Paper weed.

That patch over
there... thistle spear.

Uh-huh.

I want you to put this on,

and go off and
fill it with these.

This moss, this weed,
and that blue herb.

OK, thistle spears.

Yeah, got it!

Aw, it smells nice.

[SNIFFS]

It's poisonous.

Swallow that, you'll
sh*t both lungs.

[GULPS WATER, SPITS]

So [PHELAN SPITTING, GROANING]

Frog moss, paper weed

thistle spear. Yeah.

See you later.

Under this oak, yeah?

Beech?

Sycamore? Never.

Not once did I imagine the price
of failure will be this high.

[HORSES GALLOPING]

Where's the General?

Gone for a walk.

Where?

Didn't say.

You don't like him, do you?

No soldier likes his general.

But you despise him.

He k*lled your sister.

Destroyed your home.

Winter turns to spring,
you're still here.

And you have a
theory about that.

Do.

Either you're made of stone,
or you're planning something.

Come on, take your
pick. I don't have to.

But whatever it is, he
already knows about it.

What about you?

The Romans destroyed your home.

m*rder*d your
friends and family.

And yet here you are...

[PEN THUDS]

We're in the same
boat, you and I.

You have no idea what
you're talking about.

I saw you

let that man in
here the other day.

I saw him leave with
the General's sword.

And what are you
gonna do about it?

Perhaps we can help each other.

[HORSES NICKERING]

[DOGS BARKING]

[DOOR CLOSES]

What's your plan?

I'm gonna k*ll the General.

And you're gonna help
me. His master is strong.

If you mean Lokka,
I'm not afraid of him.

Many gods, one god,
what's the difference?

You walk a dangerous path.

These marks on your face,

which god did they honour?

Do you even remember his name?

I've seen so much blood.

All caused by phantoms.

You want to be free,
Vitus, really free?

Then help me.

How?

What's the name of your god?

The one who protects you, the
one who knew you as a child?

I do not know him.

Your new god can't protect
you now, you know that.

What's his name?

Her name is Sekhmet.
And what's your name?

VITUS: [ECHOING] My
name is [INDISTINCT].

[AIR WHOOSHING]

[INCENSE BURNER
CLATTERING, CHANTS ECHOING]

[SHELLS CLATTERING]

[CHANTING CONTINUES]

[RUSTLING]

[MAN YELLS]

[DOGS BARKING]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

Oh, no.

[HORSES NICKER]

[LEAVES RUSTLING]

Thistle spear.

Frog moss.

Hello. Hello, hello, hello.

[SIGHS]

[SOFTLY] Boy, look at that.

Look at that, look at that.

[EXHALES] Oh. Hello.

Here's one.

What if the Romans win, hmm?

What if they wipe us out and there's
no one left to worship our gods?

What do they do then? They
can't die. They're gods.

So, do they just sit around,

watching the Roman
gods get on with it?

What happens when, one day, the
Roman gods die or get pushed aside,

and there's a whole
bunch of new gods?

Which begs the question,

were there gods before our gods,

who our gods pushed aside?

Here's my point. I'm
worried that, somewhere,

there are all these old gods,

just sitting around,

doing absolutely nothing.

You don't worship anything.

But you're here.

Just like I am.

[SIGHS] What's gonna happen?

[DOOR RATTLES]

When did they get
here? This morning.

[GIGGLING]

HEMPLE: Let's drink.

[CHUCKLE ECHOING]

Eat.

[LAUGHS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING
AND GIGGLING]

So, how was your journey?

What's that?

That? Oh, it commemorates
a recent victory.

Victory? Yes.

The capture of a crucial
stronghold in the west.

BLAINE: A crucial
stronghold in the west.

Blaine.

It's been a while.

I have indeed been
here quite a while.

But don't worry. We've
not forgotten you.

Well, help yourself
to wine. Hmm.

What happened to the
finger? Oh, erm...

I shut it in a door.

[WINCES]

[SNIFFING] [OWL HOOTS]

I want to be alone.

With my husband.

Come along. Let's leave
these two to catch up.

[FOOTSTEPS RECEDING]

You look well. You look fat.

The spoilt boy who spent the
summer drinking buttermilk.

Yes, well, I've missed you too.

Lokka is angry.

You were sent to do
his will... [GASPS]

And you failed.

Well, first of all, my
darling, who says I've failed?

Then where is she?

It's not that simple.

You were sent here
for one reason.

Now everything we
have worked for,

everything we've achieved
is about to be destroyed.

Do you know what he'll
do to you? To us?

So, is that why you're here?
To give me a telling off?

It's not my wrath
you should fear.

I came here to do his
will and I'm doing it.

These Druids are not like
the others we've faced.

And their powers run
deep. Their gods are old.

They're in the soil,
the rivers, the blood.

So? So, it takes time.

We don't have time.

Perhaps Lokka still loves you.

But for how long?

You let me worry about that.

[BOTTLE THUDS]

Don't forget who it was

chose you to serve him.

How could I?

[LAUGHING]

What are you doing?

Hey. Having supper.

Where are they? Where's what?

The frog moss. The paper weed!

The thistle spear!

I couldn't find any.
What do you mean?

The whole forest is
stiff with the f*ck!

Yeah, but I couldn't find any.

Found something
else, though, look.

Two days ago, I
met with the Druid.

Now, he's a stubborn one,

but I know he's
about to cooperate.

Oh. Why is that?

I've hit him where it hurts.

Ooh. Place called Isca.

It's their most sacred
spot and I've captured it.

You said yourself, their gods
are in the soil, the rivers,

so, how can capturing
one stronghold hurt them?

Well, like most things, dear,
you're missing the fine detail.

f*ck the fine detail.
Lokka wants results.

I chose you because you're fast,

strong.

Are you still strong,

or just a fat puppy?

Well, you try me.

[SNIFFS]

[CONTINUES SNIFFING]

Well, well,

what have we here?

[THUNDER RUMBLES,
WATER TRICKLES]

BLAINE: What's your name?

I'm Praefectus Vitus Validus.

I had a dream about
a man like you.

[THUNDER RUMBLES IN DISTANCE]

He turned into a snake.

Do not touch me again.

She's a queen of
lands west of here,

and she's been a valuable asset.

She knows magic. Oh,
she thinks she does.

Is she a good f*ck? [CHUCKLES]

You know, my love, if I
didn't know you better,

I'd say you were a tad jealous.

I've seen you f*ck a dog, Aulis.

What is

this?

Oh, that, it's, erm...

It's a sword. One of the children
were playing with it outside.

Ooh. [CHUCKLES]

Doesn't look like a sword.

What else could it possibly be?

By the way, where
is your bumcha?

The Praefectus?

Lucius? He's gone.

Gone? Yes.

He was injured in the landing
so we shipped him home.

And miss all the fun?

Where's your sword?

It's, erm.

[BANGING] out.

Getting polished.

[SCRAPING] Polished?

Yes. And engraved. [CHUCKLES]

[SNAPPING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

We found this

stuck in a stump.

Recognize it? It's a sword.

Has your name on it.

Oh, yes, and they've spelt it
right. That's nice, isn't it?

It's lovely and shiny. You
can see your face in it.

Send for her.

[WOLF HOWLING]

[AIR WHOOSHING]

It's been some time since
I looked into these eyes.

These eyes look older.

The things they've
seen have changed them.

Just as the things ahead
will change them further.

When I look into your
eyes, I can see everything.

Your fear.

Your terror.

Your weakness.

I also see some wisdom.

But you're not yet wise.

There's much still to learn.

Your name's Hallum.

You were born in
the Western Hills.

You were taken from
your home by the Druids.

You were too young to
know what was going on.

Before you knew it, you'd
forgotten who Hallum was

and you were lost.

And they shaped you.

Trained and forced you to
turn into something else,

something that you never were.

They told you it
was meant to be.

And you felt like you
didn't have a choice.

It was written.

But you knew you were lost.

And you knew you would stay
lost until you found a way out.

'Cause you didn't choose this.

You didn't choose any of this.

[CRACKLING]

Ah, Hemple.

This is Queen Amena
of the Cantii.

Queen Amena, this is Hemple...

My wife.

I'm honoured to meet you.

So, tell me.

How do you like
my husband's c*ck?

Oh, don't worry, my dear.

When a soldier is far from home,

for years, in this case,

he is won't to take a
wh*re to end his lusting.

To release tension.

Keeps him focused.

Makes a change from
w*nk*ng into a sock.

Isn't that right, darling?

My husband says he trusts you.

Is he right to?

Before you answer,
you must know that

my reason for being here

is not to catch up with old
hubby here. No, no, no, no, no.

I'm here on very, very
important business.

So, what we need to know,

when it really comes down to it,

is who is a friend

and who is a snake?

[SNIFFS]

"I've seen so much blood.

"All caused by phantoms."

"You want be free,
Vitus, really free?"

"Then help me."

[GIGGLES]

Tonight, my fellow travellers
and I will hold a feast.

To celebrate this wonderous
reunion with our fated General.

Come. [GIGGLES]

You say you came here
to find the truth.

I think there's another reason.

Tell me, child, why did
you really come here?

These past months,
I've seen things,

done things I never
thought I would.

Many times I've been lost.

Afraid.

But the thing I was most
afraid of, it wasn't fire,

or water, or even death.

It was love.

When I found it, that's
when I truly changed.

Because, for the first
time, I felt like me.

Before the sun set, it was gone.

And I miss it.

I miss being me. I just

want to be me.

So, that's her, eh?

That's her.

She didn't look that
pleased to see you.

What's your point? Hey, look,

I know that she's
been through a lot.

A significant amount
of it is your fault.

Yeah.

When I k*lled that boy, I
was absolutely convinced

that I was doing
the right thing.

And then I discovered
I was wrong.

But, and here is the part...
I thought she was annoying

if I hadn't... ..she
wouldn't be here now.

Exactly. Exactly. She'd be lost.

But she came back.
Congratulations.

Hey. Don't thank me.

Man who did that was
called Phelan. Good.

Or Rolf. Listen...

Quant, if it's all
the same with you,

I'll get through this next bit

without your profound insights.

I mean, I've got this.

I know what's going on.

Suit yourself.

[SPLASHING]

Evening, Abdul.

[VITUS GRUNTING]

Oh! [CLATTERING]

[GRUNTS]

[COUGHS]

[INHALES SHARPLY]

Have you never wanted to escape?

Escape to where?

What is my name?

It's written... here.

Tell me my name
or I cannot go on.

You're not ready to know.

Tell me...

If I'm to trust you.

Aulus Plautius.

ALL: Aulus Plautius.

Marriage

is a long, hard journey.

And sometimes, we lose the path.

Weakness beckons.

Veils are drawn.

And, so, this day, we will
renew the vows we made.

And the sacrament
we shared that day.

As we shed ourselves
of the veils,

the fears,

the weaknesses.

Your name...

Let us feast.

[FIRE SIZZLES]

Your name is...

f*ck the gods. [GRUNTS]

[GROANS AND CHOKES]

My name is Cait.

[PANTING]

Shall I be Mother?