02x08 - A Necessary Fiction

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In the dawn of our history,

we men of Rome were strong
and fierce.

But also uncouth
and solitary creatures.

It was only when we acquired wives...

that our rise to greatness
truly began.

It is the women of Rome...

with their steely virtue
and chaste morals...

who have conquered the world.

It is by their virtuous light...

that we men have trod
the perilous paths of glory.

It is the women of Rome...

who guarded hearth and home
while we men burnt Carthage.

It is the women of Rome...

like the she-wolf that
suckled Romulus and Remus...

who have raised a nation
of wise statesmen...

and invincible warriors.

And on behalf of we men.

I take this moment to thank you all.

When the time is right,

I shall make sure that you women
are rewarded for your virtue.

In the future, I shall enact laws
that reward fertility...

and sanctity in marriage.

I shall enact laws...

that severely punish adultery,
promiscuity...

and vice of all kinds.

That's very good.

I shall remember that one.

If you'll excuse me.

- What did you think?
- Your speech?

Strong stuff.

Very amusing.

They bought it wholesale.

I mean every word.

Yes, I really think you do.

For myself, I suspect that
the women of old Rome...

were a parcel of wh*res
and termagants.

We shall agree to differ.

There's the young piece
I was telling you about.

She's very presentable.

As ordered.

Impeccable family,
young, healthy, proven fertility.

- How many children?
- Just the one.

A son, Tiberius.

Introduce me.

Caesar, may I present Alfidia
and her daughter Livia?

Honored.

Tell me.

How would you like
to be married to me?

I would like that...

if my husband does not object.

What is his name?

Claudius Nero.

I know the family.
They're good patriotic people.

They will not say no to a divorce.

No, I'm sure not, sir.

Excellent.

See to the details.

She'll do nicely.

Now that other business

before I dive back
into this female swamp.

Herod's gold is offshore at Ostia
waiting on the high tide.

I've been liaising
with Antony's man, Posca

on the details of delivery.

We were thinking of using
the Aventine Collegium...

for transportation,
if you are agreeable.

It's a good idea.

They have men allied both to myself
and to Mark Antony. That's good.

Make sure the entire business
is invisible.

I want complete deniability.

If the bribe comes to light,
it must be Antony's fault alone.

Papa, when we get to Jerusalem,
Will uncle Levi be there?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Remember when we first met?

Your cousin's house.

Yes.

I saw you and I thought, there.

There is a good man for me.

Maybe not such a nice dresser
as I would like, but a good man.

It's been many years now.

And you have never proved me wrong.

Papa, are we there yet?

It's gorgeous.

I can have it?

Anything you like, my love.

My little caramel.

Why don't you...

go inside and see...

if there's anything else you like?

How good you are to me!

Off you go.

Take your time.

You might have chosen
a less conspicuous conveyance.

This is my third-best litter.

You are quite nondescript
enough for the both of us.

Has the...

Has the Judean shipment arrived yet?

God, you needn't worry about them.

They don't understand a word we say.

Do you, my darlings?

The lower orders understand
more than you think.

Really, you are too absurd.

We are stealing from our own chiefs.

No precaution we take is too absurd.

I wouldn't call it stealing.

It is merely small commission
for services rendered.

They won't even notice the shortfall.

Don't fool yourself!

We are thieves.

If Antony or Octavian discover it,
we shall both die!

They won't discover it.

Where and when shall we
extract our share?

The Aventine men will make delivery
to the Temple of Saturn by night.

You and I will be alone
with the gold until day.

Bring sl*ves you trust.

- Hello, Maecenas.
- Jocasta.

Why on earth do you travel
in such a garish litter?

I thought sure my husband
was intriguing with an actress.

Or some such trollop.

How amusing.

So where are we going?

The gold will be in Ostia
tomorrow. Argosy docks.

Ship's name. Triton's crown.

We take it from there.

By river or road?

I'm told Octavian and Antony's men
will take it by river.

So we'll take it by road.

To avoid any leaks at their end.

Clever.

No one, no one must know
what the shipment contains.

Secrecy is essential.

I'll use Rasca and his boys.

They're reliable.
They don't ask questions.

Good.

But...

Pullo's going to
handle this, not you.

But I always handle Ostian business.

This is different.

You don't trust me, is it?

I trust you.

Octavian and Antony,
they both know Pullo.

They trust him.

Anything should go wrong,
it won't come back at us.

It's all right.

I understand.

Third f*cking man.

Your tea, Domina.

Help!

Help, somebody!

Help!

Get a doctor!

Get a doctor! It's Eirene!

There's blood.

There's blood!

She'll put you right. No trouble.

I don't think.

She will.

Please, no burning.

In my country, we are buried.

Don't talk like that.

No burning.

Put me in a black shroud...

and bury me...

in an open field.

No trees.

No trees.

You are not dying.

Promise me.

I'll not promise anything.
You are not dying.

Promise me.

When you're old and grey.

I promise I'll bury you.

If I'm still around.

You'll probably be on to
your second husband by then.

The baby.

Was it boy or girl?

Boy.

Bury him with me.

Don't be sad.

You make me cry.

You Gods that might know
this woman as one of your own

please listen to me.

We here call her Eirene

but she was called Adela
where she came from.

Somewhere beyond the Rhine.

Not sure exactly where.

Any road, you'll know her.

She was a good woman.

She always spoke very highly of you.

So please...

look after her and our boy.

My name is Titus Pullo,
ex-thirteenth legion.

Her husband.

Wasn't always as good to her
as I should have been.

I give my life to you
to use as you like

if you'll see that she's happy now.

It's Mascius, sir. There's trouble.

Go on.

Be still, Mascius. Be still.

Careful, you b*stard.

I'm not poultry.

What happened?

Ambushed.

Just before we got to
the Ostian gate.

All but me and him are dead.

- The gold.
- It's gone.

Do you have any idea
who it was attacked you?

No.

They were good, though.

They didn't give us a chance.

And brother...

they were waiting for us.

All right.

Call on every man.

Tell them to cover the city.

Pay coin, give t*rture,
k*ll if necessary.

Find out who did this.

You, sit with Pullo.

Make sure he has everything he needs.

I've men out all over the city
looking into it.

We'll find out who's responsible
soon enough.

You can't keep
a thing like this quiet.

For a man who has lost his masters
a fortune, you show little shame.

I took all proper precaution.

I used my best men.

You used Titus Pullo?

No.

Why? He is your best man.

His wife died in childbirth
yesterday, so I used another man.

I see. I see.

Very convenient.

I do not take your meaning.

The one man we know
Octavian can trust...

is replaced at the last minute
by who-knows-who?

That's very convenient.

Are you accusing me
of being involved in this?

I could just as easily accuse you...

- or Lepidus, for that matter.
- That's ridiculous.

No one is accusing anyone.

Could it be that
one of your own men betrayed you?

Anything is possible, but I doubt it.

Why?

They are scared of me.

- Then who?
- Good question.

If not one of my men, then who?

Do not lay the blame elsewhere.

You had custody of our property.

Its loss is your responsibility.

I understand that. I will find
your property and I'll bring it back.

Be sure that you do.

You know the consequences of failure.

I'll tell you who it was.

Gauls.

I'll wager any amount of money
it was Gauls.

They breed like rabbits, you know.

No notion of working for a living.

Thieves, the lot of them.

I know it was you.

I know.

You and Antony have
double-crossed me.

I assure you...

No, no, no.

I assure you.

You'll both pay.

Brother Vorenus. Welcome.

Sit. Have some wine.

Make a way for the captain, boys.

Come alone?

Are you... celebrating something?

No, we're just happy sort of people.

Property in my charge was stolen
on the Ostia way last night.

Oh dear. What sort of property?

Property belonging to the state.

That's not good.

Peeved, I'll bet, the quality.

They are.

Wasn't us, was it?

With state property? Us?

No, we wouldn't dare.

No, wasn't us.

I didn't say it was.

Just a social visit then?

If you happen to hear
who it was did this

- I'm sure you'll come and tell me.
- Certainly.

Can't have people robbing
a fellow captain.

It's humiliating.
It makes us all look bad.

What was it exactly,
this state property?

That doesn't matter.

Can't help if we don't know
what we're looking for.

You're right.

Never mind.

You've helped
more than enough already.

Thank you, Memmio.

I will see you again soon.

Always a pleasure.

My advice?

Look to your own people.

This kind of affair is
nearly always someone close.

Go tell Cotta, Acerbo
and the other captains...

I need to see them today.

- Acerbo?
- You heard me.

I wish you would take this
a little more seriously.

These things happen.

It's a great deal of money.

More money will come from elsewhere.

There are a thousand rich dukes
and satraps that want to be kings.

But you were robbed as if
you were some petty grocer.

Tell me, why do you take
such personal offense at this?

It is a gross personal insult to you.

Someone somewhere is
always insulting me.

It's the price of fame.

Mark Antony is not someone somewhere.

He is your colleague
and your brother-in-law.

If you have proof that Mark Antony
is responsible, then you tell me.

Who else knew of the shipment?
Who else could it be?

- Lepidus?
- It could very possibly have been.

It's very likely it was an accident.

There are no accidents.
It was Antony.

Since we reconciled, he has been
just and honest with me.

I'm not going to
jeopardize our alliance...

because you dislike the man.

I know for a fact that...

he's been neither just
nor honest with you.

He's been making a fool of you.

What do you mean?

Forgive me, I thought it best
not to tell you.

Your alliance with him

- the well-being of the Republic...
- Speak!

Antony's marriage to your sister
is a sham.

He's been bedding your mother
as before.

That's impossible.

Antony would not dare
disrespect me like that.

And besides, Octavia...

Octavia would have told me.

She has her own reasons
for keeping silent.

Domina, your son summons you
to dinner this evening.

Tell him no.
I am going to the theater.

He says it's important.
Attendance is compulsory.

He's getting more and more officious.

Who else is coming?

Just family.

Thank you all for coming so promptly.

I have urgent business
to discuss with you.

- With these?
- Patience, Cotta.

I think you'll like
what I have to say.

Giving half price on olive oil

- is it?
- No.

Rather, I was thinking of
getting deeper into the grain trade.

Things with brother Vorenus
are coming to a head.

I'm thinking it's time
to put an end to his arrogance.

So it was you.

You took his gold.

What gold is that?

The gold that every beggar
in the street is talking about.

It was you.

Might have been.
I don't say that it was.

But it might have been.

And you kept it from me?

- Kept what from you?
- Don't joke with me.

So you took his gold?

Vorenus thinks I did.

So he's after your head on a stick
and you're scared. What's that to us?

No one of us can handle
the Aventine on their own.

But if all of us re to cooperate,
like the brothers we are

different story.

- Story...
- We'll crush them.

The Aventine will be ours.
The grain trade will be ours.

- Nah.
- Wait.

Wait.

I don't expect you to help me
out of brotherly love.

That's it, boys.

That's what you want, isn't it?

Yes!

Pick it up!

Missed a bit there. Look!

That's what you want, a bit more!

Here it comes. More!

More!

That's right, lads! Pick it up.

Forgive me. I...

unnerve you with my silence.

No, sir.

What small hands you have.

So dry.

Thank you.

Tell me, does your husband
ever beat you?

No, sir.

I hope I have never
given him reason to do so.

Your father, perhaps?

No, sir.

A virtuous woman. Good.

That is good.

You should know that
when we are married

I shall on occasion, beat you.

With my hand.

Or a light whip.

When I do so, you must not think
you have offended me.

I do it because it gives me
sexual pleasure.

So remember that and not be upset.

Yes, sir.

I think we shall get along very well.

They're all here.

About time.

Any news from Lucius Vorenus?

No.

Strange.

We must be patient.

Vorenus always does
what he says he'll do.

I am glad you think so.

And who is this sweet creature?

This is Livia, daughter of
Livius Drusus Claudianus.

I'm going to marry her.

How nice.

Welcome to the family.

Thank you. I am glad
to make your acquaintance.

And this must be my sister Octavia.

Such a lovely complexion she has.

What a furtive person you are.

I had no inkling
you were looking to marry.

I wanted her to be here...

so that she would properly know
and understand...

what it means to be
a part of this family.

It's a species of benign sl*very.

sl*very, is it?

You fancy yourself a Spartacus then,
do you?

- I don't follow.
- I am master of this family.

And you have rebelled against me.

I wish I had such courage.

You are courageous enough.

I was surprised.

I knew Mother had the stomach
for any kind of depravity.

But you, I was surprised.

I have shown you nothing but love
and you repay me with treachery.

Remember, colleague.

You are talking to my wife.

Your wife in name only.

It is still Mother that performs
the wifely function, is it not?

While Octavia does the same
for my good friend Agrippa.

That's very convenient
for all involved.

- What are you getting at exactly?
- Do you deny it?

- I'll not be interrogated by you!
- Do you deny it?

Go f*ck your little girl there
and leave my business to me!

Do you deny it?

It's true.

I'll not deny it.

I love your sister.

We have been meeting in secret
for some time now.

But I cannot answer for Antony.

Thank you, Agrippa.
Thank you for being honest with me.

So what? What if it is true?

What are you gonna do about it?

There is nothing you can do about it.

I shall send my women
to their house

where they shall remain
in seclusion under guard...

- until I say otherwise.
- I'll do no such thing!

Silence.

You, you shall leave this city.

Leave this city?

You shall go east to your provinces
and you shall not come back.

- Or else what, boy?
- You shall leave the city...

or I'll declare
our alliance is broken.

I shall have this sad story
told in the forum.

I will have it posted
in every city in Italy.

And you know, the people...

are not so liberal with their wives
as you are.

They will say
you wear cuckold's horns.

They will say your wife betrayed you
with a low-born pleb on my staff.

You will be a figure of fun.

The proles will laugh at you
in the street.

Your soldiers will mock you
behind your back.

Go on. Strike me.

See what happens.

And Antony.

If you find that gold, you'll be
sure to tell me, won't you?

You'd disgrace your own sister?

She has disgraced herself.

It was nice to meet you.

Take care.

You're marrying a monster.

Take them home.

Take guards with you.
Make sure they get home safely.

It was you who told him, wasn't it?

I always knew you were a weasel.

I wish I could apologize, Madam.

But it was my duty.

You've done your master
a terrible disservice.

Now he has no family at all.

Maecenas.

Do not blame him.

He did what he thought was right.
I do not think you can say the same.

For which I apologize.

But do not let Octavia
suffer for my sins.

The fault is mine.

It was I seduced her.

You have many talents, Agrippa.

Seduction is not one of them.

She does not deserve your cruelty.

- She's not...
- I've stated my intentions.

You will not be banished.
I need you here.

Besides, your sudden disappearance
would suggest some sort of scandal.

I...

I thank you.

You can go.

You should try
one of the stuffed songbirds.

My cook does them particularly well.

Has he eaten?

Water?

Pullo.

Pullo, you've had no water
in two days.

You need to drink something.

Mascius looked in.

- Cut up nasty.
- Drink.

Gold got stolen, did it?

All but Mascius and Zeno are dead.

Don't you worry about it.

I'll get it back.

Memmio?

Looks like.

I went to see him.

He had guilt written on his face
very plain.

Who told him?

He as good as said
it was one of my own people.

Mascius.

- He's not been happy.
- And he lived.

Still, he's always been loyal.

Never had to doubt him before.

No one's a traitor until they are.

Pullo. Where you going?

Mascius.

All right, Pullo.

Boss.

How are you feeling?

Not so bad.

I was lucky.

Very lucky.

No word yet?

Give it back!

Give it!

Children, quiet.

The only thing
I can think of is maybe...

maybe one of Octavian
or Antony's men set it all up.

Couldn't be, could it?
They thought we were going by river.

Didn't know we'd use the road.

True.

Memmio said that we should
look to one of our own.

Listen.

Brother.

Our lives are on the line.

You wanted the responsibility.
We just want some answers.

It had to be you.

You're joking.

You think I did this myself?

Mascius, the only people who knew
what the plan was was we three here.

Third f*cking man.

It wasn't me.

Give it back!

Give me that.

Get out of here.

Don't come back in here.

Just tell the truth.

I'm sorry, brother.

Near on twenty years
marching together, you boys and me.

Tell the truth.

The truth? The truth is
I have known you as a brother.

The truth is I saved your life
at Argovia.

Took an arrow for it.

Arrow's still in there.

The truth is I'd do it again,
brother.

Truth is I've been nothing
but a good soldier to you...

and a good f*cking friend.

You do what you have to do, brother.

See you in Hades.

- Where's the gold?
- Pullo!

Lucius!

- What?
- Lucius!

Where did you get this?

Father.

Father, stop it.

Stop it!

Stop it! What are you doing? Stop it!

Father! Stop it!

Where'd you get these?

I bought them.

Don't you lie to me.

I did.

One of Memmio's men
gave them to you, didn't he?

- Didn't he?
- No, I don't know what...

- you're talking about.
- Don't you lie to me!

I'm not lying.

You get back here.

Get back here!

It was you, wasn't it?
It was you.

You went to Memmio.
It was you who betrayed me.

You been whoring yourself,
haven't you?

You been whoring yourself
to one of Memmio's men.

You've been whoring yourself
to the whole damn...

- Caelian!
- That's not true.

He loves me.

He loves me and I love him.

How could you be so stupid?
He was using you to get to me.

You know nothing about it.

He loves me.

For the love of this scum
you would betray your own father?

Yes! I betrayed you!

And I was glad to do it.

Why?

Why? Why?

Why would you do that?

You k*lled my mother.

You cursed us to Hades.

You made me a f*cking wh*re.

And you ask why?

Because I hate you.

I hate you!

We all hate you.

I wish you were dead!

Go ahead.

Try and k*ll me
like you k*lled mother.

I'll not go so easy.

- I didn't k*ll her.
- Liar.

I didn't k*ll her.

She didn't love you
and you k*lled her for it.

Shut your mouth.

You shut your mouth.

- She never loved you.
- You shut your mouth.

- She never loved you.
- You shut... Shut...

Keep your mouth shut!

Vorenus.

Vorenus.

Our noble triumvirate
announces the immediate departure...

from the city of his honor,
Mark Antony.

He will take up his seat
in Alexandria...

as supreme governor of Egypt
and the eastern provinces.

Tomorrow, at the house of Rufus,
an auction of excellent sl*ves

from pliant virgins
to learned Greeks

Rufus has sl*ves for every budget.

Make way for
the Triumvir Mark Antony.

Orders of his honor
Triumvir Octavian Caesar.

None shall enter this house.

Shall we use force?

No.

Atia!

Atia!

Out of my way, you little insects.

Madam, forgive me. You can't leave
this house without permission.

Atia, calm.

Leave it be.

We just want to talk.

Don't push me to violence,
Centurion.

Just talk then.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

Very well.

Goodbye then.

When the time comes

I'll send for you.

When will that be?

Who can say?

We must be patient.

Promise me.
Promise me you'll send for me.

On my life...

I promise.

Burn it.

And this?

I don't know. Burn it.

Wipe your a*s with it.
I really don't care.

Lucius Vorenus.

You found my gold yet?

I know where it is.

And?

Titus Pullo will retrieve it.

I...

I have resigned from the collegium.

Resigned?

It's a personal matter.

I have no doubt
Pullo will not let you down.

I had no doubt that you would
not let me down, but here we are.

For that, I apologize.

I have come to offer you my services.

In Egypt.

If you will take me.

Your services?

In Egypt?

I cannot stay in Rome, sir.

Let me go to Egypt with you.

Please.

All right.

Come with me.

I need good men.

You'll not turn to drink, will you?

No, sir.

You stoic types often do,
when disappointed in life.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you, sir.

What did he say?

We sail tomorrow.

You're not gonna come back
and say goodbye?

No.

Vorena's got your blood in her.

Doesn't forgive easy.

- And she's young. Girls...
- Pullo, it's best this way.

You'll take good care of them?

Tell them...

Tell them I tried.

Gods protect you, brother.

And you, brother.

Don't do that.

Why not?

I paid good money for those flowers.

You'll leave the place a desert
if you carry on like this.

I've nothing better to do.

If you go into the kitchen

you might find something
to amuse you.

What?

Help the cook peel onions?

Better than that.

Not much better, in my opinion.

You always did have
lamentable taste in men.

Go on.

And don't let the guards
see you smile.

They'll know something's amiss.

Go on.

How on earth did you get in?

Octavian's men don't let
a mouse get by them.

Your mother could outfox Ulysses.

If she can get you inside,
perhaps she can get me out.

We could run away together.

It's a nice thought but...

it's not possible.

- We could try at least.
- No.

Why not?

I have a little money.

We could go to the east.
He couldn't reach us there.

I would go with you to Hades.

To Britain even,
if I thought we had the right.

But we don't.

Right?

What right has he
to keep me c*ptive?

- What right has he to...
- Please.

Don't be angry.

He has every legal and moral right
to do with us as he wishes.

He has forgiven me.

And he remains my friend.

I cannot repay his forgiveness
by betraying him a second time.

Why are you here then?

I'm here to say goodbye.

Where are you going?

I mean, we shall see
each other again.

Quite often I expect.

But our relations will be formal
and correct as they should be.

Coward.

You're a miserable coward.

- Octavia...
- No.

I understand.

You love my brother
and the power he gives you.

And why throw that all away
for a woman?

It would be very foolish.

Goodbye.

By the way, I'm having a baby.

Who is the father?

Who knows?

Neither man is worth a brass obol,
so what matter?

Go go go!

Shut the door.

Titus Pullo!

A parley!

Brother Pullo, I have
no quarrel with you.

You're a reasonable man like I am.

It's that madman Vorenus
took us to this pass.

No reason you and me
can't do business.

Thirteen!

Stand firm! Don't run, you cowards!

Antony.

Cleopatra.