02x06 - Freedom

[bunniefuu]

A marriage to Julia would be
very good for me, politically.

She's marrying Agrippa.

But he won't live forever.

And when she does
become available,

I want you to fix it.

Julia has dishonored
her marriage to Agrippa.

It wasn't Vilbia Julia
was sleeping with.

Does it ever bother you

that he adopted my two
sons and never yours?

Love makes us weak.

I saw Gaius's will.

So, the adopted sons of Agrippa
to inherit everything, hmm?

- Who's the executor?
- Domitius.

It was Domitius
behind the famine,

as you suspected.

You still don't believe
she k*lled my brother?

Revenge on Livia is
your passion, not mine.

- Is that the letter from Mother?
- Yes.

Don't know why she bothered
putting it in code.

Habit, I suppose.

Go get the priestess Aurelia.

I want a copy of
Agrippa's will, too.

I want you to take Germany...

for Rome.

If he ever sees you as
a threat or a problem,

you'll be dead.

You certainly won't
inherit his power.

This is a f*cking
enormous honor!

- No, it isn't.
- Yes, it is.

It's a ten-year suicide
note, is what it is.

I'd be asking yourself why
it's got your name on it.

Something wrong with my head.

Bad Tiberius lives
inside Tiberius.

He always has done.

Tiberius, she's dead.

Mostly, he sleeps but...

- Who wakes him up?
- Mother.

Her poisons.

Yes, she said you were
bound to need them.

Please, enough fighting.

Stop it. Silence.

Please help, please.
Listen, stop it.

- Agrippa.
- Come on, lads,

don't piss your mother off.

- Agrippa.

All right, that's enough.

Stop the bloody carriage!

- Enough of this now!
- I said stop!

Agrippa, they're fighting again.

Lads, lads, oi!

- Agrippina, enough.
- You were told!

Gaius, you're not
sitting together anymore.

- Agrippa.
- Julilla, get her back.

Agrippa!

- Agrippa.

- I saw that!
- The baby's coming.

It's f*cking coming!

Can you not just wait
till we get back to Rome?

- What?
- No? Right. Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

- Okay. Kids, form up!

Gaius!

- Lucius!

Julilla.

Ooh, it's coming now.

Julilla?

I'm coming to get you!

Hmm.

I wonder where she could be.

Found you! I win!

Come on!

Come on, sit down.

I found you.

Oh! I'm knackered.

Out of shape.

Don't worry about your mum.

She's all right.

Women love a good fuss.

- You know, my dad...

would bring us here hunting
when I was your age.

We'd check the traps and then...

Then my brother and
I, we'd run off,

throw rocks at birds.

Oh, it was magic.

You know...

I've fought battles and...

sunk fleets and...

built temples and aqueducts.

I don't think I've ever
been as happy as I was then.

Except maybe now.

f*ck, it's coming,
I can feel it!

Daddy?

Wake up, Daddy.

There you are.

Look, it's a boy.

A big, fat boy.

What? What's the matter?

Agrippa?

Oh, my love.

Thank you.

- What?

My friend.

My brother.

Senator.

General.

Architect.

Warrior.

As long as...

As long as...

this city stands...

on these hills...

men will remember the name...

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.

Hey. Hey. It's all right.

You don't need him anymore.
You don't need him anymore.

Augustus.

This is the final will of
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa,

held in safekeeping in
the Temple of Vesta.

I wonder what's in it.

You shouldn't joke about that.
Forging wills is sacrilege.

Possibly.

It's brilliant, though.

If you control the temple,
you control the future.

I knew he was leaving
everything to Gaius.

Did you really need
any more money?

Money buys people,

and armies, you can
never have enough.

I'll take my old room.

Put the boys in
Tiberius's old room

and the girls in Drusus's.

The baby can sleep
with the nurse.

- Are you all right?
- Yes.

Have a seat, darling. Hi, you.

So, Julia, back home with
the parents. How's that?

Still, it's only until they
find you a new husband.

Have they told
you who it is yet?

What? After two marriages
and five children?

No. I'm done.

You're only 27.

You can't seriously imagine
you won't get pimped out again?

Oh, that's hardly
the tone, is it?

What tone would you prefer?

Of course you're welcome to
my husband, such as he is,

but sadly there's no
chance of that happening.

Oh, that is quite
enough of that.

In fact, it's much more
likely to be yours, Antonia.

Why? Have you heard something?

Well, I know Domitius
is interested.

Or then there's Drusus.

- What?
- Or Gallus or Varus.

They'd be worth
having in the Senate.

Or even Tiberius,

now that Vipsania's
father can't vote anymore.

How can you be so callous?

- Plenty of practice.
- Oh, honestly, Marcella,

we're barely into
the mourning period.

Do you have to be
such a f*cking bore?

No one gave a sl*ve's a*s
about my mourning period.

As soon as Marcella's
father turned to ash,

I was panting away
underneath Antonia's.

I got pregnant so fast

that I wasn't actually
sure whose it was.

- Mother.
- That is my point.

After two husbands,
they left you alone.

And you only had four children.

Yes, but I only had
relations with my husband.

- Um, Octavia!

Well, it's a bit late for
self-righteous outrage.

- f*ck you, Marcella.

You f*cking...

Marcella, stop!

- Marcella.

Run, Julilla.

Run for your life.

- Never stop and never look back.
- Get off!

- Stop it!
- It's ridiculous.

f*cking Marcella.

She started taunting Julia
about her next marriage.

What next marriage?

Oh, it's the only thing
anyone wants to talk about.

She said it might even
be one of you two.

Mother's with Piso.

Start packing.

Tell nobody.

I loved Agrippa.

As much as I could.

He was... the balance
between Gaius and me.

His death doesn't really
change the succession.

As far as everyone's concerned,

Augustus's adopted sons
are still first in line

to inherit everything.

But the new will you made
will take care of that,

unless he marries Julia off,

and that really could
complicate everything.

Better he doesn't, for everyone.

But he will.

The choice of husband will
be hugely significant,

politically.

I know.

A mark of particular favor

and influence.

Then it has to be Drusus.

Iullus, I'll leave you to it.

No.

No, what?

No, I can't fix your
marriage to Julia.

Not now. Maybe not ever.

You promised me.

I've done everything you asked.

Gaius will let you run
for the Consul next year,

and I will pay for it.

Everyone's a Consul now.

I want Julia.

You want the
daughter of Augustus.

Why shouldn't I?

I'm sorry.

That's the last time
I'll get betrayed

by your f*cking family.
- I doubt that.

My father ruled the
world with yours,

but I'm kept outside
like a f*cking leper,

waiting for my turn as a Consul.

I swear to the gods,

I'll bring this whole
f*cking thing crashing down.

No, you won't.

Livia, you listen to me.

My whole life, I've always
done what everyone else wants.

I've earned my freedom.

Even a sl*ve gets
that in the end.

What?

I don't want to
get married again.

I want to be left alone.

And as some sort of woman,
I expect you to get that

and get behind me.
- Agreed.

What?

I don't want you to
get married again.

It's messy,

and it complicates
everything, so...

All right then. Fine.

So, you'll fix it?

Drusus.

The women are all talking
about who's next for Julia.

If I can't put it off,

it will have to be you.

Will that bother you?

I love Antonina.

But it's just a marriage.

Nobody takes it personally.

What matters is getting
the Republic back,

and if I have to marry Augustus
to do that, then I will.

Prepare your wife.

Domitius will want Julia, too.

You can leave that to me.

Find my sister, please.

And Scribonia,

Livia.

We'll rely on these measures...

Domitius.

- Excuse me.
- Yes, of course.

Livia.

Are you looking for me?

I want to ask you to
speak to Augustus today.

Tell him that out of respect
for your wife Antonia,

you can't be considered
as husband for Julia.

And why would I do that?

Because it would make me happy.

Well, I hate to make you sad,

but if Augustus

is looking to marry
his daughter to anyone,

then I would expect
to be considered.

And I certainly
wouldn't turn her down.

Hmm.

Domitius.

Was that all?

You know, I never told Augustus

that you organized
that grain famine...

with your close friend,
Marcus Cassius Elva.

That's where you got the
money to run for Consul.

That's a lie.

My people found
your agent in Egypt,

Tomi, the one you
used to buy the grain,

which you sold to Rome
for six times the price.

Well, he was tortured until
he told us everything.

So, you know...

That's all.

Are you divorcing me for Julia?

If things work out,

I might have to.

Are we still going
to Germany tomorrow?

Of course.

Nothing will happen
till next year.

Oh, well, that's it, then.

Still...

it was fun while it lasted.

It'll be me who
has to marry Julia.

What?

Stepfather loves Drusus,

because everybody loves Drusus,

but he's jealous of him, and
I think he fears him, too.

He won't give him his daughter.

He'll give her to someone who...
Who he doesn't fear at all,

someone everyone
thinks is useless.

Yes, you're clearly the
most useless choice.

Deep down, he'll
enjoy giving Julia

to the only person in
Rome who doesn't want her.

Because he's a monster.

Plus...

of course you're irrelevant
now, politically,

after your father's death.

Meaningless.

We can't take the baby with us.

He'll slow us down,
and it won't be safe.

Antonina will look after him.

Are you ready then?

I have been ready all my life.

Domitius.

I was just leaving.

He's not well.

I've told him that he should
stop having these meetings,

that it's too tiring,
but he won't listen.

I'm all right.
It's just a chill.

What did Domitius want?

Oh, Domitius said
that he would prefer

not to be considered if
Julia were to remarry.

But he was very nice about
it. I mean, I thought

he was very respectful.
- Mmm.

Listen, Livia, now
that we're all here,

I have a gift for you.

Julia.

She'll have to marry again.

This time I want it to
be into your family.

So...

she'll marry Tiberius.

Tiberius?

And then maybe we can have
grandchildren together, finally.

Oh, thank you.

Yes, thank you.

Well, I... I'm just grateful

that none of my daughters
have to get divorced,

'cause that's always
a bore, isn't it?

They have to come home,

and they just complain
about everything.

I know I'd normally consult
you over something like this,

but I wanted it
to be a surprise.

It certainly was.

f*ck!

f*ck! f*ck!

Someone get Tycho!

Tiberius?

You are f*cking kidding me!

- This is a joke.
- Shh. Keep your voice down.

It could be worse.

- Oh?
- You could have got Domitius.

Listen to me, this
is a good thing.

With Tiberius we can do a deal.

No sex, no children.

That way everything
will come to your boys.

They're the future of Rome.

f*ck Rome! What about my future?

It's just an engagement.
With the mourning period,

you'll get a bit more
time before the wedding.

- Julia...
- No.

- Julia.
- Scribonia, just leave it.

This is not the worst outcome.

It is for Tiberius.

And Stepfather obviously
doesn't trust me.

If he doesn't trust me
now, then he never will.

Honestly, Drusus,
none of that matters.

We know Augustus
wants Julia's sons

to inherit his power
because they're his blood,

but his will is gonna
name you as his successor.

You forged his will?

We can't have another civil w*r.

Exactly. And what
was the alternative?

We move now.

I command the Army of the Rhine.

Instead of leading
it into Germany,

I lead it into Rome.

Agrippa's gone,

and Stepfather's
all over the place.

This is the moment.

He'll fight. You know he will.

Not if he's dead,
like Marcellus.

You get the poison.
I'll get the army.

We'll have the Republic
back by the end of the year.

f*ck.

Livia...

Unless, of course,
you're not really serious

about ending his tyranny

or avenging your father?

Answer the question, Livia.

We wait, like we planned.

That way we control the outcome.

No, you don't.

You think you do,
but you're dreaming.

Life is completely
f*cking unpredictable.

You of all people
understand that.

- It's too risky!
- So is waiting!

- Shh.
- Tiberius is gone.

What do you mean, "gone"?

He left Rome with Vipsania
on horseback before dawn.

They left the baby and this.

It's for you.

He's not coming back.
That's what it says.

Find them. Get them back.

Drusus. Drusus, please.

No one else can do this.

Find your brother.

- Gaius will never forgive...
- To be continued.

Antonina.

Livia. Sorry, we're still
packing for Germany.

Germanicus!

Even though that's
obviously been delayed.

So you heard?

Vipsania left me
Drusillus and a note.

Couldn't believe it.

What the f*ck does
Tiberius think he's doing?

If my uncle finds out

he's refusing the
marriage to Julia,

he's finished.
Everything is finished.

What do you mean?

I know what it is
you want them to do.

Drusus talks in his sleep.

Things he wouldn't dare
say when he's awake.

At first it didn't make
much sense. Just words...

Fears.

But in the end, I got it.

Of course I've
never told anyone.

Not even Drusus.

You see, that would be fatal.

Yes, it would.

People sometimes forget,

my uncle k*lled my father,

indirectly.

Just like he k*lled yours.

So, we're going to
restore the Republic.

And if you ever need
anything from me,

you can ask.

I love you.

And I need you to watch Drusus.

Do you mean...

spy on my husband?

Yes. That's what I mean.

Got it.

Come on! Come on!

Come on.

You, come in.

Come in.

See? Look.

Come on.

Come in.

All the pleasures of the world.

See?

Welcome, welcome.

Wine for the lady.
Olives and grapes.

Would the lady prefer
to see a man or a woman?

Oh, I don't care, really.

I'm the daughter of Augustus.

And I've never had cunnilingus.

Hello, gods.

Hello, goddesses.

It's me Vipsania Agrippina.

Give me health.

Give me sandals.

And let me escape from Mother.

And in return,

I won't tell anyone
you don't exist.

What is it?

My happy childhood.

Drusus gave this to me
on my eighth birthday.

He stole it from Tycho.

Where's its head?

Give me that f*cking horse!

What?

My father broke off the head.

Why?

I don't know.

It's wine, Tiberius. Try this.

Mmm. Here.

Lad, have you ever
seen a clitoris?

Yeah, come here. Come
here and show him.

- Sh... Show him your vulva.

For f*ck's sake, Nero!

He's only a boy. Ow!

- Get off!

You never talk about him.

- Ever.
- Father.

Is this Mother's?

I said, is this Mother's?

Put it on.

It's funny, really,
if you think about it.

Underneath it all,

or even not
underneath any of it,

there's just no difference
between you and me.

Like, "Here you
are, here's a dress,

"a place to crash, help
yourself to the wine,

"he'll be in in a moment,

"and then someone
else after him."

And why is cunnilingus
so taboo anyway?

I'll tell you why, 'cause
it's f*cking awesome.

Oh, come in, we're
open for business.

Julia.

Gracchus.

Hello. How are
you? How's, um...

thingy? Your wife.

Julia, what are you doing here?

Well, I'm in mourning.
How about you?

Well, come on then, Gracchus.

f*ck me.

Everyone else has.

Domitius.

Are you waiting for me?

Well, I was just
going to give thanks

for Julia's engagement
to Tiberius.

- Would you care to come?
- Of course not.

Let's say you were right.

Let's say Livia did have
your brother k*lled.

What?

Have the gods finally
restored your eyesight?

- It was more Livia.
- But it made me wonder.

Do you remember Julia's lover

that everyone was looking
for but never found?

I'm the last f*cking person
to forget about that.

Do you think that it was
Livia that had Vilbia set up?

Got Agrippa to k*ll him?

Well, it certainly
wasn't Iullus.

He can barely wipe
his a*s with a sponge.

Marcella.

All right. Here's
what I do know.

It was Livia who got
my mother to back off

on Antonina's wedding,

and I also know it was Livia
who uncovered the famine,

back when...

you know, the grain prefects
and the corruption, all that,

which is how that rat Ursa

ended up living with
Livia's new daddy, Piso.

You know, Domitius,

you ought to pay more
attention to women

and sl*ves and gossip

if you want to know
what's really going on.

If Livia did get Vilbia
k*lled, that would be

very dangerous for her,

if certain people found out.

Does it matter if
it's true or not?

As long as certain
people think it is.

That would be an
extremely dangerous game.

If you want any kind
of power in this city,

eventually, you'll need
to get rid of Livia.

Drusus will find him.

He wants to see you.

Hey, how are you?

I meant to tell you.

Agrippa's will.

He left you huge
bequests of land.

You're nearly as rich as me now.

Really?

He always loved you.

Did I move too fast with Julia?

It's never good to
let things drift.

It looks weak.

Especially now.

Nobody thinks you're weak.

I'll see Vipsania
and Tiberius today.

Of course, she'll
need a new husband.

What do you think of Gallus?

Oh, there's no need to hurry.

Wait till you're better.

No, we need to be ready.

If anyone's going to move
against us, they'll do it now.

Nobody's going to
move against us.

What are you doing
with the poisons?

- Nothing yet.
- Livia.

Both of my sons are
completely out of control.

The situation's unstable.

Tiberius, wake up.

Wake up.

Livia didn't come today

'cause she doesn't love you.

She never has.

And once upon a time...

She doesn't really love you.

When you were a tiny baby,

she k*lled you. Did
I tell you that?

When you were a tiny baby.

She smothered you

with her hands... hands,

until you couldn't
breathe anymore.

Her hands...

And when you were quite dead,

she k*lled you,

you know what she said then?

She doesn't love you.

It was him...

She k*lled you.

Or us.

With her hands...

she k*lled you.

She's a monster. Wake up!

Oh, it's just a dream.

It wasn't a dream.

Ah, I couldn't breathe.

Can you put some clothes on?

Leave us.

I knew you wouldn't f*ck off
to Greece without this rubbish.

These are Mother's.

She was looking for
them for months.

What do you remember
about Father?

Father?

Nothing.

Nothing at all?

I remember his corpse.

Seeing him in the atrium
for people to visit.

Mother took us for cakes
afterwards, to celebrate.

That's all you remember?

They were almond cakes.

- Why?
- I can't go back.

I know.

But you have to.

No, I don't.

Yes, you do.

No, I don't.

One day you'll be
free from all this.

But not now.

Not like this.

Please.

Let me go.

Please.

Look at me.

He'll never forgive you.

It's not safe...

for anyone.

It's not safe for you.

I don't care about me.

I know.

I...

I can't control it.

Myself.

Him.

I can't do this without you.

Oh, I... I can't breathe.

You can't... You
can't leave me alone.

- Tiber, no, no.

No, stop. Stop.

Stop. Stop it.

No. Stop. Stop.

- I'm a monster.
- No. No.

You're not. You're my brother.

You're my... you're my brother.

Okay?

Stupid self-confidence.

Mother.

Welcome back.

- Are you fine?
- Yeah.

It wasn't my idea,

the marriage to Julia.

Yes. But you're
not sorry, are you?

Well, no.

f*ck!

What a f*ck-up.

Tell me you can fix this.

We need to talk.

Your father's ill.

Brilliant. Serves him right.

Hope he dies screaming.

He wants to see you both.

Now.

Don't make him
choose between us.

He will always choose me.

Oh, Father. I'm so
sorry you're unwell.

I'm fine.

No, he isn't.

You smell like a whorehouse.

It's this new perfume
Marcella bought me.

Your mother told you
about the wedding?

Of course.

Thank you.

It's a great honor.

Yes, and I think Agrippa
would be pleased.

Congratulations, Tiberius.

I'm so happy for you both.

Congratulations, Tiberius.

So sorry for you both.

Stepfather.

We came to say goodbye.

Ah.

Antonina.

Goodbye, Antonina.

We'll be back for the wedding.

Bring me Germany.

I wouldn't mind if it were you.

Be careful.

Someone else lives
inside Tiberius,

and you don't want to meet him.

- I'm so sorry

for your father,
Tiberius, and the divorce.

Yes. I'll be married
again in no time.

I'll let you know who
it is when I find out.

Thank you for bringing him back.

If you want us to wait, we will.

I'll keep my army
in Germany for now.

I love you, Mother.

Don't go back to Germany.

Please, it's not safe.

That's why he's
keeping you there.

No, he isn't.

You're worrying
about nothing again.

I can't lose you, too.

We need to talk about something.

I'll write.

You never write to anybody.

I'll write to you.

Drusus.

We're ready to move
again when you are.

I need to finish this.

- f*cking code.
- Here.

Let me help.

What's so urgent?

It's just something I want
to get off to Tiberius.

Thank you.

"M"...

One-two.

"O"...

Six-eight.

"T"...

Three-four.

Are you sure this is his
code, and not Mother's?

I'm not a complete idiot.

And it is the latest one?

Uh... f*ck.

No, it is the right one.

My brother's hand only.

- And this is for Livia.
- Of course.

Uh, I won't make
it back tonight.

Catch us up when you can.

You... come with me.

Mount up.

Tiberius, I know you
won't agree with me,

and Mother never will.

But now is the time to act.

If I bring my legions to Rome,

and you bring yours
from the Balkans,

Stepfather will
have to cede power.

If we act together, we
can restore the Republic

without bloodshed or w*r.

For Livia, from Antonina.

But I cannot do it alone.

It will take both
of us together...

An overwhelming show of force.

For Tiberius Nero from Drusus.

Think this over.
Give me your answer.

And don't tell Mother or Piso.

Impressive, even
by your standards.

Leave us, please.

Antonina, I assume.

Give me the letter.

Write back.

You want me to tell him
I support Stepfather.

What choice do we have?

We could poison Stepfather

and bring out that
will you forged,

naming Drusus as successor.

Or not.

Mother...

when I was a baby,

did you suffocate me with your

bare hands until I was dead?

Yes. Why?

Well, I guess that sort of
thing was bound to happen...

sooner or later.

We were on the run.

Bounty hunters found us.

They were all around in
the woods. We were hiding.

And then you started to cry.

- It was me or you.
- I stopped you crying.

When it was safe, Antigone
put you in a stream.

Cold water brought you back.

- I went to the underworld.
- And then you came back.

Someone else came back with me.

I don't believe
in "Bad" Tiberius.

He's just someone Drusus
made up when you were kids.

Now write.

I've betrayed my wife...

and myself.

Now for my brother.

It's an exact copy?

I gave the original
letter to Tiberius.

And the key square?

It's always locked away.

Antonina or his sl*ves
are always around.

Get it for me.

I can't break the
code without the key.

I-I won't let you down.

Mother said you'd have
to choose between us,

in the end.

Me or Mother.

Mother or me.

She said you'd
always choose her.

She doesn't love you.

She doesn't love you.

- She never has.
- She never has.

- She's a monster.
- She's a monster.

It's you or me,

Mother.

And it isn't me.

Aah!

What have you done?

Come on.

I can't breathe!

I thought I was dead!

I was suffocating!

Oh! It was just a dream.

A nightmare.

It was so real.

Like someone was on top of me.

What are you doing here?

I, I couldn't sleep.

I was in the kitchen.
I heard a noise.

Go back to sleep, yeah.

Domitius, long time
since you were here.

I'm still celebrating
the death of Agrippa.

Won't you join me?

About that...

I just found out.

It wasn't Agrippa that
had your brother k*lled.

He was set up.

It was Livia.

The wife of Augustus.