01x07 - Treason

[bunniefuu]

In the autumn, I'm going

to now adopt Marcellus

as my son and heir.

After Gaius,

power must go to someone

who would carry it back

to the Senate.

I'm talking about Drusus.

You're going to restore

the Republic.

And Marcellus won't do that,

so, of course, he has to go.

When he confirms Marcellus,

she'd do it anyway.

We'll never have

a better chance.

[grunting]

-[Woman shouts]

-What?

Domina.

You won't forget me.

Never.

[breathing heavily]

I've just found out what

you've been doing with Iullus.

I'm gonna tell my mom

to hunt your father.

-They're all poisoned!

-What?

Marcellus. [sobbing]

This isn't about

protecting the boys.

This is about power!

-[Glass breaks]

-[Woman screams]

-Hey! Get off my f*cking cart!

-Back off me!

There he is!

Come here!

[Rooster crows]

Tycho?

[sl*ve] There!

Come back, you!

Stupid f*cking boy!

You can't get away!

[Tycho] Thank you.

Lovely to meet you all.

Do come again.

Thank you.

[sl*ve] Come here! Give up!

Let it go.

We're not going in there.

[Tycho] Drusus!

Drusus!

Tycho?

Did you get rid of them?

Yes, Lady.

Uh, Tycho, don't tell anyone

about this.

Especially not my father

or Livia when they get back.

Thank you.

-Where have you been?

-I'm so f*cked.

[Piso] Livia.

-Your cousin's here.

-What?

-Which one?

-The charming one.

[gasps] Porcia!

So happy to see you!

What a lovely surprise.

Uh, that will be all.

Thank you, Piso.

Oh

Domina.

When did you get back?

Couple of days ago.

Seasick all the way,

as usual.

[laughs] Worth it

to leave Macedonia.

Ugh.

So, what brings you here?

How are you? How's your husband?

Uh, he's in hiding,

outside of Rome.

He's worried Agrippa

will have him k*lled.

What?

-Obviously that's why I'm here.

-I'm sorry. What?

Are you telling me

you don't know?

Yes, I think that's

what I'm telling you, yes.

The day we got back,

my husband was charged

with treason against the Senate

and people of Rome.

Treason? Primus?

I assumed you knew.

Who's bringing the charge?

Marcus Licinius Crassus.

Crassus.

What did he do exactly?

Primus did exactly

what he was ordered to do.

Someone told him

to commit treason?

Yes.

Your husband.

Primus is to be tried

any day now.

And if they find him guilty,

he'll be ex*cuted.

All of his property

will be confiscated.

You are my only family,

Livia.

I don't know

who else to turn to.

We're going back to Rome.

♪♪

I've been thinking.

You want to get rid of him now,

out here in the woods.

It would solve

a lot of problems.

Primus isn't stupid.

He won't come alone.

You can leave the details to me.

How would it look?

Better than a massive

public trial

with everyone pointing

their fingers at us.

It'll all unravel.

Everything.

Let's just see how this goes.

Primus!

I almost feel offended.

I've asked Marcus Messalla

Corvinus to defend me in court.

We've had our political

differences, Gaius,

but I know we can

put those behind us

and work together on this.

Well, you could start by asking

your old friend Crassus

to drop the prosecution.

Crassus cheated me

out of two million in gold.

We no longer speak.

The facts are not disputed.

My client was appointed

by the Senate

to govern the province

of Macedonia.

Before he left, you, as consul,

specifically requested

that he use the Legion

under his command

to make w*r on the tribes

which had previously signed

a solemn and binding

peace treaty.

With, of course, the Senate.

Your exact words were,

"Forget the treaty

and f*ck the Senate.

I want victories,

gold, and sl*ves."

Which, in a nutshell,

is our defense.

We'll deny it.

Ah.

However

if your client were to take

sole responsibility

for the ill*gal w*r

in Macedonia

He'd be ex*cuted.

We can get it down to exile.

The State would still take

everything he has.

Once he's out of Rome,

I'll give him double

what he lost.

My word as a Roman.

What about my word

as a Roman?

My name,

my honor as a Roman?

So to sum up this deal

you're offering:

My client

perjures himself on oath

to plead guilty to the charge

you should be facing,

and afterwards,

you'll quietly pay him off.

Take it or leave it.

No.

See you in court.

They're bluffing.

They'll never

let this go to trial.

This can't go to trial.

Stepmother, we weren't

expecting you back.

The f*ck is that?

It's Marcellus.

A gift to Octavia

from the Senate.

She didn't want it

in the house.

At least Libo's

the presiding magistrate.

Maybe he can delay the trial,

buy us more time.

We need to see him

straight away.

Seriously, Gaius? Is this Primus

screw-up really happening?

Well, that's the small talk

out of the way.

Wars abroad keep the peace

at home. You know that.

Is there any proof

you gave those orders?

Nothing in writing,

of course.

Any witnesses

who will lie for us?

I was on a ship to Greece.

Marcellus, he was there.

Well, he's dead, Gaius.

So that's no use.

Why can't Primus

have an accident?

That's what I said!

-He's not to be k*lled.

-What choice have we got?

It's admitting we did it.

Well, one of them's f*cking

guilty, and it can't be him.

Porcia is family.

Not my family.

Right.

Spoken like

a true moneylender.

No one really cares

about Primus.

Or Macedonia.

Least of all Crassus.

This is about you.

So, the question is,

does Crassus want to f*ck you

or does he want something

for not f*cking you?

It would be good

to find out which.

I'll go to Crassus.

Discreetly.

No.

Tiberius will do it.

But thank you, Iullus.

I gave my word to Porcia

I'd help her husband.

That was unwise.

Well, my word is still

worth something.

You fixed his problem.

What about mine?

We don't know you have one yet.

I don't believe this.

Marcellus.

I know.

Did you hear from Antigone?

No, not for over a week.

She should've been back

by now.

She'll never stop.

Hey, something

must have gone wrong.

Has Gaius asked where she is?

I told him she's

on our estate at Nepi.

She'll be fine.

She needed this

after losing the baby.

-Get it turned round.

-What?

Before Octavia gets back.

Oh, there's other stuff

you need to know about.

What's the matter?

Where were you last night?

What are you, my husband?

No. I'm not good enough

for that.

Get over it, Iullus.

Please.

Not good enough to carry

a f*cking message either.

What?

First it was Marcellus

in front of me.

Now it's f*cking Tiberius.

What are you talking about?

You'll see. Everyone'll see.

I love you, Iullus.

I always will.

[Footsteps approaching]

[Door opens]

Tycho.

It's not what it looks like.

Right.

She'll see you both.

Now.

It's not what it looks like.

Thank you, Tycho.

Children.

-How long have you known?

-What does that matter?

-Does my father know?

-Of course not.

Iullus would never see you

or Rome again.

What if you got pregnant?

Your father would k*ll you.

This is a crucial time.

Your father stands to lose

everything.

And if he loses everything,

we lose everything.

And so, for now,

everyone must play their part.

Your part, Julia,

is the dutiful Roman matron.

A roll you, of course,

pioneered.

You are the daughter of Augustus

and the widow of Marcellus!

Two years I was married

to that pig!

-You try playing that part!

-He's been dead for a year!

Yes, and every day I thank

that poisonous little sl*ve,

and I hope

they never find him!

Julia.

Well, the party's over, Julia.

So is this.

For now

and forever.

There are rules, children.

Even for people like us.

What rules are there for you?

What do we do?

You know what we do.

Refused, refused, refused.

Ah, hmm granted.

Arrange this.

Crassus is here.

[Gaius] Crassus.

Thank you for coming

on such short notice.

[Crassus] Not at all.

I'm assuming

this is about Primus.

I'm sorry, Gaius.

I'd really like to help,

but I can't back out now.

Not honorably.

You know I was governor

of Macedonia before Primus.

You also know it was me

who brokered the peace

with the tribes

and signed the treaty

for the Senate.

And now the tribes

have asked me to seek redress.

I'm bound by custom

and honor to do it.

Sure you are.

You know Primus is going to say

that I ordered him

to break the treaty.

I had no idea.

Naturally, I assumed

he was acting alone.

Of course he was.

Well, in that case you've got

nothing to worry about.

That's what my wife was saying.

Look

We both know

that sh*t Corvinus

only got involved

to piss me off.

We can't let him make this trial

about you. Or me.

It's about Primus.

He defied the Senate,

and, you know, I'm sorry,

but he'll have to answer for it.

Fair enough.

Anytime.

We'll have you over

for dinner soon.

So, now we know.

He just wants to f*ck you.

That's a game for two players.

God, it's hot.

Where's a storm

when you need one?

They'll be here any moment.

Livia's back.

I forgot to tell you.

Doesn't matter.

-Nothing she can do now.

-Don't bet on it.

She k*lled Marcellus.

-What?

-Poisoned him. I'm sure of it.

How could she have known?

I found out one of my sl*ves

had told her,

so I sold her to a field g*ng.

She'll never be found.

[insect buzzing]

Not that anyone's looking.

[retches]

Are you all right, Lady?

I don't know.

[knocking]

[sl*ve] Dominus.

He's obviously panicking about

what Primus is going to say.

And he can deny it all he likes.

The important thing is

to spread the story

all over Rome before the trial

so the damage is exacerbated

when it comes out.

We've got him.

We just have to keep

that idiot Primus alive

long enough to testify.

He's in a hut in the hills.

No one'll find him

before the trial.

I have some thrilling gossip

about Livia Drusilla.

[indistinct chattering]

You're not going back there,

are you?

You must really think

I'm stupid.

No, of course not.

Reckless,

-impetuous, impulsive

-All right.

and willful.

But not stupid.

Take me with you, Drusus.

You don't know

where I'm going.

Nor do I care.

Come on, then.

Oh! Maybe you are stupid.

-Gaius and I have spoken.

-Hmm.

He has decided we need

to find Primus so that, um

arrangements can be made.

-But you gave your word.

-Yes, I did.

And k*lling him now is worse

than letting him speak.

Nevertheless

I have sent for his wife.

She'll be here

at the third hour.

There will be

an argument between us,

and then she will leave.

I'll make the arrangements.

Drusus.

Wake up. Get out of here.

This time I really f*cked up.

Excuse me. I'm sorry.

-Tycho? Give it a try.

-That's fine.

-What's that?

-[indistinct]

-The friends are ready.

-All of them?

Enough.

-Porcia's here. I have to go.

-I'll let them know.

Oh.

Dear Livia.

There will be a trial.

We cannot avoid it,

so we have to manage it.

Porcia, your husband

cannot tell the Senate

who ordered him

to go to w*r.

Why not?

Your husband is safe.

He can't be prosecuted

for anything. Legally.

You're well informed.

He could just admit

to what he did.

Then Primus would go free

and that would be the end of it.

The Senate did vote to give

Gaius legal immunity, yes.

But if they think

he's abused his privilege,

they can just as easily

vote to take it away.

And then he could be charged

with treason.

So don't even think

for a second

Gaius can afford

to offend the Senate.

You don't know Primus.

His honor is everything to him.

He will never admit

to being at fault.

He'd rather k*ll himself.

Will he do it

before the trial?

He could keep his honor

and his property,

and I will find you

a new husband.

Any man you want in Rome.

His honor or his life.

What choice is that?

You said you'd help me.

You gave me your word!

-Let me talk to him.

-No! No, never.

He has the right

to decide for himself.

Well I believed you.

And I knew you were lying.

Let's see if she leads us

to Primus.

Runaway sl*ves.

The plantation is nearby, Lady.

Keep working!

Go!

Don't you look at me!

Dogs!

f*cking work!

[Woman shrieks, sobs]

Are you still crying?

-After what I said?

-Hey!

Fortunata, is that you?

I heard there were German sl*ves

on this estate.

I need to speak to Drusus.

Alone.

You're going to tell him

that was a big mistake.

Drusus will tell you that he's

in quite enough trouble already.

Relived he'll be keeping

his mouth shut

you go out shopping.

-Right, then.

-[Gaius] Libo, there you are.

[Libo] Sorry I'm late,

everybody.

[Gaius] Sit down, please.

What have you got for us?

The five judges

have been selected.

-How many are friends?

-Flaccus is sound,

and Vulso I think,

but the other three,

they're uncontrollable.

Primus could easily get off

if they believe his story.

And I have to tell you,

Corvinus has started

leaking it already.

I bumped into three people

this morning

who know Primus

is going to blame you.

There's always the chance he'll

k*ll himself before the trial.

Does he know that yet?

Lord, Gaius Junius Silanus

is in the atrium.

-He says it's important.

-Who?

Senator from the North -

old name, new money.

Votes for us.

[scoffs]

sh*t!

Now you have a problem.

Gaius Junius Silanus

tells me that two nights ago

you broke into his house

to debauch a sl*ve girl.

Then his sl*ves chased you

all the way back here!

-Is it true?

-No.

Where's your judgment?

Your self-control?

You are the son of my wife!

I should have you whipped

like a sl*ve.

It was his daughter

I was debauching.

You are betrothed to my niece!

You don't go around humping

the daughters of Senators!

You did! You had everyone

in Rome when you were my age!

Agrippa told me.

Some of them were married, too.

Like Cicero's wife

and my mother.

Shut up, Drusus.

And you whored yourself

to Sextus in Sicily!

Everyone says so!

Drusus!

I am Nero Claudius Drusus.

And you are not my father.

That's something, of course.

But in this house, I am a god,

and you'll learn that.

Tycho,

ten lashes in the atrium.

-Gaius

-Gaius, no!

Let me deal with this.

Don't bother.

I don't care.

Come on.

That was very diplomatic.

Well, he's certainly got

your family's pride.

-If nothing else.

-He's still young.

You're always

making excuses for him.

He will apologize.

Drusus can never do anything

wrong. Drusus is never to blame.

He will not be beaten

like a sl*ve.

He will if I say he will.

He will learn obedience,

and he will learn respect.

I betrayed my cousin for you.

Don't ask me to betray my son.

Don't make

your father's mistake -

choosing the wrong side.

Drusus, go with Tycho

to the stables.

Fetch three horses.

-Where are we going?

-Wherever she says.

Somewhere Gaius

won't find you, idiot!

He's jealous.

Stepfather.

He knows that you love Drusus

more than anyone

because Drusus reminds you

of your father.

I remind everyone

of my father.

That's why nobody likes me.

Except Drusus.

-[shouting]

-[clattering]

[Worker] Oh, f*ck!

Oops.

Clear it up!

Oh, Marcellus.

What?

Tycho?

There will be

a small change of plan.

Sorry, Iullus.

You just can't trust anyone

these days.

Hope you've reserved

a seat for the trial.

It's gonna be packed

in here tomorrow.

It's been good for us

to get to know each other

since the death of Marcellus.

They haven't got a plan.

Their only hope is

that Primus will k*ll himself

before the trial.

They don't know

where he is though.

No.

Augustus has never

appreciated you.

I won't make that mistake.

[Thunder rumbles]

Going to be a storm.

[Slavedriver] Make way!

Coming through!

[Horse neighing]

Hey!

Antigone!

Stop them!

I thought you forgot me.

All this time.

Never once. Never once.

Time for a bath.

[Horse neighing]

The friends found Primus.

He's in a hunter's shelter

in the woods

just at the south of the city.

Bodyguards?

Two, and an older sl*ve.

Last chance.

You sure?

Good luck.

Don't need it.

-[Horse neighing]

-Whoa! Let's go!

Mother.

I'm sorry

for what I said to you.

About Sextus.

When all of this is over,

you will get down on your knees

and ask your stepfather

for ten lashes.

I'm not scared of him.

Then you're a bigger fool

than I thought.

What you said before

outside the house

It doesn't matter

if people like you or not.

They respect you.

And soon,

they will fear you.

I don't care about

any of those things.

Then you're a fool, too.

Is it true?

About you and Sextus.

-I was in love with him.

-[Footsteps approaching]

-[knocking]

-[Door opening]

[Thunder rumbling]

[Agrippa]

Four men round the back.

Hello, Primus.

sh*t!

You won't need that.

The blood in your wife

is my father's and mine.

I gave her my word I would help,

and I will.

You're being used by Crassus.

Maybe even by Corvinus as well.

They don't care about you.

They just want to destroy Gaius.

If you're here to make sure I

don't testify in court tomorrow,

you're wasting your breath.

Mm-mm.

I'm here to make sure you do.

-We were too late.

-[Horse neighing]

They'd already moved him.

We rode around

like c**ts all night,

but he must've slipped past

our people at the gate.

I'm sorry.

Come on.

We're needed in court.

You can borrow my barber.

But we haven't been called

as witnesses.

That's what they think.

[indistinct conversations]

-It's just like the theater.

-More like the gladiators.

Silence!

Following an application

for the Commission of Treason

against Marcus Primus,

former governor in Macedonia,

the court will now

hear the arguments.

Prosecution.

The court will hear

that Marcus Primus,

as governor of Macedonia,

did order military action

against the tribes of the Danube

without the permission

of the Senate of Rome.

It will hear from the Legate

in command of the Fifth Legion,

who led the campaign.

It will hear from a king

of the local tribes

which, as a result,

suffered grievous loss

of property and life.

And it will hear from the Roman

who signed the peace treaty

for the Senate

who will be myself!

[shouting]

Marcus Primus

is guilty of treason.

And I conclude by saying

how fitting it is

he should be defended

by Marcus Messalla Corvinus,

a rat of a man without morals

or honor.

Fine words!

From a common swindler

and notorious rake

in whose vile company

no Roman matron is safe.

Defense.

This court will hear that it is

not my client Marcus Primus

who should today be facing

a charge of treason -

but Caesar Augustus,

son of the Divine Julius

and First Citizen of Rome.

Caesar Augustus!

Here I am!

Nobody called you as a witness.

Seriously, you're telling

everyone I did it!

This is a blatant attempt

to undermine the trial

and intimidate my client!

I am presiding magistrate,

not you,

-and I'll decide what this is.

-I protest!

He has not been called

as a witness!

Anyone accused in public

has a legal right to reply.

What's he doing there?

He's not a witness either!

I'm allowing it.

Silence!

Did you then, Augustus,

as it is said,

order the governor of Macedonia

to undertake military action

in defiance of the Senate

of Rome?

I did not!

Well, he would say that,

wouldn't he?

But we are about to hear

something very different

from the defendant.

We are about

to hear the truth.

Marcus Primus.

Three years ago,

before you left for Macedonia,

you were summoned

to the house of that man -

Caesar Augustus.

I was!

In order to discuss

your new posting in the East.

Yes.

And indeed to receive

private orders.

As it turned out, yes.

Orders to break

the Senate treaty

and make w*r

on the Danube tribes!

Yes.

Directly from that man -

Caesar Augustus.

-No.

-[Crowd gasping]

Not from Caesar Augustus.

No. They came directly

from his nephew,

Marcus Claudius Marcellus.

Of course. Genius.

Marcellus spoke to me privately

after our meeting.

He gave me to understand these

orders came from his uncle.

Naturally, given their close

relationship, I believed him.

And although I acted

in good faith

and always

for the good of Rome

-What just happened?

-A big "f*ck you" from my wife.

Would be my guess.

misled by

Marcus Claudius Marcellus.

"The yield of wheat

in the estate

"is therefore much stronger

than we expected,

up to his"

Sweet of you to leave us

f*cking sweating all night.

You're welcome.

What did it cost?

I gave my word to Primus

you would honor your deal.

Exile and the money

you promised.

And that we would try

to pardon him quietly

when the dust settles.

I'm sorry for what I said

about your father.

You've changed

since you got sick.

Even when I awoke,

I thought I was dead.

Then I thought,

"One day I will be."

Drusus is ready for punishment.

But first he asks to apologize.

Huh!

I have to admit

I was impressed.

The kid has

the heart of a wolf.

And the brains of an a*s.

He'll make a great soldier.

But nothing else.

I have a favor to ask.

Not Drusus.

Beat him to death

for all I care.

We need to bring forward

some arrangements.

So using the law didn't work.

The traditional solution, then.

He always goes to the baths

with Agrippa in the ninth hour.

We'll do it there, inside.

The ninth hour.

The Praetorians are gonna need

to hear about this from you,

afterwards.

Leave them to me.

You take care of the Senate.

[Antigone]

Good evening, Lady.

We still need to watch them.

Even though they don't have

much support,

we can't underestimate Crassus.

Oh, Scribonia,

there you are at last.

What's up?

I've been meaning to deal

with this for a while now.

Julia, you're out of mourning

for Marcellus.

So obviously it's time

for your next marriage.

We didn't want you

getting bored

with nothing to do

in the evenings.

And I can think of nobody better

than my brother, Marcus Agrippa.

-Neither can I!

-[Marcella] What?

My husband?

Why is she getting my husband?

What about me?

Thank you, Father.

Does my mother know about this?

Well, she'll have something

to say once she gets back.

Marcella,

you'll marry Iullus.

Me?

[Gaius] Iullus, I'm giving you

my eldest niece

as a token of my respect

and affection.

Your father and I

were enemies in the end,

but Marcella will bind

our two families together

and heal the wounds.

[Iullus] Of course.

I'm very grateful.

Thank you.

[Gaius] Good.

-[Agrippa] And so am I!

-Antigone's back.

-Family!

-Family!

-Family.

-Family.

Excuse me, everyone.

Gaius, may I see you

in private?

Of course.

So, Gaius

You're going to die

at the baths tomorrow.

In the ninth hour.

We were so worried.

Where's the German?

On our estate at Nepi.

She'll be safe there.

Doesn't she want to go home?

Her village was burned.

Her parents were k*lled.

That's where we come from,

Livia.

I I'd like to find her

a good husband,

and give her a dowry.

Make it so.

Oh, and we'll pay Scribonia back

in good time.

There will be

no independent reprisals.

Hmm?

I'm pregnant again.

-What?

-Pregnant.

You are?

Are you all right?

Scared. A bit.

Obviously.

Yeah, well,

we won't lose this one.

I know.

Porcia.

You're late.

What happened?

Livia got to him,

somehow.

It was a mistake

to involve her.

I could hardly say no.

Primus begged me.

In any case,

it would've been expected.

That was the part,

and I had to play it.

Well, you fooled Livia,

so you must be

a brilliant actress.

And, of course, no one would

blame you for divorcing him.

[moans]

I can't wait to see their faces

when this gets out.

Don't gloat.

It's the best I could do.

I shall gloat as much as I like,

thank you very much.

Marcellus.

Marcellus.

They're rowing into Rome now.

They'll tell us when it's done.

What's going on?

Nothing.

[shouting]

Get the f*ck up!

[indistinct shouting]

Get the f*ck up!

Porcia?

Please, let me do it.

[laughing]

What?

I'm tired. Good night.

That was

the stupidest joke ever.

[Gaius] Sleep well.

When you go back East,

take Drusus with you.

On the front line.

A request like that,

brother,

is something you say out loud

to my face.

The boy just wants

a shot at glory in battle.

Just make sure he gets it.

That's all.

[sobbing]

♪♪