02x01 - Passover

[bunniefuu]

Morning, Consul.

How goes your day?

Stop!

I am so proud of you.

Our name is redeemed.
The republic is safe.

It was horrible, mother.

He wouldn't die.

But he is dead now.

He tried to speak to me.

But...

No words came out.

- We must be strong now.
- Yes.

The Senate will look to us
for leadership.

The people will need a firm hand.

Are you up to the task?

Dominus!

Dominus!

Who are you?

- Whose child is this?
- What did you do?

Let him go, let him go!

No, no, don't!

Please have mercy!

I curse you. Curse you.

I curse you all!

By all the gods below.

I curse you to damnation.

Caesar is dead!

Caesar is dead!

He's dead!

He's dead!

Caesar is dead!

Leave it, forget it.

You heard what I said!

Mother?

Leave me alone.

Gods, not you as well?
Crying will not help us.

I'm not crying. I'm angry.

May Dis devour
that witch pig Servilia!

What a fool I was!

If I'd not told her of Vorenus

- and his wife...
- Listen to me.

We must never
speak of our part in this.

It may be mistaken for complicity.
Do you understand?

I'll see her eaten by dogs.

We may hope.

Dominus, Timon is here.

Timon, good of you to come.

I grieve with you.

- Bad business.
- It is.

Your mother's all right, is she?

She's not receiving visitors.
But she's well enough.

- Have you men with you?
- Ten.

- So, she's all right, then?
- As I said.

How's the City?

All's indoors.
Everywhere's dead quiet.

Timon, thank you for coming.

I am so happy to see you.

I came as soon as I heard.

- I grieve with you.
- You're a good friend, thank you.

Are the streets safe?

- Can we get out of the city?
- We can.

We should wait a while,
before taking any action.

We do not have a clear view
of the position.

- Antony may well...
- If Antony were alive

he would come to me.

Or send word, at least.

I must assume Antony is dead.

It is quite possible,
but we cannot know that as yet.

Perhaps he's fled the City.

And leave me here? Never.

Put on your traveling clothes.

- Nothing fancy.
- Mother, think.

You heard what Servilia said.

She wants you to run away.

More fool her.
Let her try to find me.

She will find you.
You have no talent for hiding.

Castor, pack the money
and the household gods.

Immediately, Domina.

Come along, no time to waste.

Antony.

I swear on the Black Stone
that I will k*ll them all!

Brutus and Cassius and Casca
and the whole damn lot of them.

They're just Servilia's minions.

This is all her doing.

I told Caesar.

I told him this would happen.

I swear...
I will spit on them as they die!

That I, I!

Should have run and hide
from those...

- those worms!
- Are you certain?

Are you certain sure he's dead?

Oh, yeah. He's dead all right.

I was there. I saw him.

You were there?

But then why didn't you stop them?

I wasn't there. I was...

They delayed me,
outside on the steps.

By the time I got inside,
the deed had been done.

And the lictors had all run off
like rabbits.

That treacherous b*stard Vorenus,
he must have been paid off.

He'd left us before
we even got to the Senate house.

He was lured away.

The witch Servilia's woman told him
an evil tale about his wife.

What did you do then?

What did I do?

Why, nothing I could do.

Caesar was dead.

I was unarmed.

I would have ripped them to pieces
with my bare hands!

That's easy for you to say.

You know nothing of violence.

Twelve mangy dogs can k*ll a lion.

If you say so.

What shall we do now?

You can do as you like.

I will go North
and raise an army of monsters.

Then I will come back here...

and I will crucify every last one
of those sons of witches.

What do you mean,
I may "do as I like"?

Why are you here
if I may "do as I like"?

I meant nothing.

Of course I want you to come with me.

Please, if you'd rather take
some other lover I will not protest.

I meant only that... I cannot
force you to come with me.

That's where you were
these last hours, I suppose?

Putting your tramps into...
into baggage carts.

I have no stomach for a fight
with you.

Not now.

I don't want to go North.

The North is ghastly.

- What's your name again?
- Timon.

Timon, we're going North.

You and your men
will protect the family...

until I can gather
my own people together.

- It'll cost you.
- Of course.

I expect no public service
from a Jew.

We shall be taking Calpurnia with us,
so we must leave via the Subura.

Calpurnia?

But why do we need to take her?

We must be sure that she is safe.

I don't see her rushing
to see that we're safe.

My dear...

we cannot leave Caesar's widow
behind.

It would look ill with the people,
as if we'd abandoned her.

What a bore.

Father.

- Father, wake me.
- Hush.

Wake me!

Hush now, be calm.

I will wake you
if you will let me go.

Promise me.

On the fire of Vesta, I promise.

"Kagas kaga"

"Kagas kaga"

"Kagas kaga"

Lovely.

Thank you.

I know I didn't get us started off
on the right foot...

k*lling your man and all,
and I'm sorry for that. But...

Vah, I'll just come straight out
with it.

I have a question to ask you.

With permission of Venus and Mars...

I ask you to be my wife.

Your wife? Married?

Married. You and me.

If... If you wish it so, master.

No. I'm not your master anymore.
You're a free woman.

You can refuse me, I won't be angry.

I won't be best pleased, but...

You know, I won't beat you
or anything.

A man like me can always
make good money.

You'll have a roof
over your head. Food.

I'll buy you anything you want.
Dresses. Shoes.

Is that a yes?

Yes.

You won't regret it, I promise.

Done.

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Thank you, my dear.

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Visitors, Domina.

Bring them.

Mark Antony.

Atia.

How good of you to come,
and the children.

Calpurnia, we grieve with you.

My husband is glad to receive you.

You're the first to pay respects.

Strange that none of our friends
or family have come.

They're afraid.

Yes, that may be so.

We are going to leave the City now.

It's best you come with us.

Leaving?

- Why?
- It is not safe.

That's no matter. I'm glad to die.

My dear lady...

But now that you're here
to stand witness

- we must read his will.
- He will?

No, I'm sorry. We haven't time.

It is the proper form.

We haven't time.

It is the will...

of a dictator of the Roman republic.

Having made due provision
for the well-being and security...

of my honest and dutiful wife,
Calpurnia, et cetera.

I leave the sum
of seventy-five denarii...

to every enrolled citizen.

Ridiculous. What a waste!

My name and the remainder
of my estate

with all legal obligations
and benefits

all property, gold,
silver and other monies

I leave to Gaius Octavian

who is henceforth to be regarded...

for all intents and purposes
as my lawful son...

and sole heir.

- Octavian? My Octavian?
- What else?

He stipulates that the sl*ve
known as Posca, that is, I

am to be given my liberty
with an appropriate stipend.

I give you joy of your freedom.

- What else?
- There are no further bequests.

I see.

Congratulations, boy.

Thank you, Posca.

Octavian gets everything?
All of it?

He'll get nothing.
It's all wax for scraping.

It's a will. It's his by law.

The law is now Brutus
and his minions.

Caesar's land and money
will go to them.

That is so.

They will declare his death
a rightful tyrannicide

his will and all his acts
become null and void

his property will be intestate.

They cannot take the name.

Oh no. That's all yours.

Much good may it do you.

Away now.

I may have to
take Calpurnia along by force

so don't be alarmed
if she makes a clamor.

Send for your mistress.

Tell her we're leaving.

Mother, I must stay in Rome.

I must stay in Rome.
I am Caesar's son.

I must protect my status and rights.

There's blood.
A proper little Spartan.

You shall have to stay also, mother.
The family must appear united.

My strange, brave, pompous
little boy, we're going North.

I'm head of the family.

Strictly speaking,
it is for me to say where we go.

I know you're only trying
to be manly, that's lovely.

But now is not the time.

We are going and
there's an end on it.

Antony, listen.
Brutus is in a legal bind.

I think we can force him
into making a deal with us.

Go on.

Brutus must declare Caesar a tyrant

or else the act of k*lling Caesar
is m*rder.

But all the acts of
a tyrant are unlawful

including those
appointing Brutus as praetor

Cassius as proconsul, and so forth.

And then so?

If Brutus honors the law,
he loses all rank and position.

- It's lawyers' prattle.
- I don't think so.

If you offer them amnesty...

- in return...
- Amnesty?

I'm gonna eat their livers.
Amnesty?

you're not following me.

Enough! You think you know better
than Antony?

- But you don't understand.
- Juno's c**t, must I slap you?

If the will stands, and it might

you are mother to
the richest man in Rome.

If the will is broken,
Servilia has that honor.

No.

Where is this damn woman?

When I give you the nod

I want you to help me
seize the old lady

and get her outside quick.

- She trusts you, nay?
- Sir, with all respect...

What?

With all respect,
until the will is ratified

I am bound to serve
the house of Caesar.

With that in mind

I must beg you not
to take my mistress by force.

- With all respect.
- Respect?

You impudent toad.

You'll do as I say and I will do
as I please with your damn mistress.

Antony?

We're staying.

No thank you, master.

You've got to stop calling me that.

What shall I call you then?

Anything you want.

Husband? Honey?

Caesar is dead!

Caesar is dead!

Caesar is dead!

Don't worry.

If he comes back, he comes back.

There.

See how fine she looks?

She'll be well-respected.

A woman from good people.

Hello, children.

Immortals!

Immortals, I say.

You noblemen have
carved your names deep...

in the eternal stone.

That is very high praise indeed.

I would embrace you all
but I'm desolated...

that you did not enlist me
in your cohort of heroes...

to wield the liberators' knife!

What joy you have denied me.

Forgive us.

But we rather thought
you'd prefer not to know.

It is done.

I cannot share in your glory.

I can only applaud.

Now, tell me, is the City secure?

We have two thousand men under arms.

- Caesar's people have fled.
- The City is ours.

Excellent. And Mark Antony?
The dog is dead, I hope?

He is not.

Mark Antony is alive?

An error!

I think, a deep...

error.

We are senators, not hired th*gs.

k*ll him yourself if you want it so.

You know best
what is the right thing to do.

I must go. I'm away to the country.

Another tedious lawsuit.

I just wanted to salute you
before I left.

Immortal liberators.

Friend Cicero.

Why so pale?

Brother?

Vorenus?

Legionary Pullo

- second century first cohort...
- What's happened?

First cohort.

Brother Vorenus, what's happened?

She's mother to the boy Lucius.

I was... going to k*ll her.

I had the knife in my hand.

- She did it herself.
- Miseria.

- Where are the children?
- Gone.

Gone where?

I cursed them.

I cursed them to Hades.

Get some water.

Brother Vorenus?

Brother Vorenus?

Come sit down.

Let's get you cleaned up.

Consul Antony, I am here
strictly as an impartial arbiter.

I knew nothing
of this disturbing act.

I was as surprised and...
and shocked as you were.

As Brutus can confirm.

Cicero knew nothing.

You have lost a good friend
and patron today.

We are sorry.

If that monkey remains,
I shall have to open his neck.

He tried to k*ll me this morning.
His presence is an insult.

You're mistaken.
No one tried to k*ll you.

It was my express order
that you be spared.

Am I, Cassius?

Mistaken?

We do apologize
if this man's been overzealous.

Go, Quintus.

Tell us, Antony.

To what do we owe
this unexpected pleasure?

Listen.

Why so quiet?

A tyrant is dead.

Surely the people should be happy.

Where is the cheering throng
at your door?

Where are the joyous cries
of liberty?

The people fear change.

A somber mood is only natural.

When they realize
they are free from tyranny

the people will be glad.

The people loved Caesar.

And they will hate you
for what you've done.

They loved him once.

As I did.

Some have turned against him,
no doubt.

It cannot be denied
he was something of a tyrant.

But a great many people
will worship Caesar until they die.

A great many.

And those people are mine now.

We do not need such people.

Our men-at-arms
have secured the City.

We've received representatives
from all the best elements.

The Senate is with us,
the knights are with us.

The pontiffs, the urban cohorts,
the lictors' guild.

The lictors' guild, very good.

Only rally the bakers
and the flute-players

and you can put on a festival.

Best wait till
after the elections, though.

What elections?

Surely you've thought this through?

If Caesar was, as you insist,
a tyrant

then all his acts
and appointments are nullified.

I am no longer consul,
you're no longer praetor

you're no longer proconsul.

Elections will have to be held.

That is so.

Messy things, elections.

You spoke of helping us?

I did.

All those that loved Caesar,
but hate tyranny

I may be able to bring to your side.

Why would you do that?

Neither of us can win outright.

Not without much blood spilled
to prove the issue.

I want no more blood.

I want peace and stability.

How?

First...

a general amnesty.

Caesar is not declared tyrant,
nor you declared K*llers.

All Caesar's acts and his will
shall stand.

We shall all keep our posts.

It will be as if...

he were struck by lightning.

A natural death.

Go on.

Then a show of unity.

A public funeral for Caesar,
led by you and I together.

We shall mourn the man
and burn the tyrant.

And then?

I shall serve out
the rest of my term as consul

and then retire quietly
to the provinces where I will...

plough my fields and flog my sl*ves.

Just like old Cincinnatus.

And the republic shall roll on
without me.

I swear on the Black Stone,
I am done with politics.

You people play too rough for a...
simple soldier like me.

Knives in the Senate house.

Didn't think you had it in you.

And if we do not wish
to be reconciled with you?

If we cannot be friends,
then we shall be enemies.

And I will do my very best
to annihilate you.

Perhaps you would give us some time
to talk this over?

Talk all you like.

I shall wait outside.

You tried to k*ll him
despite everything I said?

Forgive me.

Your scruples do you credit but...

without your knowledge,
his death could not have...

- dishonored you...
- To the contrary

I will be twice dishonored.
A k*ller and a fool.

Is your honor worth more
than the republic?

It is not too late.

He's here, in your hands.

I'm simply stating the facts.

I do not urge you to any...

particular course of action.

Nor will I take the course
you do not urge.

Brother.

It is the only rational thing...

- to do.
- He's broken no capital law.

And he offers a truce
which will preserve the public order.

We have no right to take his life.

Damn the law in his case!
He's too dangerous to live.

You exaggerate him.
He is a vulgar beast.

Without Caesar he will...
destroy himself soon enough.

- He is...
- He is a guest in my house.

He is not in the house.

He is on the street.

You too, mother?

Consul Antony.

We shall be friends.

Friends.

There.

- That's better.
- I shouldn't have done it.

What's that?

I cursed my own children, Pullo.

It wasn't their fault.

Don't worry.

They'll be back.

You can lift the curse then,
no trouble.

You didn't k*ll an animal on it,
did you?

- No.
- There you go then.

The curse isn't sealed.

And when they come back,
you can lift it. No harm done.

What if they don't come back?

Where else they gonna go?
Course they're coming back.

Tomorrow, at the fourth hour

a funeral service will be held
for Gaius Julius Caesar.

Under terms of truth

and in the spirit of
unity and forgiveness

eulogies will be delivered...

by praetor Marcus Junius Brutus
and consul Mark Antony.

No prostit*tes, actors
or unclean tradesmen may attend.

I am come to pay my respects
to your husband.

I understand you are grieving.

Show her what she's done.

So Vorenus went home
to confront his wife.

And Caesar went to the Senate
alone and unprotected.

Beasts.

What I don't understand...

is how they knew about Niobe
and all that in the first place.

You and I were the only ones
that knew the truth.

I told my sister.

And she told Servilia.

My sister was...

It doesn't matter.

The jug is broken.
I cannot mend it with regret.

I ask for your forgiveness.

Of course.

I can't expect a young lad
like yourself to be...

to be...

Anyway...

it's done, as you say.

You should not repeat
what I have told you.

It's not that I'm ashamed,
though I am.

It's only that it will not look good
with the people.

It's forgotten already.

Sorry about your uncle.

I am made his son by will.

Congratulations.

You'll be wanting vengeance, then?

At some point.

I'll be up for the duty, of course.

Come on, get up.

Have you forgotten what day it is?

What day is it?

Don't play with me.
I'm not up for it today.

Relax.

It's gonna be my day.

I can feel it.

I don't think I've ever kissed
a woman in a funeral dress before.

Nor shall you now.

That's a shame.

It'll have to be Merula then.

Come here, old girl.
Come on. Jump on.

She'd eat you alive.

Come on, this is no morning
for foolery. Just get up.

Come here.

Stop fooling around and just get up!

I am not rising from this bed
until I've kissed someone.

Fine, fine. Merula, fetch that
German serf from the kitchen.

Come on, get it right this time...

or you'll be next
for the "king of goats" over there.

Undertaker's here. We're ready to go.

We must wait for the children.

They'll be back, brother.

I shouldn't have done it.

I shouldn't have cursed them.

They'll be back. I'm sure of it.
Sooner or later.

I shouldn't have done it.

I shouldn't have done it.

Hey...

Hey.

We've got to send Niobe
on her way now.

We can't leave it any longer,
can we?

Else them below will be vexed.

Please. Please.

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Grain monitor?

Why on Gaia's earth would I
want to be grain monitor?

It would give you reason
to leave the City with dignity.

I have no intention
of leaving the City!

A tour of the Asian supply ports...

would be the most natural
thing in the world.

Nobody could possibly accuse you
of running away.

I have no intention
of leaving the City!

Servilia, my dear.

Sorry about all this.

Got a bit carried away.

You gave an excellent speech...
incidentally.

It was perhaps a touch too cerebral
for that audience but...

Have you been offered
any refreshment?

Some water will be lovely. Thank you.

Please, speak sense to your son.

Him and his friends
must leave the City.

I cannot answer for their safety.

Do not look so pleased
with yourself.

You're a liar and a breaker of oaths

and you've roused your rabble,
nothing more.

A pantomime actor might have done
what you did today.

Lucky then it was me that did it.

Else you would now be on your knees
kissing a pantomime horse.

I have no wish to abuse
or humiliate you.

I only wish you gone.

We're going nowhere.

No, not you, at least.

The men shall leave.

You will stay here in the City
with me as my guest.

Hostage, you mean.

As you like.

You may wish as you will.

We yet have all the Senate behind us
and all the men of quality.

And I have an angry mob...

that will roast and eat
your "men of quality"...

in the ashes of the Senate house!

Children?

Eldest?

Vorena?

They're not here.

Never mind.

Just have to be patient.

How about you make us
a nice pot of porridge?

We'll all feel better
with some food inside us.

- Vorena?
- Anyone here?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I was only taking back things I lent!

Hush, it doesn't matter. Do you know
where the children have run to?

I swear, only things I lent.

Do you know where the children are?

Speak!

Erastes' foremen took them.

Porca Juno.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

- The place is really packed, right?
- Yeah.

Takes me half an hour to fight my way
to the front and up steps Brutus.

Right?
And he goes, "blah, blah, blah.

"The law this and the republic that.
And the twelve bloody tables."

I couldn't understand half of it.

Yeah, yeah, then what happened?

Then, Antony's up.

But he gives Brutus a hug.

He starts talking all calm and gentle
like he's not bothered.

And I'm thinking, "Enough of this.
We'll be away for a bevy."

But then...

he pulls out Caesar's toga,
all covered in blood.

- Everyone goes, "whoa!"
- Disgusting.

No foolish dignity, that man.

But now, Antony's stalking up
and down with the toga.

And he's crying about
"what a good man was Caesar"...

and how much he loves him
and what a great leader we've lost

until the crowd,
half of them are crying.

They're sobbing like babies.

And then what does he do?

He takes the bloody toga...

and he throws it into the crowd.

The entire place went up
like a tar barrel.

The whole stupid crowd went mad.

Brutus and them are lucky
to be alive, if they are.

It's a disgrace. No filthy respect.

Yeah, well people
get angry, don't they?

No excuse!

It's a consular simple funeral,
isn't it?

Supposed to show some formal respect.

Not run around looting and burning.

Animals.

That Antony's a rat, too.

Mark me, now.

Anyone of you ladies
join in this disgrace

you'll be disjointed quick as Pan.

We observe the simple decencies.

Right?

- Right?
- Right.

Filthy sl*ves and foreigners
to blame.

Send them back to Bithynia,
or wherever you come from.

Rome for Romans.

Flavio?

Tell those damn people
to shut that up!

They want to fight, take it outside.

Keep your hands above it!

Flavio!

Really useless.

You have my children.

You have my children.

What are you talking about?

You have my children.

Someone's misled you, friend.

Where are they?

I don't know.

Where are they?

Flavio!

Flavio's not coming.

- Here we are then.
- Where are they?

Where are my children?

Will you have a little wine with me?

No?

Kiss my feet.

Tell him.

If they're not harmed,
you may yet live.

You think so?

Tell him.

Nothing like a good Falernian grape,
is there?

You're not a bad sort of man,
Vorenus.

You just have too much anger in you.

Tell him!

I took your children in payment
for your many slights to me.

I beat them, then I k*lled them.

And then I threw them in the river.