01x01 - Fall

[bunniefuu]

[Livia] The first rule of power

is survival.

But still it comes for me.

Even now

when I'm alone in the dark.

The scent of winter woods.

The feel of icy stone.

Sudden burst of blood.

Because however many men

you k*ll --

and I have had to k*ll many --

you never forget the first.

And you can have a drink

from the water ♪

[Livia] No way!

No way! [Laughing]

-What's he doing here?

-I told you.

There won't be time

before the wedding.

Domina.

There's nothing

to be scared of.

I know.

I'm not scared.

I'm just tired.

No, wait. Stop.

We'll start with a look

at the p*nis.

What?

You'll thank me for this

on your wedding night.

No, I won't.

You can go now, Archias.

We haven't finished yet,

Domina.

Yes, we have.

[Door opens]

That's the front door.

[Livius] I've just heard,

there's a secret meeting tonight

in the North.

Antonius, Lepidus

and Gaius Julius.

[Piso] Ah, the thieves

have run out of money.

[Livius] Yes.

They need to make a deal.

Mm.

We've just got rid

of one dictator,

now we might end up

with three.

[Piso] We should k*ll him --

Gaius Julius -- at the wedding.

[Livius] My daughter's wedding?

[Piso] What?

It's practically a tradition.

And we'll never get

a better chance.

[Livius] No.

To butcher one of our own

like that,

it's it's un-Roman.

[Agrippa] It's the middle

of f*cking nowhere.

It's a secret meeting.

That's the point.

They could be waiting inside

and we wouldn't stand a chance.

That's the way I'd do it.

Get us out here on our own

and finish it.

Yes.

That is the way you'd do it.

I think they'll use us

to get what they want

and then get rid of us

afterwards.

That's the way I'd do it.

-All right, then.

-[Chuckles]

Gaius Julius Caesar.

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.

Daddy?

[Chuckles]

Are you nervous

about getting married?

Every Roman girl

has to marry sometime.

You're already fifteen,

Little Bear.

You've been putting it off

two years now.

He's a good man, Nero.

A senator, a cousin.

We went through the list

together, more than once.

Livia Drusilla.

It's not too late.

It is a bit.

[Laughing]

Marcus Antonius.

You're two days late.

Oh, at least.

-Lepidus.

-Gaius.

What a pleasure to see you.

[Chuckling]

I agree to all your terms.

You can have Egypt and the East.

You can have all the rest,

and I'll take f*cking Africa,

thank you very much.

Next

I'm right out of money.

We're going to need

800 million, at least,

to start a w*r

and see it through.

Why do we need to start a w*r?

Brutus and Cassius

have run away.

We can't just leave them

sitting in Greece

with a big f*cking army.

It was your father

they k*lled.

You can avenge him.

Julius Caesar was my father,

and I will avenge him.

What are you suggesting?

I'm suggesting

that we think about

the richest senators

and knights in Rome.

All the people

behind the m*rder of Caesar.

Anyone still backing

Brutus and Cassius.

Anyone who supports

the Republic.

Then we butcher them

and seize all their assets.

On some legal pretext.

That would be at least

a hundred senators.

-And what, a thousand knights?

-Mm, nearer two.

[Lepidus laughing]

You can't be

taking this seriously?

This is insane.

I've started a list.

♪♪

[Livia] Get away from me!

Don't

don't you dare.

No!

No, I said go away!

Domina.

You're a Roman lady.

All of it has to come off.

Hmm?

Every hair.

Is this going to hurt?

We can start

with your underarms.

[Livia screams] Ow!

f*ck, Livius,

what are you sacrificing?

Sounds like your bride,

I'm afraid.

Don't ask.

-You're early.

-I brought over

the amended marriage contract

for you to sign.

I can see you haven't heard.

Uh

Gaius Julius has come to terms

with Marcus Antonius

and Lepidus.

They've divided up the provinces

between themselves.

And where are they now?

Gaius Julius

got back last night.

He'll be here

in a couple of hours.

Oh, you invited him

to my wedding.

I like him.

And I'd like to keep him close.

Another f*cking wedding.

As if we don't have enough

of our own to go to

without all these

other people's as well.

-You're lucky to be invited.

-Not as lucky as you.

[Laughing]

Come here.

When's your husband

coming home?

[Octavia]

Scribonia? Scribonia?

[Scribonia]

Octavia. Darling.

I wasn't expecting you

so soon.

Neither was my brother,

I see.

I hope you're

wearing a toga today.

Livius is very informal.

-Don't be ridiculous.

-You're lucky to be invited.

Everyone will be there.

OK, fine.

I'll go home and change.

How long

has this been going on?

Octavia, you know

we've always liked each other.

What I know is, my brother

is engaged to Clodia Pulchra,

and you're married

to Publius Scipio.

I I want to marry him.

Your brother.

I'll wait for you in the atrium.

But a word about my daughter

before you go.

Obviously,

you hardly know her.

She's attached to a particular

sl*ve, a lovely girl.

Antigone.

She was born in this house.

She's got a gift

for herbs and medicines.

I I'm sorry, Livius.

I can't take on

another mouth to feed.

And, to be honest,

I'm surprised you would want

to encourage a friendship

between my wife and a sl*ve.

I'm afraid you misunderstand me.

-Uh, that's freezing!

-It's ice.

It's supposed to be.

You're not putting that

anywhere else.

Dominus wants his daughter

and Antigone.

Livia.

Ah, this is one

of my "serious talks."

[Chuckles]

Little Bear,

marriage and children

are what Rome expects of you.

But now I think it will ask

something else.

500 years ago,

we ended the tyranny of kings,

and since then, Rome has always

been ruled by two consuls

Elected each year

by its citizens.

The sharing of power

has made us great.

Our family fought

to establish the Republic.

But now I think we'll have

to fight again to keep it.

You said the other factions

were split.

They were, until now.

w*r will come, in the end.

And I will fight

with Brutus and Cassius.

It's on honor to give your life

for something you believe in.

They were your mother's.

She'd want you to have them.

I haven't forgotten.

I'll see her now.

Nero!

Dominus.

As a wedding present to Livia,

I've arranged for your freedom.

Duly witnessed

by Tiberius Claudius Nero.

You are now a Roman citizen,

Antigone.

Congratulations.

But where will I go?

What will become of me?

Well, you can marry

if you want.

And I'll provide a dowry.

In the meantime,

Nero has generously insisted

that you go to his house

with Livia as a companion.

As a freedwoman.

That is,

if you want to.

-Thank you.

-[Both laughing]

[Whistles]

Are you sure about this?

Why?

We're invited.

Livius is on the other side.

Not yet, he isn't.

He will be.

Come on.

Not too tight.

It's bad luck

if he can't undo it tonight.

Perfect.

Excuse me.

Move. Move.

It's always a mistake

to go with a pig.

Far too intelligent.

[Applause]

[Livius] Thank you, Cicero.

[Cicero] Welcome, friends,

to the wedding

of Tiberius Claudius Nero

and Livia Drusilla.

Great Juno, Goddess

of Marriage and Fertility,

accept this gift of life

They can sort of sense

what's coming.

[Cicero] and blood

Pigs.

from this great house of

Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus.

-Livia Drusilla, are you ready?

-Yes.

Tiberius Claudius Nero,

do you agree?

I do.

Then she is yours.

Let's witness the contract!

[Nero] Oh, come on Piso,

there won't be a w*r.

Everyone has too much to lose.

[Libo] That's true.

What does Gaius Julius

have to lose?

Ha! You see,

Livius made the mistake

of teaching his daughter

how to think.

She's right.

He's the only one in the game

with nothing to lose.

Look at them, Agrippa.

Old, fat, lazy, complacent.

My worry's how to do it.

k*lling over two thousand men'll

take the best part of a legion

-going into the city at once.

-Mm.

It's impossible at night.

Streets are rammed with wagons.

It's impossible in daylight. The

streets are jammed with people.

We'll put a price

on their heads. A big one.

Their own sl*ves

will betray them.

Their wives, their neighbors.

They'll be torn apart.

All we have to do

is block the city gates.

If Livia keeps on

staring at you,

even her husband might notice.

I want a house like this.

Well, you can have

this one soon.

-I like Livius.

-[Agrippa] You were there.

-They want him on the list.

-I'll give them Cicero instead.

-Cicero?

-Mm.

He's backed us from the start.

I'll get Livius taken off

in return.

No, not Livius.

You'll never save him.

I can try.

f*ck off.

-Gaius.

-[Gaius chuckles] Livius.

-Is that running water?

-Yes.

Mm.

We got connected

to the aqueduct last year.

-It cost a fortune.

-Mm.

But the old pit

was unbearable in summer.

f*ck.

I hate togas.

Allow me.

Marcus Livius,

I'm asking

for your friendship

and your support.

You have my friendship.

As for my support,

the Republic

may not be perfect,

but it's better

than the alternative.

Kings, dictators and civil w*r.

And that's why I'm asking

for your support.

It's not too late.

Why didn't you join the plot

to k*ll Caesar?

It was

un-Roman.

[Scribonia]

Gods, he's lucky.

Every man in Rome

wanted Livia's dowry.

Over a million in farmland,

I heard.

Yes, Livius auditioned them

for years.

Someone told me that he caught

the pox off an actress.

Who?

Livius?

No, no, stupid. Nero.

[Laughing]

Oh, dear, poor Livia.

Welcome to marriage.

I can let her have

some ointment.

But of course with a father

like Livius it had to be

a staunch Republican

from one of the old families.

There must have been someone

without a venereal disease.

Um, I'm younger,

prettier and richer than you.

So why are you laughing at me?

You're lucky to be here.

Both of you.

[Moaning]

[Moaning continues]

[Heavy breathing]

[Moaning intensifies]

She's Cicero's wife.

Yes.

I thought

Cicero was your friend.

He is.

He married her

because her family's rich.

That's why everybody

gets married.

Money, power, family.

They're the only things

that matter.

Hmm! To the son of a moneylender

I'm sure that's true.

Hmm!

Grandson.

[Groans]

That's my bed.

What happened to you?

Your affair with Cicero's wife

is indiscreet and unseemly.

It will damage you.

That's before

we talk about Scribonia.

Do you want to be taken

seriously or not?

Grow up.

You were right.

I can't save Livius.

[Applause]

Gaius Julius

put his tongue in my mouth.

Just his tongue?

[Fingers snap, applause]

[Grunting]

[Heavy breathing]

[Moaning]

[Livia gasps]

[Heavy breathing]

[Panting]

Heading south

for the winter.

What?

The birds.

They're getting out

while they can.

Mm.

Is that a good omen?

Of course it is.

Let's do it.

Move!

Close the gate.

[Vinnius] Livius!

Marcus Livius!

We were sent to save your life.

[Banging on door]

[Livius] Livia!

Livia!

-That's the Dominus.

-[Banging continues]

Livia!

-Livia?

-Daddy?

Who's that?

The w*r has come,

Little Bear.

Livius, what are you doing here?

For the last time, a list of

names is going up in the forum.

Senators and knights.

And 100,000 sesterces

on every head.

What?

Well, am I on it?

No, but I am.

Now, get yourself dressed and

warn everyone you can think of.

Start with Piso.

Come on.

Let me come.

I'm going to Greece

to join Brutus and Cassius.

And afterwards, I'll find you.

Remember your family

and your duty.

Always.

Father?

Antigone thinks

I might be pregnant.

A grandson.

Well, I wouldn't

waste your time with a girl.

If she's anything like you,

Little Bear, I'll be happy.

[Panting]

[People screaming, shouting]

[Groans]

[Groans]

Hello, Salassus.

Marcus Tullius Cicero.

[Groaning]

It's nothing personal.

[Octavia] Is this

really necessary, Gaius?

Depends what you mean

by "necessary."

Come back safe.

[Livius] "My Little Bear,

"thank you for your letter.

"I wish you a safe

and beautiful birth.

"The army of the Dictators

has found us in Greece.

"I saw Gaius Julius,

just briefly, on the other side.

"That young scamp

at your wedding.

"It's only a year

since that day in Rome,

"but it seems like a lifetime.

"Tomorrow we fight again.

"The day will be decisive,

one way or the other,

"for the Republic.

"If I should fall,

"come and find me across

the river in the Underworld,

"when your time comes.

"I'll be waiting for you

with your mother.

"And, unfortunately, hers.

"Your proud father

"Marcus Livius.

"Dated Philippi, eleven days

before the kalends of November."

[Baby crying]

[Nero] The armies

met in Greece.

Brutus and Cassius are dead.

Their armies are scattered.

My father,

what happened to him?

-Where is he?

-How should I know?

We have to go!

There's a new list,

and I'm on it.

Go where?

This w*r, it will bring

everyone to their knees!

At the end there'll be

big opportunities

for anyone left alive.

Is that

why you wouldn't fight?

Livia, the Republic's dead.

It's time to take

a different side.

[Baby crying]

You don't have to go with him.

Other wives have stayed behind.

Honorably.

That would be un-Roman.

Shh!

[Baby crying]

Come on!

Quickly!

Get a bloody move on!

Here.

Hurry!

They're burning it.

Which side do we take now?

Sicily.

-We're going to Sicily.

-Sicily?

Sextus Pompeius

is holed up there.

His fleet controls the seas,

and they can't get to him.

We will be safe there.

-You said that about Perugia.

-What?

We're tired of running, Nero.

We can go to Gaius Julius.

He's less than a mile away.

I will never crawl

in front of that f*cking kid!

He'll pardon us.

I don't want his f*cking pardon!

Then let me go.

I'll speak to him.

I would rather k*ll you first

and the boy!

Sextus will welcome my support.

He hates Gaius as much as I do.

Lord.

Maecenas is here

with Sextus Pompeius.

Hmm.

I told you Maecenas

could get Sextus to come.

[Sharpening knives]

No.

No, we are not

going to k*ll him.

You might never get

another chance.

His f*cking fleet's

starving Rome to death.

We need a deal.

Ugh!

-Maecenas.

-Gaius.

Where's Sextus?

There's just

the slightest hitch.

He thinks you're going

to k*ll him.

What?

Sextus!

Gaius.

You're a long way from Sicily!

So are you!

[Laughing]

So are you.

Ah.

[Scribonia] Uh! Octavia!

The Gods!

Give me one of those.

Take Marcellus.

He's such a lump.

I can manage Marcella.

Wow.

How much did this cost?

My brother came into some money,

as you know.

Excuse the mess.

Gaius has only just

got back to Rome.

He's too busy to bully the

builders, so I offered to help.

It helps take my mind

off everything.

Do you like it?

I I do. [Chuckles]

That's good because

you'll be living here soon.

My brother's proposing

a marriage to you

as part of the treaty

with Sextus.

-Oh.

-[Baby crying]

I told you

you'd find my family useful.

Of course, negotiations

are bound to drag on for months.

That's what Gaius says anyway.

What?

-Aren't you happy for me?

-Yes.

Yes.

But I am to marry

Marcus Antonius

to seal the truce

between him and my brother.

The latest one, anyway.

You're not even half-way

through your mourning period.

I could hardly say no to Gaius.

-[Baby cries]

-[Indistinct comforting]

I must say,

after two children

in two years

and losing a husband,

I'd hoped to be left alone.

For a while at least.

And you always worry

each birth will be your last.

[Octavia] That's all in

the past now, isn't it, Gaius?

Either of you two ever hear

what became of Tiberius Nero?

-Nero?

-Why do you care about him?

We never found his body

in Perugia.

Why?

A lot of stragglers

have been washing up in Sicily.

Sextus is taking them in.

He must be dead by now.

Surely.

-His wife was gorgeous, though.

-Livia?

I've forgotten all about her.

The Golden Girl of the Claudii.

Oh, dear.

The arrogance at her wedding.

Do you remember?

What a brilliant match

that turned out to be.

[Maecenas] It's true,

her husband displayed

a rare genius

for picking the wrong side.

[Agrippa] Well

his Republican principles

didn't last long either.

Yes, what would

her father have said?

Livius was a man of honor.

He fought to the end

at Philippi.

You still took

everything he had.

Yes, we did.

Anyway

poor Livia.

[Livia] Archias!

You can see the smoke.

We've seen nobody

in over a week.

They're ready.

They're ready!

His fever's no worse.

It would be kinder

to let him die.

We both know it.

Be clear what you ask

the Gods for.

Come and eat.

[Indistinct chattering

in distance]

[Dacius] Smells good.

[Nero] I'm afraid

there isn't much of it.

But, of course, you're welcome.

You're a long way

off the main roads up here.

You're lucky it was us

that found you.

Loyal veterans.

Have we met?

Your face seems familiar.

What's your name?

Gaius Vipsanius Varus.

A relation to the great Marcus

Vipsanius Agrippa, I assume?

Very distant.

A hard man.

We fought against him

at Philippi.

We were part of the 27th,

under Brutus.

Were you at Philippi, Lord?

Is that where I know you from?

Marcus Livius Claudianus.

He was at Philippi.

-With the army of Brutus.

-Yes.

Yes, he was.

We never heard

what became of him.

You knew him, Lady?

My husband

was his wine merchant.

You're a wine merchant.

He owes us money.

[Chuckling]

Marcus Livius.

After the battle

he drove a sword

through his guts.

Bled to death.

Slowly.

I saw his body.

We won't get our money, then.

But

he was lucky.

When you think of what happened

to all the rest of them.

All those aristocrats in Rome.

Butchered in their own homes.

Running for their lives

in the sewers, they say.

And nothing left in the world

but the clothes they escaped in.

Fugitives.

A hundred thousand sesterces

on every head.

Run!

Argh!

[Grunting]

[Grunting continues]

No!

No!

Make it easy,

and I won't k*ll you after.

-[Whimpers]

-Open your legs.

Nice and wide.

And afterwards,

we'll find your friends.

[Livia grunts]

[Grunting]

Tiberius.

Oh! Hey

Hey. Hey.

[Sobs gently]

[Sobbing]

Don't worry.

They're dead.

And so is Archias!

But at least

you're all right!

What are you doing?

The ground's too hard

to bury him.

Did they touch you?

[shouting]

Did they touch you?

Oh, forget it.

Forget it!

I told you they could see

that fire for miles!

Well, come on!

There might be more of them.

-Wait!

-Come on!

Stop! Nero, wait!

Nero!

Nero!

Antigone!

Wait!

Nero!

Nero!

Antigone!

Antigone!

♪♪