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I, Claudius

I, Tiberius Claudius Drusus..

Nero Germanicus..

this-that-and-the-other...

who was once, and not so long ago,

better known to my friends

and relatives as Claudius the Idiot,

or That Fool Claudius,

or Claudius the Stammered...

am now about to write

this strange history of my life.

Are you there?

Yes you're there. I can feel it

I can feel your presence yes

I knew you would come

the moment I began to write.

Yes it was inevitable.

it was prophesied by the Sibyl

Spies. Spies everywhere

spying on me.

In my bed at my prayers

on the street..

Even in the lavatory. Spies!

I'll cheat them every one.

it was prophesied by the Sibyl

I went to Cumae many years ago

to consult her.

She was most famous

Her prophecies had achieved

worldwide renown

and she did not consent

to see everyone.

Unexpectedly,

she consented to see me.

I was terrified.

"Oh Sibyl", I said

"I've c-come to question you

about Rome's fate and mine."

"Hear me Cl-Cl-Claudius, "

she answered mocking my stammer.

"Apollo speaks to you through me.

"Listen closely."

(WOMAN) What groans

beneath the Punic Curse

And strangles

in the strings of purse

Before she mends must sicken worse.

Ten years, 50 days and three

Clau-Clau-Claudius shall given be

A gift that all desire but he.

But when he's dumb and no more here

Nineteen hundred year or near,

Clau-Clau-Claudius

shall speak clear.

Yes That's what it means

In nineteen hundred years from now

they'll hear me.

Not before.

No.

A box. I need a box.

I'll put it all in here. My story.

My history of the family. Yes

And the end of the Republic Yes

When I've finished I'll seal it

and bury it where no one will find it

No. No one.

Not for nineteen hundred years

or more.

Then it will turn up suddenly.

People will read it

They'll know the truth.

My voice as the Sibyl said

as she prophesied

for them -

not for these fools in Rome

but for them out there

in remote posterity.

For you.

Yes. It will all be in here sealed.

You will find it, I promise you.

I, Claudius,

am now about to begin

this strange history of my life...

of my family.

Of Livia my grandmother.

Of Augustus Caesar.

Of Marcus Agrippa.

Yes And his hatred for Marcellus

Excellent! Excellent!

Thallus!

See they’re well taken care of.

They were splendid.

- Yes, Caesar.

- And sea they’re properly fed.

They’ll eat better

than the kitchen staff, Caesar.

There's no need to go that far.

Better than us will be sufficient.

You know, Marcus,

I like to eat sparingly.

There's too much gluttony in Rome.

But this one day is very special

I like to make an exception.

And I've got a surprise for you.

Two, as a matter of fact.

Thallus!

- Bring in the cake.

- But it's for the end of the meal

- I want the family to sea it.

Aristarchus of Athens is in Rome.

Oh, Marcus. They say that he's

the greatest orator of our time,

and he's going to prepare an oration

for the anniversary

of the battle of Actium.

- Oh, no!

- We had one last year.

- That was last year.

Anyway, the speaker was dull

This man, they say he's wonderful

"Seven years today sank Antony

and his hopes in the harbour of Actium."

How the young mock

the battle scars of their elders.

- Battle scars!

- A lot of good men died there,

and a lot of good men got scarred.

It's not right to make light of it.

- He's just being provocative.

- No.

I think we exaggerate

its significance.

Now, Marcellus, let's not argue.

Marcus...

No. Let's hear

what the young genius has to say.

- Well?.

- Look! Here is the cake.

- Do we get one each?

- Julia, for heaven's sake!

- Marcus, do you recognise it?.

- It's my ship.

- You made it your headquarters.

- She was a fine ship.

That must be you, Marcus.

The candied cherry in the prow.

(AUGUSTUS LAUGHS)

Marcellus, please.

These things mean something to us.

We're taking ourselves

a little seriously.

(MARCUS) Not seriously enough.

Livia, isn't that a wonderful cake?

- Wonderful

- Don't you like it?.

Bring in the Greek. If you keep him

waiting longer, he'll need a shave.

As a matter of fact he's bearded.

Thallus, bring in the Greek.

- Leave the cake.

- Take the cake.

Marcus, they say

that he writes a sort of prose hymn.

What can that mean?

It's a form I've never heard of.

One of these new Greek inventions.

They’re always inventing.

Why are they so clever?.

If they’re so clever, why are they

our province instead of vice versa?

- Ah, Aristarchus, welcome.

- Hail. Caesar.

I hope we haven't kept you waiting.

Come. We're ready now.

Give us your piece.

Give me your peace, Caesar,

and I shall gladly give you mine.

Yes, of course. I'm sorry. Thallus.

Caesar calls for silence!

What a voice.

Perhaps we should change places?

Only the Romans can afford ushers

with a voice like that.

- Did you have it trained?

- I was an actor, sir.

That explains it. Resting, are you?

No, sir. I've given it up.

Everyone's an actor in Rome.

There isn't enough work.

And what there is goes to friends.

It's the same everywhere.

The theatre isn't what it was.

No. And I'll tell you

something else.

It never was what it was.

Thallus, please discuss your

personal problems in your own time.

Today is a day to drink and dance!

Let us rival the priests of Mars

with feats to dock

the couches of the Gods.

Seven summers past,

the wild queen, Cleopatra,

dreaming her dreams of ruin

on your lovely Empire,

sailed her hopes

into the harbour of Actium,

and there, with noble Antony,

spa curses on the ships of Caesar

and cried, "Sink Rome!

And all her minions.

"Egypt's not for conquests!"

But words do not kill

and curses sink no ships.

Before she could catch her

scented breath, mighty Agrippa...

(CLAUDIUS)

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.

Old friend and commander

of the armies of Augustus -

Emperor of Rome

and most remarkable man.

But even more remarkable

was Livia his second wife.

If Augustus ruled the world,

Livia ruled Augustus.

Octavia - Augustus’ sister...

mother of Marcellus

And next to him, Julia

his wife - Augustus' only daughter.

Augustus was now clearly

preferring Marcellus over Agrippa.

And Agrippa knew it

And Antony, once proud Antony,

fearing to be last,

chased her to the very gates

of heaven!

Romans! Remember them!

Their fateful deaths grace

your lives today with living legend.

Your names and theirs...

in history,

will be forever intertwined.

Wonderful

Wonderful

What a gift you Greeks have.

Incidentally, the battle

wasn't like that.

- No?

- No, not at all

But you described it poetically.

I understand that.

It was poetic licence.

I'm used to that.

I write a little poetry myself.

Could I show it to you sometime?

- I'd be honoured, Caesar.

- It's nothing professional.

but it's not bad,

though I say it myself.

Ah, Thallus has found a place

for you.

We'll talk some more later.

Wasn't that beautiful?.

He doesn't know about naval battles.

(MARCELLUS) Well. it wasn't

much of a battle, was it?.

I beg your pardon?

One wine-soaked lover

and his Egyptian wh*re?

I could have put up

a better show myself.

Now, now, Marcellus.

- Let's not fool ourselves.

- You know all about it, do you?

Yes. I've studied that battle

and I'm not impressed.

It wasn't a famous victory.

The result was a foregone conclusion.

- Let's watch the acrobats...

- Just a minute!

I won't be taught my kids who've

only just learned to piss in a pot.

When you've actually done something,

come back and talk to me again.

- If you'll excuse me.

- Marcus, it's early.

It seams late to me. Too late.

Perhaps that's because

I'm such an old man!

Thallus!

Oh, get rid of them!

Marcus!

Marcus!

My grandmother Livia.

Her mind always turning.

Always scheming.

And I - Claudius?

You ask, where am I?

I am not yet born,

but will be soon.

Now I must continue with the story

of the rivalry between Marcellus and Agrippa.

(KNOCKING)

(LIVIA) Yes?

- Yes?

- Caesar is asking for you, Lady.

- Yes. I'll come soon.

- He says at once.

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

is with him.

You'd better come down.

And wait outside.

I don't understand you.

You want to leave Rome,

but you won't say why.

- You don't need me here anymore.

- Let me be the judge of that.

Appoint me Governor of Syria

and I'll deal with that Parthian king.

- It's time someone did.

- He wants to leave Rome.

- Why, Marcus?

- He doesn't need me in Rome.

That's not the reason.

You're not being straight with me.

Not straight?.

Oh, no, don't say that to me.

If one man has bean straight with you,

it's Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.

- Is it Marcellus?

- Marcellus?

- What's he got to do with it?.

- I don't know.

Do you object to my

appointing him City Magistrate?

It's got nothing to do

with Marcellus.

He's a capable man - another

reason why you don't need me here.

Look, Marcus, we're old friends.

We've shared a lot of campaigns.

If Marcellus has upset you...

Lady, talk to him. It's not Marcellus.

I'm very fond of the boy.

We all are.

His friends can be high-handed,

but I was young once and had friends.

Yes. The greatest friend

a man aver had.

- Marcus...

- I'm not a man to hide my feelings.

- You know I feel the same.

- Of course.

I'd have gone long ago

if I hadn't thought that.

That's why I can say to you now

that I've got nothing against Marcellus.

Nothing.

He's a very gifted young man.

If you've advanced him ahead

of his years, that's only natural

I'm very relieved to hear it.

I know there's bean friction.

Not between you and him,

but between his followers and yours.

Followers? Who has followers?

Oh, he may have followers.

Such things don't come within my notice.

But me? I have followers? Show me.

Where are my followers?

Lady, do you sea any?.

Not followers,

but people like to make factions,

and that makes bad feeling

faster than boiled asparagus.

There's no bad feeling.

You've put my mind at rest.

If you feel you have to leave Rome...

I don't feel I have to leave.

I just think I could be more use

in the East.

Of course, if you feel

you really need me in Rome...

No, no, I'm sure you're right.

You usually are.

Your instincts are always

very sound.

When will you leave?

In a few days.

Then we'll have all Rome at Ostia

to sea you off.

"For the Senate

and the People of Rome," eh?

For the Senate

and the People of Rome!

Goodbye, old friend.

Goodbye.

Damn him! What does he think he is?

We know whom he thinks he is.

Your successor.

He's too old!

I need to groom a younger man.

We can't do without Marcus Agrippa.

Give him five months,

then call him back.

- No.

- Do it, my dear.

Better to call him back when you

don't need him than when you do.

No! I know what I'm doing.

My son is waiting outside to pay

his respects. Will you sea him?

Of course.

Ah, Tiberius. You're off

to join our troops in Germany?.

- Yes, Caesar.

- I'm sure you'll do well for us.

Remember that we need good generals.

The Empire won't hold together

without.

Write to me. I like to have views

from all sides.

It helps me to make up my mind

about things.

Yes.

And now I have things to do.

Yes, yes, many things.

Well. the best of luck go with you,

and all the Muses.

I could have saved myself

the trouble.

Oh, you're so keen

to save yourself trouble.

Did that cost you so much -

a hail and farewell?.

- He doesn't like me.

- Well. we can't all be lovable,

though we could try a bit harder.

It's my nature. I can't change it.

And wouldn't if you could.

You've a mighty high opinion of yourself.

I wonder you didn't transfer

your hopes to my brother.

I might have done that long ago

if he didn't share the idiotic hopes

your father had of another Republic.

Besides, I took the auspices

when you were born

and they were very favourable.

Not that old chicken story again.

You may sneer all you like,

but I marked a Zodiac

on the floor of the hen-house

and a chicken came down

and rested on your birth sign.

I took its egg and warmed it

in my hands and it hatched -

a young c**k chick, and it already

had a fine comb on its head.

You haven't much patience, have you?

You want everything at once.

Twenty years ago,

Augustus ruled with Mark Antony,

but I could sea that wouldn't last -

I could sea one man would be king.

So I divorced your father

and married Augustus and waited.

Now where would I be now

if I'd wanted everything at once, eh?

And where would you be?

Where am I now for all your patience

and your prophetic chickens?

You are my son and I am Augustus'

wife - that's where you are.

And in the long run, that's better

than being anybody else,

even Marcellus or Marcus Agrippa.

Now you may kiss me

and take your leave.

Remember my prophetic chickens

and have patience.

Do well on the Rhine. Your brother

is covering himself with glory.

- We mustn't fall behind.

- Have I aver?.

No.

In the less imaginative arts,

you are certainly to be relied upon.

And now my grandmother's mind

turned more and more

towards the removal of Marcellus

Good day, Mother.

You look a little piqued. Are you feeling well?.

- Lady.

- I slept badly last night.

There's so much noise in the streets

at night. Can't we do something?

The traffic must move sometime.

Would you have it move

during the day?.

There's too many people in Rome.

They keep coming in from everywhere.

Syria, Gaul. Germany.

They’re the life blood.

They make Rome what it is.

Noisy, garish and uninhabitable!

It shall be even worse

when the Games begin.

Look at that! Isn't it a beauty.

- Off your tree?

- Of course.

You know, you should eat more pears,

Livia.

How can I? You pick them all

I'll have some more sent

from the country.

Marcellus, we must talk

about these games.

- Yes. I want to do something new.

- That sounds familiar.

I want to really celebrate

my appointment as City Magistrate.

What earth quaking innovations

are we to sea?

Giraffes riding elephants?

I want to tent in all the theatres.

Turn the whole marketplace

into a gigantic multi-coloured marquee.

- Cover it.

- That's all?.

No. I have an idea for a battle

between 50 Germans

and 50 blacks from Morocco.

Yes. And who's going to pay

for all this?

I am, for part.

- And so are you.

- Yes, that's what I thought.

Come on. Would you consider 20

Germans against 20 black Moroccans?

He spoils him.

It would be hard not to.

He has such winning ways.

Oh, yes, he has winning ways

all right.

People fall over themselves

to do things for him.

I must go in. It's too hot.

Come, Antonia, I think

you should lie down.

Coming, Mother.

I hear there was opposition in the Senate

to Marcellus' appointment.

Nothing to speak of.

Just some friends of Agrippa.

They’re always ready to remind your father

there are no kings in Rome.

I don't know why he puts up

with the Senate at all

Your father observes the forms.

It's very important.

Romans like to believe

they govern themselves.

The older ones do perhaps,

but I don't think it matters to us.

You should hear Marcellus' friends talk.

He's very popular, isn't he?

- Yes.

- With you too?

- Why do you ask?

- Well. there are no children yet.

There's no issue

between you and Father

and you've bean married

for 20 years.

True. Still. I'm very happy

with your father.

And I am with Marcellus.

I'm pleased. There's no substitute

for a happy marriage.

No.

Mind you, they seam to be few

and far between these days.

I always thought Tiberius

was lucky with his Vipsania.

Yes. Yes, they’re very much in love.

You know, when I first married

your father,

you and Tiberius were children

and you used to play together.

- Do you remember?.

- Yes, I remember.

And when you grew up, you seamed

so fond of one another.

I once had hopes...

Yes, I used to adore him.

How foolish one is

when one is young.

(HUM OF A CROWD)

I wish to await the arrival

of Marcellus.

You're not going to read letters

during the performance?

I sea no reason to sit

doing nothing while we wait.

- It looks so bad.

- These are urgent.

My great uncle Julius used to do it.

The crowd never liked it.

Wait till you sea what Marcellus has

arranged. He's got a rhinoceros.

- What's that?.

- An extraordinary beast.

It's got a horn on its nose.

So has Scipio's wife.

He could have used her.

Ah, Marcellus. We've bean waiting

for you. Julia. Octavia.

Marcellus!

(CROWD ROARS)

I told you he was popular.

(CROWD ROARS)

(TUMULTUOUS CHEERING)

(FANFARE)

Let the Games begin!

(CROWD ROARS)

Are you all right?.

- I have a headache.

- What a shame.

The games are wonderful

Can't you come back?

- No.

- Marcellus is a huge success.

Yes. Yes, I could sea that.

Yes, well..

I'll go back to the Games.

You're not worried about me leaving,

are you?

You'll have Marcellus.

He can do all my work.

How long will you be gone?

About four or five months.

I haven't bean to the Eastern

provinces for years.

Will you sea Agrippa?

No, why should I? He never

got any further than Lesbos.

He sent his deputy to govern Syria.

He's got a nerve.

Well. I can manage without him now.

He can sea that. Now let him stew.

I don't need him.

Are you sure you're all right?.

Well. I'll go back to the Games.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(CROWD ROARS)

(KNOCKING)

Yes.

Are there letters from the Emperor?.

No, Lady, but one has arrived

for my lord Marcellus.

When you take it to him, would you

ask him to sea me before dinner?.

There are some names here

I want to discuss.

He already has the letter, but it

seams my lord Marcellus is in bed.

- What's the matter with him?

- A chill on the stomach.

It's a pity his wife and mother

went away.

(KNOCKING)

- Yes?

- The Lady Livia has called, master.

Ask her to come in.

I can't stay in bed.

I've got too much to do.

If you get up now,

you'll be in bed all tomorrow.

Wise, Musar, wise.

Marcellus!

It's nothing, Lady.

A summer chill on the stomach.

- I've worked through worse.

- Have you eaten?

He can't keep anything down.

It's perfectly natural

Only if the food

doesn't agree with him.

I nursed Augustus last summer and he

ate everything I prepared for him.

I'll be well tomorrow.

These chills can be dangerous.

Augustus was nearly carried off.

I'm not so easily disposed of.

I'd never forgive myself

if anything happened to you.

What can happen to me?

I wouldn't think of it.

- My mother and Julia will..

- Exactly. Your mother and Julia.

And how should I face them

if anything did happen?

Oh, there, there.

I shall move my room next to yours

and I shall prepare

all your food myself.

You'll sea what can be served up

to tempt a weak apatite.

But it's a chill. nothing more.

Musar assures me.

I wouldn't pay too much attention

to Musar.

He thinks he cured Augustus,

but it was my nursing that did it.

- And I shall nurse you.

- Lady...

No. No arguments.

- Why go to this trouble?

- I insist.

- It's very good of you.

- No, no, my dear.

Goodness has nothing to do with it.

It's Musar, Lady.

He's getting worse. Much worse.

(LIVIA) Yes. I'll come soon.

We ought to inform his wife

and his mother. They should be here.

No. You exaggerate.

Things have to get worse

before they get better.

But he keeps nothing down. Nothing.

It is worrying.

He's bringing up green slime.

I've never sea anything like it.

- Green, you say?.

- Yes. Have you sea it before?

No.

No, I've never sea green before.

Perhaps it's a good sign.

Forgive me, Lady.

You're thinner.

You look better. The life

of the legions agrees with you.

Have I aver complained? I'd as soon

be in camp on the Rhine as here.

I had to call you back.

Augustus is still in Greece touring

the provinces and Marcellus...

- How is he?

- I think he may die.

- Has Augustus bean told?

- Yes, of course.

As soon as it began to look serious.

- When did he fall ill?.

- About a month ago.

Musar said it was just a chill.

but I could sea it was more serious,

so I decided I'd nurse him myself.

Well. his wife and mother were away.

I've bean at his side day and night.

I prepare all his food myself

and I sea that he eats it.

I wouldn't have thought you'd care

whether he lived or died.

I care very much

whether he lives or dies.

- Do Julia and his mother know?.

- Yes. They’re with him now.

Julia is being hysterical.

of course,

and his mother never stops praying.

- Let's hope her prayers are heard.

- Yes, indeed.

And mine too.

Tell me...

what do you think of Julia?

Nothing. Why?.

Nobody could accuse you

of being devious.

- She thinks well of you.

- What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing. She likes you, that's all

Always has.

Mother, I'm a happily married man.

Julia doesn't interest me.

Not even if you hung her naked

from the ceiling above my bed.

She might even do that

if I asked her!

Aren't you forgetting something?

She's married to Marcellus

and he's not dead yet.

When I start to forget things,

you may light my funeral pyre

and put me on it - dead or alive.

Don't ask me to divorce Vipsania

because I won't do it.

Oh, what a lover we have here!

Did you bring back poems

from the Rhine?

Vipsania's the only thing

that means anything to me.

I thought a boy's mother

meant something.

Well. you do mean something,

but so does she,

so don't ask me to push her aside.

I may ask more than that

before I finish.

Where does all this get us?

There's Marcellus and Agrippa,

and Augustus proffers them both to me.

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

Ye Gods!

What's that?.

It sounds as if there is now

only Agrippa.

- He's dead!

- Julia!

- He's dead!

- Julia!

Julia! Julia.

Control yourself!

That's no way for a Roman woman

to behave!

But he's dead.

He gave a great cry and then

he rolled over and fell on the bed.

- He's dead! He's dead!

- Come along. Wait here.

- He's dead.

- Tiberius, take care of Julia.

This is very grave.

We must send to Augustus.

Tiberius!

I said take care of Julia!

I did everything I could.

Everything.

I did everything I could.

Everything I did for Augustus I did

for him, but it made no difference.

He's dead? You're sure he's dead?

My son is dead. You can be sure.

Poor Augustus. His heart will break.

It must have bean food poisoning.

What do you mean, food poisoning?

Well. the summer's bean so hot.

These things happen.

Yes. Yes, of course.

Well. there has bean a lot of it about.

I thought it was a chill.

but I was wrong. Wrong!

It must have bean something he ate.

There ought to be an inquest,

I suppose.

No. There's no need of that.

We know what he died of.

- Do we?

- Food poisoning!

You said so yourself!

Yes.

I couldn't swear to it.

No...

but I could.

Tiberius, take Julia to her room

and comfort her.

Stay with her a while.

I'll send word to your wife

what keeps you.

"My dear Augustus...

"a most unfortunate

and tragic thing has happened...

"Marcellus, your adopted some,

"has unaccountably died

after a short illness

"No one is certain of the cause,

but food poisoning is suspected..

"I must say that does seem to me

the most likely explanation."

(ANGRY SHOUTING)

(CLAUDIUS) Rome erupted into fury.

Marcellus' death led to demands

for a return of the Republic -

the last thing my grandmother wanted.

(FAINT SHOUTING)

They’re rampaging through

the streets, looting the shops.

All the City Watchmen are out.

They’re no use!

Turn the Guard out on them!

I won't answer for the consequences.

Oh, you drooping lily! Do you want

us all to be murdered in our beds?

- Go and talk to them, then.

- Are you mad?

No. And I'm not frightened

of that rabble either.

Out of my way!

What do you want?.

(ANGRY SHOUTING)

A Republic?.

The Republic was all humbug!

Do you want civil wars

all over again?

Do you want famine in the streets?

Do you want Gauls and Huns

knocking on your doors?

You're all crying for the moon!

Go on back to your homes and...

Rabble! You call yourselves Romans?!

You wait till my husband gets home!

I wish, just for once, you would

behave like a normal woman!

To be a normal woman

you need normal men around you.

We must get Agrippa back. He's the only one

who speaks their language.

Whatever Augustus thinks,

he must patch up this quarrel

and get Agrippa back at any price.

I'm going to write to him at once.

Meanwhile, order the Guards

onto the streets!

Marcus.

Marcus!

Oh, it's bean too long, too long.

I wouldn't have had it so.

Marcus, what silly things

get in the way of friendship.

- You could have come sooner.

- How could I have come?

I'd have come to you.

Just one word - a hint, that's all

Would I have stayed away

if I'd bean sure of my welcome?

It's pride, stupid pride.

Did you have a good journey?.

The sea was rough,

but I didn't really notice it.

I was thinking of when

we were young together.

It's too painful

to think of one's youth.

- We've come a long way together.

- Not always together.

Marcus, you were always

in my thoughts.

It wasn't always obvious.

No, be just with me.

There were times -

oh, I can remember them -

when that young man -

and I'm sorry he's dead...

When that young man

went out of his way to insult me

with never a word of reproof from you.

From my old friend, not a word.

Marcus, he was like a son to me.

You have children.

You know what it's like.

Perhaps I was foolish.

Perhaps I did indulge him.

But it seamed like high spirits,

that's all - a little horseplay.

- Haven't we all bean guilty of it?.

- Maybe.

I'm sorry he's dead.

I wouldn't have wished it,

though he was no friend.

Yes.

I need my old friend again.

Now Marcellus is gone,

you need Agrippa.

No, no, no, you must believe me.

I'd already made up my mind

to sea you.

Would I pass Lesbos without calling in?

It's unthinkable.

No, Marcus, I need you back in Rome.

I don't know. I don't know

if I'm up to it anymore.

Things are bad there, I hear.

Oh, there's bean a little trouble.

That's not why I want you back.

I want you back

because that's where you belong.

My old friend should be in Rome

with me.

I need that strong right arm again.

What do you say?.

It's yours!

Marcus!

But err...

But?.

Let's seal this bond tighter

than it's aver bean before.

How?.

What's closer than a family tie?

To be related is a declaration

of what we mean to each other.

- You're thinking of your children?

- No. I'm thinking of myself.

- I don't get on with my wife.

- I didn't know that.

We haven't slept together for years.

I'm speaking a little soon, I know,

and one must observe the decencies,

but Julia's a young woman.

She'll get married again soon.

Well. why not to me?

- To you?

- Well. why not?.

Don't tell me I'm not good enough

for your family.

Why not?.

It's a deal You'll be my son-in-law,

have you thought of that?.

I've thought of nothing else!

(LIVIA) Why?

Why did you agree to it?.

Because he wanted it.

It was his price.

- His price!

- What could I say?.

You could have said no!

No, I could not!

I saw no reason to say no.

- I understood why he wanted it.

- So could anyone!

- What would you have done?

- I could have handled him.

How?.

I would have reminded him

that he's a man of no background

and that he cannot assume

to enter the Julian family.

- And you would have lost him!

- I would not!

Lost him as quick

as boiled asparagus.

That is the most foolish expression.

It's my expression!

I'll use it when I like!

Why are you so opposed to this

marriage? I sea no reason for it.

It gives him more than he deserves.

There's another reason. What is it?.

There is no other reason!

Except... Except...

You might have consulted Julia first.

Are we now to ignore the wishes

of our children

and sell them

as if they were solves?

Have you no feelings?

But she got her way in the end.

Nine years passed before Agrippa's

services could be spared.

Then he died - poisoned by Livia.

Tiberius divorced his wife

and married Julia.

(BALL BOUNCES)

Drusus, my father -

Tiberius’ beloved brother..

But then everybody loved my father,

except Livia...his mother.

Wicked woman.

You're getting soft.

You wouldn't last a five-hour march

in the army. Throw it!

Oh, come on! Throw it!

Antonia throws harder than that.

Shut up! Throw the ball

If you lost some of that stomach

of yours...

Now we'll sea who's hard.

- Death or surrender?.

- Oh, get off.

Ha!

I never thought I'd sea you

in such a condition.

Spend ten years in Rome

and sea how you feel

Hay...

What's this, eh? Sulks?

You're lucky. You go back

to the army tomorrow.

That's the only decent life

for a Roman.

Marching, fighting, building forts.

Those were the best years

of my life.

You made the army's life

bloody hell

I drilled them hard, but I was fair.

I'll boot they say I was fair.

- Do you know what they really say?.

- What?.

They say that your drills

were bloodless battles...

and your battles were bloody drills.

- Is that what they say?. Really?.

- Yes.

You know, that army I took

across the Alps, they were men.

- You've never had men like that.

- We've won some victories too.

I know, I know.

But those two legions...

The twelfth and the sixteenth?

You'll never sea their like again.

Nothing bothered them -

the heat, the cold...

the marching.

Oh, I cursed them

and I flogged them,

but I cursed and flogged

their officers too.

If there weren't any tents

for the men,

I slept out in the open with them.

You'll have to take the field again.

- He won't let me.

- Who, Augustus?

He keeps me here as his work donkey.

Says he can't spare me.

I'm his chief errand boy.

I spend my time investigating

the level of unemployment.

Or reorganising

the city fire brigade.

Added to that, there's that b*tch

Julia they made me marry.

Oh, he's just impossible.

Sometimes he doesn't speak to me for days.

He was always very broody,

according to Drusus, even as a child.

Drusus can always make him laugh.

Drusus only knows him as a brother.

He ought to be married to him.

You know, Antonia,

I'm very easygoing.

Do you want that toe to drop off?. !

There's a stiffness in the joint.

There wasn't before you

started to work on it.

They daydream. They’ll spend all day

massaging a toe if you let them.

- She's probably in love.

- I hope she has better luck than me.

- What was I talking about?.

- About Tiberius.

He never wanted to divorce Vipsania.

That stalk of a thing?

I don't know what he saw in her.

She's as thin as a stick.

He used to spend half of every night

in bed looking for her!

- Julia!

- It's true.

If the sheets got a bit crumpled,

she disappeared until morning.

He was lucky if they found her

when they made the bed.

- She's not that thin!

- I don't know what you call thin,

but I saw old Valerius

after he starved himself to death

and he looks better than she looks!

I could never sea the attraction.

After ten years, I'd have thought

he'd be glad to sea the back of her.

That's the trouble. He was

always glad to sea the back of her.

- Julia, what on earth do you mean?

- Well. he's very strange.

You're too sensitive a person

for me to go into details.

Julia, he doesn't...?

Oh, I could put up with that.

I'm not like you. I could probably

teach him a thing or two.

But it's the coldness.

I can't get near him. Even snow will

melt on a warm day, but not him.

- I had no idea.

- And he hates Gaius and Lucius.

- He hates my boys. They’re sweet.

- Very sweet.

And to think I was once mad about him.

What fools we women are.

Augustus should never

have insisted on the marriage.

Don't blame my father. Blame Livia.

If anyone insisted, she did.

She tried the same thing ten years ago,

but Agrippa got in first.

- I didn't know that.

- No. You were too young.

That's all right. I've had enough.

When Marcellus died,

she had everything planned.

She knew how I felt about Tiberius

and she wanted us to marry,

but Agrippa had the same idea,

and Augustus needed him more than he

needed her son, so she had to wait.

And can she wait! Ye Gods,

time means nothing to her!

- Poor Marcellus.

- That must have bean terrible.

To tell you the truth...

Leave us. I'll call you.

Off you go. Go.

To tell you the truth,

it's crossed my mind that Livia

might have had a hand in that.

Julia!

I might be wrong, but he was

a strong, healthy man,

and he never had a serious illness

until she got her hands on him.

I often wonder about that woman.

Antonia, you're so innocent!

Hah! Not so innocent. Ask Drusus.

I might just do that one of these

days if I get him in the mood!

He's very attractive.

Why is it that when I come in here

with you, I cover myself up,

but normally I don't bother?.

Well. you should. I don't approve

of all this nakedness.

Oh, Antonia!

I shall miss you

when you leave tomorrow.

Not so hard.

The dirt's ingrained in the skin.

- It goes deeper than that.

- Your gloom is magnificent.

Not so hard

or I'll get my men to do it.

I can't think why

you won't let them anyway.

A man should keep himself clean,

not have slaves do it.

How's he supposed to scrape

his own back?

- He gets his brother to do it.

- If he hasn't a brother?.

- Gets his son.

- If he hasn't a son?

- Gets his friend.

- If he hasn't a friend?

Then he should go and hang himself.

I've tried it. It's better

to have a slave scrape your back.

You know, I shall miss you.

- You don't have any dark thoughts.

- Nonsense. We all have them.

Not like me. Not like me.

You're no worse than the rest of us.

I'll tell you something, Drusus.

Sometimes I so hate myself, I can't

bear the thought of me anymore.

You don't know anything

about darkness, do you?

Inside darkness. Blackness.

Stop bragging! I could match you

black for black.

Not you. Not you.

The Claudian tree produces two kinds

of apples - the sweet and the sour.

That was never more true

than you and me.

And what of our mother,

which is she?

- Livia?

- Mmm.

They say a snake bit her once

and died.

Hay, that's no longer funny.

I've only cared for three people

in my life.

- One was our father.

- The noblest of us all

Yes. The other was Vipsania.

Yes. I was sorry about that.

Why did you divorce her?.

Livia insisted on it. Julia wanted it.

Augustus insisted on it.

All the same, you were so happy,

you might have refused.

Do you think the monarchy

will survive Augustus?

No, I don't. Rome will be

a republic again, I promise you that.

Then perhaps I did it all for nothing.

Is that why you did it?.

Is that really?.

But there are Julia's sons.

They’ll come before you anyway.

My poor brother.

- So ambitious.

- Our mother makes me so.

Oh, God, I miss her so!

Vipsania.

What did they make me do?

Tiberius.

What's done is done.

Yes.

Yes, it's done.

I must forget her.

Vipsania was the second

and she's gone.

You're the third.

Well. you know I feel the same way.

You should have my nature

and I yours.

- Why?.

- I'm older. I should protect you.

Well. we'll protect each other.

I don't know what from.

There are many things

you don't know.

- If anything happens to you...

- What could happen?

You could be killed in battle.

- Or you could fall sick and die.

- Yes.

And you could cut your throat shaving

or choke on a plum stone.

Tiberius, none of us

is guaranteed a time.

No.

You're my lifeline into the light.

Six again!

One, two, three, four, five, six

Now what will you do?

I'll put two legions in the port

and stop the corn supply.

Not bad.

Rome can't live without corn.

You've got your back to the sea

and that's not good. It's your decision.

Lucius, your turn.

- Six!

- These dice have nothing but sixes.

One, two, three, four, five, six

Belgica, Belgic's mine.

Go on, throw again.

Two.

- One, two. I'll take Britain.

- You've only got three legions.

- Julius did it.

- He didn't stay long though.

Yes, what is it?.

Caesar, your stepson Drusus Nero

begs to take his leave.

- Yes, you can come with me.

- Can't we finish the game?

Later. We have a duty

and duty comes before pleasure.

Come and say goodbye to the man

who commands all our armies in Germany.

Come on, come on. No sulks.

That's not the Roman way.

- So you're leaving us?

- Yes, Caesar.

And glad to go?

I go where I'm sent, Caesar,

but, yes, I am glad to go.

When I was your age,

I wanted to be with the army too.

I brought Gaius and Lucius

to say goodbye.

We've bean playing Empire.

I've already lost Egypt and Syria.

- May I ask Drusus a question?

- Go ahead.

How many legions

could invade Britain?

Four. Yes. And a great deal

of auxiliary cavalry as well

Not three? They’re very uncivilised.

It's not worth the risk.

On a fresh venture,

you must hit hard and quickly.

Sending for reinforcements

gives the enemy breathing space.

I'll do it one day.

I doubt it's worth it.

There's nothing of value there

and the people make poor slaves.

Say goodbye

and wait for me upstairs.

- Goodbye, then.

- Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Read Julius' commentaries

on his campaign in Britain.

- I've read it twice.

- So have I. Goodbye.

Don't move the tokens

while I'm gone. I know where they are.

They’re good boys.

We'll have need of them one day.

Come and walk with me

in the garden a moment.

- Is Antonia travelling with you?

- Yes.

- That's all right in her condition?

- Yes.

I didn't realise she was expecting

again. Julia told me.

- It's a bit close to the others.

- Well. what can you do?

True. Anyway, we need more children,

especially among the nobility.

People aren't getting married

early enough.

I must do something about that.

Have you said goodbye to Livia?

She's with the Parthian ambassador.

Oh, yes. She works so hard for me.

Your mother is a very fine woman.

I'd have given up long ago

if it weren't for her.

It's an immense burden to place

on the shoulders of one man.

Yes, it is. It's really too much.

I sometimes have a longing

to be just a private citizen again.

It's bean 20 years now

since Mark Antony died

and I took it all on my own.

I blame him, you know.

What a fool that man was. The whole

of the Eastern Empire was his.

If he'd bean a proper husband

to my sister, things would be different.

- Is it too late...?

- Yes?

Is it too late to lay down

the burdens of office?

- And let the Senate rule?

- Yes.

You're just like your father.

Always wanting the Republic.

He was my enemy too at one time.

I'll never be that.

No.

No, I didn't mean that. Be like him,

you couldn't do better.

I did him wrong once, you know.

Oh, yes, yes.

I took your mother from him

and that has weighed with me

over the years.

Still. we're a family,

and we all work together

for the greater good of Rome.

My brother...

Yes, yes, Tiberius.

He's a puzzle to me,

like the Sphinx

He's like a large dog watching

everything and saying nothing.

- He wants to leave Rome.

- I know. But I need him here.

What would I do without him?

- Still. an unwilling horse...

- Is more trouble than walking.

But we're not horses.

We can't all do what we want.

And what does he want?. He wants

to sit on a rock all day -

Rhodes or Capri -

and throw stones at the sea.

Why?. I don't know.

No. We can't have it.

Ah, here's your mother.

- You're off again?

- Yes, Mother.

You read the dispatches?

The Corusci are giving trouble again.

I'll give them trouble enough.

Shall we aver civilise the Germans?

- I doubt it.

- You know how I feel

When we conquer a people,

we must be temperate,

but when agreements are broken,

punishments must be severe.

What do the Parthians want?.

They want a Roman god to worship.

They want to dedicate a temple

to you.

I won't have it.

We've abolished kings in Rome.

Would you give us living gods?

They won't be in Rome.

They’ll be in Syria.

What harm is a temple built in your name

where primitive people...?

No, it makes me uneasy, Livia.

I feel in my heart it's not right.

We may offend those gods that look

after us and oversee our destiny.

- But...

- No. You must tell them no.

I must get back to the boys

and finish the game.

Look after Antonia. No accidents.

Who knows what great Roman

she may be carrying.

The gods go with you.

I shall ask the boys to dine

with us.

They can listen to the discussion

with the ambassadors.

Leave him alone. Don't encourage him

to step down from office.

Mother, do you really want us

to drift into a hereditary monarchy?.

Become corrupt

like the Eastern potentates?

Rome will never be a republic again.

Well. we needn't quarrel about it.

Let me kiss you and say goodbye.

You know, you mustn't mind

if you dislike me.

A mother can't love

all her children.

You shouldn't have come here.

It's wrong. It's wrong.

Don't send me away.

Please, Vipsania.

Do you want to make trouble for me?

No. No.

Then go away. It's dangerous.

Open the shutter.

Let me look at you again.

Please, please go away!

Is it true?

Yes. Yes, it's true.

- You're getting married again.

- Yes.

I won't have it. I won't have it!

I'll kill you! You're mine!

You're my wife!

I am not your wife. You divorced me.

Don't... Don't.

Please, you must leave me alone.

We mustn't sea each other again.

- Do you love him?

- Do you love her?.

No. No, I hate her.

- He's very kind to me.

- But why must you marry again?

I must put an end to your following me!

To your coming to sea me!

Your mother's spies are everywhere.

I don't care about that!

You're married to Augustus' daughter.

You can't treat her like no one.

Don't get married again, I beg you.

I couldn't bear it.

And spend the rest of my life alone?

You wouldn't be alone,

I promise you.

Tiberius, it was not my doing.

I didn't divorce you, you divorced me!

I didn't want to.

- They made me do it.

- They couldn't have made me!

I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.

I didn't mean that.

It was hard for you, I know.

Harder for you

than it would have bean for me.

I shouldn't have done it.

I should have killed myself first.

It's done now.

There's no going back.

Let's die together.

Let's kill ourselves.

Let's go into our bathroom,

open our veins,

and when they find us, our blood

will be mingling in the water.

Oh, my baby, my baby.

It's too late. It's too late.

I'm lost. I'm lost.

I go from darkness into darkness.

You'll come through it

and so will I.

How will I? I'm afraid

of what I'll become without you.

- Why should you be afraid?

- Because of your sweetness.

We had a delegation here six months

ago from Palmyra.

And Augustus refused, I remember.

The thought of deification

makes him uneasy.

It might make us all uneasy.

- We're not all worthy of it.

- No, of course.

But his mind is made up?

Yes, but so is mine.

I cannot allow his natural modesty

to interfere

with his political judgement.

If the Senate thought that his

deification were politically useful.

he would not be displeased.

But he will exert no pressure

nor be present at the debates.

Of course.

There will be some opposition.

- But I'll take the line...

- I'll tell you what line to take.

You were sea!

And in broad daylight!

Going in and coming out. I won't

have it! It's not the first time!

I went to congratulate her.

Don't congratulate her! Leave her be!

You didn't go for that reason!

You'll treat my daughter

with respect! Do you hear me?!

I didn't ask for this marriage,

you asked for it!

I won't have it made a mockery of!

He's bean seeing his former wife,

if you please!

- I think you exaggerate.

- I exaggerate nothing!

He met her on the street.

Yes, you did. I heard about it.

I hear everything.

Nothing escapes me.

He didn't dare speak to her,

but he followed her

like a moonstruck calf for everyone to sea!

You will not make a laughing stock

of my family

or as quick as boiled asparagus,

I'll have you out! Out!

You listen to me.

Mark Antony was twice

the man you are,

but when he spa on my sister,

he learned a lesson he didn't

live long enough to profit from.

Julia and I don't get on.

Damn you! You'll get on

whether you like it or not!

And you'll leave that woman alone!

Let me go away. Let me leave Rome.

What am I to do with him?

Tell me. You're his mother, speak

to him. It's Agrippa all over again.

He doesn't mean it.

He doesn't want to go.

Didn't you hear what he said?!

He's unhappy. He didn't mean it.

It's not unnatural for a man

to sea his former wife now and then.

I saw his father several times

after you and I were married.

- That was different.

- Not so different.

And you saw Julia's mother

from time to time.

- Yes, but not in secret!

- I don't remember being present.

Maybe not, but it was not in secret!

Well. how secret was this?

I knew about it.

- You knew about it?.

- Of course. He told me.

You never said anything to me.

Have you so little

to occupy your time

that I must tell you

about everyone in the household?

You're always complaining that

you have too much to think about.

Perhaps you'd care to sea

the laundry lists in future?

All right. I was hasty.

But you understand

I felt I had cause!

Tiberius, listen. I'm not blind.

I know that you and Julia aren't

the most perfectly-matched couple,

but what can you do?

These things happen.

We can't cut the knot every time

we quarrel

Especially us. We have to set

an example. Livia, you'll back me.

Of course. We have duties which far

outweigh our private feelings.

Exactly.

Now, Tiberius, you play fair

with me, eh? Don't sulk.

If it's a little thing on the side -

I'm not encouraging - who's to know?.

Forgetting that your mother's here -

if that's aver possible!

Yes. Well. we can wink at it

between men.

But Vipsania...

I don't like it, do you understand?

It's not right.

You play fair with me

and you'll sea I can be generous too.

Good.

Good.

If there's one thing I hate,

it's a family row.

What does it cost to be kind?

To be sympathetic and understanding.

Yes?

A messenger has arrived

from Germany, Caesar.

Send him in.

A dispatch from Drusus Nero

for his noble brother.

Tiberius, let's hear what he says.

"My dear Tiberius, a period of enforced rest

due to a slight head wound

"has given me much time to reflect

on the state of our beloved Rome."

- He's wounded. Not seriously?.

- He says slight.

"Such was the extent

of the corruption that I found in..."

Go on.

The handwriting is...

Surely you can read more than that?.

Yes. Well. he goes on to say err...

Well?.

Honestly, sir,

it's not worth reading.

I think my brother was perhaps

not himself when he wrote it.

"..The corruption and petty place

seeking that I found in Rome.

"I have come to the conclusion

that it is the consequence

"of the continued exercise

of supreme power by Augustus.

"Could we not persuade him,

even compel him to retire?

"I firmly believe

he is ready to do this,

"but for the stubbornness

of our mother Livia,

"who derives such satisfaction

"from the exercise of supreme power

through him..."

There's more.

Do you want to read it?.

The letter's clearly treasonable.

No, no. He feels strongly about it.

I understand that.

He's wrong, but I understand it.

Then again, perhaps he's right.

Perhaps I should retire.

I've said so often enough.

Will you allow him to insult me?

He's your son, not mine!

His wound might have affected him.

He speaks of giddiness at the end.

Yes.

Yes. That's it.

He's a little bit deranged.

Those German forests

can affect a man.

I'll call him back for a rest.

It'll be good to sea him again.

Yes, you're right.

We should have him back.

I'll send a doctor with the letter.

- He's got a doctor.

- Army doctors! What do they know?.

I'll send my own.

He'll know how to take care of him.

Easy.

That's right. Fetch the doctor.

- Which one?

- Ours, of course, and hurry.

Lift him onto the table and be

careful or I'll make eunuchs of you!

You blockheads!

Right. Get this away.

I'll have the lot of you crucified.

It's all right. It's all right.

All right. Clear out.

It feels terrible.

It's a mess. We'll get it cleaned.

Hurry up with that water!

What happened?

My horse fell on me.

I couldn't get out.

It crushed my leg on a rock,

then tore it to shreds getting up.

- The doctor's coming.

- What did they mean - "Which one"?

One arrived from Rome.

He's your mother's personal physician.

That was kind of her. He'll have

more to look at. Where is he?

We found him a room.

He doesn't look too happy.

He's already missing

the comforts of home.

This will probably hurt.

He brought a letter with him

from Caesar.

- Where is it?.

- I'll give it to you after.

Give it to me now!

Rufus?

- What happened?

- A horse fell and crushed his leg.

- Oh...

- No, no, I'm all right.

I've bean invited, politely,

back to Rome.

- Why?.

- I'm not sure, but I can guess.

Oh! Get out of here!

You'll not be moving far on that leg,

if I'm any judge of wounds.

I don't understand it.

A simple fall

- How could it happen?

- They can be bad sometimes.

- To bring him to death's door.

- It's an excuse for not returning.

Why do you say that?.

I've heard such reasons before.

Don't raise your voice to me.

- What reason could he have?

- Who knows?

We know he has the whole

of the western armies at his back.

He'll come when it suits him.

I must go to my brother.

He's 500 miles away.

He could be dead even now.

All the same, I must go to him.

I'll make a sacrifice

and offer prayers.

Perhaps he won't be taken from us.

Take him our love.

Well. go, go quickly!

The Senate today voted

to make me a god in Palmyra.

They’ll put a little statue to me

in the temple

and people will bring offerings

asking me to bring rain

or cure their father's gout.

Tell me, Livia, if I'm a god -

even in Palmyra...

how do I cure gout?.

What is it, my love? What do you want?.

Fetch the children.

Yes. Yes, of course.

I'll bring them.

He wants me to fetch the children.

- Is he...?

- No. But it's near.

- What is it?.

- Gangrene.

It crept slowly up.

Nothing seamed to stop it.

Where's the staff surgeon?

He wasn't allowed near him.

He took the case out of his hands.

Musar.

It was just a simple fall

What happened to your skill?.

I...I came too late.

His condition was too far gone.

I came too late.

Drusus?

Drusus, look at me.

Drusus, it's I, Tiberius.

You and your damned plum stones.

She read the letter.

I couldn't stop her.

She was there when I got it.

I couldn't think

it would have anything in it.

Rome has a severe mother.

And Gaius and Lucius...

a cruel stepmother.

Drusus...?

Drusus...?

Drusus!

No.

No.

(BABY CRIES)

You didn't wait.

You didn't wait.

Look. I brought you little Claudius.

And you didn't wait.

Shouldn't have died

and that's a fact

Somebody blundered,

and that's a fact

(KNOCKING)

Come.

Your meal is ready, Caesar.

Will you have it now

or shall I take it away?.

Very good. I think the cook's

on form today, for a change.

Try that.

There.

The garlic's overdone for my taste.

You're always complaining

about the g-garlic.

Go on.

A good swallow now.

Yes, I know this one. It's from

the north. About five years old.

They had a bad summer.

The grapes had less sugar in them.

Oh, stop showing off.

Well. fill it up, then you can go.

I'm very busy.

- Another history, Caesar?.

- Yes.

- Of the Etruscans again?

- No, of my family.

Did you aver read my history

of the Etruscans?

No. I got it down from the library once,

but I couldn't get into it.

Very well written, of course.

Very well

Is something the matter, Caesar?.

The fact is, when you know that

someone's trying to poison you,

nothing tastes right,

absolutely nothing.

Come now, who would want

to poison you, Caesar?.

Don't butter me up! You know

who'd want to poison me.

My wife, that's who,

and that slimy son of hers.

For all I know,

you're in league with them.

In my opinion, the only person

likely to poison us is the cook.

I wish you'd let me get rid of him.

He's a Greek and the only thing

he does is stuff vine leaves.

Will you take it away?.

I'm not hungry.

May I ask how the current work

is coming?

Well enough.

May I ask how far you've got?.

The death of my father.

Ah, the noble Drusus.

A tragedy that one should lose

one's father so young.

- Yes!

- Yes.

A tragedy for us all

Yes, and for Rome.

And especially for my uncle.

He was never the same again.

(MELANCHOLY PIPE PLAYS)

Well. sons of Agrippa...

The daylight's fled

and stars are out.

It's time for decent people

to lock their doors and go to sleep.

Come.

Come on. You can sea me to my bed...

and then go to your own.

Yes, we've eaten well

and drunk well

Too well perhaps.

Poor Julia. She can't take the wine

as she used to.

And even dear Antonia nods a little.

What...?

What were you thinking tonight,

my dear?.

Ah, of poor Drusus.

Yes, yes, I was thinking of him

tonight too.

Rome cannot afford such a loss.

I pray to the Gods that these boys

will be as noble and virtuous as he was.

You mustn't dwell on it.

A year has gone by.

That's quite long enough for grief.

More is not the Roman way, you know.

Musicians, play us out.

Let us have music to take us

to our sleep.

A year?.

Is that all it is?

One little year?.

Goodnight, Lady.

(JULIA SNORES)

Pretty sight, isn't she?

I must get away from her.

I must leave Rome.

You'll stay.

You'll have patience, as I have.

Where has your patience got you?

You've lost him, Mother.

You've lost him to those two boys.

If you leave Rome, I'll wash my hands

of you once and for all

and shed not a single tear.

That's not surprising.

I saw you shed none for my brother.

Have they all gone?

Oh, Tiberius, I was having

such a beautiful dream.

Tiberius...

Sleep with me tonight.

I'll be so loving to you.

Be nice to me.

Oh, just tonight.

Let me go, you fat drunken cow!

Fat?. !

Fat?. !

I'm fat where a woman should be fat,

not skinny like a boy!

Go to bed, my dear,

and I'll send you one up.

He's very pretty, I promise you.

I've had him myself.

He reminds me of your ex-wife.

Not a hair on his body

and his even skinnier behind!

There'll be no divorce. None!

I don't care what he is.

You married him.

Look what your son did

to my daughter.

What kind of a man is that?.

I've never liked him, never.

He's your son,

but I've never liked him.

- I want a divorce!

- No divorce!

You've bean married three times

already!

That's not my fault!

I was widowed twice!

How can a woman get herself

widowed twice?

- That's not fair!

- It shows damn poor judgment!

I never asked to marry Agrippa!

Well. you asked to marry this one!

That husband of yours

can clear out of Rome.

Tell him to go.

I don't even want to sea him.

I don't want his name mentioned

in this house!

How am I supposed to live,

neither married nor divorced?

You'll live as befits

a Roman matron.

And heaven help you if you don't!

Oh, I don't know.

Why can't they get on?

What do they want from life?

I'm supposed to rule an empire

and I can't rule my own family.

Thank God for these boys.

You'll help me, won't you?

What would we do without Agrippa's

sons, Livia? They’re our one hope.

In three or four years, they’ll be

able to take some of this burden.

They’re promising, all right.

Aren't you, my beauties?

Very promising.

Still. you've a long way to go,

haven't you?

A long, long way.

We must take good care of them,

Augustus.

And we shall. I promise you.

The very best of care.

Ah, that's how it should be.

Stay like that a moment.

What a picture you make.

It expresses the true spirit

of the Roman family.

Vtg1

Where is it?.

There.

Where is it?. Where is it?.

Oh, where is it?.

No.

I had it yesterday.

What...? Oh, damned secretaries.

No system. None at all

They just shove it anywhere.

What do they care?

It's just another piece of paper

to them.

I'm sure I had it yesterday.

Yes, she wrote him a letter

after Gaius died.

What was it?.

"The answer, I'm afraid, is no."

Yes, that was it.

"My dear Tiberius,

the answer, I'm afraid, is no."

This is the one! Yes! Yes! Yes!

This is it.

"My dear Tiberius,

the answer, I'm afraid, is no,

"which is what I expected.

"Augustus refuses to allow you

to return to Rome...

(LIVIA) "Refuses even to discuss it

"Despite the sudden and unexplained

death of his beloved Gaius,

"and despite my pleading with him,

"he is adamant that you

will stay where you are.

"He has, of course never forgiven

you for what you did to Julia

"and frankly I am not surprised."

- Well?.

- Hmm?

Oh, it's very promising, Excellency,

very promising indeed.

You've bean saying that for years.

Find some disasters,

then my life might get better.

It has, Excellency. The planets are

in a most favourable conjunction.

I'm sure that the letter from Rome

contained good news. Am I not right?.

You might have guessed that

from my mother.

Excellency, your mother is not

the most scrutable of women.

One may read her letters,

but never her face.

I'd stake my life there was

some good news in that letter.

Come, my calculations prove it.

I'm to stay here and rot

if it has anything to do with Augustus.

But there's more.

I'm sure there must be more.

She promises now

to work for my return.

Excellent! I knew it. It's all here.

The chart doesn't lie.

But it counsels patience too.

Nothing will happen overnight.

What else did you learn in Rome?

Augustus has taken

the death of Gaius very hard.

Is there more news

about how he died?

It's mysterious. The body was burned

before an autopsy was ordered.

When you die in the East, they don't

keep you hanging about long.

I shan't shed any tears for him.

What else did you learn?

Augustus intends to appoint your

other stepson to command in Spain.

Lucius?

He couldn't fight his way

out of a harem!

What else?

Your wife's behaviour is a scandal

known to all except her father.

Suppose you finish that horoscope.

Of course, Excellency.

Is there anything to drink?

My mouth is quite dry.

It's such a long climb up this hill

It'll be a lot shorter going down

if I don't like that chart of yours.

Why do they all hate me so?

What have I done to them?

You could stay longer.

What's the hurry?.

- No hurry, really.

- Rome is like a sewer in summer.

I wasn't going back to Rome. I was

going to take the children to Ostia.

What for?. The sea is the sea.

You might as well stay here.

Well. I thought perhaps you might

like to be on your own for a while.

When have I aver wanted

to be on my own?

Well. that's what I meant, really.

Oh! No, you don't put me out.

I have to behave myself

when the children are around.

Well. up to a point.

You're always sewing or weaving.

Why don't you let the slaves do it?.

- They never do things properly.

- That's quite true.

They don't want to work and they eat you

out of house and home.

It's hard to buy good slaves.

You must be a good judge of character.

- Do you pick your own?

- Yes, of course. Don't you?

I did when I lived with Tiberius.

I felt I ought to.

You know me.

I was all right with the girls,

but when it came to the male slaves

I used to pick the good-looking ones

and ended up doing the work myself!

Julia, how could you?

Living with Tiberius was not

the fulfilling experience I'd expected.

- Mother!

- I was seldom filled.

- What's the matter?.

- Mother!

- What is it?.

- Look what he did.

- Who?

- Germanicus.

He threw sand all over me.

It's in my face, on my hair, everywhere.

Germanicus, how could you?

I was only teasing.

She threw it in mine.

Oh, come on, Pina. I'm sorry.

You did it on purpose.

I'll never speak to you again.

Come here and let me wipe it off

and stop being so dramatic.

Germanicus?

You mustn't be so rough.

I'm... I'm sorry.

(JULIA) She's perfectly all right.

- How's Claudius?

- He's looking for shells.

Make sure the slaves watch him

and don't leave him out.

We won't. Come on, Pina. I'm sorry.

Don't be too long down there!

It's time you came in out of the sun!

They’ll be getting married soon.

What worries me is who's going

to marry Claudius,

with his foot and his stammer.

There's always somebody.

To tell you the truth, I find it

very hard to be affectionate to him.

I ought to love him more

because of his afflictions, but I don't.

- I think he's sweet.

- You're not his mother.

It's not easy living with a child

who's so stupid.

Everything you tell him you have

to repeat half a dozen times.

What Drusus would have made of him,

I don't know.

Ah, Drusus. You had something

wonderful there, my dear.

Tell me, did you never wonder

about his death?

I mean, did it never

strike you as odd

that Livia's personal physician

was looking after him?

You said something like that before.

I said that I thought that Livia had

a hand in it, and I still think so.

- Tiberius thought so.

- I can't believe that.

People say that Tiberius

didn't mind being banished

because he was glad to get away

from me. But that wasn't it.

I think he was pleased to get away

from his mother.

She used to invite him to dinner

too often!

Julia, don't joke.

I'm not!

I've seen his face often enough

when she's poured wine for him.

I don't dine there happily myself.

You've upset me, you really have.

It's terrible to accuse someone

of poisoning without proof.

She accuses me of all sorts

of things without proof!

Make sure she doesn't get any, then.

- Are you leaving, Lucius?

- Yes, Mother.

We'll be in Rome before nightfall

It's bean so pleasant here.

I love your house.

You must come again. I've got

a little present for you in my study.

A memento of your visit.

We shan't be long.

Nothing for me, Mother?.

You don't deserve anything

leaving so soon!

- When are you leaving for Spain?

- In a few months.

Augustus must have

great confidence in you.

Yes. Yes, I think so.

Deserter.

I shall be here all summer.

Oh, I could eat you.

- Here comes your brother.

- Postumus. I'm leaving.

What's wrong?

Have you lost something?

No. Are you going back to Rome?

- Yes.

- May I come with you?

You can ask Mother,

but I'm sure she'll say no.

- What's the matter?.

- Nothing.

- He's had a quarrel with Livilla.

- Oh, shut up.

I don't know why you quarrel

so much. Can't you be nice?

Look who's called to visit us.

Gnaeus Domitius.

I was on my way to Formiae.

I felt I must call upon you, Lady.

Do you know my son, Lucius?

An honour, sir.

I took the auspices for your brother

before he left for Syria.

They were most favourable.

I've never seen the liver of a ewe

so clear.

One could almost sea through it.

His death is inexplicable to me.

And to us all

My youngest, Postumus.

- We must go, Mother.

- Yes. Take care on the journey.

- May I go with them, Mother?.

- Whatever for?. Certainly not.

Goodbye, Antonia.

- Go and make it up with Livilla.

- Oh, shut up.

Sir.

Come, Plautius, we'll make a start.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Here come the children.

Let's go into the house.

It sounds as if they’ve bean

quarrelling.

Eagles! They’re fighting!

Postumus, look at the eagles!

What are they fighting for?.

One of them's got something!

See, in its claws there.

(SCREECHING OVERHEAD)

Mother, Mother,

the eagles are fighting!

Look out!

What is it, Claudius?

It's a wolf cub.

Mother, it dropped

right from its claws.

Let me have him!

Leave it be! It fell to Claudius,

leave it be!

Look at the blood.

Ye Gods, what does it mean?

Domitius, tell us what it means.

- Lady, I...

- You know what it means, I can sea.

Tell us, I beg you.

- Children, go into the house.

- No! Let them stay.

The sign was given to you all.

and given now, perhaps,

because I am here to read it.

But they must be sworn to secrecy.

Who are the gods

that watch over this house?

Jupiter and Mars.

Then do you swear, all of you,

by these your gods...

that no word of what you are about

to hear shall aver pass your lips?

(ALL) Yes, we do.

The wolf cub is Rome.

No doubt of it.

Romulus was suckled by a wolf

as her own cub,

and Romulus was Rome.

And look at it.

All torn about the nock

and shivering with fear.

A wretched sight.

Rome will be wretched one day.

But he will protect it.

He and no other.

(LIVILLA LAUGHS)

Claudius as protector of Rome!

I hope I shall be dead by then.

Go to your room! You shall have

nothing to eat all day!

Children, come in. Come inside.

May I k-k-keep the cub,

please, Mother?. Please may I?

Well. it is true? Have I heard right?.

Are you having my daughter-in-law?.

Come, you can be frank with me.

As a matter of fact it would be

better for you to be frank with me.

She took a fancy to me.

I'm sure she did.

Well. what could I do? She is,

after all. Caesar’s daughter.

You were wise not to refuse her.

Would you do as much for me?

I am, after all. Caesar’s wife.

Quite a stud, aren't you?

You find me utterly repulsive,

but you'd try all the same.

I like that. I like a trier.

You're a very beautiful woman.

I'm an old one.

Still. that wouldn't stop you if you

thought I could do something for you.

Well. perhaps I can.

Yours is a noble family,

but poor, I believe.

- They’ve bean unfortunate.

- But not in you, clearly.

No. In you I would say

they have bean very fortunate.

Come closer.

How long have you known

my daughter-in-law?.

Not long. A month or so.

And did you meat her through

her son, or her son through her?.

I was Lucius' friend first.

I stayed at the house in Antium

for a few days.

What a lovely time you must have had.

Have you bean there since?

Yes.

Tell me, does Lucius know

you're ploughing his mother's furrow

with such ferocious

skill and energy.

Well. I don't know.

Perhaps he...

- Perhaps he...

- Guesses?

Well. that wouldn't be hard, would it?.

All Rome apart from her father guesses.

How much does Lucius mean to you?

He means more than I can say.

Oh, not more than you can say, surely?.

Try.

I am his best friend.

Lady, what do you want of me?

I want to help you in your career.

You'd liked to be helped,

wouldn't you?

Yes. And what must I do in exchange?

Stop seeing the Lady Julia?

Oh, you've a mighty high opinion

of yourself, haven't you?

Do you imagine that I would stoop

to buying you off

when I could swat you

like a fly if I wanted?

- I meant...

- Hold your tongue.

I will tell you what I want

and you will provide it.

I want a catalogue of my

daughter-in-law's activities.

I want names, dates, places.

Far from breaking with her,

you may encourage her.

Well. she needs little encouragement.

Less work for you, then, isn't it?.

Yes, I can sea the attraction.

You should go far

if you manage to keep your head.

You may go now.

Oh, Plautius?

You need not, of course,

include your own name on that list...

for the moment.

(ALL MURMUR) Caesar.

Praxis, look at this.

They’ve just delivered it.

It's a bust of my late adopted son,

Gaius.

What a beautiful face, Caesar.

Such a noble brow.

- What a tragic loss for Rome.

- Thank you, Praxis. Thank you.

Caesar, the representatives

of the Noble Order of Knights are here.

- Hmm?

- You asked to sea them in here

to address them on the subject

of the marriage laws.

Oh, yes. Yes.

I'll sea them out there.

Hay! Hay! Boy! Boy, come here!

Come! Stay with me.

I've called you here

because I'm sick and tired...

Look. Up, up.

..of the constant complaints that I've

bean getting from you and others

about the severity of the laws

I've made against bachelors.

To that I say, stop complaining

and get married!

Because your complaints

don't impress me that much.

And who in Hades do you think

you are, Vestal Virgins?

You make me sick, the lot of you!

Look at that.

Do you know what that is?

That is a child. A Roman child.

How in Hades do you think he got there?

By a Roman man and a Roman woman

coming together in the same bed.

That is the fine product

of a proper Roman union!

- Can't you stop that twitching?

- I ca-ca...

Oh, never mind.

Oh, I hear some titters.

You can do better, can you?

You murderers of your own posterity!

Well. damn well go and do it now!

Quick as boiled asparagus!

Or, by thunder, I'll bring in

some laws you won't like!

And that's all

I've got to say to you!

Don't try to get round it by getting

engaged to nine-year-old girls.

I know that dodge. A radish

may know no Greek, but I do.

Now, which one are you?

- Claudius.

- Oh, yes, Drusus' boy.

Shouldn't you be at your lessons?

Don't you like your lessons?

No. I don't like mine.

- You can't do nothing all day.

- Get back to your lessons at once.

He's bean helping me.

I used him as a model

- A model of what?. Idiocy?.

- No, no.

Never mind. Off you go.

That child should have bean

exposed at birth.

- We don't do that anymore.

- More's the pity.

He twitches, stutters and limps.

Even his mother can't stand him.

Well. he's quite harmless.

He gets on my nerves. He talks

to himself and irritates people.

- I want to talk to you.

- What about?.

Marriage.

That's what I've bean talking about.

There's not enough of it.

Which is why the family

should set a good example.

You remember how early Gaius

and Lucius were betrothed,

and Tiberius too.

- On the subject of Tiberius...

- Leave me alone on Tiberius.

What harm would it do if he came

back to Rome as a private citizen?

I know he's your son. Your feelings

are natural in a mother.

But we've had this out before

and so many times.

For what he did to Julia,

I shall never forgive him.

Perhaps the fault was not all on

one side? Perhaps he was provoked?

No. I can't accept that.

I know you'll say

I'm her father, she can do no wrong.

But if she's done wrong,

let someone prove it.

Black and white, chapter and verse,

and not sly backstairs gossip.

Let's not talk about it again.

My mind is closed.

Now, on the subject of marriage.

What do you suggest?. Agrippina

and Germanicus - that's obvious.

Yes. We should arranged

the betrothal as soon as possible.

And Castor and Livilla too.

Castor and Livilla? Are you sure?

I thought Postumus.

He's a little monster

and Livilla can't stand him.

Well. if you say so. She's a bit

of a flirt, then. She teases him a lot.

- That's natural in a girl

- Yes, I suppose so.

What about Claudius?

Who's going to marry Claudius?

I'll find someone. It won't be easy,

but I'll find someone.

Most women marry fools,

but it takes them a while to find out.

With Claudius, it's as plain

as the nose on his face.

(PLAYS A MELANCHOLY TUNE)

Plautius.

Why didn't you save me

from this beast?.

So Father asked me to sea his

own personal physician, so I did.

Do you know what he told me?

He told me not to eat so much.

He said if I stopped eating so much,

the palpitations would go.

- I ask you, am I a big eater?.

- Well..

I can't live on lettuce.

I'm not a caterpillar.

Hello, Aunt J-J-Julia.

Hello, dear.

Who's that you've got there?

His name's Herod.

His grandfather

is King of the J-J-Jews.

Really?. And what's he doing here?

He's bean sent to be educated

in Rome and he's bean put in my class.

Well. how nice.

He's a handsome lad, isn't he?

Do I have the honour of addressing

the wife of the great Agrippa?

Yes, dear, you do.

My name is Herod Agrippa.

I was named after your illustrious

husband Marcus Agrippa.

Really?. Well. wasn't that nice

of your father to do that?.

No. It was my grandfather

who did that.

It was nice of him, then.

He's not very nice, Lady.

He had my father executed

soon after I was born.

Oh, dear.

- I am sorry.

- Yes. So was my father.

This is my m-m-mother.

The great Lady Antonia,

daughter of Mark Antony

and wife of the noble Drusus.

My, you do know a lot about us.

I have studied you all

You are all known throughout

the world. You are famous.

Well. you may come and visit us

whenever you like.

Have you introduced him

to Germanicus and Livilla yet?.

Not yet.

C-ccome on, Herod.

Thank you for receiving

a mere provincial so generously.

What a polite boy!

And how well he speaks Latin.

Julia, not another fig.

Figs are good for you.

You sound just like Lucius.

You'll miss him

when he goes to Spain.

Mmm. I shall miss that good-looking

friend of his even more.

Quite a collection!

It certainly doesn't lack variety,

does it?.

I hope these names

will stand up to examination?

Everything there can be verified.

Who, for example, is Gershon?

One of the house slaves -

from Africa.

Scandalous. Are there

any other slaves on this list?.

One or two. The rest are mainly

Romans of good birth and family.

Not quite good enough, it appears.

- You've done well

- Thank you.

You've no qualms about betraying

your friend's mother?.

- In matters of state, I...

- Oh, you do learn fast, don't you?

And what about your friend,

as distinct from his mother?.

You are ambitious.

- When you tell Caesar Augustus...

- Oh, I shan't tell him.

He wouldn't appreciate it

coming from me.

You sea, he would question,

in his mind, my motives.

No, no. I must find someone else

to do that.

But your name won't be mentioned.

I may have another

little assignment for you.

If I can be of service.

It may not be quite so enjoyable.

One can't always combine business

with pleasure.

No.

And, usually, it's better not to.

You may go now.

You knew about it!

You knew all along,

but you did nothing. Nothing!

- What could I do?

- You could have gone to Augustus.

I thought he knew but had just

closed his ayes to it.

Shame on you!

Shame you should think him such a man

when he thinks so highly of you!

- Would you have me inform on my mother?. !

- You could have come to me! To me!

Do you think I'd have stood by

and done nothing?

I'd have tried to save her.

Now it's too late to save either of you.

Gods.

- I should have told you.

- You should have told him.

It's not for that alone

that he'll condemn you.

That you did nothing is bad enough,

but you did more.

- You aided and abetted...

- No! No.

You acted as her pimp

and her procurer!

- That's not true!

- Liar!

You introduced your friend Plautius

to her for that purpose.

Plautius?

Do you deny he has bean her lover?.

Do you deny he was the organiser

of her orgies in Antium and in Rome?

He's not the first of your friends

to wind up in her bed!

- It may look that way to you...

- How will it look to Augustus?

Like mother, like son -

that's how it will look. Oh!

What a blow this will be to him.

Not enough that his daughter is

revealed as the town prostitute,

but that her son, whom he groomed

for the highest office,

has connived with her,

encouraged her

and even supplied her with lovers.

- What can I do?

- Nothing!

There's nothing you can do.

You and your mother have destroyed

the two dearest things in his life.

And to think that I, his wife,

should have to expose the corruption

in his own family.

Let me do it! Please!

Give me this once chance

to make good.

- You?

- Please.

My sin was one of omission,

nothing else.

Give me this chance to redeem myself.

Give me the list.

Very well Let it be your doing

and not mine.

You, Aelius Sextus Balbas.

Is it true?

Have you slept with my daughter?.

- Caesar, I...

- Answer the question.

Yes, Caesar.

And you, Marcus Volunsius Saturnius?

Have you slept with my daughter?.

- Caesar...

- Just answer the question.

Yes, Caesar.

And you? Have you?

And you, Publius Norbanus Flaccus?

Once, Caesar.

Ah, only once? That's all?.

Not slept, Caesar.

Not slept?. You mean it happened

standing up, perhaps?

Or in the street or on a bench?

Not slept?.

(YELLS) Is there anyone in Rome

who has not slept with my daughter?. !

Take them out! I'll decide

what to do with them later!

- Grandfather...

- No, no! I'm all right.

This must have bean hard for you.

Terrible.

It's a wonderful thing you've done.

I'm proud of you.

I shall banish her!

Banish her for life.

Don't tell me where she's gone

or mention her name.

But let her...!

Let her be all alone.

All alone until she dies!

She's not fit for human company!

(SCREAMING) Father!

Father!

Please!

Please let me in!

Let me talk to you!

Let me explain!

Father?.

Father!

Please! Please don't send me away!

Please, please,

please don't send me away!

I couldn't bear it!

I couldn't bear it!

Not alone. Please!

Plea-ea-ease!

Please!

Please, Father!

Please let me talk to you!

Father, please!

Please.

Give me another chance.

Please.

(SHE SOBS)

Please.

This is your doing, isn't it?.

Don't think I don't know.

You think you're very clever.

You think that by discrediting me,

he'll bring your son back.

You're so transparent.

You want that precious son of yours

to follow him when he dies

so you can come into your own.

But I have two sons,

and they both come before yours.

So make your mind up to it, Livia.

When my father dies,

you won't be wanted anymore.

So take my advice and climb

on the funeral pyre with him!

(SHE TRIES DOOR HANDLE)

So you've come out of your room

at last.

I'm cursed, Livia.

I'm cursed.

First Gaius, then this.

What have I done to deserve this?

Yes.

It's a hard thing

to sea a child banished.

Don't I know that?.

But how much harder when one knows

the banishment is undeserved?

Have you thought of that?. Have you

thought how I have felt these years?

Yes. You must let my son come home.

With Lucius in Spain,

we need him here in Rome.

And besides, can't you sea now

what has bean plain to me for years?

That it was her wickedness

that drove him away.

I'll never bring him back - never!

He drove her to it!

He set her on that road.

This wouldn't have happened

but for him! I'll never bring him back!

He can stay there and rot!

Excellency, there's a ship in the harbour.

I know.

I'm sure it will bring

important letters for you.

I thought they might have arrived.

No, Thrasyllus, nothing has arrived.

What do you sea in your horoscope?

It must be good news.

I'm not looking at mine.

I'm looking at yours.

At mine? You must be joking.

If there's good news, you'll find it

in your horoscope, not mine.

Mine has bean so indecisive lately,

I thought I'd examine yours.

But why?. What could that

possibly tell you?

I decided today that if nothing

pleasing came off that boat,

I would have you thrown

down the cliff into the boy.

That's very funny. Very funny.

What exactly does it say?.

Can you sea anything?

Oh, yes, it's very clear.

It confirms my worse fears

for your safety.

Extraordinary how accurate

these things are.

How would have thought I could have

made a decision about you

and seen it clearly reflected

in your chart?.

Perhaps you've cast it wrong.

Not as wrong

as you've bean casting mine.

There's news coming from that boat.

I'm sure of it.

Didn't you sea the eagle

on your roof this morning?

There are no eagles in Rhodes.

Exactly!

Yet the whole town

was pointing at it.

It can mean only one thing -

good news.

Alas, but not for you. Sentor!

Let me look at the chart.

A man's destiny is not so easily read.

Yours is. I wrote it myself

this morning.

Sentor, escort my friend

down the cliff path.

And take care, I have

a terrible feeling he may slip.

His stars speak of disasters.

Yes, master. An imperial courier

has arrived with despatches.

Show him out.

My friend can wait a while.

You sea, a horoscope, like the heart

of a man, is not so easy to read.

Let's sea what the despatches say,

shall we?

Your prophecies haven't inspired

much confidence lately.

Imperial despatch from Augustus

Caesar for Tiberius Claudius Nero.

Lucius is dead.

I am to return to Rome.

Dead?

Dead.

Dead?

Dead.

Sir, all Rome is drowned in grief.

Well. of course they are.

That's only natural

- What happened?

- A terrible boating accident.

A boating accident?.

- Where?

- In Marseilles.

He was on his way to Spain.

He and his friend.

- His friend?

- Caius Plautinus Silvanus.

They were waiting for the boat

to take them to Spain.

While they waited,

they went fishing.

Fishing?

I don't understand.

Why are you laughing?

It's nervous laughter.

Go on with your story.

Well. go on, go on.

The boat overturned.

- Overturned?

- Yes. Shall I go on?

Plautius behaved like a hero.

He swam for two miles

holding on to his friend trying to save him,

but when he got to shore,

his friend was dead

and he was in a state of exhaustion.

What a terrible thing.

Gaius and Lucius within 18 months...

and their mother banished

in between.

That family is beginning

to resemble a Greek tragedy.

- Is your ship returning to Rome?

- Yes, sir. Tomorrow.

We’ll join it. You may go now.

Curious the fates are.

My exile ended and you predicted it.

Brave Thrasyllus.

I never lost faith in you.

So you've come home?

Yes, Caesar.

I am here to do whatever you want.

Well. let bygones be bygones, eh?

Families quarrel. they make it up.

That's in the nature of things.

My two grandsons are dead.

My daughter...

People say, "Bring her back".

They shout at me in the street.

You know that?.

"Wicked!" they say. "Bring her back."

But no, no, no, no.

She's not my daughter anymore.

I've forgotten her.

Anyway, we'll talk later.

There's a lot to be done.

Trouble in Germany.

The Parthians are at it again.

That king always stirring up trouble.

I've got his son as a hostage.

I swore I'd execute him.

But he's such a likeable

little chap.

Anyway, we'll talk later.

Later.

The likeable little chap is now

the king who's causing all the trouble.

His mind is going.

Yes.

But mine isn't. You'll dine with me

tonight and we'll talk.

Yes, Mother.

Ch-ch-cheer up, Postumus.

Come and play nuts.

What's the m-m-matter?.

Nothing.

Oh, sir, be cheerful

Caesar has adopted you

into his family and made you his heir.

That is an honour.

It means you'll succeed him.

Yes, Herod.

But he's adopted my stepfather

too...

and we both can't succeed him,

can we?

I'm frightened.

I want my mother.

I want my brothers.

Where are they?.

Where are they?.

Vtg

(MAN) "Thaw follows frost,

hard on the heels of spring

"treads summer bound to die..."

(CLAUDIUS) Myself when young -

not a pretty sight

"Then back to wintertime again

where nothing stirs.

"But, oh, what’re

the sky-led seasons mar,

"Moon upon moon rebuilds it

with her..."

Postumus, Agrippa's sole surviving son,

and my best friend.

His mother, Julia was banished

you may remember,

and his two elder brothers

died mysteriously.

"..If the gods in heaven should add

the morrow to the day..."

The golden-haired Apollo

is Germanicus my brother -

already a great soldier.

"..will aver hold.

"When thou descendent once

the shades among,

"the stern assize..."

And if you wait a moment, you will

see a creature of a different kind -

Livilla my sister.

Yes there she is tormenting

Postumus as usual

when her husband is away.

"..Shall friend thee more."

Oh, beautiful. beautiful

Horace, my dear fellow,

such language. Wonderful. wonderful

Weren't they lovely poems?

Exquisite.

Now, that's what I call poetry.

Ovid! No comparison.

It's better than Ovid.

I don't care what they say!

I've never liked that man.

His poetry's very beautiful.

but it's also very smutty.

A lot of it's downright indecent.

I wouldn't have him in the house.

Thank you.

People say that he has a lovely voice,

but what does he do with it?.

Talks a lot of smut, that's what!

Write poetry, yes,

but write about nice things -

things you'd like your children to hear.

I want a copy of the book

when you publish.

- Of course, Caesar.

- I've got a present for you.

- But Caesar...

- It's a little gold statue.

Etruscan, I think. It's solid gold,

but you'll appreciate it properly.

- You go too...

- No, no. Err, Praxis? Where are you?

- Here, Caesar.

- He knows where it is.

Wait till you sea it, really.

- You must come again some time.

- Any time.

I was wondering how long it would

take you to knock that over.

How can you be so clumsy?.

(LIVIA) Leave it alone,

for heaven's sake.

If you want to clear up,

you can work in the kitchens.

(ANTONIA) Claudius!

Pina, wake up. It's time to go home.

- Time we all went home.

- Are you leaving?

It's two hours after dark already.

Yes, and there's a lot of work

to do tomorrow.

A sleepy head's a foolish one.

What a poet that Horace is, eh?

Livilla, the whole family was here

except your husband. It won't do.

What can I do?

Castor hates family dinners.

I don't understand that. Tiberius,

you must talk to that son of yours.

- He doesn't listen to me.

- Goodnight, Uncle.

Goodnight, my dear.

- Grandfather.

- Goodnight, Germanicus, Pina.

Goodnight, Grandmother.

That's my foot you're treading on.

- Are we going?

- Sorry.

(ANTONIA) Claudius, do come on.

Postumus, I'll come and sea your troops.

How are they shaping up?

- Very well

- Good.

Goodnight. Goodnight, everyone.

- Goodnight, Domitia.

- Goodnight, Grandfather.

Ah, goodnight, Livilla.

You tell that husband of yours...

You know what to tell him.

- Grandmother.

- Goodnight, my dear.

- You looked very lovely tonight.

- Thank you. Goodnight, Uncle.

- Goodnight, G-Grandfather.

- What?. Oh, goodnight, Claudius.

What a wonderful avenging.

They’re such good children. I think

they liked their little presents.

What are we going to do

about Claudius?

Claudius? In the matter of what?.

The games to be held

in his father's honour.

I don't know.

Must we think about it now?.

How much longer can we leave it?.

Is he to sit in your box or is he not?.

- It'll look odd if he doesn't.

- It might look odder if he does.

Do you want to sit

next to a twitching idiot?.

Let's think about it tomorrow.

Goodnight, my dear.

Don't worry about Claudius.

I'll have him to dinner a few times

and sea how he gets on.

If we could just stop

that twitching.

Caesar, forgive me, but a courier

has just arrived from Germany.

Are you mad? Do you expect me

to read despatches at this time?

But it's urgent, Caesar.

There's bean a terrible disaster.

- Send him in.

- Come in, come in.

Is this the way

you present yourself?.

Couldn't you have taken a bath?

Forgive me, Caesar.

I would not have presumed...

- Which legion are you with?

- I was with the 19th.

Was? Have you bean transferred?

No, Caesar. The 19th legion

does not exist anymore.

Nor does the 17th, nor the 18th.

The army of Quinctilius Varus was

massacred in the Teutoberg Forest.

Nothing stands between the German

tribes and our provinces in Gaul

Massacred?

What are you saying to me?

There is no army

in Across-the-Rhine Germany.

Troops and orderlies...

auxiliaries and general staff...

massacred to a man.

Those who survived the battle

were hunted down.

Where is Varus?

Dead. When he saw that all was lost,

he killed himself.

Three legions?

Three legions, Caesar.

There's nothing left.

Send for Germanicus and Postumus.

Hurry!

Come to the study. Come with us!

They caught us here and here.

We were on a punitive expedition

because a tax collector

had bean murdered.

He sent three legions

on a punitive expedition?

Not at first, Caesar, no.

We'd suffered some early defeats,

so he sent back for the rest.

What happened to the loyal Germans?

They betrayed us. They led us

into the forest and vanished.

But weren't you warned?

Many times, Caesar.

Go on.

We'd err... We'd had a mass

of intelligence

warning us that things

were happening in the villages.

Go on.

The commander ignored it, sir.

That stiff-knocked fool! I should

never have appointed him! Go on.

We were advancing along a track.

We didn't even put out

advance guards.

Progress was slow

because we were felling trees

and the tribes had time to gather.

Then it started to rain.

The archers couldn't keep their bows dry

and their shields became soaked.

Our carts got stuck in the mud.

When the Germans attacked,

we were in a hopeless position.

What's happened?

The army east of the Rhine

has bean destroyed. All of it.

Nothing stands between the Germans

and our provinces in Gaul

How did you get out?.

Only one officer kept his head -

Cassius Chaerea.

About 120 of us cut our way out

and back to the fort.

- The others are still there.

- All right.

Did the Germans take any prisoners?

Yes. They put them in wicker cages

and burned them alive.

Lady, I can't find Postumus Agrippa.

He's not in his room.

Praxis, did it occur to you

he may have visited his wife's room?

Naturally I tried there.

But he wasn't there either.

I then spoke

to one of the palace guards,

who said he'd seen him going towards

your grand-daughter's apartments.

- Livilla?

- Yes.

Naturally, I didn't enquire further

because...

Because her husband

has not yet returned.

With the men Postumus has bean

training, it's about a legion.

It depends whether the Germans

have seized the Rhine bridges.

They won't have taken them.

They’re barbarians. They’ll go for plunder.

Then we'll have to secure

the bridges.

- I'll start tomorrow.

- I'll raise the rest.

No. Germanicus stays here.

There'll be panic. I'll need him here.

Well. it was here. It was years ago,

but I saw it.

Then it's bean stolen probably.

Ah, here is someone.

There's a book we want to look at.

It's by a Greek called Polemocles.

It's a commentary on Polybius'

Military Tactics. It was here.

I'll sea if I can find it.

Why, it's young Claudius, isn't it?.

Yes, it is, sir.

You're studious.

What are you reading.

Romantic rubbish, I'll be bound.

That's all the young want.

What is it that you're reading?

It's your own

History of the C-C-Civil Wars.

It's rubbish, all right.

- So you know who I am?

- Yes, sir. Asinius P-P-Pollio.

One of our g-greatest historians.

One of them? What do you mean?

- One of the t-two greatest.

- And who is the other one?

Livy, of course.

Well. there can't be two greatest.

That's shilly-shallying

and an abuse of the Roman tongue.

You must choose. Which one

of us would you rather read?

- Pollio, that's not fair.

- Nonsense. The lad's intelligent.

Speak up, boy. Which of us

would you rather read?

Well. it d-d-depends, sir.

- Intelligent, but cowardly.

- No.

I mean, it depends

on what I'm reading for.

For b-beauty of language

I would read Livy,

and for interpretation of fact

I would read P-P-Pollio.

Now you please neither of us

and that's a mistake!

I wasn't t-trying to please,

just to tell the truth.

He might make an historian

after all

The book isn't here. Perhaps

you meant the Octavian library?.

I'm not so old that I don't know

what library I'm in!

Excuse me. The book you want,

it's on the t-t-top shelf,

fourth from the window at the back.

I had it out the other day.

Only the t-t-title

is Dissertation on Tactics

and it's by P-P-Polemocrates,

not Polemocles,

and he was a J-J-Jew, not a Greek.

You'd better be right. I don't take

kindly to that many corrections!

- Have I upset him?

- Yes. It'll do him good.

- Do you like history?.

- Yes, sir.

But who the devil are you?

Livy called you Claudius.

I'm T-T-Tiberius Claudius

D-Drusus Nero Germanicus.

Oh, that Claudius!

They told me you were a half-wit.

Well. my f-family's ashamed of me

because I s-s...

stammer, and I'm lame

and my head twitches.

Yes, I've noticed that.

Can't you stop it?.

No. The doctors said

I might g-g-grow out of it.

Why were you reading

my History of the Civil Wars?

Oh, I'm gathering material for

a life of my father and grandfather.

Oh, I remember them.

They both believed in the Republic.

I know they did.

That's why they died.

I beg your pardon?

I mean, that's why they were poisoned.

- P-p-p-poisoned!

- Sh! Not so loud.

I won't mention any names,

but I'll tell you this.

You say you're writing

a life of your father?.

They won't let you finish it.

Who won't?.

Never mind. Look here, Claudius,

I'll give you some good advice.

Do you want to live

a long and useful life?

In that case, exaggerate

your stutter and your limp.

Let your wits wander and play

the fool as much as you like.

Do you understand me?

It's a pleasure to talk to you.

I must find Livy.

P-P-Poisoned?

There's nothing like a piece of food

picked fresh from a tree,

or a field or a stalk.

It's very nice, but you didn't

ask me here to taste figs.

Did you aver think

how fortunate we are?

That we weren't born in a hut

on the banks of the Rhine,

or in a grubby little tent in Syria.

Did you aver think what Rome means?

Do you understand the effort

that has gone into making this

little place master of the world?

Do you understand the dedication

needed to maintain it?.

Are you displeased with me,

Grandfather?.

Sit down.

Listen, Postumus.

We can't afford to sleep, you know.

Other people think only

of their bread and their circuses,

but we have to provide them.

I hear nothing but complaints

about you.

- What sort of complaint?.

- Well. all sorts.

You threw a palace guard

into the fountain.

- He was laughing at Claudius.

- Everyone laughs at Claudius.

Will you throw them all

in the fountain?

And people say you're rude

and bad-tempered.

- Who says?

- Livia complains about you a lot.

What does she say?.

Well. she says, for example,

that you're a bit of a rake. Is it true?

The night that the courier brought

news from Germany, I sent for you.

Yes. You weren't in your room.

Your wife complains

you don't sleep with her enough.

- I never wanted that marriage.

- You could sleep with her.

She's the same as any other woman.

It's for us to set an example.

Without proper family life,

where will we find people to carry on?

Why has my inheritance

from my father bean withheld?

Oh, that's what's bothering you.

You'll get it when I think

you're mature enough to use it.

- Do I have to sit an examination?

- Don't be cheeky with me.

Now, you listen.

Your father was my greatest friend.

He would have taken over. And that's

what I looked for in his sons.

Both your brothers are dead

and you're all I've left of him.

It's my intention

that you should follow me.

- My step-father may not agree.

- Let me worry about Tiberius.

You made him your adopted son

as well

I did it out of respect for

his mother. She's an amazing woman.

But we just don't get on.

I've never liked him.

He's not right to succeed me,

whatever Livia thinks.

I say "succeed",

but we are not kings.

We have no divine right to rule.

Still. after all my years

of service to the state,

I think the Senate

will accept my recommendation.

But you must earn it. You must

give me confidence in you.

(KNOCKING)

Come.

Grandmother?. You sent for me.

How are you?

Grandmother?.

Why do you deceive your husband

when he's away?.

Deceive? I don't understand.

Why do you allow Postumus Agrippa

into your room at night?.

But I don't! Who said such a thing?

Come here.

You're not going to lie to me,

are you?

You're not going to treat me

like a fool?.

Do you think that I wouldn't know

what happens under my own roof?.

I've had you watched, child,

and Postumus Agrippa...

as I had his mother watched -

your Aunt Julia.

Do you remember her?.

She was sent to an island

called Pandataria.

It's a few minutes walk

from end to end.

Well. I shouldn't think

she walks it much anymore.

She's bean on it for seven years.

Oh, God! I didn't mean it.

I didn't mean it!

I won't aver do it again.

Don't send me away.

Please. Please. I won't aver

sea him again, I swear it.

You were always a naughty little girl,

you know that, don't you?

Your mother never punished you

enough.

You won't tell Augustus, will you?

He'll send me away if you do

and I couldn't bear it!

Well. perhaps

that won't be necessary.

Oh, come on, dry your tears.

There.

That's better.

Such a beautiful girl

I was beautiful too once, you know?.

They say you were the most beautiful

woman in the world.

There was one other,

but she was in Egypt.

And, besides, she didn't last

as long as I did.

Now, about Postumus Agrippa.

You're not in love with him, are you?

No.

He pestered you, I suppose,

and you gave in.

- What frail creatures we women are.

- He always wanted me.

And you always enjoyed teasing him.

Yes, you did, I've seen it.

I swear to you I won't do it again.

Yes, well. let's not be in too much

of a hurry to swear anything.

My dear, I must talk to you

like a grown woman now.

Can I talk to you?

Can I open my heart to you?

Oh, yes, Grandmother, yes.

Many years ago,

before you were born,

we all went through

the terrible agony of civil war.

Rome tottered and shook

and nearly fell

I'm afraid that may happen again.

And will it?.

I'm sure of one thing.

Only a single hand at the helm

will keep this ship on course.

The question is,

whose hand will it be?

If there is any doubt, the rivalry

will plunge us into civil war again.

- Is there a doubt?.

- Not in my mind.

But there is in someone else's.

Augustus.

Yes.

And it's my duty to remove

that doubt.

Through everything I've aver done,

that has bean my only object.

And now it must become yours.

How, Grandmother?.

You want your husband

to become Emperor of Rome?

Yes.

Then his father must become Emperor

before him.

Tiberius must succeed Augustus

if Castor is to succeed Tiberius.

Only then will the line

become established.

It'll seam easier to accept it

than reject it.

And Postumus?

Bravo, my dear,

you've put your finger on it.

Yes. Postumus.

As always, we come back to Postumus.

Nothing! That's what it amounts to -

he's done nothing!

He holds bridges,

but he doesn't cross them.

He's playing some game of his own!

(KNOCKING)

Come in!

What's your son up to?! Six months,

and all he's got are the bridges!

- He sits on his arse all day!

- What does he say?.

He says nothing, that's what.

That's what it amounts to.

Those damned barbarians

have got my eagles!

Quinctilius Varus,

where are my eagles?!

Leave.

He is cautious, naturally.

I sent him to get my eagles back,

not to sit on the Rhine!

He has an army of recruits.

Should he risk another ambush?

If he doesn't risk something

he should have stayed here!

- He's playing some game of his own.

- That's a childish thing to say!

Is it?. Why doesn't he get my eagles?

He'll move when he judges

the army ready.

He'll move now! I'll send Postumus

with an army to make sure!

I think that wouldn't be wise.

I make the military decisions,

not you!

There's no need to lose your temper.

I wouldn't dream of advising you

on such matters.

My son would welcome reinforcements.

- I question only sending Postumus.

- Why?.

- He's unproved and untried.

- Oh, you always say that!

That's because it's always true.

He's the obvious person to send.

He's bean training recruits for months.

Training and leading men

into battle are not the same.

Oh! How will he aver learn

if he never does anything?

His brother was Governor of Syria

at 19.

Gaius was different.

You had confidence in him

and so did the Senate.

Gaius was reliable. He was

a statesman. We all loved him.

- Yes, but Postumus...

- Postumus is unpredictable.

And if you send Postumus,

Tiberius will regard it as a criticism.

Good! That's what it's meant to be.

I'm not inquiring after his health!

There's a history of antagonism

between Postumus and Tiberius.

Tiberius will regard Postumus

more of a spy than a support.

He'll think you don't trust him.

That's ridiculous!

Haven't you said you think

he's playing some game of his own?

If you want to avoid friction

between the commanders,

then I suggest you send Germanicus.

All right, I'll send Germanicus!

But I want my damned eagles back!

What's this?

It's a biography.

The beginning of one, anyway.

- A biography of whom?

- By whom is the point.

It's by my idiot grandson Claudius.

Antonia found it in his study.

You don't expect me to read it?.

No. I'm having it destroyed.

It's subversive.

- I told him not to continue it.

- How is it subversive?

He praises his father's only fault -

his attachment to the Republic.

He's harmless enough. You don't

want me to punish him, do you?

No.

But I do want a decision on whether

he'll sit in your box at the Games.

The games are in honour of his father.

If we send Germanicus off,

neither of his sons will be in the box.

He should be there, but at the back.

I hope you don't think

I'm going to pay for these games.

So that's how you feel

about the Games!

No. I just feel like that

about paying for them!

Nobody's asking you to pay!

Yes. As long as that's understood.

Was it aver in doubt?.

Antonia and I will pay for the Games,

and Germanicus and Claudius.

Claudius? That's even more reason

why he should be in the box.

It'll be a very expensive seat.

And when is he going to get married?

- This year.

- You said that last year.

Yes, but I put it off.

- Will this girl marry him?

- What's it got to do with her?.

They were betrothed six years ago.

To be honest, I feel sorry for her.

What's she like?

I don't know. I haven't

seen her since she was 13

- Does she know what she's getting?

- Do any of us?

Look, you've left these matters

to me for the last 30 years.

Are you going to interfere now?.

I was asking a question.

Can't I ask a question anymore?

What's wrong with you?

Why are you so bad tempered?!

It's you that's bad tempered!

Your temper gets worse by the day.

Everybody notices it!

I think you could do with a rest!

A long one!

Quinctilius Varus,

where are my eagles?!

(STATELY MUSIC PLAYS)

(CROWD ROARS)

Claudius, not there!

Those are the Imperial seats.

Sit behind. Here, with Herod.

Your nose is running.

Just look at them all They can't

wait to sea the blood start flowing.

I've n-n-never

seen a swordfight before.

I wish Ger-Germanicus was here.

Look at them!

Stuffing themselves with cakes

when men are preparing to die

for their enjoyment.

Oh, Herod! I hope you're

not going to s-s-spoil it all

My dear Claudius, I'm fascinated.

I never cease to wonder

at these spectacles.

It's origin's r-r-religious.

It's a r-r-religious r-r-rite...

r-r-really.

It's an honour.

We render the spirits of the dead.

By rendering more people dead?

How noble!

Oh, shut up, Herod. You're a J-Jew.

You don't understand these things.

Besides, Mother will hear you

and you'll make her cross.

I've a few words to say to you

before these games begin.

Well. gather round.

Now, these games are being held

in honour of my son, Drusus Nero,

who was worth the lot of you

put together.

It's my intention that these games

shall be remembered

long after you're dead and forgotten

even by your nearest and dearest.

You're all scum and you know it,

but you've a chance here -

some of you -

to prove that you're a bit more

than that.

And for those whom death

doesn't liberate,

there'll be plenty of freedoms

handed out afterwards -

to say nothing of gold plate and coin.

But I want a good show.

I want my money’s worth!

I don't want any

kiss-in-the-ring stuff.

And I don't want my family

watching two grown men

pussyfooting around each other

for half an hour.

There's bean too much of that.

Don't think you can fool me -

I know Avery trick in the book,

like the pig's blood in the bladder

to make it look as if you're dead.

There's bean too much

of that too lately.

These games are being degraded

by the increasing use

of professional tricks to stay alive,

and I won't have it.

So put on a good show and there'll

be plenty of money for the living

and a decent burial for the dead.

If not, I'll break this guild up...

and I'll send the lot of you

to the mines in Numidia.

That's all I have to say.

(TRUMPET FANFARE)

(CROWD ROARS)

Claudius!

Get him up.

This is not a comedy theatre.

That happened to me once.

Do you remember, Livia?

No, I don't.

- It did. Which games was it at?.

- I don't remember.

- Or was it at the races?

- The gladiators are saluting you.

Eh?

Oh.

(STEEL CLANGS)

- Calm down, for heaven's sake.

- I'm t-trying.

One of them's about to die

and they look more relaxed than you do.

Drusus would have loved this.

Yes. I was thinking of him.

I'm sure he's watching, my dear.

Poor Drusus.

I'm sure the fat one's going to win.

How about a little bet, Herod?

I'll take the fat man for 20 gold pieces.

It's against my religion

to boot on the life of a man.

Really?. I thought you could boot

on anything.

Caesar, it's true.

The Jews love gambling,

but they fear their god more.

- Which one?

- We have only one, Caesar.

I've never understood that.

It's insufficient.

You could have some of ours.

Believe me, Caesar, the one we have

is hard enough to live with!

(CROWD ROARS)

On second thoughts, I'll take the boot.

- Good man!

- Finish him! Finish him!

- Err...

- It's all right. I'll sea him home.

Postumus.

- Where's your husband?

- Out on one of his usual jaunts.

Oh, Livilla.

It was all I could do to stop

touching you at the Games today.

I nearly went mad.

Oh, my poor darling.

Oh! Ow!

Murder! Murder!

- Stop it! Help me!

- Livilla...

Don't! Stop it! Help me!

(SHE SCREAMS)

No, please! Help!

Help!

He tried to rape me! Keep him away!

You b*tch! You filthy b*tch!

What are you? Some kind of animal?.

It's a lie. Can't you sea?

The whole thing's a lie.

Look at her. She's terrified!

- She invited me into her room.

- I didn't!

He climbed up and attacked me!

She'd invite you to her room

with her husband a few doors away?. !

- She told me he'd be out.

- You filthy pig!

Stop it! Stop it!

Wait outside.

I suppose this isn't your dagger?.

Yes, it's mine, but she could

have got it anytime.

What do you take me for?.

You expect me to believe

she falsely accused you of rape?

For what reason? Well. tell me!

- Ask her. Perhaps she knows.

- I'm asking you!

He'll incriminate us all

before he's done.

She hates me

and you're too blind to sea it.

Hates you? What do you mean?

She hated my brothers and my mother.

She hates anyone who might come

between you and her son!

What is going on? What is he saying?

Oh, Grandfather, open your ayes!

Throw off the blinkers!

Everyone around you

has either died or disappeared.

Do you think it was all an accident?.

My father Agrippa

and before him, Marcellus.

My brothers Gaius and Lucius,

my mother Julia and now me!

Can't you sea?

She's clearing a path for herself!

And her other son, Drusus, whose

memory she honours in those games -

ask her how he died!

There was nothing wrong with him

till she sent her physician to him!

Marcellus? Agrippa?

What is he saying? What is he,

some kind of raving lunatic?.

Does he think

that they were all murdered?

Are you insane? Or is just

that you want me to think you are?

Yes! You're very clever.

You think that by pretending to be mad

that I'll be lenient with you.

You think insanity will move me

and I'll put you away somewhere.

You're disgusting!

I'd rather clear vomit

off the street than talk to you.

It's incredible, isn't it?.

It's too horrific even to think about.

I have to be mad even to mention it.

What a joke!

What a pathetic joke!

It's not me that's mad, it's her!

Look at her, she's a madwoman!

She'll destroy us all

before she's finished, you included!

I could kill you now.

Spill your guts and give you no more

thought than I would a dead dog.

But that's too easy for you.

You're going to suffer,

like your mother suffers.

Yes. Living out your life

on a rock somewhere

with nothing but birds for company.

It won't be on any map

because they’re all too big for you.

But I'll find one, don't worry,

just your size.

And you'll stay there till you rot.

Guard!

Take him away,

and keep him under arrest!

Are you all right?.

- I feel unclean.

- It's him that's unclean, not you.

Tomorrow, you and I will go

the temple and make a sacrifice together.

You'll feel better.

(SHOUTING OUTSIDE)

Go on!

(SHOUTING OUTSIDE)

Sh! They’re searching for me

in the grounds. They’ll find me soon.

- I haven't much time.

- Postumus.

Just listen.

Well?.

He slipped the guards.

They’re searching the palace.

He won't get far.

If he runs to the ends of the earth,

he'll find a Roman to give him up.

Oh, take your wife to bed!

And, Castor, be nice to her.

Get in beside her. That's your place.

If you'd bean there more often,

this would not have happened!

And you really think my grandmother

put Livilla up to it?.

I'm certain of it.

I'll go. If Livia knows I've bean here,

your life won't be worth much.

But I wanted you, above all.

to know the truth, and Germanicus.

I'll tell him.

But, listen, stay alive.

Don't give them any excuse

to k-k-kill you.

I'm sorry I won't be at your wedding.

Don't worry.

It'll be a very small affair.

I embarrass them all far too much.

Good. Go on embarrassing them.

Go on playing the idiot.

It's safer that way.

Somebody else said that to me

a while ago. Asinius P-Pollio.

Then we're not the only ones

who know what's going on.

Goodbye, old friend.

(SHOUTING OUTSIDE)

(SOME TITTERING)

(LIVIA) She grew!

She just kept on growing!

(LAUGHTER ECHOES)

Vtg

Beautiful. Lollia!

Where did you find her?.

We saw her first in Antioch

when Titus was on duty there.

We thought her so superb

that Titus paid for her

to tour the provinces.

And now, my dear friends,

the entertainment is over.

It was w=wonderful

and a b-b-beautiful dinner.

Thank you,

but I wasn't inviting a compliment.

It's just that I have something

to perform.

And I've brought you here,

as our dearest friends, to be with me.

What's this? A surprise for me too?

- Yes, my dear, it is.

- She never tells me anything.

Very naughty to surprise our guests

and not tell your husband.

You know that I love you very much?

Now I'm really worried.

This is going to cost a fortune!

- How much have you spent?.

- Nothing. I've spent nothing.

You may remember

that a weak ago tonight,

we went to a dinner

given by the Emperor.

Of course.

You may also remember that Tiberius

was fascinated by our daughter.

I must admit, I saw him looking

at Camilla once or twice.

What you don't know

is that she received a summons

to the palace the next day.

What?. A summons? You never told me.

I thought it best not to put you

in a position where you would object.

What is this, Lollia?

What are you telling me?

A summons to the Emperor

is not something to be refused,

but I wouldn't let my daughter

go alone, knowing his reputation.

So I went with her.

We went into a room I imagine

he keeps for such receptions.

I'd never bean into that room before,

not met anyone who had.

The walls were hung with what

the Emperor imagines is erotic art.

They depict scenes

of incredible beastliness -

not fit for anyone to look at,

let alone a young girl

Lollia, why are you telling me this now

in front of all our friends?

These are not just friends.

They are all. in their different ways,

important people in Rome.

That's why they’re here tonight.

He took Camilla up

to show her the paintings

and talked about them

as if they were works of art.

When I objected and said he should

be ashamed of himself

for trying to corrupt a young girl,

he simply smiled and said,

"What about an old one?"

No, Titus, please.

Then he clapped his hands,

and a slave appeared from another room

carrying a tray of wine.

The slave was naked...

and while Tiberius spoke to her,

he stroked the slave...

In his twisted way, he thought

it might inflame Camilla's passions.

But Camilla burst into tears

and begged to be allowed to leave.

He then pretended to be upset

and complained she'd given him

a different impression at the dinner.

He then turned to me

and told me to go home.

- No more!

- No, Titus.

- No, enough.

- Let me finish!

If I'd had this with me then,

I'd have used it on him.

Instead, I begged a moment

with him alone.

He granted it.

And there, I offered myself

in my daughter's place.

Yes, Titus, my husband...

to save my daughter,

I offered myself in her place.

And he accepted.

My dear, that was nothing

for me to save her.

I took her to the gate...

and warned her not

to say anything to anyone...

and then returned.

- Don't, Lollia, please...

- I've nearly finished.

I said that to prostitute myself

for my daughter was nothing.

What wouldn't we do

to save our children?

I should have gone to the gate...

into the room, out again...

No one would have bean the wiser.

I did go into that room.

I was there subjected to...

acts of...

such abominable filth...

to bestial obscenities...

with him and his solves

of both sexes...

that mere prostitution seams

like a blessed state compared to it.

You must forget, Lollia.

You must put it from your mind.

You have saved your husband

and your daughter.

No, Agrippina, that is not possible!

If there'd bean just one part of me

befouled by his lust,

I should have come home

and cut it out!

With this knife!

But I can't live with the memory

of what he did to me.

Nor can I get into

my husband's bed again.

Nor have his arms around me.

Nor feel the love he's had for me

all these years without...

without the memory of that beast...

and his beasts, coming between us.

If I could...

cut...

from my mind!

Lollia!

Lollia.

Make way, there!

Move aside for the Emperor!

Don't block the road.

Make way, there.

Stand aside. Clear the road

for the Emperor!

Make way!

Well. well!

Is it my son who greets his mother

with such affectionate eagerness?

- Good day, Mother.

- In a hurry, are you?

Another treason trial?.

Who is it today?.

- There are no trials today.

- Ran out of people to prosecute?

You'll have more time

to spend with your mother.

- Don't shout. I'm not deaf.

- You've bean deaf to me for years.

Why did you refuse the Spanish

permission to build a temple to me?

I will not discuss such matters

in the street. Good day. Move on.

It's my birthday next month!

What are you going to buy me?

I heard about Lollia! Disgusting!

Your brother Drusus

was worth ten of you!

Thrasyllus!

Where is that damned astrologer?.

Coming, Excellency, coming.

- Cast my mother's horoscope.

- What for?.

I want to know how much longer

I have to put up with her.

- Do you know the time of her birth?

- No.

I can only do a rough calculation.

Why don't you ask her?.

It's her birthday soon.

- It could be a present.

- Yes. She'd like that.

She admires you since you prophesied

she'd outlive her husband.

I could sea she had every intention

of doing so.

Still. I'll ask her for an interview.

What is she, a Loo? That's hopeful

There's a bad time coming up

for Loo soon. I'll go and sea her.

I wish I'd stayed in Rhodes.

I wish I'd never returned.

Someone must govern.

Rome is fortunate that she has you.

Yes. And I'm fortunate in you, Sejanus.

You're my ayes and ears.

If it wasn't for you to relieve me

of some of my burden... What have we here?

Conversations taken

down by my agents.

Some are merely vicious.

Others treasonable.

Doesn't anybody aver say anything

that isn't vicious or treasonable?!

We've had more treason trials

in two years than the previous ten!

There is one I think

you should look at.

- Silius Caecina?

-Hmm.

Was he the corps commander

on the Upper Rhine?

That's the point.

"Had it not bean for the way

I handled my four regiments,

"they would have mutinied too."

- He said that?.

- At a dinner party.

- What did he mean by it?.

- He went on to say

that if his regiments had mutinied,

Tiberius would not be Emperor now.

He implies

that you owe your position to him.

Oh, well. he'd had too much wine.

You know what old soldiers are like.

They like to fight

their old battles.

I think there may be more to it

than that.

- Perhaps it's not important.

- What do you mean?

Only that he went on to say,

lower down,

that the regiments that did mutiny

had bean under your command.

He probably said it

because Agrippina was there.

A compliment to her late husband

whose regiments remained loyal

Agrippina was at the dinner?.

Agrippina!

The noble Gaius Caligula

to sea the Emperor!

What do you want?. I'm busy!

I brought you a present.

A present?. What sort of a present?.

It took me a year to find it.

When I heard about it, I said,

"That is for my great uncle, Tiberius."

- Happy anniversary!

- What of?.

What difference does it make?

Think of something.

That's nothing.

Wait till you sea the others.

- Where did you get this?

- Elephantis.

A merchant I know told me about it

and I asked him to get it for me.

It cost quite a lot.

It cost so much I had to borrow

part of it from Uncle Claudius!

It's 200 years old.

It was very thoughtful of you.

I knew you'd like it.

In fact I'd like to borrow it

myself some time.

I mean, when you're not using it.

I'd like you to examine the evidence

to sea if there's a case

for impeaching Silius Caecina.

- On a charge of treason?

- Yes.

For insulting references

towards the Emperor?.

- Why not?.

- Well. I agree, why not.

Blasphemies against Augustus have

bean treasonable, but Tiberius?

There's no precedent for it.

The Emperor's noble son

Tiberius Drusus Caesar!

Castor, how nice to sea you.

Welcome back.

I'm Castor to my friends, Sejanus.

I had hoped you'd count me

among your friends.

- Perhaps you will one day.

- That seams unlikely.

Your father doesn't wish

to be disturbed.

Announce me, you filthy German pig,

or I'll have you flogged and sent

back to the hut from which you came!

Never mind precedent. I want

Silius Caecina impeached for treason.

He has a great war record

and he has powerful friends -

the Lady Agrippina for one.

Shall I find someone else

or will you take the case?!

Of course. I was

just clearing my mind.

- Germanicus was never your enemy!

- I tell you he was!

I know what his ambitions were.

I have the proof here in the files.

And I know how his widow

conspires against me now.

- Proof?. From Sejanus?

- Yes! From Sejanus.

He at least keeps me informed

of what goes on in this city!

Oh, Father, open your ayes!

The man is using you.

You know nothing

he doesn't want you to know

and sea no one he doesn't

want you to sea.

He is the partner of my labours.

And soon he'll be your colleague,

but that won't be enough for him.

That man has an apatite for power

unknown to you and me.

Envy! Envy!

You envy him because for years

he worked

while you and that Judean friend

of yours, Herod,

went whoring around the city!

He worked

to relieve me of my labours!

That's true, but if you think

he's working for you, you're mistaken.

He's working for himself,

and how hard he works!

- Have you finished?

- No, I have not finished!

His statue is now to be seen

in Pompay's theatre

and replicas of it are all over Rome!

He's built a network of spies

that have spread through the city.

Don't you sea? He's building

a prison here, stone by stone,

and one day, when you're gone,

we'll wake up

and find the doors locked

and the bolts down!

Did you have a report to make

on the coastal defences?

- Yes.

- Well. then, make it!

He's interested only in treason

trials and pornographic books

He had one with him.

Caligula had bought it for him.

- They seam to get on well

- He gives me the shudders.

How Germanicus and Agrippina

produced him, I don't know.

- Did you quarrel with your father?.

- We had an argument over Sejanus.

He's blind to that man's ambition.

- Don't you exaggerate?

- No.

What can he aspire to -

a commander of the guard?

I sometimes think he aspires

to sit where my father sits.

He doesn't realise how much

he depends upon him.

He seeks his advice on everything.

Why don't you go to sleep?

- I don't know why I'm so tired.

- You've had a long journey.

- I came to say goodnight, Father.

- Goodnight.

I'm glad you're back.

I'm sorry I was so tired.

I can't keep awake.

You'll feel better in the morning.

Goodnight, Mother.

Goodnight, Helen.

She's becoming very beautiful

Yes. Her skin's not all

that it should be though.

- You too are looking beautiful

- Thank you.

Why don't you stay?.

Not tonight. You're tired.

You'll sleep better alone.

Yes, you're right.

I really can't keep my ayes open.

- Is he asleep?

- Yes.

- Fast asleep?

- Yes.

- Quick, please.

- No, wait.

Don't be in such a hurry.

It's much better if you wait.

Did you do as I said?

Put it in his wine?

Yes. He'll sleep till morning.

I thought you'd never get here.

- What are we going to do?

- Do?

We're going to make love

for the last time.

Last time?

No! I couldn't bear it.

- I couldn't bear it!

- Livilla...

- He'll go away again.

- It's too much of a risk.

We'll be discovered.

It's too dangerous. Be sensible.

How can you be sensible? I don't

think you love me, not really.

I love you too much to risk

exposing you to a charge of adultery.

Don't tempt me, my darling. Help me.

- We could still meat.

- How?.

- I could do what I did tonight.

- Drug his wine?

He'll get suspicious

if he falls asleep every night.

Besides, his body would grow accustomed

to it and it would cease to have any affect.

And, my darling, one night -

in your eagerness to sea him sleep -

you might kill him.

Would a large dose really kill him?

- What are you saying?

- I can't live without you.

I can't. I think I'd die if you

didn't come into my bed every night.

It's a little step - from making him

sleep at night to sleeping forever.

- You'll need something stronger.

- Get it for me.

- Are you sure?

- Yes! Yes! Are you?

- If you are.

- And afterwards?

I'll divorce my wife

and we'll get married.

And then I'll have you

all to myself.

No more lovers for you, then.

You'll have to behave.

And if I don't?.

If you don't?. Then I'll lock you

in a room without any clothes,

and I'll visit you

three or four times a day.

Perhaps you'll be too tired.

Perhaps you'll only manage once.

Then I'll send my guards

to stand in for me.

- Would you really?.

- Yes.

- How many?.

- Three or four.

I might not let them.

- You'll be forced.

- Against my will?.

Yes.

- While you were there?

- Yes.

I'd struggle and scream.

But no use.

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

Claudius!

Herod.

- Castor?.

- What's your hurry?.

Oh, yes.

Look at this. It came this morning.

"The Lady Livia Augustus expects

her grandson Tiberius Claudius Drusus

"to dine with her on her birthday.

She hopes he's in good health."

- W-what can it mean?

- What it says, I imagine.

I should take your own wine.

It's no joke, Herod. I'm very

nervous. She never invites me.

We haven't spoken for seven years.

The last time she spoke to me was

when Caligula burned the house down.

Then all she said was, "If you

haven't got a bucket, p-piss on it!"

I remember. Your family

are all lunatics, you know.

In that case, why don't you go back

to your own family in Judea?

I prefer lunatics I know

to ones I don't.

- Where are you off to?

- To find a present for Grandmother.

What about one of these?

I know that face! Who is it?.

He knows that face! Wonderful!

People know that face

better than their own!

Is it Sejanus?

It's a replica of the statue

of him at Pompay Theatre.

- Everyone's buying them.

- Everyone had better!

Here, have one.

N-no, thanks.

I've got nowhere to put it.

Oh, don't be obvious, Herod.

It's very tedious. I must go.

Castor, you're not looking well

I've not bean well since I returned.

How's Livilla?

I invited her to a p-public reading

of my work, but she never came.

Her tastes have never bean literary.

- You never came either.

- That's because mine always were.

Herod, you're talented but d-dull

I must go.

What a dear, divine fool

my cousin is.

How nervous everything makes him.

If I'd bean asked to dine with

your grandmother, I'd be nervous!

He's right, you know.

You don't look well

Oh, it'll pass. You worry so much.

Halt!

Silius Caecina. What's this?

I'm to be arrested, it seams.

- By whose order?.

- By order of the State Senate.

- On what grounds?

- On the grounds of treason.

Gaius Silius Caecina is to

be impeached before the Senate.

It seams I made some defamatory

remarks about your father.

I don't recall them.

This must be some sort of joke,

Varro.

You'll be laughed out of the house.

I don't think so.

Please stand aside, sir.

I'm on state business

and may not be interfered with

even by the Emperor's son.

Forward!

O divine Augustus,

take these offerings, poor as they are

and help me, your unworthy successor

to rule wisely in your place.

And help me too, my father,

divine ruler of the world...

to calm the raging spirit inside me,

and lighten the dark shadows

of my soul..

and bring me peace.

Peace.

Hypocrite

Hypocrite.

You sacrifice to Augustus,

but you persecute his grandchildren.

What grandchildren do I persecute

that Augustus didn't?.

I'm not talking of my brother

Postumus. I'm talking of me.

Of me!

All my friends, one by one,

you either banish

or you charge them with treason.

And their only crime

is friendship for me.

Even Lollia, whom you could find

nothing against,

you degraded and humiliated

till she took her own life!

Now you've arrested Silius Caecina.

If you are not queen,

have I done you wrong?

Why do you persist in this childish

belief that I want to be queen?

Do you need to find reasons

for the way you treat me?

- And how do I treat you?

- You persecute me!

I will not be screamed at even

by the granddaughter of Augustus!

Silius Caecina is charged

with treasonable utterances.

Utterances?

What brings the Emperorship

into disrepute

undermines the foundations

of the state.

Tiberius...

perhaps I do you wrong in thinking

you persecute me through my friends.

But you do me wrong

in thinking me ambitious.

I'm tired.

Since Germanicus died, I've hardly

known what to do with myself.

All I want is to be left alone...

and...

And?

- Be good to my children.

- Have I not bean good to them?

To Caligula, perhaps,

but to Nero and Drusus, you're cold

and never enquire after them.

Oh, Tiberius, let's not fight

one another all the time.

As for your children,

they are guiltless of any crime.

I will look upon them as friends.

As for you...

I will never forget

what you made me do to Piso.

Tiberius Claudius Drusus

Nero Germanicus.

Happy b-b-birthday, Grandmother.

Oh, is that for me?

Yes. It's a v-v-vase. From India.

How very pretty.

And from such a distant place.

It's a pity we never got that far.

So many things we could have got cheap.

Sit down, my dear, and eat.

- C-Caligula.

- Uncle.

T-t-to you, Grandmother.

Staking everything on one throw,

Uncle Claudius?

Hold your tongue.

That was a gesture of confidence

in me and was much appreciated.

Have you had l-lots

of lovely presents, Grandmother?.

Several. my dear. Thrasyllus has

drawn the most detailed horoscope.

Such work has gone into it. Amazing.

A horoscope full of incident and prophecy.

I was amazed at it myself.

It was a present from Tiberius.

He wanted to know how much longer

I'm going to live.

- I assure you...

- Oh, shut up.

It's a foolish mother

who doesn't know her son.

- And d-did he find out?.

- Yes, yes. I shall die soon.

Next year some time.

My son will be relieved.

I shall tell him nothing. It would

be a breach of professional ethics.

You're a liar. Like all good

astrologers, you're a liar.

You can go now. They tell

the truth about the future,

but lie their way

out of the present.

Let me reassure you, I could be wrong.

If you're mistaken over the exact

time of your birth by a fraction,

it could mean another ten years.

You sea, he can't resist it.

They’re all insecure, astrologers.

They all want to be loved.

Go away, Thrasyllus,

you'll get no love here.

What are you grinning at, monster?.

You are a monster, aren't you?

Whatever you say, Great Grandmother.

Did you know he was a monster,

Claudius?

Is he old enough

to have acquired that t-title?

He started very young,

didn't you, monster?.

I searched his room one day

and I found a little green talisman

that told me

a very remarkable story -

or confirmed one

I'd heard from another quarter.

A g-green talisman?

Like my brother wore?

The one your brother wore.

Do you think it's safe that Uncle Claudius

should be told my secret?.

Or are you going to poison him?

Oh, he's quite safe.

And remember this, monster,

your Uncle Claudius here

is a phenomenon.

Because he's sworn

to protect his brother's children,

he will never harm you.

And remember this too.

Thrasyllus has prophesied

that he will avenge your death,

so you cannot harm him.

I didn't think much of that.

Never mind what you thought,

just remember it.

Now you may go. I want

to talk to Claudius in private.

Goodnight, Great Grandmother.

Goodnight, Uncle.

My body fascinates him

because it's so old.

You'd think it would repel him.

Why do you allow him

such f-f-familiarity?.

Because it pleases him.

And because he will be

the next Emperor.

You don't believe me, do you?

If you say so, Grandmother.

You know I don't concern myself

with high p-politics,

but what about Castor?.

And Caligula has two older brothers.

Castor is ill

Thrasyllus says he won't recover.

He also says that Tiberius will

choose Caligula to succeed him.

Why?.

Vanity.

Tiberius wants to be loved -

at least after his death if not before.

And the best way to ensure that...

Is to have someone w=worse

to follow him. Well. he's certainly no fool

He's the biggest fool in my family.

I always thought that was you...

but I think now I was wrong.

Grandmother, after all these years,

you didn't invite me to dinner

to tell me this.

Wine has made you bold.

You kept in with Caligula

because he is the next Emperor.

- Lost your stutter too.

- But if you're dead,

what difference can it make to you?

Oh, it makes a lot of difference.

And that's really why you're here.

I want to be a goddess, Claudius.

Thrasyllus says he's sure I will be,

which means he's not sure,

he just thinks I will

Why are you so anxious

to be a goddess?

Oh, don't you understand?

Do you believe that the souls

of criminals suffer eternal torment?.

Certainly.

But that the immortal gods

are free from fear of punishment?.

Of course. Jove deposed his father,

killed one of his grandsons

and married his own sister.

He's the greatest god of all

I've done many terrible things,

Claudius.

No ruler could do otherwise.

But I've always put the good

of the Empire above all else.

Who saved Rome from civil war again?

I did.

Augustus would have plunged us

into it time and again

with his ridiculous favouritism.

He set Agrippa against Marcellus,

Gaius against Tiberius,

Tiberius against Postumus.

There was no end to his follies.

And it fell to me to...

remove them - one by one.

Don't say you never suspected.

That's why I tolerate Caligula.

He's sworn, if I keep his secret...

he'll make me a goddess

as soon as he becomes Emperor.

You too must swear that you'll do

all you can to sea it happens.

Don't you sea?

If he doesn't make me a goddess,

I'll be in hell. Hell

Suffering torments day and night,

year after year after year.

Grandmother,

p-please don't distress yourself.

Of course I'll do what I can.

- Thank you.

- On one small condition.

You sea, there's so much

I want to know.

I'm an historian

and I want to know the truth.

When people die,

so much dies with them,

and all that's left are pieces

of paper that tell lies.

Lies, lies.

He wants to know the truth

and he calls it a small condition.

Grandmother, who killed Marcellus?

I did.

The Empire needed Agrippa

more than it needed Marcellus.

And then I poisoned Agrippa later

because I knew that his wife

was in love with Tiberius,

and if Tiberius married her

Augustus would make him Emperor.

My son botched that up, of course.

And J-Julia's sons by Agrippa.

How did they die?

Gaius I had poisoned

when he was in Syria.

You have a long reach.

The Empire's very large. I need one.

Lucius was drowned

in a boating accident

arranged by his friend Plautius.

And Postumus?

- You were fond of him, weren't you?

- Yes, Grandmother.

He was useless. I had to get rid

of him. He was a threat to Tiberius.

Besides, he knew

I'd had his mother banished.

And what about my father,

who was your son,

and Germanicus, who was my dear

brother - did you poison them?

No.

Your father died of his wound.

Plancina poisoned Germanicus

without instructions from me.

But I'd marked them both down

for death.

Why?.

They were both infected with that

disorder known as republicanism.

- So was I.

- Yes, but you didn't count.

If I aver had the opportunity,

do you know the first thing I'd do?

Restore the Republic.

Then you are a fool. after all

And what about Augustus?

Did you poison him?

Yes.

Yes, I did.

I smeared the poison on the figs

while they were still on the tree.

I had no choice.

He would only eat them

if he'd picked them himself.

It took me all night to do it.

How could you have done that,

Grandmother,

when you'd lived with him

for so long?

Yes. That was hard.

Very hard.

That was the hardest thing

I aver had to do.

Oh, you've made me tired with all

your questions. You must go away.

Take this.

Read it some time.

That is a collection of Sihylline verses

rejected from the official book.

Why?.

Because it's prophesied there

that you will one day be Emperor.

Yes.

You.

Anything you say, Grandmother.

- You won't forget your promise?

- No, I won't.

If I can become Emperor,

you can certainly

become the Queen of Heaven!

(HE LAUGHS)

Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus

Claudius, dear fellow.

How nice to sea you.

I w=was on my way to sea Castor.

I'm told he's v-very bad.

Yes, but he'll recover, I'm sure.

Your sister is taking care of him.

Actually, I wanted

to have a word with you.

What about?.

This may seam an odd question

to put to a husband,

but did you know

your wife was pregnant?.

No.

N-n-no, I d-didn't.

- How do you know?.

- I know.

Well. it's n-nothing to do with me.

We haven't even s-spoken

for a long time.

- You'll have to divorce her.

- What for?.

You can't be married to a woman

who's bearing someone else's child.

Your uncle will expect you

to divorce her.

Oh. Well. of course

I'll d-d-divorce her.

- Whom will you marry?.

- M-marry?. I'm getting d-divorced.

But you won't want to live alone.

I was l-living alone

when I was m-married.

Then it doesn't matter

whether you marry or not.

- I'd rather not.

- Nonsense.

I have just the woman for you.

Beautiful. independent -

she'll leave you alone when you like.

- W-who is she?

- My sister. Aelia.

Well. she w=wouldn't w=want

to marry a lame, sick fool like me.

She wouldn't mind.

You're the Emperor's nephew.

That's a good alliance.

And on your side,

you'd be my brother-in-law.

I've spoken to the Emperor.

He's given his consent.

Oh, in that case,

anything you say, Sejanus.

Good! Well. that's settled.

That's very decent of you, Sejanus.

Thanks a lot.

(LIVILLA) He's dying. Dying.

I asked to sea the Emperor to convey

my sympathies on his son's death.

He sent word he never

wanted to sea me again.

A nod is as good as a wink

from there!

Where will you go, Herod?

Back to Judea?

No, no. To Edom. My grandfather,

Herod the Great came from there.

It was your father, Mark Antony,

who made him King of the Jews.

He did them no favour. He did

my grandfather no favour either.

The Jews drive all their rulers mad.

What will you do in Edom?

I understand there's nothing there.

Oh, I shall.. You know.

Grandfather's domains were divided

among his three surviving sons.

That he had three left is a miracle

for he murdered the rest.

- I think he overlooked them!

- A colourful character.

If black is colourful.

he was colourful

From there, I shall decide which of

my three uncles is the safest touch

- and make my plans accordingly.

- You must marry.

- I have someone in mind.

- A Roman?

No, Lady. We Jews believe

in marrying only among ourselves.

- You're a very arrogant people.

- Practical

There are so many things we can't eat!

No Gentile woman would stand it!

What's this, Claudius,

about your marriage?

(ANTONIA) For Claudius?

He's already married.

(AGRIPPINA) But he's getting

a divorce to marry Sejanus' sister.

Is this true?

Well. I...

S-S-Sejanus t-t...

Oh, get it out!

My wife, Urganalilla, is apparently

having a baby and it's not mine.

- It wouldn't be. You never sea her.

- That's the p-point.

So Sejanus suggested I divorce her

and m-m-marry his sister.

I've never heard anything

so monstrously wicked in all my life.

You're a bigger fool than I thought.

Well. w=what difference does it make

to me? I shan't sea her either.

Fool Germanicus would have had

no patience with you.

P-probably.

Can't you sea the vile ambition

that drives that man?

It's just another step on the way.

By this marriage, he relates himself

to the Imperial family.

Then does he plan to marry Livilla?

- What has he to do with Livilla?

- He's her lover.

Sejanus is married with children!

What kind of world

do you think we're living in?!

I'm sorry. I'm upset.

Castor's dead.

Silius Caecina committed suicide

even before the trial had ended.

One by one my friends vanish.

Where will it end?

- You've betrayed us!

- Oh, Pina...

(ANTONIA) Why did you agree to it?.

Well.. He asked me.

Is that all you can say?.

You blockhead!

No. He's not a blockhead.

It's we who are the blockheads.

If Sejanus had come to us

with a proposal like that,

we'd have said no,

but Claudius knows better.

Claudius sways and bends

with each little wind that blows.

- You mean he's weak and cowardly.

- Perhaps.

But at least he's still here!

(OLD CLAUDIUS)

But at least he's still here.

Yes Still here.

And they've all gone,

every one of them.

it's like a dream -

dreamed by Livia

sleeping fitfully down in hell

No. Livia is dying.

Dying.

The mother of the nation is dying.

Livia is dying. She's sent for you.

She wants to sea you.

Why, I can't imagine.

- Dying?

- Yes.

But it was only a cold.

It's settled on her lungs.

She's sinking fast.

She's asked to sea you.

Well. are you going to sit there

all night?.

I hear you're dying,

Great Grandmother.

You won't forget your promise,

will you?

To make you a goddess?

What makes you think a smelly

old woman could become a goddess?

I don't need you any more, you sea,

Great Grandmother.

My secret will die with you.

You're going to stew in hell

for aver and aver.

Let me tell you something.

Thrasyllus has made

another prophecy.

He told Tiberius.

He said one who is going to die soon

will become the greatest god

the world has aver known.

No temples will be dedicated

to anyone but him in the whole world.

Not even to Augustus.

And do you know who that one is?

Me.

Me.

I shall become

the greatest god of all.

and I shall look down on you,

suffering all the torments of hell.

and I shall say...

"Leave her there.

"Leave her there

for aver and aver and aver."

Goodbye, Great Grandmother.

How are you, Grandmother?.

D-don't cry.

He was here...

Caligula was here.

He said he wouldn't make me

a goddess.

I'll sea that he does, Grandmother.

He said...

He said he'd leave me

to stew in hell

I want to be a goddess, Claudius.

I deserve it.

You shall be the Queen of Heaven.

I promise you.

- Really?.

- Yes.

Go on playing the fool. Claudius.

Stay with me till I go.

Put a coin in my mouth...

to pay the ferryman...

for the journey.

Goodbye, Grandmother.

Safe journey.

Vtg

(KNOCKING)

Come.

Ah, where did you find this one?

Under a pile of old rubbish in the cellar.

I doubt we'll find any more.

That's what you said the l-l-last

time we found something.

It's incredible - the way people

just dump things!

You sea, it should all be lettered

and filed

and well. numbered.

Would you like me to tidy up

some of this mess, Caesar?.

No! The last time you tidied up

I couldn't find anything any more.

What is this?

"The Last Will and Testament

of Augustus Caesar."

Augustus' will

(TRUMPETERS AND CHEERING)

Hail. Caesar!

The Legions of Rome salute you

on their return from the Rhine.

- In triumph?

- In triumph, Caesar!

The German tribes are put down.

They have sued for peace.

Our punishments have bean fierce

and we have brought back many captives.

The province is peaceful once more

and her tribute flows again.

Your legions await your further orders.

Hail. Caesar!

(ALL CHEER)

You'll hurt your ayes reading in this light.

- It was so hot in my r-room.

- Am I disturbing you?

No. It's a v-v-very boring book.

- Where's Mother?.

- She and Pina are talking.

About children and about what

it's like to be a soldier's wife.

She's wonderful. Pina - the way

she goes everywhere with you.

You're very lucky, you know.

And how do you like

being a married man?

And a father. What do you think

of your little boy?.

I don't like him very much.

I think he's horrid.

Oh, Claudius!

What do you think of my wife?

She's taller than me.

I know.

She's taller than me.

No, it's not funny.

How could anybody grow that tall?.

Some people just never know

when to stop.

- Do you sleep together?.

- Now and then.

I must admit,

it's a bit of an ordeal

Her face is not unpleasant.

I rarely sea her face.

I never get up that far!

Oh, Claudius! Dear brother.

It is good to sea you again.

I wish I could have come with you.

What was it like?

The scene in the Teutoberg forest

was terrible when we came on it.

No one had bean buried. Bodies

strewn around, horribly mutilated.

They’re a savage lot, those Germans.

But we avenged them.

They’ll be quiet for a long time to come.

Tell me about Postumus.

You didn't say much in your letters.

I was afraid to say too much.

Letters get intercepted and read

by certain parties.

Come, you sea plots everywhere.

Who would dare to open your mail?.

Grandmother. She opens everybody’s.

- Livia?!

- Sh!

How else do you think

she knows everything?

Does Augustus know that she does that?.

I don't know what Augustus knows,

but she knows everything.

- Postumus thinks...

- Thinks what?.

That night he was arrested, he broke

away and came to sea me in my room.

He wasn't trying to escape,

but he wanted me to know the truth

so I could tell you.

What did he tell you?

That he didn't force Livilla.

She invited him into her room -

as she'd often done before

when Castor was out gambling or...

Anyway, when he got there,

she started to scream.

The guards rushed in and she accused

him of trying to r-rape her.

- Did you believe him?

- Yes.

I'd believe Postumus

before I'd believe Livilla.

But, Claudius, it's an age-old

excuse that men have often used.

"She led me on. She wanted me to."

I've thought of that too. One does,

even about one's friends.

But I believe him.

- But why would she do such a thing?

- I asked him the same thing.

He said...

L-Livia had put her up to it.

Ah, our grandmother again.

Between reading letters

and arranging rapes,

when does she aver sleep?

If you'll listen, I'll tell you

what Postumus thinks of her.

It will stand the hairs up

on your head.

He believes that she has

systematically destroyed his mother,

his brothers

and possibly his father,

that she poisoned

Julia's first husband

and had a hand

in our father's death.

He believes that she poisoned

our grandfather,

and she will stop at nothing

to ensure Tiberius follows Augustus.

He believes she's mad.

And I said all that without

s-s-stuttering.

Well. nearly.

- Proof?.

- No.

Claudius, have you mentioned this

to Augustus?

No! He takes me

for a big enough fool already.

It must come from you or no one.

- All right. I'm listening.

- Not here.

(CHEERY WHISTLING)

(STOPS WHISTLING)

(RESUMES WHISTLING)

If you prune any more of that,

there'll be nothing left.

Are you now an expert on gardening?

Is that something you've become?

I'm only telling you. The gardeners

all complained last year.

- And whose garden is this?

- Others use it.

Incredible!

Everyone's an expert suddenly.

- How long have we bean married?

- Don't you remember?.

50 years. In all that time,

you've never known one plant from another

and suddenly you know all there is

to know about pruning. Wonderful!

I think your brain's going soft.

Nobody can talk to you any more.

- Anyone can talk to me.

- No, they can't.

Anyone can talk to me any time -

except you.

You don't talk to people.

You bully them.

This conversation's got ridiculous.

Wrong. This conversation

was always ridiculous.

Your melon's here.

(WHISTLING)

Is it true you're going to Corsica?

- Yes.

- When?

Very soon.

- You never told me.

- No.

I don't know what's come over you.

You tell me nothing.

Well. you get to know

everything anyway.

Why are you going to Corsica?

Because the Corsicans

asked me to go.

What for?.

Piracy. They’ve bean complaining

for years. They’re losing business.

Couldn't you have asked

one of the Consuls to go?

Why should I?

I know how you hate travelling

by sea.

No. It doesn't bother me.

Will you be stopping off anywhere

on the way?.

- Such as where?

- I don't know!

You'll be passing the island

of your grandson's banishment.

Which one is that?.

Planasia. Had you forgotten?

I hadn't thought about it.

Why should I stop off there?

I thought you might take

this opportunity of inspecting it.

- Have you tried this melon?

- I don't want any!

If you ate more fruit,

you wouldn't get so many wrinkles.

- Would you like me to come?

- What for?.

It's an arduous journey to make

at your age, on your own.

- You might fall ill and die.

- The sea air will do me good.

Besides, Germanicus will be with me.

I'm sending him to France.

What a support that boy's become.

I sea.

- That's settled, then?

- Yes.

(HE WHISTLES CHEERFULLY)

- Double dealing?

- No!

- Pining after Postumus?

- No!

Then how does he know?.

Somebody's talked to him.

It wasn't me, I swear it!

Why should I?

Because you're tired

of your husband

and would like to sea Postumus back.

How?. He'd never forgive me anyway!

You're cleverer than that.

You'd tell him I forced you

and shed a few tears.

I never met a man

who could resist that.

If he knows something,

it wasn't from me. I swear it.

I swear it!

All right.

I believe you.

Someone else, then.

Castor knows.

He guessed. I never told him.

Yes, Castor knows. That's why

you got your black aye.

It didn't pass unnoticed, my dear.

If Castor knows, he'd keep it

to himself. He's got nothing to gain.

- It's someone else.

- My brother?.

- Germanicus wasn't here.

- I meant Claudius.

That fool?. His brains are addled.

He seas nothing and he hears nothing.

Well. perhaps I was wrong.

Perhaps we should just wait and sea.

(SOUND OF WAVES CRASHING)

Well. well. well..

What have we here? Tourists?

Have you come to sea the beast

in his cage?

Is the rock bare enough for you,

Father?.

Does it conform to your notions

of smallness?

How thin you look. How pale.

What did you expect?.

A fat, jolly man full of laughs and jokes?

You must forgive me, Father.

It's bean four years since I saw

a soul apart from the guards.

I wasn't prepared for visitors.

This is Quintus Fabius Maximus,

an old friend.

I envy you, Quintus Fabius Maximus.

Envy me what?.

That you're an old friend

of my father's.

You're better off

than his adopted son.

Leave us.

They never told me

it'd be like this.

I don't expect you aver asked!

You don't find out

what you don't want to know!

- Don't say that.

- Did you come for a tour?.

That'll take ten minutes,

as you once prophesied!

Then wound me if you must.

I deserve it.

You have a knife. I wouldn't

blame you if you used it!

Oh, it's tears now, is it?.

I never knew a man

cry as easily as you do.

Yes, tears come easily to me.

I don't deny it.

You're wonderful. wonderful!

What's my role now?.

To feel sorry for you?!

- Mistakes have bean made...

- Mistakes!

Is that what you call them?

You think tears will put them right?.

Well. bravo!

You still have tears to shed.

How many tears would you have left

if you'd sat on this rock

for four solid years?

- Postumus...

- How many?. !

You've come to the wrong place

to show your tears.

Even the stones weep here.

Now you've heard something,

is that it?.

It's made you think,

perhaps you were wrong, too hasty?.

Is that why you're here,

to tell me it was a mistake?

I don't want to hear it!

Leave me alone!

Go away and die but leave me alone!

Postumus...

What have you done to me?

Four years!

What have you done with my life?

Don't. Please don't...

When those guards came in,

I thought, "This is the end.

"He's sent them now

to finish me off."

- How could you think such a thing?

- What else could I think?

To die, that's nothing.

I'd have given my life for you,

for Rome, a thousand times over.

But to die like a dog...

What can I say?. What can I say?.

A day hasn't passed

when I haven't thought of you.

And I of you.

But not fondly, Father, not fondly.

I know, I know, I know.

What could I do? There are such

liars in the world, such cheats!

And nowhere more, it seams,

than among my own.

I've had to live this long

to find that out.

They’ve made a fool of you.

There are places

where they’ve made a god out of me,

but my own family

have made me a fool

And Livia, it seams,

more than anyone.

- She lied to you.

- Why?.

How did you find out?.

- Germanicus told me.

- He wasn't there.

Claudius told him, apparently.

What do you make of him, eh?

He's a curious chap.

He's a bit of a fool

Aren't we all?.

I've bean wrong

about a lot of things.

Well. I'm here to make amends.

It won't be long

before you're in Rome.

- Can't I return with you now?.

- No. Your banishment is permanent.

I must get that decree reversed.

That will take a bit of time.

The moment I set that in motion,

it'll cause a few hearts to flutter

and a few minds to get busy.

I want to wait until Tiberius

is out of Rome.

I'd worry more about Livia

if I were you.

When you've lived so long

with a woman...

when she's bean more

than a wife to you.

It's bean like having

another right arm.

It's hard to believe such things.

Believe them, Father.

I do. I do.

(KNOCKING)

Come in.

Lady, the chief Vestal.

Camilla Pulchra.

You look well. Lady, which is

a blessing for Rome and for all of us.

And you, my dear, are as beautiful

and serene as aver.

Come, let's sit down.

I envy you your serenity.

I envy all the Vestals.

I often wish I could have become

one of them.

Rome would have bean the loser then.

And you retire next year?.

Yes. It's 30 years

since I took my vows.

I must say,

I find it hard to believe.

You came to me some time ago to ask

me to use my influence with Augustus

to persuade the Senate

to rebuild the House of the Vestals.

- That was a long time ago.

- My dear, I never forget anything.

My dream is to leave the House

more beautiful than when I entered it.

The Senate has promised to find

the money, but they never have.

Well. I think

it's time we did something.

- Have you spoken to your husband?

- Many times.

It's bean my dream too

to rebuild that house.

But, like all men, he makes promises

and noises and does very little.

- But he also likes to surprise me.

- And has he?

Well. I think he has,

but I'm not sure.

That's why I asked you here.

I have a feeling he's set aside

a sum for it in his will

Oh, that would be wonderful!

Do you think he has?

I asked him about it

when he returned from Corsica.

"Wait and sea," he said

with such a twinkle in his aye

that it made me wonder

if he'd come to you recently

to make an alteration in his will

But he did! He spent a whole morning

locked in a room with it.

When he came out, he handed me

two documents instead of one.

You sea, I was right.

Oh, this intuition of mine.

- Did he bring a witness?

- Yes. Fabius Maximus.

Oh, the artful one!

He's just like a little boy. He has

to be so mysterious about it all

He couldn't come out and say,

"Livia, you shall have your house

for the Vestals when I die."

No. He must tease me.

He must surprise me.

What a dear man he is.

You think then that the alteration

is in respect of that?.

Well. it seams likely.

Oh, what a pity we couldn't

take it out and have a look at it.

Just you and me - two women together -

in a tiny little conspiracy.

Yes, that would certainly

set our minds at rest.

But it has his seal on.

Oh, but that's nothing.

I have the use of his seal

I've had it for years.

How else do you think official documents

get signed when he's away?.

Mmm?

I hadn't thought of that.

But then, of course,

that would be breaking my vows.

But in such a good cause.

And if we found the alteration were

in respect of something else,

why, I would feel bound

to find that money myself.

Rome owes so much

to the sanctity of the Vestals.

What do you think, my dear?.

Aaah! Oh, Montanus.

Oh, help me, Montanus.

If you'd lie still

and let the cold compresses work.

Oh, the pain's in my belly,

you fool! Not in my head.

Here, drink this.

It will ease the pain.

It's like a fire in there.

It's the ulcer again. I warned you.

Too much work and too much worry.

- Will you follow an idiot?.

- Yes.

Eat only milk products and eggs.

And give up work for a while

or I won't be responsible.

When you feel a little better, take

a holiday. Go to Capri or somewhere.

Paddle in the sea, get some fresh air.

I'll talk to the Lady Livia.

(SOUND OF AUGUSTUS MOANING)

I've had premonitions.

Premonitions of death.

- We all have them.

- No, no, no. This is serious.

Listen, old friend, let me tell you.

Two weeks after we came back

from you know where,

I was in Mars Field

giving a libation.

A little ceremony. You remember?.

I remember, but I wasn't there.

No? Well. nearby, there's a temple

built in memory of Marcus Agrippa.

- Yes, I know it.

- An eagle circled me five times,

then flew off and settled

on the "A" of Agrippa's name.

- Well. Caesar...

- No, don't lie to me.

It's clear what it means.

It was telling me

that my time had come

and that I must give way

to someone by the name of Agrippa.

- Postumus?

- Who else?

- Did you consult an augur?.

- No. I don't need an augur.

Well. you're not an expert

on the interpretation of signs.

Then listen to this.

The following day, lightning melted

the "C" on my name on a statue nearby.

It struck the "C" off "Caesar".

Do you follow?. What does "C" mean?

- A hundred.

- A hundred. Exactly!

Livia saw it. She went to an augur

to find out what it meant.

She wouldn't tell me,

but I forced it out of her.

It means that I have only

a hundred days to live.

I shall die in a hundred days.

Or weeks.

Eh?

Why shouldn't it be weeks?

Or months?

Why shouldn't it mean

that you'll live to be a hundred?

- Do you think so?

- Why not?.

Perhaps she went to the wrong augur.

Perhaps he looked at the wrong book.

G-G-Good morning, Grandmother.

Mother and I would like to know

if there's any ch-change

in Augustus' health.

He's improving, which is more

than I can say for you.

Tha-thank you, Grandmother.

It's a gr-great relief.

Yes.

Well. thank you.

Is it true...?

Is it true

that you've written a book

about religious changes

during the reign of Augustus?

Y-y-yes, Grandmother.

You intend to give

a public reading of it?.

- Yes, Grandmother.

- You'll do no such thing.

N-no, Grandmother.

It wasn't my idea. Germanicus

suggested it before he left.

You won't make

a laughing stock of my family.

I'm b-b-better when I'm rehearsed.

So is a trained monkey, but he still

looks and sounds like a monkey.

Yes, Grandmother.

If your head doesn't stop twitching,

I'll have it off and stuck

on a pole. That'll fix it.

Th-th-thank you, Grandmother.

Oh, I beg your... Oh. I'm...

I beg your pardon.

Leave it alone!

That grandson of yours

could wreck the empire...

just by strolling through it.

Augustus is improving.

Are you drinking because

he nearly died or because he didn't?.

- Sarcastic, aren't we?

- I was just wondering.

I never know whether I read you right.

Is something wrong?

He's altered his will

What's the matter -

cat got your tongue?

That took your breath away,

didn't it?.

- How do you know?.

- I make it my business to know.

- In whose favour?.

- Whose do you think?

- Germanicus?

- Ha!

Trust you to get it wrong.

I must have bean nodding

when I gave birth to you.

I sometimes wonder that you aver did

anything so natural as giving birth.

In whose favour

has he altered his will?.

Postumus. Whose do you think?

He took a trip to Corsica.

Didn't it occur to you

he may visit your stepson?

- Why should he?

- He's changed his mind about him.

What could have caused him

to change it?.

What does he know now that he didn't

know then? What could he know?.

What is there to know?.

He's a senile old man. How

do I know why he changed his mind?

But he has, and so much

the worse for you, my baby,

if I can't change it back again.

Well. don't bother on my account!

I'm sick of it!

The gods know I've done my best!

He never liked me. Never!

Thirty years I've run his errands

for him!

I've fought on his bloody frontiers,

collected his taxes!

He's never once put his hand on mine

and said, "Thank you.

"What would I have done

without you?"

Now he sends me off to Illyricum

without a farewell dinner.

Not even a goodbye.

Just get on your horse and ride!

Well. damn him!

I retired before

and I can retire again!

Let his precious grandson

run his empire for him.

I'm sick to death of it!

- When do you leave?

- Very soon.

I wouldn't travel too fast,

if I were you.

Why not?.

Well. you won't have so far to come

back if anything happens to him.

I was just going to sea your mother.

I've heard she's not very well

I wanted a word, but I'm dragging you

away from your work.

- N-no, really.

- I'll only stay a minute.

Are you b-better now?.

Well. you know, I think so.

Well. shall we sit down

for a moment?.

P-please.

They put me on this diet, you know,

but I cured myself.

You know how?. I refused to eat.

Oh, a little milk and fruit.

I got myself this cow

and I milked it myself.

The fruit I picked from the garden,

so it was untouched by human hand,

except my own.

You never know what gets into food.

The slaves are so careless.

Anyway, I'm still here.

Yes. I'm going away

for a little holiday.

First to Capri and then to Nola.

I'm a bit tired.

What a pleasant garden this is.

I've never bean here before.

Claudius, do you bear me

any ill will?.

Ill will?. Why should I?

Oh, we can be so wrong about people.

I was wrong about you.

We judge too much on appearances.

I mean, your appearance is against you.

You know that, don't you?

You give everybody the impression

you're a bit of a fool

But you're not such a fool. are you?

I hope n-not.

Germanicus told me all about you.

He said that you were loyal

to three things -

to your friends, to Rome

and to the truth.

That's a wonderful thing

to say of a person.

I'd be proud if he said that of me.

My brother worships you.

- No? Do you think so?

- Yes. He's often told me.

Well. well

He's a great man, you know.

A fine Roman in the best tradition -

even though he is

a bit of a republican.

What did you think? I didn't know?.

I'm a republican myself at heart.

You know that, don't you?

It was never my intention

to rule for so long,

but...I don't know,

things just didn't work out.

I kept wanting to retire.

Your father wanted me to retire.

I don't know.

It just never happened.

So many things turn out different

from the way you hoped.

I went to Corsica, you know,

and I paid a visit to a certain island

and I saw a certain person.

None of that would have happened

but for you. Germanicus told me.

Anyway, when I got back,

I paid a visit to the Vestal Virgins

and I made some alterations

to a certain document there.

No one knows about that - not even

your grandmother - so not a word.

Oh, you can tr-trust me.

Yes. I sea now that I can.

When I get back, we'll talk again.

We'll talk many times, eh?

I've found another friend.

Even at my age, a man finds he has

friends he never even dreamed of.

(HAPPY SHOUTING)

What luck, Livia! I've thrown Venus

three times in a row!

Come on, pay up, all of you!

Oh, what luck, Livia!

You never saw such a...

Come and play.

I'm winning a fortune.

- Don't you think it's time for bed?

- Certainly not.

We'll start again. Odds or evens?

- Odds! Odds!

- Evens!

Junius, you're not batting.

Caesar, I have no money. It's gone.

Really?. Come on, have some of mine.

- But you gave us all the money.

- It's only a game.

But if we win, we keep it

and if we lose, you give it back.

Who's complaining?

Come on, make your boot.

- Montanus, have you .

- Odds, Caesar.

You'll be sorry.

I've bean throwing evens all night.

- Evens!

- Odds! Odds!

Ha! Ha!

What did I tell you?

Come on, pay up.

Who boot odds? Come on,

don't slink away. I saw you!

Oh, what an evening.

Evens, collect your winnings.

Odds, pay up.

- What's the matter?.

- I feel sick.

(HE RETCHES)

Take me to my room.

No food! Do you hear?.

I'll eat figs from the garden,

nothing else.

Nothing!

And I'll pick them myself.

Are you mad? Figs from the garden?

Aren't your bowels loose enough?

I must give you medicine.

No! Curse it! Nothing that's bean

touched by human hand, do you hear?.

Not even Livia's. Nothing.

Nothing.

It's a very bad attack.

He'll eat no prepared food, none.

Those are his instructions.

Only figs from the tree.

Perhaps he's right, I don't know.

- He cured himself before.