Original subtitles

The first rule of power is survival.

But still it comes for me.

Even now... when I'm alone in the dark.

The scent of winter woods.

The feel of icy stone.

Sudden burst of blood.

Because however many men you kill...

and I have had to kill many...

you never forget the first.

♪ And you can have a drink from the water... ♪

No way!

No way!

- What's he doing here? - I told you.

There won't be time before the wedding.

Domina.

There's nothing to be scared of.

I know.

I'm not scared.

I'm just tired.

No, wait. Stop.

We'll start with a look at the penis.

What?

You'll thank me for this on your wedding night.

No, I won't.

You can go now, Archias.

We haven't finished yet, Domina.

Yes, we have.

That's the front door.

I've just heard,

there's a secret meeting tonight in the North.

Antonius, Lepidus and Gaius Julius.

Ah, the thieves have run out of money.

Yes. They need to make a deal.

Mm.

We've just got rid of one dictator,

now we might end up with three.

We should kill him... Gaius Julius... at the wedding.

My daughter's wedding?

What? It's practically a tradition.

And we'll never get a better chance.

No.

To butcher one of our own like that,

it's... it's un-Roman.

It's the middle of fucking nowhere.

It's a secret meeting.

That's the point.

They could be waiting inside and we wouldn't stand a chance.

That's the way I'd do it.

Get us out here on our own and finish it.

Yes.

That is the way you'd do it.

I think they'll use us to get what they want

and then get rid of us afterwards.

That's the way I'd do it.

All right, then.

Gaius Julius Caesar.

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.

Daddy?

Are you nervous about getting married?

Every Roman girl has to marry sometime.

You're already fifteen, Little Bear.

You've been putting it off two years now.

He's a good man, Nero.

A senator, a cousin.

We went through the list together, more than once.

Livia Drusilla.

It's not too late.

It is a bit.

Marcus Antonius.

You're two days late.

Oh, at least.

- Lepidus. - Gaius.

What a pleasure to see you.

I agree to all your terms.

You can have Egypt and the East.

You can have all the rest, and I'll take fucking Africa,

thank you very much.

Next...

I'm right out of money.

We're going to need 800 million, at least,

to start a war and see it through.

Why do we need to start a war?

Brutus and Cassius have run away.

We can't just leave them sitting in Greece

with a big fucking army.

It was your father they killed.

You can avenge him.

Julius Caesar was my father, and I will avenge him.

What are you suggesting?

I'm suggesting that we think about

the richest senators and knights in Rome.

All the people behind the murder of Caesar.

Anyone still backing Brutus and Cassius.

Anyone who supports the Republic.

Then we butcher them and seize all their assets.

On some legal pretext.

That would be at least a hundred senators.

- And what, a thousand knights? - Mm, nearer two.

You can't be taking this seriously?

This is insane.

I've started a list.

Get away from me!

Don't... don't you dare.

No!

No, I said go away!

Domina.

You're a Roman lady.

All of it has to come off.

Hmm? Every hair.

Is this going to hurt?

We can start with your underarms.

Ow!

Fuck, Livius, what are you sacrificing?

Sounds like your bride, I'm afraid.

Don't ask.

- You're early. - I brought over

the amended marriage contract for you to sign.

I can see you haven't heard.

Uh...

Gaius Julius has come to terms

with Marcus Antonius and Lepidus.

They've divided up the provinces between themselves.

And where are they now?

Gaius Julius got back last night.

He'll be here in a couple of hours.

Oh, you invited him to my wedding.

I like him. And I'd like to keep him close.

Another fucking wedding.

As if we don't have enough of our own to go to

without all these other people's as well.

- You're lucky to be invited. - Not as lucky as you.

Come here.

When's your husband coming home?

Scribonia? Scribonia?

Octavia. Darling.

I wasn't expecting you so soon.

Neither was my brother, I see.

I hope you're wearing a toga today.

Livius is very informal.

- Don't be ridiculous. - You're lucky to be invited.

Everyone will be there.

OK, fine. I'll go home and change.

How long has this been going on?

Octavia, you know we've always liked each other.

What I know is, my brother is engaged to Clodia Pulchra,

and you're married to Publius Scipio.

I... I want to marry him. Your brother.

I'll wait for you in the atrium.

But a word about my daughter before you go.

Obviously, you hardly know her.

She's attached to a particular slave, a lovely girl.

Antigone.

She was born in this house.

She's got a gift for herbs and medicines.

I... I'm sorry, Livius.

I can't take on another mouth to feed.

And, to be honest,

I'm surprised you would want to encourage a friendship

between my wife and a slave.

I'm afraid you misunderstand me.

- Uh, that's freezing! - It's ice.

It's supposed to be.

You're not putting that anywhere else.

Dominus wants his daughter and Antigone.

Livia.

Ah, this is one of my "serious talks."

Little Bear,

marriage and children are what Rome expects of you.

But now I think it will ask something else.

500 years ago, we ended the tyranny of kings,

and since then, Rome has always been ruled by two consuls...

Elected each year by its citizens.

The sharing of power has made us great.

Our family fought to establish the Republic.

But now I think we'll have to fight again to keep it.

You said the other factions were split.

They were, until now.

War will come, in the end.

And I will fight with Brutus and Cassius.

It's on honor to give your life for something you believe in.

They were your mother's.

She'd want you to have them.

I haven't forgotten.

I'll see her now. Nero!

Dominus.

As a wedding present to Livia, I've arranged for your freedom.

Duly witnessed by Tiberius Claudius Nero.

You are now a Roman citizen, Antigone.

Congratulations.

But... where will I go?

What will become of me?

Well, you can marry if you want.

And I'll provide a dowry.

In the meantime, Nero has generously insisted

that you go to his house with Livia as a companion.

As a freedwoman.

That is, if you want to.

Thank you.

Are you sure about this?

Why? We're invited.

Livius is on the other side.

Not yet, he isn't.

He will be. Come on.

Not too tight.

It's bad luck if he can't undo it tonight.

Perfect.

Excuse me.

Move. Move.

It's always a mistake to go with a pig.

Far too intelligent.

Thank you, Cicero.

Welcome, friends,

to the wedding of Tiberius Claudius Nero

and Livia Drusilla.

Great Juno, Goddess of Marriage and Fertility,

accept this gift of life...

They can sort of sense what's coming.

...and blood...

Pigs.

...from this great house of Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus.

- Livia Drusilla, are you ready? - Yes.

Tiberius Claudius Nero, do you agree?

I do.

Then she is yours.

Let's witness the contract!

Oh, come on Piso, there won't be a war.

Everyone has too much to lose.

That's true.

What does Gaius Julius have to lose?

Ha! You see, Livius made the mistake

of teaching his daughter how to think.

She's right.

He's the only one in the game with nothing to lose.

Look at them, Agrippa.

Old, fat, lazy, complacent.

My worry's how to do it.

Killing over two thousand men'll take the best part of a legion

- going into the city at once. - Mm.

It's impossible at night.

Streets are rammed with wagons.

It's impossible in daylight. The streets are jammed with people.

We'll put a price on their heads. A big one.

Their own slaves will betray them.

Their wives, their neighbors.

They'll be torn apart.

All we have to do is block the city gates.

If Livia keeps on staring at you,

even her husband might notice.

I want a house like this.

Well, you can have this one soon.

I like Livius. You were there.

- They want him on the list. - I'll give them Cicero instead.

- Cicero? - Mm.

He's backed us from the start.

I'll get Livius taken off in return.

No, not Livius. You'll never save him.

I can try.

Fuck off.

Gaius. Livius.

- Is that running water? - Yes.

Mm.

We got connected to the aqueduct last year.

- It cost a fortune. - Mm.

But the old pit was unbearable in summer.

Fuck. I hate togas.

Allow me.

Marcus Livius,

I'm asking for your friendship...

and your support.

You have my friendship.

As for my support,

the Republic may not be perfect,

but it's better than the alternative.

Kings, dictators and civil war.

And that's why I'm asking for your support.

It's not too late.

Why didn't you join the plot to kill Caesar?

It was...

un-Roman.

Gods, he's lucky.

Every man in Rome wanted Livia's dowry.

Over a million in farmland, I heard.

Yes, Livius auditioned them for years.

Someone told me that he caught the pox off an actress.

Who?

Livius?

No, no, stupid. Nero.

Oh, dear, poor Livia.

Welcome to marriage.

I can let her have some ointment.

But of course with a father like Livius it had to be

a staunch Republican from one of the old families.

There must have been someone without a venereal disease.

Um, I'm younger, prettier and richer than you.

So why are you laughing at me?

You're lucky to be here.

Both of you.

She's Cicero's wife.

Yes.

I thought Cicero was your friend.

He is.

He married her because her family's rich.

That's why everybody gets married.

Money, power, family.

They're the only things that matter.

Hmm! To the son of a moneylender I'm sure that's true.

Hmm!

Grandson.

That's my bed.

What happened to you?

Your affair with Cicero's wife is indiscreet and unseemly.

It will damage you.

That's before we talk about Scribonia.

Do you want to be taken seriously or not?

Grow up.

You were right. I can't save Livius.

Gaius Julius put his tongue in my mouth.

Just his tongue?

Heading south...

for the winter.

What?

The birds.

They're getting out while they can.

Mm.

Is that a good omen?

Of course it is.

Let's do it.

Move!

Close the gate.

Livius!

Marcus Livius!

We were sent to save your life.

Livia!

Livia!

That's the Dominus.

Livia!

- Livia? - Daddy?

Who's that?

The war has come, Little Bear.

Livius, what are you doing here?

For the last time, a list of names is going up in the forum.

Senators and knights.

And 100,000 sesterces on every head.

What? Well, am I on it?

No, but I am.

Now, get yourself dressed and warn everyone you can think of.

Start with Piso.

Come on.

Let me come.

I'm going to Greece

to join Brutus and Cassius.

And afterwards, I'll find you.

Remember your family and your duty.

Always.

Father?

Antigone thinks I might be pregnant.

A grandson.

Well, I wouldn't waste your time with a girl.

If she's anything like you, Little Bear, I'll be happy.

Hello, Salassus.

Marcus Tullius Cicero.

It's nothing personal.

Is this really necessary, Gaius?

Depends what you mean by "necessary."

Come back safe.

"My Little Bear,

"thank you for your letter.

"I wish you a safe and beautiful birth.

"The army of the Dictators has found us in Greece.

"I saw Gaius Julius, just briefly, on the other side.

"That young scamp at your wedding.

"It's only a year since that day in Rome,

"but it seems like a lifetime.

"Tomorrow we fight again.

"The day will be decisive, one way or the other,

"for the Republic.

"If I should fall,

"come and find me across the river in the Underworld,

"when your time comes.

"I'll be waiting for you with your mother.

"And, unfortunately, hers.

"Your proud father...

"Marcus Livius.

"Dated Philippi, eleven days before the kalends of November."

The armies met in Greece.

Brutus and Cassius are dead. Their armies are scattered.

My father, what happened to him?

- Where is he? - How should I know?

We have to go!

There's a new list, and I'm on it.

Go where?

This war, it will bring everyone to their knees!

At the end there'll be big opportunities

for anyone left alive.

Is that why you wouldn't fight?

Livia, the Republic's dead.

It's time to take a different side.

You don't have to go with him.

Other wives have stayed behind.

Honorably.

That would be un-Roman.

Shh!

Come on!

Quickly! Get a bloody move on!

Here.

Hurry!

They're burning it.

Which side do we take now?

Sicily.

- We're going to Sicily. - Sicily?

Sextus Pompeius is holed up there.

His fleet controls the seas, and they can't get to him.

We will be safe there.

- You said that about Perugia. - What?

We're tired of running, Nero.

We can go to Gaius Julius. He's less than a mile away.

I will never crawl in front of that fucking kid!

He'll pardon us.

I don't want his fucking pardon!

Then let me go. I'll speak to him.

I would rather kill you first and the boy!

Sextus will welcome my support.

He hates Gaius as much as I do.

Lord.

Maecenas is here with Sextus Pompeius.

Hmm.

I told you Maecenas could get Sextus to come.

No.

No, we are not going to kill him.

You might never get another chance.

His fucking fleet's starving Rome to death.

We need a deal.

Ugh!

- Maecenas. - Gaius.

Where's Sextus?

There's just the slightest hitch.

He thinks you're going to kill him.

What?

Sextus!

Gaius.

You're a long way from Sicily!

So are you!

So are you.

Ah.

Uh! Octavia!

The Gods! Give me one of those.

Take Marcellus. He's such a lump.

I can manage Marcella.

Wow. How much did this cost?

My brother came into some money, as you know.

Excuse the mess.

Gaius has only just got back to Rome.

He's too busy to bully the builders, so I offered to help.

It helps take my mind off everything.

Do you like it?

I... I do.

That's good... because you'll be living here soon.

My brother's proposing a marriage to you

as part of the treaty with Sextus.

Oh.

I told you you'd find my family useful.

Of course, negotiations are bound to drag on for months.

That's what Gaius says anyway.

What?

- Aren't you happy for me? - Yes.

Yes.

But I am to marry Marcus Antonius

to seal the truce between him and my brother.

The latest one, anyway.

You're not even half-way through your mourning period.

I could hardly say no to Gaius.

I must say,

after two children in two years

and losing a husband,

I'd hoped to be left alone.

For a while at least.

And you always worry each birth will be your last.

That's all in the past now, isn't it, Gaius?

Either of you two ever hear what became of Tiberius Nero?

- Nero? - Why do you care about him?

We never found his body in Perugia.

Why?

A lot of stragglers have been washing up in Sicily.

Sextus is taking them in.

He must be dead by now. Surely.

- His wife was gorgeous, though. - Livia?

I've forgotten all about her. The Golden Girl of the Claudii.

Oh, dear.

The arrogance at her wedding. Do you remember?

What a brilliant match that turned out to be.

It's true,

her husband displayed a rare genius

for picking the wrong side.

Well...

his Republican principles didn't last long either.

Yes, what would her father have said?

Livius was a man of honor.

He fought to the end at Philippi.

You still took everything he had.

Yes, we did.

Anyway...

poor Livia.

Archias!

You can see the smoke.

We've seen nobody in over a week.

They're ready.

They're ready!

His fever's no worse.

It would be kinder to let him die.

We both know it.

Be clear what you ask the Gods for.

Come and eat.

Smells good.

I'm afraid there isn't much of it.

But, of course, you're welcome.

You're a long way off the main roads up here.

You're lucky it was us that found you.

Loyal veterans. Have we met?

Your face... seems familiar. What's your name?

Gaius Vipsanius Varus.

A relation to the great Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, I assume?

Very distant.

A hard man.

We fought against him at Philippi.

We were part of the 27th, under Brutus.

Were you at Philippi, Lord?

Is that where I know you from?

Marcus Livius Claudianus.

He was at Philippi.

- With the army of Brutus. - Yes.

Yes, he was.

We never heard what became of him.

You knew him, Lady?

My husband was his wine merchant.

You're a wine merchant.

He owes us money.

Marcus Livius.

After the battle...

he drove a sword through his guts.

Bled to death. Slowly.

I saw his body.

We won't get our money, then.

But...

he was lucky.

When you think of what happened to all the rest of them.

All those aristocrats in Rome.

Butchered in their own homes.

Running for their lives in the sewers, they say.

And nothing left in the world but the clothes they escaped in.

Fugitives.

A hundred thousand sesterces...

on every head.

Run!

Argh!

No!

No!

Make it easy, and I won't kill you after.

Open your legs.

Nice and wide.

And afterwards, we'll find your friends.

Tiberius.

Oh! Hey...

Hey. Hey.

Don't worry.

They're dead.

And so is Archias!

But at least you're all right!

What are you doing?

The ground's too hard to bury him.

Did they touch you?

Did they touch you?

Oh, forget it. Forget it!

I told you they could see that fire for miles!

Well, come on!

There might be more of them.

- Wait! - Come on!

Stop! Nero, wait!

Nero!

Nero!

Antigone!

Wait!

Nero!

Nero!

Antigone!

Antigone!