Original subtitles

No.

so so

My dear friend Gaius, how we come

to this absurd position?

In the interests of peace and equity, I

accept... The Senate and people of Rome have authorized me to accept.

The Senate and people of Rome have authorized me to accept a truce... No,

not truce.

That would imply that he is a sovereign rather than a criminal entity.

Quite right.

A criminal.

Have authorized me to accept a cessation of hostilities on the

terms offered in your last letter.

I await your answer.

Good enough. Good enough. This abject humiliation is good enough.

We're not men. We're worms.

Worms is harsh.

Worms cannot run away as speedily as we do.

Caesar has not even left Rome.

Gods know why not.

Yet his legions chase us from town to town with great ease.

We're more like sheep than worms.

Our levies have not failed.

We had money to pay troops. Yes, but they have and we don't. Let us cleave to

the matter at hand, Pompey. You must give some notion of when you will agree

to meet him in person. No.

There's no reason for them to meet. The dispute is between Caesar and the

Senate. It is the proper form.

I'll not meet the man. Never.

Like a son, he was to me.

Well, he was like to you. He was immaterial.

It is only by Jupiter's mercy that he has not already put our heads on pikes.

Mercy? Jupiter has no mercy for cards. Cato, be careful.

You accept abject surrender?

This is not surrender!

Pompey Magnus does not surrender.

I need time.

A truce gains us that time.

Verus Horta sends three jars of amber and informs us he has left the standard

of Pompey.

He entrusts his living to your abundant mercy.

Horta? Pederast, waxy skin, red hair, estates in Pusculum. I have him, the

wretch. Send a small bag of money with a fulsome letter and make him a quaestor

or something.

Show such mercy to every man that deserts Pompey, you will pauperize

yourself. There's dozens of them coming every day.

Judicious use of mercy is worth 10,000 men. And if my last coin buys me a

throne, it's a fair price. A throne?

Poetic license.

What else?

Attia invites you to dinner tonight.

Again, bon adieu.

Not tonight, in any case.

What excuse shall I give? None. This is the second time you have refused an

invitation from her. I need not account for myself to Attia. You say? Not a

sapient choice, perhaps, but brave, sure.

They say slaves talk of bravery as fish talk of flying.

They say that, do they? How very witty of them.

Seeking only justice and peace and to avoid the unnecessary shedding of Roman

blood, Gaius Julius Caesar has publicly implored the renegade Gnaeus Pompey

Magnus to accept truce and lay down his arms.

What are you doing?

It's rather fun.

There's quite an art to it. Strange boy.

I've just heard a very strange tale about you from the kitchen staff.

For what possible reason, I wonder, would you and Caesar be skulking about

in a cupboard?

What?

We were... It was nothing. Nothing? It doesn't sound like nothing.

You seduced him, you sly little fox.

I did not.

I'm not clear it is decent, him being your great-uncle, but who's to say

what's decent in times like these? In any case, well done.

Let's see Seville compete with a soft young boy like you.

What power we shall wield.

You have it wrong.

A good lover is a discreet lover.

He was taken ill. I was helping him to recover, that's all.

Of course he was, my darling. Now, in future, you must not appear too eager. A

man likes it if you play hard to get. Why don't you leave him alone, Mother?

Now, I've invited Caesar and Mark Antony for dinner tonight.

I'll be sure you look especially happy. I am not his lover.

Do not lie to me. You know I detest it when you lie to me. I am not lying. He

has an affliction, a terrible affliction.

Affliction? What affliction? By whom?

I will speak no more of it. I swore on it. Earth be damned, I am your mother.

Tell me.

Excuse me, I will not.

Well, that's very disappointing.

Caesar sends to say he cannot come this evening. No matter.

Why not?

He doesn't say.

Titus Polo is sleeping on the stairs again.

Has he nowhere else to go?

He won't be in Rome much longer.

Tell me, when is the youth returning, your husband?

Crito. Crito. When does he return from his drawing?

November. Why?

I'm selling my slaves today. There'll be money enough spared for your dowry.

So when Crito comes home, you and Lucius can go to him and start your married

life proper.

Thank you, Father.

Thank you. I'm sorry to see you go. November. It's so soon.

You have to go at some time.

Of course, of course, but November. I know it's hard, but it has to be done.

They'll be so far away.

You know how these drovers live. No, Mum, I want to go. I want to be with my

husband. I know, I know. Of course, you must go.

It's just hard.

Morning.

Shall we have some water?

Sit down.

You should be in camp.

Nothing to do there. It's boring.

Get some bread.

I'll not, thanks.

I'm not feeling too well.

You're drinking too much.

No, it's not that.

I ate some depraved oysters.

Where's your girl?

Girl?

Cack.

I know it's one of these.

I know it.

Stop worrying. Even if we can't find her, you can get another.

I don't want another.

I want Irene.

You'll be off south after Pompeii before long. You can't take her soldiering.

Maybe I won't go back to camp.

My time's nearly done anyway.

Leave the 13th. Why?

You did. You're not me. You have no talent for peace.

I can't just leave her.

You think with your penis.

It's not like that.

I've not touched her. Then what purpose does she serve?

Let's take a look at her.

It makes me calm.

Here she is.

Thank you, Apollo.

The girl is his.

No trouble.

Pay what's owed, and the girl is all yours.

What's owed?

You should be paying me to drink the pond filth you serve here.

How much?

I'll pay you back as soon as I can.

Do that.

So what will you do with her?

I don't want her.

Say again?

I don't want her. It's nice of you to think of it, but... You want a slave.

You keep asking for one, and here she is. Pullo can't keep her, and it costs

us nothing. Can't I have one of your Gaulish slaves? I told you, my Gauls are

unseasoned. Cut your throat as soon as you sweep your floor. This one's trained

up nice and docile. What is wrong with her?

She has strange eyes.

You're driving me insane.

The girl stays.

Keep calm, sweetie. Keep calm. How can I be calm when Pullo's put that little

witch to spy on me?

He knows, Rissa, he knows.

A big, simple brute like that?

If he even suspected anything, he'd go straight to Varinus and tell him,

wouldn't he? Of course he would.

Do you really think?

He doesn't know nothing.

Really? Sure of it.

So he saw Rivanda round your house. So what? He's family. He's allowed.

That's true. You're getting worried over nothing.

Of course, let it be, sir.

Of course, that wretch gives everything you asked for.

The Senate will ratify your status, you get your triumph, stand for consul, and

Pompey shall withdraw to Spain.

He'll suck Posca's cock, if asked nicely.

Too generous by far.

Never thought for an instant Pompey would accept such terms.

You think it's a stratagem? I doubt it.

He and what few forces he has are trapped. He's weak.

Going weaker every day.

You might crush him at will.

But now that he has offered truce...

I will look like the worst kind of tyrant if I attack him.

Posca here thinks I should accept, Drus.

Make peace.

In exchange for what? Peace is its own reward.

Snivelry.

The ram has touched the wall. No mercy.

Pompey has no great army, but he has the Senate with him. He has legitimacy.

In Rome, they are the Senate.

Beyond the walls, they're just 300 old men. As you say, Antony, but others will

agree with Posca.

They have made this shameful surrender public. It will be read all over Italy.

If I am not a tyrant, if I merely seek legitimacy, why would I not accept such

favorable terms?

He refuses to meet us in person?

Very good.

Simple. Boy, Palloy can understand a reason like that. He refuses to meet me

face to face, man to man.

He refuses to meet me!

Right, that's it.

No truce.

Let's be after him.

Patience!

He's well caught.

We'll leave when the time is right.

When?

When the time is right.

But we should have left Rome long ago.

The apple is ripe for the plucking and we just sit here doing nothing.

Pompey's not an apple.

And I am not a farmer.

Call for my guard.

First Spear Centurion, Lucius Varinus.

I've been looking for your return.

I'm no longer in the army, citizen.

I've come to sell my stock.

Black blood flux.

Nothing to be done.

Flux? I kept them here, despite the stink.

So you'd know I'd done you nothing dodgy.

Nobody to blame.

Fortune left you one, at least.

Auspicious boy, that is.

How much will he fetch?

Respectable price.

More than enough to pay the feed bill.

Feed bill?

I didn't starve to death.

Move.

Nothing. Not nothing. The boy will fetch a good price when he's healthy. What's

that? Your father brought him back from Gaul. And what will we do till then? To

keep. We're selling him as soon as he gets some color back. And what will we

do after that?

What's his name? He hasn't got one. We'll call him Rubio after my pigeon

that died.

We've nothing saved. Don't worry. I will think of something.

And again. This is a rout.

Shall I be merciful?

I think not.

What else can I give you?

Don't leave me again.

Men are going mad from boredom.

Just today, I had to cut the hands off a perfectly good legionary for murdering a

civilian.

And then, then I had to listen to a jumped-up freedman raving for hours

about one of my centurions seducing his daughters.

It all sounds very tedious.

It's your uncle's fault.

He should have taken the legion south after Pompey. The men know it.

That makes them restless.

Of course.

He pretends it is a stratagem.

But every dog in camp knows that Sevillea has unmanned him.

He will not be parted from.

Intolerable. Intolerable!

Calm yourself, Mother, please. You become unbalanced.

Why care so much who he beds? It is Trivium.

You take after your father as simple as milk.

If he were not mewling in bed with that witch, he would be chasing down Pompey.

It is not Trivium.

The Republic is at stake.

Since when do you care about the Republic?

I care deeply about the Republic.

It would be very unwise to cause trouble about this.

Of course.

I wouldn't lower myself.

Such sordid couplings have a way of turning out badly anyhow.

And no one's special doing.

Tutor has arrived.

Oh, good.

Your tutor has arrived and waits in the rear yard.

Tutor? What tutor?

Well, it's high time you learned the masculine arts.

How to fight and copulate and skin animals and so forth. There's plenty of

time yet for all that.

There's plenty of time for you to bury yourself in worthless scribbles.

You may read those old Greek fools until blood runs from your eyes. You've been

on the wiser.

I cannot agree.

The Greek philosophers have much to teach us. Well, here's a Greek

philosopher for you.

I've engaged that soldier of yours.

Varinus? Was that it?

Not the sullen Chthonian one. I don't like him. The cheerful brutish one.

Pullo. That's it.

What extraordinary names these plebs have.

Pullo.

Defend!

Shield! Shield!

Don't wave it about.

Shield!

Enough!

Water.

This is absurd.

I have no soldiery stuff in me.

This exertion brings on a fever.

I feel it in my spleen. You're just not used to it.

It takes time.

I've seen you kill.

There's plenty of soldier in you.

Oh, it's not the killing.

It's the waving about of swords that I find tedious.

I dare say I can kill people readily enough, as long as they're not fighting

back. Never fear, young Dominus. We'll make a regular terror of you.

At best, I will be a middling swordsman. It's better than nothing.

There you are wrong.

The graveyards are full of middling swordsmen.

Better to be no swordsman at all than a middling swordsman.

Don't do that.

Excuse me.

Young Domnus, I need your advice on a delicate matter, if you'd be willing.

I am.

Suppose you saw something which made you suspect something. Something terrible.

Would you tell the husband of the suspicious article?

Suppose suspicion of what?

Another man.

Oh.

We are speaking of Varunas and his wife, I presume. I never said that.

It seems to me that suspicion alone is not enough to speak.

Once spoken out, the suspicion of such depravity is real enough to do the work

of truth.

And what if you are mistaken?

Then Varunas is dishonoured by error.

Facts are necessary. Without facts you must remain silent.

I knew you'd hit the jugular.

Refuses truth.

What now?

What now?

How happy, eh?

To be a slave.

To have no will. To make no decisions.

Driftwood.

How very restful it must be.

Erastus Fulman.

Centurion.

I've come to seek your counsel.

Always happy to help a friend.

I need to borrow some money and I'm told you have friends in the lending trade.

I do.

I do. I only hesitate because I'm surprised.

You was well found.

Slaves were taken by the Black Flux.

But once I raise capital, I'll go up north and buy some more. I've good

contacts in Nava.

Be needing a big chunk, then. I will.

I cannot.

Wrong to lead a citizen like yourself down that path.

Rough business, money lending.

A man can't pay. He may have to suffer.

Was I to introduce you to a lender, I would be putting two wolves into one

cage. To neither's benefit.

You're right.

You're right. Thank you for your time.

Centurion, there are other ways to make money.

A man like you, their situations is simple. Presence would be valuable.

A man like me?

Hard man.

First spear centurion in Caesar's mighty 13th. I'm no longer in the army. No

matter. Your bearing is enough.

You would lend dignity and strength to business transactions.

If you like, I could use you myself.

Show you the onions.

That's good of you, but I still don't see what I would do exactly.

You would come with me to discourage trouble?

No one's going to mess with a first spear centurion.

I'd be a bodyguard.

Good money.

I told you!

I told you! I'm sorry!

I couldn't bother with her.

Damn you. Damn her. I am your wife. Me. I am your wife.

Lady.

It's lovely.

It's not too army-like.

Like a man of deep business.

I'm not a businessman, I'm just a bodyguard.

It's a start.

What's the matter with everybody?

Calpurnia. Do not trouble yourself with denial.

I did not intend to. Be rid of her and we'll say no more. Let us not. Or

divorce. We'll follow.

Perhaps that is not enough to deter you.

Be that as it may, I am indifferent.

We cannot divorce now.

Her family's influence will be critical. I know it.

Centurion. You're right on time, citizen.

Why are we not meeting the forum? The forum's only for closing deals. Putting

hand on it publicly.

Enough of that Tupin droning.

If you want to whistle like some bum boy, whistle a good Roman song at least.

And she complained I was like an... Rajit!

My honey duck.

You're looking well.

Erastus, Paul, man.

I guess your mother's fate.

Please, sit.

Would you like something to eat, drink?

Wine will do.

We do not have wine.

Milk, perhaps.

Milk? Run out of piss, did you?

Humor. Very good.

I'm sad to have to come here, Tanjeet.

I'm very depressed.

I thought we were businessmen. I thought we understood each other. Yet here we

are. Here we are.

I'm only going to ask once.

Where's? My money.

Where's my truffle pigs?

Fifty pigs you have as ordered.

Fifty diseased and scrofulous pigs. And not one knows how to find truffles.

Tricky beasts.

They haven't been eating acorns, have they?

Fucks up for truffling. Too much acorns. I will give you one quarter price.

Out of friendship.

You'll give me every mumping denarius, you cack-faced cunny. Really?

There is no call for rudeness.

I'm told Hindus live on after death. Not true?

Our bodies die and decay as yours will, but our souls live on eternally. Well,

that's nice arrangements.

You're not afraid to die, then? Not at all.

Break his arm.

Break his arm.

Cut his throat.

What are you doing?

What happened?

What's wrong? Tell me.

Arrest this fool and ask me to kill him, Hannah.

You refused him.

What else was I to do?

I am no bandit. Of course you're not. You couldn't do other than you did.

How are we to pay the rent?

How are we to feed the children?

He's here.

I'm so glad. I thought you might know.

I regret I cannot stay.

I've come to say goodbye.

Goodbye? I'm going south in pursuit of Pompeii.

And we shall not see each other again.

What, never?

Never.

Don't joke, sir.

I am not joking.

Just because of some political... Sevillea, we are done.

We love each other. Be assured, it is not that I do not love you.

I do this against my own inclination.

There are, however, larger issues at stake, and I must do what is right for

the Republic.

The Republic!

Why so happy, Mother?

No reason.

None at all?

No clever little plan bearing fruit?

None at all, my Poppet.

Nor should you suggest otherwise.

To anyone.

So the fuss? It goes south tomorrow.

Excellent.

If we move fast, Pompey will be eating dust by the Callan. You will remain here

with the Thirteens to keep the peace.

Keep the peace?

The city will be in your charge. I'll leave Posca to assist you.

That's ridiculous.

I'm a soldier, not a peacekeeper.

You will follow orders down here.

I was considering.

I have a farm near here.

Lovely at this time of year.

I was considering that I might go there.

Stay for the harvest.

Perhaps you'd like to join me?

That is very kind.

But I think I will stay here.

No good will come of staying.

Oh, I don't know.

The sea air is bracing at least. If you do not go, then I cannot go, I suppose.

It would look cowardly. What matter?

You would know it were not so. Oh, I would know certainly.

But I do not have a grand...

Shiny old name like you.

I must keep my name well polished, else it looks very dull.

I must stay, then. I'm sorry, old man.

You're on duty.

The General will see you now.

Copy this.

What do you want, citizen?

I've reconsidered my position, sir.

I wish to accept your offer.

My offer?

Of entry into Evocati, if same terms still apply.

I said you could join Evocati?

With respect, sir, you did.

What terms did I offer?

Iwakati Prefect, first grade, 10,000 sastashis.

It's a generous offer.

One which you declined.

Normally, I would never make the same offer twice.

But you're lucky.

Caesar is away.

And I'm here alone.

And I shall need good men.

So I give it you.

Promotion to prefect and 9,000 sisters, she.

Thank you, sir.

In return for my generosity, Lucius Verunus, I expect loyalty.

Loyalty unto death.

Unto death, sir.

Welcome home.

Dismissed.

Put him here.

Domina.

This is one of them that drew the filthy pictures.

Didn't take long to make him speak.

Creature.

Who hired him?

Timon. The horse Jew.

At ease, ma'am.

Dress me.

It's done.

We'll have you back.

Ebukati Prefect, first grade, 9000 Sesteshi.

I'll talk myself to a timer.

Come on.

Gods of the Junii, with this offering I ask you to summon Taiki,

Megara, and Nemesis so that they witness this curse.

By the spirits of my ancestors, I curse Gaius

Julius Caesar.

Let his penis wither.

Let his bones crack.

Let him see his legions drown in their own blood.

Gods of the Inferno, I offer to you his limbs, his head,

his mouth, his breath, his speech,

his hands, his liver, his heart, his

stomach.

Gods of the Inferno, let me see him suffer deeply and I will rejoice and

sacrifice to you.

By the spirits of my ancestors, I curse Atia of the Julii. Let dogs rape her.

Let her children die and her houses burn.

Let her live a long life of bitter misery and shame.

Gods of the inferno, I offer to you her limbs, her

head, her mouth, her breath.

Her speech, her heart, her liver, her stomach.

Gods of the inferno, let me see her suffer deeply, and I will

rejoice and sacrifice to you.

Here we are, then, friend. What do you want?

Tell us what's between you and Niobe.

Me?

Niobe? Nothing.

Never. I swear by Jupiter, never.

Fury, stare my eyes out, if I like.

What were you doing when I saw you with her?

My wife.

We were fighting. I went to Niobe for advice, that's all.

I was crying, if you want to know the truth, and Niobe commiserated with me.

I would never, I would never.

Maybe he's telling the truth.

Lying. I'm not.

I'm not.

Lying.

He says you're lying, and I believe him.

This boy's clever, like you don't know what.

Please, I beg you. Hush.

Don't embarrass yourself.

We know you're lying. We know it. You understand?

We have to kill you.

You never touched her.

Evander, move forward. Your life is over.

The only question is, how do you want to die?

We need to hear the truth. If you persist in lying to us, we'll torture

you. You'll die only after many hours of agony and horror.

You give us honesty now, and you'll go swiftly, painlessly.

Please.

Evander, tell the truth.

Torture him.

Tudor's a cunt, but you're salty. And I was worried about bringing you.

Go on, then.

I've never actually tortured anyone.

I don't know how.

You don't know how? They have specialists.

Why not cut off his thumbs?

That's good enough.

It's a start.

Maybe they will love us.

I confess it.

But kill me if you must.

Hold.

What else?

Nothing else.

Kill me.

You're lying again.

You stand at Pluto's door.

Will you sully his threshold with lies? I don't talk.

Cut off his thumbs.

Child? What child?

Lucius. Baby.

Please kill me now. Please.

Lucius. Verena's son.

Niobe's son.

My son.

We have buried this evil now.

You must never speak of it again.

Ferenus must never know.

Never.

Never.

Father Mars Strider, this man has done faithful vigil for you.

We therefore ask you to take him under your protection.

May his enemies flee from him.

May their city walls crumble.

May their cattle and women be taken.

This man is now Evocati.

Sir, let's sail for Greece.