Original subtitles

[NEIGHING] [GRUNTS]

[GRUNTS]

[MAN] ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MY LORD?

SET HIM FREE.

HONOR HIS COURAGE. SPARE YOURSELF A BROKEN BACK

AND ME, A BROKEN HEART.

[MAN] AGRIPPINA, YOU KNOW HOW I ADMIRE BEAUTY AND SPIRIT .

ONCE THEY'��RE MINE, I CAN NEVER LET THEM GO.

[HORSE NEIGH S]

[SIGHS] PLEASE,

STAY AWAY FROM THAT MAN-KILLER.

ROME HAS A CRUEL MASTER,

AND YOU ARE TRYING TO FREE HIM.

WHEN CALIGULA'��S FALLEN, YOU CAN CHOSE TO BE A LIVING EMPEROR

OR A DEAD HORSE TRAINER.

NERO!

NERO, BE CAREFUL. HE'��S DANGEROUS.

COME HERE.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

?? THE MAGPIE FLIES ??

?? TO STEAL THE MOON ? ?

?? THE OWL WILL STEAL ??

?? GOOD FORTUNE ??

?? FREE THE CAT ??

?? UNTIE THE SACK ??

?? SHE'��LL CATCH THE BIRD S ??

?? AND BRING LUCK ??

?? BACK ????

[CHUCKLES] SLEEP NOW.

SLEEP, MY LOVE.

[WIND GUSTING]

[LOUD CRASHING]

GET UP! QUICK!

GET UNDER THE BED! GET UNDER THE BED!

DON'��T MOVE!

[SCREAMING] NO! NO!

[SCREAMING] NO! NO!

[MAN GROANS]

AGRIPPINA.

CALIGULA.

THAT'��S A NASTY BRUISE.

WHAT A FALL YOU'��VE HAD.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

YOU LOOK FAMISHED.

HAVE SOME BREAKFAST.

CAN I TEMPT YOU TO SOME FRUIT?

NOT HUNGRY?

STRANGE.

YESTERDAY YOU COULD HAVE SWALLOWED THE WHOLE EMPIRE

AND STILL HAD AN APPETITE.

SOME COLD MEAT, PERHAPS?

I KNOW YOU'��VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO REFUSE A GOOD,

THICK SLICE OF AHENOBARBUS.

[GASPS]

[SHUDDERING]

DID YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WERE PLANNING?

OF COURSE NOT.

YOU WOULD HAVE WARNED ME.

AFTER ALL WE'��VE BEEN TO EACH OTHER--

BROTHER, SISTER.

ONE BLOOD.

ONE FLESH.

DID...YOU...KNOW?

UNCLE CLAUDIUS?

YOUR LOVELY WIFE MESSALINA.

GAIUS SILIUS.

[SHOUTING] DID YOU KNOW?

[SCREAMS]

YES.

SPARE HIS LIFE.

[SHOUTING] I BEG YOU!

BROTHER.

[WAILS]

TREASON.

AND MANY OF YOU WOULD BE GUILTY OF IT IF YOU HAD HER COURAGE.

HOW SHOULD SHE BE PUNISHED?

PORRIDUS?

LET'��S HAVE THE VOI CE OF THE SENATE.

MY LORD, I FEAR--

SELL HER AND THE CHILD INTO SLAVERY AND SEIZE THE ESTATE?

HMM.

? NOBLE SEPTIMUS

ONLY YOU CAN KNOW

THE DEPTH OF THE INJURY YOU HAVE RECEIVED.

[CLEARS THROAT]

IT IS FOR YOU TO JUDGE.

BUT HISTORICAL PRECEDENT--

CK DICTATES THAT SHE SHOULD BE SEWN INTO A SA

WITH A COCK, A DOG, A MONKEY AND A VIPER

AND THEN HURLED INTO THE TIBER, HMM?

IMBECILE.

ON YOUR FEET.

I CONDEMN YOU TO PERPETUAL EXILE.

YOU'��LL END YOUR DAYS ON AN ISLAND SO REMOTE

THAT NOT A SINGLE, LIVING SOUL

WILL HAVE TO ENDURE THE STENCH OF YOUR BONES...

AS VULTURES PICK THEM CLEAN.

WAIT!

HOLD HER.

NERO WILL STAY WITH HIS AUNT DOMITIA,

WHO WILL RAISE HIM TO RESPECT ROME...

AND HER EMPERORS.

[SCREAMS] NO! NO!

! NO

[WAILING] NO!

NO!

NERO,

DON'��T CRY.

ME. BE STRONG FOR

PLEASE.

ER. REMEMBER YOUR FATH

REMEMBER ME.

GO. IT IS TIME TO

I'��M SORRY.

[COW MOOS]

[MAN] MOVE! GO GET THE HORSES!

HE CANNOT STAY HERE. I WON'��T ALLOW IT.

THE EMPEROR PUT THE BOY IN MY KEEPING, NOT YOURS.

ANIMALS ARE KEPT.

CHILDREN MUST BE CHERISHED.

THE LAST HEIR OF AUGUS TUS IS NOT LIVESTOCK

TO BE TENDED BY SLAVES.

THE WORLD MUST FORGET LUCIUS NERO.

IT'��S SAFER FOR HIM. [CLAUDIUS] AND SAFER FOR US.

I'��LL TAKE HIM BACK TO ROME . HE CAN LIVE WITH ME.

NO.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL INVITE A MURDERER INTO YOUR HOUSE.

IF CALIGULA CHANGES HIS MIND,

WHERE WOULD KILLING END?

BESIDES, MY DAUGHTER, MESSALINA, YOUR WIFE,

CARRIES YOUR UNBORN SON.

SON? YES.

WOMEN ALWAYS KNOW.

I'��M SORRY FOR NERO. BUT HIS MOTHER CHOSE HIS FATE.

NERO...

IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF YOU GROW TO MANHOOD

IN A PALACE OR A PIGSTY.

YOU ARE THE SON OF A GREAT AND COURAGEOUS MAN.

[DOMITIA] CLAUDIA,

TAKE THE BOY TO APOLLONIUS, PLEASE.

NERO, COME WITH ME.

S] [COW MOO

[ROCKS FALLING]

OP. [APOLLONIUS] AH, NO, NO, ST

I FORBID YOU TO DISINTER ME.

THIS IS THE GOD'��S LAST LAU GH ON APOLLONIUS!

FATHER!

BEHOLD! THE NYMPH WHO EMBOLDENS ME

TO DARE THE WRATH OF SPORTIVE GODS!

[GROANS]

ACTUALLY, THE ROSE WHO BINDS ME

TO THIS WILDERNESS--

SHUT UP AND HELP.

AH, CLAUDIA--

GO TO YOUR MISTRESS AND ASK HER

WHY SHE USES ME THIS WAY.

ACTOR! POET!

LYRIST! BLESSED BY THE MUSES! [GIGGLES]

WHO IS THIS?

A PUPIL. A PUPIL?

HOW ARE YOU CALLED?

YOUR NAME.

HE'��S FROM THE IMPERIAL FAMILY.

SON. AHENOBARBUS'��

AHENOBARBUS?

. MM-HMM

[SPEAKING GREEK]

HOMER.

LUCIUS AHENOBARBUS NERO.

I WILL CALL YOU LUCIUS.

WELCOME, LUCIUS,

BRINGER OF LIGHT.

[BIRDS CALLING]

[WIND RUSTLING]

?? A MAGPIE FLIES ??

?? TO STEAL THE MOON ??

?? THE OWL WILL STEAL ??

?? GOOD FORTUNE ??

?? FREE THE CAT ??

?? FREE THE CAT ??

[NERO, AGRIPPINA, IN UNISON] ?? UNTIE THE SACK ??

?? ?? SHE'��LL CATCH THE BIRDS

?? AND BRING LUCK ??

?? BACK ????

[SIGHS]

[GOATS BLEATING]

ONWARDS, COURAGEOUS FRIEND.

GOD PUNISHES THOSE WHO SLACKEN IN THEIR LABORS.

LUCIUS NERO.

IT WASN'��T OUR FAULT. LOOK AT THAT POTHOLE.

AND YOU DIDN'��T SEE IT?

. PERHAPS YOU NEED A LITTLE HELP, OLD MAN

IF YOU STRIKE ME, NERO , I'��LL KILL YOU.

[WHIP CRACKS]

RUFUS.

CK. GIVE IT BA

S, A FREE MAN WHO LIVES WITH THE SLAVE

VE WHO WORKS LIKE A SLA

. IS A SLAVE

THEN I'��M A SLAVE,

MORE FORTUNATE THAN EMPERORS AND KINGS.

I HAVE FRIENDS I RESPECT AND TRUST.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

HEY!

S] [HORSE NEIGH

PORRIDUS...

YOU LOOK LIKE A BAD OMEN.

I'��M IN NO MOOD FOR DEPRESSING NEWS.

HMM, ARE YOUR LEGS TURNING INTO VENETO MARBLE?

IS IT SPREADING UPWARDS?

WHEN THE TRANSFORMATION IS COMPLETE, CAN WE ERECT YOU IN THE FORUM?

] [LAUGHS, MOCKINGLY

SHE'��S ONLY A SLAVE.

IF A MAN WISHES TO SURVI VE PUBLIC LIFE,

S. HE MUST HIDE HIS IMPERFECTION

WELL?

I JUST HEARD THE NEWS FROM BRITANNIA.

THE TRIBES ARE GATHERING FOR WAR.

THEY SAY THAT IF THE ROMANS DO NOT DARE TO SPILL THE BLOOD

OF AN INSANE EMPEROR,

THAN EITHER WE'��RE COWARDS OR AS MAD AS HE IS.

OR BOTH. WE MUST DO SOMETHING.

NG, IF YOU'��RE SUGGESTING WHAT I THINK YOU'��RE SUGGESTI

ERE! FOR GOODNESS SAKE, DON'��T SUGGEST IT H

???? [NATIVE BAN D] [LAUGHTER]

[LAUGHING]

ME. COME WITH

BYE.

] ???? [PLAYING BACK AND FORTH

[LAUGHS]

[MAN] WHEN ARE THEY TO BE MARRIED?

NEXT MONTH.

S! ETIU

ETIUS? APOLLONIUS!

[BOTH LAUGH]

OH, ETIUS!

HOW ARE YO U? HOW ARE YO U? FINE!

OH! LUCIUS.

LUCIUS?

! COME OVER HERE

THIS IS ETIUS, AN OLD FRIEND.

HE CAN CONFIRM MY TALES OF THEATRICAL TRIUMPH!

COME!

? HOW ARE THINGS IN ROME

FOR US, WE WHISPER.

BUT THE WORD OF OUR LORD IS HEARD.

WHICH LORD?

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

YOU'��RE A CHRISTIAN? YES, I AM.

APOLLONIUS, YOU AS WELL?

YEAH.

WHY NOT?

[RUFUS] THE CHRISTIANS PREACH THAT ALL MEN

ARE CREATED EQUAL.

ALL MEN MUST BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.

BUT WE ARE N OT ALL EQUAL.

SOME ARE WEAK, SOME STRONG.

SOME ARE CRUEL , SOME KIND.

. SOME ARE BORN HUMBLE, OTHERS, DESTINED FOR GREATNESS

YOU SEE THE WORLD THROUGH MORTAL EYES.

IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY?

[WOMAN SCREAMI NG] [MAN SHOUTING IN GREEK ]

SANATOSH.

RECITING HOMER IS GOOD FOR ALL OCCASIONS.

IGHT. MAYBE HE'��S R

WHAT IS THE POINT OF LIVIN G IF YOU ARE NOT FREE?

[WIND GUSTING]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

WHO ARE YOU?

AM I DREAMING?

I KNOW YOUR DREAMS.

I KNOW WHAT YOU DESIRE.

I KNOW YOUR FATE.

WILL I DIE ON THIS ISLAND?

YOU WILL KNOW THE WORLD AGAIN.

AND YOUR SON WILL RULE IT.

NERO WILL BECOME...

EMPEROR.

YOU WILL SIT AT HIS SIDE

AND EXALT IN HIS GLORY.

BUT THERE IS A PRICE.

ANYTHING.

MY LIFE?

IS THAT ALL?

WHO WILL STRIKE THE BLOW?

[GASPS]

[LAUGHING]

I'��M SORRY.

COME HERE.

[PANTING] WILL YOU MARRY ME?

YOU WILL?

TE. AC

. I ALWAYS HOPED YOU WOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH ONE OF THE OTHERS

VE YOU KNOW THAT EVEN A FREED SLA

CAN NEVER BE THE W IFE OF A PATRICIAN,

. ONLY HIS CONCUBINE

AT. AND YOU DESERV E BETTER THAN TH

SHH.

[ALL CHATTERING]

, HE KILLS TO SUPP LY HIS EXTRAVAGANCE

CONFISCATES FORTUNES,

S. THREATENS TO PROSTITUTE OUR WIVES TO FILL HIS COFFER

HE DRINKS AND DRUGS HIMSEL F HALFWAY TO HADES--

A JOURNEY HE WILL SOON COMPLETE.

[SIGHS]

COWARDICE HAS MANY ROOTS--

FEAR OF PAIN, FEAR OF DYING,

LOVE OF POSITION OR POSSESSIONS.

BUT WHEN COWARDS ARE CONSUMED WITH HATE,

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

SENATORS,

THE EMPEROR OF ROME!

GET OUT OF THE WAY!

[MEN CHATTERING]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[CHATTERING CONTINUES]

RS, SENATO

US. A GIFT FOR YOU ON THE FEAST OF AUGUST

STRONG AND GRACEFUL, BRED FOR WAR!

ACCUSTOMED TO BURDENS.

WISE IN HIS GENERATION.

A GOURMET WITH A NOSE FOR THE SWEETEST HAY.

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE...

INCITATUS,

A NEW SENATOR OF ROME!

YOU WILL TREAT HIM AS YOUR PEE R IN EVERY DEBATE.

[ALL CHATTERING]

[SCREAMING] WELL?

[STOMPING]

DID YOU MEAN WHAT YOU SAID?

AS I'��VE NEVER ME ANT ANYTHING ELSE.

. I LOVE YOU

HERE. ACTE, TAKE THIS.

IT'��S VALUABLE. IT WILL BUY YOUR FREEDOM

AND TAKE US TO A DISTANT CORNE R OF THE WORLD.

NO, I CAN'��T LEAVE. I CAN'��T.

. DAMN THE LAW, ACTE

WE'��LL FIND A WAY TO CHAN GE IT OR WE'��LL JUST IGNORE IT.

. I LOVE YOU

YOU KNOW I CAN NEVER BE YOUR WIFE.

. KEEP IT ANYWAY

NO, IT'��S ALL YOU HAVE,

EVERYTHING YOU WERE,

THE ONLY MEMENTO OF YOUR MOTHER.

I CAN REMEMBER H ER WITHOUT IT.

NO, LUCIUS! COME ON.

NO, PLEASE! TAKE IT, PLEASE.

PLEASE, TAKE IT.

TAKE IT!

ACTE.

[MAN] UP!

[CALIGULA] ARE WE VISITING THIS BROTHEL OR ATTACKING IT?

[TIGELLINUS] MY LORD, THERE ARE CHRISTIANS IN THE CITY.

ARE THEY AS BARBAROUS AS THEY SAY, THESE CHRISTIANS?

OH, YES, MY LORD. WE FOUND REMAINS OF BUTCHERED CHILDREN.

REMAINS? OH, YES.

DID YOU BRING THEM ? NO, EMPEROR.

PITY.

I SHALL WANT TO LOOK AT THEM LATER.

[CALIGULA] I STILL DON'��T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.

TRUST ME, SIR, IT'��S WORTH IT.

YOU'��VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

IS IT A BOY OR A GIRL?

WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE.

CAN'��T WE GO ANY FASTER?

I WANT THAT BROUGHT TO THE PALACE, WHATEVER IT IS.

RD. YES, MY LO

HERE? YES.

[MOANS, GASPS]

YOU SEND ME TO THE GODS!

S! I BEQUEATH THEE HADE

[GASPS]

[MESSALINA] BRITANNICUS! OCTAVIA! QUICKLY!

[MAN] TAKE IT.

TAKE IT.

CLAUDIUS, TAKE IT.

. HAIL..

E. CLAUDIUS, EMPEROR OF ROM

CONGRATULATE YOUR FATHER, BRITANNICUS.

NG. FATHER SAYS YOU'��RE LEAVI

THERE'��S NO LONGER ANY REASON FOR ME TO STAY.

O? WHERE WILL YOU G

NOT TO ROME?

TO GREECE.

THE LAND WHERE YOU WERE BORN.

A PLACE WHERE THEY LOVE MUSIC...

AND POETRY.

A PLACE WHERE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

COME WITH ME.

ACTE, COME WITH ME.

WE'��LL CONQUER ATHENS

WITH MY KITHARA, OUR SINGING,

AND YOUR DANCING.

MY DANCING? WITH SOME PRACTICE.

IN THE PARTHENON BY MOONLIGHT,

IN THE HILLS BY CAMPFIRES.

WE'��LL BRING JOY.

SOONER OR LATER, ROME WILL FORGET WE EVER EXISTED.

ARE YOU LUCIUS AHENOBARBUS NERO? LUCIUS, NO!

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO WEAR?

OU. I THOUGHT I'��D LOST Y

I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD.

I WAS.

[SIGHS]

WHO IS THAT GIRL?

TE. HER NAME IS AC

SHE'��S PRETTY.

SHE'��S A SLAVE?

I. SO WAS

MISTRESS, IS EVERYTHING THE WAY YOU REMEMBER IT?

[SOFTLY] YES.

R, YOUR UNCLE CLAUDIU S-- I MEAN, THE EMPERO

PAID FOR THE UPKEEP AND TOLD US TO MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS CHANGED.

HOW IS HE?

NO ONE MOCKS HIS LIM P, NOW HE'��S EMPEROR.

N. HE'��S A GOOD MA

AND HIS WIFE?

? THE LADY MESSALINA

I-- WELL,

YES?

I ONLY KNOW WHAT I HEAR, MISTRESS.

RUMORS.

SHE DOESN'��T SPEND MUCH TIME AT THE PALACE.

E. DOES SHE HAVE A LOVER? WORS

DS. MAGIC RITU ALS IN THE WOO

SHE DOESN'��T COME HOME UNTIL DAWN.

AND HER CHILDREN? DOES SHE LOVE THEM?

SHE DOTES ON HER SON BRITANNICUS.

POOR BOY. HE HAS EPILEPSY,

THE ILLNESS OF THE GODS,

IM. BUT SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR H

. SHE LOVES HIM MORE THAN HER LIFE

LEAVE US NOW.

AID. YOU'��RE AFR

. ME TOO

OUR WORLD WAS SHATTERE D THAT NIGHT.

. BUT NOW WE ARE TOGETHER AGAIN

E. IT'��S A NEW LIF

. WE MUST MAKE SURE IT LASTS

ROME IS A BATTLEFIEL D, A NEST OF VIPERS.

. WE MUST PROTECT EACH OTHER

O. TAKE CARE OF ME, NER

I NEED YOUR STRENGTH AND LOVE.

BRING THEM IN.

BRING WHO?

OU? WHAT'��S HE PLAYING AT? OH, DIDN'��T HE TELL Y

AGRIPPINA? ON, NO. OH, YES.

AGRIPPINA,

NERO, WELCOME HOME.

MY LORD,

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROTECTION

AND EVERYTHING YOU'��VE DONE FOR US.

NERO,

YOU'��VE GROWN TO BE A FINE, YOUNG MAN.

? DO YOU REMEMBER ME

HOW COULD I FORGET THE ONLY MAN WHO WAS KIND TO ME.

OCTAVIA!

IS SOMETHING WRONG?

THE LAST TIME I STOOD IN THIS ROOM, MY LORD,

MY FATHER'��S HEAD LAY ON A PLATTER.

A LUNATIC ATTACKED MY MOTHER AND HELD A KNIFE TO MY THROAT.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE HER E SAW IT ALL,

AND DID NOTHING.

NERO, NAME SOMETHING I CAN DO FOR YOU.

HAVEN'��T YOU ALRE ADY DONE ENOUGH?

THEY HAVE RETURNED FROM EXILE, HER FORTUNE RESTORED.

THE ONLY THING THEY LACK IS GRATITUDE.

NA. [AGRIPPINA] THANK YOU, MESSALI

EVEN RUDENESS IS EXCUSABLE WHEN IT PROMPTS GOOD MANNERS.

DOMITIA, PLEASE, ACCEPT MY GRATITUDE

FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR MY SON.

LIVING AMONG SLAVES AND LABORING IN FIELDS

MADE HIS BODY STRONG.

BUT IT'��S DONE LITTLE FOR HIS MIND.

I MUST ATTEND TO HIS EDUCATION

SO THAT HE MAY TAKE HIS PLACE IN THE SENATE.

WELL...

I HAD HOPED TO GIVE HIM A GIFT HE WOULD ENJOY.

BUT IF YOU INSIST ON A TUTOR--

SENECA.

SENECA. WHERE IS SENECA?

IN CORSICA, EXILED.

HE BARELY ESCAPED A DEATH SENTENCE.

HE'��S ABSOLUTELY THE WORST MAN-- ENOUGH!

SENECA WILL BE PARDONED.

SEND FOR HIM.

???? [NATIVE BAND]

[CHATTERING]

[GASPS] SHH!

LUCIUS, YOU'��RE BACK.

MY FATHER.

NG. [GROANS] [NERO] I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHI

E. YOU'��LL BE BACK BEFORE HE REALIZES YOU WERE GON

U. I'��VE MISSED YO

I WANTED YOU TO SEE TH IS. ROME BY NIGHT.

IT'��S BEAUTIFUL . SO MANY TORCHES.

EEP? DON'��T THEY EVER SL

THEY CAN'��T.

HORSE-DRAWN TRAFFIC IS FORBIDDEN DURING THE DAY.

SO NO ONE SLEEPS.

LE. A MILLION PEOP

. A HANDFUL OF PATRICIAN S CONTROL ALL THE WEALTH

AND AROUND THEM, THE NAMELESS.

ALL DESPERATE.

ALL WAGING WAR AGAINST THEIR OWN LIVES.

THAT'��S THE W ORLD, NOT JUST ROME.

THE WORLD IS WHAT ROME MAKES IT.

WHAT THE EMPEROR MAKES IT.

YOU WANT TO BE EMPEROR ? NO.

BUT I STOOD NEXT TO HIM TODAY.

IF I GAIN HIS TRUST,

I MIGHT BE ABLE TO REMIND HIM OF THE--

OF THE THINGS OTHER MEN WOULD PREFER TO STAY FORGOTTEN.

SO, WHEN DO WE LEAVE FOR GREECE?

YOUR MUSIC, MY DANCING,

. MAKING GODS AND SHEPHERDS WEEP

G. I'��M TEASIN

NG. JUST TEASI

I WANT TO GO.

BUT I CAN'��T LEAVE YET.

MY MOTHER NEEDS ME.

SHE COULD BE IN DANGER.

I HAVE TO LOOK AFTER HER.

BUT I WILL FIND A WAY FOR US TO BE TOGETHER.

I SWEAR IT.

[WHISPERING] I SWEAR IT.

I CAN BE PATIENT.

A. LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENEC

[COUGHS]

WHERE IS THE BOY?

HAVE CORSICAN BANDITS STOLEN YOUR COURTESY?

RS THE PERFUME OF CORSICA'��S FLOWE

CARRIES FAR OUT TO SEA.

THE STENCH OF ROME

SOURS THE AIR OF THE KNOWN WORLD.

SY I SHOW YOU ENOUGH COURTE

TO PUT MYSELF WITHIN REACH

OF OLD ENEMIES.

ROME HAS NEED OF GREAT MEN.

[GRUNTS] THE EMPIRE'��S NEW.

AT DAWN, EVEN DWARFS CAST LONG SHADOWS.

I KNOW HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN MEN AND THEIR SHADOWS.

MY SON WILL PUT THE SHADOW OF HIS HAND OVER THE EMPIRE.

. IT HAS BEEN FORETO LD. HE WILL BE EMPEROR

I SEE.

DOES HE KNOW? NO, NOT YET.

WHEN HE'��S READY.

IM NOW IT'��S MY DUTY TO CLEAR HIS PATH AND PROTECT H

FROM THE LIKES OF MESSALINA.

AND WHAT DO YOU ASK OF ME?

TEACH HIM. OPEN HIS EYES AND DISCIPLINE HIS MIND.

. ARM HIM WITH THE KNOWLED GE OF THE WORLD AND HIMSELF

LE. MAKE HIM FIT TO RU

CREATE THE IDEAL EMPEROR.

VANITY.

NO. ONLY IF PRIDE LEADS YOU TO IT.

... LISTEN

E. FATE HAS BROUGHT YOU TO THIS PLACE AND THIS CHOIC

HY? ISN'��T THAT YOUR PHILOSOP

! NO, NO! SIT UP STRAIGHT IN THE SADDLE

ST. A HORSE IS A NOBLE BEA

THAT'��S WHAT HE EXP ECTS OF HIS RIDER.

M! LISTEN TO HI

HOW CAN I SIT STRAIGHT IN A SADDLE LIKE THIS,

WITH A HORSE WEIGHTED DOWN BY THESE RIDICULOUS TRAPPINGS?

THEY ARE NOT RIDICULOUS.

THEY ARE DIGNIFIED ! THEY'��RE RIDICULOUS.

IC. [SIGHS] HE'��S A LUNAT

UP!

S] UP! [HORSE NEIGH

! UP

NERO! YOU MUST LEARN TO BE DISCIPLINED! HMM?

ED. I LISTEN TO HIM. I DID WHAT HE WANT

AR? DID YOU NOT HE

WHO IS THE GREATER REBEL--

HORSE OR RIDER?

SENECA?

SO WHAT'��S THE END RESULT OF YOUR DISPLAY?

NEITHER YOU NOR YOUR HORSE ARE FIT TO TAKE PART IN AN IMPORTANT CEREMONY.

BUT AT LEAST YOU'��VE PROVED YOURSELF TO BE A FREE SPIRIT.

IF YOU LIKE.

THEN WHY ARE YOU BACK INSIDE THE FENCE?

WHY SHOULD I LISTE N TO YOU?

WELL, BECAUSE--

[GASPS] BECAUSE...

PERHAPS THERE'��S STILL MUCH TO HEAR.

DY. [NERO] I CAN ACT COMEDY AND TRAGE

ISN'��T THAT ALL I NEED TO BE A SENATOR? [CHUCKLES]

CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR MOTHER WITH FEEBLE JOKES?

LIKE IT OR NOT,

YOU FACE A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS JOURNEY.

I CAN SHOW Y OU THE ROAD,

E. EVEN IF I STUMBL E FROM TIME TO TIM

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

WHO AM I?

AND...WHAT DO I WANT?

ANSWER YOURSELF, TRUTHFULLY.

I WANT-- WHAT?

IT'��S AMBITIOUS.

DON'��T STOICS DESPISE AMBITION?

, IF A MAN WERE DESTINED TO ACHIEVE THINGS MOST WOULD THINK IMPOSSIBLE

. HE WOULD BE WRONG TO IGNORE HIS AMBITION

WHAT IF HE SHOULD FAIL?

[SENECA] THEN HE'��S SHOWN HIS TRUE DESTINY

AND MUST RESIGN HIMSELF TO IT.

I KNOW...THERE IS AN IDEAL EMPIRE.

AND THERE IS THE EMPIR E THAT EXISTS.

WAY IF THERE IS A

.. TO CREATE AN EMPIRE.

THAT IS JUST AND MERCIFUL,

I WANT TO PLAY MY PART.

[MOANS]

YOU'��RE LAUGHING AT ME. NO.

I SMILE.

BECAUSE I LEFT CORSICA AND CAN NEVER SEE HER AGAIN,

BECAUSE I MUST STAY IN ROME,

BECAUSE NOW... I CAN'��T LEAVE YOUR SIDE.

IT'��S A RISKY UNDERTAKING.

WHAT IS IT?

THERE IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW.

IT MIGHT CHANG E YOUR MIND.

THERE IS A WOMAN I LOVE.

SHE'��S A SLAVE.

AM IF I HAVE TO, I'��LL SACRIFICE ANYTHING I

R. OR MIGHT BECOME TO SHARE MY LIFE WITH HE

IT SHOULDN'��T BE TOO HARD FOR YOU TO MARRY A SLAVE.

NERO,

IS SHE REALLY SO SPECIAL?

SHE'��S MY LIFE.

I WISH SHE WERE HERE.

ITIA. I'��LL TALK TO DOM

WILL YOU? I'��LL SEE WHA T CAN BE DONE.

MOTHER.

THANK YOU.

[WHISPERING] THANK YOU.

[AGRIPPINA] YOUNG LADY, COME OVER HERE, PLEASE.

DY. ARE YOU ACTE? YES, MY LA

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR ME?

NO, LADY.

LOYAL AND DISCREET.

I UNDERSTAND WHY MY SON LOVES YOU.

I WANT YOU TO LIVE WITH US.

NERO NEEDS YOU.

AND I SEE NO REASON WHY YOU CANNOT BE ONE OF HIS CONCUBINES.

SEND THE GIRL, ACTE, AND HER FATHER AWAY.

THEY MUST LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. WHY?

. BECAUSE I ASKED YOU TO

NO. THEY'��VE BEEN MANY YEARS--

SEND THEM TO YOUR FA RM IN SARDINIA.

AND IF THE EMPEROR EVER ASKS

A-- WHERE AND HOW HIS WIFE -- YOUR DAUGHTER MESSALIN

YS, SPENDS HER NIGHTS AND SOME OF HER DA

HIM. I WON'��T TELL

ACTE.

ME. DID MY MOTHER SPEAK TO YOU? GET AWAY FROM

WHAT'��S WRONG?

YOU ASKED HER TO BUY ME, TO MAKE ME A CONCUBINE!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!

YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN THAT! I THOUGHT I DID.

IT WAS A MISTAKE, THAT'��S ALL, A MISUNDERSTANDING.

ORE! I WON'��T BE YOUR WH

I WANT YOU TO BE MY WIFE.

YOU KNOW YOU CAN'��T. I CAN!

I WILL FIND A WAY.

BUT UNTIL THEN, I NEED MY FRIENDS.

. I NEED YOU

I NEED YOU.

ALL OF YOU.

. BUT ESPECIALLY YOU

IT WAS A MISTAKE.

IT WAS A MISTAKE.

ROME! WONDERFUL!

AT LONG LAST, A WORTHY AUDIENCE.

HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE NIGHT I GAVE MY HERCULES

FOR THE GREAT AUGUSTUS?

YES, A THOUSAND TIMES.

TURN LEFT THERE!

BUT IT'��S STRAIGHT ON FOR ROME.

A. WE AREN'��T GOING TO ROM E. WE'��RE GOING TO SARDINI

RD. I'��M TAKING YOU TO LADY DOMITIA'��S VINEYA

NO, IT'��S BEEN AGREED. WE'��RE GOING TO LIVE WITH NERO.

ACTE.

I'��M NOT GOING ANYWHERE ELSE BUT ROME.

CE. A FUGITIVE SLAVE RISKS THE DEATH SENTEN

RE. KILLING YOU IS SOMETHI NG I COULD DO WITH PLEASU

[GRUNTS] FATHER!

[GASPS, GRUNTS]

FATHER!

FATHER! [PANTING]

RT? FATHER, ARE YOU HU

FA--

I'��VE NEVER BEEN GOOD AT MARTIAL ROLES.

WE HAVE TO HURRY. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE IN ROME?

ME! ETIUS. HELP ME! HELP

RRY. I'��M SO

. DOMITIA SHOULD HAVE SENT SOMEONE WITH THEM

SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPENED.

YES, IT DID.

THEY SAW A CHANCE TO RUN AWAY AND TOOK IT.

D. SLAVES CAN'��T BE TRUSTE

. MY DARLING

LISTEN TO ME.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[NERO] CLAUDIA!

CLAUDIA!

CLAUDIA!

[ETIUS] PAUL OF TARSUS, A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST,

TO ALL THAT LIVE IN ROME, BELOVED OF GOD,

AND CALLED TO BE SAINTS,

WROTE THIS.

"YOUR FAITH IS SPOKEN OF THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD.

"I LONG TO SEE YOU, THAT I MAY GIVE YOU SOME SPIRITUAL GIFTS

AND BE COMFORTED BY OUR MUTUAL FAITH."

"IT IS TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP,

"FOR OUR SALVATION IS NEARER THAN WE'��D BELIEVED.

"THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT,

"THE DAY IS AT HAND.

"LET US CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS

AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT."

DON'��T-- DON'��T CHASE DREAMS.

. YOU'��LL NEVER CATCH HIM

... LUCIUS

T. WILL BREAK YOUR HEAR

FULL HOUSE?

NOT BAD.

NOT BAD, APOLLONIUS. FOR A MATINEE, NOT BAD.

I READ PAUL OF TARSUS'�� LETTER.

THERE'��S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE.

"THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GREEK,

"FOR THE SAME LORD OVERALL IS GENEROUS TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM.

"WHOSOEVER...SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD...

SHALL BE SAVED."

[DEEP EXHALE]

RLY. CLAUDIUS, YOU'��RE HOME EA

. OUR CHILDREN WILL BE SO PLEASED

AND YOU?

[CHUCKLES]

? YOU'��RE GOING OUT

YES. I WISH I COULD STAY WITH YOU.

YOU SHOULD HAVE SENT WORD.

STAY ANYWAY.

I CAN'��T. I'��M SORRY.

ASINIUS MARCELLUS IS GIVING A DINNER

TO CELEBRATE HIS DAUGHTER'��S ENGAGEMENT.

I'��VE HEARD THAT ASINIUS PLANS TO OPPOSE

YOUR INHERITANCE LAW REFORMS.

AND SINCE HE'��S BOUND TO GET DRUNK,

I WANT TO BE NEAR WHEN THE WINE

LOOSENS HIS TONGUE.

WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU?

MESSALINA.

SE. STAY, PLEA

IF I'��M NOT TOO LATE, I'��LL COME TO YOUR ROOM.

I TAKE YOU FOR HUSBAND.

I TAKE YOU FOR WIFE.

[BOTH] IN THE SITE OF DIONYSUS

AND WITNESSED BY HIS CHILDREN.

[ALL TRILLING]

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

K! CLAUDIUS, CLAUDIUS, IT'��S NOT WHAT YOU THIN

IT'��S JUST AN INNOCENT LITTLE CEREMONY, A GAME.

A SILLY GAME WITH THE OLD GOD

E. TO BRING GOOD FORTUN

[GROANS]

OH! [GROANING CONTINUES]

E. CLAUDIUS, YOU LOVE M E. YOU ALWAYS FORGIVE M

PLEASE.

I'��M THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN.

IT WAS AGRIPPINA, WASN'��T IT?

CLAUDIUS, BEWARE OF THAT WOMAN!

PROTECT THE LIFE OF OUR SON, I BEG YOU!

SAVE OUR SON! I BEG YOU!

SAVE OUR SON!

[SWORD SLASHING] [SCREAMING]

[ALL CHEERING]

UNCLE AND HUSBAND TOO.

CLAUDIUS PROMULGATED A SPECIAL DECREE

TO LEGITIMIZE THE MARRIAGE.

DO YOU THINK HE'��LL MANAGE TO UNPICK THAT KNOT OF HERCULES?

HE WON'��T EVEN TRY.

THIS IS POLITICS, NOT ROMANCE.

[SEPTIMUS] HAIL, CLAUDIUS!

THE SENATE WISHES YOU BOTH A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER.

PRAY, ACCEPT OUR SINCERE FELICITATIONS ON THIS

MOST GLORIOUS, JOYOUS DAY.

THANK YOU, SEPTIMUS.

BUT THIS DAY IS EVEN MORE JOYOUS THAN YOU SUPPOSE.

NERO.

RE LET EVERYONE ASSEMBLED HE

BEAR WITNESS.

I ADOPT THIS WORTHY, YOUNG MAN

RO. AS MY SON LUCIUS CLAUDIUS NE

D. OCTAVIA, COME FORWAR

OO. BRITANNICUS, YOU T

[OCTAVIA] BRITANNICUS!

[NERO] BRITANNICUS! HOLD HIM! HOLD HIM STILL!

HELP HIM OUT.

HOLD HIM. THAT'��S FINE.

I KNEW I'��D F IND YOU HERE.

ACTE. [GASPS]

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? MY FATHER IS DEAD.

WHAT HAPPENED?

[SIGHS] I'��M SO SORRY.

CH. I MISSED YOU SO MU

I MISSED YOU.

MY MOTHER TOLD ME DOMITIA HAD SENT YOU,

BUT YOU MUST HAVE RUN AWAY.

NO. NO!

LISTEN TO ME.

YOU MUST GO BACK TO ETIUS'�� HOUSE.

I'��LL COME TO YOU.

WHEN? SOON.

BUT I NEED YOU NOW . I'��LL COME TO YOU!

I PROMISE.

I PROMISE.

TROY FELL.

BUT AENEAS, SON OF APHRODITE,

SAILED TO THE WEST

TO FOUND A NEW CITY

WITH A GREAT DESTINY.

AENEAS' BLOOD FLOWED IN MIGHTY CAESAR'S VEINS.

NING. [WHISPERING] IT'��S A MAGNIFICENT BEGIN

[NERO] TROJAN BLOOD IS THE SOURCE OF OUR NOBILITY.

A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE.

. THE PASSION OF YOUTH AND THE POLISH OF AN ACTOR

THOSE OLD FRAUDS FIND HIM IRRESISTIBLE.

OR SHALL WE HONOR OUR ANCESTRY

AND FREE HER FROM CRIPPLING TAXATION?

NERO,

WOULD YOU FAVOR US WITH YOUR OPINION OF THE SITUATION IN BRITANNIA?

SHOULD WE LEAVE OUR LEGIONS TO ENDURE YET ANOTHER WINTER

UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK, THERE BEING NO GREAT BENEFIT

E? TO THE EMPIR

SEPTIMUS.

? WOULD YOU CARE TO ADDRESS ME DIRECTLY

IF YOU OBLIGE OUR GENERA LS TO OCCUPY THAT DAMP AND DREADFUL ISLAND,

TY. THEY MUST BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE THEIR OWN SECURI

NO!

WAGING A NEW CAMPAIGN WOULD BE RECKLESS AND IRRESPONSIBLE!

WE SHALL NOT DO IT! [INDISTINCT MURMURING]

I ONLY MEANT

TO STATE THE OPINION OF-- OF THE EMPEROR...

AS HE EXPRESSED IT TO ME AND I--

[ALL CHATTERING]

[MAN] HOW DARE SHE STORM ONTO THE SENATE FLOOR LIKE THIS!

S! IT'��S OUTRAGEOU

SENATORS!

SENATORS!

I AWAIT DISPATCHES FROM BRITANNIA.

, ONLY WHEN I HAVE FRESH AND ACCURATE SITUATION REPORTS

WILL I MAKE A DECISION ON THIS MATTER.

ACTE.

WHO IS ACTE?

NO ONE.

ACTE.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GIRL FROM ONE OF THOSE DIRTY SONGS YOU TEACH BRITANNICUS.

THEY ARE NOT DIRTY , THEY'��RE COMIC.

THEY'��RE DIRTY.

REEK. THEY'��RE IN G

EEK. YOU DON'��T SPEAK GR

? HOW IS BRITANNICUS

BETTER.

BUT HE COULD DO WITH CHEERING UP.

GO AND TEACH HIM A DIRTY SONG.

I WANT TO ASK A FAVOR.

LL? WE

CAN YOU TEACH ME TO PLAY THE LYRE?

[LAUGHS]

I'��M SERIOUS!

ON. YOU'��D HAVE TO BE. IT TAKES YEARS OF DEDICATI

I KNOW.

WILL YOU TEACH ME?

RS. THERE ARE PLEN TY OF GOOD TEACHE

WHO TAUGHT YOU?

A SLAVE.

. HE WAS A GREAT MAN

AND YOU LOVED HIM.

I'��VE SEEN YOUR MUSIC BRING TEARS FROM GENERALS

AND I'��VE SEEN CHILDREN DANCE FOR JOY.

IF WE HAD TO BE TOGETHER FOR A LIFETIME,

I WOULD NEVER GROW TIRED OF YOU.

OCTAVIA... DON'��T SAY ANYTHING NOW.

PLEASE, NOT YET.

NO.

I WILL NOT MARRY HER.

THE EMPEROR COMMANDS IT. I WILL TALK TO HIM.

NO, YOU WON'��T!

. AFTER THE MARRIAGE YOU ARE TO BE GRAN TED PROCONSULAR POWERS

THE SENATE HAS ALREADY PETITIONED THE EMPEROR.

THEY WANT YOU TO BE FULL CONSUL NEXT YEAR.

CONSUL?

THAT MEANS POWER.

Y. THAT MEANS SAFET

IS IT THAT GIRL?

DOMITIA'��S SLAV E? ACTE.

SHE'��S GONE.

! FORGET HER

NERO,

YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.

YOU ARE ALREADY SO CLOSE TO THE EMPEROR

THAT YOU ARE AN OBSTACLE TO DANGEROUS AND AMBITIOUS MEN.

ALS DON'��T YOU REALIZ E THAT BEFORE OUR ME

I WATCH SLAVES TASTE OUR FOOD AND WINE?

THERE ARE MOMENTS IN WHICH WE HAVE TO PUT ASIDE EMOTION

AND FOLLOW THE ROAD THAT REASON INDICATES TO US.

I KNOW YOUR DESTINY.

CE. AND I KNOW ITS PRI

PLEASE, NERO.

. WE ARE IN DANGER. I NEED YOUR PROTECTION

ME. DO NOT DISAPPOINT

STRENGTHEN OUR BON D WITH THE EMPEROR.

TAKE OCTAVIA. ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL AND LOVING WIFE.

[SCREAMS]

[GROANS]

AAH!

WHEN...AND WHERE

YOU ARE LUCIUS.

THEN...AND THERE

I AM LUCIA.

BONE OF YOUR BONE,

FLESH OF YOUR FLESH.

[GASPS]

[CLEARS THROAT]

NERO?

WHY?

I HAD NO CHOICE.

I DID IT FOR MY MOTHER.

I DID IT FOR Y OU. FOR ME?

[GASPING, CRYING]

DO YOU THINK THIS IS E ASY FOR ME? DO YOU?

ACTE, TRUST ME. WHEN IT'��S SA FEI'��LL REPUDIATE HER-- WHEN IT'��S SAFE?

THIS IS MY WEDDING NIGHT

HERE. AND I'��M

I'��M HERE.

[WHISPERING] I'��M HERE.

ION I HAVE REACHED A DECIS

REGARDING THE SITUATIO N IN BRITANNIA.

I WANT TO PUT AN END TO OUR TROUBLES ONCE AND FOR ALL.

I SHALL JOIN OUR LEGIONS AND TAKE FRESH TROOPS WITH ME.

[PORRIDUS] YOU? [INDISTINCT MURMURS]

AT WAR?

UH, WHAT--

WHAT MAINLY CONCERNS ALL OF US

[MURMURING STOPS] IS THE EMPEROR'��S SAFETY.

U BUT I'��M OBLIGED TO REMIND YO

THAT YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO MILITARY EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER.

A SITUATION I INTEND TO REMEDY IMMEDIATELY.

AND LEAVE ROME WITHOUT HER FATHER?

NOW?

. SEPTIMUS..

. I MAY BE LAME, BUT I AM NOT SPINELESS

[MAN] THIS IS THE LAST DECRE E FOR YOU TO SIGN, MY LA DY.

GOOD.

THE IMPERIAL SEA L.

[GROWLS] [LAUGHING]

I HAVE A SOLUTION.

THEY WANT ME TO HAVE EXPERIENCE OF GOVERNMENT.

ETURN THE EMPEROR'��S ABOUT TO R

AND WHEN HE GETS HERE- - WHEN HE GETS HERE

I'��LL ASK HIM FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP OF GREECE.

] [GASPS

] THANK YOU, ACTE. [MOANS

YOU'��VE BEEN SO PATIENT.

ONG. YOU'��VE WAITED SO L

[CROWD CHEERING]

HAIL, CLAUDIUS!

THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE OF ROME.

BRITANNIA IS OURS.

HER KINGS AND WARLORDS ARE BROUGHT TO ROME IN CHAINS!

I PROMISED YOU VICTORY.

AND DESPITE MY INEXPERIENC E OF WAR, YOU HAVE IT!

[COINS CLANGING FLOOR]

WHAT IS THE MEANIN G OF THIS?

NO IMPERIAL COIN

EVER BORE THE FACE OF A WOMAN,

NOT UNLESS SHE WERE DEAD, OF COURSE.

QUITE A GOOD LIKENESS, DON'��T YOU THINK?

[ALL LAUGHING]

ARE YOU MAD?

HAVE YOU COMPLETEL Y LOST YOUR MIND?

HAVE YOU? I'��M THE EMPEROR'��S WIFE!

THE WIFE WHO SAVED YOU FROM MESSALINA.

THE WIFE WHO PROTECTED YOUR FAMILY WHILE YOU WERE AWAY

PLAYING AT WAR.

AND WHEN YOU WERE GONE SO LONG THAT SOME MEN THOUGHT THEY COULD DO WITHOUT YOU FOR GOOD,

YOUR WIFE GAVE THEM SOMEONE TO HATE.

"DEAR OLD CLAUDIUS. AT LEAST HE'��S NOT AS BAD AS THAT WITCH.

"HOW WE MISS HIM.

HOW WE NEED HIM."

NOW, IF YOU WILL HAVE THE COURTESY,

YOUR WIFE HAS PREPARED A FEAST

TO CELEBRATE YOUR TRIUMPHANT RETURN.

. I HAVE MAD E A NEW WILL

SOON ITS CONTENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED.

WHATEVER YOU THINK IS BEST FOR OUR SONS,

IT WILL BE FOR ME AS WELL.

THIS IS WHY I WANTED YOU TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.

. NERO IS MY ELDEST SON IN THE EYES OF THE LAW

Y. BUT I CAN'��T IGNORE THE CLAIM OF BLOOD AND FAMIL

BRITANNICUS AND NOT NERO WILL BE EMPEROR.

[KNOCKING]

? WHO DID YOU EXPECT

HE WON'��T C OME. HE WILL.

WE'��RE--

YES?

HE'��S SPEAKING TO THE EMPEROR TONIGHT.

AND IF LUCIUS IS MADE GOVERNOR OF GREECE,

I'��M GOING WITH HIM.

NO, ACTE.

I THOUGHT YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND.

I DO. BUT I WISH--

WHAT?

NOTHING.

I'��LL PRAY FOR YOU.

AH, MUSHROOMS.

AH. MMM.

A. I FOUND THEM, EVEN IN BRITANNI

BUT THEY WEREN'� �T AS GOOD AS OURS.

DS. THE FOOD OF THE GO

I'��M SURE THE GODS HAVE BETTER FOOD

THAN STINKING FUNGI THAT THRIVE IN HORSE DUNG.

NERO,

I HAVE GRANTED THE SENATE'��S REQUEST.

YOU AND DECIMUS TORQUATUS SHALL BE CONSULS NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU, FATHER.

YOU HONOR ME.

BUT--

BUT?

IN ALL MODESTY,

I NOW HAVE A THOROUGH WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ROME

NS. AND HER INSTITUTIO

HMM. YOU HAVE PROVED IT MANY TIMES.

BUT I KNOW NOTHING OF THE EMPIRE.

. WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND? THE GOVERNORSHIP OF GREECE

? GREECE

SE. THIS COMES AS A SURPRI

VERY WELL.

TO THE NEW GOVERNOR OF GREECE.

FATHER! [GROANS]

! FATHER

[GASPS, GRUNTS] FATHER!

[GROANS]

[BURRUS] WAIT!

[OCTAVIA GASPING] [BURRUS] LEAVE HIM!

LEAVE HIM!

[GRUNTS]

THE EMPEROR IS DEAD.

[SOBBING]

E. BURRUS, POST EXTRA GUARD S AROUND THE PALAC

NO ONE MUST ENTER OR LEAVE!

GUARDS!

TIGELLINUS! COME WITH ME.

MY LADY.

[SWORD SLICING] [GROANS]

GET OUT OF MY WAY.

IE. IF YOU RUN , YOU WILL D

YOU, ACTE AND YOUR MOTHER.

BRITANNICUS WOULD NEVER HURT ME.

L. PERHAPS NOT, BUT THE MEN WHO MAKE HIM EMPEROR WIL

OR THE CUTTHROAT WHO W INS THE CIVIL WAR.

AND THEN THOUSANDS WILL DIE. [SIGHS]

SEE? CAN'��T YOU

THIS...IS THE MOMENT

. WE HAVE WORKED FOR

] [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

PS. THE WORLD SLEE

N. MEN DREAM IN VAI

BUT TOMORROW, WHEN DAWN COMES,

Y. WE CAN MAKE OUR DREAM REALIT

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[PORRIDUS] WHAT'��S GOING ON?

HOW SHOULD I KNOW?

[PORRIDUS] WHERE'��S CLAUDIUS?

HAS SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HIM?

[SEPTIMUS] AH, CHORUS ADVANCES.

THE DRAMA BEGINS.

SENATORS,

KNIGHTS AND PEOPLE OF ROME.

CLAUDIUS,

YOUR EMPEROR, IS DEAD.

[LOUD MURMURING, SHOUTS]

A WEAKNESS OF HIS GREAT

AND GENEROUS HEART

HAS DEPRIVED ROME OF HER FATHER.

BUT IN HIS WISDOM,

HE DID NOT LEAVE US WITHOUT NAMING HIS SUCCESSOR.

A DESCENDANT OF THE DIVINE AUGUSTUS.

A MAN BELOVED OF THE SENATE...

AND THE PEOPLE--

LUCIUS CLAUDIUS NERO!

[CROWD CHANTING] NERO! NERO!

[CROWD CHEERING LOUDLY]

[CROWD CHANTING] NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO!

[CROWD CHEERING]

[CROWD CHANTING] NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO!

NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO!

NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO!

NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO! NERO!

[CHANTING FADES]

YOU CAN'��T IMAGINE HOW MANY TIMES I'��VE DREAMED OF THIS MOMENT.

NOW IT'��S HAPPENED.

YOU ARE THE EMPEROR, NERO.

[SHUDDERS]

???? [HUMMING]

[GASPS]

[NERO] IT'��S SO VAST.

. MM-HMM

AND THE GODS WILL ONLY HAVE TO ALLOW OUR STUPIDITY TO GO UNCHECKED

AND OUR EMPIRE WILL VANISH FROM THE EARTH.

LIKE WINE... SPILLED ON HOT ROCKS.

? WHAT MUST I DO

... UNLESS

L, THE THREAT TO OU R PROVINCES IS REA

WE MUST NOT TAKE MORE TERRITORY.

CLAUDIUS'�� GREAT VICTORY IN BRITANNIA

IS ACTUALLY A DANGEROU S FINANCIAL DEFEAT.

AND WE CANNOT WITHDRAW.

. OUR PROVINCES CLOSER TO HOME WILL THINK US WEAK

GREED IS THE GREAT EST THREAT WE FACE.

IN FACT, WE COULD CUT TAXES BY HALF,

IF WE ENSURE THE REVENUE REACHES THE TREASURY INTACT.

WE'��D NEED THE COOPERATIO N OF THE SENATE.

[LAUGHING]

NO!

SOMEONE MIGHT SEE.

LY] [GASPS MOCKING

OR? WHO? THE EMPER

G] [LAUGHIN

YOU'��RE STILL MY LUCIUS.

U. LUCIUS TO YO

D. NERO TO THE WORL

[LAUGHS]

DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW I'��M HERE?

CH. UNLESS SHE'��S LOSING HER TOU

WHAT WILL SHE DO?

AR. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FE

. LET HER BE

NO.

WHAT HARM CAN SHE DO?

.. SHE'��S A MILLSTONE.

T. ANCHORING HIM TO THE PAS

SHE LOVES HIM.

SHE LOVES WHAT HE WAS.

NOT WHAT HE CAN AND MUST BE.

AND HE WILL TRUST HER,

TAKE HER ADVICE.

OW WHO KNOWS WHAT DANGERS COULD GR

FROM THE SENTIMENTAL IDE AS OF AN IGNORANT CHILD.

WHEN FIRST LOVE DIES, IT MAIMS US ALL.

PERHAPS THEY ARE DESTINED TO BE TOGETHER.

WOULD ANYONE, SEEING YOU IN EXILE,

HAVE THOUGHT YOU DESTINED TO BE THE WIFE OF ONE EMPEROR

AND MOTHER OF A SECOND?

SHE CANNOT BE HIS WIFE . CAN YOU?

I KNOW WHAT'��S BEST FOR MY SON.

ER, AND YOU, TEACH

. YOU WILL DO WHATEVER I COMMAND

I SERVE THE EMPEROR, NOT YOU.

. I DON'��T LOVE YOU

I WON'��T GIVE YOU UP.

I CAN'��T DO THAT.

. YOU DESERVE A MAN THAT LOVES YOU

BUT I WANT YOU.

AND I DON'��T CARE IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE ELSE.

. I CARE

? WHY TORTURE BOTH OF US

.. OCTAVIA.

I WILL NOT LET Y OU WASTE YOUR LIFE.

WHETHER YOU WANT IT OR NOT, I WILL GIVE YO U A CHANCE TO BE HAPPY.

I...

OCTAVIA...

HAVING BORNE NEITHER SONS NOR DAUGHTERS

ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAULT OF STERILITY.

NG I ACCEPT THE CONSUL'��S RULI

TO ANNUL OUR MARRIAGE.

] [RING CLANKING

ALL BONDS BETWEEN US ARE DISSOLVED.

O. [OCTAVIA ] I HAVE T

YOU DON'��T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU WILL GO.

WHERE WILL YOU GO?

TER. IT DOESN'��T MAT

E. FAR FROM HER

NG] [WEEPI

LET ME COME WITH YOU.

NO.

NO. ROME COULD NEED YOU.

I'��LL MISS YOU. I'��LL MISS YOU.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

HOW COULD YOU LET MY SON CHOOSE A SLAVE GIRL OVER YOU?

U? YOU REALLY THINK YOU KNOW HIM, DON'��T YO

TIGELLINUS. GUARDS.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

GOOD EVENING.

? [SENATOR] WHO IS SHE

POPPAEA. TWO MARRIAGES, ONE DIVORCE, ONE FUNERAL.

E. [COUGHS] AH, NOT YOURS, I HOP

NOT YET.

I SEE SHE HAS PUT YOU ALREADY UNDER HER SPELL.

[SIGHS] SHE'S TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME.

I HOPE HE'S NOT FOOL ENOUGH TO PRESENT HER TODAY.

IT WOULD BE AN INSUFFERABLE INSULT.

HE CAN'T PRESENT HER AS A CONSORT.

NOT A FILTHY SLAVE.

HYPOCRITE.

THE FILTHIER, THE BETTER.

THAT'S WHAT I HEARD ABOUT YOU.

POPPAEA, IF I WERE YOU...

I WOULD LEARN TO TAME MY TONGUE

IF I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE IT ALONG WITH MY HEAD.

AND IF I WERE YOU,

I WOULDN'T CARE IF I LOST THEM BOTH.

BRITANNICUS,

. SON OF THE DIVINE CLAUDIUS

AND MY BROTHER.

THIS IS DOMITIA, HIS GRANDMOTHER.

YOU FORGET THAT WE KNOW EACH OTHER . YOU KNEW A SLAVE.

AN. I INTRODUCE A FREE WOM

HELLO.

S. I THOUGHT YOU WERE A FRIEND OF OCTAVIA'

E I AM A FRIEND TO ANYON

ART WHO HAS THE COURAGE TO FOLLOW THEIR OWN HE

S. AND DESPISE THE DISAPPROVAL OF HYPOCRITE

DO YOU THINK SHE MEANS IT?

E. OF COURS

AY ALL THE BEST LIA RS MEAN WHAT THEY S

T. UNTIL THEY'VE SAID I

YOU'RE EVEN MORE LOVELY THAN I REMEMBERED.

. YOUR SKIN IS PALER

RE. BETTER FOR BEING OUT OF THE SUN, I'M SU

AND YOUR...EYES...

SO FULL OF HOPE.

YES, THEY ARE.

[CROWD YELLING, CHEERING]

[GRUNTING]

[METAL CLANKING]

[YELLING, GRUNTING]

[CHEERING CONTINUES]

[GRUNTING CONTINUES]

AH!

[CROWD CHANTING] KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

FOLLOW HIM!

KILL! KILL! KILL!

T. NOW YOU SEE THE BEAS

[CHANTING STOPS]

. IF I ASKED FOR THEIR VOICES NOW..

? WHAT DO YOU TH INK THEY WOULD SAY

[CROWD] KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

PEOPLE OF ROME! [CHANTING STOPS]

I'M TALKING TO EACH ONE OF YOU!

. WHAT IF THIS MAN..

ER? WAS YOUR BROTH

WHAT IF THIS MAN WAS YOUR SON?

I SPARED THESE LIVES

BECAUSE I WANT NO BLOOD SPILLED TO HONOR MY NAME!

BUT YOU SHALL HAVE SPORT!

ONE HUNDRED DAYS OF GAMES!

[CROWD APPLAUDING]

WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THEM?

HE WILL.

IN SEVEN DAYS, I WILL INAUGURATE... THE NERONIA.

HE'S BUYING THEIR HEARTS!

A FESTIVAL OF COMPETITIONS IN GYMNASTICS, HORSEMANSHI P AND MUSIC.

NO BLOOD. HE'��S LOST THEM. [NERO] AND FROM MY OWN TREASURY...

N EVERY ROMAN CITIZE

00 WILL RECEIVE A GIFT OF 4

SESTERCES!

[CHUCKLES]

[CROWD CHEERING LOUDLY]

THE LAST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL SHALL BE THE GREATEST!

ON THAT DAY...

I WILL TAKE THIS WOMAN...

AS MY WIFE.

SHE IS NOT OF PATRICIAN BLOOD,

BUT SHE HAS THE VIRTUE, AND THE STRENGTH,

AND THE NOBILITY BRED INYOURBONES!

BECAUSE I'M NOT ONLY...

THE RULER OF AN EMPIRE,

BUT I'M THE EMPEROR OF ALL ROMANS!

[CROWD CHEERING]

KEEP BACK!

LEAVE HER.

JUNO PRONUBIA.

SHE WATCHES OVER ENGAGEMENTS.

NERO-- HE WATCHES OVER YOU.

LY] [MOANING PLEASURAB

[CROWD CHATTERIN G] [METAL CLANKING]

CLOSE YOUR EYES.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

BUT I CAN'T TAKE IT.

I INSIST.

YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME.

I'M THE FUTURE EMPRESS . [BOTH GIGGLING]

CONGRATULATIONS.

ACTE, THIS IS PAUL OF TARSUS.

TARSUS... IS A LONG WAY AWAY.

WHY ARE YOU IN ROME?

TO DELIVER A MESSAGE.

FOR WHOM?

. FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF ROME

S. I HAVE SOME GOOD NEW

[NERO] IT IS TIME TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES

THAT WILL ENSURE THE STRENGTH

AND CONTINUANCE OF THE EMPIRE.

I'M VERY GLAD THE EMPERO R HAS OUR STRENGTH UPPERMO ST IN HIS MIND.

ATE THEN YOU ADVOC

THAT WE BUILD UP THE LEGIONS AND INCREASE TAXES?

TH THE COST OF OUR EXISTING MILITARY STRENG

ALREADY EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM NET REVENUES

LEVIED ON THE PROVINCE S THEY OCCUPY.

NG] [CROWD MURMURI

PALLAS...IS IT?

DO YOU PRESUME TO INSTRU CT SENATORS AND KNIGHTS,

WHOSE FINANCIAL ACUMEN FAR EXCEEDS THAT

? OF A WRETCHED SLAVE TURNED GLORIFIED CLERK

PALLAS SPEAKS WITH MY PERMISSION!

BUT WE MUST MOVE OUR LEGIONS TO THE BORDERS

MOST THREATENED BY INVASION.

ES? AND WHAT WILL PREVENT REBELLION IN OTHER PROVINC

FAIR TAXATION...

WILL GARRISON THOSE PROVINCES MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN LEGIONS.

FAIR TAXATION?

YOU WANT TO LOWER TAXES?

BUT YOUR OWN..."CLER K" HAS TOLD YOU

S! THAT CURRENT REVENUE S FAIL TO MEET EXPENSE

GENTLEMEN,

I THANK THE GODS...

WE HAVE TWO...OR THREE...

HONEST PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS.

S. THE OTHERS APPOI NT CORRUPT OFFICIAL

BETWEEN THEM THEY FORGE RETURNS!

BARELY HALF...

OF WHAT IS COLLECTED REACHES ROME!

[SENATORS MURMURING DISAGREEMENT]

BUT THE GOVERNORS THEMSELVES KEEP LITTLE OF WHAT THEY STEAL.

.. FOR MOST OF IT MUST BE SENT IN TRIBUTE.

! TO THE POWERFUL MEN IN SENATE WHO LOBBIED FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS

[SENATORS GRUMBLING LOUDLY] THAT'��S A MONSTROUS ACCUSATION.

I WILL CREATE AN IMPERIAL COMMISSION

TO INVESTIGATE EVERY ASPECT OF TAX COLLECTION!

THEY WILL HAVE POWERS OF UNIVERSAL AUDIT

ST! AND POWERS OF ARRE

N. THE OFFICERS WILL BE IMPERIAL FREEDME

[SENATORS GRUMBLING LOUDLY]

... I ADJOURN THIS SESSION UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING

E. WHEN THE REFORMS WILL BE PUT TO A VOT

[SENATORS] NO! NO! NO! NO!

YOU GO TOO FAST.

I KNOW THE PENALTY OF HASTE.

YOUR FATHER DIED

LA. BECAUSE WE TRIED TO MOVE TOO QUICKLY AGAINST CALIGU

YOU'RE SO MUCH LIKE HIM.

I COULDN'T BEAR TO LOSE YOU AS WELL.

. I COULDN'T BEAR IT

EVERYTHING I D O IS FOR YOU.

. YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE PRICE I'VE PAID

I KNOW THE PRICE THAT OTHERS HAVE PAID.

NERO.

WOULD YOU MAKE THESE REFORMS AT ANY COST?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

IF YOU ANTAGONIZE THE SENATE,

YOU PUT US ALL AT RISK.

ACTE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

WHY CAN'T YOU?

M? SHE UNDERSTANDS NOTHING. WHY DON'��T YOU TRUST HI

DON'T EVER INTERRUPT ME AGAIN!

DO NOT TALK TO HER LIKE THAT!

IF YOU DON'T TRUST MY JUDGMENT,

THEN YOU HAVE TO TRUST SENECA'S.

R. YOU MADE HIM MY TUTO

YOU WANTED TO STAND AT THE EMPEROR'S SIDE AND CHANGE THE WORLD.

NOW YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

YOU CAN.

WE CAN.

PORRIDUS.

P-O DOUBLE-R...I-D-U-S.

[SENATORS LAUGHING]

] [COIN CLANKING

[COIN CLANKING] [SENATORS MURMURING]

I THOUGHT YOU OPPOSED ME, NOBLE SEPTIMUS.

I DO.

BUT IT MUST NOT BE SAID

THAT THE EMPEROR LEFT THE SENATE

WITHOUT A VOTE IN HIS FAVOR.

[SENATORS LAUGHING]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY.

G] [CRASHIN

, I EXERCISE MY IMPERIAL

TRIBUNAL AND CONSULAR POWERS!

THE PROPOSED REFORMS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED!

AND WHEN THE VOTING ROLL IS PUBLISHED,

. THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW..

. WHO HAS THEIR BEST INTEREST AT HEART

] [NERO LAUGHING

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'��RE CELEBRATI NG. I HEARD EVERYTHING.

PERHAPS AGRIPPINA'S RIGH T. ABOUT WHAT?

ARE YOU SURE IT'S SAFE TO MAKE SO MANY ENEMIES?

THE SENATE CANNOT MOVE AGAINST HIM.

THE PEOPLE WOULD TEAR THEM LIMB FROM LIMB.

AND WHEN THE VOTING ROLE IS PUBLISHED,

EVEN OLD PORRIDUS WILL BE RUPTURING HIMSELF IN HIS HASTE TO GIVE MONEY AWAY!

THE EMPEROR HAS CORNERED THEM

INTO AN ORGY OF INGRATIATION!

BUT IN SECRET?

IN SECRET THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY DO IN PUBLIC.

POSTURE. GOSSIP!

WHINE AND DO VERY LITTLE.

[CHUCKLES] YES, VERY LITTLE.

GENERAL GALBA, HE'��S THE ONLY MAN FOR US.

NS, GALBA DELIGHTS IN EXTORTIONS AND EXECUTIO

POWER AND PRETTY YOUNG BOYS.

IF WE ASK GALBA TO DELIVER US FROM NERO,

WHO WILL DELIVER ROME FROM GALBA?

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SECRET MEETING.

THE EMPEROR HAS NO SPIES. I DO.

I HAVE A WEAPON TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY SON.

GIVE ME TIME TO USE IT.

. CLAUDIUS' WILL

ING THE WILL MUST CONTAIN SOMETH

"��INCONVENIENT"�� O R IT WOULD HAVE BEEN READ AFTER THE FUNERAL.

HOW IS YOUNG BRITANNICUS?

T. WELL, I TRUS

WE HAVE A WEAPON OF OUR OWN.

GENERAL GALBA?

U-- HOW DID YO

SEPTIMUS,

PORRIDUS,

AND YOUR MOTHER.

A SECRET MEETING.

MY LORD, I CAN PUT ONE OF HER SLAVES TO TORTURE AND... NO!

LEAVE.

TIGELLINUS.

LET ME PASS. THE EMPEROR FORBIDS YOU TO APPROACH HIM.

YOU MUST LEAVE THE PALACE TODAY

AND ARE FORBIDDEN TO ENTER IT AGAIN,

UNLESS SUMMONED BY THE EMPEROR.

GUARDS!

T. HE'S TAKING MY ESCOR

GO, LADY, PLEASE.

OR YOU MAY SPEND ANOTHER TEN YEARS ALONE ON THAT ISLAND.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

YOU HAD TO DO IT.

YOU HAD NO CHOICE.

[TREMBLING, PANTING]

[CLAUDIUS] WHEN I DIE,

LET GRIEF SUFFICE.

I WANT NO DISAPPOINTMENT,

JEALOUSY, OR BITTERNESS.

I ENTRUST THE GUIDANCE OF THE EMPIRE TO BRITANNICUS.

AND I ASK NERO TO SUPPORT AND ADVISE HIM.

[WATER RUNNING]

NOBLE SENECA?

MY MISTRESS WISHES TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

. [WHISPERS] SHE WANTS YOU TO COME TO HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

. IT'S A VERY SERIOUS MATTER

YOU TOLD US YOU HAD DESTROYED THE WILL.

DO YOU TAKE ME FOR AN IMBECILE?

S SEPTIMUS AND HIS ALLIE

OR. WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HAIL BRITANNICU S AS THEIR NEW EMPER

A WEAKLING, A PUPPET.

HE'S EVERYTHING THEY COULD HOPE FOR.

YOU WOULDN'T DO IT...

DESTROY YOUR SON,

DESTROY YOUR DREAMS.

I HAVE NO SON.

I HAVE NO DREAMS.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

NO.

I WILL NOT BANISH YOU TO CORSICA.

EL. IT WILL BE SEEN AS A PUNISHMENT FOR BAD COUNS

E, TO FURTHER APPEASE THE SENAT

YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP THE REFORMS.

AND SHE WANTS TO BE HERE

AT THE PALACE

DE. BY YOUR SI

AND ACTE?

ACTE MUST LEAVE THE PALACE.

AND YOU CAN NEVER SEE HER AGAIN.

I KNEW IT.

HOW COULD SHE DO THIS TO ME?

THAT WITCH!

NERO! I BEG YOU.

REMEMBER,

ANGER IS DANGEROUS.

SS. ANGER IS MADNE

ANGER RISES IN THE SOUL OF MAN LIKE SMOKE AND THE TASTE THEREOF IS SWEETER THAN HONEY!

HOMER.

GE. SING, GODDESS. ACHILLES'�� RA

.. BLACK AND MURDEROUS.

THAT COST THE GREEKS IMMEASURABLE PAIN.

BRITANNICUS.

IS SHE INSANE?

SHE IS ANGRY.

AND BRITANNICU S IS HER WEAPON.

.. BUT.

HE GROWS WEAKER.

S. THE GODS MAY TAKE HI M BEFORE HE CAN HARM U

SO, I, THE SON

US OF THE DIVINE CLAUDI

? CAN PRESUME TO ASSIST THE GODS

AS A POLITICIAN...

I CAN SEE NO OTHER WAY.

AS A MAN, I COULD NEVER DO IT.

ER? SO, TO SAVE MY TITLE I MUST MURDER MY BROTH

IS THAT IT?

?? FATHER ??

?? ME THINKS I SEE ??

?? THE STRANGER ??

?? ALONE HE COMES ??

?? WEEPING ??

??? ?? IN THE EVERLASTING SNOW ?

I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT TEACH ME THAT.

NOT THIS MUSIC.

HAVE YOU BEEN AWAKE ALL NIGHT?

WHAT'S WRONG?

LET ME HELP.

PLEASE.

IF THE WELFARE...

... OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

E, DEPENDED ON YOU SACRIFICING YOUR LIF

WOULD YOU DO IT?

FOR THOUSANDS, YES.

EVEN FOR ONE.

... AND IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A LIFE

S? TO SAVE THOUSAND

WHOSE LIFE DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE?

WHAT HAS HE DONE?

IS HE A MURDERER?

MANY WILL DIE IF HE LIVES.

UNTIL HE DOES WRONG, THEN HE CAN'T BE PUNISHED.

LUCIUS.

YOU ARE EMPEROR NOW.

THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY.

[SIGHS]

WHO WANTS YOU TO DO THIS?

SENECA?

YOUR MOTHER?

YOU PROMISED.

YOU PROMISED ALL OF US A BETTER WORLD.

[DOMITIA] MY DEAREST OCTAVIA,

I WISH I COULD SPARE YOU THE PAIN

THIS LETTER WILL BRING,

BUT I'��M AFRAID I HAVE BAD NEWS.

NERO WILL MARRY ACTE IN MAY.

I'M SO SORRY.

AND SOME FOR YOU.

[GASPS] ACTE!

YOU LOOK WELL.

I TURN MY BACK AND SUDDENL Y YOU HAVE A FAMILY.

CHILDREN FROM THE SUBURRA.

ORPHANS. THEY'��RE MY CHILDREN NOW.

. EVERY TIME WE MEET, YOU OFFER ME SOMETHING

RTIA. NEXT TIME IT'��S MY TURN, MA

US? BRITANNICUS, WILL YOU JOIN

O TO NER

TE, AND AC

ESS ALL THE HAPPIN

THEY DESERVE.

MY SISTER IS DEAD.

[GROANS]

OCTAVIA...

IS DEAD.

HOW?

SUICIDE.

DROWNED.

WHEN SHE FOUND OUT YOU WERE GETTING MARRIED.

THEY'VE BURNED HER.

I WISH YOU WERE DEAD.

BOTH OF YOU.

] [DOOR SLIDING OPEN

[APPLAUSE]

[GAGGING]

[GRUNTING, CHOKING]

NG] [BRITANNICUS GASPI

[GRUNTING]

[GASPING STOPS]

AD. YOUR BROTHER IS DE

IT SEEMS THE GODS HAVE TAKEN HIM.

[GROANS] FINISH YOUR WORK.

DO IT!

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[SOBS]

DO YOU HEAR THE GODS'�� ANGER?

. [NERO] IT'S NOT ANGER

R. IT'S LAUGHTE

TAKE HER AWAY FROM HERE.

[GROANS]

[THUNDER CONTINUES]

WAS IT HIM?

WAS IT BRITANNIC US WHO HAD TO DIE

FOR THE GOOD OF THE EMPIR E? NO.

LUCIUS.

DOMITIA'S GRIEF IS INTOLERABLE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT

TO LOSE BOTH GRANDCHILDREN--

SHE'S WRONG.

SHE'S WRONG.

IT WAS THE FALLING SICKNESS.

TELL ME YOU DIDN 'T HAVE HIM KILLED.

I DIDN'T, NO.

SWEAR IT.

SWEAR IT!

[SCREAMING] I SWEAR IT!

[SHUDDERING]

I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO.

[TREMBLING ] LET ME GO.

EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE--

EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE, I HAVE DONE FOR US.

NO! DON'��T. DON'��T PUT BLOOD ON MY HANDS!

YOU CAN'T LEAVE! YOU LOVE ME.

? HOW CAN I LOVE AN ASSASSIN

R? HOW CAN I LOVE A LIA

I SAVED OUR LIVES.

ACTE!

[THUNDERCLAP]

ACTE?

ACTE?

ACTE?

ACTE.

MOTHER.

HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?

ACTE HAS GONE.

TH. SO NOW YOU KNOW WHAT THE LOVE OF A SLAVE IS WOR

WHERE IS SENECA?

HE IS HERE.

AND YOU CANNOT FORCE ME TO BANISH HIM.

BECAUSE BRITANNICUS IS DEAD?

CLAUDIUS' WILL IS WORTHLESS NOW.

I HAD THE WILL,

BUT IT WAS IN ASHES BEFO RE I THREATENED TO USE IT.

OU? HOW COULD YOU BELIEVE I WOULD EVER REALLY HURT Y

YOU HAD TO LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EMPEROR.

AND NOW YOU'RE SAFE.

H. I KNEW YOU COULD FIND THE STRENGT

DY. NOW YOU'RE REA

MY SON.

[CHICKENS CACKLING] [ANIMALS BRAYING]

HOW COULD HE DO IT?

KILL HIS BROTHER?

LUCIUS IS NOT A MURDERER.

HE ASKED MY ADVICE,

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE HE--

I SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING.

I SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD!

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

I TRUSTED HIM.

PERHAPS MY FATHER WAS RIGHT.

I SHOULD NEVER HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIM.

LOVE IS NOT A QUESTION OF CHOICE.

TRUE LOVE IS ABSOLUTE.

STRONG ENOUGH EVEN

TO SURVIVE HATE.

GOD MADE US IN HIS OWN IMAGE.

HIS LOVE IS OURS.

A LOVE THAT ALWAYS... PROTECTS.

ALWAYS TRUSTS,

ALWAYS HOPES,

ALWAYS...PERSEVERES.

[WHIMPERING]

E. SHE IS SUFFOCATING M

YOU MUST ENDURE ILLS WHICH HAVE NO REMEDY.

AND WORK TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY!

I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH.

I KNOW THAT WITHOUT ACTE IT WILL BE HARD.

FIND THE DESIRE TO CARRY ON, AND YOU WILL FIND THE STRENGTH.

WHEN DESTINY FACES US WITH CHALLENGES,

IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD THAT WE LOSE CONFIDENCE.

NO, THEY ARE HARD BECAUSE WE LACK CONFIDENCE.

"WE MUST QUIT OURSELVES LIKE MEN AND CHAMPION OUR CAUSE."

D." "ALTHOUGH WE ARE BUT T WO, GREAT IS THE STRENGTH OF FEEBLE ARMS COMBINE

YOUR POSITION HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER.

YOUR POWER IS UNCHALLENGED.

[SHOUTS] UNCHALLENGED?

... HOW CAN WE REBUILD THE EMPIRE

KS? WITH A HARPY TEARING AT OUR BAC

SHE WANTS TO TAKE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING.

ONLY...

AN EMPEROR WHO IS MASTER OF HIMSELF

CAN MASTER AN EMPIRE.

AND AS LONG

AS MY MOTHER

DRAWS BREATH,

HOW CAN WE ASPIRE TO ANYTHING?

I WISH SHE WAS DEAD!

CALL HIM BACK.

NERO! CALL HIM BACK!

CALL HIM BACK!

MOTHER.

SO,

IT'��S TO BE YOU, TIGELLINUS.

THIS WAS FORETOLD.

NS. I DON'T BELIEVE IN OME

STRIKE THE WOMB THAT BORE HIM.

[SWORD SLICES] [GROANS]

[SIZZLING]

[CRYING]

SHE WANTED YOU TO HAVE THIS.

LEAVE ME.

[CLANGING]

! TIGELLINUS! TIGELLINUS

FIND ACTE.

START AT THE HOUSE OF ETIUS.

IF SHE IS NOT THERE,

LOOK EVERYWHERE.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

D? DO YOU UNDERSTAN

RD. BRING HER TO ME! YES, MY LO

[CROWD SCREAMING]

VE! OUT OF THE WAY! MO

[ETIUS] WE ARE HELPING A LOT OF CHILDREN FROM THE STREETS.

S. MOST OF THEM ARE ORPHANS OR ABANDONED BY THEIR PARENT

. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHRIST'S MESSAGE

ED. MANY WANT TO BE BAPTIZ

[YOUNG ACTE'��S VOICE] DADDY, MAKE A FUNNY FACE.

[GRUNTING]

[GIGGLES]

[HISSES]

[SCREAMING IN THE DISTANCE]

[DOOR CRASHING OPEN]

ARE YOU ETIUS?

YOU?

I'M ETIUS. THIS IS MY HOUSE.

THE EMPEROR'S CONCUBINE, WHERE IS SHE?

I DON'T KNOW. OH.

] [GRUNTS, MOANS

] [GASPS

ACTE.

IS SHE HERE, HUH?

NG] [MOANI

G] [KICKS LANDING] [GRUNTIN

! NO

I'LL DO IT!

GO AHEAD. AS FAR AS I'��M CONCERNED, YOU'��RE NOT A GREAT LOSS.

NERO WILL NEVER BELIEV E I KILLED MYSELF.

HE'LL BLAME YOU.

WILL YOU LOSE YOUR HEAD? OR WILL YOU BE CRUCIFIED?

T? AM I WORTH I

ME! TELL HIM YOU COULDN'T FIND

EANS. TELL HIM I'VE GONE TO GREECE, ALONE. HE'��LL KNOW WHAT IT M

NOW GET OUT!

NERO WILL FIND SOMEONE ELSE. I'��LL MAKE SURE OF THAT.

GET OUT!

[SCREAMING LOUDL Y] GET OUT!

MY LORD,

I COULDN'T FIND HER.

. SOMEONE TOLD ME SHE HAS GONE TO GREECE

CE, EMPEROR, IN ALL MY EXPERIEN

I'VE LEARNED THAT YOU CAN NEVE R TRUST THE FEELINGS OF A SLAVE.

ESPECIALLY A FEMALE.

[WEEPING SOFTLY]

-- IF YOU NEED ANYTHING

[DOOR OPENING, CLOSING]

ORT. ONCE AN EMPEROR'��S CONS

NOW AN EMPRESS OF DESPAIR.

S. NERO'S FALLI NG INTO DARKNES

. BUT WE ARE ALL FREE TO MOVE INTO THE LIGHT

I STILL LOVE HIM.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S LOST.

IM? YOU WANT TO SAVE H

YES, I DO.

ACTE.

[SIGHS]

DESPAIR IS A SIN OF PRIDE.

CAN WE KNOW THE MIND OF GOD?

DO WE KNOW HIS PURPOSE?

.. HE TRIES US.

AND HIS TRIALS ARE HARD.

. SOMETIMES GOD LEADS US INT O VALLEYS OF PROFOUND SHADOW

THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN HIM

ARE BROUGHT SAFELY THROUGH THE DARKNESS.

TH, FOR WE WALK BY FAI

HT. NOT BY SIG

THEN WHAT SHOULD I DO?

OW. I DON'T KN

ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU.

PRAY.

MARTIA.

[NERO] POPPAEA.

MAY I JOIN YOU?

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?

AFRAID OF WHAT IT MIGHT BECOME.

NO.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING BETTER.

PT. A CORDIAL FROM EGY

IT CONVINCED THE PHARA OHS THEY WERE GODS.

[SIGHS]

???? [EGYPTIAN]

] [NERO LAUGHING

G] [GIGGLIN

THE SENATE EXPECTS YOUR DIRECTION ON THE NEW LAWS

REGARDING THE MANUMISSION OF SLAVES.

DO YOU REALLY WANT ME TO GIVE THEM THIS?

OF COURSE.

YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS?

OH, YES, I AM.

[BURRUS COUGHS]

THE SENATE HAS COMMANDED TO ATTEND THE WEDDING.

WE SHALL ALSO BE ASK ED TO DANCE

TS. AND TO TAKE PART IN MOCK GLADIATORIAL COMBA

HE MEANS IT, DOESN'��T HE?

HE'��S INTOXICATED.

HE'��S LOST HIMSELF.

S! TELL HIM HE CAN'��T DO THI

I TRIED.

I'��VE FAILED HIM.

HE--

[BURRUS COUGHS]

I CANNOT HELP HIM NOW.

THEN...THE MOMENT HAS COME.

PORRIDUS--

BURRUS.

YWAY. [BURRUS] I'��M DYING AN

ME, FOR THE GOOD OF RO

PLEASE...

NO MORE KILLING.

IT IS TIME TO GO.

CLAUDIA, PLEASE TAKE T HIS TO THE PALACE.

HAVEN'��T YOU SUFFERED ENOUGH?

. PLEASE

[CLAUDIA SIGHS]

. [NERO] SENECA

SENECA TOO?

NE. MORE THAN ANYO

LEAVE ME.

[BRISTLES] LEAVE ME.

[WIND GUSTING]

ACTE.

LUCIUS.

I'��VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH.

COME BACK TO ME.

COME BACK TO ME, PLEASE.

I'��M SO SORRY.

AND I'��M ASHAMED.

I'��M ASHAMED OF WHAT I'��VE DONE

AND WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

HAVE TO? THERE'��S ALW AYS ANOTHER CHOICE.

? YOU DON'��T UNDERSTAND. DO YOU

HELP ME.

HELP ME.

F. HELP YOURSEL

ACTE?

LF? HOW CAN I HELP YOU IF YOU WON'��T HELP YOURSE

WHAT MUST I DO?

CE. MAKE A SACRIFI

ANOTHER SACRIFICE?

OD. IT'��S FOR YOUR OWN GO

YOU SOUND LIKE MY MOTHER.

D. SACRIFICE A DREAM YOU'��VE ALREADY BETRAYE

NO.

I CAN STILL CHANGE THE WORLD.

YOU CAN'��T!

. BUT WE CAN BE TOGETHER

D. BUT NOT IN THE PALACE, NOT WHERE YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE MURDERE

TH. YOU MUST ABANDON EVERYTHING BOUGHT WITH DEA

[SOFTLY] LUCIUS.

ME. COME WITH

D. LEAVE NERO BEHIN

I CAN'��T.

[CROWD CHEERING]

PORRIDUS?

[SEPTIMUS GASPS]

[CROWD CHEERING]

? WHY AREN'��T YOU AT THE FEAST

PITY, IT DOESN'��T SHOW THE WAY TO HADES.

THAT PART IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY MAN.

NEVER MIND.

SEPTIMUS AND PORRIDUS WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

TIGELLINUS SENT THEM ON AHEAD.

IT'��S REMARKABLE,

ISN'��T IT?

THAT THE MAN WHO MURDERED MY FATHER

SHOULD BECOME MY ONLY LOYAL FRIEND.

[SOFTLY] WHY DID YOU BETRAY ME?

WHY DID YOU BETRAY OUR WORK?

OUR WORK...

IS AT AN END.

MINE IS JUST BEGINNING.

A PRESENT TO MARK OUR PARTING.

[GASPS]

OH.

RESOLVE TO DIE A STOIC.

WHY FEAR DEATH?

DEATH...IS JUST OBLIVION.

THE WISE MAN TAKES JOY IN THE LIFE HE HAS LIVED

BUT IS NEVER RELUCTANT TO LOSE IT,

AND ESCAPES NECESSITY BECAUSE HE WILLS

WHAT NECESSITY IS GOING TO FORCE UPON HIM.

[PANTS]

I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

AND OF THE SON

AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

[ETIUS] AMEN.

I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

AND OF THE SON

AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

[ETIUS] AMEN.

I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

AND OF THE SON

AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

[ETIUS] AMEN.

ED. I'��VE TRI

I'��VE PRAYED.

. BUT HE DOESN'T HEAR ME

WHICH IS WHY WE NEED FAITH.

TAKE A STEP CLOSER TO HIM.

I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

AND OF THE SON

. AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

DOMITIA.

THEY SAID YOU WERE DEAD.

I HOPED IT WAS TRUE.

I NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS.

I MEANT NO HARM TO OCTAV IA OR BRITANNICUS.

.. IF I HAD BEEN WISER, IF I HAD KNOWN WHAT.

ES. WE BOTH ACCUSE OURSELV

M. BUT NEITHER OF US COULD HAVE SAVED THE

WE ASK FORGIVENE SS OF THE DEAD.

AD PERHAPS...THE DE

. WOULD ASK US TO FORGIVE OURSELVES..

. AND EACH OTHER

[ACTE WEEPS]

[PANTING]

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

[ACTE] MARTIA!

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[BABY CRYING]

CAN YOU LOOK AFTER HIM?

[SCREAMS]

[ETIUS] GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, QUICK! QUICK! MOVE! MOVE!

[MAN COUGHS, GASPS]

OH, LORD, I'��VE HEARD YOUR VOIC I AM AFRAID.

IN THE MIDST OF WRATH

REMEMBER MERCY.

COME HERE. THIS WAY! THIS WAY ! COME!

COME!

CLAUDIA!

CLAUDIA, HAVE YOU SEEN MARTIA?

ER. NO, I HAVEN'��T SEEN H

NO, NO, NO. YOU CAN'��T GO. IT'��S TOO DANGEROUS.

BUT SHE MIGHT HAVE COME HERE! ACTE!

MARTIA!

[SOFTLY] MARTIA.

[GASPS]

] [ACTE, PANTING

[PAUL, SOFTLY] OH, LORD,

YOU HAVE MADE IT KNOWN

THAT I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

WHO HAS ABOLISHED DEATH

AND STRENGTHENS ME.

SHOW ME AGAIN

THE BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR GLORY.

BRING HER BACK . LET THIS CHILD BE

A LIGHT TO ANOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN.

ER. [ACTE] SAVE H

ER. SAVE H

SAVE HER.

SAVE HER. SAVE HER.

ER. SAVE H

YOU...

WHO ARE ABLE TO GIVE ABUNDANTLY...

EXCEEDING ALL THAT

WE ASK OR THINK...

TO YOU BE THE GLORY

THROUGHOUT ALL AGES.

AMEN.

ACTE...

DON'��T STAY HERE.

MARTIA?

[GASPS]

ONLY FOUR OF THE 14 DISTRICTS REMAIN UNDAMAGED.

THREE DISTRICTS ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO DRAW UP AN ESTIMATE OF DEAD.

Y. ROME MUST BE REBUILT TO REFLECT ITS TRUE GLOR

. OUR HOUSES WILL BE PALACES

AND OUR PALACE S FIT FOR GODS.

... AND AT THE HEART OF IT ALL

THE DOMUS AUREA.

AROUND THIS LAKE, VINEYARDS,

PASTURES AND WOODLANDS.

RE EVERY VARIETY OF WILD CREATU

WILL ROAM FREELY.

WALLS INLAID WITH GOLD

AND STUDDED WITH PRECIOUS STONES.

THE ROOF WILL REVOLVE

SLOWLY...

HARMONIZED WITH THE MOVEMENT

OF THE CELESTIAL BODIES.

BUT HOW WILL YOU HOUSE YOUR PEOPLE?

[SCREAMING] THE MONEY WILL BE FOUND!

MY DREAM WILL BECOME REALITY.

ROME WILL BE PERFECT.

IF YOU BUILD THIS,

SOME OF THE PEOPLE MAY BELIEVE

THE FIRES WERE STARTED ON YOUR ORDERS.

FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.

START ANOTHER RUMOR, MY LORD.

SOME PEOPLE MISTRUST THE CHRISTIANS.

THEIR PROFIT PREACH CHARITY AND PEACE,

BUT PRACTICE VIOLENCE,

EVEN IN THE TEMPLE OF HIS OWN PEOPLE.

THEN IT MUST HAVE BE EN THE CHRISTIANS.

THIS IS MY BODY

WHICH IS FOR YOU.

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

[DOOR CRASHES OPEN]

[CONGREGANTS SCREAMING]

[GASPS]

?? LET THIS ??

? ?? THAT IS LEFT OF MY SOUL ?

?? WHATEVER IT BE ??

?? LET THIS AT LEAST ??

?? YE LOVES ??

?? HAVE REST ??

?? FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE ????

[BOTH LAUGH]

[POPPAEA SCREAMS]

SHH! HELP!

PLEASE!

PLEASE! SOMEONE! SOMEONE, HELP!

NG] SHE'��S CARRYING MY CHILD! [CROWD MURMURI

ED. PERHAPS SHE CAN BE SAV

T. THERE'��S A CHRISTIAN PROPHE

. THEY SAY HE CAN RESURRECT THE DEAD

US. [NERO] LEAVE

SHOW ME THE POWER OF YOUR GOD.

I CANN OT. LIAR!

ORD ONLY OUR L

IS ABLE TO PERFORM MIRACLES.

NT. I AM NOTHING M ORE THAN HIS SERVA

ME. [SOFTLY] BRING HER BACK TO

I WILL BUILD TEMPLES TO YOUR GOD

IN EVERY CITY OF THE WORLD!

I WILL WORSHIP AT HIS ALTAR.

[SOFTLY] PLEASE.

NO, THIS IS NO T GOD'��S WILL.

YOU WILL DIE!

D YOU CAN ASK ANYTHING OF GO

BUT YOU MUST DO IT WITH A PURE HEART.

D, IF YOUR HEART IS HAR

OD. YOU CANNOT ASK FOR THE MERCY OF G

YOUR PEOPLE WILL DIE.

THERE WILL BE SUFFERING BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION!

DS. THAT IS IN GOD'��S HAN

NO.

IT'��S IN MINE.

RE. I WAS AS YOU A

. I PERSECUTED THE CHILDREN OF CHRIST

I SINNED IN MY PRIDE AND VANITY, AND YET EVEN I WAS SAVED.

IT WAS YOU THE LOR D SENT ME TO SAVE.

I TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

TODAY...

YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.

LYRE] ???? [

A CHRISTIAN WOMAN IS HERE TO SEE YOU.

I THINK SHE HAS COME TO BEG YOUR MERCY.

COME.

SPARE PAUL OF TARSUS, LUCIUS.

SPARE THEM ALL.

LET THEIR GOD SAVE THEM, IF HE WILL. [CHUCKLES]

THEY ARE ALREADY SAVED.

I AM LOST.

NOT LOST.

ALONE.

I WILL COME BACK TO YOU.

AND YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE ME.

NEVER.

YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN.

NO ONE IS BEYOND REDEMPTION.

[WHISPERS] NO ONE.

[SHOUTING] YOU WOULD BETRAY ME AGAIN!

LUCIUS, PLEASE-- NERO!

PLEASE. GET HER OUT OF HERE!

GET HER OUT!

I AM A CHRISTIAN.

YOU MUST CONDEMN ME WITH THE OTHERS.

, [NERO] TIGELLINUS

I FIND THIS SLAVE GUILTY OF TREASON!

AND I SENTENCE HER TO FREEDOM AND TO LIFE!

[YELLS]

W! BACK TO WORK. NO

NOW!

IT'��S NOTHING WE HAVEN' ��T SEEN BEFORE.

[TIGELLINUS] GENERAL GALBA.

S. ROME IS YOUR

ED, AS WE AGRE

I DELIVERED THE SUPPOR T OF THE PRAETORIANS.

, IN RETURN, YOU WILL NEVER

SS. NEVER INTERFER E WITH MY BUSINE

IS THAT CLEAR?

WHERE IS NERO?

NERO!

CHECK IN THERE.

[SHOUTING] NERO!

[INDISTINCT, ANGRY SHOUTS]

CAN YOU CARRY THIS?

ER. GO BACK HOME. TAKE CARE OF YOUR SIST

CTE. DON'��T WORRY, A

[SIGHS]

[KNIFE SLICE S] [GASPS]

[SIGHS]

[KNIFE SLICES]

[SHUDDERING]

TE. AC

FORGIVE ME.

YES, MY LUCIUS.

I FORGIVE YOU.

I FORGIVE YOU.

LUCIUS,

WE ARE ALL FORGIVEN.

[GASPING]

[ACTE, NARRATING] NERO HAD A DREAM OF ROME.

A DREAM OF A BETTER WORLD.

HE DID NOT START THE FIRE,

BUT THE FIRE IN HIS SOUL CONSUMED HIM.

LET US FORGIVE HIM

AS WE HOPE TO BE FORGIVEN.