"It's quite good, but they are far more handsome in real life." "What are you doing?" "Sorry, sir." "Sorry, sir." "Just taking your likeness, sir." "Taking my likeness?" "What do you mean?" "Speak, thief!" "Sir, Aventine Cloth Dyers Association are paying me to do a mural of you and Lucius Vorenus in the arena, sir." "Explain yourself." "Why would anybody do that?" "Why, sir?" "You're famous, sir." "There's paintings of you all over." "Not good accurate ones like I'm gonna do, sir." " Famous?" " Certainly." " Me?" " The whole city loves you, sir." "You and Magistrate Vorenus are symbols of brotherly love and redemption." "If you were in Rome today, I doubt there's a lady in the city wouldn't open her doors for the mighty Titus Pullo." " Would you let me go, please, sir?" " Hmm?" "Oh." "Hmm." "Beautiful, hmm?" "We own all of it, as far as the river." "Lovely." "Best get used to it." "Caesar might well exile me from the city." " Just for saving Pullo?" " We'll live off the land like peasants." " He wouldn't be so mean." " He might do far worse." " Like what?" " Nothing." "I'm joking." "I don't suppose we can lay down a blanket." "I shouldn't think so." "Well, if we ever do this again," "I'm not wearing my best." "Too soft, you city girls." "Hush you, I'm down here, aren't I?" "Get on with it before I die of cold." "How long like this?" "Um, till the priest rings his bell." "Juno help me." " It's good earth, this." " It's wet earth." "Dark, loamy, not much clay." "You can grow anything in soil like this." "Where should we build the farmhouse?" "That ridge over there." "Close to the water and wood, good command of the valley." "In case we get attacked by Gauls?" "You never know." "You're meant to be pretending." "I am." "You're not." "Shh shh." "Come to Papa." "Bitch." "Well, how was the farm?" "Oh, Clarissa, wait till you see it." "It's beautiful." "Oh, it's very fine, I'm sure." "What's wrong?" " You'll never guess." " We'll never guess." " Pullo ran away from the hospital." " What?" "Some carters found him lying half dead by the Appian." " He asked to be brought here." " Here?" "He's inside." "Gods beneath us." "He should not have been on his feet, never mind on a horse." "All his wounds have opened up, fresh as flowers." " Poor stupid thing." " I've given him henbane to dull the pain and immobilize him." "If by any chance he lives, he shouldn't move on any account for at least 10 days and nights." "I'll send him back to the country as soon as he is mobile." "He won't cause any trouble, not like this." "Like old times." "Pullo." "Lucius Vorenus, sir." "What are you doing here?" " Where am I?" " Rome, in my house." "You should be in the hospital at Avernum." "And miss all the fun?" "Why am I tied up..." "What fun is that?" "We're famous, aren't we?" "Heroes." "Songs, plays, pictures on walls, eh?" "Damn foolish fuss." "What of it?" "You are a slow one, aren't you?" "Women." "They like nothing better than a man with a big name." "Please." "You are lucky to be breathing." "Even if you survive your wounds, Caesar will probably throw you back in the arena, and me with you." "Do you think he'll do that?" "Throw us back in?" "I'll find out tomorrow." "I've been summoned." "Oh." ""Women," he says." "If you took a woman now, you'd come apart like an old sack." "Ow!" "Just like old times." "I don't mind." "It's good to hear your father laughing for a change." "Eirene, it's good to see you." "Fair enough." "If you can't do it, that's all right too." "Eirene," " what are you doing?" " Nothing." "Nothing." "Don't lie." "What's that in your hand?" "We were just talking." " Talking?" " Catching up." "You fool!" "What if you killed him?" "What then?" "Everybody would know it was you." "A freedwoman who killed her old master... very nice!" "And where would you go, hmm?" " What would you do with yourself?" " She has a point." "Go to bed." "We'll say no more of this." "She's looking well." "Good night, Pullo." "Juno protect you." "Don't worry." "I can't keep Caesar waiting." "Eirene, when you finish that, check on Pullo's dressings" " and change them if need be." " Me?" "You." "And feed him some porridge." "Thank you." "As of this day, the Kalends of February, our beloved father dictator..." "Gaius Julius Caesar has decreed that 100 new men be raised to the Senate of the Republic." "The third day before Nones, a public banquet will be held to celebrate those senators." "Slaves and freedmen are not eligible." "Any repetition of recent disorders will be punished with severity." "I shall divert the river here, you see, by digging a canal to the Vatican hills." "Splendid." "You shall divert the river." "Splendid and useful, I have no doubt." "Indeed." "It will prevent flooding and give easier access to the Fields of Mars." "And on the reclaimed land I shall build new civic offices for the courts." "I shall also construct a temple to Venus Birthgiver." "Another temple..." "excellent." "But if we might for the moment speak of this expansion of the Senate?" " We might." " Ah." "Gauls and Celts, old boy." "Long-haired Gauls and blue-faced Celts." "You're joking, of course." "He is not joking." "Gauls and Celts?" "In the Senate?" "From the tribes that have served Rome longest," " the best of their nobility." " I'm astonished." "Good." "Astonishment is my intent." "Ah, here comes the hero of the hour." "What, no wreath of oak leaves?" "Shh." "Well now, Vorenus, what am I to do with you?" "Defying my express orders, you dared interfere in a legally sanctioned execution... an act of gross criminality and disobedience." "I humbly apologize, sir." "I have no excuse." "You present me with a dilemma." "By right, I could have you thrown off the Tarpeian rock." "But the people, simple souls that they are, have made great heroes out of you and Pullo." "If I were to punish you, the people would be made extremely angry." "I do not wish to make the people angry, ergo, I cannot punish you." "If I cannot punish you, I must reward you, else I shall seem weak." "Listen to this now, Cicero." "By popular acclaim," "I shall name Lucius Vorenus a Senator of Rome." "Good, eh?" "Now you're all astonished." "Vorenus, you look like you've seen the Gorgon." "Excuse me, sir," "I'm stunned." "What do you say?" "Will you speak for your people in the Senate?" "I'd be honored to do so, if you think me worthy." "There's none worthier." "You shall make an excellent senator." "Very touching." "For the first few weeks, you will stay close by me." " Learn the drill." " Thank you, sir." "Forgive me, but really I must, as a friend..." "I must protest!" "A lowly pleb in the Senate?" "That's going too far." "No offense to you, Vorenus." "I do not wish to jump in any arenas, Cicero." "I must please the people in some other fashion." "Build yet another temple." "Kill someone." "The people are easy to please." " Not this." " I wish the Senate to be made of the best men in Italy, not just the richest old men in Rome." "An intriguing notion." "You'll make a lot of men very angry with your Gauls and your Celts and your plebs and such." "I'll have to double your guard." "That's what I told him." "Will he listen?" "Guards can keep my enemies away." "They can do nothing" " about my friends." " You don't mean me, do you?" "I can assure you, I have no ill intentions." "I know." "Not that you were not perfectly capable" " of any manner of wickedness." " Thank you." "But if you were going to betray me, you would have done it long ago." "Don't think I wasn't tempted." "So, no more guards then." "You will trust Fortune." " Very good." "Very pious." " Stop your grizzling, you old woman." "Who will dare raise a hand to me with the ferocious Lucius Vorenus at my side?" "Ah." "Clever." "All these years together, and it still surprises you" "I can tie my sandals." "Sleep sound, little man." "Your mother and I have been thinking about finding you that husband." "Hmm?" "A senator's daughter cannot be running around unattached." "Oh, there's no hurry." "Don't worry, we'll find you a good rich old man you can wrap around your little finger." "Beauty like you can have your pick." "I told you, I don't want a rich old man." "Of course you do." "Just think of all those fine dresses and jewels and slaves you'll have." "I don't care about such trivial things." "Trivial?" "When I was your age," "I had to eat bones from the gutter." "Dresses and jewels are not trivial." "They show others that your people are rich and powerful and that you are loved and protected and valued." "But I want to marry someone I love." "Love doesn't come unbidden, you have to work for her." "Strange marriage it would be if you loved him from the start." "That's right." "It takes a while." "Now you be a good virtuous wife, and love will come." "Your mother and I, we had our troubles, didn't we?" " Look at us now." " Happy as you like." "I suppose." "So... a good rich old man it is then." "Hmm?" "I was about to wake you." "Wherever you were, you were not enjoying yourself." "It was another dream of omens." "You're becoming quite the oracle." "Shall I send for some willow water?" " You'll sleep better." " I was in the country." "Please, I have had such dreams for years." "Bloody rain, black dogs, hooded ferrymen..." "for years." "Here I am, still alive and well." "I've never had such dreams before now." "What am I to do?" "Should I quit Rome and hide because you have bad dreams?" "Why not?" "I'm serious." "Are you not weary of this toil?" "I am." "I am extremely weary." "But there is much more to be done," "I'm afraid." "Much more." "There's always more to be done." "To what end?" "What end?" "Good question." "I shall ask Posca." "Go to sleep, my dear." "Ancestors of the Junii, we ask for your blessing on this man of your blood." "Let his arm be strong." "Let his aim be true." "Let his heart be filled with sacred rage." "Good boy." "Hello." "Hello." "Hey, Venus," "I have a question for you." "Guess who I am." "Thanks very much." "It was nice to meet you." "I can manage from here." "Wait." "So, where is everybody?" "I'm sure I saw that one selling fish in the Forum." "At least he's Roman." "A good Roman fishmonger is a fine nobleman compared to some of these Belgian and Celts that call themselves chiefs." "There's one over there with earrings." "It's good to see you." "It's the end, eh?" "The Gauls have invaded." "Well, don't be so glum." "They will return to their ghastly mountain hovels soon enough." "Caesar will only summon them back when he needs their support for some fresh outrage." "The red man shadowing Caesar is the famous Lucius Vorenus, one assumes." " Indeed." " Affectionate, aren't they?" "Might be father and son." "Caesar would have the humble people think so." "He keeps the wretched man by his side constantly." "This beast of the fields is a Senator of Rome!" "Do not fret so, Casca." "We timid subjects of King Caesar must learn to be tolerant, hmm?" "I believe I shall go home and stupefy myself with wine." "Good day to you all." "Old fool." "He knows, I'm sure of it." "He knows." "You saw how he looked at us." "Be calm, Cimber." "If he knew, we would be dead already." "He's playing the blind man." "He's waiting for us" " to betray ourselves." " Exactly." "He's not worried about us!" "He thinks we are cowards." "Well, in any case, we must act soon." "Today he brings in Gauls and Celts and low plebs." "Tomorrow it'll be Belgians or freedmen, and he won't rest until he's turned the Senate into a bawdy house!" "We good noblemen will be outnumbered by foreign rabble." "We will be degraded, powerless." " We must act soon." " What about bloody Lucius Vorenus?" " Lucius Vorenus is a son of a whore." " You know him personally, it seems." "I know him." "I know him." "Who is Lucius Vorenus?" "You remember, Mother, the low soldier that jumped into the arena to save a comrade?" "I remember something of the sort." "Well, Caesar's pandered to the mob and made him a senator." "And when Caesar's in the Senate, the dog never leaves his master's side." "And a fearsome dog it is." "So, if we are to reckon with Caesar on the Senate floor, we must reckon with Lucius Vorenus also." "Kill him as well." "What's it matter?" "He is a popular man." " So?" "I'll kill him." " It is most important that we keep the people on our side." "We cannot kill one of their heroes." "That would sully the whole business." " Only the tyrant dies." " Kill Caesar in his bed then." "He" " doesn't sleep with this man, does he?" " Quintus." "It's not such a bad thought." "We could bribe some of his slaves." "Buy off his cook." "Buy off his taster." "Poison him." "Gentlemen, this is not some cheap murder!" "It is an honorable thing that we do, and it must be done honorably." "In daylight." "On the Senate floor." "With our own hand." "With my hand." "You're right, of course." "Forgive me." "That's all very well, but how?" "How?" "What's wrong?" "Are you still awake?" "You were worrying very loudly." "I feel like everything seems to be moving so fast." "It feels like..." "I'm..." "I'm scared sometimes." " Lucius Vorenus, was that his name?" " What?" "The low soldier that Caesar made a senator." "Was that his name?" "Lucius Vorenus." "Why?" "I have heard the name before." ""My dear friend," "I regret I have not seen you or yours for some time." "Two families as entwined as ours must not be strangers." "Would it be convenient for you to come and visit me tomorrow?" "With great affection, Servilia."" "How strange." "Is it?" "Why would she want to see me?" "She hates me." "So do I. It's no bar to friendship." "What is she thinking?" "Nothing to your benefit." " What will you do?" " I shall accept, of course." " Is that wise?" " Probably not." "Her rage amuses me." "You shall come with me." " Why?" " To be my protector, of course." "Who knows what the mad old turtle will do?" "Please don't speak of her so." "Well she is a mad old turtle." "Anyway, I thought you were above such petty emotions nowadays." "I am." "I try to be." "Oh... you still have feelings for her." " There's nothing wrong with that." " I feel nothing but pity for her." "And for myself as I was then." "And for you." "Me?" "You silly goose." " Why are you dressed so?" " I'm going to the country... just for the day, to get some fresh air, stretch my legs." "I was thinking of stopping by the shrine of Sacred Rusina, asking her if she'll forgive me for all the bad things I've done." "You think she might?" "Forgive me?" "Who knows what the gods will do?" "Come along, if you like." "Senate in session today." "No assemblies in the vicinity." "No gaming." "No prostitution." "May all the gods bless our sacrosanct father" "Gaius Julius Caesar." " Good day, Senator." " Good day." "Sir, sir, a moment of your time!" "Read my petition!" "Caesar!" "Caesar!" "Caesar!" "My dear Atia, how wonderful to see you." "Wonderful indeed." "And Octavian!" "You're practically a man!" "I like to think so." "And so handsome." "Come in, come in." "It's looking lovely here." "Have you redecorated?" "Pull!" "Pull!" "Senator Vorenus," "I come about your grandson Lucius." "...Servilia of the Junii, and what I tell you now is the truth." "You're alive!" "Answer me, what child is that?" "Where is Vorenus?" "He was with us a moment ago." "Never mind." "Mark Anthony, why don't you give us a moment?" "You must be wondering why I invited you here today." "I am rather puzzled." "Well, it's important to me that I be the first to tell you what has happened." "Why?" "What has happened?" " Trebonius." " Great Caesar." "I know, Barca, I know." "I have not forgotten." "If I may, gracious Caesar, you were going to consider revoking my brother's exile." "I'm still considering it." "Take your hand off me." "What are you waiting for?" "Now!" "Now!" " Now." " Now!" " Wait!" " Get off me!" "Do it." "Stop it!" "What's wrong?" " Where is he?" " Who?" "Your son!" "Tell me it's not true." "Tell me!" "Tell me!" "Tell me!" "Tell me!" "Tell me." "I thought you were dead." "Oh Lucius." "Lucius." "Lucius, the boy is blameless." "Thus ever for tyrants." "No!" "So you see, the tyrant is dead, the Republic is restored, and you are alone." "Would you like some honey water?" "I won't, thank you." "Please don't be afraid." "I won't harm you." "Not yet." "Harm?" "Why would you wish us harm?" "We've always been great friends." " Politics is for the men, I always..." " Not yet." "I will make you suffer slowly." "Slowly and deeply, as you made me suffer." "First, I want to see you run." "Run for your life." "Run to some rathole in Greece or Illyria, wherever you like." "I shall come and find you." "Thank you for the visit."