"Pull!" "Pull!" "He's gone." "Put him over." "Sir." "Salve, Vorenus." " How are you?" " Good enough." " Water." " Thank you." "I was far away." "All my life..." "I've been fearful of defeat." "But now that it has come, it's not near as terrible as I'd expected." "The sun still shines." "Water still tastes good." "Glory is all well and good, but... life is enough, ne?" "Glorious news!" "At Actium, in Greece, the navy of our imperator Octavian Caesar under the command of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa has won a decisive victory over Queen Cleopatra and her slave Mark Antony." "The Egyptian fleet has been destroyed." "Even now, Octavian Caesar advances on Alexandria where the witch and her creature take refuge." "Apparently, Cleopatra took fright and fled as soon as the battle started." "And that cowardly villain Antony jumped in a boat and chased after her." "Left his men to die for the sake of lust." "Antony's no coward." "As soon as they knew they'd lost the battle, they fled to save the gold that they'd stowed on Cleopatra's ship." "They plan to fight on, no doubt." "They cannot do that without money." " Wasn't cowardice." " That's not what my husband says." "Your husband's a liar." "Dear me, one might wonder whose side you're on." "He wasn't like that as a child." "He was a good honest boy." "I don't know what happened." "I'm to blame, probably." "If you maintain Cleopatra and her progeny on the throne, his honor Mark Antony, by his sacred oath, will withdraw from public life." "He will reside quietly in Egypt as a private citizen and promises never to engage in any way whatsoever with politics..." "Tell him no." "He will put himself and his woman in my hands without conditions." "Yes, sir." "There is a man close to Antony." "His name is Lucius Vorenus." "I want you to speak to him alone." "Tell him Titus Pullo is here and will answer for his safety if he can find a way to open the gates." "You can tell him that, but it won't do any good." "Is there some word we could send him that he knows comes only from you?" "Pullo, if need be, I will burn down the palace with all inside." "Tell him that his children are well and that I hope my child is well also." "Private joke." "He'll understand." "Speak." "His honor Gaius Octavian Caesar states that his answer is no." "That's all?" "He demands that you surrender yourself and your people without conditions." "Calm." "I am calm." "I am." "You go and tell... that frog-spawned homunculus..." " Calm." " ...that I..." "We must remain calm." "Vorenus, find this man a drink or something." "Surrender, he says." "I'd sooner eat my own children than surrender to him." "We could escape by night in disguise." "We could go south and..." "And hide under bushes like hunted animals?" "No." "No, I cannot run." "I will be guided by you, naturally, if you think there is some other path available to us." "Death." "Death is available to us." "Is there not some military trick, some clever ruse to turn things about?" "You're so good at that sort of thing." "Oh, piss and blood, woman." "I'm a soldier, not a fucking magician." "Look around us." "Whores, hermaphrodites and lickspittles." "This is our army now." "This... is all we have left." "Titus Pullo says that your children are well." "He hopes his child is well also." "He says it is a private joke that you'll understand." " So he's here?" " And close to Caesar." "He answers for your safety if you will forsake Antony and find a way to open the gates." "You tell Titus Pullo that his son is well... but he has forgotten who I am." "Maybe you should think on it a while." "What other way..." "You, emissary." "A challenge." "I challenge your master..." " to single combat." " Sir?" "Let him meet me face to face with sword and shield, just as our ancestors did." "Then we shall see who is the better man." " Antony." " No." "This is the way." "How can he refuse?" "His honor is at stake." "He must accept, or he will be exposed as a coward." "Go tell him." "Tell everyone in his camp." "Mark Antony has called the dog out." "Run!" "Vorenus... fetch some weapons." "We shall practice." " Vorenus." " Highness." "Octavian's going to kill me, is he not?" "They're negotiating." "It'll be all right." "Do not lie to me." "There can only be one son of Caesar." "If anyone dies, it will be me." "Talk that way loud enough, the gods'll hear you and they'll make it so." "Come with me to the armory." "We'll get you a decent sword." "If it comes to a fight, you can give as good as you get." "Single combat?" " With sword and shield." " He's gone mad, has he?" "I'd say more drunk or drugged than mad, sir." "What of Cleopatra?" "Is she in the same condition?" "No, sir." "Sober, alert." " And Lucius Vorenus?" " Remains loyal to Antony." "Thank you." "Stay close by." "A siege, then." "I'll inform the engineers." "Even a madman could hold that palace for weeks, months." " Burn it down, then." " We need to keep the Egyptian people quiet." "I suspect destroying the royal palace with their queen inside might make them rather peevish." "What, then?" "This is for your queen alone." "No other." "Is that clear?" "Yes." "Enough." "I amuse you?" "No, sir." "I assure you..." "I'm a fucking clown, am I?" "Shall I..." "Shall I do a little dance for you?" " Does that please you?" " Your highness..." "Stand up." "Give him your sword and shield." " Let's see if he can do any better." " Antony." "No." "OK?" "Take them!" " Queen Majesty, please." " Don't look to her." "I'm the master here." "Now take them." "You ready?" "Really, sir, I must protest." "Yes!" "Young Hermes has returned." "So, what does the boy say?" "When do we meet?" "Sir, Octavian Caesar... respectfully... refuses your challenge and asks the same terms as before." "If those terms are not accepted, fire and siege works will begin tomorrow." "You tell him to shove his terms up his arse." "Good lad." "Coward." "Fucking coward." "He always was a fucking coward." "What are you all looking at?" "Enjoy yourselves, you scum!" "Eat!" "Eat!" "Eat!" "Eat!" "Drink!" "Music!" "Come and have a drink with me." "Now do you see that?" "Do you see that, you gyppo cunts?" "That is how a real Roman drinks." ""To her majesty, Queen Cleopatra Philopator." ""I fully understand that you have been led" ""into this predicament through no fault of your own" ""by the renegade Mark Antony." ""If you will deliver him to me," ""either alive or dead being no matter," ""I promise to you on my oath" ""that you and your people will be unharmed" ""and treated with all respect." ""You shall retain your crown and all continent rights."" "He asks me to bring eternal dishonor on my name." "And in return, your empire, your people, Majesty's life." "My life for my honor." "Good enough." " Better than death." " That is a slave's answer." "Majesty has felt Anubis breathe on her before now." "She knows her slave is right." "She wants to live." "There you are." "What are you doing here?" "Come back to the party." "Maybe later." "What's the matter, poor baby?" "Are you sad?" "Of course I am sad." "Look at you." "Look at us." "Apollo and Isis, it's pathetic." "I'm sorry." "I do not mean that." "No." "No, it's true." "These years together have been the happiest of my life." "We lived, didn't we?" "We did." "Octavian will burn the palace tomorrow." "We must decide how to end this, and when." "Yes." "Why not now?" "No, dear, let's not go in darkness." "Tomorrow in the sunlight." "Tomorrow." "Shall we go back to our guests?" "No, I'm tired." "You go." "I don't mind." "Just for a little while maybe." "He had that lovely singing voice." "Took a spear in the eye in Gergovia." "Yes." "Gansa." "What of him?" "I forgot." "Fuck him." "Do you believe there is an afterlife?" "Of course." "There are people who say no." "And this is all there is." " Who says that?" " Learned men." " Greeks, probably." " Greeks?" "Greeks talk a whole pile of nonsense." "Fuck 'em." "Fuck 'em." "Mark Antony." "Sir." "What's happened?" ""Dearest love," ""forgive me for leaving you this way." ""You know how I hate to say goodbye." ""I will see you again on the other side." ""Please, come quickly."" "Sweet..." "Why didn't..." "Why didn't she wait for me?" "The queen must die alone." "It's the custom." "With her last breath she called your name." "Please, you go away now." "Here it is, then." "Anything to be rid of this fucking hangover." "This won't do." "Let's use a proper Roman sword." "It's a damn good sword." "It's a good place to die, at any rate." "Could have been a ditch in Gaul." "Men that knew Alexander... once stood here." "Good a place as any, I suppose." "Lucius Vorenus..." "I enter the end." "Don't you die here with me." "You get out while you can." "I'll do that." "It's been an honor serving with you, sir." "Has it?" "I hope so." "Brace it there." "Any instructions or messages, sir?" "No." "Just tell the people I died well." "I died Roman." "My poor love." "Bring the children." "Lucius Vorenus wishes to speak?" " No." " Then he shall stop looking at me." " I gave you an order." " I take no orders from you." "I let you live because Antony was fond of you." "Do not test me now." "Kiss my arse!" "You're lucky I don't open your stomach." "I wonder that you had not done the honorable thing and followed your captain." "Oh, I would." "But I have to get Caesarion out of here." " What do you mean?" " If he stays, Octavian will kill him." "He's perfectly safe." "I've made a pact with Octavian." "I keep my crown and no harm will come to my people." "Octavian may let you live so he can parade you through the Forum in your crown." "To Antony's children, he will show public mercy and kindness." "But Caesarion, another son of Caesar," " Octavian will kill him." " No." " He's just a child." " He'll die." "And for what?" "We both know he's not the son of Caesar." "We know nothing of the sort." "I was there at his conception." "Doesn't matter what you say." "He is the son of Caesar." "Whoever he is, he stays here, he dies." "You'd see that if your desire to live hadn't blinded you." "And you, why would you save him?" "What is he to you?" "He's nothing." "But his father is my friend." "I'll take the boy to him." " The man, what's his name?" " Titus Pullo." "Yes." " Is he a good man?" " Define good." "Children, come." "See." "By his own hand." "That is how nobility dies." "Put on your traveling clothes." "You're leaving with Lucius Vorenus for your safety." "But my place is here with you." "Traveling clothes now." "My condolence for your loss." "He died well." "If there's anything we can do for you, anything you need..." "It's so kind of you to ask." "Your well-being is my chief concern." "Thank you." "I have been so scared." " But I'm not anymore." " No?" "Antony painted you as a cruel monster." "But it is not so." "I sense that you are a good and honest man." " I'm not wrong, am I?" " No." "My children and I are perfectly safe." " You are." " Even Caesarion?" "He's just a boy." "He's no threat to me." "I keep my crown." "I remain queen of Egypt." "You are Egypt." "How could I replace you?" "I am content." "We shall be good friends." "We shall." "As a friend, would you grant me one favor?" " Of course." " Come with me to Rome." "Let the Roman people see and rejoice that Egypt and Caesar are reconciled." "I would like that very much." "Perhaps next summer, when our mourning for Antony is done." "Yes." "Or perhaps sooner." "My ship is large and comfortable." "It's so good of you." "I shall have to consult my priests." " A voyage so soon after a death..." " Please." "You would be doing me an immense honor by coming with me as a guest." "I would be eternally grateful." " How can I refuse?" " And the children, of course." "You must bring the children." "Naturally." "Caesarion is longing to see Rome again." "Good." " We sail tomorrow." " So soon?" "The winds are with us." "Would be a shame to delay." "Tomorrow, then." "Close the doors!" "I'm sorry, my love." "I was hungry to live." "But you were right about that boy." "He's a monster." "He only wants me alive to parade me in chains for a mob to spit on." "I lied to you for nothing." "Please don't be angry with me." "Bring the old woman." "She's a sharp little piece." "She'll look well in nothing but chains." "We should have taken her there and then." "Why abduct her when she'll come of her own accord?" "And what if she follows Mark Antony instead?" "She betrayed Antony so that she might live." "Why would she lose heart now?" "You can have that effect on people." "No, I was all sweetness and light with her." "Charm itself." "Yes." "That is your most disheartening manner." "The belladonna is not fast... but it is least painful." "Yes." "Yes, I know." "Which leaves one looking best?" "I want no bloating or discoloration." " The snake, but..." " Is it quick?" "40 breaths." "The snake, then." "It doesn't look like much." "The one that took Cousin Seth was green." " Do you remember?" " They vary." "This is the needful animal." "Where's the best spot?" "Wrist or breast, no matter." "Thank you." "Make sure the children are safe before you follow me." "Yes, Majesty." "Now... bite." "Nothing." "Oh, yes." "It goes away toward the end." "You... have a rotten soul." "What did she say?" "She said I had a rotten soul." "Find the children!" "Caesarion has escaped with Lucius Vorenus." "The man turns loyalty into a vice." "Any notion where they might have gone?" "Big country, Egypt." "Even now, I would be happy to forgive Vorenus if he surrendered himself and the boy." " He's made his choices." " Yes." "It's a shame when it's just the boy needs to die." "If only you could talk to him, Pullo." "I'm sure you could persuade him of the right course to take." " Have to find him first." " Yes." "I could look for him." "Why don't you do that?" "When I recover my rightful place" "I shall be sure that you are properly rewarded." "You may choose a province to govern and any woman of the court." "Thanks." "That life is over." "It's best you forget about it." "Nonsense." "My mother would set things aright." "I doubt it." "I wonder my father tolerated such a pessimist around him." "There'll be no more talk of that sort." "It's just a bird." "I've not been in the desert at night before." "It does not please me." "We shall not do this again." "Get some sleep." "We've got a long ride tomorrow." " I will sleep when I like." " You will sleep when I tell you." "What's wrong?" " How's it going?" " Not so bad." "You?" "Same." "I never thought I'd see that ugly bastard glaring down at me again, though." "I knew you'd remember." " This is him, then?" " This is him." "Who is this man?" " Name's Titus Pullo." " I do not like your manner." "Handsome, isn't he?" "What news of my mother?" "She's dead." "Killed herself." "Best way to go." "Honorable." "Do not touch me!" "Thought he'd be bigger." "There are ten legions out looking for him." "Patrols on all the roads west to Africa, all the Upper Nile ports." "The only way to go is south." "So we can cut back across the desert towards the river at the cataracts." "I'll go with you as far as Judea, you can get a ship from there." "You can buy a ship if you want." "His mother gave me a heavy purse." "You'll not come with us?" "No, I'll head out east maybe." "They always need soldiers out there." "Probably won't even make it out of Egypt." "How are the children?" "Well enough." "Vorena the elder is at the temple of Orbona with Lyde." "Lucius got apprenticed to a stonemason." "Stonemason?" "Now that's a decent trade." "He's on fire to be a soldier." " You're not encouraging him, are you?" " No, course not." "Vorena the younger, now... she's a little tiger." "Still doesn't speak much, mind, but... practically runs the tavern." "Anyone misbehaves, she gives 'em a look like Medusa on the rag." "And Gaia?" " That didn't end so well." " No?" "Long story." "When did you return?" "We had no news of your arrival." "We docked this morning at Ostia." "I came directly here." "Mother, Antony is dead." "By his own hand." "I see." "Well, thank you for telling me." "My congratulations." "You're as good as king now." "Not king." "Merely first citizen." "Would you care for some refreshments and water?" "Thank you, no." "I'm glad you're not upset." "A display of grief now would have been impolitic." "Of course." "I've no intention of grieving." "So, who are the children?" "They're Antony's children - Helios and Selene." "Trophies." "Poor things." "Perhaps you will look after them for me." "They seem amiable enough, as far as I can tell." "It would be the charitable thing to do." "Kindly Uncle Octavian shows mercy." "People will love it." "Clever." "No end to your cleverness." "You murdered the other one, did you?" "Caesarion?" "Not yet." "Soon, I hope." "He only offers to parley and says the whole thing was your fault in the first place and that me and him should make peace." " What did you reply?" " I head-butted the cunny" " and bit his tongue out." " Took that as a no, then, did he?" " You bit out his tongue?" " I did." " Tasted like chicken." " That is disgusting." "Cack. 15 gold says I kill more than you." "Best keep clear, boy, it's gonna get wet." "Wait, we can talk our way past." "Gerrae." "As soon as his majesty opens his mouth, we're cooked." " Let's just go at 'em." " No." "That's an order." "Grumpy and cautious as ever." "Like an old sheepdog, you." "Salve, Captain." " Romans, are you?" " We are." "Don't see many citizens out here." "What's your business?" " Hunting sphinxes." " No such thing as sphinxes." " Now you tell us." " We're grain merchants." "We're on the road to Memphis." "We've just lost our way." " Grain merchants." " Yeah." "Lost your way." " What's your name, boy?" " Aeneas." " A bit haughty for a slave." " He is." "I beat him regular, but it doesn't do any good." "On your way, then." "I told you." "Get down!" "Get under!" "Is he all right?" "I've seen worse." "He'll be fine." " No, I'm done." " Gerrae, you big girl." "It's just a few scratches." "We just need to lay up somewhere for a rest." "A couple of days, you'll be back on your feet." " Take me home." " Home." "Home's a long way." "It's best we just..." "I don't want to die in this fucking shithole." "I want to see my children." "Take me home." "All right, brother." "All right." "We'll do that." "Helios, stop chasing Antonia." "So, have you chosen a dress?" "I think you should wear that blue thing." "I'm not going." " It's not a matter of choice." " I don't feel well." "No wonder." "You could choke Vulcan in here." "Today is your triumph as much as his." "Mother to the first citizen, you should be happy." "Hooray." "All my life, I've watched you strive for this moment." "Look at you." "It's amusing, isn't it?" "I don't know what I shall do if you give up." "Today we celebrate the glory of our beloved imperator" "Gaius Octavian Caesar!" "And the glorious rebirth of our republic!" "At the third hour, all trading will cease!" "The Sacred Way must be cleared of traffic!" "Servile violators will be whipped!" " Will there be captives tortured?" " Oh, sure." " Are you sure you won't come?" " I've seen a triumph, I don't..." "You three, upstairs, tend to the cart." " Pullo." " You're back!" "This is Aeneas, a friend." " Blessings." " He's from Egypt." "Children, I brought your father home." " Why did you bring him here?" " He wants to see you." "He's been wounded." "He's going to die, likely." "He should've died weeks ago, but he wanted to get home." "Won't last long now." "Thank you, Dr. Pullo." "You're awake, then?" "Make up your mind." " Lyde." " Hello." "Where are the children?" "Where are the children?" "Lie still." "Lie still." "They don't want to see me." "I understand." "That's all right." "They're stubborn." "Stubborn like their mother." "Rest." "Rest." "Pullo." "What's that?" "Octavian Caesar." "He's making his official return today." "Big parade." "That's funny." "I thought I was dying." "Father?" "Ladies, we shall be taking our places very shortly." "I hope you're all ready." "I'm sorry Mother Atia could not be here." "I'm afraid my husband will take it as an insult." " It isn't meant as such." " I know." "I know how fragile she is." "But dear Octavian is so touchy about these public events." "Everything must be just so." "He has such faith in your judgment." "I'm sure he'll forgive her if you speak kindly of her." "I will, I will." "It is time." "In order of precedence, please." "Hello, ladies." "Mother." "Yes, here I am." "Let's just get this charade over with, shall we?" " Excuse me?" " Yes?" "I don't mind, really, but it is I who should go first." "You will find if you consult the priests, the wife takes precedence." "I don't give a fuck what the priests say." "I'll not let a vicious little trollop like you walk ahead of me." "I go first." "I take no offence, of course." "You are not yourself." "I know who you are." "I can see you." "You're swearing now that someday you'll destroy me." "Remember, far better women than you have sworn to do the same." "Go and look for them now." "Caesar!" "Caesar!" "Caesar!" "Pullo." " We'd given you up for dead." " No." "One of these days maybe, but not yet." "Well, I'm very glad to see you alive." "Old friends are a rare commodity." "It's been a long road we have traveled together." "It has." "I sent you to find Caesarion." " What happened?" " I found him." " He's dead." " You're certain?" " Killed him myself." " How?" " Cut his throat." " Where was this?" "In the desert, some 40-odd miles south of Alex." "I brought his head to show you, but it went bad." "Didn't look like anyone." "So I tossed it." "And Lucius Vorenus?" "Didn't make it." "That's a shame." " It is." " He was a good man." "I suppose you'll be wanting your reward, then." "I hadn't thought of that." "Wouldn't say no." "So?" "He bought it." "Brother Osiris, let me live to spit in his face and remind him of this day." "Didn't I tell you there'd be no more of that blather?" "Blather?" "It is my sacred duty." "By my blood, I'll not rest until I have avenged my mother and redeemed my father's name." "Listen, about your father..."