"I, Tiberius Claudius Drusus.." "Nero Germanicus.." "this-that-and-the-other... who was once, and not so long ago, better known to my friends and relatives as Claudius the Idiot, or That Fool Claudius, or Claudius the Stammer... am now about to write this strange history of my life." "Are you there?" "Yes you're there." "I can feel it" "I can feel your presence yes" "I knew you would come the moment I began to write." "Yes it was inevitable." "it was prophesied by the Sibyl" "Spies." "Spies everywhere spying on me." "In my bed at my prayers on the street.." "Even in the lavatory." "Spies!" "I'll cheat them every one." "it was prophesied by the Sibyl" "I went to Cumae many years ago to consult her." "She was most famous" "Her prophecies had achieved worldwide renown and she did not consent to see everyone." "Unexpectedly, she consented to see me." "I was terrified." ""Oh Sibyl", I said" ""I've c-come to question you about Rome's fate and mine."" ""Hear me Cl-Cl-Claudius, " she answered mocking my stammer." ""Apollo speaks to you through me." ""Listen closely."" "(WOMAN) What groans beneath the Punic Curse" "And strangles in the strings of purse" "Before she mends must sicken worse." "Ten years, 50 days and three Clau-Clau-Claudius shall given be" "A gift that all desire but he." "But when he's dumb and no more here" "Nineteen hundred year or near," "Clau-Clau-Claudius shall speak clear." "Yes That's what it means" "In nineteen hundred years from now they'll hear me." "Not before." "No." "A box." "I need a box." "I'll put it all in here." "My story." "My history of the family." "Yes" "And the end of the Republic Yes" "When I've finished I'll seal it and bury it where no one will find it" "No." "No one." "Not for nineteen hundred years or more." "Then it will turn up suddenly." "People will read it They'll know the truth." "My voice as the Sibyl said as she prophesied for them - not for these fools in Rome but for them out there in remote posterity." "For you." "Yes." "It will all be in here sealed." "You will find it, I promise you." "I, Claudius, am now about to begin this strange history of my life... of my family." "Of Livia my grandmother." "Of Augustus Caesar." "Of Marcus Agrippa." "Yes And his hatred for Marcellus" "Excellent!" "Excellent!" "Thallus!" "See they're well taken care of." "They were splendid." " Yes, Caesar." " And sea they're properly fed." "They'll eat better than the kitchen staff, Caesar." "There's no need to go that far." "Better than us will be sufficient." "You know, Marcus, I like to eat sparingly." "There's too much gluttony in Rome." "But this one day is very special I like to make an exception." "And I've got a surprise for you." "Two, as a matter of fact." "Thallus!" " Bring in the cake." " But it's for the end of the meal" " I want the family to see it." "Aristarchus of Athens is in Rome." "Oh, Marcus." "They say that he's the greatest orator of our time, and he's going to prepare an oration for the anniversary of the battle of Actium." " Oh, no!" " We had one last year." " That was last year." "Anyway, the speaker was dull This man, they say he's wonderful" ""Seven years today sank Antony and his hopes in the harbour of Actium."" "How the young mock the battle scars of their elders." " Battle scars!" " A lot of good men died there, and a lot of good men got scarred." "It's not right to make light of it." " He's just being provocative." " No." "I think we exaggerate its significance." "Now, Marcellus, let's not argue." "Marcus..." "No." "Let's hear what the young genius has to say." " Well?" "." " Look!" "Here is the cake." " Do we get one each?" " Julia, for heaven's sake!" " Marcus, do you recognise it?" "." " It's my ship." " You made it your headquarters." " She was a fine ship." "That must be you, Marcus." "The candied cherry in the prow." "(AUGUSTUS LAUGHS)" "Marcellus, please." "These things mean something to us." "We're taking ourselves a little seriously." "(MARCUS) Not seriously enough." "Livia, isn't that a wonderful cake?" " Wonderful" " Don't you like it?" "." "Bring in the Greek." "If you keep him waiting longer, he'll need a shave." "As a matter of fact he's bearded." "Thallus, bring in the Greek." " Leave the cake." " Take the cake." "Marcus, they say that he writes a sort of prose hymn." "What can that mean?" "It's a form I've never heard of." "One of these new Greek inventions." "They're always inventing." "Why are they so clever?" "." "If they're so clever, why are they our province instead of vice versa?" " Ah, Aristarchus, welcome." " Hail." "Caesar." "I hope we haven't kept you waiting." "Come." "We're ready now." "Give us your piece." "Give me your peace, Caesar, and I shall gladly give you mine." "Yes, of course." "I'm sorry." "Thallus." "Caesar calls for silence!" "What a voice." "Perhaps we should change places?" "Only the Romans can afford ushers with a voice like that." " Did you have it trained?" " I was an actor, sir." "That explains it." "Resting, are you?" "No, sir." "I've given it up." "Everyone's an actor in Rome." "There isn't enough work." "And what there is goes to friends." "It's the same everywhere." "The theatre isn't what it was." "No." "And I'll tell you something else." "It never was what it was." "Thallus, please discuss your personal problems in your own time." "Today is a day to drink and dance!" "Let us rival the priests of Mars with feats to dock the couches of the Gods." "Seven summers past, the wild queen, Cleopatra, dreaming her dreams of ruin on your lovely Empire, sailed her hopes into the harbour of Actium, and there, with noble Antony, spat curses on the ships of Caesar" "and cried, "Sink Rome!" "And all her minions." ""Egypt's not for conquests!"" "But words do not kill and curses sink no ships." "Before she could catch her scented breath, mighty Agrippa... (CLAUDIUS) Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa." "Old friend and commander of the armies of Augustus " "Emperor of Rome and most remarkable man." "But even more remarkable was Livia his second wife." "If Augustus ruled the world, Livia ruled Augustus." "Octavia" " Augustus' sister... mother of Marcellus" "And next to him, Julia his wife" " Augustus' only daughter." "Augustus was now clearly preferring Marcellus over Agrippa." "And Agrippa knew it" "And Antony, once proud Antony, fearing to be last, chased her to the very gates of heaven!" "Romans!" "Remember them!" "Their fateful deaths grace your lives today with living legend." "Your names and theirs... in history, will be forever intertwined." "Wonderful" "Wonderful" "What a gift you Greeks have." "Incidentally, the battle wasn't like that." " No?" " No, not at all" "But you described it poetically." "I understand that." "It was poetic licence." "I'm used to that." "I write a little poetry myself." "Could I show it to you sometime?" " I'd be honoured, Caesar." " It's nothing professional." "but it's not bad, though I say it myself." "Ah, Thallus has found a place for you." "We'll talk some more later." "Wasn't that beautiful?" "." "He doesn't know about naval battles." "(MARCELLUS) Well. it wasn't much of a battle, was it?" "." "I beg your pardon?" "One wine-soaked lover and his Egyptian whore?" "I could have put up a better show myself." "Now, now, Marcellus." " Let's not fool ourselves." " You know all about it, do you?" "Yes." "I've studied that battle and I'm not impressed." "It wasn't a famous victory." "The result was a foregone conclusion." " Let's watch the acrobats..." " Just a minute!" "I won't be taught my kids who've only just learned to piss in a pot." "When you've actually done something, come back and talk to me again." " If you'll excuse me." " Marcus, it's early." "It seems late to me." "Too late." "Perhaps that's because I'm such an old man!" "Thallus!" "Oh, get rid of them!" "Marcus!" "Marcus!" "My grandmother Livia." "Her mind always turning." "Always scheming." "And I" " Claudius?" "You ask, where am I?" "I am not yet born, but will be soon." "Now I must continue with the story of the rivalry between Marcellus and Agrippa." "(KNOCKING)" "(LIVIA) Yes?" " Yes?" " Caesar is asking for you, Lady." " Yes." "I'll come soon." " He says at once." "Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa is with him." "You'd better come down." "And wait outside." "I don't understand you." "You want to leave Rome, but you won't say why." " You don't need me here anymore." " Let me be the judge of that." "Appoint me Governor of Syria and I'll deal with that Parthian king." " It's time someone did." " He wants to leave Rome." " Why, Marcus?" " He doesn't need me in Rome." "That's not the reason." "You're not being straight with me." "Not straight?" "." "Oh, no, don't say that to me." "If one man has been straight with you, it's Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa." " Is it Marcellus?" " Marcellus?" " What's he got to do with it?" "." " I don't know." "Do you object to my appointing him City Magistrate?" "It's got nothing to do with Marcellus." "He's a capable man - another reason why you don't need me here." "Look, Marcus, we're old friends." "We've shared a lot of campaigns." "If Marcellus has upset you..." "Lady, talk to him." "It's not Marcellus." "I'm very fond of the boy." "We all are." "His friends can be high-handed, but I was young once and had friends." "Yes." "The greatest friend a man aver had." " Marcus..." " I'm not a man to hide my feelings." " You know I feel the same." " Of course." "I'd have gone long ago if I hadn't thought that." "That's why I can say to you now that I've got nothing against Marcellus." "Nothing." "He's a very gifted young man." "If you've advanced him ahead of his years, that's only natural" "I'm very relieved to hear it." "I know there's been friction." "Not between you and him, but between his followers and yours." "Followers?" "Who has followers?" "Oh, he may have followers." "Such things don't come within my notice." "But me?" "I have followers?" "Show me." "Where are my followers?" "Lady, do you see any?" "." "Not followers, but people like to make factions, and that makes bad feeling faster than boiled asparagus." "There's no bad feeling." "You've put my mind at rest." "If you feel you have to leave Rome..." "I don't feel I have to leave." "I just think I could be more use in the East." "Of course, if you feel you really need me in Rome..." "No, no, I'm sure you're right." "You usually are." "Your instincts are always very sound." "When will you leave?" "In a few days." "Then we'll have all Rome at Ostia to see you off." ""For the Senate and the People of Rome," eh?" "For the Senate and the People of Rome!" "Goodbye, old friend." "Goodbye." "Damn him!" "What does he think he is?" "We know whom he thinks he is." "Your successor." "He's too old!" "I need to groom a younger man." "We can't do without Marcus Agrippa." "Give him five months, then call him back." " No." " Do it, my dear." "Better to call him back when you don't need him than when you do." "No!" "I know what I'm doing." "My son is waiting outside to pay his respects." "Will you see him?" "Of course." "Ah, Tiberius." "You're off to join our troops in Germany?" "." " Yes, Caesar." " I'm sure you'll do well for us." "Remember that we need good generals." "The Empire won't hold together without." "Write to me." "I like to have views from all sides." "It helps me to make up my mind about things." "Yes." "And now I have things to do." "Yes, yes, many things." "Well. the best of luck go with you, and all the Muses." "I could have saved myself the trouble." "Oh, you're so keen to save yourself trouble." "Did that cost you so much - a hail and farewell?" "." " He doesn't like me." " Well. we can't all be lovable, though we could try a bit harder." "It's my nature." "I can't change it." "And wouldn't if you could." "You've a mighty high opinion of yourself." "I wonder you didn't transfer your hopes to my brother." "I might have done that long ago if he didn't share the idiotic hopes your father had of another Republic." "Besides, I took the auspices when you were born and they were very favourable." "Not that old chicken story again." "You may sneer all you like, but I marked a Zodiac on the floor of the hen-house and a chicken came down and rested on your birth sign." "I took its egg and warmed it in my hands and it hatched - a young cock chick, and it already had a fine comb on its head." "You haven't much patience, have you?" "You want everything at once." "Twenty years ago, Augustus ruled with Mark Antony, but I could see that wouldn't last - I could see one man would be king." "So I divorced your father and married Augustus and waited." "Now where would I be now if I'd wanted everything at once, eh?" "And where would you be?" "Where am I now for all your patience and your prophetic chickens?" "You are my son and I am Augustus' wife - that's where you are." "And in the long run, that's better than being anybody else, even Marcellus or Marcus Agrippa." "Now you may kiss me and take your leave." "Remember my prophetic chickens and have patience." "Do well on the Rhine." "Your brother is covering himself with glory." " We mustn't fall behind." " Have I ever?" "." "No." "In the less imaginative arts, you are certainly to be relied upon." "And now my grandmother's mind turned more and more towards the removal of Marcellus" " Who've you been weaving that for?" " Tronco." " He's got enough cloth upstairs." "Enough to outfit the army." " He likes the way I weave." "Doesn't he, Mother?" " He says I have a very tight hand." " Why don't you weave something for the rest of us?" " August's the only one who wears clothes." " [August] Antonio, come here!" "Coming Uncle." " [August's voice] Look at this little creature." " [August's voice] Now, you tell me what it is." " She's very pretty." " She looks like her father." " He was very pretty." " Too pretty." " Oh, I don't know..." " Pleasant, I should think if he's her husband." "It was no great pleasure being Marc Antonio's wife." "Good day, Mother." "You look a little piqued." "Are you feeling well?" "." " Lady." " I slept badly last night." "There's so much noise in the streets at night." "Can't we do something?" "The traffic must move sometime." "Would you have it move during the day?" "." " There's too many people in Rome." "They keep coming in from everywhere." "Syria, Gaul." "Germany." "They're the life blood." "They make Rome what it is." " Noisy, garish and uninhabitable!" "I shall be even worse when the Games begin." "Look at that!" "Isn't it a beauty." " Off your tree?" " Of course." "You know, you should eat more pears, Livia." "How can I?" "You pick them all" "I'll have some more sent from the country." "Marcellus, we must talk about these games." " Yes." "I want to do something new." " That sounds familiar." "I want to really celebrate my appointment as City Magistrate." "What earth quaking innovations are we to see?" "Giraffes riding elephants?" "I want to tent in all the theatres." "Turn the whole marketplace into a gigantic multi-coloured marquee." " Cover it." " That's all?" "." "No." "I have an idea for a battle between 50 Germans and 50 blacks from Morocco." "Yes." "And who's going to pay for all this?" "I am, for part." " And so are you." " Yes, that's what I thought." "Come on." "Would you consider 20 Germans against 20 black Moroccans?" "He spoils him." "It would be hard not to." "He has such winning ways." "Oh, yes, he has winning ways all right." "People fall over themselves to do things for him." "I must go in." "It's too hot." "Come, Antonia, I think you should lie down." "Coming, Mother." "I hear there was opposition in the Senate to Marcellus' appointment." "Nothing to speak of." "Just some friends of Agrippa." "They're always ready to remind your father there are no kings in Rome." "I don't know why he puts up with the Senate at all" "Your father observes the forms." "It's very important." "Romans like to believe they govern themselves." "The older ones do perhaps, but I don't think it matters to us." "You should hear Marcellus' friends talk." "He's very popular, isn't he?" " Yes." " With you too?" " Why do you ask?" " Well. there are no children yet." "There's no issue between you and Father and you've been married for 20 years." "True." "Still." "I'm very happy with your father." "And I am with Marcellus." "I'm pleased." "There's no substitute for a happy marriage." "No." "Mind you, they seem to be few and far between these days." "I always thought Tiberius was lucky with his Vipsania." "Yes." "Yes, they're very much in love." "You know, when I first married your father, you and Tiberius were children and you used to play together." " Do you remember?" "." " Yes, I remember." "And when you grew up, you seemed so fond of one another." "I once had hopes..." "Yes, I used to adore him." "How foolish one is when one is young." "(HUM OF A CROWD)" "I wish to await the arrival of Marcellus." "You're not going to read letters during the performance?" "I see no reason to sit doing nothing while we wait." " It looks so bad." " These are urgent." "My great uncle Julius used to do it." "The crowd never liked it." "Wait till you see what Marcellus has arranged." "He's got a rhinoceros." " What's that?" "." " An extraordinary beast." "It's got a horn on its nose." "So has Scipio's wife." "He could have used her." "Ah, Marcellus." "We've been waiting for you." "Julia." "Octavia." "Marcellus!" "(CROWD ROARS)" "I told you he was popular." "(CROWD ROARS)" "(TUMULTUOUS CHEERING)" "(FANFARE)" "Let the Games begin!" "(CROWD ROARS)" "Are you all right?" "." " I have a headache." " What a shame." "The games are wonderful Can't you come back?" " No." " Marcellus is a huge success." "Yes." "Yes, I could see that." "Yes, well.." "I'll go back to the Games." "You're not worried about me leaving, are you?" "You'll have Marcellus." "He can do all my work." "How long will you be gone?" "About four or five months." "I haven't been to the Eastern provinces for years." "Will you see Agrippa?" "No, why should I?" "He never got any further than Lesbos." "He sent his deputy to govern Syria." "He's got a nerve." "Well." "I can manage without him now." "He can see that." "Now let him stew." "I don't need him." "Are you sure you're all right?" "." "Well." "I'll go back to the Games." "(DOOR CLOSES)" "(CROWD ROARS)" "(KNOCKING) Yes." "Are there letters from the Emperor?" "." "No, Lady, but one has arrived for my lord Marcellus." "When you take it to him, would you ask him to see me before dinner?" "." "There are some names here I want to discuss." "He already has the letter, but it seems my lord Marcellus is in bed." " What's the matter with him?" " A chill on the stomach." "It's a pity his wife and mother went away." "(KNOCKING)" " Yes?" " The Lady Livia has called, master." "Ask her to come in." "I can't stay in bed." "I've got too much to do." "If you get up now, you'll be in bed all tomorrow." "Wise, Musar, wise." "Marcellus!" "It's nothing, Lady." "A summer chill on the stomach." " I've worked through worse." " Have you eaten?" "He can't keep anything down." "It's perfectly natural" "Only if the food doesn't agree with him." "I nursed Augustus last summer and he ate everything I prepared for him." "I'll be well tomorrow." "These chills can be dangerous." "Augustus was nearly carried off." "I'm not so easily disposed of." "I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you." "What can happen to me?" "I wouldn't think of it." " My mother and Julia will.." " Exactly." "Your mother and Julia." "And how should I face them if anything did happen?" "Oh, there, there." "I shall move my room next to yours and I shall prepare all your food myself." "You'll see what can be served up to tempt a weak appetite." "But it's a chill. nothing more." "Musar assures me." "I wouldn't pay too much attention to Musar." "He thinks he cured Augustus, but it was my nursing that did it." " And I shall nurse you." " Lady..." "No." "No arguments." " Why go to this trouble?" " I insist." " It's very good of you." " No, no, my dear." "Goodness has nothing to do with it." "It's Musar, Lady." "He's getting worse." "Much worse." "(LIVIA) Yes." "I'll come soon." "We ought to inform his wife and his mother." "They should be here." "No." "You exaggerate." "Things have to get worse before they get better." "But he keeps nothing down." "Nothing." "It is worrying." "He's bringing up green slime." "I've never see anything like it." " Green, you say?" "." " Yes." "Have you see it before?" "No." "No, I've never see green before." "Perhaps it's a good sign." "Forgive me, Lady." "You're thinner." "You look better." "The life of the legions agrees with you." "Have I ever complained?" "I'd as soon be in camp on the Rhine as here." "I had to call you back." "Augustus is still in Greece touring the provinces and Marcellus..." " How is he?" " I think he may die." " Has Augustus been told?" " Yes, of course." "As soon as it began to look serious." " When did he fall ill?" "." " About a month ago." "Musar said it was just a chill." "but I could see it was more serious, so I decided I'd nurse him myself." "Well. his wife and mother were away." "I've been at his side day and night." "I prepare all his food myself and I see that he eats it." "I wouldn't have thought you'd care whether he lived or died." "I care very much whether he lives or dies." " Do Julia and his mother know?" "." " Yes." "They're with him now." "Julia is being hysterical." "of course, and his mother never stops praying." " Let's hope her prayers are heard." " Yes, indeed." "And mine too." "Tell me... what do you think of Julia?" "Nothing." "Why?" "." "Nobody could accuse you of being devious." " She thinks well of you." " What's that supposed to mean?" "Nothing." "She likes you, that's all Always has." "Mother, I'm a happily married man." "Julia doesn't interest me." "Not even if you hung her naked from the ceiling above my bed." "She might even do that if I asked her!" "Aren't you forgetting something?" "She's married to Marcellus and he's not dead yet." "When I start to forget things, you may light my funeral pyre and put me on it - dead or alive." "Don't ask me to divorce Vipsania because I won't do it." "Oh, what a lover we have here!" "Did you bring back poems from the Rhine?" "You may scoff all you like." "Vipsania's the only thing that means anything to me." "I thought a boy's mother meant something." "Well. you do mean something, but so does she, so don't ask me to push her aside." "I may ask more than that before I finish." "Where does all this get us?" "There's Marcellus and Agrippa, and Augustus proffers them both to me." "(WOMAN SCREAMS)" "Ye Gods!" "What's that?" "." "It sounds as if there is now only Agrippa." " He's dead!" " Julia!" " He's dead!" " Julia!" "Julia!" "Julia." "Control yourself!" "That's no way for a Roman woman to behave!" "But he's dead." "He gave a great cry and then he rolled over and fell off the bed." " He's dead!" "He's dead!" " Come along." "Wait here." " He's dead." " Tiberius, take care of Julia." "This is very grave." "We must send to Augustus." "Tiberius!" "I said take care of Julia!" "I did everything I could." "Everything." "I did everything I could." "Everything I did for Augustus I did for him, but it made no difference." "He's dead?" "You're sure he's dead?" "My son is dead." "You can be sure." "Poor Augustus." "His heart will break." "It must have been food poisoning." "What do you mean, food poisoning?" "Well. the summer's been so hot." "These things happen." "Yes." "Yes, of course." "Well. there has been a lot of it about." "I thought it was a chill." "but I was wrong." "Wrong!" "It must have been something he ate." "There ought to be an inquest, I suppose." "No." "There's no need of that." "We know what he died of." " Do we?" " Food poisoning!" "You said so yourself!" "Yes." "I couldn't swear to it." "No... but I could." "Tiberius, take Julia to her room and comfort her." "Stay with her a while." "I'll send word to your wife what keeps you." ""My dear Augustus..." ""a most unfortunate and tragic thing has happened..." ""Marcellus, your adopted some," ""has unaccountably died after a short illness" ""No one is certain of the cause, but food poisoning is suspected.." ""I must say that does seem to me the most likely explanation."" "(ANGRY SHOUTING)" "(CLAUDIUS) Rome erupted into fury." "Marcellus' death led to demands for a return of the Republic - the last thing my grandmother wanted." "They're rampaging through the streets, looting the shops." "All the City Watchmen are out." "They're no use!" "Turn the Guard out on them!" "I won't answer for the consequences." "Oh, you drooping lily!" "Do you want us all to be murdered in our beds?" " Go and talk to them, then." " Are you mad?" "No." "And I'm not frightened of that rabble either." "Out of my way!" "What do you want?" "." "(ANGRY SHOUTING)" "A Republic?" "." "The Republic was all humbug!" "Do you want civil wars all over again?" "Do you want famine in the streets?" "Do you want Gauls and Huns knocking on your doors?" "You're all crying for the moon!" "Go on back to your homes and..." "Rabble!" "You call yourselves Romans?" "!" "You wait till my husband gets home!" "I wish, just for once, you would behave like a normal woman!" "To be a normal woman you need normal men around you." "We must get Agrippa back." "He's the only one who speaks their language." "Whatever Augustus thinks, he must patch up this quarrel and get Agrippa back at any price." "I'm going to write to him at once." "Meanwhile, order the Guards onto the streets!" "Marcus." "Marcus!" "Oh, it's been too long, too long." "I wouldn't have had it so." "Marcus, what silly things get in the way of friendship." " You could have come sooner." " How could I have come?" "I'd have come to you." "Just one word - a hint, that's all" "Would I have stayed away if I'd been sure of my welcome?" "It's pride, stupid pride." "Did you have a good journey?" "." "The sea was rough, but I didn't really notice it." "I was thinking of when we were young together." "It's too painful to think of one's youth." " We've come a long way together." " Not always together." "Marcus, you were always in my thoughts." "It wasn't always obvious." "No, be just with me." "There were times - oh, I can remember them - when that young man - and I'm sorry he's dead..." "When that young man went out of his way to insult me with never a word of reproof from you." "From my old friend, not a word." "Marcus, he was like a son to me." "You have children." "You know what it's like." "Perhaps I was foolish." "Perhaps I did indulge him." "But it seemed like high spirits, that's all - a little horseplay." " Haven't we all been guilty of it?" "." " Maybe." "I'm sorry he's dead." "I wouldn't have wished it, though he was no friend." "Yes." "I need my old friend again." "Now Marcellus is gone, you need Agrippa." "No, no, no, you must believe me." "I'd already made up my mind to see you." "Would I pass Lesbos without calling in?" "It's unthinkable." "No, Marcus, I need you back in Rome." "I don't know." "I don't know if I'm up to it anymore." "Things are bad there, I hear." "Oh, there's been a little trouble." "That's not why I want you back." "I want you back because that's where you belong." "My old friend should be in Rome with me." "I need that strong right arm again." "What do you say?" "." "It's yours!" "Marcus!" "But err..." "But?" "." "Let's seel this bond tighter than it's ever been before." "How?" "." "What's closer than a family tie?" "To be related is a declaration of what we mean to each other." " You're thinking of your children?" " No." "I'm thinking of myself." " I don't get on with my wife." " I didn't know that." "We haven't slept together for years." "I'm speaking a little soon, I know, and one must observe the decencies, but Julia's a young woman." "She'll get married again soon." "Well. why not to me?" " To you?" " Well. why not?" "." "Don't tell me I'm not good enough for your family." "Why not?" "." "It's a deal You'll be my son-in-law, have you thought of that?" "." "I've thought of nothing else!" "(LIVIA) Why?" "Why did you agree to it?" "." "Because he wanted it." "It was his price." " His price!" " What could I say?" "." "You could have said no!" "No, I could not!" "I saw no reason to say no." " I understood why he wanted it." " So could anyone!" " What would you have done?" " I could have handled him." "How?" "." "I would have reminded him that he's a man of no background and that he cannot assume to enter the Julian family." " And you would have lost him!" " I would not!" "Lost him as quick as boiled asparagus." "That is the most foolish expression." "It's my expression!" "I'll use it when I like!" "Why are you so opposed to this marriage?" "I see no reason for it." "It gives him more than he deserves." "There's another reason." "What is it?" "." "There is no other reason!" "Except..." "Except..." "You might have consulted Julia first." "Are we now to ignore the wishes of our children and sell them as if they were slaves?" "Have you no feelings?" "But she got her way in the end." "Yes." "She waited nine years, but she got her way...wicked woman." "Uh." "What was that?" "Wind?" "I wonder." "Uh, they're trying to get rid of me." "Yes, if they're poisning me, I'd know it." "I must get it all down, quickly, before they finish me off." "Haven't much time."