With the death of Livia the last restraint on Tiberius was removed.
He handed the running of the Empire over to Sejanus
and retired to Capri.
A reign of terror began. No one was safe.
Oh.
Sejanus arrested Agrippina,
her eldest son, Nero, and countless others besides
His ambition was limitless
He had divorced his wife...
Apicata.
..and become my sister's..
Livilla's.
..lover - hoping to marry her.
My mother remained curiously innocent of much that was going on,
until one day, Apicata came to visit her.
Sejanus had taken their children with him and Apicata wanted them back.
She feared my sister would harm them once married to Sejanus
Now she demanded that my mother speak to my sister
and enlist her help.
Will you speak to her? Ask her to persuade him to let me have them?
To her, they’re a nuisance - they’ll only come between him and her -
but to me they are everything. Everything.
Understand this.
Though my daughter lives in my house, we are not on friendly terms.
I despise her though she is my daughter
and I'll ask no favour of her.
I despise that man who is her lover, and you too I despise
for having married him knowing what he was.
And now you complain because he treats you as he treats others!
You disgust me, all of you!
You and people like you have made a sewer of Rome,
fit only for rats to live in!
Honour, service, duty mean nothing any more.
Your children are everything? What of Rome?
All you are you owe to Rome.
But you've destroyed it with goody ambition and petty selfishness.
Well. enjoy what you've made of it, but don't come crying to me!
I didn't come here to talk of Rome, but of my children.
Rome can sink. I want my children!
And if you won't help me freely,
I must tell you something, Lady, that may compel you.
I told you I knew much and more besides.
Well. here it is.
Your daughter's husband died no natural death.
Castor was murdered by your daughter.
Sejanus supplied the poison but she fed it to him.
That guilty pair are set upon a course
that will lead them to a kingly crown - they want nothing less.
If I go to Tiberius with this story,
what then becomes of your precious family name?
You're lying.
No.
What proof have you?
Slaves that will talk freely, or under torture, of things seen.
Why heven't you been to the Emperor?
Sejanus has the sorting of his mail and the sifting of his visitors.
To get to Tiberius would cost me my life and that's my last resort.
He reads people's wills when they leave everything to him.
Not even Sejanus can prevent that.
And if need be, that's the course I'll follow.
Without my children, my life is nothing.
Think carefully, Mark Antony's daughter.
Guard your family name.
Let the lovers have their crown, what is that to us?
But get me back my children!
Well. she certainly l-l-loves her children.
Oh, you fool! Is that all you can find to say?
What else do you w=want me to say?
- Do you believe her? - N-n-no!
Not a word of it. She's demented. Her mind's unhinged.
Livilla's done some pretty d-dreadful things in her time,
but I can't believe she'd do that.
What dreadful things?
Oh, err, things.
She connived at the b-banishment of Postumus. Ah, well. you know.
No, I didn't know. How?
Why wasn't I told?
Well..
It was all a s-secret. I'm the only one that knows.
I think L-Livia m-m-made her do it.
And why was it a secret from me and not from you?
It's a l-l-long story, Mother.
Well. what am I to do now?
We shall find someone else for you to marry.
Stop blubbering, child!
Do you think affairs of state take account of your plans?
What is it?
She's crying because she can't now marry Nero.
I've told her we shall find someone else.
Is that all you can think of - your own thwarted pleasures?
You'd better pray for his safety.
Leave us. I want to talk to your mother.
She thinks of nothing but marriage.
And what do you think of?
What does that mean?
Is it true you intend to marry Aelius Sejanus?
- You've been talking to someone. - Is it true?
He's asked me to marry him, yes.
And I've accepted. Why not? I'm tired of living alone.
- Do you live alone? - You see that I live alone.
I don't keep track of your comings and goings.
I am still a young woman, Mother.
Castor died nearly five years ago.
You can't expect me to live like a Vestal
I'm not talking of whose bed you climb in.
How you dispose of your body is your affair, but marriage is different.
Do I need to remind you whose child you are?
I am in love with him, Mother...
- and he with me. - He's using you.
I don't wish to discuss it further!
You're living in a fool's paradise if you think Tiberius will agree.
If you marry him, what will happen to his children?
What do I care about his children?
Apicata would like them to live with her.
I see. You've been talking to Apicata.
Yes. She wants you to persuade Sejanus to let her have them back.
He won't do that. He's fond of them.
Let her see them again. He's stopped her seeing them.
What's that to me?!
I don't know.
Perhaps one day, it might be a great deal
I cannot allow you to marry Livilla.
I've read your letter carefully and given it a lot of thought,
but I'm afraid the answer must be no.
May I know the reasons?
You're entitled to know them.
Such a marriage would compel me to raise you to an exalted rank.
- I've never looked for that. - I know, but I'd have no choice.
Do you suppose that Livilla would be content to grow old
as the wife of a man outside the Senate?
Well. you could ask her.
Her answer would be one thing before marriage and another after.
Her brother, Germanicus, and her father Drusus, my brother,
both held the highest offices of state.
Don't you think a faction in Rome would demand the same for you?
I have always said I have no wish to rise above my present rank.
Some would say you have risen above them even without rank.
You see, in envying you, they criticise me.
You say, on the one hand I have too many friends,
and on the other, I have too many enemies.
- Is it untrue? - I've made them in your service.
- Oh, I know that. - I'm not complaining.
I know, but you're disappointed.
Let me put another proposal to you.
One that would excite less comment.
Since Nero's arrest,
his betrothal to Livilla's daughter must be considered at an end.
Would you contemplate marriage with her?
- With Helen? - Why not?
Such an alliance would be much more acceptable to me.
Well. think about it. Now, who wishes to see me?
Um... I have the list here.
I've marked the ones you should see. The rest are of no consequence.
Those you've marked I'll see tomorrow.
The rest you can send away.
You can deal with them yourself.
- And Agrippina? - I'll see her now.
I take it you have no wish to see Nero?
None.
Well. Thrasyllus, was I wise to deny him marriage with Livilla?
Thrasyllus?
Wise, Excellency.
And to offer him her daughter instead?
- He deserves it. - He's my right hand.
Without him I'd be a drudge in Rome and the butt of everybody’s hate.
As it is, let him be the drudge and him be the butt.
My dear...you look like a Greek tragedy.
And you look like a Roman farce.
Your tongue has cost you dear and will cost you dearer.
You pitiful worm-eaten old ruin!
It's not my tongue that costs me,
but the love people have for me and my family.
And how you have used that love against me.
Against you?
Germanicus could have led the armies of the Rhine against you.
They proclaimed him Emperor, but he said Rome already had one. The fool!
Every word you say makes my task easier.
Don't pretend you ever found it hard to be vindictive. You always were.
Are you so senile that you're blind to your own interests?
I'm not blind to yours.
You're an old man and you'll die soon.
Who can succeed but one of the sons of Germanicus?
I've a grandson of my own - Livilla's boy.
Gemellus is a child.
Rome isn't Egypt. Children don't rule because their father ruled.
Rome must be governed by men.
I'll make my own arrangements!
You?
You think you'll make them, but he'll make them.
Sejanus - that black spider that sits on your shoulder
squirting his poison in your ear.
You think you rule in Rome?
He rules in Rome!
And the moment the last of my boys is dead,
you'll know he rules in Rome.
My dear, how pretty you look when you look angry.
It makes me surd to have to send you away.
But a queen must have a domain and I've chosen yours.
Do you know where I'm going to send you?
To the island of Panadoria,
where Julia, your mother, spent so many years in exile.
You will inherit her kingdom.
That's only just. Your greatest wish will be fulfilled.
You will be queen after all
As for Nero, I'm sending him to Ponza.
An island even smaller than yours.
You'll have to think how to govern these mighty empires.
If you're lonely, I could come and call on you.
Blood-soaked mud you've been called and that's what you are.
Bring me a vine branch!
This queen needs flogging before she goes!
Gentlemen, if you leave your names with my secretary,
all your requests will be considered. Excuse me.
Commander, did you mention my case to the Emperor?
It was discussed. His decision will be communicated to you.
- But you did promise... - Excuse me.
Father, Father, you're back!
- I told you he'd be back today. - You only guessed.
Well. I was right.
May we have dinner with you? We've been very good, heven't we?
We've done all our lessons.
Then you can have dinner with me.
Now go to your rooms. I have work to do.
Father, why can't we see Mother again?
I told you I didn't wish to discuss that again.
I'm displeased that you disobey me.
She came here while you were away. The servants wouldn't let her in.
Father, please let her come and see us?
Go to your rooms. You have made me very angry.
Don't be angry.
We didn't mean to make you angry, did we, Junius?
Only we do miss her.
The Lady Livilla is here.
What a pretty girl you are, Arria.
Thank you.
Go to your rooms. We'll meat again at dinner.
- Did you ask him? - Yes.
What did he say?
He refused.
Refused? But why?
He said you were too exalted for me. Well. in a way, you are.
But we must marry.
That's what we've planned, what we've waited for.
Did he give any other reason?
He said you wouldn't be content that I remain in my present rank.
He said it would foster dangerous jealousies.
Then you must try again later.
I don't think so.
I think we may have made a mistake in asking him.
- It may have made him suspicious. - I have the right to marry again.
If he won't give his permission, we shall marry without it.
- That might be dangerous. - What are we to do?
I want to be married.
You promised me marriage! Have you changed your mind?
- No, of course not. - Does it suit you as we are?
My darling, all that I have done I have done for one reason -
that is to give us the right to be together.
And that old goat is not going to stop us.
- He did suggest something. - Something?
He said...
He wasn't opposed in principle to a marriage link with his family.
He suggested a marriage with your daughter.
You bastard.
- I'll kill you! I'll kill you! - Stop it!
- You filthy swine! - Listen to me!
If that is one way we can be together, then why not?
You'd like that! To be in bed with mother and daughter!
You bastard! You filthy bastard!
Listen.
- Let's be practical - Don't touch me!
Helen means nothing to me!
But if Tiberius agrees, it solves our problem.
I will be linked with the Imperial family.
You'll live with us. We'll be together.
- Will Helen agree? - Helen will do as she's told.
- It will mean a break... - A break?
Until the marriage. Then it'll be as though it never happened.
You'll service us both then? Like a stallion?
Don't talk like that! I love you!
Don't spoil it. Everything is going as we planned.
Agrippina and Nero have been banished. They won't return.
I'm having documents prepared to send Drusus the same way.
Tiberius will consent to his arrest. That leaves Caligula to deal with.
Then Tiberius will have no one to turn to but me.
Now, let's be sensible. We have waited a long time.
You know I am nothing without you.
Let me talk to Helen. Let me persuade her.
Trust me. That's all I ask.
Once again, the Emperor writes from Capri demanding another arrest!
First it was the Lady Agrippina and her eldest son, Nero Caesar,
and now it is her second son, Drusus Caesar.
No documents are produced for the Senate to investigate.
Only our "consent" is asked for.
Our signature.
Like that of some compliant wife.
Senators, my signature is not to be had for the asking.
I was brought up to read a document before I signed it.
You may do as you please.
Senators, I ask that the question be put for the arrest of Drusus Caesar.
- No! - Aye!
Aye!
I must see the Emperor! Those letters were forged!
- Get in! - They’re not mine!
Please! Let me see Sejanus, then!
Please let me out! Please let me out!
If he keeps it up, quieten him. Otherwise, don't open the door.
- How do we feed him? - You don't.
Uncle Claudius!
C-Caligula. Where have you been?
Staying at the house in Antium. I took some friends down there.
We had a wonderful time.
Have you heard D-Drusus has been arrested?
Yes, it's a great shame, isn't it?
Do you think they’ll kill him?
Well. d-doesn't it worry you? He's your brother.
I said it was a shame, didn't I?
Listen. Caligula.
I think you're in grave danger.
Who from?
- Who? - Sshh!
Tiberius.
- Tiberius? - Sshh!
No, I don't think so. He's invited me to Capri.
T-to C-Capri?
Yes, to C-C-Capri. Yes.
- Are you going? - Of course I am.
Everyone has such a marvellous time. Do you believe the stories?
They say he has little girls
running around the gardens like wood nymphs, naked.
- What are you going to say to him? - What about?
About your mother and your t-t-two brothers.
- What can I say to him? - Damn it, doesn't it bother you?!
Yes, of course it does!
I shall have to watch my step. Very unpredictable these days.
Listen, Cal..
Caligula, if you get the chance, you must s-speak up for them.
Of course I shall For Mother, anyway.
I couldn't give a damn about Drusus and Nero.
- But they’re your brothers. - Yes, I know.
But you don't like Aunt Livilla and she's your sister.
Now, I love my sisters, Uncle.
Yes, I know.
You know, you depress me unutterably s-sometimes. Goodbye.
On!
Your wife, the Lady Aelia, is here.
My w=w=wife? What does she w=want?
- How do I know? She's not my wife. - Don't be so damned r-rude!
Anyway, show her in.
Claudius.
I heard you were in Rome. Why didn't you come and see me?
W-what for?
What for? Shouldn't a husband be seen with his wife?
Well. we're not exactly a husband and w=wife.
But I'll come and see you if you like.
Don't flatter yourself. It's to your advantage to be seen with me.
You're not every woman's ideal husband.
In fact you're not any woman's ideal husband.
Did you come here j-just to tell me this?
Oh, don't try and be clever with me.
I came here to see your sister,
and as you were here, I thought I'd let you know I was alive and well
Are you alive and well?
- I t-think so. - You don't look either to me.
Well. it's been a very trying time since I got here.
You know my sister-in-law's been arrested?
Agrippina, yes. That's been coming for some time.
Thank your stars you're married to me.
That's brought you under my brother's protection.
So what are you doing in Rome?
Oh, I came up to use the P-Pollio Library.
I've just finished a history of Carthage. Would you like a copy?
- Are you being funny? - Ahem!
Oh, Mother. Aelia has just called to see us.
Well. I really came to see Livilla.
I should have been surprised if you'd came to see my son.
He makes no effort to see me either.
It's an arrangement that suits us both.
I'm sure it does. I find life very strange today.
Those who are married live apart and those who aren't live together.
We should abolish marriage altogether.
Well. your ideas are too advanced for me.
Well. Livilla is waiting.
Excuse me.
What does she want with Livilla?
I don't know.
Perhaps Sejanus sent her to find out how Helen was.
Am I to understand that man is now paying court to my granddaughter?
He's had meetings with her. He's not seeing Livilla.
What is wrong with Helen? The doctors don't know.
Well. perhaps it's just one of those women's complaints.
Don't be so ridiculous. What do you know of women's complaints?
The girl's been in bed for a weak!
I want you to give him this.
No one must see it, and tell him to destroy it when he's read it.
How is Helen? Is she improving?
What is wrong with her? He's very anxious about her.
He'd do better to be anxious about me.
My dear, his feelings for you are unchanged, you must know that.
His marriage to Helen is one of convenience.
But he promised to marry me.
Do you think I'm going to watch him marry my daughter?
- But if Tiberius... - Oh, Tiberius! Tiberius!
Tiberius won't live for ever!
Your brother belongs to me! Tell him not to forget that!
He hasn't forgotten it. He loves you.
He manages well enough without seeing me.
Men are different.
It's driving me to despair!
I can't bear this separation.
But it's only for a little while.
And for appearances' sake.
Ah, Atticus, how's it coming?
Ah, my dear sir, so well So well!
We've already completed twelve copies.
It's going to be a wonderful edition. Look at this lettering.
- Have you ever seen the like? - It's very good.
I don't like this decoration. It's too ornate.
This decoration is fashionable.
And for a history of Carthage, what could be more apt than elephants?
I didn't ask for elephants.
Yes, I know you didn't ask for elephants,
but knowing your good taste, I thought you'd agree.
Well. I don't! This is a serious work.
Just because I mention elephants, why do we have to see them?
- It's a motif. - It's a d-damned s-silly motif!
I mention Hannibal's mistresses.
I suppose you've drawn concubines all over it too!
- If you don't like elephants... - No, I don't.
Very well No more elephants. Elephants are out.
Our esteemed client disapproves of elephants, even your elephants,
which, I may say, are exquisitely drawn.
But if a client does not like elephants,
we shall force no elephants upon him.
You will re-work the entire edition.
The copies won't be ready in time.
Well. I need one copy today. Very well I'll take one with elephants.
- Are you quite sure? - I'm quite sure! Just g-get it!
Ah, my dear Asinius Gallus, what a pleasure to see you.
One History of Carthage with elephants.
Your work is on time. Copies will be ready in seven days.
Good. Claudius, what's this about a History of Carthage?
I'm having one copied. Without elephants. I'll send you a copy.
Did you read my essay on Pollio and Cicero?
Yes. I didn't quite agree with it.
Ah. Well. walk with me to the Senate and tell me why not.
- Goodbye, Atticus. - Goodbye.
You will erase all trace of elephants,
leaving only the bar text.
What a feast for his readers!
Gallus, I heard P-Pollio speak many times.
He was a great orator, but no comparison with Cicero.
Cicero's speeches were pompous and he thought far too much of himself.
They must have sounded worse than they read.
Asinius Gallus?
Lucius Asinius Gallus.
I've a warrant signed by the Emperor for your arrest.
My arrest? On what grounds?
Inciting enmity between the Emperor and the commander of his guard.
- Is this a joke? - No joke.
Better hurry with your history, Claudius.
There'll soon be no one left to read it.
- Sign it. - What is it?
- A confession. - To what?
Your conspiracy with Drusus to subvert the armies of the Rhine.
- Huh! - Sign it.
You wrote it, you sign it.
Sign it. You will before we've finished with you.
I'll sign nothing for you to produce after I'm dead.
Bring me to trial or murder me.
I have no need of a trial to prove your guilt.
A song sung by every small-town corrupt policeman,
which is what you are and what you should have stayed.
I've watched your career with fascination.
It's been a revelation to me.
I never fully realised before how a small mind,
allied to unlimited ambition, and without scruple
can destroy a country full of clever men.
I've seen how frail a civilisation is
before the onslaught of a gust of really bad breath!
Yes.
But I suppose you're not really the destroyer.
We must look elsewhere for that.
You're merely the putrefaction
that spreads after death -
the outward and visible sign of its presence.
You're a lesson in history to me, Sejanus.
Proving that above all..
mankind...needs...its sense...of...smell
Bring him round and we'll start again.
They’ve arrested Asinius Gallus on the steps of the Senate.
- Read this. - I was there.
- Read it! - Why? What is it? What are they?
I don't understand. It's Livilla's writing.
Read them!
What...?
They poisoned Castor. Both of them.
Apicata was right.
With his help, my daughter murdered her husband.
She reminds him of it there!
Now she urges him to waste no more time but assassinate Tiberius.
It'll be easy, she says, every Guard owes allegiance to him.
- B-but what are these? - Isn't it obvious?
Drafts of the letter she wrote him.
I see how difficult it would be to write. How she crawls and grovels to him!
But how did y-you find them?
A slave was clearing out her room - taking it all to the furnace.
Perfectly good paper, most of it, hardly written on.
Oh, I thank the gods for my habits of thrift.
Oh, he's wicked, but she's worse.
She is monstrous, monstrous! And I gave her birth.
- She's poisoning Helen. - Oh, Mother!
She's poisoning her, I tell you. Slowly, bit by bit, she is poisoning her.
She's obsessed. She will stop at nothing to get him.
Oh, Mother. What shall we do?
Tiberius must be told.
D-do you want people to know that your own daughter...?
And nobody sees Tiberius or writes to him except through Sejanus.
What's that thing you're writing?
Thing? You mean my History of Carthage?
- Yes. Is it finished? - Yes. I was having it copied.
I just brought one copy home. W-would you like to read it?
No. I'll tell you what you must do.
You must go to Sejanus and ask permission to visit Tiberius.
Tell him you want to ask Tiberius' consent to dedicate the work to him.
Sejanus has nothing but contempt for you. He'll suspect nothing.
Thank you.
Those papers must be pasted in a scroll with a letter of mine,
and you will tell Tiberius to open that one first.
I suppose I could, but I didn't want to give him this copy.
It's got elephants drawn all over it.
You are the biggest fool any mother ever had.
Nobody will read your stupid history, and certainly not Tiberius!
The only way you'd get him to read it is if you drew naked women on it!
What? Uncle Claudius!
- Why...? - Sshh!
Get out!
You know what's in this scroll?
Your mother's a very noble woman.
What's happened?
Your uncle has brought me evidence
that my son was poisoned by his wife.
Aunt Livilla?
I always knew that woman was no good.
She poisoned him with the help of Sejanus.
And now they plot to assassinate me.
People really are despicable.
The point is HOW to arrest him.
He controls the Guard.
Four thousand of them.
All loyal to him...
not to me.
His loyal servants, not mine.
Castor warned me.
I wouldn't listen to him.
Well. is there n-n-no one among them you can trust?
No m-man of integrity?
Not that I know of.
Isn't that a terrible comment on our times, Uncle?
On the other hand, if you can't find a man of integrity,
I always say look for a man of ambition.
Find a dog who'll eat a dog.
Do you know of such a person?
Yes, I do.
Sertorius Macro, Sejanus' second-in-command.
- He's very popular with the troops. - He arrested G-Gallus.
Isn't he loyal to Sejanus?
Yes, of course, but he can't move up while Sejanus is there, can he?
And he is very ambitious.
Do you know him personally?
No, but I've slept with his wife several times.
Is deception with the wife regarded as an introduction to the husband?!
Oh, he knows about that.
I told you. He's ambitious.
I shall make you my successor, Gaius Caligula!
I've decided.
You shall stay here with me.
Rome deserves you.
I will nurse you like a viper in her bosom.
- Is that a joke, Uncle? - Not yet, but it will be.
Sejanus must be put off his guard. He must suspect nothing.
I know. I'll tell him I'm going to Rome,
and ask him to meat me on the Senate steps
where he will hear something surprising.
What about his friends? He has a lot of friends.
You and I will draw up a list during dinner.
A long list.
The city will be purged...
as surely as if she had gorged herself on figs for a year.
I will open Rome's bowels!
The streets will run like a sewer!
- Hail. Sejanus. - Macro, why are you here?
The Emperor sent me with a message for the Senate.
- Where is the Emperor? - Waiting outside the city.
Why did he not send for me?
He could hardly ask you to deliver this.
I believe it requests that you be made Protector of the City.
Doesn't that mean his successor?
Then you had better deliver it.
I'll see that you get my command.
Why has Father gone inside? Why doesn't he wait for the Emperor?
Because he's obviously not coming. He never comes.
What a shame. We may as well go home, then.
Captain of the Guard!
- You recognise this seel? - The Emperor's.
Read it.
Sir!
Return to the barrack. All company commanders are to remain in camp.
Sir!
Guard!
Forward!
Change!
Forward!
"From Emperor Tiberius to the Senate of Rome, greetings.
"This is to bring to your attention
"a man who has long been my main support in the government of Rome.
"I refer to Lucius Aelius Sejanus, Commander of my Guard.
"Though not of senatorial rank, honours have been showered on him
"as a reward for the trust I have placed in him.
"Senators, what blow is harder to bear than a trust betrayed?
"Incontrovertible proof has been found
"of a conspiracy to assassinate your Emperor and take over the state.
"That conspiracy has been led by none other
"than the man in whom I put all my trust - Lucius Aelius Sejanus.
"Such is the advanced state of this plot to seize power
"that I, your Emperor, am marooned outside the city
"and dare not enter without certain assurances..."
What's happening?
Sejanus has fallen. He's to be arrested. Let me pass.
"To safeguard yourselves and your Emperor,
"the Senate and the people of Rome,
"I demand the arrest of Lucius Aelius Sejanus
"and all those connected with him.
"Signed Tiberius Claudius Nero Drusus Caesar."
I ask the question, shall the Senate follow the Emperor's advice?
Aye!
Guard!
Forward!
You're hurting me!
Father! Father!
I can't do it. I can't just kill them. They’re under age.
They’re on the list. Get on with it.
The girl is a virgin. It's unprecedented to kill a virgin!
It will bring bad luck to the city.
Make sure she's not a virgin before you kill her. Get on with it!
Macro, what have they done with the children?
They’ve gone on ahead of you, my friend. Like a good many others.
Take him.
Mother!
Let me out! Let me out!
Let me out!
What are you doing? What are you going to d-do with her?
Let her out! How long are you going to leave her in there?
- Until she dies. - Dies...? Dies?
Are you mad? She's your daughter. How can you leave her to die?
That's her punishment.
How can bear to sit and listen to her?
And that's mine.
Leave me, Claudius.
I shan't move from here until they open that door and find her dead.
Leave me.
Oh, no...
No...
No!
Claudius!
Claudius, help me. They’re killing everyone! Everyone.
Everyone who was a friend or a relative.
Claudius, don't let them take me! Save me, Claudius! Save me!
I'll do anything. Anything, Claudius. Let me hide here.
Let me hide. I'm your wife! You must protect me!
Executions are taking place all over the city.
The Senate steps are strewn with bodies. They’ve killed his children!
His children?
They raped the girl before they killed her.
They dressed the boy in his manly gown.
Apicata killed herself when she saw what they did to the bodies!
Rome, you are finished!
Finished!
You are despicable!
Despicable!
Claudius, please, Claudius. Save me...
Oh, get out of my life!
- No, Claudius! - No, no!
Go away! I never want to see you again!
My alliance by marriage with Sejanus’ family
might have cost me my life had I not been my mother's son.
I was now allowed to divorce Aelia
and to return an eighth part of her dowry.
As a matter of fact, I returned it all
She must have thought me a fool.
I found it in that box.
In there.
The box was in my nephew Caligula's bedroom.
This once belonged to his father, Germanicus.
I said I would tell everything, and I shall
I shall hide nothing. Nothing!
And if what comes next may seem incredible...
believe it.
Believe it!
Of the last five years of Tiberius’ reign, the less said the better.
He remained at Capri, entirely given up to whisperers ones,
until at last, when people began to think he would never die,
he suffered a massive stroke.
He had named Caligula his principal heir
and Gemellus, who was his grandson and still a boy,,
his second heir, in case Caligula should die before him.
- He's dead. - Really?
Get me his ring.
Let us tell the world that the world has a new Emperor.
Senators, gentlemen...
our beloved Emperor, Tiberius Claudius, is dead.
I have left his room having closed those tired old ayes with this hand.
Before he died, he took from his finger this ring...
his own seel. and placed it on my finger.
And he said, "I die in peace, little Gaius,
"knowing that you rule in my place."
Those were his last words.
I wept. I feel to my knees and wept.
Gentlemen, I stand before you now as your Emperor.
- Master! - Long live Rome!
Master! He's alive again!
He's alive. He's calling for his supper and he wants his ring back.
- Take it! I don't want it! - Wait a minute!
Gentlemen, I'm sure there's been a mistake.
This stupid solve saw the wind stirring the clothes on the bed.
- No. He's asking for beef cutlets! - Quiet! I'll make a cutlet of you!
He's out of his wits. Can't you see?
You'd better go and look for yourself.
Exactly. I suggest you all remain here until the matter's sorted out.
Come on.
I want my supper.
And I want a beef...
I told you he was dead.
Typical! He wanted to see what we'd do if we thought he was dead.
I shan't forget this, Macro. I really shan't.
Gentlemen, Tiberius Claudius is definitely dead.
No question of it.
When I entered his room, he was lying peacefully in his bed.
We shall take the corpse to Rome and give him a magnificent funeral!
- Hail Caesar! - Hail Caesar!
Gentlemen!
We are at the dawn of a new golden age.
A son of Germanicus has come before us.
Let us put ourselves in his hands and vote him supreme power.
Let us cry, "Rome is saved!" Hail Caesar!
Hail. Caesar!
Herod Agrippa!
Oh, Herod!
I was wondering the other day where you were and what you were doing.
If I wasn't trying to borrow money, I was thinking of you!
Did you arrive together?
I went straight to Capua. I knew he was living there.
I found him leaving for Rome and intending to call on you on his way.
Nothing could have pleased me better.
Sit down. You remember my grandson, Gemellus?
- He's grown. - Mmm. He never stops eating.
It's not good for you to eat all that p-pastry. It clogs the chest.
If I'm scolded, I'll go inside.
He's given himself such airs since Tiberius died.
- He thinks he already rules. - I do.
I was made ruler with Caligula.
Quiet! The Senate have set that aside. You're much too young.
People are not made emperors to have the run of baker's shops.
I can't see it's any worse to eat too much pastry
than it is to drink too much wine.
And a lot of grown-ups do that.
He eats for comfort. Livilla ignored him. She had other interests.
- I wrote to you about Livilla. - Yes.
Let's not talk of it. She's dead, and at my hands. I'd do it again.
Well. perhaps things will improve now that Caligula is in command.
Let's hope so.
I like all the titles you have for me, as does my sister, Drusilla.
I shall probably use them all
What about the Consulship, Lentulus?
Your term is up. Have you chosen the Consul for the next term?
The choice is obvious to us.
The Senate begs you to accept the next term
and to choose a colleague to share it.
Accepted.
I hereby proclaim that my first act as Consul
will be to collect all criminal dossiers collected by Sejanus
and have them burnt in the marketplace!
And, in memory of my dear mother, Agrippina,
there will be a new annual festival of horse racing and sword fighting.
In future, September will be known as "Germanicus" after my father,
as August was after my great... my great grandfather.
And now I have a headache. This audience is at an end.
- Is your head bad again? - Yes.
Come to my room and I'll soothe it for you.
Lentulus...
here is my chosen colleague to share the Consulship with me.
- Gemellus. An excellent choice. - No, no! Not Gemellus. Not him.
- My Uncle Claudius. - Your Uncle Claudius?
Who else should share it but my father's beloved brother?
Uncle, I appoint you my colleague as Consul for the first term.
- M-m-me? A C-Consul? - Yes. We'll rule together.
B-but I've forgotten all the r-rules and p-procedures.
I'll think of everything and you can do everything.
B-b-b...
Uncle, there's a galloping in my head and you're making it worse!
The matter is closed.
- What is the matter with him? - The matter?
- He keeps clearing his throat. - He's had a v-very bad cough.
Can't he get rid of it? It's very irritating.
Well. he's taking a cough mixture.
Oh. I see.
Well. let's hope it clears up soon.
I have a weak chest. It's not my fault.
No. But it's your chest!
Is that your own hair?
- Pardon? - Is it your own hair or a wig?
M-my own.
Why have you got so much? I find that extremely irritating.
You're much older than I am.
Uncle, I've arranged a suite of rooms for you in the palace.
You can come and live with me and my sisters. You'll like that.
The whole family will be together.
I'm very fond of my family...
generally speaking.
Uncle, your first official duty as Consul will be to have...
two statues made of my late brothers, Drusus and Nero.
They’ll be set up and consecrated in the marketplace.
The ceremony will take place in early December.
I know it'll cost a great deal of money, but there's plenty of money.
Tiberius left 27 million gold pieces.
M-may I ask how much is l-left?
Lentulus, how much is left?
Between eight and nine, Caesar.
- Is that all? - He left a lot of debts.
That goody skinflint! He owed money and left me to pay for it all!
I should have killed him when I had the chance!
Oh, my headache's getting worse.
Galloping inside it. Pounding of hooves.
- Come to my room. - It's in my head.
What was I saying?
You should have k-killed him when you had the chance.
Yes. Many times I had the chance and thought of doing it.
Shall I take G-Gemellus to his room?
No. I'm about to tell you a story. Let him hear.
This will become, I'm sure, an historic anecdote.
I want you to write it down later, Uncle.
- Will you stop coughing?! - It's very difficult.
Well. try!
Lentulus, how much is left?
Of what?
Of Tiberius' fortune.
Between eight and nine million, Caesar.
- Is that all? - He also left a lot of debts.
We've had this conversation before, what's the matter with you?
I know what I was about to say. I was going to tell you a story.
It happened three, four years ago in Capri
when I was nothing but an innocent young boy,
shocked and shamed by the depravity to which the Emperor had fallen.
More and more, in my precocious wisdom,
I realised that the fate of Rome might rely on a single knife stroke.
A knife in my hand.
And the thought tormented me.
I began to see it as my inescapable destiny.
"But why me?" I said.
"Why me, who never had a single violent thought in his life?
"Why should this onerous duty be thrust upon me?"
Yet, one night, sleepless as usual with grief
at the fate of my dear mother and my dear brothers...
I decided, come what might...
that I would be evenged, at last, upon their murderer.
So I took a knife that belonged to my father, Germanicus,
and I went into the Emperor's room where he lay tossing and groaning
in a nightmare of guilt.
There was a galloping in my head and a pounding...
Yes. Yes, I remember.
That was the first time I heard it.
I lifted the dagger in order to strike...
when a divine voice sounded in my ear.
"Great grandson, stop!
"Hold your hand. To kill him would be impious!"
I froze.
I turned to see if I could find the owner of the voice,
but there was no one there besides the Emperor and myself.
And yet I felt the presence of the Divine Augustus.
"Oh, God Augustus!" I cried.
"He killed my mother and my brothers, your descendants.
"Should I not evenge them
"even at the risk of being shunned by all men as a parricide?"
Augustus answered.
"Oh, magnanimous son, who art to be Emperor hereafter,
"there is no need to do what you would do.
"By my orders,
"the Furies nightly evenge your dear ones while he sleeps.
"Leave them to their work and him to the torments of his dreams
"and the torments to come in the hereafter.
"He will suffer eternal agonies, I swear,
"while you...while you, my son...
"while...after a glorious reign...
"will enter the bosom of Augustus."
I threw the dagger aside.
Father! Father!
Help me!
Stop it!
STOP IT!
Stop it!
Stop it! Stop!
The statues must be ready by the end of N-November.
- I said I'd do my best... - I can take the work elsewhere!
You'd lose time. We've already started.
- You heven't started them! - I promise we'll start tomorrow.
The way the Emperor is, he won't be ready for the ceremony.
Never mind the Emperor, that's his business.
You just make sure those statues are r-ready!
The Emperor awoke this morning, but then relapsed into a coma.
That's all I can tell you.
I suggest that you return to your homes.
Everything that can be done is being done.
We pray for him hourly. Tell him that if he wakes.
I shall
I've offered my own life in place of his if the gods will spare him.
If anything happens to him, it would be the worst calamity to befall Rome
since the death of Germanicus.
Your prayers will help him, I'm sure.
Uncle Claudius, come quickly! He's awake and he wants to see you.
- What for? - I don't know.
For heeven's sake, humour him.
He'll kill you if you don't say what he wants.
- What does he want me to say? - I don't know!
But he just tried to kill me.
He said I didn't love him.
He made me swear over and over again that I did! Oh, do go, please!
Hail C-Caesar.
What a j-j-joy to see you alive and to hear your voice again.
D-dare I hope that you're better?
I've never really been ill
Oh. Really?
No. I've been undergoing a metamorphosis.
Oh. Was it p-p-painful?
It was like a birth in which the mother delivers herself.
Oh, yes.
Oh, that m-must have been p-painful
M-may I enquire what is the character
of this g-glorious change which has come over you?
Isn't it obvious?
Y-you've b-become a g-g-god!
Oh, my god.
Oh, let me worship you!
Oh, how could I have been so blind?!
Well. I am still in mortal disguise.
No, I should have seen it at once.
Your face shines, even in this light, like a l-lamp.
Does it?
Get me that mirror.
Oh. It is bright, isn't it?
I could r-read by it.
I always knew that this would happen.
I always knew I was divine. Think of it.
When I was two, I put down a mutiny in my father's army and saved Rome.
That was prodigious.
It's like the stories they tell of M-Mercury as a child,
or Hercules who s-s-strangled snakes in his cradle.
Exactly. Only Mercury only stole a few oxen,
whereas by the age of ten, I'd already killed my father.
- You didn't know that, did you? - N-n-no...
Divinity.
Even Jove didn't do that. He merely banished the old man.
Why, if you d-don't mind my asking, d-did you do that?
Well. he stood in my way.
Me - a young god!
He tried to discipline me. So I frightened him to death in Antioch.
So it was you who did all that?
It's incredible.
No, not at all Not for a god. It was very simple.
Not only did I kill my natural father,
I also killed my adoptive father, Tiberius. Jove never did that!
No. I've never read that he did that.
And you're a very well-read man.
And whereas Jove only slept with one of his sisters,
I've slept with all three of mine - all had a god in their beds.
Martina told me it was right for a god.
Oh, you knew Martina well?
Oh, yes, yes. Very well A very wise woman.
In Egypt, she taught me about the gods - especially the Greek ones.
She said that I was more like Zeus than Jove.
Jove was just a pale Roman copy of Zeus.
Zeus married his sister, didn't he?
- Yes. - What was her name?
- Hera. - Hera. That's it.
And she became pregnant by him.
No. That was Metis.
And fearing that the child would become stronger than himself
and r-rule the heevens,
he took the child from her body and swallowed it whole,
and Athena sprang from his head.
Yes, something like that.
I never used to believe that sort of story but, of course, now...
I can see that they’re true.
Well. now you understand why I have always been divine.
Drusilla is divine too.
I shall announce it at the same time I announce my own divinity.
Oh, this is the most glorious hour of my life!
Will you allow me to retire and s-sacrifice to you at once?
The d-divine air you exhale is too strong for me.
I'm fainting, D-Divinity.
Go in peace.
I was thinking of killing you, but I've changed my mind.
Send Drusilla to me.
He wants to see you.
He's become a god. Oh, you're a god too.
We're not.
A god? Which one?
He thinks he's Zeus!
- That sounds bad for us mortals. - Perhaps not.
When he announces his divinity, they’ll all see he's mad.
We'll have the Republic back.
My friend, this could be the b-best thing that aver happened to us.
The Emperor is coming.
There is something you ought to know before he arrives,
so you won't be taken totally by surprise.
We are privileged to be living during the most astonishing advent.
The Emperor has undergone a transformation -
a metamorphosis.
He has become a god.
That is unusual. to say the least.
But that's the nature of miracles - to be unusual
If it's the nature of some people not to believe in them...
well. the more fool them.
The Emperor doesn't want to make too much of it.
He doesn't want any public announcements.
He wants us all to behave normally.
Although he is now a god, he is still the same lovable young man.
I can attest to that.
And to enable his relationships to continue as they always were,
he has decided, for convenience, to retain his mortal form.
By the way, his sister Drusilla's become a goddess. Any questions?
Well. of course, it is unusual. but, as Sertorius Macro says
that is the nature of miracles.
Why, one must ask oneself, are gods made only after death?
Sooner or later, a man was bound to be reborn a god in our very midst.
If we worship the Divine Augustus after his death,
doesn't it make sense to worship his great-grandson while he's alive?
I think we should count ourselves fortunate to be living at this time.
Gentlemen, posterity will envy us.
Posterity will call you an ass, you idiot.
The Emperor!
My sister and I are pleased to admit you into our presence again.
- Your recovery is a miracle. - You prayed for it, Lentulus.
Night and day. But our prayers are not always heard.
Yes, but yours were very special
You offered your life to the gods in place of mine. That was noble.
It's true. I did.
- What are you going to do about it? - Do about it?
What do you mean?
Well. I'm still here and so are you, but we oughtn't both to be here.
Should we not give the gods the things we promise them?
You're in danger of perjury. Think about it.
But not too long. The gods won't wait for aver. I know them well
We will walk to the forum and show ourselves to the people of Rome.
Still coughing? We must do something about that.
- You heven't forgotten my statues? - No.
- Herod, you're back. - To bring you my congratulations.
Come, walk with me a while. I want to talk to you.
There's no one in all Rome man enough to strike him down like a dog?!
It's v-very difficult, Mother. There are always guards.
Anyway, I've never killed anyone before.
Besides, everyone believes this madness can't last.
Either he'll recover his senses or he'll die.
- Couldn't you poison his food? - Mother! What am I, an assassin?
- A living god among us! - And a goddess.
I saw that coming a long time ago.
To take a sister for a wife! They will both rot in hell for it.
- I feel sorry for her. - You would!
She's terrified of him, so she p-plays up to him!
- I don't blame her. - I'd kill myself first!
No one wants to die, Mother.
I saw Lentulus' face when it dawned on him that the god wasn't joking.
He waited hoping Caligula would forget it, but he didn't.
He sent Macro with some guards to watch him while he opened his veins.
He got what he deserved! You're all a pack of shameless cowards!
When Germanicus died, there died the last of the Romans.
It's good to get away from Rome.
You're fortunate you don't have to live in the palace.
- What goes on there at night... - I have heard enough!
- Has he any money left? - No, not much.
He gave a charioteer 20,000 gold pieces the other day
just for w=winning a race.
When the money runs out, you'd all better watch out.
I'll see you both at supper.
- She's very upset. - Well. what can I do?
I've got a mad nephew, but I can't kill him.
What's the matter with us, Herod?
These are the children of Germanicus. How could it happen?
You know what they say about the tree of the Claudians?
It bears two kinds of fruit - the sweet and the bad.
They’ve certainly had a t-terrifying crop this seeson.
This isn't their house.
This is our house.
Yes.
We shall spend most of our time here.
I'll build a bridge to connect it to the palace.
I'll hold my audiences here.
Yes!
Look at him. Jove!
- Does he look like a god? - An inferior god.
Yes. An inferior god.
Did you hear that?
You're not important enough for this temple.
I beg your pardon?
Be careful what you say to me or I'll have your face smashed in!
Well. speak up! I can't hear you.
Well. for now you may address me as Zeus,
for in power he is the nearest who approaches me.
You were created by the old Romans in his image, but you're nothing.
Nothing, do you hear me?
And this is Hera...
out of whom the Romans created you!
We shall move you both to an annexe.
You've been here far too long.
This is the temple in which I have chosen
to bear the child of Zeus!
A child?
Mine?
The child of Zeus.
To rule the universe.
Tell her.
Tell her what it's like to be loved by Zeus.
Tell her.
It was like the sun bursting in my veins.
It was like a shooting star!
It was as if all the lights in the universe blazed at once in my womb!
And a new universe was born.
- But you promised they’d be ready! - Don't get excited.
I said I'd do my best, that's all
They must be ready for the ceremony tomorrow.
- Nero's ready. - One's no good, you idiot!
- There's no need to be offensive. - I'll have you thrown out of the city!
The marble didn't arrive till last weak and my best sculptor's sick.
- The marble was here last time! - It was? There was a crack in it.
You used it for somebody else!
I swear we never used it for anyone else.
- Take Nero. Drusus will be a weak. - You can keep it.
You've got me into a great deal of trouble.
Keep it? What am I going to do with a statue of Nero?
You can stick it! And you know where you can stick it!
I'll see you in the courts for breach of contract!
You'll sue me? I'll sue you! I'll sue you for damages.
For misrepresentation. For fraud.
You'll be hearing from my lawyers!
I'll charge you for that too!
Caesar, there's something you should know.
- Can you hear it? - Hear what?
Gemellus coughing.
Can't you hear it?
N-no.
Oh, what it is to have the senses of a god. I can hear everything.
Even a leaf falling on the other side of the world.
Sometimes it's unbearable to hear so much.
Can't you hear anything?
N-not a thing.
He was coughing all the way through dinner. Why weren't you at dinner?
I f-fell asleep.
He was coughing all the way through dinner.
Even from his room at the far side of the palace, I could hear him.
No one else could. Not even Hera.
Hera?
Oh, yes, Hera.
No, I don't think she would have heard him.
It's stopped.
Oh, I'm glad.
Yes. You wanted to tell me something?
Y-yes. It's about the s-statues.
Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that. You've noticed too?
Noticed what?
Well. that none of the statues of the gods in Rome look like me.
I can't have that.
I want you to collect the statues of the gods in Rome
and replace their heads with one of my own.
- Your own? - Yes. And Hera's too.
You can put her head on the statue of Venus.
Isn't she beautiful?
And she's pregnant. She carries my child in her womb.
The thought torments me. What could it be like?
Could it be greater than Zeus himself? Could it rule the universe?
The statues of N-Nero and D-Drusus
w=won't be ready for the ceremony.
What?
The statues of your b-brothers won't be ready in time.
Won't be ready? !
- It's not my fault... - You've bungled it!
You're an idiot! I was a fool to have trusted you!
I've a good mind to have your throat cut. In fact I'll do it now!
No! No! No!
- What is it? ! - Who is it?
Gemellus.
- I've cured his cough. - Oh, no.
Oh, no!
And you're not Consul any more! You are dismissed!
I'll find somebody else!
- Take it away. It looks horrible. - Yes, Caesar.
Drusilla, wake up, please.
Please, Drusilla, my head!
Please.
No one can be greater than Zeus.
Not even the child of Zeus.
There weren't many at the funeral. were there?
What did you expect? Caligula denounced him as a traitor.
All the same, he was Tiberius' grandson, and still only a boy.
How can people believe such nonsense?
People will believe anything.
We're fortunate he didn't celebrate the funeral with games.
I want to speak to Claudius alone.
Of course. I'll go.
Is there something wrong, or has Gemellus' funeral upset you?
It was the funeral
- Goodbye, Herod. - Goodbye.
- Are you going away somewhere? - Yes.
At long last, I'm going to join your father.
- What do you mean? - I'm going to kill myself.
Don't start any nonsense.
- But you can't. - Oh, yes, I can.
My life's my own. It'll be a welcome release.
I've no wish to go on living in this place.
You don't have to pretend you'll miss me.
Of course I'll miss you. You're my mother.
That's very dutiful. considering I've never been very loving to you.
I'm sorry for that, but you've always been a disappointment to me.
- Oh, don't say that... - You see? Crying at your age.
- Well. why shouldn't I cry? - There's no need.
Keep your tears for yourself, you may need them. I shan't.
- Don't do it, please. - My mind is made up.
I don't want to stay here any more.
I was born into a world of people. It's become a kennel of mad dogs.
I've seen my splendid son, Germanicus, murdered,
and my grandsons, Drusus, Nero, Gemellus.
My grand-daughters are degenerate,
and your sister, Livilla, died by my own hand.
That was the worst. I should have died then myself.
W-wait a while. Caligula's sick in his mind. Sooner or later...
Rome is sick - sick to its heart. He's just the rash she's come out in.
But he can't last f-forever.
No. And I daresay you'll survive him.
You'd survive the Great Flood, I know that now.
But I've no wish to.
I've stayed too long and it's good manners to know when to leave.
You'll find all my affairs in order.
Pay my debts and be good to my slaves - they’ve been very loyal
I shall go down to Antium and do it.
Come in five hours, I shall be dead by then,
but wait till Briseis confirms it in case you catch my dying breath.
I count on you to pay me the last rites.
Remember to cut off my hand for separate burial
for this will be suicide. It'll be just like you to forget.
And Claudius... Claudius.
Please don't make a muddle of the valedictory.
You may kiss me.
Oh, Mother.
She's dead, Master. You can go in.
How was it?
Oh, so easy, Master.
When life so wants to escape,
it takes but the touch of the knife on the vein to let it flow away.
She didn't cry out?
Only at the end. I heard her call to your father.
"Drusus, Drusus," she said. "Forgive me, forgive me."
Forgive me?
Perhaps for keeping him waiting for so long.
I've taken her out of the bath. She's covered with a sheet.
You can go and see her now.
Yes. Yes. I'll come in a m-minute.
Don't be surd, Master.
She wanted to go. It was no effort.
Calm as you like, and brave.
Well. she was Mark Antony's daughter and Octavia's. You'd expect that.
I've cut off her hand for separate burial
Why did you do it?
She asked me to, Master.
Perhaps she thought it might slip your mind.
Zeus!
My husband! Where are you?
Oh, you're not Zeus.
You're not my husband, Zeus.
You're just my silly old Uncle C-C-Claudius.
It was your grandmother's funeral today. Couldn't you have attended?
Gods don't attend funerals.
You're drunk.
No.
My husband found this wonderful potion which we take.
It makes you feel as if you're riding through the air!
Have you seen him - my husband? He's hiding.
Do you mean your b-brother?
Yes. My brother.
My divine potent brother.
Potent.
Do you know he's to be a father?
Hera is with child by Zeus.
Or Metis or Diana.
Sometimes I'm one, sometimes I'm the other. He gets a bit confused.
Why do you play up to him like this?
Why do you? You play the clown, I play the goddess.
You're disgusting!
You wouldn't dare say that to him.
You're afraid. Well. we're all afraid - even he is.
Do you know what he's afraid of?
This.
He's afraid it will be more powerful than he is and rule the heevens.
Now I have something he's afraid of.
Zeus!
Where are you? Zeus!
Zeus, my treasure? Are you in there?
Zeus!
Ah!
Oh, you frightened me.
Oh, it's magnificent.
It'll tickle a bit.
Why are you hiding in here?
I wanted you to find me in here.
You see, I've altered my whole room.
Olympus.
We gods like to live on mountain tops
and while I live in this palace, this reminds me of my real home.
And what's this?
A chariot to draw you up to the clouds.
Drink this.
Oh, I think I've drunk enough. Is it the same?
It's the same. We gods drink it before we perform a miracle.
Drink it. Drink. Drink. Drink.
You know I love you?
More than anything in the whole world?
Let me show you how you'll be drawn up into Olympus.
You see...
Golden bracelets to help you.
To help you...
ride.
Shall we ride together?
Who am I?
Zeus, Lord of Heeven, my husband.
- Who are you? - The Queen of Heeven, your wife.
- Do you trust me? - Oh, utterly, my lover, my lord.
- There'll be no pain, I promise. - Pain?
Why, what do you want to do, my angel?
You know I can resist you nothing.
What are you doing?
What do you want to do?
Oh, tell the Queen of Heeven what her lord and master wants.
I must draw the child from the Queen of Heeven's womb
and swallow it whole, so a new child may grow out of the head of Zeus.
Oh, yes, darling. Draw it out.
Let Zeus take the child and...
Oh, let's go to bed.
Your queen's very sleepy.
What's that? What are you going to do?
There'll be no pain, I know it.
Pain? But why should...?
Caligula?
We are immortal gods!
Open the door!
Don't go in there.
It's from Herod.
- What does he say? - Oh, it's written from J-Jerusalem.
Read it to me. His letters are so amusing.
"My dear old friend,
"what is all this I hear about you living in three rooms
"in the p-poor quarter of town?
"Is it serious?
"Why did you not write to me?
"Is it that absurd p-pride of yours?
"Well. I shall attend to that shortly.
"Meanwhile, knowing how loath you are to accept money
"and being the only p-practical friend you ever had,
"I enclose a little p-p-present for you.
"Please make proper use of it. Herod."
- What is it? It seems very small - Well. I don't know.
I don't think that's very generous.
Venus!
Oh, Claudius, I think your luck is changing.
I'm sure it's an omen!
Those dice are crooked.
You can't possibly use them!
Oh, dear Herod! How I miss him.
- Master, have you Sean this? - What?
- It was on the door of the temple. - What is it?
It's advertising a brothel in the palace! They’re all over the city.
A brothel? In the palace? But who is to serve in it?
His sisters, his cousins, senators and their wives.
- You knew about it? - Yes.
Why didn't you tell me?
He wants you there?
He wants me to take the m-money on the door.
Oh, Claudius.
The monster. The little monster.
Forcing the nobility into prostitution.
And in the palace!
Even Calpurnia wouldn't serve there, and it's her profession!
Briseis, that is not her profession any more!
My dear, that was and is my profession.
I'm a prostitute and I'm not ashamed of it.
All the same, I won't serve in his brothel!
Either as d-doorkeeper or chucker out. There's some price a man won't pay.
- Claudius, she's terrified. - There's nothing you can do.
Claudius, listen. She's given birth six weeks ago.
- I'm afraid of what she'll do. - There are no exceptions.
There must be a room to put her in. Please!
Do you want my throat cut along with yours?! You've paid, go in!
Enjoy yourself.
- Come, it's not important. - No.
Do you want the child left without a mother? Come on.
Ah, another customer.
And we were just running out of men.
Real men.
Sabinus, isn't it? And I see you've brought your pretty wife.
My dear, you'll make a fortune in there tonight.
You'd better, anyway. The Emperor has just raised his commission.
- Shall we go? - Ah, reinforcements.
Marcus Vinicius, the Emperor's brother-in-law
and your first customer.
Make him pay through the nose, my dear - you're worth it.
Come.
- What are you doing? - Chucking you out!
- But you've no right! - That's what I'm here for.
- Why? - For creating a disturbance.
- She was creating the disturbance! - Out! See him off the premises.
- Go home. - But the Emperor...?
I'll tell him I threw you out for indecent behaviour.
- You're a good man, Claudius. - Oh.
Claudius?
We must help him, the Emperor.
- He's your husband. You help him! - Claudius.
He's sick. He needs good people around him.
He's killed them all! What are you doing here in your condition?
He told me to come. He likes me to be with him.
Has he shown you, naked, to his G-German guards lately?
Oh, I'm sorry, Caesonia.
It's not for me to criticise.
I bleat with the rest of them whenever he appears.
There are no lions among us any more.
What are you doing? Let me go!
"Vulcan, with awkward grace his office plies,
"while unextinguished laughter shakes the skies."
Homer. For "Vulcan" read "Old Uncle Claudius."
Oh...
"Then, from his anvil. the lame craftsman rose...
"Wide...with distorted legs, oblique he goes."
Oh, bravo!
Henceforth, Uncle, you shall be Vulcan.
While I...
Oh, what am I...
but Ulysses returning home
to witness the shame and degradation of his household.
Cassius.
Did you ever see a sight as surd and degrading as this?
Shall I arrest them?
No. Let them indulge themselves a while longer.
Soon, I promise, I shall flush this savage into the Tiber forever.
Meanwhile, Jove must cleanse himself in battle.
I have sworn to fight a war against the Germans
that will end in their annihilation.
I shall bring back booty to Rome, fill her coffers, enrich her purse.
Cassius, order the detachments and raise the levies!
I go to forge, in the white-hot fires of war,
a new and tempered spirit of Rome
that will last a thousand years!
There's a good girl
Claudius!
I brought a little g-gift for the baby.
Oh, Claudius.
That's lovely.
- Show it to her. - How is she?
Come and see.
Ah, there. She's very pretty.
Yes... She looks just like you.
Come and sit down.
So, how is Calpurnia?
She's well She sends her felicitations.
I'm going to see the Emperor in Germany.
I'll be able to report that you're both looking well
- Why are you going to Germany? - Heven't you heard?
- You know they tell me nothing. - I'm not sure I should tell you.
Oh, I suppose you'll hear about it soon enough.
Well. he has informed the Senate by letter
that he has uncovered a vast conspiracy in the army of the Rhine.
Six corps commanders and the army commander himself, Gaetulicus,
have been executed.
More executions are still taking place.
Do you think there was a conspiracy?
Who knows? Would it surprise you?
But Gaetulicus? No. He was my father's old friend,
my brother's corps commander, a soldier of iron loyalties.
- No. That's not possible. - Why are you going, then?
The Senate is sending me, and two ex-Consuls, to congratulate him
on the s-suppression of the mutiny.
As I said, the only lions left in Rome are in the arena.
I'm also to strip Livia's apartments of their valuables
and send them to him by road. He stresses by road.
Apparently, he has a quarrel with Neptune and fears a boat will sink.
- What does he want them for? - To auction to the provincials.
He's auctioning everything at the moment. He has a gift for it.
Claudius, what am I doing here?
Why did he choose me for a wife?
I'm ten years older than he is, not pretty.
I was born the daughter of a night-watchman, I married a baker.
What does he see in me?
Perhaps that you, alone among everyone...
truly l-love him.
Yes, I do love him.
I can't explain why.
I know he does terrible things.
I'll tell you something.
He is more afraid than any of us.
Cassius!
I've just been talking to that river god. He threatened to drown me.
- Does he know who you are? - He does now.
I've just given him a severe reprimand.
Well. the river's going down, isn't it?
Yes, Caesar.
Your uncle is here with Marcus Vinicius and Asprenas.
Let them in.
Hail Caesar.
Lord of the Heevens, the Senate and the people of...
Where are my carts?
C-carts?
The carts with the valuables in them.
Oh, heeven bless Your Majesty, they’re coming by road.
They’ll be a few days. We wanted to get here quick, so we came by water.
Oh, then back by water you go!
- Throw him in the river! - Oh, merciful god!
How dare you arrive without my carts?!
You said they should come by road!
Take him onto the bridge and throw him off!
Prostrate yourselves in the presence of Jove!
How dare the Senate send that idiot to congratulate me!
I'll have their throats cut. He's not worthy. The man's an imbecile!
I save Rome from a conspiracy
and they send that clapped-out crippled old clown to felicitate me?
Is that the respect that they give their Emperor? !
What's going on there?
More plots, more conspiracies.
I'll set my German guards on them when I get back.
I'll burn the place down! It never was any use!
Yes. I should have done that a long time ago.
I should have had his throat cut before.
He makes a mess of everything!
He couldn't even order my brothers' statues on time.
Merciful god, we only came by see to bring our congratulations sooner.
I wanted carts, not congratulations!
Up! Up! Up! Up! Up!
Did I not tell you that I've had a quarrel with Neptune?
He plagues me all the time with his see noises,
stirs the river gods up against me and makes war on me.
How dare you ride with him!
Perhaps...
Yes.
Perhaps you plotted with him.
No, merciful god!
Yes, you and that imbecile uncle of mine plotted with him.
- No, highest one... - What did you talk about, then?
You and Neptune?
What did you say to one another?
Nothing, we swear!
Mere mortals can't talk to a god!
Perhaps he appeared to you in mortal guise as I do.
What did he look like?
We never saw him.
Oh, please believe me. He wouldn't plot with us.
Perhaps you're right.
But I shall kill you just the same.
Down! Cassius, give me your sword.
Oh, please! In the name of your wife, my sister...
How dare you mention that whore to me?!
But what have we done?
I'll show the Senate what I think of their envoys!
I'll send you back in pieces. I wish I'd done the same with my uncle.
Never mind, they’ll get the message.
No!
And where have you been, my dear, dear Vulcan?
Oh... "I felt the Thunderer's might,
"Hurled headlong down from the ethereal height,
"Breathless I fell. in giddy motions lost.
"The Sinthians raised me on the Lemnian coast."
For "Lemnian" read "Rhenian".
By Jove! - which is always to say "by myself" -
this fellow knows his Homer.
Please, Claudius, beseech the Emperor to save our lives.
"Be silent and obey!
"Dear as you are, if Jove his arm extend
"I can but grieve, unable to defend."
Look, if the next two lines are apt, then they’re saved.
If not, I'll have their throats cut.
Oh, what... Oh!
"What soul so daring in your aid to move,
"Or lift his arm against the might of Jove?"
For "Jove" read "C-C..."
Me!
Oh, he's got a line for everything. Get up.
You're saved by Claudius' ready tongue.
Come into the other room. I'll give you a blanket.
Oh, Cassius.
What is the watchword for tonight, Caesar?
Oh. The watchword for tonight? Let me see.
What about "Give us a kiss"?
It could have been just now.
It could happen tomorrow or the next day to you or to me.
But do not doubt it will happen one day.
Did that surprise you - the watchword that I gave to Cassius?
Oh, I t-thought it was a j-j-joke.
It was, but it's my joke, not his.
I do it to annoy him.
When he addresses a commander of the guard,
he has to say "Give us a kiss"!
Yesterday, I gave him "Touch me, Titus"!
Why, m-may I ask, d-do you do that?
- Because he's a cry-baby. - Cassius?
I thought he was the b-bravest soldier in the army.
So did I, but he's not.
I had him torture Gaetulicus to get some information out of him,
and we got no information and he died under torture,
and one of the guards told me that Cassius wept.
I was going to give him Macro's command, but I didn't after that.
How many hours a night do you sleep?
Sleep? Oh, eight or n-nine, I suppose.
Well. I sleep barely three!
Do g-g-gods need more?
Do you think I'm mad?
M-m-mad?
Yes. Sometimes I think that I'm going mad. Do you...?
Be honest with me, has that thought ever crossed your mind?
Never.
N-never. Why, the idea is preposterous!
You set the standard of s-sanity for the whole world.
Then why is there all this galloping in my head?
And why do I sleep so little?
Well. it's your mortal disguise.
You see, a physical body is a great strain if you're not used to it...
which a god isn't.
Um, err... And that explains too, I think...
the three hours sleep.
You see, undisguised gods never sleep at all
Yes, you're probably right.
But if I'm a god, which of course I am, why didn't I think of that?
Anyway, whatever the reason, it's very hard to be a god.
Oh, you do know that I am that all-powerful god
whose coming the Jews have prophesied for centuries?
Oh, yes, you told me.
I feel very p-privileged to receive that information -
especially as the Jews, apparently, don't know it.
But it's prophesied that he'll die young and hated by his own people.
No, I can't believe that.
Not hated.
It's incredible, isn't it? It must be true.
Uncle, I want you to come with us on this expedition.
When we've auctioned the stuff in the carts...
When they arrive!
We shall cross the Rhine, defeat the Germans and march towards the see.
I shall do battle with my old enemy Neptune,
and what triumphs I shall have when we return to Rome.
Now leave me. I have a headache.
Your Emperor is amongst you once again.
All his wars successfully concluded
and the victorious armies brought back to Rome.
He had thought, in his divine innocence...
that the roads might be lined with cheering crowds.
He had thought that the streets might be strewn with flowers.
He had thought that messages would tell him of triumphs to be awarded.
What did he find?
This conqueror of the Germans, this victor over the mighty Neptune?
The streets empty of crowds and flowers, no triumphs awarded,
no Games, no celebrations...
but three miserable old ex-Consuls waiting at the gates to great him
and a room full of cowardly stay-at-home senators,
who spent all their time at the theatre and at the baths,
while he has spent six months
living no better than a private soldier!
Yes, your Emperor has returned...
but with this in his hand!
But, Jove, you ordered no triumphs.
Well. of course I ordered no triumphs!
Would I order triumphs for myself?
But you ordered us not to order any.
Yes, and you took me at my word, didn't you?
Typical!
It didn't occur to you that I might be leaving it up to you
for your love to show itself freely?
It didn't occur to you that it might be my natural humility speaking?
"I ordered you not to celebrate."
But you ordered celebrations for the anniversary of Actium, didn't you?
Celebrated the defeat of my great-grandfather Mark Antony!
How many bottles of wine did you open toasting his murder
while I was doing battle with the see?
Show them our booty!
Show them the plunder we gathered from old Neptune.
Sea-shells?
Yes. Spoils of the see.
Loot from old Neptune.
He won't take me on again in a hurry.
Jove, while you were away,
we built a new temple to you on Palatine Hill
That won't save you! Down on your knees, all of you!
Bend your heads. I shall sever each one at the nock!
Merciful god!
Would you spoil the great day of your return by spilling blood?
When they write the history of this day
should they have to mix it with the death of these fools?
Claudius is right, my Lord.
My husband. Think of your little daughter.
When she is older, she will read the account of your return.
Must these fools intrude on such a glorious page of history?
Your soft words have appeased my wrath.
As we know, prayer can soften the hearts of gods.
You may go.
I shall inspect the temple in the morning.
How right you were, Jove, to want to punish them
for celebrating the battle of Actium.
Marcus, I had them both ways. If they hadn't,
they would have insulted Augustus, my grandfather, who won the battle.
And Agrippa too, who was your other grandfather...
Marcus Vinicius, you are no longer my friend.
What have I said?
You reminded him that Agrippa was his grandfather.
- But Agrippa was a great man! - Yes, but of very l-low birth.
Such men do not produce gods, Marcus.
Certainly not ones capable of d-defeating Neptune.
If you're no longer his friend, what can you be but his enemy?
Go your own way, Cassius.
If we all go our own way, we shall all end by going the same way.
Yes. I'm coming!
Yes, yes! I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming.
Oh, Claudius, don't go. They could be assassins.
Who are you? What do you want?
- You're wanted at the palace! - Is that you, Cassius?
- Yes. Hurry up. - W-what's the matter?
My orders are to fetch you at once.
Marcus Vinicius and Asprenas too.
Never mind about dressing. Throw on a cloak.
How long...? How long have we been sitting here, do you think?
About t-t-two hours. It must be nearly light.
What do you think he's going to do with us?
I don't know. I j-just hope it's q-quick, that's all
Claudius, I'm sorry I've made fun of you.
- It doesn't m-matter now. - Will you give me your hand?
Thank you, that's a great comfort to me.
* Whenever the God of Night sleeps on
* The rosy-fingered goddess, Dawn
* Tiptoes on his domain
* And then she flits across the skies from star to star about
* She lightens darkness where she flies and blows Night's candles out
* Raging on her heels Night treads
* And tries to hold her fast
* And bring her loveliness to bed and ravish her at last
* And Avery night he once contrives to win a single kiss
* To win a single kiss
* Before the morning sun arrives
* To rob him of his bliss
* And now she turns and lightly treads
* On pillows everywhere
* She must awaken from their beds
* The secret lovers there
* But loath to part they linger there
* She urges them away
* Oh, Dawn, of goddesses most fair
* We worship you each day
* We worship you each day! *
Oh, god of gods!
Never have I witnessed a dance
that gave me such p-profound s-spiritual joy!
Oh. Did you like it?
It was indesc-ccribable.
Well. it was only a rehearsal
Oh. W-whatever will the f-finished performance be like?
Get up. Come here.
What did you think of the girl?
Oh, b-beautiful
You old lecher!
Bring the girl back!
I'm going to marry her to you tomorrow!
T-t-to me?
Mmm. I think it'd be very funny.
All that loveliness married to a silly crippled old fool like you.
What on earth would you do with it?
Oh, Messalina, come here.
I'm going to marry you...
to Uncle Claudius!
And you can both come and live in the palace.
Thank you, Caesar.
And now I must away to shed more light.
Oh, Cassius!
Oh, yes. The watchword for tonight.
"Bottoms up!"
I give you another watchword - "Liberty."
I'm s-s-sorry.
Don't you want to marry me?
Well..
it's j-just that I'm so much older than you.
I'd be very happy to be married to you.
To tell you the truth, I was terrified when he brought me here.
I thought he was going to...
I'd feel safe being married to you.
Do you think you could ever love me?
I think...
I'm in l-l-love with you already.
Well. if I'm to be married tomorrow, I must go home and get ready.
Goodbye, Claudius.
G-g-g...
g-goodbye.
Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus,
his family and friends.
Welcome, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus,
to you and your family and your friends.
I thank you, V-Valeria Messalina, for my family and my friends.
And I thank you for m-myself.
The noble senator Incitatus.
You know everybody, don't you?
Well. find yourself a place.
He's never been to a wedding before.
His life has really opened up since I made him a senator.
Well. let the auspices be taken.
Kill him. We've talked enough. I say kill him.
It's risky.
You can't kill a man without taking a risk.
But those German guards never leave him.
There's always a way.
Are you with us? Or will you wait till he offers you poisoned fruit
or has your throat cut at dinner?
It's all right for you, you're a soldier.
Yes. You can leave the killing to me. But will you help?
He's right, Marcus.
The longer we leave it, the more certain it is we shan't survive.
All right. But when and where?
Tomorrow is the final day of the Games.
Let's do it then.
Where?
There's a covered way at the rear of the Imperial box.
It's an exit you must persuade him to use.
- How? - Find a reason.
Tell him there are crowds out front and they’ll delay his meal
He'll have his German guards with him.
Yes. Now, here's the tricky part.
Sabinus and I will be waiting outside.
You'll be in the box with Caligula and a few friends.
Normally, he would lead the way out,
followed by his friends and then the guards.
The staircase down to the covered way is narrow.
You must be sure to be behind Caligula.
As he steps into the covered way, you must stumble or something -
anything to give us time to slam the gates
and separate Caligula from the guards.
That's all you have to do.
And then what?
We call on the Senate to declare a Republic
and put an end to this madness.
Who dies with Caligula?
The whole Imperial family.
Caesonia, the child, the two sisters...
and dear old Uncle Claudius and his new wife.
- No, I don't want that. - We must!
Whatever they think of Caligula, they have to remove his assassins.
None of us would be safe afterwards.
It's Caligula alone or not at all
All right. Just Caligula.
Liberty and the Republic.
I don't like it. It's dangerous to leave the others alive.
We shan't. I'll see to that, don't worry.
If they’re in for Caligula, they’re in for the lot.
Oh, damn! I've lost all my money! I'm not playing any more.
Here, Lord, let me lend you some.
Lend? I hate running up debts.
- Well. have half of my... - Accepted.
Why am I so unlucky today!
Unless of course it's your dice I'm playing with.
My dice? Why should my dice be different from any other?
A dice is a very personal thing.
One man's dice may be lucky for him, but not for his friend.
Here, Lord, try these. They were sent to me by Herod.
He claims they once belonged to Alexander the G-Great.
Really? I'd no idea that Alexander played dice.
He had many things in common with you, Lord.
What is it?
He's got the Thracian down.
The crowd want him spared, they’ve turned their thumbs up.
The Thracian.
If they only had one neck, I'd hack it through.
That Thracian's lost me a lot of money over the last year.
Alexander, you say? Well. let's see.
By Jove - which is always to say "by myself" - that looks promising.
Pay up, everybody.
I'm indebted to you, Uncle. You've changed my luck.
Some dice are fit only for gods to throw.
What about some food? Is Caesar hungry?
No.
Oh, I see what you mean! These dice were made for me.
Pay up again.
You did me a lot of harm with those dice, Marcus.
- I'm raising the stakes to 3,000. - I've r-run out of money, Lord.
That doesn't matter. Your new wife's got plenty. Pay up.
I've posted guards at both ends
and told them to prevent anyone coming through here.
They’ll be out soon.
I've dismissed the palace guards. They’re all at the Games.
Will you strike the first blow?
Jove himself couldn't stop me.
I can see you don't want to play any more.
You only like playing when you're winning.
Shall we watch the Games for a while?
What about a swim and some food?
I don't feel very hungry today. I've had a wonderful morning, Uncle.
Is there a favour I could grant you?
Oh, Lord, please, regard it as a small return
for the g-great happiness you've given me with my new wife.
Happiness? She wasn't supposed to make you happy, nor you her.
- It was meant to be a joke! - Oh, no, no. You misunderstand me.
I'm so clumsy at expressing myself.
No. What I meant was my happiness comes from contemplating yours.
To be the cause of s-so much merriment
is the source of d-deepest satisfaction to me.
Where are you going, Marcus?
To tell the truth, Lord, nature calls.
Something I ate last night.
Don't look at me. If I doctor your food, you'll know straight away!
That's odd. He wanted to eat a moment ago.
His behaviour's very strange lately.
- Strange? - Well. nervous. Why is he nervous?
We're all nervous in your presence, Lord.
I have never been able to understand.
Excuse me. Thank you.
He doesn't want to eat. We'll have to put it off.
- Then I'll kill him where he sits! - They’ll cut you down.
What's that to me? But I'll call on you for help before they do.
No, wait! I'll tell him his Greek ballet have arrived.
He'll come out for that.
Anything. But get him out here!
Lord, Cassius informs me your Greek ballet is here.
- Greek ballet? Where are they? - Waiting outside to great you.
Bring them in. Just the boys. The girls can wait.
They have prepared a dance in your honour which they wish to perform.
Oh. Well. in that case, we mustn't disappoint them.
Shall we see what they’ve prepared?
Lord, they’re at the rear. The front is too full of people.
Well. if they’re as good as people say they are,
I might let them dance with me.
What's this?
The watchword, butcher, is "Liberty!"
I'm a god! I'm a god! You can't kill me!
Drusilla!
I'm dying!
Drusilla!
Finish him!
This is from our wives, Jove.
You fools! You've let them kill him!
Your Emperor! After them!
Oh, Cassius. What's happened? Where has everybody gone?
No!
There's some stuff in here. Hurry up, lads! Take what you can.
Let's get out before the Germans come.
Get anything you can take. Chock it's got gold in it.
- Hay, Sergeant. - Yes?
Here's one of them.
It's one of the assassins!
N-no! Don't kill me, s-sir, I b-beg you! I had nothing to do with it!
You bastard. Kill our Emperor, would you? Put us all out of work?
Wait, Gratus, that's not an assassin.
It's the Emperor's uncle, Germanicus' brother.
He's harmless. Leave him alone. Come on, sir. We won't harm you.
Thank you.
You see, the lads are a bit angry, sir.
No Emperor, no Praetorian Guard, and it's back to the army for us.
I m-must go and f-find my wife.
Of course. Gratus, go with this gentlemen!
Why can't we have him for an Emperor?
Old Claudius?! Don't be stupid, lad. He's a simpleton. He's...
He's better than nothing.
No, no! I don't want to be Emperor!
I want a Republic!
You a member of the Imperial family, sir? Don't make me laugh!
Hay, lads! We've found an Emperor!
No!
Das ist eine! Darre Totung!
Wait a minute!
Just a minute, Herman. That's our new Emperor.
Kaiser!
Emperor!
Ja?
Ja!
Lift him up, lads! Long live the Emperor Claudius!
No! Put me down! Put me down!
Don't worry, sir, you'll get used to it. It's not such a bad life.
Put this on him.
Put me down! I don't want to be an Emperor! I w=want a Republic.
Don't say that in front of the Germans - they’ll slit your throat.
Come on, smile. Smile. That's it, that's it. Look happy.
Long live the Emperor!