And so it fell out that at Pharsalia...
the great might and manhood of Rome me tin bloody civil war...
and Caesar's legions destroyed those of the great Pompey,
so that now only Caesar stood at the head of Rome.
But there was no joy for Caesar as in his other triumphs,
for the dead which his legions counted and buried and burned...
were their own country men.
The smoke of burning Roman dead is just as black,
and the stink no less.
It was Pompey, not I, who wanted it so.
Let what I have said be set down.
You may stand.
Do not try and impress me, please, by looking either too penitent or too proud.
As field officers, you fought miserably for Pompey.
Men under your command will be permitted to enlist in my legion...
and return to Rome as Romans.
You shall have the same privilege.
I'm not being magnanimous. Your names are marked. You'll be watched.
The first sign of treachery or cowardice, you'll be killed.
What is it, Flavius ? Antony ?
Oh, yes. Canidius. With news of Pompey, I hope.
- Hail Caesar ! - Drink that in my name, Canidius.
To all Marc Antony's cavalry, Caesar's left wing and right arm.
What news of Pompey ? Or what's left of him.
Pompey's gone, Caesar.
Slipped through our fingers, disguised as a peddler, if you please.
- Leaving most of his merchandise behind. - Gone ? Where ?
There's a report he has a galley waiting at the coast.
Provision for a long voyage. Egypt, they say.
Egypt. Possibly. They owe him a great deal.
He'll ask for sanctuary. Borrow money, borrow time.
I thought it was over. seems it's not.
Rufio, consult the augurers. I want to know.
In Egypt, will Pompey face me at last ?
But surely, Caesar will now return to Rome.
I must go to Egypt in any case.
Young King Ptolemy and his sister seem to be having a civil war of their own,
intent on destroying each other, and in the process,
- a great deal of wheat for Rome. - That cannot be so urgent.
Let the people of Rome welcome great Caesar properly at last,
in this greatest of his triumphs.
Triumph ? Over what ?
Over whom ?
- Canidius. - Caesar ?
Leaving me the 10th and 12th, Antony is to take the rest back to Rome.
- When can he start ? - Whenever you say.
Then at once.
And in Rome, Marc Antony is to speak for Caesar.
There's to be no question about his authority to act in my name.
His word will be yours.
And as always, Caesar's word will be law.
Of course. And remind him to keep his legions intact.
- They make the law legal. - Caesar.
Andevenas Caesar's galleys sailed the great sea to Egypt,
it was happening that, just as the Romans,
so the Egyptians made war one upon the other,
for young King Ptolemy would no longer share the throne with his sister Cleopatra,
Brutus, you'll turn Casca's head with your flattery.
but drove her from the city of Alexandria...
and sought to destroy her.
We seemed to have arrived on their market day.
One day each week, they are permitted into the royal enclosure.
Market day or not, where's the guard of honor for Caesar ?
Some representative, at least, of the royal military.
We shall now have the privilege of watching mighty Caesar...
battle his way through our marketplace.
Marcellus, a dozen front-rank men, swords only.
I want a path cleared on a direct line to the palace steps,
- then as many more you need to keep it open. - Marcellus ?
It's precisely what they hope we'd be stupid enough to do: manhandle their people.
No. This is their market day, Rufio. We will go marketing.
- You're not serious. - We will shop our way to the palace steps.
Have you my money ? Everything is to be paid for by coin.
Tell the men to put away their swords and carry their moneybags in hand.
Olives. Oil of Olives.
Ah ! The wine of Samos !
How much for your wine ? Four drachma.
Sixty of your wine for my men.
Pay him.
You said the Romans were going to push the people back and make them angry.
Why aren't they doing what you said they'd do ?
Your king has asked you a question, Lord Chamberlain.
The, uh, Romans have degenerated minds, Most High Majesty.
They, uh, do the unexpected.
Particularly one Roman.
Master of the unexpected.
But with so few men.
You all look so impressive.
Any one of you could be king.
His Divine Majesty, my Lord Ptolemy,
lord of the upper regions and of the lower regions,
son of Ra, of Horus and of Thoth, beloved of--
Et cetera, et cetera. You welcome me.
And I, Gaius Julius Caesar, consul of the Roman Senate, Pontifex Maximus.
Et cetera, et cetera. Thank you.
From the Senate and the people of Rome, Hail King Ptolemy.
And, uh, his sister and co-ruler, Queen Cleopatra.
They won't tell you so, but Cleopatra's dead.
She tried to kill me, and then we chased her off into the desert.
- And there, she died. - Whereas it is true that His Majesty's sister...
repeatedly plotted to have him killed,
it is not true that Cleopatra is dead.
Whereas it is true that she, uh, fled from Alexandria.
I seem to be always interrupting you,
but the search for truth can go on and on.
Pothinus, is it not ? Lord Chamberlain...
and chief eunuch to King Ptolemy-- an exalted rank...
obtained not without certain, shall we say, sacrifice.
Theodotus, am I right ?
Tutor to His Majesty in history, philosophy and, uh, ambition.
And Achillas. They tell me you're a good soldier.
As one to another then, where is Queen Cleopatra ?
- With her army. - And how many of your men between her and Alexandria ?
- Enough. - May I speak ?
Surely you have come here in peace, mighty Caesar,
nor do we present ourselves to you in anything but warm and respectful welcome.
Actually, our only problem being an intern alone of concern only to us.
Why have you come, Caesar ?
As we all know,
when the father of both Ptolemy and Cleopatra died,
he named the two of them to rule jointly over Egypt.
Rome was appointed their guardian and the executor of his will.
I have come in the name of Rome to ask why Queen Cleopatra has been deposed,
to resolve the differences between her and King Ptolemy...
and to see that they peacefully resume their joint ruler ship of Egypt.
That will be difficult.
Cleopatra has forfeited her right.
I shall try to decide justly.
Don't you see that he's going to send for her ? He's going to bring Cleopatra back.
The sun which sheds its grace upon the ruler of the two lands burns too brightly perhaps.
If our Lord Ptolemy wishes to retire--
I wish nothing of the kind !
I'm not going to be put out of the way until I've watched you give him that !
A thousand pardons, Divine Majesty, I had almost forgotten.
My Lord Ptolemy wishes to enhance his welcome to Caesar by a gift of some importance.
Most generous.
The ring. Give him Pompey's ring.
And now the token of His Majesty's affection for Rome...
and regard for Caesar.
Pompey the Great.
Dead men, they say, do not bite.
Doe sit please you, Caesar? They said it would please you very much.
The sun does shed its grace too brightly.
It had become too hot here for kings.
My Lord Ptolemy will retire.
For His Majesty, a Roman guard of honor.
It was not by your hand, of course.
If, as you say, you've been told of me, you know better, Caesar.
My men are to be properly housed and properly fed.
- May I speak ? - Not until you're spoken to.
For myself, I shall require rooms in the palace.
I shall consider myself honored, personally, to escort you.
Anyone but you.
Find the rest of Pompey.
Tear out a thousand tongues, but find him.
Have him purified, the coin in the mouth and the rest honorably.
Of course.
For the time being, this is what we must hold.
The Moon Gate and three others. Here, here and here.
How are we placed ?
The 10th slingers on the Moon Gate. The rest in reserve.
The 12th holding all other positions. Very thin, Caesar.
For the time being, deep enough.
- Have you tested the wells ? - The water's brackish, but it's fit to drink.
So far. Keep an eye on them. Watch the corn and wheat.
Why, with our supplies secure, we can hold indefinitely.
For a week, perhaps, but for the time being, time enough.
What do you want ?
Is the man to be trusted ?
It seems that someone's brought me a gift...
from Queen Cleopatra.
Apparently, a rug peddler.
Flavius doubts it.
He seems to know the palace extremely well.
He suddenly appeared in a corridor through a secret passage,
which none of the men knew about.
I wouldn't put it past Pothinus to send an assassin in Cleopatra's name.
Have the man brought in.
Are you the one who brings a gift from Cleopatra ?
Then put it down and go.
It is the command of my queen that I deliver her gift personally to Caesar.
I am Caesar. Lay it here before me.
Forgive me, My Lord Admiral Agrippa, but you're not Caesar.
Nor you, General Rufio. Nor you, Germanicus.
My queen's gift is for the eyes of Caesar... alone.
- That rug seems harmless enough. - No, Caesar !
You can lend me your sword, Rufio.
It may require some cutting.
An odd way to carry a rug.
Wouldn't it be easier to sling it over your shoulder ?
It was less comfortable that way.
- For you or the rug ? - That sword, Caesar.
The rug is such a delicate weave. If I may untie it for you.
Turn it over first.
- The rug is right-side-up. - I understand, but I want it the wrong side up.
- Or should I flip it over with my sword. - No, no, no, no.
I find one can tell more about the quality of merchandise...
by examining the, uh, back side first.
All hail Cleopatra, kindred of Horus and Ra,
be loved of the moon and sun, daughter to Isis,
and of Upper and Lower Egypt,
- queen.
Thank you.
Here.
Take this to the captain of the night watch.
He'll see that the queen's quarters are made ready and available to her.
Stay where you are.
- Have I dismissed you ? - No, Your Majesty.
This is my palace, Caesar.
All of it is, therefore, available to me at my will.
I am not your prisoner. If anything, you are my guest.
Most kind.
And as for having my quarters, as you put it, made ready,
my chief handmaiden has, by now, brought the others out of hiding.
They should almost be finished.
I'm afraid that's impossible. We've had the doors under heavy guard.
There are doors... and doors.
Oh, yes, of course.
You must take me on a tour someday within the walls of your palace.
What are you waiting for ?
- Permission to leave. - Granted.
Apollodorus.
Thank you.
Well, I'm pleased that you received my summons after all and were able to--
Summons ? I'm pleased to say I received nothing of the kind.
I'm surprised that you thought I would answer one.
Young lady, the voyage in your non-magic carpet...
has apparently not tired you, but I've had an exhausting day.
Caesar, it is essential that we understand each other.
Only through me can you hope to escape...
from the desperate situation in which you find yourself.
I wouldn't bite into that if I were you.
Did you bring it with you ?
Have you had it tasted ?
If neither, it's probably poisoned.
Well, at least it's another way out of the desperate situation in which I find myself.
You're being tolerant of me, aren't you ?
Is it because you're so much older ?
Your maps are inferior. Out of date, compared to mine.
They and I have aged together.
The lakes to the west are poorly marked.
Certain important hill positions not even noted.
I must arrange for you to address my map makers and general staff.
We've gotten off to a bad start, haven't we ?
I've done nothing but rub you the wrong way.
I'm not sure I want to be rubbed by you at all, young lady.
It is permissible for me to sit, is it not ?
Caesar, as quickly as possible,
you must set me alone on the throne of Egypt.
My mission here is to put to an end...
the tire some squabbling between your brother and you.
- You're not a fool. Or are you ? - Immodestly, perhaps, no.
You've seen my brother and listened to him ?
And that truly evil man to whom he belongs ?
Yes.
Shall we agree, you and I, upon what Rome really wants,
has always wanted of Egypt ?
Corn, grain, treasure. It's the old story.
Roman greatness built upon Egyptian riches.
You shall have them. You shall have them allan din peace.
But there is only one way. My way. Make me queen.
That sounds very much like an ultimatum.
There is no other way.
From one whose total assets, up to a few moments ago,
was a devoted slave and a rolled-up carpet.
But I have you now, Caesar.
Besides, there are my armies...
and the simple fact that no mortal hand can destroy me.
Ah, yes. I seem to recall some mention of an obsession you have about your divinity.
Isis, is it not ?
I shall have to insist that you mind what you say.
I am Isis.
I am worshipped by millions who believe it.
You are not to confuse what I am...
with the so-called divine origin...
that every Roman general seems to acquire together with his shield.
It was Venus you chose to be descended from, wasn't it ?
I must now do a little insisting of my own.
First, your journey has tired you after all, and you wish to retire.
I am not your servant, Caesar. Do not dismiss me.
Secondly, you have no armies, young lady.
Such as they were, they are gone because you could not pay them.
The riches of Egypt are not available, even for your own use,
much less to give away.
Perhaps in a day or two, we can speak again.
That may be too late... for both of us.
Your safety will be my responsibility.
And what about your own ?
I am prepared, I believe, for the time being.
I hope so.
I hope you are as wise, as brilliant,
the god they say you are.
You Roman generals become divine so quickly.
A few victories, a few massacres.
Only yesterday, Pompey was a god.
- They murdered him, didn't they ? - Yes.
Because they thought it would please you.
- It didn't, did it ? - No.
Today I found myself remembering how much my daughter loved him.
She died trying to bear him a son.
Gave him this ring.
Sleep well tonight, Caesar.
These next days may be difficult for you.
Good night.
Germanicus, a guard to escort Queen Cleopatra to her apartments.
Guards !
Hup !
The corridors are dark, gentlemen.
- But you mustn't be afraid. I am with you. - Hup !
Don't you think we've covered about everything we can tonight, sir ?
Perhaps a fresh start in the morning.
No. There are a few more matters.
One thing, Rufio. Has it occurred to you that our maps of this area...
are not quite what they should be ?
Why, no. What makes you think they're not ?
I have an instinct about these things.
Actually of Macedonian descent.
No Egyptian blood. Officially admitted, that is.
Reputed to be extremely intelligent and sharp of wit.
Queen Cleopatra is widely read.
Well-verse din the natural sciences and mathematics.
She speaks seven languages proficiently.
Were she not a woman, one would consider her to be an intellectual.
And nothing bores me so much as an intellectual.
Makes a better admiral of you, Agrippa.
Well, here's something perhaps of more interest to the navy.
''In obtaining her objectives, Cleopatra has been known to employ torture, poison,
and even her own sexual talents, which are said to be considerable.
Her lovers, I am told, are listed more easily by number than by name.
It is said that she chooses in the manner of a man...
rather than wait to be chosen after womanly fashion.''
Well, there's more reason than we thought...
for not wanting to leave you alone, with her, eh, sir ?
I'm sorry, Rufio. I wasn't listening.
You're not inclined to trust this Cleopatra, are you ?
Trust ? Not for a minute.
Trust. The word has always made me apprehensive.
Like wine, whenever I've tried it, the after effects have not been good.
So I've given up wine and trusting.
Oh, it's been along and difficult day, gentlemen.
The next few may be even longer and more difficult.
- Good night. - Good night.
Flavius !
It is autumn again, my best-loved Lesbia.
Look. The torrents of Roman leaves are falling, falling.
And lovers revive in kisses the promise of spring,
which will end the winter world with new nightingales calling.
I taste your food, daughter of Isis,
and if there be harm in it, let the harm fall upon me.
But love must bring despair one day...
as beauty, sorrow.
Why do you stop, Phoebus ?
In the corridor, there is movement.
That's how the Romans frighten the enemy,
by stamping their elephant feet.
No. This is one man followed by others.
- Caesar, I would say. - Would you ?
We must not disappoint the mighty Caesar.
The Romans tell fabulous tales of my bath and handmaidens...
and my morals.
Cleopatra has requested an audience with me.
- That was yesterday, Caesar. - I've been occupied with important matters.
The queen is, at present, occupied with her bath.
Perhaps Caesar could return later or tomorrow.
I'm afraid not. Hold him. No, don't hurt him.
You're a good man, Apollodorus.
I hope you're appreciated.
Wait here for me.
Ah, then let us live and love...
without one thought for the gossip of virgin snow grown old and stale.
Suns go down and may return,
but once putout our own brief light,
we sleep through one eternal night.
An intruder ! A man !
Oh, it's you.
You, uh, wanted to see me ?
I summoned you yesterday...
to an audience in my throne room.
I was told I was not permitted to go there.
For one thing, it's too close to the quarters...
occupied by your brother, Pothinus, Theodotus and the rest.
I will not be told where I can go and where I cannot go !
Since there's obviously nothing that you want of me--
Except my throne !
At least you've dressed properly for my presence.
Your best armor ?
Almost, but I'm afraid it's not being worn in your honor.
I know. This morning, early,
you paid a formal visit to the tomb of Alexander.
You remained alone beside the sarcophagus for some time.
I'd very much like to know how you know.
Just staring down at him.
And then you cried.
Why did you cry, Caesar ?
That man recites beautifully. Is he blind ?
- Don't you hurt him. - I won't.
Not anyone who speaks Catullus so well.
Catullus doesn't approve of you. Why haven't you had him killed ?
Because I approve of him.
'' My desire to please you, Caesar, is very slight.
Nor do I greatly care to know if you are black or white.''
Achillas is moving his entire army to Alexandria.
By tonight, he'll outnumber you 20 to 1, 30 to 1.
He'll have the royal enclosure entirely surrounded.
Except to the sea.
Do you plan to sail away, great Caesar ?
Not for the time being.
Achillas may attack tomorrow, the next day, whenever it suits him !
- Very probable. - In your wildest dreams, Caesar,
how can you possibly hope to hold the gates of this enclosure against such odds ?
And if you say once more, '' For the time being--''
My officers say anything from a week to indefinitely. What would you estimate ?
Before you're without water,
without food, your troops slaughtered,
picked off from the rooftops, poisoned in the brothels ?
A few days, Caesar. At the most, a few days.
I'm inclined to agree with you.
Young man, do you know this of Catullus ?
''Give me a thousand and a thousand kisses.
When we have many thousand more,
we will scramble them and forget the score,
so evil envy will not know how high the count...
and cast its evil eye.''
It couldn't possibly have been as pleasant in the throne room.
- '' My desire to please you, Caesar, is very slight--'' - Be still !
Caesar, a word. It's important.
The Egyptian war galleys in the eastern harbor,
they've been taking on men and armaments all day.
When will they be prepared to move against us ?
Tomorrow with the morning wind.
Burn them tonight.
Their ships lie close to shore, tightly packed.
There's a chance the fire may spread to the city.
Let's hope it doesn't. I can't risk a blockade,
And remember, not before tonight.
Prepare as secretly as possible. I need this day.
Good luck.
Why not before tonight, my lord ? Why does Caesar need this day ?
I can't give you that information... for the time being.
Flavius.
Here it is, Caesar. Just arrived.
The gods shouldn't tantalize us so, Rufio.
It's even better than I'd hoped.
You'd best be on your way. You haven't much time.
Hail Caesar.
It is called an epilepse...
because of the arching caused by the muscular spasms, the contortions.
The Greeks of early times considered those who suffered from it...
to be favored by the gods.
The great Alexander, they say, had this falling sickness.
And, so they say, the mighty Caesar too.
Your Majesty, forgive me. Sosigenus, the library.
- What are you talking about ? - The Romans.
They've set fire to the Egyptian fleet.
- It's about time. - Come see for yourself.
The fire's spread to the city.
- The city ! - Not a great area, just a few buildings.
But the library is burning.
The great library !
Aristotle's manuscripts.
The Platonic commentaries, the plays, the histories.
The testament of the Hebrewgod.
The Book of Books.
The wind blew these burning galleys right into the merchant shipping.
At least four or five burned and sank right here.
- And our own ships ? - Safe and dry. There's a problem about prisoners.
- They're surrendering in droves. I need help. - Not one man.
- I may even want your sailors before long. - Halt!
Take your hands off me!
You should attack my guards more often.
Battle seems to be come you.
You grow more beautiful each time I see you.
And you grow bolder.
And busier.
- Actually, we're extremely busy at this moment-- - Do you smell smoke ?
We found it necessary to burn the Egyptian fleet.
When last seen, the ships were in the water.
Did you find it necessary to burn them in the city streets ?
Some merchant ships caught fire.
The burning masts fell into the streets. Some houses--
One of them: the great library of Alexandria.
Yes, I've been told. I'm extremely sorry.
- Now, if you don't mind, I must ask you to-- - I do mind.
Are you putting the fire out ?
We're trying to form Egyptian prisoners into fire brigades.
Oh, I see. Romans only start fires, is that it ?
Have you broken out of your nursery, young lady, to come irritate the adults ?
Some other time. We have work to do.
Shall we remove her for you, Caesar ?
Use that Roman genius for destruction.
Tear down pyramids, wipe out cities !
How dare you and the rest of your barbarians set fire to my library?
Play conqueror all you want, mighty Caesar.
Rape, murder, pillage thousands, millions of human beings.
But neither you nor any other barbarian...
has the right to destroy one human thought !
That's enough ! Leave me alone with her.
I will send for you when I finish. It will not be long.
Swords ? Javelins ?
Or are you going to set me on fire ?
The time has come, I think, for us to understand each other.
Whatever else I may be, in your opinion, first of all, I am Caesar.
And I am Cleopatra, queen, daughter of Isis !
If I say so and when I say so,
you are what I say you are, nothing more.
Hail Caesar !
You, a descendant of generations of inbred, incestuous mental defectives,
- how dare you call anyone barbarian. - Barbarian !
Daughter of an idiotic flute-playing drunkard who bribed his way to the throne.
Your price was too high, remember ?
I've had my fill with the smug condescension of you worn-out pretenders,
parading on the ruins of your past glories.
- The future concerns me. - Then keep out of my affairs and do as I say.
Do as you say ? Literally ?
As if I were something you had conquered ?
If I choose to regard you as such.
Am I to understand then...
that you feel free to do with me whatever you want,
whenever you want ?
Yes, I want that understood.
Won't you at least wear your laurel wreath...
so I can be reminded it's the divine Caesar that honors me so ?
You talk too much.
I promise you... you won't like me this way.
Caesar! An attack on the Moon Gate!
The Moon Gate. An attack in force !
Those ballistas need eliminating.
Send out a turtle.
Form the turtle !
Now is the time for us to attack !
- No. - We have a full legion in reserve.
We hold our positions here.
Two hours till dawn. We'll hold where we are.
- And what happens at dawn ? - I thought you knew.
The sun comes up.
Tell the men they've won their fight.
Immediate liberty and plenty of wine for those who defended the gate.
All reserves, the cavalry, every fresh man available,
have them move out behind Achillas.
- We have him in a vise. - What is the other half of this vise ?
Rufio and the armies of Mithradates.
- He left last night to meet them. - Mithradates ?
How could he get here this fast ?
I started him when we set sail for Egypt.
After all, no general in his right mind...
could hope to hold Alexandria with two legions,
as you and others have repeatedly pointed out to me.
I taste your drink, daughter of Isis,
and if there be harm in it, let the harm fall upon me.
Lotus.
You wiped the rim of the cup after you tasted it.
- Why ? - Why ?
Why, so my mouth would not soil it.
Lotus, taste it again.
Pothinus said he would have me killed.
Forgive me, Majesty.
Forgive me. Forgive me.
I forgive you.
Now drink it.
Apollodorus !
Great silence for Gaius Julius Caesar,
consul of the Senate of the people of Rome.
You will all stand.
Let what is said be recorded...
as the judgment and decree of the Senate and people of Rome.
There is no judgment here.
And the decree not Rome's, but Cleopatra's.
She has lied to you, Caesar.
She and her slaves lie to you.
You have not been accused, Pothinus,
thus far.
You are now charged with inciting and abetting war against the Roman army.
You are now charged with plotting to assassinate Queen Cleopatra.
You are guilty of both.
- You are sentenced to death.
It's too bright in here. Shut out some of the sun.
Are you going to kill me too, Caesar ? What am I accused of?
King Ptolemy is hereby removed...
from the protective custody of Rome.
He will leave the palace within the hour...
and be conducted safely to the camp of General Achillas.
Achillas ? You're going to send me back to my own troops ?
He is to be accompanied by his learned tutor, Theodotus.
Do you hear that ? You're going to be saved along with me.
Stop grining, you little idiot.
May I speak ? You know that Achillas is trapped...
between your own legions and the armies of Mithradates.
You know that to send His Majesty to fight against them may mean his death.
An occupational hazard for those who would be king.
But then certainly not I, Caesar.
I'm no king, nor general. What do I know of war ?
A simple scholar.
A man of thoughts and words.
Too many words. Enough.
Let all be done properly as decreed.
Flavius.
Find Apollodorus. Return his dagger to him.
You might clean it first. It has Pothinus all over it.
Yes, yes, I know I'm tired. I promise I'll sleep.
You have my apologies for what almost happened to you.
Caesar, will you talk with me for just a minute ?
Yesterday was full. Tonight was rather long.
This morning has not been uneventful.
Did you know that Apollodorus would kill Pothinus ?
He was kind enough to wait until Rome had passed sentence of death.
And my brother... and Theodotus ?
They, too, will be killed, possibly.
Probably.
Your Majesty, I'm truly weary. If you'll forgive me.
You knew all along, didn't you, that there was no real danger,
that Mithradates was on his way to reinforce you.
Why didn't you tell me ?
I said I was prepared. You wouldn't believe me.
- I don't want to be rude, but I really must insist-- - I would've believed you.
- You didn't trust me, is that it ? - Not for an instant.
And yet... in these last few minutes,
you have made me undisputed queen.
The sole ruler of Egypt. Why ?
Perhaps-- Perhaps tomorrow later in the day we could talk.
- Why, Caesar ? - It was best for Rome. Please !
- Best for Egypt. - For Egypt too.
Cleopatra, get out. I beg of you, get out.
That will not be needed.
It wasn't necessary for me to betray myself.
I could have called out for Flavius.
How many new spy-holes have you dug in the walls ?
Are we being watched even now ?
If you see Flavius, you might send him to me.
- Still trying to dismiss me ? - What is it you want ?
- What more do you want ? - To be of help to you.
There never has been help. There never will be.
Now there is.
One day it'll happen where I cannot hide,
where the world will see me fall.
I shall tumble down before the mob...
and foam at the mouth and make them laugh,
and they'll tear me to pieces.
The gods themselves had your sickness.
Hannibal, even the great Alexander.
And in the end, they fell.
Were torn to pieces by the mob.
Not you.
I will see to that.
In the name of the Senate and the people of Rome and by their will.
Isis herself would surrender her place in heaven...
to be as beautiful as you.
You're not supposed to look at me. No one is.
Well, if they aren't looking, how do they know that I am ?
You should be kneeling.
That, too, before all these visiting kings,
making believe that they're not watching us ?
You have such bony knees.
Not only bony, but unaccustomed to this sort of thing.
If we're to get an early start in the morning--
What will it be tomorrow ?
More wheat ? What I've seen already...
could feed more legions than Rome has ever had.
There is enough to feed the world.
More gold then.
Why not buy the world ? Surely, you must have enough.
At least enough to pay more legions than even Rome has ever had.
More granite, more marble,
more millions of slaves to build whatever needs building.
Better routes to India, shorter routes to the East.
What can it be in Egypt that I haven't seen ?
Egypt itself. The reason for Egypt.
My responsibility is Rome.
Alexander understood it,
that from Egypt, he could rule the world.
He was very young. And you, even younger.
At your age, such dreams have a reality which grows less in time.
Caesar no longer dreams ?
Dangerous to a man of my calling.
Necessary, I would have thought.
I cannot stay away from Rome too long. There are problems.
Messages from Marc Antony endlessly demanding my return.
And on my way back, wars to be fought in the east and north.
Even in Rome itself, I'm not without opposition.
Do to them what you did to Achillas.
This is opposition of a different sort.
They weave it cleverly light, like a cobweb.
You know what happens when cobwebs are not regularly swept away.
Do you trust this... Marc Antony ?
If anyone in the world, I trust Antony.
Well, let him brush away the cobwebs for you, and stay with me.
You've been declared dictator for a year.
You can do what you want to with your time.
Everything but make it stand still.
If, when you return to Rome,
these wars that have to be fought on the way, are they important ?
Well, there's no such thing as an unimportant war.
I've been reading in your commentaries about your campaigns in Gaul.
How does my writing compare with Catallus ?
Well, it's different.
Dull.
Perhaps a little too much description.
You're being tactful. Some of my critics-- Brutus, for one--
tell me my Latin is not only ungrammatical, but common.
You spared his life more than once.
People say it's because Brutus is your son. Is that true ?
I have no son.
- Calpurnia, your third wife. - Fourth.
Married to you, how long ? Twelve years ?
And still, Caesar has no son, no child at all.
It is well known that Calpurnia is barren.
A woman who cannot bear children...
is like a river that is dry.
I see no purpose in discussing the subject further.
A woman, too, must make the barren land fruitful.
She must make life grow where there was no life.
Just as the Mother Nile feeds and replenishes the earth.
I am the Nile.
I will bear many sons.
Isis has told me.
My breasts are filled with love and life.
My hips are rounded and well apart.
Such women, they say, have sons.
That first time when you stood here alone, why did you cry ?
Will you tell me now ?
Because I had lost something.
- What ? - A lifetime.
- Mine. - Nonsense.
Having conquered the world, he died at 32.
I am 52.
My remaining ambition is to keep the world from conquering me.
Your ambitions must always have been his.
They still must be.
Shall I tell you something ?
When I was 32 in Spain,
I came upon a statue of Alexander.
I wept then too.
Even then.
I want you to have his sword to take back with you.
- Too deeply embedded. - It can be removed.
It's buried in time.
- And Alexander's mantle ? - Too heavy for Caesar.
His dream then.
Make his dream yours, Caesar.
His grand design.
Pick it up where he left off.
Out of the patchwork of conquests,
one world.
And out of one world, one nation.
One people on Earth living in peace.
So, you have told me, at last, what it is you want of me.
Of us !
And the center, the capital of this one world,
one people, one nation: Alexandria ?
- He chose it. - I am Roman.
He was Greek ! What will it matter when we're all one people ?
I am 52. He was 32 and failed.
We will succeed.
Your dreams, your ambitions.
One lifetime is not enough for such dreams, such ambitions.
The cloak of Alexander cannot be too heavy...
for Rome and Egypt to carry together.
And what if his sword is too deeply embedded ?
Yours will replace it, Caesar.
You have a way of mixing politics and passion.
Where does one begin and the other leave off ?
That did not start, nor will it end with me.
Cleopatra, whatever it is, however it comes out,
leave me my destiny.
Your destiny is no longer just yours.
It's mine too.
Soon, there will be someone to carry both the cloak of Alexander...
and the sword of Caesar and the name of Caesar.
And in that name, he will rule Egypt.
And what ever part or all of the world that we give him,
ours child,
will be a son for you, Caesar.
I came as quick as I could.
Antony is welcome to Caesar's house...
as often and as quickly as he likes.
As Caesar's wife, before the truth is distorted into vicious Roman gossip,
- I wanted you to hear-- - That my husband has married Queen Cleopatra.
There's some fresh wine. One of your many favorites.
The ceremony, according to vicious gossip, was in the Egyptian religion.
Even if true, that can't be meant or taken seriously.
During which, he was formally declared an Egyptian god.
Officially divine, at last.
That must have pleased Caesar.
Calpurnia, we know Caesar, you and I.
This so-called marriage has no validity under Roman law.
There must have been political purpose to it.
Perhaps a symbolic ceremony to ratify Rome's alliance with Egypt.
Perhaps merely... indulging some barbaric custom.
You've been loyal and kind.
You came as quickly as you could.
Unhappily, vicious gossip travels even faster than you...
and the truth.
Have you heard, for instance, that Queen Cleopatra is carrying Caesar's child ?
Yes, Antony.
We know him, you and I.
There shall be--
There shall be... Rome,
mighty and alone and unloved.
A mistress.
A mistress shall raise thee again from Earth to heaven,
and all the world shall know a golden age of justice and of love.
A son shall be born to Isis !
Rome shall know him in cloth of gold.
The East shall see him laden with jewels and treasure.
A son of Egypt and of Rome!
Here shall he find his destiny !
Do exactly as I tell you.
When the child is born,
after he is anointed and named royal prince,
- take him to Caesar. - Bring Caesar here ?
No ! Exactly as I tell you.
Take the child to Caesar, in front of his men.
Do you understand ?
In front of all the Romans.
Lay him at Caesar's feet.
At Caesar's feet.
I will do just as you say.
Fear not. We have never lost a Caesar.
That remark was not only insubordinate, but in bad taste ! I--
Caesar, remember Roman law.
If you pick up this child before witnesses, you acknowledge it's yours...
and a citizen of Rome, as your heir.
- A son.
I have a son !
- Hail Caesar ! - Hail Caesar !
He has been made king of Egypt.
He and his Egyptian queen have named their bastard Caesarion.
Prince Caesarion.
What better name for the heir to the throne of Rome.
There is no throne of Rome.
Nor shall there be, nor would Caesar tolerate one.
But a son !
We all know how much he's always wanted one. I am happy for Caesar.
Well, your happiness is understandable enough.
Now that Caesar has publicly recognized a son,
one need no longer wonder about Brutus.
Is it a relief not to be wondered about, Casca ?
To be known openly as you are for what you are:
liar, swindler, bully and coward.
Brutus, you'll turn Casca's head with your flattery.
And Casca's head, if turned, will see Marc Antony.
Apart of Caesar more to be feared, I think, than his infant son.
But it is for the good of Rome that Caesar has stayed so long in Egypt.
In his absence, the people have come to worship him as a god.
Why should he return to show himself as mortal as the rest ?
There are those who fear Caesar's ambition.
But what is there to fear ? That he will destroy the republic ?
Yes, he will.
I promise you he will.
Your tongue is old, but sharp, Cicero.
Be careful how you waggle it. One day it will cut off your head.
It will more likely be your sword, Antony. 'Tis just as sharp and quicker...
and frightened of heads.
There'll be a strong smell of wine in the Senate today.
We must breathe with restraint.
Octavian, this-- what's his name-- this son of Caesar,
does it upset you ?
- No. - You run off at the mouth so.
One would think your words were as precious to you as your gold.
Like my gold, I use them where they are worth most.
And your virtue ? My friend has a friend.
That too.
You know, it's quite possible, Octavian,
that when you die,
you will die without ever having been alive.
I can't leave without saying good-bye to my son, to you.
We thought, your son and I, that if we came to you,
we would have those few minutes more.
A good thing to remember, my son,
what you will not let go, no one will take from you.
Hail and farewell, little Caesar.
Was it a century ago when I was dropped at your feet, wrapped in a carpet ?
Or was it last night ?
When will you send for us ? When ?
- Soon. - How soon ? When ?
So much time must go by before even I reach Rome.
And then how soon ?
It will not be easy, but within reasonable time.
Time is never reasonable.
Time is our enemy, Caesar.
Am I to conquer it for you ? What plan of battle do you suggest ?
I must bring your son to Rome.
Rome must see Caesar's son...
who will one day rule over Caesar's world.
Caesar?
I'm afraid that the tides will soon be against you.
Not only time, but the tides.
Even as divinities, there seems little we can do about either.
But only after more than two years...
and many wars in Africa and Asia Minor...
was Caesar able to cross over to Italy and come home at last...
to celebrate his triumphs and see to his affairs.
''In recognition of which, the Senate has be stowed upon Caesar...
the rank, privilege and title of dictator of Rome for life.''
Dictator for life.
At long last, he is master of Rome.
Apollodorus, everything must be made ready at once.
- Ships, servants-- - We've been ready for some time.
Surely now nothing can prevent his sending for us.
Why, If only to attend his coronation as he attended mine.
- Your Majesty-- - Three long, wasted years !
Why should the Senate have taken so long...
to recognize what the world has already known,
that Caesar was master of Rome ?
Rufio wishes to speak.
Your Majesty seems to misunderstand.
It seems quite clear. Caesar has been declared dictator of Rome for life.
True, however to the Roman, there is a vast difference between dictator and master.
No man can call himself master of Rome.
Why not ?
It has a meaning far too close to a word no Roman will tolerate:
king.
And to be dictator of Rome for life ?
Is to be granted the lifelong respect and honor of the Roman people.
And the dictates of the dictator ?
Must, in each case, of course, be approved... by the Senate of Rome.
Thank you, Rufio.
The enemy! The enemy! The enemy!
The enemy ! The enemy ! The enemy ! The enemy !
Sisogenes.
I suppose you think it's odd that I should propose such an invitation...
to Queen Cleopatra.
- Do you ? - Egypt, after all,
has been officially declared ally of Rome.
Still, I must confess I was surprised at some of those...
- who voted in favor. - Were you ?
May I express, once more, my gratitude...
for being permitted to attend today's session as a visitor ?
It was truly inspiring, Caesar,
to witness the free will of free men so fearlessly expressed.
He seemed most anxious to be present.
I saw no harm in granting him permission.
- Didn't you ? - After today, never again shall I doubt...
the extent of Egypt's wealth.
I don't like Cicero's implication.
There's not enough gold in Egypt to buy the honor of a Roman senator.
More than enough, it seems, to buy his vote.
How was it now ?
'' Rome will know him in cloth of gold.''
According to reports, the reception in the streets has been extraordinary.
The queen has given instructions for the procession to move as slowly as the people wish...
for their full enjoyment.
I might almost believe that Cleopatra set out to capture the citizens of Rome.
One would have every reason for believing exactly that.
Nothing like this has come into Rome since Romulus and Remus.
- How unafraid he is. - Hmm ?
How unafraid he is.
Your queen has conquered the people of Rome.
People, yes.
Now, then, walk like a king. Head up.
Listen to them cheer.
Take your throne. Bow to the right, left.
Now an angry glance at someone who's displeased you.
Very good. I tremble. See me tremble ?
No. Don't smile.
Not when they're trembling. It makes them stop.
Now the prisoners they drag before you, one by one.
This one has no power anywhere, therefore means nothing.
But you wish to be known as a noble ruler. What do you say ?
I ''par do'' you.
Louder, boy. You're going to pardon somebody, you want it known.
I ''par do'' you !
Hmm. Ah, now, who comes here ?
Once your friend. You trusted him, and he turned against you.
He has power, wealth and family.
He kneels before you. He begs you to be his friend again,
to have you trust him again.
And then... what then, little king ?
- Crrrck !
Caesar must wish what needs commanding.
To drain the Pontine Marshes. To free Rome from malaria.
To fill my belly.
To control the Tiber's floods and divert its course.
To improve the harbor at Ostia. To please my ambition.
And must I wish roads to be built, libraries for public use ?
The free men of Italy to be equal citizens to those of Rome ?
Many of these have merits, Caesar, and merit our approval.
Merit your approval. Is Caesar to come before the Senate each day...
like a schoolboy with his lessons, now passing, now failing ?
Do you suggest that the Senate...
no longer deliberate the welfare of Rome ?
Do you suggest an end to the process of Roman law ?
I must be the law. And my word must be the welfare of Rome.
Else, take from me this meaningless title of dictator.
I've carried a sword for too long.
I cannot now pretend with an empty scabbard.
Surely, Caesar must recall the symbolic nature of the title dictator...
at the time it was conferred upon him.
It was to honor Caesar above all men...
and to indicate the gratitude of Rome for Caesar's triumphs in its name.
Brutus, I recall them well, those triumphs.
Do you ?
Pharsalia, for one, when you trembled in Antony's hand...
when Antony was hot to separate you from your head...
with just cause.
It was by my command that your life was spared.
There was no deliberating body. It was not by my wish, but by my command.
By my dictate, if you will, that you stand here tonight.
dribbling virtue out of the corners of your mouth.
Sit down.
No, I want no more meaningless privileges and considerations.
No more honors designed to pacify me.
I would far rather have nothing. Remain what I am, at heart,
a humble man, anxious only to serve.
Why are the eyes of a statue always without life ?
Have any of you here seen the Nile ?
Spare yourselves the journey.
She carries it within her eyes.
I suggest, Caesar, that the hour is late.
Very late for Rome.
I was speaking, Cassius ! I was--
Now, where was I ?
Anxious to serve.
Yes, I've served, served for all of my life.
I've won for Rome more than half of the world.
Most of you here owe your honors and your fortunes to me.
And now I want you to do as I say.
You will appoint me... emperor of Rome.
There is no need to resume your seats.
May I, on be half of all, once again...
thank you, Gracious Majesty, for your hospitality.
Good night.
Thank you and good night.
They resent being summoned here, Caesar,
for meetings more properly held in the Senate.
Resent it, do they ?
I cannot understand that the eyes of a statue...
Are you quite sure what it is you want... so desperately ?
I've always been sure.
And Caesar ?
Does anyone speak for him ?
No.
Good night.
Tell me, Brutus, is it proper to stand before this new goddess,
which Caesar has set here in the temple, or must we, as Romans, kneel ?
By that honor and by the responsibility you carry,
Brutus, save Rome from Caesar !
You cannot ask me to destroy him.
Then let Caesar destroy Rome.
Antony has just come from a meeting of my friends, with good news.
Tomorrow at the Senate, Lucius Cotta will move that I be made king.
It will pass.
But... I don't understand.
King and emperor.
And it will pass ?
For the last few months, I've been quietly enjoying...
one of the few privileges of being dictator.
I have been appointing senators.
Slightly more than half the Senate has, at the moment,
been appointed by me.
Once again, the army of Mithradates...
on its way all the time.
Why-- Why then not only Rome,
but this whole peninsula of Italy, upon which Rome stands,
must fall in your hands like a drop of sweat.
Let them make you king or whatever they choose, wherever they choose.
Let me serve with you. My legions with yours.
To get her we'll conquer for Caesar a world...
beyond the wildest dreams of even-- even Alexander.
Rome. What was Rome when Sulla died,
when Crassus lost the armies in Parthia ?
These same men came after me through the streets,
howling like frightened dogs.
"Caesar, save us !"
They would've made me king then.
- I wouldn't let them then.
He was thrown over the wall. It's not a pretty sight. It might be better if--
Titus, the moneylender.
Why should anyone kill him as savagely as this and bring him here ?
Obviously, I am being warned.
Perhaps I am next.
They dare to threaten you ?
- Caesarion. Where was my son-- - Not far away.
It frightened him.
Lepidus. How many legions has he now ?
- Fifteen. Perhaps more. - Where ?
- Scythia. - We will dine with Lepidus tonight, you and I.
We'll talk of armies and battlefields and lists of men to die.
And tomorrow in the Senate, let them offer so much as the sands of Libya as my kingdom,
I will accept.
.
This is great Caesar, beloved by Rome,
and at least one of us...
who must die so that Rome may live.
If the world is to know that it is Rome that will not have a king,
then let us make it the honorable and open act...
of free men in the light of day.
In the light of what day, Brutus ?
Tomorrow ?
In the curia of the Senate.
And shall we be armed, all of us ?
Decimus, you will come to Caesar's villa early tomorrow to escort him to the Senate.
Cimber, Marc Antony must not enter the curia with Caesar.
On some pretext, you must lead him aside...
to speak perhaps of what you heard at Lepidus' house tonight.
I remember something odd.
At one point, Caesar suddenly asked of each of us...
what manner of death we would choose.
And Caesar, when it came to him, looked straight at me and said,
"Sudden."
.
Odd, isn't it ?
I was afraid I'd find you still asleep.
Caesarion is. He was awake most of the night.
Did the storm frighten him ?
He said not, but it did. I could tell.
Have you time to come in ?
Decimus is waiting. He came by early this morning....
expressly to accompany me to the Senate.
Decimus ? Has he done this before ?
A shrewd politician. He hopes to benefit by arriving with me,
this day of days.
Keep Antony close by.
You too ?
The ladies of Rome seem to have caught each other's fears this morning,
like a head cold.
Calpurnia actually pleaded with me not to go to the Senate at all.
Why ? Why would she not want you to go ?
Oh, the bad night. Nothing else.
She awoke screaming in her sleep. The thunder, the lightning.
She dreamed that she saw me murdered, that she saw me...
or a statue of me covered in blood.
And the servants. The servants told her of seeing men of fire in the heavens,
odd happenings in the city and so forth.
Strange and solitary birds were seen in the Forum.
They said one flew into the Senate itself,
carrying a sprig of laurel, which it dropped at the base of Pompey's statue.
Pompey ?
- Caesar, I'm afraid. - You must not tell me to stay away.
Shall I, too, be afraid ?
Can it be said of Caesar that he gave up the world because of a thunder storm ?
That such divinity that was in him ran before mortal superstition ?
I feel that you need me now, and I cannot help you.
Then help me to live as I have lived:
always differently from the rest.
The others, for whom life is merely an endless fear of dying.
Your gods and mine go with you, Caesar.
The world, except for you, is filled with little men.
Fire burns.
The winds of destruction blow.
Rome, mighty and alone,
the winds of destruction blow down upon thee !
Storm sand hail shall cut down wheat,
shall cut down birds and living things of Earth.
The heavens...
and the gods themselves.
My son !
Caesar! Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!
Caesar ! Caesar ! Caesar ! Caesar !
I would have come sooner, but there was much to do.
And it seems you have done it extremely well.
Is that where--
Yes.
In Egypt, we build eternal monuments to our dead heroes.
Here, you burn them like rubbish. Good-bye.
I've brought some of the 10th Legion with me, and Rufio. You have nothing to fear.
Nothing to fear ? That's no reason for staying.
So much has happened so quickly.
Suddenly I have the pieces of a broken world to pick up.
Caesar, you running off at night like this.
Do you suggest that I stay? Why?
Don't ask me to be clear about my feelings right now. I'm tired.
And with you, even at my best, it's never easy to say my meaning.
But you speak so well, Antony.
I've been told how excitingly you read Caesar's will...
to the sobbing, murdering, free citizens of Rome,
naming as his heir his great nephew, Octavian.
I knew Caesar's will and the reasons for it.
If Octavian had not been named, how many hours, how many minutes...
would you and your son have survived, do you think?
And if Caesar had become truly king,
do you believe he would still have named Octavian?
In any case, it's over.
Caesar and the dream that was murdered with him.
First Alexander's...
then Caesar's.
Now over. Finished.
- First, Rome must be put in order. - Rome again.
Brutus, Cassius, some of the others have escaped. They must be hunted down and killed.
- And then? - Then in death, Caesar must be granted the power and title...
he was denied in life, deified even.
A dead king, a dead god. Safe enough even for Rome.
Caesarion as Caesar's son could claim both the title of king and his deification.
And to what court of law would my son and I take our claim?
I will present it to the Roman Senate myself.
I believe you would.
And after the noble senators have stopped laughing,
do my son and I then declare war on Rome?
No. For this, a Caesar would be needed.
You have very little time.
Another Caesar.
But thank you. I shall remember your kindness to us.
- You give up too easily. - Do I ?
Let me come to Alexandria and talk more with you.
- Whenever you like. - Now. Tonight, if I could.
In any case, try to remember.
And for more than two years did Antony seek out the assassins of Caesar.
At last, at Philippi,
he was able to set against them his legions and those of Octavian,
who was Caesar's heir.
Cassius was the first to die,
by his own hand,
then Brutus and the others.
Hail Antony !
Hail Antony's legions !
You remember Philippi.
He won it.
My lord.
- This way. - But my tent is this way.
Later. I'll see him later. Octavian depresses me.
You promised.
Well, the fighting's over. We won it all.
Your health should improve quickly now.
Even lf I were to die, my place is with you on the field.
- You were wrong in preventing me. - Caesar was too ill to sit his horse.
Caesar ? Ah, yes. I keep forgetting.
I have inherited the name. I have made it mine.
Why not ? You'll never be confused with the other one.
At least your troops fought bravely, under my command.
Agrippa has kept me fully informed.
What were you doing there ?
The battle was fought on land, between men,
not great lumps of wood bumping on water.
Why did you bring Agrippa ? Were you expecting rain ?
- Shall we choose a piece of land, Antony, just you and I ? - Be quiet.
There are matters we have to talk about.
Have you an objection to Agrippa remaining ?
I object to Agrippa at all times.
Lying here, indisposed, you must have had time to consider the problem.
I think it is best to continue the Triumvirate.
You and I and Lepidus.
Very well.
Lepidus shall have Africa and the islands. You, Spain and Gaul.
Rome and Italy to be administered by the three of us jointly.
- And you ? - All the east.
Then, with Lepidus in Africa and you in the east,
bringing order to Rome and Italy will be my problem.
So it seems.
Spain and Gaul are wot enough for me. I shall need money.
- There have been tax riots in Rome already. - So I've heard.
Done.
And done.