1
00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,600
Does it hurt? Of course it hurts.
2
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,360
Do you think I'm made of wood?
3
00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:09,960
I didn't mean to scratch so hard.
4
00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:12,120
And I'm on stage today.
5
00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,920
No one will see your back.
You'll have your clothes on.
6
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,200
But I'm doing Ulysses and Circe.
7
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,600
When I'm washed up on the beach,
my dear, I'm naked to the waist.
8
00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,360
That's not in the play.
It is when I perform it.
9
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,480
Where are you going?
10
00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,480
To the theatre.
11
00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,280
Stay here.
12
00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,160
Look, I have a performance to give.
13
00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,480
You can give it here, just for me.
14
00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,640
I've already performed for you!
15
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:46,960
Don't be insolent.
16
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,560
No, no, no, you shouldn't
hit my face.
17
00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,880
I am an actor.
18
00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:57,520
And that's all you are.
19
00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,040
Just remember that.
20
00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,280
I don't know why I put up with you.
21
00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,120
You put up with me because you're
bored and because I make you laugh.
22
00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,720
Do you think I'm bored?
Unbelievably.
23
00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,960
I think there are times when you
would crack the universe open if you
could, just to see what would happen.
24
00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:21,400
Well you may be right. You know,
25
00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:21,400
you ought to have accompanied the
Emperor on his invasion of Britain.
26
00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:27,560
They say the men there are so savage
that the women live
in a permanent state of ecstasy.
27
00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,800
I should have been an actor.
28
00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,480
Or a sculptor.
29
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,000
They never seem to get bored.
30
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,240
They have their art
31
00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:37,760
but what do I have?
32
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,800
You, you have your lovers.
33
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,760
Oh, my lovers.
34
00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:47,160
When I make love,
35
00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,120
I reach for something
that men never dream of.
36
00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:52,640
What's that?
37
00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,120
I don't know.
38
00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,400
But it's there.
39
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,640
Always just out of reach.
40
00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:06,520
Sometimes, I feel as if...
41
00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,440
I could take on the whole of Rome
in a night.
42
00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,640
I'd be no worse for it
in the morning.
43
00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:14,160
And why don't you?
44
00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,720
You'll mock me once
too often some day.
45
00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,440
I'm not mocking you, I'm serious.
46
00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:26,400
Why, we could stage
the greatest night of love
the world has ever seen.
47
00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,600
A tournament of sex.
48
00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:34,520
We could challenge
the Guild of Prostitutes to provide
a champion to compete with you.
49
00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,880
Who would last the longest?
50
00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,200
The interminable
versus the inexhaustible!
51
00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,640
THEY CHUCKLE
52
00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,320
You're mad!
53
00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,680
There is no-one
who could compete with me.
54
00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,200
No?
55
00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,600
What about that Sicilian woman,
what's her name, Scylla?
56
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,080
Don't underestimate her.
57
00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,360
They say she boards
a ship at Ostia,
58
00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:08,400
works the whole crew and then walks
off steadier than any one of them.
59
00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,840
Are you serious? Why not?
60
00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,200
Why not?
What a spectacle it would make.
61
00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,520
Two tidal waves of male passion
62
00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:26,120
dashing their fury against
two timeless rocks of love.
63
00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:27,880
Who will be the first to yield?
64
00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,080
Who will be the first to break?
65
00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,320
It would be unprecedented.
66
00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:40,920
Copulation on a cosmic scale
to set the universe RINGING
67
00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:40,920
to the cheers of the gods.
68
00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,760
Do you think I'd win? Who can tell.
69
00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,960
That Sicilian woman, they say...
70
00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,360
she's formidable.
71
00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,680
But I am more so.
72
00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,800
Now I know why I put up with you.
73
00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,400
Bring on your Sicilian...
74
00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,360
and let her look to her laurels.
75
00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,800
They've taken 8,000 prisoners
and counted nearly 5,000 corpses.
76
00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,560
Caractacus has left Colchester
and fled to the west.
77
00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,280
Aulus has taken the
9th Cavalry in pursuit of him.
78
00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,760
And our losses? Oh, insignificant -
79
00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,920
380 killed and 600 wounded.
80
00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:28,520
Britain is almost subdued.
81
00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,520
The Emperor's on his way home.
82
00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:33,040
Er...
83
00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,960
If he's on his way home,
that solves our problem.
84
00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,000
Not necessarily.
85
00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,000
It solves the problem of
whether we should write to him.
86
00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,280
Whether we should tell him
87
00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,280
when he gets back is another matter.
88
00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,600
And it becomes the same problem
we had before he left.
89
00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,320
The golden hair that
Galla wears is hers.
90
00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,200
Who would have thought it?
She swears it's hers.
91
00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,400
And true, she swears,
for I know where she bought it!
92
00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,520
LAUGHTER
93
00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,040
AUDIENCE CLAMOURS
94
00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:35,600
You ask me how my farm can pay,
since little it will bear.
95
00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,680
It pays me thus, 'tis far away
and you are never there!
96
00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:47,400
Order! Scylla, President
of the Guild of Prostitutes.
97
00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,240
At last.
98
00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,640
Ssh! Ssh! Ssh! Ssh!
99
00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:06,760
Permit me to introduce myself,
my name is Mnester. I'm an actor.
100
00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,040
Most people have heard of me.
101
00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,720
My name is Scylla and I'm a whore,
everybody's heard of me.
102
00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:19,360
Allow me to introduce you
to the Lady Messalina,
103
00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,360
your challenger
and the Emperor's wife.
104
00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,720
This is Scylla the Sicilian,
and anybody's wife!
105
00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:29,280
I am honoured.
106
00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,040
You are most welcome.
107
00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:36,080
They said you were beautiful, but
their praise did you small justice.
108
00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,080
You are most generous.
109
00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,080
And it was sporting of you
to accept the challenge.
110
00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,320
Sporting?!
111
00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,040
I see, there's no money in it(!)
112
00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,760
You are here for the honour, woman,
and to defend your reputation.
113
00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,280
Would you defend yours
for nothing, Greek?
114
00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,680
Lady, I'm a professional.
I work for money.
115
00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,280
The honour I gladly leave to you.
116
00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:05,080
What impudence. She expects
to be paid and in this company.
117
00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:10,280
The difference between you and me,
actor, is you're a snob and I'm not.
118
00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:16,400
And the difference between
this great lady and myself
119
00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:16,400
is that my work is her hobby.
120
00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,040
My hobby happens to be gardening
for which I don't aspire to be paid.
121
00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,160
You shall have your money.
122
00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,880
Shall we say... Five.
123
00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,680
Three gold pieces a head.
124
00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,680
A head?!
125
00:08:32,680 --> 00:08:35,800
Seems an odd way to describe it.
126
00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,720
Win or lose, of course?
127
00:08:39,560 --> 00:08:41,920
That seems satisfactory.
Satisfactory?
128
00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,960
You've never earned so much
in a whole year.
129
00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,720
This Greek will drive me
to distraction.
130
00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:49,680
Nothing I say pleases him.
131
00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:51,320
Let us begin.
132
00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,760
Which side of the bed do you prefer?
133
00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,760
Left, or right?
134
00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:04,560
Lady, give me a support for my back
and let the games begin, as they say.
135
00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,200
Let the games begin!
136
00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,880
You know what's going on
at the palace at this moment?
137
00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:19,320
The Emperor's wife competes with a
prostitute to see who'll wear out
138
00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:19,320
most men. It's been going since noon!
139
00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,440
Well that is shocking,
I can hardly believe it.
140
00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:28,480
I've had my suspicions for weeks.
This is the final straw. It's
outrageous. Something must be done.
141
00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:34,480
Have you discussed this with anyone
else? Only my immediate superior.
Colonel Rufrius? Yes.
142
00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,880
When did you discuss it with him?
A week ago - I had good grounds
143
00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,880
for my suspicions but no proof.
144
00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,520
He advised you to do nothing
and wait for the Emperor's return?
145
00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,760
Yes and I did wait but this is too
much! That's why I've come to you.
146
00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,040
I think you must write to the Emperor
147
00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,040
at once.
148
00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:52,800
I don't think you can put
that sort of thing in a letter.
149
00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:55,760
I see.
150
00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,760
Well maybe YOU can't, but I can!
151
00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,640
Justus?
152
00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,360
I think you have been
immensely foolish.
153
00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:10,640
Are you threatening me? No, but did
154
00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:10,640
you not know that your superior,
155
00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,640
Colonel Rufrius, was one of the Lady
Messalina's inner circle of friends?
156
00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:21,800
If you have confided in him, he
has most certainly confided in her.
157
00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:26,640
I should think she has already
applied to the Emperor for a
warrant for your execution.
158
00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,560
My execution?
159
00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:31,560
Are you serious? On what grounds?
160
00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:34,800
Does it matter? Conspiracy.
161
00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:39,120
Emperors are very nervous
when away from their capitals -
they'll sign anything.
162
00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,480
If I'm any judge, that warrant's
163
00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,480
already on its way back
here at this very moment.
164
00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:46,680
You mean...?
165
00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:50,960
What are we to do?
166
00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,160
You must help me,
you must back me up. You MUST!
167
00:10:54,160 --> 00:11:00,400
I will choose my own time
when to tell him,
not yours or anyone else's.
168
00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:04,920
I have learned to tread very
carefully in a burning building.
169
00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:15,480
What have I to do?
170
00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,160
What can a dead man do?
171
00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,680
Go and get buried.
172
00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:24,280
MOCKING LAUGHTER
173
00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,720
Then victory have conceded be.
174
00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,920
The Queen is dead.
175
00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,280
Long live the Queen!
176
00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,280
CHEERING
177
00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:35,080
Thank you, whore.
She's not finished!
178
00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,400
It's inhuman.
179
00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,840
Her insides must be made out of
old army boots!
180
00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:44,800
The money!
181
00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,440
Where's my money? Here, lady, here.
182
00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,440
Three gold pieces per head.
183
00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,680
Will you take them?
Or shall I have them sent?
184
00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:55,320
I'll take it.
185
00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,320
Amateurs!
186
00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:30,200
FANFARE PLAYS
187
00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:54,920
Senators,
188
00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:59,840
we have re-established Britain
as a province of Rome.
189
00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:06,680
108 years after the divine Julius
left it not very well secured,
190
00:13:06,680 --> 00:13:11,160
it has again become
part of the Roman world.
191
00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:17,200
When I left, Caractacus,
our principal enemy was
192
00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:17,200
in f-f-full flight.
193
00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,840
We have won a great victory.
194
00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:27,800
"A Roman triumph is seldom granted
but they granted one to me.
195
00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:31,880
"Me, Claudius the idiot,
the stammerer, the fool,
196
00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,720
"but what life gives with one hand,
it takes back with the other.
197
00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:42,880
"I would gladly have foregone
my triumph for the tragedy
that was about to unfold.
198
00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:48,880
"Shortly before I left for the
invasion of Britain,
199
00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:48,880
Marsus Vibius, my governor of Syria,
200
00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,440
"had written to me giving me
the startling news
201
00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,960
"that my old friend Herod Agrippa
was fortifying Jerusalem.
202
00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:02,720
"I had hastily written to Marsus
Vibius asking him to find out more
203
00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,680
"and report to me personally
on my return."
204
00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:08,400
Do you think this
is d-directed against us?
205
00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,200
Yes, Caesar, but there's more.
206
00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:15,200
Before I left I learnt that he
was organising a secret meeting
207
00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:15,200
with certain neighbouring kings.
208
00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,280
He is plotting a revolt
against Rome, that is certain.
209
00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:22,000
Why? Why?
Does it matter what his motives are?
210
00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,160
Well, it does to me!
211
00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,280
I'll tell you something, Marsus.
212
00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,520
Before I left, I had a letter
from Herod's uncle, Antipas.
213
00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:36,280
It was full of gossip,
as usual, but in the course of it
he said he was convinced
214
00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:41,920
Herod believed himself to be this
Jewish Messiah whose coming has
215
00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:41,920
for so long been prophesied.
216
00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,200
Yes,
well others have thought that too.
217
00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,480
Your nephew Caligula for one.
218
00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,200
Yes.
219
00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,040
Perhaps it was him. No...
220
00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:57,320
Oddly enough, Caligula filled
the requirements of the prophecy
in many respects
221
00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:01,680
except he did not die in the year
foretold by Thrasyllus
the astrologer
222
00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,360
and Thrasyllus was never wrong
about dates.
223
00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:08,800
When was this Messiah supposed
to die, according to Thrasyllus?
224
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,720
In the same year as my grandmother,
Livia.
225
00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,440
Well, if the Messiah is already
dead, it can't be Herod Agrippa.
226
00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,640
Herod is a Jew, he wouldn't
believe anything Thrasyllus said.
227
00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,920
Well, where does all
this speculation get us?
228
00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:27,040
If he is planning
a revolt against Rome,
what difference does it make why?
229
00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,080
He's my dearest friend.
230
00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,360
If he becomes my enemy,
I want to KNOW why!
231
00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:37,480
Now how much do you know
about this Messiah
in the literature of the Jews?
232
00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,560
Well, very little but I can
find out and make a report.
233
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:43,880
I have Jewish agents in Jerusalem.
234
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:43,880
DOOR OPENS
235
00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,520
Am I interrupting? No, no, come in.
236
00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:53,080
Marsus Vibius was just reporting the
very grave situation in Jerusalem.
237
00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,840
Well, we'll meet again later
and talk some more. Caesar. Lady.
238
00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:04,840
Are you worried?
239
00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:07,960
Hurt...
240
00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,120
that my old friend should...
241
00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:15,520
Well, there may be nothing in it.
Here. I missed you so very much
242
00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:15,520
while I was away.
243
00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:17,240
And the ch-children.
244
00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,960
I never rested properly
a single night thinking about you.
245
00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,120
What would I do without you?
246
00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,360
Here, when you wrote to me about the
Quintus Justus affair I thought,
247
00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:31,040
"Thank heavens Messalina's
there to take care of things!"
248
00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,720
Well, do you want something special?
249
00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:43,840
Only to say that if I slipped
into your room tonight,
would I find you alone in bed?
250
00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,480
My love...
251
00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,760
I'm not asking for details.
252
00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,920
Only that I shouldn't find
the little Calpurnia in my place.
253
00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,400
Oh, I know
that she sometimes visits you.
254
00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,920
Oh...she's an old f-friend.
255
00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:01,520
I don't mind a bit.
256
00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,480
It's very good for your health.
257
00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:10,000
But sometimes I feel a great desire
to have your arms about me.
258
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,960
And I should hate to embarrass you.
259
00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,680
Come tonight, please.
260
00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:17,560
I should be so grateful.
261
00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,040
Be alone, then.
262
00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,320
Oh...there is one thing.
263
00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,520
Oh, anything.
264
00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,280
I wish you would speak to Mnester.
265
00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,800
He's got so big-headed
lately and insolent.
266
00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,480
During your absence
he was very rude to me -
267
00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:46,080
always making excuses for not
putting on this play or that
268
00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:46,080
which my friends wanted to see.
269
00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,160
Couldn't you have punished him
yourself?
270
00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,000
I didn't want to do that.
271
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:55,040
He's a great favourite with the
crowd and they might have held
272
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:55,040
that against you when you returned.
273
00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,440
Well, I shall speak to him.
274
00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:01,800
Just tell him that when I ask him
to do something, he is to do it
275
00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,000
and not make a fuss.
276
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:10,920
"I was her slave. Is there anything
so foolish as an old man in love?
277
00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,240
"Well, I spoke to Mnester.
278
00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,120
" "Listen, little Greek," I said.
279
00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:22,880
"If the Lady Messalina tells you
to do anything, you will obey,
280
00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:22,880
do you understand?"
281
00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,600
" "Anything?" he asked.
282
00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,680
" "Anything," I said to him.
283
00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,600
"I played, as usual,
into Messalina's hands.
284
00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:36,640
"She had fallen maniacally in love
with Gaius Silius -
285
00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,520
"the Consul Elect
and the handsomest man in Rome.
286
00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,600
"Knowing Mnester to be
on close terms with the family,
287
00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,520
"she had asked him to bring Silius
to see her.
288
00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:50,320
"Mnester had refused out of
respect for Silius' wife.
289
00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,400
"Hence Messalina's complaints to me.
290
00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:58,840
"Like a fool, I secured for her
what she most wanted.
291
00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:04,000
"He was not an easy victim of
her passion but she was clever.
292
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:08,520
"She did not talk at first of love
but of politics.
293
00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,560
"Tiberius had executed his father
and she played on that,
294
00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,400
"telling him I was more corrupt
even than Tiberius.
295
00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,800
"Before he realised it,
he was comforting her.
296
00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,400
"Before he realised it,
297
00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:27,560
"he was making love to her.
298
00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,240
"He was as much
her abject slave as I was.
299
00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:35,720
"Claudius, Claudius,
you go too fast.
300
00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,840
"Too fast.
301
00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:41,920
"More grave news of the situation
in Jerusalem was handed to me,
302
00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,760
"by Marsus,
from his agent Catalus."
303
00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:49,480
Yeah, but...but what exactly is this
M-Messiah?
304
00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:54,920
A king, Caesar, who is to come
and redeem Israel of all its sins.
305
00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,080
Philo, their greatest living
scholar, has declared
306
00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:02,360
that he must be descended from King
David and born in a village called...
307
00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,800
Ah...
308
00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,880
HE WHISPERS
309
00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,800
What?
310
00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,280
Bethlehem.
311
00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:17,640
Bethlehem? Yes. In what year?
312
00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,960
Well, opinions differ as they
always will in events of this kind.
313
00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,640
But have there been any candidates
recently? No, not recently.
314
00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,960
The last one, I heard from
a learned Jew, died 15 years ago.
315
00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:32,000
15? Yes.
316
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,160
Is that significant?
317
00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:40,440
Who was this man?
318
00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,520
His name was Joshua bar Joseph.
319
00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,280
A native of Galilee.
320
00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,960
He had a large following
amongst the uneducated
321
00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,520
and used to preach to
gatherings by the lakeside.
322
00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,520
He was also called Jesus
by the Greeks.
323
00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,840
And was he born in...
324
00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:01,720
..B...
325
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,640
Bethlehem? ..B-Beth...?
326
00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:06,280
Well, it's not precisely known.
327
00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,200
There was some scandal
concerning his birth.
328
00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,720
A Greek soldier allegedly seduced
his mother, who was
a tapestry worker in the Temple.
329
00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:20,400
What happened to this, um, Joshua?
330
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:25,360
Well, he tried to form a new
religion out of Judaism but of
course he lacked the authority.
331
00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:30,640
He then began identifying
himself with this Messiah.
332
00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:30,640
He was executed as a heretic.
333
00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,280
Did you find out
what King Herod thought of it?
334
00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:38,360
Not very much, I imagine, because
he recently executed one of his
followers - a man called James.
335
00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:41,000
He's looking for one called Simon.
He has followers?
336
00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,760
Yes, yes, yes. It's a cult.
337
00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:45,320
There are always cults.
338
00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:59,120
All this is most interesting
for you, Caesar, with your
fascination for strange religions.
339
00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:02,440
But what more does it tell us
of King Herod's intentions?
340
00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,600
I will tell you, Pallas.
341
00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:08,040
King Herod 's mother was on her way
to Jerusalem for her lying in
342
00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,000
when she was overtaken
by her pains in a small village.
343
00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:12,640
King Herod was born there.
344
00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,520
The name of the village was
B-Bethlehem.
345
00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,800
There's no doubt in my mind.
346
00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,360
My friend, Herod,
347
00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,360
believes himself to be this Messiah.
348
00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:26,120
And worse, many others
believe him to be this Messiah.
349
00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:30,360
His intentions are clear -
borne on this great wave of
350
00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:30,360
religious fanaticism,
351
00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:33,960
he intends to free the East
from the dominion of Rome.
352
00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,200
He intends to make war on us.
Marsus is right.
353
00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:42,640
If we don't move quickly,
Herod will seize the Eastern
Empire and we shall lose Egypt!
354
00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:46,560
My friend has become my enemy.
355
00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,160
What are you doing with that?
356
00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,520
The mistress told us to take it down,
lady. Why? Where are you taking it?
357
00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,360
If there's a mark when it arrives,
I'll have you whipped!
Where's it going?
358
00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:08,920
Hurry up with it! I'm giving
it to someone as a present.
359
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:10,520
To Silius?
360
00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:12,560
Yes. Iris!
361
00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,400
I want my headdress.
362
00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,320
But that
was a present from your husband.
363
00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,480
I know that.
Silius fell in love with it, so I'm
giving it to him as a surprise.
364
00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,360
And if he comes and finds it gone?
He doesn't come here.
365
00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:29,240
And if he does, I'll tell him
I've put it somewhere else.
366
00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,800
(Have you taken leave
of your senses?!)
367
00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,520
Have your wits deserted you entirely?
368
00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:41,080
You have lavished gifts on
that man from all directions -
369
00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:42,800
half of them from the palace.
370
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:49,040
Are you so much in love that you
have lost all sense of discretion?
371
00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:50,720
Yes.
372
00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,240
I am in love.
373
00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,600
Child, you've been in love before,
but you've never been
in peril of your life.
374
00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:58,640
I shan't imperil my life.
375
00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,880
All Rome knows that you visit him
openly at his house.
376
00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,240
And take him gifts.
377
00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,040
His wife complains bitterly about it.
378
00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,440
He's divorcing his wife.
379
00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:13,320
Divorcing her? For what reason?
380
00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:17,960
For no other reason than
he loves me. He will have to give
a better reason than that.
381
00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,920
They're not married
in the strict form.
382
00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,920
It only requires a declaration.
383
00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,920
But you are married.
You can't marry him!
384
00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:27,800
So why is he divorcing his wife?
385
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,400
Because I can't bear the thought of
him sharing her bed every night,
386
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,400
when he gets out of mine.
387
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:36,240
"I heard nothing.
388
00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:41,160
"Not a breath of the scandal that
was known to everyone else in Rome.
389
00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,080
"Even the slaves.
390
00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,320
"They're laughing at me.
391
00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,640
"Still.
392
00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,480
"After all these years,
393
00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,800
"still laughing at me."
394
00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:04,880
Herod...
395
00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,680
HEROD: "Trust no-one,
my friend. No one."
396
00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:14,440
Yes, Caesar, dead.
Herod Agrippa is dead.
397
00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:22,360
How? Tell me. Tell me what happened.
398
00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:28,440
Well, he had come up from Jerusalem
to Caesarea for the festival to be
399
00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:28,440
held in honour of your birthday.
400
00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:32,360
But really to meet with the kings
with whom he had formed
his alliance.
401
00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:38,760
Yes. Only Phoenicia, Tyre and Sidon
had stood outside the alliance
and now they had decided to join.
402
00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,640
Their formal submission was
to be made to King Herod
upon their arrival.
403
00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:50,120
Did Herod truly believe
himself to be this...Messiah?
404
00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:53,240
This anointed one? Oh, yes!
405
00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:55,920
Yes, he had revealed himself
to the high priests.
406
00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,200
Now he was to reveal himself
to the nation.
407
00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:02,760
Go on.
408
00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:07,520
Well, when he arrived
in the amphitheatre,
409
00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:07,520
the whole audience rose.
410
00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,840
He was wearing
a royal robe of silver tissue,
411
00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:16,000
that flashed in the sun so brightly
that it tired the eyes to look at it.
412
00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,800
The whole audience shouted,
"Oh, King, live forever,"
413
00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:23,320
but this was not enough
for the men of Tyre and Sidon.
414
00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:28,240
They grovelled at his feet and said
"We repent of our ingratitude.
415
00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:32,840
"We see now that you are superior to
mortal nature."
416
00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:36,160
"Tyre and Sidon," he replied,
"You are forgiven."
417
00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,480
And they answered,
"It is the voice of God!"
418
00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,520
"Thou shall have
no other Gods but me."
419
00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:50,000
Isn't that what
the God of the Jews said?
420
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,840
Yes, Caesar.
421
00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,000
But, evidently,
Herod had forgotten that.
422
00:26:55,000 --> 00:27:00,600
He was about to give a signal
for the ram's horn to be blown
423
00:26:55,000 --> 00:27:00,600
when he stopped.
424
00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:06,160
An owl flew into the arena -
it had been blinded by the sunlight.
425
00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,160
It perched on his throne,
426
00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,520
hooted five times, and then flew off.
427
00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,000
An owl, yes!
428
00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,000
An owl is always an ill omen.
429
00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,840
Well, he groaned.
430
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,200
He seemed to feel
stabbing pains in his chest.
431
00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,320
And he cried out, "I am ill!
Carry me out!"
432
00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:27,840
They carried him out.
433
00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,760
And the ram's horn never blew.
434
00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:33,960
The crowd set up a wail.
435
00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,760
The festival was over
before it had begun.
436
00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:40,040
And within five days he was dead.
437
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:46,680
His body racked with pain
and rotted into
an unrecognisable mass of sores.
438
00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:51,440
The kings departed
and the crowds went home.
439
00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:55,760
The storm passed
without a single drop of rain.
440
00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,120
And the Messiah?
441
00:28:02,120 --> 00:28:05,720
Who then is this M-Messiah?
442
00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:07,680
Who knows?
443
00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,120
Perhaps the Jews must wait
a little longer.
444
00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:14,480
Perhaps.
445
00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:21,840
HEROD: "Marmoset, I am dying.
446
00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,200
"My body is full of maggots.
447
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,200
"Forgive me.
448
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:34,080
"Forgive your old friend who loved
you dearly, yet secretly plotted
449
00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:34,080
to take the East away from you.
450
00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:38,520
"I have failed.
451
00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:40,960
"I played too dangerous a game.
452
00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,880
"Little marmoset, you're
a fool but I envy you your folly.
453
00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:51,600
"Do not weep for me.
454
00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,120
"My punishment is just.
455
00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,200
"I offended against
the only living God.
456
00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:12,000
"Farewell, my friend - whom I love
more truly than you suppose.
457
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,560
"Farewell, little marmoset,
my school fellow.
458
00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,000
"And trust no-one.
459
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,880
"No- one.
460
00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,400
"Your dying friend,
461
00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:25,400
"Herod Agrippa."
462
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:29,520
"I was alone.
463
00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:34,040
"For the first time in my life,
I was alone.
464
00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:40,040
"They were all gone now,
those friends of my youth -
465
00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,440
"Domenicus, Postumus, Castor...
466
00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:47,160
"Herod, all gone.
467
00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:51,040
"There was no-one now I could
turn to except Messalina.
468
00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,200
"YES, she helped me.
469
00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,800
"How she helped me.
470
00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,720
"She persuaded me to let her use
471
00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,720
the duplicate of my seal.
472
00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:03,880
"Say "fool", Claudius, "fool"!
473
00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,680
"I know it, I know it.
474
00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,200
"But she was clever.
475
00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:17,320
"I also began this most strange
history of my life, that you shall
read and find, I promise you.
476
00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:22,760
"But now you shall see how
my ignorance of my own domestic
affairs came to an end.
477
00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,560
"I said I would tell all,
and I shall.
478
00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:31,720
"Her adultery with Silius
had gone so smoothly
that she was becoming bored.
479
00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:34,360
"Not with him,
but with their situation.
480
00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:37,600
"While he, on his part, began
to feel that the longer it went on,
481
00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:40,240
"the greater the danger
of their being discovered."
482
00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,200
Divorce him?! Why not?
483
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,120
And marry you?
484
00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:47,680
Wouldn't you rather be my wife
than my mistress?
485
00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:50,760
Your wife?
486
00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:57,080
Oh, Gaius, more than anything
in the world.
487
00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:01,440
But how? Divorce is simple enough.
488
00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,480
You send your freedman to
your husband's house and tell him.
489
00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,080
I know that.
490
00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,520
I meant,
how do we do it and survive?
491
00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:10,760
We have gone far enough
with concealment.
492
00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:15,040
Sooner or later he will find
something out and we shall
be taken unprepared.
493
00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,600
No...
494
00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,400
it's safer to stay as we are.
495
00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:23,440
We can wait until he dies
of old age.
496
00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,000
I am TIRED of waiting!
497
00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:29,480
Gaius!
498
00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,560
Don't you think that
I am tired of waiting, too?
499
00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,520
Oh, don't turn your back on me,
please.
500
00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:44,400
Nothing would please me more
than to be your wife
501
00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,720
and belong to you entirely,
for everyone to see.
502
00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:54,120
But we'd made a long-term plan.
Let's keep to it.
503
00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:58,640
Only innocent people
can afford long-term plans.
504
00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,840
Well I think of myself as innocent.
505
00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:04,080
Don't you? Innocent of adultery?
506
00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:08,280
What?! Of unbridled promiscuity?
507
00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:10,920
Of taking bribes?
508
00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:12,480
Of judicial murder?
509
00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,640
Gaius, what...? WE are GUILTY!
510
00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:20,920
Now, stop deluding yourself
with these childish notions.
511
00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:20,920
We are GUILTY!
512
00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,520
And I don't care - I love you!
513
00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:28,880
You are everything to me
but GUILT needs daring! Look at me!
514
00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:33,640
I am without a wife. I am ready
to marry you and adopt your children
and be at your side always.
515
00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:37,400
You power will remain undiminished.
516
00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,560
But we will never have
any peace of mind until
517
00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,560
we put an end to this FARCE!
518
00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,080
And if we marry,
519
00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:46,440
what then?
520
00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:49,440
We have friends.
521
00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,120
Powerful friends.
522
00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,440
They share our danger and they
look to US for peace of mind.
523
00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:03,120
If we marry openly and publicly,
all Rome will see
how Claudius is abandoned.
524
00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:05,920
All Rome will see
the contempt in which YOU hold him.
525
00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:09,960
We will declare
the Republic restored
and people will flock to our cause!
526
00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,360
When? Tomorrow.
527
00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,680
Tomorrow I go with him to Ostia
to examine the new harbour works.
528
00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:18,920
When you return, then.
529
00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:20,520
No.
530
00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:22,360
Tomorrow.
531
00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,120
Let him go on his own.
532
00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:26,640
I'll have a headache.
533
00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,400
He's used to my headaches.
534
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:33,240
While he dallies in Ostia,
we marry in Rome.
535
00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:38,320
By the time he returns to the city,
it will belong to us!
536
00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:40,840
"I went down to Ostia.
537
00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:45,280
"She was supposed to come with
me but, at the last moment,
she had one of her headaches.
538
00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:49,360
"I was disappointed but it was
too late to change my plans.
539
00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:54,520
"By the time I arrived in Ostia,
540
00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:54,520
they were already married."
541
00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:12,280
"It will seem incredible,
I know, but in a city where
nothing escapes notice or comment,
542
00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:17,000
"they could have felt themselves
so secure, and yet they did.
543
00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,920
"And I was perhaps the only man
544
00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,920
in Rome who knew nothing of it."
545
00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,600
Scandalous! It's scandalous!
546
00:34:25,720 --> 00:34:29,000
While all of Rome trooped in and
out of her bed, we said nothing.
547
00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:34,800
We closed our eyes and ears and said
nothing. But this is different -
utterly and unbearably different.
548
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:36,080
This...
549
00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,680
This puts the Emperor's life
in danger.
550
00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:43,640
And if it puts his life in danger,
551
00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:47,680
it puts ours. And I say that's
a very different bowl of fish.
552
00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:49,840
But has she divorced him or not?
553
00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:53,360
She has. She sent a freedman with
her declaration to his chamber.
554
00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:56,400
But the Emperor wasn't here.
You think she didn't know that?!
555
00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:58,800
Is the marriage bigamous or not?
556
00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:00,680
Do you think she cares?
557
00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:02,800
Do you see?
558
00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:07,440
The marriage is a public declaration
that the Emperor's wife
has abandoned him
559
00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:12,160
as being too old, too corrupt and
stupid any longer to govern Rome.
560
00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:15,280
That she has chosen the Consul Elect
as her husband
561
00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,680
is a clear indication and invitation
562
00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:20,240
to the Senate to restore
the Republic.
563
00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:22,840
In view of Messalina's
known viciousness
564
00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:25,080
when it comes to getting
her own way,
565
00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:28,680
the Senate will take the hint and
put them both at the head of it.
566
00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:36,760
Well.
567
00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:40,200
He must be told.
568
00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:42,520
This time, he MUST be told.
569
00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:44,400
But how?
570
00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,040
He won't believe a word said
against her.
571
00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:50,240
It's the old problem.
572
00:35:50,240 --> 00:35:53,320
From the moment we tell him,
time's on her side. Not ours.
573
00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:57,760
Then from the moment we tell him,
we must keep her away from him.
574
00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:02,440
We must ensure she never sees him.
She must be eliminated
without a hearing.
575
00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:06,880
That's taken for granted,
but how do we tell him?
576
00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:09,000
Whom will he most readily believe?
577
00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,280
There is...
578
00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:19,480
There is s-someone.
Someone he trusts utterly,
who's been his friend for years -
579
00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:21,800
the little prostitute, Calpurnia.
580
00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:27,560
Oh, Calpurnia.
581
00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:31,680
What is this?
A note thrust into my hands?!
582
00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:35,440
"Grave danger to
Rome - come to my house."
583
00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,640
I hope this isn't some silly,
girlish prank.
584
00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,120
You've quite alarmed me.
585
00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:44,520
Especially if the ram I was
sacrificing in the temple
586
00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:47,880
turned out to be the most
vicious beast I've ever seen.
587
00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:50,000
It's entrails were awful.
588
00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,960
Why are you trembling?
What's the matter?
589
00:36:55,960 --> 00:37:00,160
Oh, Caesar! What's the matter?
Calpurnia, get up! Get up!
590
00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,480
I hate people grovelling.
591
00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:04,360
Oh, Caesar...
592
00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:07,160
Will you please tell me
what you have to say?
593
00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:12,120
I shall tell you, because
nobody else dared tell you.
594
00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:14,960
But when I do, you will
have me tortured and flogged.
595
00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:18,440
Calpurnia, dear as you are,
you are making me angry.
596
00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:21,960
Do you still trust me?
597
00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,560
In my life,
I've trusted three women -
598
00:37:24,560 --> 00:37:27,320
my mother, Messalina and yourself.
599
00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,960
Why must you include your
wife in that list? Messalina?
600
00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:33,000
I would trust her with my life.
601
00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:38,080
She has just married Gaius Silius
602
00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,200
and the wedding party is
still going on in Rome.
603
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:46,120
Are you mad? Or wicked, or both?
604
00:37:46,120 --> 00:37:48,200
They are married.
Your wife and Silius.
605
00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:50,320
Everyone in Rome knows.
606
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:52,640
But I left her in bed
with a headache.
607
00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:54,520
Now she's in bed with Silius.
608
00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:56,920
Don't you understand?
He's her lover!
609
00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:00,520
I thought you knew.
610
00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:02,560
Everyone assumed you knew.
611
00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:06,440
That was why you slept apart
all this time.
612
00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:10,320
CALPURNIA SOBS
613
00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:16,760
Oh! I wouldn't have told you
even now but they are married
614
00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:16,760
and I've seen the wedding party.
615
00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:18,720
You haven't been to Rome.
616
00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:21,440
Yes, yes. I've been.
Narcissus came and fetched me.
617
00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:24,440
I've been to Rome and back today.
618
00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:28,560
The garden of the palace is
decorated with vine leaves and ivy,
619
00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:30,600
bunches of grapes,
620
00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:32,560
wine vats and presses.
621
00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:36,320
They're all dancing about
like wine-soaked gods...!
622
00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:37,720
I don't believe you!
623
00:38:37,720 --> 00:38:39,560
I refuse to believe you.
624
00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:42,080
SHE SOBS
625
00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:43,600
It's true, Caesar.
626
00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:48,960
Every word she says is true.
627
00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:56,880
Caesar,
how else could you have been told?
628
00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:58,560
When have you been prepa...
629
00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:04,240
When have you been prepared
to listen to the slightest
630
00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:04,240
criticism of your wife's excesses?
631
00:39:04,240 --> 00:39:07,160
EXCESSES?!
What are you talking about?!
632
00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:13,640
Caesar,
her adulteries are as numberless
as the sands on the shore!
633
00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:15,280
That is no figure of speech!
634
00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:19,080
When you were away in Britain,
635
00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:24,720
she competed with a prostitute
to see who could wear out
the most lovers in a day.
636
00:39:24,720 --> 00:39:27,080
Half of Rome saw it!
637
00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:29,760
If you have any doubt about
Silius, go to his house.
638
00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:31,680
It will seem like home to you.
639
00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,200
All your most expensive furniture
is there -
640
00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:36,960
paintings, tapestries, statues...
641
00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:38,800
even Imperial slaves.
642
00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:41,600
But that is nothing.
643
00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,280
Do you know you are divorced?
644
00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:52,280
Nation and Senate have witnessed
her wedding to Silius.
645
00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:57,400
Act now,
or her new husband controls Rome.
646
00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,600
I can't believe it.
647
00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:12,080
My dear, you must.
648
00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:16,560
And you must act quickly or you'll
be condemning us all to death.
649
00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:18,160
She's right, Caesar.
650
00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,960
We must return to Rome and
arrest them all at once.
651
00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:24,920
But, am I...still Emperor?
652
00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:30,000
Some officers of the guard may have
been seduced but the soldiers are
devoted to you. I'm certain of it.
653
00:40:37,880 --> 00:40:40,280
Yes, arrest them.
654
00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:44,960
Hurry back to Rome
and arrest them...ALL!
655
00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:48,000
LOUD HUBBUB AND LAUGHTER
656
00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:45,880
Mnester! Yes?
657
00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:47,200
What do you see?
658
00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:51,840
I see a cloud in the shape
of Claudius rising over Ostia.
659
00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:53,360
Is he drifting this way?
660
00:41:53,360 --> 00:41:56,840
He was - but he just farted
and blew himself out to sea!
661
00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,680
Out of the way!
662
00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:03,200
Help me up.
663
00:42:05,240 --> 00:42:07,360
What is it, Mnester?
What do you see now?
664
00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:11,400
I see a troop of guards
climbing the hill towards us.
665
00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:13,920
Splendid!
666
00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:13,920
Wave them in and give them wine.
667
00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:20,400
I think not, Gaius Silius. Their
swords are drawn, every one of them.
668
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:24,920
The guards!
The guards! Listen to me!
669
00:42:24,920 --> 00:42:28,800
The guards are coming to arrest us!
670
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:30,760
The Emperor's in Rome!
671
00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:34,040
They're arresting everybody! Run!
672
00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:42,840
Where is the Emperor? In his study.
673
00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:47,720
We've arrested 200 people.
Silius was taken in a marketplace.
Lady Messalina has not been found.
674
00:42:47,720 --> 00:42:51,360
She is not to be allowed to see the
Emperor without first consulting me.
675
00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:52,880
You understand?
676
00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:04,720
Where is he?
677
00:43:04,720 --> 00:43:06,600
Where is my husband?
678
00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:11,880
He doesn't wish to see you.
679
00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:22,280
Out of my way, you Greek!
680
00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:24,960
You dare stand between me
and my husband?!
681
00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:26,880
Which husband? You whore!
682
00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:29,080
Which one? OUT of my way!
683
00:43:29,080 --> 00:43:31,840
Get out of my way! Let go!
684
00:43:31,840 --> 00:43:33,800
Let go!
Get her out. Get her out of here!
685
00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:44,280
Let me see him! Claudius!
686
00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:46,800
How dare you stop her?
687
00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:50,320
She is the Emperor's wife and
the mother of his children.
688
00:43:50,320 --> 00:43:53,040
But is he the father?
689
00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:55,880
Who knows whose litter they are!
690
00:43:55,880 --> 00:43:58,680
Liar. LIAR!
691
00:43:58,680 --> 00:44:01,920
Here's a list of your adulteries.
D'you wanna read it? Hundreds!
692
00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:07,080
And you call HER a mother?!
693
00:44:10,080 --> 00:44:12,120
Take her home. Let her wait there.
694
00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:14,160
NO!
695
00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:16,480
SHE SCREAMS
696
00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:16,480
NO!
697
00:44:16,480 --> 00:44:19,680
MOTHER! CLAUDIUS!
698
00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:23,240
CLAUDIUS!
699
00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:27,440
Arrests have been
made all over the city.
700
00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:29,160
Silius has been taken.
701
00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:32,520
Thank heaven most of the Guard
proved loyal.
702
00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:34,040
Poor woman.
703
00:44:35,560 --> 00:44:40,720
What ever made her d-d-do
such things?
704
00:44:40,720 --> 00:44:43,800
How unhappy she must have been.
705
00:44:49,720 --> 00:44:52,200
You must sign these, Caesar.
706
00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:54,560
They're the charge sheets.
707
00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:56,840
They need your signature urgently.
708
00:45:21,360 --> 00:45:24,280
Sleep, Caesar. Sleep.
709
00:45:24,280 --> 00:45:27,160
You need your rest.
710
00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:29,360
Save yourself for Rome.
711
00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:34,600
Peter,
712
00:45:34,600 --> 00:45:38,040
here's the warrant
for her execution. Hurry.
713
00:45:38,040 --> 00:45:39,720
And, Peter,
714
00:45:39,720 --> 00:45:42,120
offer her the dagger first. No!
715
00:45:42,120 --> 00:45:47,000
If she takes her own life, it
will save us having to show him
the warrant in the morning.
716
00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:54,280
Take it to the palace.
717
00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:59,280
Tell no-one that you have it, only
that you want to see your father.
718
00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:59,280
Now hurry.
719
00:45:59,280 --> 00:46:02,080
When he reads it,
he'll forgive your mother.
720
00:46:02,080 --> 00:46:04,840
You'll see.
721
00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:06,800
Hurry. Hurry.
722
00:46:22,840 --> 00:46:24,960
He must see me.
723
00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:27,560
He must!
724
00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:29,280
How could you, child?
725
00:46:29,280 --> 00:46:31,600
How could you?
726
00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:33,280
Is that all you can say?
727
00:46:36,720 --> 00:46:38,560
Why don't you do something?
728
00:46:46,600 --> 00:46:48,920
Why don't you see him on your own?
729
00:46:48,920 --> 00:46:51,480
DOOR RATTLES
730
00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:53,320
He's coming!
731
00:46:53,320 --> 00:46:55,800
He's coming to see me!
732
00:46:57,400 --> 00:46:59,360
KNOCKING
733
00:47:04,120 --> 00:47:05,320
What do YOU want?
734
00:47:05,320 --> 00:47:07,960
Your life, Lady.
Your husband's orders.
735
00:47:09,800 --> 00:47:11,000
No!
736
00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:13,840
He wouldn't do that.
737
00:47:13,840 --> 00:47:16,120
My husband wouldn't do... Read it!
738
00:47:16,120 --> 00:47:17,720
It has his signature.
739
00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:30,880
I'm to offer you the dagger
first, if you'll have it.
740
00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:34,200
And then to cut off your pretty head
and put it on a spear.
741
00:47:36,520 --> 00:47:38,120
NO!
742
00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:46,120
NO! Not my HEAD! Not my HEAD!
743
00:47:46,120 --> 00:47:49,240
Child! Child!
744
00:47:49,240 --> 00:47:52,080
Your life is done.
745
00:47:52,080 --> 00:47:54,400
Take the dagger and use it.
746
00:47:57,480 --> 00:47:59,760
Don't let them take my head.
747
00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:03,040
NO!
748
00:48:16,840 --> 00:48:19,640
Oh...
749
00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:21,160
No...
750
00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:25,240
he wouldn't do that.
751
00:48:27,640 --> 00:48:29,880
Not Claudius.
752
00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:32,320
Use it.
753
00:48:32,320 --> 00:48:33,840
Use it quickly.
754
00:48:41,920 --> 00:48:43,200
I can't!
755
00:48:44,720 --> 00:48:46,440
I can't!
756
00:48:48,240 --> 00:48:49,480
NO!
757
00:48:49,480 --> 00:48:51,120
NOT MY HEAD!
758
00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:52,280
Not my...!
759
00:49:11,000 --> 00:49:13,320
I'll see my...
760
00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:15,280
w-w-wife now.
761
00:49:17,960 --> 00:49:21,760
She was executed last night.
762
00:49:21,760 --> 00:49:25,040
At your orders, Caesar.
763
00:49:25,040 --> 00:49:26,680
Here is the warrant.
764
00:49:38,760 --> 00:49:41,640
There is a dispatch
from Britain, Caesar.
765
00:49:41,640 --> 00:49:45,200
The temple that was to have been
dedicated to the god Augustus
766
00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:48,080
in Colchester
has been dedicated instead to you.
767
00:49:48,080 --> 00:49:51,560
Aulus Plautius writes that Augustus
means nothing to the Britons,
768
00:49:51,560 --> 00:49:54,120
but they are more than happy
to worship you as a god.
769
00:49:54,120 --> 00:49:57,600
He regrets having taken the decision
without first consulting you,
770
00:49:57,600 --> 00:50:02,280
but feels sure you understand
that it was politically correct.
771
00:50:04,160 --> 00:50:09,600
The temple is known as
The Temple of the God Claudius.
772
00:51:28,080 --> 00:51:31,960
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd - 2006
773
00:51:31,960 --> 00:51:36,000
E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk