1 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,240 (Is he dead?) 2 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:01,840 Yes. 3 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,240 Yes, he's dead. 4 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:05,840 Then... 5 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,360 I am emperor. 6 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,120 Yes. 7 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,000 Whee-ee! Ssh! 8 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,600 YOU are emperor. 9 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:21,640 Everything I ever dreamed of has come true. 10 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,400 Emperor! 11 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,440 I am emperor of Rome! 12 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,080 I feel sorry for him. Don't you? No. 13 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:32,960 No? No, neither do I. 14 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:35,360 Let's announce his death. Not yet. 15 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:40,000 First, we shall put out a bulletin to say that he's as well as can be expected. 16 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,320 Considering he's dead! Yes. 17 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:44,880 Then we must find the will. 18 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,240 It will be in his study. 19 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:51,960 Come! 20 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:04,960 What a mess! 21 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,440 He'd never let anyone touch it, that's why. 22 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,800 It will be here somewhere. 23 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,400 You look over there. I'll look here. 24 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,200 "Write no more, Claudius. Write no more." 25 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:02,960 Have you found it, Mother? 26 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,080 Oh, what is it? 27 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,000 It looks like a history. 28 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,480 Of what? 29 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,400 Of our family. 30 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,240 Does it mention me? 31 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,240 Oh, where does it begin? 32 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,760 With the death of his last wife, Messalina. 33 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,720 That should be interesting. What does it say about me? Oh, be quiet! 34 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,320 How can I tell you if you keep talking to me? 35 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:29,040 "The frog-pool wanted a king. 36 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,320 "Jove sent them Old King Log. 37 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:38,440 "I have been as deaf and blind and wooden as a log. 38 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,400 "My chief fault... 39 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,920 "I have been too benevolent. 40 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,840 "I repaired the ruin my predecessors spread. 41 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:51,160 "I reconciled Rome and the world to monarchy again. 42 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,960 "By dulling the blade of tyranny I fell into great error. 43 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,560 "By sharpening that blade I might redeem that error. 44 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,000 "Violent disorders call for violent remedies. 45 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,640 "Yet I am, I must remember... 46 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,080 "Old King Log. 47 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,800 "I shall float inertly in the stagnant pool. 48 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:23,160 "Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out. 49 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,720 "Yes... 50 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:33,000 "..let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out." 51 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,080 She did not please you, Caesar? 52 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,600 No, I can see she did not. 53 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,760 It was a mistake having her here. 54 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,520 A beautiful woman, though. 55 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,880 Yes, a beautiful woman. 56 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:54,200 Whoever marries her will be a fortunate man. 57 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,600 She's married already. 58 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,440 Really? 59 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,360 To the drummer. 60 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,640 And has three children. 61 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,120 Oh, I envy him. 62 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,120 He tells me she's a shrew. 63 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,960 Well, then, I envy him his nights... 64 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,640 but not his days. 65 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,320 Unfortunately, in marriage one can't have one without the other. 66 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,000 You see, Caesar, 67 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:28,880 how even vagabonds and gypsies like those recognise the virtues of marriage and a family. 68 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:30,040 Life. 69 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:33,240 Caesar? 70 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,240 Are you well? 71 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,000 Is something the matter? 72 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,920 "Let all the poisons... 73 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,960 "that lurk in the mud... 74 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,000 "hatch out." 75 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,440 If you will allow us, Caesar, to raise once again 76 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,120 the subject of your remarrying... 77 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,040 There are so many good reasons for it. 78 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,880 But chiefly, your children need a mother. 79 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:08,920 And Rome needs a mother. 80 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,360 It's not right for an emperor to be alone. 81 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:16,200 Your Uncle Tiberius was alone too 82 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:16,200 long. I'm sure it affected his mind. 83 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,280 It doesn't follow that 84 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,280 because your three previous marriages were a tragedy 85 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:22,200 your fourth shouldn't be a triumph. 86 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,920 I've given this matter a great deal of thought 87 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,480 and there is someone I'd like to recommend. 88 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,840 You never mentioned that to me. I only thought of it this morning. 89 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:36,760 Caesar, the one woman in Rome who would be a perfect wife 90 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:38,800 is Lollia Paulina. 91 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,120 Lollia Paulina?! 92 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:44,040 Are you mad? 93 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,440 She's ideal. 94 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,480 She is the daughter of an ex-consul. 95 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,240 She has lost none of her looks 96 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,240 with age and she is still childless, 97 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:55,880 which will make her a good stepmother to Britannicus and Octavia, and they need a mother. 98 00:06:55,880 --> 00:07:01,080 That's more important than anything. More than the fact she's the stupidest woman in Rome? 99 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:06,160 The emperor has had clever ones before that have done him little good. She's an absurd choice. 100 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:11,080 She walks about like a jeweller's shop. The emperor needs a wife... 101 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,080 The emperor needs a wife capable of helping him. 102 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:19,760 ..Caesar, I have submitted many names in the past for your consideration. 103 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,480 I confess, I've been less than enthusiastic about most of them. 104 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,880 It didn't prevent you putting them forward. 105 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,120 It was not I who was to marry them. 106 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:33,080 One can recommend with less enthusiasm than when one marries. Caesar... 107 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,520 As I was about to say, Caesar! 108 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:49,760 One name comes to me now with all the force of divine revelation. 109 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,560 The lady in question has been in front of us all the time, 110 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,680 so close, in fact, that we've not noticed her. 111 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,960 I refer to the Lady Agrippinilla. 112 00:07:59,960 --> 00:08:04,800 The Lady Agrippinilla?! Are you mad? She's the emperor's niece. 113 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,320 The union would be incestuous. The senate would never allow it. 114 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:13,160 100 years ago, first cousins couldn't marry. Now it's done all the time. 115 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,760 When it's put to the senate, they will agree. ..Now, Caesar... 116 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,240 she's in every way suitable. 117 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,920 She's a woman of powerful intelligence. 118 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,000 She's the daughter of Germanicus. 119 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,800 And she would bring with her the grandson of Germanicus. 120 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,040 Nero, a boy worthy in every respect of imperial fortune. 121 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,520 But the emperor loathes Nero, a hideous boy. 122 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,240 You are speaking of the emperor's grand-nephew. 123 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:44,120 I speak the emperor's own words. 124 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:44,120 And his mother is the most corrupt woman in Rome. 125 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,760 Even Caligula said so, and he was her brother. How dare you! 126 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,520 How dare you! 127 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:54,840 Narcissus, you may consider our friendship at an end. 128 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,400 From this moment - at an end! 129 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:58,880 Caesar! 130 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:04,800 Caesar, I cannot support these monstrous calumnies 131 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:04,800 against the daughter of Germanicus. 132 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:09,760 Caesar... In my opinion, your niece is the finest woman in Rome. Oh! 133 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:15,440 An emperor should have a wife who is both good-looking and of outstanding intelligence. 134 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,520 Now, she has both. She is... I beg you to consider her. 135 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,560 It would be the Lady Messalina all over again. 136 00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:25,280 Worse! It'll be the Lady Messalina with brains. 137 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:29,400 That's a combination more deadly than all the tribes of Germany 138 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:29,400 put together. 139 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:34,360 And as for her son, she won't be married ten minutes but she'll 140 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:34,360 want him adopted into the family. 141 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,040 Caesar! Caesar, I beg you... 142 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,600 Caesar, an uncle does not marry his niece. 143 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,280 The union will be incestuous. The gods abominate incest. 144 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,480 It will bring ruin and destruction on all Rome. 145 00:09:51,680 --> 00:09:57,320 Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud... 146 00:09:58,680 --> 00:10:00,280 ..hatch out. 147 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:03,520 Caesar? 148 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,760 Let all the poisons... 149 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,160 that lurk in the mud... 150 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,240 ..hatch out. 151 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,960 I would marry my niece. 152 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,720 Bring her to me. 153 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:51,800 KNOCK ON DOOR 154 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:54,440 Come in. 155 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:05,960 Well? 156 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:11,320 He's agreed. 157 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:14,880 He has agreed. 158 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:18,160 He wants to see you. 159 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:20,640 Now? 160 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:21,880 Yes. 161 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,560 It was so easy I could hardly believe it. 162 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,560 He'll marry me? 163 00:11:29,560 --> 00:11:31,840 He said he'd marry me? 164 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:33,040 Yes. 165 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,320 What did he say? 166 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,280 "I will marry my niece. 167 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:40,840 "Send her to me." 168 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:43,440 That's all? 169 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:45,960 Nothing else? 170 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,200 No arguments? No opposition? 171 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:49,800 Only from Narcissus. 172 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:51,160 Ah! 173 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:54,160 What did HE say? 174 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,960 I shan't repeat it. What does it matter? He lost. 175 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,760 It was only sour grapes. 176 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,360 I'll sour all his grapes before I'm done. 177 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,040 And Claudius? He said nothing about my being his niece? 178 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:09,240 Nothing. 179 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,040 Nothing about incest? 180 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:14,200 Nothing. 181 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,600 Perhaps he fancies the idea. 182 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,880 I wouldn't blame him. 183 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:28,000 I shan't like it, though, the thought of you in his bed. 184 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,920 I'm beginning to have regrets already. 185 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:36,840 I told you I'd find it hard when it came to it to suggest you. 186 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,520 It didn't stop you, though, did it? 187 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,160 No. 188 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:45,840 Your ambition always burned more brightly than your passion. 189 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,320 Have you ever found my passion wanting? 190 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:50,880 No. 191 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:57,880 But in my case, passion and ambition are beautifully combined. 192 00:12:57,880 --> 00:12:59,400 Aren't they? 193 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:03,040 I'm beginning to have regrets already. 194 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,280 My regrets are mounting. 195 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,040 I hope... 196 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,760 when you are married... Don't be silly! 197 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,440 Oh, I've hurt you. 198 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,160 And I shouldn't have. 199 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,240 Don't worry. 200 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,400 I'll make it up to you. 201 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,800 Now! Make it up to me now. 202 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,560 He's waiting for me. It won't take long. 203 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:41,200 You see, for once, my passion burns brighter than my ambition. 204 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:44,800 Hurry, then. 205 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,440 I imagine his passion is burning too. 206 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,040 And at his age the flames don't last very long. 207 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:55,560 KNOCK ON DOOR 208 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:01,280 Uncle. 209 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,400 Pallas tells me you wanted to see me. 210 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:05,560 Yes. 211 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:10,560 He said that you had decided to marry again. Yes. 212 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,040 And that you had chosen me. 213 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:17,640 Would you like to marry me? 214 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,400 Oh, Uncle! 215 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:28,120 You have made me the happiest woman in the world. 216 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,320 Yes, I thought I might. 217 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,680 How could you have known that? 218 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:34,840 How could you have known 219 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,680 that I've loved and respected you all these years above all others? 220 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:42,520 I just guessed it, my dear. Just guessed it. 221 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,000 I shall be such a good wife to you. 222 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:49,640 You'll see. And I shall be a mother to Britannicus and Octavia, 223 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,080 just as I am to my own dear Nero. 224 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,480 They shall be to me... 225 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,760 as if they were my own. 226 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,080 And there may be more. Why not? 227 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,800 I'm still capable of bearing children. 228 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,240 And, you, such a vigorous man. 229 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,160 Such firm flesh. 230 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,560 Who would have thought it? 231 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,240 You shall have more sons, I promise you. 232 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:22,160 And more love than you have ever had. 233 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,440 Yes... 234 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:29,920 love, Uncle, such as you have never known before. 235 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:36,440 Oh, it makes my head reel to think of it. 236 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:45,640 Does it not worry you, my dear, that you will be committing incest? 237 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:50,480 Oh, but you've done that so many times before, haven't you? 238 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,600 With your brother Caligula. 239 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:58,400 We all did things during the reign 240 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:58,400 of my mad brother that we might not otherwise have done. 241 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,520 That's true. That is true. 242 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:05,320 Only, some of us did them 243 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:05,320 a little more willingly than others, didn't we? 244 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,320 I'm not blaming you. I'm only asking. 245 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,120 Since you ask, the answer is no. 246 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,120 Such incest would be technical only. 247 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,680 It doesn't disturb me but if it disturbs you... No, I'm teasing. 248 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:22,960 Don't be offended. 249 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:27,640 As a matter of fact, the question of incest is somewhat academic. 250 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,160 What does that mean? It means that, beautiful as you are, 251 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,600 your body's of less interest to me than your mind. 252 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,520 I'm marrying you for your head, my dear, not your heart 253 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,520 of which I suspect you have very little. 254 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,640 Well, then, that suits me. 255 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,960 Though not the sort of lover one dreams of. 256 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,360 Certainly not the sort that YOU dream of. 257 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,200 Still, I won't discuss your dreams, not on a full stomach. 258 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,360 I'm marrying you 259 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,360 because I am tired of ruling alone. 260 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:02,440 And there are so many things an emperor's wife could do that others can't. 261 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,680 But I need a woman with a mind. Does that appeal to you? 262 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:08,360 Admirably. 263 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:12,960 But I shan't be a cipher, I can tell you that. 264 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:18,360 If you give me power, I shall use it. 265 00:17:18,360 --> 00:17:22,400 Now, why else do you imagine I'm giving it to you? 266 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:26,880 Well? 267 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,520 We are to be married. 268 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,840 But why? 269 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:34,360 Why? 270 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:36,600 He doesn't want me to share his bed. 271 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,560 He doesn't even like me. 272 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,960 He says he wants me to help him rule. 273 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,200 All the better. No. 274 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,080 No, there's something odd. 275 00:17:47,120 --> 00:17:49,640 What did he say when you suggested me? 276 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:51,920 I told you. Nothing more? 277 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:56,000 Well, there was something but it made 278 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:56,000 no sense. What? What did he say? 279 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,520 Uh... 280 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:01,760 "Let all the poisons that... are in the mud hatch out." 281 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,400 Or something like that. 282 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:09,560 Perhaps his mind's going. 283 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,080 Maybe he won't last long after his marriage. 284 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:22,040 No. We must keep him alive long enough for my son to come of age. 285 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:29,760 Senators... 286 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:35,560 years ago, I undertook the conquest of the island of Britain. 287 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,120 It has taken until now to complete it. 288 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:42,920 One man, and one man alone, has been responsible 289 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,720 for the enormous losses... 290 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,760 "The war in Britain finally came to an end 291 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,040 "and King Caractacus was brought in chains to Rome. 292 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,520 "The senate called for his death 293 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:58,560 "as punishment for his long and protracted resistance to our arms. 294 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,840 "But while his family cowered before us, 295 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:03,720 "Caractacus did not." 296 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,560 I'll tell you this - 297 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:10,760 if the sword is all that you're prepared to show us Britons, 298 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,520 then be prepared to carry it for ever in your hand. 299 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:18,160 And sleep with it for ever by your side 300 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:19,840 at night! 301 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:23,560 For you will NEED it. 302 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,200 APPLAUSE 303 00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:34,280 "His courage and his dignity won the hearts of the senate. 304 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,840 "He was granted a pension 305 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,320 "and allowed to live with his family in the city. 306 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:42,400 "I am near the end of my story. 307 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:46,680 "I've been married to Agrippinilla for five years 308 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:51,000 "and she has turned out 309 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:51,000 as loathsome as I thought she would. 310 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,560 "As has that slimy son of hers... 311 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,200 "His mother has plans for him. 312 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,360 "She thinks I do not know. 313 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:04,080 "But I do. 314 00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:07,720 "And I have my own plans." 315 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:15,760 Very beautiful. 316 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,200 Yes. 317 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:22,800 I wonder, Britannicus, that you don't take lessons. 318 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,320 I'm not interested in music. 319 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:27,720 Pity. 320 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,680 You could play duets together. 321 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,680 That would be very unlikely... 322 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,800 Lucius Domitius being so gifted. 323 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,440 I wish you would stop addressing him as Lucius Domitius. 324 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,560 He has adopted the name of Nero. 325 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:45,160 I forgot. 326 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,000 No, you do not forget. 327 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,760 I think you do it deliberately. 328 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:52,680 I tell you, I forget. 329 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:56,680 Well, you have been reminded, 330 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,960 which I think calls for a correction and an apology. 331 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,800 Oh, that isn't necessary, Mother. 332 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,840 I think it is. 333 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,600 Well? 334 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,120 I shall not apologise. 335 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:16,120 I think you will. 336 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:20,800 Claudius, I insist that you order him to apologise. 337 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,880 Apologise to Nero, Britannicus. 338 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:28,160 You've hurt his feelings. You know how sensitive he is. 339 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:35,240 You side with them. You take her side 340 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:35,240 and his against me all the time. 341 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,760 I shall NOT apologise! 342 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:43,000 You'll apologise or you'll be punished. 343 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:44,960 What will you do? 344 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:48,040 Have me executed as you did my mother? 345 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,160 I detest you all. 346 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:52,880 ALL of you. 347 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,880 I'm sorry to have been the cause of that. 348 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:02,520 It's not your fault. Anyone could see that. 349 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:04,640 Nevertheless, I'll go and see him. 350 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,960 ..Come, Octavia. Let's go and find your brother. 351 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,040 Perhaps we can pacify him. 352 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:14,360 I think you're very kind. There's 353 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:14,360 far too little kindness in the world. 354 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,600 Have you noticed how fond they are of each other? 355 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,720 Everyone's commenting on it. 356 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,080 Nero simply adores her. 357 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:39,640 There's something I've been wanting to speak to you about for a long time. Yes. It concerns... 358 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:41,120 Pardon? 359 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:46,880 The answer is yes. But you don't 360 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:46,880 know what I'm going to ask. 361 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:51,720 Aren't you going to suggest that I marry Octavia to your son? 362 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,040 Yes. 363 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,440 The answer is yes. 364 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,960 Don't you wish to discuss it? 365 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:01,560 What is there to discuss? 366 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,400 They'll be well matched. 367 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,760 Nero's very fond of you, you know. 368 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:12,760 He thinks of you as a father. 369 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,560 He said to me the other day, 370 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:19,160 "You know, I think of him... "as a father." 371 00:23:22,120 --> 00:23:27,680 It's just occurred to me that since he will now be marrying... The answer once again is yes. 372 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:32,480 Will you let me finish? You don't even know what I'm going to say. 373 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:39,960 You and your cups! You've had too much wine again. Oh, my dear, 374 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:44,840 I thought you were going to suggest that I adopt Nero officially as my son... 375 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,720 make him and Britannicus joint heirs. 376 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,280 Of course, if that is not what you were going to say... 377 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,040 Yes. 378 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,040 Yes, it was. 379 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,320 It was. 380 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,400 I just wish you'd let me finish. 381 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,200 Your manner's very strange. 382 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,080 I just wanted to save a lot of unnecessary discussion. 383 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:12,560 You see, this is the success of our marriage, my dear. 384 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,160 I read your mind so quickly. 385 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,640 Think of the time it saves! 386 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:21,680 Good night. 387 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:26,840 Oh! 388 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:28,960 Put him to bed! 389 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,960 You should have consulted me. I would've talked you out of it. 390 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,960 I would never have let it happen. That's why I never discussed it. 391 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,000 But do you think that's right? 392 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,640 Am I not your principal advisor on matters of state? Yes. 393 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,840 Well, then, why do such a thing without consulting me? 394 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:54,280 Do you think SHE makes a move without consulting Pallas? No. 395 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,480 You know that they're lovers, don't you? 396 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,920 You know that he's switched his interests from you to her? Yes. 397 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:01,720 Then why did you do it? 398 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:05,080 Can't you see what you've done? 399 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,840 By marrying Nero to your daughter and adopting him as your son, 400 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,720 you've signed your death warrant. 401 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,560 Your wife has got everything she wanted out of marrying you. 402 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:19,400 She doesn't need you any more. I shall die soon anyway. 403 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,960 How do you know? Balbillus told me. Balbillus! He read my horoscope. 404 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,960 You didn't need HIM. 405 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:29,680 By your own actions you've numbered your days more accurately than any horoscope! 406 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:34,160 But why did you do it? Why?! Did you not at least think of Britannicus? 407 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,480 I thought principally of him. 408 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,280 But...do you not see how this will hurt him? 409 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,760 Do you not know how you've hurt him in the past? 410 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:43,480 Yes, I know. 411 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:47,920 You realise, don't you, you've numbered his days as well? 412 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:52,640 Do you think they'll let him live once you've gone? To say nothing 413 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:52,640 of me. What made you do it? 414 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,840 Nero is destined to rule after me, not Britannicus. 415 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:00,680 It has been foretold thus. Nothing can alter it. 416 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:02,720 Foretold? By who? 417 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:06,760 By the Sybil. Nero may become emperor. You've seen to that. 418 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,240 But SHE will rule, your wife Agrippinilla, through him, 419 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:12,160 as Livia ruled through Tiberius. No. 420 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,160 Nero will kill his mother. That too has been foretold by the Sybil. 421 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:20,840 What Sybil? I've seen no such prophecy. No, nor has anyone... 422 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:22,520 except me. 423 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:33,640 Where did you find this? It was given to me by Livia just before she died. 424 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:37,360 She gave a birthday dinner. She invited me. That was unusual. 425 00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:40,440 But her purpose became clear toward the end of the evening. 426 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,840 She found this curious book among Augustus' papers. 427 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:48,080 You...You won't understand it. It's written in a very archaic language. 428 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,520 It frightened Augustus. He kept it hidden. 429 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:55,400 Or perhaps he just didn't understand it. But Livia did. 430 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:59,600 What does it prophesy? Amongst other things, 431 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,480 it prophesied Caligula's reign and his death. 432 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,520 It prophesied mine. 433 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,200 And it prophesies Nero's. 434 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,560 It is written, Narcissus. 435 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,720 Nothing you or I can do will stop it. 436 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,760 Is that why you chose the Lady Agrippinilla for your wife? 437 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:25,240 Yes. All my life I wanted to see the republic restored. 438 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,600 Yet I let myself be made an emperor. 439 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,840 That was written too. But I made a mistake. 440 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:36,920 I tried to rule wisely and justly, blunting the edge of monarchy, reconciling the people to it. 441 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:41,520 In doing that, I was helping monarchy. Now I shall destroy it once and for all. 442 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:45,760 Or rather, Nero will destroy it. 443 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:45,760 He's as mad as my nephew Caligula. 444 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,360 We're all mad, we Caesars. 445 00:27:48,360 --> 00:27:53,360 And when we are gone the people will finish with monarchies once and for all, 446 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:55,520 return to the sanity of the republic. 447 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,160 And Britannicus? He's my instrument. 448 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,200 HE will restore the republic. 449 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:01,720 If he lives. 450 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,480 I have a plan that will save him. 451 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:07,920 But I must leave you to make the arrangements. 452 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,120 Tell me what to do. 453 00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:13,800 Well, let me rest for an hour. 454 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:17,640 Then come to my bedroom and we'll talk some more. 455 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,000 Can I tell Britannicus? No! 456 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,520 Not yet. It grieves me to see how much you've hurt him. Yes. 457 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,560 I killed his mother. 458 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:29,080 I've been less than a father to him ever since. 459 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,840 And I am tired and I'm not well. 460 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:36,960 We must do it now. It won't be easy. 461 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,240 Narcissus watches him like a hawk. 462 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:46,160 Every morsel of food your husband takes is tasted first by someone 463 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:46,160 else. We shall need proper advice. 464 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,200 That shouldn't be hard to get. 465 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,720 Well, there is someone... Ah! 466 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:52,280 A woman, Lucasta. 467 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,200 She's very skilled. 468 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,680 I'll go and see her. Yes. 469 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:58,680 And do it soon. 470 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:03,680 He's very unpredictable. 471 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:08,000 He's preferred my son to his own at every turn. I don't understand it. 472 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:12,640 And he could just as easily change 473 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:12,640 his mind tomorrow. Yes, it's strange. 474 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,280 I feel he's playing some sort of game. 475 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,160 But I can't guess what it is. 476 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,160 Neither can I but it worries me. 477 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,760 I remember 478 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,760 that before Tiberius struck Sejanus 479 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:25,760 he raised him higher than he'd ever been before. 480 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:28,440 There's something else that worries me. 481 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,640 How sure are you of your son? 482 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,200 You may leave my son to me. 483 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:41,560 Even now that he's married? 484 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,040 I know you've had a very great influence on him. 485 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,000 But he's no longer a child. 486 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,760 And when he's emperor... 487 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:51,880 who will control him? 488 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:53,720 KNOCKING ON DOOR 489 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:55,120 Who is it? 490 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:56,960 NERO: It is I, Mother. 491 00:29:58,160 --> 00:29:59,640 Come in. 492 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:06,360 Oh. It doesn't matter. 493 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,320 No, I'm just going. 494 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:11,080 My lady. 495 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,360 I don't like that Greek. > 496 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:22,760 That Greek runs this empire. Do you 497 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:22,760 have to receive him in your bedroom? 498 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,400 What is the matter with you? Nothing. 499 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:33,160 Then why aren't you in bed? Where is Octavia? She's locked herself in her bedroom. She won't let me in. 500 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:34,760 Did you quarrel? 501 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:39,880 Yes. Well, why can't you sleep alone? 502 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:39,880 I don't feel like it. I feel... 503 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:42,120 Oh, I don't know. 504 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:47,480 She won't lock me out when I'm emperor. She won't tell me what to do. I shall do as I please. 505 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:53,160 It was very naughty of Octavia to lock you out. 506 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:54,760 Very naughty. 507 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,600 But she's only a child. 508 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,520 She doesn't understand how you feel. 509 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:06,680 Would you like me to find a pretty house girl for you? 510 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:08,840 Shall I find one 511 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:11,120 and send her to you? 512 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:14,240 Is that man your lover? 513 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:14,240 No, of course not. 514 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:19,360 I don't like him. He has no business in your bedroom. I won't allow it when I'm emperor. 515 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:30,240 I won't see him here again. 516 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:33,760 Oh. 517 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:36,080 My poor baby. 518 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:40,680 It's not fair, is it, to lock you out of your room? 519 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:45,680 And you...the emperor elect. 520 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:48,480 But then... 521 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:50,520 she's only your wife. 522 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,360 She doesn't feel for you as a mother would. 523 00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:59,520 A mother knows how her baby feels. 524 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:01,880 Yes. 525 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:05,880 She wouldn't let him be unhappy. 526 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:08,400 No. 527 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:11,000 No. 528 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:13,600 Never. 529 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:16,840 Never. 530 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:21,520 Oh. 531 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:26,080 I'm so sleepy. 532 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:39,840 Senators... 533 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:43,360 ..you see me here for the last time. 534 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,560 I shall not come again. 535 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:52,080 This is in the nature of a... 536 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:55,040 farewell speech. 537 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:57,760 SENATORS: 538 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:57,760 Oh, no! 539 00:32:57,760 --> 00:33:00,560 I am too old and not well enough. 540 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:06,040 I don't think you need my presence here any more. 541 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,160 I sometimes wonder if you ever did. 542 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,560 SENATORS GROAN 543 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:14,320 As you know... 544 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:18,560 the soldiers dragged me from behind the curtain 545 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:20,560 and made me emperor. 546 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:22,640 I... 547 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:26,600 never wanted it. I think it was a mistake. 548 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,200 SENATORS: No! 549 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:31,040 Be that as it may, 550 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,440 soon I shall retire behind another curtain, 551 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:36,720 the final one, 552 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:41,360 the one the gods draw over all of us in the end, 553 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,040 great and small. 554 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:48,160 I shan't be sorry to see that final curtain. 555 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:52,200 SENATOR: May you live for ever, Caesar! Oh, thank you. 556 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:55,280 But I've no wish to, even if I could. 557 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,920 What you will say...say about me... 558 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:02,160 when I'm gone 559 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:03,960 I can only guess at. 560 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:09,360 I hope it won't be as cutting as the things you've said when I was here. 561 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:13,000 LAUGHTER 562 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:13,000 Not to my face, of course! 563 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:15,120 That's not an emperor's privilege. 564 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:22,000 But what is said about us in our lives is not always what history says. 565 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:27,440 And doubtless history will have its say, as it always does. 566 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:31,720 And about that, I have done something. 567 00:34:31,720 --> 00:34:34,280 Not something that need concern you. 568 00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:37,720 But something. 569 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:40,400 You see... 570 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:45,560 ..in the course of my life I have known many people... 571 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:48,080 great people... 572 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:53,720 ..people who have made Rome what she is today. 573 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:56,200 Yes. 574 00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:00,960 And one day they will all live again. 575 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:05,120 The dead will come to life. 576 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:10,640 The man who dwells by the pool... 577 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:13,040 will open graves... 578 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:17,280 ..and deliver Rome up again. 579 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:24,760 She shall be seen for what she truly was. 580 00:35:28,240 --> 00:35:30,840 ECHO OF CHEERING CROWDS 581 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:38,280 SILENCE 582 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:42,640 CHEERING 583 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:20,600 Well done, Claudius. 584 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:22,920 Emperor after all. 585 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:25,440 Who'd have thought it? 586 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:30,960 You're a fool, boy. 587 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:32,960 You always were. 588 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:35,160 People say it's not your fault. 589 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:38,320 But if it's not YOUR fault, whose fault is it? 590 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:40,240 Huh. 591 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:45,240 And your nose is still running, Claudius. 592 00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:47,040 It's still running. 593 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:54,520 Just a minute. Just wait your turn. 594 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:07,880 Shall a doctor be brought? 595 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,080 It wasn't murder, was it? 596 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,280 I could have told you that. 597 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:17,440 Uncle Claudius... 598 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:19,800 I wasn't the messiah after all. 599 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:22,320 Would you believe it? 600 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:26,600 You could have knocked me over with a feather when they told me. 601 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,640 CHEERING FADES 602 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:32,920 < Senators, let us continue with the business of the day. 603 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:38,360 Leave us, Narcissus. 604 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:42,640 I...I will send for you. 605 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:48,320 Father, you wanted to see me? Yes. Listen to me, my son. 606 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:51,760 I have something very important to tell you, so listen carefully. 607 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:55,440 No-one must know of it. That's why I sent for you at this hour 608 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,760 so that no-one in the palace will know that we've been talking. 609 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:02,360 Now, I intend to alter my will in favour of Nero. 610 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:07,760 And I want to explain to you exactly why I am doing so. That's very considerate of you, Father(!) 611 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:10,960 Britannicus, listen... Why the sudden need to explain? 612 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:12,840 You haven't felt it before. 613 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:16,120 You adopted him as your son, you married him to my sister, 614 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:19,280 made him consul elect and city warden without one word to me. 615 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:21,040 You owe me nothing. 616 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:22,600 Don't speak like that. 617 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:24,480 That's nothing to what I could say. 618 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:27,880 I may be only a child, but I'm not blind. 619 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:29,720 And I'm not a stone. 620 00:39:29,720 --> 00:39:33,000 Do you think I haven't seen how you've preferred him to me? 621 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:35,800 It was for a reason. 622 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:38,320 You've never loved me. 623 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:41,320 You've never been as a father to me, never! 624 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:45,680 Time without number, you've shown the world what you thought of me 625 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,560 and I shall never forgive you for it. 626 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,560 Never! 627 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:50,680 And you killed my mother. 628 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:54,120 I shall never forgive you for that either. 629 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:56,840 I hate you. 630 00:39:56,840 --> 00:39:59,280 Oh, you listen to me. 631 00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:02,840 Yes, it's true. 632 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:04,840 For a long time... 633 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:08,880 after I discovered what your mother had been... 634 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:12,840 how she had deceived me every day of her life, 635 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:15,400 I could not find it in my heart to love you. 636 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:19,320 But you must understand, you must be a man. 637 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:23,200 Try to understand a father's weaknesses. 638 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:28,360 I don't believe you are my son. 639 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:32,760 I believe you are... Caligula's son. 640 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:35,920 But what difference does that make? 641 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:38,520 You do not have his nature. 642 00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:44,000 I tell you this only to explain why for a time I could not find it in my heart to love you. 643 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:48,160 Was it my fault, then, whose son I was? 644 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:50,920 Was I to be punished? 645 00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:54,160 And does a child choose his parents? 646 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:57,160 Don't cry, Britannicus. Please! 647 00:40:57,160 --> 00:40:59,720 May I go? No. Come here. 648 00:40:59,720 --> 00:41:02,160 Please! Come here. Come here. 649 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:04,520 Come here. 650 00:41:08,040 --> 00:41:09,760 Oh, Father. 651 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:13,040 Father. I have something very important to tell you, 652 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:14,640 so listen carefully. 653 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:18,760 First, no matter who your father may have been, 654 00:41:18,760 --> 00:41:22,240 you are now MY son and I love you... 655 00:41:22,240 --> 00:41:24,760 more than anyone in the world. 656 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:28,760 Second, Nero is destined to follow me as emperor. 657 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:32,360 Why? I'm not going to argue. It is written. Nothing can alter it. 658 00:41:32,360 --> 00:41:39,120 When I am gone, he will try to kill you, and that is why I have treated you as I have, 659 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:42,040 kept you out of the public eye all this time. 660 00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:43,840 I have a plan to save you. 661 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:45,880 Narcissus has arranged it all. 662 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:50,560 The world is now wholly Roman. There is nowhere you can fly to to be safe 663 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:52,920 except the remotest part of Britain. 664 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:55,560 Nero will not be able to touch you there 665 00:41:55,560 --> 00:41:57,800 for there is no-one to give you up. 666 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:02,920 I shall allow some of Caractacus' young men to return to northern 667 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:02,920 Britain and you will go with them. 668 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:06,440 In disguise, you will stay at the court of Queen Cartimandua. 669 00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:09,640 Only she and Caractacus' son will know your real identity. 670 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:11,720 From there, she will send you north 671 00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:15,280 into regions where no Roman foot 672 00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:15,280 has ever trod 673 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:18,280 but where she has friends. There you will wait... Please! 674 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:20,720 Nero is mad. He will destroy the empire. 675 00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:23,560 His excesses will demand the return of the republic 676 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:25,640 and YOU will return to restore it. 677 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:28,560 The republic will live again. 678 00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:33,680 No! 679 00:42:33,680 --> 00:42:35,720 No, I won't do it. 680 00:42:35,720 --> 00:42:38,480 It's not honourable. Britannicus. No! 681 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:44,160 Do you think that I, a Claudian, will paint my face blue 682 00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:48,040 and go and hide among Barbarians? There's no shame. 683 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:49,480 No, I won't do it. 684 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:53,760 I'm not afraid of Nero. Nero is a coward. 685 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:56,200 I can protect myself. 686 00:42:57,200 --> 00:42:59,760 Let me put on my manly gown. 687 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:04,440 Once I'm officially a man, I'll match Nero in everything he does. 688 00:43:06,240 --> 00:43:08,400 I don't believe in the republic. 689 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:11,200 No-one believes in the republic any more. 690 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:14,320 No-one does, except you. 691 00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:17,600 You're old, Father... 692 00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:20,160 and out of touch. 693 00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:25,200 I want my chance to rule... 694 00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:27,960 and rule Rome as it should be ruled. 695 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:31,120 If you love me... 696 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:33,360 give me that chance. 697 00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:37,560 Yes... 698 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:42,040 Yes, I should have known that would be your answer. 699 00:43:44,160 --> 00:43:46,760 Well, so be it. 700 00:43:47,800 --> 00:43:50,120 I've done all I could. 701 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:54,080 And you shall have your wish. 702 00:43:55,160 --> 00:43:57,360 May the gods protect you. 703 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:02,680 Britannicus... 704 00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:07,920 ..perhaps you will confound the prophecies. 705 00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:10,800 Perhaps you will. 706 00:44:14,120 --> 00:44:16,840 "Write no more, Claudius. 707 00:44:16,840 --> 00:44:19,120 "Write no more. 708 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:21,640 "I have told it all 709 00:44:21,640 --> 00:44:26,520 "as I said I would and as the Sybil prophesied. 710 00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:28,880 "I have told the truth. 711 00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:31,280 "I have set the record straight. 712 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:35,280 "It is all here for remote posterity. 713 00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:41,040 "Come, Death, and draw the final curtain. 714 00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:44,280 "I am tired. 715 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:47,000 "Oh, so tired." 716 00:44:58,760 --> 00:45:01,280 So much for posterity. 717 00:45:03,840 --> 00:45:07,640 Where's the rest of it? It must be here. Find it! 718 00:45:14,160 --> 00:45:15,760 This looks like it. 719 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:17,880 This! This is it all right. 720 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:22,040 What a Herculean labour! 721 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:24,240 It must have taken him years. 722 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:26,880 Years. 723 00:45:26,880 --> 00:45:29,000 We'll burn the lot. 724 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:31,040 All that work. 725 00:45:31,040 --> 00:45:33,440 HE GIGGLES 726 00:45:31,040 --> 00:45:33,440 Good grief! 727 00:45:33,440 --> 00:45:35,920 We must find the will. 728 00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:52,080 What a pretty thing a fire is! 729 00:45:56,160 --> 00:45:58,320 BRITANNICUS: Did they murder him? 730 00:45:58,320 --> 00:45:59,880 Yes. 731 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:03,560 Yes, they poisoned him. 732 00:46:04,960 --> 00:46:06,800 But how? 733 00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:09,920 How did they do it? 734 00:46:12,840 --> 00:46:14,880 Why didn't you protect him? 735 00:46:16,680 --> 00:46:18,520 They were clever. 736 00:46:18,520 --> 00:46:20,080 Very clever. 737 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:25,160 They tried several times to tamper 738 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:25,160 with his food and get at the slaves who prepared it 739 00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:27,400 but I always stopped them. Always. 740 00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:31,480 I built a wall around him they couldn't breach. 741 00:46:34,600 --> 00:46:36,640 How, then, did she do it? 742 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:38,560 I will tell you... 743 00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:41,200 for I see now how it was done. 744 00:46:43,400 --> 00:46:47,800 Unable to poison HIS food, she must have poisoned her own. 745 00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:51,960 Yes, poisoned hers...or part of it. 746 00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:55,680 It was in a dish of mushrooms, which she loved 747 00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:58,040 and out of which she'd been eating. 748 00:46:58,040 --> 00:47:02,040 He'd finished his own and was calling for more, which he often did. 749 00:47:02,040 --> 00:47:06,160 It was then that she offered him 750 00:47:02,040 --> 00:47:06,160 hers out of her own dish. 751 00:47:07,240 --> 00:47:09,280 At first, I thought nothing of it. 752 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:12,080 When you're used to seeing someone eat from a dish, 753 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:16,480 it doesn't occur to you it may contain something different in just one part of it. 754 00:47:16,480 --> 00:47:20,080 And then she lifted the mushroom 755 00:47:16,480 --> 00:47:20,080 onto her fork 756 00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:22,480 and held it out for him to take. 757 00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:27,440 I knew then there was something different about it. 758 00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:31,280 I knew as certainly as I had ever known anything 759 00:47:31,280 --> 00:47:34,080 that he was suddenly in the gravest danger. 760 00:47:34,080 --> 00:47:37,840 And I knew, too, as certain as I knew that, 761 00:47:37,840 --> 00:47:40,360 that HE knew. 762 00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:42,800 He knew it was poisoned. 763 00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:46,280 He knew that his end was there on that fork 764 00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:49,200 and that he didn't care... 765 00:47:50,240 --> 00:47:52,280 ..that he welcomed it. 766 00:47:56,840 --> 00:47:59,520 He died in the night...alone. 767 00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:06,400 I knocked on his door soon after 768 00:48:02,360 --> 00:48:06,400 dinner but he sent me away. 769 00:48:08,880 --> 00:48:13,120 I believe he wanted no-one... to see him die. 770 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:29,600 WHISPERING: 771 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:29,600 You must go away. They will kill you. 772 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:33,360 No, I shall stay. Go now! I have put on my manly gown. 773 00:48:33,360 --> 00:48:36,120 I can take care of myself. 774 00:48:38,120 --> 00:48:39,760 Poor Father. 775 00:48:40,880 --> 00:48:43,120 He never could. 776 00:48:47,120 --> 00:48:48,840 Oh, I don't know. 777 00:48:48,840 --> 00:48:52,200 He didn't do badly, when you come to think of it. 778 00:48:54,320 --> 00:48:56,920 DOOR CLOSES 779 00:48:59,800 --> 00:49:03,880 WOMAN: 780 00:48:59,800 --> 00:49:03,880 Well, Old King Log? 781 00:49:03,880 --> 00:49:06,880 Poisons all hatched out? 782 00:49:08,040 --> 00:49:10,400 Is that you, Sybil? 783 00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:12,040 Yes, it's me. 784 00:49:12,040 --> 00:49:14,160 Where are you? 785 00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:15,920 Here. 786 00:49:20,240 --> 00:49:22,600 Why are you laughing? 787 00:49:24,240 --> 00:49:26,320 I cheated them again. 788 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:29,760 They all think I'm dead. 789 00:49:29,760 --> 00:49:32,840 But you ARE dead, you fool. 790 00:49:32,840 --> 00:49:35,960 You're as dead as anyone can be. 791 00:49:35,960 --> 00:49:37,720 Oh. 792 00:49:37,720 --> 00:49:40,080 Well, you can't survive them all. 793 00:49:40,080 --> 00:49:42,360 No, not even you. 794 00:49:43,920 --> 00:49:45,920 It's time to go. 795 00:49:45,920 --> 00:49:49,920 Wait! Britannicus, what will happen to him? 796 00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:51,840 Nero will kill him. 797 00:49:51,840 --> 00:49:53,600 And Narcissus? 798 00:49:53,600 --> 00:49:55,640 Agrippinilla will kill him. 799 00:49:55,640 --> 00:49:57,680 Then Nero will kill her. 800 00:49:57,680 --> 00:50:00,440 It sounds depressingly familiar. 801 00:50:00,440 --> 00:50:02,920 Yes, isn't it? 802 00:50:03,920 --> 00:50:05,720 And the empire? 803 00:50:05,720 --> 00:50:09,360 Oh, that will go on, as Livia said it would. 804 00:50:09,360 --> 00:50:13,680 But there'll be no more Claudians after Nero. He'll be the last. 805 00:50:13,680 --> 00:50:17,840 But the emperors won't be a bad lot after him. 806 00:50:17,840 --> 00:50:20,400 Well...give or take a few. 807 00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:26,600 Quite a story, wasn't it? 808 00:50:29,120 --> 00:50:31,640 They burnt your book, you know. 809 00:50:31,640 --> 00:50:33,560 All of it. 810 00:50:33,560 --> 00:50:36,040 CLAUDIUS LAUGHS 811 00:50:38,600 --> 00:50:39,840 SYBIL JOINS IN 812 00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:44,200 Lucky for you, you made a copy and buried it! 813 00:50:47,840 --> 00:50:50,280 It's time to go, Claudius. 814 00:50:50,280 --> 00:50:54,160 The ferry man is waiting. 815 00:50:50,280 --> 00:50:54,160 There is one thing more... 816 00:50:54,160 --> 00:50:58,360 You can't put it off. You can't stay here for ever. 817 00:50:58,360 --> 00:51:01,040 No, I suppose not. 818 00:51:02,440 --> 00:51:04,120 Now... 819 00:51:04,120 --> 00:51:06,880 close your eyes. 820 00:51:11,520 --> 00:51:14,600 It's but a short step to the boat. 821 00:51:14,600 --> 00:51:17,600 A short pull across the river. 822 00:51:18,600 --> 00:51:20,160 And then? 823 00:51:21,200 --> 00:51:23,560 And then, I promise you... 824 00:51:23,560 --> 00:51:28,440 you'll dream a different story altogether. 825 00:51:33,080 --> 00:51:34,600 Farewell... 826 00:51:34,600 --> 00:51:38,680 Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, 827 00:51:38,680 --> 00:51:41,200 god of the Britons, 828 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:44,680 one-time emperor of the Roman world. 829 00:51:45,920 --> 00:51:48,040 Farewell. 830 00:53:03,360 --> 00:53:06,320 Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd - 2006 831 00:53:06,320 --> 00:53:09,360 E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk