Augustus: The First Emperor

Did I play my part well in this comedy called life?

Was I just...

or cruel?

Did I play my part well

in this comedy called life?

Applause, please.

Augustus!

My grandson!

Gaius! Lucius!

Devils, demons, the pair of them! They take after their mother.

They do not. They take after their grandfather.

Come, boys.

Your grandfather is too busy being king to play with his grandsons.

Julia, I am not a king. Rome has no king.

Off you go with your mother, boys and boys.

Agrippa will be home tomorrow,

and then your father, you and I will make war on your mother's camp.

I will defeat you all. I'm a better swordfighter than any of you.

This is true.

One should never let a woman learn to use a sword.

People of Rome,

we have prospered in peace across the Empire for 30 years.

I demand your vigilance to preserve peace and order,

to preserve the Republic we have restored,

the Republic to which I have devoted my entire life.

Augustus!

A petition!

My land was seized unlawfully.

Take your case to a magistrate.

I am a magistrate, Julius.

Bring me your petition.

Father!

Father!

A miracle of the gods! Jupiter has saved Augustus!

Yes, thank Jupiter he taught me to be cautious.

A leather breastplate.

My secret is revealed. I'm all right, Julia.

What's the news?

Agrippa is dead!

Agrippa is dead!

Oh, later, later, later,

please, please, please.

Augustus, I'm sorry to interrupt your bath.

Lucius Tutilius, why are you wearing your uniform?

Are we old men going into battle again?

A war to win back our teeth?

I have...

bad news.

So bad you had to put on your uniform.

So bad they sent my most trusted soldier.

Bad news is best told in a sudden, painful announcement, Lucius.

Marcus Agrippa is dead.

Shh! You have to look presentable when your father comes home.

Coming home! Coming home!

Yes. Agrippa will be home tomorrow.

And then your grandfather will be safe.

- Julia. - Father.

I didn't know you were there. Are you all right?

Grandpa! Grandpa! Grandpa! Grandpa!

Boys, you're getting your grandfather all wet.

Dry them off and put them in their bed clothes.

Father!

I was so afraid. Who sent the assassin?

I love you.

And I love you.

I have terrible news. You must be strong.

Your husband is dead.

What? How?

Fever. Suddenly.

On his way home to us.

Agrippa is dead.

The gods have taken him from us.

Father, I'm calling a physician.

No. I have too many wretched physicians.

Have you always hated me for forcing you to marry Agrippa?

At first.

He was twice my age.

But, as I got to know him, I grew fond of him.

He gave you two fine boys,

and the marriage guaranteed a peaceful transition if I died.

But now he has died.

Julia, I don't know what I will do without him.

He has been at my side from the beginning.

I was so ill that day,

but nothing would prevent me from serving Caesar.

Octavius, how can you travel?

You can barely stand.

Mother, I told you.

Your father would forbid it.

My father's been dead so long I barely remember his face.

Only your uncle treats me like a son.

Yes, and if Julius Caesar knew you were sick...

He doesn't and he won't.

I'm going.

It's important for us that you come back.

You still have a fever.

When Caesar brought me to Rome, he introduced me as his nephew.

Now he calls me to the battlefield in Spain. I must go.

I can't disappoint him now.

Mother, try to understand.

If Caesar wins this battle, the civil war will end.

I can't stay here hiding.

I was raised without a father.

I don't want to lose my only brother.

The legionaries have sisters and wives and daughters,

but they follow Caesar into war

because he promised them Rome without a war.

Of course!

Now I see why the great Caesar calls you to battle.

You are obviously a fierce warrior.

A master swordsman.

A master spear thrower!

The great soldier of the future, Marcus Agrippa, has arrived.

And who's already slain the heart of my sister.

Thanks for asking me to come with you, Octavius.

- I would never go without you, Agrippa. - Greetings, Atia.

Marcus Agrippa.

Caesar's called me. I must go.

I'll come back.

I promise.

Forty years ago, we rode off from our homes.

Just country boys.

We had no idea.

Do you think Caesar will let us fight?

I don't know. First we get to Rome where we meet our escort,

Centurion Tutilius.

In Rome, the ladies will find us, eh?

Exactly.

Race you to the end?

Tomorrow we go to Munda,

but tonight I'm going to show you the greatest city in the world.

I am Lucius Tutilius.

Gaius Octavius.

I served Caesar in Gaul.

Caesar still pursues Sextus in Spain.

Through hostile territory, it will be a dangerous journey.

I will escort you.

Caesar's luck will protect us.

Well, we leave at dawn.

Sleep in my tent tonight. Let me show you the way.

Thank you, but I would like to show my friend the city.

Perhaps in the morning light. At night it's not safe.

Doesn't Marc Antony guard the city? He's Consul of Rome.

Haven't all of Caesar's enemies in Rome been defeated?

Caesar defeated them,

and then he spared them because they're Romans.

Now they repay him with plots.

Caesar's a great general, and I'm his nephew.

Really?

Well, nephew, the civil war is not yet over.

It won't be until Caesar's enemies are dead.

You should tell Uncle Julius

to kill a few enemies before they kill him.

Who was that?

That was Marc Antony.

Marc Antony?

You're lucky you still have your head.

We leave at dawn. I just want to show my friend the city.

We'll stay on the main streets, I promise.

Well, I can't command Caesar's nephew.

Thank you.

Did I promise too much? Isn't Rome beautiful?

And here come the famous ladies of Rome.

- Here, fine sir. - Hello?

My friend would love to meet you, later.

Help us, please. Help us to eat.

Here. This is for you.

Thank you. I am sorry to beg you for money.

I had a farm and I worked hard,

but the noblemen, the pimps of Rome, took my land.

I have to feed my family, so I beg.

Here, take this. Take good care of your family.

Thank you. You are a kind man.

Thank you! Thank you.

Come.

The city stinks.

It's so poor now.

The greed of the nobles and civil war has done this.

They made this war between Romans.

We'd better get back.

Yes.

It's this way.

I'm sorry.

- Did you see her? - Pretty.

Pretty? She's...

What's she doing out at night alone?

Help! Help!

Let her go! Let her go!

Run!

Get back! Get back!

Stop in the name of the Consul of Rome!

Thank you.

You saved me.

You shouldn't walk alone on the streets at night.

I stayed too late at my friend's house.

Who are you?

Who are you?

You're not from the city.

No.

I'm on my way to fight beside my uncle.