Romulus

Why don't you have a sacred lace?

Did your father not give you one?

I don't have a father. I don't have anyone.

Kneel down!

Kneel down to King Spurius!

A sacred time begins for you today,

sons of Velia.

Until yesterday you were children,

when you return from the forest, you will be men.

Unknown spirits live among the trees.

They drink human blood.

They are led by the Lady of the Wolves.

For six months you will live in the shadows.

You will be cold. You will be hungry. You will be scared.

You will curse the day you were born.

Death will await he who seeks to return before time.

Mars is with us!

King Ertas of Gabi is coming.

Why are you wasting water? You washed yesterday.

I don't want to smell like you.

Hurry, will you?

-You told me I stink. -And now I'm telling you to hurry.

You can wash tonight.

You have to stop always doing what I tell you, brother.

That's not true!

-Eat that shit there. -Eat it yourself.

Trust your brother, horse shit is good.

Ertas!

And who are you?

Don't tell me you're King Numitor's grandsons.

A year has passed since I last saw you, but it seems like ten.

You are men now.

You even have a beard.

We have been expecting you since yesterday.

Many kings are already here: Capys from Anxur, Spurius from Velia...

Now he'll tell you them all.

Welcome, Lausus!

What do you have there?

It is a gift for you.

It looks like a fox.

It comes from a distant land, beyond the sea.

Merchants brought it from Cuma, they call it Mau.

Numitor is with our mother, waiting for you.

-It tastes of dirt. -It's from the lake.

The wells are all empty.

Don't worry, everything will be all right.

Our cattle are dying. Our people are thirsty.

The Thirty Kings gather to ask for signs from the Gods.

It is right to be afraid.

Greetings to the king.

Your good health, Ertas.

I bring you the greetings of my people.

They have not forgotten the good things that you gifted to us.

You've always been close to me.

And so it will always be.

Greetings to the king of Gabi.

Reassure my brother, he fears that the Gods have abandoned us.

Numitor has always respected the sacred laws, the Gods know this.

Tomorrow the Gods will speak and all the fear of today will be dissolved.

The vestals are praying, the rain will soon return.

Are you there? Ilia! Are you there?

Enitos!

I had to wait till my brother was asleep.

Whenever I come here I'm afraid I won't find you.

I'm afraid you'll have forgotten me.

That will never happen.

I promised I'd wait for you.

16 years is a long time.

Over time, promises die.

Not my love.

I think of you every day.

Ilia... Ilia, come on, we're going up!

I have to go.

Ilia...

Ilia...

Three-fold Goddess, fruitful mother,

you've always been, are and always will be,

and so may your fire burn for ever.

Protect our people, make it rain on our lands,

watch over our King and keep the Thirty Peoples united...

Mother Vesta, three-fold Goddess, fruitful mother,

you've always been, are and will always be,

and so may your fire burn for ever.

Protect our people, make it rain on our lands,

and watch over our King.

When the land is barren and the sky burns,

when the king cannot bring rain,

it is right to heed the Gods.

To my right the North.

To the left, Meridian.

Jupiter Father!

Lord of lightning and rain!

If King Numitor is the cause of our ills,

send your winged messengers far away from him.

Numitor, son of Proca, king of Alba

and first of the Thirty Kings:

the Gods have spoken with clear signs.

The flock flew

towards Meridian.

Father Jupiter will bless us with the rain

only when you have left our land.

Where are the others?

Maybe we should go back to Velia.

If you go back before time they will kill you.

We have been walking for two days,

we will reach the end of the forest this way.

The forest has no end.

How do you know?

The forest is as big as the sky.

Does the sky end?

No. And so does the forest.

-You believe the forest has no end? -What does it matter?

This is where you have to stay for six months.

Did you get lost in the forest?

We need more wood to build the shelters.

Go and collect it.

Who are you to tell us what to do?

Can't you see?

I am your king.

We have to set up camp and organise the defences,

everyone has their tasks.

If you don't like it

you are free to leave.

No one survives in the forest alone.

So go and get the wood.

If you don't want to obey, you have to fight.

Defend yourself.

Come on!

Don't kill me... Please...

Now kneel.

Does anyone else want to challenge the king?

You?

Go and get the wood.

Move!

I will not abandon my father to his exile. I will leave with him.

You will stay here,

you were born together and you will reign together.

You will be the kings of the league of the 30 cities.

Will we ever see you again?

These belonged to you father.

Now you will wear them.

You are the right and the left. You must never be apart.

Promise.

We promise.

Yemos, you promise as well.

I promise.

Do not be afraid.

The echo of your deeds will reach us,

and that will make our exile less hard.

Now you have to be strong.

You have the most painful task.

Go ahead,

don't show anyone your pain.

The Gods play with the lives of the kings,

they exalt them and bring them down.

You will take my place,

the kingdom must last.

You will be great kings.

They have no courage.

I know you love the king,

but this has nothing to do with love.

It is the will of the Gods, and you are their instrument.

Let's do this together.

When I was a child Numitor brought me up here.

I asked him if he was happy to be the king of kings.

He didn't answer me,

but he made me climb on to that rock.

Why?

Give me your hand.

Close your eyes.

And listen to your blood.

It runs faster,

can you hear it?

Yes.

This is the life of a king, Numitor told me.

You might never have to jump, but you always have to be ready to do so.

Waiting,

waiting is the most difficult thing.

We're not going to find any water,

the stream is dry.

Where are we going, Taurus?

Be careful.

-He doesn't know where he's going. -Shut up and walk.

Rumia did this.

Be quiet.

Why,

didn't she?

Does this look like the work of man to you?

Do not be afraid.

We will go back to the camp and nothing will happen to us.

Ilia,

what's happening to you?

Why do they want to see me alone?

The vestals command, but do not explain.

Welcome, Enitos.

I'm not the king yet.

I am not allowed to enter the temple.

If you want there to be a king,

if you want to save your life, be quiet.

Don't disobey the command and follow me.