Rome

Pullo! Pullo!

It's quite good but they are far more handsome in real life.

What are you doing?

Sorry, sir. Just taking your likeness, sir.

Taking my likeness? What do you mean? Speak, thief!

Sir, Aventine Cloth Dyers' Association are paying me

to do a mural of you and Lucius Vorenus in the arena, sir.

Explain yourself. Why would anybody do that?

Why, sir? You're famous, sir.

There's paintings of you all over.

Not good accurate ones like I'm gonna do, sir.

- Famous? - Certainly.

- Me? - The whole city loves you, sir.

You and Magistrate Vorenus are symbols of brotherly love and redemption.

If you were in Rome today, I doubt there's a lady wouldn't open her doors for Titus Pullo.

Would you let me go, please, sir?

Beautiful. We own all of it, as far as the river.

Lovely.

Best get used to it. Caesar might well exile me from the city.

- Just for saving Pullo? - We'll live off the land like peasants.

- He wouldn't be so mean. - He might do far worse.

- Like what? - Nothing. I'm joking.

- I don't suppose we can lay down a blanket. - I shouldn't think so.

Well, if we ever do this again, I'm not wearing my best.

Too soft, you city girls.

Hush you, I'm down here, aren't I?

Get on with it before I die of cold.

- How long like this? - Till the priest rings his bell.

Juno help me.

- It's good earth, this. - It's wet earth.

Dark, loamy, not much clay. You can grow anything in soil like this.

- Where should we build the farmhouse? - That ridge over there.

Close to the water and wood, good command of the valley.

In case we get attacked by Gauls?

You never know.

You're meant to be pretending.

I am.

You're not.

Come to Papa.

Bitch.

Well, how was the farm?

Clarissa, wait till you see it. It's beautiful.

It's very fine, I'm sure.

What's wrong?

- You'll never guess. - We won't.

- Pullo ran away from hospital. - What?

Some carters found him lying half dead by the Appian.

- He asked to be brought here. - Here?

He's inside.

Gods beneath us.

He should not have been on his feet, never mind on a horse.

- His wounds have opened, fresh as flowers. - Poor stupid thing.

I've given him henbane to dull the pain and immobilize him.

If by any chance he lives, he shouldn't move on any account

for at least ten days and nights.

I'll send him back to the country as soon as he's mobile.

He won't cause any trouble, not like this.

Like old times.

- Lucius Vorenus, sir. - What are you doing here?

- Where am I? - Rome, in my house.

You should be in the hospital at Avernum.

And miss all the fun? Why am I tied up...

What fun is that?

We're famous, aren't we? Heroes.

Songs, plays, pictures on walls?

Damn foolish fuss. What of it?

You are a slow one, aren't you?

Women. Women. They like nothing better than a man with a big name.

Please. You are lucky to be breathing. Even if you survive your wounds,

Caesar will probably throw you back in the arena and me with you.

Do you think he'll do that? Throw us back in?

I'll find out tomorrow. I've been summoned.

Women, he says. If you took a woman now, you'd come apart like an old sack.

Just like old times.

I don't mind.

It's good to hear your father laughing for a change.

Eirene, it's good to see you.

Fair enough.

If you can't do it, that's all right too.

Eirene?

- What are you doing? - Nothing. Nothing.

Don't lie. What's that in your hand?

We were just talking.

- Talking? - Catching up.

You fool! What if you killed him? What then?

Everybody would know it was you.

A freedwoman who killed her old master... very nice!

Where would you go?

- What would you do with yourself? - She has a point.

Go to bed. We'll say no more of this.

She's looking well.

Good night, Pullo.

- Juno protect you. - Don't worry.

I can't keep Caesar waiting.

Eirene, when you finish, check Pullo's dressings and change them if need be.

- Me? - You.

And feed him some porridge.

Thank you.

As of this day, the kalends of February,

our beloved father dictator Gaius Julius Caesar has decreed

that 100 new men be raised to the Senate of the Republic.

The third day before nones, a public banquet will be held

to celebrate those senators.

Slaves and freedmen are not eligible.

Any repetition of recent disorders will be punished with severity.

I shall divert the river here, you see, by digging a canal to the Vatican hills.

Splendid. You shall divert the river.

Splendid and useful, I have no doubt.

Indeed. It will prevent flooding and give easier access to the Fields of Mars.

And on the reclaimed land I shall build new civic offices for the courts.

I shall also construct a temple to Venus Birthgiver.

Another temple... excellent.

But if we might for the moment speak of this expansion of the Senate?

We might.

Gauls and Celts, old boy.

Long-haired Gauls and blue-faced Celts.

You're joking, of course.

He is not joking.

Gauls and Celts... in the Senate?

From the tribes that have served Rome longest, the best of their nobility.

I'm astonished.

Good. Astonishment is my intent.

Here comes the hero of the hour.

What, no wreath of oak leaves?

Well now, Vorenus, what am I to do with you?

Defying my express orders, you dared interfere in a legally sanctioned execution,

an act of gross criminality and disobedience.

I humbly apologize, sir. I have no excuse.

You present me with a dilemma.

By right, I could have you thrown off the Tarpeian rock.

But the people, simple souls that they are, have made great heroes out of you and Pullo.

If I were to punish you, the people would be made extremely angry.

I do not wish to make the people angry, ergo, I cannot punish you.

If I cannot punish you, I must reward you, else I shall seem weak.

Listen to this now, Cicero.

By popular acclaim, I shall name Lucius Vorenus a senator of Rome.

Good?

Now you're all astonished. Vorenus, you look like you've seen the Gorgon.

Excuse me, sir... I'm stunned.

What do you say? Will you speak for your people in the Senate?

I'd be honored to do so, if you think me worthy.

There's none worthier. You shall make an excellent senator.

Very touching.

For the first few weeks, you will stay close by me.

- Learn the drill. - Thank you, sir.

Forgive me but really I must... As a friend, I must... I must protest!

A lowly pleb in the Senate? That's going too far.

No offense to you, Vorenus.

I do not wish to jump in any arenas. I must please the people in some other fashion.

Build yet another temple. Kill someone. The people are easy to please. Not this.

I wish the Senate to be made of the best men in Italy,

not just the richest old men in Rome.

An intriguing notion.

You'll make a lot of men very angry with your Gauls and your Celts

and your plebs and such.

- Have to double your guard. - That's what I told him. Will he listen?

Guards can keep my enemies away. They can do nothing about my friends.

You don't mean me, do you? I can assure you, I have no ill intentions.

I know. Not that you are not perfectly capable of any manner of wickedness.

Thank you.

If you were going to betray me, you would have done it long ago.

Don't think I wasn't tempted.

So, no more guards then. You will trust Fortune.

- Very good. Very pious. - Stop your grizzling, you old woman.

Who will dare raise a hand to me with the ferocious Lucius Vorenus at my side?

Clever.

All these years together and it still surprises you I can tie my sandals.

Sleep sound, little man.

Your mother and I have been thinking about finding you that husband.

A senator's daughter cannot be running around unattached.

There's no hurry.

Don't worry, we'll find you a good rich old man you can wrap round your little finger.

Beauty like you can have your pick.

I told you, I don't want a rich old man.

Of course you do. Just think of all those fine dresses and jewels and slaves you'll have.

I don't care about such trivial things.

Trivial?

When I was your age, I had to eat bones from the gutter.

Dresses and jewels are not trivial.

They show others your people are rich and powerful

and that you are loved and protected and valued.

But I want to marry someone I love.

Love doesn't come unbidden, you have to work for her.

Strange marriage if you loved him from the start.

Right. It takes a while. Now, you be a good virtuous wife and love will come.

Your mother and I, we had our troubles, didn't we?

- Look at us now. - Happy as you like.

I suppose.