[Livia] Your adopted son Iullus
has been intimate with Julia,
during and after her marriage to Marcellus.
You threw us to the wolves.
[Livia] They threw you back.
[Octavia] Marcellus!
Livia and Tycho-- they killed my son.
[Agrippa] There's never been any proof
that Livia was involved!
And I wonder just how hard you looked!
-What the fuck? -Oh, yes, Agrippa!
I've seen the way you look at Livia!
[Antonia] Whatever you think Livia did,
it's wrong to punish my sister or Drusus.
-Will you be quiet? -[Domitius] Yes.
Keep your mouth shut.
I sometimes wonder
if you understand the risk we're running.
Of course I do. But I don't care.
[Livia] Someone very smart was behind the famine,
behind the grain prefects.
He will have to be found...
quietly.
[Gemina] I think I'm pregnant.
[Scribonia] Well, that's perfect!
Do exactly what I tell you,
and you'll get everything you want.
[Piso] You swore an oath
to restore the Republic after Augustus dies.
If he ever sees you as a threat,
you'll be dead.
[Drusus] You can't take Rome without an army behind you,
and the biggest one is on the German border.
Make me general of the Rhine Army.
Send me to war.
[suspenseful music playing]
[man groaning]
[shackles clanking]
And you?
It has to be a boy.
[witch doctor] It will be.
[man screams in pain]
[screaming]
[indistinct conversations]
Carmenta, great goddess of childbirth,
it's me, Livia, daughter of Marcus Livius.
Please accept this gift.
In return, spare the life of Julia
and let her child be born safe.
But not another boy.
And if you send her a girl,
I will thank you with a baby goat.
[screaming]
[midwife] Yes, you're doing really well.
It should've been easier the third time.
-[midwife] That's it! -Push, Julia.
-[Julia screaming] -Light more lamps, now! Go!
They call the child out into the light.
[Julia screaming]
-Right. -You'll be fine.
That's what Metella thought, and Lucia and Rufilla.
And they're all dead, and so are their babies.
[groans]
[indistinct conversations]
Turia!
I'm on official business for the Temple of Vesta.
My husband is the First Citizen.
[Turia] And don't we know it?
-Back up, now. -You back up.
Not for you, Livia Drusilla.
[Livia] You really want to do this, huh?
-[Gemina] Turn around. -You wouldn't dare.
[Turia] Oh!
My person is sacrosanct!
Sue me.
[suspenseful music playing]
Don't move. Ever.
[crowd clamoring]
[Gemina] Be here in one hour.
[theme music playing]
[Drusus] That's Germany.
This is the main pass through the Alps
the tribes keep cutting off.
They wait in the trees there and pour down on our transports.
They steal everything and kill everyone.
So what's the plan?
Well, we'll send scouts up into the woods
to reconnoiter and report back,
then we'll discuss our options, formulate a battle plan.
Seriously?
Why? What did you have in mind?
I'd mass in the valley overnight,
then attack at dawn.
Clear the woods,
drive the tribes back to their villages,
then burn them flat.
Sounds good to me.
Let's get breakfast.
[horse whinnies in background]
[man] Right, you take his legs.
We're attacking at dawn.
What?
[Drusus] If you can't believe it,
imagine the enemy's surprise.
Yes. I feel sorry for them.
[Antonina] Who?
[Vipsania] Everyone in a war.
It's such a futile waste of life,
cloaked in lies like "honor" and "glory,"
which simply hides its venality
from those who are forced to endure it
for the benefit of those who aren't.
-Is that the letter from Mother? -[Tiberius] Yes.
Julia's pregnancy's going well.
Everyone's doing what they're told,
and everything's under control.
Don't know why she bothered putting it in code.
Habit, I suppose.
[Tiberius] Mm, I think she craves the drama.
Mother's happy. That's all that matters.
[chuckles]
[Tycho] What's happened?
That German slave Drusus had,
-Gemina... -[Tycho] Yeah?
What did you do with her?
She was sold in the slave market at Sutrium
with fake ownership documents...
-[Livia] Mm. -As you asked.
Who bought her?
[scoffs] A fat man.
You didn't find out?
No. I followed them to a whorehouse in the town
and assumed he was the owner.
So you didn't check?
Slaves get bought and sold.
If you'd wanted her watched for the rest of her life,
you should've just said.
Shit.
I was careless.
She's back. In Rome.
-Are you sure? -I just saw her!
With her own slaves, a litter, and a fucking apartment!
She must have got in touch with Drusus somehow.
[Livia] That's what I'm afraid of.
Find out who owns the apartment.
If Gaius ever finds out...
[Tycho] Just give me the address.
[Antonia] Come on, big push.
-Last push. -[Julia screaming]
-[Antonia] Come on, Julia. -Come on, that's it.
[screaming]
[Antonia] Yes, you did it! You did it! You did it!
[Julia crying]
[Julia] It's dead, isn't it?
It was a boy.
You're alive, and that's what matters.
I wish we could go somewhere,
together,
away from Rome.
Or back to Germany.
We could inspect the troops.
[chuckles]
I could show you where I come from.
The snowy mountains.
I miss the mountains.
Do you want to go home?
My home is gone.
Everything's gone.
[sighs]
I can't stay long today.
My daughter's giving birth.
Gaius?
I'm also pregnant.
With your child!
And it's a boy.
I found a German priest here,
of my own tribe, to make sure.
If you give our gods the right sacrifice,
they give you a boy in return.
Aren't you happy?
I will free you,
formally,
give you a dowry, find you a husband.
Your son will be born a citizen.
Ourson.
You'll move to a small town somewhere.
-[scoffs] What? -I grew up in one myself.
It's not so bad.
I have done everything you asked of me.
I have been a prisoner
in this fucking place!
And now,
when I give you a son,
you send me away! She never gave you a son!
[screams]
[grunts]
Aah!
I am the daughter of a king.
You'll be taken care of.
[dramatic music playing]
[indistinct conversations]
[suspenseful music playing]
[sighs]
-I'm sorry, Agrippa. -No...
As long as you're all right.
Don't tell my father, not yet.
[man] Of course you can see her. This way.
[sighs]
I couldn't help it.
Don't worry.
You'll be pregnant again in no time.
Antonia, my daughter, three births in four years.
You and Vipsania-- not pregnant once.
I need my family to set an example.
She will.
Something's come up.
How long have you been keeping her?
Nearly a year.
You're the guardian of the public fucking morals.
You made yourself that. What were you thinking?
Fucking a slave doesn't count. Everyone knows that.
Everyone isn't telling everyone else to get married
and have children with their wives.
And everyone else isn't married to Livia.
Seriously, what the fuck were you thinking?!
-I just wanted her. -So did Drusus.
[dog barking, horse whinnying in background]
All right, what do you need?
A decent husband.
Someone who won't ask questions, and fast.
Maybe a family connection of yours,
somewhere out of Rome. I can't be involved.
Can we trust this woman to keep her mouth shut?
-Because if this gets out... -It won't get out!
Are you sure?
Because you didn't get where you are, brother,
by being sentimental.
She is a threat to your authority
and your marriage.
-Just find her a husband. -Just tell me where to find her.
You're not killing my son.
He's not your fucking son!
He's the son of a slave, and he always will be.
He can never inherit your name or anything else.
He's still my blood.
Yeah, all right.
I'll find her a fucking husband.
Maybe you should get Livia out of town for a bit,
while I clear this up!
[exhales deeply]
[dramatic music playing]
Come on.
♪♪♪
[Scribonia] Did you tell him?
It's all gone wrong.
He just said he'd find me some stupid husband,
somewhere out of Rome.
Yes, I was expecting that, but don't worry.
Don't worry?
You're not from 'round here. You have to understand our ways.
Divorcing Livia would be difficult,
socially, politically.
But if she were dead, of course...
Then he'd be free to do what he wants,
because Gaius always does what he wants.
Easy to say.
She has guards.
She lives in the palace,
and she doesn't even know I exist.
You can leave the arrangements to me.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Antonina] "Dearest Livia,
tomorrow we push up into the mountains,
and we're all very excited to go to war."
"Well, Vipsania isn't,
and Tiberius never says much,
but..."
Antonina sends her love.
I never liked her going.
Women shouldn't go to war.
Another subversive trend we can lay at your door.
I wanted to make sure you were all right.
You wanted to make sure I won.
You remember our dream?
Pack it all in,
open up a brothel in Pompeii.
[laughter]
Let's get out of Rome for a while.
You hate getting out of Rome.
Just the two of us.
And the security detail.
And the grooms.
And the clerks.
And the dispatch riders.
I'd rather die.
Just a thought.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Antonia] I'm sorry!
Time to set an example.
♪♪♪
[Tycho] Leave us.
[door closes]
I know who brought the girl back to Rome.
And it's not Drusus.
What I have to tell you...
will be very hard to hear.
Any loss of control at this point...
it could be fatal.
Oh.
I remember he asked me
what was happening with her and...
I didn't think anything else of it at the time.
But he must have arranged
to buy her from the market and...
Oh, he covered his tracks well.
There's something else.
She's friends with Scribonia.
Did you get my chair back?
Uh, I did.
Yes.
You did well, Tycho.
Thank you.
[suspenseful music playing]
[whispers] Idiot!
[breathing shakily]
[exhales deeply]
[suspenseful music playing]
Hey.
Are we doing this now?
[scoffs]
You got a meeting?
[sighs]
[suspenseful music playing]
[Vilbia] Domitius!
How are you? I need a small favor.
[Julia] Uh, Domitius.
I want to take your wife away to the sea for a few days.
You don't mind, do you?
[woman] Please...
[Vilbia] No, you should definitely go.
I can't stand the heat.
I have a place by the sea myself.
I'd be there already but...
Business is just insane at the moment.
Do I know you?
I'm Vilbia.
And I'm the daughter of Augustus,
so keep your fucking travel advice to yourself, hmm?
[Domitius] Stay as long as you like.
What do you need, Vilbia?
An audience with your aunt by marriage, Livia Drusilla.
-And what do you want with her? -That's my business.
It's mine if you want an introduction.
You weren't so fastidious
when you came to ours asking for our blocks of votes
in the Consular election this year.
The guilds we control.
The city districts.
You're not the only candidate with slush money.
[clears throat] All right, look...
I can do it.
But you're better off going in through someone
Livia really loves.
Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso.
Who's that?
Oh, Vilbia.
I'm running for consul this year and he has votes to sell.
Oh. Expensive, running for consul.
In my family it's the bare fucking minimum.
You have no idea.
[whinnies]
[gasps]
[Ursa] Livia!
Oh...[sighs]
I just want to kill her.
[chuckles]
Your husband's been seeing a slave.
Most husbands do.
-At least he was discreet. -[scoffs, laughs]
I know men who do it at home in front of their wives.
She's a slave. She's nothing.
She's no threat to your position.
And anyway, you always said
that Gaius isn't interested in other women.
All he cares about is power.
[Livia] Right.
So what's changed, hmm?
What's changed?
I mean, it's not the girl.
It's...
It's betrayal, the whole secret life.
What do you think, this is... payback for Marcellus?
And I didn't see it.
Which means I don't know him,
and I have to know him.
My whole life depends on it.
And mine.
So, now I know.
My marriage is broken,
but I don't know how to fix it.
[sighs]
[exhales]
And I still want to kill her.
Well, you can't.
The woman belongs to Gaius now, not Drusus.
She can't be touched. She can't be killed.
You know, that would be fatal.
I know.
So, you're gonna go home
and smile, and remember,
we're putting your sons on the throne of Rome.
[dramatic music playing]
♪♪♪
[Antonina] Warm water! Cloths, now!
Get him down, get him down!
-[Drusus groans] -[Antonina] Give me the water!
-Warm water! -[Drusus groans]
Antonina, let the slaves clean him up.
Antonina, let the slaves clean him up!
Well, where were you anyway?
With me, always.
God! [grunts]
You should have seen it! It was the most glorious thing.
Our standard bearer isolated in the smoke,
Drusus cut through to him, leading his men,
surrounded by ferocious tribesmen,
and one by one the men around him died.
He killed their king in single combat,
saved the eagle with his life!
What on earth for?
[Tiberius] It's a dirty, little war
against dirty, little people.
There's no glory here,
or Stepfather wouldn't have sent us.
-[groans] -Certainly not worth dying for.
♪♪♪
Listen, uh...
No offense, but...
What's wrong with your wife?
[grunting]
[Vistilius] Tiberius.
Get off me!
[Vistilius choking]
Tiberius...
[breathing raggedly]
Bad Tiberius lives inside Tiberius.
He always has done.
Mostly, he sleeps but...
sometimes,
he wakes up and then he does bad things and...
leaves Tiberius to take the blame.
Wakes him up?
Mother.
He always goes before I can ask.
Livia will come to your apartment later today.
-How do you know? -Because I know her.
Send your slaves off.
We don't want witnesses they can torture.
I'll say I was there and I'll tell him what happened.
Be ready.
While you're carrying his child,
you're safe.
Nothing can happen to you. He won't allow it.
Gaius is a god in Rome. He makes his own rules.
She could never give him a son, and you just did.
You can give him one after another,
and that's what he wants more than anything in the world.
Sons for Rome.
♪♪♪
You give him that,
he is yours.
And if he is yours,
Rome is yours.
The only thing left in your way is a bitter, old woman.
♪♪♪
Are you all right now?
Look, this problem will resolve itself, trust me.
-You just have to give it time. -I know.
In the meantime, there's nothing you can do, really.
Yes, all right.
You just have to let it play out.
I... I get it.
Right.
[giggling]
[both exclaiming]
We're finally fucking free.
[chuckles] No men, no Rome, no babies.
I wish we could stay here forever.
I wish my husband were dead.
I know, but I don't know why.
No. Nobody does. And Mother adores him.
And Marcella, and she hates everyone.
He's the coldest thing I've ever touched.
And now he hates me
because I can't get pregnant. [sobs]
My... my father chose him specially.
His family's important.
-You'll never get a divorce. -I know.
-But... -But what?
Well, he might die.
People do. Marcellus did.
Antonia, what the fuck are you saying?
[Julia] Oh, look, here's Iullus.
Your sister can't give me children.
[Marcella] Divorce her.
She's the niece of Augustus. I can't.
You've never got me pregnant.
And even Iullus managed that once.
You clean yourself afterwards with lemon juice.
I'm just saying.
Not that I'm complaining.
I haven't slept with Iullus in years.
I'd have a hard time explaining a baby.
[gasps]
That happened to my mother.
She had to take her own life.
[tense music playing]
This came for you earlier.
So what are we doing about the girl?
This is from her.
I am summoned.
But why now? I mean, does she know I know?
"Important developments... Things you need to know."
No. It's impossible.
-Look, don't go. -Oh, I'm going.
-It's a mistake. -But not mine.
[sighs]
[man] Yes, everything's set.
One moment.
All right, I've found her a husband.
Small estate up the Tiber, lost his wife last year.
He'll take some of my land nearby
for the dowry.
I have to free her first,
and I need you to be the witness.
The sooner the better.
Well... That was easy.
It's just you and me.
I did all the decoration myself.
I had plenty of time on my hands...
when I wasn't fucking your husband.
I was a child,
stolen from my family, raped,
brought to your country as a slave.
[sighs heavily]
Do you know what happens to you then?
Do you care?
And then I found Drusus, and I loved him,
and he loved me, and he freed me.
And then you came, and you sold me off like a dog.
Hmm.
[laughs] But now I am pregnant
with your husband's son.
So it is time for you to move aside...
permanently.
[screams]
[Gemina yells]
[both screaming]
[grunts]
[panting]
[Livia coughs]
[Gemina choking]
[knife clatters]
No!
[panting]
[grunts]
[Julia] She wants to kill her husband.
-Antonia? -Yes, Antonia.
The only kind and truly decent person
in this whole stinking family.
We got to her in the end.
Any particular reason?
She won't tell me everything, but he scares her.
And, of course, she can't divorce him.
She's trapped, just like I was with Marcellus.
If you think about it,
Domitius is your direct rival
for any kind of power after my father dies.
And we've learned we can't rely on Livia.
Your father wouldn't have hesitated.
Mine never did.
[Antonia] All right?
[sighs]
[both chuckle]
Gemina?
Gaius.
Brother.
Oh, don't look at me, brother.
You said no, and that was the end of it.
Get this place cleaned up, brother.
And find out who did this.
Whatever it takes.
[door opens, closes]
[horse whinnies in distance, hooves clopping]
Oh, fuck.
[gasps]
Hey.
Where am I?
My house in Rome.
[Livia breathing heavily]
You didn't come out, so I went in.
It's a deep wound, but clean.
Antigone would be happy.
-Tycho... -What?
My bracelet...
[dog barking in distance]
He needs to speak with you.
You all right?
Thank you.
She tried to kill me.
Well, people keep making that mistake.
Gaius asked me to find out who did it
and bring him their head,
and I always do what he asks...
without exception.
Ever.
-I have never betrayed him. -I know.
But I have always loved you.
I know that, too.
So... My son.
I want Gaius to adopt him, formally, to secure his future.
And I know I need your support for something like that.
That's the price of your silence?
Well, I wouldn't have put it quite so boldly.
I would have done that for nothing.
[chuckles]
[breathes deeply]
[grunts] Tycho.
[clears throat]
-Tycho! -What?
My marriage is broken,
and I didn't know how to fix it, but now I do.
I have to tell Gaius everything.
And I need your permission
because your life might depend on it, too.
Are you sure about this?
It's a risk.
But the one thing Gaius hates is weakness,
and I've been weak too long.
All right.
Get a message to Gaius now, and then...
you need to leave Rome,
just in case.
Go to Egypt, Alexandria.
It's time we found out who was behind the famine.
Then the conspiracy would have started there.
Hey... Be careful.
Look after my daughter.
Always.
[laughs]
[horse whinnies]
Oh!
Don't forget me.
Okay?
Does it hurt?
Oh, how it hurts.
You betrayed me, my love.
And you almost got me killed.
So, now maybe we're even.
I'm sorry about Marcellus, Gaius.
I really am.
And I'm sorry it came back on you.
I had no choice.
You could have come to me.
And said what?
"Don't get sick. Don't get old.
Live forever so you can save me from Marcellus and his friends."
Even you weren't safe from them.
-Octavia. -I know.
That is my burden. I bear it.
So where do we go from here?
Where we were always going...
to make you a god.
And what about you? Do you want to be a goddess?
Well, you know, if the offer comes in,
obviously I will consider it.
[chuckles softly]
You should rest.
[sighs heavily]
[men clamoring]
[grunting]
[horse whinnies]
[grunting, swords clanking]
[both grunting]
[grunting continues]
[laughs]
[panting]
Ha!
I should have been a gladiator!
A noble and straightforward occupation.
No fucking politics.
Everyone's always trying to kill you.
Ah, but at least you know that.
[pants]
[grunts]
[gurgling]
Livia killed the girl.
She told me.
[swords clanking, men grunting]
And Marcellus.
She admitted it?
Well, she did what was necessary, brother.
She always does. What you should have done.
I never cared that she killed Marcellus.
I care that she got caught.
I need you to do something for me.
Don't do it.
Whatever it is, don't do it.
[birds calling]
[dramatic music playing]
[horse whinnies]
[whinnying continues]
Divorce?
Exile.
Unofficial,
and it's to stay between the three of us.
How long?
I'll take care of the boys until you get back.
We still have our deal though, right?
Fuck off. [laughs]
Is that from Mother?
It's from Piso.
It's Mother. She's fallen.
She's been exiled.
Exiled? For what?
He doesn't say.
Well, that's it then. It's all over.
What is?
Nothing.
Everything.
[grunts]
She's not dead.
She might as well be.
Can you imagine Mother
stuck out on one of those islands?
We'll be quietly recalled...
and then forgotten, if we're lucky.
Without the marriage connection,
we're meaningless to him.
Nobody will ever hear of Drusus or Tiberius.
We'll never avenge our grandfather.
We'll never restore the Republic.
We'll be all right.
As long as Agrippa's alive.
After that...
Anybody's guess.
[breathes deeply]
[ethereal music playing]
♪♪♪
[theme music playing]
♪♪♪