Rome

Wake up.

Wake up, sleepyhead.

Be quiet, woman.

Posca.

Lucius Vorenus.

Your monthly debauch is finished already?

I see yours isn't.

This? This is nothing.

This is for my nerves.

- Where is he? - Where is he?

A deep question.

His mortal flesh is in the throne room

meeting the delegation from the Senate.

- They're here already? - Yes.

Senator Bibulus and several other distinguished men whose names I forget

arrived this morning.

And why are you not in there?

I value my life, such as it is.

When the queen growls at me, I retreat.

It's not cowardice.

Who would look after my wife?

You lead the animal on slightly. You see?

Depending on how fast he's going.

Drink the water.

Now here's the moment. The animal thinks only of his thirst.

He knows there is danger.

But he cannot resist the water.

Easy, you see.

My turn.

Antony, if we might discuss the matter at hand?

You'll scare off the deer.

- He moved. The beast moved! - Again.

Regarding the grain supply...

I have been authorized to offer you double the previous price,

if you can guarantee delivery before the end of the month.

Double, you say?

That's not bad.

- Triple. - Agreed.

We will pay triple the correct price.

And Carthage.

Carthage will be annexed to Antony's control.

That may be possible.

Poor Octavian.

He must be really desperate.

People are starving, dying.

Octavian will do what he must to prevent further suffering.

Because he loves the people so.

- He does. - He loves nobody and nobody loves him.

He could feed the people larks and oysters till they burst,

and they would still love me more.

Isn't that right, Vorenus?

Yes, sir.

There we are. The voice of the people.

They love me.

I have no doubt you are right, but we do have an agreement, yes?

Yes.

Triple rates...

and Carthage.

- And Spain. - Spain?

You can't have Spain.

That's a shame. No deal, then.

- Really, this is absolutely... - No deal.

Brava, my love!

Venison for dinner, then?

Pleasant voyage home, boys.

Get him out of here.

I'll show you to your quarters.

- Is he always like that? - Like what?

Well, if that doesn't make the little shit declare war,

I don't know what will.

He's a cautious beast.

Perhaps you should simply cut the cord

and declare war yourself.

Declare war...

on Octavian?

On my most trusted and beloved colleague?

On Rome? On my own people? No, no, no.

No, that wouldn't do.

When I return home,

it will be as a savior, not as a conqueror.

I'm very tired.

Oh, Helios.

Selene, off with you. Off with you.

Can't you see your father needs to sleep?

Where are you going? Stay.

You can hear them.

What are you gonna do? Bake 'em a cake?

Oh, Dis.

I forget sometimes what a cold-hearted bitch you really are.

Would you have me any other way?

Are you joking?

Anyone offers me a good horse with the leathers thrown in...

...you're gone.

Back! Back!

Keep out of the way! Get out of the way!

Let me through.

Get out the way!

Clear the way.

Grain! Grain! Grain! Grain!

- Please! - My father is starving.

Please! My father...

Silence.

Silence!

The day's ration has been given.

There'll be no more until tomorrow at the appointed time.

No!

I know you're hungry.

But you're alive.

If I do as you ask and open the granaries,

you'll be well fed today and starving tomorrow.

Go home.

Go home and suffer what the Earth Mother has sent us.

And come back tomorrow.

Right.

Still in one piece, then? Thought they might have ate you.

Too much gristle on the bone.

Lucius, girls, I thought I told you to wait inside.

I'll not cower when there's blood to be spilled. Where's the honor in that?

When you have hair on your chin you can talk of blood.

Vorena, I expected better. Next time do as you're told.

They're just hungry people. They'd not hurt us.

Hungry people do strange things.

Then blessed Orbona will protect us.

Well, run along and ask her to send a grain ship.

Me and Mascius have to talk.

You too, Lucius.

Go learn to read or something.

- What's the tally? - Ten days left, a quarter ration, give or take.

- Gods below. - It's hardly worth giving out.

Just prolonging the misery.

Morning.

The bakers' guild man was round earlier.

I told you not to speak to them.

Nor did I.

He spoke, I said nothing.

They're offering 600 a sack.

600?

Yeah, 600 and a few dead children

for every sack that doesn't get to the people that need them.

We're not in this for profit.

Still, it's 600.

I piss on the bakers' guild.

- Your call. - Yes, it is.

Why are you wasting valuable food on him still?

Let the poor bastard die.

Memmio?

No. He reminds the other men to stay honest.

What's to be done, then?

Fetch my best clothes. I'll see if his honor has any ideas.

Hey!

Quiet, you.

You fucking hairy bastard.

So far it's just the old and the sick that are dying.

But by next moon, our granaries will be empty.

I understand that dogs make good eating.

They do.

Taste like pork if you cook 'em right. All gone.

I wondered why the nights were so peaceful.

- No barking. - This is no moment for wit.

I wish there were something I could do.

But the state granaries are near as empty as yours.

I can only give to you by taking from someone else.

- The military silos are untapped. - And the army needs to eat.

Well, then, send three legions to Africa.

Let Lepidus feed them.

That would supply the city with enough grain for a month.

Have it done.

It's only a temporary solution, but it's the best we can offer.

- I'll send you what we can spare. - Thank you.

Pullo.

Tell me what the people are saying.

Tell me who they blame for this famine.

You, they say.

- You're the man in charge. - Not Antony?

They hear the newsreaders saying

that he's holding back the shipments and all that, but...

well, it's Antony, innit?

Why would he starve them?

They've always loved him and he's always loved to be loved.

Whereas you...

Well, you're you, aren't you?

Cold and heartless?

I'll not say that.

But you've never been the affectionate type now, have you?

Thank you, Pullo.

- I'll be hearing about the grain, then, will I? - Agrippa will see to it.

- Perhaps Bibulus will succeed? - No, he won't.

Antony's not entirely irrational. Given enough money, why should he refuse?

Antony's not motivated by money.

He hopes the people will rise up in anger and depose me.

Either that, or he simply wishes to provoke me into declaring war on him.

Has he really become so foolish?

Who knows what he's become after all these years out there?

Who knows what Cleopatra whispers to him?

He was always a fool for his women.

If he wants a war, why not give it to him?

You heard Pullo.

You might as well declare war on wine and song.

No, no, no, no.

War on Antony is doomed unless the people are with us.