Imperium: Augustus

Augustus:
Did I play my role well, in the comdey of life?

Julia:
The gods will tell you father.

Augustus:
Applause, please.

Cleopatra:
[about Octavius] Why don't we silence that boy by placing his head on a stick?

Scipio:
Julia? "Submissive"? Ha! [Notices Iullus' face] What's the matter?

Iullus:
I love her.

[after telling Scipio about Tiberius raping Julia]

Iullus:
She blames her father, even said she wants him dead... But I don't believe her, she'd never hurt him.

Scipio:
She doesn't have to.

Iullus:
I love her!

Scipio:
Stop telling me that!

Iullus:
It's true!

Scipio:
Really?

Iullus:
Yes!

Scipio:
Then if you truly love her, you'll do it. Augustus will not yield.

Iullus:
But surely...

Scipio:
Your noblity won't protect you, you're father made that mistake. There is only one way - he must die.

Iullus:
I would lose her, she would never forgive me...

Scipio:
You'd be saving her. Do you really think Livia is ever going to let Julia's children rule over the empire when Augustus dies? The children will be killed too, you know it's evitable. And when she realizes that, she will thank you.

Iullus:
We failed once.

Scipio:
We were stupid, out in the open with the mob, the guards and Julia to stop us... Will she let you into her house?

Iullus:
[nods] Tonight.

Scipio:
Then the gods have handed us the sword.

Augustus:
Julia, did you know?

Octavius:
[to Agrippa] The Egyptian relgion declares that to die of a snake bite will secure immortality. Did you know that, Agrippa?

Maecenas:
Never mind that! History... History will never forget this moment. At last, every legion in Rome listens to the command of a single man. The peace of Rome is assured, to the one, absolute ruler of the Roman Empire.

Agrippa:
[In disgust] So, that was you plan all along, Octavius? To wear a crown on your head!

Maecenas:
In order to keep the nobles from tearing Rome apart he must be king. He will be declared..."Augustus"!

[to Octavius]

Agrippa:
If you send your legions against Antony, you'll start another civil war.

Maecenas:
Do you want him to ignore the betrayal of his sister? Ignore this?

Agrippa:
Do you want him to be the one who bring Roman against Roman again?

Maecenas:
Don't go in there without a plan, country boy!

Brutus:
The time has come to put dangerous tyrants to rest.

Cicero:
Brutus, are you suggesting "violence"?

Brutus:
Save the sarcasm!

Cicero:
Dictator for life... Let's hope it will not be a long one.

Maecenas:
Declare war against Cleopatra...

Agrippa:
Of course, and Mark Antony will lead his armies against us to protect her.

Maecenas:
Clever boy! Is a politician born?

Augustus:
Cleopatra and Antony met Agrippa and I for battle at the coast of Actium. They had only one thought in mind - to kill us.

Octavius:
I'd spare your life if I could, Antony.

Mark Antony:
I wasn't begging for your mercy!

[short pause and smile]

Mark Antony:
I have lived well. I have no hatred or envy for Caesar's son. I wonder if your father had foresaw this end.

Octavius:
No... and neither did I.

[to Octavius, weeping]

Maecenas:
But without a crown, they will destroy you... I am sorry, my friend... I love you... But I... I will not watch them destroy you.

Julia:
Who will love Gaius and Lucius? You? You are not capable of real love, only your dream - your perfect Roman Empire. You should have killed me when I was born, father! Instead you tortured me slowly, with never ending pain.

[pause]

Julia:
They call you Augustus... But you are not a god.

Livia:
I came as soon as I heard. The assassin was not from Rome so we can't trace his employer.

Augustus:
Marcus Agrippa is dead.

Livia:
Yes, there is a dangerous under carriage in the young noblity.

Augustus:
Did you hear what I said, Livia? He was my dear friend, my daughter's husband, the father of my grandchildren and he is dead!

Livia:
Yes and your enemies are waiting for the right moment to kill you. This is the moment. Agrippa, your heir apparent, is dead and you too nearly died today... Where does that leave the empire tomorrow?

Augustus:
At the stumbling feet of your son, I suppose, exactly where you WANT IT?

Livia:
Why haven't you told them?

Julia:
You know?

Livia:
Yes, why does that surprise you? Go and tell them now before they embarrass us in public.

Julia:
How do I tell them their father is dead, Livia?

Livia:
They barely knew him.

Julia:
Marcus Agrippa was a good father and a loving husband.

Livia:
Oh, come now Julia! Don't play the poor young widow to me.

Julia:
You are a merciless woman!

Livia:
[pause] Perhaps. It is necessary.

Augustus:
I lost the man I loved the most today.

Livia:
Not just the man, Augustus. You loved him more then any woman too.

Augustus:
No. I did love you, Livia.

Livia:
Yes? But then?

Augustus:
Then? Well, then you made life so complicated.

Augustus:
Leave me. I want to be alone.

Livia:
You *are* alone.

[to Julia after trying to murder Augustus]

Iullus:
I did it for you.

Iullus:
I love you.

Julia:
But Iullus, my father...

Iullus:
Wouldn't approve? What else does he want from you? Didn't it satisfy him enough to have married you to *old* Agrippa in order to beget an heir from your marriage bed?

Julia:
I was faithful to Agrippa until he died...

Iullus:
So, come to my bed.

Julia:
I can't, Agrippa...

Iullus:
He's dead, Julia! And you've mourned that beloved, so-called husband for months. You've done your duty for Rome!

Julia:
I will be by your side always, father.

[to Agrippa, upon reaching Rome]

Octavius:
Tomorrow, we go to Munda. Tonight, I am going to show you the greatest city in the world.

[of Iullus]

Augustus:
I spared his life!

Julia:
But not mine.

[to Maecenas]

Agrippa:
Hurry up! Looking at you naked is beyond the call of duty!

Agrippa:
Cutting yourself when drawing my sword is not an injury in combat.

Maecenas:
Dear soldiers! I have prepared us all drinks and space to rest after our long weary day of fighting...

Agrippa:
We? What did you do all day? Sleep?

[Octavius has broken his ribs]

Agrippa:
Lie down! If you take a direct hit, you're dead!

Maecenas:
He can't stay in the tent.

Agrippa:
What would you know? You never leave this tent!

Maecenas:
*I* am not Caesar's nephew - he just has to make an appearance, appearance is everything.

Agrippa:
You're right.

Maecenas:
[sarcastically] Am I really? Oh, high praise from the great warrior!

Agrippa:
I'll not deliver you to Caesar dead!

Octavius:
Bad for your career?

Octavius:
I shall not greet Caesar from behind a donkey's arse.

Agrippa:
You are a donkey's arse!

Scipio:
Hail to our queen!

Julia:
Scipio! Don't holler so loud.

Scipio:
No worries, we're in disguise. You don't want your father to arrest us for scandal in Rome, do you?

Julia:
You do scandalize Rome!

Phoebe:
Which is why you love us! Your father caught us one time.

Scipio:
He called us "naughty children"!

Julia:
He's absolutely right!

Iullus:
Indeed. Augustus is *always* right!

Livia:
You must marry Tiberius.

Julia:
I can't stand him.

Livia:
I'm not asking you to love him.

Julia:
Good, cause I won't!

Augustus:
Shut up, the pair of you! If a fight is what you want give me three days notice to place the bets.

Tiberius:
I'll find Iullus and kill him!

Julia:
No, you won't. You'll go back to the boarder and continue playing "soldier" or I'll have father throw you in prison as a deserter.

Iullus:
I will have revenge for my father's death, and Julia will be my sword.

Scipio:
[Upon seeing Julia] Hail to our queen!

Tiberius:
My duty is to maintain authority over Rome's legions; you undermine that with your adultery which you don't even attempt to conceal. I can not live with that!

Julia:
Then do us both a favour and fall on your sword!

Julia:
You already have what you wanted of me, father. Heirs. My sons. Now let me live my life!

Atia:
Whose glory is Octavia's marriage?

Octavius:
For Rome.

Atia:
Rome, who is he? I don't know him. Does he have a sister too?

Augustus:
Octavia? Octavia! I sent the carriage...

Octavia:
Yes, you did.

Augustus:
But you're walking.

Octavia:
Yes, I am.

Augustus:
Why?

Octavia:
I decided to walk on foot, so all of Rome can see the woman who was betrayed by her child brother.

Octavius:
Did you see her?

Agrippa:
Pretty.

Octavius:
She's watching me.

Agrippa:
Who?

Octavius:
The woman I'll marry.

Agrippa:
Where?

Octavius:
Somewhere.

Agrippa:
Quick! Open your wounds so that your hero's blood is easier to see!

[Climbing out of a fish cart]

Agrippa:
Hurry up, before we're seen!

Maecenas:
Dressed like this? I'll never live it down!

[On Caesar's murder]

Mark Antony:
Ten of them came at us with daggers, I don't know why I'm alive.

Octavius:
They must have not wished you dead.

Livia:
You don't believe the rumours, do you?

Augustus:
No, Livia. Even you aren't *that* cruel.

Augustus:
I am the master of nothing. Why didn't I listen to Julia? Why didn't you say it too, Livia - that I couldn't master the future; think how happy could have been.

Augustus:
My grandsons! Gaius and Lucius! Beautiful, aren't they? Devil see them, the pair of them- they take after their mother!

[Julia enters through the crowds]

Julia:
They do not! They take after their father and their grandfather. Come along boys, your grandfather is far too busy being "king" to play with his grandsons.

Augustus:
Julia, I'm not a king- there are no "kings" in Rome.

Julia:
Have I ever been anything more to you then a instrument to fulfill your destiny.

Augustus:
I have never loved anyone in my life as much as I love you.

Julia:
Then why are you taking my life away from me?

Augustus:
Julia, I want you to be happy, but you have to remember that you aren't just my daughter; you are the daughter of the Empire. As Rome's princess, your body and soul belongs to state, and the state is the body of world - if Rome falls, civilization falls!

Cleopatra:
[about Augustus] Why don't we silence that boy by placing his head on a stick?

Augustus:
You're not finished dressing...

Julia:
Actually I am, it's the current style. Would you have me weave my dresses as I did when I was a little girl?

Augustus:
Perhaps, with a little more wool.

Atia:
Whose destiny is Octavia's marriage to insure?

Augustus:
Rome's

Atia:
Rome, I don't know him. Does he have a sister too?

[to Livia]

Augustus:
Tiberius is your son, not mine. Julia is my daughter, not yours.

Tiberius:
Mother, no! I'm your son, *not* Augustus', as Julia is his daughter, *not* yours.

Livia:
Exactly, which is why you must marry Julia!

Tiberius:
I don't love her, and she doesn't love me either.

Livia:
Love has nothing to do with it.

Tiberius:
I love my wife. I always have.

Livia:
Yes, Tiberius. You told me that when you married the stupid little thing, but she is of no use to us. You will divorce her, and marry Julia. Do that, and you'll be emperor.

Tiberius:
I don't want to be emperor! [pause] Besides, there are Gaius and Lucius, Julia and Agrippa's boys. They come before me.

Livia:
They're weak children... [pause] They may die.

Tiberius:
Mother, you wouldn't...

Livia:
Wouldn't what? [Long pause] I was just saying they've always had colds and fevers. They *may* die.

Octavius:
Livia, you look well. How is Tiberius, that son of yours?

Young Livia:
And what is it that lies in *your* wife's belly? Do soothsayers predict a boy or a girl?

Augustus:
You've not changed from your wedding dress?

Julia:
I thought that maybe, if I slept in it, when I next awoke it would be gone like a bad dream.

[Describing the massacre of the nobles]

Augustus:
[to Julia] It was the price I had to pay. That night men awoke to find their death sentences posted in the Forum. And Agrippa, poor Agrippa was forced to slaughter all of my enemies. It was the price I had to pay for the security of Rome. That night my life was taken from me; it was my destiny, the risk I had to take and I took it. All of this will happen again unless someone who is worthy of the name Caesar... succeeds me But *we* won't let that happen. Tonight, Julia, you and I will give birth to a new Rome, we will assure that it is your sons who rule Rome when I have died, *not* Livia's son. You gave life to your sons once, Julia, now give it to them again! For them and for the good of Rome!

[to Augustus]

Julia:
You are *not* master of the future! You conquered the world... [pause] But you lost your soul.

Augustus:
Iullus Antonius blames me for his father's death, he thinks I destroyed the republic, he thinks I'm a tyrant!

Julia:
You *are* a tyrant!

[to Augustus before he dies]

Julia:
Your father had a dream, and so did mine.

[Julia comes in and goes to her father's side. He holds his hand out to her]

Augustus:
The empire took both our lives, daughter. You were right all along. Forgive me.

Mark Antony:
Do you know how to make a new world? By destroying the old!

Augustus:
Agrippa is dead. Death is no longer an "idea" to me, Julia. It is a man, standing in a hall, outside in the streets, in the fields... waiting. He has a face, and he's asking me questions.

Augustus:
Livia, when did you stop loving me?

Livia:
My love hasn't... Died, exactly. It's just evolved.

Augustus:
Into what?

Livia:
Duty.

Young Livia:
We women can be dangerous creatures.

Maecenas:
We are three kings. Octavius, the leader. Agrippa, the soldier, and Maecenas, the...

Agrippa:
Mouth?

Maecenas:
- Maecenas, the politician.

[Indicates a rise to Octavius and Agrippa]

Maecenas:
A rise. Let us all promise now: that we will let nothing never destroy this friendship!

Maecenas, Agrippa, Octavius:
Never!

[about Agrippa's aqueducts]

Agrippa:
This spring will quench the thirst of 50,000 or more Romans everyday and water the fields streching for miles around Rome.

[Hands cups of water to Octavius. Maecenas refuses his cup]

Maecenas:
No, thanks. I prefer to have something a little more lively.

Octavius:
[Toasts] To furture harvests.

Agrippa:
Now no one can bribe Rome again by cutting off it's food supply.

Maecenas:
It's all very lovely, Agrippa. At least we'll be able to get some lovely fountains out of it.

[On sending Tiberius away]

Augustus:
I've sent him away, Julia. You don't have to worry about him anymore.

Julia:
Am I supposed to thank you, father?

Augustus:
No, I'll be content if you don't hate me.

Julia:
Tiberius! I was not informed that you were returning to Rome.

Tiberius:
You mean "warned"?

Julia:
Why should I need to be "warned"?

Tiberius:
The northen boarder is as far away as your father could send me, but reports of your affair with Iullus arrive regulary... In explisite detail.

[to Augustus on Julia]

Tiberius:
People call you a god, but they a wrong. You destroy everything you love!

Julia:
You used my mother Scribonia too, you had a baby from her and then you threw her away to marry Livia.

Augustus:
I loved your mother.

Julia:
No, you loved her money!

Augustus:
No, I love her because she gave me you.

[Upon Agrippa's entry]

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

[Notices Octavia swooning]

Octavius:
...and he's already slain the heart of my sister!

[On the list of enemies to be murdered]

Mark Antony:
Write your enemies names on this list.

Octavius:
I have no names.

Mark Antony:
You have no balls!

Mark Antony:
A man may die from many things, but lack of courage is always fatal.

[after Tiberius hits her]

Julia:
You've wanted to do that for a *very* long time.

[after giving a speech to the plebs of Rome]

Maecenas:
Brilliant speech!

Octavius:
You wrote it.

Maecenas:
Of course!

Cicero:
Caesar and I, as you know had our differences... But surely you must know, I didn't kill him.

Octavius:
How could *think* such a thing?

[Of Agrippa]

Maecenas:
This soldier's tongue cuts deeper then his sword could ever wound me.

Agrippa:
Politicians are run by swords, legions - that is the only language Rome understands!

Maecenas:
You know nothing of Rome, country boy.

Agrippa:
And you know nothing of life.

Agrippa:
We've become the thing we hate, or does killing starving civilians make us heroes?

[to Gaius and Lucius as Julia takes them away]

Augustus:
Off you go with your mother boys...

[pause]

Augustus:
Oh! And boys... Agrippa will be home tomorrow. So let us plan are tactics so that then together, your father, you and I can make war on your mother's camp!

[Julia turns and laughs playfully]

Julia:
And I will defeat you all - I'm a better sword fighter then any of you.

Augustus:
Alas! It is true, one should have never taught that woman how to use a sword.