Caligula et Messaline (1981) - full transcript

Rome, circa 40 AD. During the brief reign of the cruel, perverted, and insane Roman ruler, Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, known as Caligula, seductive Messalina worked to increase her unconstrained personal power. Bent on becoming the most influential woman in Rome, the beautiful temptress catches the eye of Emperor Caligula while fighting in the arena, and before long, she finds herself at loggerheads with plotting Agrippina, Caligula's youngest sister. Nevertheless, cunning Messalina is always one step ahead and manages to seduce Caligula's uncle, Claudius. Then, an unexpected pregnancy paves the way for betrayal and murder, as Agrippina seizes the golden opportunity to destroy Messalina in high hopes of seeing her son, Nero, becoming the next emperor of Rome.

- It won't be long before the cool waters

of tivoli spout from the
fountains in Caesar's gardens

- another glorious achievement
for our divine ceasar

hero of the battlefields.

- Watch your tongue baronius.

Caligula has eyes and ears everywhere.

So be careful, you could lose your head.

- Only the other day, he
exclaimed in the circus,

"I only wish that people had one head."

- And he made the unfortunate one telus,

maintain his promise to exchange his life



for the health of his emperor.

- And don't forget, he
had his cousin, gemellus,

tortured to death because his
breath smelled of medicine.

Ceasar was offended thinking
he had taken it to protect

himself against his emperor.

And the poor man had only
taken a cure for his cough.

He had no chance to prove his innocence.

- They say he practices
incest with his own sisters.

- And I've also heard it said
that he wanted his favorite

horse lncitatus made a senator for life.

- We'd better get back to guard duty.

Don't forget there's a
banquet tonight at the palace.

- No one else makes me feel like you do.

- Why must you lie?



You say the same thing to drusilla I know.

She told me.

- Your sister's not to be trusted.

She told livilla too.

- That's the reason our
little sister's jealous.

- She's still very young.

- Perhaps, but she's developing fast.

The other day I saw her
masturbating your horse,

-after I nominated him senator

all the patrician women in
Rome want to become mares.

Wouldn't you like to be one?

- I don't want you to go
with the others anymore.

I'm your mare and you're my stallion.

Love me my brother, my emperor.

- I drink to your health divine Caesar

and your lovely sisters.

- What causes you such mirth divine one?

- The mere thought that I
could have all these people

put to death in an instant

strikes me as extremely amusing.

Don't you find it a hilarious idea?

Let me smell your breath macronious.

- I took some medicine for my throat.

- You smell like a skunk.

You dare to use an
antidote against Caesar?

Not very respectful of you.

Take him away.

- I meant no offense have mercy on me.

- I want for macronious punished.

For offending his emperor
and his emperor's sisters.

An unpardonable crime, have him executed.

- No, I beg you, I have done nothing.

- You drive me insane with desire

I'll come to you tonight drusilla.

- Come now, tonight we have
other business to attend to.

-Ohmwmw.

- Do you need any help dearest sister?

- Is calisto's weapon not
enough to satisfy you livilla?

Agrippina tells me he has more to offer

than any man in the empire.

- Our dear brother's
stallion beats him by hand.

- Only the senator can beat me.

- Claudius tiberius drusus
germanicus, why do you sleep?

- Was only resting caligula,
but call me uncle claudius.

All those other, other
names don't mean anything.

- Aren't you ashamed roveling
like that at your age?

- I'm very, very tired.

The destruction of
carthage has worn me out.

- The destruction of carthage indeed.

Wear yourself out down there.

- Are you enjoying yourself, sister?

Halt

- let me pass I have an
urgent message for Caesar.

Ave, where do
you come from messenger?

-Ave I bring news to
the emperor from Germany.

Let him pass.

- Make way I bring news to
Caesar from distant lands!

It's a message for the emperor.

I wonder what it could be.

Make way
for the imperial messenger

Greetings
divine emperor of all Rome.

- I trust you are the
bringer of good news.

- Ah, with that I were,
the tidings are sad.

Lentulus has betrayed you during
his struggle with the huns.

- Go on, I would hear of it.

Oh Caesar,

there seems to be a plot against you.

Who plots against

- your sister, drusilla and
- bring him wine

- I'll see to it at once.

Now you
shall drink to my health.

Curius?

- At your command.

- Go with the praetorian
guard and arrest every member

of the families of the
Lentulus and lepidus

together with their slaves.

- Your orders will be carried
out within the hour ceasar.

Murder them all!

Speak

No.

Provolonus will loosen

your tongue for you.

No no

- you've got to turn that faster than that

or I'll get angry.

Now, I want the names
of all those involved

in the plot against our
emperor or you'll be dead.

- I don't care.

I'll never tell you.

You have no right to talk to me like this.

You know who I am, I'm lepidus.

First console of Rome.

- Why should I care about
the first console of Rome?

As far as I'm concerned,
you're just a filthy traitor.

Faster!

- He won't speak.

Well it's better, his loss is our gain.

After you have tortured him to death.

Macaronious, curius, come.

How does your emperor
look from that position?

- Is this the way you
repay those who helped you

build your empire?

- I almost forgot you were the one

who suffocated the divine
tiberius with a cushion.

Killing your old uncle in
such a barbarous fashion

was a reprehensible thing to do.

Curius?

- At your service ceasar.

- I want you to slit
this murderer's throat.

And remember when you do
it, it must be done slowly.

I want him to suffer.

-Hmm

- I don't wish you to
suffer lepidus, drink this.

- You think I'm a fool?

I knew that the messenger
was eluding to you.

- Alluding to me?

Could you think anything like that?

What reason would I possibly have?

Perhaps drusilla has a reason.

She wants her new husband to be emperor.

She is more than a little
ambitious, but why me?

I'm already first lady of the empire.

- Because you want the
empire for your son,

- a child who still sucks
from a slaves nipples,

leave little nero out of it.

You see conspirators hiding
in every corner of the palace

and have anybody you suspect

put to death on some feeble excuse.

- The more you kill, the
fewer enemies you have.

- With lepidus and
macronious out of the way,

who is there left to fear?

- No one at all.

But I should have drusilla killed and you.

However, I will send you
into exile in caprine

for the time being.

You must understand if
only for appearances sake,

I have to send you away, I have to.

- I'm grateful for your
leniency, it's most generous.

Try to be the same with the populace.

They love you and respect you.

- No, don't ask me that.

As long as there are enemies
of Caesar hidden everywhere.

I want them.

If it means putting the city
to the torch, every inch of it.

- But why?

He's so inhuman.

- He is Caesar, it's all predestined.

You can't change it.

So stop worrying about it.

You are soon to follow
the will of the gods

and fulfill the prophecy.

Once his sisters are on caprine in exile,

your way will be free to become empress.

- How can I come to caligula's notice?

- Leave the arrangements to
me dear, trust in your mother.

I know one way.

He'll want everyone in Rome to forgive him

for this massacre.

So he'll give them a spectacle.

It's the patrician way to
placate the fury of the mob.

And you will be the first woman

to fight a gladiator and win.

Why else do you suppose I
taught you how to do battle?

And when you were only a baby I gave you

your first lessons in love making.

- By order of Caesar, glorious
ruler of the Roman empire

and the population

- after the punitive measures taken

for the plot against his divine person.

- There is going to be a
free distribution of grain

at the end of the combat in the circus.

- Come on

- Oh they adore me, just for my amusement,

they'll sacrifice their lives.

- Will be thumbs down this
time, what do you say?

-10

- make it 20.

-All right.

- I hate violence.

Unless those who perform it,
are put to death instantly.

- Enjoying yourself little sister?

- More than I can say, I love
the way you use your thumb.

- I'm afraid your boyfriend
does not enjoy it.

Each gladiator to die takes with him

a handful of sestertius
which he has bet on him.

- You speak the truth, Caesar.

It pains the pocket as well as the heart,

- try to think of a new game, I get tired.

All this blood is so boring.

I want to be excited.

Leave it to me divine one.

I prepared a surprise for you.

- Ave Caesar, mighty emperor I salute you.

- Why send such a splendid
creature to die in the arena?

- I did my best to dissuade
her from entering the contest.

Only she's a determined
girl and I couldn't.

She wanted to put her life in your hands.

Her destiny depends on her
emperor's thumb up or down.

- I Grant you two acres of
land and 400 gold pieces.

- My thanks Caesar.

- I granted you double
'cause you're a woman.

But I want something in exchange.

I want you to be emasculate him.

Do not disobey me.

You are ordered by your divine emperor.

- You have no choice messalina,

obey him or you will be
killed as well as me.

- You didn't obey me.

Made a fool of me in front of the crowd.

I want to know why you did it.

Your pride could get you into trouble.

- I see no reason to turn
a gladiator into a eunuch.

You have courage
and your reply is sharp,

but is that the real reason
you assert your will?

With due respect Caesar,

I am strong because I'm still a virgin

and will remain so until I
decide to change my condition.

Are you telling me

that if I order you to bed with me,

you'll deny me my desire in that too?

- Yes and I'll ask the
judgment of Aphrodite.

- Do not call upon the
goddess of love to intervene.

She could not be fair to one
whom she could only envy.

- My dedication to vesta is
second only to my loyalty

to my divine emperor, it is
for him to decide my fate.

- Please let me go now.

- It is I, who is your slave messalina,

do with me as you wish.

Caress me with your warm lips.

- Do not fear him my lady.

He was made a eunuch
before Caesar permitted him

to attend you at the baths.

- He could have been spared.

I did not need assistance.

I swim very well.

The temperature's to my liking.

Would you say there's enough milk in it?

- She never gives enough milk

unless she's excited by her lover.

Bring in phallonious

- I would appreciate a swimming lesson.

Didn't you hear? I gave you an order!

- Yes mistress.

- Aren't you going to remove that?

- Oh no, I cannot.

- I would have thought a eunuch
had nothing there to hide.

The gods were indeed kind to you.

It's big as a fir tree.

It must be as been as told as long ago

that if you prune a tree
it's branches grows stronger.

Come in.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa

Ave Caesar.

- Every mare in the stable lives

only to be mounted by that stallion.

- Oh curius he is undoubtedly
the greatest stallion

in the empire my lncitatus,

organize a gala evening to
honor my remarkable horse.

Now go.

I will make you a gift my dear.

As soon as it is born, you
shall have the son of lncitatus.

Today at the request of Caesar

to confer the honorary right
of the stallion lncitatus

to sit here among us.

As a basis for
this demand he would remind us,

how when Alexander was in macedon,

he deified his horse bacephalus.

- The points Caesar makes is just.

But I would ask you fathers of the senate

to imagine what the divine
Augustus would have said.

- Well, did you hear that?

Oh, noble lncitatus.

The wise words of your fellow senators.

Listen.

- Your pretension's divine
Caesar are an insult

to the senate and to the people overall.

- I envy your tongues,

that they can twist such
thoughts into words.

Have you forgotten who
named this noble creature

and covered him with glory?

Surely you can't have forgotten.

It was the romans.

If your opinion is that his
breathing doesn't quite reach

the standard of your own well
he has a pedigree to prove it.

It's an insult to the senate

an affront to Rome.

I never heard
of anything so ridiculous.

- Do I have to remind you as well?

That if it were not for my

wise and just form of ruling.

You would not be here at all.

- In that case I prefer to
retiring into voluntary exile.

- I will follow you
- I agree with you

Absolutely agree.

- As you would have it,
exile can be very lonely,

a horrid experience,

especially when you are out
of favor with your emperor.

And there's no need to go.

You can remain in the senate
and be at Liberty to say

anything you like there.

I only want you to admit
this horse is your equal.

- Our return will disturb
the peace and tranquility of

caligula.

- That's the understatement
of the year 50.

I'm going to keep well out
of his way for the moment.

He'll go mad when he finds
we've left the island.

- It seems his craze he already found.

Messalina.

I think I can deal with her.

She's a cheap little trollop.

- Permit me, divine Caesar,
to present my friend

piso and his young bride.

- A couple of such celebrated virtue

and they do great honor
to Rome and her empire.

- My life and my property
are yours to command

divine Caesar.

- Of that we are certain.

Go now and join my guests.

- Thank you.

- Come

- follow me.

- A particularly revolting couple.

- I would bet a gold
earring they're both virgins

- you think?

- One look tells you.

- Curius

- What may I do for you Caesar?

- Contrive a way of getting our newlyweds

to consummate their love in
the imperial bedchamber.

- It shall be done.

- The marriage will now be consummated.

According to ancient custom

as laid down

by romulus and the venerable
Caesar octavian Augustus.

Leave us now.

- Take our hands off the bride.

She's mine.

Turn over, the consecration ceremony

is not complete without the husband.

- Drink.

It will give you strength,

make you love living and live for loving.

There's crushed lotus blossom in it

a potion prepared,
especially by my mother.

- Your mother knows more than bacchus

crushing lotus blossom, indeed.

It's a drink fitting only for an emperor.

- Your health means much to her,

- despite which I do not
feel at all well today.

- Does the return of
your sisters upset you?

- Ah, I'm cursed with sisters,
since they came out of exile,

they've avoided me as hard as they can.

I know they're waiting
for me to call on them.

Only I do not intend to forgive them.

- Look

- I love you callisto

I'm consumed with desire for you.

- More than for your brother?

- Oh, caligula holds no
fascination for me now.

And has no objection to my loving you.

He promised to let me do what I want.

If you'll divorce your wife for me.

- Divorce is no problem.

My wife shares the bed of caligula,

- No one thought it could be done.

When he reached that craggy range,

he took all the elephants up those passes.

But what do you know merope
of all these ancient things?

It's a history lesson, nothing more.

- Your exploits interest me
far more than those of the

legendary Hannibal.
He's long dead, and buried..

While we have much life left before us.

- Oh yes, we should truly enjoy it.

Live for today.

Tomorrow is too late.

- I've called you to a meeting here

so as to avoid suspicion,

if news of this plot leaks out,

all of us here will fall victim

to the source of the praetorian guard.

Luckily even curius has realized

at last that caligula must be removed

from power for the good of the empire.

- Well at least that's positive,

but don't have many illusions.

It's going to be dangerous.

It's my duty to warn all of
you that if any of my brothers'

legions remain faithful to
him, the outcome is in doubt.

- I know, it's a difficult task,

but a great deal of
preparation has gone into it.

Under pressure I feel the key man

should fall under our command

-and curius?

- He's a problem we'll have to deal with.

He will have outlived his purpose.

- We need someone to lead
the revolt, nominal head,

a man who has public approval

- still claudius has to
agree if he must rule.

- You'll find he will if he
believes he's destined to.

Be careful about it though,

claudius must not realize who is in this.

It could mean the end.

I'm sure he'd find a plot unpardonable.

- Caligula must be warned at once.

- No.

His destiny is ordained, you
cannot link it with yours.

- There's no other
solution except to flee.

- Leave it to me.

I've always foreseen what is right to do.

My advice has always served you well.

- You here, to what do I owe this honor?

- I had trouble sleeping.

I saw it was illuminated in here.

So I wandered right in.

I'd probably find no one
else awake at this hour,

except you sage claudius.

- I study history all night.

You call that sage, then sage is claudius.

- You should be a part of
history, it's only right.

Not simply sitting there studying it.

- I leave that to my glorious nephew.

Your youth prevents you
appreciating the past.

- Humility is not one of the
best requisites of greatness.

You should not underestimate yourself.

- Your kindness is ovennhelming.

I don't know why I should
merit such appraisal from you.

Tell me the real reason that you are here.

- I'm bored with life here in the palace.

I need some new distractions,
a new experience.

I'm tired of doing what a
woman is supposed to do.

- It's not easy for a
woman like you to satisfy

your ambitions in the
world we live in now.

She must conform.

But with me, you've no
need to play that role.

My impotence prevents me from
treating you as others do.

- Don't resign yourself to so sad of fate,

I'll soon restore your former vigor

and make you feel a man once more.

If you desire me, I'll
be yours and yours alone.

I'll be true to you always.

Death to caligula!

Death to caligula!

- Where is curius, my
faithful preacher to the god

and messalina?

Calisto? Aginus?

Where are my sisters now?

They've all betrayed me.

Avenge myself upon them.

I swear before all mighty jove,

I am emperor and my origins are divine.

- You have always been my friend

and I know what you are here for.

Curius you, you are my witness.

You must be sure that
those who follow us know,

that I died with dignity and with poise.

- Long live claudius.

Long live the emperor!

- Do you think I'm beautiful fortescue?

- More beautiful than Helen of Troy,

a whore worthy of the gods.

- You wicked little thing.

- But my lady did not jove
choose a whore for his Venus.

- I want to be a vessel
virgin for claudius.

- Don't be too hard on one

who already has difficulty getting it up.

- You're just envious of him

because at least his
doesn't drag on the floor.

- As an emperor I envy him,
but certainly not as a man,

feast your eyes on this.

- None of us knew or even
suspected what claudius

intended to do.

Thanks to Amelia she caught us red handed.

- What you tell him is bad.

- You'll have to believe me.

I'm telling the truth.

Never doubt my sincerity,
affection and loyalty agrippina.

I even managed to convince the
emperor claudius to let you

keep the rooms you occupied
during the reign of caligula.

- And what was his reaction?

- So far no objection.

On the contrary, she appeared to go along

with the decision about you.

- Surprisingly generous offer.

Her generosity I hope
spreads to my uncle claudius.

Wonderful.

You can rise the ardor of the emperor.

I give you all the
strength I had in my youth.

This is the greatest gift
you could give your emperor.

- So said the great Titus
livius of his fair land.

And I agree with him.

Ave, claudius agusta.

Ave.

May Mars be with you.

- And with you too, good
and valorous thespasian.

You bring news?

- Good news, claudius.

King caratacus is under
siege in the aulus plautius

and will soon have to surrender
for lack of food and water.

The rest of his tribe is in flight,

the cavalry in hot pursuit.

- Thanks must be made to the gods.

Soon we shall return to
Rome in triumphant glory

to enjoy once more, the comfort
of our homes and families.

- How dare you come in
here without my permission.

- You told me I could
enter whenever I wanted to.

- Only if you have
something important for me,

if I remember correctly

- and I do.

- Go.

Well, what is it?

- Is not I who have it.

- I do not like riddles, speak clear.

- I was speaking of this.

- Oh.

It looks the same as before.

Why say you do not have it?

- It's not like that of the other,

his is surely double the size.

- No I don't believe it.

- It's true.

Absolutely true.

A satyr beside him is a child.

- Where did you find him?

- He's a regular client
of the house of pleasure.

- Very interesting.

- I already arranged everything.

- Good morning to all my precaus.

- I appreciate the thought.

You came into my mind just now

when I realized today's the day of Venus.

I just had a feeling you'd
get turn up today arcadian.

- I'll bet you say that to all the lads.

We know each other well
enough to tell the truth.

- It's impossible to
hide anything from you.

You see right into my heart.

- Oh you're not serious,
no, a girl from anatolia?

- Out of this world
- but is her body any good?

- You'll be delirious
- but will she do everything?

- Anything you want.

She likes to please the customers.

Have a look.

- I do what you like.

- I never saw anybody as pretty as you.

- Don't let it put you off.

I'm not made of glass.

- But you're as delicate as a Rose.

- Roses are grown for only one reason,

they have to be plucked.

Oh, when does the pruning begin?

You've got such a wild reputation
that everybody's talking.

It's time that you gave me a chance.

Fantastic.

Oh, I can wait no longer.

Quickly, I'm anxious to hoist your mast

and sail to paradise.

Climb aboard.

Yes.

- You see how I repay those
who are loyal to me, callisto.

- I wish I were the only one loyal to you

and thus the only one
to receive your favors.

-All the others mean nothing.

They are few and get little from me.

- Loyalty and love is not easy for you.

- You're wrong callisto.

I'm faithful to you.

You're the only one I
give myself freely to.

The others are merely
diplomatic relations.

- I nominate you secretary of sex.

- It's about the only real
way of attaining anything.

If you think about it,
you can't fail to notice

that I don't go with
anybody like messalina.

The ones I choose can help me.

I'm ambitious but the empress
just goes with anyone.

- She's really shrewd.

When she feels like having an
adventure, she goes outside.

Not within the palace.

We can talk about her as much as we like.

But no one ever caught her.

- I wish I were like her.

- One of these days
she'll make a fatal error

and that'll be her downfall.

- And we must be ready for it.

That poor old fool.

My uncle, the emperor,
would die if he knew

his wife betrayed him
with the lowest of slaves.

- Agrippina

- but let's talk no more of them now.

- It's all clear.

Come on seven.

Two I win.

Yeah roll them again.

Hey, look at that.

Come on.

Hey, look
at the whore with the dwarf.

Let's have some fun with them.

Oh!

Let me go!

- Let me down!

What do you want from me?

Ow, oh

stop

let go.

Leave her alone!

Did you hear me?

I've had enough!

- Oh thank you sir, thank you.

-Are you all right my lady?

- Pray to whom do we owe our lives?

- Veroni, I'm an instructor
at the school of gladiators.

Oh my empress.

- You deserve a reward,
and you shall have it.

- You go ahead to the
palace and tell my slaves

to prepare a bath of perfumes and oils.

Hurry.

This young man will escort me.

- Yes divine one.

- No, veroni wait.

You shall have your reward
here where you saved my life.

- Gaius silio wishes to
have audience with you.

- Well, I will see him.

- I bring your news of the
divine emperor, your highness.

- So claudius is on his way home.

- He is leaving the island
of britain in a few days.

He wanted me to proceed
him with the good news.

- The empress, does she know yet?

- No, she is not in the palace.

- I will see that she receives this news.

She may find it too much for her.

You see, she just gave birth.

- Birth to an heir?

- A boy, handsome.

- But

- I know what you're thinking.

The emperor's been away for a year,

so he cannot be the father,

but the emperor is divine
and what's impossible for us.

Is possible for gods.

Immortals can make their thoughts,

perform deeds for them.

On second thought, you can tell messalina,

but allow me to prepare
her as I think fit.

Don't forget in her condition,
she wouldn't like a surprise.

- This is getting late.

My absence will already have
been noticed at the palace.

- Will we see each other again?

- Never, you must forget
this encounter forever.

Do you hear?

- Never in a million years.

- You're sounding like a bore.

- You look well, messalina,
let me look at you.

Motherhood has made you stronger

and more beautiful than you ever were.

- Yes.

Everything predicted by the
oracle has come true for me.

I have been so very fortunate.

The gods indeed smile on me
and give me their protection.

My divine son enjoys good health too.

- Claudius will be overjoyed to see.

- You mean, he's soon to return?

- He's on his way.

- I'm not sure how to
explain to him what happened.

He'll never accept the child.

- I think maybe there's an answer.

Virgin motherhood among
the gods is not uncommon.

People will believe anything of deities.

- I told silio claudius is
only to think to have a heir.

- Did you say silio?

But he's the emperor's companion.

- He's the one who brought
news of his return.

- I knew silio well,

when he went to conquer
gall, I was only a child.

I was in love with him.

I'll enjoy seeing him again.

- You shall very soon and
I'm sure you'll get news

that is only for you.

- The centurian Gaius silio
requests to see you divine one.

- Very well, I'll see him.

Leave us.

Oh silio I think I'm going to faint.

- My divine empress.

- I'll always be valaria to you

the sweet playmate of your youth.

- Do not remind me of days lost forever.

Fate has decided othennise.

- Is it not fate that
brings you to me here today.

- Fate is seldom kind

and it brings me here in
different circumstances.

Now there is an impenetrable
barrier that separates us.

- You're wrong.

The barrier between us will fall

if you kiss me as you did
when you said farewell.

- Try this phallus
fashioned by nature my lady

it will give you vigor.

You too centrulus.

It will, it will remind you ofarcadian's.

- You impotent little runt,
you know arcadian too eh?

- Oh I did before he was food for worms,

our divine messalina

sucked him drier than desecated coconut.

- I'll thank you to keep quiet.

- I mean no ill offense.

I merely told drusilla

of what a lovely couple of
doves her aunt and silio are.

- Thanks, but be careful in public silio

it could cause talk.

- I think those present are well occupied.

- Yet there are those here who spy on us.

- Agrippina

- She can't wait to catch me out

and she'll be the first
to inform the emperor.

She still has a lot of influence.

- Then let us find a quieter place.

- Not now my dear.

My absence would soon arouse suspicion.

Long live the emperor

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

- Down with the sails!

Rest your oars.

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

- Ave divine Caesar.

Rome is waiting to honor your triumph.

- There's no need for us to
hurry back to Rome, saranous.

I think it wiser to wait here
in austia to, to be ready.

That we give our senators time
to prepare for our arrival.

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

Long live the emperor!

- Take this to the senate.

- Oh divine claudius.

- Oh my dearest niece.

As impatient and impulsive
as you ever were.

I gave orders that the women
were to await my return

at the palace.

- But I had to see you at once and alone.

- What is it that's so urgent?

- I'm not sure how to start.

I wanted to be the first to tell you,

as you're nearest relative,

I felt it my duty to
come here and inform you

about certain things that have occurred.

- Is there anything wrong
between you and my divine wife,

messalina?

- No, I do not enter into this.

It's between you and your
wife, and there is much wrong.

- She has given me a male heir.

It's good enough.

- That you accept it is not the question.

I thought you should know
that every man in Rome

calls the empress his concubine.

- I forbid you to talk like that.

- Forbid it.

But they all talk like that.

If you like, you can turn a blind eye.

You need do nothing until you
have proof of her behavior.

I just wanted to put you on your guard.

I thought you should know.

I'm only a woman like her
and women tend to be jealous.

But jealousy you will find
can be caused by memories.

Small girl who loved you once.

And always hoped that
you would find happiness.

It upsets her to see you betrayed.

- A budget for the year is
carefully outlined here.

So you can inspect it

and have time to make your comments on it.

I trust you approve.

With you looking after it, I
hardly to have need to see it.

Our coffers have never been so full,

despite the expense of
the new port at austia.

You've always handled
it with amazing ability.

And for this reason,

the acceptance of your resignation
is out of the question.

How can I persuade you to remain

in the post of governor general?

- It is my duty to thank you, but

- I think I deserve an explanation

that goes a little further than that.

Do not fear to give me
your reasons, speak.

- Very well.

The reason I handed in my resignation

is the behavior of the
empress, divine Caesar.

- Go on don't hesitate.

I'm prepared to listen to
whatever it is that you have to

tell me no matter how painful
it may be for me to hear.

- Her conduct is altogether
unworthy of her position.

I was hoping to spare you the details.

There's unrest among the population.

Even the patricians are starting
to talk, the senate too.

And they say she is
planning to put Gaius silio

on the throne in your place.

- It's not important to protect anything

other than the empire.

Remember what comes first is the state.

I must ignore my pride, so forget yours.

You are right divine Caesar.

I will stay.

- For the security of the state.

I will carry out the
duty that I am forced to

humiliated beyond words, I swear

messalina shall be tried.

And if found guilty,

I shall condemn her.

She dies but, you have
orders to spare britannicus.

I want no harm to befall her son.

The child is innocent.

Leave us now.

Stop where you are!

- You still need to submerge
yourself in memories

divine one?

- The past is what I live for.

Oh, agrippina what else is there?

- I don't value the past.

Today is more valuable.

More than the old world.

You must live for today.

Prepare for the future.

I know you learn and you
have a duty to the populace,

but first learn to live a little,

-and learn to be more human?

Perhaps.

- You think I'd rule better?

- One day the historians
will write books about you.

And I hope they be fair,

but I want those who follow us

to read about you and know
you were a great emperor.

- Why are you so nervous my darling?

There's nothing to fear.

- I fear not for myself.

I live only to love you messalina.

Though I live, I will be
dead if you were not with me.

So I fear not death.

- No one will disturb us now.

The emperor is too occupied
with the fears of his own.

He won't come to me until tonight.

Kiss me my love.

Time is running out and I
need the warmth of your love.

- I, tiberius claudius
nero rusus romanicus

emperor of Rome by the will of the gods,

and by the people elected
make for my legitimate wife

Claudia Julia agrippina
who from this moment on

will obtain the title empress of Rome.