Empire (2005): Season 1, Episode 2 - Will - full transcript

Who ever thought a god would hold so much blood ?

The mob will slit our throats when they see this.

They won't see this.

How could they miss ?

We'll slip him quietly from the City on the Via Attica.

That route's blocked.

The rabble chant around fires.

Then we'll avoid the thoroughfare and
take the footpath to Porta Ostiensis.

There, too, the crowd calls for revenge.

So we'll throw them a few loaves of bread.

- We were supposed to be heroes.
- Will you stop ?



There's no way to get him out.

You said we could never do this.

Look.

None has ever been deader.

We'll clear a route to the city gates,
and this whole ordeal will disappear.

The mob will be quiet before he starts to stink.

Your path is now dark and dangerous, young Caesar.

The senate has dispatched assassins to find you.

Stay off the major roads.

Avoid the villages.

Even in the north, they are rounding up loyalists
and burning down their houses.

But do not lose hope. You have allies.

Trust them. Trust us.

Let him see you.



What did you do that for ?

He's an assassin.

Or maybe he was just going home to his family.

No.

Look.

See his sword ?

He's a gladiator, armed at the arena
by the same senate that killed your uncle,

now after you.

Where are you going ?

Back to Rome.

It's too dangerous.

No.

This is too dangerous.

In Rome I have friends who know I'm no threat to anyone.

I'll get senator Cimber to call off the dogs.

I vowed to protect you.

I put my family in danger.

Well, I didn't ask you to.

No. Caesar did when he named you his heir.

You say that.

It's nothing. Not even believable.

Just the word of a slave.

Who do you think you are ? !

Idiot slave.

Highness...

Filthy chattel !

Supreme exaltedness...

Enough !

I said, "enough" !

Give me a hand with this.

Then get some sleep.

We ride tonight.

Octavius ?

Octavius !

What are you looking at ?

Olivia ? Are you here ?

Octavius ?

I need to speak to your father.

He's at the senate.

You have no idea what I've been through.

We invited you, Antony, not your soldiers.

They're not soldiers. They're bodyguards.

You won't need them.

And did Caesar ?

He was trying to disband the senate.

Tell us that's not your plan, too.

What's gathered here ?

Great fortunes of Rome.

Grain from Etruria.

Grapes from Sicily.

Oil. Cattle.

Shipping. Slaves.

All without soldiers to protect them.

So, what's your price ?

So, is that what this is about ?

The people riot.

What did you think would happen ?

Caesar's blood is on your hands.

Fine. We're to blame. Agreed, agreed.

But Rome needs your legions for protection. So say it --

what do you want ?

I want to honor Caesar as I always have.

I want to speak at his funeral.

There's not going to be a funeral.

He was a traitor to the republic.

He was Caesar.

Well, he's gone. The senate's in charge now.

Well, tell that to the mob...

as they tear out your throats. Go on, all of you.

Tell them.

The senate is in charge.

Only the will of Caesar can say who's in charge.

The vestals say there was no will.

They said there was none.

Oh, it exists.

He told me not two months ago.

Caesar may be dead to his dear and loyal friends in this room.

But the will of Caesar is still the will of Rome.

And until it is found,

divvying up the republic behind closed doors is very premature.

A will ?

Did it name Antony ?

Who else ?

Why else such swagger ?

"Honor Caesar," he says.

He wants to turn the public against us.

The public is already against us.

We should have killed him when we had the chance.

Quiet.

We did not rid ourselves of one tyrant to inherit another.

Caesar will not rule us from the grave.

Search his villa down to the joists.

Find his will. Destroy it.

What are you doing ? ! You have no right !

I will not leave and let you destroy Caesar's house !

Let me go !

Let me go. Let me go !

You're lucky Cassius wants you brought to Rome.

Otherwise, we'd kill you now.

So, you've been with Tyrannus, the gladiator --

the one we saw fight ?

He's protecting me.

So he says.

From what ?

I'm not sure. I need to ask your father.

What ?

He was with my uncle when he died -- Tyrannus was.

He says...

He says Caesar told him to make me the next ruler of Rome.

Well, he must have hit his head hard in the arena.

Or maybe you have.

What are you laughing at ?

Nothing. I'm not !

It's not that funny.

I'm sorry.

God. I have to get some water.

Get my father and soldiers
and tell them Octavius is here.

- Hurry.
- I will.

So...

emperor...

When will your father be back ?

Not too soon.

We have just enough time.

Caesar's blood is on my hands, mother.

Caesar's blood is on the senate's hands.

No.

I was his friend.

When I said yes, it convinced the others our cause was just.

Your cause was just.

You saved the republic.

If we saved the republic, why do we cower in our rooms,

afraid of the people we're supposed to have liberated ?

Why does the mob attack us in the streets if we saved the republic ?

Why are we down on our knees to Marc Antony,
begging him to bring order ?

You whine to me.

I was his lover.

No one consulted me in the deed.

But am I crying ?

Caesar's dead, and the sun still rises,

and neither you nor anyone can bring him back.

While you lament the past,
other men take position in Rome's future.

You mean Cassius and Antony.

I mean you, my son.

Why not you ?

But you're so beautiful.

Who would want to kill you ?

Your father --

if he sees us like this.

I think he's home.

We'd better get up.

What have you done ?

He's in here !

There he is ! Quick ! Quick !

Idiot brat !

Imagine Caesar's pain to realize
he had no one for his heir but you.

I can -- I can reason with them.

No, you can't.

Cicero.

I got your message.

Have you heard anything ?

Cassius is going to move your brother's
body out of a vault near the curia.

And what of Octavius ?

Rumor has it, the gladiator Tyrannus protects him.

You were Caesar's friend.

We had our differences. You know that.

Yes.

But the Rome Cassius destroys is the one
that you and Caesar built together.

You in the senate, him on the battlefield.

You can't let that die.

But what can I do ?

The conspirators huddle together in secret.

You can let Rome know the will of Caesar.

So a will does exist.

Will you help ?

Cicero...

answer the call of Caesar one more time,

and help my son.

What stupidity ! Siding with an enemy of the republic.

The only enemy of the republic I see here is you.

If you knew how your days were numbered,
you wouldn't be so flippant.

- What are you doing ?
- Out. Out !

Stand up.

Stand up.

Where is it ?

Where is what ?

Where is it ?

You're trembling.

Caesar names his nephew.

Octavius.

He's just a boy.

So was Caesar once.

Caesar was a boy, yes.

But not every boy is a Caesar.

Forgive me.

I know the vestal matriarch has sworn
the temple will not take sides.

I take sides only with the truth that this will exists.

By my vows and duty, I'll keep it safe.

What is this place ?

Where are we going ?

Keep moving.

I won't just run away.

We're not.

I can clear this up.

Clear what up ?
That you're Caesar's heir ?

Stop saying that !

Look, what you think you heard from my uncle...

- What I heard.
- What you think you heard... it's impossible.

You don't know.

You didn't know him.

You don't know.

He despised me. That's the truth,

which anyone who knew him more
than 20 minutes could tell you.

So if we could just end this charade.

What are we doing here ?

I'll show you.

Tell me how you'll reason
with the people who did this.

You don't listen to me.

Maybe you'll listen to him.

My gods.

He wouldn't want your pity.
He'd want your strength.

Thirty stab wounds.

And he never dropped that expression.

Fearless.

Giving nothing.

Full of scorn for those who did.

And in his dying breath,

maybe he did say something to you.

But...

But it was nothing compared to what you left unsaid.

What you did call me.

To my face.

Your displeasure while you lived.

Frivolous.

Unworthy.

Inadequate. Beneath contempt.

Do you know that's what you called me, uncle ?

The opposite of your heir.

Why do the gods steal glory from you now ?

Defiled by the people you save.

You sacrificed for Rome...

your whole life long.

And this is how you're paid.

I so admired you, uncle.

I wanted to be like you.

I really did.

But if this is what happens to a Caesar...

I don't want greatness.

If this is your will,

I fail you yet again.

So, he is with you.

The next Caesar, as his uncle would have it.

He does not believe it.

Yes, well, his uncle's will leaves no doubt.

He needs to see it.

I left it in the vestal temple for safekeeping.

Meet us there.

Please.

A dozen men in Rome desperate to rule,

and Caesar names him ?

They're clearing the rabble from Porta Ostiensis.

Our little procession can exit the City without a hitch.

And Antony ?

They say he's in mourning.

He plays with us.

We gave him his chance. Let him regret he said no.

What's going on here ?

What are you doing here ?

Saying goodbye to an old friend. And you ?

What would the public think of so many wounds ?

And what would they see, a tyrant or a victim ?

They won't see anything.

You think a cloth can hide what you've done ?

You watch your tongue. Caesar can't protect you now.

Do I need protecting in this free, new republic ?

You can't erase what you've done so easily, Cassius,

or what he's done.

Oh, how courageous to defend him now that he's dead.

And where was your heroic voice
when he was alive ?

I was shouting down real tyrants
when you were a child.

The senate hall you defiled with your knives,
I helped to build.

You're just a mouth that flaps.

Rome has no place for you.

You stay here, and you're as dead as Caesar.

I swear by the gods.

I'm on to you, grandmother.

Now, move.

The alley.

This way.

Something's wrong. Do you hear ?

It's Antony. We'll be torn to pieces.

Murderers !

Traitors !

Is this how the senate treats your Caesar ?

Caesar ! No !

Murderers !

Traitors.

- Back inside.
- No.

- Back inside. We'll be crushed !
- If we run and hide, then what ?

Cowardice now, and we've lost forever.
Or we can face this and win.

Who told Antony our plans ?

Not one of us.

We should've given him his audience.

You do not give to Antony.

He only understands strength.

And the mob ?

What do they understand ?

Shame on you !

Get Atia from her cell.

We'll use Caesar's sister to quiet this crowd.

Go.

This is no way to honor him.

Friends of Caesar...

listen to me.

You are here uninvited.

But you are here.

An aggravation to those who would try
to slip Caesar from this city unnoticed,

to deny us our grief at his passing

and to deny him the honor he is due.

I will not name them.

You know who they are.

The very same senators who, one month ago,

heaped accolades upon Caesar, all unasked for.

What is he doing ?

Well, this is not about Caesar's rule. It's about Antony's.

They offered him the title "emperor."

It was Caesar turned it down.

And now they call him...

tyrant...

despot...

and tell us we should be grateful for the violence they do.

I was asked not long ago,

what did I want.

What was my price...

now that my friend is dead

and Rome is to be divided as spoils.

I said then, as I say now,

all I want is to honor this great Roman

as he deserves to be honored.

Is this how Caesar should be treated ?

Hail, Caesar !

Hail, Caesar ! Hail, Caesar ! Hail, Caesar...

Stop this.

For you ? Why should I ?

For your brother.

For his beloved citizens, who will be trampled if Antony persists.

Stop this...

or perish in the dungeon.

The choice is yours.

What are you doing, Atia ?

Speak to us !

My brother loved you.

He loved you, the people of Rome.

It was in you, a free and proud citizenry,

that he found the strength to do all he did.

In you.

Not in armies that tyrannize.

Not in political alliance forged for personal gain.

In you.

Everybody claims to know Caesar when it suits them.

But I did know him.

He was my brother, and I tell you,

he would be touched by your presence here.

But I must ask you to respect him now,

to think what he would want,

what he would do.

Caesar !

We loved Caesar !

I have seen his will.

The will of Caesar -- it exists.

And that will is Octavius --

Caesar's one true heir, Octavius !

Hail, Octavius !

Octavius !

Octavius !

If this will exists, you show me.

Why ? So you and Cassius can both destroy it ?

- That whore dies !
- Octavius ?

It's not up to Caesar to anoint his successor.

They're calling his name.

You think I can't hear ? Come on !

Move along, there ! Get out of my way ! I'm a senator !

Get away from me !

There they are ! There they are !

Move ! Move ! Keep moving !

They defile him.

No.

No !

They honor him.

They do.

I've seen it before in the arena -- felt it.

This is the mob.

Its affections...

your inheritance.

Hail, Caesar ! Hail, Caesar ! Hail, Caesar !

Witness the birth of a civil war.

An empire is dawning.

An empire built on the rage of the mob.

It is the mob who will determine the next ruler of Rome.

You're too young to understand what Caesar has started.

- His succession.
- Civil war.

The first volley was just fired.

And now, lists of enemies,
secret trials, heads on pikes.

It will take a century to rebuild
what has vanished here in an instant.

Rome, sacred vestal, is dead.

No, Rome lives as long as that fire burns.

- You think so ?
- Those are my vows.

You're lucky to have them.

As for the rest of us, our path is highly uncertain now.

I shall be leaving Rome.

You will return.

No.

Reason has fled, and locusts swarm the City,

and my day is done.

You think I'm a coward, don't you ?

No.

No. I think you're quite brave.

But these times may need
all of us to be braver still.

Cicero, is that it -- the will ?

I don't want to see it.

Read it to him, then.
Read it and be done.

No !

Stop.

Consider your place.

Sit.

We met just a few days ago.

It seems a lifetime.

Yes.

They consumed him.

The crowd did.

Screaming his name.

And they were screaming for me.

But not you.

Caesar.

For in the eyes of the crowd,
you're already no longer yourself.

I don't want to be Caesar.

I'm sure you don't.

I was called by your uncle.

Did you know that ?

At the age of six. That's when we start.

I was just taken from my home, placed here...

and my instruction began. They told me it was an honor

to be one of the only six vestals in all of Rome. But it didn't feel like an honor.

Not at all.

I know what it is to feel overwhelmed.

And I know what goes with that -- to feel unworthy.

But the decisions in this, they're not ours to make.

As always I'm a vestal, and always...

you will be Caesar.

- So it's true, then.
- Yes.

He names me successor.

He named you his son.

Gaius Octavius Caesar,

as if you were his own.

And this is his ring, entrusted to us for safekeeping.

It's yours now, truly.

Take this, my friend.

The names of the few who will help.

Protect him.

Protect them.

Protect us all.

In the name of the senate, open this door.

There are horses outside the city wall, this way.

Are you mad ? What are you doing ?

This is a violation !

You two, check the storeroom ! You, the back !

This is sacrilege ! Don't you lay a finger on her !

What have you brought to us ?

Where are we going ?

Far from here.

Cicero has given us a place to begin.

Trust me.

I swore an oath.

You leave Rome a hunted boy,

but you'll return an emperor.