Cleopatra Page #10

It becomes a game.

Who loved whom first?

I did.

If you noticed me at all then,

you were probably terrified of me.

With good reason. Everybody knows

Romans cut up little children...

...and feed them to their horses.

We'll make this our beginning.

Beginning with tonight...

...you must never envy Caesar...

...or anyone, anything again.

After all...

...this is nothing new.

For so many years...

...Antony has fed upon the crumbs...

...that fell from

Julius Caesar's table.

I say...

...they are deserving of each other.

Let him stay in Egypt.

Let him fritter away his life...

...but not the possessions

and the empire of the Roman people!

The Roman people!

The Roman people. What are

glory and possessions to them?

Is their Antony content?

Then so are they.

Does their Antony sweep

their empire...

...under Cleopatra's bed?

His adoring Romans sigh

and remain content.

Let him stay however distant

for however long...

...with never a thought of them.

The Roman people hold him

close to their hearts.

Distant?

Perhaps from Rome

but not from Caesar, I think.

Nor from Caesar's son.

Germanicus, do you speak of me?

No, I speak of Caesar.

I am Caesar.

Only while Antony remains...

...distant from Rome.

Antony!

Stay not too long in Alexandria!

Germanicus...

...stay not too long in Rome.

- How much is known to Antony?

- All of it and more.

I've written him regularly. Letters,

dispatches by personal messenger.

And what has he answered?

He wrote he was no longer interested

in the matters I described.

That he would not return to Rome.

That he understood quite clearly

what was at stake, what he would lose.

But that he would not leave you.

Let's try the goat.

Let's have that goat again.

There. Not too much.

There.

The milk of a cow...

...of a goat and of an ass.

Which is best for softening the beard?

Is it true Octavian shaves

but once a week?

Even then, he has merely to face

the wind and let the fuzz blow away.

You knew, didn't you,

Germanicus was here from Rome?

Yes.

Have you strong feelings about beards?

I had one. Bright red.

Why haven't you seen him?

When you go...

...must it be for very long?

I must take some of these with me.

They don't have them.

At least, they didn't

when I was last...

...in Rome.

While they were digging

the foundation of my tomb...

...the workers found an old wall.

Someone had scratched on it

hundreds of years ago:

"You were not here last night,

and I could not sleep.

Will you be here tonight?"

Do you suppose they ever met again?

Everything that I shall want to hold

or look upon or have or be...

...is here now with you.

I must not be sorry for myself.

Queens are sometimes no better at that

than kings, or even princes.

It doesn't seem fair.

What I feel I should have felt

long ago when I was very young.

When I could say to myself

that this was how love was...

...and how it would be.

But to have waited so long,

to know so suddenly...

...this late...

...how it hurts.

How love can stab the heart.

Be careful with Octavian.

Let him be careful with me.

The Romans want no war

between the two of you.

In any case, you are not ready yet.

War? The world is filled with love.

There'll be no more wars.

You must have your share.

Your titles and powers

must be spelled out exactly.

There can be no question of your

complete authority in the East.

Antony, how will I live?

The same as I.

One breath upon the other.

Each bringing us...

...one breath closer.

You take so much of me

with you so far.

Remember, remember.

They'll want you to forget.

- Please...

- Forget? How?

I can never be more

far away from you...

...than this.

He will come first to Brindisium.

Agrippa and I plan to welcome

his arrival with a great ceremony.

He must see how dear to the hearts

of the Romans, of us all...

...he is and has been.

He has been away for a very long time.

Perhaps we can persuade him

to stay with us even longer.

Perhaps, Octavia, if you came

to Brindisium, you could help.

You may have forgotten.

It is only six months since...

Begging the pardon

of Agrippa and our ancestors...

...I do not agree that a young widow

must retire from life.

You haven't left my house

since your husband died.

If only for the sake of your health,

the change alone...

Then, begging the pardon of

Lord Agrippa and our ancestors...

...I would look forward

very much to the change.

Nothing, no one, could possibly

shine more brightly in the sun.

Not only Antony.

Any man would not hold out

his greedy fists for Octavia.

After all, what greater pledge

could I offer...

...of my goodwill toward him?

And how could Antony better show

his love of peace and Rome...

...than by accepting?

And Cleopatra?

Are you suggesting

we invite her to the wedding?

You remember when

Julius Caesar returned...

...and those months

while she was in Rome?

There was a poison

in his heart, in his brain.

Yes, the falling sickness.

But more than that.

- Cleopatra.

- I remember well.

- Antony is no Caesar.

- I am grateful for that.

Granted that he marries Octavia,

will he forget Cleopatra?

- Will she permit him to forget?

- Most probably not.

- Have I permission to speak?

- Quickly.

A galley came to Pelusium

with news from Rome.

Antony and Octavian

have sealed a great pact.

Antony has 10 more legions

and all of the East for his domain.

Egypt will be declared ally of Rome.

It is done.

- There is more.

- No. No more, my lord.

- He's afraid.

- Is there anything more?

Forgive me, Divine Majesty.

There has been a marriage.

A marriage of state.

Between Octavia,

the sister of Caesar...

...and Lord Antony.

Anything more?

They're presently in Athens.

Sometime within the year,

Lady Octavia is to return to Rome.

Antony will come here to negotiate

the alliance of Rome and Egypt.

Leave me.

No.

Completely alone.

Antony!

Do you find it pleasing, my lord?

Oh, yes. Very.

It was made here in Athens.

Not as practical

as our Roman ones, of course.

The Greeks have such

a weakness for beauty.

Does the dinner

not please you, my lord?

Very much.

I'm not particularly hungry.

If anything would please you more...

Believe me, I am pleased.

The gods know you do

nothing but please me...

...in every way.

Word from Domitius?

He never even reached the palace.

He was not permitted

through the city gate.

If I may be excused.

There's no need for you to go.

When I hear matters of state

discussed by men...

...invariably I find myself

wondering about...

...why the wine has gone sour.

Good night, Rufio.

Good night, my lord.

Domitius turned away at the gate.

That makes how many?

Five of your ambassadors

turned away within this year.

- If you'd gone when...

- It was the only favor I ever asked.

You granted it.

The treaty with Egypt must be made.

We've received no wheat, no gold...

I cannot go to her

to negotiate a treaty!

She'll have no one else.

And what if she should...

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