Cleopatra Page #14

at least not for me.

- Then it is still your intention...

- To remain in Alexandria.

In the last possible place

anyone would look.

Literally, the last possible place.

Your Majesty, I have never

questioned your decisions.

It's not the time to begin.

Let me stay with you.

Charmian and Eiras will look after me.

If Lord Antony should...

When Lord Antony returns...

...you will be here to tell him

where to find me...

...waiting for him.

Together, we will then do...

...what he thinks best.

Is that clear?

- Yes, my lady.

- Was there anything more?

I have always loved you.

And I have always known.

Rome has never known such an army.

We should be taking on all of Asia.

It seems a waste to slaughter what's

left of Antony's army and Antony.

There will be no slaughter.

I doubt there will be even bloodshed.

Has a battle ever been won without

a blow being struck? I wonder.

At any rate, let me

make it clear once more.

I want Antony alive,

and I want her alive.

She must be taken alive.

Queen Cleopatra's second procession

into Rome...

...will surpass her first.

The ring your father gave you.

It is yours now...

...to keep.

Wear it with pride and with honor.

I'm afraid.

I know I shouldn't be.

Who told you that?

All kings...

...and especially queens, are afraid.

They just manage not to show it.

Something ordinary people cannot do.

Hail Antony!

- How near is Octavian?

- Very near. Over that low ridge.

As it grows dark, the glow from

his campfires will light up the sky.

Our troops must find it

attractive to watch.

Inviting, even.

Antony's legions warm themselves

at their own fires.

Yes.

I could feel the warmth as I rode by.

- How many legions has he?

- Twenty.

- And we?

- Two. The 12th and one made up...

Made up from what was left

of the others.

As I remember it, Caesar

held Alexandria with two.

How are they deployed? Rufio.

Cavalry to the left, cavalry

to the right, infantry to the center.

Three elephants deployed

to stamp out a fly.

My lords Octavian and Agrippa have

all the strategic brilliance...

...of two vestal virgins.

We can move to ground too soft for

cavalry and fight their infantry.

Stand? And let them stamp on us?

No. Let the elephants stand.

We flies will bite

and buzz and tickle.

At the first light of day...

...while Octavian's glow

still lights up the sky...

...we will attack.

By sunset, both our loyal legions

will have grown larger...

...and even more loyal, I promise you.

Good night.

Rufio, tell the guards, please...

...I am to be awakened

just before dawn.

Of course.

And, Rufio...

...if, for whatever reason, the guards

should forget or misjudge the time...

...will you, yourself, wake me?

The guards will wake you.

- But if they don't?

- Then I will. Never fear.

I never fear.

Not anymore.

Rufio!

Rufio.

Fight!

Fight!

Fight!

Why don't you fight?

Is there no one

who would grant Antony...

...an honorable way to die?

Before me...

...this was carried by another Roman

killed by Rome.

Another...

...Caesar.

No.

We will have him.

We will have them both together.

Where is she?

Where is she?

Her Majesty said to tell you...

...she can be found in the last

possible place anyone would look.

Literally, the last possible place.

She might have waited.

Once more, it seems...

...Cleopatra is out of reach...

...and I must hurry after.

Throughout life...

...and now beyond.

One woman, one love!

Nothing changes...

...except life into death.

Will you help me?

Help me to die, Apollodorus!

I want to!

But I can't.

I've always envied Rufio...

...his long arms.

The ultimate desertion:

I from myself.

Else, how could I have missed what

I must have aimed for all my life?

Will you finish me now?

Where is my sword?

I beg you to finish me.

I lied to you.

I let you think the queen is dead.

But she's alive in her tomb,

waiting for you.

Cleopatra waiting?

There will be just enough time...

...if you'll help me.

Perhaps, my lady, if we were

to bind his wounds tightly...

It would only give him pain.

Let him sleep.

Sleep.

Will you come tonight...

...so that I can sleep...

...the dark sleep?

They did meet after all...

...the lovers.

They will always meet.

Be lonely for me.

But not for very long.

I promise.

I thought always I would die...

...so well...

...as becomes a soldier.

A soldier's death.

I lived always as I saw fit.

Unfittingly.

I would make it up, I thought,

in death.

I expected...

I expected too much of me in death...

...as in life.

Are you holding me?

Never so closely.

Even closer.

You and I will prove death...

...so much less than love.

You and I, we will...

We'll make of dying...

...nothing more than one...

...last...

...embrace.

A kiss...

...to take my breath away.

There has never been...

...such a silence.

Turn him over.

Strange people.

Poisons that smell like perfume.

Find more. Have it analyzed.

Test it on one of the badly wounded.

My lord, they have

found Queen Cleopatra.

She is locked in a building,

that is to say, a tomb.

Hurry.

Oh, Marc Antony is with her,

they say. He's dead.

- What?

- Lord Antony is dead.

Is that how one says it?

As simply as that.

Marc Antony is dead.

Lord Antony is dead.

The soup is hot. The soup is cold.

Antony is living. Antony is dead.

Shake with terror when

such words pass your lips...

...for fear they be untrue and Antony

cut out your tongue for the lie!

And if true...

...for your lifetime boast...

...that you were honored

to speak his name even in death.

The dying of such a man...

...must be shouted.

Screamed.

It must echo back

from the corners of the universe.

Antony is dead!

Marc Antony of Rome lives no more!

You needn't lower

your head before Caesar.

I never did.

But if he were here, I'd be happy to.

I am Caesar.

If it pleases you, Octavian.

Look at me.

If it pleases you.

After all this time

and all that has happened...

...I suppose you are still beautiful,

in a way.

You flatter me.

My interest is impersonal.

Should you have any intention...

Now you flatter yourself.

The fighting is over.

Your country, your possessions

and you are mine by right of conquest.

I permit you to rule Egypt as a Roman

province and return your possessions.

There is one condition.

You will first accompany me to Rome.

Behind your chariot?

Look at me!

Would the proud citizens of Rome

wait for hours in the hot sun...

...to see my dead body

dragged through the Forum?

I'll have you closely watched.

Octavian...

...when I am ready to die...

...I will die.

What if I promise

no harm will come to you...

...that you will be returned

to Alexandria?

Look at me!

What more could you ask?

You have not spoken...

...of my son.

Your son. I'd forgotten him.

Where is he?

Safe.

If I go with you to Rome...

...would you permit my son

to rule Egypt?

And his sons?

And theirs?

I'll do everything I can.

Do I have your word...

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