Cleopatra Page #2

Have him purified...

...the coin in the mouth

and the rest, honorably.

Of course.

For now, this is what we must hold.

Moon gate and three others.

Here, here and here.

How are we placed?

The 10th slingers on the moon gate.

The rest in reserve.

The 12th holding all other positions.

Very thin.

For now, deep enough.

- And the wells?

- The water's brackish, but drinkable.

So far. IKeep an eye on them.

Watch the corn and wheat.

With our supplies secure,

we can hold indefinitely.

For a week, perhaps,

but for the time being, time enough.

What do you want?

Is the man to be trusted?

Seems someone's brought me a gift...

...from Queen Cleopatra.

Apparently, a rug peddler.

Flavius doubts it.

He seems to know the palace very well.

He appeared through a secret passage

which none of the men knew.

Pothinus might send an assassin

in Cleopatra's name.

Have the man brought in.

Are you the one

who brings a gift from Cleopatra?

Put it down and go.

It is the command of my queen

I deliver her gift personally.

I am Caesar. Lay it here before me.

Forgive me, Admiral Agrippa,

but you're not Caesar.

Nor you, General Rufio.

Nor you, Germanicus.

My queen's gift is for

the eyes of Caesar...

...alone.

- It seems harmless enough.

- No, Caesar!

You can lend me your sword, Rufio.

It may require some cutting.

Odd way to carry a rug.

Isn't it easier

to sling it over your shoulder?

It was less comfortable that way.

- For you or the rug?

- That sword, Caesar.

The rug is such a delicate weave.

If I may untie it for you.

Turn it over first.

- The rug is right-side up.

- I want it the wrong side up.

- Should I flip it over with my sword?

- No.

I find one can tell more

about the quality of merchandise...

...by examining the back side first.

All hail Cleopatra,

kindred of Horus and Ra...

...beloved of the moon and sun,

daughter to Isis...

...and of Upper and Lower Egypt,

queen.

Thank you.

Here.

Take this to the captain

of the night watch.

He'll see the queen's quarters

are made ready to her.

Stay where you are.

- Have I dismissed you?

- No, Your Majesty.

This is my palace, Caesar.

All of it

is available to me at my will.

I am not your prisoner.

If anything, you are my guest.

Most kind.

And as for having my quarters,

as you put it, made ready...

...my chief handmaiden has, by now,

brought the others out of hiding.

They should almost be finished.

Impossible.

The doors are under guard.

There are doors, and doors.

Of course.

You must take me on a tour someday

within the walls of your palace.

- What are you waiting for?

- Permission to leave.

Granted.

Apollodorus.

Thank you.

I'm pleased you received my summons

and were able to...

Summons? I'm pleased to say

I received nothing of the kind.

I'm surprised you thought

I would answer one.

Young lady, the voyage

in your carpet...

...has apparently not tired you,

but I'm exhausted.

Caesar, it is essential

we understand each other.

Only through me

can you hope to escape...

...the desperate situation

in which you find yourself.

I wouldn't bite into that.

Did you bring it with you?

Have you had it tasted?

If neither, it's probably poisoned.

At least it's another way out of the

desperate situation in which I'm found.

You're being tolerant of me,

aren't you?

Is it because you're so much older?

Your maps are inferior.

Out-of-date, compared to mine.

They and I have aged together.

The lakes to the west

are poorly marked...

...certain important hill positions

not even noted.

I must arrange for you to address

my mapmakers and general staff.

We've gotten off to a bad start,

haven't we?

I've rubbed you the wrong way.

I'm not sure I want to be

rubbed by you at all, young lady.

It is permissible

for me to sit, is it not?

As quickly as possible you must

set me alone on the throne of Egypt.

My mission is to put to an end

to your tiresome squabbling.

You're not a fool. Or are you?

Immodestly, perhaps, no.

You've seen my brother

and listened to him?

And that truly evil man

to whom he belongs?

Yes.

Shall we agree upon what Rome

really wants...

...has always wanted of Egypt?

Corn, grain, treasure.

It's the old story.

Roman greatness built

upon Egyptian riches.

You shall have them.

You shall have them all and in peace.

But there is only one way.

My way. Make me queen.

That sounds very much

like an ultimatum.

There is no other way.

For one whose assets,

up to a few moments ago...

...was a devoted slave

and a rolled-up carpet...

But I have you now, Caesar.

Besides, there are my armies...

...and the simple fact that

no mortal hand can destroy me.

Yes, I recall some

mention of an obsession...

...you have about your divinity.

Isis, is it not?

I shall have to insist

that you mind what you say.

I am Isis. I am worshiped

by millions who believe it.

Do not confuse what I am...

...with the so-called divine origin...

...that every Roman general acquires

together with his shield.

It was Venus you chose to be

descended from, wasn't it?

I must now do a little

insisting of my own.

The journey has tired you

and you wish to retire.

I am not your servant, Caesar.

Do not dismiss me.

Secondly, you have no armies,

young lady.

They are gone because

you could not pay them.

Egypt's riches are not

available for your use...

...much less to give away.

Perhaps in a day or two...

...we can speak again.

- That may be too late...

...for both of us.

Your safety will be

my responsibility.

And what about your own?

I am prepared, I believe,

for the time being.

I hope so.

I hope you are as wise,

as brilliant...

...the god they say you are.

You Roman generals

become divine so quickly.

A few victories, a few massacres.

Only yesterday, Pompey was a god.

- They murdered him, didn't they?

- Yes.

Because they thought

it would please you.

- It didn't, did it?

- No.

Today I found myself remembering

how much my daughter loved him.

She died trying

to bear him a son.

Gave him this ring.

Sleep well tonight, Caesar.

These next days may

be difficult for you.

Good night.

Germanicus, a guard to escort

Queen Cleopatra to her apartments.

Guards!

The corridors are dark, gentlemen.

But you mustn't be afraid.

Haven't we covered everything

we can tonight, sir?

- Perhaps a fresh start in the morning.

- No, a few more matters.

Rufio, has it occurred to you

that our maps of this area...

...are not quite what they should be?

Why, no. What makes you

think they're not?

I have an instinct about these things.

- Actually of Macedonian descent.

No officially admitted Egyptian blood.

"Reputed to be extremely intelligent

and sharp of wit.

Queen Cleopatra is widely read.

Well-versed in the sciences...

...and mathematics.

She speaks seven languages

proficiently.

Were she not a woman, she'd be

considered an intellectual."

Nothing bores me so much

as an intellectual.

Makes a better admiral of you,

Agrippa.

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