Domina (2021) s02e05 Episode Script

1
Julia has dishonored
her marriage.
[whispers] Who is it?
[Livia] Your father cannot allow
a divorce with Agrippa.
So, you just go and tell them
exactly what I told you.
Porcia--she has agreed
to marry Vilbia for the family.
You will take her back to Rome
and arrange it.
My mother sends you a wife.
[grunts]
What the fuck?
-[Julia] Livia.
-[Antonia] High priestess.
I know Livia well.
We were best friends
-Turia.
-when we were children.
She used me and betrayed me,
as she uses
and betrays everyone.
My person is sacrosanct!
Antonia, my daughter,
three births in four years.
You and Vipsania--
not pregnant once.
I need my family
to set an example.
She will.
[Julia] Antonia wants
to kill her husband.
-He scares her.
-You're lying!
-[bone cracks]
-Ow! Aah, aah!
If you think about it,
Domitius is your direct rival
for any kind of power.
When all this is over,
we should talk about the future,
you and me.
Rome needs leaders.
Let's do that.
[Gaius] Tonight we celebrate
the adoption of my grandsons,
the sons of Agrippa.
[Tycho] Is he changing his will?
Agrippa's sons
are next in line to succeed.
Took you long enough
to come through on our deal.
A sacrifice I had to make.
It's all over.
What is?
-Nothing.
-Everything.
♪♪♪
Roman traders.
They passed through the camp
last week.
We told them it was safe.
Where are the rest of them?
[Gaius] Take them down,
make a pyre,
then avenge them.
Let's get you back
over the Rhine.
[horse whinnies]
[indistinct shouting]
Brought you a present.
Tiberius, I thought
you were in the Balkans.
We were.
Mother sends her love.
That won't take up much space.
[laughs]
-So good to see you.
-[Vipsania] You too, Drusus.
Listen.
Do you know
what Stepfather's doing here?
Did he say?
He's supposed to be in Gaul.
He's never been
to Germany before,
and it's a secret.
[whispering] Nobody knows.
Even Mother didn't.
Wow. You've come
all this way to worry.
[normal voice] No, I haven't.
-Yes, he has.
-[chuckles]
[Gaius] What do you think?
What's going on, Tiberius?
He has absolutely
no sense of danger.
What danger?
It's probably nothing.
[Tycho] It's ready.
[door opens and closes]
Your very own ring of Augustus.
[exhales]
Well, it looks
just like the real one.
Yeah, the Greek's a genius.
We're ready now.
We're doing it tomorrow.
Make the arrangements.
Well, we areready, right?
I mean
Yes.
Oh, you know I don't like it.
People are weird.
They don't do what they should.
They do other stuff instead.
If we get caught,
your exile won't be temporary,
and mine
will be extremely permanent.
Well, Gaius is away.
He may never come back.
I need to know
where his power is going,
what he wants after his death.
I need to see his will.
Which is locked in a vault
in the Temple of Vesta.
-She's an important goddess.
-We've spent months on this.
-I'm not backing out now.
-What if we offend the gods?
Then fuck the gods!
They took everything
from me, everything.
I was a child.
What have I done to them?
Huh? Or anyone?
They never cared about me.
Well,
then I don't care about them.
[theme music playing]
[horse whinnies,
people speaking indistinctly]
Fuck.
-It's the kitchen again.
-Yeah.
Lucky my wife's at the sea.
Could you put me up
for a few days?
-Do I run a boarding house?
-[chuckles]
I'll see you tonight for dinner.
Look at you.
All worried and suspicious,
already snuffling around
for an ulterior motive,
a hidden agenda.
"Is he playing me?"
"Does he want me to think
that he's playing me?"
Or is that the whole point?"
[dog barking]
It's on.
This morning.
Let me know.
It's a bad omen.
No, it's not.
[indistinct conversation]
[door creaks]
I told the High Priestess
I'm visiting my father.
[gasping excitedly]
She's given me
the whole day off.
[seabirds calling]
Iullus.
How was the journey?
Where is everyone?
Oh, not sure about my sister,
but Domitius went with Marcella
to the village hours ago.
And I, of course, thought
the beach was a better option.
Of course. Look.
What is it?
What do you think it is?
We're gonna give it to Domitius.
-What?
-We talked about this.
No, you talked about this!
If you won't do it
to avenge your sister
and save her from
a miserable life with that man,
then at least do it
for yourself.
I invited him down here
to talk about
the future of Rome.
That's perfect.
He won't suspect a thing!
Which would be easier
if he wasn't dead!
And this is the ideal place.
Out of town,
away from the doctors.
It's how
Livia did it with Marcellus.
[Iullus scoffs]
Domitius stands between you
and everything you want.
Or everything
you say you want.
He--he broke
your sister's finger,
and she was protecting us.
Are you just gonna let that go?
What is it?
Capria's cousin knows a woman,
over by the Aurelian Gate.
Come on.
I wanna show you something.
What?
Where are you going?
Iullus, give it back to me.
You do realize that if you
poison anyone in this family,
everyone will think
it was Livia.
-No, they won't.
-[scoffs]
And?
And have you
no sense of gratitude?
After what she did for us?
She was desperate
to get back to Rome.
She practically used us.
You're right.
Come on.
What?
Where are you going?
Iullus! What?
I wanted to show you
what I thought of your plan.
What is wrong with you?
-Fucking idiot!
-Julia!
[gasping, grunting]
Ha!
Look what I have!
I've got it!
Come and get it!
Oh, wait, I forgot you can't,
'cause you can't fucking swim,
'cause you're afraid
of the water,
as well as everything else!
What's the matter, eh?
Rent boy! Fucking pig!
Fucking jizz mouth, cocksucker!
Here it is! Here it is!
[gasps]
Here what is?
[gasps]
-Is that Augustus' daughter?
-Yes. Yes it is.
[gasping]
Hello.
What was she
waving around in her hand?
[grunts]
[Iullus] Oh, you know Julia.
Hello, Gallus.
-[Iullus] Antonia.
-[Antonia] What's going on?
Look, Julia, you remember
Gaius Assinius Gallus.
Fuck off.
[gasps]
[continues gasping]
[breathing heavily]
That was amazing.
The gods.
[Porcia] Who are you?
What are you doing
in my bedroom? Get out!
Sorry to intrude.
But on the bright side,
I'm not your husband.
Men are so intolerant
when their wives get caught
in vile and deviant
sexual practices.
Who are you,
and what do you want?
I want you to leave.
[whispers] It's all right. Go.
Unfortunately, Aurelia, your
situation is much more serious.
When you joined
the Temple of Vesta,
you took a vow of chastity for
the duration of your service.
As you know, any priestess
dishonoring that vow
is buried alive.
Why are you telling me this?
'Cause I'm your friend.
And I'm going to make sure
nobody ever finds out
what you've done.
In return,
all you have to do
is borrow a will
from the vault of the temple
and bring it to the Senate House
in the fourth hour tomorrow.
Then, a day or so later,
simply pick it up from
the same place and return it.
-What will?
-The will of Caesar Augustus.
[scoffs]
I can't do that.
Make no mistake.
I will denounce you
to the Chief Vestal
without a second thought.
Witnesses will come forward,
slaves will testify.
-No, no.
-And everyone knows
-No!
how strictly Turia enforces
the rules of your Order.
Yeah.
[exhales]
You'll bring it straight back?
And you'll never
hear from me again.
-[Porcia] Livia.
-How did it go?
It went pretty well,
while I was there.
I do feel bad
about the girl, though.
-Well, you made her happy.
-[scoffs]
Until I didn't.
So, do you want to tell me
what it's all about now?
It's better you don't know.
It's obviously to do with Turia.
Your ancient feud
with the High Priestess,
it's legendary.
Are you sure you don't want me
to find you a husband?
[scoffs]
Fuck, no.
What do I need one of them for?
It's still a form of slavery,
even if they don't own you
outright any more.
And the money you gave me
has made me independent.
I do what I like,
I sleep where I want,
and I never have to see
my fucking guardian again.
I won't forget it.
[door opens]
-Nice.
-You, too.
Priestess says she'll do it.
[breathing heavily]
[panting]
Oh, come on, hurry up.
Antonia has an announcement,
and I came ages ago.
Go on.
[gasping continues]
[Antonia] Now everyone's here.
I have some news.
[Julia] Keep it coming.
I'm pregnant.
[gasps]
Pregnant.
Well, it only took you
five years.
Well done, Antonia.
Stand up.
[exhales deeply]
[under breath] And we all
thought he was a eunuch.
Thank you.
I can't wait to tell your uncle.
Domitius, I'll be sure to make
a sacrifice to your health
Make sure
it doesn't happen to you.
[Gallus] and to your future.
Oh, I know
you're fucking Gallus.
That's the only reason
why you're down here.
-I remember my uncle.
-What's your point?
If he gets you pregnant,
you're on your own.
Antonia, Domitius,
congratulations!
[chuckles]
I think I should join her.
[Domitius] We'll, er,
speak tomorrow.
-[Iullus] Yes, let's do that.
-[Antonia] Hey
[Iullus]
Anytime is fine for me.
Are you not happy for me?
Sure.
[gasps]
[indistinct conversation
continues in background]
Oh, look, Julia,
here come your children.
See if you can recognize
any of them.
[Agrippa] You're in a good mood.
[Livia chuckles]
What have you been up to?
Oh, you know, the usual.
[Agrippa scoffs]
How are things
with you and Julia?
-Well, how about you and Gaius?
-I asked you first.
It didn't make me feel better,
killing the man
she was sleeping with.
I thought it would,
but it didn't.
Ah, you got
your boys adopted, though.
Are you suggesting that made
my wife's infidelity worthwhile?
I'm just saying
it's much more important.
Does it ever bother you
that he adopted my two sons
and never yours?
-Why would it?
-Oh, come on.
-What?
-Don't play me.
-You love power more than life.
-[scoffs] Yes, and?
Well, perhaps you want Drusus
to be the next First Citizen,
for example.
Oh, he doesn't have the ambition
or the brains.
Yeah, but you
have plenty to spare.
Well yes.
[both chuckle]
Listen
I want you
to promise me something.
When I die, I want you
to look after my kids,
especially the boys.
[exhales]
What if I go first?
Well, I'll look after your two,
but you know that.
You'd do the same for me?
[exhales]
Of course I will.
Okay.
[mysterious music plays]
♪♪♪
[crying]
[whispers] Fuck.
-Turia.
-Aurelia.
May I speak with you, please?
On the way
to visit my father today,
I was stopped
in the street by a man.
I'd never seen him before,
but he knew who I was.
He said he wanted me
to do something,
and if I didn't do it,
he would come to you
and denounce me
for breaking my vows
with women.
It was disgusting.
He said that
he would produce witnesses
and that you
would have no choice
but to condemn me.
Who was this?
Just a man.
Tall, good-looking,
with dark skin
and a shaved head.
And what did he want you to do?
He told me to take the will
of Augustus out of the vault
and bring it to him
at the Senate House tomorrow.
He'd then meet me again
afterwards to return it.
Nobody would ever have known
it was gone.
Augustus will be very grateful
to hear about this plot
against him.
But in the meantime,
this must remain
just between us.
Tomorrow I want you
to take his will to the Senate,
just as you were told.
You can leave
everything else to me.
[Aurelia] Step away from me.
[horse whinnies]
[indistinct conversations
in background]
♪♪♪
For the Domina.
So how do you read Augustus'
intentions for the succession?
[Domitius] It's clear to me
he wants the two sons
he adopted from Agrippa
to go on with his work,
protect his legacy.
Yes, but they're young.
They're what? Four and one.
And if anything should happen
to him or Agrippa,
then it's obvious someone
would need to step in
to look after things.
Of course,
until they came of age.
Where do you think
Drusus and Tiberius stand?
Near a door.
Drusus has no interest
in politics,
and Tiberius
has even less than that.
All right.
[Julia] I am happy
for you and the baby.
I know.
We're finished, you know--
me and Iullus.
What? No.
You've loved him all your life.
Not anymore.
You've said that before.
It's over.
I don't believe you.
-Done.
-I don't believe you.
Antonia, I am serious.
Fuck! Fuck!
The will. This won't do.
[panting]
I'll make the arrangements.
[exhales]
I'll be back tonight.
[Turia] And you're quite sure
you saw the man with the bag
come in the side of this house?
[girl] Yes, High Priestess,
I'm sure.
May I help you High Priestess?
I'm Tycho, I run
the household for Augustus.
Yes, I suppose
you aregood-looking.
But you must know Augustus
is away from Rome at the moment.
Is his wife at home?
She went riding.
But I'm expecting her back
tonight.
Ask her to call on me
at the Temple
at her earliest convenience.
May I ask what it concerns?
She knows very well
what it concerns, and so do you.
[exhales deeply]
-[door closes]
-[under breath] Fuck.
[Livia] I saw his will.
[horse whinnies,
chicken clucks]
Gaius' will.
What?
How the fuck
did you manage that?
Isn't it locked up
with all the Vestals?
Oh, you didn't.
[exhales] How bad is it?
[sighs]
Oh, help yourself. Oi!
So, the adopted sons of Agrippa
inherit everything, eh?
Well, we expected that.
It was you
who got them adopted.
-Who's the executor?
-Domitius.
What, even though you slimed him
for Julia's infidelity?
I know.
No mention of Drusus
and Tiberius?
Nothing.
It's Agrippa
or fucking Domitius
to ensure the proper
administration of the state,
until the boys come of age.
And how about you?
Did you get anything?
Oh, come on!
He's not dead yet.
A lot can change.
It means nothing.
It means that the only thing
that matters to him
is blood--his blood.
Well, he was always like that.
Well, I thought he--
he'd grow up.
You know, that's not the way
you run a state.
There has to be a place
for merit somewhere,
you know, ability, experience.
You can't just hand it all
to the first thing
that comes out
of your daughter's vagina.
Well, you can if you're a king,
and you made him that, so
Livia!
Are you staying for dinner?
We done a goat in this morning.
[laughter]
Mmm.
-Is that another new dress?
-Oh, yeah.
Look, getting back to Domitius,
when are we gonna use
what we have on him, hmm?
[sighs] When we need to.
[seabirds calling]
Hi.
For once in your consistently
miserable life, Marcella,
you seem almost happy.
Well, I just had Gallus
in the woods again.
Cuckolding Iullus
always cheers me up.
In itself it's it's simple,
yet, somehow, richly satisfying
in a very profound way.
Is that the key to serenity?
Cuckolding Iullus?
A total lack of ambition.
Hmm.
It's the secret to a long life.
[Domitius scoffs]
[ominous music playing]
♪♪♪
[Drusus] Well, it's easy enough
to get into Germany.
The tribes run and scatter.
They take weeks to form an army.
But then they
try to stop you leaving.
The ambush is their thing.
They know where to wait,
and they can wait for days.
Then they pour javelins
into your columns and retreat.
Then they reload and come again.
Their men fight naked, mostly.
Except for boots.
Kings and chiefs wear trousers.
Trousers?
I know.
Certainly, it's no place
for fashion.
But, in many respects,
their culture is very advanced.
Women are honored,
and they are free to marry
anyone they like.
Men rely on them to make
all the very important decisions
on behalf of the tribe.
Luckily, that could
never happen in Rome.
[laughter]
[Gaius] Listen, Drusus.
There's something
I want you to do for me,
but I wanted to ask you myself.
I don't want you
to go into Germany
to avenge those merchants.
I want you to go into Germany
and stay there.
I want you to take Germany,
from the Rhine
to the Elbe, for Rome.
A sacred quest.
The first province
since my father, Julius Caesar,
conquered Gaul.
I want you to make history.
[Vipsania] But what's the point?
It's just forest and swamp.
And for some reason, the people
seem to resent being slaves.
I hope Domitius
won't be offended
that you're preferring
my brother like this.
He's senior,
I know, and capable,
and I am fond of him.
But I just think
Drusus has earned it.
To Drusus.
[Antonina] To Drusus.
[Gaius]
Good fortune, Drusus.
[Drusus] What the fuck?
What were you talking
about Domitius?
This is a fucking
enormous honor!
-No, it isn't.
-Yes, it is.
It's a ten-year suicide note,
is what it is.
-What? No, it isn't.
-Yes, it is!
And I'd be asking yourself
why it's got your name on it.
My job
is to bring glory
for our family,
because that leads
to everything else.
Your job is to stay alive,
otherwise everything else
leads to nowhere.
[scoffs] If I didn't
know you better,
I'd say you were jealous.
[laughing]
[chuckles]
All right, listen,
you beautiful idiot.
This is a mad undertaking
and thoroughly dangerous.
If you do pull it off,
Stepfather will take the glory.
If it dies
screaming in a swamp,
you'll take the blame.
[Antonina] Wait a minute.
So, you're saying what, exactly?
That this is some kind of trap?
-I know my uncle.
-No one knows your uncle.
Not even Mother.
You two are up to something,
and you never
tell us what it is.
Yes, 'cause they know
it will break our hearts.
All right.
What do you want me to do?
Tell him I'm busy?
No, of course not. Just
I'll talk to Mother
Just
Don't die in the meantime.
[scoffs]
[horse nickers]
[Livia] What?
[Tycho] I don't know how to
We're fucked.
Already?
[indistinct conversation]
I've been expecting you
for 20 years.
May I offer you some wine?
No, thank you.
Oh, I think
you're going to need it.
I was young and in love.
It never occurred to me
you didn't love me back.
So when you asked me
all those years ago,
if I could borrow
the will of Marcus Antonius
from the vault,
just so your husband
could read it,
I believed you.
And when you told me
you'd bring it straight back,
it never occurred to me
you were lying.
Because we were best friends.
And I loved you.
I was stripped naked
in front of the whole Order
and whipped
until my back was bloody.
But none of that,
none of it
hurt anywhere near as much
as your betrayal
and abandonment.
And now here you are
at it again.
I very much doubt you want your
husband to find out this time.
What do you want?
I've served as a Vestal
for nearly 30 years.
In a few months, my time is up.
I want to enjoy life,
which will take
more than my pension.
I want your estates
in Italy, Greece, and Egypt.
All of them.
In return for my silence,
I want everything you have.
[ominous music plays]
♪♪♪
You were right. We're fucked.
Aurelia gave us up.
Turia wants the will back,
I presume?
[sighs] Tomorrow morning.
[exhales]
So, um,
how's the kitchen coming?
Ooh, now you're in a bad mood.
[exhales]
What happened today?
I've been thinking
about that time you and me
got the will from the Temple.
And why the gloom?
That was your breakthrough.
Your first great triumph.
That was
the start of everything,
for Gaius, for me, and for you.
When you put that will
up in the Forum,
it destroyed Marcus Antonius,
wanting to be buried in Egypt,
leaving everything to Cleopatra.
A year later, he was dead,
Cleopatra, too.
-I liked her.
-[laughs]
You would.
-She had guts.
-Mm-hmm.
And after that,
Gaius was the only one left.
The master of the world.
Everything he has,
everything he is,
he owes to that will.
And it didn't cost a thing.
The bill just arrived.
What?
I fucked up, Agrippa.
Hey! Tell me!
Whatever it is,
I'll deal with it.
No, you can't!
[breathing heavily]
Not this.
-Not even you.
-Hey. Hey, hey, hey.
Is someone coming for you?
After all this time?
Who? Who is it? Tell me who!
Whoever it is,
I'll deal with them.
You know I will. Hey.
[whispers]
Are you playing me, Livia?
[whispers] I don't know.
I'm sorry.
[gasping]
[grunting]
[laughs]
[grunting]
[Julia] How did it go
with Domitius yesterday?
[birds calling]
Did you find out everything
Livia wanted to know?
[scoffs] Come on, Iullus.
You wouldn't dare
make a move without Livia.
And rightly so, of course.
Track record in politics.
She had you
invite him down here,
told you what to say,
and now you're
going to report back.
But he isn't stupid.
And neither is she.
Neither of them trust you,
and when the time comes,
you'll be floating
down the Tiber.
Give it up, baby.
Seriously.
Open a whore house.
It wasn't poison
you had.
The woman that Capria's cousin
knows over by the Aurelian Gate,
she sells information to Tycho,
who then reports to Livia.
She had them
sell you a laxative.
-She's here.
-Is it ready?
The Greek redid the seal
with the new ring.
Wait for me outside.
[exhales]
That's the will of Augustus.
Take it.
You didn't read it?
Not yet, no.
What did you want it for,
anyway?
Well, I wanted to know
what's in it for me.
I accept your terms.
My clerks will arrange
the paperwork.
Have it sent to my summer
residence on the lake.
I'm going there tomorrow.
One more thing.
I'm sorry
for everything.
I couldn't give Gaius children,
so, you know,
I had to prove myself
in other ways.
With him,
you always have to do that.
I owe you that.
We were friends.
I loved you.
And I betrayed you.
We won't see each other again,
and so I wanted you to know
that I'm sorry.
Oh, so sorry.
So sorry.
Your mother's bracelets,
I always loved them.
Oh, I remember.
Have them sent down as well.
[sighs]
I lost them
along with many other things
years ago.
[footsteps receding]
[clinks]
This is the new will.
It's identical in every respect
except for your changes.
Greek's a genius.
Keep it safe.
If anything happens to Gaius,
we need it near.
And the real one will easily
disappear when the time comes.
I don't understand.
You got what you wanted,
your own will of Augustus,
naming Drusus as successor.
You had to pay Turia off,
which is obviously annoying,
but you're still rich.
What she wants,
I can never give her.
Not then, not now.
She will take everything I have,
and it will never be enough.
And in the end
she will go to Gaius,
and he will believe her.
Mm.
And so, everything ends.
The Chief Vestal
is protected by the gods.
She can't even be touched,
let alone harmed or killed.
I won't be part of that,
and neither will
any of the Friends,
not even for you.
-This is her or me, Tycho.
You can't kill someone
without killing them,
especially if you
can't even touch them.
It won't be easy,
but she's going
to the lake tomorrow.
[exhales]
Here's how we do it.
[music playing,
vocalizing]
[sobbing]
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
She's off to the lake.
Get everyone ready.
♪♪♪
[breathing heavily]
This is Livia, daughter
of Marcus Livius Drusus.
[breathing heavily]
I ask your forgiveness
as I defend myself
against the unjust vengeance
of your servant, Turia.
She has dishonored her Order
and betrayed your trust.
So, now I do what I must,
and I ask you all
for your understanding.
In return, after my death,
I will build a temple
to all the gods,
the greatest ever seen on Earth.
♪♪♪
[grunts]
[horse whinnies]
Easy.
[Turia] Hey
Hey!
-[banging]
-Let me out!
Hey, Quintus!
What is this?!
-Come on.
-[Turia] Who are you?!
Let me out!
[Tycho] Get that carriage
off the road.
[breathing heavily]
♪♪♪
No! Wait!
Let me out!
This is sacrilege!
[Turia shouting indistinctly]
[screams]
[continues
shouting indistinctly]
Wall it up. Nobody gets in.
Nobody gets out. Ever.
♪♪♪
[Turia] No!
No!
♪♪♪
No!
♪♪♪
No!
Do you know who I am?!
♪♪♪
[whispers] Livia
[whispers] Livia
Livia!
[sniffles, whimpers]
Untouched?
Unharmed?
You were right.
The cave is remote.
How did you know it was there?
We used to play inside
when we were children.
Me and Turia.
Do you think
they'll let this go?
Who?
The gods?
We'll find out.
Go get the priestess Aurelia.
I want a copy
of Agrippa's will, too.
-[Tycho] I love you.
-[giggles]
Livia?
Can I stay?
I don't want to be alone.
[theme music playing]