ROME: CAESARION (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series about ancient Rome during the first century B.C., focusing on its transition from Republic to Empire. In this episode, Brutus returns home and is given a somewhat frosty welcome by his mother, Servilia. Caesar, in Alexandria along with Pullo and Vorenus, meet King Ptolemy XIII, who is revealed to be a young child. Caesar asks about the impending civil war between Ptolemy and his sister/wife Cleopatra, who desires the throne, and explains that Rome wants peace in Egypt. He also asks for Pompey’s whereabouts, and he is outraged when he is presented with Pompey’s head, disgusted at the disrespect shown to the former consul of Rome, and demands to see the killer. He then orders Antony to take half of their men back to Rome while he “settles things” in Egypt; feeling that civil war will disrupt Rome’s food supply, he plans to “arbitrate” between Ptolemy and Cleopatra. Antony warns that Cato and Scipio are still formidable enemies, and cautions Caesar against hubris. Unconcerned, Caesar dispatches Vorenus and Pullo to track down the missing Cleopatra, and then threateningly presents Ptolemy with a bill for the debts of his father, Ptolemy XII, which they cannot pay. Panicking, Ptolemy and his advisors decide that Cleopatra must die and send assassins off to kill her while she is still under house arrest, and Vorenus and Pullo covertly follow the men. When the assassins surprise Cleopatra and attempt to kill her, Pullo springs into action and saves her.
The Egyptians debate attacking Caesar, but agree to his other demand and send him Pompey’s murderer, Septimius. His head is soon mounted on a spike for all to see. Cleopatra, knowing that Caesar will soon find her, plans to seduce him to save her own life and theorizes that bearing his child would be advantageous. However, as he is not yet present, she decides to “employ” another man for the task, and her servant, Charmian, brings Vorenus to her tent. He is scandalized and embarrassed, however, when Cleopatra makes her bold demand, and sends Pullo to her instead, and he is only too happy to comply. Afterward, Vorenus cautions him not to tell anyone of his conquest, as it could seriously harm Caesar’s campaign. Later, they smuggle Cleopatra in to meet Caesar, and she confronts a terrified Ptolemy. His advisors’ heads soon join Septimius’ on spikes, which angers the people. Caesar and Cleopatra talk, and she observes that he has no son. She also acknowledges that he wants to control Egypt and make her a “puppet queen,” but, seeing the advantages for herself, declares herself his “slave,” and they consummate the union as Vorenus and the other soldiers attempt to hold back the angry mob. Back in Rome, Octavia engages in another tryst with her mother’s enemy, Servilia.
In the Senate house Cicero comes upon Brutus, who says he has an “ill conscience,” and they worry that Antony will have free reign if Caesar dies in Egypt. They discuss the army constructed by Scipio and Cato to be used against Caesar if necessary, but are soon interrupted by Antony himself. He blithely “forgives” Cicero for his actions, and then coldly says that “nothing escapes” him and threatens Cicero with violence should he ever scheme against Caesar again. As he leaves, he adds that Caesar has successfully claimed power in Egypt, thanks to his liaison with Cleopatra. Ptolemy meets with a watery death in the Nile, and some time later, Caesar presents “his” son with Cleopatra, Ptolemy XV, nicknamed “Caesarion" ("Little Caesar"), to the soldiers. Vorenus and Pullo cheer, although a glance between them suggests that they know more than Caesar does about the child’s true father.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: October 16, 2005 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:90579
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2005-2007
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Frank Doelger … Executive Producer
- Anne Thomopoulos … Executive Producer
- Bruno Heller … Executive Producer, Created by
- John Milius … Executive Producer, Created by
- William J. MacDonald … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Eugene Kelly … Co-Executive Producer
- Jim Dyer … Co-Executive Producer
- Marco Valerio Pugini … Producer
- Bruce Everett … Co-Producer
- James Hirsch … Co-Producer
- Todd London … Co-Producer
- Robert Papazian … Co-Producer
- Frank Yablans … Co-Producer
- Mark McGann … Co-Producer
- Michael Apted … Consulting Producer
- Jeff Beal … Music by
- Steve Shill … Director
- Ray Stevenson … Cast, Titus Pullo
- Kevin McKidd … Cast, Lucius Vorenus
- Polly Walker … Cast, Atia of the Julii
- Kenneth Cranham … Cast, Pompey Magnus
- Lindsay Duncan … Cast, Servilia of the Junii
- Tobias Menzies … Cast, Marcus Junius Brutus
- Kerry Condon … Cast, Octavia of the Julii
- Indira Varma … Cast, Niobe
- Max Pirkis … Cast, Gaius Octavian
- Nicholas Woodeson … Cast, Posca
- David Bamber … Cast, Marcus Tullius Cicero
- Suzanne Bertish … Cast, Eleni
- James Purefoy … Cast, Mark Antony
- Ciaran Hinds … Cast, Gaius Julius Caesar
- Shaka Bunsie … Cast, Hutto
- Scott Chisholm … Cast, King Ptolemy XIII
- Enoch Frost … Cast, Nubian Soldier
- Tony Guilfoyle … Cast, Pothinus
- Kathryn Hunter … Cast, Charmian
- David Kennedy … Cast, Lucius Septimus
- David de Keyser … Cast, Theodotus
- Lyndsey Marshal … Cast, Cleopatra
- Grant Masters … Cast, Achillas
- Ian McNeice … Cast, Newsreader
- Axel Shumacher … Cast, Sentry