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”You're no coward, but you do have a strong disease in your soul. A disease that will eat away at you until you die." When asked how he can be so sure, Vorenus replies "I recognise the symptoms, I have the same sickness." Vorenus is awakened from a pleasant dream of being with Niobe by the bald, naked prostitute he has, in actuality, spent the night with. Replacing her black wig, she jolts him back to reality. He is in Alexandria, and he must don his Roman uniform and head back to Cleopatra's castle. Finding Posca, who has succumbed to the numbing drugs and dissolute atmosphere, he asks after Antony. “Where is he? Where indeed?" Posca replies. "His mortal flesh is in the throne room, meeting a deputation from the Senate."
Vorenus finds Antony instructing Cleopatra on the finer points of archery while the Senator Bibulus vies for attention on the matter of Rome's dwindling grain supply. The senator agrees to triple the price for the grain and Cleopatra demands Carthage as well. When Antony marvels at how desperate Octavian must be to agree, Bibulus responds: "Octavian will do what he must to prevent further suffering." Angered at the implied insult, Antony demands that Spain be thrown into the deal as well. But this Bibulus cannot agree to.
Cleopatra suggests that Antony "cut the cord" and declare war on Rome. But Antony wants to return home “as a saviour not as a conqueror".
Back in Rome at the Aventine Collegium, Pullo reluctantly disentangles himself from Gaia's arms and arises from their bed to address the unruly crowd outside. They are demanding that the granaries be opened. But Pullo urges them to go home and await the next day's rations. As he descends from his pulpit he is greeted by Vorenus's children. He urges them to return inside - "hungry people will do strange things".
Pullo heads inside himself with Mascius to discuss the situation. As he tosses a bone to the caged Memmio, Gaio chastises him for wasting food, but Pullo insists, "He reminds the other men to stay honest". Seeing no other solution, Pullo orders Gaia to fetch his best clothes so he can bring the matter to Octavian.
Octavian reports to Pullo that the state granaries are empty and the army needs what is in the military silos. Agrippa suggests they send three legions to Africa. "Let Lepidus feed them. That would free up a month of grain for the city." Octavian agrees to the temporary solution, but asks who the people are blaming. "You," Pullo responds honestly.
Octavian, Agrippa and Maecenas discuss the possibility of war against Antony, but Maecenas points out, "War on Antony is doomed unless the people are with us". Octavian sends for his mother and sister to dine that evening. Meanwhile back at Atia's villa, Atia watches her granddaughter Antonia playing, and wonders why Antony hasn't yet sent for her, and Octavia chastises her mother for holding out such hope.
Vorenus finds Antony instructing Cleopatra on the finer points of archery while the Senator Bibulus vies for attention on the matter of Rome's dwindling grain supply. The senator agrees to triple the price for the grain and Cleopatra demands Carthage as well. When Antony marvels at how desperate Octavian must be to agree, Bibulus responds: "Octavian will do what he must to prevent further suffering." Angered at the implied insult, Antony demands that Spain be thrown into the deal as well. But this Bibulus cannot agree to.
Cleopatra suggests that Antony "cut the cord" and declare war on Rome. But Antony wants to return home “as a saviour not as a conqueror".
Back in Rome at the Aventine Collegium, Pullo reluctantly disentangles himself from Gaia's arms and arises from their bed to address the unruly crowd outside. They are demanding that the granaries be opened. But Pullo urges them to go home and await the next day's rations. As he descends from his pulpit he is greeted by Vorenus's children. He urges them to return inside - "hungry people will do strange things".
Pullo heads inside himself with Mascius to discuss the situation. As he tosses a bone to the caged Memmio, Gaio chastises him for wasting food, but Pullo insists, "He reminds the other men to stay honest". Seeing no other solution, Pullo orders Gaia to fetch his best clothes so he can bring the matter to Octavian.
Octavian reports to Pullo that the state granaries are empty and the army needs what is in the military silos. Agrippa suggests they send three legions to Africa. "Let Lepidus feed them. That would free up a month of grain for the city." Octavian agrees to the temporary solution, but asks who the people are blaming. "You," Pullo responds honestly.
Octavian, Agrippa and Maecenas discuss the possibility of war against Antony, but Maecenas points out, "War on Antony is doomed unless the people are with us". Octavian sends for his mother and sister to dine that evening. Meanwhile back at Atia's villa, Atia watches her granddaughter Antonia playing, and wonders why Antony hasn't yet sent for her, and Octavia chastises her mother for holding out such hope.
