Peter O'Toole credited as playing...
Augustus Caesar
- Livia: I came as soon as I heard. The assassin was not from Rome so we can't trace his employer.
- Augustus: Marcus Agrippa is dead.
- Livia: Yes, there is a dangerous under carriage in the young noblity.
- Augustus: Did you hear what I said, Livia? He was my dear friend, my daughter's husband, the father of my grandchildren and he is dead!
- Livia: Yes and your enemies are waiting for the right moment to kill you. This is the moment. Agrippa, your heir apparent, is dead and you too nearly died today... Where does that leave the empire tomorrow?
- Augustus: At the stumbling feet of your son, I suppose, exactly where you WANT IT?
- Augustus: Cleopatra and Antony met Agrippa and I for battle at the coast of Actium. They had only one thought in mind - to kill us.
- Augustus: I am the master of nothing. Why didn't I listen to Julia? Why didn't you say it too, Livia - that I couldn't master the future; think how happy could have been.
- Augustus: My grandsons! Gaius and Lucius! Beautiful, aren't they? Devil see them, the pair of them- they take after their mother!
- [Julia enters through the crowds]
- Julia: They do not! They take after their father and their grandfather. Come along boys, your grandfather is far too busy being "king" to play with his grandsons.
- Augustus: Julia, I'm not a king- there are no "kings" in Rome.
- Julia: Have I ever been anything more to you then a instrument to fulfill your destiny.
- Augustus: I have never loved anyone in my life as much as I love you.
- Julia: Then why are you taking my life away from me?
- Augustus: Julia, I want you to be happy, but you have to remember that you aren't just my daughter; you are the daughter of the Empire. As Rome's princess, your body and soul belongs to state, and the state is the body of world - if Rome falls, civilization falls!
- [Describing the massacre of the nobles]
- Augustus: [to Julia] It was the price I had to pay. That night men awoke to find their death sentences posted in the Forum. And Agrippa, poor Agrippa was forced to slaughter all of my enemies. It was the price I had to pay for the security of Rome. That night my life was taken from me; it was my destiny, the risk I had to take and I took it. All of this will happen again unless someone who is worthy of the name Caesar... succeeds me But *we* won't let that happen. Tonight, Julia, you and I will give birth to a new Rome, we will assure that it is your sons who rule Rome when I have died, *not* Livia's son. You gave life to your sons once, Julia, now give it to them again! For them and for the good of Rome!
- [Julia comes in and goes to her father's side. He holds his hand out to her]
- Augustus: The empire took both our lives, daughter. You were right all along. Forgive me.