Tobias Menzies: Marcus Junius Brutus

Triumph

Marcus Junius Brutus

[Brutus comes home to find Quintus and Servilia working on a document]
Marcus Junius Brutus: Might I have a quiet word?
Servilia of the Junii: Of course.
[Quintus doesn't move; Brutus gives him a hard look]
Marcus Junius Brutus: A QUIET word?
Servilia of the Junii: Oh, you may speak in front of Quintus.
Marcus Junius Brutus: As you wish, it is of Quintus I speak. The good man has been here several days now. Perhaps he grows weary of entertaining us with his happy presence.
Servilia of the Junii: Do not mind him, Quintus. He has no manners.
[to Brutus]
Servilia of the Junii: He shall stay as long as it pleases me.
Marcus Junius Brutus: Well, that's the thing, Mother. I do not see in what way he could possibly please you. What is his purpose? Does he help you to write poetry?
Servilia of the Junii: He has a good ear.
Marcus Junius Brutus: Indeed? Hmm.
[to Quintus]
Marcus Junius Brutus: You surprise me.
Servilia of the Junii: He has fire in him. It warms me.
Marcus Junius Brutus: Light more lamps if you are cold! It looks very ill to keep a son of Pompey in our house.
Servilia of the Junii: [sarcastically] And we should strike such fine figures otherwise!

[while waiting for Caesar to arrive in the Senate]
Marcus Junius Brutus: Dear me. I've never seen so many long faces.
Marcus Tullius Cicero: It is customary to be sad at a funeral.
Marcus Junius Brutus: Well, the Republic is old and infirm. Death can be a merciful release in such cases.
Marcus Tullius Cicero: You do not mean that. You don't believe that. You of all people shouldn't lay jokes about tyranny.
Marcus Junius Brutus: Oh, I am deadly serious. It is in all our interests to be reconciled with Caesar now, for the good of Rome.
Marcus Tullius Cicero: The good of Rome, indeed. As soon as this... farce is done, I shall retire to the country and wait for the city to come to its senses. It is the only honorable thing to do.
Marcus Junius Brutus: My dear friend, we have no honor. If we had honor, we would be with Cato and Scipio in the afterlife.

Marcus Junius Brutus: You are looking much better.
Servilia of the Junii: I am not better, however.
Marcus Junius Brutus: Well, I must get you out to the country, perhaps. Some fresh air and sunshine would do you good. This lying abed is not healthy.
Servilia of the Junii: I rise when I have reason to do so. Don't loiter here pretending to be solicitous. Go to your friend's obscene display.
Marcus Junius Brutus: Mother...
[he reaches for her]
Servilia of the Junii: [forcefully] Go!
[Brutus looks hurt; Servilia raises her gaze and looks at him]
Servilia of the Junii: [gently] Go.
[Brutus walks out]

Marcus Junius Brutus: Still here? I thought you were retiring to the country as a point of honor.
Marcus Tullius Cicero: You do right to mock me. You make me feel small.
Marcus Junius Brutus: A joke, old man, a joke. I'm always happy for your company.
Marcus Tullius Cicero: So, why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could've been of assistance, perhaps.
Marcus Junius Brutus: What are you talking about?
[Cicero thrusts a parchment into his hands]
Marcus Tullius Cicero: Everyone is reading it! I saw some temple prostitutes with a copy.
Marcus Junius Brutus: [reading] "A Call to Virtue."
Marcus Tullius Cicero: The writing is adequate, which is something we should talk about, but the sentiments are full of grace and bravery.
Marcus Junius Brutus: "Sons of the Republic, the blood of our forefathers calls you to honor the memory and emulate the deeds of... Porcius Cato, the last true Roman." Who wrote this?
Marcus Tullius Cicero: You did.
[he turns the page over and points]
Marcus Junius Brutus: Gods beneath us.