by
T. C. O'Neill
Prologue
by
T. C. O'Neill
Prologue
EXT. - VERY EARLY MORNING
SUBTITLE: " North-western Germany. AD 15. "
CLOSE ON morning dew drops on brambles in early sunlight. Out of focus, beyond the brambles, figures are moving about.
WIDER ANGLE - a broad forest clearing with fragments of morning mist still shrouding the groves of oaks and elms. In the distance we can make out groups of Roman legionaries moving across the dewy grass, most of them intent on the ground at their feet. We hear shouted orders, which echo slightly from the surrounding forest that covers the hills on either side of the wide meadow.
NEW ANGLE on a grim-faced legionary looking out across the grass. We can see a colourful knot of officers, legates and military tribunes, standing in the middle distance, with a column of auxiliary troops marching across the clearing beyond them. The figure of GERMANICUS stands in the middle of the officers. We hear ravens calling from the forest.
Germanicus
CLOSE ON GERMANICUS - he is surrounded by his staff officers and the senior centurions of his legions. While they are in full field armour, GERMANICUS wears the dark woollen toga palla, indicating he is in mourning and has drawn the fold of its umbo over his head.
GERMANICUS (V/O)
Germanicus Claudius Drusus to the Emperor Tiberius
Claudius Nero Caesar.
Dearest Uncle, today we've been confronted with a grim sight.
NEW ANGLE ON GERMANICUS - looking out across the clearing and nodding slightly as a German auxiliary points and explains something to him. The officers around them also listen intently and follow his gestures as he points. Behind them stand the aquilifiers of GERMANICUS' legions and amongst the standards they hold is one with the eagle at the top wrapped in black cloth.
GERMANICUS (V/O)
A week ago we recovered the sacred Eagle of the
lost Nineteenth Legion. Lucius Stertinius found it in one of the
groves sacred to the barbarian gods as he attacked the country of the Bructeri.
I then joined him with the rest of the army and we marched on to the Teutoburg
Forest.
WIDER ANGLE - led by the German auxiliary, GERMANICUS and his staff move forward, the German still speaking and GERMANICUS still listening carefully.
PAN BACK - to reveal a large, low, whitish mound in the foreground which GERMANICUS and the others are approaching. The mound is still out of focus and it is difficult to see precisely what it is.
GERMANICUS (V/O)
The Germans have fallen back before us, but we
know they're watching our every move from the forest around us. Despite
this, I couldn't pass this way without seeing where the great disaster
had occured six years ago, so I ordered some auxiliaries who had been with
Varus that day to lead us to where his army had met its end.
OVER GERMANICUS' SHOULDER - We see the wide white mound beyond GERMANICUS and the officers and can now see that it us made up of bleached human bones. We hear the ravens calling again.
GERMANICUS (V/O)
Everywhere we looked we found signs of the destruction
of a great army - bones in the grass, rusting fragments of armour and weapons,
pieces of common soldiers' gear. My guides led us to the place where
the last stand was made, and we found a low mound of bones where the bodies
must have once lain thick on the ground.
DIFFERENT ANGLE - In the close middle distance GERMANICUS stands with the others beside the bone mound. In the foreground a legionary is using the point of one of his pila to gently lift a skull down from a post set in the ground while one of his comrades watches. Two more such posts stand beside them, also topped with bleached skulls.
GERMANICUS (V/O)
The bodies were stripped and many were mutilated.
The heads of officers and centurions were taken and placed on poles or
nailed to trees around the battlefield as offerings to their gods.
CLOSE ON GERMANICUS - The Roman gives a look of distaste and sorrow and then moves on, led by the auxiliary.
CLOSE ON HANDS lifting a skull and other bones from the grass and piling them onto an upturned scutum.
WIDER ANGLE reveals them to be GERMANICUS' hands. He turns back to gathering more bones as a legionary lifts the shield and carries it and the bones away. Behind him we can see more legionaries, their helmets off, digging.
GERMANICUS (V/O)
I helped the men bury our dead - many of them had lost brothers, cousins and neighbours in that battle and they worked in silence. We worked at it for two days, but even then we did not manage to bury them all.
WIDE ANGLE - GERMANICUS and his escort now stand in the shadow of the forest. In front of them is a small clearing amongst the oaks. Skulls can be seen nailed to the trunks of all of the trees ringing the grove. A dry-stone altar stands before three poles topped with skulls and a fourth, shorter wooden pillar topped with a crudely carved human face. One of the skulls on the poles still wears a corroded bronze legionary helmet.
Helmet of the type found at
the battle site in recent excavations
GERMANICUS (V/O)
In the forest surrounding the battlefield we
found much worse. Here was where they sacrificed those of our men
who they captured. Our guides showed us the trees where centurions
were hanged and stabbed with spears, marshes where men were bound and then
drowned and forest altars where officers were burned alive.
DIFFERENT ANGLE - GERMANICUS has turned away from the idol-pillar. Three legionaries are holding a captured GERMAN PRIEST by the arms and neck, so that GERMANICUS can question him. He has a sword cut a few days old over one eye, but is otherwise well dressed in woollen and linen tunics and trousers; his blond hair is long, worn in a Suebian knot at his right temple and he has a thick silver torque around his neck. The other officers look on while legionaries with drawn gladii keep an eye on the forest around them.
GERMANICUS (V/O)
We captured one of their priests a few days ago;
a servant of their strange gods. I asked him what reason he had,
as a man, to inflict these tortures on other men in the name of his religion.
He replied with one word: 'Fraweis!' ...
CLOSE ON GERMAN PRIEST as he spits the word 'Fraweis!' at GERMANICUS with obvious contempt and vehemence.
... which in their language means 'Vengeance'.
EXT. - LATE AFTERNOON
WIDE ANGLE PAN - Germanicus' army marches away
from the new burial mound as the long shadows of summer twilight stretch
over the grass of the old battlefield.
Theme music - Opening Credits
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Ruins of the House of Augustus
- Palatine Hill - Rome
Scene One
FADE IN
INT. - EARLY MORNING
SUBTITLE: " House of Augustus - Rome - AD 6. "
ANGLE ON a bed in a darkened bed chamber. By the dim early morning light coming from a high metal grilled window to the left of the scene we can see a figure in the bed. It stirs as the sleeper begins to wake up.
CLOSE ON AUGUSTUS as he sits up in bed and rubs his face. The 69 year old Emperor is a small man, with his once curly hair now rather thin and yellow-white. He moves a little stiffly as he swings his legs off the bed, but his eyes are still bright and intelligent.
AUGUSTUS
Polybius!
WIDER ANGLE - We hear the sound of a door opening quietly and the Emperor's trusted freedman POLYBIUS enters the bed chamber with two slaves, who carry a brass bowl and pewter jug. They move forward to help Augustus wash his face and rinse his mouth.
POLYBIUS
Good morning Caesar.
AUGUSTUS (slightly irritably)
Yes, well that remains to be seen. Where's
Hilarion?
Polybius waves the two slaves aside and hands Augustus a towel.
POLYBIUS
Bringing Publius Quinctilius Varus for you, Caesar.
Augustus begins to stand and Polybius moves quickly to lend a hand, steadying him. Once on his feet Augustus moves around the bed without the freedman's aid, with Polybius behind him.
AUGUSTUS
Ah yes, our newest governor. Is Tiberius
here yet?
DIFFERENT ANGLE - Behind them one of the slaves is lighting some lamps on a bronze stand. We see the room is quite small, simply furnished and relatively unadorned. The other slave has already laid out a fresh white tunic and another slave enters, carrying a folded toga.
POLYBIUS
He and Germanicus are waiting outside.
AUGUSTUS
Good. Tell them I'll join them in a moment.
Polybius bows and leaves the room while the slaves help the elderly Emperor to dress.
NEW ANGLE - Polybius closes the doors to the Emperor's bed chamber and turns to TIBERIUS and GERMANICUS who are waiting in the room beyond. Tiberius is a broad-chested man, strongly built with large brown eyes and dark hair, which he wears slightly longer at the back than is generally fashionable. Germanicus, his nephew, is slighter in build but similar to the older man in his stance and appearance. Both wear senatorial togas.
Tiberius
CLOSE ON Tiberius
TIBERIUS
Let me guess - irritable again?
ANGLE ON all three men
POLYBIUS
(in a slightly disapproving tone)
Much of the suburbs have been ravaged by fire,
we've survived one famine with another in the offing, there's a war in
Dalmatia and another brewing in Pannonia. Some would argue he has
reason to be irritable, my lord.
GERMANICUS
(smiling)
He's always irritable before breakfast.
WIDER ANGLE
POLYBIUS
He'll be with you in a moment. He wants you both
in this meeting with Publius Quinctilius Varus.
Polybius bows slightly to the two others and leaves the room briskly.
CLOSE ON Tiberius, looking after Polybius as he leaves.
TIBERIUS
(largely to himself)
I think I liked that prissy Greek better when
he was a slave.
WIDER ANGLE on Germanicus as he dips a piece of bread from a platter on a small table into a cup of watered wine - Tiberius in the background.
GERMANICUS
Do you think Varus is the right choice of governor
for Germania? I've heard he pocketed taxes in Syria.
TIBERIUS
I've heard that said of every governor Rome ever
sent to the provinces. Augustus has his reasons for choosing Varus.
DIFFERENT ANGLE on the two men - morning sun is now coming in through a high window, much like the one in Augustus' bed chamber. Germanicus is now chewing on his snack breakfast and hands a piece of bread to Tiberius. Tiberius ignores the offered bread with a shake of his head and picks up the wine cup to drink, quite deeply.
GERMANICUS
(thinking out loud as he chews)
He's a renowned lawyer - presided over some famous
cases when he shared the consulship with you. And a good administrator
by all accounts. And he was even able to keep those Jews in line.
ANGLE ON Tiberius - he laughs as he lowers the wine cup.
TIBERIUS
But more importantly - he's a Quinctilii.
GERMANICUS looks at him blankly
TIBERIUS
Haven't you noticed how many members of these
old families have been getting high offices lately? When was the
last time a Quintilius was consul?
GERMANICUS
(shrugging)
About 150 years.
TIBERIUS
Precisely. But in the glory days of the
Republic they were one of the greatest families in Rome. So it reflected
well on the old man's reign to have Quinctilius Varus as consul.
And to have him Governor of Syria. And it will also look good to
have him Governor of Rome's newest conquest. 'Just like the old days',
people will say. As for Varus' actual ability, well ...
NEW ANGLE - The slaves suddenly open the doors behind them and Augustus emerges from his chamber, dressed, shaved and looking businesslike. He seems genuinely glad to see them both, especially Germanicus.
AUGUSTUS
My boys! Here you both are!
NEW ANGLE as Augustus opens his arms and embraces Tiberius, who hastily hands his wine cup to Germanicus so he can return the embrace. Augustus puts one arm around Germanicus and the three of them cross the chamber.
ANGLE ON Augustus
NEW ANGLE - WIDE - the three men leave the room through doors opened by the slaves who emerged from Augustus' bed chamber and enter a larger room beyond, with Augustus still leaning slightly on Germanicus.
TIBERIUS
The Dalmatian rebel Bato is licking the wound
he got at Salonae. I left my legions in winter quarters at Siscia,
but Caecina Severus has taken his troops back to Moesia - there are reports
that the Sarmatians are gathering raiding bands.
AUGUSTUS
(musing)
Severus should have enough troops to handle the
Sarmatians. You should give me a full report later.
Floorplan - The House of
Augustus
The Emperor's private apartments
and atrium were at the back of the house,
at the top of this plan.
The rooms at the front of the complex were audience
chambers or served administrative
functions
WIDER ANGLE - Augustus Tiberius and Germanicus enter the atrium of Augustus' house. While this is part of the private section of the domus, it is still busy with servants and administrative staff. Some high ranking petitioners have been admitted to this part of the house to await an audience with the Emperor. They stand as Augustus enters.
CLOSE ON Augustus as he recognises one of the men waiting in the early morning sunlight of the atrium.
AUGUSTUS
Good morning Marcus. It's good of you to
come so early on a winter's morning.
ANGLE ON MARCUS VINICIUS - a former Governor of Germania, Vinicius is a veteran of many campaigns, both political and military. He is also an old friend and gambling partner of Augustus.
VINICIUS
(joins the other three men as they pass briskly
through the
busy atrium into the main part of the house
beyond)
It's nice to come here and know I'm not about
be be fleeced for a change.
GERMANICUS
He tells us you are always the one who beats
him.
AUGUSTUS
And it's true. This man is going to bankrupt
the entire state one of these days.
DIFFERENT ANGLE as they pass through an inner chamber, still moving quickly. Augustus limps slightly, but the others still have to hurry to keep up with his brisk pace. Like the atrium, the chambers of the administrative parts of the house are full of activity and movement, which is increasing as they move away from Augustus' private apartments.
A servant tries to hand Augustus a wax tablet. He looks at it without taking it.
AUGUSTUS
Another petition from Herod Archelaus?
Doesn't that man understand what banishment means?
PAN FORWARD over Augustus' shoulder as he waves the servant away - we see Tiberius in murmured conversation with Vicinius while Germanicus listens.
WIDER ANGLE - The four men enter a small audience chamber, more richly decorated than the fairly plain rooms in Augustus' private apartments. It has rich red and yellow frescoes on the walls and is furnished with bench couches and seats in the latest style. Waiting for them in this room is LUCIUS DOMITIUS AHENOBARBUS with Polybius. Ahenobarbus is the husband of Augustus' niece Antonia Maior and sereved as field commander (legatus exercitus) in Germania while Vicinius was governor (legatus Augusti pro praetore) there.
AUGUSTUS
And here's Lucius. How's my favourite niece?
AHENOBARBUS
She's well Caesar and sends her love.
CLOSE ON - Augustus as he takes a seat behind a low desk at the end of the chamber which holds papers, some maps and a silver wine jug with glass beakers. A window above his head opens onto the atrium, letting in the brightening morning sunlight.
AUGUSTUS
Good, good. Gentlemen, please take a seat.
All we need now is the man of the moment.
Frecoes from an audience
chamber in the House of Augustus
WIDER ANGLE FROM BEHIND AUGUSTUS - the doors open and Augustus' freedman HILARION enters.
HILARION
(announcing)
Publius Quinctilius Varus.
PUBLIUS QUINCTILIUS VARUS enters.He is a middle aged aristocrat with the look of a man who has had authority since childhood. He wears the purple-striped toga of a former consul and is slightly more tanned than the other Romans, having arrived from Antioch fairly recently.
Hilarion closes the doors behind him as Varus moves into the room.
AUGUSTUS
(rising)
Publius - welcome!
VARUS
(with a warm smile)
Caesar - it's good to see you again.
ANGLE OVER VARUS' SHOULDER on the other men. Augustus remains seated, but the others have risen at Varus' entrance. They take their seats again. Polybius remains standing behind Augustus' chair.
AUGUSTUS
You know everyone here, I think. Please,
take a seat.
WIDER ANGLE ON VARUS as Hilarion moves one of the chairs towards the centre of the room. He then takes his place by the doors as Varus sits. Tiberius and Germanicus are seated close to Augustus' desk and Vinicius and Ahenobarbus on a low couch by the wall, to Varus' right.
CLOSE ON AUGUSTUS
AUGUSTUS
To business then. The Senate's already
conveyed it's thanks to you for your stewardship of Syria, Publius, but
I now have an even more important task for you.
WIDER ANGLE ON VARUS
VARUS
(inclines his head)
Legatus Augusti Pro Praetore in the new
province of Germania Magna, Caesar.
I'm greatly honoured.
WIDER ANGLE ON AUGUSTUS
AUGUSTUS
An honour and a duty, Publius.
(He turns to Tiberius, who addresses Varus)
TIBERIUS
We have trouble in Illyricum Varus, as I'm sure
you've heard.
WIDE ON VARUS
VARUS
(deadpan)
I've heard of nothing but more victories over
the rebels by you Tiberius.
WIDE ANGLE FROM NEAR THE DOOR showing the whole room. Ahenobarbus appears amused at Varus' comment. Tiberius ignores it and presses on.
TIBERIUS
They have been contained - for now - but we are
threatened by the Sarmatians on our northern border.
DIFFERENT WIDER ANGLE - on Varus from his left.
VARUS
(voice neutral)
Barbarians.
VICINIUS
But not to be under-estimated. They are
a powerful tribe - good cavalry and difficult to deal with.
DIFFERENT WIDER ANGLE on Tiberius - he rises and pushes forward a map on Augustus' desk. The others lean forward to see. Augustus keeps his gaze on Varus.
ANGLE ON THE MAP - It shows Italy, Gaul, the Rhine, most of Germania, Illyricum, Venetia and Pannonia. Tiberius' hand - in shot - points to Pannonia.
TIBERIUS
Caecina Severus has two legions here, to guard
against the Sarmatian threat. My troops are here (points to Siscia),
but if those barbarians you mention raid in strength and the Dalmatian
rebels rise again at the same time, we will be stretched. And there
are other subject peoples who might take the Dalmatians lead, especially
the alpine tribes (indicates the Alps).
WIDER ANGLE on Varus and Tiberius, with Vinicius and Ahenobarbus in the background.
VARUS
(considering)
Which threatens the northern approaches to Italy.
CLOSE ON Augustus
AUGUSTUS
(pleased)
Precisely Publius. But whatever happens,
I need my best troops with Tiberius here (leans forward slightly and indicates
towards Illyricum) where he can meet any of these threats.
CLOSE ON Varus
VARUS
(hand on his chin - still looking at the map)
And Germania?
WIDER ANGLE ON Varus and Tiberius again
TIBERIUS
You'll have three legions - the XVII, XVIII and
XIX.
WIDE ON Tiberius, Varus, Vinicius and Ahenobarbus - from behind Augustus.
VINICIUS
All good units, Varus. They know the territory
and they know the tribes.
CLOSE ON Augustus
AUGUSTUS
(intently to Varus - quite soft)
I need you to keep the peace in Germania, Publius.
I can't have the Germanic tribes take advantage of the unrest in Illyricum.
You must keep them subdued and under control at all costs.
CLOSE ON Varus
VARUS
(pauses - thoughful)
Are they fully subdued now?
WIDE ANGLE ON Augustus, Vinicius and Ahenobarbus as Tiberius steps back from the desk, away from the map and out of shot. Augustus nods to Vinicius.
VINICIUS
All reports indicate that everything is quiet.
Most of our troops are in winter quarters in forts here (points to the
map) or in our main new colony town here (ditto - the map itself
remains out of shot however). The tribes closest to the Rhine
are essentially pacified - their chiefs have sent us hostages and many
of their sons are serving in our auxilia. The others fear
our retribution for any rebellion
CLOSE ON Varus - listening intently. He appears to be enjoying assessing this situation.
WIDER ON Vinicius et al again.
VINICIUS
There are two main tribes you'll have to watch
- the Chatti and the Cherusci (indicatiing the map again).
They are the most powerful peoples between the Rhine and the Elbe.
Control them and you'll be able to contain any other unrest without too
much trouble.
AHENOBARBUS
(partially to himself)
Good fighters. Worthy opponents.
But savages.
WIDE ON the whole group, from behind Varus.
AUGUSTUS
(To Hilarion)
Hilarion, bring in young Flavus.
(Wryly, to Varus)
Time for you to meet your first savage, Publius.
WIDE ON the doors as Varus stands. They open and FLAVUS enters.
Flavus has just come from where Tiberius' military escort is encamped outside the city, though in keeping with the Roman tradition he is unarmoured while within the city and is simply wearing the dress tunic of a Auxiliary commander. He is tall, muscular, clean-shaven with his blond hair close cropped and he has a clean bandage covering his left eye. He stands to attention. Hilarion leaves the doors open and we see some petitioners and envoys waiting down the hall outside.
ANGLE ON Augustus and Varus standing to greet Flavus
AUGUSTUS
(To Varus)
Publius, this is ...
(he hesitates)
FLAVUS
(slightly stiff, eyes front)
Ermanagastiz, Caesar.
AUGUSTUS
Um, yes. Sorry young man, but I find these
German names difficult to pronounce.
We call him 'Flavus' though Publius, on account
of his blond hair.
CLOSE ON Varus and Flavus
VARUS
(to Flavus)
You've been wounded soldier?
FLAVUS
A sling bullet took my eye at Salonae sir.
WIDER ANGLE taking in Tiberius and the other commanders
TIBERIUS
As he was leading a successful charge against
the rebels Publius.
And he's soon to be decorated for it - Flavus
is one of my best cavalry commanders.
CLOSE ON Varus and Flavus again
VARUS
A brave soldier then.
FLAVUS
A warrior does as his lord commands.
VARUS
Which would be useful for the lord I imagine.
What do you think of Rome then Flavus?
CLOSE ON Flavus
FLAVUS
I've wanted to see the city since I was a small
boy sir.
(quoting)
"Here was Nimicius' fountain, and its pond
Here Tiber River, here brave Latins lived."
WIDER ANGLE - Tiberius smiles while Varus looks surprised
VARUS
(to Augustus)
This is no savage if he can quote Virgil Caesar!
TIBERIUS
(with mock weariness)
He's been reading my copy.
And asking me difficult questions as he does
so.
DIFFERENT ANGLE taking in Augustus
AUGUSTUS
And I imagine Flavus could surprise you in other
ways Publius.
(to Flavus)
This is Publius Quinctilius Varus, Flavus.
He is to be the new governor of your homeland.
(puts his arm around the young man)
Flavus, I want you to spend the next few days
with the governor
before he leaves for the Rhine. Tell him
about your people and
their customs and traditions. He has much
to learn before he departs.
VARUS
(smiling)
And perhaps I could be of assistance to you with
your 'Aeneid' Flavus.
ANGLE FROM BEHIND the group, showing the doors again, which Hilarion now opens
AUGUSTUS
Come then, I'll show the two of you out.
(to the others)
Gentlemen.
The other men rise as Augusts escorts Varus and Flavus from the room and Hilarion and Polybius also exit, closing the door behind them. There is a moment's silence after they have left.
CLOSE ON Germanicus
GERMANICUS
So gentlemen, what do you think of our newest
governor?
WIDER ANGLE on all four men
AHENOBARBUS
(gruffly)
He's no soldier, but he's a capable man.
Just the kind of administrator a new province
needs.
VINICIUS
(to Germanicus)
The officers of his legions are experienced men
and the troops are good.
I think he's a good choice.
GERMANICUS
(to Tiberius)
And what do you think uncle?
ANGLE ON Tiberius as he takes Augustus' chair behind the desk and pours himself a beaker of wine
TIBERIUS
I think ...
(looking down at the map of Germania as he speaks)
... that my former fellow consul will either
come back very rich, or very dead.
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