Quotes
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Pothinus : That is not just.
Posca : Post mortem interests of this type are legally entailed to the presiding consul, i.e. Gaius Julius Caesar. It's... law.
Pothinus : Roman law.
Gaius Julius Caesar : Is there some other form of law, you wretched woman?
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[regarding the dispute between Ptolemy and Cleopatra]
Gaius Julius Caesar : This dispute between you both must end. Rome desires Egypt to be at peace. Your grain ships must keep sailing.
Achillas : We are in absolute control of the country, from the lighthouse to the cataracts.
Gaius Julius Caesar : Good. In that case, you should have no trouble in handing over Pompey Magnus.
King Ptolemy XIII : I do NOT like his tone. He can go.
Theodotus : [to Ptolemy, attempting to defuse the situation] Master, do you remember what we spoke of before? Of crocodile and fox? Let us show him our surprise.
King Ptolemy XIII : [gleefully] Right, go on. Show him.
[Pothinus motions to a nearby slave, who brings out a covered urn]
Pothinus : We have a gift for you, Glorious Excellency, that we think you will be very pleased with.
[the slave places the urn on the table next to Casear and pulls out Pompey's severed head, placing it in a dish on the table. Casear looks at it with barely concealed sorrow]
King Ptolemy XIII : We were going to make him a body, with moving arms and legs, and do a mime show with real animals and everything...
Gaius Julius Caesar : Silence!
[Ptolemy takes a step back in shock; Caesar looks at the head sadly, then composes himself]
Gaius Julius Caesar : Shame on the house of Ptolemies for such barbarity, shame.
Pothinus : But - you are enemies!
Gaius Julius Caesar : [rising to his feet in fury] HE WAS A CONSUL OF ROME!
[Achillas and the guards reach for their swords; there is a tense pause]
Gaius Julius Caesar : [quietly] A consul of Rome. To die in this sordid way, quartered like some low thief... shame! Where is the rest of him?
Pothinus : It - uh, he has been cremated. With all proper funeral rites, of course. With all decorum.
Gaius Julius Caesar : I shall return tomorrow, at which time, you will give me the man that took Pompey's life.
[he sweeps out of the room; Posca covers the head, picks it up, and follows him out]
