A Necessary Fiction
Encyclopedia
"A Necessary Fiction" is the eighth episode of the second season of the television series Rome
. The air date is March 11, 2007.
has shipped in a secret consignment of gold for the Triumvirate, and Octavian instructs Lucius Vorenus to oversee its safe passage discreetly into Rome. Vorenus delegates the task to Titus Pullo, who is known and trusted by both Octavian and Mark Antony
, much to the ire of Vorenus' third man, Mascius. However, Gaia poisons Eirene
's tea, causing Eirene to die in childbirth with a stillborn baby boy. Pullo is incapacitated with grief so Mascius takes over the operation. An ambush results in the theft of the gold and the near death of Mascius. As accusations fly, Maecenas is convinced that Antony and Posca
are the culprits. He had earlier plotted with Posca to steal a portion of the gold for themselves, but now believes that he has been double-crossed. He exacts his revenge by revealing to Octavian that sexual relations still exist between Antony and Atia
, and Octavia the Younger and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
.
Octavian, who has just given a grand public speech on the virtue of Roman women, is outraged and confronts his family. First, he calmly introduces his new wife, Livia Drusilla, who is divorcing her current husband Tiberius Nero
to marry him. He then wrathfully reveals that he knows of the lack of virtue of the women of his own house. He threatens to make Antony the laughing stock of Rome by revealing his wife's shameful infidelity with Agrippa to the plebs if he does not leave for Alexandria at once. He also barricades Atia and Octavia inside the house. He forgives Agrippa, who later breaks off relations with Octavia to stay loyal to Octavian. Octavia, who wanted to run away with him, angrily calls him a coward and reveals that she is pregnant, but is unsure and uncaring of the identity of the father. Antony leaves for Egypt after promising Atia that he will call for her when the time is right, and meets a seductively dressed Cleopatra VII in her palace.
Vorenus pledges to retrieve the gold and pays Memmio a visit. A smug Memmio hints that not only has he stolen the gold but that one of Vorenus's own men betrayed him. Vorenus and Pullo initially suspect Mascius, but Vorenus catches his children playing with a straw toy that he saw in the hands of one of Memmio's men—the same one that seduced Vorena. He confronts her and she admits to betraying him, and screams that she was glad to do so. Flying into a rage, she accuses him of killing her mother, Niobe
, abandoning his children in hell, and forcing her to prostitute herself. Vorenus is shocked to learn that his children have hated him all along, and becomes violent with Vorena. He starts choking her after she pulls a knife on him but stops when Pullo points out that the younger children are watching. An ashamed and devastated Vorenus tells Antony that his gold has been located and will be retrieved, but that he himself will be resigning from the Aventine Collegium and asks Antony to take him to Egypt with him, since he has already sworn an oath of loyalty until death to Antony. Pullo will take care of his children, the Aventine and the mission to retrieve the gold.
Meanwhile, Memmio uses the stolen gold to buy the loyalties of the other Collegia members and forms an alliance against Vorenus. When the rival gangs converge, Vorenus has left and Pullo leads the Aventine. Memmio asks for a parley
with Pullo and offers reconciliation, since his argument was with Vorenus, not Pullo. In answer, Pullo bites out Memmio's tongue, hurls an axe at Vorena's would-be lover among Memmio's men, and leads the Aventine Collegium into battle against the other gangs. The Aventine fights ferociously, with Gaia and Pullo going particularly berserk, and the opposing gangs struggle to rally their men.
Rome (TV series)
Rome is a British-American–Italian historical drama television series created by Bruno Heller, John Milius and William J. MacDonald. The show's two seasons premiered in 2005 and 2007, and were later released on DVD. Rome is set in the 1st century BC, during Ancient Rome's transition from Republic...
. The air date is March 11, 2007.
Plot summary
Prince HerodHerod the Great
Herod , also known as Herod the Great , was a Roman client king of Judea. His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis." He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his...
has shipped in a secret consignment of gold for the Triumvirate, and Octavian instructs Lucius Vorenus to oversee its safe passage discreetly into Rome. Vorenus delegates the task to Titus Pullo, who is known and trusted by both Octavian and Mark Antony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
, much to the ire of Vorenus' third man, Mascius. However, Gaia poisons Eirene
Eirene (character of Rome)
Eirene is a fictional character from the HBO/BBC/RAI original television series Rome, played by Chiara Mastalli.-Personality:Quiet and unassuming, Eirene speaks with a foreign accent to show her non-Roman origin and is somewhat of a mystery. Although Eirene's love belonged to a slave who was...
's tea, causing Eirene to die in childbirth with a stillborn baby boy. Pullo is incapacitated with grief so Mascius takes over the operation. An ambush results in the theft of the gold and the near death of Mascius. As accusations fly, Maecenas is convinced that Antony and Posca
Posca
Posca is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Nicholas Woodeson. He is the body slave of Julius Caesar, yet is also his friend, aide-de-camp, and confidante in most things personal and professional...
are the culprits. He had earlier plotted with Posca to steal a portion of the gold for themselves, but now believes that he has been double-crossed. He exacts his revenge by revealing to Octavian that sexual relations still exist between Antony and Atia
Atia of the Julii
Atia of the Julii is a fictional character from the HBO/BBC/RAI original television series Rome, played by Polly Walker. The niece of Julius Caesar and mother of Octavian/Augustus and Octavia, she is depicted as a cheerfully amoral and opportunistic manipulator...
, and Octavia the Younger and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a Roman statesman and general. He was a close friend, son-in-law, lieutenant and defense minister to Octavian, the future Emperor Caesar Augustus...
.
Octavian, who has just given a grand public speech on the virtue of Roman women, is outraged and confronts his family. First, he calmly introduces his new wife, Livia Drusilla, who is divorcing her current husband Tiberius Nero
Tiberius Nero
Not to be confused with his son Tiberius or his grandson Germanicus, who both had the name 'Tiberius Claudius Nero' at one time or another. Tiberius Claudius Nero was a member of the Claudian Family of ancient Rome. He was a descendant of the original Tiberius Claudius Nero a consul, son of...
to marry him. He then wrathfully reveals that he knows of the lack of virtue of the women of his own house. He threatens to make Antony the laughing stock of Rome by revealing his wife's shameful infidelity with Agrippa to the plebs if he does not leave for Alexandria at once. He also barricades Atia and Octavia inside the house. He forgives Agrippa, who later breaks off relations with Octavia to stay loyal to Octavian. Octavia, who wanted to run away with him, angrily calls him a coward and reveals that she is pregnant, but is unsure and uncaring of the identity of the father. Antony leaves for Egypt after promising Atia that he will call for her when the time is right, and meets a seductively dressed Cleopatra VII in her palace.
Vorenus pledges to retrieve the gold and pays Memmio a visit. A smug Memmio hints that not only has he stolen the gold but that one of Vorenus's own men betrayed him. Vorenus and Pullo initially suspect Mascius, but Vorenus catches his children playing with a straw toy that he saw in the hands of one of Memmio's men—the same one that seduced Vorena. He confronts her and she admits to betraying him, and screams that she was glad to do so. Flying into a rage, she accuses him of killing her mother, Niobe
Niobe of the Voreni
Niobe, wife of Lucius Vorenus, is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC/RAI original television series Rome, played by Indira Varma.-Personality:...
, abandoning his children in hell, and forcing her to prostitute herself. Vorenus is shocked to learn that his children have hated him all along, and becomes violent with Vorena. He starts choking her after she pulls a knife on him but stops when Pullo points out that the younger children are watching. An ashamed and devastated Vorenus tells Antony that his gold has been located and will be retrieved, but that he himself will be resigning from the Aventine Collegium and asks Antony to take him to Egypt with him, since he has already sworn an oath of loyalty until death to Antony. Pullo will take care of his children, the Aventine and the mission to retrieve the gold.
Meanwhile, Memmio uses the stolen gold to buy the loyalties of the other Collegia members and forms an alliance against Vorenus. When the rival gangs converge, Vorenus has left and Pullo leads the Aventine. Memmio asks for a parley
Parley
Parley is a discussion or conference, especially one between enemies over terms of a truce or other matters. The root of the word parley is parler, which is the French verb "to speak"; specifically the conjugation parlez "you speak", whether as imperative or indicative.Beginning in the High Middle...
with Pullo and offers reconciliation, since his argument was with Vorenus, not Pullo. In answer, Pullo bites out Memmio's tongue, hurls an axe at Vorena's would-be lover among Memmio's men, and leads the Aventine Collegium into battle against the other gangs. The Aventine fights ferociously, with Gaia and Pullo going particularly berserk, and the opposing gangs struggle to rally their men.
External links
- "A Necessary Fiction" at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- TV.com summary
- HBO summary