Rome: Season 2 Episode 4 Testudo et Lepus (The Tortoise and the Hare)
Octavian hunts Mark Antony's army while Luicus Vorenus and Titus Pullo recover Lucius' children.
Series Index
Characters/Groups
Atia of the Julii - Polly Walker
Servilia of the Junii - Lindsay Duncan
Marcus Junius Brutus - Tobias Menzies
Octavia of the Julii - Kerry Condon
Vorena the Elder - Coral Amiga
Marcus Tullius Cicero - David Bamber
Vorena the Younger - Anna Fausta Primiano
Character thumbnails with links to profiles
Detailed Synopsis
Althea takes a taste of the food before walking it to Atia of the Julii. Merula tells Atia that Althea sings well when Atia requests a singer and as Althea is singing to Atia, she collapses and dies as blood drips from her mouth. Merula tells Atia, Althea was poisoned and Castor sees Duro staring from the kitchen. Titus Pullo rides towards Mutinae. Octavia of the Julii and Jocasta arrive at Octavia's home and hear screaming. They walk into another part of the house and see Duro being tortured by Timon and Saul, while Atia and Castor look on. Atia tells Duro if he admits that Servilia of the Junii hired him to kill her she will let him go. After Duro admits to being hired by Servilia, Atia tells Timon to kill and dump Duro's body discreetly. Castor begs for forgiveness and Atia forgives him. Duro tries to bribe Timon, but he is killed and dumped in the sewer. Timon returns home and is chastised by Levi for not attempting to hide the dirty work he does. They argue and after Levi grabs Timon, Timon pushes him against a wall and holds a knife to his throat and tells him he is not the younger brother to be beat anymore. Yesh walks in and sees Timon holding the knife to Levi and then runs away.
The Newsreader tells the public that Gaius Octavian and the armies of Rome are about to engage the armies of Mark Antony in battle. Titus arrives at the battle scene and while searching for Lucius Vorenus he comes across a much different Octavian. They greet each other and after Octavian gives Agrippa credit for winning the battle Titus tells Octavian he is looking for Lucius who fought for Mark Antony. Octavian gives Titus a scroll with his personal seal and tells him where he might find Lucius. Octavian and Agrippa return to their command tent where they are greeted by Gaius Maecenas who tells them the other Roman generals died of their wounds. Octavian then gives letters to Agrippa to bring to Rome, including one for Octavia and another for Marcus Tullius Cicero requesting a Triumph. Octavian then gives a speech to his soldiers outlying how Rome will owe them a great deal of money and that they will march towards Rome to collect it. Titus finds Lucius and tells him his children are still alive. Tribune reads the casualty count to Mark Antony. Posca advises Mark Antony to offer surrender terms to Octavian, but Mark Antony refuses. Lucius runs to Mark Antony and requests to leave and search for his children and Mark Antony gives him permission to leave.
Cassius tells Marcus Junius Brutus the news of those that have sent money or troops. While praying at a temple, Servilia is kidnapped by Timon's men and brought to the home of Atia. She is then taunted by Atia and tortured by Timon. After Atia tells him to cut off Servilia's face, Timon frees Servilia and yells at Atia that he is not an animal. Titus tells Lucius that he only told Lucius he had sex with Niobe to make him angry and Lucius tells him he knows. At night, Titus tells Lucius that when he frees Vorena the Elder, Vorena the Younger and Lucius that they will be different. Eleni tends to Servilia who is still in a state of shock from her torture. Agrippa gives Octavia, Octavian's message and awkwardly expresses his feelings for Octavia, who avoids the issue. Octavia then hands the letter to Atia and tells her Octavian won the battle. Agrippa hands the second letter to Cicero and tells him Octavian requests a Triumph and will be marching his army into Rome. Lucius and Titus ride up to the Overseer of the slave camp who directs them to the Procurator's office. They speak to the Procurator and Titus hands him the letter from Octavian. One by one Lucius finds his children including Vorena the Elder who was being used as a prostitute. Before leaving, Lucius stabs and kills the Procurator.