Rome Recap: Philippi
In preparation for their expected victory, Mark Antony and Octavian are already dividing up Rome once their victory is complete. Premature? Perhaps. But they do it nonetheless, and the first thing you should do in such a circumstance is to wipe out your enemies. So that's just what they do, making up a list of everyone that they want to take out.
First on the list is none other than Cicero, who other than being a bit of a weasel and planning a rebellion through Brutus, really isn't that bad of a guy. As it turns out, he's got a nice spread too. But that is neither here nor there. Once his name is on the list, it gets moved up a few notches when it is determined that his detached hands should be nailed to the door of the senate (yes, really). And that's just the beginning.
None other than Titus Pullo is dispatched to do the deed of taking out Cicero - wouldn't you want to have someone trustworthy to take care of such a task? True to form, Pullo and the Vorenus clan make a day of it and have a picnic. Yes, they do. I don't object, really I don't. I try to combine work and pleasure when I can. Why should this be any different? It's not like Pullo actually takes everyone to see him kill Cicero.
Cicero, however, gets word that his assassin is on the way, and tries to get word to Brutus. But in another scene out of today, the rider who is delivering the message rides quickly towards the Vorenus children, where he is accosted by Lucius for endangering them (tell me you've never glared at people driving quickly by your street) and when this happens, he drops the scroll, so it seems that Brutus will never get the warning that something is amiss. Too bad, for he's about to get some really bad news.
As Pullo arrives, he gets some peaches from Cicero's orchard, then kills him. It was a strange bit, actually. Then Pullo gets some more good news. He finds out that wifey is pregnant!
Back on the co-leader side of things, Antony and Octavian have determined that the time is rght to move, and their massive contingent of defenders is moving towards the completely unaware Brutus. As it turns out, he does find out that they are coming - but with only a few hours to prepare, he decides to stand and fight them, rather than continue to run. It's a bad decision. He is badly beaten, and in the aftermath, a scavenger on the battlefield makes off with his ring that he held so sacred. Easy come, easy go.
