Rome/An Owl in a Thornbush

An Owl in a Thornbush
Season 1, Episode 3
Airdate	September 11, 2005
Written by	Bruno Heller
Directed by	Michael Apted
← 1x02 How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic	1x04 → Stealing from Saturn
Rome — Season One

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An Owl in a Thornbush is the third episode of the first season of Rome, and the third episode overall.

Guest Stars: Manfredi Aliquo (Castor), Lydia Biondi (Merula), Eliza Darby (Daughter of Pompey), Andrew Greenough (Appius), Matt Patresi (Durio), Anna Patrick (Cornelia), Robert Purvis (Glabius), Ian McNeice (Newsreader), Stu Rosen (Numa), Alexandra Stordy (Iolanthe), Michele Pettini (Son of Pompey), Antonio Ragusa (Legionary), Carla Cagnetti (Maidservant), Vittorio Amandola (Proculus)

Plot Overview

Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo head a scout team to Rome as a prelude to Caesar entering the city. Upon hearing that Caesar has crossed the Rubicon and will be in the city too soon for reinforcements to arrive, Pompey and his supporters decide to tactically retreat to the south. Once they have sufficient troop strength, they will retake the city from Caesar.

Atia stands firm that she will stay and wait for Caesar as Pompey's supporters, when they hear of Caesar's approach, harass her and her family . However, once Pompey abandons the city, repentant Pompey supporters not wishing to leave the city seek out her blessing.

An attempt by Pompey to empty the treasury goes astray as the soldiers decide to take off with the gold themselves. These soldiers are intercepted by the scout team and quickly taken care of - however Lucius and company have no idea what is in the cart and leave it behind (along with a pretty girl, tied to the cart, who catches Titus' eye) to make haste for Rome.

Lucius and Titus enter Rome unchallenged and nail Caesar's proclamation to the door of the senate. The proclamation offers amnesty to basically everyone - as long as you don't wish Caesar harm any more, he won't harm you. After this is done, Lucius tells Titus he quits and returns to his wife. Schooled by Titus in the way of women, Lucius sweet talks his wife, who breaks down and seems almost ready to admit infidelity. An earlier visit by the father of Niobe's baby reveals that she still has feelings for him.

Titus returns to find the cart and the girl and quickly discovers the gold from the treasury. He makes off with the gold (and the girl!) for parts unknown.

Trivia

The Show

Scribbled on the wall and door outside Atia's house are some Latin phrases

• Atia cinaedus cinaedus means immoral or shameless person
• Atia amat omnes amat means loves. omnes means everything. So i guess a loose translation is "Atia's a slut".
• Atia fellat aatt (or maybe it's aa\pi). fellatus means suck. You make up the rest.

Quotes

• Titus Pullo: Of course your best method for pleasing a woman is the warm beating heart of an enemy. I mean, women will say they don't like it, but they do. Makes them wet as October.

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