Discretion is clearly not what this is about, because the loud chanting is coming from Servilia. She's kneeling in the street in front of Julii Cooper's front door in a plain gray shift with her hair hanging loose, repeating her petition over and over and waving her arms while her slave holds a bag full of ashes and sprinkles them over her head. With Merula at her side, Julii goes to the front door and looks through the peephole, which, because this was before anyone could even make a decent mirror let alone a fisheye lens, is roughly the size of her whole entire face. Still, it's unclear whether Servilia sees her or not, as her moaning goes on with no change in tone. Julii Cooper slams the hatch shut and tells Merula that they're not going to do anything; they'll ignore Servilia and eventually she'll go away. Just as Julii Cooper will eventually stop underestimating Servilia.

Across town, at the Aventine Collegium, Eirene is crashed out on her and Pullo's bed. Pullo comes in and tries to coax her into getting up. Dude, cut the preglant lady some slack. She promises to rise soon, and of course now that they're on the bed together, Pullo's rising already. Eirene puts him off, saying that the priests in her country forbid sex once the baby starts moving. Pullo's pleasure at hearing that something is alive in there easily overrides his disappointment at not getting any for the moment. They clasp their hands together over her swelling belly, happy and content. This marriage is doomed.