While stomping away from Julii Cooper's house, followed by his entourage and the empty sedan chair he hasn't even bothered to climb into, Antony happens to glance down a cross street and notice a bunch of guys beating up on someone. He doesn't intervene or even slow down, of course. He's got a lot of very important stomping to do. However, Julii Cooper's head slave Castor observes the scene as well, and chases the men off. Still lying on the street, the beaten man thanks Castor and begs him for work. But Castor's done his good deed for the day, and he turns away with a shrug. However he stops short when the beaten man offers, "I'll suck your cock!" What a tragedy that we won't get to see this week how that thrilling cliffhanger pays off.

Elsewhere in the house of Julii Cooper, Octavia's wondering why her brother keeps complaining about the money. "All you're doing is making mother anxious," she says. Like that doesn't happen on its own anyway. Octavian swears Octavia to secrecy before letting her in on his thoughts. "The Republic is on the brink of an abyss. Antony is a destructive brute. The Senate is weak and cowardly, and the plebs are roiling in want and anger. Rome is in need of new leadership." He says he's the man for the job, but as soon as he starts talking about "initiatives," Octavia starts laughing in his face. But then she realizes he's serious, and stops. And then they have sex. Not really.