I, Claudius (TV Mini Series)
Reign of Terror (1976)
Liane Aukin: Aelia
Quotes
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[Sejanus falls]
Aelia : [hysterical] Claudius, help me! They're killing everyone! Everyone! Everyone who was a friend or a relative! Claudius, don't let them take me! Save me, Claudius! Save me! I'll do anything! Anything, Claudius! Let me hide here! Let me hide! *I'm your wife!* You must protect me! Executions are taking place all over the city! The Senate steps are strewn with bodies! They've even murdered his children!
Claudius : [horrified] His children?
Aelia : They raped the girl before they killed her! They dressed the boy in his manly gown! Apicata killed herself when she saw what they did to the bodies!
[noises outside draw her in panic to the window as Claudius bursts into tears]
Claudius : Rome, you are finished! Finished!
[sobbing]
Claudius : You are despicable...
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Aelia : Claudius. I heard you were in Rome. Why didn't you come and see me?
Claudius : W-what for?
Aelia : What for? Shouldn't a husband be seen with his wife?
Claudius : Well, we're not exactly a husband and w-wife. But I'll come and see you if you like.
Aelia : Don't flatter yourself. It's to your advantage to be seen with me. You're not every woman's ideal husband. In fact you're not any woman's ideal husband.
Claudius : Did you come here j-just to tell me this?
Aelia : Oh, don't try and be clever with me. I came here to see your sister, and as you were here, I thought I'd let you know I was alive and well Are you alive and well?.
Claudius : I th-think so.
Aelia : You don't look either to me.
Claudius : Well, it's been a very trying time since I got here. You know my sister-in-law's been arrested?
Aelia : Agrippina, yes. That's been coming for some time. Thank your stars you're married to me. That's brought you under my brother's protection. So what are you doing in Rome?
Claudius : Oh, I came up to use the P-Pollio Library. I've just finished a history of Carthage. Would you like a copy?
Aelia : Are you being funny?
