Caligula

Caligula: Tell me, how is the emperor? Nerva: Old, like me. Caligula: I mean, how is his mood? Nerva: Like the weather. Caligula: The weather is good today! Nerva: Changeable. I've heard that during the last month, seven of my colleagues in the senate have been put to death for treason. Caligula: Nine, to be exact. Five of them cheated. They killed themselves. That wasn't playing fair. Don't you agree, Nerva? Nerva: They were all good men. Caligula: If they were good men, how could their beloved emperor find them guilty? Nerva: You have a gift for logic, prince.

Caligula (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Tiberius: Help me, Nerva. Help me transform this young barbarian into a Roman Caesar. Nerva: There have been three Roman Caesars; Julius, Augustus and yourself. Which do you want him to be? Tiberius: The best. Nerva: That would be your father Augustus. Tiberius: You see, Caligula? I'm insulted to my face.

Caligula (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Tiberius: I'm old. Caligula: Yes, lord. But you will live forever. Tiberius: All my family are dead but you, the child Gemellus, and that Claudius, that uncle. They were struck down by fate, and it is fate, "Little Boots", that rules us, not any god. Caligula: You are a god, lord. Tiberius: No I'm not, not even when I am dead. Caligula: Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar, they are gods. Tiberius: So say the senate, and so the people prefer to believe. Such myths are useful.

Caligula (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Tiberius: Serve the state, Caligula, although the people in it are wicked beasts. Caligula: But they love you, lord. Tiberius: No, they fear me, and that is much better. I have no choice, you see. No choice. Caligula: No choice? Tiberius: All I wanted was private life. I did not truly want to become emperor, but I had to. Caligula: Had to? Tiberius: If someone else had become emperor, I would have been killed, as you will be.

Caligula (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Tiberius: [seeing Nerva has cut his wrists] Cretins... why did you permit him to do it? Bind his wrists... BIND HIS WRISTS! [to Nerva] You must not go, you must not leave me, you are my friend, my only friend. Nerva: I've lived too long, Tiberius, I hate my life. Tiberius: [to the slaves] Leave us! Both of you! Nerva: For a man to choose the hour of his own death is the closest he will ever come to tricking fate, and fate decrees that when you die, Macro will kill me. Tiberius: I'll arrest him and have him executed. Nerva: You can't. He controls you. [Looks at Caligula] Anyway, even with Macro dead, how could I go on living with this reptile? Tiberius: [To Caligula] You will respect my friend always, won't you, reptile? Caligula: I've always respected him, lord. Tiberius: [To Nerva] You hear? Nerva: Tiberius, you were wise once. Tiberius: Ah, don't taunt me. I am old. Nerva: I've watched you grow into a monster! One by one, I've seen you murder your whole family, your friends, the nobl

Caligula (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Caligula: Nerva, what's it like? Nerva: Warm, no pain. Just drifting away. Caligula: Do you see her? Nerva: Who? Caligula: The goddess, Isis. Nerva: So you're one of those who believe. Caligula: Do you see her? Nerva: No. Caligula: Are you sure? You're almost dead. What's it like? What's happening to you now? Nerva: Nothing. Caligula: You're lying. You can see her, I know you can. What is she like? Nerva: No. Nothing at all. Just sleep. Caligula: Liar!

Caligula (film), CC BY-SA 4.0