Scene #

Description

Narration

1

A Roman is sitting at a desk writing. Scrolls are showing on a bookshelf.

THE GRIM STORIES OF THE FIRST ROMANS WERE AS SURPRISING TO LIVY AS THEY ARE TO US. THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T PROVIDE THE ROLE MODELS HE WAS LOOKING FOR. HIS LITTLE BOOK TURNED INTO ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL HISTORIES EVER WRITTEN. BY THE TIME HE DIED IN 17 A.D. IT HAD GROWN TO 142 VOLUMES, ALL WRITTEN LABORIOUSLY IN WAX. IT HAD ABSORBED HIS ENTIRE LIFE. LIVY'S CHRONICLE WAS THE BEST SELLER OF ITS DAY. IT WAS MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN HE COULD EVER HAVE HOPED...

2

Roman people are dancing, Roman soldiers are marching in the streets, a wolf is growling at the camera.

...BUT HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER ON THE MORAL CHAOS OF EMPIRE. EVEN 142 BOOKS WERE NO MATCH FOR THE INFLUENCE OF SO MUCH POWER. BY NOW ROME WAS A JUGGERNAUT WHOSE MOMENTUM WAS UNSTOPPABLE, ITS COURSE SET BY ITS MYTHIC BEGINNINGS, WHETHER FACT OR FICTION.