Tiberius seems a bitter, broken boy, having had to beat his comrade Sabinus to death, lashing out at surviving true cowards. Father Marcus Crassus sends his mistress to coax his heir with wine and tenderness, but the knave chooses to rape the ‘mere’ slave by way of compensation. Senator Metellus is ignored when he rudely inquires why the army hasn’t moved on Sinuessa, but will soon see.