Continued from "The Restored Cleopatra", page 4 - Rufio has seen that Pompey's head was safely removed to Caesar's galley. The Palace steps are now empty of all Romans. Pothinos, Theodotos and Achillas are left...

He motions Theodotos with his fan, and they and their followers start into the Palace. Achillas is alone and chews his lip nervously. Then, as if in decision, he turns and strides away. His officers follow through the crowd, and it is cleared for them savagely and swiftly by guards manhandling the people in brutal fashion. [Unlike the friendly way the Romans made their way through the crowd - without an underhanded agenda, Caesar demonstrated to the Egyptian people how kind the Romans were, while the Egyptian officers treated their own people like cattle. Again, the contrast between two situations is lost.] This dissolves to a scene in Caesar's apartment, where his men are busy putting his gear into place. Caesar stares absently out to sea, holding Pompey's ring. Agrippa lets him know that the, "...Tenth and Twelfth have landed and all ships are secure." Caesar inquires about Pompey and is informed that, "...everything has been done properly - with full honors." Caesar lets it be known that:

He stares at Pompey's ring on the golden chain. Suddenly his hand jerks in a spasm-like contraction. The ring clatters to the floor. Flavius whirls instantly in reaction to the sound. He hurries across to pick up the ring and brings it to Caesar. He looks up at him with concern.

Flavius nods and withdraws. Caesar pinches the bridge of his nose - a characteristic and sometimes effective, gesture of the epileptic in an effort to stop the cycle of muscular spasm before it fully develops. He turns to Rufio and Agrippa:

The officers leave. Caesar is alone with Flavius, who positions himself behind Caesar and starts to massage his back.

This scene dissolves to the Royal Harbor at night. Braziers and large torches bathe the entire enclosure with irregular patterns of light and shadow. The Palace is patrolled by Roman Legionnaires. The waterfront and jetty are under watch by the Egyptian Soldiers. [The pink text reflects the scene as it was originally written and planned. Later meetings ended with this scene being scaled down to just a few shots establishing Apollodorus paddling into the harbor. In the final cut of the film, it is left to conjecture how Apollodorus was able to smuggle Cleopatra into the heavily guarded Palace. It could be argued that Caesar's order to have any word from Cleopatra reported to him immediately may have allowed this "merchant", bearing a gift from Cleopatra, to be allowed into Caesar's presence. The scene below offers a much more plausible, and humorous, explanation.] A small group of officers, led by Hakim, play backgammon on the Harbor steps. Suddenly, from the jetty, comes a shouted challenge. Bowmen and guards run toward it. A small boat appears under the jetty. In the boat are several rolled-up rugs and Apollodorus, disguised as a rug merchant. On the bow is Charmian, also disguised. Hakim gestures for Apollodorus to come in...

He sculls quickly and turns the boat. Hakim signals a couple of bowmen who let their arrows fly. One of the arrows misses the boat - one buries itself in one of the rugs. Charmian cries out and throws herself over the rugs.

Apollodorus starts out. As he passes Charmian she stands. Rudely he shoves her down - on a particular rug.

He takes her hand and leads her to the top of the stairs. Charmian smiles invitingly at the other officers...

Charmian laughs with them. Without a glance at Apollodorus, she hurries toward a shadowed area with the officers. Apollodorus calls after them, sadly:

He looks around carefully, and swiftly descends the steps to the boat. Carefully, he hoists one tied-up rug to his shoulder. Hurriedly - but casually - he mounts the steps with it and heads toward the Palace. From the shadowed area, Charmian, with a throaty laugh, breaks away from Hakim's impassioned caress. Another officer reaches for her. Coyly, she eludes him - and manages to sneak a look in the direction taken by Apollodorus. She sighs with relief. The officer comes at her again. She clouts him on the side of the head. Attacking him with hands and feet, she yells bloody murder;

Marcellus and a Roman Guard standing nearby, hear her screams and run in her direction, passing a hidden Apollodorus. He blows a kiss in Charmian's direction, then hurries with his precious bundle into the Palace.The scene switches to Caesar's apartments where he is discussing holding down the city: "For the time being this is what we must hold - the Moon Gate and three others." It continues on through Cleopatra being unrolled from the carpet, her meeting with Caesar, and his guards escorting her to her apartments in the Palace. Cleopatra says, "The corridors are dark, gentlemen, but you mustn't be afraid. I am with you." On the way to her apartments, we would have seen Lotos, the handmaiden that will soon try to poison her Queen, spying on the activity so she can report back to those that plot against Cleopatra.

In complete secrecy, Apollodorus, and Cleopatra's chief handmaidens, Charmian and Eiras, have gathered all those loyal to Cleopatra to welcome her home. Cleopatra enters:

 

She moves to Phoebus, the blind singer. He turns his blind eyes toward her as she approaches. His hand goes out; she gives him hers. He kisses it...

 

There is a joyous cry from the direction of the bath. A lovely blonde girl - no more than fourteen - hurries toward Cleopatra, tearful with happiness. She sinks at her feet...

Cleopatra kisses her. Then, turning, becomes aware of Germanicus, still present, awe-struck by the opulence and beauty surrounding him...

She dashes to the door and whips it open -

Cleopatra subsides. Germanicus holds out his hand for her dagger...

Germanicus bows and leaves. Cleopatra waits. Then she opens the door swiftly. The guard is there, in full force. She slams the door and turns to Apollodorus...

She starts towards the secret aperture. Apollodorus with her...

 

They have arrived at a statue which hides a secret passage. She swings it open and enters, Apollodorus following. The statue closes behind them...

She stops. He comes up to her. Almost savagely, they kiss - as if to satisfy a desperate immediate physical need. Cleopatra draws away...then they go on. They arrive at the other side of the Sphinx in Caesar's apartment. Cleopatra removes the eyepieces painted to match the color of her eyes.