Continued from "The Restored Cleopatra", page 18 - Antony has deserted his men to follow the departing Cleopatra. Onboard her barge, the realization of his desertion sinks in. The scene dissolves to the solitary, despondent, figure of Antony trudging a deserted beach, then to Cleopatra watching him, still alone, pacing the shore of the Royal Enclosure. The scene dissolves to an Alexandrian tavern. Antony, unshaved and unkempt, but sober, sits listlessly in a corner watching a native dance. A girl tries to squeeze in beside him. Silently he shoves her away. The proprietor, a friendly type, comes up to him, wine bottle in hand...

Antony shakes his head..

Antony looks at him absently...

Antony rises abruptly and goes out. The scene dissolves to Cleopatra's apartment. Apollodorus escorts Rufio, who is travel-stained and weary - to Cleopatra's library. Cleopatra, seated with Caesarion, looks up as Rufio enters. He bows...

Cleopatra turns to Caesarion...

Caesarion rises unwillingly, kneels to kiss his mother's hand, bows to Rufio and is led off by Apollodorus. Cleopatra turns to Rufio...

Cleopatra nods, as if the answer were what she expected. She crosses to watch Caesarion being ushered out by Apollodorus.

The boy smiles at her, then goes out.

She smiles back, then turns to Rufio:

She is on the verge of tears. She controls them, paces for a moment. Then:

She removes a large, striking bracelet from her wrist...

Rufio stares at her. He takes the bracelet, kisses her hand, and leaves. The scene dissolves to the throne room. Antony is alone, slumped on Cleopatra's throne. She comes in and tells him that Octavian has entered Egypt, but he still has two legions in Alexandria that are loyal to him. He does not respond. She beseeches him to say what he wants done. For the first time since he deserted his men, he looks at her, his eyes filled with hate. She says, "It's been so long since you've looked at me, don't turn away - even like this, your eyes filled with hate, how they burn with hate - why, Antony? Why? Because I ran away? They told me you were dead." She continues, crying, "What was I to do - where was I to go in a world suddenly without you - except to my son and my country. I wanted to save them from Octavian - you would have wanted me to go, you would have commanded me to go! Tell me you would have!" Still sobbing, "They told me you were dead. They told me you were dead." He finally speaks to her, "They were quite right. I am dead." He leaves the throne room. Cleopatra is left alone, sobbing, in the great room. The scene dissolves to Octavian's tent inside the border of Egypt. Octavian sits at his campaign table. He looks down musingly at the bracelet which Cleopatra has sent. Behind him stands Agrippa. Across the table, facing Octavian, is Rufio. Begrimed and dusty from his long hard ride...

Rufio senses his intent. He stares unbelievingly at Octavian...

Rufio's look finds Agrippa's. Agrippa looks away...

By way of answer, Rufio hawks deeply - then spits on the table before Octavian. Agrippa moves. Rufio's hand goes to his sword. Octavian holds up his hand, stopping Agrippa, and speaks coldly but softly to Rufio...

He turns and goes. Agrippa gives Octavian an inquiring look. Octavian shakes his head...

Agrippa doesn't move.

Agrippa salutes formally, and leaves. Octavian, alone, picks up the bracelet. He tosses it aside. He thinks better of it, tries the bracelet on. He keeps it on - as he studies one of a stack of scrolls. The scene dissolves to Octavian, mounted on his horse, leading his armies toward Alexandria. [In the script, this scene is actually placed a bit later in the film. Apparently, some need in the severe editing process resulted in this shift of order. The actual placement will be noted when it comes.] The scene dissolves to the outside of the Palace in Alexandria. Antony is walking restlessly and sees several horses bearing the insignia of Octavian. They are being guarded by members of Octavian's army. The officer's to whom the horses belong are obviously within the Palace. Puzzled at first, then seized by sudden suspicion, Antony hurries into the Palace. Inside, near the entrance to the throne room, he finds a hiding place where he can see and hear what is happening in the throne room proper. He hears Agrippa's voice. In the throne room, Cleopatra and Caesarion are seated on their thrones. Agrippa and some of Octavian's officers stand before her.

The scene continues as we see it. After some obvious hesitation from Agrippa to put Octavian's demands into words, Cleopatra learns that the requested peace offering is the head of Mark Antony. She removes from her necklace a coin that bears the images of her and Antony, and throws it to Agrippa as her reply, "Octavian may have two heads for the price of one. Either two - or none." The scene dissolves to the interior of Cleopatra's mausoleum. She enters to find Antony lying on a stone slab beneath the statue of Caesar. She has come to try to reason with him, to rouse him back into reality, trying to remove him from his, "...endless self-pity." She says she has, "...come for Mark Antony...", and that, "...what's left of his army, Rufio, and all of Egypt are waiting for him."  He replies, "There is no one here by that name - alive..." She slaps him repeatedly. Then, he slaps her, sending her reeling to the floor. Now, finally - like a burst dam - the emotions and fears which he has repressed throughout the past many weeks - gush forth. Cleopatra had begged Antony's forgiveness for leaving him at Actium, giving her reasons - but where and to whom could he beg and weep for forgiveness? The dead? And, what was his reason for deserting his men? "Shall I say simply - I loved? That when I saw you go, I saw nothing - felt, heard, thought nothing - except your going. That my love - my master - called! And I followed. How right you were. Have as your master anyone, anything - but never love."

Together they leave the mausoleum. As they come out, Charmian, waiting, steps back and watches them as they walk toward the Palace. Tears glisten in her eyes and she smiles after them. The scene dissolves to Octavian and his armies marching toward Alexandria. [This is the correct placement for the scene.] The scene dissolves to Cleopatra's bedroom at dawn. Cleopatra awakens. Her eyes open and close lazily, contentedly. She turns, her arm reaching out - only to discover that Antony is already gone. There is the sound of a distant assembly horn; from below her window, the sound of horses and men. She smiles sadly, but in happiness - the sounds are somehow comforting. She reaches for Antony's pillow and holds it for a moment. Charmian comes in with a robe for her. As she gets into it...

There is a shout from outside - "Hail, Antony!" Charmian leaves and Cleopatra goes to her window. Looking out, she sees: Antony and Rufio embrace, then ride off to regroup with Antony's army for one last stand against Octavian. After they are gone, she heads to her library, where Apollodorus is waiting for her. He informs her that Octavian has posted hundreds of notices everywhere throughout the city. Cleopatra cuts him off to continue...

During the dialog, Cleopatra has gone into a side room to retrieve a small chest. She brings it out and removes Pompey's ring, still on its chain.

The scene continues as we see it, with Cleopatra requesting the Captain of the Guards and three of his best men to report to her at once, disguised as merchants, to escort Caesarion out of Egypt. Apollodorus pleads with her to take advantage of one of Euphranor's ships to leave the country herself. She declines, saying she wants to remain in Alexandria, "...in the last possible place anyone would look - literally - the last possible place." He wants to go with her, but she asks him to remain in the Palace so that...
 

She nods in dismissal. Apollodorus does not move. There is a pause...

The scene dissolves to a watering place in the desert, where Octavian and his army are replenishing their supplies. Agrippa says it is somewhat a shame to use the massive Roman army to slaughter what's left of Antony and his army. Octavian says there will be no slaughter, and doubts there will even be any bloodshed. He makes it clear that both Antony and, especially Cleopatra, are to be taken alive, concluding with, "Queen Cleopatra's second procession into Rome will surpass her first." The scene dissolves to the exterior of the Palace in Alexandria.