As Vorenus sleeps, a tearful Niobe appears in his dreams. "I thought you were dead," she says. "The boy is blameless." Vorenus jolts awake to find himself lying in his office, overlooking the Aventine tavern. Below, a brawl breaks out between two prostitutes, with drunken customers cheering them on, until Gaia breaks them apart. Mascius and Pullo catch each other admiring Gaia, as Eirene watches on.

As the new head of the Aventine, Vorenus receives an official visit from Memmio and Carbo. A young nephew of Carbo's, a boy of 12, was ‘defiled’ by an Aventine man called Quintus Bubo. Carbo comes to ask Vorenus' permission to avenge his family's honour and kill the man. Vorenus dismisses the request after learning that the boy accepted money for the exchange. No offence was committed and Mark Antony gave strict orders to maintain the peace. Besides, Bubo "is a man of property and respect”. Vorenus orders Memmio and Carbo not to touch Bubo.

Pullo speaks up on their behalf, saying: "Money or not, he took advantage of the boy," suggesting maybe a moderate form of punishment. Vorenus shuts Pullo down, making Memmio angry. "We came to you out of politeness, a mere formality," the gang leader tells him. "Even your own man..." "My man doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut," Vorenus snaps before insisting his decision is final. After they leave, Pullo confronts Vorenus, who responds, "Do not question my authority under any circumstances." Pullo pulls back, "Authority?" They're interrupted by Gaia, bringing Vorenus food.

Octavia is entertaining a friend, Jocasta, the daughter of a wealthy businessman. She's just returned from Macedonia with two sacks of hemp. With the help of a slave girl, Octavia tries smoking the seeds for the first time, only to choke on the smoke. They're interrupted by Atia who reprimands them for stinking up the house — before taking a hit of the hemp herself. Atia wants to know more about Macedonia; they are going there once Antony takes up the Governorship. Jocasta tells her the place is "ghastly," with a "filthy climate, vile food and beastly people". Octavia snickers, the hemp seeds finally hitting her, but her mother is not amused. "Perhaps you did not mix in quite with the best society," she says to her friend. Jocasta explains her father is "hideously rich," but there is no "society" to be found in the region. The women are so awful the men resort to their sheep. "It is truly the end of the world."

Atia scowls at the young woman. "I am no snob, my dear," she says to Octavia. "I do not mind that you bring home a tradesman's daughter. But let's stop there, shall we? No actors, or gladiators, or that sort of thing..." Jocasta stares up at her in disbelief. Octavia tries to assuage her friend after her mother leaves. "She's been in an infernal grump since Octavian left."

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