As the wars in Gaul come to an end, Caesar is faced with both triumph and tribulation. In Rome, Pompey must balance honour and politics as he's urged to carry out an act of betrayal. Atia of the Julii tries to steer her family between the growing divisions of power.

Anointed People's Tribune by Caesar, Mark Antony returns to Rome with Octavian's liberators, Vorenus and Pullo. After the Senate rebuffs Caesar's compromise for a heroic return to Rome, Antony learns that Pompey has drafted an ultimatum stripping the general of his powe

Caesar is making his way towards Rome, though Vorenus is considering why the army's encountered so little resistance during their patrols. In Rome, Pompey orders a retreat of his forces and assigns his best men to take the city's treasury to their planned destination.

As Pompey 'manoeuvres' outside the city, Caesar seeks to strengthen his hold on Rome. Atia throws Caesar a welcome home party. Pullo delivers Quintus Pompey to Caesar, who in turn returns Quintus to his father with an offer of a truce he knows Pompey will never accept.

Caesar weighs Pompey's counteroffer against Antony's recommendation to chase down Pompey's vulnerable army. Vorenus is forced to reconsider his career choices after a series of business setbacks. A jealous Atia concocts a clever scheme to separate Caesar from Servilia.

Antony is running Rome while Caesar pursues Pompey in the East, but news that the tide has turned, and that Pompey now pursues Caesar, leaves Antony deciding whether to remain loyal or turn against Caesar as Atia and Pompey wish. Atia tries to mend fences with Servilia.