Plebs

When the boys win big at a chariot race it looks like their fortunes might have taken a turn for the better. Stylax decides to reinvent himself as a charioteer while Marcus prefers to spend his money on romantic pursuits. Grumio gets nothing.

Marcus is unexpectedly asked to be best man for the upcoming wedding of Aurelius (waterboy) and sets about ogranising his stag do. Stylax takes chariot lessons from a volatile driving instructor and Grumio gets caught up in Landlord’s drug dealing.

While doing the recycling, Grumio finds a baby behind the bins and takes it home to raise as his own. Stylax uses it to strike up a relationship with an attractive young wet nurse. Meanwhile, Marcus tries to avoid seeing Cynthia’s painfully boring one-woman play.

Grumio falls ill after eating an apple on the loo. Marcus refuses to pay for his medical treatment preferring instead to go with Cynthia’s remedy of candlelight and prayer. Stylax strikes up a rapport with a rich nobleman Gaius who agrees to fund his charioteering career.

The boys buy an eccentric slave called Mushki at an auction. Grumio finds his position in the household gradually usurped, as Marcus is impressed by the new guy. But Stylax has a sneaking suspicion that Mushki might be a psychopath.

It's a public holiday in Rome for the local elections. Marcus and Stylax sign up as hired clappers for wig-wearing politician Victor of the Gracchii. Grumio however is drawn towards another candidate Julius Priscus who's giving away free promotional plums.

The boys bump into Fabianus a school friend who's now a hot shot lawyer living the high life in Rome. Through him Stylax reconnects with an old flame Cordelia. Grumio finds something unusual hiding in their wardrobe.

Marcus is stressed because the girls will soon be deported unless they raise 3000 denarii. Stylax thinks they should bet their savings on him winning an underground chariot race. Grumio visits Landlord in prison through a sewage pipe.