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Episode 3 Waiting in the Wings Players in this episode are:
| Tiberius |
Livia's only surviving son. Now in exile on the island of Rhodes. |
| Julia |
Augustus' daughter, now married to, but separated from Tiberius. |
| Antonia |
Octavia and Mark Antony's daughter. Widow of Drusus. Mother of Claudius. |
| Plautius |
'Best friend' of Lucius and lover to Julia. |
| Lucius |
Julia's second son by Marcus Agrippa. Adopted son and heir to Augustus. |
| Livia |
Augustus' wife and mother of Tiberius and Drusus. |
| Caesar Augustus |
First Emperor of Rome. Julia's father and Tiberius' step-father. |
| Agrippina |
Daughter of Julia by Marcus Agrippa. Seen in this episode as a young girl.
|
| Germanicus |
Son of Antonia and Drusus. Seen in this episode as a young boy. |
| Postumus |
Julia's youngest son by Marcus Agrippa. Seen in this episode as a young
boy. |
| Herod Agrippa |
Future ruler of Judea (39 - 44 AD). Seen in this episode as a young boy. |
| Claudius |
Youngest son of Antonia and Drusus. Seen in this episode as a young boy. |
This episode takes place between 2 BC and 4 AD. Tiberius is living on Rhodes in the
eastern Mediterranean while Julia is alone and 'active' in Rome. Freed from the
supervision of a husband, Julia has abandoned herself to sensual pleasures. Tiberius
remains unforgiven by Augustus, who apparently is the only man in Rome unaware of Julia's
indulgences. (Her behavior was particularly scandalous since Augustus had implemented laws
requiring a husband [or father] to reveal and punish an adulterous wife.)
A letter arrives for Tiberius from his mother. "The answer, I'm
afraid, is no.", to his return to Rome. Gaius has died inexplicably of wounds
received in the East, but his brother Lucius has been promoted to command the Roman army
in Spain. Julia remains the scandal of Rome.
|
Julia bids Plautius good-bye. |
Claudius and the wolf cub. |
Lucius and his friend, Plautius, call on Julia to bid farewell. Julia
gives Plautius a little 'gift' in the privacy of her room. Back on the patio, the children
are playing. Suddenly, an eagle drops a wolf-cub which is caught by Claudius. The sign is
interpreted by a priest. Rome too will one day be wounded and Claudius will protect it.
The other children mock the prediction. Audio |
Later, in the Palace, Plautius is confronted by Livia and recruited as her spy on
Julia. Audio Augustus,
meanwhile, is lecturing a group on nobles on Roman morality. We are introduced at this
point to young Herod Agrippa and also get a closer look at poor limping, stammering,
twitching Claudius.
Julia continues her wanton ways, seemingly with half the male population
of the city - but now under the watchful eyes of Plautius. The list (a long one) is
finally given to Livia and from her to Lucius, whom she convinces to inform Augustus.
Augustus confronts the assembled men who confess to the affairs. Augustus is devastated.
He disavows Julia and banishes her for life to a barren island in the Mediterranean
(Pandateria).
|
Julia and friend at her 'party'. |
Augustus still resists recalling Tiberius, but when Lucius is killed in a 'boating
accident' while enroute to Spain there is no one else to turn to. At last, Tiberius
returns to Rome to become Caesar's assistant and heir - along with Julia's youngest son,
Postumus……..
|
