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Episode 5 Poison is Queen Players
in this episode are:
| Germanicus |
Son of Antonia and older brother of Claudius. Now an accomplished General.
|
| Caesar Augustus |
First Emperor of Rome. Now in his last year. Tiberius' step-father. |
| Claudius |
Youngest son of Antonia and Drusus. Almost everyone thinks he's an idiot. |
| Livia |
Augustus' wife and mother of Tiberius. |
| Livilla |
Daughter of Antonia and wife of Castor. She's manipulative. |
| Tiberius |
Livia's only surviving son. Now Augustus' assistant and heir.. |
| Postumus |
Youngest of Julia's sons. He's now in banishment on a tiny island near
Corsica. |
| Chief Vestal |
#1 Vestal Virgin. They are highly respected. Entrusted with important
documents. |
| Flavius Maximus |
Trusted friend and advisor to Augustus. |
| Sejanus |
Officer in the Praetorian Guard. Very ambitious. |
This episode takes place in 14 AD. It opens with Claudius rummaging through a barrel of
old documents and finding Augustus' last will. He remembers Augustus' final year…..
The Germans have at last been suppressed and Germanicus has returned to
Rome to a triumph and the accolades of the Senate. Later, he and his brother, Claudius are
alone on the patio. Claudius finally has the chance to pass on the truth about the false
charge of attempted rape that was brought by their sister Livilla against Postumus.
Further, he reveals his suspicions about Livia's spies and plots to further the career of
Tiberius. Germanicus must tell Augustus, who would never have believed Claudius.
|
Claudius tells Germanicus the truth about Postumus and Livilla. |
Apparently, Augustus believes the story. He inexplicably plans a trip to Corsica, which
will take him right past 'the rock' where Postumus has been confined these past four
years. He's coy about the trip, which raises Livia's suspicions. This is especially so
since he hates sea voyages, but appears to anticipate this one joyfully. Livilla denies
having said a word, but who else could know the truth? Surely not 'poor twitching, stupid
Claudius.'
Livia asks the Chief Vestal about the will. |
Augustus makes the trip with his trusted friend, Quintus Flavius Maximus,
and sure enough they stop secretly to see Postumus. Postumus is understandably angry and
Augustus is appropriately repentant and the two reconcile. Postumus will be recalled and
his inheritance as heir will be reinstated, but first Augustus must lay the groundwork
with the Senate. Livia suspects something is up and cons the Chief Vestal into allowing
her to see the secretly revised will. |
Augustus' health begins to fail. He's struck by severe stomach pain and is convinced by
a series of 'signs' that his end is near. Nevertheless, he nurses himself back to health
and has a chance to thank Claudius for his part in rectifying the situation. He's been
wrong about Claudius all these years.
| While playing dice with a group of friends, Augustus has a sudden attack
of severe stomach pain. He refuses to eat anything but the figs he has picked from the
tree himself. The doctor briefs Livia and she fondles a fig in a mysterious, bemused way.
Augustus finally slips into death as Livia, in the background, explains her rationale.
Tiberius arrives at the last and she goes to brief the deputation from the Senate.
"Don't touch the figs.", she tells him. |
Augustus feels the attack coming on. |
Livia's agents, including the infamous Sejanus, are dispatched to do in Postumus and
witnesses to Augustus' late change of heart. Tiberius is at last acclaimed by the Senate
as the new Caesar.
|
