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Episode 6 Some Justice Players
in this episode are:
| Agrippina |
Daughter of Julia and widow of Germanicus. Leader of the anti-Tiberius
faction. |
| Caligula |
Agrippina and Germanicus' youngest son. Seen in this episode as a youthful
brat. |
| Castor |
Tiberius son and husband of Livilla. He is a political opponent of his
father. |
| Claudius |
Youngest son of Antonia and Drusus. Almost everyone still thinks he's an
idiot. |
| Tiberius |
Livia's only surviving son. Now the Emperor of Rome. |
| Sejanus |
Commander of the Praetorian Guard and Tiberius' principal assistant
Ambitious. |
| Livia |
Augustus' widow and mother of Tiberius. |
| Piso |
Roman governor of Syria. Tiberius' agent. Wimp. |
| Plancina |
Piso's wife. |
This episode takes place in 19 AD - Tiberius has been Emperor for five years. It opens
with Claudius in the privy, remembering the death of his brother. Germanicus and his
family were stationed in the East (in Antioch, Syria). He fell inexplicably ill and grew
worse. There were many unexplainable signs of doom and impending death that appeared
throughout his house. In spite of Agrippina's efforts to protect him, he finally died -
the victim of poison. But, who did it? The answer, according to Agrippina's accusations,
is Tiberius and Livia through their political appointee, Piso and his wife Plancina.
Piso and Plancina justify themselves to Tiberius. |
The Roman populace apparently agrees with Agrippina. They are
demonstrating outside the Palace as Tiberius gets the news from Sejanus that charges
against Piso and his wife will be brought in the Senate by his son, Castor. The couple are
to be charged with murder and treason. A key witness against them is the notorious
poisoner, Martina, who is secretly brought to Rome by Agrippina's faction. |
| Piso is confident of acquittal - he has letters from Tiberius that support
his actions. They're sealed, of course, and the Imperial Seal can't be broken without the
Emperor's consent. (Heavens! Executive Privilege in ancient Rome! Shades of Watergate!)
Plancina isn't so sure. Tiberius seems so cold and unsupportive. |
Piso defends himself in the Senate. |
Meanwhile, we get several views of the young Caligula. What a brat! He's a whiner who
always gets his own way, even if he would much rather sleep with his sister than his
cousin. His Grandmother, Antonia, is outraged when she finds the siblings together in the
buff. Claudius lectures the young boy about the special place sisters have in the scheme
of things, but somehow we don't think this has sunk in.
Back at the trial, Tiberius refuses to have the letters read to the Senate and later
sends his Commander of the Praetorian Guard, Sejanus, to retrieve them from Piso. No
problem though, Piso has another unsealed letter from Livia. Still, things are not going
well for the defense and Plancina separates her case from her husband's. Privately, she
counsels an honorable suicide to protect the family name and fortune. (Traitors had their
estates seized by the government, but suicides did not.)
Piso does himself in with help.
|
Livia attempts to intercede with Tiberius on Plancina's behalf, but
Tiberius won't have it. "No deal!", he tells her. So, Livia encourages Plancina
to handle her husband herself. She does. A joint suicide is the only way out. They sit
together and he draws his dagger. But, he's a wimp and can't do it. Plancina will show him
what Romans are made of! As she prepares to do herself in, she suddenly turns and
'accidentally' buries it to the hilt in him instead. |
The case is closed. The incriminating letter is returned to Livia (to be burned) and
Plancina goes free. As a precursor of things to come, Caligula sets fire to the family
villa in the closing scene. |
