I, Claudius

Plot Summary

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This episode takes place between 29 and 31 AD - Tiberius is now in his seventies and, tired of the constant criticisms of the Senate and the people, he has gone into self- imposed seclusion on the isle of Capri in the Bay of Naples. His agent in communicating with the Senate and in running the government is Sejanus.

Sejanus is now divorced and is still Livilla's lover, but they aren't married yet. His ex-wife visits Livilla's mother, Antonia, to plea for her help in getting custody of the children. While she's there she also threatens to make the poisoning of Castor public, but Antonia can't believe it's true. Claudius inadvertently spills the beans about Livilla's role in framing Postumus. Poor Antonia. All this going on about her and she seems to be the only one who doesn't know.

Livilla reacts to the news.

Sejanus applies to Tiberius for permission to marry Livilla, but the Emperor reluctantly turns him down. It would be "too an exalted position" for him. However, Tiberius wouldn't object to a marriage to Helen, her daughter. When Sejanus tells her, Livilla obviously has a fit over this and tries to attack him but he at last calms her down.

Meanwhile, Agrippina and her son, Nero, have been arrested. She's brought to the Emperor in handcuffs and confronts him about the political persecutions of his (and Sejanus') opponents. He banishes her to Pandateria, the same little island where her mother was sent by Augustus. But, before she goes he flogs her. Back in the Senate, Sejanus secures a vote against Drusus, her other son, who is then thrown in the dungeon.

Tiberius gives Agrippina a send off.

Claudius thinks Caligula is next and tries to warn him of "grave danger" but Caligula shrugs it off. It's apparent that he doesn't think much of his mother and brothers. But, he loves his sisters…..

Sejanus' arrogant sister Aelia (and Claudius' new wife) drops by to see Livilla and bumps in to Claudius and Antonia. In private, Livilla gives Aelia a letter to Sejanus that insists that they move against the Emperor. A bit later Antonia is recycling waste paper from Livilla's room and discovers the incriminating drafts of the letter. But, how to get them to Tiberius? Sejanus screens all his mail. She and Claudius paste the evidence inside the scrolls of a history that Claudius wrote and smuggle them to Tiberius.

"Rome deserves you."

Tiberius is distraught at the news of Sejanus' treachery. How to get to him when he controls all the soldiers in Rome? Caligula hits on the solution. "Get a dog who'll eat a dog.", he says. He knows just the guy - Macro, the second in Command. Together, they draw up the plan.

Sejanus is tricked into going to the Senate, thinking he's about to be promoted. Instead, he charged with treason and arrested by Macro and his own little band of loyal guards. Macro executes Sejanus in his cell and supervises that of his children too. The girl is deflowered first and the boy dressed in his manly clothes since it's against Roman tradition to kill a virgin or children.

Macro leads Sejanus away.

Livilla get her own special punishment. Antonia locks her in her room and posts herself outside the door "until she dies.", she says. "That's her punishment and this is mine."

Rome goes into a frenzy against Sejanus' friends and agents and the streets run red. Sejanus' body was thrown to the mob and paraded around the city, dragged by a meat hook. At the end, his body and those of many of his followers were thrown down the steps by the Tiber, later to be dumped unceremoniously into the river.

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