The Roman Empire and Nero
It is the beginning of the first century A.D. Seneca, chief Roman tragic writer and philosopher in the time, who just came back from exile is summoned to the Roman emperor's castle by the old emperor Claudius' wife Julia Agrippina. He is assigned to tutor her son, Nero.
Nero is a spoiled little twenty-year old fat freak hungry for gladiator-ism. He hates his step- father, Claudius for he always treats him as a good for nothing child, which he is. Where-from he feels indebted to his mother who seemingly gives him full attention and has always made him feel as the future ruler of Rome. He is very naïve and stupid and always dresses up as a king hoping that the costume is bringing him back the respect and fear he deserves. And now he is to be tutored by a writer with a somewhat contradictory life, who as a writer espoused stoicism, a philosophy of moderation and calm acceptance of whatever happens. In his personal life, though, he is an epicure and something of a voluptuary, enjoying the pleasures of the flesh which stoics were supposed to forgo. These extremes are going to be the schools that will nurture Nero's empty mind, filled with selfishness and pride. In the beginning, Nero is the least interested in learning, all he wants is look wonderful and royal, so while his teacher recounts his stories, Nero looks out the window, looks himself into the mirror as if desperately trying to find a little default, or plays with a flour in his hands wondering about the days of glory where he will be the hero of the people after having saved them from the terrible enemy. Though against his will, his ear is tempted by the bloody tragedies recounted by his master and he starts to have a taste for it. ...
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...s happening. He sees the people cursing him and throwing rocks at him. A man walking through the crowd keeps looking at him, slightly smiling. It is Hadrian who just came out of the castle. Hadrian jumps over a chariot and calms the people. He stares at Nero, than after a moment of silence points at him screaming that he is the killer arousing the crowd's rage against Nero. He orders them to demand his execution, smiles than disappears into the crowd again. Nero runs to Precia. As he enters the room, he finds her standing there waiting for him, her eyes pitiful and innocent. She stabs herself in the heart. Nero falls apart. He picks up the knife and stabs himself. He slides his way to the door, bleeding and rolls down the large stairs until his body runs into his mother's foot. She smiles at him then helps him continue his way down with a gentle kick.