Vicki and Ian with The Doctor

The Doctor and his companions are enjoying a rare holiday from their travels. They are staying at a vacant villa, not far from Rome in the year 64 AD, while its owner, Flavius Giscard is away campaigning in Gaul.

It is not long though before The Doctor becomes restless and decides to set off and visit the city, taking Vicki with him. In their absence, Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton's peace is shattered when they are kidnapped by slave traders led by a man named Sevcheria and his deputy Didius.

On the road to Rome and shortly after leaving the villa The Doctor and Vicki find the body of a murdered person. The Doctor also discovers a lyre lying on the ground and so picks it up. As he does so a Centurion arrives and mistakes him for the dead man - the famous lyre player called Maximus Pettulian.

The Doctor and Steven Dressed as Romans

The Doctor and Vicki eventually reach Rome. On entering the city The Doctor is again mistaken for the lyre player and is asked to perform at the Court of the Emperor Nero. Unable to refuse The Doctor has to devise ever more elaborate schemes to avoid revealing that he cannot actually play the instrument much to Vicki's amusement.

Barbara also finds herself in Rome. She ends up being sold, in a slave auction, to Nero's slave buyer Tavius who has been tasked to find a new handmaiden for Nero's wife, the Empress Poppaea. When they reach Nero's court Tavius warns Barbara that if she tries to escape from her slavery then she will be killed. Barbara though finds herself doing all she can to fend off the amorous attentions of Nero.

Barbara and Vicki on Their Way to the Market

Ian's fate though is even more serious as he has become a galley slave. However, with the help of a fellow slave named Delos he manages to escape when the galley is wrecked in a storm. Finding themselves on dry land they make their way to Rome so as to try to find and rescue Barbara. Unfortunately, Ian and Delos soon find themselves recaptured and forced to fight as gladiators in the arena.

With Nero watching Ian and Delos are instructed to battle to the death. Ian and Delos though decide to fight their way out of the arena instead. While fighting Ian spots Barbara in the crowds and as they flee from the arena he calls out to her that he will be back to rescue her.

Events, for all four travelling companions, reach their climax. Ian is helped into the palace by Tavius, now revealed to be an early Christian. Tavius reunites Ian with Barbara, and then allows them to escape together.

Barbara and Ian are Attacked

The Doctor, meanwhile, accidentally sets alight the Emperor's plans for the rebuilding of Rome. The Doctor then gives Nero the idea of having the city raised to the ground. The Doctor and Vicki then leave Rome, leaving Nero playing the lyre while the city burns. After escaping from the city The Doctor and Vicki watch Rome burn from a nearby hill.

By the time The Doctor and Vicki return to the villa, Ian and Barbara have spruced themselves up, and The Doctor mistakenly assumes that they have not even left the villa. The Doctor and Vicki are therefore completely unaware of the adventures experienced by Ian and Barbara. And Ian and Barbara know nothing of The Doctor and Vicki's involvement in recent events.