Think of this play as the ultimate mid-life crisis. The year is 39 B.C. and Mark Antony, an aging lion--charismatic leader of men, brilliant general, powerful warrior and notorious carouser--is supposed to be ruling the eastern Roman Empire. Cleopatra, however, the Queen of Egypt and the most powerful and wealthy woman in the world--has all of his attention. Their torrid love affair and the birth of two children becomes the scandal of Rome. The death of Antony's wife, Fulvia, and the threat of a war by Pompey bring him back to Rome. There is tension between Octavius and Antony; Octavius feels that Antony has left Rome vulnerable while dallying with Cleopatra. It seems there is no way to heal the rift between them, Antony agrees to marry Octavia, the sister of Octavius, to bind the two as brothers. But this only postpones the inevitable conflict, and soon Octavius and Antony begin to clash with their armies.

Octavia tries to repair the damage and assuage the antagonism between Octavius and Antony. To everyone’s chagrin, however, Antony seizes the opportunity during Octavia’s absence to flee back to Egypt—and Cleopatra. Octavius is now doubly enraged, vowing to punish Antony for dishonoring his sister as well as Caesar. In the battle to come, Cleopatra convinces Antony to accept a challenge from Caesar to a battle at sea and insists on participating; his soldiers and advisors try to tell him that his army has a better chance on land, but Antony will not listen. He will rue the decision.

At the height of the naval battle, Cleopatra orders her personal ship to flee the scene. The lovestruck Antony orders his ship to follow her and the battle at Actium becomes a Roman victory. Caesar rejects Antony’s suit for peace, and instead attempts to split Antony and Cleopatra; Cleopatra, he decrees, will remain Queen of Egypt, unmolested, if she kills Antony. Cleopatra refuses, and Caesar’s army meets Antony’s on land—resulting in a surprise victory for Antony. The two armies withdraw to resume the fight the next day.

When another Egyptian retreat decides the day for Caesar, Antony accuses Cleopatra of treachery and threatens her life. To save herself, she flees to her tomb and orders a servant to send word to Antony that she has killed herself. This pushes Antony over the edge, and he falls on his own sword, mortally wounding himself. Before he dies, however, he learns that Cleopatra is still alive. He orders his soldiers to carry him to Cleopatra, and the two once again profess their love before Antony breathes his last.

Caesar, upon hearing the news of Antony’s death, grieves for the loss of his rival and onetime friend. To Cleopatra he promises mercy, although he intends to humiliate her by "leading her in triumph" through the streets of Rome as a war captive. Cleopatra, recognizing his aims, secures an asp hidden in a fruit basket and uses its venomous bite to kill herself. Caesar is moved by her courage and beauty and decrees that Antony and Cleopatra be united in death by being buried together.