Jupiter’s Darling

Amytis engages in a bidding war at Rome's slave market and wins Varius for herself. Meta watches the bidding with interest as the deal is sealed. The auction establishes the initial bond between Amytis and Varius and sets the plot in motion.

Fabius and Fabia scold Amytis after the market incident, and it is revealed that Fabius and Amytis have been engaged for seven years. Fabius declares they will marry in a week, or Amytis must become a Vestal priestess. The moment frames the tension between duty and love.

Amytis indulges in a luxurious private pool, surrounded by living marble statues, and sings about finding a better man. The scene emphasizes her longing and dissatisfaction with her current situation. The setting underscores the opulence and isolation of her world.

General Scipio interrupts the wedding party to announce that twelve Roman legions have been annihilated, and Hannibal is twenty miles outside Rome with war elephants. The news provokes alarm and foreshadows imminent invasion. The tension shifts from courtly life to military danger.

Hannibal's vast army marches toward Rome while the troops sing 'Hannibal' to bolster morale. The spectacle establishes the scale of the threat and the mood of conquest. The soldiers and their leader set the stage for a dramatic confrontation.

Amytis and Meta seek out Hannibal, but he orders their capture and execution. She argues with him and points out flaws in his maps, swaying him to keep her alive for a private discussion. The moment marks a dangerous flirtation turning into a strategic alliance.

Amytis directs Hannibal to cross the Tiber to study Rome's fortifications, revealing Hannibal's vulnerability as he admits he cannot swim. They float across the river together, with Amytis guiding him. They discover a bridge and decide to return for armor and a chariot.

The pair share a rising romantic tension as Hannibal sings of their future, but Romans discover their chariot. Hannibal fights and defeats several soldiers, re-capturing Amytis and pulling her back toward his camp. The danger heightens the passion between them.

Hannibal threateningly volunteers to kill Amytis tomorrow, but she declares her feelings and they kiss passionately. The moment confirms their dangerous, undeniable attraction. It also deepens the conflict between loyalty and desire.

In a reprise, Hannibal's army nears, but he becomes distracted by Amytis, delaying a planned attack from high noon to dusk. Horatio the Historian records this captivation as the troops reposition themselves. The delay shifts the tactical balance and intensifies the personal drama.

Varius returns to his role as Hannibal's elephant keeper and tries to influence Meta. The two women sing about training while elephants perform, and Amytis suggests brighter colors for the elephants. The sequence blends humor with political intrigue and spectacle.

Fabius arrives with a negotiation delegation and presents a medallion bearing Amytis's image, revealing her true identity to Hannibal in fury. The discovery shifts the balance of power and personal allegiance. Hannibal's anger threatens to derail any potential alliance.

Amytis and Meta escape pursuit, racing to a cliff that leads to water. Amytis plunges off the edge and survives with help from a sunken boat, then returns to Rome. She ultimately chooses to become a Vestal priestess rather than marry Fabius.

Hannibal lays siege to Rome as elephants with battering rams assault the gates. Fabius surrenders to prevent slaughter, but Amytis urges continued resistance. Hannibal asks only for Amytis and consents to take her with him.

Amytis accepts Hannibal, feigning sacrifice before joining him. They depart Rome for Carthage, and Hannibal reveals the elephants are painted in vibrant colors just for her. The ending folds personal choice into the wider campaign of conquest.