Rome in 65 AD. The philosopher Seneca (John Malkovich) has been Emperor Nero's teacher, mentor and close advisor since childhood, he is significantly involved in his ascent. Nevertheless, Nero (Tom Xander) gets weary of Seneca and Nero uses a foiled attack on his life to falsely accuse Seneca of being an accomplice. While throwing a decadent party, Seneca receives his surprising death sentence of Emperor Nero, delivered by a messenger. He must be dead by morning. He accepts his fate and, like Socrates, wants to depart from life after proffering a final lesson of his life philosophy to his followers.