The Cleopatra with whom Shaw confronts Caesar is not the grand queen, but a frightened girl of 16. Her country is divided into two factions, and it is Caesar's job to unite the factions without losing his head in the attempt. Along the way he educates Cleopatra in the modes of a queen, and before it's over she gives him a few lessons in political science. Caesar is a little terrified by her directness and simplicity. But finally a truce is made, the land united, and Caesar sails for home, but only on the condition that he send in his stead another and younger Roman, Mark Antony.

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