Mark Antony is supposed to be ruling the eastern Roman Empire but instead, is carrying on a love affair with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt.

Antony's wife Fulvia dies and that along with a threat of war from Pompeii, Antony goes back to Rome.

Back in Rome, Antony finds that there is tension between himself and Octavius because Octavius feels that Antony has ignored Rome and thus made her vulnerable while spending too much time with Cleopatra so to calm his good friend Octavius down, Antony marries Octavia, Octavius's sister.

Octavius becomes Caesar and he and Antony begin to fight again. Octavia tries to stop the rift and get Octavius and Antony back together. During this time though, Antony runs back to Cleopatra's arms as soon as Octavia leaves.

This disgusts Caesar who vows revenge on his sister's dishonor.

Cleopatra persuades Antony to accept a battle at sea from Caesar although his generals tell him he has a better chance of winning on land, but Antony will only listen to his beloved. During the battle at sea, Cleopatra orders her personal ship to leave the scene and Antony unfortunately follows her so Actium falls to Rome.

Caesar still wants revenge so he offers Cleopatra immunity if she kills Antony but Cleopatra refuses and Caesar and Antony battle again, this time on land and Antony is victorious. The next day during another battle, the Egyptians retreat and Caesar wins, Antony accuses Cleopatra of turning on him and threatens to murder her.

Upset, Cleopatra hides herself in her tomb and tells her servants to tell Antony she has committed suicide.

To save herself, she flees to her tomb and has her servants deliver the message that she has killed herself. Antony in a fit of rage and sorrow throws himself on his own sword, mortally wounding himself living only long enough to be brought before Cleopatra so they can exchange their final "I love you's."

Caesar, hears of Antony's death and is momentarily saddened by the loss of his friend. Caesar sends word to Cleopatra that he promises mercy, which she sees through and kills herself by being bitten by a snake.

At the end of the play Caesar orders that Cleopatra and Antony be buried together as a final act of pity.