The scene opens with a flashback to Cleopatra's wedding. It's the middle of the night, and Cleopatra is in her tent. She's worried about her son, who's been spying on her. He's also worried about his father's health, which seems to be getting worse. Cleopatra tells her son to go back to her house and tell her what's going on. She tells him to lead the soldiers back to Egypt, and then she'll let him go. She also tells him not to worry, because she's not going to die. She says that if she dies, her eighth brother will be the new king of Egypt. Cleopatra swears that she and her son will never leave each other, even if they die.