To prevent a statue being delivered to Cleopatra, the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond and Rory Williams arrive on board a sailing ship in the Mediterranean Sea, 39 BC. The Roman crew are intent on delivering their cargo from Marcus Antonius — a golden figure in the shape of a man. They are about to throw the stowaways overboard when the statue (a Gold Assassin from the court of Xones) is re-awakened.