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PORTIA is the same age as Macky, but with a vastly different life experience. As a member of the Roman upper class, she’s always had the best of everything - education, clothes, food, and culture. Until she meets Macky, she doesn’t give much thought to the advantages she’s had; they’re simply her due as a Roman. She has certainly never questioned the Romans’ power or the oppression of conquered peoples and ideologies.
Portia’s father is a high-ranking Roman army commander, far away with his troops, and she lives with her Uncle, who is the powerful Governor of Alexandria. He is no substitute for a warm, caring parent and Portia misses that care - though she would never admit it; she’s a Roman, after all: strong, uncompromising and able to persevere in the face of adversity.
Meeting Macky and his family, Portia begins to get a sense of what she is missing. She finds herself drawn to them... especially Macky.
There are enormous obstacles: class, religion, money (and the lack of it) - not to mention Macky’s dangerous involvement with the underground - a capital offence. But Portia starts to see her fellow Romans through Macky’s eyes, and that, combined with the wonderful stories he tells her, begins to change her. She starts to use her strength of character and perseverance to help others, and in the course of thirty-nine episodes, we’ll see her change from spoiled child to gracious young adult.
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