It's family vacation time, and Johnny is hoping his parents will take them to Hawaii. To his dismay however, they pick Rome, Italy, which he finds boring in the present day. Wanting to see it in its heyday, Johnny asks his sisters to use their time machine to go back to ancient Rome. When they get there, they end up landing right on their ancestor, Testivis, who likewise happens to be the royal meatball cook to the Emperor of Rome, Nero. While Susan and Mary work to get the time machine off Testivis, Johnny and Dukey take his place, shenanigans ensuing.
Tropes:
- Agony of the Feet: Johnny and Dukey ended up running over some of the citizens' feet while driving through he street in their chariot.
- Been There, Shaped History: Johnny inadvertently invents meatloaf while back in the past. When the group return to the present, there's a statue in Rome dedicated to Johnny and Dukey in their honor for it (albeit worn down and rusted).
- Disproportionate Retribution: Nero bans meatloaf when one of the citizens tries it and likes it since it's not meatballs, likewise ordering for Johnny and Dukey's arrest for presenting it to him in the first place.
- Gladiator Games: Johnny and Dukey end up in the coliseum due to Nero demanding their arrest for making meatloaf, which he doesn't like, and are forced to fight lions.
- Irony: Susan and Mary only intended to go back to the past for a few seconds, thinking Johnny will do something otherwise if they stay longer. When they arrive, they were the ones who ended up landing on Testivis.
- Running Gag:
- Dukey often being reminded of "the deal" between a dog and his owner (Dukey protects Johnny while Johnny provides for him).
- Nero often being called "the worst."
