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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 2010 by Frank J. Morlock
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Published by Wildside Press LLC.
www.wildsidebooks.com
CHARACTERS
TIBERIUS, Emperor
CAIUS CALIGULA
PROCULA VINDEX
ROMULUS, Citizen of Rome
NERVA
AURELIUS
PORCIUS
AENEAS
EVANDRE
NATALIS
SENECA, Philosopher
NARSES
ALBIN
BROGITAR
A PRAETORIAN
A DOCTOR
AN EXECUTIONER
THREE DRUIDS
KIOMARA, Gallic Slave Girl
BLANDINE, Daughter of Nerva
CHARICLEA, Blandine’s Nurse
PATRICIANS, SOLDIERS, SLAVES, GLADIATORS, DANCERS, PRAETORIANS, ETC.
ACT I
SCENE I: THE REVOLTERS
A square in the Carenes suburb of Rome. To the right, the palace of Nerva. To the left, the shop of the armourer Procula.
Streets and monuments in perspective.
PROCULA
It’s getting late. Hasten to carry these weapons to the patrician’s who ordered them from me.
(to a worker)
You know the dwelling of Senator Fonteius. Deliver to him, on my behalf this sword and military belt.
(to another)
You will go to Lord Atalus on the Flaminnian Way, turning right, toward the Palatine.
(to a third)
You to the home of the Tribune Lemas who dwells in that magnificent house with jets of water and huge cedars, down there on the other side of the golden column.
Get going and don’t lose a moment! Ah, I was forgetting, there’s still one more cuirass to take to the home of the illustrious Natalis, the former Consul.
NATALIS (entering)
Lower, will you, much lower—are you losing your wits to raise your voice that way on an open street?
PROCULA
May the Gods protect you, Lord Natalis. I was sending you your cuirass.
NATALIS
It’s unnecessary. I will try it on at your place.
PROCULA
As you please.
(to others)
The rest of you, leave.
NATALIS
Will you hide those weapons under your tunics. Do you need to allow passers-by to see what you are carrying?
PROCULA
Where’s the harm? The passers-by would say: Here are very shiny well chiseled blades. They would conclude it came from the armourer Procula. My pride would find its count.
NATALIS (lowering his voice)
Tiberius doesn’t like this sort of merchandise circulating too freely in Rome.
PROCULA
Eh, Lord? What do I have to fear from Tiberius? I am an artisan who makes weapons without inquiring the use they are intended for. As I hold nothing in the state, nothing that takes place in Rome can concern me, so long as it is not a question of Lord Nerva, my protector, my master.
NATALIS
Well, it’s in his name that I ask you today to use prudence.
PROCULA
In that case it’s a different matter.
(lowering his voice to a worker)
Separate from them now. Don’t allow a skin of steel under your tunic to appear, and take the most deserted streets.
(workers leave.)
Would you like to try on your cuirass now, Lord?
NATALIS
You guarantee me that it is dagger proof?
PROCULA
Completely.
NATALIS
Fine. You’ll fit it on me yourself. I’ll keep it under my pallium.
PROCULA
Order, Lord.
(aside)
Let’s rid ourselves quickly of this patrician because now’s the hour she emerges every evening.
(They go into the shop. A group of Patricians approaches.)
PORCIUS
Coe on, my dear Evander, there’s no going back.
EVANDRE
Success isn’t doubtful.
PORCIUS
Thus it’s quite certain that Tiberius has no suspicion, that he hasn’t left for Capri.
EVANDRE
Nerva affirmed it to me less than an hour ago.
PORCIUS
And the Praetorian Guard is with us?
EVANDRE
Caligula himself must bring it over to us.
PORCIUS
Caligula,
