SCENE 1
A single light on an elevated platform that runs like a roof through the length of the stage. Casca
stands middle aged, fat, slightly hunched, overlooking the stage. He has a cat in his arms, that he
strokes, ponderously, chewing on something.
(Ancient Rome. Acropolis. Julius Caesar delivering a speech. To the far left of the stage, Brutus and
Cassius side by side, Cassius trying to get his attention. On the far right, Antony weeping, blowing
Caesar (about to start speech): Oh give it up Antony, I haven’t even begun yet.
Antony: Wiping his face. Oh he sees right through me! Right through me! Bestow your gracious words
upon us oh ascended one!
Caesar (sighing with withdrawn disgust): Friends, Romans, countrymen…(continues to speak in the
background)
Antony: What a line! Oh what a line! (jots it down quickly)
(Cassius trying to get Brutus’s attention. Brutus is listening intently to Caesar, he clearly respects
him)
Cassius (holding Brutus’s arm): Brutus are you really listening to that bloke go on? It’s the same stuff
over and over again. More discipline, increased taxes, the usual problems with the Gauls. Must you
pretend to listen with so much admiration?
Brutus (hastily shaking Cassius off and looking around): Hmm… Listen Cassius, the man makes
sense. You just need to give him a chance. He is a visionary. Please, just hear him speak.
Caesar: …and this is exactly why we must send our recruits to that pesky Gaulish village late at night.
The bastards will never know what hit them!
The crowd roars and cheers. Some men hug each other. Portia stands in the centre of the stage,
visibly unimpressed.
Portia: If he spent as much time on military organisation/education/whatever as he did on these damn
Gauls, we would see Rome rise to the top of the world once again. But no, nobody will listen to a woman,
no matter how much sense she makes.
Caesar (clears throat and continues): However, the State of Rome has been depreciating consistently.
We lack the discipline our forefathers had instilled in us. There have been some rather uncomfortable
situations I have come to know of in the past few weeks. Apparently, the men in our city have been very
friendly with each other lately. There have been reports of late night parties that involve some rather
explicit interaction between fellow men.
As Romans we have always believed that the bond between man and man is far superior to that between
man and woman, for women are just instruments of service – (Calpurnia, who has been sitting behind
him all this time, gives him a somewhat inconspicuous but hard kick from behind) – I mean of course
that in the highest sense of the word. Women provide us with the most noble service of all – the
continuation of the human race. And really, where would we all be without women?
Calpurnia (aside as Caesar continues): Oh I think you’d be just fine without women. You seem to do
pretty well without me.
Caesar: …but the important point here is that our women are having trouble accepting this. Think about
it my fellow men, if we all loved each other, who would be left to love the women? How would more
wonderful men like us be born? However, the woes of our women are unfortunately not the worst of our
problems. A problem far superior in magnitude far more viscous and daunting is amiss. The biggest
problem Rome has ever had to deal with (dramatic pause)
(During pause)
Cassius (bored): Pompey (Brutus shushes him)
Casca (mockingly): Pompey
Citizen 1 (to Citizen 2): Three drachmas says it’s going to be Pompey
Antony(hoping to have the right answer): Pompey?
Caesar (loud and powerful): POMPEY! (silence) Yes my dear fellows, the situation is worse than it has
ever been. Our new ‘liking’ for each other has driven our dear women into the lustful clutches of that vile
man.
Calpurnia (aside as Caesar continues): Oh you’d know all about that now wouldn’t you?
Caesar: …the natural law my friends… We must obey the natural law – no matter how difficult it may be
Brutus: Is he really… he can’t be! It’s impossible. He knows about me…about….(softly) us. How can he…?
Cassius: I told you! I told you from the first day I loved you that there was something wrong with the man. He’s mad I tell you! Mad! Crazy! He has lost the little sense he –
A surrounding group of Romans: Shhhhhh!
Cassius: Oh Brutus! (takes his hand)
Brutus (shaking it off): Calm down Cassius, maybe it’s not what we think it is.
Caesar: I wouldn’t generally say things like this in public but I must because firstly, the situation is dire.
And secondly because I am the ruler and I can do whatever I want. Men are not allowed to be
‘romantically involved’ with other men.
Mixed responses from the crowd. Some cheer, some faint, some gasp.
Cassius: Tell me I heard him wrong Brutus! Oh say it isn’t so!
Brutus: For once I think your overreaction is justified.
Caesar: Furthermore, if anyone is caught engaging in such an act, they shall suffer humiliation and
permanent banishment.
(Brutus and Cassius look at each other and take a step back from each other)
Calpurnia (to Casca): He sure talks a lot about marriage for someone who hasn’t so much as touched his
wife in years.
Casca laughs and cheekily winks, putting a finger to his lips.
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