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Convergere
Dramatis Personae:
STEVE, time traveller from New
Zealand
MARCUS, farmer who found Steve
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, Senator and Governor
in Pannonia
GUARD
MESSENGER 1
MESSENGER 2
CHORUS, comprised of elderly Roman citizens
192AD. A government building where Severus
is conducting business in Pannonia; a Roman province situated
along part of the Danube border. Commodus has recently been killed;
Severus is Governor of Pannonia, as well as commander of a large
army and is very likely to be the next Emperor of Rome. A chorus
of elders are talking of strange activity on the previous night.
CHORUS:
Ah, of the lights and sounds we heard!
What thoughts shall we give to events so absurd?
A deity perhaps? An act of a God? The possibilities are but much
Severus though shall have us expelled if he heard of talk as
such.
Better another reason we attain before we pursue this more
But so unruly the events of the night, and witnessed by others
for sure.
How to explain to a man such as he? How to explain at all?
Keep quiet we should, and speak further not, Severus shall
never know
But were we exposed we would surely suffer and many a tear would
flow.
No tolerance has he of actions such so report is what we must
do,
Tell what we saw to our governor divine, precisely, full, and
true.
But what we saw we are weary of, our eyes we do not trust,
A mystical apparition it may have been, have importance it surely
must.
I could rule this event as a thing of the past of which I should
dismiss,
But hark, a messenger approaches! with word pehaps of this.
We shall see.
Enter MESSENGER 1
CHORUS:
He approaches! Exhausted as you must be,
Tell your message, tell us true, by the gods what did you see?
MESSENGER:
Oh, am I to believe what I have to say?
Can I tell news I believe not? I doubt my own mind
With thoughts of strange events. However, it is
My duty to tell, as a messenger must deliver. A man
Has been captured near here, in Pannonia, a man I have
Never seen the likes of before. The clothes and the
language seems foreign, but of no culture I have
Knowledge of. A farmer named Marcus found him,
And is bringing him here now. I was sent ahead to
Explain to our Senator the situation, in case
Winged Rumour has found her way to his doors.
CHORUS:
A man, divine, oh what could be his name?
Jupiters favour he surely must have gained
Is he being royally escorted, or is he bound and chained?
MESS:
Bound and chained. He attacked myself and
Marcus, and was yelling words we could not grasp,
So Marcus tied and chained him to his cart, for escort here.
CHORUS:
Heaven forgive us if he is divine!
Quick! Make sacrifices at Jupiters holy shrine.
Severus must be told! For this waste no time!
MESS:
I will deliver the news, and make the sacrifices myself.
Exit MESSENGER 1
CHORUS:
The dread immortal is on his way.
Can we believe what happened on this fateful day?
Why is he here and is he man like us?
Or a god to deliver news of great mistrust.
Nevermind, Severus is here, he can explain more
This man will be revered, or cast dead upon the floor.
Enter SEVERUS
SEVERUS:
What magic is this? Who dares claim
Himself divine in my province? Why, I should have
Him executed upon his arrival for such behaviour.
I shall make an example of him, for others to see
The punishment for such a display.
CHORUS:
Must you end his life so soon?
If he really is a god your life will end in gloom.
If he is an enemy have him nailed across the door,
Dispose of him then at will, but do not before.
SEV:
Yes, maybe you are right. I am curious as to
Who this man is, and where he is really from.
But I shall remain cautious, as he could
Be an assassin sent by one of my enemies.
Enter MESSENGER 2
MESSENGER:
My lord, Marcus and his prisoner approach.
SEV: Good.
Send them in here, and send a guard
With them. I don't want any escape attempts.
MESS: Very
good your excellency.
Exit MESSENGER 2
CHORUS:
Marcus approaches, now we shall know
Of the events occured and of the mysterious glow
If he is an assassin, he shall be duelly killed
If he is not, may the gods have kinder will.
Enter GUARD, followed by MARCUS and
STEVE
MARCUS:
Your honour, I have the prisoner here
For your disposal. He claims his name is Steve.
STEVE:
I haven't done anything wrong, let me go!
SEV: Either
you are ignorant or you are a fool.
Speak when spoken to, prisoner.
STEVE:
I'm no fool! Damn it, let me go! I have rights!
SEV:
Prisoners have no rights. Now, I want you to
Answer some questions. If you don't cooperate,
I shall have to execute you. Do you understand?
STEVE:
What?! Execute me? What have I done?
SEV: That's
what I want to find out. Now, will you
Cooperate with me? Or do I have to use force?
STEVE:
OK fine I'll answer your stupid questions.
SEV: Good.
Now tell me, where are you from?
STEVE:
New Zealand.
SEV: I've
not heard of that province. Where is it located?
STEVE:
Jeez, not heard of New Zealand?
Where were you guys in the World Cup?
MARC: As
I said, I could not understand what he
Was talking about. I was hoping you could understand him.
SEV: Well,
I'm not sure either. I think he is trying
To confuse us, or to stall us. Are you an assassin?
STEVE:
Me? An assassin? Hah! Yeah right!
CHORUS:
He claims innocence, but is it true?
Why are you here and what do you intend to do?
STEVE:
Look, I don't know what you guys are on,
But I really don't have a clue what's happening.
And by the way, what's the deal with those
Funny clothes? Is it Halloween already?
SEV: Insults
will get you killed prisoner. I have
No tolerance for men like you. Now, what is that you're wearing?
STEVE:
What, you've never seen Levis? Man,
You guys must be high. And come on, tell me.
What's with the clothes? You look like someone
Out of Hercules.
SEV:
You speak of Hercules? So you are not so
Ignorant after all. You must come from an Eastern
Or Northern province, one of my enemies sent you.
You will die for this attempt on my life. Guard!
The GUARD moves towards STEVE
CHORUS:
But what of the noises and light?
Tell us of the events of the previous night.
STEVE:
Look, as far as I know last night I went to bed
Like normal, and I woke up in a field. Marcus, or whatever
His name is, found me and brought me here.
MARCUS:
At least that much is true. He was carrying
This when I found him.
MARCUS holds up a briefcase and gives
it to SEVERUS
SEVERUS:
What is this? I have never seen anything like this.
Where did you get it? Is this what you meant to kill me with?
STEVE:
That's my briefcase, be careful with it! Its expensive.
SEV: What
is a briefcase? Is it some sort of weapon?
STEVE:
No, look. Give it here and I'll show you.
MARCUS:
Be careful My Lord, he tried to escape before,
This would be a perfect opportunity for him.
SEV:
Yes, you are right. Guard! Untie his hands,
But keep your sword ready. Prisoner, you will
Show me what this is. If you try to escape, you will die.
STEVE:
Yeah yeah, I'm not gonna try anything.
GUARD unties STEVE. MARCUS gives him
the briefcase.
STEVE:
OK, look. You open it like this.
STEVE fumbles with the combination locks
and it flicks open
STEVE:
See, it's no weapon. It's just a case, and it
Has my private documents in it, so I would thank
You not to be nosy.
SEV:
Marcus, can you read those?
MAR:
I'll try, My Lord, but I'm not promising anything.
SEV: Then
get on with it sir.
MARCUS goes to search through the case.
STEVE protests but is forcibly restrained by GUARD.
STEVE:
Hey! You can't do that! I'll get my lawyer
On to you, you'll all go to prison for this!
SEV: More
threats? My, this one is a slow learner.
Guard! Restrain this man from talking until I tell you otherwise.
GUARD complies and gags STEVE with a
dirty rag.
SEV: Now,
Marcus, what do they say?
MAR:
I'm not sure My Lord. They look to be
Written in a language similar to Latin, but I
Cant make out a word. Perhaps a Northern
Or Germanic dialect, or else I am at a loss.
SEV: Germanic?
Yes, that would explain a lot.
He seems barbaric in nature, although his clothes
Are still unfamiliar to me. And of this case,
If the Germanic tribes of the north have items
Such as this, then perhaps they have more
Equipment, weapons even!
CHORUS:
The stranger is a traitor!
SEV: Yes, you are right. Guard,
take the
Prisoner away to be tortured. Don't kill him,
Mind, he may have important information.
GUARD:
Yes your excellency.
GUARD takes STEVE offstage. MARCUS leaves
after them. CHORUS and SEVERUS remain.
SEV:
Perhaps this man was sent by a god after all.
CHORUS:
What do you mean? Now you insist he is divine?
SEV: No,
not divine. No divine being could
Be as filthy as he. But perhaps sent by some God.
CHORUS:
Forgive our ignorance, but we do not follow.
SEV: Perhaps a God sent him to
give me knowledge.
Divine intervention to ensure me emperor.
If this man can provide information I can use,
Who better than to lead an army against
The northern tribes than I? Victory would be
Mine with the right information, and
My throne would be sealed! No man
Would dare oppose the emperor who
Delivered Rome from the barbarians!
CHORUS:
Long live Severus! Long live Rome!
SEV:
Yes, but now I have business to attend to,
And plans to set in motion. Remember this face,
Good sirs, for it is destined to be set in marble.
Exit SEVERUS.
CHORUS:
Severus shall be emperor, but what to become of Steve?
Rumour still flies her horrid path, with twisted tales to weave.
A villain or god, we yet know not, still Pannonia echos of thee,
None shalt soon forget the events of recently.
Perhaps never to know are we from whence he really came
Forever lingering in the minds of thus, and others through his
fame.
The End
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