The Heart Of The Matter

Written by:  Caina Q.  Fuller

The Messenger

Copywright:  Caina Q.  Fuller 2001.

 

Fade In-Rome, Day

 

Roman Arena.  Two men fight in the arena.  The better of the two warriors is LEDRICLES, the man who wants to be the next champion of Rome in Livia’s place.  Augustus Caesar and a couple of his lapdogs watch the battle.  Caesar doesn’t seem to have much of an interest in the young warrior, and we will soon learn why.

 

Praetorian #1

My Lord.  Ledricles is quite the warrior.

Do you think he will be Rome’s

next champion?

 

Augustus

We’ll see.

 

 

Ledricles sweeps his opponent’s feet from beneath him then quickly runs him through.  The crowd goes wild and Ledricles raises his blood stained blade toward Augustus, who gives only a small nod of acknowledgement.  This seems to hurt Ledricles, but he bows with deep respect anyway.

 

 

Ledricles

Hail Caesar! Hail Caesar!

 

The crowd picks up his chant and goes wild with it.

 

 

Int. Caesar’s Baths

 

 

Augustus enters his private baths and removes his robes, then sinks into the steaming water.  Before him is a magnificent view of the city of Rome. He  does all of this under the openly lustful stare of Ledricles.

 

A female attendant enters to wash Augustus, but Ledricles intercepts her and takes the tray she carries, which is laden with a sponge and exotic soaps and oils.  Augustus leans forward for his back to be washed.

 

Augustus

My back first.

 

Ledricles begins to wash his lord, but it isn’t until his hand sinks inappropriately below the water and Augustus sees the obviously male hand bathing him that the emperor knows something is amiss.  Augustus grabs Ledricles’ hand and twists it back painfully until the young man cries out in pain.

 

Augustus

What the hell do you think you’re

doing? 

 

Ledricles

Bathing you my Lord.

 

Augustus

No, you’re overstepping your boundaries

and you know it. 

 

Ledricles is on his knees behind Caesar, his hand twisted back painfully, almost to the breaking point.

 

 

Ledricles

I only want your favor my Lord.

 

 

Augustus

If you didn’t have my favor, you

wouldn’t be commanding my legions,

would you?  Make no mistake:

You will never have my favor the

way Livia had my favor. Got that?

 

Ledricles

I only want to please you.

 

Augustus

Not like this you won’t.

 

Augustus les go of Ledricles, and the younger man rises to his feet.  His body is lean and muscular, and his movements are sensual.  He paces back and forth behind Augustus.

 

 

Ledricles

I helped you take Rome back

after Caligula died my Lord.  I feel

I’ve more than earned the honor

of being named Livia’s official

successor as Champion of Rome.

 

 

Augustus stares out of the window before him.  He has a wistful expression on his face as he remembers sharing this tub, as well as this city, with Livia. 

 

Augustus

She’s out there somewhere.  Right

now.  I wonder what she’s doing.

 

Ledricles rolls his eyes, disgusted by Augustus’ love for Livia.

 

Ledricles

Probably giving up her last bite of

food to a kitten or some such painfully

stupid thing.

 

Augustus

Livia became Rome’s champion not

by my word alone.

 

Ledricles

What do you mean by that?

 

Augustus

I mean she earned her position.

She won the people Ledricles.  Even

though she has deserted Rome to

become the pacifist she is today, the

people loved Livia.  Possibly more than

they love me.  The only way they will

ever truly accept you as their champion…

 

Ledricles is hanging onto every word now.

 

Ledricles

Yes?

 

Augustus

You have to show the people how

weak she’s become.  Kill her in the

arena, and the people will love you.

 

Ledricles

You mean to tell me the that all

I have to do to win the people

is to kill some sniveling religious

zealot in the arena?  Fine. I will find

her and bring her here. I’ll kill her in

the arena.

 

Augustus

(disgusted by his stupidity)

Fool.  It’s not that simple and you

know it. You will have to kill the

warrior they knew her to be as

Livia, and that’s not going to be

as easy as you’re thinking it is.

 

Ledricles

What you propose is impossible.  Eve

will never pick up the sword.  Not to

defend a title she cares nothing about.

 

Augustus leans back and closes his eyes, relaxing.

 

Augustus

You’re right.  That’s why you’ll have to

encourage her.

 

Ledricles

How?

 

Augustus

Take someone she cares deeply for

and put their life in danger.

 

Ledricles

(a little sarcastically)

And who would that be?  You?

 

Augustus chooses to ignore this insult, for he needs this arrogant idiot to get the woman he loves back in his clutches.

 

Augustus

How do you feel about poetry Ledricles?

 

Fade Out

 

The Heart Of The Matter-Act One

Fade In

 

Ext. Wedding celebration-Night

 

Virgil stands beside a couple who is getting married.  A priest blesses their union.

 

Priest

May the God of Eli watch over

this union and bless these young

people with a long and fulfilling

life of happiness and prosperity.

 

The priest turns the couple around.

 

Priest

I now give you Nestor and his

wife Iphegenia.

 

The young man turns to Virgil, a look of incredulity on his face as the crowd cheers.  He can’t believe he’s married.

 

Virgil

You’re looking the wrong way buddy.

 

 

The crowd laughs, then cheers even more as Nestor and Iphegenia kiss.  The crowd disperses as a lively tune kicks up and everyone leads Nestor and Marcus toward one of the houses.

 

Virgil

I’m happy for you old friend.

 

Nestor

When Iphegenia and I return from our

honeymoon, I’m going to teach you a

couple of things about shoeing a horse.

 

Virgil

Uh, if I’m not mistaken, I can out shoe

you blindfolded.

 

Nestor

Only in your dreams.

 

Iphegenia

Speaking of dreams Nestor, it’s

time you made a few of mine

come true.

 

Virgil’s mouth drops open as his friend’s new wife leads him into the house and closes the door.

 

Ext. Field

 

In the darkness of the night, Ledricles and about twenty Roman soldiers ride full speed over a grassy plain. In the distance we see the lights of the small village where the wedding is taking place.  Ledricles is on his way toward Virgil.

 

Ext. Town Square-Night

 

Virgil and the rest of the wedding party eat, drink and dance.  One particularly pretty young woman with Spanish features eyes Virgil as he talks with a group of his friends.

 

Friend #1

Hey Virgil.  You’ve got a babe with her eyes

all over you.

 

Virgil looks over at her and offers her a smile.

 

Friend #2

Go talk to her.  Go on.

 

Virgil tosses back the rest of his drink, then follows his friends’ advice. 

 

 

Ext. Field

Ledricles and his men are still riding for the village, only this time they are very close.

 

 

Ext.  Wedding

Virgil and the young woman talk as they dance to a slower tune.

 

Virgil

So you’re Maria from Spain, and

you work in your father’s shop

making candle’s?

 

Maria

That’s right.  And you’re Virgil, the

poet.  I’d love to hear some of your

work. 

 

Virgil

Anytime.

 

Maria

How about now?

 

Virgil

I only have one scroll with me,

and it’s in my cabin. 

 

Maria’s hand finds it’s way to Virgil’s rear and she squeezes.

 

Maria

No time like the present.

 

 

Virgil looks around, to see if they’re being watched.

 

Virgil

I don’t usually move this fast.

 

Maria

Neither do I, but tonight is a

night for love.  Wouldn’t you agree?

 

He looks at his cabin, which sits in the distance.  He’s had too much to drink so he’s open to suggestions.

 

Virgil

I do tonight.

 

Ext-Road-Ledricles

 

Ledricles and his men are now on the road, practically on top of the village.  He stops his men and motions for them to line up around the gate leading to the village. All of the men do so, taking out bows and arrows.

 

Ledricles

I’m riding in.  If I give you the signal,

light the place up. Got it?

 

Men

(in unison)

Yes sir!

 

Ledricles kicks his horse into a run and continues on for the village.

 

 

 

Int-Virgil’s cabin

 

Virgil and Maria are kissing passionately.  He picks his new lover up and she wraps her long legs around his waist.  Virgil lays Maria on the bed, then straightens, with her legs still wrapped around him, and pulls off his shirt, exposing his well-muscled body.  He then leans back over her and runs a hand up her dress to do who-knows-what, kissing her passionately once again.

 

 

Ext. Town square

The villagers are dancing and partying when Ledricles rides in to town with two men, and the people slowly begin to stop dancing and the music dies down.

 

 

Ledricles

People!  My name is Ledricles, the

future Champion of Rome.  I’m looking

for one of your own.

 

 

Int.  Virgil’s cabin

Virgil and Maria have even fewer clothes on than before when suddenly Virgil pulls back.  This confuses Maria and slightly irritates her.

 

Maria

What’s the matter?  Why are you

stopping?

 

Virgil

Do you hear that?

 

Maria

(listening)
I don’t hear anything.

 

Virgil

That’s right.  There’s nothing.

 

Now Maria picks up on what he is saying and they sit up. 

 

Maria

What do you think is wrong?

 

Virgil

I don’t know.

 

From outside he hears Ledricles call for him. 

 

 

Ledricles

Virgil!

 

Virgil pulls on a shirt and pants, then grabs his fathers sword.

 

Maria

What is it?

 

Virgil

It looks like trouble. A Roman

soldier is almost always trouble.

 

Maria

Don’t go out there. It could be

dangerous.

 

Virgil

If he doesn’t get what he wants

he’ll start hurting people.  They always

do.

 

He leaves, not bothering to close his shirt, and runs into town. 

 

Ledricles

Virgil of Torone?  Friend of Eve,

the Messenger of Eli?

 

Virgil

That’s me.  Who are you?

 

Ledricles

Ledricles.  I want the title of Champion

and to get that, I’m going to need your

help to get Eve into the arena.

 

Virgil

Well you can forget it.

 

Ledricles

That’s too bad you feel that way.

 

 

Ledricles nods his head and his second in command lights an arrow.  Instead of shooting it at Virgil, like Virgil is expecting, he fires it into the air.

 

Ledricles takes in the sight of Virgil’s sword, and the body that’s wielding it, and a devilish grin spreads across his face.

 

Ledricles

Don’t make me hurt a pretty face Virgil.

Come quietly.

 

Virgil

Everybody.  Run!

 

Instead of obeying, the people only stare in bewildered silence.   However they get moving when flaming arrows begin to rain from the sky.  Ledricles flips from his saddle and starts a sword battle with Virgil, who handles his own only for a little while.  Ledricles is clearly a superior fighter over him.  Maria comes running toward Virgil when an arrow hits her in the chest.

 

Virgil

No!  Maria!

 

Ledricles

Oh, did I kill your ladylove? That’s too

bad.  She was quite pretty…  for a girl

anyway.

 

Ledricles knocks Virgil out, then motions for another arrow to be fired.  The assault stops and Ledricles mount back up.

 

Ledricles

You know the plan.  I’ll see you

in Rome in a couple of days.

 

Ledricles rides off into the night as his second, lets call him Cyprian, picks up Virgil’s unconscious form and slings him over his horse.

 

 

The Heart Of The Matter-Act Two

 

Fade In-Eve

 

It is early morning and Eve lies asleep I her rooms at a temple to Eli being rebuilt.  It was destroyed by Ledricles and his men a couple of months before during his quest to take the title of Champion.  Eve tosses and turns in her sleep as she sees visions of what will be her future, though she doesn’t realize it yet.

 

 

Vision 1-Eve and Augustus are kissing while she is wearing Roman finery.

2-She watches Virgil fight for his life against a skilled Gladiator..

3-She sees herself wearing the uniform of the Champion of Rome.

4-She sees herself run a sword through a man’s gut, though she is unable    

   to see the man’s face.

 

 

Eve sits up from these visions, covered in sweat.  She quickly pours some water and washes her face.  Outside her window the sun is rising, promising to be a beautiful day.

 

Another image comes to mind as she watches the sun rise:  Virgil’s hatred for her in a temple to Eli as Xena stopped him from killing her at the end of the episode “Eve.”

 

As she tries to shake away these images, a knock sounds at her door.  Eve opens it to find a sweet old woman outside.  The woman has managed to retain some of her beauty, and her hair is thick, long and snow-white. Her name is ALTHAIA, and she sees that Eve is disturbed immediately.

 

 

Althaia

Eve? What’s the matter sweetheart?

 

Eve

Just a bad dream is all.  I’m fine.

 

Althaia

The same dream you’ve been

having for the past couple of nights?

 

Eve

Yes.

 

Althaia

The strain of losing your mother is

really having an effect on you.  Why

don’t you stay in today and rest?

 

Eve is grateful for the woman’s concern, but she doesn’t wish to talk about it now, and resting is the last thing she needs.

 

Eve

Actually, I think some good old-fashioned

work is just what I need to take my mind off

things.  Come on.

 

 

The two women walk amongst the Elijan’s as they work to clean up the ashes of the ruined temple.  Some of the carpenters fashion a new structure for the temple. Eve’s eyes now wander to the only thing left undamaged:  the church graveyard.  Each grave has the Christian fish symbol over it, and sadly a lot of the graves are fresh.

 

Althaia

Why don’t you talk to me? Sometimes

it helps to share your pain with another.

 

 

Eve is reluctant at first but the woman insists.  Finally they take a seat on a log, which is next to one of the graves and a young girl brings them some fruit for breakfast.

 

Eve

Every time I see a grave I…I

 

Althaia

You think of your days as Livia?

 

Eve

Yes.  I can’t begin to count the number

of graves that exist because of me.  What

makes it worse is remembering how much

I used to enjoy it.

 

Althaia

I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going

through as far as the sin of murder, but I do

know a thing or two about guilt. I know what

it’s like to do something so bad you can never

go back to what the way life was before you

did it.

 

Eve

You?  I can’t imagine you doing something

to hurt another person Althaia.

 

Althaia doesn’t have a smile for Eve this time.  Instead she looks off into the steadily brightening sky, and deeper still into her youth to tell her story.

 

 

Althaia

When I was younger, I had a best friend. From the

day we met as children we were inseparable.

You never saw us apart, and strangers passing

through our village just assumed we were sisters.

As you know, it’s customary for fathers to arrange

Their daughter’s marriages.  I hated the young man

my father chose for me but my friend was lucky…

 

Adara falls into silence and Eve gently touches her shoulder, urging her to continue.

 

Althaia

She loved her betrothed, and I was so jealous.

Every day I would see the two of them walking

through town, or swimming in the pond

together. I began to feel things for Adara’s husband.

I know now that those feelings were born out

of spite for the love Adara had found, but I didn’t

know that at the time.  It took a long time, but I

finally seduced him. 

 

Eve

Oh, Althaia…

 

Althaia

I haven’t talked about this with anyone

Eve.  The first night I lay with him, she

came home and caught us.  She was…

 

Althaia dissolves into tears and Eve holds her, trying to be a comfort.

 

Althaia

She was bringing me a gift.  She had a

talent for drawing and had this beautiful

locket her grandmother had given her

that I’d always wanted. 

 

Althaia pulls out half of a locket.  Inside is a tiny drawing, very clear, of a young woman.

 

Althaia

She’d drawn these tiny pictures of us inside.

She was bringing it to me and she…caught

me betraying her.

 

Eve

What happened after that?

 

Althaia

She ran out and, later that evening

I found half of the locket, this half, on

my doorstep. It’s an image of her.  I never

saw her again.  Rumor has it that she

had moved to a neighboring

village but died when a fire swept through

the town.  So you see Eve, I know

something about guilt.  What do you

think you’re your sweet little Althaia now?

 

Eve wipes the woman’s tears away with her own handkerchief, still holding an arm around her.

 

Eve

I think you’re a woman with a good heart

who made a mistake in her youth.  You’ve

been paying for your sin against your friend for

too long Althaia.  I think it’s time you forgave yourself.

 

Althaia

And what about you?  Are you willing to

do the same?

 

Eve

I’m not so sure my crimes deserve

to be forgiven. By me or anyone else.

 

Joxer’s sword suddenly plants itself into the ground dangerously close to Eve’s feet. 

 

Ledricles

I’d tend to agree with that statement.

 

 

 

Eve and Althaia look up to find Ledricles grinning down at them.  Althaia reacts with fear of him.

 

Eve

What is it?

 

Althaia

That’s him. That’s Ledricles, the one

who destroyed this temple.

 

Eve yanks Joxer’s sword out of the ground and looks it over, then eyes Ledricles suspiciously.

 

Eve

The man that carries this sword.

is he…?

 

Ledricles

Dead?  No, he’s very much alive.

For now that is.

 

Eve

What do you want?

 

Ledricles

I want everything you walked away

from in Rome.  I want to get you in the

arena and fight you to the death so

I will be hailed as Rome’s Champion.

 

Eve

You want the title of Champion?  You

can have it. And trust me when I say

the positions not all its cracked up to be.

 

Ledricles has had enough talking.  He wants Eve back in Rome.  The sooner he can kill her in battle, the sooner he will win the people.  Or so he believes.

 

 

 

Ledricles

Enough talk.  Come with me now.

 

Eve

I’m not returning to Rome and I’m

not fighting you to the death in

the arena.  I won’t kill again, for any reason.

 

Ledricles

(draws a crossbow and aims at Althaia)

Yeah?  Well I’ve always been taught

that to stand by and do nothing,

thereby allowing someone to murder

an innocent is the same as committing

the crime yourself.