The
Road To Megara
Written
by Caina Q.
Fuller
Episode
#8 in “The Messenger”©
Fade
In
Eve rides
into a village that sits on the edge of the majestic Mediterranean. It’s a beautiful place with bright
sunshine and fresh sea air that blows Eve’s hair away from her face as she
enters the village. As she rides in
however, her eyes are drawn to the edge of the road where deep holes, obviously
placed there deliberately, dot the sides of the road. There is a brief flash of Livia looking
up at a body hanging from a cross
which has been situated into one of these holes.
Eve shakes
her head, trying to visibly rid herself of these memories, then continues on
into the village. Once inside she
stops to enjoy the view of the ocean, and in the distance is the beautiful
island of Salamis. Eve
doesn’t have long to enjoy the day before someone interrupts her. She is expecting people to recognize
her, but she wasn’t expecting Virgil.
Beautiful view
isn’t it?
Virgil! What a surprise to see you here!
Eve dismounts
and shares a quick hug with him.
Virgil
What brings you
all the way to
Megara?
Eve
My message of the One of course.
What
about you?
We’re re-building Mom’s restaurant
but
the materials I need aren’t made in
Torone, so here I
am.
Eve
Well it’s good to see you. When I’m
finished here I’d like to go back with
you
and help rebuild. It is my fault your place
was destroyed.
Virgil
You don’t have to do that
Eve.
Eve
Yes, I do. For my sake as much as
yours.
As they talk
they make their way deeper into the village. They’re only half way into town when Eve
begins to attract the attention of the villagers.
Virgil
Looks like everyone knows you
already.
Eve
It’s not me they
know.
Virgil
What do you
mean?
Before Eve
can answer a MALE VILLAGER comes up to her. He’s about thirty years old, big and
strong, carrying a blacksmith’s hammer and covered in soot from working in the
forge. His name is actually
Urian.
Urian
Excuse me Miss. May I ask your
name?
Virgil
(defensively)
Who wants to
know?
Eve’s eyes
move to a nasty scar in his throat, then one on his stomach, and an image of
Livia cutting him down in battle flashes before her eyes.
Eve
It’s alright Virgil. I owe him that
much.
Virgil looks
around to see many villagers have gathered in a quiet but angry looking mob
around them. No one speaks, but
they all stare hatefully at Eve.
Eve
My name is Eve.
The man offers
her a wan smile, assuming he’s made a mistake, and turns
away.
Sorry. I thought
you were someone
else.
Eve
I’m formerly known as Livia, Champion
of Rome. Destroyer of
Megara.
Urian turns
back to face her, as the other villagers within earshot gasp at her
admission.
Close up on
Eve’s shamed face.
End of
Teaser.
************
Act
One
Fade
In-
We resume
where we left off in the Teaser, on Eve’s shamed face. The people of the village see this as
their opportunity to get their revenge for what she has done to them, so they
begin moving in on her. Urian takes
the first swing at her with his hammer, and if Virgil hadn’t blocked the blow
with his own blade it would have been a blow hard enough to kill Eve. Seeing Eve has a friend to help fight,
they begin to throw stones at both of them.
Virgil
Eve!
Run!
Eve
I can’t.
Virgil
Are you crazy? They’re going to kill
you.
Run!
Eve
You don’t understand.
Before the
stoning can spin too far out of control, a ram’s horn is blown and the people
look around in confusion. A man, about 65 years old with a snow-white beard,
pushes his way through the crowd.
His name is JUDGE IBYCUS, (pronounced ib-ick-us), the village
magistrate.
Ibycus
What’s going on here? What are you
people doing?
Urian
Don’t you recognize her your honor?
It’s
Livia, champion of
Rome.
Eve
No, I’m no longer Livia. I’m Eve and I’ve
turned my life around. I’m the Messenger
with a message of hope for a better
future
for mankind.
Urian
You committed unspeakable crimes here
and you think changing your name and
preaching is going to excuse that?
Kill her!
Ibycus
Now wait just a minute! Put those stones
down this
instant!
The people
look as if they might not obey, but Ibycus keeps after
them.
Ibycus
Don’t make me arrest all of
you.
The people
throw down their stones, still angry, but the situation is now under the control
of the judge. At least for a little
while
Ibycus
You were once known as Livia of Rome,
correct?
Eve
Yes.
Ibycus
Did you commit the massacre on the
road
to Megara four years
ago?
Eve
I did.
Ibycus
Then I’m placing you under arrest. You
can
fight your way free of course. We all
know
first hand what you’re capable of
doing. Livia.
It’s clear he
holds no love for Livia either, but he wants to see justice done the right
way.
Eve
I won’t fight or run. You have my word
on
that.
Ibycus
Guards! Take her weapons and chain her.
Throw her in the dungeon until
trial.
Virgil takes
her by the arm, halting the guard from pulling her away.
Virgil
Eve, you can’t expect to receive a
fair trial.
They’re going to execute you and we
both
know it.
Eve
You don’t get it Virgil. Execution is a
fair
sentence for what I did here four
years
ago.
Virgil
watches helplessly as the guards take her weapons and chain her. Eve turns her head in shame and
allows them to lead her away to the dungeon.
Virgil
I want to stay close to
her.
Ibycus
Is she your
wife?
Virgil
No. She’s my friend.
Ibycus
I’m sorry but she can have no visitors
until
she is either acquitted or condemned
to
prison or death.
Virgil
Well I think we both know which ruling
you’re going to give
her.
Ibycus
You’re damn right. All right, break it up.
And I’m warning you all right
now: If one
hair on this young man’s head is
harmed
I’ll hang you myself. He has committed
no
crimes…that I know of anyway. Now break
it up.
The crowd
disperses but Urian stays, staring down at Virgil
hatefully.
Virgil
What are you
lookin’ at?
Urian
A deluded fool apparently. There’s
no
telling what lies that murdering
bitch
has told you to win you over, but
when
we have the trial you’ll get a first
hand
look at the real
Livia.
Virgil
You’re so quick to assume you
know
everything, but you don’t know
me.
You have no idea of my history
with
her, or why I call myself her friend,
but you will. I guarantee it. And for
your information, I have seen
Livia
in action.
Virgil stares
Urian down until he turns away.
When he feels its safe to ride out, Virgil mounts up and heads
out.
Int.
Dungeon
Eve is shoved
into a cell. Because her feet are
shackled she can’t compensate for the sudden momentum with large enough steps so
she falls flat on her face. The
guards laugh but Eve only gets quietly to her feet. Once she is alone, she looks out of the
tiny window to see Virgil riding out of the village.
Tight on Virgil’s
back.
When we pull
back it is four years earlier and we see we are focused on Livia’s back, not
Virgil’s. She is riding down the
same road, only this time the road is lined on either side with crosses. On the
crosses are the bodies still dying men, women and
children.
Cut to:
The
present.
Eve looks
away from the road and the memory to find Ibycus standing outside of her cell,
staring at her with hatred burning in his eyes.
Ibycus
Something tells me you were
looking
at your past here, not your
friend.
Eve
That something tells you right.
Ibycus
You probably don’t remember me. I
wouldn’t expect you to,
considering
you’ve killed so many people in
your-
Eve surprises
him and herself by cutting him off with the truth.
Eve
You’re Judge Ibycus. You had a
lovely
wife named Ede (pronounced
E-Dee)
and two sons, Drake and
Erasmus.
Ibycus
stares at her, shocked and emotional.
He looks as if he is about to cry, but forces himself to speak beyond his
tears.
Ibycus
And how could you possibly know
that?
I never told you their
names.
Eve
goes to the bars and searches his eyes with her own.
Eve
I’m not the same woman I was
then. I’ve
changed.
Ibycus
Why did you come back here?
Really?
Eve
I thought I would spread the word of
the
coming Messiah, but part of me
knew-hoped
even-that this would happen.
Ibycus
Well, you’ve got what you wanted…As
always.
Eve
I’ve been given this power
Ibycus. Some-
times it allows me to see into the
hearts of
others, like I did just now. Sometimes
it’s a gift, but mostly it’s a
torture. I know
it won’t mean as much to you as it
does
to me, but I’m sorry for killing your
family and friends. I’m sorry for who
and what I was back then.
Ibycus
You come in here and apologize,
and
that’s supposed to make what you
did
to us ok?
Eve
No. It’s supposed to let you
know
that I regret what I did.
Ibycus turns
on his heel and storms out before she can see too deeply into his pain. Eve’s eyes return to the road, and her
painful memories.
Fade
Into the past.
Ext. Livia’s Camp.
Livia rides
past her men as she enters the center of her camp. She has blood spattered on her chest and
face, and her horses legs are soaked in blood, as if it has been wading in
it. She stops in front of her tent
and dismounts.
Int. Tent
Livia goes
directly to her table and looks over a map spread out there. As she does this, Ares appears beside
her.
Ares
Livia. How goes the
battle?
Livia
(disgusted)
There is no battle Ares. Only
surrender.
These sheep can’t stand up to me
and
they know it. They don’t even
try
anymore.
(pouty tone)
I’m bored Ares.
Ares strokes
her hair from her face and makes calming noises to her.
Ares
You poor thing.
He moves
behind her, nuzzling her neck and caressing her body. Slowly he pushes her over the table face
first, and Livia begins to giggle.
Livia
Ares, what are you getting ready to
do?
Something kinky I
hope.
Ares
Always. You want a real challenge
Sugar?
Go here.
Ares pulls a
dagger from one of her boots and drives it into the map, impaling an icon of a
village.
Livia
What’s that?
Ares
Megara. They have the spirit of the
Spartans and their warrior’s skill
matches
that of my elite guards. Each and every
villager will fight to the death.
It’ll be a real
challenge for you to overcome them.
Trust
me on that.
Livia
Well, it looks like I’m going to have
to
pay Megara a little visit. Later…
Ext.
Camp-later
Livia exit
her tent, pulling her hair up and straightening her clothes as she makes her way
toward the front of the camp.
Livia
Senetus. Come over
here.
Her second of
command comes trotting over to her, then salutes her
respectfully.
Senetus
Yes sir?
Livia
Get a company together. We’re moving
against a village called
Megara.
Senetus looks
at her in disbelief.
Senetus
We’re riding against Megara
with only a
company?
Livia
Aren’t you sick and tired of
villages
bowing down to us? Ares tells me
that Megara is the perfect place to
find
a distraction.
Senetus
Each and every one of them will
fight.
Even their women. If we go in there
with
only a company, we may not come
back
out. I think we should-
Livia turns
on him, angry.
Livia
I didn’t ask you what you thought
Senetus!
I gave you an order! Carry it out or
I’ll find
someone who will. After I kill
you.
Senetus
Yes sir. I’ll gather the
men.
He
stands straight and marches off, much to Livia’s pleasure. She gives a wicked
grin.
Off Livia’s face cut to:
Eve.
She stares at
the road, watching Virgil ride away.
Eve
If only I could turn back
time.
Ext. Road-Virgil
Virgil rides
full speed away from Megara. He
knows Eve is ready to die there for the sins she committed here four years
before, but he’s just not willing to let her go. She has a mission to bring Hope to the
world, as well as to fight for those who are defenseless in the face of
evil. He cannot let her die without
a fight.
Virgil
I’ll be back Eve. I
promise.
Virgil rides
out of town, heading for Potidaea.
Fade
Out.
End of Act
One.
***********
Act
Two
Fade
In-Tavern
Titus, Baruch, Kaj
and Urian sit together at the local bar.
They are getting drunk, adding fuel to the flames of their justifiable
anger over Eve’s presence.
Titus
I’ll tell you what
makes me sick: She’s
alive while my wife
and son are dead.
She didn’t serve one
single day in jail for
her crimes. At least
not until today.
Kaj
She claims she’s
changed. Please. It made
me sick, some of the
things she was sayin’.
Baruch
I know you’re all
angry. Justice will be
done in Megara for
the ones she murdered
and the ones she sold
into slavery. Just
try to remember what
Eli said about
everyone deserving a
chance to change.
Urian
You’re not defending
her to us after she
murdered your own
family are you Baruch?
Baruch
What she did is
inexcusable Urian. I lost
people to, so of
course I’m not defending
her. All I’m saying is people change. Eli
believed it, and we
were taught to believe
in
Eli.
Titus
Well I heard a rumor
that Eli came back to
earth to save her
from hell. He’s supposed
to be reincarnated
into a baby he made
with a friend of
Eve’s named Hope.
Kaj
Yeah, I heard that
too. But that’s just a
story. Eli wouldn’t
save trash like her.
Baruch
Maybe. Maybe
not.
His voice trails off
and he looks away, almost embarrassed, but the other’s seem to know what he’s
thinking.
Urian
I know what you guys
got in mind and I
agree. I’d like to take a whip to her back
the way she took a
whip to my wife, and
my little brother.
Murdering bitch.
They continue to slam
the drinks back, becoming angrier as they get drunker. The only one not drinking heavily is
Baruch. By now their voices are
slurred when they speak.
Kaj
I
gotta great idea boys.
Int. Eve’s
Cell
Eve lies on her side,
sleeping peacefully, when suddenly she is jerked to her feet by Urian. She looks
around to find the others staring at her hatefully.
Eve
Come to take matters
into your own hands
I
see.
Urian
That’s
right.
Urian pulls Eve out
of the cell and into a larger room.
Kaj
Why should you lie on
a bed all night?
I think that’s too
comfortable.
Kaj moves in with a
sturdy looking stick and slams it into Eve’s stomach. All four men stand back, as if afraid
she will retaliate. When she doesn’t, Kaj, Urian and Titus begin to laugh and
beat her, but Baruch hangs back, watching.
When it looks like she’s had enough, Baruch steps
in.
Baruch
Ok! That’s enough.
Titus
Who’s side are you on
Baruch?
Kaj
Yeah. You’ve been stickin’ up for
her
all
night.
Baruch
I’m not sticking up
for her. I just don’t
want her to die
before she stands trial for
what she did to us. I
want to see justice
done as much as you,
but I want to see it
done the right
way. Let’s go
home.
Urion and Kaj move
toward the stairs, but Titus refuses to be turned so easily. He’d lost his entire family to Livia,
and his anger and bitterness runs deep.
Titus
Go home to what
Baruch? When she left
Megara the first time
she took everything.
My wife, my parents.
My ten year old boy!
I have a question for
you Livia.
Eve
What?
Titus
How many of our
people did you murder
four years ago? Do
you know? I do.
Eve
I
don’t know. A couple of
thousand.
Baruch
Four thousand. You sold only two
hundred of our women
and children into
slavery. What do you have to say
about
that? Why so few slaves? Why
didn’t
you just murder them
the way you
murdered everyone
else?
Eve
I’m sorry.
This answer
isn’t good enough for the men and Urian kicks her in the gut, with a flinch from
Baruch. Urian grabs a handful of
Eve’s hair and jerks her up.
Urian
You destroy our lives and all you’ve
got
to say to us is “I’m
sorry?”
Eve
(coughing from the
kick)
I don’t know what else to say. I
killed
your wife Brioni, and your little
brother
Timun. I’m sorry.
Urian steps
back, shocked that she knows their names.
The others begin to look at her in suspicion.
Urian
How do you know their names? Did
you
learn them so you could enjoy their
torture even more or some sick thing
like
that? You’re evil. You’re evil
incarnate,
and I’m going to wipe you off the
face
of this earth!
Urian moves
to break her neck but Baruch crashes a chair over the back of his head, knocking
him out. The others stare at Baruch
in shock and anger.
Titus
Why did you stop him
Baruch?
Baruch
Because if he’d killed her, Ibycus
would
have had to sentence him to death.
Take
him home and let him sleep it off.
All
of you. Go home.
Reluctantly
the men pick Urian’s massive body off the floor and carry him out. When they’re
alone, Baruch turns to Livia.
Baruch
Is it true that Eli came back to save
you?
To carry on his message of Peace? Is
he
really coming back as Hope’s child
as
the stories say?
Eve
Yes, it’s true. I’m supposed… I’m supposed
to bring the message of the One who
will save mankind. And Eli will
continue
the Message after me, in his new
body.
Baruch is
satisfied with this answer, and turns to leave, but Eve calls out to
him.
Eve
Your name is
Baruch.
Baruch
That’s my name.
Eve
I ordered the death of your
parents,
your sister and your two brothers. I
sold your wife and son into
slavery.
you’ve lost everyone to me, yet
you
defend me. I don’t
understand.
Baruch
Neither do I.
Eve
Thank you.
Baruch
Don’t thank me. I hate you every
Bit as much as they do, and if
Ibycus
sentences you to stoning, I’ll
cast
the first stone.
Her turns
and walks away, leaving her alone in the cell. As soon as he’s gone, very familiar
laughter fills the room behind her.
Eve
Ares. I should have figured
you’d
show.
The god of
war steps around from behind her and caresses her battered face gently.
Ares
Look how far the mighty has
fallen.
Eve
I haven’t fallen Ares. I’m finally
becoming
the woman I should be. The woman my
Mother was. A woman of honesty
and
honor.
Ares
Brutally so, it seems. I suppose you
think
this is all my
fault.
Eve
Isn’t it? You did raise me to be a
monster.
Ares
What a convenient excuse for your past
mistakes. Blame it all on Ares. I
opened
the door Eve, but you chose to
step
through.
Eve
This is an old, pointless argument
that
I’m not going to have with you
Ares.