I, Caligula by Julio C Mas

This Play is the copyright of the Author and may not be performed, copied or sold without the Author's prior consent

PROLOGUE

As the curtain rises the stage appears dark, as in a penumbra tone of
lighting. The center foreground gets illuminated over a table, a codex
(rectangular sheets of parchment folded at the center and sewn in the
style of a manuscript), a metal inkwell and a wooden stylus or pen.

The historian Suetonius is about to begin writing on the codex. He
seems rather distraught as he struggles to recollect and sort out the
product of his research.

Suetonius: Once again here I sit while my mind spins at the core of
whirling fragments of dubious testimonies, anecdotes or nothing more
than speculations on the life of the youngest and shortest living
ruler of the Roman Empire. Eighty years have passed since his
assassination took place and so little is known of his earlier years.
This will be the third volume of my Vita Caesarum or I should say, The
Lives of the Twelve Caesars, and as I hold the pen a fog of
uncertainties seems to thwart my thoughts. How do I commence to write
on the life of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus?

The specter of Nerva, Patrician and Consul, emerges from the
shadows.

Nerva's specter: Gaius Germanicus was the unfortunate product of a
world where power and corruption laid the ground for the cultivation
of his sprouting intellect. As a child he spent a great deal of time
on the Rhine with his father's legions, dressed as a little soldier
with caligas on his feet, those little boots that gave origin to the
name of Caligula. Write, Suetonius, write! For time becomes
meaningless as man in his vulnerable deeds lays the foundation for the
history of humanity from generation to generation. But the world must
be averted and thus, learn and beware of the evil that lurks in the
minds of unscrupulous men in their unyielding quest for might. People
must remain vigilant of those who through alluring palavers can lead
nations onto a web of deceit and corruption.

The ghostly presence eludes Suetonius' awareness as he takes the
unheard words as a recollection of forgotten and begins to sort them
out. The specter of the chamberlain Helicon now appears to join
Nerva.

Helicon's specter: And then there were those convulsive seizures
that drained the life out of him. He was a very confused young man,
Nerva.

Nerva's specter: The youngster could not help himself but acted out
of erratic and unpredictable impulses. He had to endure the loss of
his father and then that of his mother and brothers who were either
slain or starved to death at the hand of Sejanus, under Tiberius'
orders. Yes, Helicon! Gaius Germanicus did in fact learn of pain and
suffering at a very early age.

Helicon's specter: I was his chamberlain until his death and I
could hear his mumbling words of despair while he slept. He was then
as helpless as a little lamb.

Nerva's specter: Yes, and having to spend all those years in Capri
with his Uncle Tiberius where he was more of a prisoner than a guest
in an atmosphere of vile leisure. I assure you, Helicon that all those
years were neither edifying to his morals nor to his well being so to
speak!

Suetonius continues writing as if their voices were speaking to his
ears. The specters of the Chaerea and Longinus appear.

Chaerea's specter: By the Gods! Cease your justification of his
malevolent behavior as though he was a poor helpless wretch! He was a
bloody tyrant! A monster!

Longinus' specter: (Likewise emerging). Yes, a monster of many
faces! Tiberius, his uncle himself, very often said: "My nephew is
like a snake in the art of dissemblance". Oh! Yes, Chaerea! How well
he wove all kinds of subterfuges to fulfill his desires, especially
breaking my marriage with his sister, Drusilla.

Chaerea's specter: And how surreptitiously he managed to have his
sister marry Lepidus for the sole purpose of satisfying his own
perverse desires. Isn't that so, Longinus?

Longinus' specter: Absolutely! With such an unscrupulous agreement
with the greedy Lepidus, Caligula's incestuous intimacy with
Drusilla could be further pursued under the deceitful appearance of a
corrupted marriage.

Chaerea's specter: Is that all there was to it, Longinus? By the
Gods! How could you have been so unaware of the full scope of his
depravity? It's beyond my comprehension! Caligula and Lepidus were
lovers long before the annulment of your marriage came to realization.
There were even rumors of his affairs with other men too!

The ghost of Caesonia suddenly emerges from the shadows.

Caesonia's specter: (Coming forth). Men of ill faith! Listen to
your own words that are as pernicious as the venom of snakes!
Longinus, you know well that was not the case. There were much
stronger reasons, such as matters of state, besides that of
Drusilla's unhappiness, to have your marriage annulled. As to such
infamous rumors of incest with his sister, all is pure stupid
conjecture. Gaius himself related to me that on one occasion when he
was eleven years of age and Drusilla was twelve, they mischievously
spied on their parents having intercourse. It seemed rather exciting
to them at the time so in their little childish way they attempted to
recreate the same action. It was then that their aunt caught them in
their little playful adventure and consequently, they were severely
punished.

Longinus' specter: (Sarcastically). Yes! The very origin of it all!
The seed of perversion was suddenly planted in their uncorrupted
little minds! What a pity! How clever of you, Caesonia! As a devoted
wife, you always find the right words to exonerate him of his
vileness, and why not? After all, you were first and foremost his
concubine and whore!

Offended by Longinus' accusations, the abashed presence of Caesonia
indignantly vanishes into the shadows.

Nerva's specter: Gentlemen, gentlemen! Restrain yourselves from
pronouncing further insults and harsh accusations. Are you forgetting
that in spite of his inadequacy, during the first seven months
following his accession, only kindness and fairness were his most
undeniable attributes? Amnesty for all Roman prisoners or exiles
during Tiberius' reign were granted under his edict as well as the
cessation of treason trials, which likewise, his uncle had started.

Chaerea's specter: So tell me, Nerva, what was the cause for such a
drastic change in his behavior? Would the pain of the death of his
beloved Drusilla have turned him into the monster that he became?

Helicon's specter: Forget not the period of bereavement he had to
endure by wandering as a lost soul through the slummy alleys of the
stinky subura. Such tragedy must have scarred his mind!

Nerva's specter: No, my dear Helicon, that nonetheless, could have
been the primary cause but not entirely so.

Suetonius: (Recollecting and exclaiming to himself). It was that
illness that befell him. Yes brain fever!

The four specters become terrified at Suetonius' pronouncement of
"brain fever" as they slowly disappear in the shadows.

Suetonius: Inexplicably, I begin to recollect bits and pieces of
information that only minutes ago, seemed so nebulous! Yes, now I am
ready to begin to write this volume and yet, something evades my
imagination. I need a name for it, a title that'd be powerful enough
to emphasize the true nature of his persona aside from those of his
two predecessors. But what would it be?

Suddenly, the ghost of Caligula emerges as he walks toward Suetonius
who now seems to find more inspiration to write.

Caligula's specter: (With ominous overpowering posture he raises
his right hand as in proclamation. His lips pronounce the words but
with no sound. The prerecorded lines are then heard). I, Gaius Julius
Caesar Augustus Germanicus born in the bloodline of Caesar Augustus!
I, Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, Supreme Emperor of Rome! (The voice
becomes more passionate.) I, who by divine design, was born a begotten
son of Jupiter and thus spurted down to Earth from the womb of my
mother Juno! I am therefore and rightfully so also a God! Announce
this proclamation throughout the city of Rome upon decree of .
(Still recorded, a final vehement utterance is heard).I, Caligula!

His voice is almost drowned by dramatic incidental music or the sound
of thunder as the lights dim out.


SCENE I

Sometime in October AD 37


The stateroom at the imperial palace, Caesar's chairs at rear
center stage, a huge golden heraldic plae depicting the head of
Augustus Caesar hangs above it. A gong stands nearby. There are three
arched entrances, one behind Caesar's chair, another one to stage
right suggestively leading to the corridors and one at left stage
leading to the vestibule. Clemens, Didius and Cornelius nervously
await Helicon to appear with news on Caligula's mysterious illness.


Clemens: I still say that Gaius contracted the disease during those
three days of his disappearance.

Didius: Only Heaven knows where in the city such anguish led him to
wander about. In the state of mind he was in at the loss of his sister
Drusilla he could have even fallen in the hands of that new sect of
fanatics.

Cornelius: Are you referring to the so called Christians, Didius?

Didius: Yes, it could be possible!

Cornelius: So what if he did?

Didius: They could have bewitched him or even tried to use poison to
make him ill.

Cornelius: For what purpose, Didius? If that was the case, I am sure
those fanatics were not aware of the true identity of Caligula,
otherwise, they wouldn't even attempt to do it!

Clemens: Our guards have been vigilant of their whereabouts and
activities. You may rest your mind there is nothing to be concerned
about them. At least not yet!

Cornelius: To start with, their teaching is laughable! They worship
only one God whom they call the Christus! (Laughs) But wait, there is
still more to their ridiculous belief; this Christus named Ieseus was
only an insane Jew from Jerusalem who proclaimed himself a god! And
then guess what the result of his stupidity was! (Laugh again). He was
crucified! Now, would you call that a god?

They all laugh except Didius.

Clemens: If I were a true god no man would dare to put a finger on
me, I assure you! He was nothing more than a self-deluding fool.
(Mockingly) Oh! Have you not heard that as a Christian, if anybody
happened to slap your face, you are then to offer the other cheek?

Cornelius: Really? I shall try that on the first Christian that comes
on my path only to see how long he can hold on to his faith. (Beat)
Clemens, as a true friend, would you be a Christian for just an
instant?

Clemens: Don't you even think about it, Cornellius Scribonianus! As
a good friend I might as well return a good blow to that big head of
yours!

They all laugh.

Didius: I have heard that they cure the sick by making the sign of
the cross on the name of the one whom they call Ieseus. Is it possible
that they may cast the same spell in reverse to cause evil instead?

Cornelius: First of all, I do not believe in spells and besides,
those people conduct their religious activities in the alleys of the
subura. I cannot possibly imagine that Gaius would have dared to
venture himself in that part of the city regardless of how severe his
state of mind was!

Clemens: There is nonetheless the possibility that he may have
wandered away from the Via Sacra. If he unknowingly actually did enter
the subura, that must have been quite a frightening experience for him
especially at night.

Helicon appears through the entrance leading toward the imperial
hallway (right stage).

Helicon: The fever has begun to subside. He has opened his eyes but
still remains very weak. The physician says that there is nothing more
he can do for him. We only have to wait and pray. (He exits).

Didius: Yes, wait! But for how long and to what end? Rumor has it
that he gets from time to time into such violent convulsions that
drain a great deal of strength out of his body.

Clemens: That is very possible for there is a history of such
calamity in the family. I believe also that his deceased father, Gaius
Augustus suffered from the same evil.

They all strike their chests with fisted hands in reverence to his
memory.

Didius: Yes, my friends but what he's fighting now is the brain
fever! Only Heaven knows how long his convalescence would take and
what his subsequent physical condition would be.

Claudius and Gemellus enter from stage left.

Claudius: (Will stammer and occasionally drool throughout the play.)
You must not ever repeat that, not even think it! Are you hearing what
I'm saying, Gemellus? (Beat) Oh! Gentlemen, I was not aware of your
presence!

Cornelius: Greetings, Claudius! And if I may ask what did this
youngster say that has offended your ears?

Claudius: (Stammering) Nothing, it was nothing! It was not offensive
at all, only stupid and therefore, not worthy to repeat.

Clemens: Was it not perhaps, what some of us do think but dare not
say?

Cornelius: It may not have been so stupid after all but rather
dangerous! Was it not, Gemellus?

Claudius: Hush, boy, hush! For your own sake!

Clemens: Did you hear that, Gemellus? He called you a boy! You are already
an eighteen year old man. Do you hear what I have just said? A man, Gemellus,
so act like one with no fear to say whatever you believe if it's just and fair. Come
on tell us!

[end of extract]

Price $7.99 Add to cart