Pope Joan

Scene 5

August 10 -- Feast of St. Lawrence, Martyr St. Lawrence refused to surrender the treasury of the Church to the Prefect of Rome and, according to tradition, was roasted to death on a red-hot gridiron over a slow fire.

SETTING;

The Throne Room. Lateran Palace. Rome.

AT RISE:

CARDINALS are gathered around ANASTASIUS, who is in white papal robes. HE is seated on the throne.

(Trumpets blare.)

ACOLYTE

His Majesty, Louis the Second, King of the Franks.

(LOUIS, JOAN, MARTINE and their PARTY enter.)

ANASTASIUS

Louis, my son, you may kiss the ring of St. Peter.

LOUIS

Your Holiness, you may -- (MARTINE growls.) extend your hand. (LOUIS kisses ANASTASIUS' ring.)

ANASTASIUS

We welcome you to Rome. You have only just missed our coronation.

LOUIS

How unfortunate. We thought we had made it clear there was to be no coronation until we were present.

ANASTASIUS

God's Will heeds no earthly timetable.

LOUIS

Just as a fool heeds no earthly warning.

ANASTASIUS

You have your father's sword-like tongue.

LOUIS

As sharp as ever, Holiness.

ANASTASIUS

We would meet your party.

LOUIS

The commanders of my army have graciously consented to bivouac their garrisons around the outskirts of the City. For defensive purposes only, of course. (indicating MARTINE) My lady in waiting, Martine de Villefours. (SHE bows and kisses ANASTASIUS' ring.) And this is John Anglicus, my confessor. (Murmurs from the CROWD.)

NICHOLAS

Pray forgive us, Brother John -- your fame extends to even such a provincial outpost as Rome.

JOAN

Your Grace?

NICHOLAS

I am Cardinal-Bishop Nicholas.

ANASTASIUS

Brother John, we would be pleased to have you join our household.

JOAN

You honor me, Holy Father.

LOUIS

Holiness, I have a great need of spiritual guidance at this time. I beg you to allow Brother John to remain with me.

JOAN

But I ...

LOUIS

And Brother John is loathe to mention that the close confines in which the brothers live would prove injurious to his health.

ANASTASIUS

Is this true?

JOAN

I fear it is so.

NICHOLAS

Then by all means, remain with the Frankish king. I shall be pleased to act as your guide within the labyrinth of the Lateran.

ANASTASIUS

Brother Nicholas, we would not have your attention undivided at this critical hour, kind an offer though it may be. We shall provide an attendant for Brother John.

(calling to the CROWD) Lucius? (LUCIUS appears. HE is sixteen, a beautiful boy of pale complexion.)

LUCIUS

Brother John? It would be an honor to serve you.

ANASTASIUS

Lucius was a foundling dropped on our doorstep during the sacking of the city. As my personal charge, he has been raised as an archivist. He will serve you well. How many tongues now, Lucius? Five?

LUCIUS

Six, Holiness. Latin, Greek, French, English, Gothic, and Etruscan -- though that is not up to fighting speed yet.

LOUIS

Neither are the Etruscans.

JOAN

You will put my meager learnings to shame.

LUCIUS

I so look forward to talking with you. There are many points of theology I wish to discuss. For example, where stand you on the question of transubstantiation?

JOAN

The transformation of the essence of the Eucharist into the Body and Blood of Christ? As you well know, Lucius ...

ANASTASIUS

Brothers! There is time aplenty for such debates. I fear we must needs proceed with more mundane political matters. King Louis, please proceed into our private audience chamber. We shall join you presently.

LOUIS

Your Holiness.

(LOUIS bows, heads toward the apartment offstage. As HE passes JOAN, HE says, so that only SHE can hear.)

Delicious. (ANASTASIUS approaches JOAN.)

ANASTASIUS

Brother John, we would know: do you recognize our authority over all earthly dominions?

JOAN

(kneeling) With all my heart. As Jesus is my Heavenly Father, so art thou my temporal one. And in His name, I am commanded to speak to you.

ANASTASIUS

Later, my child. For now, you must take care that your prince does not use you for his own ends. Politics has been the undoing of many before you.

JOAN

As you command, Holy Father. But the Holy Ghost has bade me tell you ...

ANASTASIUS

Particular friendships, be they with princes or no, are occasions of sin.

JOAN

Holy Father, our Saviour says ... (ANASTASIUS silences HER with a gesture. SHE obeys.)

JOAN

I shall strive always to purify this sinful body. (ANASTASIUS exits.)

NICHOLAS

(to JOAN) Pay no heed to the coldness of the Holy Father. It is a difficult time for all of us in God's Church. Unless we all pray and do penance, we cannot discern His will for us.

JOAN

I agree.

NICHOLAS

Tonight there will be a vigil in the church. We intend to pray until dawn with arms extended in the form of a cross. Without mortification of the flesh, no man can hear God's voice.

JOAN

You may well be right, Cardinal Nicholas. His will be done in all our lives. And perhaps we will join you later.

LUCIUS

The Holy Father may well require your presence this evening as well, Brother John.

NICHOLAS

And I will pray that Brother John will make the choice most in accord with God's will. Good day, my brothers. God go with you.

(End of Scene 5)


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