Joan Arrives In Rome
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 my ring.
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 were under the impression
there would 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 retain the sword-like tongue of your youth.
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, to protect against heathen incursions.
(indicating MARTINE)
My lady in waiting, Martine de Villefours.
(SHE bows and kisses ANASTASIUS' ring.)
And this is John Anglicus, my tutor in theology.
(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 meta-ousiosis?
(looking around, seeing many of them are clueless)
Transubstantiation.
JOAN
Ah, yes. The transformation of the essence of the Eucharist into
the Body and Blood of Christ. As you well know, Lucius, the concept
was first posited by Aristotle in relation to --
LUCIUS
... and the Donation of Constantine?
JOAN
Is that not a monetary donation?
LUCIUS
Why no, Brother John. It is a document -- a very famous document.
JOAN
Ah, yes. I have heard it said that it is a forged document.
ANASTASIUS
Brothers! There is time aplenty for such talks.
I fear we must needs proceed with more mundane political matters.
We shall speak later. 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.
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