David Blixt - Eve of Ides: a play of Caesar and Brutus

Eve Of IdesA Play of Brutus & CaesarBy David Blixt This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, events, and organizations portrayed in this work are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Eve Of Ides Copyright 2012 by David Blixt Cover by David Blixt All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the author. For information about production rights, visit: www.davidblixt.com Published by Sordelet Ink Inspired by the facts of history, the plays of Shakespeare, and the novels of Colleen McCullough. For my father Al Blixt The best man I have ever known The first reading of Eve Of Ides was held at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey as part of their Lend Us Your Ears series.It was directed by Rick Sordlet, and produced by Joe Discher, under Artistic Director Bonnie Monte. CAESAR Edward Gero BRUTUS Grant Aleksander ANTONY Michael Rossmey VARRO Robert Hock SERVANT Arthur Lazalde

FOREWARD The historian Plutarch writes that, the night before he was assassinated, Caius Julius Caesar attended a dinner party.

Also in attendance were his nephew Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) and the leader of the regicidal assassins, Marcus Junius Brutus. EVE OF IDES explores the relationship betwen Brutus and Caesar, both before and after death. The first act records the events of that fateful dinner the night before the Ides. The second act is a scene hinted at in Shakespeares play, but never staged the second appearance of Caesars ghost to Brutus. DRAMATIS PERSONAE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE CAESAR Caius Julius Caesar SERVANT an ancient slave in Lepidus house BRUTUS Marcus Junius Brutus ANTONY Marcus Antonius VARRO Marcus Terentius Varro I MARCH 14, 44 BC ACT ONE MARCH 14, 44 BC INTERIOR ROMAN HOUSE - EVENING In darkness. Snippets of the Cassius/Brutus dialogue are overcut, creating a cacaphony, with one speech running through clearly. CASSIUS (V.O.) Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves.

Men are some times masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. The speech then changes to laughter and sounds of a pleasant, slightly rowdy dinner party. It is at a distance, as if in another room.Lights up to discover CAIUS JULIUS CAESAR - 55, aristocratic, tall, fit, balding, smartly dressed - standing at a desk with several papers about him. He reads one while signing another, working furiously. During the whole act, he is constantly working.

The room does not belong to him, so his clutter seems out of place. He takes one sheet over to the window to read by the fading exterior light. Frustrated, he turns up a lamp. He makes several notes, scratches out a line. CAESAR (calling) Whos within? A SERVANT enters. The sounds from the dining room increase. CAESAR (handing the paper to the SERVANT) Take this to Caius Trebonius at once. Tell him to have it prepared for a vote in tomorrows meeting.

SERVANT Yes, Caius Julius. At once. Thunder. CAESAR And inform the augers I want sacrifices to keep Jupiter at bay tonight. This storm looks - portentous. The SERVANT bows and exits. CAESAR returns to work.BRUTUS enters.

He is a man in his middle forties, expensively clothed. BRUTUS A problem, Caesar? CAESAR No, merely last minute detritus. Go back, Brutus, enjoy the company. BRUTUS I was deputed to find you. CAESAR (snorting) With all Antonys antics, Im astonished I was missed. BRUTUS The Dictators absence will always be felt. CAESAR And resented.

Almost as much as his presence. Go back, Brutus, feast. Lepidus has set a magnificent table. BRUTUS For your benefit, Caesar. CAESAR (Writing industriously) Cant be helped. Directly after tomorrows Senate meeting, I leave for the kingdom of the Parthians.

The ghost of Marcus Crassus will haunt me until I avenge his lost eagles. (Lays his pen aside and looks at BRUTUS for the first time) Youre sure you wont come? A campaign like this comes along once in a lifetime. BRUTUS Not if you are Caesar. CAESAR Candidly, even Caesar is excited at the prospect. A truly foreign war, against a rich foe who has bested us once already. Weather, terrain, climate, numbers - all will be against us.

The war in Gaul pales in comparison. And then theres the personal stake. I will have the King of the Parthians kneel before dead Crassus tomb and beg forgiveness. BRUTUS Terrible. Little though I liked the man (shivers) An airless death frightens me. CAESAR Then hold your breath until the fear passes.

BRUTUS Face your fear. How very Caesar. CAESAR We never feel more alive than at the edge of some precipice. (claps his hands together) Come, Brutus! Do! Go with me! I would depart all the more willingly with you at my side. BRUTUS I have duties to perform here. Your own fault, Caesar.

You made me Urban Praetor. Under the law, I cannot leave the city. CAESAR Sullas law, Brutus, Sullas law! What one dictator put in place, another can remove. Or simply grant an exemption. Let it be no obstacle. BRUTUS It wouldnt be a Right Act.

CAESAR (sighing) Zeno. When Cato died I hoped never to hear his philosophy again. BRUTUS Let me rephrase, then. However rigged the elections were, I was voted in by the people in their Centuries. It would be shirking my obligation to Rome to leave the people without their chief judge for the whole term of my year in office. (CAESAR starts to speak) No, dont - please, dont make it more difficult.

I am not you. I am not martial at heart. As well you know. CAESAR Yes. What was it your mother used to tell people when she kept you back from the Campus Martius? BRUTUS A weak chest. CAESAR But not a weak stomach.

Or a weak heart. Your misfortune, Brutus, is that youve never campaigned with me. Cicero is far from being the next Ares, and poor Pompey was past it. Come, see a real campaign. BRUTUS I have seen one, Caesar. From the losing side.

CAESAR Pharsalus was not Pompeys best hour, true. (grimly) But neither was it mine. Oh Brutus! Come with me! Ill even bring your brother-in-law, if you like. Little though I love Cassius, hes a brilliant soldier, and his organizational skills almost equal my own. The pair of you can be my senior legates, and we will finally be what we always should have - allies in a great cause. BRUTUS (ruefully amused) Youre not used to no, are you? CAESAR (grinning) Certainly not these days.

Its refreshing, in a way. But I would appreciate your company, above all mens. Truly. BRUTUS I will - think on it, Caesar. CAESAR You dont have much time. BRUTUS No.

Just tonight. (beat) Youll have my answer after the Senates business tomorrow. CAESAR Excellent. Im sure your good sense will rule. You are the most pragmatic of fellows, as well as the gentlest. My darling little Julia always said- BRUTUS (interrupting) Wasnt Antony angling for the senior legate post.

CAESAR What? BRUTUS I thought Antony was tapped for senior legate. CAESAR

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