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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The Original Version of this Scene