Cleopatra Page #4

we'd have ships and men with us.

Where do we meet Marc Antony?

In the public square

at noon.

Well, why doesn't she come?

How should I know?

Where are the two generals

you sent to bring her?

Waiting for her, I suppose, like

you and me and the whole Roman army.

Waiting for a woman. A woman!

Six hours. While you

stand here and do nothing.

Go and get her.

Well, it's about time.

What? Apologize!

I apologize.

Watch your tongue, or I'll

cut it out of you! Wait here.

I'll go down to her boat

and get her myself.

Stop there!

Who nears the Queen's barge?

I'm Antony of Rome.

You're late.

Where are my men?

Oh, Charmion.

Where are the Romans who

came here today? Do you know?

They're sleeping, my Queen.

Sleeping? What for?

They're... Well, I should

say they were a little tired.

You mean a little drunk!

No, awfully drunk.

Come and see.

Get someone

to fling them ashore.

We'll go now.

Get ready.

Were you speaking to me?

Who do you think?

I sent orders for you to come to the

square. I'm not used to being disobeyed.

And why should I obey you? Your letter

said we had things to talk about.

The letter said that we would meet

in the public square in Tarsus...

and that's where we're going.

Oh.

We can't talk here then?

No, we cannot talk here.

Talk? With all this?

Oh, how different

from your generals.

Well, I guess

I must confess everything.

I must tell you why I wanted to

meet you here instead of the square.

Well?

Do you see

the way I'm dressed?

What about it?

I'm dressed

to lure you, Antony.

You see all this? It was

all a plan. And you know why?

Because it was my only chance.

Don't you think I know you're my

enemy, you and your hungry Rome?

But I suppose it was the most

stupid thing I could have done.

Why, do you know I had show after

show with which to dazzle you?

But Antony is not a man to be

dazzled if he doesn't please. No.

What do you care for this,

for instance?

Watch.

I wish you could see your face. Huh?

I'd have more chance

with a stone wall.

Will you forgive me

for being such a fool?

I should have known that Antony

is not Antony for nothing.

Well, shall we go now?

Yes, we'll go. My wits have

failed, and I'm in your hands.

But what could I do?

No, what would you have done?

Pretend you're me and I'm you.

No, no. No, no. You're

Cleopatra and I'm Antony.

Do I look like that?

Well, do I?

I think you'd better

stay as Cleopatra.

Oh, no, no. Don't drink that. No,

that was part of the plan, too.

I was going to get you

so irresponsible.

You didn't think one goblet

would do it, did you?

Yes, wouldn't it?

Well, that does amuse me.

But it's such a large goblet.

Yes, isn't it?

Well.

Well.

I hope that you know that I

know you want me to do this.

Dear Antony, I hope you think

I know that you know I know.

Oh.

No, we're not

dining here after all.

No, wait.

What is it?

Reed birds from the Nile.

Are they any good?

Oh, they're supposed to be.

There's not very much to it,

is there? Then we may dine here?

I'm really very hungry.

So am I,

when it comes to that.

Your little reed birds

aren't enough for me.

No, wait, Antony.

Clams from the sea. They're

catching them now. Come and see.

Jewels.

You are a good fisherman.

The golden streams of Egypt

never run dry.

Throw them.

Roman dogs.

Yes, Egyptian cats.

Starlit night

Let enchantment bright

Weave a spell on him

Whom I love

Grant me the heart I crave

Hear the prayer

of thy slave

Isis

Great Queen

of Night and love

Hear thy slave

Hear thy slave

A song to the stars.

They must think

we're funny people...

scheming to destroy each other

as if we had forever to live.

They must wonder:

"Why don't Egypt and Rome

meet in the public square...

"to plan union

instead of conquest?"

Yes, it's very funny.

I said things to Caesar

I wish I hadn't.

Oh?

There's beauty in the Egyptian

Queen besides her face.

Do you miss him?

No, he didn't love me.

Is that really the reason?

No, not really. I admire

men who don't love women.

What do you mean by that?

Oh, I don't know.

Women should be but toys for

the great. It becomes them both.

To you for that.

Oh.

And to you for that.

Why, Antony.

What?

Did I hear you hiccup?

Not me. I never hiccup.

Well, it certainly wasn't me.

Queens don't hiccup.

Well, I don't know whether they do

or not. They most certainly do not.

Queens only talk of stars.

Well, who do you suppose it can be?

Because I'm sure I heard something.

It's somebody under the couch. Ah.

Come out. Come out!

They're gaining.

I'm very much afraid it's the

Queen of Egypt who's hiccupping.

Oh, but doesn't that

seem a little absurd? Yes.

I'll stop them for you.

Don't you ever have

hiccups, Antony?

No, not tonight, I don't.

Does it hurt?

Oh, no, not a bit.

Well, it did it, didn't it?

Oh, yes, it did it.

What would happen

if you hit me like this?

I'd knock your head off.

And it would go rolling down

the deck into the river.

Wouldn't even touch the deck.

You're charming.

All right,

I'm ready to go now.

Why? Oh, you don't

find me charming.

Yes, I do.

I could fall in love with you,

but I don't intend to.

What for?

Do you mean that?

There's no one like you.

Octavian! Octavian!

Hail! Hail, Octavian!

Hail! Hail, Octavian!

Your cheers at last!

And they can only mean that

at last you agree with me...

that Marc Antony

is a traitor to Rome.

Antony's a traitor!

A traitor, I tell you!

Two months, two long months have

come and gone, and what has happened?

Nothing!

Not a thing!

Has he attacked Egypt

with his legions there?

No! No!

Has he brought

Cleopatra back in chains?

No!

No!

Has he done anything?

No. Nothing.

Yes, he's done one thing,

and that completely.

He's sailed to Egypt

with the Queen...

and lived there ever since

with no thought of Rome.

He's forgotten Rome.

Who is this poisonous snake

that wrecks our men?

Caesar first, and now Antony.

When will it end?

I'll tell you when!

Now!

Now!

This time it's my turn. There

will be no more talk of war.

There will be war!

War!

No more shining words,

but shining steel!

Rome will be paid

with Antony's blood...

and the Egyptian snake will be

destroyed, and there shall be war!

War! War! War! War!

What?

I never can believe it.

What? I should want to leave you right now.

Why should you?

For a little while, I should.

Why?

So that you won't tire of me.

Aren't you afraid

I might tire of you?

No.

I should want to go out and

get drunk with a lot of men.

Or find another woman.

Well, why don't you?

Because you are another woman.

New. Always new.

Completely new.

Majesty! Majesty!

Majesty!

What is it?

King Herod has arrived.

Had you forgotten?

No, no. Where is he?

He's waiting in the audience

chamber. I beg of you. Hurry, Majesty.

Come now, what's the hurry?

Oh, please.

What do you care

for the king of Judea?

But he's my guest. Oh, now, be a good

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes