Ben & Pris (Anthony and Cleopatra)

Woot! The A&C thing is going great. Thanks alot to the people who met on National Day and/or the day after. Take a look at our fantastic script. (Actors might want to print this out and memorise.)


'Thou' corresponds to 'I/you/he/she'. (Nominative)
'Thee' corresponds to 'me/you/him/her'. (Accusative)
'Thy' corresponds to 'my/your/his/her'. (Possessive)
'Thine' -- 'mine/yours/his/hers'.

:::Scene 1:::

Narrator: Hi everyone, we're presenting Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra". Anthony, Octavius and Lepidus make up the Triumvirs, a Roman political regime. Ever since Anthony met Cleopatra, he hasn't given a single thought about Rome's affairs. Sit back and enjoy the story of love, betrayal and warfare.

Octavius: Thee shalt perish for tarnishing the glory of Rome with thy rebellion.

(Stabs Fulvia with the sword)

Fulvia: Thou may die and rot... but rebels wilt rise once more to fight against the grain.

(Collapses and dies)

Narrator: Although Anthony’s wife, Fulvia, was killed by Octavius, he ignored this completely, just like Rome's affairs.

Anthony: Fulvia is lost the caresses of thy mind. It is Cleopatra thou lust after. Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale. Her infinite variety: other women cloy. The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry. Where most she satisfies.

:::Scene 2:::

Narrator: Octavius had suggested that Anthony marry his sister, Octavia. Afraid to lose his life like his wife, he agreed. A short wedding was held, and Octavia had two children with Anthony. At the same time, Pompey, Menas and Menacrates, the pirate captains of the Mediterranean waters were becoming increasingly hostile to Rome. Octavius seeks Anthony’s aid in defeating the pirates.

Octavius: Thou hath summoned thee to talk about the matters caused by these foul pirates. We hath to lead our army and remind these scurvy mongrels of Rome's glorious might.

Anthony: Thou shall do as thee wishes, but defeating these dogs wilt be a struggle as difficult as Brutus’ defeat.

Octavius: Dost thou hath thy promise of the three bloodied heads of fallen pirates?

Anthony: Thy trust is put justly so.

Narrator: Anthony went to seek help from the Queen of Egypt, Instead, he was beguiled and seduced by Cleopatra. Still he had to return to Rome.

Cleopatra: You cannot leave me like this for our bind of love links strong.

Anthony: Thou shalt return. Thee must wait. Thy heart shalt remain unchanged.

:::Scene 3:::
Narrator: The Triumvirs proceeded to Sicily, the Pirates' base. They offered Pompey a truce, provided that they get rid of the rest of the pirates of the Mediterranean Sea and the three triumvirs give him tributes occasionally. Pompey agreed, after some hesitation. A little celebration was held.

Menas: Why dost not plot to kill the Triumvirs now? Thou and thee may become lords of Rome in time to come.

Pompey: Thou find it dishonourable. Thou shalt dost not such a thing.

Narrator: Honor among thieves. Pompey did not betray the Triumvirs. But a few months later, Octavius broke their truce with Pompey and declared war against him once more. Anthony disapproved, and was furious when he found out that he had killed Pompey and imprisoned Lepidus. He abandoned Octavia and went back to Egypt, where he crowned Cleopatra and himself as rulers of Egypt and the eastern part of the Roman Empire.

Anthony: Thou dost not please thee. Thou did not share Pompey’s islands justly. Thy anger for the imprisonment of Brother Lepidus runs deep, scarring thy heart.

Octavius: Thou shalt agree to the former demand, but alas, thou hath already brought the friendship between thee and Lepidus down.

Anthony: Thy scoffs at your excuse. Prepare to war! Thou shalt battle for justice!

Narrator: Anthony prepares to wage war against Octavius. Cleopatra pledged her Egyptian fleet to aid Anthony.

:::Scene 4:::

Narrator: Anthony’s lieutenant, Enobarbus, pleads him not to fight Octavius at sea for Octavius has a better, stronger and more mobile navy.

Enobarbus: Thee must not battle on the waters , Octavius hath a navy of higher prowess, in which you pale in comparison.

Anthony: Octavius has dared thee to battle in the seas, and thou shalt do just that, and let everyone know that the Gods favours thee.

Narrator : Cleopatra fled with her fleet halfway through the battle, and the smitten Anthony followed her. Antony’s army was pulverised and he was in terrible agony for what he had done. Meanwhile, soldiers heard that Anthony has lost the protection of the god Hercules and, as a result, Enobarbus joined Octavius. Despite this, the next battle was on land and Anthony was winning. That is, until…

:::Scene 5 :::
Anthony: Cleopatra, thou is winning the war, now is the time for bold endeavors, now is the time to gain control of vast Rome!

Soldier: Great lord, Octavius has moved the battle onto the sea, should thy army retreat or continue the valiant battle?

Anthony: Ye wilt continue fighting for we hath Cleopatra’s fleet to aid us, Victory wilt be thine to behold.

Soldier: Thou might just be a lowly soldier, a mere pawn of war in the eyes of great Anthony, but it would be better if we were to retreat for I fear that the Queen wilt once again betray thee.

Anthony: She wilt not do so, for our love runs through all of chaos and war. Thou wilt not have any more of this nonsense, leave!

(Soldier walks away, shaking his head)

Narrator: How dumb can Anthony get? Well, just as the soldier said, Cleopatra once again betrayed Anthony and henceforth, Anthony swore revenge.

Anthony: This foul Egyptian hath betrayed thee! Thy vengence erodes all love. Thou vow revenge.

Narrator: Cleopatra knew that to win Anthony’s heart back, she would have to do something dramatic. So she faked her death and asked her maids to spread the word around that she had died with Anthony’s name on her lips. But instead of a remorseful Anthony rushing back o Egypt to see her, he attempted to commit suicide. But he only managed to mortally wound himself. His servants brought him to Egypt, where he died his Cleopatra’s arms.

Cleopatra: Thou is such a fool! Iras, Charmian, bring thou an asp. May the venom of this deathly serpent bring me to another world where Anthony now resides.

Narrator: Afraid to disobey Cleopatra's orders, the maids brought a poisonous asp in front of her. Cleopatra allowed the asp to slide to her and bite her. She died a slow and but painless death. In true Egyptian servitude, Iras and Charmain also killed themselves. When Octavius hears of the deaths of his two enemies, he has conflicting emotions. Their deaths remove the last two obstacles in this path to glory yet he feels some sort of sympathy for them.

Octavius: She shalt be buried by her Anthony. No grave upon the earth shalt clip in it. A pair so famous.

THE END

Freaky shakespearean language, yea, I know. And evil scriptwriter KL didn't contribute one single bit. Except for a laser-cannon part which we scratched out.

Jiayouz, people. WE HAVE TO WIN THIS. 'Cause it's like, August already?

SX