Scene Six


We are back in the Forum again the following morning. The religious zealots with their stands of scrolls are in the same places as before. However, near JOSEPHUS, is one we have not seen before, a PERSIAN dressed in robes almost as colorful as Mazaca's. JOSEPHUS regards him with disdain. Center stage is a raised platform on which stands a large muscular MAN brandishing a whip. HE is cracking it in the air as the ONLOOKERS gaze in awe. A moment's pause, then TWO BURLY GUARDS enter from the right dragging CATALUNI, who is still only partially dressed in his female outfit. ONLOOKERS converge upon him.
CROWD
What a bastard!
What a lummox!
What he tried to do
Turns our stomachs!
The effects on Rome
Could be prodigious
From something so
Sacrilegious! (The MAN WITH THE WHIP straps Cataluni to a post in front of him and rips the back of the gown off. When HE begins to crack the whip we see only Cataluni's front as he winces in pain.)
CROWD
Give it to him hard!
Give it to him good!
Whip his ass!
Beat his butt!
Tan his hide!
Punch his gut!

Give it to him hard!
Give it to him good!
Pound his back
Like a gong---
Tear his tits!
Break his dong!

We can't stand by in silence
Each time that he gets hit;
There's a time and place for violence
And this is it!

Let's pray the cuts are so immense
That he howls and howls
And the pain is so intense
That he loses his bowels!
Oh, if only, if only he would!
So give it to him hard!
Give it to him good!

(ONLOOKERS do a short dance of exultation but are interrupted by the entrance stage right of JULINKA with the POLICE we saw previously. SHE inspects the crowd and follows their gaze to Cataluni and the whip master. She emits a scream of recognition, points to Cataluni. POLICE tear through the crowd to get to him.)
 
 
BLACKOUT

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