Second Girl But is there going to be fight?

Boy Can we watch?

First Man You heard!

They go off.

Mother Take the dogs. Kill them. They have been insulted.

Second Envoy We would be very pleased to accept –

Mother Slit their throats! Bury the blood! Throw their bodies in the cess pit!

She throws the meat high, up the back of the stage. The dogs yelp and strain after it.

The Second Village Man takes the dogs and runs off with them as the First Village Woman and First Village Man come running back on.

A silence.

Second Envoy There is no insult – we killed no-one.

First Envoy (low) Shut up.

A silence, the Village Men and Women around the Envoys.

In all decency. Decency. And with dignity. We came as envoys. Spent the night, with your kind hospitality. Ate well.

A night we could not afford. Full bellies we could not afford.

Over the food I said, over the drink I said, again and again.

There is a Roman Army and it is coming.

It is an army of red leather and brass.

It is a ship.

It is a whole thing. It is a monster. It has machines.

It is Roman.

Mother Year in, year out, stories of Romans to scare the children.

Second Envoy They – are – there!

Mother Eagles instead of heads to scare the boys. Cocks of brass to scare the girls.

The Villagers laugh.

Second Envoy You won’t laugh when you’re corpses!

First Envoy Meat, sizzling in the debris of your burning homes –

Second Envoy I beg you, woman! You must send the young men and women of your farms. To fight – today.

First Envoy Manhood. Womanhood. War. Fury, battle fury. Raise it now.

The Mother spits at the Envoys.

Mother And who sent you?

A silence. All still.

Second Envoy We have his rings –

Mother You won’t say his name.

All night, drinking, singing, arguing, did you.

Even now, you have not got the balls to say the name.

Of the man who sent you.

Not in my house. Not on my fields. Not to my face.

Second Envoy Cassivellaunel.

A silence.

Cassivell –

The Mother screams. She rocks, one foot to the other.

First Envoy Let us forget old scores, Mother –

She spits.

Second Envoy What his Grandfather did to your Grandfather?

First Village Woman That cattle raid –

Second Envoy Five winters back?

First Village Man But never settled.

Second Envoy Little squabbles.

First Village Man Cattle in winter are not a little squabble.

Laughter.

Third Village Man Your Grandfathers were foreigners.

Fourth Village Man That’s right. We don’t even foster children with you!

Second Envoy Cassivellaunel was anxious to foster one of his daughters with your Mother –

Third Village Man And we booted her out –

First Village Woman No teeth –

First Village Man Funny smell –

Third Village Man Nipples that scratched –

The Villagers laugh.

Second Envoy You insult our Father’s daughter!