Asinus Gaius Julius.

Asinus walks away then, at a discreet distance, turns and watches Caesar.

Caesar Primus Pilus. You and two men.

Primus Pilus (to the Soldiers guarding the standard). You and you.

They go to Caesar.

Caesar Stand with your backs to me.

Primus Pilus General.

The Primus Pilus nods to the Soldiers. They stand with their backs to Caesar. Caesar stoops forward, feeling his tooth with his fingers. Then he holds his lips back and loosens the tooth with the point of the knife. The punishment squad stop work and look.

First Soldier What is our General doing?

Second Soldier The moody sod wants to be alone.

Third Soldier Sometimes a man has got to be alone. (They laugh.)

Guard Get on get on.

With a grunt Caesar pulls his tooth out. Blood on his fingers. He looks at the tooth.

Asinus (aside) He is a man waiting on the edge of the world. For what? In a sense, he does nothing. He only reacts. And finds himself master of continents. It is not surprising that he pays historians to find omens of great things at the time of his birth.

Caesar throws his tooth away.

Caesar Vinegar.

The Primus Pilus gives Caesar a flat bottle. He sluices his mouth out and spits.

Stones begin to fly over the stage, landing amongst the Romans.

First Soldier (this is, of the Soldiers guarding Caesar) Wogs. Throwing stones.

Second Soldier Slings.

Primus General –

Caesar Yes. Quickly.

Soldiers running, shields over their heads. The Soldiers guarding Caesar hold their shields above him.

Primus Pilus Bugler! Standard Bearer!

Caesar Prefect of the legion.

The Standard Bearer and Bugler run to the Primus Pilus. The Prefect runs to Caesar.

Primus Pilus Men out of the water. First and second centuries of the fourth cohort, up to the trees with missiles – they are not, not to enter the forest. Bugler, defensive formations.

The Bugler blows a call. The Standard Bearer runs off.

Caesar Yes?

Prefect Can only be a handful. With slings. Even children. Dying down now.

Caesar We will not pitch camp. We go south, now.

Prefect General. Primus Pilus!

Primus Pilus Sir.

Prefect Strike the standards.

Primus Sir. Bugler! Marching order!

The Bugler makes another call.

Caesar Asinus, record this order.

Asinus Yes General.

Caesar (to the Prefect) Take their animals. Salt the fields. Kill the prisoners. Do what you can in the time.

Prefect Yes General. Primus Pilus, with me.

They hurry away.

Caesar (to Asinus) Even a little massacre must look like policy. They’ll take it as a warning. Or that we knew these people were traitors. Probably leave a little local war behind us – no bad thing.

(To the Soldiers shielding him:) Join your squads.

The Soldiers run off. Caesar walks away upstage, followed by Asinus.

The Soldiers of the punishment squad.

First Soldier Not making camp? What about our lavatories?

Guard Leave ’em for the Britons. Teach ’em an healthy habit.

Second Soldier I am always digging lavatories on this campaign which are never used.