[The scene opens with the goddess Isis, protector of the young, and Thoth, god of the scribes, standing at opposite sides of the stage.  They will serve as narrators.]  

 

Isis:

Thoth, god of the scribes, an event has occurred that will change the course of Egyptian history. Together, we must write this story of a young queen.  

 

Thoth:

 [As he unrolls a scroll] Who is this queen you’re speaking of, Isis?

 

Isis:

 [Crosses to Thoth] She is Cleopatra VII, who has already taken on a lot of responsibility for an 18 year old. She was co-ruler with her brother King Ptolemy XIII, who is only ten. King Ptolemy had three advisers, Potheinos, Theodotus, and Achillas. They succeeded in convincing King Ptolemy that Cleopatra had too much power. Their dual authority ended in 48 B.C. when he and his unscrupulous advisers forced her to flee for her life.  

 

Thoth:

 48 B.C.?  Wasn’t Rome at war then?

 

Isis:

 Yes, Rome was in a civil war.  Pompey and Julius Caesar, two great warriors, both wanted power over Rome. Pompey’s army was badly defeated in a battle against Rome’s great general, Julius Caesar but Pompey was able to escape.  

 

General:

 Congratulations on your great victory.  But, Caesar, I bring bad news.  Pompey is fleeing to Egypt as we speak.  He will build up his army and attack us.  He could get help from the Ptolemaic Court.

Caesar:

 We must hurry.  We will follow Pompey to Egypt and attack him first.

Thoth:

 When Potheinos, Theodotus, and Achillas learned that Caesar had won, they plotted to get on his good side.

 

Potheinos:   

If Caesar can defeat the Great Pompey, then maybe he could help us win the war against Cleopatra.

 

Achillas:   

 Well, what would make him the happiest?

 

Theodotus:

 Having Rome under his power, of course.

 

Achillas:

 Well, it’s not like we can just give it to him

 

Potheinos:

 No, but without any competition it could be his.

 

Theodotus:

Of course, we just need to assassinate the competition.

Potheinos:

 I have just the plan. We will need your courage, Achillas, as well as your slaves to row the boat. To that we’ll add faithful guards.

 

Theodotus:

 As Pompey’s armies approach Egypt, he will have no idea the treachery that awaits him.