OUVERTURE
(Instrumental)
SCENE I (Where is Caligula?)
(A room of the palace. The room contains a large metal mirror. Cherea, Helicon, Caesonia, Lepido, Mereia, Mucio are gathered. They look nervous. Scipio enters with two guards.)
Scipio:
He has disappeared completely
We’ve tried to do our best
But he has left no trace of him
We’ve scoured the country everywhere
Some peasants tell they saw him
In the blizzard last night
In a place not far from here
Wandering without a goal
Helicon and Caesonia:
Everybody saw him somewhere
But he only sees himself
Scipio:
Everybody saw him somewhere
But he only sees himself
The death of his sister has been
Too convulsant for him
If he will came back here
I’m not sure he’ll be the same
Last time I saw him was when
He went to see Drusilla
Laid out in the morgue
Strocking her skin with his fingertips
Helicon and Caesonia:
Everybody saw him somewhere
But he only sees himself
Scipio:
Yeah, Everybody saw him somewhere
But he only sees himself
(All exit)
SCENE II (The Moon)
(Caligula enters furtively. He looks lost and confused. He goes towards the mirror.)
Caligula:
Caius where have you been?
You look so pale
You’ve been gone for a long time
Something has changed
(Helicon enters)
Helicon:
Where were you?
All the roman empire is looking for you
You must be tired
of been walking all this time alone
Caligula:
I only was
Looking for something
That I don’t have anymore
And this thing is a whore
Lonely in the sky called “The Moon”
Don’t think I’m mad
‘Cause I’ve never been
More rational
I simply have a violent need for the impossible
The truth is
That we are unhappy
Full of death and lies
Please help me
Help the only person
Who can be really free
Don’t think I’m mad
‘Cause I’ve never been
More rational
I simply have a violent need for the impossible.
SCENE III (Logical King)
(All patricians enter.)
Lepido:
We were looking for you,
Cesar.
Caligola:
I can see that
Lepido:
We were looking for you,
Cesar…
Caligola:
What do you want?
Lepido:
We need to discuss some priorities,
Such as the treasury.
Caligola:
The treasury, of course
It is very important.
The treasury on the top,
Priority number one.
It is more important
Than human life, I see
Money makes turn the world
While life counts for nothing
Now I’ve become
A logical king
You are going to find out
What logic costs.
It will cost a lot
“We are going to turn the economy in two easy steps. Step One. All patricians shall be forced to disinherit their children and make a new will leaving everything to the state. Step two. As the need for cash arises, we execute people. Randomly. And we take their money. Or It doesn’t have to be random. We could do it alphabetically if you prefer. The order isn’t important. Or rather each execution is of equal importance, which means they’re not important at all.
In any case, they’re all as bad as each other. In any case I will exterminate the contraddiction and those who contradict. If necessary I’ll start with you.”*
Now I’ve become
A logical king
You are going to find out
What logic costs.
It will cost a lot
(All patricians exit except Caesonia)
SCENE IV (Damned Love)
(Caligula turns away. Caesonia goes towards him.)
Cesonia:
Don’t cry…
We all know how you loved Drusilla,
But now it’s time to forget
And to live your life like before.
Caligola:
You don’t understand,
But it’s not so important
What’s the use of having power
If I can’t stop people from dying
Anymore?
Please, promise to stand by me ( Cesonia: I won’t ask you why)
And do all I’ll tell you to do (Cesonia: all you’ll tell me to do)
Even if I’ll be heartless and cold
Even if I won’t have no mercy
Cesonia and Caligola:
We’ll be one.
Caligola:
I’m going to give
the impossible to the world
mixing the sky and the sea
I want ugliness to become beauty
I want to make suffering funny
As a joke
Cesonia:
You need a long rest,
Please stop thinking.
I will take care of you
From now to the time
You will want me
From now to the time
The gods allow me to
Caligola:
Please, promise to stand by me (Cesonia: I won’t ask you why)
And do all I’ll tell you to do (Cesonia: all you’ll tell me to do)
Even if I’ll be heartless and cold
Even if I won’t have no mercy
Cesonia and Caligola:
We’ll be one.
(They exit)
Scene V – VI (The Plot)
(A secret meeting of patricians at Cherea’s House.)
Lepido:
How long do we have to wait
The life of everyone of us is in danger
The empire is becoming a stage for his show
And we are becoming his puppets
We have suffered too much
We lost children, parents or wives
We have no choice
We have to kill
(Cherea stands up)
Cherea:
It’s not the right time
To face the enemy
He suspects everyone
He’s waiting for that
If we act right now
He will destroy us
Because he’s ready
He wants us to do it
On the contrary
We must support him
As much
As we can
So he will trust us
And he will lower his
Defenses
And a light will shine
We have to be
Exactly like him
Cold and without
Regrets
But pay attention
He is not stupid
If we exagerate
He’ll understan
We only have to
Shut our mounths
And smile to every
Crime he’ll do
So he will trust us
And he will lower his
Defenses
And a light will shine.
SCENE VII (A Dinner With Murder)
(Enter Caligula with Caesonia followed by Helicon)
Caligula:
Hello Chickens!
How things are going?
You look so strange…
Maybe when I came here
You were plotting against me ?
Well I don’t mind chaps,
Old people need an hobby
I quite understand
Anyway I don’t think you’re able
To do similar things.
There’s no more sense in prowness
Look at these scared faces
Everything turns to ashes
In front of fear
Nothing means anything anymore
Hi dear Lepid!
You seem to be in a bad mood
Tell me why?
maybe is it because… oh Lord!…
I killed your youngest son?
And what about you
Tell me, are you happy
That I killed your dad?
And… Mucio I have to say
That your wife doesn’t make love very well
There’s no more sense in prowness
Look at these scared faces
Everything turns to ashes
In front of fear
Nothing means anything anymore.
(Caligula looks at the conspirators. He goes from one to another. He looks at them all then he stops fixing Mereia. He goes towards the patrician and he strangles him. Mereia falls down dead. Caligula exits. )
SCENA VIII (Higher)
(Scipio moves towards Mereia’s body)
Scipio:
A body without life
He never thought to die this night
Is life so wandering?
Or is the man who make it wandering?
Sometimes power is not enough
If you want to be higher
You can imitate God
Giving and taking the life away
And he wants to be higher
Yes he wants to be higher
I’ve had enough
I don’t want to live this nightmare
I’d like to see thousands of gods
Rising up around him
To drown him in his blood
Nooo he’s mad
And he will bring the empire to collapse
There’s not even a way to understand him
There’s not even a logic in his crimes
There’s not even a way to understand him
There’s not even a logic in his crimes
He only wants to be higher
Caesonia:
Stop please
You are going too far
He’s giving something
To the world:
The impossible
It’s not your business if
He wants to be higher
He wants to be higher
He wants to be higher
He wants to be higher
(All patricians exit except Scipio)
SCENE IX (The Roman Hills)
(Caligula enters. Scipio looks at him then he turns away)
Scipio:
Have you seen
The lines of the Roman Hills
An astonishing
Sense of peace,
That makes you feel
So quiet
And that moment when the sky
Still brushed with gold
Seems to evaporate
And suddenly it goes…
And the stars shine
Like diamonds
The rithm of the crickets
While the smell of dew rise into the night
The sound of the last carts
The distant voices of the farms
All theese things
Makes you understand
How life is beautifull
And respectable
You know
what I mean
There was a time
When you were sensitive
The joy of life
pulsed into your veines
and the world was your friend
Now your life is a show
Where you perform
As an artist king
who washes his fears with
The blood of poor innocent men
Why you are sick
Of this dark melancholy
That makes you feel
Sad and paranoid
Don’t you understand
That you are lonely?
Think about the sound of crickets
While the smell of dew rise into the night
The sound of the last carts
The distant voices of the farms
(The Roman Hills part II)
Caligula:
You are so pure
But I know how hungry
I am for life
And, for sure, nature won’t satisfy
My hungryness,
My desire
I’m not lonely
‘cause no one is really alone
and anyway
this is not the point
My contempt will help me
(they exit)
SCENE X (Venus in Rock ‘n Roll Dress)
(A sort of fairground parade around a raised platform in the centre. On the platform, Helicon and Caesonia stand in front of backcloth. All patricians are seated, facing the platform. Helicon and Caesonia draw back the cloth to reveal Caligula in grotesque drag, on a pedestal)
Caligula:
Come on and see
What’s happening today
Come on and see
A God in human form
Don’t miss it
Satisfaction guaranteed
Just for today
It’s a great day
I’m going to give you
Something you don’t know
But that you’ve always
Deeply desired.
I got this lesson
From a man called Jesus Christ
Be misunderstood
And you’ll change the world
I am a Venus
in Rock ‘n Roll dress
I’ll change the darkness
Into many colours
And love…
Ooh
Your prayer is granted
Your wishes shall come true
We need a sacrifice
And now the time has come
Only the strongest and faithful
Will survive.
Be misunderstood
And impose your rules
I am a Venus
in Rock ‘n Roll dress
I’ll change the darkness
Into many colours
And love…
Ooh
I’ll change the world
(everyone claps except Scipio)
SCENE XI (Higher – part II)
(Scipio stands up)
Scipio:
I’ve had enough
I don’t want to live this nightmare anymore
I’d like to see thousands of gods
Rising up around him
To drown him in his blood
Nooo he’s mad
And he will bring the empire to collapse
There’s not even a way to understand him
There’s not even a logic in his crimes
There’s not even a way to understand him
There’s not even a logic in his crimes
He only wants to be higher
Helicon:
Stop little boy
You are going too far
He’s giving something
To the world:
The impossible
It’s not your business if
He wants to be higher
He wants to be higher
He wants to be higher
He wants to be higher.
(All exit except Helicon and Caligula)
SCENE XII (The Moon – reprise)
(Caligula moves towards the mirror. He watches himself. Helicon holds a letter in his hand)
Helicon:
I found this
It’s a letter proving
A plot against you
You must be careful
Of what is happening around you.
Caligula:
I only was
Looking for something
That I don’t have anymore
And this thing is a whore
Lonely in the sky called “The Moon”
They think I’m mad
but I’ve never been
More rational
I simply have a violent need for the impossible
The truth is
That we are unhappy
Full of death and lies
Please help me
Help the only person
Who can be really free
They think I’m mad
but I’ve never been
More rational
I simply have a violent need for the impossible
(Helicon goes towards the exit)
(spoken) Where are you going now?
Helicon:
(spoken) To look for the moon.
(Helicon exits)
SCENE XIII (Playing With Fire)
(Cailgula screams the name of Cherea. Cherea enters)
Cherea:
Why do you call me Cesar
Why do you want me
I’d like to talk to you but you
Put a mask on yourself
I’d like to know, Cesar,
What’s happening on you
You say you want to save us
But I really don’t see how
Caligula:
Why don’t you love me?
Why don’t you need me?
I gave you everything
Everything you want
Why?
But tonight
Hey honey
Take care
‘cause you’re playing with fire
You can’t realize the pleasure of the destroyer
You’re guilty as the others
But I absolve you of all guilt
Because I want you to kill me
So that I become history
So that I become immortal
Cherea:
You gave me nothing Cesar
You make me scared of you
No one wants to live in world where
Every dark desire takes place.
If every one acted like you, Cesar
We couldn’t be happy and free
Anyway I don’t hate you Cesar
I have pity for you
Caligula:
Why don’t you follow me?
Why don’t you believe in me?
I gave you a everything
Everything you want
Why?
But tonight
Hey honey
Take care
‘cause you’re playing with fire
(They exit)
SCENE XIV (Fragile)
(Caesonia alone)
Caesonia:
Fragile
Like a leaf in the wind
I’m fragile
He’s bringing me
To hell
But he’s the only one
Who gives a sense to my life
To my life
Tell me why
You know all the hate
Surrounding you
And you watch it
Doing nothing
Then you lost
a reason to live
a reason to live
Wish I could
Bring him away with
all my love
He think to be
the only one who’s free
But he’s a slave of himself
A slave of himself
Fragile
Like a leaf in the wind
We’re fragile
He’s bringing me
To hell
But he’s the only one
Who gives a sense to my life
To my life
(She exits)
SCENE XV (The Poetry Day)
(Cherea, Lepido and Scipio are gathered)
Cherea:
How long do we have to wait
The life of everyone of us is in danger
The empire is becoming a stage for his show
And we are becoming his puppets
We have suffered too much
We lost children, parents or wives
We have no choice
We have to kill
(Helicon enters suddenly)
Helicon:
Caligula is waiting for you
He has prepared a little game.
You surely enjoy it
(Caligula enters with two guards)
Caligula:
Are you ready for The Poetry Day?
All you have to do is to take a pen
And to write the best you can
about a subject I’m going to choose
There’ll be prizes for the bad and the good
I’m going to be the only judge
and you’ll be the only players.
It’s a great chance you’ll understand
‘Cause creating art gives power to
People who usually don’t have it.
So don’t be afraid, it’s time to start
(The guards give papers and pens to the patricians)
“Death” is your subject,
few seconds to write
when you hear a whistle
you must stop
you must stop
on your marks!
(Patricians start to write. After a while Caligula whistles)
Lepidus:
“When I was young…”
Caligula:
Please stop, now!
Maybe you should know
The beginning is important.
And I don’t care about your
Useless childhood
Cherea:
“Death is a song
Sung by the guardians
Of the darkest Hades…”
Caligula:
…And you know that’s the
Most banal thing I’ve ever heard
Scipio:
“We chase down happiness
Pure hunters, us
The sun continues to shine
On a festival of cruelty
In your head and in mine”*
Caligula:
(spoken) Get out!
Every one!
Get Out!!
(All paricians and guards exit)
SCENE XVI (Caesonia’s Death)
(Caesonia goes towards Caligula and she hugs him. He caresses her hairs)
Caligula:
I see
I touch
I feel
I cry
I own
everything
That exist
in this world
I love
I hate
I kill
I create.
That’s happiness,
the most
quantity
of freedom
And I’m
Free….
Forever
I’m the only one who’s
Free
I love
I hate
I kill
I create.
That’s why
they want
to kill me….
But I
I Know
That nothing
Last forever
And I
I got
What I wanted:
Be a god
And I’m
Free….
Forever
I’m the only one who’s
Free
Forever
And when the night comes
And all debts are paid
And there is nothing else to do
Freedom has no more sense
‘Cause we are all slaves
In front of death
And the more you’re alone
The more you’re free
‘Cause your happiness
Depends on their unhappiness
Then I want to be free
and this means lonely.
I must accept my destiny
So you’ll die
You will die
To complete my loneliness
(Caligula strangles Caesonia. She doesn’t resist. She falls down dead)
SCENE XVII (Guilty)
(Caligula goes towards the mirror.)
Caligula:
I feel something in the cold wind
Memories of lives destroyed
No thought no one will help me this time
I put my eyes on to dreaming peaks
Confused and lost
I travelled in sad horizons
I grazed the impossible love
Giving true emotions
Receiving only lies.
Mad is who is freer than others,
But no more time for titan’s fight
Dieing is the only way to turn into divine
(The armed conspirators rush in at every door. Caligula faces them, then he turns to the mirror again and he indicates his reflection)
(spoken) Guilty, even you’re guilty!
(All stab him. In a last gasp, Caligula whisper:
“I’m still alive!”*
END OF PLAY
note: the phrases/parts marked with a * are quotations of the original play.
