SCENE 5: What am I to do?
(Aeneas and his crew stand on a beach with their partially destroyed ships)
AENEAS
ASSESS THE DAMAGES
SEND OUT A SCOUT!
PHERON
SEE WHERE WE ARE
AND THE CHANCES
OF GETTING SOME HELP!
EVENOR
WHAT DO WE NEED?
PALLAS
WHERE IS THE FOOD?
PHERON
HOW MANY SHIPS ARE GONE?
AENEAS
HOW MANY PEOPLE DID I LOSE?
THESE ARE MY PEOPLE
THIS IS MY CREW
WITHOUT MY FATHER’S INSTRUCTION AND WISDOM
WHAT WILL I DO?
I’M DOING MY BEST TO MANAGE
BUT THE TRUTH IS I’M SCARED
WE’VE TAKEN A LOT OF DAMAGE
WE’VE LANDED WHO KNOWS WHERE
WITHOUT THE SHIPS
WE DON’T HAVE A CHANCE
WE MUST REGROUP
AND SEE HOW TO ADVANCE
THIS PROPHECY THAT WE WOULD FIND A HOME
FEELS MORE LIKE A CURSE
LOSING HALF OUR FLEET
OH, WHAT IS THE POINT
GOD'S UP IN THE SKY
IF YOU'RE LISTENING
PLEASE JUST TELL ME WHY
ALL THIS SUFFERING
PLAGUES US EVERYDAY
STARVING, TIRED, STUCK
HOPELESS FOR A HOME, WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?!
…
PALLAS
WE’RE RUINED, WE’RE TIRED
STARVING AND STUCK
BUT WITH YOU AS OUR LEADER
WE’RE NOT OUT OF LUCK
SO DON’T BE DISCOURAGED
LET'S GATHER OUR COURAGE
CALM DOWN YOU NERVES
THERE’S PEOPLE TO SERVE
AND WORK TO BE DONE
(As they finish their song, Eshmon enters)
ESHMON
Greetings! My name is Eshmon. I am the General of the great city Carthage. You are all Trojans I presume?
(everyone turns)
AENEAS
Yes… (places hand on his sword)
ESHMON
Earlier today my men stumbled across seven Trojan ships. They were stranded and told me they had been separated from the fleet. You, I presume are the other half?
AENEAS
They are alive? Can you take me to them?
ESHMON
Of course. But first, Her Majesty the Queen Dido will want to see the leader of the famed Trojans.
SCENE 14
(ALL IN A ROUND)
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT THE QUEEN?
AND HOW SHE’S DROPPING EVERYTHING
TO GO HANG AROUND WITH SOME FANCY TROJAN MAN
WITH SIGNIFICANT PAUSE ON ALL OUR CITY PLANS
YOU WOULD THINK THAT BY NOW THEY’D TAKE A HINT.
EITHER SETTLING DOWN OR LEAVING QUICK
BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEY’RE STILL “REPAIRING SHIPS”.
I KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING, SOMETHING WAS AMISS
MEN
WHAT ABOUT AENEAS?
WOMEN
I GUESS HE’S KIND OF CUTE
​
MEN
I DON’T KNOW WHAT SHE SEES IN THIS GUY
HE’S TALL I GUESS
WOMEN
WE’RE NOT SURE WHY SHE’S OBSESSED
WITH
ALL
AENEAS AENEAS AENEAS ANEAS AENEAS
WE’RE NOT REALLY IMPRESSED
WHAT ABOUT THOSE TROJANS? AREN’T THEY RUDE?
THEY’VE BEEN TAKING SUPPLIES AND ALL OUR FOOD
​
HOSPITALITY’S VALUED HERE, BUT NOT LIKE THIS
WERE NOT SURE WHY THE QUEEN IS ACTING SO REMISS
HEY HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT THE QUEEN?
IT TRULY IS A TRAVESTY
(DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?)
SHE HAS FULLY LOST HER REASON TO HER HEART
TO SOME CASUAL CARELESS TRAVELING UPSTART
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
PHINEAS, ESHMON AND ANNA
SHE HASN’T ATTENDED A SINGLE MEETING!
SHE’S BEEN OCCUPIED WITH HER GALAVANTING
ESHMON
BUILDING HAS HALTED
ANNA
PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY
PHINEAS
NEGOTIATIONS FALTER
ESHMON
THIS ISN’T FUNNY
PHINEAS
WE’VE GOT MOUTHS TO FEED!
ANNA
ALL THE WHILE SHE’S FROLICKING WITH
ALL
AENEAS
AENEAS
AENEAS
AENEAS
AENEAS
WHY CAN’T THE TROJANS JUST
PACK UP AND LEAVE US NOW?
GO OFF TO BOTHER SOME OTHER CITY?
WE’RE EXHAUSTED OF THEIR NONSENSE
AND FROM NOW ON IT WON'T BE PRETTY
HEY HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE QUEEN?
SHE’S A LITTLE LOST
IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!
ESHMON
THIS ISN’T A GOOD SIGN
THE PEOPLE ARE IMPATIENT
PHINEAS, ESHMON AND ANNA
SHE HASN’T BEEN TO MEETINGS IN A MONTH
SHE’S NEVER LISTENING WHEN WE TALK
WE’RE OPERATING ON A TICKING CLOCK
AND WE CAN HOPE THAT SHE’LL TURN IT ALL AROUND
BUT IN REALITY WE’RE JUST WAITING AROUND
FOR
​
THE QUEEN
THE QUEEN
THE QUEEN
THE QUEEN
THE QUEEN
​​
SCENE 9: The Confrontation
(Turnus is sitting in an office or guardroom. He is surrounded by soldiers with maps and weapons strewn about. It is clear that he is preparing for war. There is a sound of a knock and a SOLDIER enters)
Latin General
Sir, there’s a visitor--
(He is cut off as Aeneas enters. The moment Aeneas comes in, Turnus draws his sword and points it at Aeneas. The threat is palpable)
TURNUS
What are you doing here!
AENEAS
I apologize for the interruption. I admit, I came with a… sensitive request.
(He glances around at the soldiers, indicating that he’d like to speak to Turnus alone.)
TURNUS
Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of my men.
AENEAS
Well, then. I am seeking your blessing for my marriage to the Princess. I know it is not in the least fair to you that this happened, and it is bold of me to ask, but I would like there to be peace between our nations. We worship the same gods and seek the good of our people. I want an alliance between us to be of goodwill.
TURNUS
Peace! You come here and take everything from us- my crown, my future wife, our homes and fields and towns, our trees and women and beaches! And you call for peace?
AENEAS
I understand I have caused ire, but my intention--
TURNUS
Your intentions can go to Hades. You want peace? Well, there is none for you here.
AENEAS
But the king has sanctioned the union of the Princess and I. You are not in a position to declare--
TURNUS
The old man may be king, but I am the general. My men will listen to me. You are tired, weary, unprepared. Seventeen ships full of refugees, women and children. And you think you stand a chance?
AENEAS
You wouldn’t--
TURNUS
If your ships burn, where will you run? We will hunt you through the countryside like dogs on the chase. Surrender now. Pack up your camps and leave.
AENEAS
You are a fool if you think you can chase me away! The gods themselves lead our way. You fight not just us, but prophecy.
TURNUS
I care little for prophecy when there is steel to answer it.
(gestures with his sword).
AENEAS
You are making a terrible mistake.
TURNUS
You have six hours to surrender. Or we will shatter you and return your unholy bones to the sea from which you came. Get out of my sight!
(Aeneas is thrust from the room)
​
SCENE 10: MY HOME
(sung as a duet between the Trojan and Latin forces)
AENEAS
TODAY, BRAVE TROJANS! TODAY!
TURNUS
TODAY, STRONG LATINS! TODAY! TODAY!
AENEAS
I KNOW THAT WE DON’T WANT TO FIGHT--
TURNUS
BUT A FIGHT IS UNAVOIDABLE NOW
AENEAS
WE’VE GOT A HOME TO FIGHT FOR
TURNUS
A HOME TO PROTECT
AENEAS
WE’VE COME SO FAR AND TRIED SO HARD
THE GODS HAVE LED THIS TROJAN SHARD
TURNUS
WE’LL DEFEAT THEIR RAGTAG BRIGADE
THOSE TRESPASSERS WHO INVADE
TOGETHER:
WE MUST FIGHT!
AENEAS/EVENOR
FOR THE PROPHECY
PALLAS/PHERON
FOR OUR HOME
TURNUS/LATINS
FOR OUR VICTORY
LATINS
FOR OUR FREEDOM
TURNUS
THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN SIMPLY HIJACK
A CROWN THAT’S IS RIGHTFULLY OURS
RIGHTFULLY MINE
PICK UP YOUR SHIELDS
STRAIGHTEN YOUR LINES
AENEAS
FATHER GIVE ME GUIDANCE-
NO YOU ALREADY HAVE
YOU SAID THIS IS OUR HOMELAND
MY PEOPLE’S LIVES FIRST; MINE LAST
PHERON
THEY WILL TRY AND BURN THE SHIPS!
WE MUST BE CLEVER WE MUST BE QUICK
PHERON/TROJAN SOLDIER
THEY/WE WILL STRIKE WHEN IT IS NIGHT
AND WE WILL GIVE THEM A GRUESOME FIGHT
TROJAN SOLDIER
WE CAN CRIPPLE THEIR FORCES
BEFORE THEY’VE REALIZED WE’RE COMING
PHERON
WE’LL SPLIT OUR FORCES IN TWO
FLANK THEM FROM THE WEST
AENEAS
WE’RE FAR FEWER IN NUMBER
BUT WE’RE BETTER FIGHTERS
PALLAS
WE’LL NEED A MESSENGER
EVENOR
I VOLUNTEER
I’M A SCHOLAR NOT A FIGHTER I FEAR
TURNUS
SPEED IS OF THE ESSENCE
SECRECY IS PARAMOUNT
DON’T GIVE A WORD OF OUR POSITION
ON ANY ACCOUNT
LAVINIA
TURNUS… I’M HERE.
TURNUS
LAVINIA… LAVINIA
LAVINIA
ARE YOU SURE? IS THIS THE PATH YOU’LL TAKE?
TURNUS
STAY BEHIND THE WALLS, BE SAFE
LAVINIA
I’LL BE WATCHING FROM ABOVE
STAY ALIVE MY LOVE
TROJANS
AND THE GODS ARE ON OUR SIDE
TURNUS
THIS PROPHECY I CAN DEFY
THERE’S NO TURNING BACK NOW
WE CANNOT WAIT
AENEAS
THE FIRST THREE DETACHMENTS WITH ME
THE REST WITH PHERON
GOOD LUCK MY FRIENDS
RALLY THE MEN!
AENEAS TURNUS
THESE ARE MY PEOPLE THIS IS MY HOMELAND
THIS IS MY CREW THIS IS MY LOVE
WE'VE MADE IT THIS FAR AND FATE CAN'T TOUCH ME
WE’LL MAKE IT THROUGH
ALL TOGETHER
WHATEVER MAY COME, LET US BRANDISH
OUR SWORDS TO THE END!
AENEAS/PALLAS
MY FRIEND
TURNUS
MY FRIENDS!
EVENOR/PALLAS
MY FRIEND
TURNUS/LAVINIA
MY LOVE
AENEAS
MY MEN!
AENEAS/TURNUS/ALL
MY HOME!