Scene 2

The Inn   

Later that day

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The Captain and some sailors are in.

(ARAGONA enters, cloaked, and looks round. She is followed moments later by a HOODED FIGURE.

ARAGONA sees the Captain and goes to his table)

.

                       CAPTAIN

Signora! Aragona, are you alone?

                       ARAGONA

Yes, I thought Salai would be here, Captain.

                       CAPTAIN

No. I haven’t seen him today. Marco! Has Salai been in?

                       MARCO

No Captain. Not that I know of.

                       ARAGONA

Oh well. I’ll just have to go to Leonardo’s studio. If you should see him will you tell him that I couldn’t wait, my husband is returning unexpectedly this weekend and I have much to do. He’ll understand.

                       CAPTAIN

Of course I will Signora... please take care.

(ARAGONA squeezes the Captain’s hand)

                       ARAGONA

You are so kind Captain.

                       CAPTAIN

You’re father was always kind to me Aragona...

(ARAGONA leaves. The HOODED FIGURE follows)

Scene  2A   

Street 2     -  Outside  Inn    (Front of Stage)

Continuous

Bastiano confronts Aragona.

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(ARAGONA enters, followed by HOODED FIGURE)

(ARAGONA becomes aware that she is followed)

                       ARAGONA

Who’s there?

(The HOODED FIGURE reveals his face. It is BASTIANO.

                       ARAGONA

(Horrified)

Bastiano!! Why have you come back?

(Backing away)

What do you want of me...? Just leave me alone! You shouldn’t be in the city anyway!

(BASTIANO goes toward Aragona as he speaks)

                       BASTIANO

All I want now is revenge. Revenge for five years rotting in the hole that is the Bargello, forgotten by my so-called friends, and then cast out of my own city...  and all because of you, Aragona Farnese.

                       ARAGONA

Your memory plays tricks Bastiano, you brought it all on yourself. It was just reward for your evil ways.

(BASTIANO angrily grabs Aragona by the arms)

                       BASTIANO

Evil am I? Well I won’t disappoint you. Revenge is what I want and revenge is what I shall have. I know all about your sordid little affair with that pathetic lapdog of Leonardo’s.

                       ARAGONA

You lie!

                       BASTIANO

You’re not denying it then?

                       ARAGONA

(Flustered)  

No...  Yes!  Of course I deny it. I’m merely his patron..

                       BASTIANO

(Amused)  

Ha!  That’s an interesting word for it. Well, we’ll see what your husband thinks when he returns...  at the weekend you said?

                       ARAGONA

(With bravado)

Do you really think Ludovico will believe you, Bastiano. You, a disgraced criminal.

(ARAGONA breaks away)

He’ll kill you!

         #18   EMPTY WORDS              Aragona/ Bastiano                       PLAY MUSIC

                       ARAGONA

(Shocked)

No! You can’t...

                       BASTIANO

Protest as much as you like Aragona, but with Totto Machiavelli as my witness, I think your husband might just have to believe me. No one in Florence messes with that family.

                       ARAGONA

Machiavelli!  But...

(ARAGONA looks unbelievingly at Bastiano then turns and runs away distraught.

BASTIANO shouts after her)

                       BASTIANO

(Victorious)

There’s no escape Signora. You will suffer just as I did - for the rest of your life!

(To himself)

No, no escape....  Now, where’s that fool Machiavelli, He’d better keep an eye on her.

(BASTIANO exits)

NEXT SCENE