The Script
ACT Two - Scene Seven
Inn
Wednesday morning
The news of Bastiano’s demise is on everyone’s lips. Iseppo and Marco discuss it.
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MARCO is sweeping.
(ISEPPO enters carrying bread)
MARCO
Ah! There you are. You took your time. I need my breakfast.
ISEPPO
Food.. is that all you ever think about? I couldn’t get to the panatierre. The militia are everywhere. They‘ve closed off some of the streets - I had to go across the bridge.
MARCO
Militia? Did you find out what’s going on?
ISEPPO
Of course...
(pauses)
MARCO
Well!
ISEPPO
...They’ve found a body, in that little alley off Via Gino Capponi.
MARCO
So what’s special about that, beggars are always dying in the streets round there. Lack of FOOD I should imagine. It’ll be me next.
ISEPPO
This body was no beggar, and he’d been murdered! And.. the word is that it wasn’t just any body, it was Bastiano.
MARCO
(shocked)
Bastiano!!
ISEPPO
Bastiano.
MARCO
Who’s Bastiano?
ISEPPO
You know him. That nasty piece of work who’s been skulking about in the corner recently, with Totto Machiavelli – always trying to keep his face hidden.
MARCO
Yes, he was pretty ugly.
ISEPPO
That’s nothing to do with it. He was once a powerful man in Florence – the ‘Grand Inquisitor’ they called him. He tried one trick too many and was jailed and banned from the City.
MARCO
Oh yes. I remember him. The sort of man who could make enemies like you make wind... I expect there was a queue..
ISEPPO
Well he won’t be skulking anymore – knifed in the back they say.
MARCO
I don’t suppose there’ll be too many tears shed. It’ll all be forgotten in a few days, and I doubt they’ll try very hard to find out who did it.
(CAPTAIN DONATI enters
with LAZZARO
LAZZARO goes to chat with Marco)
CAPTAIN
Who did what, Marco?
MARCO
The murder!
ISEPPO
Haven’t you heard, it’s on everyone’s lips. The Grand Inquisitor, Bastiano.
(Runs his finger across his throat)
CAPTAIN
Bastiano? Dead. Now that’s interesting...
ISEPPO
You know him?
CAPTAIN
I know of him. What happened?
ISEPPO
They say he was stabbed - in the back - sometime in the small hours. Militia everywhere this morning. Breakfast?
MARCO
At last!
CAPTAIN
Yes Iseppo, thank you.
(ISEPPO and MARCO go inside. SALAI enters)
SALAI
Captain Donati. Thank goodness you’re here. We need to talk – there’s been a change of plan.
CAPTAIN
Yes, I thought I might be seeing you. I’ve just heard about Bastiano.
SALAI
(puzzled)
Bastiano? What about Bastiano? Now listen, I’ve got to...
CAPTAIN
He’s dead! Murdered - last night. But isn’t that why you’re here?
SALAI
Bastiano, dead...?
CAPTAIN
Yes Salai, dead... but if you didn’t know, then why are you here. Why the need for a change of plan? Your troubles are over. Hey – it wasn’t you Salai was it?
(Laughs)
SALAI
No it wasn’t me but... You’re right, this means Aragona has nothing to worry about, thank God for that.
CAPTAIN
Nor do you... surely! You’ve had a reprieve!
SALAI
Unfortunately not Captain. I still need to leave the City, and we can’t wait until Friday..
CAPTAIN
We? Don’t tell me there’s another angry husband after your blood. Who is it this time?
SALAI
It’s best you don’t know. Do you think there’s a chance we can leave tomorrow night?
CAPTAIN
I don’t see why not. But what...
SALAI
Please Captain no more questions. Can it be done?
CAPTAIN
They’ll do as they’re told where money’s involved. Leave it with me. Unless you hear from me, I’ll come for you at six – at the studio.
SALAI
Thank you Captain, thank you so much.. my life is in your hands!
(SALAI leaves)
CAPTAIN
Lazzaro! Here! There’s been a change of plan. Go find Valentino and that idiot brother of his. Tell them they sail tomorrow night, not Friday. I’m picking their ‘cargo’ up at Leonardo’s at six, so they’d better be ready. Same deal - and if they give you any trouble remind them there are plenty more boats on the river.
(LAZZARO leaves. As he goes front of stage TOTTO comes on and they talk furtively)
#25
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Totto
PLAY MUSIC