Death of Agrippina the Younger
Agrippina the Younger, mother of Emperor Nero, is assassinated in her villa by Nero's hired assassin. The scene unfolds in her private chamber, where she is confronted by the assassin, who strikes her
Setting
Agrippina's luxurious villa in Baiae, overlooking the Bay of Naples. The scene takes place in her private chamber, a spacious room with marble floors and walls adorned with frescoes. The chamber opens to a balcony with a view of the moonlit sea.
Characters
Agrippina the Younger
primary
A striking Roman noblewoman in her early forties, with sharp features, piercing dark eyes, and an imperious bearing. Her once-lustrous dark hair is streaked with gray, worn in elaborate braids pinned with golden hairpins. Her posture remains regal despite her recent exile, and her hands are delicate but strong, adorned with a few precious rings.
Nero's Assassin
primary
A tall, muscular man in his late 30s with a clean-shaven face, short-cropped dark hair, and piercing dark eyes. His build suggests years of military training, and his movements are precise and calculated. A faint scar runs along his left cheek, a mark of past battles.
Guard
secondary
A muscular, middle-aged man with a weathered face, short-cropped dark hair, and a thick neck. His arms are scarred from previous battles, and his stance is that of a seasoned soldier. His eyes are sharp and alert, constantly scanning for threats. He wears a leather cuirass over his tunic, with a gladius at his side and a small round shield strapped to his left arm.
Handmaiden
background
A young woman in her early twenties, slight of build with olive skin and dark, almond-shaped eyes that reflect her fear. Her hair is neatly braided and pinned in the modest style of a servant, with a few loose strands framing her face from the commotion. Her hands are calloused from years of service but delicate in their movements.
Dialog
Agrippina the Younger
Does my son send you with steel or poison? Or perhaps he lacks the courage to face his mother himself?
Nero's Assassin
The emperor commands your death. It will be quick.
Agrippina the Younger
Quick? How generous of him. Tell me, does Nero sleep well knowing he murders the woman who gave him life?
Nero's Assassin
I do not question my orders. Stand still.
Agrippina the Younger
Then strike, coward. But know this—Agrippina dies as she lived: unconquered.
Nero's Assassin
So be it.
Agrippina the Younger
May the gods curse him as he has cursed me.