Suicide of Emperor Nero
Emperor Nero, cornered and abandoned by his allies, prepares to take his own life in a secluded chamber of the Villa of Phaon. With the help of his freedman Epaphroditus, he hesitates before finally p
Setting
A secluded chamber within the Villa of Phaon, a modest suburban estate outside Rome. The room is sparsely furnished with marble floors and walls adorned with simple frescoes of pastoral scenes. A narrow window allows a sliver of morning light to enter.
Characters
Emperor Nero
primary
A man in his early thirties with a fleshy face and weak chin, his once carefully curled hair now disheveled and greasy. His eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep, and his skin bears the pallor of prolonged fear. Though overweight from years of indulgence, his frame appears shrunken under his simple tunic.
Epaphroditus
primary
A middle-aged freedman of Greek descent, Epaphroditus has a wiry build and sharp features. His dark, thinning hair is combed back, and his olive skin bears the marks of years of service. His hands are steady but show signs of nervous tension.
Phaon
secondary
A middle-aged Roman man of average height with a lean but sturdy build, his sun-weathered face marked by deep lines around his eyes and mouth. His dark hair is streaked with gray, tied back in a simple knot. His hands are calloused from years of managing his estate.
Slave Boy
background
A thin adolescent boy of about 14 years, with short-cropped dark hair and sun-darkened skin. His frame shows the lean musculature of manual labor, with visible scars on his forearms from past punishments. Large, dark eyes dominate his face, currently wide with shock.
Dialog
Emperor Nero
What an artist dies in me today! The world shall weep for Nero, last true disciple of Apollo!
Epaphroditus
If it pleases Dominus, the hour grows late. The horsemen may already be upon the villa.
Emperor Nero
Do they not hear? The hooves... like drums at our funeral games!
Epaphroditus
When you are ready, Dominus, place your hand thus upon the steel.
Emperor Nero
We who have sung Orpheus' lament now become its subject!
Epaphroditus
The Muses themselves shall weep, but Dominus must act now.
Emperor Nero
Strike true, faithful Epaphroditus... and tell them Nero knew how to die beautifully.