31 Plays in 31 Days, #7 - “Red Tyrus”

[breakinglight11]

Though I think the Adonis screenplay is one of the best things we’ve ever written, the struggle to try to turn the story into a novel has been very, very difficult for me. I kind of put the project on the back burner in favor of other things, and as much as I would actually like to make it happen, I’ve felt pretty avoidant on it for a long while. I’ve had a version one sitting around that needs serious editing for ages now.

Still, I had a few ideas that would be useful for novel expansion from the original narrative in the script. This is a drama version of an idea I wanted to include, since the strategy of drafting a conversation as drama and then going back to expand it with narration later worked for my previous fan fic entries this month. Of course, those are lower stakes and don’t need to be as good, so of course they’re easier to work on.

Day #7 – “Red Tyrus”
From Adonis
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~

AIDAN, a Celtic slave, now the gladiator known as Adonis, mid-twenties
RED TYRUS, once a champion gladiator, now a free citizen and husband to a senator, early fifties

Rome, Italian Penninsula
~~~

RED TYRUS: So you’re the new favorite. The Adonis. I’ve seen you— you’ve played the game well.

AIDAN: And you are Red Tyrus.

RED TYRUS: You’ve heard of me.

AIDAN: On the sands, you’re a legend.

RED TYRUS: For my feats of spectacle? The battles and the titles I won?

AIDAN: For the woman you won.

RED TYRUS: Ah.

AIDAN: You found a way out. There are those in the barracks who would give their eye teeth to do what you’ve done.

(Pause.)

AIDAN: Why do they call you Red?

RED TYRUS: They used to coil my hair with red clay. After some Himba trader the aedile knew. Better you ask why they called me Tyrus.

AIDAN: Why?

RED TYRUS: Because it fell better upon Roman ears than Sabe of Timoun. The aedile decided that too.

AIDAN: And you kept it?

RED TYRUS: It was not up to me.

AIDAN: But… you’re a free man now.

RED TYRUS: Because of Red Tyrus. It would not serve me to be anyone else. A name is a small price to pay, considering— and you’ll find it’s a common one. They changed yours too, after a manner.

AIDAN: It’s not my name.

RED TYRUS: Ah. You’ll see.

(RED TYRUS turns to go. AIDAN takes a step after him.)

AIDAN: Does she call you Tyrus? Your wife?

RED TYRUS: She calls me Carus— beloved —more than not. But never Sabe.