CLEOPATRA
By
Joseph Peebles
(2003)
FADE IN:
EXT. THE NILE RIVER'S EASTERN SHORELINE NEAR ALEXANDRIA
-- MORNING
Cool dessert conditions.
Hundreds of armed Roman soldiers swiftly charge out, via
horseback, down the ramps of Roman vessels. They splash through the
muddy water of the Nile onto the mud-covered, stone laden shoreline.
Hiding behind tall sand dunes, waiting for the Roman
army on horseback, was the Egyptian army. As the Roman army trek further
inward, the Egyptians immediately spring up on their horses and rush the
Roman army.
A ROMAN GENERAL
There they are. Charge!
KABOOM. The Roman army toss bombs at the
fast-moving, on-coming Egyptian army.
Several hundred armed Roman soldiers and several hundred
armed Egyptian soldiers race on foot toward one other. As the two armies
collide, a bloody hand-to-hand combat begins. Both armies' infantry
units release arrows and javelins at one another. The Egyptian sling
throwers release hundreds of small metal shrapnel via their slingshots.
Countless Roman soldiers fall prey to the shrapnel.
Swiftly-riding Roman chariots race to the front of the
battlefield. As they race forward, several Egyptian warriors are
decapitated via the drivers' sword.
Flanking the chariot division are the enduring Roman
cavalrymen. Using their javelins as lances, they strike down dozens of
Egyptian warriors.
The Egyptians' agile horses meet the Roman cavalrymen
head on. The Egyptians dive from their horses onto the Roman cavalrymen.
From there a brutal wresting match begins.
The dune-like, sandy terrain and the large collection of
human casualties cause many of the Roman chariots to flip and roll. Some
of the over-turned charioteers are dragged behind their wildly-fleeing
chariots. This leaves large, dragging tracks in the sand.
Swiftly riding from the rear is Julius Caesar and his
royal cavalry division. From a well-decorated horse, he tosses bombs
made of flaming olive oil at the Egyptian army.
KABOOM. KABOOM. The bombs create gaping holes in the
sand-covered battlefield. Sand is blown high into the air, making
visibility extremely difficult for both armies. Many of the Egyptian
cavalrymen attempt to leap over the gaping holes. Some make it; others
stumble and roll into the sandy pits.
KABOOM. KABOOM. More bombs are tossed. More gaping
holes are created. The exploding bombs ignite large stones into the air.
The missile-like descending stones, along with the sand-filled dusty
conditions, made visibility even more deadly and costly for both armies.
An Egyptian general rides out of the dust-filled
battlefield. He views their warring situation.
GENERAL ACHILLAS
Retreat! Retreat! Advise the people of Egypt,
the Romans are coming!
CUT TO:
FADE IN: SOUND TRACK IN: CLEOPATRA, BY JOSEPH
PEEBLES
ROLL OPENING CREDITS ALONG WITH SCENES FROM THE MOVIE.
SOUND TRACK OUT:
CUT TO:
FULL SHOT OF ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
Dry and hot dessert conditions
EXT. CROWED STREETS OF ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
Hundreds of screaming, scared Egyptian citizens are
running frantically throughout the streets of Alexandria.
AN EGYPTIAN WOMAN
The Romans are coming! The Romans are coming!
Thousands of armed, well-trained Roman soldiers are
marching toward the city of Alexandria. Riding on his well-decorated,
white horse, ahead of the army, is Julius Caesar. He signals for his
senior military officer.
On horse back, the senior officer rides alongside of
Caesar.
JULIUS CAESAR
Pompey is hiding somewhere in the city. Send in
a small legion to gather information concerning his whereabouts.
A SENIOR ROMAN MILITARY OFFICER
Yes, sir.
The officer signals for several armed assistants.
Together, they ride off swiftly toward the city.
JULIUS CAESAR
I came! I saw; and now I will conquer the land
of the Pharaohs. Marcus?
MARCUS BRUTUS
Sir?
JULIUS CAESAR
Who controls Alexandria?
MARCUS BRUTUS
The Ptolemy dynasty. The ruler is Ptolemy, the
fourteenth. He once shared the throne with his sister Cleopatra,
but he ran her off for conspiring to overtake the throne.
JULIUS CAESAR
Such is life. We all have our crosses to bear.
Prepare to give the order. Let's storm the city.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE PTOLEMY PALACE -- CONTINUOUS
INT. THE PALACE BALCONY TERRACE
Pompey is dressed in his Roman battle fatigue. Ptolemy
joins him on the balcony. Together they witness the approaching Roman
army.
PTOLEMY
Caesar is outside of the city. What do you want
me to do?
POMPEY
I'm tired of running. Julius has defeated me in
both Thessaly and Brundisium. I must now face my political
nemesis.
There comes a solid KNOCK at the palace door. BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! - BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Pompey takes off his breast plate. He dons his sword. He
makes his way down the palace staircase. Holding the palace door shut
were several Egyptian guards. Pompey withdraws his sword.
POMPEY
Open the door. I'm ready!
The guards hesitate. Ptolemy stands at the top of the
staircase.
PTOLEMY
Do as he says.
The guards slowly open the palace's double doors. With
swords drawn, the Roman soldiers rush in.
A SENIOR ROMAN MILITARY OFFICER
General Pompey, you are wanted for treason and
blasphemy against the Roman empire. You and your conspiring
Roman senators are here by ordered to surrender all arms, tax
revenues, and looted treasures to the Emperor, Julius Caesar,
the great. Are you willing to comply?
POMPEY
No!
A SENIOR ROMAN MILITARY OFFICER
We were hoping you'd say that.
A sword fight begins. Pompey puts up a chivalrous
battle. He looses due to a sword stab in the back.
Julius Caesar enters the palace. He approaches the dying
Pompey.
JULIUS CAESAR
You were ordered to lay down your command. Why
Pompey? Why? We were all once political allies, you, Crassus,
and myself. What happened?
POMPEY
(in a dying voice.)
Julius, you created this civil war between us.
You knew the triumvirate wasn't going to work. After Crassus'
death you made a run for the throne. You never intended to share
the seat of power. Watch your back, Julius, especially those
close to you. They are still conspiring to get rid of you.
JULIUS CAESAR
Tell them to form a line.
Pompey coughs up blood. He then dies.
JULIUS CAESAR
Marcus?
MARCUS BRUTUS
Sir?
JULIUS CAESAR
Make sure my friend gets a proper burial. Seize
the palace. Egypt is now a captive of Rome!
CUT TO:
ROLL OPENING CREDITS.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE PTOLEMY PALACE -- NIGHT
Starry, breezy night.
INT. ROYAL BANQUET ROOM -- CONTINUOUS
Julius Caesar and several of his generals are relaxing
and dining at a long dining table in the royal banquet room. A
well-dressed servant pours wine into their silver goblets while another
stirs their green leaf salads in a huge bowl.
In the background a flute player plays the song: SONG
OF CAESAR - a soothing harmonic melody. LAUGHTER fills the
chamber.
A SENIOR ROMAN MILITARY OFFICER
Julius, now that Pompey and Crassus are gone,
tell us, how does it feel to be Emperor and sole ruler of the
most powerful nation in the world?
Julius takes a sip from his wine goblet.
JULIUS CAESAR
There's still General Cato and General Sulla to
deal with. I'm waiting for word on their whereabouts. However,
this new sense of power feels better than... than... It feels
better than three masseuses in a hot tub.
A ROMAN GENERAL
Here! Here! Now that's a feeling.
Laughter fills the room. Their meal is interrupted
by an Egyptian servant.
A EGYPTIAN SERVANT
Sir, a gentleman from Sicily would like to
present to you gifts from the land of Egypt.
Julius waves him in.
APOLLODORUS
Hail Caesar. Mighty Emperor, I bring to you
gifts from the land of the Pharaohs. My name is Apollodorus.
JULIUS CAESAR
You are an Italian?
APOLLODORUS
Yes, mighty Emperor.
JULIUS CAESAR
From Carthaginian stock?
APOLLODORUS
But of course.
JULIUS CAESAR
What do you have that I don't already have?
APOLLODORUS
Oh you will be most delighted. May I?
Julius waves, giving him the okay. Several Egyptian
servants haul in several gold-plated treasure chests on stilts. They
open the chests up individually.
APOLLODORUS
Your greatness, in our first treasure chest, we
have some of the most refine sculptures and vases the world has
ever known. In our second treasure chest, we have Egyptian beer,
some of the smoothest in the land. In our third treasure chest,
we have some of the finest and most comfortable Egyptian robe
wear. It is made from pure, one hundred percent Egyptian cotton.
Julius yarns from boredom.
APOLLODORUS
And now, I have saved the best for last. I now
present to you, the most valuable treasure of the Nile.
Egyptian servants haul in a long, rolled-up carpet.
Other servants clear the dishes from the table and hand the Roman
generals their wine goblets.
APOLLODORUS
Your greatness, I now present to you, Cleopatra,
queen of the Nile.
The carpet is laid out before Julius. It is slowly
unrolled on the dining table. As they slowly revealed the carpet's
contents, a pair of golden legs are the first to become visible.
Cleopatra's hour-glass-shaped body is rolled out directly before Julius Caesar.
CLEOPATRA
Can I interest the Emperor in desert?
The attending Roman generals drop their goblets in
surprise.
Cleopatra's ocean-colored eyes are both arresting and
cautioning. The gleam in her eyes signal both stop and proceed. Her breast, while
concealed, are duel beacons begging for attention.
The honey-colored diva's lower body is covered in a pair
of ballooning, see-through, silk, hip-hugging, tied at the ankles pants.
Underneath it all, she has on a pair of black bikini panties. A draping,
silk halter top reveals her wash board stomach. Her soft-revealing feet
are wonderfully manicure. Her toes nails are brightly polished and
gleaming. The diva's silky black hair is stylistically and fashionably
draped down her wonderfully chiseled face.
A ROMAN GENERAL
(stunned)
The women in Rome don't look like this.
JULIUS CAESAR
Apollodorus, I accept your gifts.
APOLLODORUS
Thank you, mighty Emperor
JULIUS CAESAR
