SETTING: The stage is preset for the next scene with the addition of a pomegranate tree that is known as the Tree of New Carthage. There is thick fog rolling across the stage.
AT RISE: HOPE, LOVE, and TRAGEDY enter. They are the embodiments of these ideas. They wear identical dark hooded cloaks. They enter chanting their names: "Spes, Amor, et Tragoedia." They repeat this chant three times. There is a long pause before beginning their lines, in which they slowly remove their cloaks. TRAGEDY wears a dark dress, HOPE a white one, and LOVE a red. The first line all three characters chant in unison, but the following lines alternative between them. Offstage actors repeat the last word of each line in order to create an echo.
HOPE, LOVE, and TRAGEDY
Pray Muse tell us a tale!
In our realm lacking law and state
This apocalyptic world thick with cloud a veil
Speak! The tale
LOVE
Of Love
TRAGEDY
Of War.
HOPE
Of Fate.
HOPE, LOVE, and TRAGEDY
(Slight pause)
An ancient epic repeats
In 80 years pass today's date
A story of passion and feats
A man driven by treacherous Fate
(Slight pause)
Wanders from his home
Searching for his woes abate
Destined to find again new Rome
But now Earth is old and late
(Slight pause)
Aeneas and Dido meet once more
Their love story spun by Fate
A second chance for lovers reborn
But! No promise for future time awaits
(Slight pause)
The Roman Poet, Virgil, once wrote it right
Published for readers in B.C 10 and 8
Aeneas loved Dido, but took to flight
Love would have to wait.
(Slight pause)
New Rome. New City. New World
He must find by divine instruction and fate
Leaving poor Dido to death gladly hurled
This retelling of reborn lovers cannot wait.
(Slight pause)
Their story-once told-is now retold
A third world war has ended in fail
Death. Desire. Demise. Watch the story unfold
A Post-Apocalyptic Love Tale
A retelling of ancient love- you now behold.
(BLACKOUT)
(END OF SCENE)