Ruthless Scrutator

Didius Festus

To my cousin Philoxenos in Antioch, greetings and good health.

Dear Phil:

I hope the specialty garum business is going well. Just the other day I saw some jars in the market with your stamp. That stuff certainly travels well. I never realised it could be flavoured. People must have exotic tastes in Antioch.

Myself, I've been keeping busy any way I can. Took up some digging and planting work in a rich lady's rose garden. Biggest excitement there was devising new fertiliser formulas. Signed on to a construction site or two, but it was too much like being in the legion again -- walk here, build this, walk there, build that. Did a little speculating -- invested in some rental properties up north, a quiet town but excellent potential. I'll have to figure out a way to get the tourists there, though! Spent a few weeks as a freelance scrutator -- had a nasty incident with some missing gladiator weapons and stolen gold, nothing I can talk about, very hush hush.

New prospects falling down from Olympus every day. You remember how I met the emperor, in all his divine glory, when he reviewed the troops? He stopped and chatted with each one of us in the tent, complimented the medicus, then went his way. Just one of the boys, we were supposed to conclude. I couldn't help but be impressed, but then again I'd just fallen over the enemy fortifications and the medicus had given me a dose of his concoctions and an amphora of wine to finish off. So when a courier comes for me last night with a summons to climb the hill to the palace, I thought it would be something along those lines -- the emperor's secretaries rounding up a bunch of us ex-soldiers to show Rome he can still relate to the boys, with good food and free-flowing wine for everybody and an evening of being catered to by the finest banquet slaves in Rome. But when I got there they steered me around to the offices. I stood in line with a bunch of other freelancers as one by one they let us in to see one of the quaesitores in the investigations office. And me in my good tunic. This may turn into regular paying work. Wish me luck.

On the way down from the hill I tailed a woman just for the exercise. A pretty little thing, but not too smart. Within the hour I knew her name, how many children in her family, her father's occupation, her home address, the name of her first pet cat, and that mushrooms make her queasy. Had about a dozen opportunities to rob her coin-purse or drag her down a narrow alley. Women in this city should learn to watch out for themselves.

Following her, I discovered that some old woman's set up shop in the old building around behind the Temple of Saturn. Down the hill from the Tabularium -- remember where we used to whisk the Forum girls for privacy? Lovespells and charms, this old woman sells. A lot of cackling and weird incense. We'll see how long her business lasts before the city guard sweeps her out. I poked my head in to see if she had anything to help a scrutator and picked up a couple of bargains. I'm sure you have plenty of her type where you are. She claims to be from Antioch, too.

Nothing much else to report. I'm in search of a wife. Mater's letter travels with this one. It's long and full of all the details you'd ever want to hear about our lives.

vale,

your cousin.

Tarnished Woman - Gold Heart

Pomponia Tullia

Casina sorori suae Sal.

You know how badly things have been going with us. I had hoped moving to a better neighborhood would mean a better clientela, but sometimes you have to lower your expectations. Yesterday, I was followed home by a rather seedy fellow, ex-legion by the look of him, and not a lucky man, if you know what I mean. I didn't want to be too obvious---you know how these military types like to feel in control (No "This time you be Caesar and I'll be Gaul" for them!) but he was so dense---! No wonder they lost their eagles.

I think I'll move back to the Subura. A girl can't make a living here.

Vale.

The Courtesan

Monaless Flavia

The screen opens again onto a chaste looking woman, seated and reading from a scroll!

Ahhh, but do not be deceived by what you see before you, for she is anything but, she is Julianna!

She is still very beautiful, although no longer as young as she would like to be, her wisdom and intellegence have served her well and keep her in the favor of her many clients! She has done well in her life, with many servants and a fine Domus to entertain in! She is a Courtesan , this was the life she choose for herself many years ago and though doubts do creep in upon occasion she knows there is no going back, no changing the past!

This is her time alone, when she can be herself, everyday between the hours of the afternoon and the darkness of the night! She sits here reading, always a thrist for knowledge something she must know! She is searching for...she doesn't really know what she searchs for only that she must, she will know it when she finds it! This quest for knowledge is what has made her so popular amoung the men of the city, they will talk to her for hours, about almost anything! There are people who would pay dearly to know what she knows, for men become more open when they have drunk too much and eaten the fine meals that she always places before them. She of course would never betray them, for to do this would quickly put her out of business and perhaps cost her her life as well! She knows how to keep secrets, she has many of her own.

Soon she will have to dress, her slaves bring her what she needs! There will be a Party tonight, she gives many parties but this one is special, there will be many high born men here tonight, the very elite of society but there is but one she is interested in...

Helena

Monaless Flavia

She is Helena, as sweet and innocent as a young woman can be , had life been different perhaps she would have made a promising vestal! She was not a vestal but a slave! She had been born a slave but grew up in the household of a rich family where she went unnoticed until she was grown , and then was quickly sold by the lady of the house who was jealous of her great beauty! Now, she was the Mistress of a old but powerful Senator and he had given her command over his household and everything she could ever want. She was showered with jewels, the finest clothing and even exotic pets that he had brought to her from all over the world! He pampered her more like his child than his courtesan, being so old he had very little interest in her when the sun went down, but did enjoy her company by his fire when she would read to him until he fall asleep!

He is Antonio, he loves her but she does not know, for he fears to tell her! His love shows in his eyes when ever he looks at her, altough he does his best to hide it! He knows that he can not have her, she belongs to someone else and even if he could buy her , she could never be his wife, society would never allow such a thing! So he spends time with her whenever it is possible and trys not to think about tomorrow or the pain of love! He had come to this party just to be near her, so sweet she is , so kind and gentle, he loved watching her play with the colorful birds in the garden of his home, the birds his father had brought back to her as a gift! Yes, she was kind and gentle she treated his father well, and seemed to be sincere about her affections toward him but like a daughter to an honored father! Antonio wanted to love her, to hold her in his arms , to make her free but like her birds she was imprisoned within the fine gold cage of his father's home.

Julianna stands in the doorway, gazing at the couple before her! She knows that Antonio is in love with Helena. She also knows that it can not be, his father would never allow such a thing to happen, even if he was willing to give up Helena!
Julianna had taken Helena under her wing, trying to teach her what she needed to know to survive, but Helena remains innocent not wanted to believe that life is cruel and not what she thinks it is! Was she ever that innocent? No, not ever! Julianna turns away from them and gracefully walks back inside to greet the other guest....

Ruthless Scrutator

Didius Festus

Enter Marcus, lowly but earnest scrutator, played until further notice by "The Robe"-era Richard Burton.

First Shouting Man: "Io, Marce! Aspicete quod felis attraxit...." *
   (* "Yo, Marcus. [aside to others] Look what the cat dragged in....")

Marcus, earnest but young scrutator, makes his way to the grimey counter and, subtle as a sack of paving stones, searches for leads.

Marcus the Scrutator: "I just hunted down a steady job, so this round of drinks is on me. (Make it that cheap stuff you keep in the vat next to the counter, will you?) The new job? As adjunct to the vigiles, actually, so it's nothing too hot -- or at least I hope it doesn't get too hot. There've been a lot of new collegia meeting in the back rooms of cauponae in the same rooms as the olive oil and wine urns. It's a fire hazard, what with all those torches and lamps burning through the night. The Emperor himself has been worried about it and sent down the order. I may have to visit every caupona in this district. You have anyone meeting here after hours? If you know how to reach them maybe you could pass on the word, then I won't have to come back while they're actually here. Save me some footwork -- I'd appreciate it."

Marcus, young but worldly scrutator, proceeds to drink until red faced, making a big show of reeling out lopsidedly come evening. Once safely around the corner from the caupona, with suddenly sure steps he heads through the dark streets to his walk-up flat. Vaguely, he wonders whether he'll see the young woman he trailed the evening before as he crosses the path she took.

Rome, nighttime, the districts of the wealthy, the inhabitants hidden behind the windowless facades of manor houses crowded together on narrow streets. All the houses are shut tight for the evening, lending little light to the road, except for one house up ahead. A bright rectangle of light hits the street as the door opens to welcome a guest newly arrived on a litter. An even brighter glow of lamps and torches rises from behind the walls of the house's hortus, which, a typical rear garden of a city mansion, is separated from the street by a tall, tall wall.

Having been at the palace yesterday, Marcus (worldly yet often ignorant of the ways of the wealthy) recognises the trappings of the litter. Its silken curtains are drawn and the angle is bad for spying, and he cannot tell whether it's a man or woman who descends from the litter and hurries in so quickly to the festivities surrounded by slaves and secretaries. Would a man ride in such a feminine conveyance, among gold tassels and floral designs? Marcus can think of at least one member of the imperial family who would.

His assignment forgotten and the curiosity that made him become a scrutator taking over, Marcus (sometimes ignorant and usually reckless) looks for a likely vine and convenient cracks in the garden wall and hoists himself up among glossy green leaves and pale purple flowers, just for a peek. All information is useful to a good scrutator, after all.

Besides, why should the wealthy have all the fun? If he's quick and careful and chooses his moment -- maybe even catches the eye of a fun-loving slave girl -- he might get a handful of hors d'oeuvres.