When My Muse Decides to Strike

Playwriting!

This is a playwriting assignment I did for my theatre class that I'm super proud of.  We hd to write the given circumstances of a nursery rhyme, and I choose one that isn't quite so well known to everyone (I think anyways).  Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

        The roar of the crowds was absolutely deafening in the coliseum. Normally the shouts would be of joy and anticipation at the upcoming fight, but today shouts of complaint and cries of outrage echoed throughout the coliseum. Why the difference? Normally the contestants were prisoners of war, or convicted murderers, or people convicted of a capital offence. Today however, one of their beloved own was being forced into the death pit to run one of the deadliest races known to man.     

        Two years ago Jack Varus had ridden two days straight switching horses only five times to bring word of an invading army he'd seen marching towards the city on his way home from a trip to see his brother. Jack didn't have any military training whatsoever, he was a mere carpenter, however the strength, stamina, and sheer will-power it must have taken for him to ride hard for two days only stopping to change horses outstripped that of many of the best trained soldiers. His efforts were not in vain either, because of his warning the city was able to be fortified and defended with minimal casualties. Jack Varus was proclaimed a hero and given high honors and training as a soldier by order of the city's magistrate.

        Recently however, a new magistrate had been elected for the city, this one much harsher and tyrannical than his predecessor, especially in regards to the Christian population. He had been in office a little over a year, a year that had mostly been a time of transition. Now that he was settled in the office though, he sent out a decree to be read in the city square. A herald and twenty soldiers stood at the podium at the front of the square.
        "From this day forward and unless expressly revoked, all who believe in the Christ or claim the title of 'Christian' must renounce their faith and show proof in their day to day lives of this deed or depart the city. Failure to comply is punishable by imprisonment and contention in the great gladiator pits of the coliseum," the herald read off from a scroll. 
        No one spoke after the announcement was given, no one moved, except for one. Jack Varus walked toward the podium deliberately, the crowd parting in front of him.
        He looked the herald in the eye, held out his hands and said loud enough for most to hear, "Arrest me and take me to the holding cells now for I will not abandon my God. There are worse things that could happen to me than to die for my faith."
        The herald and all who heard his words stared at him stunned. It wasn't that Jack kept his faith a secret, many knew of it, but they didn't think it was strong enough for him to willingly go to his death without a fight. The soldiers that had accompanied the herald looked at each other, neither wanting to tie Jack up; he had more than likely saved their lives by giving them almost a two day warning of the incoming army. 
        "Go on, bind my hands, I won't resist or hold it against you. Follow the orders you've been given, Don't worry about me, God will keep me safe," Jack told the soldiers.
        Reluctantly, the soldiers bound his hands and began marching him to the city prison. The crowd of people stared in shocked silence as he was led away.
        "Wait!" a voice cried out. They stopped and turned as they saw a young man rushing up to them. "Here, take me too for I will not deny my Christ or abandon my fellow believer," he said breathlessly.

        Again the soldiers stared at the young man, stunned that someone would willingly admit to believing in something that could get them killed. Slowly they bound his hands too and were about to march the two men off to the jail when they noticed a mass of people coming up to the pedestal with their hands outstretched waiting to be bound and led to jail for their beliefs. Men, women, children even were standing there peacefully waiting to be led to their almost certain deaths. The crowd and soldiers were dumbfounded, but the soldiers had their orders. It would take too long to bind everyone who had come forward and they would just be untied when they were put in their cells anyway. The soldiers had a short conference then told the prisoners to march towards the jail.