RALPH: Welcome back Cassius, good to see you. And you sir are Casca. Our audience has heard about you, but we've not met. Thanks for being here. 

CASSIUS: Well sure, though it wasn't easy getting here in this weather. It's kind of freaking me out a bit actually. 

RALPH: Yes there's been quite a storm raging since the dinner you went to. And I understand you just took Caesar back to his place. And then you run into Cicero, and he asks you why you look so out of sorts. 

CASCA: And he isn't? I've seen plenty of vicious storms before this, but it's only tonight that I've seen a storm hail fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven, or else the world to saucy with the gods incenses them to send destruction. 

RALPH: You think the gods have something to do with this? That they're upset. 

CASCA: Where are you from? It's the heavens, isn't it. What else would it be? 

RALPH: OK. So you think it means that either the gods are in some kind of struggle with each other, that they are having some kind of a fight. Or that they're unhappy with events here on earth. 

CASCA: Those are the two options as I see it. 

RALPH: Well Cicero doesn't seem quite as upset as you. In fact, he asks you if you've ever seen anything more wonderful. 

CASCA: Well that guy is a stoic's stoic. He doesn't buy into this god's business much, but he hasn't seen what I've seen. I saw a slave with his hand on fire as bright as 20 torches, and yet his hand didn't feel a thing. And I've been carrying my sword out, because yesterday I saw a lion at the capitol. It looked right at me and then walked on by. Then there was this huge group of women, there must have been hundreds of them, out of their minds with fear after seeing men on fire walking up and down the streets. There's some weird sheep duty going on tonight. You can't let these guys like Cicero try to convince you this is just nature doing its thing. This means something. 

RALPH: Well Cicero isn't convinced by your report. I mean, he agrees that these are strange times in Rome, but then he adds, but men may construe things after their fashion. Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. 

CASCA: What's that supposed to mean? 

RALPH: I think he's just trying to say that it's possible to read too much into things. 

CASCA: Whatever. 

RALPH: He then asks you if Caesar will be coming to the capitol tomorrow. 

CASCA: Yes in fact, he told Antony to tell Cicero that he would be there. 

RALPH: Well now he knows. He suggests you find a safe place indoors, and then he goes on his way. And that's when you show up Cassius. 

CASCA: You've seen this weather, right? 

CASSIUS: Yes. And I think it is a very pleasing night to honest men. 

CASCA: Who knew the heavens could be so angry. 

CASSIUS: The same people who knew the earth could be so full of faults. I have walked about in these same streets. And when the lightning seemed to open up the breast of heaven, I presented my own breast inviting the lightning to strike me. 

CASCA: You really shouldn't tempt the gods like that. That's like religious piety 101. 

CASSIUS: You are simple minded Casca. Either you don't have the true spark of a Roman, or you just don't use it. You should try considering the true cause of all these terrors. Think about it. What are they supposed to make us afraid of? What might they be trying to warn us against? Let me think. Could I think of someone who is a lot like this terrible night? Someone who thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars as does the lion in the capital. A man, no mightier than thyself or me in personal action, yet prodigious grown and fearful as these strange eruptions are. 

CASCA: You must be talking about Caesar. 

RALPH: Well? 

CASSIUS: Let's not name names. The point is we are not rising to the occasion. We are governed too much by the womanish spirit of our mothers, and not enough by the minds of our fathers and so we suffer. We bear the weight on our shoulders. 

CASCA: You might be on to something. They say tomorrow that the senators are going to make Caesar King of all of Rome's provinces, though not of Rome itself. 

CASSIUS: I know where I will wear this dagger then. Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. 

RALPH: You mean you'll kill yourself. 

CASSIUS: This power that we hold over ourselves makes the weak most strong. This power over ourselves can defeat tyrants. No stony tower, nor wall of metal, nor airless dungeon can hold back the strength of human spirit. But life, being weary of these worldly bars, never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides that part of tyranny that I do bear, I can shake off at pleasure. 

RALPH: Whoa, that's weird. Wonder what that means. 

CASCA: I have this power too Cassius. Every man has the power in his own hands to cancel his captivity. 

RALPH: Take it easy gentlemen. I'm confused. Are you talking about suicide? 

CASSIUS: We're talking about not caring if we die. Why should Caesar be a tyrant, except for the fact that he thinks we are afraid of him. He is only a wolf because he thinks the Romans are sheep. Now, of course, if you Casca are a sheep, you might take arms to defend Caesar against me. But I am armed too, and as I've said, I'm not afraid to die. 

CASCA: Hey, it's me Casca. We should unite to stop this threat to Rome. I will go as far as you do. 

RALPH: Wow. I think the conspiracy against Caesar just started right in front of me. 

CASSIUS: We're not alone Ralph. There are many noble Romans who are willing to undertake this job of honorable, dangerous consequence. 

RALPH: Honorable, dangerous. Is that a thing? 

CASSIUS: Well it's a dangerous task Ralph. 

CASCA: But it's honorable. 

RALPH: OK, I got it. 

CASSIUS: Anyway they're waiting for me. So you see Casca, this terrible weather is simply a sign of the job that we have to do. Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. 

RALPH: So you think this weather is just a sign of the difficult task you have ahead. But Cicero thinks that we have a tendency to read these strange events in our favor and then miss what they're really about. I guess we'll find out won't we. But it's at this moment that Cinna shows up. 

CASSIUS: Don't worry, he's a friend. 

RALPH: Yes, Cinna asks if you could possibly win Brutus to your cause. 

CASSIUS: I'm working on that, remember Ralph. And in fact, I would like Cinna to go to the House of Brutus and take these letters and leave them where Brutus may find them. 

RALPH: The ones that tell them how much Romans love him, and how worried they are about Caesar and the future. 

CASSIUS: Exactly. I wonder if Decius, Brutus, and Trebonius are at the meeting place. 

RALPH: Cinna says that they are. It's only Metellus Cimber that's not there yet because he went to look for you at your house. Then he goes off to plant the letters. 

CASSIUS: Brutus is almost ours Casca. I'm going to go to his house before the morning, and then he will definitely be ours. 

RALPH: And that would be a big deal I take it. 

CASCA: The Roman people love Brutus. Anything we do that might seem terrible to the people will be transformed into virtue and worthiness if he is with us. 

CASSIUS: Well said Casca. Let's get going. By morning Brutus will be ours. 

RALPH: Good luck gentlemen.