[Anne James]

Anne James

Module 2 – Lesson 5 – Episode Descriptions

What I learned from this assignment…It took me FOREVER to do this and my cliffhangers are weak right now.

ASSIGNMENT:

Episode 1

• Hook/Intrigue: The reluctant, third in line, slacker Nerilla is hastily appointed Head Priestess, replacing her predecessor, Livia, who has been put to death for becoming pregnant.

• Main Character journey: Nerilla now has to get really good at this, immediately, or she and the other Vestals could be killed.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: In the wake of a scandal, she must restore public credibility of the Vestals and unite a divided House of Vesta.

• Action/Reaction: She must navigate for the first time warring factions within the Severus dynasty, all wanting Nerilla to secure the god’s support for their endeavors.

• Cliffhanger: Forced to stage her first public blessing for Emperor Severus, she has no idea what she’s doing and completely “fakes” it, throwing up afterwards.

Vestal Virgin, Nerilla, a reluctant, third in line slacker, is hastily appointed Head Priestess. Her predecessor, Livia, has been publicly put to death for violating the Vestal’s sacred vow. She is chosen over the obvious next choice, rock star Vestal, Severa. In the wake of chaos and scandal, Nerilla becomes the new face of the Vestal brand. Though truth be told, she has long doubted she has any mystical powers and has a series of botched blessings to prove it. But now, she has to get really good at this, quickly. Or else she and the other Vestals could meet a similar fate to Livia. With a skeptical public, a divided House of Vesta and warring factions within the Severus dynasty, all insisting she secure the god’s favor for their endeavors, Nerilla attempts her first public blessing before Emperor Severus and the Senate. She has no idea what she’s doing and completely “fakes” it, throwing up afterwards.

Episode 2

• Hook/Intrigue: Nerilla secretly is heartbroken, mourns the death of Livia and struggles to find an ally.

• Main Character journey: Publicly and politically, she is forced enact a damnato memoria and erase all evidence of Livia, validating the government’s actions.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: She confronts Silvius about denying Livia a trial.

• Action/Reaction: Now living in Livia’s quarters, Nerilla is haunted by the night of the miscarriage.

• Cliffhanger: She and Livia were secretly in a romantic relationship. Highly taboo.

Under pressure from Silvius and Dios, Nerilla is forced to enact a damnato memoria, erasing all evidence that Livia ever existed. Every trace of her must be purged. She can never be mentioned again. Publicly, Nerilla validates the government’s actions to have Livia put to death. Privately, she is devastated. She watches Livia’s quarters being cleared out and stripped. She confronts Silvius about denying Livia a trial. Nerilla moves into the Head Priestess quarters. She is haunted by the night of Livia’s miscarriage, which took place in this room. There is still a faint blotch of blood on the stone floor. She and Livia were close friends who had recently begun a secret romantic relationship. Although this was highly taboo and considered “incest”, Livia was Nerilla’s life line. Without her love and support, how can Nerilla survive as Head Priestess?

Episode 3

• Hook/Intrigue: Nerilla is introduced to the key players of the Senate, who are struggling for power against Emperor Severus and his pro-military government.

• Main Character journey: Thrust into the highly competitive, sexually charged, volatile world of Roman politics

• Major Challenge/Conflict: Mourning loss of Livia – her love, protector and mentor.

• Action/Reaction: Plautianus, pressures Nerilla to go against the Senators and Emperor Severus, who he is supposed to be supporting.

• Cliffhanger: Nerilla discovers Plautianus has been secretly bribing key senators to secure their support for the Emperor.

Senator Dios introduces Nerilla to the key players in the Senate. The Emperor is unwell, down with the gout. Empress Julia Domna, in attendance, conveys Emperor Severus wants to allow soldiers to become citizens and award them land. The senators argue this will cost the government money and further tip the balance of power in Severus’s favor. She stands firm. Plautianus, the Praetorian Prefect and equal to the Emperor, undermines Julia Doman in front of the Senate, flaunting his influence with the military is greater than Severus’s. Privately, Senator Dio’s reveals Emperor Severus and his pro-military government has stripped them of much of their power. Soldiers mustn’t become citizens. But Nerilla discovers Plautianus has been bribing key senators to support the Emperor. Nerilla looks to Silvius for counsel, but he is beholden to his father and the Senate. Julia Domna reveals she wasn’t fond of Livia, who was partial to Plautianus. She asks Nerilla to offer a private blessing to the Emperor for the return of his health.

Episode 4

• Hook/Intrigue: Nerilla takes to the streets and connects with Roman citizens.

• Main Character journey: Can’t compete with the popular and beautiful Vestal Severa for the citizens’ favor.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: Severa’s popularity and impulsive behavior undermines Nerilla’s authority with the citizens.

• Action/Reaction: Nerilla, using some of her new authority, blesses and frees a prisoner en route to his execution.

• Cliffhanger: Plautianus arranged for Nerilla to encounter this prisoner, whose freedom becomes an advantage for Plautianus.

Emperor Severus is still down with the gout. Nerilla’s blessing didn’t heal him immediately. Weary of political pressures, Nerilla takes to the streets with Vestal Severa to connect with Roman citizens. As they work the crowds, it becomes clear Severa is the favorite. They are asked by citizen leaders to secure more resources for them, which Severa promises. Back at the House, Nerilla confronts Severa and reminds her that she doesn’t have that authority. Silvius backs Severa. Nerilla, heading to a meeting at the senate, encounters a prisoner en route to his execution. Praetorian guards shove the prisoner at Nerilla, who now according to Vestal law, she must bless and free the prisoner. A crowd gathers. Nerilla, hoping to increase her popularity, stages a “miracle” and frees him, to cheers. Dios and several other senators tell Nerilla she just freed the leader of one of the tribes Rome has been battling. Severus and Julia Domna are furious. But, the Emperor’s health is finally improving. So Nerilla isn’t punished. Plautianus feigns outrage, but secretly arranged for Nerilla’s encounter with the prisoner, and uses the Praetorian Guard to ensure the prisoner’s safety.

Episode 5

• Hook/Intrigue: Nerilla must select a new Vestal to replace Livia.

• Main Character journey: Highly political process where she is pressured by Senator Dios, Silvius and Empress Julia Domna to choose one of their advantageous choices.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: Haunted by the trauma of being removed from her family, never to see them again for 30 years. She now belongs to Rome.

• Action/Reaction: Julia Domna bribes Nerilla

• Cliffhanger: Nerilla goes against their choices and picks Herennia.

It’s time to replace Livia with a new young Vestal. Rome must always have six virgins looking out for the city. Nerilla is thrown into this highly political process, where she is pressured by Senator Dios, Silvius and Empress Julia Domna to choose one of their picks. All of Rome’s best families parade their young daughters before her. The whole process triggers painful memories for Nerilla. She is haunted by the trauma of being removed from her family at the age of 10 and forced to never see them again for thirty years. Hers was the first year citizens could submit their daughters for selection. She was very close to her father and it broke his heart to give his beloved Nerilla up. But in exchange for Nerilla, her family would now have financial security, stature and protection. Her mother was thrilled Nerilla was selected. But a crying Nerilla was pulled away from her father at the selection ceremony. She belonged to Rome now. She had always been told she was chosen by the god’s for this service. But now, she sees that the whole process is entirely political. Only further confirming her doubts about her suitability for this life. At the Selection, Nerilla goes against all of their choices and picks Herennia, who is the spitting image of Livia.

Episode 6

• Hook/Intrigue: Nerilla’s choice of Herennia becomes problematic politically.

• Main Character journey: Must “bless” a warring meeting between Senate vs Emperor Dios & Plautianus for control over Rome.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: She believes she is a fraud and struggles with being the face of the hypocritical world of Vesta.

• Action/Reaction: Nerilla forced to secretly meet with other Dios, Silvius and other senators to plot against Severus.

• Cliffhanger:

Nerilla’s choice of Herennia becomes problematic for her politically. She defied the counsel of everyone and chose the daughter of a mere citizen. But everytime Nerilla looks at Herennia, she sees a young Livia. This is strangely comforting. With all evidence of Livia’s existence destroyed, Herennia’s uncanny likeness becomes Nerilla’s only portal to her memories of her beloved. She watches Herennia become indoctrinated into the hypocritical world of Vesta. Silvius confronts Nerilla. The public and private roles are starting to blur. He pressures her to get in line. Empress Julia Domna visits the House and has a private audience with Nerilla, asking for her to support Severus. She suspects Plautianus is undermining Severus.

Episode 7

• Hook/Intrigue: Who was Livia?

• Main Character journey: Who impregnated Livia? Why won’t she tell Nerilla?

• Major Challenge/Conflict: Livia and Nerilla were secretly in a “taboo” relationship.

• Action/Reaction: Nerilla confessed to Livia that Nerilla doesn’t believe she has magical powers and wants to run away from her life as a Vestal. Has doubts she can survive this life.

• Cliffhanger: The miscarriage and the vow

Flashback: As a young girl, Nerilla, joined Livia and Severa as the new Vestals. Together, they rose through the ranks of the House of Vesta. Livia and Severa were in competition with each other for Head Priestess. Nerilla could have cared less and settled happily in the third slot. As Head Priestess, Livia was beloved and respected, the epitome of the chaste, demure Vestal. Livia was becoming entrenched in her identity as a Vestal, while Nerilla was growing increasingly more restless and jaded. She confessed to Livia that she never believed she had magical powers or a connection to the gods and desperately yearns to run away. Livia, to persuade Nerilla to stay, kisses her. They enter into a secret “taboo” relationship. They were together the night Livia miscarried. Late at night, Nerilla secretly slipped into Livia’s quarters. Livia was in pain and bleeding, heavily. Nerilla asks Vestal Clodia and Laurus to bury the fetus. Severa and Nerilla clean up the blood and tend to Livia. All of them vow never to reveal what happened that night. At breakfast early the next morning, a pale Livia and the rest of the Vestals are at the table. Quiet. Stunned. In walks Navia, the youngest Vestal, humming stroking the cat, oblivious to what happened.

Episode 8

• Hook/Intrigue: Caracalla and Julia Domna pressure Nerilla for information about Plautianus.

• Main Character journey: Feels like a fraud and has no one she can trust. Misses Livia horribly.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: She has “blessed” Plautianus’s secret plot against Severus and is supporting Severus against the Senate.

• Action/Reaction: Nerilla exposes Plautianus’s plot against Emperor Severus.

• Cliffhanger: Plautianus’s body is thrown into the streets.

With Nerilla in attendance and blessing the proceedings, Emperor Severus appears before the Senate and asserts his authority over them. Plautianus summons Nerilla to his quarters and brings forward the prisoner she freed who is now joining forces with him to overtake Severus. Together, they are shoring up a key stronghold south of Rome that will give them leverage over Severus’s army. He intimidates her sexually, but she threatens to curse his endeavor. He stops short. Caracalla and Julia Domna suspect Plautianus is working to overthrow Severus, who can’t believe his trusted ally would do such a thing. Severus summons Nerilla to the palace. Nerilla confesses that Plautianus is plotting against Severus. Severus replaces his usual Praetorian guards (who would be loyal to Plautianus) with devoted soldiers who will act on his command. Plautianus is summoned, confronted and slain. His body is thrown into the streets, where it lays for days as a symbol to the prisoner and his soldiers.

Episode 9

• Hook/Intrigue: Nerilla has new standing with Emperor Severus and Empress Julia Domna, after revealing Plautianus’s plot against them.

• Main Character journey: Nerilla uses this new found political power to minimize Silivius and Severa.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: Julia Domna is threatened by Nerilla and confronts her.

• Action/Reaction: Nerilla must bless the Emperor, his two sons and the Roman army as they head out for a campaign in Roman Briton.

• Cliffhanger: A crow appears at a key moment of the ceremony, suggesting a curse on the military’s endeavors.

After revealing Plautianus’s plot against them, Nerilla has new standing with Emperor Severus and Empress Julia Domna. Severus and his two sons head out for a campaign in Roman Briton. Before leaving and with no new Praetorian Prefect, Severus promotes Empress Julia Domna to Augustus, giving her power to represent him politically in his absence. Nerilla uses her new found political power to minimize Silvius and Severa. Before the army departs, Nerilla and the Vestals bless their military endeavor in a huge public ceremony. During the ceremony, Nerilla can’t control a crow that appears and circles three times over the Severus family. This could be a curse. She tries to minimize the incident but Caracalla, one of Severus’s sons, makes direct eye contact with Nerilla. As the military departs, Empress Julia Domna confronts Nerilla, demanding her full loyalty.

Episode 10

• Hook/Intrigue: Six months have passed and word comes that the military is victorious but the Emperor dies on the journey back to Rome.

• Main Character journey: Nerilla is celebrated for her powers to influence the gods for Rome’s success but still struggles for support within the House of Vesta.

• Major Challenge/Conflict: Julia Domna asks for Nerilla’s help to broker a peace between her warring sons who are now co-emperors.

• Action/Reaction: Caracalla has Geta killed in front of Nerilla and Julia Domna.

• Cliffhanger: Caracalla announces Nerilla’s blessing ensured the god’s favor for him to become Emperor.

Six months have passed. Word comes that Severus’s military is victorious and enroute back to Rome. Nerilla is celebrated for her powers to influence the gods in this victory for Rome. But she still struggles for support within the House of Vesta. Sons Caracalla and Geta return and announce that Severus died back in Briton. A devastated Julia Domna blames Nerilla for her husband’s demise. Caracalla and Geta are now co-emperors of Rome and strip Julia Domna of her Augustus title. Julia calls a meeting to broker a peace between the warring sons. Caracalla insists Nerilla be in attendance and bless the proceedings. During the meeting, Caracalla has Geta killed in front of Nerilla and Julia Domna. Julia is injured protecting Geta. Caracalla proclaims that Nerilla’s blessing (as evidenced by the circling crow) ensured the god’s favor and destiny for Caracalla to become Emperor.

[Anne James]

Anne James

Module 2 – Lesson 4 – Episode List (Rough Draft)

What I learned…this feels more like “done” work than “good” work at this point. But I got a lot down on the page here. It’s a start.

Beginning: Vestal Virgin Head Priestess, Livia’s pregnancy and miscarriage throws the House of Vesta into high stakes chaos. Silvius, Pontifex Maximus, mysteriously waves a trial and has her immediately put to death. Nerilla, a third in line slacker with a series of botched blessings on her record, is unexpectedly appointed Head Priestess.

Season End/Cliffhanger – Julia Domna, widowed Empress and mother to Caracalla and Geta, attempts to broker a peace between the now co-emperors. In front of Nerilla and Julia, Caracalla has Geta killed. He dies in his mother’s arms. Caracalla declares it was Nerilla’s blessing and her influence with the gods that ensured his father’s demise and his destiny to be emperor.

Season 1

Mystery – Does Nerilla actually possess magical powers and a connection to the gods? Or does she always need some outside help?

Solved – She has never believed her role as a Vestal automatically instilled her with the gifts of mysticism. But now the stakes are life and death. She begins “faking” blessings, adding new levels of theatrics. Laurus helps her. The blessings work. (Season 1); Julia Domna passes off state secrets that lend credibility to Nerilla’s mystic predictions (Season 2); Nerilla brokers peace with a conquered nearby tribe (Season 4)

Mystery – Who impregnated Livia? Who is she protecting?

Solved – Childhood friend, a widower and farmer (Season 4)

Mystery – Which Vestal broke the vow of secrecy and leaked word of Livia’s miscarriage?

Solved – Laurus confesses it was she. (Season 5)

Mystery – Why did Silvius wave a trial?

Solved – Pressured by Emperor Severus and high-ranking Senator father to demonstrate leadership, regain favor of the gods and purge House of Vesta of this scandal immediately. (Season 1)

Mystery – Why Nerilla as Head Priestess? Severa, a popular favorite with the citizens, is second in line?

Solved – Severa is not a virgin. Was raped by Silvius’s father. (Season 4)

Mystery – Why is Nerilla privately so shattered by Livia’s death?

Solved – She and Livia had a romantic relationship. Livia was her lifeline. (Season 1); Laurus, under pressure, exposes this “incestuous” relationship to devastating results (Season 5)

Journey begins: Nerilla is a slacker of a Vestal, restless. Worthless at blessings. Thinks she’s a complete fraud. Politically disinterested. Leaves the fame and glory to Livia and Severa.

Journey peaks, but continues: Nerilla blesses the military endeavors of Emperor Severus and his sons. Severus brokers peace. But dies. Caracalla and Geta return to Rome, competing against each other as co-emperors. Julia Domna gathers her sons to get them to cooperate. Nerilla is present, offers counsel and blesses the meeting. Caracalla has Geta killed. Caracalla is convinced Nerilla summoned the gods to support his emperorship. She personally will bless all of his endeavors to ensure his success.

Layer—Nerilla must publicly denounce Livia and erase all memory of her. Privately, she is devastated, heartbroken and vengeful.

Layer—Nerilla, never popular within the House of Vesta, must now battle Severa for support of the other women.

Layer–Deformed Silvius, the new Head of the House of Vestal, appointed to this position because the Senate believes no woman would be tempted by him.

Layer—Severa, has done everything right, but she can never be Head Priestess. She was raped by Silvius’s father.

Layer – Silvius protects Severa, but also keeps her silenced.

Layer – With the deaths of her husband and son, Julia Domna’s position in the Empire is vulnerable. She must find new ways to stay relevant.

Layer—Caracalla, disinterested in actual governing, asks his mother to handle the emperor’s top-secret paperwork.

Layer—Julia Domna has connections and expertise but suddenly no power or standing. Nerilla has position and influence, but no experience. They need each other.

Layer—Senator Dios, a historian and senator, controls and spins the public narrative of the inner workings Rome’s political landscape.

Make a list of the Major Story Lines.

Nerilla appointed new Head Priestess and struggles to learn this new job.

Nerilla discovers who Livia truly was.

Laurus aligns with the Praetorian Guard.

Severa and Silvius privately undermine Nerilla. Publicly support her.

Nerilla and Julia Domna become reluctant allies.

Episodes:

Episode 1 –

Livia is buried alive for breaking the vow of celibacy

All Vestals and political elite attend her burial

Silvius appoints a bewildered Nerilla as the new Head Priestess

Furious Severa is passed over for Head Priestess

House of Vesta is divided—who leaked word of Livia’s miscarriage?

Nerilla secretly visits Livia’s grave and can hear she is still alive

Flashback – night Livia miscarried and Vestals vow to keep secret.

Nerilla is summoned Emperor Severus and Empress Julia Domna.

Plautianus pays a visit to the House of Vesta

Laurus and Clodia tend to the Vesta flame

Nerilla publicly celebrated at the new Head Priestess in an elaborate ceremony.

She performs her first public blessing and throws up afterwards.

Episode 2 – Nerilla struggles to find an ally

Nerilla must enact a damnato memoria, erasing all evidence Livia existed.

Clearing out Livia’s quarters, Nerilla discovers a clue to Livia’s pregnancy

Nerilla moves into Livia’s quarters, sleeps in her bed.

Memories of the night of her miscarriage & vow

Vestals attend event at the Colosseum with Emperor & Empress

Confronts Silvius about denying Livia a trial.

Secretly visits her family home and watches them through the window

Episode 3 – Welcome to the Senate

Nerilla is introduced to Senator Dios & is briefed

Emperor Severus and Empress Julia Domna present Nerilla to the Senate

Nerilla notices Julia Domna’s interaction with the Senate

Nerilla is privately approached by Plautianus and wants her blessing and support for an endeavor.

Emperor Severus wants her blessing for a contradictory endeavor.

Silvius catches Nerilla with one of Livia’s personal effects. Allows her to keep it.

Episode 4—Nerilla hits the streets

Severa holds a public event for the Roman people and is celebrated.

Severa confronts Nerilla and flaunts her popularity with the people

Nerilla meets with citizen leaders wanting her support for lower taxes

Nerilla meets a prisoner on his way to an execution and frees him.

Vestals visit an orphanage. Nerilla feels strongly connected to one of the children.

Emperor Severus reprimands her for using her powers to free that prisoner.

Nerilla is asked to bless gladiators prior to games. Meets female gladiators. They become human to her, even though they are slaves.

Attends Colosseum event where many of those gladiators are killed.

Laurus and Clodia tend the flame

Episode 5 – The search for a new Vestal

Senate announces search for a new Vestal

Silvius and Vestals hold meetings with worthy families with daughters.

Silvius takes bribes from certain families.

Senator Dios campaigns for the daughter of a prominent family

Nerilla has painful flashbacks to when she was selected and taken from her family.

Plautianus continues to pressure Nerilla for blessings and support for his endeavors. She reluctantly “fakes” a blessing for Plautianus.

Confesses to Laurus that she “faked” the Plautianus blessing.

Empress Julia Domna attends public selection of new vestal.

Plautianus interrupts conversation with Nerilla and Julia Domna.

Nerilla is pressured by Silvius and Dios to pick one of their choices.

As Head Priestess, Nerilla, goes against their choices, and picks Herennia.

Episode 6 – Senate vs military

Ceremony blessing Herennia as a Vestal

Dios confronts Nerilla about her choice for Herennia. Is problematic politically.

Nerilla attends a senate hearing where Plautianus and the Emperor threaten to overthrow the senate. Pitting the military against the senate.

Emperor wants to give rights to soldiers, allow to become citizens. Given them land.

Senators push back. Would give military too much power and standing.

Emperor and Plautianus summon Silvius and Nerilla. Pressure them to side with military and secure the god’s support.

Silvius’s father, Dios and other senators meet with Silvius and Nerilla secretly to plot against Severus.

Herennia begins her apprenticeship under Laurus and Clodia

Episode 7 – Livia

Early days of their lives as Vestals. Livia and Severa were a couple of years older than Nerilla. She was the last to arrive.

The three of them were very close. Supported and protected each other.

Young adult Livia’s ceremony to be Head Priestess. Nerilla watching Livia like a duck to water rise in the ranks and leave the rest of them behind.

Conversation with Livia about her doubts in her powers and connection to the gods. Their relationship is deepening, starting to exclude Severa.

Their first moments of tender intimacy. Starting to become something more.

Flashback—Night of Livia’s miscarriage. See Nerilla sneaking into Livia’s quarters and into her bed. Slips into sleep. Wakes up to Livia standing, bent over in pain, panting. Then there is blood. So much blood.

Continue with miscarriage. What happened that night. The burial. The vow. Dawn. Breakfast.

Episode 8 –

Julia Domna and son, Caracalla, confront Nerilla, wanting know if Plautianus is working against the Emperor.

Silvius pushes back against Julia and Caracalla, supporting the senators’ position. Nerilla accidently reveals a key element from a recent conversation with Plautianus. Julia Domna and Caracalla become concerned.

Nerilla feeling very much alone and not sure who to trust.

Plautianus pressures Nerilla to side with his venture against the Emperor and secure the god’s blessing. Which she “fakes”.

Silvius confronts Nerilla and wants to know about Plautianus.

Nerilla exposes Plautianus to Severus

Severus has Plautianus killed and body thrown into the streets

Episode 9 –

Growing tensions in Roman Briton force Severus back out on campaign. Takes his two sons.

Nerilla blesses Severus’s military campaign in a large public ceremony.

During ceremony, there is an accidental exchange between Nerilla and Caracalla.

Military heads out on campaign.

With Emperor away, Julia Domna appears before the Senate in her husband’s place.

Nerilla and Julia Domna have a confrontation

Senate takes advantage of a leaderless Praetorian Guard.

Laurus discovers her younger brother is a member of the Praetorian Guard.

Episode 10 –

6 months have passed

Macrinus is the new controversial Pratorium Prefect

Julia Domna now wielding influence over Senate

Nerilla and Severa in a battle for alliances in the House

Word comes military has secured borders in Roman Briton

Nerilla is celebrated for her role in the victory

Word comes Emperor has died – Caracalla & Geta declared co-emperors

Warring sons arrive back in Rome

Julia Domna arranges a meeting with sons to broker truce. Nerilla is asked to bless the meeting. Dios is present.

Caracalla kills Geta and becomes Emperor, pronouncing Nerilla’s blessings secured gods’ endorsement, citing moment in the blessing.

[Anne James]

Anne James

Module 2 – Lesson 3 – Easy Way to 5 Seasons

What I learned…I have fallen horribly behind due to a health issue (I’m fine now!) and then a crazy surge at work usurped my blocked out writing time. Now I’m putting me head down and working to get back up to date. For the first time, I found myself bogged down by the structure of the exercise. I kept getting stuck. So I just poured out the ideas and came up with a breakdown of 5 Seasons. I know they are too long. Will go back and tighten and polish later. But I’m really happy with how much meat is on the bone here.

SEASON ONE

Throw a Fist of Dirt

In exchange for a thirty-year vow of chastity and to keep the eternal flame of Rome outside the House of Vesta burning, Nerilla’s privileged life as a Vestal Virgin has been lived happily in the shadow of the beloved, ethereal Head Priestess, Livia, and the popular Beyonce of Vestals, Severa. Third in line with a series of botched blessings on her record, Nerilla privately is skeptical about her mystic capabilities and struggles with this life chosen for her at the age of 10, when she was taken from her parents and siblings. She’s contemplated running away from it all. A secret, taboo relationship with her non-biological “sister” Livia proves a temporary salve. Livia’s mysterious pregnancy, miscarriage and death, throws the House of Vesta into high stakes chaos. To Severa’s shock, Nerilla is hastily appointed the new Head Priestess. She must now restore the public credibility of the Vestals and unite a divided House of Vesta. Publicly, Nerilla has denounced Livia and enforced a damnato memoria, removing all traces of her. Privately, she is devastated, heartbroken and determined to uncover who impregnated Livia. Thrust into the highly competitive, sexually charged, volatile world of Roman politics, Nerilla navigates warring factions within the Severus dynasty, led by Emperor Severus and Empress Julia Domna, and the Praetorian Guard and Prefect P, all seeking to exploit her favor with the gods. Panicked, she starts to “fake” blessings. All theatrics, feeling nothing and throwing up after each one. But somehow…they work. Until Emperor Severus dies while on campaign in Roman Briton, an endeavor she heartily blessed. This unsettles leadership and Nerilla. On their return, his sons, Caracalla and Geta, fight for control. Caracalla kills Geta and declares it was Nerilla’s blessing and influence with the gods that ensured his destiny to be emperor.

SEASON 2

On Fishes Through the Water Glide

Caracalla, Serverus’s volatile, arrogant son, returns victorious to Rome, convinced it was Nerilla’s blessing that ensured his destiny to be emperor. She becomes his “lucky charm” and keeps her close. Devastated by the murder of her son, Geta, Julia Domna now fears for her own safety. She has no real position any longer, but has experience and connections. Nerilla has position and access, but no clue how to navigate the inner workings of Rome. Together, they form an alliance. Julia Domna channels political secrets to Nerilla, to lend credibility to her mysticism and predictions. Nerilla, with the help of Vestal Laurus, begins a series of high stakes public blessings that increase her influence and access within the political elite. She starts to believe she does have magical powers. She is a vessel of the gods! Gradually she rises in power and influence. Macrinus is appointed the new Praetorium Prefect. Nerilla falsely advises him to leave Rome and campaign in the eastern provinces, convincing him a victory there will give him more political standing over the unhinged emperor. Laurus discovers her brother, a member of the Praetorian Guard, is assigned protection of Emperor Caracalla. Caracalla, out on maneuvers with the military, is killed while taking a leak on the side of the road reportedly by a disgruntled soldier denied a promotion. Rumors are that Macrinus, still out in the provinces, put out the hit. With no one in charge of Rome, Julia Domna and Nerilla see an opportunity.

SEASON 3

The Nimble Hours

Macrinus, while out in the eastern provinces of the Empire, is confirmed as Emperor, by the support of the army. He does not return to Rome. With Macrinus absent, Nerilla achieves new levels of influence and power within the government, with Senator Dio’s help. Julia Domna, formerly an Augustus under Severus’s reign, begins to hold state gatherings of select key players, both senatorial and citizens. Nerilla’s presence gives Julia’s endeavors the god’s seal of approval. A falsified grain shortage pushes the Roman people to revolt. Until Nerilla stages a magical blessing that brings immediate access to the grain again. Laurus, growing uneasy with Nerilla’s abuses of power and her own implication in the false blessings, starts to secretly align with Macrinus and the Praetorian Guard, who are growing suspicious of Julia’s power grab. Julia Domna, using her personal funds, bribes a discontented military to campaign for her nephew, the 17-year-old Elagabalus to be the next Emperor. With Senate approval and a Vestal blessing, she sends the Roman military to overthrow Macrinus at the Battle of Antioch. Elagabalus is declared the rightful heir to the empire. Nerilla discovers an important clue about the mystery of Livia’s pregnancy.

SEASON 4

End of Triumph

Nerilla discovers Livia had a romantic relationship with a childhood friend. A farmer and widower, he provided the House of Vesta with fresh milk. She visits him and, spotting a personal effect of Livia’s, secures a confession. Conflicted as to what to do, she has her security detail kill him. She rides away weeping to the screams of his children. Emperor Elagabalus proves indulgent, dim, reckless and sexually deviant, even by Roman standards. Although obsessed with his horse groomer, Trilex, Elagabalus insists on marrying a coveted Vestal, the beautiful Severa. When Silvius reveals Severa is not a virgin, Nerilla agrees not to punish her. But instead, allows Severa to be married. An ineffectual leader, Elagabalus infuriates all levels of Roman politics. Nerilla’s counsel is largely ignored. She is haunted by the ghost of the farmer and the screams of his children. Her and Julia Domna’s relationship becomes strained. Nerilla brokers peace with the female leader of a nearby tribe, the Ovinaliats, overtaken by the military. This infuriates military leaders. She threatens Elagabalus with a prediction of his death, which he ignores. Despite of Dio’s warnings, Nerilla attempts to align with the disenfranchised Praetorian Guard. Laurus advises them to ignore Nerilla’s advice. Julia Domna, secretly pays Laurus’s brother, security detail to the Emperor, to kill Elagabalus. In contempt, the Guard throw his remains in the Tiber River.

SEASON 5

A Thousand Snares

A dying Julia Domna, campaigns to put her nephew, the young and inexperienced Alexander, on the throne. He wins enough Senate support to continue the Severus Dynasty line. Severa, a widow and lost without status of the House, leads the life of a regular citizen. Julia Domna dies, leaving Nerilla lost and vulnerable. Still haunted by the farmer’s ghost, she visits the orphanage where his children now live. She asks Severa to take them in. Alexander attempts to negotiate a truce with the Sassanid Empire. He secures a blessing from Nerilla. He attempts to win them over with bribes and flawed diplomacy. He blames Nerilla for his failed venture and wants her removed as Head Priestess. He threatens Laurus, who exposes Nerilla’s incest and fraudulent blessings. Nerilla is arrested and jailed. There, Laurus confesses to her that she leaked Livia’s miscarriage. Nerilla is put on trial and convicted. Lead through the streets, Nerilla is buried alive. Laurus is appointed Head Priestess, with the support of both Emperor Alexander and Praetorian Guard.

Cut to 391A.D. Emperor Theodosius, a Christian, puts out the House of Vesta fire and disbands the Vestals. Shortly thereafter, the Visigoths sacked the city of Rome. Which began the fall of the Roman Empire. According to legend, this could only happen because the city wasn’t protected by the House of Vesta’s fire.

[Anne James]

Anne James

Module 2 – Lesson 2 – Character Descriptions

What I learned from this assignment…This took me MUCH longer than I thought to complete. Has been incredibly helpful.

ASSIGNMENT

NERILLA

Who is the character? Role in the show? Hero/New Vestalis Maxima (Head Priestess)

Noteworthy traits: Sense of humor; slacker coasting on success of Livia; Emotional; Persuasive;

Intriguing history: Relationship with Livia; why her family gave her up;

Intrigue? Mystery? Doesn’t believe she has magical gifts. Believes she is a fake and dreads giving blessings. How long can she keep pretending to be communing with the gods?

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? Provides support to Julia Domna in exchange for inside secrets; Uses Dios’s help with spinning the public perception of the Vestals;

• Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: Never wanted to be Head Priestess; has long had doubts about her abilities and this life that was chosen for her; now she is the face of the brand and must reestablish their value to the success of Rome.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: She challenges Silvius’s authority and leadership within The House of Vesta; secretly investigates who impregnated Livia; She becomes one of the most powerful women in the Roman Empire

Unpredictable? Public: Demure and sweet; Privately: Shrewd and gutsy

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters – Livia; Julia Domna; Janus; Galla; Caracalla

START: A reluctant Vestal Virgin is hastily appointed Head Priestess amidst a scandal. She must quickly restore the credibility of the Vestals and reestablish their value to the success of Rome.

MIDDLE: Doubts about mystic abilities; restless with this life that was chosen for her; Livia was her only salve; happy to be in her shadow; one person she trusted had been living a secret life; her gone, no allies; thrust into high stakes, life/death position;

END: She becomes one of the most powerful women in the Roman Empire.

ROUGH DRAFT:

She’s always been #3. Tucked behind Head Priestess extraordinaire Livia and Severa, the Beyonce of Vestals hungrily waiting in the wings, Nerilla was relieved to exist in their shadows. A slacker by nature with a string of botched blessings, she’s long questioned her magical abilities and this life that was chosen for her at the age of 10. A highly taboo secret relationship with Livia offers her an ally and confidante. Until scandal thrusts a shocked Nerilla into the role of Head Priestess. Ill prepared, untested and unpopular, she’s now the face of the Vestal brand and must prove she’s essential to the success of Rome. Key to her survival—the perception she courts the favor of the gods. Faced with life and death stakes and haunted by her past record, she starts to fake blessings. And predictions, with some well-placed assistance. To her surprise, with much success. How long can she keep this ruse going? Unexpectedly shrewd, gutsy and disarming, she navigates back channels of Rome’s volatile political system, where no other woman has access. Over time, her counsel and mystic powers are in demand. Nerilla becomes one of the most powerful figures in the Roman Empire.

LIVIA

Who is the character? Role in the show? Former Head Priestess; killed

Noteworthy traits: Exceptional Head Priestess; beloved, trusted.

Intriguing history: Relationship with person who got her pregnant; relationship with Livia; relationship with Silvius.

Intrigue? Mystery? Her secret pregnancy and miscarriage.

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? Her miscarriage unleashes chaos in the House of Vestal; vows broken; trust shattered; Upends whole power structure of the House, shatters their credibility and tarnishes their brand.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: She was Vestal extraordinaire. Popular. Worshipped. Bought into her own hype. Believed she was untouchable. Got reckless.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: Silvius, new to the job, must act. He can’t let her off.

Unpredictable? Public: Demure, charming, ethereal; Privately: Strong handed; rigid.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters – Nerilla; Emperor Severus; Silvius; Aeliana

START: Popular and beloved Head Priestess, unleashes chaos when her miscarriage is revealed.

MIDDLE: Secret relationships; High position; shattered trust; broken vows; worshipped by citizens and higher ups; untouchable.

END: Silvius just can’t let her off.

ROUGH DRAFT:

Popular and beloved by the masses, Livia relishes her coveted position as Head Priestess. Demure, charming and ethereal, publicly she is worshipped. She moves amongst the masses and the elite with ease and grace. The embodiment of an ideal Vestal. Behind the scenes, she has the support of the other five. Though she could be strong handed, rigid and impulsive. The rookie Silvius panders to her. She starts to believe her own hype, thinking she’s untouchable. She gets reckless. There’s a man, from her childhood, who she begins to secretly visit. A dangerous romantic relationship with Nerilla satisfies other urges. An unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage up ends the power structure of the House. A vow of secrecy amongst the six is shattered when one of them leaks the news. She broke the sacred vow of the covenant. Silvius calls for her swift death, without a trial. Even as she lowers herself down into the tomb to be buried alive, she comports herself with the impeccable dignity of a true Vestal.

SEVERA

Who is the character? Role in the show? Vestal, 2nd in line

Noteworthy traits: Vain, confident, charismatic. Sensual.

Intriguing history: As young girls, she, Nerilla and Livia arrived at the House of Vesta around the same time. The three of them were inseparable. Looked up to Livia. But knew Livia was closer to Nerilla.

Intrigue? Mystery? She’s not a virgin. She had an abortion. Silvius knows this. This is the reason why she is passed over for Head Priestess.

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? She upstages Livia. She resents Nerilla, the new Head Priestess. She sows division within the House.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: She’s great for the Vestal brand. But can never be Head Priestess. She will always be #2.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: She’s aligned with Silvius; she is an ally of Gaius Plautianus, Head of Praetorian Guard.

Unpredictable? Public: Beautiful, demure, dynamic; Private: Unbridled; self-absorbed; vain

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters – Silvius; Nerilla; Gaius

START: Severa, the beautiful, popular rock star of a Vestal, is second in line.

MIDDLE: Passed over for Head Priestess; series of successful blessings; upstages and undermines Nerilla; sows division in the House; three of them inseparable; looked up to Livia; aligned with Silvius; uses influence with Head of Praetorian Guard.

END: She can never be Head Priestess and ultimately, it is good for her and the rest of the Vestals if Nerilla succeeds.

ROUGH DRAFT:

Severa, the beautiful, popular rock star of a Vestal, is second in line. The epitome of demure, sexy chastity with a knack for successful blessings, she’s the obvious next choice for Head Priestess. In awe of Livia, she, Nerilla and Livia were inseparable as young girls, arriving into the covenant around the same time. She’s outraged when Silvius passes her over and appoints Nerilla instead. Her fury can only go so far, as they both know why she can never be Head Priestess. She’s not a virgin. She secretly had an abortion several years ago after being raped by Silvius’s father, a powerful Senator, who still sits on the Senate. She’s determined to use her popularity and position with Praetorian Guard to upstage Nerilla and sows division within the House. Unbridled, self-absorbed and vain, she reluctantly knows that Nerilla’s success is good for her and the rest of the Vestals. Though it doesn’t mean she won’t fight for the spotlight and the love of the Roman people!

LIVIA

Who is the character? Role in the show? Head Priestess.

Noteworthy traits: Demure, charming, ethereal

Intriguing history: Mysterious close friendship with childhood friend, a farmer who provides milk to the House.

Intrigue? Mystery? She becomes pregnant and miscarries. Is also in a relationship with Nerilla, which is considered highly taboo.

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? As adults, she favors Nerilla over Severa.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: Image of chastity /pregnant

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters:

Unpredictable? Rigid; impulsive; starts to believe in her own hype.

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters – Nerilla; the farmer

START: Popular and beloved by the masses, Livia relishes her coveted position as Head Priestess.

MIDDLE: Demure, charming, ethereal. She’s worshipped. Embodiment of ideal Vestal. Strong handed, rigid. Untouchable? Unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage. Put to death.

END: Impeccable dignity in the end.

ROUGH DRAFT:

Popular and beloved by the masses, Livia relishes her coveted position as Head Priestess. Demure, charming and ethereal, she is worshipped. She moves amongst the masses and the elite with ease and grace. The embodiment of an ideal Vestal. Behind the scenes, she has the support of the other five. Though she could be strong handed, rigid and impulsive. The rookie Silvius panders to her. She starts to believe her own hype, thinking she’s untouchable. She breaks the cardinal rule of Rome: She stops paying attention. She gets reckless and distracted. There’s a man, from her childhood, a farmer, who she begins to secretly visit. A dangerous romantic relationship with Nerilla satisfies other urges. An unexpected pregnancy and miscarriage up ends the power structure of the House and unleashes scandal. A broken vow of secrecy exposes her. Silvius calls for her swift death, without a trial. Even as she lowers herself down into the tomb to be buried alive, she comports herself with the impeccable dignity of a true Vestal.

SILVIUS

Who is the character? Role in the show? Pontifex Maximus in charge of The House of Vesta

Noteworthy traits: In over his head; completely wrong for this job; determined to get his father’s approval; overly confident; makes odd jokes; lonely and looking for love;

Intriguing history: Middling politician with family connections.

Intrigue? Mystery? Knows about Severa’s abortion; pressured by his father to keep it a secret; Knew about Nerilla and Livia. Deformity on his face.

How do they support or drive the conflict with others? Agrees to continue to protect Severa. Keeps her out of Head Priestess position. Shows strength by swiftly moving forward with death of Livia.

Irony — Opposites or paradoxes that exist with the character: Surrounded by women. Can’t have any of them.

Opposing agendas/etc. that naturally causes conflict with other characters: Doesn’t get along with Nerilla. Never has. More of a fan of Livia and Severa.

Unpredictable? Just not built for the intense, competitive world of Roman politics. But thinks he is!

Intriguing relationship with one or more characters – Severa; his father; Nerilla

START: Pontifex Maximus, a big title for a little guy. New to the job, he’s in charge of The House of Vesta.

MIDDLE: In over his head; not built for intense, competitive world of Roman politics; determined to protect his powerful father’s mistake with Severa; lonely; surrounded by women, can’t have any of them; knows about Livia and Nerilla; deformity on face; put in position because they knew he wouldn’t be tempting to the women; David Brent.

END: Severa loyalist but becomes ally of Nerilla

ROUGH DRAFT:

Pontifex Maximus, a big title for a little guy. New to the job, Silvius is in charge of The House of Vesta. A middling politician from a wealthy family. His two older brothers, successful soldiers both, were his father’s favorites. Both were killed in recent campaigns, leaving only Silvius for his father to exploit. But he’s never been built for the intense, competitive world of Roman politics. Now, he’s thrust into the eye of a horrendous scandal that has occurred on his watch. He’s completely the wrong guy for the job: short, pudgy, scarred, socially awkward, odd sense of humor and blunted political instincts. When conflicts arise, he shuts down and avoids, retreating to the Vestal gardens and bird aviary. Lonely and looking for love, he’s surrounded by women, none of which he can have. His crush on Livia makes his decision to have her put to death, at his father’s violent behest, all the more gutting. His salve is the fame and notoriety that comes with the job. Think David Brent in a toga.

[Anne James]

Anne James

Module 2 – Lesson 1 – Intriguing Concept & World

What I learned doing this assignment…It was fascinating to really boil it all down. Loved this formula. Felt totally prepared for this step.

ASSIGNMENT:

My concept and world for THE VESTAL VIRGINS:

1. My Concept.

A. …Amidst a scandal, a reluctant Vestal Virgin is hastily appointed Head Priestess.

B. …long struggled with doubts about her mystic capabilities and the life chosen for her

C. …navigates the high stakes of life and death

D. …gradually transforms from Vestal slacker to one of the most powerful women in the Roman Empire.

2. Tell us the World of this show.

Unique Sub-World: The House of Vesta – 6 virgin priestesses afforded access to the highest levels of Roman society and government.

Previously unexplored: Roman Empire through the female lens

The unknown: Warring factions seeking Vestal blessings and gods’ favor

The unseen: A virgin navigating the highly competitive, sexually charged world or Roman politics.

Unheard of Dangers: Buried alive for breaking chastity vow.

Reason to explore it: The women of Rome were just as bad ass as the men.

[Anne James]

Anne James has completed the BW Framework.

I would like Option B. Pro feedback from SU.

What I learned from this assignment is that I have some really rich terrain with this subject matter. Particularly when I start to bring in actual historical references and characters. Started to feel like maybe I was getting a bit repetitive with some of the storylines. But overall, this was awesome to do!

[Anne James]

ANNE JAMES

Lesson 11 – Creating Irony

What I learned doing this assignment…

This assignment reminded me how much I love the element of irony in storytelling! Relish those types of contradictions.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

The Young Pope

Examples of irony in the show:

Lenny becomes a truly compassionate pope when he loses all of the people he was trying to control and keep close to him.

Lenny is called “Holy Father” constantly, even though he will never be an actual father.

Lenny is gorgeous and sexy, but off limits and incapable of truly loving another human being.

Dussolier is put in charge of vetting new priests and abolishing any candidates who are gay, but he is involved in gay and straight sexual relationships back at his parish in Honduras.

Voiello love of Sister Mary fills his heart far more than God ever has.

Sister Mary, Lenny and Dussolier’s “ma”, is an orphan too.

ASSIGNMENT 2: Vestal Virgins – Examples of irony

Livia:

• Although publicly viewed as the embodiment of Vestal chastity as Vestalis Maxima, she became pregnant and miscarried.

Nerilla

• In the chaos surrounding Livia’s death, Nerilla, a slacker Vestal restless with the life that has been chosen for her, is selected to be the next Vestalis Maxima, the new face of the brand. In the aftermath of this scandal, she must somehow swiftly restore public and political faith in the Vestals.

• Publicly, she must denounce Livia’s pregnancy and call for the damnatio memoria, the purge of any remnant of Livia’s memory. Privately, she is devastated and grief stricken. She and Livia had been romantically involved, a secret relationship that was considered taboo.

• Nerilla restores public and political faith in the Vestals, even as she struggles to control the other Vestals and secure their loyalty.

• In her first act as Vestalis Maxima, Nerilla publicly blessed the endeavors of Emperor Severus, his sons and the troops as they headed out to campaign in Roman Briton. Nerilla, long doubting her magical abilities, faked the whole thing.

• It is believed that Nerilla’s blessing ensured the peace accord with Caledonia in Roman Briton. She is celebrated. But then word comes that Emperor Severus has died. She’s convinced this is the gods punishment for her faked “blessing” at the onset.

• Initially a reluctant, awkward and poorly skilled Vestal Maxima, Nerilla toes on to become one of the most powerful women in Rome.

Silvius

• Livia had been a loyal supporter of Silvius in his early months as the new Pontifex Maximus. He was smitten with her. Under intense political pressure from his senator father, he denies her a trial and calls for her to be immediately buried alive.

• Silvius confronts Nerilla about her relationship with Livia. He threatens to expose her. But she has the favor and protection of the emperor. Given the unpredictability of Emperor Caracalla, this could be suicide for him.

• Silvius brazenly calls for her to be secretly beaten instead. He throws the first strikes. But Nerilla makes not a sound and he cannot continue. He runs out of the room and has one of the guards complete the beating.

Caracalla

• Upon his return, Emperor Caracalla is convinced it was Nerilla’s blessing that ensured his father’s death and his ascension to power. He believes she has secured the gods favor for him and insists she continue to bless all of his endeavors.

• Publicly, Nerilla becomes the favorite of the emperor and graciously plays the role. Privately, she’s terrified, but she uses her new access to work political back channels to secure help with the illusion of her “blessings”.

• Is a feared and volatile leader. Dismissive of women. Has banished his wife to an island in the Mediterranean. Nerilla is the only woman he trusts and respects.

• Doubles down on his father’s empowering of the military and considers himself a man of the solidiers. But he refuses to pay the military the previous emperor Commodus’ outstanding donativum (gift to the military upon succession to the thrown).

• Caracalla, a long feared and terrifying leader, is killed while taking a leak on the side of the road by a disgruntled soldier who had been promised a promotion.

Empress Julia Domna

• As empress alongside Emperor Severus, Julia Domna viewed the Vestals as competition for the love of the Roman people. Now, a widow, she needs the Vestals for protection.

• Upon their return from Caledonia, Julia Domna, Caracalla’s mother and the former empress, gathers her two highly competitive sons and co-emperors, Geta and Caracalla, together to broker a motherly peace between the two of them. Caracalla has his Praetorian security detail stab Geta. Geta falls into his mother’s arms and dies.

• Reeling from the murder of her beloved son, Geta, she conspires with Nerilla to overthrow her son, while publicly appearing to be in support of him.

• She jubilantly tosses coins to the plebians to curry their favor and notices her gentle Geta’s face has been erase on the coins in an act of damnatio mermoria enacted by Caracalla.

• With Caracalla regularly out in the encampments partying with the Roman army and frequently neglecting his duties as emperor, Julia begins to handle many important state documents and treaties. She passes on top secret information on to Nerilla to help her stage her “miracles” and “blessings”.

Aeliana

• The lovely, popular Vestal yearning to be the next Vestalis Maximus, is not a virgin.

• Only Silvius knows this.

Laurus

• The quiet, plain, chaste forgotten Vestal forth in line, discovers her younger brother, Traeton, is a member of Emperor Caracalla’s Praetorian Guard. She exploits this access and loyalty to gain footing, influence and eventually power.

[Anne James]

ANNE JAMES

Lesson 10 – Plot & Character Layers

What I learned from this assignment: I purposely backtracked a bit with this assignment. In a good way! I finally took the time to wrestle down what time period I wanted to set the show. I knew I didn’t want to go the Caesar/Mark Antony/Cleopatra route. There are so many incredible passages in Roman history that have never been explored cinematically. This has put me a bit behind. But I love where I’ve landed. I’ve decided to set the show towards the end of the successful reign of Septimus Severus, the first black emperor around 211 AD and the ensuing reign of his volatile son, Caracalla. The beginning of the end of the Roman empire. Loads of material here. Now it’s a matter of integrating all of this into what I’ve already explored in the previous lessons. Some of that is here and some I haven’t quite figured out yet. More to come.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

The Young Pope

Watch the next episode of your Example Show and notice how layers show up in this show — both in this episode and throughout the episodes you’ve already seen.

Tell us the layers you have discovered in the Example Show.

Plot Layers:

Sabotage: Will Lenny’s new type of Pope destroy any hope of rallying the Vatican and Catholics around him?

Conspiracy: Lenny arranges to find out what is being confessed by everyone in Vatican City and uses it against them. Does it make him look like a prophetizing saint or a gangster?

Mystery: Will Lenny ever learn why his parents gave him up? Will he ever find them? What does this mystery do to him psychologically? Spiritually? To his faith?

Hidden Agenda: Voiello tries to exert power and influence over Lenny, tries to set him up in a scandal to have him removed, tries to bring Sister Mary over to his side and turn her against Lenny.

Future consequences: Lenny’s new brash style of Pope fails. He is left vulnerable and isolated. Then his true gifts of compassion and as a saint come through.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Layers that could exist for my show:

1. Brainstorm a list of possible PLOT layers.

PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.

There are six Vestal Virgins who are worshipped as the Mothers of Rome. Chosen for service at the age of 10, these goddesses have privileged lives, afforded every comfort along with access to Emperor Severus, his wife, the Empress Julia Domna, and all of Rome’s political and military elite. In exchange they must take a vow of chastity for 30 years. The six live, along with the male Pontifex Maximus, in the House of Vesta. It is believed that Rome’s success relies on the Vesta’s ability to secure the god’s support. They serve all of Rome, but their favor and blessings are sought from frequently warring or competitive factions within the city and the empire. On the surface, they must appear benign and bipartisan. Behind the scenes, the new Vestalium Maxima, a reluctant Nerilla, hastily appointed after the scandalous death of Livia, the previous head priestess, must work all of the back channels, at all levels. If she gets it right, Rome succeeds and the Vestals are celebrated. If she gets it wrong and a crucial venture fails, the Vestals could be severely beaten or put to death.

PLOT LAYERS

Scandal: Livia, the previous beloved Vestalium Maxima, is secretly pregnant and miscarries. This is a violation of their sacred oath of chastity to the gods and all of Rome. The Vestals, to preserve all of their safety, vow to keep this a secret. Someone leaks the information.

Scandal: Silvius, the new Pontifex Maximus, under pressure from his senator father, waves a trial. Although Livia has been an ally to Silvius, he immediately and publicly has her buried alive.

Scandal: Livia and Nerilla had just secretly begun a romantic relationship. It is considered incestuous and taboo for “sisters”, even though not biologically related, to be intimate. Livia also had sex with a man, either raped or consensually. Nerilla had no idea Livia was pregnant.

Mystery: Who impregnated Livia? Was it rape or consensual? Why did she not tell Nerilla?

Mystery: Who leaked the information about Livia? Which vestal betrayed her oath to the group and exposed the group to danger?

Hidden plan: Nerilla will use her newly acquired access and power to uncover who impregnated Livia and who betrayed their vow to keep her pregnancy a secret.

Hidden agenda: Nerilla elicits the help of widowed Empress Julia Domna to help control and destroy her volatile son and the new emperor, Caracalla.

Future consequences: Nerilla’s first public blessing is over Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and his troops as they head out to campaign in Roman Britain. Ultimately, peace is brokered with the Scots. But Severus, already battling gout, dies in York. Caracalla and Geta, his sons, are acclaimed by the military as co-emperors. Caracalla believes Nerilla’s blessing secured his father’s death and his appointment of co-emperor. He will want her cooperation with more of her “successful” blessings in the future.

2. CHARACTER LAYERS

Nerilla

Secret identity: Livia’s lover and confidante.

Character intrigue: She has long struggled with life as a Vestal. Unlike the other Vestals, she doubts whether she has magical powers and questions any ability to curry the gods’ favor. She has a track record of ineffectual blessings.

Secret identity: A slacker, she drafted off of the impeccable, gracious Livia, happily living in her shadow.

Wound: Nerilla struggles with the conflicting emotions of profound grief, deep betrayal and the horror of watching her beloved Livia buried alive.

Wound: Her parents gave her up to be a Vestal so they could raise their standing in Roman culture. Close to her father as a child, she has not seen her family for years.

Future consequences: She secretly stages a series of successful “blessings” for the new Emperor Caracalla, appearing to curry his favor and the gods, while preserving her and the other Vestals’ safety.

3. Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals:

Plot Surface:

Layer 1: Scandal: Livia, the previous beloved Vestalium Maxima, is secretly pregnant and miscarries. This is a violation of their sacred oath of chastity to the gods and all of Rome. The Vestals, to preserve all of their safety, vow to keep this a secret. Someone leaks the information.

Layer 2: Scandal: Silvius, the new Pontifex Maximus, under pressure from his senator father, waves a trial. Although Livia has been an ally to Silvius, he immediately and publicly has her buried alive.

Layer 3: Mystery: Who impregnated Livia? Was it rape or consensual? Why did she not tell Nerilla?

Layer 4: Mystery: Who leaked the information about Livia? Which vestal betrayed her oath to the group and exposed the group to danger?

Layer 5: Scandal: Livia and Nerilla had just secretly begun a romantic relationship. It is considered incestuous and taboo for “sisters”, even though not biologically related, to be intimate. Livia also had sex with a man, either raped or consensually. Nerilla had no idea Livia was pregnant.

Layer 6: Hidden plan: Nerilla will use her newly acquired access and power to uncover who impregnated Livia and who betrayed their vow to keep her pregnancy a secret.

Character Surface:

Layer 1: Wound: Nerilla struggles with the conflicting emotions of profound grief, deep betrayal and the horror of watching her beloved Livia buried alive.

Layer 2: Secret identity: Livia’s lover and confidante.

Layer 3: Character intrigue: She has long struggled with life as a Vestal. Unlike the other Vestals, she doubts whether she has magical powers and questions any ability to curry the gods’ favor. She has a track record of ineffectual blessings.

Layer 4: Secret identity: A slacker, she drafted off of the impeccable, gracious Livia, happily living in her shadow.

[Anne James]

ANNE JAMES

Lesson 9 – Big Picture Open Loops

What I learned from this assignment: That I have way more Big Open Loops for this first episode than I expected. They came more easily than I anticipated. But I can see that I need more historical information to develop plot lines that will help these Big Open Loops unfold.

ASSIGNMENT 1

The Young Pope

Big Picture open loops that were established early in the season:

• How will his contemporary, confrontational, arrogant style of leadership fare in the Vatican environment?

• Why did Lenny’s parents abandon him?

• Are Lenny’s parents still alive?

• Can Sister Mary stay loyal to Lenny and still help his papacy succeed?

• Is Lenny’s relationship and need to put Dussolier in a powerful position enough to ensure Dussolier’s success in his new role?

• Is Lenny’s faith in Gutierrez enough to ensure he will solve the Kurtwell case?

• Is Lenny truly a saint?

• Will Voiello keep his power and influence within the Vatican?

• Will Spencer return to Lenny’s father figure/mentor role?

• Barring a miracle, will Esther ever conceive a child?

ASSIGNMENT 2

Possible big picture open loops for my first season of Vestal Virgins introduced in the pilot:

• Who impregnated Livia? Was she raped or was it consensual?

• Who broke the Vestals’ vow of secrecy and revealed Livia’s miscarriage?

• Why did Silvius, Vestalis Maxima Chief Vestal, waive a trial and put Livia immediately to death?

• Did anyone know about Livia’s and Nerilla’s taboo relationship?

• Did Livia really love Nerilla?

• Why was Aeliana, the embodiment of Vestal demure chastity and natural successor, passed over as Vestalium Maxima?

• Will Nerilla, as the new Vestalium Maxima, restore the public credibility of the Vestals and preserve their lives?

• Can Nerilla use her new position, access, influence and cunning to gain more political control over the running of the Roman Empire?

• Will Nerilla be able to gain control over a divided House of Vesta?

• Will Nerilla, who has doubted her mystical powers and connection to the gods, be able to offer important blessings on endeavors that will ensure Rome’s success?

• Can the Vestals trust Silvius?

• Can the Vestals keep the fire of Rome literally burning?

[Anne James]

ANNE JAMES

Lesson 8 – Inviting Obsession through Mystery

What I Learned from this assignment…I am happy with the mysteries I’m exploring. But they are requiring me to see 7-8 episodes down the road and a sense of characters that aren’t on my radar yet. But I like planting the seeds for more to come when those ideas are finally fleshed out.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

The Young Pope

Big Picture Mysteries:

Is Lenny really a saint?

Does Lenny believe in God?

Are Lenny’s parents still alive?

Are Lenny’s parents looking for him?

Is Kurtwell guilty?

Can Gutierrez survive beyond the Vatican walls?

Are Sister Mary and Voiello in love?

Small picture mysteries:

Can Lenny survive not knowing why his parent’s gave him up?

Why does Gutierrez drink?

Why hasn’t Gutierrez ever ventured beyond the Vatican before this?

What exactly has Kurtwell done?

Can Gutierrez find the courage and resolve to solve the Kurtwell case?

Who is going to help him crack the case? Which one of these characters.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Create two mysteries for my show — Vestal Virgins

This Shocking Event Mystery will be one of the Big Picture Mysteries of the first season. It sets into motion Nerilla reluctantly having to succeed Livia. It sows doubt about Livia’s impeccable reputation and image. It shows the volatility of this time and the vulnerability of their position, their lack of power and why Nerilla drives to change that. It also triggers doubt, suspicion, loyalties and competition within the House. The six of them have never been challenged this way before. If Nerilla can prove Livia was raped, she can bring the man up on charges and have him killed publicly and restore Livia’s reputation and memory.

1. SHOCKING EVENT MYSTERY – Pilot

• Shocking Event: Livia buried alive because it was discovered she miscarried and broke the covenant of chastity. It is in defiance of the gods to kill her within the city walls. A Vestal’s blood must not be shed. Vestalis Maximum, Silvius, waves a trial and rules she must buried alive immediately, in front of Rome’s political elite, citizens and Vestals.

• Secret: She became pregnant without anyone, including her lover Nerilla, knowing. Livia refuses to reveal how she became pregnant. Nerilla wants to know if it was consensual or rape. She fervently believes she will be protected and doesn’t want them to be considered accomplices.

• Investigation: Nerilla seeks revenge and fights to find out who did this to Livia. The Vestals believe she was raped. But she also has to cover up that they had an intimate relationship, which is also taboo.

• Who? Livia, the Vestalium Maxima, Rome’s high priestess, has mysteriously become pregnant. She has kept her pregnancy a secret. She’s told no one in the House. Her attendant, Veruna, one of the highest ranked servants in the House, has cared for her but has been discreet and says nothing.

• What? She miscarries in the middle of the night. Nerilla had slipped into her room. They were together when Livia starts to be in pain. Nerilla thinks she must be ill. Livia insists Nerilla not call a doctor. She doesn’t understand. Livia tries to send Nerilla back to her room. Livia starts to bleed and have contractions. She is in excruciating pain. They have to be silent so the rest of the house doesn’t hear. She begins bleeding heavily. It’s taking forever. It’s only Nerilla, Livia and Livia’s attendant, Veruna. Panicked, Nerilla gets Laurus. They help deliver the premature dead fetus. At dawn, Aeliana and Clodia to secretly take it out and bury it. Plants a tree over the grave. Naevia sleeps through the whole thing.

• Where? Discovered Livia’s quarters in the House of Vesta.

• When? Middle of the night.

• Why: She’s broken the sacred vow of the covenant, punishable by death.

• How: Life goes on as normal. Weeks later, after a botched blessing, the secret somehow gets out. Livia is immediately taken away and will be buried alive without a trial. Next time Nerilla sees her is when she is being led to the tomb.

• Part Withheld: Livia refuses to reveal if she was raped or it was consensual.

2. Create the Over Time Mystery:

• Cover up: Silvius, under pressure from his politically powerful, waives a trial. Why does he want this to go away? What is he covering up? Vestals can’t speak publicly about Livia. All traces of her just disappear. Nerilla moves into her quarters, where she miscarried.

• Secret: It was consensual. The whole House of Vesta had a hand in keeping this a secret. Did anyone know? Or suspect? Or covered up for her? Who gave Livia up? What did they get for it?

• Reveals: Nerilla finds an item in Livia’s personal effects that is a clue. Gossip and false trails. Silvius refuses to cooperate with her.

• Who? Nerilla – conflicted, angry and sad —feeling deep sense of betrayal. Part of her doesn’t want to know. Gives up trying to clear Livia’s name.

• What? Nerilla goes out to Livia’s grave at night. She is still barely alive. Can still hear her. Tries to get her to confess. Can’t hear what she said. Devastated, she has to walk away.

• Where? Nerilla starts to travel in new political circles as the new Vestilium Maxima and tries to uncover who raped Livia. Convinced it is someone in the government.

• When? Two years later, the identity of the person who impregnated Livia is revealed. Was a childhood friend. Confidant. Trusted. Nerilla knew of him. Livia told her of her special friend. Had visited his farm with her.

• Why? Revenge. Betrayal. Fury. His death means nothing to everyone but her. He’s just a farmer. His children will become orphans. Livia had started going out to see him to help look after his children.

• How? Gorged by animals.

• Part Withheld: Nerilla calls for his death.

[Anne James]

ANNE JAMES

LESSON 7 – EMPATHY/DISTRESS

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”

That I have a lot of initial sources of empathy and distress for the pilot. These are unfolding well. I am still debating what era of the Roman Empire vs Republic I should place this. Once I lock that down, I can see how that will offer much more source material for these types of highly charged emotional situations moving forward with future episodes and series arcs.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

BIG PICTURE difficult situations and decisions my characters could make because of the main conflict of this series:

FORCED DECISION – Nerilla chosen to become Head Vestal and restore their credibility, even though she is restless, deeply unhappy in her life as a Vestal and grieving Livia’s death. Now she’s forced to be the convincing face of the brand.

MORAL DILEMMA – Nerilla privately doubts the gods exist, much less that she possesses the abilities to summon them, but Rome relies on and expects blessings from the Head Vestal to ensure their success. If they fail in their endeavors, they will come for her. So she fakes it. Hard.

MORAL DILEMMA – Privately Nerilla starts to believe Livia’s death and her heartbreak are the god’s punishment and curse for her doubt.

PLOT INTRUDING ON LIFE – The women agree to cover up Livia’s miscarriage and vow to secrecy, knowing if this ever got out it could result in all of their deaths. The secret gets leaked, unleashing scandal and shaking everyone’s trust in each other.

MORAL DILEMMA – Under intense political pressure to proceed without a trial or investigation, a reluctant Silvius calls for Livia’s immediate death, hoping this will bring him fame and respect.

MORAL DILEMMA – Silvius calls for Livia to be put to death, even though she has been incredibly kind to him.

UNDESERVED MISFORTUNE – Nerilla must restore the credibility of the Vestals or they all will be put to death and replaced.

UNDESERVED MISFORTUNE – Under the eye of Rome’s most powerful leaders and citizens, the Vestals must witness their Livia being buried alive and powerless to stop it. Publicly, they must agree she broke the covenant and this is the right thing to do.

FORCED DECISION – Nerilla secretly visits Livia’s grave. Livia is still alive. She can hear her. Nerilla chooses to not save her. She can’t. It would mean almost certain death for Livia, Nerilla and the rest of the Vestals.

EXTERNAL CHARACTER CONFLICT – Silvius, new to the job and completely ill-suited for the post, challenges Nerilla for control and respect of the House.

EXTERNAL CHARACTER CONFLICT – Silvius knows about Nerilla’s relationship with Livia. He turned a blind eye. But he could expose their “incest”, since the women are viewed as “sisters” in the eyes of Rome.

EXTERNAL CHARACTER CONFLICT – Aeliana, bitter she was passed over, grows increasingly more defiant of Nerilla and her plan to change the role of the Vestals.

MORAL CONFLICT – Aeliana, secretly not a virgin, professes her purity and plays the perfect chaste, demure Vestal for the public and political leaders.

[Anne James]

Anne James

Show Relationship Map – Lesson

What I learned doing this assignment: I really enjoyed creating a visual representation of my character’s interconnections to the people around them. Was surprised what popped up.

ASSIGNMENT #1:

CARDINAL DUSSOLIER 1) LENNY 2) SISTER MARY

Surface: 1) Cardinal & best friend 2) Nun & Mother figure

Common Ground: 1) Devoted and loyal 2) Adores him and wants him to find peace

Conflict: 1) Secretly violated vow of chastity. Gay and straight sex. Not the cardinal that everyone thinks he is. 2) Mother figure and confidant.

History: 1) Orphans who grew up together. Identical paths.

Subtext: 1) Can’t be what Lenny wants him to be 2) Loyalty ultimately is to Lenny.

Relationship Arc: 1) Trusted, close friend to destroyed, banished Cardinal 2) Ma to Lenny loyalist

ASSIGNMENT #2:

NERILLA:
ALIENA
Surface: Fellow Vestal
Common Ground:Desperate to restore credibility of Vestals
Conflict: Wants to be Head Vestal and most popular with Roman people
History: The three of them used to be very close. Came into the House around the same time as young children.
Subtext:Competition for love of the people
Relationship Arc: Public face – loving, spiritual goddesses / Privately – adversaries out to destroy the other.

SILVIUS
Surface: Boss/Employee
Common Ground: Restore credibility and get control back over the House
Conflict: Wants to keep her in previous role – obedient and silent
History: Been in job only eight months. Predecessor was a trusted, father figure.
Subtext: She’s more of an instinctual politician than he is. Smart and shrewd.
Relationship Arc: Awkward, incapable leader to trusted ally.

LIVIA
Surface: Fellow Vestal
Common Ground: Childhood friend, confidante and lover.
Conflict: Mystery and scandal surrounding her pregnancy.
History: Allies — always had each other’s back
Subtext: Devastated and betrayed by pregnancy.
Relationship Arc: Cherished leader and lover to fallen virgin riddled in scandal and 1st Vestal put to death.

AELIANA:
NERILLA
Surface: Fellow Vestal
Common Ground: Desperate to restore credibility of Vestals
Conflict: Passed over as Head Vestal. Wants control over the House.
History: The three of them used to be very close.
Subtext: Competition
Relationship Arc: Public – loving, beautiful spiritual goddess to adversary out to undermine Nerilla

SILVIUS
Surface: Boss/Employee
Common Ground: Befriended him when he first took over as Pontifex.
Conflict: He chose Nerilla to be Head.
History: Supports him and helped get him credibility in the House.
Subtext: She’s his favorite.
Relationship Arc: Coddled favorite to distrusted obstacle

LIVIA:
Surface: Fellow Vestal
Common Ground: Childhood friend who she looked up to.
Conflict: Mystery and scandal surrounding her pregnancy. Jeopardizes their safety.
History: 3rd wheel. Nerilla was always closer to Livia.
Subtext: Livia knew Aeliana wasn’t a virgin.
Relationship Arc: Worshipped hero to fallen virgin riddled in scandal and put to death.

SILVIUS:
NERILLA
Surface: Boss/Employee
Common Ground: Chose her for Head. Respects her.
Conflict: She wants to be a new kind of Vestal.
History: Turned a blind eye to her and Livia’s relationship.
Subtext: Competition for power and authority over the brand and the House.
Relationship Arc: Adversary to reluctant ally

AELIANA
Surface: Boss/Employee
Common Ground: Befriended him and has a crush on her.
Conflict: Chose Nerilla over her.
History: Their fathers are both political machines. Wealthy families.
Subtext: Enjoys attention of this beautiful but unattainable “star” of Rome
Relationship Arc: Smitten to frustratingly uncontrollable.

LIVIA
Surface: Boss/Employee
Common Ground: Let her lead — she made him look good.
Conflict: Scandal occurred on his watch.
History: She mentored him when he first came to the post.
Subtext: He called for her swift death. No trial.
Relationship Arc: Admiration to destroy all evidence that she existed.

[Anne James]

Anne James

Character Emotions

What I learned from this assignment: To have a strategy for developing the complexities of my characters. Rather than just letting it all unfold. Setting a boiler plate, as it were, for each character is a completely new technique for me. I also loved the creative processes audio lesson. Incredibly important skills to have.

ASSIGNMENT 1: The Young Pope

LENNY PROFILE

• A. Hope: To believe in God / Fear: Doubt

• B. Want: Loyalty to him / Need: To see his parents again

• C. Base Negative Emotion: Rejection / Public Mask: He is the focus of everyone

• D. Weaknesses: Sexual urges; fragile heart

• E. Triggers: Betrayal; his past; tradition and status quo

• F. Coping Mechanism: Bullies; embarrasses; condescending

VOIELLO PROFILE:

• A. Hope: Influence and control / Fear: Dismissed

• B. Want: Status / Need: Tender hearted

• C. Base Negative Emotion: Needy / Public Mask: A major player in this world

• D. Weaknesses: His humanness; always be a sinner

• E. Triggers: Institution or its perceived image being threatened

• F. Coping Mechanism: Manipulation; secretive

ASSIGNMENT 2: My Show

NERILLA PROFILE:

• A. Situational: Hope: Power over male leaders / Fear: Losing virginity

• B. Motivation: Want: revenge and power / Need: security; protection

• C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion: Doubt / Public Mask: Fearless leader

• D. Weaknesses: Isolated; lonely; horny; emotionally hungry;

• E. Triggers: Disloyalty; wound of Livia’s death and infidelity or secret;

• F. Coping Mechanism: With Vestals: Lies and evades / With Rome: Goes bold

AELIANA PROFILE:

• A. Situational: Hope: She’s the favorite / Fear: Loss of virginity will be discovered

• B. Motivation: Want: Adulation / Need: Attention

• C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion: Failure / Public Mask: Goddess

• D. Weaknesses: Overly confident (blessings & mystical powers)

• E. Triggers: Inadequacy; mistakes; physical appearance

• F. Coping Mechanism: Blame, distracts, denies

SILVIO PROFILE:

• A. Situational: Hope: He’s in control / Fear: Inadequate

• B. Motivation: Want: Respect of Rome / Need: Father’s approval

• C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion: Forgotten / Public Mask: Celebrated leader

• D. Weaknesses: In over his head; longing for romantic love

• E. Triggers: Family disapproval; rejection from women; criticism

• F. Coping Mechanism: Shuts down/avoids

[Anne James]

Anne James

Lesson 4

ASSIGNMENT 2

Answer the question, “What I learned doing this assignment is…?”:

I really enjoyed this assignment. Love the formula. Will use whenever I’m creating a character. Was surprised by what popped forward!

For my Inner Circle characters, fill in any of the Intrigue items that apply:

Character name: Nerilla

Role: Head Priestess and public face of the Vestals

Hidden agendas: Revenge Livia’s death; Refuses to be a prop any more. Wants to exploit her access to power and influence over Roman leaders, politics and culture. Stand toe to toe with the men.

Competitions: Aeliana – who wants to double down on their role as demure, chaste goddesses. Pontifex – who wants to control the women and exploit their mystic gifts.

Conspiracies: With Laurus – who is on board with Nerilla. Wants a higher profile and more fame. Pontifex – who can be pressured. Senator #1 – who trades blessings for access.

Secrets: She had an “incestuous” relationship with Livia. Deal with Senator. Livia miscarried. Doesn’t believe she has magical powers. Struggles with vow of chastity.

Deception: Showcases her magical powers and portrays her chastity as a source of power and strength. Discovers information in one of the state documents that she shares with Senator #1;

Wound: Loss of Livia. Wants to be a wife and mother.

Secret identity: Emperor Nerilla

Character Name: Aeliana

Role: 2nd Vestal, close in age and experience to Nerilla

Hidden agendas: Prove she should have been appointed Head Priestess. Undermines Nerilla’s efforts.

Competition: With Nerilla for influence and respect amongst Vestals. Popularity amongst Roman people. Finally out from under Livia’s shadow. Wants to be the Beyonce of the Vestals. For access and influence over the Pontifex.

Conspiracies: With Nerilla over Livia’s death. With Pontifex. Barnabas who controls her narrative and messaging to people.

Secrets: She is not a virgin. Has not been for some time.

Deception: Stages healings.

Wound: Never can be Head Priestess.

Secret identity: Beyonce in a chastity belt

Character Name: Livia

Role: Former Head Priestess. Dies in first episode. Seen in flashbacks.

Hidden agendas: Finish out her service; keep her pregnancy a secret, even from Nerilla.

Competition: With Pontifex for true control over the Vestals. Was their advocate.

Conspiracies: Her miscarriage and her death.

Secrets: Was in a romantic relationship with Nerilla. Kept pregnancy from her. Was at 4 months.

Deception: Image of the ideal demure, chaste Vestal. The gods look favorably upon her.

Wound: Her pregnancy.

Secret identity: Rape victim or a man’s lover?

Character Name: Silvius

Role: Pontifex Maximus, Chief Priest

Hidden agendas: To find love

Competition: With Nerilla, who he increasingly can’t control.

Conspiracies: With Aeliana against Nerilla and Laurus. They are becoming more powerful and influential than he is.

Secrets: Has a crush on Aeliana. Knows she’s not a virgin. Knows who impregnated Livia. He called for her to be put to death.

Deception: Campaigned for Nerilla to be Head Priestess instead of Aeliana.

Wound: Physical deformity to his face. Put into this post because leadership thought he would not be a temptation to the women. Isn’t very bright. Overconfident.

Secret identity: David Brent

[Anne James]

Anne James
Lesson 3: Engaging Characters

What I learned doing this assignment: I love fleshing out these characters. I’m really enjoying creating the layers of each one and their human foibles, that are timeless. I love how they start to come into focus. Though I’ve specifically avoided getting tangled in what time period of Rome do I want to set this in. That has tended to feel overwhelming. But I am feeling like I need to get over that and do some more historical digging. Their identities are going to need some time period specific details.

Assignment 1: The Young Pope
Role in Show: Sister Mary – Confidant and liaison for Lenny, the Pope.
Unique Purpose/Expertise: She has known Lenny for most of his life. Knows all of his secrets, his demons, his successes. Is a trusted ally. He brought her into this Vatican world. She is decent, kind and funny but also shrewd and ferociously loyal. And he knows this.
Intrigue: She knows Lenny. Nothing he’s doing is any huge surprise to her. But it is to everyone around them. He listens to her. But he can also silence her. Which is a new dynamic for them. Their status between each other is now different.
Moral issue: Trying to keep Lenny from going too far off from what is expected from the job. She also knows his secrets. When to bring those forward vs. when to keep silent.
Unpredictable: Her “virgin” t-shirt and flowing long hair. The different ways she handles Lenny vs Dussolier. Her basketball. There is a skittishness and timidness to her. But she is also steely and ferociously loyal.
Empathetic: She is a large spirit confined by a small life. Love the line, “I’m in a city state of lost souls who have never really lived.” She’s right at home with them.

Assignment 2:

The journey of my show:

Comprised of six women, the Vestal Virgins of Ancient Rome serve as demure, chaste Mothers of Rome and the maternal confidants to all of Rome’s emperors, political and military leaders. Protectors of the city, the priestesses’ virginity combined with their mystical gifts, blessings and wisdom ensure Rome’s advantage in all aspects of life. These six women enjoy a unique and prestigious position in society. It’s what puts them seated on the dais next to the emperor vs perched in the upper tier of the Colosseum with all of the other Roman women.

The surprise death of the senior Vestal, Livia, a beloved and highly prized “blessing”, sends the House of Vesta into chaos and damage control. The timing of her death, reportedly for chastity violations, jeopardizes the success of several existing military campaigns and precious crops. Most importantly, it rocks the Vestals’ credibility amongst Roman leadership. Nerilla, next in line, is promoted to the role of Head Priestess. Devastated by Livia’s death and racked with doubts about her own stamina for this disciplined life, she must become the new face of the Vestals. Privately, the culture within the walls of the House of Vesta is divided and volatile. But publicly, the women must present a calming, graceful united body to restore public and political confidence. If they fail, all of the Vesta’s could be killed and replaced. With cunning and newfound political savvy, Nerilla uses her status, access and mystic powers to take the Vestals from demure mascots on the sidelines to shrewd, impactful players within the Roman leadership.

The main characters that will sell my show:

Nerilla – Oldest Vestal and the New Head Priestess

Aelina – Vestal. 2nd in line. Represents old way of doing things. Passed over for Head Priestess.

Silvius – Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest who presides over the House of Vesta.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

NERILLA

Role in the show: The Hero. The new Head Priestess.

Unique Purpose/Expertise: The oldest of the current Vestals. She must head and restore public faith in an institution that she doesn’t believe in and unite a divided House of Vesta.

Intrigue: Uses the benign mask of Mother Protector to revenge Livia’s death and for the first time, work the channels of political access rather than just quietly observe them. No longer a passive prop exploited for Rome’s success.

Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Struggles with vow of chastity but it’s the entire foundation of the Vestals. How far can she push the currency of her own sexuality and still maintain her vow and position of influence?

Unpredictable: What will they do next? Devastated by Livia’s death, Nerilla goes to her grave late at night, only one day after she’s been buried. Janus accompanies her. She can hear Livia’s voice. She starts digging, trying to save her. Janus urges her to stop. Saving Livia will mean death for them both and total destruction of the Vestals. She stops. She walks away, to the muffled sounds of Livia’s cries.

Empathetic: Why do we care? We feel for her – Nerilla has lost her dear Livia. Her death was swift. Nerilla was powerless to save her. Livia was her confidant, the only one who knew Nerilla had doubts about her life as a Vestal. She could have saved her but she walked away from Livia. The burden of this choice haunts her.

AELINA

Role in the show: Vestal. 2nd in line.

Unique purpose/Expertise: She’s a “by the book”/old school Vestal who has been passed over for Head Priestess. She believes she has special powers and a connection to the gods. She recently presided over the blessing of troops heading into an important battle. They went on to resoundingly conquer their opponents. This gives her standing and impact and she knows it.

Intrigue: Why was she passed over? Her secret — she’s not a virgin. Only Silvanus knows this. But at this moment, Rome is depending on her blessings for victory in a series of upcoming battles. She challenges Nerilla for access and power to Rome’s upper political tier.

Moral issue: The embodiment of demure chastity is her brand, which she peddles fervently, even though she’s not a virgin.

Unpredictable: Who took her virginity? Was it consensual? Is this someone she’s in love with? How long has this relationship been going? Is it someone she still sees? Is there a child?

Empathetic: She will die if the secret gets out that she’s not a virgin.

SILVIUS

Role in the show: Pontifex Maximus, chief priest who presides over the House of Vesta.

Unique purpose/Expertise: Pontifex Maximus is considered a “Siberia” position. No one wants this post. Silvius is a middling politician looking for a foothold. He enjoys the societal access his job affords, but he lacks political savvy and is unprepared for the mayhem Livia’s death unleashes.

Intrigue: The right side of his face is deformed. He was assigned Pontifex Maximus because he is considered not to be a temptation for the women.

Moral issue: He longs for a wife and a normal life, away from the confines of the House of Vesta. Is surrounded by women but can’t have any of them. Or can he?

Unpredictable: The scandal of Livia’s death thrusts him into the viper’s den of Roman politics. Does he know who got to Livia and took her virginity? That occurred on his watch.

Empathetic: Silvius is that middle aged man towards the end of his career. Lonely, restless, unfulfilled. He craves more. But he’s trapped in this job.

[Anne James]

Anne James
3 Circles of Characters

What I Learned doing this assignment:
I began to understand more clearly the difference between the Main Characters and the Connected ones. I think I’ve tended to lump a lot of them into Main characters.

ASSIGNMENT 1:
The Young Pope

A. Main Characters Circle: Lenny; Sister Mary; Cardinal Voiello

B. Connected Circle: Cardinal Gutierrez; Cardinal Dussolier; Cardinal Michael Spencer (he might become a Main–can’t tell yet); Sophia Dubois; Don Tomanaso; and Esther (maybe? They’ve just introduced her and she was given a lot of screen time)

C. Environment Circle: Domen; Other cardinals; priests; nuns; Vatican staff.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

My Show

A. Main Characters Circle:

Nerilla (30’s-40’s) – The hero. The reluctant new head priestess who has doubts about her own mystic capabilities and strength to remain true to the Vesta covenant.

Aeliana (30’s) Vestal priestess, 2nd in line, the epitome of the “chaste, demure” brand. Passed over for head priestess.

Laurus – (30’s) Vestal priestess, now 3rd in line. Quiet, smart and shrewd.

Rufus (50’s) – Pontifex Maximus Chief priest who presides over the House of Vesta.

B. Connected Circle:

Livia (30’s-40’s) – Vestal priestess who is killed for reportedly violating her vow of chastity. Beloved. Only see in flashbacks.

Clodia (30’s) – Vestal priestess. Impulsive, awkward, bored.

Naevia (Early 20’s) – Vestal priestess. Recently promoted out of her training. Inexperienced and naive.

Janus (30’s-40’s) – Nerilla’s body guard and protector

Galla (40’s) – Nerilla’s personal servant

Barnabas (50’s-60’s) – Philosopher, writer and orator who helps manage the Vestal’s narrative.

C. Environment Circle:

Vestal servants; body guards; emperors; politicians; senators; citizens;

[Anne James]

Anne James
The Young Pope – 5 Star Model

Big Picture Hook:
They’ve installed a pope who isn’t holy. He challenges the structure of the Catholic church and all of the devotee’s within it. He peddles an unusual brand of devotion and reverence to God. “I don’t have any sins to confess.” There are some political advantages for those around him with Lenny’s appointment. The hook is how long will they suffer his arrogance in service of their agendas.

Intriguing Character:
Lenny is the new pope. He’s a pile of delicious contradictions. He’s an American with a slight New York dialect that gives him a slight mob-like twist to his dialogue. He’s irreverent. He’s arrogant. He’s tough. Vain. Sexy. A performer. Very smart. Articulate. Verbose. In his dream, we see him nude. He’s bronze and muscular. Even the fact that he’s the 13th pope suggests something is askew. He announces support of all the social issues that the Catholic church opposes. He smokes. He doesn’t have much of an appetite (even though he is in the land of pasta, cheese and wine!). He drinks Cherry Coke Zero and coffee. He’s disgusted by the masses that pile into the Vatican. He’s repelled by warmth, kindness and human connection. But he’s clearly moved by the arrival of Sister Mary. She knows him, his secrets, his pain, his vulnerabilities. She’s his protector and ally. She slips him his papal smoke pack. With her, we see his history, the abandoned child. Slivers of vulnerability and doubt.

Empathy/Distress:
There are secrets with Sister Mary. She exposes his past. She reminds us that he was Lenny before all of this. Even his name has a lower class ring to it. For me, the empathy and distress, though, were triggered not by situations imposed on him, but by his treatment of some of the more tender, vulnerable characters (the confessional priest, the duomo at breakfast, his cook).

Open layers/loops:
Confessions – using the information from all of the confessions

Lenny’s history and who is Sister Mary (is she his “Ma”?)

Why doesn’t he have much of an appetite for food? Does he have other appetites?

The smoking — other vices?

The enclave that takes political advantage of his appointment and “telegenic” features.

His dreams and what they really reveal – he wakes up in a sweat.

Cardinal Michael who attempted suicide

Who does Cardinal Angelo visit in street clothing under the cloak of night?

Inviting Obsession:
The contradictions of piety with arrogance and defiance and how everyone surrounding him handles it. How long can Lenny push the boundries of structure and mores before the institution starts pushing back.

[Anne James]

1. Name? Anne James

2. How many scripts you’ve written? One – a comedy pilot. Years ago.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? I’ve been sitting on an idea for a series for a few years. Finally decided it was time to see if it actually had some legs.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I’m a professor and an actor. I have two rescue dogs. One is a retired therapy dog. Hospice, cancer wards, Alzheimers/Dementia facilities, children’s reading programs. She was the Beyonce of Therapy dogs. She’s featured in 2 books, a video and has her own trading cards. The other is a stubborn, spicy meatball that is currently failing dog obedience training. But he’ll sit at my feet for hours. And he’s a looker. It’s like walking down the street with Chris Hemsworth. People literally catcall. He’s got quite the strut.

[Anne James]

Anne James

I agree to the terms of the release form.