Il Duomo

Scene 1

(Florence, Italy. Sunrise. The Duomo interior. Metatron sits, perched atop the railing of the inner dome, staring at the fresco opposite him. He wears a green hoodie and pair of kaki pants. Metatron looks at ease for whatever reason. On the ground floor of the Duomo, enter Lucifer. He wears a white collar work shirt and a pair of black pants. His hair is tied back. He looks around, smiling faintly. He then looks up towards the fresco and sees Metatron. He unleashes a pair of wings and flies up, perching beside Metatron. The two look almost like birds.)

Metatron: I was starting to think you weren’t going to come.

Lucifer: And yet alas, here I am.

Metatron: (Laughs.) Indeed.

(The two sit quietly, looking down at the church.)

Lucifer: Of all places, why here for our annual Fall celebration?

Metatron: It’s been a long time since I was here. Very long.

Lucifer: I thought you were in Italy during World War II.

Metatron: No, I was in France. I came to Rome after the second world war to help rebuild, but Florence? No.

Lucifer: Oh Jesus. You probably saw this thing being built and went “You know, Michelangelo, this is going to be a very nice church when it’s finished. Now, about that David sculpture…”

(The two laugh long and hard. They then stop. Metatron pauses.)

Metatron: Actually, I said that to Filippo Brunelleschi about the dome here.

(Lucifer rolls his eyes. Metatron glares.)

Metatron: What? I’m serious!

Lucifer: Oh please, Metatron. You’d never come down on Earth without God’s permission unless it was very important.

Metatron: Lucifer, do you recall when I was working on Earth?

(Lucifer pauses for a moment to try and remember. Metatron claps a hand to his head.)

Metatron: I was gone during the 1400s and 1500s, you idiot. What do you think I was doing?

Lucifer: (Sarcastically.) So you’re telling me that you’re the manipulative genius behind all of the great artists and writers of the Renaissance.

Metatron: Well I never said that! I simply said that I was here during the time!

Lucifer: Yeah, advising Machiavelli on The Prince, giving Da Vinci anatomy lessons!

(Metatron shoves Lucifer. Lucifer laughs. Metatron rolls his eyes.)

Metatron: I’m telling you, all I did was participate in the discussions about government, religion and art at the time. Yeah, I had some contact with the greats but if I rightly recall, Lux, you did too.

Lucifer: Yes but I wasn’t living on Earth, immersing myself in the culture and holding…salons!

Metatron: Wrong era, you twit. Salons were the Enlightenment and I wasn’t involved with that very much. I believe that was your playground.

Lucifer: Lilith’s, actually. She lived in France at the time. Hosted bi-weekly salons.

Metatron: Whatever.

(Metatron and Lucifer stare down at the church in silence.)

Lucifer: But seriously. M. Was there any reason you decided to celebrate today at the Duomo?

Metatron: Just the fact I don’t get to come here often. Shame, really. I love this place. And the city that surrounds it.

Lucifer: Well then, why not explore a bit more before you and I have to part ways. Bet we can sneak into the museum where the original David is.

Metatron: Lucifer…

Lucifer: Oh don’t you give me that. It’s been years since you’ve seen it. C’mon.

(Metatron hesitates for a moment. Lucifer flies down off the balcony and lands on the church floor. Metatron follows after him. The two exit the church onto the streets of Florence and begin to walk.)

Fin.