Lake Brimstone - Draft 7

! ! ! ! ! LAKE BRIMSTONE

! ! ! ! !

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2015

AT RISE: A long cavern stretching right and left, framing the UPSTAGE CENTER shore of a boiling red and yellow lake - STAGERIGHT, steep metal stairs with a landing, swoop down into the cavern through stalactites surrounding a hole in the dark rock ceiling - underneath the stairs, the entrance to a side cavern, where shadows of figures are seen flickering - STAGECENTER, right and left, two finely wrought metal thrones - STAGELEFT, DRIPS a large, copper water clock flanked by Greek columns, echoing throughout the cavern - the stairs disappear STAGERIGHT down through a hole framed by in the rock floor framed by stalagmites, through which the occasional distant SOUND of clanging iron is heard - the SCREECHING of bats as they flit past small steaming pools, through mists which waft through the cavern, its gloom punctuated by pitch torches - OSTANES sits in one of the thrones, highlighted by a pool of light from a torch - a pause, and MARY ENTERS from the dark hole in the ceiling, coming down the stairs - she pauses under a torch on the landing.! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI’ve been waiting for you, Mary..! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI’ve come to find Mother.. you said she was here..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESCome on down - we’ll find Mother together..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking down at the water clock)What is that device?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESA water clock, Mary - since we have no sun, moon, or stars down here, we cannot tell time - I had this water clock made in the Underworld by Hepheastus, so we can keep track of time - as long as water drips from it, we have what passes for life - do you want to know how I got it up here?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)No.! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary starts down the rest of the stairs)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAs you see, Mary, it’s quite pleasant down here in the Netherworld - don’t be afraid..! ! ! ! ! ! (She stops at the foot of the stairs)Here I sit on my throne, as King of the Netherworld!! ! ! ! ! ! (Gesturing at the other throne)


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES (Con’t.)And that will be your throne - both forged by Hephaestus - they should last a very long time - don’t worry, Mary, you’ll see your mother - and in return, you shall be my Queen!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks at the lake)What is that lake?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESLake Brimstone..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhy does it bubble so?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIts sulfur is boiled by infernal forces - go on, dip your toe in - when you pull it out - no more toe! - just a bone..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Where is my mother?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOh, around..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYCould you call her to me?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESShe’s busy, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou promised I could talk to her!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou can’t talk to her until you’re dead.. so, you’ve met my dopplegangers, when last we journeyed up there - now, everyone’s doppleganger is down here - they won’t bother you, as long as you stay with me..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThe dopplegangers, yes - they seemed odd up there, a bit off..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWe are all copies of you up there - imperfect copies! - look at me! - now I’m dead, I’m an imperfect copy of myself, when alive.. won’t you sit down?

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYJust for a minute..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOr a century?! ! ! ! ! ! (She sits down in the other throne)A little joke.. but, since you’re here, we might as well broach the subject.. would you like a staking?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYA staking?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESA staking to the ground, with cave slugs coming to feast on you - since I am dead, you should be, too..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I don’t think I’d like that very much..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThen would you like your son, little Will-mouse, to die - along with your husband?! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary says nothing)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES (Con’t.)I thought we talked up there about this, Mary - you see, I can’t really enjoy my conjugal rights, until you’re dead and we’re married..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I thought dead people don’t sleep..! !

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOh, we don’t! - but I’m sure we can find some quiet, secluded cavern somewhere, where we can.. get to know each other..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (A sliming SOUND from the ceiling - ! ! ! ! ! ! she looks up)What’s that moving up there?!! ! ! ! ! ! (The sliming SOUND grows louder)

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking up)Those are the cave slugs, Mary - large, with large appetites, living their lives on the ceiling, except when they come down to feed - now, how about that death? - it doesn’t have to be a staking, it can be a quick death, if you like.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Gesturing).. you could just jump into Lake Brimstone! - quick and intense! - I’d pull you out, of course - after I made sure you were, you know..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYA steaming pile of bones?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES.. quite dead, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes.. I don’t think I’m up for death, just now..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNow, now, Mary - it’s really not so bad - look at me! - I feel all right, dead - even immortal! - it’s exhilarating! - I never have to worry about getting up in the morning, or facing the stresses of life!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI’d rather face life.. consider me a visitor, and I’ll be going upstairs..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou can never go back upstairs, Mary - remember our deal?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou said you would produce my mother, so I can talk with her - I see no sign of her down here - it is you who have broken our contract!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES Don’t argue with me, Mary - you are in my world, now!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThen, I’ll be going..! ! ! ! ! ! (Gets up).. back up to the world of the living!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESSit back down!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary hesitates)Think of your son!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary sits back down)


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES (Con’t.)You have angered me, Mary - I’ll produce your mother, when I see fit! - until then, you’ll stay down here - and if I have my way, you will die!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary says nothing - Ostanes grabs a flaming ! ! ! ! ! ! pitch torch from the side of his throne, goes ! ! ! ! ! ! over go her throne, thrusts it in her face)How would you like me to flame your face off? - that would be a quick death! - and then we’d be done with all this! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulling away)Please don’t! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Ostanes pulls the torch away, puts it back - a ! ! ! ! ! ! pause, Mary looks at the hole in the floor down ! ! ! ! ! ! through which the stairs continue) Where do those stairs go?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDown to Tartarus..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhat is Tartarus?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAn abyss deep below us - where souls are judged after death, and the wicked receive the punishments of the gods..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThe gods?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, leans towards her - in a stage ! ! ! ! ! ! whisper) The gods of the Underworld..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThe Underworld?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Stage whisper)Shhh! - it is forbidden to say its name aloud - even by me..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, stage whisper)There’s even a rumor among the dopplegangers that the gods of the Underworld want to come up here - they say the gods want to become their masters, instead of me - I won’t have it! - now, let’s talk about your death, again, Mary - you really do have to die..


! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of a flute echoes up the stairs - ! ! ! ! ! ! then the Doppleganger SOUND - a ! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGER ENTERS backwards from ! ! ! ! ! ! the side cavern, turns around, approaches ! ! ! ! ! ! Ostanes)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERThey’re coming up, my lord..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWhat, now? - I’m in the middle of a death!! ! ! ! ! ! (The louder SOUND of the flute)

! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERThey’re almost here, sire..!! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWhy are they coming up now?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERThey are fated to come..! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWhat do you know about fate?! ! ! ! ! ! (The DOPPLEGANGER EXITS back into the ! ! ! ! ! ! side cavern- the SOUND of the flute echoes ! ! ! ! ! ! up the stairs)! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Stage-whisper)Who’s coming up?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, stage-whisper)The gods of the Underworld..! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, the SOUND of the flute plays to a ! ! ! ! ! ! crescendo, and two beings apparently float up ! ! ! ! ! ! the stairs, and out into the cavern - the ! ! ! ! ! ! flickering light of a torch reveals two Greek ! ! ! ! ! ! gods with short, curly silver hair and beards - ! ! ! ! ! ! one dressed in a black robe, with short sword ! ! ! ! ! ! strapped to his side - the other dressed in a ! ! ! ! ! ! white robe, with a large poppy in his hand - the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of the flute is heard whenever they ! ! ! ! ! ! move, light and airy as dancers in an earthly


! ! ! ! ! ! ballet - they flow smoothly over to where Mary ! ! ! ! ! ! sits, and pause, smiling at her) ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSHello.. I’m Thanatos, god of death..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSI’m Hypnos, god of sleep..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSWe’re very close..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. sometimes, only a blink away!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSWe’re gods of the Underworld.. my, what a nice throne you have - made by Hephaestus, a god in our Tartarus - should last quite a long time!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThat is her throne - she is to be my queen!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWe may need a throne, if we are to stay long in your Netherworld..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESStay long? - you have your own kingdom - Tartarus!

! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSToo hot down there!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd all that screaming!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSSisyphus, screaming in frustration, as he pushes that boulder up a hill..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS .. every day it rolls back down!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSPoor Sisyphus!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd King Tantalus, next to him..


! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSTantalus, who cut up his son, boiled him, and served him to us gods..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSNot nice, when we have been invited to dinner..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSHis punishment to stand in a pool of water, below a fruit tree..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSReaches for fruit, and it raises beyond his grasp..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSBends to drink, and the water recedes..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSHe’s hungry and thirsty..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSHe cries out!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd King Ixion..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS.. pushed his father-in-law onto a bed of burning coals..! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. now he’s tied to a flaming wheel that’s always spinning..!! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS.. of course, he’s quite vocal about it..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. and then there’s poor Prometheus, chained to a rock..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS.. his liver being constantly eaten by an eagle, regenerating overnight..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWhat did he do? ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSRemember? - created man..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWhat a mess..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSThen stole fire from the forge of Hephaestus, and gave that to man...! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThen he deserves an eagle! - and no one can escape Tartarus..! !! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS.. it’s surrounded by a flaming river and triple walls..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. guarded by a black hydra with fifty heads and gaping jaws!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSNot a fun place to be..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSSo, one day we said..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS.. we’ve got to get out of here!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd so, we’ve come up for awhile! - gave word to Hephaestus to clang three times on his forge, if a soul needs judging, and we have to go down..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSUntil then, we are here!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESTartarus is fated to be your lot - the Netherworld was fated to be my kingdom!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYour fate could change!!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOnly I can change my own fate!!! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSDo you forget? ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSOnly the Three Fates can change a fate..


! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd they’re down in the Underworld..! ! ! ! ! ! (To Mary)Are you new here? - we haven’t seen your like before.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSDid you just die?! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! OSTANESShe’s trying to die..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOh, so you’re alive - alive! - you must be from up there!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI’m just visiting.. I belong with the living - I have a child, a husband - they expect me..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI told Mary I’d change her husband’s fate, if she stayed down here with me..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSChange a fate? - oh, the Fates wouldn’t like that!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI don’t care what the Fates like.. you’re the god of death, Thanatos - can you help Mary have a peaceful death?!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd what do we get in return? - perhaps a throne?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSAnd not all death is peaceful..!! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAs not all death is final..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Rises from the throne)Here, take this throne! - I’ve heard enough..!! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESSit back down, Mary! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI won’t sit down - I don’t want this throne!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary goes to the shore of the lake)


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (To the gods)You may sit on the throne..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSVery good, for it’s a throne we want..! ! ! ! ! ! ! (They flow to the throne)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSYou sit first, brother!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Sitting down)Ahhh! - the first time I’ve sat down in.. three millennia..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSYou can’t sit anywhere in Tartarus - everything’s so hot and steaming!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSEspecially, your son, Typhon - dead three thousand years, and still steaming!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYTyphon?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSA giant monster with a hundred heads and serpent’s coils for legs - but he was my little son! - I miss him so..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSHe tried to take over Mount Olympus, but Zeus smote him with a thunderbolt - smoked him!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSThen tossed his body back down to Tartarus..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSIt takes up two enormous caverns!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSAnd his body’s still steaming away.. that’s my boy!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Settling back in the throne)I like the feel of a Hephaestus’ throne - well-wrought! - guaranteed for centuries..

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! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSIt looks bigger than your throne, Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIt is not!! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER PERCY through the hole at the top of ! ! ! ! ! ! the stairs - he comes down the steps, pauses ! ! ! ! ! ! at the landing - they look up at him)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYPercy!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary! - my Mary! - I’ve come down to this infernal place looking for you - I’ve found you!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESGo back up to life, you mortal - I made a deal with Mary, when last I was up there!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat kind of deal?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes promised me you will live a long life up there with our son, Will-mouse - if I just stay down here with him..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)You mean.. live with him?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYes, as his wife..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYIs that what you want? - to live in hell with a demon?! ! !! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI’m not a demon - and this is not hell!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIf I don’t stay, you’ll drown in six years, and what will happen to our Will-mouse?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYDrown in six years? - who says?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI say! - I know your fate..


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou sail up and down the coast..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBut, my boat is seaworthy - I’m a good sailor!! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou will drown in six years, and your body burned on a beach - unless I change your fate - which I won’t, unless I keep Mary for my own - that’s the deal!! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSExcuse us, Percy..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWho are you?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSI’m Thantaclos, and this is my brother, Hypnos..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWe’re gods of the Underworld..! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWe’re from Tartarus, further on down the stairs..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSSort of a way station for souls..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYou mean, hell?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSNo, although Satan came through Tartarus once, on his way from hell to earth - didn’t stay long, didn’t say much..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYou’re gods? - can you help me? - I want to go back up to life with Mary!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou gods stay out of this! - Mary stays with me!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSYou order a god?

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou are in my domain, now - the Netherworld!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Ignoring him - to Percy)We might be able to help change your fate ..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNobody is changing any fates - except me!! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Doppleganger, come!! ! ! ! ! ! (The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER a ! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGER)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (To the gods)And Will-mouse - can you change his fate, too?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI’ll decide about fates - only I change them!!! ! ! ! ! ! (To the doppleganger)Gather all my dopplegangers - we’re under a threat!! ! ! ! ! ! (HYPNOS touches Ostanes with his poppy - ! ! ! ! ! ! Ostanes falls asleep at their feet)

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulling out his sword)Threat?

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWhat threat?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSDoppleganger - you know we are gods..

! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERKnow you are gods..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd you know we’re immortal..

! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERKnow you’re immortal..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWould you like to be immortal?


! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERLike to be immortal..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSTell the others dopplegangers..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSYou can all be immortal..

! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERImmortal..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSYou won’t have to die, anymore!

! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERWon’t have to die..! ! ! ! ! ! (HYPNOS waves poppy - Ostanes awakens)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMove, doppleganger - call the others!! ! ! ! ! ! (The doppleganger doesn’t move)Move!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSIt won’t move - we bought its loyalty..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWith what?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSImmortality.. or the promise of it..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYou are familiar with immortality? - go doppleganger!! ! ! ! ! ! (The DOPPLEGANGER EXITS)

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSYou no longer control the dopplegangers..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSSoon, you won’t control the Netherworld..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATCLOS.. and no longer be king..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)What do you want with my Netherworld?

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWe are gods - we don’t offer explanations - but, come over here, Ostanes - let’s talk..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (To Percy)Mortal, you may come down the stairs - but don’t go into the caverns - there are dopplegangers.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Ostanes goes along the lake to meet with ! ! ! ! ! ! them - Percy comes down the stairs - Mary ! ! ! ! ! ! rushes to him, hugs him, they hold each other ! ! ! ! ! ! tight, speaking low, so the other group can’t ! ! ! ! ! ! hear them - the scenes alternates between ! ! ! ! ! ! Percy and Mary, and Ostanes and the gods - ! ! ! ! ! ! the lights rising and dimming on each group as ! ! ! ! ! ! they speak - the LIGHTS RISE first on Percy ! ! ! ! ! ! and Mary)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary.. why come down?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYTo find my mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBut, Mary, she’s dead! - you’ll find her doppleganger - and what good would that do?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIt’s still Mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYDon’t you understand? - it would be a copy of your mother - you saw the dopplegangers when they were up there - they didn’t make any sense!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYNothing makes any sense, Percy - I’m just looking for answers!! !! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on Percy and Mary, the ! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS RISE on the gods and Ostanes, ! ! ! ! ! ! talking by the lake)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWe’ll let Percy take Mary up to life..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou will not!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSShhhh! - of course not..!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSPercy’s doppleganger is here in the Netherworld?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESSomewhere in the crowd..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWe’ll make a switch..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSPercy for Percy’s doppleganger..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSMary will think she’s going to the land of the living, with Percy..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSInstead, Percy’s doppleganger will take her to a remote cavern, where you can.. rendezvous with her, Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Ostanes pauses)That is what you want, isn’t it?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYes, yes, I want Mary! - and what do you gods want?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWe’d like to live in your Netherworld..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThere will still be a place for you..!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)How do I know I can trust you?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSIt’s in the stars!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYou trust fate, don’t you?! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on them, the LIGHTS RISE ! ! ! ! ! ! on Percy and Mary)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary, Mary - I’m your answer! - I’ll get us out of here!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYHow? - they’re gods, Percy! - and who knows what Ostanes is..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI’ll trick them - the gods even trick each other!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)But, Claire’s here, too - she came down before, to help find mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, goes to side cavern entrance)Then, we’ve got to find her!! ! ! ! ! !`! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThe dopplegangers are there - we’ll have to stay here..! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary looks out over the burning lake - ! ! ! ! ! ! Percy pauses, comes beside her)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMissing little Will-mouse?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes.

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHe’ll be all right..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI trusted Claire to watch him - I didn’t think she’d leave him up there with Doctor Polidari..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYAt least it’s a doctor..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYes, but he’s my son - I worry about him..

!


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYOur son..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYDon’t you worry?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYOf course!! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Don’t be mad at Claire - she came down here to find your mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I’m not mad..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHave you found your mother?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYNot yet.. there’s so many dopplegangers down here - she could be anywhere - these caverns stretch for miles..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Do you really want to stay down here.. with Ostanes?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)If it means a better life for Will-mouse..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBecause I’ll be there to raise him?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOtherwise, you’ll be..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYDead.

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThat’s what Ostanes says..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat does he know? - he’s not a god!


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhat is he?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI don’t know..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIf we take his deal, you’ll live a long life..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat about you?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes says I’ll live for centuries..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWith him..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)He says, I have to die..!! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWe all die..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYHe says, I have to die soon..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)And then Will-mouse will be without a mother..!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYHe’ll have you..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYou’ll raise him, if I die in six years..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I don’t want you to die..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI don’t want to die, either - at least not in six years..

! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou’ll drown..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat if I don’t go sailing that day?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou can’t know what day it is - just that it’s in the sixth year..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWell, I won’t go sailing at all that year - I’ll give up sailing! - sell my boat! - then we won’t have to make a deal with Ostanes - we’ll both go up to life - back to our Will-mouse!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIt’s your fate to die on your day - how can you cheat fate?! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)There must be a way..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Perhaps, it’s better I die, and stay down here with Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Are you afraid to die?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes.! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Aren’t you?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I’ll drown at sea, and my body burned on a beach - what rubbish! - and why would I be burned on a beach?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYQuarantine laws - we live in Italy up there..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYDid live in Italy - now we’re stuck down here..

! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)You’re not stuck..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI just have to watch you die..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou won’t have to watch - I want to die alone..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)How?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI’ll have to come up with a way.. Ostanes proposed some deaths..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYLike what?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYJumping into this lake, or death by cave slugs..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYCave slugs?!!! ! ! ! ! ! MARYSomething called a staking - they come down to feed on you..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYSounds revolting..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI think I’ll go off in a cavern to die - open my wrists, or drown in a pool..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYOh, Mary..! ! ! ! ! ! (Takes her into his arms)I don’t want you to die..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIf it’s for Will-mouse..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Then you’ll die?


! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)We’ll take the deal..! ! ! ! ! ! (The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER BYRON ! ! ! ! ! ! THE DOPPLEGANGER, backwards through ! ! ! ! ! ! the side cavern - he turns around)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYByron! - what are you doing down here?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERDoing? - you ask a wandering, romantic soul - a sojourner! - a traveler of the seas! - what he is doing? - what are any of us doing? - and why, and why, and why..! ! ! ! ! ! (Falls silent)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYByron?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERByron, yes, yes, Byron..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHave you seen Claire? - she’s down here, somewhere..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERClaire, yes - my paramour, my muse, my reason for living! - my, my.. yes, yes, have you seen Claire..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYou have? ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERClaire, yes, yes, Claire, seen Claire..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Grabbing a torch)Take me to her! - Mary, we’ll meet you back here - then we’ll all go up to life, before the gods come up with plan!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERYes, yes, take me with you! - in search of Claire, the fair Claire, in search of.. yes, yes, seen Claire..! ! ! ! ! ! (BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER EXITS into a ! ! ! ! ! ! cavern, PERCY EXITS, torch held high - Mary ! ! ! ! ! ! stands looking after them)! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYByron? ! ! ! ! ! ! (The lake boils - the LIGHTS DIM on Mary, the ! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS RISE on Ostanes, Thantaclos and ! ! ! ! ! ! Hypnos)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWhat about Percy - the mortal Percy?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSOh, I think a staking would be quite in order..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSA death, a peaceful death..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. but a slimy death!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESGood! - then I’ll be rid of him - what about Mary?

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSPercy the Doppleganger will keep her in a cavern, until you come for her..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWell, we’ve got our first staking to attend!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOh, I’m so going to enjoy that - what an exciting place this is!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSThere’s so much happening up here!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd no screaming!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSTartarus can just run itself!! ! ! ! ! ! (They float into the side cavern - the LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! DIM on them, the LIGHTS RISE on Mary, alone ! ! ! ! ! ! - the Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER PERCY ! ! ! ! ! ! THE DOPPLEGANGER backwards from the ! ! ! ! ! ! side cavern, turns around)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERMary! - your mother! - I want to tell you.. Mary, your mother!! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYPercy! - back so soon? - where’s Claire? - and Byron? - didn’t you bring them?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERBring them? - there’s mother, Mary’s mother, your mother, mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMy mother? - you’ve found her? - take me to her, Percy!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYCome, my Mary - come to mother, take me to mother, mother, Mary’s mother..! ! ! ! ! ! (PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER turns and ! ! ! ! ! ! EXITS into the cave - MARY grabs a torch)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYPercy?! ! ! ! ! ! (MARY EXITS, following - the LIGHTS DIM)

! ! ! ! ! ! END OF SCENE 1



! ! ! ! ! ! SCENE 2At Rise: The empty cavern, the SCREECHING of a bat - a mist rolls off the bubbling lake and wafts through the cavern - a pause, and CLAIRE ENTERS from the side cavern, looking as if she’s lost - she looks around the cavern, sees the lake, goes over, looks at it, kicks a rock into it - the rock is consumed in a boiling - she backs away, notices the thrones, sits in one, looks around.

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREWhat a strange place - who would want to sit here in gloom, listening to that lake boil?! ! ! ! ! ! (She shouts)Hello!! ! ! ! ! ! (She listens to her voice ECHO)I’ve got to find Mary’s mother.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER BYRON from the side cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONClaire! - I thought I heard your voice!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREByron! - what are you doing down here?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONLooking for you!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREAnd your child?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONClaire, it’s not that I don’t want you to have the child..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)But, I have much on my mind - thrown out by my wife, disgraced in England, never to return - and so, I travel endlessly, a wandering spirit, a darkling soul - I climb alpine trails, look at glaciers, breath cold mountain air, listen to blue jays and the wind rushing down passes - but always I ponder - who am I? ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREI know who you are.. a great poet! - the baby and I - we could be waiting in a little chalet, until you’ve had enough wandering, and want to come home to some hearth and some love.. we could be there for you, Byron!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Have the baby.. I’ll pay for its keep - and your keep, too - but.. I won’t be there with you..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREWhere will you be?


! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONLet’s not talk about it..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, sits down in the throne opposite her)Where’s little Will-mouse? - Mary left him with you!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIRE

I left him up there with Doctor Polidari - I hope he’s all right - I told Polidari I’d be down here just a short time..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONBut, why did you come down to the Netherworld? - it’s a dangerous place!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREI want to re-unite Mary with her mother!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONAnd have you found her?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREThey must be keeping her hidden..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONBut, I’ve found you - let’s go - back up to life!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREI can’t leave Mary down here!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONShe’ll have to fend for herself - we can’t go poking through all these caverns - there’s dopplegangers everywhere!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREI won’t leave without her!!!! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)All right then..! ! ! ! ! ! (Rises) .. let’s go find Mary..! ! ! ! ! ! (Claire rises - they are about to EXIT through ! ! ! ! ! ! the side cavern, when THANTACLOS and ! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS suddenly float out from it - both ! ! ! ! ! ! couples stop in surprise, look at each other)! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWell, hello..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONHello, hello..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWho might you be?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREMight be, who might we be?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSOh, you sound like a pair of dopplegangers - you’re dopplegangers, aren’t you?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONDopplegangers? - we’re dopplegangers?

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThese dopplegangers make no sense..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSI never did know how to talk to the lower beings..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Speaking slowly)We’re gods.. we’re visiting.. your Netherworld..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Speaking slowly)Just carry on.. with whatever.. you do..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Speaking slowly)You’re going.. to like us..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Speaking slowly)We’re going.. to watch.. a staking..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONStaking?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREA staking?


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSYes.. a staking..! ! ! ! ! ! (To Hypnos)They are so slow..!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (To Thantaclos, looking at Claire)Wait a minute! - this one blinked!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSBlinked? - the dead don’t blink!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSBlinked!! ! ! ! ! ! (BYRON and CLAIRE stare at them, ! ! ! ! ! ! wide-eyed and unblinking - Thantaclos and ! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS walk around them, looking closely) ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWell.. if they’re not dopplegangers, who might they be?

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Stopping in front of Byron, looking in his eyes)Another blink! - they must be..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. from up there..! !! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThey must be..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Pinching Claire).. mortal!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREOuch!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Jumping forward, grabbing THANTACLOS)Leave her alone!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSHe’s touching me, Hypnos - he’s touching a god!! ! ! ! ! ! (Hypnos touches Byron with his poppy - ! ! ! ! ! ! Byron collapses in sleep at their feet)


! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREWhat have you done to him? - Byron!! ! ! ! ! ! (Byron doesn’t respond)

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Poking Byron with his poppy)Oh.. that deserves a good staking!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSFor both of them - they’re both alive!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThey should be dead!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSAnd after they’re dead..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. we’ll send them down to Tartarus!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIRENo! - Byron! - no!! ! ! ! ! ! (Byron is asleep)

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSThey can help Sisyphus push that big boulder!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOr spin Ixion on his flaming wheel!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS We’ll think of something!! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Dopplegangers - come!! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Bring some stakes - and a hammer!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIRE! ! ! ! ! ! (Grabbing Byron, struggling to wake him)Byron! - wake up! - we’ve got to get out of here!! ! ! ! ! ! (Hypnos touches Claire with his poppy -! ! ! ! ! ! she collapses in sleep next to Byron -! ! ! ! ! ! the Doppleganger SOUND - three ! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERS ENTER, one carrying ! ! ! ! ! ! stakes and a hammer)


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSOne touched a god - stake them both!! ! ! ! ! ! (Two dopplegangers grab Byron’s sleeping ! ! ! ! ! ! form, carry him over by the boiling lake, set him ! ! ! ! ! ! down at the edge of the lake, and hold him ! ! ! ! ! ! spread-eagled, while the third doppleganger ! ! ! ! ! ! hammers stakes through his clothes - they ! ! ! ! ! ! repeat the process with Claire, who soon lies ! ! ! ! ! ! staked next to Byron - both lie sleeping, as the ! ! ! ! ! ! lake bubbles away next to them) ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSDopplegangers - go!! ! ! ! ! ! (The DOPPLEGANGERS EXIT)

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSHypnos.. let us each take a throne..! ! ! ! ! ! (They each sit down in one of the metal ! ! ! ! ! ! thrones, look down at the sleeping Byron ! ! ! ! ! ! and Claire, staked to the ground)

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSNow, all we have to do is sit..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. and wait..! ! ! ! ! ! (The sliming SOUND from the ceiling - ! ! ! ! ! ! they both look up)

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOh, it’s our first staking!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSShould be a peaceful death..! ! ! ! ! ! (The sliming SOUND grows louder)

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSMaybe a little screaming..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSBut, we’re used to that..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWe might even like it..


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSHush..

! ! ! ! ! END OF SCENE 2

! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! Scene 3At Rise: Ostanes sitting on his throne, watching Lake Brimstone bubble - he takes a rock, throws it into the lake - a boiling SOUND, then the bubbling resumes - ENTER MARY from the side cavern - Ostanes looks around, sees Mary.

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI find you by your lake..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI come often to look out over Lake Brimstone - ever-bubbling, ever-changing - warm and lovely! - unlike the rest of my world down here..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks around the cavern).. cold, unchanging, drab - and.. lonely..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhat about your dopplegangers? - they must be some company..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMy dopplegangers? - imperfect copies of you mortals - living imperfect lives - or what passes for lives - it’s like talking to beings in a strange dream - nothing is right, nobody makes sense..! ! ! ! ! ! (Throws another rock into lake - it boils)You know, Mary, sometimes I’ve even thought of.. throwing myself into Lake Brimstone..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks at her)What would you have thought?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI would have thought.. poor Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, sits down across from him)We need to talk.. about Percy.. if he agrees to your proposal, and I stay down here with you for, for..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES.. eternity, Mary..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhat would we do? - no place to go, stuck in a cave on the edge of a burning lake, no company but dopplegangers, not enough light to write by.. do you think I’d be happy?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOh, Mary - do you think I stay down here all the time? - I travel! - sometimes I go up to the surface, to experience life, again! - I pop back into centuries, go around and meet people - how would you like to go to ancient Egypt with me and meet the Pharaohs? - or go back to Rome - speak with Julius Caesar, himself! - and I consort with gods! - you could do all these things - why, you’d be spending the rest of your life with me, a demi-god!


! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks over at him)You must have been quite handsome in your youth..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWhy, thank you - but that was.. twenty-five hundred years ago..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at her)Tell me about your writing, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI really don’t like to talk about it.. I’ve started a novel.. about a scientist trying to create a man in his own image, but.. he creates a monster..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESA monster? - what kind of monster?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)A lonely monster..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Mary.. I’m very much taken with you.. oh, I know, you’re probably thinking, how could this strange, strange being - ever have feelings for anyone? - I don’t know - but I do know, whatever it is, it feels like love, I call it love, and, and.. I love you, Mary - there, I said it!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary looks at him, gets up, walks away)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI appreciate your sentiments, Ostanes.. but, the truth is.. I love only Percy - and I wish I was with Percy, now! - and we were watching a lovely sunset up there, in life..! ! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER PERCY)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHello , Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESPercy..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Rising)I’m sure you two have much to talk about..! ! ! ! ! ! (MARY EXITS)! !

!


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Let’s talk about fate..!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI can change your fate, Percy - you won’t drown, you’ll live a long life, and raise your little Will-mouse - just that it will all be without Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI’m not going to drown! - I’ll give up sailing, if I must - the deal is off! - let the two of us go back up to life - you stay here as king of the Netherworld - it’s served you well through the centuries!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI’ve fallen in love - with Mary - she’s not your wife - you have a child with her, nothing else - and you will drown, if I don’t change your fate - I know you will drown!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary and I have nothing else? - what about love? - we love each other deeply! - your desiring Mary doesn’t make her love you - she’ll never love you!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANE! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)What’s a man to do..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYou’re not a man!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNot a man.. yes, what am I?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYou, you.. you’re a thing, a hybrid! - half man and half god - not immortal, but living and dying as if you can’t stop - everyone you meet dies, as you live on through the centuries - but, always ending back here, in a cave full of slugs and dopplegangers - back here to Lake Brimstone, which bubbles away your years...! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Nevertheless, do you accept my proposal - to change your fate for the better? ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)We talked about it - Mary and I - only if you reunite Mary with her mother down here - and let me and the others go back up to life, so I can raise little Will-mouse - without his mother..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESSo, Mary will stay?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary will stay..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Then I will change your fate, Percy..! ! ! ! ! ! (PERCY EXITS - Ostanes sits in his throne, ! ! ! ! ! ! looks out over Lake Brimstone)At last.. Mary, Mary - I will have Mary as my own! - at last... ! ! ! ! ! ! (a pause, and from up the stairs, the SOUNDS ! ! ! ! ! ! of the Three Fates, singing like Sirens)

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS (Offstage)Since long ago, Man wants to know,What is this fate,Through which he must go! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS (Offstage)For present time,Man wants life sublime,What he gets instead,Is a thread of time

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS (Offstage)The future’s read,We’ve drawn the thread,Cut each man his length- until he lies dead.! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER the THREE FATES out the cave of ! ! ! ! ! ! the stairs, bent over and misshapen - ugly old ! ! ! ! ! ! women in grey robes - severe, inflexible and ! ! ! ! ! ! stern - Clotho carries a spindle of thread, ! ! ! ! ! ! Lachesis carries a measuring rod, and Atropos ! ! ! ! ! ! carries shears)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWho are you, who have come up to my Kingdom?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSI am Clothos, the spinner - I spin out the thread of life from my spindle..

! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISI am Lachesis, the allotter - I measure the thread of life..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSI am Apropos, the inevitable - I cut the thread of life..! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS Zeus has sent the god Hermes to tell us..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. there is one in this Netherworld..! !! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOS.. proposing to change a destiny..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSEven Zeus, our father..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. who knows the affairs of men..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOS.. all that we Fates give to them..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS.. and all that is not destined for them..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISEven Zeus cannot alter fates..

! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOS.. once we have spun them..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSBut this being, one Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISIs he man or god?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOSNo matter.. ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS.. we punish gods as well as men..! !! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS ..for their sins..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOSChanging fates is a sin..! ! !! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS.. this Ostanes, in this Netherworld..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. is proposing to change a fate..! !! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOS.. in the name of love..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSAphrodite! - what’s she to fate?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. even Aphrodite fears us..!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOS.. gods cannot escape us..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSKnow that this Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. must stand before us to be judged..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSDo you know Ostanes?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes, I know him..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISWhere can he be found?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWho wants to find him?

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISThe Three Fates..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)! ! !The Three Fates? - then, hail, Fates - hail!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSDo you hail us - or mock us?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHow do I mock the gods who give us our fates?

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISPerhaps by changing a fate..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI have no power to change fates!

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSHermes taught Ostanes to constrain the stars..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS.. slowing down their galactic wheelings..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. thus changing men’s fates..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSThis only we Fates can do..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIs not Hermes to blame for the actions of Ostanes?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSPerhaps, but he is a god..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISAnd you are mortal - are you not?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI don’t know - only that I never die for long..! !

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSAre you a god?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI am King of the Netherworld!


! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSWe have heard of such a king..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISBy name, one Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSAre you this Ostanes?! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I am..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS.. we determined your fate, once before..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISLet us look, again, at the fate of Ostanes - what was to be, what was not to be - and whether or not, his fate now needs changing..! ! ! ! ! ! (APROPOS brings out her shears, Lachesis ! ! ! ! ! ! starts pulling thread from the spindle of ! ! ! ! ! ! Clothos, measuring it with her stick)

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSSuch a long thread for Ostanes - perhaps he is a god!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS! ! ! ! ! ! (Measuring thread)Oh, that is quite long for a mortal..! ! !`! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSPerhaps, too long - Apropos, shears at the ready..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSShould a fate need snipping..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISAh, finally - here is the end..! ! ! ! ! ! (Stops measuring, holds up the thread) ! !He‘s to have a millennium more of life..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSBut, the question is..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISHow should we judge Ostanes..


! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS.. for the crime of changing a fate?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSOstanes has changed fates..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. more than once..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS.. Ostanes was planning to do it, again..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHIS.. planning to change the fate of the mortal, Percy..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulling more thread from the spindle)We must look at Percy’s fate..!! ! ! ! ! ! (Measuring it)It’s Percy fate to die in six years..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSIf Percy lives longer, it’s because Ostanes changes his fate..

! ! ! ! ! ! LATHESISHow say you, Ostanes - is Percy to live longer, or die shortly?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I say Percy must live long..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISYou are changing his fate..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSThe stars are now out of alignment..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISThe gods on Olympus are threatened..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISZeus is threatened..! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSDid Percy know his fate?


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes.

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISA man should not know his own fate..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISDoes Percy know you mean to change his fate?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes.

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISAnd why would you dare change a fate?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)For a woman, for love..! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, the Three Fates look at each other)

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSWe have heard the evidence..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISA vote on the fate of Ostanes..!! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSGuilty.

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISGuilty.

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISGuilty.!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Snipping her shears)The punishment?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISThree millennia of Ostanes’ life..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. is a very long thread, indeed..


! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Snipping her shears)Thread that needs be shorter..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISQuestion, how much?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Bending over the thread, snipping her shears)If we snip it here..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHIS.. he will fall dead at our feet..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESStop! - don’t cut it there! - don’t cut it!

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISQuiet! - you have already been heard..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSWe shall then snip Ostanes’ fate.. here..! ! ! ! ! ! (Snips the thread with her shears - one end of ! ! ! ! ! ! it falls to the ground)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWell, well.. how much, I mean.. how long?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISOne hour..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOne hour!

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHEISIUse the time wisely, Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSYour fate has been re-determined..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut, wait! - one hour! - I can’t just live for only one hour!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISWe return to the Underworld..


! ! ! ! ! ! LACHJESIS.. to determine more fates..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS.. and when they will end..! ! ! ! ! ! (The THREE FATES EXIT through the cave, ! ! ! ! ! ! and down the stairs - the water clock DRIPS ! ! ! ! ! ! loudly - he looks over at it - the LIGHTS DIM )

! ! ! ! ! ! END OF SCENE 3

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! ! ! ! ! ! SCENE 4At Rise: Mary seated in her throne - the lake bubbles, a pause, the Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER backwards from the side cavern, turns)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERHello, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERYes, Mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIf you only knew how I feel! - come over here, mother, sit down..! ! ! ! ! ! (MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER comes over, ! ! ! ! ! ! sits down in the other throne)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYHow have you been?

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERDead.

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI’m sorry.. I missed having you as my mother.. did you miss having me as a child?

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERMiss a child?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Mother.. I know how you died.. I didn’t want it that way!!!! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERDidn’t want it that way!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou were infected with pieces of my placenta during birth, and that’s why you..

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER.. died. ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother, it wasn’t my fault! - I didn’t want you to die - you were my mother!


! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERWere your mother!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI couldn’t do anything - I was just born!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERJust born!!! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Mother, I had a dream last night..

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERA dream, a dream..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY.. that you lay dying - and I was there! - you were gasping for air, as I sat by your bed!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERGasping and gasping!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI just couldn’t take it, anymore! !! !! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERCouldn’t take it!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI left you, and went into a garden, sat there - but could still hear you gasping!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERGasping!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI went back to you - but again, ran back to the garden, sat there alone, while you slowly gasped out your life.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Suddenly, I heard a voice!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERA voice?! ! ! ! ! ! (Gets up, shouting)Mary - where are you? - Mary!

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! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThat voice!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERMy voice!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother.. forgive me?! !! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERForgive you? Forgive you?! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Dance, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYDance?

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Going to Mary, holding out her hands)Dance, Mary, dance..! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary rise, takes her hands - they both do a ! ! ! ! ! ! slow waltz around the cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYLike this, mother? - like we should have danced, as mother and daughter?

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Increasing the tempo)Dance, Mary!! ! ! ! ! ! (They begin to spin around gaily, leaning back ! ! ! ! ! ! from each other, looking into each other’s eyes ! ! ! ! ! ! and laughing) !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOh, mother - I’m so happy I’ve found you!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Increasing the tempo further)Dance, Mary, dance!! ! ! ! ! ! (She guides the dancing to the edge of Lake ! ! ! ! ! ! Brimstone)Dance, Mary!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother - I can’t keep up!!


! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Whirling her wildly at the edge of the lake)Mary, Mary, dance!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother! - stop it!! ! ! ! ! ! (Attempts to get out of her grasp)Let go! - we’re too near the lake!! !! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGERThe lake, Mary! ! ! ! ! ! ! (She stops dancing and attempts to throw Mary ! ! ! ! ! ! into the lake - there is a struggle, and Mother’s ! ! ! ! ! ! Doppleganger teeters backwards at the edge ! ! ! ! ! ! of the lake)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother! Mother!! ! ! ! ! ! (Attempts to pull her away from the lake)

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER’S DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Teetering backwards)Mary - where are you, Mary? - Mary!! ! ! ! ! ! (The Doppleganger SOUND, Mary loses ! ! ! ! ! ! her grip - Mother’s Doppleganger falls ! ! ! ! ! ! backward into Lake Brimstone - a loud ! ! ! ! ! ! sustained boiling - the lake resumes bubbling)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling into the lake)Mother! Mother!! ! ! ! ! ! (She pauses, tries to go into the lake - is ! ! ! ! ! ! slightly burned and jumps away - stares into ! ! ! ! ! ! the lake - ENTER OSTANES)! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou found mother, Mary?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes! - she fell into the lake! - can’t you help her? - I just couldn’t, I couldn’t..!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHelp her, Mary? - she’s already dead! - she’ll come back as another doppleganger, another imperfect copy of your mother - you can meet her all over again! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I don’t want to meet her, again..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut you have met her - I’ve honored my part of the bargain - you must honor yours!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary gets up, runs to the side cavern - MARY ! ! ! ! ! ! EXITS - Ostanes pauses, picks up another ! ! ! ! ! ! rock, throws it into the lake - a boiling, and the ! ! ! ! ! ! lake resumes its bubbling - the SOUND of an ! ! ! ! ! ! ancient lyre - a disembodied voice floats ! ! ! ! ! ! through the cavern)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! VOICEHello, Ostanes - we meet, again..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWho are you? ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking around)Where are you?

! ! ! ! ! ! VOICEI’m wearing a cloak of invisibility..! ! ! ! ! ! (Changes position)Am I here?! ! ! ! ! ! (Changes position)Or over here?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI don’t know! - what do you want?

! ! ! ! ! ! VOICEI want to be recognized..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut how can I recognize you, if I can’t see you?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! VOICEI am one who guides those whose lives are taken..! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)My life was taken..

! ! ! ! ! ! VOICEMore than once..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHow do you know?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! VOICEI guided you down to the Underworld many times..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYour voice sounds familiar..

! ! ! ! ! ! VOICEBut Zeus keeps sending you back to the land of the living..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHermes? - the god? - you must be Hermes!! ! ! ! ! ! (HERMES suddenly appears before him - ! ! ! ! ! ! wearing a petasus, a wide-brimmed hat with ! ! ! ! ! ! wings, a traveler’s cloak, and carrying a ! ! ! ! ! ! caduceus - two snakes wrapped around a ! ! ! ! ! ! winged staff - golden sandals on his feet)

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESI just brought you down, after your recent death from a lightning bolt - and now, here I am, again..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIs it time to go up? - I can’t go, now! - I’m in love! - can’t Zeus send someone else?

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESYou’re not going up - Zeus sent me as messenger to the Three Fates, my sisters - you’ve been changing fates, again, and the stars are out of alignment - Zeus is not pleased, the Fates are not pleased - Percy’s fate is in misalignment - and now, your clock has dripped most its water..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHermes! - one hourI - that’s all I have left of life! - you are a friend of man - you must help me!

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESYour new fate has been ordained!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHermes! - you are brother to the god Hephaestus..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMES Half-brother..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESPlease! - go down to Tartarus, ask Hephaestus to clang on his forge!

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESWhy would he? - Hephaestus knows you helped Prometheus steal fire from his forge - and now see what man has done with it!! ! ! ! ! ! (The water clock DRIPS)But, Ostanes, I taught you how to constrain the stars, over the centuries - it’s because of me, you learned to change fates! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)You are running out of time - I’ll go down to Tartarus, bring back Hephaestus - you can plead your case with him...! ! ! ! ! ! (HERMES EXITS down the stairs - the clock ! ! ! ! ! ! DRIPS louder)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI must save myself!! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks up at the clock - it’s DRIPPING echoing ! ! ! ! ! ! throughout the cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! END OF SCENE 4

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! ! ! ! ! ! SCENE 5At Rise: Percy standing, watching the water clock DRIP - ENTER HERMES and HEPHAESTUS up the stairs and out through the hole in the floor - HEPHAESTUS is lame and walks with the aid of a stick - he wears an oval cap, and carries a smith’s hammer in his other hand - pauses, looks back down the stairs.! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESThose stairs really have to go..! ! ! ! ! ! (Hobbles, stopping in front of Percy)Yeah? You Percy?

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESHephaestus, god of fire, metalworking, blacksmiths, and..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSYeah, yeah, yeah.. I remember you, Percy - helped Prometheus steal my fire and give it to man - look what that’s done! - you should have been punished, along with Prometheus! - so, why do you have a problem with your fate? - all mortals must die..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYIt’s just that, I didn’t want to die so soon - in only six years! - Ostanes says he can buy me more time, so I can raise my son..

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSIs that all? - listen, take the deal - I got a pot of hot metal boiling on the forge..

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESThe Three Fates won’t let Ostanes change Percy’s fate - they have given him a punishment..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThey cut my thread - to only one hour!

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSCalm down, calm down - what you want me to do?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESGo clang on your forge, Thantaclos and Hypnos will think its your signal to come to Tartarus and judge a soul - when they’re out of the way, I can escape!

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSOh, those two! - all they do is sit around and judge souls, while I do an honest century’s work! - so, you want me to trick to fellow gods?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESWe gods trick each other all the time, Hephaestus..


! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSHmmm.. how will that help Percy raise his son?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI’ll change Percy’s fate to a longer one, and then run up to life!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSYou think the Three Fates won’t know? - changing a fate is like pulling on a thread in a spider’s web - no matter where they are, the Fates will know about it.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBy the time those two gods come back, I’ll be up the stairs and mortal, again! - appealing my case to Zeus - it’ll buy me some time! - right now..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks over at the dripping water clock) I’ve got less than an hour - hurry, Hephaestus - make up your mind!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSNever rush a god, mortal.. what about you, Percy?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI want to raise my son, but I don’t want to lose my Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSI see.. and what happens to this Mary?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI’ll keep her down here with me..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSHah! - I see it! - the intrigue of romance! - and all that.. sure you want to do this?! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, goes over to the copper water clock, ! ! ! ! ! ! looks at it) What a finely made water clock! - should last centuries..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou forged it..

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSI know..! ! ! ! ! ! (CLANGS his hammer on it)Any problems with it?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOnly that it keeps running out of water..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSThat’s the nature of time - you can’t hold on to it.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (CLANGS his hammer on the water clock two ! ! ! ! ! ! more times)Know what I mean?! ! ! ! ! ! (Repeats three CLANGS) Huh?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYes..

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSHuh?! ! ! ! ! ! (Repeats three CLANGS)!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI know what you mean.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (The CLANGING resonates through the ! ! ! ! ! ! cavern, then dies down and we hear the ! ! ! ! ! ! DRIPPING of the water clock) ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUS Time.. only affects you mortals - we gods live forever and ever! - but then again, we gods live forever and ever - go figure - I’m going back down to Tartarus, before those two lazy gods find I clanged them up here, and not down at my forge - I got a silver breastplate to finish for Ares..! ! ! ! ! ! (He turns, and limps to the top of the stairs ! ! ! ! ! ! going down, pauses, turns around)Listen, next time you have a problem with a water clock, call a plumber, not a blacksmith..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESA what?

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSNothing, I know too much..! ! ! ! ! ! (He turns and starts to go down the stairs)Oh, these stairs again! - soon as I finish that breastplate, I’m gonna forge me a moving metal ramp, replace these damn stairs..

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESForge a what?

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSNever mind..


! ! ! ! ! ! (He disappears into the Underworld - after ! ! ! ! ! ! awhile, a distant CLANGING is heard, again - ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER THANTACLOS and HYPNOS from the ! ! ! ! ! ! side cavern)! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWe met with the dopplegangers..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. they pledged allegiance to us..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. a promise of immortality will do that....

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. you’ll soon be under cave arrest, Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. the dopplegangers will be coming for you..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSBut first, we must go down to Tartarus..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. we heard a clanging..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. must be the signal from Hephaestus..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. another soul needs judging..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. whether it lived up to its fate..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. whether or not it deserves punishment..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. and if it does..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. we’ll come up with something diabolical..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS..we’re creative!!


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. sometimes we watch..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. not that we enjoy it!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. we’ve got to go down..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. but, we’ll soon be back up...

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. nobody go anywhere!! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. especially you, Hermes - watch over Ostanes.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT, floating ! ! ! ! ! ! through down the stairs)

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESWho are they? - ‘don’t go anywhere’ - I’m a god, too - the personal messenger of Zeus!! ! ! ! ! ! (Goes to the stairs that go up)I have mortals I must guide down - you’re on your own, Ostanes - until next time, when I have to guide you back to the Underworld..! ! ! ! ! ! (HERMES EXITS up the stairs - Ostanes looks ! ! ! ! ! ! up after him, then stands motionless,! ! ! ! ! ! looking at the water clock - ENTER PERCY, ! ! ! ! ! ! MARY, BYRON and CLAIRE run out from the ! ! ! ! ! ! side cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYThe dopplegangers!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONThey’re after us!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes! - can you help us?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI have no more power over the dopplegangers..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIRE! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking back into the cavern)I hear them!


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI have only minutes left - I must save myself!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes - for me!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)For you, Mary.. quick up the stairs! - leave the dopplegangers to me!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREBack to the surface!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBack to my son!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBack to life!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Rushing to the foot of the stairs going up)Let’s go!! ! ! ! ! ! (The four of them run up the stairs, pause at ! ! ! ! ! ! the landing - Ostanes stands motionless, ! ! ! ! ! ! looking at the water clock)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Watches it DRIP its remaining drops)Almost no water left.. if I am to die, now, then it is my fate..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Calls down)You don’t have to die, Ostanes - come up to life with us, be mortal, again - live a mortal life - come, Ostanes, hurry - be one of us!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Watches the clock drip its remaining drops - ! ! ! ! ! ! it’s DRIPPING echoing throughout the cavern - ! ! ! ! ! ! he calls up)Why should I live? - to pass centuries more in this dark Netherworld, in the company of bats and dopplegangers? - my thread is cut! - I’m dead! - but, can I become more dead? ! ! ! ! ! ! (The clock DRIPS louder)Where does time go? - the thread of a man’s life ends - yet, time continues on, as if we never even existed...! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at the dripping clock, pauses)You mortals go up - I’ll be right behind you - hurry!


! ! ! ! ! ! (PERCY, MARY, BYRON and CLAIRE EXIT ! ! ! ! ! ! through the hole at the top of the stairs - ! ! ! ! ! ! Ostanes turns, goes to the lake, looks out over ! ! ! ! ! ! Lake Brimstone - the clock stops dripping - a ! ! ! ! ! ! great silence in the cavern - he turns around, ! ! ! ! ! ! gathers his robes about him)At last..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (He slowly falls backwards into Lake Brimstone ! ! ! ! ! ! - a great hissing and boiling - then the lake ! ! ! ! ! ! resumes its bubbling - the SCREECH of a bat ! ! ! ! ! ! as the first of the dopplegangers pour out into ! ! ! ! ! ! the empty cavern - they stand looking out over ! ! ! ! ! ! a bubbling Lake Brimstone - a mist rolls off the ! ! ! ! ! ! lake, and envelopes them - the LIGHTS DIM)! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CURTAIN! ! ! ! ! !

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Documents

Lake Brimstone - Draft 7