king oedipus
__________________________
Kelly Lusk
8.1.2014
Kelly Lusk
1846 W. Henderson St.
Chicago, IL 60657
[email protected]
317.695.7127
king oedipus
Kelly Lusk
Characters.
Oedipus.
Bethany then The Sphinx
The Oracle.
Laius.
Jocasta.
Creon
Guards a Doctor and Citizens.
Location(s)
A Hill. Corinth. Roads. Thebes. The Palace. A Hospital. Bedrooms.
Time.
Then and now. M ostly now.
Notes:
- Depending on the size of your production, feel free to double cast the citizens, guards, doctor,
etc.
- Divide the citizen's dialogue up with however many citizens you find suitable to cast.
Important Note
Please embrace the anachronisms.
Part One.
The Beginning
1.
The side of a hill.
There’s a storm in the distance.
BETHANY runs on.
Twirls.
Falls to the ground.
Laughs.
OEDIPUS runs on after her.
BETHANY
You’re slow.
OEDIPUS
You’re fast.
OEDIPUS makes his way to the ground.
BETHANY
You’re going to love me forever, right?
OEDIPUS
Forever and ever.
BETHANY
Even when I’m old? And ugly? And I can’t see? And my breath smells like pee? And I
walk around with a walker yelling at kids. You know how they are. Those old ladies.
Pull your pants up!
Get off my lawn!
I need some iced tea!
OEDIPUS
Iced tea?
2.
BETHANY
I don’t know my grandma says that a lot.
Did you know someone has a birthday soon?
OEDIPUS
Tomorrow.
BETHANY
She’s a really cute girl too.
OEDIPUS
She is.
BETHANY
She’s funny too.
OEDIPUS
Yeah.
Funny looking.
BETHANY shoves OEDIPUS.
BETHANY
I feel so old. Even my name. Bethany. It sounds old. It sounds like a grandmother’s name.
32 is a death sentence.
OEDIPUS
Hey. That’s how old I am.
BETHANY
M y back. It’s starting to hurt.
Young people don’t complain about their back.
OEDIPUS
Young people kiss.
They smile.
They kiss.
She lays her head on his chest.
3.
BETHANY
Tell me a story.
OEDIPUS
About what?
BETHANY
Anything. No. Wait.
Flowers.
OEDIPUS
Flowers?
BETHANY
Flowers.
OEDIPUS
Flowers.
Once upon a time there was this baby flower.
This baby flower was very small and very scared.
The daddy said don’t worry little baby flower.
I’ll take care of you.
And the big daddy flower grew this very large petal. The biggest petal ever. And it
covered the baby flower during a storm.
The storm.
Outside a castle.
32 years ago.
(Separate. But not.)
OEDIPUS
The storm was big. And strong. But the daddy flower was bigger and stronger.
LAIUS enters.
Thunder.
BETHANY
A flower family. How nice.
The ORACLE enters.
4.
LAIUS
What do I do?
OEDIPUS
And the daddy. The daddy said to the baby. Don’t worry.
LAIUS
It was an accident.
OEDIPUS
I’ll always protect you. Daddy is always here.
The ORACLE slaps LAIUS to the ground.
OEDIPUS
But the storm was strong.
Thunder.
The ORACLE grabs LAIUS.
ORACLE
I warned you. I told you.
OEDIPUS
But the storm was getting stronger. And the baby looked up to the daddy and said what
do I do?
LAIUS
What do I do?
ORACLE
Your mistake has angered the gods.
They told you. No children. Ever. No kin. No continuation of your family.
OEDIPUS
And the daddy looked at the baby. As the water was rising. Up to his little tiny petals.
And the daddy with a smile said
Nothing.
ORACLE
He must be killed.
5.
OEDIPUS
We do nothing.
Enjoy the end.
Like we enjoyed the beginning.
And the middle.
ORACLE
You make sure he never learns to speak. You make sure that his heart stops. You make
sure that he never sees the light of day. You take that baby. And you drown him.
Show the gods his spilt blood.
You burn him.
You nail him to a post and leave him for the crows.
You drill a hole through his ankles and you tie his feet together. He must never walk.
You kill that baby.
Because the gods told you not to have a child.
And you did.
Correct your wrong.
OEDIPUS
You just shut your eyes and smile.
ORACLE
Or your son will kill you.
OEDIPUS
And the gods looked down and they took pity on the baby flower and the daddy flower.
ORACLE
The gods are not pleased with you, Laius.
And neither am I.
LAIUS nods his head.
ORACLE pushes LAIUS back down.
ORACLE stops.
6.
ORACLE
If that boy becomes king... Thebes will be destroyed.
It’s citizens will be plagued. The town will be cursed.
And you’ll be dead before you even see it coming.
She leaves.
OEDIPUS
And they stopped the storm. And the sun came out. And everything went back to the
way it was.
LAIUS leaves.
BETHANY kisses OEDIPUS.
BETHANY
You look tired.
OEDIPUS
I’m tired.
JOCASTA appears. Holding her baby.
She sings a greek lullaby.
CREON stands nearby. Smiling.
The storm is faint and outside.
BETHANY admires her OEDIPUS.
BETHANY
Tired Oedipus. Sleepy Oedipus.
CREON
Little tiny Nephew. Perfectly neat Nephew.
JOCASTA
(singing)
And I will love you till the end of time
And you will always and forever be mine.
And your smile will shine as bright as the sun.
You are my perfect and handsome son.
CREON
M om would sing that to me.
7.
JOCASTA smiles.
OEDIPUS has fallen asleep.
BETHANY kisses his head.
BETHANY
(whisper)
I’m going to pick flowers.
I’ll be right back.
CREON
He’s perfect.
BETHANY runs down the hill.
JOCASTA
M mmhhh... He smiles in his sleep.
He’s so lovely.
OEDIPUS smiles in his sleep.
LAIUS enters.
CREON opens his arms to hug LAIUS.
CREON
How’s being a father?
LAIUS
Nothing like it.
CREON
He’s sleeping through the storm.
JOCASTA
He’s wonderful.
LAIUS
You look tired.
JOCASTA
I’m not tired.
8.
CREON
She could never tell a believable lie. I remember once she came home from school and her
hair was cut and mom asked her what she did and she said she got into a fight with a tiger
and he bit her hair off.
JOCASTA
I swear that’s what happened. It was a tiger named Billy. Billy the tiger.
CREON
She still can’t admit it.
JOCASTA blows a raspberry at her brother.
CREON
You should sleep.
JOCASTA
I can’t stop looking at him.
He’s so handsome.
LAIUS
He’s beautiful.
JOCASTA
He’s strong.
CREON
Did you decide on a name yet?
JOCASTA
I have so many. I can’t pick one.
CREON
How about Billy the tiger?
LAIUS
We can name him tomorrow.
LAIUS scoops the baby from JOCASTA.
9.
JOCASTA
I’m going to lay down. But I’m not going to sleep. M y eyesLAIUS kisses her forehead.
She smiles.
JOCASTA
They need to rest.
LAIUS
You need to rest.
JOCASTA
Good night, Creon.
CREON
Good night, sweet sister.
JOCASTA hugs CREON.
JOCASTA lingers in the doorway.
JOCASTA
M y boys...
JOCASTA admires her husband and child.
JOCASTA leaves.
CREON
Fatherhood.
LAIUS
Fatherhood.
They smile at one another.
CREON extends his hand.
They shake.
CREON
You scared?
LAIUS
Yes.
10.
CREON
It’ll be fine. You have an entire kingdom to help. You’re far better off than most.
Congratulations.
CREON embraces LAIUS
CREON kisses the baby on his head.
CREON
Good night, sweet sweet nephew.
LAIUS cradles his son.
OEDIPUS turns.
LAIUS sings him a different greek lullaby.
LAIUS
(singing)
You’ll be strong and big and tough
You’ll be burly and hairy and rough.
You will growl and you will howl.
You will stand and you will bow...
He kisses his baby.
LAIUS
I love you.
I’m sorry.
LAIUS puts his son under his cloak.
He leaves.
OEDIPUS bolts up.
OEDIPUS
NO!!!
BETHANY returns.
BETHANY
Sweetheart, what’s wrong?
11.
OEDIPUS
I had a nightmare.
I was a baby. I... was this small and tiny baby.
And this woman was holding me... and.... there was lightening. And I felt so... scared. I
felt so scared.
BETHANY
Sweetheart.
BETHANY pulls OEDIPUS in.
OEDIPUS
I keep having these dreams...
BETHANY
It’s okay. Sshhhh....
OEDIPUS
I’m so scared.
BETHANY
Baby...
I found a field of flowers.
OEDIPUS
It looks like it’s going to storm.
BETHANY
The flowers were closing. Hurry. I need to show them to you before they close.
And then we’ll go home. And we’ll eat dinner. And we’ll go to bed.
And we’ll dream of each other. And you won’t have nightmares. Ever ever ever again.
OEDIPUS smiles.
Thunder.
It begins to rain.
BETHANY
Come on.
BETHANY grabs OEDIPUS’ hand.
12.
They run off.
Thunder.
LAIUS enters.
It rains harder.
He puts the baby down where OEDIPUS was
sleeping.
He pulls a knife out of his cloak.
He holds it up.
The baby’s crying stops.
LAIUS looks down and sees his smiling son.
He can’t.
He stands.
He backs away.
LAIUS
Never come to Thebes.
Live. Elsewhere. But never return. Never look for me. Us.
Don’t seek answers. It only ends in heartbreak. And tragedy.
You were a mistake. You were never meant to be.
I’m sorry I can’t be your father.
I wanted to.
Become king of your own life. Crown yourself.
I’m sorry.
Never come to Thebes.
Please.
LAIUS runs away.
The baby cries.
And cries.
And cries.
13.
Thunder
OEDIPUS
NO!!
OEDIPUS appears and bolts up in his sleep.
BETHANY turns to him.
They are in bed.
She comforts him.
BETHANY
You keep having nightmares.
OEDIPUS
I keep getting scared.
BETHANY
The same ones?
OEDIPUS
Yes.
BETHANY
You were a baby.
OEDIPUS
Yes.
BETHANY
And you were scared.
OEDIPUS
Yes.
BETHANY
Oedipus...
The oracle told me something that I think you should know...
They talk in candle light.
14.
2.
JOCASTA cries on her bed.
CREON tries to comfort her.
A GUARD enters.
JOCASTA
Anything?
The GUARD shakes his head.
GUARD
It’s been almost a year, ma’am.
JOCASTA throws something.
JOCASTA
Queen.
That’s what I am.
CREON
JocastaJOCASTA
And he talks to me like this.
M y son is missing. Our prince has been taken.
If I ever see him and he’s not looking for my boy. I swear to the gods that I will have his
head on a stick and I won’t feel the least bit bad.
Beat.
CREON
You heard the queen.
GUARD
Yes, my lord.
JOCASTA
Leave.
15.
GUARD leaves.
JOCASTA looks at a baby picture of
OEDIPUS.
JOCASTA
I am so angry and so sad.
CREON
What can I do?
JOCASTA
Just... stay. Here. With me.
LAIUS enters.
JOCASTA
I’ve been crying so long.
LAIUS
M y sweet.
JOCASTA runs to LAIUS and cries.
LAIUS
I wish you’d stop.
JOCASTA
Is nothing inside you stirred?
LAIUS
I am king.
JOCASTA
You are a father.
And your son is gone. Half of you is missing. Half of me is missing.
Can’t you feel that?
LAIUS
You don’t raise your voice to a king.
CREON gets up to leave.
16.
JOCASTA
You’re no king.
A king wouldn’t lose his son.
LAIUS
Thank you for your guidance and support during this time, Creon.
They shake hands.
CREON
I’ll go to the guards.
JOCASTA
Creon.
CREON
I’m just going to speak with the guards.
JOCASTA
Then come back.
Beat.
CREON
I’ll be back.
CREON leaves.
LAIUS
I don’t like him being here.
JOCASTA
He’s my brother.
LAIUS
You don’t think I can be a proper king so you brought your brother to babysit me.
JOCASTA
I’m scared of you.
17.
LAIUS
You brought him here to protect you...
Stillness
Beat.
JOCASTA
Why’d you kill our son?
LAIUS
IJOCASTA
If you lie to me...You’re a murderer.
Aren’t you?
You took my son.
You took my son and you killed him.
LAIUS
You think that?
JOCASTA
Yes. No.
I don’t know.
I do. Yes. I do believe it. I believe you took him and I believe you killed him.
LAIUS
Why would I do that?
JOCASTA
We didn’t even name him. We have no name to mourn. Nothing to write down. HeWhy did you take him away?
Why would you take my son?
LAIUS
To protect us.
18.
JOCASTA
...
LAIUS
He was a cursed child, Jocasta.
JOCASTA
You actually did it. You took him.
LAIUS
Listen to me.
JOCASTA
I never want to see you again.
LAIUS
Jocasta.
JOCASTA
You’re a coward!
LAIUS
He was dangerous.
JOCASTA
Killing a child that has no means to defend himself?
LAIUS
He was going to kill me.
JOCASTA
You’re disgusting.
LAIUS
He was going to give you a child.
JOCASTA
As a son should.
LAIUS
A child for you, from you.
Beat.
19.
LAIUS
A cursed family.
JOCASTA
You speak of perverse nightmares.
LAIUS
I speak of prophecy from the oracle.
Beat.
JOCASTA looks.
LAIUS
Yes.
JOCASTA
The oracle spoke to you about our son?
LAIUS
She sought me out.
JOCASTA
Why?
LAIUS
I am the only son of my father who was an only son. The gods wished for our family to
end with us. Our family has fulfilled the prophecy of being founding fathers for this city
and now our duties are done so this family is done.
We continued the line.
We’re being punished.
The oracle told me that if I were to have a son he would kill me. And wed you.
JOCASTA
Oracles say things every day.
They’re an ancient, idiotic people whoLAIUS
It was the oracle who told me about my father. And how he would die.
And you. And how I would meet you in the garden. That spring day.
Beat.
20.
JOCASTA
That oracle?
LAIUS
Yes.
Silence.
Beat.
JOCASTA goes to LAIUS.
She cries into him.
LAIUS comforts her.
He begins to cry.
LAIUS
I’m so sorry.
JOCASTA
No. No no no no. Laius. M y Laius.
King.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry I did not trust you. I’m sorry I doubted you.
You are my king. In this room. You are my king here. Now.
You protected us.
That was not our son. He was a punishment. He was a burden.
He was a mistake. You righted it.
You saved us.
LAIUS
I’m sorry.
JOCASTA
Sweetheart. M y hero. M y king.
JOCASTA holds a crying LAIUS.
JOCASTA
M y king. M y Laius.
21.
3.
OEDIPUS and BETHANY sit up in bed.
BETHANY
The oracle told me that I’d fall in love with a man who would love his family to death.
I avoided loving you for so long because of this.
But then there came that day when you asked me to marry you...
I shouldn’t have said yes. I just thought... perhaps we could beat it.
Perhaps we could win.
As long as we don’t start a family. We’ll be fine.
I feel so foolish.
OEDIPUS
Why didn’t you tell me?
BETHANY
I was scared.
OEDIPUS
You should have told me.
BETHANY
I didn’t want it to be true.
I thought perhaps if I kept it a secretI thought you’d leave me.
Beat.
OEDIPUS gets out of bed.
BETHANY
Where are youOEDIPUS
I need to speak to the oracle.
BETHANY
Oedipus.
22.
OEDIPUS
I need to know.
BETHANY
Don’t go.
OEDIPUS
You should’ve told me this. What if I end up hurting you?
BETHANY
You’ll never hurt me.
OEDIPUS
The oracle knows.
BETHANY
The oracle doesn’t know you. I know you.
You would never hurt me.
OEDIPUS
I have to go.
BETHANY
You’re leaving.
OEDIPUS
I love you.
BETHANY
You won’t come back.
OEDIPUS
I’ll come back.
BETHANY
You won’t.
The oracle said that the man I love will follow his dreams away from me.
I thought she meant... dreams... ambitions. I didn’t think it would be... dreams.
23.
OEDIPUS
You are my dreams. All of them. Why would I leave that?
Why would I leave you?
BETHANY
The oracle knows things. The oracle could... what if she tells you something about me.
Something... and you leave?
OEDIPUS
What could the oracle possibly tell me that would make me want to leave forever.
How can I not come back to you?
He kisses her.
OEDIPUS
I’ll always come back.
BETHANY
Promise.
OEDIPUS
Cross my heart.
BETHANY
Hope to die.
OEDIPUS
Stick a needle in my eye.
BETHANY finally smiles.
OEDIPUS kisses her.
OEDIPUS
I love you.
BETHANY
Come back.
OEDIPUS
I’ll be back.
24.
BETHANY
I love you.
OEDIPUS
I love you.
They kiss.
OEDIPUS leaves.
BETHANY sits alone.
4.
The ORACLE sits on a rug on the floor.
Then and now.
(She exists in both places at once. She
orchestrates the two conversation with
incredible ease.)
The ORACLE chants something in Greek.
LAIUS enters.
ORACLE
Pray.
LAIUS gets on a knee and says a silent prayer.
LAIUS
You wanted to see me.
ORACLE looks up.
OEDIPUS enters.
ORACLE
Pray.
OEDIPUS kneels.
25.
ORACLE
Ignorant. Dumb. Stupid. Idiotic.
LAIUS
M a’am?
ORACLE
I’m just listing all the words that describe you.
OEDIPUS
Is this how you do it? I’ve neverORACLE
Your son lives.
OEDIPUS
I’ve never been a spiritual person.
LAIUS
I took him to a field. I left him. He was a child.
ORACLE
Children are more resilient than you know. Look around you. Everyone you see survived
being a child.
LAIUS
It’s been a year.
ORACLE
Your son walks.
LAIUS
That’s not possible.
ORACLE
Do you hear how foolish you sound?
OEDIPUS stands.
OEDIPUS
I’ve never done this before.
26.
ORACLE
Pray?
OEDIPUS
Visit an oracle.
LAIUS
How can a baby survive with no one?
ORACLE
We’re more alone than you think.
LAIUS
But he was a baby.
ORACLE
Crazier things have happened.
Crazier things will happen.
You seek answers.
OEDIPUS
Yes.
ORACLE
You think you’ve answered the question.
LAIUS
I did.
ORACLE
When in fact... you questioned it.
OEDIPUS
I’ve been having dreams.
ORACLE
And what happens when we question the gods?
OEDIPUS
They’ve been keeping me up. I can’t sleep. I can’t rest. I’m so tired.
I see things that I...
27.
M y wife. She told me you spoke with her. I thought..
I never really believed in this stuff. If I’m being honest.
LAIUS
What do I do?
OEDIPUS
I never really believed in anything. Growing up.
But it seems lately... Lately it seems that... I feel like I need answers to questions I have.
And that’s why I’m here.
LAIUS
M y son is alive?
OEDIPUS
M y wife told me that you told her I was dangerous.
LAIUS
M y wife thinks that I killed him.
OEDIPUS
That my prophecy was... that I’m to kill my family.
LAIUS
He’s going to kill me.
ORACLE
He is.
OEDIPUS
Why would someone kill their family?
LAIUS
What do I do?
ORACLE
He’ll visit me in thirty two years.
OEDIPUS
I don’t want to kill my family.
28.
ORACLE
He’s grown into a very nice young man.
OEDIPUS
Why would the gods have such a fate for me?
ORACLE
He’ll tell me about his dreams.
OEDIPUS
What did I do?
ORACLE
You’ve inherited a curse. You did nothing.
OEDIPUS
That’s not fair.
ORACLE
That’s life.
OEDIPUS
I dream I’m a baby and I have blood covering me.
I dream that I was birthed in a pool of blood. And the blood reaches my eyes.
And I can’t see.
ORACLE
You will kill your father.
OEDIPUS
M y father?
ORACLE
In thirty two years he will kill you.
LAIUS
How?
OEDIPUS
How?
29.
ORACLE
Now... I wouldn’t be a good oracle if I told you that, now would I?
LAIUS
What do I do?
ORACLE
You have thirty two years left with your lovely wife. Consider the knowledge of your
short time line a gift. From me to you. M ost men never know how much longer they have
left with their love.
I highly suggest that you use the years well. Be happy. No more princes. No more
children. The one you have will keep you busy enough I’m afraid.
LAIUS
Thirty two years.
ORACLE
To the day.
LAIUS
ButORACLE
Your family. Your wife.
OEDIPUS
Yes.
ORACLE
You love them.
OEDIPUS
Of course.
ORACLE
And you’d never want to hurt them.
OEDIPUS
No.
30.
ORACLE
And how can you hurt them if you are not around?
Beat.
OEDIPUS
I don’t want to leave home. I don’t want to leave Corinth.
ORACLE
We have so many homes in our lives. We grow up in one. We move to another. Then
another. Then another. Then, if we are lucky. We die at home. If we’re lucky.
OEDIPUS
Am I lucky?
ORACLE
Do you believe in luck?
OEDIPUS
Does it matter?
ORACLE
Now you’re getting it.
LAIUS
M y wife.
ORACLE
Thirty two years is a long time.
Cling to it.
Go to your Queen . Hold her. For thirty two years. Don’t let go.
And if you want her to live... you’ll leave.
LAIUS
Where do I go?
ORACLE
Keep him on the run.
Your son will come looking for you in Thebes.
He’ll go to the next town over to find you, but you’ll be one step ahead of him.
31.
To protect your wife, you must always be running from your son.
And if he catches you...
LAIUS
He’ll come back for her.
ORACLE
After he’s finished with you.
OEDIPUS
I love Corinth. Everything I have is in Corinth.
ORACLE
Time starts now, my King.
LAIUS
I’ll kill him first. Before he kills me.
ORACLE
If you enter a brawl with your son he will kill you.
LAIUS
I’m a good fighter.
ORACLE
As if skill matters.
OEDIPUS
I told her I wouldn’t leave.
LAIUS
She thinks I killed him.
Let’s leave that be. If she found out...
I don’t want to be a disappointment to her.
I’ll keep him away.
I’m sorry.
I was just trying to protect everyone
32.
ORACLE
I am sorry, my majesty.
The burden of revealing an ill fated future is nothing I’d wish.
I relish nothing about this.
LAIUS extends his hand to the ORACLE.
LAIUS
Thirty two years.
ORACLE
The gods have spoken.
LAIUS leaves.
ORACLE
I’m sorry.
OEDIPUS
I can’t leave.
ORACLE
You don’t have to.
OEDIPUS
You just told meORACLE
I told you a prophecy.
From the gods.
You take your own action. I have no knife at your throat.
I am not threatening your life.
Your next step is exactly that. Yours.
Don’t you dare blame any man but yourself for the consequences of your own actions.
We crown kings in this land every day. But the shiny metal that dons their heads mean
nothing. Nothing but dirt and minerals forged into a circle after years of doing nothing.
To become a true King... you become King of your life. So it’s your choice... you can be
Oedipus- a man subjected to the fates of the gods.
Or King Oedipus.
33.
And rule yourself.
There are consequences for every action. Every breath. Every look. Every heart beat.
But in the end... we’re all spiraling towards something we cannot see. Any maybe it’s
nothing.
Be a man. But don’t follow the faults of men.
OEDIPUS bows his head.
OEDIPUS leaves.
ORACLE
I am sorry.
Silence.
LAIUS enters.
ORACLE
Time can fly.
LAIUS comes and shakes the ORACLE’s hand.
ORACLE
Thirty two years. He’s grown. Looks like you. Strong chin.
He’s on his way.
LAIUS
How will I know it’s him?
ORACLE
He’s a lost soul. Wandering. He was not meant for this world and he has no place.
He seeks guidance.
LAIUS
Thank you for protecting my family.
ORACLE
You leave tonight.
LAIUS
Tomorrow morning.
34.
ORACLE
Tonight.
LAIUS
It’s her birthday.
ORACLE
KingLAIUS
I live in a kingdom. He will not come to me in my sleep and slit my throat and take my
wife.
This is the last birthday I have with Jocasta.
ORACLE
You’ve denied a prophecy before.
LAIUS
I am not missing the last birthday with my wife.
ORACLE
I encourage tonight.
LAIUS
Tomorrow morning.
ORACLE
The prophecy remains the same.
LAIUS
So does my decision.
ORACLE
Very well, your majesty.
ORACLE extends her hand.
LAIUS looks.
He hugs the ORACLE.
35.
LAIUS
M ay the gods smile on you, sir.
ORACLE
M ay they also for you.
LAIUS leaves.
ORACLE chants something in greek.
5.
A birthday cake.
The candles glow.
JOCASTA is surrounded by friends and family.
She smiles.
She waves.
BETHANY is sitting alone in nervous
excitement.
That soon just turns to nervousness.
LAIUS enters.
Waving.
He kisses JOCASTA.
They begin Happy Birthday.
A dream birthday.
JOCASTA thinks of her wish.
Smiles.
Blows the candles.
Celebration.
BETHANY coughs.
JOCASTA kisses LAIUS.
What a great birthday.
BETHANY cries.
36.
6.
Later that night.
LAIUS and JOCASTA in bed.
The alarm clock goes off.
JOCASTA
I want to sleep in. Let’s sleep in. It’s my birthday.
LAIUS
It hasn’t been your birthday for four hours.
JOCASTA smiles.
LAIUS
I love you.
JOCASTA
I love you.
LAIUS
I’m leaving for a trip.
JOCASTA
I don’t want you to go.
LAIUS
I need to.
JOCASTA
Stay. Just be a king. Not a diplomat. Just be my king.
LAIUS
I was supposed to leave this afternoon.
JOCASTA
On my birthday.
LAIUS
Yes.
37.
JOCASTA
You stayed.
LAIUS
Yes.
JOCASTA
You love me.
LAIUS
Yes.
JOCASTA kisses him.
JOCASTA
What a wonderful husband you are.
When are you leaving?
They kiss.
LAIUS
Soon.
They kiss.
JOCASTA
How soon?
They kiss.
LAIUS
Soon soon.
They kiss.
JOCASTA
Soon soon?
They kiss.
38.
LAIUS
Soon soon.
They kiss.
JOCASTA
I think you should stay. Forever.
In this bed with me. I want you to stay forever with me in this bed.
We’ll have servants come and bring us figs and grapes and cheese and wine.
We’ll get drunk every day. We’ll make love.
We’ll read Shakespeare to each other. Kiss. See how many ways we can hold each other.
See if we can break our record for longest cuddle.
LAIUS
I want to stay in bed with you forever.
I love you. I’ve never loved someone as much as I love you.
Like lady bugs love the corner of the living rooms in the summer.
Like mud loves my shoes.
Like children love chocolate.
I love you more than fire ants love biting at my ankles.
Like your old cat loved licking my thumb after a tuna sandwich.
JOCASTA
I miss that cat. She was my first pet.
LAIUS
She hated me.
JOCASTA
She loved you.
LAIUS
She hated me.
JOCASTA
She hated you.
They kiss.
LAIUS
When I think of what happens when I die. I see your face.
Nothing else.
39.
Your face.
And your hand on my shoulder. And your hand in my hand.
Everything smiling. All over. Everywhere.
And your lips on my lips. Forever.
Us dancing. Forever
I see your face kissing mine.
LAIUS clings to JOCASTA.
Beat.
JOCASTA
...you’ll be back...
Beat.
Silence.
JOCASTA hugs him back.
7.
M orning.
A road outside of Thebes.
OEDIPUS has a map and a back pack.
He is lost.
LAIUS enters.
OEDIPUS
Excuse me.
I’m lost.
LAIUS stops.
LAIUS
You’re lost.
OEDIPUS
I think so.
40.
LAIUS
You don’t know where you’re going?
OEDIPUS
No.
LAIUS
You have no set town in mind?
OEDIPUS
No.
LAIUS
Why are you out traveling?
OEDIPUS
Why are you?
Beat.
LAIUS
You have a sword.
OEDIPUS
So do you.
LAIUS
It’s a very nice one.
M ay I?
OEDIPUS hands LAIUS his sword.
LAIUS
Very very nice.
OEDIPUS
Thank you.
He hands it back.
LAIUS
A knight’s sword.
41.
OEDIPUS
Yes.
LAIUS
It’s stolen.
OEDIPUS
...yes.
LAIUS
It’s an honor to be killed by a knight’s sword.
OEDIPUS
M mmhhh
LAIUS
(re: oedipus’ wedding ring)
You have a wife.
OEDIPUS
Yes.
LAIUS
M e too.
The married life.
Nothing like it.
OEDIPUS
I’m sorry, sir, butLAIUS
Do you love your wife?
OEDIPUS
Yes.
LAIUS
M e too.
I love her very very very very much.
I would do anything for her.
Love is this strange thing that is.... just the opposite of what you’d expect things to be.
42.
Do you have children?
OEDIPUS
No.
LAIUS
M e neither.
LAIUS reaches into his bag.
He has a ball.
LAIUS
I got this. It was given to me actually. M y father found out that my wife was pregnant.
She was pregnant and we were trying for a long time.
OEDIPUS
I’m sorry.... I though you said you didn’t have a child...
LAIUS
Things happen.
Sometimes things happen.
One day it was there and the next...
The gods have interesting plans sometimes, you know?
M akes you wonder how fair this all is. Or how much it’s all just them going ‘I think
this...and that and I’ll make this happen or whatever.’
Like why did everything come together at this certain time during this particular day or
whatever.
I’m sorry.
OEDIPUS
No. I’ve been...Yes.
Beat.
LAIUS tosses OEDIPUS the ball.
43.
LAIUS
I’m sorry.
He looks at the ball.
OEDIPUS
This is a nice base ball. Old.
He tosses it back.
LAIUS
Old is still okay sometimes. You will get old. Your wife will get old.
He tosses it back.
They go on playing catch.
OEDIPUS
She already has. Apparently. She told me.
LAIUS
How old?
OEDIPUS
Thirty one.
Thirty two. Yesterday.
LAIUS
Women don’t get better with age.
M en do, though. We rise to womem.
OEDIPUS
I want children.
To play catch with.
He tosses the ball.
He tosses the ball back.
LAIUS holds it.
LAIUS
I get so amazed sometime how everything in life fits together in a perfect moment to
make a choice completely inevitable. I’ve been think a lot about that lately.
44.
Beat.
LAIUS pulls out a knife.
LAIUS
Have you ever stabbed someone?
It’s surprisingly easy. I think we’re are the most selfish when we kill someone.
LAIUS lunges to OEDIPUS.
He dodges it.
LAIUS
We’re in charge of fate. Let no one tell you anything different. If I can teach you one
thing... forget the gods.
Beat.
LAIUS
You know that feeling you get when you just know you have to do something, but you
don’t understand why?
LAIUS lunges again.
A sword fight breaks out between them.
LAIUS manages to cut OEDIPUS’ back.
OEDIPUS manages to stab LAIUS.
LAIUS
I’m sorry.
OEDIPUS pulls out his sword.
Stabs LAIUS behind him.
LAIUS grabs onto OEDIPUS as he falls.
They fall together.
LAIUS
Why do you live?
LAIUS dies.
OEDIPUS is bloody from the fight. And weak.
45.
He tries crawling away.
A GUARD from the castle runs up.
GUARD
The king.
OEDIPUS
What?
GUARD
Who attacked you two?
Where did he go?
OEDIPUS
The king?
The GUARD goes to OEDIPUS.
GUARD
Sir.
OEDIPUS
He’s the king?
GUARD
Who did this to you?
OEDIPUS
...
It was a mad man. He ran up and attacked us.
He grabbed this man’s knife and stabbed me.
GUARD goes to the sword.
GUARD
Is this his sword?
OEDIPUS
Yes.
46.
GUARD
He’s from Corinth.
OEDIPUS
Yes.
GUARD
The king.
GUARD goes to LAIUS
GUARD
He’s dead. The king is...GUARDS!
The GUARD blows his whistle.
GUARD
We need to help the King! Save the King!
GUARDS run on to tend to LAIUS and
OEDIPUS.
They carry them off.
8.
OEDIPUS is laying in a hospital bed.
JOCASTA sits in a seat nearby.
OEDIPUS wakes up.
JOCASTA
Sir.
OEDIPUS
Bethany.
JOCASTA
Sir?
OEDIPUS
Where am I?
47.
JOCASTA
You were out walking and you were with my husband.
OEDIPUS
Where am I?
JOCASTA
Thebes.
OEDIPUS
Your husband?
JOCASTA
Yes.
OEDIPUS
The king?
JOCASTA
Yes.
OEDIPUS
He’s dead...
JOCASTA
I know... I know...
JOCASTA begins to cry.
OEDIPUS holds out his hand.
She takes it.
JOCASTA
He wasn’t supposed to leave.... Oh god... I miss him so much. Already.
I loved his smile.
OEDIPUS holds her hand.
OEDIPUS
He had a handsome smile.
OEDIPUS holds her hand as she cries.
48.
JOCASTA
We have no king.
I have no king...
BETHANY appears crying.
With her birthday cake.
JOCASTA
I miss him already.
BETHANY
I miss him...
JOCASTA
I’m a cursed woman. I’m not allowed to have men. M y son is dead. M y husband is dead.
I have no one.
I have no one.
BETHANY
I have no one.
OEDIPUS holds her hand tighter.
OEDIPUS
It’s okay. Shhh.... It’s okay.
Silence.
BETHANY cries. And cries. And cries.
She transforms.
She is now the SPHINX.
She flies to Thebes.
And the SPHINX cries.
And cries.
And cries.
JOCASTA.
What was that?
OEDIPUS sits up in bed.
He gets up and walks to the window.
Looks out.
49.
A GUARD enters.
GUARD
Queen?
The SPHINX screams again.
They listen to outside.
We hear the town screaming.
There is crashing.
Buildings are falling down.
Fire.
Riots.
The SPHINX cries again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
The SPHINX cries one last time.
OEDIPUS collapses on the floor.
End of Part One.
Part Two.
The Middle
1.
Two months later.
OEDIPUS lays in the hospital bed.
His head is bandaged.
JOCASTA sits in a chair.
The SPHINX screams from outside.
A building falls.
OEDIPUS wakes up.
50.
JOCASTA
Oh. You’re awake. Just... um... no no no. Stay still. Doctor!
We’ll get a doctor. Doctor!
A DOCTOR comes in.
JOCASTA
No no no. Don’t move. Lay back down. Head on the pillow. Good.
The DOCTOR checks vitals, reflexes, etc.
JOCASTA
You collapsed. You went into a coma for a couple of months.
OEDIPUS
How... Um...
JOCASTA
Just rest.
JOCASTA brings him some water.
Another building falls.
DOCTOR
He’ll be fine. Rest. That’s important. We’ll try walking in a while.
I’ll be right back.
DOCTOR leaves.
JOCASTA
She won’t leave.
The SPHINX screams.
JOCASTA
She’s been here for two months. She arrived right when you collapsed. Or you collapsed
right when she arrived.
JOCASTA walks to the window.
51.
JOCASTA
She’s killed so many. She’s so angry.
I’m sorry, would you like anything? Water orOEDIPUS
Why is a queen showing me such hospitality?
JOCASTA
You were with my husband. You tried to protect him from the mad man from Corinth.
I will do all I can for the man who did all he could.
A sad smile from JOCASTA.
JOCASTA
Where were you going? Do you have family? We can send a messenger.
OEDIPUS
It’s fine.
JOCASTA
You must have family.
OEDIPUS
I suppose everyone has family.
JOCASTA
Where are you traveling to?
OEDIPUS
I don’t know.
JOCASTA
Are you running away?
OEDIPUS
...
JOCASTA
Your wife must be worried.
JOCASTA takes his left hand into hers.
52.
JOCASTA
Your finger swelled around it. We couldn’t remove it.
It’s a beautiful ring. Old.
OEDIPUS
It was her grandmother’s.
The SPHINX screams.
JOCASTA
She’s angry.
I think she was in love with my husband. She came right when he died.
She’s mourning him.
She misses him.
OEDIPUS
What is it?
JOCASTA
A Sphinx.
A demon creature. Sent to terrorize the town.
I’ve never seen one. I’ve only heard stories. Ghost stories. Campfire tales.
The gods were trying to figure out what creatures to grace the earth.
The Sphinx was a mistake. An experiment that took itself too seriously. But the
underworld adored the Sphinxes.
They’re the kind of creature that can only live in peace when they’re with their own kind.
It’s powerful. M ore powerful than some gods.
She has both physical strength and wisdom.
She’s killed almost half the town.
She’s destroyed so much.
She’s beautiful in the way that a fire devouring a house is beautiful. The ease of tragedy.
It’s something bigger than ourselves and cannot be stopped and cannot be escaped. You
just watch.
OEDIPUS
Your king.
53.
JOCASTA
M y brother has come to help. He’s noble and brave. And...Things change so quickly in life. They go from good to bad in seconds.
And I can’t catch my breath.
We have no time to mourn what was. We have no time to process.
We get trampled.
A beast comes and destroys your town after your husband has been destroyed.
OEDIPUS offers his hand.
JOCASTA takes it.
Another building falls.
Screams.
JOCASTA
I don’t know what there is I can do. What can I do? M y people...
What do I do?
The DOCTOR returns.
He has a walker.
DOCTOR
Can we try walking?
Your legs have atrophied. We can use the walker now until we’ll get you to walking
normal.
OEDIPUS slowly gets out of bed.
With the walker.
He tries to walk across the room.
He’s cautious. Like a baby walking for the first
time.
OEDIPUS
Ow.
JOCASTA
Your back.
OEDIPUS
It still hurts.
54.
JOCASTA
You had an infection. It’s getting better.
OEDIPUS
M y legs. They’re stiff.
JOCASTA holds her arms out.
OEDIPUS makes his way towards her.
He makes it.
JOCASTA
Good job. You’re doing good. You’re... you’re doing well.
A GUARD comes.
GUARD
Queen. Your brother wishes to see you.
JOCASTA
Yes.
Good bye...- I’m sorry. We never got your name.
OEDIPUS
Oedipus.
JOCASTA
Oedipus. I’m Jocasta.
Let me know if there is anything we can do for you, sir.
OEDIPUS
Thank you.
JOCASTA leaves.
DOCTOR
Sit.
The DOCTOR checks his blood pressure.
DOCTOR
You heal fast.
You’re strong.
55.
OEDIPUS
How many have died?
DOCTOR
It started small. The numbers. Everyone was smarter and knew better.
But then the queen offered a prize last month and that’s increased the deaths.
OEDIPUS
If you kill the Sphinx you get a prize?
DOCTOR
Yes.
OEDIPUS
Sound like a carnival game rather thanDOCTOR
You become king.
Of Thebes.
Not a bad deal, really. For a carnival game.
Answer a riddle. Become king.
Some think that’s why it’s getting stronger. The gods are angry.
Kings are not something that should be left up to contest.
It’s blood.
The SPHINX screams.
2.
CREON looks out at Thebes from the roof.
JOCASTA comes up.
JOCASTA
Do you remember my wedding?
CREON
Very much.
56.
JOCASTA
You looked handsome.
CREON
Everyone looks handsome in a tux. Sharp.
You had flowers in your hair.
JOCASTA
I got drunk.
M om was upset with me.
She was yelling at me in the hallway.
CREON
You threw up.
JOCASTA
She kept telling me that this is not how a bride acts on her wedding. This is not what a
bride does.
She held my hair as she yelled at me.
I felt really close to her.
CREON
I miss her.
JOCASTA
I miss him.
CREON
We got high at the reception.
JOCASTA shoves CREON.
JOCASTA
I knew it!
CREON
In the back. With the cater waiters.
57.
JOCASTA
Hahahahaha. I remember him coming in and his eyes were...- oh! And he devoured the
cake!
And I remember asking him! I even asked him if he was smoking pot with you and he said
no and I remember being so mad because I wanted to get stoned so badly.
He was so goofy. He was so fun. He was so perfect.
I had the best wedding ever.
CREON
You did.
JOCASTA
I know a lot of brides say that... but it’s true. I had the best wedding ever.
CREON looks at his watch.
JOCASTA
She’s late?
CREON
I don’t think she can be late.
JOCASTA
If you’re late you’re late.
She scares me sometimes. She has this way about her that... creepy. I don’t like that she
knows things. People shouldn’t know things. It gets us into trouble.
The ORACLE appears.
ORACLE
Knowledge is important.
JOCASTA
Is knowledge important?
What about compassion? Love. Kindness. You can have that without knowledge.
ORACLE
Can you?
58.
JOCASTA
You’ve never been in love, have you?
ORACLE
M y queen.
Love is something that is weak. It’s a whisper.
The gods have bigger plans for us than love. They have shouts for us.
JOCASTA
I don’t want shouts. I want a quiet life.
I’d rather believe in people than believe in gods.
CREON
I’m sorry.
ORACLE
Life has been tragic lately.
JOCASTA
I hate when people talk about me like I’m not here.
CREON
Jocasta.
Beat.
ORACLE
Your hero is here.
CREON
To kill the sphinx?
JOCASTA
He’s in the city?
ORACLE
He’s here. He’s a traveler.
JOCASTA
The man in the hospital.
Oedipus.
59.
CREON
He can get rid of her?
ORACLE
He can.
JOCASTA leaves.
ORACLE
Not all strangers are too be trusted.
CREON
Is Oedipus to be trusted?
ORACLE
He’ll defeat the Sphinx.
CREON
And then?
ORACLE
He’ll fulfill the prophecy.
CREON
What prophecy?
ORACLE
Our lives are littered with prophecies. Believing them or not is our choice.
CREON
Does it matter if we believe in a prophecy?
The ORACLE smiles.
She goes to CREON.
Shakes his hand.
ORACLE
The sphinx will be gone by this evening.
60.
3.
OEDIPUS is using a cane.
He’s practicing walking.
JOCASTA enters.
JOCASTA
He walks.
OEDIPUS
The cramps are mostly gone. M y hips.
JOCASTA
Don’t go too fast.
OEDIPUS
Hopefully soon I’ll have two legs instead of three.
JOCASTA
Back to normal.
OEDIPUS
Back to normal.
They smile.
JOCASTA
I think you were sent here to help us.
I think... the gods... or whatever... the universe, maybe... I think you’re supposed to save
the city. I think you’re supposed to save the city and keep saving our city.
Oedipus.
Thebes can be yours.
OEDIPUS
I can’t walk.
JOCASTA
There’s no battle..
61.
OEDIPUS
How am IJOCASTA
It’s a riddle..
OEDIPUS
What’s the riddle?
JOCASTA
The only people who know the riddle are the ones who’ve attempted to answer.
Beat.
JOCASTA
I know it’s a lot to ask.
OEDIPUS
It is a lot to ask.
JOCASTA
I understand.
OEDIPUS
It’s a lot to ask of someone who’s not a citizen.
It’s a lot to ask of someone who you’ve just met.
JOCASTA
The oracle told me it was you.
The oracle can’t be wrong. As much as I wish the oracle would be wrong, It never is.
OEDIPUS
Ever?
I left my wife because of the oracle. I had a family. The oracle told me something that...and I believed her. I believed the oracle because you’re supposed to believe the oracle but
what if... this entire time... everyone just has believed in the oracle and no one has
questioned the oracle.
62.
JOCASTA
I understand.
M y city...
OEDIPUS
I could die.
JOCASTA
You could become King.
JOCASTA goes to OEDIPUS and takes his
hand.
She kneels.
JOCASTA
I’m begging.
She kisses his hand.
The SPHINX cries.
OEDIPUS looks.
He helps JOCASTA up.
He kisses her.
OEDIPUS
King Oedipus.
JOCASTA
King Oedipus.
She hugs him.
They hold each other.
The SPHINX cries.
4.
The SPHINX sleeps.
She yawns.
OEDIPUS appears.
63.
The SPHINX wakes up.
SPHINX
Oedipus.
...
You left.
....
You’re back.
You’re back.
SPHINX starts at OEDIPUS.
The SPHINX stops.
SPHINX
You’ve changed.
OEDIPUS
The oracle has instructed me to rid Thebes of you.
SPHINX
Rid Thebes of....You left. You’re the one who betrayed me.
OEDIPUS
I’m here to answer the riddle and nothing else.
SPHINX
Don’t you recognize me?
Beat.
SPHINX
There once was a daddy flower and a baby flower and then there was a storm.
OEDIPUS
Please do notSPHINX
And the storm was strong. So strong that-
64.
OEDIPUS
I was sent by the oracle toSPHINX
And the storm got stronger and stronger and the daddy flower protected the baby flowerOEDIPUS
The riddle. Please.
SPHINX
Sweet Oedipus. Brave Oedipus.
Beat.
OEDIPUS
Bethany.
SPHINX
Oedipus.
Silence.
OEDIPUS
I left you.
SPHINX
You left me.
Alone.
I cried. I cried so hard I thought I was going to die. I wanted to die.
I was going to tell you about the baby when you got home. But... Everything happened.
The gods turned me into this monster because I didn’t feel like a person anymore. I didn’t
feel like I was worthy of anything. I just wanted to love you that’s all I ever wanted to
do. And if I couldn’t be loved by you then...
I don’t know.
This seems fitting somehow.
The SPHINX walks towards OEDIPUS.
Puts her hand on his face.
She takes it away.
65.
SPHINX
You’re in love.
...
Aren’t you?
OEDIPUS
I’m here for Thebes.
SPHINX
You’re here for her.
Beat.
SPHINX
You’re the monster.
The SPHINX cries.
SPHINX
I wish this was a battle. I wish there was blood.
I wish I could rip out your throat.
I wish I could pull your arms out of your body.
If I could use my teeth I would peel your skin off your face because you deserve nothing.
You fell in love again.
OEDIPUS
It doesn’t mean I don’t love you.
SPHINX
Yes, it does. That’s exactly what it means.
You still wear my ring.
OEDIPUS
M y finger swelled.
The ring falls off his finger and clinks on the
ground.
She stares at it.
Picks up the ring.
66.
She looks at it.
Looks at him.
Sighs.
She goes back to her place.
Stands proudly as the SPHINX that she is.
Deep breath.
SPHINX
A thing there is whose voice is one;
Whose feet are four and two and three.
So mutable a thing is none
That moves in earth or sky or sea.
When on most feet this thing doth go,
Its strength is weakest and its pace most slow.
What is that which has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and threefooted?
Beat.
Silence.
OEDIPUS
M an begins crawling on four feet when he is a baby.
The SPHINX begins to cry.
OEDIPUS
Then he learns how to balance his life on two feet.
And before he dies, the burden of life becomes too much and he needs a cane.
The answer is M an.
Beat.
SPHINX
You were always so smart.
That’s what I liked about you.
The SPHINX coughs.
She sways slightly.
67.
SPHINX
The answer is always M an.
Don’t look to the gods for answers.
Look to each other.
Trust each other.
Defy fate.
Don’t let the gods decide your life.
The SPHINX sways more.
OEDIPUS goes and holds her up.
OEDIPUS lowers her to the ground.
The SPHINX puts her hand on his face.
She smiles.
The SPHINX cries one last time.
The SPHINX dies.
OEDIPUS puts her on the ground.
Kisses her cheek.
OEDIPUS cries.
Beat.
5.
A wedding.
Friends and family are there.
OEDIPUS stands holding JOCASTA’s hand.
The vows.
OEDIPUS
I do.
JOCASTA
M e too.
68.
The crowd claps.
They kiss.
They’re married.
Celebration.
Separate.
CREON and The ORACLE.
CREON
You can feel the peace in the air.
ORACLE
The air is certainly different. The citizens seem to be happy.
CREON
They are. They have a king.
ORACLE
Weddings are good for people. Gives them hope. M akes them forget about the bad in
their life. Or what could be bad in their life
Weddings are good for that.
CREON
Weddings can’t last forever.
ORACLE
Now. But nothing does.
So.
Enjoy it.
Eat cake. Drink.
Congratulate your brother in law. Dance with your sister.
She’s happy this day. And sometimes that’s all that matters.
CREON
How long will this peace last?
ORACLE
Weddings can’t last forever.
The ORACLE disappears.
CREON looks to OEDIPUS.
69.
A wave.
A wave back.
Beat.
CREON coughs.
And coughs.
He coughs up blood.
CREON
...oh...
He sways back and forth.
He grabs his stomach.
He falls to the ground.
End of Part Two.
Part Three.
The End.
1.
One year later.
JOCASTA holds her new baby.
Her mouth is covered with a medical mask.
She sings to the baby a goofy lullaby
JOCASTA
(singing)
And look at you
you’re newer than new
skin fresh as paint
you’ll grow up and be a saint.
70.
Your eyes so wide
your heart so big
I’ll love you till
I’m bald and have a wig.
The baby giggles.
JOCASTA laughs.
The baby’s giggling turns into a cough.
It coughs.
And coughs.
JOCASTA
Sweetheart?
Coughs.
JOCASTA
Oedipus!
The baby cries.
2.
Outside the palace.
CITIZENS are sick.
And coughing.
And dying.
A plague has descended on Thebes.
A CITIZEN grabs a bucket and throws up.
Then passes out.
A CITIZEN
Is he okay? Is he dead? Did he die?
A CITIZEN
He’d be so lucky.
71.
A CITIZEN
I want to die.
A CITIZEN
I want to die.
A CITIZEN
I want to die more.
A CITIZEN
I’ve never wished for death more.
What did we do? What happened?
A CITIZEN
I’m sad and depressed and don’t want to be here anymore.
A M ESSENGER comes out of the palace.
A M ESSENGER
Citizens. An announcement from the King and Queen.
They have heard your cries.
They wish you to know they are consulting with the oracle on how to handle this terrible
plague that has descended onto Thebes.
The CITIZENS boo.
A M ESSENGER
They hear your cries!
A CITIZEN
They hear nothing but the change in their pockets!
A CITIZEN
There is no food.
A M ESSENGER
The food is scarce. We understand.
A CITIZEN
They don’t understand. They’re up there feasting. Looking down at their dying citizens.
Clinking their glasses.
72.
A M ESSENGER
As you know the royal court has not been immune to the plague.
Our loyal Creon, brother of the queen has fallen ill and has not been well for over a year.
A CITIZEN
That’s a lie!
A M ESSENGER
He is in the care of the doctors.
A CITIZEN
We want doctors!
A M ESSENGER
As you’re aware, I’m sure, the child of King Oedipus and our Queen Jocasta has fallen ill.
A CITIZEN
The prince is sick?
A M ESSENGER
He woke up with a fever in the middle of the night two weeks ago that has yet to break.
He has been coughing up blood for the past ten days.
He hasn’t eaten anything in the past four days.
And he is losing his eye sight.
We are short medical help. Doctors are sick as well. We are trying everything we can.
A CITIZEN
Try harder!
A M ESSENGER
It’s everyone. Everyone’s sick.
The M ESSENGER coughs.
And coughs.
The CITIZENS watch him in quiet.
He coughs up blood.
He sways.
He runs back into the palace.
73.
The CITIZENS all look at one another.
A CITIZEN
We should pray to the gods.
A CITIZEN
They stopped listening.
3.
JOCASTA and OEDIPUS stand at the bed of
CREON.
Perhaps they wear medical masks?
CREON is weak and sick.
He coughs.
OEDIPUS
How can the doctors know nothing?
JOCASTA
This is something bigger than them.
It’s stronger.
OEDIPUS
Are you scared?
JOCASTA
You’d be foolish not to be scared.
The ORACLE appears.
ORACLE
You haven’t slept in sometime.
JOCASTA
M y city is dying. M y brother is dying.
I’m not allowed to see my child. They have him locked away somewhere.
M en and women in white taking care of him.
I’m not allowed to see my child.
He’s dying.
74.
ORACLE
He is.
JOCASTA
What sort of life is this?
Beat.
JOCASTA begins to leave.
OEDIPUS
JocastaJOCASTA
No. I’m done listening to her. You have brought us nothing but tragedy.
ORACLE
I am a messenger.
JOCASTA
Well, I don’t like your message.
ORACLE
The godsJOCASTA
Are here? Where?
It comes to a point where you sound foolish rather than faithful.
The gods are not here. The gods are not protecting us.
Look around.
This is not how you run a city.
This is not what you do if you’re a god.
ORACLE
The killer lives.
JOCASTA
What are you even talking about?
Beat.
75.
JOCASTA
Oh.
ORACLE
The mad man from Corinth.
OEDIPUS
The man who killed Laius.
JOCASTA
He’s alive?
ORACLE
He walks in your city.
JOCASTA
Oh god.
ORACLE
The god’s are punishing you for sheltering him.
JOCASTA
How could we know? I would’ve killed him myself if I knew!
ORACLE
The gods don’t care if youJOCASTA
Exactly!!! They do not care!!
They are not just!!
They punish us without informing us of our sin.
ORACLE
Rid the city of the killer.
Rid the city of the plague.
Beat.
JOCASTA leaves.
OEDIPUS
Jocasta.
76.
ORACLE
You’ve been angry with me as of late.
OEDIPUS
Of course I’m angry with you. How could one not be?
ORACLE
One could accept fate? One could accept that these things must happen.
OEDIPUS
I understand fate.
What I don’t understand is why you tell us anything if it’s bound to happen?
CREON coughs.
We hear the baby cry from off.
4.
JOCASTA stands out in front of the palace.
The CITIZENS are still sick.
OEDIPUS and the ORACLE are separate.
JOCASTA
M y people.
A CITIZEN
It’s the Queen.
JOCASTA
M y people. The reason for the plague has surfaced.
The reason for this disease has been made aware to us.
The truth is never convenient and hardly ever easy to understand.
The man who killed our king Laius lives among us.
He is in our city.
He has disguised himself and taken refuge.
He walks.
ORACLE
You are the king.
77.
OEDIPUS
What does that mean?
ORACLE
You know what it means.
JOCASTA
He is a vile and disgusting and sinful man.
ORACLE
A brave king would protect it’s people.
JOCASTA
A coward.
ORACLE
No matter the cost.
JOCASTA
And we will hunt him down.
ORACLE
No matter the sacrifice.
JOCASTA
We will kill the man who killed our city.
The CITIZENS cheer.
JOCASTA
I will protect my people. You are mine. I am yours.
We must protect each other.
JOCASTA goes inside.
OEDIPUS
None of this is my fault.
ORACLE
Nothing is ever anybody’s fault. Doesn’t make the problem go away.
Plus... why blame someone? The past has happened and cannot be changed.
78.
You fulfilled the prophecy.
OEDIPUS
I killed Bethany.
ORACLE
You killed the king.
OEDIPUS
I didn’t know.
ORACLE
You killed Laius.
OEDIPUS
He was trying to kill me.
ORACLE
Because you were trying to kill him.
OEDIPUS
IORACLE
His only son trying to kill him imagine that.
Beat.
OEDIPUS
What?
ORACLE
I always find it so interesting when individuals act surprised to a reality they knew was
true.
Oh please. You knew.
You’ve had dreams. Dreams of being a baby.
During a storm.
The raindrops hitting your new skin.
You remember the wallpaper from your nursery. Ducks.
79.
They still have it up, third door on the right I believe.
Beat.
ORACLE
Your name is Oedipus.
And you are the son of the late King Laius.
Nephew of the diseased Creon.
Child of the beautifulOEDIPUS
Stop.
You say nothing but lies. Your prophecies have all been untrue. You have been spinning
us around and around and around like a child at a birthday party. We’re finished. Your
finished.
I don’t know what you are trying to do. I don’t know what you’re gaining from this but
you are banished from this place. I need you to leave. And I need you to never step foot
in this room.
You are charged with treason. For conspiring to overthrow the kingdom.
ORACLE
Your father tried to outrun the prophecy too.
He left a morning late.
Take heed.
He starts out.
Stops.
ORACLE
I do hope you don’t think I’m upset with you.
I’m not.
This life thing... it’s hard, you know. It’s hard to figure out.
Choices are too much for us. Sometimes.
Laius was supposed to be the last descendant from the founding family to be king.
He was instructed to never have a child to continue the line.
He brought the curse onto you.
And for that, Oedipus.
80.
I am truly sorry.
You never were supposed to be born, Oedipus.
Good luck, sir.
OEDIPUS
Does it matter?
The ORACLE smiles.
ORACLE
Now you’re getting it.
The ORACLE disappears.
OEDIPUS stands.
He looks down the hall.
He goes to the third door on the right.
5.
OEDIPUS opens the door.
Walks in slowly.
An old bassinet.
A mobile.
Duck wall paper.
He goes over and touches something.
Something else.
A stuffed animal perhaps.
JOCASTA appears in the doorway.
JOCASTA
I never told you about my son.
OEDIPUS
Your husband mentioned him before he passed.
81.
JOCASTA
He did?
OEDIPUS
He said he wanted to have children.
JOCASTA
He would’ve made a tremendous father.
OEDIPUS
He said the boy died.
Beat.
JOCASTA
I don’t know why we continue to listen to that woman.
She has never brought us a shred of good news. Nothing good. Always terrible. Sad.
Terribly sad things she’s told us.
The oracle ruins lives.
She told us that our son... our son that we had, She told us that he would kill Laius. That
our son would kill Laius.
The oracle said that our son was a cursed boy. And he would grow up and kill Laius and
marry me. Which... all of it sounds ridiculous. But Laius.
Laius believed in those things. He was protecting us.
I’m so afraid that my son is in this city.
That he has been here all along.
That I’ve passed him on the street without knowing. I looked out the window and I saw a
man. Leaning up against the building. He had soiled himself. He was so sick. And he
looked at me. And I thought. That could be him. That could be my son. What sort of
mother would I be?
But.
He’s an evil man Oedipus. He’s a man that was cursed by the gods.
He’s not my son. He killed my Laius. I hate him.
I want him dead.
OEDIPUS gets light headed.
JOCASTA goes to him.
JOCASTA
Honey are you okay-?
82.
OEDIPUS keeps his distance.
OEDIPUS
Please no IUm.
OEDIPUS sits.
JOCASTA
What’s wrong? Do you need water? Do you want me to get you some water?
OEDIPUS
Just don’t touch me right now.
JOCASTA
Oedipus.
OEDIPUS
Stop. Please.
JOCASTA steps back.
JOCASTA
What’s wrong?
OEDIPUS
I’m just.... Um...
I can’t.... M y chest... It’s tightening.
JOCASTA
What? Honey.
OEDIPUS
I killed Laius.
Beat.
JOCASTA
What?
83.
OEDIPUS
I was told by the oracle that I would love my family to death.
JOCASTA
I’m sorry what are you saying?
OEDIPUS
I was walking on the road and we were talking and out of nowhere he stabbed me.
JOCASTA
You said it was another man.
OEDIPUS
I didn’t know he was the king. I was protecting myself.
He stabbed me out of nowhere. What was I to do?
I lied because I was afraid I was going to be executed.
JOCASTA
You saidOEDIPUS
I lied.
Beat.
JOCASTA
You’re the mad man from Corinth.
OEDIPUS
I didn’t want to hurt them and so I left my home.
JOCASTA
It’s you.
OEDIPUS
I didn’t know he was the king. I didn’t know he was my father. I didn’t.
I thought the prophecyJOCASTA
Oh god.
84.
OEDIPUS
I didn’t know.
JOCASTA
Oh god.
OEDIPUS
I didn’tJOCASTA runs out of the room.
OEDIPUS throws up into something.
He cries.
And cries.
6.
JOCASTA comes into CREON’s room.
She cries.
CREON wakes up.
CREON
What’s going on? What’s wrong?
JOCASTA
Everything. Everything is wrong.
CREON
What happened?
JOCASTA
I don’t know. I don’t even know what’s happening.
JOCASTA goes and hugs him.
CREON
You’ll get sick.
JOCASTA
I don’t care.
85.
She cries into him.
CREON holds her.
CREON
What’s going on?
JOCASTA
It’s my Oedipus.
She tells him.
7.
Outside the palace.
Citizens cough.
A citizen dies.
OEDIPUS comes out.
A CITIZEN
It’s the king!
A CITIZEN
King are you here to save us?
A CITIZEN
The king will save us!
OEDIPUS
No, IA CITIZEN
You’re not here to save us?
A CITIZEN
Why does no one care that we are dying?
A CITIZEN
King oedipus please!
86.
A CITIZEN
You have to help us!
OEDIPUS
Get off me! Stop it!
OEDIPUS tries to make his way past the crowd
of dying citizens.
CREON comes out of the palace. Still in
hospital gown. He’s sick and weak.
CREON
Don’t let him leave!
OEDIPUS
Let me go! Get off me!
A CITIZEN
You have to help us, sir! You must!
A CITIZEN coughs blood on his face and
clothes.
A CITIZEN
We’re dying!
CREON
People of Thebes! King Oedipus is the murderer of our beloved Laius!
The CITIZENS stop. .
CREON
It’s true.
The man who we’ve all loved and put all our trust into has lied to us.
OEDIPUS
I didn’t knowCREON
The man who saved us from the Sphinx. The man who brought us salvation.
This man. This man is the reason you all are dying.
87.
He’s the reason our women cannot bear children.
Why our crops do not grow.
Why when we cough nothing but blood comes up.
He’s the reason we’re dying.
OEDIPUS
I’ll leave.
CREON
You were supposed to be killed the first time.
Laius was a weak man.
I am not.
Get him.
The CITIZENS reach for OEDIPUS.
He manages to get out of the crowd.
He runs into the palace.
The CITIZENS try and get in.
CREON is coughing.
He coughs more.
And more.
A CITIZEN
Creon? Sir?
CREON falls to the ground.
CREON
Oedipus must not live.
Beat.
8.
JOCASTA sits in her room.
88.
She holds the baby.
OEDIPUS enters.
OEDIPUS
You’ll get sick.
JOCASTA
I don’t care.
The baby coughs.
JOCASTA
He’s been sick since he was born.
That should’ve been a sign.
OEDIPUS begins packing a bag.
JOCASTA
The last time I ever held you as a baby was right over there.
That’s the last memory I had of you when you were this small.
OEDIPUS
There’s a riot outside.
JOCASTA
And then you just left.
OEDIPUS
They want me dead.
JOCASTA
Like you’re leaving now.
OEDIPUS
If I don’t leave I’ll die.
JOCASTA
Take us with you.
Beat.
89.
JOCASTA
It wasn’t crazy before.
OEDIPUS
That’s because we didn’t know before.
JOCASTA
We can go back to that.
Beat.
JOCASTA
I’m in love.
OedipusShe tries to take his hand.
OEDIPUS
No!
Stop!
You think I can have this normal life? You think I can just go to the next town with you
and I can have a simple family and a simple job and a simple life? I can’t. You want to
know why?
Because the gods don’t know how to arrange my life because I was never supposed to
have a life.
I was never supposed to be born and so my life. M y life? Is nothing but a mess because it
makes no sense because I make no sense.
I was a mistake.
I should never have been born.
I’m righting a wrong.
JOCASTA
You give the gods too much credit.
OEDIPUS
I give credit where credit is due.
JOCASTA
You have a family now, Oedipus. You have me. You have him.
We can’t take care of ourselves.
90.
We need you.
We need our king.
OEDIPUS
How are you not disgusted by this?
JOCASTA
Because you were there for me.
You loved me.
Because you made me feel less lonely.
You gave me hope. You gave me him.
And this one thing doesn’t change any of that.
OEDIPUS
Yes it does.
JOCASTA
I’m sorry that it does for you.
OEDIPUS finishes packing.
JOCASTA
Where will you go?
OEDIPUS
I don’t know. I’m just going to leave. If I don’t leave I’ll die.
JOCASTA
You’ll die out there.
OEDIPUS
Probably. But I need to make the best with what I have.
JOCASTA
You have nothing. Oedipus.
Look at your life. There is nothing of any value in it.
We took everything away from you as a child.
I’m all you have left.
Stay.
Please.
91.
Stay.
Don’t leave us.
You were taken from me once I don’t want you to be taken from me again.
I have no one left with you gone.
Beat.
Silence.
OEDIPUS
I’m sorry.
OEDIPUS goes and kisses JOCASTA’s cheek.
OEDIPUS
I’m sorry that I killed him.
OEDIPUS takes off his ring.
Gives it to JOCASTA.
OEDIPUS
I’m sorry. For everything.
JOCASTA
Wait.
OEDIPUS stops.
She holds up the baby.
JOCASTA
I can’t.
OEDIPUS
I can’t take him where I’m going.
JOCASTA
Neither can I.
Beat.
OEDIPUS goes and takes his son.
92.
OEDIPUS
If I could take it all back. I would.
JOCASTA
I would too.
OEDIPUS leaves.
JOCASTA cries.
8.
The CITIZENS stand around CREON’s body.
He is dead.
OEDIPUS comes out from the palace.
He has his baby son.
OEDIPUS
What happened?
A CITIZEN
The disease got to him.
A CITIZEN
He was coughing and coughing and wouldn’t stop coughing.
A CITIZEN
Then he died.
A CITIZEN
This is all your fault.
OEDIPUS
I’m leaving.
A CITIZEN
Where will you go?
OEDIPUS
Do any of you care?
93.
A CITIZEN
No.
A CITIZEN
Don’t come back.
OEDIPUS
I won’t.
A CITIZEN
We loved you.
OEDIPUS
I know.
I’m sorry.
OEDIPUS leaves.
JOCASTA comes out.
JOCASTA
Has he gone?
A CITIZEN
He has.
JOCASTA
With the prince?
A CITIZEN
Yes.
JOCASTA comes up to the crowd.
She sees CREON.
A CITIZEN
Queen.
JOCASTA
He’s dead.
94.
A CITIZEN
I’m so sorry, M a’am.
JOCASTA
He’s dead.
A CITIZEN
Let us get you inside.
JOCASTA
No. No. I want to stay here. I want to stay here with him.
She kneels down to the body.
JOCASTA
Did you see him die?
A CITIZEN
Yes.
JOCASTA
Was it... quick?
A CITIZEN
No.
JOCASTA
He suffered.
A CITIZEN
Yes.
JOCASTA
Oh sweet Creon.
M ay I be alone with him for a moment?
A CITIZEN
Of course.
JOCASTA
Sir?
95.
A CITIZEN
Yes.
JOCASTA
Could you fetch me some rope please? Sturdy.
A CITIZEN
Yes ma’am.
The CITIZENS leave.
JOCASTA is alone.
JOCASTA
I remember once when I was a girl and you were a little boy we would go outside into the
backyard and play army. We would dress up all in green. Get muddy on purpose. And
then we would use branches as guns and go around pretending to kill people.
Dad would always get so angry with us.
You’re not old enough to play those types of games.
I don’t think we’re ever old enough to play those kind of games.
I wish I could ask you what dying is like.
The CITIZEN enters with the rope.
JOCASTA
Thank you.
A CITIZEN
You’re welcome your majesty. He was a good man.
JOCASTA
One of the best.
Sir?
A CITIZEN
Yes?
JOCASTA
When you go back. To the people.
Can you please tell them that Thebes is no more?
96.
That due to the faults’ of their king and queen the god’s have punished us all.
And can you please tell them. That we are tremendously sorry for our faults.
A CITIZEN
Yes.
Thank you, ma’am.
The CITIZEN leaves.
JOCASTA begins making a noose.
JOCASTA
I’ve thought about dying. It used to make me nervous. Anxious. I would think what does
it all mean and then I would start asking myself why we’re here.
Why did all of these things arrange themselves in such a specific order to make this
moment in history happen.
What was here before us?
What will be here after us?
What’s at the edge of the universe?
You either go to the after life. And you are rewarded or punished for the way you lived
your life and were treated. Which is pretty terrifying.
Or you just stop existing.
Which... makes no sense. And is equally terrifying.
JOCASTA tests the strength of the rope.
She kisses CREON’s cheek.
JOCASTA
I really love you.
JOCASTA stands up and goes inside the palace
to kill herself.
9.
OEDIPUS sits on a rock.
He is writing a letter.
The baby is sleeping in the grass.
97.
OEDIPUS
Dear Bethany.
I don’t know where to begin. And I hate letters that begin with I don’t know where to
begin. But at this point in my life... I don’t know. Because I feel like I should never make
a decision ever again.
I want to be locked inside a box where I can’t hurt anyone.
I want to be chained to a mountain.
Caged.
I want to disappear.
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
for all the hurt I cause.
for all the pain.
that we never had children.
that I’ll never be a father.
that I’ll never be a good husband to you. Or to anyone.
that I left and your saddness turned you into a monster.
that I turned into a monster.
BETHANY appears.
OEDIPUS
What’s dying like?
BETHANY
It’s quick.
OEDIPUS
Is it quick for everyone?
BETHANY
Yes.
That’s one thing the gods are just about. They make it quick. For everyone.
Even if it looks slow. It’s quick.
They pity us. That we have to die.
OEDIPUS
Will Thebes be okay?
BETHANY
No.
98.
BETHANY
What a beautiful boy.
OEDIPUS
Thank you.
BETHANY
M ay I?
BETHANY picks up the baby.
BETHANY
How sweet.
Beat.
OEDIPUS
I tried.
BETHANY
I know you did.
OEDIPUS
This was always going to happen.
BETHANY
It was.
OEDIPUS
I loved my entire family to death.
BETHANY
You did.
Silence.
OEDIPUS takes out a knife.
BETHANY sees this.
She shakes her head as she shushes the baby.
BETHANY comes and takes the knife.
99.
BETHANY
(to the baby)
We’ll take a walk, won’t we? Yes we will. Yes we will.
He’s darling.
We’ll take a walk.
And we’ll talk.
And you’ll look around and you’ll stop recognizing things. But you’ll be home.
You’ll feel at home.
OEDIPUS
I miss feeling at home.
BETHANY
Have you ever felt at home?
OEDIPUS
No. Sometimes. With you.
BETHANY
You’ll feel at home.
OEDIPUS
He can come with us?
BETHANY
He can come with us.
She takes his hand.
BETHANY
Come on.
OEDIPUS takes her hand.
He stands.
BETHANY holds the baby.
OEDIPUS puts his arm around her shoulder.
It’s almost like the family portrait they never
had.
BETHANY smiles.
100.
BETHANY
This feels right.
I always wanted a family.
I always wanted a family with you.
BETHANY takes OEDIPUS’s hand.
BETHANY
Come on, you.
They begin walking.
OEDIPUS
You’re fast.
BETHANY
You’re slow.
They smile
They walk.
OEDIPUS
You’re going to love me forever, right?
BETHANY
I’m going to love you forever.
She takes the ring out of her pocket.
Puts it on OEDIPUS.
OEDIPUS
I’m scared.
BETHANY stops and kisses him.
BETHANY
Close your eyes.
And smile.
OEDIPUS closes his eyes.
He breathes in.
Smiles.
101.
BETHANY leads a blind OEDIPUS away.
They walk.
They walk.
They walk.
The baby giggles.
End of Part Three
End of Play.
.