lake brimstone - a work-in-progress

! ! ! ! ! LAKE BRIMSTONE

Time: Fall, 1816

Place: The Netherworld

Characters: In order of appearance:

DOPPLEGANGERS - the imperfect twins of the mortals in life above - there are three, but there could be more - they function as The Chorus, standing off to the side when they are not part of the action - they speak singly, round-robin, or in unison.

OSTANES - the King of the Netherworld - an ancient Persian mystic who has been alive for millennia, living and dying through the centuries.

MARY - Mary Shelley, the eighteen-year-old author of Frankenstein, she has a child by her lover, Percy Shelley PERCY - Percy Shelley, the great Romantic poet

CLAIRE - seventeen, the would-be mistress of Byron - she is pregnant with his child

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

BYRON - Lord Byron, the famous Romantic poet - walks with a limp

THANTACLOS - the Greek god of death - short curly ! silver hair and beard - dressed in a black robe, with a short sword strapped to his side ! ! ! ! ! !HYPNOS - the Greek god of sleep - short curly hair and beard - dressed in a white robe, with a large poppy in his hand

THE THREE FATES - bent over and misshapen - ugly old women in grey robes - severe, inflexible and stern - CLOTHOS carries a spindle of thread, LACHESIS carries a measuring rod, and APROPOS carries shears! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !HERMES - a Greek god, the personal messenger of Zeus - wearing a petasus (a wide-brimmed hat with wings), a travelers cloak, and carrying a caduceus (two snakes wrapped around a winged staff), golden sandals on his feet

HEPHAESTUS - the Greek god of blacksmithing and metalworking - he is lame and walks with the aid of a stick, wears an oval cap, and carries a smiths hammer in his other hand ! ! ! ! ! !POLIDARI - Doctor Polidari - Byrons personal physician and the author of Vampyre

WILL-MOUSE - the young son of Mary and Percy Shelley - wrapped in swaddling clothes - he is never seen, only heard

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, a large, copper water clock flanked by Greek columns, a short metal ladder up its side, with a transparent sheet of quartz for its front, marked in gradations of five minute intervals in Roman numerals, from LX at the top, to V near the bottom, its DRIPPING echoing throughout the cavern - the stairs disappear STAGERIGHT down through a hole in the rock floor framed by stalagmites, through which the distant SOUND of clanging iron is heard, along with occasional SOUNDS of groans, the crack of the scourge, and the clanking of chains - the SCREECHING of bats as they flit through mists which waft through the cavern, its gloom punctuated by pitch torches - a pause, and the Doppleganger SOUND - the THREE DOPPLEGANGERS ENTER backwards - they turn around.

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSHere on the shore of Lake Brimstone, we dopplegangers long for the surface, to live as mortals for even one day, but climbing those stairs is forbidden - hush, he comes, our King, Ostanes... ! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER OSTANES - he goes over to the ! ! ! ! ! ! dripping water clock)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAlmost empty! - dopplegangers, youre duty! - water! - we need another hour of time!!! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSOur fate to fill the clock one hour at a time, for centuries..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWater! Water!! ! ! ! ! ! (The THREE DOPPLEGANGERS EXIT - ! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES sits down in one of the thrones, ! ! ! ! ! ! highlighted by a pool of light from a torch - he ! ! ! ! ! ! watches as the DRIPPING of the clock slows)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling Offstage)Dopplegangers, hurry, hurry! - more water!! ! ! ! ! ! (The Doppleganger SOUND - the THREE ! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERS ENTER backwards ! ! ! ! ! ! through the side cavern carrying large glazed ! ! ! ! ! ! amphoras, they turn around, go to the water ! ! ! ! ! ! clock, one climbs the ladder, the other two ! ! ! ! ! ! hand up the amphoras, the first pours blood ! ! ! ! ! ! red water into the top of the clock - the water ! ! ! ! ! ! clock resumes its loud DRIPPING - Ostanes ! ! ! ! ! ! watches it fill to the LX mark at the top)Once more, we have time..

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSTime is of no importance, without a life to live..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou exist as doubles of mortals above..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWould that we could live as mortals ourselves..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWish for more - yet, if you live, you must need die..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWe are dead down here..

! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut you exist!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSLife is more than existence - we have nothing..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou have each other - I have no one..

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSYou have us..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOnly as king - I wait for someone..

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWe wish you short wait - your melancholy is a mist in the caverns..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDopplegangers go! - fetch ever more water, that we may never run out of time..! ! ! ! ! ! (The doppleganger climbs down the ladder - ! ! ! ! ! ! the THREE DOPPLEGANGERS EXIT through ! ! ! ! ! ! the side cavern carrying the amphoras, a ! ! ! ! ! ! pause, and MARY ENTERS through the dark ! ! ! ! ! ! hole in the ceiling, coming down the stairs - ! ! ! ! ! ! she pauses under a torch on the landing)! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIve been waiting for you, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIve come to find Mother.. you said she was here..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESCome on down - well find Mother together..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking down at the water clock)What is that?!! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESA water clock - since we have no sun, no moon, and no stars, we cannot tell time - I had it forged by Hephaestus in the Underworld, so we can track time - the front is


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES (Cont.)translucent quartz found miles away in our caverns - as long as water drips from the clock, we have what passes for life..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhy is the water red?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESTo remind me that blood is mortality - I wish to have blood, again!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary starts down the rest of the stairs)Hephaestus forged those stairs - theyre strong! - come on down, dont be afraid..! ! ! ! ! ! (She stops at the foot of the stairs)Here I sit, King of the Netherworld!! ! ! ! ! ! (Gesturing at the other throne)And that will be your throne - both forged by Hephaestus - they should last a very long time - dont worry, Mary, youll see your mother - 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?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESShes in a far cavern, Mary..

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


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Shouting)You cant talk to her until youre dead!! ! ! ! ! ! (Calms himself)You met my dopplegangers, when last we were up there - now, everyones doppleganger is down here - they wont bother you, as long as you stay with me..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYDopplegangers, yes - they all seemed odd, a bit off..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThey are copies of you up there - imperfect copies! - much like me! - now Im dead, Im an imperfect copy of myself, when alive.. wont you sit down?

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

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOr a century?! ! ! ! ! ! (She sits down in the other throne)A little joke.. but, since youre here, lets 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 dont think Id like that very much..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThen would you like your son, little Will-mouse, to die - along with your lover?! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary says nothing)I thought we talked of this up there - you see, I cant really enjoy my conjugal rights, until youre dead and were married..! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I thought dead people dont sleep..! !

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOh, we dont! - but Im 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)Whats that up there?!! ! ! ! ! ! (The sliming SOUND grows louder)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThe 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 doesnt 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! - Id pull you out, of course - after I made sure you were, you know..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYA steaming pile of bones?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES.. quite dead, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes.. I dont think Im up for death, just now..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNow, now, Mary - its really not so bad - look at me! - I feel all right, dead - even immortal! - its exhilarating! - I never have to worry about getting up in the morning, or facing the stresses of life!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYId rather face life.. consider me a visitor, and Ill 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 - it is you who have broken our contract!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDont argue with me, Mary - youre in my world, now!! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThen, Ill be going..! ! ! ! ! ! (Gets up).. back up to the world of the living!! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESSit back down!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary hesitates)Think of your son and your lover!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary sits back down)Dont anger me, Mary - Ill produce your mother, when I see fit! - until then, youll stay down here - and if I have my way, you will die!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary says nothing - Ostanes grabs the ! ! ! ! ! ! flaming torch from the side of his throne, goes ! ! ! ! ! ! over go to her, thrusts the torch in her face)How would you like me to flame your face off? - that would be a quick death! - then wed be done with all this! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulling away)Please dont! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Ostanes pulls the torch away, puts it back, a ! ! ! ! ! ! pause - the sudden SCREECH of a bat, Mary ! ! ! ! ! ! claws at her hair) Oh! - something flew at me!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Laughing)Batton, my pet bat - hes jealous! - he was stuck in a crevice and I freed him - ever since, hes been hanging around - upside-down! - Im very fond of him - he lands on my chest and I pet him - all he wants is an occasional hug - dont worry, he wont bite - there! - he flew away, down the stairs.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking at hole in the floor down ! ! ! ! ! ! through which the stairs continue) Where do those stairs go?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDown to Tartarus..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYTartarus?! ! ! ! !

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

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhich gods do the judging?


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Leans towards her - a stage whisper) The gods of the Underworld - Thantaclos and Hypnos..!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThantaclos and Hypnos?! ! ! !! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Stage whisper)Shhh! - it is forbidden to say their name aloud - even by me..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, stage whisper)Theres a rumor among the dopplegangers that the gods of the Underworld are coming up soon - that the gods want to become their masters, instead of me - I wont have it! - now, lets talk about your death, again, Mary - you really do have to die..! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of a flute echoes up the stairs)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhats that sound?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWhy are they coming up now? - Im in the middle of a death!! ! ! ! ! ! (The louder SOUND of the flute)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhos coming up?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, stage whisper)The gods..! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, the SOUND of the flute plays to a ! ! ! ! ! ! crescendo, and THANATOS and HYPNOS ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER, apparently floating up the stairs and ! ! ! ! ! ! out into the cavern - 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.. Im Thanatos, god of death..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSIm Hypnos, god of sleep..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSWere very close..


! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. sometimes, only a blink away!! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSWere gods of the Underworld.. my, what a nice throne you have - made by one of our Underworld gods, Hephaestus - should last 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? - 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 weve 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..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSHes hungry and thirsty..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSHe cries out!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd King Ixion..

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

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. and then theres Prometheus, chained to a rock..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS.. his liver constantly eaten by an eagle, growing back overnight..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWhat did he do? ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I forget..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS But, no one escapes Tartarus..! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOS.. its 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.. weve got to get out of here!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWeve 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 is fated to be my kingdom!

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

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOnly I change my fate!!! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSDo you forget? ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSOnly the Three Fates change fates..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd theyre down in the Underworld..! ! ! ! ! ! (To Mary)Are you new here? - we havent seen your like before.. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSDid you just die?! ! !! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! OSTANESShes trying to die..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOh, youre alive - a mortal! - you must be from up there! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIm just visiting - I belong with the living - I have a mortal lover, a child - they expect me..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI told Mary Id change her lovers fate, if only she stayed here with me..! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSChange a fate? - oh, the Fates wouldnt like that!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI rule here! - youre gods of the Underworld - help Mary have a peaceful death!!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd what do we get in return? - perhaps a throne?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSNot all death is peaceful..!! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSNot all death is final..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Rises from the throne)Here, take this throne! - Ive heard enough..!! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESSit back down, Mary! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI wont sit down - I dont want this throne!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary goes to the shore of the lake, looks out ! ! ! ! ! ! over it)!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou gods may sit on the throne..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSVery good, for its a throne we want..! ! ! ! ! ! ! (They flow to the throne)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSYou sit first, brother!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Sitting down)Ahhh! - the first time Ive sat down in.. two millennia..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSYou cant sit anywhere in Tartarus - everythings so hot and steaming!


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

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSA giant monster with a hundred heads and serpents coils for legs - but he was my little boy! - I miss him so..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSHe tried taking over Mount Olympus, but Zeus smoked him with a thunderbolt!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSThen tossed his body back down to Tartarus..

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

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSAnd his bodys still steaming.. thats my boy!

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

! ! ! ! ! ! THANATOSIts bigger than your throne, Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIt is not!

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSThe doppleganger of Percy Shelley - a mortal poet - says Percy seeks his love - hush, he comes down from life.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (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! - Ive come to this infernal place looking for you - and Ive found you!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESGo back up to life, poet - I made a deal with Mary, when last I was up there!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat deal?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes promises you a long life with our son, Will-mouse - if I stay here with him..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)You mean.. live with him down here?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYes, as his wife - were not married, remember?! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYIs that what you want? - to live here in hell with a demon?! ! !! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIm not a demon - and this is not hell!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIf I dont stay, youll drown in six years, and what will happen to our Will-mouse?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI wont drown in six years! - thats only what Ostanes claimed, while up there..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI know your fate..

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

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMy boat is seaworthy - Im a good sailor!!! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou will drown in six years, and your body burned on a beach - unless I change your fate and keep Mary for my own - thats the deal!! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSExcuse us, Percy..!! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWho are you?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSIm Thantaclos, and this is my brother, Hypnos..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWere gods of the Underworld..! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWere from Tartarus, further 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 - didnt stay long, didnt say much..! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYoure gods? - can you help me? - I want to bring Mary back up to life!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou gods stay out of this! - Mary stays with me!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSYou order gods, Ostanes? ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESKing Ostanes - youre in my domain, now!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (To Percy)We might be able to help change your fate ..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNobody is changing any fates - except me!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (To the gods)And my son, Will-mouse - can you change his fate, too?

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIll decide about fates - only I will change them!! ! ! ! ! ! (To the dopplegangers)Gather all the dopplegangers - were facing a threat!

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

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWhat threat?! ! ! ! ! ! (Hits Ostanes with his poppy, who collapses to ! ! ! ! ! ! the ground, falling asleep at their feet)

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSEven bright gods can have dark motives..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS Hypnos, let us now take a tour of this Netherworld..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWhat about Ostanes - and the mortals?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSOstanes cant go anywhere, hell sleep til you wake him - you mortals! - well be gone a short while - stay here, dont follow us - there are dopplegangers everywhere..! ! ! ! ! ! (THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT out the ! ! ! ! ! ! side cavern)!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary, Mary - Ill get us out of here!! ! ! !! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYHow? - theyre gods, Percy! - and who knows what Ostanes is..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHes just a doppleganger! - Ill trick them - the gods even trick each other!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBut, Claires here, too - she came down before me, to help find Mother.. ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Turns to go to side cavern)Then, well go find Claire!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYNo, Percy! - there are dopplegangers in the caverns - well have to stay here..! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary sits down in one of the thrones, looks out ! ! ! ! ! ! over the burning lake - Percy pauses, sits ! ! ! ! ! ! down in the other throne)

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

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYes.! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHell be all right..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI trusted Claire - I didnt think shed leave him with Doctor Polidari..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYAt least hes a doctor..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI worry about my son..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYOur son..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYDont you worry about him?! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYOf course!! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Do you think youll ever find your mother?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYTheres dopplegangers everywhere - and Mother could be anywhere - Ostanes said these caverns stretch for miles..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Do you really want to stay down here with him?

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


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBecause Ill be there to raise him?!! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOtherwise, youll be..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYDead.

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThats what Ostanes says..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat does he know? - hes not a god - hes a glorified doppleganger!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIf we take his deal, youll live a long life!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat about you?! !! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes says Ill stay down here for centuries..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYDead, with him..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIm going to die, anyway..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYAnd little Will-mouse will be without a mother..!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Hell have you..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBut if I die, youll raise him..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIf you drown..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)What if I dont go sailing that day?


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou cant know what day it is - just that its in the sixth year..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI wont go sailing at all that year - Ill give up sailing! - sell my boat! - then we wont have to make a deal with Ostanes - well both go up to life - back to our Will-mouse!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIts your fate to die on your day - you cant cheat fate..!! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)There must be a way..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Its better I die and stay with Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Arent you afraid to die?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes.! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Arent you?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI going to drown at sea and my body burned on a beach - what rubbish! - why would I be burned on a beach?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYQuarantine laws - we live in Italy..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYDid live in Italy - now were stuck down here..! ! !! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYoure not stuck - you get to go up..!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBut first, I have to watch you die, ..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYNo, I want to die alone..


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHow?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIll figure out a way, since Ostanes proposed deaths for me..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWhat kind of deaths?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYJumping into this lake, have the flesh boiled off my bones - or death by cave slugs..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYCave slugs?!!! ! ! ! ! ! MARYSomething called a staking - they come down to feed on you..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBoth sound revolting!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYPerhaps Ill go off in a cavern to die - open my wrists, or drown in a pool..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYOh, Mary, dont talk like that - I dont want you to die!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIts for Will-mouse..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYoull die for our son?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYPercy.. no more..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Something else Ostanes told me, when he was up there in life.. your wife, Harriet..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYes?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY.. shell drown herself this winter, because of you..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYAnother drowning! - cant he be more creative?


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYPerhaps you should go back to England, before winter comes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI dont want to see Harriet! - Ill send her money - shell be fine - I dont want to leave you with him..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Im going to stay with Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYAnd die?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)You go up to life, raise little Will-mouse - and save the life of your wife..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBut, Mary..!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWere going to take the deal ..! ! ! ! ! ! (The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER BYRON ! ! ! ! ! ! THE DOPPLEGANGER, clumping backwards ! ! ! ! ! ! out of the side cavern, turns around)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYByron! - what are you doing down here?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERWhat are any of us doing in this mordant world? - I told you, dont go down those stairs!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHave you seen Claire? - shes down here, somewhere..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERClaire? - yes, yes, Ive seen Claire - up there..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYBut, you and I saw her go down these stairs!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes, yes, of course - I saw Claire go down the stairs - shes down here..


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYByron.. is something wrong?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERAll that rot up there - those dopplegangers - the lot of you running up and down these stairs - and so I have followed, only to find myself in Dantes Inferno!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Grabbing a torch)Lets find her, Byron! - Mary, well meet you back here with Claire - then well all go up to life, before the gods make a plan!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERYes, yes, find Claire, lets find Claire - I saw her in a near cavern..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBut Byron, how could you come here down before us?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGEROf course, how could I? ! ! ! ! ! ! (Grabs torch, holds it high )Lets find Claire!! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I have a plan..! ! ! ! ! ! (Grabs a torch from its holder)First, were going to find your mother! - come on, Mary!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBut, Percy - the dopplegangers!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Thrusting the torch)Ill give them some of this!! ! ! ! ! ! (BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER, PERCY and ! ! ! ! ! ! MARY EXIT into side cavern, torches high)! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWhy find Marys mother, if shes only a doppleganger?! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER THANTACLOS and HYPNOS from ! ! ! ! ! ! the side cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSSo, dark, this Netherworld..


! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSNot as dark as our Underworld!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSAnd those throngs of dopplegangers..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSMore bodies for us!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking around)Wait - where are Percy and Mary?

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSTheyve escaped!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. we didnt see them in the caverns..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. so they must have escaped up there..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. back to life..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOstanes will not be pleased..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. Ostanes doesnt know - hes asleep..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. soon hell be staked..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. and nothing will matter..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Dopplegangers - come! - bring stakes and a hammer!! ! ! ! ! ! (The Doppleganger SOUND - the THREE! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGERS ENTER backwards, ! ! ! ! ! ! with stakes and a hammer - they turn around)

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS ! ! ! ! ! ! (Gesturing at Ostanes)Stake him!! ! ! ! ! ! (The dopplegangers quickly stake the sleeping ! ! ! ! ! ! Ostanes to the ground)Dopplegangers - know we are gods..

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSYoure immortal..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThere is more to gods than that!

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

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWhy be immortal and stay down here? - we would go up to life..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSPerhaps we can allow you to climb the stairs..! ! ! ! !! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSGrant us journey to life, to live among our mortal twins..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd what do we gods get in return?

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSEternal loyalty..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSA deal! - well trade you immortality for loyalty - now, go dopplegangers - fetch more water for your clock!

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWell be immortal - equal to gods!! ! ! ! ! ! (The THREE DOPPLEGANGERS EXIT out the ! ! ! ! ! ! side cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSEqual to gods - I think not.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (HYPNOS waves his poppy - Ostanes ! ! ! ! ! ! awakens, and struggles to free himself)) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIm staked!! ! ! ! ! ! (Struggles to free himself - shouts out))Dopplegangers - free your King!! ! ! ! ! ! (No dopplegangers appear)Your King commands it!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThey wont come - we bought their loyalty..! !! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. with immortal life, or its promise..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYou are familiar with immortality? ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSYou no longer control the dopplegangers..! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. soon, you wont control the Netherworld..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANATCLOS.. and youll no longer be king..! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYoure staked..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. and its almost time for the feeding..! ! ! ! ! ! (Ostanes struggles to no avail)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSFeeling kingly?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Stopping his struggle)And you - acting godly?

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSJustly so..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. for gods we are!! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Struggles again, stops)What do you want?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOstanes, lie quietly - well talk..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWell let Percy take Mary up to life..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYou will not!! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOf course not..!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSPercys doppleganger is here in the Netherworld?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESSomewhere in the crowd..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWell make a switch..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSPercy for Percys doppleganger.. Mary will think shes going up to life with Percy..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. instead, Percys doppleganger will take her to a remote cavern, where you can.. rendezvous with her, Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Ostanes says nothing)That is what you want?

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

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWe want to live up here in the Netherworld..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWell free you, and let you live in a far cavern - with Mary!!

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


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSIts in the stars!!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYou trust fate, dont you?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESFate is the only certainty..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSHe bows to fate!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSEven we gods bow!! ! ! ! ! ! (Thantaclos takes out his sword, quickly cuts ! ! ! ! ! ! Ostanes ties)

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWhy trust a fate you cant control?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Rising)What 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 Ill be rid of him - and what about Mary?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSPercy the Doppleganger will keep her in a cavern, until you come for her..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWeve yet to see our first staking!!! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSOh, Im so going to enjoy that - what an exciting place!! ! ! ! ! !!


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSTheres so much happening up here!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd no screaming!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSTartarus can just run itself!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSLets explore more of our Netherworld!! ! ! ! ! ! (THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT out side ! ! ! ! ! ! cavern - Ostanes listens to the dripping ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of the clock, turns and looks at the ! ! ! ! ! ! stairs, slowly approaches the foot of the stairs, ! ! ! ! ! ! pauses, goes up the stairs, at a faster and ! ! ! ! ! ! faster pace - disappears through the hole at ! ! ! ! ! ! the top - LIGHTS DIM on the Chorus - LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on Mary, standing alone - Doppleganger! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND - ENTER PERCY THE! ! ! ! ! ! DOPPLEGANGER, backwards from side ! ! ! ! ! ! cavern, turns around)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERMary! - your mother! - I tell you, Mary, Ive found your mother!! !!! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThats wonderful, Percy! - but wheres Byron? - and Claire? - didnt you find her?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERByron? Claire?! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYAre they coming, Percy?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERYes, yes, of course theyre coming! - but its Mother, Mary, Mother - Ive found Mother!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThen, take me to her, Percy!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYCome to Mother - to Mother, Mary - come to Mother..! ! ! ! ! ! (PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER turns and ! ! ! ! ! ! EXITS into side cavern - MARY grabs a torch, ! ! ! ! ! ! MARY and the DOPPLEGANGER EXIT -


! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS DIM on the empty cavern - LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on a mist rolling off the bubbling lake ! ! ! ! ! ! and wafting through the cavern - the ! ! ! ! ! ! SCREECHING of a bat - CLAIRE ENTERS ! ! ! ! ! ! from side cavern, looking as if shes lost - looks ! ! ! ! ! ! around cavern, sees lake, goes over, looks at ! ! ! ! ! ! it, kicks a rock into it - rock is consumed in a ! ! ! ! ! ! boiling - she backs away, notices 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!! ! ! ! ! ! (Claire listens to her voice ECHO)Ive got to find Marys mother.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER BYRON at the top of the stairs)

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

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREByron! - what are you doing here?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONLooking for you!! ! ! ! ! ! (Clumping down stairs)

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREAnd your child?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses at landing)Claire, its not that I dont want you to have the child.. but, I have much on my mind - thrown out by my wife, disgraced in England, never to return - endlessly traveling, a wandering spirit, a darkling soul - I climbed alpine trails, gazed at glaciers, breathed the cold mountain air, listened to the blue jays and the rushing wind - but always I pondered - who am I? ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREYoure a great poet! - and the baby and I could be waiting in a little chalet up in life, when youve had enough wandering, and want to come home to a hearth and some love - we could be there for you, Byron!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Have the baby, Claire - Ill pay for its keep - and yours, too! - but I wont stay up there with you..! ! ! ! ! ! (Clumps down the stairs, sits down in the ! ! ! ! ! ! throne opposite her)Wheres little Will-mouse? - Mary left him up there with you..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREAnd I left him with Doctor Polidari - I hope hes all right - I told Polidari Id be down here just a short time..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONBut, why come down to the Netherworld? - it looks dangerous!

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

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONHave you found her mother?

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

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONBut, Ive found you - lets go up the stairs, Claire - back up to life!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREI cant leave Mary down here!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONShell have to fend for herself - we cant go poking through these caverns..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREI wont leave without her!!!! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)All right then..! ! ! ! ! ! (Rises) .. lets 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, looking 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 - youre dopplegangers, arent you?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONDopplegangers? - were dopplegangers?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (To Thantaclos)These dopplegangers make no sense..

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

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Speaking slowly to Byron and Claire)Were gods.. visiting.. your Netherworld..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Speaking slowly)Just carry on.. with whatever.. you do..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYoure going.. to like us.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWell invite you.. to 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 dont blink!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSBlinked!! ! ! ! ! ! (BYRON and CLAIRE stare at them, ! ! ! ! ! ! wide-eyed and unblinking - Thantaclos and ! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS walk around them, looking closely) ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWell.. if theyre 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..! !! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. they must be..! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Pinching Claire).. mortal!! ! ! ! !!! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREOuch!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON! ! ! ! ! ! (Jumping forward, grabbing THANTACLOS)Leave her alone!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSHes touching me, Hypnos - touching a god!! ! ! ! ! ! (Hypnos hits Byron with his poppy - ! ! ! ! ! ! Byron collapses in sleep at their feet)


! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIREWhat have you done? - Byron!! ! ! ! ! ! (Byron doesnt respond)

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Poking Byron with his poppy)Oh.. that deserves a good staking!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSFor both of them - theyre both alive!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSThey should both be dead!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSAnd after theyre dead..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. well 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 Well think of something!! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Dopplegangers - come!! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Bring stakes - and a hammer!

! ! ! ! ! ! CLAIRE! ! ! ! ! ! (Grabbing Byron, struggling to wake him)Byron! - wake up! - weve got to get out of here!! ! ! ! ! ! (Hypnos hits Claire with his poppy -! ! ! ! ! ! she collapses in sleep next to Byron -

- the Doppleganger SOUND - the Chorus ENTERS backwards, with stakes and a


hammer - they turn around, look at Byron and Claire on the ground)

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWho sleeps? - dopplegangers never sleep..!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSTheyre mortals - and one touched a god - stake them both!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWhy stake mortals, when we long to be mortal ourselves?

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSBecause gods command you!! ! ! ! ! ! (Two dopplegangers grab Byrons sleeping ! ! ! ! ! ! form, carry him over by the boiling lake, set him ! ! ! ! ! ! down at the edge of the lake, 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) Dopplegangers - want immortality?

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWere promised it!

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSThen never question gods, again! - dopplegangers - go!! ! ! ! ! ! (The CHORUS EXITS)Hypnos.. 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 ! ! ! ! ! ! look up)! ! ! !! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking down at Byron and Claire)Theyre certainly invited to this staking! !


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSShould be a peaceful death..! ! ! ! ! ! (The sliming SOUND grows louder)

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSMaybe a little screaming..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSBut were used to that..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSWe might even like it..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSHush..! ! ! ! ! ! (They listen to the sliming SOUND grow louder, ! ! ! ! ! ! as it comes down the wall - LIGHTS DIM on ! ! ! ! ! ! the two gods - LIGHTS RISE on the side ! ! ! ! ! ! cavern entrance - ENTER CHORUS sneaking ! ! ! ! ! ! out of the entrance, going to foot of the stairs)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERHere we are - and no ones around..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERWhere is King Ostanes?

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERNo doppleganger has seen him - perhaps the Underworld gods have taken him..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERIf he comes, well just run up the stairs!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERQuickly then, up to life!

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERWait! - weve never been up there - what do we mean to do in life?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERSearch for our mortal twins..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERNo, no - the moment we find them, lightning will flash - theyll be dead and well be terminated!


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERWe must hide among the mortals - live our lives in secret..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERShould we split up?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERWe should do whatever our mortal twins do - its all we know..

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERThen Ill go up and find a medicine bag those doctors carry - Ill make people sick!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERDont you mean, well?

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERWhats the difference?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERI dont know..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERMy mortal twins a great poet - and, he goes hiking in the outdoors!

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERWhats the outdoors?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERI dont know - it just popped into my head - I have dreams of cold mountains, icy torrents, and birds leaping up the streams to spawn!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERWhats a bird?

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERWhats to spawn?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERI know what Ill do! - my twin is a poet and also a sailor - Ill go out in my boat, onto a bubbling lake - Ill go sailing!

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERBubbling lake?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER Wont the boat just burn up?


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERNone of us knows anything - thats why weve got to go up - to experience life!! ! ! ! ! ! (They run up to the landing, pause, look back)

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERThe Netherworld.. all we have ever known..

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERExploring the far caverns..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERHunting those bats!

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking at him)Youve still got some bat stuck to your lip..! ! ! ! ! ! (Percy tries to wipe it off)Still there..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERWhy, its my badge of honor! - I can still see those bats swooping down on us - this one into my face! - and I grabbed it and - mmm, mmmm, garrr - rip, tear, swallow! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERWhat if there are bats up in life?

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRONThen, its us or them!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERRip, tear, swallow! - either back down to old existence, or up the stairs to new life! ! ! ! ! ! ! (They pause, then turn as one and run up the ! ! ! ! ! ! last flight of stairs - suddenly stop as the door ! ! ! ! ! ! at the top opens - ENTER OSTANES, standing ! ! ! ! ! ! at the top of the stairs)! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDopplegangers.. youre on the stairs..

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERWe were looking for you, King Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIt is forbidden for dopplegangers to be on the stairs..


! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERWe worried the Underworld gods had abducted you..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThe Underworld gods live down the stairs..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERKing Ostanes - it is not for me to inquire, but..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNo, it isnt for you to inquire - but, what I was doing up there, in life? - I went back in time, for a brief visit - to the night I met the mortal, Mary - more than you need to know..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERYes, Sire..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking at him)Whats that stuck to your lip?! ! ! ! ! ! (Ostanes comes down the stairs, stands in ! ! ! ! ! ! front of Percy)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERFood..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWe dopplegangers dont eat, we kill..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulls off the object, holds it up)Looks like.. a piece of wing.. a bat wing..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERA bat flew at us, Sire!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERSwooped down and attacked us!

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGERA rabid bat, Your Highness!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Examining the wing)I know this wing very well.. didnt belong to a rabid bat - belonged to my pet bat, Javan..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Some dopplegangers dont like bats, think the swarms of bats are competing with you for the caverns - you hunt them in bands and kill them - you three dopplegangers,


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES (Cont.)always together.. you think I dont see you go off into the caverns, torches in hand, blood-lust in your eyes?

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGEROh, no - we hunt no bats!

! ! ! ! ! ! BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGERWe take our torches to explore our wonderful Netherworld!! ! ! ! ! ! (Percy the Doppleganger says nothing)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (To Percy the Doppleganger)And you, doppleganger - with a piece of my pet in your mouth! - nothing to say?! ! ! ! ! ! (Percy the Doppleganger says nothing)You three! - follow me down the stairs, back to your Netherworld..! ! ! ! ! ! (They obediently follow him down the stairs - ! ! ! ! ! ! he pauses on the ground, gestures to Byron ! ! ! ! ! ! the Doppleganger and Polidari the ! ! ! ! ! ! Doppleganger)You two.. go in the caverns to your tasks - later Ill find the truth about what you were doing on the stairs..! ! ! ! ! ! (Gestures to PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER).. and you, doppleganger, come with me, to the lake..! ! ! ! ! ! (BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER and ! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER EXIT out ! ! ! ! ! ! the side cavern - Ostanes turns and goes to ! ! ! ! ! ! the lake, Percy the Doppleganger following him ! ! ! ! ! ! - they stand together on the shore)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERI did not mean to harm your pet, King Ostanes - I turned in the dark and he flew at me..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES.. right into your toothy mouth..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERSire, please! - Ill find you another bat, in the far caverns where no one goes - I know where the best ones are, the most beautiful ones!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBecause youve been hunting them.. you and the others..! ! ! ! ! ! (Percy the Doppleganger says nothing)Youre a good doppleganger, always do my bidding, even quite a leader..! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES (Cont.)! ! ! ! ! ! (Holds up the piece of wing, flings it into the ! ! ! ! ! ! lake - a small roiling SOUND - the lake ! ! ! ! ! ! resumes its bubbling)Youre the doppleganger of a great poet up there, are you not?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Proudly)Percy Bysshe Shelley! - they call me Bysshe!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBysshe.. let me hear you recite some poetry, Bysshe..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERI, I.. cant! - when recite poetry, I get it all wrong!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Shouting at him)Recite!! ! ! ! ! ! (Percy the Doppleganger says nothing, looks ! ! ! ! ! ! past Ostanes in discomfort)Id like to recite some of my own poetry, Bysshe - would you like to hear it?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGERNo.. I mean, yes!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Going up close, stops in front of him)There once was a doppleganger named Bysshe..! ! ! ! ! ! (Slowly takes hold of him by the shirt collars).. the end.! ! ! ! ! ! (Pushes him backwards into the lake - a great ! ! ! ! ! ! boiling SOUND - the lake resumes its bubbling ! ! ! ! ! ! - Ostanes turns, goes and sits in his throne - ! ! ! ! ! ! the SOUND of the clock dripping - the sudden ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of a bat screeching)That.. should have never happened, my poor Javan.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (He takes a rock, throws it into the lake - a ! ! ! ! ! ! boiling SOUND, then the bubbling resumes - ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER MARY from the side cavern)! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI find you by your lake..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI come often to look at Lake Brimstone - ever-bubbling, ever-changing - hot, full of color! - unlike the rest of my world down here..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks around cavern).. cold, drab and.. lonely..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhat about your dopplegangers? - they must be some company..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMy dopplegangers? - living imperfect lives - or what passes for lives - like beings in a strange dream - none of them ever makes sense..! ! ! ! ! ! (The sudden loud SCREECH of a bat)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOh!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESJust a bat - youll get used to them - remember my pet bat? - it flew too close to one of the dopplegangers, which killed my little bat - I found a wing hanging out of its mouth - oh, they can be quite violent, those dopplegangers!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYYou mean, we dopplegangers - youre one of them!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAs soon you shall be, Mary!! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks out at Lake Brimstone, points)Look there! - see that dopplegangers skull bob up from the lake? - it seems to grin at me! - but I think I got the last laugh.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)You know, Mary, sometimes Ive even thought of.. throwing myself into Lake Brimstone..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Poor Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! ! (Sits down across from him)We need to talk... what if I agree to your proposal, and stay down here with you for, for..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES.. eternity, Mary..!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYWhat would I do? - no place to go, stuck in a cavern on the edge of a burning lake, no company but dopplegangers, not enough light to write.. think Id be happy?! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOh, Mary - think I stay here all the time? - I travel! - up to the surface, to experience life again! - I pop back into centuries, go around and meet mortals - how would you like to go to ancient Egypt and meet the Pharaohs? - or back to ancient Greece, speak with Socrates, himself! - and I consort with gods! - you could do all these things - why, youd be spending time 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..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIve started a novel.. about a scientist trying to create a man in his own image, but.. he ends up creating a monster..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)What kind of monster?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)A lonely monster..! ! !! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Mary.. Im very much taken with you.. oh, I know, youre probably thinking, how could this strange being ever have feelings for anyone? - I dont know - but I do know.. I love you, Mary - there, I said it!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary looks at him, gets up, walks away)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYI appreciate your sentiments, Ostanes.. but, I love only Percy - I wish I was with Percy now, watching a lovely sunset in life..!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Tell me about your sunsets..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looking up)Its the end of our day.. the sun is setting, near the horizon.. getting bigger and redder, even golden, and the clouds..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks back down, unable to continue) ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES.. and the clouds?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY.. clouds, yes.. small clouds floating above up the sunset.. puffy, even delicate, turning the colors of roses.. then turning grey and fading into the night, to disappear.. until tomorrows sunrise breathes life into them, again!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESLife? - sunrise, sunset? - no more! ! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER PERCY)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYHello , Ostanes..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESPercy..!! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Rising)You two have much to talk about..! ! ! ! ! ! (MARY EXITS out the side cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Lets talk about fate, Ostanes - my fate..!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI can change your fate, Percy - you wont drown, youll live a long life, and youll raise your little Will-mouse - just that it will all be without Mary..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYIm not going to drown! - Ill give up sailing, if I must - the deal is off! - let Mary and I go back up to life - you stay here as King of the Netherworld - its served you well through the centuries!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut now Ive fallen in love - with Mary! - and you will drown if I dont change your fate!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYAnd what about my wife, Harriet? - will she drown, also?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)So, Mary told you.. yes, Harriet will drown! - you cant stop it - its in the stars!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses) I cant stop the stars - but I can stop you!! ! ! ! ! ! (Leaps forward and grabs Ostanes - they ! ! ! ! ! ! struggle by the lake)! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Struggling)Want to drown now?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Struggling)Its you will drown - in Hell!! ! ! ! ! ! (Gets upper hand, holds Ostanes over lake)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDrop me! - Im already a dead man!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYYoure not a man!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Stopping his struggles)Then, what am I?!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulling him up)You, you.. youre a thing, a hybrid! - a doppleganger! - not immortal, but living and dying as if you cant stop - everyone you meet, dies, as you live on through the centuries - always ending back here, in caves full of slugs and bats and more dopplegangers - back here to Lake Brimstone, which bubbles away your years...

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESTheres no need for this - I want Mary - you and she have a child - nothing else!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary and I have love! - your desire doesnt make her love you - shell never love you!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESShe is fated to love me! - accept my proposal - and Ill change your fate for the better!

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Mary and I.. well, we talked about it.. were willing to accept my new fate - but, only if youll reunite her with her mother - and let the rest of us go back up to life - where Ill raise little Will-mouse, alone..! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMary will stay?

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYMary will stay..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAnd die?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Mary will die..! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThen, I will change your fate..

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYI want a very long life with Will-mouse..! ! ! ! ! ! (PERCY EXITS - Ostanes sits in his throne, ! ! ! ! ! ! looks out over Lake Brimstone)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAt last, at last - Mary, Mary! - youre mine, at last!

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSOstanes gains Mary by changing a fate - but is it his fate to change a fate?! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM - the SOUND of singing ! ! ! ! ! ! floats up the stairs)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! 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 futures read,Weve drawn the thread,Cut each man his length- til he lies dead.! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS RISE - ENTER THE THREE FATES ! ! ! ! ! ! up and out the entrance of the stairs)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWho has come to my Kingdom?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSI am Clothos, the spinner - I spin 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 sent the god Hermes, who told 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! - whats she to fate?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. even Aphrodite fears us..!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ATROPOS.. gods cannot escape us..

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


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

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

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

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISThe Three Fates..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! !The Three Fates? ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)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..!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDo I have the power to change fates?

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSHermes taught Ostanes to constrain the stars..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOS.. slowing down their galactic wheelings..! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. thus changing mens fates..! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSThis only we Fates will do..

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

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

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISAnd you are mortal - are you not?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI never die for long..!!

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSAre you a god?! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI am King of this Netherworld!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSWe have heard of such a king..!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISBy name, one Ostanes - who no longer prays to Zeus..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSAre you King Ostanes?! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I am..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSOnce before we determined your fate, Ostanes..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISLet us look again at your fate - what was to be, what was not to be - and whether or not, your fate 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..!! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISFinally - the end..! ! ! ! ! ! (Stops measuring, holds up thread) !.. hes 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.. change the fate of the mortal, Percy..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulling more thread from the spindle)Let us look at Percys fate..!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Stops pulling, measures thread)It is Percys fate to die in six years..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSPercy lives longer, only if Ostanes changes his fate..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! LATHESISHow say you, Ostanes - is Percy to live long - or die in six years?

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

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISThen you are changing his fate..!! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSThe stars will go out alignment..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISThe gods on Olympus will be threatened..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISZeus will be threatened..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSWhy dare change a fate?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)For the love of a mortal..! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, the Three Fates look at each other)! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHOSWe have heard the evidence..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISA vote on Ostanes..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSGuilty.! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISGuilty.

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


! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISThree millennia of life for Ostanes..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESIS.. is a very long thread, indeed..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS! ! ! ! ! ! (Snipping her shears)Thread that needs be shorter..

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

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHIS.. he will fall dead at our feet..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESStop! - dont cut it there! - dont cut it!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISQuiet! - you have been heard..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSWe shall snip Ostanes fate.. here..! ! ! ! ! ! (Apropos snips thread with her shears - ! ! ! ! ! ! one end of it falls to the ground)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWell, well.. how much, I mean.. how long?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISOne hour..!! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOne hour!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISFill your clock one last time..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOSYour new fate is determined..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESOne hour! - I cant just live for only an hour! - and Im already dead! - how can you end who I am?

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHISYou will cease to exist in one hour..

! ! ! ! ! ! LACHESISWe return to the Underworld..

! ! ! ! ! ! APROPOS.. to determine more fates..

! ! ! ! ! ! CLOTHIS.. and when they will end..! ! ! ! ! ! (THREE FATES EXIT down stairs - the ! ! ! ! ! ! DRIPPING clock slows - Ostanes looks over)! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Dopplegangers! - more water - water! Water!! ! ! ! ! ! (The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER the ! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUS backwards, carrying amphoras of ! ! ! ! ! ! water, they turn around)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMy fate has been shortened - to only one hour!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUS Then, we fill up with water one last time..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHurry, then, hurry - fill it, fill it up! - hurry!!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (The Chorus go over to the water clock, ! ! ! ! ! ! one climbs ladder, others hand up amphoras - ! ! ! ! ! ! one pours blood red water into top of the clock)

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSTime gains an hour, we lose a King..! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the clock dripping faster)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMore time for me! - dopplegangers - go! !! !! ! ! ! ! ! (One doppleganger comes down the ladder - ! ! ! ! ! ! the CHORUS EXITS into the side cavern, ! ! ! ! ! ! carrying the amphoras - Ostanes watches the


! ! ! ! ! ! water drip into the clock pool - the ever louder ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of the dripping, as the LIGHTS DIM)

! ! ! ! ! ! END OF ACT 1

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ACT 2

! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS RISE on the Chorus)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSMary trades time with her child, for time with her mother - a fair trade?! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on the Chorus - LIGHTS RISE ! ! ! ! ! ! on Mary seated on a throne - the lake bubbles, ! ! ! ! ! ! a pause - the Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER ! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER backwards, ! ! ! ! ! ! from the side cavern, turns around)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGERHello, Mary..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGERYes, Mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYAt last Ive found you! - come over here, Mother, sit with me!! ! ! ! ! ! (MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER comes ! ! ! ! ! ! over, sits down in the other throne)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYHow have you been?

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGERYou know Mothers been dead..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYMother, Im sorry.. how I missed you! - and Mother.. I know how you died.. I didnt want it that way - you were infected with pieces of my placenta during my birth - thats why..!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Interrupting)Enough charade! - Mary, Im not your mother - Im a copy of her, an imperfect copy - Im no blood relation to you - I have no blood..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Then, youre her spirit!

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGERIm not a spirit - thousands of years ago, gods tried making an imitation of life - so they made the Netherworld, peopled by us dopplegangers, copies of all mortals who live, or have ever lived - first there was chaos, warring, some dopplegangers were terminated - then, three millennia ago, a Persian mystic was killed by lightning - the gods decided to groom his doppleganger as a leader - thus Ostanes became our King..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Are you dopplegangers happy?

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGERWe long to be mortal, and watch you through one-way sheets of quartz at the top of some caverns - you look down and see only grass, rock, earth, and floors - while we crane our necks up and gaze upon you, watching you live the lives we wish for..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBut, some of you go up to life - I saw dopplegangers - it seemed they wished us harm!

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)We want to replace you with ourselves..! ! ! ! ! ! (Turns away)Were damaged - yes, some dopplegangers sneak up the stairs to life, to meet their mortal twin - but always lightning flashes, causing the mortals deaths, and they skulk back down, to follow Ostanes orders like the rest of us - moving sheets of quartz here, tending torches there, keeping our water clock full - but ever watching you mortals.. ! ! ! ! ! ! MARYIm going to join you, soon - Im going to die and become a doppleganger..

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGERThat is the work of Ostanes - fulfilling his longing to eternally love someone, anyone..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBut, Ill be saving my own love, Percy, from an early death! - hell raise our son..

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGERIts a mothers duty is to raise her children, Mary - if Percy is to die soon, then its his fate - as its our fate to eternally wander here in darkness.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks around)Defy Ostanes! - make no deal with him - go up to life with Percy - raise your son together - then Percy will have to make his own peace..! ! ! ! ! ! (Gets up from throne)Do I sound like a mother? - this is as close as Ill get..! ! ! ! ! ! (She makes to exit)


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBut wait - dont you have name?

! ! ! ! ! ! MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER! ! ! ! ! ! (Turning back)No.! ! ! ! ! ! (MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER EXITS ! ! ! ! ! ! through the side cavern, a pause - ENTER ! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES from the side cavern)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Gesturing back at the side cavern)So, you found Mother!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYThat wasnt my mother, that was a doppleganger!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut still, a copy of your mother - you want to know where your real mother is, Mary? - she lies in her grave, the end! - now, Ive 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 roiling SOUND, ! ! ! ! ! ! the lake resumes bubbling)

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSWhen Mary took the deal, Mary sealed her fate..! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of an ancient lyre floats up stairs ! ! ! ! ! ! - a voice calls up stairs, floats into the cavern)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESHello, Ostanes - we meet, again..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWho are you? ! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking around)Where are you?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESIm wearing my cloak of invisibility..! ! ! ! ! ! (Changes position)Am I here?! ! ! ! ! ! (Changes position)Or over here?


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI dont know! - what do you want?

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESI want to be recognized..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHow can I recognize you, if I cant see you?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESI am one who guides those whose lives are taken..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)My life was taken once..

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESMore than once..

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

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESBut Zeus keeps sending you back up to the land of the living..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMES! ! ! ! ! ! (Suddenly appearing)Hello, Ostanes - we meet, again..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHermes - my old friend!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESI brought you down, after your most recent death - and here I am, again..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESTime to go up? - I cant go, Im out of time! - cant Zeus send someone else?

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESYoure not going up - Zeus sent me to ask why you no longer pray to him..


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBecause.. he allowed my pet to die..

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESYour pet?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESJavan, my pet bat - he gave me happiness! - I prayed to Zeus nightly, not for me, but for my little bat, who wanted nothing more to live and be loved - if Zeus cannot - or would not! - protect a simple child of nature, why should I worship him?

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESZeus was not pleased - and the Three Fates were not pleased when you meant to change fates, again - Percys fate! - thus your clock drips the last of your time..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHermes! - less than an hourI - thats all I have left! - help me, my friend! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESYour new fate has been ordained!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut, I cant live for only one more hour!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESYouve already lived three thousand years..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Sitting down in a throne dejectedly)But, but.. I was just getting used to it..! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the clock dripping loudly - both ! ! ! ! ! ! look over at it)! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHermes! - you are brother to the god Hephaestus - please! - go down to Tartarus, and ask Hephaestus to clang on his forge!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESWhy would my brother do that? - you once helped Prometheus steal fire from his forge!! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the clock dripping)But then again, it was I who taught you how to constrain the stars - because of me, you learned to change fates.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, listen to SOUND of clock dripping)Youre running out of time - Ill call Hephaestus - plead your case with him...! ! ! ! ! ! (Goes to stairs, calls down)Hephaestus! - its brother Hermes! - come up, as a favor!


! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the clock drips louder)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESHephaestus must save me!! ! ! ! ! ! (The slow clumping of feet up the stairs ! ! ! ! ! ! - ENTER HEPHAESTUS up the stairs and out ! ! ! ! ! ! into the cavern)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSThose stairs have got to go..! ! ! ! ! ! (Hobbles, stopping in front of Ostanes)Yeah? You Ostanes?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMES! ! ! ! ! ! (Introducing him)My brother, Hephaestus, god of fire, metalworking, blacksmiths, and..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSYeah, yeah, yeah.. Hermes told me you have a problem with your fate - whats the problem? - all mortals must die..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIm not mortal!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESOstanes planned to change Percys fate - The Three Fates gave him a punishment..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThey cut my thread to just one hour! - and now..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at the water clock).. I have only twenty minutes left!

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSCalm down! - what do you want from me?! !

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESClang on your forge below - Thantaclos and Hypnos will think its the signal to go down to Tartarus and judge a soul - while theyre gone, Ill run up to life with my love, Mary! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSYou think the Three Fates wont know? - changing a fate is like pulling on a thread in a spiders web - no matter where they are, the Fates will know.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBy the time they find out, Ill be up the stairs and mortal, again!


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES (Cont.)! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks over at the dripping clock)Ive only got minutes left! - hurry, Hephaestus!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSNever rush a god.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, goes over to the clock, looks at it) What a finely made water clock, should last centuries..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYes, you forged it..!! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSI know..! ! ! ! ! ! (CLANGS his hammer on it)Any problems with it?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESIts running out of water!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSThats the problem with time - you cant hold on to it.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (CLANGS his hammer on it twice more) !Know what I mean?! ! ! ! ! ! (Repeats with three CLANGS) Huh?!! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYes..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSHuh?! ! ! ! ! ! (Repeats with three CLANGS)!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI know what you mean.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (The CLANGING resonates through the ! ! ! ! ! ! cavern, then dies down, and the SOUND ! ! ! ! ! ! of the dripping water clock)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUS Time.. only affects mortals - we gods live forever! - but then again, we have to live forever.. Im going back down to Tartarus, before those two gods find I clanged them from up here - I got a silver breastplate to finish for Ares..! ! ! ! ! ! (He turns, and limps to the top of the stairs ! ! ! ! ! ! pauses, looks down)


! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUS (Cont.)Oh, those stairs, again! - soon as I finish that breastplate, Im gonna forge me a moving metal ramp, replace these damn stairs..! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESA what?

! ! ! ! ! ! HEPHAESTUSNever mind..! ! ! ! ! ! (HEPHAESTUS EXITS down the stairs into the ! ! ! ! ! ! Underworld - a CLANGING is soon heard - ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER THANTACLOS and HYPNOS from the ! ! ! ! ! ! side cavern)! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWe met with all the dopplegangers..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. they pledged allegiance to us..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. a promise of immortality will do that..! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. but then, again, its just a promise..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSThe dopplegangers are coming, Ostanes - they want you to change their fates - they want to become mortal..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI cant change their fates - Im in enough trouble!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSBut still, the dopplegangers are coming..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. and we must go down to Tartarus..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. we heard a clanging..!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. must be the signal from Hephaestus..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. it was fire Prometheus stole from Hephaestus - now, I remember!

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSYes, Prometheus! - did you know him, Ostanes?! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNot really..

! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSAnother soul needs judging..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. whether it lived up to its fate..!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. whether it deserves punishment.. ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. and if it does..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS.. well think of something diabolical..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS..were quite creative!!! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSSometimes we watch..

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. not that we enjoy it!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSWeve got to go down..! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOS.. but well be back up...! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOSStay here, Ostanes!!! ! ! !! !! ! ! ! ! ! HYPNOSAnd you, Hermes..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! THANTACLOS .. keep watch on Ostanes! ! ! ! ! ! ! (THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT, floating ! ! ! ! ! ! down the stairs)

! ! ! ! ! ! HERMESAnd you, Hermes! - keep watch..! - who do they think they are? - Im the personal messenger of Zeus!! ! ! ! ! ! (Goes to the stairs that go up).. and I have mortals I must guide..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESBut, Hermes, wait! - I have only minutes to live!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! HERMES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Only minutes.. and, its my fault.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)And as a god, I take the blame - Ill have to wear my cloak of invisibility into the Underworld - and call the Three Fates to come up and judge you, once again..! ! ! ! ! ! (HERMES EXITS down the stairs - Ostanes ! ! ! ! ! ! stands, looking at the clock drip - ENTER ! ! ! ! ! ! PERCY and MARY from the side cavern)

! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYWere ready to take your deal, as soon as Byron and Claire arrive - my friends and I to go up to life, Mary will stay down here..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMary - you will stay with me?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Yes, but first I say goodbye to Byron and Claire..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, gesturing)Your Byron and Claire lie there..! ! ! ! ! ! (Gestures at sleeping pair)Its to be a staking by the gods - I cannot waken them..! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER POLIDARI at top of stairs, holding the ! ! ! ! ! ! bundle that is little Will-mouse - comes down ! ! ! ! ! ! stairs, pauses at landing, holds up bundle)! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARIMary! - I have your Will-mouse!! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARYBring him down to me!! ! ! ! ! ! (Polidari comes down the stairs, passes ! ! ! ! ! ! by Byron and Claire, staked by the lake)

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARIByron? Claire? - what happened?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESTheyre just sleeping..

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARIWhat are those stakes? ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! PERCYIts a staking!

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARIA what?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESA peaceful death..! ! ! ! ! ! (The sliming SOUND reaches the ground)

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI! ! ! ! ! ! (Peers into the mist)Whats that sound?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESGiant cave slugs, coming down to feast on your friends..! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the wail of the baby comes ! ! ! ! ! ! from the swaddling clothes)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAnd what is that sound?

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks down into bundle hes carrying)Little Will-mouse..

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESMortal - what is your name?! !! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARIDoctor Polidari..! ! ! ! ! ! (The sliming SOUND is at their feet)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESNow think you, Doctor Polidari, of these two beings - Byron and Claire - in the primes of their lives! - he, a great poet - and she, carrying a child, another mortal! - while that small child youre holding has done nothing, produced nothing - why would life miss a little being who just.. disappeared? - we could use some life down here! - even a little life, like Will-mouse - dont you think, Polidari, that the cosmic scales are here out of balance? - doesnt little Will-mouse belong down here?

! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARIBut, Will-mouse is not mine to give..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARYHe belongs to me!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESAnd those two that lie sleeping, Byron and Claire - to whom do they belong? - to Thantaclos, the god of death?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, listens to the SLIMING SOUND ! ! ! ! ! ! swirling through the mist at her feet, looks ! ! ! ! ! ! down at Byron and Claire, looks at Ostanes)But I took your deal - Percy, please - take Will-mouse up to life!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESDont worry about Will-mouse, Percy - hell have good care - hell stay here with us!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! POLIDARI! ! ! ! ! ! (Gesturing at sleeping and staked couple)Youll free them - and let them live?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESThey can go back to the surface, back up to life with you and Percy!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYAnd youll let me keep my son?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESWith one small caveat..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)And what is that?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESLet me hold Will-mouse, and I will tell you..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Hold my baby?

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESYoure going to have to learn to trust me, Mary - for an eternity..! ! ! ! ! ! (Mary pauses, gives Will-mouse to Ostanes - ! ! ! ! ! ! Will-mouse starts CRYING, Ostanes looks ! ! ! ! ! ! down at him)The caveat is that.. to be down here..! ! ! ! ! ! (Runs with Will-mouse to the edge of the lake) Little Will-mouse must die!! ! ! ! ! ! (Holds Will-mouse out over the boiling lake)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYOstanes - no!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANESI have only minutes to live - but his fate is to die now!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSOstanes - an innocent child!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYGive Will-mouse to Percy! - let him go back up to life - Ill stay with you forever!! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of Will-mouse crying)

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Raising the child up as an offering)Zeus! - another child of nature - what say you? - will you save this one?! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulls Will-mouse down to his chest)No, you will not, and yet all he wants is to be held..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARYGive me my baby!

! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Again dangling Will-mouse over the lake)Ill give you his bones!

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSOstanes - the child wants a life!


! ! ! ! ! ! (The water clock suddenly stops dripping - ! ! ! ! ! ! a great SILENCE in the cavern)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! OSTANES! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at the clock, dangles Will-mouse)Where does time go? - the thread of two lives end - and yet life will go on without us...! ! ! ! ! ! (Suddenly starts gasping - the Chorus ! ! ! ! ! ! rush Ostanes - there is a struggle over the ! ! ! ! ! ! baby - the Chorus snatches Will-mouse away ! ! ! ! ! ! from Ostanes - Ostanes falls to the ground, ! ! ! ! ! ! gasping - the Chorus holds up Will-mouse)

! ! ! ! ! ! CHORUSHis thread shall be long! ! ! ! ! ! ! (To Ost

lake brimstone - a work-in-progress

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