Lake Brimstone - A Gothic Play

!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LAKE BRIMSTONE
by Ed Ballou
Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016
TIME: 1816
PLACE: The Netherworld
CHARACTERS: In order of appearance:
CHORUS - dopplegangers, the imperfect twins of the mortals in life above - there are
three of them here represented: Percy the Doppleganger, Byron the Doppleganger, and
Polidari the Doppleganger - they sometimes stand off to the side when they are not part
of the action - they speak singly, as individual dopplegangers, round-robin, or in unison
as the Chorus.
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,
Will-mouse, 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
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 silver 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 wears an oval
cap, is lame, walks with the aid of a stick, 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
ACT 1!!
1-1
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, the
SOUND of its dripping echoing throughout the cavern - the stairs disappear
STAGERIGHT down through a hole in the rock floor framed by stalagmites, through
which is heard the distant SOUNDS of clanging iron, along with occasional groans, the
crack of the scourge, the clanking of chains - and the screeching of bats as they flit
through the mists which waft through the cavern, its gloom punctuated by pitch torches the Doppleganger SOUND - the CHORUS ENTER backwards - turn around)
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Here 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! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER
Shall we practice our recitations?
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER
Yes - how about a poem from your mortal twin, Shelley?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Ive been reciting one in a far cavern - I think Ive finally got it right..
!
!
!
Lets hear it..
POLDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER
!
!
!
!
Were the audience!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Sets himself, recites)
The awful.. the awful... shadow! - of some, some.. unseen Power
Floats through unseen among us, among us -- visiting
This various world with, with, with.. as inconstant wing
As summer winds that, that.. creep, creep.. from flower to, to.. flower, --
!
!
!
!
!
!
Wait a minute - what is summer?
POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER
!
!
!
!
!
!
I dont know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER! !
!
!
!
!
!
.. and flower - what is that?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
I dont know that, either..
!
!

(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
You dont seem to know your poem very well..
!
!
!
!
!
!
Its not my poem - my mortal twin, Shelley, wrote it..
!
!
!
!
!
!
Thats seems to be your problem..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
That seems to be all our problems..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To Byron the Doppleganger)
Recite one of your poems - I mean one from your mortal twin..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
What is his name?
!
!
!
!
Byron - Lord Byron..
!
!
!
Lets hear it!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
My hair is grey, but not with, with.. years,
Nor, nor.. grew it white
In a single, single.. night,
As mens have grown from, from.. sudden fears:
My limbs are, are.. bowd, though not with toil,
But rusted with a vile, vile, vile.. repose,
For they have been a, a.. dungeons spoil..
!
!
!
!
!
1-2
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Stop - too depressing!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
This Netherworld is a dungeon..
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-3
!
!
!
!
!
!
Ill recite something from my mortal twin, Polidari - though he isnt a poet..
!
!
!
!
What did he write?
!
!
!
A vampire novel..
!
!
!
!
Whats a vampire?
!
!
!
Recite, anyway..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
As he approached, the, the.. thunders, for a moment silent, allowed him to, to.. hear,
hear.. the dreadful shrieks of, of.. a woman mingling with the stifled, stifled,
stifled..exultant.. mockery of a, a.. laugh, continued in one almost, almost.. unbroken
sound; - he was, was.. startled; but roused by the, the.. thunder which again rolled over
his, his.. head, he, with a sudden, sudden, sudden.. effort, forced open the, the.. door of
the, of the, of the.. hut..
!
!
!
Whats a hut?
!
!
!
!
How should I know?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Wait a minute - is this the beginning of the story?
!
!
!
!
!
!
No, the middle - I forget all the rest..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Hush, now! - comes King Ostanes...
!
!
!
!
!
!

!
!
!
!
!
!
(ENTER OSTANES - goes to water clock)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-4
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Almost empty! - dopplegangers, youre duty! - water! - we need another hour of time!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Our fate to fill the clock, an hour at a time, through the centuries..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Water! Water!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The CHORUS EXITS - OSTANES sits in one
!
!
!
!
!
!
of the thrones, watches as the dripping of the
!
!
!
!
!
!
clock slows - he calls offstage)
Dopplegangers, hurry, hurry! - more water!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Doppleganger SOUND - the CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
ENTERS 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 - Ostanes watches it fill to LX mark)
Once more we have time..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Time is of no importance, without a life to live..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
You exist as doubles of the mortals above..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Would that we could live as mortals ourselves..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Wish for more - yet, if you live, you must need die..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
We are dead down here..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
But you exist!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Is life more than existence? - we have nothing..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
You have each other - I have no one..
!
!
!
!
!
!
You have us..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Only as king - I wait for someone..
!
!
CHORUS
1-5
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
We wish you short wait - your melancholy is a mist..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Dopplegangers go! - fetch ever more water, that we may never run out of time..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The doppleganger climbs down the ladder !
!
!
!
!
!
the CHORUS EXITS 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)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ostanes..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Ive been waiting for you, Mary..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ive come to find Mother.. you said she was here..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Come on down - well find Mother together..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looking down at the water clock)
What is that?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
A 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
translucent quartz found miles away in our caverns - as long as water drips from the
clock, we have what passes for life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Why is the water red?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-6
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
To 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?
!
!
!
Lake Brimstone..!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Why does it bubble so?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Its 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?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Oh, around..
!
!
!
!
!
Could you call her to me?
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
Shes in a far cavern, Mary..
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
You promised I could talk to her!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Why are you so anxious?
MARY
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
I was responsible for her death - we need to talk!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-7
!
!
!
!
!
!
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 back down here - they wont bother you, as long as you stay with me..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Dopplegangers, yes - they all seemed odd, a bit off..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
They 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?
!
!
!
Just for a minute..
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Or 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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
A staking?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
A 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Then 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..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
I thought dead people dont sleep..!
!
MARY
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-8
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Oh, we dont! - but Im sure we can find some quiet, secluded cavern somewhere,
where we can.. get to know each other..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(A sliming SOUND from the ceiling !
!
!
!
!
!
MARY looks up)
!
!
!
Whats that?!
!
!
!
MARY
(The sliming SOUND grows louder)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
The cave slugs, Mary - large, with large appetites, living their lives on the ceiling, except
when they come down to feed - now, how about that death? - it doesnt have to be a
staking, it can be a quick death, if you like..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Gesturing)
.. you could jump into Lake Brimstone! - quick and intense! - Id pull you out, of course after I made sure you were, you know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. a steaming pile of bones?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. quite dead, Mary..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ostanes.. I dont think Im up for death, just now..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Now, now, Mary - its really not so bad - look at me! - I feel all right dead - even
immortal! - its exhilarating! - I never worry about getting up in the morning and facing
the stresses of life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Id rather face life.. consider me a visitor, and Ill be going upstairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
You can never go back upstairs, Mary - remember our deal?
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
You 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!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Dont argue with me, Mary - youre in my world, now!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-9
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Then, Ill be going..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Gets up)
.. back up to the world of the living!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Sit 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 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 SOUND of the screeching
!
!
!
!
!
!
of a bat, Mary claws at her hair)
Oh! - something flew at me!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Laughing)
Javan, 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 - dont worry, he wont bite - there! - he flew away, down the stairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looking at the hole in the floor down
!
!
!
!
!
!
through which the stairs continue)
Where do those stairs go?
!
!
!
!
Down to Tartarus..
OSTANES
!
!
Tartarus?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-10
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
An abyss deep below us - where souls are judged after death, and the wicked receive
the punishments of the gods..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Which gods do the judging?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Leans towards her - stage whisper)
The gods of the Underworld - Thantaclos and Hypnos..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Thantaclos and Hypnos?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Stage whisper)
Shhh! - it is forbidden to say their names 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)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Whats that sound?
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Why are they coming up now? - Im in the middle of a death!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The louder SOUND of the flute)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Whos coming up?
!
!
!
!
The gods..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses, stage whisper)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(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 over to
where Mary sits, and pause, smiling at her)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-11
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Hello.. Im Thanatos, god of death..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. and Im Hypnos, god of sleep..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Were very close..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. sometimes, only a blink away!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Were gods of the Underworld.. my, what a nice throne you have - made by one of our
Underworld gods, Hephaestus - should last a long time!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
That is her throne - she is to be my queen!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
We may need a throne, if we are to stay long in your Netherworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Stay? - you have your own kingdom - Tartarus!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Too hot down there!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
And all that screaming!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Sisyphus, screaming in frustration, as he pushes that boulder up a hill..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. every day it rolls back down!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Poor Sisyphus!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
And King Tantalus, next to him..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Tantalus, who cut up his son, boiled him, and served him to us gods..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Not nice, when weve been invited to dinner..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
His punishment to stand in a pool of water, below a fruit tree..
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Reaches for fruit, and it raises beyond his grasp..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Bends to drink, and the water recedes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Hes hungry and thirsty..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
He cries out!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
And 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
What did he do?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
I forget..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
But, no one escapes Tartarus..! !
!
!
1-12
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-13
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
.. its surrounded by a flaming river and triple walls..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. guarded by a black hydra with fifty heads and gaping jaws!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Not a fun place to be..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
So, one day we said..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
.. weve got to get out of here!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Weve 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Until then, we are here!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Tartarus is fated to be your lot - the Netherworld is fated to be my kingdom!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Your fate could change!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Only I change my fate!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Do you forget? !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Only The Three Fates change fates..
OSTANES
HYPNOS
!
THANATOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. and theyre down in the Underworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To Mary)
Are you new here? - we havent seen your like before..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Did you just die?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-14
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Shes trying to die..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Oh, youre alive - a mortal! - you must be from up there!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Im just visiting - I belong with the living - I have a lover, a child - they expect me..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I told Mary Id change her lovers fate, if only she stayed with me..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Change a fate? - oh, The Fates wouldnt like that!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I rule here! - youre gods of the Underworld - help Mary have a peaceful death!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
And what do we get in return? - perhaps a throne?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Not all death is peaceful..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Not all death is final..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Rises from the throne)
Here, take this throne! - Ive heard enough..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Sit back down, Mary! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
I wont sit down - I dont want this throne!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Mary goes to shore of lake, looks out)!
!
!
!
!
!
!
You gods may sit on the throne..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Very good, for its a throne we want..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
HYPNOS
(They flow to the throne)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
You sit first, brother!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
1-15
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Sitting down)
Ahhh! - the first time Ive sat down in.. two millennia..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
You cant sit anywhere in Tartarus - everythings so hot and steaming!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Especially, your son, Typhon - dead three thousand years, and still steaming!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Typhon?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
A giant monster with a hundred heads and serpents coils for legs - but he was my little
boy! - I miss him so..
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
He tried taking over Mount Olympus, but Zeus smoked him with a thunderbolt!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Then tossed his body back down to Tartarus..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
It takes up two enormous caverns!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
.. and his bodys still steaming away - thats my boy!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Settling back in the throne)
I like the feel of a Hephaestus throne - well-wrought! - guaranteed for centuries..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATOS
Its bigger than your throne, Ostanes..
!
!
It is not!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(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)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-16
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Another mortal - I had no idea they were so common up here!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Percy!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Mary, my Mary! - Ive come to this infernal place looking for you - and Ive found you!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Go back up to life, poet - I made a deal with Mary, when last I was up there!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
What deal?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ostanes 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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Yes, as his wife - were not married, remember?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Is that what you want? - to live here in hell with a demon?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Im not a demon - and this is not hell!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
If I dont stay, youll drown in six years, and what will happen to our Will-mouse?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I know your fate.. you sail up and down the coast..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
My boat is seaworthy - and Im a good sailor!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
You 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!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Percy pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Excuse us, Percy..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Who are you?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Im Thantaclos and this is my brother, Hypnos..
1-17
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Were gods of the Underworld..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Were from Tartarus, further down the stairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Sort of a way station for souls..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
You mean, Hell?
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
No, although Satan came through Tartarus once, on his way from Hell to Earth - didnt
stay long, didnt say much..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Youre gods? - can you help me? - I want to bring Mary back up to life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
You gods stay out of this! - Mary stays with me!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
You order gods, Ostanes?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
King Ostanes - youre in my domain, now!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
We might be able to help change your fate, Percy ..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Nobody is changing any fates - except me!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To the gods)
And my son, Will-mouse - can you change his fate, too?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Ill decide about fates - only I will change them!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To the Chorus)
Gather all the dopplegangers - were facing a threat!
!
!
!
!
Threat?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-18
THANTACLOS
(Pulling out his sword)
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Holding up his poppy)
What threat?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Hits Ostanes with his poppy, who collapses to
!
!
!
!
!
!
the ground, falling asleep at their feet)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Thantaclos, let us take a tour of this Netherworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
What about Ostanes - and the mortals?
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOSOS
Ostanes will sleep til I wake him..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To Percy and Mary)
And you mortals! - well be gone a short while - stay here! - there are dopplegangers..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT out the
!
!
!
!
!
!
side cavern)!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Mary, Mary - Ill get us out of here!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
How? - theyre gods, Percy! - and who knows what Ostanes is..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Hes just a doppleganger! - Ill trick them - the gods even trick each other!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
But, Claires here, too - she came down before me, to help find Mother..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-19
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Turns to go to the side cavern)
Then, well go find Claire!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
No, 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, looks over at her)
!
!
!
Been writing?
!
!
!
!
Until I came down here..
PERCY
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Ive been working on a new poem - like to hear a stanza?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Launches into the stanza)
While yet a boy I sought for ghosts, and sped
Through many a listening chamber, cave and ruin,
And starlight wood, with fearful steps pursuing
Hopes of high talk with the departed dead.
I called on poisonous names with which our youth is fed;
I was not heard -- I saw them not -When musing deeply on the lot
Of life, at that sweet time when winds are wooing
All vital things that wake to bring
News of birds and blossoming, -Sudden, thy shadow fell on me,
I shrieked, and clasped my hands in ecstasy!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Mary says nothing)
Its called Hymn To Intellectual Beauty..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Mary says nothing)
Its a hymn to you, Mary..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Mary says nothing)
Missing little Will-mouse?
!
!
!
Yes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
Hell be all right..
MARY
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
I trusted Claire - I didnt think shed leave him with Doctor Polidari..
!
!
!
!
At least hes a doctor..
1-20
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
I worry about my son..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Our son..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Dont you worry about him?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Of course!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Do you think youll ever find your mother?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Theres 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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
If it means life for Will-mouse..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Because Ill be there to raise him?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Otherwise, youll be..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. dead.
MARY
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
Thats what Ostanes says..
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
PERCY
MARY
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
What does he know? - hes not a god - hes a glorified doppleganger!
1-21
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
If we take his deal, youll live a long life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
What about you?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ostanes says Ill stay down here for centuries..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
.. dead, with him..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. Im going to die, anyway..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
.. and little Will-mouse will be without a mother..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. hell have you..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
.. but if I die, youll raise him..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. if you drown..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
What if I dont go sailing that day?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
You cant know what day it is - just that its in the sixth year..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
I 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!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Its your fate to die on your day - you cant cheat fate..!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
There must be a way..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Its better I die and stay with Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Arent you afraid to die?
!
!
PERCY
(Pauses)
1-22
MARY
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Yes.
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Arent you?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
I going to drown at sea and my body burned on a beach - what rubbish! - why would
I be burned on a beach?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Quarantine laws - we live in Italy..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
.. did live in Italy - now were stuck down here..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. youre not stuck - you get to go up..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. but first, I have to watch you die, ..
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. no, I want to die alone..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
How?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ill figure out a way, since Ostanes proposed deaths for me..
!
!
!
!
What kind of deaths?
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-23
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Jumping into this lake, having the flesh boiled off my bones - or death by cave slugs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Cave slugs?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Something called a staking - they come down to feed on you..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Both sound revolting!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Perhaps Ill go off in a cavern to die - open my wrists, or drown in a pool..
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Oh, Mary, dont talk like this- I dont want you to die!
!
!
!
!
!
Its for Will-mouse..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Youll die for our son?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Percy.. no more..
!
!
!
!
!
Im going to stay with Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
PERCY
!
!
MARY
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
.. and die?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. you go up to life - you raise little Will-mouse ..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
.. but, Mary..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. were going to take the deal..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER BYRON
!
!
!
!
!
!
THE DOPPLEGANGER, clumping backwards
!
!
!
!
!
!
out of the side cavern, turns around)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-24
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Byron! - what are you doing down here?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
What are any of us doing in this mordant world? - I told you, dont go down those stairs!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Have you seen Claire? - shes down here, somewhere..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Claire? - yes, yes, Ive seen Claire - up there, in life..
!
!
!
!
!
But, she came down here!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Yes, yes - I saw Claire go down the stairs - shes down here..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Byron, youre not making sense..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Because of all 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 Claire! - then well all go up to life, before the gods make a plan!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Yes, yes, find Claire, lets find Claire - I saw her in a near cavern..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Byron, how did you come down here before us?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Of course, how?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
I have a plan..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Grabs a torch from its holder)
.. after we find Claire, were going to find your mother - come on, Mary!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-25
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
But, Percy - the dopplegangers!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Thrusting the torch)
Ill give them fire!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER, PERCY and
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY EXIT into side cavern, torch held high !
!
!
!
!
!
a pause, ENTER the CHORUS)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Everybodys gone - let us plan our escape!
!
!
!
!
When can we escape?
!
!
!
!
When no ones around!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Theres no one around!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Lets go!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Wait! - where are we going?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Up the stairs!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(They start to run to the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Wait!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(They all stop)
Whos going to fill the water clock?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
I dont know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
The Netherworld will run out of time - everything will stop!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
King Ostanes wont like that..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-26
!
!
!
!
!
!
Why must we be the ones to fill the clock? - were not the only dopplegangers!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(A pause - the three look at each other)
!
!
!
!
!
!
If were going up, we must never come back..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. therwise, its a staking..
!
!
!
!
.. not good, a staking..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. still, time shouldnt be dependent on us..
!
!
!
!
!
.. not if were to go up to life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. well be free! - well live in time up there..
!
!
!
!
!
.. well live! - not just exist!
!
!
Lets do it!
!
!
!
!
!
Hush, come the gods..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
So dark, this Netherworld..
!
!
(ENTER THANTACLOS and HYPNOS from

the side cavern)
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
Climb the stairs to life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
But not as dark as our Underworld!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
What are you dopplegangers doing by the stairs?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Perhaps they need repair!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
A good scrubbing!
1-27
!
!
!
!
!
!
We would never go up!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
See that you dont - go back to your caverns, get stakes and a hammer - and return..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The CHORUS EXITS into the side cavern)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Where are the mortals?
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
(Looking around)
!
!
!
!
!
They must have escaped..
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
.. they werent in the caverns..
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. maybe theyve gone up the stairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. back up to life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. Ostanes will not be pleased..
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
.. but Ostanes is asleep..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. and soon hell be staked..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. and nothing will matter..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Stake King Ostanes!
THANTACLOS
HYPNOS
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
(The Doppleganger SOUND - the CHORUS

ENTERS backwards, with stakes and a
hammer - they turn around)
THANTACLOS
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-28
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Chorus quickly stake the sleeping
!
!
!
!
!
!
Ostanes to the ground)
Dopplegangers - know we are gods..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
.. we know you are gods - youre immortal..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. there is more to a god than that..
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. would you dopplegangers like to be immortal?
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Why be immortal and stay down here? - we would go up to life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Perhaps one day you can climb the stairs..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Yes, grant us journey to life - to live among our mortal twins!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
And what do we gods get in return?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Loyalty!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
A deal! - well trade you immortality for loyalty - now go, dopplegangers - fetch more
water for your clock!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Well be immortal - well be equal to gods!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The CHORUS EXITS out the side cavern)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Equal to gods - I think not..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(HYPNOS waves his poppy - Ostanes
!
!
!
!
!
!
awakens, and struggles to free himself))
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Im staked!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Struggles to free himself - then shouts out)
Dopplegangers - free your King!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES (Cont.)
!
!
!
!
!
!
(No dopplegangers appear)
Your King commands it!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
They wont come - we bought their loyalty..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. with immortal life, or its promise..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. you are familiar with immortality? !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
You no longer control the dopplegangers..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. soon, you wont control the Netherworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANATCLOS
.. and youll no longer be king..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. youre staked..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. and its almost time for the feeding..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Ostanes struggles to no avail)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. feeling kingly?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Stopping his struggle)
And you - acting godly?
!
!
!
!
Justly so..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. for gods we are!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
What do you gods want?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
HYPNOS
!
!
OSTANES
(Struggles again, stops)
1-29
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Ostanes, lie quietly - lets talk..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. well let Percy take Mary up to life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
You will not!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Of course not..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Percys doppleganger is down here in the Netherworld?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Somewhere in the crowd..
1-30
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. well make a switch..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. Percy 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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Yes, yes, I want Mary! - but what do you gods want?
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
We want to live up here in the Netherworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Well free you, and let you live in a far cavern - with Mary!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
How do I know I can trust you?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Its in the stars!!
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses)
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
You trust fate, dont you?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Fate is the only certainty..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. he bows to fate..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. even we bow!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
Why trust a fate you cant control?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
What about Percy - the mortal Percy?
CHORUS
(Thantaclos takes out his sword, cuts the ties)
OSTANES
(Rising)
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Oh, I think a staking would be quite in order..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. a death, a peaceful death..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. but a slimy death!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Good! - then Ill be rid of him - what about Mary?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Percy the Doppleganger will keep her in a cavern, until you come for her..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. weve yet to see our first staking..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. oh, Im so going to enjoy that - what an exciting place!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Theres so much happening up here!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-31
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
And no screaming!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
Tartarus can just run itself!
THANTACLOS
1-32
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Lets explore more of our Netherworld!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT out the
!
!
!
!
!
!
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, then goes up the stairs, at a faster and
!
!
!
!
!
!
faster pace - disappears through the hole at
!
!
!
!
!
!
the top - OSTANES EXITS - a mist rolls off the
!
!
!
!
!
!
bubbling lake and wafts through the cavern !
!
!
!
!
!
Mary comes out of the side cavern alone - she
!
!
!
!
!
!
stops and calls back into the entrance)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Percy! Byron! - I thought you were behind me - Im here, by the lake!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
THE DOPPLEGANGER, backwards from the
!
!
!
!
!
!
side cavern, turns around)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Mary! - your mother! - Mary, I found your mother!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Great, Percy! - but wheres Byron? - and Claire - didnt you find her?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Byron? Claire?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Are they coming, Percy?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Yes, yes, of course theyre coming! - but its Mother, Mary, Mother - Ive found Mother!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Take me to her, Percy!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Come to Mother, come to Mother - come, Mary - shes in a far cavern!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-33
(PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER turns and
EXITS into side cavern - MARY grabs a torch,
EXITS behind him - the SOUND of a
screeching bat - CLAIRE ENTERS from the
side cavern, looking as if shes lost - looks
around the cavern, she sees the lake, goes
over, looks at it, kicks a rock into it - the rock is
consumed in a boiling - she backs away,
notices the thrones, sits in one, looks around)
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
What a strange place - who would want to sit here in gloom, listening to that lake boil?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(She shouts)
Hello!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The SOUND of her voice echoing)
Ive got to find Marys mother.. ! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(ENTER BYRON at the top of the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
Claire! - I thought I heard your voice!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Byron! - what are you doing here?!
BYRON
CLAIRE
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Clumping down the stairs)
Looking for you!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
And your child?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses at the landing)
Claire, its not 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 climb alpine trails, gaze at glaciers, breath mountain air, listen to
blue jays and the rushing wind - but ever I ponder - who am I?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
Youre a great poet - tell me what youre working on!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-34
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Ive been working on a poem called, The Prisoner of Chillon - about three men brothers - chained in the dungeon of a castle, on an island in a lake..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
Chained for what?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Wrong beliefs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Will you recite some for me?
!
!
BYRON
(Pauses)
CLAIRE
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, takes a breath, recites)
There are seven pillars of Gothic mould,
In Chillons dungeons deep and old,
There are seven columns, massy and grey,
Dim with a dull imprisond ray,
A sunbeam which hath lost its way,
And through the crevice and the cleft
Of the thick wall is fallen and left;
Creeping oer the floor so damp,
Like a marshs meteor lamp:
And in each pillar there is a ring,
And in each ring there is a chain;
That iron is a cankering thing,
For in these limbs its teeth remain,
With marks that will not wear away,
Till I have done with this new day,
Which now is painful to these eyes,
Which have not seen the sun so rise
For years--I cannot count them oer,
I lost their long and heavy score
When my last brother droopd and died,
And I lay living by his side.
!
!
Its so sad..
!
!
!
!
As I..
!
!
CLAIRE
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-35
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
The baby and I could be waiting for you, 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 Ill never stay with you,
up there in life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Clumps down the rest of the stairs, sits down
!
!
!
!
!
!
in the throne opposite her)
Wheres little Will-mouse? - Mary left him up there with you..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
And I left him with Doctor Polidari - I hope hes all right - I told Polidari Id be down here
just a short time..
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
But why come down to the Netherworld? - it looks dangerous!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
I want to re-unite Mary with her mother!
!
!
!
!
!
!
And have you found her mother?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
They must be keeping her hidden..
BYRON
CLAIRE
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
But, Ive found you - lets go up the stairs, Claire - back up to life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
I cant leave Mary down here!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
Shell have to fend for herself - we cant go poking through these caverns..
!
!
!
!
!
I wont leave without her!! !
CLAIRE
!
!
!
!
!
!
All right then..
!
!
!
.. lets find Mary..
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
(Pauses)
(Rises)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Well, hello..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
Hello, hello..
!
!
!
!
Who might you be?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-36
(Claire rises - they are about to exit through
the side cavern, when THANTACLOS and
HYPNOS ENTER, suddenly float out - both
couples stop in surprise, looking at each other)
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
BYRON
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
Might be, who might we be?
CLAIRE
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Oh, you sound like a pair of dopplegangers - youre dopplegangers, arent you?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
Dopplegangers? - were dopplegangers?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To Thantaclos)
These dopplegangers make no sense..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
I 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..
!
!
!
!
!
Youre going.. to like us..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Well invite you.. to a.. staking..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Staking? !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
A staking?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Yes.. a staking..
!
!
!
!
!
They are so slow..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Wait a minute! - this one blinked!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Blinked? - the dead dont blink!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
!
!
CLAIRE
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
(To Hypnos)
!
!
HYPNOS
(To Thantaclos, looking at Claire)
!
!
THANTACLOS
1-37
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Blinked!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(BYRON and CLAIRE stare at them,
!
!
!
!
!
!
wide-eyed and unblinking - Thantaclos and
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS walk around them, looking closely)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Well.. 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!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
Ouch!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-38
!
!
!
!
!
!
BYRON
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Jumping forward, grabbing Thantaclos)
Leave her alone!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Hes touching me, Hypnos - touching a god!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Hypnos hits Byron with his poppy !
!
!
!
!
!
Byron collapses in sleep at their feet)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
What have you done? - Byron!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Byron doesnt respond)
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Poking Byron with his poppy)
Oh.. that deserves a good staking!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
For both of them - theyre both alive!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
They should be dead!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
And after theyre dead..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. well send them down to Tartarus!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLAIRE
No! - Byron! - no!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Byron sleeps)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
They can help Sisyphus push that big boulder!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Or spin Ixion on his flaming wheel!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
Well think of something!
!
!
!
!
Dopplegangers - come!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
(Calling offstage)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Bring more stakes - and the hammer!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
(Calling offstage)
1-39
!
!
!
!
!
!
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 - ENTER CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
backwards, with stakes and hammer - they turn
!
!
!
!
!
!
around, see Byron and Claire on the ground)
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Who sleeps? - dopplegangers never sleep..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Theyre mortals - and one touched a god - stake them both!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Why stake mortals, when we long to be mortal ourselves?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Because gods command you!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Dopplegangers - want immortality?
HYPNOS
(Two dopplegangers grab Byrons sleeping
form, carry him over by the boiling lake, set him
down at the edge of the lake, and hold him
spread-eagled, while the third doppleganger
hammers stakes through his clothes - they
repeat the process with Claire, who soon lies
staked next to Byron)
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Were promised it!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
Then 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)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Now, all we have to do is sit..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. and wait..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Theyre certainly invited to this staking! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Should be a peaceful death..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
1-40
THANTACLOS
(The sliming SOUND from the ceiling - they
look up)!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
(Looking down at Byron and Claire)
THANTACLOS
(The sliming SOUND grows louder)
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. maybe a little screaming..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. but were used to that..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. we might even like it..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. hush..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Hypnos, let us search for the other mortals, before they get away..
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
.. we have time, before the slugs reach the floor..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT - a pause,
!
!
!
!
!
!
ENTER MARY from the side cavern, alone)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Stops and calls back into the entrance)
Percy! - weve gone in circles - were by the lake, again!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
THE DOPPLEGANGER, backwards from the
!
!
!
!
!
!
side cavern, turns around)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
But, Mary! - your mother - I tell you, Mary, I found your mother!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
But, Percy! - where is she?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Mothers in a near cavern!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Then bring her to me, Percy!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Hello, Mary..
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER turns and

EXITS into side cavern - Mary seats herself on
a throne - a pause - the Doppleganger SOUND
- ENTER MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER
backwards from the side cavern, turns around)
!
!
Mother!
1-41
MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER
MARY
!
!
!
Yes, Mother..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ive been looking for you - but you have found me! - come, Mother, sit with me!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER comes
!
!
!
!
!
!
over, sits down in the other throne)
!
!
!
!
How have you been?
MARY
!
!
!
!
Mothers been dead..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Im sorry.. how I missed you! - Mother.. I know how you died - it was all my fault! - you
were infected with pieces of my placenta during my birth - and thats why..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Interrupting)
Stop the charade! - Mary, Im no blood relation to you - I have no blood..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Then, youre Mothers spirit!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-42
!
!
!
!
!
!
Im your mothers doppleganger - she died and I was created - thousands of years ago,
the gods created the Netherworld, then made copies of all mortals who have ever lived we dopplegangers! - first there was chaos, wars, some of us came to our end - but,
when a Persian mystic was killed by lightning, the gods groomed his doppleganger as
leader - thus Ostanes became our King..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Are you happy as dopplegangers?
MARY
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
We long to be mortal, and watch you mortals 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
But some of you go up to life - I saw dopplegangers - it seemed they wished us harm!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Because we want to replace you mortals with ourselves!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Turns away)
Yes, some dopplegangers sneak up to life, to find their mortal twin - but when they do,
lightning flashes, causing the ends of the mortals and their dopplegangers - any
dopplegangers that might survive, skulk back down here, to their tasks in the caverns moving sheets of quartz here, tending torches there, keeping the water clock full - but,
ever watching you mortals...
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Im going to join you - Ill die and become a doppleganger - then stay with you forever!
!
!
!
!
!
Dont be a fool! - why die?
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Because Ill be saving my own love, Percy, from an early death - hell raise our son!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Mary, its a mothers duty to raise her young - and if Percy is to die too soon, its his fate
- as a woman, decide what you want - but defy Ostanes! - make no deal with him go up to life with your Percy - raise your son together - Percy will make his peace with
his end, and, and.. oh, I forget all the rest..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Gets up from throne)
.. do I sound like a mother? - but, this is as close as Ill get..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
But wait - dont you have a name?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
No.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-43
(Mother the Doppleganger makes to exit)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
So, you found Mother!
OSTANES
(Gesturing behind him)
!
!
!
!
MARY
(Turning back)
(MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER EXITS, a
pause - ENTER OSTANES)
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
That wasnt my mother, that was only a doppleganger!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
But still, a copy of your mother! - 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 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 - OSTANES EXITS,
!
!
!
!
!
!
a pause - ENTER the CHORUS)
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
When Mary took the deal, Mary sealed her fate..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Here we are - and once again, no ones around..
!
!
!
!
!
!
Where is King Ostanes?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
No doppleganger has seen him - perhaps the Underworld gods have taken him..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. if he comes, well just run up the stairs..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. quickly then, up to life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Wait! - what will we do in life?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Search for our mortal twins..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. no, no! - the moment we find our twins, lightning will flash - theyll die and our
existence will end..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. then, we must hide among the mortals - and live our lives in secret..
!
!
!
!
.. should we split up?
1-44
!
!
!
!
!
!
We should do what our mortal twins do - its all we know how to do ..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. Ill go up and find a bag like Doctor Polidari carries - Ill make people sick!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Dont you mean, well?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Whats the difference?
!
!
!
I dont know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
My mortal twin is a great poet - and goes hiking outdoors!
!
!
!
Whats outdoors?
!
!
!
!
!
!
I dont know - it just popped into my head - I have strange dreams of cold mountains, icy
winds, and birds leaping up streams to spawn!
!
!
!
Whats a bird?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-45
!
!
!
!
!
!
Streams? To spawn?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
I know what Ill do! - my mortal twin is not only a poet - hes a sailor - Ill go out in a boat
on a lake - Ill go sailing!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Whats a boat?
!
!
!
Whats sailing?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Oh, I dont know!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
None of us know anything - thats why weve got to go up there - to experience life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(They run up to the landing, pause and look
!
!
!
!
!
!
back down)
!
!
!
!
!
!
The Netherworld.. all we have ever known..
!
!
!
!
!
.. exploring the far caverns..
!
!
!
!
!
.. hunting those pesky bats!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looking at him)
Youve still got some bat stuck to your lip..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Percy tries to wipe it off)
.. still there..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Its my badge of honor! - I can still see those bats swooping down on us - this one into
my face! - I grabbed it and - mmm, mmmm, garrr - rip, tear, swallow!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
What if there are bats up in life?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Its us or them!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-46
!
!
!
!
!
!
Rip, tear, swallow! - back down the stairs to old existence? - or, up the stairs to new life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(They pause, then turn as one and run up the
!
!
!
!
!
!
last flight of stairs - they suddenly stop on the
!
!
!
!
!
!
stairs as the door at the top opens - ENTER
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES, stands at the top of the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Dopplegangers! - youre on the stairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. we were looking for you, King Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. it is forbidden for dopplegangers to be on the stairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. we worried the Underworld gods had taken you..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. the Underworld gods live way down the stairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
King Ostanes - its not for us to inquire, but..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
What I was doing? - I went back in time, for a brief visit in life - to the night I met a
mortal woman - thats all you need know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
Yes, Sire..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looking at him)
Whats that stuck to your lip?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Ostanes comes down the stairs, stands in
!
!
!
!
!
!
front of Percy)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Food..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Dopplegangers dont eat, we kill..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pulls off the object, holds it up)
.. looks like.. a piece of wing.. a bat wing..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
A bat flew at us, Sire..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. swooped down and attacked us savagely..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. a rabid bat, Your Highness!
1-47
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Examining the wing)
I know the pattern of this wing very well - it didnt belong to a rabid bat - it belonged to
my pet bat, Javan..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
.. poor Javan.. some dopplegangers dont like bats, think bat swarms are competition for
caverns - they hunt them in bands and kill them.. you three dopplegangers always
together - think I dont see you go off, torches in hand, blood-lust in your eyes?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Oh, no - we hunt no bats!
!
!
!
!
!
!
We take our torches to explore our wonderful Netherworld!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Percy the Doppleganger says nothing)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To Percy the Doppleganger)
And you, with a piece of my pet in your mouth! - nothing to say?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Dopplegangers! - follow me back down to our Netherworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(They obediently follow him down the stairs !
!
!
!
!
!
he pauses at bottom, gestures to Byron the
!
!
!
!
!
!
Doppleganger and Polidari the Doppleganger)
You two - go into the caverns to your tasks - later Ill find the truth about what you were
doing up those stairs..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Gestures to Percy the Doppleganger)
.. and you, doppleganger, come with me, to the lake..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Ostanes turns and goes to the lake, Percy the
!
!
!
!
!
!
Doppleganger following him - they stand
!
!
!
!
!
!
by the shore - Byron the Doppleganger and
!
!
!
!
!
!
Polidari the Doppleganger start to exit, pause
!
!
!
!
!
!
at the entrance to the side cavern, look back at
!
!
!
!
!
!
the scene by the lake)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-48
!
!
!
!
!
!
I didnt mean to harm your pet, King Ostanes - I turned in the dark and it flew at me..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. right into your toothy mouth..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. Sire, please! - Ill find you another bat, in far caverns where no one goes - I know
where the best ones are, the most beautiful ones..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. because youve been hunting them - you and the others..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. and I ordered you to take Mary into a far cavern - where she believed she was to find
her mother - instead, she was to rendezvous with me - but you led her back here to
meet mother - and I found no one - you dopplegangers always get it wrong..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
.. you are a doppleganger yourself, King Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. dont remind me..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Proudly)
The doppleganger of Percy Bysshe Shelley! - my nickname is Bysshe!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Bysshe.. I have met Percy Shelley, up there in life - and I know his poetry, too - let me
hear you recite some of Shelleys poetry, Bysshe..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
I, I.. cant! - whenever I recite his poems, I get them all wrong!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Shouting at him)
Recite! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. Thou, thou messenger of, of.. sympathies,
That.. wax.. and, and uh, wane - wane! - in lovers eyes -Thou, thou.. -- that to human thought thou art, art.. nourishment,
Like darkness to a dying, dying.. flame! - a dying flame!
Depart not..
1-49
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Stop! - youre butchering it!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Recites from the poem)
Thou messenger of sympathies
That wax and wane in lovers eyes -Thou -- that to human thought art nourishment,
Like darkness to a dying flame!
Depart not as thy shadow came,
Depart not -- lest the grave should be,
Like life and fear, a dark reality.
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Takes hold of Percy the Doppleganger by the
!
!
!
!
!
!
shirt collars)
The end..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pushes him backwards into the lake - a great
!
!
!
!
!
!
boiling SOUND - the lake resumes its bubbling
!
!
!
!
!
!
- BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER and
!
!
!
! !
POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER EXIT into
!
!
!
!
!
!
the side cavern - 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, the bubbling resumes !
!
!
!
!
!
ENTER MARY from the side cavern)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
I find you by your lake..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I come often to look at Lake Brimstone - ever-bubbling, ever-changing - hot and full of
color! - unlike the rest of my world down here..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looks around cavern)
.. cold, drab and.. lonely..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
What about your dopplegangers? - they must be some company..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-50
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
My dopplegangers? - living imperfect lives - or what passes for lives - like beings in a
strange dream - none of them ever make sense..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Sudden SOUND of the screeching of a bat)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Oh!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Just another bat - youll get used to them - remember Javan, 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!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
You mean, we dopplegangers - youre one of them!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
As soon you shall be, Mary!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looks out at Lake Brimstone, points)
Look! - see that dopplegangers skull bob up from the lake? - there! - it seems to be
grinning 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)
.. what if I was to agree to your proposal, and stay down here with you for, for..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. eternity, Mary..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
What 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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Oh, Mary, 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..
1-51
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Why, thank you - but that was.. twenty-five hundred years ago..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looks at her)
.. tell me about your writing, Mary..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Ive started a novel.. about a scientist trying to create a man in his image, but.. he ends
up creating a monster..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. what kind of monster?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
A lonely monster..! !
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Mary.. Im very much taken with you.. oh, I know, youre probably thinking, how could
this strange being have feelings for anyone? - I dont know - but I do know.. I love you,
Mary - there, I said it!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looks at her, goes to kiss her - she evades
!
!
!
!
!
!
him, gets up, walks away)
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ostanes.. I appreciate your sentiments.. but, I love only Percy - and I wish I was with
Percy now, watching a lovely sunset..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
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)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-52
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. and the clouds?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looking up, again)
Clouds, yes.. small clouds floating above 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!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Life? - sunrise, sunset? - no more!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(ENTER PERCY)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Hello , Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Percy..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Rising)
You two have much to talk about..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(MARY EXITS out the side cavern)
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Lets talk about fate, Ostanes - my fate..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I can change your fate, Percy - you wont drown, youll live a long life, and youll raise
your little Will-mouse - just it will all be without Mary..
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Im 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 as King of the Netherworld - its served you well through the
centuries!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
But now Ive fallen in love - with Mary! - and you will drown if I dont change your fate!
- you cant stop it - its in the stars!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
I cant stop the stars - but I can stop you!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Want to drown now?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Its you will drown - in Hell!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-53
(Percy leaps forward and grabs Ostanes - they
struggle by the lake)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
(Struggling)
!
!
(Ostanes gets the upper hand, holds Percy

over the bubbling lake)
PERCY
(Struggling)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Prepare to be a dead man - like me!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Youre not a man!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
What am I?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Ostanes pulls Percy up)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
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...
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Nevertheless, I want Mary! - you and she have a child - nothing else!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
We have love! - your desire doesnt make her love you - shell never love you!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
She is fated to love me! - accept my proposal - and Ill change your fate for the better!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, turns away, turns back)
Mary and I, we.. we talked about your deal, and.. and shes willing to accept my new
fate.. and what her life will become - 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-54
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Mary will stay?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Mary will stay..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
And die?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Mary will die..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. then, I will change your fate..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
I want a very long life with Will-mouse..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(PERCY EXITS out side cavern - Ostanes sits
!
!
!
!
!
!
in his throne, looks out over Lake Brimstone !
!
!
!
!
!
ENTER the CHORUS out of the side cavern
!
!
!
!
!
!
entrance, going to the foot of the stairs)!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Mary trades a life with her child, for a death with her mother - a fair trade?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
At last, at last - Mary, Mary! - youre mine, at last!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Ostanes gains Mary by changing a fate - but is it his fate to change a fate?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The SOUND of singing floats up the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
Since long ago,
Man wants to know,
What is this fate,
Through which he must go!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
For present time,
Man wants life sublime,
What he gets instead,
Is a thread of time!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS (OFFSTAGE)
LACHESIS (OFFSTAGE)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-55
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS (OFFSTAGE)
The futures read,
Weve drawn the thread,
Cut each man his length
- til he lies dead.
!
!
!
!
!
!
(ENTER THE THREE FATES up and out the
!
!
!
!
!
!
floor entrance to the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Who has come to my Kingdom?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
I am Clothos, the spinner - I spin the thread of life from my spindle.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
I am Lachesis, the allotter - I measure the thread of life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
I 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
.. even 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.. ! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. even Zeus cannot alter fates..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. once we have spun them..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
But this being, one Ostanes..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. is he man or god?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. no matter..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. we punish gods as well as men..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
..for their sins..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. changing fates is a sin..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. this Ostanes, in this Netherworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. is proposing to change a fate..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. in the name of love..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Aphrodite! - what is she to fate?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. even Aphrodite fears us..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. gods cannot escape us..
!
!
ATROPOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. know that Ostanes..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. must stand before us to be judged..
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
CLOTHOS
LACHESIS
ATROPOS
CLOTHOS
!
!
LACHESIS
ATROPOS
!
!
CLOTHOS
LACHESIS
!
!
ATROPOS
!
CLOTHOS
LACHESIS
ATROPOS
LACHESIS
1-56
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. do you know this Ostanes?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Yes, I know him..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Where can he be found?
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses)
CLOTHIS
!
!
!
!
Who wants to find him?
OSTANES
!
!
!
The Three Fates..
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES! !
The Three Fates?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Hail, Fates - hail!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
Do you hail us - or mock us?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
How do I mock the gods who give us our fates?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
Perhaps by changing a fate..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. do I have power to change fates?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
Hermes taught Ostanes to constrain the stars..!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
.. slowing down their galactic wheelings..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. thus changing mens fates..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. this only we Fates will do..
!
!
!
!
1-57
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. is not Hermes to blame for the actions of Ostanes?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
Perhaps, but Hermes is a god..
1-58
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. and you are mortal - are you not?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I never die for long..!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. are you a god?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I am King of this Netherworld!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
We have heard of such a king..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. by name, one Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. are you King Ostanes?! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
I am.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
Once before, we determined your fate, Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. let us look again, at your fate - what was to be, what was not to be - and whether or
not, your fate now needs changing..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(APROPOS brings out her shears, Lachesis
!
!
!
!
!
!
starts pulling thread from the spindle of
!
!
!
!
!
!
Clothos, measuring it with her stick)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. such a long thread for Ostanes - perhaps he is a god!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Measuring thread)
.. oh, that is quite long..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
.. perhaps too long - Apropos, shears at the ready..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. should a fate need snipping..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. finally - the end..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Stops measuring, holds up thread) !
.. hes to have a millennium more of life..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHOS
.. but, the question is..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. how should we judge Ostanes..!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. for the crime of changing a fate?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Ostanes has changed fates..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. more than once..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. Ostanes was planning to do it, again..
APROPOS
!
CLOTHOS
LACHESIS
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. Percy lives longer, only if Ostanes changes his fate..
1-59
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
How say you, Ostanes - is Percy to live long - or die in six years?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
I say Percy must live a very long life..
OSTANES
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. then you will be changing his fate..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. the stars will go out of alignment..
CLOTHIS
1-60
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
.. the gods on Olympus will be threatened..
!
!
!
!
!
.. Zeus will be threatened..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. why dare change a fate?!!
LACHESIS
!
!
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
For love of a mortal..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
We have heard the evidence..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
A vote on Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Guilty.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Guilty.
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses)
!
!
!
(A pause, the Three Fates look at each other)

!
CLOTHOS
!
!
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
CLOTHIS
!
!
!
Guilty.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
The punishment?
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
(Snipping her shears)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Four millennia of life for Ostanes..
!
!
CLOTHIS
!
!
!
!
!
.. is a very long thread, indeed..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. thread that needs be shorter..
LACHESIS
!
!
APROPOS
(Snipping her shears)
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. question: how much shorter?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
If we snip it here..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. he will fall dead at our feet..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Stop! - dont cut it there! - dont cut it!!
LACHESIS
APROPOS
(Bending over thread, snipping her shears)
CLOTHIS
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
Quiet! - you have been heard..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. we shall snip Ostanes fate.. here..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Apropos snips thread with her shears !
!
!
!
!
!
one end of it falls to the ground)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Well, well.. how much, I mean.. how long?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
One hour..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
One hour!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. fill your clock one last time, Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. your new fate is determined..
1-61
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-62
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
One hour! - I cant just live for just one more hour! - and Im already dead! - how can you
end who I am?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
You will cease to exist in one hour..
!
!
!
!
!
.. we return to the Underworld..
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
!
.. to determine more fates..
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
.. and when they will end..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(THE THREE FATES EXIT down the stairs !
!
!
!
!
!
the SOUND of the dripping clock slows !
!
!
!
!
!
Ostanes looks over at it)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Calling offstage)
Dopplegangers! - more water - water! Water!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Doppleganger SOUND - ENTER the two
!
!
!
!
!
!
remaining members of the CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
backwards, carrying amphoras of water - they
!
!
!
!
!
!
turn around)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
My fate has been shortened - to only one hour!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Then we fill the clock one last time..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Hurry, hurry - fill it - fill it up! - hurry!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Chorus go over to the water clock,
!
!
!
!
!
!
one climbs the ladder, the other hands up
!
!
!
!
!
!
amphoras - one pours blood red water into the
!
!
!
!
!
!
top of the clock)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Time gains an hour, while we lose a King..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The SOUND of the clock dripping faster)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
1-63
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
More time - Ive still got more time! - dopplegangers go! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(One doppleganger comes down the
!
!
!
!
!
!
ladder with the amphora - the CHORUS EXITS
!
!
!
!
!
!
into the side cavern, carrying all the
!
!
!
!
!
!
amphoras - Ostanes watches the water drip
!
!
!
!
!
!
into the clock pool - the loud SOUND of the
!
!
!
!
!
!
dripping, as the LIGHTS DIM)
!
END OF ACT 1
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
ACT 2!!
!
!
!
!
(LIGHTS RISE on the two remaining members

of the Chorus - they stand, looking at the lake)
!
!
!
!
!
You think Bysshe still exists?
!
!
!
!
!
Yes.. but in another form..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
If I call, think hell come?
!
!
!
!

(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
Best not to call..
!
!
!
!
!
!

(Pauses, looks at the lake)
!
!
!
!
!
!
I miss Bysshe..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Hello, Ostanes..
!
!
!
!
!
!

(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The lake bubbles, a pause - ENTER

OSTANES from the side cavern - the SOUNDS
of an ancient lyre and a voice float up the stairs
and out into the cavern after him)
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
!
!
!
!
!
!
Who are you?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Where are you?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Im wearing my cloak of invisibility..
!
!
!
!
!
!
Am I here?
!
!
!
!
!
!
Or over here?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
I dont know! - what do you want?
!
!
OSTANES
(Looking around)
HERMES
(Changes position)
(Changes position)
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-1
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
I want to be recognized..
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
2-2
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
How can I recognize you, if I cant see you?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
I guide those whose lives are taken..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. my life was taken once..
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
.. more than once..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. how do you know?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
I guided you to the Underworld many times..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. your voice sounds familiar..
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
.. but Zeus keeps sending you back to the land of the living..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Suddenly appearing)
Ostanes!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Hermes - my old friend!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
I brought you down after your most recent death - and here I am, again..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Time to go? - I cant go up, Im almost out of time!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Youre not going - Zeus asks why you no longer pray to him..!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Because.. he allowed my pet to die..
!
!
!
!
Your.. pet?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
2-3
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Javan, only a pet bat - but he gave me happiness! - I prayed to Zeus nightly, not for me,
but for my little bat, who only wanted to live and be loved - yet, he died a terrible death if Zeus cannot - or would not! - protect a simple creature of nature, why worship Zeus?
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Ostanes, a god doesnt need to explain himself - gods are busy, Zeus is busy - he must
run Olympus - and look after mankind - a race he once thought to destroy! - believe in a
god first, and the god may help you - but gods dont make deals..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Hermes! - less than an hourI - thats all I have! - help me, my friend! - my being could
end.. and without my love! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Your new fate has been ordained!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
But I cant live for only one hour!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Youve 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)
Hermes! - you are brother to the god Hephaestus - please! - go down to Tartarus - ask
Hephaestus to clang on his forge!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Why would my brother do that? - you helped Prometheus steal fire from his forge!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The SOUND of the clock dripping)
But 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 - King Ostanes needs help!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The SOUND of the clock dripping louder)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-4
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Hephaestus must save me!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The slow clumping of feet up the stairs
!
!
!
!
!
!
- ENTER HEPHAESTUS up the stairs and out
!
!
!
!
!
!
into the cavern)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
Those 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
Yeah, yeah, yeah.. whats the problem?
!
!
!
!
Im going to die - again!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
All mortals must die..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Im not mortal!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Ostanes planned to change a mortals fate - the Three Fates gave him a punishment..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. they cut my thread to just one hour! - and now..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looks at the water clock)
.. only twenty minutes left!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
Calm down! - what do you want from me?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Clang 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 mortal love,
Mary! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-5
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
You 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..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
By the time they find out, Ill be up the stairs and mortal, again!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looks over at the dripping clock)
Ive only got minutes! - hurry, Hephaestus!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
Never rush a god..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, goes over to the clock, looks at it)
What a finely made water clock, should last centuries..
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
You forged it..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
I know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(CLANGS his hammer on it)
Any problems with it?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Its running out of water!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
Thats 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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Yes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
Huh?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Repeats with three CLANGS)!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I know what you mean..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The CLANGING resonates through the
!
!
!
!
!
!
cavern, then dies down, and only the SOUND
!
!
!
!
!
!
of the dripping water clock)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-6
!
!
!
!
!
!
HEPHAESTUS
Time.. only affects mortals - we gods live forever! - but then again, we have to live
forever.. Im going down to Tartarus, before those two gods find I clanged them from up
here - I got a silver breastplate to finish for Ares..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Turns, and limps to the top of the stairs
!
!
!
!
!
!
pauses, looks down)
Oh, those stairs, again! - soon as I finish that breastplate, Im gonna forge me a moving
metal ramp, replace these damn stairs..! !
!
!
!
!
!
A what?
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
Never mind..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
We met with all the dopplegangers..
HEPHAESTUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. they pledged allegiance to us..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. a promise of immortality will do that..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. but then again, its just a promise..!
HYPNOS
(HEPHAESTUS EXITS down the stairs into the

Underworld - a CLANGING is soon heard ENTER THANTACLOS and HYPNOS from the
side cavern)
THANTACLOS
THANTACLOS
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. the dopplegangers are coming, Ostanes - they want you to change their fates - they
want to be mortal..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I cant do that!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Hes in enough trouble with The Fates..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
.. but 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!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
Yes, Prometheus! - did you know him, Ostanes?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Not really..
!
!
!
!
!
Another soul needs judging..
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. whether it lived up to its fate..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. whether it deserves punishment..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. and if it does..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. well think of something diabolical..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
..were quite creative!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. sometimes we watch..
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
.. not that we enjoy it!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Weve got to go down..!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
HYPNOS
THANTACLOS
HYPNOS
THANTACLOS
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
2-7
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. but well be back up...
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. stay here, Ostanes..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. and you, Hermes..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. keep watch on him!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HYPNOS
2-8
!
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
HYPNOS
!
!
!
!
THANTACLOS
!
!
!
!
(THANTACLOS and HYPNOS EXIT, floating

down the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
.. and 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!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
But Hermes, wait! - I have just minutes to live!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Yes, only minutes.. and its all my fault..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
.. as a god, Ill take the blame - Ill wear my cloak of invisibility down into the
Underworld, find The Three Fates, tell them my story - ask them to come up and judge
you, again..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Wraps himself in his cloak - HERMES EXITS
!
!
!
!
!
!
by disappearing down the stairs - Ostanes
!
!
!
!
!
!
stands, looking at the clock drip - ENTER
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY and MARY from the side cavern)
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Ostanes, were ready to take your deal, as soon as Byron and Claire arrive - my friends
and I are to go up to life, while Mary will stay down here..
!
!
!
!
!
Mary - you will stay with me?
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Yes.. but first I must say goodbye to Byron and Claire..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-9
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, gesturing)
.. your Byron and Claire lie staked by the lake..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Gestures at sleeping pair)
.. its 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
!
!
!
!
!
!
the stairs, pauses at landing)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Mary! - I have your child!! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Will-mouse! - bring him down to me!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
POLIDARI
(Holding up bundle)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Byron? Claire? - what happened?
POLIDARI
!
!
!
!
Theyre just sleeping..
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
What are those stakes? !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Its a staking..
!
!
!
!
POLIDARI
!
!
PERCY
!
!
A what?!
!
!
!
!
POLIDARI
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The sliming SOUND reaches the ground)
!
!
!
!
!
A peaceful death..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Whats that sound?
MARY
(Polidari comes down the stairs, passes
by Byron and Claire, staked by the lake)
POLIDARI
(Peers into the mist)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Giant cave slugs, coming down to feast on your friends..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The SOUND of a wail)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-10
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES (Cont.)
.. and what is that sound?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
POLIDARI
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, looks down into bundle hes carrying)
Little Will-mouse..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
What is your name, mortal?!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
POLIDARI
Polidari.. Doctor Polidari..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The sliming SOUND is at their feet)
.. now 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?
!
!
!
!
!
!
But, Will-mouse is not mine to give..
!
!
!
!
!
!
POLIDARI
(He hands Will-mouse to Mary)
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Holding tight to Will-mouse)
He belongs to me!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
And those two that lie sleeping, Byron and Claire - to whom do they belong? - to
Thantaclos, the god of death? - for thats who will claim them!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
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, Ostanes - let Percy take Will-mouse back up to life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Dont worry about Will-mouse, Mary - hell have a mothers care - hell stay here with us!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-11
!
!
!
!
!
!
POLIDARI
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Gesturing at sleeping and staked couple)
But, our friends - youll get them freed and let them live?
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
I know a god who can help them - they can go to the surface - up to life with you and
Percy!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
And youll let me keep my son down here?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
With one small caveat..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
.. and what is that?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Come over here by the lake - let me hold Will-mouse, and I will tell you..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. hold my baby?
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Youre going to have to learn to trust me, Mary - for an eternity..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Mary pauses, goes over to the lake, gives
!
!
!
!
!
!
Will-mouse to Ostanes - the SOUND of
!
!
!
!
!
!
crying, Ostanes looks down at the bundle)
.. the caveat is that.. to be down here... little Will-mouse.. must die!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Dangles Will-mouse over the boiling lake)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Ostanes - no!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Dangling Will-mouse)
I have only minutes to live - but its his fate to die now!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Ostanes - an innocent child!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Give Will-mouse to Percy! - let him go back up to life - Ill stay with you forever!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The SOUND of Will-mouse crying)
2-12
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Raising the child up as an offering)
Zeus! - another child of nature - what say you? - will you save this one?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, looking up)
No, you will not.. as you would not save Javan..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Dangles Will-mouse over the lake)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Give me my baby!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Zeus owes me - Ill give you his bones!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Ostanes - the child needs a life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The water clock suddenly stops dripping !
!
!
!
!
!
a great SILENCE in the cavern)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looking over at the silent clock)
Where does time go? - the threads of two lives are ending - and yet, life will go on
without us...
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Starts gasping - the Chorus rush Ostanes,
!
!
!
!
!
!
snatch Will-mouse from him before the baby is
!
!
!
!
!
!
dropped in the lake - Ostanes falls gasping to
!
!
!
!
!
!
the ground - the Chorus hold up Will-mouse)
!
!
!
!
His thread shall be long!
!
!
!
!
As yours now short..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
(To Ostanes)
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Ostanes gasps on the ground - the Chorus

gives Will-mouse to Mary - ENTER HERMES,
his cloak wrapped around him)
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Ostanes!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Looking down at Ostanes)
I return to find you finished.. but, hold on - The Three Fates are coming!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Who are you?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
I am the god Hermes - a friend of mortals..
2-13
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
Perhaps you are the god of whom Ostanes spoke - can you free our mortal friends? they lie under a spell, and cannot be wakened..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Going over to Byron and Claire)
Who staked them?
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
The gods of the Underworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
.. it is not for those gods to stake mortals..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Gestures at sleeping couple with his
!
!
!
!
!
!
caduceus - they awaken, rise to their feet, as
!
!
!
!
!
!
THE THREE FATES ENTER up the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Byron, Claire - we have Will-mouse! - Ostanes is done, the Underworld gods nowhere quick, up the stairs to life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Three Fates circle a gasping Ostanes)
!
!
!
!
!
!
Our brother Hermes, has called us..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. youre at the end of your thread..
CLOTHIS
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. no one wants to come to the end..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. but to the end they must come..
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
!
.. we hear many pleas..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. no pleas have we answered..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. no threads made longer..
LATHESIS
!
!
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
LACHESIS
CLOTHIS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. but brother Hermes has asked us..
!
!
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. to listen to your plea..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
.. plea, then..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, gasping)
I want to live... more than I want to love..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
Noble words?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
Not words of a god..!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
.. nor words of a mortal..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
.. though words more mortal than godly..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
.. Ostanes - tell us about Percy..
!
!
!
!
Percy?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
(Gasping)
!
!
!
!
!
.. does he live long?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. or is six years his thread?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Percy must die..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. he dies anyway..! !
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
!
!
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses, gasping)
APROPOS
2-14
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. question is:
!
!
!
!
!
!
When?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
!
!
!
!
LACHESIS
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses, gasping)
!
!
!
!
(The Three Fates look at each other)
!
!
LACHESIS
(Pulling out measuring stick)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Six years..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
A new thread for Ostanes..!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. a new length..
2-15
CLOTHIS
(Pulling out a spindle of thread)
!
!
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Making ready to snip thread)
.. not one millennium, but two..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Apropos goes to snip thread)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. not two millennia - not even one! - just time enough to know, what could have been..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(APROPOS snips the thread - Ostanes slowly
!
!
!
!
!
!
rises, begins breathing normally - The Three
!
!
!
!
!
!
Fates start to exit)
But, wait! - how much, how long - I mean.. I have to know!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Between a minute and a millennium..
CLOTHIS
!
!
!
!
.. will you be better off..
LACHESIS
!
!
!
!
.. knowing your fate?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. or better off..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. living your life?
!
!
!
!
APROPOS
!
!
!
!
CLOTHIS
!
!
LACHESIS
(Ostanes pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-16
!
!
!
!
!
!
HERMES
Best not to know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(THE THREE FATES and HERMES EXIT
!
!
!
!
!
!
down the stairs - the SOUND of the clock
!
!
!
!
!
!
starting its dripping - Ostanes turns and listens)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
We have Will-mouse! - Ostanes is saved, the gods all gone - quick Mary, quick all - up
the stairs to life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Chorus blocks the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Dopplegangers, let them go.. even Mary - let them all go back up to life...
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Standing their ground)
But we long to go with them, to be mortal - to live in life above!
!
!
!
!
!
You belong here with me..
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
.. but you have lived in life above, King Ostanes..
!
!
!
.. many times..
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
.. why come back?
CHORUS
!
!
!
Each time, I die..
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
.. we are dead all the time!
CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Maybe better to be dead..
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Standing their ground)
.. oh, our King - let us climb the stairs with them!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-17
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(To Chorus)
No! - you dopplegangers can never live with us in our bright life - you are dead! - stay
here with your King in your dark Netherworld!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Chorus pause, stand aside)
Quick now, mortals - up the stairs!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The mortals start running up the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Wait! - I would talk to Mary - one last time...
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, gives Will-mouse to Claire)
Ill be there..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
.. but, Mary..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. Percy, go..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The mortals rush up the stairs, Claire carrying
!
!
!
!
!
!
Will-mouse - Percy pauses at the landing to
!
!
!
!
!
!
look back down at Mary - BYRON, POLIDARI,
!
!
!
!
!
!
and CLAIRE all EXIT up to life - OSTANES and
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY speak to each other in low tones)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Mary, I will love you always..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. poor Ostanes.. you have only minutes to know, I will never forget you..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Goes to him, holds him)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Holding her)
.. and I time enough, to remember you always..
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, looks at him)
.. time enough? - but your fate has been shortened..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
.. Mary, I.. the Three Fates offered to restore my fate, if only I..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. you what?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
If only I swore not to change Percys fate..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, steps back from him)
.. you didnt change Percys fate? - but, what about our deal! - Ostanes!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
Oh, Mary, Mary - you, I will love always! - but when faced with the end of my life or should I say, existence - Mary.. I just couldnt end it!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
And Percy?
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses)
Six years only..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
.. six years?
!
!
!
!
!
!
He must not know..
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. Mary.. your story of the monster..
OSTANES
(Pauses)
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY!!
.. the monsters name is Frankenstein..
!
!
!
.. does he die?
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
He ends..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
(Pauses)
!
!
.. alone?
!
!
!
!
!
!
All alone..
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
(Pauses)
2-18
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-19
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Calling down)
Mary! - coming up?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, looks into Marys eyes)
Oh, Mary, Mary - who knows what could have been? - but now.. go up to your life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
MARY
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, looks at him, then turns her back)
Coming, Percy!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(She goes to the stairs)
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Calling after her)
Raise him well, your little Will-mouse!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Mary climbs to the landing - Percy grabs
!
!
!
!
!
!
her, holds her)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
PERCY
Oh, Mary, Mary - Im happy, happy! - well live a long life, love a long life! - and
Will-mouse will have the best of us - quick up to life, Mary! - dont look back at poor old
Ostanes, stuck in his gloomy Netherworld..
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
.. yes, up to life, Percy - a long life!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Ostanes.. you remain our King?
MARY
(Pauses, goes to look back - then doesnt)
!
!
!
!
!
!
A king in name only, a pauper in love..
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
.. we know nothing of love..
CHORUS
!
!
.. nor I..
!
!
OSTANES
(PERCY and MARY run up the stairs, EXIT Ostanes looks after them, turns, goes to
the lake, gazes out)
CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2-21
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
But we do know, as dopplegangers fated to eternal shadow and dark existence - we do
know we need a king - Ostanes, push aside black thoughts - be our King!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, turns from the lake, looks up the
!
!
!
!
!
!
stairs once more, turns back to the Chorus)
Once again, I lead you as King..
!
!
!
.. for an eternity!
CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
An eternity...
!
!
!
!
!
!
(Pauses, turns away, turns back)
.. Dopplegangers, fill the clock! - and then into the caverns, to harvest sheets of crystal replace this ceiling! - that we might gaze upon those above, for whatever time we have..
!
!
!
!
!
!
(OSTANES turns and goes to the lake)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
Sometimes we want what is not our fate to have - and one day all our threads will end but until then, King Ostanes?
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Chorus look over at Ostanes)
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
We just keep on going...
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
OSTANES
(Pauses)
(Gazes over Lake Brimstone)
!
!
!
!
.. let us fill the clock!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
CHORUS
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
(The Chorus fills the water clock, as a mist rolls

off the bubbling lake and envelopes them all the SOUND of a screeching bat - LIGHTS DIM)
!
!
CURTAIN
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

Lake Brimstone - A Gothic Play

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lake Brimstone - A Gothic Play

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

POLDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

(ENTER OSTANES - goes to water clock)

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

(The sliming SOUND grows louder)

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

(A pause, the SOUND of the flute plays to a

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

(ENTER PERCY through the hole at the top of

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

(ENTER THANTACLOS and HYPNOS from

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

(The Doppleganger SOUND - the CHORUS

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER

(PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER turns and

MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER

MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER

MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER

MOTHER THE DOPPLEGANGER

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

BYRON THE DOPPLEGANGER

POLIDARI THE DOPPLEGANGER

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2016

PERCY THE DOPPLEGANGER