LAKE AMBROSIA

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

At Rise: Clouds surrounding a golden pool with two golden thrones on the far side, one
taller than the other - ZEUS SITS in the smaller of the thrones, gazing pensively ahead -
ENTER MARY through a portal in the clouds.

MARY
Oh! - where am I?

ZEUS
(Pauses, looking at her)
Youre here.

MARY
But where is here?

ZEUS
Mount Olympus, where gods live..

MARY
Im lost! - Ive climbed too high..

ZEUS
You intended to climb this high..

MARY
How do you know?

ZEUS
I am Zeus, King of the Gods - I know everything - youre the mortal, Mary Shelley -
I even why youre up here..

MARY
Then, you know Percy was right behind me - where is he?

ZEUS
Still climbing the stairs - you mortals - always climbing!

MARY
Yes, were mortals - but, I guess you know that..
(Looking past the pool)
.. such ornate thrones!

ZEUS
No need to be humble, when youre a god - and Hera insisted on fancy - that was that..

MARY
Whos Hera?

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
(Gesturing at other throne)
My wife - Queen of Heaven - presently down on your globe in some form, endowing a
temple, or such..

MARY
Her throne is bigger than your throne..

ZEUS
It is not! - well, maybe a little - a bone of contention - but Ive learned to let it be - keep
the marital peace..

MARY
(Looking down at the cloud floor)
I need to find Percy - maybe the stairs wind up through the clouds - is that them
peeking through down there?

ZEUS
The stairs are behind you - peeking through is your little globe..

MARY
My globe?

ZEUS
(Rising)
Oh, right - you mortals are unaware you live on a globe - but you do know sphere -
here, take a look! - come where the clouds are thin..
(He leads her to a spot in the cloud floor - they
peer down through the clouds)
There.. see that flaming ball just below us?

MARY
Yes..

ZEUS
Thats the sphere of your sun - its a star up close - you mortals believe its the center of
the universe..

MARY
(Looking down)
What are all those things flying around it?

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
More spheres.. if you look closely, youll see theyre spinning - I put them there - I just
stood to the side, balled up these spheres, and hurled them into orbits around your star
- like tops spinning around a bonfire..

MARY
Stood on what?

ZEUS
Stood on nothing - Im a god..

MARY
They all seem to be in the same plane..

ZEUS
I did that!

MARY
.. expect for that little sphere closest to the sun - its orbit looks slanted..

ZEUS
Well! - but that was the first one - even a god is allowed a mistake..

MARY
.. and that sphere furthest out - its orbits even more slanted..

ZEUS
Yes, yes! - but lets not dwell on that..
(Points down through the clouds)
.. now, see that sphere? - spinning third from your sun? - thats the sphere upon which
you mortals exist..

MARY
(Peering)
Seems so tiny.. and its spinning is tilted..

ZEUS
Not my fault! - its that pesky gravity..

MARY
Gravity? - whats gravity?

ZEUS
Some mysterious force - provides a balance to the cosmos..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
(Peering down)
What are those lights winking on my sphere?

ZEUS
Your mortal cities .. see that big light winking toward the top?

MARY
Yes..

ZEUS
Thats London - where you were born, Mary..

MARY
(Peering down)
My London.. oh, how I wish I was down there with Percy - and our little son, Will - oh,
my Will-mouse - where are you? - and Percy - where?

ZEUS
Now, Mary - Will-mouse is safely with your friend Claire on your sphere - and Percy is
nearby - almost to the top of the stairs - I look down upon you mortals often, Mary -
youre so intriguing! - as are you, Mary..
(Peers down)
.. but also, damned annoying - the lot of you! - always sacrificing each other, or fighting,
then loving and breeding more mortals - more sacrificing, more fighting, more loving,
more breeding - and so it goes with you...
(Peers down)
.. you mortals make me so angry - you never listen - oh, I tried destroying you long ago!

MARY
Why?

ZEUS
To replace you with a race that does listen - and with the help of my brother, Poseidon -
God of the Seas - I created a great flood and wiped out all of you - except for two.. and
they just started your race all over, again - a hardy breed, you mortals!

MARY
But if you had succeeded, I would have never lived - nor Percy, Will-mouse, or any of
the other mortals..

ZEUS
But you do live! - thanks to the god Prometheus - it was he who gave you fire - against
my wishes! - and when he saw I had created a flood, he told his son to build an ark and
save him and his wife, along with a pair each of your animals - and then, he had the
audacity to plead with me to spare the two mortals - oh, I should never have spared

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

them! - now, he serves a sentence on your sphere, chained to a mountain, while a
mortal eagle incessantly feeds on his godly liver..
(ENTER PERCY SHELLEY through the cloud portal
STAGE LEFT)

PERCY
Mary!

ZEUS
I told you he was near..

MARY
Percy!
(Percy goes to her, hugs her)

ZEUS
Hello, mortal - I am the god Zeus - tell me why you are up here..

PERCY
Were lost! - we climbed those bronze steps to escape up to our world from the
Netherworld..

MARY
But, we climbed too high!

ZEUS
You climbed this high because you wish to ask me a favor - so, let us sit down..
(He sits down in his throne)

MARY
But where shall we sit?

ZEUS
Oh, pick a cloud, any cloud..
(They look around - each picks a cloud seat)

PERCY
Youre right - we seek a favor, Zeus..

MARY
A small favor from a great god! - want to know what it is?

ZEUS
I know everything - including the favor you seek..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
Then you know one of us is to die..

ZEUS
Youre all going to die - youre mortals - get over it..

PERCY
Easy for a god to say - you are immortal! - we just want to live what little stretch of life
we have - we dont have to live forever - but we have to live, to love, to be!

ZEUS
Immortality is overrated - I dont fear death - but I live with my wife forever - it can be
tedious..

PERCY
But, you never die - while one of us is to die too soon!

ZEUS
I know it is you, Percy Shelley..

MARY
Please, Zeus - dont let Percy die - our child must have a father - and I must have my
husband - let Percy live!

ZEUS
I cannot stop a mortal from dying - only the Three Fates can do that..

PERCY
But surely a god can slow down fate!

ZEUS
Fate determines everything! - or you think you have choices? - just an illusion! - you
believe you have the power to determine your lives, to change them, that you might
keep on living? - only an illusion of power - you have no power! - must be depressing..

PERCY
Nevertheless, Im going to die too soon!

ZEUS
I know - youll drown in six years..

PERCY
A mystic told me my fate..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
Yes - Ostanes - long-lived, but still only mortal....

PERCY
I dont want to drown!

ZEUS
Dont go sailing..

PERCY
Dont what?

ZEUS
Dont bother - you are fated to go..

MARY
Cant you do anything? - arent you a great god?

ZEUS
The greatest!
(Pauses)
Well see what we can do..but we have need of nectar, the drink of the gods..
(Calls offstage)
Echo! - this Echo is my new servant-girl..
(Calls)
Echo! - come! - a lovely nymph, but she talks too much..
(ENTER ECHO - she goes to Zeus)

ECHO
Zeus - you called? - I got lost in your clouds - why bring me up here? - I was just
walking in a meadow and suddenly a thundercloud flew at me and it was you in disguise
and just as we were getting to know each other a cuckoo came flying at us and you
changed me into a white heifer and disappeared and the cuckoo landed on my back
and looked at me closely as a windstorm hurled me up here - wherever here is - and
you changed me back into who I was, which is Echo. and. now I.

ZEUS
Yes, yes, Echo - fetch us great goblets of nectar!

ECHO
Yes, my Zeus..
(ECHO EXITS)

ZEUS
She talks and talks - perhaps I can use her to distract Hera from my amorous pursuits..
(ENTER HERA with a pomegranate in hand)

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 HERA
Zeus - back up here already!

ZEUS
Why, Ive been here all the time, Hera - how did your endowment go?

HERA
I endowed nothing - I went down to keep an eye on you - when I turn my back, you rush
down to consort with nymphs - a faithful husband you are not!

ZEUS
How can you say that, sister? - it is you I love, truly!

HERA
Is it because Im your sister that you seek other companions? - cant you be content
with family? - I went down disguised as a cuckoo, and spotted a small cloud racing
towards a nymph - oh, I knew it was you! - by the time I flew up, youd changed the
nymph into a white heifer - she disappeared before I could see her face! - all right,
where's that nymph? - she must be up here - produce her! - I know what to do with a
heifer - well prepare a great feast! - perhaps your friends will join us - who are they?

ZEUS
Mortals dear, come to ask a favor - and I know nothing about heifers - do you see one
about? - see for yourself!
(ENTER ECHO)

ECHO
Nectar for our guests - but first, I serve you, oh great Zeus!

HERA
Whos this?

ZEUS
Why, just a new servant girl, dear - Echo - my sister, Hera..

ECHO
Hera! - isnt she your wife? - married your sister! - we know about that - a fine pair! -
arent there laws against that? - or dont you gods follow laws? - you think you can lord it
over us mortals - and your husband, Hera! - what he said to me - my ears still burn! -
and have you ever been a heifer? - not good for a girl! - and, and..

HERA
Quiet, nymph! - do you never stop talking? - I see how it is - you must be the heifer -
another attempted seduction by my husband - but you shall be a failed conquest!
(HERA hits her with the pomegranate)
I curse you to repeat the last words of those around you - for eternity!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ECHO
Eternity, eternity, eternity..?
(She bites her hand)

HERA
A very long time!

ECHO
Time, time, time..!

HERA
Now, be off!

ECHO
Off, off, off..!
(She starts to run off into the clouds)

ZEUS
Echo, wait!

ECHO
Wait, wait, wait..!
(ECHO EXITS running into the clouds)

ZEUS
(To Hera)
Was that necessary?

HERA
Shell be easy to hear if shes around you, again - I leave you with your mortals - my
duties as Queen need attending
(HERA EXITS)

ZEUS
Now, mortals - about your request - although there is no god to whom I bow - yet, I bow
to the fate that is set by The Three Fates - only they can change a fate - thats whom
you must petition

PERCY
We met The Fates in the Netherworld - but how can we get them to come up here?

ZEUS
I could call for The Fates - they cant refuse my request - as I cant refuse their fate

MARY
Call them, please!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
This will be a pleasant diversion from Hera - Ill send my messenger to the Netherworld..
(Calls offstage)
Hermes! - come quickly!
(ENTER HERMES in a flash)

MARY
I know you! - youre Hermes, the god of travelers - and you escort souls to the
Underworld - you saved us in the Netherworld..

HERMES
So that you return to your mortal world - why are you here in the land us gods?

MARY
Percy still suffers an early demise - weve come to petition Zeus to change his fate..

Possible Plots / Scenes:

- explore the relative merits of immortality versus mortality

- explore the concepts of free will versus fate

- Hera takes various revenges out on the mortals Percy, Byron, Polidari, and Mary

- Claire shows up, with Will-mouse

- The Three Fates show up

- Hephaestus shows up

- Ostanes shows up

- The dopplegangers show up

- the Chorus shows up

- none of the above show up, and the play just takes place between Zeus, Hera, Echo -
perhaps Narcissus - Hermes, Percy and Mary

- Zeus and all the gods are actually aliens, and Mount Olympus is actually the mother
ship Olympus - theyve been trying to populate the earth with their own image, and are
not succeeding too well..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

- a council of gods Is called, including the Three Fates

- Percy ultimately learns of the futility of changing ones fate

- Byron also wants to find out his fate, as do Polidari and Mary

- Zeus and Hera continue to squabble at the end

- Mary makes a deal with The Three Fates that she will stay with Zeus as a consort,
while Percy gets to live longer and raise Will-mouse

- Act 1: Percy, Mary and the other mortals come up to Mount Olympus to beg Zeus to
change Percys Fate (he learns after Lake Brimstone that his fate has not been
changed by Ostanes) - Zeus falls for Mary, tries to get with her - Hera finds out,
realizes Zeus is using Echo as a distraction, curses Echo to repeat everyone's last
words - Hera gets revenge on Zeus through the mortals by convincing the Fates to
leave Percys fate as it is

- Act 2: Hermes intercedes on behalf of Percy and the mortals, tricks Zeus into helping
release Percy from his short fate, and then tricks Zeus into giving up on Mary - the
mortals go back down to earth in triumph, as Zeus and Hera continue to squabble -
CURTAIN

- Zeus falls for Mary, and tries to get with her by assuming other disguises - none of
them animal - he even assumes the guise of Percy Shelley, her husband - and Percy
finds out:

(ZEUS EXITS into the clouds - Mary looks around)

But, where is Zeus - he disappeared!

HERMES
Zeus could be anywhere - he assumes different forms at will - and then he is always
traveling down to your sphere, to consort with.. whomever.. I must go now to secure the
presence of The Three Fates
(HERMES EXITS in a flash through the clouds)
- Mary looks at the clouds - ENTER ZEUS from a portal
through the clouds - he is disguised as PERCY)

ZEUS
Oh, Mary - my Mary!

MARY
Percy..

ZEUS
Be with me!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
Im with you, now..

ZEUS
I mean, be mine!

MARY
But Im always yours, Percy - you know that..

ZEUS
But what about Zeus - I see how he looks at you in his great desire!

MARY
Zeus means nothing to me..

ZEUS
Nothing? - prove it - let me kiss you!

MARY
If you wish..
(Zeus seizes her ardently, kisses her -
Mary pulls away after a moment)
Percy!

ZEUS
My love!

MARY
Percy - you never kissed me like that before!

ZEUS
Did you like it?

MARY
(Pauses)
Have you kissed another?

ZEUS
How could you say that, Mary? - its you I love only!

MARY
Its just that..

ZEUS
But if I did not please you..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
You always please me - you are my Percy..

ZEUS
Could I not be your Zeus?

MARY
Whatever do you mean?

ZEUS
Zeus is a god - the greatest! - you could be greatly happy with him!

MARY
But I would not have you..

ZEUS
You mean, not have Percy!

MARY
Of course - but you are my Percy..
(Pauses)
Or are you? - youre act strange - is this some kind of game?

ZEUS
Yes, were playing a game!

MARY
Then, prove to me youre the real Percy!
(He goes to kiss her, again - she evades
him, moves away from him)
Prove some other way..

ZEUS
We could ask Will-mouse - surely he would know his father!

MARY
But Will-mouse is not here..

ZEUS
Of course, hes with Claire - Claire is coming soon..

MARY
How do you know, Percy?

ZEUS
How do I know? - why.. Zeus told me - he says he knows everything!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

At Rise: Clouds surrounding a golden pool with several high-backed silver chairs
grouped in a semicircle around the far side of the pool - Hermes, an alien, is standing to
the side of the pool, gazing down into it - ENTER MARY

MARY
Oh! - where am I?

HERMES
Why, youre here..

MARY
Hermes! - what are you doing up here?

HERMES
I stay here - when Im not traveling down to Earth..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
But where is here?

HERMES
You mortals call it Mount Olympus, where we gods live - we call it Ship Olympus, where
we aliens live..

MARY
Aliens? - what are aliens?

HERMES
Beings not from Earth..

MARY
But, I know you - youre Hermes, the god of travelers, of _______________ , of
_________________ - we met you down in the Netherworld - you saved us..

HERMES
We want you to believe were gods - its simpler - the truth is more complex..
(ENTER ZEUS from a portal through the clouds)

ZEUS
A mortal! - youre Mary Shelley..

MARY
Yes - you know my name?

ZEUS
I know everything - even why youre up here..

MARY
Up where? - where am I?

ZEUS
Olympus, which you know as home of the gods..

MARY
Then Ive really lost my way - where are the others?

ZEUS
Not more mortals!

MARY
Yes, were mortals - arent you?

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
Im a god - in fact, father of all gods - Im Zeus - God of Heaven!

HERMES
I told her the truth, Zeus - that we are an alien race, living here on Ship Olympia..

ZEUS
I dont think that was wise telling her - but it has been done..

MARY
Why such ornate throne?

ZEUS
I wanted modest thrones - but its hard to be humble, when youre a god - or an alien -
and then Hera insisted on fancy - and that was that..

MARY
Whos Hera?

ZEUS
(Gesturing at other throne)
My wife, the Queen of Heaven..
MARY
And where is she?

ZEUS
Down on your world, in some form, probably endowing a temple, or such..

MARY
(Pauses, looking at the other throne)
Her throne seems bigger than your throne..

ZEUS
It is not! - well, maybe a little - a bone of contention - but Ive learned, let it be, keep the
peace..

MARY
(Looking down at the cloud floor)
Whats below these clouds? - maybe my friends are down there..

ZEUS
Down there is your little globe..

MARY
My globe?

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
(Rising)
Here! - take a look - come here, where the clouds are thin..
(He leads her to a spot in the cloud floor - they
peer down through the clouds)
There.. see that flaming star just below us?

MARY
Yes..

ZEUS
Thats your sun - the center of the universe - I know that - you mortals just learned it..

MARY
What are all those spheres flying around it?

ZEUS
More globes.. if you look closely, youll see theyre spinning - I put them there - I just
stood to the side, balled up these globes, and hurled them into orbits around your star -
like tops spinning around a bonfire..

MARY
Stood on what?

ZEUS
Stood on nothing - Im a god..

MARY
They seem to be in the same plane..

ZEUS
I did that - theyre in orbit!

MARY
.. expect for that little globe closest to the sun - its orbit seems to be slanted..

ZEUS
Well! - but that was the first one - even a god is allowed a mistake..

MARY
.. and that globe furthest out - its orbit is even more slanted..

ZEUS
Yes, yes - lets not dwell on that!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
And where are from - where does your ship sail from?

ZEUS
From beyond the furthest sphere - much beyond..

MARY
How long did you sail?

ZEUS
Oh, eons..

MARY
And is there wind for your ship, among the spheres - or beyond the spheres?

ZEUS
The Ship Olympus is not powered by wind..
(Points back at the golden pool shimmering)
.. she is powered by ambrosia - which you believe is the food of us gods - truth is, it;s
the food of the ship - and that is its source - Lake Ambrosia..
(Turns and points down through the clouds)
.. see that globe? - spinning third from your sun?

MARY
(Peering)
Yes.. seems so tiny.. and its globe is spinning tilted..

ZEUS
Not my fault! - its that pesky gravity..

MARY
Gravity? - whats gravity?

ZEUS
Even we dont know - seems to be some sort of mysterious force - though seems also
to provide balance to the cosmos..

MARY
(Peering down)
What are those lights winking on my globe?

ZEUS
Your mortal cities .. see that big light winking toward the top of your globe?

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
Yes..

ZEUS
Thats London - where you were born, Mary..

MARY
(Peering down)
My London.. oh, how I wish I was down there, with my Percy - and our little son, Will -
oh, Will-mouse - where are you? - and Percy - where?

ZEUS
Now, Mary - I know where they are - quite nearby - I look down upon you mortals often,
Marty - you are so intriguing..
(Peers down)
.. but also, damned annoying - so many of you - always sacrificing each other, or
fighting, then loving and breeding more mortals - more sacrificing, more fighting, loving
more, breeding more - and so it goes with you...
(Peers down)
.. and you make me angry - never listen to us - oh, I tried destroying you mortals long
ago!

MARY
Why?

ZEUS
To replace you with a race that listens to us - and so, with the help of my brother,
Posiedon, God of the Seas, I created a great flood and wiped out almost all of you -
except for two.. and then they just started your race all over, again - a hardy breed, you
mortals!

MARY
But if you had succeeded, I would have never lived - nor Percy, Will-mouse, or the other
mortals..

ZEUS
But you do live! - thanks to one of us - Prometheus, who gave you fire against our
wishes - and when he saw I had created the flood he told his son to build an ark, and
thus he and his wife survived the flood with your animals, and then pleaded with me to
spare you mortals - oh, I should have never done it! - now he is serving his sentence
down on your sphere, chained to a mountain, while a mortal eagle incessantly feeds on
his liver..
(ENTER PERCY SHELLEY, LORD BYRON,
and JOHN POLIDARI through the cloud portal
STAGE LEFT)

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 PERCY
Mary!

ZEUS
See, Mary - I told you they were near..

MARY
Percy! - but wheres Will-mouse?

PERCY
With Claire..

ZEUS
More mortals!

POLIDARI
We come up from the Netherworld..

ZEUS
I know.

LORD BYRON
We climbed stairs, to escape to our world above..

PERCY
But we climbed too high!

ZEUS
Yes, you are in our domain now - come, let us sit down..
(He sits down in his throne)

MARY
But where shall we sit?

ZEUS
Oh, pick a cloud, any cloud..
(They look around - each picks a cloud seat)
..we have need for nectar..
(Calls offstage)
Echo!

LORD BYRON
Nectar?

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
The drink of us gods - like your earthly mead - but much stronger - this Echo is my new
servant-girl - a lovely nymph, but she talks too much..
(ENTER ECHO, a nymph - she
goes up to Zeus)

ECHO
Zeus - you called? - I got lost in your clouds - why bring me here? - I was walking in a
meadow and suddenly a thundercloud flew at me and it was you in disguise and just as
we were getting to know each other this cuckoo spotted us and came flying at us and
you changed me into a white heifer and disappeared and the cuckoo landed on my back
and looked at me closely but then a windstorm hurled me up here - wherever here is -
and you changed me back into who I was, which is Echo and. now I.

ZEUS
Enough, enough, Echo - fetch us great goblets of nectar!

ECHO
Yes, my Zeus..
(She runs her hand up his thigh)

ZEUS
(Grabbing her hand)
Careful! - that could have consequences of epic proportions!

ECHO
Oh, Zeusie..!
(ECHO EXITS)

ZEUS
She talks and talks and talks - perhaps I can use her to distract Hera from my pursuits -
now, tell me why you think youve come..

PERCY
We lost our way..

ZEUS
I know you did not lose your way..
(A pause)

POLIDARI
We seek a favor..

LORD BYRON
A small favor from a great god!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 MARY
One of us is to die..

ZEUS
Youre all going to die - youre mortals - get over it..

PERCY
One of us to die too soon!

ZEUS
I know it is you, Percy Shelley..

MARY
Please, Zeus - dont let Percy die - Will-mouse must have a father - let my Percy live!

ZEUS
I cannot stop a mortal from dying - only the Fates can do that..

PERCY
But, surely a god can stop me from dying so soon!

ZEUS
(To Percy)
Youll drown in six years..

PERCY
I know that ..

ZEUS
How do you know?

PERCY
A mystic told me my future down there..

ZEUS
What mystic?

PERCY
Ostanes..

ZEUS
Oh, Ostanes - him again - long-lived, but he is still a mortal....

PERCY
I dont want to drown at all!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
Dont go sailing..

PERCY
Dont what?

ZEUS
Dont bother - you are fated to go..

MARY
Can you do nothing? - are you not a great god?

ZEUS
The greatest of all..
(Pauses)
Well see what we can do..
(ENTER ECHO with a tray full of goblets)

ECHO
Ambrosia and nectar for our mortal guests - first I serve you, great Zeus!
(ECHO serves Zeus first, then starts serving
them all - lines by Echo?
- ENTER HERA, holding a pomegranate in
one hand)

HERA
Zeus - back up here already!

ZEUS
Why, Ive been here all the time, Hera - how did your endowment go?

HERA
I endowed nothing - I went down there to keep an eye on you - whenever I turn my
back, you rush down to consort with your nymphs - a faithful husband youre not!

ZEUS
How can you say that, sister? - it is you I love truly!

HERA
Its because Im your sister you seek companionship - cant you be content with just
family? - I went down in disguise as a cuckoo, and spotted a small cloud racing towards
a mortal nymph - oh, I knew it was you! - and by the time I flew up, youd changed the
nymph into a white heifer - she disappeared before my eyes! - all right, where's that
nymph? - she must be up here - produce her or ransom her! - I know just what to do
with a heifer - well prepare a great feast! - perhaps your new friends will join us.. and
just who are they?

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ZEUS
Mortals dear, come to ask me a favor - and I know nothing about heifers - do you see
one around? - look for yourself!
(ENTER ECHO)

HERA
Whos she?

ZEUS
A new servant girl - Echo, this is my sister, Hera..

ECHO
Hera! - and isnt she also your wife? - married your sister! - we know about that down
there - a fine pair! - arent there laws against that? - or dont you gods follow laws? - you
think you can do whatever - lord it over us mortals - and your husband, Hera - what he
said to me - my ears are still burning! - and have you ever been a heifer? - not good for
a girls image! - and, and..

More dialogue here between Echo and Hera

HERA
Quiet, nymph! - do you never stop talking?
(HERA hits her with the pomegranate)
I curse you to repeat the last word of those around you - for eternity!

ECHO
Eternity, eternity, eternity..?
(She bites her hand)

HERA
A very long time!

ECHO
Time, time, time..!

HERA
Now, be off!

ECHO
Off, off, off..!
(She starts to run off into the clouds)

ZEUS
Echo, wait!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 ECHO
Wait, wait, wait..!
(ECHO EXITS running into the clouds)

ZEUS
(To Hera)
Was that necessary?

HERA
Shell be easy to find when shes around you - Im tired from my flight - I need some
beauty sleep..
(Starts to EXIT)

ZEUS
Try a few months..

HERA
(Stopping)
What? - what did you say?

ZEUS
Nothing, nothing my sister..

HERA
Thats what I thought..
(HERA EXITS)

ZEUS
Now then, mortals - about your request - although there is no god to whom I must bow -
yet, even I must bow to fate - so, you must petition the Three Fates - only they can
change your fate - thats whom you must see

PERCY
We met them, down in the Netherworld - but how can we get them up here?

ZEUS
I could call them - they cant refuse my request - as I cant refuse their fate

MARY
Call them, please!

ZEUS
All right - it will be a pleasant diversion from Hera - Ill send my messenger down to the
Netherworld..
(Calls offstage)
Hermes! - come quickly!

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 (ENTER HERMES in a flash)

ZEUS
So quick!

HERMES
Its my shoes - theyre winged for speed..

ZEUS
I must get a pair - Ill be able to slip away from Hera the more quickly..

Possible Plots / Scenes:

Zeus falls for Mary, and tries to get with her by assuming other disguises - none of them
animal - he even assumes the guise of Percy Shelley, her husband - and Percy finds
out..

Hera takes various revenges out on the mortals Percy, Byron, Polidari, and Mary

Claire shows, with Will-mouse

The Three Fates show

Hephaestus shows

Ostanes shows

The dopplegangers show

- the Chorus shows

Zeus and all the gods are actually aliens, and Mount Olympus is actually the mother
ship Olympus - theyve been trying to populate the earth with their own image, and are
not succeeding too well..

a council of gods Is called, including the Three Fates

Percy ultimately learns of the futility of caging ones fate

Byron also wants to find out his fate, as do Polidari and Mary

Zeus and Hera continue to squabble at the end

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

Mary makes a deal with the Three fates that she will stay with Zeus as a consort, while
Percy gets to live longer and raise Will-mouse
Act 1: Percy, Mary and the other mortals come up to Mount Olympus to beg Zeus to
change Percys Fate (which he learns from after Lake Brimstone that his fate has not
been changed by Ostanes) - Zeus falls for Mary, tries to get with her - Hera finds out,
realizes Zeus is using Echo as a distraction, curses Echo to repeat everyone's last
words - Hera gets revenge on Zeus through the mortals by convincing the Fates to
leave Percys fate as it is

- Act 2: Hermes intercedes on behalf of Percy and the mortals, tricks Zeus into helping
release Percy from his short fate and tricks Zeus into giving up on Mary - the mortals go
back down to earth in triumph, as Zeus and Hera continue to squabble - Curtain

(Mary stares at the clouds closing in

on her - ENTER ZEUS, disguised
as Percy)

ZEUS
Oh, Mary - my Mary!

MARY
Percy..

ZEUS
Be with me!

MARY
Im with you, now..

ZEUS
I mean, be mine!

MARY
But Im always yours, Percy - you know that..

ZEUS
But what about great Zeus - I see how he looks at you in his great desire!

MARY
Zeus means nothing to me..

ZEUS
Nothing? - then prove it - let me kiss you!

MARY
If you wish..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 (Zeus seizes her roughly, kisses her -
Mary pulls away after a moment)
Percy!

ZEUS
My love!

MARY
Youve never kissed me like that before..

ZEUS
Did you like it?

MARY
(Pauses)
Have you kissed another?

ZEUS
How could you say that, Mary? - its you I love only!

MARY
Its just that..

ZEUS
But if I did not please you..

MARY
You always please me - you are my Percy..

ZEUS
Could I not be your Zeus?

MARY
Whatever do you mean?

ZEUS
Zeus is a god - the greatest! - you could be greatly happy with him!

MARY
But I would not have you..

ZEUS
You mean, not have Percy!

MARY
Of course - but you are my Percy..

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017

 (Pauses)
Or are you? - youre acting so strange - are you his doppleganger? - its hard to tell..

ZEUS
Would you love me, then? - I mean, if I was Percys doppleganger..

MARY
Is this some kind of game youre playing?

ZEUS
Yes.. perhaps a game!

MARY
Then prove to me you are the real Percy!
(He goes to kiss her, again - she evades
him, moves away from him)
Prove some other way..

ZEUS
We could ask Will-mouse - surely he would know his father!

MARY
But Will-mouse is not here..

ZEUS
Hes with Claire - and I know Claire is coming soon with him..

MARY
You know.. how do you know?

ZEUS

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2017