(Isabelle)Radio Host: Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen, boys, girls, young and old, old and new.

And
welcome to a live broadcast of Classic Tales on Air. We thank you for sparing us your time to listen on our
show, and we assure you that you’ll enjoy the drama of the week that we prepared entitled --- Oedipus
the King.

This story revolves around a nobleman, Oedipus, who leaves his city when a prophecy is revealed to him
that says he will kill his father and marry his mother.

And now, the most awaited, Oedipus the King...

(Robylyn) Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a king named Laius, who ruled over Thebes, with his
wife Jocasta. After the queen gave birth to a baby boy, an Oracle came to see the king.
(Isabelle) Oracle: I beseech you, Your Highness. I have terrible news for you and the city of Thebes.
(JB) King Laius: Choose your next words wisely Oracle because they may be your last.
(Isabelle) Oracle: I fear not to consequences for my actions because these words came from the god
Apollo. I am aware of a prophecy that concerns you, your wife and your child.
(JB) King Laius: Speak further, Oracle.
(Isabelle) Oracle: Your son will marry his own mother and kill you in his own hands.
(JB) King Laius: That’s absurd! You’re done Oracle! Leave my city.
(Isabelle) Oracle: I chose my words wisely, Laius. Maybe you should have done the same.
(Theresa) Narrator: The Oracle exits leaving Laius and Jocasta alone.
(Mariela) Queen Jocasta: What shall we do about this terrible prophecy?
(JB) King Laius: The only solution I can think of is to dispose our child.
(Mariela) Queen Jocasta: But Laius, this cannot be an option. He’s our child, our own flesh and blood.
(JB) King Laius: Hold your tongue woman! For whose life do you treasure? The child’s or mine? We must
prevent this event from occurring.
(Mariela) Queen Jocasta: If we must.
(Robylyn) Narrator: Queen Jocasta leaves and the Shepherd enters.
(JB) King Laius: Shepherd, take this child to the mountains of Cithaeron and make sure he never return.
(Robylyn) Shepherd 1: Yes, my King.
(Theresa) Narrator: So Laius gave his son, who was only a baby, to a certain shepherd, with instructions
to put him to death. This was not to be. The shepherd carried the child to a lonely mountain-side, but
once there, his heart failed him. So there the shepherd met another shepherd and ask for its help.
(Robylyn) Shepherd 1: Fellow man, I have been given a strict order to take the life of this child however I
cannot find the courage to take the life of such an innocent being.
(Theresa) Shepherd 2: Don’t worry. I will take the child and bring it to a far away country.
(Robylyn) Shepherd 1: He must never return to Thebes, can you make sure of that?
(Theresa) Shepherd 2: I’ll give this child to the King and Queen of Corinth that are unable to make their
own.
(Robylyn) Narrator: The second shepherd now took the baby and went to King Polybus and Queen
Merope of Corinth.
(Theresa) Shepherd 2: My King and Queen, I have found this child in the mountains of Cithaeron
without any mother or father. I’ve taken him thinking you might wish to keep him as your own.
(Mariela) Queen Merope: My dear Polybus, we have been unable to have a child of our own for so long.
This must be a token of gratitude for all you’ve done. We must keep this boy.
(JB) King Polybus: Merope, you’re the love of my life and my dream has always been to bear a child with
you. We shall keep this boy and treat him our own.
(Mariela) Queen Merope: Thank you, my love.
(Theresa) Shepherd 2: Here is your child.
(Mariela) Queen Merope: My king, observe the swelling on his feet.
(JB) King Polybus: Hurry up and untie the poor child.
(Mariela) Queen Merope: By what name shall we call the future king of Corinth?
(JB) King Polybus: I believe he shall be named Oedipus meaning swollen foot.
(Theresa) Narrator: So the years went by. Now, when Oedipus had come to manhood, an Oracle came to
see him.
Oedipus: Hello stranger, what news do you have for me?
(Isabelle) Oracle: I am sorry to inform you but I have upsetting news that will change your life forever.
(JB) Oedipus: Why should I believe you?
(Isabelle) Oracle: I am the Oracle and I know a prophecy from the god Apollo.
(JB) Oedipus: Speak then for I wish to hear what you say.
(Isabelle) Oracle: It has been seen by Apollo that you are going to kill your own father and marry your
own mother.
(JB) Oedipus: Ha, thank you Oracle but I hardly doubt that. I am glad you have made me aware of my
destiny.
(Robylyn) Narrator: Oracle leaves… Oedipus says to himself:
(JB) Oedipus: I must no longer stay in this city for the welfare of my father and mother. I will sneak out
later tonight.
(Theresa) Narrator: Still thinking that Polybus and Merope were his true parents, Oedipus sneaks out
later that night to stay away from the city of Corinth forever.
(Robylyn) Narrator: During his wandering, Oedipus encountered Laius on the road. After a heated
argument regarding right-of-way, Oedipus killed King Laius, unknowingly fulfilling the first half of the
Oracle's prophecy.
(Theresa) Narrator: Meanwhile in Thebes, a treacherous and merciless Sphinx terrorizes the way. It has
the body of a lion, the wings of a great bird, and the face of a human.
(Robylyn) Narrator: Oedipus continues on his journey. One day he winds up on the edge of Thebes where
the Sphinx asks him a question.
(Isabelle) Sphinx: You there, what brings you to my city?
(JB) Oedipus: I left our home and the roads led me here. May I enter upon this city?
(Isabelle) Sphinx: Before you go anyway, you must answer this riddle. And do choose your words wisely
because they may be your last.
(JB) Oedipus: I will.
(Isabelle) Sphinx: So here’s the riddle, what goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and on
three legs at the evening?
(JB) Oedipus: Hmmm… that is a challenging riddle indeed. What goes on four in the morning, two at
noon and three in the evening? Hmmm… I would guess a…. person.
(Isabelle) Sphinx: Ahhhh…. You’re right. *flew away*
(Theresa) Narrator: Oedipus defeated the Sphinx and saved the city of Thebes. As a reward, he received
the throne of Thebes and married the widowed queen, his mother, Jocasta unknowingly fulfilling the
prophecy.

(Isabelle) Radio Host: That’s it! Thank you so much listeners! And stay tuned for our next drama. This is
Isabelle! Now signing off ~