Script for

The Odyssey
Based on the epic by Homer

Scene XI: How

Odysseus Visited the
Kingdom of the Dead
 SETTING: SHIP DOCKING AT THE LAND WHERE THE SUN NEVER
SHINES.

*to save money, we cut out the journey to the island

because it was all smooth sailing*

Men disembark, carrying torches and talking worriedly

amongst themselves, looking fearful to be entering
Hades. Odysseus marches out carrying a shovel, looking
tense but determined, and comes to a stop after 10
yards. The men gather around him in a circle, and he
uses a shovel to dig a pit (one cubit by one cubit) and
then pours out the offering for All Souls. The men grow
quiet as he does this.

Odysseus

(kneeling and in a praying position)

Souls of those long departed, please help me in my

journey and keep my men and I safe from harm. Please
allow me to reach my destination unscathed, and once I
do, I will sacrifice the finest farrow cow I own to
you. I will heap my finest items atop of the burning
cow and offer them as a sacrifice to you. To Teiresis
alone I will dedicate the best black ram in my
possession. All Souls, I beg you help me reach my
home.

(stands up and motions to one of the men)

Bring me the ewe and ram.

(Man brings them over and they start to bleat. Odysseus

takes out his knife and sacrifices the animals to the
dead. The blood runs into the pit he dug. The men grow
quiet then gasps are heard as the ghosts appear one by
one until about 30 ghosts are surrounding the men. The
ghost of an old man holding a golden rod floats forward
to Odysseus)

*We cut out the scene with Elpenor, because his

character is unimportant to the plot of the story)*

Odysseus

Are you Teiresias, the blind prophet?

Teiresias

(nods and starts to speak in a solemn tone)

“’What brings you here, unhappy man, away from the

light of the sun, to visit this unpleasing place of the
dead? Move back from this pit, hold off your sharp
sword, that I may drink of the blood and tell you the
truth’” (Homer 135).

(slowly stoops down and drinks from the river of blood

then stands)

“’You seek to return home, mighty Odysseus, and home is

as sweet as honey. But God will make your voyage hard
and dangerous; for I do not think the Earthshaker will
fail to see you, and he is furious against you because
you blinded his son. Nevertheless, you may all get safe
home still, although not without suffering much, if you
can control yourself and your companions when you have
traversed the sea as far as the island of Thrinacia.
There you will find the cattle and sheep of Helios, who
sees and hears all things. If you sail on without
hurting them you may come safe to Ithaca, although not
without suffering much. But if you do hurt them, then I
foretell destruction for your ship and crew; and if you
can escape it yourself, you will arrive late and
miserable, all your companions lost, in the ship of a
stranger. You will find trouble in your house, proud
 blustering men who devour your substance and plague
your wife to marry and offer their bridal gifts. But
you shall exact retribution from these men. When you
have killed them in your hall, whether by craft or open
fight with the cold steel, you must take an oar with
you, and journey until you find men who do not know the
sea[…]I will give you an unmistakable token which you
cannot miss. When a wayfarer shall meet you and tell
you that it is a winnowing shovel on your shoulder, fix
the oar in the ground, and make a sacrifice to King
Poseidon, a ram, a bull, and a boar-pig; then return
home and make solemn sacrifice to the immortal gods who
rule the broad heavens, every one in order. Death shall
come to you from the sea, death ever so peaceful shall
take you off when comfortable old age should be your
only burden, and your people shall be happy around you.
That which I tell you is true’” (Homer 135-136).

Odysseus

(bows head and is silent for a moment. He raises his

head and nods at Teiresias)

If that is the tale the gods have spun for me, then so
be it. I thank you for your help, but I have one last
question for you, wise Teiresias. Is that the soul of
my good mother Anticleia over there?

(points with a shaking hand to the ghost of a solemn

50-year old woman)

Teiresias

I am afraid it is.

(Odysseus starts to cry then composes himself)

Odysseus
 How may I speak with her?

Teiresias

Let her come to the blood and drink of it. Then she may
speak the truth to you.

(beckons Anticleia over and she comes and stoops to

drink the blood)

Odysseus

Mother! You were alive when I left so long ago for the
war. What has happened to you since? Did Artemis
Archeress kill you with one of her gentle shafts? And
tell me of my wife and son. Does my dear Penelope still
grieve for me, or has she married another man? Is my
house still mine?

Anticleia

My dear boy, I passed away grieving for you and your

clever ways. The Archeress Artemis did not indeed shoot
me with her well-placed arrows, nor was I the victim of
any disease. With you not in my life, it was no longer
sweet, and so I had no reason to keep alive anymore. As
for your gentle wife, she mourns day and night for her
beloved husband. Telemachos has grown into a good man
and he truly tries to keep order in the household, but
the suitors are becoming pushier with each passing day.
Penelope tries her best to keep a strong resolve and
remain loyal to you, but she is weakening by the hour
as they insistently court her.

(Odysseus begins to cry again and tries to hug her

three times, but each time his arms slip through her
ghost. He finally gives up and stands sadly.)
*we cut out the scene where a line of ghosts appear to
talk to Odysseus, because it would take too much time
and is irrelevant to the plot. We also are just
continuing the flashback uninterrupted from the
previous scene, because the part where Alcinoos urges
Odysseus to continue with his story is pointless and
interferes with the drama of the scene. Additionally,
we cut out the scene with Agamemnon, because the gods
already discuss his tale earlier in the story, and
Achilles, who doesn’t give any important information*

(Odysseus, looking resigned, turns to his men when all

the ghosts start to gather together amid deafening
cries and a ferocious wind starts to blow. Odysseus and
his men start to tremble)

Teiresias

You have what you need. Your time is finished here! Go

now, before Persephoneia sends a monster from the
depths of Hades upon you!

(Odysseus and his men run towards the ship and depart
in a hurry)

Scene Ends.

Why we choose this scene:

We choose this scene as the most important scene out of

books 10,11, and 12, because Odysseus is given key
information in it. Teiresias tells Odysseus what to do
and what his fate will be, while his mother tells him
what is going on at home. This scene is crucial to the
plot in order to keep the viewer informed of what is
going on.