ACT I
#2 of Oedipus The Wolf
_**Act I Scene I.
Palace of Thebes.**_
{Enter Laos, onto Balcony stage right}
Laos: My dearest creature's we must celebrate a new member to the royal family, for it has brought upon this household a new a celebrated joy. Yet I digress that we have conceived another baby girl. It is not a time to be angry at me but, neither is it a time to be angry at one another, it has brought off the wicked curse that has developed this very city, we must cherish that the god's have opened the skies to look down on us and reward this town, from the terrible curse that has be slaved us for many a year. I ask you to cherish this moment, for now.
{Enter Iocasta, onto Balcony stage right}
Iocasta: It is a time we all celebrate with the dance to the god's to encourage them to look upon us as a cultured and joyful society, for we are the town that survived the dreadful curse that has held us in its very grasp for many year, a year to long. I celebrate that my newest cub will be as good an heiress as my other two excellent cubs. Beget you to your houses and rejoice in the ceremony with many of food and wines to celebrate the everlasting joy of life within this very kingdom.
{Enter Crowd stage left}
Crowd: To whom does thou speak too our liege, we must be watchful and on guard, that once it has happened the riddle has yet been solved, whom will confront the very thing that has controlled this city since it had been created. Do thou not wish to conceive a son? Do thou see women as its solver? Surely our liege can't be serious about that, this would render our town as pitiful we're ashamed, bore us an heir, or it's your very head our liege.
{Exit Laos stage left, into the castle}
Iocasta: Beget you, beget or by gods will shower you with this terrible curse, I fend for no man.
{Exit Iocasta from Balcony stage right}
_**Act I Scene II
King's Bedroom.**_
{Enter Iocasta stage right, Electra stage back}
Laos: Dearest Iocasta, what will we do with it? We can't have our tainted blood heir a throne; we can't have our tainted blood, be rid this city of any pride. We must do something dearest Iocasta; we have not to betrayal the common creatures that trample the city streets. It has to go, it must go.
Iocasta: By cover of moon, I will go to the edge of the city, to meet the Shepherd, he attends his small house on the outskirts of this very city, I will go to him, and ask him to destroy it. We can't have this thing around, this blood, this disgrace to our name, haunting this city. I will find the Sheppard out there, he will do as he is told, he be needing a new house, so I've heard, we'll bargain with the commoner and in his hands our cubs blood be on his head, not upon our name.
Electra: Mother dearest it is too dangerous for you to go alone, let me go with you, I want to kiss it goodbye.
Laos: Electra your heart may be in the right place, but your head it is certainly not, you're not equipped to face the commoner's me and your mother will go, if the crowd want anyone's head, be it mine. I won't see innocent blood spilt on these sands. It is not innocent, it is a threat to our known kingdom, and I won't lose two children to misfortune. I've seen enough of it in my lifetime Electra, away to your chamber, you may kiss it goodbye, both of you may wish your brother the dearest luck, is that understood dear daughter?
{Enter Oracle assisted from stage right, Exit Iocasta stage right}
Electra: Dearest liege, it is clearly understood, please forgive my naïveté's; I will do all I can to see it gone from this kingdom. It will be the downfall of your very existence.
Oracle: Aye, a son you bore will treat you unkind, your head will roll for it by its hand, and his blood will be shared amongst the cubs that grow within your kindred womb.
Laos: Oracle, is this so the speaking of Zeus?
Oracle : Yes, I've seen him.
Laos: A blind badger can't see.
Oracle: I'll see more than any one creature will ever know, one does not need eyes to see, neither does a man need ear's to speak.
Electra : Oracle, my mother is in dire need of you, it is quite important; you're to be dismissed from father's sight.
{Exit Oracle assisted stage right}
Laos: Electra, prey tells your mother's mood, it does be quite fowl, is she to question what abilities I doth have to give to the city. This city of Thebes, they are outraged upon a man who saved them from death not but once, but now twice, yet the oracle still sees my head to roll, but by my own son, surely you doth not agree with that terrible misfortune, could that even be possible?
Electra: Father, alas, I don't know, all I can see is what will destroying it do? It is neither good nor bad, it is not my decision to make your mind father, it is however your decision to kill it. By what good does that do?
{Enter Iocasta stage right}
Iocasta: Electra to your chamber now. It is time, it must be taken, we'll never find the Shepherd in the mists of the darkest hour, and the moon is almost at its place, we must go now for if not prey you hold this cub and say you love it.
{Exit Electra stage back, Enter Guard stage back}
Guard 1 : My queen, the road to Littman is clear, you must go this instant or by god, you'll never get there alive, your carriage is waiting.
Laos: Let us set to the raising dark, we must get covered. We must not to be seen, the road to Littman is long and argons. And full of danger, I'll let some guards escort us to the city limits. For now that is all we have at our disposal, since the last battle diminished my army a plenty good soldier.
{Enter Oracle assisted stage right}
Oracle : You think you two can overcome your fate once again. I have doth told you thrice Laos, that you're on the road to your very death. And your born son is your murderer, he is strong, a tainted cub is not as weak as you do think, he will arise to this challenge Laos, you can't cheat fate. Have you doth tried.
Laos: All I know is I am still alive {Exeunt Laos stage left back, Iocasta stage right and Guard stage right back}
_**Act I Scene III.
West Theban Borderline.**_
{Enter Guards stage back, Laos and Iocasta stage right}
Laos: Be this the place my queen, as I feel now this carriage be not on road no more. Doth profane, that this must be the resting of it, surely we cannot go further.
Guard 1 : You're here my liege this be the end of all Theban borders.
Iocasta: Your not to tell anyone what has happened, understood guard or not you be coming home alive. We will find the lone Sheppard and dismantle our relationship with this thing. It has bare, not to see the light of day.
Laos: Just their queen, it is a small dilapidated residence he must be kept within.
{Enter Shepherd Ramous stage left}
Iocasta: Open this door, Shepherd your life doth depend; we have great news for your upgrading into our wonderful city of Thebes.
Ramous: Is this my eyes that deceive me, the King and Queen of Thebes, at my home, be what can I do to help the royal family?
Iocasta: Our cub is born with feathers on his feet, he has disgraced the families rich blood, you're to kill him, leave him at Orion, he will surely die out there, we want him gone, he has brought a terrible confinement to our royal household. If your request be anything more than I promise, we will do what we can to make sure your deed does not go unrewarded.
Ramous: My queen, I simply ask for nothing to do with the Theban city, I will destroy your cub, but be it as your blood that lays helpless on the cliffs of Orion, it is not my place to judge, but if this is what happens to something with a defect, then ashamed that you two must be perfect.
Laos: Be that as it May, not I, but are you the first person to understand this child will bring darkness wherever it doth go.
Ramous: I do feel more of unwell holding it my liege, it doth be strong, it doth know of its place, Orion will be a long journey on foot, he won't die for a time, or time after that. Be that, he dies at all.
Iocasta: This is your conquest, you're to make sure he dies, we will provide you a small carriage, and that will make the journey all the more easier on you. This is not a wish we have, this must be done. It must die, your to see to it, that it does not live another moment longer on Orion.
Laos : Take the cub and have it gone, it must go, he dread to threaten my very existence, and to regain courtship of my queen.
{Enter Guard's stage right back}
Guard 2: My liege, the journey to Orion is too harsh to withdraw to this fragile cart, we must fend him this one, and he'll never get there in time in this heap.
Laos: It is the best I can offer, the royal cart will not be used to subdue one journey to Orion, it has too much battle to, it has too much memories.
{Exit Laos stage left back}.
Iocasta: That cart must be kept for us; his life would be in greater danger approaching Orion in a royal Theban carriage, he'd never get out alive, if he did, and then alas our cart would have no wheels to make its journey to the Theban Castle.
Guard 3: My royalties, the moon at its place, the journey home is now very dangerous, we must bid him farewell, in hopes he take the cart to the city of Orion.
Ramous: Take no worry; I go on foot to that city, as I've travelled from there, for many a year. I will go by foot; it doth seem I'll die any other way I do go.
Guard 4: He is a brave Shepherd to make the journey once. But many a time he is braver than thy.
{Exeunt Guards stage back}
Iocasta : I can't imagine, but if you somehow forget that what I had offered, then you're welcome to be our quest to anything that you like. You're saving not only me and my King, but you're saving the future from us too.
Ramous: I do tell you, your offer is not welcome. I dare never enter a town that kills its cub to save itself from the inevitable. Even I won't, or ever will try cheating my fate.
{Enter Laos stage right, Exit Ramous stage left}
Iocasta: This cub bore a day ago has already brought thee to complete tears; won't have its blood sipping my fresher red wine.
Laos: Alas we bid you a fond farewell. {Exit Iocasta stage right and Laos stage left}
_ Act I Scene IV. _
_ Theban Palace, 5 years later. _
{Enter Crowd stage left, Laos stage right, Electra stage back, Iocasta stage right, Guard 1, 2 stage back, Ramous stage left and Tiresuius stage right.}
Laos: Settle down, be what another problem that come to grip over our fine city? Is this doth another curse that you forsaken.
Crowd: His head should roll, his head should roll.
Tiresuius: Hercules revealed onto me that the town has this gripping curse to alas solve the riddle of the Sphinx. In what word, to who doth see intellect to solve its mysterious code?
Crowd: The King doth he did not bring us a heir, he doth destroyed this city of Thebes, he has forsaken us to a horrible misfortune, women and cubs are violently ill, and the smell of rotting flesh is belittling our other senses with a horrid feeling of nausea, it is making this town grow forever weaker by the everlasting, ever torturing day, we've seen enough, his head should roll, his head should roll.
Tiresuius: None anon he doth have no son, but he be my brother, maybe I shall solve its ancient code, will doth leave my brother alone if I solve the Sphinx?
Iocasta: Tiresuius, his intellect was greater than yours even the Sphinx rejected him, if you doth not solve the riddle, then they doth lose their will to storm us take our intestines and hang them as they parade down the streets and celebrate drinking our tainted blood, savages that they are, will eat us skin to bone, and even that won't be enough, our daughters will be subdued to unwilling conceptions, to humiliating crimes, and to walk amongst the city of Thebes as the commoner that I have told them our simply the people that want their father dead.
Tiresuius, please, inform that you're going to study it, to solve it, give us our time to rid the Kingdom of its glory, save our blood, save our cubs, Tiresuius, you cannot do this to me, or to them. This town will kill you and betray you.
This city of Thebes will humiliate you and disgrace our family name. You'll be forced to breed at alarming measure's you'll be forced to have eaten your own makings, less than not, these people have eaten their own entrails. It is not a reason, it is me begging you to tell them that you're going to study it, bide us the time to protect our cubs from the humiliation of commoners below.
Tiresuius please think of your brother, if he thinks you can solve it, then he will humiliate you to confess that even you're not understanding enough and it will reject you too, the town won't have another storm from the skies Tiresuius it cost not only most of our lives here, but it also cost us our only son. He doth be dead by now. But you're to bide them to give me time, I can't see more blood flow on gold steps.
I won't see your head roll for stupidity either. Doth digress to them that you're going to study the Sphinx, to understand why it's grasp is consuming our city, then when you're done biding time confess that the riddle is insolvable. They will leave us alone.
Laos: Iocasta, be that as it is, how much time can bid us enough to get the town from its savage nature, these things are not like us, they are vengeful and remorseful, and they will never forget what has happed. Yet I do save them twice from death and it's like I have done absolutely nothing at all. Nothing comes from nothing, and even so these people have nothing, yet they have more then I will ever own. My queen, you speak to my brother in tone, but his intellect will engrave the city with hope, these savages will listen to a man who says he could solve the Sphinx that has haunted the city since it's very construction, with those death's that happened I have lost to many of men to the harsh mistress the Sphinx is.
Those commoners who dare enter died at the mere sight of the complex code that was engraved upon its stone, and these savages will tear me limb from limb if he doth to fail to persuade the biding of time. Our cubs know doth to be quite if I'd to death for see, but doth they do not know what in complications come from being an un royal Theban, the unaided labor will be enough to drive them to complete insanity.
Tiresuius, how long do thou think you can bide the time from these for rained savages'? Doth your power be as strong as not one but many of commoner that rest below, but they, are angry frustrated and see that you're a threat to the Kingdom ship, as the only possible heir, you doth be older and wiser, yet your smaller and weaker in physical content, this content must be manipulated into tiny bits. Can doth both of us away to Lagos, the King of Lagos will surely have many of heir's his blood be much more masculine than mine.
As doth do you see an heir in there? Iocasta my beloved queen will be any help she can to your mission to win over the untamable monster that is the City of Thebes. I have awoken her a many times too often, and in my mind I am even now, more afraid I have awoken her for the last time, I doth feel my heart to stop its beat , I doth feel my tainted blood doth not fill my veins. I feel every cold breeze that come through this terrible town. I still feel the grasp of the old curse somewhere inside my mind. It is not hard for me to forget it, but it is hard for me to let go of that thing that had and still consumes my very being. Tiresuius how long can you bide?
Tiresuius: Dearest Queen, it is not that I do doubt that the Sphinx is a cold hearted mistress; the feeling of her grasp is well provident amongst this city. You Thebans, run at danger, and fear nothing but butter that simply won't spread.
Iocasta, oh Iocasta, your face is what it is for one of thousands of men would cherish it amongst the fireplaces. These savages they doth know their rank is unassailable it is out of their very grasp, this balcony protects us from the onslaught down below, it doth protect you my queen. Brother, brother, your years of misguiding others, is simply for seen on those terrified faces, these Thebans want your head, and it is not that they onslaught your castle, they onslaught your castle cause your only heir is dead, most his guts and blood pecked at by the ravens that fly on the cliffs of Orion. Those cliffs show me the fear of all creatures that dared cross its luscious green valley's that deceiving meadow of immortal dooms that is what?
To answer your very question, I could bide you 5 years of time to hide your queen and creatures of your blood, but that's a reach I should not be willing to take. I should not be helping your very existence, what curse has Zeus but on your head? That oracle has changed you fair brother, you're no longer a wolf, with the mind of untamed intellect, your intellect in an untamed wolf. Brother, Iocasta, this be not my brother dismiss him, he be no to worthy to face this crowd, for his face is pale and his eyes have no color inside them, He is not my brother; he is hardly a wolf with any resemblance.
{Exit Laos stage left}
Crowd: He leaves, he can't take his people, you can't hide your shame, and you can't just run away. Treason, treason, Kill the King of Thebes, he betrays his citizens for his royal chambers, does he doth want another daughter to dare walk amongst the crowd.
We demand him here, we demand an heir on the throne, we demand that Laos's head will roll, come him forth, be him a man of any self rights or confidence, make him break his own blood over this cities curse, he has done it before, our queen get thee husband, let him see his city is in dire need, let him face the truth, let him understand what we must be subdued to, we are going to see that head roll, were going to see his life go, were going to see his blood spilt on these golden laced sands, we want his death to be long, and humiliating, you all shall face our wrath, we doth not rest till your demise is to be finalized, we all want an heir, we all want his head to roll.
The King of Thebes is the King of Fools. He is not strong, he is stupid, and his head will roll. He leaves he leaves. We spit at your general direction. What will we do, we will not rest till you're all but in the ground and left to rot beneath our trampling feet, and we wish to dance merrily on your graves. We wish you all to suffer, we wish you all terrible lives, whom doth you send to speak to us now our queen another one of your minions?
Tiresuius: I am outraged at this city, where are the Theban's I once had come to know as people who never cried, the people who have seen the world collapses yet they still face a day on day with a smile on their face. You people sicken me. I am Tiresuius, Laos's brother.
I am your next and only possible heir. If you be looking for a solver of your sphinx, I believe I can figure it out, but I will research its code, I'll need a good time before this puzzle will be solved. I beg to you unholy demons to look at me as your only hope. Give me a chance, your one and only chance I ask for you to give it to me. I will do all I can to solve her riddle. I will solve the Sphinx. I have heard plenty of creatures have dared its gaze, like I have of your on commoner trying to seek an answer to find the code is so complex you die in vain.
Hold it in my hands that after the talk with my own oracle Heracles had spoken to me and said I am destined to reach Thebes again, and here I am, he must have known the city was under a horrible grasp from this riddle and knowing that our intellect is strong he spoke onto me as one wolf and he said that be it you reach Thebes a city in great danger, he must have meant the Sphinx's curse, he must of known I'd come upon the city at this horrible time.
{Exeunt Tiresuius and Crowd stage left}
Electra: Who is that man mother? Is he that forlorn Shepherd that you gave our brother too?
Iocasta: Away with you daughter Mr. Ramous, and I must have a chat about his rewards and what must we do to change his one way mind.
Ramous: I believe I was told I could be rewarded by your duties my queen, and for now all I ask is my cubs be here and hidden away, I have to embark on a noble quest to Ataman, the journey will be days on foot, and I must stay overnight to forsworn a town of strayed creatures that be searching for the flesh of a human. I now it's very dangerous my queen, but this be my only question to you. Will you take care of these cubs?
{Enter 3 cubs stage back}
Electra: Mother may I take care of the commoners cubs they could learn so much from me, I will take good care of them, Sir, your cubs will be well looked after with me, I responsible and they will learn all they need to know, plus I'm the same age as your eldest daughter. Please sir? It would be my absolute honor.
Iocasta: My daughter is a fine example of a role model for your cubs. Electra prey them to your chamber room this once.
{Exeunt Electra and Cubs stage back}
Ramous: You're sure, my cubs have been quite the handful, I mean I am much honored your daughter accepted this challenge, she sees a knowledge, must be her father's intellect inside her. She is feisty one to; I propose you're the one that encourages her to have an ability to be strong in this world. Now Iocasta, if I don't leave I'll hit the moon in the middle of the Theban desert, I'll need to hit Littman as soon as the sun hits its optical limit. Bygone, see that my favor done Iocasta.
{Exit Ramous stage left}
Guard's: Queen Iocasta it's Laos, he has news from Lagos, you're too attend him this instant Queen Iocasta.
Iocasta: Fetch him for thee {Exit Guards stage back}.
This one true blooded city of Theban's have seen enough, they will not see my husband's head on their plates they will not have him. Over my heart, over my body and soul, they will not see him leave for Lagos. For once this person doth say for king and for Thebes, now say nothing at all, and nothing at all is all they will get. For I, Iocasta, will have all to stop these savages from having their way, these heavens will wait for his return. Because I, Iocasta, will make sure this city of Thebes is the city it once was, this beautiful city, I will be glad to finally call Thebes.
My one and true home. Listen to me Thebes, for thy art your Queen. For I am Iocasta, I am your divine and not tainted queen. I am this city, this vile city I dare confess, I call these people brethrens. These people that trample down those desolate streets to seal their never-ending conquest to the gods pearl lined gates, are well locked, let these people learn o' gods or for it be on thy Iocasta, I see these people rot in the internal bowels of hell. I see these people scream out the name Iocasta. I see this city as no longer people, or even creatures, I see these people as un- pure and un- controllable animals.
I Iocasta must see to it that Thebes is restored to its former glory.
{Exeunt All}
_**Act I Scene V.
The Sphinx.**_
{Enter Tiresuius stage right}
Tiresuius: Oh paradise, she is here, oh Sphinx sing to me your song, sing to me what this code is, for my eyes deceive me, for me I am an infant of Cithaeron.
Sphinx: "There is a creature that moves upon the earth, on two feet, on four, and on three. He has one name, and of all creatures that move upon the land, and through the bright air and sea, only this changes his condition. But when he walks the most limbs to support him, he moves slowest and his limbs are weakest"
Tiresuius: Sphinx I yet not have you an answer but does it is you that cause my brother the cruelest intentions?
{Enter Oracle assisted stage right}
Oracle: She has not caused your brother any sorrow Tiresuius, she doth expose him as the liar that he is though, Tiresuius, you're not here to solve her, are you? For that would be walking on thin lines to my prediction that blood of Laos and Iocasta will be its only solver.
Tiresuius: Old badger be mad, I am biding my brother his time, but it seems that his visit to Lagos is sooner than he juxtaposed. Is it that you have seen who solves this riddle?
Oracle: I am but blind, he is a blurred to me, but you, prey tell are not the solver of this riddle. But I can define that yes it is a man who will solve it. And a man that shares your brother's blood, but will also be a creation of ritual mating.
Tiresuius: My Brother has no son to his name. He had three girls, he is deviated.
Oracle: Oh he is a wise one the Laos, he can't even confess his dreadful action onto you.
Tiresuius: Blind badger is mad.
Oracle: Go if thou do not want to know. Iocasta might be scared of Orion; you may want to know why?
Tiresuius: That explains why she spoke to Ramous the Sheppard; he knows what they doth do.
Oracle: Ares and Aphrodite would be ashamed of him for what he has done to the cub that laid on Orion.
Tiresuius: Your indeed blind badger, but you're not indeed mad, please tell me where I can find that Theban Sheppard.
Oracle: He not is a Theban spirit, but his house is just outside our city limits, it is an easy site to see for royalty like you Tiresuius.