EURYDICE - Eurydice Lines

SCENE ONE

What are you thinking about?

ORPEHUS: Music.

How can you think about music? You either hear it, or you don’t.

ORPHEUS: I made up a song for you today.

Did you!?

ORPHEUS: Remember this melody. (He hums a bar of melody)

I’m bad at remembering melodies. Why don’t you remember it?

ORPHEUS: I have eleven other ones in my head, making for a total of twelve. (Beat). Let’s hear it.

(She sings the melody. She misses a few notes. She’s not the best singer in the world.)

ORPHEUS: Pretty good. The rhythm’s a little off. Here - clap it out.

(She claps. He claps the rhythmic sequence for her. She tries to imitate. She is still off.)

Is that right?

ORPHEUS: We’ll practice. (Beat). It’s settled then.

What is?

ORPHEUS: Your hair will be my orchestra and - I love you. (Pause).

I love you too.

ORPHEUS: How will you remember?

That I love you?

ORPHEUS: Yes.

That’s easy. I can’t help it.

ORPHEUS: You never know. I’d better tie a string around your finger to remind you.

(He takes out a string from his pocket. He takes her left hand.)

ORPHEUS: This hand.

(He wraps the string deliberately around her fourth finger.)

That’s a very particular finger. Are you aware of that? Orpheus, are we?

ORPHEUS: You tell me.

Yes. I think so.

ORPHEUS: You think so?

Yes.

ORPHEUS: Yes!

Yes!

SCENE THREE

(Eurydice, by a water-pump. The noise of a party, from far off.)

I hate parties. And a wedding party is the biggest party of all.

(She drinks a cup of water from the water pump. A man wearing a trench coat appears.)

MAN: What’s your name?

Eurydice.

(He looks at her, hungry.)

MAN: Eurydice. I’m on my way to a party where there are really very interesting people. Would you like to join me?

No. I just left my own party. Goodbye then.

SCENE FOUR

(Orpheus and Eurydice dance together at their wedding. They are happy. They have had some champagne. They sing together.)

Don’t sit under the apple tree

with anyone else but me

anyone else but me

anyone else but me

I’m warm. Are you warm? I’m going to get a drink of water.

ORPHEUS: Don’t go. I can’t stand to let you out of my sight today.

(They have a long loving embrace; she goes to the fountain. Eurydice at the water-pump getting a glass of water. The Interesting Man appears.)

Oh. You’re still here.

MAN: Yes. I forgot to tell you something. I have a letter. Addressed to Eurydice - from your father.

That’s not possible.

MAN: He wrote down some thoughts - for your wedding day.

Let me see.

MAN: I left it at home. It got delivered to my elegant high-rise estate by mistake. It’ll just take a moment. I live around the block. What an interesting dress you’re wearing.

Thank you.

SCENE SIX

MAN: Voila!

Oh, yes. So where’s the letter? There’s no one here. I thought you were having a party.

MAN: I like to celebrate things quietly. With a few other interesting people. Don’t you?

(She tilts her head to the side and stares at him.)

Would you like some champagne?

I can’t stay long! I can see my wedding from here! The people are so small, they’re dancing! There’s Orpheus! He’s not dancing.

MAN: So. Eurydice. Tell me one thing. Name me one person you find interesting.

Why?

MAN: Just making conversation.

(He sways a little to the music.)

Right. Um- all the interesting people I know are dead or speak French.

MAN: Well, I don’t speak French, Eurydice.

I’m sorry. I have to go. There’s no letter, is there?

MAN: Of course there’s a letter. It’s right here.

(He pats his breast pocket.)

I feel dizzy all of a sudden. I want my husband. I think I’d better go now.

MAN: You’re free to go whenever you like.

I know. I think I’ll go now in fact. I’ll just take my letter first if you don’t mind.

(She holds out her hand for the letter. He takes her hand. She turns to exit. He blocks the doorway.)

MAN: Wait. Eurydice. Don’t go. I love you.

Oh no.

MAN: My lips were meant to kiss your eyelids; that’s obvious!

Close your eyes then! Goodbye.

(She runs for the stairs. She wavers, off-balance, at the top of the stairwell.)

MAN: Don’t do that, you’ll trip!

Orpheus!

SECOND MOVEMENT

SCENE ONE

(lines, lines, lines.)

LOUD STONE: Listen to her the way you would listen to your own daughter if she died too young.

(Eurydice shakes out her umbrella. She approaches the audience. This time, she can speak. Eurydice turns to the stones.)

My husband’s name? Do you know it?

How strange I don’t remember.

It was horrible to see his face when I died.

His eyes were two blackbirds and they flew to me.

When I got through the cold they made me swim in a river and I forgot his name.

I forgot all the names.

I know his name starts with my mouth shaped like a ball of twine.

Oar- oar.

I forget.

Oh! I am waiting for someone to meet me I think.

(Eurydice’s father approaches and takes her baggage.)

FATHER: Eurydice.

At last, a porter to meet me! Do you happen to know where the bank is? I need money. I’ve just arrived. I need to exchange my money at the Bureau de Change.

FATHER: Eurydice- I’m your father!

Eurydice- I’m your father. How funny! You remind me of something, but I can’t understand a word you’re saying. Say it again!

SECOND MOVEMENT

SCENE THREE

FATHER: Here is a letter for you, miss.

A letter?

FATHER: It is addressed to you.

(She opens it. She scrutinizes it. She does not know how to read it. She puts it on the ground, takes off her shoes, stands on the letter, and shuts her eyes.)

FATHER: Would you like me to read you the letter?

Read me the letter?

FATHER: You can’t do it with your feet.

(The father guides her off the letter, picks it up and begins to read.)

It’s addressed to Eurydice. That’s you.

(reading) I’m going to find you. I play the saddest music-

Music?

(He whistles a note.)

FATHER: It’s like that.

(She smiles.)

Go on.

SECOND MOVEMENT

SCENE FOUR

(Eurydice walks into her string room. The Lord of the Underworld enters on red tricycle. Music from a heavy metal band accompanies his entrance. His clothes and his hat are too small for him. He stops pedaling at the entrance to the string room.)

CHILD: Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

CHILD: I am the Lord of the Underworld.

Very funny.

CHILD: I am.

Prove it.

CHILD: I can do chin-ups inside your bones. Close your eyes.

Ow.

CHILD: See?

What do you want?

CHILD: You’re pretty.

You’re little.

CHILD: I grow downward. Like a turnip.

What do you want?

CHILD: I wanted to see if you were comfortable. You’re not itchy?

(She nods no.)

That’s good. Sometimes our residents get itchy. Then I scratch them. What’s all this string?

It’s my room.

CHILD: Rooms are not allowed! (to the stones) Tell her!

THE STONES: Rooms are not allowed!

CHILD: Who made your room?

My father.

CHILD: fathers are not allowed! Where is he?

He’s a work.

CHILD: We’ll have to dip you in the river again and make sure you’re good and dunked.

Please, don’t.

CHILD: Say it in my ear.

Please don’t.

CHILD: I like that. (A seduction.) I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!

(He blows on her face.)

I have a husband.

SECOND MOVEMENT

SCENE FIVE

ORPHEUS: If a drop of water enters the soil at a particular angle … Eurydice- did you hear that? … Wait for me. Love, Orpheus.

I got a letter. From Orpheus.

FATHER: You sound serious. Nothing wrong. I hope.

No.

FATHER: What did he say?

He says he’s going to come find me.

FATHER: How?

He’s going to sing.

SECOND MOVEMENT

SCENE SIX

I hear him at the gates! He’s come to save me!

FATHER: Do you want to go with him?

Yes, of course! Oh- you’ll be lonely won’t you?

FATHER: No, no. You should go to your husband. You should have grandchildren. You’ll all come down and meet me one day. You should love your family until the grapes grow dust on their purple faces. I’ll take you to him.

Now?

FATHER: It’s for the best.

(He takes her arm. They process, arm in arm, as at a wedding. The sound of bells. They see Orpheus up ahead.)

FATHER: There’s one thing you need to know. If he turns around and sees you, you’ll die a second death. Those are the rules. So step quietly. And don’t cry out.

I won’t.

FATHER: Goodbye.

(They embrace.)

I’ll come back to you. I seem to keep dying.

FATHER: Don’t let them dip you into the RIver too long, the second time. Hold your breath.

I’ll look for a tree.

FATHER: I’ll write you letters.

(SHE LOOKS BACK. She turns in the direction of her father, her back to the audience. He’s out of sight.)

LITTLE STONE: You can’t go back now, Eurydice.

LOUD STONE: Face forward!

BIG STONE: Keep walking!

I’m afraid!

LOUD STONE: Your husband is waiting for you, Eurydice.

I don’t recognize him! That’s a stranger!

LITTLE STONE: Go on. It’s him.

I want to go home! I want my father!

LOUD STONE: You’re all grown up now. You have a husband.

…

BIG STONE: Even we-

STONES: the stones-

BIG STONE: Cried when we heard it.

Orpheus?

ORPHEUS: You startled me.

I’m sorry.

ORPHEUS: Why?

Think of the things we did:

we went ice skating-

I wore a red sweater-

Everything is so grey-

it looks familiar

like home

our house was-

grey- with a red door

ORPHEUS: Will you talk to me!

The train looks like

the opposite of a train-

FATHER: I remember.

Take Tri-State South-294—

…

Put your feet in the river

and swim

(He dips himself in the river. A small metallic sound of forgetfulness- ping. The sound of water. He lies down on the ground, curled up, asleep. Eurydice returns and sees that her string room is gone.)

Where’s my room? WHERE IS MY ROOM? Answer me! Where’s my father? Why is he sleeping?

LOUD STONE: He can’t hear you.

LITTLE STONE: It’s too late.

BIG STONE: He dipped himself in the River.

LOUD STONE: He wanted some peace and quiet.

HE DID NOT! Listen. I’ll teach you the words. Then we’ll know each other again. ready? We’ll start with my name. Eurydice. EURY…

BIG STONE: He can’t hear you.

LOUD STONE: He can’t see you.

LITTLE STONE: He can’t remember you.

I hate you! I’ve always hated you! Shut up! Shut up!

BIG STONE: Learn the art of keeping busy!

IT’S HARD TO KEEP BUSY WHEN YOU’RE DEAD!

STONES: It is not hard!

We keep busy

and we like it

We’re busy busy busy stones

I HATE YOU! I’VE ALWAYS HATED YOU!

STONES: Go ahead.

Try to hit us.

…

CHILD: You chose to stay with us, huh? Good. Perhaps to be my bride? I’m ready to be a man now. I’m ready-to-be-a man.

Please. Leave me alone.

CHILD: I’ll have them start preparing the satins and silks. You can’t refuse me. I’ve made my choice. I’m ready to be a man now.

Can I have a moment to prepare myself?

CHILD: Don’t be long. The wedding songs are already being written. They’re very quiet. Inaudible, you might say. A dirt-filled orchestra for my bride. Don’t trouble the songs with your music, I say. A song is two dead bodies rubbing under the covers to keep warm.

Dear Orpheus,

I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I was afraid. I’m not worthy of you. But I still love you, I think. Don’t try to find me again. You would be lonely for music. I want you to be happy. I want you to marry again. I am going to write out instructions for your next wife.

Be gentle.

Ne sure to comb his hair when it’s wet.

Do not fail to notice that his face flushes pink like a bride’s when you kiss him.

Give him lot’s to eat.

He forgets to eat, and het gets cranky.

I’ll give this letter to a worm. I hope he finds you.

Love,

Eurydice.