Eurycleia+2

The Affirmation of Loyalty

media type="file" key="eurycle2.mp3"

SCENE 1

1.	SOUND:		INTRO MUSIC.

2.	EURYCLEIA:	They call me Eurycleia and I live in the greatest place in the world, the 		island of Ithaca. Here I serve as the maid to Queen Penelope in the palace		of her husband, the Great Odysseus. Because I have lived here so long I		feel as close as family to Odysseus, Penelope, and their son Telemachus, 	despite that fact that Odysseus was away from home for almost twenty 	years. Oh, how I longed for my master to return. I was overwhelmed 	with emotion the day that dream was realized, and now I will recount my 	reunion with noble Odysseus.

SCENE 2

1.	EURYCLEIA:	It all began when I heard Penelope call for me from the fireplace. Her tone suggested I was needed for something important. When I got to my queen, she asked me what I thought of the beggar who was staying in the palace. In all honesty, I told her how noble his appearance was for just a drifter with nowhere to go. We discussed him for quite a while; Penelope asked questions and I answered truthfully. She then ordered me to wash the beggar, head to toe, for he had been lost a long time and should be treated properly. Just then, he walked in, his stature that of a king rather than a peasant even in the dim light of the palace at night.

2.	SOUND:		FOOTSTEPS.

SCENE 3

1.  EURYCLEIA:	Having seen him before, there was no real need for introduction. However, we did talk briefly of his situation in the palace while we sat absorbing the warmth of the fire.

2.  SOUND:	FIREPLACE CRACKLING.

3.  EURYCLEIA:	I expressed my thoughts on the suitors' treatment of him as inappropriate, and suggested he stand up for himself one day; for some reason he disagreed. There was not much to say between us, but with those few words I felt unusually close to him, as if we had know each other for years. Then I went to fill a basin with water and it was so heavy; upon returning I almost fell.

4.  EURYCLEIA:	As I began to wash the man, I realized the lack of conversation between us, so I tried to work quickly. Suddenly, he jerks away from me in a hurried attempt to cover himself, splashing the water everywhere.

5.  SOUND:	WATER SPLASHING.

SCENE 4

1.  EURYCLEIA:	As he does this, I wonder to myself why he moves away. Is he shy? I don’t know why he shies away, because he has no reason with the build of a king. Just then, I spot it…the scar! The same scar a wild boar gave Odysseus as a young boy. Is it Odysseus? It is! Just as I realize I am in the presence of my long-lost master he pulls his limbs out of my grip and turns away abruptly. At a loss for words, I am overwhelmed by joy and confusion at the fact that Odysseus has returned. Odysseus then notices my reaction and immediately becomes frantic. As he grabs me, he threatens my life if I tell anyone of his return. I immediately agree to his demands and become curious as to why he is in disguise, keeping his return from the woman he loves and his loyal followers in Ithaca. However, there is no time for questions as Odysseus acts as though nothing had happened.

SCENE 5

1.  EURYCLEIA:	Reflecting on the situation at hand, to me Odysseus’ behavior was surprising, yet understandable, so I tried to appease him by reassuring him of my immense loyalty to him and his family. Despite his irrational behavior and the offense I took from it, I forgive Odysseus. I then offered to help in separating the innocent from the guilty in the palace; I knew Odysseus would get his revenge someday. I had never been so happy in my life! For twenty years I waited for his return to Ithaca, and Odysseus had reached native ground at last.

2.  SOUND:	OUTRO MUSIC.