Melanthius+1

"The Trigger of Death"

media type="file" key="melboy1.mp3"

SCENE 1 1. MELANTHIUS: I, Dolius’ son Melanthius am the loyal goatherd of the fine Ithacan princes. I bring the pick of my flocks for the suitors’ meal each day.  SCENE 2 __1. MUSIC: EERIE __  2. MELANTHIUS: Down the rugged road I stride with the finest goats of Ithaca by my side. As I make my way through the crowd, I run into pig- boy and with him another just like him, a poor, scrawny, parasite. I stop for a second but continue on not wasting my precious time with scums like them. As soon as Dawn with her rose-red fingers shone again I return to the palace, only to find the same trash of a man there begging for food. I for one am surprised this beggar is still alive. I confront the scum and suggest a departure, for doesn’t he know we are not the only banquets on the island, but this old beggar will just not leave.  SCENE 3 1. MELANTHIUS: Now, what is this? The man holds up Odysseus’ bow. He has just shot our finest prince, Antinous. __ 2. SOUND: BOW AND ARROW __  3. MELANTHIUS: Outrageous this man, and now he says he is Odysseus. The killing continues, and the suitors do not even have weapons. I thought this man was a hero, but obviously not he sinks to the level of cheap, unfairness. But what is this, the door to a chamber wide open. This must be the works of the naïve Telemachus, only he would be so foolish into leaving the door to the chamber of weapons ajar.  SCENE 4 1. MELANTHIUS: I rummage through the chamber in search for more weapons and shields. __ 2. SOUND: RUMMAGING __  3. MELANTHIUS: Surely the suitors will win now, but suddenly my hands and feet are bound together, and I am tied to a column, dangling in agony as Philoetius and Eumaeus stand there mocking me.  SCENE 5 1. MELANTHIUS: They step outside and leave me there, slowly draining the life out of me. Time passes. The yells of help from the men and women come to a halt. The chamber door swings open. __<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> 2. SOUND: SWING OF THE DOOR __ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> 3. MELANTHIUS: Eumaeus and Philoetius drag me out, and by the orders of Odysseus, hack off my nose, ears, hands, feet, and genitals. I lie there blood streaming from my body. __<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> 4. MUSIC: EERIE __