Phaeton+6

Death Wish

media type="file" key="phaeton6.mp3" The Radio Program

[PALACE IN WEST]

__MUSIC: LEAD IN WITH HAPPY MUSIC__

1. NARRATOR 1: Helios, the Sun God, lights up the whole world as he drives his golden chariot across the sky with his four fiery steeds. Bright glimmering rays encircle his head and his chariot shines like fire. He is so bright that only the gods can look at him without being blinded. Helios had a mortal son named Phaeton whom he loved very dearly. Early in the evening, as the sun sets, Helios relaxes with his children at his palace in the West.

2. HELIOS: (PROUDLY) I am proud of you, my son Phaeton. Although you are mortal, you are as handsome as I am bright, and the gods smile upon you.

3. PHAETON: (PROUDLY) Same to you, Father, I swell with pride when I look at up at the sky and see you.

4. NARRATOR 2: Helios also had five daughters, who were the Heliades.

5. NARRATOR 1: When Selene, the Moon Goddess, shines her gentle light upon the Earth, Helios boards a vessel. He sails all the way around the world and starts his job over again.

6. HELIOS: (SADLY) Goodbye, my beautiful daughters. Selene is up in the sky and I must go back to my palace in the East. Do not worry. I will return.

"Ending in the East"

[PALACE IN EAST]

1. NARRATOR 2: Phaeton approaches his father in his Palace in the East. Helios is about to take his daily ride across the sky on his sun chariot.

2. PHAETON: (NERVOUSLY) Father, because of many past good deeds… well, I was thinking… could you grant me one single wish and accept it no matter what?

3. HELIOS: (PROUDLY) Son, I think you have been very sensible and smart your whole life. As a reward, I swear by the River Styx to grant you that wish.

4. PHAETON: (EXTREMELY GRATEFUL) Thank you, Father!

"Stable Helios"

[STABLES]

1__. HORSE SOUNDS: NEIGHING, HOOF NOISES, SNORTING__

2. HELIOS: (SLIGHTLY WORRIED) My son, what is your greatest wish?

3. PHAETON: (HAPPILY) I would love to be able to drive your chariot across the sky for one day.

4. HELIOS: (FEARFULLY AND EXCITEDLY) Please rethink! I cannot change my oath, but you can change your choice.

5. PHAETON: (IMPATIENTLY, DISRESPECTFULLY AND PETULANTLY) I want the sun chariot, and I want it now!

6. HELIOS: (FRANTICALLY) No one except for me can handle the horses, let alone the entire chariot!

"Un-Stable Phaeton"

[STABLES]

1. HELIOS: (PLEADING) Phaeton, my son, why that? Can’t you ask me for anything else? You know only I can ride my sun chariot across the sky.

2. PHAETON: (STUBBORNLY) No, Father. I can ride your chariot and gain fame. Imagine me, Phaeton, son of Helios the Sun God up in the sky!

3. HELIOS: (BEGGING) Phaeton, please, how can I change your mind? Do you want a pretty nymph as a wife instead?

__5. THE SOUND OF A GIRL’S GIGGLE: LIGHT AND MERRY__

6. PHAETON: (ANGRY) No! Once I am famous, women will beg me to marry them.

7. HELIOS: (HOPEFULLY) I can install you as king of a great empire! How would you like that?



8. PHAETON: (STUBBORNLY) No, Father, when I gain fame, it will be better than being a king. There is nothing you can say or do to change my mind. I have made my decision. I will ride your chariot across the sky for one day.

9. HELIOS: (TO HIMSELF) I must change Phaeton’s mind or he will kill himself.

"Surprise in the Sky"

[CHARIOT IN SKY]

1. HELIOS: (SADLY) Fare thee well, my son!

2. NARRATOR 1: (SADLY) Helios said goodbye to Phaeton, knowing that it would be the last time he saw him. (PAUSE) Phaeton, unaware of the danger, was excited for his journey on Helios’ chariot.

3. PHAETON: (NONCHALANTLY) I don’t understand what all the fuss was about! The ride seems to be going pretty smoothly so far. Please be careful, my beautiful horses, for I am deathly afraid of heights.

4. NARRATOR 2: (WORRIED) But even as Phaeton spoke, Helios’ steeds had realized that unskilled hands held their reins.

5. PHAETON: (WORRIED) Whoa there horses! You’re veering off track! You’ll go right through the dangerous constellations! Now you have angered the animals of the Zodiac! Oh no! They’re after me…

6. NARRATOR 1: (BUILDING UP SUSPENSE) The horses proceeded to buck…

__7. BUCKING SOUNDS__

8. NARRATOR 2: …and Phaeton was thrown halfway out of the chariot.

__9. SOMEONE HANGING ONTO A LEDGE AND GROANING WITH EXERTION__

10. NARRATOR 1: If you remember correctly, Phaeton was deathly afraid of heights. As soon as he saw the Earth from the sky, Phaeton became so dizzy that he dropped the reins.

11. HELIOS: (WORRIED AND SAD) Oh dear, Phaeton has nearly fallen from the chariot! I knew this was a bad idea! The horses have gone out of control!

12. NARRATOR 2: (BUILDING UP SUSPENSE) As the horses neared the Earth, the sun chariot was so hot that it scorched the Earth. Then the horses flew so high that without the sun chariot’s light, the Earth froze!

13. ZEUS: (PANICKING) I must save the Earth from those out of control horses! I shall throw a thunderbolt at it! That should do the trick



"Fallen Phaeton"

[RIVER PO]

__1. SORROWFUL MUSIC__

2. NARRATOR 1: (SADLY) Zeus didn’t know that Phaeton was in the chariot. When the thunderbolt hit the chariot, it blew to pieces. Phaeton plummeted down to earth, landing in the River Po. Nearby, his sisters mourned.

3. SISTER #1: (WHIMPERING) Why must our dear brother die? What did he ever do to the gods?

4. SISTER #2: (STIFLING HER TEARS) He was always kind to Father! Oh, our poor brother!

__5. CRYING SOUNDS: CONTINUE AND THEN SOFTEN AS ZEUS SPEAKS IN THE NEXT SCENE__

Phaeton's pained sisters, The Heliades, mourn the loss of their fallen   brother.

"High on Olympus"

[OLYMPUS]

1. NARRATOR 2: (SWEETLY) Zeus was watching the girls, and he felt sorry for what he had done.

2. ZEUS: (SORROWFULLY) Those poor girls miss their brother so much. I shall put them out of their misery and turn them into poplar trees. Their tears shall become golden drops of amber.

3. HELIOS: (DEPRESSED) I have learned my lesson the hard way. I shall never let anyone ride in my chariot besides Apollo, the God of Light, and myself.

4__. MUSIC: HAPPY MUSIC PLAYS WHILE CREDITS RUN__