CASSANDRA: Scene One
Starting today we’ll be featuring an ongoing serial about Cassandra, written by long-time SF Olympians associate, Bryce Duzan. Bryce’s proposal for Cassandra wasn’t picked for this year’s festival, but it was such a close second we knew we wanted to hear his take on the story too. So, for the first time ever, the SF Olympians Website will feature monthly content by this talented young writer as he works his way through the first draft of his play, and gets us ready for those twelve nights in November when this year’s writers will unleash their own versions of the Trojan War. Enjoy!
CASSANDRA by Bryce Duzan
Scene 1
(The outdoors. CASSANDRA sits by the edge of a lake. Her clothes are simple. She stares into her reflection in the lake, as if studying herself. Her face is passive, but there is a hint of surprise present as well.)
CASSANDRA
I don’t understand. Before, I felt like I trailed behind history, like a shadow. I never saw the things that happened around me, I only saw ahead. And now, just minutes before, I saw myself walk into that room…saw the hands around my throat…felt the blade in my heart. I was…afraid. I knew that my death was at hand. I knew that my time had come. I could feel my legs straining, beginning to propel my body forward…but something changed. Inside of me. I turned and ran. Ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Until I was far out of the palace. Now…now I feel a fog around my mind. I can’t see ahead anymore. And it feels… so magical. I can finally see, really see what’s around myself. The cool water (She splashes the surface of the lake), the vibrant colors of nature around me. It is all so beautiful. And so…peaceful. Yes, my mind feels peace once again. It’s been so very long. But…I still don’t understand. Why did I run? What changed? Why did I do the opposite of what I saw when every time before I have followed my vision? What…(She looks up.) it comes again.
(CLYTEMNESTRA enters in the direction of where CASSANDRA now looks. She is regal, wearing a dress that would normally be considered beautiful, but is now smeared with blood.)
CLYTEMNESTRA
Ahh, there you are. You ran so far away from me.
CASSANDRA
And you followed me.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Indeed. I came to finish what I started.
CASSANDRA
What you started?
CLYTEMNESTRA
You know what happened to my husband. And now you know too much. I have to make sure that you won’t tell anyone.
CASSANDRA
(Aside.) Oh gods, they’re back. The visions. I see her lover. He is only a few seconds away. Once he arrives, they will both kill me here, by the lake. My blood will drain into its waters, and I will join nature here. I am…so tired. So why does my body strain against these visions of death? What makes me want to press on? If…if I can convince her that I’m not a threat…maybe she will let me live. (CASSANDRA slowly
stands and speaks to CLYTEMNESTRA.) And what makes you think that I will tell someone what I know? What makes you think I care what happened to Agamemnon? And even if I did tell someone, do you think they’d believe me? I’m a foreigner. Beyond that, I’m insane, remember? A fallen priestess who thinks she can see the future.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Even so, you were my husband’s concubine! You laid before him and destroyed our marriage!
CASSANDRA
I never touched the man! I have never given myself to anyone, and I will stay that way. Agamemnon is no exception.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Why did he bother to bring you back to Greece, then?
CASSANDRA
As a trophy, I suspect. “The Insane Prophet of Troy.” I was supposed to be a setpiece, a piece of treasure taken from the war.
CLYTEMNESTRA
…Suppose I were to believe what you say. What do you propose, then?
CASSANDRA
Let me live. Let me live and I will leave this city. I have no place here as it is.
CLYTEMNESTRA
And where will you go? Your home of Troy is now destroyed, its people scattered, if not slaughtered.
CASSANDRA
I’m aware. I know not where I will go. I suppose I will try to find my lost kin…if any still live.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Tell me…what happened at Troy? Agamemnon did not speak of it.
CASSANDRA
(CASSANDA turns away.) It…was a terrible tragedy. My people were brave, but bravery does not win wars. In the end, the reward for their bravery was only death. I saw them cut down before me, bodies piled high, flames licking the friends and family I once knew so well…twice. I saw it once with my mind, then again with my eyes. Imagine…seeing the ones you love die before you. Not once, but twice.
(There is a pause. CASSANDRA cries softly. CLYTEMNESTRA does not know what to say. A silence passes between them for several seconds. Suddenly, AEGISTHUS enters, wielding a knife stained red with blood. He immediately sees CASSANDRA.)
AEGISTHUS
So you’ve caught her here, my love? Very well. Then let us end this. (He begins to walk towards CASSANDRA. Silently, CLYTEMNESTRA puts a hand to his chest, stopping him.)
CLYTEMNESTRA
No.
AEGISTHUS
What? But you told me she has to die!
CLYTEMNESTRA
She has convinced me otherwise.
AEGISTHUS
And you would believe the lies that this-
CLYTEMNESTRA
(CLYTEMNESTRA glares at AEGISTHUS.) She has suffered enough.
AEGISTHUS
Suffered? How has she suffered compared to the way that the lying Agamemnon has caused you to suffer?
CLYTEMNESTRA
Aegisthus, enough. Go back to the palace. And…and clean yourself up.
(AEGISTHUS looks at himself, then at CLYTEMNESTRA, then to CASSANDRA.)
AEGISTHUS
…fine.
(He marches off. CLYTEMNESTRA looks back to CASSANDRA.)
CLYTEMNESTRA
You must think me very petty to say I have suffered compared to what you’ve gone through. Agamemnon killed my first husband and our child and forced me to become his wife. But I can’t imagine that that can compare to…to…
CASSANDRA
I think you quite the opposite, actually. I think you are quite brave to stand up to someone like Agamemnon…even if your methods are not to my liking.
CLYTEMNESTRA
I was backed into a corner. I hope that one day, if the same were to happen to you, you might find a better way of solving it. But…thank you. I don’t think anyone has called me brave before. How strange! To think that I was going to kill you merely minutes before, and now you are complimenting me!
CASSANDRA
Strange indeed.
CLYTEMNESTRA
I…am sorry. I didn’t know. I just…saw you with him and I flew into a rage. I had no idea-
CASSANDRA
Don’t apologize. You did what you thought was needed to be done. You were backed into a corner.
CLYTEMNESTRA
But if I had only known…
CASSANDRA
Then Agamemnon would still be alive. That man of cruelty would go unpunished for his deeds, and things would continue as they had before. I may not agree with your choice of punishment, but I do agree with justice. What you did was just. That is all.
(Another silence passes between them.)
CLYTEMNESTRA
I’d like to know more about Troy. About what happened there.
CASSANDRA
I…I don’t know if I can tell you.
CLYTEMNESTRA
I know that it is difficult for you, but all I have heard are rumors and hearsay. I want to know the truth.
CASSANDRA
The truth…the truth is hazy, itself shrouded in rumor.
CLYTEMNESTRA
You do remember what happened, though?
CASSANDRA
As if it were yesterday. The spirits of the dead follow me, whispering their stories. I could not forget them if I tried.
CLYTEMNESTRA
Then, please. Tell me.
CASSANDRA
If that is what you wish.
(Suddenly, the once serene setting explodes with action, as the siege of Troy plays out in front of CASSANDRA and CLYTEMNESTRA. Warriors battle, citizens run screaming in terror, and the sound of fire rages as CASSANDRA’s memories play out in front of her.)
Keep checking in every month for more installments!