CASSANDRA: Scene Four
Here’s another installment of Bryce Duzan’s CASSANDRA play, which we’re serializing this year to help build your appetite for the festival in November. Enjoy!
CASSANDRA by Bryce Duzan
Scene 4
(CASSANDRA enters another section of the ruins of Troy. She is panting, clearly out of breath. She looks around wildly. Seeing nothing, she turns back to where she was running from. From behind her, APOLLO enters. He is resplendent, shining like the sun. CASSANDRA strains to try to see from where she came. APOLLO approaches her until almost right on top of her. CASSANDRA turns, sees APOLLO, gasps, stumbles backwards, trips, almost falls, but catches herself.)
CASSANDRA
You…!
APOLLO
I’ve finally found you, Cassandra.
CASSANDRA
Apollo…
APOLLO
It was difficult, I must say. You have traveled the length of the Greek world. And for what? To evade me?
CASSANDRA
Not everything revolves around you, Apollo. I have done this for myself.
APOLLO
Hm, yes, I see. And you have done much. Helped the Queen of Sparta. Eased your family and one of your enemies to the Underworld. Impressive, really.
CASSANDRA
Why have you followed me?
APOLLO
I have always been watching you, Cassandra.
CASSANDRA
But why?
APOLLO
(Looking confused.) Because I love you. Do you doubt that?
(CASSANDRA looks appalled.)
CASSANDRA
Do I…doubt that? Of course I doubt that! You cursed me when I rejected your advances!
APOLLO
I was angry, yes, and I am sorry.
CASSANDRA
Sorry? If you are sorry, then remove it and release me from this hell!
APOLLO
(Chuckles.) Oh, Cassandra, why would I do such a thing? Look how you have turned adversity into strength! How could I take that away from you?
CASSANDRA
I don’t want strength. I want to be normal.
APOLLO
That will never happen, Cassandra. You will always be special. Even if to nobody else, you will be special to me.
CASSANDRA
Truly?
APOLLO
Yes.
CASSANDRA
I…thank you.
(Pause.)
CASSANDRA
My family…maybe you have heard of such things. Have you seen spirits who are resistant to leaving for the Underworld?
APOLLO
It’s not normal, to be sure. But Hades is open to deals.
CASSANDRA
What do you mean?
APOLLO
Well, if, for instance, one makes a deal with him to leave some souls wandering until you come along and teach them understanding or some such nonsense….he makes sure to uphold his end of the bargain.
CASSANDRA
That…was your doing?
APOLLO
Oh yes! You must admit it was quite brilliant. I helped you soothe the spirits not only of your family, but of Achilles as well! Truly a clever idea, yes?
CASSANDRA
That…is disgusting!
APOLLO
What?
CASSANDRA
You tormented the spirits of those departed to make me feel better about myself!
APOLLO
Indeed I did. They are dead, Cassandra. Gone and past. What do they matter anymore?
CASSANDRA
How can you say that you love me when you have done such cruel things to those I love? I see now. You are just toying with me, as a cat toys with its prey.
APOLLO
Nonsense, Cassandra. I love you, truly!
CASSANDRA
No, I cannot believe that. No person would do what you have done. Cursed me for the rest of my life. Manipulated those I cared about.
APOLLO
I am not a person, Cassandra.
CASSANDRA
You’re right. You’re more…and less. You have such power…and yet you lack the understanding required to use it correctly.
APOLLO
(His demeanor darkens.) Be careful what you say, Cassandra. You know not what you are dealing with.
CASSANDRA
So smite me! Strike me down and cure me of this blight!
APOLLO
No. You will live with your sight. You must endure your mistakes.
CASSANDRA
Mistakes? It was no mistake to reject your “love.”
APOLLO
If you believe that, then you have not learned your lesson, my dear.
CASSANDRA
My lesson.
APOLLO
Learning to love me, of course.
CASSANDRA
That will never happen.
APOLLO
It shall. I don’t care how long it takes, but you will learn to love me!
CASSANDRA
I will die first.
APOLLO
How dare you!
(APOLLO begins to walk towards CASSANDRA, malice in his eyes. CASSANDRA shrinks back. APOLLO soon stops, however, suddenly getting an idea.)
APOLLO
No… I see now. You need time, that’s all.
CASSANDRA
W…what?
APOLLO
If it will take you that long to change your mind, then I will give you all the time you need.
CASSANDRA
What do you mean?
APOLLO
I’ll make you like me, Cassandra. Immortal.
CASSANDRA
N…no. No, please!
APOLLO
Then you’ll have all the time in the world to make your choice. In fact, you’ll have…forever.
CASSANDRA
You…bitter fool. You’d do such an evil thing? You’d make me watch as the few friends I have left wither and die around me, while I remain unchanged?
APOLLO
Soon you will see, Cassandra. I am the only one who matters. I am your light, Cassandra, your sun. I will never wither, never die. Just think of it! You will be a goddess by my side.
CASSANDRA
A goddess?
APOLLO
Yes! Cassandra, the goddess of prophecy. Oracles will pray to you daily, asking that you make their predictions true and hone their second sight.
CASSANDRA
Not as influential as the god of the sun, of course.
APOLLO
Perhaps not, but what does it matter? You will still be recognized in all of Greece. The wife of Apollo! We will last…and love…forever.
(A look of recognition passes over CASSANDRA’s face.)
CASSANDRA
….No, we won’t.
APOLLO
What?
CASSANDRA
We won’t last forever. I see it. I see Greece falling. I see your power and faith waning, sometimes slowly, sometimes with much haste. Over time, the only power you will wield is in the stories that some tell. You will only be a distant, hazy memory.
(APOLLO tries to laugh, but he can’t. He is pale.)
APOLLO
You…can’t possibly see all of that.
CASSANDRA
It seems that even gods can die, though not by a sword or poison. No, it is a slow and painful death, without malice…yet without mercy too. The ignominious death of being forgotten.
APOLLO
Stop! You deceitful harlot! Do not try to scare me with your lies!
CASSANDRA
You, out of anyone, should know the weight of my words.
APOLLO
Enough! You clearly need time…much time…until you see the error of your ways. Very well, we will meet again, Cassandra. Next time…I hope your opinions have changed.
CASSANDRA
You do this thing, Apollo, you make me immortal, and I will stop at nothing to break it! I will be your undoing, I swear it! I will find a way!
(APOLLO storms away. CASSANDRA falls to her knees, weeping, angry and afraid. The familiar look of seeing into the future crosses her face again.)
CASSANDRA
No…he can’t possibly be able to do such a thing…yet I can see it. I can see my life stretching into eternity. I see Greece falling…I see the endless future ahead of me. And I am there…as I am now. Broken.
(BLACKOUT End of Act One.)