Act 2 Scene 10 Flashcards
Eurydice: Play your harp for me, my love.
Orpheus: Again? (Chuckles:) We’ve hardly been married an hour and you’ve asked me to play four times already, Eurydice.
Eurydice: You can hardly blame me! Your musical abilities far surpass anyone on this earth…they are second only to your father, Apollo.
Orpheus: He taught me well.
Eurydice: It really is a marvel. When you play, all who hear it suddenly become entranced…including me.
Orpheus: Then you know how I feel every time I gaze at your lovely face.
Eurydice: (Swatting at him playfully:) Quit flirting and play for me!
Orpheus: All right.
Eurydice: That song was so beautiful. I could listen to you play forever.
Orpheus: Good. Because now that we’re married, you and I will always be together…no matter what.
Eurydice: It was a beautiful wedding wasn’t it?
Orpheus: It was. (Stops, suddenly troubled:) Although Hymenaois said something to me after the ceremony that troubles me.
Eurydice: What is is?
Orpheus: He warned me that the harmony of our marriage would not last. ( Turns to EURYDICE and takes her hand.) But how can that be when I love you so? I can’t imagine a world where you and I aren’t blissfully married.
Eurydice: Nor can I. Perhaps he was referring to something else. (Smirks.) Maybe the harmony he speaks of is not our union, but your talents on the harp. (Laughs.) Maybe you’ll suddenly make the most horrid sounds on your lyre and everyone who hears it will cover their ears in agony!
Orpheus: I would give up my talents in a heartbeat, if it meant a lifetime of blissful harmony with you.
Eurydice: Ah! There’s something in the grass.
Orpheus: It’s probably just a little insect.
Eurydice: (Looking down:) It’s not an insect…it’s a snake! And it bit me! (Grabs at her ankle.)
Orpheus: (Concerned:) Are you all right?
Eurydice: I’ll be fine. I’ve spent much of my life in these woods. It’s not my first snake bite.
Orpheus: Well, it’s your first snake bite since I’ve been your husband. That snake must pay the ultimate price for hurting my love. (Looking around:) Where is it?
Eurydice: (Clearly in pain, slowly sinking to the ground:) I think he went over there.
Orpheus: Where are you, snake? How dare you bite my wife! You will pay for what you’ve done. Come out here and face your inevitable death! (Sees the snake.) Ah! There it is. (Looks down.) Not so big, are you? (Lifts his foot.) With one crunch of my foot you will be- (Stomps his foot down.) Dead. (As he bends down to look at the snake:) I got him. You won’t have to worry about this snake anymore darling. Isn’t that great? (No response.) I said, isn’t that great? (Turns and sees Eurydice.) Eurydice! (Rushes to Eurydice’s side.) My love! What’s the matter?
Eurydice: (Weakly:) The venom…it must’ve been…stronger that I thought.
Orpheus: (Starts to stand:) I’ve got to get help!
Eurydice: I won’t make it much longer. Please stay with me.
Orpheus: (Clasping Eurydice’s hand:) I’ll stay with you forever!
Eurydice: (Even weaker:) If only…forever…were longer.
Orpheus: (Panicking:) Eurydice! Stay with me! Don’t go!
Eurydice: (With her dying breath) If only…
Orpheus: Erydice! No! You can’t leave me here. You can’t be dead! (Hades enters)
Hades: I’m afraid Eurydice belongs to the underworld now.
Orpheus: (Steps between them) No! You can’t have her. She’s mine.
Hades: This is the way of the world, Orpheus, neither you nor I can change things.
Orpheus: Eurydice@ No! (Collapses on the ground, sobbing; after a moment, he looks up.) How can I live in a world without my beloved Eurydice? (Looks at his lyre.) How can I ever make music again with out her by my side?
Apollo: My son, you have suffered a great loss.
Orpheus: (Looking Up) Father! How can I go on without my love? How can I live without my Eurydice?
Apollo: You cannot deny the people of the gift I have given you! You must play!
Orpheus: I cannot. I will not…not until the day Eurydice and I are reunited again.
Apollo: You have other loves in this world Orpheus. (Picks up lyre and holds it out) Music is your love too.
Orpheus: Music? (Swat lyre, look away) What need have I for music in a world without Eurydice?
Apollo: (Sighs:) I can help you, my son.
Orpheus: (Turn back) You can?
Apollo: I shall speak to Hades and ask him to allow you to enter the underworld.
Orpheus: But no mortal can ever enter the underworld. Hades strictly forbids it!
Apollo: I will ask him to make you an exception…just this once. You will present yourself to Hades and ask him to return your wife to you.
Orpheus: But isn’t the journey down into the underworld dangerous? Will I even make it there alive?
Apollo All you need to do is use the gift I have given you. (Picks up lyre and gives it to Orpheus) Play your music. It shall enchant any danger you encounter.
Orpheus: Thank you, Father.
Apollo: Now go. Hades will be expecting you.
Orpheus: Yes, Father! (Exit stage right jogging)
(Orpheus enter, playing the lyre.) Enter through the door int he center
Orpheus: I have come to speak with you, Hades
Hades: (Enchanted by the music:) Of course, Orpheus. Anything for the man who can make such a beautiful sound with his instrument. (Crosses to Orpheus.) Tell, me, what brings you to the underworld?
Orpheus: I have come for my wife, Eurydice.
Hades: Eurydice is part of the underworld now.
Orpheus: Please, Hades, have pity on us. We are so in love and were only married this morning. Please give us more time!
Eurydice: (Runs past Hades) Pleas, Hades. You cannot deny the power of true love.
Orpheus: We are at your mercy, Hades. (Slight bow)
Hades: On one condition.
Orpheus: Anything. Name it.
Hades: I will allow Eurydice to follow you back up the steps to the upper world…the word of the living. However, under no circumstance must you look back at your wife as you climb the steps. For as long as she is still in the darkness of the underworld, she belongs to me.
Orpheus: I understand.
Hades: Very well. You may go.
Orpheus: When we next lock eyes, you shall once more be among the living, Eurydice.
Eurydice: I cannot wait, my love. (Hug)
Orpheus: (Not looking back) It’s not as far as you might think, my love. (Step) Just a little bit farther. (Step) I can see the light of the upper world. (Step, excitedly) I’m hear, darling! I’m here! (As turns) We can finally be-
Hades: Ha! You’ve turned back too soon, Orpheus. Eurydice is mine!
Orpheus: (Finishing sadly:)…together.
