SFX: A baby crying.
PANDORA quickly looks in the direction of the crying. Blackout.
SFX: The summer night sounds as before. An owl hoots here. A distant wolf cry there. This is interrupted by the sounds of a massive machine turning its gears and pushing hydrolics, similar to a dump truck or a semi-truck. After it moves its gears for awhile, it stops and the summer night sounds that were always there are once again audible.
Lights up. In one half of the stage, GOLIATH and HOLE are leaning on the ground, poised in a hunting stance. GOLIATH is teeming with vitality and rage…but stable and focused.
On the other half is LILITH and PSYCHE. THEY are sitting on patio chairs and drinking from teacups they rest on a patio table with a flower sitting in a vase upon it.
WHEN one group is speaking (GOLIATH/HOLE, LILITH/PSYCHE) the other is frozen in time.
Long Beat.
HOLE is tired of waiting.
HOLE
Find her, already.
GOLIATH
I am finding her now.
HOLE
I don’t see her. You? [Half-Beat.] Can we just go and shoot her already? This, right now, is boring and dull.
GOLIATH
For you.
HOLE
For me?
GOLIATH
Yes.
PSYCHE
I’m not sure I would abandon him like that. It’s cruel.
LILITH
You see things as cruel. I see them as necessary.
PSYCHE
Yea, I know. But how do you expect him to react?
LILITH
Probably with a red hot rage burning in his heart. Oh, my little goliath. He makes me proud. I can only imagine the tortures he’s planned for me.
PSYCHE
And he loves you?
LILITH
As only a child could love a mother.
HOLE
I don’t’ think you’re serious about this.
GOLIATH stands up and faces HOLE to browbeat HIM down. HOLE smiles.
HOLE
You can try to intimidate me all you want. Won’t work. Especially if I’m right.
GOLIATH goes back to the watch.
GOLIATH
I’ll kill her in time. Why do you care? She’s not ‘your’ mother.
HOLE
Never had one. Kind of think the whole concept as stupid. Irrational. Pointless. So, watching one die would be a very funny joke. And I’m waiting for the punchline.
LILITH
I do love him. I chose to.
PSYCHE
That’s good. You should love your child. I think every mother does.
LILITH
No, they don’t.
PSYCHE
Are you so sure?
LILITH
Yes. Mine never loved me.
PSYCHE
I’m so sorry to hear that.
LILITH
It was only fair. I never loved her.
PSYCHE
Hmm.
LILITH
Yes. So as cruel as I might seem, at least we have that.
PSYCHE
He’ll kill you.
LILITH
I…don’t want to think about that.
PSYCHE
When will you?
LILITH
The day he kills me.
HOLE
Come on! Come on, come on, come on. Find her already. [Beat.] You know where she is, don’t you?
GOLIATH
Yes.
HOLE is at a loss for words. GOLIATH grabs HOLE by the throat.
GOLIATH
You think I would take you along for this? That you somehow had a right to this? This is my life. My life! My kill!
HOLE easily releases GOLIATH’s hold.
HOLE
[Laughing.] Well, all you had to do is ask. I would gladly leave this moment all to yourself. I don’t need to be present. I only wanted the act to be done. So, now I leave. Leave you to your dream.
HOLE walks away.
LILITH
Go away.
PSYCHE
What?
LILITH
Leave. We’re don here. I don’t need you anymore.
PSYCHE
But—
LILITH
Go.
PSYCHE stands up and leaves politely. LILITH walks over to GOLIATH, who doesn’t react to HER presence. SHE studies HIM carefully, like an elaborate painting. SHE steps back.
LILITH
I’m proud of you.
GOLIATH
You should be.
LILITH
Why haven’t you tried it yet?
GOLIATH chuckles and faces LILITH.
GOLIATH
I only need to do it once.
LILITH
Do it now.
GOLIATH
No.
LILITH
I said do it.
GOLIATH
No. I’m waiting.
LILITH
Don’t wait too long. You’ll be a bad son.
LILITH touches GOLIATH’s shoulder lightly and with love. Then, SHE exits. Beat.
GOLIATH
Why do I live this way? Why? There must have been a choice at one point. A wrong one. What was it? [Beat.] There is nothing more to me than myself.
GOLIATH exits. Blackout.
END SCENE V
SCENE VI
SFX: Ocean background noise; waves slowly washing on the shore and the occasional bird call. Acoustic guitars are plucked as they are put more and more in tune until they are ready to begin. A pause for breath, and then the music of a traditional Mexican mariachi band plays full blast.
Lights rise. A particularly bright light is shinning down upon PANDORA, who is lying down on a beach chair and holding up a tanning mirror and wearing sunglasses. There is a small boom box resting on the coffee table in the back, next to the chest from earlier. SHE seems uncharacteristically joyful and normal, other than being in HER suit while sunbathing, that is.
HOLE enters. This is definitely too odd for HIM. HE treads carefully, weary of this fun-loving environment. PANDORA snaps HER fingers. HOLE’s animal instincts trigger, and HE’s poised for an attack. PSYCHE enters holding a tropical drink on a tray. PSYCHE’s attitude is much more cheery this time. Fake. PSYCHE bends down, and PANDORA takes the drink to wet HER palate. HOLE watches this whole process very, very carefully. PANDORA’s had HER fill and snaps HER fingers again. PSYCHE stands up and walks away, but not before giving HOLE a seductive look. HOLE is flustered. HE watches PANDORA lying there and enjoying the music, and it annoys HIM. He walks over to the boom box, reads each button carefully, and then pushes down the power button.
SFX: The music stops.
PANDORA
You’re right. Enough of that.
PANDORA stands up and puts down the tan mirror and glasses. SHE stares at HOLE. Beat.
PANDORA
Are you really that defined by your misery? [Half-Beat.] Then I guess that’s it. Only hell for you. Hell for your friends. Hell for all. But no hell for me.
HOLE
Yes, hell.
PANDORA
None at all. I am the opener. The keymaster. The all-seeing eye. And if you story causes me to blink, I’ll look away. And all of you will be no more. Understood?
HOLE walks over to the chest and points at it.
HOLE
This illusion, this enigma, this Pandora’s Box, it is open. I am free.
PANDORA
For now.
HOLE
Forever. Within this eternity of time, this second, I am free. I exist for you now and forever.
PANDORA
Yes. You are semantically right. But what is passed will not return. We are present creatures, and that which changes is our entire beings. If you change into the negative, then you stop changing overall and die. [Ha
lf-Beat.] I have that power.
HOLE
Power? Those who think they have power are so weak and blind.
HOLE slithers HIS body and hands inches over PANDORA’s body. SHE is somehow unable to simply step away or stop HIM. HOLE’s influence over this world is growing.
HOLE
A place of power is temporary. True power flows. It flies. It never stays. To have power, you must be it. Surrender yourself to it. I have done this. You never will. And that is why you’ll never, truly control any of us.
PANDORA
Stop!
HOLE reluctantly steps away from PANDORA, who is terribly shaken by this experience.
PANDORA
You have a table to finish. Finish it. Before I am bored by you.
HOLE
Sure. Whatever you want.
HOLE chuckles grow in HIS throat to a menacing laughter. As HE does this, the light dims on all except the frightened PANDORA, who stays in full light until HOLE’s laughter ends. Then, Blackout.
SFX: Gregorian chanting slowly rises to full volume. When it reaches its peak, whispers are heard from countless mouths. They say only lines already spoken in this play, but out of sequence and almost indiscernibly. When the whispers overcome the chanting, many whisperers become shushers, and even the chanting goes silent.
Lights up. LILITH is sitting on a chair in the middle of the stage. SHE is bound to it by rope around the wrists and ankles. SHE is quite at peace, considering HER current situation.
LILITH
[To Audience.] Death is everywhere. At every corner, under every rock, it’s there waiting for us. It hunts us. It knows it will always win. It has so many weapons to use at its disposal, and all are lethal. All are effective. Our task is to survive. Survive as long as possible. Survive in the manner of children. They are our evolution. The body decays and dies over time. Yet, we spawn more youth to try to escape the inevitable. [Beat.] They must surpass us. When they thrive, we thrive. They are our last hope for immortality, as misguided of a notion that might be. To remain alive beyond death, we must push our children through the terrors and punishments of the world, or we have no one else but ourselves to blame.
HOLE takes HIS time to creep in.
HOLE
[To LILITH.] And blame yourselves you must. You speak of passing down life and molding perfection out of your offspring. You merely provide more kindling for the fire.
HOLE slams HIS fists down on the armchair.
HOLE
My fire. [Half-Beat.] My fire!
HOLE falls on HIS back laughing hysterically. Enter PSYCHE, holding a candle in HER hands. SHE walks over to LILITH and holds the candle close to LILITH. PSYCHE is calm, but still characteristically pleasant. HOLE stops laughing and watches.
PSYCHE
The light. The light comes from flame. It comes from the warmth of death. Your death, it will create light. Pure light? I don’t know. A thin, pale light, I have no idea. But there will be light. Rejoice in that thought. After you’re dead, for a moment, you’ll be something better than what you are right now.
LILITH
Thank you, child.
PSYCHE
You’re welcome.
HOLE
Yes, even I must admit that up to the moment I have you, the destruction that must take place is spectacular. Since the beginning of everything and up to its inevitable ending, the death of one has been special to me. All the way back to the first man and woman, Adam and Lilith, I’ve taken personal pride in enforcing such passings. Adam has long gone, and now you, the mother, shall pass too. Isn’t that right, my friend?
GOLIATH enters. HIS eyes reveal the murderous intent throbbing within HIS head. There is a pleasure here for HIM, but it is drowned out by the serious nature of what is about to take place.
PSYCHE
Behold, the loving child.
HOLE
Hardly. Behold, the committer of matricide. Of genocide. Of homicide. Of whatever serves his side.
HOLE puts HIS arm around GOLIATH in a buddy-buddy manner.
HOLE
There she is. No more waiting? No more stall tactics?
GOLIATH
No.
HOLE
You’re going to end her?
GOLIATH
Yes.
HOLE
Now?
GOLIATH
Yes.
HOLE
Well then, have at it.
HOLE steps away and moves next to PSYCHE. GOLIATH takes one heavy step after another; a tyrant coming to overthrow the last monarch. HE has waited a long time for this, and HE’s about to fulfill HIS destiny. LILITH couldn’t be more proud.
GOLIATH stops when HE’s at HER side. HE looks down on HER without pity. Without remorse.
Long Beat.
LILITH
Sun, I—[don’t want you to feel bad--]
GOLIATH yells at ground shaking levels and reaches for LILITH’s throat.
SFX: Rising thunder.
The lights flash, showing cut images of a wrathful animal, a giving mother, and two hyenas smiling and cheering from the side line. GOLIATH roars with glee as HE feels the life squeeze out of LILITH. Finally, SHE goes limp. GOLIATH walks backwards in disbelief. HE looks at HIS murderous hands, lifts them in the air, and gives a triumphant laughter.
HOLE
Good job, friend!
PSYCHE
We know you could do it!
Another roar from GOLIATH. HE’s finally happy. Blackout.
SFX: Thunder cuts out immediately.
Slow rise on lights. GOLIATH is dead on the floor. LILITH is alive, unbound, and still sitting on the chair, proud of HERSELF like the cat that caught the mouse.
SFX: One light boom of thunder.
HOLE
He’s gone.
LILITH
I know.
LILITH stands and readjusts HER clothes.
PSYCHE
Let me see.
PSYCHE bends down over the body to listen for breathing. HOLE walks over to LILITH and waits for HER word. HE’s obviously tired of this cyclical event, but HE has no other choice.
HOLE
Again?
LILITH
As many times as I want.
HOLE
Again?!
LILITH
Look. This is what I want. I get what I want when I can get it. And today, I live.
PSYCHE
He’s not breathing.
LILITH scoffs. PSYCHE folds GOLIATH’s arms, kisses HER index and middle finger on HER right hand, and then places them on HIS forehead.
PSYCHE
Say hello to my brother. I miss him.
LILITH turns to leave.
LILITH
Dispose of that.
HOLE
Until the next one?
LILITH stops and turns around.
LILITH
Exactly who do you think you are?
HOLE
Without me, this doesn’t happen.
LILITH turns to PSYCHE.
LILITH
Leave.
PSYCHE stands up and leaves.
LILITH
And what would you have me do?
HOLE
Die like the rest.
LILITH
One day I might.
HOLE
One day you will.
LILITH leans down next to GOLIATH and examines HER work.
LILITH
He liked you. He really did.
HOLE
He’ll be back. He always comes back.
LILITH stands up from GOLIATH and gets in HOLE’s face.
LILITH
He’s my son. I get to do with him what I want, and you don’t get to say anything.
HOLE
I still have one trick left.
Beat.
LILITH
No, you don’t.
>
HOLE
Oh, I think I do.
Beat.
LILITH
And what trick is that?
HOLE
This one.
HOLE claps His hands twice. Blackout.
END SCENE VI
SCENE VII
SFX: A recording of the last scene plays in reverse. Slow at first. Then, to a super fast speed. This is interlaced with windows breaking over and over again. Sometimes in slow motion as well. An irregular heartbeat grows in volume, and all other SFX’s die down. The heartbeat slows down during this process. To a very slow beat.
With each heartbeat SFX, the lights flash. HOLE and PSYCHE are facing the audience, their faces emotionless.
SFX: The heartbeat stops.
The lights stay on. PSYCHE is released from HER frozen state. PSYCHE is released from HER frozen state. SHE looks around like a person who took the wrong bus in an unfamiliar city. This isn’t right. HOLE walks over to HER.
PSYCHE
Wha…what…is this? This isn’t supposed to happen. This is…new. Why are we here?