Hunting a Snake-Headed Monster

SD1: Stage lights come up to reveal a small courtyard where Danae is lovingly tending her garden.

SD2: King Polydectes strides in. The jewels on his velvet robe sparkle in the sun, creating blinding rays of light.  

King: Danae!

SD3: Danae clenches her jaw.

Danae: Good afternoon, King Polydectes.

SD1: The king looks at Danae’s simple house.

King: I could take you away from all this.

Danae: I am quite content with my modest life.

King: Wouldn’t you like money and servants and power? All would be yours if you marry me, Danae. 

Danae: The answer is still no. 

King: I could choose any woman, and I have chosen you. Yet you continue to refuse me! Why?  

Danae: You rule this island as if it existed only to bring you comfort and happiness. People here are suffering, and you do nothing to help them. Why would I want to marry someone like that?

SD2: The king steps toward her menacingly.

King: I could have you thrown into the sea for speaking to me with such disrespect.

SD3: Danae squares her shoulders.

Danae: You don’t frighten me. The gods are on my side.

SD1: The king grips the handle of his sword.

King: Are you sure about that?

SD2: Just then, a young man appears in the doorway.

Perseus: How dare you threaten my mother!

King (sneering): Ah, Perseus. Are the gods on your side too?

Danae (to the king) : Perhaps it is time for you to leave.

King: You will be sorry—both of you.

SD3: The king strides away.

SD1: The king sits on an ornate throne in a large room.

SD2: The king’s advisers stand before him.

Adviser 1: Your majesty, many crops were destroyed in the last storm. People are starving.

Adviser 2: And the road into town is crumbling and—

King: Don’t you know I have bigger problems?

Adviser 1: But sire, with just a bit of gold from the royal treasury, we could help—

King: Silence!

SD3: The king’s eyes burn with fury.

King: I must convince Danae to marry me. The people love her. Marrying her would win me favor.

Adviser 2: But sire, she refuses.

King: Only because that fool Perseus has poisoned her against me. How can I get rid of him?

Adviser 1: You could banish him.

King: No, Danae would never forgive me.

Adviser 2: What if you make Perseus think it’s his own idea to leave?

King (leaning forward): Go on.

Adviser 2: Appeal to his sense of pride. Give him a heroic task.

Adviser 1: Yes! Send him on a quest he cannot possibly resist—or survive.

King: Tell me more . . .

SD1: In a large banquet hall, people line up to see the king.

SD2: They carry jewel-encrusted bowls, marble vases, and other lavish gifts.

SD3: Perseus and Danae are nearing the front of the line.

Perseus (muttering): Must we be here, Mother?

Danae: Yes. We do not want to anger the king.

SD1: They bow to the king.

Perseus: Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.

King: I finally got the message and decided to marry someone else, ha ha!
I hope there are no hard feelings.

Danae: I am sure you and your bride will be very happy.

King: Perseus, what gift have you brought me?

Perseus: Gift?

King: It is customary to bring a gift to a party such as this.

Perseus: Well, I—

King: Everyone else brought a gift.

SD2: A nervous hush falls over the room.

Perseus: I—

King: Are you really so lazy that you have nothing to offer your king?

Perseus: I am not lazy!

King: Really? Hmm.

Perseus (angrily): I will bring you any gift you desire!

King: Any?

Perseus: Any.

King: Then the gift I want is . . .

SD3: The king drums his fingers on his throne.

King: . . . the head of the gorgon Medusa.

Crowd: Gasp!

Danae: Perseus, no! It’s too dangerous.

Perseus: I can do this, Mother.

Danae: Medusa has sharp brass claws. Deadly serpents writhe on her head. Anyone who looks at her turns to stone.

SD1: Perseus looks at his mother. Then his eyes slowly slide back to the king.

Perseus: As you wish, my king.

Danae (pleading ): Perseus, please. Everyone who has challenged Medusa has failed.

Perseus: Then killing this creature means I will become immortal, for my name will be remembered forever.

King (to himself ): No, fool. You will die and be forgotten.

SD2: Perseus trudges across the stage in torn clothes.

SD3: His hair is dirty and unkempt. His arms and legs are scratched and bloody.  

Perseus (to himself ): For 80 days I have wandered, and still I come no closer to finding the gorgon. 

SD1: He collapses beneath an olive tree.

Perseus (looking around): Who knows what wild beasts lurk here in the dark?

SD2: He lifts a jug and tilts it upside down.

Perseus: And now I am out of water. Will the gods let me die here, alone and in agony?

SD3: Voices sound offstage. Perseus cannot hear them.

Athena: Perseus is brave and strong. One day, he will be a great hero.

Hermes: But he is young and full of pride.

Athena: We cannot stand by and watch the son of Zeus meet his demise.

Hermes: You are right. It is time for us to intervene. 

SD1: A strange light shimmers a few feet from Perseus.

SD2: The light fades to reveal Athena and Hermes.

SD3: Athena is tall with sparkling gray eyes. Her suit of armor gleams in the moonlight.

SD1: Hermes wears a long cloak, a golden helmet, and winged sandals.

SD2: Perseus scrambles to his feet.

Perseus: O Athena, great goddess of wisdom and war! O Hermes, great god of travel!

Athena: We have come to help you.

SD3: Perseus throws his shoulders back.

Perseus: Help me? I was merely having a rest.

SD1: Athena smiles knowingly.

Athena: Of course you were. But take this metal shield. It may be useful in your quest.

Perseus: If you insist.

Hermes: Perhaps you can use this sickle. Its blade can slice through any surface.

Perseus: Thank you. Now I will continue on my way.

SD2: Perseus hesitates.

Perseus: As long as you’re here . . . uh . . . do you know where I can find the gorgon Medusa?

Athena: Only the Gray Sisters can tell you that.

Hermes: They live on a cliff by the edge of the sea. We will show you the way.

Athena: But you must face them on your own.

SD3: Three old women sit together on the floor of a cave. Crashing waves can be heard in the background.

SD1: In the shadows, Perseus stands very still, watching.

SD2: The women have stringy hair, hunched backs, and gray, shriveled skin.

SD3: They are blind except for a single eye, which they share, passing it between them.  

SD1: Sister 1 is using the eye to look all around her. She spots something on the ground and seizes it.

Gray Sister 1: Ah! A big, fat juicy beetle!

Gray Sister 2: I want one! Give me the eye!

SD2: Sister 1 crunches happily on the beetle, then plucks the eye from her socket and hands it to Sister 2.

Gray Sister 2: I don’t see anything.

Gray Sister 3: Hurry up! It’s my turn.

SD3: Perseus quietly moves closer.

Gray Sister 3: Don’t ignore me!

Gray Sister 2: Oh, fine! Take the eye.

SD1: Sister 2 removes the eye. As she reaches out to give it to her sister, Perseus snatches it.

Gray Sister 3: Well, where is it?

Gray Sister 2: What do you mean? I just gave it to you.

Gray Sister 3: You lie! My hand is empty!

Gray Sister 1: Did you drop it, you clumsy fool?

Gray Sister 3: No!

Gray Sister 2: Then who has it?

Perseus (stepping forward): I do.

All Gray Sisters: Who’s there?!

Perseus: The man who will throw your eye into the sea unless you answer one question: Where can I find the gorgon Medusa?

Gray Sister 1: We’ll never tell!

Perseus: Then say goodbye to your eye!

All Gray Sisters: Noooooooo!

Gray Sister 2: We’ll tell! We’ll tell!

Gray Sister 3: You must find the nymphs.

Perseus: Where?

SD2: The Sisters crowd around Perseus and whisper in his ear. He returns their eye.

Perseus: Thank you for your help.

SD3: The Sisters grunt angrily and resume their bickering.

SD1: In a field of flowers, the nymphs dance and sing.

SD2: As Perseus enters, two nymphs approach him.

Nymphs 1 & 2: The winds told us you were coming.

Perseus: I am seeking Medusa so that I may cut off her head.

Nymph 1: She is a horrible creature. We would be honored to help you.

Nymph 2: Take these winged sandals. Put them on and you will soar through the air to the gorgons’ cave at the end of the world.

Nymph 1: Take this cloth sack for Medusa’s head, for even once severed, her head will turn you to stone.

Nymph 2: Take this Helmet of Darkness. It will make you invisible to Medusa’s wretched sisters as you escape.

Nymphs 1 & 2: Now go. Be swift. And be brave. 

Perseus: Thank you!

SD3: On one side of the stage is the opening of a cave.

SD1: The cave entrance is littered with dozens of statues—humans and animals that have been turned to stone.

SD2: With his winged sandals, Perseus lands softly on the stage.

SD3: Perseus’s eyes widen at the sight of the statues.

He shivers at their frozen expressions of horror.

Perseus (to himself ): How can I cut off Medusa’s head if I can’t even look at her?

SD1: Perseus catches his reflection in the shield.

Perseus: That’s it!

SD2: Perseus starts walking backward into the cave, using Athena’s shield as a mirror to see behind him.

SD3: Medusa and her sisters are sleeping.

All Gorgons (snoring): Ssssnuughh . . .  Ssssnuughh . . .

SD1: As Perseus gets closer, the snakes on Medusa’s head begin to writhe and hiss.

Snakes: Hisssssssssssssss.

SD2: Medusa opens her eyes. Her hideous face contorts with rage.

Medusa: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

SD3: Still looking at the reflection in the shield, Perseus raises the sickle and swings it behind him.

SD1: Medusa’s head rolls away from her body.

SD2: Without looking at the head, Perseus grabs it and shoves it into the sack.

SD3: Medusa’s sisters awaken as Perseus rushes out of the cave. 

Gorgon 1: Medusa! What has happened to you?

Gorgon 2: Who has done this dreadful deed?

Gorgon 1 (pointing at Perseus): There he is!

Gorgon 2: You will not escape!

Gorgon 1: We will avenge the death of our sister!

SD1: As the gorgons chase Perseus, he throws the Helmet of Darkness on his head and disappears.

SD2: The gorgons shriek in anger and frustration.

Gorgons 1 & 2: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!    

SD3: Perseus enters the palace of King Polydectes and sees Danae in the hallway outside the throne room.

SD1: She is scrubbing the marble floor. Her skin is pale. 

Perseus: Mother!

SD2: Danae struggles to her feet. 

Danae: My son! I knew you would return. 

SD3: Perseus grabs her red, blistered hands. 

Perseus: What are you doing here? 

Danae: The king never intended to marry someone else. When I continued to refuse him, he stole my home and made me a servant in the palace.

Perseus: This ends now. 

SD1: Perseus bursts through the door, nostrils flaring. 

SD2: The king is sitting on his throne surrounded by his advisers. 

King: Perseus! But . . . how . . . ?

Perseus: Your wedding engagement was a ruse to get rid of me—to trick me into hunting that snake-headed monster!

SD3: The king shrugs.

King: Why have you returned before completing your mission?

Perseus: I did complete my mission.

King: Is that so? Where is the gorgon’s head, then?

All Advisers (snickering): Heh-heh-heh.

SD1: Perseus smiles tightly. 

Perseus: Right here. 

SD2: Perseus whispers to Danae.

Perseus: Shield your eyes, Mother! 

SD3: Perseus yanks Medusa’s head out of the sack.

SD1: The king’s eyes have just enough time to widen before he—and his advisers—turn to stone. 

SD2: Perseus puts the head back into the sack. 

SD3: Danae opens her eyes.

Danae: My son, you have killed a monster with a monster. Your name will indeed be remembered forever.

This article was originally published in the September 2018 issue.