to Greater Anthropology

First Workshop/Reading

The Rainbird's Daughter

by Eric Pettifor

ACT I

 

[The set is simple and of a light neutral colour capable of changing its character under different lights. It begins in black with the sound of many voices chanting in an archaic language the story of the first rain1 to the sound of drums. With the lights fading up comes the sound of waves and of rain, and the voices and drums decrease in volume but do not go out all together, so that the soundscape for this scene is rain on the sea, and human voice and drums.

ZEE is kneeling and staring out to sea. She is a young woman, 17 or so, and wears only loin cloth, a silver torc about her throat, and a red-brown cloak. NATA sits near by knitting. NATA wears a simple brown robe to the ankles and simple headdress. She wears black high top canvas runners. At her side is a large leather pouch in which she keeps her wool and needles when she isn't using them. NATA is slightly masculine in appearance, between 40 and 120 years old, very hard to say exactly. After a moment or two of silence, ZEE sighs.]

ZEE I'm missed?
NATA (smiles and nods)

(beat)

ZEE I choose to watch the sea.

(beat)

How d'y'knit in rain?

NATA (holds up her knitting)

(beat)

ZEE I watch alone.
NATA (gets up and puts her knitting away)
ZEE My voice t'your ear, my ear t'your voice.
NATA (smiles and nods) (exits)

  [ZEE watches the sea. JASON enters. He is around 25. He staggers and coughs. He wears a white shirt, white pants with a black belt, and black canvas high top runners. A white mask hides much of his face. He staggers upstage and collapses panting. He doesn't notice ZEE until she speaks.]
ZEE Jason.
JASON (trying to catch his breath) Come here, beneath this rock where it is dry.
ZEE (rises, goes to him, stands before him)
JASON (He looks at her a moment. It occurs to him that he ought to be aroused, but it is a low priority on his list of pressing questions.) Sit. Talk some more, you know my name, am I dead, did I drown? If dead, then this must be heaven, if heaven the climate is not that which I anticipated, and where are the others, perhaps this is hell, but if so, why am I alone? If death is just like life then what point death? Where are my men? Is this Denos? If Denos, then where is the sword? How will I return to Cortha? Why do you not speak? How do you know my name?
ZEE (laughs) Which question first?
JASON Answer all quickly, I must know who I am, where are you... No, where are I... No, no, who...
ZEE I am Zee.
JASON Zee. Do you recognize Cortha's prince?
ZEE 'Kor thusp rinse'?
JASON The son of the king.
ZEE 'King'?
JASON Ruler? Leader of the people?
ZEE Tonight's First Rain. Until the Longest Day, Rainbird's leader. My mom.
JASON You are a princess!
ZEE I'm a 'princess'?
JASON We understand each other.
ZEE Good.
JASON Is this Denos?
ZEE Denos?
JASON What do you call yourselves?
ZEE People?
JASON

I am a Corthan. People from Cortha are called Corthans.

(beat)

How do you know my name?

ZEE I played with Karin2. I looked in her eyes 'n' saw you, heard y'name.
JASON 'Karin'?
ZEE A sphinx.
JASON You 'played' with a sphinx?!
ZEE Ya? (so?)
JASON Impossible! They are monsters! Our faces bleed, and our walls crack!
ZEE Karin d'not make faces bleed.
JASON No one can answer its riddle and no one can kill it. Any wound inflicted comes back upon the one who dealt the blow. "How can you be killed?" I asked it. To my surprise it answered. "I will die by the sword of the country you called Denos." The historians, the librarians, the cartographers, the mythologists, the archaeologists, the navigators, the astronomers, brought all knowledge to bear plotting a course to this legendary land. Here I am.
ZEE Tell the riddle.
JASON "A stone and a stone and a stone make three. Do they? A stone and a stone and a stone?"
ZEE (laughs) It's a joke!
JASON It's not a joke, it's a riddle!
ZEE Go 'n' see.
JASON Where?
ZEE It's an old joke about a place. T'north there's land with no people. Under snow's a stone 'n' a stone 'n' a stone.
JASON Yes, three! One, two three! Very clearly, happily sitting in my mind's eye.
ZEE 'Myandzigh'. Is that land t'north?
JASON Zee, if a stone and a stone and a stone do not make three... if they do not, then there can be no certainty.
ZEE Maybe if y'just laugh with y'sphinx. I remember a joke Karin told before she went away. (in Karin's voice) "When Zee was born we danced all day. No one went t'fish. How many fish were on the gutting stone?"

(ZEE's voice) "None!"

(KARIN) "What was on the stone?"

(ZEE) "Nothing!"

(KARIN) "Is no fish same as nothing?"

(laughs) We laughed so much we c'not speak.

(beat)

JASON Are punch lines always a question here?
ZEE What's a 'punch line'?
JASON At the end of a joke, the last thing spoken.
ZEE At the end of a joke's space t'laugh.
JASON If there are no fish, then what is there? Nothing?
ZEE Ya.
JASON Therefore, no fish is the same as nothing.
ZEE No.
JASON Have you no doubts?
ZEE Lots. (gets up to walk) Come.
JASON (follows her)
ZEE D'not talk about the sword.
JASON (opens mouth to argue)
ZEE Y'are here. That's all.

  [Lights change to that of fire. ASHRA is dressed like ZEE, except that into her cape is woven a bird motif in blue. UKVA wears a loincloth, a blue cape with wolf motif in white, a gold torc, and a crystal wand about his neck on a thong. ZEE and JASON are acknowledged silently by UKVA, NATA, and ASHRA. Drums and chanting cease.]
ASHRA Not without without within, 'n' not within without without. Spirals turn, circles spin, around around, about about. Turn seasons, Weep rain, Her tears, His ground, First Life. Forever. Again. Wet the people Soak the seed Wet the world. Again. Not without without within, 'n' not within without without. Spirals turn, circles spin, around around, about about.

Go. Share the wetness of the land.

  [The people leave, leaving ASHRA, JASON, UKVA, ZEE, and NATA]
 

(beat)

I'm Ashra, Rainbird. Welcome.

(greets him physically)

 

JASON

I am Jason, a sailor wrecked upon your shore.

UKVA Zee's caught a fish. Why d'y'wear a mask?
JASON I am disfigured.
UKVA I'm not afraid t'see.
ASHRA

Jay-sun hides his face 'cause he's shamed, not 'cause y'are afraid.

Jay-sun, this is Ukva, Winter Wolf. This's Nata.

JASON And do you too rule a season?
ASHRA D'what t'a season?
JASON Lead?
UKVA Lead a season?

(beat)

JASON Is it commonlythis inclement?

(beat)

Do you think it will stop raining?

UKVA Ya...?

(beat)

JASON Can you tell the weather?
UKVA That's old magic.
JASON Where I am from it is a science.
ASHRA 'Sigh yence?'
JASON There are patterns in nature, things that repeat.
UKVA Ya? (so?)
JASON When you study the repetition of patterns they yield knowledge, it builds and builds, and you have more and more.
UKVA What d'y'do with it?
ASHRA Make more?
JASON Yes, and using that more and more makes life more and more livable.
ASHRA This is a passion in your village?
JASON Yes.
UKVA I fish.
JASON Then you know a lot about them.
UKVA I know them.
JASON (good) In my land we farm fish.
UKVA I like fishing!
JASON We have people with your passion. They set time aside just to fish.
ASHRA Y'said y'farm them?
JASON Yes. Since we no longer need to fish, fishing can be done simply for pleasure.
UKVA Y'take fish without need?!
ZEE Jason's land's not same as ours.
ASHRA Different people, different ways. Still One Family.
UKVA Ya. Make m'lodge your lodge while y'are with us.
JASON I would be honoured, sir.
UKVA 'Suh'?
JASON Honorific.
UKVA On a 'riftick'?
JASON Ukva.
UKVA Ukva.
JASON You lead for only one season?
UKVA Ya.
JASON Then what do you do?
UKVA Fish.
JASON Do men and women lead equally here?
UKVA 'Ee kwa...'?
ASHRA 'Lee.'
JASON I see men wear gold and women silver.
ASHRA Ya?
JASON Why does one wear the rarer metal and the other the more common?
ASHRA Your village has not much silver?
JASON

No, gold is the less common.

UKVA Ha! Ee kwa lee! He thinks I've more ee kwa lee than you! That's good!
ASHRA Y'd'not know ee kwa lee.
UKVA I'll share it with you.
ASHRA Maybe y'would like t'lead 'n' I'll go fishing.
UKVA No.
ASHRA Gold's common as silver.
UKVA Ya. I'll take Jay-sun fishing!
JASON I hope I will learn much from you before I go.
UKVA Your boat's sunk.
JASON I will build one.
ASHRA We'll help. Y'will take a gift from our village t'yours.
JASON There is one thing...
ZEE Honey-cakes! I told him how good they are. I said he'd like them.
UKVA She thinks y'are a honey-cake, Jay-sun, the way she watches y'tonight. Y'are crumbs by morning if y'sleep here. Come. The spirits of y'door protect you.
ASHRA Y'too, Ukva. Take care of Jay-sun.
UKVA (to ZEE) Y'look at him like y'look across the water.

  [They exit.]
ASHRA Honey-cakes, Nata?
NATA (smiles, continues knitting)
ASHRA B'careful, Zee.

  [Blackout, but sound dissolves from elements and fire into a single eerie voice, like idealized whale song. It is joined one at a time by three other such voices, weaving a tapestry of harmony and dissonance. With the fourth fades in the sea. Morning beach light fades up reveal JASON staring out to sea. He is listening to this music. He is moved, but confused. He cannot understand it but is being moved on an emotional level. ZEE enters and watches him a moment. She smiles and joins him. He doesn't notice her at first, so enraptured is he in the song.]
ZEE Sirens.

  [They listen a moment together.]
JASON It wants to be understood.
ZEE T'be remembered.

(beat)

JASON Let's find them.
ZEE We w'not return.
JASON Has anyone tried?
ZEE Ya.
JASON

(frowns in concentration, listening, trying to find the 'sense') Do you know of what they sing?

ZEE A remembering song.
JASON They sing your history?
ZEE No.
JASON (I've heard this song before...) Whose memories do they sing?
ZEE Everybody's.
JASON We could learn so much!
ZEE We make siren song, we make it now.
JASON I have skills the others did not.
ZEE If y'find sirens y'become siren! Y'c'not make the song, so y'have t'sing it forever!
JASON I need a boat!
ZEE (raises a hand and addresses the sea) Sirens be silent! We've heard and we remember. Sing again another day!

  [The Sirens fall slowly silent.]
  Y'will hear them again, Jason. But if y'want t'return t'your village, d'not look for sirens.
JASON (he stares out at the sea)
ZEE Tell me about... What d'y'call it? Your village's magic?
JASON Not magic. Science.
ZEE Talk t'me science.
JASON It seems so remote. So far away.
ZEE Tell me.
JASON The moon has not yet set.
ZEE Lovers' sky. Father Sun 'n' Mother Moon meet along their ways.
JASON (laughs) That's not very scientific, but I like it very much.
ZEE Tell me something 'scientific'.
JASON The attractive forces of bodies vary directly as their masses and inversely as the square of the distance between them.
ZEE Tell me something scientific about Mother Moon.

 

JASON (he hesitates)
ZEE Tell me.
JASON The moon. It's not a woman, not a goddess. It's a rock of a size you cannot possibly imagine circling round the world.
ZEE She's not a rock.
JASON Not here perhaps. This where my science began, Zee. With the turning of seasons and theLovers' Sky.

(beat)

ZEE I'll come with you when y'go.
JASON To Cortha?
ZEE Ya.
JASON You don't know what you're asking.

(beat)

ZEE Maybe y'have words for this. I'm here, b'not like people here. No, that's not right. There're trees I look at 'cause they're more not the same than other trees 'r' not the same. No. That's not it. When I saw you 'n' y'village in Karin's eye I saw how big everything is. The paths I know d'not go where I want t'go.
JASON

There are words for those feelings, but never the right ones. This 'vision' you had of my... village, that's... not a part of it, we don't have visions, we don't have...

Zee, look around you, this is not a part of my world. There is so much here that isn't there.

ZEE There that's not here.
JASON And more that's neither here nor there. Who cares.
ZEE I do.
JASON Really?
ZEE Ya, reelee.
JASON If I told you that it is very important to know all there is to know just for the knowing, you wouldn't yawn at my fine sentiments?
ZEE 'fine scented tents'?
JASON You wouldn't just humour me?
ZEE I w'notdent hoomore you.
JASON You've never heard the expression, "That is very interesting".
ZEE What's it mean?
JASON "I am very bored and I hope I can get away soon."
ZEE That is very interessing.
JASON What?!
ZEE I want t'get away! I want t'go with you!
JASON

You don't know what you're asking.

ZEE I know! I want t'know. Iwant t'know more.

(beat)

JASON Why do you seem so familiar to me? Why do you say things I've thought?
ZEE Why're y'blind? C'not y'see what's in front'v you?

(beat)

W'are a pair!

JASON How do you know?
ZEE Y'feel it.
JASON I almost believe I believe you.
ZEE Y'know.
JASON

I came for the sword.

No, that's not true.

Yes it is!

ZEE Why're y'like this?

(beat)

JASON I needn't have come, there are others who could have been sent, but I had to. I told myself I had no choice. Maybe I didn't. The plague is real. It must be stopped.By someone.

(beat)

ZEE Karin's y'sphinx, the sphinx of y'land.
JASON You...
ZEE I made a spell t'bring y't'me. I d'not know how it'd happen, only that y'would come.
JASON Couldn't y'have found another way!
ZEE I d'not know!
JASON I cannot believe in magic.
ZEE I knew y'would come. (she draws close and kisses him)
JASON (he breaks the embrace) I can't.
ZEE (smiles) I'll help.
JASON No, you don't understand.

(beat)

ZEE Tell me.
JASON We're not married.
ZEE Let's b'married.
JASON You don't know what marriage is.
ZEE I know what men 'n' women do.
JASON

Your mother and your father...

ZEE Which father?
JASON How many do you have?
ZEE Three.
JASON Three?!
ZEE Four, but Huta died. (beat)
JASON

When a man and a woman love each other, they have a ceremony in which they take certain vows. The priest then pronounces them man and wife, and then forever after they are a... couple.

ZEE A pair?
JASON Yes, a pair.
ZEE When two feel the feeling 'n' know the knowing, they tell it. She says, "I feel." He says, "I feel." He says, "I know." She says "I know."
JASON And then what happens?
ZEE Want t'find out?
JASON Yes. No. I...
ZEE Y'are afraid of me!
JASON No one accuses me of fear! I am the Crown Prince of Cortha!
ZEE (she laughs as though she's heard something extremely funny)
JASON Don't mock me! Don't you mock me!
ZEE

(she manages with some difficulty to get her laughter under control) Y'are like a little bird afraid his nest'll be found out. He puffs up his feathers 'n' tweets as loud as he can. He tries t'look very fierce.

Why're y'afraid of me?

JASON Are you threatening my nest?
ZEE I'll help y'back t'it.
JASON That will take some time.
ZEE Talk more. I like y'voice. Make me laugh again.
JASON I like your laughter.
ZEE Talk more.
JASON Laugh more.
ZEE (she laughs delightedly)

  [UKVA bounds on. He smiles at them, drops his cape and loin cloth and jumps in the sea. ZEE divests herself of loin cloth and cape and jumps in too.]
  Jason, swim with us!
JASON I... um... I have no accoutrements.
UKVA No what?
JASON I had water enough about me yesterday.

 

[The following are suggestions for the swimming scene. The only imperative is that they are naked and alive, and he wants to be with them, but can't bring himself to be naked.

Light changes to emphasize JASON. Sound of sea pulses. He carefully removes his runners and puts a sock in each. UKVA and ZEE frolic in slow motion. JASON remains in real time. He wades on the edge of the sea. The water is cold. He can't look at them, because they are naked. He can't not look at them, because they call his eyes. There is joy in seeing, but sadness not to be a part.

Light and sound return to as before. UKVA & ZEE run from the sea, don loin cloths and wrap their capes around them for warmth.]

ZEE Cold!
UKVA The sand's warm.
JASON (he begins to put on his socks)
ZEE Jason, feel the sand with y'toes.

  [They all do with immense satisfaction.]
JASON When I was a child my nanny would take us to the beach. My personal guard would sweat in their uniforms while I played in the sand with my toes. But now, they'd think I was insane!
UKVA In 'sane'?
ZEE What's that?
JASON

(he laughs) Do you build sand castles? I'll show you! Look...

(he begins building a sand castle) Look, like this...

  [They follow his lead.]
  That's it! And some windows... (he pokes in some 'windows') ... and this bit of drift wood for the drawbridge! There! Sand castles.
UKVA What's 'kassels'?
ZEE His land's lodges.
UKVA (he looks closely at them) They're too small.
ZEE Ukva, y'are small as this shell next t'one.

 

UKVA

D'many share kassels?

JASON (he smiles and knocks over his sand castle)
ZEE Y'broke it!
JASON The tide would have got it anyway.
UKVA Fish with me, Jay-sun.
JASON I'm not a very good fisherman.
ZEE Go.

  [ZEE runs off, leaving JASON with no excuse. UKVA and JASON take their places in the fishing boat, perhaps atop a platform. UKVA stands, spear poised, while JASON sits in the other end.3 With UKVA standing, the situation is precarious and JASON is tense.]
JASON This craft handles well.
UKVA Ya.
JASON Very small draft, though.
UKVA 'Draft'?
JASON Shallow, rides high in the water.
UKVA Ya.
JASON Wouldn't it be better if you sat down?
UKVA No.
JASON Do you have fishing poles? A long pole with a string on it, on the string is a hook. You dangle it in the water, wait for a fish to bite, then haul it in.
UKVA Why'd a fish bite a hook?
JASON You put a bit of something the fish likes on the hook first.
UKVA Ah.
JASON I think it would be easier.
UKVA Y'sit 'n' wait for the fish t'bite the hook.
JASON Yes.
UKVA What joy's in that?
JASON While you wait, you commune with nature.
UKVA 'Come yoon with nate yur'?

  [UKVA spears a fish and the small boat threatens to capsize, but doesn't. He offers JASON the spear.]
JASON No, I think you're much better at it.
UKVA Try.
JASON I'd betterwatch you a bit more, see how it's done.

(beat)

UKVA Are y'going t'take Zee when y'go?
JASON That's... She is... If...
UKVA She likes you.
JASON I like her, she's... unlike... like... blike, shmike, piddly pike, why is it so hard to think here?
UKVA

Y'are a pair.

Maybe y'w'not build a ship, maybe y'w'build a lodge.

JASON I have to go back.
UKVA No y'd'not.
JASON You're a leader. You understand.
UKVA There're no other leaders in y'village?
JASON Yes. No. Y'are putting ideas in my head!
UKVA I'm not putting things in y'head. (he spears another fish)
JASON I have to go back.
UKVA Go.
JASON If Zee goes too?
UKVA She's gone. For days sometimes, walks alone, sits alone, watches the sea.
JASON I have to go.
UKVA W'will help.
JASON I must return.
UKVA You d'you.

(beat)

JASON What if a part of me doesn't want t'go?
UKVA Y'c'not leave parts.
JASON I must think of my people.
UKVA

You own people?

JASON No, we're all free men.
UKVA Free men, free fish, birds fly, water's wet, talk, talk, talk. Your village's noisy, ya?
JASON Ya.
UKVA Be quiet. Listen. Look. (he offers the spear to JASON) Spear a fish.
JASON (he is about to make an excuse)
UKVA Do it!

  [JASON takes the spear and stands as UKVA sits. The boat is unsteady, but JASON manages to keep his balance. He watches, waits.]
JASON There!
UKVA Do it!

  [JASON throws the spear. The boat capsizes. UKVA disappears under water. He doesn't reappear.]
JASON Ukva!

  [JASON dives. UKVA reappears, looks for JASON, then dives. They both come up together. They laugh.]
UKVA The sea'll give all y'need, b'tip the boat, it all goes back. Dried fish t'night.
JASON Ya.
UKVA Couple more times 'n' y'w'not want fishing pole.

  [Light and sound dissolve into the lodge of ASHRA at night. It is raining outside. UKVA, JASON, ASHRA, ZEE and NATA are around the fire. UKVA beats a hide drum while ASHRA acts as much as tells the Story of the first Rain.]
ASHRA

The White Dog watches. He likes t'watch things. But there's nothing t'see. He likes t'watch things move. B'nothing moves.

He sighs.

In his breath there're things t'see, everything moves. He sees plants growing, he sees hunters 'n' runners. He sees the world.

His breath grows thin 'n' it all fades away. He's angry t'be alone. He's angry the world w'not stay. He roars fire out of his nose 'n' mouth. From the smoke the world comes again, more beautiful.

Above the world a bird flies. She's the most beautiful he's seen. She flies t'him 'n' sits on his shoulder, so he w'not have t'watch alone. He likes that.

The smoke gets thinner, she gets lighter. The White Dog says "I wish I could b'with y'longer, b'y'are made of smoke 'n' fire, 'n' y'will fade with them."

Bird's very sad. Her eyes fill with tears 'n' tears spill down her beak. They touch mountains 'n' pour across land. Land grows firm. Water pools in great seas. Everything in the sea lives. Everything on shore lives. Everything on land lives. All flying things too.

Rain falls, wind blows, the world lives. White Dog 'n' Rainbird laugh.

 

[Quick dissolve to morning beach. Sound of gulls. UKVA, ZEE, and ASHRA strip off and swim, noisy, happy (naturalistic convention). NATA sits by and knits.

JASON removes his runners and puts a sock in each and stands for a moment beside NATA watching. JASON drops his shoes and socks, strips, and joins them.

The Sirens start singing and all stop a moment, then ZEE splashes JASON, he splashes back, and soon all are involved. They run from the water and put on loin cloths and wrap capes around themselves for warmth. UKVA wraps his around JASON.]

  [NATA stops knitting and looks at JASON and ZEE. She looks at ASHRA who catches her eyes. NATA looks back at JASON and ZEE, and ASHRA follows her gaze. NATA gets up and exits. ASHRA follows. UKVA looks at them going, not sure why, looks at JASON and ZEE, figures it out, and begins to exit. JASON, too, is beginning to catch on.]
JASON Ukva, we're fishing today, aren't we?
UKVA Ya.

 

[UKVA exits, leaving JASON naked but for the cape wrapped around him. JASON and ZEE both sit in silence a moment. ZEE looks at him, he catches her eye, but looks away quickly. She keeps looking at him.

He's kneeling. She walks over to stand before him. The Sirens fall silent. She straddles him. Pushes cape from his shoulders.

He jumps up and she lands on her behind. He scrambles to dress. In his haste this is very awkward, but not as awkward as when he is finished dressing and has nothing to say as ZEE looks at him, surprised, confused, and hurt.]

ZEE D'y'not want me?
JASON It is not a question of wanting or not wanting.
ZEE It's a question?
JASON Where I am from...
ZEE Y'are not there now. Y'are here.
JASON I have to go back.
ZEE W'will. But y're here now.
JASON

I'm here, I'm there, I'm... Zee, it shouldn't be like this.

"He bravely quested forth to lands uncanny and unknown and after many great perils returned with the sword to vanquish the evil sphinx and rid his land of its terrible curse," that is what is expected.

ZEE Y'c'not have the sword.
JASON Then everything is settled. No need to go home if I simply accept what you say. I'm free.
ZEE Y'are.
JASON

I am Cortha.

ZEE Y'are Jason.
JASON The people of Cortha are suffering. I am responsible for that suffering now.
ZEE AmI this place?

(beat)

JASON Help me get the sword.
ZEE No.
JASON Then I'll stay.
ZEE No! Take me with you.
JASON

Where to? A land where everyone is dying? Where I will die with them?

Zee, look.

 

[He removes his mask. His face covered with sores.

She touches his face.]

ZEE Winter Wolf keeps the key, the crystal around his neck. I'll give you a herb t'put in his tea t'make him sleep deeply.
JASON How?
ZEE Y'make the tea.
JASON What if he doesn't let me?
ZEE He will. Y'are the guest. T'night when he's deep sleeping, y'take the key. Y'hold it by the thong. Y'meet me here.
JASON We've no ship.

 

ZEE Come.

 

[They exit. Shift lights to beach at night. The Sirens are singing. Enter JASON holding the crystal wand by the thong. He kneels by the water listening.

Lights up on another part of the stage, the warm light of fire. Fire sound fades up over Sirens, but they do not go out altogether. ASHRA is in light. It is her lodge. ZEE joins her. There is silence between all three for a moment.]

ASHRA Y've waited.
ZEE Ya.
ASHRA Y'knew he'd come.
ZEE I hoped.
ASHRA

Y'knew. What d'y'trade?

ZEE I'm going t'his land.
ASHRA You d'you.
ZEE I d'not know. Y'd'not teach me this song.
ASHRA It's yours.
ZEE People think I'll be Rainbird.
ASHRA Grandma was first of our family t'be Rainbird. They chose her. They helped her. She learned. That's her song.
ZEE What's mine?
ASHRA We know her song 'cause she sang it.
ZEE If I go with Jason?
ASHRA Y'go with your heart.
ZEE I'm scared.
ASHRA You d'you.
ZEE I d'not know.
ASHRA There's something else.
ZEE Ya.
ASHRA Zee, if y'take it it's gone. The first Winter Wolf was told t'guard it, when it went ourpeople'd die.

(beat)

Listen. Remember. Someday y'might feel like y'd'not've any home, people gone, everything just ghosts. Zee, y'can make home. Take Siren song. Put it by y'fire. D'not be lost in it, b'remember our songs while y'make y'own.

'Bye Zee.

 

[Fire light fades as moonlight by sea intensifies, and sound of sea and Sirens increases, and ASHRA exits.

ZEE turns to JASON and takes the crystal key. She turns again and holds the key up high. The Sirens stop singing.

A red light comes up on the sword on a pedestal. Dissolve sound of sea into sound of sea at half speed. Only ZEE sees and hears UKVA, no actor represents him onstage.]

ZEE Ukva.
UKVA (Zee.)
ZEE How're you here?
UKVA (The key's called me.)
ZEE Can y'stop me?
UKVA (I'll follow you.)
ZEE I have to.
UKVA

(Y'd'not want the sword.)

ZEE I have t'take it.
UKVA (Y'd'not want it. Jay-sun wants it.)
ZEE I want Jason.
UKVA (Y'are overtaken.)
ZEE I d'not think it'd b'like this.

  [She takes the sword.]
UKVA (Look in the blade, Zee)

  [She does so. At first she sees only her reflection. Then it changes.]
ZEE It's me, but... I'm old 'n' m'eyes're angry.
UKVA (Leave it)
ZEE

I c'not...

I have to.

UKVA (I'll follow you.)
ZEE D'not, Ukva, he'll fight you, you him. I d'not want that. Sleep.
UKVA (I wake. I follow.)

  [The red light fades and JASON sees her holding the sword. He takes it from her. His hand is shaking.]
ZEE Jason, quick...
JASON Has it a name?
ZEE 'Sword'! W'have t'go!
JASON

I name it 'Justice'.

ZEE Ukva's waking!
JASON He is fast asleep.
ZEE

The key's called him! His spirit's stronger than the sleep! Hold on t'my feet!

Do what I say, or Ukva'll stop us!

  [JASON does as he is told.]
  Yatha paksinya tarhi yaham!

  [She spreads her cape and leans forward at an unnatural angle, JASON clasping her ankles, and flies.]
JASON I do not believe in magic!
ZEE Believe the ground is hard 'n' hold on! Melli, ahveh apasm anipatha jalam, Melli! I've called her. She'll carry us across the water. There.
JASON An island.
ZEE Melli.
JASON A tortoise! There's someone on her back.
ZEE Hold on t'me!

  [As they are landing, NATA comes on and sits quietly knitting.]
NATA (smiles in greeting, nods to each.)
ZEE (exhausted) You... I d'not call... Melli... I called...
NATA (shrugs)
ZEE Melli, go! Go faster than Winter Wolf!
JASON Look!
ZEE Ukva!
JASON This beast must go faster!
ZEE Melli! Go!
JASON Ukva!

  [UKVA enters. He is running on the sea.]
UKVA Throw me the sword!
JASON No!
ZEE Ukva, go back!
UKVA Give me the swrd!

  [UKVA reaches the tortoise and JASON strikes him with the pommel.]
ZEE He's drowning!
JASON He would take Justice from me!
ZEE Save him!

 

[JASON grabs UKVA by the golden torc. It comes off in his hand. UKVA is lost.

JASON, gold in one hand, sword in the other, a woman kneeling before him, changes. He is literally between two worlds, and the direction of travel and the death of the Winter Wolf move this moment in a terrible direction.]

JASON The words. Say them.
ZEE Save him!
JASON He is dead. Say the words. Say, 'I feel'.
ZEE Not now.
JASON If you want this you must take it now. Say, 'I feel.'
ZEE I feel.
JASON I feel.I know.

(beat)

Say it! I know.

ZEE I know.

  [He puts down the sword and grabs her.]
  No!
JASON You are my wife.

  [He forces her down.]
ZEE No!
JASON Zee is not a name that suits my land, nor me. I name you Fidelia.

  [He rapes her.]
ZEE Nata! Nata, help me!
NATA (looks at them, nods, returns to her knitting)

  [As JASON approaches climax the Sirens begin to sing. His climax is an expression of terror. He rolls off of her into the fetal position.]
JASON No! Make them stop!

  [ZEE stares at JASON like she has never seen him before.]
  Make them stop!

  [It is apparent that ZEE can or will not help him. JASON kneels and addresses the Sirens haltingly, trying to recall.]
  Sirens... be silent. I have heard... and I... remember. Sing again... another day.

  [There is silence but for the sea.]

  [On the back of a tortoise between the common sea and sky, between here and there and uncertain of which is which, there is nowhere for JASON to hide, but he tries.]
JASON

My right!

(silence)

It was my right!

(silence)

I had... did...

I am...

(longest silence)

My lungs are full of blood, my words are gore.

  [Blackout. Fade sound. Intermission.]

end of Act I

[To Act II]

© 1991 Eric Pettifor

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