Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays - novelonlinefull.com
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PARIS [_throwing it back to Tsumu_]. This for your silence, daughter of darkness. A prince has no need of purses.
TSUMU [_looking at him_]. A prince!
HELENA [_gloriously_]. My prince of poetry. My deliverer!
PARIS [_divinely_]. My queen of love!
[_They go out, Tsumu looking after them in speechless amazement.
Suddenly she sees the papyrus on the shield, runs over and reads it and then rushes to the door of the library._]
TSUMU [_calling_]. a.n.a.lytikos.
[_She hides the purse in her bosom. a.n.a.lytikos enters, scroll in hand._]
a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Has the Queen summoned me?
TSUMU [_mysteriously_]. A terrible thing has happened.
a.n.a.lYTIKOS. What's the matter?
TSUMU. Where's the King?
a.n.a.lYTIKOS. In the library.
TSUMU. I have news more precious than the gold of Midas.
a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_giving her a purse_]. Well! What is it?
TSUMU [_speaking very dramatically and watching the effect of her words_]. The Queen has deserted Menelaus.
a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_receiving the shock philosophically_]. Swift are the ways of Nature. The G.o.ds have smiled upon him.
TSUMU. The G.o.ds have forsaken the King to smile upon a prince.
a.n.a.lYTIKOS. What?
TSUMU. He was a prince.
a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_apprehensively_]. Why do you say that?
TSUMU [_clutching her bosom_]. I have a good reason to know. [_There is a sound of voices below in the courtyard. Menelaus rushes in expectantly. Tsumu falls prostrate before him._] Oh, King, in thy bottomless agony blame not a blameless negress. The Queen has fled!
MENELAUS [_in his delight forgetting himself and flinging her a purse_].
Is it true?
TSUMU. Woe! Woe is me!
MENELAUS [_storming_]. Out of my sight, you eyeless Argus!
a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_to Tsumu_]. Quick, send a messenger. Find out who he was.
[_Tsumu sticks the third purse in her bosom and runs out._]
MENELAUS [_with radiant happiness, kneeling before the bust of Zeus_].
Ye G.o.ds, I thank ye. Peace and a happy life at last.
[_The shouts in the courtyard grow louder._]
a.n.a.lYTIKOS. The news has spread through the palace.
MENELAUS [_in trepidation, springing up_]. No one would dare stop the progress of the Queen.
TSUMU [_rushes in and prostrates herself before the King_]. Woe is me!
They have gone by the road to the harbor.
MENELAUS [_anxiously_]. Yes! Yes!
TSUMU. By the King's orders no man has dared gaze upon Her Majesty. They all fell prostrate before her.
MENELAUS. Good! Good! [_Attempting to cover his delight._] Go! Go! You garrulous dog.
[_Tsumu gets up and points to shield. a.n.a.lytikos and the King look toward it. a.n.a.lytikos tears off the papyrus and brings it to Menelaus. Tsumu, watching them, exits._]
MENELAUS [_reading_]. "I am not a bad woman. I did what I had to do."
How Greek to blame fate for what one wants to do.
[_Tsumu again comes tumbling in._]
TSUMU [_again prostrate before the King_]. A rumor flies through the city. He--he--
a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_anxiously_]. Well? Well?
TSUMU. He--he--
MENELAUS [_furiously to a.n.a.lytikos_]. Rid me of this croaking raven.
TSUMU. Evil has fallen on Sparta. He--
a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Yes--yes--
MENELAUS [_in a rage_]. Out of my sight, perfidious Nubian.
[_Sounds of confusion in the courtyard. Suddenly she springs to her feet and yells at the top of her voice._]
TSUMU. He was Paris, Prince of Troy!
[_They all start back. a.n.a.lytikos stumbles into a seat. Menelaus turns pale. Tsumu leers like a black Nemesis._]
