eBook - ePub
Black Medea
About this book
A richly poetic adaptation of Euripides' Medea that blends the cultures of Ancient Greek and Indigenous storytelling to weave a bold and breathtaking commentary on contemporary experience.
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Yes, you can access Black Medea by Wesley Enoch in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Literature & Drama. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
SECTION ONE
MEDEA WALKS IN THE DESERT
Blackout.
MEDEA walks the perimeter of the space. A desert wind blows. The walls come alive. She winks in and out of sight as she walks. She glides as if by magic. She enters with her CHILD. She listens to the wind. Sheās concerned. She hugs her CHILD and sends him off.
MEDEAāS BATTLE CRY
MEDEA: I am not frightened of you. I have faced everything I fear and defeated it. You think you are a match for me? The day has finally comeā¦ and todayā¦ I will vanquish you. Todayā¦ Jason and I will no longer run. And you will feel the sharpened edge of a motherās love and a wifeās loyalty.
I can feel you, I can hear you coming. I am ready for you. Hear meā¦ I am ready for you.
Come out and face me. Face me!
This is not a fit place for our final battle. But here you have chosen and here it must be. Were it up to me I would choose the open desert where you could not hide amongst these scared strangers clutching to the coast like cowering children.
I have not sacrificed everything to fail now. I have dreams.
Who am I to have such dreams? Who am I to go against even you?
I am a daughter of this Land, I have the knowledge of my people. I have the power of my clan, I have the strength of my marriage, I have the love of my husband, I have the weapons of my wits. I am Medea.
So come now and face me.
There is a blood debt to pay and not a drop of mine shall fall upon the thirsty earth.
JASON AND MEDEA 1
JASON enters clutching his head, pursued by the wind.
JASON: This fucking wind.
MEDEA: Did you close the door?
JASON: You think a manās a moron.
MEDEA: Jasonā¦
JASON: Shut up for a while, will youā¦? Please.
MEDEA: Iāll check the door.
JASON: The doorās closed, the windows are shut, the whole fucking house is sealed.
MEDEA: Iāll check it for you, love.
JASON: Donāt leave me.
MEDEA: Iām just checking the door.
JASON: Stay here.
MEDEA: Thereās no wind, Jason.
JASON: I can hear it. Blowing like in the sails of a ship. Pushing me around.
MEDEA: There is no wind. Itās still outside.
JASON: Iām telling you I can hear it.
MEDEA: Itās in your head. Look at me, loveā¦ Itās all in your head. Just donāt let it in.
JASON: You think Iām crazy.
MEDEA: Jasonā¦
JASON: [to the wind] Just shut the fuck up.
MEDEA: Shhh.
A loud silence.
JASON: Iām not going out there tomorrow.
MEDEA: Youāll feel better in the morning.
JASON: Iām not going.
Pause.
MEDEA: Jasonā¦ did you get them to sign the contract?
JASON: No.
MEDEA: Jason my loveā¦ you have to get them to agree. We need them to sign.
JASON: It fell through. The dealās off.
MEDEA: No. Itās not off. You get them to sign it tomorrow.
JASON: I told you itās over.
MEDEA: Look at me, my love. Itās not over ātil we say itās over.
JASON: Let it go. Itās gone.
Pause. Wind.
MEDEA: Your son needs new shoes.
JASON: We just bought a new pair.
MEDEA: And the school fees are overdue.
JASON: Pull him out of that school.
MEDEA: Iāll see if they have a scholarship, shall I?
JASON: No fuckinā handouts!
MEDEA: Thenā¦ you have to ask your father for a loan.
JASON: Will you get off my back, for one second? A man just gets home and you have to be onto him about bills and shit. If youāre that worried, go sell another painting.
MEDEA: No.
JASON: It puts food on the table, for fuckās sake.
MEDEA: All right, then. Iāll put the food on the table, Iāll pay the bills, Iāll buy the shoes, Iāll wear your fucking suit. [Simultaneously with JASON] Jason, talk to him. Say itās for his grandson.
JASON: [simultaneously] āYou call yourself a man and canāt provide for your family.ā
MEDEA: Then tell me what we should do?
JASON: Iām not talking to that cunt.
Give a man a momentās peace to think.
The wind blows.
[Whispering] This fucking wind. It haunts meā¦
MEDEA: Donāt let it in, you know where itās coming fro...
Table of contents
- BLACK MEDEA
- PLAYWRIGHTāS BIOGRAPHY
- FIRST PERFORMANCE
- AUTHORāS NOTE
- CHARACTERS
- SECTION ONE
- SECTION TWO