Black Medea

Wesley Enoch

• Publisher: Currency Press
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781925004229
• Topic: Literatur
• Subtopic: Drama

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.

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. She’s concerned. She hugs her CHILD and sends him off.

MEDEA’S 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 come… and today… I will vanquish you. Today… Jason and I will no longer run. And you will feel the sharpened edge of a mother’s love and a wife’s loyalty.

I can feel you, I can hear you coming. I am ready for you. Hear me… 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 man’s a moron.

MEDEA: Jason…

JASON: Shut up for a while, will you…? Please.

MEDEA: I’ll check the door.

JASON: The door’s closed, the windows are shut, the whole fucking house is sealed.

MEDEA: I’ll check it for you, love.

JASON: Don’t leave me.

MEDEA: I’m just checking the door.

JASON: Stay here.

MEDEA: There’s no wind, Jason.

JASON: I can hear it. Blowing like in the sails of a ship. Pushing me around.

MEDEA: There is no wind. It’s still outside.

JASON: I’m telling you I can hear it.

MEDEA: It’s in your head. Look at me, love… It’s all in your head. Just don’t let it in.

JASON: You think I’m crazy.

MEDEA: Jason…

JASON: [to the wind] Just shut the fuck up.

MEDEA: Shhh.

A loud silence.

JASON: I’m not going out there tomorrow.

MEDEA: You’ll feel better in the morning.

JASON: I’m not going.

Pause.

MEDEA: Jason… did you get them to sign the contract?

JASON: No.

MEDEA: Jason my love… you have to get them to agree. We need them to sign.

JASON: It fell through. The deal’s off.

MEDEA: No. It’s not off. You get them to sign it tomorrow.

JASON: I told you it’s over.

MEDEA: Look at me, my love. It’s not over ’til we say it’s over.

JASON: Let it go. It’s 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: I’ll see if they have a scholarship, shall I?

JASON: No fuckin’ handouts!

MEDEA: Then… 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 you’re that worried, go sell another painting.

MEDEA: No.

JASON: It puts food on the table, for fuck’s sake.

MEDEA: All right, then. I’ll put the food on the table, I’ll pay the bills, I’ll buy the shoes, I’ll wear your fucking suit. [Simultaneously with JASON] Jason, talk to him. Say it’s for his grandson.

JASON: [simultaneously] ‘You call yourself a man and can’t provide for your family.’

MEDEA: Then tell me what we should do?

JASON: I’m not talking to that cunt.

Give a man a moment’s peace to think.

The wind blows.

[Whispering] This fucking wind. It haunts me…

MEDEA: Don’t let it in, you know where it’s coming fro...