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[Ari is a senior at Princeton University and a regular
contributor - Ed.]
The Characters
(In no particular order)
Jason, the former Argonaut, now fat, balding (but with a pony tail)
and sunburned. He wears a mesh backed baseball cap to cover the bare
top of his head, though he removes it frequently to wring it in his
hands. A smoker.
Creon, former king of Thebes, quite old but dignified. Very quiet.
Tekmessa, widow of Ajax, still quite young and vibrant.
Doctor Steve, an earnest young psychiatrist
Scene
A group therapy room in a psychiatric hospital.
Time
Ostensibly the present, although all the characters except Dr. Steve
are ancient Greeks. Modern dress and furnishings.
Scene One
Setting: A neutral-colored room with one window and one door. A soothing
painting, perhaps a watercolor of a seaside scene, hangs next to the
window. A folding table with Styrofoam cups and sugar packets stands
underneath the window, close to the door. Five cheap plastic chairs
sit in a loose semi-circle, the open side towards the audience.
Dr. Steve, a clean young man in a white labcoat, enters from the door.
He sets a box of doughnuts and his clipboard on the table, then briskly
straightens the chairs. He then retrieves his clipboard and sits down
in the chair facing the door. He produces a tape recorder from one of
the pockets of his coat and speaks into it.
DR STEVE
Thursday, August 18th. Group session with Creon, Jason, and Tekmessa.
Since these three are all dealing with loss of family I’ve found that
they can really enter a productive dialogue with one another. My goals
for this session are to draw Creon into the group and to see if I can
convince Jason to take the discussion more seriously. I feel positive
and capable today.
(Stops the tape recorder and folds his hands across his clipboard. He
looks out the window, then looks at his watch.)
(Enter CREON, a grave and dignified old man wearing a conservative
black suit, white shirt and muted tie. He nods sternly to Dr. Steve,
then takes his seat directly opposite the doctor, staring vacantly out
the window.)
DR STEVE
Good morning, Creon. I hope that you’re feeling more talkative today
than you were last week. I think that the whole group would really benefit
if you could contribute more in session, I’m sure that we’d all be very
interested in what you have to say. And you know what?
(Waits for Creon to answer him. Creon does not.)
Well, I think that you’d really get a kick out of it too! (Smiling)
CREON
My whole family is dead, Doctor. I don’t get a kick out of anything.
(Doctor Steve frowns and is about to answer Creon when JASON and TEKMESSA
come through the door. Tekmessa is holding a covered cup of coffee.
Jason is wearing an acrylic baseball cap, plaid shorts, flipflops, and
a t-shirt with surfboards on it. Tekmessa is dressed sensibly in a gray
sweater set and slacks.)
TEKMESSA
(Practically singing out)
Good morning, Doctor Steve!
DOCTOR STEVE
Good morning Tekmessa! And good morning to you too, Jason.
JASON
Hey Doctor Steve.
(Tekmessa sits next to Doctor Steve, Jason sits next to Creon, near
the center of the semi-circle. While Doctor Steve is talking, Jason
springs back up and grabs a doughnut.)
DOCTOR STEVE
It’s a few minutes past eleven, so let’s get started! I believe last
week Jason was telling us about how he’s having trouble paying attention
to his work? Is that the gist of what you were saying, Jason?
JASON
(Still standing at the table)
Well, yeah. Is there any coffee?
DOCTOR STEVE
No, remember we can’t provide coffee because of hospital policy. You
have to bring your own, like Tekmessa.
TEKMESSA
I thought ahead.
JASON
(Smiling at Tekmessa)
Sure you did, honey. Wish you had thought to bring two!
(only Jason laughs)
DOCTOR STEVE
Let’s really try to start the discussion now, okay everyone? Jason,
can you tell us why you’re having problems at work?
JASON
(Takes an ashtray from the table and sits down)
I’ve been nervous around the boat recently. You know, I have to keep
the customers entertained and tend to the steering and all, so it gets
pretty involved sometimes. The Argo isn’t a brand new boat, either,
so I’ve got to keep after her as well. Routine maintenance of the hull
and masts, you know. But I guess I told you all about what happened
with my wife and kids, and about how before Medea went off she told
me some nonsense about how I’d be hit on the head by a beam from my
ship. Well, you know, I’ve never been superstitious myself, though I’ve
seen some pretty weird things, but I keep thinking about that. How she
told me that. So even somebody with a medical degree can see how that
might make me nervous around the ship!
(laughs)
TEKMESSA
Why do you think she said it?
JASON
Well, I was never exactly sure why Medea did anything. She was not an
ordinary woman. Maybe Doctor Steve could make sense out of her, but
she always seemed kind of crazy to me. I guess that was one reason I
fell in love with her.
TEKMESSA
I guess I felt the same way with Ajax. No, actually, Ajax was usually
pretty transparent. Usually.
JASON
(Mostly ignoring Tekmessa, talking over her final “usually”)
Well, Medea was just plain crazy. She was involved in some crazy religions,
and I guess the thing with her brother really bothered her. I mean,
I didn’t want to get in between them, but she…(laughs) well, she made
that decision for me.
DOCTOR STEVE
I’m not sure that I understand what you mean, Jason. Could you explain
more?
JASON
Well, I’m not sure what part it is you want me to explain.
(He takes out a cigarette and smiles).
CREON
(Dryly)
He wants to know what happened with Medea’s brother. He always wants
to know about family.
JASON
Is that right, Doctor Steve?
(He lights his cigarette)
DOCTOR STEVE
That seems like a fine place to start, Jason.
JASON
Well, you’re not going to like it. Alright…
(shifts in his chair)
Medea’s father never liked me. I guess he had his reasons…hell, I know
how I’d feel if I were in his place (smiles). Anyway, when Medea and
I were sailing away from Colchis he chased us, in his ships. (Smiling)
I tell you, I don’t think my crew ever rowed so hard! The ship was practically
skipping over the waves, we had all our sails aloft, and the weather
was incredible. That was a fine bunch of men. Anyway, Medea’s brother
Apsyrtus was with us, we were all three standing at the rudder watching
the king’s ships come closer. Medea and I had only just met, so we felt
invincible, you know how it is when you first fall in love with someone.
Like everything else is a joke between the two of you.
(Long drag on his cigarette).
Medea’s fathers ships were so fast, though. So Medea and I…well, I guess
it was mostly Medea’s idea.
(He looks down, then looks back up. Big drag on the cigarette)
It was Medea’s idea. We decided to cut her brother up. And we dropped
the pieces overboard, like we were chumming for sharks. So her father
stopped to collect them, and we got away.
TEKMESSA
Oh my god…
(covers her mouth)
DOCTOR STEVE
Oh, gosh. That’s all new information.
JASON
I told you that you wouldn’t like it. Believe me, I didn’t either. I’ve
thought about it a lot since then. Apsyrtus has really weighed on my
mind.
TEKMESSA
Medea killed her own brother?
JASON
Well, she wasn’t happy about it, let me tell you. I’ve always felt guilty
about it, too.
TEKMESSA
She must have really loved you, to make such a sacrifice.
JASON
(Angry)
How was it a sacrifice? She got what she wanted. I mean, her whole family,
they were savages.
(Confidently)
She was better off with me. It was a trade-off.
TEKMESSA
(Stung by Jason)
She certainly didn’t act like she was better off with you.
JASON
(loud, violently stubbing out his cigarette)
Just what the hell is that supposed to mean? You didn’t know her, you
don’t have any idea what things were like. Hell, you don’t even know
me. For your information, she was very happy.
TEKMESSA
(Venomous, defensive)
Well, if things were so great with you, then why did she leave?
JASON
(Standing up)
Well, why did your husband kill himself?
DOCTOR STEVE
(Stands as well)
Hey, now, let’s not get antagonistic here. I know this is an emotional
subject for all of you, but let’s not let this turn into a shouting
match.
(Jason sits down. Dr. Steve looks at him inquiringly, then sits.)
Good, okay. Now, Jason, can you answer some of Tekmessa’s questions
without getting upset? We all need to be totally honest here, so I think
we all deserve to hear your answer, even if her question may have seemed
hurtful. I’m sure that she didn’t mean to be aggressive.
TEKMESSA
No, Doctor Steve, I did mean to be aggressive. But I shouldn’t get so
caught up in this.
DOCTOR STEVE
(Flustered)
Oh, well, it’s good to, uh, to really participate.
(Brightening)
And I still think it was a valid question. I’d like to hear your answer,
Jason. Could you tell us why you think your wife left?
JASON
Of course, Doctor Steve, but I’d like for Tekmessa to answer me too.
TEKMESSA
(Composed)
About my husband? Ajax killed himself because he was a macho idiot,
Jason. Okay? He never gave a thought to anyone but himself, and he abandoned
me and my son rather than face up to the problems he had caused.
JASON
(A little flustered, perhaps ashamed)
Well, that’s…I’m sorry that I brought it up. I suppose I was…
(Trails off)
TEKMESSA
I’m sorry that I snapped at you too. I just thought that you might be
selling Medea a little short. I’m sure that she did have a reason to
leave.
JASON
(Somewhat coolly)
Like I said, you weren’t there. Things were very complicated with us.
DOCTOR STEVE
How were they complicated?
JASON
(Lighting another cigarette, composing his thoughts)
It’s a long story…um, we were living in Corinth, Medea and my two boys
and me. I didn’t have tons of money or anything, even though I was famous
back then, but we were comfortable. Anyway, the king of Corinth, whose
name coincidentally was also Creon
(Jason pauses to smile at Creon, who doesn’t react)
The King of Corinth and I had been talking, and so we decided, for my
children and my house’s sake, that I should marry his daughter.
(CREON turns to look out the window, TEKMESSA laughs in exasperation,
and DOCTOR STEVE looks somewhat stunned.)
TEKMESSA
I can see why you never mentioned this before.
JASON
(Genuinely perplexed)
What? Why?
TEKMESSA
Well, did you marry this princess?
JASON
Well, no, that’s the thing. I was going to, but then Medea went crazy
and poisoned her.
TEKMESSA
Oh. So she killed quite a few…I thought that she just…that she…attacked
your children and then left.
JASON
(Serious)
No, it was worse than that.
TEKMESSA
Why worse?
JASON
Well, she killed poor Creon’s daughter, and Creon too, as it turned
out. Things were going to be so great after I married that girl. I had
it all planned out. But she ruined it for me.
TEKMESSA
Why were things going to be great? Because you would have gotten rid
of Medea?
JASON
(Somewhat indignant, puzzled)
Gotten rid of her? I told you I agreed to the marriage for her sake!
It would have made us royalty! My sons could have grown up in a palace,
with their new brothers full-blooded royalty!
CREON
(Angry)
For her sake? Don’t be ridiculous, Jason. Have you no sense?
JASON
(Bewildered)
You people are all as crazy as she was. I was trying to help things!
She couldn’t see past the fact that I was making an agreement with a
younger, prettier woman. I told you, she was plain crazy. She wouldn’t
listen to me.
TEKMESSA
Do you hear what you’re saying? Do you have any idea how that must have
made Medea feel?
JASON
(Calm)
Tekmessa, she killed our children. She was just crazy. I don’t see why
you’re interested in how she felt. She probably felt crazy.
TEKMESSA
(Somewhat tired and exasperated)
You still think that she killed your children because she was crazy?
JASON
Well, what other reason could she have?
TEKMESSA
You can’t imagine even one?
JASON
Well, she so much as told me that she was jealous of the princess’ looks.
But what she did? I can’t see that a little female jealousy would account
for that.
TEKMESSA
You think it was all about looks?
JASON
Tekmessa, I keep telling you, I don’t think she had a good reason.
CREON
(Looking intently at Jason)
You were going to put her aside. She must have been terribly ashamed,
for herself and her family
JASON
Well, I would have provided for her, I guess. I don’t think of it as
putting aside, I guess.
TEKMESSA
You guess? Jason, did you think for one minute how Medea might feel
about this?
JASON
I thought she’d be happy, for god’s sake!
TEKMESSA
Happy that you were putting her away for a younger woman? You expect
us to believe that you arranged this marriage for Medea’s sake?
JASON
She was a smart woman. I thought that she’d understand.
DOCTOR STEVE
What did you think she’d understand?
JASON
(Exasperated)
I told you, that the marriage was to connect our sons to the royal family.
TEKMESSA
So it wasn’t for Medea’s sake.
JASON
If you look at it that way, it wasn’t. But when the boys got older,
then they’d have plenty of money and a good position in society, and
they could take care of her.
CREON
But she murdered your sons.
(JASON draws himself up and looks hurt. A moment of pained silence.)
JASON
If Medea killed my sons to prevent them from bringing honor to our family,
then she’s even more of a monster than I thought she was.
TEKMESSA
(Very upset)
Jason, don’t you get it? Why wasn’t Medea part of your family honor?
Do you honestly think that your new wife would have loved and protected
Medea’s children? You abandoned them, all of them. You left her all
alone in Corinth with your sons because you were just thinking of your
family name. It’s exactly what happened to me when my husband committed
suicide. You weren’t thinking of Medea. You weren’t even thinking of
your sons.
(Earnestly explaining)
Imagine how alone she was, Jason! You keep talking about your family,
but she lost hers in order to follow you to Corinth. Medea wasn’t crazy.
Imagine what she must have felt like, Jason. Do you think she wanted
to kill your little babies? Imagine what she must have felt like to…to
do that. No wonder she told you that you’d be struck by a beam from
your ship.
(Laughing a little, but still upset)
That’s what we were talking about, isn’t it? How you’re afraid to work
now? So Medea drove a wedge between you and your ship. Think of all
the things you cut Medea off from.
(JASON looks somewhat stunned. He is having a hard time taking all
this in.)
DOCTOR STEVE
(Gently)
Jason, you don’t have to say anything.
JASON
She really loved the kids. And I guess that the awful thing was that
she really loved me, too. I guess she had her reasons. She must have
had pretty good reasons.
(Everyone is quiet for a moment)
DOCTOR STEVE
Well, I hate to say it now, but our time is up and Doctor Velasco needs
the room pretty soon.
(CREON and TEKMESSA shuffle a little in their seats. Tekmessa dabs
at her eyes with a tissue. Jason nods a little to himself.)
DOCTOR STEVE
I think this was a really productive session today, guys. Great job,
everybody.
(CREON nods stiffly, stands up and walks out the door. TEKMESSA stands.
JASON stands and light a cigarette.)
TEKMESSA
(Obviously still quite upset by the whole thing)
Thanks, Doctor Steve. Same time next week?
DOCTOR STEVE
Sure thing.
TEKMESSA
Listen, Jason, I didn’t mean to –
JASON
Don’t worry about it.
(TEKMESSA nods to Jason, then leaves through the door.)
JASON
Well, that was something, huh?
DOCTOR STEVE
Yeah, I think you’re making real progress.
JASON
Well, now I’m going to progress down to the diner and get some coffee.
DOCTOR STEVE
(Appreciative laugh, grinning.)
Sounds good, Jason.
JASON
(Walking out the door.)
See you later.
(DOCTOR STEVE produces his tape recorder again.)
DOCTOR STEVE
(Into the recorder)
Thursday, January 18th group. Jason is making good progress, and Tekmessa
is contributing to the discussion well as usual. A few more reactions
from Creon, but he still seems withdrawn. I am learning and benefiting
from setting ambitious goals.
[Lights down, curtain]
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