Morning. The royal court after the coronation. The central structure has become a dais, the same cloth now spread across it as a ceremonial covering. The people of Ithaca mingle as they wait for TELEMACHUS’s first assembly. TELEMACHUS speaks easily with them from the dais. ULYSSES stands apart below it.
MEDON approaches ULYSSES and bows.
MEDON
My king.
ULYSSES
He is your king now.
He points to TELEMACHUS.
MEDON
I want to say it has been an honour to serve you and this house for as long as I have. This is it for me as well.
ULYSSES
Retire from your post, but not from your work, Medon.
MEDON
You’re right, my—yes, sir.
ULYSSES
Will you do an old friend a favour—find me Penelope?
MEDON bows and exits palace-side. PENELOPE enters shortly after.
PENELOPE
Yes, dear?
ULYSSES
Dearest.
He holds out his hand to her. She studies him, then frowns.
PENELOPE
Your collar is ruffled. And your cloak…
She turns him around and smooths his collar, cloak and hair. He turns back to her, smiling.
PENELOPE
So what did you want to talk to me about?
He hesitates, glances toward the harbour then back to her.
ULYSSES
Medon is retiring.
PENELOPE
Where have you been? He’s been saying that for years.
ULYSSES
Today he means it.
They turn to take stock of the room and settle their gaze on TELEMACHUS. ULYSSES deliberately takes her arm in both hands. She leans her head on his shoulder.
PENELOPE
At least our son wears the crown, not like you this morning—carrying it under your arm like a parcel.
ULYSSES
It is right for him. He is ready.
PENELOPE
You’ve done well, dear.
ULYSSES
I?
He kisses her hand. She tilts her head in amusement.
You.
PENELOPE
Us.
So what now?
ULYSSES
He works his work, I mine.
PENELOPE
Yours?
MEDON reenters holding a stave, takes the dais and addresses the court.
MEDON
Attention, people of Ithaca. The first assembly of King Telemachus will now convene. Nobles, commons, soldiers, sailors, merchants, and the rest—approach with your petitions, both public and private.
The court organizes itself. ULYSSES takes his place beside MENTOR and the other elders up front. TELEMACHUS takes the dais. PENELOPE circles to her place farther back. CITIZENS fill the space between them.
TELEMACHUS
The first petition.
ULYSSES
I.
TELEMACHUS
Father?
The people look left and right, whispering as ULYSSES steps onto the lower steps of the dais and accepts the stave. PENELOPE freezes.
TELEMACHUS
Speak, Lord Ulysses. Is your purpose public or private?
ULYSSES
Private. I ask to purchase one of the King’s ships and outfit it at my own expense for an extended voyage.
FIRST ELDER
An extended voyage? What business takes the former king away from Ithaca?
ULYSSES
I do not sail on her behalf. The purpose is my own.
SECOND ELDER
But you have no need beyond Ithaca.
FIRST ELDER
Your home, your family—a kingdom at peace. What else is wanting?
ULYSSES
I have not said anything is wanting.
FIRST ELDER
Then where do you sail?
ULYSSES
West.
TELEMACHUS
What is out west, Lord Ulysses?
ULYSSES
I do not know.
The court reacts with shock, laughter, ridicule, curiosity.
FIRST ELDER
With what crew?
ULYSSES
Only volunteers—no man bound by service to Ithaca.
MENTOR
Then I will go.
He struggles to his feet, leaning heavily into his cane. The crowd laughs at him.
TIMARETE (from across the court)
Sit down, Mentor!
SECOND ELDER
Why ask when you can take? The isle is yours, Ulysses.
ULYSSES
It is the king’s.
TELEMACHUS remains quiet.
FIRST ELDER
Who will captain her?
ULYSSES
I will.
FIRST CITIZEN
He’s lost his mind.
FIRST ELDER
Who would follow him?
MENEKRATES (from across the court)
Only one who knows he hasn’t.
The crowd stops and watches MENEKRATES, the sea-captain, approach the dais. ULYSSES smiles in acknowledgement.
ULYSSES
Menekrates.
MENEKRATES
I know where to find some of my old crew, sir.
ULYSSES
Retired?
MENEKRATES
Some. Others have only just finished their term.
ULYSSES
They will not hurry to take up the oar again.
MENEKRATES
Not for the Fleet. But when their old captain calls—
ULYSSES
Then you have learned to command well.
MENEKRATES
You are my captain, sir.
Pause.
TELEMACHUS
Herald.
MEDON
Yes, my king.
TELEMACHUS
Once this court adjourns, have a ship provisioned for Lord Ulysses. Give him no delay to sail.
MEDON bows. ULYSSES returns the stave to MEDON. ULYSSES and MENEKRATES bow to TELEMACHUS and turn to exit harbour-side.
MENEKRATES
Most of them live by the harbour. We can have everyone ready by dawn. Best not lose this weather.
ULYSSES
Lead the way.
They exit. Silence.
SECOND CITIZEN
Dawn?
FIRST ELDER
King Telemachus, call him back. He has not thought this through.
TELEMACHUS
He is of sound mind.
FIRST ELDER
Without a heading?
FIRST CITIZEN
Or a crew.
SECOND ELDER
Telemachus, your father is not what he used to be.
TELEMACHUS
Lord Ulysses will manage.
SECOND ELDER
His only crew shouldn’t be men like myself—or Mentor.
MENTOR
I would if I could.
FIRST ELDER
Only another mad mariner would follow.
TELEMACHUS
Who has sailed under Lord Ulysses himself. If anyone knows my father’s fitness at sea, it is Captain Menekrates.
FIRST CITIZEN
Maybe he’s making up for missing Troy.
SECOND CITIZEN
He’s my age though—he couldn’t have rowed with Ulysses.
SECOND ELDER
None of that crew came back.
TELEMACHUS
One of them did.
SECOND CITIZEN
But my king, why does your father leave us? He flies from Ithaca as a gull from a cliff.
FIRST CITIZEN
If oars could be wings.
MENTOR
Ulysses has never done anything without a purpose.
FIRST CITIZEN
Then what’s he doing, chasing Sirens?
TIMARETE
Stick your nose into someone else’s life. The nerve of you all.
The court grows louder, voices overlapping in argument. MEDON looks to TELEMACHUS, bows, then places the stave on the dais. He steps away from his post. TELEMACHUS rises with the royal sceptre held high.
TELEMACHUS
Enough. I have ruled. Your counsel is noted.
TIMARETE
King Telemachus, how are you holding up?
He gives her a little smile.
TELEMACHUS
I have granted the former king his due. His matters are private and belong to him.
PHAON (from across the room)
How is the Queen?
The court hushes. Heads turn until all eyes settle on PENELOPE, standing silently at the back. She approaches the dais, picks up the abandoned stave and holds it high.
PENELOPE
Ithaca, listen to your Queen.By what right do you hold a claimAgainst your former king—to whomYou paid an empty honour when,Not one hour past, he laid asideHis crown and blessed his son’s new reign?Vile words out viler mouths now spitUpon the balding head as soonYou learned the crown had hid his age.When does the office finally end,The public’s cries for bellies fed;And nurseries go still when babesNo longer need their spoons held out?You make an ending of the man,When only kingship reached its end;Yet Ulysses begins again.What know you of the man uncrowned?
His sword, drawn high, had shone unsheathedAcross ten years on foreign sands—for Ithaca; and ten more yearsOf roaming god-wracked seas to find—His Ithaca; and now away,No longer aimed toward his home,But to the west, and for himself.Why must he justify his cause,When it serves none but him alone?Have you not fed enough, or mustYou hoard his final ounce of life,That flight becomes your injury,That oars become the wings of madness?What know you of the man alone,Kept from the ones he loves the most?
And look—there on the dais, crowned,Our son, our own Telemachus—To whom I’d leave my final breath—Whom you have ratified with praise,And whom his father has judged fitTo bear the sceptre and the isle:If you now doubt that judgement, stripEach king the honour he is due.The weight of Ithaca has passed;Another burden calls, where splinterssplit the skin, oaken pinions sweepAnd lift on skies of salt and foam;And ever onward in pursuit—Each purpose followed to its end.What know you of my Ulysses—By what right do you claim my husband?
She points the stave around the court. They turn away, averting their eyes from hers.
PHAON
Then let me ask it this way—why does he leave you, Penelope?
Those closest recoil and stand back from him. Gasps of disgust, shock, shame and sympathy break through the crowd.
Silence. She places the stave back on the dais.
PENELOPE
That’s for me to find out.
Blackout.
End Scene Three