“They can think what they want. Believe what they want. Say what they want as long as we know the truth. That’s what matters. That’s all that matters.”

—Persephone

A black and white tribal-style design featuring three wolf heads in a symmetrical pattern.

PERSEPHONE

A three-act play

M. Kay

CHARACTERS

PERSEPHONE: The daughter of Zeus and Demeter. The Goddess of Spring.

HADES: The Lord of the Underworld and God of the Dead.

HECATE: Goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, the moon, ghosts and necromancy.

ERIS: Daughter of Zeus and Hera. Goddess of strife and discord.

MINTHE: Naiad, daughter of Cocytus, who was in love with Hades.

NYX: Mother of Hypnos. The personification of Night.

HYPNOS: Personified spirit of Sleep.

EURYNOMUS: Scavenger demon who eats the flesh of the dead.

LEUCE: Oceanid, Hades’ first wife.

HERMES: The messenger of the Olympian Gods.

ACT 1, SCENE 1 UNDERWORLD

Smoke covers the dimly lit stage. A columned palace looms in the background. Three shades wearing dark, ragged clothing move around the stage. Dark cloth covers their heads and masks their features.

PERSEPHONE (Offstage): Is it much further?

HADES (Offstage): No. We’re almost there.

Enter Hades and Persephone

The light brightens as the couple appears onstage, but the rear of the stage remains shrouded in darkness.

Persephone is dressed in a white, sleeveless gown.

PERSEPHONE: Is it always this dark?

HADES: I am afraid so, but you get used to it after a while.

PERSEPHONE: I’m not sure if I ever could. I like the sun too much. And yet, oddly enough, twilight is my favorite time of day.

HADES: I’m surprised. I would have thought you’d prefer dawn.

PERSEPHONE: I might if I ever got to see one. I usually don’t get up that early. Mama likes to tease me and say that I’m lazy, but I’m not really. I simply like to lay there for a while after I wake up and think about things.

Persephone sees the faceless shades for the first time. She lets out a faint cry and ducks behind Hades. Then, she peeks around his body to look at them.

HADES: Don’t be frightened.

PERSEPHONE: I wasn’t. I was just a little startled. That’s all.

HADES: It’s understandable, what with the way it seemed to jump out at us like that. I…I was a little startled myself, to be honest, but it’s only a shade. They’re harmless.

PERSEPHONE: It doesn’t look so harmless to me. Make it go away.

HADES: Leave this place. Rest.

Exit two of the shades

The remaining shade kneels in the smoke a short distance from the couple and sways slowly from side to side.

PERSEPHONE: What are those things?

HADES: At one time, they were people, but after they died, they became as they are now, mere shadows of who they once were.

PERSEPHONE: They’re dead?

HADES: Yes, of course. This is the Underworld...the Land of the Dead.

PERSEPHONE: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t…I didn’t realize that….

HADES: There’s no need to apologize. If anyone needs to apologize, it’s me. I should have made certain that you knew exactly where my home was located before I brought you here.

PERSEPHONE: You probably did tell me. I probably just wasn’t paying attention. I can be such an idiot sometimes.

HADES: Don’t do that. Don’t ever put yourself down like that. I think you’re wonderful.

PERSEPHONE: Are you sure it won’t hurt me?

HADES: I would never allow anything or anyone to harm you.

Persephone walks closer to the shade to get a better look at it. Hades steps up beside her.

PERSEPHONE: Who are you? What’s your name?

HADES: They cannot speak, and even if they could, they wouldn’t be able to tell you. All shades must drink from Lethe, the River of Forgetfulness, once they arrive in the Underworld. After that, they remember nothing about their pasts. Not their names or where they once lived. They even forget about their families.

PERSEPHONE: How horrible.

HADES: It’s for the best, really. This way, they don’t have to worry or wonder about the fates of those they left behind.

PERSEPHONE: They seem so…broken. Isn’t there something we could do to ease their suffering?

HADES: There is no need to comfort them. They do not suffer. They feel nothing. No fear. No sorrow. No pain.

Enter Hecate and Eris

Hecate drags a struggling Eris by the arm behind her.

PERSEPHONE: Nor joy. Or love. Poor pitiful creature; everyone should feel loved.

HECATE: Wiser words were never spoken, child. Everyone should feel loved. I’m sorry to interrupt Hades, but I need to speak to you for a moment.

Eris tries to escape, but Hecate tightens her grip on Eris’ arm.

HADES: Can’t it wait?

HECATE: I suppose it will have to…(Aside)…Since your attention is obviously elsewhere.

After jerking her arm free, Eris backs away from Hecate. Once out of reach, Eris sticks her tongue out at Hecate. As she retreats, Eris bumps into Persephone.

ERIS: Watch where you’re going. Who are you? You seem different from the others…(Sniffing Persephone)…And smell better too.

HADES: Persephone, may I introduce you to Hecate…and that’s Eris.

HECATE: Persephone? Demeter’s daughter? I’m not sure, but haven’t we met before? I don’t know why I asked that. You probably wouldn’t remember it even if we had. It would have been a very long time ago when you were little more than a baby.

PERSEPHONE: You most likely would remember me as Kor,e which was everyone’s pet name for me when I was younger.

HECATE: Little Kore. Look at you. I can’t believe it’s you. You’re so grown-up. Where does the time go? It’s so good to see you again. How’s your mother?

PERSEPHONE: She’s good. As sharp as ever. I’m sorry; I don’t remember meeting you, but Mama has told me quite a few stories about you. I feel as though we are old friends already.

ERIS: Tell me, girl, what did your Mama say about the old biddy? Nothing good, I’d wager.

PERSEPHONE: Oh no. It was almost all good things.

HECATE: Almost?

PERSEPHONE: Well, she said you were…that you were…

HECATE: Sweet?

ERIS (Scoffing): Bitter.

HECATE: Courteous?

Eris grabs the shade, pulls it to its feet, and begins to spin around with it in a mad dance.

ERIS: Rude.

HECATE: Witty?

ERIS: Dull. This is fun, fun, fun. I could do it all day. Quick, say something else you are not.

PERSEPHONE: Actually, the only bad thing she ever said about you was that you could be, or rather on occasion, that you could be a little…witchy.

ERIS: It’s true. It’s true. It’s true. She is a witchy, witchy witch.

HECATE: Perhaps you would like to learn exactly how much of a witch I can be?

Hecate attempts to grab Eris again, but Eris dodges out of the way with the shade in tow.

ERIS: I would not.

HECATE: Then, keep your mouth shut.

Grumbling, Eris pushes the shade away and attempts to kick it in the rear end but misses.

Exit shade

HADES (To Eris): Do not ever let me catch you doing something like that again.

Eris makes a face at him when he isn’t looking.

HECATE: Tell me, child, what are you doing here? I‘m surprised your mother let you out of her sight. She’s so protective of you.

HADES (Aside): Protective? Like Argus was protecting Io.

PERSEPHONE: To tell you the truth, Mama doesn’t know I’m here. I wasn’t supposed to leave the meadow, but I sneaked off to have a little adventure. When Hades offered to bring me here to see the asphodels, I simply could not resist.

ERIS: He wants to show you his asphodels?

PERSEPHONE: Yes, exactly, and you, well, both of you, are more than welcome to come with us if you’d like. Speaking of which, we really should be going Hades. It’s getting late, and I have to be home soon, or Mama will be very angry.

ERIS: Wait a minute. Wait just one olive-picking minute. She doesn’t know, does she?

Eris roars with laughter.

HADES: Come, Persephone, there’s something I need to…

ERIS: Silly girl, you can’t leave here. None of us can, except for him. Otherwise, we would all go. Nobody likes it here. Why would they? Look around.

PERSEPHONE: What does she mean I can’t leave?

HADES: I…

ERIS: Let me tell her. Please, let me tell her. Please. Please. Please.

HECATE: Silence shrew. Why must you cause trouble wherever you go?

ERIS: I don’t know. Maybe I can’t help it. Maybe it’s my nature.

PERSEPHONE: I want to know what you’re talking about, and I want to know now.

ERIS: It’s very simple. You see, once you have stepped foot in the Land of the Dead, you can never return to the Land of the Living. It’s a rule. Which means…you’re stuck here. Forever and ever and ever.

PERSEPHONE: That’s not true. Is it? Tell me it’s not true. Hades?

HADES: I’m sorry, Persephone. I meant to…

ERIS: He tricked you. He lied to you. He lied, lied, lied, and what’s more, he’d do it again if he had half the chance.

HADES: Shut up, Eris.

PERSEPHONE: I trusted you.

ERIS: And look where that got you.

HADES: Persephone, please let me explain.

Hades reaches for Persephone’s hand, but she pulls away from him.

PERSEPHONE: Don’t touch me! My friends and I used to see you all the time, lurking in the shadows… watching us…spying on us. All my friends said you were a monster, but I refused to believe them. I defended you and said you were simply shy, but now, I realize how wrong I was. You are a monster, just like everyone said. I hate you. I hate you!

Exit Persephone stage left

HADES: Persephone, wait.

ERIS: I do believe she’s upset. Do you think it was something we said?

Hades moves toward Eris, but Hecate blocks him from reaching her.

HECATE: Don’t.

HADES (To Eris): You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?

ERIS: Don’t be such a child. I’m sure you’ll be able to persuade her to look at your asphodels sooner or later.

HADES: Get out of my sight, you acid-tongued harpy or so help me; I will not be responsible for what I do.

Eris flounces to the edge of the stage.

ERIS (Aside): Harpy? No one talks to me like that and gets away with it unscathed. I give you my word, dear Hades; you will rue the day you insulted me, and now, I know just how to do it too.

Exit Eris stage right

HADES: I should go after her.

HECATE: No, what you should do is take her back home to her mother.

HADES: I cannot.

HECATE: Why can’t you? You are the Lord of the Underworld. Your word is law here. If you say she can leave, she can.

HADES: It is not that simple, and you know it. I will not let her go. I went to too much trouble getting her here.

HECATE: I’m curious. What were you thinking, bringing a girl like her to a place like this? That child has spent her whole entire life kissed by sunshine, surrounded by beauty, music, and flowers, watching butterflies floating by on the wind, and you brought her here. Here, where it is dark and dank, and everywhere she looks, there are dead people.

HADES: Yes, I brought her here…where no one would ever think to look for her.

HECATE: You do realize that you cannot keep this secret for long, or are you a complete fool? Demeter and Zeus are bound to find out, and when they do…

HADES: Zeus already knows. He even gave me his permission.

HECATE: To do what? Kidnap his daughter?

HADES: No. To marry her. I love her. I cannot let her leave because I could not bear it. I want nothing more than to make her my wife, my queen.

HECATE (Aside): Nothing is ever easy with you, is it?

HADES: But first, I have to make her forgive me.

HECATE: That could prove difficult, considering you lied to her to get her to come here.

HADES: I did not lie to her. I just…I just didn’t tell her everything.

HECATE: And that makes it what? Just fine and dandy? Go ahead. Keep telling yourself that but make no mistake; she will still consider it lying. As do I and anyone else with a lick of sense.

HADES: Fair enough. But do you think she might? Forgive me, I mean.

HECATE: She’s hurt and angry right now, but in time, perhaps.

HADES: Could you maybe…work a little bit of your magic?

HECATE: No, I think she’s been manipulated enough. Don’t you?

HADES: In that case, I have no hope.

HECATE: I will talk to her and try to make her see that this place and you are not quite so terrible after all. Nothing more. You will have to win her heart all on your own, and I suspect that it will not be as easy of a task as you might hope.

Hecate links her arm with his.

HECATE (CONT’D): Now, tell me all about the trouble you went to getting her here. I want to know everything.

Exit Hades and Hecate

Persephone is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.