OUTSIDE THE ORACLE
ORPHEUS approaches the door, guarded by a BOUNCER on a stool. The musician carries many bags and cases. He is exhausted, and in a hurry.
BOUNCER
Sorry, guy. Can't go in this way.
ORPHEUS
No, I'm cool. I'm with The Hunters.
BOUNCER
(chuckles)
Nice.
An awkward pause. Neither looks away from the either. Neither moves.
ORPHEUS
I'll just squeeze past ya, then.
BOUNCER
Sorry, Hunter. Your name isn't on the list.
ORPHEUS
(an award-winning smile)
Excuse me, you must be confused. My name is Orpheus, I'm with the band that's playing soon. The Hunters. We're touring.
BOUNCER
You're touring? That's why you're at a dive?
ORPHEUS
(tightening smile)
Yes. I assure you, my name is on the list.
BOUNCER
What was it again?
ORPHEUS
(relaxing)
Orpheus.
BOUNCER
Let me check.
(doesn't move)
Nope, not on the list, sorry.
ORPHEUS
Listen, just let me in. I've been on the road all day and I need a drink.
2.
BOUNCER
You can't bring all that stuff with you.
ORPHEUS
I'm with. The band.
BOUNCER
No one told me we had entertainment tonight.
ORPHEUS sets down his bags. BOUNCER stands up with a grumble.
ORPHEUS
Then go get a manager. We've had this booked for like, three days.
BOUNCER
Three days? On your big tour? That's the furthest out you could plan?
ORPHEUS
(attempting a smile)
Yup. Listen, man, I've had my fair share of walking in places that people don't want me. I don't want to do this.
BOUNCER
(assuming a fighting stance)
Don't wanna do what?
LIGHTS focus on ORPHEUS. He takes a deep breath, and sings.
ORPHEUS
I BEEN WAY WAY DOWN
I CHASED THAT SPARKLIN' CROWN
OH I CHASED HER DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN
REACHED THE QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD
I SAW MY LOVE GIVIN' A LOVELY OLE TWIRL
BOY I'D FOUND MYSELF A PEARL PEARL PEARL PEARL PEARL
SANG A LITTLE SONG JUST TO WARM HER SOUL
SAW IN HER EYES THAT SAME OLE GLOW
TOLD MY DARLING DEAR TO GO GO GO GO GO
TRIED TO FIGHT MY WAY OUT WITH A PRETTY SONG
THOUGHT MY DARLING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN DAWN
BUT MY LOVE, SHE WAS GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE
LIGHTS return to normal. BOUNCER is sobbing.
ORPHEUS picks up his things and steps past, through the door.
3.
THE ORACLE
Blues music plays.
ORPHEUS stumbles through the door, his bags tumbling. He is quite helpless until PYTHIA notices him and rushes to help.
PYTHIA
Oh my goodness? Do you need help with anything?
ORPHEUS immediately focuses all of his attention on her and flashes his smile.
ORPHEUS
Well, you can start by telling me your name.
PYTHIA
(immediately done with him)
Didn't you see the name tag?
She points to her name tag, pinned to her chest. ORPHEUS was already looking at her chest.
ORPHEUS
No, I was too busy admiring the scenery.
PYTHIA scoffs and slithers away.
ORPHEUS takes a long time to maneuver his bags to a corner. He sits at the bar. PYTHIA re-enters a moment later with a towel over her shoulder.
PYTHIA
Whaddya want?
ORPHEUS
If I tell you will you give it to me?
PYTHIA
To drink, asshole. If your ass is gonna take up my chair at my bar you're gonna order something expensive.
ORPHEUS
Your bar?
PYTHIA
Yes, my bar.
ORPHEUS
You're that nice lady on the phone?
4.
PYTHIA
What are you-
(her eyes narrow)
Oh my lord. You're with the band.
ORPHEUS
(winks)
So you can't kick me out, can you?
PYTHIA
You're early.
ORPHEUS
I like to get nice and drunk before the show. Makes the after party more fun.
PYTHIA
And where's the after party?
ORPHEUS
(leaning close)
Why do you want to know?
PYTHIA
(leaning closer)
Because whether or not it's here depends entirely on how well you tip.
ORPHEUS
(mockingly feigning being hurt)
Not how well I play?
PYTHIA swiftly leans her elbow on the bar, directly on top of ORPHEUS's hand. He remains silent for a moment, the pain clear on his face.
Then, in a pained voice:
ORPHEUS
Bottle of ouzo.
PYTHIA leans in more. ORPHEUS groans.
ORPHEUS
And a super expensive craft beer to wash it down.
PYTHIA smiles and walks away to get his drinks.
ZEPHYRUS and HYACINTHUS enter through the door.
ZEPHYRUS
What a nice guy. I hope his day gets better.
5.
HYACINTHUS
I wonder what his problem was.
Hey, Orpheus!
HYACINTHUS and ZEPHYRUS set their things down beside ORPHEUS's and rush over to him.
ZEPHYRUS
What are you doing here so early?
PYTHIA re-enters behind the bar and slams ORPHEUS's drinks down, making him jump. He rubs his hand.
PYTHIA
Gentlemen?
ZEPHYRUS
Porter for me.
HYACINTHUS
What kind of wine do you have?
PYTHIA
Two porters, coming up.
PYTHIA leaves to get the drinks.
ORPHEUS
Thought I would show my responsibility by arriving nice and early to help set up.
HYACINTHUS
You wanted to help set up, huh?
ORPHEUS
Yup.
HYACINTHUS
So what is it you're doing right now?
ORPHEUS
(grins and raises his bottle of ouzo)
Helping.
ORPHEUS takes a long chug of liquor. HYACINTHUS sighs and shuffles to the table with their bags and cases. He begins to set up their gear for the performance.
HYACINTHUS
(grumbling)
Come with us, Hyacinthus. It'll be fun. You'll get to enjoy all the sights and take it easy for a few weeks...
6.
PYTHIA arrives with two dark beers and places them on the bar. ZEPHYRUS flicks her a gold coin, and she slithers away.
ORPHEUS
It always this busy?
PYTHIA
(as she leaves)
Only when we have entertainment.
ZEPHYRUS brings both beers and sits beside ORPHEUS, who is pouring another shot.
ORPHEUS
Zephyrus, how the hell did we end up here?
ZEPHYRUS
We've got a hell of a manager.
ORPHEUS
We said six weeks. Six weeks on the road, then back to Thebes. The plan was-
ZEPHYRUS
The plan was to keep playing until we ran out of money.
ORPHEUS
(takes the shot)
And we still haven't?
ZEPHYRUS
Not yet. We keep getting invites to shows, so we keep going.
ORPHEUS
And Hyacinthus just keeps booking us on the way to the big gigs. I'm sick of these small-time shitholes.
ZEPHYRUS
It's not a shithole.
ORPHEUS
(raising his bottle again)
Trust me, I've been through enough shitholes to know-
In a rapid, fluid motion, ZEPHYRUS snatches the bottle away from him.
ZEPHYRUS
I know. How are you holding up?
ORPHEUS picks up and gazes into his beer.
7.
EURYDICE
Orpheus?
She is behind him. ZEPHYRUS cannot see her. ORPHEUS tenses up.
EURYDICE
Orpheus? Honey? Where are we? What's going on?
No answer.
Orpheus? Babe? I'm scared. Look at me, please.
EURYDICE disappears.
ORPHEUS
I'm fine.
ZEPHYRUS
No you're not. You're a mess. Tell me what's going on.
ORPHEUS
I'm just... dealing with a lot.
ZEPHYRUS
Listen. You lost your girl. I get that. When we didn't see you after the funeral we got all worried. Your dad just about went crazy wondering where you were. No call, no note, nothing. Then, you show up a month later in your clothes from the funeral, covered in burns and ashes, and next thing I know I've got Hy telling me that you and I are gonna be playing the biggest festivals of the summer back to back. What is going on?
ORPHEUS
Just moving on.
ZEPHYRUS
Are you moving on, or are you running away from something?
ZEPHYRUS picks up his beer and takes the other to HYACINTHUS. ORPHEUS reaches for the ouzo, but stops when he senses EURYDICE behind him again.
EURYDICE
Orpheus, why won't you talk to me? You spend all your time out with your friends hunting or playing music and don't even look at me anymore. Orpheus. Orpheus? Orpheus!
ORPHEUS spins in his seat, startling HYACINTHUS and spilling his beer.
The blues music stops, replaced by ZEPHYRUS tuning his saxophone with an electric keyboard.He sets up all the equipment, tuning as he goes. When he is finished, he replaces the music with a quick improvised solo.
8.
HYACINTHUS
Dude! What the hell?
ORPHEUS
Shit, I'm sorry man.
HYACINTHUS
Why so jumpy?
ORPHEUS
Pre-show nerves, I guess.
HYACINTHUS
(sitting next to him)
You? I don't believe it.
ORPHEUS
Believe it.
HYACINTHUS
You played with The Muses. How could a little crowd like this even phase you?
ORPHEUS
I was just backup vocals.
HYACINTHUS
Still. Better than I could do. I'm just here to get you and Zeph to the gigs.
ORPHEUS
I still don't see why we had to stop at this dump.
HYACINTHUS
It's not a dump.
ORPHEUS
I don't like it.
HYACINTHUS
That's because the owner doesn't like you.
ORPHEUS laughs and they both drink.
After a moment:
HYACINTHUS
Hey, I don't know if I ever told you...
He trails off.
9.
ORPHEUS
Don't leave me in suspense, what?
HYACINTHUS
I'm really sorry about Eurydice.
A cloud passes over ORPHEUS's face.
HYACINTHUS
I wish you could have been married longer. I've always- You've always been my best friend. Your dad is like a father to me. I've always looked up to you and I really- I'm glad you're my friend. I wish I could have been there for you after the funeral. And I know you. You never look back. You just keep moving forward and keep smiling and singing and I guess I just really like that you always put on a happy face. But if you ever need to talk...
He lays his hand ORPHEUS's.
I'm here.
ORPHEUS is motionless. He keeps his eyes dead ahead, staring straight at HYACINTHUS. EURYDICE is directly behind him, so close he could feel her breath if she had any. Now more than ever, we see her as what she is: dead.
ORPHEUS
Hy, I...
EURYDICE
Shhh.
LIGHTS focus on ORPHEUS, like earlier. There is complete silence. ORPHEUS opens his mouth to sing, but out comes:
ZEPHYRUS
Hey! Man of the hour! I've got everything set up!
LIGHTS return to normal, with slightly more emphasis on ZEPHYRUS. He has set up an amp for the keyboard, and a microphone with its own amp. Leaned against one is a sign that reads: THE HUNTERS. All of their cases lie open at the edge of the stage, and remain there until the audience leaves.
ORPHEUS shakes his head, snapping himself out of it. EURYDICE and HYACINTHUS have disappeared. He takes another swig of liquor, finishes his beer, wipes his eyes and says:
ORPHEUS
Hey everyone, how you doin' tonight?
Points: 1940
Reviews: 109
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