Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 253

PARIS [_throwing it back to Tsumu_]. This for your silence, daughter of darkness. A prince has no need of purses.

TSUMU [_looking at him_]. A prince!

HELENA [_gloriously_]. My prince of poetry. My deliverer!

PARIS [_divinely_]. My queen of love!

[_They go out, Tsumu looking after them in speechless amazement.

Suddenly she sees the papyrus on the s.h.i.+eld, runs over and reads it and then rushes to the door of the library._]

TSUMU [_calling_]. a.n.a.lytikos.

[_She hides the purse in her bosom. a.n.a.lytikos enters, scroll in hand._]

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Has the Queen summoned me?

TSUMU [_mysteriously_]. A terrible thing has happened.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. What's the matter?

TSUMU. Where's the King?

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. In the library.

TSUMU. I have news more precious than the gold of Midas.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_giving her a purse_]. Well! What is it?

TSUMU [_speaking very dramatically and watching the effect of her words_]. The Queen has deserted Menelaus.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_receiving the shock philosophically_]. Swift are the ways of Nature. The G.o.ds have smiled upon him.

TSUMU. The G.o.ds have forsaken the King to smile upon a prince.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. What?

TSUMU. He was a prince.

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_apprehensively_]. Why do you say that?

TSUMU [_clutching her bosom_]. I have a good reason to know. [_There is a sound of voices below in the courtyard. Menelaus rushes in expectantly. Tsumu falls prostrate before him._] Oh, King, in thy bottomless agony blame not a blameless negress. The Queen has fled!

MENELAUS [_in his delight forgetting himself and flinging her a purse_].

Is it true?

TSUMU. Woe! Woe is me!

MENELAUS [_storming_]. Out of my sight, you eyeless Argus!

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_to Tsumu_]. Quick, send a messenger. Find out who he was.

[_Tsumu sticks the third purse in her bosom and runs out._]

MENELAUS [_with radiant happiness, kneeling before the bust of Zeus_].

Ye G.o.ds, I thank ye. Peace and a happy life at last.

[_The shouts in the courtyard grow louder._]

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. The news has spread through the palace.

MENELAUS [_in trepidation, springing up_]. No one would dare stop the progress of the Queen.

TSUMU [_rushes in and prostrates herself before the King_]. Woe is me!

They have gone by the road to the harbor.

MENELAUS [_anxiously_]. Yes! Yes!

TSUMU. By the King's orders no man has dared gaze upon Her Majesty. They all fell prostrate before her.

MENELAUS. Good! Good! [_Attempting to cover his delight._] Go! Go! You garrulous dog.

[_Tsumu gets up and points to s.h.i.+eld. a.n.a.lytikos and the King look toward it. a.n.a.lytikos tears off the papyrus and brings it to Menelaus. Tsumu, watching them, exits._]

MENELAUS [_reading_]. "I am not a bad woman. I did what I had to do."

How Greek to blame fate for what one wants to do.

[_Tsumu again comes tumbling in._]

TSUMU [_again prostrate before the King_]. A rumor flies through the city. He--he--

a.n.a.lYTIKOS [_anxiously_]. Well? Well?

TSUMU. He--he--

MENELAUS [_furiously to a.n.a.lytikos_]. Rid me of this croaking raven.

TSUMU. Evil has fallen on Sparta. He--

a.n.a.lYTIKOS. Yes--yes--

MENELAUS [_in a rage_]. Out of my sight, perfidious Nubian.

[_Sounds of confusion in the courtyard. Suddenly she springs to her feet and yells at the top of her voice._]

TSUMU. He was Paris, Prince of Troy!

[_They all start back. a.n.a.lytikos stumbles into a seat. Menelaus turns pale. Tsumu leers like a black Nemesis._]