Oscar De Summa
FROM PROMETEUS
INDOMITABLE IS THE NIGHT
Nomination Italian Playwrights Project 3th edition (2020/22)
excerpt translated by Thomas Simpson
Characters
Tea a young woman, 25
Epi a young man, 30
Pandora a woman, 35
Aetòs a man, 50
Note:
Aetòs, literally Eagle, simply represents “Life” in all its diverse facets. Sometimes we have the sensation of finding ourselves in the same problematic situation, unresolved, which we have been unable to overcome in some other moment in life. As though the time changed, the characters changed, perhaps even the place, but the problem to be overcome and resolved remained the same. As though Life were presenting us the same problem until we manage to resolve it definitively: that’s Aetòs.
In every scene the characters are all dressed the same but in different colors, each a single color, in pastel-colored clothes bought in a mega-store.
I –ALL WE HAVE IS STORIES (part one)
Tea – (to the audience ) The finale: what else do you want to do in life but tell yourself stories?
Tea in an elevated position. Voices amplified by heavy reverb.
Music: Space Oddity by David Bowie, solo piano version.
Aetòs/Unknown – Hey, is everything all right?
Tea – Yes, it’s fine
Aetòs/Unknown– Are you sure? … hey… Are you sure?
Tea – We really don’t have any control, you know
Aetòs/Unknown– Ok. Do you want to come down from there?
Tea – No control
Aetòs/Unknown– Please, listen to me. Come back here, we’ll talk in peace.
Tea – In peace?
Aetòs/Unknown– In peace
Tea – About what?
Aetòs/Unknown– About what’s happening
Tea – I don’t think you want to know
Aetòs/Unknown– Sure I want to know
Tea – Clearly, your morbid interest in the lives of others never lets up.
Aetòs/Unknown– It’s not that
Tea – Then what is it?
Aetòs/Unknown– To help you
Tea – Who asked you for anything
Aetòs/Unknown– I’m glad to help
Tea – go fuck yourself. I’ll never tell you my story
Aetòs/Unknown– ok. I don't want to know but come down from there
Tea – why don’t you go away, old man
Aetòs/Unknown– why?
Tea – yes, why?
Aetòs/Unknown– beh… until you’re in a safe place I’m not leaving here
Tea – what do you care?
Aetòs/Unknown– I care
Tea – there’s too many of us in this shitty place. One less is a step in the right direction
Aetòs/Unknown– that’s bullshit
Tea – but it’s right bullshit
Aetòs/Unknown– I don’t think so
Tea – There are 7 billion of us, too many. We’re ruining everything. The strange thing is all we see are stories but we’re so morbidly obsessed with hearing more. It’s a war to know the details of who’s dying, who gets raped, who…you all go fuck yourselves.
Aetòs/Unknown– Not me, girl. I don’t want to know anything about you
Tea – nothing?
Aetòs/Unknown– just your name. Hey? What’s your name? Listen to me, girl. What’s your name?
Tea – Tea
Aetòs/Unknown– Tea ?
Tea – Tea . It’s a nickname but I like it
Aetòs/Unknown– It’s not bad
Tea – It’s not bad?
Aetòs/Unknown– No, it’s not
Tea – It’s supercool. Tea is a supercool name. Short and quick but without sacrificing elegance. If it’s not bad for you I deduce you don’t know shit about names
Aetòs/Unknown– Maybe… could be
Tea – So what’s your name?
Aetòs/Unknown– Aetòs
Tea – What fucking kind of name is that?
Aetòs/Unknown–mine
Tea – How come?
Aetòs/Unknown– to explain I’d have to tell you a story. You want to hear it? You want to hear it?
Tea – Another story?
Aetòs/Unknown– All we have is stories. Without stories to tell we’re nothing.
Tea – stories, again?
Aetòs/Unknown– What else do you want to do in life but tell stories?
Tea – Stories are shit. We make up anything to live stories, staying safe. Until we lose control. Or better until we recognize that we’ve never had any control. Everything slips from our hands in the middle of a storm of shit and insults
Aetòs/Unknown– Ok. Ok… calm down. Don’t get agitated up there.
Tea – Why should I calm down? What’s the matter with you? What’s the matter with you? Why don’t you have control? Go away!
Aetòs/Unknown– Calm down, please
Tea – Why not do something?
Aetòs/Unknown– Calm down
Tea – Why are you afraid?
Aetòs/Unknown– I’m not afraid
Tea – Yes you are
