In Athena’s name! What’s gone wrong? This damned bow—
(ATHENA, who has been inconspicuous in the background, comes quietly forward. ULYSSES is still trying to string the bow. His hand slips and he almost falls with the bow’s spring.)
Hell and—
ATHENA
Blood pressure, blood pressure! Don’t take it so hard, Ulysses. After all, you haven’t handled a bow like that for seventeen years.
ULYSSES
This old bow is stiff with age!
PENELOPE
Try again, darling! You must, you must! Try again!
ULYSSES
(Wrestling with the bow)
All I need is practice. Give me time.
PENELOPE
(Frantic, now)
But we haven’t got time—
ATHENA
Keep out of this, my sweet! Didn’t I try to stop you from announcing the contest until we saw how Ulysses could handle this bow? You and your bright ideas!
PENELOPE
—oh, oh, what have I done?
(She bursts into tears. TELEMACHUS is horrified. CLIA is as upset as PENELOPE. PHILETIUS stands, helpless.)
ULYSSES
(Holds the bow away from him. He wipes his brow and stares at it. He speaks very quietly.)
What the hell has happened to me?
ATHENA
We don’t get any younger.
(Her voice becomes stronger as ULYSSES covers his eyes with his hands. The others stare at ULYSSES as if transfixed.)
Now, keep cool, Ulysses. We’ve been in some bad spots before this. In the last seventeen years, you and I have thought our way out of many a tight corner.
(ULYSSES drops his hand, lifts the bow, and places it back on the wall. Then he turns and looks at PENELOPE.)
ULYSSES
Well, old girl? There’s your Hero of the Trojan War.
(He begins to laugh, not altogether with amusement.)
PENELOPE
(Running to him)
I don’t want any hero. I just want Ulysses.
(She kisses him.)
I’m less afraid of you, just as you are. Oh darling... All you need is some practice with the bow. If you just could get an hour alone with it...
ULYSSES
(Nodding)
An hour would do it. I hope.
(EUMAEUS whistles a warning from the yard.)
But we don’t even get that...
EUMAEUS
(Appearing at the door)
One man, coming down the mountainside.
(He looks back at the mountain.)
ULYSSES
(Puzzled)
Only one?
EUMAEUS
(Standing at one side of the door, his eyes still watching)
No one is following him, as yet... He’s alone. Hurrying, too. But he’s still some distance from the road.
PENELOPE
Then we still have some time before he reaches here.
(Quickly, as the men look at each other, their hands now on their daggers)
I’ve an idea—
(ATHENA covers her eyes.)
ULYSSES
(In mock alarm)
Another one?
PENELOPE
Quick, Clia—pack some food. Telemachus, get the water skins. Carry them down to the Bay. I’ll get some blankets.
(She is moving toward the steps to her room, as ULYSSES speaks to her.)
ULYSSES
Are we going camping or something?
PENELOPE
Darling, have you forgotten? We have our boat in the Bay.
TELEMACHUS
But we can’t! We can’t sail—
PENELOPE
Of course we can. It takes five men to sail that boat, but now that Ulysses is home we can easily manage it.
TELEMACHUS
But we—
ULYSSES
Let me handle this, old boy.
(To PENELOPE, gently)
Darling, we aren’t going to run away.
PENELOPE
We aren’t running. We are sailing. That’s quite different.
ULYSSES
(Gently)
We aren’t doing either. Because we can’t. I gave orders for a little persuasion to be used on our boat—with a hammer and chisel.
PENELOPE
On our boat?
TELEMACHUS
That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. It will split wide open as soon as it’s out of the Bay. It will never last in open waters.
(Grins for ULYSSES)
We did a good job, all right. You wouldn’t notice the damage unless you went looking for it.
ULYSSES
The boat was just too tempting, Penelope. I saw it, as I came here today. And I found myself thinking about it—and the mainland. When a man starts thinking about retreat, he is already beaten.
EUMAEUS
(Reporting from the door, where he stands, watching vigilantly)
He has reached the road now. Running his horse pretty hard. It’s Eryx. I can see his hair glint in the sun, as hot as a beacon. Ah, ah!—Some more are beginning to move down the mountainside!
ULYSSES
(Catching PENELOPE by the arm, urging her up the steps to her doorway)
Into your room. Stay there. Keep out of sight.
PENELOPE
But—
ULYSSES
Keep out of sight! Stay away from this Hall!
PENELOPE
(Resisting, unwilling, worried)
But darling—what will you do?
ULYSSES
Practise.
PENELOPE
With the bow?
(From the distance comes the sound of a galloping horse)
There isn’t time—
ULYSSES
(Gives her a quick hug)
Leave that to me.
(He adds a smack on her bottom and sends her running up the steps.)
And lock the door to your room!
(PENELOPE leaves obediently.)
ATHENA
That’s right, master. Let her know who is the boss around here. You’ve won your first battle, Ulysses. And what about the next one?
(ULYSSES has swung round to face the door, his hand ready on his dagger. TELEMACHUS and PHILETIUS have come to stand beside him. EUMAEUS, still watching the yard, pulls his body out of sight from anyone who may be arriving there. The beat of hoofs is strong, then silenced as if someone were dismounting.)
Shall we play it easy—wait until we see why Eryx is in such a hurry?
(ULYSSES relaxes a little.)
TELEMACHUS
But when can you practise with the bow?
ULYSSES
We’ll practise a little deception, first.
(He picks up the cloak, draws it around him, and retreats to the fireplace bench.)
TELEMACHUS
Aren’t you going to deal with Eryx?
(He looks at the door and then at his unsheathed knife. But PHILETIUS, at a sign from ULYSSES, puts his arm around the boy’s shoulder, and shakes his head. TELEMACHUS walks over to the table, disconsolately, and sits on its edge. PHILETIUS, at another quick sign from ULYSSES, sits on one of the steps leading to the dais and begins to whittle. CLIA is preparing some food for a soup pot, and she is using her largest knife. All watch the door.)
EUMAEUS
(Bowing to the yard with a deep flourish and speaking mockingly)
Welcome, my lord, welcome!
(ERYX enters, hurriedly. He takes in the Hall with a glance, and seems reassured.)
You had a fast ride. I think you’ve ruined your horse.
ERYX
(To CLIA)
Get a blanket and a couple of poles.
(To the others)
Take them up the mountain. Help is needed. Get a move on, there!
ULYSSES
A stretcher case? Now, isn’t that too bad? I hope it isn’t Melas.
ERYX
A
rock fell on a couple of men. One of them is badly hurt.
ULYSSES
But not Melas. How disappointing for you.
ERYX
(Shouting)
Get a move on, I tell you!
(But no one moves. ERYX notices the knife in PHILETIUS’ hand, still whittling; and the knife in CLIA’s hand, now chopping vegetables with determination; and the knife that telemachus is using to carve an initial in the corner of the table. ERYX’s hand goes to the sword at his waist, and he backs to the door, keeping an eye on all these knives.)
ULYSSES
You’d like us all to clear out so that you could have this Hall to yourself, would you? If you were thinking of trying out the Great Bow, then go ahead. Who’s stopping you? Melas is still up on the mountain with the injured man, isn’t he?
ERYX
(Pulling his sword)
Who are you?
ULYSSES
(Rising, standing astride on the hearth, but still keeping his cloak around him)
Yes, it all makes a pretty picture. A hunting party scattered on a mountainside. A crag suddenly plunges down. It misses Melas, but gets two of his friends who were standing beside him. Up comes Eryx, the ever-useful. “I’ll ride for help,” he says. Obliging fellow. And before the others have gathered their wits, such as they are, Eryx is halfway down the mountain. He keeps his word, too: tries to get us all out of here, carrying first aid up the mountain. Most touching. But we are not going, Eryx.
ERYX
(Taking a stand, raising his sword, but watching the knives around him which now have stopped whittling, chopping, and carving)
Who are you?
ULYSSES
Just a man who wants to see you smuggle a shot or two with that bow, so that you can win tonight. That’s your idea, isn’t it?...
(He laughs.)
You’re a clever lad, Eryx; and like all clever lads, you’d be none the worse of a hanging.
(His voice changes.)
Put up that sword! If we had wanted to, we could have slit your throat by this time and dropped you, tied to an anchor, into the Bay.
ERYX
Then why don’t you?
ULYSSES
Why take the trouble? You’ll be killed together, all eleven of you.
ERYX
(Pretending to be amused, but watchful)
Will we? You know... I kind of admire your impudence. Who are you, anyway?
(EUMAEUS gives a warning whistle, and ERYX notices that TELEMACHUS, PHILETIUS, and CLIA look anxiously toward the door.)
Yes, listen to that warning. There’s your reason for not slitting my throat. You are afraid of my friends who are now riding down from the mountain.
EUMAEUS
Not all of them, Eryx. There’s only a small band coming down. And they’re riding in a normal way—just a slow easy trot.
(The information is more for ULYSSES than for ERYX. The others look to ULYSSES for his command, and ERYX notices this. He speaks worriedly.)
ERYX
WHO ARE YOU?
ULYSSES
You are inclined to repeat yourself, aren’t you?
(He throws aside the cloak, over his shoulders.)
All right. I was sent here by Ulysses. I’m a captain in his forces. We landed last night, on the north shore of the island. Forty-three men, and Ulysses himself.
ERYX
Ulysses?
ULYSSES
He entered the village this morning. The people have decided they are on our side, after all. And so have some of your servants—the few who survived.
(He is grinning broadly, speaking confidently.)
So we’ve got the whole of the island, except for this southern corner. And Ulysses is tightening the net around it, minute by minute.
ERYX
(Trying to regain his own confidence)
A likely story!
ULYSSES
Tell that to Ulysses when you see him. Just after sunset, in fact. Won’t be long, now.
ERYX
(Sneering, but taking a step backward)
Ulysses sent you, his captain, to walk in here and be cut down by eleven men!
ULYSSES
(Equably)
I walked in here to tell Penelope that help is coming. I’m staying here to guard this Hall. It’s defensible. That’s the way Ulysses built it.
(He moves quickly to the steps, and stands in front of them, dagger drawn. PHILETIUS rises, his knife ready. TELEMACHUS circles round to join them.)
All we have to do is to tie you up, bar the double doors, and wait for Ulysses and his men. Telemachus, we’ll need four swords, a couple of spears, some throwing knives. Quick!
(To ERYX, again)
Did you think we had no weapons at all? Now, don’t harm the boy unless you want to die in a very unpleasant fashion. Ulysses has a nasty temper, and a long memory.
(ERYX hesitates in attacking TELEMACHUS, and the boy slips out into the yard.)
EUMAEUS
(Still watching at the door)
Yes, your friends are taking their time, Eryx. And I don’t see Melas among them.
ULYSSES
How many?
EUMAEUS
Five of them—four together, and one straggling.
ULYSSES
(To ERYX as he backs toward the door)
Stay here, Eryx, stay here... It wouldn’t be any good warning them. Ulysses controls the village. Even if you could fight your way to the harbour, you’d find no escape there. The ships have all been sent away. And this, let me remind you, is an island. It’s a long, long swim to the mainland.
ERYX
(Wary)
Ulysses sent the ships away? And they left, obediently?
(He begins to smile.)
That’s a big order for forty-three men to enforce. You’ve been too clever, Captain... I nearly believed your story. But that last touch!
(He begins to laugh, his sword is raised.)
You’d be none the worse of a hanging, yourself.
ULYSSES
(Smiling broadly)
The ships all left. For the mainland. Where they will pick up the booty that we brought back from the war. You’re right: forty-three men might not have been enough to empty a harbour, but seventeen years of collectors’ items roused a lot of curiosity. And it isn’t junk that’s lying over on the wharves of Ragusa, waiting for us to load it and bring it here. It isn’t a Trojan shield, or a broken sword, or an arrowhead or two. It’s a few mementos from palaces, in gold and pearls and silver; and some reminders of our visit to Circe’s island; and some gifts from Calypso; and a few odds and ends we liberated from the Cyclops’ cave. Enough—enough for all of us, and for the people who help us. You’d be surprised how quickly they volunteered to sail to Ragusa.
ERYX
(As the sound of walking horses and jingling harness at last is heard)
One move from any of you—and a shout from me will bring them at a gallop.
(He thrusts EUMAEUS aside, and straddles the doorway with his drawn sword.)
Try barring the door, Captain!
(He smiles in triumph.)
But, at least, we can now talk. I think we understand each other. You want to live to collect your share of the loot, and marry a pretty girl and settle down. I’ve no objection to that.
ULYSSES
(Ironically)
That’s very civil of you.
ERYX
And I’m a man who knows when to cut his losses. If the game goes against me, I stop playing.
ULYSSES
So what’s your bargain?
ERYX
I won’t kill you—
ULYSSES
Like to try?
ERYX
—and I won’t denounce you to the others. I’ll leave you to play the beggar until Ulysses gets here.
ULYSSES
And the other side of the bargain?
ERYX
You’ll let me leave this island.
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ULYSSES
But Ulysses may not agree to that.
ERYX
I shan’t stay to argue with Ulysses.
ULYSSES
But there’s no escape by the harbour.
ERYX
I’ll do my own planning. Well—is the bargain made?
(He catches EUMAEUS suddenly, twisting the old man in front of him as a shield.)
Do I yell for the others?
(The voices of men are now heard faintly from the courtyard.)
Or do I leave you in peace—and you leave me in peace?
ULYSSES
...I agree. You’ll never slip through our line of men anyway... All right! I said I agreed. Take your sword out of his back!
ERYX
And not a word to Melas?
ULYSSES
I said I agreed.
(TELEMACHUS enters, carrying an armful of weapons. He has a quiver, with a few arrows, slung over his shoulder. He halts. He stares in amazement.)
Stand aside, Telemachus.
(ERYX lets EUMAEUS free, and moves quickly into the yard.)
TELEMACHUS
You let him go?
(ULYSSES raises a warning hand. They all stand silent. But there is no yell from outside. EUMAEUS, rubbing his shoulder, goes to the door again.)
EUMAEUS
He’s strolling down toward the stream as cool as grass.
TELEMACHUS
That’s where the others went to water their horses. I had to wait until they couldn’t see me across the yard. And I came too late... I even brought you some arrows for the bow, all I could find that weren’t broken. There are only four of them...