the histerical historical tragedy of the trojan war

8/3/2019 The Histerical Historical Tragedy of the Trojan War

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THE HISTERICAL HISTORICAL TRAGEDY OF THE

TROJAN WAR

BY (D. M. Larson)

ACT I - PARIS AND HELEN RUN TO TROY.

The Cast of Characters can be found at the end of the play with

suggestions for doubling characters if needed.

The stage has large wall upstage which is the wall of Troy. It can evenbe a small wall so the actors' heads can look over it. The land andshore outside Troy is in the left part of the stage. The ocean isoffstage in the audience. Before the play, an actor (Poseidon) can warmup the audience by having them pretend to be the ocean and PARIS andHELEN can sail through them. Poseidon has complete control of the oceanaudience. They could even do battle with some Spartan Greeks before theplay as PARIS and HELEN flee. The audience should be divided into twosides: Spartan and Trojan. At different times during the play, theSpartan and Trojan sides of the audience will cheer for their people(ATHENA directs the Spartan side. ATHENA says "This is..." and theaudience cheers "Sparta!". HELEN leads the other side in the cheer.HELEN says, "Goooo..." and audience yells "Troy!"). You should practicethis at the start of the play. The final Trojan cheer goes to PARIS andHELEN as they successfully make their way to the left side of the stagefrom the ocean. PARIS and HELEN act like goofy teenagers.

PARIS

Wow, we like totally ditched those Greeks.Eat our waves, dudes.

HELEN

You were like, so totally brave.

PARIS

I know. And you're, like... sooo pretty.

HELEN

I know. Are you really a prince?

PARIS

Prince of the greatest city ever... Troy!

Music can play as lights come up on the walls of Troy. The walls appearlike they are made of gold (use glitter).

HELEN

It's pretty.

PARIS

Not as pretty as you.

HELEN


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I know. Aren't your walls like totally...tall?

PARIS

The tallest and the strongest. They sayPoseidon himself helped build them.

HELEN

No way...

PARIS

Way!

HELEN

Cool!

PARIS

Want to see inside?

HELEN

Do I ever.

CASSANDRA rushes out and stops them.

CASSANDRA

Beware!

HELEN

Who's that?

PARIS

My sister, Cassandra. What's wrong now?Somebody going to kidnap a puppy again?

CASSANDRA

Don't bring Helen inside, Paris. She willonly bring doom on our city. Dooooom!

PARIS

Oh, come on, Cassandra. Get out of theway.

CASSANDRA

Doooooooooom!

PARIS pushes CASSANDRA out of the way and they go inside the wall.

HELEN


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Freak.

CASSANDRA stomps her foot and gets all pouty. APOLLO appears down leftand watches her.

CASSANDRA

How come nobody ever listens to me?

APOLLO is giggling now.

CASSANDRA (CONT.)

Apollo? Is that you? Get over here.

CASSANDRA runs up and grabs the giggling APOLLO. She starts hitting himand he stops laughing.

APOLLO

What's with you?

CASSANDRA

I thought you gave me the power to see thefuture?

APOLLO

I did. Didn't you predict where that puppywould be found?

CASSANDRA

But nobody listened to me.

APOLLO giggles again.

CASSANDRA (CONT.)

And now I see the walls of Troy fallingdown. And no one will listen to me aboutthat either.

APOLLO

Didn't you read the fine print of yourwish?

CASSANDRA

Fine print? What fine print?

APOLLO pulls a piece of paper from his pocket. It's notebook paper withdoodles.

CASSANDRA (CONT.)

I can't read this. It's a bunch ofdrawings. It's all Greek to me.

APOLLO


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Look here. Underneath the unicorn dancingon the rainbow. It says that you will beable to see the future, but no one willlisten to you.

CASSANDRA

What? How could you do this to me?

APOLLO

Because it's funny.

CASSANDRA

You gods think you're so smart. Well, Iknow what happens to you.

APOLLO

You do? Oh, you do. What?

CASSANDRA

I'm not telling.

APOLLO

Oh, come on.

CASSANDRA

No.

APOLLO

Please.

CASSANDRA

See you, never, Apollo.

CASSANDRA goes back inside Troy. APOLLO mocks her.

APOLLO

"You gods think you're so smart." I'llshow her. She won't think it's funny whenwe have a war!

APOLLO pulls out a cell phone. ZEUS appears in the audience. He canhave a funny ring tone.

ZEUS

Zeus here. Talk to me, baby.

APOLLO

So what you doing?


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ZEUS

Nothing. You?

APOLLO

Want to play war?

ZEUS

Sure, why not. Who you want to play with?

APOLLO

Troy.

ZEUS

Really? I don't know. I promised themprotection.

APOLLO

Promises? I thought you were the allpowerful one. You don't have to makepromises. I guess I'm calling the wrongguy. Maybe I should call Athena instead.She's a real warrior.

ZEUS

Wait one minute...

Thunder and lightning (lights go up and down). APOLLO smiles. ZEUScomes up on stage. Maybe he can be helped up by slaves or clouds?

APOLLO

Yes?

ZEUS

Well, you know I have a special place in myheart for Troy. I mean they have my boy ontheir side.

APOLLO

Your boy? How many boys do you have?

There's Ajax, Achilles, Hercules...

ZEUS

Not my actual boys... I mean Hector is atrue hero.

APOLLO

I know. That's why I picked Troy!

ZEUS and APOLLO lead Trojan side of the audience in a cheer:


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ZEUS AND APOLLO

Gooooo!

AUDIENCE

Troy!

ZEUS

So let's call Athena. She'll take yourchallenge.

ZEUS calls on his cell phone. ATHENA is in the back of the audiencepicking a fight with an usher.

ATHENA

I don't need a ticket you jerk. I'm in theplay!

ATHENA's phone rings. Her ring tone is something like "The Warrior" byScandal or the Rocky theme. Stage lights dim a bit and a spotlight shows

on ATHENA if possible.

ATHENA (CONT.)

What?!

ZEUS

Hello Athena... how are you today?

ATHENA

Horrible. Not one fight or battle and it's

almost dinner!

ZEUS

I've got good news. Apollo wants to playwar.

ATHENA

Sign me up!

ATHENA walks up to the stage and hops up.

ATHENA (CONT.)

Which side did you pick Apollo?

Dramatic music. Lights come up on Troy.

APOLLO

Troy!

ZEUS gets audience to cheer.


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ZEUS

Goooo!

AUDIENCE

Troy!

ATHENA

Fine. We'll play war. But I get to pickanyone I want, right?

APOLLO

Sure.

ATHENA

Then I pick Sparta!

ATHENA gets Spartan side of audience to cheer.

ATHENA

This is...

AUDIENCE

Sparta!

APOLLO

I thought you might.

ATHENA

What's that supposed to mean?

APOLLO

She has a thing for Ajax.

ATHENA

I do not!

APOLLO

Hector's gonna clean the floor with him.

ATHENA

In your dreams.

APOLLO

Too bad about Achilles though.

ATHENA


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What about Achilles?

APOLLO

His mommy won't let him come out and play.

ATHENA

What?!

ZEUS

He's always been such a momma's boy.

APOLLO

She did do him a great favor by dipping himin the river Styx and making him nearlyimmortal.

ZEUS

They should call it the river Stinks... is

it really worth being immortal to smelllike that?

ATHENA

He's one of those guys you admire from adistance.

APOLLO

So you ready for battle?

ATHENA

Wait. You have Zeus. I want some backup.

APOLLO

Fine... but what god is willing to stand upagainst Zeus?

ZEUS

I'm the king of the gods, baby!

ATHENA

Let me think... who isn't afraid of theking of the gods? Maybe... his wife!

ZEUS

You wouldn't?

ATHENA

Hera Rodham Clinton!


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HERA storms onto stage looking and sounding a bit like Xena the WarriorPrincess.

ATHENA (CONT.)

This is...

AUDIENCE

Sparta!

ZEUS

Uh... I gotta go.

APOLLO

Zeus.

ZEUS

Uh... just got a text message. Reallyurgent. Somebody needs a thunder storm.

Bye.

ZEUS exits. HERA and ATHENA do a warrior bear hug and secret hand shake.

ATHENA

How are you, Hera?

HERA

Where'd my good for nothing husband run offto?

ATHENA

Off to release more thunder.

HERA

He really needs to cut back on the beans.

They laugh. POSEIDON emerges from the audience.

POSEIDON

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

APOLLO

All hail the King of the Sea... Poseidon.Come to join my side, oh builder of thewalls of Troy.

POSEIDON

Hardly.

APOLLO


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Why not?

POSEIDON

I never got paid for building those walls.

ATHENA

Of course not. You know what he wanted?

POSEIDON

I only wanted all the first born childrenof Troy cast into the ocean every NewYear's Day. Is that too much to ask?

HERA

Let me think... uh... yes.

POSEIDON

So until I get paid, I'm not fighting for

Troy.

ATHENA

So what are you even doing here? Just hereto be a wet blanket?

HERA

Oh, that's funny. Ocean god... wetblanket. Cute.

APOLLO

Please don't explain the jokes. It reallymakes them less funny that way.

POSEIDON

I'm here because I'm worried the audience,my ocean here, is a little confused.We've introduced a lot of characters hereand are about to have a war but before webegin I thought it might be nice to have alittle back story. Let's bring out Homerand the Homerettes to tell us the story of

Paris and Helen.

HOMER and the HOMERETTES are a Greek chorus of sorts. They sing thissong to the tune of the Brady Bunch theme or just chant it. Hear thesong:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXmi2r8k_0U

HOMER AND HOMERETTES

Here's the story of three lovely ladies.Who thought they were the most beautiful ofall. They were Hera, Athena andAphrodite. And Paris was asked to judge.Here's the story of gal named Helen. Who
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXmi2r8k_0Uhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXmi2r8k_0Uhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXmi2r8k_0U


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was a prize if Paris judged right.Aphrodite promised him this girl forever.If he'd just picked her. So Paris pickedAphrodite. And he knew that it was muchmore than a hunch. Because he got himselfa real beauty. That's why we started theTrojan War. The Trojan War. The TrojanWar. That's why we started the Trojan War.

APOLLO

That didn't make any sense at all. I'mmore confused then I was before the song.

POSEIDON

Let's go Homer. We'll work on it somemore. I know you'll get it.

HOMER

It's tough being a blind songwriter.

POSEIDON

I see potential in you, boy. You'll getit.

POSEIDON exits with HOMER and HOMERETTES. ATHENA and HERA lookembarrassed and try to sneak out too. APOLLO stops their exit.

APOLLO

Wait a minute. So this whole problem withHelen and Paris started over a beautycontest?

ATHENA

Well...

HERA

Not really.

ATHENA

Sort of.

HERA

I guess it did.

APOLLO

And you two lost.

APOLLO starts to giggle.

ATHENA

It's not funny.


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HERA

Aphrodite only won because she cheated.

ATHENA

I can't believe Paris took her bribe.

APOLLO

So Aphrodite bribed Paris with a prettygirl. What did you two offer him?

ATHENA

Mine was way better...

HERA

Shhh! Uh, nothing.

APOLLO

Never mind. Can we get on with this war orwhat?

ATHENA

Hera. You go talk to Achille's mommy andI'll get the rest of the Spartans.

HERA

Done.

HERA and ATHENA exit. APOLLO looks and sees CASSANDRA spying on him.

APOLLO

You can come out now, Cassandra.

CASSANDRA

I knew there was going to be a war.

APOLLO

Who said that?

CASSANDRA

Stop that.

APOLLO

Could you do me a favor and tell yourbrother Hector about the upcoming battle?I want to give him plenty of warning.

CASSANDRA


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Yes, of course. Thank you.

APOLLO giggles and leaves.

CASSANDRA (CONT.)

Wait a minute. He won't listen to me.Nobody does. Oh, dooooom.

HECTOR strides out of Troy and up to CASSANDRA who is crying.

HECTOR

Dear, sister. What troubles you?

CASSANDRA

You wouldn't believe me if I told you?

HECTOR

Try me.

CASSANDRA rattles off the following in a blubbering panic.

CASSANDRA

ParistookHelenfromtheSpartansandnowApollowantstostartawarandAthenawenttogettheSpartansand we're doomed!

HECTOR

Sister, are you speaking Greek? Do slowdown.

CASSANDRA

See... nobody can understand me.

HECTOR

Let me see if I understood you. Youmentioned Paris and Helen... the wife ofthe King of Sparta?

CASSANDRA

Yes!

HECTOR

And a war!

CASSANDRA

Yes!

HECTOR

Paris wants to fight a war to win Helen?


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CASSANDRA

No... well, sort of.

HECTOR

Paris!

PARIS peaks out from behind the wall of Troy. HELEN does too but PARISpushes her down.

PARIS

Yes?

HECTOR

Come here, brother.

PARIS comes out and motions HELEN to stay inside.

PARIS

What is it?

HECTOR

Our sister was telling me about you andHelen, wife of the Spartan king Menelaus.

PARIS

Helen... Helen... that name soundsfamiliar.

CASSANDRA

It should.

PARIS sticks his tongue out at CASSANDRA

HECTOR

Have you been seeing Helen?

CASSANDRA

Oh, yeah.

CASSANDRA goes into Troy.

PARIS

I've been seeing "a" Helen. I'm not sureif she's a Spartan.

HECTOR

Is she here?

PARIS


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Right here. No.

HECTOR

I mean is she in Troy?

PARIS

Well...

CASSANDRA

She's right here.

HECTOR

Helen!

PARIS

Helen?

CASSANDRA

Helen.

HELEN

That's my name. Don't wear it out.

HECTOR

That's Helen of Sparta. Wife of theirKing!

PARIS

It is? Helen, why didn't you tell me?

HELEN

What? You totally knew.

PARIS

I did not. I just thought you were somevisitor to Sparta just like me. I thoughtyou were Helen of... Troy! Yes, a fellowTrojan.

PARIS winks at HELEN who gets it now.

HELEN

Oh, yes. I'm Helen of Troy. Not Sparta.I was touring Sparta just like Paris hereand we met and totally hit it off. I'mlike totally Trojan. Goooo... Troy!

She tries to get Trojan part of audience to cheer.


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HECTOR

I can't believe you'd do this, Paris.

CASSANDRA

I can't believe Hector listened to me.

HELEN

I can't believe how embarrassing this is.

PARIS

Please, Hector. Don't send her back.Menelaus was horrible to Helen.

HELEN

He was.

HECTOR

What did he do?

PARIS looks around nervously and then whispers in HECTOR'S ear.

HECTOR (CONT.)

He didn't!

HELEN

That's not all.

HELEN whispers in his ear next.

HECTOR (CONT.)

The monster!

PARIS and HELEN both whisper in his ears now.

HECTOR (CONT.)

By the gods!

PARIS

See! I had to do something.

HECTOR

You did. Helen, you were greatly wrongedand now we will make this right by offeringyou protection.

CASSANDRA

No! You must not.


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HECTOR

No woman should be treated as you weretreated. As an honorable man, I willdefend you to my death.

CASSANDRA

Nooooo!

HECTOR ignores CASSANDRA and leads PARIS and HELEN into TROY.

HECTOR

Come, brother. We must prepare forbattle. We'll show those Spartans whatwe're made of.

HELEN

Goooooo....

AUDIENCE

Troy!

CASSANDRA

Why won't anyone listen to me? We'redooooooomed!

LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK. END OF ACT I.

ACT II - SPARTANS COME CALLING

Spartans lead by AJAX and ODYSSEUS arrive at the Wall of Troy. Trojan

GUARD pokes his head up over the wall.

GUARD

Who is it?

AJAX

This is...

AUDIENCE AND SPARTANS

Sparta!

GUARD

Who?

AJAX

Sparta.

GUARD

Never heard of it.


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AJAX

You have so.

GUARD

Have not.

AJAX

So.

GUARD

Not, not, not.

AJAX

So, so, so.

ODYSSEUS steps forward.

ODYSSEUS

We're Sparta of Greece.

GUARD

Oh, Greece. Why didn't you say so?

AJAX

Because we're Spartan!

GUARD

You're all Greek to me.

AJAX looks ready to attack. ODYSSEUS stops him.

ODYSSEUS

Steady, Ajax.

GUARD

Ajax? Is that Ajax?

AJAX suddenly looks proud. Other Trojans look out over wall.

AJAX

You've heard of me, eh?

GUARD

Yes, we call you Ajax the Clean.

AJAX

Why's that?


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GUARD

Because last time you fought Hector, hecleaned the floor with you.

Trojans all laugh.

AJAX

That's not true.

GUARD

Our battlefield has been getting a bitdirty. Is it time to clean it with Ajaxagain?

AJAX

How dare you? I'm stronger than 100Trojans!

GUARD

That's right. I hear you're stronger thandirt too!

Trojans laugh. AJAX looks confused.

ODYSSEUS

Everyone, please.

AJAX

Stronger than dirt? I don't get it.

ODYSSEUS

Let it go, Ajax.

AJAX

I'll crush you like dirt!

ODYSSEUS

Ajax, please. Here's your squeezy. Goover there and do your squeezes until I'm

done talking to the Trojans.

ODYSSEUS gives AJAX a ball to squeeze and AJAX wanders to the back of theSpartans.

ODYSSEUS

May I speak to Hector?

GUARD

Say please.


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ODYSSEUS

Please.

GUARD

No, say it all together.

ODYSSEUS

What?

Trojans are snickering.

GUARD

May I please speak to Hector?

ODYSSEUS

May I please speak to Hector?

GUARD

Say pretty please.

ODYSSEUS

Oh, come on.

GUARD

They're right. You Spartans are souncivilized.

ODYSSEUS

Fine. Pretty please.

GUARD

Say it all.

ODYSSEUS

Pretty please, may I speak to Hector?

GUARD

Nope.

ODYSSEUS

Why not?!

GUARD

Just kidding. I wanted to see how you'dreact if I said no.

AJAX rushes up to ODYSSEUS.


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AJAX

Can I kill them now?

ODYSSEUS

Our orders are to wait.

GUARD

Hector will be right out.

Gate of Troy opens and Hector comes out.

AJAX

You dare come out alone, in front of theentire Spartan army?

ODYSSEUS

He is a brave and honorable man.

AJAX

And stupid.

AJAX pulls out his sword. All Trojan appear at the wall with bows andarrows. AJAX backs off.

HECTOR

You wish to speak with me, Odysseus?

ODYSSEUS

I have been sent by King Menelaus and LordAgamemnon to give the Trojans a chance tosurrender.

GUARD

Surrender?

Trojans laugh. AJAX and other Spartans draw their swords. ODYSSEUSwaves them back.

HECTOR

We will not surrender, Odysseus. You knowthat.

ODYSSEUS

At least return Helen to us and let thiswhole horrible business be done.

AGAMEMNON

Odysseus!


22/34

Spartans all scramble and salute. Darth Vader type music plays as LORDAGAMEMNON enters in a black uniform. GUARD holds up a "BOOO!" sign andHELEN gets Trojan side of audience to say, "BOOO!" AGAMEMNON goes up toODYSSEUS.

SPARTANS

All hail Lord Agamemnon!

AGAMEMNON

I told you to give them a chance tosurrender, not to negotiate.

ODYSSEUS

Lord Agamemnon, please. If they simplyreturn Helen, then we don't have to fight.

AGAMEMNON

We don't negotiate with terrorists.

ODYSSEUS

Prince Hector is an honorable man. He canbe reasoned with.

AGAMEMNON

I find your lack of faith in my plan...disturbing.

AGAMEMNON starts choking ODYSSEUS. HECTOR steps forward.

HECTOR

It doesn't matter. We won't give Helenback.

AGAMEMNON

You fool.

HECTOR

Trojans believe in honor...

GUARD AND TROJANS

Yeah!

HECTOR

Justice.

GUARD AND TROJANS

Yeah!

HECTOR


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...and equality.

GUARD

You said it, Hector.

HECTOR

Helen has asked to be free of her slaveryin Sparta and we grant her that freedom.

AGAMEMNON

Then you will die!

AJAX draws his sword and rushes HECTOR as AGAMEMNON drags off ODYSSEUS.HECTOR defend himself as Trojans pretend to shoot arrows at the rest ofthe Spartans who raise their shields. AJAX manages to knock HECTOR'ssword away. HECTOR pulls off AJAX's belt and his pants fall downrevealing silly underwear. Trojans laugh and HECTOR runs back insideGate of Troy. AJAX growls and leads Spartans off stage. HELEN leads thecheer.

HELEN

Goooo!

AUDIENCE

Troy!

HOMER AND THE HOMERETTES return to the stage. They get audience tostomp, stomp, clap (two feet stomps and then a clap). NOTE: the wordingmay need some adjusting to fit Queen's "We will rock you." Feel free toadjust it. Hear it at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5pzerjiutM

HOMER AND THE HOMERETTES

Hector you're a man make good princeleading in the war gonna be a king someday... You got war in your place... It's adisgrace You'll kick their can all overthis space... (Yelling:) we are... weare... Trojans! (stomp, stomp, clap...stomp, stomp, clap) We are... we are...Trojans! Hector you're a great man toughman fighting in for land gonna fight theGreeks today... You got blood on thisplace, In your face, Fightin those Spartans

until they're disgraced. We are... weare... Trojans! (stomp, stomp, clap...stomp, stomp, clap) We are... we are...Trojans! (stomp, stomp, clap... stomp,stomp, clap)

CASSANDRA

(mood shifts to sadness)Won't be an old man, weak man, begging foryour land, Gonna fight til your alldone... Can you win, this war anymore, Mustsave face, no disgrace,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5pzerjiutMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5pzerjiutMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5pzerjiutM


24/34

HOMERS

(mood shifts to anger)Spartans better get out of this place! Weare... we are... Trojans! We are we areTrojans! (stomp, stomp, clap... stomp,stomp, clap)

During HOMER's upcoming speech, the Spartans run up to the wall of Troy,jump up and down and yell and then run away when the Trojans shoot arrows(either get soft, foam or cardboard arrows or have Trojans make arrowsounds and pretend they are shooting them).

HOMER

The war had begun... the Spartans madelittle progress at first. The walls ofTroy held strong. But then mighty Achillesarrived and that changed everything.

ACHILLES enters with his cousin PATROCLUS who is dressed just like him.He's a major Achilles groupie and copies all ACHILLES' stances, motionsand actions.

ACHILLES

Need some help, Ajax?

AJAX

No, I'm fine. I've got them on the run.

ACHILLES

How long you been fighting?

AJAX

Not long.

AGAMEMNON

Almost ten years now. We need you to endthis Achilles.

ACHILLES

And what if I don't want to?

ODYSSEUS

Can't you two just get along?

AGAMEMNON puts Odysseus in a choke hold again.

AGAMEMNON

Join me, Achilles and we will rule thegalaxy! I mean... the world.

ACHILLES


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I will never join you.

AGAMEMNON

But Achilles... I am your father's,nephew's Greek godfather three timesremoved.

ACHILLES

What does that make us?

AGAMEMNON

Absolutely nothing. So if you won't do itfor me, do it for...

SPARTANS

Sparta!

ODYSSEUS

Uh, sir.

AGAMEMNON lets go of his neck.

AGAMEMNON

What?

ODYSSEUS

I don't think the audience had fair warningon that cheer.

AGAMEMNON

Fine. Do it again.

ODYSSEUS

This is...

AUDIENCE

Sparta!

ODYSSEUS

Much better.

AGAMEMNON returns to choking ODYSSEUS.

ACHILLES

There is nothing that will convince me tojoin you.

An arrow comes flying from Troy and hits Achilles cousin, Patroclus, whofalls.


26/34

PATROCLUS

Message for you, sir.

ACHILLES drops to his knees and holds PATROCLUS's hand as he does hisfinal death throws. ACHILLES takes note off arrow.

ACHILLES

They have killed my cousin and friend! Inever should have loaned you my armor.They mistook him for me! Who did this fouldeed?

(reads note)"Dear Achilles. You stink. Sincerely,Hector."

GUARD and other Trojans laugh.

ACHILLES

Hector! You will die!

AGAMEMNON

So you will join me?

ACHILLES

To the death.

MENALAUS enters. He wears a crown.

ODYSSEUS

All hail King Menelaus.

MENELAUS

I demand a fight with Paris.

ACHILLES

And I with Hector!

AGAMEMNON

Trojans! Will your Princes face our

champions?

HECTOR

We will!

PARIS

We will?

HECTOR


27/34

We will.

HECTOR comes out with PARIS who doesn't want to come out.

HELEN

Be careful.

MENELAUS

You took my wife. Now I take your life.

PARIS

Hey, that rhymed. You're like a poet.

MENELAUS

Die fly!

MENELAUS charges at PARIS who runs away. MENELAUS runs after him andeventually gets tired.

MENELAUS (CONT.)

Hold still.

PARIS

Run, run as fast as you can. You can'tcatch me, I'm...

ACHILLES grabs PARIS.

PARIS (CONT.)

Ooops.

HECTOR

Unhand my brother.

ACHILLES

Make me.

HECTOR faces off with ACHILLES. They do some fighting and then ACHILLESkills HECTOR. Trojans gasp and cry. HECTOR does an over-dramatic death.

HECTOR

It is a far, far better place I go to.Good-bye cruel world. Farewell...

ACHILLES

Die already.

ACHILLES stabs him a few more times. APOLLO comes out and is upset.

APOLLO


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This is terrible. Do something Paris!

PARIS gets a bow and arrow, closes his eyes and shoots but if falls athis feet. APOLLO gets the arrow and guides it so it hits ACHILLES in theheel.

ACHILLES

Ow! I've been hit.

ACHILLES dies quickly.

APOLLO

Finally, a quick death.

ODYSSEUS

Mighty Achilles has fallen. Run away!

SPARTANS all yell, "run away!" and exit. HELEN runs out and hugs PARIS.

HELEN

Gooo!

AUDIENCE

Troy!

HELEN

You did it, Paris.

PARIS

I did?

APOLLO

You can open your eyes now.

PARIS

Where'd they go?

HELEN

You killed Achilles and they ran away.

PARIS

Really?

CASSANDRA

But our brother, Hector, is dead.

HECTOR does a few more death throws.

HECTOR


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Rosebud!

HECTOR is dead.

PARIS

Bummer.

HELEN

But we won! This is great.

CASSANDRA

No, it's horrible. We're doooomed!

PARIS

Oh, stop it. Let's have a party... well, afuneral party. Hector would want a party.Party!

GUARD

Party!

They carry off HECTOR and party sounds come from inside Troy. CASSANDRApunches APOLLO.

APOLLO

What was that for?

CASSANDRA

We're still going to lose but no one will

listen to me.

APOLLO

Lose? No way. Not with my help.

ATHENA appears.

ATHENA

Apollo!

APOLLO

Ooops.

ATHENA

You cheated!

APOLLO

Don't be a sore loser.

POSEIDON enters.


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POSEIDON

It's not over yet.

APOLLO

What do you mean?

POSEIDON

I have a little surprise for the Trojans.

APOLLO

You stay out of this. This is between meand Athena.

ATHENA

That was until you cheated and helped Pariskill Achilles. Poseidon is here to eventhe score and get his revenge for non-payment.

APOLLO

This is so unfair.

ATHENA

Don't be a sore loser.

APOLLO leaves. CASSANDRA watches POSEIDON and ATHENA get in a huddle withODYSSEUS who nods and smiles. They exit.

CASSANDRA

I must try to warn everyone.

CASSANDRA starts to go and then hears something coming. ODYSSEUS pushesin something that looks like a wooden horse and all the Spartans arehiding behind it. (NOTE: The horse doesn't have to be big which makes itfunnier)

CASSANDRA (CONT.)

What's that?

ODYSSEUS

It's a present for Troy.

PARIS comes rushing out with HELEN.

PARIS

A present? I love presents.

HELEN

I love horsies. I wish it were a unicorn.


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Spartans look at each other. One sticks his sword out the head.

HELEN (CONT.)

It is a unicorn! Can we keep it, Paris?Please.

PARIS

Of course.

HELEN

Oh, goodie. Let's bring it inside.

ODYSSEUS sneaks behind horse with others.

CASSANDRA

No! Don't do it. It's a trick!

PARIS

Stop it, Cassandra.

HELEN

Cassandra wants to take away my unicorn!

PARIS

Now you've upset Helen.

CASSANDRA

Beware the gift of the Greeks! Greek toys

are bad news. They use lead paint!

HELEN

I want my unicorn.

CASSANDRA

Doom on you. Doom on you. Doom on you!

CASSANDRA leaves.

HELEN

Your sister is like totally creepy.

PARIS

Hey, everyone. The Spartans left us apresent. Let's bring it inside!

Trojans come out and bring horse inside Troy. Homer and Homerettes singto the tune of "The Song that Never Ends." Hear it at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo2FZ8KY6n4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo2FZ8KY6n4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo2FZ8KY6n4


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HOMER AND HOMERETTES

This is the war that never ends, yes itgoes on and on my friends. Some peoplestarted fighting it, not knowing what itwas, and they'll continue fighting itforever just because... This is the warthat never ends, yes it goes on and on myfriends. Some people started fighting it,not knowing what it was, and they'll

continue fighting it forever justbecause...

ATHENA

But it did end... the Trojan horse trickworked.

APOLLO

Looks like you won.

ATHENA

Who's the god of war now?

APOLLO

(mumbles)You are.

ATHENA

What's that?

APOLLO

You are.

ATHENA

Noogie!

ATHENA puts APOLLO in a headlock and rubs his head with her knuckles.

ATHENA (CONT.)

Wet willy!

She licks her finger and tries to stick it in his ear. He gets free andruns away. She chases him off stage.

HOMER

Those wacky gods. They were so immature.Well, I hope you all enjoyed my story.Nobody lived happily ever after but what awar! You can read the entire tale in mybook called The Iliad. I'll be doing abook signing after the show.


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END OF PLAY

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(13-18+ speaking roles, unlimited number of extras as soldiers for Troyand Sparta, suggestions for doubling below)

CASSANDRA - She can see the future, but no one will listen to her.Sister of Paris and Hector.

HELEN - Goofy teen-like girl who runs away with Paris and starts a war.

PARIS - Goofy teen-like boy who takes Helen to Troy.

APOLLO - War god. He can double as Trojan soldier.

ODYSSEUS - Greek warrior on Spartan side.

ACHILLES - Greek warrior on Spartan side.

ATHENA - War goddess. She can double as Spartan warrior.

HECTOR - Prince of Troy and brother of Paris and Cassandra. He candouble as ZEUS.

ZEUS - Leader of the gods. He can double as Trojan soldier, GUARD orHECTOR.

GUARD - Trojan wall guard. He makes fun of everyone. He can double asZEUS.

HERA - Wife of Zeus. She can double as Spartan warrior or PATROCLUS.

PATROCLUS - Cousin of Achilles. He can double as HERA or POSEIDON and/or

Trojan soldier.

AJAX - Spartan warrior who uses muscles rather than brains. He candouble as POSEIDON.

AGAMEMNON - Lord of the Greeks. Appears a bit like Darth Vader from StarWars but Spartan style. He can double as POSEIDON.

MENELAUS - Spartan King and husband of Helen. He can double as POSEIDONand/or Spartan soldier.

POSEIDON - Ocean god. He can double as AJAX, AGAMEMNON or Spartan orTrojan soldier.

HOMER and the HOMERETTES - If it's all men, it can be HOMER and theHOMMIES or if it be HOMER solo. Or the HOMERETTES can be played bysoliders or the women in the cast. HOMER can have dark shades likeStevie Wonder since he's blind.

*Remember: the Greeks had men play women parts and in our modern times,women can play men so be flexible with the casting.

Before performing this script, you must first request permission at [email protected]

The script may be printed and copied for free. There is no charge to use the play.


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1. All programs, posters, etc. should have the author's name (D. M. Larson) and something

that tells about the Freedrama.net website such as "Produced by special arrangement with

www.freedrama.net". When you complete the production, it would be appreciated if you

would mail a copy of the program to D. M. Larson, 422 Deanna Lee St., Grants, NM 87020.

2. All videos of the plays must be approved in advance of the performance. The videos must

have Freedrama.net in the credits and also a link to freedrama.net in the description if the

video is placed online.

NOTE: The play may not be reproduced, redistributed or republished in any form without

written permission from the author.

Thank you for selecting my script. Have fun and enjoy the play.

Sincerely,

D. M. Larson

the histerical historical tragedy of the trojan war

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