OEDIPUS AND CREON.
Oedipus is alone in his room. Creon enters.
CREON:
Oedipus. What says Teiresias?
OEDIPUS:
I have just been humiliated in front of my men by that half-wit Ougiwizard.
CREON:
Gentle down, Oedipus.
OEDIPUS:
What the jabber-gabbling drivel-giver speaked of was both insulting
and taste-bad.
CREON:
Really, Oedipus, you get yourself into such a state, no good will
come of your temper.
OEDIPUS:
Laios has been dead for years.
CREON:
Yes he died just before you came to Thebes.
OEDIPUS:
Trying are you to implicate me in this?
CREON:
Of course non.
OEDIPUS:
My authority has never been questioned.
CREON:
No.
OEDIPUS:
Saying are you that gypsy-gimp was trying to point the finger at me?
CREON:
Was he? That would make life a bit...tricksome.
OEDIPUS:
A bit, yes.
CREON:
Much as I doubt your guilt, Teiresias is a prophet; he speaks for the
gods, true are his words, always.
OEDIPUS:
You think I did it?
CREON:
Now I didn't say that.
OEDIPUS:
You stitched me up.
CREON:
What? Drivel, I did no such thing.
OEDIPUS:
I bet you paid that Blindy-man to accuse me of the murder.
CREON:
Absolutely never.
OEDIPUS:
You got him to say those things because you knowed full well what
trouble it would cause me.
CREON:
Why would I do that?
OEDIPUS:
Because you want to see me fall from grace. No-one would want a
suspected murder man as leader. And if I were non in charge, who
would rule Thebes then, I wonder?
CREON:
How dare you! I don't want Thebes, there's nothing left of it.
Anyway, leadership of Thebes is already split three-
CHORUS:
(ALL) Three.
CREON:
-ways. You, me and Jocasta, we agreed. No appetite have I for more
than my share of control. I am a nonambitious man.
Ha!
OEDIPUS:
CREON:
No wish have I to see you deposed. Not a single cunning bone have I
in my body. You are good leader, Oedipus. No-one would want to
see you ousted.
OEDIPUS:
I wouldn't trust you as far as I could spit.
CREON:
Now look, absolutely nothing had I to do with what that Blindy-man
said, I promise. What kind of man do you think I am?
CHORUS:
(A) Outwardly charming, always loyal.
(B) Inwardly sly, always usurping;
(A) Obsequious,
(B) Obsessional,
(A) Just waiting for his chance.
OEDIPUS:
I’ve had enough. I want you out of harms way.
CREON:
I don't understand.
OEDIPUS:
What use is a deputy who has his own agenda?
CREON:
For gods sake, Oedipus, we are family.
OEDIPUS:
I want you out of the city, out for good.
CREON:
What?
OEDIPUS:
I want you out.
CREON:
Are you banishing me?
OEDIPUS:
Might be.
CREON:
You cant do that.
OEDIPUS:
Its my city.
CREON:
Its mine too; I own a third.
OEDIPUS:
Get out.
CREON:
On what grounds?
OEDIPUS:
Treachery.
CREON:
You have no proof.
OEDIPUS:
Get out.
CREON:
Make me.