OEDIPUS AND JOCASTA
OEDIPUS:
What now do I do? Which way should I turn for the best?
JOCASTA:
Listen me, Oedipus, listen now. Worry too much you do. All this
nonsense about that prophetman. Take no notice of his wiseness,
he's trying to fright you, that's all.
OEDIPUS:
He doesn't fright me.
JOCASTA:
That man makes more prophecies than the gods. Anyway, know I
what he says cant be true.
OEDIPUS:
How know?
JOCASTA:
Oh...because...
OEDIPUS:
Because what?
JOCASTA:
Because – long back, the Oracle speaked to Laios. It said – it said
doomed was he to suffer a terrible killing. It said he would be slayed
by his own son, our own son. Tell you I cant how frighted we were
by this prophecy and when I birthed a son – well, you never saw a
man so scareful. Laios took action to prevent the prophecy every
coming true.
OEDIPUS:
What did he do? Jocasta what did he do?
JOCASTA:
In fear of his life, Laios abandoned our child.
OEDIPUS:
No.
JOCASTA:
Deserted him, just three days old. Laios leaved him up some
mountain, leaved him up there to die.
OEDIPUS:
But that's shockingbad. Did no-one find him ever?
JOCASTA:
Nonlikely, no roads were there on the mountains, no person could
get up there. So you see, sweetling, prophecy never comes true.
Laios wasn't killed by our son after all, never did it happen. Instead,
slayed was he by some road boys.
OEDIPUS:
On which road?
JOCASTA:
Oh, I don't know, some crossroads or other, I try non to remember.
OEDIPUS:
Try now.
JOCASTA:
Oedipus.
OEDIPUS:
Please, I want to know.
JOCASTA:
It was a crossroads up in the hills I think, hardly can I remember, but
that doesn't matter now; what matters is that it proves nothing is
there to worry Oedipus.
OEDIPUS:
A crossroads, you say?
JOCASTA:
So I was led to believe. Laios lost his life at a place where –
JOCASTA:
OEDIPUS:
(simultaneous) Three roads meet.
(simultaneous) Three roads meet.
JOCASTA:
(shocked) You knowed that? Why ask if already you know the story?
OEDIPUS:
I don't know the story, at least, I don't think I do.
JOCASTA:
What is it, my dearling? Oedipus, what is it with you?
OEDIPUS:
Lost his life at a place where three roads meet?
JOCASTA:
Common knowledge.
OEDIPUS:
And the crossroads is where?
JOCASTA:
A small place called Phokis, a good way from here.
OEDIPUS:
When?
JOCASTA:
Just before you arrived in Thebes.
OEDIPUS:
No, no, that can non be.
JOCASTA:
What's the matter with you today?
OEDIPUS:
Jocasta, my dearly Jocasta, I need you to tell me some truths.
JOCASTA:
Do I ever tell you nontruths?
OEDIPUS:
I need to know about your first marry man. How old was he when
he died?
JOCASTA:
A little older than you.
OEDIPUS:
What did he look like?
JOCASTA:
A tall man, good build, why?
OEDIPUS:
No.
JOCASTA:
Sweetling, tell me what it is?
OEDIPUS:
No.
JOCASTA:
I don't understand all this; you’re frighting me.
OEDIPUS:
You are frighted! Jocasta, when Laios was attacked, was travelling
with any bodyguards?
JOCASTA:
He always travelled with bodyguards.
OEDIPUS:
How many? Five?
JOCASTA:
Always five.
OEDIPUS:
(distraught) Oh gods, what have I done? Now it all makes sense.
JOCASTA:
Nothing makes sense.
OEDIPUS:
Heard you how of Laios’ deadness?
JOCASTA:
One of his escorts telled the tale, the only survivor of the attack.
OEDIPUS:
Is he here in Thebes? Can I speak with this man?
JOCASTA:
After the attack he returned to the city for a short while.
OEDIPUS:
Where is he now?
JOCASTA:
To my knowing he is up in the mountains somewhere, why all these
questions? why now?
OEDIPUS:
Because my dearly, dearly wife, I have a horrible feeling that the
Blindy-man could see after all.