SCENE ONE

NARRATOR: A long time ago, in the time of the ancient Greeks, the wise old man Daedalus was trapped in the labyrinth
of Crete, an endless maze, with his young son, Icarus.

ICARUS: (BORED AND CURIOUS)Father, ever since King Minos imprisoned us, I've been wondering…

DAEDALUS: Yes, my son?

ICARUS: What is the real reason we are in this place?

DAEDALUS: Well, Icarus, I'm afraid this is all my fault. I helped one of the worst enemies of the King Minos, and in return
he locked us in this maze. I designed it myself so that no one could find the way out. I guess fate has an awful sense of
humor.

MUSIC “ONE”: DREAM MUSIC

ARIADNE: Daedalus! Daedalus! Oh, please help me!

DAEDALUS: Princess Ariadne! What is the problem? May I be of assistance in any way?

ARIADNE: Oh! My dear Theseus has been summoned to feed the Minotaur who lives in the labyrinth! (SOBBING)

DAEDALUS: Brave Theseus, eh? (DEEP IN THOUGHT) Hmmm…Take this string to him and tell him to leave one end at
the entrance of the labyrinth and let it unwind behind him as he searches for the dreaded beast. If he defeats the
fearsome monster, this thread will lead him back to the entrance.

ARIADNE: Oh! Thank you very much, dear Daedalus! How can I ever thank you?

DAEDALUS: No gratuity is necessary. Just to see valiant young Theseus alive is reward enough.

MUSIC “TWO”: TRANSITION MUSIC

SCENE TWO

NARRATOR: Back in the Labyrinth, Icarus and Daedalus are wondering how to get out.

(ICARUS AND DAEDALUS ARE DEEP IN THOUGHT)

ICARUS: Well, father, I don't blame you for helping a man in his time of need, but we need to find a way to get out.

DAEDALUS: Well, don't just sit there, then. Think of something!

ICARUS: If we can find Theseus' thread, we can follow it out of the labyrinth.

DAEDALUS: It would be impossible to find that tiny thread in this maze, my son.

ICARUS: How about we tunnel under the walls and make our way out?

DAEDALUS: That’s impossible. I designed the maze so that no one could tunnel out. The walls and floors are too thick to
dig through.

ICARUS: Can we climb over the walls?

DAEDALUS: Preposterous! We would tire out before making it halfway up. It would be a waste of time.

ICARUS: (DESPONDENTLY) Well, then. I guess we will be stuck here forever.

SCENE THREE
NARRATOR: Daedalus and Icarus have spent many sleepless nights trying to think of a way out of the labyrinth. Finally,
we find them taking a much needed nap.

SOUND “A”: SNORING, ABRUPTLY STOPS

DAEDALUS: (EXCITED) Icarus, my son! Wake up! I have an idea! We can make wings and fly out to freedom.

ICARUS: What are you saying, father? I was not quite awake. I was dreaming about being in line for a buffet of Twinkies
and chocolate bars.

DAEDALUS: Never mind that! I just thought of a brilliant idea. We can make ourselves two pairs of wings and fly home.

ICARUS: That’s a crazy idea, father.

DAEDALUS: This is the only possible way we can get out, though. I know it’s crazy, but it might be just crazy enough to
work. It goes against every law of physics I have ever studied. What the heck! What have we got to lose?

DAEDALUS: Then it’s agreed. We’ll start killing birds for feathers tomorrow. But for now, let us sleep. We’ve got a big day
ahead of us.

ICARUS: That would be wise *yawn*.

SCENE FOUR

NARRATOR: The next morning, Daedalus and Icarus are busily working on their wings with the help of Icarus’ sling.

DAEDALUS: Icarus, I’ve concocted a temporary adhesive for the wings. Have you gathered enough feathers?

ICARUS: Almost!

SOUND “B”: SLING SHOT KNOCKING A BIRD DOWN

NARRATOR: After much work, Daedalus and Icarus finally finish the sets of wings.

DAEDALUS: I cannot stress enough the importance of this, Icarus: Do not fly too high, or else the very weak adhesive I
have constructed will surely melt from the heat of the sun. Do not fly too low, either, or else the ocean spray will make the
feathers incapable of flight.

SOUND “C”: GAWKING AND WIND IN BACKGROUND, CONTINUES UNTIL THE END OF THE ACT

ICARUS: Father! We are flying so high! I feel free from the mental and physical chains of our prison. Fly with me fellow
birds!

DEADALUS: Icarus, my son! Do not fly too high or else the sun will melt the glue and the wings will fall off! You do not
know how to swim!

VOLUME OF SOUND “C” INCREASES

ICARUS: I cannot hear you over the sound of the wind and birds!

NARRATOR: In fact, Icarus does hear his father's warning. Being of a youthful mind, Icarus did not believe in his father's
warnings and therefore disregarded them; thus, the glue on his wings melted and his wings fell off the instant he went too
high.

SOUND “D”: SCREAMS AND A LOUD SPLASH

DAEDALUS: Icarus!!!!

SCENE FIVE
NARRATOR: Daedalus could do nothing for his son. After his flight, he landed safely on the island of Sicily.

SOUND “E”: EXCITED BUZZING AROUND DAEDALUS

MESSENGER: Sir, the wise Daedalus has just arrived.

SICILIAN KING: Well! Bring him in! He shall be honored in this humble island of ours!

SOUND “F”: MOVING OF FEET

SICILIAN KING: Daedalus! My good man! Welcome to Sicily! What brings you here?

DAEDALUS: Please, sir. My son has just drowned in the deep waters of the ocean. I only ask for a place to sleep and
food to eat.

SICILIAN KING: Then you shall live like a royal guest of my palace!

NARRATOR: Daedalus was treated like a god, but there was nothing the king of Sicily, or any divine power in that matter,
could do to lift his spirits. He mourned over his son night and day.

SCENE SIX

NARRATOR: As Daedalus was receiving a warm welcome in the court of the king of Sicily, King Minos was pacing back
and forth in his throne room, brooding over the escape of his prisoners and what to do about it.

KING MINOS: Wise men of Crete! Come help me think of a plan to capture that bug on my windshield, Daedalus.

WISE MAN 1: We could bribe whoever is hiding him from us.

KING MINOS: Don’t be ridiculous! Any man with half a nut for a brain knows that he should never give Daedalus up even
for all the treasures of Egypt!

WISE MAN 2: We need something to attract him, so he would come willingly.

WISE MAN 1: I’ve got it! Why don’t we offer him a challenge? Only the most sage of sages would be able to find a way to
thread a string through the winding passages of the shell of the Cretan hermit crab.

KING MINOS:…or we could offer him a challenge. Only the most sage of sages would be able to find a way to thread a
string through the winding passages of the shell of the Cretan hermit crab!

WISE MAN 1: Hey! That was my idea!

KING MINOS: Silence, knave! Off to the dungeons with you.

MUSIC “TWO”: TRANSITION MUSIC

SCENE EIGHT

NARRATOR: Several days later, Daedalus was strolling through the streets of Sicily when he came upon one of the
posters advertising King Minos’ contest.

DAEDALUS: (thoughtfully):What’s this? A contest? Hmmm…"string a thread through a shell like the one
pictured here.” Well, I guess a new puzzle and a change of pace would do me good. Obviously one cannot
accomplish the task with one’s fingers, they wouldn’t fit…but…what would be small enough to fit through
the petite holes of this shell? Aha! If an animal were to enter the shell of course it would seek its way out
the other entrance if the first was blocked. So which creature would be small enough…an ant! I shall go
experiment with this right away!
SCENE NINE

NARRATOR: When Minos heard that a mysterious man residing at the court of the King of Sicily had solved
his puzzle, he stormed there as fast as his ships would take him and demanded an audience with the king.

KING MINOS: Out of my way, peasants!

SOUND “F”: FAST-PACED FOOTSTEPS GETTING CLOSER

KING MINOS: Where is he? Where is he? I must have the inventor Daedalus!

SICILIAN KING: Who are you to disturb the peace in my halls? What do you want?

MINOS: Daedalus! One who has wronged me greatly! His son Icarus as well. I know they are here. Hand
them over or my troops will search your palace and find them out!

DAEDALUS: (CALMLY) There is no need for that. I am here.

SICILIAN KING: Daedalus, what are you talking about?

DAEDALUS: No, Your Majesty. It is true. I have greatly insulted King Minos. I can see that until I go quietly
he will stay here to harass you and your court. I have no wish to cause such a commotion.

SICILIAN KING: Never mind that! As your host and friend, I cannot allow your honor to be compromised.
King Minos! I challenge you to a duel with swords. The victor will take custody of Daedalus.

MINOS: What about meddlesome Icarus?

DAEDALUS: (DESPONDENTLY) He is dead.

SOUND “G”: SWORDS CLASHING CONTINUES

(BOTH MINOS AND SICILIAN KING PAUE IN THEIR LINES BECAUSE THEY ARE FIGHTING)

MINOS: Daedalus is MY property. I rule over him in his home country of Crete.

SICILIAN KING: People are not property, Minos. Besides, you are a horrible leader, a dictator and tyrant.

MINOS: Who are you to comment on the way I rule my people? I take great offense to that.

SOUND “G” STOPS

SICILIAN KING: Take that, you tyrant!

MINOS: AAAAAHHH!!! HOW DARE YOU STRIKE ME WITH A MORTAL WOUND!!! SEE YOU IN THE
UNDERWORLD!!!

SICILIAN KING: (BREATHLESSLY) Whew, for tyrant said to be more bluster than real courage, he certainly
fights well. But that is all over now, and you are safe, Daedalus, my friend.

NARRATOR: Daedalus was later safely returned to his home in Crete. However, Daedalus’ inventiveness
not only led to his son’s death, but also his own.

SCENE TEN

SOUND “F”

DAEDALUS’ SISTER: Perdix! You will spend the rest of your life with your uncle Daedalus. I can no longer
discipline you.
DAEDALUS: Ah, my good nephew, Perdix! How have you been?

PERDIX: Get away from me, you old geezer!

DAEDALUS: That is NO way to talk to an elder! Go stand in the corner. Maybe that will teach you a
valuable lesson in respect. After you have learned your lesson, we are going to the beach to see how test
your ingenuity.

SOUND “C” COMBINED WITH SOUND “H”: WAVES CRASHING AGAINST THE SHORE

DAEDALUS: Let’s see what you can do. What can you make with this scrap of iron and a fish skeleton?

PERDIX: That’s easy! Just attach the iron to the skeleton to make a saw. Duh!

DAEDALUS (TO HIMSELF): Hmm…This young obnoxious youth seems to be very good at inventing things.
He might even be better than me. Well, we can’t have that, can we?

NARRATOR: As Perdix invents even more exciting things, Daedalus’ jealousy brews even more. One day,
Daedalus took Perdix to the temple on a high mountain.

DAEDALUS: Perdix, look down. See if you can see the rocks at the bottom.

SOUND “I”: SHOVE AND SCREAM

ATHENA: Perdix, because I admire your ingenuity, I will save your life by turning you into a bird. I shall
name you the Partridge. As for you Daedalus, because of your jealousy, you shall be sent to the
Underworld.

DAEDALUS: Yes. I know I have acted in a despicable manner. I know this is what I deserve.

MUSIC “TWO”: TRANSITION MUSIC FADING OUT