LIT14 M04 presents ANTIGONE [Insert ETEOCLES and POLYNICES fight scene here!] CHORUS (Ode): Toys!

Toys strewn all over the field of battle! Toys! Lifeless, bloodless, slaughtered like cattle! Toys! A race of seemingly docile character Their childlike innocence, by war and avarice, torn asunder! Dare they engage in the pitiful plight of violence Against state, kindred obeisance, and divine providence! Child against Father, Brother against Sister, Toy against Owner Their sinews and gears, turned against each other! Where once honorable fun had gloriously reigned Now only forlorn playthings remain, wretched and maimed Such was one war fought over the realms of Toy Kingdom To determine the future and secure all toys freedom Between two unlikely parties the strife could not undo Fraternal enmity feuded over, nail for nail and screw for screw! Hailing from one side the noble Eteocles, his crown, compelled to secure From the vile Polynices, his brother no longer, of ignoble blood, impure! Both slain in battle, Toy Kingdom with a new monarch and uncertain future There echoes the mournful defiance of a lonely toy, a bereaved sister... PROLOGUE ANTIGONE: Ismene, my dear sister, listen. As if we havent had enough--Did you hear about the new decree of our uncle Lord Creon, who now reigns as our king as well? ISMENE: I've no clue, Antigone. All I know is that our brothers are broken from battle and that Polynices supporters have gone. But beyond that... I know nothing. ANTIGONE:

I thought so. That's why I wanted to speak to you in private. Lord Creon and the elders have decided that our brother Eteocles is to be stored in one piece with all the honors of a fallen prince, while Polynices broken body is to be left in pieces and dumped into the bin like a mere trinket. Anyone who so much as mourns for Polynices will be put to death and be made to join him as well! He shall be announcing this by public decree soon enough, and all under his domain shall be bound to comply. This is no bluff, Ismene. Any toy who so wishes to defy his wish shall be held liable for treason, under pain of junking! I need your help. I will not allow my brother to be dishonored in such a way! ISMENE: But--what could I possibly do? ANTIGONE: I shall retrieve Polynices body. It isnt lost yet. It can still be scavenged among the dismembered parts of the fallen. I beg for your help. ISMENE: What? That is impossible! You said so yourself--It is forbidden! Uncle Creons mere utterance is law, ever since he has seized the crown. No toy has disobeyed him without so much suffering mutilation or exile. ANTIGONE: I will piece him back together as best I can and then store him away, as any toy deserves to be stored away. He ought to look dignified if not brand new, even in death! Are you afraid to lift our brothers body? ISMENE: You would go against the state? You would risk both our lives for this? ANTIGONE: I have not forgotten the reason for Polynices disgrace, sister. He died a traitor--Polynices own hubris compelled him to taking up arms against Eteocles and against the state. His greed is what led us to this fruitless war which has ruined our once happy kingdom. But he is still our brother. He is kin... ours are the nuts and bolts that once bound his disparate parts. ISMENE: What you seek to accomplish... It simply cannot be done. ANTIGONE: Then I shall stop trying when my limbs break. Why dont you understand? This is something we ought to do.

ISMENE: I know that, Antigone. How can't I? But look at us! We have no one but each other. Polynices is your brother as much as he is mine, but to retrieve his body would lead to nothing but death. ANTIGONE: Some deaths are more honorable than others. ISMENE: We don't have the strength to defy the state! We're nothing but dolls, ruled by forces greater than ourselves! ANTIGONE: Even if that were true, Ismene--I must try. He is my brother and yours as well, even if you refuse to honor him. ISMENE: This is pointless, Antigone. Polynices is gone. And so is Eteocles. Stored or not... what difference does it make? They're broken! We cant do anything for them, Antigone! Its out of our hands! ANTIGONE: Enough. If you say anything more, I might despise even you. I shall obtain Polynices body myself. I do not need your help. ISMENE: Antigone, I fear for your life! ANTIGONE: Dont. Think of yourself. [ANTIGONE begins to leave.] ISMENE: Wait! At least keep this a secret. I wont let anybody know, I swear by my wind-up key. ANTIGONE: Oh no, tell it! Tell everyone! I have nothing to hide. I am only doing what I must. I had hoped that you would do the same. ISMENE: Go then, if you must -- and hurry! [Exit ANTIGONE and ISMENE separately. Enter CHORUS.] Scene I

CHORAGOS: Quick! Here he comes! [Enter CREON] CHORAGOS: Ah, what just laws shall our great king now concoct? We are all ears, to a voice so wise! CREON: ... And on the matter of the sons of Oedipus -- Eteocles body will be pieced together and stored away, with due observance of right and custom, as befitting a prince. His death was in defense of our state against foreign troops and for that he must be honored. His brother Polynices, on the other hand, must be left untouched. He attempted to seize power unjustly, and was willing to do away with his own kin and endanger our kingdom for his own ambition. For that he must be given no honor. Let the carrion toys feast on his remains. Let it rust and decay as if it were mangled by some infant. That is my decision as king. CHORAGOS: You may do as you will, Lord Creon -- we are but your subjects. Your decrees are just and magnificent. Your rule stretches to every distant corner of this bedroom.

CREON: I trust that I may rely on you to see that my decree is strictly followed? CHORAGOS: We are too old to stand guard over a broken body, Lord Creon. CREON: I already have sentries for that. What I mean to say is this -- do I have your support on this matter? CHORAGOS: Of course, my liege. Who would go against it? No puny toy would dare defy our mighty sovereign. [Enter SENTRY] SENTRY: My Lord Creon -- I must apologize for dallying -- I kept stopping to wonder why I was the one chosen to carry out this damned task. I swear on my battery life, I did not do it. The other sentries and I searched everywhere. We could not find it. We couldnt even find the footprints

of whoever took it. I swear, my liege, I didnt do it, none of us did, Id sooner die than go against your orders, I swear -CREON: Enough of your babbling. Get on with it. SENTRY: The body of Polynices, my Lord -- its gone. CREON: What? SENRTY: We found no trace of whoever took his corpse. We searched everywhere, Your Majesty, we really did! CHORAGOS: Could our Boy have done it...? CREON: That is impossible! What love could our Boy have for a toy like Polynices, and a broken one at that? Why would our Boy retrieve a toy from the bin? Thats impossible! It must have been you sentries! SENTRY: Neither I nor the other sentries had anything to do with this! CREON: How can I be certain that you and your companions were not bribed to disobey my orders? SENTRY: We would never do such a thing, Lord Creon! I swear, I swear on my battery life! I swear loyalty, fealty, and allegiance to you so long as I live. CREON: Very well, then. If you are unable to find the man responsible, I will have you dragged by our Boys dog, drawn, quartered, decapitated, mutilated, dismembered, torn to pieces! Are we clear on this, sentry? SENTRY: I am innocent, my liege! I deserve not the fate of which you speak. But yes, my Lord, I shall comply. CREON: Off with you then. Expend what remains of your battery life to do my bidding, or else it shall be cut abruptly.

[Exit SENTRY] CREON: I apologize. I must take leave of you earlier than I had thought. Inform me as soon any progress is made on this matter. Farewell. [Exit CREON] CHORAGOS: This is a bad omen. What shall become of this little scuffle? Scene II [The SENTRY re-enters, leading ANTIGONE.] CHORAGOS: [Among themselves. Chatter.] What does this mean? Surely this captive doll is the Princess, Antigone. Why should she be taken? SENTRY: Here is the one who did it! We caught her in the very act. Where is King Creon? CHORAGOS: He shall arrive from the Lego Palace. [Enter CREON] CREON: What happened? Why are you back so soon? SENTRY: My Lord, I would have sworn that you would not ever see me again. Your anger frightened me so, and your threats. But how could I tell then that I would find the culprit so soon? CREON: But this is Antigone! Why have you brought her here? SENTRY: She tried to piece him back together, I tell you! CREON: Is this the truth, Antigone? SENTRY: I heard her confession. Can I say more? CREON:

[Waves hands to let the SENTRY speak.] SENTRY: It was like this: After your terrible threats, we scoured the room for any trace of Polynices body. Our search lead us to the princess Antigone, putting his brother back together. She confessed of her crimes to us. CREON: And you, Antigone, you with your head hanging--is this true? ANTIGONE: Yes. I deny nothing. CREON: [Pauses. To SENTRY.] You may go. SENTRY: Thank you, my liege! Thank you for your clemency! [Exit SENTRY] CREON: Tell me--did you hear of my proclamation? ANTIGONE: How could I not? Your precepts thunder through this realm as far as the backyard. CREON: And yet you dared defy the law. ANTIGONE: I dared. For it was not the proclamation of Man. Your edict was strong, but you too are a toy! If I had done nothing, I would have suffered all the same. Do what you will. CHORAGOS: Like father, like daughter: both headstrong, deaf to reason! She has never learned to yield. [CHORUS chatter.] CREON: She has much to learn. Go and arrest Ismene too. I suspect these dolls are alike, and that her sister is a co-conspirator. ANTIGONE: Please -- dont harm her. She has had no part in this.

CREON: That may be true, but I have no doubt that she knew of your plans. She must be punished. Anyone who so cooperates minutely in a crime as to simply know is just as guilty. That is my judgment, and because I am king, I cannot be wrong. ANTIGONE: You are a toy! You know nothing more than that which is written in the box you were packaged in! Only by circumstance did you ascend to the throne. Behind that regalia, you are merely an impotent plaything! CREON: You insolent little doll, you! If only your manufactured brain was as big as your mouth, you would still be enjoying all the benefits accorded to a toy princess. But no, still you are headstrong and insubordinate. I simply could not take it! I am king! I am king (Throws tantrum here)! And because I am king, I shall do whatever I want and no toy can overrule me! ANTIGONE: Is this your idea of justice? I buried him -- I alone. Put me to death if you must. But please do no harm to Ismene. CREON: You seem to have forgotten your place, Antigone. ANTIGONE: I never have, Lord Creon. It is you who have forgotten your place. You are no king, you are a pretender! You are nothing like Oedipus. You are not even half the toy my father ever was. CREON: Why do you disrespect me so? ANTIGONE: Creon, what more do you want than my death? CREON: Nothing. ANTIGONE: Then kill me and get it over with. CHORUS: Yes, King Creon! Kill her! Kill her! CREON:

Tell me, Antigone: was Eteocles not your brother too? ANTIGONE: He was. CREON: And you insult his memory? ANTIGONE: Im certain Eteocles would forgive me for this. CREON: And what makes you so sure? ANTIGONE: I simply saved Polynices from the disgrace you decreed would be his. CHORAGOS: Disgrace a traitor deserved! ANTIGONE: Polynices was no footsoldier to Eteocles! He was his brother, as he was mine! CHORAGOS: An enemy is not a friend, even dead. ANTIGONE: I cannot share their hate, only their love. CREON: Then go to them, and if you must be loved, love them! Off with your petty doll feelings. [The SENTRY enters, leading ISMENE.] SENTRY: The princess Ismene, Lord Creon. [CHORUS chatter.] ISMENE: Antigone! ... CREON: You are dismissed. SENTRY: Yes, my liege.

[Exit SENTRY] ANTIGONE: No, you must not be here! This is not your rightful place. It is I alone who deserve death for the just action that no one else would dare commit. ISMENE: I would not want to be anywhere else. You are all I have, dear sister. ANTIGONE: You dont deserve to die for something you didnt do. I buried him. ISMENE: [To CREON] Uncle Creon, dont do this! CREON: It is what should be done. ISMENE: But she is your sons bride! CREON: I cannot have him wed a doll as insolent as she. ISMENE: He loves her! CREON: She brought this upon herself! ISMENE: How could you do this? CREON: Enough! Ive wasted enough time listening to this babble. Take them away. [ANTIGONE and ISMENE are taken away by SENTRY/CHORUS.] Scene III CHORAGOS: Lord Creon--Haimon, your son, is coming.

CHORUS: [Chatter.] Is he here to beg for mercy, for his brides sake? [Enter HAIMON] CREON: Ah, my son! I see youve heard of my judgment on that girl. Are you here to insult me as well, or to love me and honor me like a good son? HAIMON: You know I love you, father. Your wisdom means more to me than any marriage. Every toy knows of the brilliance of your every word! CREON: Aha, very good! I have taught you well. A father always dreams of having a dutiful son, and now I know I need not dream. [Laughs, CHORUS follows suit] I am glad you havent lost your sanity over that. . . stupid doll. You will tire of her, anyway, and her devilish ways will leave a bitter taste in your mouth. It doesnt matter if shes family: she deserves death. HAIMON: Well. . . father, you are definitely right when you tell me to remain reasonable, but I hope you dont think that you yourself can never reason badly. CREON: Hm. But I am reasonable. I am king. What are you trying to say? HAIMON: You can reason, yes, but others can reason, too. Would you not consider obtaining advice from them? CREON: My judgment is sound. The people agree with me. HAIMON: But people are too afraid to oppose you. Your temper is too frightening. It is not reason never to yield to reason! CHORAGOS: And why should we? Opposition to the King is terrible for the state! The Kings voice is our voice!

HAIMON: Oh, but a state is more than one voice. CHORAGOS: The King is the state! HAIMON: If the state is a desolate sandbox. CREON: Ha. You think you are so wise! Why should I, a man of experience, listen to you, a mere schooltoy? HAIMON: If Im right, why should my manufacturing date make any difference? CREON: I spoke too soon. [To CHORUS.] It seems she has driven him mad after all. HAIMON: You know I only desire what is best for you, my father and king. CREON: [To CHORUS still.] And he dares pick a fight with me in public? HAIMON: The same way you pick a fight with Justice in public. CREON: Well, dear Haimon, Justice is my dear friend. HAIMON: You have no right to take away a life! You tell me she deserves death for wanting to give Polynices a decent farewell? Its honor that she deserves! Honor! Much more honor than you! CREON: How dare you, Haimon. How dare you. How dare you! I am your father, remember that! And I am King! Bring Antigone here, that she may die quickly and within sight of her fiance. Guards!

HAIMON: No -- that cant happen. She will not suffer such a death. Dispel your anxiety, my lord father -- I shant trouble you any longer. Scene IV CHORAGOS: What coward that Haimon is! CHORAGOS: He should be punished for wanting to go against our Lords wishes. CREON: Oh let him be. He will soon learn of his folly. In any case, there is nothing he can do to alter the fate of these girls. CHORAGOS: Do you plan on killing both of them? CREON: Not Ismene, she's done no wrong. CHORAGOS: And how do you intend to punish Antigone? CREON: I shall hide her in the old storage area where no one ever comes. There she can spend her hours realizing what a waste it is to honor those dead. [Enter ANTIGONE] CHORAGOS: I cannot bear to watch. 'Tis a sad day. The last we will ever see of Antigone. ANTIGONE: Look at me, fellow toys. This is the last time you'll ever see me. I count the moments left till my execution. CHORAGOS: You bring fame and praise with you as you proudly walk to your death. This was not because of an accident nor anyone else's doing. You

brought this upon yourself. So of all toys out there, be claimed by death. ANTIGONE: Ah but I have heard great toys of the past have suffered a similar fate. CHORAGOS: But they were the great valuable toys. We are nothing more than mere children's toys. It's great to think though that a simple toy shared the fate of a great and valuable one. ANTIGONE: Are you insulting me? How dare you all insult me as I face my death? You couldn't even wait until I have gone. I now know that no toy truly laments for me. I've nothing to do more with you simple toys. CHORAGOS: You're taking this too far and a lot of this is getting to your head. Perhaps all this suffering is punishment for the sins of your father? ANTIGONE: And now you bring up such a personal matter. I know what taboo my father has done with his own mother and I am the result. Well now I'm going to join them. CHORAGOS: Do not compare yourself to anyone else who has gone. You are in your situation because of your own selfish doing. Nothing more. Consider yourself not as noble toy but as a criminal who deserves her fate. ANTIGONE: Well I'm here on my way to my death and it doesn't seem like a single tear nor damn is being given. CHORAGOS: Someone please shut this dead woman up. Take her away already and lock her up in the storage with the rest of the useless junk. She can do whatever she wants there. CHORAGOS: You can take your own life or spend the rest of it ranting to nothing. You no longer belong with us here. You are exiled, brought to anathema!

ANTIGONE: Oh this stupid dump. Mother and father, wait for me just a bit more. I will join you very soon. As for you brother, when you died, I honored you despite it being forbidden. I put you back together with my own hands and now they shall make me suffer the same fate as you as a reward. I've no regrets for I knew it was right. Others are easily replaceable but I only have one brother and I thought it best to honor your death even if it meant disobeying Creon's orders. I gave it no second thought and now I am to be punished. I shall die slowly and alone. What did I do wrong? Nothing. Yet I die. CHORAGOS: still would not give it a rest.

She

CREON: Then her escorts are ought to hurry up. ANTIGONE: I suppose that means, it's almost time. CREON: Don't think I'm gonna change my mind and call this whole thing off. ANTIGONE: Well this is it. Dead woman walking. No regrets. [Exit ANTIGONE] CREON: I cannot bear to watch. 'Tis a sad day. The last we will ever see of Antigone. [All but CHORUS exit] CHORUS (Ode): Happy the toy that towards death marches with pride! Having kept so holy a covenant to whom Man does confide A law of family and love divinest Man has ordained An atrocious king by royal pride has profaned! Stride with honor and look to your freedom Little doll who shall revel in a glorious martyrdom Counter every gentle pace with a graceful strength

That shall defy indignity and slander of every length Move with courage, walk upright and stall your tears Fortitude and justice escort you, so allay your fears! Be firm, brave doll, there is nothing you cannot do The cowardly tyrants and unjust rulers tremble before you! Your exile will be quick, lonely but a while, your suffering brief Tis a small price to pay, eternal glory for fleeting moments of grief Your sacrifice will not be forgotten, every toy shall recall The crimes of Creon, Antigone who advanced calmly to her fall Because of a law of love upheld only by so few Cross over now, Oedipus watches over you! Scene V [Enter DOCTOR T. He reads a blank Manual. He speaks in French.] [Enter CHORAGOS and CREON] CHORAGOS: Oh, look, its Doctor T! CREON: Ah, good day, Doctor T! And what brings you here, Doctor? DOCTOR T: Ah! Bonjour! Listen to me, Monsieur Creon. I have been reading the Great Manual! And as you know, only I can read it because it is in this mystic human language called French. I am afraid, very afraid, that you have angered the Gentleboy who watches over us, so it is indicated in said Manual. Put Polynices back together, please, s'il vous plat, and dont throw him out--or you are doomed to suffer a most terrible tragedy! CREON: Ah, another doomsayer. And who are you, Doctor, that you can read the Manual of Men? Not even I can read it, and I am the lord of all the toys in this land! DOCTOR T: I speak the truth. It is what the Manual says. Ah, mon roi, my king, why must you be so stubborn?

CREON: Its not being stubborn. Its called ruling with an iron fist. DOCTOR T: No, it is being ruled by pride! Listen. Tragedy will strike if you do not amend. Ive heard the men say: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whatever they are. But think--a toy for a toy! And who will they take once youve had your way with Antigone? Pensez! Think! CREON: Dont be ridiculous! The men, especially our dear Boy, will take no one. I have heard enough from you. DOCTOR T: I am telling the truth. It is what the Manual says. Look and see! Voila: Description du produit Ce sont des bbs collectionner l'infini ! Ils vont dans le bain et flottent dans l'eau! Tous diffrents par leur tenue, leur visage, leur ethnie ou leur expression. Ils sont petits (20cm) et lgers Ils sont faciles emmener partout avec soi : dans le sac du goter, dans le cartable, et mme dans la poche ! Do you not understand, seigneur, lord? It is absolutely important that you do as I say, I mean, as the Manual says, or else your disobedience shall be your downfall! CREON: This is nonsense. DOCTOR T: Why would I lie to you? CREON: Why would you not? You seers have always loved money. DOCTOR T: You speak cruelly, my king! CREON: Is it not the truth? DOCTOR T: You shall regret your foolishness. You will learn of your fault, but by then it will be too late. (Exit: Imbecile! Stupidit! Pardieu! Sacre bleu!)

[Exit DOCTOR T, mumbling something in French.] CHORAGOS: . . . Dont dismiss his warning too quickly, Lord Creon. Doctor T is an honorable toy. CREON: But has he ever read the Manual before you? CHORAGOS: No, he prefers to decipher it in private. But in all my experience-and I have been here for a while--in all my experience I dont think he was ever wrong. CREON: Hm. Yes, yes, I wont deny that he is a toy of good standing, but--oh, I dont know anymore! He thinks hes so good, just because he was made in France! CHORAGOS: Creon, take our advice. CREON: And that would be? CHORAGOS: Go and free Antigone. Do not break her. Piece Polynices back together, and keep him somewhere safe, the way all broken toys would like to be kept. CREON: You really think I should do that? CHORAGOS: Yes, Creon, and youve got to do it now before anything terrible happens. CREON: I suppose youre right. The Doctor is right. If it is what the Manual says. . . CHORAGOS:

Ah, very well.

Go, do not leave it to the others. CREON: I wont. Ive convicted her, and I will set her free. I am but a toy at the mercy of Man! Exodos MESSENGER: Attention, everyone! Tis my duty to let you know. . . we are all but toys, and I would not praise or blame any single one of us for the current circumstance. Fortune has a way of raising high and casting down. No toy can foretell the future of another. Take Creon: he was a toy worth envying. Was. Yet now everything is gone and wasted: his life is a living death. His wealth, his power. . . these can no longer bring him joy. Now he must languish in despair for his crimes against Toydom. CHORAGOS: You speak so strangely. Tell me, what sorrow lies in wait for the King? MESSENGER: Haimon. Haimon is dead. His own hand had killed him. CHORAGOS: His own--? MESSENGER: His own. CHORAGOS: I knew it! I knew this would happen! Oh, Haimon--Our Lady is approaching. Has she heard of her sons fate? [Enter EURYDICE] EURYDICE: My friends, I have overheard you talking. I was off doing my errands when I heard the sound of weeping. But could my ears be deceiving me? Please, do tell, and do not spare me the truth to protect me. I am no stranger to grief.

Ah, the Manual!

MESSENGER: Madam, I know well there is no use in comfort. The truth is always best, thus I shall impart to you as I have seen it. I went with Lord Creon to where Polynices broken body was kept in pieces. We offered a prayer to Man in the hope that we may temper his anger, then we painstakingly pieced Polynices back together. We kept him somewhere safe. On our way to where Antigone was held captive, we heard a loud wail. It was the voice of Haimon, laden with sorrow. Lord Creon was alarmed. We rushed to Antigones prison, but it was too late. Antigone had taken her life, and in agony Haimon took away his too. Two lovers united in death. Creon was desolated and reduced to anguish. [Exit EURYDICE] CHORAGOS: She did not utter a single word. What can this mean? MESSENGER: It troubles me as well. But the Lady is wise to mourn in private. I trust that she will not do anything foolish. CHORAGOS: But her silence is just as ominous as the loudest lamentation. MESSENGER: You may be right: this silence is strange. Well then, we should visit the Palace if it shall appease our doubts. [All exit. Enter EURYDICE] [HAIMON dies. ANTIGONE dies. EURYDICE performs a ballet of death.] [Enter CHORAGOS, CREON and the MESSENGER] [CREON mourns] CHORUS (Ode): Who can go against the statutes and mandate of Man? Not a toy can usurp Him, though he tries as hard as he can! Not even a king ought challenge decrees so divine Yet King Creon dared ignore Mans noble design That all toys, great or small, shall honor their dead That the fallen in their rest shall have little dignity accorded

King Creon! Though sad king he shall eternally be To the day of his day and after that perpetually His name disgraced, his family shattered, his majesty soiled Same as the law he has unscrupulously despoiled By all toys henceforth his rule shall be reviled Because of the sacred bond no toy but he has defiled! Now let leave, the despairing and despondent tyrant be Mourning, morose, and forlorn in his misery All is just punishment for such cruel a deed Subscribing to pride and insolence, so foolish a creed Now await divine wisdom to contrive a worthy ploy To instruct Creon in ways worthy of a king, worthy of a toy.