X'ntigone

after Sophocles

Darren Murphy

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781350335448
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Mezzi di comunicazione e arti performative
• Subtopic: Scrittura di pièce teatrali

Sometimes a person needs to create an act that destroys the world because the world is broken. The virus has ravaged Thebes. Millions are dead and the economy has tanked. Vaccinations have been administered and the Festival of Liberty is imminent. Things are finally about to change. The countdown is on but leader Creon and his quarantined niece, the self-identifying X'ntigone, have unfinished business before the celebrations can commence. What happens when old-world order meets a radical new world vision? In this thrilling meditation on Sophocles' timeless Greek tragedy, political expediency meets the voice of a generation who want to tear down the power structures that have ill-served a crumbling state. Darren Murphy's X'ntigone is a fresh and vital discourse for our times, when even truth has been sacrificed at the altar of political gain and avarice.

Darkness.

Rising slowly, the sound of applause. A pair of hands clapping – then another, then another, and another – until the entire space reverberates with the sound.

Lights snap on. The applause sputters out.

We are in the bowels of an ancient city: a ruin, ringed with ancient stone walls. In the centre a black Perspex square, the size of a small box room. We cannot see inside.

A large TV is in one corner of the outer basement room. Displayed on it is a transmission card for the forthcoming Festival of Liberty broadcast. Next to it, a large digital clock displaying the time until transmission – the same as the running time of the play. It begins counting down the moment the lights go up and continues until the end, when it zeroes. A wash basin on a plinth in the corner, and a towel on a rail.

Slowly, the black of the Perspex screen becomes transparent, revealing the inside: a quarantined isolation cell. A cot bed and a locked door at the back. A locked chest, under the bed. X’ntigone is sat on the bed, looking at her hand. She holds it up and examines it a moment. Seeing something in it, she makes a fist. This makes her anxious – she starts scratching her arms – digging in her nails distractedly. There are several scratch marks on her arms. Her tablet is on, playing a film, but she isn’t watching it.

We cannot hear anything from the inner room – X’ntigone’s cell – which is soundproofed.

Creon enters. He wears a face mask, which he removes and places in his pocket. He watches her. Sensing something, she turns. She goes to the intercom and starts speaking, but her voice is muted.

Creon Hold on . . .

He takes a small mobile device from his pocket and points it at the sensor. This device acts as a remote, also as his phone. We can now hear her miked voice, in mid-flow, over a loud blast of howl-around.

X’ntigone – now for hours, they said they’d give me a charger for my tablet, and anyway –

A squall of feedback. He mutes her again.

Creon Can you still hear me?

She is still talking, but on mute.

Nod, if you can.

She continues talking on mute. Points remote again.

Nod, if you can hear me.

She stops, looks up, nods; continues talking.

Don’t talk into the intercom. Let go of the button. No, the button. Stops the feedback. I can hear you on the other mic.

She moves away from the intercom. She is still talking. He unmutes her mic.

X’ntigone – gonna be stuck in here?

Creon Sorry?

X’ntigone How long am I gonna be stuck in here?

Creon Ah. Well, that depends on the result of your bloods. We’re expecting the lab to call any time now. Nothing to worry about, I’m sure. (A smile. Noticing her arms.) D’you want something for that? It looks sore. Some cream, or . . .

She rolls her sleeves down. Looks away.

So, here we are.

She turns her back to him. He checks his watch.

Okay, I don’t have time for this today, little lady. I’ve a city to run. Look at me.

His phone pings. He checks it.

(Whilst texting.) So, I’m hoping you’ve had time to think things through. (Finishes texting. Looks up.) You know what I want.

She looks at her hand.

Okay, we’ve dispersed the protestors, but of course the Argive insurgents were using them for cover, to avoid detection. But I think you know that. We haven’t got an ID on all of them yet, but we will. We will.

She closes her fist. Covers it with her other hand, gently.

Seriously, Antigone, I’ve a press conference in an hour, we need to upload this recording to the server. (Beat.) Oh, we have your jacket, by the way.

She looks at him.

Thought that might get your attention. They’ve cleaned it.

X’ntigone Cleaned?

Creon Stitched, I mean. The holes.

X’ntigone Oh. (Looks at her hand again.) He had such beautiful hands.

Creon The sooner you make this recording the sooner you can get out of here.

He watches her. She starts scrolling.

Today’s the day. They’re all geared up for it out there. Don’t you want to be out with your friends, Antigone?

She scrolls.

Day like this? Sunny afternoon, a few beers. Barbecue. Haemon wants to treat you.

X’ntigone (sitting up)Haemon?

CreonHe’s dying to see you.

X’ntigone You were talking to Haemon?

CreonLast night, on patrol. He’s been asking when you get out.

X’ntigone (starts putting her tablet away)So I can go?

Creon Sure. Soon as we get this recording out of the way.

X’ntigone. Then I’m not still under quarantine?

Creon Technically, yes. But you’ve no symptoms.

X’ntigone But you’re letting me go?

Creon Soon as we have confirmation.

X’ntigone I feel fine.

Creon Good.

X’ntigone Come on, uncle.

Creon Soon, I promise.

X’ntigone Uncle!

Creon Protocol, my dear girl.

X’ntigone I’ll keep close to the palace gardens. Promise. The symptoms would have shown by now, as you say. (Smile.) I could get you a surprise.

Creon Surprise?

X’ntigone Some toffees.

Creon Ha!

X’ntigone Remember? Surprise me, you’d say.

Creon Christ, I . . .

X’ntigoneEvery Sunday.

Creon That’s right. I haven’t –

X’ntigoneYou’d send me down to the corner shop for a surprise and I’d always come back with a packet of

TogetherWerther’s Originals.

Creon (laughs)I haven’t thought of that in –

X’ntigoneWatching an old film in your screening room.

Creon The screening room!

X’ntigone Which they demolished when they built the –

Creon. . . new wing, yes. That’s –

X’ntigoneCurled up there on the sofa, tub of Häagen-Dazs. O my God. Remember?

Creon Ismene always wanted to be out playing, but you, you’d always climb up on my knee and . . .

He smiles, distracted for a moment. Snaps out of it. She becomes cool, detached.

I . . . look, I understand this is difficult, but they said you can do it on your ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• The Company
• Acknowledgements
• Contents
• X’ntigone
• Cast
• Chapter
• eCopyright