Read an Excerpt
The Last Pharaoh and Other Plays
By Wagdi Zeid
iUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2012 Wagdi Zeid
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4759-5201-8
Chapter One
The Last Pharaoh: A Play in Two Acts
Characters
Akhnaton Pharaoh of Egypt Nefertiti Akhnaton's wife Merry Their daughter Tye Akhnaton's mother Zemat Nefertiti's sister Horemoheb Zemat's husband, general of the Egyptian armies High Priest of Amon Third Priest of Amon Second Priest of Amon First Priest of Amon A Priest Mahu Chief of police Toto Chief of security Merora A commoner Bek Master sculptor and architect Tara Sisters Old Woman Young Man Peasant Men, Women, and Children Soldiers and Guards Villagers
Act One Scene One
(The court of a temple in a village on the bank of the River Nile. Villagers are gathered around a frightened, skinny boy carrying a small sack of grain. A plump, stormy priest paces up and down, glancing fiercely at the boy, whose fear mounts every time the priest gets close to him. Like the boy, the villagers have scraggy, tired figures. Disguised among the villagers stand Akhnaton and two guards, closely following what is going on.)
Priest, moving upstage and turning to his audience. A sack of grain is nothing, folks. But it is just a beginning! (He pauses and then screams his next line.) It is a beginning, and gods know what is next! (He moves downstage toward the boy; stops right in front of him, looking into his eyes; and then returns.) Shall we wait, folks? Shall we wait to see him steal more and teach other children to steal? Shall we wait?
(Silence)
Shall we wait till we have all our kids thieves like him? Of course not! No! I can hear everybody here say no! (Looks suspiciously toward the three disguised figures.) But you should know that it was the devil that made him steal. Therefore (glancing at one of his followers) we will punish the devil in him!
(The follower moves toward the boy, takes off his shirt, and leads him toward the center, where he will be whipped.)
Akhnaton, stepping toward the priest. Did you ask the boy why?
Priest, turning to Akhnaton violently. Excuse me, I didn't hear you.
Akhnaton. Did you ask the boy why he did what he did?
Priest, moving downstage toward Akhnaton after a moment of silence. Who are you? I haven't seen you here before.
Akhnaton, calmly. I am asking—Did you ask the boy why he stole a sack of grain?
Priest, And I am asking, Who are you?
Akhnaton, removing his cloak, still calmly. Akhnaton.
(Akhnaton is thin and feeble. His clothes are simple, and his appearance calls more for pity than admiration. His face is lined with worry, and in his sad eyes one recognizes the hunted look that tells of a searching spirit. Seeing him for the first time creates a sense of disappointment. But the sense of disappointment is only momentary; one gradually becomes charmed by his warm, inspiring presence.)
Priest, confused. Who?
Akhnaton. I am Akhnaton, the king of Egypt!
(Completely dumbfounded, the priest and villagers gaze at Akhnaton in fear and disbelief!)
Priest, trying to control his fear. No, no, you are not. It cannot be!
Akhnaton, glancing at the guards, who reveal themselves and move toward the boy to release him. Did you ask him why?
Boy, crying. We have nothing to eat. Mum is sick and Dad is dead.
Akhnaton, to the priest after a pause. What can you say now? What can your blind and deaf gods say now? What can your blind and deaf gods do now?
(Silence)
Akhnaton, to the two guards. Go inside and destroy the idols of their blind and deaf gods. Let us see what they can say or do.
(The two guards quickly disappear inside the temple. Now, loud sounds of idols being destroyed are heard. The priest stands confounded and helpless. People start to kneel down in fear.)
Akhnaton. Do not kneel down to me. I am not a god! I am only a human being and you shouldn't kneel down to a human being like you! You do not kneel to anyone. There are no gods on earth!
(Blackout)
Scene Two
(A hall in Akhnaton's palace in Tel el Amarna, the city of light. Enter Akhnaton and Tye, his mother. He seems to be in a good mood, but she looks worried.)
Akhnaton. I'm glad, Mother, you changed your mind. You'll like it here. I'm sure you'll like your palace. You'll like this fair city—
Tye, interrupting. Look, Son. I'm tired, and I feel I've only a few days to live. I'm here for one thing, and you know it, Son.
Akhnaton. What?
Tye. I'm worried about you. You came to Thebes for the burial of your father and didn't even wait for the seventy days of the embalming. You came back here, and I know what you're going to do! (Pleading) Son ... (She hesitates, stops.)
Akhnaton, smiling, encouraging. I'm listening, Mother.
Tye. I've seen your father rule this empire for thirty-seven years, and I know the Egyptians. You're now the pharaoh of Egypt. You're alone on the throne now.
Akhnaton, calmly. I've never really been on the throne, Mother.
Tye. You coruled with him for thirteen years.
Akhnaton, tenderly. You know quite well that isn't true, Mother. He never allowed me to do what I really wanted and ... (Stops.)
Tye. Because of your ideas!
Akhnaton. My ideas? Corrupt flatterers made him believe he was the greatest pharaoh and he had to build a fourth pyramid bigger than the other three. So for years we have been wasting the country on a huge tomb. We have wasted everything, and it is not yet finished. (He pauses. Then, in a determined, threatening tone) And it will never be finished.
Tye. What do you mean?
Akhnaton. You know what I mean. You're talking about my ideas ... (Pauses.) I've been away the last two years building this simple city. Here is my beginning. The change will start from here. I am not going to build a pyramid for myself, but I will help every Egyptian to be himself a pyramid! The change will start from here, Mother.
Tye, almost screaming. They wouldn't allow you!
Akhnaton. Who wouldn't allow me?
Tye. You know—them.
Akhnaton. The priests?
Tye. The priests and their followers. Their followers are all the Egyptians. (Pauses, comes to him, holds his hand, pleading.) I see horrible dreams. I ... I ... (Stops, trying to control herself, and turns away as if recalling the dream. Then, in a scared, weak voice) No, no. I don't want to lose you.
(Silence)
Akhnaton, going to her, holding both her hands with emotion. Where's the courageous queen who stood beside her king for long years? (Takes her to the center of the stage. Then, after a pause) What worries you, Mother? Tell me what you want.
Tye. Learn the wisdom of your father and grandfathers.
Akhnaton. What wisdom?
Tye. Don't confront the priests and their gods.
Akhnaton, calmly. My God commands me that no other deity should be worshipped in his land. (A pause as he looks into her eyes with emotion) Mother, you believe me?
Tye. You've never lied to me.
Akhnaton. Mother, Father allowed me to be on the throne with him the last few years before his death—did it work? No, it didn't work! And you know it didn't!
Tye. You cannot hold him solely responsible!
Akhnaton. It is not him or me! It's both of us. It didn't work, and it will never work, because you cannot have two rulers for Egypt! If it does not work for Egypt, it does not work for the world! The world should have one God! It does not need a prophet to know it, Mother! (Pauses.) You believe in the one and only God?
Tye. I said you've never lied to me.
Akhnaton. This isn't the answer to my question.
(Silence)
Tye, drawing nearer. Give yourself time.
Akhnaton. I want to begin right.
Tye. There's no rush. Wisdom—
Akhnaton, interrupting. Mother, you said my father and grandfathers were wise and didn't confront the priests and their gods. What was the outcome? Every village now has its own god. Temples have become a huge business, and the priests' pockets grow fat every day while the people suffer.
Tye. Don't face all of them at the same time then. (Ponders.) Or at least don't face the high priest of Amon, Riptah. That man has brains, vision, and courage.
Akhnaton. I'm not afraid. My God will not forsake me.
Tye. Find a way to exclude him from the confrontation.
Akhnaton. No compromise, Mother.
(Tye moves slowly toward a couch, murmuring.)
(Blackout)
Scene Three
(A street in Tel el Amarna. Music is heard from afar. Peasant men, women, and children are looking upward in the direction of the music and lights of a festival offstage. The children are very attracted and start to move toward the festival, but their parents do not allow them. Despite the festive atmosphere, parents' faces and movements reveal tension and fear. Downstage left and right, the First Priest of Amon, the Second Priest of Amon, and three guards, all disguised in cloaks, are watching the people impatiently. The two priests have shaved heads and wear shoes of papyrus. While they watch the crowd and exchange looks of obvious indignation, the three guards stand ready. Two boys enter and play festal games like wrestling, boxing, and single-stick fencing. Then they move upstage toward the festival. Children follow them, trying to free their hands from their parents' grip. Looking at the two priests and the three guards in fear, the parents are reluctant to let them go.)
Father, firmly holding his boy's hand. No. I said no.
Child, begging, trying to escape his father's grip. Please, Papa, I want to go. Let me go, please.
Father. I said no. No. Do you understand?
Child. Please, Papa, I want to see the new pharaoh.
Father. No.
Mother. Can't you let the boy go like other kids?
Father, looking in fear and suspicion at the priests. Shut up, woman. You know nothing.
Mother. Let him go see the festival!
Father. Festivals or no festivals, we have to keep away. (Pauses.) Every silver lining has a cloud!
Child, almost yelling. Let me go, Papa!
Father, angrily. Shut up! Shut up!
Old Man, interfering. Hey, don't do that to your kid, son!
Father. Mind your own business, sir.
Old Man. Son, kids are kids. You need—
Father, amazed. This is my boy, sir, and I need nobody to tell me how to handle him.
Old Man, smiling. I'm not saying you don't know how to handle him, son. (Unaware of the presence of the priests and the three guards, he approaches the child and kneels gently.) You want to see the new pharaoh? You will. I also want to see Akhnaton, the new pharaoh. But we have to wait a few days more.
Child. How many?
Old Man. Can you count three days? (Holds the boy's hand to count.) The crowning festival will be in three days. Tomorrow is one. Then ...
Child, happily. Two and three!
Old Man. The third day is the big day of the festival. The new pharaoh will be crowned on that day.
(The First Priest glances at the First Guard, who moves toward the Old Man and stops right behind him.)
Old Man, still unaware. On that day, son, you'll have a lot of sweets. You, your father and mother, and your friends will see the new pharaoh. You'll see a pharaoh who is completely different from those before him. He is—
First Guard, fiercely. You talk too much.
Old Man, stunned and scared. I'm only—
First Guard. Stop it. I don't want to hear more talk. Get home. (Pushes him violently.) Go home!
(The Old Man exits. The guard gets back to where he was, glaring at the others threateningly.)
Father, to his child and wife. I told you. I knew.
First Guard, sharply. What was that you said?
Father. Nothing. (Looks at the sky.) I said it looks like rain. (Turning to his wife and child) Let's get home.
(The three exit. The guard is still glaring at the crowd. Tension and fear increase.)
Man, looking at the sky, trying to show he is not scared. It seems we'll have a lot of rain. Besides, it's getting cold. Very cold, indeed! (Pauses. Then, to the others, convincingly) Home is sweet now, isn't it?
(The crowd disperse toward their homes.)
Second Priest. Time servers! Cowards!
First Priest. Ignorant hypocrites!
(Silence. Another group of commoners, led by a young man who carries images of the new pharaoh, appears. The Second Guard bars their way to the festival.)
Second Guard. Where are you going? (To the Young Man) Why do you lead these men about the streets?
Young Man. Why?
Second Guard, hitting him with a rod on his shoulder. I'm the one asking. You don't ask. (Hits him again.) Why do you lead these idle creatures about the streets?
(The Young Man violently tries to kick back, but the Third Guard strikes him from behind.)
Young Man. Why? Why do you do this to us? We're not slaves.
First Guard, hitting him again on the shoulder. Don't give me this crap.
Second Guard, snatching the images from the Young Man. What's this? (Looks at the images and hands them to the First Priest, who also looks at them and then hands them to the Second Priest.)
Young Man, confused but steadfast. Images of the new pharaoh? And we're going to the festival around the temple ... Is something wrong with this?
(Guards and priests exchange quick, meaningful looks.)
Second Priest, stepping toward the Young Man calmly. Look, young man, you seem to belong to a good family. Who is your father?
Young Man. Nakht Khamu.
Second Priest, writing down the name, trying to remember. Nakht Khamu ... from Dekma?
Young Man. Yes.
Second Priest. Your family is a big one in the area. (Pauses, thinking.) Dekma is in the Middle Delta, a long way from here. Why should you come this long way and get involved in suspicious matters?
Young Man. Suspicious matters! I'm here with my friends to attend the coronation of the new pharaoh, Akhnaton, and the images in your hand are his. We—
Second Priest, interrupting sharply. No, these are not the images of the pharaoh. A pharaoh wouldn't dress like ordinary people. (Pauses.) Who gave you these images?
Young Man. I don't know.
Second Priest, glancing at the First Guard. Take him!
(The First Guard rudely collars the Young Man, forcing him offstage.)
Young Man, screaming while exiting. I'm a teacher. You can't do this to me!
Second Priest, turning to the Young Man's comrades, in a threatening tone. And you!
(They look too scared to speak.)
Second Priest, after a pause. Get back to your village now. Be gone!
(They flee.)
Second Priest, to the Second Guard. Go down that street toward the temple. (Then, to the Third Guard) You take the other street. Drive away the ignorant hypocrites from the streets. Remove the heretic's images and let nobody carry them.
(The two guards exit. Silence. Music is no longer heard. The stage is dark, but the two priests can be dimly seen. The Second Priest moves thoughtfully upstage and then turns to the First Priest.)
Second Priest. Go see how the guards carry out the orders. Trust nobody.
First Priest. And you?
Second Priest. Our lord the high priest will arrive from Thebes before midnight, and I have a word from him to our man in the court. Go now, and trust nobody as I said. Don't forget—we meet at midnight behind the temple.
(Blackout)
Scene Four
(Behind one of Tel el Amarna's temples. Midnight. Thunder and lightning. Enter the Second Priest with the images in his hand, followed by the First Priest. They are still disguised in cloaks.)
Second Priest, looking around. A safe place!
First Priest. Yes.
Second Priest, looking at the sky. The southern star has appeared. The flood will be bad this year!
First Priest. Yes.
Second Priest. The river is beginning to burst its banks! (Taking off his cloak) We're lucky all our men arrived before it got worse.
First Priest, taking off his cloak after a pause. Does our lord know how to get here?
Second Priest. He's coming with Soka. Hush—I hear voices.
(Enter the High Priest and the Third Priest. They are also disguised in cloaks.)
Second Priest, running to meet the High Priest. My lord, our holy father. (Kneels, kisses his hand.) Thank the gods you've arrived safe ad well!
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Last Pharaoh and Other Plays by Wagdi Zeid Copyright © 2012 by Wagdi Zeid. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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