1 PREVIOUSLY ON 1
ANNOUNCER
Previously on Live from Mount
Olympus...
Sound of a bull lowing.
THESEUS
The bull may have chased me,
but I believe you're the one
who's in danger, Ariadne.
ARIADNE
What are you talking about?!
You're going to be sent to be
eaten by the Minotaur in two
days time!
THESEUS
During the banquets, some of
my team heard stories. They
overheard noblemen talking
about Minos building a new
temple for your mother high
up in the mountains--a temple
that will be her prison!
ARIADNE
The snake goddess has ruled
our island for thousands of
years, represented on earth
by my mother, by her mother
before her, and one day by
me.
THESEUS
Well that may be, but
Prokritos and Menestho heard
that your dad plans to marry
you off to some foreign king
and send you far away!
ARIADNE
The only person I would ever
consider leaving Crete for is
standing here, with me, in my
dream chamber.
They kiss.
ARIADNE
I liked that...
THESEUS
Care for some more?
ARIADNE
Maybe later... Right now we
have to face what's coming.
2 INTRO 2
ANNOUNCER
Live from Mount Olympus is
produced by The Onassis
Foundation and is distributed
by PRX.
3 INTERIOR, PODCAST STUDIO 3
EROS
Aha! The kissing continues!
And I can tell that Theseus
and Ariadne are now more
concerned about each other
than they are about
themselves. My arrows kindled
a bigger love than they've
ever kindled before!
HERMES
(laughing)
You may be surprised, Eros,
but there's a lot more to
love than just pricking
people with arrows and
getting them to stare into
each other's eyes.
EROS
I can't imagine anything more
fun or romantic than
everything you just said.
APHRODITE
Eros, love is more than a
feeling, love is an attitude
and a commitment.
HERMES
Well, we shall just have to
see how young Theseus and
Ariadne manage to face the
forces that threaten to tear
them apart.
True to her nature, facing
danger head on, Ariadne is
starting her day confronting
perhaps the most formidable
force of all -- her mother
Pasiphae, the snake goddess
on earth.
4 INT. SNAKE GODDESS TEMPLE, EARLY 4
MORNING.
Sound of eerie but beautiful snake
goddess chanting in trance in Greek.
Sound of door creaking open.
ARIADNE
(lovingly but with
concern)
Mother?
PASIPHAE
(taking a deep
breath)
It's time.
ARIADNE
Time? What do you mean?
PASIPHAE
You've come to ask for my
blessing.
ARIADNE
(frantically)
No -- I'm here to warn you!
Father is constructing a
temple -- a prison! -- and
his plan is --
PASIPHAE
I know all about what your
father is planning. He has
commanded Daedalus to design
a prison for me so he can end
the rule of the snake
goddess.
ARIADNE
Daedalus?!
PASIPHAE
Daedalus is Minos's prisoner -
- and must do whatever your
tyrant father commands. But
those plans will never come
to pass.
ARIADNE
How can you be sure?
PASIPHAE
If Minos tries to imprison
me, the goddess will make the
earth quake, the sea rise,
and the mountains blow!
PASIPHAE
So, my daughter, you must be
sure to get away from the
island as quickly as
possible.
ARIADNE
You mean you want me to leave
Crete?
PASIPHAE
These are not just games
between your father and me.
Though we all have our part
to play.
ARIADNE
(quietly in
confusion)
But what is my part?
PASIPHAE
You have a complicated fate,
oh snake-goddess-in-waiting.
Sound of footsteps and a metallic
scraping as an axe is taken down from
the wall.
PASIPHAE
Here.
ARIADNE
You're giving me Labrys???
The sacred axe of Knossos?
PASIPHAE
Yes.
Sound of Ariadne stroking the axe.
ARIADNE
It is so beautiful. Dangerous
and exquisite at the same
time.
The craftsmanship is
perfection -- full of grace
and power.
PASIPHAE
Just like you, daughter. Just
like you. Labrys is part of
your fate, Ariadne. I know
what you need it for -- and
you have my blessing, even if
my heart breaks for one child
as it swells for another.
ARIADNE
(unsure)
Mother, I...
(PAUSE)
PASIPHAE
No second thoughts. Come
here, Ariadne, let me give
you a farewell embrace.
ARIADNE
What do you mean? Won't I see
you again?
PASIPHAE
Quite possibly not. But
remember, my daughter -- when
you feel most alone, your
true future will be waiting
for you. Now go -- and the
goddess be with you.
Ariadne weeping softly, we hear her
steps receding and door closing as
Pasiphae begins to sing once again.
5 INT. DAYTIME, DAEDALUS'S WORKSHOP, LATE 5
EVENING
Sound of drawing and drafting.
DAEDALUS
I think the design is solid --
I'll put a tower here, from
which Pasiphae will be able
to see all of Crete spread
out before her, from sea to
shining sea...
ICARUS
Hmm -- from the plans it
looks more like a prison on
top of a big mountain.
DAEDALUS
Yes, I'm afraid you're right -
-
Sound of door flinging open.
Sound of Daedalus covering up his
papers.
ARIADNE
Daedalus! I must speak to
you!
DAEDALUS
(shuffling the papers
on his workbench to
hide what he's
working on)
Ariadne! Um -- let me tidy up
these papers so we can have
tea.
ARIADNE
You don't need to hide those
plans from me -- I know.
You're designing a prison for
my mother!
DAEDALUS
Ariadne... Your father made
me swear I would not reveal
his plans, otherwise you
would have been the first --
ARIADNE
I wish you had trusted me,
Daedalus.
DAEDALUS
King Minos wants to take over
the whole empire, and your
mother is standing in his
way.
ARIADNE
Which puts all of us in
danger.
Sound of a metallic ringing as she
shows them Labrys.
ICARUS
Whoa -- is that Labrys? I can
feel its power from here! Is
it true what I've heard about
it?
DAEDALUS
What have you heard?
ICARUS
That Labrys is the sacred
double-headed axe of the
snake goddess herself! It's
been handed down through a
thousand generations!
DAEDALUS
What are you planning to do
with Labrys?
ARIADNE
I will give it to Theseus
when he is sent to the
Minotaur.
ICARUS
You want Theseus to kill the
Minotaur?!
ARIADNE
Yes. Before the Minotaur eats
all the tributes!
ICARUS
So he'll have a weapon! But
once he's completed
his...um...work, how is he
going to get out?
DAEDALUS
I designed the labyrinth so
that once inside, there could
be no return...
ARIADNE
But surely there is a way
out!
DAEDALUS
Well, you are my brightest
student, Ariadne.
ICARUS
Hey!
DAEDALUS
(ignoring him)
If anyone can find a way, you
can.
Sound of Icarus throwing a ball of
thread from hand to hand.
ICARUS
Ariadne, you're like a cat
transfixed by my ball of
thread.
ARIADNE
What is it for?
ICARUS
I'm using it to knit sweaters
for Pops and my esca --
DAEDALUS
(warning him)
Icarus.
ICARUS
-- escapades! Yeah,
escapades.
ARIADNE
(demanding)
Give it to me!
ICARUS
(chuckling)
Well, OK, then.
He snips the thread.
ARIADNE
(deep in thought)
Such a gorgeous, deep
red...powerful, confident...
ICARUS
Yeah! Red's my favorite
color!
DAEDALUS
Shh! Quiet, Icarus. Let her
cook!
ARIADNE
(talking to herself
trancelike)
Red, blood... life... line...
(BEAT)
ARIADNE
Lifeline! Lifeline! This
thread will allow Theseus to
return to me!
ICARUS
So you'll have gotten him out
of the labyrinth -- but then
what? All of Knossos will be
after him!
ARIADNE
I don't know, Icarus -- I
don't know what we can do
next!
DAEDALUS
I got it! Icarus, see that
large basket at the end of
the workbench? Bring it to
me -- but carefully! Very
carefully!
ARIADNE
Such strange-looking clay
spheres inside it!
DAEDALUS
(sternly)
They must be handled with the
most extreme caution.
ICARUS
(chuckling)
Why? They gonna explode in my
hands or something?
DAEDALUS
That is exactly what they
will do!
ICARUS
Oh! They're bombs!!! Cool,
Pops! So what's the plan?
DAEDALUS
When darkness falls tonight,
you will go down to the
harbor and row out to the
Minoan ships. On each ship,
you will place a single bomb -
-
ICARUS
(getting excited)
Yeah...
DAEDALUS
Carefully! Very carefully! --
ICARUS
Yeah...!
DAEDALUS
-- into the folded sails.
ICARUS
I can do that!
DAEDALUS
When the guards learn that
Theseus has escaped, they
will sound an alarm and the
crew will raise the sails --
ICARUS
Exploding the bombs on the
decks and sinking Minos's
ships! That is GENIUS!
DAEDALUS
Icarus, listen -- I know you,
you're getting excited, but
you have to be very very
careful and very very
stealthy.
ICARUS
Stealthy is my middle name,
Pops!
DAEDALUS
So you both understand what
you must do?
ARIADNE & ICARUS
We do!
DAEDALUS
Then go, quickly -- and may
the goddess be with you.
ARIADNE
(to herself) That's just what
my mother said...
(tearing up)
Farewell, Daedalus -- goodbye
dear Icarus. Thank you.
6 INT. CHAMBER, NIGHT. 6
Sound of footsteps echoing.
CHAMBER GUARD
Well, well, well, if it isn't
Icarus again. You got my
snack?
ARIADNE
(low voice)
Hey, yeah, kourabiedes, fresh
from the oven!
CHAMBER GUARD
(inhaling loudly)
MMMM -- orange, vanilla,
cinnamon -- heaven.
(stuffs his face with
one, next line with
a full mouth)
You may pass.
ARIADNE
(low voice)
Enjoy.
CHAMBER GUARD
Ohhhhh, I will; you can count
on that! Mmm...cookie...
Sound of guard devouring food.
Sound of snoring.
Sound of footsteps.
ANT
(whispering)
Yo, princess!
ARIADNE
(whispering, regular
voice)
Hey, Ant. He's in the dream
chamber?
ANT
Yep!
ARIADNE
OK, thanks. Have a good --
ANT
Just a minute.
ARIADNE
(nervously)
Everything OK?
ANT
Yeah, I just have a question -
- What's it like to be in
charge and have all the men
follow your orders?
ARIADNE
Well it's always been that
way here -- but it feels like
that's changing.
ANT
Don't let it! What can I do
to help?
ARIADNE
Be who you've always been to
Theseus -- he's going to need
you.
ANT
I would die to protect him.
ARIADNE
I know -- and I pray it never
comes to that.
Sound of Ariadne walking to the temple.
THESEUS
Ariadne!
ARIADNE
Hi.
Sound of smooching.
ARIADNE
Theseus, we don't have time
for kissing right now -- OK --
We need to plan --
THESEUS
Planning and kissing -- we
can multi-task!
ARIADNE
(smiling)
OK, OK, one more --
Kiss.
THESEUS
So, what's your plan?
ARIADNE
Here... it's in my sleeve!
(BEAT)
THESEUS
(confused)
Red thread?
ARIADNE
And also this.
Metallic ring of Labrys.
THESEUS
Is that... Labrys?
ARIADNE
Yes -- the sacred weapon of
Crete. My mother gave it to
me.
THESEUS
She just gave it to you??
Does she know?
ARIADNE
She knows, and gave her
blessing.
THESEUS
More than I could have
dreamed...but I'll never be
able to hide this under my
cloak when the guards come to
get me.
ARIADNE
You won't have to. I'll give
it to you in the labyrinth --
the guards are just going to
push you through the door and
run away, they'll be too
scared to take you all the
way in.
THESEUS
With Labrys, I can give the
Minotaur an honorable death.
ARIADNE
Thank you.
THESEUS
But what's with the red
thread?
ARIADNE
Daedalus designed the
labyrinth so that the
tributes find their way in,
but no one can find their way
out. If you hold one end of
this thread, you'll be able
to find your way.
THESEUS
So, when I'm ready to make my
way out, I follow the thread
back to freedom --
ARIADNE
And to me.
They kiss.
THESEUS
Then we'll free the rest of
the tributes --
ARIADNE
Race to the harbor --
THESEUS
Where my ship will be
waiting. You're coming with
me, right? To be my queen?
ARIADNE
Of course. I meant what I
said last night --
Big smooch.
THESEUS
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
ARIADNE
I don't mind at all.
THESEUS
We must tell the others --
they'll need to know
everything so that we're all
able to escape.
ARIADNE
Um...are you sure? Can so
many teenagers really keep a
secret?
THESEUS
My Athenians are sworn to
protect me and each other.
They'll never betray us.
ARIADNE
(exhaling)
OK... Let's wake them up and
share our plan.
THESEUS
Wait -- just... one moment.
Can we just have one moment?
ARIADNE
What is it?
THESEUS
I know I'll see you tomorrow
when I emerge from the
labyrinth, and I hope I'll
get another kiss --
ARIADNE
(laughing)
Theseus!
THESEUS
And the plan is brilliant
but...
ARIADNE
But what?
THESEUS
I've prepared for my fate my
entire life. But what we are
embarking on is so
dangerous... Are you sure
this is what you want?
ARIADNE
I am. This is not just your
fate anymore, Theseus -- this
is my fate too.
THESEUS
(quickly)
It is our fate, and our lives
are forever intertwined.
Promise me you will stay
alive tomorrow!
ARIADNE
Only fate can determine if we
--
THESEUS
(sternly)
Promise me you will stay
alive tomorrow!
ARIADNE
I promise. I will see you at
the end of the red thread.
THESEUS
I love you, Ariadne!
ARIADNE
I love you too, Theseus.
THESEUS
May the gods be with us.
BACK TO:
INT. PODCAST STUDIO
APHRODITE
Did you hear them proclaim
their love?
EROS
Yes, but Hermes, you left us
on such a cliffhanger. Don't
you know that cliffhangers
are so yesterday?
HERMES
I'm not hearing you, Eros.
So, will Theseus meet his
fate? Will Ariadne?
EROS
And will we get to see more
smooching and snuggling?
Hermes and Aphrodite laugh.
EROS
What's so funny, Hermes? How
could there be anything more
important than their love?
HERMES
Eros -- you actually have a
point. Stay tuned, little
heroes, to hear if Theseus
and Ariadne survive to ever
kiss again -- next time on
Live from Mount Olympus!
THE END
CREDITS
ANNOUNCER
Live From Mount Olympus is
produced by the Onassis
Foundation. Karen Brooks
Hopkins is executive
producer. Our series creator
and showrunner is Julie
Burstein.
Live From Mount Olympus is co-
produced by Brooklyn-based
theatre collective The TEAM.
Our co-directors are Rachel
Chavkin, Zhailon Levingston,
Keenan Tyler-Oliphant, and
Josiah Davies, with
additional direction by Joan
Sergei. And our actors are:
Eric Berryman, MaYaa Boateng -
-
ARIADNE
You're giving me Labrys? The
sacred axe of Knossos?
ANNOUNCER
Sean Carvajal --
CHAMBER GUARD
Well, well, well, if it isn't
Icarus again. You got my
snack?
ANNOUNCER
EJ Duarte --
ANT
What's it like to be in
charge and have all the men
follow your orders?
ANNOUNCER
Jill Frutkin --
APHRODITE
Eros, love is more than a
feeling -- love is an
attitude and a commitment!
ANNOUNCER
Divine Garland --
ICARUS
Oh! They're bombs! Cool,
pops! So what's the plan?
ANNOUNCER
Adrienne Hopkins, Caroline
Hopkins Natalie Hopkins,
Modesto "Flako" Jimenez --
DAEDALUS
Shh! Quiet, Icarus! Let her
cook!
ANNOUNCER
Na'Shay Kelly, Julian Hart-
King, Libby King, Ian
Lassiter, Zhailon Levingston,
Evalisse Lopez, Kimberly
Marable --
PASIPHAE
When you feel most alone,
your true future will be
waiting for you.
ANNOUNCER
Jake Margolin, Marcel Isaiah
Martinez, James Harrison
Monaco, Xavier Pacheco --
THESEUS
With Labrys, I can give the
Minotaur an honorable death.
ANNOUNCER
Joham Palma, Damir Priestley,
Angel Rodriguez, Conor
Sweeney --
EROS
Aha! The kissing continues!
ANNOUNCER
Jillian Walker, and André de
Shields is Hermes!
HERMES
You may be surprised, Eros,
but there's a lot more to
love than just pricking
people with arrows and
getting them to stare into
each others' eyes.
ANNOUNCER
The TEAM's producing director
is Emma Orme, and associate
producer is Sabine Decatur.
Casting support from Melissa
Friedman, co-artistic
director of Epic Theatre
Ensemble. Live From Mount
Olympus is written by Nathan
Yungerberg, with additional
writing by Julie Burstein and
Jason Adam Katzenstein.
Audio production and mix by
John Melillo. Audio editing
and sound design by Yonatan
Rekem. Magdalini Giannikou
composed our original music,
which was performed by Banda
Magda, and mixed and mastered
by Luca Bordonaro. Jason Adam
Katzenstein created our
illustrations and is series
humor consultant. A big thank
you to our creative advisors
Dr. Michael Cohen and Richard
Nodell. Mandy Boikou is
administrative director and
Sofia Pipa is project manager
at Onassis USA. Will
McClelland is our production
assistant and Gizelle Winter
is our series antiquities
consultant. Live From Mount
Olympus was recorded with
engineers Roy Hendrickson,
Mor Mezrich, Matthew
Sullivan, and Matthew Soares
at the Power Station at
Berklee NYC. Press by Grand
Communications. Graphic
design by Onassis Creative
Studio. Live From Mount
Olympus is distributed by
PRX. Want to learn more about
Hermes and the Olympians?
Check out our website at
www.onassis.link/olympus.
Since 1975, the Onassis
Foundation has been dedicated
to culture, community, and
education, with projects that
can effectively inspire
social change and justice
across borders. Learn more at
www.onassis.org.