Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft.
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PREVIOUSLY ON
ANNOUNCER
Previously on Live From Mount
Olympus...
SIMON
(fearfully)
Do you think we'll all be eaten?
PROKRITOS
You think we're goin' to Crete to
pick flowers? We got work to do!
IDAS
We're gonna be bull dancers!
SIMON
(crying)
I wanna go home!
MINOAN GUARD ONE
(announcing)
Athenian tributes! You have arrived
at Heraklion Harbor.
MINOAN GUARD TWO
(laughing)
The Minotaur's gourmet meal
delivery all the way from Athens.
LYSIDIKE
Whoa! Up on the cliff? What is
going on?
ERIBOEA
(fearfully)
Snake goddesses! With SNAKES!
APHRODITE (V.O.)
Now, Eros, now!
EROS (V.O.)
Finalllllyyyyyy!
THESEUS
Ow!
ANT
Theseus? You good?
THESEUS
(drunkenly to himself)
Who is she?
ANT
You're wobbling there, kiddo! Watch
it! You're getting too close to
the...
THESEUS
(to himself)
Dancing on top of the cliff...I
must learn her name...
ANT
Theseus!
1 INTRO 1
ANNOUNCER
Live From Mount Olympus is
produced by The Onassis Foundation
and is distributed by PRX.
2 INTERIOR, PODCAST STUDIO 2
APHRODITE
You certainly looked like you
enjoyed yourself when you took that
shot.
EROS
Why shouldn't I enjoy it? Isn't
that the point of doing this in the
first place?
APHRODITE
Exactly.
EROS
OK. My next arrow is nocked -- I'm
ready for her!
HERMES
But the story is not yet ready for
you, Eros -- always shooting arrows
first and asking questions later.
You must learn to still yourself in
order to allow great stories to
unfold in their own time.
APHRODITE
True, if you shot her now, who
knows who she'd be looking at, who
she'd fall for...
EROS
But that could add to the fun!
HERMES
Remember -- ceremony must come
before the sacrifice. And this
ceremony is about to begin -- the
stunning, suspenseful, potentially
lethal bull dance, held in the vast
central square of Knossos.
3 DAYTIME, CENTRAL SQUARE OF KNOSSOS 3
Roar of the crowd as the Athenians enter
the square
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
(reverberating from a
PA system from a
distance)
Ladies and gentlemen, it's been
nine long years since the last
tributes arrived from Athens to
dance with the bulls before they
meet the biggest bull of all -- the
Minotaur.
Cheers
BULL DANCE COLOR
Are you ready for the death-defying
spectacle of the decade??
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
I know I sure am, Niko. Let's give
the Athenian tributes a big Minoan
welcome!
B roll of a few weak claps but mostly
catcalls and ridicule.
POV shifts to the tributes
SIMON
The palace is so much bigger than I
imagined...
ERIBOEA
With huge red columns and balconies
that seem to stretch right up to
the sky...
KORONIS
So many people...
MENESTHO
-- and they're not very friendly...
SIMON
(nervously) Where's the bull?
PROKRITOS
We got this, Simon -- we've been
practicing for months -- and you're
our fastest runner, don't you worry
about the bull!
ERIBOEA
(hushed)
When we practiced dancing with
bulls in the fields outside Athens
it was remote and quiet -- but so
many eyes are on us now!
LYSIDIKE
(hushed)
They're here for a show;
so we're gonna give them one! Stand
tall Eriboea! You've got this!
SIMON
(nervous, hushed voice)
Um, Theseus, what if, um... What if
this time, after I leap over the
bull, I'm not quick enough to get
away from it?
THESEUS
(hushed, confident)
That's not gonna happen, Simon.
Teamwork, remember. We have each
other's back! Head high my friend!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
The tribute in charge seems to be
that slight young man with the
curly hair --
BULL DANCE COLOR
Huh. Why would the Athenians chose
him as their leader? He's not the
tallest and certainly doesn't look
like he's the strongest.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
That's Theseus -- Word is he's been
claimed by Aegeus, king of Athens,
as his son!
BULL DANCE COLOR
Ah, Theseus! I've also heard a
rumor that Poseidon himself is this
young man's father! How's THAT for
dramatic backstory?
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Well, that bull won't care in the
least who his parents are. Theseus
seems to be pretty cocky though,
the way he's walked into the square
as if somehow he belongs on these
royal grounds. We'll see how long
that lasts!
BULL DANCE COLOR
Yeah, pretty hard to be cocky with
a bull horn through your abdomen,
am I right?
Sound of the crowd cheering again.
BULL DANCE COLOR
Anyway, as we wait for the bull to
be released, let's give a shoutout
to the royalty in the house.
More cheers from the crowd.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
On the first balcony stands
Princess Ariadne, in her snake
priestess finery! She's in her
"hiss" era. Just 16 years old --
the snake goddess in waiting!
Crowd cheering and applauding.
THESEUS
(lovesick to himself)
Did he um... Did he say, Ariadne?
ANT
Theseus!
THESEUS
(slowly and lovesick to
himself)
Ariadne. A perfect name for a
perfect--
ANT
Theseus! Look me in the eye. Here!
Now! FOCUS!
THESEUS
Focus, right, focus, Ariadne, I
mean, focus...
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Next to Ariadne is her darling
little sister Phaedra -- this is
the 10 year old princess's first
bull dance.
BULL DANCE COLOR
Well, buckle up, little lady.
Crowd chanting Ariadne Ariadne Ariadne
Ariadne/Phaedra Phaedra Phaedra Phaedra.
POV shifts to the royal box
PHAEDRA
Hey Ariadne, did you see that total
dreamboat of a tribute?
ARIADNE
Which one?
PHAEDRA
That one! The one giving everyone
orders!
Is it true that the last time, some
of the tributes died on their first
day with the bull?
ARIADNE
(quickly)
I don't want to think about that.
Images from the last time of a boy
being trampled and a girl being
gored still haunt me... I hate that
we have to watch.
PHAEDRA
Well, I can't wait! This is the
most exciting thing I've ever been
allowed to see!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Just above the princesses, on the
second balcony, stands their
mother, the Snake Goddess on Earth
herself, Pasiphae.
BULL DANCE COLOR
If the Athenians somehow succeed in
subduing the bull, they must
dedicate it to her as queen of
Knossos.
Sound of crowd cheering again.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Across the square, sitting at a
suspicious distance from his queen,
King Minos sits on his ornate
throne, so close to the action he
should be able to smell the bull's
hot breath.
BULL DANCE COLOR
Probably pretty stinky, I imagine.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
The Athenians have gathered in a
huddle -- You think they're
actually planning something?
BULL DANCE COLOR
What's there to plan? Just run
away from the bull and keep from
getting gored.
POV shifts to the tributes
THESEUS
Brothers and sisters! We have
practiced for weeks! And through
all our work, we've become a team.
We've got this! We fight for the
honor of Athens! Let's give these
Minoans the bull dance of a
lifetime.
TRIBUTES
For Athens!
Tributes do one loud clap to punctuate the
cheer!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
The young Athenians have broken
onto the field. It's so charming
they think they stand a chance!
Hopefully they'll last longer than
the five seconds it took last time.
BULL DANCE COLOR
Well, eventually of course they'll
all be eaten, it's just a question
of when and how.
Sound of a gate opening.
Sound of a bull pawing the ground.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
(hushed)
We'll soon find out -- the bull has
been released!
BULL DANCE COLOR
What a beauty! Deep glossy brown
with white markings, and those
horns! They must be three feet
long with an evil curl at the tips.
This beast could be a twin to the
beautiful bull in the palace
frescos...
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
He's bellowing, pawing the ground --
now he's charging into the center
of the square!
Sound of the crowd cheering.
THESEUS
Athenians, Five H Flood!
BULL DANCE COLOR
The Athenians are flowing into a
formation -- surrounding the bull
on all sides!
I've never seen this move
before...and neither has the bull.
THESEUS
Menestho, ready?
MENESTHO
Ready!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
A single young woman has broken
from the group -- She's running
towards the bull!
BULL DANCE COLOR
Her jaw is clenched tight, her dark
piercing eyes focus on the bull,
like somehow she's the hunter and
not the prey! Look at her calf
muscles ripple!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
She's grabbed the bull's horns! And
leapt onto its back! Now she's
launched herself off -- into a
somersault!
Sound of crowd roaring.
BULL DANCE COLOR
Yes!!! Somehow one of the young men
put himself right where he needed
to be to catch her.
THESEUS
Athenians! Y-Fan! Go!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
The Athenian tributes are fanning
out in all directions!
BULL DANCE COLOR
But the bull looks confused -- he
doesn't seem to know where to look
first. Ah! He's going for the
tallest young man of the group!
Strange -- the kid isn't running
away...
Sound of the crowd cheering.
THESEUS
Phaidimos, get ready to fly!
PHAIDIMOS
Ready!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
The bull has almost reached the
young dancer whose arms are
stretched out to catch its horns.
But the enormous beast has changed
its mind - it's swerving, charging
two other tributes on its left...
ANT
Koronis, Simon, fan out! He's
coming for you!
B roll of tons of running and panting and
fear (but not panic)
PROKRITOS
Theseus, he's turned again! He's
headed straight at you!
THESEUS
Oh, man -- Athenians! 23! Slide
Combo!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Hard to make out what the Athenians
are doing -- they seem to be
running in some sort of zig zag
pattern all around the bull.
BULL DANCE ANNOUNCER
Whatever they're doing - they've
completely disoriented him, and us!
THESEUS
Now, Phaidimos, now!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Holy SMOKES, look at that kid go! A
beautiful handspring flip up onto
the beast's back and landing with a
perfect dismount.
Sound of crowd cheering.
THESEUS
Eriboea, Koronis, Idas, Simon!
Early 4! Early 4! Pocket!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Now four young Athenians are
leaping over the bewildered bull in
quick succession. I have NEVER seen
anything like that before!
Sound of the crowd cheering.
THESEUS
Ant, it's time for the finale.
ANT
Athenians, Sideline Sweep! Sideline
Sweep!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Whoa! The boys have just run to the
sidelines, to the right of the
king, they've drawn the bull's
attention. The girls have run to
the left. And here comes young
Theseus, walking straight out
through the center towards the
bull!
BEAT
BULL DANCE COLOR
The bull is stopping, and Theseus
stops too! There are only ten,
maybe twelve feet between them.
Sound of Theseus yelling something
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Theseus is rushing the bull!
Sound of the crowd cheering.
Sound of the crowd gasping.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
He's grabbed the bull by the horns!
BULL DANCE COLOR
And that's not a metaphor, folks,
Theseus has LITERALLY grabbed the
bull's horns! Now he's launching
himself into the air --
4 PODCAST STUDIO 4
HERMES
Perfect time to interrupt the
action, my little heroes -- Eros,
you're on! Time for Ariadne!
EROS
(excitedly)
Now?
APHRODITE
Yes! She's looking right at
Theseus! Now!!!
Sound of an arrow flying through the
dimensions and hitting flesh.
EROS
Scooooooore!
5 DAYTIME, COURTYARD ON CRETE 5
ARIADNE
Owwwwwwwww!
PHAEDRA
Ariadne! What happened? You get
stung by a bee?
ARIADNE
I don't um.. I don't know...maybe
it was a bee? I feel a little...
dizzy.
PHAEDRA
You look weird, are you ok?
ARIADNE
(lovesick)
I... I don't know, I... I feel a
little... my heart's beating so
quickly and I'm nervous and cold
and hot at the same time and
everything feels so new and
beautiful and scary but in a... in
a lovely kind of way.
PHAEDRA
Should I call our nurse? You look
like you're going to faint!
ARIADNE
(snapping out of it)
No, Phaedra, I'm fine.
PHAEDRA
(suspiciously under her
breath)
Then why are your eyes locked on
that cute tribute, the one on the
bull?
(BEAT)
BULL DANCE COLOR
Theseus balances on the back of the
bull as it tries to buck him off.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
now Theseus grabs its horns again,
wrenching, twisting, wrenching and
twisting!
BULL DANCE COLOR
The bull is losing focus, losing
energy, the other tributes are
darting in and out, taunting the
beast as Theseus wrestles it into
submission!!! What teamwork!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
What teamwork!
THESEUS
Let's get you over there, big
fella.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Surrounded by his teammates,
Theseus is riding the beast
straight to the balcony where
Pasiphae, Snake Goddess on Earth,
stands holding a writhing snake in
each hand, waiting for the bull to
be presented to her.
BULL DANCE COLOR
Ah, hang on -- I may be mistaken,
but it seems the young Athenian is
not looking up to the top balcony --
instead, standing tall on the back
of the bull, he's locking eyes with
-- Princess Ariadne? You can feel
the lightning bolt in that glance
as if Zeus himself had thrown it...
Sound of crowd laughing and applauding.
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
What an audacious beginning!
BULL DANCE COLOR
Yes! The Athenians have given an
incredible performance -- and no
one died!
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
There's a first for everything,
first. These tributes will go to
their deaths in the Minotaur's
labyrinth with honor!
Sound of wild screaming and applause.
ARIADNE
(to herself)
No -- that must not happen! But
what can I do? Where can I turn for
help?
PHAEDRA
I knew you liked him! I'll help!
ARIADNE
OK -- if Mom or Dad ask for me,
distract them somehow -- I must go!
PHAEDRA
Where?
ARIADNE
To see the only person who will
know what to do -- Daedalus.
6 DAYTIME, DAEDALUS'S WORKSHOP 6
Sounds of wings flapping just outside, and
Icarus falling to the ground over and
over.
DAEDALUS
(calling out the open
terrace doors)
Icarus! Increase the celerity!
ICARUS
The what?
DAEDALUS
Celerity: you must increase the
celerity of your wing flapping in
order to create the desired
levitation.
ICARUS
Sure, Pops, I'd do that if I knew
what in Hades you're talking about.
DAEDALUS
Celerity: rapidity, rapidness,
quickness --
Sound of loud knocking on a wooden door.
DAEDALUS
Wait, son -- someone is at the-
Sound of Ariadne rushing in.
ARIADNE
Professor Daedalus!
DAEDALUS
Princess Ariadne?
ARIADNE
So glad I caught you in your
workshop --
DAEDALUS
You know that I'm always in my
workshop -- your father has
imprisoned me here...
ARIADNE
Yeah, he always says you're too
smart for your own good, he wants
all your inventions to himself!
ICARUS
(from outside the door)
Pops! The celerity! I increased my
celerity and looooooook!
ARIADNE
You're FLYING, Icky???
ICARUS
It's all about the celerity!
ARIADNE
Celeri- what?
DAEDALUS
(urgently)
Straighten your wingspan, Icarus,
or you're going to...
Sound of Icarus falling from the sky and
hitting the terrace.
ICARUS
Owwwwwwwww!
DAEDALUS
Ariadne, no one must know about
this little... experiment...
especially not your father.
ARIADNE
Could you make me a set of wings,
too?
DAEDALUS
Your fate is not to fly, Ariadne --
it's to be the next Snake Goddess
on Earth.
ARIADNE
If my father has anything to do
about it, Snake Goddess will soon
be a dirty word.
ICARUS
He's still mad at your mom, huh?
ARIADNE
(lowering her voice)
I can't remember the last time I
saw them in the same room. And I
think he's planning something even
more outrageous than the terrible
tribute he demands from Athens...
DAEDALUS
Sending 14 young Athenians into the
labyrinth --
ICARUS
-- to be eaten by the Minotaur!
ARIADNE
I hate that father is sending the
tributes to die! I -- I need your
help to stop it! I must find a way
to talk to their leader, to
Theseus.
ICARUS
Why do you want to see the
tributes, Ariadne? Last time, you
were so afraid for them you could
hardly watch the bull dance.
ARIADNE
Watching the tributes be killed by
the bull was awful! But -- this
time feels different -- the
Athenians were amazing today, no
one died! Somehow they worked
together until one of them...
She sighs.
ARIADNE
Until Theseus actually subdued the
bull! I need to talk to him. I
think he --
ICARUS
(singsong)
Ariadne likes Theseus! Ariadne
likes Theseus!
ARIADNE
No! It's -- it's not like that! I --
I feel somehow that it's my fate to
help him.
ICARUS
Well, what are you waiting for? Go
see him right now!
ARIADNE
As "goddess in waiting," I can't
just waltz into the chamber where
they're holding the tributes in the
labyrinth. My father's guards
would immediately alert him that I
was there.
ICARUS
Hmm -- I have an idea! You need a
disguise!
(rummaging through a
closet)
Wear my cloak!
ARIADNE
Icarus, you're a genius! Let me put
it on!
Sound of rustling fabric.
ARIADNE
How do I look? I make a great
Icarus, right?
ICARUS
(laughing)
Not with that dainty princess walk.
You need some swagger. Watch me.
Sound of solid footsteps.
ARIADNE
Like this?
Sound of solid footsteps.
ICARUS
Slouch a little more, Ariadne.
Yeah... perfect!
Sound of Ariadne continuing to practice.
DAEDALUS
Anyone who glimpses your face will
know in an instant you're not
Icarus -- hmm...
(rustling through
papers on his desk)
Must find scissors... and some glue
-- Hold on.
DAEDALUS
Icarus, stand still, I need a lock
of your hair...
Snipping sounds.
DAEDALUS
Ariadne, hold this above your left
lip -- let me glue it on...
ARIADNE
(giggling)
It tickles!
DAEDALUS
There! A wispy mustache, just like
Icarus's.
ICARUS
(indignant)
Wispy? My 'stache is manly and
full!
DAEDALUS
(laughing)
Yeah, you go on believing that,
kid...
ARIADNE
(laughing)
The sun is setting, I must go!
DAEDALUS
Remember the charm we've been
working on?
ARIADNE
The persuasion charm?
DAEDALUS
Exactly. You've been practicing,
and the mustache and cloak should
help make it work. Are you ready?
ARIADNE
I think so...goodbye Icarus. Thank
you, Daedalus.
Sound of Ariadne walking out of the
workshop.
ICARUS
Remember, Ari -- swagger!
DAEDALUS
And keep rocking that mustache!
Sound of Ariadne swaggering out the door.
7 INT. GODSPOD STUDIO 7
EROS
Ha! My arrows make mortals do some
crazy things!
APHRODITE
All is fair in love! Ariadne is one
determined princess.
HERMES
But is determination enough? We'll
find out 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
Everything feels so new and
beautiful and scary but in a... in
a lovely kind of way.
ANNOUNCER
Sean Carvajal, EJ Duarte --
ANT
Theseus! Look me in the eye. Here!
Now! FOCUS!
ANNOUNCER
Jill Frutkin --
APHRODITE
Yes! She's looking right at
Theseus! Now!!!
ANNOUNCER
Divine Garland --
ICARUS
Sure, Pops, I'd do that if I knew
what in Hades you're talking about.
ANNOUNCER
Adrienne Hopkins--
KORONIS
So many people...
ANNOUNCER
Natalie Hopkins --
MENESTHO
-- and they're not very friendly...
ANNOUNCER
Caroline Hopkins --
PHAEDRA
This is the most exciting thing
I've ever been allowed to see!
ANNOUNCER
Modesto "Flako" Jimenez --
DAEDALUS
Your fate is not to fly, Ariadne --
it's to be the next Snake Goddess
on Earth.
ANNOUNCER
Na'Shay Kelly --
LYSIDIKE
They're here for a show, so we're
gonna give them one.
ANNOUNCER
Julian Hart-King, Libby King, Ian
Lassiter --
Sound of bull lowing.
ANNOUNCER
Zhailon Levingston --
BULL DANCE PLAY BY PLAY
Let's give the Athenian tributes a
big Minoan welcome!
ANNOUNCER
Evalisse Lopez --
ERIBOEA
It was remote and quiet -- but so
many eyes are on us now!
ANNOUNCER
Kimberly Marable, Jake Margolin,
Marcel Isaiah Martinez --
SIMON
What if this time, after I leap
over the bull, I'm not quick enough
to get away from it?
ANNOUNCER
James Harrison Monaco --
BULL DANCE COLOR
Pretty hard to be cocky with a bull
horn through your abdomen, am I
right?
ANNOUNCER
Xavier Pacheco --
THESEUS
Let's give these Minoans the bull
dance of a lifetime!
ANNOUNCER
Joham Palma --
IDAS
I got red! I got red! Ooh!
ANNOUNCER
Damir Priestley --
PHAIDIMOS
Ready!
ANNOUNCER
Angel Rodriguez --
PROKRITOS
We've been practicing for months,
and you're our fastest runner!
ANNOUNCER
Conor Sweeney --
EROS
My next arrow is nocked -- I'm
ready for her!
ANNOUNCER
Jillian Walker, and André de
Shields is Hermes!
HERMES
Remember -- ceremony must come
before the sacrifice.
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.
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