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Welcome to Wellston Theatre.

Uru-chan . . . Leader and Manager

Sophocles . . . Storywriter

Presenting Antigone.

Devised and Produced under the personal direction of VALID.

Staged by WELLSTON ROYALS.

Original Play by SOPHOCLES.

Music by N/A.

Actors:

Antigone . . . Remi

Ismene . . . Isen

Polyneices . . . Arlo

Eurydice . . . Adrian

Creon . . . John

Haimon . . . Seraphina

Teiresias . . . Claire

Sentry Soldier . . . Zeke

Messenger . . . Holden

Choragos, Chorus . . . Blyke, et al.

Various others.

Foretell: After the dethroning and execution of Arlo, the newly-established king, John, ordered to leave his body unburied, much to the dismay of his friend, Remi.

Although a play, it will be written as if it were a book. I hope you enjoy it.

***

The red curtains rose far above the audience's heads, revealing two gigantic fake doors in the middle of the stage. Two teens pushed the doors open, revealing a pink-haired girl and an orange-haired boy sporting identical robes, making their way to center stage.

"Isen, my dear friend." The girl started, "You would think we have gone through enough from that blasted curse of my father. I can't even find it within myself to be more upset." She ducked her in sorrow, "But, have you heard the new decree?"

Isen put a hand up to his chin, "I can't say I have. All I know is that, in the last twenty-four hours, we have lost our places as Royals and a close friend to us. John has also taken the throne, but besides that, nothing."

"I can't say I'm surprised. That's why I wanted you to come out here with me." Her somber expression grew to one of resolve. "I need your help with something."

Isen drew back in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"Listen, Isen." She faced the audience instead, announcing in a booming voice, "Upon taking the throne, John overthrew the entire hierarchy, killing Arlo in the process. He allowed the others to live but left our old king with a spear through his chest. Although they fought John just the same as him, it was Arlo who suffered the worst punishment.

"And now, John has made it explicitly clear no one is to bury his body. We aren't even allowed to mourn for him. He has left it out on the streets for the stray dogs and cats to feed on as if it were food for them.

"Worst part? He has threatened his people with execution if they even attempt to bury him," The pink-haired girl turned back to the teen next to her, "Now, I need you to prove what you are to me: A true friend or a traitor."

"Remi, what on Earth are you suggesting?" Isen replied, confusion evident, "What kind of ultimatum is that?"

"I need you to decide, right here and now, if you'll help me."

"Huh? Help you with what?"

"Isen, I'm going to bury Arlo's body. Will you help me?"

"B-Bury him?!" Isen exclaimed in shock, "But you just said we'll be executed if we tried!"

Remi's expression hardened, "He is my friend. And he should've been yours, too."

"But it's dangerous! Imagine how angry John will be!"

"John is not enough to stop me." She tried to walk off the stage, but Isen grabbed Remi's arm to stop her.

"Please think! Arlo died a horrible death because he refused to accept his dethronement and got murdered! Think of what will happen to us if you do this!" He nearly fell onto his knees to further his begging, "John is too strong to fight again! We must comply, or I fear we will suffer an even worse death than Arlo."

An angry expression formed on the girl's face, "If that's really what you think, then I don't want you to come with me anyways, even if you asked to. But I will bury him. If I must die for it, I will die with Arlo. At least now I know doing what is right means nothing to you."

"It means everything to me," Isen retorted, "But I don't want to risk my life over this."

"That's just your excuse, then. However, I will bury a friend I held dear to me."

"Remi!" Isen cried out, "Please listen to me! I'm worried for you."

The pink-haired girl's expression hardly shifted, "You don't need to be. You have to consider your well-being, too."

"D-Do you want me to keep this a secret?" Isen stuttered, "I'll make sure no one hears about this."

"No!" Remi shouted suddenly. "Tell anyone you want! Even put it in the newspaper, I don't care. Just know they'll hate you as well for letting this happen."

Isen reeled back, "You should be terrified right now, not angry at me."

The girl hardly cared. "I'm only doing what I think is right."

"But can you even do it?" The ginger asked, purposefully goading his friend, "I don't think you can."

Remi glared, eyes lighting up. Instead of acting, she powered down, taking a deep breath. "Then I'll keep trying until I physically can't anymore."

"It's going to be impossible."

The pink-haired girl's eyes shined again, "Let go of me, Isen." The orange-haired boy hesitantly complied, "I won't forget what you told me here, but know this: I am not afraid of John, even if I am killed. Because, unlike yours, it will be a death with honor."

Isen let out an annoyed tsk, "Whatever then. Go if you want to. You're acting ridiculous, but at least we know you're as loyal as they come."

Without looking back, Isen opened the central door and walked through, leaving Remi on the stage alone. Sighing to herself, she exited to her left.

As Remi left the stage, a group of teens in masks led by a tall boy with messy red hair took her place. They all stood huddled together before turning to the audience.

"Although we would normally use this time to sing, we felt as though we should spare our voice boxes and your ears," the chorus leader, Choragos, announced, to the audience's laughter, "Instead, allow me to tell you a tale."

With an audible throat clear, the teen continued, "Before this conflict began, there was a king who went by the name of Arlo." On the name, the group separated, revealing a tall blond wearing white robes and a crown. "For however good or bad he was, it did not matter, for he was dethroned." The blond teen was then pushed aside by another with black hair, who robbed the crown from the blond.

"Instead of accepting his fate, the blond put together a force to retake the throne." Now the blond walked back over to the black-haired, surrounded by a few others, "However, he was unsuccessful and lost his life as a result." The newly-established king attacked the group with a styrofoam spear, causing his attackers to collapse.

"At last, our new and just king can settle into his position. But, instead of celebration, he found himself in quite a deep stir." The red-haired boy announced as the black-haired teen sported a questioning stance. The leader gestured toward the audience, "What could he possibly be thinking? And why has he called the council to his side? The answers shall be revealed soon. First, let's allow the king to settle."

Still sporting the crown, the black-haired teen took off his mask and sat on a throne dragged in during the chorus leader's speech.

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"At last, our new and just king can settle into his position. But, instead of celebration, he found himself in quite a deep stir." The red-haired boy announced as the black-haired teen sported a questioning stance. The leader gestured toward the audience, "What could he possibly be thinking? And why has he called the council to his side? The answers shall be revealed soon. First, let's allow the king to settle."

***

The newly revealed king stood from his throne and walked over to a pedestal facing outwards to the audience while the chorus members bent down in front of them, careful not to block anyone's view of the king.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I finally have the honor to say that, despite our continuous troubles, we have finally found peace in our land," John began, "Although I know your loyalty to the past hierarchy was absolute, I am grateful you have never hesitated to show your loyalty to me as well."

"However," His brown eyes shined a bright amber that was visible to all spectators, "I do understand that no ruler can expect complete loyalty from his subjects until he has been suitably tested in office. Nevertheless, I shall tell you now that I hold nothing but contempt for those who purposely avoid the best direction for the country while prioritizing themselves over the benefit of the people. No one values friendship more than I, but we must remember friends made at the risk of wrecking our peace are not real friends at all."

He paused before continuing, "These are my principles. That is why I have decided to leave the past king unburied. He has allowed his people to fall into a cycle of endless fighting while allowing those above to turn a blind eye to it all. He shall be left in the streets, and the strays can do whatever they like with him.

"That is my command, and you should be able to see the logic behind it. As long as I am king, no enemy like that shall be honored. But if you remain loyal, you will have my respect in life and death."

Upon ending his speech, the red-haired leader of the chorus rose from his spot, "If that is your will, King John, you have the right to enforce it: we will obey."

"That is my will. Make sure you do your part."

"We are but old men," He dramatically turned to the audience, showing that his mask was purposefully made with many fake wrinkles. Turning back, he continued, "Let the younger ones carry it out."

"I do not mean it that literally. I have already appointed sentry soldiers to watch the body."

"Er... then what shall we do?"

The king's eyes shined brightly again, a scary glare forming across his face, "Give no support to those who break this law."

Choragos physically recoiled, "Please don't worry! None of us are trying to die!"

"And yet I have seen far too many people care about the number of coins in their pockets more, instead."

Before the chorus could respond, a sentry soldier with blue hair that grew past his ears came running onto the stage. He stopped just before the king, breathing heavily.

"I-I'm not out of breath from running, I swear!" He started, still panting heavily, "It's just that, many times during my run-over, I had to think, over and over again, about how I should word this. It also didn't help that there was a voice in my head that constantly told me to turn back around because I'll only cause more trouble, while another was trying to get to you as fast as it could, King John, or your response might end up being even worse—!"

Confused, John cut off the sentry soldier's long-winded rant, "Get to the point. Why have you come here?"

"B-Before I do, know that I am not the culprit, nor did I see who did it! Please don't punish me for someone else's wrongdoing!"

"But why? Why do you need such a defense in the first place? Come on now, what is it?"

"It's... terrible. I'm not sure if I can—!"

"Oh, for the love of— tell me!"

"W-Well, then," The sentry soldier stuttered out, "The dead man— Arlo," John's eyebrow quirked, "Someone— well— there was dirt sprinkled on him," He paused, hoping that was enough for the king to understand. Unfortunately, with no sign from the king that it was, the sentry continued, "We think someone must've used sprinkled dirt to give him a burial that way."

The silence throughout the theatre was loud. The sentry did not dare speak again, while John's face shifted towards one of barely-controlled anger. "Who did this?"

"I-I do not know!" The sentry stuttered out his words, backing away cautiously, "There was no sign of digging, no tracks, nothing! I only noticed the odd texture on the body when the corporal arrived to relieve us from our shift. He pointed to the body and said, 'There is just the strangest-' he didn't even know how to describe it! Until we realized it was dust put upon the body, barely enough to cover it."

Upon seeing the king's facial expression hardly change, the blue-haired sentry panicked, "Oh, but what a scene it was!" He raced across the stage, looking towards the audience, "Every man accusing one another," He pointed at random audience members, "Each with enough evidence to prove other's guiltiness, but enough evidence to prove our innocence. We were ready to hold a piece of burning hot iron and walk through the fire for all the gods to see, my king!" He turned on his heel and bowed, "However, it was not I! I swear it was not!"

The sentry soldier, too distracted by his story to notice an even angrier king, continued, "When our constant allegations came to nothing and realized you must be told the news, we rolled dice, and my streak of bad luck continued!" He rose from his bow and looked at the king, "I am no happier to be here than you are to see me, my king. No one likes to be the bearer of bad news."

As the king was left to ponder the sentry soldier's story, Choragos spoke, "King, I have been wondering, could the gods have done this?"

As if a fuse had finally been set off inside of him, John exploded, "Stop! Are you kidding me? The gods?! Why would the gods favor this corpse?! What good has he ever done for anyone to favor him?!" He walked past the chorus and the sentry, only a few feet away from the front row of the audience, "I'll tell you what has been going on: someone has been scheming against me, going as far even to bribe my guards!" He gazed across the audience, sending chills down their spines, before turning towards the sentry soldier, "Find me whoever did this and bring him here, or you'll have more to worry about than your death."

Despite nervousness spreading throughout his body, the sentry soldier felt his defiance flare, too, "King, may I speak?"

John looked away, sighing heavily, "Even that is causing me more distress."

"Are you sure it is me or your conscience causing that?"

The king's eyes immediately snapped toward the guard, "Oh gods, you're trying to analyze me now, too!"

"It is not what I am saying, but what has been happening that's hurting you, my king."

"You talk too much."

"P-Perhaps," The guard shrugged, "But I have done nothing wrong."

"You sold your loyalty for some money. That's what you have done."

The sentry soldier stood back, horrified, "How dare you accuse me of such a dreadful thing!"

John stared through him, "Unless you find me who did this, the profit you have made will mean nothing." He walked back towards his throne and sat down, eyes still glaring amber.

The guard tsked out of annoyance, "He wants me to find him the man? I want nothing more than to do that!" He stood and breathed deeply, "Nevertheless, I am safe." He marched away from the stage, allowing the masked chorus to gather around and take his place.

After a moment, Choragos began to speak to the audience, "What good is a leader whose city only stands proud when his laws are being followed? What happens to such a city when his laws are broken?" He audibly sighed, "'Never may the anarchist ever find rest,' but let it be known that my thoughts are not his."

Peering to his right, Choragos' eyes widened underneath his wrinkly mask, "Oh, look who has come back at last!"

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Peering to his right, Choragos' eyes widened underneath his wrinkly mask, "Oh, look who has come back at last!"

***

Marching onto the stage was the blue-haired sentry soldier alongside Remi, who had makeshift handcuffs made out of cloth wrapped around her hand. Noticing this, Choragos hurried across the stage to meet the pair.

"Eh?" The chorus leader began, "What the— Remi? What is the meaning of this?"

The sentry soldier stood tall with a proud smirk on his face. "Here is the perpetrator, my good sir! We caught her in the act of burying him. Now, where is King John?"

Choragos' eyes darted between the two before looking back, beckoning the king from his seat. The king rose, eyes widening upon noticing the scene himself. "What has happened?" He questioned, walking across the stage, "Why have you come back so soon?"

"My king, one can never be too sure of anything, but I would've sworn that you would not have seen me before you again, your anger frightening me that badly," The sentry soldier started, head bowed. He perked up and continued, "But how could I have guessed at the time that I would be able to solve the case so soon? No dice-throwing this time, as I was happy to come!"

The sentry soldier grabbed Remi's handcuffs and brought her to the king, "Here is the guilty woman. We found her trying to bury the body." He put the handcuffs into John's grip, "Take her and question her how you see fit, for I am done with the whole thing now and glad of it!"

John eyed the cuffs before his senses returned and dropped them entirely, "But this is Remi! Why have you brought her here?"

"She was burying him, I tell you!"

He glanced at Remi, who would not meet his eyes, before looking back at the guard, "Is this the truth?"

"I saw it with my own two eyes. Can I say more?"

"Tell me! Don't leave a single detail out!" John ushered.

"It was like this, my king." The sentry soldier turned toward the audience, "After those terrible threats, we went back to the terrible-smelling body and brushed away the dust," He made a fanning motion with one hand while plucking his nose with the other. "We sat upon a nearby hill and waited for any movement. Like this!" He sat down directly in front of the first row of seats, "All swearing that not a single bit of napping would happen until the moon was out."

"Suddenly, out of nowhere, a massive duststorm roared upon the Earth!" He shot up from his position and spun around. He stopped before getting too dizzy and approached the king, "We couldn't see the trees, the body, not even the sky, I tell you! It was horrible!"

"When the whirlwind finally stopped, there she was!" The sentry pointed toward the girl, "Crying like a mother bird over an empty nest! As she wept, she cursed those who had caused this, sprinkled dirt and wine atop the corpse while holding this." He then pulled out a pretty white flower and gave it to the king, "This girl was not afraid when we surrounded her and never denied her actions, not even once."

"Of course, this comforted me, but I also felt uneasy." The guard confessed, "While I am glad that I was able to escape death, I had to bring a friend to her own. Yet, as I always say, there's nothing better than your own safe skin!"

The guard was too giddy with delight to notice John's dangerous glare. The king slowly turned the flower in his hand while the girl continued to burn a hole into the ground, "You, Remi. With your head hanging lowly, do you confess this... thing?"

"I do. I deny nothing."

John pointed toward the sentry, "You may go." Silently cheering to himself, the guard obeyed. After he left, John continued, "Did you not hear my proclamation?"

"It was public. Could I help to hear it?"

"And yet you dare defied my law? Knowing that I still hold authority?"

Remi looked John into his eyes for the first time, her own intensely shining blue, "I dared. Your declaration was strong, my king. However, all your strength would be entirely unmatched by my choice to disobey. I know I must die. I am a human, after all. I know my time must come eventually. To me, it is no hardship to die before my time. It is of no importance to me." She raised her handcuffed hands to wipe her eyes, "But if I had left my friend unburied, then I would have suffered. Now, I do not."

John's face contorted from the shock, albeit one lined with a joyless smile as he could not believe his ears. The girl's eyebrow quirked when she noticed before it clicked.

Sporting a smirk, Remi remarked, "You think of me as a fool, don't you? Just know there'll be a fool who convicts me soon enough."

John only stared, slightly unsettling her. It wasn't until the king spoke again that she broke eye contact.

"They're all the same, aren't they?" John strode past Remi and began speaking to the audience, "Too headstrong to listen to reason! This girl is guilty of double insolence, first breaking a given law and then boasting about it! Who will be the one with strength, she or I, if Remi goes unpunished for this?" He held his forehead briefly before turning towards the chorus, "Some of you-- any of you-- go arrest Isen. I accuse him equally. He'll probably be sniffling somewhere, keeping this crime in the dark."

As some chorus members broke from the pack and went off-stage, Remi started talking, "John, what more could you want than my death?"

"Nothing," He answered immediately, "That has given me everything."

"Then I beg you: kill me," She replied bitterly. "All this talking has tired me out. Your words are like sandpaper to my ears, as I'm sure mine are to yours. And yet," She slowly walked around the king, making him have to turn as she spoke, "They should not seem so. I should have praise and honor for what I have done." Remi stopped circling John and gestured toward the audience, "All of them would praise me for what I have done were their lips not sealed shut out of fear." She scoffed loudly, "Ah, the good fortune of Kings, allowed to say and do whatever they please!"

John's eyes narrowed, "You're the only one who holds that opinion."

"No, they are with me," Remi pointed outwards, "But they keep ahold of their tongues."

"Maybe, but you are guilty. They are not."

"There is no guilt to mourn the dead."

"But Blyke--" John started, "Was he not your friend, too?"

"He was."

"And you insult his memory with this crime?"

Remi spoke so softly it was barely audible, if not for her microphone, "The dead would not say I insult it."

"He would." The king declared, "For you honor a tyrant as much as him."

"His friend, tyrant or not, and equal in love."

"He was a victim of Arlo's reign--"

"Nevertheless," Remi cut the king off, "There are honors due to all the dead."

"But not the same for the wicked as for the just."

"Tsk, tsk," The girl sickly mocked, "Which of us can say who the gods will call wicked?"

John's eyes shined brighter, "An enemy is an enemy, even dead."

"Y'know, it's natural to join in love, not hate--!"

"Then go join them in hell, for all I care!" John roared, causing Remi to flinch hard, but her eyes' glow remained as strong as ever. As the two stared angrily at one another, words had stopped being spoken until Choragos broke the silence.

"Here comes Isen, tears of regret running down his face." He noticed as the teen, surrounded by the missing chorus members, entered from the right with cloth around his wrists. Upon reaching the center stage, they allowed Isen to approach Remi and John.

"You too, Isen." John glared hotly at Isen, who cowered back, "A snake amongst the ranks, aiming for my throne alongside this traitor! Do you confess to being a co-conspirator to this crime or deny it?"

Regaining his composure, the ginger teen spoke, "Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty."

With a scoff, Remi vehemently denied, "You have no right to do so. You would not help, and I will not have you help me."

"But now I know what you meant." He declared, "I am here to share our punishment."

"Both the dead man and the gods know whose act this was."

"Do you refuse, Remi?" Isen pleaded, "I want to die with you: I have a duty that I must discharge for the dead, too."

The girl only glared, "You will not lessen my death by sharing it with me."

"Why would I care about my life when you are dead?" Isen asked, eyes brimming with tears. To that, Remi audibly laughed.

"Ask John." She pointed to the one who had been silent this entire conversation, "You're always hanging on his opinions."

"Why laugh at me?" He ginger questioned out of concern, "In the situation, we're in... why, Remi?"

"It's a joyless laughter."

Isen's face contorted, hardly understanding his friend anymore, "Can I do nothing, then?"

"Yes," Remi responded flatly, "Save yourself. I don't envy you, but I'm sure some will praise you; I want my honor, too."

"But we are equally guilty!"

"No more, Isen," The girl started, her gaze finally softening, "You are still alive, but I already belong to Death."

After those words, John walked away from the pair and to the chorus, "I beg you to observe these two, ladies and gentlemen. One has seemed to have lost their mind, and the other never had one, to begin with."

Isen looked away from Remi to the gossiping king, "Grief would make even the smartest people waiver, my king."

"Yours certainly did," John remarked, "Especially when it assumed loyalty to the guilty!"

"But how could I go on living without her?" The ginger asked desperately.

"You already are," The king pointed to the pink-haired girl next to Isen, "She is already dead."

"But--" Isen's head whipped between his friend and the king, finding any way to respond, "What about Seraphina?"

John's eyes widened, "She wouldn't want to associate with someone this wicked."

The ginger held his hands in prayer and looked toward the sky, "Oh, Seraphina! How this cruel man has wronged you!"

"I've had it up to here with your childish talk!" John screeched, hands clenched by his side.

"But, sir," Choragos nervously piped in, "Do you really intend to separate Seraphina from a friend she holds dear?"

"No," John responded, "Death will do that for me."

"Then she must die?"

The king turned to the red-haired teen behind him, "Enough of this talk. You there." He pointed to a guard positioned on the far side of the stage, "Take them away from here and guard them well, for even the bravest will run from Death."

As the guard did as he was told and escorted Remi and Isen away, John settled into his throne on the far end of the stage. The chorus took the opportunity to retake center stage once again, facing the audience with their masked faces. After breathing deeply, Choragos echoed his voice throughout the hall.

"Fortunate is a man who has never had to taste the vengeance of a god!" He loudly proclaimed, "For once the heaven is struck, the house will remain shaken forever. How will a perpetrator such as that defends themselves? Especially for a cause from a descendent of the damned that has gained favor?"

Choragos paused before continuing, "I may not know myself, but here comes Seraphina, the last of the king's powerful allies." He gestured towards his left as a magenta-haired teen in a white robe took the stage. "Maybe she will be able to talk sense into him."