Chapter Text
SCENE I: MOUNT PELION
Lights dim. A gentle overture. Like figures running around a vase, Young Achilles, Young Patroclus, and Chiron cross the stage in vignette after vignette. Under Chiron’s auspices, the children run, hunt, duel. The scenes are unmistakably classical; its heroes are not. They are two boys and their old man. It is afternoon. It is afternoon forever.
House goes dark. The overture ends, and the story begins.
A wash of golden light. Young Achilles rushes in with his lyre, laughing, and Young Patroclus chases after him.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
TOMORROW PERHAPS WE’LL--
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Not again.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
I am not finished. Wait.
TOMORROW PERHAPS WE’LL GO--
He is laughing too hard to finish.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Chiron is waiting for us!
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Listen!
Young Achilles begins to play. He is just learning this song. It isn’t going well. Both are stifling laughter.
TOMORROW PERHAPS WE’LL GO RUNNING
OR MAYBE WE’LL WALK BY THE OCEAN
THE TIDE MAKES THE SUMMER-WARM SAND LOSE ITS MEMORY
OUR FOOTPRINTS WILL FADE WITH THE MORNING
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Achilles, now we should--
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
TOMORROW PERHAPS WE’LL BE SEABIRDS
TOMORROW PERHAPS CONSTELLATIONS
WE’LL DREAM OF THE GODS’ ENDLESS SUMMER AND THEN
WE WILL WAKE TO THE WAYS THEY HAVE CHANGED US
He assumes a joking, improvisatory manner, and so does his lyre playing.
AND WHO REALLY KNOWS IF THEY HATE US?
Young Patroclus bursts into laughter again.
A CURSE OR A BLESSING, IT’S ALL JUST THE SAME
WE’LL TURN INTO TREES LIKE WE’RE LOVERS
[YOUNG PATROCLUS] taking his lyre away
And if we don’t go back soon, Chiron will kill us. Come on. He must be wondering where we are.
Young Achilles reaches up to take back his lyre. When Young Patroclus steps out of his reach, Young Achilles leaps to his feet and swipes for it; Young Patroclus dodges him, leaving Young Achilles to chase him across the stage.
Then, Young Patroclus pauses and turns around to face Young Achilles seriously, and Young Achilles comes to an abrupt stop. They face off silently. The lyre in Young Patroclus’ hands gleams just within reach.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Do you really want to go?
Young Patroclus suddenly moves out of the way again.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
No.
As they play their little game--each dodging out of the reach of the other--the two stumble to the ground under the shade of a fig tree. Lazy with sunshine and with laughter, they do not make much of an effort to fight verbally or physically.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
You’re impossible.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
You are.
They catch their breath. Young Achilles gazes up at the fig branches, reaching to touch the fruit.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Do you think the figs are ripe yet?
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Not for a little longer.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
How can you tell?
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
They’re supposed to be purple.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Chiron said some figs stay green.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Fine. Try one and poison yourself.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
I wouldn’t be poisoned by an unripened fig.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
How would you know? You’ve never tried it.
He plucks a fig off the tree.
Here. This one looks ripe.
He tosses it to Achilles, who bites into it eagerly.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
I wonder if the gods miss eating figs. Maybe it gets dull after a while.
He thinks; declares his conclusion while taking another bite.
I would never tire of eating figs.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
The gods drink ambrosia. They don’t eat figs.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
But they would remember what figs are like.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
They never would’ve tasted figs.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
The ones who became gods. The ones who were mortals first.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
No god is a mortal first.
Young Achilles laughs in disbelief.
Mortals can’t become gods. Those are just the stories they tell heroes to--
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
To what?
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
You know.
They turn to face each other.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
You believe that?
A moment.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
You believe that?
Another long moment. Young Patroclus lets it go.
You have grass in your hair.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Where?
Young Patroclus reaches to pull grass out of Young Achilles’ hair.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS] conciliatory
Maybe your mother knows how people become gods.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
You wouldn’t want to become one.
It isn’t a question.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
No.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Then what would you become?
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Hmm?
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
If the gods could change you into anything?
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
I don’t know.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Just pick something.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
A bird, maybe. Or a deer. Or a raincloud.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Why a raincloud?
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
I could follow you around and bother you.
Young Achilles shoves him playfully.
You didn’t answer your own question.
In the orchestra, the melody of “Who Is This Boy?” begins quietly.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
What?
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
If the gods could change you, what would you become?
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
It’s your turn.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
I already answered.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
You’ll think it’s silly.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Tell me.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Anything.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Anything?
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Anything. I’d become whatever you are.
It is both a secret and the simplest thing in the world.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Then we shouldn’t change at all.
The orchestra swells with the Memory Theme as the full ensemble rushes in, representing the passage of time through dance. Actors enter to assemble the war camp set for Scene II, over a decade in the future. Young Achilles and Young Patroclus remain onstage.
“Where You Go” nears its pre-chorus, and as assembly of the war camp continues behind him, Young Achilles resumes his song.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
WE’LL DREAM OF THE GODS’ ENDLESS SUMMER AND THEN
WE WILL WAKE TO THE WAYS THEY HAVE CHANGED US
TOMORROW PERHAPS I WILL SLEEP PAST THE SUNRISE
AND FIND THAT YOU’D GONE IN THE NIGHT
TIE WINGS TO MY SANDALS, I’LL DRINK FROM THE SKY
AND I’LL BE BY YOUR SIDE BY AND BY
‘CAUSE WHERE YOU GO
I WILL GO WITH
I WILL GO WITH YOU
OH, DON’T YOU KNOW
MY CHILDHOOD IN IS YOUR EYES
BRIGHT AND WISE
WE’LL TAKE OUR TIME
DON’T LEAVE ME BEHIND
I WILL GO WITH YOU
I WILL GO WITH YOU
I WILL GO WITH YOU
WHERE YOU GO
By now, the war camp has been fully assembled. The boys from Mount Pelion are now men. Outside their tent, Achilles sits and plays the lyre; Patroclus stands by his side, listening.
Against a background of weapons, spent bonfires, and roughly-constructed military tents, Young Achilles and Young Patroclus do not notice their utter displacement. The children break back into their usual banter.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Race you back to Chiron.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
No, you won’t.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Bet you I’ll get there first.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
No, you won’t.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
Bet you the last of my pork roast.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
You always let me win.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
No, I don’t.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Yes, you do.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
No, I don’t.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Yes, you do.
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
No, I don’t.
[YOUNG PATROCLUS]
Prove it.
Young Patroclus snatches the lyre out of his hands. Young Achilles nearly chases Young Patroclus offstage--then reaches out to pull his friend back. Both stumble to a halt, laughing, catching their breath. Young Achilles kneels to retie Young Patroclus’ sandals, and then the two are off again, running offstage side by side.
To sparse acoustic accompaniment, with Young Achilles singing with them from offstage:
[ACHILLES]
‘CAUSE WHERE YOU GO
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
OOH...
[ACHILLES]
I WILL GO WITH
[ACHILLES & YOUNG ACHILLES]
I WILL GO WITH YOU
[ACHILLES]
OH, DON’T YOU KNOW
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
OOH...
[ACHILLES & YOUNG ACHILLES]
MY CHILDHOOD IN IS YOUR EYES
[YOUNG ACHILLES]
BRIGHT AND WISE
The music grows mellower, the accompaniment more sparse, as Patroclus assumes the melody in a soft, conversational tone.
[PATROCLUS]
YOU MEET MY EYES
YOU SOFTLY REPLY…
As Achilles reaches the end of his song, Ajax, Odysseus, and Phoenix enter. They do not yet venture into Achilles’ tent. Instead, they stop a little away from the entrance; Odysseus is giving final instructions to the group. Patroclus and Achilles are unaware of their presence.
To gentle accompaniment, Achilles sings.
[ACHILLES]
I WILL GO WITH YOU
And again, for reassurance.
I WILL GO WITH YOU
[ACHILLES & PATROCLUS]
I WILL GO WITH YOU…
Then, Achilles breaks off with a small laugh, almost self-conscious.
[ACHILLES] tuning his lyre
It sounds funny. I’ll have to fix the tuning.
Stream "Tomorrow, Perhaps" and "Where You Go" from ARISTOS: the Musical
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