HELENA, the Queen
TSUMU, a black woman, slave to Helena
MENELAUS, the King
ANALYTIKOS, the King's librarian
PARIS, a shepherd
SCENE: Is that archeolological mystery, a Greek interior. A door on the
right leads to the KING'S library, one on the left to the apartments of
the QUEEN. Back right is the main entrance leading to the palace. Next
this, running the full length of the wall, is a window with a platform,
built out over the main court. Beyond is a view of hills bright with
lemon groves, and in the far distance shimmers the sea. On the wall near
the QUEEN'S room hangs an old shield rusty with disuse. A bust of Zeus
stands on a pedestal against the right wall. There are low coffers about
the room from which hang the ends of vivid colored robes. The scene is
bathed in intense sunlight.
TSUMU is massaging the QUEEN.
HELENA. There's no doubt about it.
TSUMU. Analytikos says there is much doubt about all things.
HELENA. Never mind what he says. I envy you your complexion.
TSUMU [falling prostrate before HELENA]. Whom the Queen envies should
beware.
HELENA [annoyed]. Get up, Tsumu. You make me nervous tumbling about like
that.
TSUMU [still on the floor]. Why does the great Queen envy Tsumu?
HELENA. Get up, you silly. [She kicks her.] I envy you because you can
run about and never worry about getting sunburnt.
TSUMU [on her knees]. The radiant beauty of the Queen is unspoilable.
HELENA. That's just what's worrying me, Tsumu. When beauty is so perfect
the slightest jar may mean a jolt. [She goes over and looks at her
reflection in the shield.] I can't see myself as well as I would like
to. The King's shield is tarnished. Menelaus has been too long out of
battle.
TSUMU [handing her a hand mirror]. The Gods will keep Sparta free from
strife.
HELENA. I'll have you beaten if you assume that prophetic tone with me.
There's one thing I can't stand, and that's a know-all. [Flinging the
hand mirror to the floor.]
TSUMU [in alarm]. Gods grant you haven't bent it.
HELENA. These little mirrors are useless. His shield is the only thing
in which I can see myself full-length. If he only went to war, he'd have
to have it cleaned.
TSUMU [putting the mirror on a table near the QUEEN]. The King is a
lover of peace.
HELENA. The King is a lover of comfort. Have you noticed that he spends
more time than he used to in the library?
TSUMU. He is busy with questions of State.
HELENA. You know perfectly well that when anything's the matter with the
Government it's always straightened out at the other end of the palace.
Finish my shoulder. [She examines her arm.] I doubt if there is a finer
skin than this in Sparta.
[TSUMU begins to massage the QUEEN'S shoulder.]
HELENA [taking up a mirror]. That touch of deep carmine right here in
the centre of my lips was quite an idea.
TSUMU [busily pounding the QUEEN]. An inspiration of the Gods!
HELENA. The Gods have nothing to do with it. I copied it from a low
woman I saw at the circus. I can't understand how these bad women have
such good ideas. [HELENA twists about.]
TSUMU. If your majesty doesn't sit still, I may pinch you.
HELENA [boxing her ears]. None of your tricks, you ebony fiend!
TSUMU [crouching]. Descendant of paradise, forgive me.
HELENA. If you bruise my perfect flesh, the King will kill you. My
beauty is his religion. He can sit for hours, as if at prayer, just
examining the arch of my foot. Tsumu, you may kiss my foot.
TSUMU [prostrate]. May the Gods make me worthy of your kindness!
HELENA. That's enough. Tsumu, are you married?
TSUMU [getting up]. I've been so busy having babies I never had time to
get married.
HELENA. It's a great disillusionment.
TSUMU [aghast]. What!
HELENA. I'm not complaining. Moo Moo is the best of husbands, but
sometimes being adored too much is trying. [She sighs deeply.] I think
I'll wear my heliotrope this afternoon.
[A trumpet sounds below in the courtyard. TSUMU goes to the window.]
TSUMU. They are changing the guards at the gates of the palace. It's
almost time for your bath. [She begins scraping the massage ointment
back into the box.]
HELENA. You're as careful with that ointment as Moo Moo is with me.
TSUMU. Precious things need precious guarding.
HELENA. It's very short-sighted on Moo Moo's part to send everybody
to the galleys who dares lift a head when I pass by--and all those
nice-looking soldiers! Why--the only men I ever see besides Moo Moo are
Analytikos and a lot of useless eunuchs.
TSUMU. Oh, those eunuchs!