What happened in the castle?

Three washerwomen are gathered around a tub pretending to wash clothes as they gossip.

Ww = Washerwoman 

Ww1: Did you hear all the going ons in the castle today?

Ww3: sure did, that boy meeting the maid of the fifth son of the visiting lord in her chambers. Quite scandalous.

Ww1: Not that! That’s common stuff. I’m talking the big news. ROYALLY big news.

Ww2: [catching on]Oh you mean news about the King and his family!

Ww3: Ahh Yes! I heard the arguing all the way down in the kitchen. It was Creon and…and…uhm [mumbles] the opposite of being gone…

Ww2: Antigone, you dummy!

Ww3: Antigone! Yes, I was just saying it. Royal arguments – always so juicy. Dish, then!

Ww1: Well, Creon gave the decree that Polynieces would not be buried.

Ww3: Polynieces. That traitor?

Ww2: that handsome traitor.

Ww3: that dead traitor

Ww2: [to herself more than anyone]I cleaned his armor once.

Ww1: ANYWAY! The story isn’t about him. He just sets it all up.

Ww2&3: Okay, okay, sheesh.

Ww1: So, under pain of death he shall not be buried….and then Antigone buries him anyway!

Ww2: Oh! The grit on that girl!

Ww3: I like her style!

Ww2: then what?

Ww1: She was marched right up to the throne room-didn’t even flinch. And she started giving Creon a mouthful. A thrashing like I never saw.

[2&3 listen closely, intent]

Ww1: Then Creon came back and started yelling too.

Ww2: What a jerk!

Ww3: Just like a man!

Ww1: Mhm. They kept going on for what seemed like ages.

Ww3: What’d they say?

Ww2: Yeah?!

Ww1: Oh, I don’t know! They kept using fancy words that sail above my mop of hair.

Ww3: [laughing] just like them nobles

Ww2: Mhm.

Ww1: It was hard to sleep. But then it kept going.

Ww2: Oh really?

Ww3: He didn’t pardon her right away?

Ww1: No ma’am.  Said something about being a man…yada yada yada.

Ww2: Oh that sounds just like him.

Ww1: So they took her to a cave to await execution.

Ww2: poor girl got executed…

Ww1: Not quite she was sent to starve to death.

Ww3: Just terrible…

Ww1: After speaking with Tiresias, Creon decided he would yield and release Antigone.

Ww2: That’s great!

Ww3: So they kept her alive. What a nice end to the story.

Ww1: They tried but she was already dead.

Ww2: She was murdered?!

Ww3: She slipped and cracked her head?

Ww1: She killed herself

[2&3 gasp]

Ww1: And by the end of the day she wasn’t the only one that was dead.

Ww2: Someone got revenge on Creon?

Ww3: I bet it was Haemon! Antigone’s bethrothed!

Ww2: Oh, yes! That boy is scrumptious! I bet he went in and whooped Creon!

Ww1: He might be a little less handsome now. He’s the one who died.

[2&3 gasp again]

Ww2: Oh! A tragedy!

Ww3: How’d it happen?

Ww1: Creon and Haemon had a fight…with swords.

Ww2: There isn’t no way that the old man beat that strapping young man

[1&3 both look at 2]

Ww3: Would you stop?

Ww1: the boy is dead!

Ww3: disgusting…

Ww2: I was just saying…

Ww1: anyway. As the fight went on Haemon decided to kill himself. And he did.

Ww2: wow…

Ww3: agreed.

Ww2: Those noble folk are an odd lot.

Ww1: I KNOW! They kill themselves every chance they get it seems.

Ww3: Well, I’m glad we don’t have to deal with all of the complicated stuff

Ww2: Mhm. I’m to pretty to be killing myself everyday.

[All laugh]

Ww3: Oh! Did you see the newest guard yet?

Ww1: I haven’t! Dish! Is he good looking?

Ww2: Good looking!?

END