Script—Why Rain comes with Lightning.

Dramatis Personae

The Narrator

Zeus: King of the Gods

Hera: Queen of the Gods

Athena: Goddess of Wisdom

Parthenia: a mortal princess loved by Zeus

Apollonius: the son of Zeus by Parthenia

The Midwife

Queen Dareia: Queen of Argyros and mother of Parthenia

Scene 1: Enter Zeus and Hera. Zeus is reclining on a chaise longue and gazing a marble font in front of him. Hera is outside Zeus' room.

Narrator: It was a typical day in ancient Greece and loud voices can be heard from the cloud-shrouded pinnacle of Mt Olympus, the famous citadel of the gods.

Hera (calls): (aside) Oh, Zeus is at it again, I bet he's eyeing another woman! Well, I'm not going to put up with it again! (end aside) Oh Zeus, what have you been up to lately?

Zeus (calls from the room): Nothing lately, sweetheart.

Hera (calls even louder): Really? (aside) I am Zeus' legal wife and I am the Queen of the Gods; I can do what I wish to my husband's lovers! (end aside)

Zeus: Yes.

Hera (aside): well, we'll see what he's doing right now. I'm sure he's spying on one of the mortal princesses.

Narrator: As usual, a woman's intuition is always right. Sure enough, when Hera barged in Zeus' room, she caught her husband gazing at a marble font in front of him.

Hera (aside): well, well, well…I'm right, again.

Zeus (innocently): Is something the matter, cuddly-poo? (aside) My wife is such a sweet little thing, and I love her, especially when she's in a good mood. I just don't like her when she uses that awfully honeyed voice. It means big trouble. (end aside)

Narrator: Unfortunately, Hera cannot be easily swayed by calling her pet names and this particular one that Zeus used is the one Hera hated most. The Queen of the Gods was not exactly a patient one and Zeus' innocent act made her burst her bubble.

Hera (angrily): Don't you ever call me 'cuddly-poo' again, you, you—

Narrator: Hera was so angry she was speechless. She stomped her foot and pointed a bejeweled finger at her husband.

Enter Athena in her usual armor.

Zeus: Athena, my daughter, how nice of you to visit me here!

Narrator: Obviously, the King of the Gods was relieved to see Athena. He was quite in a tight spot.

Athena (removes helmet and bows): You asked Hermes to keep an eye on Princess Parthenia, but I'm afraid he's busy escorting shades in the Underworld.

Hera (smiles wickedly): Is that so? (Turns to Zeus) And who is Parthenia?

Zeus: No one…

Athena: Parthenia is betrothed to Prince Kouros and father is making sure that they do marry in order to stop the fighting going on there.

Hera (skeptical): Indeed?

Zeus (nudged by Athena): I am positive.

Hera (stomps foot): Oooh, like father, like daughter! You're not going to get away with this, the two of you!

Exit Hera.

Narrator: Hera was so annoyed with her husband and his daughter that she got out of the room and left the two there. The two shrugged at Hera.

Exit Zeus and Athena.