"The Destiny of the Weak"
TeaserFADE IN
The Amazon Village. Hedda's Coronation Day. Sunset. The Amazons are celebrating around a large bonfire with dancing and song. Hedda, her mask atop her head, watches her tribe with pride. Suddenly Hedda begins to feel a tingling down her spine.
Hedda:
(smiling) Come join the party, Daddy.
Ares appears in his trademark flash of blue light.
Ares:
You know, your mother was the only other mortal I've ever known who could do that.
Hedda:
And you've only told me a thousand times, you know?
Ares:
It's still true. Even Eve can't tell when I'm around, just you and your mother, in both worlds. But I'm not here to reminisce about the past. (holding Hedda by the shoulders) They say a Queen is as radiant on her coronation day as a bride on her wedding day. It was true of your grandmother, Hera, and it is true of you. Congratulations!
Ares pulls Hedda into a big bear hug.
Hedda:
(fighting back a tear) Thank you, Daddy.
Ares:
Now, let's see that mask they gave you.
Hedda pulls the mask down onto her face and Ares gasps slightly at its beauty, knowing instantly that the mask had to come from the gods.
Hedda:
Aunt Artemis designed it and Uncle Hephestus made it himself.
Ares:
(amazed) How did they know?
Hedda takes a deep breath. This will be the first person she's told about her role as Defender of Olympus and she is unsure how her father will react.
Hedda:
Hours before Athena died she wrote me a scroll that one of her priestess delivered here last night. In it, she told me that when I was a baby, the Fates told her that I would one day become something called 'The Defender of Olympus' as well as the ruler of a mortal nation. When Artemis gave me my rite of caste, Athena told her of my destiny, and Artemis had the mask made.
Ares:
(shocked but trying to absorb it all) The Defender… I never even suspected, but I can't think of anyone more qualified for the job. Now, I need to know what you plan to do with your army?
Hedda:
My army? Oh, you mean the one I 'inherited' from Arcetius. I put Toddy in charge and ordered them to help Uncle Hercules, Gabrielle, and Eve to get the warlords out of Corinth. What? Are they finished already?
Ares places his arm around Hedda's shoulder and they walk together.
Ares:
No yet, but you are no longer just 'The Liberator'. You have to start thinking more long term, like a serious warrior, not day to day, like a hero.
Hedda:
I'm NOT going to become a warlord, Daddy. I could never kill innocent people merely for wealth and power.
Ares:
I know that. Don't you think I know that? I changed your diapers for Zeus' sake.
Hedda:
Actually, didn't your priestesses do most of my diaper changing? And I quote "What's the point in being a god if you still have to handle your kid's poopy diapers?".
Ares:
Look, my point is, I know who you are and who you aren't. You're being the Defender of Olympus threw me for a loop a moment there, but it doesn't change anything. You have an army now. Put it to whatever use you want, but put it to use. Warriors get bored easily.
Hedda:
Alright. I'll draw up a map and make some ground rules to avoid unnecessary mayhem and casualties. Anything marked Christian is otherwise fair game for looting. Anything not Christian will be avoided under penalty of death.
Ares:
Alright, but next time I shouldn't have to hand hold you. You are their Commander.
Ares disappears, and Hedda considers his words.
CUT TO:
Outside a Temple to Demeter. FOUR KNIGHTS OF THE FAITH sit calmly on
horseback, while a dozen soldiers loot the temple. One of the Knights dismounts and stalks over to several
terrified priestesses who are tied together behind a horse.
Knight #1:
Alright b*tches, the one who tells me where your Goddess is shall be given the opportunity to repent and convert to the true religion. (gleefully) The rest will burn tomorrow at sunrise!
The Priestesses stay silent.
Knight #1:
Alright, we'll…
Priestess #1:
No, wait! I'll tell you! I'll repent!
Priestess #2:
No, you can't betray Demeter like this!
Priestess #1:
I have a daughter! She's too little to be orphaned!
Priestess #2:
Demeter has a daughter, and Persephone has a son your daughter's age! What about them?!
Priestess #1:
I don't care! I don't care! I just want my daughter safe! Demeter is in Arcadia! The Goddess' home is in Arcadia. If you have a map, I'll show you, just spare me and my child, please!
Knight #2:
(gently) If you show us on the map and if she is there, you and your child shall be spared, so long as you convert and never speak of your 'Goddess' again.
Priestess #1:
I promise! I'll be a good Christian!
Knight #2:
Then you have nothing to fear from us. Our lord rejoices far more in the awaking of one soul to his mercy than in the burning of a heathen.
Knight #2 grabs a passing Christian soldier by the sleeve.
Knight #2:
(whispering) Get me a map of Arcadia before she changes her mind like any female.
Christian Soldier:
Yes, Sir.
Knight #1:
(motioning towards the captive Priestesses) Once we have the information, we can take all these back for burning then?
Knight #2:
All but the one who I agreed to spare.
Knight #1:
You're gonna keep to that? I thought you just said that so that she'd be more cooperative.
Knight #2:
I keep my word as the 9th Commandment requires of me. She'll live, as will her child. We'll find a good Christian family to raise the girl when we get back.
Knight #1:
Ah, I get it; break her spirit by taking away her baby. No Commandment against that.
The Christian Soldier, sent to bring the map, arrives and hands it to Knight #2.
Knight #2:
(to Knight #1) Watch and learn.
Knight #2 walks over to Priestess #1 and offers her the map with an encouraging smile. Priestess #1 starts detailing the route to take, while the more loyal Priestess weep softly. In the background, the Christian Soldiers have finished their looting and now set the temple on fire. From behind a tree near the temple, we see a Christian soldier watching silently. A closer look at the Soldier reveals that it is not a Christian Soldier but a woman dressed as one. She looks up into a tree and we see the body of the real Christian Soldier she 'borrowed' the clothing from. She takes one more look at the burning temple before running away, unnoticed.
FADE OUT
It was supposed to have been a Golden Age…
Humanity had cast off its god-wrought shackles
And mankind was no longer beholden to Fate;
But in our newfound freedom we forgot one thing…
Absolute Power Corrupts ABSOLUTELY!!!
Now one woman stands at the crossroads of history.
She is Hedda:
The Daughter of War himself and the greatest mortal warrior of all time.
She will save us from the forces of Hell.
She will save us from the forces of Heaven.
And though historians may claim that she failed…
We are still here!
END OF TEASER
READ ACT 1