Under the Sands

Under the Sands is a play, written by an unknown author. It portrays three explorers lost in the desert: Two lovers, Mary and Gregor, and an musician, Zebedee.

Scene One
[A Barren Desert, sand drifts across the stage carried by winds. No plants or evidence of life, save for three wanderers]

Gregor, a man in tatters and black dirt: Here, we have come at last to die! Here, in the sands beyond hope!

Mary, a woman in ragged white, with eyes unseeing: How hard is the wind! It lashes against us, and brooks no comfort.

Zebedee, in a red and wild mein, rising excitement: Indeed the sands! Indeed the winds! Hear their music!

Gregor: What now, minstrel? Why do you speak thus? Nothing lies on the sands or the winds save for pain!

Zebedee: Winds and Sands! Winds and Sands!

Zebedee produces a ululating cry, a burst of wordless song

Gregor: Madman! Here we shall die, show no joy!

Zebedee: I tell you, we shall not die here, not die at all!

Turning away, Mary and Gregor take a drink out of a depleting waterskin.

Gregor, whispering: My love, soon we shall have no water left. We cannot sustain ourselves, and we cannot sustain Zebedee. Moreover, he is a madman and likely desires our death!

Mary, softly: Enact your love for me, my dear, wherever it goes.

Gregor: I shall, I shall.

Mary drinks the last drop.

Scene Two
[It is dark, and the wind is calm. Mary lies asleep, Gregor watchful, and Zebedee restless]

Gregor, a whisper: Why do you pace so, singer? What urgency is there in this calm night? Do you have fear?

Zebedee: No fear, no fear indeed.

Gregor: Then why? Why? Your restlessness will wake Mary. Be silent!

Zebedee, rising thunder: How could I of all people keep silent?!

Again, Zebedee makes a cry, more joyful and excited than the first. The desert rings. The sky grows red.

Gregor watches in horror.

Gregor: Not Dawn! Cease! Cease!

Gregor takes Zebedee by the mouth. His teeth rip out the singer's throat. The sky grows dark and silent.

[Silence]

Gregor: Wretch and madman, this is thy doing. Now you shall water us both.

He kneels at the singer's side. The waterskin is filled again.

He moves to Mary, and kneels

Gregor: My dreamer, my dreamer, drink.

Scene 3
[Time passes, the winds pick up. Gregor has eaten much, and Mary lies still sleeping]

Mary cries suddenly in sleep, Gregor is startled.

Gregor, softly, but scared: My peaceful sleeper? my slow Aeon?

She lies still.

Gregor removes himself once again from her.

The wind rises.

Gregor's mouth opens. His eyes widen.

Gregor, enflamed: My love, my love, let us do the work of lovers!

He advances, wild. She stirrs, and he restrains himself.

Gregor: No, no, I shall not disturb you. No. But...

Gregor stands once again.

Gregor, moving now: But how could I do nothing? The winds, the sands!

He moves now, he dances,

Mary raises her voice in sleep. Loud now, the desert rings

Faster, faster Gregor moves: How? Why? Madness!

Louder, Louder Mary cries: WINDS, SANDS, THUNDER!

Louder, faster, louder, faster. The sky red. The wind thunders.

She awakes