The Race for Atalanta
Characters
ATALANTA, a great huntress and athlete
CHLOE, her friend
ANNOUNCER
HIPPOMENES, her suitor
RUNNERS
ACT I
1
[Atalanta’s home in Ancient Greece. Chloe is weaving a beautiful cloth while Atalanta paces. Outside, it is raining.]
2
ATALANTA: I didn’t run my morning marathon, and now I’m crawling out of my skin.
3
CHLOE: Take a breath, count to ten.
4
[Atalanta stops pacing, closes her eyes, and breathes. Having collected herself, she approaches Chloe, who has taken out a skein of golden thread to add to the cloth.]
5
ATALANTA: Shiny! [Grabbing the thread, which she holds throughout the scene.] Thank you for taking over my weaving.
6
CHLOE: You haven’t made much progress, and I actually enjoy it.
7
ATALANTA: I don’t hope to require a wedding gown any time soon.
8
CHLOE: Nonsense! Every young man in Athens wants you as his bride.
9
ATALANTA: They only want a meek beauty who will lounge about and weave dresses. [Chloe winces] . I can outrun, out-hunt, out-fight, out— [She waves the golden thread around, searching for a word.]
10
CHLOE: You can outdo any of them, and thus none will do.
11
ATALANTA: How many have been raised by bears, as I have? How many have run from Athens to Thebes and back in a single morning? How many have slain a wild boar?
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CHLOE: And how many can match your admirable modesty?
13
ATALANTA: [Smiling at the jab.] None! I could only love a man as talented and daring as I.
14
CHLOE: [Kidding.] Perhaps you should hold a race, with your affection as the prize.
15
[Atalanta laughs but then grows serious.]
16
ATALANTA: Not a bad idea.
ACT II
SCENE 1
17
[A stadium. Atalanta stretches downstage. Upstage, Hippomenes, dressed for a race, sits in the stands. Announcer enters.]
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ANNOUNCER: [To audience.] Welcome to the First Annual Race for Atalanta’s Hand!
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HIPPOMENES: [Aside.] Annual? Not if I can help it.
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ANNOUNCER: Atalanta, daughter of bears, slayer of boars, courageous Argonaut, will commit herself in matrimony to the man who can best her in a contest of speed. [Atalanta waves at the audience.] Anyone who fails [Pauses for dramatic effect.] will be exiled. Let the races begin! Runners, on your mark. Get set.
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[Atalanta bends into starting position alongside five runners.]
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ANNOUNCER: Go!
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[Atalanta dashes offstage, right, ahead of the runners.]
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HIPPOMENES: [Starry eyed.] She’s a wonder.
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[Atalanta dashes onstage, left, raising her arms. She struts around as the crowd cheers. The five runners drag in, out of breath.]
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ATALANTA: Who’s next?
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HIPPOMENES: [Distressed.] I don’t stand a chance.
SCENE 2
28
[A sheltered place behind the stands. Hippomenes is alone. The announcer is heard calling runners to the next race.]
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HIPPOMENES: Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, help me win this race against Atalanta so that she will be my wife.
30
[A sack drops from the sky, landing at Hippomenes’s feet. He picks it up and opens it.]
31
HIPPOMENES: What am I supposed to do with golden apples?
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[He stands there for a moment, thoughtful. Then he smiles and exits.]
SCENE 3
33
[The stadium. Hippomenes, holding the sack, and Atalanta are on the starting line. Atalanta is trying to hide her interest in Hippomenes. Announcer stands upstage.]
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ATALANTA: [Looking at him curiously, even hopefully.] You’re the last one.
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HIPPOMENES: And the one who will win your heart.
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ATALANTA: [Coyly.] We’ll see. That sack looks heavy. Won’t it slow you down?
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[Hippomenes just smiles.]
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ANNOUNCER: On your mark, get set, go!
39
[Atalanta dashes ahead of Hippomenes, who tosses an apple into her path.]
40
ATALANTA: [Stopping to pick up the apple.] Shiny!
41
[Hippomenes speeds past her, but she catches up and passes him. This happens twice more, but when she stops to pick up the third apple, Hippomenes crosses the finish line, arms raised in victory. Atalanta follows, smiling good-naturedly.]
42
ATALANTA: Very clever! But can I tell you a secret?
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HIPPOMENES: You can tell me anything, my love.
44
ATALANTA: [Tossing him an apple, with a wink.] I let you win.
45
[Hippomenes grins and takes her hand. Together they wave to the cheering crowd, clearly feeling they both have won.]
The race for Atalanta’s hands suggest that during the time of the ancient Greeks —
The race for Atalanta’s hands suggest that during the time of the ancient Greeks —
Would soon invent the Olympics.
Competition was important to their culture.
Marriages were always decided based on the outcome of a contest.
There were no other means of transportation.