Akhnaton, a pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty, is about to challenge everything his people and culture hold dear in The Last Pharaoh. Before his rule, Egyptians lived a life of slavery under their rulers, who demanded abject submission. In a culture where rulers are revered as gods, change comes slowly, if at all. The pharaoh's grand vision of sweeping social reform is met with violent hostility by the priesthood and every other power player in the kingdom. When Akhnaton announces that he is, in fact, as mortal and fallible as his subjects, his proclamation inspires rivalries that would enthusiastically put his new mortality to the test. Neighbors struggle with questions of faith, morality, and the social order in Winter Dreams, a two-act play that could take place in any small town in America. When a child preacher stirs up old drama and rivalries, more questions than answers arise. Is he really the voice of God, or are other forces at work? The New Odyssey explores a darker future for humanity. In 1999-as the flames of the disastrous Third World War cool, and the fourth apocalyptic global war looms-a college professor summons Hesiod, Homer, and Shakespeare. He argues passionately to enlist their help in a bold plan to save humanity from its eventual destruction-at the hand of womankind. If he can get these three minds from humanity's past in on his scheme, there may be hope for mankind's future yet.
The Last Pharaoh and Other Plays
By Wagdi ZeidiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2012 Wagdi Zeid
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4759-5201-8Chapter One
The Last Pharaoh: A Play in Two Acts
Characters
Akhnaton Pharaoh of Egypt Nefertiti Akhnaton's wife Merry Their daughter Tye Akhnaton's mother Zemat Nefertiti's sister Horemoheb Zemat's husband, general of the Egyptian armies High Priest of Amon Third Priest of Amon Second Priest of Amon First Priest of Amon A Priest Mahu Chief of police Toto Chief of security Merora A commoner Bek Master sculptor and architect Tara Sisters Old Woman Young Man Peasant Men, Women, and Children Soldiers and Guards Villagers
Act One Scene One
(The court of a temple in a village on the bank of the River Nile. Villagers are gathered around a frightened, skinny boy carrying a small sack of grain. A plump, stormy priest paces up and down, glancing fiercely at the boy, whose fear mounts every time the priest gets close to him. Like the boy, the villagers have scraggy, tired figures. Disguised among the villagers stand Akhnaton and two guards, closely following what is going on.)
Priest, moving upstage and turning to his audience. A sack of grain is nothing, folks. But it is just a beginning! (He pauses and then screams his next line.) It is a beginning, and gods know what is next! (He moves downstage toward the boy; stops right in front of him, looking into his eyes; and then returns.) Shall we wait, folks? Shall we wait to see him steal more and teach other children to steal? Shall we wait?
(Silence)
Shall we wait till we have all our kids thieves like him? Of course not! No! I can hear everybody here say no! (Looks suspiciously toward the three disguised figures.) But you should know that it was the devil that made him steal. Therefore (glancing at one of his followers) we will punish the devil in him!
(The follower moves toward the boy, takes off his shirt, and leads him toward the center, where he will be whipped.)
Akhnaton, stepping toward the priest. Did you ask the boy why?
Priest, turning to Akhnaton violently. Excuse me, I didn't hear you.
Akhnaton. Did you ask the boy why he did what he did?
Priest, moving downstage toward Akhnaton after a moment of silence. Who are you? I haven't seen you here before.
Akhnaton, calmly. I am asking—Did you ask the boy why he stole a sack of grain?
Priest, And I am asking, Who are you?
Akhnaton, removing his cloak, still calmly. Akhnaton.
(Akhnaton is thin and feeble. His clothes are simple, and his appearance calls more for pity than admiration. His face is lined with worry, and in his sad eyes one recognizes the hunted look that tells of a searching spirit. Seeing him for the first time creates a sense of disappointment. But the sense of disappointment is only momentary; one gradually becomes charmed by his warm, inspiring presence.)
Priest, confused. Who?
Akhnaton. I am Akhnaton, the king of Egypt!
(Completely dumbfounded, the priest and villagers gaze at Akhnaton in fear and disbelief!)
Priest, trying to control his fear. No, no, you are not. It cannot be!
Akhnaton, glancing at the guards, who reveal themselves and move toward the boy to release him. Did you ask him why?
Boy, crying. We have nothing to eat. Mum is sick and Dad is dead.
Akhnaton, to the priest after a pause. What can you say now? What can your blind and deaf gods say now? What can your blind and deaf gods do now?
(Silence)
Akhnaton, to the two guards. Go inside and destroy the idols of their blind and deaf gods. Let us see what they can say or do.
(The two guards quickly disappear inside the temple. Now, loud sounds of idols being destroyed are heard. The priest stands confounded and helpless. People start to kneel down in fear.)
Akhnaton. Do not kneel down to me. I am not a god! I am only a human being and you shouldn't kneel down to a human being like you! You do not kneel to anyone. There are no gods on earth!
(Blackout)
Scene Two
(A hall in Akhnaton's palace in Tel el Amarna, the city of light. Enter Akhnaton and Tye, his mother. He seems to be in a good mood, but she looks worried.)
Akhnaton. I'm glad, Mother, you changed your mind. You'll like it here. I'm sure you'll like your palace. You'll like this fair city—
Tye, interrupting. Look, Son. I'm tired, and I feel I've only a few days to live. I'm here for one thing, and you know it, Son.
Akhnaton. What?
Tye. I'm worried about you. You came to Thebes for the burial of your father and didn't even wait for the seventy days of the embalming. You came back here, and I know what you're going to do! (Pleading) Son ... (She hesitates, stops.)
Akhnaton, smiling, encouraging. I'm listening, Mother.
Tye. I've seen your father rule this empire for thirty-seven years, and I know the Egyptians. You're now the pharaoh of Egypt. You're alone on the throne now.
Akhnaton, calmly. I've never really been on the throne, Mother.
Tye. You coruled with him for thirteen years.
Akhnaton, tenderly. You know quite well that isn't true, Mother. He never allowed me to do what I really wanted and ... (Stops.)
Tye. Because of your ideas!
Akhnaton. My ideas? Corrupt flatterers made him believe he was the greatest pharaoh and he had to build a fourth pyramid bigger than the other three. So for years we have been wasting the country on a huge tomb. We have wasted everything, and it is not yet finished. (He pauses. Then, in a determined, threatening tone) And it will never be finished.
Tye. What do you mean?
Akhnaton. You know what I mean. You're talking about my ideas ... (Pauses.) I've been away the last two years building this simple city. Here is my beginning. The change will start from here. I am not going to build a pyramid for myself, but I will help every Egyptian to be himself a pyramid! The change will start from here, Mother.
Tye, almost screaming. They wouldn't allow you!
Akhnaton. Who wouldn't allow me?
Tye. You know—them.
Akhnaton. The priests?
Tye. The priests and their followers. Their followers are all the Egyptians. (Pauses, comes to him, holds his hand, pleading.) I see horrible dreams. I ... I ... (Stops, trying to control herself, and turns away as if recalling the dream. Then, in a scared, weak voice) No, no. I don't want to lose you.
(Silence)
Akhnaton, going to her, holding both her hands with emotion. Where's the courageous queen who stood beside her king for long years? (Takes her to the center of the stage. Then, after a pause) What worries you, Mother? Tell me what you want.
Tye. Learn the wisdom of your father and grandfathers.
Akhnaton. What wisdom?
Tye. Don't confront the priests and their gods.
Akhnaton, calmly. My God commands me that no other deity should be worshipped in his land. (A pause as he looks into her eyes with emotion) Mother, you believe me?
Tye. You've never lied to me.
Akhnaton. Mother, Father allowed me to be on the throne with him the last few years before his death—did it work? No, it didn't work! And you know it didn't!
Tye. You cannot hold him solely responsible!
Akhnaton. It is not him or me! It's both of us. It didn't work, and it will never work, because you cannot have two rulers for Egypt! If it does not work for...
