Icarus

A Play in Two Scenes

Cast of Characters:

Logan: A sophomore boy in high school with a laid back personality and a love for mythology. Ms. Davis: An uptight English teacher.

Drew: A sophomore boy with some kind of learning disability, is obsessed with the video game, "Super Mythology Smash”

David: A sophomore boy. A druggie coasting through high school.

Heather: A sophomore girl. Enjoys reading, “The National Enquirer”. Has recently lost most of her friends to drama of some sort.

Scene: A high school, somewhere in modern day America.

Time: Sometime during the school day.

ACT I

Scene 1

SETTING: A classroom. Students sit at desks. On a projector screen at the front of the classroom is a powerpoint that reads, “Mythology, Day 1: Daedalus and the Labyrinth”. Four desks sit facing the projector screen.

LOGAN:

(stands at the front of the stage, monologuing)

People are made of feathers and wax. That's what I learned from my mythology class this year. And surprisingly enough, it's made navigating this labyrinth a lot easier. I signed up for mythology class because I love mythology. I thought it would be a piece of cake, because I already knew all of the myths. That wasn’t the case.

(LOGAN sits in a desk and the scene comes to life)

MS. DAVIS:

(Opening her lecture overdramatically)

This class is all about application.

(she slams her books down on her desk and lowers her voice for dramatic effect)

It has nothing to do with regurgitation. In this class we will study the hopes and dreams... and bad dreams of the ancient world. Put together they are mythology... That’s what we will study: Mythology. This class won’t always be easy. There will be... HOMEWORK. If you don’t think you can handle it, let me know and you can drop the class.

(DAVID raises hand)

We can meet after class to change your schedule.

DAVID:

Actually, I was just wondering if I could go to the bathroom.

MS. DAVIS:

Which brings me to my next point!

(She starts passing out pink slips of paper to the class).

If you need to go to the restroom, then you must bring this sheet to me so I can punch it.

DAVID:

There’s only 4 punch things. What if I need to go to the restroom more than 4 times?

MS. DAVIS:

(Briskly)

You’re in school to learn not to have fun. Alright. For your first assignment, please take out a blank sheet of paper.

LOGAN:

(to the girl next to him)

Can I borrow a piece of paper?

HEATHER:

Sure.

(hands him a piece of paper.)

MS. DAVIS:

Please write a letter addressed to me explaining what you hope to gain from taking this class. You will have 10 minutes.

(she sits at her desk.)

LOGAN:

(to the kid sitting on his other side)

Can I borrow a pencil?

DAVID:

Why don’t you ask her for a pencil?

LOGAN:

I asked her for a sheet of paper.

DAVID:

I only have one.

LOGAN:

You can break it in half and I can sharpen one end.

DAVID:

But then I don’t have an eraser.

LOGAN:

I have an extra. Here you can use this.

(pulls out pink eraser)

DAVID:

...Why don’t you ask her for a pencil?

MS. DAVIS:

I should hear writing not talking!

(LOGAN looks on the floor and finds a crayon. He picks it up and starts writing his letter. He turns in his chair and reads it aloud as an aside to the audience. The other students follow suite.)

LOGAN:

Dear Ms. Davis, My name is Logan. I am new here, so I don't know very many people yet. My favorite myth is the Labyrinth. I love it because most days I feel like Perseus, wandering through a maze, trying desperately to find a way out. Anyways. My goal for this year is to read some stories that I haven't read before and to better understand the ones I have already read.

HEATHER:

Dear Ms. Davis, There are many goals that I would like to meet this semester. First, I would like to learn about ancient myths. I would like to learn about these because I think they would make me smarter. Secondly, I would like to understand why these myths were important. I would like to do this because it will build my knowledge of the world. As you can see, there are many goals I would like to meet this semester.

DAVID:

Dear Ms. Davis, My goal this semester is to pass. I just want an English credit so I can graduate.

DREW:

Dear Ms. Davis, My favorite mythology creature is a centaur. If I could be any mythology creature, of all of them, I would be Charon the centaur because he trains all of the famous heroes and I think training the heroes is almost as cool as being a hero. In my favorite video game I play as Charon, and I have a kill rate of 50. It took me lots of practice to get that good.

MS. DAVIS:

Times up!

DREW:

(still as aside)

I have to stop writing now because you said I'm out of time.

MS. DAVIS:

For our first lesson we will study the story of Daedalus and the Labyrinth. Please listen carefully as I read the story aloud. Illustrations will be provided on the projector screen.

(The first illustration shows itself. She begins reading)

Daedalus was a highly respected and talented Athenian artisan. He was known for his skill as an architect, sculptor, and inventor, and he produced many famous works.

(DAVID raises his hand)

Yes?

DAVID:

How come you covered them up with those black bars?

MS. DAVIS:

Our curriculum is devoted to the study of mythology, not pornography.

LOGAN:

Isn’t it considered art though? These paintings?

MS. DAVIS:

(Offended)

You may consider it what you like, but it will not be taught in this classroom! Any more questions?

(silence)

Then I will continue.

(continues reading aloud)

King Minos called on Daedalus to build a Labyrinth to imprison the dreaded Minotaur. The Minotaur was a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. Minos was shamed by the birth of this horrible creature and resolved to imprison the Minotaur in the labyrinth where it fed on humans, which were taken as "tribute" by Minos and sacrificed to the Minotaur. Minos, fearful that Daedalus would share his secrets, imprisoned Daedalus and his son, Icarus, in the labyrinth themselves.

(LOGAN raises his hand).

Yes Logan?

LOGAN:

You missed the part about the birth of the minotaur.

MS. DAVIS:

That portion of the story is not needed.

LOGAN:

But it’s important! If King Minos was faithful to the gods then his wife never would have given birth to the minotaur and he never would have needed a labyrinth in the first place.

HEATHER:

Wait, the queen gave birth to the minotaur? How?

MS. DAVIS:

If you have any questions about the human reproductive systems, I suggest you direct them to our health teacher.

LOGAN

(explaining to Heather):

One of the gods cursed the queen to be in love with a bull. She hired Daedalus to build a wooden cow that she could climb into and… well...

DAVID:

Wait, so this guy builds her a giant cow sex doll?

HEATHER:

Eww. Thats disgusting.

LOGAN:

Basically, except she can climb inside, and that's how she was able to give birth to the minotaur.

(DAVID Laughs loudly)

MS. DAVIS:

(consumed by moral outrage)

Enough!!! Logan, go to the hallway.

(LOGAN leaves class and sits just outside the door. There is an awkward silence.)

MS. DAVIS:

(continues to read)

So. Daedalus conceived to escape from the labyrinth with Icarus by constructing wings and then flying to safety.

DREW:

(hand raised, holding his pink bathroom pass)

Ms. Davis?

MS. DAVIS:

Yes, Drew?

DREW:

Can I use the bathroom?

MS. DAVIS:

(signs his pass)

You may go to the restroom.

(Drew leaves class and stops next to Logan in the hallway. Ms. Davis continuous to read and her voice slowly fades out.)

He built the wings from feathers and wax, and before the two set off he warned Icarus not to fly too low lest his wings touch the waves and get wet, and not too high lest the sun melt the wax.

DREW:

(to Logan, in the hallway)

Have you ever played Super Mythology Smash?

LOGAN:

What? No.

DREW:

Sometimes I play as the Minotaur… When I’m doing stadium battles. He’s probably my third favorite character, but I also like the Cyclops. The Cyclop-

LOGAN:

(annoyed)

That’s great dude.

DREW:

I didn’t know that part of the story you said. How the minotaur was born. I thought it was funny.

LOGAN:

I wasn’t making it up or anything, that’s actually how the story goes.

DREW:

Yeah. I believe it. Mythology is weird. But cool too.

(He turns to go to the bathroom)

LOGAN:

Hey, how come you’re using your bathroom pass on your first day?

DREW:

I had to go.

(BLACKOUT)

Scene 2

LOGAN:

(stands alone monologuing to the audience)

So a few days later my mom checked my grades and saw that I had an F in Mythology. Ms. Davis gave me a zero on my letter and added a comment saying that she refused to grade assignments written in crayon. “How can you get an F in mythology?” asked my mom. I tried to explain, but she didn’t really care that Ms. Davis was teaching the stories wrong. “You don’t have to agree with her,” she said. “You just have tell her what she wants to hear, and let her give you a good grade. You can believe whatever you want.” This was good advice, and once I started following it my grade got better almost immediately. Ms. Davis went from hating me to treating me like a child protege. It made me realize that by telling people what they wanted to hear you could make them like you. You didn’t have to lie, you just had to keep your opinions to yourself. I found that I was doing this a lot, and kids who wouldn’t normally talk to me started talking to me. It was nice.

(Class starts in Ms. Davis’s room and Logan takes a seat.)

MS. DAVIS:

Alright everyone! Our final will be next class, so today we will spend the period in small groups studying. (She sits at her desk)

DREW:

Hey Logan, Do you want to work with me?

LOGAN:

Um, Hang on. I’ll let you know.

HEATHER:

(Sitting with DAVID)

Hey, you can work with us if you want.

LOGAN:

Sounds good!

(to DREW)

I’ll work with you another time, man.

DREW:

(disappointed)

That’s fine.

(LOGAN sits by HEATHER and DAVID. DREW sits alone.)

Heather:

Hey so how do Daedalus and Icarus escape the labyrinth?

LOGAN:

They build these wing contraptions and fly out. Except Icarus flies too close to the sun and melts the wax on his wings causing him to fall into the ocean and drown.

DAVID:

God, how do you even remember this stuff?

LOGAN:

I don’t know, I just do.

DAVID:

You really like this crap don’t you?

LOGAN:

(uncomfortably)

not really, I mostly just want to pass.

(to HEATHER)

What are you reading?

HEATHER:

It’s the National Enquirer. My history teacher lets me read them when she finishes them.

DAVID:

Hey does anyone want to smoke with me after class? I am SICK of finals week.

HEATHER:

Yeah, I’m in. Logan?

LOGAN:

Um…

HEATHER:

Shut up, it’s Drew.

(DREW approaches their table)

DREW:

Hey, have you guys ever played Super Mythology Smash?

DAVID:

No.

DREW:

It’s pretty fun. The other day I was playing, and this hellhound comes up from behind me and I didn’t know he was there-

HEATHER:

(demeaning)

Hey Drew, we are kinda trying to work. Could you just tell us later?

DREW:

Okay, I’ll tell you after class I guess.

(leaves)

DAVID:

God, I hate that kid.

HEATHER:

So are you in Logan? No pressure or anything. You don’t have to.

LOGAN:

I guess I’d rather not.

DAVID:

That's fine, but would you mind watching for us? Like making sure that no one goes back where we smoke.

LOGAN:

I guess not.

DAVID:

Thanks man. So just meet us in the back stairwell after class.

(Bell rings. Everyone packs up and walks out of the classroom.)

DAVID:

Thanks for coming man. Just wait here and if someone comes, knock on the door, and we’ll split.

LOGAN:

Okay.

(DAVID and Heather disappear behind the door. Enter MS. DAVIS)

MS. DAVIS:

Hello Logan. Have you seen Drew anywhere?

LOGAN:

(knocks on the door awkwardly)

No, I haven't. Why?

MS. DAVIS:

(noticing his knocking)

He didn’t show up to his next class. Is everything alright?

LOGAN:

Yeah everything is fine. Why?

MS. DAVIS:

(with genuine concern)

Finals week can be a stressful time for students. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.

LOGAN:

Okay.

MS. DAVIS:

You don’t need to pull away from people, Logan.

LOGAN:

(anxious to leave)

Okay! I won’t. If I see Drew I’ll let you know. Bye!

(exit LOGAN)

LOGAN:

(Monologuing)

So after that, I went to class. I had warned them and everything and I didn’t really feel like standing guard anymore. It was nice that they would talk to me and everything but I felt like I was being used. The next day, the principal called me down to his office during first period and asked me if I knew anything about Drew. Apparently, he never showed up at home and no one had seen him since mythology yesterday. I remembered what he said about telling us more about his video game after class, and I had a feeling that Heather and David knew something about it. I had my first period class with Heather so I decided to ask her about it.

(HEATHER sits at a desk reading the National Enquirer. LOGAN sets his backpack down on the desk next to her.)

LOGAN:

Hey, do you know what happened to Drew? No one can find him.

HEATHER:

Ohmygod. Someone let him out right?

LOGAN:

Huh?

HEATHER:

He’s still in there. I mean, ohmygod. I’m gonna get in so much trouble. You can’t tell them I did it, okay?

LOGAN:

Wait, what happened?

HEATHER:

Well, after David and I got high yesterday, Drew came up and tried to tell us about his stupid game, and he just wouldn’t leave us alone and David got so pissed that he shoved him in a locker. We figured someone would let him out…

LOGAN:

How did you think that was a good idea?

HEATHER:

I don’t know, why didn’t someone let him out?

LOGAN:

Why did you lock him in there?

HEATHER:

It wasn’t me, it was David.

LOGAN:

But you could have said something.

HEATHER:

So? David’s one of the only people who still hangs out with me… since all this drama with my friends...

LOGAN:

What locker is he in?

HEATHER:

The one at the bottom of the stairs. Right next to the doors. Just don’t tell anyone I was involved. I could get in so much trouble.

(LOGAN leaves the class and the set changes to the stairwell. Logan runs up to the locker next to the door.)

LOGAN:

Hey Drew? Are you in there?

DREW:

Goddamn it.

LOGAN:

Are you okay?

DREW:

Goddamn it.

(shouting and kicking the side of the locker)

Nobody cares about this stupid video game but me!

LOGAN:

It’s okay Drew. When you get out, I’ll play it with you if you want.

DREW:

…You mean it?

LOGAN:

Sure, I mean, I’m not super into videogames, but I like mythology. How bad could it be?

DREW:

You don’t have to. Nobody ever really wants to.

LOGAN:

No I mean it. I want to.

DREW:

...Okay. Does this mean we are friends?

LOGAN:

Yeah. But hey, I’m going to get someone to cut the lock so you can get out. I’ll be right back.

LOGAN:

(Monologuing)

So they let Drew out and he was fine. They sent him home for the day. And later his mom called me and invited me over after school. I decided to go. At first I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Drew asking if we were friends and how I told him we were. I think that’s a terrible thing to tell someone if it’s a lie, ya know? I don’t know. I don’t need to hang out with him all the time or anything… It’s just, I know what it’s like to want friends and to have people not care unless you change yourself. Drew is kinda obnoxious, but he is himself. If I was myself all the time, people would probably find my obsession with mythology just as annoying.

Oh yeah, and ironically enough I failed my Mythology Final. When I got to class David asked me for a pencil and I gave him mine. I couldn’t find another one in my backpack, so I picked up a crayon from the floor and instead of taking her test, I graded her test. I didn’t answer any of the questions, I just circled every problem where she changed the stories or left parts out. I gave her a 60/100 because she grasped the basic concepts, but wasn’t expressing them truthfully.

I guess that there’s a time for telling people the things that they want to hear: If you didn’t it would be hard to get anywhere, but like most things in life, It's a balancing act.

(BLACKOUT)