As promised, the second (and admittedly overdue) second part in this story.

In the meantime I think I listened to this show five more times.

Rookie numbers, I know.

Enjoy!


(The road is dark. Orpheus walks along at a steady pace, with nothing but a lantern to guide his way.

His head looks this way and that. Side to side. But not behind. Never behind.

Behind him, shrouded in darkness is Eurydice. She's no more than five feet away, yet the lantern's light doesn't even touch her.

A drumbeat echoes on the path, like the heart of some great beast older than time itself.

Orpheus shivers. It's cold down here. He clutches at his lyre, but his nerveless fingers can't play even so much as one note.

The boy gulps in fear and tries to sing.)

ORPHEUS

"La la la la la la la.

La la la la la la…"

(In time with the beat, in step the Fates.

Hounding Orpheus, they creep up behind the boy and begin hissing in his ears.)

THE FATES

"Doubt comes in.

The wind is changing.

Doubt comes in.

How cold it's blowing.

Doubt comes in and meets a stranger,

Walking on a road alone.

Where is she? Where is she now?

Doubt comes in…"

(Orpheus can't hear them. Not really. But the meaning behind their words burrows into the singer's mind.

Just as Hermes said, it's howling in his head now. Doubt.

He can barely even sing now.)

ORPHEUS

"Who am I? Where do I think I'm goin'?"

THE FATES

"Doubt comes in."

ORPHEUS

"Who am I? Why am I all alone?"

THE FATES

"Doubt comes in…"

(In spite of Hermes's advice, and Eurydice's promises, Orpheus finds himself slowing down.

He tries to look ahead for any sign of light. But the world above still seems so far off.)

ORPHEUS

"Who do I think I am?

Who am…?"

(Orpheus's pace slows again, almost to a snail's pace. But this time of his own accord.

The boy tries to compose himself. He told Hermes he would try. He promised.

The Fates stop abruptly as the drum misses a beat.

They scratch their heads at what's happened.

This was unexpected.)

THE FATES

"Where is she? Where is she now?"

(The three sisters fall back in line, sticking to their roles as they converge again.

Then Eurydice forces her way into the lantern light.)

EURYDICE

"Orpheus, are you listening? I'm right here."

(From far behind them, the workers in Hadestown call out.)

WORKERS

"We are right here!"

EURYDICE

"And I will be 'till the end.

And the coldest night of the coldest year,

Comes right before the spring."

(Orpheus's posture straightens.

His hands again around his lyre, and he finds his voice again.

He sings, louder. More confident.)

ORPHEUS

"La la la la la la la!

La la la la la la!"

(He takes a deep breath, stretching his fingers. Ready to play.

Again, not as expected.

The Fates raise their voices to snuff his newfound courage out.)

THE FATES

"Doubt comes…"

(Orpheus closes his eyes…

And stamps his foot on the ground.

The loud STOMP silences the Fates. Silences the drum. All is still, with not a sound to be heard.

The heavy silence is then broken not by Eurydice, or by the Fates, or by the Workers.

But by a note on the lyre. A melody like their first meeting. In C major this time.)

ORPHEUS

"You trusted me."

EURYDICE

"I did, it's true."

ORPHEUS

"I've gotta do the same for you.

This isn't over yet."

THE FATES

"Young man…

You wanna bet?"

EURYDICE

"Don't give up."

ORPHEUS

"Can't let those doubts interrupt."

EURYDICE

"It's alright, I know you're scared."

ORPHEUS

"I have to hope you're still there."

(He almost turns around, and Eurydice gasps while the music dies down. But to her relief, he stops.

When he faces forward again, she speaks up.)

EURYDICE

"We can start over, make a new home.

Some place just for us, a place to call our own."

(As desperately as she wants, Eurydice can't reach out to him.

But she can follow. She can believe, as he does.)

EURYDICE

"Don't stop now, go on!"

ORPHEUS

"I'll be brave, I'll sing our song."

(The musician takes a step forward.

Eurydice steps with him, and the Fates are pushed to the side.)

EURYDICE

"I'm here."

(Hermes appears, far off.

Orpheus can't see him. He might not be able to hear him either.

Maybe it's not even Hermes at all, but that little voice in Orpheus' head telling him to keep going. And maybe that's all he needs.)

ORPHEUS

"It's a long, dark road up ahead…"

HERMES

"Sure is, but you get to choose how it ends."

Speak up!"

WORKERS

"Speak up!"

EURYDICE

"Where do we go?"

ORPHEUS

"We're headed back."

(Orpheus's feet find their strength again and he starts walking.

His new melody starts up, clearer and bolder this time.)

ORPHEUS

"Headed back home."

(Faster, he walks, with more enthusiasm. The kind of enthusiasm he thought long lost.

His fingers keep strumming on the lyre as Eurydice, the Fates and Hermes follow. As Orpheus sings, the music swells in a triumphant reprise.)

ORPHEUS

"I'll wait for you!"

EURYDICE AND THE WORKERS

"We know."

ORPHEUS

"No matter how far we have to go."

THE FATES

"Who do you think…"

ORPHEUS

"I'm Orpheus!"

HERMES

"That's right, you tell us.

What kept you going on?"

ORPHEUS

"I played them all a song.

I finished it.

And when it was done, it set things right.

It turned to day what once was night.

And then…"

THE FATES AND WORKERS

"What then?"

ORPHEUS

"I'm gonna lead her out."

THE FATES

"That again?

No fears or nagging doubt?

Nothing that can get you to turn about?"

ORPHEUS

"I was bruised, I was battered.

Mocked and shamed, but it don't matter.

What was broken, I made whole."

EURYDICE

"It was so beautiful, you brought us back together.

Now you can lead me back above.

Let's make this forever.

Me and you, love."

(A soft light appears on the far side of the stage.

It's the world of the living. They're getting closer.

Hermes clasps his hands, watching the lovers. Allowing himself, beyond all reason, to hope.)

HERMES

"Brother, you're almost there.

Don't give up now."

THE FATES

"You're not there yet.

You're all alone anyhow."

(Orpheus approaches the light, then hesitates.)

ORPHEUS

"Alone?

I don't know."

(The boy shakes his head.)

ORPHEUS

"Just one way to be sure.

Here we go!"

(Orpheus, taking a deep breath, steps into the light. The music fades out. Everything goes pitch black save for the ray of sunlight surrounding him.

He closes his eyes and puts down his lyre, then reaches back. Back to where he hopes Eurydice will be.

Slowly, she materializes behind Orpheus. Her fingers are outstretched, inches away from his.)

ORPHEUS

"Is it you?"

EURYDICE

"It's me."

(Her face is visible now, tears streaming down her cheeks.

They are so close now.)

EURYDICE

"Orpheus?"

ORPHEUS

"Eurydice?"

(Everything goes dark. It's dead silent. No light, no movement. No music.

Then Hermes appears, hands held behind his back as he contemplates on what's happened.

Choking back tears, he breaks into a wide and joyous smile.)

HERMES

"Aight…"

...

THE END

...


Author's Note:

Thanks for checking in, folks.

I enjoyed writing this, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Hopefully as we all emerge from the utter hell that was this past year's quarantine, we all get a chance to see this awesome show in person.

Take care!