PYRAMUS AND THISBE: A UIC PSYCHOLOGY PLAY

Prologue

(A boy and a girl are sitting in the shade of a mulberry tree. The girl rests her head on the boy’s
shoulder)

Boy: Loves?
Girl: Yes, loves?
Boy: Did you know there is a sad story about this tree?
Girl: You mean this tree? What kind of tree is this, anyway?
Boy: A mulberry tree. And the story is about two lovers.
Girl: Oh, I think I know that story! It’s the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, right?
Boy: Yes! That’s the one!
Girl: It’s like that song when they were just kids when they fell in love…
Boy: There you go again…
Girl: And like Romeo and Juliet, the feud between their families made it hard for them to
express their love but that only made them determined to be together. Unfortunately,
they ended up dying under a mulberry tree because of a misunderstanding.
Boy: Now, were sitting under one. What a coincidence…
Girl: Yeah. What a coincidence…
Boy: Well, I’d die for you…
Girl: Where did that come from? (laughs)
Boy: I’m serious. I’ll give my life for you.
Girl: Oh, will you? (laughs and leans on Boy’s shoulder) Don’t worry. I’d also die for you.
Scene One (Narrator [Narr], Pyramus’ Father [PF], Pyramus’ Mother [PM], Pyramus [Py],
Thisbe’s Mother [TM], Thisbe [Th])

Narr: Ladies and gentlemen, young and old

Let me tell you a tale of olden times
From an ancient poet, Ovid, he’s called
Let me borrow his words to start this tale

When Pyramus and Thisbe, who were known

The one most handsome of all youthful men,
The other loveliest of all eastern girls,
Lived in adjoining houses, near the walls
That Queen Semiramis had built of brick
Around her famous city, they grew fond,
And loved each other – meeting often there –
And as the days went by their love increased

TM: Well, well, well. Look who dared to show up in my presence!

PM: Look who’s talking, you shameless hag!
TM: Man-stealer!
PM: Bitter bitch! (starts to fight)
PF: Ladies, ladies! Stop that! This is embarrassing.
TM: You should be embarrassed! Following that seductress instead of YOUR wife.
PM: For your information, I AM his wife!
TM: ILLEGAL wife!
PM: In your face I’m illegal!
TM: Bring it on! (fights again)
PF: Oh my gosh! Ladies! Beltis! I thought we’ve settled this already.
TM: This is far from over, Yanzu! Oh, here comes our daughter. I mean, MY daughter! Thisbe,
darling.
Th: Mother!
PM: And here comes my son, I mean, OUR son! Pyramus!
Py: Mother! Father!
TM: Hah! And you think that son of yours will bear you children someday? In your dreams!
PM: Well, that daughter of yours will be better off as a slave instead of a wife!
TM: You dare call her a slave? Not even my daughter will pick your son as her husband.
PM: And what makes you think I’ll allow my son to marry your daughter?
PF: That’s enough, Anatu! Let’s go! Pyramus. (looks at Thisbe’s Mother) Beltis. (exits)
TM: Hmph! Let’s go, Thisbe. (exit)
Scene Two (Narrator [Narr], Thisbe’s Sister [TS], Thisbe [Th])

Narr: They wished to join in marriage, but that joy

Their fathers had forbidden them to hope;
And yet the passion that with equal strength
Inflamed their minds no parents could forbid.

TS: Thisbe! Tell me, what in the world are you doing every night?
Th: What do you mean, dear sister?
TS: I noticed that you suddenly disappear and then have that smirk on your face. You’re not
telling me something.
Th: Oh, hush, sister. I was just out playing with Tyrone and Aria.
TS: Really? (Raises eyebrows)
Th: Fine! But swear you won’t tell Mother.
TS: I swear!
Th: Swear it on your life that you won’t tell Mother!
TS: Alright, alright! I swear it on my life that I won’t tell Mother!
Th: OK. I was … talking … to the wall … in the pantry.
TS: To the wall… Do you take me for a fool? (Thisbe blushes then Thisbe’s sister noticed)
No… You know that’s forbidden. What were you thinking?!
Th: Shush, sister! You’re the one that told me that love knows know no bounds, that love
will always find a way!
TS: But, but, this is insane! You know that his family and ours are sworn enemies. Your love
will not stand a chance! Mother will kill you and so will his!
Th: I don’t care!
TS: Do you realize what you’ve done? Why, of all the many suitors, do you have to choose
that wretched man?
Th: Pyramus is not a wretched man! He’s not what you think he is. He’s my best friend, my
lover. We are inseparable. He’s smart, sweet, and understands me better than anyone.
He means the world to me.
TS: (Sighs) Alright. I get it. But I do hope you know what you’re doing. You’re killing us all.
Scene Three

(Pyramus was so absorbed in his train of thought as he sat in his chair pondering that he didn’t
hear his cousin coming in. He was smiling to himself, looking oddly pleased.)

PC: Are you feeling well, cousin? You’re looking strange right now.
Py: (drunk) Oh, Ashtin! I’ve fallen madly in love with her. I think I’m going to marry her.
PC: Who’s that girl you’re talking about?
Py: A mystery girl. Well, nevermind. It’s a secret relationship! (giggling)
PC: You worry me, cousin, you know that? Are you talking about that girl Barbara?
Py: Pfft! That silly girl? She stalks me everywhere. God knows, she might be in this very
room right now! Go home, Barbara! (Pyramus and cousin howled with laughter)
PC: You’re mad!
Py: Madly in love! (Stands up, feeling dizzy and is about to vomit) Ugh! I think I’m going to
bed.
PC: Well, good luck with your mystery girl, whoever she is. (Pyramus waves back)
Scene Four

Narr: Now, it so happened, a partition built

Between their houses many years ago,
Was made defective with a little chink;
A small defect observed by none,
Although for ages there; but what is hid from love?

There, many a time, they stood on either side,

Thisbe on one and Pyramus the other,
And when their warm breath touched from lip to lip,
Their sighs were such as this:

Th: Pyramus, Pyramus, can you hear me?

Py: Thisbe! At last! The Gods know how happy I am to hear your voice again.
Th: Well, how are you today, love?
Py: It’s cold in here, but hearing you there on the other side makes my heart flutter with
warmth.
Th: Here. Let me reach your hand through this small crack. (reaches out hand)
Py: (reaches out hand) Yours is warm. I wish I can have all of you with me in this cold house.
Th: Or you here.
Py: You know we can’t. Our parents forbid it.
Th: Shoud this be our fate then? To be apart forever? (sobs in sadness)
Py: Don’t cry, my love. I have an idea. At midnight, let’s sneak out of our houses. Let’s meet
at that tomb, near a cool stream where a tall tree full of snow-white berries grows.
Th: (wiping tears) Beneath the mulberry tree?
Py: Yes! There, love. We must make haste before dawn comes and before our parents find
out that we’re missing in our chambers. I can’t bear to be separated from you anymore,
Thisbe. I want to be with you forever.
Th: Oh, Pyramus. I can’t express how happy I am to hear that. I love you so much!
Py: I love you, too.
Th: I should go now. Farewell, my love.
Py: Can I have a kiss?
Th: I’m afraid not. You know we can’t. (giggles)
Py: Right. Then, at the tomb of Ninus, I shall have that token from your lips.
Th: I’ll see you, then. Please let go of my hand,
Py: (lets go of her hand). Farewell, my love!
Th: Farewell!
Scene Five

Narr: All is arranged according to their hopes:

And now the daylight, seeming slowly moved,
Sinks in the deep waves, and the tardy night
Arises from the spot where day declines.

TM: Thisbe, darling, where are you going? It’s getting late.
Th: Oh, mother. I’ll just go to Aria’s. She invited me for dinner.
TM: Her mother didn’t tell me anything about that.
Th: It’s just Aria, Tyrone and me, mother.
TM: Oh. But can’t you do it some other time, perhaps during daytime?
Th: We already had an agreement, mother. We already planned for this for quite some
time.
TM: Alright. Do you need your sister to take you there?
Th: There’s no need, mother. I can manage on my own.
TM: If that’s what you wish. Take care, and don’t talk to strangers.
Th: I’m not a child anymore, mother. (leaves)
Scene Six

Narr: Quickly, the clever Thisbe

Having first deceived her parents, opened the closed door.
She flitted in the silent night away;
And having veiled her face, reached the great tomb,
And sat beneath the tree; love made her bold.

Th: At last! I’ve arrived at our meeting place where we will flee toward some strange land
where no one can fight against our love. Perhaps my love has already arrived! (Looks
around) It’s quiet in here. He’s not yet here. I will wait for him here, under this tree. (Sits
under the tree)
Th: Wait a minute! I hear something. (Lioness growls and slowly enters) Oh my god! A
lioness! Oh my god! Oh god! That blood on its jaws! It’s going to eat me! What to do?
What to do? I must hide, quickly, before it sees me. I mush hide over there. (Flees to a
nearby cave while trembling.)
Th: (While fleeing, drops veil) My veil! I must get it! Wait! The lioness! Nevermind! (Hides)

Narr: Wherefore, when the savage beast

Had taken a great draft and slaked her thirst,
And thence had turned to seek her forest lair,
She found it on her way, and full of rage,
Tore it and stained it with her bloody jaws:
But Thisbe, fortunate, escaped unseen.

Py: (Enters) Thisbe! Thisbe, my love, I’m here! Where are you, my love? Thisbe? Thisbe?
Have you arrived? Thisbe? (pauses) Thisbe? Wait… What’s this? Footprints? Footprints
of a lion? (Draws sword) Thisbe? Thisbe! Oh Gods! Please don’t let Thisbe come to any
harm! (Searches around trembling until he sees the veil covered in blood)
Py: (Picks up veil) Oh god! No… It can’t be. No. No. NO!!! THISBE!!!!!!!!!!! (Cries in agony)
What have I done to you? I should have met up with you outside the gates where it is
safe. Instead, I have brought you to your doom. Wherever that lion is, I should be the
one being ripped apart by that beast. Not you, my dear Thisbe! (Continues to cry in
agony)
Py: (Stops briefly, brings the veil, goes under the tree, kisses the veil) My kisses and tears
are yours, receive my blood as well! (Stabs belly with sword, then removes it, sprinkling
the mulberry with blood, then dies)

Narr: By that dark tide the berries on the tree

Assumed a deeper tint, for as the roots
Soaked up the blood the pendent mulberries
Were dyed a purple tint.
Th: (Arrives feeling tired and scared) Finally! That beast is gone! My poor Pyramus must be
waiting for me right now! Wait ‘till I tell him about how I escaped that beast. But, wait a
minute. Is this the right place? This must be a different tree. The berries are … purplish.
No! I cannot be mistake. But why is this? (Looks at ground and sees Pyramus’ dead
body)
Th: No! I must be mistaken. It can’t be! (Checks body) Ah! Pyramus! (Hugs his dead body
and cries) What cruel fate has taken your life away? Pyramus? Pyramus! Wake up! Wake
up! It’s me, Thisbe! Pyramus? Pyramus! (continues to cry)
Th: (Sees veil) I see. You thought the beast devoured me, and you took your own life to be
with me! For me! And I’m willing, too! I’m willing, too, my love, to give my life to be with
you for all eternity, to escape this wretched fate that is given to us. Death cannot and
should not separate us, dear Pyramus!
Th: (Continues to sob) Before I go to thee, my dear Pyramus, may our deaths be a memorial
of our love, that our wretched parents, yours and mine, and other parents may not
hinder the way of eternal love between two people. And may the Gods hear my prayer
that this tree, and its fruit made purple may be the memorial of our eternal love.
Goodbye, cruel world! (Stabs self)
Scene Seven

Herm: (Passes through) What’s this? (Touches the dead bodies, the tree and the fruits) Zeus
must know about this! Zeus! Zeus! (Exits)
Zeus: (Enters with Hermes). This better be important, Hermes. I have a lot of things to do.
Herm: That can wait, my lord. Look at this. (Points at dead bodies)
Zeus: This is not my business, Hermes. Who are the Babylonian gods, anyway?
Herm: But touch the tree, my Lord. Touch their bodies.
Zeus: (Touches tree and bodies) I see. Hermes, tell Aphrodite and Athena to come here at
once.
Herm: Yes, my lord. Should I also send for the queen, my lord? (Grins)
Zeus: (Reluctantly) Yes. I almost forgot about her.
Herm: (Rolls eyes) Right away, my lord. (Exits) (Zeus sits near the bodies)
Hera: (Enters, irritated) You better have a reason for sending me here other than telling me
you have another woman bearing your son.
Ath: (Enters, emotionless) Father has no such agenda, as far as I know.
Aphr: (Enters, excited) Ohh! I’m so excited! This must be about love!
Zeus: Take a look at this! (Presents bodies)
Hera: So? Is this your mistress?
Ath: I believe not, your highness. If it were so, he would have protected her.
Aphr: Oh! Tragic lovers! What’s the story behind this, my lord?
Zeus: These are two young mortals who are so in love. Their parents prevented them from
pursuing their love. Their only means of expressing their love is through a crack in the
wall. Yesterday, they decided to run away together. This girl arrived first. However, she
fled from a lioness, leaving behind her veil. The boy arrived, and upon seeing the blood-
stained veil, thought she perished and took his life. The girl returned, and seeing the
fate of the boy, took her own life as well.
Ath: And what are their last words, Father?
Zeus: That their deaths will be a symbol of this love, as well making this tree and the fruit a
symbol of their love as well.
Aphr: (sobs) That’s so sad, my lord! Grant their wish, my lord, that their love story will be
remembered forever.
Ath: And let this be a lesson to others, that mortals or even gods should not let petty things
get in the way when it comes to genuine love. Not even family feuds.
Aphr: That’s so wise of you, Athena.
Hera: Of course she’s wise! She’s the goddess of wisdom!
Aphr: Right! Hehehe…
Hera: Anyway, let’s just get this over with. Don’t make me become sentimental because of
this.
Zeus: (Whispers to self irritately) I know, woman! (Chants) May this tree be a memorial of the
tragic love of Pyramus and Thisbe! And it is done! (Spotlight on tree)
Epilogue

Narr: But though her death was out of Nature’s law

Her prayer was answered, for it moved the Gods
And moved her parents.
Now the Gods have changed
The ripened fruit which darkens on the branch:
And from the funeral pile their parents sealed
Their gathered ashes in a single urn.

THE END