Enter Philomele

[shamelessgirl]

(She appears in the main room, her body trembling with anger, her words soft and low and dangerous as she speaks to someone who is no longer there.)

And they obey you? Look up to you? Have the men and women of Thrace seen you naked? Shall I tell them?

(Her words falter, suddenly, as she realizes she is no longer on the shore, and she whirls around,

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[priorphilip]

A kind faced monk, younger than he might look at first because of his shaved head, is nearby. He looks up at her calls. "My child... are you lost?"

[shamelessgirl]

(At the sound of a male voice she whirls, instantly on guard, but this is not the man she fears, and so she breathes a little easier and collects herself, hoping to get some information.)

Yes. Maybe. I'm not certain. I wanted to get away and I did -- perhaps that means I'm not lost after all.

[priorphilip]

"Well, it seems most arrive here unintentionally. But perhaps that does not mean you are lost."

[shamelessgirl]

Perhaps not.

(She looks around.) Is it very far to Athens from here?

[priorphilip]

"I've no idea. As far as it is from anywhere, I suppose."

[shamelessgirl]

(She looks confused.)

But that doesn't make sense. It isn't logical.

[priorphilip]

"No, I'm afraid it isn't. But I've found that no matter how far one walks, one eventually returns to the large house here. Which is not logical either."

[shamelessgirl]

(A blink.) How can that be?

[priorphilip]

"God has made all manner of things we cannot yet understand, my child."

[shamelessgirl]

Surely we are meant to seek the truth, and learn to understand. Isn't that so?

[priorphilip]

"I do believe the Lord wishes us to apply the minds he granted us, yes. But there are may things one must simply accept, as well, or one will spend life constantly awash in uncertainty and minutia." He smiles, clearly at ease, rather than preaching.

[shamelessgirl]

(A little desperate, suddenly) Are there not some things we cannot accept? Some things too ugly to be taken as -- as only another part of life?

[priorphilip]

He sobers a bit. "Why, certainly. To injustice and evil, we should never be complacent, my child. But though finding oneself here may be inconvenient, I cannot think it is in itself evil."

[shamelessgirl]

No. It was not this place I spoke of. (She shudders.)

[priorphilip]

Gently, "You are safe here, my child, barring a few wild creatures in the woods."

[shamelessgirl]

And the people? What of them? Are none of them liars, none of them cruel? (She raises her head, stands straight, like a princess and not a victim.) If you have kings here, are they wise and good?