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Phaedra's Love My grateful thanks to Vincent O'Connell, Mel Kenyon and New Dramatists (New York), without whose support I could not have written this play. For Simon, Jo and Elana. With love. Phaedra's Love was first performed at the Gate Theatre, London, on 15 May 1996, The cast was as follows: Hippolytus Cas Harkins Phaedra Philippa Williams Strophe Catherine Cusack Doctor/Priest/Theseus Andrew Maud | Man1 Giles Ward Man 2 Paolo De Paola Woman 1 Catherine Neal Woman 2 Diana Penny ; Policeman Andrew Scott Directed by Sarah Kane Designed by Vian Curtis Characters Hippolytus Doctor Phaedra Strophe Priest Theseus Crowd including: Manl Woman 1 Child Woman 2 Man 2 Policeman 1 Policeman 2 62 Phaedra's Love Phaedra Sleep. Doctor When he gets up. Phaedra Watch films. And have sex. Doctor He goes out? Phaedra No. He phones people. They come round. They have sex and leave. Doctor Women? Phaedra There's nothing gay about Hippolytus. Doctor Heshould tidy his room and get some exercise. Phaedra My mother could tell me this. 1 thought you might help. Doctor He has to help himself. Phaedra How much do we pay you? Doctor There's nothing clinically wrong. If he stays in bed till four he's bound to feel low. He needs a hobby. Phaedra He's got hobbies. Doctor Does he have sex with you? Phaedra I'msorry? Doctor Does he have sex with you? Phaedra Tm his stepmother. We are royal. Doctor I don't mean to be rude, but who are these people he has sex with? Does he pay them? Phaedra Ircally don't know. Doctor He must pay them. Phaedra He's very popular. Doctor Why? Phaedra He's funny. Doctor Are youin love with him? Scene Two 63 Phaedra D'm married to his father. Doctor Does he have friends? Phaedra He'saprince. Doctor But does he have friends? Phaedra Why dont you ask him? Doctor 1 did. Pm asking you. Does he have friends? Phaedra Ofcourse. Doctor Who? Phaedra Did you actually talk to him? Doctor He didn't say much. Phaedra Dm his friend. He talks to me. Doctor What about? Phaedra Everything. Doctor (looks at her) Phaedra We're very close. Doctor 1see. And what do you think? Phaedra 1think my sonisill. I think you should help. I think after six years training and thirty years experience the royal doctor should come up with something better than he has to lose weight. Doctor Who looks after things while your husband is away? Phaedra - Me. My daughter. Doctor When is he coming back? Phaedra Dvenoidea, Doctor Are you still in love with him? Phaedra Ofcourse. I haven't seen him since we married. Doctor You must be very lonely. Scene Three 65 Strophe Whats wrong? Phaedra Nothing. Nothing at all. Strophe Icantell. Phaedra Have you ever thought, thought your heart would break? Strophe No. Phaedra Wished you could cut open your chest tear it out to stop the pain? Strophe That would kill you. Phaedra Thisis killing me. Strophe No. Just feels like it. Phaedra Aspearin my side, burning. Strophe Hippolytus. Phaedra (screams) Strophe You're in love with him. Phaedra (laughs hysterically) What are you talking about? Strophe Obsessed. Phaedra No. Strophe (looks al her) Phaedra Ísitthatobvious? Strophe T'm your daughter. Phaedra Do you think he's attractive? Strophe lusedto. Phaedra Whatchanged? Strophe 1 got to know him. Phaedra You don't like him? Strophe Not particularly. 66 Phaedras Love Phaedra You don't like Hippolytus? Strophe No, not really. Phaedra Everyone likes Hippolytus. Strophe Ilive with him. Phaedra Its a big house. Strophe He'sa big man. Phaedra You used to spend time together. Strophe He wore me out. Phaedra You tired of Hippolytus? Strophe He bores me. Phaedra Bores you? Strophe Shitless, Phaedra Why? Everyone likes him. Strophe 1know. Phaedra 1 know what room he'sin. Strophe Henever moves. Phaedra Can feel him through the walls. Sense him. Feel his heartbeat from a mile. Strophe Why don't you have an affair, get your mind off him. Phaedra There's a thing between us, an awesome fucking thing, can you feel it? It burns. Meant to be. We were. Meant to be, : Strophe No. Phaedra Brought together. Strophe He's twenty years younger than you. Phaedra Want to climb inside him work him out. Strophe Thisisn't healthy. 68 Phaedra's Love Strophe No. Mostof the time yowre with him. Even when yowre not with him you're with him. And just occasionally, when you remember that you gave birth to me and not him, you tell me how ill he is. Phaedra 'mworried about him. Strophe Yowve said. See a doctor. Phaedra He- Strophe For yourself, not him. | Phaedra There's nothing wrong with me. I don't know what to do. Strophe Stay away from him, go and join Theseus, fuck someone else, whatever it takes. Phaedra 1cant. Strophe You can have any man you want. Phaedra Iwanthim. Strophe Except him. Phaedra Any man I want except the man 1 want. Strophe ' Have you ever fucked a man more than once? Phaedra Thisis different. Strophe Mother, this family — Phaedra Oh Iknow. Strophe Tfanyone were to find out. Phaedra 1know, I know. Strophe It's the excuse they're all looking for. We'd be torn apart on the streets. Phaedra Yes, yes, no, yowre right, yes. Strophe Think of Theseus. Why you married him, Phaedra 1can'tremember. Scene Four 69 Strophe Then think of my father, Phaedra Iknow. Strophe What would he think? Phaedra Hed - Strophe Exactly. You can't doit. Can't even think ofit. Phaedra No. Strophe He's a sexual disaster area. Phaedra Yes,1-— Strophe No one must know. No one must know. Phaedra Youreright, I — Strophe No one must know. Phaedra No. Strophe Not even Hippolytus. Phaedra No. Strophe What are you going to do? Phaedra Getover him. Scene Four BHippolytus is watching television with the sound very low, He +s playing with a remote control car. Ttwhizzes around the room. Bis gaze flits between the car and the television, apparently getting pleasure from neither. He eats from a large bag of assorted sweets on his lap. Phaedra enters carrying a number of wrapped presents, She stands for a few moments watching him. He doesn't look at her. Phaedra comes further into the room. She puts ihe presents dozon and begins to tidy the room-— she picks up 
