The Three-Minute Andromache

andromache.md

ANDROMACHE: I am the widow of Hector, prince of Troy, and now a captive in the court of Pyrrhus, king of Epirus. I mourn my husband, my city, and my freedom. My only comfort is my son, Astyanax, who is now in grave danger.

PYRRHUS: I love Andromache and want her to be my queen, but she does not love me back.

HERMIONE: I am the daughter of Menelaus and Helen, and I am engaged to Pyrrhus. I hate Andromache and want her to be killed.

ANDROMACHE: Please spare my son Astyanax, whom Pyrrhus plans to kill to prevent him from seeking revenge against the Greeks. Oh, how cruel fate has been to me, to lose my husband and now my son. What hope is left for me in this world?

PYRRHUS: I will spare Astyanax if Andromache agrees to marry me.

ANDROMACHE: I will not marry Pyrrhus, for I cannot bear the thought of betraying my husband's memory. But I will do anything to save my son. Oh, how I wish I could die alongside him, for life holds no joy for me without my family.

ORESTE: I have come to kill Pyrrhus in revenge for my father's death.

ANDROMACHE: Will this cycle of violence never end? Must my son suffer for the sins of his ancestors? Oh, how I wish I could protect him, but I am powerless.

PYRRHUS: I have been killed by Oreste.

HERMIONE: I have gone insane and killed myself.

ASTYANAX: I have been thrown from the walls of Epirus by the Greeks.

ANDROMACHE: My heart is shattered into a thousand pieces. I have lost everything that mattered to me. What is left for me in this world, but tears and despair?

Andromache3.md

ACT 1, SCENE 1

ANDROMACHE: I'm Andromache, wife of Hector, the great Trojan hero. My son Astyanax is all I have left of him, and we're now prisoners of the Greeks.

(HERMIONE enters)

HERMIONE: I'm Hermione, daughter of the Greek king Menelaus. I demand that you give up your son to me.

ANDROMACHE: (Protectively) No, I can't let you take my son away from me. He's all I have left of Hector.

HERMIONE: (Threateningly) You're a slave now, Andromache, and I can do whatever I want with your son. (Exit)

ANDROMACHE: (Desperate) What will happen to us? Will we ever be free?

ACT 5, SCENE 5

ANDROMACHE: (Cradling her dead son Astyanax) My dear son, you were the last link to your father, and now you're gone. All that's left is the memory of our family.

PYRRHUS: (Entering) Andromache, I'm sorry for what I did. I was wrong to kill your son.

ANDROMACHE: (Looking up, angry) You think an apology can bring my son back? You took away the last thing I had of Hector.

PYRRHUS: (Defensive) I did it out of love for you, Andromache. I wanted to give you a new life, a new family.

ANDROMACHE: (Furious) You can't replace my family, Pyrrhus! You can't erase our memories and our love. (Exit)

PYRRHUS: (Alone on stage) What have I done? I thought I was doing the right thing, but I only caused more pain. Is it too late to make amends? (Exit)

ACT 4, SCENE 5

PYRRHUS: (Holding a sword) I'm sorry, Andromache, but I have to do this. (Stabs Astyanax offstage)

ANDROMACHE: (Screaming) No! You killed my son! You monster! (Exit)

ACT 5, SCENE 1

ORESTES: (Entering) Andromache, I'm here to help you. I'll make Pyrrhus pay for what he did.

ANDROMACHE: (Angry) I don't need your help, Orestes. You're the reason my family is dead. You killed my husband, and now Pyrrhus killed my son.

ORESTES: (Pleading) I did it for you, Andromache. I thought you loved me.

ANDROMACHE: (Sarcastic) Yes, because nothing says "I love you" like killing my family. Get out of my sight.

ORESTES: (Defeated) Fine, I'll go. But remember, Andromache, Pyrrhus is still a threat to you. (Exit)

ANDROMACHE: (Alone) My family is gone, and everyone who claimed to love me only brought me pain. What's left for me now? (Exit)