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A Thrilling New Drama
By Seth Gilbert
Edgar, an aging but once prolific writer, lives in a Hollywood Hills mansion with his protégé, Harry. Harry’s translation of a newly discovered Greek play is up for publication, but there is a catch: Edgar has to write the introduction. When Edgar’s drinking threatens to kill the deal, the household is overwhelmed by rivalry and deception. As Harry’s wife attempts to fix the problem, the pool boy spurs on talk of the gods, prophecy, and great questions, and Edgar Bound begins to resemble the play of Harry's translation. Inspired by Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, Edgar Bound is a thrilling drama set at the intersection of intellect, loyalty, and deceit.
The Story
Act I
Outside of the Hollywood Hills mansion of Edgar Bound, an acclaimed writer, Owen, an old-school hippie in his fifties, enters. He is the pool guy. He sets down his bucket and begins to clean the aquarium while talking to the fish.
Owen hears something from inside the house and runs off. Harry, Edgar’s mentee, enters carrying a notebook. He is attempting to write an introduction to his recent translation of Aeschylus’s trilogy, the Prometheia. He mentions that one manuscript he translated was just uncovered this year, and his will be the first published translation of that text. The phone rings. It is Mr. Herman, Edgar’s publisher. Harry has sent him his translation and Mr. Herman has agreed to publish it, so long as Edgar writes the introduction.
Harry tells Edgar that Mr. Herman wants to publish the translation, and prepares to ask him to write the introduction, but realizes that Edgar is drunk. A conversation about Edgar’s drinking becomes an argument about Harry’s new wife, Zoe, whom Edgar accuses of changing the speed dial numbers on his pool-side phone. Harry assures him it wasn’t her. Then Harry pops the question: will Edgar write the introduction? Edgar agrees and has Harry immediately begin to write as he dictates it. He begins, but then falls asleep drunk.
Owen enters as Edgar speaks in his sleep. Owen hears and wakes him up. He tells Owen about his dream—he was walking to Mr. Herman’s office, and it was lit up like an edifice or a temple. He sees Herman, with his pants unzipped, receiving fellatio from a woman. Then he places the woman on his desk and has intercourse with her. It is Zoe, Harry’s girl. While Herman ravishes her, he is holding a manuscript.
Later, Zoe is alone onstage, fiddling with the buttons on Edgar’s phone. The phone rings and Zoe answers. Herman is calling to say that if the introduction isn’t done by the end of the next week he is going to go with another translation.
Eventually, Edgar and Zoe get in an argument about how slowly he is finishing the introduction. Edgar swears at her, angered by her nagging, and she exits
Act II
Edgar is now in a wheelchair in the spot where he normally sits in his chair. Edgar has been in a coma. Owen, found him unconscious by the aquarium. Zoe went to go look for his insulin shots, and took a very long time. She came out and said that they were nowhere to be found.
Ian Herman comes to the house and Edgar asks what he is doing there. Herman says he is there on business, with Harry. Edgar asks him to go inside and get him some whiskey.
Owen tells Edgar that Herman is not here to see Harry. Harry is out of town this week. Edgar sends Owen into the house to see what is really going on.
Owen reports that he heard Zoe and Ian Herman having sex. Edgar wants to do something, but struggles in his frail condition.
Act III
Edgar is now dead. Owen is talking to the fish, again. He explains that Edgar had another coma. As he died Harry was by his side, holding him in his arms. His last words were, “Go get her. The Gods.” Owen leaves and Harry comes out looking disheveled. At the bottom of the aquarium he suddenly sees the entire box full of syringes. As he reaches in to grab a floating syringe, he realizes that someone has killed Edgar. All evidence , including Edgar’s last words, points toward Zoe, but Harry refuses to believe that she is capable of murder. Instead, he decides to build a case against Owen.
Owen enters and Harry walks behind him and stabs him several times. As Owen dies, Zoe comes out and realizes what has happened, she makes up a story to protect Harry. The phone rings, it is Mr. Herman calling to say that he cannot publish the translation. The newly found text is a fake. Harry reassures Zoe, saying, “If they put a mountain in front of us, we’ll climb over it.”
