Cast:

• Phaedo. He is sixteen years old and a budding poet. He is delicate of appearance.
• Theatetus. He is fourteen years old and a budding intellectual. He is plane looking, verging on ugly.
• Alcibiades. He is eighteen years old and a budding military officer. He is very handsome.
• Uranea: Theaetetus’ Mother. She is working class and in her late twenties.
• Pandamos: Alcibiades’ Mother. She is in her late thirties and is haughty.
• Agatha: Plato’s Mother. She is an “Aristocrat” and in her early thirties. She is well dressed and self-assured.
• Xanthippe: Socrates’ wife. She is upper-working class and in her late forties.
• Cybele: Priestess of Apollo. She is in her thirties.
• Diotima: Priestess of Dionysus. She is in her seventies and looks like a crone.

Setting: Xanthippe’s bakery.

Rumours are getting round that Socrates, Xanthippe’s husband has been arrested for sedition. He regularly wanders round the market-place accosting prominent citizens and making them look like fools. Many of the City fathers do not approve and want to stop him. Many of the young people of the City find Socrates both entertaining and thought-provoking. Xanthippe is standing behind the counter of her shop, serving Agatha. Pandemos enters with Acibiades, her teenage son, in tow.  Pandemos is carrying a shopping basket.

Agatha:  The buns look very good, I’ve just bought four myself.

Pandemos picks up one of the buns and sniffs at it, disdainfully. 

Xanthippe: There you go, then. That will be two Drachmas.

Xanthippe serves Pandemos the six buns and Pandemos puts them in her shopping bag.

Xanthippe: Oh, you’ve heard he’s been arrested, then?

Pandemos: Yes – it’s the talk of the city!

Phaedo enters the shop, but seeing that Xanthippe is busy walks over to the far side of the store, to inspect a tray of sweet-meats on display there. Alcibiades nods at him as he passes. Phaedo returns the nod and then eves-drops on the conversation. As Xanthippe speaks, Alcibiades walks over to Phaedo and punches him on the arm.

Alcibiades grins. Phaedo frowns and shakes his head.

Xanthippe: What would Plato know? That young man is captivated by Socrates! If he had to live with him, like me, he’d tell a different tale! He’s forever finding fault with everything I say and never lifts a finger to help about the house.

Phaedo:  Socrates is a good man, Xanthippe. You don’t appreciate him. It’s a scandal he’s been arrested!

Xanthippe: It is at that! I’ll never live it down.

Alcibiades: You can’t honestly say you’re surprised, how things have turned out, though – can you, Phaedo?

Phaedo: No, I’m not surprised, Alcibiades; but I am disappointed.

Alcibiades: Whatever! Socrates can take care of himself. He’ll be able to talk himself out of any charges brought against him. He could argue the hind legs of a donkey – and he’s got plenty of friends who’ll speak up for him too.

Phaedo: Would you do that, ’Cibi?

Alcibiades: Of course, and with my family connections he’ll be out of jail in no time! Isn’t that true, Mother?

Pandemos: Yes, dear – of course. [She is not sincere.]

Agatha:  I don’t think it will be quiet as simple as that, Alcibiades. The Democrats have had Socrates in their sights for a while now and I don’t think they’ll readily let him off the hook.

Xanthippe: Yes, you’re right there: they’re putting it about that he’s running a smear campaign for you Aristocrats – making out that the Democrats are incompetent to govern!

Ureanea and Theaetetus enter the shop as Xanthippe is speaking. They halt just inside the door as they see that it is busy.

Pandamos: Socrates has been arrested. He’s been accused of subversion.

Ureanea: But that’s ridiculous! You must be very worried, Xanthippe.

Ureanea moves behind the shop counter, and makes to hug Xanthippe; but Xanthippe brushes her off. Theaetetus walks over to join Phaedo and Alcibiades. Alcibiades welcomes him by punching his shoulder. Phaedo welcomes him by smiling.

Xanthippe shakes her head.

Phaedo: Surely the magistrates will see that Socrates is innocent.

Agatha: Let’s hope so, Phaedo; but even magistrates are swayed by party interest and public opinion; and Socrates has been attracting a lot of attention recently. Only last week he was suggesting that all the Democrats were capable of was deceptive words and rabble-rousing!

Ureanea: That’s true, Lady Agatha. I don’t know what to make of it all. Socrates seems to be a good man, Xanthippe, you are too hard on him; but he is one for making enemies and putting strange ideas into young heads. My boy is always challenging his father – and risking a hiding for doing so!

Theatetus: But, Mother! When Father is wrong about something should I simply go along with his mistake? Isn’t it more helpful to point out his error, so he can correct it?

Ureanea: I don’t know about that, Theaeteus; but I do know it’s important for you to respect your father.

Pandamos: That’s right, Ureanea. It is important to respect authority. If every young man started questioning his father and doubting what his teachers and betters told him – where would we be? I ask you!

Phaedo: Perhaps a better place than we are now?

Alcibiades says nothing, but shakes his head. Theaetetus looks at Phaedo and grins. Cybele and Diotima enter the shop. Diotima leans heavily on a walking stick. They pause just inside the door. Xanthippe pushes past Ureanea, leaving her standing alone behind the store counter, and hurries over to the two priestesses.

Xanthippe bows to the two priestesses, as do the other women.

Cybele: We are come to buy honey cakes, as offerings to the gods we serve.

Diotima: Half-brothers they are, but poles apart.

The two priestesses smile at each other.

Ureanea: That is well said, Lady Agatha.

Xanthippe: I will get your cakes, then, reverend ladies.

Xanthippe returns to her post behind the counter and produces a tray of honey-cakes from a shelf. Ureanea makes way for her and goes to stand next to Theatetus. Cybele walks over to confront Pandemos, who is still standing next to the shop counter, next to Agatha. Diotima remains near the doorway, leaning on her walking stick, observing.

Pandemos: I have come to buy bread, holy Cybele.

Diotima: Not to sow discord, then?

Pandemos: I don’t know what you mean!

Alcibiades: Be careful how you answer Diotima, Mother! The priestess of Dionysus is a seer.

Pandemos shows Cybele the contents of her shopping bag.

Cybele disdains to look into the bag.

Cybele: They look well enough.

Diotima: But they are an appearance – not the truth.

There is an awkward pause. The two priestesses stand patiently, like statues. The three boys look at each other. Xanthippe picks up a honey cake and then puts it down again. Pandemos pretends to re-arrange the contents of her shopping bag. Agatha wrings her hands. Ureanea looks around at everyone else in turn and then speaks.

Cybele: Truly? That gentle man? What is he accused of?

Phaedo: The Democrats say that he’s been stuffing our heads with nonsense and leading us astray...

Theaetetus: But it seems to me that he’s only been removing cobwebs from our minds.

Alcibiades: And filling our hearts with visions!

Phaedo: How can it be bad to caution those who think they know it all? How can it be bad to teach that one should care about justice more than expediency? How can it be bad to encourage people to be friendly and kind and to cooperate for the good of all? How can it be bad to say that beauty and love and truth are what matter; not money and fame and power? All that Socrates says is from the heart. If only our politicians listened to him we would be governed much better.

Agatha: I agree, Phaedo: but what’s right does not always win the argument. Often it’s a question of power. “Might is right,” as that dreadful saying goes, The Democrats will say whatever gets them votes – and justice be damned! Their power-base is discontent among the general public, so they’re hardly in favour of promoting common cause between the Artisans and Aristocrats! As for beauty, truth and friendship – they have little time for such ideals!

Xanthippe: I think you are right, Lady. Socrates is doomed – and it’s all his own fault!

Diotima stomps her walking stick on the floor.

Xanthippe makes to interject and disagree, but Diotima shakes a finger at her. Xanthippe looks increasingly annoyed and unhappy.

Theaetetus hurries over to stand before Diotima and then says:

Diotima takes Theaetetus’ hand and smiles.

Theaetetus: I will do my best to follow your advice, most revered Diotima.

Ureanea:  That’s all well and good, Theao’, but remember to honour your Father too!

Alcibiades: But what has all this got to do with Socrates’ predicament? He’s holed-up in a clammy prison cell just now. Shouldn’t we be concerned to bail him and get him a good lawyer? I for one don’t want to see him rot in jail, still less be told to drink the hemlock! He may be annoying, and impossible to live with – as you say, Xanthippe – but my life wouldn’t be worth living without him. He has made me question all that I thought certain and opened up possibilities for me that I would never have imagined.

Cybele: Just be careful, young man, what paths you tread – not all possibilities are good ones – and beware of love that turns to hate. Ambition ruins many a soul of noble birth. Only those who are pure of heart and clear of thought can quaff the intoxicating brew my sister-seer pours out. Are you sure you can stomach the drink which you so eagerly gulp down?

Alcibiades is taken aback and seems somewhat crestfallen. He frowns.

Xanthippe: Thank you, my Lady: and please try and talk some sense into him.

Agatha leave the stage. Cybele turns her back on Xanthippe and addresses the others.

Cybele: Well, we have heard the case. On the one hand, Socrates is a demagogue, stirring up dissent and fomenting disrespect for parents, teachers and politicians; on the other hand, he is himself a wise and kind teacher who inspires devotion and loyalty. My sister speaks well of him, which counts for much; but it is the mind which must pass judgement, though urged on by the heart. The law court is governed by Apollo, not Dionysus; so Socrates is answerable in my domain. How then, do you account him: will he be found innocent or guilty?

Cybele steps back beside Diotima and Theaetetus. Xanthippe appears shamefaced. Pandemos stands next to the shop counter, near Xanthippe. Pandemos looks annoyed. Ureanea looks nervous. She is standing next to Alcibiades and Phaedo. Phaedo looks eager, Theaetetus thoughtful, Alcibiades conflicted. Theaetetus steps forward.

Theaetetus moves to stand alongside Diotima. Phaedo steps forward.

Phaedo walks over to stand next to Diotima. Alcibiades steps forward.

Phaedo starts to cry and Thaeatus tries to comfort him. Alcibiades moves back to the opposite side of the stage from Phaedo, and stands next to Ureanea. Pandemos moves to join them. Alcibiades looks down at his feet, in shame. Cybele steps forward to centre stage. She addresses the audience directly.