34: Not to rebuild it as a city
The Book of Knowledge
Laws of Idolatry and Paganism
Not to rebuild it as a city (Deut. 13:17)
TUTANKHAMUN and NEFERTITI on a hillside
overlooking the city of Armana
WORKERS are frantically packing and moving
they come in and out of the scene
NEF
We built a city. There was nothing here. This was valley, this was sand, this was empty. You must understand emptiness, look inside your mind, is anything in there? You’re a child, you don’t understand what we built, how could you? We built a city. What have you done?
TUT
They said mice got into the grain.
NEF
Okay.
TUT
There’s not enough food here anyway.
NEF
Who cares about food?
TUT
Someone has to.
NEF
And that someone is you?
TUT
The capital is moving to Memphis. I’m in charge and we’re leaving, I hate it here, there’s nothing to do, I don’t know why you and my father wanted to live here.
NEF
We haven’t finished construction. Would you like me to add an arcade?
a WORKER walks by with jewels draped over every part of him
WORKER
to TUT
Keep or scrap?
NEF
Those are mine, you should be asking me, why don’t ask me?
beat
WORKER looks to TUTANKHAMUN confused
TUT
Keep.
the WORKER exits with the jewels
NEF
AND BE CAREFUL THOSE ARE WORTH MORE THAN YOUR LIFE TEN TIMES OVER.
TUT
They’ll be returned.
NEF
They’ll steal, everyone steals from me.
TUT
You spit on the gods, you soil their worship, piss all over their temples, melt down their shrines, and you want to tell us to be careful with your sacred objects?
NEF
You’re a child.
TUT
I’m king.
NEF
And yet.
TUT
This phony piety of yours, of my father, we’re done with it. I’m king and what I say goes. Ok? What I say goes. Do you get it? I’m in charge, you should bow down to me, why aren’t you bowing down? I hate you so much, I wish my real mom was here, you’re a whore, you should bury yourself in the desert, you should climb a mountain and never come down, you should swallow viper poison, no one will miss you, all right?
NEF
I am to be ousted by an infant.
TUT
I AM A GROWN MAN!
NEF
The difference?
TUT
calling to the WORKER
SCRAP, ACTUALLY. WE DON’T NEED THOSE.
NEFERTITI lunges at TUTANKHAMUN
two WORKERS restrain her
NEF
We built a city, we made God, you have playthings to worship, there is no majesty there, if there is no majesty than what is there to worship? It’s embarrassing. You’re embarrassing.
TUT
You abandon the old gods. You create a new one, all-powerful, slick as steel, nothing human whatsoever. You write prayers, conjure up threadbare rituals, build him this city, and yet all the while, after hours, in the dark, the people finger their amulets, muttering worship, their husbands and wives turning in bed as prayers fell from their mouths, unheard by anyone except those they worshipped, which are the only ones that mattered. You think a city makes a god? No, a god makes a city. Your paltry tall tale never stood a chance. And it’s so boring. Your god, your city, it’s so fuuuuuuucking boring. Just one God? What is the point?
NEF
We made the desert bloom.
TUT
And now, it’s winter. The next bloom will be in Memphis.
NEF
All gods require conjuring. And once conjured they can never be put back, never be unmade, they will roam the heavens bloodthirsty for offerings. Abandon Amarna, abandon Aten, tell everyone to go back to how it was before the great Akhenaten’s reign, but there’s no unmaking it.
TUTANKHAMUN gets very close to NEFERTITI.
TUT
Whatever. We’ll smash this masonry to bits and move on. All right mommy?
NEFERTITI bits the tip of his nose off
he howls
she spits the tip at him.
NEFERTITI smiles with blood in her mouth as she’s dragged off
NEF
He’ll come in the night. For blood and silk. Prepare yourself.
NEFERTITI is dragged offstage.
TUT
Owwwwwie.
looking around
My nose. Help?
A WORKER puts down what he is carrying and tends to the boy
END OF PLAY