17 Tears into Wine

"Tears into Wine"
When Olivia's husband, Xander, is diagnosed with a severe illness, their family is thrown into turmoil. As Olivia and her sister Agatha pray for a miracle, they are unexpectedly visited by a young woman named Ginnie, who reveals herself to be Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Aphrodite offers to heal Xander, but at a terrible price: a sacrifice is required. What begins as a desperate plea for divine intervention becomes a harrowing test of faith, love, and the true cost of a miracle. This is a story of a family on the brink, forced to confront impossible choices and the startling reality that their prayers have been answered—just not in the way they expected.

Themes
The script explores several profound themes:
 * Faith vs. Doubt: The story contrasts the Christian faith of Olivia and Agatha with the reality of a Greek goddess, Aphrodite, who answers their prayers. It challenges traditional beliefs and explores how people react when their understanding of the divine is upended. Agatha, a devout Christian, struggles to reconcile her prayers to Jesus with the tangible intervention of a different deity, questioning her own faith and the nature of miracles.
 * The Nature of Sacrifice: Olivia is initially willing to sacrifice herself for her husband, but the test of her love comes when she is asked to sacrifice her son, Tony, instead. The play examines what people are truly willing to give up for the ones they love and introduces the idea that a willing, and perhaps more meaningful, sacrifice can come from an unexpected source, as Tony chooses to give up his own life for his father.
 * Maternal Love and Letting Go: Olivia's deep love for her family is a central theme. She is faced with the impossible choice between her husband's life and her son's freedom. The script highlights the struggle of a mother to let go of her child as he becomes an adult, making his own choices, even when she disagrees with them.
 * Mortality and Immortality: The play contrasts the human condition of sickness, death, and suffering with the promises of immortality and divine protection offered by Aphrodite. It forces the characters, particularly Tony, to confront the value of their mortal lives and the potential allure of an eternal existence.

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Tears into Wine
by
Rick Regan
Rick Regan
PO Box 40039
Raleigh, NC 27629
[e-mail]
919-218-8834
This is the story of a family when the father becomes ill and they
are visited by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess.
CHARACTERS:
OLIVIA, THE MOTHER
TONY, THE SON
AGATHA, OLIVIA’S SISTER
GINNIE, THE HUMAN APPEARANCE OF APHRODITE, GREEK GODDESSSCENE 1: KITCHEN/DINING ROOM TABLE, IN A COMFORTABLE
AMERICAN HOME
At the table is OLIVIA, the mother and TONY, high-school
aged son.
Olivia is reading a newspaper, sipping coffee.
Tony is eating breakfast, reading his phone.
Olivia’s phone rings.
OLIVIA:
(into phone)
Zush? Are you there? Zush?
(listens)
Are you there now? What did the
doctor say?
(listens)
What?! What?! Wha… Oh my god..
Just come home. Just come home.
I’ll be here.
(hangs up)
TONY:
Uh, mom? What was that all about?
OLIVIA:
Oh Anthony. Your father was at the
doctor. They said he is very sick.
He’s coming home.
TONY:
He doesn’t seem sick. Was he
feeling sick? He doesn’t look
sick.
OLIVIA:
He was getting these headaches at
night. They were keeping him up so
he wanted to talk to a doctor to
see if there is something he could
take for it.
TONY:
But… they found something else?
OLIVIA:
Mmm-hmm. I don’t know the details.
He’ll be home in a little while.
But you should go to school. He
can fill you in on the details
tonight.2.
TONY:
I think I should probably stay
here. School can wait.
OLIVIA:
Honey, you’re a senior. This is
your last year, last three months.
You are going to graduate soon.
You can’t be missing classes when
you are so close to the end. Go,
go.
TONY:
But mom…
OLIVIA:
Go. Go, I don’t want to hear
another word.
TONY:
OK, but call me if there is an
emergency or something.
OLIVIA:
I will. You just relax and do good
in school today.
TONY:
(gets up to leave)
Yes, mother…
Exits
Olivia sits quietly, then fiddles with her phone, after a
pause the phone rings.
OLIVIA:
Agee? Oh, thank heavens. Listen, I
just got off the phone with
Xander. He was at the doctor’s
office. They said he has tumors in
his brain. Agee, I’m so scared!
AGATHA:
(through phone)
Oh my god! Olivia, what are you
going to do?
OLIVIA:
I don’t know. I don’t know what to
do. I don’t have any of the
details, about the tumors or about
the treatment. About anything. I
don’t know what to do.
3.
AGATHA:
Olivia. Ok. Let’s take a moment
here. Take a deep breath. Now,
let’s pray for a minute.
OLIVIA:
That’s good. Yeah. You do it.
AGATHA:
Dear Jesus, look down on your
loyal servant Olivia, and her
humble husband Xander, for their
love and devotion to you, dear
Lord.
Keep Olivia and Xander close to
your heart as Xander fights
whatever dreadful problem he has
in his head.
Dear Jesus, we trust in your love
and see this time as a challenge
to our faith but know that
whatever happens will be by your
plan and your love.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
OLIVIA:
Amen. Thank you, Agatha. I feel
better already.
AGATHA:
Olly, you let me know what the
outlook is and I will come and
stay with you for a while.
OLIVIA:
You don’t have to do that. We’ll
be alright.
AGATHA:
No, Olly. I have seen this before.
The time is shorter than you can
imagine and more terrible than you
can believe. We’ll have to do it
together. You were there for me
when I had my surgery.
OLIVIA:
We’ll do it together. I will call
you later.
AGATHA:
OK. Bye sweetie.
4.
OLIVIA:
Bye. (disconnects)
SCENE 2: KITCHEN, AT TABLE
AGATHA is sitting, reading the paper, sipping coffee
TONY:
(enters, sees Agatha)
Aunt Agatha. You’re up. I didn’t
expect to see you so early.
AGATHA:
Your mother wanted to get to the
hospital early today. Are you
going over?
TONY:
Well, there is not really much to
see, is there? You’ve seen him.
There is not much left of him.
AGATHA:
He is still your father. You
should spend as much time as you
can with him now.
TONY:
Because he won’t be around soon?
At this point I wish it was all
over, you know? I mean, I don’t
want him to die but it is just so
hard on everybody else. It’s like
our lives are just all on hold
until he either gets better or
dies. I mean, I’m sorry, but I am
just speaking the plain truth.
AGATHA:
I know it is hard. It’s hard on
you. It’s hard on your mother.
It’s hard for everybody. But it is
most difficult for your father.
Xander is fighting for his life in
a hospital bed. And do you know
why? It’s for you. He wants to see
you grow up.
TONY:
I am grown up. I’m 18. I just
graduated.
5.
AGATHA:
I didn’t mean that you are not an
adult, but that he wants to see
you succeed in your life. But he
has to fight for his own life
first. You should be there to give
him the courage to keep fighting.
Do you understand what I mean?
TONY:
Yeah, I know. But he is so knocked
out with the drugs, when he is
even awake, he doesn’t know what
day it is. He doesn’t recognize me
or anybody.
AGATHA:
That’s just the drugs talking.
TONY:
Whatever.
AGATHA:
Are you doing something else
today?
TONY:
Well, I was going… I am picking…
I…, I don’t know.
AGATHA:
Anthony, just say it. What’s going
on?
TONY:
I was headed to pick up a friend
and we’re going to go to the lake
today.
AGATHA:
Ah, I understand. A girl?
TONY:
Yeah.
AGATHA:
I see. Well perhaps the energy of
youth should be spent living, not
hovering over the dying. You
should go, take her to the lake.
TONY:
You really think so?
6.
AGATHA:
That’s why you were heading out
early, isn’t it? To slip out
without being seen. Or getting the
third-degree from old Aunt Agatha.
No, you go and have some fun. Put
this all out of your mind for a
while.
TONY:
OK. Thanks. I’ll see you later.
And, please don’t tell Mom.
AGATHA:
It’s alright. She’ll understand.
She was young too.
Tony exits.
AGATHA:
Dear Jesus.
Please keep that boy safe. Give
him a nice girl who can love him
and fill his heart with kindness
and peace.
And for Xander, please keep his
heart beating and his mind clear,
so that he can recover, to love
you even more on into the future.
And dear Lord, look out for
Olivia. Please send her a sign
that the world will be alright
again.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Knock on the sliding glass door, facing the back yard.
Agatha gets up to open the door. GINNY, a young woman
comes in.
GINNIE:
Uh, I’m sorry. Is this the Malloy
residence? Is Tony at home?
AGATHA:
You are looking for Anthony? He
just left.
GINNIE:
He said we were going to the lake
today.
AGATHA:
Ah, you must be the girl.
7.
GINNIE:
The girl?
AGATHA:
I think he was going to pick you
up. Did you miss him?
GINNIE:
I tried the front door bell but I
didn’t hear anything so I came
around back. My name is Ginnie.
AGATHA:
Hello, Ginnie. Is that short for
something?
GINNIE:
Well, technically my name is
Gloria, but since I was a little
kid people called me “G” or
Ginnie.
AGATHA:
I see. Well why not call Anthony
and tell him you are here.
GINNIE:
Yeah, I’ll text him. (Fiddles with
phone) There.
AGATHA:
He’ll be back soon. Why don’t you
sit down.
GINNIE:
(she sits at the
table)
Are you Mrs. Malloy, Tony’s mom?
AGATHA:
No, that’s my sister. I’m staying
with the family for a while.
Anthony’s father is quite ill.
GINNIE:
I heard. He’s in the hospital,
right?
AGATHA:
Yes. I don’t think it will be long
now.
GINNIE:
That’s too bad. I’m so sorry.
8.
OLIVIA:
(enters)
Hey, Agee. How’s it going here?
Oh, who are you?
GINNIE:
I’m Ginnie.
AGATHA:
She’s a friend of Anthony’s. They
are going up to the lake today.
OLIVIA:
Hmmm… (sigh)
Olivia sits down. She puts her head down and takes the
hands of Agatha and Ginnie.
AGATHA:
Honey?
OLIVIA:
I don’t know if can take it. I
don’t know. I don’t think he’s
going to make it.
(crying)
GINNIE:
Oh, Mrs. M, I am so sorry. Tony
has been telling me everything and
it is so bad.
AGATHA:
Stay strong, Ollie.
OLIVIA:
I don’t think I can, Ag. I feel
like I am going to break into a
million little pieces. I wish I
could do it for him. I wish I
could give myself up, so he could
live. But I can’t do anything.
Nothing.
AGATHA:
Olivia, let’s say a quick prayer.
Can we? Ginnie, do you mind?
GINNIE:
No, no… go ahead.
OLIVIA:
Yes, let’s pray. You do it, Ag.
9.
AGATHA:
Dear lord, almighty God, savior of
the world, dear loving Jesus.
In this dark time, show us the
light.
Pour your salvation into our
hearts so that we can be strong.
Lift us, O Lord, and bring us the
peace of knowing your glory.
Look upon Xander and fill him with
your healing power.
We beg of you, as we pray in His
name. Amen.
OLIVIA:
Amen.
GINNIE:
Ah-mun, Ra.
Ginnie slowly stands, keeping hold of Agatha’s & Olivia’s
hands. She stands tall and looks down at them. Her voice
is stronger and more commanding now.
AGATHA:
Amun-ra?
GINNIE:
That was his name, when I knew
him. Amun-Ra, great pharaoh of the
land of Egypt. He was a god then
too. Like me.
OLIVIA:
Excuse me?
AGATHA:
A god? Like you?
(Agatha and Olivia
take their hands
back warily)
GINNIE:
That was, oh, seven or eight
thousand years ago. A different
time. And the people, the
Egyptians, worshiped him and
called out to him. Amun-Ra! AmunRa! Sun God. Mightiest. So
powerful that we still say his
name in our prayers. Ah-mun.
(MORE)
10.
AGATHA:
I don’t think that’s what it
means.
GINNIE:
It doesn’t matter. I have been
sent here to help you. My father
has heard your prayers. And here I
am.
OLIVIA:
Who are you?
GINNIE:
I am Aphrodite. Ten thousand years
old. Goddess of women and wisdom.
I am there, holding your hand when
you meet your first love. When
your baby is coming, I am there.
When there is war and despair in
the land, I am here for you. With
you. I am alive, forever, because
I am needed to hear when a girl is
crying, or a mother has lost a
child. Or a husband. I am with
you. I hear your prayers.
AGATHA:
But what about Jesus?
GINNIE:
Oh, a lovely man. So gentle. So
wise. And the women with him, they
were the ones who wanted to change
the world. I was there with them
when… well, you know. So sad.
OLIVIA:
Oh, Aphrodite. Beautiful
Aphrodite. Why have you come? Is
my husband dead? Can you save him?
GINNIE:
I wanted to see you first. I
wanted to hear your prayer.
OLIVIA:
All I can ask for is forgiveness
for my sins.
GINNIE:
Nonsense. The sins of women, most
women anyway, are like rain clouds
at night.
11.
All is washed away by morning. Do
not worry about sin. Be concerned
with love.
OLIVIA:
But I am! I am concerned with
love. I love my husband. I would
do anything for him. I would
sacrifice myself if I could.
GINNIE:
Well, you can. But I am not
interested in you sacrificing
yourself.
OLIVIA:
But I’ll do it. Can you save him
if I give you my soul?
GINNIE:
Your soul is not yours to give
away. A god may take it. A god may
extinguish it. But mortals cannot
give their souls away to a god.
AGATHA:
This is nonsense. You are not a
god. You are Anthony’s girlfriend.
I just opened that door a minute
ago.
GINNIE:
Hmm. So many prayers but so little
faith. Taste your coffee now.
AGATHA:
(inspects cup)
It has changed. It is not coffee
anymore. It is … wine. A sweet
golden wine. How did you do that?
OLIVIA:
I believe, Aphrodite. I believe.
What must I do to save my husband?
GINNIE:
Olivia I see into your heart and
know that you love your man. And I
see that you love Anthony. But do
you love me?
OLIVIA:
You? Oh! Yes! Yes, I love you very
much. Yes, I love you very much.
12.
GINNIE:
Yes. And you are willing to make a
sacrifice, to me, for the life of
your husband?
OLIVIA:
Yes! Yes, anything. I will give
you whatever you want.
AGATHA:
Careful Ollie…
GINNIE:
I have become very fond of your
son, Anthony.
OLIVIA:
Anthony?
GINNIE:
He is tall and handsome. He
pleases my eye. He is funny and
kind. I want to keep him.
AGATHA:
What do you mean, keep him?
GINNIE:
I will take him to my island,
above the sea, and there he can be
immortal. He will be with me.
OLIVIA:
He will be immortal? Will he be a
god too?
GINNIE:
No, only gods are born gods. He is
a man, but he will be under my
protection.
OLIVIA:
Forever?
GINNIE:
For as long as I want him and he
pleases me.
AGATHA:
Does Anthony know anything about
this? He was trying to slip out
unnoticed this morning.
(MORE)
13.
GINNIE:
I have told him that he pleases
me, and he will save his father if
he comes with me.
OLIVIA:
Oh god! This is terrible. Why do I
have to give up my son?
AGATHA:
You said you would give up
anything. Will you give up
Anthony?
OLIVIA:
Oh god! Why do I have to choose?
Can’t it be something else? I will
give myself up.
GINNIE:
I want Anthony. Do you want
Xander?
AGATHA:
Ollie, this can’t be happening.
This can’t be real. There is no
Aphrodite. That is just legend.
OLIVIA:
But what if she can heal him? What
if she can save Xander for me? She
turned your coffee into wine.
Didn’t she? Here, give it to me. I
want to taste it.
Olivia takes the cup and drinks the wine.
AGATHA:
Olly!
OLIVIA:
Oh, Agee, it is so wonderful! It
is so smooth and sweet, and it
lifts the chains from my heart.
Thank you, Aphrodite. I can see
clearly now.
GINNIE:
Then you will offer Anthony for
me?
OLIVIA:
Hear me. I will give Anthony to
Ginny, not to Aphrodite.
14.
If Xander is to die, then he will
live on in our son. I will not
have him gone away forever. If you
want him, as a woman, then I give
you my blessing. But I cannot
trade my son away. I will not. No.
GINNIE:
I see. Then you will leave Xander
to Fate.
OLIVIA:
But Aphrodite. Do not abandon me.
Do not leave me alone in the
darkness. I need you.
GINNIE:
I will not abandon you.
OLIVIA:
Now that I know the truth of the
gods, that the gods are real, I
know that I need you and I will
call out for you. Will you abandon
me?
GINNIE:
I will be by your side. I will not
abandon you.
OLIVIA:
My husband is about to die, and I
will be in the darkness for a long
time. I need you. Will you abandon
me?
GINNIE:
I will not abandon you. I will
hold your hand in the darkness. I
will light the candles and twinkle
the stars. I will not abandon you.
OLIVIA:
Oh god, I am so scared! (weeping)
I’m going to be all alone!
GINNIE:
(takes Olivia’s hand)
I am with you. We will bear it
together.
15.
AGATHA:
(takes Ginnie’s other
hand)
We’re here for you, Olly.
OLIVIA:
(weeping)
Oh dear...
The hear the sound of Tony coming in
TONY:
(enters)
Ginnie, what are you doing here?
GINNIE:
Anthony, I have told them of my
offer. Xander is to live and you
to come with me, and be an
immortal on my island in the sea.
But your mother has refused.
TONY:
Mom! We can save Dad. Don’t you
understand?
OLIVIA:
I understand. I know I can’t lose
you. I won’t trade your life away.
TONY:
Then I will.
AGATHA:
What?
TONY:
If I go with her, she will heal
Dad. I’m going to save him. I’m
going with her.
AGATHA:
Anthony, this isn’t real. She
can’t heal him. There is no island
in the sea.
TONY:
Aunt Agatha, you are the one who’s
always praying. Praying for Jesus
to do something, to heal Dad. What
if it was Jesus standing here
instead of her? Would you believe
then?
16.
OLIVIA:
Anthony! Don’t go! You don’t know
what it is, how it is going to be.
TONY:
I have to, Mom. I have to, to save
Dad.
OLIVIA:
You don’t have to. You can stay
here with me.
TONY:
I want to go.
OLIVIA:
What?
TONY:
I want to start my life, Mom. I
want to see the world and live a
life of adventure, not just stuck
here.
OLIVIA:
But I love you, Anthony.
TONY:
I love you too. But I want to get
my life going, and if this will
save Dad, then I’m going.
OLIVIA:
Aphrodite, where will you take
him? Can I come and see him?
GINNIE:
We will live at my temple at Pela
Paphos. You can make offerings at
the temple.
OLIVIA:
But I want him to come back. I
want him here.
GINNIE:
He is a man and he has decided for
himself.
OLIVIA:
I forbid this!
TONY:
Mom, I’m an adult now.
17.
OLIVIA:
But I am still your mother!
AGATHA:
Olivia, if he is going to go,
perhaps there is another way.
OLIVIA:
What do you mean, another way? I’m
not going to give up my son.
AGATHA:
Madam goddess, would you send
young Anthony home for six months
of the year to visit his family,
tend to the fields and vines, help
his father with the flock? And
then he could go back with you in
the winter.
OLIVIA:
Agatha, how could you?
AGATHA:
Olivia, would you send him if you
knew he will be coming back? Think
on it.
OLIVIA:
(to Aphrodite)
Do you promise you will send him
back in six months?
GINNIE:
I could fly him on a cloud.
OLIVIA:
And then he could go back with
you?
GINNIE:
I will miss him while he is here
and I will be glad to see him
return.
AGATHA:
And you will heal Xander? Today?
GINNIE:
I think that now depends on you,
Agatha.
AGATHA:
Me?
18.
GINNIE:
You have so many prayers and yet
you still do not believe. I have
turned your coffee into wine. I
have turned her tears to joy in
the hope of healing her husband.
But I do not know if I have turned
your heart. Is it still a stone?
AGATHA:
But I have love in my heart. Look
around.
GINNIE:
But you do not love me, Agatha.
You prayed for help. You prayed
for divine signals. You prayed for
a miracle. And here I am.
I am Aphrodite and I am standing
right in front of you.
Do you still not believe?
Do you not love me?
AGATHA:
Madam goddess, I am confused. I am
a simple woman. I do not claim to
know the way of God’s plan. For
me, or anybody.
GINNIE:
But you call on God for aid. You
summoned me! Do you still not
believe in the power above and all
around you?
AGATHA:
But… Aphrodite, I don’t know. I
don’t know anything.
GINNIE:
Well, yes. I suppose I asked too
much for you to understand the
power of your own incantations and
appeals to heaven. You are a
mortal. I have seen in ten
thousand years every kind of
ignorance, poverty, suffering and
anguish. I stand beside to help.
To hold even your hand. Agatha,
look. See.
I am real.
I am here.
I am Aphrodite.
19.
AGATHA:
But the wine. How did you do that?
GINNIE:
That was just a small favor. Here
is the miracle.
AGATHA:
Miracle?
Olivia’s phone rings in her purse. She fishes it out and
answers.
OLIVIA:
Oh, my god! Xander? Is that you?
Is that really you?
GINNIE:
(to Tony)
Now we go.
Tony and Ginny exit through the sliding glass door out to
the back yard)
AGATHA:
(seeing them leave)
Wait! Anthony…
OLIVIA:
(into phone)
Xander, it is so great to hear
your voice. How are you feeling?
(she listens)
Today? OK, I’m coming right over.
I love you, darling. I will be
there in soon.
(Hangs up phone)
AGATHA:
What’s going on? Is he all right?
OLIVIA:
They said the tumors are gone.
They say he can come home, today!
AGATHA:
That’s wonderful! I can’t believe
it.
OLIVIA:
Neither can I. But I have to go.
Thank you, Agee. Goodbye!
20.
AGATHA:
God speed!
Agatha looks around, then sits. She picks up the coffee
cup. She sips from the cup and closes her eyes.
END