Months later, Orestes enters the temple for Athena at the Acropolis. He claims to have done penance, and is asking for final cleansing and exoneration from Athena. The Furies follow him in, and have been dogging him ever since he left Apollo's. They see him cornered, and are eager to get their final satisfaction.
Orestes makes his final plea, then falls silent. The Furies tell him his just punishment has arrived, and await a response. Not getting one, they gleefully sing and boast over their success. They renew their argument for the justice of their cause, and the importance of the role they play. They rue their position in the world, their ugliness and ostracization from both humans and gods, but are confident in their righteousness.
Athena arrives to hear the case. The Furies make their accusation of matricide, and call it an open-and-shut case. Athena insists on hearing the other side, for only by following proper procedures can justice truly be done. Orestes makes his usual claims: he has already paid his penance (as witnessed by his now un-bloodstained clothes); he did the deed out of a sense of duty to his father (the great Agamemnon-- you remember him, right Athena?); and he was pressed by Apollo to do so. Athena sees the merits of both sides, and so calls for a full trial. Arraignment over.
The Furies are now in a panic over the possibility of losing their case, which they had thought was airtight. They know it's not just about Orestes himself. If he gets away with matricide, it opens the door to killings by any agrieved party, against any available victim-- all they'd need is a plausible excuse! Moreover, if the fear of punishment is taken away, there is nothing holding back the savage nature of man. But in the end, the Furies re-convince themselves of the strength of their case. Surely any jury will see the long-lasting consequences of an innocent verdict, and the just punishment will indeed be discharged as they demand.
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