Of Battles Past
Of Battles Past
The scene opens in a medieval town square, with buildings in the background
and cobblestone pavement. The square is crowded with market stalls, selling
anything from breads to pottery to wooden toys, and the space between is crowded
with people in the clothes of working men and women, walking and looking at the
wares. A handsome young man, dressed as a medieval nobleman in fine clothes,
rides to the edge of the market on a horse with elegant trappings. He dismounts,
tying his horse to a nearby post.
As he walks into the crowd, people who see him bow their heads slightly as he
passes, and he smiles in return.
[Townsperson #1] M’lord.
[Townsperson #2] M’lord.
The nobleman searches the market with his eyes, as if looking for something
in particular.
A middle-aged woman holds out a loaf of bread from her booth as the nobleman
passes.
[Bread Seller] M’lord, care for some bread today? Freshly baked this morning,
and still warm. ‘Tis my special recipe.
The nobleman turns to the bread seller, smiling.
[Nobleman] Thank you, Lady.
The bread seller smiles a toothy grin and laughs.
[Nobleman] But no bread today. I am looking for Old Duncan in particular – I
hear he has returned after his long absence.
[Bread Seller] Aye, that he has. I’ve heard he’s traveled far this time, and
brought back many interesting things – though I’ve been so busy with my breads
this morning I haven’t had time to see for myself. Heard he brought back
something ‘specially for you, though.
The bread seller smiles slyly.
[Bread Seller] He’s over there in the middle, right beside the fountain – must
have been here early.
[Nobleman] Thank you kindly, lady. Maybe I WILL stop for some bread after I see
what Old Duncan has to offer today.
[Bread Seller] Thank you M’lord.
The Bread Seller bows her head at the Nobleman, and he walks away, making his
way through the crowd toward the center of the market as the people continue to
bow and greet him as “M’lord” as he passes.
Soon the Nobleman is standing in front of a stall filled with exotic and unusual
items, such as ornate armor, oriental-style pottery, and jewelry. An old man
dressed in ornate but travel-worn clothes is showing an ornate bowl to a woman
dressed in slightly richer clothes than most of the townspeople.
[Nobleman] Ah, Duncan, I see you have finally returned to our little town. What
treasures have you brought for me today?
At that the old man looks up at the Nobleman, and sets down the bowl, smiling
widely.
[Old Duncan] M’lord! I knew I would see you this day. I have something very
special I’m sure you would like to have in your collection.
Old Duncan turns around, moving a couple of crates aside, then reaching into
one. He brings out something long and heavy wrapped in a cloth, and turns back
toward the Nobleman.
[Old Duncan] I brought this all the way from the Southern Shore. Word is it
comes from a far away land and it’s old enough to have seen its share of
battles.
Old Duncan sets the package down carefully on the counter before him, then
gingerly pulls back each side of the cloth. This reveals an unpolished sword,
fairly plain looking.
[Old Duncan] The merchant who sold it to me said it’s a very powerful sword, and
warned me never to touch it – I’ve handled it only with a cloth since the day I
bought it. I haven’t even polished it, as you can see. Now, I know it looks
plain, but something about it CALLED to me – it MUST be magic.
The nobleman leans over the sword to take a closer look. As he inspects the
length of the sword slowly, he is smiling.
[Nobleman] Magic, indeed. That is one thing my collection lacks, a magic sword.
I must have it.
The Nobleman reaches into his jacket and brings out a pouch of coins.
[Nobleman] Now, how much did you say it was?
[Old Duncan] Well, M’lord, I paid a hefty sum for the sword, and brought it all
the way from the Southern Shore especially for you –
[Nobleman] (impatiently) How much?
[Old Duncan] 50 golds, M’lord.
The Nobleman empties the entire pouch on the counter, about 50 coins, without
hesitation. He picks up the sword, still wrapped in its cloth, and turns away
from Old Duncan.
[Old Duncan] Remember M’lord, you must not touch the sword –
Not acknowledging what Old Duncan has just said, the Nobleman grasps the
sword hilt and holds the sword upright, as the cloth falls to the ground.
The Nobleman begins to swoon, and his eyelids close slowly. Suddenly his eyes
snap open and the scene changes.
The Nobleman is still standing with the sword upright, but in a dark forest. The
air is foggy, and the shapes of people are visible in the fog. One of the
figures emerges from the fog, a goblin with yellowish, rough skin, long stringy
hair, and tattered clothes. He gives a guttural growl and charges at the
Nobleman.
The Nobleman swings his sword, slashing across the goblin’s chest, and the
goblin falls to the ground. Another goblin charges similarly, and the Nobleman
strikes him down as well, and then the same to a third goblin. Suddenly a fourth
goblin comes at him from the right, knocking the Nobleman to the ground, and
kicking the sword from his hands. The Nobleman’s eyes close slowly.
As his eyes open suddenly, he is lying again in the market, and all that is
visible is Old Duncan standing above him and the sky bright behind. The Nobleman
begins to sit up.
[Nobleman] I must have been dreaming . . .
Suddenly he, and the audience, see the scene around him. Stalls are
overturned, pottery and other wares lay broken and scattered on the cobblestone,
and three townsfolk lie bleeding and still on the ground. Beyond, the other
townsfolk stand, keeping their distance, looking shocked and horrified, some of
the women weeping. A look of shocked, wide-eyed horror is on the Nobleman’s
face.
The camera pans slowly away from the tableau.
THE END
January 2003
