THE PONY BOYS by J R Villar Part I

1.EXT Forest day

The sounds of the forest as it prepared for sleep were cut by shouting human voices. In a clearing, THOMAS, THOMAS FRIEND 1 and THOMAS FRIEND 2 are standing apprehensively. They look around calling for someone.

THOMAS

Alfonso! Alfonso!

THOMAS FRIEND 1

I think we should ask for help...

THOMAS FRIEND 2

It seems so. Maybe something has happened to him, we’ve been looking for hours. We have to go ask someone for help

THOMAS

Yes, I think that's better. Pack the stuff up! we have to go back immediately!  The longer we stay here, the less likely we are to find him.

The boys head back to two camping tents and begin to pack their things.  A few minutes later they disappear into the middle of the foliage to make the journey home.

EXT FOREST NIGHT TRANSITION SCENE

The darkness inside the forest is now complete. even though the sun has not totally disappeared over the horizon, the giant foliage will not let any ray of moonlight pass through the trees and reach the ground. 

EXT FOREST NIGHT TRANSITION SCENE

The birds are making an incredible racket as they prepare for sleep. On the other hand, the nocturnal animals are just beginning to stir. Now it is their turn to make use of the forest. Throughout the night they live and hunt under the moonlight.

EXT FOREST NIGHT TRANSITION SCENE

Of what moonlight that can get through the branches of the trees, small blobs of light confuse the fireflies that are crowding in the most brilliant of ways.

There is a particular brilliance, not part of the norm, and it should be enough to intrigue the luminous insects, because many are just hanging around.

2.EXT FOREST NIGHT

The bright spot is a watch! They follow a wristwatch with a pulse to a wrist, an arm, a hand… it finishes in a body. It's ALFONSO lying on the ground. In a flash, the fireflies suddenly disappear. A tiny crackle of steps approach ALFONSO who wakes up with a jump only when a huge splash of a ball of gelatinous liquid melts on his face. With his eyes wide open, the first image he sees is a spear made of rough wood with sharpened stones tied to the end, leaning on his nose. While recovering from the surprise of the first image, he looks in an instant to the other end of the spear and see HYG, SHAP and KALI, but with a look so wild that he gives a chilling scream of fright. His cry is so distressed that it scared HYG, SHAP and KALI in an even more strident way. With such strange creatures shrieking, ALFONSO screams, even more terrified. SHAP screams yet again - this time in a very forced yet fake manner - but shuts up quickly, getting very flushed before the reproachful gaze of HYG and KALI.

HYG

You must be Alfonso! We were hearing you being called for hours in the afternoon! We are sick of it! And what kind of name do you have...

ALFONSO

What are you talking about?! You speak my language?!

HYG

But of course we speak, thou shalt not speak! Why is it that we could not talk? In our field we speak all the languages that are heard around here, be they human or animals! We already know that you are Alfonso...I am Srfbharehyg

ALFONSO

What?

HYG

Srfbharehyg! Is it so hard to understand?!

ALFONSO

Well, I guess I'll have to give you a nickname to call you by...I cannot call you such a thing!

KALI

A what? What is that?

KALI and SHAP look at each other with a slight ignorance.

ALFONSO

Hmmm…It’s a simpler way to say your names. Let's see...the sound at the end of your name. (grimaced while trying to pronounce it) It seems...hmmm... It seems, Huc? ...no, Hyg, HYG! So step up the one called HYG! From now on you will be Hyg, that is what you'll be!

HYG, SHAP and KALI, baffled, release a strange squeal. They look at each other and laugh like mad men while repeating over and over:

HYG KALI AND SHAP

Hyg, Hyg, Hyg!

KALI

We also want nicknames!(giggles in excitement).

SHAP

I am Iutviufcushap!

ALFONSO

You... erm... it's easy. From now on, you are SHAP!

ALFONSO did not hide this time and laugh at the funny and lazy little figure.

KALI

And me? And me? I'm Ahsjfjfjs.

ALFONSO

Oh dear... Your name is absolutely unpronounceable. Better if I simply call you... Kali.

At that time HYG, KALI and SHAP jump and squeal as they  had not yet done. They are really happy with their new names and cannot hide the fact, laughing, calling fun at each other, by the new names. ALFONSO, still sitting on the floor, looks at their enjoyment.

HYG

You know Alfonso, we’ve never had the chance to be known by name. Nobody in our field addresses anyone by their name. We do not see why...”

ALFONSO

Of course! It’s impossible to memorize what all of your names are, and they are impractical to say the same way twice in a row!

HYG

We already have names,(sad) but the others in the Field do not…

ALFONSO

What is the ‘field’?

HYG

It's where we live and where our friends are! I think I know where you are going!

ALFONSO

I know, I really must go back to my friends...they will probably are very concerned.

HYG

I do not think so. Your friends went away...there has already been a good couple of hours pass.

ALFONSO

Impossible!They would not leave without me!

SHAP

Oh, they have already departed, they went! I mean... they took away their little huts and disappeared out of the forest.

ALFONSO

No way!

KALI

Apparently you really need to join us.

KALI exchanges a strange and even scary look with HYG. HYG matches the look of KALI with a creepy smile. but ALFONSO is too preoccupied to notice these small signs.

ALFONSO

Well I'm coming with you. At this hour, and with this darkness, I’ll be lost in no time.

ALFONSO gets up and follows SHAP, who in the meantime takes from a bag a bottle like container that is full of fireflies that lights up a path through the trees. HYG and KALI also bring out bottles of fireflies and exchange new creepy smiles. They also go through the trees, disappearing into the darkness that becomes dotted with three green lights moving away until they disappear.