The Pony Boys part V by JR Villar

21.ext field day

ALFONSO is sitting on a moss-covered rock in a defeated manner. He is lifeless, due to the blow he took on the forehead. His forehead is still marked and slightly reddish. From a short distance, but without making to much pressure on him, TWO PONY BOYS watch him complacently. ALFONSO rubs the sore spot on his forehead where he was hit earlier; AFY approaches.

AFY

Have you woken up? (sarcastically)

ALFONSO looks at AFY without even turning his head toward her. With a sullen mood he nods. AFY laughs sweetly.

AFY

Alfonso, I’m sorry but I had to. I hope it doesn’t hurt too much.

ALFONSO

Of course you didn’t hurt me...it was only a stroke that put me to sleep for two hours!(mutters)

AFY

I told you that you couldn’t go! Why could you not obey me?! You are the chosen one and nothing can change that situation.

ALFONSO

But why me?! Why can you not be the one?! Choose one of you to be King instead!

AFY

It's impossible, Lord Totopuk would never let one of us be king. He is to protect us in return for our working for him. We would never dream that someday that would be reversed.

ALFONSO

But who is he?! (reacts with outrage).

AFY

Do not talk like that about the Master of Life...he can hear you! It is he who gives us life. It is him that makes us born, and later, leads our souls and turns them into ponies. The ponies are the souls of our ancestors...

ALFONSO

What nonsense are you talking about...a sorcerer who gave you life and then turns your souls into ponies!? And you believe that?!

AFY looks offended.

AFY

Come with me!

AFY order him, in a tone that ALFONSO did not dare disobey. That and her giving him a poke in the arm at the same time. ALFONSO rose. The tone of AFY instinctively led him to rub the sore patch on his forehead. AFY led him down a path eerily more florid than other areas around it.

ALFONSO

Where are we going?

AFY shushes him, raising a finger to her lips. Alfonso pauses and continues to follow her, downcast.

22.Ext Ponies Field day

scene set to music

They walk for a good few minutes down the path, surrounded by flowers. AFY slows the pace and motions for him not to make a noise. Up ahead is a mountain covered in fresh, lush grass. AFY lays down and begins to crawl slowly up the small green hill. ALFONSO imitates her and follows behind, making the least amount of noise possible.On reaching the top of the small green hill, AFY stalls and once again beckons ALFONSO not to make a sound. He goes up beside her and almost gives a cry of astonishment. Across the top of the hillside is a clearing with a lake, and a group of ponies rest near the water.The tails of the small horses are adorned with wreaths of flowers. A harmonious sound of flutes, makes this place truly idyllic. ALFONSO is gaping, his mouth hanging open. AFY, in a fun gesture, closes it for him with her hand, causing his teeth to chatter together with a small sound. He smiles. For some minutes they are silent, looking at the ponies walking through the clearing. ALFONSO notices a small stream that brings the lake its water. It is a watercourse that flows down one side of the hill, where, at the bottom, ponies in various colors indulge in the calm place it provides. AFY motions to ALFONSO for him to follow. Slowly and quietly, they retreat. They follow a track alongside the creek, heading towards the lake where the ponies are. From time to time the same flowers that were seen everywhere come to float on the surface of the water. ALFONSO shows some interest, and step by step, his scowl disappears. AFY notices the change in his expression, and smiles gently.

END OF scene set to music

23.ext water fall day

AFY and ALFONSO begin to hear a heavenly sound that Alfonso had heard on another occasion. This indicates that they are coming close to the other boys. After turning around a bend in the river, and hidden among the vegetation, they find the boys singing joyfully and having fun while they work. A spring flows from some rocks, pouring into a channel made of bark. This channel diverts some of the water into another stream that runs parallel to the lake that gives life to the ponies. The PONY BOYS use a mathematical rhythm to perform each task. All their movements are completely synchronized. At the same time, they are singing a cheerful melody that marks the rhythm of their movements: up, down, to each other, leaf bag to leaf bag goes through the water source, to be deposited in the stream alongside that which comes from the forest to the lake. Both run in different directions. A stream, aided by the boys, runs from the spring into the forest. The other stream, which is parallel to the first, runs from the forest towards the lake. AFY and ALFONSO follow it until they reach the spring. Two of the PONY BOYS work to a different rhythm from the others. Every time the rest do two movements, they make three. It makes their job seem a little diverted from the others. ALFONSO looks at AFY.

AFY

Those two are doing my work. Since I have to be with you, someone has to fill in for me.

ALFONSO feels slightly uncomfortable.

AFY

Every day we deliver seventeen thousand three hundred and forty-nine leaf bags of Bright Water to the Master of Life. We cannot fail, even by one, or the Master of Life can’t keep the stream flowing to the ponies, and so the souls of our ancestors will be lost forever, along with the ponies of the lake.

ALFONSO

Seventeen thousand, three hundred and forty-nine?! (Gaps) WOW!And if you don’t deliver?

AFY

If we do not deliver then the Master of Life would be seriously angry and would choose one of us to be punished.

ALFONSO

What a bizarre thing! Who is this Master of Life or whatever it is? And...how does he punish them?!

HYG appears at that moment and the conversation is interrupted.

HYG

Hello Alfonso! How are you?

ALFONSO

Let’s say I'm a little... dizzy!

AFY looks at him to quickly address a different matter and divert the conversation. HYG laughs.

HYG

We are almost done for the day…

As he speaks he looks for a sort of counter where one of the boys is highlighting the number of leaf bags deposited in the river of Bright Water.

HYG

When we finish work...Party!

ALFONSO

But are you not tired?! Just yesterday we were dancing for hours!

HYG

But we have a party every night! Every night we celebrate the passing of the day. We celebrate the collection of the leaf bags of water...I mean...Afy here, was to show you how we collect the Bright Water.

ALFONSO

Yes, Afy was showing me your world...the Lake of the ponies, the flowery paths, the streams... and of course your work. Anyway, I have some questions to ask...I wanted to understand some things that intrigue me...

HYG

Like what? For example...

ALFONSO

Punishment!(with a very serious look).

HYG and AFY look at him surprised.

HYG AND AFY

Punishment?!

ALFONSO

Yes! Afy was just telling me that you have to collect however many leaf bags of Bright Water each day, and if you cannot then you must take a punishment of the Master of Life. What kind of punishment is this?

AFY and HYG now wear a frown.

AFY

To tell the truth, we do not really know...but whoever is chosen for the punishment never returns.

ALFONSO

What?!(get really angry) Can you show me where this Master of Life is?

HYG and AFY react again with surprise and a certain amount of trepidation.

HYG

I can’t take you there!(abruptly)

AFY

It's impossible! We cannot go beyond the field of berries! Totopuk, the Master of Life, does not allow that to happen.

ALFONSO

Field of berries?!

AFY

Yes.If you follow the stream that goes into the woods, you’ll find a field of berries, and beyond there is the unknown, never to be overcome. Totopuk does not allow us to...

ALFONSO

Yes you said that! (interrupting impatiently) But have you ever been there? Ever passed beyond this field of berries?”

HYG

Of course not. I mean... some have never returned...I think there were already four or five of us... erm... as I remember there were only four or five... And that's it.

AFY

But whoever was there never returned, so we took care not to pass it.

ALFONSO

How strange... And not one came back?

AFY and HYG nod. In the same moment a PONY KID passes with some fruit. HYG takes the advantage to finish the subject.

HYG

Looks like its time to go. The party is going to start.

AFY and HYG exchange looks and walk away from ALFONSO. ALFONSO shakes his head disappointed.

24.ext field night

Some PONY BOYS are making arrangements for the party, preparing the great fire. Others are coming from the forest with a wild pig and more fruit. ALFONSO is sat away from everybody. AFY approaches ALFONSO and passes him a glass with a jelly type drink in it.

AFY

Drink it...its good and you'll feel yourself relaxed for a while.

Alfonso peers into the glass and smells the drink. 

ALFONSO

What is this?

afy

It's the nectar from forget-me-nots. (giggles)

ALFONSO

From the flowers? Flowers!? (mocks)

AFY

Yes! Why not?

The two look at each other and smile. They catch each other’s eyes and drink the nectar. ALFONSO sips a little more to look at AFY.

ALFONSO

It's nice...it's sweet, but not overly sweet...

ALFONSO and AFY drink the nectar of forget-me-nots, caught in each other eyes, sometimes interrupted only by an exchange of smiles. All around, the other PONY BOYS are busy, rushing from one side to another in preparation for another party. The roast is crackling. Together with it, they cook some pineapple on skewers, hanging above the wild pig, so the fruit juice itself drips onto the meat which gives it a delicious flavor. In green leaves and large pieces of bark, some GIRLS put fresh pineapple, strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, ripe figs, nuts and cashews. HYG and KALI approach AFY and ALFONSO.

HYG

The party is almost ready...if you want you can go to the brook to refresh yourselves...almost all of us are here so the party will begin shortly.

ALFONSO

Sure, sure... I'll deal with it ...

AFY

Let me help you get there... Unless you've already memorized the path.

ALFONSO

Err... Well... I'm Not sure of it. (pretends).

AFY

Don't worry I'll go with you.

25.ext CREEK NIGHT

With their backs to each other, AFY and ALFONSO refresh themselves with the pieces of moss, submerging in the water. Occasionally, AFY glances out of the corner of her eye. ALFONSO realizes this and laughs heartily. AFY blushes again and laughs, a little embarrassed.

Once refreshed, they return to the field. Their hands touch a few times, until ALFONSO shyly takes hold of her hand. So, hand in hand, they go to the feast.