Town of Dissadent
Part 1
(Enter characters Adam and Marcus.)
Adam: “Ah, what fine day this be, friend. The sows sing, friend and the trees are not one to see their crimson future.”
Marcus: “Crimson future sir? A crimson past being more precise.”
Adam: “Past, Marcus? Surely you know that he that dwells on the former is amounted to the town beggar?”
Marcus: “I do, and surely the beggar dwells much on his past, for what else has he on his head? A bite or meal?”
Adam: “Perhaps the tavern.”
Marcus: “Perhaps so. Let us….. Inquire of the man.”
Adam: “Let us.”
(They walk down the road towards the town square. They are headed off by a soldier on horse back.)
Adam: “Sir, I bid you, let us off.”
Soldier: “By order and decree of Governor Clen, it cannot be done.”
Marcus: “What meanest him by such a judgment. If for beggars he had compassion then surely he would have me a pence to spare.”
Soldier: “Beggars, peasant? Nay, the concern here is not for curs, but for….”
Adam: “Then surely you will let us pass by, for our business is with such folk.”
(They move to go around the soldier’s horse, but he draws a rapier points it at Adam. The two retreat a few steps.)
Adam: “Why be thou this urgent? I have naught to have a blade drawn on me prior.”
Soldier: “I say to thee, fall back to your cottages, your primitive settlements, and rest yourselves. Not until the morrow may you pass this point.”
(Marcus moves forward, angry, but Adam puts a hand out and holds him back. The soldier points his sword at Marcus. The two stay for a brief moment, and then move back away from the town square. The soldier sheaths his rapier and remains planted in the center of the street.)
Marcus: “Oh, how I bite my thumb at such a man, oh how I loathe such hostility.”
Adam: “Aye, tranquility is a rare thing to the day. I do wonder, though, of the Governor’s intentions.”
Marcus: “Perhaps uprising.”
(Adam laughs.)
Marcus: “Let us see it through, what happens in the town. Do we not have the capability and right to know our ruler’s intent?”
Adam: “Bite thy tongue, Marcus, for to do such a thing we would have our tongues loosed none the less.”
Marcus: “Then if I am to lose my tongue, let it be for reason.”
(He runs between two buildings. Adam pursues. They both sneak between houses unseen until they come to a location between two stores, and have a clear view of the marketplace. They are obscured by several stacked crates. The governor is armored and on horseback, at least a hundred soldiers are adorned in the same manner. They both whisper.”
Marcus: “What ho? Who is he to….”
Adam: “Silence! The governor makes to speak.”
(Both listen silently as the governor begins to address his men, riding back and forth in front of the gathered soldiers.)
Governor: “Why have thou men come? Why sit you in steel? Why are ye steeds bathed in light saddles? Why do ye make ready to travail? Do we now approach others to combat that of which is wondrous? Nay, we ride to a tempest. A gale of worse proportions than the likes of any in history, but I see you cower….
(The Governor stops shouting as several loose pebbles fall from a nearby tiled roof. He looks up to see the town beggar staring down, silently peering down his expression now turning to horror. The angry Governor shouts orders, and points two fingers towards the terrified man. The beggar shouts, and jumps from the roof raising both hands raised behind his head holding a dagger. The governor moves his animal quickly out of the way, and before the beggar hits the ground he is shot by several quarrels. He lays motionless and bleeding on the ground, dead. The governor stares for a few moments, and then begins to speak again.)
(Adam now begins to panic, and moves to go back down the alleyway, slowly crawling from the crates. Marcus remains positioned. Adam stops, and turns to look back in frustration.)
Adam: “Let us be away from here, from such threat.
Marcus: “Look. On the panting black horse lying at the far side of the gathering. The man, who reaches for another bolt.”
Adam: “It cannot be…..”
Marcus: “Tis.”
Adam: “I cannot stay, Marcus, I cannot stay! Heed me, I beg of you.”
Marcus: “I took to myself long ago not to heed pitiful pleas of beggars."
(Adam stares at Marcus, still watching and listening to the governor, then slowly gets to his feet and begins to silently make his way away from the spot. There is a sudden cluttering behind him, he turns to see a soldier standing over Marcus. Marcus rolls, but the soldier impales him with the spear. Marcus screams. The soldier stabs him again, this time through his heart. Marcus coughs and begins to tremble. He rolls on his belly, then his trembling stills, and Marcus lays motionless. Blood still pours from his wounds. Adam stands frozen at the end of the alley. The soldier looks from Marcus then upwards, his vision directly on Adam. The two stand in a stare down for a brief moment then the soldier shouts, and kicks at his horse. Adam runs between houses, fleeing from the warrior.)
