(EPISODE TWO: HORSE FRIGHTENED)
SOUND: footsteps over grass.
SOUND: heavy breathing
CRAIG:
don't stop now, Dan. we're nearly at our camp spot.
DANEIL:
water, let me have, some, water.
CHERLE:
what camp spot?
CRAIG:
the spot we are going to put up our tents &, make camp.
DANEIL:
water...
CHERLE:
make camp? where?
CRAIG:
up there on the tor.
CHERLE:
but we're at the bottom.
CRAIG:
so we'll walk to the top.
CHERLE:
when was this decided?
DANIeL:
water! give me some water!
CRAIG:
don't you have any?
DANIeL:
no, you've got it all.
CRAIG:
then it should have been split equally. but it wasn't. yes, we've going up to the top of the tor because I made the descion like I wanted to make about the water, but I didn't, now Dan is complaining. if I don't make this descion then you'll be complaining too. Here's your water!
SOUND: water being drunk
CRAIG:
it's only another hour, at the limit, then we'll be done walking for the day.
CHERLE:
another hour! another minuet is enough for me. what made us want to walk on hills?
CRAIG:
Tors.
DANIEL:
ah, god...
CRAIG:
good water?
DANIEL:
a little better. a little warm.
CRAIG:
better than water infected, water possesed by disease. i even put in a tablet for good measure though it was clean enough before. this is water from the tap. soon we'll have to drink it from the source.
CHERLE:
what, rivers?
CRAIG:
yes. more likely streams than rivers. there's only one running through the valley where all water flows to or tuns from. that's a long way from here, we probably won't see it on our journey.
CHERLE:
where do you think all the water comes? everything you drink has come from the ground at some point.
CHERLE:
I don't know that. if it doesn't come from a tap Then I'm not involed.
CRAIG:
then don't be involed, don't drink it. i'm ok with that. BUT DON'T COMPLAIN TO ME WHEN I THROW YOUR DEHYDRATED BODY TO THE SEA!
DANIEL:
the others are starting to catch us up.
CRAIG:
can we wait for them instead of dashing off like the countryside was an organic sprint marathon?
DANIEL:
they're not too far behind. i've got strong quads. what can i do about that?
CRAIG:
walk on your hands. 'not that far behind', they look like ants, crawling up a grassy leg. this sun's not getting any cooler. we're going to have to put up our tents as soon as we get to the spot, of we want to be under the shade. it's rockier here then it looks, from down there it looks like a field aslant. the breeze has shrank. where did it blow away to? pass me some water, Dan. how mich did you guzzle down? there's hardly enough for a sprinkle. you'll get sick drinking that quantanty in a single sip.
DANIEL:
i was thirsty. let me get sick with water. better than getting sick without. how experienced in walking are you? you've only done it once before, right? you mst have learnt alot on that one trip to be giving all these orders.
CRAIG:
i know more about it than you, that's common knowledge. i did learn a lot, did more than read a map. i went out to the places i pointed to. walking is not like reading maps. it takes endurance, determination, becasue the walk is long & not much else to do. i think you know that much by now. if you don't, then you will, by the end it'll be the only piece of knowledge left you can be sure of. i can't promise it- it's more inevitable than that.
DANIEL:
you're a drama queen. it's just walking, why've got to make it sound dramatic? it's not life & it's hardly death. one step in front of the other; that's all.
CRAIG:
i hope i get to hear that when it becomes more of one or the other.
CHERLE:
can't you both be quiet? you're giving me a headache.
CRAIG:
it won't be that much longer before we rest. just do your best in getting there.
(a silence containing a breeze)
CHERLE:
they're taking their time. i thought they'd be up here by now. they're always further or closer than it is thought.
CRAIG:
have neither of you been walking like this before? hiking? camping? anything?
DANIEL:
not for this long.
CHERLE:
not for this length.
CRAIG:
inexperienced; you've really thrown yourselves into it haven't you? ha, ah well- no better way to learn.
(another breezy silence)
CRAIG:
do either of you know about Cyril?
DANIEL:
not much.
CHERLE:
he's old school frends with April. i think they knew each other before primary. he lives in another country now, but he's come back to visit his dad. April hasn't seen him since the end of secondary.
CRAIG:
that's something of him, but what about him; what do you know?
CHERLE:
what d'ya mean?
CRAIG:
what is he like, as a person?
CHERLE:
i know just as much as you there. this is the first time i've seen him. i know of him but April doesn't say much.
DANIEL:
he's strange.
CRAIG:
why strange?
DANIEL:
i don't know, maybe it's his hat, his hands as he talks, something...off angle.
CRAIG:
like a wonky picture?
DANIEL:
like a painting.
CRAIG:
i haven't noticed.
DANIEL:
look out for it. i'm not always going to guide you.
CRAIG:
when do you ever? i'm always helping you out. you'll see.
APRIL:
nice of you to wait; finally. it's more windy up here. the wind's dry as dust down there.
CYRIL:
do you want a jumper for your shivering skin?
APRIL:
please, it's in the bagpack.
CRAIG:
i hate this weather. the sun will make us sweat & the wind will make us freeze. dammed from every direction.
CYRIL:
where are we going next?
CRAIG:
we have to get to the top of the Tor, then I'll work out where we are. we'll have lunch as well. just the sandwhiches minds; we should save the boil-in-the-bags for later- when we're really hungry. that's the only time you can.
DANIEL:
what's that smell?
CRAIG:
smell?
DANIEL:
something rotten. not flowers or anything; as natural as that.
CHERLE:
something unatural?
CRAIG:
yeah, something foul smelling. i didn't notice before the wind changed.
DANIEL:
uh, what is that smell? strong..ug..
(coughs)
CRAIG:
must be something close by. maybe on the other side of the Tor...
APRIL:
you ok Dan?
DANIEL:
it's making me feel sick...it reminds me...when i was working on the farm...just one day...ugh...one day in the summer...the animals were left alone...with no-one...it was emergency...we came back one was dead...in the heat it rot...ugh, gah....it smells like that...
CHERLE:
a dead animal?
CRAIG:
it's bad but...
CYRIL:
lets get to the top & smell how bad it is from there. this is quite a minor problem & we've already spent enough time on it.
CHERLE:
more walking. everytime we get to the top there's still more top to walk.
CRAIG:
this is the last stretch.
CYRIL:
it's always the last stretch.
CRAIG:
we really haven't done a lot of walking today.
DANIEL:
do you think we'll be able to get back alright?
CRAIG:
no, not alright but of course we will get back. it's a walk in the country, not the desert.
CYRIL:
it's a big countryside
CRAIG:
it's not big
CYRIL:
bigger than us
CRAIG:
small for the world.
CYRIL:
what if the landscape changes?
CRAIG:
what?
CYRIL:
the rivers run- what if they ran away?
CRAIG:
fantasies are not going to be a problem.
APRIL:
how much water do we have left?
DANIEL:
a little, not much though.
CRAIG:
we'll find a stream in the morning.
CHERLE:
didn't you say that we probably won't see the river on 'our journey'.
CRAIG:
we're going to have to find it. otherwise we're going to have to get what we can from pebbles.
CHERLE:
pebbles?
CRAIG:
can we get to the top while it's still light?
SOUND: movement & grassy footsteps fading out
CHERLE:
oh all right, do you always to be so rough?
SOUND: MOVEMENT & GRASSY FOOTSTEPS
DANIEL:
he's definitly getting himself wound up.
SOUND: MOVEMENT & GRASSY FOOTSTEPS
APRIL:
nice view for the moment. it's like you say, the sky's a painting. everyday a new masterpiece.
CYRIL:
rare plants. all i wish to find are rare plants.
APRIL:
we'll find some.
CYRIL:
even in this weather? it's only going to get more stormy from here.
APRIL:
they'll still be there.
CYRIL:
yes, but will we?
APRIL:
yes. we are the greatest explorers. we search the worl through.
CYRIL:
we have come a long way. we have walked for a long time.
APRIL:
soon it will be time to go home.
CYRIL:
home. a word as soft as a felt ball.
SOUND: a scream from cherle & a vomit form daniel
CRAIG:
...god...o god what hell...
APRIL:
already in trouble? (shouts) what is it?
CRAIG:
a horse! a dead horse! such mess. half-decomposed. a city of maggots & flies. baked & fried. white skin bandaged with rotten ribbons...gah...white horse...
CHERLE:
ourgh,- it's eye! it's still looking- wide open.
DANIEL:
looks like a messy dissection with someone rifling through its guts, the hill their anatomy table.
CYRIL:
this puts a fine light on our plans, how can we sleep with this wretched smell of life?
CRAIG:
white,- why is it white?
CHERLE:
is that all you can ask?
CRAIG:
it's breed is wrong...
CHERLE:
your nose is wrong.
CRAIG:
there's nothing we can do but plug up the holes at the end of our bridges.
DANIEL:
what do you mean?
CHERLE:
sleep here!?
CRAIG:
it's getting dark. a long way back down. can't sleep at an angle.
CHERLE:
oh, oh, ho ho ho, wait on. i'm not staying here. i feel sick with its reek.
CRAIG:
did i say that it makes me glad to lie beside a corpse of a horse? did i explain how i hoped that this is what i wished to achieve by the slow dark end of the day? where are you going to go for sleep?
CHERLE:
back down, back down!
CRAIG:
fine run away while we make camp & tents put up. when you return expect me saying 'i told you, told you, told you'!
APRIL:
i feel the same. it's horrible lying there, intact & bloodless. what made it fall down in such a way? hunger, thirst or shock & fright?
DANIEL:
frightened to death?
APRIL:
what could it have seen? poor horse...
CYRIL:
horse is stalked by lion's face, then there is death but no trace. it's getting dark again...
(end of episode two)
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