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Scene 2 - The Bullcourt --15 mins.

Scene Summary :

The large Olympic-like training facility in the city of Knossos, on the

island-nation of Crete itself. Introduction to the world of the "The Bulldancers," most of them peasants -- "tax payments" from mainland Greece-- with their leader,

Maicedonia -- and his tight-knit peer group, ‘the Free-Thinkers’. 

 Conflict, and beginning romance between "Maice" and an outcast Omazon girl, Sinjah. Announcement that the Athenians and the King's heir, Theseus, are coming --- and reaction by peasant-athletes in Maice's anti-nobility speech. Arrival of 'the Courtmaster,' representing the new Expansionist Party of Knossos -- and the news that Sinjah will join the Athenians as a team in the Bulldance.

 

Setting :  The main practice court -- vaulted ceiling-- stone pillars, back wall to

perimeter-- athletes arranged on wide practice floor, and on steps

leading up to huge stone doors --- ‘ practice’ bull at center-- deep color

lights and costume-- lights open on ‘martial arts drill’....

 

Scene Opening : Chorus music in darkness--- then lights up on “The Bullcourt” --

symphonic dance music as Maice orchestrates practice session around huge, life-like practice bull -- baton in hand -- sometimes kneeling, appraising –

Instrumental – The Bullcourt -Track 3 - CD

SEGMENT 1 [ Music builds with CHORUS : ah-ah-ah-ah--- HAH !! ]

 

Maice: [as music continues)   No, no, No -- you’re too tight . . . you’ve got to be loose -- loose!  Remember --Viega -- fear is your energy -- but you make it work for YOU!.... and center balance -- Center balance -- Everything is with the flow of action --- Try it again --

 

Maice: Alright everyone -- Break it down -- Let’s break it down --

Reeba: Next class vaulters only, Maice-- [disdainful, exiting]

Perius: Vaulters only !

Maice: Alright, next class vaulters only - -- Break it down..

(2 girls now passing near him-- as music concludes --all others exit)

Maice: Well ---you’re showing good potential -- come back everyday this week –

Girl 1: [flirting) .. Really ?

Girl 2: ... and how about ‘every night ?-- (giggles)

Maice: Well... (charming stance) . . . even more potential there --

Clarisse : Until tomorrow then-- [ both leaving, excited ]

Maice: And who knows what tomorrow brings -- (sweeping hand/eye gesture)

BULLCOURT MUSIC NOW FADED OUT

(Sinjah clearly visible now at center-- statuesque, unhappy looking-- seeing his interaction with the girls -- stage empty now -- just her and Maice ]

 

SEGMENT 2 [ 4 MINS. ] ---  MAICE & SINJAH

[ LIGHTING CHANGE – GENTLE, LONELY THEME MUSIC - from  later song -- “SCARED OF ME” ]

 

Maice: Well, my solitary friend -- and where have we been hiding this time?

Sinjah: I come early like before -- but I see you are busy -- and so I have to wait --

Maice: But I wanted you to join in -- your vaulting is superb, but you need work on

your escapes -- that was the whole point of the drill --

Sinjah: I do not wish to practice with the others -- I am already just as good --

Maice: Now listen, Vade --

Sinjah: I am not a baby, so do not call me one!

Maice: The word is Va-de, “Va-de-dore “ -- it means ‘those who must survive’ -- what do you think I’m here for ?

Sinjah: You only train for the commeeshin --

Maice: The comeesh ---The commission ? -- Well, it only adds up when I train a whole class -- Not just one, single person!

Sinjah: Then why do you do it!?

Maice: Well maybe I’m starting to wonder myself . . . Maybe something in those big “valley-blue” eyes - my very stubborn friend, ‘Sinjoe ‘-- (gazing)

Sinjah: It is not Sinjoe ----- but Sinjah --!!

Maice: ‘ Sin-jah’.... I see …[poetic, charming look]-- named for her spirit - ?

Sinjah: (relenting) . . . “ Mm-Maicedonia” --{ holds out hand shyly, properly }-

um – [ awkwardly] .. named for a land ..?

Maice: {laughs, takes hand } Ha-ha -- Just a place I’d like to go – a land of horses -- and it’s ‘Maice’ –all my friends just-- call me “Maice” –

[makes sweeping hand/eye gesture--as to the girls before—Sinjah / reaction ]

 

Sinjah: And I do not wish to be one of these -- “friends”! -- (pulls hand away)

Maice: Alright then, I’ll make you a deal -- show me one good escape - and you can practice alone -- away from the others -- and ..[dramatic]..... away from me --

Sinjah: Well --[ off-guard ].. well then good! -- What is the move?

Maice: “Hornspin”, close-up, Right to Left --

{ Other dancers now enter -- Sinjah notices }

Sinjah: But I do not want the looking . . . or the laughing -- You must promise!

Maice: Alright I promise -- no laughing -- just want to see the move -- Right to Left -- (waves off others)

Sinjah: Right to Left -- (sets up and does move quickly) . . “ And So “--

Maice: ‘And so’-- -- very graceful . . . very pretty --

Sinjah: (toss of head) Thank-you --

Maice: But you should’ve gone outside-- with the flow -- fear is your energy --

Sinjah: And what if I am not scared!

Maice: Well, you damn well better be  scared! -- What if you’re caught

between the horns?!

[others noticing – Sinjah reacts]

Sinjah: I do not get caught! My way is better --

Maice: Better !?

Sinjah: Because is faster! -- Why don’t you try it and see!?

Maice: (pause, then) Alright I think I will -- Right to left?

Sinjah: Right to Left --

Maice: Hmm . . . they keep these horns pretty sharp --

Sinjah: This I know - (pointing) . . . -- and not to go slow on purpose --

Maice: Don’t worry -- this is gonna be “real-time” and (goes now) Full speed all the way -In—sah [at the horns now] ...ah….[cough]...side---m -m-m!

(recoiling dramatically -- Big, breathless gasp---- back is to Sinjah )

 

Music – deep, tragic chords to later song / oboe --“Maice”

Sinjah: Maicedonia?!!

Maice: Must . . . (gasp) have gone too fast -- (collapsing realistic— rib wound ]

Sinjah: M--Maicedonia! -- [bending close]  It is all my fault!   (stands up) Everyone!  Come quick! Sinjah need help!

Maice: Everything . . . getting dark . . . now

Sinjah: No -- please -- You have to hold on --[ kneeling to help again ]

Maice: . . . Need... bandage --

{ SINJAH TEARS CLOTH FROM HER PANTS }

Sinjah: Yes -- we will stop it -- [to others:]  Why do you just stand there?! -- Somebody have to get help!

 

 [others shuffle one or two steps -- knowing glances -- half-hearted calls for help --

 “Help- Help, please--  Um, someone?"  “Help! Help wanted-- “ 

Boca: It’s too late--- [ very harsh ]

Reeba: He shouldn’t have gone to the inside-- [ very disapproving ]

Maice: Think I . . . can see something now --

Sinjah: What-- what Maicedonia -- what do you see?

Maice: Pa . . . Paradise! [ enjoying this close attention from her]

 

(CROWD REACT stifled laughter from others)

Sinjah: No Maicedonia -- don’t look -- you have to believe! [ very close now ]

Maice: If . . . (gasp) you would take my hand . . in friendship.... I could - believe . .

Sinjah: Yes, I take your hand -- please, I have to fix --

Maice: I believe . . .

Sinjah:  But . . . Where is the blood? . . .

Maice: I believe . . .

Sinjah: There is no . . . wound -- (drawing back)

Maice: (now looking also in surprise at ‘ wound’) I believe .. uh...

I believe you have cured me !

[ now quickly standing up ]

Sinjah: Cured you !!?. . .

Maice: By faith! -[amazed] .. and friendship. ….. it was a wound of the Heart ---

[big smile now]-- I knew you really liked me!

(Big laughter from everybody)

 

Sinjah:  It . . . It is a joke --

(Even More Laughter)

Sinjah: Stop it!

Maice: I still give you my hand --

Sinjah: [ slaps hand away ] Shut Up -- I do not take your hand -- You are a cruel,

             selfish little boy --and I do not like your friends --

{ Crowd Reaction: O-o-o-oo }

Reeba: Well, maybe nobody likes you either!

Perius: What’s wrong with her eyes? [ Blue streaks can be seen under her eyes ]

Boca: Using berry juice on her eyes, Maice --

Slade: Trying to look pretty...!!

Reeba: Trying to get attention!

Maice:  [scolding] Reeba --!

[ more laughter ]

Slade: How... .. .... FAKE !! { then checks her own mascara }

Sinjah: Stop your evil words !

Perius: She looks crazy!

Chandrika: Outlander !! [Sinjah turns right]

Joti:: Horse Woman! [Sinjah turns left]

Clarisse: Barn raider!

Reeba: Witch! Witch! Witch! Witch! [like a conductor-- advancing with others)

 

Maice: Wait a minute !! [trying to get control]

CROWD: Witch..Witch.. Witch.. [ from both sides ]

Maice:   HEY !!  [others stop now]

Sinjah: { cross-gesture --whirling around } E- VHAN -- da - zae-- Ge-- ZHOE !!

[ her language --- like a horse turning to face the wolves -- Stamps foot --

throws something from small herb pouch on shoulder- then martial position }

 

Reeba : [ backed up by this-- banging into Boca and Slade) Whoa -- Oh !!

Sinjah: [turns to other side, martial position]  ZHOE !!

{ turning to Maice, very upset} You break your promise -- !!

(running off stage right, cross-gesture again) You break your Promise ! --

Reeba: { semi-panicked } What did she throw !? What did she throw ??

Boca: { brushing her off } Nothing --it was nothing --

Maice: [ calling to Sinjah offstage ] Wait a minute -- I …..I’m sorry ! --

Boca : [ to Reeba ] It’s okay-- you’re alright – you look good !—

Reeba: [very concerned] Are you sure ??

Boca: Y-a-a – come on, girl -

Perius: It was only a joke -- (calling after Sinjah)

Boca / Slade: Just trying to make a point .! . (sweet snicker, moving toward Maice)

Maice:[to Sinjah, off]  I’m never giving up on you -- You’re gonna need me here!

Boca, Slade: [ looking offstage, to Sinjah] .. Um ... well ... Goo-bye now......

 [ artificial waves ] … um ...Goo-bye...

 

[ Maice and friends now to ‘location lighting’ ]

SEGMENT - 3  --[ 1 min. ]   Maice & Friends

Perius: Can’t teach ‘em if they don’t want to learn, Maice –

Maice: (overruling) She’ll come around -- you’ll see --

Reeba: But she’s different -- Maice --

Slade: She keeps to herself --

Boca: She’s an Amazon --

Maice: That’s Oma-- zon ... --

Slade: What’s the difference -- they’re strange --

Reeba: One of those cults, Maice --

Maice: (emphatic) No -- just a little misunderstood -- she’ll get used to things --

Boca: [ resentful) We understand her---

Reeba: She just thinks she’s so much---

Slade: “Everyone -- come quick” “Sinjah need help! -- “ { tragically, imitating }

(laughter from all )  ... Sinjah need help !

Maice: Slade -- that’s enough --

Perius: Really had her going, Maice –

Maice: Perius ---

Tarku: { imitation } “ Zhocka-Zhocka--Zhoe !!!

Maice: { very stern } TARKU !!

Tarku: Well I didn’t mean anything, Maice ....Geez --.[ sheepish , backing off ]

[ Perius toussles his hair]

Boca: (chiding, pouting) Maice -- what do we always say?

Slade: When you are lonely --

Reeba: You can come to Reeba --[on his arm]

Boca: Or Boca --

Slade: Or Slade -- [ striking poses ]

Tarku: What do you think, Maice? --

Perius: Can you find three rich ladies like this?

Maice: Ah -- they’d kill me sooner than the bulls -- [ laughter ]

Perius: Well, Maice -- if you gotta die, you gotta die ....(behind Reeba, tickling -- she turns to slap)

Reeba: Watch your sneaking hands! --

(Boca and Slade toussling Tarku now)

Tarku: Hey, watch your hands !! Bloody Hell -- [others laugh, he’s the youngest]

Maice: Come on, you’ll see -- I’ll make her one of the best -- just like us --

 

Others: “Right, Maice”, “Sure”, “Whatever you say”

Maice : Hey -- are we the Best or Not ??   Best ??

Others : [automatic shout/answer]  BEST !!!  [ hi-5’s to center ]

Maice : Damn right !!

Others:  Damn Right !! 

Tarku: Damn well Right !!

Maice : That's more like it -- Supper Hall tonight ?!

Perius: First table, Maice -- Iberian wine !

Maice ; Watered ?

Tarku: Hey --Un-watered, if we get there first!

Maice :  A-ah -- you're still too young !! [toussling]    Tarku: Hey! Not likely!

Reeba: Maice -- it's 3 months tonite !!

Maice:  You think I forgot !!?  [leaning in for another group hi-5 ] 

[all together]  Half-way -- all the way -- 6 months GOLD !!!

RBS : Yeah BOYz !!  Perius/Tarku:  Yeah Girlz!! RBS : Yeah BOYz !!  ha-ha-ha-ha-ha  [tickling again]

Maice: Hey, settle down now -!!

[Now loud tapping is heard from platform steps in back, up by large water pipes]

 

 

SEGMENT 4 -- 2 1/2 mins

NOTE: ‘the talking pipes’ are the large Cretan water conduits used as a communication system between prisoners and/or servants in different parts of the city.  tap –tap-

Perius: Maice --- got somethin’ -- over the pipes -- [up on top steps now]

RBS: Talking pipes ! Talking pipes !

Maice: What is it, Perius -- ? [all join up on steps]

Perius: From the port auction--six new dancers from -- they’re from Athens !!-

Maice: Athens --The proud city --!!

Reeba: Tax finally came to them, too, Maice --

(more tapping is heard)

Perius: And wait -- one of them is -- the Prince --

Reeba: Maice, the nobility -- here --

Maice: Hm-m, too ambitious for his own good --

Perius: Wait -- there’s something else -- they told the ship’s captain they wanna stay together -- one group -- they want to dance as a group --

Maice: Typical noble -- wants to keep his own little circle of power --

Perius: The usual treatment, Maice ? --

Maice: Ha -- Even more so -- Let’s have a council meeting -- --

(THEME MUSIC NOW -all go to top step-- Maice turns away--hand to chin)

Boca and Slade now calling out front : “ Come on everybody” “Everybody”- “gather round” --- kids start arriving quickly]

Reeba: Listen up ! Listen up!

Tarku: We’ve got news -- Got News --

Reeba: [ striking pose on very top step ] GONG shimmers ...

[Brash ‘Liverpool’ accent:]

“HEREBY CALLING toCouncil Meeting’ --- all due Crahfts-men -- and Practition-ers  of ....the BULL-DAHNCE !!!

[ athletes 20-30 now assembling below Maice, up on the top step -- hub-bub ]

 

Maice: Alright everybody-- ....... 6 new conscripts... but this time a little different....... from the Proud City of Athens” --

(others --general buzz and reacting to each statement)

Crowd: BOO! Hah! The rich city!

Maice: The city that would rule the whole mainland, if it could --

Reeba: And bring more wars than all the nobles put together ! --

Crowd: BOO!

Maice: “Those who would be ‘Lords -- of your Lords’” --

Crowd: BOO! Uh-uh! Think again! Wrong, Maice!

Maice: And maybe they think it’s like the mainland here -- Where they got one class to own everything  [high gesture]---- and another class to work their fields --and build their castles --[low gesture/

Crowd: BOO! Not here! Wrong! No Way!

Maice: And the workers get to fight the wars and pay the taxes too --

Crowd: BOO! (No way, Maice -- ) (Uh-uh) (Hell no) isolated: Bull**it! (laughter)

Maice: [big gesture]  For those who control the Doors-- of Opportunity !

......and they didn’t even think we were worth that --[ makes small gesture ]

..... so they send us here.......

Crowd: (low, sullen reaction)

Maice:  Well we might be prisoners here for now -- But if we live 6 months  -- ALL  the gold we get is ours -- to make our own life -- wherever we want --

CROWD REACT: That’s right! --

Maice: And we don’t owe  NOTHING -- to NOBODY -- ANY MORE !!

Crowd: OOHs, YEAs --

Maice: (Maice and friends pointing to one side) Am I right -- ?

CROWD REACT: That’s right!

Maice: Am I right?

CROWD REACT: That’s right!

 

Reeba: (hands up) You . . . are . . .Right! .. ....right...right ... [ like a conductor ]

Crowd: Right, right, right, right!

{ MUSIC COMES WAY UP----- LIGHTS CHANGE ]

CROWD REACT: Right, right, right, right . . . (chanting) . . . Right, right--

 

 

Trumpeter off-stage: "Courtmaster, make way for the Courtmaster! "