Scene 5 - The Bull-Dance -- 8 mins.
Scene Summary :
Theseus and the Athenians, along with Sinjah, make the final decision to use "the Closed Circle" teamwork method in the Bulldance. Scene concludes with their final training session with Maice, who fails to dissuade them in the musical dance-drill sequence: "Symphony of Purpose" -- which then transforms into the actual Bulldance -- on stage.
Setting : Lights go on in main practice court -- Theseus and Athenians- including
Sinjah-- in solemn “mid-conversation” near practice bull -- as if they have
all just ‘seen’ something - together.... somber theme music in background
Ajax: That’s why they don’t show you the real thing when you first get here -- “bad
for the nerves” . . .
Deirdre: He was so scared -- I could feel it -- But he wouldn’t call out --
Theseus: That’s the Open Circle --- it’s not a team -- Everyone’s on their own --
Archimedes: They were playing the odds, Theseus -- think about it -- they stop the event if someone is killed -- or the time runs out -- So, the odds are 6 out of 7 to
survive --
Cassie: That’s only for 1 event --
Samantha: What about after 7 --
Deirdre: (quickly) Or 14, 21 . . 28 ?
Ajax: That’s long-term! -- Sooner or later the bull has to pick you --
Cassie: And how many people can really dodge the bull on their own? -- on their own skill -- natural ability --
Archimedes: Only the best ones here -- Only the Elite --
Samantha: Like the vaulters -
Ajax: (with an edge) Like that one from Sparta -- the one they call Maice --
Cassie: And all his little friends --
Ajax: They only have to dance once a week -- everyone else is three --
Archimedes: That’s their incentive for doing the vault -- the crowd likes it --
Ajax: They have it easier --
Archim: Easy - if you know how to do it... and when to do it-- (looks at Sinjah)
Theseus: (changing direction) What about the closed circle now, Archimedes -- ?
Archime: Well -- it’s like the old stablehands said -- It’s from the past -- when the
Cretans performed it themselves --
Cassie: But it’s the same idea -- if somebody went down -- the rest would close in -
Ajax: To tire him out --- like wolves!
Deirdre: Until he gave up --
Archime: But the horns and hoofs were padded then -- it wasn’t a ‘death-sport ‘--
Theseus: What do you think -- Cassie, Samantha ?
Cassie: We haven’t changed our minds, Theseus --
Sam: We think it can work --
Archime: Yes -- But if we close in on the bull -- it’s high risk -- he might kill all of us -- not just one --
Theseus: How do you make the odds, Archimedes -- for the Closed Circle --
Archime: Hard to say, Theseus -short-term, not as good -long-term . . it gets better
Theseus: Deirdre ?
Deirdre: [poignant] Something like politics, Theseus – on the Mainland …
Cass/ Sam: Oh-oh yes …[silent nods – others]
Theseus: (to all) Then it’s a matter of choosing -- short-term or long-term -- the best way to survive --
Ajax: Or even . . . the best way to die --
Archime: We’d have to have a pledge, Theseus --
Sam: Life or death --
Deirdre: All or nothing --
Theseus: Yet… we’re not related by Blood --
Cassie: But ---- we are related by Blood --We’ve already decided, Theseus --
the Closed Circle . . . Ajax?
Ajax: Well -- I’m not saying I’m braver than anyone here -- But if I have to die –
I don’t want to die scared ...terrified . . . for myself ….. rather be busy....thinking of something else . . .or . . . some-one else . . -- if you know what I mean -
Archimedes: I know what you mean --
Deirdre: (bravely) Me too -- the closed circle . . . brothers and sisters -- Theseus?
(Sinjah, upset -- by herself at stage left)
Theseus: . . . Brother and Sisters . . . -- are we all in then . . . Sinjah?
Deirdre: (noticing, goes to comfort her ) Sinjah -- ?
Cassie: (going over with Sam, sisterly) Sinjah, what’s the matter?
Sam: What’s wrong?[bringing her back]
Sinjah: …[whispering something in Deirdre’s ear]
Deirdre: She doesn’t think she’s worthy --- to join....
[ pace picks up here ]
Cassie: Not worthy? Why?
Sam: You’re better than all of us --
Deirdre: (maternal) Good as the best ones here --
Sinjah: (shaking head for emphasis) No -- I am not as good as them --
Ajax: You’re the fastest, the quickest --
Archimedes: I don’t know how you do it --
Sinjah: (shyly) From the taming of the horses -- in my land –
[ pace picks up here ]
Theseus: You’re the only one who can do the vault --
Cassie: Without a vaulter they’ll break us up --
Archime: And there’s something else -- the bull always turns after the vaulter -- so if somebody gets trapped -- it’s a last resort – to turn the bull --
Sinjah: I do not know if I could -- (very doubtful)
Deirdre: Yes, you could -- you’ve got what it takes --
Sam: We can’t do it without you --
Cassie: We need you, to stay together --
(all gathered round her)
Sinjah: (still very doubtful) Only -- if you wish -- if -- if you think you wish --
Others: We wish, we wish ...(laughing) We can do it -- together --- all the way --
Ajax: Looks like you’re stuck with us –[all hands on her shoulders, tussling hair]
Sinjah: (happy look) …Then I . . . (others lean close) .... I try to stick ---- I think--
{ Quick - amused laughter from others-- “funny foreigner” }
Deirdre: (quickly) Pledge, Theseus -- Call it to witness -- Like on the ship --
Theseus: Call it to witness --
Cassie/Sam: To the Goddess of Earth --
Ajax: and to Father Sky --
Deirdre: Whether to live --
Archimedes: Or Whether to die --
Theseus: We are Athenians, and --
(Deirdre whispers to Sinjah then:)
Sinjah: And . . . we do not go a-lone …
Theseus: This circle is : ... Closed --
Each in turn: (putting hands in) “ Closed, Closed, Closed, Closed, Closed, Closed “
(as all go down on one knee in circle -- lights dim overhead)
(Maice enters, pausing -- they look over -- )
Maice: (subdued) They call us ‘Vade-dores’-- those who must survive -- Something you find in yourself -- But I offer the best in training -- if you can listen --
Theseus: (evenly) Offer accepted -- but we might have our own ideas about survival
Ajax: That’s right, Spartan -- show us the moves -- but not like you and your friends -- “dancing for gold” -
Theseus: Ajax --
Maice: (pointing, quick temper) Listen, I don’t have to be here --
Ajax: It’s for the commission, Theseus -- Nothin’ but a mercenary --
Maice: (over-riding) And you’re nothin’ but a military brat from a rich city --
Ajax: Hey, you better watch your -- (cut-off)
Theseus: (quick) Hold it! -We’re not rejecting anything - Offer is accepted . . Ajax?
Ajax: (sullen, low) . . . with gratitude --
Maice: (quickly, pointing) Well, you can keep your gratitude! -- (gesture to all ]
And your rich City!
EVERYBODY: (quickly, proud-- pointing back) Fine -Right.. Good...- we will --
Maice: Good! Then let the training begin . .[dramatic :] .... So you will know what it means -- To live and die . . . A Vad-edore !!! [ boom--drums kick in now ]
SONG: The Bulldance Track 6 - CD
SEE VIDEO FULL SCENE CLIP with MUSIC/VOICE speaking ‘ lyrics ‘ ] [below]
NOTE : The instrumental music is composed of 4 sections, each with speaking parts for characters involved. For section 1, the dialogue appears below – for sections 2-4, a summary description is given.
SECTION 1 : Maice supervising, Perius and Tarku ‘supporting’ on raised platforms behind.
DRUMS kick in – Maice : [very staccato, focused drill instructions- Athenians in circle around practice bull- ‘carrying out’ instructions]
First formation is the revolving circle- open and wide- 6 paces off the Bull -- Hands and Elbows up – starting ‘ade-lante’- right – ‘sol-ari-se’ left – to stall and confuse the bull but when he picks a target -- it’s one-on-one --You and Him alone !!…
The bull is attacking OFF- balance – you will be ON- balance
[pointing] You’re Off – You’re OFF !! YOU’RE off !!
From head to toe YOU will keep a Center-line of energy in every move--
Everything works from the ‘center core’ and every move is with the flow
If you LOSE your center-balance you will go down – If you go down, you will be ON-YOUR-OWN --- Therefore I want balance in EVERY MOVE –[music rise here]
Ahs-te SPIN –‘transire’ --- KICK – ‘ah – ja te ‘—DODGE – ‘ e- lu dare’ YOU WILL DRILL - until- you- are- PERFECT !! ‘ HALF—SPEED’—
SECTION 2
MUSIC SHIFT -- Maice withdraws from view as Perius and Tarku take over the drill – calling out ‘escape moves’ for Athenians to perform each in front of the bull’s horns in a ‘round-robin’ format – On the last move, Deirdre appears to stumble and fall under the horns – whereby the others immediately ‘close the circle’ to harass the bull from all points – as Maice reappears – Perius and Tarku leave in frustration— Maice tries to take over, but the Athenians reject and form a ‘team huddle’ stage right as Maice makes a final pitch to Sinjah, stageleft.
SECTION 3
As the mellow, pretty section of music arrives Maice tries to convince Sinjah the Athenians will only get her killed using the vault – that she can make it on her own – or that he’s even willing to take her place. But as the music rises to a peak, Sinjah returns to her friends now forming the ‘final circle’ at center – andMaice can only withdraw.
SECTION 4
Lites go out momentarily – crowd noise comes up with continuing music
when lites come back, Athenians are apparently in the actual event, frantically calling ‘signals’ to each other over the music and crowd noise as the huge lifelike bull appears to attack one side to another. When Ajax goes down, Athenians call for ‘the vault’ from Sinjah – who performs it at the peak of the music – after which the bull whirls away from Ajax to backstage – guards appear on each side
to call ‘time’ for the event – and the crowd cheering continues- lites out