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| ACT I | ||
| (HUMAN VILLAGERS enter from all directions, chatting and going about village business.) | ||
| NARRATOR: | Long ago in a distant time, there was a village called Whitebriar. It was large for a village, small for a town, and utterly inconsequential as a city. The people who lived there were hardworking, diligent folk who knew the value of a coin but who also knew how to savor the sweetness of a summer sunset. | |
| (DOMBUR and SARRA enter from stage right talking. Trell enters from stage left talking to BOY #2) | ||
| In the village of Whitebriar, there was a smith named Dombur who had a loving wife named Sarra and a handsome son named Trellian. Now, 'Trellian' is long name for young lips to wrap themselves around. A nickname was inevitable, and the logical shorting of such a name was 'Trell'. | ||
| SARRA: | TRELL! Come and wash your hands for supper! | |
| DOMBUR: | Trell, don't forget to stack the kindling! | |
| LADY #1: | Trell, would you tell your mother that Elena has a cold and I can't come and visit today? | |
| KAYLA: | (smiling prettily as she passes) Hiiiii, Trell. | |
| NARRATOR: | Now Trell is not a bad nickname at all, really. Any young lad would be honored to have it. But not young Trellian. You see, the village of Whitebriar was nestled against a deep forest called the Rivenwood, and beyond that rose Troll Mountain. It was widely known that trolls dwelled in those rocky crags for you could hear the thunder of their hammers on quiet nights. It was equally well know that trolls hated humans. |
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| MALCOR: | They make people into stew! | |
| LADY #1: | They use our bones for sewing needles! | |
| BOY #1: | They'd just as soon pound you into dust as look at you! | |
| MALCOR: | They're EVIL | |
| (BOY #1 and BOY#2 enter from stage right) | ||
| NARRATOR: | With trolls having such a bad reputation in Whitebriar, you might imagine that anything remotely troll-like would be to subject of scorn and mockery. And - sad though it is - young folk can be quite cruel as they grow into their skin. Trellian's nickname was soon transformed from 'Trell' to… | |
| BOY#1: | Hey 'Troll'!! How ya doin', 'Troll'? | |
| TRELL: | Don't call me that. That's NOT my name. | |
| BOY #1: | Aw, what's troll-boy gonna do? Pound me into dust? | |
| (they scuffle and VILLAGERS break up the fight. Trell sits center stage) | ||
| NARRATOR: | (Sigh) Trellian was a good lad. Truth be told, they all were. But the damage was done and soon Trellian became quite the solitary young man. | |
| (KAYLA enters stage left carrying a basket) | ||
| KAYLA: | Trell? I'm going to the river to pick berries? Would you like to come with me? | |
| TRELL: | No thanks, Kayla. You go ahead. | |
| (KAYLA is disappointed and exits stage right. TRELL gets up and moves around the stage) | ||
| NARRATOR: | Trellian's parents were concerned, but there was little they could do but hope this phase would pass soon. In the meantime, Trellian explored the world around Whitebriar alone. | |
| One bright spring morning, Trellian's father asked his son to carry a parcel of newly forged tools to Shania the woods woman. | ||
| DOMBUR: | Trell! | |
| NARRATOR: | Shania lived on the edge of the Rivenwood and was in charge of the harvesting of the trees in the forest and preparing the wood planks and utensils used by the people of Whitebriar. | |
| (SARRA and DOMBUR enter stage right talking. DOMBUR has a packet of tools wrapped in a tied cloth) | ||
| SARRA: | Are you sure this is a good idea, Dombur? Shania is such a strange person, living alone in the forest so close to the mountains and those awful trolls. | |
| DOMBUR: | Trell's a smart lad… he'll will be fine, Sarra. As for Shania… well, I'll admit it IS peculiar, but she's always been helpful and courteous. She's just not very social, I suppose. | |
| (to Trell) | ||
| It's very important that Shania get these tools. She needs them to make you a new bed since you've almost grown out of the one you have. | ||
| (DOMBUR hands the packet to Trell) | ||
| SARRA: | It's a long trip, Trellian. You won't be back until almost sunset. Are you sure you're up to it? | |
| TRELL: | I'll be fine, Mom. | |
| SARRA: | Now Trellian… just to Shania's and back again. No wandering off to the creek. | |
| DOMBUR: | And NO exploring in the Rivenwood. That's a dangerous place. Trolls wander there at night and there are tales of a great dragon as well. You don't want to meet up with either of those vicious beasts. | |
| SARRA: | Dombur… hush! Don't frighten Trellian with such nonsense. | |
| TRELL: | It's okay, Mom… I'll watch out for trolls AND dragons. | |
| NARRATOR: | And with that, Trellian left on his mission. | |
| ACT II | ||
| NARRATOR: | As he reached the edge of town, he heard someone call his name. | |
| MALCOR: | Trellian! | |
| TRELL: | Oh... hi Malcor. | |
| NARRATOR: | Malcor had been a part of the Whitebriar community for as long as anyone could remember. Some said she used to be a soldier who fought against the trolls long ago. It was rumored that trolls killed her parents when she was just a child. No one knew much about Malcor except for one thing… | |
| MALCOR: | You'd better watch out for those murderous trolls, boy. | |
| NARRATOR: | Malcor HATED trolls. | |
| TRELL: | C'mon, Malcor… I probably won't even be close enough to hear their drums. | |
| MALCOR: | You never know… they're vile sneaky creatures. They can smell you a mile away and they like nothing more than to eat little boys as a snack. | |
| TRELL: | I… I'll… I'll be careful. | |
| MALCOR: | I have something for you Trellian. It's very old, but it will do the job if you have the need. | |
| NARRATOR: | The dagger glittered darkly in the afternoon sun, and the warmth of the day seemed to fade into a chilly shadow. | |
| TRELL: | What is it? | |
| MALCOR: | A blade I've used on many occasions. It's tasted troll blood… and likes it. Here, you carry it… just in case. And use it, if you need it. | |
| TRELL: | Uh… thanks Malcor. I… um… feel much better. | |
| (To the NARRATOR) This lady gives me the creeps. | ||
| NARRATOR: | I know, me too. You'd better get going. It's getting late. | |
| (the scene changes to the Rivenwood) | ||
| Trell bid farewell to Malcor and continued down the road that led to the Rivenwood. The forest was vast and green and stretched as far as the eye could see. The road seemed to be swallowed by sweeping branches of trees that had been ancient before the first house of Whitebriar had been built. Green shadows enclosed Trell as he entered the great forest and the wind blowing in the leaves seemed to whisper strangely in the air. | ||
| (Betsy & Jessica): | Beeewaaare… Daaaangeeer… | |
| NARRATOR: | Trell had never been in the Rivenwood before, but now he understood why people spoke of it as they did. | |
| TRELL: | Why would anyone want to live in this place? | |
| NARRATOR: | Trell was so focused on the eerie wonder of the forest that he missed the path that led to Shania's cabin. Soon, the road dwindled to nothing and Trell realized he was lost. | |
| TRELL: | Great (he sighs and sits on the ground next to a rock) | |
| (there's a growl from SHANIA and he jumps up, frightened. Another growl and HUNNA enters backing on to the stage. TRELL doesn't see her and starts backing away from the growling. They back into each other) | ||
| HUNNA and TRELL: | AHHHHHH! A TROLL! A HUMAN! DON'T EAT ME! EAT YOU?! EEEYYYWW! |
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| HUNNA: | You don't want to eat me? | |
| TRELL: | Gross. Besides, you want to eat me. | |
| HUNNA: | I don't think so. Blech! | |
| TRELL: | But I thought… I mean… | |
| HUNNA: | You don't…? But everybody said… (there's a silence and then, curiously…) What's your name? | |
| TRELL: | Trellian, but everybody calls me… well, just call me Trell. | |
| HUNNA: | I'm Hunna. Pleased to meet you… as long as you don't want to sprinkle pepper on me. | |
| (They laugh nervously. Another growl from SHANIA and they grab each other in terror. They quickly realize what they're doing and jump away from each other) (SHANIA - in the form of a mountain lion - enters from up stage) |
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| SHANIA: | Who dares enter my forest? | |
| HUNNA: | You're forest? | |
| TRELL: | We didn't know it was your forest! | |
| HUNNA: | We didn't know it was anybody's forest! | |
| SHANIA: | These are my hunting grounds. This is where I raise my cubs. You are trespassers! | |
| (SHANIA makes a threatening growl and HUNNA and TRELL draw their weapons) | ||
| Typical Troll. Typical human. Weapons first. Fear first. Leave my forest before the sun sets or you'll both be very sorry. | ||
| (SHANIA exits up stage) | ||
| TRELL: | We gotta get outta here! | |
| HUNNA: | Do you know the way? | |
| TRELL: | You're the troll. I thought you people wandered this forest all the time looking for… | |
| HUNNA: | Looking for humans to eat? | |
| TRELL: | Er… um… | |
| HUNNA: | Yeah right… the same way you humans come into the forest all the time and dig up trees just so you can make stakes to burn trolls at. | |
| TRELL: | Where did you hear that? | |
| HUNNA: | Korbice told me. He's one of the oldest trolls in out village. | |
| TRELL: | Well, Malcor told me you eat little boys - I mean, young men - as snacks. He even gave me this to protect myself. | |
| HUNNA: | Well, Korbice gave me this. | |
| NARRATOR: | A dark song filled the air as the two weapons were turned to each other. It was a moan of anguish and longing that leeched the light from the air and color from the trees. Time fell away and hours turned to seconds under the spell of the singing blades. Trell and Hunna felt their hearts turn cold and strange thoughts filled their heads. | |
| TRELL: | Stupid Troll. | |
| HUNNA: | Useless Human. | |
| NARRATOR: | They raised their weapons high and the song rose to a keening wail | |
| SHANIA: | STOP! | |
| NARRATOR: | The spell was broken. Hunna and Trell dropped the weapons like they were snakes and turned to the commanding voice. | |
| (SHANIA - in human form - enters up stage) | ||
| HUNNA and TRELL: | SHANIA! You know her? |
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| SHANIA: | You both do. I have served your villages for a very long time. | |
| HUNNA: | But you're a troll. | |
| TRELL: | No she's not… she's a human. | |
| SHANIA: | You both see what you want to see. Everyone does. It's they way things work in the world. | |
| HUNNA: | Trell, I'm sorry. I was gonna… | |
| TRELL: | No Hunna… I'M sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. | |
| SHANIA: | You both were thinking someone else's thoughts. That's why I stopped you. That wasn't a part of the wager. | |
| HUNNA: | What wager? | |
| NARRATOR: | But before Shania could answer, angry sounds began to fill the forest. | |
| ACT III | ||
| (sounds of VILLAGE HUMANS and VILLAGE TROLLS from opposite sides of the stage. SHANIA quietly exits up stage) | ||
| NARRATOR: | While under the spell of the dark weapons, time had slipped away. It was night and the families of Trell and Hunna had become worried. Fear had easily become anger. Search parties were armed and the trolls and humans had set off to find their missing children. | |
| (VILLAGE HUMANS and VILLAGE TROLLS enter from opposite sides of the stage) | ||
| MALCOR: | TROLLS! Ready your weapons! | |
| KORBICE: | HUMANS! Kill them! | |
| SARRA: | Trellian! | |
| DRENNA: | Hunna! | |
| DOMBUR: | Get a way from my boy, troll! | |
| NOLAS: | Leave my daughter alone, human! | |
| MALCOR: | Dombur, they'll eat Trellian. Attack! | |
| KORBICE: | Nolas, your daughter Hunna is in danger. Strike the humans down! | |
| ( Everyone freezes and silence falls on the stage. KORBICE and MALCOR move among the silent crowd and each places a rock in the hand of a villager) | ||
| NARRATOR: | The story gets a little vague at this point. Some people say a human threw the first stone. | |
| (a HUMAN VILLAGER draws back to throw their stone) | ||
| NARRATOR: | Some say it was a troll. | |
| (a TROLL VILLAGER draws back to throw their stone) | ||
| NARRATOR: | The truth may never be known, but it doesn't matter. A stone was thrown. | |
| (they throw their stones and there's a cry as a VILLAGER from each side falls) | ||
| NARRATOR: | Someone was hurt… in the name of fear and… | |
| (KORBICE and MALCOR together to center stage) | ||
| KORBICE and MALCOR: | MALICE!! I win! I win the wager! | |
| (MALCOR and KORBICE rush upstage and the MALICE dragon moves forward) | ||
| NARRATOR: | Suddenly Korbice and Malcor vanished and in their place, an enormous dragon appeared. Its scales were the color of blood and its breath was the stench of every battlefield. A dark tide of fear and rage emanated from its thundering bulk. | |
| MALICE: | I AM MALICE!! Shania! Come out! The wager is won! YOU ARE MINE!! | |
| (enter SHANIA, head down, in the form of a unicorn) | ||
| HUNNA: | Shania? | |
| TRELL: | What's going on? | |
| MALICE: | She's mine now. Stupid trolls! Foolish humans! And when I'm finished eating her, I'll be back to eat you all!! | |
| HUNNA and TRELL: | NO! | |
| NARRATOR: | Trell and Hunna lunged for the weapons they had dropped earlier, but the dragon Malice only laughed. | |
| MALICE: | Fools! Those are my weapons. I gave them to you. The weapons of malice are useless against me. I'll return when the unicorn is dead. | |
| NARRATOR: | The dragon grabbed the defeated Shania and prepared to fly away. Trell and Hunna grabbed the unicorn but they were too small and the dragon too great. They began to be dragged away. | |
| HUNNA and TRELL: | Help us!! | |
| NARRATOR: | The villagers grabbed their children, but even their combined strength was not enough to stop Malice. | |
| (Everyone freezes) | ||
| And here again, the story becomes vague. No one knows who's hand reached out and who's hand grabbed it. | ||
| (A TROLL hand and a HUMAN hand reach from the group) | ||
| But someone reached through the veil of fear and malice… and found strength. | ||
| (The hands grasp together) | ||
| MALICE: | NOOOOOooooo! | |
| (MALICE fades away up stage) | ||
| ACT IV | ||
| HUMAN VILLAGER: | What happened? | |
| TROLL VILLAGER: | Where's the dragon? Where's Malice? | |
| SHANIA: | He is gone. Banished… at least for now. | |
| TROLL VILLAGER: | But how? | |
| SHANIA: | You won the wager. | |
| HUMAN VILLAGER: | What wager? | |
| SHANIA: | A very old contest. Malice wagered that trolls and humans would never work together, and that fear and ignorance would lead to violence. | |
| NOLAS: | But there have been wars. | |
| DOMBUR: | Humans and trolls have fought each other since… since… (he's confused because he can't recall any actual details) | |
| SHANIA: | The past is a dangerous place to live, Dombur. Malice had twisted the old tales and you believed his lies to be true. Lies are nothing until someone believes them. | |
| TRELL: | Is he gone? Malice, I mean? | |
| SHANIA: | For now… but the wager is never over. But tonight, both villages are free from his power. What you do tomorrow is up to you. | |
| (There's a long, awkward silence. Then SARRA hesitantly steps forward) | ||
| SARRA: | What a beautiful shawl. | |
| DRENNA: | Thank you. It's rock wool… very sturdy but soft and warm. | |
| NOLAS: | (also hesitant and cautious) These are remarkable tools. Did you make them? | |
| DOMBUR: | Um…Yes. Actually, it's a new technique I just learned. You take the iron fresh from the forge and… | |
| (While TRELL and HUNNA talk, the rest of the VILLAGERS exit stage right) | ||
| TRELL: | Um… Hunna? Can come and visit you? Maybe tomorrow? | |
| HUNNA: | Okay. But I'd like to see Whitebriar, too. | |
| TRELL: | Well, come on. I'll show you a place by the river where the berries are as big as your fist! | |
| (TRELL and HUNNA start to exit. KAYLA stands in front of them scowling at HUNNA. HUNNA steps aside and KAYLA takes TRELL's arm. They exit stage right) | ||
| (MALICE enters up stage and stands beside SHANIA) | ||
| NARRATOR: | What about those? | |
| SHANIA: | What about them? | |
| NARRATOR: | Aren't you going to get rid of them? | |
| MALCOR: | That's not our responsibility, is it? | |
| NARRATOR: | But you made the weapons! | |
| MALCOR: | Nuh-uh. I just worked with what they gave me. | |
| SHANIA: | The weapons belong to them. | |
| NARRATOR: | Ah… I see. So it's their choice what to do with them. | |
| SHANIA: | (to Malcor) Not bad. | |
| MALCOR: | Yeah. Not bad… for a storyteller. | |
| (MALICE and SHANIA exit arm in arm stage left) | ||
| NARRATOR: | And the sun rose over Troll Mountain, and a new light spread across the forest and the villages it joined. I haven't been back to Whitebriar in a very long time. But I can tell you this… The Keepers of Troll Mountain thrive to this day. And the weapons of Malice have never been raised since. |
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| THE END | ||