Act 2 -- 75 mins. Total

 

Scene 8- Secret Friends 9 mins.

Scene Summary :

Maice finally gets Sinjah to talk about the haunting secrets that have robbed

her of self-esteem in the past-- and discovers she is an outcast from her own

people, much like he himself was, in Sparta. The girl seems helped by

Maice's philosophy of personal freedom and fairness. And though she is

hesitant -- romance blooms with the hope of a future time together,

concluding with the romantic song/dance: "Scared of Me"

 

[ Scene opens - soft torch-lite and quiet theme music in the ‘far practice court’

 Sinjah-- standing, facing audience -- Maice, listening-- sitting on bench behind ]

 

Maice: The book?

Sinjah: (very solemn) The book . . . of Oh-ma-ZIN. . [cross-gesture]

              So it says -- “ the bad seed is the different one, the coward -- “

Maice: But don’t you see -- when you were captured -- on the ship ...your sisters

Sinjah: They kept their vow --

Maice: They wanted to die -- you only wanted to live --

Sinjah: No -- for is always this way -- always the different one, the selfish one --

              the last in the hunt, last with the bow and the spear --

Maice: But that was just you --

Sinjah: (light change -- looking out over audience)

And there is the time -- of the Night of Wishes . . . (glances over slightly)

[ mystical ‘night’ music rises here-- lights change -- Sinjah steps forward ]

Maice: . . . Night of Wishes?

Sinjah: . . the first night of spring -- when the moon is out -- and the stars --

The time to choose a secret friend -- from all the sisters . . to be together --

Maice: Together....[ realizing the meaning ]

Sinjah: But I am the strange one . . who stay alone in her tent -- the selfish one -- .

             who cannot share secrets . . to hear them whisper in the night . . . to hear                                          t            them laughing (eyes totally misted now ]...... How they laugh at Sinjah ....

(Maice listening -- makes gesture, but can't find an answer)

Sinjah: But . . . so the book says: "The Bad Seed is easy to tell... like the ‘chaff ’ . .

.           ...the one who stand apart -"

 

Maice: [now getting up from bench ] But don’t you see -- it doesn’t mean you were

wrong, just that you were different . . . The thing about books of rules -- they’re

not made for you, to help you live --They’re made for the group -- to make sure the group lives --

Sinjah: And . . . what do you mean --?

Maice: I could show you books of rules in Sparta – to keep everyone marching all in line -- to keep others in control . . . and whoever doesn’t join the parade -- they’re made to feel wrong . . . about themselves . . . even if they’re right --

 

Sinjah: ...But -- is not the same, Maicedonia --

Maice: Yes, it is -- just tell me this -- when you were captured with your sisters -- If

you wanted to die - Not them - Would you have asked them to die along with you?

Sinjah: . . . No -- I could not --

Maice: How come?

Sinjah: Because . . .

Maice: Why not? --

Sinjah: I could never ask someone to die for a choice I make myself --

Maice: No you wouldn’t -- you couldn’t . . . But what did they ask of you?

Sinjah: (silent reaction -- thinking)

Maice: And tell me this -- when you joined the Athenians . . . Was it because they

could keep you alive?

Sinjah: We . . . could not be sure -- if it would work --

Maice: Then why did you join?

Sinjah: Because --

Maice: (pressing) Why?

Sinjah: Because . . . because they say they need me --

Maice: (conclusive) Because they needed you -- and you’re always getting hurt for

them ... ... (points to bandaged leg) ----- Doesn’t sound very selfish --

And in your whole life I don’t think you’ve ever taken more than you’ve given

- --- and all I’m saying is . . . what’s wrong with that?

Sinjah: (solemn, doubtful) You make it all sound so simple --

Maice: But why can’t it be? -- As long as you don’t take more than you give –

 overall --how can anyone say you’re wrong? And why should you be made to feel wrong -?

 

Sinjah: You mean -- as long as one is ... “fair”

Maice: Yes -- Fair -- that’s the word -- Don’t you see ...... there has to be .......

a place.... safe place in yourself --- where no one can accuse you

Sinjah:  Safe .... in yourself -- [ really chewing on this ]

 Maice: … Absolutely ..

Sinjah:  ….And ... what about other things … beyond this ?

Maice: [more energy now] Beyond this everything else is a matter of choice ...... but only things that are worth it to You -- not someone else --

Sinjah: To me -- ? [ not used to this ]

Maice: Yes! -- like -- if you had to choose to . . . stay with the Athenians or not --

Sinjah: (skeptical, but thinking) Well according to you I should stay -- (flippant) . . .

“only if worth it for me ...”-

Maice: [energized now] Alright - and why would it be worth it ?

‘cause you want to have friends? People to like? People to care for ? --

(challenging now:) You, uh, ... think that’s worthwhile?

Sinjah: (reacting to tone) Yes . . . I think that is worthwhile -- for me --

Maice: [pressing] Well then you wouldn’t stay to prove something … like courage…or bravery ?

 

Sinjah: (caught by this) . . Do not think . . . I am brave --

Maice: (challenging) Then why would you stay --

Sinjah: (reacting) Stay . . . because . . I .... I ….

Maice: Want to?.... Or have to? .......... there’s a difference --

Sinjah: Because----

Maice: Want to or have to ? [challenging] ...

 

Sinjah: [struggling] Be - Because ... I ..

Maice: [harsh, conclusive] Or don’t you even KNOW?!!

Sinjah: (now fuse is lit -- very bold) I stay BECAUSE I WISH TO !!-

Maice: WISH TO ?!

Sinjah: (defiant) Something I choose . . . for me -- !!

Maice: (mock anger, matching her) Alright fine! -- Stay with them -- Go ahead --

Sinjah: GOOD! -- I think I will -- !!

[face to face -- high energy-- anger ?]

Maice: And there’s not a damn thing anyone can say about it --- is there ??

Sinjah: No one in this world !

Maice: No one in this world !. . . least of all . . . (turning away now, much softer)

…..least of all . . . ... Me .....

( now Maice walks slowly away, stops-- sits on bench, resigned)

 

Sinjah: (realization, pause) “Least of all you” ??--

Maice: Well -- that’s it -- ( looks at hands) That’s all I wanted to hear -- the right

reasons -- your own reasons . . . to stay -- (head down -- wipes eye)

... stay with them----

 

Segment 2  --  [1 ½ mins.]

Sinjah: My own reasons ? ( looking over - obviously thinking --reappraising ]

..Maicedonia .......[looks again-- ‘goes out on a limb’]

.....there is another time....... I do not tell you --

Maice: (looking up, quietly) Another time?

[ soft music rises here, theme for “the Burros”-- lights change]

 

Sinjah: (very gentle, warm) . . The time . . . I take the horses -- to the high ground –

in the spring . . when I see the ‘buuh-rros’ come to the secret valley --

Maice: The ... bur-ros?   (straight pronunciation -- no roll)

Sinjah: The “Buh--rros”... (rolling r’s -- pursing lips) .......He is like a little horse -- But there is not a stallion . . (gesturing) . .always in pairs -- A boy and a girl --

 

Maice: [charmed)   I see . . .

Sinjah: And so I watch them on their valley meadow – and to wonder . .

. . what would be this? -- Someone to walk with .... to smell the flowers...--

.... Someone to be mad with ...

[slight, scolding glance in his direction -- Maice smiles to himself]

..... and to make me laugh --Someone to“share”“Secrets”—

[’Secrets’gesture- hands to ribs }

Maice: (carefully choosing the words) Well . . . it sounds like a place you couldn’t

show just anyone . . . only someone . . very special....

.Sinjah: Yes, very special----

Maice: Like---- A secret friend? . . . --

Sinjah: . . . Yes, only that ..

Maice: (standing now-- advances) Well I wonder . . . if, there were  two travelers on separate roads . . but they could see a place ... ahead ... (gesture) where the

roads joined -- like, in a ‘valley ‘--

Sinjah: . . . Yes? . . .

Maice: Could they become Secret friends . . . ?

Sinjah: If they were very sure . . .

Maice: And so... maybe they would give a promise -- or a necklace?

[ takes out ‘the necklace’ -- from previous scene -- ready to present it ]

Sinjah: But so is written: The one to break the first promise -- also the one to break

the last -- In the time when the others laughed . . . so you were laughing as well

-- [ Sinjah turns away from him now ]

Maice: But sometimes you can break a promise without meaning to . . . and sometimes-- you can be so sure of something --It feels so right -- it only makes you scared of losing it --

[ Sinjah now turns to face him -- looks in his eyes ]

 

Maice: Hope you’re not -- “scared of me” that way-- -- (tries to smooth her hair)

Sinjah: (turns to break away) ...I am not ‘scared’ of you, Maicedonia -- (sharply

disagreeing)..... But  only of a promise to be broken --

 

Maice: Well, then I guess I’d have to think of something pretty strong -- that can’t     be broken ---

Sinjah: (school-girlish, walking away) Well then that is what you should do -- and I

do not lis-ten until you are ready --

Maice: Well, alright -- Hope I can think of one today -- [starts to stage right]

Sinjah: I think you will -- [pert smile-- goes to sit on bench]

>>>[ MUSIC BEGINS HERE ]

Maice: Just have to go to my own space, and . . . think my thoughts --

Sinjah: (looking away) I cannot hear you . . . Maicedonia... (on bench -‘ waiting’]

[ Maice acknowledges -- smiling-- goes to stage right ]

Song: “Scared of Me” Track 9 - CD

Music starts -- each on opposite sides of stage ... Maice singing reflectively -- sometimes gesturing -- looking over -- Sinjah, on the bench-- sometimes appearing to listen -- other times looking away -- ‘ignoring’-- like a bride properly awaiting the right overture --at the mid-point of the song she rises gracefully to ‘challenge’ his lyrics - hands behind back - and Maice continues

 “the game’....DIALOGUE:

Sinjah: Maicedonia--I would wish to share a thought-

Maice: Why yes, lovely one---

Sinjah: That you have never had a secret friend..... So you are just as scared..!!

Maice: Then shall we put it to a test ? The first to move away ?!

Sinjah: The first---

{ circling dance begins -- ‘ horses in a field’ --then DURING: }

Sinjah: You moved, Maicedonia--!

Maice: No more than you--

Sinjah: And so... ?

Maice: And so --

[ both walk away, backs to each other -- but Sinjah turns back to surprise him, but he turns just before --Sinjah freezes – then runs]

Maice: And so, who’s running away now?!!

Sinjah: And so... who is the one to follow?!! [ gracefully eludes him ]

Maice: And so ?

Sinjah: And so ??

 

Maice: And so ? .............. [face to face now ]

Sinjah: And so ? [gently walks him back - hand at his chest, ending in push- away]

Maice: [lyric, return to song] “ And you know it’s true ....”

{ SONG and finishing choreography – ending with face to face/ one-knee ]

HERE -- Maice makes the solemn ‘promise’ to Sinjah mentioned before ---

by placing the necklace over her head with the words : “ Together -- Always “