Flesh and Bone
Page 7
FIONN
For inspiration?
DACO
Yes, for inspiration.
TALAO
I’d like some of that insiperation, too.
FIONN
I can come along, if you like.
ANGARA
No! I want some…time with you alone. To speak about the philosophies. Please? [ANGARA’s physical signs of flirting are painfully obvious, except to FIONN] Please?
FIONN
I suppose so. I always appreciate one’s yearning for wisdom.
TIGAS
That’s not all she’s yearning for.
RINGOR quickly hits TIGAS to keep HIM silent.
FIONN
Hmm?
RINGOR
Nothing. Go now.
ANGARA
Yes, let’s go.
ANGARA leads FIONN offstage.
DACO pulls out the Eye of Peace and is once again mesmerized.
DACO
Oh, yes. I am much calmer now.
DACO exits, TALAO following.
DACO
Ringor, Tigas, are you coming?
RINGOR
No.
Half-beat.
DACO
Okay.
TALAO
Both of yer’s loss.
DACO exits, TALAO following.
TALAO (OS)
Daco, let me see the eye, too.
RINGOR waits for DACO and TALAO to leave.
TIGAS
I don’t understand.
RINGOR
Understand what?
TIGAS
Why give Agbayani the magics? We need to kill him, too. Right?
RINGOR
Yes.
TIGAS
Then…why?
RINGOR
[Annoyed] Because killing Daco and Fionn is more important!
Half-beat.
TIGAS
Oh. So…what do we do next?
RINGOR
We wait.
TIGAS
For what?
YSIP enters.
YSIP
For me.
TIGAS
Ysip!
RINGOR
You’re not as invisible as you think you are.
YSIP
Nor are your intentions, Ringor. I guessed you were looking for allies.
RINGOR
Do I have one?
YSIP
[Growls] This stranger, this fool, this...Fionn defies the Old Stories. Stories that have helped the Lumahan realize what they are; predators. But he, he wishes us to become the prey. He wishes us to not harm another, not fight another, not kill another. If we follow his ways, we will sit around getting fatter and fatter until something else becomes the predator and eats us! No, that is not the way of the Lumahan. We have our laws. Laws meant to keep us strong and superior. Laws that I am responsible for carrying out. My laws! And he, he wishes to take them from me. Take away my place. So I left and hid in the shadows, remembering the Old Stories, and waiting until others agreed with me or all died off. And now, I am back. Back to take my vengeance.
Half-beat.
TIGAS
Is he on our side?
YSIP
Of course I am!
RINGOR
Good. I’m the leader.
YSIP
Says who? I’m smarter than you. I’m wiser than you. I know the laws better than you. Why are you the leader?
RINGOR
Because I do not hide in the shadows and wait for others to fight my wars. I don’t have time for this. You are with me or my enemy, and I will kill everyone who stands against me.
YSIP
Kill me, and you only have Tigas. No females to breed with to remake the tribe.
RINGOR
I don’t care.
Beat.
TIGAS
Come, come. Join us, Ysip. With the others gone, you’ll be third powerful.
YSIP growls. RINGOR quickly grabs YSIP and then holds HIS blade against HER neck before even YSIP or TIGAS realize what’s happening.
RINGOR
Join me!!!
Half-beat.
YSIP
I join you…as the Storykeeper.
RINGOR lets go of YSIP.
RINGOR
I accept.
TIGAS
Good, good. So, who to kill first?
YSIP
Fionn.
RINGOR
Daco. We kill Daco first. Then Fionn…if we can.
YSIP
Then Fionn.
RINGOR nods.
TIGAS
I help too, right, right?
RINGOR
We kill together. Like the days before Fionn.
YSIP
Yes. We’ll kill them all.
RINGOR and YSIP stare at one another, sharing a complex mixture of primordial hatred, respect, and attraction.
RINGOR
Follow.
RINGOR exits, followed by YSIP and TIGAS.
END ACT II, SCENE I
ACT II, SCENE II
DACO is awkwardly sitting cross-legged on the ground, staring in awe at the Eye of Peace. TALAO walks and crawls around DACO, trying to sneak closer peeks at the EYE and generally moving about due to such new and exciting ideas.
TALAO
Tell me about the first…philosophy again, will ya’?
DACO
Non-violence is the most beneficial path of life.
TALAO
And what does that mean?
DACO
It means no one hurts anyone, then no one will hurt you.
TALAO
I like that.
DACO
But you can’t hurt either.
TALAO
Why hurt when yer’ not hurting? Tell me the second one.
DACO
To improve oneself, one must improve one’s surroundings.
TALAO
Yeah, that sounds nice, too. What’s it mean?
DACO
Keep others like you around you. That way, you can help each other.
TALAO
Someone helping me? Talao? I’ve never had that. Daco, tell me ‘bout the third philosophy.
DACO
Focus upon one’s consciousness, for it is what makes one self-aware. Means think a lot about things, and you’ll get smarter.
TALAO
Smarter? Guess that’s nice too. I like the one ‘bout being around others and not killing. Never had that. The others usually trying to kill me, or I kill them. No one respects me, no they don’t. No one cares for Talao. But thinkin’ and not fighting all the time, sounds good. Maybe others like Talao more if they didn’t want me dead. Maybe they’d talk and listen to me. Yeah, that would be nice. [Half-beat] What you see in that little thing anyway?
DACO
The Eye of Peace?
TALAO
Yeah.
DACO
Everything.
TALAO
Not everything, can you?
DACO
Yes. Everything. I see it all, and it’s so pretty. It makes me feel warm and nice. It makes me understand peace. It makes me peace. You don’t know how happy the Lumahan can be, if we can learn the philosophies.
TALAO
I like the philosophies. Okay, I follow the philosophies. No more laws for me. Only philosophies.
RINGOR enters with TIGAS and YSIP. THEY are very focused upon DACO, like hyena circling in for the kill.
DACO
Ysip? I haven’t seen you in a long time.
TALAO
Why’re you here? Not starting trouble, are ya’?
YSIP
I…want to…apologize.
DACO
Apologize? You don’t need to.
YSIP
I want to. Ringor made me realize you’re right. He made me hear your philosophies. They are better than the laws. I understand that now.
DACO
If you like the philosophies now, you don’t need to apologize. Ringor, thank you for helping her understand.
RINGOR
Yes.
DACO
Come. Sit with me Ysip, and see the Eye of Peace like I do.
DACO and YSIP sit close together, and TIGAS stands next to TALAO. RINGOR moves into position, and TALAO starts to suspect something.
Do you see? Do you see how pretty it is?
YSIP
[Not really looking] Yes, I do. It’s pretty.
DACO
It is. I never knew it could be, but it can. Peace is possible.
TALAO
[To TIGAS] Why’re ya’ standing so close? What’s going on?
TIGAS chuckles. RINGOR moves closer.
DACO
Peace is possible. Peace is possible.
RINGOR pulls out HIS blade. TIGAS immediately grabs TALAO and prevents HER from interfering.
TALAO
Daco! Watch out!
DACO
The First Philosophy of Ain; Non-voilence is the most beneficial path of—
RINGOR stabs DACO.
TALAO
No!
DACO’s bodily instincts take over, and SHE acts more like a wounded beast than a peaceful martyr. SHE roars out in pain, clenching HER whole body and pounding on the ground. RINGOR and YSIP have already backed away. YSIP is somewhat frightened, but RINGOR looks on without the slightest hint of terror.
DACO’s eyes go faint, and SHE dies, letting the Eye of Peace fall to the ground. TALAO shakes free of TIGAS and runs to DACO’s body. RINGOR carefully picks up the Eye, making sure not to look at it.
TALAO
Get up, Daco! Get up! No more harm. No more hurt. I want that. Don’t die. Don’t let the philosophies die! Get up!
RINGOR
She’s dead.
YSIP
And her child?
RINGOR
Check.
YSIP crouches down and feels DACO’s belly. TALAO is too focused upon DACO’s face to care.
YSIP
Now dead.
RINGOR
Good.
TIGAS
We are the strongest, yes, yes! We survive!
RINGOR
I am leader now. I rule the Pangan Tribe. I am leader.
TALAO
No! It’s not good!
YSIP shoves TALAO over.
YSIP
Mind your place! Ringor is leader now. Obey!
TALAO
No! I want non-violence. I want peace. I don’t want you.
TIGAS
You shut up!
TALAO
No, I won’t! No more kicking me around. No more hurting me for no reason. No more pain. I’m not going back, and all ya’ can’t make me. No more! Ya’ hear me? No more!
TALAO takes out HER knife and jumps at YSIP. YSIP is unprepared for the blow and is stabbed in the torso. RINGOR quickly responds by jumping behind TALAO and breaking HER neck. TALAO falls dead on the ground, but YSIP is still breathing for life. RINGOR inspects the wound. TIGAS makes sure TALAO is dead.
RINGOR
You’re hurt.
YSIP
I can live! I can live. It’s not that bad.
Half-beat.
RINGOR
I need warriors. Not weakness.
TIGAS
She might live that wound, she might, she might.
YSIP
I will! Keep me alive. Tend to my wound.
RINGOR gets up to leave.
RINGOR
No.
YSIP
You need me!
RINGOR stops.
You need me. I keep the laws. I’m the Storykeeper. Without me, you will fall. No laws, no leader. I hold all the power.
YSIP laughs. RINGOR leans down closely.
RINGOR
I am the leader. I need no one.
RINGOR stabs YSIP.
Now, I am Storykeeper and leader.
Surprised YSIP slowly dies beneath the adamant RINGOR.
TIGAS
Why do that?! I mean, why kill her? We need females. Don’t we?
RINGOR
We have one more.
TIGAS
Angara?
RINGOR
Take them away.
TIGAS
Them? Now?
RINGOR
Tonight, I will feast. Put them away. I don’t want scavengers eating my trophies.
TIGAS
But—
RINGOR gives TIGAS a deathly staredown.
TIGAS (CONT.)
Okay. But, please help me.
TIGAS grabs YSIP’s body and drags it away. After TIGAS is gone, RINGOR looks into the eyes of DACO’s corpse, as if trying to understand why DACO was so great once. HE huffs, then drags DACO away, too.
END ACT II, SCENE II
ACT II, SCENE III
FIONN and ANGARA are looking up at the sky. FIONN is actively looking for something, tracing the sky with HIS finger until finding it at last.
FIONN
There. That is where my planet is located, or approximately.
ANGARA
There?
FIONN
Approximately. It’s somewhat difficult to peer through your planet’s atmosphere, but that is my best guess.
ANGARA
It has shiny neighbors.
FIONN
Those stars and the planets rotating around them are millions of light years apart, but we do visit each other often.
ANGARA
What’s it like on your planet? Tell me. Please?
FIONN
Certainly. It’s very, very elegant. Every building is constructed with the utmost understanding of eclectic aesthetics. There is not a moment devoid of beautiful music, other than noontime and sunset peacetimes of course.
ANGARA
Of course.
ANGARA traces HER fingers along FIONN’s body seductively and curiously. FIONN understands the gesture as friendly only.
FIONN
We all have our duties to perform, but most of my species’ time is spent pleasantly debating philosophical topics. Such as whether or not our existence ends with our corporeal selves, and what ramifications such truths have on our life choices. Uhm…could you please tell me what you’re doing?
ANGARA
Mate with me.
FIONN
What?!
FIONN backs away very quickly.
Uhm…What I meant to say was…Please, explain yourself.
ANGARA
Mate with me. I’m letting you.
Beat.
FIONN
I don’t understand. I never meant to present myself in any sexual manner if I have done so. Please forgive.
ANGARA
Why forgive? I’m not denying you. I’m accepting you. Mate with me.
ANGARA moves towards him, and again FIONN backs off.
FIONN
But-but…But why do you wish to mate with me? I’m not even Lumahan.
ANGARA
I don’t care.
FIONN
You don’t?
ANGARA
No. You’re strong. You’re smart. You’re stronger and smarter than the rest. You would give me strong babies. Come mate with me.
FIONN
Offspring?! You want to carry my offspring? I’m not even going to stay long enough to raise them.
ANGARA
[Laughing] You’re funny. Males don’t raise babies. Young Lumahan only need mothers and the tribe, and then they raise themselves. Mate with me.
ANGARA has backed FIONN into a corner.
FIONN
Although I’m quite flattered by your proposal, I’m unfortunately going to have to say no. [Half-beat] No. Sorry.
ANGARA backs off.
ANGARA
I don’t understand.
Why not? I’m not pretty?
FIONN
Oh, no, no, no, that’s not it at all. You’re as unique and beautiful as the stars themselves.
ANGARA
Good.
ANGARA moves to FIONN again, but HE moves away.
FIONN
But, I’m still saying no.
ANGARA
If I’m pretty, and I want you, then why won’t you mate? Are you female?
FIONN
No. I’m the male of my species. It’s just that, my species no longer has the need to procreate. Our technologies have perfected the process of reproduction, and we no longer have the need to birth children naturally.
ANGARA
Then how do you love?
FIONN
Excuse me?
ANGARA
We Lumahan fight to survive, but we survive by though babies. We have babies, and we love them. Our babies are parts of us, and they grow and make babies of their own. We love our babies, and our babies love their babies. If you don’t mate, then how can you love?
FIONN
We love on a Platonic level. We…how do I say this? We love each other for what we are. It’s a choice. We don’t need to be each other’s offspring. We simply love. In fact, this is the first time I’ve heard any of your species mention the concept of love.
ANGARA
We don’t all love each other. We love our babies. We kill and eat and hate, but there’s nothing that takes our love of our babies. It’s too strong. Nothing can break it.
FIONN
Hmm. A self-consuming species completely enraptured by warfare cannot deny the emotional bond between parent and child? Amazing.
ANGARA
Will you mate with me, now?
FIONN
I…I never have…mated.
ANGARA
How old are you?
FIONN
According to your planet’s solar rotations, at least twenty-four times older than your oldest individual.
ANGARA
Then you can mate.
FIONN
The act is not in question. It’s my mentality about the act.
ANGARA
I don’t understand.
FIONN
Well, although I don’t think there are laws against it, I suppose if I ever did…mate with someone, it would have to be because of my emotional connection to the other individual. It could not simply be an act of mating, but a representation of our feelings for each other. [Beat] Our love. We would have to love each other.
ANGARA
Like love for a child?
FIONN
Like love for a lover.
ANGARA takes a moment to think about yet another new concept, walking around in contemplation.
FIONN (CONT.)
Haven’t you ever felt positive emotions for someone before?
ANGARA
I’ve liked others before.
FIONN
“Like” is on the path to loving someone. The difference is the amount. If you like someone to the point of wanting to be with them only for the remainder of your existence, then that level would be considered to be love.
ANGARA
I’ve mated many, many times with many Lumahan.
Half-beat.
FIONN
But have you ever wanted to mate with only one? Forever?
ANGARA looks at FIONN. The unspoken message is understood.
ANGARA
Do you love me? Not Pla…Platonict…
FIONN
Platonically.
ANGARA
Do you love me?
Beat.
FIONN
I could. To be honest with oneself is to accept the Infinite Truths, and if I have to be honest…I believe I’m on the path…to…such.
ANGARA surprise kisses FIONN, and HE accepts.
ANGARA
Do you want to mate now?
FIONN
Oh, I’m willing to discuss it more with you at great—
TIGAS (OS)
Fionn!
FIONN
I’m here! [To ANGARA] Oh, sorry. Force of habit.
Half-beat.
ANGARA
We’ll mate later.
FIONN
Okay.
TIGAS (OS)
Fionn?
FIONN
I’m—we’re here!
TIGAS enters.
TIGAS
I found them! My leader, I found them, I found them!
FIONN
Daco’s coming, too?
TIGAS chuckles. Enter RINGOR.
Where’s Daco?
Beat.
Where’s Daco?
TIGAS
Daco’s no more. Dead, dead!
FIONN
What? How so? Was it an accident?
ANGARA
Who killed her?
RINGOR
I did.
Beat.
FIONN
But…wha…
ANGARA
Quiet, little Ringor. Hiding in the shadows. Seeing everyone have fun. You’re lying.
TIGAS
Nope, nope. Not lying. I saw him do it, and then he killed Talao, too!
FIONN
Talao’s dead?
ANGARA
Who else did you two little, brave warriors kill?
RINGOR
Ysip. She was mortally wounded by Talao.
FIONN
And Ysip, too? Why, Ringor? Haven’t you head to a single word I’ve said? You listened to me like all the others, didn’t you? You heard the benefits of non-violence, but you still weren’t changed by them? You threw away a future of peace and tranquility. And for what?
RINGOR
Leadership, stranger. I’m the leader now.
TIGAS
And the Storykeeper, too. And I’m second in command, yes, yes.
FIONN
Leadership? You have no leadership! You can’t rule when the only rule you have is might makes right. Death begets more death, not life. You can’t—
RINGOR
Shut up, stranger! No more of your stupid words. Peace? Not real. Non-violence? Not real. This…
RINGOR holds up HIS knife against FIONN’s throat.
Real.
RINGOR slashes at FIONN, who backs away. FIONN is not damaged by the swipe at all.
FIONN
I told you I am beyond physical harm. It’s one of the benefits of my unreal philosophies of peace.
TIGAS
He still has his magics!
ANGARA
Yes, run like the cowards that you are. Run before you die of fright!
RINGOR
He doesn’t have all his magics. And he has no weapons. He is harmless. But I…
RINGOR takes out the Eye of Peace.
I have magic.
FIONN
What are you doing with that?
RINGOR
Killing.
FIONN
You…you used it to kill Daco! The sacred Eye of Peace, and you defiled it’s nature?!
RINGOR
Wasn’t hard. She was weak.
FIONN
She was on the path of truly accepting non-violence. She was with child!
TIGAS
Child’s dead, too.
RINGOR
Angara, I am your leader now. I am more powerful. We need females. Obey me.
ANGARA looks at FIONN, then back at RINGOR. SHE caresses RINGOR’s body.
ANGARA
You wish to mate with me?
FIONN
Angara?! Are you serious?! What’s to keep him from murdering you too?
RINGOR
Quiet, stranger! [To ANGARA] Carry my seed. Become stronger.
ANGARA caresses RINGOR even more and almost kisses HIM, but instead SHE scratches RINGOR across HIS torso. RINGOR growls in pain. TIGAS rushes to RINGOR’s aid.
&
nbsp; ANGARA
Feel the pain of my poison, fool!
TIGAS
My leader, are you hurt?
RINGOR
Treacherous female!
ANGARA
Not my leader, Ringor! Not my leader ever! Fionn is my mate. He will make me stronger. Stronger than you, you cripple!
RINGOR
[To TIGAS] Kill her!
TIGAS
Yes, yes, my leader.
TIGAS rushes ANGARA, who poises HER claws at HIM. TIGAS and ANGARA circle around, testing THEIR defense barriers.
FIONN
Angara! Tigas! Ringor! All of you stop it! This will only lead to more death and pain. Can’t you understand that? Angara, stop!
TIGAS
[To ANGARA; laughing] Obey the stranger, obey.
ANGARA
Not a stranger anymore. My lover.
TIGAS attacks ANGARA, who then dodges the attack and trips TIGAS. SHE jumps on HIS back and digs HER claws into HIS neck.
TIGAS
[Choaking] Leader!...My…leader!
ANGARA
Too much poison, Tigas. My very best venom. You die now. Be very afraid.
TIGAS chokes more and more, gasping for air through a swollen throat. As TIGAS slowly dies, ANGARA lets go and cheerfully watches TIGAS die.
ANGARA looks up at FIONN, who is horrified by HER actions. HE walks away backwards and slumps down onto the ground. ANGARA’s joy flees, and SHE realizes what SHE has done changed their relationship.
ANGARA
Fionn, I—
RINGOR, who had been writhing in pain, has taken this chance to surprise ANGARA with the Eye of Peace.
FIONN
Angara!
RINGOR
Should have used your best on me, you backstabbing, crazy female.
ANGARA is mesmerized by the Eye.
ANGARA
It’s so pretty. I want to look at it forever—
FIONN finally makes a moves to save ANGARA, but RINGOR stabs ANGARA and shuffles away with the Eye of Peace too quickly. RINGOR crawls away and exits.
FIONN holds dying ANGARA in HIS arms.
FIONN
I…I can’t heal you. I can’t make you better. You’re going to die.
ANGARA caresses FIONN’s cheek and smiles.
ANGARA
Do you love me?
FIONN
I believe I’m starting to.
ANGARA dies, and FIONN weeps.
Beat.
AGBAYANI enters and inspects TIGAS’ body. HE immediately prepares for an attack from elsewhere.
AGBAYANI
Where are enemies?
FIONN doesn’t respond. AGBAYANI nudges FIONN.
AGBAYANI
Where are they!?
FIONN
Gone. He’s gone. [To ANGARA’s body] I’ve never experienced someone dying before.
AGBAYANI
She dead?
FIONN
It’s so foreign to me. The idea of a thinking being suddenly not existing anymore. I never really knew what it was like. I never knew.
AGBAYANI makes the decision that the danger has gone, and HE stops looking.
AGBAYANI
Who killed Angara?
FIONN
I never knew.
AGBAYANI grabs and shakes FIONN.
AGBAYANI
Who killed her?!
FIONN
Ringor. It was Ringor.
AGBAYANI
Why?
FIONN
Because…she wouldn’t mate with him.
AGBAYANI
Who else dead?
FIONN
Talao.
AGBAYANI
Who else?
Half-beat.
Who else?
FIONN
Daco.
AGBAYANI’s rage slowly and quietly boils inside HIMSELF. HE breathes deeply, preparing HIS body for war.
AGBAYANI
The child? Inside her?
FIONN
Your child has also expired.
Half-beat. FIONN gently places ANGARA’s body down on the ground.
FIONN (CONT.)
What do we do with her and Tigas?
Beat.
AGBAYANI
We take them.
FIONN
To where?
AGBAYANI
We…put them in hole. Keep safe from scavengers.
FIONN
Tigas was aiding Ringor. Angara was the one to kill him. You still want to—
AGBAYANI
We take to hole and leave. That is way.
FIONN
And then what?
AGBAYANI
We kill Ringor.
AGBAYANI inspects FIONN.
You need weapon.
FIONN
A weapon? I won’t take a life.
Half-beat.
AGBAYANI
Then I kill alone. I have magic.
FIONN
Ringor has the Eye of Peace. I’m sorry. How will you kill him when neither of you can do harm to the other?
AGBAYANI’s stares down FIONN.
AGBAYANI
You take Angara. I take Tigas. We leave in hole. I kill Ringor. You leave.
Half-beat.
FIONN
Yes, I will leave. After you take Ringor’s life, I promise I’ll leave. Non-violence has no place here, anyhow.
AGBAYANI drags TIGAS’s body away.
AGBAYANI
Come.
FIONN moves over to ANGARA. Not wanting to simply drag a body of meat away, HE delicately holds ANGARA’s body in HIS arms.
FIONN
[To ANGARA] I’m sorry.
HE exits.
END ACT II, SCENE III
ACT II, SCENE IV
DACO’s chair is in the usual place, but a slightly wounded RINGOR is sitting upon it. HE calmly awaits for the enemy to arrive, holding the Eye of Peace in HIS hand. HE is a hunter; waiting for the prey to come to him.
AGBAYANI and FIONN enter. AGBAYANI expects this confrontation as much as RINGOR is. FIONN obviously supports AGBAYANI, but physically is unsure of how to do it.
RINGOR
Agbayani, you return. Word from the Banta Tribe?
AGBAYANI
I will kill you.
RINGOR
You will try. Stranger, you finally ready to kill?
FIONN
I—
AGBAYANI
I fight alone.
RINGOR
Good. It is good I can kill a real Lumahan. Can you kill me, Agbayani?
AGBAYANI
I have magic.
AGBAYANI readies HIS freeze move.
RINGOR
So do I.
RINGOR holds up the Eye of Peace.
You use your magic, and I use mine. We’ll never kill each other. You can always leave. You keep your magic. I keep mine.
AGBAYANI
You killed Daco. No surrender.
RINGOR jumps out of HIS chair.
RINGOR
She was weak!!! She listened to the stranger and was weak for it! She wanted to follow philosophies. Philosophies that say never kill and never die. That is not the Lumahan way. That is not the Pangan way. It is not any way! So, I kill her. Then, I kill Talao. Then, I kill Angara.
FIONN finally reveals HE is capable of anger by way of facial expression.
RINGOR
[Laughing] So, the stranger can get mad?
AGBAYANI
We fight! Fight now!
RINGOR
But how?
Half-beat.
AGBAYANI
[To FIONN] Fionn, you take magics back.
FIONN
Are you sure?
AGBAYANI
Take your magics. Take the Eye. I kill Ringor.
RINGOR
I won’t give up the eye.
AGBAYANI
You give eye, you kill me, then Fionn gives both magics to you. Deal?
FIONN
I can’t promise that! If Ringor has both the Eye of Peace and my defense mechanism, there will be no stopping his rampage.
RINGOR
[To FIONN] I won’t lose. Let me kill him. Make this right.
Beat.
FIONN
Fine. I’ve never lied in my entire existence. Ringor, if you kill Agbayani, you will receive both of my technologies.
RINGOR
Liar.
FIONN
I swear on the dearly departed spirit of Angara, I will give you my technologies!
Half-beat.
RINGOR
Agbayani, you first.
AGBAYANI and FIONN prepare for the transfer of power. The light is generated, and the defense mechanism is transferred.
FIONN
The Eye of Peace, please.
RINGOR thinks about it, and then hands over the Eye to Fionn.
RINGOR
I am ready to kill you, Agbayani.
AGBAYANI
You die now.
RINGOR and AGBAYANI back away from EACHOTHER, preparing their weapons for attack. THEY move in a circle staring EACHOTHER down, looking for weaknesses. FIONN stays behind, watching intently.
RINGOR jabs at AGBAYANI, who deflects the attack. AGBAYANI slashes at RINGOR, but RINGOR quickly dodges and attempts a side-swipe. AGBAYANI dodges the attack.
RINGOR
I’ve dreamed of killing you. I dreamed of killing everyone. Angara, Talao, Tigas, Daco. None of you were strong. I was the strong one. I’m the strongest. You are weak!
RINGOR and AGBAYANI exchange deflected swipes over and over again, until RINGOR nicks AGBAYANI. RINGOR laughs, but AGBAYANI quickly punches RINGOR where ANGARA had wounded RINGOR earlier. THEY both hold THEIR wounds.
FIONN
Are you alright, Agbayani?
AGBAYANI doesn’t respond. RINGOR and HE return to circling EACHOTHER.
RINGOR
Your child? [AGBAYANI growls] I did not kill. I couldn’t. He died too fast in Daco’s belly.
AGBAYANI roars and attacks RINGOR quickly and rapidly. RINGOR deflects each attack, then manages to slice AGBAYANI’s arm. AGBAYANI drops HIS weapon, and RINGOR brutally beats RINGOR until AGBAYANI drops to the ground. RINGOR points HIS blade at AGBAYANI’s throat.
RINGOR
[Heavily breathing] I am stronger. You are weaker. By our laws, you must die.
AGBAYANI
You…are…nothing…but…prey.
RINGOR roars and prepares for the final blow.
FIONN
No!
FIONN touches HIS chest and activates his defense mechanism. RINGOR is frozen in place. AGBAYANI moves away, grabbing hold of HIS weapon. FIONN moves RINGOR’s hand to the front of HIS face and places the Eye of Peace in it. FIONN then disengages the defense mechanism.
RINGOR cannot help but stare into the Eye of Peace. HE is enraptured by its knowledge.
RINGOR
I feel…peaceful. I understand what harm I’ve done. Killing is wrong. What I’ve been doing is wrong.
FIONN
[To AGBAYANI] Kill him. Kill him!
RINGOR
It’s so beautiful.
AGBAYANI stabs RINGOR in the back. RINGOR spasms from pain and is paralyzed, not even getting the chance to die an animal’s death. RINGOR falls to HIS knees, breathes heavily, and dies.
Beat.
AGBAYANI drops HIS weapon.
AGBAYANI
Ringor dead.
FIONN
I know.
AGBAYANI
You kill him.
FIONN
I know.
AGBAYANI
You act like Lumahan.
Half-beat.
I am leader. Leader of no one. My tribe dead. My child dead. I…wounded, but alive.
FIONN
What am I to do now?
AGBAYANI
Banta Tribe wants to listen. Wants to learn philosophies. Wants you to talk.
FIONN
I…I can’t. I can’t teach non-violence to your species. You are by far the most brutal, ferocious, primordial creatures I’ve ever witnessed. You’re all so brutal, you…you have made me brutal, too. I am a murderer. I have taken the life of a living being. How could I ever teach the ways of non-violence to such a place?
AGBAYANI picks up HIS weapon.
AGBAYANI
Go. Leave. Lumahan don’t need you. You not god. You animal. Like me. Go. Leave. Leave.
AGBAYANI exits. FIONN is left alone to ponder the sins of HIS actions while looking down upon RINGOR’s body.
SFX: Mechanical humming.
A circular light shines down upon FIONN.
SFX: A white noise/ technological language.
FIONN
Fionn…Fionn reporting, healthy and undamaged.
SFX: A white noise/ technological language.
FIONN
The mission was unsuccessful. The Lumahan….local inhabitants rejected our philosophies. They deemed them useless.
SFX: A white noise/technological language.
FIONN
I…
SFX: A white noise/technological language.
FIONN
I am prepared to return to my people and give a full report. A report of my sins.
Beat.
SFX: A white noise/technological language.
FIONN
Am I altered? Forever so. I advise to be left in solitary confinement until the Council of Ain can hear my full report. I have so much to reveal.
SFX: A white noise/technological language.
FIONN stands and prepares for transportation.
FIONN
I am prepared for departure. [Looks at RINGOR’s body] Transport now.
SFX: Humming mechanical sound.
The white light turns off, and all is blackness.
END ACT II, SCENE IV
END ACT II
THE END