Uther and the Secret of the Dragon

by David William Kirby

  Approaching the start line UTHUR is just in the lead as both horses dig into the soil for grip as they thunder around the bend, past the great bronze statue of Minos and onto the straight. Out of the corner of his eye UTHUR sees four of JASBAR’s minions standing on either side of the track. JASBAR throws him a wicked snarl as the black horse slips by in a haze of dry dust. Before he could react ATHUR sees two of the minions holding a long thin cord which crosses the track and is held on the other side by two others.

  The Arabic horse jumps the cord but it’s back hoof catches the cord making it stumble a little. This was all JASBAR needed to push himself forwards until a whole horses length separated them.

  UTHUR

  Come on girl, you can do it.

  UTHUR whispers to his horse as they approach the start line once again. Both horses stamped around the bend in another cloud of dry dust. UTHUR looks at JASBAR’s rear and digs his heels in to urge his ride onward/

  The men on either side of the track ready themselves again as both rider approach, waiting for JASBAR to pass they pull the cord hard trying to trip UTHUR again. The white Arabic jumps the cord with no difficulty and UTHUR manages to grab the cord and pull all four of the men into a sprawling heap across the track. The cord catches the inner wall and hangs limply as the four men run back into the crowd.

  They approach the start line again as the crowd stands in raptures, excited but the drama unfolding before them. MEMET screams from the side as the two ride past in a cloud of dust, as they thunder down the straight again JASBAR turns to see how far UTHUR is behind him.

  He laughs manically seeing a horses length between them both and only turns back to see the stray cord in his way at the last moment. His horse tries to jump but its rear hoof catches the cord and both JASBAR and the black horse go sprawling across the track.

  UTHUR cannot believe his luck as he thunders by and is galloping alone toward the finish line. AGNESS jumps for joy as she sees the dust settle and out of it UTHUR and the white Arabic horse burst through the line. The crowd roar their approval as UTHUR comes to a halt next to the Diaz. He dismounts as AGNESS runs to greet him.

  They both look behind to see JASBAR leading his injured horse to the finish line surrounded by the KING’s men at spear point..

  The king stands and approaches AGNESS and UTHUR followed by the valet carrying the red cushion upon which sits the gold crown of laurel.

  KING

  Minos has spoken.

  The crowd erupt with applause as the King picks up the crown and places it upon UTHURs head. MEMET, ADRIUS and ESUIT run from the crowd and join UTHUR

  Young UTHUR, you have won your freedom.

  He turns to look at JASBAR and shakes his head.

  Take this murderer away.

  SCENE 42 INT DAY

  UTHUR, MERLAIN ADRIUS AND ESUIT are standing by ADRIUS villa. The horses are being loaded with goods and they are preparing to leave.

  ADRIUS

  Have a good journey my friends. UTHUR, Merlain,

  it was a pleasure meeting you both.

  MERLAIN

  The pleasure was ours, thank you for your help; there will

  always be a place for you at our table,

  UTHUR

  I will take good care of ESUIT for you’ thank you

  for gifting her to us.

  ADRIUS

  I’m sure she can take care of herself. Look After him,

  ESUIT

  I will. Thank you for my freedom.

  ADRIUS

  You have earned it.

  Just then AGNESS comes from the villa and approaches MERLAIN. Sarah steps to Adrius side and grips his hand.

  AGNESS

  Take this, please Merlain, whenever you see it in the

  future think of me and my dear sister, she would

  have wanted you to have this.

  She hands over a long parcel wrapped in paper and string.

  MERLAIN

  I will think of you and your sisters each time I see

  the moon shine brightly in a summer sky.

  The scent of you will forever be waiting in a woodland

  glade.

  This gift will be cherished forever.

  SCENE 43 EXT NIGHT

  Under a desert sky the four, UTHUR, ESUIT, MELAIN and MEMET are camped around a small fire, the horses resting behind them.

  MEMET

  So many stars, It’s as if the heavens go on forever.

  ESUIT

  Look, a shooting star, quickly, make a wish. It’s said a

  shooting star will always make a wish come true.

  UTHUR

  What did you wish for?

  ESUIT

  I don’t know, I suppose that my mother is happy,

  where ever she is. Yes, that’s what I wish. What about you?

  UTHUR

  This land seems so happy, there is no poverty here,

  no starving children. Everyone seems like they are

  industrious and live well through their efforts.

  I wish it was so in our land.

  MERLAIN

  These people are enjoying the fruits of peace. When

  there is peace people can get on and enjoy life;

  war causes everyone to suffer.

  UTHUR

  But why are our people suffering, why?

  MEMET

  It seems to me that the army that has invaded your land

  are there for something, Something they cannot get in

  their own land, something which they did not want to

  pay for.

  Perhaps your land has something they covert

  UTHUR

  When I get home I will purge them from the island,

  drive them into the sea. Then I will find out what they

  wanted to steal from us and sell it to them.

  Then our people will live like these people do.

  In comfort, without want,. I will see to it.

  MERLAIN

  The young always want to change things for the better.

  It is just the greed of bitter old men who take those

  dreams and squander them.

  MEMET

  The young are a tide that come to wash the old away. Some

  do it with a word others do it with a sword.

  Swords are all that some bitter old men understand.

  UTHUR

  When we left our home we were using stone tools,

  stone arrow head and blunt rocks for hammers.

  Seeing the technology in this land has shown me just

  how backward we are compared to the rest of the world.

  If we want to change, this technology, must come to our

  land and I intend to take it there.

  The reason we were forced into slavery was because our

  enemies had metal swords and against them our tools

  turned to dust. I want to go back and show my people

  how to make metal, swords and knives,

  chisels and hammers, pots and pans.

  I want us to come into the modern age,

  I want to bring civilisation home.

  MERLAIN

  We have much work to do if that’s the case.

  ESUIT

  You will have to find fit men willing to train and learn

  how to fight. You will have to seek out those who are

  willing to trust their lives to you, to follow you into the

  pit of battle and slay your oppressors.

  Do these people exist in your land or have they withered

  into the night.

  UTHUR

  We are a strong race, we were let down by our technology,

  nothing more .

  But I’m sure that as I speak, some will be hiding away in

  the forest and hills, waiting for the call to arms.

  Not all have been made slaves, As you are my judge,

  they awa
it the dawn when the sun will rise in our enemy’s

  eyes and blood will soak the land.

  They are waiting for a leader to follow.

  ESUIT

  Are you this leader they await, or are you just

  a bag of hot air?

  UTHUR

  Mock me if you want, but I am being serious.

  I am ready to go back and find my army,

  I am ready to train them and make them the soldiers we

  need to free the land, are you with me.

  ESUIT

  Of course, wherever you go, whatever it takes.

  UTHUR

  Merlain, what about you?

  MERLAIN

  You do not even have to ask my young friend.

  MEMET

  Good luck to you, I cannot join you unfortunately

  because I have a business here to run and my animals

  are dependent upon me making it a success.

  UTHUR

  You don’t have to explain my dearest friend.

  It is partly due to you that we have found what we

  need to defeat those who chase us away in the first place.

  One day I will invite you over to my table and let you

  see what your efforts have achieved.

  MEMET

  I will look forwards to that day. Let’s drink to the

  future. Ah, another shooting star, it’s an omen of good.

  The gods are behind you young man; see that, they

  are blessing you with their lights.

  UTHUR looks across at MERLAIN and sees him holding the parcel AGNESS gave him earlier that day.

  UTHUR

  What is that? I saw her hand it to you back in the city

  and wondered what it was.

  He watches as MERLAIN unwraps the parcel. Suddenly the light from the fire catches shiny metal.

  It’s Amber’s sword, I thought they were supposed to

  burn all her belongings.

  MEMET

  That glorious piece of the smith’s art would not have

  burnt, tarnished perhaps, but never burnt.

  It is a magnificent weapon, why did she give it to you?

  MERLAIN

  Esa Kali Akbar, the woman of the water.

  I believe she gave it to UTHUR.

  UTHUR

  To me, but why?

  MERLAIN

  Why anyone would be given a sword; to smite thy

  enemies of course. Come, take it from me.

  UTHUR

  Are you sure?

  MERLAIN

  If you are to lead our people from slavery you will

  need to have something they would want to follow.

  With this in your hands they will know,

  without any doubt, that you will win victory for them.

  It is not just a sword, it is a symbol of your power,

  take it and be proud. Fate has delivered this to you,

  use it well.

  He takes the sword and examines it closely. Before Holding it above his head.

  UTHUR

  This sword is the warrant I have sought to lead my people,

  when they see it in my hand they will know that I have

  come to set them free.

  That the gods have ordained this.

  I swear, under this desert sky, that I shall take this blade

  back to my troubled land an use it to lead my people

  from slavery.

  That this edge of steel with cut through the necks of my

  enemies and make them quell at my feet.

  ESUIT

  Get you.

  MEMET

  Leave the boy alone, he’s taking on a brave role,

  to do this thing you need to, at first, talk yourself

  into it; eh UTHUR.?

  MERLAIN

  This boy was born to take the role of leader of his

  people. They are waiting for him to return and help

  them rise up; if he needs to practice some rhetoric to do

  this effectively then so be it.

  You carry on UTHUR, they are not mocking you, they

  are supporting you.

  UTHUR

  It’s too late now, I’ve lost the thread I was following.

  Never mind, on the day I guess it will all come to me.

  ESUIT

  So who are they?

  MERLAIN

  Who?

  ESUIT

  These men who have taken your land, who are they,

  what do they want?

  MERLAIN

  All I know is that they come from Middle Europe,

  the Black Forest.

  Eric The Boneless leads them, a foul, gross giant of a

  man.

  So bloated by his gluttony that he has to be carried

  upon a sleigh.

  As to what he wants.

  What does any pig want?

  He wants more!

  UTHUR

  He wants it all. Well I am ready now to give it to him,

  right through the heart.

  SCENE 44 EXT NIGHT

  Back in Albion armoured soldiers guard heavy carts full of oar. Slaves pull the carts through a thickly wooded glade and are whipped whenever they slow. Suddenly expertly aimed slings shoot heavy stones through the air and these knock the front horsemen from their steeds. A volley of arrows follow and the soldiers fall. The slaves pick up heavy pieces of oar and attack the fallen soldiers. They are joined by men who come from the trees armed with stone tools to slaughter the fallen horsemen taking their swords and armour.

  ULAN

  Bring this one with us.

  SCENE 45 INT NIGHT

  Deep within the forest the captured soldier is strung to a frame and beaten. A crowd of men and women watch in the light of torches, their faces dirty are tense with anger as the man is questioned by one of ULAN’s men.

  WORT

  Tell us, why are you making us dig this rock for you;

  what value has it?

  MAN

  I’ve said. It is dragon feed.

  WORT

  Rubbish, I swear you will die tonight unless you start

  telling us the truth, what value has this rock.

  Why is it worth more than our blood, Tell me!

  ULAN

  These weapons you use against us, how are they made?

  MAN

  The dragon....

  WORT

  Lies!

  He smashes the man in the face.

  MAN

  It’s true, the dragon draws the swords from this stone.

  The rock goes in and swords come out, I lie not...

  ULAN

  I say this, if any man can draw a sword from this,

  a pile of dusty stone; surely he would be a

  king amongst us.

  Three strangers who have stood in silence at the back of the tent pull back their hoods and step forwards.

  UTHUR

  I am such a man.

  The assembled pull swords on the three who form a defensive triangle taking their own swords out in response, ULAN sees he who spoke is armed with the most elaborate weapon ever seen steps forward to look closer.

  ULAN

  What, who speaks there?

  MERLAIN

  It is young UTHUR, he has returned to lead you.

  ULAN steps towards the young man and looks into his eyes, his face stony and tense. He then looks towards MERLAIN and shakes his head before breaking into a smile.

  ULAN

  UTHUR, it is you. I was told you were dead but no,

  my eyes do not deceive, here you are, grown into a

  strapping young man with Merlain beside you.

  By the Gods; I am amazed.

  Look everyone, it’s the old King’s young son, returned

  a man. Bring out the mead; this is a time t
o celebrate

  after our years of torment.

  SCENE 45 EXT NIGHT

  After a period of celebration ULAN takes UTHUR to one side and asks him to walk for a moment.

  ULAN

  How did you find our encampment?

  UTHUR

  You forget I used to play in these trees as a child.

  My father always said this is where I should hide

  should anything happen to him; we’ve spent a few

  nights looking for fires in the trees, it wasn’t too hard.

  ULAN

  What you said earlier, about drawing swords from the stone,

  is it true. Have you a dragon in your bag?

  Can you draw a sword from stone?

  UTHUR

  It’s not magic my friend. Merlain and I have learnt so

  much since we have been away.

  I have discovered that these invaders are here to take

  this stone, oar they call it, and steal it from us.

  For it is the essence of their power.

  Something they have not in their land and rather than

  barter for it they have used their superior knowledge to

  enslave us and steal it away.

  I never saw it before, Ulan, when I was a child. But since

  we have returned I see it everywhere.

  This whole peninsular is rich with elements scarce in

  other parts.

  This dry grey rock they mine is the very substance of

  Bronze, my friend.

  ULAN

  Bronze?

  UTHUR

  You are familiar with the gold that we find from time

  to time in the rivers.

  It’s a valuable element which

  people covert and use for barter.

  ULAN

  Yes, but it’s useless for tools or weapons.

  UTHUR

  Well gold comes from the rocks high in the nearby

  mountains and it is washed downstream whenever there

  is a storm.

  It is a soft metal.

  Bronze is a similar, but made from two such metal