Reunion and Dark Pony (4 page)

So I never gave her any.

CAROL
: It's real gold. . . .

Thank you, Bernie.

BERNIE
: I'm not going to tell you you don't have to wear it if you don't like it.

I hope you do like it.

CAROL
: I do like it . . .

BERNIE
: So what's the weather like out there?

CAROL
: It's fine. Just a little chilly.

BERNIE
: We should be getting ready, no? Shouldn't you call Gerry?

CAROL
: Yes.

BERNIE
: So you do that and I'll put away the things and then we'll go.

CAROL
: The bracelet's lovely, Bernie.

BERNIE
: Thank you.

DARK PONY

This play is dedicated to Lindsay Crouse

Dark Pony
opened on October 14,1977, in a Yale Repertory production, New Haven, Connecticut, with the following cast:

This production was directed by Walt Jones; set by Kate Edmunds; lighting by William Connor.

The Characters

T
HE
F
ATHER

T
HE
D
AUGHTER

The Scene

An automobile.

The Time

Night.

FATHER
: Once upon a time there was an Indian.

(
Pause.
)

In the days when wild things roamed the land, and long before the White Man came here.

DAUGHTER
: When was this?

FATHER
: A long, long time ago.

(
Pause.
)

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: Long ago.

FATHER
: He was a Brave, and very handsome.

DAUGHTER
: What's a Brave?

FATHER
: A man who fights in war.

A young man.

And his body was like Iron.

and he could see like an Eagle.

And he could run like a Deer.

You ever see a deer run?

DAUGHTER
: Sure.

FATHER
: And swim like a fish.

DAUGHTER
: And he ran like a deer?

FATHER
: Yes.

DAUGHTER
: Hopping?

FATHER
: No. Not hopping. But as fast as deer run when they run.

DAUGHTER
: And could he hop a fence?

FATHER
: He could jump over it. Yes.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: Good.

FATHER
: His name was . . .

FATHER
and
DAUGHTER
(simultaneously)
: Rain Boy.

FATHER
: And he was beloved by all his tribe, because he was both brave and gay.

And he brought happiness to all around him just by smiling.

If the times were bad.

Or singing songs he used to sing.

Or telling stories.

Then he would act out the parts.

He was a renowned fighter.

DAUGHTER
: Who did they fight?

FATHER
: Other tribes.

DAUGHTER
: The Germans?

FATHER
: No.

And Rain Boy had a special friend.

DAUGHTER
: I know.

FATHER
: Who?

DAUGHTER
: Dark Pony!

FATHER
: Yes, Dark Pony.

When he was in trouble or whenever he found that he needed help,
then he would call his friend Dark Pony.

He would say:

“Dark Pony . . .”

FATHER
and
DAUGHTER
(
simultaneously
): “Dark Pony, your friend Rain Boy calls to you.”

FATHER
: Then he'd look up, if they were down in a valley, or around, if they were in a culvert, or a stream; or if they were high on a meadow.

He would see a speck. A dark red speck . . .

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: Like blood.

FATHER
: Red. Like a rose—like sunset in the wheat or grass.

Galloping towards him.

(
Pause.
)

Dark Pony.

Come to help him.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: “Your friend Rain Boy calls to you.”

FATHER
: If he was wounded, pick him up and carry him away upon his back.

If he was thirsty, bring him cool stream water in a hide.

If he was hungry, bring him food.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: Something to eat.

FATHER
: One day he was bound home after many moons of fighting in a foreign province.

He had not seen his wife or baby in a long, long while.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: He missed them.

FATHER
: And he longed to see her.

Up they went.

Up through the mountains.

Climbing home.

Until the snows came.

Falling early on the homebound Braves—It trapped them.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: In the snow.

FATHER
: Up in the mountains.

Cold.

Alone.

Until his enemies all stole away one night; They took his food, and told his friends that he had died, and crept on through the mountain ‘til he was alone.

(
Pause.
)

In the mountain woods.

(
Pause.
)

Starved and weak.

As he trudged on alone to see his young wife and his child.

Many days.

Until one night when he had fallen and was set upon by wolves.

DAUGHTER
: No!

FATHER
: He had built a fire so he could rest, and when it burnt down he would rise and march again.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: This was in Winter.

FATHER
: When he woke, what did he see? The eyes of
wolves
!

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: No.

FATHER
: Glaring at him from the darkness.

Orange eyes and howling.

DAUGHTER
: I'm scared.

Pause.

FATHER
: And they drew closer.

He cried out with all his strength:

“Dark Pony, Dark Pony, your friend, Rain Boy, calls to you.”

And he looked up.

But he was alone.

The wolves came closer.

He cried:

“Dark Pony, Dark Pony.

Your friend, Rain Boy, calls to you.”

The wolves stopped.

(
Pause.
)

He lifted up a log from the fire to defend himself, but he knew that he couldn't last long.

He could smell them now.

(
Pause.
)

They came closer.

“Oh,” he said.

(
Pause.
)

“Oh, Dark Pony . . .”

(
Pause.
)

“You have forgotten me.”

Then he heard neighing.

(
Pause.
)

Hooves beating through the snow.

From the highest cliff.

Down through the mountain.

Crying. And galloping.

Borne like the sleet on the wind.

As he fell back exhausted,

The wolves whined.

They tried to flee.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: They tried to leave.

FATHER
: But he bore down upon them.

(
Pause.
)

And through their midst.

(
Pause.
)

Through the dying fire.

The snow grew red with their blood.

(
Pause.
)

Then all became quiet.

The wind blew.

The snow drifted.

He lay in silence.

He had become cold.

Dark Pony walked over to him, and he nudged him with his nose.

(
Pause.
)

And he neighed.

(
Pause.
)

And he licked his face.

(
Pause.
)

Slowly he opened his eyes.

(
Pause.
)

He looked up above him.

Dark Pony was standing there.

(
Pause.
)

“Oh, Dark Pony,” he said . . .

(
Pause.
)

“I thought you had forgotten me.”

(
Pause.
)

DAUGHTER
: Are we almost home yet?

FATHER
: Yes.

(Pause.)

(To self)
Down from the mountains.

Down.

Across the hills.

Across the prairies.

DAUGHTER
: . . . Because I remember how it sounds.

FATHER
: You do?

DAUGHTER
: The road.

FATHER
: Yes.

We are almost there.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: ‘Cause I remember how it sounds.

FATHER
: . . . Down in the Valleys—he would look above and see his friend there.

DAUGHTER
(to self)
: . . . Just before we get home.

Pause.

FATHER
(to self)
: “Dark Pony, Rain Boy calls to you.”

Pause.

DAUGHTER
: We are almost home.