THE COMBATANTS - 2001 by Joseph Kunkle all rights reserved
A barren landscape. Stunted, weathered, dead trees symbolizing the hostile world humanity operates within daily.
Modified excerts from Henry V (Shakespeare) is voice over to fade in thus
bringing a sense of timelessness to the sequence. As the dialogue draws to a
climax, six chess men, loosely resembling pawns and dressed in white (not to
reflect innocence, but unawareness) purposefully stride about, changing directions
with an occasional pause as if engaged in the most important business, but actually
doing nothing.
Their white heads are spherical and devoid of any facial features. As the voice
over draws to a close, two of the pawns suddenly stop their random motion, and
purposely step forward into a square which the four remaining pawns have suddenly
formed the corners of. They suddenly change into costumed combatants. Their
costumes resemble badly weathered Elizabethan garb. They differ in color, but
not in any other way. They wear elaborate carnival masks. The entertainment
is about to begin
.
The combatants hold cylindrical metallic objects in their hands. Assuming the
ready stance, a flash of light reveals the nature of the light sabers each combatant
holds. The sabers symbolize the justification each warrior is certain of. They
circle each other warily, each probing the other's defenses. A slight lunge
here, a feint there, after moments they begin fighting in earnest.
Throughout the fight, the pawns stand motionless except for their heads turning
to follow the combat. The fight roams around the square formed by the four pawns
symbolically representing the wad of humanity confining hostility to theatres
of war. The combatants never step outside of these imaginary boundaries. #1
trips over a small stone and #2 bears down on him. #1 parrys multiple thrusts
from the ground. In desperate defense, #1 fighter throws a handful of dirt in
the #2's eyes, momentarily knocking his mask askew.
As #2 jumps back to wipe the dirt from his eyes, #1 regains his feet and the
two combatants begin to circle again. As they close a second time, #1 gets through
#2's parry and nicks him on the hand, which singes, causing him to drop his
saber. #1 steps back and the combatants hold each others gaze for just a moment.
Momentarily at bay, #2 warrior looks suddenly to the left in mock surprise.
As his opponent follows suit, and taking full advantage of the distraction,
#2 pulls a shorter saber from his clothing. The short saber flashes to life
and deadly combat is resumed. #2 beats back #1 and is able to regain possession
of his other saber. They square off, ferociously attacking each other until
the fight is at a standoff. The combatants hold eye contact for just a moment
before they jump back from each other and into the ready stance, circling warily.
#1 breaks his fighting stance with his light saber horizontally held behind
his head. He presses a button on the handle and an additional blade leaps from
the other end of the handle, forming a light staff. The combatants close again
as #1 wields his weapon like a quarter staff, beating back #2 and eventually
forcing him to his knees. The corner pawns twitch, as if in expectation of something.
Looking at the blank faces of the pawns, #1 switches off his saber and steps
back, magnanimously allowing #2 to regain his footing. The symbolism here is
that through magnanimous empty gestures, #1 has only managed to prolong the
conflict.
#2 runs to the far end of the square, turning to face #1. He pauses momentarily to catch his breath. #2 slowly switches off his short saber and returns it to his clothing. He holds his remaining saber vertically in one hand while making some adjustment with the other, his eyes never leaving #1.
#2 warrior points his saber at #1, and a bolt of light energy leaps from the
handle. Thus demonstrating the escalation of conflict evolving deadlier and
deadlier force. #1 is just barely able to deflect the bolt before #2 is showering
him with blasts from his saber. As each blast is deflected #1's saber can be
seen getting dimmer and thinner. #2 is now grinning triumphantly until one of
the deflected bolts hits a pawn, instantly killing it.
Combat ceases immediately, a soft wind stirs the dust as the remaining pawns
look steadily at their fallen. Their gaze slowly pans to #1 for a moment, then
suddenly, vengefully towards #2. #1's saber suddenly roars with power and he
attacks unmercifully, beating down his opponent until he is paralyzed and cringing
with #1's saber at his throat.
The pawns remain still at their corners, three standing and one fallen. Slowly,
they raise their left hands, thumbs pointed to side. Fate hangs in the balance.
Tension builds for a moment as the three remaining pawns slowly turn thumbs
down. Suddenly, an executioner's hood materializes on double blades and he strikes
down #2 who dies and fades away to nothing (memory).
#1 steps backward, stopping in the center of the square. He is looking at the
pawns, who nod (affirmation, or approval?). #1 switches off his saber, tucking
it carefully into his belt. This done, he gradually changes back to a pawn as
the fallen pawn fades away from where it lies in the corner. The #1 pawn moves
to takes its place.
After a brief pause, the four pawns immediately begin as before, marching purposefully
from place to place.
Fade to black.
Copyright 2001 Joseph Lyon Kunkle - all rights reserved