Logline: Does the magical nature of Lachantalay dictate the behavior of Victor Reus’ sheep? Or are sheep just sheep?
EXT. ROLLING CASTLEGROUNDS OF VICTOR REUS. DAY.
Landowner VICTOR REUS sits with his neighbor, MARCUS PROUDST, on Victor’s veranda in the land of Lachantalay, looking at the vast number of Victor’s sheep within their vision.
MARCUS
Let’s walk. Bwah! I’m bored with
your sheep. Aren’t you?
VICTOR
No. I love my sheep. They intrigue
- They make me think magical
thoughts. But we can walk among
them. By the way, my sheep are
special.
MARCUS
Bwah! Sheep’s sheep. Mine. Yours.
The same. But we certainly have
different opinions.
As they walk, MARCUS steps in sheep feces, tries to shake it off, but it remains.
MARCUS (CONT’D)
All of this excrement! Bwah!
VICTOR
Yes. Part of natural events.
MARCUS
Don’t you find it. . .bothersome?
VICTOR
Heavens, no! I’d never think that.
MARCUS
I do. Except for their wool, Or I
should say the money from it. I
find them troublesome to keep.
VICTOR
I see caretaking as caretaking.
Maybe that’s why I can talk to
them. But we can have different
opinions.
MARCUS
Bwah! It’s not like your sheep can
DO anything special, like foretell
the future. Haha!
VICTOR stops in his tracks. His hand encircles MARCUS’ forearm.
VICTOR
What a coincidence, I was just
thinking how mine CAN do just that.
MARCUS
(laughing hysterically)
What? Victor, why you poor, poor
rich crazy man! Your sheep can
foretell the future? Bwah!
VICTOR
Yes, Marcus. You know mythology has
recorded that, many many years ago,
the animals here all had unique
abilities to exhibit magical
powers. Some, like man, like you
and me, could even talk, once upon
a time.
(folds arms as he looks at
his sheep)
My sheep ARE magical. Some animals
can be. But our opinions differ.
MARCUS
I must admit you have me most
intrigued, Victor. What is their
“magic”?
VICTOR
They can foretell the weather.
MARCUS
Bwah! Now we have a great differing
opinion. That’s not magic! How
about something unnatural for
animals to predict? Like finding
riches?
MARCUS chuckles and sits down upon a boulder in the meadow.
VICTOR
I don’t think you fully understand.
MARCUS
I understand that you are a pitiful
fool.
VICTOR walks to the center of the sheep gathered nearest them. He eases down on his haunches, eye level with them grazing in the meadow, and recites this chant.
VICTOR
Over hill, glen, dale, and hollow,
Do what you do that all may follow.
You’ve got gifts, of that I know.
What I say is yours to show.
Friends, you know I care for you,
do the best that you can do.
VICTOR stands up and turns toward MARCUS.
MARCUS
(clapping, laughing with
incredulity)
Quite a show, for sheep that’re
just grazing. At this point, riches
or weather prediction, either or
would be–
The FLOCK, about 300 sheep, immediately stop grazing, some in mid-chew, lift their heads, and turn their bodies in the same direction. They get into the formation of an arrowhead, raise their right front legs and point toward the west.
MARCUS (CONT’D)
(stops laughing, starts
moving toward the flock)
What? What are they doing?
VICTOR
Looks to me like they’re pointing.
West. To the highlands. Maybe
they’re responding.
MARCUS
That’s ridiculous. You know our
opinions differ. It’s just
coincidence. Sheep don’t point.
In one united front in the formation of an arrowhead, the FLOCK moves together due west at almost a trot.
VICTOR takes off in a hurried run.
VICTOR
I know we differ in our opinions,
but YOU MUST RUN, MARCUS, RUN! They
are heading west fast for a reason.
MARCUS
Bwah! It’s coincidence. Like a
stampede!
But MARCUS does run, too. Over hill and dale, westward the SHEEP run. And all the SHEPHERDS and HERD DOGS with them. Winds blow and whip into a rage. The battering rain begins.
VICTOR
(yelling to Marcus and
others)
Look where the sheep lead us. Go to
higher ground. Head into the cave!
ALL enter a huge cave sheltered from the winds with what sheep the cave can sustain. Those SHEEP still outside are protected by cliff walls and thick trees in front of the cave entrance. The LANDOWNERS and SHEPHERDS watch as outside the storm rages.
VICTOR (CONT’D)
Can you see what is happening?
MARCUS
It’s a life-threatening storm! I’m
glad I’m not out in that.
VICTOR
The sheep predicted this storm
because I asked them to.
MARCUS
Bwah! Coincidence. The sheep could
have realized the storm was coming.
Especially one of this magnitude.
The fact that we are saved, I say,
is coincidence. Nor are there
riches.
VICTOR
We are saved. We have our lives. Is
that not “riches” to you?
MARCUS
We have lost all of our exquisite
establishments and possessions
below, here in the west. Definitely
they did not FIND riches.
VICTOR
The storm has ended. We must go.
You are anxious after such a storm.
Perhaps people need you and me.
MARCUS
Bwah! I must evaluate my land
holdings.
The two LANDOWNERS, SHEPHERDS, and the SHEEP proceed out from the cave, down along the foothills, into the valley, where the animals stop and graze in the sunshine as sheep do.
VICTOR
(tips his hat)
I take my leave of you. I and my
magical sheep.
MARCUS
Bwah! I tell you what. Let’s have a
wager. I say your sheep cannot
predict another event back to back.
VICTOR
My sheep are special, I tell you.
MARCUS
Bwah! Come, come, man! I tell you
that sheep cannot knowingly
interact with humans or in any way
make a difference. Animals hold no
magical powers. What happened with
the cave and the storm here does
not count as anything remarkable.
Coincidence.
VICTOR
My apologies. One day we must come
up with a suitable wager.
VICTOR begins to walk away.
MARCUS
Wait, I got it. Since this
“supposed” prediction dealt with
rain, I say that your sheep cannot
foretell eminent disaster by means
of . . .fire. Disastrous fire.
VICTOR
My sheep can predict anything. What
is the wager?
MARCUS
Your sheep.
VICTOR
Come, come, Marcus. I can’t wager
my sheep. I love my sheep. I am
their caretaker.
(MORE)
VICTOR (CONT’D)
How about if I relinquish to you
the rents from three of the shop
properties in the neighboring
market village near my castle?
MARCUS
How could you wager those? Your
people operate those businesses
there.
VICTOR
I can do so if you vow to keep the
businesses the same. The only
change is that you collect the
rents rather than I. And the same
wager holds true if my sheep
perform. I collect the rents from
three market businesses in the
village near your castle.
MARCUS
Bwah! It’s a wager.
VICTOR
And these shepherds stand as
witnesses of our word.
So be it.
MARCUS VICTOR
Let me talk to my sheep.
VICTOR walks to the center of the FLOCK. He eases down on his haunches eye level with them, grazing, and recites the chant.
VICTOR (CONT’D)
Over hill, glen, dale, and hollow,
Do what you do that all may follow.
You’ve got gifts, of that I know.
What I say is yours to show.
Friends, you know I care for you,
do the best that you can do.
VICTOR stands up and turns towards Marcus.
MARCUS
Indeed, again, it’s quite a show
you give, Victor, for sheep that
are just grazing. Because of their
wool, I don’t see how sheep would
be involved with fire. It’s
ridiculous–
The 300 sheep immediately stop grazing, lift their heads, turn their bodies in the same direction in the shape of an arrowhead. With their front left legs they point south.
MARCUS (CONT’D)
What in blazes are they doing now?
VICTOR
Just as they did before the storm.
My sheep are special. They’re
magical. Animals have gifts. But we
are of different minds. See? There
they go.
Just then the SHEEP take off at a full trot, keeping their arrowhead formation, heading straight toward a village with a river beside it. Their run is quite a distance.
The sheep run through the entire village.
VILLAGERS and SHOPKEEPERS come out as the sheep parade through the main thoroughfare. Many VILLAGERS follow along with the SHEEP as if in a celebration. The SHEEP encircle three buildings at the end of the village, stop, and look upward.
MARCUS
(out of breath)
What is going on, Victor? Why have
they stopped? It is very odd. But
it has nothing to do with an
eminent disaster by fire.
From a clear sunny sky, lightning shoots out, striking the middle building of the three shops. Fire bursts from the roof and jumps to the left and right.
VILLAGERS
What to do? Help us! Help!
VICTOR
Quickly, my men, start a bucket
brigade! Citizens, man whatever
hoses you have! Extinguish the
flames before the fire can spread!
The SHOPKEEPERS, VILLAGERS, SHPHERDS, MARCUS, and VICTOR jump into action. A bucket brigade is strung from the river to the village shops. Eventually the flames are squelched.
VILLAGERS
Hooray! The town is saved!
VICTOR
(to MARCUS)
What do you think of that?
MARCUS
I’ve never seen anything like it.
VICTOR
Yes. I don’t think you can say that
it’s a coincidence. It had to do
with a disaster from fire. For our
wager, you owe me now, Marcus.
MARCUS
Bwah! Not so fast, Victor. It was
related to weather–again.
VICTOR
Marcus, you set the challenge.
You’re the one who said “eminent
danger by fire.” And there was not
a cloud–or a hint of anything
weather-related–to this event. The
sheep predicted it.
MARCUS
Sheep is sheep, Bwah! It’s
coincidence. Your sheep are not
magical. You’ve trained them in
their little dance ritual. Then,
they do what sheep do. Or they
“smell” the event in the air.
Storms. Lightning. Coincidence. It
is my opinion.
VICTOR
So you won’t honor our the wager?
VILLAGERS
Boo! Hiss! No honor! Boo! Hiss!
MARCUS
Bwah! No. I tell you. I have
another item for them to predict.
(rubbing his hands
together).
VICTOR
Oh, my Marcus, yes, we are of
differing opinions. You are
exhausting my sheep, I do believe.
MARCUS
Ask them to predict the end of
times, the end of days.
VICTOR
(laughing)
Now you’re just being obnoxious. No
one but God in heaven knows that.
Why would you ever want to have
them to predict THAT? That’s not
knowable. Or predictable.
The FLOCK are in a meadow just beyond the extinguished fire.
The SHEPHERDS, VILLAGERS, MARCUS, VICTOR, and HERD DOGS walk to where the sheep are grazing.
As MARCUS nears them, the sheep behave restless, moving about more than usual, bleating about the Victor’s feet.
VICTOR (CONT’D)
That’s an awful event to want to
know about. Look how distressed
they are. It doesn’t even matter if
they can. I won’t ask them.
MARCUS
It is believed one finds wisdom and
riches if one finds the end of
days. I’ll wager my lands, my
business holdings, my livestock,
all that I own. Magical? Animals?
Bwah! The sheep cannot “show” me
the end of days. But if they can,
my reward will be great.
VILLAGERS
(shaking their heads)
Ohh! Ahh! Tsk, tsk!
VICTOR
Please! I won’t do it. We are of
differing minds. I won’t ask.
MARCUS
Then I will. I’ve followed you and
your silly sheep long enough. Now
for my reward.
MARCUS walks to the center of the flock. He eases down on his haunches eye level with them and recites a form of the chant.
VICTOR
Stop, Marcus! Don’t!
MARCUS
Over hill, glen, dale, and hollow,
Do what you do that I may follow.
You’ve gifts for me, he don’t know.
Now what I say is yours to show.
Sheeps, you think he cares for you,
I don’t,but do for me what you do.
I’ll treat you in a special way.
Show me riches at the end of days!
MARCUS stands up and turns toward VICTOR.
VICTOR
Marcus, what have you done! You
recited the words wrong! Nor do you
care for them. They’re not your
sheep! You do not love them! This
is bad!
Suddenly the SHEEP lift their heads. They step into the formation of an arrowhead, pause in place, and flip over on their backs.
VILLAGERS
Gasp! Oh! Are they dead?
With their legs in the air, the SHEEP stretch out all four of their legs to point to the east, and cry.
SHEEP
To the end of days!
Then in one almost-military-style movement, the SHEEP flip back up to stand on their legs in their arrowhead formation.
MARCUS
(yelling over his shoulder
as he runs)
Bwah! Remarkable! They spoke and
are RUNNING to the end of days and
to my prize. Hurry, Victor, you
must see!
In one united front in the arrowhead formation, the FLOCK moves due east at a ridiculously fast trot.
MARCUS is running full speed with the flock.
VICTOR
Marcus, don’t!
MARCUS
Bwah! It’s only sheep! You were
right! It’s no coincidence!
Over hill, dale, and glen, eastward the SHEEP run and MARCUS is swept along with them. Behind follow VICTOR, the SHEPHERDS, DOGS, and VILLAGERS.
When the SHEEP come to the eastern cliffs of the land of Lachantalay, off they jump–and MARCUS with them.
VICTOR
Oh! Marcus! No! No!
MARCUS
(saying as falling)
Victor, I believe you! Save me! Oh!
VICTOR
Oh, he’s gone! It’s too late! Oh,
my sheep, please stop. Oh, Marcus,
Marcus! It is the end of your days.
About HALF OF THE SHEEP, the ones that can slow their hell bent momentum, do stop. VICTOR sits down, holding his head.
The remaining SHEEP, VILLAGERS, SHEPHERDS, and DOGS encircle him.
VILLAGE SPOKESPERSON
Sir, you are in mourning. We are
sorry for your loss. But you won
your wager. We will testify to
that. You have acquired much.
VICTOR
They’re only things. I’ve lost
much. A companion. Someone of a
different mind set. Who presented
obstacles for discussion. He met
the end of his days. I will miss
him deeply.
As the sun shines down, VICTOR walks with the SHEEP, and the wind blows across the blades of grass in the meadow in the land of Lachantalay and a HERD DOG trots beside him.
VICTOR (CONT’D)
Dog, I will miss the company of
Marcus with his different beliefs.
DOG
Bark! Let’s find a companion who
believes in the magic around us. I
wager you can.
VICTOR
In that, we are of the same mind
set, my dog friend.