Chaotic Serenity

First performed at the New Roads RTC on July 29, 2022.

STAGE MANAGER: IZZY

CAST OF CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

·      GIRL: Celanie

·      MALE ANNOUNCER: Mike

·      MOM: Tala

·      DAD: Devin

·      PARAMEDIC: Perry

·      COP: Chris

·      LADY: John T.

·      FEMALE MANAGER: Kenny

·      LITTLE GIRL: Lacy

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA - NIGHT

Stage Manager: Sounds of a packed arena.

GIRL: The energy in the air is something unlike anything else. I can feel it throughout my entire body. As I do the warm ups with my horse I hear the gentle murmur of the crowd erupt into cheers and whistles as another cowboy made it to 8 seconds.

MALE ANNOUNCER: All barrel racers to head towards the gate.

GIRL: As I get closer, my horse begins prancing as she also feels the energy around us. I reach out and put my hand on my horses’ neck. As I feel the coarseness of her hair beneath my palm, I close my eyes and match my breathing to hers.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Stage Manager: Sounds of a blonde-haired LITTLE GIRL playing with a purple make up box in the shape of a heart. MOM and DAD fight over an Xbox in the background.

MOM: That wasn’t yours to sell.

DAD: I needed the money.

MOM: For what?

DAD: None of your business

Stage Manager: Sound of someone getting thrown against the wall.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, GATE AREA - NIGHT

GIRL: I close my eyes as the memory flashes through my mind. Four more runs until I’m up, last in the competition. I try to casually chat with the other riders as we all wait. My heart begins to race, but I feel strangely calm.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: EXT. MOTEL – NIGHT

Stage Manager: Emergency lights fill the parking lot of the motel. The LITTLE GIRL and her OLDER SISTER talk to a FEMALE COP. Paramedics talk to their MOM assessing her condition.

PARAMEDIC: This is the second time we’ve been here this week. Your tough, but you need to get out.

MOM: I know. I’m trying, if I’m okay I would like to go now please.

DAD is sitting on the curb talking to another cop.

DAD: She’s crazy, she’s doing it to herself.

COP: You know we can only keep you out of jail for so long before people start to catch on.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, GATE AREA - NIGHT

GIRL: A lady with a clipboard comes up to me.

LADY: You’re next up honey.

GIRL: I take my horse up to the gate as the rider before me turns the 1st barrel.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: INT. POLICE CAR – MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

COP: Here take this teddy bear, it will keep you safe.

Stage Manager: Car doors open and close, the motor starts.

LITTLE GIRL in the back of a police car sharing a blanket with her OLDER SISTER.

COP (radio voice): Starting transport to women’s shelter, mileage is….

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, GATE AREA - NIGHT

GIRL: My horse begins to prance as we watch the rider enter the 2nd barrel.

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, BARREL COURSE -- NIGHT

GIRL: The rider’s foot hits the barrel, it wobbles but stays standing.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: INT. FAST FOOD PLACE – DAY

Stage Manager: Sounds of a fast-food operation, Christmas music faintly playing.

LITTLE GIRL and MOM have been there for hours.

FEMALE MANAGER (kindly): Do you want a toy?

LITTLE GIRL: Yes!

FEMALE MANAGER (to MOM): It’s closing time, maybe he got held up.

MOM: You know as well as I do what really happened.

LITTLE GIRL sits in the office next to a Christmas tree as the snow falls outside.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, BARREL COURSE -- NIGHT

GIRL: The rider turns her last 3rd barrel and heads for home.

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, GATE AREA – NIGHT

Stage Manager: Sounds of a packed arena.

GIRL: The crowd cheers her on despite the added time. The gate opens and they burst through after an almost perfect run.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: INT. ROOM – NIGHT

Stage Manager: LITTLE GIRL (3 years old) on a bed in a darkened room, no clothes on. Her DAD and another man standing by the bed.

LITTLE GIRL: Daddy, what are you doing?

DAD: It’s alright, we’re just getting to know you.

LITTLE GIRL: I don’t think I like this.

Stage Manager: Flash audio cut

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, GATE AREA – NIGHT

GIRL: I bring my horse up to the gate.

MALE ANNOUNCER: Our final rider is 8-year-old (indistinguishable name)... This is her first-time riding in a rodeo so let’s give her a big hand.

Stage Manager: The crowd grows louder as we hear the gate open.

GIRL: My horse grows restless as I hold her back. I take a deep breath and let her go. As soon as I pass the gate everything goes silent.

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, BARREL COURSE – NIGHT

Stage Manager: No background noise.

GIRL: It’s just me and my horse. -- I put pressure on the outside stirrup as we turn the 1st barrel. -- I release the pressure on the left side and kick my horse up as we exit the barrel and head up to the 2nd.  -- I turn the reigns slightly and we enter the 2nd barrel opposite way of the 1st. -- I put pressure on the right stirrup. -- I look down and tuck my left foot in so it doesn’t touch the 2nd barrel. -- I hold my breath as we barely miss. -- I can feel my horse’s breathing getting harder as I push her towards the 3rd and last barrel. -- We turn the 3rd barrel and I feel my horse lurch forward as I kick up as fast as she can go. -- I lean forward, give her head and let her go towards the gate.

Stage Manager: Audio returns at slow speed. We hear the heavy breathing of a horse in rhythm with its hoof beats on soft dirt.

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, BARREL COURSE – NIGHT

GIRL: For the first time since I entered the arena I look up. I see the crowd cheering. I look at the gate. I see my mom, aunt and step-dad yelling something. All smiling ear to ear. The only thing I hear is the heavy breathing of my horse in rhythm with the beat of her goofs on the soft dirt. The smell of food, horse sweat, cows and manure are strong. And comforting. Everything is peaceful. Me and my horse move as one.

Stage Manager: Audio returns to normal speed

Stage Manager: EXT. RODEO ARENA, GATE AREA – NIGHT

Stage Manager: The crowd whistles and cheers.

GIRL: The gate opens and we burst through. I hear the whistles and cheers of the crowd. I hear the announcer call out.

MALE ANNOUNCER: (indistinguishable name) …looks like our final rider goes out with the fastest time of the night!

GIRL: I am in another world. I reach down and stroke my horse’s neck. She’s sweaty and hot.--

I lay my head on her mane and list to her play with the bit in her mouth. The metal hitting against her teeth. I sit up and we head towards our horse trailer. -- I get off and stretch my legs still shaky from the adrenaline. -- As I take the bridal off my horse I’m showered in mucous and foamy salvia as she shakes her head, followed by her whole body. -- I laugh and wipe my face as she nudges with her nose. Almost like she’s telling me she’s ready for the saddle to come off. -- I listen to the crowd cheering in the background. -- The adrenaline has died down and as I stand back, I realize I found my “Chaotic Serenity”.