Episode 02 - Dregs of Sorrow

Winter arrives early in Tara and the Otherworld, while both Tierney and Bracken feel the weight of their choices, and the burden of the Shattered God's curse. 

Music Composed and Performed by Eamon Coughlan

Cast (in order of appearance)

Tara - Alice Dennis
Tierney - Stephanie Evers-Ard
Liam (Baby) - Elizabeth Smith
Windswift - Amber Walker
Bracken - N. K. Schlaudecker
Duir - Ashley Kuppersmith
Reginald - Jeff Blakeney
Iollan - Ashley Kuppersmith
Margery "Mags" Rodach - Molly Laurendine
Hugh Rodach - Trista Lackey
Jack - N. K. Schlaudecker

Sound Effects sourced through Splice

Transcript

CHAPTER TWO, Scene One

(SFX person walking in a snowy forest. Wind and creaking branches, muffled steps, a baby crying, answered by a woman sobbing)

TARA                                                    Tierney…

TARA                                                    (motherly)  Oh, my child...You laid the childbirth protections yourself? What has happened here? Where is Bracken?

TIERNEY                                             (exhausted and grieving) Bracken. Mother…Mother, he sent me to safety but the Shattered God—they struck him with iron. 

TARA                                                    I did not feel him die…

TIERNEY:                                            He didn’t. I felt it when it happened. Mother, they cursed him, they broke his magic and turned him human.

                                                                (pauses, this next piece is hard for her to acknowledge)      

                                                                And it’s…it’s done something to our son, too.

TIERNEY                                             The newcomers…those monsters of the Eye…they drove all of the others away, but we stayed because the villagers in Darach—we thought we could still help them, and they’d protect us like we’d protected them. And I was afraid to leave because of the baby. I didn’t know, Mother—ye gods, I didn’t know this could happen!

TARA                                                    (shushes her gently) You are not at fault for this…

TIERNEY                                             I wanted to wait…

TARA                                                    You could not have known.

TIERNEY                                             But my child is a half blood now, because of them, because of me.

TARA                                                    No. The false god and his followers did this, Tierney, not you.

TIERNEY                                             I cannot keep him.   Fíaglen will be too harsh and his body too frail without full blood. He will not live among the Fía.

But I cannot send him to Bracken, either. The Eye knew what we were. They will know him, and kill him. Or worse, take what magic he retains.

                                                                 (SFX baby noises)

TARA                                                    I see the forest in his eyes   But you are right, Tierney. He cannot be raised among your people, nor among those who are, by force, his father’s.

TIERNEY                                             Mother, what do I do?

TARA                                                    I will raise him.  I know it is not what you planned, but for now, it is the safest road.

TIERNEY                                             Am I to give up my son as well as his father?

TARA                                                    No.   You shall give him a name, and he shall know you. As for Bracken, it is unfair that this new order should cut him off from us completely. Though he must live among men in mortal shell for a time, when his grief begins to abate, he will hear the trees again.

TARA                                                    I will call a companion for him, a gatekeeper and go-between, who will keep your bonds strong through this separation.

                                                                (SFX, chant, magic. Rabbit hop into snow) 

His name is Windswift.   He will be your messenger to Bracken, and his to you.

TIERNEY                                             Windswift, tell Bracken his son is alive and healthy, and in the care of the Earth Mother.   

                                                                Tell him I love him.

WINDSWIFT                                      What is the name, my lady?

TIERNEY                                             I name you Liam in the presence of the Earth herself.

TIERNEY                                             When will I see him again?

TARA                                                    Come to me in the spring.   Until then, rest among the Fía, and wait for Windswift’s return. This will be a bad winter.

Scene 2 

BRACKEN                                           Months…it’s been months since they crossed the standing stones. Tierney…There should be some sign…some way for me to know you’re all right. (long pause) Even if I’m not. I can’t hear anyone anymore. Not the dryads or sprites. Not even our own people. This is wrong. (intensifying) I should be there with you. 

(gasps, he’s struggling)

Damn it. 

(building to rage) 

Damn you Sloan! You and all the Shattered God’s new pets. And him, too! You could’ve done me the favor of aiming true at least! 

(falls, wind grows stronger)

I’m so tired. If I could just lie here and die, let this body go, and go home to her. To them. 
 
 Tierney…

(shivering, building wind, tree groaning in the gusts)

DUIR                                                     (tree, waking from sleep)

Bracken? Bracken, is that you?

BRACKEN                                           (between awe and desperation) Do you know me?

DUIR                                                     Bracken. Of course, I know you. Come here, son.

BRACKEN                                           Then they haven’t taken everything. Not everything.

Scene Three

REGINALD                                          We never should have left the monastery.

IOLLAN                                                Brother Dominic had a dream.

REGINALD                                          Fie on dreams.   That’s almost the kind of superstitious…

(Crow (Cohort) caws, lands on Dominic's shoulder, caws and chortles) 

DOMINIC                                             There's something in the trees ahead. 

IOLLAN                                                  It looks like a rabbit, and a small one at that.

DOMINIC                                          Wait…   I’ll look here.

                                                                There’s a man in here. Likely a waylaid traveler.

REGINALD                                          Are you sure it’s not one of those damned shape-shifting faeries?

DOMINIC                                             You’ll be pleased to know, Reginald, that he has perfectly human, unfaerylike features. Even if he didn’t, we would help him.

REGINALD                                          Indeed, put an iron spit through his heart and call it done.

DOMINIC                                             (harsh, Cohort caws) Enough.   Are you going to help me move this man or are you content to leave him here to die?

IOLLAN                                                Are you sure he’s not already dead?

DOMINIC                                             He is on the knife’s edge, Iollan.   But there is hope. We’ll do all we can for him.

DOMINIC                                             (quietly—he’s seen Bracken’s odd scar) They can’t see that scar, I fear. It looks like tree bark. 

(giving an order to the men)

We’ll need a sledge-make what you can out of our bedrolls and staves. I hope we can get him to Tinewald before it’s too late.

REGINALD                                          Tinewald?!   But they’ve made it plain they won’t welcome the Shattered God.

DOMINIC                                             They’re also the closest village. And they won’t turn away a wounded man. If we try to take him back to the monastery, he’ll die before we get there.

Scene Four

Moorhen

 (horses dragging a sledge approach a tavern-there is crowd noise and cheerful, upbeat music (Irish Traditional - "The Moorhen" filtering outside)

DOMINIC                                             Iollan!

IOLLAN                                                Yes, Brother Dominic?

DOMINIC                                             I think our friend needs to part ways with us here.   I’m going to send you and the others back to Darach in the morning, and I’ll remain to see to his condition.

IOLLAN                                                Very well. The brothers will ask what became of you.

DOMINIC                                             Tell them, and Father Loxias, that I am tending a waylaid traveler.

IOLLAN                                                It’ll make you responsible for him, you know.

DOMINIC                                             I do. So, let’s hope he’s not a criminal.

IOLLAN                                                I’ll see the men on the road first thing.

REGINALD                                          I’d just as soon go tonight.

(Dom goes into the tavern)

MAGS                                                    (alerted, on guard) Hugh!

HUGH                                                   Aye, Mags? 

MAGS                                                    I don’t know what you think you’re doing here, priest.   But…

DOMINIC                                             Peace, Mistress.   I’m-

MAGS                                                    Don’t ‘peace’ me. You and your god aren’t welcome here.

DOMINIC                                             No, you don’t understand. I’ve found a traveler. A woodsman, I think, on the Marsh Road. He needs a place to stay and recover.

HUGH                                                   A woodsman?   From Darach?

DOMINIC                                             I don’t know. He was half frozen in a tree hollow. He’ll die before we get him to safety if I keep him exposed any longer. Do you have room?

HUGH                                                   Room, but I can’t take care of him. Not as a healer. Certainly not if he’s as far gone as you say.

DOMINIC                                             That’s no concern.   I’ll stay with him.

HUGH                                                   And those men what rode in with you?

DOMINIC                                             My guard. Just a bed and stall for them and the horses overnight, and they’ll be gone.

HUGH                                                   If they don’t mind sleeping in the stable.   We’ve only the one room left.

DOMINIC                                             It will suit.

HUGH                                                   Let me see this woodsman of yours.   

Lead on… 

(hesitates—realizing he doesn’t know Dom’s name)

DOMINIC                                             Dominic.

HUGH                                                   Hugh Rodach. Headman of Tinewald Village.

DOMINIC                                             Thank you, Master Rodach.

HUGH                                                   Hugh.

DOMINIC                                             Iollan, they have a room for our guest. Will the stables suffice?

IOLLAN                                                Better, in my opinion. Young Eirnan’s feeling his oats and wants watching.

DOM                                                      Have Reginald and the boys stable them. If you’d tend Empress, I’ll be in your debt.

IOLLAN                                                Of a surety.

DOM                                                      After we get him inside.

HUGH                                                   He’s half wasted.

DOM                                                      Injured.   I’ve no clue how long he’d been lying there. And it’s been so cold.

HUGH                                                   You did right with these hides. Come. You’ve a strong back, lad?

DOM                                                      Strong as an oak, my da always said.

DOM                                                      (to Iollan) Just the door.

HUGH                                                   We’ll get him upstairs and settled. On three… (calls his boys) Jack! Collin!

JACK                                                     Yes, Da?

HUGH                                                   Which room is free?

JACK                                                     First one up the stairs.

HUGH                                                   Run up and open the door. Collin   Have Mam boil some cloths and get hot water in skins.

DOM                                                      We need a fire, 

HUGH                                                   Anything else you need?

DOM                                                      Just a place for my guard, and some food for them and the horses.

HUGH                                                   And yourself?

DOM                                                      We won’t need anything till later.   If he wakes, I’ll have a better idea.

HUGH                                                   I’ll send the lads around to check on you time and again, then.

DOM                                                      Thank you. What do I owe you?

HUGH                                                   Three silvers should cover it for you and the men.   I’ll not charge for him. You’re doing a good thing. I won’t see you punished for it. 

DOM                                                      Take four, with my thanks.

HUGH                                                   Jack’ll be up in the hour. Thank you, sir.

DOM                                                      Thank you. (SFX Door shut) 

(to Bracken) It’s a close-run thing, my friend.   I say that like you’ll know me, and not hate the very blood in my veins.

HUGH                                                   In case your friend wakes up. Mags is closing the kitchen soon, so she sent up his supper. You can heat the pot.   Your guards are settled and fed, swearing to be on their way at first light.   And you’re free enough to stay and help this man, if he’s not past it.

DOM                                                      But?

HUGH                                                   Your god isn’t welcome here.

DOM                                                      I’m not….   Please, it will be my death if you speak it to a soul. But I imagined Tara would still be honored here.

HUGH                                                   She, and Lord Fyre, and all the Worthies, with their consorts, the Hunter and such like him.

DOM                                                      Why not the Shattered God?

HUGH                                                   Begging your pardon, but I’m not going to have my people follow a faith that bathes in the blood of faeries and holy men.

DOM                                                      So you know of the fate of the Druí?

HUGH                                                   Hard not to, Lad.

DOM                                                      My father was burned with them. 

HUGH                                                   And yet?

DOM                                                      I was sent to keep an eye on the cult’s movements, and do whatever little good I was able.

                                                                 (Bracken has taken a breath that might be his last) Don’t die, 

HUGH                                                   I think he’ll be all right, in the long run, 

JACK                                                     (muffled, through a door) Da?

HUGH                                                   Aye, lad?

JACK                                                     Mam sent some clothes. She said the man might be more comfortable not in rags.

DOM                                                      Come in, Jack.

JACK                                                     I dropped the socks on the stair.

DOM                                                      He’ll be grateful when he wakes, I’m sure,   But we won’t disturb him right now.

HUGH                                                   It does beg the question. Why didn’t you change his clothes sooner.

DOM                                                      He wasn’t wet. Had the presence of mind to shelter in a tree hollow. And I have no clue of yet how he’ll react.

                                                                You don’t have to stay. I know you’ve a family to take care of.

HUGH                                                   I stay out of Mags’ way. She’s got her own method for doing things, and all the gods help me if I interrupt.

Besides, should you find you’ve a madman on your hands, I’d just as soon not have to clean blood. The Moorhen’s got a good reputation. It should keep it.

DOM                                                      Indeed. In that case, thank you for your trouble.

HUGH                                                   Wait.

BRACKEN                                           Who the hell are you?

DOM                                                      Easy, friend,   We found you in the forest, almost dead.

BRACKEN                                           You’ve got their mark.

DOM                                                      Yes. I…

HUGH                                                   That’s one hell of a scar,   Here, let me help. You’re in no shape—

BRACKEN                                           (wild) Get away from me!

DOM                                                      Hugh, perhaps you should…

(SFX struggle)

HUGH                                                   I’m not going to be spoken to like I’m common trash,   You’re under my roof, and I’ll have you out, by Tara’s heart, wounded or no. Now, two things. What’s your name?

BRACKEN                                           Bracken, 

HUGH                                                   Well, now, Bracken. I’m Hugh Rodach. This is Dominic, and you are a guest of the Tinewald Moorhen Tavern and Inn.   I take it you’re hungry?

It’s pork, not poison.

HUGH                                                   Mags’ll be glad to hear he’s up   I’ll see you lads in the morning.

DOM                                                      There’s clean clothes, if you’ve a mind to change them.

BRACKEN                                           I’m fine.

DOM                                                      You’ll overtly reject your hosts’ hospitality? I imagine they belong to Hugh.

BRACKEN                                           He can have them back. I’ll just mend mine.

DOM                                                      Bracken of Sadbh-Oisín, it’s not your skin anymore.

BRACKEN                                           What did you say?!

DOM                                                      I said,   It’s not your skin now. That magic is broken, and you know it.

BRACKEN                                           You should’ve left me where I was.   And let me die. 

DOM                                                      No. I didn’t find you by accident. I know who you were, and what happened.

BRACKEN                                           Oh, yes, because your blinded, mad god sees all, doesn’t it?

DOM                                                      My father was Domhail of Saille, a hunter and woodsman, made bloodkin of the Druí. The Lady Orla, Dryad of Oak, is my mother. And I am wed to Ianthe of the Ring Rowan. Make sure of yourself, before you judge me, Bracken. I was sent to find you. I heard old Duir call out on the winds on your behalf. And I had absolute hell convincing Loxias I’d had a portentous dream.

BRACKEN                                           Loxias…the…

DOM                                                      The ‘prophet’ of the Shattered God.

BRACKEN                                           So, you’re Orla’s son.

DOM                                                      And apparently, you’re deaf.

BRACKEN                                           How in the…

DOM                                                      Tara sent me. Six years ago, after my father and the Druí were burned for defying the new cult.   So she could keep an eye on him, his movements, his plans, and so I could keep my wife safe with the rest of the Ogham dryads.

BRACKEN                                           (surprised) Loxias kept the Druí’s grove?

DOM                                                      And built his monastery on their grounds, just a few miles south of Darach. To spit in Tara’s eye.

DOM                                                      Why do you long for death?

BRACKEN                                           (slowly) I…I don’t. (whispers) I want to go home,   To my wife, to my son. I gave the last of my magic to get them to safety, and now I cannot even see their faces. I’ll never get to hold my boy. 

DOM                                                      I’m sorry.

DOM                                                      Here. Drink this, and try to rest. My guard is leaving in the morning, but I’ll remain a few days while you get your bearings.

Tara chose that you should live. Take it.

I’ll be back shortly. If you decide to change, the clothes are by the table.

BRACKEN           There’s nothing for it. He’s right. These are just rags now.  My magic is gone. (sobs) Tara, what do I do?