[Scene: in a tavern a brightly-dressed male elf has just finished a performance. As the crowd disperses and the elf is packing up, a human man in farmer's clothes approaches the elf.]
HUMAN: An excellent performance, as always.
[Camera shifts to the man's hand, which has a coin between the index and middle finger. The man flicks the coin into the air, but after doing so, his fingers stretch and flex for a moment.
[FLASHBACK (white fade-in): the camera is focused the much smaller hand of a child in exactly the same position.]
(Child's Voice): I have come.
[Camera zooms out to show the same elf in less colorful and much more travel-worn clothing surrounded by brightly-dressed human gypsy children. A human woman is cutting wood in the background, looking up sometimes with an amused smile.]
CHILD 1: And if you curl _this_ finger instead, it means I _will_ come.
[A second child changes body posture slightly and makes the first motion]
CHILD 2: Or if you stand this way instead.
[The elf changes posture and repeats the motions.]
CHILD 3: You're a quick learner!
[The elf turns and grins and makes a slight motion with both palms touching. The camera pans over to his hands and zooms in slowly.]
CHILD 2: Good! Yes, good!
[Sound of children's laughter as there is a white transition again. The camera is on the hands of the elf as he catches elf catches the coin in both hands and makes the same slight motion before putting the coin away.]
SUBTITLE: Good.
[Camera zooms out to show both the man and the elf from the side.]
ELF (smiling): Thank you for your support.
SUBTITLE: I thought you told me...
ELF: How's the farming coming?
SUBTITLE: ... that Green Alley was off-limits.
MAN: Oh, you know how it is.
SUBTITLE: It is.
MAN: A lot of work, but it's a living.
SUBTITLE: Too poor to make much there.
ELF: Crops doing well?
SUBTITLE: Why did thugs demand...
ELF: The dry spell hasn't hurt you any?
SUBTITLE: protection money from Griffon?
MAN: Well, it hasn't been *good*.
SUBTITLE: Independents. They stay away from...
MAN: But you learn how to cope.
SUBTITLE: ... our areas, so we ignore them.
ELF: Well, it's good to hear that you aren't starving.
SUBTITLE: Can I do something, then?
MAN: Oh, we manage.
SUBTITLE: Don't start a war.
MAN: But I suppose I should be getting home. Good chatting with you.
ELF: Thanks for coming to listen.
[The 'farmer' slowly makes his way to the exit. Camera moves upwards and zooms out to show the tavern from above and one side. The elf looks after him for a little while and then finishes packing up.]
Copyright © 2003-2005 by Zed Pobre. All rights reserved. This text is NOT available under a Creative Commons license.
