Ambush (Short Play)

-The Scene
Five villagers hide in a forest close to their homes. Their names are Reinor (the ringleader), Barkol, Ionor, Lasha and Pakus. They watch a pathway used by all intending to enter or exit the small village. They stalk the path for a special target: tax-collectors for the Queen. They come every two months to take from the peasants and by doing so ruin the people. When they rebuild, another payment is demanded. Something must be done and these freedom fighters have responded with the right determination, or so it seems.
These five have had enough and, armed with bows and arrows, daggers and clubs, wait to take the tax-collectors hostage to rob them “instead”. Two, Reinor and Barkol, are on one side of the path amongst leafy bushes. The others are on higher land with bows to deal the initial, confusing blow. It has to be simultaneous and perfectly executed.
Military planning never follows the plan – it is erratic and these rebels will find out the hard way.

Character Key
Reinor: R
Barkol: B

R: (waving his hand frantically behind him for quiet) I hear a wagon.

B: (whispering) Tax-collectors don’t bring wagons, Reinor. We need to be sure, you know that. Leave no survivors, stick to the plan.

(Reinor takes offence, notable to the audience. They are seen behind the bushes instead of having their backs to the audience)

R: Just listen.

(A clear rumbling sound is heard, a wagon. Two horses accompany it and a few peasants. There had been riots recently in other villages, so the two suspect the peasants could be collaborators of a kind. This does nothing but feed their righteous anger)

R: This is the last time they mess with us. The other three will break them up, leaving it up to us to finish them off. The men on horseback must go first. The peasants, well, collateral damage isn’t avoidable sometimes. If they are collaborators then there is no problem.

B: (reassured tone) We clarified that before, don’t forget. The others will be competent enough to take the horses out first. Then it will be easy pickings after that! (chuckles, not joined by Reinor)

R: You clear on what we do after we have the money? I mean, you know, after the bodies are cleared from the road. The Queen’s emissaries are all over the places, don’t forget!

B: Yes, we flee with the village.

R: Our friends, remember, weren’t all that agreeable when we talked that part of the plan over. It will not be as easy as you think, Barkol.

(The conversation is cut short as the sound of the wagon and people conversing intensifies)

B: (stone cold features) Give the signal.

(Reinor does so and the underbrush opposite rustles)

R: Please god let this be swift. It is not only our lives that depend on it.

(The wagon comes into view, trundling behind to cavalrymen, with no armour. The peasants walk with their heads down, walking exhaustedly. Arrows thump into both of the men on the two horses, sending them to the ground. Reinor, followed shortly by Barkol, rushes the peasants. The killing is swift, their screams mixing in with the sound of hard wood on bone. The wagon is overturned and its contents spill onto the stage. The men gasp, horrified)

R: These are furs and cooking utensils! They were going to the market, most probably. (looking to Barkol) Please tell me I am wrong. Don’t say these were innocents. Don’t please.

(Reinor falls with a thump to his knees. The other men say nothing, shadows for faces, gloom stricken all over them)

B: I can hear the hooves of Hell coming at a gallop.

-The End-