Death Mule

Halcyon Days

EXT. THE JOHNSON FARM - DAY

An idyllic scene.  It is a sunny day.  The farm is freshly painted and sturdy.  A gentle breeze sends a shimmering ripple across a field of green, healthy crops.

EXT. BARN

ALEXIS, twelve years old, the sole child of the Johnson family, runs from the barn and toward the Johnson home.

ALEXIS

Mommy!  Daddy!  It’s happening!  It’s happening!

EXT. JOHNSON HOUSE

MRS. JOHNSON, Alexis’s mother, steps outside the door.  She is in her early 30’s, blond, pretty, unadorned with makeup or jewelry.  She wipes her wet hands on her apron and, using a hand as a visor, looks toward her running daughter.

INT. BARN

The family is gathered around a hay-covered stable in which an adult mule resides.  FARMER JOHNSON, mid-thirties, dark haired and stubbled, turns to Mrs. Johnson and Alexis.  He is holding a towel from out from which is peeking a newborn donkey’s head.

INSERT - TOWEL

The baby donkey is peeking out of the towel.  It is adorable.

PASTURE

The family watches as Balthazar, the baby mule, takes its first faltering steps.  Alexis jumps and applauds with glee.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Alexis feeds Balthazar from a bottle.

FRONT LAWN - DAY

Alexis combs Balthazar’s hair.  Farmer Johnson exits the house carrying a pail and a stool.

Alexis puts a bow in Balthazar’s hair.

ALEXIS

Look, daddy.  Isn’t he pretty?

FARMER JOHNSON

You really spoil that mule.

ALEXIS

His name isn’t mule.  It’s Balthazar.

FARMER JOHNSON

I don’t know how you came up with such a fancy name for such a stupid animal.

ALEXIS

Don’t say that!  Balthazar’s not stupid at all.

FARMER JOHNSON

You can call it whatever you want but it won’t change the fact that it’s a beast of burden, nothing more.

He walks off.

ALEXIS’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Balthazar sleeps curled up on a makeshift bed in the corner.  Alexis gets out of bed, taking a blanket from the top of her bed.

She brings it to Balthazar and covers him up.  She kisses the mule on the forehead.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

The family is seated at the table, eating breakfast.  Balthazar sits obediently at Alexis’s side.  She gives him a piece of bacon.

BACK YARD - DAY

Alexis leads Farmer Johnson by the hand to the back yard.  Balthazar is waiting patiently.

ALEXIS

Come on, daddy.  Hurry up.

FARMER JOHNSON

I’m coming, I’m coming.

They stop.

FARMER JOHNSON (CONT’D)

Now what’s so gol-danged important that you had to drag me away from my work?

ALEXIS

Watch.

She produces a tennis ball.  She throws into the far reaches of the back yard.

Balthazar runs after the ball.

ALEXIS (CONT’D)

That’s it.  Fetch, boy!

Balthazar, with the tennis ball in his mouth, runs to where Alexis and her father stand.  He drops the ball at their feet.

Alexis pats him affectionately on the head.

ALEXIS (CONT’D)

Good boy.

She looks up smilingly at her father.

FARMER JOHNSON

Well, I’ll be darned.

INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

The family is gathered around the table.  Balthazar, wearing a party hat, sits at the head of the table.  A birthday cake sits in front of him with a single lighted candle.  The family sings “Happy Birthday.”

At the end of the song, they applaud.

ALEXIS

(to Balthazar)

Make a wish!

(beat)

Ready?

She blows out the candle for him.  Mrs. Johnson cuts the cake and puts a slice on the plate in front of Balthazar.  She serves the family cake.

Balthazar eats.

ALEXIS (CONT’D)

Is it good, Balthazar?

He finishes his piece of cake.

FARMER JOHNSON

All done, mule?

Balthazar licks his plate.

FARMER JOHNSON (CONT’D)

Time to go to work.

ALEXIS

Daddy, you promised!

FARMER JOHNSON

You knew all along that he was gonna be a workin’ mule.  He’s old enough now, and we need the help on the fields.

ALEXIS

But his birthday party isn’t even over yet.

FARMER JOHNSON

It’s over when I say it’s over.  Those soybeans have to be tilled by sunrise or we’re going to lose the entire crop.
He picks up Balthazar and takes him from the table.

ALEXIS

No!  Daddy!  No!

EXT. FIELDS - NIGHT

The clouds glow menacingly in the moonlight.  In the field, Balthazar, yoked to a plow, strains to move the immense weight.  Farmer Johnson, whip in hand, stands atop the plow.  He CRACKS the whip.  Balthazar shudders at the sound.

FARMER JOHNSON

Faster, mule!  These fields aren’t going to till themselves.  Hee-ya!

He CRACKS the whip.  A lightning bolt tears the sky.  Suddenly rain begins to pour, soaking Balthazar, turning the fields to mud.