Antler to Antler - Part 4
#5 of Antler to Antler
EXT. DEEP FOREST - DAY/FLASHBACK
A young Bracken, and his FATHER walk through the forest. Bracken is skipping around, butting trees. Father walks through the trees elegantly.
FATHER: Keep practicing young one. Only by overcoming your competition can you walk away with your doe.
Bracken butts a tree with a loud HUFF.
BRACKEN: I'm gonna be the strongest buck ever!
Father chuckles.
FATHER: Son, it's not about being the strongest, it's finding a doe who you love and being able to stand strong for her. All else doesn't matter.
Bracken roles his eyes.
BRACKEN: Well, I'll find a doe I love and be the strongest buck.
Father affectionately nudges Bracken with his antlers.
FATHER: I'm sure you'll do fine.
EXT. FOREST - DAY
Back to the present, Bracken faces off against a tree, digging his hooves in the dirt.
He charges, butting at the tree a few times, but then he stops, energy draining out of him. He SIGHS.
Bracken finds himself by the creek and sits down, looking down at his reflection.
MAPLE (V.O.): Brute force... Like that's the only thing that matters.
EXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAY: Bracken watches at the edge of the clearing as the day TIME-LAPSES away. Bucks continue to fight, walking away with their does. He looks at the spot where Elm and the other buck had left the other day, their presences GHOSTING into existence. Bracken shakes his head and they are gone.
EXT. FOREST CLEARING - NIGHT
Finally, just as the Sun is going down, Fern steps up to Bracken.
FERN: Hey. Do you mind if we talk?
Bracken nods and stands up. He follows her into the forest.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Bracken and Fern make their way through the forest navigating around trees and their roots. SLIVERS OF MOONLIGHT pierce the canopy. All is silent.
Finally, Bracken breaks the silence--
BRACKEN: You're thinking about your sister, aren't you?
Fern stops and looks down at the ground.
FERN: I wanted to talk to you. I didn't think Stag would understand.
Bracken nods.
BRACKEN: It's a pity... To walk away with a deer she didn't love.
Fern SIGHS, holding on for a moment. Then--
FERN: I came here thinking it would be exciting, to get to meet an interesting partner, hang out. But now I realize it doesn't always work that way. We come here, we get chosen, bucks fight for us, and we walk away with them whether we like it or not. Nothing more than a prize to be won.
BRACKEN: It does seem ridiculous that we have to let a competition choose who we love.
Bracken and Fern look at each other before Fern turns back to continue into the forest.
FERN: At least you get to fight. All I can do is stand watching from the sidelines.
Bracken suddenly brightens up.
BRACKEN: Maybe it doesn't have to be this way.
FERN: Bracken? What are you talking about?
BRACKEN: We could leave here tonight, just you and me. Leave this whole Rut business behind us.
FERN: Bracken? Are you crazy?
BRACKEN: It's much better than you ending up with Stag.
Fern stops. She looks at Bracken seriously.
FERN: Stag is a fine buck Bracken. I'd be lucky to have one strong like him protecting me.
BRACKEN: But do you love him?
Fern stops.
FERN: (stuttering) Love him? I barely know you!
BRACKEN: But you can feel the spark, can't you. It just needs a chance to grow.
Fern looks away, silent for a moment. Then--
FERN: What does it matter what I feel? Rules are rules, and this is the way it is. (Beat) If you can't fight for me, then maybe I deserve a buck who can.
With grief in her eyes, Fern TRAMPLES off into the forest leaving Bracken behind, staring blankly in her wake.