Feebleman’s Folly
April 14th, 2021
Starring: Kalyn (female, 15), Demi (female, 55-65), Carlos (male, 55-65)
The local horse racing track. The betting concourse. A row of kiosks, with small TVs displaying footage of the recent races. A few people are still milling about, putting in their last bets. Demi stands at her kiosk, alone. Kalyn walks up to Demi, smiling:
DEMI
Hello there.
KALYN
Hello.
Kalyn takes out a twenty dollar bill, handing it to Demi:
KALYN
For Feebleman’s Folly.
Please.
…
…
DEMI
How old are you?
KALYN
18.
DEMI
Can you prove it?
KALYN
I don’t have my drivers license yet.
But I am.
Demi looks at her. She laughs a little, handing back the bill:
DEMI
Here you go.
KALYN
Wait—
DEMI
Reason with me, miss. If you’re 18, I’m 105.
KALYN
But—
DEMI
I’m not here to punish you for trying. I just can’t take your bet.
KALYN
It’s my horse.
…
DEMI
Yours?
KALYN
My family’s, but...
I raised him. From day one.
Kalyn takes out a photo from her wallet, showing it to Demi. It’s of a younger her in a barn stall, smiling next to a black foal:
KALYN
From when he was born.
His front legs were real weak, coming out. That’s why we called him Feebleman. Could hardly stand.
DEMI
How’d you get him to?
KALYN
Patience, care, microsurgery, prayer.
DEMI
And now he’s racing.
KALYN
Some kind of miracle.
...
I know he’s not gonna win a triple crown or nothing. But he’s mine. After all that, to see him running...
DEMI
Hard to put a price on it.
KALYN
Yeah.
DEMI
But you are.
...
KALYN
Yeah well I
I’m sorry
It’s just
I’ve gambled on him from the beginning. Wanted to see what it really felt like.
The gate call trumpet sounds over the speakers. The race is about to start.
Demi purses her lips and looks around the concourse. The area is mostly clear, the crowds going back to watch the race. She looks back down to Kalyn:
DEMI
Win, place, or show?
KALYN
Win.
Win win win.
Demi takes the twenty dollar bill back and locks in the bet, handing Kalyn the stub.
KALYN
Thank you
Oh my god tha—!
DEMI
Best get back to your seat now. Wouldn’t want you missing the race.
KALYN
No uh
Kalyn starts to sprint, waving:
KALYN
I’m gonna
Thank you!!
Demi watches her sprint away.
We follow Kalyn as she runs up a staircase, reaching the next betting concourse of the racetrack. It’s a similar setup to the level below: TVs, booths, etc. Kalyn looks up and down the hall, spotting Carlos alone at his kiosk.
Kalyn opens her wallet, tucking away the black foal photo. She swaps it out for a similar picture, this time of her and a chestnut colored foal, along with another fresh 20 dollar bill. She takes a breath and walks up to Carlos, smiling:
CARLOS
Good afternoon.
KALYN
Hello.
She hands him her cash:
KALYN
For Haliburton Highway
Please.