Ronald & Tony

The seventh horse

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The seventh horse

Enzo uncovers a small wooden theatre on a workbench. Its painted backdrop depicts the Arco della Pace. A track crosses the little stage, ending at an empty docking position. No extra loose horse is present. Enzo: My wife painted this. I made the moving parts.

Close view of the little stage. Six painted horses pull a chariot in the backdrop. The seventh, mechanical horse belongs on the track in front of them. Sofia: So it was never another statue. He was our performer.

Enzo shows the motionless mechanism beneath the stage through an already-open inspection hatch. A small fork waits for a removable cam. Enzo: There’s a little brass cam hidden in his base. Without it, the theatre can’t play its tune.

Overhead from behind Karen, Harly and Sofia. A tablet lies flat on the bench ahead of them, showing a cartoon drawing of a blue-canopy moored exhibition boat and a public sale announcement for today at 18:00. Screen faces the women; their heads are at the lower edge. Karen holds her phone to her ear. Karen: The repairer confirms the real horse left this morning. Valli is holding a viewing by the canal. Today.

Enzo sits at the bench, holding the winding key. Enzo: I promised Sofia she would hear it this evening.

Read the transcript

Enzo uncovers a small wooden theatre on a workbench. Its painted backdrop depicts the Arco della Pace. A track crosses the little stage, ending at an empty docking position. No extra loose horse is present.
Enzo: My wife painted this. I made the moving parts.

Close view of the little stage. Six painted horses pull a chariot in the backdrop. The seventh, mechanical horse belongs on the track in front of them.
Sofia: So it was never another statue. He was our performer.

Enzo shows the motionless mechanism beneath the stage through an already-open inspection hatch. A small fork waits for a removable cam.
Enzo: There’s a little brass cam hidden in his base. Without it, the theatre can’t play its tune.

Overhead from behind Karen, Harly and Sofia. A tablet lies flat on the bench ahead of them, showing a cartoon drawing of a blue-canopy moored exhibition boat and a public sale announcement for today at 18:00. Screen faces the women; their heads are at the lower edge. Karen holds her phone to her ear.
Karen: The repairer confirms the real horse left this morning. Valli is holding a viewing by the canal. Today.

Enzo sits at the bench, holding the winding key.
Enzo: I promised Sofia she would hear it this evening.