50 Speeches From The Contemporary Theatre Sas y s Behe end EQUUS Peter Shaffer Alun 17 Aboy gully of blinding 6 horses els is psychiatrist how his obsession with the animal began ALAN, That’ what you wantto know, fi? Allright was. mm talking about the beach. That ime when Iwas a kid. What I told you about... was pushed forward on the horse. There was sweat ‘on my legs fom his neck, The fellow held me tight, and et me tum the horse which way {wanted All tat powes going any way you wanted... His sides were all warm, and the smell... Then suddealy [was onthe ground, where Dad pulled me. 1 could have bashed him... Pause) Something ele, When the hore fst appeared, 1 Tooked up ino his mouth. cas huge. There was this chain i The fellow pulled it, and cream dipped owt. said Does it hur?” [And he said—the horse said-—sid (e stops i anguish, Desper ‘ately) 1 was alays the same, after that. Every time I heard one lop by, Thad to un and see, Upa country lane or anywhere. They sont of pulled me. 1 coulda take my eyes off them, Justo watch their skins. The way thei necks twist, nd sweat shines in the folds Teant remember when it stated, Mum reading to me about Prince who no one could ride, except one boy. Or the white horse in Revelations. “He tat st upon him was called Faithful and Trve His eyes were as flames of fire and he hada name writen that no ‘man knew but himselP ... Words like seins. Suerup. lanks "Dashing his spurs aguins his charger’ Manks”.. Even the words made me feel... Yeas, I never told sniyone. Mum woulda us derstand. She likes “Equitation”. Bower hats and jodhpurs! “My Brandfather dressed forthe horse” she says, What does that ean? The howse sat dressed, Its the most naked thing you ever saw! More than 4 dog ora cat or anything, Even the most broken down (ld nag has gots Ht To pot x bowler on iis ly. Puting thems though their paces! Bloody gymhanas! ...No one understands! Except cowboys, They do, Twish Iwas. cowboy. They ee ‘They jas swing up and then is mies of grass. [bet all cowboys are orphans «I bet they are! No one ever sas 10 cowboys "Re Geive my meaning"! They wouldn't dare, Or “God” all the time. Chiming bis mesber) "God sees you, Alan. Gods got eyes ev fexywhere—* (Hesops abrupt) Ym 20¢ doing any more! 1 hate this. You can whist for anymore. Ive had it