Transcript created: 1st June 2025

Last updated: 1st June 2025

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[Sheep bells clang with the movement of a large herd, quietly and contentedly bleating – a light wind passes over an otherwise peaceful day.]

 

SHEPHERD (internal): It’s said that nature is never quiet. But unlike the noises of the modern world, nature’s noise is always an interaction. A car may rumble simply because its engine has to to generate power, but a tree doesn’t rustle until the wind shakes it. A bird doesn’t sing until the sun starts to rise. A sheep doesn’t call out if it isn’t reaching out to another sheep. 

 

Nature is never quiet, which is doubly true as a shepherd. There is a constant chorus of bells and bleating that to most would fade into the background, eventually, but never to me. I would wake even from a deep sleep if there was a sudden disturbance in the herd. And when we roam the field, the forests, it is my ears, not my eyes, that allow me to watch over and follow my herd. 

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SABINE: Shepherd, come talk to the police.

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[The bleating sheep become louder, agitated. Sheep dogs and patous bark intermittedly.]

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SHEPHERD: Sabine, the herd!

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[The chants of large protest fade in over the sounds of the herd – they are shouting about land rights]

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ELLIOT: If they want to protest the land privatisation, they should come talk to us. 

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[The protesters cheers and chants fade back into the sheep, still agitated.]

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POLICE OFFICER: You found the body?

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SHEPHERD: Yes.

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SHEPHERD (voicenote): Have you ever encountered or heard of sheep becoming aggressive...

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SHEPHERD: [cry of pain] 

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SHEPHERD (voicenote): ...displaying more predatory behaviour?

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SHEPHERD: It's like you've got canines in there.

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SHEPHERD (voicenote): ...like any old tales or something?

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ISSAC: Will you have me for this dance?

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SHEPHERD: I'm not much of a dancer.

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ISSAC: That's okay. I can lead.

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SHEPHERD (internal): All my labour is in pursuit of the safety and health of my herd. Their happiness is my happiness, their safety mine. I am their follower, not their leader. And if anything endangers the herd...

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[The herd's bells and bleating fade to silence.]

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SHEPHERD: ...it is my privilege to protect them.

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[A blood curdling scream.]

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Land's End: A Shepherd's Tale. A new audio drama. Coming soon.