War Horse

ACT ONE

On August 5, 1912, a foal and his mother (Alice) graze in the Devon countryside. Suddenly, men arrive with fences, corralling and separating the horses. An auction suddenly begins, run by local leader Chapman Carter. He quickly sells Alice, who fights as she is led away from her foal. During the break between sales, Albert Narracott arrives. He tries to call the foal. The animal is nervous, but slowly responds until Albert’s father Ted shows up--drunk, as usual. When Arthur and Ned Warren arrive, the auction resumes. Ted and Arthur are mortal enemies (and brothers-in-law), and bidding war over the foal ensues. Ted wins with 39 guineas, which was the family’s mortgage money. The gathered crowd is impressed at Ted’s determination, and laughs as he unsuccessfully tries to wrangle the foal. Albert intervenes as Ted whips the animal, and the bystanders wrestle the foal to the ground so he can be harnessed.

At the Narracott farm, Rose berates Ted for spending their mortgage money