I was thinking about The Neverending Story recently and about how much I loved the film when I was a kid (still do, actually) and decided to write a song based on Atreyu… just a bit of a fun thing to do. The more I’ve been thinking about it, however, the more I have recalled the effect that one particular scene in the film had on me. Here is an excerpt from the script during this particular scene:

We hear Bastian’s voice reading.
“Atreyu and Artax had searched the Silver Mountains, the Desert of Shattered Hopes, and the Crystal Towers without success. And so, there was only one chance left. To find Morla, the ancient one, the wisest being in Fantasia whose home was the Shell Mountain somewhere in the deadly Swamps of Sadness.”

Atreyu jumps off Artax and pulls him along through the swamp.

“Everyone knew that whoever let the sadness overtake him would sink into the swamp,” we hear Bastian continue.

Atreyu pulls his horse along saying reassuring things the whole time. “That’s it. You’re doing fine Artax.”
Suddenly Artax stops and Atreyu pulls on the reigns. Artax doesn’t budge.
“Come on Artax.” he says and pulls harder. “What’s the matter? What’s wrong? Come on boy!”
He smiles, “I understand, it’s too difficult for you.” He tries pulling him in a different direction and steps into a puddle up to his waist. Suddenly he notices that Artax is sinking.
He panics and starts screaming at him. “Artax you’re sinking! Come on turn around, you have to! Now! Come on! Artax!”
He goes closer to him and hugs him. “Fight against the sadness Artax. Artax, please. You’re letting the sadness of the swamps get to you. You have to try, you have to care. For me, I’m your friend, I love you.” Artax doesn’t move and Atreyu slaps the puddle sending water flying toward the horse. He yells at him again.
“Artax, you’re sinking! Come on, turn around, you have to, now! Come on! Artax! Fight against the sadness, Artax. Artax, please, you’re letting the sadness of the swamps get to you. You have to try. You have to care, for me, you’re my friend, I love you. Artax! Stupid horse! You’ve gotta move or you’ll die! Move, please! I won’t give up! Don’t quit! ARTAX! PLEASE!” Then he pleads with him.
“Move please. I won’t give up! Jump quick! Artax please!”

Artax does not make it out of the swamp. Now the actual lines from this scene are pretty stupid when you read them, but the emotions of it are so vivid in my mind that I still feel a little sad for Artax whenever I think about it. The thing is, though, I know an awful lot of people who are wallowing in the “Swamp of Sadness” and I often find myself, much like Atreyu, pleading with them to “fight against the sadness.” “You HAVE to TRY… You HAVE to CARE!” And then they, too, disappear from my life because I cannot continue to stay in the swamp. I spent years in the swamp… not trying… not caring… some people took the time to play the part of Atreyu and encourage me and love me. I wouldn’t even bother with these “sinking people” except that I was one… and I know that some of us do decide to TRY and CARE. Isn’t it funny how much certain things affect who we become… Thanks to all of my Atreyu folks!

[tags]neverending story, Atreyu, Artax, Bastian, swamp, sadness, Morla, depression, sinking[/tags]