(Prelude: off the record
When my water broke
The midwife at the birthing center
Felt my belly and said
Oh you have a little peanut baby.
This was… annoying, at the time.
But then that baby was born
And it fit somehow,
She was, indeed
Peanut Baby.)

Press play. 

Drumbeat opens aerial view, panning across horizon, trees, shades of green, cloudy sky, low buildings dot the distance.

Switch
Three panel frames of open field. All footage shot from above.
I am a thirty-something white woman with long light brown hair tousled and loose. I am wearing black pants and black tennis shoes and a black tank top that has eyes nose and smiley mouth painted on it. 
(The tank top was a Christmas gift from my daughter. She painted the face using celery and potatoes. My aunt helped her. My aunt who is also a midwife who delivered me. My aunt who guided me through transition.)

Flat back, arms extended, scanning over   

[Edge Space]

Deep squat facing back arms stretch high bounce side to side wrists flex

[Edge Space]

Scan over sway curve sideways in the wind

Switch
A gray rocky path through the woods, stark branches arcing over. I am walking backward on the path. Right hand across chest left hand across belly elbows lifted fingers splayed tension
Drone camera follows. Follows me.

Switch
The open field
Camera circling above
Deep squat arms reaching up wrists winding

Switch
Three frames
Rolling back and forth to suspend on knee

[Edge Space]

I walk backward looking up. Stop and stare back at the unseen drone.

[Edge Space]

Circling, one leg kicking back arabesque

Switch
Camera swift circling above the open field
Tree perimeter worn paths cross in grass
Drop down deep squat arms raise strong back

Jump knees high

One arm bridge balance legs pop out arm flick up

RUNNING away

blurring image blend

Backward glide weight shift weaving windmill limbs switch directions
Running blur

Switch
Three frames
Camera circling high

Skipping twirl frolic hops scissor jump big leg kick front

[Edge Space]

Undulate wave arms stirring and hips

[Edge Space]

Wide leg back pulse shift side to side one knee lift suspend

Switch
The gray rocky path through the woods, stark branches arcing over. I am walking backward on the path. Right hand across chest left hand across belly elbows lifted fingers splayed tension
Drone camera follows. Follows me.

Switch
Three frames
Bent leg cartwheel cartwheel cartwheel over and over over again across the field like tumbling

[Edge Space]

Back bend soft arms gathering, wide leg hip thrusting walk arms straight up,

wrists flicking   saunter, head follows side to side

[Edge Space]

First frame mirrored tumbling like field across again over over and over

cartwheel cartwheel cartwheel leg bent

Switch
Open field. Patchy dry gray brown
Sudden drop deep squat arms up head down
Shoot up straight on tip toes push forward quick then again drop down

squat

High circling camera changes rotation
Supple arms hips squat melds to crouch one leg and arm extended other

bent like archer

Switch
The gray rocky path through the woods, stark branches arcing over. I am walking backward on the path. Right hand across chest left hand across belly elbows lifted fingers splayed tension
Drone camera follows. Quick advances closer! Follows me. 
Walking backward. Footing unsure.

Keep walking. Backward down the path. Fade to black.
I fade. 

(Epilogue: Off the record
I would go to every edge for her
She will take me to every edge)

---

Conceived and Performed by Molly Roy
Drone Operator: O.Anwar (@reach_mod) ([at]Reach_Mod)
Music: AUX
Editing: Robert Hannant