Characters:
Narrator:Anindividualwhoisalwaysonthestage,outsideoftheeventswithinthestory
LittleSister:Akindheartedyoungwomanwithafondnessforanimals
Son:Acruelyoungmanwithahungerforpower.
Cow:Anelderlycow.
Prince:Anintelligentyoungman,theheirtothethrone
ThenarratorisalwaysreadingtotheaudienceTheyshouldbeonthestage,butplacedsothattheyare clearlynotwithinthestory.
ActISceneI
Narrator:Thereoncewasafarminwhichlivedasmallfamily:father,mother,andsonTheywerehappy together:theylaughedandsangwhiletheydidchorestogether,andtheyalwayshadenoughonthetableto eatButonedaythemotherbecamepregnant,andthehappyfamilyofthreebecamefourWell,almostallof themwerehappy
(enterSon)
Son:(toaudience)ForfiveyearsIhavebeentheonlychildinmyhouseholdMyparentsfawnedoverme, andIlovedthemasmuchastheylovedmeButnowtheyhavebroughtanewchildtothehouseholdIknow theirlovewillbesplitnow,andI’llneveragainbethesolelightinmyparents'eyes.It’snottheirfault,of courseIt’sthatdreadedbabe Iknow!I’llstealthemilkfromherbottles!Andtheblanketsfromher cradles–theywereoncemineanyways.That’llsurelyshowher!
(exitSon)
Nar:Andsothebrotherstolefromhissister.Hecalledhernames,placedblameonherforthesmallest deeds,anddidanythingtotryandshowherthathewassupposedtobetheonlychildofthehouseholdAt firstshetriedtoignoreit,butastheygrewolderthegirl'sdistressatherbrother'sactionsgrewandgrew.
(enterLittleSister)
Lit:(toaud)Icanhandlethewaymybrotherpullsmyhair,orwhenhetakesallthefatpiecesofsteak, leavingmeonlythetastelessleanbitsReally,Ican!Butthewayhetreatstheanimals it’sjustnotright!
MamaandPapabothhavetogotoworknow,tobeabletoaffordthefarm,soit’suptomeandmybrotherto dothehousechoresButmoreoftenthannot,he’llforgettofeedthecows,orwillchasethesheepwitha stickratherthanherdingthemnicelyinside.Iknowtheygetupsetbyit,too,soIalwaystrytotreatthem withthemostkindnessIcanIjustwishhewoulddothesame
Nar:Oneday,asthesisterwasfinishingupgroomingtheoldestcowinthebarn–thebrother’schore,might Iadd–shesawhimrunningintothehousewithastrangepamphletCurious,sheputdownthebrushshe washoldingandfollowedhim.
Lit:Ifoundhiminthekitchen,tellingMamaandPapaaboutsomebigpartybeingheldbythekingofthe land,andeveryonewasinvited.Hewasexplainingaplanthathehaddrafted,inwhichhewouldbefriend theprinceandbecomeoneofhischiefgenerals“Afterall,”hesaid,“I’moneofthestrongestladsinthe land.”I’msurehewasn’twrong,ofcourse.He’dbequitecapableofrunningthefarmifheactuallyapplied himselfIdidn’treallycareaboutanyofthis,thoughIjustwantedtoattendthepartyIthoughtitsounded fun,yousee,andaskedhimifIcouldgoaswell
Tomysurprise,hesaidyes!“HowcouldInotbringmylittlesistertosuchagrandevent?”heaskedme,and IhavetoadmitthatitmademegleamwithjoyUsually,mybrotherwantsnothingtodowithme,buteven
thoughIwassurprisedIdidn’twanttocomplainaboutthesuddenkindness!Instead,Iasked“Whenisthis party?”Andhetoldme,“Why,it’sjustnextweek!”
Nar:Sothedayswentby,andthesiblingspreparedforthegreatpartyWell,thebrotherpreparedButit seemedlikeeverytimethesistertried,herbrotherwouldinterruptherwithanotherkindoftask
Lit:I’vebeensobusythisweekWhenIwenttosewmydress,mybrothertoldmethechickenshadgotten loose,anditwasuptometofetchthem.WhenItriedtoleavefortowntobuysomedancingshoes,he remindedmethatIneededtomakedinnertonightforourparents,sayingIwouldhavetogoanotherday BeforeIknewit,itwasthenightoftheparty,andIwascompletelyunprepared
(enterSon)
Nar:Sheaskedifshecouldstillcomealong,butherbrotherquicklyobjected,saying-
Son:“I’llneverbecomeageneralifIarrivedwithsomeonelookinglikeyou!”
(exitSon)
Nar:-andhequicklyleftwithoutawordmore
ActISceneII
(enterLit)
Nar:Thesisterwasdevastatedbyherbrother’strickerySheshouldhaveknownthatherbrotherwould neverhaveactuallyletherattendtheball.Hehadprobablyonlyagreedbecauseheknewshewouldbeeven moredisappointedthatwayAsshethoughtaboutthis,asingletearfelldownherface,butshewouldn’tlet
herselfcry.Instead,shewalkedovertothebarn,knowingthatseeingherfavoriteanimalswouldsuremake herfeelbetter
Lit:(toaud)MyeyeswerestillwaterywhenIgottothebarn,butIstillpickedupmybrushandtiedmyhair uplikenormal,gettingreadytogroomoneoftheoldercows (enterCow)
Nar:Whatshewasn'treadyforwasfortheoldcowtoopenitsmouthandask-
Cow:Whyareyoucrying,littlesister?
Nar:Naturally,shescreamedShehadneverheardacowspeakbefore,andthoughtherdespairhadcaused hertoimaginethings.
Cow:Shh,littlesister,donotbefrightened.Manytimeshaveyouhavecometometolamentyourwoes.Now tellme,whatiswrong
Nar:Thegirlwasstillperplexed,butherparentshadraisedherwell,andifacowwaswillingtotalktoher theleastshecoulddowasrespond
Lit:(toCow)Mybrotherlefttogotoapartytonight,oldcowIwasmeanttogoaswell,buttonightIfound nothingtowear,norawaytoarrive
Cow:Well,wecouldhelpwiththat
(Thecowswingsithead,acknowledgingthecrowdofanimalsthatsurroundthem)
Lit:Buthow?Youarejustbarnanimals!
Cow:YouhavetreateduswithmorekindnessthananyusanimalshadeverknownbeforeNowgofetchthe chicken'seggs,thesheep’swool,andthefinestofyourhorses
(ExitCow)
Lit:(toaud)Iwasconfused,butIfollowedthecow’sinstructions,searchingforeachandeveryitembefore headingbacktothebarn.Itwasdarkthough,andIcouldhardlyseewhereIwasgoing,soIendedup trippingandbreakingoneofthelittlechickeneggsItriedtopickuptheeggshells,butinsteadfoundafew piecesofmetalinitsplaceIpickedituptolookatit,andfounditwastwoprettyearringsintheshapeof feathers!Afterscoopingtheseup,Ihurriedbacktotheoldcow.
(enterCow)
Iwasquiteexcitedtoseewhatelsetheywereplanning,andIthinkshewastoo.Iswear,Ievensawasmile onherface
Cow:(laughing)Oh,don’tletthechickensknowthatyoufiguredouttheirsurprise
Nar:Thetwothenjoinedtherestofthecrowd,whereeachpresentedtheirgift.Thechickensbeganpecking awayattheremainingeggstorevealmorejewelry,whilethesheepstompedawayonthewoolandmadea cutewhitedress.Thesisterstaredinawe,hergazeonlyinterruptedbytheoldcownuzzlingatherhand.
Cow:It’stimeformypresent-
Nar:-shesaidtothesister,andplacedapailofhoofclippersinherhand.Thesisterleaneddownand clippedherfronthooves,eachclippingpoppingoffintheformintheshapeofashoe
Cow:There nowyouhaveanoutfitfortheball
(Lit’sdressistornoff,revealinganewoneunderneath.Thecow’shoovesaretakenoffandvelcroedtoher body,givingherfeet)
Nar:Thegirlthankedtheanimalsprofusely,givingeachakissontheheadbeforedonninghergiftsand mountedhersteed.Shegaveeachafarewellbeforeridingofftowardsthecastle.
ActISceneIII
(enterLit)
Lit:(toaud)EventhoughIarrivedmuchlaterthaneveryoneelse,Icouldstillfeeltheheadsturningtowards measIarrivedatthepartyIknewthedressthesheepmadewasn’tthefanciest,andthatmyjewelrywas plainerthanmost,butIthinkthelovethatwasputintomyoutfitmadeitmorebeautifulthananyotherin theroomItriedtointroducemyselftoafewthatwerestaringofcourse,butthenIwentstraighttothe dancefloor!
(enterSon)
Son:(toaud)Ihadbeenattheballforquitesometime.Enoughtime,infact,togetthisclosetosetmyplans intoactionButthensheshowsupAndassoonasshedid,thePrincejust walkedawayfromme!Totalk toher!It’senoughthatshestolemyparentsfromme.Nowshehastostealmyfutureaswell?
(exitson)
(enterPrince)
Nar:Becauseshewaslatetotheintroductions,thelittlesisterdidnotknowwhothehandsomemanthat wasapproachingherwasEvenso,shegladlyacceptedhishand,andastheywaltzedtheybegantotalk aboutthemselvesBeforelongthesisterrealizedshehadspentmostofthenightwiththisgentlemanShe yawned,tiredfromalloftheexcitement,butbeforesheleftsheaskedthemanonemorequestion.
Lit:Wehavespentthenighttogether,andIhavequiteenjoyedmyself.Goodsir,underwhatnamemayIfind youagain?
Prince:Why,mynameisPrinceLucus,andyoumayalwaysfindmehereatthecastle.
Lit:(toaud)IcouldfeelmyfacegettingredderandredderHowcouldInothaverealizedthiswasthe
Prince?HemusthavethoughtIwasafooltoasksuchaquestion,andhewasright!Icouldhardlyanswer himwhenheaskedhisnextquestion
(LitturnsbacktowardsPrince)
Pri:Andyouare?
Lit:(fumbling)S-SimoneIliveahalf-hourrideout,atthefarmontheoutskirtsoftown
Pri:I’llbesuretovisitthen(heexits)
Lit:(toaud)Hekissedmyhandbeforeheleft,andIsweartoyouthatmyfacegotmorescarletthanblood itselfEvennow,IcanbarelyrememberwalkingbacktomyhorseIhadcometomysensesbythenext morningthough,andtoldmyparentsallaboutLucus.Ididn’ttellmybrother,though.Hehadcomehome angryaftertheballI’mnotsurewhy,butIdidn’twanttodoanythingthatmightupsethim
Nar:PrinceLucusvisitedmanytimeswithinthenextfewmonths,alwaysbringingSimonealavishgiftora deliciousmealEachtime,thebrotherwouldtrytointerrupt,attemptingtoconvincethePrincetobefriend himinstead,butLucuswouldneverentertainthisforlong,asSimonehadtoldhimofherbrother’swicked tendenciesEventually,aboutayearaftertheyhadmet,PrinceLucusproposed,andSimonehappilyagreed tobecominghisbride
Sadly,Simone’sfortunedidnotlast.Aterriblediseaseplaguedthecountryjusttwoyearsafter,andPrince Lucus’sparentsbothgrewsickandweretakenThetwolivedasKingandQueenforashortwhile,but eventuallyLucuswastakenaswell,leavingSimoneallalone.Yes,shehadthestaff,thecooksandthemaids alwaystriedtobringherspiritsup,buttheQueenlongedforherfamilythathadbeenlostPerhapsthisis whyshewassotrustingofherbrotherwhenhesentaletterapologizingforthemisdeedsofhisyouth,and askingiftheycouldreconcile.
(enterLit)
Lit:WhenIarrivedatmyoldhome,Iwasgreetedbyawonderfulmealthatmybrotherhadpreparedforme Itrulythoughtthenightwasgoingwell,too:wespentagoodtimecatchingup(enterSon).Mybrother seemedtohavefinallygrownup,andhadbeentakinggreatcareofthefarmsincemyparentspassedawayI wassohappywhenitcametimeformetoreturntothecastle,butwhenIstoodupIfeltqueasyBeforeI knewit,Iwasfallingtotheground…
(Lit’spuppetdropstothegroundSonwalkstowhereshefell)
Son:(toaud)Finally!IhaveriddedmyselfofmydreadfulsisterPerhapsIshouldthankher,thoughAfter all,ifshehadneverthwartedmyplanatthepartythosefewyearsago,IwouldneverhavebecomeKing! (SonpicksupLit’scrown,placingitonhisownheadHeexits,laughing)
Characters:
Narrator:Anindividualwhoisalwaysonthestage,outsideoftheeventswithinthestory Simone:Theex-Queen,turnedintoabirdbyherevilbrother
Amelie:Asweetmaidharboringasecret.
Witch:Anambivalentindividualwhowillonlyofferaidforsomethinginreturn.
ActIISceneI
Nar:Thecastlehadchangedgreatlysincethequeenhaddisappeared.Thelightsseemeddimmer,the cloudsgreyer,andthestaffwasinworsespiritsthaneverbeforeThenewkingonlymademattersworse, barkingordersandchangingwhateverhepleasedItwashardtoimaginethathecouldpossiblyberelated tothekindheartedQueenSimone.
(enterAmelie)
Therewasonemaid,though,whoseemedlessbotheredthantherestatthechangesaroundthecastle.
Ame:(toaudience)Iwasarathernewmaidtothecastle.Soitwasn’tuncommonfortheKingtobarkatme tocleanthefloorsbetter,orforthecooktoscoldmeforputtingtoomuchsaltinthestewNoneofthisreally matteredthoughIwouldalwayshaveasmileonmyface,becauseIknewmylittlefriendwasgoingtovisit
Yousee,thenightafterthequeendisappeared,Ihadbeenwokeninthenighttothesoundofatip-tiptappingonmywindow.WhenIwenttoinvestigate,Ifoundalittlecardinalonthesill,shiveringfromthe rain“Oh,youpoorthing,”IsaidasIopenedthewindow,andthelittlethingcameinsideforsomewarmth
Nar:Everynightsince,thecardinalhadreturned,andeverynightAmeliegaveitabitofwhateverfoodshe couldsneakawayfromthekitchenOnenight,asshewasgivingitapieceofbread,thebirdspoke
Simone:Thankyou,Amelie.
Nar:Naturally,Ameliescreamedinresponse.
Ame:(toSim,frightened)Youcantalk?
Sim:Yes,butdonotbefrightenedItoooncelivedinthiscastle
(Amegasps)
Ame:Butwhyhaven’tyousaidanythingbefore?
Sim:IwasafraidthatifIwasdiscovered,youmighthavereturnedmetotheking,whowastheonewho cursedmewiththisform
Ame:(sadly)Iunderstandthatfeelingoffear,butpleaseknowthatyoucantrustme.MaybeIcouldhelp,if youtoldmeyourstory
Nar:AndsotheQueentoldAmeliehertale,fromwhenshewasababetothemomentherbrotherhadstolen hercrownAmelielistenedintently,takingnotesonwhatshethoughtmighthelpbreaktheQueen’scurse Theyspokelikethisforthenextweek,AmeliealwaysinvitingtheQueeninsideoncenightfell.Whilethey didusethistimetotryandfindawaytobreaktheQueen’scurse,theyalsofoundthemselvesgettingto knoweachother,andbythetimeSundayhitthetwohadgrownquiteclose.
Ame:(toaud)Ididquiteenjoyhavingalittlebirdfriend,butIhavetoadmit,gettingtoknowtheQueenhad beenmuchnicer.IknewthatIwasgoingtohelpherbreakhercursenomatterwhat.Thatnight,Itold
Simoneaboutawitchthatlivedontheborderbetweenthislandandthenext,onewhowouldknowhowto breakhercurseBothsheandIwerehesitanttotrustawitch,butitseemedasthoughitwasouronly option.
ActIISceneII
Nar:Ameliepackedherbagsthatnight,andthetwowomenlefttofindthewitch.Itwasmanyadays journey,butAmelieseemedtoknowherway,muchtothesurpriseofSimoneAndsoonenough,theyhad foundthemselvesatasmallhut,hiddenamongstthetrees
Ame:(toaud)Iknockedonthedoor,withSimoneperchedonmyshoulderAftersomeshufflingaround,a familiarvoicecriedout-
Witch:(offstage)Whogoesthere?
Ame:-frombehindthewoodItoldhermynameand,recognizingit,sheletmerightin (enterWit)
Wit:Oh!Howlongit’sbeensinceI’vehadvisitors.(slyly)Andhowniceitistoseeafamiliarface.Come, come,haveaseatmydear
Ame:(toWit)I’dloveto,ma’am,butunfortunatelythisislessofasocialvisitandmoreofapleafor assistanceYousee,mydearfriend(picksupSimoneandhandshertothewitch)herehashadaspellcast uponher:onewhichturnedherintothisformPlease,isthereanythingyoucandotomakeherhuman oncemore?
Nar:Thewitchstudiedthecardinalcarefully,liftingupherwingsandtakingnotesofherfeathersAftera minuteoftwo,shegaveahuff.
Wit:IsupposeatransformationspellcoulddothetrickButwhathaveyoutogiveme?Didyounotofferup allyourrichesthelasttimewespoke?
Ame:Oh,thisistrue…butIwashopingIcouldaskoutofthegoodnessofyourheart?
Wit:Goodness?(Witbeginstolaugh)
Nar:Butasthewitchlaughedandlaughed,somethingverystrangehappenedShetossedSimoneintothe air--toofastforthebird-girltostarttofly–andthehutimmediatelywentdark.Afewpurplesparksflew throughtheair,andwhenthelightreturned,thecardinalhaddisappeared,andQueenSimonestoodinits place!
Sim:Oh,blessyousweetwitch!I’mhumanagain!(Simtriestohugwit,butwitavoidsit)WhenIreturnto mykingdom,I’llbesureto-
Wit:Notsofast,youngQueen!ItistruethatIhavetransformedyoubackintoyourself,butforsuchastrong spellsomecostmusthavebeenmadeNeveragaincanyoustepfootinsideyourkingdom,lestthecurse onceagainwilltakehold (exitWit)