Folk-tale play The Tiger, the Brahman and the Jackal

THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN,

AND THE JACKAL

A play based on an Indian folk tale

Copyright Mark Scrivener 2015

The Tiger

The Brahman- white, clothed "holy" man

The Voice of the Pipal Tree- large fig like the Bo tree (Figus Religiosa)

The Voice of the Water Buffalo

The Voice of the Road

The Jackal

Dim green light. Hunters enter through audience driving the tiger towards the stage with blunt sticks.

They can get members of the audience to help them. Finally, they drive the tiger into the cage and drop and shut the cage door. They exit. Lights fade.

SCENE- A Jungle Road

The Tiger is discovered, trapped in a bamboo cage.

TIGER (to the audience)

Captured here, with roar and rage;

Caught and enclosed in a tight-trapping cage!

Furious, fuming, with grumble and growl,

For no creatures will answer my heart-shaking howl!

All through this jungle, all through it all,

Not one beast will answer my roaring call.

Wait now! What's this! Nearby is seen

A figure, white against the green,

A holy fool, all in a dream!

Perhaps this is a lucky hour!

Perhaps he will give freedom now!

Enter the Brahman, dressed in white with a white turban, unaware of the trapped tiger.

BRAHMAN (Entering through the audience, singing)

Along, along I go along,

And as I go I sing my song-

My mind is on the holy word,

My heart is like a soaring bird!

BRAHMAN

The sun lights up the leaves on high,

Which all but hide the wide, blue sky.

And underneath trees' branching towers,

Bright butterflies flit among the flowers.

On such a singing day as this

How refreshing it is to wander on

Through nature's wonder world.

Ah, all is peace and harmony.

TIGER

AHHR! Have pity on me!

BRAHMAN (shocked, turns and sees Tiger)

Oh! Highest heaven! What's this I see?

TIGER

Oh, have pity on me, oh, pious one,

White-robed Brahman, holy man.

Oh, free me, release me, let me out,

Out from where the cruel hunters,

With their sharp sticks and loud drums

Have driven me-

Out of this cramped capture cage!

BRAHMAN

Quell your anger, my friend.

If I freed you now, you would probably

Make a quick, light lunch of me.

TIGER

Never, not at all, oh, holy man;

Oh, no, no, no!

Rather I'd serve you, a humble slave,

Forever grateful. O help me, help me!

By the power of the creator of all creatures,

I swear to you that I won't hurt you,

Nor disturb one hair upon your holy head.

Oh, save me, save me! Oh, free me, free me!

BRAHMAN

Well, well, you poor beast,

It must be terrible for you

To be caged up like that.

And as you swore that you won't hurt me,

And as you promised not to harm me,

I suppose I'd better set you free,

Release you from your bamboo bonds.

The Brahman opens the cage door. As he is propping it up with a long pole of cane, the Tiger sneaks out and gets ready to spring.

TIGER

Ha! What a feather-brained fool you are!

I might as well devour you right now:

For trapped here, all the hunting hours of night cover,

I've developed quite a raging appetite.

H'm . . .you look like you might make a mouthful,

You look like you might taste all right!

BRAHMAN (trembling)

But, but, you swore so terribly,

And, and you promised mightily

Not to harm or hurt me, not even a hair on my head.

TIGER

Come, come now, you should know

Never to trust the word of a tiger.

BRAHMAN

I beg you, don't destroy me, let me live!

I plead with you, spare me, spare me,

Great king of all the creatures,

For saving you from this trap,

For freeing you from this cage!

Oh, great ruler of the night-dark forests,

Oh, great beast of all the jungle beings,

At least give me some chance,

At least give me some way

To arrange some trial, some test

As to whether you should

Reward my kindness this way.

Oh, great lord of jungle darkness,

Oh, great emperor of moonlit plains,

Please, let us see what others say

About rewarding me this way!

TIGER (grudgingly, but slightly flattered)

Well, all right, you set up a test;

But only as a last request.

What do you hope to find,

What do you have in mind?

BRAHMAN(to audience)

Oh, dear, oh dear, what can I do?

What sound I say to see me through?

(to tiger)

Oh well, well then, now let me see-

Well then, will you be sure

To leave me absolutely free

So nothing here will need to feel

Threatened by your presence?

And after that, will you agree

To follow and abide by

The decisions of the first, three things

I choose to ask about

The justice of your intent?

TIGER

Well then . . . all right. Question the first,

Three things you wish. For as a holy man

I know that you

Won't break your word;

I know that you

Will stay around.

And if you do not-

Swift as a wild, dark wind I'll run

Until I hunt you down.

So promise me

Or I'll make a few mouthfuls of you now!

BRAHMAN (trembling)

Yes, yes, Sir Tiger,

I promise to stay here.

TIGER

All jungle creatures tremble with awe;

The Lord of the Forest is back once more!

AHHHR!

The Tiger exits through the audience

BRAHMAN (to audience)

Whom should I question?

Who won't fear the tiger's wrath?

Who'll agree with me?

The Brahman looks about

I know, I'll go and ask that pipal tree.

Pipal tree, oh, pipal tree,

Will you listen here to me?

THE VOICE OF THE PIPAL TREE (swishingly)

I shall listen to you here.

Tell me, what is troubling you?

BRAHMAN

I was walking alone in the sun,

Admiring all the world before me,

When suddenly I came upon

A roaring tiger trapped

And captive in a bamboo cage.

The tiger begged me to release him,

Swore an oath he'd never harm me;

Said he'd serve me well instead.

Yet when set free he sprang upon me!

Yet still I managed to persuade him

To let me ask the first

Three things I wished

For their opinion.

PIPAL TREE

Why whimper your worries to me?

Do I not, as I stand here,

Offer tired travellers a shaded shelter,

A cool and soothing sojourn from

Their sweating journey in the sun?

And don't they in return

Just break my branches,

Tear them down to feed their cattle?

Don't moan to me, just be a man

And face your fate.

The Brahman turns away sadly from the pipal tree.

A Water Buffalo enters, its head poking out from behind a hedge.

BRAHMAN (to audience)

Perhaps the buffalo, man's companion,

Will weigh the question in my favour.

Buffalo, oh, buffalo,

Will you tell me what you know?

The Buffalo replies in heavy ruminant tones

BUFFALO

I shall tell you what I know.

Tell me, what is troubling you?

BRAHMAN

I freed a fearsome tiger who had told me

That once at large he wouldn't harm me;

And yet as soon as he was free once more

The crafty and deceitful monster

Decided he should eat me up. Tell me,

Is it right, is it fair? Do I

Deserve to die for freeing him?

BUFFALO

You are a dreaming fool

To expect a smile of gratitude.

See how I have fared.

While I yielded men nourishing milk

They fed me well: but now my milk has dried

They feed me garbage and refuse as fodder.

No, you must suffer the result

Of your own foolishness.

The Buffalo exits

The Brahman notices the road and bends down to it.

BRAHMAN (to audience)

Perhaps the humble road,

Which everything passes over,

May answer me truly.

Humble road, oh, well-worn track,

Will you hear me and answer back?

VOICE OF THE ROAD (rumbling from the depths)

I shall answer you then!

Tell me, what is troubling you?

BRAHMAN

I have released a raging tiger

Who has, unfairly, just decided

That he'll repay my act of kindness

By making a meal of me. So say,

Oh, ancient and long-lasting way,

Oh, venerable, well-used road,

Oh, is it fair he should do so?

THE VOICE OF THE ROAD

How very foolish you are

To expect to receive

Anything else. Look at me-

Here I lie, useful to all,

Showing all of them the way,

Bearing their dust-laden feet.

Rajah and beggar,

Merchant and farmer alike,

Trample on me as they pass,

Forever trudge upon my path;

And all they ever leave to me

Is the trash from eaten fruit,

And the useless husks from their ripe grain.

The Brahman rises sadly.

Enter the Jackal through the audience.

JACKAL (in a short, yapping manner)

Hey, Brahman,

What makes you so sad?

You look less happy than

A fish stranded

On dry sand.

BRAHMAN (with a deep sigh)

Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

Oh, Jackal, my friend, what can I say?

It seems no one sees things my way.

JACKAL

Come, come. What's so bad?

What's eating you?

BRAHMAN (with a shudder)

Don't talk of eating- please! You see

My friend, this is the end of me.

See, I was strolling cheerfully along

As happy as a butterfly

That's flitting through the warm, blue sky,

When what do you think I came upon?

A roaring, raging tiger in a bamboo cage!

This tiger, he entreated me

To liberate him, set him free-

And swore he wouldn't injure me,

But rather serve me faithfully.

So foolish-trusting as I am,

A foolish, trusting, silly man,

I let him out of his tight cage.

Then he decided then instead

He'd gobble me up from toes to head!

But I persuaded him to promise

To follow answers from the first

Three things I wished question . . .

JACKAL

Wait, wait for a second!

For the picture

Is not perfectly

Clear to me.

You say you were walking along-

Well, what happened then?

It has flown from my mind.

BRAHMAN

I met a tiger.

JACKAL (also to audience)

A tiger? What's a tiger?

BRAHMAN

You know- a tiger,

A tiger in a cage.

JACKAL (also to audience)

A cage? Well, what's

That then?

BRAHMAN

A cage? This here.

The Brahman points to the cage

JACKAL (seeming amazed)

This thing here? Oh, I don't know.

Perhaps you'd better explain it again.

BRAHMAN

All right, then. You see-

Re-enter the Tiger

TIGER

Well, how were you answered?

My stomach's growling for food.

Come, let's begin our dinner, shall we?

BRAHMAN (trembling)

Our dinner. Oh, just leave me

A minute now, Sir Tiger, to explain

The circumstances to this jackal

Who seems to have a weakish brain.

TIGER

Well, all right. But

Be quick about it. I'm hungry!

BRAHMAN (confused and fearful, trying to spin out the story)

Well, now then, you see, that is to say,

I was going for a stroll, was on my way

Along the sunny, jungle path,

Surrounded by the jungle flowers,

The jungle birds above,

Many-coloured, flying free

Or perching in the jungle trees,

When it happened that, that is to say,

That was when I happened to hear

This mighty tiger here,

Roaring and growling,

Storming and howling,

Caught inside

This bamboo cage, you see-

This one that's over there, you know . . .

JACKAL

Wait, wait, oh, oh-

My poor head is spinning,

My confused thoughts circling.

Now exactly how

Did it start? You were here,

In this cage, and the tiger

Came strolling by.

TIGER

INSANE IDIOT! Listen here-

I was in the cage.

The Jackal pretends to tremble with fright

JACKAL

Yes, yes, of course.

I was in the cage . . .

No, no . . .wait, wait, hold on- I

Wasn't in the cage, was I?

TIGER

AHHRR!

JACKAL

No, no, wait, wait, oh where

Have my wits flown?

Now, now; let's see. The tiger

Was in the Brahman

And the cage came strolling by.

TIGER

AHHHHHHHR!

JACKAL

No, no . . .hold on, that's not so.

Oh, you'd better go

And eat your man;

I shall never understand.

TIGER

HOW CAN YOU BE

SO STUPID! I'll make you see!

Now get this clear! I am

The tiger.

JACKAL

Yes, yes, my lord.

TIGER

And that white-clothed man

Is the Brahman.

JACKAL

Yes, yes, my lord.

TIGER

And that's

The wretched cage.

JACKAL

Yes, yes, my lord.

TIGER

And I was trapped

Inside the cage.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

JACKAL

Yes, yes, my lord . . .

No, no, please wait,

Wait, my lord.

TIGER

Well, WELL?

JACKAL

But, but, my lord,

I'm a bit confused . . . but

How did you get

Into the cage?

TIGER

How- HOW ? Why

In the usual way; WHAT ELSE?

JACKAL

Oh, ooh . . . it's all

Whirling around in my brain again.

Oh, please don't be angry, don't rage,

But, but, my lord, what is

The usual way ?

TIGER (raging)

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

The Tiger springs back into the cage, facing the opposite way to the door.

TIGER

Now do you see! THIS WAY!

NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND

HOW IT WAS!

The Jackal, as he speaks, quickly shuts and locks the door, by slipping out the pole holding the door open and, in one swift action, using it to bar the cage door.

JACKAL

Perfectly! And,

If you will let me put it so,

I think it would be better if

Things stay the way

They were!

To the Brahman

Quickly! Let's go!

BRAHMAN

Oh, thank you! Thank you!

The Brahman and the Jackal exit

TIGER (raging in the cage)

GRRR! GRRRRRR! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

The Lights fade.

FINIS

Complete folk-tale play The Wind and the Sun- Aesop

THE WIND AND THE SUN

From Aesop -Greek

CHARACTERS

WIND

Jagged, trailing edges on a costume of greens, whites, and grays. Veils, gloves, and make-up of the same.

SUN

A costume of golds, yellows, oranges, and reds. Head possibly surrounded by a vertical halo with raying points. A semi-circular cloak could also be attached under his arms and to his back.

TRAVELLER

As wished (e.g. Old Greek, Medieval, swagman etc.); with a long, tatty cloak.

NARRATOR

As wished.

Note- Narrator, Traveller, and even Wind can be of either gender- simply change appropriate pronouns and in the case of the Wind “brother” to “sister”

SCENE NOTES

A sky-blue background. Stairs and platform at the back for the sun of the same colour.

Stage right (audience left) a tree stump or rock.

The wind can be accompanied by a suitable “windy” instrument eg panpipes, bamboo flute.

The sun can be accompanied by plucked strings eg. lyre, nylon-stringed guitar, harp etc.

Note- This is the pipes of pan (Dionysus) and the Lyre of Apollo.

SCENE

By a deserted roadside. A tree stump or rock stage right.

(Narrator enters)

NARRATOR

Long, long ago, there lived an old,

Greek storyteller who wove a gold,

Bright-shining thread of wisdom through

The tapestry of tales he knew.

His name was Æsop and this name

Has lasted long in story’s fame.

The tale we play today is one-

The fable of the Wind and the Sun.

Now once it happened that the wind and the sun

Resolved to hold a trial to see which one

Was stronger. Well, the wind used all his force,

But brother sun pursued a different course.

(Narrator exits)

(Enter the wind. He whirls around the stage.)

WIND

Now I am the wind with my body of air.

Now I am the wind and I rush everywhere.

Yes, I am the wind and I roll through the sky.

All the leaves shake and tremble as I whirl on by.

When I come from the ocean, I bring with me rain;

Then I come from the desert with dryness again.

And I drive the white clouds through the sky as I fly,

And I flap the wet clothes that were hung out to dry;

And I twirl all the fallen, dry leaves with my swirling,

And I raise the dry dust with my hurrying whirling.

And I ripple long grasses in waves as I pass,

And I bend all the trees with my furious blast.

And when I am friendly the birds ride on me,

As they glide through the blue sky so light and so free…

But when I am angry, I rage and I roar

And I break off the branches and rattle the door.

Now I am the Wind and I blow and I blow

Wherever I go, oh, wherever I go.

(The wind rushes up to the front of the stage and whirls

past the audience)

Whirr, whirr, whirrr, whirrrrrr !

(The wind goes back to whirling around the stage)

Yes, I am the Wind and I blow and I blow

Wherever I go, oh, wherever I go!

And I pull people's coats and I ruffle their hair,

For I am the Wind with my body of air,

For I am the Wind and I rush everywhere,

Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, everywhere....

(On the last ‘everywhere’ the wind whirls off)

(Enter the Sun. He ascends to the platform starts to make a radiating

gesture)

SUN

I am the Sun.

I fill the world with warmth and light.

I am the Sun.

I chase away the dark of night.

The golden flowers unfold

Proud petals towards my rays.

I bring the shining, bold,

Bright colours of the days.

The sleeping seeds I warm

Within the winter earth.

With day-arousing dawn

I bring first light to birth.

At dusk I sink down with a golden flame

That singes sunset clouds; and yet from night

I always rise again

To pour life-giving light

And heat on everything-

And wake bright butterflies and birds that sing.

I shine and give my fire ever faithfully.

I glow upon the land, I sparkle on the sea.

Green grass and tall, tall trees

Grow upwards towards my light.

I give the feathered, scaled,

Or furry creatures sight.

I lift the water from the seas

That later falls as rain.

I build the solid wood

That later burns with flame.

I blaze from far on fading shower

Of fleeting, fleeing storm

And suddenly with shining power

A rainbow arch is born!

I am the Sun.

I gleam and glow and ray and shine

And flood the world with light

Whenever it is fine.

(The sun moves centre back and rays on the audience)

I shine, I shine, I shine,

I shine, I shine, I shine, I shine!

I am the Sun.

My bright face makes the dark sky blue.

I am the Sun;

The shining radiance so true.

I am the Sun.

I shine on you and you and you!

(The Wind enters. He whirls up to the Sun)

WIND

Good day to you,

Good brother Sun.

So tell me how

Is everything with you,

My fair lord Shining-Power?

SUN

Now all is fine with me,

My little, brother Wind.

WIND (flustering)

Oooh, there you go again.

SUN

Now I can see

That you seem bothered and upset?

WIND

I am ruffled and restless and fitfully fret.

You're always answering

With little brother Wind.

But vast is my might and far I can fly.

Why do you call me little? Why?

Do you think that I'm weaker than you?

SUN (beaming broadly)

Yes, brother Wind, I think that's true.

WIND

Who's really the stronger one,

My boastful, brother Sun?

(The wind whirls around)

I whirl around and rustle all the leaves,

I bend and sway the proud, strong trees;

So who's the stronger one, fair brother Sun?

No one but I, I am the mighty one.

I am the Wind, the breath of the heavens, and I

Roam all the vast, blue reaches of the sky.

I am the breath that comes from high;

My influence is everywhere,

For I rush here, for I rush there;

My realm is all the restless air.

My influence is felt in every place:

From the gentle ripples on a lake's calm face,

And the tremble of a dewy leaf at dawn,

To the lashing, wild rain of a howling, black storm,

And the rage of a hurricane thrashing the land. Yes, I,

The roving wind that roams the reaches of the sky,

I am the strongest of us all.

SUN (beaming )

Now, now my hasty friend are you

So certain that is really true?

For first you should think of my power.

I fire with life each gentle flower;

My dazzling radiance fills all the vastness;

My rising blaze defeats the cold night's darkness.

I spin the seasons with their changeless course:

I summon spring with fiery force,

I ripen crops with summer warmth.

Now, brother, surely it is I,

Far-shining from the blue and boundless sky,

Who shows the truest power of all?

WIND

Enough of all this idle chatter.

How shall we decide this matter?

SUN (gazing out into the distance)

Now gazing from the heights of sky,

Far in the distance I can spy

A weary traveller trudging past.

His steps stir tiny clouds of dust,

Upon a dry and lonely road.

And, as my beams upon him glowed,

I noticed something else of note:

He wears an old and tattered cloak.

Here is our chance, dear brother! Now

We'll see who wields the greater power!

This is the test I have to trade:

Let us find out who can persuade,

Just as a small and harmless joke,

That traveller to take off his cloak.

As you think you’re the stronger power,

You, brother wind, may try first now.

Let's see your mighty power displayed!

I shall withdraw behind cloud shade.

WIND

All right, good brother Sun, we'll see

Who really works more mightily.

(The Sun moves to the side, possibly covering his face

with his arms. The traveller enters)

TRAVELLER (with a sigh of weariness)

Ah, I've walked and walked and walked such a long, long way since the

dawn of this day! Well, I think I'll just sit here for a while and rest my weary

legs and aching feet. (The traveller sits down on the tree stump) It has been

so dry and dusty on this long and winding road. Phew! There's not the

slightest breath of wind to offer some relief.

(The wind starts to move gently)

WIND (with a whisper)

Over lakes, over streams,

Through the sun's gentle beams,

Past the woods, past the trees,

Past the branches and leaves,

Come, oh come light and murmuring breeze.

Come softly, softly brushing by,

Caress the flitting butterfly,

And whisper to the forest trees,

And stir and sway their many leaves,

And shake the daisies as you pass,

And bow the stalks of spreading grass...

Come from the broad sky, blue and clear,

And cool the brow of this traveller here.

(The wind touches the traveller lightly)

(The traveller reacts slightly to the touch- of

course, he doesn't see the wind)

TRAVELLER

Oh, now there's a bit of a breeze picking up. H'mm- there’s just the

slightest touch of chilliness in it too. Well, that’s no problem. Luckily, I'm

wearing my good, old cloak.

(The Wind starts to move more energetically)

WIND (with more intensity)

From the wide, spreading reaches of ocean and sea,

Come and summon a salty, strong breeze here for me:

Tipping waves as you pass with bright flecks of white foam,

Rolling grasses in billows, unseen in your flowing,

Beginning to make all the forest trees moan,

Shaking leaves, creaking branches with brisk, gusty blowing.

And encircle this traveller, brush by his face,

As he feels here the wind with its fresh-rising race,

So he feels now a taste of my possible course,

So he feels just a touch of the threat of my force.

(The wind circles around the traveller, brushing him

lightly with his hands as he passes by)

TRAVELLER (drawing his cloak more closely about

him)

This breezes really is getting rather chilly. I’m so glad that I've got my

trusty cloak to pull about me and protect me.

WIND (moving and speaking quite energetically)

From heights of mountains, breaking free,

Blow down a stronger wind to me,

And shake the forest as you go,

And push the drifting clouds along,

And dance the dead leaves to your song,

And stir up dry dust where you blow!

Come, irritate this traveller now,

And let him feel your windy power.

Now let the whirling dust arise,

And ruffle his hair and sting his eyes.

Come, tease his cloak now with your breath;

And tempt him now to take it off!

(The wind races around the traveller, nipping at his

cloak)

TRAVELLER (Drawing in the cloak even more closely)

Dear me, this wind is certainly picking up! Brrr! Never mind, this good, old cloak of mine will keep away the worst of it.

WIND (raging)

You stubborn fool! You stubborn fool!

Now I will make you really cool!

(The wind whirls out in a fury, to gather his strength. As he speaks the

light grows dimmer and there are increasing sounds of thunder and

howling wind from offstage)

Arise, you raging winds of storm,

From freezing quarters where you're born!

Howl down from the mountains high,

Tear across cloud-whirling sky.

Bring the whipping rain with you,

Bring the storming fury too!

Rattle the windows in the town;

Break the branches, tear them down!

From the fields of mountain snow,

Bring the icy blast and blow and blow!

(The wind tears around the traveller, pulling out his

cloak behind him)

Buffet this traveller with your blast,

And tear this cloak here from his grasp!

(The traveller snatches back the cloak from the Wind

and ties it up more firmly)

TRAVELLER

Heavens above! How suddenly the weather is

changing today. It's completely crazy! One minute

it's all calm and sunny and the very next it's blowing

with such rage! I'd better tie up my cloak really

tightly or it'll be blown right away.

WIND (In an utter fury)

Blow, oh blow winds with a powerful fury!

Tell dull earth's hearing your mighty story!

Grow, oh grow storm to your strongest stage;

Rouse your greatest power; roar your rage!

(Sounds of storm and wind increase. Occasional crashing sounds are

heard. Lights dim. Thunder booms; lightning flashes. The Wind whirls

around the traveller in a fury, tearing and ripping at his cloak)

WIND

Howl and rage around this place,

Blast this traveller in his face!

Hit him with great icy gusts and rip

His cloak right from his puny grip!

(The traveller wraps his cloak right around himself,

and gripping it firmly, crouches down in a bundle)

TRAVELLER

Heaven knows where all this wind's come from!

It's an absolute hurricane! I'm so, so glad that I brought

my good, old trusty cloak with me- otherwise I'd be frozen

to the bone.

WIND (giving up in disgust)

Phew, I'm completely out of breath,

And he's still got his cursed cloak left.

I'm defeated, I give up!

My brother Sun, come try your luck!

(The Sun appears)

WIND

Your turn to try it now;

It seems beyond my power!

(The Wind retreats to side back and stays moving

gently)

(The light comes up a little more brightly)

(The Sun, smiling, takes centre stage)

SUN

You've used your force in vain, I see.

So watch while I use harmony

And gentle, beneficial power

To solve this puzzling problem now.

(The traveller stands up)

TRAVELLER

Thank heavens, that terrible wind has gone at last.

(The traveller starts dusting himself down)

(The Sun starts to ray with arms half-raised)

SUN (softly)

Now everything must change and turn: the night

Gives way to day, the darkness to the light.

When dark storm clouds have watered all around,

They start to part and light once more is found.

A few, first sunbeams struggle through the grays,

And touch the earth with gentle, calming rays.

(With greater warmth)

Come, first sunbeams, touch the earth,

Bring the cheerful light to birth.

Touch the leaves and grass so lightly,

Make the raindrops sparkle brightly.

TRAVELLER (With a sigh of relief)

Ah, that's better. How everything looks brighter

now!

(The Sun starts to ray outward fully. Lights increase)

SUN

Come beams of light from the heights of space,

And shine and ray upon this place.

Come chase the coldness from the air,

Bring warmth and heat to everywhere!

With your wise and fiery blaze

Disperse the clouds on which you gaze.

Let the sky shine blue once more,

Vast and boundless as before.

Shine upon the storm-wet leaves,

Let the birds sing in the trees.

(Offstage a faint sound of bird song)

Shine upon this traveller here,

And dissolve his heart's cold fear;

Shine with friendly cheer on him,

And dry and warm his trembling limbs.

TRAVELLER (Stretching his arms and legs)

Oh, that's good. Here comes the sun. It's out and

the cloud's starting to go. Oh, I feel much better

already. How fresh and beautiful everything

looks in the sunlight after a storm has cleared.

Well, I think I'll just sit here for a while to

get over that awful storm.

(The traveller sits again)

SUN (Raying outwards. The Lights come up higher)

Come, oh power of gentle sunbeams, come.

Warm the wet earth where the tempest played;

Kiss the bright flowers with your soothing rays,

Light the long grass by the wayside here.

Shine from the far sky, boundless, blue and clear;

Summon small, gray lizards from beneath brown leaves;

Let the many birds fly from the trees

Into the vastness of the air

To wing on warm and rising currents there.

Surround the world with cheerful lightness,

Awaken every colour's brightness.

Glow upon this traveller now,

Let him feel my warming power.

Glow upon his heavy clothes,

Let him feel the warmth of those.

(The traveller starts untying his cloak)

TRAVELLER

It's really getting quite hot here in the sun. I

think I'd better just untie this old cloak a bit. Phew,

that's better.

SUN (With more energy)

Oh, shine and shine, my warming blaze,

And beam and beam your burning rays;

Change clear air to a shimmering haze,

And bring my fire to the old earth now.

Bright, flitting butterflies abound;

They dance from flower to glowing flower.

And busy bees buzz all around,

To seek the sweetest nectar there,

Through all the drowsy, heavy air.

Oh, shower of light's intensity,

Come, glow and glitter on the sea;

Come radiate upon the land,

And spread your healing heat on every hand.

Beam upon the traveller there,

Surround him with the sunny air;

Surround him with your shimmering haze,

Warm and warm him with your rays!

(The traveller slips his cloak behind his shoulders)

TRAVELLER

Heavens above, it's getting so hot. I've never

known such a day for changes of the weather.

First off it's cold and windy, then it changes

to hot and sunny. At first the sky is gray and

cloudy, now it is blue without a cloud in sight. It

grew so dark and wet and stormy, then just as

suddenly it is replaced by sunshine, warmth

and shining colours. Oh well, I'd better slip

back this cloak a bit. I don't really need it now.

SUN (Raying outwards with all his power. Lights go up

to full)

Burn, oh burn, my brilliant beams,

Dry up the lakes and sparkling streams.

Ray, oh ray, fill all the day

With my fire's bright display.

Pass across the earth like flame,

Heat up the stones and ripen the grain.

Make the air feel like a furnace, heat

The very earth beneath men's feet.

Flood the world with dazzling colour, light

The sea and land with blazing might.

Blaze upon the traveller there,

Surround him with the fiery air,

Make little beads of salty sweat

Go trickling down his face and neck.

TRAVELLER

Heavens, it's so terribly hot. Suddenly on this

crazy day it decides to have a heatwave! Phew,

I'll have to seek some shade. Where's my cloth?

I must mop my brow.

(The traveller mops his brow)

Well, well, it's unbelievable...all this heat!

(The traveller stands up)

There's nothing else for it; I must take off this

hot and heavy cloak. I certainly don't need it in

all this heat !

(The traveller takes off his cloak and drapes it over

his arm)

There, that's better! Now I'd better get off and see if I can find some shade somewhere to rest for a while out of the sun.

(The traveller exits, mopping his brow and carrying

his cloak)

(The Sun calls across to the Wind, who has been

watching, fluttering in the corner)

SUN

Come Wind, my friend, now come and see

How warmth and gentle harmony

And giving beneficial power

Have made him take his cloak off now.

(The Wind circles over to the Sun)

SUN

See, little brother Wind, you must agree-

This time, no doubt, the prize must go to me.

WIND

I must admit that it is true:

You are the more powerful of us two.

But I shall run off now and blow

Somewhere where you can never go;

For I can never rest, so now I'll race away

To lands where you are not, where sister Night holds sway.

(The Wind whirls off)

SUN

But I shall shine on faithfully

And give my light for all to see-

A constant power I send my ray

To show my path throughout the day.

So farewell, Wind, and fare well on your way.

(The Sun remains, raying over the world)

(Enter Narrator)

NARRATOR

And so our little tale has ended.

No doubt you see the truth intended:

The coaxing Sun, with warmth and persuasion,

Succeeded well on this occasion;

While the Wind, with his raging and furious course,

Completely failed by using anger's force.

THE END