THE DRAMA MAGAZINE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OCTOBER 2019

UPPER AND MIDDLE GRADES PSafe Harbolr . . .a...... y...... s . . Craig Sodaro 2

DRAMATIZED CLASSIC (F OR UPPER AND MIDDLE GRADES ) Martin Chuzzlewit...... Charles Dickens 11 Adapted for roundtable reading by Lewy Olfson

MIDDLE AND LOWER GRADES The Skill of Pericles ...... Paul T. Nolan 21 The Ghost of El Castillo ...... Barbara Winther 28 The Stolen Pumpkins...... Joellen Bland 35 Wings for the King...... Anne Sroda 41 Terms of Use • Vol. 79, No. 1

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PThe draml a maaysgazine for young people In this issue. . . Upper and Middle Grades Safe Harbor , by Craig Sodaro 6 actors, all female; 25 minutes. Chilling Icelandic tale of a young girl who waits for her seafaring father to return home, and a mysterious old woman who keeps delivering dreams with jarring messages.

Martin Chuzzlewit , by Charles Dickens , adapted for roundtable reading by Lewy Olfson 9 actors: 4 male, 2 female, 3 male or female; 30 minutes. Wealthy miser learns that love is more important than money in story set in 19th-century England.

Middle and Lower Grades The Skill of Pericles , by Paul T. Nolan 10+ actors: 5 male, 3 female, and 2+ male or female for crowd; 25 min - utes. A person who supports and encourages his friends wins the prize for best understanding the skills of Pericles, one of ancient Athens’ greatest statesmen.

The Ghost of El Castillo , by Barbara Winther 8+ actors: 4 male, 4 female, and as many extras as desired; 25 minutes. Sensible Spanish villager helps tormented ghost find peace, allowing the townspeople to return to their everyday routine.

The Stolen Pumpkins , by Joellen Bland 7+ actors: 1 female, 1 male, and 5+ male and female; 15 minutes. In this Spanish folktale, a farmer cleverly proves ownership after a thief makes off with his beloved crop of pumpkins.

Wings for the King , by Anne Sroda 6 actors: 3 male, 2 female, and 1 male or female; 20 minutes. King and Queen discover that from the comfort of their thrones, books can take them anywhere they want to go, see anything they want to see.

OCTOBER 2019 1 Upper & Middle Grades Safe Harbor is protected by U.S. copyright law. It is unlawful to use this play in any way unless you are a current subscriber to PLAYS Magazine (www.playsmagazine.com).

Safe Harbor Chilling tale of a young girl who waits in vain for her seafaring father’s return home, and a mysterious old woman whose dreams deliver jarring messages. . . .

by Craig Sodaro

Characters ARNESSON and MRS. STEFON- SSON enter left. LENA ARNESSON, 10 MRS. STEFONSSON : It’s beautiful, HILDA ARNESSON, her aunt, in Hilda. That comforter will keep you warm even in the dead of winter. her 30s MRS. STEFONSSON, a friend HILDA : And what do you call this if not the dead of winter? Nothing but dark - GUMMA, a mysterious old woman ness, snow, and cold.

ANNA young friends of MRS. STEFONSSON : It’s only November. ULFA Lena’s The worst is yet to come. HILDA : So what else is new in Iceland?

SCENE 1 MRS. STEFONSSON : That serving plat - TIME : 1850s, a cold November day. ter you showed me is new. Another sou - venir? SETTING : The Arnesson home in Reyk- javik, Iceland, with a curtained window HILDA : All the way from Italy! Carl up center, and a small stove at left with brought it back from his last voyage. a rocking chair beside it. A small table set with benches is right. Toy box is MRS. STEFONSSON : Italy! What I down right. Exit right leads outside, left wouldn’t give to go somewhere warm. leads to other rooms. HILDA (Longingly ): Wouldn’t we all. ( To AT RISE : LENA ARNESSON stands LENA ) Lena, what are you doing center, looking out window. HILDA standing there like a statue?

2 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com LENA : Watching for Papa. can’t read it yet because I don’t speak French, but I’ll learn. I can’t wait to see HILDA : Oh, child, come away from the what he brings from. . .where was he window. He won’t be returning tonight. sailing to this time, Aunt Hilda?

LENA : He said the eighteenth. HILDA : Nova Scotia, to deliver wool and dried fish. HILDA : He said he hopes by the eigh - teenth. LENA : I wonder what they make in Nova Scotia. MRS. STEFONSSON : You know how fickle the sea is, Lena. One moment HILDA : You’ll just have to wait to find your best friend, the next your worst out. Your Papa may be a few days yet. enemy. My Ari, God rest his soul, always told me the sea is a very tem - LENA : No, he’s coming. I can feel it. peramental bride. MRS. STEFONSSON : You can feel it, ha? LENA : That’s silly. Well, maybe you can feel what I should cook for supper! HILDA (In admonishing tone ): Lena! LENA : Whatever you want, of course. LENA : You don’t marry the sea. MRS. STEFONSSON (To HILDA ): The MRS. STEFONSSON (With a laugh ): Tell child’s a true diplomat. that to your father when he gets home. HILDA : Lena, will you please peel three LENA : I’ll tell him no such thing. I’ll potatoes? I want to make some soup. simply throw my arms around him and say “Thank you, Papa. Thank you!” LENA (Moving left ): You’ll call me if Papa comes home. HILDA : Carl spoils the child. HILDA : I won’t need to. You’ll hear him MRS. STEFONSSON : What else are laugh when he pinches my cheeks! fathers for? (LENA exits left .)

HILDA : Always a gift when he walks MRS. STEFONSSON : Hilda, don’t you through the door! ( LENA moves to toy think Lena seems. . . box, removes doll from it and hands it to MRS. STEFONSSON. ) HILDA : Seems what?

LENA : Look, Fru Stefonsson, a doll from MRS. STEFONSSON : No offense, but Spain. Her name’s Senorita Maria. almost too attached to her father? It’s like she holds her breath when he’s not MRS. STEFONSSON : Isn’t she beautiful! here, and considering his work, that (To doll ) I’m very pleased to meet you, can be a long time holding one’s breath! Señorita Maria. HILDA (A bit offended ): Is it unusual for LENA : And see? A gold necklace from a child to need her father? Russia. ( LENA holds up gold necklace, then book .) Even a book from France! I MRS. STEFONSSON : Oh, no! No, not in

OCTOBER 2019 3 the least, but Lena doesn’t seem to be from the likes of you, you Huldufolk! able to carry on with her life while he’s at sea. GUMMA (Insulted ): Huldufolk? I’m not one of the hidden ones. HILDA : Ever since Carl’s Bria died, Lena’s clung to him like there’s no MRS. STEFONSSON : So that gives you tomorrow. the right to come knocking on the door of decent people? MRS. STEFONSSON : I know, but it’s been three years since her mother GUMMA : I cannot help it when a mes - passed away. sage comes.

HILDA : What can I do? I can’t punish HILDA : Everyone knows you’re just an her for feeling what she feels. old charlatan.

MRS. STEFONSSON : No, you’re right. MRS. STEFONSSON : A fraud, plain and You’ve done more than enough, taking simple. Lena in, raising her as your own when Carl’s gone. GUMMA : I ask for nothing, just to be heard. HILDA : But sometimes I know I’m not enough. Not enough at all. ( A knock on HILDA : You know, Gumma, the city the door; surprised ) Do you suppose fathers are actually trying to expel you this could be Carl? Home on time? from Iceland.

MRS. STEFONSSON : Miracles happen, GUMMA : Oh, let them try. They’ll have even in Iceland! ( HILDA exits right, to catch me first. returns a moment later followed by GUMMA, who moves to center. ) MRS. STEFONSSON : This is a small island. HILDA : Gumma, I said you’re not to come in! GUMMA : Not if you know where to hide. (LENA enters left. ) GUMMA : ’Tis a good day, Fru Arnesson. And good evening to you, too, Fru LENA : Gumma? Stefonsson. HILDA : You know this old woman? MRS. STEFONSSON : What do you mean, good evening? It’s not a good evening! LENA : When Papa gave me some money It’s dark, bitter cold, and it’s snowing. last summer I bought a gaefa charm And now the likes of you shows up! from Gumma.

GUMMA : I had to come. GUMMA : You know, a little good luck charm you wear around your neck. HILDA : Why? What do you want? We have no food to spare. HILDA : Lena, you know better than to throw your money away on wicked non - GUMMA : I have a message. sense!

HILDA : We don’t want any message MRS. STEFONSSON (To LENA ): My

4 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com dear, this woman is dangerous. HILDA : They died. Both of them.

HILDA (To GUMMA ): And what you’re GUMMA : I couldn’t get to their room. doing here is unfathomable. When they were born we lived in a turf house. Warm, cozy. But their father GUMMA : I told you. I have a message. said now that we’re a family we should have a proper wooden house. A wooden HILDA : I know of no one who would ask house that burns. you to deliver a message. LENA : I’m sorry, Gumma. GUMMA : No? Then you don’t know a man named Carl. HILDA (Suspiciously ): Yes, well, there have always been questions. LENA (Startled ): Papa! What’s the mes - sage? What does he say? MRS. STEFONSSON : Even your husband had questions. HILDA : She’s talking nonsense, Lena. GUMMA : Guilt and shame landed on us MRS. STEFONSSON : She’s been crazy for and he left me. But that is not why I’m years! They say she learned her tricks here. from Galdra Loftur! LENA : You have a message. LENA : The witch? GUMMA : Yes. Since that fire, I have GUMMA : Not so! had dreams and in those dreams I have often been given messages to take to HILDA : Maybe not, but you lost your those who live nearby. mind after the fire. HILDA : Oh, she’s just crazy! Go back to LENA (Frowning ): What fire? your hovel and leave us alone!

HILDA : It was years and years ago. LENA : You said the message is from Papa. MRS. STEFONSSON : It’s best forgotten. GUMMA : Yes, my dear, I do. GUMMA (To LENA ): My husband was at sea. I had two babies, twin boys— HILDA : And just how can you have a Brusi and Ebbi. They were healthy, message from Carl? He’s at sea, proba - strong, oh, but they were a handful. bly far from land. (Sadly ) Then one night an oil lamp fell over. GUMMA : He said to tell you, Lena, he is searching for a safe harbor. MRS. STEFONSSON : How , exactly, was never determined. HILDA : What kind of message is that?

GUMMA : It doesn’t matter how. It MRS. STEFONSSON : Every ship’s cap - never mattered how. tain searches for a safe harbor.

LENA : Brusi and Ebbi—what happened HILDA : And Carl doesn’t have to search to them? far. It’s here, Reykjavik!

OCTOBER 2019 5 GUMMA : That was his message. MRS. STEFONSSON : You don’t know what creatures like her want. LENA : I. . .I don’t understand. HILDA : Or to what lengths they’ll go to GUMMA : Neither do I, but that is it. get it.

LENA : Thank you, Gumma. LENA : Gumma didn’t want anything but to deliver a message. HILDA : Now, go on, git! HILDA : Aha! But you see? You ended up LENA : Wait! ( She runs off left .) giving her food.

HILDA : Lena, what are you doing? LENA : There are more oat cakes and dried fish and— MRS. STEFONSSON : Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself, coming HILDA : But you gave yours away. here filling the poor girl’s head with all kinds of nonsense. . .mysterious mes - LENA : I don’t mind. I heard from Papa. sages. . .dreams! You’re nothing but a vicious old troll! ( LENA reenters left, MRS. STEFONSSON : Oh, Lena, people holding a napkin .) don’t appear in dreams so the likes of Gumma can deliver messages. LENA : Here, Gumma. Some oat cakes and a potato. LENA : Why not?

HILDA : Lena! You can’t go giving our HILDA : Because they just don’t! food away. MRS. STEFONSSON : That woman is LENA : I’ll skip supper, then. crazy, and she has no business bother - ing the likes of decent folks. GUMMA : Thank you, my dear. HILDA : I have a mind to report her to HILDA : Go on! Out with you! the authorities.

LENA : Thank you, Gumma! MRS. STEFONSSON : They are quite seri - ous about expelling her. GUMMA : Courage, my child. You must have courage. ( GUMMA exits right, fol - HILDA : After all, everyone knows she lowed by HILDA. ) started that fire.

MRS. STEFONSSON : Lena, you realize MRS. STEFONSSON : By accident, of it’s not a good idea giving food or money course, but she started it. to people like her. HILDA : And who knows what other mis - LENA : Why? ( HILDA enters right. ) chief she’s done.

HILDA : Because they’re dangerous. MRS. STEFONSSON : Remember when three of Herra Palsson’s sheep disap - LENA : Gumma doesn’t seem dangerous peared? Folks say that Gumma had at all. been eyeing his flock just hours before.

6 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com LENA : Wild dogs probably got them. HILDA : Now I wonder. . .( HILDA exits right. ) HILDA : If dogs got those poor things there’d have been something left. MRS. STEFONSSON : If it’s that horrid Gumma, don’t let her in! ( A moment MRS. STEFONSSON : But not so much as later we hear a cry of despair. ) a tuft of wool was ever found. HILDA (Off right ): No! It can’t be! HILDA : She gave it to the Huldufolk. (LENA enters left .)

LENA : The hidden people can take care LENA : What’s wrong? of themselves. HILDA (Off right ): How can I ever tell MRS. STEFONSSON : Oh, you don’t know Lena? ( MRS. STEFONSSON and the whole story, Lena. The Huldufolk LENA stare at one another in horror as sometimes plant their own among the the curtain falls. ) rest of us to spy and steal and disrupt *** our lives! SCENE 2 TIME : Several weeks later. LENA : Gumma wouldn’t do anything like that. SETTING : The same.

HILDA : No? They say when you’re near AT RISE : LENA stands at window, look - a Huldufolk the hairs on the back of ing out through curtains. ANNA and your neck stand up. Just like mine did ULFA play dramatically with LENA ’s tonight. ( Shivers ) toys.

MRS. STEFONSSON : Mine, too. It’s a ANNA : Rutur, you must save me! The warning, Lena. You’re body’s reacting evil troll has locked me away under to danger. these rocks and there’s no way out!

HILDA : Just stay away from her—far ULFA : Don’t worry! I have the brooch of away! Now go back to the potatoes. I Leif Erickson. ( Holding up a brooch ) Its don’t want to eat too late. magical powers will release you!

LENA (Dispirited ): Yes, ma’am. ( She ANNA : Hurry! Hurry! I hear him near - exits left ) by. He’s slobbering all over and his stomach is growling! MRS. STEFONSSON : Honestly, the nerve of that old witch coming here. ULFA : I call upon all the gods to open these rocks! HILDA : All I can say is I’ll be very relieved when Carl docks at the harbor. ANNA : Hurry up, gods! Open the rocks!

MRS. STEFONSSON : Amen to that! But I ULFA : Nothing’s happening! must be going. I have a nice piece of fresh cod. Herra Olvirsson brought it ANNA : He’s getting closer! by. He’s so thoughtful, always remem - bering me with little treats like that. ULFA : Oh, no! This isn’t Leif Erickson’s (Knock on door right ) brooch! This is my own to hold my cape!

OCTOBER 2019 7 ANNA : Oh, Rutur, I can smell his hot ULFA (Laughing ): But I’m going to scare breath! you away! ( ULFA chases LENA around. The girls laugh as HILDA and ULFA : Just a second. . .I’ve got it! This is MRS. STEFONSSON enter right. ) Leif Erickson’s brooch! ( Holds up another brooch ) HILDA : Well, hello, girls!

ANNA : Please help me, Rutur! ANNA : Hello, Fru Arnesson.

ULFA (As herself ): Lena, you’re sup - MRS. STEFONSSON : Have you had fun? posed to be creeping up on Anna. (LENA doesn’t respond. ) ANNA : Oh, yes!

ANNA : Lena? ULFA : Lena let us play with all her spe - cial toys. ULFA (Moving to LENA ): I hate to see you staring out the window all the time. LENA : May I be excused now, Aunt Hilda? ANNA : Your poor father isn’t coming back. His ship ran aground, Lena. It HILDA : Are you all right? ( Feels LENA’s broke apart. forehead )

ULFA : Everybody died. LENA : I’m just tired.

LENA : He was going to bring me some - HILDA : Well, yes, then why don’t you lie thing special from Nova Scotia. He told down for a bit. me I would love what he brought back. ANNA : Bye, Lena. ANNA : You still have all these wonder - ful things from your father. ULFA : Thanks for asking us over.

LENA : I know. I just wish. . . LENA : Oh, it was Aunt Hilda’s idea. (LENA exits left. ) ANNA : We wish our uncle was still alive, don’t we, Ulfa? HILDA (After a brief, uncomfortable pause ): Well, I’m glad you girls came. I ULFA : We do. We miss him, maybe not thought having some friends over as much as you miss your father, but would take her mind off everything. we still miss him. ANNA : But Lena’s still really sad. ANNA : Mother says that’s the way of the sea. ULFA : If we weren’t here, she’d just stand there and stare out the window. ULFA : And we’ve got to be strong. HILDA : I’m sure your visit helped a lit - LENA : I don’t feel strong at all. tle. Did you girls have your snack?

ANNA : But you must! You’re the awful, ANNA : Oh, yes, the silver coin cookies dreadful, terrifying troll! were delicious.

8 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com ULFA : My mother’s are never that good. make her feel anything but devastated?

MRS. STEFONSSON : Don’t let your GUMMA : That is for her ears and for mother hear you say that! ( A knock off her to judge. right ) MRS. STEFONSSON : I’m going to get the HILDA : I hope this isn’t anyone from the constable, Hilda. Seafarer’s League. I know they mean well, but. . .( HILDA exits right .) HILDA : Good! Tell him we have an intruder! ( MRS. STEFONSSON quick - MRS. STEFONSSON : Did Lena enjoy the ly exits right .) Now, are you going to cookies, too? leave?

ANNA : She tried. GUMMA : I must see Lena first. ( LENA enters left. ) MRS. STEFONSSON : What do you mean? HILDA (Firmly ): Lena, go back to your ULFA (Shrugging ): She nibbled on one room. Now. like a mouse. LENA : What’s wrong, Aunt Hilda? . . . ANNA : But her heart wasn’t in it. Gumma? What is it? (GUMMA enters right followed by HILDA. ANNA and ULFA, frightened, GUMMA : I had another dream. move away from her. ) LENA : About Papa? GUMMA : You don’t understand! I’ve had another dream. HILDA : Lena, obey me and get back to your room! ANNA : C’mon, Ulfa. LENA : What did he say? ULFA : We’d better get going. ( They back to right. ) GUMMA : He sends his love, my child. . . and said he has sent something special GUMMA : You are friends of Lena? for you.

ANNA : Thanks for having us, Fru LENA (Happily ): He did? Arnesson. HILDA : She’s lying, Lena! She’s making GUMMA : Such polite girls! ( ANNA and all this up and I don’t know why! ( To ULFA run off right. Door slams. ) GUMMA ) How can you be so cruel?

MRS. STEFONSSON : You frightened LENA : What did he send? them! GUMMA : He didn’t say, but he knows GUMMA : I have a message for Lena. It’s you will like it. from her father! HILDA : You’re a cruel old Huldufolk! HILDA (Enraged ): How dare you! That When the constable comes, you’ll be poor child has lost both her parents. tossed in jail and then sent far from What can you possibly tell her that will Iceland once and for all!

OCTOBER 2019 9 LENA : No, that’s not right. GUMMA : There is nowhere in all Ice- land where flowers like these grow in HILDA : Lena, enough! Go to your room! the winter. One minute outside and they would turn black and shrivel away. LENA (Shouting, near tears ): No! MRS. STEFONSSON : She’s right. GUMMA : Lena, you must obey your aunt. LENA : There’s a card. ( Reading ) “My darling Lena. I have found a safe har - HILDA : I don’t need any help from you. I bor, but I am with you always. Papa.” just need you to leave! ( MRS. STEFON - (HILDA snatches the card away. ) SSON enters right, carrying a box, look - ing a bit confused. ) MRS. STEFONSSON : I. . .I don’t believe this. I’ll get the constable. MRS. STEFONSSON : The constable is waiting in the entry. But this was on HILDA (After a moment ): No. Send him the doorstep. It wasn’t there when I left. away. It says “For Lena” on top. ( GUMMA nods knowingly. ) MRS. STEFONSSON : Hilda, surely you don’t believe. . . HILDA : Well, I’m sure some kind soul sent you something, Lena. HILDA (Shaken ): This. . .this is Carl’s handwriting. LENA : No! It’s from Papa! ( HILDA takes box from MRS. STEFONSSON and MRS. STEFONSSON : But he’s— holds it away from LENA. ) HILDA : Yes. Please, send the constable GUMMA : Let the child open it. away. We’re wasting his time. ( MRS. STEFONSSON exits right. ) Lena, will HILDA : Why? It’s a trick, some cruel you go set a kettle to boil? ( Hands the trick you’ve planned. card back to LENA ) We’ll have tea.

MRS. STEFONSSON : Perhaps it was sent LENA : And cookies? before the accident and just arrived, Hilda. It may not be a trick. ( HILDA HILDA : Yes, and cookies. reluctantly hands box to LENA, who opens it and takes out bouquet of beau - GUMMA : I will leave you, then. tiful flowers .) HILDA : No, no, please join us. HILDA (Stunned ): Flowers? GUMMA : But people will talk. LENA : They’re so beautiful! They smell wonderful! HILDA : The most important person has already spoken. ( The curtain falls .) MRS. STEFONSSON : Where would they THE END have come from? It’s freezing outside. (Production Notes on page 48 ) HILDA (To GUMMA ): How did you get these flowers?

10 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com This adaptation of Martin Chuzzlewit is Dramatized Classic protected by U.S. copyright law. It is (Upper & Middle Grades) unlawful to use this play in any way unless you are a current subscriber to PLAYS Magazine (www.playsmagazine.com). Martin Chuzzlewit Wealthy miser learns the hard way that love is more important than money. . . .

by Charles Dickens, and adapted for roundtable reading by Lewy Olfson

Characters read that book has not been told the SARAH GAMP, gossipy old woman entire truth of the matter. For the things that Mr. Dickens has to say THREE GOSSIPS about some of my weaknesses, and the ANTHONY PECKSNIFF (Mispronouncing the words ) “ asper - jions ” he makes on my character, are OLD MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT “libelious ” and “ slanderious ” and whol - MARY GRAHAM ly contrary to the fact. Being a lady, I’m not the one to talk about myself; but YOUNG MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT neither am I the one to ignore the insults about me that Mr. Dickens has TOM PINCH seen fit to indulge himself in. So I’ll just tell the story of Martin Chuzzlewit, and carefully omit all mention of myself, as SARAH GAMP : First of all, you needn’t is suitable to a modest lady of my ster - wonder how I happen to know the ling character and noble reputation. whole and truthful story of Mr. Mar-tin Now, then! The story all began when Chuzzlewit. No, indeed. Many’s the per - a mysterious old gentleman, accompa - son who wonders how I know the life nied by an equally mysterious and histories of so many people, and so I’ll beautiful young lady, arrived at the tell you straight out that Sarah Gamp is Blue Dragon Inn, not too far from no fool. Anyone who keeps his ears half London. as open as I do can find out anything he wants to know. As a matter of fact, the 1ST GOSSIP : I wonder who that old whole story of Martin Chuzzlewit has codger with the young woman is. been written down in a book by some no-account busybody named Charles 2ND GOSSIP : Never saw them before in Dickens, but any one of you who has OCTOBER 2019 11 my life. Hey there, Joel, who’s the PECKSNIFF : My good cousin— strange couple that just took up lodg - ings here? CHUZZLEWIT (Breaking in, angrily ): There! In his very first words, Mary, he 3RD GOSSIP : Well, no one knows for asserts his relationship to me. I knew sure, but I’ve heard that it’s—promise he would! They all do it! Ugh! you won’t breathe a word? MARY (Sweetly, soothing ): There, there, 1ST GOSSIP : My lips are sealed. Mr. Chuzzlewit. Do not upset yourself.

2ND GOSSIP : You can depend on me. PECKSNIFF : This young woman gives you good advice, Chuzzlewit. 3RD GOSSIP : Well, they say it’s Martin Chuzzlewit. CHUZZLEWIT : And do you know why? Because she has nothing to gain for it. 1ST GOSSIP : No! She is not related or bound to me in any way, and she knows that when I die she 3RD GOSSIP : The same. Mr. Martin will not inherit a cent of my money, and Chuzzlewit, richest man in London. so she—sweet, young thing that she is—has proved herself faithful and hon - GOSSIPS (Ad lib ): Hey, Mrs. Tupkins! est with me in every way. But you. . . Martin Chuzzlewit’s in town! Did you hear the news, Jacob? Martin Chuzzle- PECKSNIFF : Sir, you have no cause to wit’s in town. ( Etc .) judge me until you know me better.

SARAH : How the word ever got around CHUZZLEWIT (Wearily ): I know all so fast is far beyond me to know, for men—only too well. I am a rich man, there isn’t a soul in our whole town that Pecksniff, who has no pleasure in the gossips or tattletales. But get around it possession of money. That is why you did, for Martin Chuzzlewit was the come here, hoping to butter me up, to richest man anybody in our village had win my confidence, and to be included ever heard of, and he was a first cousin in my will when I die. Confess it. to our town architect, Anthony Peck- sniff, as stingy a man as you’d ever PECKSNIFF (Self-righteously ): You do hope to meet. In no time at all, old me wrong, sir. I came to you out of feel - Anthony Pecksniff was down to the ings of affection, of family concern. Blue Dragon, his coattails flying, the gleam of gold coins in his eye, and the CHUZZLEWIT : Bah! Your feelings of hope of his cousin’s last will and testa - affection! Strange that they should ment in his heart. bring you hither only when I am wealthy and old, isn’t it? PECKSNIFF (Falsely jovial ): Forgive my entering without knocking, sir. You are PECKSNIFF : Sir, I care little for what Martin Chuzzlewit? you may think of me. But I feel it my duty—yea, my sacred obligation—to CHUZZLEWIT (Harshly, in voice of old speak to you about your grandson. man ): I am Martin Chuzzlewit, and Martin Chuzzlewit wishes you had MARY (Quickly ): Young Mr. Martin? been hanged before you had come here to disturb him. PECKSNIFF : Just so. Young Mr. Martin

12 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com Chuzzlewit. Out of family concern for laid his finger on the pulse of Anthony him, I have allowed him to become my Pecksniff, let me tell you. And once that apprentice in the architecture business, scheming, miserly blackguard heard though he had not a farthing to his that there was no money to be gained name. Now that I know you can afford from his apprentice, young Martin to give him money, I shall urge you to Chuzzlewit, he dashed to his home as do so, sir. fast as he could, where he delivered himself of a righteous sermon against CHUZZLEWIT : So that you can take it the young man. away from him? Not likely! My grand - son is no better than you are. PECKSNIFF : Mr. Martin Chuzzlewit, how you have deceived me! MARY : Oh, no, Mr. Chuzzlewit! You know young Mr. Martin is a fine man. MARTIN (Aghast ): Deceived you, sir?

CHUZZLEWIT : Do you take his side PECKSNIFF : Oh, don’t play that innocent against me, Mary? How many times act with me, young man, for I have have I told you that he only pretends to found you out! I have just been with love you because he thinks it will bring your grandfather and his ward at the him closer to my heart—and my pock - Blue Dragon Inn. etbook? MARTIN (Hopefully ): Mary is at the MARY : You do him wrong, sir. Young Blue Dragon? Mr. Martin’s love for me is pure. PECKSNIFF : If that is the young woman’s CHUZZLEWIT : And as for you, Pecksniff, name, she is there, sir, and they have be off with you. If you thought that by filled me with the truth of the kind of taking my grandson into your business man you are. And to think I trusted you, you would inherit some of my money, that I opened my home and office to you were mistaken. Not a pound will go you! Oh, it makes my blood run cold to to that young rapscallion. Not a think of such villainy as yours! shilling! Not a penny! MARTIN : Mr. Pecksniff, you astound PECKSNIFF (Slyly ): I see. In that case, me! good day to you, cousin. PECKSNIFF : Villains are always as- CHUZZLEWIT : Good day and good rid - tounded when they are found out, sir. dance. ( Sound of door closing ) Oh, Leave my house at once, do you hear Mary! You see what men are? Gold is me? I never wish to see you again. all they know. Only you, Mary, who have everything to gain from my living SARAH : Poor young Martin! No wonder and nothing to lose by my dying, only he was astounded. How could he know you are my friend. And that is the only that his only fault was to be in the bad kind of friend I have or will have. graces of his wealthy grandfather, and that the only reason Pecksniff had MARY : There, there, good Mr. Chuzzle- taken him in was the hope of Martin’s wit. Pecksniff is gone and will trouble inheriting a fortune from the old man, you no more. Rest now, sir. and then marrying one of the Pecksniff daughters. Having been forced out of SARAH : Old Martin Chuzzlewit had the Pecksniff house—and that, I may

OCTOBER 2019 13 say, was the best thing that could have MARTIN : Thank you, Mary, my love. happened to him—Martin went imme - diately to the Blue Dragon Inn, to see CHUZZLEWIT : A fine man, you think his grandfather and his beloved Mary him, eh, Mary? Now that he has lost Graham. one benefactor, he comes snooping around me to see if I will be his next. CHUZZLEWIT : Ah, so you’ve come to see me again, have you, Martin? MARTIN : No, indeed, sir!

MARTIN : Yes, Grandfather, and I sin - CHUZZLEWIT : Do you deny it, sir? cerely hope that this visit will end more happily than did our last encounter. MARY : Dear Mr. Chuzzlewit, let your grandson speak on his own behalf. CHUZZLEWIT : The only way for us to part civilly is if you say “Goodbye” at CHUZZLEWIT : Well, I’d rather hear him once and leave me, Martin. That will do it than hear you speak for him. prevent our having words, which we are sure to do if you stay. MARTIN : If Mary speaks for me, it is because she loves me; and that is just, MARY : Oh, Mr. Chuzzlewit, be not so for I love her. hard upon him. CHUZZLEWIT : Bah! All you love is my CHUZZLEWIT : Mary, you don’t know this money! You profess love to my ward young blackguard as I do. only because you know she is the one friend I have in the world, and you hope MARTIN : Blackguard! You speak to me to gain something by it. in the same tone that Pecksniff did. MARTIN : I do hope to gain something by CHUZZLEWIT : You had words with it, Grandfather, and that is her hand in Pecksniff then, did you? marriage.

MARTIN : I did not, Grandfather, for he MARY : Martin, my love, do you mean it? would not give me time to speak. Instead he called me blackguard and MARTIN : I am yours, Mary, if you will villain, and I know not what other have me. Say “Yes,” Mary, do. names, and told me to leave his house, never to return. MARY : I cannot marry you, Martin, without your grandfather’s permission. CHUZZLEWIT : Then Anthony Pecksniff has more sense than I gave him credit CHUZZLEWIT : And that you will never for. have.

MARTIN : So it was you who turned him MARY (Tearfully ): Only hear me, Mr. against me! He said as much, but I Chuzzlewit. Good Mr. Chuzzlewit! refused to believe you could speak so ill of me. CHUZZLEWIT : Spare me your tears, Mary. They will do no good. ( To MAR - MARY : You see, Mr. Chuzzlewit? TIN ) Sir, you have been attempting to Martin believes only good of you. corrupt the trusting innocence of this loyal girl, and by doing so you hope to

14 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com become a rich man. Do not presume to SARAH : Poor Mary Graham! Her heart state otherwise; I know what all men nearly broke with the leaving of her are: faithless, grasping, hard and beloved. But no matter how much she unfeeling, interested only in gold. I only pleaded with her old guardian, he wish I could dispose of you altogether. wouldn’t reconsider the case. He was bound and determined that all men MARTIN : Grandfather, I only wish to were ·after his money, and he would dispose of myself in marriage. trust nobody. Young Mary sighed over her faraway love, and took to thinking CHUZZLEWIT : Very well, then. Let it be of him whenever she could spare a to anyone you like, but not to Mary moment. One day, when her heart was Graham. nigh to breaking in pieces, she entered an old church to pray. The church was MARY (In dismay ): Mr. Chuzzlewit! empty, but it was filled with beautiful organ music, and when she went to see CHUZZLEWIT : Make any other mar - who was playing it, she saw a kind-look - riage, Martin, and I shall provide hand - ing but poorly dressed old servant. somely for you in my will. Marry Mary, (Triumphant organ music is heard .) and I shall cut you out without a shilling. There you have it: either MARY : How beautifully you play! I do renounce her, or be renounced by me. hope you don’t mind my listening to your music. MARY (Tearfully ): Oh, Martin! TOM PINCH (Humbly ): No, indeed, miss, MARTIN : Never fear, my love. You mean though I fear my music isn’t good more to me than all the gold in London. enough for the likes of you. Keep your fortune, Grandfather! I shall marry Mary some day, and provide her MARY : Too good, rather. It filled my with a fortune of my own. heart and made my troubles seem bear - able again. Thank you for that, sir. CHUZZLEWIT (Laughing ): Ha! And where do you propose to find such a TOM : Sir! Did you call me “sir”? thing? Is it going to drop from the sky? MARY (Surprised ): Why, yes, sir. MARTIN : I shall sail to America, and there I shall stay till I have earned TOM : Sir! Hardly anyone calls me that. enough to come back to England and Everyone just calls me by my right claim my bride. They need young archi - name: Tom Pinch. Last person to call tects in America. me “sir” was Master Chuzzlewit, but now he’s gone away, and so I’m only old MARY : America! Oh, but Martin, it is so Tom Pinch again. far away. MARY : Chuzzlewit! Do you mean young MARTIN : It will only be for a while, my Mr. Martin Chuzzlewit, by any chance? love. And then I shall be home, and we shall be happy. Farewell, my love! TOM : The very one! Finest gentleman I ever knew. He lived with us for MARY (Crying gently ): Godspeed to you, awhile—with my master, I mean, for dearest heart. Goodbye, Martin I’m only old Mr. Pecksniff’s servant. Chuzzlewit! ( Sound of door closing ) And Mr. Chuzzlewit treated me like his

OCTOBER 2019 15 equal. Better, even! Oh, how I miss him need an errand run, or a message sent, since he went off to America. That’s I hope you’ll call upon Tom Pinch. where he is now, you see, there being some young woman he wanted to MARY : I will indeed, Tom. I will indeed. marry, but her guardian being set against it. SARAH : Little did Mary Graham know at that precise moment how great a MARY : I am that young woman, Mr. help Tom Pinch would be to her some Pinch. day. There’s some that know a working person has his feelings, same as others, TOM : You! Well, well, you’re surely though one person I know, Mr. Charles pretty enough for him. . .begging your Dickens, doesn’t seem to know it, as pardon, miss. I’ve already told you. But on with my story. Though Anthony Pecksniff had MARY : Oh, Mr. Pinch, to think that we been disappointed in his first interview should both long for the same friend! with old Chuzzlewit, he wasn’t one to How fortunate my finding you! give up easily. Once he had the smell of gold in his nostrils, it was the devil’s TOM : I’m glad of it, too, miss, for at own work to take him off the trail of it. Pecksniff’s I daren’t mention his name. So, having gotten rid of young Martin, It does my heart good to be able to back goes Pecksniff to the Blue Dragon, speak of him aloud. as humble as you please, and pays another call on old Martin Chuzzlewit. MARY : And mine, too. CHUZZLEWIT : Back again, are you, TOM : I’ve written him once, but I didn’t Pecksniff? What is it this time? receive any answer—just as well, I sup - pose, since I don’t know how to read. PECKSNIFF (Eagerly ): Oh, cousin, how can you be so cold to me? Haven’t I MARY : My letters have all gone unan - already proved to you how deep my loy - swered as well. But if you can’t read, alty to your interests goes? how did you manage to write to him? CHUZZLEWIT : What’s that? Loyalty to TOM : I just put a five-pound note in an my interests? envelope, and I had a friend of mine put on the address. I know how a traveler PECKSNIFF : I don’t mind telling you, sir, can be in need of funds from time to that it was only because you told me of time, and I was only too happy to be of your dislike for your grandson that I help to such a fine gentleman as young dismissed him from my office. Knowing Mr. Martin. that the person of young Mr. Chuzzle- wit was unpleasant to you, it immedi - MARY : You have a kind heart, Mr. ately became unpleasant to me. Pinch. It has done me good to talk with you. I must go now, but I hope to see CHUZZLEWIT : You mean, don’t you, that you again. Already I am anxious for the you got rid of him once you discovered chance to hear your organ music again he could be of no financial aid? and to talk with you about my beloved Martin. PECKSNIFF (Unctuously ): No, indeed, sir. For to tell the truth, just between TOM : Bless you, miss. And any time you us two, the boy is a very talented archi -

16 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com tect, and I could have turned a pretty self with all these details? Why not just penny by selling his work in London. give me a draft on your bank, and I’ll But did the thought of money prompt take care of the details. Surely you me to keep him? No, indeed! “Peck- aren’t afraid to trust me? sniff,” said I to myself, “this boy may be valuable to you, but because he is odi - CHUZZLEWIT : Indeed I am not! Very ous to his grandfather, your family loy - good, I’ll give you five thousand pounds. alty demands that you have nothing more to do with him!” And so I showed PECKSNIFF (Greedily ): Five thousand! him the door. Now, what further proof Excellent, cousin! And rest easy in your could you have of my loyalty to your mind. Leave everything to me! interests, dear cousin Chuzzlewit? SARAH : There you have it! Old CHUZZLEWIT (Taken in ): Well, bless Anthony Pecksniff, as scheming a vil - you, cousin Pecksniff. I beg your for - lain as ever crawled the face of this giveness for having misjudged you at beautiful earth, had contrived to swin - our last meeting, for misjudge you I did. dle old Martin Chuzzlewit out of five thousand pounds. The old man, oh, he PECKSNIFF (Flatteringly ): There is noth - was as innocent as a babe in arms. He ing to forgive. Truth to tell, I respect trusted old Pecksniff to the letter, and you for misjudging me. soon the two were as thick as if they’d been raised in the same cradle. Months CHUZZLEWIT : You do? went by, and every time old Martin would ask Pecksniff for information PECKSNIFF : It proves you’re a cautious about the business, the answer would man. It proves you’re no fool. And that’s always be: precisely why I’ve come back. I have just got wind of a little business ven - PECKSNIFF (Craftily ): Oh, business is ture that is guaranteed to make both very good. Very good! Of course, at the our fortunes. I’ve already invested moment we’re turning all our profits every cent of my money in it, and know - back into the firm. But some day soon, ing what a fine, shrewd, cautious man Chuzzlewit, you’ll be a millionaire! you are, I was sure you’d like to act on my advice. SARAH : Or else the talk would go some - thing like this: CHUZZLEWIT : Guaranteed, you say? And all your own money is invested in PECKSNIFF : You want to talk to the it, eh? solicitor of the business, cousin? Well, as it happens, just at the moment he’s PECKSNIFF : Every cent. I expect to be a off to the Continent on a buying trip. millionaire before the year is out. And the bookkeeper has gone with him. But don’t worry about your money, CHUZZLEWIT : It sounds like a capital cousin. Leave everything to me! business, cousin. I see now you are a man to be trusted—indeed you are the SARAH : And all the time, old Chuzzle- only man of worth I have ever met. wit kept being taken in by his false Bring me all the particulars, and I’ll friend, the smooth-tongued Pecksniff. look into it. One day, Tom Pinch approached the Blue Dragon Inn and delivered a note PECKSNIFF : Oh, cousin, why tire your - for Mary. Imagine her surprise when,

OCTOBER 2019 17 on tearing it open, she discovered it was MARY : So you have often told me, Mr. from young Martin. Chuzzlewit. But I have yet to see the proof of it. MARY : What’s this? Martin’s handwrit - ing! Oh, happy, happy hour! I can bare - PECKSNIFF (With exaggerated hurt ): Oh, ly keep my hands still enough to read Miss Graham! You wound me! ( Knock his words. “My dear Mary: It will sur - at door ) prise you, no doubt, to find that I am in London.” CHUZZLEWIT : Who can that be? ( Sound of door opening ) MARTIN (On filter mike, if possible ): “It surprises me, too, I admit. You see, MARY (Happily ): Martin! America was far less than I had hoped it would be, and I return to London not CHUZZLEWIT (Stunned; coldly ): Martin! wealthy, as I had hoped, but impover - ished. However, take heart, my love. MARTIN (Briskly ): Good evening, Tom Pinch has told me something that Grandfather. Oh, Mary, Mary, my love! may yet be our salvation. Till I come to you, trust in me, and please believe PECKSNIFF : Tom Pinch! What is the that all will be well. I shall come to the meaning of your coming here? I did not Blue Dragon Inn at eight o’clock send for you! Go home at once! tonight. I understand that my grandfa - ther is to meet my old enemy, Anthony TOM : Excuse me, Mr. Pecksniff, but I Pecksniff, at that time, and I intend to am no longer your servant. I hand in confront them together. Say nothing of my resignation as of this moment. all this to anyone, and have faith. Till eight o’clock, then, all my love, Martin.” PECKSNIFF : Have you gone mad?

MARY : “All my love, Martin.” To think TOM : No, sir. Though you’ll soon have that I shall see him tonight! But why cause to wish that I had gone mad may I not say anything about his before you spilled your secrets in front return? What is this mystery? I am so of me. happy and so afraid. CHUZZLEWIT : What is the meaning of SARAH : That night, promptly at eight this, Martin? o’clock, Anthony Pecksniff arrived at old Martin Chuzzlewit’s rooms. MARTIN : I’ll answer your questions in a moment, Grandfather. First, I must ask PECKSNIFF : Good evening, cousin. I some of my own. Mr. Pecksniff. hope I find you in good health. And dear Miss Graham, I kiss your hand. PECKSNIFF (Coldly ): Sir?

MARY (Coldly ): Good evening, Mr. MARTIN : What is the nature of this Pecksniff. business you have convinced my grand - father to sink his fortune into? CHUZZLEWIT (Reproachfully ): Mary! Is that the way to greet my dearest PECKSNIFF : Er. . .I. . .( Boldly ) why, that friend? For be assured that Anthony is none of your affair, sir. Pecksniff is my dearest friend. MARTIN : See how he squirms and

18 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com blushes, Grandfather? Tom, tell my suggest you look at that roll of archi - grandfather what you have told me. tectural plans Mr. Pecksniff is carry - ing. PECKSNIFF : Tom Pinch, I order you to hold your tongue! PECKSNIFF : Keep your hands off these plans! They’re the drawings for the new MARTIN : What are you afraid of, elementary school which the city has Pecksniff? Go on, Tom. just commissioned me to design.

TOM : Well, sir, Mr. Chuzzlewit. . .there TOM : Only they aren’t your designs, is no business! Mr. Pecksniff, they’re Martin’s. (Rustling of papers is heard. ) CHUZZLEWIT : What’s that? MARTIN : Why, so they are. These are MARTIN : Do not run for the door, the very drawings I designed when I Pecksniff. Two of my friends are wait - was apprenticed to Mr. Pecksniff. I’ll ing to intercept you. Two very strong wager the city paid him a pretty price friends, I might add. Sit down. for them, too. All he’s done is add a few windows. MARY : What does he mean, there is no business? PECKSNIFF : Adding those windows makes all the difference! MARTIN : Just that. Pecksniff has taken Grandfather’s money and deposited it MARTIN : It certainly does. It turns a in his own bank account. He is a fraud! beautiful building into a hideous one. Well, Grandfather, are you satisfied? CHUZZLEWIT : Pecksniff! Is this true? CHUZZLEWIT : Oh, what a fool I’ve been. MARTIN : Ask yourself, Grandfather. Can you forgive me, Martin? Have you ever had any profits? MARTIN : With a full heart, sir. . .on two CHUZZLEWIT (Slowly ): No. conditions.

MARTIN : Have you ever visited the PECKSNIFF : Humph! Conditions! I told place of this so-called business? you he was after your fortune!

CHUZZLEWIT : No. CHUZZLEWIT : That doesn’t bother me. I’d rather have a fortune-hunter for a MARTIN : Have you ever met the board grandson than a thief for a cousin. of directors? Do you know the book - What are your conditions, Martin? keeper? Have you spoken with the solic - itor? Have you seen the product? MARTIN : First, that you employ Tom Pinch as your personal servant, and MARY : I can answer for him: no, no, no, pay him well. and no! TOM (Happily ): Oh, sir! CHUZZLEWIT : Oh, Pecksniff, Pecksniff, who would have believed it? MARTIN : Come now, Tom, don’t be mod - est. You’ve done my grandfather a TOM : One thing more, Mr. Martin. I great service this day and you’re in

OCTOBER 2019 19 need of a job. . .unless you’d rather go PECKSNIFF : I shall be ruined! back to Peck- MARY : Does he not deserve something TOM : Oh, no, sir! Never that! stronger?

PECKSNIFF : To think that I should hear CHUZZLEWIT : We can do nothing worse my own servant mock me! to him, my dear, than he has done to himself, for he has robbed himself of MARTIN : Be quiet, Pecksniff. You dignity, integrity, and self-respect. And deserve far worse. My second condition, what is worse than that? Grandfather, is that you allow Mary Graham to become my bride. MARY : Oh, Martin, my love, I can hard - ly believe it. MARY : Oh, Martin! MARTIN : Then you will have me, Mary? CHUZZLEWIT : Gladly, Martin, my boy. I judged you hastily. . .and cruelly. Let MARY : With all my heart. It will be the me know that I have your forgiveness. fulfillment of my dearest dreams. Mrs. Martin Chuzzlewit! MARTIN : You have indeed, Grand- father. But what’s to be done about CHUZZLEWIT : God bless her and her Pecksniff? husband, and keep them happy always.

CHUZZLEWIT : He shall be forced to CHUZZLEWIT , MARTIN and TOM : Mrs. repay every penny he stole from me, Martin Chuzzlewit! and, for using your building design, to give you double the amount he has been THE END paid.

PRODUCTION NOTES Martin Chuzzlewit

CHARACTERS : 4 male; 2 female; 2 SOUND : Door closing; triumphant organ male/female for Gossips. music; knock at door; rustling of READING TIME : 30 minutes. papers.

20 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com The Skill of Pericles is protected by Middle Grades U.S. copyright law. It is unlawful to use this play in any way unless you are a current subscriber to PLAYS Magazine (www.playsmagazine.com ).

The Skill of Pericles Who will merit the attention of one of Athens’ greatest statesmen? Athlete, orator, warrior, wise one, beauty, dancer, or friend? . . .

by Paul T. Nolan

TIME : Fifth century BC. Characters SETTING : The market place in Athens. CIMON, the athlete HECTOR, the orator AT RISE : OLD SAILOR, CIMON, AJAX, the warrior HECTOR, AJAX, HELENA, LETA, IDA and NESTOR are down left. OLD HELENA, the beauty SAILOR is in the middle of telling a LETA, the wise story. He and the young people hold IDA, the artful the center of attention, but CITIZENS OF ATHENS can be seen carrying on NESTOR, the friend their business upstage. Up center OLD SAILOR PERICLES, disguised as a beggar, MESSENGER sits with his head bent, as though he were half asleep . OLD SAILOR pre - PERICLES tends his tales are true; actually he CITIZENS OF ATHENS takes them from the stories of Homer—

AUTHOR ’S NOTES Pericles, a fifth-century B.C. Athenian statesman, is one of the great heroes of democracy. Under his guidance, Athens became the great hope of free men; and it is a tribute to the soundness of the democratic idea that Athens also became the leader in many other areas of human endeavor: physical development, art, drama, poetry, commerce, oratory, and science. The Greek leaders of the age of Pericles made such great contributions to democracy and the advance of civilization that they are called the “fathers of west - ern civilization,” and the time in which they lived is known as “The Golden Age of Athens.” But of all the accomplishments of the period, what pleased Pericles most was that no man was made to suffer to achieve the general progress. The “skill” of Pericles is the pride of democracy—that a nation prospers best in which people are encouraged to do their best in the activity that pleases them most.

OCTOBER 2019 21 “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” with our leader Pericles.

OLD SAILOR : And there we were— OLD SAILOR : Ah, yes, Pericles and I Odysseus and I—and there was the have done some big things. great big Cyclops. . . LETA : Huh. I’ll bet you were never at CIMON : Was the Cyclops as big as ten Troy and don’t even know Pericles. men? NESTOR : What do you want to say that OLD SAILOR : As big as fifty, and he had for, Leta? Now he won’t tell us any one eye ( Points to the middle of his more stories. forehead ) right in the middle of his forehead. LETA : I said it because it’s true.

CIMON : I’ll bet he could run like the OLD SAILOR : Is that so? Maybe you wind. would believe me if I brought Pericles here and he told you himself. AJAX : And fight like an army. LETA : I would. Bring him if you can. HELENA : But he wasn’t very pretty. OLD SAILOR : Maybe I don’t want to OLD SAILOR : He would have scared any bring him. other man to death—except my friend Odysseus and me. LETA : You wouldn’t know Pericles even if you saw him. ( MESSENGER enters LETA (Doubting ): How could you have up center .) known Odysseus? He lived a long time ago. MESSENGER (Unrolling a scroll and reading it ): Here ye, hear ye, hear ye. OLD SAILOR : That’s a fact. (CITIZENS stop their business to lis - ten. ) I bring news from our great LETA : I thought it was a thousand leader, Pericles. Today Pericles will years ago. visit you to pick the youth who best shows he understands the skill of OLD SAILOR : It may have been. I was a Pericles. lot younger then. 1ST CITIZEN : The skill of Pericles? IDA : Did Homer tell the truth about What’s that? Odysseus, old sailor? 2ND CITIZEN : His military skill, of OLD SAILOR : He was a poet and all course. poets make up stories. But mostly he told the truth. 3RD CITIZEN : Not so. It’s his speech - making. LETA : Why didn’t he mention you? 4TH CITIZEN : It’s his strength. OLD SAILOR : Well, I guess Homer couldn’t write down everything. MESSENGER : Pericles is already among you, looking and judging. Within the HELENA : Tell us about your adventures hour he shall say who best has the skill

22 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com of Pericles. Parents, prepare your chil - LETA : I didn’t make him angry. He knew dren. Children, be prepared. The one that when Pericles came, we would find chosen shall win a prize. ( MESSEN - out his stories were not true. GER exits .) AJAX : If you think he makes things up, 1ST CITIZEN : Pericles is already among why do you listen to him? us, judging. LETA : Because he tells very good sto - 2ND CITIZEN : Within the hour he will ries. ( PERICLES now comes down - name the winner. stage and joins the group, but they pay no attention to him .) 3RD CITIZEN : I must go home and rouse my lazy son from sleep. But what’s the CIMON : We Greeks are the finest ath - use? Only if sleeping is the skill of letes in all the world. We run the Pericles will he win the prize. fastest, swim the best, hurl the javelin farther than any other people on earth. 4TH CITIZEN : Perhaps it is singing. My The skill of Pericles must be in our little girl has the voice of a bird. sports. Nestor, come and race me to the temple and back. If Pericles is watch - 5TH CITIZEN (To 4TH CITIZEN ): The ing he will see what a fine runner I am. voice of a bird, all right—a crow. Your daughter cannot sing. NESTOR : Gladly, Cimon, if you think my running with you will help. 4TH CITIZEN : You are jealous. You know it will bring great honor to my CIMON : Hector, tell us when to start. house if my child wins the prize. (During the past several speeches, CIT - HECTOR : I don’t see why I should help IZENS have been leaving. OLD you. I, too, would like to win the prize. SAILOR also exits. CIMON, HEC - TOR, AJAX, HELENA, LETA, IDA NESTOR : Hector, if the prize is for and NESTOR remain, as does PERI - speaking, Pericles will hear your fine CLES. ) voice.

CIMON : What is this skill of Pericles? HECTOR : I hadn’t thought of that. All Did anyone ever say? right. ( CIMON and NESTOR get in a starting position. ) Great runners of HELENA : I have never heard of such a Athens, hear my command: Get ready, thing before. set, and go! ( The two run off. ) Didn’t my voice sound well, Leta? NESTOR : Wouldn’t it be a great honor if one of you should win the prize? I LETA : Don’t be foolish, Hector. How can would be very proud to have a friend a voice sound well unless it says some - who has the skill of Pericles. thing?

HECTOR : The old sailor can tell us. He HELENA (Looking off ): Nestor is almost said he knew Pericles well. Where is he? keeping up with Cimon.

IDA (Looking about ): He’s gone. Leta LETA : Nestor is a fine runner, too, but made him angry when she said he he is more interested in making Cimon made up stories. a better runner than in winning the

OCTOBER 2019 23 race for himself. He will lose. IDA (Interrupting ): Are you going to give the whole speech again? HELENA : I’m afraid so. And Nestor is nicer than Cimon, too. ( NESTOR and NESTOR : I think that is a good speech, CIMON return, CIMON in the lead. and Hector gives it very well. HECTOR raises CIMON’s hand. ) LETA : I don’t know what we would do HECTOR : I, Hector, judge: Cimon is the without you, Nestor. You make all our winner. faults sound like virtues: Cimon’s brag - ging and Hector’s bellowing, Ajax’s HELENA : Nestor, you might win a race prancing about. . . if you would think about winning instead of trying to make Cimon run AJAX : I do not prance! I walk like a faster. warrior. And that’s what I am, a war - rior. You will be sorry you have said NESTOR : No one can beat my friend that, Leta, when I win the prize. Cimon. He is the finest runner in Athens. LETA : So you think you have the skill of Pericles? CIMON : But you are a great help to me, Nestor. Perhaps Pericles will give a AJAX : What is the greatest skill of the second prize, and you will get it. Greeks, I ask you? It is fighting! And who is the greatest warrior here? ( He HECTOR : You are very quick to take draws his wooden sword and makes a first prize for yourself, Cimon. But I do fake thrust toward NESTOR, who pre - not think the skill of Pericles is run - tends to fall dead. ) You see? Victory ning. Pericles was a great runner in his again. ( He pretends to place a foot on youth, to be sure. But it takes speaking NESTOR’s body and holds his sword skill, not running, to win men to aloft. ) If Pericles has seen what a great democracy. warrior I am, I am sure to win the prize.

AJAX : Do you think you will win the NESTOR (Getting to his feet ): One of you prize for your speaking, Hector? will win. I am sure of it. No one runs as fast as Cimon, or talks as well as Hector HECTOR : I don’t say I will win the prize, or fights as well as Ajax. We must all but I would like to try. Do you remem - have a feast when the prize is given. ber the story of Admetus, who asked his father to die in his place? Hear me PERICLES : There is much in what you give the father’s answer. . . say, Nestor. ( All turn to him in sur - prise as he speaks. ) We Greeks prize LETA (Breaking in ): Do we have to lis - the gifts of your friends here. One of ten to that speech again? them may well win the prize.

HECTOR (Ignoring LETA ; pretending NESTOR : I wish Pericles were here say - to be an old man ): “Am I slave, son, ing that. that you treat me so? Or am I your father, a king and a free-man born? I IDA : Do you know Pericles, old man? have given you everything you own. Is it my duty to die for you as well? There PERICLES : I have never seen him face to is no law of the Greeks that a father face, but I know something of the way must die for his son. . . .” he thinks. ( Turns to girls ) What about

24 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com you girls? Helena, here, has beauty. considered. I do not run as well as Maybe that is the skill of Pericles. Cimon, nor talk as well as Hector. I do not fight as well as Ajax. HELENA (Posing ): I thought beauty should be the skill of Pericles, but I did AJAX : But you are the one I would not know men would agree with me. want at my side in battle.

PERICLES : We Athenians are not brutes NESTOR : I thank you for that, Ajax. like the Spartans, Helena. It is our greatness that we know beauty makes HELENA : You are not beautiful, Nestor, life worth living. but I think you are handsome. Don’t you think so, old man? HELENA : If I win the prize, I hope it is a lovely necklace. PERICLES : He has a good face, one I would like in a son or friend. LETA : Do not count the beads until you have won the prize. The Goddess of NESTOR (Laughing ): My only skill is Beauty won a prize from Paris, but the luck to have such good friends. And foolish Paris was not as wise as one of them will win the prize today, I Pericles. I do not think a pretty face am sure of it. ( MESSENGER enters, equals the skill of Pericles. followed by CITIZENS .)

PERICLES : That is a good argument for PERICLES : Well, we shall soon see. Here one so young. You are wise, Leta. is the messenger again.

NESTOR : Leta, perhaps wisdom is the MESSENGER : Citizens of Greece, the skill of Pericles, and then you will win. time has come to announce the name of the youth with the skill of Pericles. LETA : Thank you, Nestor. I am wise enough to know I won’t win. All nations 1ST CITIZEN : But where is Pericles? have wise people, but all cities are not Athens. I don’t know the skill of 2ND CITIZEN : We have not seen him Pericles, but I do not think it is wisdom. yet.

PERICLES : Perhaps it is art. I am told, 3RD CITIZEN : He has not heard my lazy Ida, that you dance most wonderfully. son snore.

NESTOR : She is the finest dancer in all 4TH CITIZEN : He has not yet heard my Athens. Dance for us, Ida. little girl sing.

PERICLES : Yes, please do. ( Greek music MESSENGER : Pericles has been with is heard and IDA does a short ballet you. He has watched you work and play. routine, at the end of which PERI - CLES applauds. ) Thank you, Ida, that AJAX : Pericles has been here? ( OLD was very good. ( Turns to NESTOR ) SAILOR enters .) But what is your special skill, Nestor? How do you expect to win the prize HELENA : Look, the old sailor is back. from Pericles? MESSENGER : Yes, Pericles has been NESTOR (Laughing ): I will not even be here, and he is here. He has come dis -

OCTOBER 2019 25 guised. But now he will speak. friend and fellow-citizen knows fellow- citizen. IDA : Pericles is here disguised! 5TH CITIZEN : That is the democratic CIMON : Perhaps the old sailor is way. Pericles! PERICLES : I have watched and been HECTOR : You will not win, Leta, pleased. Here are many youths with because you said he made up stories. skills and gifts that make life good.

AJAX : The old sailor said he knew NESTOR (To his friends ): You see? He is Pericles, and surely a man knows him - going to give one of you the prize. self. ( PERICLES now steps up beside MESSENGER. ) PERICLES : I have seen Cimon race. He will win many palms in the games. LETA : Look! The old beggar is standing next to the messenger. It is not the old NESTOR : You see, Cimon. He knows. sailor, but the old beggar who is Pericles in disguise. PERICLES : I have heard Hector speak and seen Ajax fight. With such voices HECTOR : It can’t be. He said he had and willing hearts, Athens will long never seen Pericles face to face. remain free.

LETA : No man ever sees himself face to NESTOR : Perhaps he will give three face. prizes.

MESSENGER : Citizens of Athens! PERICLES : And I have seen Helena’s Pericles! ( PERICLES drops his ragged beautiful face and Ida’s grace, and I cloak, removes the hood from his head, have heard the wise words of Leta. All and stands erect. MESSENGER exits. ) our poets will sing of these three.

CITIZENS (Stunned; ad lib ): Pericles! It NESTOR : He’s going to give six prizes! is Pericles. I cannot believe it. ( Etc .) PERICLES : And there are other youths, 1ST CITIZEN : I have seen him talking to too. Jason, who works with his father in the children by the river’s edge. the olive groves, and Arius, who sails a boat so well across the waters. Each 2ND CITIZEN : I have seen him listening has skills I wish I had. But my only to the children sing. skill is in knowing that all men have skills. 3RD CITIZEN : He has heard my lazy son snore. 1ST CITIZEN : That is true. He knows men have skills that they do not know 4TH CITIZEN (Pleased ): He has heard they have. my little girl sing. PERICLES : Now, which youth among PERICLES : Citizens of Athens, I have you best knows your virtues? What say come disguised not to trick you, but you, Cimon? because I wanted to know you as you know each other—as friend knows CIMON : My friend, Nestor.

26 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com PERICLES : What say you, Hector? girl sing. ( All exit .)

HECTOR : My friend, Nestor. PERICLES (To young people ) : Well, my young friends, I know you all agree, PERICLES : And Ajax, what say you? but what did you learn from this?

AJAX : My friend, Nestor. LETA : Something we should have known: the first prize in a democracy goes to PERICLES : And you, Citizens of Athens? those who give, not to those who have.

ALL : Our friend, Nestor. PERICLES : You are wise, Leta, and if you have the wisdom to comfort people, 1ST CITIZEN : He listens to me when I you will be honored all the days of your am sad. life. ( OLD SAILOR attempts to exit without being noticed. PERICLES calls 2ND CITIZEN : He sings with me when I out to him .) Wait a minute, my friend. am happy. (OLD SAILOR stops . To others ) I must go see my old friend, the sailor. He 3RD CITIZEN : He is happy when I am fought alongside me in many a battle. I fortunate. must seek his advice on how to make our country better. He was with PERICLES : Then, my friends, your Odysseus when they escaped from the choice is Nestor. He is our friend, and Cyclops, you know. ( He and OLD before the sun sets, we will honor him SAILOR exit together. ) today as he honors us every day of his life. Go to your homes to prepare, and CIMON : Did you hear, Leta? The old return before the sun sets. ( CITIZENS sailor was with Odysseus. begin to exit, speaking as they go. ) AJAX : You said that he did not even 1ST CITIZEN : It was a good choice. know Pericles. And now you have seen what great friends they are. 2ND CITIZEN : Nestor has always been a friend to all. LETA : They are now. That is Pericles’ skill, to use one’s gift to help others. I 3RD CITIZEN : And he says my son is not don’t know if the old sailor ever saw lazy, just pensive, and one day he will Pericles before, but he will never forget be a fine man. him now. ( Curtain ) THE END 4TH CITIZEN : He loves to hear my little

PRODUCTION NOTES The Skill of Pericles CHARACTERS : 5 male; 3 female; 8+ The backdrop shows the front of a male and female. Greek building with steps leading up to PLAYING TIME : 25 minutes. it. At left and right are stalls in which COSTUMES : Traditional classical Greek the merchants sell fruit, animals, pot - costumes. Pericles wears a ragged cloak tery and other wares. with a hood over his costume. LIGHTING : No special effects. PROPERTIES : Scroll, wooden sword. MUSIC : Ancient Greek music for Ida’s SETTING : The marketplace in Athens. dance scene.

OCTOBER 2019 27 Middle Grades The Ghost of El Castillo is protected by U.S. copyright law. It is unlawful to use this play in any way unless you are a cur - rent subscriber to PLAYS Magazine (www.playsmagazine.com).

The Ghost of El Castillo Sensible villager helps a tormented spirit find peace and returns his village back to its everyday routine. . . . by Barbara Winther

Characters ESTEBAN enters right, beating pan with spoon. LOLA, smiling, watches ESTEBAN, a tinker him pass.

CHILDREN, extras ESTEBAN (Shouting ): All with broken JUANITA pans come to me. I, Esteban the tinker, will mend your wares. All with broken LOLA pans, come to me. I, Esteban the tinker, (Throws LOLA a kiss, which she SEÑORA MORO, an innkeeper returns, then exits down left, voice fad - ing out ) will mend your wares. ( CHIL - THE CONDESA, owner of the castle DREN, holding hands in chain fashion, YOUNG VILLAGER enter right, and skip around bench .) VILLAGE ELDER CHILDREN (Chanting in unison ): We have heard a voice THE GHOST Moan and cry, groan and sigh. We have seen an eerie light Grow and beam, glow and gleam. ( Drop SCENE 1 hands and face audience ) TIME : A morning long ago. If you dare ( Point to castle ) To go up there ( Point to audience ) SETTING : Village square in central We think you might ( Hit chest, bend Spain. Backdrop (reversible, three-panel knees ) screen) painting of village with bleak Die of fright. ( Look mysterious ) hill right topped by gray castle. Cork For in that castle is the most ( Shiver as tree cutout shades bench left. if scared ) Extraordinary ( Pause, then jump at AT RISE : LOLA is sweeping down left. audience and yell )

28 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com Ghost! ( Burst into laughter and exit up nights in a little room at our inn and left, running, giggling. JUANITA, with her days staring at her castle. Every small jar, wearily enters up right .) morning when I bring her coffee, she looks sadder than the day before. JUANITA (Wiping sweat from face ): Buenos días, Lola. JUANITA (Staring at castle ): I hope the evil spirit can soon be exorcised. LOLA : Buenos días, Juanita. You look hot and tired. LOLA : Exorcised? What does that mean? JUANITA : Sí. ( Sits on bench ) Muy caliente y muy cansado. JUANITA : Gotten rid of, banished, sent back among the dead. LOLA : Where have you been? LOLA (Nodding ): Ah, ( Nods ) sí, ex-or- JUANITA : Gathering saffron on the hill. cised. ( SEÑORA MORO, with cane, (Gestures at hill. LOLA gasps .) enters down left, sees LOLA .)

LOLA : Did you go near El Castillo? SEÑORA MORO (Shaking cane at her ): Lola! ( LOLA jumps. JUANITA gri - JUANITA : No. I am not foolish. I went as maces .) From my balcony I saw you far as the crocus field, gathering making eyes and throwing a kiss to enough saffron to flavor two months of Esteban the tinker. paellas. LOLA : But, Señora Moro, I love LOLA (Sitting on bench ): I wouldn’t go Esteban. Some day, if we ever have near that castle. Who knows, the ghost enough money, we hope to be married. may be roaming the hill. MORO : A señorita should never throw JUANITA : Not in daylight. It appears kisses. Shame on you. And now you only at night. waste your time gossiping with Juanita. LOLA : Maybe so, but I’m not taking any chances. LOLA (Shaking head ): I wasn’t gossip - ing. I was just resting for a very few JUANITA : Nor is the Condesa. She has - minutes. n’t gone near the castle since that terri - fying night two weeks ago when the MORO : Ha! Well, hurry back to the inn. groaning and wailing began. The The patio must be swept, the Condesa sounds were so horrifying that the ser - has finished her coffee, and there are vants fled, and the Condesa ran dishes to wash. ( Waves cane ) ¡Escurite! screaming from the castle. LOLA (Curtsying ): Sí, señora. ( Exits LOLA (Nodding knowingly ): Sí. That down left, running. JUANITA rises and was the night after her husband died. warily backs away from MORO .)

JUANITA : It is his unhappy spirit, no JUANITA : Buenos días, Señora Moro. doubt about it. (Holds up jar ) I worked hard today. I rushed out at dawn to collect saffron, LOLA : Now the Condesa spends her and now I am going to home to, ah,

OCTOBER 2019 29 (Thinks hard ) clean the house. excellent idea. ( CHILDREN reenter left, holding hands as before, skipping MORO : Bueno. People who squander and chanting .) time are as useless as crows. ( Waves cane ) ¡Escurite! ( JUANITA scurries CHILDREN (In unison ): away, exiting up left. MORO sinks onto We have heard a restless voice bench. To audience ) Since I own the Moan and cry, groan and sigh. largest inn in town, I have experience We have seen an eerie light giving orders. ( Leans forward, smiling Grow and beam, glow and gleam. mischievously ) But I pick only on lazy people. ( Cackles crow-like at her clever - MORO (Rising, waving cane authorita - ness. CONDESA enters sadly down left, tively ): Attention, children! The gazes at castle and sighs .) Condesa wishes to make an announce - ment. Listen carefully, then proclaim CONDESA : Ah, me! her words to everyone in the village.

MORO : Condesa, staring at your castle CHILDREN (In unison, curtsying, nod - won’t scare the ghost away. Come sit ding ): Sí, señora. beside me. Perhaps we can devise a plan. ( CONDESA sighs again as she CONDESA (Rising, raising arms ): To the sits on bench. ) person who banishes the ghost from El Castillo, I offer a reward of one thou - CONDESA : Oh, Señora Moro, if only I sand gold reales. ( OTHERS gasp in knew how to ease my husband’s spirit, wonder, then freeze. Curtain ) then I’m sure it would no longer haunt * * * the castle. SCENE 2 BEFORE RISE : CHILDREN skip across MORO : Why is the ghost so unhappy? from right to left in front of curtain, chanting. CONDESA : Because when my husband was alive he was a greedy man. He CHILDREN (In unison ): forced the poor people in his district to Banish the ghost from El Castillo, pay heavy taxes; he gave nothing to the If you be so bold. church; and he never helped a person in The Condesa will then pay you need. He always meant to change, but A thousand reales of gold. ( Repeat he never did. verse, exiting left, voices fading out. YOUNG VILLAGER, with sword, MORO : No wonder his spirit is miser - enters right followed by VILLAGE able. ELDER, with book, hobbling .)

CONDESA (Nodding ): Sí. The priest has YOUNG VILLAGER : A thousand gold tried with no success to exorcise the reales! I could use that money to take ghost from the castle. I fear my hus - all of my friends on a fancy holiday. band will haunt those halls forever, and I will never be able to go back home. VILLAGE ELDER : I could use that money to build a bigger house and buy a dozen MORO : Why not offer a reward? Surely donkeys, one for each member of my someone will have a solution. family.

CONDESA (Throwing up arms ): Sí. An YOUNG VILLAGER : Because I am young

30 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com and strong, I should go first. With my tle. I am cold and hungry. For three sword ( Flashes it ) I will banish that evil hours I have waited and nothing ghost - spirit. ly has happened. However, it is almost midnight—a likely time for the spirit to VILLAGE ELDER : You may go first. But, appear. ( Clock bongs 12 times; YOUNG since I am old and wise, I have the best VILLAGER grows more fearful with chance to succeed. Instructions from a each bong .) book ( Holds it up ) will exorcise the ghost. ( VILLAGERS exit, ad libbing: “I GHOST (Wailing from behind back - am stronger than you,” “I’m wiser than drop ): Ay-y-y-y-y! you,” etc., fading out. ESTEBAN enters left, beating pan, crossing right .) YOUNG VILLAGER (Leaping to feet, sword ready ): It is the ghost. ESTEBAN (Shouting ): All with broken pans come to me. I, Esteban the tinker, GHOST (Wailing louder ): Woe-o-o-o! will mend your wares. ( Stops and speaks to audience ) Should those two YOUNG VILLAGER (Looking about wild - villagers ( Points left with thumb ) fail, I, ly, calls ): Where are you? ( GHOST Esteban the tinker, will try to rid the bursts onto stage, waving arms in a castle of the ghost. With a thousand mysterious way. ) gold reales, finally I would be rich enough to marry my sweetheart, Lola. GHOST (In spooky voice ): Here-r-r-r, (Beats pan, shouts as he exits left, voice there-r-r-r-r-r, everywhere-r-r-r-r-r. fading out ) All with broken pans come to me. ( Blackout. CHILDREN chant YOUNG VILLAGER (Terrified, leaping on from off stage .) bench, shouting ): ¡Ay caramba! (GHOST slowly approaches YOUNG CHILDREN (In unison ): VILLAGER, moaning and swaying .) The young man came, his chest puffed out, GHOST (Howling ): Oh-h, misery! Oh-h-h, Full of strength and boast, agony! Oh-h-h, woe! He waved his sword and shouted loud To exorcise the ghost. ( Curtain opens. ) YOUNG VILLAGER (Frantically slicing * * * air with sword ): Ghost, I will dispatch you, eliminate you, send you back to TIME : Late that night. your grave.

SETTING : Inside castle. Backdrop screen GHOST (Crying maniacally ): Wa-a-a! reversed, revealing gray stone wall. You cannot hurt a ghost. Eee-e-e-e! Lights dim; moonlight shines on bench (Continues forward ) area, which is moved to castle. No tree. Sound of howling wind now and then. YOUNG VILLAGER (Frightened ): Come no closer! ( Leaps from bench, backing AT RISE : YOUNG VILLAGER sits on up right, sword raised defensively ) bench, shivering, sword in hand. He ¡Alto! ¡Alto! ( GHOST continues toward looks about furtively. GHOST is behind VILLAGER, who shrieks. ) No! No! backdrop. (Bolts off stage, screaming ) Help! Help! I give up! ( Blackout. After a pause YOUNG VILLAGER (To audience; nerv - CHILDREN chant from off stage .) ously ): The winds howl outside the cas -

OCTOBER 2019 31 CHILDREN (In unison ): The dead have no connection to this The elder brought a book of knowledge, world. It seemed to him quite clear That if he followed the rules of logic, GHOST (Howling ): Oh-h, misery! Oh-h-h, The ghost would disappear. ( Lights agony! Oh-h-h-h, woe! come back up dimly. ) * * * VILLAGE ELDER (Shouting ): Ghost, lis - TIME : Late the next night. ten to knowledge and logic. You do not belong among the living. SETTING : Same . GHOST (Crying maniacally ): Wa-a-a! AT RISE : VILLAGE ELDER, with book, You cannot teach a ghost. Ee-e-e-e! sits, shivering on bench. (Continues forward )

VILLAGE ELDER (To audience ): I am VILLAGE ELDER (Frightened ): Ah! Come hungry and cold. I would like nothing no closer! ( Climbs down from bench, better than to eat a bowl of hot stew nearly falling, and backs away right, and then climb into my warm bed. Oh, book raised defensively ) ¡Alto! ¡Alto! well, this ordeal will soon be over. Last (GHOST continues toward VILLAGE night the foolish young villager tried to ELDER, who shrieks .) No! No! ( Hobbles banish the ghost by force. I knew that right as fast as he can, screaming ) Help! would not work. ( Matter-of-factly ) Help! I give up. ( Blackout. VILLAGE Tonight I will explain to the ghost why ELDER exits. After a pause CHIL - it cannot stay here. ( Clock strikes 12. DREN chant from off stage .) VILLAGE ELDER looks more nervous with each bong .) CHILDREN (In unison ): The tinker cooked himself some soup. GHOST (Wailing ): Ay-y-y-y-y! He was not afraid. Determination, warmth, and food— VILLAGE ELDER (Rising, scared ): It is Of such is courage made. ( Lights come the ghost. up dimly .) * * * GHOST (W ailing louder ): Woe-o-o-o! TIME : Late the next night.

VILLAGE ELDER (Looking about wildly, SETTING : Same as before. Fake fire calls ): Where are you? ( GHOST bursts down right of bench. on stage, waving arms .) AT RISE : ESTEBAN, with pan and GHOST : Here-r-r-r-r-r, there-r-r-r-r-r-r, spoon, sits on floor, leaning against everywhere-r-r-r-r-r-r-r! ( VILLAGE bench; pantomimes eating from pan. ELDER, terrified, stands on bench. ) ESTEBAN (To audience ): The sword and VILLAGE ELDER (Groaning and franti - the book were not successful. A sword cally flipping through his book ): You— may be necessary for defense, and a you listen to this! ( GHOST, swaying, book can point the way in life, but nei - moaning, slowly approaches VILLAGE ther can make a person brave nor ban - ELDER, who reads from book in loud, ish a ghost. I built a fire in the fire - shaky voice .) People who die are laid to place, ( Gestures ) so I am warm; I rest in caskets. They are buried in cooked garlic soup ( Holds up pan ), so cemeteries. Stones mark their graves. my stomach is full. It is difficult to be

32 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com brave when cold and hungry. ( Rises ) broken, fit pieces together, take wrongs What is ever more important is deter - and make them right. mination. I will not be afraid. As for the ghost, if I am not frightened, I think I GHOST (Incredulously ): Would you-o-o- can find a way to make it disappear. o-o help a ghost? No-o-o-o-body before (Clock strikes 12 bongs. ESTEBAN eats has been so bra-a-a-ve. a spoonful of soup and sits on bench. ) ESTEBAN (Nodding ): I’d be happy to GHOST (Wailing ): Ay-y-y-y-y-y! help you. What can I do?

ESTEBAN : Hm-m, that must be the GHOST (Floating about, moaning ): ghost. ( Leaves spoon in pan, sets it on Beneath a stone in the castle courtyard bench and listens attentively ) lies a trea-a-a-sure ( Hands on head, swaying )—money I sto-o-o-o-ole and GHOST : Woe-o-o-o-o-o! hoar-r-r-r-ded during my li-i-i-fe.

ESTEBAN : What a sad sound! That ESTEBAN : What shall I do with your ghost must be terribly unhappy. ( Calls ) money? Where are you? ( GHOST bursts on left, waving arms. ) GHOST (Stopping, extending arms for - ward ): Gi-i-i-ve it to the church. Tell GHOST : Here-r-r-r-r-r, there-r-r-r-r-r, them three quarters must go to the everywhere-r-r-r-r-r! poor. ( Clutches arms, sways ) Then-n, my tortured spirit can rest; then-n-n, I ESTEBAN : Indeed. Well, buenas noches will no longer haun-au-nt El Castillo. to you. ( GHOST slowly approaches Then-n-n, I can leave this world behi-i- ESTEBAN , moaning and swaying. ) ind. ( Whirls ) ¡Ay! ¡Ay!

GHOST (Howling ): Oh-h, misery! Oh-h-h, ESTEBAN (Picking up pan, spoon ): Poor agony! Oh-h-h-h, woe! ghost. Lead me to your treasure. I will do as you say. ( GHOST exits left, moan - ESTEBAN (Rising, inspecting ghost ): In ing, arms outstretched, followed by truth, I have never heard such sorrow. ESTEBAN. Curtain ) * * * GHOST (Crying maniacally ): Wa-a-a! SCENE 3 Ee-e-e-e-e! ( Continues forward. ESTE - SETTING : Same as Scene 1. BAN folds arms contemplatively and holds ground .) AT RISE : LOLA and ESTEBAN stand center; YOUNG VILLAGER, JUANI - ESTEBAN : Are you the ghost of the TA, and VILLAGE ELDER stand right; Condesa’s husband? SEÑORA MORO sits on bench, CON - DESA stands beside her. CHILDREN GHOST (Wailing ): I am that woeful one. skip on right, chanting, holding hands (Bows head, swaying, groaning ) Oh-h-h, as before, weaving in and out of crowd.) how I long to be away from here. My spirit is so-o-o-o anguished. CHILDREN (In unison ): Esteban helped the ghost, ESTEBAN : That’s too bad. Well, I’m He fixed his troubled heart, rather good at making things better. Esteban, by being kind, You see, I am a tinker. I mend what is Made the ghost depart.

OCTOBER 2019 33 ALL (Ad lib ): The brave tinker. Esteban eternal gratitude. ( All cheer. ) is so clever! He got rid of the ghost. (Etc .) MORO (Rising ): Esteban, you have my permission to marry Lola. And Lola, MORO (Rising, shouting with upraised you’d better marry him quickly before arms ): Quiet, everybody! The Condesa some other señorita catches him. ( All wishes to speak. ( CHILDREN sit on laugh and clap as LOLA curtsies to ground facing CONDESA. MORO sits ESTEBAN, who takes her hand and on bench. All are quiet, focused on bows to her. CHILDREN jump up and CONDESA .) come down center, joining hands, facing audience, chanting, while others freeze .) CONDESA (Speaking to crowd ): As we have learned, my husband’s troubled CHILDREN (In unison ): spirit could not be soothed by the Soon Esteban and Lola strength of youth, ( All nod in agree - Were married, husband and wife. ment; YOUNG VILLAGER shrugs .), May El Castillo’s ghostly tale nor by the wisdom of old age. ( All nod; Help you ( Arms forward ) with your life. VILLAGE ELDER shrugs .) Help for my (Curtsy. Then, others curtsy or bow. husband’s ghost came from the compas - Curtain ) sion and ingenuity of Esteban, the brave tinker, who found the way to heal THE END a broken heart. For this I reward (Production Notes on page 48 ) Esteban with 1,000 gold reales and my

34 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com The Stolen Pumpkins is protected by Middle & Lower Grades U.S. copyright law. It is unlawful to use this play in any way unless you are a current subscriber to PLAYS Magazine (www.playsmagazine.com ).

The Stolen Pumpkins In this Spanish folktale, a farmer cleverly proves ownership when a thief makes off with his beloved crops. . . .

Adapted by Joellen Bland

Characters kins and cared for them as tenderly as STORYTELLER if they were his own children. (FARMER enters, followed by WIFE .) PUMPKIN FARMER FARMER : Look, my dear! Just look at FARMER’S WIFE my beautiful, precious pumpkins! ( He MERCHANT looks over pumpkin field, toward audience, beaming with joy .) Oh, you POLICE OFFICER are all so beautiful! You are as big as the moon! You are as orange on the NEIGHBOR inside and the outside as all the oranges in Spain! You are absolute JUDGE perfection! TOWNSPEOPLE, extras WIFE (To audience ): There he goes again. My dear husband talks to his SETTING : Farmer’s pumpkin field, an pumpkins as if they were people! But imaginary space overlooking audience. I think they enjoy it.

AT RISE : STORYTELLER enters, FARMER (To his pumpkins ): You are addresses audience. the fattest, most gorgeous pumpkins anyone has ever seen! But soon we STORYTELLER : A very long time ago in shall have to part. You will become Spain, there lived a farmer who was the most wonderful Halloween jack-o- famous for his wonderful pumpkin lanterns that any boy or girl could crop. He was very proud of his pump- wish for—and then you will become

OCTOBER 2019 35 the most delicious pies! But, oh, I don’t FARMER : Yes! It is good to know that know how I can bear to lose you! people will be entertained and nour - ished and happy with my precious WIFE : Now, dear, you know that your pumpkins. First thing in the morning, pumpkins are almost ripe and ready I will cut them and take them to the to be taken to the market. boat for the trip down the river to the city. ( They exit. ) STORYTELLER : The farmer began to weep, he was so overcome with the STORYTELLER : Early the next morning, thought of having to part with his pre - the farmer went to his pumpkin field cious pumpkins. For you see, he knew with his big knife, ready to cut the each one of them by its form and pumpkins from their green vines. But shape, its state of ripeness, and its when he got there—oh! Imagine his name. Yes! He had named every sin - astonishment! ( FARMER enters, with gle one of his precious pumpkins! knife, and looks over field in disbelief. )

FARMER : Dear Pedro! Pepita! Pepe! FARMER (Wailing loudly ): My pump - Paulo! Paulina! Pablo! Patricia! kins! My precious pumpkins! They’re Poncho! Percival! ( He wanders among gone! Stolen! ( WIFE rushes in .) his imaginary pumpkins, weeping .) WIFE : What? Stolen? Oh, my! This is STORYTELLER : For the next few days, terrible! Who could have done this? the farmer and his wife tended the pumpkins with the greatest care. FARMER : Some rogue! Some scoundrel Then, one fine afternoon, the farmer came during the night and cut them finally made his decision. off the vines while we were sleeping! Oh, the robber! The thief! Oh, when I FARMER : Tomorrow, I will cut the catch him. . . ! ripest and most plump of my precious pumpkins and take them to the mar - WIFE : Calm down, husband. Think! It ket in the city. Oh, how sad I shall be! must have been someone who knows how valuable your pumpkins are. WIFE : But what else can you do? Is this not why you have planted them FARMER : Everyone in our village and cultivated them, and brought knows how valuable they are! them to this state of perfection? Think of the money they will bring! WIFE : But no one would be foolish enough to steal your pumpkins and FARMER : Yes! My pumpkins always try to sell them in our village. They bring a very good price. would be recognized at once.

WIFE : Just think how famous you will FARMER : Yes, you are right. Whoever be for raising such perfect pumpkins. stole my precious pumpkins must And how happy the children will be have taken them to the city, where he who will carve them into jack-o- probably thinks they will not be recog - lanterns, and the families who will nized. . . but I will find them! have the great good fortune to eat the spicy, delicious pies they bake from WIFE : You must leave at once, before them. someone in the city buys them and they are lost to you forever!

36 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com FARMER : My beauties! My charmers! FARMER : This merchant has stolen my Cut by a stranger’s hand! Oh, when I precious pumpkins! catch that thief, he’ll be sorry he robbed me! ( He and WIFE hurry off. ) MERCHANT : I have not stolen these pumpkins! I bought them from a man STORYTELLER : The farmer made some early this morning. very quick preparations and took the next boat down the river to the city. FARMER : Bought them? Hah! You There he went straight to the main stole them from my field last night! market place, where it didn’t take him You are a thief! long to find his stolen pumpkins. ( A long table or counter is brought in and MERCHANT : And you are a rascal! I placed center. On table or counter are did not steal them, I tell you! many large (real) pumpkins which have been cut from vine. MERCHANT OFFICER : Here, now! Calm down, both enters and stands behind counter, of you. Let us get to the bottom of this. admiring pumpkins. ) Merchant, explain where and how you got these pumpkins. MERCHANT : What perfect pumpkins! I will make my fortune today when I MERCHANT : I bought them from a sell them. ( FARMER enters with a bag farmer who told me he brought them over his shoulder. He sees the pump - in from the country last night. kins, and rushes to the table .) FARMER : Oh, is that so? And what did FARMER : Aha! Here you are! Oh, my this farmer look like? What was his precious pumpkins, I have found you! name? Are you all right? I hope there are no bumps or bruises on you! ( He exam - MERCHANT : He was a sly little man ines the pumpkins anxiously. ) with a mustache and a big straw hat. I can’t remember his name, but he MERCHANT : Good morning, sir! Would said he came from the Big Green you like to buy one of my perfect Valley. pumpkins? FARMER : A sly little man with a mus - FARMER (Indignant ): Your perfect tache and a big straw hat? From the pumpkins? These are my perfect Big Green Valley! Ha! I might have pumpkins and you have stolen them! known! This man you describe is my (Shouting ) Police! Police! lazy neighbor, who does as little work on his farm as possible. His own pump - MERCHANT (Alarmed ): What? I have kins are not good enough to sell, so he not stolen these pumpkins! stole mine and then sold them to you! Officer, these are my stolen pumpkins! FARMER : Do you think I do not know my own precious pumpkins when I see MERCHANT : I did not know they were them? ( Shouting ) Police! Police! stolen! I paid a good price for them. (POLICE OFFICER hurries in .) OFFICER (To FARMER ): Sir, even if OFFICER : What is the matter here? ( If these pumpkins were stolen, how can desired, TOWNSPEOPLE enter to you prove that they are yours? become part of the scene. )

OCTOBER 2019 37 MERCHANT : They could be anybody’s perfect pumpkins yet? There are no pumpkins! All pumpkins look alike! other pumpkins like them anywhere.

FARMER : All pumpkins do not look MERCHANT : Ah, sir! I’m glad you are alike! No other pumpkins in the world here. This man says that the pump - look like my precious pumpkins! I know kins you sold me early this morning them as well as I know my own chil - were stolen from his field in the Big dren! I raised them from tiny seeds. I Green Valley. But I’m sure you can tended them and watered them and explain everything. pruned them, and watched every hour of their growth. ( Gestures ) See, here is NEIGHBOR (Looking alarmed ): What? Pepita—and Pedro! Here is Pepe and Who says this? Paulo and Pablo and Poncho and Paul- ina and Percival and Patricia and— FARMER (Turning to face him ): I say it, you scoundrel! Did you really think OFFICER : This is all very well, sir, but you could get away with this? the law will not be satisfied with the fact that you say you recognize these NEIGHBOR : I don’t know what you’re pumpkins, whether they have names talking about! or not. You must convince the local Judge with indisputable proof that FARMER : You know very well what I’m these pumpkins are yours. Otherwise, talking about! ( Looks off ) Here come I can take no action. the police officer and the Judge. Soon everything will be settled in my favor. FARMER : I suspected that might be the case, and I have come prepared to NEIGHBOR (Nervously ): I don’t have prove that these precious pumpkins time to argue with you. This does not are mine! ( Takes bag from shoulder ) concern me. I have business else - where. ( Starts to exit ) MERCHANT : You can prove that these pumpkins are yours? FARMER : Stop him! He is the thief who stole my precious pumpkins! FARMER : Yes, I can. I will prove beyond a doubt that these are indeed my pre - OFFICER (Stopping NEIGHBOR ): cious pumpkins, right here, right now! You’ll have to stay here, sir, until this matter is settled. OFFICER : I’ll bring the Judge. He lives only a short distance away. ( Exits ) FARMER : This man is my neighbor in the Big Green Valley, and the thief MERCHANT : What do you have in that who stole my precious pumpkins! bag? NEIGHBOR : I deny it! These pumpkins FARMER : You will see soon enough. were mine until I sold them this morn - (He turns aside and begins to untie ing to this merchant. No one can prove bag. NEIGHBOR enters, smiling otherwise! broadly, very pleased with himself. He does not see FARMER right away .) FARMER : I can prove otherwise!

NEIGHBOR : Ah, there you are, mer - JUDGE : Very well, sir. You may pres - chant! What? You haven’t sold these ent your proof. I am curious to see

38 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com what it is, for I am of the opinion that FARMER : Pablo! You see? These pump - all pumpkins look alike. ( JUDGE sits kins were cut from these stalks which I on a box and prepares to listen. OFFI - brought with me from my field. Every CER keeps hold of NEIGHBOR .) one of them matches up perfectly.

FARMER : You will see that I can clear - JUDGE : There can be no doubt. Your ly identify each of my precious pump - proof is beyond reproach. This man, kins, Your Honor. ( He turns the bag (Turning to NEIGHBOR ) is guilty of upside down and empties out a pile of robbery! Return the money you pumpkin vines and stalks onto the received for these pumpkins at once! counter .) Now, when you pay your taxes, the tax collector enters the pay - MERCHANT : Every cent of it, if you ment in his book, from which the please! ( NEIGHBOR grudgingly receipts are cut, leaving a stub as hands money to MERCHANT. ) proof of the transaction. Is this not so? JUDGE : Is that the correct amount? JUDGE : Yes, you are speaking of the tax-collector’s receipt-book with its MERCHANT : Yes. ( To FARMER ) And record of stubs. now, sir, will you be so good as to sell me your precious pumpkins? FARMER : Exactly! And that is what I have here—the stubs of my precious FARMER : Yes, I will be glad to sell pumpkins—the vines and stalks that them to you. were attached to them before my thiev - ing neighbor cut them and stole them MERCHANT (Handing him the money ): from me last night. You have only to I am very sorry for all this trouble, sir. look at them. See, this stalk belongs to I am indeed fortunate to have your this pumpkin, Pepita. It matches per - precious pumpkins to sell today. fectly! ( He matches a stalk to a pump - kin .) And here, this stalk goes with JUDGE : Officer, take this thief to jail at Pepe. ( Matches the stalk ) This one to once. This case is closed. ( OFFICER, Paulo. . .and this one to Paulina! NEIGHBOR, JUDGE, and TOWNS - PEOPLE exit. ) OFFICER (Intrigued ): And that stalk matches that one exactly! FARMER : Oh, my precious pumpkins! I am well paid for you all. May you FARMER : Poncho! bring great happiness to everyone as the most wonderful jack-o-lanterns OFFICER : And that one goes with that and the most delicious pies. For that is pumpkin! why I have raised you—and next year I will do the same, only next year I will FARMER : Percival! sleep in my pumpkin field to protect my precious pumpkins! JUDGE (Joining the examination ): And this wide one goes with this pumpkin! STORYTELLER : And that is exactly what the clever pumpkin farmer did— FARMER : Pedro! and no one ever stole his precious pumpkins again. MERCHANT (Also joining in ): And this THE END jagged one matches this pumpkin! (Production Notes on next page )

OCTOBER 2019 39 PRODUCTION NOTES The Stolen Pumpkins (Play on pages 35-39 )

CHARACTERS : 1 male; 1 female; 5+ Judge. male and female. with as many male PROPERTIES : Big knife; a bag of pump - and female as desired for kin stalks and leaves to match 9 or 10 Townspeople. large real pumpkins; coins. PLAYING TIME : 15 minutes. SETTING : Bare stage with imaginary COSTUMES : Peasant-type tunics, pumpkin field in audience area; long skirts, pants, sandals, large straw table or counter for the merchant’s hats for Storyteller, Farmer, Wife, pumpkins in the city. A few boxes or Neighbor, Merchant, Townspeople; crates may also be scattered around. uniform, badge, nightstick for Police LIGHTING and SOUND : No special Officer; black coat and string tie for effects.

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40 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com Wings for the King is protected by U.S. Middle & Lower Grades copyright law. It is unlawful to use this play in any way unless you are a cur - rent subscriber to PLAYS Magazine (www.playsmagazine.com ).

Wings for the King

Bored royal discovers a new way to fly—through the pages of books! . . .

by Anne Sroda

Characters QUEEN : Is that all? Why not summon your fiddlers three? KING KING QUEEN : Oh, I get so tired of the same old tweedle-dee-tweedle-dee. PAGE QUEEN : How about your royal jesters? TIMOTHY APPLEWHITE KING (Yawning ): I have a feeling that GERALDINE J. KRONMILLER today they would fail. ISAAC SUMMERVILLE QUEEN : Then why not call your royal contortionist?

SCENE 1 KING : I called him this morning, but he SETTING : Main hall of the castle. Two was all tied up. thrones are center. QUEEN (Laughing ): All tied up! My AT RISE : KING and QUEEN are on dear, you do amuse me. thrones. QUEEN is embroidering or knitting. KING restlessly changes his KING : Good. Now it’s your turn to position three or four times until amuse me. QUEEN turns to look at him. QUEEN : But how? I’m not as clever as QUEEN : Your Highness, my dear, you. When I try to tell a joke, I always whatever is the matter? forget the punch line.

KING : My darling, my life lacks adven - KING (Impatiently ): Well, what can ture. I want to have more fun. I’m you do? bored.

OCTOBER 2019 41 QUEEN (Holding up her needlework ): I with, they must improvise. There must can teach you to do this. be someone in my kingdom who can make me a pair of wings. ( He crosses to KING (Rolling his eyes upward ): I don’t side of stage and calls. ) Page! think I could stand the excitement. QUEEN (Aside, to audience ): Oh, dear. QUEEN (Offended ): I was just trying to This started out to be such a lovely, help. Find your own amusement, then. ordinary day. ( She returns to throne .)

KING : Forgive me, my sweet. It’s just KING : And now it’s going to be a lovely, that I am so terribly bored. I need a extraordinary day. ( He calls again, change of scene. ( He stands and cross - more loudly. ) Page! ( He turns to es to imaginary window center. He QUEEN. ) Where is that page? ( PAGE peers out over the audience .) It even enters behind KING, holding horn. He depresses me to look out the window. bows, unseen by KING .)

QUEEN : But why? PAGE (Loudly ): Sire! ( KING jumps in surprise and whirls to face him. ) KING : Because everything out there has something to do. The sun and the KING (Crossly ): Don’t sneak up on me clouds and the birds are busy in the like that! Where have you been? air. ( Stops and moves head as though watching. Smiles and points finger ) PAGE : In the royal dungeon, sire. There! That’s what can cure my bore - dom! KING : What were you doing in the dun - geon? QUEEN (Running to stand next to him; peering out ): What? Where? PAGE : Practicing my horn. ( He holds up horn .) KING (Pointing out ): Up there! KING (Blankly ): Your horn? QUEEN : The birds? What do you want with a sparrow? PAGE : Don’t you remember, sire? You said you were tired of the gong, and KING : Not the whole bird, just his from now on you want me to announce wings. His lovely, feathery wings. I you with a fanfare. want to travel to distant lands. I want to fly! KING : Well, if I said it, it must be a good idea. But why were you practicing in QUEEN : But that’s impossible. People the dungeon? can’t fly. If you were supposed to fly, you would have been born with wings. PAGE : I tried to practice in the kitchen, but Cook said I was making her cakes KING : I suppose you think if we were fall. Then I went outdoors to practice, meant to ride, we would have been but the gamekeeper said I was fright - born with wheels on our feet. ening the ducks. So then. . .

QUEEN (Drily ): Well, no. KING (Interrupting ): All right, all right, I understand. But forget that for KING : Aha! What people weren’t born now. I have something much more

42 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com important for you to do. KING (Happily ): And soon, now, I will be a flier! ( He crosses to place bag next to PAGE (Eagerly ): Yes, sire? throne, then sits, smiling. PAGE bows and exits. QUEEN shakes her head, KING : Go to the royal treasure chest looking worried, as curtain falls. ) and fetch me a bag of gold. I will give * * * that bag of gold to the person who SCENE 2 brings me a pair of wings that will help TIME : A few hours later. me fly. ( Pauses ) Tell the town crier to announce that. SETTING : Same as Scene 1.

PAGE: Very good, sire. ( He bows and AT RISE : KING and QUEEN are sit - starts to exit, then stops and turns .) ting on their thrones. PAGE enters and Pardon me, sire, but I must have mis - blows a fanfare on horn, off-key. understood. I thought you said wings. KING (Covering his ears with his KING (Impatiently ): That’s precisely hands ): I thought you said you had what I said—wings. ( PAGE shrugs practiced. Oh, well, get on with it. and exits. KING rubs palms together excitedly. ) Oh, I can hardly wait! Do PAGE : Sire, may I present your loyal you know where I am going when I get subject, Timothy Applewhite, and my wings? his—uh—wings. ( TIMOTHY APPLE - WHITE enters, carrying large wings. QUEEN (Drolly ): Not really. Up, I sup - He trips over them as he bows .) pose. TIMOTHY : Not my wings, Your Majesty, KING : Up? Of course, up. But after but yours. Your wings to lift you above that, I am going to fly to Egypt, China, the treetops, to let you soar among the France, Africa—everywhere! clouds, to thrill your royal soul with. . .

QUEEN (Returning to her needlework ): KING (Interrupting ): Ah. . .why don’t Humph! we let the wings speak for themselves? (He removes his robe, crosses to TIMO - KING (Crossing to her ): Please come THY and walks around him, hand to with me, my treasure. I’ll get you your chin, looking at the wings. ) They cer - own set of wings. Any color you wish. tainly are pretty. ( To QUEEN ) Aren’t they pretty, my dear? QUEEN : Not on your life. You fly, if you want to. I prefer a coach-and-four. QUEEN (Unenthusiastically ): I suppose so. KING : How dreary. ( PAGE reenters with bag of gold and bows. ) KING : And they appear to be well con - structed. PAGE : Your gold, sire. TIMOTHY : They are, Your Majesty, they KING (Taking the bag ): Well done, are. I used only the finest imported Page. Did you dispatch the town crier? balsa wood for the frame. The lining is pure silk. And the feathers—well, the PAGE : Oh, yes, sire. I sent the crier. feathers are. . .

OCTOBER 2019 43 KING (Interrupting ): Do they fly? KING (In a daze ): These wings did not take me up. These wings took me TIMOTHY : I beg your pardon? down. Do you suppose I am wearing them upside-down? KING : Do they fly? Even if they’re solid gold, they are worthless to me if they QUEEN (Wringing her hands ): I knew do not fly. it wouldn’t work. This whole idea was a mistake. TIMOTHY (Reproachfully ): Your Maj- esty, do they fly? Do fish swim? Do KING : Nonsense! The idea is good, but lions roar? Do elephants have trunks? these wings are bad. ( He turns toward TIMOTHY angrily. ) I thought you said KING (Interrupting ): All right, all right, they would fly! let’s get on with it. How do I wear them? TIMOTHY : But, Your Majesty, they do. I tied a string to them and took them out TIMOTHY : Oh, it’s very simple, Your in the wind, and they flew beautifully. Majesty. Put your arms through here and hold onto these. ( He helps KING KING : Out in the wind, eh? And were put on wings. ) you wearing them at the time?

KING (Running about stage, flapping TIMOTHY : Oh, no. I was on the ground wings ): These are wonderful wings! I holding on to the other end of the just know they will work. ( He jumps up string. and down .) Look! I feel lighter already! I shall take off from the parapet! ( He KING (Angrily ): This is not a set of runs off .) wings. This is a kite! ( To PAGE ) Take this impostor to the dungeon. And help QUEEN (Calling after him ): Please be me off with these. . .wings. ( PAGE careful! helps KING remove the wings from his back. PAGE carries wings as he shoves PAGE (Looking out window ): He’s on TIMOTHY off. KING limps to the the parapet now. What courage! He throne. KING and QUEEN sit .) doesn’t even hesitate! He’s off! QUEEN : My beloved, will you please QUEEN : I hope he doesn’t fly too far and give up this dangerous business before get lost. you get yourself killed?

PAGE (Admiringly ): Look at those KING : Don’t be absurd. Flying is no wings flap! It doesn’t seem to be doing more dangerous than anything else. I him much good, though. Uh-oh. I could fall off a horse, you know. wouldn’t worry about his getting lost, Your Majesty. ( A loud crash is heard .) QUEEN : Yes, but you would be a great He’s landed. deal closer to the ground.

TIMOTHY : Maybe I’m the one who’d bet - KING : Balderdash! ( PAGE enters and ter worry. ( KING reenters, limping, blows horn, still off-key. KING covers with wings broken and crown askew .) his ears .) Perhaps the gong wasn’t so bad, after all. QUEEN (Running to him ): What hap - pened, my darling? PAGE : Sire, may I present your loyal

44 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com subject, Geraldine J. Kronmiller, and KING : That’s good enough for me. ( He her ( Sighs ) wings. ( GERALDINE J. runs out .) KRONMILLER enters, carrying a hat with a propeller attached .) GERALDINE : But, Your Highness, wait!

GERALDINE (Bowing ): Your Highness, I PAGE (Looking out “window” ): How offer you my ingenious invention, the dauntless is Our Majesty! There he Heli-Cap-Ter. ( She holds hat forward. ) goes! ( Pauses ) There he goes—down. (Loud crash is heard .) KING (Skeptically ): The Heli-Cap-Ter, eh? How does it work? GERALDINE : But the Heli-Cap-Ter works! It’s been laboratory tested. GERALDINE : Well, sire, these things on (KING reenters, without Heli-Cap- top are called rotors. You wind the Ter .) rotors to the left as far as they will go, then release them. QUEEN (Running up to KING ): My poor baby! Didn’t it work? KING : And that’s all there is to it? KING : Oh, it worked, all right. The GERALDINE : That’s all, Your Highness. Heli-Cap-Ter went up, up, up. ( He The spinning rotors lift you up and you points up .) But I went down, down, tilt your head in the direction you want down. ( He points down .) to go. Then, as the rotors wind down, they lower you gently back to the GERALDINE : Does this mean I’m not ground. going to get the bag of gold?

KING (Skeptical ): Gently? KING (Angrily ): Take her to the dun - geon! (P AGE grabs GERALDINE’s GERALDINE : Gently. arm and leads her off. KING limps to throne, puts crown back on and sits, as QUEEN (Worried; to KING ): Don’t do it. does QUEEN .) It doesn’t look safe to me. QUEEN : My dear, I hate to say I told KING : My dear, a child’s hobbyhorse you so, but. . . doesn’t look safe to you. ( He removes his crown, crosses to GERALDINE, KING (Interrupting ): If you hate to say takes hat and puts it on .) Just wind it it, then don’t say it. up and let it go? QUEEN (Haughtily ): Well! ( PAGE GERALDINE : That’s all, Your Highness, enters and raises horn to his lips, but except for one thing. before he can blow, KING motions for him to stop .) KING (Interrupting ): Just a minute, my good woman. Tell me, have you tried KING : Please. Let’s just skip the fan - the Heli-Cap-Ter yourself? I mean, fare. What have you got now? really tried it? PAGE (Lowering horn, clearing throat ): GERALDINE : Oh, yes. Yes, indeed. It Sire, may I present your loyal subject, works. I guarantee it. Isaac Summerville, and his. . .wings? (ISAAC SUMMERVILLE enters, car -

OCTOBER 2019 45 rying an armload of at least eight KING (Scratching his head; frowning ): books .) Wonderland. Is that north or south of here? ISAAC (Bowing awkwardly ): Your Majesties, may I present the best ISAAC : It’s not north or south. Or east wings of all! ( Holds out books ) or west, either. The only way you can visit Wonderland is by reading that KING : Funny, those don’t look like book. wings. How do you wear them? KING : Let’s see the rest of those. ( He ISAAC : You don’t wear them, your takes the rest of the books from ISAAC Majesty, you look at them. They are and looks at the titles .) Hm-m-m. called books. Here’s one that will take me to China, and another about Africa. KING : Oh, I see. They’re magic. You look at them, say a few words like QUEEN (Taking another book from pile abracadabra or fiddle-dee-faddle, and and leafing through it ): I could go to they take you wherever you wish to go. Switzerland with Heidi. I’ve always wanted to see the Alps. ISAAC : Well, not exactly. KING : This is very exciting, indeed. KING (Losing patience ): Well, then, (Pauses thoughtfully ) But I had hoped how do they work? to discover something.

ISAAC : Permit me. ( He crosses to KING ISAAC : Reading is discovering, Your and hands him a book .) Open it. Highness. There’s something new on (KING opens book .) every page.

KING : Here’s a picture. ( Reads ) The KING (Still looking at titles ): Wait a pyramids of Egypt. So that’s what they minute! Here’s a book called The look like! ( QUEEN looks over his Principles of Aeronautics . ( Calls ) Page! shoulder as he turns pages. ) Take this book down to the dungeon. Make sure those two scoundrels read QUEEN : Look, my dear, a picture of it, and then let them go free. Paris. There’s the River Seine. PAGE (Crossing and taking book ): Yes, KING : What a good picture! I feel as if sire. I’m really there. KING (Reaching beside his throne to get ISAAC : Now you see what I mean. the bag of gold ): Here, my good man, Books are wings to the land of knowl - take your bag of gold. You have earned edge. And they are also wings to the it. With books around, I don’t think I’ll land of fun. Look at these. (He gives ever be bored again. three books to QUEEN. She opens one. KING looks over her shoulder .) ISAAC (Taking gold and bowing ): I thank you, Your Highness. QUEEN : Why, it’s a story about a little girl and a talking rabbit! It’s called KING : Now, both of you please take Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland . your leave so the Queen and I can do some reading. ( ISAAC bows again and

46 PLAYS • playsmagazine.com exits. PAGE bows and starts to exit .) QUEEN : You’d like it, my darling. It’s Oh, Page? about a boy who really can fly. His name is Peter Pan. PAGE (Turning back ): Sire? KING : That sounds perfect! KING : Go out and bury that horn. QUEEN : All right. You read Peter Pan PAGE (Sadly ): Very good, sire. ( He (She hands him a book .), I’ll read The exits. ) Wizard of Oz , and then we’ll trade.

KING (To QUEEN ): All right, my jewel, KING : Good idea! ( He opens the book .) where do you want to go? Well, bon voyage, Your Highness. Have a nice trip. QUEEN : I can’t decide. ( She looks at two open books in her lap. ) Should I QUEEN : You, too, Your Highness. I’m visit the land of Oz with Dorothy in so glad we found out about books. The Wizard of Oz or Never-Never Land with Peter Pan and Wendy? KING : So am I. It’s the only way to fly! (Both bury their noses in books as the KING (Eagerly ): Never-Never Land! I curtain falls .) would choose that one. THE END

PRODUCTION NOTES Wings for the King

CHARACTERS : 3 male; 2 female; 1 male “gold”; horn; large set of wings; hat or female for Page. with propeller attached; eight books. PLAYING TIME : 20 minutes. SETTING : Main hall of castle. Two COSTUMES : Traditional fairy tale cos - thrones are center, facing audience. tumes. King and Queen have robes and LIGHTING : No special effects. crowns. SOUND : Loud crashes. PROPERTIES : Needle and yarn; bag of

OCTOBER 2019 47 PRODUCTION NOTES Safe Harbor (Play on pages 2-10 ) CHARACTERS : 6 female. ful flowers; small notecard. PLAYING TIME : 25 minutes. SETTING : The Arnesson living in Reyk- COSTUMES : 1850s period dress. Long javik, Iceland. A curtained window up dresses for all, with cloaks or capes for center, a small stove at left with a rock - Hilda and Mrs. Stefonsson. Gumma ing chair beside it. A small table set wears layers of old coats and scarves. with benches at right. Toy chest down Her boots are wrapped in old rags. right. Exit right leads outside, left leads PROPERTIES : Spanish doll; gold neck - to other rooms. lace; French book; napkin holding food; LIGHTING : No special effects. doll; two brooches; box holding beauti - SOUND : Knocks and door slam off right.

The Ghost of El Castillo (Play on pages 28-34 )

CHARACTERS : 4 male; 4 female; extras GLOSSARY & P RONUNCIATION KEY for Children. Proper Names PLAYING TIME : 25 minutes. Esteban (es-teh-bahn) COSTUMES : Traditional Spanish. Este- Juanita (wah-nee-tah) ban, Young Villager, and Village Elder Condesa (cone-dess-ah) are dressed poorly; Lola wears an El Castillo (cahs-tee-yo) apron. Señora Moro carries a cane; she and Condesa wear fancy shawls and Terms mantillas. Children are barefoot. Ghost, Buenos días (boo-way-noce-dee-ahss)— sheet with holes for eyes, nose, mouth. good morning PROPERTIES : Broom, pan, spoon, small Sí (see)—yes jar filled with imitation saffron, sword, Caliente (kah-lee-en-tay)—hot large book, fake fire (cardboard cutout, Cansado (kahn-sah-doe)—tired crushed red cellophane attached to top, Paella (pah-yay-ya)—pan-simmered flashlight shining up to simulate chicken, rice, saffron, vegetables, shell - flames). fish SETTING : Three-part, reversible screen Señora (sin-yor-ah)—Mrs., woman, usu - hinged with fabric, each section about ally married three feet wide and six feet high, and set Señorita (sin-yor-ee-tah)—miss, young up so sides angle slightly down stage. lady, usually unmarried One side of screen has painting of vil - ¡Escurite! (es-coo-reet)—Scram! lage, bleak hill and castle above it on Reales (ray-all-ace)—former coins of right; opposite side has painting of gray Spain and Spanish America stone castle wall. Small bench and card - ¡Ay! (eye)—alas! board cutout of cork tree. ¡caramba! (car-ahm-bah)—an exclama - SOUND : Background sound of howling tion of surprise wind, intermittent during Scene 2. ¡Alto! (all-toe)—stop! LIGHTING : Scene 2, dim lights with a Mantilla (mahn-tee-ya)—a silk or lace blue flood for added effect and a spot on scarf worn on the head over a high bench area to simulate moonlight. comb

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