THE KING'S MARKET

Source: "Short Plays for Juniors" by Irene Salami

ACTORS

Narrator
Tortoise
Mrs. Tortoise
Market Woman 1
Market Woman 2
Market Woman 3
Other Market Women
King
Chiefs
King's servant

SCENE ONE: There is a view of a market and the tortoise is taking a look.

Narrator: A long time ago, in the village of Ozi, there was a famine all over the land. Food crops were burnt in the farm and the people of Ozi had no food to eat. But tortoise, the cunning animal decided to go on a long search for food to feed his family. He eventually found a large market which belonged to the king of Umu village.

Tortoise: My God! You mean while we were starving to death in Ozi village, people in Umu village have so much food? This is unfair! In any case, I plan to take away some of these food stuffs. I know what I am going to do.

(Tortoise moves closer to the market and cups his mouth with both hands, shouting):

People of the king's market! There is a wild animal running to your market!

Market Woman 1: My people, run for your dear life. A lion is running towards us! (There is confusion everywhere as the market women run helter-skelter). Narrator: As the last market woman stumbles out, Tortoise enters the market and begins to loot greedily. After taking all he can, he leaves and the market women come back only to discover that their wares have disappeared.

SCENE TWO: Tortoise's family house at Ozi village

Tortoise: Oh, my wife, it was a long and tedious journey. I walked several days without food and water.

Mrs. Tortoise: Thank you, my husband. I know you are a loving husband. You really care for your family.

Tortoise: You see, my wife, I don't know why people love me anywhere I go. You see, as soon as I entered this market everybody started giving me gifts. In fact, I had to refuse some, saying I couldn't carry much.

Mrs. Tortoise: You are a fool. You should have taken everything they gave you. Tortoise: You are a fool. If I took everything, how can I go back again to ask for more.

Mrs. Tortoise: Oh, that was very clever of you, my husband. You will have to pay them a visit again. This time, carry a very big bag.

Tortoise: I intend to leave the day after tomorrow so that I can be in time for their next market day.

SCENE THREE: The king's market

(Tortoise is seen peeping from a corner)

Tortoise: People at the king's market! People of the king's market! There is a huge elephant coming towards your market. (There is confusion and the women run in different directions. The tortoise again ransacks the market, looting more than he did the last time.)

Narrator: The market women return after the tortoise has left and they are not happy at the way their wares have been "swallowed by the elephant." But back home in Tortoise's house in Ozi, there was great rejoicing.

SCENE FOUR: Tortoise's house

Tortoise: O! My wife, this time they spread their wrappers on the ground and made me ride on a horse which galloped on their fine wrappers. They even gave me a very beautiful wife but I told them I had one at home already.

Mrs. Tortoise: That was marvelous. This time I shall go with you.

Tortoise: Maybe it is better for you to go alone since you are so interested.

Mrs. Tortoise: No, my husband. The more we are, the more gifts we will bring home.

Tortoise: Then, who will take care of your children?

Mrs. Tortoise: O! I forgot all about them. You shall go alone then.

Tortoise: Yes, I will go alone. If you come with me they will be jealous and will give us no gifts. I hope to leave tomorrow night.

Narrator: The tortoise repeated this trip to the king's market about ten more times. The market women became worried and started to have some doubts. They decided to take the case to the king.

SCENE FIVE: The King's Palace

(The king and his chiefs are seated in a semi-circle.)

King: Servant, bring in the market women. I am told they want to see me.

Servant: Yes my Lord. (The market women come in and take their seats after greeting the king.)

King: May I hear what you have to say?

Market woman 1: Your Highness, long may you reign. We of the king's market decided to come to your palace today to tell you about the great predicament we have been facing for some time now.

King: And what is this all about?

Market woman 1: For about two months now, each time we go to the market to sell and buy wares, a great shout comes from nowhere of one big, hungry animal coming to devour us in the market. On hearing this shout, we all run for dear life and by the time we are back, half of our wares are gone.

King: Who raises this alarm?

Market woman 2: Your Highness. We do not know.

Market woman 3: Your highness, the voice is very strange. It is not a familiar one.

King: This is very strange. Give me some time and I will consult with my chiefs before I decide on what to do.

(The king's chiefs come together and discuss after which they take a decision.)

King: My women, do not be afraid. We will catch the devourer. He is in our midst. The person who raises the alarm of the coming animal is the thief and we must catch him.

Market woman 1: Long may you reign, your Highness. You are our king.

King: We have decided to have a statue in the market-place with gum all over its body. As soon as the alarm is raised, run out and leave the statue in the market place.

Market women: May you know long life, our king. May God bless you and prosper you all the days of your life.

SCENE SIX: King's Palace

(Tortoise is seen peeping again.)

Tortoise: People of the king's market! People of the king's market! A buffalo is coming to your market.

(The market women appear to be running for dear life; tortoise crawls into the market.)

Tortoise:
(talking to the statue)

What are you doing here? Won't you run too? You want to spy on me, enh? Okay, I will show you who I am.

(He slaps the statue and his hand is gummed to it.)

You idiot, let go of my hand.

(He slaps the statue with his left hand and that too is gummed.)

Let go of my hands or I kick you with my leg.

(His leg is gummed too.)

I will knock you down with this other leg

(the other leg is gummed too. Tortoise is stuck to the statue.)

Someone help me! This man won't let me go. Someone help me!

Narrator: The market women rush back only to find tortoise on the statue. Thry decide to take him to the king's palace.

SCENE SEVEN: King's Palace

(Everybody is seated. Tortoise is on the ground near the king.)

King: So, Tortoise, you are the one who has been harassing my market women these past months. Very well then, you have to pay for this by dying.

Tortoise: Long may you reign, king. I know I have to die but please, grant me one request.

King: Go ahead and make it.

Tortoise: Please, because of the shameful offense I have committed, I will appreciate if you will kill me without much torture. The best way to do this is to throw me inside the drum of cold water.

Market woman 3: Your highness, this Tortoise is known for his tricks. Let us not follow his advice, instead let's throw him inside a drum of hot water.

King: Very well then we shall throw him inside a drum of hot water.

Narrator: As Tortoise is thrown into hot water, his limbs stiffen up and his teeth show up in death. But the people think he is enjoying the hot water; so they quickly transfer him into the drum of cold water and as he sinks to the bottom, the people disperse, happy that their big enemy at has at last been killed. But Tortoise is in fact revived by the cold water and as the water is poured away, Mr. tortoise crawls out peacefully, free once again to plan mischief.

(Lights Off.)