DRAMATIZATION OF KING ARTHUR'S TALE
Source: BLOSSOMS'-An English Text Book for Class -VIII by W.B.B.S.E.
CHARACTERS
Uther-Perdragon, King of Britain Igraine, Queen of the king. Counsellors-Merlin, Sir Ulfius, King Arthur. Son of Pendragon and Igraine, Barons, Peasants and courtiers. Place: A countryside of England hundreds of years ago.
CURTAIN RISES
Entrance: A street, a few peasants in rustic attere
SCENE-1
Peasant 1: How fortunate we are! We are really fortunate to live in the reign of King Uther-Pendragon.
Peasant 2: Absolutely, King Uther is our God, not lord.
Peasant 3: I can hardly remember the days we faced invasion from neighbouring kingdom.
Peasant 1: Had the king not been on the throne, we could hardly live in peace and prosperity.
Peasant 3: Now we have no trouble to till the field and to graze the herds.
Peasant 1: Last year, I cultivated wheat in plenty and I am not worried at all even for this year.
Exit: all as
SCENE 2
(Kings Palace, the king, all the courtiers, noblemen look worried. They all held their chins on their palms but the king is restless.)
King: Have you gathered any news, Batram?
Batram
(Courtier): No, your majesty. The attendants have not fetched any news yet.
King : Oh! Lord save me. How long do I have to suffer this? (A lady attendant comes running and bursts into screaming.)
King : What happened?
The lady : [Still bewailing in loud noise your majesty....... How can I utter with my own lips?
King : Speak out fast. What happened? Please tell me what has happened with the queen?
The Lady: (stammering) Our.... mother the queen... is no more. (Still mourning) But she has given a birth to a son. Your majesty, be calm.
King : Oh! My God, What have I heard!
(Sudden scream and the king falls on the floor of the palace.)
Courtier 1 : Bring water, Help Help! Help the king!
Courtier 2: Where are you all? Save our king. Oh! God save our king.
(Everyone got involved in a scurry of commotion.)
The Lady : Oh! God, Damn on us! What more do we have to witness?
Courtier 1: Our king is no more!
Coutier 2 : We have now become orphans. God, Have mercy on us!
Courtier 3 : Whem do we depend on to? We are now parentless children... God save us!
(Two Collors-Merlin and Sir Ulfius appear)
Merlin: We must do something in such a crisis.
Ulfius: You are absolutely right, hon'ble prophet. We have to shift the newborn to somewhere else otherwise the baby's life would be at stake.
Merlin: The greedy barons would kill the baby for seizing the throne.
Ulfius: Then we can hand the baby over to the custody of our loyal subject, Sir Ector...
Merlin: I am also thinking so. So, we must not waste a moment now. We must set out right now
(They exit)
SCENE 3
(Sir Ector's House A cold windy night. Enter Merlin and Ulfius) with the baby in a red sheet of wrapper)
Merlin: Sir Ector We, the counsellors of the king Uther-Pendragon, are here to talk to you.
(Sir Ector comes out)
Sir Ector: Yes... yes... your honour. What can I do for you?
Ulfius: Right... you have to do nothing. You have surely heard of the sad demise of our beloved king and queen.
Sir Ector: I can hardly hold my tears and I could not believe my ears at first. It's really unbelieveable. It came to me just as a bolt from the blue.
Merlin: Now, we order you and your wife to bring up this child as though he were your own son.
(Merlin hands the baby over to Sir Ector)
Ulfius: The boy is to be called Arthur.
Sir Ector: As your majesty pleases. I will surely carry out your order
(They exit)
SCENE-4
(Sir Ector's House, Arthur is spending days in joy, safety and security ar Sir Ector)
Sir Ector: Arthur, you have spent eighteen springs and now you have been a gallant young man
Arthur: (laughs) Sir. you please stop jesting with me.
Ector: No Arthur, Britain is being torn by rivalry over the possession of the throne. You need to come forward to rescue Britain from the state of lawlessness.
Arthur: I will put my best efforts to bring back peace and prosperity in Britain as it used to be in my father's regime.
Sir Ector: There on the churchyard, a magnificent sword has been found to be fixed on as stone and upon the stone it is written in gold letter. Who ever pulls out this sword is by right of birth, will become the king of England.
Arthur: Right... Sir... I am ready for the trial. I have heard that the barons are now fighting among themselves to capture the throne.
Sir Ector: Yes... They are like vultures. you do your own job. Best wishes to you my dear.
Arthur: Thank you.
(They exit)
SCENE-5
(Churchyard, A huge crowd with barons, commoners gathered there to witness the trial.)
Baron 1: Now it is my turn. I will lift the sword and rule England. Ha...Ha...Ha...
(Baron I failed)
Baron 2: I am the future king of England because I can lift the sword easily. Do you have any doubt about it?
(Crowd gave up loud yell but the Baron 2 also failed)
Baron 3: None of you could succeed. I am sure to succeed. (About to lift the sword but he fell upon his waist)
Arthur: Since all the respected Barons failed to pull the sword, I should give it a try.
(As Arthur lifted the sword, an ovation from the crowd, filled the air and they hailed the new king warmly.)
SCENE-6
(Arthur's Palace, a few years later)
Merlin: Why are you looking worried, king? Are you worried over the lost sword? Please be thoughtful. It was destined to get lost.
Arthur: No... Wise Merlin. I am thinking about another reason...I want to abolish the acts of thefts and robberies which are taking place these days.
Merlin: Your excellency... You have got the Excaliber. Only a fearless and honest knight like you can possess that sword. I believe with that sword you will remove every evil from our land.
Arthur: (in awe) I shall never use this sword for any personal objective. I will pay true dignity to this enchanted sword.
SCENE-7
(A richly guilded Pavilion with a huge, round, oak table, richly carved at the centre)
Enter King Arthur, his queen, Knights, Warriors
King Arthur: Then we all are going to take an oath that we would always extend our helping hands to the needy and punish the culprits. This is the message from this solemn ceremony.
Warriors: (In chorus) Yes, your majesty. We are ready to undertake perilous adventures for the sake of the common men of our country. We would not be afraid of death.
King Arthur: (Clapping) Bravo! Bravo! I expected that. I am really proud of you.
Warrior 1 : My Lord.... Please give us command.
Warrior 2: We are on our toe to protect Britain from right now.
King Arthur: The feast is ready. Let's relish the feast tonight and after that we all take an oath to fight against the enemies of the people.
Warriors: (In chorus) Certainly your majesty.
(Music is heard, light slowly fades out. A chorus of 'Long live King Arthur' overlaps the music.)
CURTAIN
