Worksheet 8
Scene 7: Conflict is an essential ingredient in drama. The Ranger and William argue about how to care
for the forests.
• The Ranger likes people to follow the laws and suffer fines and gaol if they break the laws.
• William thinks that when people feel responsible for nature they will care for it more.
Think about William’s comment to the Ranger. William tells the Ranger that he doesn’t have to change the
colour of his skin, just his head and heart. What do you think he means?
Activity Task 8
Find a line of dialogue that shows the Ranger’s view of how to care for the forest and a line that shows
William’s viewpoint and write them in the speech bubbles below.
William
The Ranger
Think about how you might use props and body language to show the increase in conflict.
Worksheet 9
Scene 8: The tension in the play builds in this scene as Peggy, William and Tim disagree over ideas for
choreographing the dance.
• Peggy demonstrates classical ballet steps from Swan Lake and Tim suggests a corroboree-style dance.
• Tim complains that ‘our kind and her kind don’t mix.’
• Mother helps to lead Peggy and Tim to a compromise where they combine their ideas.
The action of the play reaches its climax when the Ranger arrives and is bitten by a snake. William kills
the snake and Tim organises first aid treatment.
Questions:
Rehearse some lines demonstrating conflict from this scene with your supervisor or a friend. You
might like to read the dialogue where Peggy and Tim clash over their ideas for the dance, or when
the Ranger arrives and orders Peggy back to the jeep.
Think carefully about the tone of voice you would use for each of the characters’ lines and the
body language you would use to represent how the characters feel.
Think about why Tim becomes frustrated with Peggy’s ideas for the dance. Did you notice that
Peggy calls dance positions in French so he wouldn’t be able to understand? Peggy seems to want
Tim to do things her way.
What gestures and body language would you use to show Tim’s frustration? Write or sketch your
ideas below.
Activity Task 9
Imagine you are playing the role of Peggy. Mother reprimands the children very differently from the way
the Ranger does. What feelings and reactions would you try to represent to the audience when you
realise how disappointed and angry you and Tim have made Mother feel?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Interlude
This mime shows that things have improved at the Winalli house. William enters hiding a present for
Mother. He surprises her with a kettle. Then, William proudly shows her his pay packet.
Think about what this interlude signals to the audience about how events have changed. What do you
think the mood of the following scenes will be?