The Giving Peacock
By: Leyna and Jaleh
Characters: N=Narrator, Little Peacock, Peacock 1, Peacock 2, Sick Little
Boy, His Mother, Poor Worker Girl, Old Lady, and Goddess
N: In a small forest, a party of peacocks were listening to a goddess speak.
Goddess: When the next moon rises, I will come again and choose my loyal
pet and companion. Farewell until then, my peacocks. (She waves a hand as
she walks off stage)
N: All the peacocks wanted to be chosen as the goddess' companion.
They started to bring out their fines garments: silk drapes, gold head pieces,
and rings for their toes. (Peacocks retrieve and put on items)
Little Peacock: I know she won’t pick me, I’m too small and shy.
(Staying on one side of the stage)
N: (Sadly) She wandered into the nearby village where a festival was about
to take place. The Little Peacock noticed a sick boy looking out the window
of his home.
Sick Little Boy: Mom, I want to go watch the fireworks tonight. Can I go
now? It is about to start. (As his mom pulls the blanket higher to his
shoulders)
His Mother: (She looks sadly at him) I'm sorry dear, but you are too sick. If
you go out into the cold, you’ll get worse. (She begins to drift off to sleep)
N: (Smiling sadly) Peacock was softened by the frail boy. She opened up her
feathers in the window, hoping the boy would think that they were the
fireworks he yearned to see.
(Peacock displays her feathers)
Sick Little Boy: (Joyfully) Mom! I saw them! The fireworks were blue and
green and all sorts of colors!
N: Happy to have cheered up the sick boy, Little Peacock walked farther into
the village. There, she saw a poor worker girl.
Poor Worker Girl: (Wiping the floor with a rag) If only I had some nice
clothes to wear to the festival. (She continues to wipe the floor)
Little Peacock: Do you want some of my feathers to decorate yourself?
(She holds out all of her feathers)
Poor Worker Girl: (She happily accepts them and puts them on) Oh, thank
you! Now I am properly dressed to attend the festival! Goodbye, Little
Peacock! (She runs off stage waving to the Little Peacock)
N: Later, Little Peacock is tired and sees a small house where she lays down
and drifts off to sleep. She dozes through the night and wakes the next
morning.
Little Peacock: It is morning already?
N: As she wakes up, she sees an old lady walking towards her. The Little
Peacock notices that this woman looks very hot and tired.
Little Peacock: Oh, hello. Is this your place? I’m so sorry!
Old Lady: It is fine, please stay. But if you don’t mind, can I have someof
your feathers for a fan? I am very hot and could use a nice fan to cool me
down.
Little Peacock: Of course! Thank you for letting me stay in your home.
(She gives the old lady her last feathers)
(The old lady exits, fanning herself)
N: The Little Peacock looked up and noticed the moon was beginning to rise.
Soon, the goddess would come to choose her new companion. The Little
Peacock had given away all her feathers and had nothing with which she
could impress the goddess.
Little Peacock: (sadly)I'm not fancy enough to be the goddess' companion,
but I may as well go and see who is chosen.
(Two mean peacocks enter)
Peacock 2: Wow! Look who thinks she is so much better than us, she doesn’t
need garments!
Peacock 1: Ha ha ha! How could you come with nothing? You are pitiful!
(The mean peacocks chatter and laugh out loud while Little Peacock walks to
the side of the stage)
N: As the others laughed and mocked the Little Peacock, the goddess
entered the forest.
Goddess: (Gracefully walks on stage and looks at the crowd ) I will now
choose my loyal companion.
(She looks at Little Peacock surprised) Well, who are you and why don’t you
have any tail feathers?
Little Peacock: I’m called the Little Peacock. I'm sorry that I don’t have any
tail feathers, but I gave them all away.
N: As the Little Peacock explained herself, the others watched and scowled
at her. But the goddess was impressed by the Little Peacock's giving spirit.
Goddess: Ah, so you sacrificed your own chances so others more unfortunate
could be happy. (Little Peacock nods) I choose you as a companion.
(The Little Peacock and the goddess hug while the two mean peacocks storm
off)
N: The goddess brought the Little Peacock home with her and they lived
happily ever after.
N: The moral of this story is that what’s on the outside never matters as much
as what is on the inside.