THE RABBIT WHO KILLED THE LION - PLAY

Characters

Munna – The Rabbit
Paru Rabbitswife
Parakeets a few
Toda - The Lion
One eyed Jaguar
The Elephant
Langoors - a few
Cobra
Wise owl


Narrator – In the dense forest of Sitapur lived Munna the Rabbit with his wife Paru. They were extremely happy till one day when news came that robbed them of their happiness. Toda the Lion king of the jungle was a terror. He ruled the kingdom at his whims. He killed animals by dozen for his sumptuous meal. The animals of the jungles were worried at the thought of their species being extinct. So they all gathered and held a meeting to find a way out of this treachery.

Scene – I

(A scene in the forest with all animals gathered together.)
Elephant: Judge (Standing in the center) Order! Order! Friends we have gathered here to find a way out to save the lives of our kith and kin.

Monkey and Langoors : (Chatting and screeching, clapping and making noise)

Cheetah: Will you Langoors maintain silence and listen to what the jundge says.

Parakeet: (repeats what the Cheetah says in a screeching tone)
Will you langoors maintain silence-------?

Jaguar: (One eyed) Let us join together and kill the wicked Lion, then I will be the king and see that justice is established in the forest.

Tiger : (gave a mighty roar) I, am braver and more competent than that one – eyed Jaguar. I will be a more suitable king for you.

Cobra : (Hissed) I am the king of all the reptiles of the jungles. I don’t mind extending my domain.

Jackal : How can a mere creepy snake with no legs guard or protect our lives.
We are a strong group each on is like a well armed solider with sharp canines. We can mince meat of even a moving shadow. So allow us to be the guardians of this forest.

(All animals look at each other and smirk at the jackals’ statements)

Bison : (Shook his head) Are we here to elect a leader or find a way to end the treachery and evil ways of our king Toda. Everybody knows it is we bison and our brothers, deer who are worst affected. Unless a proper solution is brought to this problem we will all be doomed.
(The deer shake their head in unison to agree with the Bison.)
(All the animals scratched their heads to find a solution)

Wise Owl : (rotated his eyes and blinks) My dear fellow animals what we cannot win by might we should try to win by other ways. Since we all live in perpetual fear of being hunted, I suggest each sect of us come out voluntarily and offer themselves one everyday. The selection would be done by lot.

(All animals consult each other than agree shaking their head)


Elephant: What do you all the animals’ say of the wise owl’s advice (Animals give their consent)
So the selection by lot is final.

Scene – II
(Elephant and few animals go to the Lions den)
Elephant: Oh, mighty king we know you are the mightiest among us b the virtue of which you are our king and master. It is our duty to be obedient subjects and serve you. Hence we all have come to the conclusion to help you to have a smooth and comfortable life and save you the trouble of troublesome hunting everyday. We will offer you one of each kind everyday at appointed time and you can enjoy yourself.

King Toda: So you have at last acknowledged my greatness. Such a proposal is agreeable to me. So let it be from tomorrow before the sun mounts the highest part of the sky my meal in form of a healthy animal should be in front of me. If you fail you all will have to bear my wrath.

(Animals leave the lion happy they have made the lion agree to their proposal.)

Scene - III

Narrator – (Days passed, animals came and one by one they offered themselves.)

Lion: (In front of his cave seated enjoying his feast)

It was now Munnas turn and he was worried. He did not want to lose his life. His wife Paru was to give birth to baby rabbits. He wanted to see them grow. So he thought and thought till an idea struck him.

The Lion on the other hand was waiting anxiously for the Rabbit at the appointed time.

Lion: Why has no animals turned up today. Its is now noon ( He roars loudly)

Munna enters walking slowly towards the cave.

Lion : You chit of an animal what made you so late? It’s past noon. I cannot tolerate this kind of indiscipline.

Rabbit Munna -: My Lord, I was coming at the appointed time but I was way laid by another lion much mightier than you. He stopped me on the way and asked where I was going in great hurry. I told him not to stop me and I was going to offer myself as our king lion Todas meat.
On hearing this, you know my lord the other lion roared and laughed. He said there could be no lion mightier than him and has even challenged you for a dual to prove his might. I have managed to come. Now you can have me as your meal.

Lion : In this jungle where I am ruling for years with an iron hand who can dare to claim his supremacy. My hunger can wait. First show me where he lives.

Rabbit : He lives in an abandoned well in the midst of the forest. He has glistening eyes, a shining mane and a ferocious roar.

Lion Toda : Take me to that well.

(Both reach the well and the Lion peeped in little knowing it would be its reflection)

Toda peeps in to the well - (In anger he roars loudly, his roar is echoed)
(Further roars loudly, in a fit of anger jumps in)

Munna : Ah foolish king he did not even know that it was his own reflection. (Calls his friends)
Here we are all free from the clutches of the wicked lion. He is there in that well and dead.
We can live happily together.
(All animals dance)

Brain is superior to brawn.