Becoming a Storyteller: Example 2

Here's how I would write an opening scene of Monkey Steals the Drum.

Scene One
(Leopard, zebra, gazelle, monkey, and other animals are dancing and singing just before sun rise)

ALL

Boom didi ba, boom didi ba, boom didi, boom didi, boom didi BA BA BOOM.

AJANIKU, THE LEOPARD

Ghrrrr — the sun is rising. The time for breakfast is near, and all of you should quake with fear, for I, Ajaniku, will soon begin the hunt. Beware, beware.

GAZELLE

O Leopard king, Ajaniku, I hear your warning. I am not a fool. With swift hooves, I will run away, hiding in the light of day. While at night, we dance and play, it is now as you say, the time to become hunter and prey.

Zebra

Neah, neah, we gallop away, for danger lies in the bright light of day. The sun now changes everything. While at night, we dance and play, it is now as you say, the time to become hunter and prey.

MONKEY

What foolish words are spoken here. I smell no danger in the air. I am safe in the trees. Ajaniku, your words stink like smelly cheese

AJANIKU

GRHH, GRHH, silly monkey, some day you'll pay for the words you say today. Leaping from the brush, I will capture you. You will be a tasty treat, a little snack that I will quickly eat. Grhh, grhh, get out of here. The dawn is near.

(All the animals run away.)

Scene Two
(That Day)

AJANIKU

(Eating his prey, he tosses the skin away. It settles on a hollow tree.)

How fine a feast this bush buck makes. I have eaten until my stomach aches. Hear the roar of Ajaniku, the king. I can do anything. Beauty and power are my fame. All the jungle trembles at my name. Silence replaces the jungle din when I proclaim, "Let the hunt begin." (He goes to wipe his whiskers on the discarded skin.) BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. OOOOh! I like the booming of this skin. I like the way my feet want to dance and play; booming, ringing, roaring, singing. Come, my subjecs, come and see. Come, my subjects, dance with me.

GAZELLE

O, great Ajaniku, how I want to make music with you, but where can I find a piece of skin?

ZEBRA

And me?

GIRAFFE

And me?

HERON

And me, too?

HIPPO

I think there is enough of me to take a little off the end. Into the bush I go for privacy; it will be just a little injury. What pains today, soon will mend.

(All the animals follow him into the bushes.)

GAZELLE

And me.

ZEBRA

And me.

GIRAFFE

And me, too.

(They all pull a piece of skin from their behinds.)

ALL

AH OOOOOOOOOO! (They appear with with drums and begin to dance.)

MONKEY

I too want to dance and sing, but I am such a skinny thing, if I take a piece of skin off me – there won't be anything left to see. No, I better steal a drum instead. I'll wait until all the animals go to bed; then, into the camp I will creep to where Ajaniku lies asleep. Then, I, Monkey, will steal the drum away.

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