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The Revolt Of The Parts Of The Body * * * * * * * * CAST: Narrator, Hand, Foot, Ear, Eye, Nose, Mouth, Brain.
Narrator: Once upon a time, long, long ago — a meeting took place between various parts of the Body, to discuss their complaints about the stomach. They each worked hard all day to supply the stomach with foodstuff — but all he did was kick back and enjoy. It seemed unfair. One by one they began to speak. (All the parts present should be in costumes depicting their identity. SCENE — All body parts facing audience in a semicircle, discussing amongst themselves:) Hand: I know I'm a little TOUCHY, but I FEEL things are getting out of HAND. We do all the work around here, and the stomach just sits back and enjoys. Foot: (stepping up) Yeah! Let's KICK up a ruckus. This stomach's a real HEEL — he ain't got no SOLE. Why should we do all the work? Ear: I HEAR ya' brother. SOUNDS unfair to me. Eye: I SEE what you mean. Nose: (holding nose to speak nasally) Yeah! This situation STINKS. Let's go on strike! Brain: (steps forward to interject — speaks with great erudition and authority, although no one really cares — kind of British accent) I would like to postulate, as the brain amongst you, that serious repercussions might be incurred by embarking on a course born of impulse... Mouth: (interrupting) Oh, BITE your tongue. (to other parts) I don't know about all of you, but I'm not going to let him speak for me. Let's go on strike! Everyone: Yeah! Strike, strike, strike! Down with the stomach! (protesting and chanting anti-stomach slogans). "There is not a good excuse for gastro-intestinal abuse!" Narrator: So they decided to protest and strike. They continued in this way for several days — refusing to provide any food to the stomach. But as they continued, something very strange began to happen. All the parts themselves became very, very weak. Hand: (slowly and feebly) I've got to HAND it to the stomach. Now I can GRASP the truth. We can't be happy without feeding him. Foot: (slowly and feebly) Yeah. I can't KICK this feeling of lethargy. Ear: (slowly and feebly) Speak up. I can hardly HEAR you. Eye: (slowly and feebly) I'm beginning to SEE things differently. Nose: (nasally) How long we can go on like this — God only "KNOWS." Brain: (wearily steps forward again, speaking slowly) Though I'm troubled by brain death, I would like to propose that we again provide consumable nutrients through the alimentary canal to our associate, the stomach. Such a gesture would... Mouth: (interrupting angrily, though weak) Alright, already! You've convinced us. I'm TONGUE-TIED and SPEECHLESS. Let's call off the strike. Let's summon the stomach and tell him we're ready to begin serving him again. (They all cry out individually, "Stomach, stomach! Please come back. Forgive us." etc. Suddenly the stomach enters stage left, appearing majestic, plump, round, and with a smile of great satisfaction. Dramatic music — "Hallelujah" chorus or Vedic equivalent — would be a great touch, adding humor and drama as stomach enters. All the parts of the body offer obeisances and begin to feed the stomach — reviving their own strength simultaneously) Narrator: So by serving the stomach, all the parts of the body again became strong and happy, and they lived happily ever after — all cooperating to feed the stomach. Srila Prabhupada's lesson is: If we refuse to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, we grow weak and suffer in the material world. But if we cooperate to serve Him in devotional service, we become joyful and happy eternally. The End
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