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The Queen And The Genie (#3)
CAST: Narrator, Queen, Servant, Dasi Dasi, Hatta Dasi, Genie. (Note: This play is basically the same as previous version (#2), but has been expanded slightly and adapted for actresses only.)
Narrator: Once, a long time ago, there was a Queen who awoke one festival morning in a very charitable mood. She wanted to do something special for all the poor people in her kingdom on this auspicious holiday. Queen: Dear Dasi Dasi, I want to give extra charity to all the poor people today. Please go to all of the stores in town and buy everything that is in them so that we may distribute enough nice things for everyone. Dasi Dasi: Yes, Your Majesty. (goes out to the street) Oh, no! All of the stores are closed for the festival! Now what will I do?! — Wait — there's one store that looks like it's open! (stepping forward, looks at sign — "Hatta Dasi's") Let's see what is inside here... (goes into the store) Haribol, Hatta Dasi, I have been ordered by the Queen to buy everything in all of the stores today, but yours seems to be the only one open. Hatta Dasi: I am honored that you have come on behalf of our good Queen. You may certainly buy everything here — except for this one old bottle. Dasi Dasi: But, the Queen told me to buy everything you have! Hatta Dasi: Well, this bottle is very old, black and dusty anyway; no one would want it. Dasi Dasi: Alright then, I will not buy that one thing, but sell me everything else here, and I'll send someone to carry them to the palace. (Dasi Dasi returns to her Queen) Queen: Dasi Dasi! You've returned so soon! Dasi Dasi: Dearest Queen, all of the stores were closed except for one; but I did buy nearly everything in that one store! Queen: But I told you to buy everything they had! Now please go back and be sure you get whatever is left in there. Dasi Dasi: There was only one old dusty bottle that the storekeeper assured me no one would want. Queen: Still, it might be useful to some really poor person. I'm sure we should have it, so please go now and bring it to me. (Dasi Dasi returns to the store) Dasi Dasi: Haribol Hatta Dasi, the Queen has ordered me to buy that old bottle of yours anyway. Hatta Dasi: Alright then, but there is one condition: you must never open it. Dasi Dasi: Oh, very well, whatever you say. (Dasi Dasi hurriedly returns to Queen with the bottle) My Queen, here is that strange old bottle but... (Queen grabs the bottle) ...but she said you mustn't ever open it! Queen: Certainly it's alright for me to open it. (she does so with some difficulty, a scarf comes out and a Genie appears from behind her as they shrink back in alarm) Genie: (she bellows) I am the Genie of the bottle. What would you like me to do, Mistress? Queen: Oh! I haven't brought you here to do anything for me. Genie: You must keep me engaged, otherwise I will chop your head off with this deadly sword! (she threatens) Queen: Oh, I see. Well then — I would like you to make all the roads in our kingdom to be paved of solid gold. Genie: Thank you, my Queen. Remember — while I am gone you must think of another task for me to do, or else! (brandishing sword, Genie disappears. Dasi Dasi looks terrified) Queen: It's alright, Dasi Dasi. The Genie will be gone a long time now, because it will be hard to find that much pure gold! She won't be getting it from me, and who else has enough? Genie: (suddenly appears) All is done! What shall I do now? Queen: You could not have accomplished that so soon! Genie: Just look out from your balcony, my Queen. All of the roads are now made of the purest gold. (the Queen hesitates, then looks, and the Genie raises her sword suggestively) Queen: Very well, then, I would like to see every leaf on every tree in this country painted all the different colors of the rainbow. Genie: Yes, Mistress! (she disappears again) Queen: There now. We won't be seeing her for many weeks with a huge task like that to perform, I'm sure. Genie: (presto, the Genie appears) All is done! Next?! Queen: (amazed, goes to balcony and looks out) Why, it's beautiful... breathtaking... What more could one do for a kingdom? So now, my Genie, I am totally satisfied with your service, and I advise you to also become self-satisfied, as I am, and concentrate on perfecting your life through devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Genie: Mistress, I burn with impatience — I must
serve someone who will keep me engaged eternally. What could I possibly
find to do that would be of service and never be finished? Genie: But Mistress, I cannot do the same thing over and over without becoming bored and restless! Queen: Oh, this is different! Ananta Shesha, who is himself an incarnation of the Supreme Lord, has been describing the Lord's glories with His thousands of mouths since the beginning of time, and has never once repeated Himself! So, surely if you take up this service to Lord Krishna, which is recommended by all scriptures as that which pleases Lord Krishna the most, then not only will you purify yourself and become liberated from this world of hankering and lamenting, but you will never be bored again! Because everything about Lord Krishna is eternal and unlimited, you will never be able to finish this glorification. You will develop your eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead once again, and you will ultimately leave this temporary world and go to serve Him exclusively! This is my final request of you; always just chant the holy names of the Lord — Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare... Now, go! Genie: Yes, thank you, O wise Queen! I will do as you say, and never have to return here or to any other material place again. Thank you, thank you! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna... (strides away happily chanting in comical mode) Narrator: Thus ends our little play presentation, which was based upon a story graciously told to us by Srila Prabhupada. We hope that you will do as we are doing and take up the glorification of Lord Krishna by serving Him, reading about Him in the books translated by Srila Prabhupada, and chanting His holy names, which are non-different from Himself. Thank You. Hare Krishna! (leaves, with others, all happily chanting)
The End
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