The Water of Life
Characters:
King
Advisor
Harrison – Oldest Son
George – Middle Son
Matt – Youngest Son
Dwarf
Princess Ana
SCRIPT:
(The king is lying in his bed. His advisor is beside him)
King: (coughing) I want to see my three sons…I will die very soon.
Advisor: Don’t talk, your majesty.
King: You know that I’m very ill… and I don’t know which of them deserves to take my place.
(the door opens and Harrison enters)
Harrison: Father?
(there is no answer. He whispers to the advisor)
Harrison: How is he?
Advisor: Not very good… the doctor said there’s no hope.
Harrison: No hope? There must be something we can do!
Advisor: Calm down.
Harrison: How do you expect me to calm down when my dear father is dying?
Advisor: I understand how you feel
Harrison: I’ll go to the village… I can’t just stay here watching him die! I’ll get another doctor… or different medicines.
Advisor: You will waste your time!… stay here… he needs you!
(Harrison doesn’t answer and leaves. As he walks to the village he meets an old man)
Old Man: Why are you going in such a hurry?
Harrison: My father is very sick, and the doctor said nothing can save him.
Old Man: The Water of Life is the only thing that can save him.
Harrison: The Water of Life?
Old Man: Yes, he will only need to take a drink and he will be well again.
Harrison: Tell me, where can I find this water?
Old Man: It’s very hard to get it.
Harrison: Just tell me!
Old Man: It will not be easy, there are great dangers along the way.
Harrison: My father can not die… I’ll bring him this water, and when he knows that I saved his life, he will make me king!
Old Man: Before you go, the King must know where you’re going.
Harrison: I’ll go and tell him right away. Good-bye, old man.
Old Man: I really hope you can get it.
(Harrison returns to the palace and goes to the King’s bedroom)
Advisor: You’re back.
Harrison: I need to talk to my father.
Advisor: He is sleeping right now.
Harrison: Listen… when he wakes up tell him I went to look for the Water of Life, and that I will be back as soon as I find it.
Advisor: I beg you not to go… please, prince. You’re not the first one who will try to get it, and that is impossible. Oh… none of them have returned yet.
Harrison: So you knew about it, and you didn’t tell me?
Advisor: How could I… I wouldn’t risk your life.
Harrison: If I bring the water… I will be the new King!, but never mind, just tell him what I said.
Advisor: Good luck… you will need it.
(Harrison leaves. He travels and finds himself in a deep valley with rocks and woods. An ugly dwarf appears).
Dwarf: Oh, prince, where are you going in such a hurry?
Harrison: What do you care, you ugly dwarf!
Dwarf: What did you call me?
Harrison: What you just heard!
Dwarf: (angry) I cast a spell on you! From now on you will be an unlucky man. You will not succeed in what you’re looking for!
(The dwarf disappears. Harrison keeps walking)
Harrison: The road in this mountain is getting narrower and narrower. I can’t go back, and I can go forward… I’m stuck in the middle of the mountain!
(There is a loud laugh – ha, ha, ha, ha)
Harrisson: Who’s laughing! Who’s there!
(He tries to walk but he is unable to move a step).
Harrison: Oh no! It’s so dark… I can’t see anything! I will never see my father again, and I will never be King!
(At the palace the King talks to his middle son)
King: Your brother hasn’t come back… I’m afraid I won’t see him again.
George: Don’t said that, father… I have decided to go in search of the Water of Life.
King: No! I don’t want to loose another of my beloved sons.
George: Good-bye, father.
(George leaves the room. The advisor approaches him)
Advisor: Prince, don’t go. I have the feeling that you will too never come back.
George: Don’t worry, I will! I’m sure that my brother is dead, and this kingdom will be mine if I find the water.
Advisor: You talk just like your brother!
(George doesn’t answer and leaves. He travels through the same road his brother did, and meets the same dwarf).
Dwarf: Prince, prince… where are you going in such a hurry?
George: Get out of the way, you ugly dwarf!
Dwarf: What did you call me?
George: I said ugly dwarf!
Dwarf: (angry) I cast a spell on you! From now on you will be an unlucky man. You will not succeed in what you’re looking for!
(The dwarf disappears. George keeps walking).
George:The road in this mountain is getting narrower and narrower. I can’t go back, and I can go forward… I’m stuck in the middle of the mountain!
(There is a loud laugh – ha, ha, ha, ha)
George: Who’s laughing! Who’s there!
(He tries to walk but he is unable to move a step).
George: Oh no! It’s so dark… I can’t see anything! I will never see my father again, and the kingdom will never be mine!
(At the palace the King talks to his youngest son)
King: Oh, Matt… many days have passed and there’s no word about your brothers.
Matt: I’m sure they are fine. Father… I need your permission to go and search for the Water of Life.
King: Not you, Matt.
Matt: I love you father, and I want you to be well again.
King: I give you my blessings…leave now.
(Matt kisses his father and leaves. He travels through the same road his two brothers did, and meets the same dwarf).
Dwarf: Prince, prince… where are you going in such a hurry?
Matt: I’m going in search for the Water of Life, because my father is sick, and I don’t want him to die. Can you help me? Please, help me if you can.
Dwarf: Do you know where the Water of Life is?
Matt: No, I’m afraid not. Please, tell me if you know.
Dwarf: Since you have been kind to me, and are wise enough to seek for advice, I will tell you how and where to go. The water you seek springs from a well in an enchanted castle. Take this iron wand and these two little loaves of bread. When you get there, strike the iron door of the castle three times with the wand, and it will open: two hungry lions will be lying down inside waiting for their prey, but if you throw them the bread they will let you pass. Then go to the well, and pour some of the Water of Life into this bottle…just remember, you have to do it before the clock strikes twelve, because if you take longer, the door will shut upon you for ever.
Matt: Thank you my friend!
(Matt keeps traveling until he reaches the castle. The door opens at the third stroke of the wand. He enters and gives the bread to the two lions and keeps walking).
Matt: That little dwarf was right… I was lucky to find him on the road. Now, I have look for the well.
(He keeps walking and as he enters a room, he sees a beautiful princess sitting in a couch. The princess is surprised when she see him).
Princess: Oh. It’s you… I thought I would never see you again.
Matt: Do you know me?
Princess: Oh, no… I’m sorry… what I meant was that…finally someone found me! Please, take me out of here!
Matt: Who are you?
Princess: A wizard locked me in here. Please, promise you will take me with you, and I will tell you where the Water of Life is.
Matt: How do you know what I’m looking for?
Princess: If you came this far, then it must be because of the water.
Matt: You’re right… but.. Ah… your eyes remind me of someone… no, it can’t be.
Princess: Let’s not waste anymore time. I know where the water is.
Matt: Then tell me, please.
Princess: The well that holds the Water of Life is in the garden, come… let’s go get it.
(They go to the garden where there is a well. Matt pours some water into the bottle.)
Princess: Ready? We have to leave the castle before the clock strikes twelve.
(Matt closes the bottle and both run to the door and outside the castle)
Matt: We made it! I finally have the Water of Life!
Princess: And since you saved my life… all your wishes will come true!
Matt: We have to hurry up… my father is dying and I need to give him the water.
(Both start to walk. On their way the little dwarf appeared)
Dwarf: I see that you have the water with you.
Matt: Yes… I appreciate your help.
Dwarf: You must be proud of yourself… but, you seem strange to me.
Princess: What is wrong? You have what you wanted.
Matt: I’m just thinking about my father… He must be very sad… he wanted so much to see my brothers again…. And they never came back.
Princess: Do you remember what I told you… do you remember my promise?.
Matt: Yes, I do remember what you told me in the castle.
Princess: Little dwarf… you know what to do.
Dwarf: Yes, Princess… I know where your two brothers are… I shut them between two mountains.
Matt: I will not ask you why… I will only ask you to set them free.
Dwarf: Don’t waste anymore time, your father is waiting for you. And don’t worry about your brothers, soon you fill find them.
Matt: Then, we must continue our journey. I will always be grateful to you.
(Matt and the Princess start walking. As they are walking Matt finds his two brother lying on the ground. He kneels down and wakes them up)
Matt: George! …Harrison! Wake up!
George and Harrison: What happened?
George: I must have fallen asleep.
Harrison: I can’t remember anything.
Matt: It doesn’t matter… we have to go, our father is waiting for us.
George: How did you find us?
Matt: It’s a long story… but I’ll tell you about it when we get to the palace.
Harrison: I remember now… the Water of Life!
Matt: I have it with me.
George: What are we waiting for… let’s go!
(They all keep walking to the palace. When they arrive, the advisor is beside the king’s bed)
Advisor: You’re back! Do you have the water?
Matt: Yes, I do… how is he?
(George, Harrison, Matt and the Princes stand around the king’s bed)
Advisor: He hasn’t spoken since you left, and he hasn’t opened his eyes either.
(Matt takes his father’s hand)
Matt: Father… we’re back… we’re all here.
(Matt opens the bottle of water, pours some in a glass, and gives a little to his father. As soon as the king drinks some water, he opens his eyes).
King: Matt? George? Harrison?
George: Oh, father… I love you!… Please, forgive me.
King: Forgive you?
Harrison: Me too, father… I feel so ashamed. I went looking for the Water of Life thinking only in myself… All I wanted was to be…
King: King?… To own this kingdom?
George and Harrison: Yes.
King: But… all of this is yours, and you know it!
George: I don’t want anything, all I want is for you to be well.
Harrison: Me too… I can now remember those cold dark nights in the mountain, I had a lot of time to think… to remember.
Matt: Well, now that our father has recovered, we need to celebrate.
King: But… who is this lovely girl?
Matt: Oh, she is Princess…
Princess: Your majesty… I’m Princess Ana.
King: Princess Ana? But… where were you? They have been looking for you!
Princess: A wizard locked me in a castle, and only the man who could open the iron door and make the lions fall asleep, was the one who could rescue me… and that was your son Matt.
King: Oh, Matt, I’m so proud of you!
Advisor: I think we should all leave the King rest.
(Everybody leaves the room. George, Harrison and the Advisor go on separate ways. Matt and the Princess stay outside the King’s room. Matt hold the Princess Hand).
Matt: Why you didn’t tell me you were Princess Ana?
Princess: You never asked what my name was.
Matt: When I saw you in the castle, I asked you who you were, but you didn’t tell me!
Princess: You looked so confused, that’s why I decided not to tell you.
Matt: I’m sorry, your’re right….One day a friend of mine and I went to the market and I fell in love with a beautiful girl that I saw. She was with two of her friends … she looked so happy!… I wanted to talk to her, but as soon as she saw me, she ran away.
Princess: Oh… maybe she wasn’t ready… to meet someone. Or maybe…
Matt: I asked my friend if he knew her, and he said she was…
Princess: Princess Ana.
Matt: Yes! Princess Ana, the girl from the market. Now that I remember, when I saw you in the castle, I knew there was something about you… something that I never forgot… your beautiful eyes.
Princess: Oh, Matt.
Matt: I love you, Ana. Will you marry me?
Princess: Yes! Yes, I will marry you!
(Both hug)
The End
Author: Brothers Grimm
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
Go to Complete List of Playscripts Page 1
Go to Complete List of Playscripts Page 2
We Appreciate Your Visit!
Related Posts:
Tags: advisor, brothers, brothers grimm, castle, dwarf, king, palace, princess, the water of life, well