The Emperor and the Nightingale by Neil Duffield

Author:Neil Duffield [Andersen, Hans Christian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Drama, Playtext, The Nightingale, Adaptation
ISBN: 978-1-910798-92-8
Publisher: Aurora Metro Books
Published: 2018-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

My very own dragon… (Sudden idea) I’ll throw another pebble! I’ll throw hundreds of pebbles!

XIAO

We’d better be going. We still have to find our way to the mountain remember… And the dragon has work to do. (The dragon signals a last goodbye.) Goodbye, Dragon… Goodbye! (The dragon exits.)

Let’s try this way.

They exit in good spirits. Lighting change. Music links into next scene.

CHORUS 8

High on the slopes of the mountain of Taishan, Xiao’s father is at work in his garden.

Lights up on Xiao’s father After a few moments Xiao and Wu enter. Wu’s euphoria has vanished again and he’s back to his usual grumbles.

WU

We must have climbed up and down every hillside in China. Li Si was right. I don’t believe this mountain of Taishan even exists.

XIAO

Wu. We’re here. This is the mountain of Taishan… And there’s my father. (She runs to him) Father.

FATHER

Xiao…! Xiao. Is it really you? (They embrace.) But what are you doing here? And who is this? Who’s your friend?

WU

I’m not her friend, I’m the Emperor!

FATHER

Never mind – I’m sure you’ll be her friend one day.

XIAO

This is Wu, Father.

WU

He doesn’t believe me either!

FATHER

Oh I do. I most certainly do. You are the Emperor of all China.

XIAO

Wu found a dragon’s egg.

FATHER

Then not only are you an Emperor, you are blessed with good fortune!

WU

She told me the nightingale was here. She said it lives with you on the mountain.

FATHER

The nightingale?

XIAO

They wouldn’t even believe she exists. Li Si says there’s no such thing.

WU

Where is it? I want to see it. I want to buy it off you.

FATHER (laughing)

I’m afraid you can’t buy the nightingale.

WU

You think I can’t afford it…? How much do you want?

FATHER

The nightingale is not mine to sell.

WU

Then whose is it? Who does it belong to?

FATHER

She belongs to no-one. That’s part of her beauty. She is free.

WU

You mean I can take her for nothing?

FATHER

I mean you can’t take her at all. No-one can.

WU

I’m the Emperor, I can take whatever I want.

XIAO (pointed)

Like the fish?

FATHER

The nightingale goes only where she chooses.

WU

… Where is it anyway? I want to see this magic bird.

XIAO

Let him see her, father. That’s what he’s come for. He won’t believe she exists until he sees her.

FATHER

I will ask if she’s willing to meet you.

He plays a snatch of tune on his flute/whistle. Waits. No response.

WU

Where is it? Why doesn’t it come?

XIAO

Wait, can’t you? (Father plays the snatch of tune again. This time the Nightingale responds from off.) Now… keep quiet – and watch.

The Nightingale appears. She’s dull brown and not very impressive looking. Wu stares in disbelief.

WU

That…? That’s the nightingale? That’s the most beautiful thing in all my kingdom?!

FATHER

You do not see the beauty of the nightingale.

You hear it. You feel it inside.

XIAO

Listen…

The Nightingale starts to sing. Wu listens.

NIGHTINGALE

Sailing on air

Going nowhere

Lazing on the wind

Soft through the night

Whispering flight

Nightingale on the wing

Xiao and her father join in.

ALL THREE

Dreaming

I must be dreaming

Nightingale on the wing

NIGHTINGALE

Warm summer breeze

Stirring of leaves

Music of the night

Sounds without words

Song of a bird

Nightingale on the wing

ALL THREE

Dreaming

I must be dreaming

Nightingale on the wing

Xiao and her father encourage Wu to join in.

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