Second Year!

Read this play during the sem break because this will be your selection in the 2nd Quarter English Periodic Exams.

Download the file here: MANOHRA

You can also read it below:

MANOHRA

(A Lakon Jatri Play; an excerpt)

 

ACT FIVE

 

SCENE 1

 

The scene is the foot of Mount Krailas. As the lights come up, SUTON is sleeping on a bench down right. The strips of cloth that earlier served as the lake are now lying diagonally across the stage, representing a stream to which the MAIDS come for the water. Seven MAIDS enter in groups of two and three, speaking as they appear. They make sinuous circle about the stage, indicating a narrow footpath.

 

FIRST MAID:                     Today is the last day for the ceremonies, isn’t it, girls?

 

SECOND MAID:                Yes, isn’t it exciting?

 

THIRD MAID:                    Oh, I’m so happy for her.

 

FIRST MAID:                     It’s been such a long time! Imagine living within eyesight of the royal                       palace for seven years, even months, and seven days! I wouldn’t be able                              to stand it for weeks.

 

 The first three MAIDS are now kneeling by stream’s edge.

 

SECOND MAID:                That’s because you have somebody waiting at home.

 

THIRD MAID:                    But do you notice the PRINCESS sometimes as she gets a faraway look in her eyes? Every time that happens, she cries.

 

FOURTH MAID:                (kneeling by the stream) Yes, one time I played some music of the earth people, and she cried and cried for a long time.

 

FIFTH MAID:                     Ssssh! Don’t you know the Princess married one of the mortals? A Prince or so I hear.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             (kneeling) This cleansing ceremony is to rid her of those mortals.

 

FIRST MAID:                     We all know that’s silly.

 

SIXTH MAID:                    Come, girls, we’re nesting time. The Princess’ll be waiting. She has waited so long already. Let’s hurry.

 

They begin filling their jars.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             You know, I think the Princess would like to return to the earth place. I think her Highness loved the Prince very much.

 

THIRD MAID:                    Forbid the thought. Returning to that place again! You must be out of your mind.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             Well, it was just a thought. Her Highness would be very happy if he   were here. Besides, seeing the King and Queen for the first time since that awful day should make her very happy.

 

FIRST MAID:                     No mortal can ever come to Krailas. It’s impossible.

 

SECOND MAID:                How can a mortal cross the impenetrable forest? They don’t have wings.

 

THIRD MAID:                    Why don’t you go and help him?

 

ALL MAIDS:                       We know, we wish the same thing, too.

 

FIRST MAID:                     Let’s go. We mustn’t keep everybody waiting for us.

 

All but the last maid leave and quickly; she falls and spills the contents of her jar.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             Oh well, after drawing water for seven years, seven months, and seven days, I can do it once more. (She goes back to the stream after looking to the see if any of the other MAIDS are waiting for her.) After today the princess Manohra will be finished with her purification ceremony. I hope her highness finds happiness.

 

SUTON:                                (has heard the last speech and overjoyed) The cleansing ceremony of Manohra. This must be Krailas! Thank the gods! I must let Manohra know I am here. How? Can I do it? (He stops the MAID center stage.) Little girl, could you stop a minute?

 

SEVENTH MAID:             (very much afraid) What do you want?

 

SUTON:                                Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. Why are you carrying that water?

 

SEVENTH MAID:             Don’t you know? It’s for the purification of Princess Manohra who has returned from the mortal world.

 

SUTON:                                Manohra! At last!

 

SEVENTH MAID:             Today is the last day of her purification ceremony.

 

SUTON:                                May I help you carry this jug? It looks rather heavy.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             Thank you very much, kind sir. Are you from some kingdom on Krailas?

 

SUTON:                                Not Exactly!

 

SEVENTH MAID:             (aside)  He looks like one of the mortals. I wonder if… (to SUTON.)  Do you know of a city called Pancala?

 

SUTON:                                Perhaps.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             (testing him) I have heard Prince Suton of Palanca is a very handsome man, but that he is very cruel.

 

SUTON:                                Oh, why so?

 

SEVENTH MAID:             He left Princess Manohra to die because he wanted to marry somebody else. I wouldn’t want to be married to someone like that, would you?

 

SUTON:                                The Prince did not want to leave the Princess to die, my little friend. He went to war the save people. Certainly, it was not his intention to kill the Princess and marry another because he loves her very much.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             (gently scolding) Well, if he really loved the princess, he would have followed her Highness, because the Princess . . . loves him very much, too.

 

SUTON:                                (knowing look at her): Maybe he has followed her.

 

SEVENTH MAID:             Oh, I must hurry; the Princess will be waiting anxiously for me to the ceremony can begin. Thank you for your help. (She begins to exit.)

 

SUTON:                                 If it is the God’s will that we are reunited, let this ring be the symbol of our everlasting love. May the gods have mercy on both of us. (Ecstatic, be dances his way along to the path to MANOHRA.) Manohra, I’m here. Oh, Manohra, if I could only catch a glimpse of your face! It has been a long time. But not too long for the end is almost in sight.

 

Suton exits up left.

 

SCENE 2

 

The setting is the throne room in the Palace of Suvannakorn on Mount Krailas. The throne is up center and is backed by silk banners of gold and silver. Six KINNAREE, the sisters of Manohra, sit on a long bench up right. The MAIDS sit in the straight line on the floor up left. KING TUMARAJA rises from his hrone to address his QUEEN Chankinnaree.

 

KING:                                   My dear, a long time has passed since our daughter returned from the mortal world. Hasn’t the purification ceremony been completed yet? I seem to recall it should be almost finished.

 

QUEEN:                               I’m surprised, Tumaraja, that you can’t remember the day that our daughter will finally return home to us.

 

SECOND PRINCESS:       I think it is today. Don’t you think so?

 

THIRD PRINCESS:            None of you can remember, but I can?

 

SECOND PRINCESS:        Tell us!

 

THIRD PRINCESS:           Well, it was seven years, seven months, seven days ago. Today, our sister returned. Today is the day when she can come into our city.

 

The following play by as the PRINCESS goes quickly, accompanied by much giggling.

 

SECOND PRINCESS:       That’s what I said, silly.

 

THIRD PRINCESS:           You did not.

 

SECOND PRINCESS:        I did too.

 

FOURTH PRINCESS:       She did not.

 

QUEEN:                               (mock serious)No quarrels, girls, or I’ll take your wings again.  (Manohra comes in down left with a MAID. The QUEEN crosses to comfort her, and the KING follows.) Oh, look, there’s Manohra now. How beautiful she looks.

 

KING:                                   Come here, my little kinnaree. There. There, don’t cry. There, dry your eyes, my sweet. Father is here.

 

QUEEN:                               I am here, too, darling. Manohra, are you alright?

 

KING:                                   (continuing formality of the ritual): Manohra, tell me where and what happened  after the forester caught you with the naga.

 

QUEEN:                               Please tell us, Manohra.

 

The three of them returned to the throne and sit.

 

MANOHRA:                        (shudders) When the naga caught me, I almost died fright especially when I saw all my sisters flying away. I was so afraid.

 

KING:                                   And then you married a mortal?

 

QUEEN:                               A prince, Tumaraja. Was he handsome?

 

SECOND PRINCESS:  Tell us; we are dying to know!

 

FIRST PRINCESS:            It sounds exciting. Maybe I’ll be captured, too!

 

ALL:                                      Ssssh!

 

MANOHRA:                        (harboring a secret): Well, Prince Suton is his name.

 

QUEEN:                               Prince Suton! What a nice name.

 

KING:                                   (angry)What a wonderful husband this Suton made! If he loved you as you say, Manohra, why did you have to escape? He probably told you to do so!

 

QUEEN:                               Manohra, dear, why did you have to fly away?

 

ALL:                                      Yes, tell us!

 

MANOHRA:                        You see, it was really Purohit who wanted to kill me. He is a very evil person.

 

SECOND PRINCESS:        He sounds nasty. I wouldn’t want to meet him.

 

QUEEN:                               Your poor thing. Tumaraja, can’t we do something to that evil man?

 

KING:                                   (playing the devil’s advocate): Oh! Blaming everything on this Purohit.  Manohra, you are just stupid as you always were. Don’t you know it was your Prince whatever-his-name who plotted to get rid of you? Ha! That Prince is like the rest mankind, corrupt and insincere. Stop thinking so well of those… animals.

 

 

MANOHRA:                        But, father, Suton is not like the rest of them. No, one says an unkind word about him, except Purohit. Everyone loves him.

 

KING:                                   Stop praising your husband’s worth. I don’t want to hear any more. If your Prince is as good as you have said, he should be on his way to Krailas.

QUEEN:                               Tumaraja, can’t you see she’s crying? Please, dear, stop making her unhappy.

This is a day for great joy. Her return should be on his way to Krailas.

 

KING:                                   Well, alright. But if this Prince is all you think him to be will come to Krailas to fetch you. Why, I would even perform another wedding ceremony for you.

 

MANOHRA:                        (bursting with joy) Father, can you please repeat what you just said?

 

KING:                                   If he really loves you, if he is brave enough, he should be able to follow you to our city.

 

MANOHRA:                        And what if he follows me, your Majesty?

 

ALL PRINCESSES:          We doubt it.

 

FIRST PRINCESS:             No man has ever come up to Krailas.

 

SECOND PRINCESS:       How can he get through all those obstacles? Isn’t that right, sisters?

 

They nod in unison

 

KING:                                   (tossing it off) If he does come, then I shall give you the greatest wedding Krailas has ever witnessed.

 

MANOHRA:                        (exuberant) On your word of honor, Father dear?

 

KING:                                   On my word!

 

QUEEN:                               I’ll see that he keeps his word, Manohra.

 

MANOHRA:                        (proudly) Prince Suton has preserved and followed me up Suvannakorn.

At this moment he is waiting outside the palace.

 

KING:                                   Is that so? I don’t believe it.

 

MANOHRA:                        If it is not true, Father, I will offer my life in atonement.

 

KING:                                   (disbelieving) Well, send for him.

 

MANOHRA:                        Go out to the pavilion and ask the Prince to come here. And hurry!

 

MAID runs out down left.

 

KING:                                   This is tomfoolery. No man can come to Krailas! It is possible, (Suton srides in down left, led by MAID. The KING is flabbergasted.) Are you the prince called Suton?

 

SUTON:                                Sir, I am. (SUTON crossed to the throne, kneels, and bows deeply, his hands in  the wait position.) It is great honor to be able to pay my humble respects to your majesties.

 

QUEEN:                               Isn’t that sweet? He’s so well-bred, and handsome, too.

 

MANOHRA’s sisters giggle with approval and embarrassment.

 

KING:                                   Dear! No such open approval yet! They might say you are over-anxious to have a son-in-law! (Testing him.) Prince Suton, for what purpose did you come to Krailas? It must be something very important for you have traveled such a long way.

 

SUTON:                                (calmly) Your Majesty must already know from Princess Manohra that after her capture she became my wife. When Manohra left Palanca, I could not endure the loss. Because of my love for her, I endured the hardships of Himmaphan Forest to find her.

 

KING:                                   If you really loved my daughter, Prince Suton, why did she have to flee for her life?

 

SUTON:                                I was tricked into leaving the city to fight war. When I returned, Manohra           had already escaped the ceremonial fire. I set out immediately for Krailas, overcoming all obstacles for seven years, seven months, and seven days to arrive this very morning.

 

KING:                                   Here are my daughters. Fing the Princess Manohra and I will give her hand willingly to you. Since you are her husband, you should be able to recognize her, though seven years have passed. To fully prove your claim, you must pass this last test.

 

SUTON:                                 I shall try your majesty.

 

KING:                                   Do you think you can identify your wife?

 

SUTON:                                It will be difficult, Your Majesty, but I shall try the best of my memory and love. (SUTON walks on his knees past the throne, in accordance with Thai custom. SUTON stands in front of the KINNAREE.)

 

KING:                                   Daughter, stand up and let the Prince try to find Manohra. (The seven  KINNAREE form a circle around SUTON. He dances with each one briefly. Finally, he dances with MANOHRA, recognizing her easily. They dance perfectly together. The KING is delighted.) Let there be joy unbounded! Kinnaree, let us celebrate the reunion of Princess Manohra and Prince Suton.

 

Gradually, others join the exuberant couple in their dance of exultation. Even PUROHIT joins in, as the entire company is now on stage. The rippling music of the piphat guides them as they dance their homage to the joy of life. The women kneel and the men dance their happiness. All strikes a pose as the certain closes slowly.

 

(Translated by: Ubol Bhukkanasut)

 

Source:

http://www.classjump.com/k/kjenglish/documents/MANOHRA.doc