Characte: Three narrators, the rabbit, the lion, deer, elephant
Narrator 1: Once upon a time in a jungle in India.
Narrator 2: There lived a lion. He was very powerful and very cruel.
Narrator 3: He hunted and killed a lot of animals in the jungle. Sometimes he just hunted and killed for fun.
Rabbit: We have to stop this unnecessary killing.
Elephant: How can we stop the lion? He is too powerful.
Deer: Why don’t we have a meeting with the lion? Fox: And see if we can reach an agreement.
Narrator 1: So all the animals in the jungle gathered together and invited the lion to the meeting.
Lion: What do you want?
Rabbit: Your majesty we are happy for you to be the King of the Jungle.
Deer: We are happy for you to rule the jungle.
Elephant: We understand that you need to kill us for food.
Lion: Why, that is most kind and understanding of you.
Rabbit: But you are killing animals for fun and not when you are hungry. And if you don’t stop there won’t be any animals left in jungle.
Lion: Well, what do you suggest?
Rabbit: We decided that we will send you an animal a day to your den. You can kill and eat it. You won’t have to go to the bother of hunting.
Lion: Well, that sounds like a good idea.
Narrator 3: The day arrived where it was the rabbits turn to go to the lion’s den.
Rabbit: I don’t want to go.
Other animals: You have to go if you don’t go he will kill the other animals. It was your idea.
Rabbit: I better go then.
Lion: Why are you late?
Rabbit: (out of breath) Your majesty it was not my fault. Another lion chased me no wanted to eat me. He said he was king of the jungle.
Lion: I’m the only King of the Jungle. Who is he? Take me to him at once. I shall kill him.
Rabbit: Come with me. I will show you where he lives.
Narrator 1: The lion followed the rabbit through the jungle.
Narrator 2: They reached a well.
Rabbit: He lives here.
Narrator 3.The rabbit roared and looked into the well. He saw his own reflection looking back at him.
Lion: I see him.
Rabbit: There can only be one King of the jungle. You must kill him.
Narrator 1: The lion jumped into the well and was taken away. (The rabbit went off and told his friends what had happened.) (They all had a big party to celebrate.)
Related: Lion and the Clever Rabbit drama lesson. Further reading: the Panchatantra.
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