Sadako Sasakis and her 1000 Cranes

Scene 1
(People moving about, sound of approaching planes. People look up and start running helter

Skelter and try to hide wherever possible. )

All : Enemy help! Help enemy! Enemy ! Enemy!

( sound of bomb and then all freeze) (the narrator comes on to the stage)

Narrator: On August 6th, 1945, World War II’s Allied forces dropped an atom bomb on the
Japanese city of Hiroshima. In an instant, the city was obliterated. When the dust had cleared,
people’s shadows remained frozen in places on sidewalks and the sides of buildings. The people
themselves simply vanished. On that tragic day,140,000 civilians were killed. But, fortunately
Sadako’s family were the lucky ones among the few who survive the day. Sadako was then….
(clock ticking) nine years old and now she has grown into a cheerful 12 year old girl.(the family
comes forward and the curtains are pulled a little while all the dead people move away)

Narrator: ( looking at the family):here comes Sadako played by _________________

Sadako’s mother ______________________

Sadako’s father ________________________

Her younger brother ____________________________

Her younger sister _____________________________

Her friend kai _________________________________

Crowd in the first scene all Aradous house students

Curtain Opens

( Sadako comes running onto the stage and plays with her younger sister. Her mother enters as
Sadako starts playing with her sister)

Mother : I’m fed up with this girl , Sadako!(looking at and telling the audience)
 Sadako!(calls out to her) Why didn’t you drink the glass of milk?I kept it on the table
for you.

Sadako: Oh mother! Why do I always have to drink milk before going to school?

Mother: It makes you strong……

Sadako : And gives energy, as you say always

Mother : And will help you win the race today, at school.

Sadako : Oh! I forgot about that……( she picks up the glass of milk and drinks it. After that
holds her sisters hand and takes her brother)

Mother: Off you go to school now!

In the Afternoon

( Sadako and her siblings come running in.)

Brother: Mom! I won a medal, mom. I deserve a cake for that mom, please.

Mother: Sure sonny, I will bake it for you.

Sister I couldn’t win any races , mommy.

Mother: It’s ok , honey. You are good in studies. Everybody cannot be good at everything.

Sadako : (enters running and hugs her mom) Mom! I won 4 medals and also the best athlete of
the school. Oh Mom! How happy I am.( she jumps up and down while saying this)

( She climbs up the chair and behaves as if she is standing on a podium)

Sadako : the best athlete of the world ………..that’s what I want to be.( mother, sister and brother
clap. As they clap she is holding her hands high sideways – the sign of a winner. Suddenly, She
starts feeling dizzy, the cup falls of her hand/ she brings her hands to her forehead and shows that
she is about to faint.)

Brother and sister : Sadako!

Mother : Sadako! Careful …….(runs and holds her)

What’s happening to you Sadako? Tell me Sadako! Tell me! (Looks to her son)

Quickly bring us some water sonny( He goes off stage and brings a glass of water. After drinking
the water she she feels better. As mother and Sadako stand up the father enters in from work .

Father : It’s been a long and tiresome…..( suddenly stops at the scene of all the three huddled
together) What’s wrong? What’s happening? Can somebody tell me something?

( by this time they all stand up and Sadako faints and falls again)

Father: What’s happened to Sadako?

Brother : (worried) Dad , she has fainted the second time.

Mother : let’s rush her to the hospital. ( All the five exit. Sadako held by her mother)

At the Hospital

( Doctor is seated at the table. On Opposite chairs the parents are sitting worried)

Narrator : Sadako was taken to the hospital. She was given a drip and discharged after taking
some blood samples. The doctor had called her parents after three days for the reports. Let’s see
what the reports have to say ……..

Father : Doctor, we are worried. What do the reports say? Sadako is such a healthy girl.

Doctor: ( facing the audience) Sadako is a cheerful girl and may she remain so. I hope against
hope that my wish comes true. ( with emotion)

( Mother worried look. Gets up and follows doctor to the front of the stage)

Father: What do you mean to say, doctor? Oh tell us quick.

Doctor : You have already guessed it right, Mr. Sasaki.

( for the first time mother looking up now)

Doctor: Mrs and Mr. Sasaki, like many other people of this country, Sadako is also suffering
from the ill – effects that radiation of the atomic bomb has left since years. Sadako’s WBC count
is 4 times greater than her RBC count. Mrs. And Mr. Sasaki, Sadako , is suffering from
Leukamia.- i.e Blood cancer due to atomic radiation. She is with us , now, for a few days only.

Mother : Few days! No , No , No , No( cries)

Doctor : you have to be strong , Mrs. Sasaki.

Mother : It killed us doctor – it killed us that day- and it is killing till today. ( Voice shaking)

Three long years…………….and still…. Still…..still……….(quietens)

Narrator enters the stage as the setting behind is quickly changed

It’s October 1948,Sadako’s health has deteriorated over the months and sheis hospitalized.
She wanted to stay home but her mother promised her that she will bring her back home as
soon as she recovers. In the hospital Sadako becomes friends with Kai – another patient.

Kai : Sadako, let’s play. I’m bored of the life here.

Sadako : I’m tired, kai. I can’t play anymore. I want to go home.

Kai : My mother told me that I am going home soon.

( Sadako doesn’t reply)

Kai: What are you thinking about Sadako?

Sadako : I remember an old Japanese tradition my mother told me about. It says if you make a
1000 paper cranes you will be well soon.

Kai : let’s make them then.

Sadako ( suddenly excited) yes. We will. It will make us be healthy again very soon. Oh!
How I long to play with my brother and sister. I miss my parents too!( Short Pause)

But now it is not long enough. Just a 1000 cranes and I will go home.

( They start making paper cranes nd showing them to each other while the narrator speaks)

Narrator : Kai has made her 1000 cranes.

Kai : I’m done with my cranes , Sadako, what about you? Sadako : I haven’t made them --- all
100 of them. I can’t…… I’m too tired. Guess I will never be well again. (kai goes round and
holds her shoulders from behind and says)

Don’t worry ………. I will make them for you while you rest.

Sadako : Thank you Kai for being a good friend to me.

Kai : Now you must rest. It’s already 10 O’ clock in the night.

(They sleep and Mother comes in and sits behind the bed.)

Narrator : The next day Kai woke up early and as promised made the remaining paper cranes
for Sadako. It’s 9. 57 in the morning.

Kai : ( to Sadako’s Mother) : Mrs. Sasaki. I have made the remaining of the 1000 paper cranes
for Sadako. Can we show them to her?

Mother : Sure, my dear.

(Calls to Sadako to wake up) Sadako ……….Sadako

( Sadako opens her eyes …….but starts panting heavily. Kai is shocked.)

Mother : Sadako!

Kai : ( moves closer to Sadako’s bed ) : Sadako ………..doctor Sadako

Mother : Sadako…….my baby …………. Doctor…….

Sadako : Mother ! ( Closes her eyes)

Both mother and kai freeze- shocked)

Narrator : today, Sadako passed away……….like thousands of little children in this country.

She passed away after a terrific struggle with Leukamia. Kai and her other friends didn’t allow
her to die but. …………. They collected 450 dollars and built a statue of Sadako which till
today stands in the famous Hiroshima Garden. It signifies peace and asks everybody to Live
and let live. She says , ‘ Stop! Stop the use of these nuclear weapons and atom bombs that
leave their deadly effect on the humans and animals even years after they are exploded. Use
them positively instead to produce more energy for mankind. Friends Sadako is still there and
she is seeing us through the eyes of the 1000 cranes that kai and her other class mates have
decorated her statue with.

Thank you