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NARRATOR: Many long years ago, there lived two mighty races, the Kosalas and the
Videhas. The Kosalas was ruled by the just king named Dasa-ratha. He had four sons, Rama
being the eldest, Bharat, the second, Lakshman, the third, and Satrughna, the youngest.
Meanwhile, the Videhas was ruled by the great Janak.
Narrator: Now, the princess of the Videhas, Sita, had beauty that reached the ears of other
kingdoms' royal families. Intrigued, they would go to Mithila to see whether the rumors they
hear are true. When they see that it is indeed true, they would bring gifts and ask for her
hand. This earned her many suitors. Too many in fact, that she was not able to choose at
all!
JANAK: The time is ripe for you to marry a husband. You have grown to be a fine young
woman. You must pay more attention to your suitors in order for you to be able to choose.
SITA: But, Father, there are far too many of them! How would I ever be able to choose?
SITA: How?
Beat.
JANAK: AHA! I know! We will organize an archery competition! Whoever wins shall have
your hand in marriage.
[JANAK], [SITA], and the other royal people are sitting somewhere on the stage.
[JANAK] stands.
JANAK: Now, let us begin the competition. Whoever shoots the nearest to the center of the
target shall win the competition and the hand of my daughter.
[RAMA] and [SITA] hold hands, smiling whilse facing the audience.
DASA-RATHA: I have called the four of you because we need to discuss a very important
matter. I am now old, and my days are almost done. When I am dead and gone, one of you
must take my place as king. And for this I have chosen... Rama. For he is the oldest. He has
the most knowledge and experience that will surely be helpful when he becomes king.
RAMA: I thank you, dear father, for this great honor. I swear to you that I shall be a good
and just king, like you.
A [SERVANT] enters and bows before [DASA-RATHA], who sits on his throne.
KAIKEYI: My king.
[KAIKEYI] rises.
KAIKEYI: I implore you to make Bharat regent king, and that Rama be banished to the
Dandak forest.
KAIKEYI: Do you not remember your promise to me? When you were ill and there was no
one to care for you, only I was there. You promised that you would give me any boon that I
wanted.
DASA-RATHA: Bu-but---!
KAIKEYI: You could refuse. You are the king, after all. But what would that do to your
honor, I wonder?
NARRATOR: Dasa-ratha was torn. How could he choose between Kaikeyi and Rama?
NARRATOR: Dasa-ratha decided to give Kaikeyi what she wanted as he, after all did
promise her. The faithful wife, Sita, and the loving brother, Lakshman came with him.
RAMA: You must stay here and help Father and Bharat in ruling Ayodia.
SATRUGHNA: But--.
[KAUSALYA] is in tears.
A crowd has gathered to witness the sad occasion. One of them steps up.
FOLLOWER: Let us come with you, Prince Rama. We shall be of help to you during your
exile.
[RAMA], [SITA], [LAKSHMAN], and the rest of the followers walk around the stage as the
narrator talks.
NARRATOR: The loyal people of Ayodia followed their exiled prince as far as the banks of
the Tamasa River where they halted on the first night.
While the [FOLLOWERS] are sleeping, [RAMA], who is lying down, suddenly sits up and
wakes up [LAKSHMAN] and [SITA]. His whispers are sharp and strained.
LAKSHMAN: What?!
SITA: Why?!
RAMA: There are far too many of them to feed and care for. Let us go and leave them now
while they are still asleep.
NARRATOR: Rama, his wife, and his brother, Lakshman stole away at night to escape the
citizens who wanted to follow them. They crossed the Ganges River penetrating deeper into
the wilderness of the forest until they came to the hermitage of Valmiki.
NARRATOR: Dasa-ratha was so stricken with grief at the loss of his son. He suffered from a
terrible illness that none of the kingdom's doctors could heal.
BHARAT: Father,
DASA-RATHA: It pains me to know that I will be leaving you without being able to see
Rama. But know that I love all of my sons equally. And I am sure that you will become a
magnificent king when I am dead and gone.
BHARAT: But I do not know if I am ready to be king. I do not know if I have enough
experience and knowledge.
DASA-RATHA: True. You may not have as much knowledge and experience as Rama, but
do not worry, for I shall be watching over you from the heavens, where I shall be reunited
with our ancestors. Whenever you are having doubts, just look to the skies, and remember
that I will always be there, guiding you.
[BHARAT] kisses DASA-RATHA’s forehead and leaves as soon as his last breath is drawn.
NARRATOR: Bharat had made up his mind. Even his father's comforting words were not
able to convince him otherwise. He would go to the forest of Dandak to seek his elder
brother and convince him to claim the throne.
BHARAT: RAMA!
[BHARAT] and [RAMA] go round and round the stage, looking for each other, then get
surprised when they do find each other.
BHARAT: Rama!
RAMA: Bharat!
RAMA: And you, my dear brother. But, might I inquire as to why you are here?
[BHARAT’s] smile slides off his face and gets replaced with a sad expression.
[RAMA] frowns.
BHARAT: When you left, he became miserable and an illness that none of our doctors could
heal took him. Before he passed, father mentioned you a lot of times.
RAMA: I am very sorry. I was not there at the time of his passing. But, there is one ray of
sunshine that may be seen here. You are about to be king! For that, I must congratulate
you.
BHARAT: Do not. For I have no desire to be king. This is also why I have come to you,
brother. I implore you to come back to Ayodia and claim the throne that is rightfully yours.
Come home. Surely, Father’s death would release you from your oath?
RAMA: But I may not seek Ayodia’s ancient throne, for righteous father’s mandate dutiful
son may not disown. And I may not, gentle brother, break the word of promise given, to a
king and to a father who is now a saint in heaven.
BHARAT: Very well. Then I would like to ask for one last request.
RAMA: Anything, my dear brother. Anything! Of course, with the exception of returning to
Ayodia.
BHARAT: My request is for you to give me your sandals. I would like to place them on the
throne as testimony to the people that I am ruling in your name.
NARRATOR: Rama wandered from Northern India and reached Southern India. He built his
forest hermitage in the wilderness, there he live with Sita and Lakshman, in peace and
serenity... until…
NARRATOR: In the country of Ceylon, there lived two siblings. One of which was named
Raksha, who was a princess and the other was Ravan, the ruler of all monsters.
[RAKSHA] sighs.
RAKSHA: His name is Rama. He was once a prince of Kosalas but was exiled.
[RAKSHA] strokes edge of basin with longing.
RAKSHA: I want him, Ravan. He has heart, and is very handsome too.
RAKSHA: But I would be willing to share his love with another woman.
RAVAN: Then go, my dear sister. Go to him. I do not think that he will be able to resist you
with your beauty, even if he already has a wife.
[RAKSHA] grins, goes to edge of stage and disappears in another puff of smoke.
[RAMA] and [SITA] sit in a corner while [LAKSHMAN] stands elsewhere with a bow in hand.
[RAKSHA] appears at the edge of the stage with a puff of smoke, face hidden, and starts to
dance sexually in front of [RAMA] when music starts.
[RAMA] is mildly amused but he shakes his head and points to his brother [LAKSHMAN].
[RAKSHA], eyes [LAKSHMAN], inspecting him from afar. She looks pleased, so she dances
her way to him.
[LAKSHMAN] is a little more timid. But he also shakes his head and points back to [RAMA].
[RAKSHA] tries to dance back to [RAMA], but [RAMA] is still pointing to [LAKSHMAN]. She
stops, in the middle of the two now. She looks back to [LAKSHMAN], also pointing back to
[RAMA].
The music suddenly stops. And so does [RAKSHA’s] dancing. She is frustrated and angry.
This is visible as she disappears in a puff of smoke.
RAKSHA: Those reprobates! Those filthy, filthy... DOGS! I gave them my love, but they
refused it!
RAVAN: There, there, my love. Those miscreants did not deserve you anyway. Do not
worry. We will take your revenge and I assure you, it will be oh... so... sweet...
NARRATOR: Ravan sent a beautiful golden deer to tempt Rama and Lakshman away from
the hermitage.
[RAMA] and [LAKSHMAN] sneak around until they reach the edge of the stage and are
covered by the curtain.
RAKSHA: No matter how loud your screams are, they won't be able to hear you. Now
sleeeeep...
[RAVAN] goes to edge of stage with [SITA] and [RAKSHA], then flaps his cloak to hide
themselves. They disappear. [RAKSHA’s] cackling is still heard as the curtains close.
Scene 14: The Rescue
MUSIC: The Master - Murray Gold
NARRATOR: After a year, Rama was finally able to find the siblings’ lair.
The music starts as [RAMA] sneaks into [RAVAN’s] chambers. [RAVAN] is caught off guard
but immediately recovers.
But [RAMA] eventually outsmarts [RAVAN] and stabs him in the heart.
[RAVAN’s] death is horrible, filled with screams as he writhes in agony on the floor.
[SITA] sits in a corner. She gets nervous when she hears footsteps.
[RAMA] enters and [SITA's] fright turns to happiness as she rushes to hug her husband.
RAMA: Now that Ravan is slain, you are now free to choose your path in life. You may stay
in Ceylon, or you could accompany Lakshman. You could also go to Bharat if you so desire.
[SITA] frowns.
Beat.
SITA: I bid you to make an enormous fire. We shall settle this with a trial by fire.
SITA: This trial of fire is being performed in order to prove my purity. I am pure. I shall
walk on this fire and if ever I am lying, then may the flames consume me. But if I am not,
then I will step out unharmed.
NARRATOR: In finding Sita, the gods had given Rama an aerial car which they, then used
to travel back to North India. This story was passed from Indian fathers to Indian sons,
from generation to generation, and now, to you. We hope that you will always remember
this story and its virtues and to use it as a guide in your everyday lives. Thank you for
watching!