Introduction:

NARRATOR:  Here is the Holy legend Ramayana, brought to you by Rishi

Valmiki.
The curtain opens as the narrator speaks.
 
Scene 1: The Grandeur of Kosalas and Videhas
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.

Scene 2: So Many Suitors... Who to Choose?

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?
JANAK: We must find a solution to make it easier, then.
SITA: How?
JANAK: Let us see...
Beat.

 JANAK:  AHA! I know! We will organize an archery competition! Whoever

wins shall have your hand in marriage.
SITA: An excellent idea, my liege.
The curtain closes.
 
Scene 3: Archery Competition and Wedding
[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.

The audience claps.

ANNOUNCER:  Prince Hatem of Kamapura!

The audience claps.
[HATEM] walks in, shoots, but misses entirely.
The audience groans.
[HATEM] walks away sadly.

ANNOUNCER:  Prince Dhouib of Dakshina!

The audience claps.
[DHOUIB] walks in, shoots, and hits outer circle.
The audience politely claps.
[DHOUIB] walks away disappointed.

ANNOUNCER:  Prince Satrughna of Ayodia!

The audience claps.
[SATRUGHNA] walks in, shoots, and hits near the center.
The audience claps and cheers enthusiastically.
[SATRUGHNA] walks away with a grin.

ANNOUNCER:  Prince Lakshman of Ayodia!

The audience claps.
[LAKSHMAN] walks in and mutters:

LAKSMHAN:  Beginner’s luck...

[LAKSHMAN] shoots but misses.
Some of the audience groan, some laugh.
[SATRUGHNA] laughs at the edge of the stage.
[LAKSHMAN] leaves in a sour mood.
ANNOUNCER:  Prince Bharat of Ayodia!
The audience claps.
[BHARAT] walks in, shoots, and hits near the center.
The audience claps enthusiastically.

ANNOUNCER:  Prince Rama of Ayodia!

The audience claps.
[RAMA] walks in, shoots and... hits the center!
The audience claps very enthusiastically, some even whooping.
[RAMA] bows to the audience, to [SITA] and to [JANAK].

JANAK: We have a champion! Rama of Ayodia shall be wedded to my

daughter Sita.

The audience claps even more enthusiastically.

[SITA] stands, approaches [RAMA], and puts a garland on him.
[RAMA] also puts a garland on [SITA].
[RAMA] and [SITA] hold hands, smiling whilse facing the audience.
The audience claps while the curtain closes.

Scene 4: Rama is to be Made King

[DASA-RATHA] sits on a throne with [RAMA], [BHARAT], [LAKSHMAN], and
[SATRUGHNA] standing before him.

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.

[SATRUGHNA] takes Rama’s arm and raises it.

SATRUGHNA:  Well done brother!

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.
[BHARAT], [LAKSHMAN], and [SATRUGHNA] bow to [RAMA].
The curtain closes.

Scene 5: Kaikeyi’s Scheme

A [SERVANT] enters and bows before [DASA-RATHA], who sits on his throne.

SERVANT:  Queen Kaikeyi requests for an audience with you, my lord.

DASA-RATHA: Send her in.
The [SERVANT] bows again.

SERVANT:  Yes, sire.

The [SERVANT] leaves.
[KAIKEYI] enters and bows.

KAIKEYI: My king.
[DASA-RATHA] motions for [KAIKEYI] to rise.
[KAIKEYI] rises.

KAIKEYI: There is something that I would like to tell you.

DASA-RATHA: What is it, Kaikeyi, my dear?
KAIKEYI: I implore you to make Bharat regent king, and that Rama be
banished to the Dandak forest.

Beat. The stage is filled with shocked silence.

DASA-RATHA: ... I-I beg your pardon?!

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] walks around [DASA-RATHA], like a snake encircling its prey.
KAIKEYI: You could refuse. You are the king, after all. But what would
that do to your honor, I wonder?

[KAIKEYI] leaves without another word.

[DASA-RATHA] collapses on his throne, dazed.

NARRATOR:  Dasa-ratha was torn. How could he choose between

Kaikeyi and Rama?

The curtain closes.

 
Scene 6: Rama’s Exile
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.

[DASA-RATHA], [KAIKEYI], [KAUSALYA], [BHARAT], [SATRUGHNA], and

[JANAK] exchange farewells with [RAMA], [SITA], and [LAKSHMAN].

BHARAT: Take care, my brothers, Sita.

RAMA: And you, Bharat.
[SATRUGHNA] is silent. He suddenly grabs [RAMA’s] arm.

SATRUGHNA:  Take me with you!

[RAMA] shakes his head.

RAMA: You must stay here and help Father and Bharat in ruling Ayodia.
SATRUGHNA : But--.
RAMA: No, Satrughna.
[SATRUGHNA] falls silent.
[KAUSALYA] is in tears.

KAUSALYA:  Take care of yourselves now.

RAMA: We shall, dear mother.
JANAK: Oh, Sita. I will miss you, my daughter.
SITA: And I, you, Father.
RAMA: We must go now.
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] sighs before yielding.

RAMA: Very well...
[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.

RAMA: Lakshman! Sita! Wake up!

[SITA] and [LAKSHMAN] wake up.

RAMA: We must go now.

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.

The curtain closes.

 
Scene 7: Dasaratha’s Death
MUSIC:  Vale - Murray Gold
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.

[DASA-RATHA] is lying down on a bed, very weak and dying.

A [DOCTOR] goes out of tent and approaches the royal family.
[KAUSALYA], [KAIKEYI], [BHARAT], and [LAKSHMAN] look up expectantly.
The [DOCTOR] shakes their head.
[KAUSALYA] and [KAIKEYI] cry on each other.
[BHARAT] gets up and goes inside the tent.
[DASA-RATHA] whimpers with a weak, raspy voice.

DASA-RATHA: Rama... Rama...
[BHARAT’s] voice is urgent.

BHARAT: Father,
[BHARAT] quickly comes closer and grabs [DASA-RATHA's] hand.

BHARAT: It is I, Bharat, your son.

DASA-RATHA: Bharat... Oh, Bharat... I am dying, my dear son.
[BHARAT’s] voice cracks and tears start to appear in the corners of his eyes.

BHARAT: Father, please do not say that.

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] nods solemnly.

DASA-RATHS: Good bye now, my son... Let me be at peace...

[BHARAT’s] tears are falling freely now.

BHARAT: Good bye... Father...

[BHARAT] kisses DASA-RATHA’s forehead and leaves as soon as his last breath
is drawn.
The curtain closes and the music fades.

Scene 8: Come Home!

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! Rama! Rama!
[RAMA], who is sitting, looks up.

RAMA: Is that my name I hear?

BHARAT: RAMA!
[RAMA] gets up.

RAMA: I must see who it is.

[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!
[BHARAT] hugs [RAMA].

BHARAT: Oh, how good it is to see you again...

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.

BHARAT: I bring grave news.

[RAMA] frowns.

RAMA: What news?
BHARAT: Father is...
[BHARAT] pauses, finding it hard to finish his sentence.

BHARAT: Father is dead.
Beat.

RAMA: ...What?! How can this be?

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.

[RAMA] smiles and takes off his sandals.

RAMA: That, I can give you.

[BHARAT] also smiles and takes the sandals.

BHARAT: Thank you, Rama.

[BHARAT] turns to leave.

BHARAT: Give my best to the others, will you?

RAMA: I shall. Farewell!
BHARAT: Farewell!
[BHARAT] finally leaves.
The curtain closes.

Scene 9: From North to South (FINISHED)

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…

The curtain opens.

Scene 10: Enter Raksha and Ravan

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] gazes upon a basin.

[RAVAN] appears with a puff of smoke at the edge of the stage.

RAVAN: Pray tell, what are you doing, Raksha?

RAKSHA: Ah! Brother! Come and see!
[RAKSHA] beckons [RAVAN] with a hand.
[RAVAN] approaches and gazes at basin too.
RAVAN: And who is this man?
[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] scowls. Her next sentence is spat out like poison.

RAKSHA: The only problem would be his wife, Sita.

[RAKSHA’s] expression softens.

RAKSHA: But I would be willing to share his love with another woman.

[RAVAN] smiles and puts his hand on [RAKSHA’s] shoulder.

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: Do you think so?
RAVAN: I know so.

[RAKSHA] grins, goes to edge of stage and disappears in another puff of smoke.
The curtain closes.

Scene 11: Surpanakha Incident

MUSIC:  Habanera - originally by Georges Bizet   (traditional part only)
[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].
[RAKSHA] looks back and forth multiple times, until…
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.
The curtain closes.

Scene 12: The Siblings’ Plot

[RAVAN] gazes at the same basin as before.
[RAVAN] is startled as [RAKSHA] appears in a puff of smoke, very visibly angry.

RAKSHA: Those reprobates! Those filthy, filthy... DOGS! I gave them my

love, but they refused it!

[RAVAN] gingerly approaches and hugs [RAKSHA].

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...

[RAVAN’s] eyes are filled with lust and malice.

The curtain closes.

Scene 13: The Golden Deer

NARRATOR:  Ravan sent a beautiful golden deer to tempt Rama and
Lakshman away from the hermitage.
[LAKSHMAN] half crouches and points somewhere far.

LAKSHMAN:  Do you see that?

[RAMA] looks to [LAKSHMAN’s] finger’s direction.

RAMA: See what?
LAKSHMAN:  There! It is a deer! A golden one!
RAMA: Yes! I see it! My word! Isn’t it just magnificent!
LAKSHMAN:  Shall we catch it?
RAMA: Let us catch it! Dear Sita will surely be impressed.
[RAMA] and [LAKSHMAN] sneak around until they reach the edge of the stage
and are covered by the curtain.
The curtain closes.

Scene 14: Sita is Taken!

[SITA] hums idly as she cooks for the two men.
[RAVAN] and [RAKSHA] suddenly appear in a puff of smoke.
[RAVAN] grabs [SITA].
[SITA] screams and tries to fight him off.

SITA: AAAAAH! RAMA! LAKSHMAN! HELP ME!

[RAKSHA] approaches slowly and cackles menacingly.

RAKSHA: No matter how loud your screams are, they won't be able to
hear you. Now sleeeeep...

[RAKSHA] blows on [SITA's] face with  sleeping powder.

[SITA] struggles a little, then goes limp.
[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.
[RAVAN] looks to be winning as he has the home advantage.
All seems lost for [RAMA].
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.
He eventually goes still, dead.
[RAMA] leaves without looking back and the curtain closes.

Scene 15: Rama's Doubts

[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.

SITA: Rama! Oh, Rama... You came for me!

But [RAMA] regards her coldly.
[RAMA] breaks [SITA’s] hug.

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.

SITA: What is wrong, my love?

RAMA: Sita, you were held captive by Ravan for a whole year. How would
I be assured that you are still pure?
[SITA] steps back in disdain

SITA: You do not have faith in me.

Beat.

SITA: Very well.
[SITA] turns to [LAKSHMAN].

SITA: I bid you to make an enormous fire. We shall settle this with a trial
by fire.

Scene 16: Sita's Trial

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.

[SITA] steps into the flames and comes out unharmed.

[RAMA] and [SITA] hug.

RAMA: Oh Sita... Forgive me for doubting you.

The curtain closes.

Scene 17: Coming Home

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!
[EVERYONE] gathers and bows.
The curtain closes for the final time.