A Turkish Judge
adapted by Clarice Cabanlit

YOU ARE FREE AND WELCOME to print and distribute a sufficient number of copies
of this play script for your performance, provided you are personally and directly
involved in the production. What does that mean? If you are the director, producer, an
actor or performer, musician, stage hand, or a parent/caregiver of same for this play,
you are welcome to make a sufficient number of copies. Otherwise, you may not
distribute this script in any format to any other third party whatsoever without
permission – additional costs may apply.

Characters, in order of appearance:

• FOREST ANIMALS (no speaking lines)
• KING HAROUN
• HORSE (no speaking lines)
• BEGGAR
• NARRATOR
• JUDGE
• OIL MERCHANT
• PORTER
• SOLDIER #1
• SOLDIER #2
• WRITER
• TAILOR
• WITNESSES (no speaking lines)

 
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Scene 1 – A forest
[Stage Set: A forest backdrop with trees, bushes and flowers, a blue
sky, fluffy clouds, and a bright sun. FOREST ANIMALS are moving
around quietly.]

[KING HAROUN enters from stage right, riding his HORSE. He

rides around slowly with a smile, looking happy. BEGGAR enters
right behind him.]

NARRATOR:
This play is “A Turkish Judge,” a folktale from Turkey. It is brought to you
by Stories to Grow by. Over a thousand years ago, there ruled a wise king
whose name was King Haroun al-Raschid. If you know the book One
Thousand and One Arabian Nights, you will know this is the very same
king from that story. If you don’t know of the book, no matter. This is a
different story, anyway, about the same king. So one day King Haroun al-
Raschid left his palace to travel around his kingdom. He wanted to see for
himself how his people were faring.

[KING HAROUN enters on HORSE. To simulate the KING riding on

a horse, HORSE walks on all fours. KING HAROUN walks behind
HORSE, with the two of them facing and moving in the same
direction.]

[BEGGAR enters. He is lame and walks stiffly or with a cane.]

BEGGAR:
(loudly and gesturing towards KING HAROUN) Help me! Please won’t
someone help me?

KING HAROUN:
(looks at BEGGAR and throws a coin to the ground) Here, take this coin.
Buy yourself some shish kabob for dinner. (pauses and says thoughtfully)
Where are you going, Old Beggar?

 
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BEGGAR:
I am on my way to the city of Basra.

KING HAROUN:
(to audience) I might as well take him to Basra. It’s on my way. Why
should someone in his condition have to walk? (to BEGGAR) Would you
like a ride?

BEGGAR:
You are too kind.

KING HAROUN:
Let me help you on the horse.

[KING HAROUN gets off HORSE. To simulate this action, KING

walks around to the front of HORSE. KING HAROUN walks
BEGGAR to behind HORSE. Together, they “ride” HORSE across
the stage by all moving together, that is KING HAROUN, BEGGAR,
and HORSE. They all stop when they reach the end of the stage.]

KING HAROUN:
Here we are. (smiles) I’ll help you down now. Go in peace.

BEGGAR:
(forcefully) What are you talking about? I am the one who gave YOU a
ride. (jumps off HORSE and this action is simulated by his moving to the
front of HORSE) This is MY HORSE!

KING HAROUN:
(also moves in front of HORSE, and stares at BEGGAR) What?! You
ungrateful man! I gave you a coin, and I even gave you a lift to Basra. Now
you have the NERVE to repay me by claiming my horse is YOURS? I could
have you sent to prison for trying to steal a horse!

BEGGAR:
I’d like to see you try. Here in this city, we are both strangers. It’s your
word against mine. Prove it! Why would anyone believe you?

 
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KING HAROUN:
(to audience) I feel like just throwing this man to the streets! But if I do
that, he will cry out. People will take his side and think I really stole this
horse from him. They might even beat me. I could end up in prison
myself, in my own land!

[KING HAROUN walks back and forth, scratching his chin while
thinking hard. Then he stops, lifts his right index finger upward, and
opens his eyes wide.]

KING HAROUN:
I know!

BEGGAR:
(grins mischievously and raises one eyebrow) So what will it be?

KING HAROUN:
We will take this matter to the judge. We will settle this in court.

BEGGAR:
Such a lot of trouble. I have a better idea. Just pay me a nice sum of
money now, and keep that lousy horse. Or take your chances in court. (to
audience) I can be VERY convincing.

KING HAROUN:
(to audience) Hmm. On the one hand, if I give him a large sum of money,
he will surely go away and leave me alone. But I don’t want to do that!
That would only encourage him to steal from other people. (to BEGGAR)
You know what? I’ll risk it in court. (to audience) At least, I will see with
my own eyes how the judge of Basra deals with the cases brought before
him. (to BEGGAR) Let’s go!

[KING HAROUN pulls BEGGAR with him along with the HORSE.
They exit.]

 
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Scene 2 – A courtroom

[Stage Set: A courtroom with a raised table in the middle. Several

seats are placed sideways on the left side of the stage, facing the
raised table. These are seats for witnesses. On the right side is a
door that will be the point of entry and exit for the actors. Please
read the Performance Notes to see how to do this.]
[JUDGE sits behind the raised table with OIL MERCHANT and
PORTER standing before him. SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2 stand
on each side of the door/exit. WRITER, TAILOR, and
WITNESSESsit on the chairs near the JUDGE’s table. KING
HAROUN and BEGGAR enter from stage right and sit on two empty
chairs.]

NARRATOR:
So King Haroun and the beggar went to the place where the judge was
holding court. When they arrived, some other people were already there.
They, too, were asking the judge to decide on some matters concerning
ownership of things.

PORTER:
(holds up a gold coin) Your Honor, this gold coin is mine, yet this man is
accusing me of stealing it from him.

OIL MERCHANT:
(desperately) It is MINE! I’ve been carrying it with me for many years. I
only lost it today… (glares at PORTER) when this man stole it from me.

PORTER:
No! It’s MINE. How dare you call me a thief!

OIL MERCHANT:
YOU stole it from ME! That makes you a thief!

 
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JUDGE:
(bangs gavel on the table) Enough! I will have no fighting in my
courtroom. Now, are there any witnesses?

OIL MERCHANT and PORTER (together):

No, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Very well. Leave the coin with me and come back tomorrow. (calls out to
those waiting) Who’s next?

[OIL MERCHANT and PORTER exit the stage right. SOLDIER #1

and SOLDIER #2 open the door to let the two pass through;
then they shut it again. WRITER and TAILOR approach the
JUDGE’s table.]

JUDGE:
(looks at WRITER) What is your occupation?

WRITER:
I am a writer.

JUDGE:
Why are you here?

WRITER:
This morning, before I left my house, I remember putting my Book of
Learning back on my bookshelf. But when I came home, I discovered that
it was gone. Then when I saw this tailor outside my house, I saw him
holding it. Yet he claims that it is his!

TAILOR:
(hugs a book tightly) But it really IS mine! I bought it at a book store in
town.

 
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JUDGE:
Are there any witnesses?

WRITER and TAILOR (together):

No, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Very well. Leave the book with me and come back tomorrow. (looks at
everyone) Meeting is adjourned. I will see you all again tomorrow.
(bangs gavel on the table)

[WRITER and TAILOR exit the stage. SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER

#2 open the door to let the two pass through; then they shut it again.
KING HAROUN shakes his head. He looks surprised, trying to
figure out JUDGE’s actions.]

NARRATOR:
King Haroun was very curious about the way the judge handled the two
cases. He wondered why the judge decided to keep the coin and the Book
of Learning. He looked forward to how judge would decide his own case.

JUDGE:
(calls out) Anyone else?

[KING HAROUN and BEGGAR approach the JUDGE’s table.]

KING HAROUN:
We’re next, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Who are you, and what is your trouble?

KING HAROUN:
I am a traveler from a faraway land. A few miles from your city gates, I
met this beggar by the side of the road. He was asking for help, so I let him
ride my horse and brought him here. However when we reached your city,

 
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he claimed that my horse was his. After how I helped him, this is how he
repays me!

JUDGE:
(looks at BEGGAR) How do you answer to that?

BEGGAR:
(sighs) The horse really IS mine! I raised him from when he was still a
colt. He is my only family. I am but a poor lame man. If you take my
horse away from me, how can I get around? I need my faithful horse to
carry me. (pretends to wipe a tear and sniffs)

KING HAROUN:
(to audience) He is a really good actor. If I didn’t know better, I would
think the horse really was his. I hope the judge has more sense than me.

JUDGE:
Do you have any witnesses?

KING HAROUN and BEGGAR (together):

No, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Well, then leave the horse with one of my soldiers. Come back to this
courtroom tomorrow.

[KING HAROUN hands HORSE to SOLDIER #1. ALL ACTORS

exit.]

Scene 3 – The courtroom, the next day

[Stage Set: Same as in Scene 2. KING HAROUN enters the

courtroom through the open door as if in a hurry and takes a seat.
BEGGAR, OIL MERCHANT, PORTER, WRITER, TAILOR and
WITNESSES enter after him and take their seats. JUDGE enters last
 
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and goes behind his table. SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2 take their
place by the exit and shut the door.]

JUDGE:
I have spent a lot of time thinking last night, and I have come to a decision
regarding the cases brought before me yesterday. (points at OIL
MERCHANT and PORTER) You and you! Come forward.

[OIL MERCHANT and PORTER approach the JUDGE.]

JUDGE:
(smiles at OIL MERCHANT) Here is your gold coin. Take it home with
you.

OIL MERCHANT:
(happily) Thank you, Your Honor. Thank you! (kisses gold coin and
walks toward exit while smiling widely)

[SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2 open the door for OIL MERCHANT

to pass through. They leave it open.]

JUDGE:
(looks at PORTER sternly) As for you, you have lied to me and to all these
people here. You tried to take what did not belong to you. For that, you
will be given twenty strokes with a rod on the soles of your bare feet.
Soldiers! Take him.

[SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2 take the PORTER away. PORTER

tries to resist but is taken out forcefully. SOLDIER #1 and
SOLDIER #2 exit with PORTER but immediately return to their
position by the exit.]

JUDGE:
You (points at TAILOR) and you (points at WRITER) are next.

[TAILOR and WRITER approach the JUDGE.]

 
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JUDGE:
(looks at WITNESSES and holds up a book) This Book of Learning is his
(points book at WRITER). I now return it to him. (hands book to
WRITER)

WRITER:
(clasps book to his heart) I am grateful beyond words, Your Honor. This
book means more to me than I can say.

[WRITER walks toward SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2 excitedly

while flipping the pages of the book, stops between SOLDIER #1 and
SOLDIER #2, and sighs contentedly. SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2
open the door for WRITER to pass through and leave it open.]

JUDGE:
Soldiers, take this tailor and give him thirty lashes with whips on the palm
of his hand. He stole that writer’s book, and lied about it to this court.

[SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2 take the TAILOR away. PORTER

looks down with a sorry face. SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2
exit with PORTER but come back in and return to their position
by the door.]

JUDGE:
(looks at KING HAROUN and BEGGAR) Now, you two are next. Old
Beggar, why did you repay this man’s kindness with such ingratitude?
Do you not know that an ungrateful man is the worst kind of person?
Since you are lame, I will not have you beaten. But I will send you to
prison. You will stay there until you have repented your evil ways.

BEGGAR:
(pitifully) But Your Honor... have mercy on me!

 
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JUDGE:
Get him out of here now. (to KING HAROUN) Good traveler, the horse is
yours. Take it with you and continue on your way. May your kindness be
better rewarded in the future.

[SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2 take BEGGAR away. BEGGAR tries

to resist. They exit through the door. WITNESSES approach the
JUDGE and shake his hand. They talk with him quietly while KING
HAROUN observes them from the side. All of this is happening
while KING HAROUN steps forward to face the audience.
WITNESSES exit the stage slowly.]

KING HAROUN:
(to audience) How did he do it? He seemed to know exactly how to rule
about the gold coin and the book. And he was certainly right about my
horse. But how did he figure it out?

[KING HAROUN approaches JUDGE after all have left.]

KING HAROUN:
Honored Judge, I admire your wisdom. There’s no question that you are
inspired. How else could you render such righteous judgments?

JUDGE:
I did not need any inspiration at all. The cases were very simple.

KING HAROUN:
What do you mean?

JUDGE:
The oil merchant said he always had the gold coin with him. Last night, I
placed the coin in a glass of clear water. When I looked at it this morning,
I saw the surface of the water covered with tiny drops of oil. I was
absolutely sure then that the gold coin belonged to the oil merchant.

 
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KING HAROUN:
Good! What about the case concerning The Book of Learning? How did
you know it was the writer who owned it?

JUDGE:
That was easy. When I examined the book, I observed that the pages that
were most used were the ones on which the duties of writers and scholars
were explained. It was definitely clear that the book belonged to the
writer.

KING HAROUN:
Excellent! Now that you have explained how you came to your judgments,
it actually seems so easy. But how were you able to tell that the horse was
mine and not the beggar’s?

JUDGE:
Yours was an interesting case. You would have to agree that the beggar
was very convincing. Last night, I instructed my soldiers to put the horse
in a stable where you and the beggar would have to pass on your way to
court. This morning, I waited by the stable. When the beggar passed, the
horse did not even look up. But when you did, he stretched out his head
towards you. I know that horses only do this when they see their masters
approaching. Then, I knew that the old beggar was not telling the truth.

KING HAROUN:
You are truly wise! Honored judge, I am not who you think I am. I am
King Haroun al-Raschid!

JUDGE:
Ah! It is true! (bows low)

KING HAROUN:
Judge, I need someone like you in my capital city. I am making you the
Judge of the High Court in the land!

JUDGE:
(bows again) I am honored, Your Majesty.
 
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NARRATOR:
And so the wise judge became the Judge of the High Court of the land.

[KING HAROUN shakes JUDGE’s hand. They exit together while

talking to each other happily.]

NARRATOR:
And what of the beggar?

[NARRATOR gestures to BEGGAR at one side of the stage. He is in

prison.]

BEGGAR:
I would have had a horse if not for that Judge! AUGHH!

NARRATOR:
This is how, traveling in his land, the famous King Haroun al-Raschid
could find out how the people of his kingdom really fared, and if justice
was served. This time, he felt pretty good about it.

[If you have a curtain, close it now. If you have no curtain, all actors
come on stage and bow to the audience.]

 
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SOURCE:
The play script, "A Turkish Judge," was adapted by Clarice Cabanlit from a story of the
same name found at www.storiestogrowby.com/stories/one_mans_horse_turkey.html
and further described at the end of the story. ©1998 Elaine L. Lindy. All rights
reserved.

 
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Performance Notes:
THREE WAYS THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAN
UTILIZE THIS PLAY

1. Students can read the play aloud while sitting in the classroom. Ask the
readers to skip all bracketed stage directions. You may prefer to rotate your
actors to give all students a chance to read the speaking parts.
2. Students can perform the play in the classroom. Clear an area that can be
used as the stage. Have the audience sit on the floor in front of the stage.
Students in the play can make simple costumes and/or sets as described below.
When the scene change, the characters "on stage" simply walk to the back of the
room where they wait until their next appearance "on stage."
3. Students can perform the play on stage. Refer to the production notes
that follow. Ask the actors to enter from the back of the room and move through
the audience as they approach the stage.

COSTUMES

• FOREST ANIMALS — Clothes in the color of the animal they are representing.
Additional accessories such as ears and tail will be worn as needed.
• HORSE — Brown clothes, a headband with horse’s ears and a tail made of brown
yarn.
• KING HAROUN — Light gray shirt, dark gray trousers and black boots. He has a
neutral-colored traveler’s cape over his clothes. In ACT 3, he dons a red satin
cape underneath the neutral-colored cape. He reveals this at the end of the play
to indicate his kingly status.
• BEGGAR — Tattered clothing, neutral in color.
• NARRATOR or NARRATORS — can wear anything. Perhaps nice shirt(s) and
slacks and/or a nice skirt(s) and blouse(s), or a nice dress(es).
• JUDGE — Big black robe.
 
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• OIL MERCHANT — Brown robe with a red belt, with a white turban on his head.
• PORTER — Plain light-colored shirt and folded brown or black trousers.
• SOLDIERS — Black short open-fronted jackets with red shirts and red knee-
length baggy trousers. They have a red fez on their head.
• WRITER — Light brown shirt, black baggy pants, black vest, black knee-length
socks and black shoes. Optional would be black hat with a feather.
• TAILOR — Plain shirt and trousers
• WITNESSES — Plain shirts and dull-colored trousers for boys. Light-colored
shirts and long flowing skirts for girls.

PROPS

• Scene 1 — A silver coin for KING HAROUN to give to BEGGAR.

• Scene 2 — A gavel made out of carton or Styrofoam, painted dark brown. A real
gavel can also be used if available. A gold coin for PORTER to hold up. A
hardbound book that looks old to represent The Book of Learning.

• Scene 3 — Same as scene 2.

SETS
• Scene 1 — Paint a backdrop showing a forest scene with trees, flowers and
bushes. If you do not have performers who can play as FOREST ANIMALS,
animals can just be painted on the backdrop. Another suggestion is to make
gray rocks made of cartons and papers to be placed along the painted backdrop.

 
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• Scene 2 — The courtroom has a raised table for the judge and seats for the
witnesses. A wooden teacher’s desk that is about 1 ½ meters wide can be used
as a judge’s table. This can be raised by creating a small platform made of wood.
The platform should be big enough to fit the teacher’s desk and a chair, and
should be the same color as the teacher’s desk.
On the left side, arrange 12 chairs in four rows. These are for OIL
MERCHANT, PORTER, WRITER, TAILOR and WITNESSES. If you
have the appropriate carpentry support, put up a wooden freestanding
double-entry door on the right side which will serve as the entry and exit
points for characters. Please ensure that it is firmly secured to the floor to
prevent any accident from happening.
Another option is to simulate a doorway by using two pieces of dark
fabric. The length and width of the fabric will depend on the size of the doorway
that you want to create. Make sure to add an extra 18 inches for hemming.
1) At the top and bottom edge of the fabric panels, sew 2-inch hems which
should look like curtain rod pockets. No sewing is needed for the finished edges
along the sides. 2) Slide an elastic band right through the pockets you have
sewn on both fabric panels. Do this for both the top and bottom edges. (Note: It
will be easier to slide the elastic band through the rod pockets if you tie its end
around a screwdriver. The screwdriver will serve as your guide.) 3) Stretch the
elastic bands and attach their ends on to something sturdy which will serve as
the frame for the doors. 4) To open the doors, simply slide the fabric panels to
the side. Slide them back to the center to shut the doors. Add a doorknob by
securing bathroom tissue paperboard core on fabric panels with duct tape. You
will need two cores covered with silver foil.

Since the doorway will only be used in ACT 2 and ACT 3, make sure that you
put this up quickly after the end of ACT 1.

 
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