SKETCH COMPETION

LAGENDA OF MAHSURI
SCRIPT PLAY MBIMBM WEEK

SK TAMAN UNIVERSITI 1

SCENE 1
MAHSURI is sitting on the front porch of her house. Her baby is crying. She tries to hush
him but he won’t stop. DERAMAN comes into the scene playing the flute. He approaches the
house but stops outside. MAHSURI glances curiously at him (recognising the music), but her
focus goes back to hushing her child. The baby stops crying soon after DERAMAN played
the flute. MAHSURI looks up at DERAMAN, smiles and nods in gratitude. DERAMAN
walks towards MAHSURI at the porch, but stops at a slight distance away from her as he
feels a little shy

Mahsuri : Thank you, kind sir. That is very beautiful music you play. It seems that this little
one loved it too.

Deraman : It is my greatest pleasure. There are few things as beautiful and innocent as a
child’s smile. Your son has a charming smile.

Mahsuri : Thank you. He is the light of my world. I am sure I heard that music a few days
ago. Was that also you?

Deraman Ehm…. Yes. I have passed this road a few times already. I am just a traveller… a
poet. Please forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Deraman.

Mahsuri: It is a pleasure to meet you, Deraman. My name is Mahsuri. My husband is Wan

Darus. He is away at war-- defending Langkawi against the Siamese. And this is our son,
Wan Arkem. What brings you to Langkawi, Deraman?

Deraman: Well, the poems and songs I write are mostly inspired by things I see and
experience during my travels. It is often said Langkawi is one of the most lovely places. I had
hoped that by coming here, I would find some inspiration.

Mahsuri : Have you found what you were looking for?

Deraman : That I did.

MAHURA and her friends enter the scene, proud and arrogant. They are gossiping.
MAHURA struts in front while her friends follow her from behind.

Friend 1 : …looks simply stunning on you, Mahura!

Friend 2 : It certainly brings out your beauty, Mahura. These jade from China must have
cost you a fortune!

Mahura : Oh, it’s only a small price to pay.

Friend 1 : You are very lucky to be married to the Dato’, Mahura! You can afford all the
most exquisite jewellery!

Mahura : Well, I suppose…

Friend 2 : Mahura, do you know who that man is? He looks foreign.

MAHSURI and DERAMAN turn their gaze to MAHURA and her friends as they approach
the house. MAHURA sees MAHSURI and DERAMAN on the porch and does not bother to
hide a look of contempt on her face.

Mahura : Well, well, well... We have some…company. Strange, foreign people are all you
get in Langkawi these days.

Friend 1 : This place is simply overcrowding with riffraff. Urgh.

Friend 2 : But it seems some people don’t mind mixing with mere commoners.

Friend 1 : Well, some people just don’t know how to carry themselves properly.

Mahura : Let’s leave, ladies. I cannot stand seeing our honourable family name be dragged
through the mud -- being affiliated with the dregs of society. How shameful!
 SCENE 2

Mahura : Oh yes, I’d need to find a way to rid Mahsuri from my life! But how… how…

Friend 2 : We need to accuse her of something…

Mahura : Oh, you are so intelligent. Don’t you think if I could accuse her of anything I
would have done so already?! That sly woman. She thinks she’s so pure and innocent…
being so kind to riffraff like that poet just to show she has compassion.

Friend 1 : Hmph! Deraman… I suspect he must have fallen victim to Mahsuri’s ensnaring
charm. He’s been spending too much time with her.

Mahura : Wait, you’re right,! Deraman and Mahsuri have been very close to each other.
Spending too much time with each other. It should be cause for suspicion!

Friend 2 : What are you saying, Mahura?

Mahura : Oh, I can’t believe you’re that dim! I’m saying that we could accuse them of
having an affair!

Friend 2 : But it is a serious accusation! Our village law states that adultery is punishable by
death!

Mahura : I know, that is what makes the plan perfect! I will be able to get rid of Mahsuri
once and for all!
 SCENE 3

Dato’ Karma Jaya : Spending the night with the stranger? Mahsuri has crossed the line!

Mahura : Oh she has no restrain! Even one of your men has seen her! Deraman spent the
night at Mahsuri’s place, didn’t he?

DATO KARMA JAYA turns to MAN 2. Show it clearly that they are conniving and
scheming to accuse Mahsuri.

Dato Karma Jaya : Is this true? Is what Mahura saying true?

Man 2 : I once saw Deraman entering Mahsuri’s house compound but never coming out until
the next day. I remember it rained that night.

Dato Karma Jaya : This cannot be tolerated! Bring me Deraman and Mahsuri! They must be
punished!

SCENE 4

DERAMAN stumbles into the scene, torn and tattered, rushes into MAHSURI’s house.
MAHSURI ,who is in the living room cradling her baby, looks startled and gasps at
DERAMAN’s sudden appearance.

Deraman : Mahsuri! Oh, Mahsuri! Thank goodness you are here!

Mahsuri : Why? What is happening? Are you hurt?

Deraman : Dato’ Karma Jaya…. His men… they are after me!

Mahsuri : I do not understand! Why are they after you?

Deraman : I do not know! But… but they… are coming after you too! Came to... warn you!

Mahsuri : Calm down, Deraman! We have done nothing wrong! There is no reason to hide!
Why don't you calm down, and we will explain whatever misunderstanding this is to Dato
Karma Jaya.

Deraman : No, Mahsuri! We must leave now!

“There they are! In the house!”

 SCENE 5

Mahuri : There! Look at that! They are trying to elope! They’re holding hands and going to
run away!

Mahsuri : Mahura? What are you talking about? We are not running away.

Mahura : Lies! You are caught red-handed! Do not try to deny the truth! You are having an
affair with him!

Mahsuri : Affair? There is no affair! We are only friends!

Mahura : Lies! This woman is an adulteress and a liar!

MAHSURI shakes her head desperately in denial of the accusations.

Deraman : Please listen to our explanations! We—

Dato’ Karma Jaya : Be quiet! I have shown you kindness by allowing a foreigner like you to
stay in the village! This is how you repay me?! By having no care for morals and decency?
You have brought shame upon the village! I cannot believe this of you, Mahsuri. You have
brought not only shame upon yourself, but upon your whole family. The law is the law, and I
must do what has to be done. Take them away! They disgust me!

Wan Darus : (monologue) Langkawi -- my beloved homeland! For you, I’d lay my life down
a thousand times over. I’d protect your people with my weary hands, I’d proclaim your
freedom with my dying breath.. I had a dream last night.. I saw Mahsuri… and a dark,
looming tree… I heard screams… And the flash of a keris… Something must be wrong! I
must go back to Mahsuri! I have to make sure she is safe!
 SCENE 6

MAHSURI, as before, is tied to a tree. VILLAGERS are gathered in the background, still
throwing accusations at her.

Dato’s Man 2 : Dato, this is the keris stolen from Pandak Maya’s house – just as you have
ordered.

Dato Karma Jaya : Finally! Finally! What did you think Mahsuri.. we'd never get it.. Oh
Mahsuri… my men’s sharpest swords and sturdiest spears have failed to even scratch your
skin. But this! This… will be your end…

Mahura : Dato! Let us not waste more time. Dato Karma Jaya do it now.

MAN 2 takes the keris, goes over and kills MAHSURI with a single stab (wont be shown
explicitly.)

VILLAGERS. DATO KARMA JAYA, MEN, MAHURA and FRIENDS now blend into the
crowd.

Mahsuri : You… that have wronged me, spat and jeered at me, Till my heart bled with
sorrow and pain from your wrongdoings… Till my parents that bore me to this earth cried
with no more tears… Till my child was left with no mother… Till my beloved husband
mourn in emptiness for me… I curse thee for the pain that you have left my family… Till the
next 7 generations, the land Langkawi cannot be toiled, There will be no happiness, no
prosperity…

MAHSURI dies. SPOTLIGHT off her. Dramatic lighting (possibly indicating lightning). A
roar of thunder.

EVERYONE looks terrified.

Villager 5 : Look!! Look at Mahsuri! There’s white blood coming out from her!

Villager 4 : Proof she was innocent!

Deraman :[guilt-ridden, mournful, filled with deep sorrow] Mahsuri….Mahsuri….

It was my fault… I caused your death…How can one’s soul bear such torment as causing the
death of one so loved? I can never rest in peace… Mahsuri, you once said you will always be
a part of Langkawi… I will never leave Langkawi… as long as my love remains, I will never
leave Langkawi…