HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN SAD AND HOW TO MAKE A SAD MAN HAPPY

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

a play in one act

R. B. Asuncion
HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN SAD AND HOW TO MAKE A SAD MAN HAPPY

TITLE character list

KING: old king

PRINCE BENIAH: Wise young prince.

SERVANT 1: A young Jew Servant.

TAG LINE: THIS TOO SHALL PASS

 HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN SAD AND HOW TO MAKE A SAD MAN HAPPY

HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN SAD

AND A SAD MAN HAPPY

SCENE 1

[CENTER, KING WALKS BY THE GARDEN]

KING: How can these lilies stay beautiful every day? How can
the sun shine brightly as it was yesterday?

[Major stage directions: CHARACTER I moves

around the stage, from CENTER to DOWN
LEFT]

KING: How can the birds sing as

beautifully as if they don’t get
tired?

KING: I am an old man in distress.

[Major stage directions: New character
enters, approaches David]

SERVANT: My Lord,the Queen of Sheba has sent you 10 caravans of

gold.

KING: how can I accept these riches though I am already the

richest of my own in this world? What shall an old man like me
could use of it?

SERVANT: My King,it is only right that you accept it.

KING: But I do not need it, besides the Queen of Sheba sent
those for my son Beniah for she is intrigued by him. It is not
right that I accept it.

SERVANT: But I think, you should accept it my King.

 HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN SAD AND HOW TO MAKE A SAD MAN HAPPY

KING: Is it really?

KING: you have been my servant for 50 years is it not?

SERVNAT: Yes my King. I have devoted my life to yours.

KING: Let us talk this through. Since you insist, if you can
bring me what I want, you can keep the ten caravans of gold
sent by the Queen of Sheba.

SERVANT: I am not worthy my King, but let me hear your request.

KING: [laughs lowly] I want something that when I am happy, I

will not be too happy. And when I am sad, I will never be too
sad.

SERVANT: How is that possible my King?

KING: It is for me to know and for you to find out. I will give
you three days. If you cannot give me what I ask for, to what
shall I do you?

SERVANT: [gulps, chuckles nervously] I dare to challenge the

King, my death shall be the price if I cannot give what you
asked for.

DAVID: Alright.

END SCENE

SCENE 2

[DOWN CENTER, SERVANT walks around the

garden.]

SERVANT: [pulls his hair in distress] What shall I do now?

If I cannot find what the King asked for, surely my death
will come tomorrow!
 HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN SAD AND HOW TO MAKE A SAD MAN HAPPY

[Prince Beniah enters; approaches

Servant]

PRINCE: Why are you in distress?

SERVANT: My prince, why did I challenge your father, now I

am in such dilemma! [falls on his knees and sobs]

SERVANT: God spare me for my lust for perishable riches.

How can I make a hapy man sad and a sad man happy at the
same time?

PRINCE: [touches a flower] In that simple thing you are

worried?

SERVANT: I am not as wise as you my prince, what your

father asks for is impossible. How can you laugh while
crying and how can you cry while laughing?

PRINCE: [laughs] Simple. Make a ring and engraved to it the

words: THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
SERVANT: I do not understand my prince.

PRINCE: When my Father is happy and stares at it, it will

remind him that he should not be too happy. And when he is
sad, when he sees it, he will never be too sad.

SERVANT: I see, thank you, you are really the wisest

in the Kingdom.

PRINCE: Do not let my Father know I helped you.

SERVANT: My life is yours now, for you have saved me

from sure death my prince.

End scene
HOW TO MAKE A HAPPY MAN SAD AND HOW TO MAKE A SAD MAN HAPPY

SCENE 3

[Center. King sits on his throne]

[Center: Servant enters]

KING: This is the day. Did you find what I ask of you?

SERVANT: Yes my king, here. [servant hands over a

golden ring]

KING: A ring? How can a happy man become sad, and how
can a sad man be happy with this?

SERVANT: If you will look closely at it, there engraved

the words, THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

KING: And what does it mean?

SERVANT: When you are happy, it will remind you that

happiness too will pass. When you are sad, it will
remind you that sadness too shall pass. Nothing is
permanent. Happiness, wealth, joy, victory and loss,
it will all pass.

KING: I am greatly touched. You can now claim your 10

caravans of gold.

SERVANT: I am thankful to you my KING.

[CURTAIN FALLS]