Why Hens Keep Scratching the Ground
very flattered)
SOLO 1: Don’t you notice?
Hens keep scratching the ground
SOLO 2: Yes, just why? Can you tell?
SOLO 3: Can you tell?
SOLO 4: (As of an echo) can you tell?
SOLO 1: Hm-m-m Listen -
CHOIR: One morning, Pretty Little Hen
Was walking in the garden -
She saw a grain -
Shining grain
Delicious grain,
Right on the lane!
At once she picked it up
And ate it -
the shining grain,
delicious grain,
upon the lane.
(Suddenly, Hen is surprised to hear sounds,
as of the heart, beating wild and fast.)
But what’s that?
When she looked up, she saw Mr.
Hawk
SOLO 3: Mr. Hawk
SOLO 4: Mr. Hawk -
CHOIR: Up the mango tree-
the tall mango tree!
Right!
She saw Mr. Hawk up the tree-
Mr. Hawk whose heart was suddenly
pierced by Cupid’s dart.
SOLO 1: In other words, Mr. Hawk
fell head over heels in
love with Pretty Hen!
CHOIR: Let’s eavesdrop, him?
HAWK: Where do I begin?
HEN: Well, just begin from the beginning -!
HAWK: Oh - Oh - Ms. Lovely Hen!
I love you quite,
And I want you to be my wife.
Will you marry me -?
Please — Ms. Pretty?
HEN: (takes time before speaking, but in reality
Mr. Hawk — Er – Well –
I’ll marry you, yes —
but then
Only when — when —-
My wings grow like yours,
So that I too my fly,
SOLO 1: fly
SOLO 2: fly —
So that I too may fly.
HAWK: Oh thank you my love!
For that day, I’ll pray to Him above —
CHOIR: And with that, Mr. Hawk flew away —
SOLO 1: away —
SOLO 2: away —
CHOIR: Contemplating his victory in his suit,
And he came back the next day.
HAWK: My love, my beloved true,
An engagement ring I’ve brought for you
Wear it and tell the whole world, too
That we’re going steady through and
through.
HEN: (Eyes popping with delight)
Oh thanks, then you, your sweetie
Around my neck this ring it will be –
CHOIR: And away she walked,
proudly,
coquettishly,
This pretty hen is so vain!
Trying to show everyone
The ring she has just won.
(From behind the bushes Mr. Cock appears and
crows!)
COCK: Kok — ko – ro – kok!
Kok — ko – ro – kok!
(Hen is surprised and startled)
HEN: Mr. Cock! Oh – Good morning there!
(Cock stares angrily at hen)
– Hey — I mean , how are you?
COCK: (Loud and angry)
Do I see a ring in your neck?
Another guy’s ring, eh? Why?
 You’ve promised to be my wife, haven’t SOLO 2: Wrath —
you? SOLO 3: Revenge —-
Hence you mustn’t wear any ring given to
you by any other men. HEN: (Cries softly)
Throw that away! Now! Can’t I have another chance?
(Hen hesitates)
HAWK: (Shakes head and continues angrily)
COCK: ( Louder) From now on, you shall always scratch the
Throw that ring away! — ground
Or else —- To search for my ring around!
(Reluctantly, Pretty hen throws the ring
away) SOLO 1: Search for the ring
SOLO 2: Scratch —
CHOIR: Click, click, click SOLO 3: Scratch —-
Went the ring – SOLO 4: Scratch —

BACKGROUND: HAWK: And what’s more – (Emphatically)

There goes my love, I will always eat every chick that I shall find
There goes my ring away – –
(Cock leaves) Mark my word in time!
(Hen then sits sadly pondering the loss of
her ring – as Hawk suddenly appears) SOLO 1: Time
SOLO 2: Time
HAWK: My lovely Hen, my sweetie, SOLO 3: Time
Do my eyes deceive me?
I see that our engagement ring, CHOIR: And from then on,
From your pretty neck missing? The hen had always scratched the ground!
(Background — sound of scratching)
CHOIR: And when the Hawk flies overhead,
HEN: (Carefully, frightfully, gropes her words) Mother Hen’s frightened voice is heard —
I’m sorry – because – yesterday
While I was alone at play, HEN: Cluck! Cluck! Cluck!
I saw a huge, huge snake, Come my little ones!
Frightened, I ran away! My little chicks!
Come!
HAWK: Well? (Unbelieving) Cruel Hawk is coming!
Come, Mr. Hawk is going to eat you!
HEN: Well – Come..
I – ran – fast – away,
I dropped
I dropped the – ring — - VICTORIA ROXAS
(Cries)

HAWK: I can see in your eyes –

that you’re not telling the truth!

HEN: (Cries and hide fear in sobs)

HAWK: I should have known!

Not because one is pretty,
You can rely on her sincerity!
And because you’ve made a fool of me,
The greatest wrath and punishment
You’ll get from me!

SOLO 1: Anger —