The Lion's Breakfast
THOSE IN THE PLAY
READER		LION
DONKEY		RABBIT
READER. Mr Lion has blundered into a trap and is well caught. He was hunting about this morning for something to eat, when 
to his joy he saw a
 juicy chunk of meat lying in a sort of box. But
when he greedily sank his teeth into the meat, a
heavy wooden door fell with a crash behind him.
A strong wooden bar slipped down and kept the
door from opening again.
So here he is - trapped and roaring loudly
enough to be heard a mile off. Trotting along the
road comes a young donkey. He stops and stares.
DONKEY. What on earth are you doing in there, Mr Lion?
LION. Let me out! Let me out, you miserable thistle-eater!
DONKEY. Let you out! And then be eaten for my trouble! No, thank you. I'm not as stupid as that. Hee-haw! Hee-haw!
LION. Now see here, Master Donkey, you're such a good-looking, clever, kind chap. Just give that bar 
a push
upwards, will you please ?
DONKEY. I know you're only trying to fool me. If I let you out, you'll make a breakfast of me. I don't want to be eaten.
LION. Eaten! Goodness me, whatever put that idea into your head! I do eat some animals, but not my 
friends. How
could you think of such a thing! Dear me!
DONKEY. Well, it's very good of you to call me your friend. I've always wanted to be a friend of 
yours. All right, I'll lift
up the bar.
READER. In two seconds the lion is free, and the very first thing the old rascal does is to knock down the silly donkey and get 
ready to make a meal of him.
DONKEY. Oh! Oh! Oh! What are you doing?
LION. I'm hungry, after roaring my head off in there. You're just what I need to set me up again.
DONKEY. But you promised not to eat me. I'm your friend, you said. Aren't you going to keep your word ? Don't be two-faced.
LION. What! Do you dare to say that I'm two-faced.
DONKEY. You are unfair, anyway, seeing that I helped you to escape from the trap. Ask any one else to 
be a judge
of the matter and he'll say the
same.
LION. A judge! (To himself): Now that's a grand idea. If I can find some one to be a judge, what's to stop me having the judge 
himself for breakfast tomorrow. (Aloud): All right. We'll find a judge and see what he says about it. Come along! Don't lie there 
groaning, or I'll start gnawing you now.
READER. He takes the surprised donkey by the ear, and off they hasten down the road. Before long they 
meet an old
grey rabbit.
LION. Look! Here's a rabbit. He'll make a good breakf- I mean judge. Tell 
him all about it and see what he says.
Come on, speak up.
DONKEY. You see, Mr Rabbit, it was like this: Mr Lion was caught in a trap. 
He promised he wouldn't eat 'me, if I let
him out; but as soon as I did so, he knocked me down and was going to 
gobble me up.
RABBIT (slowly). Would you mind saying that over again ? I don't quite see 
what you mean.
DONKEY. The lion was in a trap. He said he wouldn't touch me, if I let him 
out; but as soon as I freed him, he sprang
on me and said he was going to eat me.
RABBIT. Dear, dear, that's very strange. How did you come to be in the 
trap, Master Donkey?
DONKEY. I wasn't in the trap. It was the lion.
RABBIT. Oh, I see. It-was-the-lion. How silly of me!
LION (fiercely). Well, what do you think about it ? Am I two-faced as this 
long-eared idiot says ?
RABBIT. Really, I think I could understand it better if we went to the 
place where all this happened.
LION. How much longer have I to wait for my breakf-. Oh, well, come on then.
READER. He leads the way back to the trap.
RABBIT. Oh, now I see. The lion was walking down the road, when he saw you
LION. No, No, No! You muddle-headed dolt, can't you understand anything?
RABBIT. Dear, dear, my poor brain. I don't think I'll ever understand what you mean.
LION. Yes, you shall. Now listen!
RABBIT. Yes, my lord lion, I will try.
LION. I was in the trap, when the donkey came down the road. Do you understand ?
RABBIT. Yes, yes, I think so; but about this trap. How did you get in?
LION. Through the door, you dunderhead.
RABBIT. But, but - it is such a very small door. How could you go through it - such a fine big animal as you are ?
LION. Here! I'll show you, you old duffer.
READER. The lion marches into the trap.
LION. See now, I'm in the trap.
RABBIT. Yes I see quite plainly; and now I'll push down this bar, and you'll stay there. Good-bye. Come on, donkey!
LION (thumping the door with rage). You trickster! just see if I don't pay you for this when I get out.
RABBIT. I'm not very worried. Are you donkey ?
DONKEY. Hee-haw! No indeed. I don't mind telling you, lion, you're two-faced.
READER. They go off down the road together, as merry as can be. All at once there is a loud bang.
DONKEY. Did you hear that?
RABBIT. Yes; it means that the lion won't have to worry any more about his breakfast.
-Adapted from a story by James D. Benedict.


