Annancy and the Old Tiger Riding-Horse
by Roger Hall
illustrated by Olga Volger

CHARACTERS
MISS SELINA  	TIGER  		ANNANCY SPIDER  	MR PEACOCK
MR MONKEY  		MISS PARROT 	MR TORTOISE    	NARRATOR 
SCENE: MISS SELINA is sitting on a chair in her home.
Around her are MONKEY, PARROT, TORTOISE and PEACOCK.
NARRATOR. This is a play about Annancy, the Spider. West Indians enjoy 
stories about him, because he is always
so clever and tricks other animals, even though they are much bigger than 
he is. This play is called Annancy and The
Old Tiger Riding-Horse.
MONKEY. Tell us, Miss Selina, who do you think you will marry, Tiger or 
Annancy Spider?
SELINA. I really don't know.
PARROT. I think you should marry Tiger.
SELINA. He's very handsome.
TORTOISE. I think you should marry Annancy Spider.
SELINA. He's very clever.
PEACOCK. I think you should marry me, because I've got very nice legs. 
Look! [Everyone ignores him.]
TORTOISE. If you marry Annancy he'll be so clever that he'll get you 
everything you want.
SELINA. Yes, I know.
PARROT. But if you marry Tiger all the other girls will envy you.
SELINA. I know that too.
PEACOCK. I think you should marry me, because I've got very nice legs. Look!
MONKEY. Well, Miss Selina. You'd better make up your mind. Both Tiger and 
Annancy will be here soon.
PEACOCK [to himself]. Well I think I've got very nice legs anyhow.
PARROT. Oh! Here he comes. That handsome Tiger!
TIGER approaches MISS SELINA'S home. He is carrying a gift and is very 
proud of himself, but a little nervous.
TIGER. Do I look all right? I think so. I've brushed my fur, combed my 
whiskers, cleaned my claws and ironed my tail. Splendid! Now to it. Ahem! Er . . . Ah 
…  Miss Selina? SELINA. Good morning, Mr Tiger.
Good morning. Ah! Let's see ... or ... ah yes ... Miss Selina, I have come 
here to ask me to marry you.
SELINA. I beg your pardon.
TIGER. To ask you to marry me, of course.
SELINA. If I marry you, what can you offer me?
TIGER. Well, let's see. I'm tall, good-looking, got good legs …
PEACOCK. Not nearly as nice as mine.
TIGER. . . . and I'm brainy. Well, every animal who's smaller than me 
says I'm brainy, so I must be.
PARROT. Oh! Isn't he wonderful!
TIGER. And I can offer you a little house by the swamp, a good job, 
plenty of money ... er ...
PARROT. Give her the gift, silly.
TIGER. Oh! Ah! The gift! Here, Miss Selina, A gift!
SELINA. What is it?
TIGER. Tiger Balm. A sailor gave it to me. Cures pimples, boils and 
warts, and is also good for athlete's foot, tennis
elbow and housemaid's knee.
SELINA. I see. Thank you. I shall consider your proposal. Perhaps you 
could call back?
TIGER. Certainly, my dear lady. Certainly. Farewell, for the time being. 
[TIGER goes off.]
PARROT. You should have accepted.
TORTOISE. Nonsense. Annancy is much better.
PEACOCK. You're all ignoring my beautiful legs. I should marry Miss 
Selina.
MONKEY. Be quiet! Here comes Annancy now. [ANNANCY approaches MISS 
SELINA's home.]
ANNANCY. I'm a bit late. Haven't had any time to tidy up. Never mind. 
Miss Selina will marry me for what I am, not
what I look like. Good morning, Miss Selina.
SELINA. Good morning Annancy.
PEACOCK. Just look at those horrible hairy legs.
PARROT. Wretched little creature.
ANNANCY. As you know, Miss Selina, I've come to ask you to marry me.
SELINA. What can you offer me?
ANNANCY. Offer you? Not very much. But I would make life a lot of fun.
TORTOISE. Yes, he would. And life's no good unless it's fun.
SELINA. To tell you the truth, Annancy, I was thinking of marrying Tiger.
ANNANCY. Tiger! [He thinks for a moment.] Why, he used to be my father's riding-horse!
SELINA. Surely not!
ANNANCY. So you're going to marry my father's riding-horse. Of course he was a very 
good riding-horse.
SELINA. I don't believe that he ever was a riding-horse.
PARROT. Nor do I.
ANNANCY. Well, he was. I can prove it. Well, since you won't marry me I may 
as well go home. Goodbye, Selina,
I'd better go. I can hear Tiger coming. [He goes across the stage and lies 
down on a bed. Enter Tiger.]
TIGER. My dear Miss Selina. Can you, could you, shall you, will you marry 
me?
SELINA. No!
TIGER. No! Why ever not?
SELINA. Because you used to be Annancy's father's riding-horse.
TIGER. WHAT! Who said so?
ALL. Annancy!
TIGER. That wretched, rotten, rascally rapscallion! I'll kill him! Just 
wait till I get hold of him. Where is he?
MONKEY. He went home.
TIGER. Right! [He begins to bellow.] Annancy! Annancy! I'm coming to kill you. [He 
arrives at ANNANCY'S house, where ANNANCY is lying down on his bed pretending to be 
very ill.] Do you hear? What's the matter?
ANNANCY. I'm dying! Oh, I'm dying!
TIGER. But I want to kill you.
ANNANCY. Yes, all right. Oh! I'm so ill.
TIGER. But I must kill you in front of Miss Selina and her friends.
ANNANCY. Well, you'll have to carry me there then.
TIGER. Oh, very well. Get on my back.
ANNANCY. I'll have to put a blanket on your back first. You don't want me to die of 
cold before I get there.
TIGER. All right. [ANNANCY puts a blanket over TIGER's back.] Now get on.
ANNANCY. Just a minute. I may fall off. I must put a rope around your 
neck to hang on to.
TIGER. If you must. But come on. I'm in a hurry to kill you for saying I was an old 
riding-horse.
ANNANCY. Yes, I know. Nearly ready. I've just got to get a stick.
TIGER. A stick!
ANNANCY. There are so many flies around. I need something to brush them 
away with. Ah! Here we are! Off we go.
Ooh, I do feel ill!
TIGER begins carrying ANNANCY on his back.
TIGER. I'll soon kill you. That'll show you up in front of Miss Selina. 
I say, Annancy, would you mind not digging your heels into me. It hurts.
ANNANCY. Sorry, Tiger.
TIGER. Ah! Here we are at Miss Selina's home.
ANNANCY. Giddup, Tiger. Giddup. [He digs in his heels, hits TIGER with 
the stick and rides TIGER like a jockey.]
TIGER. Ouch! Oh! Ow. [He gallops off carrying ANNANCY with him.]
MONKEY. Well, Tiger was Annancy's father's riding-horse after all.
PARROT. Are you going to marry him now?
SELINA. No.
TORTOISE. Are you going to marry Annancy?
SELINA. No.
MONKEY. Then who are you going to marry? 
SELINA. Mr Peacock. Because he has such fine legs. 
 She gets up and begins to lead MR PEACOCK off very firmly. 
 PEACOCK. What! Oh dear! I'm not really sure I want … are you certain?  Oh dear me!  
Marry me? 
[His voice fades away as they go off stage.] 
CURTAIN 

The Homebred Boy
illustrated by Peter Warner

CHARACTERS
MOTHER	BOY	PEASANT 	PEASANT'S WIFE 	SERVANT
BRIDEGROOM 		BRIDE 	READER     FIRST MAGICIAN
SECOND MAGICIAN   	THIRD MAGICIAN   			FIRST GUEST 	SECOND 
GUEST 	THIRD GUEST 	READER
SCENE I. A Tibetan Farmhouse
MOTHER. My dear son, though I shall miss you very much, I think that it's time now 
that you went out into the
world.
Boy. Now, Mother? Do you mean today?
MOTHER. Yes, the fifteenth day of the sixth month is a lucky date, and I have made 
ready a new suit of clothes for
you.
BOY. It is kind of you, Mother.
MOTHER. You deserve whatever I can give you. You've been a very good son to me. You 
must take your horse, and
your dog, and your gun, and this fine sword that your father left for you when he 
died. With all these, and with your
own sharp wits, you should be able to make your way in the world without being afraid 
of anything.
BOY. I'm not afraid, Mother; and I shall do well, you can be sure of that.
MOTHER. I'll be happy to see you back, however you come.
Boy. I shall return with a great fortune.
READER. As soon as he is ready, the Boy rides off on his great adventure. Towards 
evening, he sees a hut ahead of him, in the high mountains. He decides to
go there and ask for shelter for the night, but, as he
begins to climb towards it, a fox jumps out before
him. The dog chases it, and the horse gallops off after
the dog. The fox runs into a hole in the ground. The
Boy dismounts to try and catch it; but suddenly the
fox darts out, the dog runs after it, the horse (with
all his possessions in the pack) follows the dog, and
they all go racing down the mountain-side, leaving
the Boy with nothing. He walks sadly on to the hut.
He knocks.
SCENE 2. The PEASANT's Hut
PEASANT. Who is there ?
BOY. An unlucky stranger, left stranded on the mountains.
WIFE. Well, this is not a very good time of day to be wandering about alone. Come 
in, and take shelter for the night.
BOY. Thank you. You are very kind. If you could just let me sleep somewhere 
I'll go on in the morning.
READER. The peasants give the Boy a meal, and he lies down in their hut. 
When they think he is asleep, they begin
to talk.
WIFE. I wonder who he is, the poor boy, and where he is going.
PEASANT. He seems a well-mannered boy, but he knows nothing of the world. 
This is his first day away from home,
and he has lost everything - his horse, his dog, his gun, his sword, and even his new 
cloak - and he hasn't the least idea where to find them again.
WIFE. He'll never find them in these mountains.
PEASANT. Do you think we should tell him to go down to the villages in the 
east? He's sure to meet with better
fortune there.
WIFE. I think we'd better advise him to go back to his mother. He can't set 
off to conquer the world with nothing.
PEASANT. There are only two things needed to conquer the world, my 
dear - kindness, and common sense. I think he could probably manage - 
BOY. I am not asleep. I'm listening to what you're saying. And, though I 
think it's very good of you to wish me well, I
don't want to go back to my mother and say that I've failed at the very 
beginning of my journey. I'll go in the morning to the villages that you say are in 
the 
east, and perhaps I'll find my horse on the way.
PEASANT. I don't think you will, but I may be wrong. Who knows?
READER. He travels on down the mountains towards the east and comes to a 
village, where there is great rejoicing.
He stops before a large house where everyone is bustling about making ready 
for a feast. He knocks on the door.
SCENE 3. Outside the BRIDEGROOM'S House
BOY. Good morning! Can you tell me what's happening here?
SERVANT. Yes, I can. The master of this house is being married today.
BOY. Could I serve him in any way?
SERVANT. I don't know. Perhaps if I ask the master -  
BOY. Tell him I have lost all my possessions and need help.
BRIDEGROOM [coming to the door]. Who's that, wasting your time with 
talking, when you should be helping at my
wedding feast? 
SERVANT. A poor young man who says he needs work.
BRIDEGROOM. He must go away from the door. I don't want miserable people crying at my 
wedding. Sad faces bring bad luck. Go on! Be off with you, you unlucky creature!  
READER. The Boy goes away and wanders about till nightfall, when he creeps 
back to the big house. Hiding behind
a tree, he watches the guests arrive. As the bride steps out of her 
carriage, a jewel falls out of her head-dress without
her noticing it. The Boy throws his handkerchief over it. Just then a 
maid-servant comes to the door and sees the
handkerchief. She thinks it looks untidy there, so she picks it up, and the 
jewel with it, and puts it into a hole in the
wall. In a few minutes the door is flung open.
BRIDEGROOM. Are you sure that you had it on when you stepped out of the 
carriage?
BRIDE. Yes. I felt it as we came along in the carriage.
BRIDEGROOM. Then where is it? I'm sure it's not in the house. The servants 
have looked everywhere.
BRIDE. But it must be! It's either in the house or in the carriage itself. 
I know I had it!
BRIDEGROOM. Call all the servants in the household! Search every nook and 
corner in the building!
SERVANT. We have already searched everywhere, my lord!
BRIDEGROOM. Then send for every wise man and every magician in the neighbourhood and 
tell them there'll be a bag of gold for 
the man that finds it.
SERVANT. Yes, my lord. It shall be found, my lord.
READER. In the evening the magicians are gathered in the house, and, 
while the wedding-guests look on, they try to
find the missing jewel.
SCENE 4. Inside the House
FIRST MAGICIAN. I have here a crystal ball. When I look into it, it will 
show me the place where the jewel is lying.
But I must have silence or the glass will become clouded.
BRIDEGROOM. Silence everywhere! Silence!
GUESTS. Silence!
FIRST MAGICIAN. Crystal Ball, you have never failed me! Show me the 
precious jewel!
READER. There is a long pause.
FIRST MAGICIAN. I don't understand. There must be something wrong with 
it. Give me a moment. I can't quite see
FIRST GUEST [sneezing]. A-TISH-OO!
FIRST MAGICIAN. There! That's the end of it! I told you I must have 
silence! The ball has clouded over!
BRIDEGROOM. Bah! Show him to the door!
SERVANT. Yes, my lord.
BRIDEGROOM. Who's next?
SECOND MAGICIAN. I have a magic rhyme. If I close my eyes and say it over 
while I walk, I will make straight for
the jewel. But nobody must stand in my way, or I'll bump into him, and 
the spell will vanish.
BRIDEGROOM. Keep out of his way everyone!
GUESTS. Keep out of his way!
SECOND MAGICIAN [with his arms spread out before him]. Ab-ra-ca-da-bra, Trot! Trit! 
Trot! Lead me to the hidden spot! . . . Oh! You foolish man!
BRIDEGROOM. What's the matter?
SECOND MAGICIAN. I bumped into somebody!
SECOND GUEST. You bumped into the table!
SECOND MAGICIAN. The table, was it? I thought it was some clumsy person in 
my way! I'm sorry; but I've opened
my eyes, and it's broken the spell!
BRIDEGROOM. Well, how you could expect to find a jewel with your eyes 
closed, I don't know. Show him to the
door, too!
SERVANT. Yes, my lord.
BRIDEGROOM. Is there a third?
THIRD MAGICIAN. Yes, here I am, my lord! I have a magic potion here. When I mix it, a 
dense smoke will arise, and wherever it blows, and stops, there the jewel will be.
BRIDEGROOM. Come on then! Mix it up!
THIRD MAGICIAN [mixing]. Smoke! Smoke! Rise and blow! You'll lead me to the 
jewel I know!
THIRD GUEST. Well, he's certainly making enough smoke with his potion!
THIRD MAGICIAN. Oh, look! That's ruined everything! Someone has left the 
window open, and the smoke has blown
outside!
BRIDEGROOM. Yes, that has ruined everything. I've never seen so much 
nonsense in my life. Why didn't you ask for
the window to be closed? Send them all away. They are no help at all!
SERVANT. There's another one at the door, my lord. A ragged-looking boy. He 
says that if it's magic you want, he
can find the jewel in five minutes. He says he's the best magician in the land.
BRIDEGROOM. It's the jewel I want, magic or no magic. Show him in!
SERVANT. Yes, my lord.
READER. He shows the Boy in.
BRIDEGROOM. Well, young man
BOY. Sir, I have magic powers which will lead me to the jewel immediately.
BRIDEGROOM. Then the sooner you use your magic powers the better. Get on 
with it!
BOY. First I must have in my right hand the bag of gold which is to be my 
reward.
BRIDEGROOM. And then you'll dart out the door with it,I suppose?
BOY. You have plenty of servants here to see that I don't, my lord.
BRIDE. Oh, let him have the gold, if he says it will help him! I must 
have the jewel!
BRIDEGROOM. Very well! Hand it to him!
SERVANT [handing it over]. Yes, my lord.
Boy. Thank you. And now, the spirits have told me that the jewel was lost 
because someone in the household drove a
stranger from the door on his wedding-day.
BRIDEGROOM. Nonsense!
SERVANT. But, my lord! Excuse me, my lord! I remember it. A man came to the 
door for work. A man who was - yes, my lord, he was very like this magician himself!
BRIDEGROOM. Y-e-s. I remember now!
Boy. Well, the spirits say that this man must follow me on his knees as I 
walk to the jewel's hiding-place. Otherwise
it will remain hidden forever!
BRIDEGROOM. But - 
BRIDE. Oh, follow him! Do! It's not much to ask!
BRIDEGROOM. In front of all the guests?
Boy. In front of all the guests! Yes!
BRIDE. They'll understand! Please do as he says!
BRIDEGROOM. Oh, very well!
Boy. Don't get up from your knees! Not for a moment! Or the trail will be 
lost!
READER. All the guests follow the bridegroom as he crawls after the Boy through all 
the rooms and out 
to the door.
The Boy stops before the hole in the wall.
BOY. The spirits say that the jewel lies inside that tiny hole in the wall. No! Don't 
get up! The 
servant will look!
SERVANT. Yes! Yes! Look! It's here!
GUESTS. The jewel! He has found the jewel!
BOY. What did I tell you? You may get up! And now, good-bye, everyone! I'll be on my 
way --- with this bag of gold to lighten the journey!
Adapted from F. W. O'Connor's " Tales from Tibet"

Pekka and the Rogues
Dramatised by M. M. Heise 	illustrated by Conrad Frieboe

 CHARACTERS
PEKKA 	2ND ROGUE	FATHER 	INNKEEPER
1ST ROGUE 	WAITER
SCENE I. PEKKA and his FATHER are standing outside their cottage.
FATHER. Pekka, we have not nearly enough food to keep our two cows alive. 
They're growing thinner every day. I think we'd better sell one, and with the money we 
can buy hay to feed the other.
PEKKA. Yes, I've been thinking that, too. I'd better go to the market with one of them 
today. The longer they stay here, the thinner they grow - and one fat beast is better 
than two thin ones.
FATHER. Or two dead ones, for that matter.
PEKKA. I'd better take Kyllikki. She's not quite as thin as her sister, so I'd get 
more for her. What do you think I should ask for her?
FATHER. Oh, take as much as you're offered, of course. But I shouldn't 
accept a cent under six dollars. After all, she's a very good-natured animal.
PEKKA. Right! I'll go off with her straight away, before we decide that 
we're too fond of her to let her go. Where's my
old red cap, Father?
FATHER. Behind the door, I think.
PEKKA goes in, and in a moment appears, putting   the red cap on his head.
FATHER [as they walk off]. You might as well buy the hay and bring it 
home straight away, if you can manage it.
PEKKA. Yes, I'll do that
SCENE II. A path in the forest. [This can be shown by trees painted   on the curtain.] 
PEKKA is standing on the path, watching something at the left of the stage. The two 
ROGUES approach him from that side.
1ST ROGUE [nudging his friend, and in a cheeky manner]. Hi there, 
Farmer's Boy! Is that your goat drinking from the
stream over there ?
PEKKA. It's not a goat. It's our old cow, Kyllikki. I've just let her 
stop for a drink.
2ND ROGUE [looking back]. Cow? Don't be silly! That's not a cow. It's too 
small and thin for a cow. That's a goat.
PEKKA [calmly]. It's a cow.
1st ROGUE. It's a very small and bony animal, whatever it is. What's she 
doing there, anyway? Haven't you a farm for
your animals?
PEKKA. Yes, I have a farm; but I'm going to the market to sell Kyllikki, 
so I'm just letting her enjoy herself a little on
the way.
1st ROGUE. Oh! So you're going to sell her, are you? I thought as much. 
But let me tell you that you won't get much
for that animal, young man. You must be a simpleton to try. First you say 
it's a cow, when anyone can see that it's a
goat. Isn't that right, my friend ?
2ND ROGUE, That animal is certainly a goat, and a very poor goat at that.
1st ROGUE [nodding]. Very poor! And, secondly, you don't seem to know 
that the market is overcrowded with lean
and hungry animals. No one has any food for their stock after all these 
months of dry weather. Suppose we do this
poor young man a good turn?
2ND ROGUE. Whatever you say. You are always very generous, my friend.
1ST ROGUE. Thank you. I always try to be; and, even though I don't like 
the look of his goat, I like the look of this
young man. So, I'm willing to buy this lean and hungry animal from him. 
[He takes some coins from his pocket.]
Come now! Here's one dollar. Take it, and think yourself lucky.
PEKKA [pushing the money aside]. But I couldn't
1st ROGUE. Don't hesitate now. We don't mind a bit, do we?
2ND ROGUE. Not a bit!
PEKKA. But you don't understand. My father told me - 
2ND ROGUE. Now don't be a foolish young man. Just take the money, and think yourself 
lucky to get it.
 [ The 1st ROGUE throws the money at PEKKA, and the
 two hurry off the stage. As PEKKA picks up the coins, a great
 mooing is   heard from Kyllikki.]
PEKKA [shaking his fist after them]. The rogues! I've been cheated; but 
I'll follow them up, and see what they do with
Kyllikki. I'm not going to let them get away with this. [He follows them 
off.]
SCENE III. The room of an inn. The tables are set for dinner. PEKKA comes in the door. 
He goes up to the INNKEEPER.
PEKKA. Good morning, sir! Are you the innkeeper?
INNKEEPER. Yes, young man. What can I do for you?
PEKKA. I have asked two people to have a meal with me here in a few minutes.
INNKEEPER. Certainly, sir. I'll just tell the waiter. [Calling] Waiter! 
[The WAITER comes over.] This gentleman wants
dinner for three.
WAITER. Yes, sir.
PEKKA. Perhaps I should explain. My guests are not exactly friends of mine; 
but I have just watched them sell one
of my cows for ten dollars in the market-place. I think it calls for a 
little celebration and I should therefore like to be
served with your finest wine.
WAITER [bowing]. Certainly, sir! [He turns as if to move off.]
PEKKA. One moment, please! There's just one other thing. I prefer to pay you now.
INNKEEPER. Certainly, sir! If you prefer it. Dinner for three, and the best wine.
PEKKA [handing the INNKEEPER some coins]. And a little extra for you, sir, and for the 
waiter. [ The two men bow.]
PEKKA. One last thing!
INKEEPER. Sir?
PEKKA. When we are ready to leave, I shall twirl my cap on my finger, like this 
[twirling it round] and I shall ask you, "Is everything paid for?" and you must 
answer, "Yes".
INNKEEPER. Certainly we'll say, "Yes". Everything has been paid for. Here's 
the money, right in my hand. Isn't that
so?
WAITER. Yes, sir.
PEKKA. Then that's everything settled. I'll just go out and bring my friends in. They 
should be waiting outside for me now. [He 
goes out the door, while the WAITER goes
off for the wine. In a moment PEKKA comes in the door, and walks over to 
the table with the two ROGUES. The
WAITER returns, and, with great ceremony, seats them at the table and 
shows them the menu.]
1ST ROGUE. Soup, thank you.
2ND ROGUE. Soup, thank you.
PEKKA. And soup for me, thank you. [ The WAITER goes off to get it.]
1ST ROGUE. Well, I must say that it was very generous of you to ask us 
to dinner.
2ND ROGUE. Very generous, indeed!
PEKKA. Oh, I want to make sure that the new owners of my Kyllikki are 
satisfied with the bargain. After all, you gave
me a very good price for her. She was very thin. [The 2ND ROGUE begins to laugh, but 
the first nudges him, and he 
turns his laugh into a cough. The WAITER
serves them with their soup, and then brings a bottle of wine.]
1st ROGUE. Wine!
WAITER. Yes, sir! The best in this inn!
2ND ROGUE. Well, we are certainly having a lucky day.
They nod and smile at each other and finish their soup, and the WAITER 
brings them the menu again.
1st ROGUE. Turkey, thank you.
2ND ROGUE [waving the menu aside]. I'll have turkey, thank you.
PEKKA. And I.
1st ROGUE. And I thought you were a simple farmer's son. You must be a 
very rich man.
PEKKA. Oh, I'm very rich. Probably the richest man
 you've ever known. [The ROGUES look at him in surprise,  
 and the WAITER brings in   the second course.]
1st ROGUE. The richest man in the world? Then why did you want to sell 
that thin old cow - I mean goat - I mean that animal we bought from you this morning.
PEKKA. Well, you see, most of my animals are so round and fat that I just didn't like 
to see Kyllikki spoiling the look of the herd.
1st ROGUE. Oh, I can understand now. If I may say so, you seemed very 
disturbed at the time
2ND ROGUE. Sadness, I suppose. I am very fond of animals myself.
1st ROGUE. To tell you the truth, sir, we're both very fond of animals. 
We don't like to keep an unhappy animal either,
and so we decided to sell your animal after we had left you this morning.
PEKKA. And did you get a good price for her?
1st ROGUE. Oh, about the same as we gave for her!
The WAITER comes to take the plates, and shows them the menu again.
1st ROGUE. Apple pie, thank you.
2ND ROGUE. And for me.
PEKKA. For me, too, thank you.
1st ROGUE [to PEKKA]. You were telling us about your fine herd.
PEKKA. Oh, yes! It's a fine herd and a wonderful farm. I love every animal 
of the place. [The WAITER brings the
sweets, and pours out more wine. As he turns to go, PEKKA calls him back.]
PEKKA. One moment, please! [They stop eating, and PEKKA picks up his old 
red cap from under the chair, and
twirls it round with his finger.] Is everything paid for, my man? The food, is it paid 
for?
WAITER [bowing politely]. Certainly it is, sir. [He bows again, and goes 
away. The ROGUES give one another a
puzzled look.]
1st ROGUE. That's very kind of you, sir. A little unusual, perhaps, but 
very kind.
PEKKA. Oh, that's all right. It's very easy for me.
2ND ROGUE. I suppose, for a man of your wealth
PEKKA. I think I had better tell you the secret. To have a lot of money is 
the easiest thing in the world for me. I'm a
very simple man myself.
2ND ROGUE. Yes, that's what we thought when we first saw you!
1st ROGUE [hitting his friend on the back]. Listen to him! Silly fellow! 
just says anything that comes into his head!
We thought you were friendly and kind. Just a simple kindly man. That's 
what he means.
PEKKA. Oh, I don't mind him. I am simple, too. You see, I'm not the one who makes the 
money. It's my old red cap! It's magic.
BOTH ROGUES. What?
PEKKA. Yes. You see, it's like this [showing them his old red cap]. This cap doesn't 
look much, but it's a magic cap, all right. Years ago, a wizard gave it to my father 
in payment for something he'd done for him, and ever since that time all I need do is 
to twirl the cap on my finger, and to say, "Is everything paid for?" and the answer is 
always "Yes". It seems to bewitch people. Handy, isn't it?
BOTH ROGUES [looking amazed]. Very handy!
1st ROGUE. I suppose you wouldn't care to sell us the cap ?
PEKKA. Oh, no! I couldn't do that. I earn my living by it.
2ND ROGUE. But we'd give you a very good price for it.
1st ROGUE. A wonderful price!
PEKKA [laughing]. Oh, but then I shouldn't have a cap!
1st ROGUE. Here! take mine! [Takes off green cap, and hands it to PEKKA.]
2ND ROGUE [taking off his check cap]. Take mine! [PEKKA shakes his head as 
the waiter comes back to the table.]
1ST ROGUE. Let me just try it, sir. Do let me try the cap!
PEKKA [smiling as he hands it to him]. Very well, try it!
1st ROGUE [twirling the cap]. Is everything paid for, my man? The wine, is 
it paid for?
WAITER. Certainly it's paid for, sir. [He goes off.]
1st ROGUE. Wonderful! And I suppose you haven't paid a cent.
PEKKA. No - not a cent! [Taking the cap] And now, if you have both finished, 
I must get back to my farm.
2ND ROGUE. Let me have a try first. Please! I beg of you. Please!
PEKKA. As we go out the door, then. Try it on the innkeeper. He'll think 
that I have given him a tip! [ They move
towards the door and PEKKA hands the 2ND ROGUE his cap. As they meet the 
INNKEEPER, the 2ND ROGUE
twirls the cap.]
2ND ROGUE. Is everything paid for?
INNKEEPER [bowing]. It is, sir! [The two ROGUES stand and stare at him.]
PEKKA. My cap, I think! [He takes it.]
1st ROGUE [clutching PEKKA's arm]. We'd give you all the money we have in 
the world
2ND ROGUE. We'd even borrow money to give you!
PEKKA. As  I've told you, I'm a very simple man. Perhaps! We shall see – [They go out 
the door.]
SCENE IV. As for Scene II. The is walking along the forest path from the left to meet 
PEKKA, coming from the right. PEKKA, wearing a green cap, is struggling along carrying 
a heavy bag over his shoulders; but he looks cheerful, and is singing as he goes.
FATHER [calling]. Hullo there, Pekka.
PEKKA [taking off his green cap and waving it, and putting it on again]. Hullo there, 
Father.
FATHER [as PEKKA comes nearer]. I see you've brought the hay. Did you get a good price 
for Kyllikki?
PEKKA [putting down the bag]. A wonderful price, Father. Look! [He pulls out a handful 
of coins from 
his pocket and
tosses them in the air]. Look, Father!
FATHER. Pekka! All that money! How could you get all that for our old Kyllikki?
PEKKA. I didn't, Father! [Tossing his green cap in the air]   I sold my old red cap as 
well! And don't I wish now that I could see what happens to the man who bought it- the 
Rogue!
Dramatised from a Finnish Folk Tale.


