Scene One: King's throne room

Narrator Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom lived a ruler named King Kindness. He always showed kindness
and fairness to all people no matter their status in life. He was well liked and had many friends. On one
royal morning...

King Kindness Well, good morning fellow guard! How are you this lovely morning?

Guard 1 (Bows while speaking) Just fine your majesty. Thank you for asking, sire.

King Kindness So what is on the agenda this morning?

Guard 1 A shepherd has a problem and would like to speak to you.

King Kindness Please show him in.

(Guard one brings in shepherd. Shepherd falls to his knees begging for his help.)

Shepherd 1 Oh, royal king! My sheep (catching his breath) my sheep...

King Kindness Take your time my good fellow, take your time.

Shepherd 1 (speaking excitedly) My sheep are running out of grazing area. If they run out of grazing area they'll
starve. If they starve they'll die. If they die I am out of a job. If I'm out of a job I'll...

King Kindness Calm down. Calm down. Everything will be fine. Just take what you need of my land. I have more than I
need.

Shepherd 1 Thank you dear king! How can I repay you?

King Kindness With taking care of our kingdom's sheep. That is all.

Shepherd 1 (Bowing as he speaks) I will! I will! Thank you your majesty! You are so kind! (Leaves stage)

Guard 1 (Guard brings in slave) Your majesty this slave was caught running from her master. What do I do?

King Kindness Bring in her master, please. (Guard brings in master) Tell me why has your slave tried to run away?
   

Master (Master has an attitude. He does not bow or show any respect.) Well, O royal one, she was asking for
more grain to feed her SLAVE family. I, of course, said no! Why does a slave family deserve more grain?
It would only take away from the rich!

King Kindness Slave, is this true?

Master (Master is very upset the slave is allowed to speak.) Your going to let a slave speak? They don't have the
right!

King Kindness They do in my kingdom! (King looks kindly at slave.)  Now please tell me is this true?

Slave 1 (bowing) Yes, O king, my family was hungry. We have worked the fields but never receive enough grain
for one day's meal. I was running away to try to save my family from starvation!

(King stands up shakes head and points directly at master in disapproval.)

King Kindness I am very disappointed! Your slaves are there to serve you. Yet you do not show them any kindness in
sharing grain. Not even for one day's meal! I grant your slaves freedom from you and as much grain as
they need to feed their families.

Master (Gets on his knees begging for mercy.)  But, but, but King that would be over half my property! Please
reconsider!

King Kindness That is final. Maybe next time you will show more kindness in your decisions.

(Guard walks them out with Master still pleading)

Narrator As the years passed the king continued to show much kindness in all his decisions in his kingdom. The
people loved him and his kingdom prospered. Then one very, very sad day King Kindness died at a very,
ripe, old, age. Unfortunately King Kindness only had one heir and that was his nephew King Meanness.
He took over the kingdom and treated the people poorly without any kindness. He had few friends, if any,
and many enemies. And on one royal morning...

Scene Two: Another king's throne room

King Meanness (Yelling for his guard.) Guard! Guard! Where is that good-for-nothing guard? Guard!

   
Guard 2 (Runs in out of breath and bowing and breathing heavily) Yes, sire!

King Meanness What problems await me today?

Guard 2 Well, sire, I am glad you asked because...(King rudely interrupts)

King Meanness Just tell me already!

Guard 2 A shepherd is here to speak to you about a problem he is...(King rudely interrupts again.)

King Meanness Oh, just show him in and lets get this over with!

Shepherd 2 (Bows and begs for help) Oh, your majesty, your majesty! I am in great need of your help!

King Meanness (Speaking disrespectfully) Who isn't?

Shepherd 2 My sheep will soon run out of grazing area and they will surely die of starvation without more land.

King Meanness And what do you expect me to do? Give you land? (Laughs) A lowly shepherd land!  (Laughs again.) How
ridiculous! It's your problem now go...

Shepherd 2 But king please I need your help or...

King Meanness Go, you tire me! Guard! Take him away! How absurd. Me, a mighty king, just giving land away. Ha!
Never!

Guard 2 (Brings in slave.) Your majesty this slave was caught running away from her master. What do I do?

King Meanness Must I know everything. Just throw her in prison, of course!

Slave 2 (Bows down) Oh King, I was only running away to find food for my family! Please not prison, sire, my
family will never survive they need your help!

King Meanness (Stands up in anger) Did I say, "Speak?" Did I just hear a slave speak to me? The king of all the land. A
slave speaking to royalty! Have you lost your mind? Your not worthy to kiss the ground I walk on. Guard
take her away, immediately!

   
Guard 2 But, sire, don't you want to hear the whole story?

King Meanness Have I not made myself clear? She is a slave! Now take her away! (Starts talking to himself)  Why do I put
up with that guard? (Mocks guard's words) "Don't you want to hear the whole story?" If I wanted to hear
the whole story I would have asked to hear the whole story. What I put up with around here.

Narrator King Meanness continued to treat people in this way. He only got meaner and meaner. It caused the
people to loose hope in their kingdom and they started to move away. Only leaving the old and weak who
were unable to move. His kingdom was growing smaller and his enemies were growing larger. Then on
yet another royal morning...

Guard 2 (Runs in out of breath) Oh, King, bad news, bad, bad, news! It's just terrible and horrible! Just wait until
you hear this ...

King Meanness Just tell me already!

Guard 2 There is an army marching in from the North to take over your kingdom! What should we do?

King Meanness (Calmly) Just gather up my army.

Guard 2 But king I am your army!

King Meanness (Starting to realize there is trouble.) What? Then gather up my people to form an army.

Guard 2 What people, sire? The only people in your kingdom are the old and the weak. The rest have moved
away!

King Meanness (Very upset) Oh, what do I do? I'll loose my castle! I'll loose my lands! I'll loose my kingdom! I'll loose
everything!

Guard 2 And you lost me! (Guard runs out)

(Two guards from the army come on stage and take King prisoner.)

Army Men We are taking over this kingdom and now you are our prisoner!

King Meanness (King says as they drag him out) Where's my army? Where are my people? Please let me go! Let me go!
No! No!