Dramatisation of Father's Help : R.K. Narayan
English Project : Malgudi Days : Father's Help
Dramatisation of Father's Help
Characters :
1. Swaminathan - a 14 years old boy .
2. Father
3. Mother
4. Samuel - the teacher .
5. School peon .
6. Few students .
Scene 1
Stage Preparation : A single bed or charpoi on the stage . Swaminathan is lying on bed .
Swaminathan : ( After waking up ) Oh ! No ! It is Monday again ! It looked as though only a moment ago it was Friday ............................. but already it is Monday . Oh no ! I don't want to go school today .
[ Mother entered ]
Mother : Swaminathan ............ Swaminathan ..................... what are you doing ! It is nine o' clock . Wake up and get ready for school .
Swaminathan : I don't want to go to today ........ please .
Mother : Why ? Why are you not willing to go to school ?
Swaminathan : I have a headache .
Mother ( generously ) : Then , you may stay at home .
[ Father entered ]
Father : What happened ? Have you no school today ?
Swaminathan : I have an extreme headache !
Father ( getting angry ) : Nonsense ! Dress up and go .
Swaminathan ( protesting ) : But father , I really have a headache !
Father ( still angry ) : Loaf about less on Sundays and you will be without a headache on Monday .
Swaminathan : But ........ father ..........!
Father : What ? I don't want to hear any excuse from you . Just dress up and go .
Swaminathan : I can't go so late to the class .
Father : You'll have to . It is your own fault .
Swaminathan : But , what will the teacher think if I go so late ?
Father : Tell him you had a headache and so are late .
Swaminathan : He will scold me if I say so .
Father : Will he ? Let us see . What is his name ?
Swaminathan : Samuel .
Father : Does he always scold the students ?
Swaminathan : He is a very angry man . He is especially angry with boys who come in late . I would not like to go late to Samuel's class .
Father : If he is so angry , why not tell your headmaster about it ?
Samuel : They say that even the headmaster is afraid of him .
[ Both father and mother exit . ]
Swaminathan : ( towards audience ) : Oh father ! Why don't you understand !
[ A little pause ]
I know very well how strict my father could be !
[ Suddenly father enters ]
Father : I already composed a letter for your Headmaster .
[ The envelope was in father's hand and father extended his hand to give it to Swaminathan ]
Swaminathan : ( Apprehensively ) What have you written , Father ?
Father : Nothing for you . Give it to your Headmaster and go to your class .
Swaminathan : Have you written anything about our teacher Samuel ?
Father : Yes . Plenty of things .
Swaminathan : What has he done , Father ?
Father : Everything is there in the letter. Give it to your Headmaster .
[ Father exits and Swaminathan is looking very confused now with the envelope in his hand . ]
Scene 2
Stage Preparation : Empty stage .
[ Swaminathan started walking around the stage repeatedly wearing school uniform. He is very worried.]
Swaminathan : Oh God ! I am the worst boy on earth . My conscience bothered me . I am not at all sure if my description of Samuel had been accurate ! I am feeling that I had mixed up the real and the imagined .
[ Stopped for a few moments and again starts walking ]
I think Samuel is not such a bad man after all . Personally he is much more friendly than the other teachers . ................................... Oh no ! ................ My head is dizzy with confusion . I could not decide if Samuel really deserves the allegations made against him in the letter .
[ Again started walking around the stage repeatedly and then suddenly stopped . ]
Swaminathan : Yes I have got an idea . I would deliver the letter to the Headmaster at the end of the day. There must be chance Samuel might do something during the course of the day to justify the letter .
[ Swaminathan exists ]
Scene 3
Stage Preparation : The stage should be arranged in such a way that it looks like a classroom. There will be some benches and desks. There will be a separate chair for the teacher. There needs to be a blackboard if possible. Each bench will have a few students. Each student will wear the same uniform .
[ Swaminathan enters from the left wing of the stage and stood there . Samuel is teaching arithmetic. He is now looking at Swaminathan . ]
Samuel : You are half an hour late .
Swaminathan : I have a headache , sir .
Samuel : Then why did you come at all ?
Swaminathan : My father said that should not miss school , sir .
Samuel : ( Looking very impressed ) Your father is quite right .We want more parents like him .
[ Swaminathan sat down . Looking very sad and confused . The teacher then asked each student to submit their homework. Everyone got up from the bench and came to the teacher with a notebook. But Swaminathan did not submit any notebook]
Samuel : Swaminathan , where is your homework ?
Swaminathan : I have not done my homework sir .
Samuel : Why ? Headache ?
Swaminathan : Yes , sir .
Samuel : All right , sit down .
[ Swaminathan sits down . After a few moments , the ring of school bell announces the end of the class. ]
Samuel : All right students , see you again tomorrow .
[ Samuel stood up. All the students also got up from the bench. Then everyone left the stage one by one. But Swaminathan remained sitting on the bench. He is very worried. After everyone left, he left his bench and stood up. Then slowly came to the front of the stage . ]
Swaminathan : Oh God ! I am in deep trouble . Samuel was absolutely gentle today . Now how do I give this letter to the headmaster?
[ Suddenly the school peon entered the stage. He saw Swaminathan. ]
Peon : You haven't gone yet?
Swaminathan : No, I want to meet Head sir .
Peon ( about to leave the stage ) It is not possible now .
Swaminathan : Why ?
Peon : The Headmaster had gone on a week's leave .
[ The peon exists ]
[ Swaminathan excited with joy . ]
Scene 4
Stage preparation : As same as the first scene . Father is sitting in a chair . Swaminathan entered with the envelop in his hand . Father noticed at him and then the envelop .
Father : I knew you would not deliver it .
Swaminathan : But our Headmaster is on a leave .
[ Father snatched the letter away from Swaminathan and tore it up . ]
Father : Don't ever come to me for help if Samuel scolds you again . You deserve your Samuel .
[ Swaminathan greatly astonished . ]
[ Curtain slowly downs . ]
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