SCENE 3

Onstage we see tableaus of village activity. It can be similar to the first tableau.

NARRATORS 1&2: One hundred years living in an enchanted forest has allowed Tongue Twister to learn new skills. He has perfected the ability to steal people’s native tongues. He came back not only to kidnap Tula, the jewel of Ma-yi, but also to put a curse upon its people.

Tongue Twister comes back to town and starts twisting everybody’s tongue. At first people say nice things to each other but after the Tongue Twister puts a curse upon them they’d say mean things. Adlib.

TT: Let’s see just what peaceful creatures the people of Ma-Yi are.

TT2: Yeah. Let’s find out how much they really love each other.

All the other heads snicker mischievously. Person 1 and 2 enter.

PERSON 1: Hello. How have you been?

PERSON 2: I’m fine, thank you. How about you?

TT: Stop.

Tongue Twister pauses the action and cranks their tongues. He says a tongue twister as he does so.

TT: Betty Bota bought a bit of bitter butter…Now, go.

PERSON 1: You look really good today.

PERSON 2: Well, you don’t look good. You look like you just woke up from a bad dream. No, I mean…

Person 2 regrets what she says but can’t take it back.

PERSON 1: I hate you!

Person 1 and 2 exit opposite stage. Person 3 and 4 next.

PERSON 3: Will you come to my birthday party on Saturday?

PERSON 4: I would love to attend your party. I’ll see you…

Tongue Twister comes in and twists their tongues.

TT: Je suis ce que je suis et si je suis ce que je suis, qu'est-ce que je suis? I am what I am and if I am what I am then what am I? Now, go!

PERSON 4: I’ll see you rot before I go to your stupid birthday party.

PERSON 3: What? I can’t believe you just said that, you ugly witch!

Person 4 & 3 hold their mouths in apology. They exit opposite stages.

NARRATOR 1: Tongue Twister did something to make the people of Ma-Yi say mean things to each other. When they meant to say “Hello” they instead say

PERSON 5: Go to hell!

NARRATOR 2: When they tried to say “how are you,” they instead say

PERSON 6: May your crops wither and die!

NARRATOR 1: Soon, people were fighting in the streets. Families broke up. Friends became enemies.

Fighting erupts everywhere. The King comes and looks around, shakes his head in desperation. He tries to talk but the Queen stops him. King writes a letter instead and gives it to his emissary Pisi.

NARRATOR 2: The King surveys the situation and is appalled. But when he tries to open his mouth, the Queen stops him for fear he might say the worst. He writes a letter and asks his emissary Pisi to go to Boriqua and seek help.

SCENE 4

The Kingdom of Boriqua. Pisi bows to the king and gives him offerings from Ma-Yi.

KING B: Pisi, thank you for your gifts. How are King Hari and Queen Reyna? Is everything okay?

Pisi nods.

KING B: We heard about the birth of their beautiful daughter Ugat. Have you come to invite us to a christening party? How’s Tula?

Pisi shakes his head. He gives the letter the King of Ma-Yi asked him to deliver. King tries to read it but he has a hard time.

KING B: Well, you know, Pisi, I am old and my eyes are not that good anymore. Why don’t you read the contents of the letter for me.

King hands Pisi the letter.

PISI: Okay…the King writes “Greetings, King Magno … I have always hated your guts. You probably helped the Tongue Twister steal Tula from us.” (Pisi holds his mouth.) Oh no!

KING B: Huh?

PISI: No, I meant to say: “You… you… have always been jealous of us for having someone like Tula in our kingdom.” (Pisi holds his mouth again. He continues to read.)

KING B: What?

PISI: The king said… “Watch out, we’re sending our troops to find out where you’re hiding the Tongue Twister.”

KING B: I cannot believe this! Guards! Take this man to the gallows. Soldiers, prepare for war.

Soldiers come to take Pisi away.

PISI: Nooooo…. Please…. That’s not what I intended to say!!!!

Soldiers take Pisi away. Black out.

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