The King and I

Opening scene ( music 1) IntroductionNarration-Pevinder

Scene 1 (in front of curtain)On the deck of a ship.

Orton: Hello Lady. See that cluster of light jutting out into the river? That’s it. That’s Bangkok

Louis: Oh look all our boxes. We packed everything we had in our Singapore house- furniture and everything. Mother look! There’s Bangkok. See that cluster that stick out into the river? That’s Bangkok.Anna: I see Louis. I see them. It’s exciting isn’t it?Louis: Will the King of Siam come down to the docks to meet us?Anna: The King himself? I don’t think so. King’s don’t as a rule.Orton: I wonder if you know what you are facing ma’am. An English woman here in the east.Louis: Look mother. Look at the dancers. Aren’t they beautiful.Mother, is that the King? The man sitting on the bow?Orton: That’s the Kralahome. The prime minister. The King’s right hand man you might say.Anna: Do you suppose he is coming down to meet us?Orton: No doubt of it. Ma’am if I may offer you a word of warning.Anna: What is it captain?Orton: That man has power. And he can use it for you or against you.Anna: Of dcaptain… I don’tOrton: I am just telling you ma’am. I think you should know.Anna: Thank you captain.Louis: Look mother. The are closer. The Prime Minister… He is naked!Anna: Hush Louis. He’s not naked. We’ll, he’s half naked.

Kralahome meets Anna- (background music)

Krala: Good evening sir. Welcome to Siam. You come with me now. Your baggages are carried to palace later.Anna: No no. Not to the palace. I am not living at the palace.Krala: Who say?Anna: The King say. Says. The king has promised me 20 pounds a month and a house of my own.Krala: King cannot always remember what he promise. King very busy- this of small concern to him. I do not trouble king with matters of small concernKrala: King very busy now. New years celebration just finishing. Fireworks every night.Anna: What am I to do in the mean time?Krala: You wait in the palace. Anna: I will teach in the palace but I must have a house of my own.

Krala: You will tell King thisAnna: I will tell King this.Krala: It will be very interesting meeting. You come now.

Act 2 ( inside curtain)Dancers are ready to perform 9 music) king seated in his dais, wear glassesFinish dancing and Krala walks in

King: Well well well Krala: I’ve been meaning to speak with you about English school teacher. She’s waiting to see you. King: She’s in Siam? How long?Krala: 2 weeks. This is Lun Tha emissary from court of BurmaKing : Ah yes.Krala: you are here for copying of famous Bangkok temple, I have give permission. He bring present from Prince of Burma.King: Am I to trust a ruler of Burma or is she a spy?Tuptim: Im not a spy. Your Majesty wishes me to leave?King: I will tell you when I wish you to leave.Krala: Your Majesty, Madam Anna Leonowens and her son Lewis.King: You’re a school teacher?Anna: Yes your majesty. When may I start work?King: I will tell you when I wish you to start.Anna: But there is a matter we have to settle firstKing: You are pleased with your apartment in palace?Anna: Yes their quite comfortable your Majesty, for the time being. But my young son and I found it rather confining with Amazons guarding the Doors and not permitting us to leave our quarters. King: Strangers cannot be allowed to roam around palace before presentment to king. You could look out of windows.Anna: yes your Majesty , we have done so. We have seen New Years celebrations, Royal celebrations . etc etc etc.King: What is this etc?Anna: It means and the rest of the things you have been doing while we have been waiting. King: Hah. Have children prepared for presentation to school teacher.Anna: How many children have you your Majesty?King: I have only 67 altogether. I begin very late. But you should not teach all of them. You shall teach only children if mothers who are in favour with king. Which at present, very few.Hah . Lady Thiang, Madam Leonowens, this is Lady Thiang head wife.Tiang: ( singing)MissionaryAnna: Oh, a missionjary taught u EnglishThi: Yer sir, missionary

King : lady Thiang………………..Anna: Your majestyKing: She is grateful to me for my kindnessAnna: Oh I see, your majesty in our agreement you….King : You tuptim. you already speak well the EnglishShe arrive today…..she is a present from Burma princeAn: she is a present …..Tuptim: Mdm,you have English books I can readCoversation between anna and tuptim

Anna : You majesty, I don’t think you understand .Your majesty I don’t think you understand about my housere

King : House ? What house …..

Anna: I want my house, The house you promised me

King: You shall live in palace, teach in palace, if you do not live in palace you do not teach. You may go wherever you please I do not care. You understand this?A: Yes your majesty. But if these are the only terms-K: Enough! I have no more time to talk. The children are ready for presentation to school teacher?A: This is all very interesting your majesty-K: SILENCE!A: But it does not solve my problem..K: You shall stand here to meet royal children.A: Very well your majesty.K: The royal princes and princesses

(March of the Siamese kids, background music)-Curtian close-

Narration- Imagine…..(march of the kids, monk song)

King and Prince Chulu’s Scene

K: ChulalongkornC: Father I shall be late for school.K: You wait. Please to be reciting proverb that you have learnt yesterday and writing down in copy book 12 times.C: “A thought for the day, east,west home is best” K: Home mean house? Everyday for many months always something about a house. Are my children to be taught nothing more.C: Yesterday we were taught that the world is a round ball………….. [Chulu exit] K: I do not know of anything! {Lights dim}

Narration- Classroom scene…

Getting To Know You songWhole sceneChildren settle down

A: My goodness .This started out to be a lesson. Now let’s get back to work .Any QuestionsChu: What is that green up thereAnn: That is NorwayNor-wayAnna : Explanation Kiesa : Walk on waterChulu : How is it possible…..Hard water.Anna : snow ChuluSnow, spots of laceYes your highness………..Thrisha : I don’t believe in snowChulu : I do believe siam is so small And other country so big

Kids started jumping and noise

King enters………..King : Silence ,What is this ……why is the classroom so unscientific.Anna: Y M …we have a little understanding …….SnowKing : Snow?Yes snow..from the skyChulu: Sire ..please how does it come from the sky

Action and saying

K: Who does not believe this?A: Well after all the haven’t seen itK: Never see? If they only believe when they see, why do I have classroom? Rise- Do not ever let me hear of not believing school teacher, which I bring heat at great expense- 20 pounds-20 english pounds!! Children must learn! Teacher must teach! Not waste time instructing children……………A:

In between seen ( Lun Tha and Tuptim) music background softly) 2MinCurtain close-------scene take place in front of curtain

Last scene1

Louis : ChulaAnna : Lady Thiang ,How nice of you to come to say goodbye. I was down at the ship and Captain Orton must sail with the tide.

Lady Thiang: I did not come to say goodbye.. Its the King ,He’s heart is not well( Chulu : This is letter from king(passes letter to Ms Anna)Anna:(Cries) I must go to him! The King is dying.(lighting:focus on 3 characters)

Last Scene2-Next to king’s bedKing: Many months, many months now I never see Mrs.Anna, and now I die.Anna: Oh no your majesty.King: You are leaving Siam, when?Anna: Very soon your majesty, in fact, I only can stay for a few minutes.King: People of Siam, Royal Children are not glad of your departure.(Gives Ring)

Here is something belonging to you…..Put it on…Put it on.Oh my children tell them to come here. Good evening children.(children come)

Child: Good evening my father.Oh Mrs. Anna don’t go. We missed you much, please stay.

Louise: Mother it’s the boat, it’s time for us to go.All children: Oh Mrs. Anna do not go. Please stay.King: Silence!! This is a disorganize behavior for bedroom of dying king. Chula Rise!

(Mrs. Anna takes notes) Well,Well,Well….Suppose you are king. Is there anything you would do?

Chula: I would make 2 proclamations.King: Yes, Yes.Chulu: I would proclaim for coming New Year, boat races. And father I would make second proclamation.King: Go on, go onChula: Regarding bowing like toad. I do not believe this is a good thing….degrading experience for soul etc, etc, etc. You are angry with me my father.King: Why do u ask question? If you are a king you are a king…do not ask question from sick man.Chula: Up, rise up. 2 lines like monksKing: It has been said by one who has….be trained by royal government.Chula: No bowing like toad. No crouching. No crawling. This is does not mean, however, that you do not show respect for king. You will stand with shoulders, square back and chin high. Like this. You will all bow to me-in this way. Only bending the waist.

THE END