JACKIEANDTHECHILESTALK

By
D. M. Larson
Copyright 2005
All Rights Reserved*
*
Youmustaskforpermissionbeforeusingthisscriptinaperformanceor
publicationbycontactingdoug@freedrama.net(pleaseincludethetitleofthis
monologueinyourrequest).Whenyouperformtheplayandchargeadmission,
thenaroyaltypaymentisrequired.Weareverythankfulforyoursupport.There
isa$40royaltyfor14performances.

TIME and PLACE

Long ago in a little pueblo outside Old Albuquerque
CAST OF CHARACTERS
VIEJO: An old man who tells the story of Jackie and the Chilestalk
JACKIE: A young girl who loves Chiles
MAMA: Jackies mother
COW: A cow named Vacita that is sold to VIEJO (this actor has no lines but
needs to have good expressions)
GIANT: Not really a giant but really tall. (actor can either be a tall kid or adult
guitar playing skills helpful but recording can be used)
JACK: A bratty boy who stole the GOOSE who lays golden eggs.
GOOSE: Lays golden eggs and only says honk

SCENE 1
(The background is a southwest nature scene with red mesas and
blue sky in the background. This can either be painted nice or like
something out of a Road Runner cartoon)
VIEJO
In a dry and dusty pueblo, there lived a little girl named Jackie who loved chiles.
JACKIE
(Carries her basket of chiles)
The hotter the better.
VIEJO
She couldn't resist the smell of roasted chile. She loved harvest time because she
new the roasting time was near.
JACKIE
Mama, Mama. I picked some chiles. Can we roast them now?
MAMA
Is that all we have?
JACKIE
I'm afraid so.
MAMA
It's been a bad year for all the crops. Theres not much of anything.
(COW wanders in and looks around for food)
JACKIE
No beans?
MAMA
No beans.
JACKIE

No carrots?
MAMA
No carrots.
JACKIE
No peas?
MAMA
No peas.
JACKIE
Good. I hate peas.
MAMA
Just a few chiles.
JACKIE
That's all I like anyway.
MAMA
But this will only be enough for one stew. What will we do after that?
JACKIE
We could eat the cow.
(COW stops and looks scared. Starts to sneak out)
MAMA
No
(COW stops and sighs with relief)
We'll sell her instead)
(COW looks upset and starts to sneak out again)
Come here, Vacita.
(COW shakes her head no)
JACKIE
(Grabs COW)
Where do I take her?
MAMA
To the old man on in the village.

JACKIE
The crazy old man?
MAMA
He's not crazy. Just a little loco.
JACKIE
Loco means crazy, Mama.
MAMA
Just get going and get something good for the cow.
JACKIE
Let's go Vacita.
(COW moos in protest. MAMA exits)
VIEJO
And that's when Jackie appeared at my door.
(VIEJO can roll in a door or stand ready)
JACKIE
Get over here, Vacita.
(Pulls COW to VIEJO and knocks)
VIEJO
Hola, hija. How can I help you?
JACKIE
Senor, we have no food except for a few chiles. We must sell our cow.
VIEJO
I will buy your cow.
(Takes COW and scratches behind her ear and she's happy)
JACKIE
Thank you, senor.
VIEJO
I have something you'll enjoy. Chiles.

(Hands JACKIE a shiny cloth bag made of a magical looking

material)
JACKIE
Chiles? But we already have chiles.
VIEJO
But these are magic chiles.
JACKIE
Magic chiles?
VIEJO
They will give you more wonderful things than you can ever imagine.
JACKIE
I can imagine some pretty good things.
VIEJO
Take them to your mother and all will be good again on your rancho.
JACKIE
Thank you. Good-bye, Vacita.
(COW sticks her tongue out at JACKIE)
VIEJO
Jackie ran excitedly back to her Mama to tell her the news of the magic chiles.
JACKIE
Mama, Mama. Look at what I got!
MAMA
A little bag? I hope that's not it.
JACKIE
No, inside are magic chiles.
(Pulls out chiles)
MAMA
Magic chiles?

JACKIE
The old man said they would make our dreams come true.
MAMA
Dreams won't feed us, Jackie. I can't believe the crazy old bandito would do this
to us!
(Takes chiles)
JACKIE
Mama, no!
(MAMA tosses chiles to DR stage)
MAMA
Go to your room and don't come out until I get back from the old mans.
JACKIE
What are you going to do?
MAMA
I'm going to get our cow back.
(Exits)
JACKIE
Oh, Mama. I'm so sorry.
(JACKIE cries and curls up on the floor)
VIEJO
But I did not lie to the little girl. Those chiles were magic and while Jackie slept,
a most amazing thing happened!
(Lights fade and magic Spanish music is heard.
Moonlight hits DR and then a rumble sound and a
chilestalk rises to from the ground. NOTE: You can
stage this in a variety of ways. Have a rope from the
ceiling that pulls up the chilestalk or have a drawing
on the background that is uncovered from the bottom
up. The sound wakes JACKIE)
VIEJO
When Jackie wakes, she sees a most amazing thing. A giant chilestalk.
JACKIE

(She rises)
Is that... it's a... giant chilestalk!
(She jumps up and down excited)
Those chiles are magic! Magic! Magic! Magic!
VIEJO
Told you so.
JACKIE
(Looks up)
It's so tall. I bet I can see Albuquerque from up there.
VIEJO
Climb up and see.
JACKIE
I think I will.
VIEJO
You won't be sorry.
(Magical Spanish music again. JACKIE climbs the chilestalk. NOTE: This can
be done with a hidden ladder behind the chilestalk or JACKIE can exit behind the
scenery of the chilestalk. Lights fade to black. Scene change to GIANT's home.
The entrance to the home can be rolled in or the background can be changed)
JACKIE
(Gets off chilestalk)
Where am I? Is this Albuquerque?
VIEJO
No, this wasn't Albuquerque. Jackie had arrived at a giant's casa in the clouds.
JACKIE
That's a big door. I wonder who lives here?
GIANT
(Off. Big booming voice)
Ay yi di me! Is it a flea? Coming to visit me?
JACKIE

(Scared)
Who is that? It sounds like a giant.
(Hides)
GIANT
(Enters. He is just really tall. Opens door)
What can it be? What's this I see? A beanstalk at my door. But what is it for?
JACKIE
Actually it's a chilestalk.
GIANT
Who are you? And what's that do?
JACKIE
That's a magic chilestalk that brought me here.
GIANT
Chile? Chile? That's so silly.
JACKIE
Hey, are you the giant that scared everyone away from our pueblo?
GIANT
Yes, but I didn't mean to. I went down looking for something to do. It gets so
lonely up here. No one else lives near. One day there was this big beanstalk and
wanted to stay around the clock. But some boy has stole my goose and he said I
was a monster on the loose. I've been alone ever since. Because a monster that
makes people wince.
JACKIE
You're no monster. And I know which boy you're talking about. Jack.
GIANT
Jack. Yes, Jack. That's the one who attacked.
JACKIE
Well, I think we need to pay Jack a visit.
GIANT
But he scares me. One sight of him and I flee.

JACKIE
Dont worry. You wait here. I'll go get that Jack and we'll get all your stuff back.
GIANT
Oh, thank you, but it won't do. My family stole that guitar and goose too.
JACKIE
Well, two wrongs don't make a right. Fine, we won't steal it back but Jack needs
to learn a lesson.
GIANT
Wait, there's still a magic guitar. He hasn't come and taken that so far.
(GIANT goes to get it)
JACKIE
A magic guitar?
(Spanish guitar music is heard as GIANT enters)
Cool. What does it do?
GIANT
It can make people do whatever you want too. And it will do any song for you.
JACKIE
So why not tell it to bring your goose back?
GIANT
I guess I could. I didn't know if it would.
JACKIE
Why wouldn't it?
GIANT
It can't do anything to make people unhappy. It will only make happiness.
JACKIE
I see. So even if it makes you happy, it will make Jack sad. But Jack doesn't
deserve to be happy.
GIANT
The guitar doesn't care. It still won't think it's fair.

JACKIE
So the trick is to keep Jack happy and get the goose.
(Gets an idea)
Ha! I got it. Play the guitar. Tell it to bring Jack and the goose here.
GIANT
This I will try to do. I hope it will play for you.
(Spanish guitar music starts to play)
It looks like it is playing. It likes what you're saying.
JACKIE
Come Jack! Come goose. We have a little something for you.
JACK
(Appears at the top of the chilestalk)
I heard the most beautiful music and I had to see where it was coming from. And
then I saw this beanstalk...
JACKIE
Chilestalk.
JACK
Whatever.
(GOOSE appears at the top of the stalk)
What are you doing here? I told you to stay home.
GOOSE
Honk.
(Drops a golden egg)
JACK
See, you're leaving eggs all over the place now.
JACKIE
(Picks up a golden egg)
Wow, is this really gold?
JACK
Yeap. I've got a million of them.

JACKIE
Neat.
(GOOSE runs up to GIANT who pats her head)
JACK
(Takes egg)
Hands off. That's mine.
JACKIE
But you said you have million of them.
JACK
So? You can never have too much gold.
JACKIE
Can't you share?
(Spanish guitar music)
JACK
Well, maybe this one.
(Hands it over to JACKIE)
Dang, why did I do that?
GIANT
It's the guitar playing. It can change what you're saying.
JACK
Oh, look. It's the little giant. Miss your goose?
GIANT
I miss her so much.
JACKIE
Looks like she misses you too.
JACK
Well you can't have her back.
(JACK grabs GOOSE)
GOOSE
Honk.

JACKIE
But you stole her.
JACK
And his family stole her before I did. It doesn't belong to them either.
JACKIE
He's got a point. But that doesn't make what you did right. We should give the
goose back to her owner.
JACK
And who would that be?
GIANT
I don't know who it be. My family never told me.
JACK
Finders keepers.
JACKIE
You didn't find her. You stole her.
(MAMA climbs to top of chilestalk with VIEJO)
VIEJO
Here they are.
MAMA
Jackie!
JACKIE
Mama!
(Runs to her)
I'm so sorry about the chiles.
MAMA
No, I'm sorry for being mad. These chiles were magic.
VIEJO
No one ever believes me.

JACK
Hey, you're that old guy who sold me those beans. I suppose you'll want a cut of
my profits.
GOOSE
Honk.
(Lays an egg)
JACK
(Picks up egg and tosses it to VIEJO)
Here. Keep the change.
VIEJO
Too bad you aren't this nice to everyone.
JACK
It's my goose now so I get all the eggs.
MAMA
Is that you, Goosie?
JACKIE
Goosie?
MAMA
(Goes up and hugs GOOSE)
It is you!
JACK
This is your goose?
JACKIE
When did you have a goose, Mama?
MAMA
When I was a little girl, the old man sold my family a goose. It was a magic
goose that...
GOOSE
Honk!
(Lays an egg)

MAMA
(Holds up egg)
...laid golden eggs!
VIEJO
Told you so.
MAMA
But then a giant came and took it.
GIANT
It was not me. It was Uncle Smee. He was really bad. Sorry it made you mad.
MAMA
I never thought I'd see her again.
JACKIE
Looks like we found the owner.
JACK
(Runs to chilestalk)
Fine. Keep your goose but you'll never get to enjoy it. Because I'm climbing
down and cutting this stalk down and trapping you here forever.
JACKIE
The guitar. Stop him!
GIANT
It won't play I'm afraid to say.
JACK
But if you give me the goose, then I won't cut it down.
MAMA
What a horrible little boy you are.
JACK
But I'm a horribly rich little boy
(Holds out hand)

Come little Goose. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive
conflict and bring order to the galaxy.
(Starts breathing heavily like Darth Vader and then coughs)
JACKIE
Whats wrong?
JACK
A little asthma. Sorry about that.
(Mad)
Now, get over here Goose or I'll destroy them all.
GOOSE
(Scared)
Honk.
JACK
Come with me. It's your destiny!
MAMA
Please, goosie. Stay with me. We might be trapped here but I'll take care of you
again.
JACK
I take care of her... sometimes.
GOOSE
(Shakes her head no)
Honk.
JACK
Fine. Stay here. I have enough gold to last a lifetime.
(Go toward chilestalk. Coughs and sneezes and moves away)
Oh, man. I think I'm allergic to chiles.
(Goes near chilestalk again and sneezes. Moves away)
JACKIE
Looks like you're stuck here.
JACK
Got any allergy medicine?

GIANT
No, I don't have much to help you. Wait, maybe there's something I can do.
(GUITAR plays and JACK's sneezing stops)
VIEJO
The magic guitar can make it all better.
JACK
It's great allergy medicine...
(Yawns)
Dang... allergy medicine always makes me sleepy.
(Sits down and falls asleep)
JACKIE
We did it. The goose is free.
MAMA
Would you like to come home with us?
GOOSE
(Happy)
Honk.
JACKIE
Is that okay?
GIANT
Of course that's what you should do. My family stole it from you.
JACKIE
Thank you.
MAMA
Let's go home, goosie.
(GOOSE and MAMA go down chilestalk)
JACKIE
It's so nice to see Mama happy again.
GIANT

And now I can see what will make my family happy.

JACKIE
What's that?
GIANT
A little talk with the boy of the stalk.
JACKIE
What will they do to him? They won't hurt him will they?
GIANT
When he was here before, he not only broke our door but made messes on our
floor and damaged the dcor. He will stay for a few days. He has some time he
needs to repay.
JACKIE
And hopefully learn something in the process.
VIEJO
And he won't be too happy when he gets home either.
JACKIE
Why not?
VIEJO
There's nothing worse than rotten golden eggs. The boy never learned that the
golden eggs are only good when fresh. The gold is only good if it is shared. If
anyone keeps it too long, it rots.
JACKIE
Poor Jack.
VIEJO
I feel worse for his neighbors.
JACKIE
I guess it's time to go home. And it will be a much happier one this time.
VIEJO
Just remember to share those eggs.

JACKIE
I will.
(Gives an egg to the GIANT. They hug)
Good-bye my friend. I'm so glad I found those magic chiles.
VIEJO
Me too. Down the chilestalk with you.
GIANT
Come Jack into my home and I'll get the family on the phone.
(GIANT drags JACK into the casa and exits)
VIEJO
And so Jack cleaned and cleaned until the Casa in the Clouds was as good as
before he came and stole the goose. The giant family then returned him home
where he had another mess to clean up. And Jackie and her Mama found new
happiness with the Goose and the golden eggs and that happiness spread through
the pueblo as eggs were shared with all. Im glad I gave Jackie those magic
chiles. After Jack and the beans, I wasnt so sure I wanted to try that again. But
this time the magic found a girl who had a good heart. Perhaps I will try again.
Anyone like to trade for some magic broccoli?
END OF PLAY