The Woodcutter Goes Bollywood

(Adapted to suit year 3 pupils of good proficiency level, from urban school)
Characters
Amma

: Shamala a/p Rajasagaran

Deena

: Rabiatul Adawiyah binti Basree

Soma

: Mohammad Norazfizal bin Norizan

Seetha

: Nurul Afifah binti Khairman

God

: Luiza Ann a/p Kumarsir

Indicators : ( in bracket ) refers to actions

Narrator

: In a village next to a forest there lived a mother with her two sons,
Soma and Deena. Soma and Deena never got along although they
were brothers. Their mother was really sad with her second sons
behavior. Deena, her first child was a good boy. He always wanted to
get along with his brother but Soma didnt like his brother. Soma always
tries out bad things so that later on he can blame it on his brother,
Deena.

Scene 1 - In the house

Narrator

: The mother comes rushing inside to find Deena sitting down picking up
the broken vase

Soma

: Amma, Deena broke the vase. I saw it! (comes out of his hiding place)

Amma

: Did you do it, Deena? (asks Deena calmly)

Deena

: I didnt do this amma. I was studying inside my room when I heard a

crashing sound. So, I came in to see what happened and found this.
( starts crying) I promise amma. I didnt do it!

Amma

: Soma, are you lying again? (looks furiously at Soma)

Soma

: No, Im not amma. (answers slowly and avoids looking at his mother)

Amma

: Look at me, Soma! You answer me now. You did this right? Dont lie to me.

Soma

: ( looks at his mother) Yes, it was me! (shouts at his mother) I did it. I
dont like Deena! Thats why I blamed him. Hes not my brother.

Narrator

: Seeing Somas behaviour, their mother sent Soma out of their house.

Amma

: Thats it, Soma! You leave this house immediately. I dont need a son
who cant be honest to his own mother and lies just to blame his own
brother.

Soma

: Fine. If thats what your wish, Ill leave this house immediately. ( walks
towards the door)

Deena

: No, brother! Please, dont go! Forgive me if Ive wronged you. ( holds
Somas hands)

Soma

: Let me go! Youre not my brother! ( walks out of the house)

Scene 2 - In the village

Narrator

: After several years, Deena and Soma grew up and became

woodcutters to fend their life. Although, they stayed in the same

village, Soma never acknowledged Deena and his mother as his

family. Deena, was a very energetic in his work while, Soma was very
lazy and seldom goes to work. Soma led a miserable life as he was not
ready to work hard. Deena, whereas got married with Seetha and he
made sure that he worked hard by going to the forest every day and
looked out for woods to feed his wife and his mother who lives with him.
One day as usual in the morning, Deena started his work.

Soma

: Ah! He has started early in the morning. Boring! I will start a bit later
(says to himself)

Deena

: (walks into the woods) Here, I don't find any good wood. Lets go the
well side where I will get good wood.

Scene 3 : In the jungle

Narrator

: So Deena walked towards the well

Deena

: Now this is a big tree we have here. (smiles to himself, he climbs the
tree and starts chopping it)

Narrator

: As he was chopping the tree

Deena

: Oh no. What have I done? That was my only property which earned
money. Without that what will I do? Oh God! Please help me. (starts
crying and prays to God)

Narrator

: And suddenly, God appeared in front of him.

God

: Why are you crying my son? (asks gently to Deena)

Deena

: Mother, I dropped my axe in the well. Please help me. (wipes his tears
and looks at God )

God

: Don't worry my dear son. I will get your axe for you. (God took an axe
from the well. It glittered as it was made of gold. )

Narrator

: Deena was stunned to see such a shining beautiful axe.

Deena

: No mother this is not mine. (shakes his heads)

Narrator

: God again took another axe from the well. It was made of silver.

God

: My Son is this your axe? (shows the silver axe to Deena)

Deena

: No mother. Not this. (shakes his head again)

Narrator

: God now pulled an axe made of iron.

God

: Is this yours? (shows the iron axe to Deena)

Deena

: Yes mother this axe is mine. (signs of joy and happiness can be seen
on his face while he answers to God)

God

: (smiles to herself ) My son. I am very much pleased with your honesty.

Take all the three axes. (offers the three axes to Deena )This is a
reward for your honesty. It's all yours.

Scene 4 - At Deenas house

Narrator

: Deena happily went to his home with the three axes. But when he
crossed Soma's house ..

Soma

: ( stunned at Deena who was carrying the three axes) Haaaa .. I saw
him going to the woods this morning with an iron axe but now he is
returning back with a golden and a silver one. (scratches his head)
Something has happened. Well, Ill just follow him and find out what is
actually going on.

Narrator

: So, Soma without the knowledge of Deena followed him. When Deena
reached his house, he called his wife and mother.

Deena

: My dear wife, where are you. Come on fast. Bring Amma together. I
could not wait any long. ( shouts to the wife and the mother)

Wife

: Yes. Im coming dear. Wait, let me get amma at the garden ( runs to
the back of the house to get the mother)

Amma

: Seetha what's the matter? Why is Deena shouting out there? Has
something happened? (asks Seetha worriedly)

Seetha

: I dont know amma. He just came back and hes shouting out there as
if he has seen a ghost! Who knows? He might have seen one? ( holds
the mother and helps her to get up and walk)

Amma

: What nonsense are you talking Seetha? (knocks Seethas head)

Theres no such thing as ghost. Now, lets go and see what has
gotten into him. (holds onto Seetha and starts walking)

Seetha

: Yes amma. Lets go before he starts shouting again. ( walks with the
mother) Were coming dear. (shouts to Deena)

Deena

: Come faster. Come and see for yourself what I have here!

Wife

: Anything special my dear husband? ( asks while walking towards

Deena)

Amma

: What is that you have there, my son?

Narrator

: Seetha and Deenas mother came out of the house and saw the
axes. They were really surprised.

Amma

: Did you steal the two axes you got there? (comes in front and hits
Deena)

Deena

: Stop, amma! I didnt steal the axes. ( avoids from getting hit from his
mother)

Wife

: Then, how.. How come you got this golden and silver axe? (asks with
curiosity)

Narrator

: So, Deena explained how the God appeared and gave him the axes.

Wife

: I I..I find no words to speak. (shakes her head )

Amma

: This is the reward you got for your honesty, my son. Im so proud of
you. How I wish Soma was more like you? (weeps silently)

Deena

: Amma, dont be sad. Im sure Soma will repent one day and come
back to use. I believe that day will come very soon. ( holds his mother
and comforts her)

Seetha

: (hugs the mother and looks at Deena) My dear, what are we going to
do with these two axes? (points to the axes)

Deena

: I was thinking of selling the golden axe in the market. Should I?

( looks to both his wife and mother for their replies)

Amma

: Yes, that is a good idea my son. (answers her son)

Seetha

: Yes, my dear. At least, we can keep the other one. (answers with a
smile)

Narrator

: Soma who was in the bushes heard their conversation.

Soma

: (with an evil smile) Tomorrow, Ill follow him!! ( walks back to his
house)

Scene 5 - In the jungle

Narrator

: The next day Deena sold the golden axe and started a new happy life.
Even though he has become rich, Deena went to work as usual.

Soma

: Oh my dear brother , where are you going in this early hour? ( asks
with a fake smile on his face)

Deena

: As usual to work. (answers his brother with a smile)

Soma

: Okay, Ill see you later ... (talks to himself) he is really a fool. Having
become rich still he goes to work instead of enjoying his life. Oh.
Let me follow him to find out where he chops his woods.

Narrator

: Thus, Soma followed Deena to the forest. Deena went near the well
and started his work.

Soma

: Ah!... this is the well where his axe slipped. Let me wait till he leaves
this place. (hides behind the bushes)

Narrator

: Soma waited till Deena left. When Deena left, Soma immediately
went to the river and deliberately dropped his axe in to the well.

Soma

: Oh God, please help me to get back my axe. (weeps with fake

tears)

Narrator

: God appeared again.

God

: Why are you crying my son? (asks gently)

Soma

: ( pretends to be sad) Mother my axe fell into the well. Please help
me.

Narrator

: When God saw Soma, she instantly knew he was lying to her.

God

:This guy is playing with me. Let me teach him a lesson. ( talks to
herself)

Narrator

: First, God took out his iron axe first.

God

: Is this your axe? (shows the iron axe)

Soma

: (scratches his head and talks to himself) What Deena told his wife
is that, God showed the gold axe first? But now she is showing my
iron axe. No problem. Let me tell the answer.

Soma

: No mother. This is not mine. ( god then took out silver axe and
showed it to him )

God

: Is this your axe my son? (shows a silver axe)

Soma

: (shakes his head) No...no... not this one mother! (god then took
out the golden axe)

God

: Is this your axe? (shows a golden axe )

Soma

: Yes yes yes.. this one is mine. (answers happily and reaches out
for the golden axe)

Narrator

: God was furious now.

God

: How dare you? Telling lies to me? You should be punished for
telling lies. ( scolds him furiously)

Narrator

: Saying this, God disappeared with all three axes including his.

Soma

: My axe... my axe. Mother, please forgive me for telling lies. Please

give back my iron axe. Oh Mother... What will I do now? (weeps
and starts walking back to his house)

Scene 6 : At Deenas house

Narrator

: All his shouting went useless. Soma returned home without the axe
which was his only property. But he had learnt his lesson. Thus, he
decided to face his mother and his brother to apologize to them.

Soma

: Amma .. amma .. Are you there? Please come out. ( shouts in front
of Deenas house)

Narrator

: Deena, his wife and his mother walks out to see Soma crying in front
of their house.

Amma

: Oh, my poor child! Why are you crying? ( holds her son)

Soma

: Ive learnt my lesson amma! I know now that honesty is the best
policy. Im here to ask your forgiveness and brothers too.

Deena

: Oh, Soma. Im happy that youve realised your mistakes. ( walks to

Deena and hugs him)

Amma

: Well definitely forgive you my dear son. ( nods her head towards Deena,
who does the same too)

Seetha

: Im happy that all of us are together now. Soma, do stay with us. We can
all be a happy family. ( smiles to Soma)

Soma

: Yes, anni. Ill stay here from today onwards. ( smiles to Seetha)

Narrator

: Soma has learnt his lesson. Now, hes back with his family who gladly
accepted him back. Now we know that, honesty is definitely the best
policy. So, always be honest to yourself and towards others.

Moral Value : Honesty is the best policy!