To be yourself Narrator: Once upon a time, there was an impoverished stonecutter. He chipped away at huge stones on the mountainside. But he was dissatisfied with himself and with his position. He envied a luxurious life, and wanted to seek more power. He often prayed to the Angel to be somebody important. Did his dream come true? Let’s see what happened. (Scene 1)(On his way home) Stonecutter : I’m tired of my life as a poor stonecutter. Doing a daily routine is so boring. Though I work hard every day, I still can’t support my family. How I wish…. (A beggar comes toward the stonecutter.) Beggar: Money! Money! I need money! I’m hungry and thirsty. Would you please give me some money? Stonecutter : I can give you water, but I have no money. Beggar: If you don’t have any money, then leave me alone. (A rich man passes by.) Rich woman: He’s not only stupid but also penniless. Besides, he’s just a nobody. I will give you money if you do me a favor. Beggar: What can I do for you? Rich woman: Polish my shoes for me. Beggar: O.K. No problem. ( He polishes her shoes) Rich woman:(She throws the money)Here you are. Pick it up and get out of here. Beggar: Thank you.
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Stonecutter : Wow! How rich the woman is! Angel, can you hear me? I want to be a rich man. Please give me money. Angel:(Incantation)Now you are a rich man. (Money and jewelry are falling down.) Stonecutter : Oh! My god! Unbelievable! What beautiful jewelry! And so much money. I can’t wait to tell my family the good news.(He runs home fast.) (At the stonecutter’s home) Stonecutter: I’m home. Surprise! My sweetheart! This is for you.(Gives her the most beautiful diamond.) Stonecutter’s wife: For me? Are you crazy? Did you win the lottery? Why do you have so much money? You must tell me the truth. Stonecutter: All right. I made a wish to be a rich man, and now I am. Stonecutter’s wife: Really? Honey, you are so sweet. I love you. Stonecutter: My lovely daughter, take the money to buy some candy. Stonecutter’s daughter: It’s kind of you, Daddy. Thank you. (Scene 2) King: I am the king of the world. I have the most power. All the people have to listen to me. Soldiers: Here comes the Great King and Queen. Everybody should bow down. (Stonecutter, passengers all kneel down) Stonecutter : How great the king is!Angel, please give me more jewelry and authority. I’m eager to be a king. Angel:(Incantation)Now you are a great king. Passengers: My Great King.(Passengers bow to the king.)
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Passenger 1:(She runs to the king and kneels down.)Please receive our blessing. (She kisses the king.) Stonecutter: Why is it so hot? Fan. Attendants: Yes. Your majesty. Stonecutter:Water. Attendants: Yes. Your majesty. Stonecutter:It’s so hot that I sweat and fatigue. Who treats me like this? (He looks up to the sun.)Oh, it’s the sun. Sun: Ha, ha, ha. I am the sun. I am a unique one. I, the ball of the fire in the sky, can give out light and heat. Stonecutter : Surely the sun is almightier than I am. Angel, if I were the sun, I would be truly happy. Angel: (Incantation)Now you are the almighty sun. Stonecutter : My sunlight can shine fiercely on a poor man and a great king alike. So I am the almightiest one in the world. Passenger 1: I can’t tolerate such a hot day anymore. The brutal sun burns on my face. It’s too dazzling for me to open my eyes. I almost faint. Passenger 2: Yeah, I must wear my sunglasses and put on suntan lotion.(They wear sunglasses and put on suntan lotion.) (Scene 3)(The wind comes.) Wind: I am the wind. I can push the sun away and move everything. So I am the strongest one in the world. Passenger 1: What kind of weather is it? There is a big sun and a strong wind. Passenger 2: Because of the strong wind, I can’t hold my umbrella.
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Passenger 1: I can’t move forward, either. Passenger 2: Maybe the typhoon is coming soon. Passenger 1&2: Run. Let’s go home. Stonecutter : The wind is stronger than the sun. Angel, where are you? I wish to be the wind . Angel:(Incantation)I’ll give you what you want. Stonecutter : Now I am the wind! I can blow across the land, the sea, and move any objects. I am the strongest one in the world. (scene 4)(A stone comes.) Stonecutter :(Sigh)What a pity! There is something that I can not move. Stone : I am a stone. No one can push me away. No matter how strong the wind is, I remain unmoved. Stonecutter : What a solid thing it is! Oh, it’s a large stone. How powerful it is! Angel , please help me. I want to be a stone. Angel: (Incantation)Now you are a stone. Stonecutter : I am immovable. Nothing can budge me. So I am the most powerful one in the world. (the sound of an ax) Ouch, I feel something sharp cut me. It hurts me badly. What is more powerful than a stone? (He looks down and it is a poor stonecutter.) Stonecutter 1 : I am a stonecutter, but I feel happy. I can live on my own. As long as I work hard every day, I will achieve my goal and have a bright future. Stonecutter : The stonecutter is really the most potent of all. How I wish I were a stonecutter ! Angel: Do you really want to be a poor stonecutter again?
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Stonecutter : Yes, please. Angel: Don’t you have any regrets? Stonecutter : No, I don’t. Angel: I hear your wish and I hope you can be your master. Don’t just wish and dream. Stonecutter : OK. Now I am a needy stonecutter again. But I can be myself. How wonderful! Without any power, I still can live happily with my family. Narrator: From then on, the stonecutter was thankful, and he never wished to be something that he was not. At the end, he realized “Don’t expect too much, and you will get plenty.”
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