Add a Little Dramatic Play to Learning
Short Fables
Play Scripts in Two Versions
present tense for ESL and advanced vocabulary
THE BAT, THE BIRDS AND THE BEASTS
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Download PDF Files |
The Ant and the Grasshopper The Crow and The Fox and The Fox and The Hare and |
The Farmer The Ant and The Frogs Who The Milkmaid The Oak and the Reeds |
The Lark and Her Young Ones The Frog and The Bundle of The North Wind The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts |
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Hear the Story as you read
NARRATOR
The Birds and the Beasts are ready to start a terrible war.
BIRDS
Squawk! Squawk! Down with the Beasts!
BEASTS
Grrr! Grrr! Down with the Birds!
NARRATOR
Bat is not sure about which group to join.
BAT
What should I do?
BIRDS
Squawk! Squawk!! Bat, you have wings. Join us!
BAT
But, I am a Beast.
BEASTS
Grrr! Grrr! Bat, you have teeth. Join us!
BAT
I am a Bird.
NARRATOR
When the war begins, the Birds seem stronger.
BAT
I fight against the Beasts! Down with the Beasts!
NARRATOR
Later, the Beasts seem stronger.
BAT
I fight against the Birds. Down with the Birds!
NARRATOR
Happily, the enemies decide to make peace and end the war.
BAT
Hey, Birds! I am your friend!
BIRDS
Squawk! Squawk! Down with the Bat!
NARRATOR
The Birds all fly away.
BAT
Hey, Beasts! I am your friend!
BEASTS
Grrr! Grrr! Down with Bat, the traitor!
NARRATOR
All the Beasts attack the Bat.
BAT
Alas! Poor me!
NARRATOR
The moral of the story: Choose your friends wisely
and remain faithful.
(He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.)
NARRATOR
The Birds, masters of the air, and the Beasts, rulers of the land,
were on the brink of a terrible war.
BIRDS
Squawk! Squawk!
Bow down you lowly Beasts, prowlers of the earth below!
BEASTS
Grrr! Grrr!
Don't set foot on our terrain you haughty high-fliers!
NARRATOR
Meanwhile, Bat swings like a pendulum in confusion over
which group should receive his allegiance.
BAT
(Flitting back and forth chanting)
What to do, what to do?
Birds or Beasts
A choice of two.
BIRDS
Squawk! Squawk!
Don't be blind, Bat. You are a winged creature.
Can't you see you are one of us?
BAT
What to do, what to do?
I think I'm a Beast.
I'm different from you!
BEASTS
Grrr! Grrr!
Bite the bullet Bat. Get your teeth into our cause!
Can't you see you are one of us?
BAT
What to do, what to do?
I think I'm a Bird.
I'm different from you!
NARRATOR
During the early stages of the war, the Birds appear to have the advantage.
BAT
What to do, what to do?
You Birds look good
I'm with you!
NARRATOR
Soon the tide changes and the Beasts seem to be routing the Birds.
BAT
What to do, what to do?
You Beasts look good
I'm with you!
NARRATOR
Fortunately, the combatants see that war is futile
and make peace with one another.
BAT
Now I know what to do.
You Birds are great
I'm with you!
BIRDS
Squawk! Squawk!
Don't be batty, we don't need you!
NARRATOR
The Birds all fly away, squawking mockingly.
BAT
(Undeterred)
Now I know what to do.
You Beasts are my friends
I'm with you!
BEASTS
(Angrily)
Grrr! Grrr!
Go away, Bat the betrayer, we don't need you!
NARRATOR
The outraged Beasts banish Bat from their territory.
BAT
What did I do, what did I do?
I should have decided
Between the two!
NARRATOR
The moral of the story: He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.
