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

Download PDF Files

Series A Versions ESL WANDA'S

The Ant and the Grasshopper The Crow and the Pitcher The Fox and the Crow The Fox and the Grapes The Hare and the Tortoise

Series B Versions ESL WANDA'S

The Farmer and the Stork The Ant and the Dove The Frogs Who Want a King The Milkmaid and the Pail The Oak and the Reeds

Series C Versions ESL WANDA'S

The Lark and Her Young Ones The Frog and the Ox The Bundle of Sticks The North Wind and the Sun The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts

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 Beats 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.

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