CHARACTER LIST:

• King
• 4^TH Wife (represents body)

• 3^rd Wife (represents status, possessions, wealth)

• 2^nd Wife (represents friends, relatives)

• 1^st Wife (represents the soul)

• Maids for the wives

• Servants for the king

• Doctor

• Society members

• Narrators

SCENE 1: INTRODUCTION OF THE WIVES

NARRATION: Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a very wealthy and healthy King.

(The King enters to center stage, all plump and proud, caressing his beard and moustache.)

This King had everything: all the riches in the world, land from here to there, hundreds of servants to serve his every need. And, not to mention, this King had four wives. Now here is where our story begins.

(King will be standing proud, looking here and there when they talk about the land, servants will come at his feet when they talk about the servants.)

Let us now introduce you to each of the King's four wives.

We shall begin by introducing the fourth wife. You see, the King loved the 4^th wife the most and adorned her with the richest clothes, jewels and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He loved her for her beauty and thrived to maintain this beauty; therefore, he gave her nothing but the best.

(4^th wife enters, all dolled up. King puts a necklace around his neck. The maids carry the fruit on a tray and give it to the King to give to the wife. The maids massage the wife and put on her make-up.)

He also loved the 3^rd wife very much and was keen on always showing her off to all the members of society, particularly those from other kingdoms, for the King had paid a healthy sum to have her as his wife and worked very hard to keep her. However, in the back of the King's mind was always a worry that she would one day leave him for another.

(The wife and King enter, arm in arm. They are surrounded by members of the Kingdom. The King is very proud to introduce his wife to all his friends. The wife acts very snotty and is very particular about who she meets, etc.)

The King also loved his 2^nd wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her to help him get through the difficult times.

(The wife will be sitting on a chair. The King enters looking worried and sits beside her. She consoles the King, gesturing that everything will be fine.)

The King's 1^st wife was a very loyal partner and had made many positive contributions in his kingdom. She worked day and night to open hospitals and schools for the poor, while at the same time maintaining the day to day functions of the kingdom. However, the King did not love the first wife and although she loved him very deeply, he hardly took notice of her. But this never bothered the first wife, and she would continue to love him and do all she could for him, without wanting or needing any credit.

(The wife will be sitting at a desk, working away. She tries to get the King to see a document that she's drafted and the King looks at his watch, gesturing he has no time and walks away all annoyed. The wife doesn't mind, shrugs her shoulders and continues working.)

SCENE 2: THE KING BECOMES ILL (FINDING THE TRUTH)

Narrator: One day, however, the King fell gravely ill, entering his final days in this world.

(The King is lying on the bed, coughing and looking helpless and in pain all over. The doctor enters and takes his heartbeat and then leaves after consoling the King.)

On his death bed he thought of his luxurious life and pondered:

King: "I have all the riches in the world, and four wives. But when I die, I'll be all alone."

Narrator: This realization, of being all alone, disturbed the King very much. For he could not stand to be all alone. Thus, he asked the fourth wife:

King: "I have loved you the most, showered you with finest clothes and jewels, and taken great care of you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

4^th Wife: "No way! I require very high maintenance, which you can no longer provide me. So, my King, I must leave you now, for there is nothing more you can do for me!"

Narrator: Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into the King's heart. To find some hope and heal his wounded heart, he then asked the 3^rd wife:

King: "I have loved you all my life and worked very hard to have you and keep you in my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

3^rd Wife: "Are you crazy? Life is too good. When you die, I'm going to remarry so that another can give me more wealth, status and fame!"

Narrator: The poor King. His heart sank and turned cold. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. But there was still some hope. He then turned to the 2^nd wife:

King: "I've always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me when I needed you. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

2^nd Wife: "King, I'm so sorry. But at this time I can, at the very most, be there for you until the moment you die. After that, you are on your own."

Narrator: The King was so devastated. The wives he loved so much, and gave so much importance to, all left him when he needed them the most.

Then, all of a sudden, a voice called out:

1^st Wife: "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go."

Narrator: The King looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, she suffered from malnutrition, because the King neglected her and never paid any attention to her. Greatly grieved, the King said:

King: "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance! How foolish and ignorant I was to have not seen how much you truly love me."

SCENE 3: MORAL THEME

Narrator: You see saints, in reality, each of the 4 wives represents a certain aspect of our life. Let us know see what each wife symbolizes:

(The four wives line up. Each steps forward to say her line, and then steps back once finished. The 1^st wife steps to the center to say her lines.)

4^th Wife: "I, the 4^th wife, represent our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die."

3^rd Wife: I, the 3^rd wife, represent our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

2^nd Wife: "I, the 2^nd wife, represent our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stand by us is up until the moment we die."

1^st Wife: I, the 1^st wife, represent our Soul, which is often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the ego. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. It is the only thing that will give us true happiness in life. We are so blessed to have a True Master to teach us that this soul, which resides in us, is a part of the super soul, Nirankar, which exists all over. Our Master awakens our spirit by blessing us with God-realization, so we know this God we worship, so that our soul and can join with this everlasting Super soul, the aim in life. This way we may enjoy everlasting happiness and bliss. Let us not lose this precious moment we have been given, let us wake up and realize what is Truth and live by it.

COSTUMES, PROPS AND OTHER SUPPLIES NEEDED:

KING

• fancy kurtha or etchken

• turban

• cushions for stuffing

• beard and moustache\

• shoes (mojae)

• long pearl necklace, etc.

SCENE 1

4^TH WIFE:

• very elaborate suit, dupatta, jewelry, ticka

• tray with fruit

• make-up brush and compact

3^RD WIFE:

• heavy saree, or nice suit

• sunglasses

• jewelry

• purse

2^nd WIFE:

• elegant saree

• 2 chairs

1^st WIFE:

• white, simple suit with dupatta

• table

• chair

• pen and paper

SCENE 2:

• make-shift bed with pillow

• stethoscope and lab coat for doctor

BACKGROUND SET:

• boards and decorations