A Modern Adaption of the Emperor

8/10/2019 A Modern Adaption of the Emperor

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A MODERN ADAPTION OF THE EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES

By Sean Chen Tieu Wei

Cast of Charaters

Storyte!!er

E"#erorT$o S$in%!ers

Chief Minister

Ser&antS"a!! Boy

S"a!! Boys Father

Sene One'(

So"e$here in the to$n

(STORYTELLER enters. He walk slowly forward when the play begins.)

STOR)TELLER ' (To Adien!e)*oo% e&enin+ frien%s an% $e!o"e a!!,(looking at the wristwat!h and start to an"ios) Oh No- I"

!ate- I a" !ate- I a" !ate to the E"#erors #roession,,,Irea!!y shou!% use the "onorai! ne.t ti"e,,,

(STORYTELLER rns ntil he saw a !rowd of people who are laghing and whispering

a#ong the#sel$es)STOR)TELLER ' (Approa!hing one of the !o##oner) What ha&e I "isse%/

What ha&e I "isse%/ Why e&eryone 0ee# on !au+hin+/ What

it is a1out/ What it is a1out/

COMMONER ' (giggling) We!!,,,you 2ust "iss the e&ent of the entury- Len%"e your ears an% I $i!! te!! you $hat 2ust ha##en,

(%O&&O'ER whispers to STORYTELLER and STORYTELLER starts to giggle as well.Then the STORYTELLER step to the #iddle of the stage #eanwhile the !o##oner at theba!k still laghing and whispering to ea!h other)

STOR)TELLER ' (To Adien!e) I 1e!ie&e that a!! of you too are $on%erin+

$hat 2ust ha##en here an% $hat %i% he to!% "e a $hi!ea+o,,,To 1e+in $ith3 I $i!! te!! you a story a1out an E"#eror,

Sene T$o'(

In the E"#erors roo"

(STORYTELLER slowly walk ot fro# the stage and the E&EROR slowly enter thes!ene with so#e !lothes in his hand follow by his two SERA'T)

STOR)TELLER ' (Lights fo!ses on the E&EROR)

There $as an E"#eror $ho" are &ery fon% of ne$ !othesan% usua!!y s#ent a!! of his "oney of the", )es- I "ean a!!

of his "oney,,,An% 1eause he a!$ays fon% $ith his ne$

!othes3 he %i%nt %o any of the thin+s $hih E"#erors aresu##ose% to %o, He on!y $ent out $hen he ha% the hane to

sho$ off ne$ !othes an% he usua!!y ha&e %ifferent suit for

eah of the %ay,

EMPEROR ' (Holding his !lothes and slowly walking to a #irror nearby)


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*oo% %ay- *oo% %ay- My ne$ !othes ha&e arri&e%

a+ain an% this ti"e it is fro" China- The si!0 for these

!othes is 2ust $on%erfu!3 so soft an% shiny,,,I shou!% rea!!ytry so"e of the" no$, Ser&ants- Ser&ants-

(E&EROR hands o$er so#e of the !lothes he is holding to

SERA'T * and SERA'T +) Ta0e these !othes a$ay an%stay at one of "y orner of "y roo" $hi!e I a" tryin+ "y

ne$ !oth,

SER4ANT 5 6 7 ' (SERA'TS nod their head))es3 )our Ma2esty,(,hile the E&EROR starts to try on his !lothes- the SERA'TS begin to whisper to

ea!h other)

SER4ANT 5 ' (light fo!ses on the ser$ants and SERA'TS point the

!lothes arond the E#perors roo#) Loo0 at his $on%erfu!hats,,,

SER4ANT 7 ' ,,,or those si!0 trousers- or his ro1e-

SER4ANT 5 6 7 ' What 1eautifu! o!ours-

Sene Three'(Outsi%e the E"#erors Pa!ae

(S,/'0LERS enter the stage and slowly approa!h the 1ATE2EEER who# stand infront of the pala!e gate)

STOR)TELLER ' One %ay t$o fe!!o$ a!!in+ the"se!&es $ea&ers o"e to the

to$n, One $as a &ery $as a &ery ta!! thin "an $ith a !on+#ointe% nose, The other3 s"a!! an% roun%, The $ea&ers %ro&e

their &an to the E"#erors #a!ae3 an% as0e% to see the

E"#eror,

SWINDLERS ' (0ri$ing a $an and when they rea!h the otside of thepala!e- they lea$e their $an and walk straight to #eet the

pala!e gatekeeper) Can $e "eet the E"#eror/ We ha&e

2a0ets an% trousers hat $e !i0e to intro%ue to theE"#eror,,,

*ATE8EEPER ' (the 1ATE2EEER trning his head fro# side to side)

I"#ossi1!e- I"#ossi1!e- An% I"#ossi1!e- A tru0 of ne$!othes an% shoes 2ust arri&e% fro" *er"any to%ay, His

Ma2esty $i!! 1e s#en%in+ the $ho!e %ay tryin+ the" on an%

he!! ha&e no ti"e to see #eo#!e,

SWINDLER 5 ' (S,/'0LER * shown an angry fa!e to 1ATE2EEER and!ross his hands together)Fine- Te!! your E"#eror that he

2ust "iss his hane to 1uy the "ost $on%erfu!3 "a+ia!

2a0ets an% trousers that the $or!% has e&er seen,SWINDLER 7 ' In!u%e WiFi an% B!uetooth too--

SWINDLER 5 ' (S,/'0LERS slowly walk away fro# the gate of the pala!e)

Lets +o "y frien%3 as the E"#eror %ont $ant to see us,(3oth S,/'0LERS wa$ing their hands)*oo%1ye,

*ATE8EEPER ' (1ATE2EEER stops the S,/'0LERS by showing one of

hand pal#)Wait- Dont "o&e a ste# fro" there,,,Ma+ia!3

you say/


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SWINDLER 7 ' (S,/'0LER + trn his ba!k with s#ile) )es- Ma+ia!- An%

in!u%e WiFi an% B!uetooth as $e!!-

*ATE8EEPER ' Perha#s His Ma2esty "i+ht s#are a "o"ent $ith 1oth ofyou, Wait there an% %ont "o&e a sin+!e ste#,

Sene Four'(

E"#erors War%ro1e(S,/'0LERS slowly walk into the E#perors pala!e)

SWINDLER 5 ' (S,/'0LER * walk to the !enter of the stage and pts both

of his hands to his hip) I a" here to see the 0in+-SWINDLER 7 ' (S,/'0LER + walking arond and pointing the stff arond

hi#)Is this the E"#erors $ar%ro1e/

SER4ANT 9 ' (SERA'T 4 appear and approa!h the S,/'0LERS)I $i!!

!ea% the $ayEMPEROR ' (E&EROR greats with a s#ile and open his hands widely

to wel!o#e the S,/'L0ERS)Oh- So you are the one $ho

$i!! "a0e "e "y ne$ !othes,

SWINDLER 5 ' (S,/'L0ERS bow their head down after they #eet theE&EROR) In%ee%3 )our Ma2esty,

SWINDLER 7 ' (S,/'L0ERS walks arond the stage and tilt his head highafter talking abot the 5a!kets and trosers)We are the one

$ho" ha&e in&ente% 2a0ets an% trousers $hih not on!y

o"forta1!e 1ut "a+ia! too-EMPEROR ' (E&EROR walk a step ba!k with a !rios fa!e bt show a

little interest: Ma+i/ What Ma+i/

SWINDLER 5 ' Of ourse )our Ma2esty $i!! 1e a1!e to see our "a+ia!

2a0ets,SWINDLER 7 ' Those $ho" are not fit for his 2o1 $i!! see nothin+3 )our

Ma2esty,

EMPEROR ' (E&EROR walks arond the S,/'0LERS) This iss#!en%i%- Bri!!iant too- Heres a hane for "e to fin% out

$hih of "y #eo#!e are fit for their 2o1s an% $hih of the"

are foo!s,SWINDLER 5 6 7 ' (S,/'L0ERS bow their head down) In%ee%3 )our Ma2esty,

EMPEROR ' A!ri+ht- Ma0e "e so"e of your "a+i 2a0ets at one-

SWINDLER 5 ' Its not hea#, It!! ost,,,

EMPEROR ' Whate&er you as0 I!! #ay,Sene Fi&e'(

Wea&ers $or0in+ roo"

(S,/'0LER walk into the roo# gi$en to the# by the E&EROR)STOR)TELLER ' The $ea&ers $ere +i&en t$o si!&er 1riefase that ontain

ash an% a roo" $here they ou!% set u# their hu+e !oo"s,

Then they !o0e% the %oor an% starte% to $or0,EMPEROR ' (E&EROR walks to the door and pt his ears to the door

and starts to s#ile. Then he walks to the !enter of the stage

and talk to the adien!e)*oo%- They&e "a%e a start,

STOR)TELLER ' But $hat the E"#eror %i%nt 0no$ $as that the t$o $ea&ers


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$ere heats $ho o"e to tri0 hi", They $ere 2ust

#reten%in+ to $or0 1y 0ee#in+ their !oo"s "o&in+ 1ut no

si!0 $as use% an% not a stith of 2a0et $as "a%e,Sene Si.'(

Wea&ers $or0in+ roo"

(%H/E6 &/'/STER enter the stage and walks toward to the door of the wea$ers workingroo#)

STOR)TELLER ' Ho$e&er as %ays #ass 1y3 the E"#eror 1e+an to $orry, To 1e

sure3 as he thou+ht he $as safe, The E"#eror #refer to sen%so"eone e!se to 1rin+ hi" ne$s a1out the "a+ia! 2a0ets,

So he sen% his Chief Minister,

CHIEF MINISTER ' (%H/E6 &/'/STER kno!ks the door politely) E.use "e,

May I o"e in/SWINDLER 5 ' Of ourse, Co"e an% see the "a+i 2a0ets, I thin0 you $i!!

1e ;uite sur#rise%,

STOR)TELLER ' We!! the Chief Minister $as sur#rise% an% horrifie% 1eause

he sa$ nothin+ han+in+ in the roo", He e&en ru11e% hiseyes an% #ut on his +!asses to onfir" $hat he sa$,

CHIEF MINISTER(#onologe)

' (Lights fo!s on the %H/E6 &/'/STER and %H/E6&/'/STER shows a worry fa!e)Oh no- Does this "eans that

I" a foo! an% not fit to %o "y 2o1/- I "ust #reten% that I see

the 2a0et,SWINDLER 7 ' (S,/'0LER + pretending holding a 5a!ket) So,,,$hat %o

you thin0/

CHIEF MINISTER ' Its u",,,1eautifu!,

SWINDLER 5 ' (S,/'0LER points his finger to the 5a!ket) Li0e theo!ours/

CHIEF MINISTER ' Mar&e!ous an% "a+nifient, The E"#eror is +oin+ to !o&e

those o!ours,SWINDLER 7 ' Then te!! the E"#eror that $e nee% "ore ash, Ma+i threa%

is &ery e.#ensi&e no$a%ays,

CHIEF MINISTER ' Certain!y,STOR)TELLER ' (%H/E6 &/'/STER enter the stage and tell the E#peror

abot the news. 6ollow by the appearan!e of a SERA'T

whi!h then walk away fro# E&EROR after his order was

gi$en)When the E"#eror +ot the ne$s fro" the Chief Minister3 he

$as e.ite% as he $as to!% that the 2a0et $as "a+nifient,

So3 he to!% a ser&ant of his to sen% three "ore si!&er1riefase $hih is fu!! "oney to the $ea&er,

SWINDLER 5 ' (SERA'T 4 enter the roo# and pt the brief!ase on the

table after being told) ut the si!&er 1riefase on the ta1!e,SWINDLER 7 ' (S,/'0LER + shows the 5a!ket) Lo&e!y3 isnt it/

STOR)TELLER ' When the ser&ant turn his hea% to$ar%s the s$in%!er3 he too

$as sho0 in fear as he too sa$ nothin+, But 1eause he

%i%nt $ant the $ho!e $or!% thin0 he $as a foo! an% unfit for


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his 2o1, He ans$ere% the $ea&er,

SER4ANT 9 ' Oh yes- The "ost "o%ern an% o!oufu! 2a0et I ha&e e&er

seen,STOR)TELLER ' The ne$s of the "a+ia! 1eautifu! 2a0et s#rea% ;ui0!y, The

E"#eror too ou!% not $ait any !on+er an% he %e"an%e% to

see the 2a0et for hi"se!f, So3 a!! his "inisters an% ser&antsfo!!o$in+ 1ehin%, Ho$e&er3 $hen the e"#eror o#en the %oor

of the $ea&ers $or0in+ roo" in the #a!ae3 he sa$ nothin+,

EMPEROR


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a%"ire his !atest outfit,

SWINDLER 7 ' (S,/'0LER + pretending holding a 5a!ket and pt it on the

E&EROR)=a0et not too ti+ht3 )our Ma2esty/SWINDLER 5 ' (S,/'0LER * points at the 5a!ket)Ho$ a1out the hoie of

o!our/

EMPEROR ' No, 4ery o"forta1!e in%ee%, I !o&e your se!etion of o!our,STOR)TELLER The $ea&ers then >i# u# the in&isi1!e >i#3 ease% the E"#eror

into the "a+ia! trousers,

SWINDLER 5 ' Ho$ %o the 2a0et an% the trousers fee!3 )our Ma2esty/EMPEROR ' 4ery !i+ht, It a!"ost fee!s !i0e I a" not $earin+ anythin+

no$, Ser&ants-

SER4ANT 5 6 7 ' (SERA'TS bow their head down) )es3 )our Ma2esty,

EMPEROR ' Te!! the Chief Minister that I a" ;uite rea%y for the #ara%e,SWINDLER 7 ' )our Ma2esty3 I su++est that )our Ma2esty $ear +!o&es as it

is o!% outsi%e,

EMPEROR ' Certain!y, What o!our +!o&es that you thin0 1est suit "e/

SWINDLER 5 ' Re%3 )our Ma2esty,EMPEROR ' )es- Re%- Re% +!o&es- Feth "e re% +!o&es i""e%iate!y an%

I!! 1e rea%y, Ser&ant-SER4ANT 9 ' (SERA'T 4 bows his head down) )es3 )our Ma2esty,

EMPEROR ' *et rea%y "y hariot an% horses, I a" rea%y to "eet "y

#eo#!e,Sene Ei+ht'(

So"e$here in the to$n

(%O&&O'ERS- S&ALL 3OYS 6ATHER A'0 S&ALL 3OY enter the stage)

COMMONER 7 ' The E"#eror is o"in+-COMMONER 9 ' The E"#eror is o"in+-

STOR)TELLER ' After the o""oners te!! the ro$% aroun% hi" that the

E"#eror is o"in+, The streets start to 1eo"e fu!! as a+reat ro$% o"e to see the E"#erors ne$ !othes,

Ho$e&er the ro$% $as sare as they %o not 0no$ $hether

they an see the !oth that the E"#eror $ears,SMALL BO)S

FATHER

' Where is the E"#eror/- I see no one,,,

SMALL BO) ' Neither %o I, I see you an% "e

COMMONER ? ' The E"#eror is hea%in+ to$ar%s this $ay-STOR)TELLER ' (STORYTELLER enter the stage and walk to the !enter of

the stage and walk away after STORYTELLER speaks to the

adien!e) Ho$ un!u0y a" I/ If I ath the ear!y "onorai! a$hi!e a+o,,,I $ou!% not "iss this #art,

EMPEROR

(#onologe)

' (Lights fo!ses on the E&EROR #eanwhile the

%O&&O'ERS shows so#e a!tions that they saw the 5a!ket)Oh %ear- A!! "ust 1e a foo!- A!! "y #eo#!e see "y 2a0et

an% trousers,

SMALL BO) ' (S&ALL 3OY rns towards the E&EROR and point his

finger to the E&EROR) Father- The E"#eror on!y $ear


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re% +!o&es-

STOR)TELLER ' Then the #eo#!e !oo0e% at the !itt!e 1oy an% the #eo#!e

!oo0e% at the E"#eror,SMALL BO)S

FATHER

' (slowly pll S&ALL 3OY away) Dont 1e si!!y, I" sorry3

My Ma2esty as "y son sti!! youn+, )our Ma2esty3 your 2a0et

an% trousers are 1eautifu!,SMALL BO) ' But,,,

SMALL BO)S

FATHER

' @uiet-

SMALL BO) ' (S&ALL 3OY stops his father and point his finger to the

E&EROR)But father3 hes a!! 1are,

SMALL BO)S

FATHER

' No hes not-

SMALL BO)S

FATHER

' )es he is- Hes a!! 1are

STOR)TELLER ' Then a!! the #eo#!e start !au+hin+ an% $his#erin+ a"on+

the"se!&es ta!0in+ a1out $hat the !itt!e 1oy is ta!0in+ a1out,The e"#eror $as u#set as he 0ne$ that the #eo#!e $ere

ri+ht, But the E"#eror s!o$!y3 #rou%!y $a!0e% on throu+hthe ity as the #ara%e "ust +o on

(Look at wristwat!h and look to the adien!e)Oh no- I a"

not +oin+ to "iss the "o&ie this ti"e, Than0s for !istenin+"y story an% ti!! $e "eet a+ain,

THE END.

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A Modern Adaption of the Emperor