Comparisons can be made to our own lives as we look at reasons why we don’t love God, don’t obey Him and gather into cliques instead of drawing others into the kingdom by our example of love. At the end, everyone repents and they all head back to see the King and celebrate their love and worship of Him. Sir Virtue is a very large part.
10 actors (7 male and 3 female) all adult or older teens. About 45 minutes.
Another version of the script is available with the dialogue in Old English. (like a King James version Bible) This could be more difficult but also more fun. (just purchase the script and then email and ask for this version)
Another version is available (also in Old English) that has another female as Sir Virtue’s sidekick, (large part) and Virtue has fewer lines. The King is played by a youth and there are comical lines throughout the script making reference to the king’s size. Also a small part at the opening for a female. (just purchase the script and then email and ask for this version) About 50-60 mins.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
SIR VIRTUE: A good and loyal and virtuous knight of the Royal Court. A large part.
PEASANT WOMAN: A hard working poor woman who wants to help her village.
MAIDEN # 1: One of the king’s men and women, supposedly serving in his court
MAIDEN #2: The same as Maiden #1 who is her sister. They dress in fine clothes.
INNKEEPER: A strange talking common tavern keeper.
THE KING: A wise and loving and saddened leader.
CECIL: One of the king’s men and women who is found carousing in a tavern, and embittered against his own fellow men.
SIR WISDOM: Arriving at the end to explain everything to Sir Virtue.
ARTIMUS: Another higher official arriving at the gate of the Castle to question intruders.
BARTHOLOMEW: Standing guard at the gate to the Castle of Clique.
SERVANT GIRL: Servant to the King
STAGING: Sets and props should be very simple and low key. Since the story moves along on a journey… there should not be difficult set pieces to change. Perhaps back drops to show a countryside or castle, etc. Things can be pantomimed… the boat, the potatoes, the dragons, etc.
Excerpt:
(The King enters and paces the floor looking quite concerned. He
finally sits on his throne and calls out.)
KING: Summon my good and faithful and loyal subject, Sir Virtue!
VOICES FROM OFFSTAGE: Loyal Subject, Sir Virtue! (Further away)
Good and Faithful, Sir Virtue! (Further away) Good and loyal and
faithful and…. And… what was his name again? (Other voices) SIR
VIRTUE! (Last voice) Oh, yeah! That guy! Hey Virtue! The King
wants ya!
VIRTUE: (entering) You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?
KING: Wow! That was fast!
VIRTUE: I came as quickly as I could Sire.
KING: You are such a good and faithful and loyal subject, I feel
privileged to have you in my kingdom.
VIRTUE: Thank you, Your Majesty. You are too kind.
KING: Oh, that’s not possible! No one is TOO kind!
VIRTUE: Yes, Your Grace.
KING: I’m sure you are wondering why I asked you to come here today.
VIRTUE: It did cross my mind, O Mighty One.
KING: Well… it is this: I am greatly grieved.
VIRTUE: Grieved, Sire?
KING: Yes… my people have fallen out of love with me.
VIRTUE: Yes, Sire, I know.
KING: You know? Why… have you as well?
VIRTUE: Oh, no Your Highness! I could never fall out of love with
you!
KING: So, why have all the others?
VIRTUE: I don’t know, My King. Would you like me to find out?
KING: What I would like for you to do, Sir Virtue, is to find out.
Find out why my people don’t love me anymore. You can start with
my own men.
VIRTUE: Would you like me to destroy them, Your Excellency?
KING: Oh no. You cannot do that. But if you could help them get
there love back.
VIRTUE: I will do my best, O King! But how do You propose that I
should do that?
KING: Ride out across the kingdom on a horse that is called “Faith”.
Look for my subjects as you travel on your journey. You could start
by reminding them how much I love them. Remind them of all the
things that I have done for them. Show them that they would not
have the things they have if I had not given it to them. I have
blessed them with abundant blessings and provided for all their
needs. Remind them of the tremendous sacrifice… and how no other
king of any other kingdom has done the same. Remind them of all
these things; after all, my love for them never changes, so why
should their love for me change?
VIRTUE: How true, Your Worship! I will perform this task to the
utmost with all that I have within me. (Bows low) I am your humble
servant.
KING: Humble servant… oooh that is a good one. I think I will add
that to my list of names for you. Let’s see… good and faithful and
loyal and HUMBLE servant, Sir Virtue.
VIRTUE: Will that be all, Your (pause) Royalness?
KING: Yes. You may go now, because I think you are starting to run
out of names to address me by. And remember….we wrestle not against
flesh and blood.
VIRTUE: Excuse me?
KING: You will understand in due time. You may go now.
VIRTUE: Thank you, Sir. (bows)
KING: Sir?
VIRTUE: Sire! Uh… Your Royal Worshipfulness! Uh…Highest in all
the Land and Most Honored and Glorious… (Bowing continually and
embarrassed as he backs out)
KING: Go..go…go. (Virtue starts to leave) Go in my name!
VIRTUE: And which name would that be, My Lord, O King?
KING: (not angry, just light-hearted) I don’t care. Pick one!
Just go already! (Virtue turns and takes off running.) He is good.
I do believe he will accomplish the task.
SCENE FOUR
(Sir Virtue comes across the peasant woman trying to move a heavy
rock.)
VIRTUE: Greetings Good Woman! Allow me to help you with that
boulder there! (He hurries over and lifts the very heavy rock)
Where did you wish to move the boulder to?
PEASANT WOMAN: Well, I was a thinking that I did not like the
boulder where it was! But I was just not strong enough to move it
in any direction.
VIRTUE: Yes… I understand. Where would you like me to place this
large stone?
PEASANT WOMAN: Well, I suppose I should decide quickly, shouldn’t
I, as it is most assuredly quite heavy? Oh yes, quite heavy indeed!
VIRTUE: Yes, it is rather. Just tell me where you would like the
rock to go and I will gladly place it there!
PEASANT WOMAN: What do you think? Do you think it should go over
there? Or do you think it would be better if we put it over there?
VIRTUE: (Beginning to strain from the heavy rock) I see no need to
share my opinion on the subject, just a desire to please my lady and
place the object wherever she wishes.
PEASANT WOMAN: Well, I know we cannot put it back where it was… it
was just in the way there. It was right in the path into our village.
Someone could trip over it some day. I really wanted to get it
out of the path.
VIRTUE: And that has been accomplished, so where indeed shall we
put this thing, before I can no longer hold on to it!
PEASANT WOMAN: Oh dear! I am taking far too long to decide aren’t
I? And there you stand holding that very heavy stone, waiting for
me to make up my mind. I am so terribly sorry. Oh, goodness! You
look familiar! Do I know you? You’re that knight, aren’t you?
The one who helped me with the potatoes a while back! I never got a
chance to thank you! Our entire village owes you a debt of gratitude!
You saved all of our lives!
VIRTUE: Good Woman…
PEASANT WOMAN: Oh, The rock! I’m terribly sorry!
VIRTUE: (Barely able to hold it or talk at this point) Not a problem
good woman! No need for apologies, just a need for some quick
decision as to the final resting place of this rock here!
PEASANT WOMAN: Oh yes, I know! Oh dear! Let’s try over here! (He
moves that way) No! Wait! That will be no good. Let’s try over
here! (He moves that way… sinking in the weight of the rock) What
do you think?
VIRTUE: It matters not woman! But if my opinion has merit in the
situation…
PEASANT WOMAN: Oh yes! Please do share your opinion!
VIRTUE: (Drops the rock) Right here!
PEASANT WOMAN: Perfect! It does look much better there! Yes, that
location was my first choice!
VIRTUE: Indeed. Always go with your first inclination. (Sits down
totally weary and tired)
PEASANT WOMAN: And who might you be kind gentleman? I have
forgotten your name.
VIRTUE: (Still panting) I am Sir Virtue, and I come in the name of
our loving and merciful king.
PEASANT WOMAN: (rolls her eyes) Oh…him.
VIRTUE: He has a message for you. He wants you to know that he
loves you very much.
PEASANT WOMAN: Are you one of his men?
VIRTUE: Yes, my good woman. I am in service of the king!
PEASANT WOMAN: You seem different from the others. You are kind
and helpful. I am not used to that.
VIRTUE: Where are the others?
PEASANT WOMAN: Oh, they are all staying together in yonder fortress.
The Castle of Clique it is called. But I would not go there if I
were you.
VIRTUE: Why not?
PEASANT WOMAN: It’s private property. They don’t want anyone else
in their fortress who does not think the same as they. We are just
lowly peasants who could not ever measure up to their standards, and
who wants to anyway? That’s the way I look at it.
VIRTUE: Well, I believe it is my mission to visit this castle and
speak with the King’s men and give them his message.
PEASANT WOMAN: Then be prepared for the dangerous moat. You have
to sail across in a boat called “Selfishness” and the waters are
called “Self-righteousness” and swimming in the water are doctrine
dragons. No one ever makes it there, unless you become like them.
And you don’t want to be like them. You are kind and good.
VIRTUE: Is that the dragon that I heard about in these parts?
PEASANT WOMAN: Oh no! We have a fierce dragon that comes and
attacks us every Sunday!
VIRTUE: That’s the one. I will have to return on a Sunday to slay
him.
PEASANT WOMAN: You are here to slay the dragon?? Oh hurray! We
will be saved! Perhaps the king does love us after all.
VIRTUE: Yes he does! And he desires that all his subjects
everywhere would love him in return.
PEASANT WOMAN: Well, if you slay that dragon. We will love the
king and you with all our hearts!
VIRTUE: And if I don’t slay the dragon?
PEASANT WOMAN: Oh, but I think you will! For you are very good.
VIRTUE: But first I must travel to yonder fortress and speak with
the King’s men and women in that place.
PEASANT WOMAN: If you could do something about that place… well that
would almost be as good as slaying the dragon. Many have tried to
get in there, but they just won’t let anyone in. The only way we
know how they are, is because of those who have escaped from there.
That is why we have no love for the king. If that is the way his
very own servants live, we want no part of it.
VIRTUE: I must go there immediately. Thank you so much for the
information. I will be back on a Sunday to slay the dragon!
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