DRAFT: STONE SOUP SCRIPT

Cast:

TRAVELLER

Neighbor 1

Neighbor 2

Neighbor 3

Neighbor 4

Other townspeople in non-speaking roles

2 gang people in non-speaking roles

Props:

Stage

Backdrop of 4 houses, one in some disrepair – a sign saying “welcome to Rockwood”

Astro turf serving as grassy area in front

Hose

Large soup pot/cauldron

Rock - perhaps Styrofoam

Ingredients for soup: chopped potatoes, carrots, greens, onion, and so on

One “off-the-wall” ingredient for the soup, such as a big boot, or a plastic pig, . . .

Microphone

A “pop up” fire

A can of spray paint, same color as the paint on one house

A cardboard “house front”

A cardboard “garden”

SCENE ONE:

A weary traveler walks on to the set, moving to center stage, rubbing his stomach as if hungry.

TRAV: AT LAST! A nice little community where perhaps I can find a meal.

Traveller walks to first door and knocks. Neighbor 1 answers the door.

TRAV: Good afternoon! I am but a weary traveler wondering if you might have a meal to share!

NEIGHBOR 1: (walks outside her door toward center stage) Mr. Traveller, you have entered the Rockwood neighborhood. Although are neighborhood is good, and our hearts are full, our resources are few. I would like to help, but the few items I have left I must keep for myself. I am afraid all of my neighbors are in the same spot.

TRAV: I am sorry to hear that. (Traveller goes to next house door and knocks.)

(Neighbor 3 opens his/her door)

TRAV: Dear neighbor, I am hungry and wonder if you might have a meal to spare?

NEIGHBOR 3: : (walks outside her door toward center stage) I am sorry but I cannot help.

TRAV: I am sorry to hear that, (Traveller goes to next house door and knocks.)

(Neighbor 4 opens his/her door)

TRAV: Dear neighbor would you have a small something for me to eat?

Neighbor 4 shakes his/her head as he/she stands at their door.

TRAV: I see you neighbors indeed are in a spot. Could I bother you for a pot and perhaps some water? For, when all else fails there is nothing quite like Rock Soup to satisfy hunger!

Neighbor 4, looking puzzled, offers the traveler a pot, and stretches a hose out to center stage from his/her doorway, looking puzzled.

TRAV pulls up “pop up” fire, sets pot behind it, throws stone from the stage into the pot, then pretends to add water from the hose. He then picks up a stick from the ground to stir the pot.

Entering from each side of the stage are other neighbors who are happening to walk by, all stop near the man –puzzled by what he is doing.

TRAV: MMMM! My rock soup smells SO good! I can taste it already!

Neighbor 1: Excuse me sir? How will that taste good? It is but a water and rock!

TRAV: Just wait and see!

Neighbor 1 goes in the house and brings out a handful of greens and hands them to the traveler.

Neighbor 1: Sir, I can spare this small amount of greens so you can have SOME nourishment in your soup!

TRAV: thank you. (puts ingredient in soup)

Neighbor 2 goes in the house and brings out a bowl of cut potatoes.

Neighbor 2: I can spare these potatoes, for if I keep them a day longer they may spoil. Please enjoy.

TRAV: THANK YOU TOO. (puts ingredient in soup)

Neighbor 3 goes in the house and brings out a piece of beef.

Neighbor 3: Mr. Traveller, I had stored this leftover beef from our dinner last night, but my kids won’t eat it anyway.

TRAV: THANK YOU (puts ingredient in soup)

AS THIS GOES ON, other neighbors leave the stage and start lining up to give ingredients to the traveler. Carrots, etc. are common. No speaking lines are needed, just head nods as each person gives their ingredient to the traveler to add to the soup.

(COMIC RELIEF: ONE NEIGHBOR brings in something totally inappropriate, such as a shoe, boot, negligee, plastic large animal or something “off the wall”. The traveler declines this item.)

NEIGHBOR 4: mmm! That Rock Soup smells quite good.

TRAV: Yes indeed. And with your help there is enough to feed and nourish the entire neighborhood.

VOICE FROM CROWD: JUST THINK WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH!

(At this point all of the neighbors huddle together excitedly and whisper through a discussion.)

One neighbor yells: THAT”S IT! WE CAN FIX THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD!

(music goes into fast speed and the whole setting changes)

Neighbors run off stage and begin bringing in such things as gardens and laying them down. One person brings in a new house front to cover the shabby house.

ENTERING THE STAGE: 2 GANG MEMBERS WITH GRAFFITI SPRAY IN THEIR HANDS. They spray something on the white house.

Four neighbors come along and grab the gang members by the arms and drag them off stage. Another neighbor comes along with white paint and sprays over the graffiti.

ANNOUNCER: WE HAVE THE INGREDIENTS WITHIN OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU NEIGHBORS FOR YOUR HARD WORK! LET’S EAT. (HE THEN DIRECTS AUDIENCE TO WHERE SOUP IS BEING SERVED)