The Lion and the Mouse Readers Theater

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

Cast List

Narrator 1 ...........................................

Narrator 2 ...........................................

Lion ......................................................

Mouse .................................................

Setting: This story takes place long ago in a jungle.

1

Narrator 1

Lion

Narrator 2

Mouse

Q)

u, ::J 0 � Q)

.c +-' "'C

C ('3 C 0

·...J

Q)

.c

�

The Lion and the Mouse

Scene 1: The Mouse Begs for a

Favor Setting: Long ago, in a jungle

2

Narrator 1:

Once upon a time, there was a mouse.

Narrator 2:

The mouse was climbing over a huge mountain…

Narrator 1:

when it discovered that it was not a mountain at all…

Narrator 2:

but a LION!

Lion:

ROAR! You woke me up!

Mouse:

A thousand apologies!

Lion:

Do you know what happens to animals that wake me out of my sleep?

Mouse:

Something good?

Lion:

No! Something bad. I eat them!

Mouse:

Yikes!

Lion:

Just like I’m going to eat you right now!

Mouse:

Now don’t be hasty. Let’s take a moment and talk this thing out!

Lion:

There’s nothing to talk about. Do you have some ketchup?

The Lion and the Mouse

Mouse:

Not on me. Why?

Lion:

Because I am going to eat you with it!

Mouse:

Okay, let’s calm down, sir! Let’s just calm down. I am going to make you an offer if you do me the favor of sparing my life.

Lion:

I’m listening.

Mouse:

If you show me mercy, and let me go, I promise that if you are ever in trouble, I will help you.

Lion (laughing):

That’s hilarious!

Mouse:

What’s so funny?

Lion:

Well, look at you! I am the king of the animal kingdom! And you are, well, a mouse! And you are going to save me? That isn’t likely.

Mouse:

You never know.

Lion:

I do know. You are of no use to me at all. You are simply too small to be valuable...except as a tasty snack. Speaking of which…

Mouse:

Wait! Wait!

Lion:

Prepare to be eaten!

Mouse:

Wait! Wait! WAIT! 3

The Lion and the Mouse

4

Lion:

What is it now?

Mouse:

Sire, you are not looking at this from all the angles.

Lion:

What do you mean?

Mouse:

Well, think about it. You are the king of the jungle. No one disputes that.

Lion:

Correct.

Mouse:

Now, how would it look if a big old lion, the king of the jungle, attacked a tiny, puny, mouse. Frankly, it would make you look bad.

It would make you look like a bully.

Lion:

I see your point. It would be bad PR.

Mouse:

Everyone would be talking about it. “Did you hear about the poor mouse that accidentally woke up the lion---and the lion ate the poor mouse even though the poor mouse begged for its life?”

Lion:

I would look bad in that story.

Mouse:

Right! You want everyone to think of you as powerful, not cruel! There’s a difference, sire.

Lion:

Point taken. A good king does not bully. A good king does not attack creatures smaller than himself.

The Lion and the Mouse

Mouse:

Now, you’ve got the picture!

Lion:

Very well. I hereby let you go. I release you. Scram!

Mouse:

A thousand thank yous. And if I can ever be of any help to you…

Lion:

Oh, mouse! You make me laugh at the very thought of YOU ever being any help to me!

Narrator 1:

Years passed. Hunters began to invade the jungle. They loved to catch big game such as lions.

Narrator 2:

The hunters set traps throughout the forest so that lions would get ensnared in nets.

Narrator 1:

Then they would kill the lions for their fur. It was a terrible business.

Narrator 2:

One day, the mighty Lion, was ambling through the forest when suddenly:

Lion:

I’m caught! I’m caught!

Narrator 1:

The lion had indeed been caught in a net.

Lion:

Help me! Someone help me! ROAR!

Narrator 1:

No animals came to his aid. After a few hours, the Lion was beginning to think he was done for…

5

The Lion and the Mouse

6

Narrator 2:

and then he spotted

Lion:

the MOUSE

Mouse:

Sire! I came as soon as I heard your roar.

What has happened to you?

Lion:

Can’t you tell? I’m trapped in this net. The hunters are coming back soon. If I can’t get out of this net, that’s the end of me.

Mouse:

We’ll see about that! I’ll set to work at once.

Narrator 1:

And the mouse began to chew at the ropes in the net.

Lion:

What are you doing, Mouse?

Mouse:

I am chewing on the ropes in the net.

Lion:

But the ropes are thick and you are a tiny mouse! Your tiny teeth will never cut through the thick ropes in time!

Mouse: Lion:

Trust me! You’d be surprised at what a tiny mouse can chew through. Just ask a homeowner!

This is madness! Go call a REAL animal. An animal that is bigger than my paw! Get an elephant or a hyena to help me. Then I will at least have a chance.

Mouse:

Trust me for once!

The Lion and the Mouse

Narrator 2:

And the mouse chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed

Narrator 1:

until

Lion:

I am free! I am perfectly free!

Mouse:

Told you!

Lion:

I better get out of here before the hunters come back.

Mouse:

Before you go, have you learned anything from this experience we’ve just shared?

Lion:

Um...not to get caught in nets?

Mouse:

Besides that?

Lion:

that the mouse is a true friend?

Mouse:

Besides that?

Lion:

Okay, here goes. I have learned that good things can come in small packages. When I first met you, I did not think you could ever be a help to me. And yet you just saved my life. Just because you are tiny does not mean that you are not powerful.

Mouse:

Lesson learned! Now let’s get out of here!

7

The Lion and the Mouse

8

Narrator 1:

And let that be a lesson for us all. It always pays to be kind to creatures great and small.

All:

The End!