The forest

Day time

(The curtain rises. the scare is in the forest. the animals are happily singing the forest song about the nice morning lighted by the warm sun and. the flying birds are singing to glorify good.)

(( the show is over ))

(Appears on the stage followed by The dog, they are talking.) Oh, dog ! this is unbearable.. touty, the fox, is making a lot of disturbance here and there.. catching, rabbit, retailing food and horrifying the weak.

It is fierce, cunning and strong against small creatures.

I don't know which being can conquer it.

the lion …

No.. the lion has on time for us. it has a doily battle with The tiger Each are in the forest does what it likes.. touty, The fox, has full liberty of action.

We have to look for a solution, or the lion should appoint someone to replace it.

The hunter can save us from the fox, touty, till the lion comes back.

Man !! What on earth do you say !!

Man !! think of what you say, rabbit.

yes.. Man.. He can conquer it.

Man is more clever but he is more evil than The fox

That's enough. We have to let the hunter kill the evil fox touty which ate, hit and was unjust to animals.. touty is unjust.. touty is unjust..

But man did a lot of things above our imagination.

Man can conquer The fox.

But where can we find him ?

Don't be anxious. Every day I see here a hunter.. God is generous enough to send to us, I ‘m sure.

(hurries in) Beware.. Beware.. The fox touty is going to The duck coucou.

(the animals sing in a show to gather for saving The duck.)

Help.. Help.. Help.

it insulted me.. it debased me.. it called me bad names.

Don't imagine we'll leave you eat it.

I must eat it.

It's too much.

you are aggressive, touty … why have you insulted it, Coucou ?

I swear I have ‘t insulted it.

No, it has.

What has it said ?

It has said, you are unjust to me … means I am unjust … means I have on feeling.

Don't think so.. it is flirting you..

I am not stupid.. I don't permit anyone to mock of me.. you are unjust to me it an insult.

this is not an insult.. this is fun.

I don't like fun.

forgive it for my sake also, touty.

O.K I forgive it for your sakes and if I hear another word from it about me I'll eat Coucou.

Help.. Help.. Help.

Go to you work, Coucou.

O.K. (it goes out.)

why are you here now ? Has The donkey called you ?

No I haven't.

it came and asked is to see The fox touty angry because The duck coucou insulted it.

yes, it told us so. we raid, " How We must go and see whey The fox is angry. that's why we have come to you at once."

Go away all of you now … Go. (they go.) ((The fox sings a very short song I am The fox touty.. the strangest animal in the forest.. I can walk on a forefoot and a hind leg and catch any cloud..)) (It goes out when the song is over and Abdul - Gabber the hunter appears carrying a weapon in his hand.)

I am Abdul - Gabber the hunter who roasts the lion.. come in, Safrout.

the cage is too heavy for me to carry.

Push it a little my son.

I am pushing. I can't kill myself.

Bit by bit.. Go on.

Here I am. (it appears pushing a big cage.) Why do you want me to be a hunter ?.. I don't like to hunt animals and birds … they are man's friends.

You don't know or understand anything.. they are man's enemies not friends.. Eat them before they eat you … Wound theme before they wound you.

No, Abdul - Gabber.. you don't notice that birds are man's friends and so are animals … Are all elephants, dogs, cats and ducks bad ?

No … I want you to think in another way.. All animals are bad and we must abolish them. you cannot as a cook. if you become a hunter, you will gain a lot of money

You are my elder brother and I should obey you.

Yes, obey me. Shoot any animal you see.

No, is a sin … this is a sin, my brother.

I say. " What do you do to any animal you find?"

I the now a amuse at it.

No, shoot it … I mean Eat it before it eats you.

No, my brother … I hurt that which hurts me.

(Angry) How do you say to a lion coming to eat you I shall not hurt you unless you eat me first.

Suppose it didn't eat me … May I also hit it …, wound it and go to hell because of your evil speech ?

I don't speak evil… Any haw, you have tried many jobs… try to be a hunter and see… I'll put in this cage a piece of meat, some peanuts and fruit… that which comes in to eat will be caught in.

After all, suppose it wasn't caught in ?

As soon as it gets in, shout the eage behind it … Do you hear or not ?…shut it in..

I hear you, brother

I'll dig a big hole and cover it with straw over there to be a trap to catch any small or big animal walking any on it.. I want you to hide this tree.

O.K., brother. I'll hind. I'll hind

just when an animal enters the cage close it.

I fear the animal will close me in

No… you are man … you are the stronger … Excuse me.

(to the public) My brother Abdul - gabber and I are appeased…He is evil he likes to hunt, hit and shoot but I (the sound of an animal coming at a distance.. the sound of the fox …) An animal is coming.. I am going to hide. (It hides behind the tree.)

Oh ! this is a fine hut. there are meat, fruit and peanuts.. sure it is the monkey ‘s.. It is big and fine I'll enter to eat all. (It enters the cage.)

(to himself ) yes … yes… I must shut it in …this big fox … (He shut the door.) I have shut it in.

Who are you ?

I am Safrout.

What have you done just now ?

My brother ordered me to shut you in.. So I did

Why do you shut my in, Safrout ?

I don't know. My brother wants to sell you.

Wants to the sell me !

Yes, at the zoo.

I'll. be sold to the zoo… I.. The fox touty.

Your name is bad.

My name is bad?!) it gets angry ((Safrout is afraid.))

You, fox frighten me? I am not afraid.

O.K. let me out and I'll. change my name.

to what will you change it ?

As you like.

Call your self Bahloul.

Bahloul, O.K. let me go out.

I can't.

(to itself) it seems that weeping is the only woeful way with him. (it weeps.) Oh, my your graters !…OH, Bouty !..

Who is Bouty ?

My young son is two years old … I always tell it that man is the best creature.

You haven't another son ?

I have my first one which is three years old, Nouny, it never hurt any man or animal

Is it possible?

Every mornible, it kisses my mouth and its brother.

Oh, poor!

My kind female which appears with you on the television screen and on the radio. It plays with the ball.

Is it your female?

Yes. It ‘s ill now, the poor. it wants me to give it the remedy every six hours.

I pity you. You are poor.

I am very poor. I was going to get my female ‘s remedy and lunch, it ‘s hungry.

That's enough …enough, you have broken my aerate, shousou. . (Weeping )

My name ‘s touty.

O.K., touty.. I'll. Let you go out and take the food for your hungry sick female and your youngsters ((He opens the cage.)) Go out … Go out …take. the food for your female.

(Goes out silently its ugly you very much… ((it show its ugly face and throws away the food.))

What are you doing ?!

Get into the cage …Get into the eage !

Why ?!

I'll burn you and eat you. Get in.. Get in. (Safrout gets in the cage shaking with fear.)

We were friends … I set you free.

I'll. roost and eat you. (A song appears - sing the state of great happiness between The fox touty and Safrout)

You are my friend.

I don't know you.you are a coward hunter and I'll. eat you at once.

I beg you, don't eat me. I made you a favour.

I must eat you.

(After the end of the song )

l listen to me, fox !

Yes !

O.K.! Eat me, on condition you know the animals opinion.

(laughs) Are you mad. How can I know all the animals opinion?

Not all of them … half of them.

Not ever their quarter.

Twenty animals.

Not even twenty.

Ten animals.

Five animals.

O.K.

After that, I'll leave nothing of you.

Save me,God. (A donkey passes by.)

What's going on ?

Help me, donkey.

What is the matter ?

Please, judge between The fox and me.

A human being in a cage ?!

I hunted him. (Laughing) He wanted to hurt me.

Listen to our story, please.I was coming with my brother, the hunter, and we found The fox in a cage.I set it free for the sake of his sick female and hungry youngsters, but it put me in the cage to burn and roast me.

You deserve it.

Why ?

Because you are the human being who tortures The donkey.: he rides me day and night, puts heavy loads on my back, makes me carry carts with his family and goods, go here and there for hours, leaves me hungry and thirsty … This is the human being.

No, donkey. Not every human being.

No. Every human being.

I must eat you now. This is The donkey's judgment.

No. We said five. This is one out of five. Four others do remain.

Four more ?

Yes. We have agreed upon five.

Yes, all right.

I am going but I have told you all… All human beings… (Goes out)

You are really a donkey. You don't understand the difference between good and evil.

(Enters barking) What's this? Has The fox hunted a human being? Very nice… Very nice.

The dog is man's friend !

I am every animal's friend before all the humans..

No, No. You are loyal.

And you are the treacherous one, you are the human being.

Why do you say so ? Am I treacherous ? This is nonsense.Have I done you any harm ? Have shame. When you bark, don't I give you food at once ?

You eat the meat and throw me the bones only, don't you ?

You like bones.

Have you ever given me any meat and I said no ?

Now, you dog …This human being..

I let it out of the cage and he obliged me to get into it instead of thanking me. He wants to kill, roast and eat me.

You deserve this. You deserve it, my dear.

Why do you say so ?

You leave me hungry and say I must obey you.You feed me to hunt for you.You hurt me and force me to follow you on your hunting trips.You hunt weak sparrows and make me fetch them for you from far away.

No. I never do that ?

You man sleep inside your home and leave me the whole night guarding it for you. You deeply sleep in your warm bed and leave me in the cold outside.

Now, let The fox open the cage and I promise you to make you sleep in my house and I shall stand by the door to guard it for you and bark at night instead of you.

You see how you are treacherous ? Eat him. Eat him. Good appetite. I am leaving. ( He goes out)

May I eat you now, please ?

No, Fox, no.. We have agreed to five, not two. Two out of five equals what ?

One.

No, three.Five minus two equals three.

Let's see who is coming.

(Passing by) What's this? A human being inside a cage guarded by a fox!

What do you think, Coco? May I eat him?

Eat him.

What's the matter?! Eat him?! Eat him?! Am I so weak or what?

Why, on earth, do you eat a duck every day? Are we so weak or what?

This is a sin, duck. This is a sin.

Don't you eat ducks?

I don't like eating ducks. I have never done so.

But people do so, don't they?

They do.

Thus, animals must eat the humans. This is just.

No, this isn't just.

Roast him and eat him. Or, don't eat him all at once. Eat a piece every day.

No, don't be anxious. Don't be anxious.

Be anxious! As it once told me a lie it will also tell you a lie.The liar will go to hell. As it didn't fulfill its promise, you shall see a lot.

I'll see?! I am actually seeing. Man who had done all this is now at The fox's mercy.

I didn't let my brother Abdel Gabbar sell it to the zoo and set it free for the sake of its family.

It has no youngsters.

Oh, it told another lie. It told me it has.

Stop talking.You are in front of The fox, Touty.

You are very nice, Coco.

If it eats me today, it will eat you tomorrow.

Tomorrow it or you will eat me. What is important is that it will not eat me but it will eat you.

Come my mother to see me. Where are you Abdel Gabbar ?

I am leaving. Eat him. Eat him.

I will eat you.

How will you eat me ? Didn't we agree upon five animals ?

Yes. We counted five.

No, three.The donkey (1), The dog (2) and The duck (3). How many remain ?

One remains.

No. Five minus three equals two.

Yes, two remain.

Yes, two.( He shows two fingers )

( Passes by ) Who are these ? This is The fox and this is the man.

The rabbit is a friend ; frank and swift.It is our judge.

What do you want to say? I am busy.I am in a hurry.

I set The fox free for the sake of its sick female.

It has no female.

I didn't know that,too. You liar.

Go on saying Liar, Liar till I eat you.

You rabbit, have I set it free to shut me in ?

You often shut me in and asked people to make special boxes for rabbits to prevent them from running away. How often did you shut me in? You fox, eat him and let us get rid of a human being. ( It goes out )

We have spoken to five animals. I'll eat you.

No, four…four..The donkey, The dog,The duck and The rabbit.There remains one. Five minus four equals one.

O.K. One animal remains.One remains.

( The bear appears )

What's this ?What is this ? Do I see with my own eyes my friend The fox ?

Yes, bear.See what I have hunted ?

A human being ?!

Yes, a human being.

I'll accept your opinion and judgment, bear.I set The fox free. Have I done wrong ?

No, I don't understand.I don't pay attention.

I want to eat him. This is my right.

Yes, eat him.But I want to know what happened from the beginning.

My brother Abdel Gabbar, the hunter, asked me to work with him and I hunted The fox. It told me it has a female and youngsters. I decided to do a favor and set him free, but it shut me in the cage. ( He weeps )

He asked me to know the opinion of five animals from the forest, whether to eat him or to set him free.

Yes, we listened to four and you are the fifth.

The four said eat him. You,too, say eat him. I eat him and the story comes to an end.

This story needs thinking.

Without thinking..without thinking. You say eat him and I eat him.

You were walking at first in the forest, fox, right?

Yes, I was walking in the forest.

Very good.You came here and found him in the cage ?

No, I was near the tree, hiding and the cage was empty.

I must see with my own eyes where you were and where he was and how the cage was.

Thus, I must get out of the cage.

He runs away.

(To The fox) Where can he run away ? If he runs away, I'll bring him back to you at once.Can he run away from The bear and The fox? Impossible.

O.K. I'll get him out but you will be responsible.

Please, let's see the incidents one by one.

Here you are. (Opens the cage) I have opened the

door.

You were standing behind the tree. Go and stand behind it.

O.K. Here you are. I am standing.

(Safrout stands behind the tree.)

The cage was open like this. (It opens the door)

I was coming like this and found the cage open and got into it.He shut me in.

How did you get into it ?How did he shut the cage ? Show me how to be able to decide.

I entered like this. (It enters the cage)

What did you do, Safrout ?

I shut it in like this. (He shuts the cage)

And after that ?

The fox wept and begged me to get it out.

How?

I begged him Please let me out. Let me go out.

And now, good human being, everything is again as it was before. If you want to get The fox out of the cage again, do it and it will eat you. If you want to keep it in, leave it.

No. I can never let it out again.

You deceived all the forest animals, used your cunning, hit them, wounded them and ate them.

Thank you very much. Thank you, bear.

The fox seized the opportunity of the lion's absence and its fight against the tiger and hurt all the animals. Goodbye, Safrout. (The bear goes out)

Get me out. Get me out, Bear. Get me out, Safrout.

No, Touty. I'll never believe you again. The liar and the favor denier can never be believed.

(Enters) What is this ? Have you hunted a fox, Safrout? We'll sell it at the zoo in our country and get a lot of money.

We shall write its name like this The liar fox Touty.

What about the liar ?

I'll tell you afterwards.

You'll be the bravest hunter.

No, I don't want to be a hunter. Let me go look for another job.

Where are you going ?

I'm going home. (He runs and the sound of his fall is heard from outside) Help, Abdel Gabbar !

Safrout has fallen into the trap I dug for the lion.My brother ! My brother ! (He runs)

Curtain