ONIMUSHA
06-21-2012, 03:30 AM
I wrote short play for the english short story "the peddler of swaffham" for summer school, and i though "hmm, i wonder what other people will think of this" so...here it is
Narrator: Tradition says that there lived in former times in Swaffham in Norfolk, a certain peddler, who dreamed that if he went to London bridge and stood there, he should hear very joyfull news. At first he slighted, but afterwards, his dream doubled and trebled upon him, he resolved to try the issue of it, and accordingly went to London, and stood on the bridge there two or three days, but heard nothing to yield any comfort.
Narrator: Tradition says that there lived in former times in Swaffham in Norfolk, a certain peddler, who dreamed that if he went to London bridge and stood there, he should hear very joyfull news. At first he slighted, but afterwards, his dream doubled and trebled upon him, he resolved to try the issue of it, and accordingly went to London, and stood on the bridge there two or three days, but heard nothing to yield any comfort.
Shopkeeper: (walking up to John Chapman) G'day good sir, I noticed that you standing here a few days.
John: It is true that I've stood here for three days, yes.
Shopkeeper: Well, I just came here to ask if something might ail you, mister-
John: John is the name I go by, and yes, something is bothering me. The past few nights, actually weeks, I've been having these recurring dreams telling me to come to London bridge and joyous news would welcome me.
Shopkeeper: Dreams?
John: Yes, dreams. I'm bothered because I was fool enough to actually follow said dreams and come to this bridge at the smoke to await fortune. Look, I've been standing here for three days and not a single good thing comes!
Shopkeeper: True, true. I've had dreams telling me to go somewhere too, but unlike you I'm not foolish enough to do it.
John: (looks curiously at the shopkeeper) Dreams? What was in your dreams? Where are you to go?
Shopkeeper: Let me think…AH! I had these dreams telling me to go to Swaffham-
John: -Go to swaffham…
Shopkeeper: Yes, go to swaffham, and behind the house of some chavy, Chapman I think it was, there is a large oak. It told me to dig near that oak for a great treasure.
John: (laughing) Positively ridiculous! I know everyone in swaffham and not a single chap named chapman lives there!
Shopkeeper: I knew the dream was false, and I know better than to follow such falsehoods.
John: Indeed you do.
Shopkeeper: I think it best you forget such dreams, and just go home and try to live a happy life. Go on, go home mister…what did you say your name was?
John: Er…its John Chap- erm…John Chaisty, my name is John Chaisty good sir.
Shopkeeper: Best of luck to you Chaisty! (the shopkeeper walks offstage)
Narrator: And so the young Chapman, left home to Swaffham, and left to his home dwelling. He then took a shovel to his backyard and started digging, but his search was for naught…just kidding he found a box filled with vast treasures.
John: (holding a box) A box filled with vast treasures! What's this?
Narrator: Inscribed on the box was a Latin text. Chapman, not knowing a word of Latin, took the box to some young schoolboys who could decipher it and he was told to dig even deeper. And so Chapman dug deeper and deeper until he found a second box with even vaster wealth. Being a generous man, Chapman gave the money to the local church, which was in a bit of bad condition. To this day his memory is preserved in stations and alehouses. Let the good John Chapmans experience be a reminder to follow your dreams
Narrator: Tradition says that there lived in former times in Swaffham in Norfolk, a certain peddler, who dreamed that if he went to London bridge and stood there, he should hear very joyfull news. At first he slighted, but afterwards, his dream doubled and trebled upon him, he resolved to try the issue of it, and accordingly went to London, and stood on the bridge there two or three days, but heard nothing to yield any comfort.
Narrator: Tradition says that there lived in former times in Swaffham in Norfolk, a certain peddler, who dreamed that if he went to London bridge and stood there, he should hear very joyfull news. At first he slighted, but afterwards, his dream doubled and trebled upon him, he resolved to try the issue of it, and accordingly went to London, and stood on the bridge there two or three days, but heard nothing to yield any comfort.
Shopkeeper: (walking up to John Chapman) G'day good sir, I noticed that you standing here a few days.
John: It is true that I've stood here for three days, yes.
Shopkeeper: Well, I just came here to ask if something might ail you, mister-
John: John is the name I go by, and yes, something is bothering me. The past few nights, actually weeks, I've been having these recurring dreams telling me to come to London bridge and joyous news would welcome me.
Shopkeeper: Dreams?
John: Yes, dreams. I'm bothered because I was fool enough to actually follow said dreams and come to this bridge at the smoke to await fortune. Look, I've been standing here for three days and not a single good thing comes!
Shopkeeper: True, true. I've had dreams telling me to go somewhere too, but unlike you I'm not foolish enough to do it.
John: (looks curiously at the shopkeeper) Dreams? What was in your dreams? Where are you to go?
Shopkeeper: Let me think…AH! I had these dreams telling me to go to Swaffham-
John: -Go to swaffham…
Shopkeeper: Yes, go to swaffham, and behind the house of some chavy, Chapman I think it was, there is a large oak. It told me to dig near that oak for a great treasure.
John: (laughing) Positively ridiculous! I know everyone in swaffham and not a single chap named chapman lives there!
Shopkeeper: I knew the dream was false, and I know better than to follow such falsehoods.
John: Indeed you do.
Shopkeeper: I think it best you forget such dreams, and just go home and try to live a happy life. Go on, go home mister…what did you say your name was?
John: Er…its John Chap- erm…John Chaisty, my name is John Chaisty good sir.
Shopkeeper: Best of luck to you Chaisty! (the shopkeeper walks offstage)
Narrator: And so the young Chapman, left home to Swaffham, and left to his home dwelling. He then took a shovel to his backyard and started digging, but his search was for naught…just kidding he found a box filled with vast treasures.
John: (holding a box) A box filled with vast treasures! What's this?
Narrator: Inscribed on the box was a Latin text. Chapman, not knowing a word of Latin, took the box to some young schoolboys who could decipher it and he was told to dig even deeper. And so Chapman dug deeper and deeper until he found a second box with even vaster wealth. Being a generous man, Chapman gave the money to the local church, which was in a bit of bad condition. To this day his memory is preserved in stations and alehouses. Let the good John Chapmans experience be a reminder to follow your dreams