The Tale of Melon City Script

“THE TALE OF MELON CITY”
SCRIPT WRITING
Breakdown of the characters and their respective dialogue:

1. The King
• "I proclaim that an arch should be constructed, to edify
spectators there."
• "This is a disgrace! The chief of builders will be hanged."
• "I must have all the workmen hanged instead."
• "Bring to me the wisest man in this country."
2. The Chief of Builders
• "O King, it was the workmen's fault."
3. The Workmen
• "O King, you do not realize the bricks were made of the
wrong size."
4. The Masons
• "It was the Architect..."
5. The Architect
• "You made certain amendments to the plans when I
showed them to you."
6. The Wisest Man
• "The culprit must be punished. Truly, the arch it was that
banged the crown off, and it must be hanged."
7. The Councillor
• "How can we hang so shamefully what touched your head,
Your Majesty?"
8. The Ministers
• "Thank Goodness we found someone, for if instead we had
not, the unruly town might well have turned against the
Crown."
• "The next to pass the City Gate will choose the ruler of our
state, as is our custom. This will be enforced with due
ceremony."
9. The Idiot
• "A melon."
ACT 1
Scene 1: The stage is empty. Sound of trumpets is heard. The
King enters the stage, followed by his entourage. The King stops
in the middle of the stage.
King: (clears throat) My dear subjects, today I have a most
important proclamation to make.
Entourage: (murmurs in anticipation)
King: I have decided that a great arch should be constructed to
span the major thoroughfare, to edify all those who pass
through it.
Entourage: (cheers)
King: Workmen, go and build the arch. You have my royal
decree.
The workmen exit the stage, followed by the entourage.
Scene 2: The stage represents the construction site. The
workmen are busy building the arch. The Chief of Builders is
supervising.
Chief of Builders: (to the workmen) Careful now, make sure
everything is done to perfection. His Majesty expects nothing
but the best.
A loud crash is heard. The King enters the stage, riding on his
horse.
King: (alarmed) What was that? What happened here?
Chief of Builders: (bows) Your Majesty, the arch was built to
your specifications.
King: (looks at the arch, then looks up at his horse's mane)
Where is my crown? (touches his head) My crown is missing!
Chief of Builders: (steps forward) Your Majesty, it was not our
fault. The arch was built to your instructions. It was the
workmen's fault.
King: (furiously) Silence! (turns to the guards) Bring me the rope
and the gallows. The Chief of Builders will be hanged for this!
The guards exit the stage, followed by the Chief of Builders.
Scene 3: The stage represents the gallows. The Chief of Builders
is brought in, and is about to be hanged. The King enters the
stage.
King: (to the Chief of Builders) Do you have any last words
before you meet your fate?
Chief of Builders: (looks at the King) Your Majesty, it was not
our fault. The bricks were made of the wrong size.
King: (pauses) What? (to the guards) Summon the masons!
The guards exit the stage.
Scene 4: The stage represents the masons' workshop. The
masons are working on their tools. The guards enter the stage.
Guards: (to the masons) The King demands your presence.
Come with us.
The masons exit the stage with the guards.
Scene 5: The stage represents the Royal Court. The masons are
brought in, and stand before the King.
King: (to the masons) Is it true that you were responsible for
the wrong-sized bricks?
Masons: (bow) Your Majesty, we did as we were instructed. It
was the Architect's fault.
King: (to the guards) Summon the Architect!
The guards exit the stage.
Scene 6: The stage represents the Architect's office. The
Architect is worKing on his plans. The guards enter the stage.
Guards: (to the Architect) The King demands your presence.
Come with us.
The Architect exits the stage with the guards.
Scene 7: The stage represents the Royal Court. The Architect is
brought in, and stands before the King.
King: (to the Architect) Is it true that you were responsible for
the wrong-sized bricks?
Architect: (bows) Your Majesty, you made certain amendments
to the plans when I showed them to you.
King: (pauses) What? (to himself) I must have forgotten.
The crowd is murmuring. The King
Architect: Your majesty, I beg your pardon, but you seem to

have forgotten that you made certain amendments to the plans
when I showed them to you.
King: (angrily) What do you mean? I did no such thing!
Architect: Your majesty, I have the original plans with me, and I
can show you where the changes were made.
King: (pausing) Well, let me see those plans then!
(The Architect hands the plans to the King, who studies them
intently. After a few moments of silence, the King's expression
softens.)
King: (to the Architect) You are right. I did make changes to the
plans. I had forgotten.
Architect: (nodding) Yes, your majesty.
King: (thoughtfully) This is a tricky thing. I need some counsel.
Bring to me the wisest man in this country.
(The wisest man is brought before the King, and the King
explains the situation to him.)
Wisest Man: The culprit must be punished. Truly, the arch it
was that banged the crown off, and it must be hanged.
Councillor: (interrupting) Your Majesty, may I ask a question?
King: (irritated) What is it now?
Councillor: How can we hang so shamefully what touched your
head, Your Majesty?
King: (pausing) That is a good point.
(The crowd grows restless and starts to mutter.)
King: (addressing the crowd) Let us postpone consideration of
finer points like guilt. The nation wants a hanging. Hanged must
be someone, and that immediately.
(The workmen are all measured for the noose, but only one
man, the King himself, is tall enough to fit. He is hanged by
royal decree.)
Ministers: (breathing a sigh of relief) Thank goodness we found
someone, for if instead we had not, the unruly town might well
have turned against the Crown.
(The Ministers ponder the dilemma, then decide to let the next
person who passes through the City Gate choose the ruler of
the state.)
Idiot: (passing through the City Gate) A melon.
(The Ministers crown a melon and place it on the throne.)
Narrator: This happened years and years ago. When now you
ask the people, ‘So — your King appears to be a melon. How
did this happen?’, they say, ‘Well, on account of customary
choice. If His Majesty rejoice in being a melon, that’s OK with
us, for who are we to say what he should be as long as he
leaves us in Peace and Liberty?’ The principles of laissez faire
seem to be well-established there.
In the story "The Tale of the Melon City," the melon is a symbol
for the absurdity and arbitrary nature of power and authority.
When the King is accidentally killed by the low-hanging arch,
the people in power struggle to find someone to blame and
punish for the King's death. They ultimately settle on a melon
as their new ruler, highlighting the idea that power can be
placed in the hands of anyone or anything, regardless of
qualifications or suitability. The melon represents the arbitrary
nature of power and the potential for absurdity in systems of
governance.

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“THE TALE OF MELON CITY”

Breakdown of the characters and their respective dialogue:

Architect: Your majesty, I beg your pardon, but you seem to

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