SchoolSMKA Tun Said, Kota Belud

Drama TitleKing Armidas, The King of Nebula

By Khairunnisa

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DirectorNajmi Syahmi bin Ahmad

ScriptwriterKhairunnisa binti Mohd. Asdi

Technician (Sound, Music Arrangement)Mohd Suhainizam bin Mohd. Saini

CostumesSaharul bin Saim (Leader)Faridulhakim bin DullahNajmuddin bin Ruslee

PropsMohd. Hafizuddin bin Lamudin (Leader)Mohd. Fauzan bin RamlanMohd Armi bin Abduraman

NarratorNurashiqin Farhana binti Abu Bakar

Characters & Characteristics

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Character Cast Characteristics

1. King Armidas Najmi Syahmi Impatient, greedy, selfish, foolish and cruel king

2. Lustress Khairunnisa Cunning, flattery (sweet talk), and evil inner voice

3. Princess Laura Hafizah binti Maslan

Loving, caring, brave but innocent princess

4. Marmaduke Mohd. Baihaqi Wise, obedient, brave, loyal and kind-hearted castle warrior

5. Minister Hercules

Mohd. Muzdalifah Heroic, brave and kind-hearted castle minister

6. Mimosa Giant Nurul Izzah Izzati Fierce, powerful, natural ancient creature with deadly serpent-like branches

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7. Soldiers Mohd. ArmiMohd. Fauzan

Strong, disciplined, obedient, always in perfect formation

Title: King Armidas, The King of Nebula.

Scene 1Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a prosperous kingdom. This was the land of Nebula where a King once ruled efficiently. His name is King Armidas, The Great King. He was loved and respected by his kingdom. His treasures were aplenty, he had a huge number of soldiers, and he was brave, strong and was very good at swords. He was, well, a King who has everything! However, his perfection had led him into corruption, which was… his OWN PRIDE and GREED.

(The king was in the middle of the stage with a chalice on his hand. There was an advisor by his throne).

King: Oh, my advisor, Minister Hercules. I’m in a very happy life now. But, I’m confused of one thing.

Minister: What is it that confuses you, Your Majesty?

King: My birthday will be in a few months later, but I don’t know what I should request for. I already have everything.

Minister: Do you think so, Milord?

King: Yes, of course. I am loved and respected by everyone. All the other kingdoms respect and fear me! My kingdom is very rich and my soldiers are very strong. I am a symbol of Great Power. I have – well, everything!

Minister: Yes, Your Majesty. You have everything, except for one thing.

King: (Shocked). As far as my knowledge could reach, I never once had an idea of what I don’t have. Ridiculous! What is that one thing?

Minister: Even if I tell you, you can never have it, Milord.

King: Hercules, you better tell me what it is, because I will definitely have it. Remember, I am King Armidas, the Great King? (he enjoys his pride)

Minister: No, Milord, I’m afraid not so. Even if it’s you, it’s impossible.

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King: Nonsense! You better tell me what that one thing is. This is an order!

Minister: My apology, Your Highness. I did not mean to anger you. That one thing is, immortality.

King: Immortality? You have triggered my wrath! I don’t wish to see you anymore. Go away!Minister: But, Milord –

King: Go away, now!

Minister: (Bowed)(Marmaduke left the stage, leaving only the King).

King: (Thinking and his eyes narrow) Hmm… But Hercules is right. What I don’t have indeed, is immortality. Is it impossible? How do I get that? Arghh! (he shouts in exasperation, throws his chalice).

(Suddenly, out of nowhere, a figure wearing dark, black clothes appears)

Lustress: Need not to despair, my King. (Soft, cunning and alluring voice)

King: Who are you? Why are you here?

Lustress: (Chuckles) Hehehehe… My name is Lustress. It’s my pleasure to be at your service, Milord.

King: Lustress? I’ve never heard of the name. Go away! I don’t know who you are!

Lustress: It is within my honor to do as I’m told but it’s also a shame that I don’t get to share the secret of immortality with you. Imagine, King Armidas, the Great Immortal King. You will enjoy an eternity of power and luxury if you are immortal.

King: (Excited) Wait! You know how to make me immortal?

Lustress: Of course. (Turns back) There are no secrets that could hide from me. I am, after all, Lustress! I know every human’s deepest desire and lust. But the question is, will you be ready and brave enough to risk everything – to get immortality?

King: Stop playing riddles with me! Of course, I will do everything. I am, after all, the Great King!

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Lustress: Then, swear it with your soul. Once the contract is made, you must accomplish a few tasks. However, you must never turn back. If you turn back, I will take your soul and you will die a tragic death! (Her voice suddenly become intense and serious, as if this is no joking matter)

King: Hmmph! (ridicules the details of becoming immortality) I swear within the royal blood that flows in my veins and I swear with my soul that I am ready to do anything! (Thunder rumbles)

Lustress: (Chuckles) The contract is made, Your Majesty. If you ever change your mind, you will die instead. So, the first step to become immortal is… You must build 100 castles of gold!King: That’s easy. Marmaduke! We have work to do! (Marmaduke comes in)

(Time freezes)

Narrator: With that, the king ordered his people to gather all of his gold to build his castles. (Sound of people hammering & doing work)

* * * * * * * * *

Scene 2King: (Sitting on his throne) (Marmaduke enters the scene)

Maramduke: Your Majesty, we have built 85 castles. That’s as far as we can go!

King: Don’t be silly! We have all the gold in the world! How come you cannot build 100 castles of gold?

Maramduke: But Your Majesty, we are running out of gold!

King: No! You have to work harder! Be more hardworking and be more committed!

Marmaduke: I am afraid not, Your Majesty, I told you! We’re running out of gold! That’s all we have! We need more money to get more gold!

King: Money? Hmph! Raise the kingdom’s taxes and squeeze every cent out of the villagers! Tell them that we need to work harder for the benefits of our Kingdom! You are my adviser; use your intelligence for my benefits! For God sake!

Marmaduke: B-But, Your Majesty –

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King: No more excuses! Do it or I’ll punish you for not obeying my order!

Marmaduke: Within my honor, Milord.

* * * * * * * * *

Scene 3Narrator: It was some time later and suddenly the kingdom has become sorrowful and sad. The villagers started to hate the King for his greediness.

King: (In deep thought) What should I do? My people do not trust me anymore! Maybe they even hate me and rebel against me!

Lustress: (Appears) Need not to despair, my king. Everybody in this world must face great tests to be successful. You must be brave and strong against all odds. You can have as many kingdoms as you want if you have immortality. They will respect you even more when you are immortal, Great King.

King: Lustress. Tell me, am I immortal now!?

Lustress: (Chuckles). Not yet, King Armidas. Now comes the second task. You must burn down all the forests in your Kingdom. That’s what you need to do.

King: Why do I need to burn down the forest? Building 100 castles of gold benefits me, but burning down the forest gives me nothing!

Lustress: My dear King, make the citizens feel afraid of you! Let them know the consequences of rebelling against you! Let them know that you can do anything as King! Instill fear and destruction upon them. That way, they will bow at your feet.

King: Alright. Guards! We have some work to do!

(Guards enter the stage and time freezes)

* * * * * * * * *

Scene 4Narrator: With that, the King burned down all the forest in his kingdom. His actions have made his kingdom suffer, especially the villagers who live near the forest. The King’s only daughter, Princess Laura, came to see him to talk about this.

(King Armidas is sitting on his throne.)

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(Suddenly, the princess comes in and she looks very upset).

Princess: Father!

King: What’s wrong with you?

Princess: Why did you treat our people like this?

King: What do you mean?

Princess: Father, I know that you’ve built 100 castles of gold, and made the citizens pay high taxes. But why did you burn down all the forest? The villagers lost their land and homes. Some of them even died in the fire. What is this for, father? What is it for?

King: (Looks strict and stares his daughter with bloodshot eyes) I have my reasons.

Princess: For whatever reason it is, I don’t think it’s acceptable. So, please stop father. Stop making your own people suffer. We need you back!

King: Laura, how dare you talk like that to your father! I have my solid reasons and you don’t have to interfere. Go somewhere else and don’t come to me if you want to talk about this.

Princess: (Shocked and disappointed) Why? The father I know was good-hearted, respected and loved by his people. You are cruel now!

King: That’s enough! You know nothing about me!

Princess: You are a King who is supposed to protect your own people. I will not let this happen again! I will protect our kingdom as Princess of Nebula, even if I have to go against you! (Very stern and angry, walks away)

King: (Stands in silence). No, you’ll never do that! Argh! (Throws his chalice to the floor.)

Lustress: (Appears from nowhere) Need not to despair my King, for you will have all the people to support you, when you return with your glory. It is the sacrifice that you have to make. King: O, Lustress! How many steps do I have to take before I can become immortal? This is very frustrating! (Stumbles down, hopelessly, punches the floor)

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Lustress: (Chuckles) Only two steps left.

King: (Full of hope, his face suddenly brightens up) Really? So what should I do next?

Lustress: Send your soldiers to kill the Keeper of the Atlas Mountain.

King: The Keeper of the Atlas Mountain? You mean, the Mimosa Giant?!

Lustress: Indeed. My Great King. Kill it and drink a cup of its fresh blood.

King: B-But, that’s impossible. Doing so would be suicide!

Lustress: Need not to worry my King, send all of your strong soldiers and killing the Mimosa Giant would be easy. I promise you that. You are the Great King, remember?

King: Hmmph! Alright! Marmaduke! I need you, now! (Marmaduke enters).

Narrator: With that, the King sends 3000 of his greatest soldiers to kill the Mimosa Giant, the Keeper of the Mount Atlas.

(Adventurous, sinister music plays)(some soldiers attack the Mimosa Giant in the background. Marmaduke leads the attack. All soldiers die and Mimosa Giant has fallen.)(Time freezes)

* * * * * * * * *

Scene 5King: (In deep thinking posture, his eyes are weary).

(The Marmaduke comes in and he is severely injured)

Marmaduke: Your Majesty, the Mimosa Giant has been killed. This is the blood that you have requested.

King: (The king takes the vial of blood) Good, you can go now!

Marmaduke: But, I have something important to tell you, Your Majesty!

King: What is it?

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Marmaduke: Killing the giant brought a huge damage to our soldiers. Out of 3000 of our soldiers, only 30 of them returned and they are terribly injured!

King: So? (Drinking the Mimosa Giant’s blood). Mmm.. It’s sweet and delicious.

Marmaduke: We have no protection against our enemies at the borderline now, Your Majesty.

King: Then, take all the villagers’ sons even the 15-year-olds and make them soldiers as soon as possible.

Marmaduke: Your Majesty, that’s not right!

King: (Stood) How dare you question my authority! Know your place! Why can’t you just do what I’ve told you?! Go, now! (Stresses the word ‘I’ as a sign of selfishness)

Marmaduke: As you wish, Milord.

King: (Slumps to his seat as he massages his forehead) (sighs heavily). My servants are all lousy and foolish! How come they cannot understand such a simple thing?

Lustress: (Suddenly appears again) Need not to worry, my King, for immortality is almost within your grasp. With that, you can take all the time in the world to bring back all the glory to your kingdom once again.

King: O, Lustress! All these feelings are killing me. I cannot wait even longer. So, please, tell me what the last step is.

Lustress: Behold my King! The last step will make you immortal! (Intense music plays)

King: (Pauses and his face changes)… What? I will not do this one! I will kill you instead! Guards!

Lustress: (Laughs). Did you forget, Your Majesty? You sent all your soldiers to kill the Mimosa Giant! You are powerless. Hahahah!

King: How dare you!

Lustress: Your Majesty, you can do what you want. But remember your contract! If you don’t complete all the steps, you will die instead. So, think, my King! (Angry and serious, stern and business-like manner)

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King: (Stumble down hoplelessly) (Scream in frustration) Argh! Why? Why?(King burst into sobs…)

* * * * * * * * *

Scene 6(Transition of props. There is a dining table on the middle of the stage, with chair at each end and the King is sitting at one end)

King: (King’s face looks pale, his eye shade looks black as if he has cried all night, the color of life has been drained from his face).

(Princess comes in and hesitates)King: Oh, it’s you. Sit down, my lovely daughter.

Princess: Are you alright? Gosh! You look pale as if you have been crying all night.

King: Indeed, Laura. I’ve realized all my mistakes after thinking about what you have said to me. I’m cruel and heartless! I don’t know who I am anymore. I wish to repent.

Princess: Really? I’ve been having bad dreams about you, father. But now that you are back, thanks to God… King: So, as a sign of my apology, would you dine with me, my dear?

Princess: Of course, it’s within my delight.

(Laura begins to drink, when she sips the water from her chalice, suddenly she holds her neck. Thunder rumbles).Princess: Father! What is this drink? It feels like a thousand needles are piercing my throat!

King: (Look down) I’m very sorry, Laura. I have to do this! Forgive me.

Princess: (Stands from her chair and tries to reach her father). Father, why did you do this? Why? (she begins to sob and falls to the floor, dead because of the poison)

King: Forgive me, Laura! You choose to go against me. That’s the only way I can stop you!

King: (stands from his seat, searching, demanding answers) O, Lustress! I’ve built 100 castles of gold! I’ve burned down the forest! I’ve sacrificed my soldiers! And I-

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I, even killed my own daughter! (Hysterical!) I’ve become totally evil! So, tell me! Am I immortal now!?

Lustress: (Only the voice, but she does not appear this time). You have already become immortal, King Armidas.

King: Is it? How can you prove that?!

Lustress: (Sinister laugh) How can ‘I’ prove that? Didn’t you realize all this time that I am you? I am your inner voice! Hahaha. You’ll be immortal in hell!

King: What? You are my inner voice? All this while, you were in my mind? So, was it my own actions that caused all of this? But, I need not to worry. I am immortal now. Hahaha.

(Suddenly, Minister Hercules bursts in)

Minister: You unworthy King! It’s time for you to step off! You are cruel to your people! You killed many lives including your own daughter! Your era as King is over!

King: How dare you talk to me like that! I’m King Armidas! The Great, Immortal King!

Minister: Great or immortal for nothing! You are not King, you are evil!

King: Y-You! How dare you!! I’m your King! You must obey me! ‘I’ know the secrets of immortality! I-I’m immortal now! Can’t you see?! Kneel before me! It’s an order!!

Minister: No! You are evil. You have been blinded by your greed and desire! Guards, seize him!(Several soldier broke in and seized the King)

King: No! Stop! I’m immortal! No! (The King struggles to break free)

Narrator: That’s the end of the story of a greedy King who bows to his desire and wants the impossible! So, ladies and gentlemen, my fellow friends, listen to your good will and treat other people nicely. Do not be blinded by luxury and temptation. Remember this, Earth provides enough for man’s need but not man’s greed. Thank you. (All casts bow to audience)

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THE END

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