The Ignorant and the Innocent
By Amulya Kuntamukkala
Cast of Characters
KING (Jonathan III): The protagonist; initially a supercilious and vain ruler who is easily cheated because he refuses to read documents or care for his subjects. He undergoes a transformation after losing his kingdom and eventually learns the value of humility and sacrifice.
PRINCESS MAUD: The "Innocent" of the title; daughter of Queen Ember. She is kind-hearted, perceptive, and courageous. She ultimately bridges the gap between the two warring royal families and marries King Jonathan.
KAI: A sharp-witted and independent horse trader from the outskirts. She is cynical about the monarchy but becomes the King’s mentor and eventual Official Advisor (and wedding officiant).
PRIME MINISTER: The primary antagonist; a cunning and manipulative villain who plots to bankrupt the King and seize the throne through deceit and "extra horse taxes."
QUEEN EMBER: The ruler of Ignis; she is fueled by grief and a desire for vengeance, believing the King intentionally killed her husband. She eventually learns the truth and reconciles with the King.
BOB: A comedic and sneaky character who initially helps the Prime Minister but later reveals his true loyalty lies with Queen Ember and Princess Maud.
NARRATOR: The storyteller who provides context for the scenes and describes the action and passage of time.
GUARDS 1 & 2: The King’s personal security; they provide comic relief and are easily swayed by gold.
RYAN (Prime Minister’s Helper): A secondary antagonist and loyal henchman who assists the Prime Minister in his escape and his final attempt to seize power.
EXTRA(S): Villagers and members of the royal court who participate in the coronation, riots, and final battle.
NARRATOR: Long ago, a supercilious king lived in a faraway land. Whenever he got a good deal, he was cheated, which put the royal treasury at risk.
SCENE 1 - King is going to the outskirts of the kingdom, searching for prized Arabian horses to buy.
KING: Guards! We should stop here.
GUARD 1: Yes, your Majesty.
GUARD 2: *pulls out a trumpet* His Majesty approacheth
KING: Do ye know of any Prized Arabian horses around here?
BOB(sneaky): Yes, your Majesty. If you go a little down that narrow pathway, you’ll find Kai, who sells those horses. She’ll be sure to give you a discount.
KING: Thank you, Commoner. *shudders*
NARRATOR: Both guards burst into laughter
BOB (sheepish): You’re…welcome…your…Majesty
SCENE 2 - The King and his two guards go to visit Kai.
KING - I would like the finest of your Arabian horses.
KAI - 1001 gold coins.
KING (shocked) - 1000 gold coins?
KAI - And 1 more gold coin.
KING - There must be some discount, for I am your king!
KAI - Your Majesty, I cannot afford to give you a discount. The outskirts of the kingdom are suffering. Everyone is close to poverty. *under her breath* Yet, the royal treasury never cares to help.
KING - EXCUSE ME? GUARDS! TAKE HER AWAY!
GUARDS 1 & 2 *together* - YES! Your Majesty!
KAI - WAIT! Would you still like to buy a horse?
KING - NO! I’M TAKING THEM ALL! AS YOUR KING, I DESERVE TO HAVE THEM!
SCENE 3 - The Prime Minister discusses a plot with Bob.
PRIME MINISTER - Bob! How long are you going to take to understand my plan?
BOB - Sooo, ummmm…? I promote you all around the kingdom as a famous merchant.
PRIME MINISTER - Is that all you have?
BOB *sheepish* - Well…?
PRIME MINISTER - Okay, last time. Yes, you promote me all around the kingdom as a famous merchant. I will disguise myself and make an appearance in the King’s palace. I’ll show him my items and he will ask to buy one. That’s where you come in. You’ll act like a poor villager saying that you were charged 2000 pounds to buy it. I’ll give him a discount and slowly rob the kingdom’s wealth. I’ll take over the rest. *barks* Got it?
BOB - Yeah, but what if the King’s ministers say something about you never selling anything to the villagers of the kingdom?
PRIME MINISTER - Good question Bob, excellent. That’s why I’ve infiltrated the King’s court and put my men in his court instead.
BOB - I’m still getting to be your Prime Minister, correct?
PRIME MINISTER (sneaky) - Sure.
SCENE 4 - King is going to the dungeon to visit Kai.
KING - So, enjoying it?
KAI (sarcastic) - Sure. The food is bland, and I’m stuck in one room. Sure.
KING - As your king—*cut off by Kai*
KAI - STOP IT!
KING - Commoner! Everyone respects me as I know I am superior to them.
KAI - They hate you!
KING - What do you mean? Everyone loves me! For I am their King!
KAI *voice shaky with anger* - The only reason they respect you is that their life is at stake. They don’t want to end up like me. Wasting my life in a prison cell. (mocking voice) “For I am their King!” Then start acting like it!
NARRATOR - The King gets up to leave. He pays little attention to what she says.
SCENE 5 - The Prime Minister and Bob are in a small shack getting ready to go to the kingdom.
BOB *childishly giggling* - You’re tickling me! Stop it!
PRIME MINISTER *exasperated as he was putting the finishing touches on Bob’s costume* - Oh, stop it, Bob! I’m just adding a few more details. Now, do you remember your lines?
BOB - Yes!
PRIME MINISTER - Good! Now, the Kingdom is mine! All mine! *evil laugh*
SCENE 6 - The Prime Minister and Bob are going to the palace to fool the King.
GUARD 1 - Halt! Who goes there?
GUARD 2 - His Majesty is busy at the moment.
PRIME MINISTER - Gentleman, gentleman, there is truly no reason to fret.
NARRATOR - Bob hands the Prime Minister a sack of gold coins. The guards snatch the gold coins and let the two of them in.
PRIME MINISTER - Thank you, gentleman.
NARRATOR - The Prime Minister and Bob walk into the Palace. Ready to execute the plan.
PRIME MINISTER - Pleased to meet you, your Majesty.
KING *grumpy and bored* - (barks) What do you want?
PRIME MINISTER - Your Majesty, if I may. I am a famous merchant from a foreign kingdom. I wanted to show you my items.
KING - Really? (warm) Please tell me about them.
PRIME MINISTER - Here, I have this special paintbrush that Leonardo da Vinci used.
BOB - Your Majesty, please do not buy it! I was charged 200,000 gold coins for it! I could never buy it, though I long to have it!
KING - Is that so? I don’t need that old paintbrush, please leave.
PRIME MINISTER *sneaky - But your Majesty. I recognize you as superior to me. Hence, I shall charge you 100,000 gold coins instead.
NARRATOR - The King was very pleased with what the Prime Minister said. Addressing one of his ministers, one of the Prime Minister’s men in disguise.
KING (whispery) - Do we have enough money in the Royal Treasury?
PRIME MINISTER’S MAN - Yes! We have more than enough! Please buy more and more and more and more!
NARRATOR - The King bought many items over the month and soon, the royal treasury was empty. The King started to sell many of his precious items to people because he had no money. Finally, he even had to sell his palace. In a couple of months, he was broke.
SCENE 7 - The Prime Minister, now rich, is going to meet the King. He now lives on the outskirts of the kingdom in a small hut he had to build himself.
KING croaks - Come in!
PRIME MINISTER - Boo hoo hoo! A crownless king. No palace, no money, no nothing.
KING *enraged - YOU SET ME UP!
PRIME MINISTER (calm and cool) - Of course! How else would I become King? Now I’ve pleased the villagers and I’m having the coronation tomorrow. Would you like to come? The last row seats are 5 gold coins. Oh wait, you don’t even have that. (HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER)
KING - GET OUT! GET OUT!
SCENE 8 - It is dark outside. The King is thinking about what Kai said. He devises a plan to sneak into the dungeons when the coronation is going on and get Kai out of there.
KING - Kai was right. I need to go help her!
SCENE 9 - It is morning, and the King is sneaking into the palace to rescue Kai. The Prime Minister is getting ready for his coronation.
KING - Kai! Hi!
KAI (snippy) - Oh, hi! FORMER KING!
KING - (sighs), so you’ve heard?
KAI - Pretty much. The Prime Minister came down here to brag yesterday evening.
KING - That seems legit.
KAI - So why are you here?
KING - To save you?
KAI - Yeah, right. You’ve come here because you want my help in winning back your kingdom.
KING - (wailing) PLEASE!
KAI (snippy) - NO!
KING - I’ll do anything you say!
KAI *smug* - If you want me to help you, I’m the boss now. You listen to what I say, when I ask you. If you deny me, I’m out.
KING - Well… *sighs*. FINE!
KAI (sneaky) - Good.
SCENE 10 - Prime Minister’s coronation is happening.
EXTRA - I now pro–
NARRATOR - Right before the Prime Minister is pronounced as the king, Bob steals the crown!
PRIME MINISTER (stuttering) - Bob! W-What d-d-do y-you th-think you’re doing?
BOB (evil) - Serving my QUEEN of course!
PRIME MINISTER - Queen?
NARRATOR - A lady and her daughter appeared out of the bushes.
QUEEN EMBER - That would be me. And now, I declare this kingdom is mine!
BOB - Queen Ember, Princess Maud. The crown.
QUEEN EMBER - Thank you, Bob.
PRIME MINISTER - But, my CROWN. MY CORONATION!
QUEEN EMBER - Guards! Send him to the dungeon!
GUARD 1 - Yes, your Majesty!
GUARD 2 - Of course!
PRIME MINISTER - NOOOOOOOOOO!
BOB (smug) - Quit the whining!
PRIME MINISTER (rage) - YOU FOOL! I SHOULD HAVE THE CROWN!
BOB - Yeah, yeah. Take him away!
PRIME MINISTER - You’ll regret this! Even if it’s the last thing I ever do!
KAI - What… just… happened?!
KING - WHY IS EVERYONE AFTER MY CROWN? *wailing*
SCENE 11 - Princess Maud and Queen Ember are talking in the courtyard.
PRINCESS MAUD - But, MOTHER! Don’t you see what you’re doing is wrong? Please try to understand!
QUEEN EMBER - Maud! Quiet! Now let me fix what was wronged, right!
PRINCESS MAUD - Mother, don’t you understand? You might be wrong. It may not be their fault!
QUEEN EMBER - Enough Maud! Guards! Escort her Highness to her room.
PRINCESS MAUD (dejected) - Of course, Mother.
SCENE 12 - Kai and the King are in the King’s hut. They are discussing a plan.
KAI - The Princess is taken care of. But, to get near the Queen, we need an insider.
PRINCESS MAUD - What about me?
KING - *squeals*
KAI - Oh, get a grip! Why are YOU here? Get out!
PRINCESS MAUD - PLEASE! I understand you have every right to hate me, but I’m not like my mother. I want to help!
KAI - And why should we trust you?
KING - Yeah!
KAI - YOU! Quiet!
KING - Yes, Ma’am.
PRINCESS MAUD - I… don’t have an answer. But, I’m telling you, I want to help you. I’m leaving it up to you to decide.
KING - Have we got anything to lose?
KAI - (sighs) I guess not, fine!
PRINCESS MAUD - Deal! Thank you so much for trusting me! I assure you, you made the right choice.
KAI - Oh, and one more thing. Stop being so nice.
PRINCESS MAUD - Sure.
SCENE 13 - Prime Minister is in the dungeons.
PRIME MINISTER - I have to get the crown back!
PRIME MINISTER’S HELPER/RYAN - Yes!
PRIME MINISTER - Then get me out! FAST!
RYAN - Almost there!
PRIME MINISTER - I’ll get that queen and her daughter. Then, the world will see what I can really do!
SCENE 14 - Queen Ember is sitting on her throne, having a meeting with her royal court.
QUEEN EMBER - Dismissing the plight of the-
PRINCESS MAUD - Mother! You must come quickly. In the outskirts of the kingdom, villages are rioting against you!
QUEEN EMBER - Then, I’ll show them how to behave in front of her Majesty. ME!
SCENE 15 - Queen Ember goes to the outskirts of the forest.
QUEEN EMBER - Where are the villagers?
PRINCESS MAUD - Mom, there are none.
NARRATOR - Kai and the King emerge from the shadows, surrounding Maud, Bob, and Queen Ember. Maud steps out to join them.
QUEEN EMBER - MAUD! What is this madness? GUARDS–
PRINCESS MAUD - MOM! IT WASN’T THEIR FAULT! STOP!
KING (confused) - What wasn’t our fault?
QUEEN EMBER (starts to cry) - YOU KILLED HIM! You…killed…him.
KAI - What are you talking about?
PRINCESS MAUD - My dad.
KING (furious) - WHAT? I don’t kill people.
QUEEN EMBER (sniffles and looks up) - LIAR! You even sent the Prime Minister on your DIRTY WORK!
NARRATOR - Suddenly, the Prime Minister emerges out of the shadows.
PRIME MINISTER - Oh, Ember, you were always so easy to manipulate.
KING - WHAT DID YOU DO?
PRIME MINISTER (chuckling) - Last year, I had to sign that document, and you didn’t even bother to read it.
KING - That was supposed to be on an extra horse tax!
PRIME MINISTER - DID YOU CHECK! NO! You cared more about the color of the silk robes you were buying that day. You signed the death warrant of the now late KING of Ignis.
KING - NO!
PRIME MINISTER (smiling slowly) - YES! He was captured in a battle and YOU agreed to kill him. Did you even know there was a war going on? Did you even care as to what was going on around you?
KING (speechless) - I…
QUEEN EMBER (turning to the PRIME MINISTER) - I TRUSTED YOU! YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD TO! YOU MADE ME BELIEVE HE COULD BE SAVED!
PRIME MINISTER - Listen, all that stands in my way of ruling this kingdom are all of you. RYAN, NOW!
NARRATOR - Ryan and some other guards emerge from the woods, pinning the King and the others to the ground.
PRIME MINISTER (cackling, pulling out a sword) - The villagers will need a new leader after figuring out that their beloved King was a traitor. I will be the hero of the story because I stopped the King’s evil plan and killed him and his friends before he wreaked havoc on the kingdom. Now, who do I start with? How about our beloved Princess Maud?
KING - NOOOOO! TAKE ME! TAKE ME INSTEAD! PLEASE!
KAI - YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS!
PRIME MINISTER (raises his sword) - Oh, BUT I ALREADY HAVE!
NARRATOR - Suddenly, the King feels a strength he has never felt before as he gets loose and lunges at Maud, and the sword strikes him. Everyone freezes, shocked.
KING (collapses) - Maud…
PRINCESS MAUD (screams and cries) - NO!!!! NO, THIS CAN’T HAPPEN! YOU ARE GOING TO SURVIVE! Please! Please.
KING (breathing slowly) - Maud…I…love…you…(closes eyes)
KAI - NOW!
NARRATOR - Villagers jump out from the woods and quickly overpower the Prime Minister and the extra guards.
KAI - TAKE HIM TO THE DUNGEON!
PRIME MINISTER - NOOOOO! YOU CAN’T DO THIS! YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS!
KAI (smirking) - Oh, but I already have.
SCENE 16 - In the kingdom, a royal wedding is taking place.
KING - I used to think that being a King meant that I was superior to everyone. I thought only luxury items and silk robes were important. But I was wrong. A crown is nothing without the people who keep it shining!
PRINCESS MAUD - I used to think being a Princess meant following every order, even though I knew in my heart that it wasn’t right. I’m glad that we were both wrong, and I am ready to spend the rest of my life with you.
KAI - Do you, King Jonathan III, take Princess Maud to be your lawfully wedded wife?
KING - I do! And I read the marriage certificate 12 times over!
KAI - And do you, Princess Maud, take the slightly less ignorant King Jonathon III, to be your lawfully wedded husband!
MAUD (laughing) - I do!
KAI (smiling widely) - By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!
KING AND QUEEN KISS
NARRATOR - Now, the King and Queen live happily with their subjects, welcomed into their lives. While the King was once blinded by his own vanity, he became the wisest and most humble ruler the kingdom had ever seen.
THE END
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