_ The Story of Dog and Wolf and Why Dog Lives With Man

by Tony Devaney Morinelli


based on a Native American tale.

A Play for 12.  ( Parts may be combined or divided according to need.)


CAST


Story Teller 1

Story Teller 2


Wolves    4

Dogs        4


The Puppy


The Little Girl

 

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Story Teller 1:  Look Back my children.

 

Story Teller 2:  Look back to the suns and moons...

 

ST 1: The suns and moons of long ago.

 

ST 2: Man sat by his fire.

 

ST 1 : There was light by his fire.

 

ST 2: It was warm by his fire.

 

ST 1: Man cooked his food with the fire.

 

ST 2: And so was never hungry.

 

ST 1: And so was never cold.

 

ST 2: But deep in the woods were dog and wolf.

 

ST 1: And dog and wolf did not know fire.

 

ST 2: It was cold without fire.

 

ST 1: It was dark without fire.

 

ST 2: But dog and wolf were friends in the forest.

 

ST 1: In the forest where they lived without man.

 

ST 2: But when the winter came.  Dog and wolf were cold.

 

ST 1: Dog and wolf were hungry.

 

ST 2: Dog and wolf were alone in the moonless dark.

 

ST1: So dog and wolf called a great council.

 

ST2: Dog and wolf called together their brothers and sisters.

 

ST1: Together they met.

 

ST 2: Together they spoke.

 

Wolf 1:  Friend, Dog, the night is cold, the moon does not shine, and hunger troubles my sleep.

 

Dog 1 : Oh, Friend, Wolf. truly the night is cold. heaven has no light and our stomachs hold us from sleep.

 

Wolf 2: But what, friend dog, may we do?   We have no fire to keep us warm, no flame to give us light, no food to soothe our hunger and let us sleep.

 

Dog 2: Have you seen man who lives in the bark house?

 

Dog 3: Man has a fire that glows from a stick.

 

Dog 4: Fire for warmth.  Fire for food.

 

Dog 1: But who will go to man?

 

Dog 2: Who will ask for his fire?

 

Dog 3: For I think I fear him.

 

ST 1: And Wolf spoke again.

 

Wolf  1:  Man is not a trusted friend.

 

Wolf 3 : let us take what we need and be gone.

 

Wolf 3 : take the stick with the fire.

 

Wolf 1: take the stick with the light/.

 

Wolf 4: Take the food by his lodge

 

Wolf 5: Take the stick with the light.

 

Wolf 1: And be gone in the night.

 

Wolf 2: Gone with the stick.

 

Wolf 3: Gone with the fire.

 

Wolf 4: Gone with the light in the dark of the night.

 

 

ST 1: And so the wolves had their say.

ST 2: And the dogs were afraid.

 

ST 1: But then a little one spoke.

 

ST 1: A puppy of gray with speckled white spots.

 

Puppy:  I am not afraid.  I will go to man.

 

Dog 1: But you are a pup.

 

Dog 2: With too much to say.

 

Puppy: So, you are afraid. And I am not.

           

            I will go to man and bring back the fire.

 

Wolf 1: Then go said the wolf.

 

Wolf 2: And when you return.

 

Wolf 3: Bring us the fire.

 

ST 1:    So, the puppy went off and came to the house.

 

ST 2: The house of wood bark with man and his fire.

 

ST 1: And who saw him coming but the chief's own little girl.

 

Girl:  Oh, little dog.  Come let me see you.

 

            Here, little dog, come let me pet you.

 

Puppy: But I am cold can you warm me?

 

            I am hungry can you feed me?

 

Girl:      Yes, I can warm you.

 

            Yes, I will feed you.

 

            Here, come close by my fire.

 

ST 1: And so the puppy stayed.

 

ST 2: And so the puppy was warm.

 

ST 1: And the puppy ate and was so full

 

            that he forgot his promise

 

ST 2:    the promise to the wolves

           

            to return with the fire.

 

ST 1: And so Wolf crept slowly into the cold dark wood.

 

ST 2: And dog went to the dwelling of man.

 

ST 1: And so it goes on

 

ST 2: Even to this day

 

ST 1: Dog and Wolf are no longer friends.


End of the tale.