Note: a Griot( Gree-oh) is a traditional African story
teller.
Griot 1:Once in a far village
Griot 2: A village that sat
in the side of a very green hill.
Griot 1: Lived two fine
friends
Griot 2: In two fine houses.
Griot 1: These two friends
were friends from childhood.
Griot 1: They planted their
fields together.
Griot 2: Together they
collected their grain.
Griot 2: And even their farms
stood side by side.
Griot 1: A simple path
Griot 2: of simple sand
Griot 1: divided the house of
one
Griot 2: from the house of
the other.
Griot 1: For they were
friends.
Griot 2: The best that
friends might be.
Griot 1: Until the day that
Trickster came.
Griot 2: The day that
Trickster came.
Trickster: I see these are
two friends
Two friends alike.
Two friends of one mind.
(directly to
the audience)
But wait. Let us see.....!
Griot 1: So, Trickster made a
coat.
Griot 2: A coat with two
sides.
Griot 1: On the side of one
friend red.
Griot 2: On the side of one
friend blue.
Trickster:Do you see my coat?
Do you see its colors
On one side red.
On one side blue.
And now I'll walk
Along the path
The sandy path
That divides the homes
Of one friend from the other.
And we will see
Just
what friends can be!
Trickster struts upstage to reveal his coat - one side
only to each friend. As he walks, he carries a wooden clacker to attract the
attention of the two friends.
Friend 1: My friend, my
friend, have you seen
Seen the beautiful coat?
The coat that traveler was wearing?
The beautiful coat of blue?
Friend 2: My friend, my
friend, have you seen
Seen the beautiful coat ?
The coat thattraveler was wearing?
The beautiful coat of red?
Friend 1: The coat of blue?
Friend 2: The coat of red?
Friend 1: But surely you are
mistaken.
The coat was blue.
Friend 2: But surely YOU are
mistaken.
The coat was red.
Friend 1: My friend
You are my friend.
But the coat was blue.
Friend 2: My friend
You are my friend
But the coat was red.
Friend 1: I know what I saw.
Friend 2: I know was I saw
Friend 1: The coat was blue.
Friend 2: The coat was blue.
Friend 1: But surely you are
wrong,.
Friend 2. But surely YOU are
wrong.
(The following exchange is said at the same time.)
_______
Friend 1; THE COAT WAS BLUE!
Friend 2: THE COAT WAS RED!
______
Friend 1: You know nothing!
Friend 2: YOU know nothing!
(The following exchange is said at the same time.)