Title: Stone Village Officer
Setting: A small village in ancient China, during the Tang Dynasty. The time is late at night. The scene is dimly lit, with a simple wooden house in the background. A few villagers are gathered outside, whispering anxiously.
Characters:
- Old Man: A tired and worn-out man, trying to hide his family.
- Old Woman: His wife, anxious and desperate.
- Soldier 1: A young, strict soldier from the imperial army.
- Soldier 2: Another soldier, more experienced but still firm.
- Narrator: A voice that guides the audience through the story.
Scene 1: The Night of the Draft
(The stage is dark. A faint sound of footsteps echoes. The Narrator speaks.)
Narrator:
In the quiet of the night, a shadow falls over a humble home. The air is heavy with fear. A group of soldiers, summoned by the emperor’s decree, march through the village, seeking men to serve in the war. Among them is an old couple, their lives turned upside down by the demands of the state.
(Soldiers enter, moving quickly. Old Man and Old Woman are seen hiding behind a curtain.)
Soldier 1:
Where are the able-bodied men? We need more soldiers for the front lines!
Old Woman (whispers):
Quick! Hide! They’re coming!
(Old Man tries to run, but is caught by Soldier 2.)
Soldier 2:
You there! You look like you can fight. Come with us.
Old Man:
I am too old, sir. I have no strength left. My wife and I are poor, we have nothing to give.
Soldier 1:
That’s not our concern. The emperor needs men, and we take them.
(Old Woman steps forward, trembling.)
Old Woman:
Please, kind sir, my son has already gone. I have no one else. Let me go instead. I can work, I can cook, I can do anything.
Soldier 2:
No, woman. We don’t take women. Only men.
Old Woman (tears in her eyes):
Then let me stay here. Let me suffer in silence. Just don’t take him.
(A long pause. The soldiers look at each other.)
Soldier 1:
We have orders. We must take someone.
Old Man (quietly):
Take me then. I will go. But please, let my wife live.
Soldier 2:
Very well. You are coming with us.
(Old Man bows deeply. He turns to his wife, tears in his eyes.)
Old Man:
My love, I must leave. I will try to come back.
Old Woman (sobbing):
Go, my dear. May the gods protect you.
(Soldiers lead Old Man away. The stage darkens. The Narrator returns.)
Narrator:
And so, another man was taken from his home, another family broken by war. In the name of duty, in the name of the empire, the innocent were lost. This is the story of Stone Village Officer — a tale of loss, sacrifice, and the silent suffering of ordinary people in the face of power.
(Lights fade out. The sound of distant drums echoes.)
End of Play
