adapted by Keith Bilderbeck from a Russian Folk Tale
NARRATOR
Once upon a time in a certain land there lived Prince Ivan. His parents, the king and queen, became ill. But before they died, they called him to their bedside.
OLD DAD
Ivan, do not remain unmarried for long. Go and seek your bride in foreign lands.
MOM
That will make us happy.
NARRATOR
After his parents died, Prince Ivan saddled his horse and rode out to find a bride.
GENTLE HORSE SNORT AND CANTER
NARRATOR
After riding for many days, Ivan came to a great battlefield where an entire army lay dead on the plain. Heaps of dead soldiers with twisted limbs lay all around. Broken swords and spears littered the ground and black smoke curled slowly upwards from burned-out wagons.
IVAN
Is anyone still alive? Who defeated this great army?
SOLDIER
Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen.
IVAN
Who carried these banners of blue and green?
SOLDIER
Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen.
IVAN
I've got to meet this woman.
NARRATOR
Ivan rode on until he came to a white tent, topped with flying pennants of blue and green. Maria Morevna came out to greet him.
MARIA MOREVNA
Welcome, Prince. What is your quest? Do you travel for yourself or at your master's behest?
IVAN
A brave youth has no master. I travel by my own free will.
MARIA MOREVNA
Then stay a while in my tent.
NARRATOR
Ivan stayed two nights in the tent of Maria Morevna. She grew fond of him and they married. Then she carried him off to her own castle. They lived happily together for a time, until Maria decided to go to war once again.
TRUMPET FANFARE
MARIA MOREVNA
You keep house while I'm gone, Ivan. You may wander anywhere you like in the castle except this old closet. Don't ever open it or we will both regret it.
IVAN
Yes, my beautiful queen.
NARRATOR
But the temptation was too strong. As soon as Maria Morevna rode off to war, Ivan rushed to the closet, pulled open the heavy wooden door and looked inside.
OLD DOOR CREAK, CHAINS RATTLING
NARRATOR
There in the half light hung a thin, starving old man fettered by twelve chains. He was so skinny, you could see the shapes of his bones. His eyes and cheeks were sunken into his skull and his ribs poked out from his chest.
KOSSCHAY
(moaning) Water, please. I'm so thirsty. Have pity on me.
IVAN
Here is a whole bucket of water.
NARRATOR
The old man drained the bucket in one great gulp
DRINKING BUCKET OF WATER SOUND
KOSSCHAY
Please, another bucketful of water. I've had nothing to drink for the past ten years.
IVAN
Here, old man.
DRINKING BUCKET OF WATER
IVAN
What is your name, grampa?
KOSSCHAY
Just a little more water please, my throat is too dry to answer your questions.
IVAN
Here is another bucketful.
DRINKING BUCKET OF WATER
KOSSCHAY
(stronger voice) Now my strength is returning!
NARRATOR
The old man pulled on his chains and broke all twelve at once.
CHAINS BREAKING
KOSSCHAY THE DEATHLESS (KOSSCHAY)
I am free to rob and plunder
I am free to wound and maim
I have torn my chains asunder
Kosschay the Deathless is my name!
I am grateful for the water
I've regained my former power
and to demonstrate my mercy
I will not destroy you at this hour
You'll never see Maria again
you'll sooner see your own ears
and as you suffer, please think of me
in chains for ten long years
I was born inside a whirlwind
I have burned within a flame
there is strength inside these old bones
Kosschay the Deathless is my name
You'll never see Maria again
you'll sooner see your own ears
Don't try to follow me to my land
or you will die in tears,
or you will die in tears.
WHIRLWIND, WALLS CRACKING, DEBRIS
NARRATOR
Kosschay flew off in a whirlwind, blowing down the stone walls of the castle and leaving only a pile of cracked rubble and swirling dust. He caught up with Maria Morevna and carried her off to his faraway realm.
BEAUTIFUL QUEEN MUSICAL THEME
NARRATOR
Ivan was heartbroken. But he set out in search of Maria, his beautiful queen. He had walked a long way through the forest when he came upon a mother eagle with her downy chicks.
CHICKS SQUEALING
IVAN
I'm so hungry. I'll eat one of these little chicks.
FANTASTIC FLYER (MOTHER EAGLE)
Please, won't you spare my innocent fledgling
You might not like the taste
An eagle is a terrible thing to waste
She could grow up to be a fantastic flyer
circlin' around, circlin' around high in the sky
Can't you see her feathers floatin' out in space
and her wings open wide
How my baby will glide up to the treetops
and every little mousie will run and hide
She could grow up to be a fantastic flyer
won't you let her live, won't you let her live under my wing
Have you considered picking strawberries
they're growin' wild and free
and berries are loaded with Vitamin C
Maybe its time, Prince Ivan to go on a diet
and lose a little chunk, lose a little chunk under your belt
Just imagine how much better you will feel walking breezy and light
you can leap over fallen rocks and tree trunks
and you won't need to eat my falcon bright
She could grow up to be a fantastic flyer
won't you let her live, won't you let her live
happy and free to fly up high, free to fly up high
Won't you let her live in peace tucked under my wing.
IVAN
Okay, your little chick may go free.
EAGLE MOTHER
Thank you , Prince and heaven bless I'll do you a favor when you're in distress.
CHICKS
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
NARRATOR
Ivan started off again on his search for Maria. After walking for three more days, he reached the kingdom of Kosschay the Deathless. He found Maria in Kosschay's castle. When she saw him, she threw herself into his arms.
MARIA MOREVNA
Oh Ivan, why did you have to look into my old closet? I knew you would release Kosschay.
IVAN
Forgive me, Maria.
MARIA MOREVNA
Kosschay's away from home, but if he catches you, he's sure to kill you.
IVAN
Then come away with me, let's go right now.
NARRATOR
So Ivan and Maria fled on foot. Meanwhile, Kosschay was riding home, returning from a hunt. When he reached his castle, his horse stumbled beneath him.
KOSSCHAY
Why do you stumble, sorry nag? Is something wrong?
HORSE
Maria has run away with Prince Ivan.
KOSSCHAY
Can we catch them?
HORSE
We could plant wheat, wait for it to grow, reap it and thresh it, grind it into flour, bake bread from it, eat our fill; and then begin the chase and we could still catch them.
KOSSCHAY
Then, Leap up, my steed and race the moon! I'll teach that Prince another tune.
HORSE WHINNY AND GALLOP OFF
NARRATOR
Kosschay spurred his swift horse and soon caught up with Ivan and Maria.
KOSSCHAY
I'll spare your life, Ivan, because you gave me water to drink. But don't try to see Maria again. Back to my castle, horse! Leap up!
HORSE WHINNY AND GALLOP OFF
MARIA MOREVNA
(distant) Ivan, my love, goodbye.
IVAN
(yelling) I'm coming Maria. Wait for me!
NARRATOR
But she was gone. Ivan started wearily to walk again toward Kosschay's realm. On the way he came across a busy bee hive, inside a hollow tree.
BEES BUZZING
IVAN
I'm starving. I'll have some of this honey comb.
© 1999 Keith Bilderbeck