A Dragon That Only the King Can Slay
A Dragon That Only the King Can Slay is a free comical script set in a long-ago medieval Kingdom perfect for family-friendly fall or harvest outreaches.
A pdf download of this script with complete production notes (including a Props & Costumes list, Graphics/Visual/Media ideas with links, and Celebration Song notes) can be purchased HERE.
The script – in it’s entirety – and limited production notes are available below for free.
Characters
NARRATOR | Medieval peasant woman who tells our story.
KNIGHT | Would-be hero who discovers he has much to learn about the KING and his Kingdom.
SQUIRE | Goofy sidekick who has a child-like trust in the goodness of everyone – especially the KING.
KING | Ruler over an unnamed Medieval kingdom – an archetype for God.
Synopsis
After unsuccessfully fighting the DRAGON, the KNIGHT and SQUIRE adventure to find their missing KING in hopes that he will rescue the village and restore order to his kingdom. Together they discover the truth that there are some dragons only a King can slay, and that we all need to be redeemed.
Setting
An unnamed kingdom in Medieval Europe.
Cartoon graphics or landscape photographs can be used to accompany narration and the changing scenes of the script on a large screen center stage. Additional set elements can be added in keeping with the story arch at the discretion of the director and as budget for the presentation allows.
Action will take place in three sections of the stage. Stage right for the NARRATOR, center stage for the KNIGHT and SQUIRE, and stage left for the KING.
The DRAGON (either imagined or depicted by graphic on screen) is referenced as the center of the audience by characters onstage.
Script
(NARRATOR enters through the audience, interacting with them as she walks. She draws children toward where she will tell her story stage right.)
NARRATOR: Gather ‘round children, and come close. I’ve a story to tell. Take a moment to step back with me to once upon a time, in a land far beyond the shores of ours, where a good and just King ruled his people faithfully.
(NARRATOR may pull a few well-behaved children onstage to sit at her feet, backs to the audience, to listen to her tale. She continues telling the story to the children at her feet and the rest of the audience with great excitement and animation.)
(Should the director decide NOT to use children onstage, the NARRATOR may sit toward the end of the stage, or even on the floor below stage right, to interact more readily with the audience.)
NARRATOR: Never before has there been such a love between a King and his subjects as there was between these, and never again has there been since. Everyone in this kingdom belonged in the way we are truly meant to belong, and no one – from the least to the greatest of all the King’s subjects – remembered knowing any kind of need.
(Landscape photographs and/or cartoon graphics can be displayed on the center screen as the NARRATOR continues telling her story.)
NARRATOR: Now the kingdom was great – a vast and expansive land the King traveled through frequently. When he was present with his people, they celebrated with loud and joyful parties, feasting and dancing long into the night, because the King was just so good.
These same subjects felt the King’s absence profoundly when he was gone – waiting, often impatiently, and with great anticipation for the time he would visit them again. They missed him so deeply when he was away, but even in their watchful sadness they never despaired because they knew truth. The King was never truly gone from them if they were careful to follow his ways and remember his love.
Knowing this truth, however, did not mean that life was always easy for the people of this kingdom, and in fact our story tells of one of those difficult times. During one particular absence of the King a fierce and mighty dragon came through the land, terrorizing the people, and inciting them to forget the King who loved them for fear of surviving the dragon’s fiery breath.
The people tried very hard to remember their King, but as the days turned into weeks, and then into months, and on into years, the memory of his goodness began to fade. The people stopped believing the King would ever come back, and eventually several brave knights stepped forward to fight the dragon to drive him out of the land.
But they all failed, stirring the dragon up to an even greater anger than before. For a very long time the people remained enslaved to the whims of the dragon until a young man, who had heard of the village’s great trouble, traveled far and wide across the kingdom to take his turn and face the beast.
(NARRATOR glances center stage where lights come up on the KNIGHT, standing very proud, arm to his sword, and the SQUIRE, whose jumpy attention is focused on the KNIGHT.)
KNIGHT: (in a loud booming Gaston-esque voice) I am Sir Tries-Too-Hard and I have come to defeat the dragon!
(The KNIGHT smiles and bows graciously to the audience as if they are an imaginary group of townspeople. The SQUIRE makes silly gestures of applause and adoration. He is rarely still, jumping excitedly and bouncing nervously from side to side.)
SQUIRE: Victory! Victory, say we!
KNIGHT: (stepping forward) And where is this beast that I may make a fool of him?
(The KNIGHT brandishes his sword for show and fake-laughs boldly, while the SQUIRE’S eyes grow round with fear.)
SQUIRE: He is coming milord! Stand ready!
KNIGHT: (becoming serious, ready to fight with his sword) Good squire! As I am always!
(The KNIGHT and SQUIRE begin a comical exchange in which the SQUIRE tosses the KNIGHT a weapon to use against the imaginary beast. The KNIGHT brandishes each weapon with flair toward the imaginary dragon, and fights the air a moment before he is frightened or loses the weapon in some way or another. When the KNIGHT loses a weapon, the SQUIRE tosses him another that has been previously laid out on the stage.)
(The SQUIRE does not remain still, but continually hops around the KNIGHT in an imaginary semi-circle, excited by the battle, but trying not to get too close to it. There are lots of HA’s! and HO’!s and AH’s! from the KNIGHT and SQUIRE throughout the imaginary fight. The NARRATOR continues telling the story over the KNIGHT and SQUIRE’s play fighting.)
NARRATOR: The dragon, sensing victory, came quickly, but Sir Tries-Too-Hard did well to stand his ground. With each lunge of the dragon he countered, and while he stayed his life, the dragon was fiercer still, and soon overcame him.
(The KNIGHT falls to his knees in terror, no weapon in his hand. The SQUIRE drops to the ground attempting to play dead. The KNIGHT raises his arms above his head to shield his face.)
KNIGHT: (in a high pitched voice very different from before) Mommy!
(Stage lights and screen completely black out, then fade on to NARRATOR.)
NARRATOR: (to a specific child in the audience) Oh child! Do not fear. The Knight is not dead – at least not in the way we understand it. At the very last moment he and the Squire were able to escape with their lives to safety.
But that’s not to say all was completely well either. The dragon of course was still on the prowl and something did die inside the confident Knight that fateful day – a bit of his bravery and a lot of his hope.
(NARRATOR turns toward center stage and the KNIGHT and SQUIRE. Stage lights dim on NARRATOR as they come up on the KNIGHT and SQUIRE. The KNIGHT is slumped on the ground nursing a wound, emotionally defeated from his battle.)
KNIGHT: (moaning) What kind of knight is defeated by a loathsome, slinking, serpent?
SQUIRE: (bandaging his arm) Well, you sir…and all thirty-nine others. The odds were not really in your favor.
KNIGHT: You’re not helping Squire…Squire…
(KNIGHT attempting to extract his name. SQUIRE is oblivious.)
SQUIRE: Yes milord?
KNIGHT: Your name Squire. What is your name?
SQURE: (matter of fact) Squire Useless.
KNIGHT: (droll) How fitting.
SQUIRE: (pulling a pewter dish and cup from his pack) Perhaps if milord will eat something, or take a sip to drink, you’ll feel strengthened…
KNIGHT: (refusing) It’s no use. I have met my match. Attempting to fight the dragon again would surely be my end. (after thought) And yours.
SQUIRE: Oh well let’s not do that then. No thank you…
(SQUIRE continues to mumble his agreement against meeting the dragon again.)
KNIGHT: If only we could outsmart him somehow, we could still save…
SQUIRE: (interrupting, excited) The village! Yes! We could still save the village!
KNIGHT: Well now I was thinking my reputation, but the village sounds good too.
SQUIRE: Yes, yes, of course milord.
KNIGHT: Perhaps if we put our heads together, we might come up with a plan.
SQUIRE: Yes, yes! Put our heads together!
(SQUIRE begins to bang his head against the KNIGHT’s.)
KNIGHT: No! No! No! Not like that! (staccato) Just think! By yourself! In your own space!
(The SQUIRE and KNIGHT both close their eyes and are overcome with pained facial expressions as they attempt to think about a plan. They grunt and groan as if trying to hatch an idea. The KNIGHT peeks one opened eye toward the SQUIRE.)
KNIGHT: Got anything yet?
SQUIRE: (holding up his pointer finger asking the KNIGHT to wait) Hang on…one more moment…(both eyes pop open with delight and he jumps)…I’ve got it!
KNIGHT: (matching SQUIRE’s enthusiasm) What? What have you got?
SQUIRE: Let’s go find the King! He’ll know what to do!
KNIGHT: (nodding in agreement without really knowing what he’s agreeing to) Of course, let’s go find the…WHAT?!
SQUIRE: (jumping up and down in glee) The King! The King! Let’s go find the King!
KNIGHT: But no one’s seen him for such a long time. How will we find him?
SQUIRE: Oh don’t you remember good Knight? He is always found by those who search for him!
KNIGHT: (the truth of what SQUIRE has said is dawning on him) Why of course! You’re right…I remember the old songs that were sung at all the celebrations…
KNIGHT & SQUIRE: (sing-song as they remember the words)
Seek the King and you will find Him,
Look beyond what stands before.
Know that He is always with you,
And shall be forevermore.
KNIGHT: (at peace) Thank you Squire what a wonderful remembering.
(The KNIGHT and SQUIRE begin collecting their belongings from the ground).
KNIGHT: Squire. (The SQUIRE looks up. The KNIGHT smiles) I don’t think your name fits you. Not at all.
SQUIRE: Thank you milord. Thank you.
(Lights fade on the KNIGHT and SQUIRE to black. Lights come up full on NARRATOR.)
NARRATOR: And so Sir Tries-Too-Hard and Squire Useless began their quest to find the King, believing the old truth that as they looked for him, they would eventually find him.
(Lights come up on the KNIGHT and SQUIRE as the NARRATOR continues. They gallop in place as if they are on pretend horses – the KNIGHT in front, the SQUIRE slightly behind. The SQUIRE holds two coconut halves to make the clop-clop sound of horses. Graphics and/or illustrations can change on the center screen as desired.)
NARRATOR: Through thick forests, sprawling hills, and treacherous mountain peaks they pressed on, searching, searching, searching, for the King.
(Lights fade to black on the KNIGHT and SQUIRE and then immediately fade back to full to show the passage of time. The KNIGHT and SQUIRE look tired as they gallop in place. The SQUIRE stops clopping and looks at the coconut halves. He shakes his head and tosses them over his shoulder as they both continue to gallop in place. The KNIGHT notices the clopping is gone, looks over toward the SQUIRE. They both shrug their shoulders, stop galloping, and begin walking slowly in place.)
NARRATOR: Some days they were filled with great hope, sensing the King was near and their quest nearly complete. And some days, despair rained hard upon their hearts as they felt the full measure of their need.
(Lights fade to black on the KNIGHT and SQUIRE and then immediately fade back to full to show the passage of time. Lights on the NARRATOR dim. The KNIGHT and SQUIRE stand back to back, straining to see in either direction any trace of the KING. The SQUIRE faces stage left. The KNIGHT faces stage right.)
KNIGHT: How many days has it been good Squire?
SQUIRE: More than I can count milord.
KNIGHT: (turns around to look at SQUIRE) When did you stop counting?
SQUIRE: Around seven.
(KNIGHT mutters in exasperation.)
SQUIRE: But we musn’t fret now milord. I sense the King is near.
KNIGHT: You’ve said that before.
SQUIRE: Yes, yes, I know. But this time it is different. There is a song in the wind and a strange peace that has settled over my heart. I know that he is near. He must be. (softer) He must be…
KNIGHT: If only my heart could know a peace like yours.
SQUIRE: (looking over his shoulder toward the KNIGHT, happily) Oh but you can good Knight. You can.
(The KING appears before the SQUIRE. As the SQUIRE turns around he recognizes him and drops to his knees with reverence.)
SQUIRE: Your Majesty!
(The KNIGHT turns and faces the KING, timidly holding back. The KING happily moves toward them.)
KING: Friends! I see you have come a long way. How fare ye? How fares the village?
KNIGHT: (sadly) Not well Your Majesty. Not well.
SQUIRE: There is a dragon…
KNIGHT: …a terrible dragon who has killed thirty-nine other brave knights and continues to wreck havoc on the village.
SQUIRE: We escaped…
KNIGHT: …but only with our lives.
KING: (knowing) And so you have come to find me.
KNIGHT: (kneeling) Yes Your Majesty – to ask for your mercy, your wisdom, your protection. Please tell us there is something you can do.
SQUIRE: You are our only hope Your Majesty. (bowing) Our only hope.
KING: Your name Squire?
SQUIRE: (looking up at the KING ashamed) They call me Squire Useless Your Majesty.
KING: (setting a hand on his shoulder) You shall be Squire Useless no more. For your service to this Knight, and your belief in the Kingdom, you shall be called Squire Faithful from now on.
SQUIRE: (amazed and honored) Thank you, Your Majesty.
KING: And you good Knight? What is your name?
KNIGHT: (lacking the confidence and bravado he once had) Sir Tries-Too-Hard, Your Majesty.
KING: (pauses for a moment, looking intently into the KNIGHT’s eyes) I see how that name has become you in the past, but no more. The events of recent days have changed you for the better good Knight. It is true there is much you can do of your own accord, but you have come to understand where the end of your strength is, and where faith in what is true begins. From now on, you will be known as Sir Redeemed-By-The-King.
KNIGHT: (bowing) I am forever grateful Your Majesty.
KING: (smiling wide) Go now, and return to the village.
SQUIRE: But the dragon, Your Majesty.
KNIGHT: What shall we do about the dragon?
KING: (raising them up to their feet) Worry no more friends. The dragon is dead.
KNIGHT: (slowly) But how?
KING: There are some dragons good Knight, kind Squire, that can only be slain by the King.
(Realization dawns on both the KNIGHT and SQUIRE. The KING opens his arms wide to embrace them both.)
KING: Now go in peace! And rejoice!
(The KNIGHT and SQUIRE exclaim their thanks, gather their belongings, and begin sprinting off the stage through the audience.)
KING: (calling after them) And when you arrive, tell them I am coming soon!
(Lights fade on the KING as he stands waving toward the KNIGHT and SQUIRE into the audience. Lights come up full on the NARRATOR.)
NARRATOR: And so Sir Redeemed-By-The-King and Squire Faithful traveled back to the village to find everything just as the King had said. The dragon was gone and the townspeople had found their hope again. As promised, the Knight and the Squire told everyone about the King’s pledge to come again, and immediately they began to prepare the celebrations of old, singing as they worked…
Seek the King and you will find Him,
Look beyond what stands before.
Know that He is always with you,
And shall be forevermore.
(NARRATOR continues humming as lights fade. END SCENE.)
Terms of Use
A Dragon That Only the King Can Slay was first written for and performed by Northwest Assembly of God.
If you are interested in a custom script for your church or ministry, please contact me HERE. I would LOVE to help!