31 Plays in 31 Days 2026, #31 - "Drinker of Elephant's Blood"

[breakinglight11]

And with yet another scene of of "The King's Ankus", I have actually managed to finish the challenge! YAY I WAS REAL WORRIED THERE FOR A MOMENT.

Again, this is in direct sequence after the last scene, #30 - Dried Up. This is proving really easy and fun to adapt, so I'm sure I will finish it, even though I only started it because I was desperate to fill out this challenge.

I guess that's what it's for, isn't it? Getting me to write stuff I might not have otherwise... huh. Funny how that works.

Day #31 - "Drinker of Elephant's Blood"
Adapted from The King's Ankus by Rudyard Kiping
By Phoebe Roberts

Scene 3

AMBIENCE: Birds, breeze, insects

MOWGLI: Look how it glitters! Brighter than Bagheera’s eyes.

KAA: It pleases you?

MOWGLI: Very well. It is nearly as beautiful as new flowers to weave in my hair. What did the dried worm mean, then, when she talked of death?

KAA: I cannot say. I sorrowful to my tail’s tail that he did not feel thy knife. There is always evil in the Cold Lairs, above ground or below. But I am hungry now, little brother— dost thou hunt with me this dawn?

MOWGLI: No, sister; Bagheera must see this thing. Good hunting!

KAA: Good hunting. And take care of thy step. The thing you hold is beautiful, but even in the sunlight I am shivered by it. (Hisses)

SOUND: Slithering
SOUND: Plants creaking

(Exit KAA.)

MOWGLI: At this hour, Bagheera shall be at the pool.

SOUND: Footsteps
SOUND: Leaves rustling
SOUND: Panther lapping at the water

MOWGLI: Bagheera! Was thy kill heavy last night?

BAGHEERA: Heavy as the steps of a man cub in the jungle. I have heard you come as clear as a stampede.

MOWGLI: I have had strange adventures this day. With Kaa I have visited the lair of an old white cobra, who had lurked in the dark above a man’s trove so long she had lost her fangs to defend it. See what I have found there? Sure you have never seen its like.

BAGHEERA: Remember that I was born not in the jungle, but in the King’s cages at Udaipur, and it is in my stomach that I know some little of Man. Very many men would kill thrice in a night for the sake of the big red stone alone.

MOWGLI: But the stone makes it heavy to the hand. My little bright knife is better, and the red stone is not good to eat. Why would they kill?

BAGHEERA: Hast thou forgotten what thou learnt of man? They kill not because they are hunting, but for idleness and pleasure. That thorn-pointed thing in your hand was made by men to thrust into the head of the sons of Hathi, so that the blood should pour out. I have seen the like in the street of Udaipur, before our cages. That one has surely drunk the blood of many.

MOWGLI: But why do they thrust into the heads of elephants?

BAGHEERA: To teach them man’s law. Having neither claws nor teeth, men make these things, and worse.

MOWGLI: Always more blood when I come near, even to the things the Man-Pack have made. If I had known this, I would not have taken it. I will hold it no more. Look! (Effort sound)

SOUND: Ankus flying
SOUND: Blade thunking into the earth

MOWGLI: Now my hands are clean of Death. The dried worm said Death would follow me, but she is old and white and mad.

BAGHEERA: (Yawns) White or black, or death or life, I am going to sleep, Little Brother. I cannot hunt all night and howl all day… as do some folk.

MOWGLI: (Laughing) Then we will sleep, and when we wake, we will move on from this thing and think of it no more. Rest well, my Bagheera.