THE UNITED QUAILS
In the ancient forests of India, a large flock of quails lives in constant fear of a clever bird hunter. Day after day, danger hovers above them—until a Wise Quail teaches the birds an important lesson: only by working together can they survive. The United Quails is a classic Jataka tale that shows how unity can turn weakness into strength, and how arguments can undo even the smartest plan.
CHARACTERS:
NARRATOR
BESSY & JESS: Two worried quails.
WISE QUAIL: An elder leader.
FOWLER: The bird hunter.
FOWLER’S WIFE: His frustrated spouse.
STIXY & SNIPPY: Two quails who start a fight.
SCRIPT:
Scene 1: A lush forest in ancient India. A group of quails is pecking at the ground, looking nervous.
NARRATOR: Many years ago, a flock of more than a thousand quails lived together in a forest in India. They would have been happy, but they lived in great dread of their enemy: the Fowler. One day, two quails huddled together to talk about the danger.
BESSY: (Looking around nervously) We have to find a way to stop that hunter. He tricks us every time by imitating our own calls!
JESS: I know! I shiver every time I see that net flying through the air. It’s terrifying.
BESSY: And once he catches us, he takes us to town to sell us. None of us is safe anymore.
JESS: We have to do something… but what can two small birds do against a giant?
(The Wise Quail enters, walking slowly and thoughtfully.)
NARRATOR: A very wise quail was passing by and overheard their conversation.
WISE QUAIL: Brothers, listen to me! I have a plan. Next time the fowler throws his net over us, do not panic. Instead, let each of you put your head through one of the holes in the mesh. On the count of three, we will all flap our wings and lift the net together!
BESSY: (Eyes wide) Fly away with the net?
WISE QUAIL: Exactly. Once we are high enough, we can fly over to the thorn bush. We’ll drop the net there, and while it’s stuck in the branches, we can escape underneath.
JESS: It’s brilliant! Let’s tell the rest of the flock.
Scene 2: The forest. The Fowler enters, carrying a large net.
NARRATOR: The next day, the fowler arrived and threw his net. But the birds did exactly as the Wise Quail had taught them. They lifted the net as one and flew away, dropping it onto a thick thorn bush.
(The Fowler struggles, trying to pull his net off the thorns.)
NARRATOR: While the fowler struggled to free his net from the sharp thorns, the sun began to set. He had to go home empty-handed. This happened day after day, until finally, his wife grew angry.
Scene 3: The Fowler’s cottage.
FOWLER’S WIFE: (Arms crossed, tapping her foot) Why have you returned with an empty basket again? Why haven’t you caught a single quail in weeks?
FOWLER: (Sighing) It’s the strangest thing. The birds are working together. As soon as I throw the net, they cooperate and fly away with it! If they would only start arguing, I’d be able to catch them easily.
Scene 4: The feeding grounds. STIXY and SNIPPY are landing to eat.
NARRATOR: A few days later, a quail named Snippy accidentally bumped into his brother, Stixy, as they landed on the grass.
STIXY: (Rubbing his head, annoyed) Hey! Watch where you’re going! Who hit me?
SNIPPY: Don’t be so grumpy, Stixy. It was an accident. I didn’t mean to hit you.
STIXY: (Stepping closer) I saw you! You did that on purpose.
SNIPPY: No, I didn’t! I didn’t even see you there.
STIXY: I don’t believe you. You’ve been acting clumsy all week!
SNIPPY: Well, that’s your problem if you want to be angry. I told you, it was an accident!
STIXY: Liar! Last week, during the escape, I felt as though I was lifting the entire weight of the net by myself. You weren’t even trying!
SNIPPY: (Shouting) I was working harder than anyone! You’re just looking for an excuse to complain!
NARRATOR: The argument grew louder and louder, and soon, the rest of the flock stopped to watch the dispute.
Scene 5: The Fowler creeps out from behind a tree, net ready.
FOWLER: (Whispering to himself) Now is my chance. They’re so busy arguing they’ve forgotten to watch the sky!
(The Fowler mimics a quail call and throws the net over Stixy and Snippy.)
NARRATOR: Even as the net fell, the quails continued to boast and bicker. They didn’t lift a single wing to help each other.
FOWLER: (Laughing) This time, I’m the one lifting the net!
(The Fowler scoops them up and puts them in a basket.)
WISE QUAIL: (Sprinting toward them, shouting) Stop it! All of you! We need to work together, or we are lost!
NARRATOR: Realizing their mistake just in time, the quails finally stopped their bickering. With a desperate burst of energy, they worked together one last time to burst out of the basket and fly to safety.
WISE QUAIL: Remember this day, brothers. Unity is our only strength. Quarrels are the root of all misfortune.
The End
Author: Jataka Legend
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
Conclusion: At first, the quails are safe because they listen, cooperate, and trust one another. But the moment pride and quarrels take over, danger returns. In the end, the flock learns that unity is not just helpful—it is essential. “The United Quails” reminds us that when we stop fighting and start working together, even the greatest threats can be overcome.
Moral of the Story: Strength lies in unity; arguments and division lead to defeat.
- Moral Values:
- Unity
- Cooperation
- Teamwork
- Respect for others
- Listening to wise advice
- Responsibility
- Peaceful conflict resolution
👉 Explore our full collection of free play scripts for kids, perfect for classroom performances
👉 External Resources:
- The Jataka Tales – University of Pittsburgh
- Top 5 Indian Folk Tales For Kids With Moral Lessons – Euro Kids India
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