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In a magnificent palace surrounded by rumors and roses, young Prince William begins to question the strange whispers in the village. Unknown to all, three powerful witches have been hiding in plain sight—one behind a beautiful face, the others cloaked in shadows. When the Queen vanishes and the King falls under a wicked spell, William must summon his courage, resist enchantments, and outwit ancient magic to save his family. “The Candle of Courage” is a thrilling tale of bravery, loyalty, and the light that conquers darkness.
CHARACTERS:
KING
QUEEN
WILLIAM (Prince)
WITCH 1 (Initially appearing as a beautiful princess)
WITCH 2
WITCH 3
OLD MAN
SCRIPT:
SCENE I – AT THE PALACE GARDEN
(The King and his son William stroll casually through the lush palace garden, the sound of a nearby fountain providing a gentle backdrop. They settle onto a stone bench, the King sighing contentedly.)
KING: A perfect morning, wouldn’t you agree, William? These roses are particularly vibrant today.
WILLIAM: They are, Father. But… I’ve heard whispers in the village. Are there three witches living here in the palace?
KING: (Dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.) Absolutely not! Such silly superstitions have no place in our palace. Where do these rumors even start?
WILLIAM: There’s just a general buzz. People talk.
KING: Well, they talk nonsense. (He spots a single, unusually radiant rose floating in the fountain, its petals glowing faintly. He reaches in and carefully plucks it.) What a magnificent bloom! I’ll give this to your mother. She’ll adore it.
WILLIAM: She certainly will.
(The Queen approaches, a radiant smile on her face.)
QUEEN: Oh, what a magnificent bloom you have there, my love! Is it for me?
KING: Only the finest for my Queen.
QUEEN: Thank you, darling. I’ll keep it safe in my wooden chest. Speaking of adventures, my dear, weren’t we planning to go hunting this afternoon?
KING: I completely forgot! A thousand pardons. Let’s go!
(The King, the Queen, and William exit stage right, their laughter echoing slightly.)
SCENE II – AT THE PALACE
(It’s midnight. The King and the Queen sleep peacefully in their grand bedroom. A soft, alluring voice seems to drift through the silence.)
WITCH 1: (A whispered, ethereal voice.) King… take me out of here…
(The King’s eyes snap open.)
KING: (To the Queen, his voice hushed and disoriented.) Did you say something, my dear?
QUEEN: No, love. Not a word.
KING: I’m sure I heard your voice… just now.
QUEEN: It was just a dream, darling. Go back to sleep. Good night.
KING: Hmmm. (He closes his eyes, but his brow furrows.)
WITCH 1: (Louder now, more insistent.) King! Take me out of here!
KING: (Bolting upright in bed.) It wasn’t a dream! I have to find where that voice is coming from.
(The King throws off the covers and begins to pace the room, searching.)
WITCH 1: (Drawing him closer.) King… take me out of here!
KING: (His gaze fixed on the ornate wooden chest where the Queen placed the rose.) The voice… it’s coming from the wooden chest! (He yanks open the wooden chest. A blinding flash of light erupts, and from the depths of the chest steps a figure of stunning beauty, dressed in shimmering silks. This is WITCH 1, though she appears as a radiant princess.)
KING: Oh… you’re so beautiful! Who… who are you?
WITCH 1: (Her voice, though sweet, holds an undercurrent of steel.) I am your destiny, King. And for us to fulfill it, your Queen must be… removed. You will banish her, and you will marry me.
KING: I can’t do that! She’s my wife, and I love her deeply!
WITCH 1: (Her eyes flash with dark power.) You have to, or you will die in an hour! Now, you know what to do!
(A strange, desperate urgency overtakes the King’s movements. His eyes glaze over slightly. He roughly wakes the Queen, who looks utterly bewildered and frightened. He practically drags her out of the bedroom and down a dimly lit corridor towards the basement.)
QUEEN: (Struggling against his grip.) What’s wrong with you?! Where are you taking me?!
KING: (His voice flat, devoid of emotion, as if speaking words not his own.) You must be out of the way. It is… commanded.
(They reach the cold, damp basement door. He shoves her inside.)
QUEEN: (Pounding on the heavy door, her voice raw with desperation.) No! Are you mad?! Don’t leave me here! Open the door!
(The King stands for a moment, a flicker of anguish crossing his face before it’s replaced by a vacant stare. He turns and exits.)
SCENE III – IN THE MASTER BEDROOM
(William enters the master bedroom, calling out softly for his mother. He sees Witch 1 admiring herself in the mirror, adorned in the Queen’s jewels.)
WILLIAM: (His eyes widening in disbelief, then narrowing.) You’re not my mother! (Shouting, his voice filled with alarm.) Mother! Mother, where are you?!
WITCH 1: (Turns sharply, her beautiful face contorted with anger.) Shut up, boy, or you will die!
(William, terrified but determined, turns and bolts from the room.)
WILLIAM: Mother! Mother! (He runs through the palace, his frantic calls echoing. He hears a faint, muffled voice from below.)
QUEEN: (Her voice muffled and desperate from behind the basement door.) William! Oh, William, thank goodness! Your father… he locked me in here! Please, find the key!
WILLIAM: (Rushing to the basement door.) I will, Mother! I’ll come and get you!
(Witch 1 appears at the top of the stairs, her expression cold and menacing.)
WITCH 1: William!
WILLIAM: (Stepping in front of the basement door, defiantly.) Get away from me!
WITCH 1: (A cruel smirk plays on her lips.) Go to the garden and bring me some lemons from the lemon tree. And if you don’t, you will never see your mother again!
(William glares at her, then turns and runs off, knowing he has no choice.)
SCENE IV – AT THE PALACE GARDEN
(William walks purposefully towards the lemon tree, his mind racing. An Old Man, cloaked and seemingly appearing from nowhere, approaches him.)
WILLIAM: Who are you?
OLD MAN: Never mind who I am, young Prince, and listen carefully. Take the lemons, but listen closely: if you hear someone calling your name, do not, under any circumstances, look back.
(The Old Man turns and melts away into the shadows of the garden. William, perplexed but trusting, cuts the lemons from the tree. As he does, he hears faint, echoing voices – two women calling his name, urging him to look back. He clenches his jaw, keeping his gaze fixed forward, and does not turn. Witch 1 suddenly appears before him, her face a mask of annoyance.)
WITCH 1: I don’t want lemons. I want oranges. Since you can’t even obey a simple request, get out of the palace now, and forget about your mother!
WILLIAM: You will not get rid of me that easily. I’ll be back.
WITCH 1: Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Foolish boy!
(William walks away from the palace, his heart heavy but his spirit unbroken. As he reaches the outer gates, the Old Man reappears beside him.)
OLD MAN: I will help you get back into the palace.
WILLIAM: But how? They know me.
The Old Man whispers a series of ancient, almost inaudible words into William’s ear. A faint shimmer surrounds William for a moment.)
WILLIAM: What was that for?
OLD MAN: We’re going back. They won’t recognize you, not truly. To their eyes, you’ll be someone else entirely, yet still you. A clever illusion, wouldn’t you say? As soon as we enter, two more witches will be by the door. They will tell me to leave you there, claiming they will show you the palace.
WILLIAM: You said two witches. Who are they?
OLD MAN: Do you remember the story the villagers told? Well, it is true! Three witches live in the palace, and you have only met the first one.
WILLIAM: Oh, I see. Then what should I do?
OLD MAN: As soon as they tell me to leave you there, you will say: “Please, father, leave me here.” And I will leave the palace. They will show you the palace, except for one room. You will insist they open that door. As soon as you enter, you should do whatever you think is right.
WILLIAM: Thank you, Old Man. Let’s go.
(They arrive at the palace gates. Witches 2 and 3, identical in their cruel beauty, are waiting. The Old Man nods to William and then vanishes. The witches, seeing “someone else” instead of William, motion him inside.)
WITCH 2: Come, young man. We shall show you the palace.
WILLIAM: Please, father, leave me here.
(The Old Man is gone. The witches lead William through the grand halls, pointing out various rooms, until they stop outside a heavy, locked door, adorned with strange, glowing symbols.)
WILLIAM: (Stopping abruptly before the locked door.) I want to see what’s inside this room.
WITCH 2: There’s nothing there.
WITCH 3: Besides, it’s too late, and we are expecting someone.
WILLIAM: I must insist. I want to see what’s inside the room.
WITCH 2: (To Witch 3, a hint of unease in her voice.) Should I open the door?
WITCH 3: Mmm, only for a minute.
(Witch 2 reluctantly unlocks and opens the door. The room is dark and cold. In the very center, on a small, worn table, three large, vibrant candles burn, casting dancing shadows on the walls.)
WILLIAM: What are those candles doing here?
WITCH 2: (Takes one candle, holding it aloft.) This flickering flame… it is my very life force.
WITCH 3: (Takes the second.) And this, my sister’s.
WILLIAM: And the third?
WITCH 2 AND 3: That one represents our sister’s life! The one who now sits on the throne!
WITCH 2: If these candles aren’t lit, we will die!
WILLIAM: Then die!
(Without hesitation, William takes a deep breath and blows forcefully. The two candles held by Witch 2 and Witch 3 flicker, then extinguish. With a guttural gasp, the two witches shriek and collapse to the floor, their forms dissolving into dust. William snatches the third candle from the table and races out of the room, looking for his father. He finds the King slumped on his bed, looking utterly distraught and confused, as if waking from a nightmare.)
KING: William? Son! What… what have I done?
WILLIAM: Father, we don’t have a lot of time! You have to blow off this candle!
(Witch 1 bursts into the room, her beauty beginning to warp, her face twisted with fury and fear.)
WITCH 1: Don’t listen to him! Don’t you dare!
WILLIAM: Father, quick! Blow it off! Now!
WITCH 1: No! No! Don’t do it! You fool!
(The King, his gaze now clear and full of love for his son, takes the candle and blows forcefully. The flame vanishes. With a final, piercing scream, Witch 1 collapses to the floor, her form dissolving into a foul-smelling smoke that quickly dissipates.)
KING: Thank you, my son. You saved your mother and me! My brave, brave William!
(They both hug)
Prince William’s bravery saved the kingdom from the grip of dark magic. With the witches defeated and peace restored, the King and Queen ruled with newfound wisdom and love. And as for William—he became known not just as a prince, but as a hero whose courage burned brighter than any candle. The palace gardens blossomed once more, and the kingdom thrived, no longer haunted by whispers… only inspired by them.
THE END
Author: Folktale from Spain
Adapted by K I D S I N C O
Moral: True courage means doing what is right, even when you’re afraid—and the smallest flame of bravery can defeat the darkest magic.
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External Resources:
What is a witch? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_(word)
What is a folktale? https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/folktale/399460
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