The pot that died
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Cast: 1) Narrator 2) Nasreddin Hodja 3) Nasreddin’s wife 4) Nasreddin’s neighbor –Habibullah 5) Neighbor’s wife
Narrator-Nasreddin Hodja lived many years ago. He was a poor man but also a very clever man and he enjoyed playing tricks on people. One day a friend gave Nasreddin a large piece of meat. Nasreddin and his wife did not always have much to eat. He was very happy to get the meat. He took it home to his wife and asked her to cook it.
Scene 1- a room inside nasreddin’s house
Nasreddin’s wife- you have brought this meat and you want me to cook it? How am I cooking it? There is no pot in the house big enough to hold it.
Nasreddin- all you do is complaining. When there is no meat you say I do not bring you any. Now that I have brought you meat say you have no pot.
Nasreddin’s wife- al right, I shan’t complain any more. You show me how to cook meat without pot to put it in.
Nasreddin- oh, all right. I will get you a pot. Now, let’s see, who will have a pot big enough for this?
Nasreddin’s wife- our neighbor, Habibullah, is sure to have one. His wife always boats about the big feasts they have. They will have big pots for sure.
Nasreddin-I will go never to Habibullah’s house and ask if I can borrow his big cooking pot.
Nasreddin’s wife- you do that I will get the vegetables ready.
Nasreddin goes out. After a while, he comes in carrying a large cooking pot. He hives it to his wife. She takes it and goes into the kitchen.
Scene 2 –inside Habibullah’s house
Neighbor – that‘s very strange. Nasreddin wants a large cooking pot. What does he want it for, I wander?
Neighbor’s wife: - most of the time they don’t have any food to eat. Where could they have got much meat?
Neighbor- well, we shall soon find out when he brings the pot back. I told him to bring it back soon. He was a habit of borrowing things and not returning them.
Neighbor’s wife- he had better not do that this time. My mother gave me that pot when I got married. Make sure he gives it back.
Scene 3- the next day, Habibullah is standing at the door of his house when Nasreddin arrives carrying the cooking pot.
Nasreddin:–good morning, Habibullah. Here you are. Your pot has come back to you, And in good time.
Neighbor- well what a surprise!
(Nasreddin hands over the pot to Habibullah. As Habibullah takes the pot there is a tinkling sound.)
Neighbor-what is that/ what is that sound?
(Habibullah looks inside the pot.) there‘s something inside. (He puts his hand inside the pot and pulls out on object.)
Neighbor –what’s this? Why, A small pot? What is it doing inside my pot? Nasreddin is this yours?
Nasreddin-oh, that. No, it is not mine. It is yours.
Neighbor –mine? How that is? I only gave you a large pot. Where did this one come from?
Nasreddin –ah, you see, while your pot was in my care, it gave birth to a little one. But as you are owner of the mother pot, it is only right that you should keep its baby. And, any way, it would not be right to separate such a young child from its mother. Don’t you agree?
Neighbor –oh1 yes, you are right. Of course, the baby pot should be with its mother.
Nasreddin:-thank you, my friend, for the loan of the pot. Take care of the little one.
(Nasreddin leaves Habibullah standing there, scratching his head- puzzled. His wife comes out.).
Neighbor’s wife she sees the pot on the ground.) Ah, my cooking pot. It has come back. Well. Nasreddin has changed. I did not expect to see it back so soon. What’s the matter, husband? You look puzzled.
Neighbor- looks inside the pot.
Neighbor’s wife –now where did this one come from? It’s not one of mine.
Neighbor –Nasreddin brought it. He said that our pot had a baby while it was in his house. And he brought it to give it to us. I think the man is crazy.
Neighbor’s wife- whoever heard of a pot having a baby! Surely, Nasreddin is made. What did you say to him?
Neighbor- I did not say anything. So what if is mad? We have got a nice pot for nothing. I am not complaining.
Neighbor’s wife: - a pot is having a baby? I have never heard of anything like that.
Scene 4 – a few of days is later. Inside of is Habibullah’s house.
Neighbor –that crazy nasreddin’s borrowed our pot again. I cannot wait till he brings it back. Wife, we are going to get another little pot. I am sure of it. Neighbor’s wife-Nasreddin is really stupid. At this rate, my kitchen will soon have a set of new little pots. Won’t that be lovely?
Scene 5:- outside Habibullah’s house.
Narrator –two weeks have passed since Nasreddin borrowed the cooking pot from his neighbor, Habibullah. He has not returned it yet. There is no sign of the pot.
Neighbor- where on earth is Nasreddin? It is two weeks since he borrowed the pot.
Neighbor’s wife- you had better go and ask him for it. I need it too cook food for our party tomorrow.
Neighbor-I will go and ask him for this evening. Nasreddin! Hey! Stop! Come back here!
Nasreddin –ah! Neighbor, Habibullah! How are you? I hope you are well, and your dear wife, too. I hope she is well, and your lovely little children. How are they? I hope they are well.
Neighbor-Nasreddin! What have you done to my coking pot? You borrowed it two weeks ago. When are you going to return it/
Nasreddin: - oh, my dear friend. How shall I tell you the sad news?
Nasreddi9n – it’s your cooking pot. I am afraid your pot is dead and is now in her grave.
Neighbor –what are you saying? A pot has no life. So how can it/ stop this nonsense! Return the pot to me, at once!
Nasreddin: –just a moment, my friend. A short time ago your coking pot gave birth to a child. And that child is still with you. You had no trouble believing that a pot can have a child. If a pot can have a child, then it can also die goodbye!
Neighbor – (speechless with anger as he realizes he has been tricked)
Narrator- Habibullah never saw his coking pot again!
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