Fisherman and His Wife

FLOUNDER: Let me go, fisherman, let me go!

(Amazed.) It talks! A fish that talks! What is it I have caught? Surely this is no ordinary flounder!

FLOUNDER: I beg of you, fisherman, let me go! I am no common fish to take home for supper. I am an enchanted prince, and ruler of the deep. Let me return now to the bottom of the sea and you will never be sorry.

(Quickly unhooking the FLOUNDER.) At once, Your Highness, at once! I am only a humble fisherman. I would do no harm to a prince! Go now, back to your ocean kingdom and be forever free.

FLOUNDER: You have a good heart, fisherman. I shall remember what you have done. (FLOUNDER sinks down behind wall, as FISHERMAN stands staring.)

It was the right thing that I did… but now I will have to go home emptyhanded. (As WIFE ENTERS LEFT, comes CENTER appearing to be sweeping the floor.) I see my wife in the doorway, waiting for her supper and there is an angry look on her face. (MOVES reluctantly DOWN CENTER to face his WIFE.)

WIFE: There you are at last! The fire has been going for an hour and I have nothing to cook. What did you catch for me today?

Only on fish, dear wife, I am sorry. It was a flounder, the very biggest flounder I have ever seen, and…

WIFE: But where is it? I see no flounder.

Alas, I had to put him back.

WIFE: Put him back? Why? When we are near starvation…

Because he spoke to me, and told me he was an enchanted prince. How could I bring an enchanted prince home for our supper?

WIFE: But didn’t you ask him for anything? An enchanted prince can grant wishes. Anyone knows that. And if you did a kindness for him, surely he would grant you whatever you asked. Go back now, you foolish man, and ask him for something.

For what? All I did was let him go. It was a simple deed of kindness, no more.

WIFE: It was enough. Go, now, and ask him… ask him for a pretty cottage. I am tired of living in this hovel. Go… and be quick about it. (WIFE stands with arms folded, watching as FISHERMAN sadly approaches sea wall UP STAGE RIGHT, leans over and calls to FLOUNDER. WIFE turns her back and begins angrily sweeping.)

Enchanted flounder! Oh, Prince of the Deep! Will you speak with this poor fisherman?

FLOUNDER: (His head appears above wall.) I will speak with you. A prince does not forget a kindness. Just tell me what you wish in return, and it shall be yours.

If it would not be too much, You Highness, my good wife would like a pretty cottage to live in.

FLOUNDER: I will speak with you. A prince does not forget a kindness. Just tell me what you wish in return and it shall be yours.

If it would not be too much, Your Highness, my good wide would like a pretty cottage to live in.