ACT 1: In The Village

SETTING. Several wigwams are in the background. Wigwams are dome shaped and covered with birch bark. Villagers are engaged in various activities. Two wigwams are set to the front. Between them LITTLE LISTENER stirs a pot over the cooking fire. WILLOW WOMAN adds wood to the fire.

ACT 1, SCENE 1 UNCLE MUSKRAT comes in carrying a string of fish.

WILLOW WOMAN. Husband, you’ve done well!

UNCLE MUSKRAT. My fish trap was good to us today, my wife. There’s more than enough for us and our niece and our three hungry nephews. With these fish and your big stew of vegetables, we can feed the whole village. Where are my nephews? Have they not come back from their hunt?

LITTLE LISTENER. No, uncle. My brothers have not yet returned. I am sure they will arrive soon and tell us of their adventures.

UNCLE MUSKRAT. Adventures? Well, adventures won’t feed our village, so I hope they come back with more than stories!

LITTLE LISTENER. My brothers are great hunters. Don’t worry, uncle. I am sure they will bring us more food.

WILLOW WOMAN. And even more stories! [She and the uncle look at each other and chuckle.] Look, here they are now.

[The three brothers of LITTLE LISTENER enter, each holding a small bag. First, there is OLDEST BROTHER who is seventeen winters of age. Then SECOND BROTHER enters. He is fifteen winters of age. The THIRD BROTHER is fourteen winters of age. They are good hunters, but their imagination is greater than their hunting skills. They walk over to the fire, looking confident and proud. As they walk over, they are talking among themselves and bragging about their day of hunting.]