The War of Chocolate, a Play

 Characters

-Mama Cocoa -Friend 2 -Friend of the Murderers

-Mama Cocoa’s Daughter -Friend 3 -Friends of the Murderers

-Murderer 1 -Friend 4 -The Whole World

-Murderer 2 -Messenger -Narrator

-Murderer 3 -Man

-Friend 1      -Shopkeeper

Act One

Scene One - MAMA COCOA’S home

MAMA COCOA is placing chocolate in a basket. MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER is watching her.

MAMA COCOA

You’ll remember to be back in time for supper?

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

Yes, Mama.

MAMA COCOA

And to not eat too much of this chocolate, and share it with your friends at the picnic?

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

Yes, Mama.

MAMA COCOA

Many people have been able to tell me that with straight faces.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

I won’t, Mama, I promise.

MAMA COCOA

All right, then. (she hands MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER the basket of chocolate) I believe you.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER takes a deep whiff of the chocolate in the basket and reaches inside. MAMA COCOA slaps her hand.

MAMA COCOA

Ah, ah! I said I trusted you, and now you betray my trust. I’m not sure I can let you go to your picnic with your friends after all! Hand me that basket of chocolate at once, young lady.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

Please no, Mama! After all the chores and promises I had to do and say to be able to take your homemade chocolate anywhere? Sweat, blood, tears earned me this basket!

MAMA COCOA

That’s because everyone goes chicken whenever they see even a crumb of my chocolate! Now you are going chicken too. Give it to me!

MAMA COCOA tries to grab the basket but misses.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

I won’t do it again, Mama. I’ll be very careful.

MAMA COCOA (sighing)

Fine. Go on, scurry away and have fun. I love you.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

Thank you, Mama! I love you too! (hesitates) Do you hear that noise?

MAMA COCOA

I don’t hear any noise. I’m sure it’s fine. Go on.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

Um…Yes, well… ‘Bye!

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER exits.

Scene Two - Outside MAMA COCOA’S home during the previous conversation

3 MURDERERS crouch outside an open window.

MURDERER 1

This is definitely Mama Cocoa’s house.

MURDERER 3

We did follow her daughter to the right place then.

MURDERER 2

Hush, listen! She is saying that she might not let her daughter take the basket!

MURDERER 1, 2, and 3 silent, listening, and MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER is heard saying, “I won’t do it again, Mama. I’ll be very careful” and MAMA COCOA obliging. MURDERER 1, 2, and 3 let out a relieved sigh.

MURDERER 1

If Mama Cocoa hadn’t let her daughter take that chocolate, I would’ve dashed in there now and taken it myself!

MURDERER 3

Aye, I would give my head for that chocolate even! I am wanting it too badly!

MURDERER 2

Don’t talk so loudly! They might notice us.

MURDERER 1, 2, and 3 cease talking.

MURDERER 2

They did not notice us now, but they will soon if you all are just as reckless!

MURDERER 1 AND 3

Apologies, mate.

MURDERER 2

Bah! Never mind. You were both right even though you were too loud. Though, (looking at MURDERER 3) you wouldn’t be able to eat the chocolate without your head. (MURDERER 3 shrugs) Do you know how long I’ve dreamed of the moment we would take some of Mama Cocoa’s  chocolate, the greatest chocolatier of all time’s chocolate, for ourselves?

MURDERER 1

How long?

MURDERER 2

Since the moment I was born.

MURDERER 3

But that’s not possible, ain’t it? I mean-

MURDERER 2

No arguing! I am right, there is no question about it!

MURDERER 3

Whatever you say.

MURDERER 1

You know, I’ve been thinking… What if we not only took the chocolate for ourselves, but held Mama Cocoa captive so we could eat more? Infinite amounts of chocolate made by the greatest chocolatier of all time just for us.

MURDERER 2

That’s a very good idea… I’m impressed.

MURDERER 1 beams. Suddenly, the door of the house opens and MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER steps out.

MURDERER 3

There! Our journey begins!

All except MAMA COCOA exit.

Scene 3 - A pond surrounded by trees and greenery

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER and FRIENDS sit on a picnic blanket with food all around them. MURDERER 1, 2, and 3 watch from behind trees, waiting for the perfect moment with daggers in their hands.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

Er… Doesn’t it seem a bit quiet to you?

FRIEND 1

Yes, it does… Maybe - maybe we shouldn’t worry about it.

FRIEND 3

I’m sure it’s fine. I do know something that will cheer you up.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER

Oh! I do also.

MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER pulls from behind her the basket and opens it. FRIENDS shriek and lunge for the chocolate as delicious smelling aromas whaft from it. 

MURDERERS stay put - for now.

MURDERER 2

Not yet, boys. Wait…Wait… NOW!!!

MURDERERS leap from behind the trees. MAMA COCOA’S DAUGHTER and FRIENDS are slain. MURDERER 2 holds the basket up, victorious.

MURDERER 2 (evil laugh)

The chocolate is ours!

MURDERERS (evil laugh)

OURS, OURS!

Act Two

Scene One - MAMA COCOA’S home

MAMA COCOA (aside)

Shouldn’t she be home by now? (sighs) But, no doubt, she and her friends are gobbling down chocolate after chocolate, ruining their teeth and stomachs. When she comes home, she’ll be lugging a great big belly and an empty basket in her wake. (sits heavily on a rocking chair and pulls her knitting onto her lap) I suppose I shouldn’t be so worried. But I’ve seen how greedy people can be for my chocolate just from having that chocolate shop I used to own. Why, oh why, did I put so much in that basket and make it smell so good?

The front door bangs open and MESSENGER enters.

MAMA COCOA (standing)

Well, excuse me! There is a thing called knocking, you know.

MESSENGER

My apologies, but please, good lady, heed my advice and run for it!

MAMA COCOA

Whatever do you mean?

MESSENGER

I do not know who you are, nor you me, (though maybe I’ve seen you in the newspaper once or twice, you look oddly familiar) but I have just seen three cloaked men with bloody daggers and a basket heading this way! Please, good lady, flee, flee!

MESSENGER exits.

MAMA COCOA (aside)

A basket? And bloody daggers? No, no; it can’t be true. Strange rumors are flying around. (sits again) I do not believe a single word of them. Maybe my dear daughter and her friends cooked up this rumor for humorous reasons - or else dressed up to scare me and say, “Happy Halloween!” I do believe it’s soon. Well, now that I look at the calendar maybe it isn’t. But that man’s just plain lying or something, that’s what it is.

The door flies open once more and MURDERERS enter.

MAMA COCOA

Can’t you leave an old lady in peace! (gasps) You are the three men with bloody daggers the man was talking about. The rumors are true!

MUDERER 1 (aside to MURDERER 2 & 3)

Someone told her.

MURDERER 3 (aside to MURDERER 1 & 2)

I wonder who.

MURDERER 2 (aside to MURDERER 1 & 3)

Let us not worry about it. We have a job to get done.

MAMA COCOA

What are you three whispering about? (takes off her shoe and begins to beat them with it) Back, back!

MURDERER 1 (grabs her shoe and tosses it aside)

Stop.

MURDERER 2

We found a little something by the pond. (holds up basket)

MAMA COCOA 

No! My daughter!

MURDERER 2

We’d like you to make more chocolate, this time all the kinds you know. Only then will we spare you - unlike some others. (MAMA COCOA sobs) We’ll come back in a couple days, ready for more chocolate. And don’t even think about trying to escape or get help. 

MURDERERS exit, locking the door behind them.

Scene Two - Town’s square

Many people are walking around, shopping and indifferent to what is happening up on the hill where the lonely house sits. MESSENGER is running from place to place.

MESSENGER

Help! Somebody help!

MAN

What do you want?

MESSENGER

A lady is being ambushed by three men with daggers on the top of that hill! Please help! (MAN walked away) No, please, you don’t understand! No…

SHOPKEEPER

What’s happened, boy?

MESSENGER

Oh, sir, the lady that lives at the house on the hill is being ambushed!

SHOPKEEPER

Mama Cocoa? Not Mama Cocoa! Boy, was it she? The famous Mama Cocoa?

MESSENGER

I believe so - no wonder she looked so familiar.

SHOPKEEPER

The most famous chocolatier of all time, ambushed! Boy, we need to get help! Come, come, quickly!

Scene 3 - MAMA COCOA’S house

MAMA COCOA labors, making several kinds of chocolate at once.

MAMA COCOA (aside)

Curse this situation I’ve gotten myself in! I will never be able to get out of it. (peeks out the window) The men are multiplying. Looks like hundreds out there. I must be a really big deal. (chuckles sadly then crumples to the floor with great, heaving sobs) Please forgive me, dear daughter! I never meant for any of this. None of it at all!

FRIEND OF MURDERERS enter.

FRIEND OF THE MURDERERS

Get up, you wet rag! Make more chocolate!

MAMA COCOA clambers up.

MAMA COCOA

No!

MAMA COCOA takes the four kinds of chocolate she’d been making and throws them out the window.

FRIEND OF THE MURDERERS 

The chocolate! How dare you! Reinforcements! Reinforcements!

FRIENDS OF THE MURDERERS enter. MAMA COCOA fights bravely, but is grabbed and held up against the wall with a knife at her throat. A trumpet sounds suddenly and MAMA COCOA is dropped as the FRIENDS OF THE MURDERERS look around in surprise.

MESSENGER (out of sight)

Beware the soldiers of the king!

SHOPKEEPER (out of sight)

Not to mention the king himself!

MESSENGER (out of sight)

And the whole country!

SHOPKEEPER (out of sight)

Plus the entire world!

THE WHOLE WORLD (entering)

Free Mama Cocoa! 

THE WHOLE WORLD charges and everyone battles. There is chaos. At last MURDERER 1, 2, AND 3 are finally slain, the last of the enemies. THE WHOLE WORLD cheers. 

SHOPKEEPER (rushing to MAMA COCOA and ignoring the happy faces around him)

Ma’am, are you alright? Please answer me!

MAMA COCOA

My daughter… (faints)

Scene Four - the stage

NARRATOR stands alone in the middle of the stage.

NARRATOR

Mama Cocoa lived about ten years more after that. Not because of low health or because she stopped eating, but simply because she was already near her end at the time of the Chocolate War, as history has recently named it. She went to Heaven and was met with an ecstatic greeting by her daughter, who waved aside her mother’s many apologies and forgave her readily - though Mama Cocoa’s daughter had done that ten years previously. Her daughter’s friends had also forgiven Mama Cocoa ten years ago, and she cried with gratitude when they embraced and told her this. Ever since, they have been living happily ever after - in Heaven, of course. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming and have a good night.