The Fisherman and His Wife
[calm water, the fisherman arrives]
One morning, as a fisherman was fishing in the sea, he caught a golden flounder. [the fish rises from the calm water] This flounder was actually an enchanted prince, so the fisherman granted his request to be released back into the water. [the water goes away and is replaced by a small house] Upon returning home that evening, the fisherman told his wife about the magic flounder. [enter the wife]

WIFE
You just let him go?
FISHERMAN
Well, yes. I could not kill an enchanted prince.
WIFE
He would have granted any wish you had! Go back and catch him again. This time, when he asks you to release him, ask him to grant you a wish.
FISHERMAN
Alright. What should I ask for?
WIFE
Ask him for a grand house. We have lived in this hovel for too long!

[exit wife and hovel. The water returns, but the waves are turbulent] The fisherman caught the magic flounder yet again.

FISH
I am an enchanted prince. Please release me back into the water.
FISHERMAN
First, you must grant me a wish!
FISH
Sure. What is your request?
FISHERMAN
I would like a bigger house.
FISH
Release me and return home. Your wish has been granted.

[exit the fish and the waves] Upon returning home, the fisherman is greeted with a grand mansion. [the hovel with the first larger overlay]

WIFE
Oh, it’s exactly what I’ve always dreamed of!
FISHERMAN
It is truly grand. Now we can live comfortably instead of in that hovel.
WIFE
But this mansion has come with so much land.
FISHERMAN
Yes, it’s very beautiful.
WIFE
With all this land, you could be a King!
FISHERMAN
Oh, but I don’t want that. I am content as a fisherman.
WIFE
But I could be a queen! Go back and ask the fish to make me a queen!

[exit mansion and wife] The fisherman returned the next day, to see the waves were even worse! [return waves; he catches the fish again]

FISH
I am an enchanted prince. Please release me back to the sea!
FISHERMAN
First, you must grant me a wish.
FISH
Of course. What is your request?
FISHERMAN
Make my wife a queen, and our home fit for a ruler.
FISH
Release me and return home. It is done.

[exit fish and waves; enter home, large and opulent; enter wife]

WIFE
It’s perfect. We have a palace.
FISHERMAN
Yes, now we can live in luxury.
WIFE
Go back to the fish and ask it for people we can rule.

[exit palace and wife; enter waves; he catches the fish]

FISH
I am an enchanted prince. Please release me back to the sea!
FISHERMAN
First, you must grant me a wish.
FISH
What is your request?
FISHERMAN
Give my wife a village and loyal subjects.
FISH
It is done.

[repeat catching the fish]

FISH
I am an enchanted prince. Please release me back to the sea!
FISHERMAN
First, you must grant me a wish.
FISH
What is your request?
FISHERMAN
Give my wife a church to reside over.
FISH
It is done.

[repeat]

FISHERMAN
A larger kingdom.
A sainthood.
A navy.
FISH
It is done.

[repeat]

FISHERMAN
My wife wishes to have greater power than all the gods, in all the cosmos. She wishes to have all the gods bow to her will. Make it so.
FISH
You and your wife have overstepped the bounds of my graciousness. You may have none of those things. Release me and return home. You will find nothing but your hovel.

[exit fish, water; enter hovel, wife]

WIFE
I have asked to much and now we have nothing.
FISHERMAN
But, we have lost nothing. We must return to how things were before, and be grateful that we have the roof of this hovel over our heads.
[the wife and fisherman hug] The next day, the fisherman returned to the sea to do his job. [enter the calm water] The waters were calm and he caught no more enchanted fish as long as he lived.