 "THE DAGGER" Explanation "THE DAGGER" is a very dramatical drama, easily rehearsed and played by live boys from a Patrol. It probably looks a little odd on paper, but try it out with your boys and its humorous effects will never fail. The setting is an artificial campfire. Four very serious boys place themselves on one side of the fire. They are, if possible, equipped with sun helmets. (Imitation helmets may be made by wrapping some white cloth around regular Scout hats.) It is best to get as much tropical effect as possible). A fifth boy works as manager and announcer. The players must keep themselves serious during the whole performance. Everything depends on their seriousness. The play starts: The Announcer: "Ladies and Gentlement it gives me great pleasure to present to you tonight a very serious drama with the promising title "The Dagger." Imagine yourself in the interior of the darkest Africa. Four explorers have put their camp up for the night and you see them sitting around their camp fire. There is a very odd thing with this drama and that is that it starts with the last act and closes with the first. It may seem funny, but you will be able to find the reason when the play is ended, Ladies and Gentlemen, the curtain goes for the last and third act. (Exit.) Third Act 1st Explorer (he has a dagger or a big knife in his hand. He looks at it as if in very deep thought. Turns it around and looks at it from every angle. Silently he hands it to 2nd Explorer). 2nd Explorer (looks at the dagger from all sides. Asks lst Explorer): "What is it?" 1st Explorer (hesitating): "It is a dagger!'' 2nd Explorer (looks at it again. Hands it to 3rd Explorer). 3rd Explorer (takes a look at it. Asks 2nd Explorer): '"What is it?" 2nd Explorer (Asks 1st Explorer): "Wat it it?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd Explorer): "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd Explorer): "It is a dagger!" 3rd Explorer (hands the dagger to 4th Explorer). 4th Explorer (looks at it. Asks 3rd Explorer): "What is it?" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd): "What is it?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st : "What is it?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd): "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd): "It is a dagger!" 3rd Explorer (to 4th): "It is a dagger!" (End of Third Act) The Announcer: "The Third Act has now come to an end and we start immediately on the Second Act."
Second Act (During the announcer's speech the dagger has been. returned to 1st Explorer.) 1st Explorer (looks at the dagger. Hands it to 2nd Explorer). 2nd Explorer (to 1st Explorer): "What is it?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd Explorer): "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "Has it been used?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd with a finger on his lips and very mystical): "Hysss!" 2nd Explorer (hands the dagger to 3rd). 3rd Explorer (to 2nd): "What is it?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "What is it?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd) "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd) "It is a dagger!" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd) "Has it been used?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "Has it been used?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd with finger on lips): "Hysss!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd with finger on lips): "Hysss!" 3rd Explorer (hands dagger to 4th). 4th Explorer (to 3rd): "What is it?" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd) ; "What is it?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "What is it?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd): "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd): "it is a dagger!" 3rd Explorer (to 4th): "It is a dagger!" 4th Explorer (to 3rd) "Has it been used?" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd) "Has it been used?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "Has it been used?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 3rd Explorer (to 4th with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" (End of Second Act) The Announcer: "This was the end of the Second Act and we start the First Act."
First Act (The dagger has been returned to 1st Explorer during the announcement.) 1st Explorer (looks at the dagger. Gives it to 2nd.) 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "What is it?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd): "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "Has it been used?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 2nd Explorer (to 1st frightened): "There is blood on it!" 1st Explorer (to 2nd, moving his hand across the neck as if cutting the throat, imitating the sound you hear when canvas is torn in pieces): "Grriiittzzz" (2nd Explorer hands the dagger to 3rd.) 3rd Explorer (to 2nd): "What is it?" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd): "What is it?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd): "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd): "It is a dagger!" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd): "Has it been used?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "Has it been used?" 1st Explorer (to 2nd with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd, frightened): "There is blood on it!" 2nd Explorer (to 1st, frightened): "There is blood on it!" 1st, Explorer (to 2nd, with throat cutting movement): "Grriiittzzz!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd, with throat cutting movement): "Grriiittzzz!" 3rd Explorer (hands the dagger to 4th). 4th Explorer (to 3rd): "What is it?" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd): '"What is it?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): 'What is it?" 1st, Explorer (to 2nd): "It is a dagger!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd): "It is a dagger!" 3rd Explorer (to 4th): "It is a dagger!" 4th Explorer (to 3rd): "Has it been used?" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd): "Has it been used?" 2nd Explorer (to 1st): "Has it been used?" 1st, Explorer (to 2nd with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 2nd Explorer (to 3rd with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 3rd Explorer (to 4th with finger on his lips): "Hysss!" 4th Explorer (to 3rd, frightened): "There is blood on it!" 3rd Explorer (to 2nd, frightened): "There is blood on it! " 2nd Explorer (to 1st, frightened): "There is blood on it!" 1st, Explorer (to 2nd, with throat cutting movement)."Grriiittzzz!" (Falls backward, dead.) 2nd Explorer (to 3rd, with throat cutting movement) "Grriiittzzz!" (Falls backward, dead.) 3rd Explorer (to 4th, with throat cutting movement) "Grriiittzzz!" (Falls backward, dead.) 4th Explorer (with throat cutting. movement) "Grriiittzzz!" (Falls backward, dead.) (The last four words and movements have to follow very fast after each other.) (End of First Act) The Announcer: "And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, you see the reason why we started with the Third Act. If we had started with First Act we would not have been able to bring the play to a finish. Thank you!" Adapted from Camp Fire Helps for Boy Scout Camps, Boy Scouts of America Service Library, Series 2, 1928
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