The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Act 1
Scene 1

The scene begins with a young boy, who is a shepherd, guiding his sheep up a hill above the town. He arrives at the top of the hill and the sheep scatter about to graze and rest. The boy soon grows bored. He runs down the hill towards the town shouting, “Wolf! Wolf!” The towns people quickly gather and follow him up the hill. When they reach the top, the boy turns and laughs at them. When they realize they have been tricked and all the sheep are safe, the people turn and go back down the hill, angrily shaking their heads at him.

Scene 2

Once again the shepherd boy is on the hill with his sheep. He plays a song to the sheep to stave off his boredom, but it doesn’t work. So he decides to run down the hill again shouting, “Wolf! Wolf!” Once again the townspeople run up the hill to help the young boy, only to find they have been tricked once again. The boy laughs merrily at them as they go back down the hill. But this time a wise old man stays behind to warn him. “If you cry wolf again, people will not come! They will think you are lying and trying to trick them!” But the boy only laughs as the type man goes back down the hill.

Act 2
Scene 3

This scene opens with the boy asleep next to a tree. The sheep are gathered around him resting. Suddenly from behind the tree a large wolf appears. The sheep grow restless and begin to bleat in alarm waking up the boy. He stands up and scares the wolf back behind the tree, making the boy unaware of the true danger. For fun, he runs down the hill crying “Wolf! Wolf!” and yet again the villagers come. They quickly realize he is lying and go back down the hill.

Scene 4

Once again the boy has fallen asleep under the tree. The wolf appears suddenly from behind the tree and begins to chase the sheep. They all scatter except for one who is too frightened to move. As the lone sheep cries out, the boy awakens and quickly cries out “Wolf! Wolf!” But this time no-one comes. He faces the wolf with only his shepherd’s stick. He calls out again and again as he attempts to defend the lone sheep and the wolf creeps closer and closer.

Finally, the old man appears and, recognizing the danger, calls out for help. The townspeople respond to the old man and quickly come to the aid of the boy. The wolf is chased away by the townspeople and the sheep are gathered. The grateful boy apologizes to the crowd and promises never to cry “Wolf!’ again.