Cast of Characters:

NARRATOR
FISHERMAN
FISHERMAN’S WIFE
FISH
STAGE HAND

The Narrator recites:
Once upon a time, on the island of Aesry, there lived a fisherman and his wife. They lived in a small hovel by the sea. Their hovel was small, and they did not have much money, but they were very happy.

The Fisherman recites:
Ah, my good wife, smell the salty sea air! I am so happy here in out hovel by the sea.

The Wife recites:
Me, too, my husband, we are very lucky. We have a roof over our heads and you always bring us fish to eat. I am such a lucky lady to have the things I need.

The Narrator recites:
One day, like every other day in Aesry, the fisherman was fishing off the docks. He was having no luck at all. Suddenly, he felt a great tug on his line. The tugging was so strong and so hard that he almost fell off the dock. He had to work to keep his balance as he reeled his line in.

The Fisherman recites:
Wow! That must be some fish. It is pulling so hard and fighting so tough! I wonder what it could be?

The Narrator recites:
The fisherman pulled and he pulled on his line, trying to get it in on time, before he lost his catch. Finally he pull out the line and say an unusual fish.

The Fisherman recites:
What a beautiful, and unusual fish I have caught. I have never seen something like this before.

The Fish recites:
Why Yes, I am beautiful and one of a kind, now will you please let me go back to where I came?

The Fisherman recites:
Well, I can’t do that because…
Hey, wait a rois or two, a talking fish? What shall I do with you?

The Fish recites:
I am not only a talking fish, I am much more than that. I am a magic fish that can grant you a wish. Anything you need, I can get you indeed.

The Fisherman recites:
That sounds a bit fishy if you ask me, how do I know you are not trying to trick me to let you go free?

The Fish recites:
Maybe so, but it’s true. What would you like? Let me go and your wish will come true. You will see all the good things that can happen if you let me go free.

The Fisherman recites:
Well, let me things a day a two. You know, I am happy with all that I have, I can think of a thing to wish for today. However, I will let you go anyway.

The Fish recites:
Thank you kind sir, this shall not be forgotten.

The Narrator recites:
The fisherman unhooked the fish and let her go. She jumped back into the sea and swam away as fast as can be. The fisherman hurried home empty handed to his wife. He could not tell her what had happened.

The Fisherman recites:
Wife! Wife! Oh wonderful Wife! The most amazing things has happened while fishing today!

The Wife recites:
What is that, my dear? Did you catch a lot of fish?

The Fisherman recites:
Well, no. I didn’t catch any. But I met a talking fish, a beautiful magic fish. He said I could have anything I wished for if I let him go free.

The Wife recites:
How wonderful, and exciting. I bet it was a sight! What did you ask this magic fish for?

The Fisherman recites:
Nothing, I told him I was happy with what I had. I have a loving wife, and a roof over my head.

The Wife recites:
True, we are happy and have all we need, but there must have been something you could have wished for. What about a new house?

The Fisherman recites:
I though you were happy here in our hovel by the sea. You always told you me you were happy here.

The Wife recites:
I am happy husband, but, a lovely cottage might make me a bit happier. Won’t you please go find the fish and ask her for a lovely cottage?

The Fisherman recites:
If that is your wish, and it will make you happy, I will go find the fish in the morning.

The Narrator recites:
The fisherman got up and went down to the docks. He wondered if the fish would still hear him and give him his wish. So he stood on the dock and he called out to the fish. She did not come. So he began to sing.

The Fisherman recites:
Yoo-hoo, magic and beautiful fish!
Come out of the sea on this fine early day,
My wife has sent me to ask for a wish,
That will make her happier this very day.

The Narrator recites:
The fish popped her head out of the water.

The Fish recites:
That is a lovely verse. You voice is gentle and kind. What is her wish, my friend?

The Fisherman recites:
She would like a lovely cottage instead of the hovel that we call home.

The Fish recites:
So be it! It is done for you. Go home and you will see the new cottage just for you.

The Narrator recites:
The fish swam away as the fisherman ran home. The fisherman could not believe what he saw. His wife was sitting in front of a beautiful cottage covered with ivy vines and flowers. She has a big smile on her face and glint in her eye.

The Wife recites:
Welcome home to our new and wonderful home, my husband. Your fish has done a wonderful job. I do think it is lovely.

The Fisherman recites:
That she has. The fish is very kinda to us. Oh, we will be as happy as we can be, as we sit here in our cottage by the sea.

The Wife recites:
Yes husband, but…

The Fisherman recites:
But what?

The Wife recites:
This cottage is indeed lovely and neat, but it’s it is still a bit small if we happen to have some little feet join the family. I think I would love to live in a large magnificent mansion! We would have the room if our family grows, it will keep me from any woes.

The Fisherman recites:
If you wish my dear, I will go and ask. I am not sure if she will be up to the task. A mansion is large, and may be hard to find. I will go and see what I can find.

The Narrator recites:
So the fisherman set off of the docks once again to find the magical wish. He hoped and prayed along that way, he would be able to see the fish. He would hate to see his wife in dismay.

So he took out his cog out into the bay, way out farther they he ever did go near. He got to a spot in the middle of the day, and sang his song out for the fish to hear.

The Fisherman recites:
Yoo-hoo, magic and beautiful fish!
Come out of the sea on this fine early day,
My wife has sent me to ask for a wish,
That will make her happier this very day.

The Narrator recites:
The song worked again and the fish came around. To see what the fisherman’s wife wanted this time.

The Fish recites:
Another wish? Doesn’t your wife like the cottage I made her?

The Fisherman recites:
Oh, yes the cottage is lovely as can be, but my wife thinks it is to small if we have a family. So she wants a magnificent mansion, with lot of room for young ones to run and play.

The Fish recites:
Fine, Fine my friend it shall be. Go home and a magnificent mansion will you see.

The Fisherman recites:
Thank you, you beautiful magical fish. You are so kind as to grant me that wish.

The Narrator recites:
So the fish swam a way and the fisherman rowed his boat back to the docks. Then he ran to see what the fish has promised the home would be. He hoped his wish had come true and made his wife happy. When he got home, his wife was standing in front of an enormous, magnificent mansion!

The Wife recites:
Welcome home dear husband to our new home. It is magnificent, grand, and as big as can be. It is a very beautiful sight to see.

The Fisherman recites:
Yes, it is. The fish was very, very kind to us again.

The Wife recites:
Yes, she was, but..

The Fisherman recites:
But what my dear wife, are you not happy with this life?

The Wife recites:
What good is living in a mansion if you are not a rich lord? We should have a lot of gold to live a good life like we can afford.

The Fisherman recites:
But I do not want to be a rich lord.

The Wife recites:
Well dear husband you are not very bright. If you do not want to have gold and be lord, I will be a lady and rich as can be. Go ask your fish friend to make me a rich lady with everything I could ask for that money can buy.

The Fisherman recites:
But I have already asked her for way too much. I can not ask her for more. I do not wish to be greedy or take advantage of her good will.

The Wife recites:
Please, husband. Then I will be happy again. You will do it if you really love me and want to keep me happy.

The Fisherman recites:
Well all right. But this is the last time I will go to the fish and ask her to grant you a wish.

The Narrator recites:
So the fisherman dragged he feet with his head held low, as off to the dock he slowly did go. He sang his song with a heavy heart, he hoped the fish would come again.

The Fisherman recites:
Yoo-hoo, magic and beautiful fish!
Come out of the sea on this fine early day,
My wife has sent me to ask for a wish,
That will make her happier this very day.

The Narrator recites:
With pain and sadness in his voice he sang, until the fish popped her head out of the water.

The Fish recites:
What could your wife possibly need or want now! I am she is greedy and selfish and always wants more. Isn’t the manor good enough for her anymore?

The Fisherman recites:
She loves the mansion but wants to be a rich lady, and have a title to boot.

The Fish recites:
A Lady? Isn’t she happy being a fisherman’s wife?

The Fisherman recites:
I though she was happy and had a good life, I guess I was wrong about my wife.

The Fish recites:
Lady, huh? Well, so be it. Go home and you will find a rich lady of society in your mansion.

The Narrator recites:
So the fish swam away, deep down in the sea. The fisherman ran home to see what he could see. Was his wife now a rich lady she hoped to be? He would soon find out what would be.
As soon as the fisherman saw his wife, he knew that the answer was yes. She was sitting on a golden throne chair in the ballroom, wearing a ball gown and covered in jewelry.

The Fisherman recites:
My wife! You’re a lady of society now I see. I hope this will make you as happy as you can be.

The Wife recites:
Well, you must call me, my lady and bow to me when you see me. You are below me now you see.

The Fisherman recites:
Are you happy at last my lady, my love?

The Wife recites:
Well, yes, but…

The Fisherman recites:
Don’t tell me!

The Wife recites:
Well, it’s fine to have riches, gowns and jewels, but I want power to rule and control the land.

The Fisherman recites:
Wife! I mean my lady, you can not be serious!

The Wife recites:
I am. Go and ask your fish for what I want! I command you to go now!

The Fisherman recites:
I will not! You are not being fair!! You are selfish and greedy and need nothing more.

The Wife recites:
You will do as I say, I am your lady, you must obey mean you poor fisherman.

The Narrator recites:
So the fisherman wearily walked down to the dock and called for the fish again. More of a moaning and groaning sound came from him as he sang his song.

The Fisherman recites:
Yoo-hoo, magic and beautiful fish!
Come out of the sea on this fine early day,
My wife has sent me to ask for a wish,
That will make her happier this very day.

The Narrator recites:
Out popped the head of the beautiful fish, annoyed and angry at the greed from the wife. She had never seen someone like her in her life.

The Fish recites:
I do not believe it! Now what does she want?

The Fisherman recites:
My dear fish friend, I am sorry to keep bothering you. My wife now wants to rule over everyone.

The Fish recites:
Enough is enough! Go home now dear man. Your wife is back in her hovel by the sea, with out cottage, mansion, or jewels. She is only a fisherman’s wife once again. That’s what happens when you ask for too much and are too greedy in your heart.

The Narrator recites:
The fisherman hung his head low he felt to blame. For all the shame that his wife had made.

The Fish recites:
Do not worry or even be sad my friend. Remember how happy the two of you were. Try to find that happiness and be happy again.

The Narrator recites:
The fish swam away and was never seen again. The fisherman ran home and saw his wife standing in front of his modest hovel. Many years passed. The fisherman and his wife were still living in the hovel happy as can be.

The Wife recites:
Husband, my love, it has been many years since you met that magic fish. Since then, nothing has changed. We live in the same hovel by the sea. You go fishing every day. I keep the hovel neat and clean. I cook and prepare all our fine meals for us. Guess what?

The Fisherman recites:
What my dear?

The Wife recites:
I do not want or need anything more. We have everything I could ever ask for.

The Narrator recites:
So if you are ever down by the sea of the docks of Aesry, look for a small hovel that is all neat and clean. You will find the very happy fisherman and his wife, enjoying and happy and wonderful life!