Encore: The Princess and the Egg – WBUR

Whens the last time you made a promise?

Maybe you gave your word that youd help wash the dinner dishes. Or you borrowed a friends book, and told her youd return it by the end of the week.

When we make promises, were giving the message that well do what we say.

In this favorite tale from Circle Round Season 2, we meet a princess who makes an important promise. But when she tries to keep that promise, shes thrown for a real loop!

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Our tale is called The Princess and the Egg. Youll hear versions of this story in many places, from Portugal and Denmark in Europe, to the Mediterranean world and Middle East, to the island nation of Haiti!

Voices in this episode include Luis Negron, Jeff Song and Amber Stevens West. Grown-ups, watch for Amber on the CBS sitcom, Happy Together, as well as the Starz comedy, Run the World.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

This episode was originally released on October 23, 2018.

Coloring Page

ADULTS! PRINT THISso everyone can color while listening. Were also keeping an album so share your picture on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRound. We'd love to see it! To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Things To Think About After Listening

Think of a promise youve made.

What was your promise?

And who did you make it to?

Now, find someone you like to have fun with a family member or friend and tell that person all about your promise and whether you did, indeed, follow through!

Musical Spotlight: Harpsichord

The stringed keyboard instrument known as the harpsichord is shaped like a grand piano, and most likely was developed in the late Middle Ages.

The harpsichord can have one keyboard or two; either way, when you hit a key, a small piece of material known as a plectrum plucks a metal string and voila! You have sound. The problem is, you dont have control over how loud or soft that sound is, so when the more dynamic piano came along, that more modern instrument pretty much superseded the harpsichord. Still, youll hear plenty of the harpsichords charming, elegant, even formal sound in renaissance and baroque music and in 1960s baroque pop songs by such bands as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Script:

NARRATOR: All her life Princess Pearl dreamed of traveling the world. She wanted to see new places, try new foods, and meet new friends.

But what she didnt want was to have people bowing down to her at every port of call, just because she was royalty. So she swore that when she finally got to embark on her adventure, she would never wear her crown. No one would know she was a princess.

Once Princess Pearl finished all of her schooling, the King and Queen surprised their daughter with a swift, sturdy sailboat to whisk her around the high seas, and a brand new atlas, so she wouldnt lose her way.

PEARL: Oh, Mother! Father! Thank you for these gifts! I cant wait to start my journey. I promise Ill send you a letter from every port I visit!

NARRATOR: But Princess Pearl was not able to fulfill that promise.

On her very first night at sea, do you know what happened? A massive storm blew in, and gusts of wind and rain tossed her sailboat this way and that!

Pearl clung to the boats ropes as wave after wave frothed and foamed across the deck. The next thing she knew, it was morning and she and her ship were washed up on an empty beach.

PEARL: Well, this trip isnt off to a very good start. (as she looks at boat) Yikes - look at this boat! What a wreck. I should thank my lucky stars it got me to shore!

NARRATOR: Pearl pulled off her soggy shoes and jumped down from the splintered remains of her sailboat. As her bare feet touched the soft, warm sand, the princess looked around her. Her heart leapt when she spotted a quaint seaside town in the distance.

PEARL: Oh boy! Civilization!

NARRATOR: Pearl sprinted across the beach. When she got to town, she stepped inside the first establishment she saw: a tiny little bed and breakfast. Thats a small hotel, or inn, where people can spend the night and enjoy a nice morning meal.

The innkeeper narrowed his eyes as Pearl entered. He wrinkled his nose as he beheld her torn, drenched clothing and bare feet - not to mention the seashells and seaweed sticking out of her soaking-wet hair!

INNKEEPER: May I help you?

NARRATOR: Pearl flashed her warmest smile.

PEARL: Why, yes, you may - thank you! Do you serve breakfast? Im so hungry I could eat a life preserver!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper sniffed.

INNKEEPER: Well, it just so happens we do serve breakfast... given that were a bed and breakfast and all. But were about to close the kitchen.

NARRATOR: One thing you should know about the innkeeper: he was a very greedy man. So although the kitchen was closing, he suddenly realized he had one last chance to make a few extra bucks. He softened his tone.

INNKEEPER: Look. I tell you what. Ill have the cook whip up something for you - something fast and simple. How about... a scrambled egg?

NARRATOR: Pearls mouth watered.

PEARL: Oh - that would be lovely! My stomachs rumbling so loudly, youd think Ive got an orchestra in there! Not a very good one... the timpani is way too loud and the tuba is hopelessly out of tune... but -

INNKEEPER: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Have a seat. One scrambled egg, coming right up.

NARRATOR: As you can imagine, that one scrambled egg was the best scrambled egg Pearl had ever tasted! Within seconds, her plate was empty. She raised her hand and called the innkeeper over.

INNKEEPER: What now?

PEARL: Well, first, thank you for the egg, sir. It was delicious! But, you see, when I rushed over here for breakfast, I kind of forgot one teensy-weeny little thing. I dont have any money.

NARRATOR: The innkeepers eyebrows shot up so high, they disappeared into his hairline.

INNKEEPER: Come again?

PEARL: I said, I dont have any money. You see, yesterday, I set out on a sailing trip around the world. Then this massive storm blew in, and I was sure I was a goner. But the winds blew me to your lovely town... and when I came to your inn for breakfast, I didnt even think about the fact that my money everything I own, actually got lost at sea!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper took a deep breath.

INNKEEPER: Okay So how, then, do you propose paying for that one scrambled egg? It costs two gold coins, you know!

PEARL: I know. And I promise: I will return to this town, and when I do, you will get your money.

NARRATOR: The innkeeper glanced again at Pearls bare feet and soggy clothing and the seashells and seaweed sticking out of her hair.

INNKEEPER: And why should I believe youll actually come back and pay up?

NARRATOR: Pearl shrugged.

PEARL: Lets just say I have some savings back home. Thanks again for the egg, sir. Have a good day!

NARRATOR: As Pearl waltzed out of the bed and breakfast and onto the street, the innkeeper grumbled to himself.

INNKEEPER: I have some savings back home. Sure ya do! Ugh. What a waste of a perfectly good egg. I bet Ill never see that ragamuffin again!

NARRATOR: As it turns out, the innkeeper was right and very, very wrong.

NARRATOR: What do you think will happen? Will the princess come back to settle her debt?

Well find out, after a quick break.

[MIDROLL]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. Im Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called The Princess and the Egg." When we left off, Princess Pearl had promised a greedy innkeeper that shed come back and pay for one scrambled egg. Her sailboat had crashed in the innkeepers quaint seaside town, so she wasnt able to give him the two gold coins necessary to cover the meal.

After her shipwreck, Princess Pearl eventually found her way back to her own kingdom. The king and queen hugged their daughter extra tight when she got home. Then they surprised her with an even bigger boat, with even more sails so that she could try again with her world travels.

And she did.

Several months into her journey, she found herself back at the quaint seaside town: the one where shed been shipwrecked and where she had a debt to settle with the owner of the bed and breakfast.

But this time when she stepped into the cafe, she was not barefoot; on her feet she wore a pair of fine leather boots. Her clothing was well-tailored and trim. And her hair wasnt disheveled and strewn with sea life; it was tucked neatly beneath a green velvet cap.

As you can imagine, the innkeeper did not recognize her.

INNKEEPER: May I help you?

PEARL: Yes, I think you may! Several months ago, I got into a shipwreck and was unable to pay you for one scrambled egg: a humble breakfast that cost two gold coins. I promised Id come back and pay for that delicious meal. And... here I am!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper stared at Pearl with disbelief. Was this really the same ragamuffin from all those months ago? She looked so fancy, so elegant!

PEARL: And further, sir, to thank you for your generosity and your patience I intend to pay you double. No - make it quadruple. So, instead of two gold coins, that would be, what, eight?

NARRATOR: The innkeeper thought for a moment. Why should this prosperous woman pay a mere eight gold coins when obviously she could pay so much more?

INNKEEPER: Im sorry. Eight gold coins, you say? No, no! You owe me far more than eight gold coins.

NARRATOR: Pearl was confused.

PEARL: I do?

INNKEEPER: You bet you do! Think about it. If I hadnt served you that one scrambled egg, that egg would have hatched into a chick! And then that chick would have grown up and laid eggs and hatched a dozen more chicks! And each one of those chicks would have gone on to lay eggs and hatch a dozen more chicks! You see where Im going with this?

NARRATOR: Pearl shook her head.

PEARL: Um, Im not sure I -

INNKEEPER: Long story short... you dont owe me eight gold coins. You owe me

NARRATOR: He pulled out a pencil, grabbed a napkin, and began scribbling.

INNKEEPER: (to himself, as he scribbles his calculations on the napkin) Lets see multiply this times this, add up that and that Okay uh-huh alright. You owe me eight-million gold coins.

PEARL: Im sorry eight-million?!?!

INNKEEPER: Yup! Eight-million! I mean, give or take a few thousand. I rounded down. Figured Id give you a bit of a discount.

NARRATOR: Pearl could hardly believe what she was hearing.

PEARL: But sir, I cant pay you eight-million gold coins!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper scowled.

INNKEEPER: Really? You cant pay?

NARRATOR: He gestured toward Pearls fancy clothes and shoes.

INNKEEPER: ...or you wont pay?

NARRATOR: Pearls mind raced. She reached into her purse.

PEARL: Look. What do you say I give you a hundred gold coins and we call it a deal.

NARRATOR: The innkeeper fixed Pearl with a steely gaze. He crossed his arms.

INNKEEPER: Nope. Eight-million gold coins, or I see you in court. Tomorrow.

NARRATOR: Pearl sighed.

PEARL: Alright, then. See you in court.

NARRATOR: As Pearl sat down to dinner that night in another hotel, blocks away from the bed and breakfast she was so distraught could hardly eat. She picked at her boiled peas took half-hearted nibbles of her steamed corn and by the time dessert was served a warm bowl of roasted chestnuts she couldnt even take a bite.

She stared at her plate of food, wondering what in the world she would do tomorrow in court.

Then, suddenly, it hit her.

PEARL: Ive got it! The answer is in the peas! And the corn! And the chestnuts! Id better get some sleep; tomorrow is going to be a big day.

Go here to see the original:

Encore: The Princess and the Egg - WBUR