This screenplay tells the story of a vain jackdaw who hates her black color and envies the beautiful colorful feathers of peacocks. She decides to pretend to be a peacock by wearing loose peacock feathers. The peacocks accept her as one of their own at first. However, her disguise is discovered when her true feathers start molting. She is rejected by both the peacocks and her fellow jackdaws. The story serves as a lesson about the dangers of vanity and pretending to be something you are not.

1. The Vain Jackdaw --------------------------- Screenplay By: Jivanee S. Abril
Scene 1
Peacocks
Jackdaws
Jackdaw 1
Jackdaw2
Jackdaw3
Vain Jackdaw
Jackdaw 1
Vain Jackdaw
Jackdaw 2
Jackdaw 3
Jackdaw1
Vain Jackdaw
Jackdaw1
Jackdaw 2
Jackdaw 3
Vain Jackdaw
Jackdaw 2
Jackdaw 1
Jackdaw 2
Jackdaw 1
Jackdaw 3
(Praising them, dancing and showing off their beautiful feathers.)
(Gathered up, staring at the peacocks from a distance.)
Look at those peacocks, showing off their rainbow coloured feathers!
Praising themselves! Show offs!
They aren’t that beautiful in my opinion…
But… they looked like their having fun though.
Fun?! What’s your definition of fun? Dressing up like flowers?! (Mocks)
At least, they are being stared at and being praised, and they well- respected for
they looks so great.
That’s just plain jealousy!
Jealous, are you? There’s nothing to be jealous upon… We’re special in our own
ways.
You’re just getting tired of our usual colour, aren’t you?
I hate our colour! I’m getting tired of being black! I hate being ugly!!!
Ugly?! Dear oh dear! Maybe that’s just you…
(Faced Vain Jackdaw) Don’t mind her… You’re not ugly, no one is…
Besides, what counts is that if you’re beautiful there. (Pointed to the heart.)
But still…
No buts…. (Then smiled.)
Whatever happens even if she moults multiple times a year she won’t grow a
colourful feather. It’d still be black… And she’d still have the same ugly face she had
always hated as she said. You hatched to be a jackdaw, you’ll die a jackdaw.
Don’t say that…(She whispered to Jackdaw 1)
(Flew away.)
I think we should go now, watching those peacocks aren’t helping most of us.
Script: The Vain Jackdaw In Borrowed Feathers- Aesop- 1

2. The Vain Jackdaw --------------------------- Screenplay By: Jivanee S. Abril
Jackdaw 2
Vain Jackdaw
Jackdaw 2 & 3
I think so too.
You go ahead… I’m just going to stay here, watch the peacocks, and try to cool my
head.
(Flew away.)
Scene 2
Vain Jackdaw
Peacocks
Vain Jackdaw
Of all the beautiful birds that exists… Why on earth should I be a jackdaw? Black,
ugly, lonely, arrrrggggghhhh!…. Why can’t I be one of those peacocks? Colourful,
happy, beautiful, well- mannered. If I become a jackdaw I wouldn’t need to
constantly cool my head off to those ugly filthy, garbage mannered jackdaws..
Never grew colourful feather huh… Hmmmmm… Not for long…. (smiled)
(On the ground were loose feathers of peacocks.) I won’t grow one yes, but I
certainly can have one…. (She stuck all the loose feather on her and decided to
pretend like a peacock.)
(Still having fun.)
I’ll be one of them. I’ll be beautiful, well-respected and will be loved.(She whispered
to herself. Then approached the peacocks.) Hello my friends..
Scene 3
Peacocks
Peacock 1
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 2
Peacock 3
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 4
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 5
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 6
(Looked at each other. Walk nearer to the Vain Jackdaw.
(Looked at the Vain Jackdaw from top to bottom.) You look different my friend…
That’s because I’m a migrant peacock from a neighbouring country.
Oh, is that so? Well, you look like a peacock…
But she doesn’t sound like a peacock…
That’s just my accent….
Well, okay, so do you want to join us?
Of course I do I had been admiring all of you from a distant.
Admiring us? Why? We all look astonishingly beautiful.
Ahmmmm, what I mean is that, you’re all together and I’m all alone.
Not anymore, you’re with us now. A new peacock is in our group. Let’s celebrate!!!
Scene 4
Script: The Vain Jackdaw In Borrowed Feathers- Aesop- 2

3. The Vain Jackdaw --------------------------- Screenplay By: Jivanee S. Abril
Peacock 1
Peacock 2
Peacock 1
Peacock 3
Peacock 4
Peacock 1 & 3
Peacock 2
Peacock 1
Peacock 3
Peacock 1
Peacock 4
Peacock 5
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 6
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 5
Peacock 6
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 5
Vain Jackdaw
(The Vain Jackdaw and the peacocks all partied together.)
(Whispered in one of the peacocks.) That migrant peacock, is just too odd.
Are you insecured? (Laughs a bit.)
Of course I’m not, she’s just a new peacock that’s why everyone’s attention is on
her.
You know, I think that new peacock is keeping a secret.
Are you also being insecured? Pity her, she’s just new here, she doesn’t have friends
yet.
I’m not insecured!
Peacocks nowadays,… We peacocks already have the finest and most vibrant
colours, the most beautiful feathers and yet we develop jealousy among ourselves…
I know something’s wrong with that new peacock…
And we’ll know it in no time. Soon…
Very soon….
Whatever that is you’re planning, please do remain composed. Show proper
manners.
(On the other side two real peacocks are mingling with the Vain Jackdaw.)
Does all the peacocks in your place sound that pleasant?
Pleasant?
Although we peacocks are beautiful…
Ravishing!
Yes… (Smiled.)
We still have this unpleasant sound we produce…
There’s no such thing as unpleasant when it comes to peacocks, to US peacocks!
Oh, you’re moulting dear!
What?! (Picking up the loose feathers.) Ahmmmmm… I really need to go… (Then ran
off.)
Script: The Vain Jackdaw In Borrowed Feathers- Aesop- 3

4. The Vain Jackdaw --------------------------- Screenplay By: Jivanee S. Abril
Peacock 5 & 6 Weird… (Then looked at each other.)
Scene 5
Jackdaw 2
Jackdaw 3
Jackdaw 1
Jackdaw 2 & 3
Jackdaw 1
Jackdaw 2 & 3
Jackdaw 1
Jackdaw 2
Jackdaw 3
Jackdaw 1
Jackdaw 2 & 3
Have you heard the rumour about the new migrant peacock?
Yeah, heard it from the other birds, they were chirping it out this morning. Do we
need to care?
Apparently, that new migrant peacock is someone we used to know.
(Looked at each other.) Who?
Who do you think so? The only jackdaw dreaming to become a peacock…
Her?!
I don’t know how she’s hiding it.
She neglected our breed. She neglected us.
She’ll go back to us, once the peacocks finds that she’s just a vain jackdaw in
borrowed feathers.
Would we be accepting her? (Smirked.)
Never…
Scene 6
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 1
Vain Jackdaw
Peacock 3
Peacock 1
Peacock 3
Peacocks
Vain Jackdaw
(Putting the loose feathers on again.) I’ve gone this far already no turning back. I’m
a peacock now, I will never go back on being a jackdaw.
We guessed right!
(Surprised, trying to explain herself.)
Eugh! You’re a filthy jackdaw.
I thought something’s wrong with you!
And we’re right… (Shouts.) Hey everybody! The new migrant peacock here! Is not a
peacock at all!!!
(The peacocks gathered.)(ADLIBS)(Pulled the feathers of the vain jackdaw and
pushed her away.)
Please,… let me explain… I beg of you..
Scene 7
(ADLIBS)
Script: The Vain Jackdaw In Borrowed Feathers- Aesop- 4

5. The Vain Jackdaw --------------------------- Screenplay By: Jivanee S. Abril
Vain Jackdaw (Went back to the other jackdaws.) (But she was not accepted.)
Script: The Vain Jackdaw In Borrowed Feathers- Aesop- 5