A dragon has been tyrannizing a town for four hundred years. As tribute, he demands huge herds of cattle, gardens full of vegetables and a virgin once a year. This time he has chosen Elsa, the only daughter of the archivist Charlemagne. For many years, no one has dared to question the dragon's rule. On the contrary, he is accepted as a useful evil, even respected and revered by many. However, the knight Lancelot, whom chance has brought to the city on his travels, challenges the dragon to battle. He receives little thanks for his efforts and when the dragon is defeated, a new ruler seizes power. "The Dragon" by Yevgeny Schwarz from 1943 is a parable of dictatorship and subservience that has portrayed many societies since it was written and reflects the spirit of the times here and now.