Characters Deer Raksha Seyva Dhani Other Wolves Bagheera Akela

Home , Akela (The Jungle Book), Bagheera, Baloo, Kaa, Mowgli, Raksha (The Jungle Book)

Characters Deer Raksha Seyva Dhani Other Wolves Bagheera Akela Shere Khan Gray Mowgli Keva Fatin Baloo Monkey 1 Monkey 2 Monkey 3 Monkey 4 Kaa Asa Villager 1 Villager 2 Child 1 Child 2 Toomai

Scene 1 (Stage is set with small pots of fake greenery. There are also two ‘rocks’ onstage; one being Council Rock, the other, Bagheera’s Perch. A DEER enters, gracefully. Music begins softly as the deer moves from plant to plant, dancing. The music changes ominously. Quickly, the WOLF PACK surrounds the DEER. The WOLVES circle in on the deer, blocking it from view. DEER exits by the time the pack opens up again. A rustling from the bushes. The pack turns as one.) RAKSHA. Who moves within our grounds who does not use the Stranger’s Hunting Call? BAGHEERA. (Entering SR, carrying a bundle) We be of one blood, ye and I. RAKSHA. Bagheera. BAGHEERA. I tell you now, return to your den. It is not safe out tonight. RAKSHA. What is it? BAGHEERA. Shere Khan is out hunting. RAKSHA. On our grounds? BAGHEERA. He will not obey the Law of the Jungle. He is lame and wishes for easier prey. SEYVA. Our buck will be no easier for a lame tiger to catch. BAGHEERA. It is not buck he hunts tonight ... but man. RAKSHA. Man? SEYVA. In the jungle? BAGHEERA. Travelers. And their kin (nodding toward the bundle.) SEYVA. Bagheera. BAGHEERA. (Looking only at RAKSHA) I ask only that you take the cub with you. Just until Shere Khan moves on. RAKSHA. And you believe he will be safe then? BAGHEERA. Not in the jungle. I will take him back to the Man Village. RAKSHA. And when do you believe he will move on? BAGHEERA. Within the season. Shere Khan does not stay in one spot long. RAKSHA. (After a moment’s pause) We will take him. To Council Rock. SEYVA. Raksha— RAKSHA. Should the rest of the Free People approve of him ... I believe Akela will allow him to remain with us. BAGHEERA. I thank you, Raksha. RAKSHA. Will you be coming with us? BAGHEERA. I will join you at Council Rock. I do not foresee all of the Free People being as willing as you are. Perhaps they could use a little encouragement. RAKSHA. I suspect that you are right. (They remain looking at each other, Raksha taking the bundle, as the rest of the WOLF pack fills the stage, AKELA jumping on to Council Rock. BAGHEERA jumps onto their perch.) AKELA. It is time, once again for the looking-over of young into our midst. Let no cub go unseen (Looking directly at RAKSHA, with MOWGLI in her arms and the CUBS at her feet). You all know the Law. (Looking around at the other wolves) Those you accept tonight shall be your kin. To harm one of them would be a great evil. (Pause) Now look - look well, O Wolves. (The WOLVES begin to move, looking over the CUBS) SEYVA. (Gesturing to the bundle in RAKSHA’s arms) This is ridiculous, Akela. Man cub does not need looking-over. What would we want with a man cub? SHERE KHAN. (Entering quietly from SL) If you don’t mind, I might pose the same question. (The WOLVES turn as one, hackles raised.) AKELA. And if we do mind? SHERE KHAN. Council Rock is free to all people is it not? BAGHEERA. (A warning) Free to the Free People, Shere Khan. SHERE KHAN. And you, Bagheera? Feeling very canine today? RAKSHA. Bagheera is one of the Seeonee. He is our cubs’ teacher. The same cannot be said about yourself. SHERE KHAN. Oh, you can make an exception just this once, can you not? AKELA. What do you want, Shere Khan? SHERE KHAN. (Growling) You know what I want. I want my vengeance, and you took him from me. RAKSHA. Your vengeance? Is that what you call cubs these days? SHERE KHAN. That is no cub! That is man. Man does not belong in the jungle ... it is Law. RAKSHA. Do not speak of the Law you do not follow! AKELA. Raksha ... RAKSHA. The greatest evil the Law seeks to prevent is killing young before they themselves have had their first kill. Yet, I have a strong suspicion that that is all you’re here for. SHERE KHAN. (Ignoring RAKSHA, looking only at AKELA) Give me the cub and we avoid a fight, Akela. AKELA. (As the WOLVES growl) Peace, Wolves. The tiger knows who runs this part of the jungle. I’m sure he doesn’t intend to make threats. SHERE KHAN. Oh, don’t I? AKELA. Come now, Shere Khan. You do not expect us to believe you would take on the whole pack for one measly child, do you? SHERE KHAN. He is not yours! RAKSHA. Nor is he yours! BAGHEERA. (Stepping off his perch) If I do recall, when there is a dispute over a cub, he may be bought into the pack with an offering. (Looking around at the wolves) A bull, freshly caught just a mile east of the river. But only if you’ll take him. DHANI. Oh, what’s the harm in a man cub anyway? AKELA. Wolves, do any of you decline this bargain? (It is silent, though SEYVA looks irritated) Then he is ours. Shere Khan, you must go now. SHERE KHAN. Why do you want him? He will only cause you trouble— RAKSHA. And you vow to give us all trouble! SHERE KHAN. Do my burns not remind you of what grown men will do? In revenge for the man that made me lame when I was no older than your cubs themselves, Raksha; I vow to kill him! You cannot keep him alive forever! Soon he will be man and man cannot be protected from the jungle. RAKSHA. He will not need protection then! He will learn to run with the pack. The pack that you, Shere Khan, are too cowardly to attack. He will learn to hunt, and mark my words, by vowing to hunt him, you have chosen your downfall. This cub will grow to be man and he will hunt you down. Now leave here before we finish you off for him! (SHERE KHAN takes a threatening step forward. The WOLVES do as well, and he freezes.) SHERE KHAN. I have no wish to quarrel with the Free People. I trust you will see reason eventually. I will go. Out of respect for the Law. But I will be back. (He starts to back away then turns over his shoulder) In the meantime, do ask yourselves; how many lives is one man cub worth? (He exits SL. It is silent for a moment.) AKELA. (AKELA relaxes slowly, eyeing MOWGLI) We are bargaining for trouble with that one. BAGHEERA. Shere Khan brings trouble wherever he goes. If it was not this matter, it would be another. DHANI. We must get the bull now, Akela. I foresee that tiger on his way there already. AKELA. Yes, Dhani. Go, and make haste. (The WOLVES run off SL with the bundle. AKELA and BAGHEERA remain on stage. AKELA gets off his rock.) Shere Khan was right about one thing. Man cannot be protected in the jungle. BAGHEERA. No one can be truly protected anywhere. This cub may become a great help in times of need; for no one can hope to lead the Pack forever. (BAGHEERA looks at AKELA for a moment before they nod to each other, AKELA exiting SR, BAGHEERA exiting SL.) Scene 2 (GRAY, one of the WOLF CUBS, and MOWGLI, come running on SR.) MOWGLI. It’s not fair, Gray! You have twice as many legs as I do! GRAY. No I don’t! Yours are just shaped funny. They look like the Monkey-People’s. RAKSHA. (Entering from SL, coming to stand near Council Rock) Enough, Gray. How many times have I told you we do not speak of the Bandar- log? GRAY. A lot, Mama. RAKSHA. And why is that? GRAY. (Reciting proudly for his mother) The Bandar-log are the most lawless people of the jungle. RAKSHA. (Unimpressed) Very good. Now remember that next time, before you compare your brother to one. GRAY. Fine. Then you look just like the Man People we see down in their village! Carrying their Red Flower plant back and forth between them. RAKSHA. Gray! You don’t go near the Man Village, do you? (MOWGLI glances at his mother, making sure she is not watching him. Then he pulls a curved piece of bark and long string from the potted plant and sits down. He takes a sip from the bark, as if it is filled with water.) GRAY. Not near it ... but the Red Flower is so bright! You can almost see it from the Seeonee. (Plopping down on the ground, next to MOWGLI who is knotting long pieces of grass together.) RAKSHA. It is also very hot. Stay far away from it. And from men. Understand? GRAY. I know. (BAGHEERA enters SL, jumping onto his perch. RAKSHA goes over to speak with him. GRAY leans toward MOWGLI) but you do look like one of them. MOWGLI. I am one of them. GRAY. (Reproachfully) Of course you’re not. You’re one of us. (KEVA and FATIN, the two other CUBS, come running on SR.) At least you beat Keva and Fatin. KEVA. It wasn’t our fault! FATIN. We got distracted in the valley. (They tumble to the ground where MOWGLI and GRAY sit.) KEVA. Didn’t you see it? FATIN. (Making a face) That mean ol’ owl that always hoots at us when we pass. GRAY. (RAKSHA finishes speaking with BAGHEERA and comes to sit next to the CUBS) Doesn’t hoot at me. RAKSHA. If you mean Nooma, she’s not a “mean old owl.” Have you ever considered she might not like it when you chase her tree to tree? FATIN. (Thinking) Oh. Yeah. RAKSHA. And you two must to learn to run as a pack. You’re getting too old now to run off in the Jungle by yourselves. What are you doing Mowgli? MOWGLI. (Putting the grass and basket down) Nothing. RAKSHA. Mowgli. (MOWGLI looking down and holding the rope and bark up) What are they? MOWGLI. (Holding up the bark) I made this to hold water. And this (holding up the string of grass) I thought I could tie to it and make it easier to carry. (RAKSHA just looks at him and he sighs, looking down) I know, I’m not supposed to use tricks. RAKSHA. That is not what I was going to say. As a matter of fact, I think some of these tricks might be rather useful, but don’t tell Akela I said so. Do be careful with the dry grass in the heat, though, Mowgli. It can be dangerous. And Bagheera needs to see you. MOWGLI. Mama! Why? I already did my lessons with him for the day. RAKSHA. That’s not what he says. MOWGLI. But Mama ... RAKSHA. I have no control over it, Mowgli. He is your teacher. (Standing. KEVA and FATIN stand with her.) MOWGLI. Why don’t Gray and the others have to come, too? KEVA. It’s because we already know everything. RAKSHA. It is not. You know you have more to learn than they do. Now come on, cubs, it’s time to hunt again. (She leads them off, chattering, SR. GRAY shrugs to MOWGLI as they stand, and exits with them. MOWGLI hides the string and bark back into the potted plant and walks slowly over to BAGHEERA.) MOWGLI. (Dispiritedly) Hi, Bagheera. BAGHEERA. What is the matter, Child? MOWGLI. Oh, nothing. (He sits at the base of BAGHEERA’s rock. After a moment:) I just wanted to run with the others, that’s all. BAGHEERA. And did you? MOWGLI. (Glancing at him) Did I what? BAGHEERA. Did you run with the others? MOWGLI. Well, a little bit, earlier. But— BAGHEERA. No, Mowgli. I mean, did you really run with the others? MOWGLI. Some of the time. I use the trees though, too. (Jumping in before BAGHEERA can reply) I know I’m supposed to stay low but when I use the trees I’m so much faster. If I used them the whole way, I could have beaten Gray. BAGHEERA. So you haven’t beaten Gray yet? MOWGLI. Well, no, but I beat Keva and Fatin again. BAGHEERA. (BAGHEERA sighs) Keva and Fatin are going to realize soon enough the importance of running with the pack, and when they do you’re going to be left behind. MOWGLI. But I know the importance of running with the pack! I’m just not as fast as they are— BAGHEERA. Exactly. I asked to meet with you today - not to teach you more Law - but to speak with you about ... other matters. MOWGLI. (Looking up, sharply) We’re not doing Law today? BAGHEERA. Well, I suppose it goes with the Law, (MOWGLI looks down again) but it is grimmer than just practice. MOWGLI. What is it? BAGHEERA. Shere Khan is walking in the Seeonee once again. (MOWGLI glances up) There are rumors of his coming nearer each day. MOWGLI. So? He’s come near here before. He won’t attack us. BAGHEERA. And why do you think that? MOWGLI. Akela said— BAGHEERA. Akela ... is growing old. Soon he will miss his kill. Do you remember what happens when the Leader misses his kill? MOWGLI. (Dully, as he has heard this many times before) He is replaced. BAGHEERA. Do not take this lightly, Little Brother. Many of the wolves that looked you over when you were brought into the Seeonee are old, too. The tide is beginning to turn against us. In little time, you will be a man. MOWGLI. I’ve tried not to, though. BAGHEERA. (Gently) Mowgli, you cannot help it. Even some of the wolves that looked you over feel man does not belong with pack. MOWGLI. (Jumping up) What is man that he should not run with his siblings? I was born in the Jungle! (Beginning to pace) I have obeyed the Law of the Jungle, and I’ve pulled thorns from the paws of every wolf in our pack. BAGHEERA. (Standing from the rock) It is because of this that they fear you. You have many things they do not. You have abilities I do not. MOWGLI. (Waving this off) No one fears me like they fear you, Bagheera. BAGHEERA. Not in some ways. In others, more so. MOWGLI. They can’t just turn me out! BAGHEERA. (Looking at him sadly, with sympathy) I fear being turned out may be better than other things. (As MOWGLI looks at him, fearful and sad) It is time that we go. MOWGLI. (Softly) Go? BAGHEERA. To the Man Village. MOWGLI. (Heartbroken) The Man Village? BAGHEERA. (Sadly yet resolutely) I will take you there. They will take you in. MOWGLI. But you always said to stay away from the Man Village. BAGHEERA. I know what I said. MOWGLI. What about the stone throwing, and the traps? BAGHEERA. They won’t try to trap you when you are among them. MOWGLI. And the Red Flower? BAGHEERA. Never play with it. MOWGLI. But Bagheera— BAGHEERA. Mowgli, do you not understand? Shere Khan has vowed to kill you! From the day you were bought into the pack— MOWGLI. By you. BAGHEERA. (Painfully, looking down) By me. I don’t want any more arguments. It is time to say your goodbyes. (RAKSHA and the CUBS have entered quietly SR. The other WOLVES begin to enter SL.) GRAY. (Quietly) Mowgli? AKELA. Shere Khan is closer. RAKSHA. Let him stay! He has done no harm! SEYVA. I agree. Let him stay so Shere Khan can take him himself -- you know the rampage the tiger goes on should he lose that cub again. RAKSHA. How dare you— BAGHEERA. Raksha. You know it has to be. RAKSHA. It does not have to be! We can fight him— SEYVA. You would be willing to sacrifice half your own pack for one Man Cub? (Other wolves rise in argument) AKELA. That is enough, Wolves. This child was bought into the pack at Council Rock years ago. Many of you may be too young to remember, but that does not negate his legality. He may stay if he chooses to stay. However, I relent that may not be the safest choice for him or the rest of the Seeonee. What do you say, Mowgli? SEYVA. He is man! Why care what he says? Let us keep him and keep away Shere Khan’s wrath! RAKSHA. Are you all afraid of a cat? SEYVA. Do not play, Raksha, you know very well what that cat can do! In my view, it is not worth it to die for the cub bound to be eaten anyway. RAKSHA. He is part of your pack! SEYVA. And how is that? AKELA. He was bought into it. DHANI. By a bull from 10 years ago. SEYVA. Who cares for bones ten years old? RAKSHA. He is my son, and he will not be cast out! SEYVA. Do you stand against the rest of us then, Raksha? AKELA. Do you, Seyva, stand against me, Leader of the Pack? SEYVA. You won’t be Leader for much longer though, will you? AKELA. It is your right to challenge me here and now. Do you intend to do so? DHANI. Don’t be foolish, Seyva. It will take more than you to overthrow Akela. SEYVA. At this point maybe, but how long will that last? How long before he misses his kill? RAKSHA. You dare say such things about the Leader of the Free People as he stands before you? This speaks of treason, Seyva. AKELA. As the Free People you may speak how you like. I do not disagree that I am nearing the end of my Leadership. However ... I would like to offer you a deal. (Pause) Allow the Man Cub to make his own choice, and I will not put up a fight when my time comes. That will save the Pack at least three lives. (The WOLVES pause) SEYVA. Maybe so, but only if we all make it to that time. If Shere Khan comes tonight, who knows how many will live through the morning? (The WOLVES jump back into arguing before MOWGLI interrupts.) MOWGLI. I’m leaving! (Shouting to get the WOLVES attention) Hey, listen to me! I’m leaving. You have turned me out. As your brother, you have turned me out. I will leave and you can place all the blame on me. Tell Shere Khan I escaped from you to the Man Village, but do not harm Akela, even when his time comes. He has been kind to me. I go from you now, to my own people. But I will be more merciful than you are. Because I was all but your brother in blood, I promise that when I am among men I will not betray you as you have betrayed me— RAKSHA. Mowgli ... MOWGLI. (Voice breaking) No, Mama. I don’t want anybody to get hurt. RAKSHA. But— BAGHEERA. Raksha. We knew this would come one day. It’s the only place he can be safe. GRAY. Mowgli ... MOWGLI. (Turning to the cubs) You will not forget me? KEVA and FATIN. Never. GRAY. Not while there is a trail to follow. RAKSHA. Mowgli. (Walking slowly up to MOWGLI, looking him fiercely in the eye.) You are my son. No matter what. Come back soon. With Shere Khan’s hide. MOWGLI. (Only to RAKSHA) I will come back. (Louder to the rest of the Pack) Do not forget me. Tell the jungle never to forget me! (He exits off SL, BAGHEERA following behind. The WOLVES exit SR, turning Council Rock 90 degrees.) Scene 3 (MOWGLI runs on SR. He slows to a stop, and sits down on the rock.) MOWGLI. (Mumbling to himself, kicking his feet) Just a man ... have things they do not ... who cares what he says ... (He gives a frustrated cry, kicking his feet against the rock when a voice echoes from below him) BALOO. Um, excuse me! (MOWGLI jumps to his feet on the rock, looking around) Could you stop the pounding? Some of us are trying to nap after all. MOWGLI. (Calling out the Master Words) We be of one blood, you and I! BALOO. (As he crawls out of the rock/cave) Oh, be we? That’s nice to hear. MOWGLI. But ... those were the Master Words. Aren’t you going to— BALOO. (Glancing between Mowgli and a flask of honey on his hip) Look, kid, it’s been a long day. Actually, it’s been a rather short day, I’ve been sleeping most of it ... but, well, you know how it is ... when you ... when you ... (He tips the flask of honey upside down, nothing comes out. He turns to squint at MOWGLI) who did you say you were? MOWGLI. I’m Mowgli of the Seeonee. BALOO. Oh, don’t tell me. You’re from the Wolf Pack, aren’t you? You smell just like them. I won’t lie and say it’s a really great smell but-wow. What an honor. Honestly, to meet a Seeonee Wolf Pack Kid, is just ... beyond words. MOWGLI. Actually, I’m not part of the Wolf Pack anymore. They kicked me out. BALOO. Hmm. Sore spot is it? (MOWGLI looks up at him, but Baloo takes no notice) So where are you off to now? MOWGLI. I’m supposed to go to the Man Village with Bagheera, but I ran away from him. BALOO. No kidding. Running away from a Panther ... not many people live to tell that tale. Now, don’t want to go to the Man Village, huh? Well maybe we can work something out. MOWGLI. (Suspicious) Who are you? BALOO. I’m Baloo. Your new best friend. It is just so lucky that you happened to bang on my cave today because I am going to help you out! MOWGLI. You are? BALOO. Yes, Man Cub. I am. You must be hungry. I know myself running away from a panther can be pretty ... hungering. Well, actually, I know from watching other animals run and it ... Well, it makes me hungry just thinking about it. Now, being a wolf, you probably eat a lot of meat, huh? MOWGLI. (Shrugs) I’m not a real good hunter. BALOO. Hmm. I see. But can you ... climb? MOWGLI. Yeah. Why? BALOO. Have you ever tried “honey?” MOWGLI. Honey? BALOO. Oh, God! It really is the best thing ... I’m telling you. Only thing is ... I need some help getting it. Why don’t you get us some honey ... like, maybe a lot of it, you know, to share ... and we can talk about you staying in the Jungle. MOWGLI. Where would I stay? BALOO. Well ... there is a real nice neighboring cave to mine. Think about it. Instead of leaving the Jungle, which is your home, is it not? You could lounge around all day, eating honey, hanging out with with good ol’ Baloo here. What do you say? MOWGLI. I don’t know, there’s a tiger after me, too. BALOO. A tiger! Wow. You’re day is really heading downhill. Well, how about we solve one problem at a time. Start with the honey, finish with the tiger. BAGHEERA. (Calling off stage as he runs on SR) Mowgli! Mowgli! (Stops as he sees BALOO and MOWGLI standing on the rock.) Oh, great ... BALOO. Well if it isn’t my old pal, Bagheera. MOWGLI. (Looking between them) You know each other? BAGHEERA. (Ignoring MOWGLI) Baloo. (Turning to face him, he gives a brief nod, then striding past him, nodding to MOWGLI) Come on, Mowgli. Let’s go. BALOO. Now wait just one minute. Bagheera. It just so happens our young friend may prefer to do something other than run. I myself try to avoid it when I can ... BAGHEERA. (Crossing past BALOO to SL) Come on, Mowgli. BALOO. (Turning around to face BAGHEERA) Bagheera, have a heart. This kid has had what sounds to me like an exhausting day— BAGHEERA. (Wearily) Oh? BALOO. ... And maybe a little rest would be just the thing you both need. Maybe a nap, a little meal— BAGHEERA. Hmm. And I don’t suppose this meal would have anything to do with Mowgli climbing into a bees nest, would it? (Two monkey arms reach out from behind the rock and quickly drag MOWGLI offstage) BALOO. Well, if that’s the way the chips fell, I wouldn’t be quite opposed— BAGHEERA. I think this has been enough of a ... rest. BALOO. Same old Bagheera, knows best about everything, don’t you? BAGHEERA. You don’t understand. Mowgli is in danger. Not that I need to explain anything to you. BALOO. Well it just so happens the kid already told me. A tiger’s hunting him, huh? BAGHEERA. Not just any tiger. Shere Khan. BALOO. Oh. BAGHEERA. Now you see why we need to go. So, please, don’t make this any more difficult than it already is. (Turning to face SL again) Let’s go, Mowgli. (He sees the deserted rock and looks back and forth around the stage) Mowgli? (A monkey sticks its face out from behind the rock, sticking its tongue out and running off stage. BAGHEERA chases after it with an aggravated cry) The Bandar-log! Mowgli! BALOO. Oh no, monkeys are not fun to reason with. I mean, you should see them when they get stung ... BAGHEERA. (Running back onstage) He’s gone! They’ve disappeared in the trees. Baloo, which way is the Monkey temple from here? BALOO. Bagheera, King of the Jungle, as some say, doesn’t know which direction the Monkey Temple is? BAGHEERA. Baloo! BALOO. Sorry, I was just surprised. I’m pretty sure it’s about, um, a mile or so -- well maybe two – okay, three at the most ... BAGHEERA. Where? BALOO. North of here. (BAGHEERA runs off SL. BALOO has his eyes closed then smacks his forehead with his palm with a little laugh) Nope, my bad, I’m almost positive it’s northwest. (Opening his eyes) Hey! Bagheera? (He does a slow jog off SL) I told you I wasn’t really a runner. Scene 4 (Back at Council Rock. AKELA sits on the rock; the WOLVES surround them, engaged in other conversations. KEVA and FATIN play. GRAY sits alone, with the grass MOWGLI had knotted in his lap.) RAKSHA. (Sitting nearby) Gray. Why aren’t you playing with the others? GRAY. (Shrugs) It’s no fun without Mowgli. RAKSHA. What’s that you’ve got? (RAKSHA takes the grass and sighs, putting it back in the plant pot) I miss him, too. But he’s safe now. (All the wolves straighten and bristle at the same time, turning to face SL. RAKSHA stands) Cubs, get back to the den. (They hurry off before SHERE KHAN enters, slowly, looking around.) SHERE KHAN. Where is he? AKELA. Who is it you mean, Shere Khan? SHERE KHAN. I am not in the mood for games tonight, Akela. Where is the man cub? AKELA. If you mean Mowgli, I am afraid he is gone. SHERE KHAN. (Low growl) Mowgli! So you’ve given it a name. (AKELA says nothing) Gone where might I ask? AKELA. Out of the Jungle. SHERE KHAN. Is that so? AKELA. It is. SHERE KHAN. My intentions must not have been clear enough. He was to be turned over to me. AKELA. We no longer shelter him. Therefore, you and I have no grudge. There can be peace once more in the Seeonee. SHERE KHAN. Hmm. And where, out of the Jungle, has the Man Cub gone? (AKELA just looks at SHERE KHAN, who nods as if in acceptance) I see. (Pause. All of a sudden, SHERE KHAN lashes out, knocking AKELA backward off the rock with a sharp cry. Many wolves gasp. SHERE KHAN jumps to the top of the rock in his place, growling as the WOLVES move closer to each other, into formation.) Now I hope the rest of you will be smarter than your dear leader. You see where his silence got him. RAKSHA. You might be coward enough to attack one of us when we least expect it, but you wouldn’t dare attack us together! SHERE KHAN. (Taking one step closer. The WOLVES keep their ground but hunch back further) Oh, wouldn’t I? I do not believe I would have to. Very few of you are so willing to sacrifice yourselves for a cub ... RAKSHA. Very few of us are willing to bow to the whims of a cat! SHERE KHAN. (Ignoring her)... And without a Leader, we all know how united the Free People become. I will give you one day to produce the man cub. One day, and that is all. (SHERE KHAN slinks off SL. The pack remains in the same formation a beat longer before RAKSHA jumps onto the rock, looking over the edge.) SEYVA. Well? (RAKSHA shakes her head slowly) In a sense, it is better this way. We have needed a new leader for some time now. RAKSHA. (Threateningly) Some may perceive those words as a betrayal, Seyva. SEYVA. (Waving this off) Perceive what you may. All who have been thinking sensibly would agree. DHANI. We must call Council. We have many things to discuss. This changes much. RAKSHA. I do not see how. SEYVA. Oh really, Raksha? Not the threat of Shere Khan? Not the election of a new Leader? Not how to get the man cub back before tomorrow night? RAKSHA. (With a growl) We will not. Shere Khan will not attack us should we stand united. SEYVA. Under whom are we to stay united? Shere Khan is right— DHANI. Seyva! RAKSHA. Oh, what a surprise you think so. SEYVA. Well he is! The Free People rarely remain united without a Leader. Some might perceive your opposition to calling Council a betrayal, Raksha. The others are already weary of your preference for Man over your loyalty to the Pack. RAKSHA. By “others” do you mean yourself, Seyva? Dhani, alert the rest of the Pack to these developments. (DHANI nods to RAKSHA and exits off SR) SEYVA. Who are you to give orders around here? RAKSHA. You yourself admitted the Pack has trouble uniting with no Leader. SEYVA. That did not mean you could take over— RAKSHA. I have not taken over anything. We are calling Council now to hear what the rest of the Pack says. SEYVA. They will say the same as I do. RAKSHA. We will not give up one of our own at the threat of a cat— SEYVA. He is not one of our own— RAKHSA. ... The thought of a wolf so cowardly brings shame to us all. When you discuss electing a fair leader, I can’t help but wonder what your definition of fairness is. One who laps so closely at the heels of Shere Khan. As the Free People, it goes against the Law to allow an infiltrator -- a murderer -– to choose such a Leader. And I would hope we all know the punishment to a wolf who does not follow the Law. (SEYVA gives an irritated grunt and exits off SR. RAKSHA remains on the rock for another moment before slouching in worry. The WOLF CUBS enter SR.) GRAY. Mama! What happened? We heard the other wolves talking— FATIN. They said something about Akela— KEVA. Is Akela dead? GRAY. And what about Shere Khan? KEVA. Was he here? RAKSHA. (Coming down from the rock) Come here, cubs. It is time for bed. (The CUBS encircling her.) FATIN. But we want to know! GRAY. First Mowgli’s gone. Now Akela might be -- might be -- (Their hairs bristle at the same time as SHERE KHAN steps out from SL, GRAY backs up slowly with a whimper. The CUBS move behind their mother.). SHERE KHAN. What a compelling speech I just heard, Raksha. RAKSHA. (Looking at SHERE KHAN, speaking to the CUBS) Come on, cubs. It’s time to sleep. SHERE KHAN. I would have thought it would be time to search for your missing ... son. RAKSHA. He is gone, Shere Khan. Is that not what you want? SHERE KHAN. I want him dead! (The CUBS cower back further) And that is how I’ll have him. In just over a day. After the scene here, today, he will come back. Your precious cub. He’ll come running to save you all like the prideful man he is. Overconfident, arrogant ... (RAKSHA turns her back on SHERE KHAN in disgust, ushering the CUBS off SR. SHERE KHAN calls louder to her) I am doing the whole world a favor, by ridding it of another man. You will thank me one day, Raksha! (She turns back.) RAKSHA. The only thing I will be thankful for is watching the Jungle pay you back for all the evil you’ve committed! (She exits off SR, following her CUBS. SHERE KHAN pauses then exits SL.) Scene 5 (The MONKEYS run on SR, MOWGLI running between the MONKEYS, them pushing him back to the center every time he tries to move out of their circle. As they enter, the MONKEYS in front rotate the rock and tip the greenery, out of which many “fruits” and rocks spill.) MOWGLI. Hey! Let me go! MONKEY 1. But we cannot! MONKEY 2. You have much to teach us, you know. MONKEY 3. This marks a new age in the great history of our people. (They set MOWGLI down at the base of the rock as MONKEY 4 stands on top of it) MONEY 4. Great Monkey-Peoples from the fallen city, today marks a new age in the ... (MONKEY 3 jumps on to the rock, pushing MONKEY 4 off it) MONKEY 3. That’s what I said! Get down. I’m Leader today. MONKEY 2. You were Leader yesterday! MONKEY 1. I say we don’t need a Leader! We’re the Free People. MOWGLI. No you’re not! The Wolves are the Free People. MONKEY 4. Ooh! The Man Cub thinks he’s wiser than the Bandar-log. (The MONKEYS laugh and point at MOWGLI who scowls at them all.) MONKEY 3. (Still on top of the rock) Now listen, all of you! Today we get to learn from the Man Wolf Cub all the things that we don’t know. (MOWGLI begins sneaking off SR) MONKEY 1. But you just said we’re wiser than him! MONKEY 4. No! I said that! MONKEY 2. Hey, get back here! (The MONKEYS drag MOWGLI back) MONKEY 4. Not so fast, Man Cub. We need your wisdom to make new things for our best people. MOWGLI. You’re not the Best People or the Free People! (The MONKEYS rise in argument, throwing fruit at MOWGLI) MONKEY 3. Listen, Man Cub. Once you give us what we want, you can go. (The MONKEYS rise in protest) MONKEY 2. No he can’t! MONKEY 1. Well, then why’d we bring him in the first place? MONKEY 4. Why do you get to be in charge? MOWGLI. (Yelling over the MONKEYS) Hey! Will you all be quiet! (Turning back to MONKEY 3 on the rock) What do you want, then? MONKEY 3. We want— MONKEY 2. The Red Flower! MOWGLI. (MOWGLI frowns) The Red Flower? MONKEY 4. We know that you know what the Red Flower is, Man Cub. All men do. MOWGLI. Of course I know what the Red Flower is! But why do you want it? MONKEY 4. Because all Man has the Red Flower except us! MOWGLI. But you’re not Man. MONKEY 2. But we would be man with the Red Flower! That’s all it takes. MONKEY 4. All the Jungle fears it, and so they would fear us for having it. MONKEY 1. They don’t take us very seriously. MOWGLI. I can’t imagine why. But how am I supposed to get it for you? MONKEY 3. You’ll figure it out, we’re sure. MOWGLI. So if I go get the Red Flower -- you’ll let me go? MONKEY 3. That’s right. MONKEY 4. No, it’s not! (The MONKEYS argue louder. A loud but slow voice breaks over the stage.) KAA. Monkey-People. (The voice is soft with a hiss to it. The MONKEYS freeze in terror, looking up and around for the voice. MOWGLI freezes.) MONKEYS. Kaa! It’s Kaa! Run! Run! (The MONKEYS move different directions) KAA. Stop. (A hissing command. The MONKEYS freeze, mid movement. MOWGLI looks around, wide-eyed) Monkey-People. Can you stir hand or foot without my order? (Silence) Speak. MONKEYS. (With fear) O, Kaa, without your order we cannot stir hand nor foot. KAA. Come to me. (The MONKEYS walk slowly out, SR. MOWGLI looks around him, watching the MONKEYS go. Once the last of the MONKEYS exits, KAA slithers on, SR. MOWGLI’s eyes widen and he backs up, towards SL.) Man Cub. I thought I smelled you ... so like the Bandar-log ... and yet so different as well. Are you all alone out here? MOWGLI. I ... I’m waiting for a friend. (Slowing down, pausing) KAA. It’s never wise to be alone. MOWGLI. He’s ... following me. He’ll be here soon. KAA. I see. Do you know who I am? MOWGLI. (His face and voice growing expressionless as he watches KAA) You’re ... Kaa ... KAA. Yes ... MOWGLI. The python. KAA. Precisely. Now, what friend do you have that lives so deep in the jungle? MOWGLI. (As KAA moves closer, MOWGLI tries to shake himself out of the stupor) We be of one ... one blood, you and ... KAA. (With a soft laugh) Lies ... little Cub. It isn’t so. MOWGLI. It ... it isn’t ... KAA. So ... come closer (MOWGLI moves slowly towards CS). You have nothing to fear here. I know much about you, you know. Man ... raised in the Seeonee. (Beginning to wind around MOWGLI) Left because you weren’t safe there. But you want to stay in the jungle don’t you, Man Cub? MOWGLI. Yes ... KAA. I suppose ... you could stay with me. I can keep you close. Sweet little cub. (Wrapped multiple times around MOWGLI, head raised, facing the audience.) Let go of those fears now. You can trust in me ... BAGHEERA. No! (BAGHEERA launches out from behind the rock on SL, hitting KAA back while BALOO runs on, pulling MOWGLI out from KAA’s coils. KAA jerks back, slithering off SR quickly) Mowgli! Mowgli! BALOO. (Tapping MOWGLI’s face lightly, laying him on the ground) He’s here, Bagheera. He’s all right. I think. BAGHEERA. Is he conscious? (Coming over, slapping MOWGLI across the face harder than BALOO had done) Mowgli! Mowgli! BALOO. Hey! Hey! No need to break his face alright? Could have left that to Kaa ... BAGHEERA. Don’t tell me what’s good for him! If it weren’t for you he wouldn’t have been taken by the Bandar-log to begin with. BALOO. Oh, so it’s my fault he was taken? Well if that isn’t a nice how-do-you-do? Listen, pal, if it weren’t for me, he would’ve been in Kaa’s mouth by now. I did tell you where they took him— BAGHEERA. Oh, barely— BALOO. ... And it was you who lost him in the first place. Impressive feat by the way, a panther to lose a man cub. BAGHEERA. I didn’t lose him. He needed space. MOWGLI. (Opening his eyes slowly) Bagheera? Wha ... What happened? BAGHEERA. Mowgli! How many times have we told you never to play with the Bandar-log? BALOO. Come on, Bagheera. Be gentle ... MOWGLI. (Looking up at BALOO, sitting up) Baloo. (Looking around, remembering) The monkeys ... what happened to the monkeys? BALOO. I think Kaa took care of the monkeys pretty well. MOWGLI. Kaa! Bagheera, Kaa was here! I think they tried to eat me! BAGHEERA. Yes, Mowgli. They came very close to it, too. MOWGLI. (After looking in BAGHEERA’s eyes a moment.) Thank you. BAGHEERA. (BALOO clears his throat. BAGHEERA rolls his eyes) and Baloo helped, too. MOWGLI. Thank you, Baloo. BALOO. No problem, kid. BAGHEERA. (To MOWGLI) Is that all? MOWGLI. We be of one blood, you and I. I take my life from you tonight. My kill shall be your kill if ever you are hungry, O Bagheera and O Baloo. BAGHEERA. Good. The Law has been paid. BALOO. Yeah, you know, I wasn’t going to bring it up, bad timing and all, but seeing as the kid did ... BAGHEERA. What is it? BALOO. Well, I’m kind of hungry now. And I assume you both are, too, so ... BAGHEERA. You don’t eat meat. (Helping MOWGLI to his feet) BALOO. No, I certainly try not to ... though fish, mmm, fish is all right ... See, I was thinking more along the lines of ... (He trails off as BAGHEERA looks at him) but maybe now is not the time. BAGHEERA. No. I think it is not. Though if Mowgli finds any bee nests between here and the village you can trust him to give the honey to you. MOWGLI. (Crestfallen) The village? BAGHEERA. (Turning more softly to MOWGLI) Yes, Mowgli. MOWGLI. But, I was thinking. The rhinos seem to like me. And so do the kites ... so maybe, I could try staying with them— BAGHEERA. Mowgli— MOWGLI. And if that doesn’t work out, Baloo and I were talking and maybe I could stay with— BAGHEERA. Mowgli, I would have thought this little encounter here would have dissuaded you from your thoughts of remaining. Kaa is half the threat Shere Khan is. You know he will not rest until he has you. MOWGLI. But I can fight! The wolves have taught me all their— BAGHEERA. But you are not a wolf. You have neither teeth nor claws that can do real damage. You need your people to protect you now. MOWGLI. My people are here. This is my home. BAGHEERA. (Tipping MOWGLI’s chin up) And it will always be your home. But the Man Village can be also. (Pause) Do you understand why you must go? (MOWGLI looks at BAGHEERA for a moment, then sighs and nods.) Are you ready? (He nods again) Good. It is just down the hill from here. You are a good man, Mowgli. And a good wolf. MOWGLI. (Sadly) Will you come visit me? BAGHEERA. Mowgli— BALOO. (Standing off to the side) Just say you’ll go and visit the kid, for goodness sake! BAGHEERA. (He turns back to MOWGLI) At midnight. I will wait for you at the river. Tomorrow. For tonight, well ... one more night on the edge of the jungle will not hurt. MOWGLI. Oh, Bagheera! BAGHEERA. Let us go now. In the morning, you shall join the village. (They exit off SL) Scene 6 (ASA, a Village Child, enters SR. They carry a basket and pick the fruits left from the monkeys, one by one. MOWGLI enters from SL, slowly, peering out from behind the rock. ASA glances at MOWGLI as they move closer. Finally, ASA offers MOWGLI a piece of fruit from the bowl. MOWGLI takes it. A villager enters SR.) VILLAGER 1. Asa! What are you doing? Come over here. (ASA scurries over to the villager, with the bowl of fruit in hand. MOWGLI backs into another villager who just entered behind him.) VILLAGER 2. Watch it, Kid! (The CHILDREN enter, looking curiously at MOWGLI.) What’s going on here? VILLAGER 1. Go get Toomai. They should see this. (VILLAGER 2 nods and exits SL) CHILD 1. (Looking and pointing at MOWGLI) What is it? CHILD 2. What do you mean ‘what is it?’ It’s a kid, stupid. CHILD 1. But what’s wrong with it? (The children move to CS, watching MOWGLI who is watching them, uncertain.) VILLAGER 1. Children, come back here. TOOMAI. (TOOMAI enters with a torch held high. VILLAGER 2 behind them) What is it? What’s going on here? MOWGLI. (In awe) The Red Flower. CHILD 1. What did he say? VILLAGER 2. Some kid from who-knows-where. TOOMAI. It is a wolf-child run away from the jungle. See all the bites on his arms? (Murmurs of “wolf-child” echo around the stage) VILLAGER 1. But what do we do with it? MOWGLI. (Murmuring to himself) By the bull that bought me! All of this talk is like a looking-over by the Pack at Council Rock. CHILD 1. See, he doesn’t even know how to speak! TOOMAI. Hush children, there’s nothing to be afraid of ... (CHILD 1 throws a stone at MOWGLI before scurrying back to the villagers) Stop it! (MOWGLI bares his teeth, backing away) VILLAGER 1. Nothing to be afraid of? Did you see that growl! This wolf-child doesn’t know how to behave human! He’s dangerous! CHILD 2. And he looks funny, too. TOOMAI. He is just a child who needs help— VILLAGER 1. Maybe so, but we will not be the ones to give it to him! Look at the way he endangered our children! VILLAGER 2. Ran right at me earlier, too! TOOMAI. This is ridiculous— VILLAGER 1. (Taking the torch from VILLAGER 3, holding it high against MOWGLI) We don’t want any Wolf-Cubs here! VILLAGER 2. Yeah! Run away, little Wolf-Cub! Go back to the jungle you came from! CHILD 1. We’ll scare him off! (They raise a stone again, aiming to throw at MOWGLI. The villagers argue louder before a howl breaks through the sound and they stop. MOWGLI looks over his shoulder) MOWGLI. Gray? (The villagers back away. GRAY runs on SL, baring teeth.) VILLAGER 1. Did you see him call? He’s summoning them! Sorcery! Go! Run! (GRAY moves closer to the villagers, snapping teeth and TOOMAI ushers the two children offstage, glancing back once more. Villager 1 and 2 follow. GRAY bears their teeth at ASA, who backs up, nervously.) MOWGLI. No, Gray! That one was kind to me. (ASA looks at MOWGLI for a second as GRAY backs off. ASA runs off SR. MOWGLI sighs, putting his head in his hands. GRAY walks over to MOWGLI). GRAY. Phew! What a reward I get for following your trail this far! You smell like wood-smoke and cattle. (GRAY looks almost suspiciously at MOWGLI who still sits with his head in his hands) Like man already. MOWGLI. What is the point, Gray? I don’t understand their talk. I am as dumb as a man would be with us in the jungle. They didn’t even let me in the gates! GRAY. But that is good! Then you can come back to the Seeonee. MOWGLI. I can’t come back to Seeonee! They cast me out. And so have the men. What am I if not man or wolf? GRAY. You are both. And we need you Mowgli. I come with news. Bad news. (GRAY kneels by MOWGLI) MOWGLI. What is it? GRAY. Shere Khan. He has turned the pack against one another. MOWGLI. How? GRAY. You, Mowgli. He says we must hand you over by tonight or he attacks. MOWGLI. (Jerking his head up from his hands) But he wouldn’t dare! Akela always said— GRAY. (Looking down again) Mowgli. He attacked Akela. MOWGLI. (Slowly) Attacked? ... Is he ... ? GRAY. He’s gone, Mowgli. MOWGLI. (Numbly) Gone. (He stands slowly, expressionless) Gone? GRAY. (Worriedly) Mowgli? MOWGLI. Akela was good to me, Gray. He let me stay. He tried to protect me. This is all my fault! Oh, Gray! I told them to save Akela! I told them ... GRAY. But it was Shere Khan, not the Pack that— MOWGLI. Of course it was Shere Khan! It’s always been Shere Khan! Everyone fears him, he’s splitting up the Pack. He’s ruined everything! GRAY. But Mowgli, what are you going to do? You can’t give yourself up— MOWGLI. (Idea dawning on him) No ... No. I know what to do. I know how to end this. (He runs off SR and GRAY follows. Option to have TOOMAI enter back on from SR, holding the torch and looking back and forth for MOWGLI. Exiting back off SR again, shaking his head.) Scene 7 (SHERE KHAN enters SL, climbing onto Council Rock, looking out. The WOLVES enter SR, BALOO and BAGHEERA enter SL.) MOWGLI. (From offstage) Shere Khan! RAKSHA. Mowgli? MOWGLI. (MOWGLI runs on SL with a flaming torch, GRAY follows. The animals withdraw in fear of the flame. SHERE KHAN does not move from the rock though he gives a low growl.) Shere Khan! I am not afraid of you! RAKSHA. Gray! SHERE KHAN. (Pretending nonchalance, yet with anger and fear beneath it) Ah, the man cub has returned to the Jungle. Yet not a man cub anymore, is he? Did I not tell you all what he would become? A carrier of the Red Flower! The Red Flower that brings destruction to everything it touches. Much the same as its owner. MOWGLI. I don’t care what you have to say, Shere Khan! Neither does anyone else here. No one needs to be afraid of you anymore. SHERE KHAN. No. Now, I think they fear something else. (MOWGLI looks around as the animals back away from him) I should really be thanking you, Man of neither Wolf nor Men. You have spared me the labor of fighting everyone here tonight. I think they understand the necessity of your end, now, as much as I always have. It is Law that man does not belong in the jungle. MOWGLI. (Still looking around at the animals) I don’t care! I don’t care what you -- or anyone else -- thinks. This is my home! (Still speaking to both the animals and SHERE KHAN) I grew up in the Seeonee. I picked thorns from all of your feet. I drank with you. I ate with you. I obeyed every Law of the Jungle. I have loved you all! (With angry tears) And you cast me out! Cast out your brother in all but blood. I would never have betrayed you as you betrayed me! And now the Village gates are shut to me just as the jungle was shut to me before. And if I hunt alone from this moment on, that’s what I must do but I have made a promise to my mother that I would come back to Council Rock with the hide of Shere Khan, and here I am. (Turning back to the animals) If you all hate me for being man, fine! But we can end this now! Why should you let a cat govern the Free People? No one in the Seeonee would have to be afraid anymore! (Turning to SHERE KHAN who looks furious) But, Shere Khan, I give you one chance. (He pauses) We be of one blood, you and I ... SHERE KHAN. (Angrily) What is this? MOWGLI. You speak of the Law but you do not even know the Master Words. SHERE KHAN. I care not for your fancy words nor your speeches your mother has taught you. Nor do the pathetic creatures around you care for anything other than themselves! If you lived past tonight, it would only be for a lifetime of misery. An animal with no peoples, destined to be alone for all his time. MOWGLI. Much like yourself. GRAY. (Stepping forward. He turns to MOWGLI) We be of one blood, you and I ... SHERE KHAN. What? ... RAKSHA and BAGHEERA. We be of one blood, you and I. All. (Except SHERE KHAN and possibly SEYVA) I take my life from you tonight. My kill is your kill if ever you are hungry. SHERE KHAN. (With a roar) Fine! I will fight you all if I have to! (He launches himself off the rock at MOWGLI who holds the torch out at him. SHERE KHAN knocks the torch aside before pinning MOWLI to the ground, raising his claws.) Did you think I could let you grow old? (BAGHEERA and RAKSHA attack at the same time from different directions. MOWGLI rolls out from beneath him while BALOO follows in their own attack.) RAKSHA. (Thrown back from SHERE KHAN, lowered into a fighting stance) Wolves attack! (MOWGLI runs to join the attack as BAGHEERA is thrown backwards. BAGHEERA reaches out to stop MOWGLI) MOWGLI. Let me go! I’ve got to fight with the Wolves! BAGHEERA. But you are not a Wolf, Mowgli. You are Man. Fight him that way. (Pause, MOWGLI nods. BAGHEERA rejoins the fight as MOWGLI darts under the action, grabbing the fallen torch. He grabs the long string of dried grass he knotted together in the beginning of the play, stretching it out on the ground) SHERE KHAN. Why do you fight me? We have one enemy! He will destroy us all if you let him! MOWGLI. Shere Khan! It’s me you want! Why don’t you come and get me? (SHERE KHAN throws the WOLVES off him, heading for MOWGLI. As he leaps, MOWGLI drops to the ground, lighting the string on fire. It catches, sending up a wall of flame (possibly made from bright fabrics) right onto SHERE KHAN. MOWGLI dives DS as SHERE KHAN yells and rolls behind the rock, behind the flames. There is a pause. MOWGLI watches the flames as do the other animals for a moment.) BAGHEERA. Put it out. Quickly. (MOWGLI runs to the potted plant, pulling out his piece of bark with the water in it. He dumps the “water” on to the wall of flame, putting the fire out. BAGHEERA jumps onto the rock, looking over the edge.) BALOO. Is he ... BAGHEERA. Dead. (The animals breathe a sigh of relief and begin tending to wounds and each other. RAKSHA walks to MOWGLI.) RAKSHA. (Bowing her head to his) My son. (GRAY comes to join them, RAKSHA smiles) My cubs. BALOO. (Leaning back) Well, I have to hand it to you, kid. You do have one heck of a life. BAGHEERA. (Walking to MOWGLI) You have done well. You have brought the jungle together. (MOWGLI smiles sadly) MOWGLI. Now I have nowhere to go. BAGHEERA. Have you ever considered that, perhaps, I was wrong? (MOWGLI looks unsure) Maybe, your people are not found in your blood, but in everything else. RAKSHA. We are your family, Mowgli, and you are ours. And anyone who tells you differently is the one who’s wrong. (USR, the WOLVES have gathered, speaking) BALOO. Ah, Raksha. I believe your pack is waiting for you. (RAKSHA turns at the respectfully waiting WOLVES. She glances between MOWGLI and the Pack before walking to Council Rock and jumping up on it.) RAKSHA. Let us be thankful for the end of this grim day. And for this new beginning. Let us also remember what we’ve lost in these times of division and never choose that path again. (Pause) Look ... Look well, O Wolves. Look well, People of the Seeonee. (MOWGLI smiles. BALOO, MOWGLI and GRAY exit SL. The WOLVES and CUBS exit SR.) Scene 8 (BAGHEERA jumps on to his perch. RAKSHA sits on Council Rock.) BAGHEERA. What happened to Seyva? RAKSHA. Gone. Left after the fight with Shere Khan. (Sighing) If they would rather a life of isolation than life with the Pack, so be it. BAGHEERA. Better than some of the other solutions. In a way. (BALOO sneaks on SR, looking behind him) Ah, Baloo of the Seeonee now, is it? BALOO. Shh! I barely got away. Those cubs keep going for my throat. BAGHEERA. Oh, do they? (The CUBS and MOWGLI run on SL) MOWGLI. (To GRAY) Ha! Beat you! RAKSHA. (Looking off SR, to BAGHEERA) I told you he’d learn to run with the Pack. BAGHEERA. I never said he wouldn’t. GRAY. You didn’t beat me! You went swinging through the branches like one of the Monkey ... (GRAY breaks off after a stern look from RAKSHA) like one of the Men-People. MOWGLI. (Grinning) Yeah but I get to do that. That’s what I am. (Rounding on BALOO) Baloo is the one that cheated. FATIN. Yeah! He ran off down the valley— KEVA. Instead of over the Seeonee. BALOO. (Holding up his hand) Just to be clear: I did not run anywhere. RAKSHA. Perhaps Baloo is right. It is a rest time. FATIN. Not yet! KEVA. I want to play more! GRAY. Race you down the valley! (The CUBS run off SR. MOWGLI settles beside BAGHEERA) BAGHEERA. This peace can’t last forever. However, I did enjoy your speech, Raksha. BALOO. “Never choose that path again.” Very wise. Very wise. RAKSHA. I’ve done my best. The good it will do, I cannot say. We will want to go separate ways again, I am sure. BAGHEERA. You are the Free People. It is part of your definition. MOWGLI. We’re better than men anyway. RAKSHA. Oh, are we? MOWGLI. Mm-hmm. You should have seen them squawking over me when I got there. Threw stuff, too. Just like the Bandar-log. Wolves don’t throw things. RAKSHA. No. Throwing things is not our strong suit. Nor is tying grass. We make up for it with our teeth. Much better for fighting. BALOO. Oh, please don’t tell me you’re planning another battle anytime soon. MOWGLI. Maybe there never will be another one. If only everyone followed the Law. If we knew we were all of one blood. BAGHEERA. If we all believed it. RAKSHA. Mowgli is right, Bagheera. A peace could last forever that way. BALOO. Yeah. I could get used to that. (End)