A Musical Based on the Novel by Kenneth Grahame
Cast of Characters:
Toad
Rat
Mole ~
Rabbit...... Also plays:Judge/Jailer's Daughter ~
Weasel...... Also plays:Policeman
Stoat ...... Also plays:Frenchwoman \? PROP LIST
WIND IN THE WILLOWS
Broom (for Mole) Picnic Basket Notebook and Pencil (for Rat) Folded paper (for Toad) Serving Tray with 3 cider cups tambourine Broken Gypsy wagon parts automobile steering wheeVother parts(?) car keys lantern giant carrot ball and chain (for Mole) dinner tray with food (for jail) handcuffs dinner bell book and pencil (for Policeman) watering can tankard manacles (for Toad) books (for Mole)
For "Moving Up" scene: cigar 2 turkey legs 4large spoons large i~am bucket 2 folding flowers (wired) in skinny vases WIND IN THE WILLOWS
Music:Prologue
A MEADOW IN SPRING. THERE IS A GREAT CRASH OF THUNDER AND THE SOUND OF RAIN. IT IS THE FIRST RAINSTORM OF SPRING AND THE ANIMALS ARE SCURRYING ABOUT. SOME OF THE ANIMALS ARE JUST WAKING UP FROM THEIR WINTER SLEEP. THE STORM PASSES AND THE SUN COMES OUT. MOLE -A SMALL COMP ACf FIGURE WITH lllGH ENERGY WHO THROWS HERSELF INTO ANY ENDEAVOR WITH GREAT INTENSITY - IS SWEEPING HER DOORSTEP. SHE WEARS SPEerACLES WinCH HAVE BECOME NECESSARY BECAUSE OF HER PASSION FOR READING / Jt1 pw v1' ulf.ttittV.
MOLE Oh, enough spring cleaning. The world is waking up and I want to explore. Oh, I know... rm a mole. And moles are supposed to be happy underground, but..up here.. well, just look.
1 ___..
~AN THOSE BE ROSES r SEE GENTLY SWAYING? :AN IT BE THAT THEY'RE SAYING ?HE WORLD IS WAITING FOR ME? t.LL OF MY LIFE ' 'VE BEEN DEEP IN THE GROUND HERE, 'OW AS I LOOK AROUND HERE, WORLD IS WAITING FOR ME!
I'VE BEEN DIGGING ALL THOSE HOLES I MADE DIGGING WHILE I PLAYED AND READING AS IF BOOKS CAN FADE THESE SPECS ARE WRECKS!
I'VE LIVED FOR YEARS WITH ALL MY FAMILY THINGS BUT UP HERE THE AIR SINGS A WORLD THAT'S WAITING FOR ME, AND A WORLD I WANT TO SEE!
IF I LEAVE HOME AND BE GONE FOR A WEEK WOULD EACH FAVORITE THING BE ALL RIGHT? WHO WOULD LOOK AT MY FAVORITE BOOK, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALRIGHT?
NEXT TO MY CHAIR IS A PICTURE BOOK WHERE I LOVING LOOK EVERYDAY. MY BOOKS I KNOW WILL FILL WITH DREAD TO THINK THEY ARE UNREAD WHILE I'M AWAY!
SO MANY BOOKS THAT I SPECIALLY CARE FOR MUST HAVE HELPED ME PREPARE FOR THIS WORLD THAT'S WAITING FOR ME! Ca~PTER BOOKS THEY ARE SECOND TO NONE! AND GOOSEBUMPS I READ EVERY ONE, BUT OUT HERE, HERE IN THE SUN THE SUN IS HERE!
LAST WEEK I READ ABOUT FAR AWAY PLACES IN FAR AWAY PLACES THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR ME! SO IT'S GOODBYE TO THE UNDERGROUND, AND HELLO TO THE SUN I FOUND, THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE! (A Wll..LOW TREE HANGS OVER WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE CORNER OF A SMALL HOUSE. NEXT TO IT IS A ROWBOAT TIED OFF TO A DOCK RAT COMES OUT OF HIS HOUSE ON TO THE DOCK. HE IS A DOWN HOME SORT OF FELLOW. VERY CONTENT WITH HIS RIVER. EVERYONE LIKES TO BE COUNTED AS A FRIEND OF RAT EVEN THO HIS BAD POETRY CAN SOMETIMES BE A TRIAL .. HE IS EVEN NOW SEARCIDNG FOR THE PERFECT RiriME.)
MOLE And you're a water rat.
RAT We don't often see moles around these parts.
MOLE J,/, 1M. ,. .. ; ~~~ . Q/~a~~ We;;, rm going to change that state of affairs. Qvt?/fl / lJ. '#~J)Jt-l/ ,&ttlhl'-f)l-lrt-fj, ·11 L L (Ral has picked up a picnic basket and is heading for his boat.) What's that? lf'~ii/J"AJAAAJJ!JilUI Ill ' ~ /Vr -- ~t/l'llY RAT . (He has never met anyone who doesn't know what a picnic basket is) A picnic basket!
MOLE Really? What's in it?
RAT (speaks to music) Just cold chicken, cold tongue, cold ham, cold beef, pickled gherkins, salad greens, french rolls, watercress sandwiches, potted meat, ginger beer, lemonade and soda water.
MOLE All that for one person?
RAT Well. fd be happy to share it with you.
MOLE Oh,my!
RAT I love picnics. I wrote a poem about it once.
MOLE You're a writer? RAT _,,_,: to think so.
MOLE (She can't believe her luck) Oh , my! And I love to read. It's my favorite thing . .. next to digging tunnels, of course . . . Where do you get your inspiration?
RAT Well, from the world .
MOLE You must have travelled a lot .
RAT Yes , I have.
MOLE Where have you been?
RAT Up and down the river.
MOLE So, that's ... a river.
RAT Haven't you seen a river before?
MOLE No. we moles are brought up to avoid rivers. When you're underground, you don't know you've hit one until it's too late .
RAT Well, I envy you seeing a river for the first time. And from the right side up, especially this time of year. I like to see the river just messing about in my boat.
MOLE Is that a boat?
RAT (In disbelief) Of course, it is. You don't know what a boat is!? !
MOLE No ... is that a boat? (laughs) Oh, dear . Forgive me. It's just when I read about boats in my books, I got the impression that boats were quite a lot ... bigger. (Remembering herself and with a bit of connivance.) Not that your boat isn't the perfect size for two .
RAT I spent all morning cleaning her. R.1,T E\ "ERYO~E FEELS A STlR AT THE CO~UNG OF SPRD\G. BUT FOR THE SAJLOR THERE"S SO!v1Enil}.;G MORE. HE DRAGS HIS BOAT TO THE 1\cAREST SHORE Al\'D POLISHES EVERY RUDDER. RAIL MTI RING FOR MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS IS THE THING.
\v"HEN I PUSH OFF MY DOCK FOR TilE VERY FIRST TIME tvfY BOATS BEEN IDLE FOR ~tA.'N WEEKS - I CHECK THE BOTIOM FOR A...-...."Y LEAKS THEN PULL THE OARS At'\1"0 KNOW rM IN MY PRIME. OH.. MESS~G .A.BOli'T IN BOATS IS St.i"BLTh.fE!
IN THE MIDDLE OR NEAR THE BANK. IT RE.A.LL Y DOES;--rT M.t.. TIER. JtJST THE CH..A.R..'\.1 OF BEING THERE. !'0 l'\"EED TO TR..A. \t"EL .A.!';YWHERE.
ROWING ALONG OR DRIFTING ALONG. EVEN WHE'l RAINDROPS SPATTER ITS A WO>-TIERFUL WAY TO PASS THE DAY / / . A..'l) WHEN ITS Ov"ER YOU GET TO SAY. ~../-.,AlA ~ . -rvE BEP.J BUSY BUT NOnnNG"S BEEN DONE.. - l/U..(.-V'7 A..''D I 00~1 JO..l()W WHEN 1-vE HAD SUCH RJNf'
~tOLE HAS A'YJ'O>-"E EVER ASKED TO BE PART OF YOL'R CREW?
R~T \\"OULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A RIDE?
~tOLE Ycs. please.
RAT tHEN STEP INSIDE! YOU"LL SEE 1HAT EVERY1l!ING I"VE SAID IS TRUE. At'ID MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS IS FOR YOU! (Th~ mu. . RAT ~t" s not quite "h.:lt I ... Mole Anchors aweigh at break of day! Haul the bowline, the bowline haul. Around the Cape Hom through ice and snow. All the way to Tokyo! RAT Just hold on, there. That's not my cup of tea at all. Why. rm just another lazy riverbank dreamer. HALF-WAY AROUND THE WORLD IS A LONG WAY FROM SHORE OH. I'VE NO NEED FOR THE OPEN SEA THE RIVER'S MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR ME AND WHO COULD REACH THE ORIENT WITH AN OAR! BUT. MESSING ABOUT IN BOATS MOLE JUST IN A BOAT THAT FLOATS RAT MESSING ABOUTS THE LIFE I ADORE. MOLE ME TOO. (Mole is transflXed as she looks about at the sights along the riverbank) MOLE Oh, what's that? Rat. That's Toad Hall. The fmest house on the river. Although we'd never tell Toad that. of COJ,li'Se. MOLE Ob. .. of cowse. Wbat's over there? Be!Und Toad Hall. }A tJ5 ~ Thatsthe Wild Wood. We don~o there very mu~. ~!! ~J%/i~ , MOLE Why not? (Rat isn't very forthcoming) Aren't the animals very nice? fl;pl}~ RAT Well, some of themare all right But then- there's the weasels and the stoats. MOLE Yu.lc. Say no more. RAT It's just their nature, of course, and everyone knows what to expect. But things have got worse since the new Chief Weasel's come into power. He's got ideas about upsetting the natural balance of things and taking over where he doesn't belong. MOLE Oh, that would be terrible. (SUDDENLY, OUT OF NOWHERE TOAD WlllZZES ALONG THE BANK BESIDE THEM. HE'S NATTILY DRESSED WITH AN OBVIOUS FONDNESS FOR STRONG COLORS) / ~ ,I ~ ;;_TOAD (See at an e) ! Do come for lunch at Toad Hall. And bring your friend. There's something I want to show you. (No sooner is he seen that he's gone.) MOLE Goodness. Who's that? That's Toad. Of Toad Hall. MOLE What does he want to show you? Rat His latest fad, I suppose. MOLE I see. (There is a longing in her eyes as she tests Rat's willingness to accept Toad's invitation.) Did he mean drop by for lunch ~y? · RAT Of course, Toad couldn't think as far ahead as tomorrow. MOLE Is that something we might consider doing? Having hmch with Toad? RAT Would you like to? 7 MOLE Yes, please. RAT Then, we will. Come on. Let's go. BLACKOUT (THE LAWNS OF TOAD HALL LATER THAT DAY. TOAD PICKS UP A SMALL HAND BELL FROM A LAWN TABLE AND RINGS IT. THE RABBIT ENTERS.) RABBIT You rang, sir? ./6/ TOAD . ~ table for lunch. will you? rm expecting the Water Rat and a new friend of his. I forgot to ask whether she's a vegetarian. so freshen up the~.just in case. And chill two bottles·of cider. (;IJ1M1 RAB Pardon me, sir. I don't mean to be presumptuous, but do you really think you can persuade Rat to go on another one of your expeditions? TOAD Absolutely! And I have the perfect way to pesuade him. Listen to this. (He gets out of his pocket a sheaf of notes and reads from them.) "The really important things in life have nothing to do with ~loodlines, ho~~X.~ , n._oble, but everything to do ~th loy~ ·frien~J\nsi that. I am proudJo-.1 / say, 1S what I have ·iiiJmy friend, Rat." What do you think? £)~ AA - \). /}1 ~ ~ . A ·$ 4JdfJ ~ ~v-w thr& '"M~'~ fWL " RABBIT Q)_ I I · ~·~~~::;.;~(exits) (TOAD REPEATS THE SPEECH - COMMITING IT TO MEMORY -THIS TIME ADDING HAND GESTURES. HE IS INTERUPTED BY THE ENTRANCE OF RAT ANDMOLE.) . 41 ~ -rJw~(JJt/ TOAD Welcome to Toad HallJ TOAD (Kissing her hand) fm absolutely overcome. MOLE (Giggling,. self consciously) The pleasure is entirely mine, Mr. Toad. TOAD Please, call me Toad. (MOLE GIGGLES AGAIN. RABBIT ENTERS CARRYING A TRAY WITH CUPS OF CIDER. MOLE IS FASCINATED BY WHAT IS HER FIRST LOOK AT CIDER AND EXAMINES IT CAREFULLY.) TOAD MOLE It's magnificenL TOAD Yes, it is. If only walls could talk. It's seen some of the most illustrious toads of all time. My family tree... well, it's not so much a tree as an orchard really. It's simply crealcing at the boughs with famous people. Like George W ashingtoad. · (RABBIT ROLLS EYES AND LEAVES.) RAT Don't you think you're overdoing it a bit? I mean, there·are more meaningful things in life than ancestors. TOAD . . ~ ' r , ~ Oh, Ratty, you're quite right. as usual. (He consults his notes, then... ) The really important things in life have nothing to do with blood.lines~~er n0ble, but everything to do with loyal friends. And that. I am proud to say, is what I hav~ my friend Rat. RAT That's very kind, Toad. TOAD (Raises his glass) Here's to good friends. MOLE (sings) WHA TS IT LIKE TO HAVE A FRIEND? THO rVE READ A LOT ABOUT THEM I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE WITHOUT THEM AND THE THINGS THAT YOU READ OFfEN NEED TO BE SEEN TO BE TRUE TOAD YOU'VE NEVER HAD A FRIEND? FRIENDS ARE WHAT MAKE LIFE WORTII LIVING RAT FAITHFUL, FUNNY, AND FORGIVING TOAD&RAT THEY'RE THE ONES WHO'LL RESPOND WHEN THE CALL IS ABOVE AND BEYOND. TOAD I mean, it's not totally unheard of for me to need some help once in awhile. /0 RAT A.nd it's not totally unheard of for me to gh·e it 1 HE TRIED HIS H.-\."'D AT MAGIC BUT NEVER GOT THE KNACK TOAD THOUGH I COlJ1.D MAKE THINGS DISAPPEAR. I COULD~·T BR..D-fG THEM BACK. R-\T HE'D LOSE A DOZEN PIGEONS· THE CRO\VD \VOULD BOO ANTI LAUGH. TOAD IF RA. TIY HADN'T BEEN THERE. THEY'D H.A..VE SAWED OLD TOAD N HALF! RAT BUT THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR. WHEN YOU'RE FEELfNG SORE. TOAD fF THEY PERFOR.o\ TE YOUR BUBBLE . ... R..\T WE'LL ALLE\-1ATE THE T~OUBLE! R-\ T & TOAD 'CAL'SE IT'S PALS THAT STICK. THAT WILL TlJR"'\fTHE TRICK WI-IE~ YOU THINK YOUR ACT IS RlfN1\1).;G OUT OF FRIEl'-.'DS! Rl\T \VHEN TO.A..DY TOOK UP BALLET .. . TOAD r...rY JlJ}..ttpS \VERE ALL THE R.A.GE! Ro\T \VE HAD TO TIE HIS TUTU DO\v"N TO KEEP HL'\1 ON THE STAGE. TOAD NO PARTh"'ER COULD CONTAI~ ~1E ! FOR ONCE I'D LEFT MY FEET RAT IT'S LUCKY I WAS WAITING THERE TO CATCH HIM IN THE STREET! R..\T & TOAD BUT THAT'S \\'HAT FRlE!'.TIS ARE FOR. LOYAL TO THE CORPS. II TOAD WHO"LL REt...i...6JN ENTHUSIASTIC \\'HEN YOU TRIP THE LIGHT F A.';lASTIC. -'tOLE GIVE A"SURE -HOORAY" FOR YOUR TOtJR JETE! TRIO YOU CAN DANCE THE NIGHT A WAY If YOU H:\VE FR.ID.'DS! R.\T 0!'-.'E YEA.R HE STUDIED PAINTING - TOAD THE ARTISTS OF RENOWN. R.\T HE DID FIFTEEN SELF-PORTR-\ITS 0~ HIS CEILDIG TOAD UPSIDE DOWN! R-'T TO REAFFIR.."f HIS GENIUS TOAD O~'E FINAL STROKE SEEMED a.E.AR RAT RAT. TOAD & MOLE NOW THATS WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR TI!ERE"S NO NEED FOR GORE. MOLE SOME TOAD THERELL BE NO COMPLAINT. MOLE rrs -so LONG. OlD PAINr... RAT. TOAD & MOLE WHEN YOU HANG IN WITH YOUR GAU.ERY OF FRIENDS! /Z, .\IOLE :\..' RAT. TOAD & MOLE YES. Til"'-T"S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR. \\1-iEN YOU"RE FAR FROM SHORE ."'-..1\:TI YOUR UFE IS IN A MUDDLE. WE"LL BE THERE TO I...ENTI A CUDDLE! FOR :\ BOS0~1 CHUM IS 11fE O~""E \\'HO"LL C0\1E! YOU CA.~ ~""EVER EVER HAVE TOO ~1.:\.NY FRIEl'.'DS! HEIGH! TOAD Well Ratty. all the friYolity you ~1::~ but not any more~ound1 1 ~methlng that"s wonhy of my complete ckYotion. . '{.:/· · R.t,.T fRathu skeptical.j Oh. yes? / TOAD I know what ~·ot!"re thinlcing.. -It"s 3n0ther one of his fads." I can only tell ~-ou that this is going to be my OCOipation for a lifaime.. And in the spirit of true friendship. I"m prepared to share it "ith you - and Mole.. of course. R-\T No! \Vh.ateYer it is. TOAD ~.dd~L,t~\,:-r .. (TOAD signals pJ d il.£1 liiro hands him a lambcllrin~. lflth a masterful ccmbination ofJl Music: ROMANY RHAPSODY There it is - the real thing.. I can only regret the l'-asted )-eat'S thal lie behind ~ squandered in tffiialities.. (TOAD and .l./01.£ walt around the w-agon admiring(v. RAT.stands his ground.) MOLE What is it? /3 TO What is it? Why... it's a gyps wagon, of course. fl. Ah,,...... · pean land... ( Toad isn't mtt.Cb inte1:ested in these facts and seotinually tri€.8 to interrupt aer) .. foami &:lse=in Egypt aed ~ -GeaSt::: { 'ilz ' TOAD The fmest wagon tha was ever~t Planned it all myself. I did! You'll fmd that nothing whatever has been forgotten when we make our start,, this,, atemoon. RAT I beg your pardon, but did I overhear you say something about "we" and "start" and "this aternoon?" TOAD - /.~ . Now, Ratty, you surely don't mean to stick to your dull,~ old river all your life. I want to sho.w you the world. MOll I Well, I would love to go. I would really love to go. This might be my only chance to ride in a ~ gyps~n. Oh,please, come along, RaL ~~ I like the way this mole thinks. I am absolutely overcome. (Rat thinks for a moment, but Mole's outstreched hand and Toad's downcast look persuad~ him.) RAT · Well•.. all right But. it's against my better judgement. It can only lead to trouble. TOAD Oh, Ratty, I knew you wouldn't let me down. And I promise I wont let you get bored. RAT THAT MEANS WFll DO THE COOKING MOll "16 / A • - . ~ AN APPLE~ FLAMBE! f>jY_ fp-v~ RAT CLEAN UP, OF COURSE AND GROOM THE HORSE 1/f TOAD (Stroking the pony.i M'r" DA.RUNG DAPPLE-GR..~Y. MOLE OUR JOUFJ..,'EY OF DISCOV'RY HAS ONLY JUST BEGlJN. TO ..o\D fT"S ALL FOR 0~1'£! MOLE A"'TO., Ol-;"E FOR ALL! RA..T tReali:ing that TOAD is the ..one·· .) BUT MOSTLY. ALL FOR 0~1'£. RAT. TOAD. MOLE & RABBIT . "'rTI Til~TS \\,11lAT FRIEl\'DS .A.RE~OR., ( !'.f//J/fl/# ~~~~~ (Yvf' TOAD Al.LTiiEr"~LM'ESA.'.'D ..··. ·- ' ' _IJw;/;.-t~ (Taking a gypsy guitarfrom th~ 'tf"Ogon.) "'-- 't/m,/L/~ . I WILL STRUM A FEW ARPEGGIOS! _/ lf?V~ " RAT&MOLE .A..~"D \v"E"RE BOU~1> TO LEARN AS WE ROUND EACH TURN R~T. TOAD. MOLE & RABBIT THAT TilE GREATEST TIUNG IN UFE IS TO HAVE FR.l.a'DS! (They all rilk offin 1M 'K"agotf tog~th~r. Sudlknly. th~r~ is th~ sound of a car hom. a squ~al ofbraw and a sid:mlng crash. Sics ofth~ ~autiful_wlltM "K"agon com~ rolling on-stag~.foi/O'K"~d by a dazed andfrightm~d RAT and.\JOL£.; RAT {Shouting 0~.) Yoa 'ilbin! Yoa scoandrclt You·- you-· road-bog. you! MOLE "(, .JJ'I.JJ.d . So that's a road hog! Well I think it's a dreadfully~~~ go right throogh Toad's beautiful cart like that! (RAT looks at hu in astonish~t and I'UJI~ that~ s n~'U sun a lrunran ~fore.) RAT~~~;k,/ t ~J#:u ~-..:::::--· th.a_t li~ (Rat sees that she is genuinely disappointed.) RAT Come on. Cheer up. Tomorrow fll teach you how to swim. {It is at this moment that Mole realizes that she has someone very special here.) RA T(cont) 1-fl-.. And besides. Toad will fall in love with something else... /9llrtlfJ ~ RAT AND MOLE Toad! (They had forgotten all about him.) Where's Toad? (THEY MAKE A DASH FOR THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT ONLY TO MEET TOAD COMING TOWARD THEM. HIS EYES ARE GLAZED OVER. HIS HANDS STRETCHED OUT IN FRONT AS IF HOLDING ON TO A STEERING V{HEEL. ONCE IN AWHILE ONE OF THE HANDS MOVES FORWARD TO SQUEEZE AN IMAGINARY HORN.) TOAD Honk. Honk. MOLE Rat. I think maybe he's got a concussion. TOAD It All those wasted years that lie behind me. I never knew. Never even dreamed. But now I know. 7JA JiMtvf.t W ago~ that need pulling ~notWng; JThe~ are totally unimpo~7~ut my new discovery ,h f? / J is fU-,t{'<) T ( heaven. &<,honk! Honk! ~ 1 ftf{r r:::f" / MOLE ~j;n~•~LIA~ fA!.? !!!}_·'-)1;~ Toads certainly are very s~e... a breed apart~ d~ ~ · RAT Nothing. He's always like this when he gets a new fad. TOAD j, #/J"/.;2, j Ah my new discovery is like a swan. A ~beam! A thunderbolt! That~~und. That ~~!!·~·!Pg smell. That... ~ ~mobile. 1 16 (Rat and Mole each grab one of Toad's arms and lead him off as the lights FADE TO BLACK.) (WHEN THE LIGIITS RESTORE WE ARE IN THE WILD WOOD. DARK SHAPES CAN BE SEEN FLITTING FROM ROCK TO ROCK AND FROM TREE TO TREE.) STOAT Where are you going, Rabbit? RABBIT What? WEASEL She said.. . Where are you going? RABBIT Home. STOAT Didn't anyone ever tell you not to come into the Wild Wood alone? RABBIT No. I mean. yes... but WEASEL But. you didn't believe them. . RABBIT Now you just listen to me, this is a free country and if I choose to walk thru the woods, then. ..rn walk thru the woods. WEASEL Is that so? Well, you just listen to me. rm the new chief weasel around here and I decide who can wallc where in these woods. And anyone who decides to cross me better not walk thru these woods. They'd better run! STOAT Run! ~~~:Uo}dj 11 "' )VE.ASEL Run! (eM~--t4 : STOAT Run! - VJ .I L 1 I ? ! '1 i VJ1)i/'d !JiAM {) WEASEL Oh, I love the power! (sin~), IF HAD A BROTHER IT FOR CERTAIN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 1\fE BUT OLD MISTER SCRATCH HE WOULDN'T BE NO MATCH FOR THE DEVIL rVE TURNED OUT TO BE ITS GOOD TO BE AN EVIL WEASEL OR A WEASEL'S MEAN AND TOUGH DON'T EVER TUSSLE WITH MISTER MUSCLE CAUSE TIIATS WHEN TinNGS GET ROUGH STOAT AND I AM THE STOAT WHO'LL BE FEELING MY OATS WHEN HE SHOWS YOU SOME STUFF HAT IS ROUGH. WEASEL ITS GOOD TO BE ( STOAT:GOOD TO BE) AN EVIL WEASEL (EVIL WEASEL) CAUSE A WEASEL'S REALLY ACE IF YOU CARE TO DIFFER WE'LL HIT YOU WITH A KNUCKLE Sft.~n:>WICH IN THE FACE. STOAT AND I AM THE STOAT WHO'll BE HOLDING HIS COAT WHEN HE FETCHES TIIAT F1ST IN THE FACE. WEASEL rM THE NEW CHIEF rM MEANER THAN MEAN STOAT . RABBIT ON TOAST IS HIS FAVORITE CUISINE /~ WEASEL BADGER'S AND BEARS, I EAT EM FOR SNACKS STOAT WHY JUST ms WEASEL SNEEZE'LL FREEZE A LION IN HIS TRACKS. (They sing a Iitle scan riff) TOGETHER IT'S GOOD TO BE AN EVil.. WEASEL AND KINGS OF THE UNDERGROWTH TOO WEASEL WE'RE THE MAFIA STOAT WHAT'S THE MAFIA? WEASEL NOTHIN! WHAT'S THE MAFIA WITH YOU? NOW THAT rM THE LEADING WEASEL THINGS'LL CHANGE IN TinS HERE WOOD rM EASILY ROUSED AND MY MEASLY CROWD'S IN LOVE WITH TASTE OF BLOOD STOAT GIVE US GRAVY ON MEAT DOUBLE CREAM ON A SWEET BUT TilER'S NOTIDN WE EAT CAN BEAT BLOOD. WEASEL SO DON'T FORGET THE EVILEST WEASEL FOR MY HEART IS BLACK AND COLD WHEN I LAY DOWN. mE CLAW DON'T GIVE ME NO JAW . JUST DO EXAcnY WHAT YOU'RE TOLD. STOAT AND I AM THE STOAT WHO CO HABITS ms HAUNTS I BACK UP TIIE CHIEF IN WHATEVER HEWANTS I PITY THE STOAT WHO TRIES TO CUT IN ON ME SHE'LL SOON NOTE THE KIND OF CUT-THROAT STOAT I CAN BE. TOGETHER ( a Ia Supremes) IT'S GREAT TO BE AN EVIL WEASEL WEASEL SO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T STRAY INTO OUR PATCH OR WE'LL BITE AND SCRATCH CAUSE THE WEASElS RULE. OKAY ? STOAT OKAY. WEASEL OKAY! STOAT OKAY. TOGETHER EVIL WEASEL ! EVIL WEASEL! EVIL WEASEL! EVIL WEASEL! EVIL, EVIL,EVIL,EVIL! OHHHHH! OKAY! (BLACKOUT) HALL.) Hello Mole. Hello Rat. You've been loo~g for me? RAT Yes, Rabbit. We've got a crisis. RABBIT .. ? A CI'lSIS. .Mole Yes. It's Toad. RABBIT I might have known. RAT You remember what happened after the wagon crash? /" ~ ... J Lv1 RABBIT Oh, that gypi{'f/rgQff) rm still picking yellow paint chips out of my fur. RAT We've done our best to talk Toad out of it but this motor car fad has been going on for days and he gets worse and worse . 2o RABBIT Don't I know it. MOLE He smashes to pieces every car he gets and well ... we're afraid he's going to kill himself. RABBIT It's difficult to know what to do when he gets like this. I suppose I could try something that worked once before. RAT Anyth.ing! RABBIT I'll tell him that he's disgracing his ancestors. He's very sensitive on that point RAT I knew you'd think of something. TOAD The truth? RA'r The truth is he's a terrible driver. RABBIT Toad,you have disgraced your fine ancestors, not to speak of your worthy father. Is this really the kind of conduct that you think does tribute to his memory? Do you want to go down in history as the only qu "onable Toad of Toad Hall? Well? (Toad is moved.. but then, he's easily moved.) Ob, you are so eloquen~ Rabb;::o~;;, ~~vincing thai I can only promise to give up cars forever. And I make this sacrifice only because of the love I hold for my illustrious ancestors and my dear friends. · ' :Z/ RABBIT Toad, don't give me reason to doubt your word. TOAD No, never. RABBIT Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to my work. (She goes inside) RAT Glad to see you being so sensible, Toad. We'll see you later. MOLE Bye, Toad. (They leave. Just as they are out of sight, a smart red motor car arrives. It is driven by a very dapper Frenchman) . ;j)~ fV t iJ FRENCHMAN · / \/J) /-~,f/dy} Excusez moi. Would it be all right if I left my motor car parked right here for a bit? I should like to take few photographs over by the river. (Toad is staring at the car.) FRENCHMAN (cont) Sir? You are all right? TOAD What? Yes. Fine. FRENCHMAN Then I may leave my motor car here? It is safe? TOAD Yes. Of course. FRENCHMAN .I.I/.,., J Good. I wont be very long. Oh! If you are going to stay here, would you c:Un[k;ping an eye on my motor car? "\ Mind? Motor Car? TOAD Wait. Maybe you shouldn't. .. Oh. This just isn't my day. I just made a promise and look! Someone puts temptation like this in my path. What a beauty! Perhaps I could just sit in it. That wouldn't be breaking my word. (He gets in and honks the hom) Uh-oh! He left the keys. (He's weakening) It's fate. These keys were put in my hand because I was born to drive. The key is •" ~. (We hear the engine roar.) The engine roars. The car comes to life... driven by ~ ~\01 1 ···--·-···monsieur Toad. (sings) rrr POOP POOP POOP! ALLEZ OOP! A LA FRANCE :00w MONTE CARLO ICI COME. ICI GO IN MY SUPER MOTOR CAR ON MY WAY I MAY STRAY TO CALAIS AND THEN ST. MALO THEN A DETOUR FOR A DAY TOUR 'fHlUJ THE m2!$)X OF THE LOIRE. ' SWE:tL rd _J ~ Ah/f ~ 0 twf a SWEET SMELL OF TIRES SQUEALING t/a AS I ZOOM ... VROOM. VROOM, VROOM ALONG ALL Z£'BOULEV ARDS . .1}tt !LuM t.. SUR LE PONT D'A VIGNON SEE THE GENDARMES GO CARTWHEELING ~ .J'P'']r_, [)_' ~A~ rM FEELING IN MY SUPER MOTORCAR! OH,~~~ OH! Bu~ A D~Y ~ ... \ /,) ./.. rLL KICK UP(/};Row- ~~ . 1 y~ fJ.w. SM?RE BLEU!-HOLD ON TO YOUR TOUP~E · HERECOMES~NOW. /... f./1 . ().. r:/h-. j_ ~ ~- • 'r{J__ ./l.AVtQ .--. - r ~ ~ A j, ~ 1 ~! RE R SQUASH A PEASANT FLAITER J lkJ.,JJP 'IliA!'~ ~E AS I STEP ON LINE :tf.p __ IF -., DOWN GJlpH1LL SUCH A THR.ll.L TO SEE A:tl THE ClllCKENSSCATIER AS I CLAITER DOWN~lllGHWAY IN MY RACING C~ MAvlllNE. (speaks) Racing car! Yes. I must race. As fast as the wind. Here comes Toad! (The music continues as Toad shifts gears and prepares to speed away. The car sputters and bucks and begins to smoke and then something explodes under the hood.) r-11 I'll I FRENCHMAN Wf~(f~~ ypp (runnmg in) Moo Dieu. What have you done to my beautiful car? Look at it (calling) ~AAAJ/1 Police! Help. Police! ~ ,,,./' (Toad tries to hide under the car. Mole and Rat come on followed by a policeman.O RAT Oh, Toad, what have you done? FRENCHMAN Arrest that .. thaL.that Toad! He ruined my motorcar. POUCEM.tJiN ' ()j)h~. ~ ~~ (pulling Toad from under the car) Come o~~ Toad. rve been wanting o do this for a long time. (He takes a book from his pocket) TOAD Oh, no. Not thaL Not the book! POLICEMAN That's righL rm gonna throw the book at you this time .. (handcuffs Toad) Come along. (to Frenchman) You come too. In case I need a witness. (to Toad) You're gonna love it in jail, Mister Toad. (Policeman drags Toad off followed by Frenchman) MOLE Where are they taking him? RAT To the Wide World. MOLE Then he'll never return? RAT Not without help, he wont? . MOLE (With anxiety in her voice) Are you planning to be that help? ~i)_._ a-rfl . (He's made up his mind.) Yes:'I'm his friencl MOLE .0~~m coming with you. RAT No. There's no sense both of us ... MOLE Both of us what? ?~ RAT Just stay here where you'll be safe. ru be back as soon as I can. MOLE . What are you going to do? RAT If nothing else, rve got to find out what they've done to him. (He starts to leave and then turns back. There is a pause while he looks at her and she at him.) MOLE THE DAY YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE WAS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER DAY rD KNOWN THERE WAS MAGIC IN THE AIR A BEAtiTY EVERYWHERE AND SUDDENLY MY WORLD HAD GROWN THERE WAS MUSIC AND MY HEART COULD SING THERE WAS LAUGHTER AND FROM THAT MOMENT EVERY DAY WAS SPRJNG. WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK ME BY THE HAND I STARTED SEEING IN A DIFFERENT UGHT NOW THE SKY WAS BRIGHTER BLUE THE SUN EMBRACED THE DEW AND THE MOON OUI'SHONE THE NIGIIT HAVING YOU NEAR ME, THAT WAS NATURE'S PLAN THE DAY YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE W~DAY~~ BEGAN. (spoken) Without you there'd be no picnics. No bo~ mess about in. So, hurry back, please. ru be waiting. RAT I know. (he leaves) MOLE THEDAY YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE WAS THE DAY MY LIFE BEGAN. (BLACKOUT) (THE UGHTS COME UP OUTSIDE TOAD HALL. MOLE IS . KNOCKING AT THE WINDOW SHUITERS OF TOAD HALL. RABBIT OPENS THE . SHUTIERS AND PEERS OUT.) RABBIT Mole? What are you doing here? Where's Rat? MOLE Rabbit, do you think you could help me find my way thru the Wild Wood? RABBIT Why on earth do you want to go out in the Wild Wood? MOLE Rat's gone to the Wide World to fmd Toad and rm worried about him. I want to try to find him. RABBIT Rat? Toad? Gone to the Wide World? MOLE Yes. Toad stole a motor car and he wrecked it RABBIT Well, I can probably get us tbru the woods, but I don't know much about the Wide World. Wait rll see if I can find a map. (She closes the shutters.) (Weasel and Stoat come out from behind a tree.) WEASEL Well, well, well. Look what we have here. MOLE Oh! rm Mole. STOAT She's Mole. MOLE From Mole End. (Weasel starts to toy with Mole- pinching and pushing. Mole attempts to avoid him and bumps into the Stoat who falls. Mole turns and offers a hand to help her up.) MOLE Oh, I'm sorry. Here. Let me help. STOAT (pushing Mole's hand away) Get away. Get away. WEASEL (to Stoat) Show some manners. This Mole's got class. (to Mole.) Did I just overhear that you needed directions thru the Wild Wood? MOLE Yes, I do. WEASEL Expert that I am, I could probably help. MOLE Oh, would you? WEASEL A piece of cake. You just..follow your instinct. (he sniffs ~e air.) FOLLOW YOUR NOSE IT'S MORE EASILY DONE THAN YOU'D EVER SUPPOSE WEASEL AND STOAT nJST LOOK FOR ALL TilE LANDMARKS WE DESCRIBE AND WHEN YOU SEE CROCUS YOU'LL KNOW YOU'RE IN FOCUS. TIIEN TRACE OTHER FOOTSTEPS, PICK UP A SCENT IF YOU HAVE TO START OVER THEN YOU'LL KNOW WHERE YOU WENT SO KEEP YOUR SPIRITS UP, YOUR COURAGE STRONG FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCT AND YOU KNOW YOU WONT GO WRONG. (They have pushed Mole off.) 27 WEASEL You know, that Mole is pretty smart.. .for a mole. And she does have class. We could use someone like her when we move into Toad Hall. STOAT And speaking of moving into Toad Hall. Don't you think we should get rid of that Rabbit. WEASEL A piece of cake. A piece of cake. RABBIT (Comes out of house) I couldn't find a map. I...(sees Weasel and Stoat) What are you doing here? WEASEL (to Stoat) Not very friendly, is she? RABBIT Where's Mole? STOAT As far as we know, she's gone to the Wild World. RABBIT But she doesn't know how to get there. STOAT Then I guess she11 get lost WEASEL (looking around) This Toad Hall is a really nice place. I wouldn't mind living here. RABBIT It's not, for sale. WEASEL Who said anything about J,>uying it? rm just gonna take it! RABBIT You can't do that. WEASEL No? Who is gonna stop me? STOAT Yeh. Who? You? WEASEL (behind Rabbit) Boo! TOGETHER FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCT FOLLOW YOUR NOSE ITS MORE EASILY DONE THAN YOUD EVER SUPPOSE JUST LOOK FOR ALL TIIE LANDMARKS WE DESCRIBE AND WHEN YOU SEE CROCUS YOU'LL KNOW YOU'RE IN FOCUS THEN TRACE OTIIER FOOTSTEPS PICK UP A SCENT IF YOU HAVE TO START OVER. THEN YOU'LL KNOW WHERE YOU WENT SO KEEP YOU'RE SPIRITS UP, YOU'RE COURAGE STRONG FOLLOW YOU'RE JNSTINCT FOLLOW YOU'RE INSTINCT AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. (They have opened up Toad Hall and are now sitting with their feet up on the furniture- food and drink in band.) (BLACKOUT) (IF mERE IS TO BE AN INTERMISSION IT SHOUlD BE TAKEN HERE.) (TilE LIGHTS COME UP ON THE COURTROOM. TilE JUDGE IS AT THE BENCH AND TOAD STANDS IN THE PRISONER'S DOCK THE JUDGE IS DRESSED IN TRADmONAL BLACK ROBE AND WlllTE WIG.) JUDGE (After banging gavel) Silence in the court. Silence! Bring in the prisoner. TOAD Your honor. .. JUDGE I said... bring in ~e prisoner. TOAD Your honor, the prison~er· in. J I.. /J ~ _'7 1 W-{(JlA9 ' fj) t) ...J. I . ~ - . ~-jpu (fl~ JUDGE What? Oh. In that case, the pisoner may stand. TOAD Your honor, the prisoner is standing. JUDGE What? Oh. Of course, he is! In that case.. .let the trial begin. (refers to some papers.) The case of the people against Toad. The court will come to order. Toad, you have crashed eleven cars... TOAD Ten, your honor! JUDGE And you have demolished nine cars... TOAD Eleven... your honor. JUDGE And you have stolen... (looks to Toad for number) TOAD Only one, your honor. JUDGE One car. Now... do you have a lawyer? TOAD Yes, your honor. JUDGE Where is your lawyer? TOAD (indicating self) Here, your honor. JUDGE I see. Very well. Call your first witness. TOAD I have only one witness, your honor. JUDGE And where is this witness? TOAD Here, your Honor. JUDGE Where? TOAD Here! JUDGE You mean. you are your own witness? TOAD Yes, your Honor. JUDGE All righL You may· proceed. TOAD Well, your Honor, (turns to audience) and members of the jury, I have very Iitle to offer as an excuse for my behavior except... S-S-S-SOMETIDNG COMES OVER ME I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS MY HEART STARTS A PUMPIN AND MY HEAD'S IN A TIZZ MY KNEES START A KNOCKIN AND MY EYES BEGIN TO GLAZE S-S-S-S -SUDDENLY IT'S ONE OF THOSE D~ SOMETHING COMES OVER ME PERHAPS FROM OUTER SPACE WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT LIKE A PIE IN TilE FACE I SIMPLY CAN'T AVOID IT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ON MY HONOR, YOUR HONOR . IT'S T-T-T-TRUE. (Toad goes into a crazy dance around the courtroom) JUDGE Order in the court! Order! Please proceed. TOAD OH YOUR HONOR AND GENTLE JURY rVE TRIED OUT EVERY CURE YOU COULD DESIGN THERE'S THE YOGA THAT I PRACTICE ATS EEVERY DAY I . n; ~ CACfUS JUST TO DJUVE fHIS AWAY. 0. .)UVP- ~c/. -~ ( ~ ~ SO I BEG YOU TO SHOW COMPASSION rM HAUNTED BY THIS MALADY OF MINE I UNDERTOOK A HUNGER STRIKE- TEN DAYS WITHOUT CHAMPAGNE I LAY OWN ON A BED OF SNAILS... YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THE STRAIN I CHANGED MY BLOOD FROM BLUE TO RED . BUT EVEN THA T ...IN VAIN! JUDGE Strike that from the record! TOAD BECAUSE BEFORE I KNOW IT THERE'S A BUZZ IN MY BRAIN. SOMETHING COMES OVER ME it IJ I FAll INTO A TRANCE ~~ -~UK/ ASIF A ~ME INTO A DANCE THE MUSIC TAKES ME OVER I REALLY CAN'T EXPLAIN G-G-G-G-GOLL Y HERE IT COMES AGAIN. (He breaks into another wild dance DURING WinCH Rat sneaks in and observes.) JUDGE Order! Order in the cowt! Counselor, restrain your client (Toad claps his hand on his own shoulder) Now, approach the bench.. Now ... PRESENT YOUR CLOSING ARGUMENT. .' TOAD SOMETHING COMES OVER ME AND LANDS ME IN A MESS THOUGH fM A MODEL CITIZEN AFACTISHOULDS~ THOUGH HONESTLY, YOUR HONORSIDP fM SIMPLY LED ASTRAY RAT (pops up then pops back into hiding) HE'S LED ASTRAY TOAD AND C-C-C-C-COME TO THINK OF IT I WOO WOO WOO WOO WOULDN'T BEHAVING IT ANY OTIIER WAY! I rest my case! (Rat is trying to get Toad's attention but Toad doesn't see him.) JUDGE Toad. I fmd you ...guilty! It's going to be tw~ 'yeaa:s:oiajail for you this time. And mind. if you appear before us again, I shall have to deal with you more seriously! This court is adjourned. (The music dirge begins and Toad tums and walks towards the jail pulling the docket behind him and the Judge walks the opposite direction pulling the bench behind him. Rat is busy trying to get Toad's attention and avoid the judge as (THE UGHTS FADE TO BLACK AND IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO FADE UP AGAIN. AS TIIEY COME UP WE SEE TOAD AND THE POUCEMAN SETTING THE JAn. CELL. THE POUCEMAN SHACKLES TOAD TO THE BARS .) POUCEMAN Well, Toad, I knew the day would come when you would go too far. You're lucky the judge took pity on you. · TOAD Pity? You mean it could be worse than this? POUCEMAN A lot wo~. ~ow fll try to ~ you as comfortable as possible, but remember... your comfort is not of p~ ip!po~ce around here. TOAD Well, do I at leas~ get food? POLICEMAN . Of course you get food. The jailer will be right in with your dinner. Make yourself at home. (He leaves.) TOAD Home? Home? This is the end of everything. The popular... handsome ... debonair Toad is left to languish in this ...this dungeon till people who were proud to say they knew me have forgotten my name. MARY (entering carrying a tray of food) Here's your dinner. (she looks into the cell) Well, look at that a toad. How cute! TOAD (horrified at the word) Cute? MARY What a wonderful surprise. TOAD Are you the jailer? MARY _ . No. rep the jailer's daughter. rm only helping Daddy out for the night I had no idea we had a toad. TOAD Well, rm glad to see it gives you so much pleasure. MARY Oh, it does. I simply adore animals. And they adore me. They do tricks for me, eat out of my hand and everything: TOAD Eat out of your haod! Y ecch! MARY You know what? rm gonna get you some of my dinner. None of this junk food for you. Now, you wait right here. - TOAD (as she starts to leave) Where am I going to go? ------~~~~~~-----~~ · ' · "' MARY How adorable! (leaves) TOAD Adorable? Oh, Toad, how you have fallen. (perks up) Wait a minute! I think rve got an idea. MARY (coming back) rm back! See? That didn't take very long, did it? (She enters the cell and sets down the new tray of food.) TOAD (indicating the manacles) I don't think I can eat with these... these ... MARY Oh. silly me. (starts to release him) Now. you're not going to do anything silly are you? (Toad loolcs at her aghast .. .hurt... "Who, me?" ) I was just joking. (releases him) I can see that you're a gentleman. TOAD (Between mouthfuls of food) Quite right, dear girl How observant you are. . . MARY Toad, do tell me why an aristocrat such as yourself has been thrown into jail. TOAD It was nothing very much. I only borrowed a motor car. . MARY Well, I think you've been dreadfully mistreated for what was, after all. only a Iitle crime. · TOAD Ah. the sensitivity orhe woman! Take away my clothes, my food, my freedom. Incarcerate me in a place without mmshine and I will find beauty - somewhere! MARY Ohhhh, Toad! TOAD Ohhh. Jailer's Daughter! MARY Mary. TOAD What? MARY Mary. That's my name. Call me Mary. TOAD What a beautiful name. Mary. (Mary giggles with joy) And- what a pretty dress, Mary. MARY Oh, just a little something I threw on this morning. Toad It's lovely. Just look at the detail on this sleeve. (He tugs at the sleeve of her dress and it comes off) Oops~ Oh, fm so sorry. rm so clumsy. " .. I A_ MARY Oh, don't~ about it. I can sew it back on. TOAD . (Slipping his arm into sieve) Oh, look. It fits me. MARY How about that! TOAD I wonder if the rest of your dress would frt me? MARY What? TOAD Why, ru bet. ..if I were wearing your dress everyone would think that I was you. MARY Now why would you want them to think that? You silly toad, you. J iJJJ ,- TOAD ~ Have you ever played Hide and Seek? MARY Of course, I have. TOAD Good. Let's play now. MARY Now? TOAD Come on. It'll be fun. You're "it." (Toad turns her away from him and snatches the scarf that Mary is wearing around her neck. He ties it around her eyes and she starts to move around - 'blind man's bluff style. Toad tickles her - what he is really doing is feeling for her keys - takes keys from her pocket and holds them up successfully. He then grabs at her dress and the skirt comes off. He puts it on. Toad then goes for what is left of the bodice of the dress. Mary starts to struggle but Toad gets the bodice and puts it on. Mary pulls off the blindfold.) MARY Toad! Give those back this instant! (She ~int.S to the clothes and as she does Toad slips the manacles onto her wrists.) TOAD rm sorry, Mary. ertum these as soon as I can. Oh, maybe I should borrow that, too. (He pulls off her · 1od plops it on his head.) Thanks. Goodbye, Mary. (he runs off) ?).d . . (BLACKOUT) (IN THE DARK WE HEAR THE MUS!C AND VOICES OF "THE WIND IN THE WITU)WS" THE UGIITS COME UP ON RATS DOCK AND WE SEE MOLE WATERING RAT'S FLOWERS. SHE LOOKS OUT IN THE DISTANCE - OBVIOUSLY LOOKING FOR RAT.) MOLE Goin.ing the voices of the forest - singing) THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS IS THE MUSIC WE DANCE TO AT NIGIIT WHEN THE STARS SHINE AS BRIGHT AS THEY DARE AND SOMETIMES THE BEAUTY IS MORE THAN WE CAN BEAR A TEAR IN THE MOONLIGHT A KISS IN THE MIDNIGHT AIR. (RAT HAS ENTERED AND STANDS LISTENING TO MOLE) RAT THE WIND IN THE WilLOWS IS THE SONG OF THE WINTER WIITCI: KEEPS US TOGETHER IN TIMES OF DESPAIR (The music continues as they speak) MOLE Rat! You're back. (she nms to him) Is Toad with you? Did you find him? RAT Yes. But there was nothing I could do for him. MOLE Oh. fm sorry. I know how much you wanted... RAT I went off to fight the world, but the world felt so big and I felt so small I suppose you think rm a coww? . MOLE Oh, no! Not a bit. I think you were very brave to go at all. Rabbit and I wanted to come after you, but we couldn't even find our way. RAT Well. we DlliStn't give up hoPe. Where there's life, there's Toad. I see you've been watering my . flowers. · MOLE Well. it was the least I could do. ( ,, AllYl ) .. \!!ltj~ RABBIT (Rwming in) Rat! rm so glad to see you. Is Toad... ? (Mole and Rat shake heads "No.") Oh.5 no. While you were away the W~}.s,AUld the Stoats moved into Toad Hall. They've completely taken over and refuse to move ~\ are we going to do? . , ( w-/1- oJ.,dJAX\ R4:tdlfofJl.ffi# & u' .. ~ -J T 4J;.e/) {lftA ,u) ~ . bj4J:t3tfe/Jjttt'fl p,«,~- J Tl'~~- ~~~ ~HOWE MAY BE TEMPTED TO L~ OME AND WANDER .-af;!;,J11lv.'I t;:)_LI!JI'\ /).If j ~ WEKNOWTHATTHERIVERAWAITSOURRETURN ~ ~.;y~ ~ V)hJJ -- t A~ J,t~ ALL Rf~- t!l Jrt/J~' AND SOMETIMES THE BEAUTY IS MORE THAN WE CAN BEAR (d_u-tl Vn t).JIJ. I{JJ THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS THAT FOLLOWS EVERYWHERE ;,-J:::J' THE WIND IN THE Wll.LOWS WILL EVER CALL US THERE . . J~ ,~ ~ lOOs!Wf ~~ . -~ ~ome here. Your eyes are better than mine. Who does that look like to you? Over there. R. ..c\T Why it looks like.. .like... ALL Toad? MOLE But it can't be. It looks like he's wearing a. •• a dress! RABBIT Oh, dear. I do hope this isn't another one of his fads. TOAD (entering) Ah, familiar faces. RAT Toad. Welcome back. How did you get away? TOAD Ah, old friend. What memories of happier times~ conjure forth. You know, I spent many dreadful days in that dazk, dank dungeon with onq junk food to eat, but I bore it like a hero. RABBIT rm sure you bored everybody, Toad. MOLE Toad? Why are you dressed like that? TOAD I'll explain later. For now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going home. RAT Toad, I'm afraid we've got bad news for you. In your absence, the Weasels and Stoats have moved into Toad Hall. RABBIT Completely taken over. And they've got guards posted all over the place. TOAD Oh no. Then all is lost? RAT There must be some way to get inside. RABBIT Well, there s a ttinnel. MOLE Oh. I love tunnels! TOAD My father never told me about any tunnels. RABBIT That's because he knew you couldn't keep a secret. Now this tunnel leads from the river bank right into the dining room of Toad Hall where all the W""!"<~els and Stoats are gathered right now, celebrating the Chief Weasel's birthday. We could surprise them. Toad Take them by storm. MOLE Just like the Trojans! RAT There's only one hitch. Where's the tunnel. -·- RABBIT fm not sure. All that I know is that it's next to a holly bush. MOLE (her moment has come) I can find it! Tunnels are my specialty. RAT Well, fm going with you. TOAD We're all going with her. MOLE Then let's go. (Everyone except Toad starts off) TOAD rve come to learn, the really important things in life have nothing to do with bloodlines, but everything to do with... RAT ,MOLE,RABBIT Toad! TOAD Coming. (BLACKOUT) (THE UGHTS COME UP ON THE INTERlOR OF TOAD HALL WHERE THE WEASELS AND STOATS ARE CELEBRATING) WE'RE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD WE'VE JOINED THE UPPER CLASSES WE'LL SPEND OUR DAYS IN THE BEST CAFES THROWING BREAD AND BREAKING GLASSES WE'RE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD WE'VE LEFr THE HUDDLED MASSES THERE'LL BE NO JOY FOR THE HOI POLLOI AS WE'RE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD. ~I WEASEL WE'LL GO TO ASCOT FOR THE RACES STOAT rLL WEAR MY PRICELESS PEARLS WEASEL TAILS OF COURSE AND TOP HATS WE'LL MIX WITH DUKES AND EARLS STOAT WE'LL HAVE CHAUFFEUR-DRIVEN BENTLEYS LET TOADY TAKE THE BUS WEASEL WE'LL FRITIER AWAY A FORTUNE CAUSE IT DON'T BELONG TO US. TOGETHER WE'RE MOVING UP IN HE WORLD WHERE DINING WELL'S A HABIT WEASEL WINE WITH EVERY DISH STOAT WE'LL HAVE WlllTE WITH FISH WEASEL AND A GOOD ROSE WITH RABBIT TOGETHER WE'RE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD AND WHAT WE WANT ... GRAB IT. THE UPPER CRUST CAN JUSr WATCH OUR DUST AS WE'RE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD. CROQUET ON U;1E LAWN, A GENTLE BREEZE AS MANY STRA'BERRIES AS WE PLEASE SILKEN HANKIES WHEN WE SNEEZE SILVER PEA SPOONS FOR OUR PEAS AN ARISTOCRATIC LIFE OF EASE WHERE MONEY GROWS ON FAMILY TREES. .. WEASEL AND WHEN WE FEEL BLOODTHIRSTY WE'LL PLAY AT COUNTRY SQUIRES STOAT D~OURSEL VES IN HUNTING PINK AND GALLOP ROUND THE SIDRES TOGETHER WE'LL HUNT FOR HUMAN BEINGS PUT THE HOUNDS IN OVERDRIVE AND WHEN WE CATCH EM WHAT'LL WE DO? SKIN EM! SKIN EM! SKIN EM AND EAT EM ALIVE! WE'RE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD WE'LL EXERCISE OUR POWERS WE'LL MAKE THE LAWS AND THEN BREAK THE LAWS AND THEN SEND EACH OTHER FLOWERS WE'RE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD AND ALL YOU SEE IS OURS AND WHAT WAS ONCE TOAD HALL IS NOW CALLED WEASEL TOWERS! (During the song Mole, Rat, and Rabbit have been sneaking into the room via the tunnel which led them to a secret panel in the wall.) WEASEL You know, we should be thanking our gracious host for his hospitality.. It's only good manners. (talking to painting of Toad's falb.er) We all know he is a good Toad. A modest Toad. A generous Toad. TOAD (bursting thru the panel) An.angry Toad. (THE OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN HIDING NOW REVEAL THEMSELVES. MOLE WHO IS CLOSEST TO WEASEL STARTS TO BACK AWAY BUT WEASEL GRABS HER AND USFS HER AS A SHIELD.) TOAD You villain! Unhand that Mole! (he moves toward Weasel, but is stopped by Rat.) RAT Sorry Toad, but this is my fight TOAD (without hesitation) Oh, all right. WEASEL You Riverbankers will never learn. (WEASEL TOSSES MOLE ASIDE. MOLE LANDS ON STOAT WHO IS WAITING WITH A BAll AND CHAIN AND CHAINS MOLE. RABBIT BEGINS CHASNG STOAT AND HITI'ING HER wrrn A GIANT CARROT. TOAD IS CHEERING HER ON. STOAT GETS TRAPPED BETWEEN RABBIT AND TOAD. TOAD IS ASSAULTING HER WITH A PILLOW AS RABBIT CONTINUES TO THREATEN wmi TilE CARROT. MEANWHILE, WEASEL AND RAT ARE WRESTLING AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WEASEL IS GETTING TilE BEST OF RAT WHEN SUDDENLY RAT LETS OUT A YELL AND ASSUMES A BOXING POSE. THEY BOX IN TIME TO THE MUSIC UNTIL RAT IN A FLURRY OF PUNCHES DOWNS THE WEASEL.) STOAT (runs to Weasel) Weasel! Wake up. Wake up. (Toad picks up a tankard and throws the contents in Weasel's face. Weasel sputters awake.) WEASEL '(Lkv Well. I won the Wild Wood with a fight. It looks like I lost it with a fight. RAT You haven't lost the Wild Wood. You've only lost a little pride. WEASEL You beat me. That means you're the chief. RAT I don't want to be chief. All I want is for my friends and me to be able to live in peace. WEASEL And if we let you do that, who are we gonna have to fight? Vf g_ Wide World is moving closer~Tour woods every day. They'll give you a good fight /I! d MOLE (sweetly) I wonder if it would be possible for someone to get me out of this? • RABBIT Oh, dear. The ball and chain. RAT (to StoJ.t) Is there a key? (Stoat shrugs shoulders) Never mind. I'll take care of this. (He grabs hold of the chain and with his bare bands and super-rat strength, he breaks the chain in two.) MOLE How did you do that? TOAD There's nothing you can't do for a friend. After all, the really important things in life have nothing to do with bloodlines, but everything to do. .. ALL with good friends. MOLE And that. thank goodness, is what I have in you. RAT And you always will. WHEN FRIENDS ARE NEAR THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO FEAR FOR LOVE WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE TIIOSE TROUBLES DISAPPEAR ALL AND COME WHAT MAY THE JOY YOU FEEL TODAY LIKE THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS WILL HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY. ; . ' . : ~ ,) . . . ~--··. ~ ' . . . -~- ·----··--·· -·--··-·----· -·-·--·- ·---·-··------_·: _____ ~ . 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