TAKE ONE HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Adapted by. L. Bennett CAST: Narrator 1-4 Grinch Cindy Lou Who Mayor Martha Lou Lou Who Betty Lou Who Young Grinch Young Martha Young Mayor Teacher Clarnella Rose Drew Lou Who Stu Lou Who Christina Storekeeper Police Officer K2K ADDITIONAL CAST: Commercial Hosts Foley Artists (sound effects) 2 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS PROLOGUE Announcer: And now to tell the story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” we are again joined by the WK2K Radio players singing Welcome Christmas. Song: “Welcome Christmas” SCENE 1 Narrator 1: Way up in the mountains was the small town of Whoville. Narrator 2: The home of the Whos. Narrator 3: There is no place like Whoville around Christmas Day. Narrator 4: Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot… Narrator 1: But the Grinch who lived just North of Whoville did not. Narrator 3: It could be that his shoes were too tight or that his head was not screwed on just right. Narrator 4: But the most likely reason the Grinch hated the season may have been that his heart was two sizes too small. Narrator 2: While the Grinch was in his cave minding his own business, three teenagers were on their way to his residence. (sfx walking in snow) Drew Lou Who: They say he lives up here in a big cave! Stu Lou Who: And only comes down when he is hungry for the taste of…Who flesh! Christina: Stu! Don’t say that! Stu Lou Who: You’re scared of the Grinch! Christina: Am not! 3 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Drew Lou Who: Look…it’s his door! Narrator 3: Drew and Stu walked up to the door…they inched closer… (sfx steps to the door) Christina: Touch it! Touch the door! Narrator 4: Drew and Stu looked at each other and gulped. Narrator 1: They inched closer… Narrator 2: And out popped a scary looking monster! (sfx dog bark) Narrator 3: They screamed loudly and ran away – tumbling down the mountain! Grinch: Serves them right! Those Yuletide-loving cheer mongers! So, they want to get to know me, do they? They want to spend a little quality time with the Grinch. Narrator 4: The Grinch grabbed his cloak (sfx cloak) and headed for Whoville. (sfx walking in the snow) Narrator 1: The Grinch vandalized a vehicle… (sfx scratching a car) Narrator 2: Burped in the storekeeper’s face… (sfx burp) Narrator 3: And then he ran and hid. (sfx running) Storekeeper: Ahhh! My eyes! My face! Narrator 4: Just as the storekeeper ran away, Drew and Stu came running through. (sfx running) Narrator 1: They had icicles all over and looked terrified. 4 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Lou Lou Who: What happened to you guys? Drew & Stu: It was the Grinch! Narrator 2: Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. Mayor Augustus Maywho: Did you just say…THE GRINCH? Drew & Stu: Yes! The Grinch! Mayor Augustus Maywho: Lou…I hope you’re not telling me your boys were on Mount Crumpit...provoking the one creature who hates Christmas! Lou Lou Who: No, sir. The boys did not see any Grinch… Narrator 3: So, the Mayor yelled to his town’s folk loudly… Mayor Augustus Maywho: So, you heard the man! There is no Grinch problem here! Narrator 4: The Whos sighed in relief and went on about their Christmas business. Cindy Lou Who: But dad, I don’t understand. Why doesn’t anyone talk about the Grinch? Lou Lou Who: You see, Cindy…the Grinch is not actually a who…He is more of a What. And he’s a What that doesn’t like Christmas. Narrator 1: Later that day, as Cindy was helping her dad sort Christmas gifts… Narrator 2: Cindy ran into the Grinch for the first time ever. Cindy Lou Who: You’re the Grinch! Narrator 3: She was so shocked; she fell into the machine and couldn’t get out. (sfx falling) Cindy Lou Who: Help! Help me! Help! 5 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Narrator 4: The Grinch, who heard her cries, got her out. Cindy Lou Who: Thank you for saving me! Grinch: Saving you? Is that what you think I was doing? I merely noticed that you were improperly packaged, my dear. Hold still! Narrator 1: And he wrapped her up like a gift. (sfx wrapping paper) Narrator 2: By the time she was able to unwrap herself, he was gone. Narrator 3: She wondered if he wasn’t that bad after all… Narrator 4: And decided to learn more about him. 6 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS SCENE 2 Narrator 1: She knocked on her neighbour’s door, trying to get some answers. Cindy Lou Who: I hear you know some things about the Grinch. Where did it all start? Why did the Grinch hate Christmas? Where did he come from? Clarnella: He came the way all Who babies come. They drift from the sky in their own pumbersellas. (sfx wind) Rose: We were having our annual holiday get together. It was morning before anyone realized he was out in the cold! Clarnella: We knew right away that he was special. Rose: His first Christmas, he ate our Santa plate… (sfx eating) Clarnella: His first words were Santa…Santa “bye bye” … Narrator 2: Cindy Lou talked to Martha May Whovier as well. Cindy Lou Who: What was he like? Martha May Whovier: I hardly remember him. I didn’t have time to socialize. I was far too busy with my studies. Narrator 3: And Cindy even talked to the Mayor. Mayor Augustus Maywho: I think he had a crush on Martha. And Martha was my girlfriend. (sfx flashback) Young Mayor: You don’t have a chance with her! You’re eight years old and you have a 7 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS beard! Young Martha: Christmas is my favourite time of year! I just love the colours. The red… the green! Young Grinch: Oh, Martha! Oh, Christmas! Teacher: Has everyone given their gifts? Young Grinch: I haven’t! Merry Christmas Martha May. Teacher: Why do you have a bag on your head? Young Mayor: Probably because he’s embarrassed by that hideous gift. Teacher: Mr. Grinch, please take the bag off. (sfx) Narrator 4: So, he did… Narrator 1: But everybody laughed because he tried to shave off his beard. Young Mayor: Look at that hack job! Young Grinch: Stupid present! Stupid tree! I HATE CHRISTMAS! Narrator 2: He threw the tree, kicked the gift…(sfx) Narrator 3: And that was the last time anyone ever saw him. Narrator 4: Cindy Lou couldn’t help but feel bad for the Grinch. 8 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS SCENE 3 Narrator 1: The next day, during the Whobilation, Cindy spoke up in the Grinch’s honor. Mayor Augustus Maywho: And now, the nominations, for that Who among us who best displays the qualities of Whodom and Wodery. Do I hear a nomination? Cindy Lou Who: I nominate the Grinch! Mayor Augustus Maywho: The Grinch? What an altruistic daughter you have there, Lou! Lou Lou Who: Thank you! Cindy? Cindy Lou Who: The book of Who says, “No matter how different a Who may appear, he will always be welcomed with holiday cheer.” Mayor Augustus Maywho: Yes, the book also says…the award…cannot go to the Grinch because…sometimes things get the lead-pipe cinch. Cindy Lou Who: You made that up! It doesn’t say that! What page? Mayor Augustus Maywho: I lost my place. But it’s in here! (sfx page turning) Cindy Lou Who: But the book does say: “The cheer-meister is the one who deserves a back slap or a toast. “And it goes to the soul at Christmas who needs it most.” And I believe that soul is the Grinch. Storekeeper: She’s right! Mayor Augustus Maywho: Fine. If you people want to waste a perfectly good nomination, that’s up to you. I’m telling you, he’ll never come down. 9 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Announcer: What will happen to Cindy’s nomination? Will the Grinch accept!? In a moment, after these words from our sponsors we will return to WK2K Radio Players audio-adapatation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas...” COMMERCIAL BREAK Announcer: and now, we conclude our story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” SCENE 4 Narrator 2: So, Cindy went up to the mountain to convince him herself. Cindy Lou Who: Grinch? Grinch: How dare you enter the Grinch’s lair! The impudence! The audacity! Cindy Lou Who: My name is Cindy Lou Who. Grinch: Even now the terror is welling up inside you! Cindy Lou Who: I’m not scared. Grinch: Doubt? Another unmistakable sign of the heebie-jeebies! Now you’re doomed! Run for your life!! Danger! Danger! Cindy Lou Who: Maybe you need a time-out. Grinch: Didn’t see that comin’. Cindy Lou Who: Mr. Grinch, I came to invite you to be holiday cheer meister. Grinch: That’s a good one. Cindy Lou Who: I know you hate Christmas. But you have to accept the award! Please! Grinch: Award? I won? 10 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Cindy Lou Who: Yep. And Martha Mary will be there. Grinch: She will? Cindy Lou Who: Yes, so will you come? Grinch: Let me check my schedule. 4:00, wallow in self-pity. 4:30, stare into the abyss. 5:00, solve world hunger. 5:30, jazzercise. 6:30, dinner with me.