Nyra, Chitra Chitra brings the audience to an old, NYRA: Visitors? (NYRA moves towards Chitra and well-known storyteller to hear Mowgli’s story. squints out into audience.) So we do, so we do. And there's no need to tell me why they're here. Visitors NYRA: (Squinting) Who's there? Who speaks? Is that come to this village for only one reason: to hear the you, Chitra? story of the jungle boy. The one the wolves named CHITRA: Yes, Nyra. Mowgli. (Chuckles) What a peculiar name to give a child, for it means Little Frog. Did you ever hear the NYRA: Come closer. Don't make me squint. You know my like? Only I, Nyra, know the true story. You'll have to pay eyes aren't what they once were. Did I hear you something to hear it, though. A good storyteller is worth speaking with someone? a coin or two. I can't be expected to tell this strange CHITRA: Yes. account week in and week out without something to NYRA: Who was it? (RIKKI-TIKKI dances in.) There's that show for my trouble. mongoose again. Must he follow you everywhere you CHITRA: Our visitors gave me a coin of worth. go? (To Rikki-Tikki) Begone! NYRA: A coin of worth, eh? I'll be the judge of that. Let CHITRA: He means no harm. me see it. (She holds out her hand and CHITRA gives NYRA: No harm? Last week he turned over my cooking her a coin. She quickly hides the coin in a pocket. She pot and spilled the stew. (With a threatening gesture) Be takes a step toward the audience.) Make yourselves off with you, Son of Mischief! (shakes head) Conceited comfortable while I tell you a story from the book of the mongoose. jungle. CHITRA: (To audience) Like Mowgli, Nyra can understand the language of the jungle creatures. I never know what they're saying. Nyra introduces the story and characters. NYRA: Get yourself a proper pet. A tame monkey or a parrot, perhaps. A mongoose may be fine for trapping NYRA: Long ago, Shere Khan came into this village and snakes, but otherwise it's nothing but aggravation. One terrorized all who lived here. There is nothing to fear thing after another. Overturned cooking pots and stolen more than the breath of a man-eating tiger. Mowgli's eggs. father was struck down by the fearsome beast, and in the confusion, Mowgli, barely old enough to walk, CHITRA: Nyra? wandered off into the jungle. His mother was left alone NYRA: Eh? in their home, husband and child both gone. (Pause.) CHITRA: (Gestures to audience) We have visitors. Oh, wicked, wicked Shere Khan. Messua, Toomai, Villagers Toomai finds Mowgli entering the village and brings MESSUA: The same age as my lost Nathoo would be… him to the village elder, assuming Mowgli to be a VILLAGER: Messua, do you think this boy could be dangerous troublemaker. Nathoo? TOOMAI: Be still, wild thing of the jungle! TOOMAI: Nonsense! MESSUA: Who is this boy, Toomai? VILLAGER: He was swallowed up by the man-eating tiger TOOMAI: I caught him spying on the village from the tall years ago. grass at the edge of the jungle. Planning some mischief, MESSUA: His eyes are the same color. And his nose and no doubt. chin are the same as my dead husband's. Give me your VILLAGER: Long have we heard rumors of a wild boy hand, boy. No, the other one. (MESSUA turns it over to living in the jungle. Now we have found these rumors to show the palm. She gasps.) be true. CHITRA: What is it? TOOMAI: He has the smell of the wolves about him. Have MESSUA: He is my Nathoo! This scar on his hand. I you never heard of children being raised by wolves? remember the day he got it. He laid his hand on a hot VILLAGER: They bring bad luck! We must drive this one kettle and was badly burned. from the village. MOWGLI: You mean that you are my mother? I have only TOOMAI: He is no better than an untamed beast. known Mother Wolf… VILLAGER: He will wreak havoc on the village! MESSUA: (Hugs him.) You have come back to me, Nathoo. I have missed you so much. MESSUA: But where did he come from? VILLAGER: (Mowgli howls, startling everyone) The boy is quite mad! TOOMAI: I know how to deal with mad things from the jungle. MESSUA: No, Toomai! The boy is frightened. You mustn't harm him. (Kneels in front of Mowgli.) There's nothing to fear. I won't let anyone hurt you. Now, how old are you, boy? CHITRA: He looks about eleven or twelve. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Jungle Creatures, Wolves A strange, mischievous rhyme repeated The young wolves are trying to decide whether they frequently by Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. should remain loyal to their old wolf pack leader, or divert their allegiance to the villainous Shere Khan. RIKKI-TIKKI: (Chanting and dancing gleefully) Eye to eye and head to head. WOLF 1: It will seem very odd to have a man-eating tiger Turn for turn and twist for twist leading the pack. The hooded cobra, again has missed. WOLF 2: I don't like the idea. Thanks to Rikki-tikki-tavi. Oh, yes. WOLF 3: Nor do I. Still, Shere Khan makes a good case. WOLF 1: And Akela is growing old and weak. He's already missed his kill! Rikki-Tikki finds Young Mowgli wandering lost in the dangerous jungle after Shere Khan WOLF 3: It is a very serious matter when the leader of the attacks the village. pack misses a kill. RIKKI-TIKKI: (amused, to himself) Hmmm…a man-cub WOLF 2: If he fails too many hunts, the young cubs will alone in the Jungle? Very curious… He must have been starve. chased off by Shere Khan! Well, his people may have WOLF 1: Even so, a tiger? been killed but the tiger shall not feast on this cub! No, WOLF 2: Better a tiger to lead the pack than a wolf who he shall be safe, thanks to Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. Thanks to can no longer hunt. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. Oh, yes. WOLF 3: True. We young wolves must think of our future! Jungle Creatures commenting on the meeting between the respected wolf pack leader and the despised Shere Khan. JUNGLE CREATURE: Imagine. Shere Khan, here in the jungle! JUNGLE CREATURE: Who would have thought it? SNAKE: It's a bad busssinesssssss. JUNGLE CREATURE: I hope he's been well fed. Tabaqui, Wolves, Akela Tabaqui is sent by Shere Khan to speak with Akela, TABAQUI: It's not what I want. I wouldn't presume. It's instead he begins bragging of his “beautiful howl” to what my master desires. the younger wolves. AKELA: Your master is a man-killer and I have forbidden TABAQUI: There's no use trying to impress a jackal such him from the jungle trails. as I with your wolf howlings. The cry of a jackal is more TABAQUI: Ah, Great Leader, it is as I told the young than a match. (Throws back head and howls/wails.) ones. This is the dry season. All are welcome at the There. What did I tell you? Don't I have a fine voice? water hole. Jungle Law. WOLF 1: Doesn't matter. Jackals are not welcome at AKELA: Shere Khan entered a village and there he killed Council Rock. Akela, our wise pack leader forbids it. a defenseless man. WOLF 2: You gnaw bones after others have eaten away TABAQUI: But an accident. He would speak to you on a the meat because you are too lazy to hunt for yourself. matter of great importance. He begs you grant him an TABAQUI: (Mocking, prideful) Tsk, tsk. What a harsh audience, O Wise and Majestic Akela. opinion you have of Tabaqui. Anyway, I am not here by AKELA: I am feeling generous this morning. I will grant choice. I am here on my master's business. him an audience. WOLVES: Master? TABAQUI: (Backing OFF, bowing mockingly) Too kind, too TABAQUI: The great and powerful Shere Khan. kind. I shall convey your message to my master. He awaits in the tall grass by the water hole. He has no WOLF 1: Shere Khan shouldn't be in this jungle. wish to intrude. Such a gentleman is Shere Khan. WOLF 2: Akela has forbidden it. TABAQUI: Ah, young wolves, you have forgotten something. This is the dry season of the water hole. All jungle creatures are free to quench their thirst. That is the law. The Law of the Jungle. AKELA: What brings you to Council Rock, scavenger? TABAQUI: (Mocking) A jackal can't help being what he is, O Wise One. Can a leopard change its spots? Can a wolf change its fur? AKELA: What do you want? Shere Khan, Akela Shere Khan is introduced by the storyteller. SHERE KHAN: Surely the young wolves don't want a man-cub running in the pack. SHERE KHAN: Hear the words of the great Lord Shere Khan! I have the right to rule this jungle. Am I not the AKELA: I decide these things, not you, Shere Khan. I strongest and most merciless? I, Shere Khan, fear know your hatred of man. I know your hatred of those nothing. NOTHING! Not even the mighty elephant. who live in the nearby village. That is why I banished When the time is right I will make my move and… you from the territory of our pack so many years ago.