Pied Piper Junior - Musicline sample script... · Pied Piper Junior Junior Script by Malcolm Sircom . Published by Musicline Publications P.O. Box 15632 Tamworth Staffordshire B77

4/011013/3 ISBN: 978 1 89875 456 5

Pied Piper Junior Junior Script

by Malcolm Sircom

Published by

Musicline Publications

P.O. Box 15632 Tamworth

Staffordshire B77 5BY

01827 281 431

www.musiclinedirect.com

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Pied Piper (Junior) – Script 1

© Musicline Publications Ltd.

CONTENTS

Cast List Summary .............................................................................................................. 2 Full Alphabetical Cast List (with Line Count) ................................................................... 3 Suggested Cast List for 61 Actors ..................................................................................... 4 Suggested Cast List for 40 Actors ..................................................................................... 6 List of Characters in Each Scene ....................................................................................... 7 List of Sound Effects (SFX) ................................................................................................ 9 List of Properties ............................................................................................................... 10 Production Notes ............................................................................................................... 11

Scene One: The Market Square in Hamelin ............................................................... 14 Track 1: Market Day (Song) ..................................................................................... 14 Track 2: Rat Pack (Song) ......................................................................................... 18 Track 3: Rat Pack (Reprise – Song) ......................................................................... 20 Track 4: Grown-ups (Song) ...................................................................................... 21 Track 5: People Power (Song) ................................................................................. 23

Scene Two: The Council Chamber ............................................................................. 24 Track 6: SFX Clock ................................................................................................... 24 Track 7: SFX Loud Knock ......................................................................................... 25 Track 8: Trouble-shooter (Song) .............................................................................. 27 Track 9: Trouble-shooter (Reprise – Song) .............................................................. 29

Scene Three: The Street Outside .................................................................................. 30 Track 10: The Piper Plays (Instrumental) ............................................................... 30 Track 11: Celebration (Song) .................................................................................. 32

Scene Four: Interlude .................................................................................................. 33 Track 12: Sweet, Sweet Music (Song) .................................................................... 34 Track 13: Sweet, Sweet Music (Reprise – Song) ................................................... 35

Scene Five: The Council Chamber ............................................................................. 36 Track 14: Get Out of Town (Song) .......................................................................... 38

Scene Six: The Street Outside ..................................................................................... 39 Track 15: The Piper Plays (Instrumental) ............................................................... 39 Track 16: SFX Rumbling Earthquake ..................................................................... 40 Track 17: SFX Rumbling Earthquake ..................................................................... 40 Track 18: Without our Children (Song) ................................................................... 42 Track 19: Get Out of Town (Reprise – Song) ......................................................... 43 Track 20: Celebration (Finale Reprise – Song) ....................................................... 44

2 Pied Piper (Junior) – Script


CAST LIST SUMMARY

Adult citizens of Hamelin, including:- Trader 1 [Baker] (11) Trader 2 [Cloth Merchant] (8) Trader 3 [Spice Merchant] (11) Trader 4 [Fishmonger] (2) The Town Crier (21) Children of Hamelin, including:- Eric (3) Heidi (4) Ludwig (2) Christina (2) Carl (2) Sophie (3) Klaus (2) Hans, the lame boy (18) The Mayor (120) The Corporation (Six roles, with between 4 and 10 lines each) Eulalie, the Mayor’s wife (25) The Rat Pack, including:- The Leader (19) Psycho Rat (9) Old Rat (32) Woman Rat (2) Hippie Rat (1) Hooligan Rats, and, in a separate Scene, Youngster Rats (<3 lines each) The Pied Piper (71) There is also a Choir, which takes part in most of the songs. However, this is optional, and the choir part may either be omitted, or allocated to an on-stage Chorus. There are 92 named roles in this script. As such, doubling, tripling or even quadrupling of parts is expected! On the following pages a full cast list is provided, and two options for smaller casts.

N.B. Bracketed numbers indicate the number of lines. Differently organised lists can be found on the following pages.



FULL ALPHABETICAL CAST LIST (WITH LINE COUNT)

Cagney Rat ......................................... 4 Carl ...................................................... 2 Christina .............................................. 2 Citizen 1 .............................................. 1 Citizen 2 .............................................. 1 Corporation 1 ..................................... 10 Corporation 2 ....................................... 6 Corporation 3 ....................................... 5 Corporation 4 ....................................... 3 Corporation 5 ....................................... 5 Corporation 6 ....................................... 4 Crier ................................................... 21 Crowd 1 ............................................... 7 Crowd 2 ............................................... 2 Crowd 3 ............................................... 2 Crowd 4 ............................................... 3 Crowd 5 ............................................... 1 Crowd 6 ............................................... 3 Crowd 7 ............................................... 7 Crowd 8 ............................................... 2 Crowd 9 ............................................... 1 Crowd 10 ............................................. 1 Crowd 11 ............................................. 1 Crowd 12 ............................................. 1 Crowd 13 ............................................. 1 Crowd 14 ............................................. 1 Crowd 15 ............................................. 1 Crowd 16 ............................................. 1 Crowd 17 ............................................. 1 Crowd 18 ............................................. 1 Crowd 19 ............................................. 1 Crowd 20 ............................................. 1 Eric ...................................................... 3 Eulalie (Mayor's Wife) ........................ 25 Father 1 ............................................... 3 Father 2 ............................................... 1 Father 3 ............................................... 2 Father 4 ............................................... 1 Frederic ............................................... 1 Hans .................................................. 18 Heidi .................................................... 4 Hippie Rat ............................................ 1 Hooligan Rat 1 ..................................... 2 Hooligan Rat 2 ..................................... 2 Hooligan Rat 3 ..................................... 1 Klaus ................................................... 2

Leader of the Rats ............................ 19 Ludwig ................................................. 2 Man 1 .................................................. 4 Man 2 .................................................. 2 Man 3 .................................................. 2 Mayor .............................................. 120 Mother 1 .............................................. 2 Mother 2 .............................................. 2 Mother 3 .............................................. 2 Mother 4 .............................................. 2 Mother 5 .............................................. 2 Old Rat .............................................. 32 Parent 1 .............................................. 1 Parent 2 .............................................. 1 Parent 3 .............................................. 1 Parent 4 .............................................. 1 Parent 5 .............................................. 1 Parent 6 .............................................. 1 Parent 7 .............................................. 1 Parent 8 .............................................. 1 Parent 9 .............................................. 1 Parent 10 ............................................ 1 Parent 11 ............................................ 1 Parent 12 ............................................ 1 Parent 13 ............................................ 1 Parent 14 ............................................ 1 Parent 15 ............................................ 1 Pied Piper ......................................... 71 Psycho Rat .......................................... 9 Rat 1 ................................................... 1 Rat 2 ................................................... 1 Rat 3 ................................................... 1 Rat 4 ................................................... 1 Rat 5 ................................................... 1 Rat 6 ................................................... 1 Rat 7 ................................................... 1 Sophie ................................................. 3 Trader 1 ............................................ 11 Trader 2 .............................................. 8 Trader 3 ............................................ 11 Trader 4 .............................................. 2 Woman 1 ............................................. 5 Woman 2 ............................................. 3 Woman 3 ............................................. 3 Woman Rat ......................................... 2 Young Rat ........................................... 2



SUGGESTED CAST LIST FOR 61 ACTORS

Cagney Rat .......................................................................................................................... 4

Carl ....................................................................................................................................... 2

Christina ............................................................................................................................... 2

Corporation 1 ...................................................................................................................... 10

Corporation 2 ........................................................................................................................ 6

Corporation 3 ........................................................................................................................ 5

Corporation 4 ........................................................................................................................ 3

Corporation 5 ........................................................................................................................ 5

Corporation 6 ........................................................................................................................ 4

Crier .................................................................................................................................... 21

Crowd 1 plays Citizen 1 ............................................................................................. 8

Crowd 2 plays Citizen 2 & Woman 2 ................................................................ 6

Crowd 3 plays Parent 10 & Woman 3 ................................................................ 6

Crowd 4 plays Parent 11 ........................................................................................... 4





Crowd 9 plays Woman 1 ........................................................................................... 6

Crowd 10 plays Man 2 ................................................................................................. 3

Crowd 11 plays Father 1 & Parent 1 .................................................................. 5




Crowd 15 plays Mother 1 & Parent 5 .................................................................. 4





Crowd 20 plays Man 1 & Man 3 ...................................................................... 7

Eric ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Eulalie (Mayor's Wife) ......................................................................................................... 25



Frederic ................................................................................................................................ 1

Hans ................................................................................................................................... 18

Heidi ..................................................................................................................................... 4

Hippie Rat ............................................................................................................................. 1

Hooligan Rat 1 ...................................................................................................................... 2

Hooligan Rat 2 ...................................................................................................................... 2

Hooligan Rat 3 ...................................................................................................................... 1

Klaus .................................................................................................................................... 2

Leader of the Rats .............................................................................................................. 19

Ludwig .................................................................................................................................. 2

Mayor ............................................................................................................................... 120

Old Rat ............................................................................................................................... 32

Pied Piper ........................................................................................................................... 71

Psycho Rat ........................................................................................................................... 9

Rat 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Rat 2 ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Rat 3 ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Rat 4 ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Rat 5 ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Rat 6 ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Rat 7 ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Sophie .................................................................................................................................. 3

Trader 1 .............................................................................................................................. 11

Trader 2 ................................................................................................................................ 8

Trader 3 .............................................................................................................................. 11

Trader 4 ................................................................................................................................ 2

Woman Rat .......................................................................................................................... 2

Young Rat ............................................................................................................................ 2



SUGGESTED CAST LIST FOR 40 ACTORS

Cagney Rat plays Rat 5 ............................................................................................. 5 Carl ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Christina ............................................................................................................................... 2 Corporation 1 plays Corporation 4 .............................................................................. 13 Corporation 2 plays Corporation 5 .............................................................................. 11 Corporation 3 plays Corporation 6 ................................................................................ 9 Crier .................................................................................................................................... 21 Crowd 1 plays Crowd 11, Mother 1, Woman 1 & Parent 1 ................................ 16 Crowd 2 plays Crowd 12, Mother 2, Woman 2 & Parent 2 .................................. 9 Crowd 3 plays Crowd 13, Mother 3, Woman 3 & Parent 10 ................................ 9 Crowd 4 plays Crowd 14, Mother 4, Parent 3 & Parent 11 .................................. 8 Crowd 5 plays Crowd 15, Mother 5, Parent 4 & Parent 12 .................................. 6 Crowd 6 plays Crowd 16, Man 1, Parent 5 & Parent 13 ................................ 10 Crowd 7 plays Crowd 17, Man 2, Parent 6 & Parent 14 ................................ 12 Crowd 8 plays Crowd 18, Man 3, Parent 7 & Parent 15 .................................. 7 Crowd 9 plays Crowd 19, Father 1, Parent 8, Father 3 & Citizen 1 .................... 9 Crowd 10 plays Crowd 20, Father 2, Parent 9, Father 4 & Citizen 2 .................... 6 Eric ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Eulalie (Mayor's Wife) ......................................................................................................... 25 Frederic ................................................................................................................................ 1 Hans ................................................................................................................................... 18 Heidi ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Hippie Rat plays Rat 1 & Rat 6 ........................................................................... 3 Hooligan Rat 1 plays Rat 2 ............................................................................................. 4 Hooligan Rat 2 plays Rat 3 ............................................................................................. 3 Hooligan Rat 3 plays Rat 4 & Rat 7 ........................................................................... 3 Klaus .................................................................................................................................... 2 Leader of the Rats .............................................................................................................. 19 Ludwig .................................................................................................................................. 2 Mayor ............................................................................................................................... 120 Old Rat ............................................................................................................................... 32 Pied Piper ........................................................................................................................... 71 Psycho Rat ........................................................................................................................... 9 Sophie .................................................................................................................................. 3 Trader 1 .............................................................................................................................. 11 Trader 2 ................................................................................................................................ 8 Trader 3 .............................................................................................................................. 11 Trader 4 ................................................................................................................................ 2 Woman Rat .......................................................................................................................... 2 Young Rat ............................................................................................................................ 2



LIST OF CHARACTERS IN EACH SCENE Scene 1 Cagney Rat Carl Christina Corporation 1 Corporation 2 Corporation 3 Corporation 4 Corporation 5 Corporation 6 Eric Eulalie (Mayor's Wife) Father 1 Father 2 Father 3 Father 4 Frederic Hans Heidi Hippie Rat Hooligan Rat 1 Hooligan Rat 2 Hooligan Rat 3 Klaus Leader of the Rats Ludwig Man 1 Mother 1 Mother 2 Mother 3 Mother 4 Mother 5 Old Rat Psycho Rat Psycho Rat Sophie Town Crier Trader 1 Trader 2 Trader 3 Trader 4 Woman 1 Woman 2 Woman 3 Woman Rat

Scene 2 Corporation 1 Corporation 2 Corporation 3 Corporation 4 Corporation 5 Corporation 6 Crowd 1 Crowd 2 Crowd 3 Crowd 4 Crowd 5 Crowd 6 Crowd 7 Crowd 8 Crowd 9 Crowd 10 Crowd 11 Crowd 12 Crowd 13 Crowd 14 Crowd 15 Crowd 16 Crowd 17 Crowd 18 Crowd 19 Crowd 20 Eulalie (Mayor's Wife) Mayor Pied Piper

Scene 3 Cagney Rat Corporation 1 Corporation 2 Corporation 3 Corporation 4 Corporation 5 Corporation 6 Crowd 1 Crowd 2 Crowd 3 Crowd 4 Crowd 5 Crowd 6 Crowd 7 Crowd 8 Crowd 9 Crowd 10 Crowd 11 Crowd 12 Crowd 13 Crowd 14 Crowd 15 Crowd 16 Crowd 17 Crowd 18 Crowd 19 Crowd 20 Eulalie (Mayor's Wife) Hippie Rat Hooligan Rat 1 Hooligan Rat 2 Hooligan Rat 3 Leader of the Rats Mayor Old Rat Pied Piper Psycho Rat Woman Rat Young Rat



Scene 4 Old Rat Rat 1 Rat 2 Rat 3 Rat 4 Rat 5 Rat 6 Rat 7 Scene 5 Corporation 1 Corporation 2 Corporation 3 Corporation 4 Corporation 5 Corporation 6 Mayor Pied Piper

Scene 6 Carl Christina Citizen 1 Citizen 2 Corporation 1 Corporation 2 Corporation 3 Corporation 4 Corporation 5 Corporation 6 Crier Crowd 1 Crowd 2 Crowd 3 Crowd 4 Crowd 5 Crowd 6 Crowd 7 Crowd 8 Crowd 9 Crowd 10 Crowd 11 Crowd 12 Crowd 13 Crowd 14 Crowd 15 Crowd 16 Crowd 17 Crowd 18 Crowd 19 Crowd 20 Eric Eulalie (Mayor's Wife) Father 2 Frederic Hans Heidi Klaus Mayor Mother 2 Mother 5 Parent 1 Parent 2 Parent 3 Parent 4 Parent 5 Parent 6 Parent 7

Parent 8 Parent 9 Parent 10 Parent 11 Parent 12 Parent 13 Parent 14 Parent 15 Pied Piper Sophie



LIST OF SOUND EFFECTS (SFX)

Scene Two Track 6 SFX 1 Clock Track 7 SFX 2 Loud Knock Scene Six Track 16 SFX 3 Rumbling Earthquake Track 17 SFX 4 Rumbling Earthquake



LIST OF PROPERTIES

Throughout The Pied Piper wears a long coat, half of yellow, half of red, with a matching scarf round his neck, and a pipe hanging at the scarf’s end. Hans (the lame child) can optionally use a stick or crutch. Scene One Stalls laden with goods, covered with cloths ........................................................ Scene Prop Old fashioned hoops for bowling, and other assorted toys ......................................... Children Handbell ................................................................................................................. Town Crier Damaged cloth ........................................................................................................... Trader 2 Fish skeletons, minimum of two ................................................................................. Trader 4 Half eaten loaf/loaves of bread .................................................................................. Trader 1 Pin striped suit OR military uniform OR female traffic warden costume ........ Leader (of Rats) Bandana or street-cred gear ........................................................................................ Psycho Flag t-shirts & skin-head/bald caps ................................................................... Hooligan Rats Tie-dye t-shirts, baggy trousers etc. ..................................................................... Hippie Rats Bottle or can of something alcoholic (looking!), perhaps in a paper bag ..................... Cagney Skipping ropes ............................................................................................................ Children Scene Two Table, covered with plates of half-eaten food and wine glasses .......................... Scene Prop Chairs, around the table ....................................................................................... Scene Prop Gavel & wooden board ......................................................................................... Scene Prop Scene Four Stool ............................................................................................................................. Old Rat Scene Five Table and chairs, as in Scene Two ....................................................................... Scene Prop



PRODUCTION NOTES Staging This is a dynamic show that moves from interior settings to exterior sets and this can be achieved in several ways. The importance is to keep the action flowing and not have long gaps between scenes. Accordingly, the suggestions are intended for that purpose but are not the only way of achieving a smooth running show. Scene One commences in The Market Square in Hamelin and needs to be a full set to accommodate the musical numbers. It is a busy scene, with Market Traders setting up their stalls, villagers standing around gossiping, children playing traditional games – lots of activity. The background should reveal a view of Hamelin, with appropriate buildings being evident, typical of this small town. If practical, market stalls or costermonger type barrows could be dotted about the stage for the various stall holders. These should be painted in bright colours and have suitable produce present on them according to the trade of the owner. As the Town Crier enters prior to… Grown-Ups!, the tabs could close to allow a scene change to… Scene Two – The Council Chamber. This scene could be set in front of the previous backdrop as it only requires a small amount of space; sufficient for a refectory type table around which the council members are seated asleep and the entrance for the villagers. The remnants of a large banquet with empty wine bottles and other evidence of the villagers’ gluttony should be scattered across the table. A gavel and block should be present on the table also. Scene Three – The Street Outside can also be a half-set or performed in front of the main tabs, as it requires little space for the performers. If you want to be a bit adventurous, the next scene… Scene Four – The Interlude could be performed in a different area of the auditorium away from the stage so long as it can be easily seen by the audience. The young rats are all gathered around Old Rat, seated at his feet, listening intently to his story. Minimal space is needed for this scene. Scene Five is the same setting as Scene Two, hence the reason for having Scenes Three and Four in front of tabs or elsewhere (Scene Four). Scene Six similarly reverts to the Street Outside as depicted in Scene Three.



Choreography This musical has a mixture of music styles and this should be emphasised in the choreography of the routines. Track One – Market Day – is a lively number with a short dance break in it. As the characters are a mixture of Traders, Passers-by and Children, there is a great opportunity for a lively routine in this song, using the whole stage for the routine – open the show with a bang! Track Two – Rat Pack – is a heavy rock number, with sinister undertones. The words of the song should be emphasised in the choreography of this number! Track Four – Grown-Ups! – is a lively waltz, with the children parodying adults in the lines of the song. No dance but choreographed to the tune and the children’s parody. Track Five – People Power – is a funk rock number depicting a demonstration by the people of Hamelin. It has a distinct “Ban the Bomb”, “Save the Planet”, type flavour to it and this should be evident in the movement during the number. Track Eight – Trouble Shooter – is a rap with a small sung section: pretty straightforward choreography as the Pied Piper is talking in song to the chorus of townspeople. Track Ten & Track Fifteen – The Piper Plays – is a flute backing track for the Piper’s jig. The Rats should dance off, in a dream-like state, to Track Ten whilst the children file off, almost robotically, in Track Fifteen. Track Eleven – Celebration – is a lively, celebratory number and should have a real ‘feel-good’ factor to its interpretation. If you have some experienced dancers in your cast, there is a tap dance section in this number. Track Twelve – Sweet, Sweet Music – is a gospel number and doesn’t require a great deal of movement as the young rats are seated throughout the number. Track Fourteen – Get Out of Town – is a heavy rock number and has quite an attack to it, as the town council all gang up on the Piper. Track Eighteen, the final (new) number, is a poignant song that should not leave a dry eye in the house! It is very expressive and the whole emotion of the song needs to be expressed in the choreography of this number. Track Nineteen re-introduces a feel-good, come-uppence mood immediately after which bows can take place.



Costume The story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin appears to have developed throughout the middle ages as legend and eventually as a poem by Robert Browning in the 19th century. The costume should, however, reflect the middle ages in general style. Hamelin is in the Saxony area of Germany on the river Weiser. The Pied Piper’s costume is traditionally depicted as half red and half yellow, but research will reveal many interpretations and colours. He should have a suitable flute type pipe which he carries at all times. Clearly for a musical show, bright colours are the order of the day. The Mayor and Corporation should have garments befitting their rank, as should the Town Crier. Lighting and Sound Lighting General lighting will suffice, if resources are limited. However if you have the capability to light the stage with spotlights etc, then colour and contrast should be employed. Scene One as an opening scene needs to be bright and colourful until the entry of the rats when blues and greens could be employed to create a more sinister effect in… Track Two. The lighting would need to lift a little, by ‘spotting’ key positions for dialogue following the song. A blackout follows the reprise of the song and then the original lighting should be restored as the children of Hamelin enter. Scene Two could open with a background, low level, warm lighting to indicate the morning sun drifting in through the chamber windows and localised, focussed lighting on the characters that speak. The lighting could lift a little on the Piper’s entrance or he could be ‘spotted’. Scene Three could have a sinister feel to it with low level blues and greens and the Piper could be ‘spotted’ with a follow spot. Ideally, for… Scene Four, a spotlight focussed tightly on the Old Rat with the other rats in a much lower level of light will create atmosphere: again blues and greens for the background lighting. Scene Five should be lit in the same way as Scene Two. Scene Six should be well lit to start with and you could perhaps fade the lighting throughout the section where the Piper leads the children off. This will increase the feeling of pathos in this final scene.



SCENE ONE: THE MARKET SQUARE IN HAMELIN A busy street scene, early morning; MARKET TRADERS setting up their stalls, with their goods carefully covered from sight. Passers-by gather round gossiping, children bowling hoops, playing hop-scotch, etc. TRACK 1: MARKET DAY (SONG) ALL: MARKET DAY! EVERY SATURDAY IS MARKET DAY! TRADERS: COME AND TRY OUR SPECIAL OFFERS GALORE - ROCK BOTTOM! TREASURES IN STORE? WE GOT ‘EM! ALL: MARKET DAY! BRING THE KIDS ALONG AND LET THEM PLAY. WHILE YOU HAGGLE OVER POTTED PLANTS FOR GREAT AUNT FANNY, BEDSOCKS FOR YOUR FAVOURITE GRANNY. PICK UP A BARGAIN, AND TAKE IT AWAY... SHOUT HOORAY! MARKET DAY!

Short Dance ALL: PICK UP A BARGAIN, AND TAKE IT AWAY... SHOUT HOORAY! MARKET DAY!

N.B. Dialogue lines throughout can be allocated according to resources - male changed to female, or vice versa, etc. WOMAN 1: Can’t you let me have a loaf now? I need it for my old man’s breakfast. TRADER 1: Sorry, missus. Can’t open up before time. WOMAN 1: But it’s only another few minutes. TRADER 1: I’ll get my licence revoked if I do. MAN 1: You know the Mayor likes to open the market himself. WOMAN 2: Makes him feel important. WOMAN 3: More than his wife does! (Laughter) MAN 2: The bigwigs on the Corporation are just as bad. TRADER 2: Be fair. They got to look like they’re busy, when everyone knows they

ain’t! (Laughter) TRADER 3: Now, ladies and gentlemen, you know me for an honest trader...

(Whoops and hoots of derision) Would I ever sell you shoddy goods? (Someone yells out “Yes” to more laughter) Would I ever flog you something you didn’t need? (Another cry of “All the time!” to more laughter) Then let me sell you our valuable Mayor and Corporation of Hamelin. What am I bid for them?

MAN 3: One guilder!



TRADER 3: Come, sir. My cat cost me a guilder. MAN 3: Half a guilder, then. TRADER 3: Done! Uproarious laughter. The sound of a handbell is heard. WOMAN 3: Here they come now. Enter the TOWN CRIER, ringing his bell. CRIER: Oyez! Oyez! All citizens be upstanding for the Mayor and Corporation. The MAYOR & CORPORATION process in. MAYOR: Citizens of Hamelin. As your elected Mayor, and leading and most

important burgher... MAN 1: More like a ham burgher! (Laughter.) CORP 1: Now then, show some respect. MAYOR: I don’t know why I bother with this riff-raff. CORP 2: Common, vulgar lot. CORP 3: No gratitude. CORP 4: No appreciation of persons of high quality and breeding. CORP 1: Like what we are. MAYOR: Come on - let’s get on with it. I’m hungry for the Council breakfast, so

let’s have no more interruptions... Enter the MAYOR’S WIFE (EULALIE). EULALIE: George Frederic! George Frederic! MAYOR: Oh, no, it’s the wife! Yes, Eulalie dear, what is it? EULALIE: The ladies of the Dance and Drama Guild have asked me, as their

founder and director, to remind you that our annual concert is coming up, and we have yet to see a poster. So what are you and your cronies going to do about it?

MAYOR: Cronies? Madam, have a care. EULALIE: And you have a care, too, George Frederic. We ladies can always

disband, and where would that leave you? CORP 1: You realise what this would mean? CORP 2: Our wives would stay at home in the evening.



Gasps of horror from the corporation. CORP 3: Do something, quickly! MAYOR: Hrrmph... very well, my dear, I shall bring it up at today’s meeting. MAN 1: Like you brought up your dinner at the tavern last night! Laughter from the crowd - outrage from Mayor’s wife. MAYOR: Let us ignore these ignorant peasants and be on our way... my

stomach is rumbling in anticipation of the municipal breakfast... WOMAN 1: Provided free, of course. MAYOR: Of course. (To Corporation) Follow me. TRADER 1: But what about opening the market? MAYOR: Oh, one of my unimportant underlings can do that. Town Crier, you’re

appointed Official Market Opener. And now let us proceed with due pomp and circumstance.

MAYOR & CORPORATION exit. CRIER: Oyez, oyez! Good traders of Hamelin. Prepare to display your wares. An immediate market trader-haggle starts. TRADER 1: Come on, then, ladies - fresh-baked bread to make your mouth water. TRADER 2: Fine cloth, all the way from Persia! EULALIE: Just what my ladies need for their Scenes from a Harem. TRADER 3: Best spices all the way from the Indies! TRADER 4: Fresh fish, all the way from the river! CRIER: I now declare the market open! All the TRADERS uncover their goods. There is a general horrified reaction. TRADER 2: Look at my best cloth! (Holds up a tattered piece.) TRADER 4: Look at my fish! (Holds up a fish skeleton in each hand.) TRADER 3: My stock’s ruined! TRADER 1: My bread’s been nibbled to pieces! WOMAN 1: It’s those rats! WOMAN 2: They’re breeding like rabbits. WOMAN 3: Something must be done about them! (All agree.) CRIER: But what? The more there are of them, the bolder they get. They’ll be



showing up in broad daylight next. TRADER 1: They’re not that daft. MAN 1: Aren’t they? Look there! (Points to wings.) EULALIE: Rats! MAN 2: An army of them! CRIER: Run! All run off. Screams and panic. Enter the RATS.



TRACK 2: RAT PACK (SONG)

RATS: WHO’S THAT SCUFFLIN’ IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT? A THOUSAND PAIRS OF BEADY EYES THAT GLOW SO BRIGHT! TEETH ALL BARED, AND READY TO BITE? WELL IT’S THE RAT PACK! CHOIR: RAT PACK ATTACK! RATS: RAT PACK! CHOIR: STAB YOU IN THE BACK, JACK! RATS: SHADOWS SHUFFLIN’ JUST OUT OF SIGHT, A THOUSAND TAILS ARE ROCK ‘N’ ROLLIN’ LEFT TO RIGHT, ALL GEARED UP TO GIVE YOU A FRIGHT, YES, WE’RE A RAT PACK! CHOIR: RAT PACK ATTACK! RATS: RAT PACK! CHOIR: STAB YOU IN THE BACK, JACK! RATS: WE’RE THE STUFF THAT NIGHTMARES ARE MADE OF - YOU’D BETTER WATCH OUT! WE’RE WHAT EVERYBODY’S AFRAID OF - THERE’S PANIC IN THE STREETS WHEN WE’RE ABOUT!

DANCE, during which the Choir handclap. RATS: (While Choir chant “Rat Pack!”) NOW WE’RE GATHERING IN ALL OUR MIGHT, CRAWLING FROM OUR CREVICES IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, ALL PREPARED TO PUT UP A FIGHT! YES WE’RE A ALL: RAT PACK! RAT PACK! (Football crowd handclaps.) RAT PACK!

The Rats are all sharply defined characters. The leader is dressed conventionally: either pin-stripes & bowler, or military uniform. Could also be a female traffic warden. Psycho is the total opposite - a rebel Rat, a macho Che Guevara figure: can have bandana, or street-cred gear. There is an old Rat, several hooligan Rats, in flag tee-shirts and skin-head haircuts. Some hippie Rats, and a variety of girl-Rats, too. LEADER: Rats and Ratesses! This meeting is called to order. PSYCHO: Hey man, those humans are already running scared - let’s attack! HIPPIE GROUP: Yeah! LEADER: We can’t just charge blindly in - we have to plan, to organise. PSYCHO: What are you - a rat or a mouse? Like this is the Rat Revolution, man!

(Raises clenched paw & shouts) Power to the Rodents! (Hippie group respond: “Power to the Rodents!”) We pull back now, and we don’t get another chance... I say, let’s rumble (Some supporting cries.)



HOOLIGAN 1: Let’s get boozed-up then break up their town centre! HOOLIGAN 2: Let’s steal their horses and go joy-riding! HOOLIGAN 3: Let’s steal their donkeys, and ram-raid their stores! OLD RAT: I’ve been through two Rat Wars, and that way doesn’t work. I suggest

we listen to our leader. (Supporting cries.) LEADER: Thank you. What I’m suggesting is that we use our traditional tactics -

underhanded, dirty, devious, foul and loathsome! (Cheers.) PSYCHO: Wicked! (Or latest ‘in’ phrase for cool, ok.) LEADER: Direct confrontation is useless - we must be subtle. Who’s the dirtiest

rat here? ALL: Cagney! LEADER: Step forward, Cagney! (CAGNEY, a filthy wino-rat lurches forward.) WOMAN RAT: Phew! A sewer rat, if ever there was one! LEADER: Cagney, when did you last wash? CAGNEY: (Drunk) I think - hic - it was that time – hic - I fell in that vat of ale. I

thought I’d gone to heaven - hic! LEADER: So you must have a skinful... CAGNEY: I shertainly have! (All laugh.) LEADER: I mean, of fleas. CAGNEY: They’re queuing up to come aboard. LEADER: Splendid! Then all you have to do is off-load several thousand on the

humans - plague and pestilence is bound to follow. You see now, fellow rats - we must infiltrate, use guerrilla methods, terrorist strikes, hit - and run ambushes. Are you with me? (Vast support from all) Today, Hamelin - tomorrow, the world! (Cheers.)



TRACK 3: RAT PACK (REPRISE – SONG) RATS: (While choir chant ‘Rat pack’)

NOW WE’RE READY FOR THE WORLD TO SEE HOW ANTI-SOCIAL, MEAN AND VICIOUS WE CAN BE. ALL OUR FLEAS ARE READY TO FLEE! ‘COS WE’RE A.... Football crowd handclaps. RAT PACK!

Blackout. The Rats exit. Lights up. Enter the HAMELIN CHILDREN playing a running & skipping game - all except for HANS, the lame boy, who limps on behind the others. ERIC: I won, I won! HEIDI: No, you didn’t. You cheated! LUDWIG: Girls know all about cheating - it’s what they’re best at! CHRISTINA: That just proves that we’ve got brains. What’s your excuse? CARL: Anyway, we’re quicker and stronger than you. SOPHIE: That’s because you’re thicker! KLAUS: Let’s duff ‘em up! (Boys: Yeah!) HANS: Cool it, everyone. For one thing, our parents would thrash us, and for

another, you know girls don’t fight fair. Let’s play another game. ERIC: A race to the river and back. HANS: But you know I can’t run. HEIDI: Yes, let’s play something Hans can join in. CARL: Like what? SOPHIE: Let’s play Grown-Ups. (Groans from all.) LUDWIG: But grown-ups are so stupid!



TRACK 4: GROWN-UPS (SONG)

CHILDREN: (Lines allocated ad lib) DON’T DO THIS, DON’T DO THAT, WIPE YOUR FEET ON THE MAT - IF THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES TO BE GROWN-UP, I’D RATHER STAY AS I AM! WASH YOUR FACE, USE YOUR SPOON, DON’T BE LATE, EAT THOSE PRUNES! HOW CAN YOU UNDERSTAND GROWN-UPS, WHO DON’T LIKE CUSTARD WITH JAM? THEY’RE AT US FROM MORN TILL NIGHT - TIDY YOUR ROOM! TURN OFF THAT LIGHT! NAG, NATTER, MOAN AND FUSS - AND YET THEY KEEP ON HAVING US! WHERE DID YOU GET THAT BRUISE? WHERE’S YOUR CAP? WHERE’S YOUR SHOES? THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GET FROM GROWN-UPS ARE WORSE THAN ANY EXAM! GROWN-UPS ARE STUPID AND SILLY, OUGHT TO BE LOCKED AWAY! SOLO: YET THEY’RE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO - CHILDREN: WE THINK WE MIGHT LET THEM STAY!

Enter The Townspeople who had fled the rats - except the TOWN CRIER. (The Townspeople are now Parents; though specified in the script, their lines can be allocated entirely according to casting, resources, etc.) FATHER 1: What are you kids doing? Heidi, come here at once. HEIDI: Yes, father. (Joins him.) MOTHER 1: Ludwig! FREDERIC: Oh, all right. (Joins her reluctantly.) FATHER 2: Christina! MOTHER 2: Carl! FATHER 3: Sophie! MOTHER 3: Eric! MOTHER 4: Klaus! FATHER 4: Hans! (All join their parents, Hans slower than the rest.) HANS: What’s all the fuss about? TRADER 1: It’s too dangerous for you kids to play here. KLAUS: But we’ve always played here. FATHER 1: Not any more.



MOTHER 3: There’ll be no more playing for any of you. Groans from the children. SOPHIE: That’s not fair! ERIC: Where can we play? TRADER 2: Nowhere. Not until we get rid of the rats. (Grown-ups agree.) MOTHER 4: But how are we going to do that? FATHER 3: Poison doesn’t seem to stop them. Enter the TOWN CRIER ringing his bell. CRIER: Oyez! Oyez! Ten o’clock, and all’s well. Mutinous murmurs from the crowd - “All’s well? What’s he on about?” etc. CRIER: Ten o’clock and all’s not well... WOMAN 2: You’re just as bad as that lot at the Town Hall. CRIER: Madam, I’ve just come from there. I tried to inform them of the rodent

infestation. TRADER 3: And what was their reaction? CRIER: They were too busy eating their breakfast to listen. (Mutinous

murmurs again.) TRADER 1: That does it! There’s only one thing to do. MAN 1: What’s that? TRADER 1: People power! we march into the Council Chamber, and we don’t leave

until we get some action! (Enthusiastic reaction.) TRADER 2: Let’s go for it! (Cheers.) People power! ALL: People Power!

Documents

Pied Piper Junior - Musicline sample script... · Pied Piper Junior Junior Script by Malcolm Sircom . Published by Musicline Publications P.O. Box 15632 Tamworth Staffordshire B77