SNICKERTY NICK

and the

MERRY-GO-ROUND HORSES

OVERTURE

SCENE I

The curtains part to disclose
a scene in the forest, with
trees and shrubs in the
background and bushes stage
left. Upstage right is the
shop of SNOOSEBERRY, the
crotchety old toy maker. It
is a quaint little house,
painted in brilliant hues,
with potted geraniums on the
window sill, and a huge sign
proclaiming

"SNOOSEBERRY-TOYS"
over the door. Downstage,
leaning against the house, is
the gaily costumed CIRCUS
RIDER DOLL. At her white booted
feet sits plump little TEDDY

-2-

BEAR DOLL, with a toy drum
beside him. In the right
foreground are two MERRY-GO-
ROUND HORSES facing each other
at a rigid angle, one resting
his neck on the neck of the
other. Hanging from a stout
cord encircling both their
necks is the placard,
obviously hastily and not too
carefully lettered,

"KINDLING WOOD-25¢"
It is suggested that the
"Horse" costume require but
one person to operate it: a
horse's head and neck on one
end of a pasteboard frame; a
tail on the other. The necks
are encircled with strands of
tiny jingling bells; the frame
covered with bright trappings
which reach to the ground
when the wearer of the suit,
of necessity, bends at the
waist to make the horse

-3-

authentically 'horizontal'.
The ends of the trappings are
heavily fringed, and at each
of the four corners is attached
a horse's hoof. The 'one person'
horse is suggested to simplify
the rehearsal of business, but
the effect would be more
convincing were two to operate
a suit made to accurately
represent a small horse. (It is
of the utmost importance that
the 'horses' be carefully
rehearsed, so that the business
of the play may run smoothly,
with no hint of burlesque as
compensation for amateurish
manipulation.) As the scene
opens, SNOOSEBERRY, a little
old man wearing a red stocking
cap, a workman's apron, brown
jerkin, knee breeches, and
buckled shoes, comes out of
his shop. He carries a hatchet,
which he puts down on the

-4-

doorstep. He removes his cap to mop his forehead with a large red handkerchief as, in perplexity, he stands surveying the dejected MERRY-GO-ROUND HORSES. Suddenly he purses his lips, shakes his head, and grimaces as he plucks a hair from his sparsely covered head.

Replacing his cap, he recovers his hatchet, tests its blade on the hair, nods his approval, and determinedly strides over to the horses. Just as he lifts the hatchet, SNICKERTY NICK runs in from the shrubbery stage left. He is followed by tattered SAMBINGO, whose ragged trousers are held up by an enormous "blanket pin."

SNICKERTY

Wait!

-5-

SNOOSEBERRY turns in
amazement.

SNICKERTY

What are you going to do?

SNOOSEBERRY (grumpily)

I be a-goin' to chop these merry-go-round horses
into kindlin' wood.

SNICKERTY

Oh, don't do that! Please, Mr. Snooseberry,
don't do that. They're nice horses!

SNOOSEBERRY

Nice indeed! They be magic horses, that's what
they be, and I don't like this magic business.
If they hear music they do prance ahead, and if
they hear quarreling they do back right out of
sight! And I don't like it, I don't!

SNICKERTY (with spirit)

And I don't like to see you chop 'em up.

SAMBINGO

Naw, suh---not when dey prances to music!

SNOOSEBERRY (again lifting
his hatchet)

-6-

Well, I be a-goin' to.....

SNICKERTY

Wait....! I'll but 'em!

SNOOSEBERRY ( interested but suspicious)

Have ye twenty-five cents?

SNICKERTY ( reaching into his pocket doubtfully)

No..... I have only ten cents.

SAMBINGO (trying to be helpful and drawing a button from his tattered pocket)

Look hyah, Mister Snooseberry--Ah's got a button
what Ah was a-savin' to sew on mah pants sometime.

SNOOSEBERRY

(taking the proffered button and
speaking almost to himself)

Maybe I could use it-- and I can't use these
horses with all their magic shin-nanny-gans.....
All right, it's a bargain!

SNICKERTY

(shaking Sambingo's hand)

Hurray!

-7-

SNOOSEBERRY

It's a bargain _if_ you take that Circus Rider Doll
and tha Teddy Bear along, too......

SNICKERTY and SAMBINGO
regard SNOOSEBERRY in
surprise.

SNOOSEBERRY (continuing)

They're _all_ magic--the whole lot of 'em--an' I'll
be thankin' ye to take 'em away as soon as ye can!

SAMBINGO

Mah goodness!

SNOOSEBERRY

(shoving them away as he turns to go into
his shop)

Get along with ye!

SNOOSEBERRY exits inside his
shop.

CIRCUS RIDER

(pirouetting the minute Snooseberry is out
of sight and singing:)

Tra-la-la-la--!

The MERRY-GO-ROUND HORSES

-8-

show signs of life as the
CIRCUS RIDER sings, and they
nod their heads four times,
bells jingling, as an echo
to her "Tra-la-la-la--"
whereupon TEDDY BEAR comes
to life and pounds, four
times, on the toy drum
beside him.

CIRCUS RIDER (singing)

Tra-la - La-la - La-la-la--!
I know a maiden fair to see!
Tra-la - La-la - La-la-la!
Oh, life is just a circus;
Enjoy it while you're young,
For by the time you're older
Your troubles have begun.
But if you're wise, philosophize,
And then you'll surely see
That joys outweigh your sorrows,
And happy you will be!

(her song concluded, she addresses
Snickerty and Sambingo)

We're glad to go along with you. Arn't we,

-9-

Teddy Bear?

TEDDY BEAR

Should say so! We don't like Snooseberry!

(he almost 'sneezes' the name 'Snooseberry' -
then addresses Snickerty abruptly:)

Who are you?

SNICKERTY

Snickerty Nick, and this is Sambingo.

CIRCUS RIDER

Where are you going?

SNICKERTY

Off for a good adventure!

SAMBINGO

Nicky alwuz goes in dat direction!

(turning to Snickerty)

Look hyah, Nicky... now youh got dese hyah
magic toys, what youh all a-goin' do wid 'em?

SNICKERTY

(tapping his forehead)

Tut... Tut...

(almost under his breath, as though he
were thinking aloud; as he names each of

-IO-

the toys, he counts them thoughtfully on
his fingers)

Horses... Teddy Bear... Circus Ri---

(as he says 'circus' an idea strikes him)

<u>Circus</u>: That's it, Sambingo-- <u>circus</u>: We'll
be a <u>circus</u>!

SAMBINGO

H'<u>ray</u>!

SNICKERTY (continuing)

And go through the country-side making <u>everybody</u>
happy! And like the Knights of old, we'll
rescue damsels in distress.... Huray!

CIRCUS RIDER (singing)

Oh--- the life of a circus rider
Is scarcely a life of ease,
But riding a horse is safer
Than life on the swinging trapeze!

As she sings, the HORSES
start to stomp in rhythm.
SAMBINGO takes the 25¢ sign
off their necks and they
begin to prance.

-II-

SNICKERTY AND SAMBINGO

(applauding)

Good!

But when CIRCUS RIDER stops
singing the HORSES stop
prancing. SNICKERTY regards
them anxiously.

SNICKERTY

Wonder if they'd call *my* singing 'music'....

He starts to sing, skipping
as he does and looking over
his shoulder to see if the
horses follow. They do.

While SNICKERTY continues
his song, SAMBINGO replies
happily, "Yassuh, Nicky....
dey sho' does!"

SNICKERTY (singing)

Oh-- I just came out of Somewhere,
And I'm getting nowhere fast,
I'm living in the future,
The present and the past.
Adventures are my special joy!

-12-

And when they happen quick
My troupe is just as pleased as I--
And my name is Snickerty Nick!

As SNICKERTY sings and skips,
leading the horses and cir-
cling the stage, CIRCUS
RIDER, TEDDY BEAR and
SAMBINGO join the 'hop-
skipping parade' ......
Breathless at the conclusion
of his song, SNICKERTY does
a quick turn, center stage,
and falls, puffing.

SNICKERTY (breathlessly)

Whew- - - !

SAMBINGO (doubtfully)

We is a-gwine to git mighty tired a'singin' does
horses along!

CIRCUS RIDER (suddenly)

We won't have to sing for them--- we'll let
Dickie-Doodle do it!

(waving the bird cage, she addresses the
'canary')

-13-

CIRCUS RIDER (continued)

Go on, Dickie-Doodle--- sing!

There is the sound of a
merry little tune whistled
off stage but apparently
delivered by DICKIE-DOODLE.
This same melody(the"Dipsey-
Wipsey" score) carries
throughout the business of
the entire play:- whenever
the MERRY-GO-ROUND HORSES
prance, the whistle is heard.
(It should be quick and gay
but without volume, so that
it may sound as convincing
as possible that the tiny
bird is responsible for the
whistling.) As soon as
DICKIE-DOODLE whistles, the
HORSES prance and jingle their
bells-- SNICKERTY, SAMBINGO,
the CIRCUS RIDER and the
TEDDY BEAR all clap and shout
joyfully as they skip on

-14-

their way offstage right.
SNICKERTY leads the way
followed by SAMBINGO, the
CIRCUS RIDER and the MERRY-
GO-ROUND HORSES, while, as
always, the TEDDY BEAR brings
up the rear. Just before he
exits, he stumbles, falls
and rolls, somersaulting,
offstage.

CURTAIN*

*Note: if preferred, an harmonica can be used
instead of DICKIE-DOODLE.

-15-

## SCENE II

MUSIC... fading into the
sound of Dickie-Doodle's
whistle.

The curtains part to reveal
the 'circus' troupe, headed
by SNICKERTY, hop-skipping
and prancing their way
through the forest. By
removing the flats of
Snooseberry's shop and the
toy props, and by changing
the placement of shrubs,
bushes, and rocks, the same
set used for Scene I can be
utilized.

In addition to scattered
shrubbery, there is an
enormous moss-covered rock
downstage left and a small
moss-covered rock downstage
right. Upstage right center
is an entrance flanked by
bushes and vines, through

-17-

loud.

SAMBINGO

Mah goodness!

A third growl follows, this
time an exceedingly high
pitched one.

TEDDY BEAR

(not certain whether to run, exclaims:)

Relations!

One by one, three bears
arise from their place of
concealment behind the left
stage rock--- a Father Bear,
a Mother Bear, and a Baby Bear
The Baby Bear, though twice
the size of TEDDY BEAR, is
easily identified by a baby
cap and rompers. As the three
bears emerge, each in turn
repeats his growl. SNICKERTY,
the CIRCUS RIDER, and
SAMBINGO back away in
consternation. TEDDY BEAR

-18-

starts to run, thinks better
of it, and bravely faces
them, his short legs apart,
his short arms folded over
his fat little stomach.

FATHER BEAR

Why--- if it isn't a <u>doll</u> bear!

MOTHER BEAR

So it is ... A Teddy Bear!

BABY BEAR

And Santa Claus forgot to bring me a Teddy Bear
for Christmas...

(wailing)

I want a Teddy Bear! --- I want a Teddy Bear!

TEDDY BEAR (defiantly)

You can't have <u>me</u>... I belong to Snickerty
Nick's circus!

BABY BEAR

(jumping up and down and crying like a
spoiled child)

I want a Teddy Bear --- I want a Teddy Bear!

MOTHER BEAR (to Baby Bear)

-20-

(he makes a sudden threatening move forward)

Scoot!

With this, the FATHER BEAR
turns suddenly to 'scoot',
bumps into MOTHER BEAR; they
both fall and knock down BABY
BEAR. SNICKERTY, the CIRCUS
RIDER, and SAMBINGO all
laugh uproariously as the
Bears disentangle themselves
and regain their feet.
SAMBINGO, emboldened, runs
to them and repeats TEDDY
BEAR'S command.

SAMBINGO

(with a 'shoo'-ing gesture)

Scoot, youh-all!

At this, FATHER BEAR, again
on his feet, growls at
SAMBINGO, who yells in fright
and runs, knocking down the
CIRCUS RIDER and SNICKERTY
in his haste to get away......

-21-

By this time, BABY BEAR has broken away from its mother's grasp and, sneaking around back of TEDDY BEAR, whose attention has been momentarily diverted to SAMBINGO, grabs TEDDY BEAR from the back....

BABY BEAR

I got a Teddy Bear, I got a Teddy Bear!

TEDDY BEAR breaks from BABY BEAR'S grasp and wheels sharply, pointing his pop gun and chasing BABY BEAR across stage from right to left, where BABY BEAR hides behind its mother's skirts.

TEDDY BEAR

You'll get a 'pop'-- that's what you'll get!

Menacing the three BEARS with his pop gun, TEDDY BEAR sends them running to a left stage exit.

-23-

stage..... TEDDY BEAR stands
his ground, obviously very
pleased with the way he
handled the situation.....
Seeing him pose, very much
like a 'conquering hero',
SNICKERTY and the CIRCUS
Rider, who have picked
themselves up after their
tumble, laugh merrily....

TEDDY BEAR shows that he feels
unappreciated........

TEDDY BEAR

(to Snickerty and the Circus Rider)

If it hadn't been for me and my pop gun, you
wouldn't laugh........

SAMBINGO

(suddenly rising from behind the small rock
downstage right, where he had ducked for
protection during the general melee)

Ah ain't laughin'..... Ah always have trouble
wif mah bravery!

Just then, FATHER BEAR
suddenly sticks his head in

-24-

from the left wings, where
he made his exit.

FATHER BEAR

(to the Circus troupe---dramatically)

Boo!

(he immediately disappears)

SAMBINGO (wide-eyed)

Mah goodness!

CURTAIN

-25-

## SCENE III

MUSIC... Fading into Dickie-Doodle's
whistle.

THE CURTAINS part to reveal
the circus troupe merrily
marching in from a shrub-
banked entrance downstage
right. The scene is laid
in another part of the forest
(Scenery and props of pre-
ceding scenes can again be
utilized with alteration of
placement.) In this scene,
however, the "balloon house",
stage left, is revealed. It
is a topsy-turvy little struc-
ture of somber hue with an
amazingly crooked chimney.

Innumerable balloons of
various and bright colors are
attached to this strange
little house.

Surprised at discovering the
curious little building,

-26-

SNICKERTY gives a sharp
blast of his whistle.

DICKIE-DOODLE stops singing,
the HORSES stop prancing,
and EVERYONE stands regard-
ing the BALLOON HOUSE
curiously.

SAMBINGO

Mah goodness! Balloons!

SNICKERTY

Who wants a balloon?

EVERYONE (ad libbing in chorus)

I do...

I do...

SNICKERTY

I'll get one for each of you.

SAMBINGO

(to Snickerty as he goes towards the
Balloon House)

Ah likes de _red_ one!

SNICKERTY

(reaching the door of the little house

-27-

and pulling an old-fashioned bell cord that
rings a bell inside the house)

I'll ask for some.....

SAMBINGO (doubtfully)
It-ud be quicker to jes' take 'em!

SNICKERTY (reprovingly)
Sambingo, haven't I taught you better than that?

SAMBINGO (guiltily)
Yassuh....

As SAMBINGO replies, the door
of the Balloon House is opened
by a quaint little old man
who wears enormous, square
glasses and a black skull cap.

OLD MAN
Well, Well, young sir, and who may ye be?

SNICKERTY
Snickerty Nick. And this is my circus. We would
like some balloons....

(hastily)

But we can't buy 'em because we haven't any
money..... But we'll perform for you if you'll

-28-

give us some.

OLD MAN (shaking his head)
They be not for sale.... nor do I be able to
give ye them....

SNICKERTY gestures his
disappointment to his troupe.

CIRCUS RIDER
You have so many, sir, couldn't we have just one?

OLD MAN
Nay, young lady... Ye see, a Dragon who spits
fire lives not far from here. He guards the road
by night and day. I keep these balloons for
travelers, who tie them on to themselves and float
right over him.

SNICKERTY
Why... we were going that way...

OLD MAN
Then that do be different... I'll give ye some
to take ye over in safety....

(he starts untying balloons as he continues
to explain)

Now if ye pass the Dragon, ye'll be able to reach

-29-

the Princess.....

SNICKERTY

The Princess?

OLD MAN

Yea... the Princess Lara! She do be in great danger... The King of the neighboring realm do threaten to seize her kingdom and take her prisoner!

CIRCUS RIDER

(who always asks questions)

Why does he want to do that?

OLD MAN

Because his Evil Counselor do tell him that the
Princess Lara be wicked, old, ugly, and not fit
to rule!

SNICKERTY

And that's not true?

OLD MAN

Of course not! The Princess Lara do govern well
and her subjects all do love her... She be wise
for one so very young and beautiful!

SNICKERTY (turning to his

-30-

troupe)

To the rescue! We'll save the Princess Lara!

EVERYBODY

To the rescue!

SNICKERTY

To the Princess over the Dragon.....

OLD MAN

Yea... Now this Dragon do sleep most of the time..

SNICKERTY

(helping him untie the balloons)

Then I'd think most people would be able to get
past him easily!

OLD MAN (chuckling)

Oh, no... The slightest noise do wake him....

And he's very cross!

CIRCUS RIDER

(taking a balloon Snickerty hands her)

Why?

OLD MAN

Because he sleeps on his tail... That makes his
tail go to sleep... and that's enough to try
the patience of anyone.

-32-

MAN claps and nods.

OLD MAN

Good luck to ye all!

EVERYONE

Thank you, sir!

SNICKERTY gives a blast on
his whistle; DICKIE-DOODLE
starts to sing; the HORSES
start to prance; and
EVERYONE marches towards a
left upstage exit...As they
leave, the OLD MAN gives them
his final advice and waves
goodbye.

OLD MAN

When ye get to the turn in the road, ye better
start a-flying!!!

-33-

## SCENE IV

MUSIC... Fading into the sound of
DICKIE-DOODLE'S whistle.

The curtains part to reveal
SNICKERTY and his CIRCUS
TROUPE entering, from upstage
right, another part of the
forest. Dense shrubbery banks
the background and flanks the
wings. Downstage left is a
pile of boulders. Just short
of center stage SNICKERTY
blows his whistle to call a
halt. DICKIE-DOODLE stops
singing and the HORSES stop
prancing.

SNICKERTY (looking about)
There's the bend in the road.

SAMBINGO
(wide-eyed with apprehension)
Don't youh-all think we bettah start a-flyin' ?

TEDDY BEAR and CIRCUS
RIDER (in unison)
Yes!

-34-

(they cast frightened glances towards
the direction in which they are
traveling)

SNICKERTY

Get ready for the take-off!

(he holds his balloon aloft, takes a
deep breath, and bends his knees,
morning exercise fashion, preparatory
to ascending with his balloon)

Take a deep breath... Now, one for the money...

Two for the show....

TEDDY BEAR

Wait!.... I want to fly with a _red_ balloon.

SAMBINGO looks anxiously up
at his red balloon.

CIRCUS RIDER

So do I!

SAMBINGO

Youh-all cain't have _mah_ balloon! Ah asked foh
it an' Ah'm a-gwine ter keep it!

CIRCUS RIDER

You're just stubborn!

-35-

TEDDY BEAR

An' mean!

SAMBINGO

Ah'm not neither!

TEDDY BEAR

Y'are so!

SAMBINGO

'M not!

TEDDY BEAR

Y'are!

CIRCUS RIDER

I do want a red balloon!

SAMBINGO

Cain't have it!

TEDDY BEAR

Meany!

SNICKERTY

(as the quarrel reaches alarming
proportions)

Stop quarreling! Stop it, I say! Stop!

-36-

The quarrel continues
regardless of SNICKERTY'S
command; DICKIE-DOODLE has
stopped singing; suddenly,
with a jingling of the bells
about their necks, the
MERRY-GO-ROUND HORSES start
to go backwards.

SNICKERTY

(pointint at the horses and jumping up
and down in excitement)

Look! Look what you're doing to the horses!!!

CIRCUS RIDER, SAMBINGO, and
TEDDY BEAR see the effect
of their quarrel, and stop
in alarm. By this time the
HORSES have backed offstage.
The following exclamations
are spoken almost in unison:

SAMBINGO

Mah goodness!

CIRCUS RIDER (in consternation)

Tra-la!

-37-

TEDDY BEAR

Jimminy cricks!

SNICKERTY

Now see what your quarreling has done! You know
the Merry-Go-Round Horses always go backwards
when they hear quarreling!

CIRCUS RIDER

Let's go after them...

TEDDY BEAR

...and say we're sorry!...

SAMBINGO

An' ain't a-gwine to quarrel no mo'...

SNICKERTY (shaking his head)

No... That won't help...

The CIRCUS RIDER, SAMBINGO,
and TEDDY BEAR, who have
started to go after the
HORSES, stop.

CIRCUS RIDER

Not even if Dickie-Doodle sang?

SNICKERTY

-38-

No... Even Dickie-Doodle's song wouldn't bring
them back... They won't come with us again
until we make somebody happy.

SAMBINGO (wailing)
Mah goodness--- an' Ah's so tired....

TEDDY BEAR (naughtily)
And I *still* want a *red* balloon!

TEDDY BEAR makes a grab for
SAMBINGO'S red balloon and
accidentally breaks it.

SAMBINGO tries to spank
TEDDY BEAR and in the attempt
accidentally breaks TEDDY
BEAR'S balloon. Suddenly,
alarmed at what they've done,
they stop their fighting
and turn to SNICKERTY.

SAMBINGO (to Snickerty)
Mah goodness! *Now* how we gwine t' fly ovah de
*Dragon*?

CIRCUS RIDER
And our Merry-Go-Round Horses are gone!!!

-39-

TEDDY BEAR (greatly concerned)

There are only two balloons left...

(trying to be brave as he draws out his
pop gun)

I know what I'll do to that Dragon-- I'll pop him!

SNICKERTY

He's too big for you to pop.

TEDDY BEAR

(humbly to Snickerty)

I'm sorry I popped his......

(pointing to Sambingo)

.....balloon.

SAMBINGO (to Teddy Bear)

Well, maybe youh is, an' maybe youh ain't......

But Ah'm scared. Mah bravery's ah leavin' me
again.

Just then is heard the dis-
tant roar of the Dragon.

Everyone listens in panic.

Until the Dragon's
appearance, the roars
increase in volume, to
indicate his approach.

-40-

CIRCUS RIDER (in terror)

Oh, Nicky, Nicky-- what shall we do?

TEDDY BEAR

(trying to be heroic and feeling far
from it)

You and Nicky have balloons.... Go ahead and fly
over him!

SAMBINGO (wide-eyed)

An' leave us?

SNICKERTY

Of course not... Don't worry... I know how to
conquer a Dragon.

CIRCUS RIDER

Even a <u>cross</u> one?

TEDDY BEAR

Who spits <u>fire</u>?

SNICKERTY

Yes!... I'll put his fire out! That's what I
always do to Dragons!

SAMBINGO (very scared)

H-h-how?

-41-

SNICKERTY

Find a pail of water for me and I'll show you.

SAMBINGO

(scurrying upstage looking the bushes)

Watch... Watch... Watch...

CIRCUS RIDER (wailing)

It doesn't grow on bushes!

TEDDY BEAR

(pointing offstage right)

We passed a pond...

(starting to run)

I'll get some water!

CIRCUS RIDER

Here--- use my cap! Hurry!

In his haste, TEDDY BEAR falls,
somersaults, tears the cap
CIRCUS RIDER handed to him.
Everyone exclaims in dismay.

SAMBINGO

(running in the direction of the pond and
yelling over his shoulder)

Watch!.. Watch!.. Watch..!

-42-

The Dragon's roars are steadily increasing in volume.

CIRCUS RIDER and TEDDY BEAR are running for a place to hide. SNICKERTY looks anxiously from the direction of the Dragon's roars to the direction in which SAMBINGO has run. There are ad lib cries from CIRCUS RIDER and TEDDY BERA.

CIRCUS RIDER

He'll get us.

TEDDY BEAR

I'll pop him anyway!

There is a deafening roar and the Dragon enters from downstage left. He is partially concealed by the piles of boulders (or bushes). It is necessary to show only the head, shoulders, and forefeet of the Dragon. He is big and green, with red eyes and

-43-

cavernous jaws that spit
'fire' (accomplished by lights
in the Dragon's mouth which
are attached to a battery
and controlled offstage).

The CIRCUS RIDER screams
and runs to SNICKERTY for
protection. TEDDY BEAR is
too scared to move, and
stands motionless, his
little pop gun drawn.

SNICKERTY looks hopefully
over his shoulder as he
hears:

SAMBINGO (shouting)

Watch!.... Watch!

SAMBINGO, carrying a battered
red pail, runs in frantically
just as the Dragon appears.

SAMBINGO

(shouting as he runs to give the pail of
water to Snickerty, at the same time hold-
ing a leak in it)

-44-

Hyah yo' is!... Watch!... Somebody left dis pail
by de pond-- but it's done sprung a leak!...
Yo' bettah hurry!

Seizing the pail, SNICKERTY
pitches its contents into
the fire spitting Dragon's
mouth. There is the sound of
a mighty "sizzle"; the fire
goes out and a great stream
of smoke issues from the
DRAGON'S jaws (accomplished
by a bellows filled with
smoke, operated offstage,
and connected to the Dragon's
mouth by a tube).

The DRAGON wags his head
feebly as the steam pours
from his jaws and the
"sizzling" sound continues.

SNICKERTY (triumphantly)

<u>That</u> will put your fire out! You'll never throw
out sparks again!

DRAGON (moaning feebly)

-45-

Ooooooooooh!

SNICKERTY

Aren't you ashamed to frighten people so? Don't
you want any friends?

DRAGON (in a weak voice)

No friends want me...

SNICKERTY

That's because you're so bad-tempered. You have
to be cheerful to have friends... What makes
you so cross?

DRAGON (sulkily)

My tail... It always goes to sleep when I sit
down on it--- that makes me cross.

SNICKERTY

Well, if you wouldn't sit on your tail, it
wouldn't go to sleep.

DRAGON

I never thought of that!

SNICKERTY

Try it!

The DRAGON (what we can see

-46-

of him) heaves and grunts,
and with a terrific display
of effort, apparently changes
his position.

DRAGON (sighing)

Ooooh... That's better...

SNICKERTY

<u>Now</u> will you let us pass?

DRAGON

Yes!

(in surprise)

Why, I feel comfortable... It makes me friendly.

SNICKERTY

And happy?

DRAGON (nodding contentedly)

And happy!

Just then the DICKIE-DOODLE
starts to sing, and from off-
stage is heard the jingling
of the bells around the necks
of the MERRY-GO-ROUND HORSES.

CIRCUS RIDER

-47-

(pointing to the right upstage entrance)
Look! Look, Nicky, the Horses have come back!

As she speaks the MERRY-GO
ROUND HORSES come prancing in.

TEDDY BEAR

Hurray!

SAMBINGO

Mah goodness! Ah'm lik'wise happy!

As DICKIE-DOODLE whistles the
"Dipsey Wipsey" melody,
SNICKERTY leads his troupe
skipping happily around the
stage in front of the DRAGON.

SNICKERTY (as he skips)
I told you the Horses would come back when we
stopped quarreling and we did somebody some good!

SNICKERTY and his TROUPE
(singing)

Dipsey-Wipsey Tiddley-Ipsey,
The Horses pranced back and away!
Dipsey-Wipsey, Tiddley-Ipsey,
The Horses have come to stay!