PUSS IN BOOTS: That Tricky Cat by Laura Peetoom originally told by Charles Perrault illustrated by Laura Watson... Narrator, storyteller....... Puss, tricky cat... Chorus, noisy group of spectators....... King... François, eldest son of a miller....... Princess Grace... Mike, middle son of a miller....... King s Driver... Jack, youngest son of a miller....... Ogre Dupree, wealthy landowner 2008 Scholastic Canada Ltd. V001
Prologue Chorus: Chorus: Once upon a time Yay! Way to go! What a story! [cheering] Why all the cheers? Have you heard this before? Sure! It s a fairy tale. We know them all. The good guy gets the princess. The bad guy takes a fall. The good guy s an angel. The bad guy is tricky. Puss in Boots 2/27
Chorus: François: Mike: Maybe. May I start now? Anytime. We re not picky. ACT ONE Scene 1: Outside a miller s house. There once was a miller With three grown-up sons. Alas, the man died, Leaving gifts for each one. I am the eldest. I ll take the horse. I am the second son. The cart s mine, of course. Puss in Boots 3/27
François: Mike: Jack: François: Jack: With my horse and your cart, we could both earn our keep. Say, where is the youngest? [points] He s in there asleep! [stretches, yawns] What s going on here? What did I miss? We both have our gifts; now you can have this. [hands Jack the cat] That s all I get? Just a measly old cat? Puss in Boots 4/27
Chorus: [shaking fingers] Don t get caught napping. That s the moral of that. [Exit François and Mike] Scene 2: Still outside a miller s house. Jack: Poor Jack was alone. No brothers. No money. And nowhere to live. [Puss giggles] Don t laugh! It s not funny! [he does a double take] Hey, wait a minute What s happening here? Puss in Boots 5/27
Puss: Chorus: Jack: Don t worry, Master. You have nothing to fear. Just give me some boots And a big fancy hat, And I ll make you a fortune. A fast-talking cat? Uh this isn t normal. Are you for real? Some clothes for a fortune [scratches head, thinking] Okay. It s a deal! Jack gave him the clothes And the two started walking. Puss in Boots 6/27
Chorus: [looking shocked] You shouldn t listen to tricky cats talking. ACT TWO Scene 1: A riverside. Jack is asleep under a tree. They travelled for hours; Then Jack lay on the ground. He took a nap, While the cat looked around. [Enter Puss, running] Puss: Wake up, Master! Wake up! Puss in Boots 7/27
Jack: Puss: Chorus: Jack: [wakes startled and confused] What-zat? Who-zat? Quick take off your clothes! Don t do it, Jack! [covering eyes] Too late there he goes! Jack stripped to his undies And jumped in the river. How long must I stay here? I m starting to shiver! Puss in Boots 8/27
Puss: Chorus: [shouts] Help me! Oh, help me! My master is drowning! [to Chorus] What is the matter? Why are you frowning? Jack is just swimming. What s he up to, that cat? Don t get excited. I m getting to that. The cat had found out That the King of the place Was out riding that day With the young Princess Grace. Puss in Boots 9/27
[Enter coach with King, Driver, and Grace] King: Driver, stop the coach! This looks like disaster! [Driver runs to help Jack] You there you feline! Who is your master? Puss: [bows deeply] Your servant, Your Highness! This is Count Calabash. Bandits plundered his clothing And all of his cash. Puss in Boots 10/27
The King opened his luggage And gave Jack a suit. Dressed in rich clothing, Jack really looked cute. [Grace and Jack smile at each other] King: King: Hop in the coach, lad, And join us awhile. They drove past rich farmlands For mile after mile. What excellent crops! What cattle! What horses! Who owns all this stuff? Puss in Boots 11/27
Puss: King: Chorus: Why, the answer, of course, is My master, the Count. He s the boss here. Well, what do you know? [to Grace] Did you hear that, my dear? [disgusted] None of this is true, is it? Not in the least. The land really belongs To an ogre. A beast. Puss in Boots 12/27
Scene 2: The roadside, just outside a forest. In the distance stands a castle on a hill. King: Puss: King: I m getting hungry. Let s stop for some lunch. [pointing] Whose castle is that? I think I ve a hunch. [winks at Jack] That castle s my master s. Your hunch, Sire, is right. Well, I want to see it. We ll dine there tonight! Puss in Boots 13/27
Chorus: Puss: [to Puss, shaking fingers] Ha! Now what will you do You fuzzy old liar? You jumped out of the frying pan Into the fire! [ignoring Chorus and Jack, who is pulling on his arm] No problem, Your Highness! We re thrilled that you chose us! Now, just for a moment, Will you excuse us? Puss in Boots 14/27
Jack: Puss: Jack: [in loud whisper, to Puss] Farmlands? A castle? A place where we ll dine? I m dead when he finds out This stuff isn t mine! Master, dear Master, All I ask for is trust. All right then, old fellow, Do what you must. [Exit Puss; Jack rejoins King and Grace, who are eating picnic lunch] Chorus: Yoo-hoo! Oh Ki-ing Puss in Boots 15/27
King: Chorus: I beg your pardon? Who said that? Be quiet, you guys! You re not part of this scene! [sulking] But we re tired of lies. [King is napping; Jack and Grace whisper and giggle together as curtains close] Puss in Boots 16/27
ACT THREE Scene 1: A castle courtyard. Ogre: Puss: Ogre: The cat ran cross-country, furiously, Till he came to the castle of Ogre Dupree. [offstage] Halt! Who goes there? Just a pussycat, Tiny and furry. What do you want? Tell me. I m in a hurry. Puss in Boots 17/27
Puss: Ogre: Puss: Sir, I heard you do magic. Real magic. [suspicious, Ogre enters] Yes what s it to you? [delighted, then sweetly flattering] Oh, my stars! I m so happy to hear that it s true! Your magic is marvellous. Your talent is tremendous. I wish I could see something truly stupendous! Puss in Boots 18/27
Ogre: [flattered] Since you re so keen And so little and sweet, I ll show you my very best Transforming feat. Dupree went inside. [Exit Ogre] There was a short pause. Then [Enter Ogre/Lion] A lion was standing there Flaunting his claws! Puss in Boots 19/27
Puss: Ogre/Lion: Eek! I m so frightened! Your magic is slick! But I wonder can you do This most difficult trick? Try something tiny. A ladybug? A louse? No! Wait! I ve got it! Turn into a mouse! No problem! Here goes. [Exit Ogre/Lion; enter Ogre/Mouse] Puss in Boots 20/27
A tiny white mouse Skittered under the door. The cunning cat pounced [Exit Ogre/Mouse, pursued by Puss] And Dupree was no more. Chorus: Huh? What are you saying? [Enter Puss, patting belly] Puss in Boots 21/27
The cat ate the mouse. [Enter coach with King, Grace, Jack, and Driver] And then, the King s party Arrived at the house. Chorus: But the ogre, Dupree What happened to him? [Puss makes a big duh! eye roll at audience] [shaking head] Do I have to explain it? It s as plain as can be: The mouse that got eaten That was Dupree. Puss in Boots 22/27
Puss: King: Puss: Jack: Puss: [to King] Welcome, Your Highness, To Calabash Castle! Sorry we re late. Forget it no hassle! [in stage whisper, to Puss] What s going on? Is it really okay? Our bargain s complete, Jack, As of this day. Puss in Boots 23/27
Jack: Puss: Jack: All this is mine? Free and clear. No disputes. Thanks to your loyal friend, [makes grand ta-dah gesture] Lord Puss in Boots. Well, Lord [making quotation marks in air] Puss in Boots, If that is the case, Then please say hello To my wife-to-be, Grace. [Grace and Puss shake hands; then everyone, including Driver and Narrator, is shaking hands and saying congratulations. ] Puss in Boots 24/27
They all went inside, Had a feast, went to bed; And, in the morning, The two young folks were wed. Puss in Boots was best man. The King wept with joy. Later came children: Two girls and a boy. With children and wife, With riches and laughter, Jack lived happily Ever after. [Exit all, except Chorus] Puss in Boots 25/27
Chorus: Chorus: EPILOGUE Hey! You! Narrator! [returns wearily] Oh, for goodness sake! We hope that old cat Got a big bellyache. He lied! And he cheated! He stole! And he ate! He was the bad guy. So what was his fate? Puss in Boots 26/27
Chorus: [annoyed] You want to know more? Okay, then, here goes: Puss in Boots always Wore wonderful clothes. And when Grace s father Died in his sleep, King Jack gave ol Puss Dupree s castle to keep. Puss owned all the land, All the farms, all the houses; And Puss terrorized Every one of the mouses. [looking mad] We are not happy! Puss in Boots 27/27
[Narrator walks over to curtain] Chorus: Come back here, friend! Don t you guys get it? This is [closes curtain on Chorus] The End!