VOLCANO BOY THE GROWNUPS Sing, the only song How in youth we fought our fight Turned all darkness into light Banished night and made a right From every wrong. Sing, sing to remember How we freed the valley fair Built a happy country there Settled down, forgot all care Til this December. Volcano Boy defeated ran away to hide Never to return again And here we built our kingdom on the valley side Knew he'd return and wondered when Now, now, our old foe has been released Now, now, running savage as a beast Got to put him back in jail now Or slow him down, at least. (Bursting through a side door come THE KIDS, except Henry and Serafina. They are all in a big hurry and each kids goes up to one of the grownups, tugging on their sleeve, asking questions, and gesturing this way and that.) THE GROWNUPS AND THE KIDS Now the people are talking There's a rumor going round That Volcano Boy's in town And we're no longer safe and sound When we're out walking Now the danger is growing We have heard the hungry howl Of the wolf out on the prowl And at night the whispering foul Dark winds are blowing. (Enter HENRY and SERAFINA from the opposite side from where the kids came. HENRY is clearly distraught and downcast and SERAFINA holds his hand solicitously. A couple KIDS and GROWNUPS go to HENRY to embrace him, while others continue the song) And all we ever wanted was a peaceful road A quiet life our one desire But now beware the mountains they could soon explode And fill the land with ash and fire Now, now, our old foe has been released Now, now, running savage as a beast Got to put him back in jail now To get a little peace. (A large framed black and white photo of Henry's parents is placed on the wall, and candles are lit in front of it and beside it; all the KIDS and GROWNUPS take turns putting flowers and mementoes in front of and around the memorial.) THE GROWNUPS Sing the only song THE KIDS song of love, song of joy, how we beat volcano boy THE GROWNUPS Sing out all night long THE KIDS song of love, song of joy, how we beat volcano boy (The GROWNUPS and the KIDS all join hands and kneel in a semicircle to make a silent prayer. They bow their heads, but immediately realize something is wrong; someone is missing; it is LITTLE JACK. They find him playing alone under the big table, his toy figures of Spot, Dick, Jane, and a Smiling Sun all round him. Then they gather up Jack into the semicircle and bow their heads in prayer for a moment. When the prayer is done, CRAZY DAVIE enters, and he and some of the grownups gather Downstage, while the kids are still playing and looking out the window.) THE GROWNUPS, CRAZY DAVIE What we gonna do with the kids? Where we gonna send them now? What we gonna do with the kids? Gotta get em outta here somehow. Henry has a house! Up north in the Crystal Lakes The kids could be there well before dawn breaks! What we gonna do with the kids? We gotta send them away! What we gonna do with the kids? Gotta get em outta here today. Henry has a house! Pretty Tess still lives up there The kids'll be fine in Teacher Tess's care. (The GROWNUPS open a locked cabinet on one wall, and pull out swords and shields, and equipping themselves for battle. They straighten their helmets, sharpen their sword blades, and lace up their boots. When all are dressed for battle they huddle for a minute and then raise their swords with a great cry and clang of steel. Then they separate and gather the KIDS and all sing together....) THE GROWNUPS, THE KIDS SING THE ONLY SONG ---song of love, song of joy, how we beat volcano boy ------Henry's House is where the kids will be alright SING OUT ALL NIGHT LONG ---song of pain, song of sorrow, for a better day tomorrow ------Henry's House is where the kids will go tonight (Candles are blown out and the lights go down to a more ominous setting, backlighting, silhouettes, etc. The flashes outside the window and rumbles of distant explosions become much greater.) Sing, sing out a warning Now the children must take heed With no parents there to lead To the north they must make speed Until the morning. Sing, sing as we're riding There's a battle close at hand In our peaceful valley land One more time to war we ride Through our valley fair and wide Up the rocky mountainside Where the wolves and demons hide To the demon's hidden lair Where sulfur smoke pollutes the air And our kids will leave from us In the old Volkswagen Bus They will drive til morning's glow Up to Henry's House they'll go Into hiding. (One of the GROWNUPS hands CRAZY DAVIE a large Keychain. DAVIE pockets the keys and exits, (to pull up a minute later in the VW Bus), while the GROWNUPS go back to the KIDS, speak to them briefly, and start getting them bundled up in winter coats, hats, and scarves. Everyone exits and the stage blacks out while the music continues. When the lights come back up the scene has changed to the outside of the Tower, in a street surrounded by stone buildings; there is a blizzard, and huge gusts of wind are whipping the snow around, while flashes of light indicate the fires that rage in other parts of the city.)

WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG (HENRY'S MOM & DAD appear above the action, looking down at the scene in the snowy street with wistful detachment. The KIDS and GROWNUPS are unaware of their presence, and continue to get their bags ready, say their goodbyes, etc. Or do they freeze still for this part?) HENRY'S MOM & DAD When we were very young Our lives just begun We lived for the fun of our story. And when we were kings uncrowned No past weighed us down We stretched on the ground awaiting our story. HENRY'S MOM & DAD, THE SIX GROWNUPS Yes, yes it's true We were once as young as you Now we're grown and we know Alone you must go On this dangerous day Sadly we send you away. (Now the GROWNUPS all separate from the KIDS. They are ready for battle now (if possible they could be on Horseback) and sing these last verses while getting further from the kids, exiting down a dark street.) Now soon we will be gone You'll ride through the dawn Please remember the song and the story. And when we reunite Some heavenly night By the warm firelight we'll tell our story. Yes you must go Although we love you so No time now to cry Alone you must fly From these dangerous men Til someday we see you again Yes, yes it's true It's the only thing to do Alone you'll go forth To the house in the north On this dangerous day Sadly we send you away

ROLL CALL CRAZY DAVIE When fire and molten lava come exploding from the ground That's as good a time as any to get yourself outta town When black smoke fills the air and red-hot boulders tumble down That's as good a time as any to get yourself outta town. CRAZY DAVIE Hey kids, let’s get going....let’s get a move on!...You hear those explosions in the distance? DAMN! Sounds like Volcano Boy is really on the rampage this time....I think he’s got some demon servants too. What a mess. Hey kids, c’mon! Time to get in the trusty old Bus. (One by one the KIDS led by HENRY come out of hiding. The following dialohgue takes place in the midst of a whirlwind of confusion, packing bags in the van, with snow whipping around everywhere) Oh, finally, I’ve been calling and calling! SERAFINA We’re just about ready.... CRAZY DAVIE Is this everybody....let me help you with those bags....How many of you are there? FELIX Eight of us sir. CRAZY DAVIE Oh wait, here’s the list Lucy’s mom gave me. LUCIE That’s MY mom! CRAZY DAVIE Yeah, okay....everybody stand in line I’m gonna do a roll call. Lucy? LUCIE I just talked to you silly! CRAZY DAVIE Serafina? SERAFINA Here. CRAZY DAVIE Milo? MILO I'm here, obviously. Where else would I be. CRAZY DAVIE Felix? FELIX Here. CRAZY DAVIE Maddy? MADELINE That’s Madeleine please! CRAZY DAVIE No time for that!....Little Jack? (There is no reply for a moment) Little JACK? SERAFINA Here he is, reading a book already in the van....little Jack always seems to be out of sight JUST when you’re looking for him! CRAZY DAVIE Oh, great....Lily? LILY Here. CRAZY DAVIE Henry? HENRY Here. CRAZY DAVIE Good. Hey Henry, you know how to get to your family’s old summer house? HENRY I’ve never been there....but Fina's Dad wrote out these directions. CRAZY DAVIE Cool. Now everybody in and let’s go! CRAZY DAVIE, ALL THE KIDS When fire and molten lava come exploding from the ground That's as good a time as any to get yourself outta town When black smoke fills the air and red-hot boulders tumble down That's as good a time as any to get yourself outta town.

CINNAMON TEA TEACHER TESS The kids will be here soon I'll let 'em sleep until the afternoon And when they awake Maybe a picnic by the lake With some raspberry pancakes and cinammon tea. (The lights come up on the VW Bus, still hurtling northward. DAVIE is driving and the kids are slumped on the back seats, except HENRY who gets up, looks around, and sticks his head out the sunroof, drinking in the night air as the wind whips his face.) The danger won't last long The kings and queens are young and strong And up here with me The kids will safely run free Having raspberry pancakes and cinammon tea Raspberry pancakes and cinammon tea. (TESS turns to a small cupboard, opens it, and pulls out a small silver framed photograph. She looks longingly at the picture as she sings.) TEACHER TESS These 20 years all alone here So obscure and unknown here Have healed my wounded soul What was broken now is whole, and I'm fine A little lonely sometimes Just like anyone And all the stars are out tonight And the house is wrapped in snowy white And up here with me The kids will safely run free Having raspberry pancakes and cinammon tea Raspberry pancakes and cinammon tea. There's such power in the air here Mystic moonlight so rare here And 20 years apart Have healed my wounded heart And I'm fine A little lonely sometimes Just like anyone

THOSE DAMN KIDS (BUBSY BEALS'S SONG) BUBSY BEALS Good job Crafty Fox! I believe you've got another foolproof scheme! Those new kids at the house Shrink them down and trap them in a dream! So pour a cup of tea, we're on the comeback trail Soon I will be free from this underwater jail Down in the pond After all these years I finally see my chance I'll make 'em sing the magic song, and do the magic dance And wave my magic wand I don't like those damn kids anyway! They play their games they run and sing They giggle at most anything And I hate that. (More frantic exuberant dancing from BUBSY. CRAFTY FOXX brings him a top hat and cane, and lights his cigar for him.) All 8 girls and boys Out there laughing making funny faces Let them make their noise Cause pretty soon we will be trading places Well my name is Bubsy Beals, and I always get my way Feels like I've been trapped forever and a day But I'm finally gonna score. And now the fateful hour of escape is drawing near Those laughing little kids are my ticket outta here Forevermore. I don't like those damn kids anyway! They skip and jump it's such a crime They smile almost all the time And I hate that. (Then BUBSY and CRAFTY dance together in an exaggerated vaudeville style until they both fall over and pass out.)

GOOD MORNING TEACHER TESS ALL THE KIDS Good morning Teacher Tess Here we are Home to our new address Weary from the car Before the sight of morning's light We must lay down our heads The day comes soon, to chase the moon Show us to our beds. The lonely owl he knows Night is almost gone The morning blackbird crows Bright to greet the dawn We want to meet you, honest we do But first lay down our heads A few hours of rest will make us our best Show us to our beds. The day comes soon to chase the moon Show us to our beds. (TEACHER TESS leads the kids to their bedrooms upstairs while CRAZY DAVIE helps with the luggage. DAVIE then waves goodbye, returns to the VW Bus, and drives off, while the KIDS get tucked into their beds upstairs.) And soon we'll wake anew To a brand new day with you But now turn out the light Night, night. (No sooner do the kids put out their lights than we see the silhouette of BUBSY BEALS dancing maniacally to a heavy metal beat that gets gradually louder. Then just before he sings BUBSY jumps Downstage and is suddenly bathed in red light. As he sings CRAFTY FOXX looks on sycophantically, aiming a spotlight at him.)

MAGIC DAYS (As the others fall asleep HENRY sits up suddenly--or is he dreaming? He floats from his bed, and out the window--then flies out over the snow-covered front lawn, by the mist-covered lake and through the woods, all by the greyish dawn light.) HENRY Winter white and snow bright Dazzled drowned in light from your smile Call me from this dream please Find me in the trees just another mile Find the silver bell that sings And all five golden rings These are the magic things By the lake where misty moonlight plays And Mary Mermaid plays These are the magic days I may never go home, where I belong No no no, never go home where I belong (HENRY'S flight brings him back into the bedroom, where he grabs SERAFINA by the hand, and now the two of them fly together, through the hallways of the house.) HENRY, SERAFINA Gunmetal gray dawn The other kids are gone, ain't it grand Tiptoe tiny footfalls Glide right through the walls hand in hand Find the silver bell that rings And all five golden rings These are the magic things By the lake where misty moonlight plays And Mary Mermaid plays These are the magic days I may never go home, where I belong No no no, never go home where I belong (Now all the other kids rise and come downstairs, running laughing and playing, eventually running outside to play in the snow when the sun rises. At the same time HENRY'S MOM & DAD quietly fade away or exit, waving to Henry and the kids.) HENRY Lucie in her red dress Wins a game of chess she's the queen Fina slaloms slowly In the knowly with the holy unseen, she's unseen HENRY, ALL THE KIDS The land the lawn the lake the trees And all the birds and bees These are the magic things And we live with the mermaids fair Beyond all hope and care These are the magic days. I may never go home, where I belong No no no, never go home where I belong (And HENRY goes back to bed while the music fades out. The other kids are all awake now and it is morning, and we hear their shouts in the distance outside and the morning sun shines through Henry's window. Now TEACHER TESS enters Henry's room and sits down on a chair beside the bed.)

HEY HENRY TEACHER TESS Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside to play Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside to play (Enter SERAFINA.) TEACHER TESS, SERAFINA Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside to play Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside to play (Enter MILO and MADELINE. They start turning on lights in HENRY'S room.) TEACHER TESS, SERAFINA, MILO, MADELINE Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside to play Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside to play (On the last chord with the word "play" HENRY finally sits up, rubs his eyes and looks around. TESS ushers the THREE KIDS out the door and down the stairs. Now we see ALL THE KIDS outside beneath HENRY'S window, while TESS returns to the chair at his bedside.) TEACHER TESS, ALL THE KIDS Hey Henry, would you like a bite to eat Your friends are all doing fine, get up get out, get on your feet Hey Henry, time to open up your eyes Your friends are all doing fine, running out in the bright sunshine (The lights on the KIDS dim down, and TEACHER TESS leans in towards HENRY, producing a small Silver Bell from a pocket on her dress.) TEACHER TESS But wait just a minute before you go Henry hold on, there's something you must know I got you a present, a little gift for you This silver bell will always ring out clear and true And if you're in trouble, ring it clear and true. (HENRY takes the Bell, rises out of bed and walks Downstage holding the Bell above his head, ringing it a couple times and looking at it in fascination. At the same time TESS takes an album of black and white photographs from a shelf and looks at it sadly; perhaps photos projected on a screen shows the audience what TESS is looking at.) TEACHER TESS Once upon a time there was a love song And once upon a time there was a broken heart Once a boy and girl sat near a river For one last kiss before they would forever part Oh lost love, I have passed along your bell All these years, it has kept and served me well Oh lost love, I have passed along your bell All these years, it has kept and served me well TEACHER TESS Once upon a time there was a love song HENRY A STILL AND SILVER STARLIGHT BEAM TEACHER TESS And once upon a time there was a broken heart HENRY IN MY MIND'S EYE SHINING BRIGHT TEACHER TESS Once a boy and girl sat near a river HENRY WAS I AWAKE OR IN A DREAM? TEACHER TESS For one last kiss before they would forever part HENRY ALL MY ADVENTURES IN THE NIGHT? TEACHER TESS Oh lost love, I have passed along your bell HENRY A STILL AND SILVER STARLIGHT BEAM TEACHER TESS All these years, it has kept and served me well HENRY IN MY MIND'S EYE SHINING BRIGHT TEACHER TESS Oh lost love, I have passed along your bell HENRY WAS I AWAKE OR IN A DREAM? TEACHER TESS All these years, it has kept and served me well HENRY ALL MY ADVENTURES IN THE NIGHT? (Then HENRY looks over at TESS and she shows him the photo album. A look of understanding comes over HENRY'S face and they embrace. The TESS sings the last verse as HENRY puts on his sweater and laces up his shoes.) TEACHER TESS Hey Henry, my silly sleepyhead, it looks like a pretty nice day, rub your eyes and rise out of bed Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside to play Hey Henry, everybody else is up, it looks like a pretty nice day, and they've all gone outside.... (And HENRY now dressed for a winter day runs down the hall and slides down the bannister, and steps breathlessly to the Front Of The Stage, while the lights go down on his bedroom and the outside. A scene change takes place as he sings the next bit.) HENRY Just a day ago I was at home And now I wake up in this magic land I dreamed last night of a silver bell And now Teacher Tess puts it in my hand Ain't no time to ponder this or figure out what it means Anyway who cares? I'm running down the stairs Gonna have a little game of sardines. Yeah yo. (Suddenly the lights come up and we see that HENRY is now outside on a sunny winter's day. There are evergreen woods to Stage Left and an ice-covered Lake Upstage Right, a bright blue sky and yellow sun, and HENRY is surrounded by the rest of the KIDS, (except LITTLE JACK, who sits on the porch playing with his Action Figures) and immediately starts singing and dancing.)

SARDINES HENRY Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina been a queen a sardina Shake a meana tamborina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Peacock Hey tangerina sat between a submarina And a pretty Serafina seen a Peacock HENRY, FELIX, MADELINE Serafina plays sardines And she peels tangerines In the flim-shimmer glimmer of the daylight She kneels and makes her wishes By the shimmering pool of fishes In the fine wine shining of the daylight HENRY, ALL THE KIDS Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina been a queen a sardina Shake a meana tamborina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Peacock Hey tangerina sat between a submarina And a pretty Serafina seen a Peacock HENRY, LUCY, LILY Serafina on the swing Like a sparrow on the wing With her grey eyes faraway she sits there waiting Serafina is the star In the home or in the car Admiring the day she is creating. (Now the KIDS led by HENRY all turn to MILO who is off to one side playing on his Pocket Computer. They all pick him up much to his annoyance, and carry him around on their shoulders. MILO is unamused and just wears a sour look, while LITTLE JACK looks on from the porch, laughing at MILO.) ALL THE KIDS Down down down down Sun sun funny rolls all around! Down down down down Come on everybody fall down! Down down down down Sun sun funny rolls all around! Down down down down down.... (And they all fall to the ground except FELIX and SERAFINA -- as they sing the next verse the others get up and start dancing again.) FELIX, SERAFINA Hey Henry move fast don't want to be last Through the gate, don'tcha wait don't wanna get passed Out here in the sun and the sugar white snow Get up get out everybody's gonna go! Out here we'll all be kings and queens In attendance at the royal game of Sardines. Our notorious name of worldwide fame In attendance at the royal Sardines Game. MILO We'll all be kings and queens indeed! Ridiculous! HENRY, FELIX, SERAFINA Well if you should be it go run and go hide And try not to let your hiding-place get spied Alone you might wait for an hour or two Til one by one we all discover you Then your turn's done and it just goes around And we all keep playing til the sun goes down Just stay on your toes and follow your nose And we all keep playing til down the sun goes! (Now LITTLE JACK comes to join the dancing but trips and falls. LUCY, SERAFINA and MADELINE guide him back to his swings near the porch.) LUCY, SERAFINA, MADELINE Little Jack can't play he's a little too small He can swing on the porch or sing in the hall Stay put little fella right where you are Cause all the big kids ain't going too far Come out Lucy come Maddy come Lil Gonna gather in a circle on the side of the hill Gonna count to a hundred with our hands on our eyes Then come out running so don't be surprised LUCY, SERAFINA, MADELINE, LILY, FELIX, HENRY Gonna count to a hundred then start the show Then come out racing so ready set go! ALL THE KIDS (Except Little Jack) Five four three two one Watch out Henry, 'cause here we all come! (Now HENRY races everywhere looking for a hiding place while the rest of the kids peel off in all directions to start their search for him. A quite complicated dance sequence follows. Towards the end of it CRAFTY FOXX appears and we see that he is surreptitiously watching THE KIDS from behind a tree or a bush, darting this way and that. Finally when the music comes to a climax we see HENRY, Downstage Left right up by the audience. He is in a large Hollow Tree, a perfect hiding spot. The rest of the KIDS are off Stage Right, looking in completely the wrong place. He calls out....) HENRY Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina been a queen a sardina Shake a meana tamborina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Peacock Hey tangerina sat between a submarina And a pretty Serafina seen a Peacock (The KIDS hear HENRY'S call, but still can't figure out where he is. But they join in the singing nonetheless....) HENRY, ALL THE KIDS Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina been a queen a sardina Shake a meana tamborina seen a Sunday Hey Serafina-fina green jelly beana-beana Pretty signorina seen a Peacock Hey tangerina sat between a submarina And a pretty Serafina seen a Peacock (Now CRAFTY FOXX comes out in the open and HENRY sees him and gives him the "Shhh" sign with his finger on his lips. ) HENRY Slap-happy me in this old hollow tree Hidden in the forest where no one can see Here in my lair there's plenty of cool mountain air Even if I sneeze there'll be enough (Then CRAFTY FOXX conspiratorially joins in the song, and he and HENRY dance a jig while singing together. The other KIDS still haven't found the hollow tree....) HENRY, CRAFTY FOXX Slap-happy me in this old hollow tree Hidden in the forest where no one can see Here in my lair there's plenty of cool mountain air Even if I sneeze there'll be enough (Now finally the KIDS see HENRY, dancing in the woods with a man who looks like a Fox! They all point and whisper among themselves at this phenomenon, then join in the last verse.) HENRY, CRAFTY FOXX, ALL THE KIDS Slap-happy me in this old hollow tree Hidden in the forest where no one can see Here in my lair there's plenty of cool mountain air Even if I sneeze there'll be enough Even if I sneeze there'll be enough Even if I sneeze there'll be enough. (And exhausted from the final bit of dancing and jumping about the KIDS all fall flat on their backs at the end of the number. Then CRAFTY FOXX takes HENRY'S arm and guides him a little ways away from the others so as to speak to him "Privately".)

CRAFTY FOX'S SUPER SONG AND DANCE CRAFTY FOXX "Heeheehee! Henry, isn't it? A fine name, if I do say so, a truly fine name for such a fine-looking strapping young fellow as yourself! Well Mr. Henry, allow me to introduce myself: my name is Mr. Fox....Crafty Fox, at your service. I've run the er, security side of things here at the House for more years than an old fox can rightly remember! Always on the lookout I am, never seen but never far away, keeping an eye out for whatever bad critters might want lay a harmful hand on some of these children I admire so. And I just thought I'd mention that I know an absolutely wonderful game, an absolute doozy of a groovetastic superlicious good time....I know you'd really like it! Just get everyone into the main hall inside and I'll show you the ropes!" HENRY (Racing back towards the others) Hey....guys! I just met a fellow named Crafty Fox, and he seemed like a pretty good guy Told me all about a little game he knows, maybe we should give it a try HENRY, FELIX, MADELINE, LUCIE He's gonna take us to a magical land, a kingdom far away Let's go to the great hall, he'll show us how to play HENRY I really want to play! (Now CRAFTY takes HENRY'S arm once again and guides him a little way apart from the others, then leads them all back into the Great Entry Hall of the House) CRAFTY FOXX "Ah yes, young Henry, I can see I was right about you....A fox is rarely wrong in assessing character....and what a gifted prodigy, what a character you are indeed. Excellent job my boy. Now....we need everybody to link arms, snap their fingers in time, and sing this little song I've composed. This is in fact a magical song, and this particular magic will put us all in a most exquisite and quite salubrious magical sleep. Then, when you're all trapped....er....I mean....when you've all napped, we will find ourselves in the mystical land of Laer Ecalpon, and we can start our adventures....so ah, whenever you're ready...." (MILO has been looking very skeptically at the newcomer and now grabs SERAFINA and pulls her aside, and points at CRAFTY.) MILO Psst! Hey, Fina! I don't know about Crafty Fox, I don't like the look in his eye Runs a line of patter so friendly like but he seems just a little too sly MILO, SERAFINA Teacher Tess never mentioned a security guard, but we better just play along Just a song and dance, whatever could go wrong MILO, SERAFINA, ALL THE KIDS Nothing can go wrong! CRAFTY FOXX (Having overheard MILO'S concerns) "oh...oh...Master Milo, I must admit, you do disappoint me. To be so misjudged....but of course I'm used to it. The reputation of the fox is an unsavory one, and I'll be the first to acknowledge that our general duplicitous image has been reinforced by the many mendacious meddlings of my more unscrupulous brethren. But give me a chance, young sir, one chance is all I ask. You won't regret it....ah, I can see that you'll be broadminded after all. Most admirable....now if everybody's ready, here we go!--Let's all snap our fingers and sing the magic lullaby! Sweet dreams kiddies!" (He has assembled all the KIDS into a circle. Now they all link their arms while kneeling on the floor and start snapping their fingers, while CRAFTY paces among them, conducting with a cane.) CRAFTY FOXX, HENRY Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Beep beep, ain't nobody makin' no peep Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Beep beep, falling in a sleep so deep.... FALL DOWN! CRAFTY FOXX, ALL THE KIDS Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Beep beep, ain't nobody makin' no peep Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Beep beep, falling in a sleep so deep.... FALL DOWN! (Now the KIDS continue the song on their own while CRAFTY FOXX waves his hands in the casting of a magic spell and sprinkles the KIDS with some sort of glittery green dust.) THE KIDS CRAFTY FOXX Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Down deep, children close your eyes Beep beep, ain't nobody makin' no peep Shrink to tiny size Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Sight unseen Beep beep, falling in a sleep so deep.... Deep in waters green FALL DOWN! Fall Down! (Now the KIDS' eyes are closed and they are clearly in a trance, though they continue to sing. The lights have gone down to almost complete blackness, and CRAFTY paints the KIDS' faces with flourescent Green Paint which stands out in the darkness.) THE KIDS CRAFTY FOXX Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Down deep, children close your eyes Beep beep, ain't nobody makin' no peep Shrink to tiny size Beep beep, everybody goes to sleep Sight unseen Beep beep, falling in a sleep so deep.... Deep in waters green FALL DOWN! Fall Down! THE KIDS, CRAFTY FOXX Down, down..... Down, down..... Down, down..... (Now the kids have fallen into a sleep and they slump to the floor, while CRAFTY dances to and fro with manic excitement.) CRAFTY FOXX "Hurhurrrh! Hahha! I did it Bubsy! You see that! Eight little kiddies deep in a trance, all shrunk to the size of a pinhead! Trapped inside a little bubble at the bottom of that confounded lake! How nice of them to take your place! Well Bubsy it's been a long time but you're FREE again! Woohoo!" (And CRAFTY shakes his fists at the sky and jumps about with glee. Meanwhile the lights come up Green and Aqua and we see that we are Underwater, with Bubbles rising and little Fishes swimming around. Now a spotlight comes up on BUBSY BEALS upstage center, who is rising up out of the lake while playing a loud guitar solo. At the climax of the guitar solo the lights get much brighter and the KIDS all wake up with a start, suddenly realizing their predicament.) HENRY I guess that game wasn't really so cool I guess Mr. Fox played me for a fool I guess I shoulda known that smile was a fake ALL THE KIDS Now we're really in trouble Trapped in a bubble..... THE KIDS BUBSY BEALS I guess that game wasn't really so cool Hello world, Bubsy's loose once more! CRAFTY: He's loose once more! I guess Mr. Fox played me for a fool And I'm ready to settle the score! CRAFTY: Settle the score! I guess I shoulda known that smile So better get ready to lose this war! was a fake CRAFTY: Say goodbye to the kiddies BUBSY & CRAFTY Now we're really in trouble Cause they're really in trouble yes trouble so deep Cause they're trapped in a bubble Trapped in a bubble..... cause they all fell asleep.... Looks like Mr Foxx cast a sneaky spell Hello world, Bubsy's loose once more! CRAFTY: He's loose once more! So here we are locked in a watery hell And I'm ready to settle the score! CRAFTY: Settle the score! Ain't no way to make this magic break So better get ready to lose this war! CRAFTY: Say goodbye to the kiddies BUBSY & CRAFTY Now we're really in trouble Cause they're really in trouble yes trouble so deep Cause they're trapped in a bubble Trapped in a bubble..... cause they all fell asleep.... (Now BUBSY has risen all the way out of the Water and has joined CRAFTY, and the two of them jeer at the trapped kids, while all sorts of colored lights and strobes flash crazily.) THE KIDS Who knew, who knew? BUBSY AND CRAFTY Oh boo hoo hoo! THE KIDS Now what we gonna do? BUBSY AND CRAFTY Oh boo hoo hoo! MILO Henry should have known that smile was a fake! SERAFINA Stop it Milo for goodness sake! CRAFTY FOXX Bubsy, this was a piece of cake! (And the flashing lights and the loud music reach a climax.) THE KIDS, BUBSY AND CRAFTY Really in trouble Trapped in a bubble.... Down at the bottom of the lake! (The house suddenly blacks out and all music stops on the word 'lake'. Then after a moment has passed we see Little Jack all alone in the great Hall of the house, lit by only a small spotlight.) LITTLE JACK (scared and timid) Hey, where'd everybody go? (Then one final huge chord and the house blacks out again except for flashing strobe lights, while BUBSY and CRAFTY jump up and down; then black again.) END OF ACT 1

ACT 2 SMILE, THE YELLOW SUN (The Great Entry Hall. The lights come up slowly on LITTLE JACK by himself, kneeling on the floor, surrounded by his Action Figures: Dick, Jane, Spot, and the Smiling Yellow Sun. Around him the house shows the signs of a fight: books are thrown on the floor and the chandelier has crashed into a million pieces. As JACK sings, with the aid of projections his Action Figures seem to assume terrifying size, becoming grotesque phantasms and pursue him this was and that around the Hall.) LITTLE JACK See Spot run Smile the yellow sun It's a game I play every Saturday Jane's got style And Dick a winning smile It's a game I play when the big kids go away Where did they go? Leaving me alone.... (Now a light comes on in an upstairs room and we see TEACHER TESS chained and shackled to a chair in a small closet.) LITTLE JACK TEACHER TESS One What have I done? By one It's all gone wrong They all popped off to have their fun Those kids should not have come here. Queer, It's my worst fear Oh dear Bubsy in here! The bad men are quite near Who's that I hear? I mustn't fear... He musn't fear..... (BUBSY BEALS now storms angrily into the closet where TESS is imprisoned her and jabs her in the eye with his cane, cackling malevolently. TESS cries and slumps back in her chair.) BUBSY BEALS See how YOU like being imprisoned there, Tessie! How do YOU think it feels eh? Well....if you think I almost destroyed yer precious kingdom before, just WAIT and see what I'm gonna do this time!!! Heh heh heh. LITTLE JACK Hear Tess cry He pokes her in the eye Now he slams the door But he'll be back for more (Now we see that CRAFTY FOXX has started slinking around the House. CRAFTY is carrying a great big oversized pair of scissors and "snicker-snacking" them menacingly as he tiptoes around. He clearly realizes that Little Jack is loose somewhere but he can't find him, as JACK keeps ducking behind armchairs tables and sofas just in the nick of time.) Jane crawls by Nod and whisper "hi" The house's scent has changed And the chairs all rearranged But what should I do? I haven't got a clue.... LITTLE JACK CRAFTY FOXX Jane, I heard a noise! oh Jane A rattle of toys I may experience some pain Left by those snotty girls and boys. Jane, I hear a tramp oh Jane A sneaky scamp Don't let me go insane I'll find his camp I'll find a way I'll find a way LITTLE JACK I'm so cold I feel I'm two years old Hidden in the house I'll stay quiet as a mouse His blade goes snicker-snack He's looking for Little Jack But I can get quite small Til I'm hardly there at all I'm hardly there at all I'm hardly there at all.... (Now the cat and mouse game continues for a while until eventually LITTLE JACK curls up underneath a large armchair and CRAFTY FOXX fumes, unable to find the young rascal.) BUBSY BEALS (Offstage) Hey Crafty! What's taking you? Hurry up and let's finish trashing the witch's house! (So CRAFTY gives up the search and skips off cursing under his breath. Then the house blacks out while the music continues, and we come back up on the Study, a nice oak-panelled room that CRAFTY FOXX is in the midst of destroying.)

SNAPPERCRACKERS (Now CRAFTY FOXX, with BUBSY BEALS looking on, starts unpacking wooden stencilled crates of 'Snappercrackers' which each look like variously colored and shaped fireworks, and tossing them around the room. TEACHER TESS also looks on from her upstairs closet and LITTLE JACK peers around the door.) CRAFTY FOXX Snappercrackers! Snappercrackers! The best thing for destroying any place! Snappercrackers! Snappercrackers! Made by all the friendly folks at Ace! I've messed up many houses and I've ruined many rooms Destroyed them in the good old-fashioned style A-breaking and a-smashing with obnoxious bangs and booms Prancing round and cackling all the while. But these little cardboard tubes are so much fun I light them up and toss them one by one And now when I want to break things by the ounce or by the ton My Snappercrackers help me get it done TEACHER TESS, LITTLE JACK, BUBSY BEALS And now when he wants to break things by the ounce or by the ton His Snappercrackers help him get it done! CRAFTY FOXX (tossing Snappercrackers every which way) PHIZZ! (That one slimed every pot and pan in the kitchen!) BURZIP! (Woo! That one's an earthquake! So much for the entryway chandelier!) WUP! (I guess the blue ones are floods....or are they stink bombs?) They light with a match or a fingernail scratch They explode and coat the walls with disgusting goos and slimes The perfect wrecking aid for the home-destroying trade For the busy evil sidekick in these hectic modern times. TEACHER TESS, LITTLE JACK, BUBSY BEALS He's a busy evil sidekick in these hectic modern times! CRAFTY FOXX, TEACHER TESS, LITTLE JACK, BUBSY BEALS Snappercrackers! Snappercrackers! The best thing for destroying any place! Snappercrackers! Snappercrackers! Made by all the friendly folks at Ace! CRAFTY FOXX I remember well my first time wrecking this oak-panelled den With nothing but a shovel and an axe I had no fine equipment, no explosive help back then I just smashed it up with well-placed blows and hacks But technology has changed my profession And given me new ways of self-expression And now when there's a house that I need flooded, wrecked or burned My Snappercrackers leave no stone unturned! TEACHER TESS, LITTLE JACK, BUBSY BEALS And now when there's a house that he needs flooded, wrecked or burned His Snappercrackers leave no stone unturned! CRAFTY FOXX BOOM! (Oh yeah, there goes the master bathroom!) POW! (That one took out the upstairs hallway! Say goodbye to all those lovely pictures!) ZAM! (Cool! Heh-heh, I slimed all those baby blue curtains and drapes!) CRAFTY FOXX, BUBSY BEALS They light with a match or a fingernail scratch They explode and coat the walls with disgusting goos and slimes So nifty and so cool, they're the perfect wrecking tool For the callous cackling vandal in these hectic modern times. TEACHER TESS, LITTLE JACK, BUBSY BEALS He's a callous cackling vandal in these hectic modern times! CRAFTY FOXX, TEACHER TESS, LITTLE JACK, BUBSY BEALS He's (I'm) a callous cackling vandal in these hectic modern times! CRAFTY FOXX I love these modern times! (After an incredibly bright explosion we Black Out.)

IN GREEN WATERS (Lights come up very gradually on an underwater setting. The colors are green and aqua; seaweed and algae undulate up from the ground while tiny bluegills and perch swim by aimlessly, and bubble float gently upwards. After a while HENRY floats into the scene; he seems to be sleeping, but then opens one eye and sings.) HENRY I see the tiny bubbles rise Past schools of bluegills' glassy eyes Each clammy fish a restless soul All shattered fragments of the whole Now I see A lifetime of regrets, they sigh If we had only dreamed, they cry I feel the shiver of their need They brush my flesh as if to plead Set us free, now (Now the beautiful MARY MERMAID swims in from Stage Right. She sees HENRY but he clearly does not see her.) HENRY, MARY MERMAID They seek a stray shaft of sunlight to ride Homeward bound yeah yeah But no ray pierces through the gloomy grey Alone, so far down (Now the KIDS drift or float in from Stage Left. They all seem disoriented but not as badly as HENRY. MILO steps forward and sings in harmony with HENRY, who remains unaware of his presence or anything else.) HENRY, MILO A distant ringing I recall A passing footstep in the hall Once there was laughter, oh, so much A passing smile, a gentle touch That's all gone (Now all the KIDS and MARY MERMAID have gathered around HENRY, but he still does not see them.) HENRY, MILO SERAFINA, MARY MERMAID Now I have joined the silent school We've got to clear his head To swim in waters green and cool Or he'll dream his life away To wander witless in a maze Asleep in a sandy bed And dwell on distant days In deep despair On and on On and on HENRY, MARY MERMAID, THE KIDS And in the shady current flowing Dreams fade away HENRY I am a soulless thing unknowing And unseen, here to stay Fishes, fishes, make their wishes Fishes, fishes, make their wishes HENRY, MARY MERMAID, FINA Fishes, fishes, make their wishes Fishes, fishes, make their wishes MARY MERMAID, SERAFINA, FELIX HENRY Fishes, fishes, make their wishes A still and silver starlight beam Fishes, fishes, make their wishes In my mind's eye shining bright Fishes, fishes, make their wishes As I drift deep into this dream Fishes, fishes, make their wishes And turn my daylight into night. (And HENRY now collapses entirely into the arms of the other KIDS. They carry him Downstage and lay him on his back on a large boulder. Now while MILO and FELIX sing, MARY MERMAID whispers with SERAFINA, LUCIE, MADELINE and LILY some feet away.)

HEY HENRY (PART 2) MILO, FELIX Hey henry, can't you open up your eyes Ain't no time to sleep This lake is cold and the trouble is deep Hey henry, are you hiding in there Are you trying to hold on Or already gone into despair? MILO But wait just a minute Before you slide There's still one thing One trick we never tried FELIX And wait just a minute Before you drift You still hold the teacher's precious gift MILO, FELIX As she foretold, you'll use her precious gift ALL THE KIDS It's getting cold, so use the precious gift!

IT STARTS WITH A KISS MILO Henry's not looking so good.... MADELINE Why doesn't he come out of this gloomy trance? SERAFINA I think it's a magical trance, or dream, or whatever it is. MILO I think if Henry could wake up he could get us out of here! Cast a spell or something.... SERAFINA Thought you didn't believe in stuff like that Milo! MILO Okay, okay....look I'm just trying to think of ANYTHING to get us out of this miserable lake! MADELINE I read a fairy tale once where a girl kissed a sleeping boy and he woke up and turned into a prince. SERAFINA So kiss Henry then, why not? MADELINE No, Fina, I think YOU'VE got to kiss him. You're the one who likes him.... SERAFINA Oh really? You must be dreaming too. MILO Uh, yeah, we all know you do Fina.... SERAFINA Oh, alright....well....here goes nothing.... It starts with a kiss, and the trace of a smile And it lights up the world in just a short while The stormy clouds break and the skies open wide Despair crumbles down under love's crashing tide (And she kneels to kiss HENRY lightly on the forehead.) SERAFINA, MARY MERMAID It starts with a kiss, a sweet healing touch Such a small thing to give, and it leads to so much Where once there was blindness lonely and dark Will burn a great blaze lit by love's flashing spark. (She kisses him again.) SERAFINA, THE KIDS Yes, yes it's true We're all counting on you On this dangerous day To show us the way So wake up somehow SERAFINA Henry, we need you right now. (Now HENRY stirs, and half sits up, though his eyes are still closed.) SERAFINA, HENRY It starts with a kiss, a gleam in the eyes It glows like the heart of a golden sunrise And blood rushes hot from your head to your toes You are just a flower on love's blooming rose SERAFINA, HENRY, MARY MERMAID It starts in the springs bubbling deep underground And flows to the sea in great waves crashing down And the deaf ear will hear when the mute songbird sings His song of the joy at the heart of all things (One more kiss from SERAFINA, on the lips this time. Now HENRY opens his eyes and looks round at the kids and MARY MERMAID in amazement. He and SERAFINA are whispering together while the KIDS sing the last chorus.) THE KIDS, MARY MERMAID Yes, yes it's true We're all counting on you With the ring of a bell And a quick magic spell You can soon set us free SERAFINA Henry, please wake up for me. SERAFINA, MARY MERMAID, MILO Henry ring your bell (And HENRY produces the little silver bell from his pocket and holds it up for all to see.) SERAFINA, MARY MERMAID, MILO, LUCIE, MADELINE, FELIX, LILY Henry ring your bell (And now HENRY righs the bell once, a high clear note.) Yeah yeah yeah. (And now HENRY keeps ringing the Bell at about 2 second intervals, and the music fades out as the Bell sound gets unnaturally louder and louder. The lights black out as the Bell continues to bong, lower and stranger now, and when we open again we see that we are back in the House, (which is now absolutely destroyed) where LITTLE JACK is absolutely captivated by the Bell's sound and starts racing through the corridors.)

SNEAKY JACK LITTLE JACK Well I was minding my own affairs When a bell came ringing through the wall And now I know I gotta go upstairs And steal Mr. Bubsy's crystal ball It's lying in his treasure pile In a room on the very top floor I got a tweezers and an emory file To pick the lock on the door. (During the next section CRAFTY FOXX tiptoes after JACK, but is always unable to find him.) Down the corridor I tiptoe By the flickering kerosene glow Finding my way through Henry's chateau I cautiously go, taking it slow Back behind a great armchair I avoid Mr. Crafty's stare With a silent prayer I flit through the air Easy does it, I'm almost there. (Now a light comes on above and we see TEACHER TESS still shackled to a chair in a closet upstairs.) TEACHER TESS Hey Jack, as long as you're here So brave, not a trace of fear Maybe you should rescue me Then everybody could be free I know a doozy of a magic spell To bring the big kids back from the lake And with Henry ringing his bell We'll take back the house, piece of cake. LITTLE JACK (racing upstairs towards TESS's closet) Hey Tess, not to worry I'm coming down the hall in a hurry And it looks like the coast is clear Bubsy and Crafty are nowhere near They got a big surprise in store Cause now I spies your door And with sneaky style I make my move Twisting the file in the keyhole groove. BUBSY BEALS (entering the Hall downstairs) Hey, who's making all that noise up there? TEACHER TESS, BUBSY BEALS, CRAFTY FOXX You're a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack --(a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack) Little Jack better watch your back Beware the snare and the snip snicker-snack You're a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack --(a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack) Little Jack better watch your back Beware the snare and the snip snicker-snack TEACHER TESS, THE KIDS (offstage) As quiet as you can, keep an eye out for the nasty man Not a whisper from your lips, no tumbles trips or slips So careful Little Jack Gotta watch out for every crack rustle and creak When you sneak. (And now LITTLE JACK takes out his Emory file and Tweezers and picks the lock on TESS's closet door. He races in and unties her, and together they pick up a large Crystal Ball from the treasure hoard nearby. TESS puts the Crystal Ball down on a table, gazes into it, and starts weaving her hands casting a spell. Meanwhile downstairs, CRAFTY FOXX finds JACK's Action Figures abandoned, scratches his head, and gets BUBSY.) CRAFTY FOXX Er, Bubsy...ah...I'm afraid there is one small piece of bad news to tell. One minor aspect of the plan is actually not going so well. Remember when I trapped all those whippersnappers--by having them sing and dance in the great hall? Well, one whippersnapper was not very well trapped. In fact, not trapped at all. BUBSY BEALS Ah so what. Round up the little runt and throw him in a closet somewhere. CRAFTY FOXX Well, it's not that easy Bubsy. You see, the little rascal seems to have snuck up to the uppermost floor. That closet where we kept Tess and your treasure hoard? He's jimmied the lock and opened the door. BUBSY BEALS What? How come you weren't keeping watch up there? CRAFTY FOXX Heheh..No need for alarm Bubsy....rest assured, this is just a minor irritation. They're both still up there, working on some no doubt useless magic incantation. BUBSY BEALS Useless? You foolish fox! She's summoning back the rest of the blasted kiddie troop! (Suddenly there is a great flash of light from the Crystal Ball and all the KIDS, dripping wet from the lake, appear in TESS's closet upstairs, HENRY still ringing the bell.) ALL THE KIDS Yes yes, Bubsy man you reckoned just right Yes yes, ding ding goes the ring of a bell and a flash of light (The KIDS head down the stairs with TESS at the front carrying the Crystal Ball and HENRY carrying the Bell. They finally meet BUBSY BEALS at the foot of the stairs in the Great Hall.) We're comin' and a-comin' and a-comin' right now Hope you enjoyed your victory, it was built on shifting sands We're comin' and a-comin' and a-comin' right now Thanks to little jack your precious toy's in Henry's hands BUBSY BEALS Well well well! All the jailbirds running free! Woe is me! Crafty, how can this be? Trashing the house has sure been fun But now I think it's time to run They've got the ball and they've got the bell And they've all escaped from a watery cell Crafty this is just swell! CRAFTY FOXX Oh, it's really not my fault sir! (BUBSY BEALS and CRAFTY FOXX duck around the corner, BUBSY kicking CRAFTY in the seat of the pants. Meanwhile the KIDS are in the Great Hall drying off and laughing.) LITTLE JACK Well I guess my job is done And we all had a bit of good fun Welcome back dry off everyone The bad guys are getting ready to run Henry, good to see you back I just tried to pick up the slack And Fina good to see you too Though y'all left me here with nothing to do! (Now all the KIDS are dancing round JACK and clapping their hands.) And I might have been a bit afraid Of Bubsy and his snickery blade But I just put on my fearless face And said 'hey I'm loooking out for Tess's place' LITTLE JACK, MILO, LUCIE So Henry keep the bell ringing Tonight we'll be dancing and singing Bubsy won't stay, he'll slink away LITTLE JACK And I've had enough of sneaking today. BUBSY BEALS (leaning around the corner and shaking his fist angrily) Well you kids haven't seen the last of me, no sir! ALL You're a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack --(a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack) Little Jack better watch your back Beware the snare and the snip snicker-snack You're a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack --(a sneaky sneaky fellow, Little Jack) Little Jack better watch your back Beware the snare and the snip snicker-snack BUBSY BEALS You dirty little thief, I saw you shaking like a leaf I'll shake you through and through, when I get my claws on you ALL So careful Little Jack Gotta watch out for every crack rustle and creak When you sneak.

TESS, YOU SHOULD'NA DONE ME WRONG (Now BUBSY BEALS lights another cigar and puffs himself up to his full size, and with CRAFTY FOXX by his side, advances on the KIDS and TEACHER TESS back in the great hall. The lights change to blue and purple and the KIDS cower back against the bannister, LITTLE JACK hiding in the skirts of TEACHER TESS.) BUBSY BEALS Damn! Foiled again! By the sneaky little kid and the mother hen. Lost without my crystal ball, It looks like my back's up against the wall. But I'll turn this around, oh yes I always come back strong So listen now pretty Tess You should'na done me wrong No, no, ya should'na done me wrong No, no, ya should'na done me wrong HENRY It's okay. I don't think he can hurt us. TEACHER TESS No, without this crystal ball he has lost half his power. BUBSY BEALS Makes me so mad. Just when things were going so good too. MILO Aww, you were headed for a fall, big guy! (The rest of the KIDS pull the suddenly audacious MILO back away from BUBSY; now BUBSY turns his wrath on CRAFTY FOXX.) Hey Crafty, you let me down Guess I'll just say "see you round". CRAFTY FOXX Er, why, Bubsy? No need to overreact here.... BUBSY BEALS Come on now, this ain't no joke I think it's your turn to go up in smoke (BUBSY now waves his hand at CRAFTY FOXX, who suddenly goes up in sulfurous flames.) CRAFTY FOXX Aww no! Nooooooo! Too hot....TOO HOT! BUBSY BEALS But I'll turn this around, oh yes I always come back strong So listen now pretty Tess You should'na done me wrong No, no, ya should'na done me wrong No, no, ya should'na done me wrong TEACHER TESS I never did you wrong. I let you live when you had tried to take my life and the lives of so many others. BUBSY BEALS (indifferently) I hate when that happens. Ruins my whole day. SERAFINA You're a bad man, Mr. Bubsy Beals! A bad bad man and nobody likes you! BUBSY BEALS (chuckling) Aw now c'mon little girl, yer breakin' my heart! SERAFINA It's not Tess's fault you tried to destroy the kingdom and they had to put you in the lake! That's a lot nicer than I would have done! BUBSY BEALS Yeah, well, anyway, guess it looks like they shoulda finished me off when they had the chance! MILO And it certainly wasn't very nice to vaporize Mr. Foxx like that! He was only doing everything you told him to! BUBSY Aww.. there, there my little snot-nose! I can reconstitute ol' Crafty any time I want out of sawdust, charcoal, and pine needles! But you know, I think instead of Crafty, your chief concern really ought to be the plight of your beloved parents.... MILO What d'you mean? SERAFINA Yeah, what do you mean? BUBSY BEALS Oh, no time to explain now, I really must be going. Dear me, look at the time. (Now BUBSY makes as if to leave, then thinks better of it and turns back to deliver this last verse as a parting shot.) But before I say toodle-oo Boys and girls let me tell you something that is true MILO What do you know about our parents you vile ogre? BUBSY BEALS Tess you remember your old flame? Volcano Boy, one and the same! SERAFINA Teacher Tess's prince is really Volcano Boy? That means he's still alive! BUBSY BEALS Yeah that's right, I stole him away Your boyfriend's working for me today TEACHER TESS I knew there had to be some reason he never came back! BUBSY BEALS And now I leave to join my faithful slave Atop a stony black mountain in a sulfur cave TEACHER TESS (composing herself) The important thing is, where are the kings and queens Bubsy? BUBSY BEALS And I'll turn this around, oh yes I always come back strong So listen now pretty Tess You should'na done me wrong No, no, ya should'na done me wrong No, no, ya should'na done me wrong I think I've said too much. See y'all in the climactic final scene. (BUBSY BEALS pulls out a flame-red guitar and rips a shredding guitar solo as he flees the scene using his magic teleportation power, or maybe just by ducking out a window. Then suddenly the sound of a telephone ringing gets louder and louder. The KIDS look around but there is no phone in sight. Finally HENRY points to the Crystal Ball.) FELIX Henry! Henry--what's that sound? Henry--do you hear it? What could that be? HENRY It's coming from that crystal ball! MADELINE What is it? HENRY Huh! Seems like we're getting some sort of message....I think it's from the kings and queens! (And now we see the SIX GROWNUPS, high above the stage, trapped atop a smoky volcano. Their faces are smeared with soot, they are wounded, their armor is blackened and torn apart, and in general they look defeated in a desperate battle.)

MIRACLE TIME THE SIX GROWNUPS Hey, you out there Anyone, anywhere Lights are dim, things are grim we need a hand Help better come soon Like, before this afternoon We are trapped and evil's loosed upon the land Are we clear can you hear, it's the end of the line Send a prayer through the air, 'cause it's miracle time One faint light still shines (The GROWNUPS take turns singing the lines of the next verse.) By the morning's light All the wide world looked alright We took a fall and soon it all went wrong And we rode off to war Like a hundred times before Who could have known the foe had grown so strong? Are we clear can you hear, it's the end of the line Send a prayer through the air, 'cause it's miracle time One last cliff to climb And now the final chapter of our story Soon we will watch the credits roll So long, my friend, we have finally reached the end One final message, one SOS to send (Explosions rock the volcano and bits of molten lava fly by the beleagured GROWNUPS. The kids look on through the crystal ball, terrified.) Hey kids can you hear us? How we wish that you were near us! Hey kids can you hear us now? THE SIX GROWNUPS THE KIDS Hey kids can you hear us? We'll soon How we wish that you were near us! be by your side Hey kids can you hear us now? Gonna take a magic ride! (The KIDS and TEACHER TESS all run out the front door of the House. The lights black out on the House part of the set, leaving only the GROWNUPS on the volcano lit; their light gets dimmer and fades out as the song ends.) THE SIX GROWNUPS Are we clear can you hear, it's the end of the line Send a prayer through the air, 'cause it's miracle time One faint light still shines One last cliff to climb One last call, one last dime (Now bright lights come on Downstage. The KIDS are riding through the air on a white puffy Cloud. The sky is blue all round them and the wind whips their hair and faces. TEACHER TESS sits at the front of the Cloud, controlling it with magic gestures, laughing at the antics of the KIDS.)

THE FREE KIDS' SHIMMY SHAKE HENRY I got your telepathic call In my brand new crystal ball Volcano Boy has grown too strong And your back's up against the wall HENRY, MILO, SERAFINA, LUCIE Things are looking pretty bad And you're not sure what to do But don't you worry Mom and Dad The kids are gonna come through Yeah, the kids are gonna come through. HENRY For a second there we tripped and fell But now the kids are doing swell I broke the wizard's nasty spell With my own little silver bell HENRY, MILO, SERAFINA, LUCIE Now we're racing through the air Riding on a friendly cloud So Mom and Dad please don't despair Your kids are gonna do you proud Yeah, your kids are gonna do you proud. HENRY, ALL THE KIDS When we first drove up to the house that grey December dawn Henry he could see that there was magic going on Then Bubsy Beals and Crafty Foxx they trapped us in the lake But now we're all awake With a bold rescue to make And a demon's hide to bake So hurry up for goodness sake We're clear and free, so dance with me c'mon Do the free kids shimmy shake C'mon, do the free kids shimmy shake. Uh uh uh uh! SERAFINA, LUCIE, MADELINE, LILY Shake, shake, shooby-dooby-doop Shake, shake, shooby-dooby-doop (And the kids dance crazily on the Cloud, forgetting for a minute their anxiety in their relief at being free and their excitement at travelling on a flying cloud.) HENRY Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go (Now LITTLE JACK, who had been standing apart and biting his nails, finally joins in the dancing.) HENRY, MILO, FELIX Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go HENRY (to audience) If you wondered what the real deal was, It was Bubsy all along MILO, LUCIE Volcano Boy was just his pawn It was Bubsy done us wrong HENRY, SERAFINA And now we fly at lightning speed Not a second to delay ALL THE KIDS So Mom and Dad you'll soon be freed The kids are gonna save the day Yeah, the kids are gonna save the day. LUCIE, MADELINE, LILY And Teacher Tess is with us too, she found her smile at last A silver bell and Henry's spell have freed her from the past Well Bubsy Beals and Crafty Foxx they trapped us in the lake ALL THE KIDS But now we're all awake With a bold rescue to make And a demon's hide to bake So hurry up for goodness sake We're clear and free, so dance with me c'mon Do the free kids shimmy shake C'mon, do the free kids shimmy shake. Shake shake shake...... HENRY Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go MILO, LUCIE Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go SERAFINA, MADELINE, LILY Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go ALL THE KIDS Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go Hey little Jack now don't you know, sometimes you just gotta let go (As the flying Cloud approaches the city, the blue sky turns dark grey with smoke and soot. We see the orange light of fires in the distance. Now the mountain looms imposingly in foreground and CRAZY DAVIE rushes up breathlessly to the Cloud, carrying a large number of linen-wrapped packages in his arms.)

- - - - - SLIPSTREAMS - - - - - CRAZY DAVIE Hey kids! Oh, thank god you're here! Oh, and Tess too! Great, finally some help! Listen--you're just in time. Bubsy Beals is with Volcano Boy, and they've taken all your parents and chained them up at the peak of Smoky Sulfur Mountain! TEACHER TESS We know that part already Davie! But we need some weapons to fight Bubsy and the Demon. Do you know anything we might use? CRAZY DAVIE Funny you should say that Tessie, because I just got this stuff out of the royal armory....a nifty kid-sized dagger and shield for each of you, and three special demon-defying magic wands! TEACHER TESS Okay--I want Fina, Lucy, and Milo to take the three wands! And Little Jack, you sneak around that cliff, find your parents, and unchain them! Quickly! LITTLE JACK Okay, see you soon. (LITTLE JACK hops off the cloud to sneak up to unchain the parents.) TEACHER TESS Davie, you hop on our cloud and let's get going! CRAZY DAVIE (Hopping on the Cloud) Alright Tess! Sounds like we've got a plan! TEACHER TESS Now everyone, Henry's in charge from now on. (Now as HENRY sings the Cloud rapidly ascends the Mountain, where we see BUBSY BEALS and VOLCANO BOY, laughing and casting bolts of lightning into the air....and further away, the SIX GROWNUPS shackled at the top of the mountain.) HENRY Hey Milo, the moment is right To let your wand's magic loose Face the darkness and hold on tight Go ahead and turn on the juice. Though I know at first you didn't believe Now I guess it's all pretty plain Every skeptic's gotta keep some magic up his sleeve Let it fly through the night wind and rain. (Now MILO steps to the front of the cloud and points his wand at BUBSY and VOLCANO BOY. It lets loose a spray of white sparks and the two Bad Guys step back, cowering.) THE KIDS, TEACHER TESS, CRAZY DAVIE There, he's spraying out a slipstream A white beam of sparks through the air Hope shining bright To find despair's deep dark night and bathe it In clear cleansing light Setting it right Now there is nowhere left to hide All hearts open wide So come and join us Come and join our side (As HENRY sings the next verse he actually jumps off the Cloud and scrambles up the mountainside, grabs hold of BUBSY BEALS, and holds him so Lucie can aim her wand at him.) HENRY Hey Bubsy our old friend, the hour is here To get you back on the track You strayed off the path with a heart full of fear Fell into the well deep and black. Alright Lucie, get set for a jolt Cause now it's your turn TEACHER TESS, MADELINE, LILY Now it's your turn HENRY Your wand will send forth a neon blue blazing bolt Get ready get set, let love's fire burn (LUCIE steps forth now and aims her wand; its stream of blue sparks seems to incapacitate him; he clutches at his heart and falls to his knees. But VOLCANO BOY grabs HENRY and holds him helpless.) THE KIDS, TEACHER TESS, CRAZY DAVIE There, she's spraying out a slide show A blue flow of sparks through the air Foul fear must fly For now there is no danger, my stranger That love can't defy Light from on high Now there is nowhere left to hide All hearts open wide So come and join us Come and join our side HENRY (being wrestled to the ground by VOLCANO BOY) Sweet Serafina, now it's all up to you To put this battle to an end Wave your wand's power in a stream straight and true Forgiveness turning foe into friend I have felt your magic kiss and I have heard your sweet song And seen the sparkle in your eye And I know inside each villain who has ever done wrong There but for the grace of God go I. (SERAFINA steps forth and aims her wand's stream of red sparks. They cause VOLCANO BOY to release HENRY, and fall to his knees alongside BUBSY BEALS.) There, she's spraying out a sweet dream A red beam of sparks through the air The wrongs she forgave Are tumbling down the mountain to crash in a dark lonesome cave A great healing wave Now there is nowhere left to hide All hearts open wide HENRY, TEACHER TESS So come and join us THE KIDS, TEACHER TESS, CRAZY DAVIE Come and join our side Please get into the flow Please step into the glow For now soon we must go.... (Suddenly the SIX GROWNUPS and LITTLE JACK come dashing around the cliff, trailing their broken shackles from their ankles. They embrace the KIDS fervently, everyone smiles and laughs. Meanwhile TEACHER TESS has gone up to VOLCANO BOY; she removes his fearsome mask to reveal the handsome face of her long-lost prince, who bows his head in shame, and they embrace passionately.) - - - - - HENRY YOU'RE THE MAN - - - - - THE SIX GROWNUPS Well it's great to see you back Sure could have used you in the pack We're safe and sound, thanks to sneaky Little Jack So much better off than we began Cause Henry you're the man. (Now the GROWNUPS join hands with the contrite BUBSY BEALS and VOLCANO BOY.) So welcome back into the fold Come one come all in from the cold Join us together good and evil young and old We're all just pieces of a master plan And Henry you're the man. HENRY, THE KIDS So glad you all survived the slide And came out laughing from the ride And welcome demons to the pennant-winning side THE GROWNUPS, DAVIE, TESS, BUBSY BEALS The kids have taken care of everything And Henry is the king. ALL It seems our business here is done A fine performance everyone The darkness melts into the golden rays of sun We're so much better off than we began 'Cause Henry you're the man. (And they all hoist HENRY up on their shoulders.) Yeah yeah yeah, Henry's alright tonight Yeah yeah yeah, Henry's alright tonight Woo Henry rock on rock on Woo Henry rock on! Woo! (And everyone joins hands and dances in a circle. The lights change from ominous orange to bright blue, and the smoke clears.) THE SIX GROWNUPS So welcome back into the fold Come one come all in from the cold Join us together good and evil young and old So much better off than we began Cause Henry you're the man. ALL We're all just pieces of a master plan And Henry you're the man. We're so much better off than we began Cause Henry you're the man. Amen. (And the lights fade, leaving only silhouettes as the cast makes its weary way down the mountainside. A spotlight appears on the BAND.)

CLOSING THEME LO FABER (or HENRY, up with the BAND) And it's all over now We all came through somehow In the end The danger finally gone Wake up and greet the dawn My friend No telling what was an illusion or a dream Just play the closing theme Of our story. Been kicked and we've been shoved We've laughed and we have loved Through the night The battle finally won Rise mister morning sun And shine bright All the stage and players vanished like a dream Just play the closing theme Of our story. (Now the cast arrives at the foot of the mountain. They are joined by MARY MERMAID and CRAFTY FOXX and also by the spirits of HENRY'S MOM & DAD. Everyone takes off their armor, shields, and swords and places them in a big pile. Then the tempo of the music increases and the cast begins to dance.) ALL And in the haze of memory days And midnight shadow plays And legends told around a campfire some far future day We'll have children of our own And we will want it known That we were heroes in our special way And let that last forever And in the twilight golden glow When to the sea we row To travel on and from this wide and weary world depart Although we sometimes might have cried We'll know we always tried To share the love that shone inside our heart And that can last forever (More dancing.) Love clear and true Has seen us safely through the night Love's silent song Has led us all along to the light (Now the whole CAST stands at the very Front of the stage, hands joined, lit only on their faces.) LO FABER (or HENRY) And here we are at last All our trials passed And lost love found It's time for us to go Break down pack up the show We're homeward bound How bittersweet it feels to wake up from a dream And play the closing theme Of our story. (The CAST hums quietly as the lights and music fade out very very slowly.) THE END