Pied Piper (Adaptation)
Narrator 1
One morning, long ago, strange things were happening in a small town called Hamelin.
Erich
Good morning, Erwin.
Erwin
Good morning, Erich. Where are you off to?
Erich
To buy a mousetrap. My house is full of rats!
Erwin
Mine too!
Erich
We’ve never had rats before. The Mayor must do something before it turns into a plague!
Narrator 2
For weeks the townspeople tried to get rid of the rats but nothing worked.
Narrator 3
They multiplied until there were thousands of them in barns, stores, bakeries, even in church!
Narrator 1
The angry townspeople finally went to see the Mayor.
Reverend
We want you to do something about these rats!
Adele
My son had his ear nibbled by a rat while he was sleeping!
Shopkeeper
They ate all the grain in my store!
Betsy
Those rats will bring ruin to this town.
Erwin
If you can’t deal with this problem, we will find a new Mayor!
All
That’s right!
Narrator 2
The mayor called for a meeting with his advisors.
Mayor
We must do something about this rat problem!
Advisor 1
What if we buy more mousetraps?
Advisor 2
No good. The rats are too smart. They know how the mousetraps work.
Mayor
We must think of something!
Captain
Let’s offer a reward!
Treasurer
Two hundred gold coins to whoever makes the rats disappear.
Mayor
Good idea!
Advisor 1
Excellent idea!
Mayor
All in favour say “I”.
Captain, Treasurer, Advisors
I!
Narrator 3
The mayor addressed the crowd outside.
Mayor
Dear citizens of Hamelin, I am offering a reward of 200 gold coins to whoever can rid our town of the rats.
Crowd
Hurrah!
Narrator 1
The city was soon covered in reward posters.
Baker
Not long after this a tall stranger entered the town.
Old Man
Young man, please help. I am tired and need help getting over to the bench in the square.
Pied Piper
Of course, old man. I am in no hurry.
Old Man
I haven’t seen you around. Are you from Hamelin?
Pied Piper
No, sir. I am a travelling musician. For a few coins I will play my flute for whoever will listen.
Old Man
Oh! Careful, watch out for the rats!
Pied Piper
I’ve never seen so many.
Old Man
Oh, there are thousands of them! The Mayor is offering a reward of 200 gold coins to anyone who can get rid of them.
Pied Piper
Here is the bench.
Old Man
Thank you.
Pied Piper
Now, where can I find city hall?
Old Man
Straight on. But what business have you there?
Pied Piper
To get rid of your rats and collect my reward. Farewell.
Reverend
So the Pied Piper headed for city hall.
Pied Piper
Good day, I would like to see the mayor. I have important business to discuss.
Secretary
What important business could a poor musician like you have here?
Pied Piper
I am the Pied Piper and I can rid this town of its rats.
Secretary
Really?
Pied Piper
Every one!
Secretary
I’ll fetch the mayor at once!
Mayor
Young man, can you really get rid of these rats?
Pied Piper
Yes.
Mayor
And they will never come back?
Pied Piper
Never.
Mayor
When can you do this?
Pied Piper
Right away, if the reward of 200 gold coins is true?
Mayor
Of course!
Pied Piper
Then I’ll begin immediately.
Narrator 3
The Pied Piper walked to the town square, took out his flute and began to play.
Betsy
Who is he?
Tom
Where did he come from?
Adele
His music is so lovely.
Narrator 1
People came from all over town to hear the Pied Piper play.
Shopkeeper
Listen! Do you hear that scuttling noise?
Baker
It’s the rats!
Erwin
Look! Thousands of them running towards the square!
Child
It’s the music! They like the music!
Erich
They’re heading for the musician!
Reverend
Poor man, they’ll eat him up!
End of Excerpt
(c) Fiona Harris 2016
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