Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
07) - junglebook5jr
Copyright 2007 Monica Flory
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Cast of Characters
KITES (3), a chorus of eagle-like birds who uphold the Laws of
the Jungle. They are the embodiment of the god Vishnu.
FATHER WOLF, raises Mowgli. Kind and strong.
MOTHER WOLF, raises Mowgli. Loving and fiercely protective.
WOLF CUB, young wolf. Mowglis younger sister or brother.
WOLVES (2), other members of the pack.
TABAQUI, the jackal who acts as Shere Khans servant. Twofaced, mad and cunning.
SHERE KHAN, the tiger who will stop at nothing to get Mowgli. Power-hungryhe wants justice for missing his kill.
AKELA, leader of the wolf pack. She is ancient and intelligent.
BALOO, the bear who teaches Mowgli the Laws of the Jungle.
Emotional, slow to anger, lazy and wise.
BAGHEERA, the black panther, friend to Mowgli and Baloo.
She is slick, intelligent, and feared by many.
MOWGLI, the boy who has been raised by wolves. Defiant,
sweet, loyal, brash, coming of age.
MONKEYS (FUNKY, CHEEKY, AND TROUT), foolish, chattering, imitative, star-struck, nervous and excitable.
KAA, a wise, saucy, old snake. She helps Baloo and Bagheera
confront the monkey-folk.
MESSUA, woman of the village who tries to communicate
with Mowgli.
Production Notes
The gender of any role may be switched. Please change the
pronouns accordingly. The number of monkeys and kites may
be changed according to the needs of your production. The
kite lines may be said in unison or divided between actors as
you wish.
Acknowledgments
The Jungle Book was commissioned in 2004 by The New Acting
Company, a program of The Childrens Aid Society, in New
York City (Stephen Michael Rondel, Artistic Director; Steve
Wobido, Center Director).
The world premiere production of The Jungle Book was produced by The New Acting Company on April 1, 2005. The
production was directed by David A. Miller; the set and lighting designs were by Gregg Bellon; the costume design was by
Oana Botez-Ban; the music was by Lucian Ban; the art design
was by Margeaux Lucas; the dramaturg was Amy Harris and
the stage manager was Andrea Ghersetich. The cast was as
follows:
TABAQUI.................................................... Jay Duffer
BAGHEERA .......................................Carrie Heitman
WOLF/MONKEY ............................. Aliza Kennerly
WOLF/MONKEY ........................... Cristiano Magni
AKELA/KAA ....................................Heather Massie
WOLF CUB ...................................... Alexander Mays
SHERE KHAN ..............Christopher L. McAllister, I
FATHER WOLF................... Duncan Hale Murdoch
BALOO ............................... Stephen Michael Rondel
WOLF CUB .......................................... Anna Sinreich
MOWGLI...................................... Malik Conard Sow
MOTHER WOLF/MESSUA .Amanda Lee Wyckoff
This production was extended by two weeks, and in that time,
the following actors replaced actors from the original cast:
FATHER WOLF................................Matthew Dorter
MOTHER WOLF/MESSUA ................. Molly Lloyd
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by Monica Flory
Scene 1
(Darkness. Drumming. It is night in the Jungle. There is the sound
of a human baby crying. The KITES fly overhead. Dim light comes
up as the WOLVES hunt.)
KITES. Night in the Jungle. Night in the Jungle. Night in the Jungle.
Night in the Jungle.
WOLF 1. Know who your allies are.
KITES. Night in the Jungle. Night in the Jungle.
FATHER WOLF. You can kill anything youre strong enough to
kill.
MOTHER WOLF. A brave heart is your best weapon.
ALL WOLVES. Laws of the Jungle. Laws of the Jungle.
WOLF 2. Strike first and talk later.
ALL WOLVES & KITES. Laws of the Jungle. Laws of the Jungle.
WOLF 1. Hunt for food, not for pleasure.
WOLF 2. Noble wolves never forget the hungry.
ALL WOLVES & KITES. Now is the hour of pride and power. Of
talon and tooth and claw. Oh, hear the call! Good hunting, all who
keep the Jungle Law.
KITES. Who keep the Jungle Law.
(TABAQUI THE JACKAL enters.)
TABAQUI. (From offstage:) Hellllloooo! Anybody home? (Onstage:)
There you are. Friends!
FATHER WOLF. (Not amused:) Tabaqui.
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FATHER WOLF. He will scare away every head of game within ten
milesand I must kill for two these days.
MOTHER WOLF. (Sincere:) Shere Khan has been lame in one foot
since birthhe has never had the advantages we do. And he distracts the villagers so that they do not bother us. Indeed, we are
very grateful to Shere Khan!
TABAQUI. Oh, good. Shall I tell him of your gratitude?
FATHER WOLF. No.
TABAQUI. Shall I deliver flowers?
FATHER WOLF. Out! Go back to your master! Youve annoyed us
enough for one night.
TABAQUI. Im going already! Geez, you try to do your best friend
a favor
(The sound of SHERE KHAN yelping in pain, in the distance.)
Uh-oh, thats him. Doesnt sound too happyId better check on
him! Hm, I might have saved myself the trouble of coming! Toodleoo! (He exits.)
FATHER WOLF. Im worried about the cubs.
MOTHER WOLF. Hush! It is not our kind Shere Khan is hunting
tonight. It is humans.
FATHER WOLF. Youre right.
KITES. Laws of the Jungle. Humans are weak and defenseless. It is
unsportsmanlike to harm them.
(Baby Mowgli crawls on stage, giggling. The puppet is manipulated
by one of the wolves.)
FATHER WOLF. Oh, look at this! A womans cub!
MOTHER WOLF. I have never seen one this close before. Bring it
here. (WOLF 2 picks the puppet up in her mouth.) How funny! How
little! (To the baby:) The jungle is big, little one, and you are very
small. (To others:) Now, was there ever a wolf who could boast of a
man-cub among her children?
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MOTHER WOLF. The time will come when you will hunt Shere
Khan as he just hunted you. Then you must protect us. This is your
destiny. But that is for another time. For now, sleep, little one
sleep.
(Lights down.)
Scene 2
(Lights up on monkeys FUNKY, CHEEKY, and TROUT.)
FUNKY. Uh-oh. I think we swung too far.
CHEEKY. Definitely too far, too far.
TROUT. Uh, guys? Where are we? Arent we near the wolf cave?
CHEEKY. Oh, yeah. Looks like Council Rock to me. Lets get outta
here!
FUNKY. Who knows what interesting things might happen! Lets
stay!
CHEEKY. Arent you scared?
FUNKY. Me? Nah!
(TABAQUI enters. FUNKY is startled and jumps.)
TABAQUI. Friends!
FUNKY, CHEEKY, TROUT. (Excited:) Tabaqui.
TABAQUI. Now, thats the kind of proper reaction a jackal expects.
Its your lucky day, my friends. Do I have some news for you
CHEEKY. What is it?
FUNKY. What is it?
TROUT. Eh? Eh? Eh?
TABAQUI. (Mad:) Alright! Calm down! (Sane:) Heres the juicy little tidbit I picked up just for you.
TROUT. For us? Really? Aw, shucks.
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BALOO. (BALOO has fallen asleep.) What? Huh? Sure, uh, what was
the question? Oh, right. Sorry. Sure, Ill teach the man-cub. Ill teach
him the Jungle laws and he will be fit to live among us. Sounds like
fun. Now, if youll excuse me, I was having an excellent dream
AKELA. Thank you, Baloo.
SHERE KHAN. Akela! Look well, this cub is mine. He was mine
from the beginning, and I wasted a whole nights hunt on him. I
burned my good foot for that stupid cub. Give him to me! A
womans cub is no use to you. Hand him overnow!
AKELA. We only take orders from the Free Beings, not your kind.
TABAQUI. Oooh, she got you there.
SHERE KHAN. Shut up!
AKELA. Who else will speak for him?
(BAGHEERA enters as the KITES fly back on.)
BAGHEERA. I will! Im sorry to interrupt your meetingI just got
message from our friends. Isnt it true, Akela, that a cub can be
bought for the Pack?
AKELA. Jungle Law says it is so.
BAGHEERA. To kill such a little one is a shame, and he will make
better sport when he is older. I will offer a fat calf, newly killed, to
buy him.
SHERE KHAN. I am too hungry to refuse.
KITES. Mowgli, you must never kill cattle. Your liberty has been
bought for the price of a calfs life.
SHERE KHAN. The Pack must consider what I have said. The boy
will be mine, with your permission or without it! (He roars and exits.)
BAGHEERA. The time will come when this little thing will make
that beast roar to a different tune, or I know nothing of humankind.
TABAQUI. (Mad:) How dare you insult the great Shere Khan?
(Sweet:) Sayonara!
(TABAQUI exits.)
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Scene 3
(Lights up on 11-year-old MOWGLI and MOTHER WOLF.
MOWGLI is making a mat of leaves. MOTHER WOLF watches
him lovingly.)
MOTHER WOLF. Little One, you are such a big help.
MOWGLI. Anddone! Mom, Im gonna go practice my hunting.
MOTHER WOLF. Wait a minuteI have something I want to talk
to you about.
MOWGLI. What?
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Why am I the only one from the Village who had to grow up in the
Jungle?
BALOO. No one can really say why. But hang in thereeverything
in the Jungle happens for a reason. Now, review. Your strength
MOWGLI. (By rote:) Is the strength of a hunter.
BALOO. So be clean
MOWGLI. for the strength of a hunter is known by the gloss of
his hide.
BALOO. Dont oppress the cubs of a stranger
MOWGLI. But treat them as sister and brother.
BALOO. Because
MOWGLI. It might be that a bear is their mother. Baloo, I know all
this stuff by heart. Can we just skip my lesson for one little day?
Can we play the staring game? Please, Ive been practicing. I can go
for almost three elephants.
BALOO. You are human! You will always win!
MOWGLI. Thats why its my favorite game!
BALOO. Oh, okay.
(BAGHEERA enters.)
BALOO. Oh, thank you, Bagheera! The panther saves the day
again.
MOWGLI. Hi, Bagheera.
BAGHEERA. Hello, little one.
MOWGLI. Ive survived eleven winters. When are you going to
stop calling me little one?
BAGHEERA. When youre as big as Baloo.
BALOO. Were just starting Mowglis lesson.
BAGHEERA. Well then, I will only trouble you for a different lesson. Mowgli, do you remember how we spoke of Shere Khan?
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MOWGLI. YesShere Kahn is that tiger, right? The one who tried
to kill me when I was a baby cub.
BAGHEERA. And he will try to kill you again, Little One. He is our
enemy and you will fight him someday.
BALOO. Bagheera, this is part of a later lesson, if you know what I
mean
BAGHEERA. Akela grows older day by day. He will not be protected forever.
BALOO. Hes not old enough. Look how little he is!
MOWGLI. (Offended:) Hey!
BALOO. Ive been around for 79 winters, my friend. To me, youre
little.
BAGHEERA. Im not telling him to make him afraid.
MOWGLI. Why should I be afraid? I have you, Bagheera, and I
have the Pack, and Balooyoud take out a tiger for me, wouldnt
you?
BALOO. If I was well-rested. Sure, I would.
BAGHEERA. There is one in the jungle who is more terrible than
Shere Khan. Do you know who that is?
MOWGLI. You. All in the Jungle fear Bagheeraall except Mowgli!
BAGHEERA. (To BALOO:) Yes, hes a humanthats for sure.
BALOO. More pride than a pride full of lions.
MOWGLI. But, I dont get it. Its been 11 winters. Why does Shere
Khan still want to (he plugs BALOOs ears) kill me?
BALOO. I heard that.
BAGHEERA. Simple. Look at me.
(MOWGLI stares at BAGHEERA, who must quickly turn her
head.)
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BAGHEERA. Not even I can look at you between the eyes. And I
was born among men, and I love you, Little Brother. Others despise
you because they cannot meet your eyes, because you are a man,
and because someday you will be wise.
MOWGLI. I dont get it.
BAGHEERA. Your kind
MOWGLI. My kind are the Pack.
BAGHEERA. Your other kind, Mowgliare capable of doing terrible things in the Jungle. If the people of the Village are angered,
they will come into the Jungle with guns and gongs and rockets and
torches.
MOWGLI. What does that have to do with staring at each other?
BAGHEERA. When the Jungle animals look into your eyes, they
see what your kind are capable of, and they are afraid. Mowgli, you
came to the Jungle, and you must earn your place here.
MOWGLI. See, Baloo? Its because Im different. I dont want the
animals to be afraid of me. I hate being different.
BAGHEERA. Come, Baloowe have some private matters to discuss.
BALOO. (As they exit:) Good hunting, Mowgli.
Scene 5
KITES. Laws of the Jungle. You can kill anything youre strong
enough to kill.
(MOWGLI reviews his studies, but he is easily distracted by the
things around him. He begins to pretend to fight SHERE KHAN.)
MOWGLI. You think tigers are tough? Youve never met Mowgli!
Take that, you stupid, striped weakling!
(The WOLF CUB enters and watches him.)
KITES. Are you strong enough? Fast enough? Brave enough?
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Scene 6
(Two MONKEYS enter. They watch MOWGLI as if he is a celebrity.)
FUNKY. Is it?
CHEEKY. Could it be?
FUNKY. Oh, I dont think so.
CHEEKY. Oh, I think it is!
FUNKY. Yes, it is!
CHEEKY. Oh it is, it is, it is!
TROUT. What is it?
FUNKY. Hes from a man
CHEEKY. But hes also a cub
(TROUT joyfully calls out with the rest.)
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CHEEKY. What?
TROUT. No comprendo.
MOWGLI. You knowmonkey see, monkey do.
(They still imitate MOWGLI.)
FUNKY. See what?
CHEEKY. Do what?
MOWGLI. Never mind. So, whats it like swinging through trees
all day?
FUNKY. Whats it like? Well
CHEEKY. Its exciting
FUNKY. Daring
CHEEKY. Adventurous
TROUT. Well, you know what they say dont you?
(MOWGLI shakes his head.)
ALL MONKEYS. (Proud:) Monkey business is the best business!
CHEEKY. Ever thought of getting into the monkey business?
TROUT. Yeah, ever thought of it?
MOWGLI. No.
FUNKY. Plenty of opportunities for a nice-looking young man like
yourself!
CHEEKY. Great benefits!
TROUT. Fun co-workers!
FUNKY. But first, you have to learn the ropes, so to speak.
CHEEKY. Swinging, branch basics, gliding
TROUT. Hanging out, so to speak.
MOWGLI. Sounds like fun.
TROUT. Oh, it is! Heyyou wanna see our imitation of humans?
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Scene 10
(Lights up on KAA, sleeping, as the KITES watch over her. BALOO
and BAGHEERA tiptoe to find her.)
BAGHEERA. (Whispering:) There she is.
KITES. Be careful.
BALOO. (Whispering:) We must be careful, Bagheera.
KITES. She has new skin. She will be quick to strike.
BALOO. (To KAA:) Good hunting!
KITES. She is also a little deaf.
BALOO. (A bit louder; he is a bit scared:) Good hunting!
KITES. Speak up, you old bear!
BALOO. (Shouting now:) Good hunting!
KAA. (Awaking:) Good hunting for us all! Oho, Baloo, what brings
you here? Bagheera, good hunting!
BAGHEERA. Good hunting!
KAA. Heydid you kids check out my new skin? Pretty classy for
an old broad! Whats for breakfast?
BALOO. Funny you should mention itwere just out hunting for
uh, delicious goats. (He is queasy.)
KAA. Eh?
BALOO. HUNTINGFORGOATS!
KAA. Mmmmgoats. Well, Ill come along, then. Back in the day, I
could digest the whole goat, horns and all. Nowadays, I have to be
careful of my jaw. Doesnt unhinge as easily as it used to. I almost
couldnt swallow my last catch.
BAGHEERA. Oh, yes. I heard the monkey-folk speaking of it. I do
believe they were laughing at you.
(BAGHEERA nudges BALOO.)
BALOO. Oh, yeslike hyenas.
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KAA. Speak up, you old bear! What did they call the noble Kaa?
BAGHEERA. Old! Ugly!
KAA. Come now, Ive just molted. My skin is as soft as a baboons
bottom!
BALOO. We think you are quite beautiful.
KAA. Oh, those monkeys! Despicable! Unjust! Shameful!
BALOO. The trouble is this, Kaa. The trouble is
(He is upset and hits himself. He motions to BAGHEERA to finish.)
BAGHEERA. Those long-armed fools have taken away our human!
I bet you didnt even know we had one.
KAA. Ah, I heard some news of a man-cub that was living with a
wolf-pack, but I did not believe. The Jungle is full of gossip halfheard and badly told.
BALOO. But its true! Hes the best man-cub in the Jungleand
hes my student. We couldnt imagine life without him. You see, we
love him.
KAA. Love? Kids, I could tell you some stories about love. What I
wouldnt give to be a ripe, young snakeling againslithering
(She is lost in her reverie for a moment.) Im sorry, what were we talking about?
BAGHEERA. We need your help, Kaa, because they fear only you.
KAA. They should fear me! Ive still got a few good years left! Now,
your little friend is not in good hands. What did they call me?
BAGHEERA. Shriveled. As well as other things I mustnt repeat
aloud.
KAA. Where have they taken him?
BALOO. Toward the sunset. The Kites told me.
KAA. Mind my tail, kidssometimes it drags a little. Nowlets
go!
(Lights down.)
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Scene 11
(Lights up on MOWGLI and the MONKEYS.)
MOWGLI. Please just let me go back.
FUNKY. Let me go back!
CHEEKY. No, let me go back!
MOWGLI. You know, this copying thing gets old really fast.
FUNKY. Im getting old!
CHEEKY. Were all getting old!
TROUT. Lets playcome on! Come on, Mowgli!
MOWGLI. Im hungry. Either bring me some food or let me hunt.
FUNKY. Go get him some food!
CHEEKY. No, you!
FUNKY. No, you!
TROUT. Ill do it! (Other monkeys look at her.) Just kidding!
MOWGLI. Oh, this is hopeless. You cant decide on anything!
Dont you know the Laws of the Jungle?
TROUT. Laws! We dont need no stinkin laws!
CHEEKY. Why, we are the only free beings in the Jungle!
MOWGLI. What good is being free when you are hungry and
tired?
CHEEKY. We are free! We are wonderful!
FUNKY. We think so
TROUT. so it must be true!
(BALOO, BAGHEERA, and KAA enter and watch the MONKEYS.)
BALOO. (Whispering:) Mowgli! (He starts to hit himself.)
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(The KITES fly off.)
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Scene 12
(Lights up on MOWGLI and the wolf CUBS, playing. MOTHER
WOLF, FATHER WOLF and WOLF 1 are working nearby.)
MOWGLI. There! I win!
CUB. Lets play again.
MOWGLI. Okay, you start this time.
(BAGHEERA enters.)
MOTHER WOLF. Welcome, Bagheera!
FATHER WOLF. Bagheera! May I speak with you?
BAGHEERA. Certainly.
FATHER WOLF. (Pulling BAGHEERA aside:) Whats the news of
Shere Khan?
BAGHEERA. That is why I came to speak to the little one. May I?
FATHER WOLF. Alright.
BAGHEERA. Mowgli, I need to speak with you for a moment.
CUB. But were playing!
BAGHEERA. Now.
CUB. Come on, let us play a little longer.
FATHER WOLF. Little ones, this is important.
MOWGLI. (To BAGHEERA:) What is it?
BAGHEERA. Our pack leader grows weaker every day. I fear that
when Akela misses a kill, the Pack will turn against him, and
against us. Who knows what could happen? I fear that Shere Khan
may be let in the Pack.
MOWGLI. What should we do?
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WOLF 1. Really?
MOWGLI. I dont know. I wouldnt mind living somewhere that I
didnt have a huge tiger breathing down my neck every minute.
KITES. Go to your own kind.
CUB. I hope you come back. I have never seen the Red Flower.
KITES. Go to your own kind.
(MOWGLI exits, and the wolf CUB runs off.)
(In shadow, MOWGLI travels to the Village.)
KITES. Law of the Village: the Jungle takes, and sometimes the
Jungle restores. The Village was Mowglis birthplace, but it was not
his home. As he approached the Village, he heard the strange
sounds of humans.
Scene 13
(MOWGLI enters the village, and sees the fire. He looks around to
see if anyone is watching him. He creeps carefully toward the fire.
MESSUA enters, amused, and watches him. She approaches him.
MESSUA speaks only in gibberish that MOWGLI cannot understand. The lines for MESSUA are written only to help the actress
understand what to communicate to the audience.)
MESSUA. (Gibberish:) Hello, little one. What brings you here?
MOWGLI. Oh, Im sorry, I dont speak that
MESSUA. (Gibberish:) Dont be afraid, little one. I wont hurt you.
MOWGLI. I dont know
MESSUA. (Gibberish:) You have cuts and bruises all over. Come to
the hut; Ill take care of you.
MOWGLI. No.
MESSUA. (Gibberish:) Oh, you dont understand me.
(MESSUA points to several things in the village, saying their names
in gibberish. MOWGLI repeats her, trying to understand.)
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Scene 14
(Lights up on BAGHEERA, pacing. She looks worried and fearful.
MOWGLI enters, triumphant, holding the fire pot high.)
MOWGLI. I have captured the Red Flower!
BAGHEERA. Well done, Mowgli. And none too soonAkela has
missed her kill. We need you to stay here.
MOWGLI. Ill stay.
BAGHEERA. Arent you afraid of holding the Red Flower?
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MOWGLI. Okay, you can see him. But you have to let him nibble
on your paw. Its the only way hell trust you.
(TABAQUI begins to lift the lid.)
No, your paw first.
(TABAQUI cautiously puts his finger in the pot.)
TABAQUI. (Sane:) Here ya go, little one. Wow, that ones got some
teeth on him. Ouch! Hot, hot, hot! Owwwwwww! (Mad:) Miserable
beast!
(TABAQUI runs off.)
MOWGLI. (Calling off after him:) Ill bring my new pet to Council
Rock! But first I have to make some plans involving my brothers
and a pack of bulls.
(Lights down.)
Scene 15
(Lights up on animals arriving at Council Rock. SHERE KHAN is
chatting freely with TABAQUI, whose arm is in a leaf sling. BALOO and BAGHEERA stand close, whispering. Other WOLVES
look cautious. MOWGLI sits with the fire pot close to him. AKELA
lies by the side of a rock, looking weak and tired.)
TABAQUI. And then the little beast bit my paw! I mean, the nerve
of such a tiny thing taking such a big bite of Tabaqui! Can you
imagine? Nearly bit the whole thing off!
SHERE KHAN. Dear friends, we are gathered here tonight to review the membership of the Pack.
(BALOO and BAGHEERA nudge MOWGLI to speak.)
MOWGLI. Why does he get to speak first? Tigers are not Free Beings. What does a tiger have to do with our Pack?
SHERE KHAN. The membership is open, isnt it? Why shouldnt I
speak?
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TABAQUI. Yeah, why shouldnt he? Its open, aint it? Wide
open
MOWGLI. Are we all jackals?
TABAQUI. Nope, only me!
MOWGLI. Are we all fools?
TABAQUI. Hey! Watch it!
MOWGLI. The concerns of the Pack are discussed by the Pack
alone.
WOLF 1. Let the tiger speak! Hasnt he kept our law?
FATHER WOLF. No, Akela is the Leader of our Pack. Let Akela
speak!
WOLF 1. She is dead already.
FATHER WOLF. (Fierce:) Let her speak.
AKELA. (With difficulty:) Free Beings, for many seasons I have led
you to and from the kill, and none of you has been trapped or
maimed. Now I have missed my kill. Your right is to kill me here on
the Council Rock now. I ask you: who comes to make an end of the
Lone Wolf?
(Silence. SHERE KHAN breaks the silence with a roar.)
SHERE KHAN. Bah! What do we need with this toothless fool? She
is doomed to die, anyway! It is the man-cub who has lived too long!
TABAQUI. (Sane:) Yeah, hes getting on my nerves, too!
SHERE KHAN. Quiet! You! Hideous! Creature!
TABAQUI. Sorry, boss.
SHERE KHAN. Free Beings, the man-cub was my meat from the
first. I am so weary of this charade. He does not belong and he has
troubled the Jungle for thirteen seasons. Give him to me! Just because I am lame in one foot does not mean I wont have my kill!
Give me the man-cub, or I will hunt here always, and not give you a
single scrap. He is a lowly human, a scrappy womans child, and
from the marrow of my bones I hate him!
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Now you will fear me as I have long feared you! If you stir even a
whisker, I will put the Red Flower down your gullet! Listen well.
Akela goes free to live as she pleases. Understood?
(SHERE KHAN nods.)
(To the WOLVES and TABAQUI:)
Go now. Shere Khan and I have an old score to settle.
BALOO. (Aside to MOWGLI:) A brave heart is your best weapon.
(The WOLVES and TABAQUI whimper away.)
TABAQUI. (Ad lib chattering as they exit:) Aloha, everyone. Good
luck, boss.
MOWGLI. My heart is ready.
SHERE KHAN. Mowgli, its just so delightful to see you.
MOWGLI. The feeling isnt mutual. But Ive made a promise to my
Pack. I have promised them your coat, and Im here to collect it.
SHERE KHAN. My coat, eh? I think I will need it this winter.
MOWGLI. Not if its up to me.
SHERE KHAN. If they had only let me take you as a baby. It would
have been so much easier for both of us. And babies are so tasty.
Their little bones are so soft and chewy.
MOWGLI. You couldnt have me then and you cant have me now.
SHERE KHAN. Oh, cant I? Perhaps youve never seen your reflection, Little Mouse, but Im bigger than you are.
MOWGLI. You may be bigger than me, but I have an advantage.
SHERE KHAN. Oh, really? Whats that?
MOWGLI. Friends. Most of the Jungle is on my side. Your only
friend is a mad jackal!
SHERE KHAN. Let me introduce you to my friends: teeth and
claws. My friends could rip your friends to shreds.
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MOWGLI. Now get out of here, monster. And I never, ever want to
see your face near the Pack again.
(MOWGLI growls.)
SHERE KHAN. You havent seen the end of me.
(SHERE KHAN storms out, limping in pain.)
MOWGLI. Oh, yes I have. And I have a pack of bulls to prove it.
(He gives a cry of victory.)
(Offstage or in shadow: the bulls trample SHERE KHAN. The
sound of drumming, running, and SHERE KHANs cry.)
Scene 16
(Lights up on the WOLVES at Council Rock. MOWGLI enters with
Shere Khans hide around his shoulders.)
KITES. Laws of the Jungle: you can kill anything youre strong
enough to kill.
MOWGLI. Am I too late for the meeting?
FATHER WOLF. Mowgli!
MOWGLI. I come with the hide of Shere Khan to keep my word.
He wont bother you any more.
MOTHER WOLF. Didnt I tell you? Didnt I tell you on the day you
were hunting for your life, Little One? I said the hunter would be
the hunted. It is well done!
BAGHEERA. (Offstage:) Little Brother, it is well done.
MOWGLI. Bagheera!
(BAGHEERA enters.)
BAGHEERA. Little one! You have succeeded.
MOWGLI. Look well, Wolves! Have I kept my word? Have I?
ALL WOLVES. Yes!