Script

Side 1

TRULY

You are an inventor?

JEREMY

He made this candy only this morning-

(He hands TRULY a piece of candy shaped like a flute.)

TRULY

Is it supposed to have holes in it?

POTTS

No, you see the problem is-

TRULY

The boiling point of your sugar is too high-

POTTS

An expert on candy making are we?

TRULY

Your children really ought to be in school.

POTTS

Oh! An expert in child welfare as well. Give it a try-

TRULY

(indicating the motorcycle)

I was only trying to-

(TRULY kick-starts the motorcycle, and the engine putters.)

POTTS

Butterfly valve - told you so - have a good day, truly.

TRULY

(driving away)

I'm quite certain it was the choke pull spring - good day to you too, Mr. Crackpotts-

POTTS

It's Caractacus!

 

 

Side 2

LORD SCRUMPTIOUS

Good morning, Truly.


TRULY

Daddy, this is Mr. Potts and he's invented something.

LORD SCRUMPTIOUS

I'm hoping it's not a sweet.

TRULY 


Daddy, please.


LORD SCRUMPTIOUS

Very well, you have exactly twenty seconds.

(LORD SCRUMPTIOUS removes a pocket watch and tracks the time.)

POTTS

Thank you. Well sir, the fundamental novelty of this particular brand of confectionery is its musical quality-

LORD SCRUMPTIOUS

Ten seconds-


POTTS

By placing one's fingers over the holes.

LORD SCRUMPTIOUS

Five-


POTTS

And blowing thusly-

LORD SCRUMPTIOUS

(before POTTS can blow into the candy)

Too late! Goodbye Mr. Potts.

TRULY

Daddy, listen. Go ahead, Mr. Potts.

 

 

Side 3

TOYMAKER

Sir, madam, I don't know who you are or what you're doing here, but take my advice and get out of Vulgaria.

POTTS

My father has been kidnapped by the Baron and Baroness. We came to get him out and that's what we're going to do. Please show us the way to the castle.

TOYMAKER

If I don't finish this toy for the Baron's birthday tomorrow he'll have me shot.

POTTS

All right, I'll go myself. Truly, you stay here with Jeremy and Jemima.

TOYMAKER

No, listen. There is a way, a secret way. It's past the hidden children.

TRULY

Children?

TOYMAKER

Those we have managed to hide. They're in the sewers under the castle.

POTTS

Take me there.

TOYMAKER

(to TRULY)

You'll be safe as long as you stay in my shop. The Child Catcher has been here already, he'll be looking elsewhere.

TRULY

Promise me you'll be careful.

 

 

Side 4

TOYMAKER

These are our children. The ones we've been able to hide.

(A few HIDDEN CHILDREN rush into the room with leftover food from a banquet in the castle.)

CHILDREN

Food! Food! Food!

TOYMAKER

They run up the drains and steal what food they can from the kitchens.

TOBY

Excuse me, Mr. Toymaker. Have you got any toys?

TOYMAKER

No toys this time, Toby. I've been too busy. It's the Baron's birthday. But listen, that means there'll be lots of leftovers.

MARTA

Someone's coming!

(The HIDDEN CHILDREN hide as TRULY enters.)

POTTS

Truly! What happened? Where are the children... ?

TRULY

They've been taken-

POTTS

What?!

TRULY

By that horrible creature, the Child Catcher. He tricked them-

POTTS

Where are they?


TOYMAKER

They'll be in the castle by now.

TRULY

What are we going to do?

POTTS

We're all going to break into the castle.

TOYMAKER

That's impossible, the children will be caught.

POTTS

Yes, totally impossible if we carry on like this.