SIDE 1

Just then, the animals heard footsteps coming through the Wood.
 

Backson!

(EVERYONE scrambles to hide.)
 

But it wasn t the Backson, after all.
 

It was their friend, Christopher Robin.
 

(entering)
Hello? Anybody there? Where is everyone?

(The ANIMALS come out from hiding and sit or kneel so CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is the tallest.)

There you are!

 

 

Christopher Robin!

 

 

 

 

Hello there, Pooh.

(CHRISTOPHER ROBIN greets the ANIMALS in turn.)

 

 

 

 

However did you escape from the Backson?

 

 

 

 

What s a Backson?

 

 

 

 

He wakes up children.

 

 

 

 

He puts out the lights.

 

 

 

 

He rips your pants! If you wear pants. Tiggers don t.

 

 

 

 

It is without a doubt, the most wretched creature one could ever encounter.

 

 

 

 

We thought he d kidnapped you.

 

 

 

 

Why would you think that?

 

 

 

 

Because of this!

(OWL hands the note to CHRISTOPHER ROBIN.)

 

 

 

 

Oh. All I meant to say is that I was busy, and that I would be back soon.

 

 

 

 

Oh.

 

 

 

 

(disappointed)
So there really isn t a monster?

 

 

 

 

And we were scared for nothing?

 

 

 

 

It figures.

 

 

 

 

Don t blame me! It was Owl who told us about the Backsons!

(All look at OWL.)

 

 

 

 

Aherm. Perhaps I could have reviewed the document a bit more carefully. As my niece Letitia would say   Sor-ry.

 

 

 

 

I guess even Owls can make mistakes. But at least we ve got Christopher Robin back again.

 

 

 

 

But not for long, I m afraid.

 

 

 

 

Afraid?

 

 

 

 

I knew it was too good to be true.

 

 

 

 

It s going to be autumn soon, and I ll be going to school. So that means I won t have as much time to play with you as I used to.

 

 

 

 

Forever?

 

 

 

 

Not forever, Roo. I ll still have nights and weekends. And when next summer comes around, we ll spend every day together.

 

 

 

 

But next summer s a long way away. Lots of breakfasts, and lunchtimes, and afternoon snacks away.

 

 

 

 

But school hasn t started yet, Pooh. And that s why I came out here today. So we could have one last summer picnic.

 

 

 

 

Yay! A picnic!

(The NARRATORS enter and form a rainbow.)

 

 

 

 

SIDE 2

(POOH, PIGLET and RABBIT watch the BEES dance off.)

 

 

 

 

I m afraid I m fresh out of honey, Pooh.

 

 

 

 

I was afraid you d say that.

 

 

 

 

Let s see this puzzle of yours.

(reading the note)
Oh, my goodness. Oh, my good goodness.

 

 

 

 

So it s a good kind of puzzle? Not the kind where you ve lost a piece and can t find it for the longest time?

 

 

 

 

What are you talking about, Pooh! This is horrible! This note is simply terrifying!

 

 

 

 

What does it say?

 

 

 

 

I don t know.

 

 

 

 

Then why is it terrifying?

 

 

 

 

Because... because... I ll let Owl explain to you why it s terrifying!

 

 

 

 

So Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit set out for Owl s house with the puzzling and terrifying note.

 

 

 

 

(reading the note)
Hrrmph.

 

 

 

 

Excuse me, Owl, but is that a good noise or a bad noise?

 

 

 

 

It s an  I m thinking kind of noise, Pooh.

 

 

 

 

Oh. Say, Owl, while you re thinking, do you happen to have any honey?

 

 

 

 

Honey? Never touch the stuff. It clogs the arteries and slows the mental processes.

 

 

 

 

But it tastes so good, Owl.

 

 

 

 

Hush up and let Owl think, Pooh.

 

 

 

 

(reading the note)
 Gone out Backson. Bisy Backson. Signed, Christopher Robin.

(to others)
Do you know what this means?

(#9 THE BACKSON SONG.)

 

 

 

 

That s why we came to you, Owl.

 

 

 

 

I tried to explain to them why it was terrifying.

 

 

 

 

What does the note mean, Owl?

 

 

 

 

This note means... that Christopher Robin has been captured by a creature called the Backson!

 

 

 

 

Oh!

 

 

 

 

I knew it! Didn t I tell you it was terrifying, Pooh? Didn t I tell you?

 

 

 

 

But what s a Backson, Owl?