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Music up as stage lights come up on a morning forest scene. Fade in forest sounds under. Three blue wrens enter UR, playing 'chasie', then notice the audience and come down, looking curiously at the people and pretending fear. Suddenly, a young fox appears UL and rushes at them: they flee UR and exit. The young fox moves DC and collapses, breathless and disappointed. An old fox strides on UL.
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OLD FOX
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(Exasperated) Oy, oy! How many times have I told you: you're wasting your time chasing birds. Uses too much energy - which you've got more of than brains. They're too quick for you. They can fly. (Flapping his arms) You know, fly? In the air? You can't catch birds... not at your age, anyway.
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YOUNG FOX
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But I'm hungry.
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OLD FOX
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Aren't we all? But there's ways and there's means. (He begins poking under bushes as he works his way DR) You gotta learn. Keep your eye on me. (A small rabbit hops on UC, browsing and unaware of the foxes. The old fox spots it. Whispering to young fox). Psst! There you go ... we could be in luck!
(The young fox jumps up, yelps loudly and rushes at the rabbit - which takes fright and bounds off)
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OLD FOX
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Gawd! Are you deaf? I told you: sneak up on `em. Keep rushing about like that and you'll die of a heart attack, never mind starvation.
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YOUNG FOX
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(Whining) I'm starving already. Aren't we gonna get any breakfast this morning?
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OLD FOX
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Yeah! Yeah! We'll get something. Just keep looking.
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As they continue searching a magpie swoops over them and calls loudly. Frightened, the young fox runs to the old fox.
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YOUNG FOX
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What was that? What was that?
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OLD FOX
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Only a flippin magpie! (Placating him and sitting him down C) Look sonny, nothin's gonna hurt you here. That's the advantage of bein a fox. Ever since we was brought to this country we've had the upper hand over the native animals. They call us 'feral' cos we don't belong here - though I prefer 'exotic' meself. Sounds so much more... upmarket. Mind you, we gotta be careful of humans.
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YOUNG FOX
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What's humans?
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OLD FOX
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(Pointing to audience) Them... that lot out there. You gotta watch them, that's for sure 'n certain.
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YOUNG FOX
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(Moving carefully DS to the audience. Sniffs them and gingerly touches one or two). They seem alright... that one even tastes quite nice...
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OLD FOX
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(Pulling him away) I'm tellin you: never trust a human. They're a cunning lot. They can even outfox a fox... well, some of em anyway. Come on, we gotta get some breakfast - my backbone's startin to poke outa me bellybutton.
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Foxes exit UL. As they leave, music begins and two or three blue wrens enter UR, looking around to make sure no-one is about. Then they beckon UR and other wrens bring on a big, partly-made nest.
THE WRENS' SONG
The wrens dance to the music as they build the nest, then some go off and bring back eggs, which they place in the nest. As the music finishes a wren comes DS and speaks to the audience, while the others complete the nest.
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WREN
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(To audience, ad lib) Did you like our little dance? And what about our beautiful nest? Thank you, thank you! Now, can we ask you to keep an eye on our precious eggs? We know there are foxes around here, and they just love to steal our eggs. I know! If you see a fox trying to steal our eggs, will you call out "the fox has got your eggs!" like that? Will you? Let's try... (gets audience to practice, calling out: `What? Can't you shout louder than that?' etc. The other wrens come down and prompt. When they are satisfied, they applaud the audience).
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Suddenly there is a tremendous tearing and crashing off R. The lights dip and flare, and 'dust' billows in from R. Alarmed, the wrens go into a nervous huddle. The young fox runs on UL, clearly terrified. This panics the wrens, and they run off in all directions (even through the audience). The young fox stops, his knees knocking [FX]. The old fox enters, watchful and alert but unafraid.
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YOUNG FOX
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What was that?!
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Pantomime script ©Will Taylor