Starring: Rabbit/Narrator, Monkey, Tiger
Featuring: Snake, Tortoise
Why Monkey’s Hang From Trees
Narrator/Rabbit: Hi. You know, there are rabbits all over the world. I live in
Tiger: Ah. What a fine tree, with nice cool shade. It’s awfully hot today and I haven’t caught a thing to eat.
(Tiger lays under “tree” and rolls around restlessly)
Grr. The only problem is all these bugs in my fur are keeping me awake.
Narrator/Rabbit: That’s when I popped my head out of my den, just a few feet away.
“Tiger, are you going to chase me today?” I said.
Tiger: Not today little rabbit. It is too hot, and I am too tired, and there are too many bugs crawling in my fur. I don’t want to chase you today.
Narrator/Rabbit: So I ran out and around and played with my friend, the Monkey.
Monkey: Rabbit, why are you out of your den? Isn’t Tiger going to chase you and try to eat you?
Rabbit: Not today! Tiger is too tired and hot, and there are too many crawly bugs bothering him.
Monkey: Hmm… that gives me an idea. I am hungry today, and some tasty bugs would be great! (Monkey runs closer to Tiger, who is scratching futilely at his back.) Tiger, I see you have bugs in your fur. If you promise not to chase me, I will pick them out and eat them for you.
Tiger: I promise, friend. I’m too tired, and it’s too hot to be chasing anyone today.
(Monkey picks at Tigers back, exclaiming over a few choice bites)
Monkey: My my, these are quite good bugs. No wonder they kept you awake, Tiger.
(But Tiger has already fallen asleep)
Monkey (calling quietly): Rabbit! Rabbit! Come see! I’m going to tie the Tigers tail to the tree, and then when he wakes up, we can still play together! Come see!
(Monkey ties tiger tail to tree)
Now we can play anytime we please!
(They run off together)
Tiger (waking): Ahh. That nap was exactly what I needed to refresh me. I wonder where that rabbit is. (He spots monkey and rabbit playing) Looks like dinner is going to have to be fast tonight. (He gets up to chase rabbit, but notices tied up tail) ROAAAAAARR! Monkey, you get over here and untie my tail right now!
Monkey: No no no. I’ll never untie your tail, you’ll chase me and my friend rabbit and we won’t be able to play. Tee-hee, but thank you for the free lunch.
Tiger: MONKEY! You’ll be sorry if you don’t untie my tail right now! I mean it!
(Monkey climbs in the tree)
Monkey: I don’t think so, friend tiger. You can’t get me up here, and your tail is never going to get untied, because I won’t do it. (sticks out tongue) meh meh meh.
Tiger (to rabbit): Little rabbit come untie me please. I will chase you around and we will have fun like you wanted before.
Rabbit: No no tiger. I don’t believe you. If I untie you, you’ll eat me up! I’m no fool!
(Rabbit runs off)
Monkey (laughing): You see Tiger, you’ll always be stuck to this tree, and everyone will see how silly you look. See, here comes your friend Snake.
Snake (entering): sssssooooo Tiger…. Ssssshhhhhhhalll we go hunting today? I am sssssssoo hungry and jussst took a nicceee nap.
Tiger: Snake, friend, help me! Monkey has tied my tail to this tree and now I can’t chase the rabbit, or hunt anything!
(Snake crosses to Tiger)
Monkey: heeheehee snake, will you help Tiger? Hahaha! If you do he’ll only chase you and eat you!
Snake: Tigerssss don’t eat ssssssnakessssss! We are too sssssssssmall and sssssssssmooth for them to want.
(Snake, hissing laughter, tries to untie tiger)
Snake: Sssssorry Tiger, I sssssimply can’t do it. I have poissssssson fangssssssssssss in my mouth and if I bite you you’ll die! I ssssshall go look for help and ssssssoon come back.
Monkey (laughing still): You see, you see Tiger? You’ll never chase me or Friend rabbit anymore, heeheehee…. How wonderful it is already!
Tiger (slyly): Why don’t you come down here and play with me, Monkey. I am as fun as Rabbit! I won’t bite… Promise!
(Tortoise enters opposite side of stage, unnoticed and quiet)
Monkey: You can’t trust the word of a Tiger with its tail caught. I know you’ll just chase me and eat my friend Rabbit up if I let you go
(Tortoise gets closer, very slowly)
Tiger (noticing tortoise): Tortoise, Friend, come please and help me. Monkey has tied my tail to the tree and calls it funny. Can you untie me?
(Tortoise looks at tiger and laughs slowly)
Tortoise: oook Tiger. I’ll do my best, but it might take a little while.
(Tortoise approaches as slow as ever)
Monkey: Wait! Wait! He’ll chase you and eat you up if you untie him!
Tortoise: I’m not afraid. My thick shell will protect me.
(Starts untying Tiger’s tail)
(Monkey starts to leave)
Tiger: Thank you tortoise. I warned you monkey! NOW I’m going to chase you down and eat you up! (But monkey is already off)
(To Tortoise) Are you almost finished back there? I have a Monkey to catch you know!
Tortoise (finished): Yes of course. No need to be upset. That monkey sure is a trouble maker. It’d be fun to get back at him.
Tiger: I have an idea! Go find snake and bring him back here.
(Tortoise starts to leave, ponderously slowly)
Tiger: Nevermind! I’ll run and get him myself.
(Tiger runs off, leaving Tortoise alone)
Tortoise: What?
(Tiger and snake are already back)
Tiger: Tortoise, wait… You should help us with my plan. I’m going to lie down and pretend to have died of hunger. You two start dancing around monkey will be sure to come back and join you.
Snake: Ssssoundssss like…. Fffun…
Tortoise: I’m not much of a dancer… But I do hate it when monkey knocks me on my back.
(Tiger lies down and Snake and Tortoise begin to dance)
Monkey (entering but staying back): Heya. What’s going on over here?
(But tortoise and snake say nothing and keep dancing)
Monkey (Louder): HEYA. What’cha guys doing!?
(Tortoise and snake respond)
Monkey (getting frustrated): What happened to tiger!?
Tortoise/Snake: He’s dead! He’s dead!
(Monkey gets a little closer and starts dancing apart)
Snake: Ssssilly monkey…. You can come danceeee with usssssss
(Monkey dances a little closer)
Tortoise: Careful… I don’t dance very good (clumsily stumbles into monkey, knocking him off balance)
(Tiger ROARS and jumps up to chase monkey, who’s paralyzed with fear)
(Snake and Tortoise back nearly off stage to watch)
Tiger: MONKEY! I told you I’d get you! You fell for our trick and now I’m going to eat you up!
(Monkey runs to the tree and hides in it)
Monkey: heeheehee, you’ll never catch me, not in my tree!
Tiger (furious but helpless): I’ll get you someday monkey! I’ll get you!
(Tiger stalks off, followed by Snake and Tortoise)
(Rabbit runs onstage)
Monkey: heeheehee Rabbit! You’ll never guess what happened!
Rabbit: Come down and play with me and tell me.
Monkey: oh no no no. I can’t come down. Tiger will chase me down and eat me up!
Rabbit/Narrator: And that is why monkeys always hang around in trees.
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