Narrator: Long, long ago when giants ruled the kingdom of Alexandria, there lived a family and in the family there lived a boy. His name was Jack. He was the meanest Giant in the whole kingdom. (Three villagers pass by Jack, He either pushes them, trips them or takes their hat.) Everybody hated him, except of course his family. Well one day his mother, Martha, sent Jack into town.
Mother: Jack dear, would you go into town and get some milk? I need it for my cooking and we are all out.
Jack: Why doesn't father go get it I have more important things to do.
Mother: Your father is very busy right now. Please?
Jack: Ughhh, Fine.
Mother: You are such a good giant! (pinching his cheek)
Narrator: On the way he met an old woman.
Jack: (Pushing the old woman) Get out of my way old woman!
Old Woman: Gracious me!
Jack: What is that in your hands?
Old Woman: Just some magic beans I'm going to plant and make a garden with.
Narrator: Since Jack was mean and greedy he took the beans and ran off laughing. (Jack rings doorbell and his mother answers)
Mother: Oh Jack you're home. Did you get the milk?
Jack: Oh it completely slipped my mind!
Mother: Jack! (puts her hand on his shoulder) Oh there's a little stuff on your shirt. (Wipes Jack's shirt) I told you to get the milk.
Jack: Well after what I have in my hand we won't need milk.
Mother: Well, what is it?
Jack: It's these beans that I got from this old woman.
Mother: You're such a funny one.
Narrator: So Jack went outside and started to plant the beans. During the night, the beanstalk grew and grew and grew. (Two actors wearing green gloves mime the beanstalk growing.) In the morning Jack woke up and looked out the window and saw a beanstalk. Jack was curious to see what was up there, so he went outside and started to climb the beanstalk. It was a long climb up and by the time he was half way up it was midday. Soon he got to the top. It was pitch black. He was very tired so he found a clump of trees and fell asleep on them. In the morning all the trees were smushed. (Two actors mime the trees and fall over when Jack rolls over them.) Jack was hungry so he went to find some food. He came to a little cottage, it was about the size of his hand and as tall as his ankle. He thought there might be some food in there. So he shook the house and pulled off the roof. Inside there was a little dwarf. Jack picked him up. (Jack mimes these actions. The dwarf reading a newspaper walks on stage and mimes being shook and lifted under his arms by the giant.)
Dwarf: Aaah! Help me!! Save me someone! (The dwarf moves around as if being held by a large hand!)
Jack: (looking at his hand) I'll let you down if you give me some food or something valuable.
Dwarf: (looking up as if to a giant) W...w...w...Well...well... I have a goose that lays golden eggs!?!
Jack: Go get it for me!
Narrator: Jack throws the dwarf to the ground. The dwarf runs to get the goose.
Dwarf: (brings on goose) Here it is,
Goose: Honk, honk, honk.
Narrator: So he took the goose down the beanstalk. Then he tried to make him lay a golden egg.
Jack: Well go on do your stuff. (Jack kicks the goose.)
Gosse: Honk, suit yourself! (Goose gives Jack a gold egg.)
Jack: This is a cheap, phony gold spray painted egg!
Goose: What? You still believe in fairy tales?
Jack: That jerk tricked me. (Jack pushes the goose off stage.)
Narrator: Jack ran up the beanstalk. This time he was so mad he picked up the whole house and shook it.
Jack: You jerk! You tricked me. This time I will really kill you.
Dwarf: (moving around as if house is shaking beneath him) Wait I have something for you, but since you are going to kill me I guess I can't give it to you!
Jack: Well go get it for me. (Jack throws Dwarf to the ground, dwarf falls to the ground.)
(Dwarf brings on the harp, the narrator)
Jack: I will get good money for this at the market.
Narrator: So Jack took me down the beanstalk.
Jack: Well go on play for me. (Strums the harp and only squeaks and screeches are heard.) That jerk tricked me again! (Jack pushes harp off stage.)
Narrator: So Jack ran up the beanstalk and went to the house. The little dwarf ran out, Jack was puzzled, he couldn't see the dwarf. The dwarf ran to the beanstalk and began to climb down. Jack ran after him. The dwarf was very smart and had planned this all along. He carried an axe with him and started to chop down the beanstalk. The giant was following close behind. BOOM!! There lay Jack dead. In the morning all the townspeople came and celebrated that Jack was dead. (Townspeople come out and cheer, Mother walks off crying.)
Dwarf: This golden harp will always play beautiful music for you. (Dwarf strums the narrator's hands, beautiful music is heard.)
Copyright Marjorie Hillocks, The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools May, 1996
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