Characters:
Queen Sharksfinia of the Dark Island
Slimeweed, evil mastermind
Slither, evil barnacle-covered assistant to Slimeweed
Wibble and Wobble, killer jellyfish
Rubber-legs, evil octopus
A sea monster
Zoa, a mysterious coral sprite
Grumpy Crab
Helpful coral creatures
King Fergus Lionstooth
2 palace guards: Braveheart and Yellowbelly
Palace servant Jack
King Fergus's daughter's: Celia, Delia, Annabel, Christabel, Georgina
Palace servants, other sea-creatures
Settings:
Beach with Dark Island in background
King's palace
Evil castle on Dark Island
Sea Monster's cave under Dark Island
At sea in a boat/on shore of Dark Island
Under the sea (Octopuses Garden)
Plot:
Prologue: explains that the princesses are not allowed to go to the beach or look at the Dark Island - their mother disappeared from the beach some time ago never to be seen again. But they are drawn there by a strange fascination....
Act 1
Scene 1
Evil castle
Slimeweed, Slither and Queen Sharksfinia are plotting to overthrow King Fergus - Queen S. knows the princesses have been dancing on the beach and thinks of kidnapping them to lure King F. to the Dark Island where they will kill him.
She sends the killer jellyfish to kidnap them.
Scene 2
Beach
Celia, Delia, Annabel and Christabel are arguing about something - Georgina tries to make peace but they turn on her and she runs away.
They dance on the beach and are taken away by Slither and the killer jellyfish.
Grumpy Crab sees the whole thing.
Zoa the coral sprite arrives on the beach. She explains to Grumpy Crab that the evil Slimeweed has turned the legendary Island of Coral, ancestral home of her people, into the Dark Island, and that she has come on a mission to get it back for them. Grumpy Crab reluctantly agrees to help, and they go further down the beach to talk.
Georgina returns and sees her sisters have vanished.
Scene 3
Royal palace
Georgina arrives home and tells her father King Fergus about the disappearance. King calls palace guards to search everywhere - they think of some silly ideas. Jack who is listening, offers to help Georgina look for them.
Scene 4
Evil castle
Princesses arrive. Queen S. has a feeling she should keep them with her, but when she's getting the message in the bottle ready (as part of plot to lure King Fergus), Slimeweed and Slither throw them into the sea monster's cave.
Scene 5
Beach
Jack and Georgina looking for clues.
Find message in bottle.
Meet Grumpy Crab and Zoa the coral sprite who tell them what they know. They agree they need more help.
Zoa takes Jack and Grumpy Crab (reluctantly) to round up other coral creatures from under the sea.
The King, Braveheart and Yellowbelly arrive on the beach looking for clues. Georgina tricks them into coming with her by boat to go to the Dark Island, though Braveheart particularly is oddly reluctant to get in the boat.
Act 2
Scene 1
Under the sea
Zoa gives Jack something to enable him to breathe under water.
They meet octopus and fight. Grumpy Crab grabs some of his legs and Jack ties others in a knot.
They find other coral creatures and enlist their help.
Scene 2
On boat/shore of Dark Island
Georgina, Braveheart, Yellowbelly.
Braveheart is seasick. Weather stormy. They are shipwrecked on shore of Dark Island and captured by Wibble, Wobble and Slither.
Scene 3
Evil castle
Queen S. ,Slither and Slimeweed gloating.
Jack, Zoa and the coral creatures arrive and fight baddies to rescue Georgina, Braveheart and Yellowbelly.
Georgina suddenly realises Queen Sharksfinia is her mother, the long lost Queen.
In the confusion, Slimeweed and Slither escape via sea monster's cave.
Scene 4
Sea monster's cave
Goodies follow Slimeweed and Slither and try to kill sea monster - he is protected by princesses but won't fight for himself. Slimeweed panics and in his hurry to escape he scrapes off some of the dark stuff off the rocks and the island starts to turn back into coral. Zoa captures Slither using magic. The sea monster chases and captures Slimeweed. 'I don't usually eat meat, but in your case I'll make an exception'.
Scene 5
Royal palace
The King and Queen are re-united.
Zoa gets Slimeweed and Slither to scrub the Dark Island until it turns back into coral all over.
Braveheart and Yelllowbelly get medals.
Jack knighted for bravery and allowed to marry Georgina.
Finale
Royal palace
Prologue
(spoken by Jack)
King Fergus Lionstooth rules this land
He once had a Queen and a palace so grand.
And now his Queen has gone far away
Run away to the sea, or so they say.
King Fergus has daughters, they're not allowed out
They're guarded day and night, without a doubt.
But the two palace guards are easy to fool
And so the princesses can break the rule.
They go down to the beach almost every night
To dance with their shadows by pale moonlight
Their eyes on the Dark Island out in the bay
Where they all want to go one day.
Act 1
Scene 1
evil castle on the Dark Island
(Slimeweed on stage eating something revolting.
Enter Wibble and Wobble through audience with Slither as a captive.)
Wibble: Look what we found, master!
Wobble: Look what the tide washed up!
Wibble: A spy!
Wobble: A troublemaker.
(They push Slither forward to land at Slimeweed's feet. Slimeweed gets up and looks down at him.)
Slimeweed: A troublemaker, certainly, but this is my old friend Slither. My
old partner in evil and mayhem beneath the seas. Tormentor
of mermaids, hunter of dolphins, poisoner of the waves...
(He helps Slither up)
Slither: Thanks for the welcome, old friend. I could have done without
meeting those two, though (indicates Wibble and Wobble)
Slimeweed: Ah, my favourite jellyfish, Wibble and Wobble. I hope they
weren't too rough with you. They sometimes get carried away.
Slither (aside): So they should be. On a plate.
(The jellyfish start to leave. Slimeweed calls them back)
Slimeweed: Wait a bit, there's work for you two.
Wibble: How may we be of service?
Wobble: Oh mighty leader?
Slimeweed: Queen Sharksfinia has a particularly nasty plan that you can
help with. I think you'll like it. Not that it matters whether you like
or not, because if you don't obey orders you'll be served up with
ice-cream for my pet sea-monster's birthday next Tuesday.
(Slimeweed and Slither laugh)
Slimeweed (to Slither): Now I come to think of it, you might be able to help
too. In fact, if you won't help, then you'll be the icing on the
birthday cake.
(Slither backs away slowly and bumps into Queen Sharksfinia as she enters. She pushes him out of the way impatiently.)
Queen S: Take this intruder away, Wibble and Wobble, and throw him to
the sea monster.
(Wibble and Wobble advance on Slither, but Slimweed stops them.)
Slimeweed: Your Majesty, may I introduce my old friend and associate,
Slither, who has many years of experience in the tormenting,
torturing and poisoning trades? He has come to offer his
services.
Queen S: I think I have all the slimy sea creatures I need around here.
Slimeweed: But he has special skills and a complete lack of scruples,
Your Majesty.
Queen S: What special skills?
Slimeweed: He can cause ships to run aground by imitating both foghorns
and lighthouses, pollute the sea for a hundred leagues all
around, tie mermaids' tails together, wrestle with octopuses..
(Slither starts to look a bit doubtful)
Queen S: Oh, all right, he can have a week's trial. Then we'll throw him to
the sea monster....Why are we wasting time on him anyway?
(she turns to Wibble and Wobble) Do you know that beach on
the mainland? The one where the grumpy old crab lives?
Wibble: Yes, of course, your Majesty.
Wobble: Like the back of my tentacles, your Majesty.
Queen S: Five princesses have been dancing there every night. I've seen
them. Go and catch them, and bring them here.
Wibble: Of course, your Majesty.
Wobble: You can trust us, your Majesty.
Queen S: Of course I can't trust you. Who in their senses would trust a
jellyfish? But you know what I'll do if you fail, don't you? Go on.
(Exit Wibble and Wobble)
Slimeweed: May I make a suggestion, your Majesty ?
Queen S: You may make one. I may not take any notice.
Slimeweed: Send Slither to help them.
Queen S: That's a good idea. They can keep an eye on each other and report back. Off you go, Slither.
Slither: You can rely on me.
(Slither follows jellyfish)
Slimeweed: I doubt it.
Queen S: So, that's the first step in my plan. Once the princesses are here
I'll send a message to their father, King Fergus Lionstooth,
and get him here too. Then the sea monster will have a feast
and there will be nothing to stop me crossing to the mainland
and capturing the royal palace. Just think, Slimeweed. A real
palace with gold and silver plates, and silk and satin curtains.
And it will be all mine!
Act 1
Scene 2
Beach on mainland
(Celia, Delia, Annabel, Christabel, Georgina dancing. Grumpy Crab asleep behind a rock. Delia and Celia bump into each other.Celia almost falls on Grumpy Crab.)
Celia: Watch out, Delia! I nearly woke up that grumpy old crab.
Delia: I couldn't help it, Celia! I tripped on a bit of seaweed.
(Celia pushes Delia, who bumps into Annabel, who grabs at Christabel to save her.)
Christabel: Watch what you're doing, Annabel! I nearly fell on the wet sand.
Annabel: Oh, dear, did poor little Christabel get wet then? What do you
expect on the beach, you sad little person?
Christabel: Don't you call me little!
(Christabel pushes Annabel, who bumps into Celia and Delia.)
Georgina: Calm down, there's no need to fight. We are princesses, after
all. We should be able to behave better than this.
(The others turn on Georgina.)
Celia: How do you know there's no need to fight, Georgina?
Delia: Don't tell us when we can fight and when we can't.
Georgina: We're not even allowed on the beach! Father says -
Celia: Oh, Father says this. Father says that.
Delia: You're Father's little favourite, aren't you, Georgina?
Annabel: Just because you're the baby, Georgina. Scared of your own
shadow.
Christabel: Your little tiny baby shadow.
Georgina: No, it's just that our mother disappeared from here and we
never saw her again.
Celia: And you're Jack's little friend, too, aren't you?
Delia: Going about with servants - you should know better, being a
princess.
Celia: If you don't like us fighting, then -
Delia: (suddenly loud) Get off the beach!
(They advance on Georgina, who stands her ground till the last minute and then runs away. The others all laugh. They don't see Wibble and Wobble, followed by Slither, creeping up behind them... until it's too late. With help from Slither, Wibble and Wobble grab 2 princesses each and drag them off into the sea.)
(Grumpy Crab wakes up and stretches)
Grumpy Crab (sleepily): What was all that noise for? (looks out to sea) Oh, it's the killer jellyfish. (gloomily) I see they've captured some princesses... Still, what can you do?
(He sits down again but doesn't go back to sleep.)
All you can do is mind your own business around here. That's hard enough when you get wakened up in the middle of the night by all this din... dance of the baby elephants... screaming and shouting.... princesses.... I don't know.
(Zoa the coral sprite appears suddenly. Grumpy Crab doesn't notice at first, he is so wrapped up in his grumbling. )
Zoa: (to audience) Well, here I am. I can see the Island. .. Oh! I forgot
to explain. I'm Zoa, the coral fairy. I come from lands of
coral and anemones, deep under the sea, where nothing
is quite the way it seems... I don't know if this crab can
help me, but maybe you can. If you see any horrible slimy
things creeping up behind me, you'll let me know, won't
you?
(to Grumpy Crab) Hello!
(Grumpy Crab jumps)
Grumpy Crab: Who are you?
Zoa: I'm Zoa, the coral fairy. Who are you?
Grumpy Crab: Most people seem to call me Grumpy Crab, I don't know
why. What are you doing here?
Zoa: Have you seen anything horrible and slimy?
(Grumpy Crab looks all round.)
Grumpy Crab: I'm the only thing on this beach that isn't horrible and
slimy... What kind of thing did you have in mind?
Zoa: An evil creature, Slimeweed... the most evil thing there is. He's
Grumpy Crab: No, Slimeweed hasn't been here. I think I would have
noticed. There were a lot of princesses, though.
Zoa: Were ? What's happened to them?
Grumpy Crab: The jellyfish took them away.
Zoa: Jellyfish? That's very interesting. Slimeweed has a
couple of tame killer jellyfish. Tell me more...
Grumpy Crab: We'd better go along the beach a bit if we want to hear
ourselves think. It's like Waverley Station just here. And that Dark Island gives me the creeps. That's where the jellyfish came from, you know...
(Zoa and Grumpy Crab exit. Georgina enters from other side)
Georgina: Hurry up, it's time to go home. It'll be breakfast time
soon.... Where are you ? Celia, Delia! Annabel,
Christabel!
(She searches behind rocks etc but can't find them.)
Georgina: They've gone! This is just the place where my mother
disappeared. I'll have to tell my father at once.
(Georgina rushes off.)
Act 1
Scene 3
King's palace
(Jack and Jill are doing some housework. Georgina enters.)
Georgina: Jack, Jill, thank goodness you're here. I must tell my father -
Jack: You can't wake the King up yet, Georgina. It's much too early.
Georgina: Couldn't you wake him up for me? Please? (flutters eyelashes)
Jack: I'm going to regret this, but - oh, well, all right.
(Jack takes off his apron and puts on a bow tie. Georgina helps him with it.)
Jill: What's happened, anyway? What's the big rush?
Georgina: My sisters have disappeared.
Jill: Oh, no, that's terrible!
Jack: I don't know what's so terrible about it. They've been making
your life a misery.
(Jack exits. Noise of someone shouting offstage. Jack rushes back on.)
Jack: I do regret it, but the King's on his way.
(He draws himself up to his full height and clears his throat) King Fergus
Lionstooth!
(King enters, looking sleepy.)
King F: What time do you call this, boy?
Georgina: His name's Jack. And it wasn't his idea to wake you up, it was
mine. And I call it the crack of dawn.
King F: (laughs) Well, since it's you, Georgina... What do you want?
Georgina: Celia and Delia and Annabel and Christabel have disappeared.
King F: I should be so lucky. They're costing me a fortune in shoes
alone at the moment. Any idea why?
Georgina: Well, they're all growing... What are we going to do?
King F: Don't worry, dear. They won't be far away. Jack, fetch the guards. We'll send out a search party. (Jack exits)
Jill, go and check their rooms. Maybe they're hiding somewhere.
Jill: Yes, your Majesty. (exits)
King F: Where did you last see them?
Georgina: Mmm... somewhere about.
King F: Somewhere about? You should all have been asleep since
bedtime last night... Unless you've taken to getting up early
and going for a run or something before breakfast.
Georgina: Not exactly.
King Fergus: You weren't on the beach, were you, Georgina?
Georgina: Um - you don't think we would go there, do you, Father?
King F: Certainly not after all the times I've warned you about the beach.
After all, that was where your poor mother disappeared from,
never to be seen again.
(Jack enters.)
Jack: Captain Braveheart and Sergeant Yellowbelly!
(Braveheart and Yellowbelly enter, both trying to get through the door at same time and getting stuck. Eventually Braveheart pushes Yellowbelly out of the way and comes in first. They stand before the King and salute.)
Braveheart: Captain Braveheart reporting for duty, your Majesty!
Yellowbelly: And me.
King Fergus: I want you to find my daughters.
Yellowbelly: (points at Georgina): Well, there's one, your Majesty, for a start.
King F: I already know where that one is, Sergeant.
Braveheart: We'll start right away, your Majesty.
Yellowbelly: As soon as we've had our cornflakes.
(Braveheart stamps on Yellowbelly's foot)
Yellowbelly: Right away, sir!
(B. and Y. start looking round the room, peering under carpet etc)
King F: They're not in here, you idiots! Go and look somewhere else.
(Braveheart and Yellowbelly go and search in the audience.)
King F. (at front of stage): No, no there either! Those aren't my daughters...
they're too pretty, for one thing. And they don't look expensive enough.
(to Georgina) Now I come to think of it, maybe I'd be better off with
these ones, they might not get through their shoes so
fast.
(King F. goes into audience to have a closer look, then gives up.)
(To B. and Y.) Let's try the gardens. (King F., B. and Y. exit)
(Georgina and Jack still on stage)
Jack: Come on Georgina, what do you know about this?
Georgina: We were on the beach and the others chased me away...
Jack: On the beach? What were you doing down there?
Georgina: Dancing.
Jack: Well, that was a stupid place to go dancing, wasn't it? If King
Fergus finds out, he'll be a bit annoyed.
Georgina: A bit annoyed? He'll go ballistic! Will you help me find them?
Jack: I'm meant to be polishing the teaspoons this morning, but I
suppose I could help you instead. Where do you think they've
gone?
Georgina: I don't know. Maybe they're hiding in a cave or something.
Jack: Maybe something's happened to them. Didn't your mother
disappear from that beach never to be seen again?
Georgina: Yes... Oh, dear, I don't get on with my sisters, but I can't
imagine never seeing them again.
(Georgina wanders off.)
(A runnning noise off stage. Yellowbelly rushes in, in a panic.)
Yellowbelly: I've never seen such an enormous one! It was heading straight for me!
Jack: An enormous what?
Yellowbelly: It was all black and hairy...
Jack: A gorilla?
Yellowbelly: With enormous long legs.
Jack: What was it?
Yellowbelly: It was....a spider.
Jack: Pull yourself together. You've got to find the princesses.
Yellowbelly: But we've got to look in the garden shed next and there's
some even bigger ones in there.
Jack: Well, if you won't help then I will.
Yellowbelly: You? What use will you be? You're not a highly trained fighting
machine.
Jack: And you are?
Yellowbelly: Well, no.
Jack: Right, I'm off to look on the beach. You could try there too later.
(Jack exits.)
Yellowbelly: The beach! Why didn't I think of that?
(Yellowbelly exits, calling): Braveheart, I've had an idea!
Act 1
Scene 4
Evil castle on Dark Island
(Slimeweed on stage)
Slimeweed: I can't wait for Slither and the jellyfish to come back with
the princesses. Nothing will stop me then... Nobody will
get in my way, not King Fergus, not Queen Sharksfinia,
and certainly not you lot out there! (to audience)
(Enter Wibble, Wobble and Slither with the 4 princesses)
Slither: I have brought the princesses, master, just as you ordered.
(Wibble and Wobble push in front of him)
Wibble: We have brought the princesses, master.
Wobble: Yes, we jellyfish. Wibble and Wobble.
(Slither pushes Wibble and Wobble aside.)
Slimeweed: That's enough! Why are there only four of them?
(Slither tries to count the princesses on his fingers but has to give up.)
Slither: The jellyfish must have lost one of them on the way, master.
(Enter Queen S.)
Queen S: What's all this noise? Ah, the princesses.
Slimeweed: As you commanded, your Majesty.
Queen S: These princesses seem horribly familiar... But then, all princesses look alike to me...Why are there only four? There should be five.
Slimeweed: Well, Slither?
Slither: We brought all the princesses we could find. Didn't we, Wibble?
Wobble? (but the jellyfish are sidling off the stage.)
Queen S: We'll just have to make do with four, I suppose.
Celia: You wouldn't want Georgina anyway.
Delia: She's just a baby.
Annabel: We're the ones who really matter.
Christabel: Why have you brought us here? (starts to cry)
Queen S: Don't do that!
Queen S. sings or speaks to music:
Hush, little princess, don't you cry
Listen to Sharksfinia's lullaby.
Hush, little princess, don't make a sound
The Queen's going to put you in a cave underground.
And if you don't like it in that cave
You'll be swept away on a great big wave.
And if you don't like getting all wet
You'll be scooped up in a great big net
And when you get fed up with the slimy wet fish
You'll be served up for tea on a great big dish.
(All the princesses start to cry)
Queen S: Take them away, Slimeweed! I can't listen to that noise while I'm
trying to write my letter to King Fergus... Now where did I put
(Queen S. exits)
Slimeweed: I'll put them in a safe place, your Majesty. Come on Slither, give
me a hand.
Slither: Come on then, you crybabies.
Slimeweed: This way, ladies.
(Slimeweed politely opens a door and ushers the princesses through it. The terrible roar of the sea monster echoes up from the depths of the earth.)
(Celia, Delia and Annabel go through. Christabel pauses.)
Christabel: What's that noise?
Slimeweed: It's the sound of the waves on the distant shore, your Highness.
Slither: Want a closer look?
(Slither pushes Christabel through and slams the door behind her as she screams.)
Slimeweed: Ah, the monster's restless tonight. It's nearly the full moon.
Slither: What happens at the full moon?
Slimeweed: He likes to go out and hunt his food.
Slither: What sort of food?
Slimeweed: Oh, he's not a fussy eater. Sharks, octopuses, shipwrecked
sailors... Whatever's available. He gets very restless at the
thought of it all.
(Queen S. returns with a bottle.)
Slither: Thanks, I could do with a drink. (Takes bottle. Queen S. snatches it back.)
Queen S: This is for the message I'm going to send... Listen to this:
To whom it may concern. King Fergus's daughters have been
taken to the Dark Island. If the King does not apply in person
before sunset to have them returned, they will be thrown to the
sea monster and he will never see them again. Best wishes from
Queen Sharksfinia.
Slither: But they've already....
(Slimeweed puts a bit of seaweed in his mouth)
(Queen S. puts message in bottle.)
Queen S: What was that, Slither?
Slimeweed: I'll get Wibble and Wobble to deliver it, your Majesty. They can
leave it on the beach.
(Queen S. gives him the bottle)
Queen S: I hope the King will get it in time.
Slimeweed (shrugs shoulders): Even if he doesn't, at least the sea monster
will get a good meal, your Majesty.
Queen S: Do you think the plan will work, Slimeweed? Will we be in the
royal palace surrounded by luxury this time tomorrow?
Slimeweed: Of course we will, your Majesty. (He swings something shiny in front of Queen S.)
(continues hypnotically) The plan will work. The King will come. All will be
well.
Queen S: All will be well.
Slimeweed: Now sleep.
(Queen S. sinks down on throne and closes eyes.)
Slither: (still spitting out seaweed) How did you do that?
Slimeweed: Oh, it's nothing.
Slither: So what's going to happen to her when you take over the royal
palace?
Slimeweed: What do you think?
Slither: (aside) I think I wouldn't like to get the wrong side of you.
Slimeweed: She'll be another meal for the sea monster.
(to audience) And when we've finished with her, we'll be back for you!
Slither: (to audience) You'd better believe it!
(exit Slither and Slimeweed)
Act 1
Scene 5
The beach
(Jack and Georgina looking for clues on stage and then in the audience. Behind them, Wibble and Wobble appear with the bottle, drop it at the edge of the sea and exit.)
Georgina: What was that?
Jack: What?
Georgina: I thought I heard something.
(Jack and Georgina come back on stage. Jack looks all round, but doesn't yet see the bottle.)
Jack: We might as well get back to the palace, Georgina. We aren't
going to find anything here.
Georgina: No wait, Jack! Let's look over here, by the edge of the sea.
(At this point Grumpy Crab and Zoa enter secretly and hide behind a rock.
Jack spots the bottle and picks it up.)
Jack: I think there's a message in here, Georgina.
(takes out message)
Georgina: What does it say?
Jack: It's from somebody called ... Queen Sharksfinia. That's a silly
name. It sounds made-up to me.
Georgina: What else does it say?
(Jack reads silently from message)
Jack: Oh, no!
(Georgina tries to snatch message. It tears in two.)
Jack: Now look what you've done, Georgina.
Georgina: It's all right, we can put the bits together.
(They put the bits together and both look at it.)
Jack: To whom it may concern. King Fergus's daughters have been
taken to the Dark Island. If the King does not apply in person
Georgina: Maybe it's a joke. Maybe they wrote it themselves and they're
hiding and laughing at us... Behind this rock or somewhere...
(Georgina looks behind rock and finds Grumpy Crab and Zoa.) Oh! Jack!
(Georgina backs away as Grumpy Crab and Zoa emerge. Jack gets between them and Georgina.)
Jack: What were you doing in there watching me and Georgina?
Grumpy Crab: Waiting for a bus, of course! This is a beach and I'm a
Zoa: Never mind my grumpy friend here. It's all right. I think we're on
the same side. We heard you reading out the message.
Georgina: Who are you?
Zoa: Zoa the coral fairy... And this is Grumpy Crab, in case you hadn't
already guessed.
Jack: What are you doing here?
Zoa: I'm trying to get to the Magic Island and defeat the evil
Slimeweed. He's the one who's captured your princesses.
Georgina: How do you know?
Zoa: His his killer jellyfish were here on the beach and took them
away. Grumpy Crab saw the whole thing.
Jack: But the message is from somebody called Queen Sharksfinia.
Zoa: I don't know about Queen Sharksfinia. But Slimeweed can make
people do what he wants. He's behind this, I know it. If the King
Georgina: But the King's my father! We've got to do something. But what
can we do?
Grumpy Crab (sitting down): There's nothing we can do. It's obvious. We're
doomed.
Jack: No, we're not! Now that there are four of us, we can defeat
Slimeweed. If we work together and don't give up.
Zoa: Well said, Jack. I'm not sure if four will be enough, but I can get
help from my own coral people. (To audience) And you'll help,
won't you?
Georgina: And we can get the palace guards!
Zoa: Jack, you'd better come with me at once. We'll have to travel
under water through dangerous places, and I might need help.
Jack: Under water? But I won't be able to breathe!
Zoa: It's all right. I'll make you a special helmet from magic mother of
pearl... Grumpy Crab, we might need you too in case of danger.
Grumpy Crab: Danger? I'm not sure about this.
Zoa: Georgina, can you find a boat and bring the others across to the
Island?
Georgina: Yes, I think so.
Zoa: Come along, then, Jack, we'd better make a start.
Jack: (hesitates) Will you be all right, Georgina?
Georgina: (bravely) Yes, of course. Take care, Jack!
(Exit Zoa, Grumpy Crab and Jack, with Grumpy Crab hanging back and Jack looking back and waving. Georgina waves.)
(Enter Braveheart and Yellowbelly searching for clues.)
Yellowbelly: (nervously) You don't get spiders on the beach, do you?
Braveheart: Will you stop going on about spiders? Palace guards
aren't afraid of anything!
(When Braveheart isn't looking, Yellowbelly picks up a long strand of seaweed and puts it down his back.)
Braveheart: Aargh! What's that?
(Braveheart wriggles about trying to get the seaweed off. Yellowbelly laughs.)
Yellowbelly: (from a safe distance) It's only a bit of seaweed. Palace guards
aren't afraid of seaweed.
Georgina: (turning away from the edge of the sea, where she's been watching the others) Stop messing about, you two! We've got serious work to do.
Yellowbelly: Serious?
Braveheart: Work?
Georgina: I know you don't know the meaning of either of those words, but
just listen to me.
Braveheart: I'm listening, your Highness.
Yellowbelly: Me too.
Georgina: We've got to rescue my sisters. They've been kidnapped and
taken to the Dark Island.
Yellowbelly: The Dark Island!
Braveheart: Oh, no!
Georgina: What do you know about the Dark Island?
Braveheart and Yellowbelly: Nothing.
Georgina: We've got to find a boat and go across there and rescue them.
And we mustn't tell my father.
Braveheart: A boat?
Yellowbelly: Not tell the King?
Georgina: My father will want to come with us if he finds out, and we
mustn't let him. It's much too dangerous.
(Enter King F. with foam on head. He is rubbing it off and looking at the sky)
King F: I'm sure these sea-gulls are laughing at me. If I could just get my
hands on one of them... What's going on here, then?
Georgina: Hello, Father. It's nothing.
King F: Nothing! I find you here on the beach, where I've told you time
and time again not to come, and here you are talking about
Georgina: It's not really dangerous, Father. It's a game.
King F: It's something to do with your sisters disappearing, isn't it?
Georgina: Well - yes.
King F: And I suppose young Jack's mixed up in it too? I knew I
shouldn't have let you two get so close.... Where is he then?
Georgina: He's gone already. I've got to follow him with Braveheart and
Yellowbelly. He's in danger too.
King F: I'll come with you. A girl can't go into danger on her own.
Georgina: Oh, don't be so old-fashioned, Father. I can look after myself.
You stay here in charge of things. In case anything goes wrong.
King F: (to B. and Y.) I'm relying on you two to make sure they don't, do you
hear?
Yellowbelly: Aye, aye, sir!
Braveheart: You can rely on us, your Majesty.
King F: I wish I could believe that.
Georgina: Come on, let's go to the harbour and get a boat.
King F: Wait a minute...
Georgina: No, we must go right now, this minute.
King F: Take care of yourself, Georgina. You may be all I have left.
Georgina: I'll be fine. Goodbye.
(Exit Georgina, Yellowbelly, Braveheart, waving. King F. waves, then suddenly sees a sea-gull, chases it with his stick. Goes into wings and comes back with it flapping on his head. Exit)
Act 2
Scene 1
Under the sea: rocks, caves, seaweed. 2 rocks with space for octopus in between.
ZOA; GRUMPY CRAB; ZULA; JACK; OCTOPUS
Zoa, Grumpy Crab 'swim on' followed by Jack in magic mother-of-pearl helmet.
Grumpy Crab: (looks over shoulder nervously) I don't like it out here in the deep sea. It's too deep - and dark - and some of the creatures here are really weird.
Zoa: Don't worry, we have friends watching over us. (To audience) Don't forget, if you see anything slimy or sinister creeping up on us, just shout 'Look out!' Are you remembering that?
Jack: Look! What's that? (Points to a gap between rocks where something long and slimy is poking out.)
Grumpy Crab: (coming to a halt) It's an octopus! Don't panic!
Zoa: No, it's just a bit of weed. An octopus doesn't look anything like that. It's small and squishy and -
(An octopus peeps out from between 2 other rocks but they don't see it.)
Jack: What was that?
Zoa: It's all right, it's only another piece of seaweed floating in the current.
(Octopus peers out again. They still don't see it.)
Grumpy Crab: Listen! Can you hear anything?
Zoa: It's only the sound of distant dolphins calling to each other.
Jack : (nervously) Are you sure?
Grumpy Crab: I smell octopus.
(The octopus suddenly lunges forward and grabs Zoa.)
Zoa: Help!
Grumpy Crab: Help! Jack! Do something!
Jack: You do something!
Zoa: Make up your minds! One of you do something! Both of you do something!
(Octopus starts to drag Zoa off.)
Grumpy Crab: (to Jack) Quick, I'll hold his tentacles together in my pincers, then you tie them in knots.
(Grumpy Crab holds two tentacles, Jack ties them. The octopus wriggles and eventually lets Zoa go. Octopus knocks Jack's helmet off and kicks it into the rocks, but he doesn't notice. When the octopus has been overpowered, they shove it back in between the rocks.)
Jack: Whew! That was hard work! (suddenly falls over.)
Zoa: (laughs) All right, don't overdo it! ... Jack! You can get up now!
(leans over Jack and shakes him)
Grumpy Crab: Wasn't he wearing some sort of helmet?
Zoa: Yes, but it's come off! He won't be able to breathe under water without it. Where is it?
Grumpy Crab: He was wearing it before we fought the octopus.
(Zoa and Grumpy Crab search for the helmet in all the wrong places.)
Zoa: (to audience) Has anybody seen the helmet? We've got to find it before it's too late!
(Grumpy Crab bravely goes into the octopus's den between rocks and comes out with helmet.)
Zoa: Well done, Grumpy Crab!
(takes helmet and puts it back on Jack. Jack sits up and Zoa helps him to his feet.)
Jack: Fighting that octopus was more tiring than I thought.
Zoa: We'd better get on. There could be more octopuses, and that one will untangle himself before long.
(They swim on a bit. Another coral fairy, Zula, enters from the other side of the stage.)
Zoa: Zula, it's you!
Zula: Zoa, welcome home!
Jack: Who's this, Zoa?
Zoa: One of my sisters, Zula.
Grumpy Crab: I wish my sisters looked like you.
Zoa: We need help, Zula. I have to take the magic staff of coral with me to fight Slimeweed and his evil ways.
Zula: Come along, let's go and find it.
(exit Zoa, Zula, Grumpy Crab, Jack)
Act 2
Scene 2
In a boat on the way to the Dark Island/shore of Dark Island at one side of the stage.
GEORGINA, BRAVEHEART, YELLOWBELLY, OCTOPUS, WIBBLE, WOBBLE, SLITHER
(Georgina, Braveheart and Yellowbelly in boat)
Yellowbelly: (happily) A life on the ocean wave
Da da da da da rollling sea...
Braveheart: (green in face) Don't mention the rolling sea! My stomach's rolling!
Yellowbelly: Do you want a bit of my Mars Bar?
(Braveheart groans)
Georgina: (cheerfully) I think we're nearly there! I can see the waves breaking on the shore.
Braveheart: Ah, the shore! I remember it well.
(An octopus's tentacle appears over the edge of the boat and wobbles it.)
Georgina: Stop shaking the boat, you two!
Yellowbelly: It wasn't me. What did you do that for, Braveheart?
Braveheart: It certainly wasn't me! I'm keeping absolutely still.
Georgina: All right, all right, don't argue! Is there anything you two don't argue about?
Yellowbelly: Yes
Braveheart: No
(Octopus looks over side of boat when they're not looking. Boat rocks.)
Georgina: Well, whoever it was, stop it! This boat's going to overturn in a minute, and we'll all end up -
(Octopus appears in full view, trying to scramble into the boat. Georgina screams. Braveheart and Yellowbelly cower away to other side. Boat rocks.)
Georgina: (trying to push him off) Help me get him out of the boat.
(Braveheart rushes to other side and hangs over looking as if he's going to be sick.)
(Yellowbelly gets an oar and pushes the octopus off.)
Georgina: Well done, Yellowbelly!
Yellowbelly: Wow! Did I do that?
(Boat starts rocking violently, the oar falls overboard and a bit of the boat with the name 'Delfinia' on it falls off in sea.
Boat tips them out on the shore.)
Georgina: Oh, well, that's not too bad. At least we're here.
Braveheart: On dry land.
(Wibble, Wobble and Slither creep up behind them. Yellowbelly sees but the others don't.)
Yellowbelly: Look out! Behind you!
Braveheart: Oh, for goodness sake, pull yourself together. Giant spiders are the least of our worries.
Yellowbelly: It isn't a spider, it's -
(Wibble, Wobble and Slither grab them. They scream.)
Slither: So, what have we here? Some new visitors... The sea monster's going to get so fat he won't be able to move. Let's see what my master Slimeweed has to say about this!
Georgina: Have you got my sisters here? The princesses?
Slither (laughs): Oh, yes, they were here earlier. They had to leave - they couldn't wait to see my master's favourite pet.
Georgina: What pet is that?
Slither: Don't worry, you'll be meeting him too before very long. I think you'll be impressed by his rugged good looks.
Braveheart: You won't get away with this!
Yellowbelly: I think he will, you know.
Slither: Yes, my master has nearly everything he wants now. Soon he will have it all! Take them away!
(Exit all, jellyfish holding on to prisoners, Slither stalking along at back.)
Act 2
Scene 3
Somewhere on the beach
KING FERGUS
JILL
(Enter King F. and Jill and look out to sea.)
King F.: Did you hear that terrible storm? I hope Georgina's all right in the boat.
Jill: I hope my brother's all right under the sea!
(Jill finds piece of boat with 'Delfinia' on it.)
Look, your Majesty! (gives him piece)
King F: Oh, no! This is part of the royal yacht Delfinia. Something's wrong.
Jill: (finds oar) Look at this, your Majesty. Isn't it an oar?
King F: (in despair) Georgina, why did you go?
Jill: Maybe Jack will rescue her, your Majesty. My brother's very strong - and brave.
King F: I'll get the harbourmaster to go out and look for them. They could be clinging to the rest of the wreckage waiting for help.
Jill: Can I come with you to the harbour, your Majesty?
King F: Yes, quickly now, we haven't got much time.
(Exit)
Act 2
Scene 4
Evil castle
QUEEN SHARKSFINIA; SLIMEWEED; SLITHER; JACK; ZOA; ZULA; GRUMPY CRAB; GEORGINA; BRAVEHEART; YELLOWBELLY; WIBBLE; WOBBLE
(Slimeweed on stage)
Slimeweed: Wibble! Wobble! Slither! Why are there never any slimy sea creatures around when you want one?
(Enter Wibble, Wobble, Georgina, Yellowbelly, Braveheart, Slither.)
Slimeweed: What's all this? More prisoners?
Slither: Just some flotsam and jetsam we found washed up on the beach, master.
(Wibble and Wobble elbow their way forward.)
Wibble: We found them first, master.
Wobble: It was all thanks to us jellyfish.
(Slither pushes them out of the way.)
Slimeweed: Yes, yes, but who have we here?
(Peers at Yellowbelly, Braveheart and Georgina. Stops at Georgina.)
Aha! Another princess, unless I'm much mistaken. So, we've captured all five now! (sarcastically) And who are these fine upstanding soldiers? You'll make a tasty snack for the sea monster.
Yellowbelly: Uh, oh, I don't like the sound of that.
Braveheart: Sssh! You know palace guards aren't afraid of anything.
(Roar of the sea monster echoes around. Braveheart and Yellowbelly cling to each other, shivering, at back of stage.)
(Enter Queen S)
Queen S: More prisoners?
(She and Georgina look at each other closely.)
Queen S: But aren't you - ?
Georgina: You can't be - ?
(Just at that moment Zoa, Zula, Jack and Grumpy Crab rush in.)
Jack: Stand well back, Georgina! Let me get at those jellyfish!
(Wibble and Wobble try and run away, but fall over and get tangled in each other's tentacles. Grumpy Crab stands over them menacingly.)
Grumpy Crab: One false move and I'll use my pincers to extract your stings without any anaesthetic.
(Wibble and Wobble shake like jellies.)
(Slither gets behind Slimeweed. Queen S. and Georgina still staring at each other as if hypnotised.)
Zoa: Do you surrender, Slimeweed?
Slimeweed: Never! (pushes Slither in front of him) We'll fight to the last drop of his blood! Wibble! Wobble! Get up and stop them!
(Grumpy Crab still standing over W. and W. who shake even more.)
Grumpy Crab: Go ahead, you two, make my day.
(Zoa, Zula, Jack advance on Slimeweed and Slither and surround them.)
Georgina: (to Queen S. at front stage, loudly) I know you! You're my mother, Queen Delfinia!
Queen S: Georgina! My baby! Haven't you grown?
(They hug each other. Jack, Zoa and Zula look round. Slimeweed pushes Slither out of the way and heads for the cave entrance. Slither recovers and follows. They exit to cave.)
Georgina: Jack, it's my mother! Queen Delfinia!
Jack: Pleased to meet you, your Majesty.
Zoa: Look out, they're getting away!
(Jack, Zoa and Zula try to rush after S. and S. Braveheart and Yellowbelly get in the way. Jack pushes them aside and rushes for cave entrance. It closes as he gets there.)
Jack: How do you get this open?
Zoa: Stand well back! Zula and I will make a spell.
Zoa and Zula: Spirits of coral arise from the deep
Waken the magic from its long sleep.
Draw up strength from the ocean's floor
And use the force to open the door.
(They tap on the door with the magic coral staff and it opens. Jack, Zoa, Zula go through and exit to cave. Roar of sea monster.)
Georgina: (to Queen S.) What's through there?
Queen S: Slimeweed's pet sea monster.
Georgina: (to Braveheart and Yellowbelly) Quick, after them!
Braveheart: Who, us?
Yellowbelly: Can't you send that Grumpy Crab?
Georgina: I thought palace guards weren't afraid of anything.
Braveheart: Anything except sea monsters.
Yellowbelly: And giant spiders.
Braveheart: And enormous waves.
Yellowbelly: And long slimy strands of seaweed.
Braveheart: And things that go bump in the night.
Georgina: I suppose I'll have to go myself, then.
(Exits to cave.)
Yellowbelly: Come on, we can't let her go on her own.
Braveheart: No, I suppose not.
Queen S: Why don't you two guard the entrance at this side so that nobody can escape?
(B and Y go and stand by cave entrance.)
Queen S: (to Grumpy Crab) Help me put Wibble and Wobble on ice until we work out what to do with them. This way.
(Exit, followed by Grumpy Crab, who gets Wibble and Wobble to stand up and brings them with him.)
Act 2
Scene 5
Sea-monster's cave
SEA MONSTER; 4 PRINCESSES; SLIMEWEED; SLITHER; JACK; ZOA; ZULA; GEORGINA
(Sea monster and 4 princesses are sitting playing cards on a large flat rock.)
Celia: Snap!
Delia: That wasn't a sea anemone, it was a sea horse.
Annabel: No it wasn't, it was a limpet.
Christabel: It looked like an angel fish to me.
Celia: No, that was last go!
Sea monster: Now, now girls. You know I don't like arguments.
(Slimeweed and Slither rush in. They are surprised to see the card game.)
Slimeweed: What's going on here? I thought you would have eaten them by now!
Sea monster: Look out, girls! I'm afraid I'm going to have to roar.
(Sea monster roars. Slimeweed and Slither back away.)
(Enter Jack, Zoa and Zula.)
Jack: Stand back, your Highnesses. I'll fix this sea monster.
Celia: No, Jack!
Delia: Leave him alone!
Annabel: He's our friend!
Christabel: He lets us win at cards!
(The princesses surround the sea monster.)
Slimeweed: What's going on here? What's happened to my sea monster?
Slither: Yes, I thought it was meant to be ferocious. It's a bit of a wimp.
(Sea monster roars. Slither backs away.)
(Enter Georgina.)
Georgina: Leave my sisters alone, you horrible monster! (Advances towards the sea monster, the only one who isn't afraid.)
Sea monster: It's always the same, just because you're big and ugly with a loud voice, people assume you're fierce. I'm a vegetarian, you know. All these nights I've been out gathering seaweed to eat, I've wanted to make friends with some of the other sea creatures but they always swim away in the other direction when they see me.
Georgina: Oh, dear, that's really sad.
(Slimeweed and Slither try to sneak off while this speech is going on.)
Zoa: Look out! They're getting away again.
(Zoa and Zula wave magic staff of coral. Slither freezes in his tracks. Slimeweed sneaks off stage to audience.)
Sea monster: Leave Slimeweed to me! (Goes after Slimeweed.) I don't usually eat meat, but in your case I'll make an exception.
(Brings Slimeweed back on stage and Zoa and Zula 'freeze' him next to Slither.)
Zoa: (rubs magic staff of coral on rocks and they turn pink) Look, our magic is strong now and we can use it to change this dark island back to a beautiful isle of coral!
Zula: And I know just the people to help us scrub it all clean! (Points at Slimeweed and Slither.)
Georgina: We must get home to Father. He'll be so worried.
Jack: Come along, then.
4 princesses: Goodbye, sea monster!
Celia: Maybe if you tried roaring quietly it would sound friendlier.
Sea monster: Come back and see me some time.
(Exit all princesses and Jack.)
Zoa: We'll take care of those two. They'd better start scrubbing.
(Exit Zoa, Zula, Slimeweed and Slither.)
Sea monster: Roaring quietly. I'll give it a try.
(Exits towards sea, roaring gently.)
Act 2
Scene 6
The royal palace.
KING FERGUS; JILL; GEORGINA; CELIA; DELIA; ANNABEL; CHRISTABEL; QUEEN SHARKSFINIA/DELFINIA; JACK; BRAVEHEART; YELLOWBELLY
(King Fergus on stage, sitting staring gloomily into space. Enter Jill.)
King F: Well? Any news ?
Jill: The harbourmaster says he's looked everywhere between here and the Outer Hebrides and he can't find any trace of them...
King F: He'll have to try again. Go and tell him not to give up searching.
(Noises offstage. Enter Celia, Delia, Annabel and Christabel.)
Celia: Hello, Father!
Delia: We're back!
Annabel: Have you missed us?
Christabel: We've had a really exciting time!
(They surround King F. and hug him.)
King F: One, two, three, four. Where's Georgina?
Celia: It's the same old story.
Delia: Always Georgina.
King F: Don't be silly. I couldn't do without any of you, with all your silliness and squabbling and wearing out of shoes.
Annabel: That's all going to stop now, Father.
Christabel: We're going to be as good as gold.
King F: That'll be the day! So you're going to do exactly as I say, are you?
Celia: Oh, no, Father.
Delia: We're going to do exactly as somebody else says.
King F: Who's that?
Annabel: Mother.
Christabel: Your long-lost Queen Delfinia.
King F: What are you talking about? You know she vanished from the beach never to be seen again.
Celia: Close your eyes, Father.
Delia: Make a wish.
(King F. closes his eyes. Enter Georgina, Queen S. and Jack hand in hand.)
Queen S.: You can open your eyes now, Fergus.
(King F. opens his eyes.)
King F: Delfinia! Is it really you? Where have you been?
Georgina: It's a long story, Father.
King F: Georgina and Jack! You're here too.
(Jill gives her brother a hug. Queen S. hugs King F.)
Georgina: Jack was really brave, Father. He deserves a reward.
King F: Well, he can have a Christmas bonus in his wages.
Georgina: Not that sort of reward... The sort that might let him marry a princess. Make him a knight or something.
King F: What makes you think he might want to marry a princess?
Georgina: Oh, just a feeling I've got.
Queen S: You can't fight women's intuition, you know, Fergus. Once Georgina's got a feeling, it's as good as settled.
Jack: Just a minute, I might have something to say about this too, you know.
Georgina: Oh, yes, and what's that?
Jack: Um - yes, I might like to marry a princess some day.
King F.: Oh, all right, let's get it over with. Kneel down, Jack. (Jack kneels down. King F. taps him on the shoulder with sword.) Arise, Sir Jack. And the best of luck to you. (to Georgina) Any more requests while I'm in a good mood?
Georgina: Couldn't Jill be a princess too?
King F: Oh, all right, she might as well be. Is there anything else?
Georgina: And couldn't you give the palace guards a medal? They were much braver than they meant to be?
King F: That seems highly unlikely, but if you insist...Braveheart! Yellowbelly!
(Enter Braveheart and Yellowbelly. King F. opens a box and gives each of them a medal.)
King F: So who's going to tell me the whole story?
Georgina: I think we should sing a song instead.
(Enter Grumpy Crab, Wibble, Wobble, Slimeweed, Slither, Zoa and Zula.)
Final song
tune: Drunken Sailor
What shall we do with Wibble and Wobble
....at the end of the show?
Take out their stings and make them be nice
...at the end of the show.
What shall we do with Braveheart and Yellowbelly
...at the end of the show?
Give them a medal for outstanding bravery
...at the end of the show.
What shall we do with Grumpy Crab
...at the end of the show?
Send him to live with Zoa and Zula
...at the end of the show.
What shall we do with Slimeweed and Slither
...at the end of the show?
Set them to work to scrub the island
...at the end of the show.
What shall we do with the King and Queen
...at the end of the show?
Hope they live happily ever after
...at the end of the show.
What shall we do with the big sea monster
...at the end of the show?
Throw him a carrot and watch him crunch it
...at the end of the show.
What shall we do with Georgina and Jack
...at the end of the show?
Give her a dowry and let them get married
...at the end of the show.
What shall we do with all the princesses
... at the end of the show?
Let them dance until the morning
...at the end of the show.