Audition Central: Seussical JR.
Script: Horton the Elephant
SIDE 1
GERTRUDE
I'll bet you forgot
About Gertrude McFuzz.
Well, that's nothing new,
I mean, everyone does.
But Gertrude did something
That few birds could do...
So this is the Tale of Miss Gertrude.
Part Two.
(We hear the sounds of snoring. Gertrude's flashlight finds HORTON.)
GERTRUDE
PSST! Horton! Horton, are you there?
HORTON
What? Who is it?
GERTRUDE
It's me, Gertrude! Horton! Oh, Horton! I was so worried! Are you all right?
HORTON
Gertrude! How did you find us?
GERTRUDE
Well, it's a long story.
END SIDE
SIDE 2
HORTON
(casually, to his clover)
Hello... hello?
JOJO
Hello?
HORTON
Who's there?
JOJO
It's me, JoJo. The Mayor's son.
HORTON
I'm Horton. The Elephant.
JOJO
Are you real, or are you a very large Think?
HORTON
Oh, I'm real, all right. I would state that in ink.
JOJO
In my Thinks, I imagine a lot of strange things, and
I go to strange places, as if I had wings!
I love a good Think!
HORTON
Well, for me that goes double.
JOJO
Sometimes my Thinks are what get me in trouble.
HORTON
When you think, do you dream?
JOJO
In bright colors!
HORTON
Me, too.
HORTON
And I go to strange places. Like Solla Sollew!
JOJO
When you think, do you think you could fly to the stars?
HORTON
Little friend, no one else could have Thinks such as ours!
END SIDE
SIDE 3
HORTON
Do you hear what I hear? Do you see what I mean?
They made themselves heard though they still can't be seen!
GERTRUDE
They've proved they ARE persons, no matter how small.
HORTON
And their whole world was saved by the Smallest of All.
SOUR KANGAROO
(grudgingly)
How true! Yes, how true! Said the Sour Kangaroo.
And, from now on, you know what I'm planning to do?
From now on, I'm going to protect them with you!
END SIDE
SIDE 4
HORTON
Two million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine. It's hopeless.
(A voice is heard over HORTON's head.)
MAYZIE
You said it, kid.
HORTON
Who's there?
MAYZIE
It's me. Mayzie. Up here.
HORTON
Mayzie... Are you on a nest?
MAYZIE
Yeah. You wanna make something of it?
HORTON
No, I just never thought I'd see you on a nest.
MAYZIE
Neither did I, Hort. Neither did I.
END SIDE
SIDE 5
HORTON
Why, Mayzie, I couldn't. Of all silly things!
I haven't got feathers. I haven't got wings.
And not only that, but I'm here on a search.
I just couldn't leave my poor Whos in the lurch!
MAYZIE
I won't be gone long, kid. I give you my word.
I'll hurry right back, 'cause I'm that sort of bird!
Oh, Horton, I promise! I'll fly back real soon.
I'd only be gone for, say, one afternoon!
(A beat, as HORTON considers this.)
HORTON
(relenting)
Well... we all need vacations.
All right, go on, take it.
I'll sit on your egg
And I'll try not to break it.
But please come back quickly-
One hour, maybe two.
I need to find JoJo.
I've got to save Who!
MAYZIE
(ad-lib)
Hit it, Cat!
END SIDE