Script

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