BUNNY. Because I love it. Can I do without a lot of useful things, which were in its pockets? No, I can’t! Where is my favourite pipe? Where is me handkerchief? Can you borrow me one?

LUCY. No, I can’t. I haven’t got any. They are lost.

BUNNY. It’s not good to lose your things. Try to find them. Bye!

SCENE 2.

SETTING: A little house up the hill. The little path leads to the door.

LUCY. I’ll try to find my things but it is very difficult. Should I climb the hill? It’s very hard to do. My legs are tired. I have a backache. I hope there is something interesting up the hill. There is a pretty little house with a chimney. And smells tasty. May I come in?

VOICE. Nobody is here. Come away.

LUCY. I’ve heard a voice that means that I can see an owner of this voice soon. I think it is a doll’s house. Nobody can live in such a tiny house.

HEDGEHOG. You’re wrong. It’s good to live in this house and I live there.

LUCY. Can I look around? I have never been inside such houses! (Comes inside without any invitation).

HEDGEHOG. The polite children should introduce themselves.

LUCY. I’m Lucy. Who are you? What are you doing there?

HEDGEHOG. I’m the mistress of this laundry as you see. I hate dirty clothes! Why do people always throw out their dirty things? Can you see these two baskets? The first is full of dirty clothes and the second – of clean ones. I need some time to iron them.

LUCY. Oh, these are my socks as well as my apron! And where are my handkerchiefs?

HEDGEHOG. They are over here. They were quite dirty when I found them in the grass. I have never seen dirtier ones.

LUCY. I should thank you, little lady. Can I get them back?

HEDGEHOG. One minute. I’ll iron some things. Their owners are waiting for them. Can you take a waistcoat out of the basket? It is for Bunny. There are a lot of pockets there and he keeps so many useless things in them. This cap is for Robin. It is just at the bottom. And these gloves belong to our Squirrel. They were worn, so I had to repair them. It took me half a day.

LUCY. Can I help you? I didn’t use to do washing but I can iron.

HEDGEHOG. All is done. Your apron is ready. You can put it on. Hold this basket and come out. We should give out these things to their owners.

SCENE III

SETTING: A green meadow in the forest.

The birds are singing.

HEDGEHOG. Robin must be over here. Take back your cap, sir!

ROBIN. A lot of thanks, lady. I’m going to the concert tonight. You are invited.

HEDGEHOG. I have a lot of work to do, sir. I’m not sure to be free.

LUCY. I’ve never been to a birds’ concert. May I come?

ROBIN. Certainly. Glad to have met you, ladies. (Flies away).

SQUIRREL. Oh, my gloves are like new. You’re a true magician, my dear.

HEDGEHOG. I tried my best. These gloves will serve you if you take care of them.

SQUIRREL. But I have to cut nuts and that spoils a lot of gloves. Thank you very much. How I can do without you! (Runs away).

BUNNY. Hello, lady! Hello, Lucy! What about my waistcoat? I need pockets.

HEDGEHOG. Why do you wear a lot of things in your pockets, I wonder?

BUNNY. Have you heard the philosopher said, ’All my own I wear with myself’?

LUCY. But he didn’t mean penknives and glass balls.

BUNNY. It doesn’t matter. A lot of thanks. Bye!

LUCY. This is my home. Come in. My mother will be glad to meet you.

MOTHER’S VOICE. Is that you, Lucy? Who are you speaking to?

LUCY. It’s me, Mummy. Let me introduce Little Mistress to you. (Looking around). Where are you? She’s come away. What a pity! Mummy! I have brought my apron and my socks as well as my handkerchiefs. They are clean. I’ll always wash my things myself!

The end

PETER, THE RABBIT

(after Beatrix Potter)

CHARACTERS:

PETER

MOTHER

MOPSY, HIS SISTER

TOPSY, HIS BROTHER

MR.MCGREGOR

CAT

SCENE I

SETTING: A little tidy house where the rabbits’ family lives.

MOTHER. And now, my little children I should go out. I have a lot of work to do: to see a dentist, to meet your aunt Betty, to go to the fair and – last but not least – to do shopping. Would you like to have tasty buns for tea?

PETER. May I go for a walk?

MOTHER. Sure. You can either pick up flowers or play leapfrog with your brother and sister. I don’t mind.

TOPSY. Can I have two buns, Mummy if you have an extra bun?

MOTHER. You’re too fat, my dear. The fewer buns you’ll eat, the better! But why should I have an extra bun I wonder?

MOPSY. Peter won’t follow your advice. He is going to McGregor’s garden to pick up cabbages and carrots.

PETER. You are fools! I’ve told about lettuce! Nobody will take his cabbages because they are small and insipid. Only fools can eat the carrots in May.

MOTHER. You ought not to attend Mr. McGregor’s garden. It’s an unhappy place for our family. My poor husband who was a father of yours – went to the garden to pick up onions and didn’t come back. He ended his life in the cake baked by Mrs. McGregor!

MOPSY (crying). My poor father will never return! We shall never see him again!

PETER. He didn’t bring onions!

MOTHER. I suppose picking up blackberries will be safer. (Comes out).

MOPSY. Have you heard, Peter, what mother has told you? Will you go to eat blackberries with us?

PETER. Only fools eat blackberries hen they can help themselves with lettuce!

TOPSY. Can I join you, Peter?

PETER. You’re too fat for the hole in the fence. See you later!

SCENE II.

SCENERY: Mr. McGregor’s garden. A scarecrow and a small hut for garden tools.

PETER. Let me have a look. It is a lettuce bed, isn’t it? Carrots are over there. They are too small but I can try them. They are insipid! But where are the onions I wonder? (He picks up some lettuce and a few carrots).

CAT. What are you doing, sir?

PETER. It doesn’t matter. As far as I know this is neither Mr. McGregor nor his dog.

CAT. They have gone to the fair. Mrs. McGregor joins them too. Do you know this old lady? She can bake cakes well. I prefer her rabbit pies.

PETER. I have no time to chatter to you, lady. Can you tell me the way to the onion bed?

CAT. With pleasure, sir! Go straight on, then turn to the left and take the second turning to the right.

PETER. Thanks. I’m glad to have met you. Bye! I’m too busy.

CAT. Are you leaving? You can’t leave! Master, master! He’s come. He is over there! Catch him!

MR. MCGREGOR. Who? Where? What’s the matter? Who is making noise? (Takes a stick and began beating poor Peter). Let me watch you better! Are you a relative of the rabbit who came here a year ago? Did you come to eat my cabbage either?

PETER. It’s lettuce. Your cabbage is small and insipid.