KOALA JOEA new musical - not only for children.

BOOK AND LYRICSby

MARKUS WEBER

MUSICby

JANE COMERFORD

EMU PRODUCTIONS Markus Weber

2/58 Park Street.Erskineville NSW 2043

Tel: 02 9516 5838 Fax: 9517 9845 Mobile: 0417 265207

Email: emuprod@ozemail.com.au

KOALA JOE

THE AUTHORS

JANE COMERFORD-GROSSER - Composer

Born in Australia, Ms. Comerford-Grosser studied piano and violin. She moved to the USA to complete her musical studies and graduated from University in 1977. She began her professional career as a singer and pianist in the USA and she worked in Spain and West Germany. In 1984, Ms. Comerford-Grosser became Professor of Popular Music at the Hamburg State University.

In her career as a musical singer, among many notable stage performances, she starred as Eponine for the first German Production of LES MISERABLES in Vienna, Angel in THE RINK, Sue in M FOR MARILYN and Dott in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.

Together with her husband, Grosser, she owns a recording studio in Hamburg, where she produces her own contemporary music. Creating the music for KOALA JOE provided her the opportunity to apply her unique creative abilities to a story that embodies the myths and legends of Australia’s original peoples.

MARKUS WEBER - book and lyrics

Markus Weber was born in Austria and has lived for over twenty years in Germany and Australia. He is a well-known director and producer for musical theatre and is an acclaimed author of plays, librettos and musicals.

Amongst many original works and numerous productions in Germany, Austria, and France, Mr. Weber translated and produced SWEENEY TODD, THE RINK, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and TWO BY TWO for the German theatre. To date, his musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s JUNGLE BOOK has been produced in over thirty theatres throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

In 1980, Mr. Weber created EMU RECORDS, a music and theatre production company specialising in musical theatre and recording.

As writer, producer and director, Mr. Weber first presented KOALA JOE at the state theatre in Munster, Germany. The play had its premiere performance at Sydney’s Independent Theatre in September 1998.

RIGHTS

Theatre:GUSTAV KIEPENHEUER THEATRICAL PUBLISHERS - BERLINand EMU PRODUCTIONS - M. Weber - Sydney/Hamburg

Film and television:EMU Productions - Markus Weber - Sydney/Hamburg

Recording:EMU RECORDS and JANE COMERFORD GROSSER

Book and translation rights:EMU Productions - Markus Weber - Sydney/Hamburg

KOALA JOE

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A new musical - not only for children - with production possibilities for theatres of any size.

THE CAST:

JOE called KOALA JOE

YALUNDA the aboriginal girl from the Dream Time

JASMINE an orphan girl (also played by YALUNDA)

CUDDLE a koala, but not a bear

MATILDA a big red kangaroo

EMU an Emu himself

MR. M a villain hunter*TUNNELSPOOOK a true nightmare*

HEADMASTER a heartless teacher*HEAD-WARDEN slightly disordered* (* performed by same actor)

KOALA JOEScenes and musical numbers

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Scene One: In the boarding school

# 1 Take me home Koala Joe# 2 The dream (instrumental) Yalunda, Koala Joe, Headmaster

Scene Two: The Flight

# 3 Fly like the Wind Koala Joe, Yalunda

Scene Three: The Zoo

# 4 Eanie meanie muh Emu# 5 Koalas need a cuddle Cuddle# 6 Matilda says goodbye Matilda# 7 Mr. M., the master Mr. M.# 8 Concentrate Joe, Cuddle, Emu, Yalunda# 9 Concentrate II Instrumental# 10 The chase Instrumental

Interval Scene Four: The long night

# 11 Take me home Joe, Cuddle, Emu, Jasmine

Scene Five: The tunnel

# 12 Tunnel spook Koala, Jasmine, Cuddle, Emu, Tunnel Spook# 13 Concentrate Joe, Cuddle, Emu, Jasmine/Yalunda

Scene Six: The boxing fight

# 14 Waltzing Matilda Matilda and friends# 15 The fight Instrumental # 16 What’s right, what’s wrong Koala Joe and friends

Scene Seven: Starting the trip

# 17 The very best adventure All

Scene One - The Boarding SchoolThe stage is dark. Through the intercom, we hear the sounds of a noisy, busy school. There is a lonely bed in the middle of the stage. KOALA JOE sits on the bed and opens a parcel, which he just had received from his parents. The parcel

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contains a little koala puppet. JOE is not very happy about the little present - he looks very sad.

Voice ofHeadmaster: Unit C - Unit C - Hear! Hear! Five minutes left until lights out. Calm

down.... In four minutes, we will not hear a sound.... You’ve got three minutes...Countdown: 180 - 179 - 178...Lights off. Eyes closed! Sleep. Joseph too. Even Joseph is going to sleep now. And do not forget: Only 99 days left until the summer holidays. Now sleep! Joseph - close your eyes - stop dreaming. Sleep! Now! 119...118...

JOE lies down on his bed and, like being forced by a strange power, closes his eyes. The noises from the boys fade away while the counting voice of the HEADMASTER gets louder and louder. A lonely spot light wanders through the dark auditorium, rests on the face of one of the children, travels on until it reaches JOE on his bed. He has covered himself with his sheet and stares into the auditorium as if over the ocean. He wears jeans and a T-shirt with the image of a Koala and is barefoot. We only hear the monotone counting voice of the HEADMASTER and softly the music fades in:

# 1 - TAKE ME HOME (Joe)

Joe: Homesick, I'm so homesickDay by day - far too longSomeone help me, who can help me'Cause alone I'm not so strongI long to go home, cause I'm so aloneIn the darkness I try not to cryTake me home.

Help me, someone help meJust reach out and take my handWon't you help me, I'm so homesickLead me back to my own landWhere the blue lagoon is sparkling brightAnd the sand on the beach is so whiteWhere my parents are waiting, with open armsTo hold me tightWhere the water flows down backwards When it goes down the drainWhere the sun is bright in wintertimeThere I'd be together with my parents againI'm so homesick, someone help me.Find the way to my own landIf you help me, I'll be runningBarefoot through the red hot sandBut in the darkness I lieAnd try not to cryI was left on my ownAll alone

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Take me home.

The music softly changes into

# 2 - THE DREAM (instrumental)

With his sad song, JOE has reached YALUNDA'S heart. YALUNDA is the daughter of the great mother Eingana, who once created everything. We hear the sounds of a didgeridoo, the bright laughter of a kookaburra. On the wide screen in the back, we see the purple sand, the blue lagoons, the image of an aborigine and out of a pillar of fog rises YALUNDA.

Yalunda: Joe, try to remember your laughter. Remember the laughter of the blue winged ice bird Kookaburra - you also know him as our Laughing Jack. (A kookaburra laughs) Rise and fly - to the east. Fly home - just straight on.

Joe: Who are you?

Yalunda: I am Yalunda - daughter of the Great Mother Eingana who once created everything. I am the water, the rocks, and the trees. I am a bird, the koala, a kangaroo and an emu too. I am the ancient bow Toon and the boomerang. I’m Yalunda your sister and Yoola your brother too.

Joe: You can’t be everything at the same time.

Yalunda: I am the thread of life, which you have to hold on. If you let go of it, everything must fade. Hold it tight, as tight as life.

Yalunda: How can one hold on tight to life?

In the meantime, the HEADMASTER has come in. He bursts through a door made of paper and frightens the life out of JOE.

Headmaster: By going to sleep now without disturbing the peaceful night any longer Joseph.

Joe: Arrh... I’m sorry, Sir... I was just...

Headmaster: Dreaming again? I know your fantasies. You only have mischief in your head. You disturb your classes, you do not concentrate and you lead your fellow students to dream your stupid dreams.

Joe: That’s not true.

Headmaster: True? You don’t even have the slightest concept about what that is: Truth. Honesty. Reliability. Obedience. (Pulls JOE by his ear from the bed) You can’t sleep? Well in that case you may write a letter to

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your parents and inform them that you wish to attend summer school here rather than going home for the holidays.

Joe: But I don’t rather want that. Sir.

Headmaster: Oh yes, you definitely do rather want that.

Joe: No. Please. Sir. Don’t. Yalunda.

Yalunda: Hold the thread of life.

Headmaster: You shall write to your parents and tell them how good you feel in our boarding school.

Joe: No.

Headmaster: You shall write and tell them that you will return home only after you graduate.

Joe: But that is in three years time!

Headmaster: If you don’t watch out it may take even longer.

Joe: But I haven’t done anything wrong.

Headmaster: You dream!

Joe: And what’s so bad about that?

Headmaster: Everything. Go on, write the letter now.

Joe: No, never. Yalunda - help me!

Yalunda: Fly like the kookaburra.

Joe: But I can’t fly.

Headmaster: Thank God for that.

Yalunda: Fly like the wind. Ride on the sound of the didgeridoo. Fly. Scene Two - The FlightTo the HEADMASTER'S great surprise, JOE flies away - out of the school - far up into the sky, leaving all his worries behind.

# 3 - FLY WITH THE WIND (Yalunda and Joe)

Yalunda: Fly like the windFly like the wind

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Fly like the pollen fliesLike leaves in autumn skiesFly like the wind.

Go on flying like a Kite in a stormy night Like an eagle Free and full of prideTake a restOn soft white cloudsSee the coloured roofs and gardensWinding creeksAnd with your glowing cheeksTake a ride upon a rainbow ‘Til you know, you're out of dangerFly like the wind.

Both: Fly like the windFly like a speck of dustFly away for you mustFly like the windFly like the windFly like a bird on highFly like your dreams can flyFly like the wind.

Together with YALUNDA, JOE flies through the sky like a bird in springtime. However, all of a sudden, JOE realises that he is, in fact, flying and he immediately loses his faith in this newly gained talent.

Joe: Yalunda? He - where are you? I can’t fly all by myself.

Of course, his mistrust leads him into disaster - he loses his flying abilities instantly and begins to fall.

Joe: Yalunda. Help. I’m faaaaalling...

Thank God, he crashes into a huge hay pile in the middle of the Australian animals section of a nearby zoo.

Scene Three - The ZooJoe: Am I still alive or already in heaven? Jesus - holy moly. Was I really

up there or did I only dream it? But this is not my bed... so I did not dream it after all. Let’s see if I am still in one peace. Bend the left knee.... Feels fine.... Now the right leg...bingo.... Now get up.... easy...Well. done.

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While JOE is still examining his legs and arms for injuries, something starts to move underneath him in the hay. Slowly, a monster is pealing itself out of the hay. JOE doesn’t know, where he has landed and so he first believes that an evil creature is chasing him.

Joe: A demon.... It’s a demon - a ghost with huge eyes and an enormous mouth. Yalunda, what did you get me into here... Oh my God... it’s coming. it’s coming... what am I going to do, what can I do.... (Crosses his fingers) Voodoo Voodoo. Has anyone got some garlic. or does that not do anything for ghosts? is there no one to help me?... Mummy..Daddy.... I promise to be a very good boy for the rest of my life. Dear Mr. Headmaster, I will write any letter you want me to write...but please make the ghost disappear. Please. I’ll do anything you want...

While JOE is jabbering in fear, a huge Emu crawls out of the haystack - sees JOE and can’t hold back his curiosity. He slowly approaches JOE, stares at him, walks forward to the audience and stares at the faces row by row. JOE peeks through his fingers and sees that it is an Emu, disturbed in his sleep by JOE’S fall from the sky.

Joe: What is this? I don’t believe it. An Emu. Stupid me. A ghost! There are no ghosts.

The Emu starts running up to JOE and JOE moves away.

Joe: Hold it...stay away from me you, you, you... beast.

The Emu stops instantly.

Joe: That’s it. That’s my boy. Just keep your distance.

Emu: Did you just call me a beast?

JOE looks around in great surprise. He does not realise that the Emu is talking to him.

Emu: Don’t look like a wet bag. I am talking to you.

Joe: (stuttering) Ah...hm....arrh...wwwhat I am...

Emu: ...pretty nuts.

Joe: No.. ah... well.. I just dddit nnnot. kknooow...

Emu: Wwwwhat ddddid’nt yyyyyou kkkknow?

Joe: That an Emu can talk.

Emu: They can’t.

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Joe: But you do.

Emu: I do? Who? What? Where? I do not talk to you.

Joe: But I can hear you.

Emu: What do you hear?

Joe: Well.. your voice.

Emu: What voice.

Joe: Yours.

Emu: Mine?

Joe: Yes.

Emu: No.

Joe: Sure.

Emu: Honestly?

Joe: Honestly.

Emu: You’re not lying?

Joe: Never.

Emu: He must be nuts. Says he hears my voice. I do not have a voice. An Emu can’t talk.

Joe: But you are talking to me.

Emu: To me?Joe: To me.

Emu: To you?

Joe: To me.

Emu: This guy must be totally nuts. All of a sudden I can speak! (EMU runs like crazy in a circle around JOE and yells) I can speak. I talk. I am having a conversation.... great...Yes, Sir...I am somebody... I am a body some...Ha, stupid Emu - what about that now? I am bigger than life.. I am a star... the speaking and talking Emu. Make my day, pal.

# 4 EANIE MEANIE MUH (Emu)

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Emu: Eanie meanie muh, my name's EmuEanie meanie muh, my name's EmuMy name's Emu and who are youWell, if you have got a problemYou just let me do the talking‘Cause I'm clever to the limit Thinking faster by the minuteYou can simply call me cleverI'm a genius, made foreverStick with me and you'll feel betterPeople are so dumbThey think I am a bumAll of you can take a walk When an Emu starts to talk.

Eanie meanie muh, my name's EmuEanie meanie muh, my name's EmuMy name's Emu and who are youTwo and two makes twenty-seven And I'm on my way to heavenBirds can talk and boys go flyingBabies scream and they start crying When their mothers are too tryingSnails can run so fast - it's dreadful If you need ideas I've got a head fullDogs bark with their ears And fish can't dry their tearsAnd an Emu only fliesIf you dream with open eyes.

Eanie meanie muh, my name's EmuEanie meanie muh, my name's EmuEanie meanie muh, and who are you

At the end of his song, EMU puts himself in front of JOE.Emu: Got it, you brain amputated, speechless dimwit?

Joe: Righto, Emo.

Emu: Emu.

Joe: That’s what I said, Emo.

Emu: Uuu! Emu - with a nice long uuu like in you!

Joe: There is no uuu in me.

Emu: Why not.

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Joe: ‘Cause.

Emu: Applause for the balla balla man.

Joe: No, the koala man.

Emu: What?

Joe: That’s my name.

Emu: That’s?

Joe: Koala.

Emu: Totally balla balla.

Joe: Koala Joe.

Emu: So, so.

Joe: Yes, like the koala here on my T-shirt. Just call me Koala Joe.

Emu: Unbelievable... He, Cuddle... did you hear that. Here’s someone who has an urge to make fun of you.

CUDDLE is sleeping high above in a eucalyptus tree. He slowly wakes up.

Cuddle: Uuuah.... stop yelling. I just was dozing off so nicely.

Emu: What do you mean ... just... you’re always snoring around here.

Cuddle: He who sleeps does not make mistakes. (yawns)

Emu: It might be a huge mistake if you would not take the chance to have a look at this nasty piece of work here. This thing says he is as balla balla as a koala.

Cuddle: Really? I have to see that. (He starts climbing down, but falls asleep again halfway down.)

Emu: He, Cuddle. You can sleep again later.

Cuddle: (opens one eye and sees JOE) Oh how sweet. Isn’t he cute? What a cuddly cutely. (Comes closer, grabs into his pouch and produces a eucalyptus lolly) Are you as hooked on eucalyptus lolls as I am?

Emu: You have to be very gentle with him. He is a little ding dong. Gets frightened very easily and has a slight knock knock in his dock dock.

Joe: Wow.

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Emu: See what I mean?

Joe: A koala.

Emu: No, an ice bear. See what I mean?

Cuddle: Since I live in this zoo, I’d rather be an ice bear.

Emu: You’ll never be a bear.

Cuddle: Who says so?

Emu: Natural geographical history.

Cuddle: Oh... them (falls a sleep again)

Joe: (pats the sleeping koala) What does he mean?

Emu: Well, he would like to be a polar bear since he has to stay in this zoo, where the winters are soooo long and so terrrrrrible coooold and where all this snow hangs around in winter time. You have to understand that an Emu and a koala are not naturally prepared for weather conditions like that. For Cuddle and myself it’s all right. He’s got his fur and I’ve got my feathers. But for our girl friend, Matilda the kangaroo, it is pretty grim.

Joe: You have got a kangaroo too?

Emu: Sure.

Joe: Where?Emu: There.

Joe: That is a kangaroo?

Emu: Sure. What did you think?

Joe: An elephant.

Emu: Where?

Joe: There.

Emu: That’s Matilda.

Joe: The elephant.

Emu: No! the kangaroo.

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Joe: I must have been away from Australia too long.

Emu: Why.

Joe: Did not know that kangaroos have meanwhile mutated to elephants.

Emu: There are no elephants in Australia.

Joe: Only kangaroos, which look like them?

Emu: And platypus.

Joe: Which look like...

Emu: Wombats.

Joe: Which look like...

Emu: Opossums.

Joe: Camels.

Emu: Which look like...

Joe: Elephants.

Emu: Are you having me on?

Joe: I wouldn’t dare.

Emu: It would not be fair.Joe: No, it wouldn’t.

Emu: So I’ll be fair to you too. Matilda, stop messing around with the elephant...

Joe: She messes around with the elephants..

Emu: ..keeper. Stop flirting... Koala.

Cuddle: Yes (he wakes up instantly.)

Emu: Who’s talking to you. Koala Joe...

Cuddle: Why do you wake me then. (Falls asleep again)

Emu: Don’t interfere here you lazy bum ... go on sleeping.... (Sees that CUDDLE is asleep already) Now look at that. I am talking to him and he sleeps. Is this a disgrace or isn’t it? Would you accept such dreadful

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behaviour amongst fellow deported Australians...(CUDDLE all of a sudden jumps up and attacks EMU)

# 5 KOALAS NEED A CUDDLE (Cuddle)

Cuddle: Do you really have to scream and shout What's this desert plague screaming aboutThis feather pillow in disguiseYou chatterboxTake my adviceFor your own sakeMake no mistakeAnd don't takeThe risk to wakeThe demonYou'll be in trouble deepShut your beak andLet me sleep.

Koalas need a cuddle So they feel safe and soundThey get into a muddleIf there's too much noise aroundKoalas need some lovin'Some kissin’ and some huggin'And they'll mess you upIf you don't shut upAnd disturb their peaceful sleepBe nice for once you ostrichAnd bury your head in the sandDon’t say peep.Shoo shoo shoo be doShoo be do be do be do beNow its time for meTime to snuggle up a treeI'll be sleeping peacefullyShoo be do beNo fool can sleep like me.

So CUDDLE falls asleep again, tightly cuddled and snuggled up on his native eucalyptus tree. EMU angrily jumps from one leg to the other.

Emu: Ostrich. He called me an ostrich!

Joe: Bsch!

Emu: Don’t you Bsch me! This skunk called me....

Joe: Quiet.

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Emu: ..an ostrich. I am no...

We hear MATILDA’s voice from off stage

Matilda: Ostrich...where is my beloved ostrich? Hello? Emu-ostrich. Have you got your head in the sand again or your nose in the clouds? (MATILDA enters) There you are my swan neck. You giant rooster of my wildest dreams. Why don’t you go lay an ostrich egg, then there will be two of you soon.

Joe: I feel like I’m in a zoo.

Matilda: You are...you are...who are you? You are not from here...or? Tell me mate..tell me.

Emu: (proudly) This is Koala Joe. My friend and protector.

Matilda: Friend and protector? What’s he protecting? Can he protect something? How can he protect if he can’t protect himself? (MATILDA sniffs JOE up and down) Hm. Smells tolerably human, tastes like a human, that is a human being. Just a sec... what’s that? (Sniffs behind JOE’S ear) Salt... red sand... eucalyptus.... emerald green ocean...where’re you from?

Joe: I ran off from boarding school.

All: Ha?

Emu: What’s that?Joe: That’s a place where lots of boys or girls live together without their

parents, so that they can learn more intensively..

Matilda: Ha?

Emu: (nosy) Sort of like we do here.

Cuddle: Bull. We are living together but we don’t learn no more.

Matilda: We were taught a lesson quite intensively.

Emu: Which lesson?

Matilda: What it means to live behind bars.

Cuddle: What it means to be caught.

Emu: Were you also caught, Joe?

Joe: Well, not really - I think I got caught in something.

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Cuddle: I’d rather be at home too.

Emu: What for? For you it does not make any difference where you laze around.

Cuddle: But at home, it’s much nicer to be lazy.

Joe: That’s what my parents used to tell me.

Cuddle: Do you also love to sleep, like I do?

Joe: Yes, because then I have such wonderful dreams.

Emu: And because you were always dreaming your parents sent you to this boarding school zoo?

Joe: Probably.

Matilda: Pretty mean, eh? - So what do you wanna go back home for when your old folks were so nasty to you?

Joe: I do not think that they really wanted to be nasty. Perhaps they just did not know what else to do with me. I mean .. I was pretty lazy.

Cuddle: So what? I am lazy too and I feel great. (Falls asleep again)

Joe: Well, as a koala you may be able to afford it, but I....

Dusk sets in and the frost forms. All of a sudden, they hear a sharp bang - as loud as a gunshot. All the birds in the Zoo chatter and fly around and MATILDA starts to behave very strangely, She starts to hop and stagger - rolls her eyes, shakes her legs and stares at JOE in paralysed fear. CUDDLE falls off his tree and EMU, panicked, hides in the haystack.

Cuddle: What was that?!

Joe: Sounded like a shot.

Cuddle: Who should shoot around in a zoo?

Joe: No idea.

Cuddle: He, Emu. Did you shoot?

Emu: (with his head in the haystack) Please, no more shooting. I can’t bare blood.

Cuddle: Stop it, you coward. It only was a shot.

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Emu: It hit me. I’m hit. Help. Call the vet. I am shot.

Joe: Rubbish. Emu - get out of there or are you actually an ostrich, who hides in the sand? Look, nothing has happened to you. You are fine. He, Matilda, why don’t you tell him too.

# 6 -MATILDA SAYS GOODBYE (Matilda)

Matilda: Ouch - what's up with meNow suddenlyI feel so funny - what happenedI don't know no moreThe shot- oh rot- That shot, I think it got meFeel breezy - feel squeezyFeel drunk and also dreamyMy legs feel kind'a wobblyAnd my vision is quite foggyMy heart is pounding like a drumMy head it hurtsAnd boy am I numbMy story's told.

I feel so old and coldI don't feel bold And fear I'll mouldI feel so sickI feel so soreI think I won't be‘Round here no more.

Boy, what a painWhat's going onWhat's going wrong?I feel like iceMelting in rainBefore she has to dieMatilda saysGoodbye.

MATILDA gives her friends a last, longing glance and stiffens up. Slowly her legs give in and she falls, rolls on her side and her legs stick up into the air like two totem poles. Slowly, the friends come closer - is MATILDA dead? But no - she is still breathing. It seems like she has fallen into a sudden deep sleep.

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Emu: (whispering) Matilda?

Cuddle: Tilda? Dearest Tilda? He - wake up - please wake up, my beloved cousin.

Emu: Dearest cousin? Since when is Matilda one of your cousins?

Cuddle: Since female Koalas have a pouch you - so since ever, ignorant ostrich.Tildaly? Do you hear me? He Joe - come on, help me.

JOE starts to examine MATILDA and finally finds a bolt in her bottom. He pulls the bolt out, but MATILDA does not wake up. Instead, she gives them a big, deep sigh. The friends are flabbergasted - who would shoot with a bolt at kangaroos in a Northern European zoo?

Joe: A bolt. Someone has shot Matilda with a bolt.

Emu: What’s a bolt?

Joe: A narcotic bolt. Shot at wild animals in order to be able to examine apossible disease. Is Matilda sick?

Cuddle: Madly homesick. But otherwise clean as a whistle.

Joe: Well then. When she wakes up, she’ll sport a pretty drowsy head.

Cuddle: What kind of meanness is this.

Joe: I have to hide. When the veterinarian comes here and finds me, they’ll send me back to the boarding school.

Emu: No way...now that we’ve finally gotten used to you. Hide in the haystack.

Cuddle: No, better in my tree.

He jumps into the haystack, just in time to avoid not to be seen by a strangely dressed man, who emerges from the hedges, which surround the Australian section. His suit looks somewhat strange, almost like the suit of a big game hunter. The stranger carries a gun and, when he sees MATILDA lying near the haystack, he jumps like a Zulu in front of his soup pot.

Mr. M.: There she is, my pretty. Get out of my way, you rotten bird. (Pushes EMU brutally away) Great...the pouched marsupial will be my absolute star.

Emu: That hunk is no veterinarian. He is none of our wardens either. Or do you know him, Cuddle?

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Mr. M.: Come on, champ. Wake up. I can’t carry you all the way out.

Emu: Help! Warden! Help! Kidnapping - kangaroo napping! Help!

Mr. M.: That damned ostrich gets on my nerves with its cackling.

Emu: I am an Emu, not an ostrich - you ignorant double zero. Let go of Matilda, this instant. (To CUDDLE) He doesn’t seem to understand me.

Cuddle: You have to speak more clearly.

Emu: I beg your pardon? I am speaking astonishingly clearly. For an Emu almost too clearly.

Cuddle: But not clearly enough.

Mr. M. has almost dragged Matilda off.

Emu: My dear Sir. May I ask you to let go of our dear friend Ma-til-da immediately and thereafter disappear from this place a little bit faster than you arrived, before I have to force myself to get very, very angry with you? (To CUDDLE) He does not understand me. I’ll try a foreign language. (After a deep breath with no stopping) Checkernobbel hobbel dedidedumm letting going to loose them Matilda cousin di kangaroo mio sole di natural di checkerlo or Hai tchi... taichi dangerously angeros Emu be. Emu di Demo will screamy for helpy Deary.

Mr. M.: I think I’ll have to give that ostrich some narcotic treatment before it wakes up the whole zoo.

He points his gun at EMU who stops in shock and with an open beak. At this moment, JOE shouts from the haystack. Joe: Stop.

Mr. M.: What was that?

Joe: I said stop. (EMU is bravely miming to JOE’s words.) Let go of Matilda. Now!

Mr. M.: Who’s talking here?

Joe: I am talking .... Me, the great Emu ... and I tell you...

Mr. M.: A talking Emu? Nobody will believe that.

Joe: Set Matilda free. Now!

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Mr. M.: Very good idea. I set the kangaroo free and take you instead. A talking ostrich is even better then a boxing kangaroo.

Joe: You will not take any one along. Let Matilda go and then use both legs and run...before I make you...

Emu: He, Joe. Don’t go too far. This guy has a gun pointed at me.

Joe: (alarmed) A...a gun? Well...arrh...I mean, well what a nice gun you have got there.

Mr. M.: Nice, a real beaut, isn’t she? And now get out of my way, or....

Joe: I’m leaving ...(EMU does not move) I am leaving now. The Emu is leaving now. (Now EMU gets it and runs underneath the tree)

Mr.M.: That’s my boy. And for the future a little advice: Better don’t open your beak if you are not asked to. Got that? Otherwise Mr. M. will come and get you and that’s almost as bad as if the devil himself would come to get you. Got me?

Frightened, EMU disappears into his hideaway in the haystack, followed by the cruel laughter of the hunter.

# 7 - MR. M. THE MASTER (Mr. M.)

Mr.M.: That’s my boy, you duckbill duckNever try with me your luckNozzle, beak and trunkspout nosesNo one sticks Into my businessYou should know the golden ruleJust be silent silly foolLive your life like in your bubble And you'll never be in trouble.

I am Mr. M. the MasterGood or bad, who needs that trashI'll do everything forCash, cash, cash, cashEverything for meThat's how it should beJust for me - just for me - just for meWherever I will go I leave disasterCause I am the masterMr. M. the MasterMr. M.The super duper

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Trouble Master.

And Mr. M. packs MATILDA onto his back and disappears with her into the falling night. CUDDLE, EMU and JOE are left behind, hopeless and sad about the loss of MATILDA. They cuddle up under KOALA’S tree, because it is getting chilly and they are so lonely.

Emu: That was so mean.

Cuddle: So mean that it makes you sleepless.

Emu: And restless.

Joe: I am sorry.

Emu: It was not your fault.

Joe: If I would not have made you talk, nothing would have happened.

Cuddle: Rubbish. Mr. M. would have shown up here tonight with you here or not.

Emu: Precisely. That was fate. I for myself am only here in this zoo because my unbelievable nosiness forced me to find out what those strange men with their funny nets were doing in the midst of the Australian bush.

Cuddle: I woke up here one day and never knew how and why.

Emu: Because you lazy bag didn’t even get it when they picked you from your tree.

Cuddle: Well now... sleeping is and was and will be my eternal fate.

Joe: Nice fate. What are we going to do now?

Emu: You have no problem. You can get out of here whenever you want. But we will have to stay here forever.

Joe: Perhaps I can help you.

Cuddle: How? Do you just want to open the cages and we all go happily for a hike?

Emu: And where will we hike to?

Joe: Home.

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Emu and Cuddle: Home!

Cuddle: I won’t leave without Matilda.

Emu: Leave? Go home? What kind of rubbish is that? Now I know why your parents sent you to this boarding zoo. ‘Cause you’re stupid. Totally insane. Obviously you did not listen up in your geography lessons. Between here and our home lies first of all a lot of land... then there is a big sea...

Cuddle: The Mediterranean Sea.

Emu: That’s what I just said. And after that, there is nothing but sand.

Cuddle: The desert.

Emu: That’s what I just said. And then there is a lot of water again.

Cuddle: The Indian Ocean.

Emu: That’s what I just said. And right after India there are some other islands-....

Cuddle: The Philippines...

Emu: I did not say that. No, the islands of Singapore and behind those there is more water, and when you flew straight ahead for eight hours then you are in Australia.

Cuddle: No then you are in Perth-.

Emu: That is Australia.

Cuddle: That’s what I just said.

Emu: No I said that. Where do you come from, Joe?

Joe: Sydney.

Emu: Me too.

Cuddle: That’s what I just said.

Emu: What did you say?

Cuddle: Sydney.

Emu: That’s what I just said.

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Cuddle: No you said that from Perth you have to cross 5000 kilometres of red hot true Aussie sand.

Emu: I did not say that.

Emu: Well then perhaps only 4000 kilometres.

Emu: Pretty far.

Cuddle: That’s what I just said.

Both: Home. To go home ... pretty silly.

Joe: Well, you two can do what ever you like. I will get there. Some how.

Cuddle: And Matilda?

Emu: Right!

Cuddle: What are we going to do? If Yalunda would be here now. She would know how to help us.

Joe: You know Yalunda?Cuddle: Sure. Every one knows her.

Emu: Yalunda lets us dream, she lets us breathe and gives us the strength to live. She gives us water, she gives us sleep, she lets us laugh and know when it is time to cry. She is heaven and earth, she’s the fog and the firmament. Yalunda lives in us whereever we live.

Cuddle: Nice...you said that very nicely.

Emu: We have to call her. Come on. Hurry.

EMU draws a circle on the stage with his beak. CUDDLE goes for twigs and puts them north, south, east and west. Then CUDDLE and EMU jump into the magical circle.

Cuddle: What’s up, Joe. What are you waiting for? Do we have to do everything alone? Come into the circle. Quickly.

Emu: Look who’s talking.

Joe: What do I have to do?

Emu: Pull out one of my tail feathers.

Joe: I don’t want to hurt you.

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Emu: Phh - hurt me? Because of one silly feather? Get on with it. Aaaah! I said one feather, not the whole tail. How insensitive. Come on now.

Joe: What now?

Cuddle: You stick the feather into your hair and run around in a circle and go: Heja Heja hejajaja.

Emu: I think your whole brain has dried up here in the north. We are not Red Indians. Don Stupido and you are not Pocahontas. No. You put the feather on top of your palm. Then you concentrate and call Yalunda. If she hears you, her warmth will let the feather rise and show her the way to us. If she hears you.

Cuddle: Until now, she never heard you, Emu.

Emu: I was cold.

Cuddle: You said it.

Joe: Come on now. Concentrate.

He puts the feather into his palm and kneels in the centre of the circle before EMU and CUDDLE.

# 8 - CONCENTRATE (Cuddle, Emu, Yalunda and Joe)

All: Concentrate, concentrateWe hope that our thoughts can somehow reach youYalunda we're calling youYalunda we need youYalunda come ... come...

Yalunda: Who calls the nightWho calls the day?Who calls the stars?From outer space

Cuddle: Cuddle calls. Emu: And Emu too.Joe: And me.

Yalunda: Who is "me".Joe: Me, Joe, Koala Joe. Yalunda: Joe, why do you feel low

Do you want to end your homebound journey?Joe: No, I need your gift of sight

Need your help to find the lightJust you can guide meThrough the night.

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Yalunda: You have to trust the Big Wave And let the Dream TimeGuide your fantasyTrust yourself, believe a true friendLook straight ahead not backNever bendDon't be afraidBecause your heart is insecureDon't let your fear matureYou will leave the danger far behindSpring water clearWill be your mindAnd you will find Your way back home.

Friends: But Matilda.Yalunda: Go.Friends: Where to.Yalunda: Go straight ahead.Friends: And Matilda.Yalunda: She waits for you.Friends: Where.Yalunda: On your way back home.

The mystic fog pillar - in which YALUNDA seems to have floated - disappears, and from high above the Emu feather tumbles down, which the friends had used as a token to call YALUNDA.

Joe: Sh....oot!

Cuddle: Emu! You did not concentrate enough.

Emu: I did not? You must talk. For sure you fell asleep again in the middle of the session.

The sun rises and the zoo comes alive and JASMINE, the young warden of the Australian Section, comes to give her animals their first morning feed.

Jasmine: (off stage) Putt, putt...breakfast.

Emu: Holy smoke. Our warden.

Cuddle: You have to hide. Quickly. No, not in the hay... she pokes her hey fork in there first thing. Oh holy eucalyptus tree... where can he hide?

JASMINE enters with a bucket, a hayfork and a bag with carrots. But when she finds JOE with her pets, she gets rather furious. JASMINE, who strangely enough looks very much like YALUNDA - dark skinned and with a mass of black, curly hair - is a clever, bright young girl and won't buy any silly story.

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Jasmine: Good morning Koala.... what are you doing here? How did you get into this cage?

Joe: From up there. (Points into the sky)

Jasmine: Very funny.

Joe: I just wanted to say goodbye.

Jasmine: To whom?

Joe: To my friends.

Jasmine: What? There is somebody else in here?

Joe: No, just me and of course Emu and Cuddle.

Jasmine: Emu and Cuddle. Oh the Koala - why do you call it Cuddle?

Joe: He introduced himself like that.

Jasmine: So - he - it introduced itself to you.

Joe: Yes. And Emu too.

Jasmine: Emu too. Well then.... are you having me on?

Joe: No. I mean yes ... no, I mean sounds pretty dumb. Or?

Jasmine: For sure does not sound very smart... more idiotic. On the other hand, it sounds quite fantastic too. Who are you?

Joe: Joe. Koala Joe.

Jasmine: Koala Joe. And what else?

Joe: That’s not so important.

Jasmine: Isn’t it? Got something to hide?

Joe: Me? Ah naa! Why do you think that?

Emu: (close to JASMINE’S ear) Joe is trying to help us to find Matilda.

Jasmine: Yea, Emu. You’ll get your breakfast in a sec.

Emu: I don’t want breakfast. Don’t you hear me? Matilda is gone.

Jasmine: And after breakfast, I’ll clean up here.

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Cuddle: (clings on her leg) Don’t you hear? Someone has stolen Matilda.

Jasmine: Hi, Koala. Aren’t we the great smoother today?

Joe: You don’t understand them?

Jasmine: Whom should I understand?

Joe: Well, Emu and Cuddle. Don’t you hear them?

Jasmine: I just hear a voice saying: Time for you to leave now.

She points her fork at him

Joe: Easy. Just easy, Ma’am! The two of them are just trying to tell you, that last night a kind of hulk in sort of hunting cloths showed up here and snatched Matilda.

Jasmine: And who is Matilda?

Joe: The kangaroo.

Jasmine: The kangaroo. (Looks around) He, kangaroo...morning. Breakfast is ready. Hello?! Where is she? She is gone. The kangaroo is gone. You better tell me right here and now what’s going on here or I...

Joe: You won’t believe that story anyhow.

Jasmine: Try me.

Joe: Well.. last night I was terribly homesick and all the sudden I had this dream in which Yalunda appeared....by the way, you look al little like her...do you also come from Australia?

Jasmine: Daily. Go on.

Joe: Fiji - India?

Jasmine: I’m waiting.

Joe: Well - then Yalunda taught me how to fly and so I flew out of the boarding school and then I crashed right in here.

Jasmine: You crashed. On your head.

Joe: No, on my ear...after all you do not believe me.

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Jasmine: Why shouldn’t I believe this wonderful story? You know, once or twice a week I also fly through the night and have a laugh with the robins...Go on!!

Joe: Well, then I met Matilda and Emu and Cuddle and then came this guy with his narcotic rifle...

Jasmine: A narcotic rifle.. great.

Joe: Come on guys. Help me. Don’t you see... she doe not believe one word of what I say.

Cuddle: Call Yalunda.

Joe: Great idea. YALUNDA!

# 9 CONCENTRATE II (instrumental)

With a great, thundering flashlight, YALUNDA takes over JASMINE’S heart and speaks through her:

Yalunda: Do believe what Joe tells you. Trust your eyes and you will see. Trust your ears and you will hear right. Trust your wisdom and you will not go wrong. Trust your heart, which feels like a desert-rabbit when the snake is satisfied. Trust your feelings, so that your eyes won't be blind, your ears not deaf, your heart not empty and your knowledge not childish like a swagman on the run. Trust what Joe has to tell you. Try to understand what Cuddle knows, recognise what Emu sees, trust - because only trust will count.

The music and YALUNDA’S voice fade away.

Emu: Did it work?

Jasmine: That’s not important now. We have to search for Matilda immediately.

Emu: It worked. Hello, my dear. I am Emu.

Jasmine: I know - and that is Cuddle and he is - well you are...(she looks with unhidden surprise at JOE)

Joe: Koala Joe. Well, what do you have to suggest?

Cuddle: What are we going to do?

Emu: Where do we start?

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Jasmine: First of all, we have to find a way for all of us to get out of here without being caught.

Emu: Why? Let’s just go.

Jasmine: And then?

Joe: We could disguise ourselves.

Emu: I’ll go as an ostrich.

Cuddle: And I as a teddy bear.

Jasmine: Great disguise.

Cuddle: Why don’t we just sleep over it.

Joe: You will not have a snooze now, Cuddle. Cuddle: It was just a suggestion. (He falls asleep)

Jasmine: If we just could disappear like fog in the morning sun.

Emu: Yalunda can do that.

Jasmine: Yea, but I am not Yalunda.

Cuddle: Or if Emu could fly.

Emu: But Emu can’t fly.

Joe: No one of us can. Anyone got an idea?

From off stage, we hear a voice calling.

HeadWarden: Jasmine. Are you finally finished with the Australians? The monkeys

are waiting. Jasmine?

Jasmine: Gee - the Head Warden. If he finds Joe in here, we are in for hell.

HeadWarden: He, Jasmine. What are you dreaming around here? Get going.. We’ll

open the gates in a few minutes and the monkey cages still look like after a children’s birthday party. Come on, koala - up your tree you go. Where is my kangaroo?

JOE fills in for MATILDA now. He can fool the HEAD WARDEN for some time.

Head

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Warden: That’s my girl. There she is. Kiss kiss. Come on, girl. Little kiss kiss for Papa Wardy Pardy.

JOE gives him a kiss. The WARDEN enjoys it but then, even through the fog of a good bottle of vodka, the WARDEN sees JOE as what he is - a lost little Australian boy in a zoo.

HeadWarden: What in all and for what is this.

# 10 - THE CHASE (instrumental)He starts to chase JOE, but with the help of JASMINE, EMU and CUDDLE, he gets so disoriented and worn out, that after a wild chase he collapses in the middle of the cage and falls into a deep long sleep. JOE, JASMINE, CUDDLE and EMU take the chance, and run, run, run out of the cage - right through the zoo - out into the street - and they run and run towards the fading sun...

4th Scene - The long night...When the curtain rises, we see JOE, JASMINE, CUDDLE and EMU sitting very close to each other under a magnificent dome of stars. The night gets darker and darker, the sounds are spooky and they are full of fear and again so terribly homesick.

Cuddle: What was that?

Emu: Who was that?

Joe: Just a cat.

Jasmine: I’m scared.

Joe: (puts his arm around her) You don’t have to be scared. I’m with you.

But he is trembling and we can almost hear his teeth rattle.

Cuddle: What’s rattling here?

Emu. Nothing on me.

Cuddle: Except your beak. What kind of an Emu are you anyhow? You sound like a rattling stork.

Emu: I am no stork - you.. you...

Cuddle: Yeah? Yeah? What... you.. you...tell me. Come on.

Emu: You.. you...I just had it on my tongue. You...

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Joe: Stop fighting. Rather come a little closer. It’s terribly cold.

Emu: I’ve got it. You bed rug bug.

Cuddle: Did you say bed rug bug you feather duster.

Jasmine: Stop it, you’re behaving like a bunch of monkeys.

Cuddle andEmu: Monkeys.. did you hear that? She said monkey to us. Monkeys you

only find in a zoo, but not where we come from... you ape.

Joe: Hold it. Lets think about what we are going to do.

Emu: Monkeys can’t think.

Cuddle: And are surely unable to do something.

Both turn away in disgust.

Joe: Don’t be foolish. We have to stick together now. We have to find Matilda.

Jasmine: But where? In the middle of the night. I’m so scared.

Emu: Why for Christ didn’t we stay in the zoo.

Emu andCuddle: Or even better.. why didn’t we just stay in Australia?

All of a sudden, the night seems full of life. An owl cries out... a dog barks far away...and the four move close together as they sing.

# 11 HOMESICK (Rep.: Emu, Cuddle, Joe, later Jasmine)

Joe: Homesick And so lonely Day by dayFar too longWon’t you help me?Who can help me?'Cause alone I'm not strongI long to go homeI feel so aloneIn the darkness I try Not to cryTake me home.

Cuddle: Help me, someone help meJust reach out and take my hand

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Won't you help me, someone help meLead me back to my own land.

Emu: Where the blue lagoon is sparkling bright And the sand on the beach is so white.

Joe: Where my parents are waitingWith open arms to hold me tight

All: Where the water flows down backwards When it goes down the drainWhere the sun is bright in winter timeThere we’d be together with my parents again.

JASMINE interrupts their sad singing because she can't bear it any longer. She thinks they are selfish and narrow minded and they should not cry in self-pity. Jasmine: You... you at least can dream of your home. Your parents. I don’t even

know what that is.

Joe: You don’t have any parents?

Jasmine: I never knew them.

Emu: She never knew anything.

Cuddle: That is not very much.

Joe: Stop it you two. One doesn’t make jokes about something like that.

Jasmine: I grew up in an orphanage.

Cuddle: Cool

Emu: Grand. Never a fight with your parents.

Cuddle: Or your brothers and sister.

Emu: Cool.

Jasmine: Cruel.

Joe: Sad.

Jasmine: Lost and Full of sadnessIs an orphan all alone Dreams of parentsWho are caring And who'll give me a home of my own. Where the big bad wolf'sA fairy tale.

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Where a smile takes your sorrows away.So I still keep dreamingThat maybe I will find my parents one day.Yes I am lonelyAnd so homesick.Day by day.EndlesslyI'm still hoping and still longingFor my own lost family.

All: I (She) long(s) to go home 'Cause I’m (she's) so alone.While our dreams fly highWe should try to get home.

Emu: Hey, Joe. We could take her along with us.

Cuddle: Indeed. Jasmine comes along with us. We will be her home.

Joe: First we have to find Matilda.

Cuddle: Ah, Matilda will manage alone.

Jasmine: What kind of a friend are you.

Cuddle: A very tired one.

Joe: Are you still scared, Jasmine?

Jasmine: Just a little.. since you all are here with me. Where could we find her? If it just would not be so dark. You hardly can see aaaaaaaaaaaaa.............

JASMINE all of a sudden vanishes. It is very silent for some time, but then they hear a big splash. They call her and hear her voice rising from far beneath them. Jasmine has fallen into a canal, and thank goodness, she is not hurt.

Joe: Jasmine. Jasmine...Can you hear me?

Emu: Don’t scream around like that. You’ll wake Cuddle.

Joe: As if that would be important now. Jasmine. Where are you?

Jasmine: Down here. I must have fallen into a canal. Can you hear me?

Joe: Yes...we hear you. Man.. Emu don’t you have a light?

Emu: As an Emu, I am not obliged to carry matches or a lighter with me. Cuddle too. Like all animals, by the way, we have no idea how to deal with a lighter, a fire, a match, electricity, gas, oil and any other material which under certain circumstances could be used to light a

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fire or something which at least comes close to something like making, giving, sending, producing light.. there for....

Joe: You shut up now. Do you want to hold a lecture now? We have to help Jasmine.

Emu: He or she who’s wise gets help by surprise.

Joe: Brilliant.

Emu: Thank you for finally realising my brilliance. Get away from this hole. Jasmine. What do you see?

Jasmine: Nothing. Cuddle: That is not very much. What do you feel?Jasmine: It’s very wet.

Emu andCuddle: Let’s give it a miss.

Joe: Is it deep?

Jasmine: deep.

Joe: Is there no ladder?

Emu: As I said before, as an animal I am not obliged ....

Cuddle: ...to point out to you...

Emu: ... that if there were a ladder...

Cuddle: ....she would’ve been up here with us...

Both: ...for quite a while.

Cuddle: Do you always have to take my point?

Emu: I wouldn’t dare taking any point from you.

Cuddle: So do I. Skunk.

Emu: Punk.

Cuddle: If I wasn’t so tired, I would...

Joe: ...try to think about how we can get to Jasmine.

Emu: In the wet dark?

Cuddle: In the cold water?

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Both: Never.

Joe: God, you two cowards. OK - you stay - I’ll go.

JOE jumps into the hole and we hear a big splash.

Emu: He said cowards to us.

Cuddle: What an insult.

Joe: What’s up? Are you coming?

Emu: Well, we are still...

Cuddle: ... negotiating...

They both look at each other .. look into the hole...then at each other... then into the audience... then they close their eyes... CUDDLE grabs EMU’s tail and they scream as they jump:

Both: God save the Australian Wild Life......................

And we hear two splashes and then a long silence.

Cuddle: Let go of me, you coward.

Emu: How about you let go first?

Cuddle: I can’t see anything.

Emu: Perhaps you see a little better if you would open your eyes.

Cuddle: My eyes are open.

Emu: Mine too.

Both: We are blind. We are blind.

Slowly moonlight fades in from above. We see CUDDLE, JASMINE, EMU and JOE in the tunnel. Water is dripping from the walls and their voices echo.

Joe: Stop screaming. You are not blind, it’s just pitch dark.

Jasmine: Come on. We have to find our way out of this tunnel. Somewhere it must have an end.

Emu: And that will be our end.

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Joe: We just follow the direction in which the water flows. Such canals usually lead into a river.

Emu: But I can’t swim.

Cuddle: What kind of a creature are you? You can’t swim, you can’t fly, you can’t climb....

Joe: But Emu can walk..in front of us.

Emu: Bingo. Cuddle. I can walk in fro..fro...front of you? Me? I? Why?

Joe: Because you have the longest legs and will feel when the water gets deeper.

Emu: Deeper.

Cuddle: Bingo.

Jasmine: Come on. Lets get moving. We’ll stay right behind you, Emu.

# 12 - TUNNEL SPOOK (Emu. Cuddle, Joe, Jasmine, Tunnel Spook)

Emu: Slowly we go, plodding alongI'm your leader, follow onDon't be afraid, just stay in lineWe'll get through this tunnel slimeNo reason to be scared of batsAaaah...What kind of a beast was that?

Joe: Come on old friend, don't chicken out.It was just a fat sweet rat.

Cuddle: He gets the shakes, 'cause he's a fake.Emu: For Christ sake give me a break.All: We're brave and know no fear.

Yuck!What slimes and swims and crawls round here.You'll wake the bats if you're so loud.

Cuddle: The Emu is a lousy scout.All: Please let's get ouuuuut!

Huge shadows are crawling along the slimy tunnel walls. There is moaning and pounding, heavy breathing and all of a sudden, with a big bang, a fire wall chases the friends - smoke rises from the water - sharks circle around them and the roar of a dragon freezes their blood instantly. Again, a spit of fire, followed by a nasty laughter.

Tunnel Spook: Ho ho ho - Ha ha haWho disturbs my dungeon maze?

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I see fear in your pale faceYou're no dirty wood louseNor a naked spring mouseNor a sweet cockroach I think they're scaredAnd they will puke When they first face theTunnel Spook.

Ha ha ha - Ho ho hoDon't be scaredjust take a seatI'll give you a thrilling treatFirst the shock will fill youLater it will kill youYou can't fight your fear So take your time, take one last look At the horrifyingTunnel spook.

And again, the wall of fire emerges in front of the friends. The walls of the tunnel seem to shake, the echo rings in their ears and the screaming of bats chills the air.

Joe: There are no Tunnel Spooks. Those are fairy tales.

Cuddle: And what’s screaming here?

Emu: And what’s steaming here?

Jasmine: For...for..for sure no Tunnel Spook. Only very dumb people try to scare children with tunnel spooks.

Emu: Then I am all of a sudden a very little child.

Cuddle: And I am even more childish than Emu.

Joe: Don’t be scared.

A big fire beam lashes over the stage.

All: Nooooooooo.

Joe: We have to call Yalunda.

In their fear, they see only one chance to survive - to call for YALUNDA once again. Quickly they pull out another one of EMU’s tail feathers, gather together in the middle of the tunnel and concentrate, concentrate until the warmth of their

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trust makes the feather rise from their palms to catch YALUNDA’S spirit from the Dream Time.

# 13 - CONCENTRATE....(Rep.: All)

All: Concentrate, concentrateWe hope that our thoughts can somehow reach youYalunda we're calling youYalunda we need youYalunda come ... come...

With a big thunder and bright beaming light YALUNDA takes over JASMINE once more:

Yalunda: Who calls the nightWho calls the day?Who calls the stars?From outer space

All: We're calling you 'Cause we need your gift of sightNeed your help to find the lightJust you can guide us through the night.

Yalunda: You have to trust the Big WaveAnd let the Dream TimeGuide your fantasyTrust yourselfBelieve a true friendLook straight ahead not backNever bendBecause your hearts are insecureDon't let your fears matureYou will leave the danger far behindSpring water clear will be your mindAnd you will find your way back home.

All: But the tunnel spook?

Yalunda: Go!

All: Where to?

Yalunda: Straight ahead.

All: But the tunnel spook.

Yalunda: He's just in your ImaginationTear the fear

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Right out of your heartsFriendship and true love will make you strongAnd then this tunnel won't be so longYour faith will guide you straight back home.

All: And Matilda?

Yalunda: She waits for you.All: Where?

Yalunda: On your way back home.

YALUNDA’S voice fades away and from far, far away they hear a voice, getting stronger and stronger - the voice of MATILDA, singing a sad, lost song.

Emu: That’s Matilda.

Cuddle: My cousin Matilda is singing.

Jasmine: She for sure is.

Joe: Let’s go. And they confidently start to run towards the voice, and the further they go the stronger the voice grows, and the stronger the voice, the brighter the light at the end of the tunnel and with one last combined effort they all reach the entrance of the tunnel, to find MATILDA, captured in a wooden cage, sadly singing her own little song.

5th Scene - The Boxing Fight.......# 15 - WALTZING MATILDA (Matilda)

Matilda: Just yesterday, but that seems far too long ago There lived a sweet little red kangarooAnd its mother sang a song whenever it felt low‘Cause when you're sad there's just one thing to do.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing MatildaSinging and waltzing is what you should doTo the right you turn and then you waltz and won't feel blueNo one is singing and waltzing like you.

But then one day, a hunter locked Matilda upFreedom was over when he dragged her awayAnd they travelled far, to countries where she'd never beenHe made her waltz for the people who'd pay.

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From place to place he travelled with the kangarooBut one day Tilda was sold to a zooAnd since then Matilda only waltzes in her dreamsOnly in dreams her life seems to be true.

Since yesterday I'm sitting in this stupid cage‘Cause Mr. M. is a mean sly foxAll he wants is money and that's why he shouts at meYou stop that waltzing, I'll teach you to box.Box now Matilda, box now MatildaYou'll be a boxing Matilda for meI'll be rich and famous through my boxing kangarooYou'll be a boxing Matilda for me.

I don't know how to box or how to win a fightAnd why should I go and hurt anyone'Cause I'm just a very normal little kangarooI am the sweetest dear under the sun.

All: Don't cry Matilda, don't cry MatildaYou shouldn't box, you should waltz come what mayTo the left - to the right, just dance around and feel all rightAnd Waltzing Tilda will make her own day.

MATILDA returns to her cage and tries to hide.

Matilda: I hear voices.

Emu: Up here we are, Tilda.

Matilda: Oh. My best loved ostrich. And my best loved warden. And my best loved Koala Joe. And my Cuddle Koala.

Cuddle: What? They are all you best loved ones and I am just your Cuddle Koala? You shame of a family blame. You ungrateful relative creature.

Matilda: They are my best loved ones, Cuddle. But you are my loveliest Cuddle, my one and only Cuddle, apple of my eye, my Sunday pouch.

Cuddle: I don’t want to be your apple and never ever your Sunday pouch. Cuddle is enough for me.

Matilda: Where have you come from,. all of a sudden?

Jasmine: From the tunnel.

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Emu: We just defeated the Tunnel Spook.

Joe: We did not defeat him, we just did not let him win over us.

Matilda: Can you get me out of here?

Jasmine: Sure. If we can manage to get down to you.

Matilda: How about if you try jumping?

Emu: Then we might as well jump into an empty swimming pool.

Cuddle: But we have to get down there.

Emu: After you.

Joe: Emu, sit down. You’ve got the longest legs here. Cuddle will climb down on them, and then we’ll hold on to your legs and step on his shoulders and down.

Emu: What a great idea.

EMU sits down at the edge of the tunnel, CUDDLE climbs down on his legs, the others follow as said. Under JOE’s weight CUDDLE slowly sinks to his knees, which leaves JOE hanging on EMU’s legs, which stretch longer and longer until they reach the ground.

Cuddle: Holy eucalyptus smoke. You are heavy.

Emu: (looks at his stretched legs) Great idea! And what will I do now?

Joe: Just pull back your legs.

Emu: And how does one do such a thing?

Jasmine: Well - how about concentrating.

Emu: Concentrate. I only concentrate when I’m brooding.

Cuddle: Then quickly start brooding and lay an egg!

Emu: OK. (EMU concentrates and tries to lay an egg) It does not work.

Cuddle andMatilda: Concentrate.

Emu: Hold it. Since when am I able to lay eggs? I am a male Emu.

Cuddle: That ostrich is getting boring. He really can’t do anything.

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Joe: We have to hide. Somebody is coming.

Matilda: That’s for sure Mr. M. who wants to teach me how to box. Ooijoi...what am I going to do now?

Jasmine: Cool it. We’ll hide and watch out that nothing will happen to you. They all vanish. Mr. M. is arrives to have an hour of training with MATILDA. He is dressed in boxer shorts and carries a huge belt, which he shows to MATILDA.

Mr. M.: Here, champ. We’ll have a little training session and then you will do your first appearance in front of an adoring crowd. This is my champion's belt. You know, I was a boxing champion once, so I will teach you all the tricks in the book - even the ones which are not in the book!

MATILDA does not want to learn, how to box, but Mr. M. carries her to the ring and starts a cruel sparring session with her. He teaches her some foul tricks - punching below the belt, shuffling and pushing, choking and wrestling. MATILDA is so scared that she can't defend herself.

Mr. M. That’s enough for a start. And never forget, my sweety. Always below the belt. That is not fair but very successful. (looks into the audience) Ah, I see. We have got some people here who want to try their luck. Ladies and Gentlemen. With great pride, even more pleasure and no regrets I present to you the greatest sensation since the flying elephant: The boxing giant red kangaroo. I bet that no one and I stress NO ONE besides me will be able to win against my giant kangaroo. But since I am well known as a disgustingly fair man I will undergo the danger and box the first round against my champion myself.

He strikes the bell and starts to box.

Mr. M.: Box.

Mr. M. starts a furious fight in which MATILDA has no chance. His first stroke goes right into her belly.

Matilda: Ouch, ouch, ouch...he hit me. He hurt me.

Mr. M: Don’t wimp around. Box.

Matilda: Oh my God. Help. I don’t want to box. I don’t want to hurt any one. Please help.

And again Mr. M. starts to shuffle and fight. Poor MATILDA is paralysed with fear. JOE can no longer bear to see MATILDA’S struggle and jumps into the ring to take on Mr. M.!

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Joe: Stop. You coward. Don’t you see that Matilda does not want to box? Cannot box? If you want to be so stupid, why don’t you get yourself another idiot who wants to be beaten up?

Mr. M.: I think I just found that idiot.

Joe: I am not that idiot. Beat yourself up. Boxing. Hitting. Fighting. What for?

Mr. M.: No guts, little boy? No courage. Eh?!

Joe: I think it takes more courage to avoid such nonsense. Knock yourself out and leave Matilda in peace.

Mr.M.: Are you trying to tell me what I am allowed to do with my kangaroo and what not?

Jasmine: This is not your kangaroo. You stole it from the zoo last night.

Mr.M.: Is that so?

Mr. M. grabs the chain he took off MATILDA before the fight and pulls it around MATILDA’S neck.

Matilda: He is strangling me. I can’t breath. Help.

JOE jumps into the ring.

Joe: Leave her alone. Or...

Mr. M.: Or what, you dwarf?

Joe: Or I....will discuss it with you.

Mr. M.: Discuss what?

Joe: How you would like to be knocked out.

Jasmine: Don’t, Joe. He is much stronger than you are.

Joe: I am not scared.

Jasmine: But pretty stupid.

Joe: Lets see.

JOE starts to pose like a karate kid. Mr. M. shakes his head and sends JOE, with one big punch, into dreamland.

Emu: He killed him. Matilda. Do something.

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Matilda: I can’t. I can’t hurt any one.

Jasmine: You monster.

JASMINE jumps into the ring and onto Mr. M’s back. EMU guides the fight from outside. MR. M. shakes JASMINE off, grabs her head, and stretches his arm so that her punches can’t reach him.

Jasmine: Matilda. Help. You must help or we are lost.Matilda: Well. When we are lost someone must do something against it. Or?

MATILDA finds an old frying pan in her pouch and starts waltzing through the ring. Mr. M. is so irritated by the action, that he fights the pan and of course gets terribly hurt by hitting it. He is so involved in the strange fight, that he soon loses his breath, stumbles around in the ring, fighting his own shadow and then he falls, totally exhausted and unaware that he has knocked himself out. JOE still lies without moving at the side of the boxing ring. JASMINE, EMU, MATILDA and EMU hurry to his side - but Mr. M.'s punch sent JOE into a deep trance, in which nightmares chase him. His soul seems to have left his body. While the friends try to caress JOE, his second self is trying to get clear sight through the fog of memory, past fears and future scares:

# 16 - WHAT IS RIGHT - WHAT IS WRONG (Joe)

Joe: Mummy, Daddy, help me, help meI am drowningI am sinkingThough I know I must be strongHow do I knowWhat's right or wrong.

Should I stay hereMust I go now Am I fighting Or just playingI don't know what's right or wrongAm I dreaming far too long.

Is this true or just a dream Animals around me talking Are those people really foolish Who can only think of fightingIs it true that so fewKnow that just a smile per day Can take all the sorrowsAnd dark clouds awayI've been asking for too long What is right here and what is wrong.

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All: Joe wake up you must go on.

Joe: Can one really talk with Emu’sIs time stealing all my feelings.I've been asking for so long What is right here, what is wrong. Am I happy, am I sad Where's the answer to my questionsMay I simply go and do things Must I answer for my actions?Am I moving up the ladder?Can you rest on clouds while flying?Did I ever really see the danger dying? What is weak and what is strongWhat is right now? And what is wrong.

All: Joe wake up - we've got a deal. Joe: Emu’s don't speak.All: Joe wake up - you'll see that we are real.Emu: He can't hear me. Joe: Cuddle's don't freak. Cuddle: He has lost me. Joe: Tilda's don't dance.Matilda: Give me one chance.Joe: Jasmine.Jasmine: Yes, Joe.Joe: Isn't near. Jasmine: I'm here. Joe: If Yalunda was a nice dream.Jasmine: No, Joe. Joe: Perhaps that means I don't exist.

All: Joe wake up it was no dream Joe wake up we've got a lot to do Look we are realEverything is true.

But JOE does not seem to be able to return to the land of the living.

7th Scene - The trip startsCuddle: He does not hear us any more.

Emu: Have we lost him?

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Cuddle: Get lost. How did you get down here?

Emu: This will remain the secret of the great concentrator.Cuddle: Typically our Emu. He always arrives when it’s too late. Before we

needed your help. Where were you then?

Emu: High above the clouds keeping a clear overview.

Cuddle: An overview of what?Emu: Your inability to rescue our friends.

Jasmine: Stop it you two. What can we do?

Matilda: Wasn’t there this fairy tale?

Emu: Which one of your very many?

Matilda: Well, the one where the hunter and the maiden...no, that was another one.

Cuddle: Do you mean the one with the smooching?

Emu: Since when do they smooch in a fairy tale?

Cuddle: You know what I mean.

Matilda: What do you mean?

Cuddle: Well - ah - smooch - come on - what do you call it in people talk.

Emu: Canoodle.

Matilda: No that’s what kangaroos call it.

Cuddle: You call it canoodle?

Matilda: Sure. What do you call it, Emu?

Emu: Pecking.

Cuddle: Sounds pretty hurtful.

Emu: An ostrich calls it smacker. What do you prefer.

Jasmine: Now I get you. You mean kissing.

The three: Exactly. Kissing, canoodle, smooch, peck, smack. Kissing.

Matilda: Like in that fairy tale...

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Jasmine: Little Red Riding Hood?

Emu: No that was the one with the eating.

Jasmine: Rapunzel.

Cuddle: No that was a too long hairy story.

Jasmine: Snow White.

Matilda: Noooo... That’s the story with the mirror. I mean the one with the castle.

Jasmine: Dracula.

Cuddle: Are you making fun of us? Or are you just ashamed?

Jasmine: Why should I be ashamed?

Emu: Because of pecking.

Matilda: Canoodle.

Cuddle: Smooching.

All: Kissing.

Jasmine: Oh, you mean Sleeping Beauty who was woken up by the Prince with a kiss.

All: Bingo.

Jasmine: But I am no Prince.

Emu: Aah - get off it.

Cuddle: Just be a Prince for a second.

Matilda: And after that, you can play.

All: Princess on the pea again.

Jasmine: You want me to kiss Joe?

Emu: So what?

Cuddle: You won’t die of one kiss.

Matilda: And Joe for sure not.

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Jasmine: Well - if you really think so.She brushes JOE’S forehead with her lips, but nothing happens. EMU looks at JASMINE in disgust.

Emu: You can do better then that.

And JASMINE kisses JOE’S cheek.

Matilda: You seem to lack some experience here.

And so JASMINE puts her lips on JOE’S lips and after a while JOE starts to move and then he kisses JASMINE too and wakes up. JASMINE is flushing and would like to disappear and never be seen again.

Jasmine: He tricked me. You little ba...bugger. He stuck his tongue into my mouth.

Joe: Who kissed me? Who saved my life? Oh Emu .. was it you? Let me peck you for it. And you cuddle, you smooched with me to save my life? Let me give you a smacker in return. Oh, Matilda, let me, “Joe canoodle” you. And Jasmine? Did she let you do all the hard work without volunteering herself?

Matilda: (almost blushing after all the canoodling) No - in fact it was she who....

Emu: She was pecking - I mean smacking no...

Joe: You mean, Jasmine saved my life by kissing me? Jasmine?!

He slowly walks over to JASMINE as if to kiss her. JASMINE moves back but finally comes into his arms and returns his long, long kiss.

Emu: I have the strange feeling that Joe tricked us.

Cuddle: Mean - well as nastily mean as only those human beings can be.

Matilda: Disgusting. What did your kiss taste like, Emu?

Emu: Raspberries.

Cuddle: Mine tasted more like eucalyptus.

Matilda: Your addiction to eucalyptus probably ruined all your taste buds. Mine just tasted....

Emu and Cuddle: Like what?

Matilda: Sweet.

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MATILDA looks lovingly over to JOE.

Emu: Excuse me, I do not want to disturb you.. still... didn’t we actually want to make a move towards .. well you know... home?

Joe: Oh - I almost forgot....since I almost feel at home already. He, Emu, you are back on the ground again.

Emu: A kiss can make one fly to seventh heaven...

Matilda: ...or let you crash on the hard ground of reality.

Emu: Very funny, Matilda.

Cuddle: Did you see anything of great interest up there, Emu?

Emu: Yes. I saw the Mediterranean Sea.

Jasmine: You saw Italy from up there?

Emu: Sure! Right across the Alps. I had a clear and free view of Venice.

Joe: That’s where we have to go. Come on, Emu. You lead, since you know the direction.

Emu: Why me again? I have heard that you have to pass a lot of tunnels in the Alps and..

Cuddle: ...if you were able to fly you would not have to go through them.

Emu: Now they are starting again. I think I’ll stay right here. Then you’ll see how far you will get.

Jasmine: Come on now. A long way lies ahead of us. Let’s go.

Joe: Does that mean you’re coming along?

Jasmine: I did not have anything special planned for today .. so why not? At least to Italy...there we will see..

Joe: Yes - in Italy we will see....

They all know that it will be weeks and months before they will make it, but together they are strong and will conquer all the dangers and adventures which lie ahead - and so they take each others hand and start to march towards the Alps.

# 17 - THE VERY BEST ADVENTURE (All)

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All: Now off we go to ItalyIt’s you and me We'll have to walk across the AlpsTo reach the seaAnd come what may - we'll find the wayAnd if the road is tough and longWe'll stick together, we'll be strong And if the ocean's rough and wideWe'll paddle on and catch the tideAnd then at lastOne day we'll be back home.

We'll walk until we reach the seaFrom there we'll swim to AfricaAnd ride upon a desert ship Through the SaharaAt the Indian Ocean blueWe'll trade in our desert shipFor a boat which we will crewThe wind will guide us offshoreUntil we reach Singapore.

If in AfricaOr in AmericaWe'll stay on our route and won't roamWe may see EskimosOr even IndiansThe very best adventureIsn't worth the ventureIf it does not lead The way back home.

All: Now off we go to ItalyIt’s you and me We'll have to walk across the AlpsTo reach the seaAnd come what may - we'll find the wayAnd if the road is tough and longWe'll stick together, we'll be strong And if the ocean's rough and wideWe'll paddle on and catch the tideAnd then one dayWe will all be back homeCan't wait to be back home....

And at the far horizon we can see the white beaches, the red sand of Ularu, the kookaburras, the golden creeks, the blue lagoons and the coral lakes and even

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further away the Coat-Hanger and the Sydney Opera House are greeting the friends in the last purple rays of sunlight which marks...

The End.

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