Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time

CHURCH BELLS RING

LAUGHTER

-Very nice. Thank you, Mole.

-Just what I've always wanted.

-With a rollneck.

-What other presents did you get?

A bicycle pump from Rat.

It's a pity I don't have a bicycle.

-What else?

-Oh!

-What's that supposed to be?

-It's an interesting twig from hedgehog.

It's a pity I don't know what to do with it. Oops!

-What have you got on your feet, Mole?

-Flippers from frog.

It's a pity I don't like swimming.

What I really wanted for Christmas was a pair of skates.

There aren't any presents left, are there, Mouse?

Er, no.

I always think, don't you, Mouse,

that presents look much more interesting before you unwrap them.

So I shall wrap these slippers

and this mug, and this spoon.

And then I can wonder what it is all over again.

I shall wrap up lots of things.

How many days to next Christmas, Mouse?

364. But there's something to look forward to before then, Mole.

-What?

-A party!

I've done the invitations already. See? Come on, Mole.

Let's deliver them right away.

Look at all this snow, Mouse. Covering everything up...

It looks good enough to eat. It's like frosted icing sugar.

My favourite!

-Here you are, Rabbit.

-It's an invitation.

To a Twelfth Night party? What's that?

It's when the decorations come down. 12 days after Christmas.

We're going to call on Hedgehog next.

Oh, then I'll come with you. But first, come in for a little nibble.

This way.

Here you are, Hedgehog.

It's an invitation to their Twelfth Night party.

-We're on our way to Frog's next.

-Is that so? I'll join you, then.

But first, come and have a wee taste of something.

CROAK!

-Thank you for the flippers, Frog.

-Here's something for you.

An invitation to a Twelfth Night party?

-Rat's next on our next.

-Splendid!

I'll come with you. But first, open wide!

Yellow jelly is my favourite.

And red jelly!

THEY CHUCKLE

Visitors! What a surprise!

-We've come to invite you to our Twelfth Night party.

-12th night, eh?

Wherein jellicles and jollity, eh?

Oh! I can do my party piece!

# Rat-rat-rat and rat-a-tat. # All right, everybody?

# Rat-rat-rat Rat-rat-rat

# Rat-rat-a-tat-tat Rat-rat-rat

# Rat-tat-tat Rat-a-tat-tat

# Rat-tat-tat Rat-a-tat-tat, yeah! #

-Well done!

-Well done!

-Very well done!

-Well done!

-Very good!

-Lovely!

-We can all do a party piece!

-Ha-ha!

So we can!

-How about a mince pie?

-Good old mince pies, eh? Hooray!

Lovely, lovely mince pies! Hoo-hoo!

-Mole?

-Oh, I couldn't possibly.

I've eaten so much on the way here.

But seeing as how mince pies are my favourite, maybe...

Maybe just two or three.

THEY ALL LAUGH

Merry Christmas, Rat. Merry Christmas, everybody.

Merry Christmas, Rat.

And a happy Hogmanay!

Oh! Look! The pond's frozen over.

-So it has.

-And look over there.

-Where?

Over there, those reeds in the ice.

What do you think they look like?

Reeds in the ice, Mole.

To me, they look like penguins.

Oh, yes! I see what you mean, Mole.

If I squinny my eyes up like this,

I can make those reeds look just like penguins.

-And look over there, Mouse.

-Where?

-There.

That fir tree covered in snow. What do you think that looks like?

It looks like a fir tree covered in snow, Mole.

To me, it looks like a walrus.

See? There are its tusks.

And there are its staring eyes.

And there are its monstrous flippers.

But it can't come to get us because it's only a tree.

And the ice is all between. Quite right, Mouse.

That was your imagination running away with you, Mole.

Too many treats in your tummy.

If all the snow was icing, and all the world a cake,

and all the sea was trifle, there'd be no need to bake.

-Oh, don't talk about food, Mouse. Anything but food.

-Right.

Well, let's do something instead of talking, Mole.

I know!

-How about snowball!

-Oh! Ho-ho!

I shall roll this one all the way home

and see how big it is when we get there.

I'll do the same, Mouse.

MOUSE WHISTLES

Mouse? Mine was the wrong kind of snow.

That's why my snowball isn't as big as yours.

It's perfect. Watch this.

-What is it, Mouse?

-It just needs a bit more shaping. Here and there.

And a bit of smoothing, here, you see?

And a good pat there.

-What do you think?

-Oh, Mouse! How clever you are!

A snowmole for my dear friend, Mole.

It would be even better if it had something to wear.

-Yeah, let's go inside and find something.

-Good idea, Mouse.

Oh! I think we have a visitor, Mouse. And it's not one we've invited.

-Come on, Mole.

-You first, Mouse.

The whole place has been upskittled.

CHATTERING FROM KITCHEN

Something's been sitting on my chair.

And at this very moment,

the something is rattling around in our kitchen.

-Shrew!

-Oh, dear.

-You haven't come visiting again, have you?

-Got any eggs?

-Ask her how long she's thinking of staying this time.

Longer, rather than shorter,

seeing as it's all so snug and welcoming.

It WAS snug and welcoming. It isn't any longer.

What this place needs is a good tidy up.

And what I need is something for my snowmole to wear.

Ooh! Hee hee hee!

Dear, oh, dear!

Just a minute, Mouse.

Look at these sparkling sunglasses.

I wondered where they'd got to.

And this umbrella. It's just the thing!

And this hat! What could be better?

Come on, Mouse. We can put the finishing touches to Snowmole now.

< Mouse? Got any cake?

You'll have to finish him by yourself, Mole.

-I'd better keep an eye on Shrew.

-But it won't be the same without you.

-You'll be able to finish him just the way you like.

-I will, too!

Now... I think we'll put this here.

And I think we'll have that there.

And how about this like...like this?

Oh. There's something missing.

I know! And I've got just the thing!

Hey! What do you think you're doing?

That's my interesting twig that Hedgehog gave me for Christmas.

-Hee-hee-hee!

-Tea time!

Lovely! Got any more juice, Mouse?

Now, where's my bag?

-Egg and cress sandwiches, in you go.

-SQUEAKS FROM BAG

And the chocolate log.

Ooh, yes. Very nice. That's just the thing. In you go.

MUTTERING AND GIGGLING FROM BAG

Ssh, ssh! Now, let's see what they've got in their larder.

And let us see what she's got in her bag.

-SQUEAK!

-Ouch! It bites!

Keep your snout to yourself, Mole. This bag is mine.

Now, let's see what you've got in your sitting room.

This won't do, Mouse. She'll be bagging my bed, next.

No, I won't! I've got a better idea.

I'll be quite comfortable here, thank you.

-But that's my chair.

-It's mine now.

-No, it isn't.

-Yes, it is.

-I'll tidy up the kitchen, shall I?

-Let go!

-Shan't!

-Let go, I say!

-Shan't, I say!

-Do something, Mouse. Mouse!

He's not listening. He's got better things to do.

Now, look here, Shrew. This is my eiderdown,

this is my pillow, and these are my flippers.

I've decided to spend the night outside, Mouse.

I've a better friend than you outside. Someone who's lonely.

Someone who needs me. So I'm going, Mouse.

Just you try stopping me.

This is your last chance of stopping me, Mouse.

Your very last chance.

Banished from my own bed and my own house.

Left out in the cold by my best friend. I know when I'm not wanted.

I've got you for company now, Snowmole.

And you've got me. Aren't you pleased?

Ugh!

MOUSE YAWNS

Mole?

-SHREW SNORES

-Where are you, Mole?

Are you up there, Mole?

Dear, oh, dear! Whatever is he doing out there?

Oh, Mole! You silly, silly Mole! You must be freezing!

Oh! I'll make him some hot chocolate, that'll warm him up,

and I'll bring him a hot water bottle,

and then I'll get him back indoors.

MOLE SNORES

It's freezing out here, Snowmole, my whiskers have turned to icicles.

That reminds me - I've got something for you, Snowmole.

There.

-Whiskers.

-Oh!

-Ho ho ho!

That's better. Twiggy whiskers.

You look cold to me, Mole.

I am cold. If only I had a hot water bottle and a mug of hot chocolate.

The kind Mouse makes me when I need mollycoddling.

You can have anything you want in the land where I come from.

-Anything?

-Absolutely. Anything.

-Why don't we go there now?

-Now?

-Climb in. Hold tight.

-I am.

Then off we go!

-Off we go!

-Wheee!

Wheeee!

Oh!

Oh.

What's happening?

CHATTER AND LAUGHTER

Oh!

And who is this?

Allow me to introduce him.

Your Royal Walrus, Mole. Mole, your Royal Walrus.

Good gracious. I thought he was a sausage.

I was about to gobble him up.

LAUGHTER

I am not a sausage, I'm a mole.

-A sausage roll perhaps?

-No!

Pity. You look good enough to eat. Oh, well.

Wheee!

-Remember in my country you can have anything you wish for.

-Oh, yes.

Well, in that case,

I wish these flippers would turn into a pair of skates.

Did he say "wish"?

-He did, Your Walrus.

-He said wish. Yes, we heard him.

In that case, I shall summon the wish fish.

# I like to give What you want I do.

# I can grant anything you wish Wish, wish

# I like to make all your dreams come true

# For I am the wonderful wish fish fish. #

Oh, it worked! My flippers have turned into skates.

LAUGHTER

Look at me, Snowmole.

It's pity I can't skate for my party piece on 12th night.

Does he want anything else? The magic touch perhaps?

Yes.

The magic touch so that when I touch this, for example, it turns into...

icing sugar.

# I like to make all your dreams come true

# For I am the magical wish fish fish. #

Oh! Oh, I wish... I wish Mouse could see me now and all my friends.

# I like to make all your dreams come true

# For I am the fabulous wish fish fish. #

-What a surprise.

-Why, rat.

-Hello Mole...

-Oh. Hedgehog.

-Hello, Mole...

-Oh. Rabbit.

-Hello...

-Oh. Mouse!

-Mole...

-Oh! Frog.

-Rrr...

Oh!

They've all gone stiff. They've all turned into sugar icing.

LAUGHTER

-Frosted sugar.

-Frosted icing sugar.

But these are my friends.

I don't want to eat my friends.

Your magic touch, Mole. Isn't that what you wish for?

Oh, it's all too much!

Mouse, Mouse, where are you, Mouse?

I-I don't want to be out in the cold any more. Help me, Mouse.

-I-I wish I were home.

-He wishes he were home.

Mole? Mole?

Oh, here's his eiderdown.

Here's his pillow.

And here's his armchair. Empty.

We're too late, Mouse. He's frozen through and through.

That's not him. That's a Snowmole we made.

Mole? Mole! Oh, dear. These must be his footprints.

-At least they are easy to follow.

-There are leading to the pond. Mole!

-Mouse? Oh, dear, Oh, dear. Help me, Mouse.

-He's sleepwalking.

We mustn't startle him.

(Turn round, Mole. Come back.)

-Mouse? Is that you, Mouse?

-Here, Mole, give me your paw.

-No, don't touch me, Mouse.

-Why not?

-You'll turn into icing sugar.

-Don't be silly, Mole.

-I'm not being silly. Go away!

-Right.

-Right you lot, out you come. Get a move on.

-Good gracious!

You hold on to Mouse and the rest of you hold on to each other. There.

Oh!

Hold on, Mole. We've got you. Almost there. All together now! Heave!

SNORING

I wish... I wish... What? Oh.

-Ma, he's woke up.

-Come quick.

How you feeling today, Mole?

HE BLOWS HIS NOSE

Yes, well, there's your glad rags, Mole.

Aren't you pleased you're well enough to come to the party?

I would be but I haven't practised my party piece yet.

KNOCK ON DOOR

-Oh, that will be Rat.

-Already?

You'd better hurry up, Mole, or you'll miss all the fun.

Got any party poppers, Mouse?

HE STRUGGLES TO MAKE A TUNE ON THE BAGPIPES

-Just a wee tune my grandfather taught me.

-Very nice. What's next?

My musical saw.

CHATTER

-A little hush, if you please.

-Shh!

SAW MAKES CREEPY THEREMIN SOUND

GIGGLING

-Very tuneful.

-A little goes a long way.

-Right, you lot, line up.

-Get ready for that drum roll, Mouse.

-One drum roll coming up.

Ready, you lot?

Away you go.

-Ta-ra!

-Oh, very good. Oh, lovely. Really lovely. Very good.

-There's only one turn can follow that.

-Oh, oh, my high jumps.

-No.

-My dancing, perhaps. Oh, rat-rat-rat-rat.

No.

-It must be your party piece, Mole.

-Quite right. We want Mole.

THEY ALL CALL FOR MOLE

What's it to be, Mole?

Oh, well, for my party piece, I thought

I'd sing you a song I heard in my dream when I visited... When I...

Well, anyway, this is how it goes.

# I like to...

# I like to... #

Oh.

Why don't you sing a song we all know, Mole, then we can join in?

-So you can.

-How about...

# On the first day of Christmas

# A walrus gave to me

# A wish fish in a fur tree

# On the second day of Christmas

# A walrus gave to me

# Two currant buns

# And a wish fish in a fir tree

# On the third day of Christmas

# A walrus gave to me

# Three top hats

# Two current buns

# And a wish fish in a fir tree

# On the fourth day of Christmas

# A walrus gave to me

# Four silver spoons

# Three top hats

# Two current buns

# And a wish fish in a fir tree

# On the fifth day of Christmas

# A walrus gave to me

# Five baby shrews

# Four silver spoons

# Three top hats

# Two current buns

# And a wish fish in a fir tree

# On the sixth day of Christmas

# A walrus gave to me

# Six frozen noses

# Five baby shrews

# Four silver spoons

# Three top hats

# Two currant buns

# And a wish fish in a fir tree... #

Now...

Just the thing.

# And a wish fish in a fir tree

# On the 12th day of Christmas

# A walrus gave to me

# 12 flippers flopping

# 11 slippers slopping

# Ten plates spinning

# Nine people singing

# Eight jellies wibbling

# Seven skaters wobbling

# Six frozen noses

# Five baby shrews

# Four silver spoons

# Three top hats

# Two currant buns

# And a wish fish in a fir tree And a wish fish in a fir tree. #

Ah, quiet, isn't it?

-No shrew.

-And no shrew babies.

Now it is just you and me till next Christmas.

-But there is a bit of this Christmas left, Mouse.

-Oh.

Come and look out of the window.

Oh, Mole, did you make him?

I did, Mouse. While you were tidying up.

A Snowmouse to go with your Snowmole.

I'm sure they will be the best of friends.

They will too, like us, Mouse. The very best of friends.

There's going to be a thaw tonight, Snowmouse.

Let's be off then while the going is good, Snowmole.

Good idea.

If all the snow was icing And all the world a cake

If all the sea were trifle There'd be no need to bake.