The Story of Doris the Duck 64 Zoo Lane

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# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane... #

Hello, I'm Lucy. I live at 64 Zoo Lane

and I have very special neighbours. Look!

# There's one with a hump, one who can jump, and one who is plump

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some like it hot, some like it chilly, some like it silly

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some are friendly, some are scary But not one is ordinary

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# Some are spotty, some are stripy Prickly...woolly...furry...slimy

# Some are quite big, some are small

# And Georgina is incredibly tall

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane

# 64, 64, 64 Zoo Lane. #

Bedtime, Lucy! >

OK, Mum.

-OWL HOOTS

-Hi, everyone!

Good evening, ma'am, and welcome. How can we help you?

I've come for my bedtime story.

Excellent.

Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.

Can we tempt you to a shiny green apple?

Oh, thanks!

Or a yellow banana?

-I don't understand!

-You don't understand WHAT, milady?

I don't understand why we're all having to be so polite.

We're practising our good manners.

Ready for tonight's story.

My lords, ladies, animals, birds and insects...

please be seated for the story of Doris,

Princess of the Zambam River, told by Mollie the hippopotamus.

Ahem!

ALL: Sssh!

Doris the duck, Toby the tortoise and Kevin the crocodile

were best friends. They did everything together.

Each morning, they met on the banks of the Zambam River

and splashed in the mud pool. THEY LAUGH

That was fun! What shall we do now?

Let's play...Silly Faces!

Huh!

-I

-can do better than that!

Your turn, Toby.

'Doris, Toby and Kevin enjoyed playing games together.'

That was fun! What shall we do now?

Let's pretend to be someone else.

I'll be a pirate looking for treasure.

Where's Kevin?

I'm over here!

I'm a top-secret spy. Who are YOU going to be, Doris?

-Doris?

-I'm...a princess.

BOTH: Doris?! A princess?!

I am Doris, princess of the Zambam River.

Kevin, collect some pretty lotus flowers for me.

What?!

-I'M a princess, and you've got to do everything I say.

-But...

Yes?

Er...

Yes, your royal...duckness.

Tony, fetch me some nice things to eat.

Some grapes and a great big pile of yum-yum fruit.

Certainly, your royal duckness.

I've had enough!

Me too.

Let's play hide and seek.

I'm sorry - are you talking to me?

Yes, Doris.

Then please address me as "your royal duckness" from now on.

Can we stop playing this game now, your royal duckness?

Game?! What game?!

I AM a duck princess. I am! I AM!

-OTHERS: But...

-No buts! Get me more pretty things!

'Toby and Kevin hadn't gone far when they saw Audrey the ostrich.'

Hello, boys!

My, my, you ARE looking tired!

We've been playing Let's Pretend

and Doris has decided she's a princess.

She's treating us like servants,

-and we don't know how to stop the game.

-Hmm...

Now, let me see... Princess, eh?

Now, listen carefully... SHE WHISPERS

'Toby and Kevin got to work.'

Good afternoon, your duckness.

-Before you say anything more, I'm still a princess, and...

-We know.

-You do?!

-Yes, your royal duckness.

To prove it, we've made a crown for your royal head.

And a throne for your royal bottom.

You have?! Where are they?

-Let's go and see 'em!

-You're a princess. You can't walk there.

Please allow me to give you a ride on my back.

Oh, thank you, Toby, my loyal servant.

Huh?

Wow!

'For the rest of the day, Doris was treated like a true princess.'

I've brought you a ladder so you can climb onto your throne.

Morning, your ducksomeness.

I bring you warthog treasure.

Thank you, my loyal Herbert.

I'll...eat it later.

BOTH: Your majesty, we bring you palm leaf fans to keep you cool.

'But, after a while, being a princess got boring.'

Toby tortoise!

Yes, your duckness?

Bring me a double burger with tomato relish and a helping of chips.

Sorry, your royal duckness, but you can't have any.

What?!

A Zambam princess must only eat the finest of food.

Oh!

Oh, yes, of course!

The yum-yum fruit.

'Then, Kevin and Tony decided to play a game of Silly Faces.'

Here's a good one - look!

LAUGHTER What about this one?

Here, guys!

Look at me!

Sorry, your duckness.

YOU are not allowed to join in.

Being a princess is a serious matter.

Oh...yes.

-Of course.

-Does your majesty require anything else?

Um...no, thank you.

In that case, Toby and I will go for a wallow in the mud pool.

Can...I come?

Sorry, your royal duckness.

Wallowing in the mud is not something princesses do.

'Doris could stand it no longer.

'She loved splashing in the mud pool.'

I'm not a princess any more. I'm just plain old Doris the duck,

who wants to play with her friends!

BOTH LAUGH

Thank goodness for that!

So - what are we waiting for?

ALL LAUGH

That was wicked!

I mean...how splendid!

My lords, ladies, animals, birds and insects,

on behalf of the animals gathered here,

I thank Mollie for the story and Lucy for listening so attentively.

On behalf of myself and the animals,

-I thank Boris for saying thank you.

-CHEERING

And now, it's bedtime, Lady Lucy.

Sweet dreams, everyone.

ALL: Goodnight, Lucy.