Carl's Concerto Arthur

# Every day when you're walkin' down the street

# Everybody that you meet

# Has an original point of view

-# And I say, hey!

-Hey!

# What a wonderful kind of day If we can learn to work and play

# And get along with each other

# You gotta listen to your heart Listen to the beat

# Listen to the rhythm The rhythm of the street

# Open up your eyes Open up your ears

# Get together and make things better By working together

# It's a simple message And it comes from the heart

-# Oh, believe in yourself

-Believe in yourself

# For that's the place to start

-# And I say, hey!

-Hey!

-What a wonderful kind of day

# If we can learn to work and play And get along with each other

# What a wonderful kind of day, hey! What a wonderful kind of day, HEY! #

Hey, DW!

-Hey!

-Whoa!

Carl is a great kid, but he's very particular.

If things aren't a certain way he can get really upset.

Like with food...

-I can't eat this.

-Why not? I thought you liked chicken?

The peas are touching the potatoes. Peas are green, potatoes are white.

That's better.

Or putting toys away...

-No, no, that box is only for square pieces.

-Oops, sorry, I forgot.

And he likes to have a very structured routine.

I knew I shouldn't have touched it but I did

and the whole toothpick Ferris wheel came crashing down.

BEEPING

Hey, where are you going?

It's 3:52, Extreme Kite Flying with Tex Buttery is on in eight minutes.

Carl has autism and I really don't mind following his rules.

But I think bringing him here might have been a terrible idea.

-Hey, George, come on in.

-You just moved it!

-Well, that's how I spin things.

-Well, you're a terrible spinner.

Thanks for lending me the math assignment.

-I'll bring it right down.

-It's not Donna Winiford, it's Dora Winifred.

And I told you never to call me that.

Well, I did call you that and I'm not taking it back either.

Hey, what's all the ruckus?

Sweet johnnycakes, it's a miniature giraffe with four bowties.

That's just Wally, George's dummy.

I prefer the term ventriloquist puppet.

Wait, you're making him talk? But you hardly moved your mouth.

Thank goodness, nothing interesting comes out of his mouth.

That's amazing. Hey, you should perform at our school's Bayfaf Day.

Bayfaf Day?

I'm not sure what it stands for but it's going to be a lot of fun.

That's a great idea.

You'd be much better than that sneezing clown we had last year.

Please, please, please.

-Um... We'll do it.

-Wally!

-What?

You never take me anywhere.

Here you go.

George, that was really nice of you to agree to perform at DW's

-school for Bayfaf.

-Oh, well,

-it's just a little show, I thought it would be fun.

-It's not so little.

-Bayfaf stands for bring all your friends and family.

-It does?

Yeah, my whole family is going and Molly will be there.

And I think Ladonna even invited Mr Ratburn.

OK, class, open your books to chapter ten.

I can't wait to see what you do.

I had no idea this was going to be such a big deal.

-Whatever we do has to be really good.

-How about Hamlet?

You can't go wrong with Shakespeare.

It has to be something little kids would like.

I was thinking of Goldilocks And The Three Bears.

Oh, goody, I've always wanted to be a blonde. Can we make it a musical?

No, we can't make it a musical.

Where am I going to find someone who... Huh?

ACCORDION PLAYS

Be not afeard, the woods are full of noises, sounds and sweet airs.

Hello, George, would you like to join our picnic?

Hey, Carl, since when do you play the accordion?

Since I got it for my sixth birthday two years ago from my uncle Cal.

-I know 18 songs.

-You're really good.

Yes, I know.

-Oh, sorry.

-It's OK, I'm no longer afraid of puppets.

My therapist uses them to coach me on my social skills.

How are you today, George?

Um, good. Actually, that's not true.

I'm doing this puppet show

but it's a bigger audience than I thought and...

Hey, you wouldn't want to play for it, would you?

-I really want there to be music in it.

-OK.

-You don't have to if you don't want to.

-I know.

-That's great.

This is going to make it so much better. Thanks, Carl.

OK, you guys are three bears. Binky, you're Papa Bear.

Let's hear you roar.

-Rawr!

-Good. Rattles, show me Mama Bear.

Roar!

Nice. And Buster.

Raawr!

A little more baby-like.

-Rawr!

-Great.

OK, when the show opens, Wallylocks will be skipping through the woods.

Carl, could you play some happy, skippy music?

La, la, la, la.

Here I am skipping through the woods. Hello, birch. Hello, elm.

Hello, poison oak. Keep your distance.

The music stopped.

Should I keep skipping or take five?

Um, Carl? Why'd you stop?

I don't like this room, it's very messy.

-It is?

-I think we should rehearse outside.

Outside? But we can't...

-It is pretty stuffy in here.

-And it's a gorgeous day out.

I could use a little vitamin D.

OK, let's take it from where we left off.

-Wallylocks is skipping through the woods while...

-BEEPING

Carl? What are you doing?

-Putting my accordion away.

-I know, but why? We have to rehearse now.

It's 12:15, so it's time for lunch.

Well, can we have lunch a little later?

It's 12:15, it's time for lunch.

OK, everyone, let's break for lunch.

SNORING

Someone's been sleeping in my bed and they're still there.

Ah, it's a long-necked alien from the planet Gammamega!

Easy on the ad-libs. OK, Carl, that's your cue.

ACCORDION PLAYS

That's great. But I think we only need you to play it once.

-It's out of tune.

-That's OK, it still works.

It doesn't sound good.

-I have to replace one of the reeds. They're at home.

-What?

-No, you can't leave now.

-Do you have an accordion reed here?

-No, but...

Then I have to go home.

Oh.

Oh, what a beautiful day to be skipping through the woods.

I'm so happy.

ACCORDION PLAYS PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

I said happy, not filled with doom.

It's supposed to be a fairy tale, not a scary tale.

Even though this is free, I demand my money back.

BOOING

It's not my fault!

I tried to tell Carl what to play but he wouldn't listen.

George, as a member of the Puppeteers Guild, I hereby revoke

your dummy operator's licence.

-I'm afraid I have to confiscate Wally as well.

-No, no, never!

Well, if you won't leave then I'll have to...

..invite you to live with us.

ALL: Yay!

And Wallylocks moved in with the bears

and lived rent-free for ever and ever.

The end.

-Carl, that's your cue to play the final tune.

-I know.

Well, can we hear it? The show's tomorrow.

I don't feel like playing it right now but I've been practising it,

it'll be good. See you tomorrow.

-Binky, I'm worried about Carl.

-Why?

He's a really good musician.

I know, but what if it's too noisy in the room or

he just doesn't feel like playing?

Could you bring your clarinet tomorrow?

You want me to replace him? Who will play Papa Bear?

I will, I can use both hands.

To be honest, I don't find Mama Bear that challenging.

-She's very passive.

-OK, it's your show.

But you'd better tell him.

Well, what are you waiting for? The phone can't call itself.

I know, I know, I'm just thinking about what I'll say.

Good evening, Gold residence.

Hello?

Hello?

-Oh.

-That went well.

-Carl.

-Hello, George.

I meant to call you last night but I was kind of busy.

What did you want to talk to me about?

Oh, I just wanted to say that you don't have to play today,

I mean, if you don't want to.

There will be a lot of kids in there and you might get nervous.

I don't feel nervous, I've practised a lot.

-Yeah, I know, it's just that...

-It's just that what?

Nothing, forget it.

Oh, man.

Hey, boys and girls, it's me, Wallylocks.

Get a load of these golden curls.

He moved in with the bears and lived rent-free for ever and ever.

You were really great, Carl.

I know. BEEPING

It's time for a snack, see you later.