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SETTING: Africa. A large, moss-covered rock is sitting on the ground.
(Anansi scuttles into the frame and observes the weird rock.) (The Narrator is playing bongo drums during his storytelling.)
Narrator:
Once upon a time, Anansi the spider was walking, walking, walking through the forest, when he saw something interesting. It was a strange, moss-covered rock!
Anansi:
Wow! Isn't that a strange moss-covered rock!
(Anansi falls down suddenly into a dead sleep.)
Narrator:
KAZOOM! All of a sudden, Anansi fell down and was sound asleep. When Anansi woke up, his head was spinning and he didn't know what had happened.
Anansi:
Hmm! I was just walking along, minding my own business, when I stopped and said 'Isn't that a strange moss-covered rock!'
(Anansi falls down suddenly into a deep sleep again.)
Narrator:
KAZOOM! Anansi fell suddenly asleep again! But now when he woke up he knew what was going on.
Anansi:
I see...this rock is MAGIC! Whenever somebody sees the rock and says, 'Isn't this a strange hfrshmm-shmrmish fllurrrr,' they fall asleep! This is good to know...and...aha!...now I have a great idea...
(Anansi heads to Lion's house, where he is sitting with a pile of yams.)
Narrator:
So Anansi went walking, walking, walking through the forest until he came to Lion's house. Lion always had great food! And Anansi loved food, but was too lazy to get it himself. So when Anansi saw the yams, he said to Lion:
Anansi:
Hey Lion! Pretty hot today, huh?
Lion:
Yeah, Anansi, it's REALLY hot!
Anansi:
I'm going to the forest where it's cooler. Wanna come?
Lion:
Sure!
Narrator:
So Lion and Anansi went walking, walking, walking into the forest. Soon they came to the magic rock.
(Anansi and Lion come upon the moss-covered rock.)
Anansi:
Lion! Do you see that??
Lion:
WHOA! Isn't that a strange moss-covered rock!
(Lion falls down, suddenly asleep.)
Narrator:
KAZOOM! And like that, Lion fell down suddenly into a deep sleep! So Anansi ran to Lion's house and took all of Lion's yams. When Lion woke up, he didn't know what happened. Anansi was nowhere to be seen, so Lion went back home and saw that his yams were gone. Lion was very upset.
Lion:
Aww MAN! That Anansi!
Narrator:
But Anansi was thrilled that his trick had worked. Now he was ready to play the trick on Elephant. Anansi knew Elephant had a huge stash of bananas. Anansi loved to eat bananas, but was too lazy to pick them. So he went walking, walking, walking until he got to Elephant's house. Anansi said to elephant:
Anansi:
Hey Elephant! Pretty hot today, huh?
Elephant:
Yup!
Anansi:
I am going to the forest where it's cooler. Wanna come?
Elephant:
Ah...okey doke.
Narrator:
So Elephant and Anansi went walking, walking, walking into the forest. Soon they came to the magic rock.
Anansi:
Hey Elephant! Look!
Elephant:
Huh...Isn't that a strange moss-covered rock!
(Elephant falls down suddenly asleep.)
Narrator:
KAZOOM! As soon as he said the magic words, Elephant was out! And as soon as Elephant was asleep, Anansi ran back to his house and took his bananas! When Elephant woke up, he went home and saw the bananas were gone. He was distraught.
Elephant:
Oh my. Did Anansi do this? He isn't very nice, no siree.
Narrator:
But Anansi was excited! He couldn't wait to play this trick on everybody! He played it on Rhino...
(Cut to Rhino and Anansi.)
Rhino:
Isn't that a strange moss-covered rock!
Narrator:
KAZOOM!
(Rhino falls asleep.) (Anansi exits.) (Giraffe and Anansi enter.)
Narrator:
And he played it on Giraffe...
Giraffe:
Isn't that a strange moss-covered rock!
Narrator:
KAZOOM!
(Giraffe falls asleep.)
Narrator:
Little Spotted Deer rustles up a pile of coconuts.
Narrator:
When Anansi came along, he saw the coconuts and really wanted them! He said:
Anansi:
Hey Little Spotted Deer! Pretty hot today, huh?
Little Spotted Deer:
It is hot, Anansi.
Anansi:
I'm going to the forest where it's cooler. Wanna come?
Little Spotted Deer:
(With a sly smile.) Yes, indeed I would!
Narrator:
So Anansi and Little Spotted Deer went walking, walking, walking into the forest.
Anansi:
Little Spotted Deer! Do you see what I see?
Little Spotted Deer:
I don't see anything!
Anansi:
You have to see it! Look closer.
Little Spotted Deer:
I still don't see what you're talking about.
Anansi:
Of course you see it! Look right here. You see this?
Little Spotted Deer:
See what, Anansi?
Anansi:
You can see it!! You just don't wanna say it!
Little Spotted Deer:
Say what?
Anansi:
You know!
Little Spotted Deer:
Ohhh!! Is that what you want me to say?
Anansi:
Yes!
Little Spotted Deer:
OK. 'You know.' There! Happy?
Anansi:
NO! I don't want you to say 'You know!'
Little Spotted Deer:
What do you want me to say?
Anansi:
I want you to say, 'Isn't that a strange moss-covered rock!'
(Anansi falls down suddenly into a deep sleep.)
Narrator:
KAZOOM! And with that Anansi was OUT! So Little Spotted Deer got all the animals that Anansi tricked. They all went to Anansi's place and took their food back.
(All the animals take back their food.) When Anansi woke up Little Spotted Deer was nowhere in sight. Anansi went walking, walking, walking back to his house and saw all the food he took was gone.
Anansi:
Grrr...that Little Spotted Deer out-tricked me, the master trickster!
Narrator:
But if you think Anansi learned his lesson and won't be playing tricks anymore, you'd be mistaken...
Anansi:
(Anansi winks.) That's right!
Narrator:
He's still playing tricks to this very day...
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