Little Silver (Screenplay)

Characters1


Mother: 37 years old, gentle but strict, Tall, long blond hair.2

Chloe: 11 years old, brown hair, wild imagination.3

Johnny: 14 years old, Pirate, Average height, Leader.4

Goldie: 15 years old, Blond hair, Pretty, Gentle.5

Mr. Teeth: 9 years old, loves animals, A bit of a sook.6

Shorty: 10 years old, Aggressive but quite sensitive.7

Also there is Rufus the dog and Polly the parrot.8


Little Silver9

Scene 110

(Mother and Chloe are on stage, Chloe is lying in her bed DSC and Mother is kneeling beside it holding a book. Scene unfreezes and Mother is reading a pirate story to Chloe.)11

MOTHER: And then, little Johnny Silver gave Sally his favorite gold coin, from his
most prized collection, and Sally disappeared. She made it home just in
time for dinner. Sometimes she missed Little Johnny Silver, but whenever
she did, she would look at her coin and remember the wonderful day she spent on the pirate ship, The Silver King.12

(Mother closes the book and looks expectantly at Chloe.)13

CHLOE: (Yawning) Is that all mummy?
MOTHER: That is all for now sweetheart
CHLOE: Oh, ok mummy, thank you.
(Mother kisses Chloe on the forehead, pulls the blankets up around her daughters neck and places a teddy in her arms)
MOTHER: Good night baby girl.
(Mother stands up, turns around and starts to exit CSR)
CHLOE: Mum!
(Mother turns around)
CHLOE: Do you think that little Johnny Silver would be my friend, just like he was
friends with Sally?
MOTHER: I’m sure he would sweetheart, now go to sleep.
CHLOE: Ok, night mum.14


Scene Two15

(Curtains open and the stage is empty, except for Chloe, apparently asleep in the middle of the floor. There is noise coming from OSR. Chloe opens her eyes and sits up, looking around in surprise. Suddenly, four pirates run onstage and stop, looking surprised at the sight of Chloe sitting in the middle of the floor. Shorty, who wasn’t paying attention, trips over Mr. Teeth, who was standing in front of him and both fall to the floor. Johnny looks around and scoffs. (Note: All pirates are Children))16

JOHNNY: Well, what do we have here?
CHLOE: (Fearfully) Um, well, I’m Chloe, who are you?
JOHNNY: I’m little Johnny Silver, (Gestures to Goldie) and this is Goldie, (Points to
Mister Teeth and Shorty who are still sprawled on the floor.) And this is Shorty and Mister Teeth.
CHLOE: Mister Teeth?
(Mister Teeth stands up and tries his best to look tough, despite the fact that he has a big smear of dirt down his face)
MR.TEETH: Yes, my name is Mister Teeth, is that ok with you? (Scowls)
CHLOE: Oh, yes sir, I was just wondering… (Chloe trails off)
MR. TEETH: You were wondering why my name is Mister Teeth, right?
CHLOE: (Mumbling) Yes sir, I suppose I was.
MR.TEETH: It is because I have the most amazing smile, I can make any girl in the world want to kiss me!
(Johnny laughs)
JOHNNY: Ok Teeth, tell Chloe the real story.
TEETH: When I was a little baby, I was in a shipwreck, my parrot Polly found me floating on a wooden crate in the middle of the ocean. She brought me here. Sadly, the only piece of English she knew then was the word “Teeth” So that is what Johnny named me. Pretty sad, huh?
CHLOE: No! I think it is a lovely name, and what a wonderful story Mister Teeth!
(Teeth grins shyly)
JOHNNY: Well, why don’t you come and sit down Chloe, and Goldie will fetch you a drink.
GOLDIE: What would you like Chloe?
CHLOE: Um, some apple juice would be lovely thank you.
GOLDIE: Not a problem, I will be right back.
(Chloe exits USC, closely followed by Mister Teeth. Then, there is a blood curdling scream. Mister teeth comes running out clutching a very dead parrot.)
TEETH: It’s Polly! She’s dead! This is all your fault Shorty! It was your dumb dog Rufus, I bet you he killed her, I told her he couldn’t be trusted!
(Goldie walks on stage carrying a tray with a cup of apple juice. Teeth grabs it and flings it over Shorty. Shorty gasps and stands up, Slipping on the spilt juice on the deck and falling over again. He stands up again, wobbling and steps out of the puddle.)

(Slapstick scene, Shorty pins Teeth to the ground and snarls)17

SHORTY: Rufus didn’t kill your stupid bird, he has been down in the kitchen since he farted and stunk the whole room out last night.
(Teeth looks shocked)
TEETH: Well if Rufus didn’t kill Polly, then who did?
SHORTY: (Angrily) Well I don’t know do I?
TEETH: Well someone on this boat killed Polly, and I want to know who did it!
(Everyone looks at each other expectantly)
CHLOE: I know!
(Everyone looks at Chloe)
ALL: What?
CHLOE: I’ve seen crime shows on TV, I know how to solve this mystery!
SHORTY: What is TV?
CHLOE: Don’t worry. Now I want everyone to go down to the bedroom and I will call you into the kitchen, one at a time and interview you ok?
(All look uncomfortable)
ALL: Ok.
(All except Chloe exit CSR. Chloe sits down on the floor and sighs)
CHLOE: This is crazy.18

Scene Three19

(Curtains open and Chloe is sitting at a table DSC. There is a notebook and pen on the
table in front of her. Teeth enters CSL and sits down on front of Chloe on the other side
of the table.)20

CHLOE: Ok Mister Teeth, I am just going to ask you some questions about Polly ok?
TEETH: Alright.
CHLOE: Ok, now, was Polly a curious bird?
(a tear runs down Teeth’s cheek and he wipes it away hastily)
TEETH: Yes, she was always getting into trouble, I remember the time the crawled into the fridge to try and steal the chocolate biscuits and I accidentally shut her in there.
(Teeth starts sobbing and puts his head in his hands)
CHLOE: It’s ok mister Teeth, I had a look at Polly and there are no bite marks, so it couldn’t have been Rufus, and none of her feathers are missing, so do you think there is a chance, she just died of old age?
TEETH: (Howling) NOOOOO! She wa..ss sti..ll so youn…g!
CHLOE: Ok, Ok. When was the last time you saw Polly?
TEETH: Um, this morning I think, down in Johnny Siler’s room, we had a banquet there because Rufus was in the kitchen.
(Rufus grunts and rolls over, letting out a loud fart)
CHLOE: (Chloe scribbles in her notebook) Ok Mister Teeth, that is all I need, Could you fetch Johnny for me please?
(Mr. Teeth nods and exits CSL. Rufus farts again and Chloe holds her nose. She quickly composes herself as Johnny enters CSL. He strolls over to the table and sits down.
JOHNNY: Hey, what’s up Clo?
CHLOE: I just have some questions to ask you Johnny.
JOHNNY: Oh alright then, but I’ll tell you now, I don’t know nothing about how the bird died.
CHLOE: Alright then, now, when was the last time you saw Polly?
JOHNNY: I think it was…. Outside Goldie’s room, about two hours past sunrise.
CHLOE: Ok, that makes sense, are you sure you don’t know anything else?
JOHNNY: Positive.
CHLOE: Okay, could you fetch Shorty for me please?
JOHNNY: No worries.
(Johnny exits CSL and Shorty enters, taking a seat opposite Chloe with a scared expression, Rufus farts again. Shorty reaches under the table and pats him.)
CHLOE: Now, Shorty, do you know anything about what happened to Polly.
(Shorty is silent)
SHORTY: I know stuff, but I promised I wouldn’t tell.
(Chloe sits up straight and scribbles in her notepad)
CHLOE: It’s ok Shorty, you can tell me!
SHORTY: It was…It was…
CHLOE: Go on Shorty.
SHORTY: It was…..Goldie
CHLOE: Goldie? Shorty, are you serious, why would Goldie kill Polly?
SHORTY: She didn’t do it on purpose, I don’t know what happened, but I walked into her room and she was carrying Polly out to the living room. She said that Polly had had an accident and not to say anything to Mister Teeth, so I didn’t, but I feel so guilty, Polly was so annoying but I know she was Teeth’s best friend.
(Chloe reaches across the table and pats Shorty on the shoulder.”
CHLOE: It is ok Shorty; you have done the right thing. If you could go and fetch Goldie for me now, that would be great.
(Shorty gets up and exits CSL)
(Goldie Enters CSL and sits down opposite Chloe)
CHLOE: Goldie, Shorty told me what he knows, there is no getting away with this, I want you to tell me what happened.
GOLDIE: Polly isn’t dead.
CHLOE : What do you mean? I saw her, she is dead.
(Goldie exits CSR and returns shortly with Polly. She gently places her on the table in front of Chloe. Chloe looks closely, sure enough, Polly’s chest is rising and falling slowly.)
CHLOE: How?
GOLDIE: Let me explain. I take Valerian; It is a herb that has been used since the early days, to help me sleep. You take the root and grind it up into a powder, but it tastes horrid so I always mix it with sugar before I take it. I was stupid; I left the mixture lying around on my writing desk and Polly ate some. Because she is so small, she only needed to eat a teaspoon-full to knock her out for a couple of hours. She will wake up soon. But Teeth had warned me before about not leaving it where Polly could get to it. I knew he would be so angry so I hid her in the living room while she slept it off. Obviously my hiding place didn’t work so well.
(Chloe gasps, jumps up and hugs Goldie as Goldie starts to cry.)
CHLOE: Oh Goldie, it will be ok, you made a mistake but no harm has been done. Polly is going to wake up. I want you to bring the rest of the crew in here and I will talk to you all together.
(Goldie steps back and wipes her tears, nodding sadly. She turns and exits CSL, returning shortly with the other members of the crew. They all sit at the table)21

MR.TEETH: Did you find out who did it Chloe? Tell me so I can kill them.
(Mister Teeth jumps up and down, brandishing his fists)
CHLOE: Yes, Mister Teeth, I found out culprit, but there will be no need to kill anyone.
MR. TEETH: What do you mean, Someone killed…..
(Chloe cuts him off)
CHLOE: (Quietly) Polly isn’t dead.
SHORTY: But I saw Goldie….
(Shorty clasps his hand over his own mouth a second to late.)
JOHNNY: Goldie? Chloe? What is going on?
GOLDIE: Valerian. I left it lying around, Polly ate some, I am so sorry Teeth.
(Johnny, Shorty and Teeth all stare at Goldie and Chloe. Suddenly, Teeth starts laughing, Everyone looks at teeth.
JOHNNY: What is so funny Teeth?
(Teeth points to Polly who is still lying on the table her head is twitching She opens her eyes and lifts her head to look at Mr. Teeth.
POLLY: Crikey, that was some stroooooonnng sugar.
(Everyone laughs)
GOLDIE: I am so sorry Teeth.
TEETH: It’s ok Goldie, no harm done, just be more careful next time.
JOHNNY: Well I think we all deserve a drink now.
(Johnny gets up, walks over to the fridge and withdraws a large jug of fresh lemonade. He pours five glasses and one thimbleful for Polly, also pouring some into Rufus’s bowl. Rufus farts again and Johnny holds his nose.
JOHNNY: Who votes we go up to the deck?
(All nod and Exit CSR)22


Scene Four23

(Curtains open and all are lazing around on the deck drinking lemonade and chatting.
Chloe looks up at the sky and notices that the sun is setting. She jumps to her feet)24

CHLOE: It is nearly sunset. I have to go home!
JOHNNY: We will be sad to see you go Chloe, you have been a good friend.
(Chloe Nods)
JOHNNY: Before you go, I want to give you this.
(Johnny reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gold coin. He hands it to Chloe. Goldie walks up and hugs her.)
GOLDIE: Never forget us Chloe.
CHLOE: (Smiling) don’t worry, I won’t.
(Chloe lies down on the deck and shuts her eyes.)
(Curtains Close)25

Scene Five26

(Curtains are still closed.)27

MOTHER: Chloe, Chloe wake up sweetie, time for breakfast!
(Curtains open and Chloe is back in her bed in the middle of the stage. Her mother is shaking her awake. Chloe opens her eyes.28

CHLOE: Oh mother, it was so lovely, I spent the night with Johnny Silver and his friends on the Silver King.
(Mother looks shocked for a second and then smiles)
MOTHER: I am glad you had a nice dream Chloe, now it is time to get up.
CHLOE: It wasn’t a dream Mummy, I was really there!
MOTHER: I am sure you were sweetie.
(Chloe sighs and Mother walks out of the room)
CHLOE: I was sure it was real. But how….
(Chloe lifts her hand up from under the covers and opens it, on her palm there is a gold coin. Chloe smiles.)
CHLOE: I’ll miss you Johnny. 29

(Curtains close. The End)30


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