[Music] chapter one the riverbank it is spring and the mold is cleaning his little home he is working very hard and he is very tired suddenly he decides to stop he wants to go outside he goes up a small tunnel and arrives outside in a meadow this is nice he thinks when he arrives in the sunlight this is better than cleaning he is very happy he crosses meadows and woods he sees rabbits birds and a lot of other animals they are all working hard finally he arrives at the river he sits down on the grass the water rat comes out of his hole in the riverbank he sees mole hello mole he says would you like to come over oh hello rat yes i would uh but how replies mole i can come and get you in my boat rat gets into a little boat and crosses the river mole gets into the boat this is wonderful it says mole this is my first time in a boat your first time says rat there's nothing better than boats let's go for a picnic oh yes please says mole rat goes into his house and returns with a big basket full of food they go down the river in the boat rat tells mold about life on the river and about his neighbors the otters kingfishers and more hens moles sees a wood in the distance what's over there he asks that's the wild wood says rat we don't go there often are they nice people there asks mole well replies rat the squirrels and rabbits are all right and there's badger he's nice but the weasels stoats and foxes you must be careful with them they stop for their picnic and mole unpacks the basket soon the otter arrives hello water says rat this is my friend mr mole pleased to meet you says otter to mole suddenly the badger appears and rat invites him to the picnic but badger turns around and goes away badger hates company says rat we don't see him often but look there's toad on the river in his new boat it's toad's new hobby says otter yes says rat first it was sailing then it was houseboating he changes hobby all the time rat waves to toad but toad doesn't stop rat and mole return to rat's house in the boat rat invites mold to stay with him and mole is very happy chapter 2 the open road one summer morning mole and rat decide to visit mr toad they get in the boat and go up the river toad's rich you know says rat is toad very nice asks mole oh yes replies rat he's very nice he isn't very intelligent but we can't all be clever and sometimes he's boastful and arrogant but he's got some good qualities soon they arrive at toad hall they pass by a boating house it is full of boats they are all out of the water it seems that toad isn't interested in boating anymore i wonder what his new hobby is says rat rat and mole get out of the boat and walk across the gardens of toad hall they see toad in the garden he is looking at a big map he is very pleased to see rat and mole hello toad says rat this is my friend mole oh splendid cries toad pleased to meet you come and see my new hobby he shows them a gypsy caravan it is yellow and green with red wheels there's real life cries toad the open road travel change interest excitement [Laughter] look inside everything's there we've got everything for our journey this afternoon excuse me you say we our this afternoon asks rat yes ready i can't go without you says toad oh rat it's so exciting says mole very well says rat let's go after lunch they go to the paddock and catch the old grey horse then they set off on the road it is a lovely afternoon and the birds whistle at them and passes by say good afternoon good afternoon in the evening they stop and eat a simple meal then they go to bed the next morning toad sleeps until very late so mole walks to the nearest village he buys milk and eggs for breakfast and rat lights a fire and washes the dinner plates from the night before they are very tired after this hard work finally toad gets up life on the road is very easy he says after breakfast they set off they are walking along the road when suddenly a magnificent motor car drives past the horse is frightened and pulls the caravan off the road into a ditch the caravan is ruined rat is furious you villains police help he shouts but toad is sitting in the middle of the road he is staring in the direction of the motor car poop poop he says poop poop rat and mole try to pull the caravan out of the ditch but they can't rat asks can you help us toad poop replies toad now that's the real way to travel the only way the caravan is ruined and they must return home by train the next day toad buys a big and very expensive motor car chapter 3 the wild wood [Music] mole wants to meet badger could you ask him here for dinner he asks rat he wouldn't come replies rat he hates company well can we go and call on him suggests mole oh no says rat he's very shy and also he lives in the middle of the wild wood it is clear that rat doesn't want to visit badger it is winter time and rat sleeps a lot one afternoon he is sleeping in his armchair in front of the fire so mole decides to go and explore the wild wood and meet badger he goes outside it is very cold and the sky is grey he is happy and when he arrives at the wild wood he is not frightened then he starts to see faces hundreds of faces little faces with hard eyes mole is frightened and leaves the path in a panic mole starts to run he doesn't know where finally he hides inside the hollow of an old tree rat wakes up and looks for mole but mole is not there mold's hat and boots are gone rat goes outside and sees footprints they are going in the direction of the wild wood rat is worried he goes back into the house takes two pistols and a big stick and sets off for the wild wood he also sees little faces with hard eyes but they disappear immediately when they see his pistols and stick rat hunts for an hour molly molly where are you it's me rat finally he hears a cry ready is that really you i'm so frightened rat sees mole under the tree mole you mustn't come into the wild wood alone we animals from the riverbank always come in couples but brave mr toad isn't frightened of the wood says mole rat laughs toad he wouldn't come here for a hat full of gold but now we must leave her home before night comes rat looks around it's snowing and everything looks so different in the snow they set off bravely but after two hours they stop for a rest the snow is very deep and they are very tired and wet we're very tired says rat let's find a dry cave or hole then we can rest before trying again they look for shelter suddenly mole falls down oh my leg he cries poor mole says rat he looks at the cut on mole's leg this is a cut from metal not a branch he says he starts to dig in the snow hooray hooray he shouts what is it asks mole they see a little green door a bell is hanging next to it under the bell is written mr badger rat hits the door with his stick and mob rings the bell [Music] [Music] chapter four mr badger [Music] mole and rat wait for a long time and finally they hear footsteps the door opens a little and they see a nose and two sleepy eyes who is itch asks badger he is angry oh badger cries rat it's me rat and my friend mole we're lost in the snow my dear ratty says badger come in lost in the snow in the wild wood this isn't the kind of night for small animals to be out he takes them to the kitchen there is a fire burning in the fireplace badger gives them dressing gowns and slippers they sit in front of the fire while badger prepares dinner for them they are very hungry and they eat and eat hoes old toad asks badger from bad to worse says rat another accident in his car this is the seventh he's always in hospital or paying fines he needs to pay for a driver but he's convinced that he's a good driver badger thinks i can't do anything now but when the nights are short we must talk to toad he must become sensible now it's time for bed he takes them to a room it is full of food for the winter apples turnips potatoes nuts and honey but there are also two little beds mole and rat get undressed and go to sleep the next morning they get up very late they are eating breakfast in the kitchen when the front doorbell rings it's otter he is very happy to see rat and mole everybody on the river is very worried about you he says at that moment badger arrives i think it's time for lunch he says during lunch otter and rad talk about the river mole tells badger i like your house it's good to live underground badger is pleased that mole likes his house yes here it's safe peaceful and quiet after lunch badger shows mole his home there are a lot of rooms and tunnels they return to the kitchen ratty is wearing his coat come on mo it's time to go he says we must go before night he is worried huh it's all right says otter i'm coming with you don't worry ratty says badger my tunnels go to the edge of the wood he picks up a lantern and takes them down a long tunnel after a long time they see daylight they are on the edge of the wild wood badger says goodbye and goes away quickly otter takes them to the river mole is very happy to be home chapter 5 toad it is a sunny morning in summer mole and rad are having breakfast suddenly there is a knock at the door mole goes to the door and comes back with badger badger looks very serious it's time he says time for what asks rat he looks at the clock time for who says badger time for toad we must talk to him i know that another big new motor car is arriving a toad hall today we must go and talk to toad before it's too late good says rat we must save poor toad when they arrive at toad hall a big red car is in front of the house toad is coming out of the house he is wearing goggles a cap an enormous coat and gloves hello he says when he sees them take him inside says badger to rat and mull they take him inside now toad says badger take these stupid clothes off no says toad why are you doing this take his clothes off badger orders rat sits on toad and mold takes off toad's motor clothes [Music] now toad says badger you don't listen to our advice you're spending all your money and people are talking about the animals because of your fast driving and problems with the police but toad is not sorry so they lock him in a bedroom you can come out when you're sorry says rat they go downstairs toad shouts at them through the keyhole toads very determined says badger it's a difficult situation we must never leave toad alone the days pass but toad is still interested in cars he becomes depressed one morning rat is with toad how are you today toad he asks not very well replies toad could you go to the village and call the doctor rat is worried a doctor he must be very ill he goes out of the room and locks the door then he runs to the village toad jumps out of bed and laughs he gets dressed quickly he puts some money in his pockets he climbs out of the window and jumps to the ground he then walks away in the opposite direction to rat the sun is shining and he is very happy with himself poor ratty he thinks he's a very good animal but not very intelligent i must educate him one day he arrives in a small town and sees a sign the red lion toad is very hungry he goes into the inn and orders a big lunch suddenly he hears and sees a car outside the inn the people get out and go into the inn toad walks outside he looks at the car i wonder he thinks if this type of car starts easily in a dream he starts the car then sits in the driver's seat and drives away he doesn't think about right or wrong he drives faster and faster we must punish this villain severely says the magistrate he's guilty first of all of stealing a motor car secondly of driving dangerously and thirdly of being rude to the police i give you 20 years in prison poor toad is locked up in prison [Music] chapter six toads adventures [Music] toad is very unhappy ah this is the end of everything he thinks the end of the career of toad the popular and handsome toad the rich and kind toad he starts crying [Laughter] now i must stay in this dark prison oh clever rat and sensible mole intelligent badger poor toad the days and weeks pass and he refuses to eat the jailer has got a daughter and she helps her father in the brit she is very fond of animals and is sorry for toad one day she asks father please let me look after toad he's so unhappy and so thin she knocks on the door of toad's cell now toad she says sit up and stop crying be sensible and eat some dinner the dinner smells very good and toad starts to think that life is not so bad he sits up and starts to eat the jailer's daughter asks him about toad hall he talks about his home then she asks him about his animal friends when the girl leaves toad is himself again the same arrogant animal the days pass and they have a lot of interesting talks together the jailer's daughter is very sorry for toad and thinks it is wrong that toad is in prison vayne toad believes that she is in love with him and is a little sorry that the social gap between them is so big one morning she says listen toad i've got an aunt she's a washer woman and does the washing for all the prisoners here now you're very rich and she's very poor i think that if you pay her she can give you her dress and bonnet and you can escape you are very similar we are not says toad i'm very elegant considering i'm a toad my aunt's also elegant considering she's a washer woman says the girl i'm trying to help you and you are proud and ungrateful please introduce me to your aunt says toad the next evening the girl's aunt comes into the cell she is carrying toad's washing on the table is a pile of gold coins the washer woman gives toad a cotton dress an apron and a bonnet then toad takes off his coat and waistcoat and puts on the dress apron and bonnet goodbye toad says the girl toad is nervous but he goes out no one stops him when he is outside he walks towards the town soon he sees some red and green lights and the noise of a train aha he thinks a railway station i can catch a train home he goes to the ticket office and asks for a ticket to the village near toad hall but he has no money it is all in his waistcoat pocket in the prison he cannot get home toad is very sad he walks down the platform he starts to cry [Laughter] hello what's the matter asks the train driver sir cries toad i'm a poor washer woman i have no money i can't pay for a ticket and i must get home tonight very well says the kind train driver you're the washer woman i can give you a ride if you wash some shirts for me toad climbs up the guard waves his flag and the train moves out of the station now toad is very happy he thinks about toad hall his friends and good things to eat after some time the train driver says it's very strange we're the last train tonight but i'm sure there's another train behind us toad immediately becomes serious and depressed and the train is full of policemen with truncheons they're shouting stop stop stop continues the train driver toad falls to his knees save me mr train driver i'm not a washer woman i'm toad the the well-known and popular mr toad they want me i'm a car thief and i'm running away from prison the train driver looks very serious i must stop and give you to the police but you're obviously very sorry soon there's a tunnel at the other end there's a wood you must jump out and hide in the wood after the tunnel toad jumps he runs into the wood and hides the police train comes out of the tunnel and continues following the other train toad laughs but soon he stops laughing it is very late and dark and cold he is in a strange wood with no money and far away from friends and home cold hungry and tired he makes a bed with dead leaves and branches under a tree and goes to sleep [Music] chapter 7 the further adventures of toad toad wakes up early the sun is shining he stands up and starts walking soon he sees a canal on it there is a barge pulled by a horse there is a woman on the barge good morning she says to toad maybe it's good for you says toad but i'm a poor washer woman and i'm going to see my married daughter she's in trouble all my other children are alone i'm lost with no money oh where does your daughter live asks the barge woman near the river replies toad near a fine house called toad hall total i'm going in that direction says the woman come with me in the barge i can take you near toad hall lucky toad gets onto the barge so you're a washer woman asks the woman oh yes says toad the best in the country i'm very good i love watching oh then i'm very lucky meeting you says the woman i like washing too but i never have the time there's a big pile of washing inside you can do my washing toad is frightened oh no i don't want to ruin your clothes i usually wash gentlemen's clothes oh no says the woman i want you to be happy toad is worried but he thinks it can't be so difficult to wash half an hour later toad is angry the clothes are still dirty suddenly he hears the barge woman she is laughing you can't wash you aren't a washer woman toad is furious you common barge woman i'm told the distinguished toad you mustn't laugh at me the woman looks at toad under his bonnet yes you are she cries a horrible toad in my nice clean barge she takes him by the legs and throws him into the water it is very cold toad gets out of the water he looks at the woman she is laughing at him toad wants revenge he runs after the barge he takes the horse and gallops away stop stop stop shouts the woman toad laughs after some miles toad and the horse are sleepy and the horse stops to eat some grass toad looks around he sees an old dirty gypsy caravan there is a man sitting next to it there is also a fire over the fire is a pot full of stew toad is very hungry and the stew smells delicious the gypsy asks do you want to sell your horse no no replies toad i love my horse but how much can you pay me a shilling a leg replies the gypsy a shilling a leg says toad i must work out how much that is in total he thinks for a minute but that's only four shillings i cannot accept that give me um six shillings and some breakfast and you can have my horse the gypsy agrees and gives toad six shillings then he gives him an enormous plate of stew toad eats and eats and eats after the gypsy gives him directions for the riverbank and toad says goodbye he is happy again the sun is shining he has money in his pockets and a full stomach and he is near home after some time he sees a car in the distance wonderful thanks toad i can stop the car and ask for a lift then i can return to toad hall in a car he steps into the road and the car slows down but suddenly toad becomes pale and falls to the ground it is the car from outside the red lion and the people in the car are the same people oh no prison again dry bread and water again what a fool i am cries toad the car stops and two men get out oh dear a washer woman in the road let's take her to the village they put toad in the car and continue along the road toad feels brave again because the men do not recognize him how do you feel now asks one of the men better thank you sir says toad but maybe if i can sit in the front seat next to the driver i can have some fresh air on my face very sensible says the man so toad gets into the front seat please sir says toad can i drive the car for a little the driver laughs you can try madam toad gets into the driver's seat and pretends to listen to the driver's instructions at first he drives very carefully the two men laugh and applaud just imagine a washer woman driving so well toad goes a little faster then faster and faster the men say be careful wash a woman this annoys toad and he loses his head what a woman he shouts i'm toad the motor car thief the famous the clever the fearless toad the two men jump on toad and the car goes off the road and finishes up in a pond toad flies through the air and lands on the soft grass of a meadow he gets up and starts to run he cries toad wins again clever toad he looks behind him he sees the driver and two policemen running after him what an idiot i am he cries while he runs how stupid i am he runs and runs but they get nearer poor toad he is a fat animal and his legs are short suddenly he falls into water he is in the river the water carries him along and soon he sees a big hole in the riverbank he takes hold and pulls himself out of the water he looks into the hole and sees a familiar face brown and small it is the water rat toad tries to tell rat about his adventures and about how clever he is but rat is very serious toad you are very silly you must try to be sensible and mustn't embarrass your friends toad is very sorry you're right ratty he says i want to be a good toad in the future let's have coffee and then i can go to toad hall and get some clean clothes go to toad hall cries rat don't you know toad becomes pale no what ratty you don't know about the ferrets and the weasels they're living in toad hall they think you aren't coming back from prison they lie in bed half the day and eat your food and drink your drink the place isn't a mess toad gets up and takes a stick it's no good says rat they've got sentries and are armed you must wait but toad doesn't want to wait he marches down the road to toad hall at the front gate there is a ferret he shoots a toad and so toad runs back to rat badger and mole arrive we can't attack the house says badger they're too strong but there's a tunnel it goes from the riverbank to the middle of toad hall tomorrow night it's the chief weasel's birthday and there's a big party in the dining room we can enter secretly and then run into the dining room with our pistols and swords yes yes cries towed happily now it's time to go to bed says badger we must rest because we've got a lot of work to do tomorrow night chapter 8 the return of mr toad the following evening rat calls everyone into the sitting room and prepares them for the expedition he gives them a belt a sword a pair of pistols a policeman's truncheon handcuffs a flask and a sandwich box when they are ready badger takes a lantern and says now follow me mole first then rat and toad last and toady don't talk toad wants to be part of the expedition so he is quiet badger takes them along the river for a little way and then goes into a hole in the riverbank mold and rat follow silently but toad slips and falls into the water with a loud splash friends pull him out but badger is very angry they continue along the secret tunnel it is cold and dark and poor toad starts to shiver because he is frightened and also because he is completely wet at last badger says we must be under the hall now they are at the end of the tunnel there is a door and they all push against it it opens and they are in the pantry next to the dining room the weasels are making a lot of noise they hear the chief weasel say thank you thank you but before i finish i would like to say one word about our kind host mr toad good modest honest toad everybody laughs and toad is furious badger stands up takes his stick and says the time has come follow me they opened the door and the four friends run into the dining room the weasels and ferrets are terrified and run everywhere in a panic the four friends go up and down the room hitting the animals with their sticks and the weasels and ferrets try to escape through the windows and up the chimney after five minutes the room is empty now toad says badger we've got your house back for you now you can get us some food i'm hungry toad is a little offended because badger doesn't tell him well done and you are a great fighter but he says nothing and finds some food for them to eat the next morning toad wakes up late as usual he comes down for breakfast rat and mole are sitting in the garden and badger is in the armchair reading the newspaper toad says badger you must have a banquet to celebrate your return and you must write the invitations now what cries toad i must stay inside and write letters on a lovely morning like this but then toad has an idea but wait of course dear badger i can start immediately toad wants to write about his important part in the fight and also about his many adventures he also thinks he can give a speech and sing some songs at the banquet he works hard all morning and when a weasel knocks at the door at midday and asks if he can be of service toad tells him to deliver the invitations but after lunch rat and badger sit towed in a chair look toad says rat you must understand you can't give a speech or sing songs can't i sing just one little song asks toad no says rat you know that your songs are all boasting and vanity and your speech is a gross exaggeration you know you must change you're right i promise to be a different toad but this is a hard world that evening when the banquet begins toad enters the dining room to meet his guests all the animals cheer and congratulate him but toad is very humble oh no he says badger rat and moe are the real heroes the animals are very puzzled by his behavior and toad is happy because he feels that everyone is very interested in him at the end of the evening some animals ask for a speech and a song but toad shakes his head he is a changed toad after this great adventure the four animals continue their lives in joy and contentment toad sends a gold chain and lock it with pearls to the jailer's daughter with a modest and grateful letter the train driver also receives thanks and compensation and badger also makes toad send money to the bard woman for her horse sometimes during the long summer evenings the friends go for a walk in the wild wood the weasels greet them with respect mother weasels call their children point and say look there goes great mr toad the brave rat and famous mr moell [Music] when their children are naughty they say that the terrible grey badger is coming to get them this is of course not true because badger is very fond of children but it always has an effect [Music] [Applause] so [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] do [Music] do [Music] you