Thumbelina

Mother:
Now, here is the story of the noble dog, who saved the king from the wicked wizard. Once upon a time...

Thumbelina:
Oh, mother, please. Are there any stories about... about little people?

Mother:
Well, as a matter of fact, there are, Thumbelina. Look. [lifts her on to the book, which is opened to a picture of fairies]

Thumbelina:
Why, they are little! Just like me! [points to wings] But... but what are those?

Mother:
Those are wings, Thumbelina. These are fairies and fairies have wings so they can fly.

Thumbelina:
Mother, have you ever seen a fairy?

Mother:
Well, I thought I did once.

Thumbelina:
Really?

Mother:
[laughs] Yes. [puts reading glass on to picture to magnify the image] And here, the fairy prince and princess are having a wedding.

Thumbelina:
And they live... happily ever after!

Mother:
[smiles] Usually, my dear.

Thumbelina:
[crawls under glasses so she is by the picture of the prince] I... suppose it works best if two people are about... the same size.

Mother:
[unsure] Yes, of course.

Thumbelina:
[crawls out from underneath the glasses] Well... well, that's not fair. I... I must be the only little person in the world. I wish I were big.

Mother:
Oh, no, Thumbelina. No. Don't ever wish to be anything but what you are.

Thumbelina:
I wish I had wings.

Prince Cornelius:
Maybe someday you will.

Hero:
[growls upon seeing Prince Cornelius]

Thumbelina:
Oh! Oh, no, Hero. See? He's nice. [to Cornelius] Hello. My name is Thumbelina. [curtsies] How do you do, sir? Thank you... thank you for... coming to visit.

Prince Cornelius:
Oh, no trouble at all. [bows] The pleasure is mine.

Hero:
[stops growling and falls asleep]

Thumbelina:
Ooh. Sorry about that.

Prince Cornelius:
Thumbelina... it's a lovely name.

Thumbelina:
Thank you.

Prince Cornelius:
I'm Cornelius.

Thumbelina:
C... Cornelius. [laughs] Well, that's a funny name! Oh! I mean, I mean it's perfect.

Thumbelina:
[not knowing that Cornelius is the prince] Tell me about the fairy court. Is there a prince?

Prince Cornelius:
Yes.

Thumbelina:
He must be terribly handsome.

Prince Cornelius:
Oh, he is.

Thumbelina:
Strong and brave.

Prince Cornelius:
None like him.

Thumbelina:
I'd love to meet the prince.

Prince Cornelius:
Oh, I'll tell him.

Prince Cornelius:
[sings] Let me be your wings!

Thumbelina:
[singing] You will be my wings/You will be my only love/You will take me far beyond the stars [speaking] Jacquimo, this is silly! This is a weed patch!

Jacquimo:
This is ze Vale of ze Fairies!

Thumbelina:
Take me home, please.

Jacquimo:
[sings] Let me be your wings [speaks] Like zat. Sing like zat

Thumbelina:
You will lift me high above/Everything we're dreaming of will soon be ours/Anything that we desire/Anything at all/Everyday you'll take me higher... [speaks] Let's be practical. This isn't the Vale of the Fairies, and Cornelius is never coming back!

Prince Cornelius:
[comes up behind her, singing] And I'll never let you fall!

Thumbelina:
You..it's you..Cornelius you're alive!

Queen Tabitha:
Don't look now, dear husband, but our son is missing *again*.

King Colbert:
[looks] So he is. I think he feels a bit silly riding that white butterfly we gave him.

Queen Tabitha:
Weel, why should he feel silly?

King Colbert:
It dosn't make the right impression on the young ladies.

Queen Tabitha:
Well, what of the impression on the *court*! Colbert, my love, it is the Autumn *today*. And we have begun the golding of the leaves. He *should* be here!

King Colbert:
Tabitha...

Queen Tabitha:
He'll hurt himself. I just hope he's not buzzing through the vales on that wretched bumblebee. He is the crown prince, for Heaven's sake!

King Colbert:
[laughing] Tabitha dear, have you forgotten what it's like to be 16?

Queen Tabitha:
[just as they pass over, Cornelius speeds out from under the undergrowth]

Prince Cornelius:
[riding on Buzz Bee] WHOA!

[catches sight of Thumbelina]

Prince Cornelius:
Oh! Hello. What a beautiful voice!

[to Buzz Bee]

Prince Cornelius:
Stay here, boy. I'll check this out.

Thumbelina:
[miserably] I want to go home.

Ms. Fieldmouse:
Well, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait here 'till spring, Thumbelina.

Thumbelina:
[jumps to her feet] You know my name!

Ms. Fieldmouse:
Oh, that was easy! I know much more, like you *were* engaged to the fairy prince, erm... Cornelius, I believe...

Thumbelina:
W-well, almost...?

Ms. Fieldmouse:
Oh, that is *so* sad!

Thumbelina:
What?

Ms. Fieldmouse:
That he was found, stone-cold-frozen *DEAD*, in the snow.

Thumbelina:
[gasps and breathes] No!

Ms. Fieldmouse:
[flippantly] But of course, you knew that!

[after performing with Mrs. Toad and her sons and receiving a standing ovation]

Thumbelina:
Oh thank you, Mrs. Toad, thank you! They really like me! Am I a star?

Mrs. Toad:
Yes. And you can call me Mama.

Thumbelina:
Mama?

Mrs. Toad:
You are going to marry my son Grundel.

Thumbelina:
I what?

Mozo:
[Grundel sulks, dipping his fingers in the water. Mozo appears and speaks in a teasing tone] Hey bro...

Grundel:
Go away!

Mozo:
Pond Doc has said Thumbelina give you the slip, and is going to marry a fairy prince.

Grundel:
[Stands up] What fairy prince?

Mozo:
Ho ho ho! You'll not be able to show your ugly face on the stage no more.

Gringo:
Everybody laugh at you!

Grundel:
Nobody laugh!

[Mozo and Gringo laugh]

Grundel:
I said nobody laughs!

[They laugh even harder]

Grundel:
I go get Thumbelina and bring her back!

[They laugh uncontrollably, and an enraged Grundel throws them up in the air]

Grundel:
I marry her!

[He storms off, leaving Mozo and Gringo laughing their heads off]

Mr. Beetle:
[to Thumbelina after the Beetle Ball] Don't worry, you'll get over me.

[first lines]

Jacquimo:
Hello. Welcome to Paris, city of love. Who am I? I am Jacquimo, swallow extraordinaire and lover of beautiful things.

[Jacquimo flies through the sky above the pond as he hums]

Thumbelina:
Help!

Jacquimo:
[turns around] Whoa! Help? Who is saying "help"?

Thumbelina:
Mr. Bird, over here!

Jacquimo:
Oh! Oh, little one, are you having a bad day?

Thumbelina:
Oh, I was... I was sleeping on the windowsill, waiting for Prince Cornelius to come back, and... he said he would come before morning because he loves me and...

Jacquimo:
He loves you?

Thumbelina:
Yes.

Jacquimo:
[shakes Thumbelina's tiny hands] Congratulations!

Thumbelina:
Thanks. But, well... but I was stolen away by Mrs. Toad, who says I have to marry her son, and I just...

Jacquimo:
A toad? Ptooey toad! Zat is a very bad day, Mademoiselle... uh, Mademoiselle...?

Thumbelina:
Thumbelina.

Jacquimo:
Thumbelina, I am Jacquimo. How can I be of service to you?

Thumbelina:
Well, I must get off this lily pad, but... that's impossible.

Jacquimo:
Ha-ha-ha! Nothing is impossible!

Thumbelina:
Well, I must get off this lily pad, but...that's impossible.

Jacquimo:
[laughs] Nothing is impossible!

Prince Cornelius:
We meet at last, Mr. Toad!

Toad:
The Fairy Prince! [To the Beetle] I thought you killed him!

Thumbelina:
Let's be practical. This isn't the Vale of the Fairies, and Cornelius is never coming back!

Prince Cornelius:
[comes up behind her, singing] And I'll never let you fall!

Thumbelina:
[seeing him alive] You! It's you! Cornelius, you're alive!