Second Script

“The Pied Piper”
Page 1

Panel A: An exterior view of the town of Hamelin, from above.

Unknown Person: “I’ve had it with these rats!”

Panel B: The view changes to the interior of a house. It looks to be a lower income dwelling. A woman is trying to beat a rat with a cricket bat, but seems to be failing.

Panel C: A child hiding in the corner: “Get him Mama!”

Panel D: Finally after turning over most of the room with the cricket bat, the rat disappears.

Kid: “Good job, Mama!”

Panel E: Mama, not seeming to think so, glances out side. Her hair is a mess.

Panel F: Exterior of the house, Mama looking out the window: “We need to rid ourselves of this infestation.”

 

Page 2

Panel A: There is a knock on the door, both Mama and the child look at the door.

Panel B: Mama puts her ear to the door. “Who is it?”

A voice through the door: “The solution, ma’am!”

Panel C: Curiously, she opens the door to reveal a tall, lanky man. He’s dressed in pied clothing and a long coat. The man looked like he’d traveled a long way.

Panel D: Mama: “My question remains.”

“I’ll offer you the same deal I’ve offered the rest of the town-“
Panel E: The man continues to speak, walking further into the room. “-I’m here to take away your rats. For some payment, of course.” Mama  looks a little concerned.

Panel F: “Sir, we don’t have much money to pay you with.” She looked like she wanted to hire the Piper. He speaks: “No matter.”

 

Page 3

Panel A: Man: “I’ve made a deal with the other towns people for only a small sum of money from each of you.”

Panel B: “Surely you can manage something.” Mama looks through a small purse.

Panel C: She takes out a handful of coins and holds them out for the Piper. “It’s what I can spare.”

Panel D: The coins drop into the Pipers hand.

Panel E: The Piper, looking pleased, pockets the coins. “Consider your rat problem a thing of the past.” The child: “Yay!”

Mama looks happy, but somewhat doubtful.

Panel F: The Piper exits.

 

Page 4

Panel A: The Piper appears at the edge of town. He can’t be seen with much detail.

Panel B: We see the Piper closer than before. It looks like he’s reaching into his coat.

Panel C: A close-up of his hand, rough with age and travel, drawing from the coat a silver pipe. It glints in the light.

Panel D: The Piper raises the pipe, and places the mouthpiece to his lower lip.

Panel E: The Piper behinds to play a tune, looking jovial. He dances as he plays.

Panel F: The view draws back again to show the town, musical notes floating over it.

 

Page 5

Panel A: Inside the town, we see a few rats in a group seeming to sniff the air. The musical notes are floating over them like smoke.

Panel B: The rats, seeming impelled, follow the notes.

Panel C: We see Mama and her child watching several rats leave the house as the musical notes float through the room.

Panel D: The side streets begin filling with rats.

Panel E: The pack of thousands of rats flows into the main street.

Panel F: The Piper walks into the distance, rats following him closely.

 

Page 6

Panel A: Sometime later, the Piper returns asking for payment from the rest of the town.

Panel B: One by one, doors close to him.

Panel C: The Govonor, too, refuses to pay. “We need some kind of proof the rats are gone for good.” The Piper is beginning to look upset.

Panel D: The door to the courthouse closes behind the Piper.

Panel E: He walks through the street. The sun is beginning to set – it’s almost dusk.

Panel F: His hand moves into his coat, pulling out his silver pipe.

 

Page 7

Panel A: “I shall collect now.” his pipe moving toward his mouth.

Panel B: Jovially, the Piper begins to play again. The musical notes, like smoke, travel away from him into the town.

Panel C: The child we met earlier wakes from bed, seeming to hear the tune.

Panel D: He rises from bed and walks through the house to the front door.

Panel E: Through the open front door, he observes a crowd of the town’s children walking through the street. They look mesmerized by the music, represented by floating smoke-like notes. The Child does not, but he follows anyway.

Panel F: We see the Piper, and the column of children walking past him, destination unknown. He stops the Child. “Not you.”

 

Page 8

Panel A: The Piper kneels before the Child. “You will go back to town, and tell them what you’ve seen, boy.”

The Child looks nervous.

Panel B: “Where are you taking-“ The Child is interrupted.

Piper: “Tell the towns people their debt is paid.”

Panel C: The Piper stands. He’s much taller than the Child. As the night begins to fall he looks like an intimidating figure. He begins to walk away.

Panel D: Child: “Why not me?”

Piper: “Your mother paid in advance. Run along now.”

Panel E: The piper, children all around, walks into the darkness. The Child is left standing at the edge of town. Wide Panel.

End.