With Music By Tim Menzel
Tommy the Bald Eagle
Eddy the Velociraptor
Bunny the White-Tailed Deer
Anna: At the refuge
The water gathers in large puddles after the tide's withdrawn.
And all the shorebirds shake their tail feathers
and bury their beaks in the moist mud flats,
searching for food to fatten their forms
for the long flight north.
But when spring is gone
they move away to the Arctic
and nest on what amounts to
a big lawn.
And I'll miss then while they're away.
[Anna breaks her meditative state as if noticing the audience for the first time and begins to speak to them.]
Anna: Oh, hello to you humans. My name is Anna, and I am a Black Duck. Some of my friends and I, who are all from the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife refuge, have composed a little show for all of you in order to teach you about the refuge.
[Tommy enters, coughing]
Tommy: Anna, I do not feel so good.
Anna: Are you sick, Tommy? You can't be sick. How can you be sick?!? We need you to put on this show! What is wrong?
Tommy: I'll tell you what is wrong. Pollution, that is what's wrong.
[Sings] Pollution comes in many forms
I'm just a bird
But I still have to mourn
for the fate of my unborn child.
It's all around
It's in the air, it's on the ground
And we're just spreading it around
and its been climbing up the food chain
and every stop along the way it gets a little
it gets a little more concentrated
So when it gets to us birds of prey it's so bad
It makes our eggs just break in half
Pollution comes in many forms
I'm just a bird
But I still have to mourn
for the fate of my unborn child
Anna: Oh, so you are not really sick, per se, you are just worried.
Tommy: Well, I am not physically ill, but just thinking about what all this pollution does to my offspring makes me feel sick. I am not sure if I am up for performing today. But don't you worry, Anna, I hired an understudy.
Anna: What?... Who?... You hired an understudy?... Why?... Where?...
Tommy: Well his name is Eddy. I know he is a raptor, but I am not sure what kind. At any rate, I am sure he will do a fine job.
Anna: You hired an understudy who you never met?!? This is bad. This is real bad. This is really real bad. This is really, really...[cut off by Tommy]
Tommy: Don't worry Anna, I am sure he will do a fine job. I mean he sounded a bit rough around the edges, but I am sure he will do a fine job. I am sure he will do a fine job.
Anna: So when is this "Eddy" supposed to be here?
Tommy: He should be here any minute now.
[An uncomfortable pause ensues. Anna and Tommy both look around then Tommy says a little louder]
Tommy: He should be here any minute now.
[Another uncomfortable pause. Anna and Tommy both look around and then look down. Then Tommy shouts]
Tommy: He should be here any minute now.
[Eddy Enters]
Eddy: Right... I'm here... about the raptor position.
Anna: [In shock] And you are?
Eddy: Edwin V. Raptor... but you can call me Eddy. At your services.
Tommy: Oops.
Anna: And... Uhh... And... Uhh... What kind of raptor would you be?
Eddy: Why a Velociraptor, of course.
Tommy: Ut—oh.
[Anna looks at Eddy, then looks at Tommy, then looks at Eddy, then looks at Tommy, then looks at the audience, then looks at Eddy, then looks up, then looks down, shakes her head, sighs and says to herself:]
Anna: I do not believe this is happening to me. [To Eddy] Look, I am sorry to have wasted your time, Mr. ... errr... Raptor...
Eddy: Eddy.
Anna: Eddy, but this is a show about Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, and last I checked we had no velociraptors on the refuge.
Eddy: But I heard you needed a raptor, and as far as raptors go I am one of the most talented there is.
Anna: Yes, I am sure you are quite talented, but when we said we needed a raptor what we meant was a bird of prey. Actually the last thing we expected was a dinosaur. Besides... you... ummm... you are... ummm... how do I say this politely... you... ummm... you are extinct.
Eddy: I know, I worked it into my act.
Anna and Tommy: Your act ?!?
Eddy: "The Velocirap"
[Raps] I am a Velociraptor, that is plain to see,
In case you didn't realize my whole species is History.
We went extinct some 65 million years ago,
And now I'm back to tell you some things you need to know.
Extinction is a real problem, not just a thing from the past,
Today we're lose'n species and we're lose'n 'em fast.
They’re disappearing at a rate of 'bout three an hour,
Mostly bugs, but an occasional bird or flower.
Actually no living thing is immune from this risk,
From the most advanced primate to the simplest little mollusk.
From this point our situation seems to be deteriorating
'Cause with one species gone 2 or 3 more have to be assimilating.
Ya, extinction is a real problem for everyone.
Take it from me--- Extinction ain't no fun.
So what do you guys think? That was pretty good, Eh?
Tommy: Ya!
Anna: That was... umm... interesting, but I am sorry, you cannot be in the show.
Eddy: Please.
Anna: No.
Eddy: Ok, ok, I understand if you would prefer not to have me as a lead, but since I like you guys I guess I will lower my standards and settle for a co-starring role.
Anna: You are not being in this show.
Eddy: How 'bout supporting cast?
Anna: No.
Eddy: An extra.
Anna: Leave!
Eddy: Stage hand?
Anna: Leave NOW!
[Eddy leaves in a huff]
Anna: Well, that was... that was interesting. And Tommy, for future reference, if you feel you have a real need to hire an understudy—clear it with me first, ok?
Tommy: Sorry. Say isn't Bunny supposed to be here?
Anna: Yes. Bunny informed me that she would be running a little late, but she should be here shortly.
Tommy: So what is this show supposed to be about anyway?
Anna: Well, we are here to teach all the young humans in the audience about National Wildlife Refuges and why they are important.
Tommy: Oh, you mean like how thanks to the National Wildlife Refuges and all the biologists who work for them, my species, which was on the verge of extinction, is making a pretty strong come back.
Anna: Exactly.
Tommy: Who knows, if it was not for their help I could have gone the way of the... velociraptor.
Anna: Now Tommy, that is not exactly true.
Tommy: Sure it is. What do you mean?
Anna: Well, no one is quite sure why dinosaurs went extinct. As opposed to species such as yourself, the piping plover, or the pine barrens tree frog which have been dying out because of loss of habitat. You see humans are building houses, apartments, roads, mini-malls, and lots of other structures; however, in doing this they also destroy a lot of natural habitat where many different species of plants and animals live.
Tommy: That is not good.
Anna: That is where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service steps in and why the whole National Wildlife Refuge System was set up. They are there to preserve all kinds of habitat so that wildlife, such as ourselves, will always have a place to live.
[Enters Bunny- the deer]
Tommy: Hey, it's Bunny!
Anna: Hello Bunny!
Bunny: Hello everyone. Did I miss much?
Anna: No, we had a slight... umm... personnel problem earlier, [looks at Tommy] but everything is fine now. We are just starting to discuss the importance of National Wildlife Refuges.
[While Anna is talking to Bunny, Eddy is seen coming up in the background. He has disguised himself as a rabbit and sneaks up behind the other three animals.]
Eddy: Uhh... What's up... Doc?
[Anna, Tommy, and Bunny all do a double take.]
Anna: Eddy, what in heavens name are you doing?
Eddy: Who's Eddy? I know I'm not. I'm a cute little furry rabbit who lives on the refuge. Can I be in your show?
Anna: You are not a rabbit, you are an extinct velociraptor, and as I told you before, you are not being in this show.
Eddy: I am not a velociraptor. I do not even know what a velociraptor is. I am a cute furry little rabbit. I have big ears like a rabbit, I have a cute little rabbit nose, I have a cute little rabbit tail, I hop like a rabbit, [hops] I even ribbit like a rabbit. Ribbit! Ribbit!
Tommy: Uhh... Eddy, rabbits do not ribbit, frogs do.
Eddy: That's what I meant, I'm a cute little furry... err... frog.
Tommy: Uhh... Eddy, give it up.
[Eddy growls and then leaves in a huff, again.]
Bunny: What was that all about?
Anna: You do not want to know. Now let us see... Where were we?
Tommy: We were talking about how important wildlife refuges are to us wildlife.
Bunny: Ooo, did you talk about endangered species and the refuge biologists' efforts to help them recover?
Anna: Yes, we already discussed that topic.
Bunny: Oh... well did you talk about habitat loss and the National Wildlife Refuge system's effort to preserve land in its natural state?
Tommy: Yup, covered that.
Bunny: Oh... Hmm... Well did you talk at all about pollution and its adverse effect on wildlife?
Anna: [Looks at Tommy] Actually, we did touch upon that topic.
Bunny: Oh... Well... Hmm... How about the way hundreds of thousands of migrating birds use the refuge's over forty thousand acres of land for breeding, feeding and resting?
Tommy: Nope, didn't cover that.
Bunny: Anna, don't you know quite a bit about that subject?
Anna: Actually, I do. Although my family has lived on the refuge since it was founded in 1939, over one hundred thousand other black ducks migrate through here every year as they transcend the Atlantic Flyway.
Bunny: That sure is a lot of birds!
Anna: That is just black ducks. That is not counting any other duck, or any geese, or songbirds or shore birds or raptors... that is birds of prey.
[At the word Raptor Eddy pokes his head out of the tree, and slowly leans more and more out of it.]
Tommy: That's actually why the refuge is here, right?
Anna: Yes. Primarily the refuge was created for Atlantic Brant and American Black Ducks, but it is used by a very wide variety of a very large amount of birds as well as other wildlife.
Bunny: Like white-tailed deer such as myself.
Anna: Right, and many other mammals and reptiles, fish, amphibians and insects. Plus there are many plant species that also live on the refuge.
[A yell is heard as Eddy falls from a tree into the midst of the three characters. This time he is "cleverly" disguised as some sort of bird.]
Anna: [Without missing a beat, but now a little annoyed and looking at Eddy] However, the refuge does not provide any sanctuary for VELOCIRAPTORS!
Eddy: That is good, because I am a glossy ibis, not a velociraptor. Can I be in your show?
Anna: Look, Eddy, I do not know whom you think you are fooling, but it is not us.
Tommy: Eddy, I think you should probably go. You really have nothing to do with the refuge.
Eddy: Hey look, I do not know who this Eddy guy is. I mean he sounds like an intelligent, handsome, talented, witty, admirable...
Anna: Eddy.
Eddy: Clever, charismatic, remarkable, respectable... compassionate...
Tommy and Anna: Eddy!
Eddy: Humane... skillful... courteous... extraordinary... benevolent...
Bunny, Tommy, and Anna: EDDY!!!
Eddy: And modest fellow who deserves to be in the puppet show on his own merit, but I am not he.
Anna: ARRGGG!!!! YES YOU ARE! YES YOU ARE!! YES YOU ARE!!!! You are Eddy, you are a velociraptor, and you are extinct. If that were not bad enough you are wearing the worst glossy ibis disguise that I have ever seen.
[While Anna is going off on Eddy, Tommy and Bunny are nodding in the affirmative with each statement. When Anna tells Eddy that he is wearing the worst glossy Ibis disguise the she has ever seen they both do a double nod.]
Eddy: Do I look more like a great egret?
Anna: Leave before I call a refuge law enforcement officer to come and have you mounted.
Eddy: So, are you saying you do not want me in your show or something?
Anna: That is exactly it you dense little dinosaur!
Eddy: [Acting hurt] Well... well... fine. I did not want to be in your show any way. Maybe I can go get a job haunting the Pine Barrens or something.
[Eddy leaves for the final time.]
Anna: Well, now with him gone, we can get back to the show.
Bunny: Is there anything else that we have to cover?
Tommy: No I think we have covered everything.
Anna: So what is left?
Tommy: Just the closing song and dance number.
Anna: Thank goodness. After this show, I need a migration...
[The three characters back away from the stage and start swaying from left to right in unison with the music and each other. During each animals verse they step forward and sing it with the other two are still swaying with the music.]
All: At the refuge,
At the refuge,
At the refuge,
Things get pretty wild here,
At the refuge.
Bunny: Well, I’m a white—tailed deer, and my name is Bunny,
I only eat grass, so I don’t need money.
I live in the woods with the rest of the fauna,
I could leave the refuge, but I don’t think I’m gonna.
All: At the refuge,
At the refuge,
At the refuge,
Things get pretty wild here,
At the refuge.
Tommy: Well, my name is Tommy, and I’m a Bald Eagle,
I like to fly around the refuge and appear all regale,
I’m a national symbol from sea to sea,
But I make my home here with Edwin B.
All: At the refuge,
At the refuge,
At the refuge,
Things get pretty wild here,
At the refuge.
Anna: My name is Anna, and I am a black duck,
I live at the refuge, I dabble in the muck,
With my beak
I’ve got orange feet
I paddle in the puddle that linger long
After the tides withdrawn,
At the refuge.
[The show closes with Anna in the middle and Tommy at her left and Bunny at her right. As the last notes of the song are played Bunny comes over and kisses Anna on her hear while Tommy is hovering on the other side. When the music ends all three are slowly lowered down.]
