The Dancing Cow

Jane

Oh, Michael, I’m not well today, so I’ll stay in bed and you, please, go to the window and say what’s there outside. What do you see?

Michael

(looks through the window and exclaims) - Oh!

Jane

What is it?

Michael

There is a cow in the street.

Jane

A cow? A real cow - in the middle of the town? How funny! Mary Poppins, Michael says there is a cow in the street.

Michael

Yes, and it is walking very slowly, and puts its head over every gate and looks around, I think it has lost something.(addresses to Mary Poppins) – Look, a cow. Isn’t it funny?

Mary Poppins

Of course not. It isn’t funny at all. I know that cow. She was a great friend of my mother, and you must speak politely about her. Once she saw the King and spoke to him.

Jane

And when was it?

Mary Poppins

It was long ago. The Red Cow – that is her name. She was a very important Cow. She lived in a very good field, full of long grass and beautiful flowers.

She had a very busy life. In the morning she gave lessons to the Red Calf, her daughter, and in the afternoon she taught her manners and how to moo, and everything that a good calf must know. Every day was like another. But once she had an adventure.

The adventure came one night, when the stars were shining in the dark sky and the moon looked like a big yellow flower.

On this night the Red Cow suddenly stood up and began to dance. There was no music, but she danced very well. She danced one dance after another, and did not stop.

The King

Secretary

The King

The Red Cow

How many Laws have I made today?

Seventy- two, your Majesty.

H-m. Not bad. That’s enough for today.

(Suddenly they hear the knock at the door, they let the cow come in. The King looks in surprise at her dances). What is it?

A Cow, your Majesty.

The King

I can see that. But what do you want? And stop dancing!

The Red Cow

That’s the trouble, your Majesty, I can’t stop.

The King

Can’t stop? Nonsense! Stop at once! I, the King, command you!

Courtier

Stop at once! The King commands you!

The Red Cow

I have tried, your Majesty, but I can’t. I’ve been dancing now for seven days running. And I did not sleep and did not eat. So I have come to ask your advice.

The King

H-m, very curious.

Courtier

Very curious.

The King

Oh, what is it? (Points to the cow’s horn).

The Red Cow

What do you mean?

The King

Don’t you see that there is a fallen star on your horn? That’s why you are dancing. Now you, courtiers, pull off this star, and then this …er – lady, can stop dancing. It’s the star, madam, makes you dance.

Courtier

(tries to pull off the star) But it is impossible, your Majesty, the star doesn’t move.

The King

Secretary

The King

The Red Cow

Secretary, read the Encyclopedia and see what it says about cows which have

stars on their horns.

(takes theEncyclopedia and looks through) There is nothing here, your Majesty, only the story about the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon. (reads the poem): Hey, diddle, diddle,

The Cat and the Fiddle.

The Cow jumped over the Moon.

The little Dog laughed

To see such fun,

And the Plate ran away with the Spoon.

Try that too.

Try what?