More Practice Copy
TOMMY GROWLER Practice Script
This script was adapted for use in Gary Gillett’s beginning/intermediate voice acting class.
TOMMY GROWLER
“Up a Tree”
By Lora Katheryne and Gary Gillett
© 2007 gary gillett
Cast (10):
Tommy Growler—8-year-old boy, a tiger, fun, playful
Pierre—Tommy’s best friend, a rabbit, shy, new at school
Marie Growler—Tommy’s mother, a tiger, 27 years old
Pantheon Growler—Tommy’s father, a tiger, 31 years old, a firefighter
Milderbird—Nosy neighbor, a bird, squawks when she talks
Nana—Marie’s mother, a tiger, feisty, but loves her family
Newt Gangrene—Newscaster, a newt, excitable, 42 years old
Officer Lionheart—A lion, dedicated to his job
Lindy Lemur—A lemur, Tommy’s female classmate and friend
Mr. Igby—A rhino, school principal, focused on his job
MARIE
Tommy … ? Where’s Tommy?
MARIE
No, he’s not playing hooky. The police called.
MILDERBIRD
He’s involved with the police! I just knew it!
You poor dear!
NANA
(snappishly)
Meeeeoooowwwrrr! Hush, woman! He’s helping
the police! They said some little boy is in
danger and is asking for Tommy! So, there!
MARIE
(worried)
Where’s my boy?
NEWT
(from the street)
This is Newt Gangrene and Channel Nine News
with the latest on this breaking story … To bring
you up to date, a small boy rabbit climbed up
the tallest tree in town, and now is too scared
to come down. Walter, the wind has died down
a bit so Captain Growler and his young
assistant are going up in the cherry picker. It’s
a long way up there … Can you get a close-up
on Captain Growler …
MARIE
(gasp)
Oh, my goodness … it’s Tommy!
(faints)
NEWT
Here’s the scoop, Walter! The boy’s name is
Tommy! We are here with the boy’s mother … If
you’d just stop fainting ma’am, we have a few
questions …
LIONHEART
Yeah, don’t you be worryin’ ma-am. I heard the
rabbit callin’ for Tommy, so I went and got him
from school myself …
LINDY
See? Look, I told you! It’s Tommy!
IGBY
Miss Lemur! You cannot be running out of class
every time something like thi …
LINDY
Mr. Igby, Tommy’s on TV!
MILDERBIRD
I always knew that Tommy would be a hero
someday!
NANA
(sarcastically)
I’ll bet you did.
MARIE
Wh-what happened? Is Tommy all right?
LIONHEART
He’s got a safety harness on, ma’am, you can
be sure of that. Still, it takes a lot of courage to
go up there like that.
LINDY
Don’t worry, Mrs. Growler. Tommy can do
anything!
NANA
Thank you dear.
NEWT
Tommy Growler? Listen to this, Walter … the
boy is Captain Growler’s son! Mrs. Growler!
There are gale-force winds, and the only thing
between your son and a 50-foot drop is a thin
piece of rope. Tell our viewers exactly how you
are feeling!
LINDY
(kicks Newt in the shin)
Hey! Don’t talk to her like that! Can’t you see
she is worried already??
NEWT
Owwww! Uh … sorry about that.
MARIE
(weakly)
That’s all right, Lindy. And uh, thanks.
(to Newt)
Mr. Gangrene, is it? That is a young rabbit boy
who is tired and cold and scared and stuck up
that tree. He could be your son up there. Think
about it.
LINDY
(explains)
It’s Pierre! He wanted to be a tiger, like
Tommy!
MARIE
Oh, the poor dear.
(to Newt)
I know that my husband, Captain Growler, will
do everything he can to make sure that boy gets
down safely. And if my husband thinks Tommy
can help, then he can. I trust my husband, Mr.
Gangrene.
MARIE
And I trust my Tommy.
NANA
That’s my girl!
MARIE
And now I think we should focus on Pierre,
and getting him down safely.
(pointing)
There … What’s that? What are they doing?
LIONHEART
They’ve got him! They’re coming down now!
Both boys are safe!
NEWT
Let’s see if we can get a word with the boys.
Brenda, over this way …
PIERRE
I’m sorry, Tommy. I bet you think I’m just a
silly rabbit!
TOMMY
Are you kidding! That was a rush! Let’s do it
again.
ALL
Tomm-my!!
Cool.Net Practice Scene #1 (Practice Scenes Are Adapted from Cool.Net, Script)
COOL.NET
(A fantasy computer world where only computers live)
By Jean Ann Wright
© 2005 Jean Ann Wright
Borg—A computer robot from the 1980s. His head is a computer monitor and his face is on the screen. His arms and hands are computer cables. He’s on wheels and can move about. He has a warm grandfatherly manner, but tends to speak in the phrases that have been programmed into him, which are often clichés. He seldom gets the clichés right.
Kim Clarke—A nine-year-old human girl who had pressed the email send button on the family computer and somehow sent herself and her brother into the Cool.net world. Kim is adventurous and a bit naïve. Borg reminds her of her grandfather, Grandpa Borgman.
Mike Clarke—The eleven-year-old human brother of Kim, who materialized into Cool.net with his sister. He loves to play handheld video games. His dad works with computers, and brainy Mike has picked up a bit about computer repairs from him. He loves his sister, but sometimes he thinks she’s pretty dumb.
EXT. ROAD IN THE COOL.NET WORLD
BORG
Don’t worry, kids. It’s over now. No use risking
life and tree trunk … or is that life and limb?
Every place has its bad apricots, don’t you
know … or is it applesauce?
Kim takes hold of one of Borg’s computer cables.
BORG (CONT’D)
My great, great grandfather founded this society
right up ahead there. Down he came by
parachute right between these very trees.
Refugee of the space program, he was. It was
he who fathered the great materializer, Mattie.
Invented her and put her together himself, he
did. Made her from spare parts.
Kim gives Borg a hug.
KIM
You remind me of my Grandpa. If he’s not
here, can you help us get home?
MIKE
Don’t mind Kim. Everyone reminds her of our
Grandpa Borgman! We’re trying to get home.
Many of the computers here seem to need
repairs. We’ll be glad to help if you can help us
find a way back home.
Close on Borg
BORG
My name’s Borg. Of course, I’ll help. Don’t look
a gift mouth in the horse … No, i believe that’s
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” … Heigh
ho, heigh ho, it’s down the road we go!
COOL.NET Practice Scene #2
Cast:
Virus Gyros—A large old-style, main-frame computer. He hums and flashes colored lights when he speaks. This is the villain.
Glitch—A smaller than average computer–robot, encased in a bio-protective suit that’s bright green. Glitch is one of Virus Gyros’ two toadies, along with Snitch. Glitch looks like some tiny astronaut on wheels, ready for space. He’s not very bright.
Mike Clarke—The eleven-year-old human brother of Kim who materialized into Cool.net with his sister. He loves to play handheld video games. His dad works with computers, and brainy Mike has picked up a bit about computer repairs from him. He loves his sister, but sometimes he thinks she’s pretty dumb.
INT. VIRUS GYROS’ LAIR
The principal room is dark and cave-like. One wall holds a giant, main frame computer, VIRUS GYROS. Huge batteries are built into one section of the main frame wall. A clock is built into the center at the top. In the middle of the room is a super size aquarium-like structure of glass panels, framed with corroded, rusting metal. The glass encloses a liquid (actually, battery acid) that serves as a moat around a raised and gleaming metal, jewel-encrusted, storage cabinet set in the center. Inside the cabinet are Virus Gyros’ most treasured possessions, his prized, homemade collection of computer viruses. Neon lights the room. A huge video screen takes up a better part of one wall. Metal staircases spiral to the various levels of this huge electronic lab. Cables and cords string together a Rube Goldberg assortment of electronic equipment. It looks like a maze. GLITCH skates and sidles among the equipment. The kids are standing in front of Virus Gyros. Glitch stops sidling and dances in place as Virus Gyros voice booms out.
VIRUS GYROS
Yes, Kim, I’ve been looking forward to meeting
you for a long time. I know your grandfather …
er, sort of … and I’m so sick, Kim. I need you to
take care of me.
Glitch interrupts.
GLITCH
When did you meet her grandfather? I thought
you only read his email.
Snitch has taken off her robe and throws it at Glitch to shut him up. It works because it lands on his head, and he struggles to get if off, getting more and more tangled up in it as he does.
VIRUS GYROS
See these cabinets.
Snitch points to the jewel-encrusted ones protected by the moat.
VIRUS GYROS (CONT’D)
These cabinets contain all my medicine.
Glitch hasn’t learned his lesson. Again he interrupts. He’s still fighting the robes, and his voice is slightly muffled.
GLITCH
Snitch, I thought the computer viruses were in
there!
VIRUS GYROS
Silence! I am the one speaking here. (suddenly
oozing sweetness) As I was saying, Kim, these
cabinets contain everything I need. But I’m so
sick that I need you and Mike to take care of
them for me. I’m very generous with my
medicine, and I’m going to share it with all the
computers and robots in Cool.net. Come
midnight they’ll all get a taste of my medicine.
The timer is set for its release.
Close on Mike and Kim
As Mike pulls Kim over and whispers in her ear.
MIKE
Kim, Virus Gyros has computer viruses in that
cabinet. I think he’s planning on releasing them
to infect all the computers in Cool.net. But he
must have summoned us because he’s afraid if
he comes too close, he’ll catch them himself!
We only have till midnight!
Cool.net Practice Scene #3
Cast:
Borg—A computer robot from the 1980s. His head is a computer monitor and his face is on the screen. He’s on wheels and can move about. He has a warm grandfatherly manner, but he tends to speak in the phrases that have been programmed into him, which are often clichés. He seldom gets the clichés right.
Desk Sergeant—A small main frame computer that sets behind a stack of heavy tape reels that serve as his desk. The desk is draped with computer printout forms. Behind him, see-through containers of punch cards line the shelves like law books. Does everything by the book and expects everyone else to do the same.
INT. POLICE STATION
Borg is angry. Images of volcanoes and fire FLASH across his screen.
BORG
Where are Kim and Mike? The repair factory is
back on line, and there’s no reason for charges
against them.
The Desk Sergeant looks annoyed.
DESK SERGEANT
The Judge let them go.
BORG
The so-called Judge I saw earlier was Snitch,
that little weasel that works for Virus Gyros. He
was only dressed like a Judge … and your prize
Police Robots must have fallen for his ruse!
Haste makes waste, and when there’s smoke
there’s bloody well bound to be fire! (Borg
looks the Desk Sergeant up and down as if
sizing him up. Borg SIGHS.) When you want
something done right, you do it yourself!
Borg does a sharp military about face and wheels quickly out. The Desk Sergeant stares after him, looking slightly bored.
DESK SERGEANT
Just because his great grandfather founded this
place, he thinks he’s better than the rest of us.
Well, we’re all refugees in one way or another,
and we all put in our software one piece at a
time! Hummpf!
ONCE UPON A BED Practice Script
ONCE UPON A BED
By Sybil Baker
© 2002 Sybil Baker
Cast:
Mark (7)—A quiet sort of boy. He’s alternately as affectionate and exasperated with Jeffy as an older brother would be. They share a hospital room.
Jeffy (4)—A boisterous, bright, imaginative kid with a great sense of rhythm.
JEFFY
That’s good.
MARK
The end.
JEFFY
(pause)
Do you like this hopsical?
MARK
It’s OK. It’s better than the last hospital I
was at.
JEFFY
Why is this one better?
MARK
Blankets are more feely. I dunno.
JEFFY
Mine’s sorta feely. You gonna tell me a story?
MARK
I just did.
JEFFY
Was that the end?
MARK
I said it was the end.
JEFFY
I know.
(pause)
And the prince gave the horse as much hay as
he wanted, right?
JEFFY
No, it’s my turn!
MARK
That’s what I said.
JEFFY
Oh. Once upon a time …
(pause)
What’s a time? Is it like a chair, or a bed, or what?
MARK
It’s uh … it’s a uh, it’s just how you start a story.
JEFFY
I don’t.
(in an emphatic rhythm, as follows)
Once upon a bed there was a sick little bug. And he wanted a kiss, and he wanted a hug. And he wanted a nurse, and the nurse was busy. Busy, busy, busy! It maked the bug dizzy! So he flyed out the window; he flyed out the door …
(his rhythm dissolves)
And he, uh, and he, um … What rhymes with door?
MARK
Floor?
JEFFY
(back on the beat)
And he flyed out of bed, and he falled on the
floor! The end.
MARK
Why did he fall on the floor? Cus he was sick
still?
MARK
(similarly)
Oh.
The boys are silent for a beat, then Jeffy continues with renewed vigor, and Mark responds in kind.
JEFFY
So the next meal he had, he ate and he ate. He
got so strong that he ate the whole plate.
MARK
He couldn’t eat the plate!
JEFFY
(forcefully)
He ate the plate, and he drank the glass. And
he chewed the sheets, and he ask for, um …
MARK
Grass!
JEFFY
And they brought him grass, and they brought
him hay. And he ate and sleeped and got better
each day. So he sleeped and ate, and he drank
his juice. And he got all well, and as strong as
a moose. The end.
MARK
I’m glad you got well, Jeffy.
JEFFY
The bug got well.
MARK
I meant the bug.
(pause)
You ever seen a moose?
MARK
Me too.
(pause)
You still want a hug?
There is no answer.
MARK (CONT’D)
Jeffy? I’ll give you a hug.
JEFFY
(happily)
Okay.
Copy Example for MJ Lallo’s Character File Workout
SLUGGY
By MJ Lallo
© Copyright 2002 MJ Lallo
SLUGGY
Hey where’d all those butterflies go?
Maybe they’re on to me?
I love the yellow ones. They’re really tasty.
(to self)
Ya’ almost hate to down ‘em, they’re so beautiful.
(frustrated)
I might have to settle for a caterpillar.
Darn it!
I’ll be pickin’ its legs out of my teeth all night.