The
~~,
Camel's Ro~cz SETTING: It's a cold winter's night in the desert. An Arab camel driver
CAMEL'S VOICE: My goodness, it sure is cold out here. (Sniffs) Just feel my nose. It's freezing. Our Arab master is curled up in this tent. Why he's just as warm as can be. If I could only get the tip of my nose into his tent - it would be so good. I think I'll just use my teeth and rip a little hole right here in the tent. RIP! !
has made camp for the night and is I
getting ready to go to bed inside his nice warm tent. He has a small fire of hot coals. Outside, the camels are murmuring.
ARAB: It sure is a cold old night. I'm so glad I'm in my nice warm tent. Ha! Ha! Well, it's getting late now. I had better lie down and go to sleep. Oh! Oh! But first I had better stoke up the coals a little, to make sure it stays nice and warm. Well, into my nice warm bed.
17
ARAB: What's that? It sounds like something ripped a big hole in my tent! (Up he jumps and grabs his big pitlow.} What's happening? What's going on? Oh! A camel's nose is sticking right through the side of my tent. Out! Out! You terrible animal! (Whap!
Whap!
He begins hitting
the
camel with his pillow.)
CAMEL: (Weeping) Oh, please, please, dear master. Don't hit me. Don't hit me! Please don't hit me! (Sniffs) It's cold out here, and my nose is so cold! It's so awfully cold outside! Please! Just let me warm my nose now that it's in your tent. One little nose, shouldn't bother you. ~. Alright? Please?
Huh?
(The Arab is angry, however he puts his pillow
down.)
ARAB: Look what you've done - you've ripped my tent! It will take me a lot of work to fix it. Oh, well, I guess it is kind of cold outside. Very well then, I guessyou can warm your nose, but just your nose! (He goes back to bed.] Oh dear, it really is cold. I'd better put an extra blanket on. (Yawns) CAMEL: (Quietly to himself) Oh, my nose is getting warmer already, and now I had better warm my head too. RIP!
RIP!
to you how cold it is - the cold which I feel on this night. Your gracious hospitality has been too wonderful to describe. Blah...blah...blah.... It is so terribly cold outside, and your tent is so warm. Let me get this half of my body warm and then I'll go - just warm up a little and I'll go out and leave you in peace. ARAB: Oh dear, what am I going to do with such an animal? You are halfway into my tent and look at the big rip you've
(Up jumps the Arab and grabs his pillow angrily. To his surprise, the camel now has his whole head in the tent.l
ARAB: Out you animal! Out! Out! Out! (Whap! Whap! Whap!) CAMEL: No, no, dear master! Please,please don't hit me! Don't ask me to leave. You don't know how cold it is outside. I couldn't even begin to tell you of the awful feeling of ice creeping across my tender skin, and my ears were so cold! Master, please don't hit me. Just let me warm my head, just my head. Is it too much to ask on such a cold night? ARAB: Okay, but just your head! And be quiet so I can sleep! (He yawns and returns to
made!
his bed.)
RIP! RIP! RIP! ARAB: That does it! This time it is out for sure! That camel is really asking for it! Oh, no! He is halfway into my tent now! Out! Out! (Whap!
Whap!
Whap!)
CAMEL: Oh, dear master! You are a kind and generous man. Dear, dear, sweet master, it is so cold. I can't even describe 19
~
(He is si/ent for a moment,
(Before the Arab can do anything, suddenly through the rip come the
Well, the damage is done, so I guess I can let him stay for a little while to warm up. He promised he would soon leave. He's nearly all the way into the tent anyway, and he can't rip it much more. (He goes once more to lie down.) Oh, that camel has kept me up most of the night! So I'd better get a good sleep now. thinking.)
rest of the camels! )
CAMELS: Hey, look at this big hole into this nice warm tent! Wow! It's really warm in here. Hey, quit pushing! Me first! Not everybody at once! Aagh! ARAB: Oh dear! Help! Stop! Stop! Get out! Get out! Oh, no, I've got to get out or all these camels will stomp on me!
( Yawns and sighs)
(The poor. Arab just manages to
CAMEL: Oh, my freezing bottom! RIP! RIP! RIP! RIP!
escape into the cold night in his pyjamas before his whole tent is full of camels.)
(The whole tent shakes like it is about to fall down.)
ARAB: Oh, it's freezing cold out here! If only I had stopped that camel while he only had his nose in, I would still be in my nice warm bed.
ARAB: What's happening? Oh, no! The whole camel is in my tent!
20