SCRIPT

SCENE 1: WEMMICKSVILLE
Each Wemmick needs to have a supply of star and dot stickers. If possible,
the narrators should be seated at either side of the stage, each holding a
book with the title ‘You Are Special’ visible on the outside.

NARRATOR 1 Good..........(morning/afternoon/evening) and welcome to our

story.

Both narrators open their books.

It takes place in the village of Wemmicksville. This is the

home of the Wemmicks – little wooden people who were all
carved by someone very special – Eli the woodcarver.

When Narrator 1 mentions Wemmicksville, a sign could be hung up, reading:

‘WEMMICKSVILLE. Population: All Stars, not enough; Rotten Dots, too many!’

NARRATOR 2 (Indicating off and up) Eli can be found in his workshop,
up there on the top of the hillside, overlooking the
village. He hums and smiles as he crafts each Wemmick
into a completely unique creation.
As you will see, Eli loves variety.

As SONG 1 begins, the Wemmicks (WMK) enter, if possible through the

audience and from both sides of the stage. They begin to gather and mime
chatting in small groups, made up of those sporting similar stickers (i.e. mostly
stars or mostly dots). Star Wemmicks, including Snooty WMK 1 & 2, Celebrity,
Personal Assistant (P.A.) and Entrepreneur, are at one side of the stage. Various
Dot Wemmicks including Helpful WMK are at the other side, with Mixed- Sticker
Wemmicks miming doing daily tasks like gardening or sweeping. Market-Trader
WMKS 1 & 2 carry trays with their wares on. Mr Bit mimes cleaning windows.
Sniggering WMKS 1 & 2 snigger whilst looking at a book and Child WMKS 1, 2
& 3 mime playing a game. (Nosey WMK and Punchinello are off stage.)

During the song, the relevant Wemmicks step forward as their characteristics are
mentioned.

SONG 1: WE’RE THE WEMMICKS! CD TRACK 1/8

NARRATOR 1 Sadly, though, instead of enjoying their many

differences, the Wemmicks often use them as an
excuse to judge each other.

Snooty WMKS 1 & 2 stand at the front of the stage, to one side. Nosey WMK
1
enters and walks towards them. The other Wemmicks resume miming as in the
SONG 1 introduction.

2
SNOOTY WMK 1 (Pointing at Nosey WMK as he/she walks past and speaking
loudly)
I say! I’ve never seen a nose like that before!

SNOOTY WMK 2 No, Eli must have broken the mould when he made that one.

SNOOTY WMK 1 I think he must have broken the mould before he made it!

Nosey WMK covers his nose with his hands and quickly moves over to join the other
Dot Wemmicks. The Snooty Wemmicks laugh.

NARRATOR 2 And there is one particular Wemmick who gets noticed

more than any other. But not for the right reasons...

SNOOTY WMK 2 Oh, look everyone! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s

Punchinello!

Punchinello enters, arms flapping, with a sheet over his head and a washing line with
various small items attached, e.g. striped shorts, colourful socks, bloomers.

PUNCHINELLO (Staggering around the stage) Why’s it gone dark? I can’t see
anything!

SNOOTY WMK 1 It looks like he’s collided with Mr Sudsy’s washing line. Again!
Clumsy boy!

Punchinello exits.

SNIGGERING WMK 1 (Holding up a grey dot and calling after him)

We’ve got something here for you next time we see you,
Punchinello!

SNIGGERING WMK 2 Sorry, we can’t give it to you now. It would be a

shame to spoil Mr Sudsy’s nice clean sheet!

The Wemmicks continue to mime as before. Punchinello sneaks back on,

looking very dishevelled, and hides among other Dot Wemmicks, who are looking
despondent. Mr/Mrs Chips enters, brushing him/herself off and standing at the
front of the stage.

NARRATOR 1 The problem with the Wemmicks is that they seem to

have forgotten that, despite their differences, they were
all made by the same woodcarver and all belong to the
same village. They have fallen into the trap of...

ALL (Star Wemmicks enthusiastically/Dot Wemmicks despondently)

...comparing!

NARRATOR 2 And so, all day, every day, they scour one another
with a critical eye, inspecting for cracks and chinks,
dull paint and scuffs...

Child WMK 1 walks to the front of the stage to inspect Mr/Mrs Chips.

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CHILD WMK 1 (Summoning Child WMKS 2 & 3 who gather round Mr/Mrs
Chips)
Oh my days! Come and see! Look at all these chips!

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MR/MRS CHIPS I x carts. I knock myself sometimes, crawling underneath them!

CHILD WMK 2 Fix carts?! There are so many chips on you, you should open
a sh- and-chip shop!

CHILD WMK 3 A sh-and-chip shop! That’s a good ’un!

The Child Wemmicks move away, laughing. Mr/Mrs Chips moves to join the other Dot
Wemmicks.

NARRATOR 1 They constantly observe and comment on each other’s

lives, jumping on any little mistake…

Helpful WMK starts to cross the stage and trips up.

P.A. (Laughing) Look everyone! He/she’s so clumsy! (To

Helpful WMK, who limps back to the other Dot
Wemmicks) Hope you enjoyed your trip!

Mr Bit stops, looks at the window and wipes his brow.

ENTREPRENEUR (Pointing at the window) You’ve missed a bit! (Bright

idea) Hey, that’s what we’ll call you from now on, ‘Mr
Bit’!

ENTREPRENEUR & P.A. Mr Bit missed a bit!

The Star Wemmicks laugh and then suddenly fall silent as Model WMKS 1 & 2
enter, gliding stylishly across the stage, almost in slow motion. They stop and strike a
pose. The other Wemmicks stare in admiration.

MARKET-TRADER What perfectly painted faces!

WMK 1

MARKET-TRADER Not a smudge in sight!

WMK 2

CELEBRITY Such style! True Wemmick perfection!

MODEL WMKS 1 & 2 We try our best!

They move to the side, chatting, while admirers stare at them.

NARRATOR 1 To be sure that no one is left in any doubt about who is

considered to be a good wooden person and who isn’t,
each Wemmick has a collection of golden star stickers
and a collection of grey dot ones.

All Wemmicks take out their stickers.

NARRATOR 2 This means that all day, every day, they can indulge in
a frenzy of selective stickering! Star stickers are good.
Dots are denitely not…

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SNOOTY WMK 1 (Giving Mr/Mrs Chips a grey dot) Dot!

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 SNOOTY WMK 2 (Seeking out Punchinello and giving him a grey dot) I can
see you, Punchinello! Dot!

CHILD WMKS (Giving Helpful WMK a grey dot) Dot!

P.A. (Giving Mr Bit a grey dot) Dot!

MARKET-TRADER (Giving Model WMKS 1 & 2 golden stars) Star and star!
WMKS 1 & 2 (Adoringly) Ahh!

During the next song, the Wemmicks sticker one another, ensuring that the Dot
Wemmicks don’t end up with star stickers and vice versa. Some could sticker members
of the audience.

SONG 2: STARS AND DOTS CD TRACK 2/9

At the end of the song, all exit. Gossipy WMKS 1, 2 & 3 enter and stand together,
gossiping.

GOSSIPY WMKS (Occasional mutters are heard as they mime gossiping

and looking around) Ooh! No! Well I never! Did he really?
She always sings out of tune! Did you hear how he
spelled ‘beautiful’? etc.

Circus WMKS 1 & 2 enter, along with Photographer. Punchinello enters and
stands at the side with Helpful WMK.

NARRATOR 1 Of course, all the well-dressed, talented, smart

Wemmicks get plenty of gold stars and it makes them
feel so good, they want to get more and more.

Circus WMK 1 does a successful gymnastic move/trick (if this involves a prop, it
will need to be left on stage for Punchinello). Circus WMK 2 gives him/her a
gold star.

CIRCUS WMK 2 Well done. That was sooo good! Star for you!

CIRCUS WMK 1 Thanks! Next time I’m going to try a....(insert harder
gymnastic move) and get even more stars!

PHOTOGRAPHER Pose please, before you go! (They pose and he/she
takes their photo) We love to let people see the face
of success. Everyone needs something to aspire to!

Circus WMKS 1 & 2 and Photographer exit.

PUNCHINELLO (Moving forward, very determined) Hey, I’m going to try that,
too!
(Tries and fails, tripping over his own feet)

GOSSIPY WMK 1 That was so bad it was almost comical!

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GOSSIPY WMK 2 Almost. But not quite. Punchinello, you’re like a bad
punchline. Just not funny!

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 HELPFUL WMK (Helping Punchinello up) At least he’s trying!

GOSSIPY WMK 3 Yes, very trying! Dots all round, I think!

Gossipy Wemmicks stick dots on Punchinello and Helpful WMK, then exit.

HELPFUL WMK (Exiting, despondent) See you, Punchinello.

NARRATOR 2 Poor Punchinello. However hard he tries, he just can’t

seem to do things right. He is always striving for a
golden star…

nd moves across the stage, dangling a large gold star on a pole. Punchinello chases it and tries
to grasp it but just can’t reach. The star stagehand goes off, just as two stagehands
dressed as large grey dots enter and chase Punchinello until he trips and falls
again.

NARRATOR 1 … but he is haunted by a fear of the awful grey dots!

o remains on the ground until Snooty WMKS 1 & 2, Gossipy WMKS 1, 2 & 3 and Poet enter.
Dot Wemmicks also enter and gather around the edge of the stage.

SNOOTY WMK 1 (Noticing Punchinello on the ground, says sarcastically)

What are you doing down there, Punchinello? Looking
for ant tracks?

PUNCHINELLO (Getting to his feet) N-n-no, I …

Poet scribbles in his pad.

SNOOTY WMK 2 Good gracious! Look at the state of your knees! There’s
hardly any paint left!

PUNCHINELLO It was an accident. I, I …

GOSSIPY WMK 1 You are a disgrace to the name of Wemmick!

GOSSIPY WMK 2 He’s just not a good wooden person at all!

GOSSIPY WMK 3 He deserves lots of dots! (They stick dots on him)

POET Listen everyone! (Reading from his pad, as though in

praise of Punchinello) Punchinello, what a fellow! …
(Pause)

The others look surprised.

One of life’s mistakes!

They all smile and

nod.
Just like a Midas in reverse, all he touches, breaks!

All exit, laughing.

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NARRATOR 2 And sadly, because they say it such a lot, after a while,
Punchinello believes them.

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Punchinello sings the first verse of SONG 3, then other Dot Wemmicks gradually join
him.

SONG 3: IT’S NOT EASY CD TRACK

3/10
At the end of the song, Punchinello exits, sadly. The Dot Wemmicks remain on stage,
miming chatting, but move aside when the Star Wemmicks enter.

NARRATOR 1 There are of course some Wemmicks who exude condence

and slick style; those with muscles or talent to show off.

NARRATOR 2 As the ‘movers and shakers’ of Wemmicksville, they are

blissfully unaware of how Wemmicks like Punchinello feel.
They are covered in so many stars that they are almost
blinded by the brightness of their own reections.

Star Wemmicks enter, including Celebrity, Entrepreneur, P.A. and Circus WMKS.
They are pursued by Sniggering WMKS 1 & 2 and Child WMKS 1, 2, & 3, who
just want to be close to them.

SNIGGERING WMK 1 (Giving a star sticker to P.A., looking adoringly at

him/her) I wish I could be like you!

SNIGGERING WMK 2 (To Circus WMK 1) Wow! You must be really special to
have that many stars!

SNIGGERING WMK 1 Let’s give them some more! (They stick star
stickers on Circus WMKS 1 & 2)

A messenger arrives with a note for Celebrity.

CELEBRITY The.............(Queen/King/Name of headteacher) is begging

for
my autograph. (Taking a photo from his/her pocket and
signing it)
Take this signed photo immediately!

SNIGGERING WMK 2 Double wow! (Giving Celebrity a star sticker) Star!

ENTREPRENEUR (To P.A., looking at a piece of paper) Kerching! Another

million in the bank. Fancy lunch at the best eatery in
town? (Or local/current high-quality restaurant)

P.A. Oh, yes! Yum!

CHILD WMKS 1, 2 & 3 (Sticking stars on them both) Star, star, star!

As the next song begins, everyone other than the Star Wemmicks moves off stage
or to the very edges, pushed out by the entrance of the All Stars.

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SONG 4: THE ALL STARS CD TRACK
4/11
At the end of the song, all exit.

SCENE 2: WEMMICKSVILLE MARKET DAY

Market-Trader WMKS 1 & 2 plus any additional market traders (optional) are on
stage with trays of goods, which various Wemmicks wander around,
occasionally miming examining/ buying something. Nosey WMK and Helpful
WMK stand together, chatting.

NARRATOR 1 Not surprisingly, Punchinello usually keeps out of sight as

much as possible, trying to avoid getting even more
dots.

Punchinello enters cautiously, and stays near the edge of the stage. Lucia
enters, skipping and humming and goes to look at the market traders’ wares.
Various Wemmicks point at her and whisper to one another.

NARRATOR 2 But on market day, as he is sneaking into Wemmicksville

hoping no one will notice him, for the rst time, he spots
Lucia. She doesn’t have any stars, just like Punchinello.

NARRATOR 1 But surprisingly, she doesn’t have any dots either! As

Punchinello looks on, some admiring Wemmicks try
to award her a star.

CHILD WMK 1 Lucia still doesn’t have any dots!

CHILD WMK 2 & 3 That’s amazing! Go and give her a star!

Child WMK 1 goes to put a star sticker on Lucia but it won’t stick. He/she shrugs
questioningly at Child WMKS 2 & 3.

NARRATOR 2 Other Wemmicks are horried that she doesn’t have

any star stickers.

SNOOTY WMK 1 Oh, my! Why has Lucia not got any stars yet? She
can’t be trying hard enough! I must give her a dot!

Snooty WMK 1 tries to put a dot sticker on her but that won’t stick either. He/she
shrugs questioningly at Snooty WMK 2 and looks disgustedly at Lucia, who smiles
back.

NARRATOR 1 Punchinello can’t believe what he is seeing!

PUNCHINELLO (To himself) Wow! I’ve never seen anything like that before.
Why don’t the stickers stick to that girl?

NARRATOR 2 And despite his fear, curiosity gets the better of him
and he can’t help approaching Lucia.
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PUNCHINELLO (Very tentatively) Er... hello. My name is Punchinello.

13
LUCIA Hello Punchinello. Nice to meet you. My name is Lucia.

PUNCHINELLO (Surprised by her friendliness) Thank you. Lucia, I would

really like to know why the stickers don’t stick on you.
(Looking sadly at all his stickers) I wish they wouldn’t stick
on me. Sometimes I feel like I’m just one big, grey dot!

LUCIA I go and see Eli, the woodcarver, every day. He can

always be found in his workshop. Come here, Punchinello,
let me explain.

They move to the front of the stage. The other Wemmicks look at them and
continue to point and whisper.

SONG 5: GO AND SEE ELI CD TRACK

5/12
PUNCHINELLO I’m pretty sure Eli wouldn’t want to see me!

LUCIA Oh he will, Punchinello. He loves to see all his

creations. PUNCHINELLO But not all the mistakes! Not the ones that

turned out all wrong. LUCIA (Shrugs) Why don’t you go and see for

yourself? Goodbye,
Punchinello.

Lucia exits.

PUNCHINELLO (Waving) Goodbye Lucia. (He begins walking slowly in the

direction of the Sniggering Wemmicks)

SNIGGERING WMK 1 (To Sniggering WMK 2) Hey! Punchinello’s coming

this way! Get some dots ready, he’s sure to trip up or say
something silly! (Holding up a grey dot) Yoo-hoo,
Punchinello! Look what we’ve got for you!

SNIGGERING WMK 2 Come on over, don’t be shy! (They point at the grey dot and
laugh)

PUNCHINELLO (To himself) Is that all I’m good for, to be laughed at?
(Turning towards Sniggering Wemmicks) Maybe I should
go and get a grey dot and get it over with. (Stopping
and turning away) But the stickers don’t stick to Lucia.
There must be a reason. What was it she said?

Lucia appears at the side of the stage.

LUCIA I go and see Eli the woodcarver every day. He can

always be found in his workshop.

She exits.
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ALL DOT WMKS (Each holding up a grey dot and taking a step towards
Punchinello)
Yoo-hoo, Punchinello!

15
 PUNCHINELLO Oh, what have I got to lose? I will go and see Eli, I will.

o stops, thinks for a moment, turns around and exits in the direction of Eli’s workshop.

SNIGGERING WMK 1 Don’t worry. We can get him next time.

All exit, laughing.

SCENE 3: ELI’S WORKSHOP

and sits on a high chair or raised level on one side of the stage. He is holding some wood
and mimes carving and polishing it. There is a wooden chair near the front of
the stage. There could be some cardboard cut-outs of oversized tools, gadgets
etc. placed around the stage or these could be carried across the stage by
stagehands during the narration, who move them around Punchinello.

o enters at the front of the stage and, during the narrators’ speeches, mimes opening a large,
heavy door and jumping because of the creaking sound this makes. He moves
nervously, miming looking all around and being overawed.

NARRATOR 1 When he arrives at Eli’s workshop, Punchinello creaks open

the door, making himself jump!

SFX: Creaking door CD TRACK

16 NARRATOR 2 He looks around at all the strange tools and gadgets. He

can’t see
Eli and he can’t call because his voice is just too scared to
come out! He’s about to lose his nerve and go home when
he hears a warm, friendly voice, which stops him in his
tracks.

Punchinello is tiptoeing towards the door, then stops suddenly as Eli speaks.

ELI Punchinello, is that you? (Standing and moving to the

front of the stage, next to Punchinello) How good to see
you! Come, let me have a good look at you!

PUNCHINELLO (Surprised) You know my name?

ELI Of course I do! I made you. I’ve been so looking forward

to seeing you. (He takes a good look at Punchinello. Then,
indicating all the grey dots) But what’s all this? Looks like
you’ve been given some bad marks.

PUNCHINELLO I didn’t mean to, Eli. I really tried hard.

ELI Oh, you don’t have to defend yourself to me, child. I don’t
care what the other Wemmicks think.

16
 PUNCHINELLO (Surprised) You don’t?

ELI No, and you shouldn’t either. Who are they to give
stars or dots? They’re Wemmicks just like you. What
they think doesn’t matter, Punchinello. All that matters
is what I think. And I think you’re very special.

first verse of the next song, Eli indicates to Punchinello that he should sit on the chair on the
line ‘make yourself at home’. Punchinello remains seated until verse 3 when he
stands up to sing.

SONG 6: YOU ARE SPECIAL CD TRACK

6/13
ELI Now, remember, my boy, just come and see me every
day so I can remind you how much I care.

PUNCHINELLO Thank you, Eli. I will come again!

o skips out and, as he exits, one of his dots falls off. Eli picks it up, tears it up, smiles and exits.
The set is cleared.

SCENE 4: WEMMICKSVILLE
micks are carrying on their daily chores as in Scene 1. Eli looks on from his workshop.
Punchinello enters, smiling. The Wemmicks gradually all stop as they notice that
Punchinello now has far fewer dots and is looking happy.

NOSEY WMK What’s happened to Punchinello?

MR BIT What’s happened to his dots? I’m sure he used to

have more than that.

GOSSIPY WMK 1 (To Gossipy WMKS 2 & 3) We’d better give him some more!
(They try but the dots don’t stick. They back off,

mystified) Lucia enters from the opposite side of the stage to Punchinello.

LUCIA (Happily) Punchinello! I can see that you’ve been to see Eli! I’m so
glad.

PUNCHINELLO Thank you, Lucia. I’ll be going every day from now on!
One day, I’ll be as sticker-free as you!

NARRATOR 1 The Wemmicks couldn’t quite believe what they were

seeing. They had thought Lucia was just a bit odd, a
one-off, but now it looked like the stickers weren’t
sticking to Punchinello any more either.

GOSSIPY WMK 2 (Picking up a grey dot from the ground) The stickers are falling
off!
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HELPFUL WMK I don’t understand. How can that be happening?

PUNCHINELLO If you really want to know, we can tell you how.

& LUCIA

PUNCHINELLO Every day, we go and see Eli in his workshop. When you
spend time with him, the stickers stop sticking. It’s because,
when you know how much Eli loves you, it stops
mattering what anyone else thinks.

LUCIA You can just be yourself and know that Eli loves you
just the way you are!

PUNCHINELLO (Taking off one of his stickers) The stickers only stick if you let
them!

MR/MRS CHIPS (Indicating the dot stickers) You mean we could shake
these off and have a fresh start?

PUNCHINELLO That’s right! Gold stars and grey dots don’t mean a
thing when you’ve got Eli’s love. And we’ve all got that,
chips and scuffs and all!

NARRATOR 2 And so, despite the fact that he might not be the
cleverest, the strongest, or the most colourful Wemmick,
Punchinello learned that he is special just the way he is.
And, together with Lucia, he helped open the Wemmicks
up to a whole new way of thinking.

The following song can either be sung by the full cast throughout, or verse 1
could be sung as a duet between Lucia and Punchinello with a small group of
Wemmicks joining them for verse 2, and the full cast singing verse 3.

SONG 7: JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE LOVED! CD TRACK

7/14
ALL (Pointing at audience) You are special!

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