The Turbulent Term Of Tyke Tiler - Gene Kemp (Play script)

INTRODUCTION

A play script refers to scripted dialogues between characters intended for theatrical performance. It can also be called as a written version of a play. All plays are divided into Acts and Scenes.

The Turbulent Term Of Tyke Tiler is a play script. It has been written by Gene Kemp. The genre of this play is comedy as well as children's adventure novel. The theme revolves around heroism, mischief and friendship.

Tyke Tiler is a mischievous yet smart student at Cricklepit Combined School. Danny is Tyke's best friend who develops a bad stutter when nervous and depends on Tyke for help. Harlequin the Joker is the comic character who keeps appearing in different scenes to tell a joke.

 ACT 1 - SCENE 1

Setting: The classroom

Danny steals ten pounds from Ms. Bonfire's purse and confesses to Tyke about it who scolds him for his act and asks him to put it back. Danny, in return, requests Tyke to put it back for him because Tyke is the clever one out of the two. Tyke agrees and makes up an excuse to leave the class and runs down the corridor.

Harlequin: "What did the cross-eyed teacher say? I can't control my pupils."

ACT 1 - SCENE 2

Setting: School corridor

As Tyke is about to put the money back, Mrs Somers, the deputy head, appears and asks Tyke what is going on? Tyke and Mrs Somers are not at all on friendly terms so Tyke is a little bit scared about being caught. However, she tells Tyke that Tyke is not a proper name and other students should be calling Tyke by the actual name instead of the nickname. Tyke listens with a bowed head. Once Mrs Somers leaves, Tyke starts thinking about where to hide the tenner.

Harlequin: "What's blue and cries for help? A damson in distress."

ACT 1 - SCENE 3

Setting: Storeroom

 

In order to hide the tenner, Tyke  goes into the school storeroom and hides it behind a picture hanging on the wall of Sir Walter Raleigh and leaves.

ACT 1 - SCENE 4

Setting: The classroom

Sir, The Head and Mrs Somers come into the classroom of Tyke and Danny and announce that Ms. Bonn has reported ten pounds missing from her purse. The Head asks the person responsible behind it to come forward and return the money or else everyone will stay back in school until all bags, coats, desks, etc are searched. The rest of the students start talking about how it is not fair to them as it is not their fault. However, no one confesses to have taken the money from the purse and the students have to stay back for being searched.

ACT 1 - SCENE 5

Setting: Living room of Tyke's home

Tyke is lying on the floor with Crumble who is Tyke's dog when Dad comes back home. Tyke and Dad wrestle playfully and Tyke asks Dad if a teacher would miss their ten pounds if they lost it. In this scene, we also find out that next morning, when Tyke goes to school and into the storeroom, it has all been changed and the picture is also gone along with the ten pound note.

Harlequin: "How do you keep a twit in suspense? I'll tell you later."

ACT 1 - SCENE 6

Setting: The school playground

All the pupils are waiting in the school playground to enter the school where Danny is carrying a newspaper parcel under his arm and Tyke is looking worried coming out of a side-door in school. Danny tells Tyke that he has brought a bone for Tyke's dog, Crumble. It is a marrow bone. When Danny drops the  newspaper all over the ground, Tyke bossily tells a junior to pick it up. Now, Tyke has to keep the marrow bone with him all day in school. He also tells Danny that he has lost the ten pound because he hid them behind a painting which has now vanished.

ACT 1 - SCENE 7 

Setting: The school hall

While the assembly is in progress, Tyke sees the painting of Sir Walter Raleigh hanging on the wall. Tyke informs Danny about the painting being moved from the store room to the assembly hall. This means that the money must have been found. So, in order to create distraction, Danny takes out his mouse, Fatty, from his pocket and places it in the hair of Linda Stoatway who is standing in front of him. This causes a lot of chaos, causing many students to fall like nine-pins. The Head calmly picks up the mouse from the floor. The students start settling down. The Head announces that he would like to see the owner of the mouse in his office during playtime. He also announces for Tyke Tiler to visit his office. 

Harlequin: "Why was the skeleton afraid to jump off the cliff? Because he hadn't any guts."

ACT 1 - SCENE 8

Setting: The Head's office

Tyke is in the office of The Head who takes out a ten pound note from his pocket and asks Tyke if he has seen it before. Tyke is scared and does not answer. When The Head repeats his question, Tyke says that he has not stolen it. The Head is angry and tells Tyke that even though he has known Tyke for seven to eight years and he knows that Tyke is an ill-disciplined child, he was not expecting Tyke to be a liar. The Head informs Tyke about how he was sure that Tyke was responsible for this act when the note was found. The Head says that when the money was found by the caretaker, without a doubt, I knew it was you because I know only two children who are capable of climbing into a loft without a ladder and they are you and your brother Stanley, who is no longer in this branch. The Head asks Tyke why he hid the money for Danny? Now Danny enters the scene shouting that its his mouse and its not Tyke's fault. This surprises the Head because Danny is responsible for both, the stolen ten pound note as well as the mouse in the assembly hall. Tyke explains that Danny did not mean to steal the money from Miss Bonn's purse. He only took it because it was there. Later, Tyke hid it in the loft so that he will put it back when he gets a chance but things got out of control. Miss Bonn was called in by The Head for discussion which went on for a long time. Danny cried and apologized. The Head promised he will not call the police and gave both the children notes to take home. 

ACT 1 - SCENE 9

Setting: School corridor 

Tyke is cartwheeling in the corridor when Mrs Somers enters, angry as always. She tells Tyke to learn some manners and learn to behave in the school. She also tells Tyke to stay in school after home-time and write out lines. She scolds Tyke for the marrow bone in the bag and tells Tyke to not bring things like this to school. After she leaves, Danny comes running to Tyke to tell that Miss Bonn started crying and was not angry at all. She forgave me and invited me to her house for tea. Tyke feels bad that even though it was all Danny's fault, starting from the missing ten pound note to the mouse and the marrow bone, he still got invited for tea while Tyke got detention.

Harlequin: "That's what I call justice."

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ACT 2 - SCENE 1

Setting: The classroom

The students find an article in the newspaper about their teacher, Mr William Merchant. It says that he has written a book on the history of their school, Cricklepit Combined School. It is the oldest primary school of the country. It also talks about discipline problems which were faced in the early days. There is a mention of a bell on the roof of the school which is not rung anymore. This makes Tyke inquisitive who then asks about the school bell. The sir informs them that the bells were rung during war and the part was damaged by a bomb. This made the bell tower weak so it was decided to stop ringing the bell as it was not safe anymore. It has been more than thirty years since the bell was last rung. In this scene, the students are joined by a student teacher, Miss Honeywell. Tyke insists on being called as Tyke when Miss Honeywell asks about Tyke's real name. 

Harlequin: "What family does the gorilla come from? I'm not sure. I've just moved here and I don't know everyone yet."

 ACT 2 - SCENE 2 

Setting: Tyke's house

Tyke's dad is a council member and it's time for elections. He wants to be re-elected. Martin Kneeshaw, who is Tyke's class fellow, his dad is also running the elections as a candidate opposite Tyke's dad. So, dad asks Tyke to deliver a bunch of leaflets for his election campaigning and tells Tyke to take Danny and Crumble along. Tyke feels that it is such a boring leaflet as the heading says 'Your rents and your tax.' Tyke's father tells Tyke to push the leaflets into the letter boxes instead of leaving them lying around on the porch because the opposition may take advantage of this situation by removing all of them. 

Harlequin: "I'd tell you a joke about dustbins but it's a load of rubbish."  

  ACT 2 - SCENE 3

Setting: The bridge near the derelict mill

 

Tyke, Danny and Crumble reach the bridge over a stream where they stop. Tyke reads the leaflet aloud to Danny to show disinterest. Suddenly, Danny sees something and asks what is that and holds Tyke's arm to point it in that direction, causing all the leaflets to fall into the water. Danny apologizes but Tyke says I'm sure no one would have read it anyway. Tyke is more excited about exploring the abandoned mill behind them.

Harlequin: "What did the crude oil say when it was coming out of the ground? Knickers."

 ACT 2 - SCENE 4

Setting: Inside an old mill

 

 Tyke and Danny enter the mill to explore it. Danny is scared while Tyke is excited. Danny asks Tyke to go back but Tyke insists on exploring. Danny wonders if this mill is haunted and has ghosts but Tyke tells him to not be scared. They enter a trap door, leading to the attic.

  ACT 2 - SCENE 5

Setting: Attic of the mill

Tyke tells Danny that this will be our secret room for all our secrets and adventures and for hiding in while Danny insists on leaving because he doesn't like this place.

  ACT 2 - SCENE 6

Setting: A street near the bridge

Tyke and Danny come out of the mill. Tyke tells Danny to not tell anyone about this as it will be our secret place. While they are on their way, they spot Martin Kneeshaw distributing leaflets. When Kneeshaw has left, Tyke picks up one of the leaflets and reads it. Tyke informs Danny that these are his father's leaftlets for elections. Tyke gets a mischievous idea and they both run up the street collecting all the leaflets distributed by Danny. They then go to the stream again and throw the leaflets into the water. Tyke and Danny joke about fish and sharks voting for the candidates.

Harlequin: "What wears shoes but has no feet? A pavement."

  ACT 2 - SCENE 7 

Setting: A Park

The Sir takes the class 4M to a park for a lesson. He tells them that they are surrounded by history in this town. He tells them to imagine they are in the year 1066. The Sir wants to teach them about The Battle of Hastings. The Sir taught them about William The Conqueror who was a cruel man and fought with Englishmen for winning the throne. He killed Harold with an arrow through his eye. William was angry at the citizens for not giving in so he gouged the eyes of a citizen out in order to scare and torture them. In the end, he surrendered, however, he changed the city forever. The students then enacted the battle in order to understand it in a better way.

Harlequin: "It wasn't a bad sort of a day."

ACT 2 - SCENE 8

Setting:The Classroom

The Head comes into the classroom and announces that someone has ruined the garden at school and the fish were left out of the pond to die. The Head asks for a confession or if anyone knows anything about it. After the Head has left, Martin Kneeshaw says to Miss Honeywell that he thinks Danny did it because he is always causing trouble. Tyke gets angry and attacks Martin Kneeshaw. 

 Right at that moment, the Head returns to the classroom and sees the scene. He tells Tyke to see him in his office and also informs the class that the garden was wrecked by some senior boys from another school.

ACT 2 - SCENE 9

Setting: The Head's office

Tyke is waiting outside the Head's office while inside, the Head, Sir and Mrs Somers are discussing this issue.Mrs Somers suggests that Tyke and Danny should be separated but Sir believes that it is wrong to separate friend. He also mentions that Tyke is the only person Danny can rely on because his father is in jail while his mother is also considered awful. So, The Head suggests that they all should wait for the results of Verbal Reasoning Assessment Tests before making any decision. He says that if Danny passes the test then we will keep him otherwise we will send him to a special school. When they all leave the office, Tyke jumps back so they no one noticed Tyke was there. Tyke goes inside the office and sees that test papers are lying on the table. Tyke picks up one paper and, in fact, steals it to help Danny pass.

Harlequin: "I've finished my exam, Sir.

Did the questions give you any trouble?

No, but the answers did."

ACT 2 - SCENE 10

Setting:Tyke's Bedroom

Tyke informs the audience that, in the evening, I finally got the courage to take out the test paper and then I went through it. Tyke tells that he was able to understand some of the questions but he wasn't sure about the answers, whether they were correct or not. Tyke was also concerned about teaching them to Danny. So, Tyke decides to take help from Berry, Tyke's sister. Berry tells Tyke that this is cheating and that Tyke should return the test papers before their Dad finds out. But Tyke explains that this is not cheating but helping as Tyke doesn't want Danny to leave the school. Tyke is able to convince Berry to help, however, Berry tells Tyke that we must be careful so no one will find out.

ACT 2 - SCENE 11

Setting: Tyke's Bedroom

Tyke tells Danny that I have gone through the paper and prepared all the answers for you with the help of Danny, but Danny is not bothered. Tyke tries to scare Danny by saying that his school will be changed. Danny is still, however, not able to learn and remember the answers. Tyke makes Danny go through the paper over and over again and hopes for the best. Finally the test day arrives and is over very quickly, as said by Tyke.

Harlequin: "Why do you forget a tooth when it has been pulled out? It goes right out of your head."

ACT 2 - SCENE 12

Setting:The Old Mill

 

That night, after the test, Tyke and Danny went to the old mill. Tyke has made a bed of sacks and taken food items along in case they have to stay there for longer due to a siege. Danny insists on going back as always.

Harlequin: "You can see it wasn't much of an evening.

Where does the Dracula keep his money? In a blood bank."

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ACT 3 - SCENE 1

Setting: The Classroom

Students are busy preparing a play about King Arthur under the supervision of Miss Honeywell.

Sir walks in and informs the class that he likes focusing on the facts so they should keep the script of the play to the point. 

ACT 3 - SCENE 2

Setting: The School's Playground

Someone makes a graffiti on the wall which makes Sir very angry. He makes the class clean it with buckets of water.

Tyke is standing on a chair, cleaning the wall, while Martin Kneeshaw is right below Tyke. Tyke loses balance and, by mistake, drops the bucket of dirty soapy water on Martin Kneeshaw. Sir is very angry seeing this and sends Tyke to the office of the Head.

ACT 3 - SCENE 3

Setting: The Head's Office

The Head is also tired of seeing Tyke in his office all the time. The Head inquires about Tyke's father and his election campaign. Tyke shows lack of interest in the elections to which the Head questions about Tyke's civic responsibility and decides to punish him for what he did to Martin Kneeshaw. The Head tells Tyke to write lines for him in every playtime, dinnertime as well as after twenty minutes of school for one week.

ACT 3 - SCENE 4

Setting: The Classroom

 The students are again busy with Miss Honeywell preparing for the play. Tyke informs Miss Honeywell that they have decided the characters and Danny will play Sir Galahad because the character is said to have the strength as the strength of ten because of his pure heart. Miss Honeywell appreciates their decision. Miss Honeywell is a sweet person so she also tells Tyke that she will be coming over tonight to help Tyke's Dad for the elections which are tomorrow.

ACT 3 - SCENE 5

Setting: Outside Tyke's House

 Miss Honeywell visits Tyke's house to help while Danny and Tyke leave the house saying that they have some posters to paste. Dad tells Tyke to be polite with everyone when placing the posters and don't force anyone.

Harlequin: "Watch out! Tyke and Danny are up to something."

ACT 3 - SCENE 6

Setting: Outside Kneeshaw's House

 Tyke and Danny are outside Martin Kneeshaw's house which is covered in posters for Kneeshaw's father, as he is also an election candidate. Tyke and Danny become mischievous and paste the posters of Tyke's Dad over those posters and run away. Tyke wonders what would happen tomorrow as it is the day of elections. Tyke also says that Kneeshaw's family will be able to make a guess who did this to their posters.

ACT 3 - SCENE 7

Setting: Tyke's Living Room

 The next morning, Martin Kneeshaw's father calls Tyke's Dad and informs him about the incident of which he is absolutely no idea. After the phone call, Dad asks Tyke and Danny if they know anything about it. Danny speaks the truth, however, Dad is not able to understand because of the stutter so he asks Tyke to repeat what he said. Tyke changes the statement and tells a lie.

Harlequin: "What is the meaning of the phrase Out of Bounds? An exhausted Kangaroo."

ACT 3 - SCENE 8

Setting: A Street Near Tyke's House

Tyke and Danny are walking in a street while Tyke is in a bad mood. Martin Kneeshaw enters the scene and beats Tyke while Danny runs away. Martin says that his father will win the elections. Tyke faints because of pain. Danny comes running back with Dad and Berry and they all take Tyke home.

ACT 3 - SCENE 9

Setting: Tyke's Bedroom

Tyke is feeling very weak and lying in bed. Mum tells Tyke that Dad won the elections. She also informs Tyke that you have some viral infection. Mum tells Tyke that Danny cannot come and see Tyke because he may also catch the virus.

ACT 3 - SCENE 10

Setting: Tyke's House

 The Head visits Tyke's house to inquire about Tyke's health and to tell Tyke's Mum about the result of the Verbal Reasoning Assessment Papers. The Head is pleased to inform her that all their children have been his student and they all have performed well while he was a little unsure about Tyke. Nevertheless, Tyke's result has surprised the Head as being above average. The Head is happy and wants to encourage Tyke.

ACT 3 - SCENE 11

Setting: Tyke's Living Room

Tyke is surprised to hear what The Head is saying when he offers Tyke to apply at Dorrington School which is for gifted children. Tyke inquires about Danny's result and finds out that Danny's result was average and he will go to the other school with the rest of the class. Tyke's mother is also delighted. However, when The Head has gone back, Tyke confesses that Tyke helped Danny in cheating. Mum assumes Tyke is only making excuses and tells Tyke to calm down and be happy as she is very proud of Tyke.

ACT 3 - SCENE 12

Setting: Tyke's Living Room

Mum is upset over a number of things and is arguing with dad. She also mentions to Tyke that you have a perfect name but you still choose to be called Tyke by everyone. Tyke leaves for school after a sick leave of a few days.

ACT 3 - SCENE 13

Setting: The School Playground

When Tyke reaches school, other classfellows including Linda, Ian , Kneeshaw and Kevin come to Tyke and start asking about Danny's whereabouts. Tyke is confused. Then Kneeshaw informs Tyke that Danny has stolen a gold watch of Mrs. Somers and has run away. Tyke is surprised and finds it difficult to believe that Danny will steal something like this. Tyke is also informed that Danny ran away as no one could understand him because he was stuttering but he was talking about strength of ten. Tyke is sure that Danny did not steal the watch because he doesn't even know how to tell what time is it. When Tyke is told that Kneeshaw found the watch in his bag, Tyke immediately knows that this is all a plan of Kneeshaw to put Danny and Tyke in trouble. 

ACT 3 - SCENE 14

Setting: The Old Mill

Tyke knows exactly where Danny must be hiding so Tyke goes directly to the old mill and finds Danny there, worried and scared.  Danny tells Tyke everything that happened and also tells Tyke that he didn't steal the watch. Danny asks Tyke to help him in clearing his name and getting Kneeshaw punished.

ACT 3 - SCENE 15

Setting: The Head's Office

Tyke comes back to The Head and tells him that Danny has not stolen it and it was all a plan of Kneeshaw just because they are not friends at all. Tyke tells The Head that Danny believes he is like Sir Galahad who has a pure heart, therefore, he will never steal anything and has also not stolen this watch. Tyke strikes a bargain with The Head and says if you get Kneeshaw punished, I will tell you where Danny is hiding. The Head decides to help them and asks Mr. Merchant to go with Tyke and get Danny back.

ACT 3 - SCENE 16

Setting: The Old Mill

Tyke and Mr Merchant go and get Danny back from the old mill and Tyke also packs all of their bags and decides to never visit the old mill as it is not a secret place anymore.

ACT 3 - SCENE 17

Setting: The School Playground

It is the last day of the school and the end of term concert is going on. All of the students are feeling sad about leaving this place. Tyke too is very emotional and wants to do something memorable on the last day of school. Tyke wanders to the playground thinking about how eight years have passed in this school. Tyke comes across the bell tower and decides to do what Thomas Tiler did a long time back. Tyke starts climbing the bell tower but Danny, Ian, Kneeshaw, Simms, Linda, Sir and Miss Honeywell see Tyke and gather over there. They all request Tyke to come down as the bell tower is very dangerous. It can fall down anytime because it is an old building. Tyke decides to come down but right then, Mrs Somers comes there and starts shouting at Tyke with great anger and calls Tyke a disobedient GIRL. She says, ' Theodora Tiler, you naughty, disobedient GIRL.' This makes Tyke very angry as Tyke is not a typical girl. She also doesn't like people calling her Theodora. Consequently, Tyke rings the bell in anger and the bell tower breaks and Tyke falls down.

ACT 3 - SCENE 18

Tyke broke her arm and her ankle along with some bruises and concussion as a result of the fall from the broken tower. Tyke, however, is fine and has completed her school term in fine form.

ACT 3 - SCENE 19

Setting: Tyke's Bedroom

Sir visits Tyke at home to see how is she feeling. Tyke's mum tells Sir that Tyke is worried and wants to share something with you only. Tyke confesses to Sir that she cheated in the exams and stole a paper. She also asks Sir to tell her parents as she is ashamed. Sir tells Tyke to stop worrying and just focus on getting better. He tells Tyke that you have had quite a term this year and Tyke agrees to it with a slight smile and falls asleep.