"OFF WENT THE DONKEY"
Episode #4 
FADE IN:
INT. Book - dAY
NaRRATOR
Hello, it's good to see you again. Hmmm? What's going on? What are those noises?
Group
(singing)
Off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey....
NEWMAN
(singing)
And there he was... there he was... just going on, oh, yeah.... oh ya...
NARRATOR
Excuse me, sir...
Newman
Who me?
NARRATOR
Yes you, tell me, whose's party is this?
Newman
How should I know. Everybody is singing, So, I'm singing too.
NARRATOR
Dear me. I guess we'd better go to the  beginning of the story and see what's going on for ourselves.
CUT TO:
EXT. town bridge - dAY
A caravan of people travel via donkey as they cross over the bridge to enter the city.
NaRRATOR
Yes my friends. In those days people travelled by donkey, horse or camel. Because in those days they didn't have cars or airplanes. Many caravans entered Sugarland. There were many merchants, world travelers and passengers. Or simply put, people who moved from town to town and worked very hard for a living. 
CUT TO:
EXT. CITY ARCH - DAY
Newman rides on his donkey as he arrives at the city limits.

NARRATOR
Like eh, like eh, …like this guy. 
Newman
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh... my back…  
Hunn... Wow! What a pretty city. What a grand city. We're going to get rich in here.
Newman gets back on his donkey and rides into the city.
NEWMAN (CONT'D)
Off with you, we've arrived at the right place.  Move along, make some noise!
CUT TO:
Ext. staging hall - dAY
Newman puts up the last of the posters on the wall, then call out to the town folk.
NEWMAN
(shouting/calling out)
Hello there Old, Hello there Young. Come and get your stories here.
Kids
(running)
Yay, lets go! Yay! Stories!
Jacob
What's going on?
Kelton 
I think we have a travelling storyteller. He's gonna tell some  stories. 
Jacob
Why are we hanging around? Let's go and see.
Nanna
They say he is going to tell the story of the Great heroes Lexa and Marlen.  
Newman
Come one, come all. Today's story is that of the great Monster. Come all. Here you have our champion. His club is made of 500 pounds of steel. Guess who his adversary is? It's obvious. It's the great champion Ruston. The monster is huge. And Ruston's legendary horse called, Racer.
Judge
Well, what a nice donkey.
Kelton
I don't think it's a donkey, it's a horse. 
Judge
Ah, no, no, no I'm not talking about the picture, I mean that one over there. 
Newman
And then the monster and Ruston went at it… It was dangerous...
CUT TO:
Ext. sTAGING HALL - lATER
Newman has finished his story and collects donations from the crowd.
SMITHY
Here you are. I declare... mighty good...
Little girl
Here...
KID #2
Here you deserve it.
Nanna
What a beautiful story. 
Judge
Hi there, Mr. Storyteller. What a great story. I for one have never seen such a mastery and charm in your storytelling before...
Kelton
He's right. Exactly what he said about the story.
Newman
Thank you, thank you. The reason is that for many years I was the storyteller for the King of Morocco. 
Judge
Oh, the special storyteller of the king? You must do us the honor of being our guest tonight. 
Newman
Guest? Really, well I don't want to be a bother. But since you insist so much, I will accept.
Kelton
What bother. No, They would be really happy to see your donkey... I know... they will... 
Judge
Quiet you idiot … Yes our friends in the inn will be happy to be your host… Okay, I take the master storyteller and you take the donkey. 
Kelton
Let's get going, dear donkey. Tonight were're having a feast. 
JUDGE
Just up the road here. Yes, just a step further... 
CUT TO:
INT. book - dAY
Narrator
In the olden days, travelers use to stay at hotels called Inns. 
CUT TO:
EXT. town inn - dAY
The Judge and Newman make their way to the front of the inn.

But if you want to see our Inn, let's go with Newman, and see for ourselves.
Judge
And there's borgismorgue, and dancing girls... of course if you have the money you could afford all those things... Ah, here we go. We're here. 
.. Hi there, everyone come over. We have a guest. A very special guest..

JUDGE (CONT'D)
…. This here is the best storyteller in the world. 
Kelton
Ya, with a very handsome donkey. 
Judge
Welcome sir. Please come in and take rest in our humble rooms. 
Newman
Oh, young man!… Young man…
Teenager
Yes, sir
Newman
Take my donkey to the stable. Take this coin and give him some good hey. Very fresh.
Teenager
But this is a small coin. You can't even get a handful of hey for this. 
Newman
Fine. Just give him some dry hey.
CUT TO:
INT. inn dining room - lATER
Newman is gathered with the rest of the town folk as he tells more stories.
Newman
Yes sir, They got closer and closer. My donkey's legs were all shaking. So I took my trusted stick in my hand and told my donkey….
Judge
(under breath to Kelton)
Come on, get going. 
KELTON
The story.... But, but, but, but...
JUDGE
(under breath to Kelton)
No, this is the perfect time. 
NEWMAN
(still telling the story)
...it was the time to big a hero... so I pulled out my knife..
CUT TO:
EXT. town iNN - mOMENTS LATER
Kelton slowly sneaks his way past the Teenager and makes his way to the donkey.
Teenager
(singing)
I am sweeping and sweeping. What a beautiful job I am doing…
CUT TO:
INT. barn - dAY
Kelton
Let's go my pretty. I'm going to give you fresh hey. Let's ride!
Teenager
I am sweeping and sweeping all day…
CUT TO:
EXT. town market - mOMENTS LATER
Kelton stands with the donkey calling out to possible buyers.
Kelton
(calling out)
Hello there, Donkey for sale. A beautiful donkey for sale… 200 coins only. ON sale for 200 coins… 
A possible customer approaches.
KELTON (CONT'D)
(to the donkey)
Shut up, Donkey, I think there's a customer.
Tea Master
Here you go. Now the donkey is mine. 
Kelton
Hey, how much is the kebob?
Clay Master
A coin and two bits... 
Kelton
Make a hundred... 
CLAY MASTER
Oh, I'm gonna need a bigger fire than this one...
SMITHY
Oh, ya... I declare might good soup.. 
Kelton
Excuse me... How much for a bowl?
SMITHY
One coin. 
Kelton
I want the whole pot.
SMITHY
That's twenty coins to you...
KELTON
I'll take it.
SMITHY
Alright, eat good health...
BACK TO:
INT. inn dining room - eVENING
The sun has set, but Newman is still with the town folk as they listen to him telling more stories.
Newman
That's right my friends, the King patted me on the back and said this was the greatest story I had ever heard in my life. That's right, from today forward, you are my very special storyteller.
Judge
How wonderful. Oh, okay, looks like dinner is here. Oh look, rice, kebob, stew, what an amazing meal awaits us! 
Kelton
Here you go, Mr. Storyteller. Enjoy your meal.
Newman
What aroma. But I didn't want you to go through all this trouble. 
Judge
No, not at all. Feel at home.
Kelton
Go ahead, eat up! Eat up! Eat up! 
Man #5
What great chicken...
Man #5 (O.C.) (CONT'D)
What good kebob…
Newman
Hunn... Okay, If you insist I'll dig right in... 
Teenager
What's going in this joint? None of business... I'm out of here. 
Crowd
God, I ate so much I am bursting… What delicious food…
Judge
Okay, Mr. Storyteller. I hope you've enjoyed the food. 
Newman
Yes.
Judge (O.S.)
Okay, now we want to throw a real party, and sing in your honor. 
Newman 
Oh... Oh! Really?! 
MUSIC PLAYING
Judge
(singing)
Gladness came, gladness came, and my sorrows are all gone. 
Crowd
(singing)
Off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey....  
Kelton
(singing)
The moment came, and the food was here, and we ate it all... off goes the donkey....
Crowd
(singing)
Off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey....
Judge
(singing)
All the drinks and sherbet's gone, and the donkey split... 
Crowd
(singing)
Off goes the donkey, Off goes the donkey, Off goes the donkey, Off goes the donkey... 
Newman
Hun? What kind of song is this? What do they mean "Off goes the donkey"? Never mind. It's probably an inside joke...  
Crowd
(singing)
Off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey....
Newman
(singing)
Off goes the donkey, off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey... 
Unknowingly to Newman everyone is making fun of and laughing at him.
Crowd
(laughing)
Ha, ha, ha.....
CUT TO:
INT. book - eVENING
NaRRATOR
(laughs)
Off went the donkey, off went the donkey and again off went the donkey. 
Anyhow, that night passed with the song "Off goes the Donkey", but hear what happened the next day. 
CUT TO:
INT. inN DINING ROOM - mORNING
Newman sleeps on a make shift bed surrounded by empty dishes. He snores and is talking in his sleep.
Newman
(snoring/sleep talking)
Off went the donkey... Off he went... Good for him...
Newman wakes up to find the room empty.
NEWMAN (CONT'D)
Hun! So, where is everybody. What a nice party. What delicious food. They outdid themselves! Okay, let's go and see what that old donkey's up to... the old mule... 
CUT TO:
INT. bARN - mORNING
Newman makes his way to the barn to check up on his donkey.

NEWMAN
(calling out)
Hey you lazy donkey, get up. It's time to go, get up. Time to go... Where is he? 
CUT TO:
EXT. bARN - mORNING
Newman searches for the young man who was in charge of his donkey.
NEWMAN
Young man? Oh young man, Where are you? 
Teenager
Yes, yes? 
Newman
Bring me my donkey, I'm in a hurry. 
Teenager
What? What donkey? You don't have one sir! 
Newman
You're kidding? Not a good joke! I gave you half a coin to feed him hey. 
Teenager
What a minute, wait a minute.. Didn't you tell everybody to go and sell the donkey? You don't remember, right? 
Newman
Sell it? What sell? What are you on about, you know nothing?
Teenager
I don't know? So where do you think the last night feast came from? The food you were having for hours all dancing, and having a good time. 
Newman
Oh, What? They cheated me. They ruined me. Tell me right now where my donkey is. 
Teenager
How do I know. They all got up real early in the morning and took off. 
Newman
You knew they were selling my donkey. Why didn't you tell me or let me know? 
Teenager
Me? Why didn't I come and tell you? Well, the truth is...
CUT TO:
EXT. inn - eVENING 
FLASHBACK
The Teenager carries water buckets towards the barn. He passes Kelton on the way there.
Kelton
Hey there kid, where are you off to, hunn? 
Teenager
Well, I'm gonna go take some water to the poor donkey. 
Kelton
Don't you know! The Storyteller asked us to sell his donkey and buy food for everybody. That's what he said... ya....
Teenager
Sell the donkey? I don't believe it. He wasn't even ready to buy some hey for that poor donkey, now you think he's gonna sell it to throw a feast? Come on...
Kelton
Well, if you don't believe me, come and see for yourself.... I wouldn't lie to you... would I... 
CUT TO:
INT. iNN DINING ROOM - eVENING
The Teenager observes Newman singing and parting with the rest of the town folk.
CROWD
Off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey... off goes the donkey...
Newman
(singing)
Off goes the donkey, and good for him... 
Teenager
Hmmm... Guess your right. Off goes the donkey. If he's so happy his donkey gone, why should I worry about it. Not my problem. 
BACK TO:
EXT. BARN - MORNING

Newman
But I didn't know they had sold my donkey fort pity sake. 
Teenager
Well, if you didn't know, then why were you singing the song "Off Went the Donkey"? You kept saying off went the donkey, off went the donkey... and so on. 
Newman
Because I was stupid! I was just following what they were saying. 
Teenager
Okay, well, that's some bad luck there your having... Jee, better luck next time... Ok, by the way, so you know, the fee for the room is gonna be five coins. 
Newman
What did you say? The room fee? I'm going to sue. I'm going to sue everybody. I'm going to sue you! I'm even going to sue that stupid donkey. Mark my words... Before I'm done... I'm not through with any of you...
NaRRATOR
Okay. And that's it for today. Our story comes to an end, but for the poor Storyteller, well his ending costs him plenty. Till another day and another story, be good one and all. 
THE END.