Pinocchio (Storyette) - Hal Smith.mp3

[00:00.222] This is the story of Pinocchio.
[00:02.741] Let's begin now.
[00:06.127] Have you ever wondered if wishes really do come true?
[00:10.052] Well, they do, and I, Jiminy Cricket, have seen it happen.
[00:16.004] Here, let me tell you about it.
[00:18.938] One starry night, my travels took me to a tiny shop owned by Geppetto, the woodcarver.
[00:29.533] I sneaked onto the door and saw old Geppetto working on a puppet that looked like a little boy.
[00:36.582] Geppetto put on a last dab of paint and said,
[00:40.648] There, little wooden head, you're all finished. Now, I have just the name for you, Pinocchio. Come on, let's try you out.
[00:53.742] Geppetto took Pinocchio down off the workbench and danced the little puppet across the wooden floor by pulling the strings.
[01:01.488] Figaro the cat wasn't sure he liked the newcomer, who plomped and clattered around the shop. But Geppetto liked his little Pinocchio very much.
[01:12.450] Figaro, wouldn't it be nice if Pinocchio were a real live boy? Oh, well, it's time for bed. Come, Pinocchio. Let's put you back on the workbench. Good night, my little funny face.
[01:36.328] Just before going to sleep, Geppetto looked out his window into the starry night.
[01:41.845] Oh, look, Figaro, the wishing star. Do you know what I wish, Figaro? I wish that my little Pinocchio might become a real boy.
[01:56.845] And with that, Geppetto drifted happily off to sleep.
[02:01.008] A very nice thought, I said, as I settled down to bed in an empty matchbox. But wishes like that never come true.
[02:10.761] Moments later, the room filled with light, and there stood a beautiful blue fairy.
[02:17.160] She tapped Pinocchio with her magic wand.
[02:20.506] Little puppet made of pine, wake, the gift of life is thine.
[02:26.780] Then Pinocchio moved.
[02:29.650] I can move. I can talk. But how?
[02:36.215] Because tonight, Geppetto wished for a real boy. But remember, Pinocchio, warned the Blue Fairy. You're not a real boy yet. First, you must prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and you must learn to choose between right and wrong.
[03:00.669] But how will I know?
[03:02.209] I'll help him, Miss Fairy, I said, jumping onto the workbench.
[03:07.121] Ha ha ha, in that case, Mister Cricket, I appoint you Pinocchio's conscience.
[03:13.461] And with that, she vanished.
[03:16.650] When Geppetto woke up and saw Pinocchio walking and talking, he was amazed.
[03:23.006] It's my wish come true. Oh, Pinocchio, my boy. I'm so happy.
[03:29.583] Me too, father.
[03:31.478] And the two of them danced around the shop, laughing merrily.
[03:39.988] The next morning, Geppetto sent Pinocchio off to school.
[03:44.043] But there was trouble hiding along the way.
[03:47.347] A sly fox and a crafty cat convinced Pinocchio that the place for a puppet without strings was the theater, and they steered Pinocchio away from school and off to Stromboli, the puppet master.
[04:02.130] Stromboli put Pinocchio into his puppet show that very day.
[04:06.225] The audience poured in to see the little puppet who could sing and dance completely without strings.
[04:13.741] Yes, sir. Pinocchio was a big hit. I told him he ought to be in school, but he wouldn't listen. Besides, he was making so much money that I figured I must be wrong. Little did I know.
[04:33.903] In Stromboli's wagon after the show, the greedy puppet master took all Pinocchio's money and then locked him in a cage.
[04:44.215] This will be your new home, my little wooden gold mine. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
[04:53.139] Pinocchio shook the bars of his cage.
[04:56.044] No, I don't wanna be an actor. I wanna go home. Let me out!
[05:00.933] But the strong bully only laughed and slammed the wagon door.
[05:05.555] I found poor Pinocchio crying in the dark.
[05:08.723] I should've listened to you, Jiminy. Now I guess I'll never get home.
[05:13.591] Just then, the Blue Fairy reappeared. Pinocchio tried to cover up his predicament by lying.
[05:21.357] But with each lie, his wooden nose grew longer and longer.
[05:26.290] You see, Pinocchio, a lie keeps growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face. I'll forgive you this once, but this is the last time I can help you.
[05:37.470] She waved her wand, and in a twinkling, Pinocchio's nose was back to normal, and the cage door opened.
[05:49.581] As we headed for home, Pinocchio heard about a wonderful place called Pleasure Island, where boys were allowed to break windows, smoke cigars, and stay up late.
[06:00.941] It sounded fishy to me, but Pinocchio wanted to go.
[06:04.846] He climbed aboard a coach full of noisy, foolish boys.
[06:09.026] All I could do was tag along.
[06:12.309] At Pleasure Island, Pinocchio joined all those rowdy boys in wrecking furniture, throwing mud balls, and playing pool.
[06:21.252] I knew this place wasn't good. So, I tried to talk Pinocchio into leaving. Look at yourself. How do you ever expect to be a real boy?
[06:29.630] Oh, gee, Jiminy. A guy only lives once, you know.
[06:33.110] All right, stay, make a fool of yourself.
[06:36.357] And I left.
[06:39.666] As I headed for the boat dock, I noticed some sinister men herding frightened little donkeys into crates.
[06:46.260] The strange part was that the donkeys were wearing boys' clothing, and some were crying, "Mama, Mama."
[06:55.383] Then it hit me. These were bad boys who had turned into donkeys.
[07:01.130] I had to get Pinocchio off Pleasure Island and fast.
[07:05.837] I dashed back to the pool room hollering, "Come on, Pinocchio, we've got to get out of here! The boys, they've all turned into donkeys!"
[07:14.128] But I was too late. Pinocchio had already sprouted donkey's ears and a tail.
[07:20.337] Oh, Geppetto, what'll I do? Help me!
[07:24.573] We've got to get away from here before you get any worse. Follow me, Pinocchio.
[07:29.998] We ran to the water's edge, dove into the sea, and swam for the mainland.
[07:35.789] Pinocchio pulled himself from the water, still wearing ears and a tail, but he was glad he had escaped Pleasure Island.
[07:43.431] Let's go home, Jiminy. I wanna see my father.
[07:51.165] When we arrived at Geppetto's workshop, the place was locked, and Geppetto was gone.
[07:56.459] Just then, a magic dove flew by and dropped a note.
[08:01.760] Pinocchio, it's about your father. It says he went looking for you and was swallowed by a whale named Monstro.
[08:10.770] Poor Pinocchio thought his father was done for.
[08:14.233] But I read on.
[08:15.562] Wait, he's alive. It says he's living inside the whale at the bottom of the sea.
[08:22.950] Pinocchio squared his shoulders.
[08:25.090] Whale or no whale, I've got to find my father and rescue him.
[08:30.240] But Pinocchio, it's dangerous. This Monstro can swallow whole ships.
[08:35.355] I've got to go to him, Jiminy. Goodbye.
[08:38.959] With that, Pinocchio ran to a high cliff over the ocean.
[08:43.214] He tied a rock to his tail and jumped into the water.
[08:47.272] The rock took Pinocchio to the ocean floor, where he began his search for Geppetto. Father…father…father.
[09:01.755] Pinocchio's search wasn't long. Monstro was busy swallowing up tuna fish for a meal, and Pinocchio was swept into Monstro's belly along with the fish.Geppetto was in surprise.
[09:15.569] Pinocchio, my boy, I'm so happy to see you.
[09:21.256] Me too, father. I've come to save you.
[09:25.237] No, Pinocchio, there's no way out. Monstro only opens his mouth when he's eating. Then everything comes in, nothing goes out.
[09:38.710] Suddenly, Pinocchio had a tremendous idea.
[09:42.095] Father, we'll build a fire, and the smoke will make Monstro sneeze.
[09:47.294] Pinocchio and Geppetto started a blaze, and then climbed onto a raft while the smoke curled upward toward Monstro's nose.
[09:55.322] The giant whale sniffed and snorted, and finally sneezed the little raft right out of his mouth.
[10:07.436] Pinocchio and Geppetto had escaped safely, but Monstro was angry at being tricked.
[10:13.058] He raced toward the tiny raft with a terrifying look in his eyes.
[10:17.549] Pinocchio, shouted, You've ever seen this? He's trying to crush us!
[10:24.058] Monstro dove underwater and then came up fiercely underneath the raft.
[10:28.873] Pinocchio and Geppetto were thrown into the air as their raft broke into a thousand pieces.
[10:35.495] Geppetto floundered helplessly as he watched the furious whale turn about.
[10:40.097] Look out, my boy! Here he comes again!
[10:45.965] Hurry, father!
[10:47.634] Urged Pinocchio, but Geppetto was too tired to swim anymore.
[10:51.748] I can't make it, son. Save yourself.
[10:57.354] No, father, I won't leave you.
[10:59.880] Pinocchio grabbed Geppetto's shirt and swam bravely for shore.
[11:03.955] Just as Monstro dove at them, Neptune pulled Geppetto to safety behind some rocks.
[11:10.315] Geppetto woke to find himself on shore out of danger, but poor Pinocchio was lying deathly still in the pounding surf.
[11:20.475] Geppetto tearfully carried Pinocchio back to his workshop and laid the motionless puppet on the bed.
[11:32.266] Suddenly, we heard the Blue Fairy's voice.
[11:35.446] Pinocchio, you have proved yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish. Awake.
[11:44.284] Pinocchio sat up to find himself changed into a real boy.
[11:49.520] Bursting with joy, he and Geppetto danced about the workshop.
[11:54.843] And so, you see, wishes really do come true.