Mr. Punch and the Great $25,000 Box Trick. 4
The Snake Swallows Mr. Punch
Enter Foreigner and Mr. Punch.
Foreigner. Mr. Punch, have you heard the news?
Punch. News! What news?
Foreigner. Why, my boss has received from Europe a great twenty-five-thousand-dollar box.
Punch (with a gesticulation of surprise, says). I don’t believe it.
Foreigner. It is all true, and he has left me in charge of it.
Punch. Is that so? Well, what is there inside that box?
Foreigner. Oh, I don’t exactly know; but lots of funny things, alive, I think.
Punch. Well, suppose you bring it up, and let’s see what it looks like.
Foreigner. Ah! so I will; but mind, you mustn’t raise the lid up.
Punch. All right; go ahead—bring it up. (Punch commences to dance with delight.)
Foreigner. Yes, yes, it shall be brought up, but you must come down and help me, it is so heavy. (Punch disappears, following the Foreigner.)
Re-enter Foreigner and Punch, bearing box. They fix it in position.
Foreigner. Now mind, Mr. Punch, you are not to touch that box.
Punch (dances up and down the stage in high glee; peeps round, and looks at front of box, says). Oh, no; I not touch it.
Foreigner. Now, Mr. Punch, I am going away; but remember, you are not to touch that box. [Exit Foreigner.
Punch. Oh, no; I not touch it. (he taps, however, at side of box, and darts away, dancing.)
Foreigner (returning). Ah! Now, Mr. Punch, I saw you touching that box.
Punch. Oh, no! me no go near it.
Foreigner. Now remember, Mr. Punch, if you go touching or opening that box, the little dog may wake up and bite.
Punch (continuing his dance to and fro, says). I not touch box; you can go away. (Foreigner disappears.)
(Punch, getting curious, remarks: “I’d like to see what is inside that box.” Attempts to raise the lid, but is startled by a yell. Box flies open, and the little Dog pops his head and forepaws out; tries to get a grip at Punch, which he partially succeeds in. Punch squeals, and gets away; cautiously carries on a combat, ending in the little Dog being driven down, the lid of the box closing on him. Mr. Punch, congratulating himself that there are no more foes, is startled by hearing a roaring sound, and, on attempting to open the lid, shows alarm at the appearance of his Satanic Majesty.)
Demon. Mr. Punch, I’m from the infernal regions.
Punch. Well, what of that?
Demon. I’ve come to take you below with me.
Punch. I don’t know so much about that.
Demon. Yes, Mr. Punch, your time is up; you have to come with me.
Punch. Then we’ll fight.
(Punch and the Demon have a very smart combat, during which the Demon nearly succeeds in drawing Mr. Punch down the box. Punch squeals, and wriggles himself away, afterwards taking care not to approach too near, to be again grasped by his Majesty; sets to making a vigorous attack, ending by driving the Demon down the box. Punch is now greatly elated over his triumphal battle with the Demon; darts quickly from corner to corner of the stage; then showing himself at the centre, approaches the box, raises up the lid, looks within, says: “I see there is nothing more in there, and being all safe, think that I will now take a nap.” He lies down on the stage, his head towards the box. He is soon disturbed by the appearance of a wide-mouthed Snake, who tries to gulp him down. Punch, escaping, and emboldened with the success over his former foes, shows fight. Snake nips him, but he again escapes. Punch is much put about by the appearance, also, of a huge Crocodile on the opposite end of the stage. Finding the chances of victory going against him, he calls out for Joey, who, appearing, is seized by the Crocodile. Punch forces him away, and, in his excitement, places him in the way of the wide-mouthed Snake, who gulps at him, and draws him down the box out of sight. Snake, reappearing, lays hold of Mr. Punch, draws him squealing, headforemost, down the box, the Crocodile assisting by snapping at Mr. Punch’s legs as they are disappearing from view. The Crocodile plunges round about and over the front of the stage, but finding nothing more to snap at, also disappears from view.)