The Legend of Lightning
Larry
By Aaron Shepard
Version 4.0
Adapted for reader �s theatre by
the author, from the book� published by Scribners/Atheneum, New York, 1993
Story copyright
(c) 1993 Aaron Shepard. Script copyright (c) 1993, 1996 Aaron Shepard
"Reader �s
Theater Editions" is a series of scripts for young readers. The scripts
may be freely copied, shared, and performed for any educational, noncommercial
purpose. Feel free to format and edit the scripts to serve the needs of your
own readers -- but please DO NOT pass on copies with text changes or deletions.
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GENRE: Tall tale
CULTURE: U.S.
(Western frontier)
THEME: Aggressive nonviolence
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READING LEVEL: Grades 2-6
READERS: 22+
TIME: 8 min.
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ROLES: Citizen 1, Citizen 2,
Citizen 3, Citizen 4, Citizen 5, Citizen 6, Citizen 7, Citizen 8, Lightning
Larry, Crooked Curt, Evil-Eye McNeevil, Dismal Dan, Devilish Dick, Dreadful
Dave, Stinky Steve, Sickening Sid, Raunchy Ralph, Grimy Greg, Creepy Cal, Moldy
Mike, Lousy Luke, Gruesome Gus, (Other Citizens, Musicians, Bartender, Bank
Teller)
NOTE: CITIZENS
serve as narrators. If possible, all readers should speak with a Western drawl.
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CITIZEN 1: Well, you �ve heard about gunfighting good guys like Wild
Bill Hickok and Wyatt Earp.
CITIZEN 8: But we �ll tell you a name that strikes even greater fear
into the hearts of bad men everywhere.
ALL (except LARRY): Lightning Larry!
CITIZEN 2: We �ll never forget the day Larry rode into our little
town of Brimstone
and walked into the Cottonmouth Saloon. He strode up to the bar, smiled
straight at the bartender, and said,
LIGHTNING LARRY: Lemonade, please!
CITIZEN 7: Every head in the place turned to look.
CITIZEN 3: Now, standing next to Larry at the bar was Crooked Curt.
CITIZEN 6: Curt was one of a band of rustlers and thieves that had
been terrorizing our town, led by a ferocious outlaw named Evil-Eye McNeevil.
CITIZEN 4: Curt was wearing the usual outlaw scowl.
CITIZEN 5: Larry turned to him and smiled.
LIGHTNING LARRY: Mighty big frown you got there, mister!
CROOKED CURT: What �s it to you?
LIGHTNING LARRY: Well, maybe I could help remove it!
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CROOKED CURT: I �d like to see you try!
CITIZEN 1: The rest of us got out of the way, real fast.
CITIZEN 8: The bartender ducked behind the bar.
CITIZEN 2: Larry and Curt moved about ten paces from each other,
hands at the ready.
CITIZEN 7: Larry was still smiling.
CITIZEN 3: Curt moved first. But he only just cleared his gun from
its holster before Larry aimed and fired.
LIGHTNING LARRY: Zing!
CITIZEN 6: There was no bang and no bullet. Just a little bolt of
light that hit Curt right in the heart.
CITIZEN 4: Curt just stood there, his eyes wide with surprise. Then
he dropped his gun, and a huge grin spread over his face.
CITIZEN 5: He rushed up to Larry and pumped his hand.
CROOKED CURT: I �m mighty glad to know you, stranger! The drinks are on
me! Lemonade for everyone!
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CITIZEN 1: When Evil-Eye McNeevil and his outlaw gang heard that
Crooked Curt had gone straight, they shuddered right down to their boots.
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CITIZEN 8: Most any outlaw would rather die than smile!
CITIZEN 2: Evil-Eye �s men were shook up, but they weren �t about to
let on.
CITIZEN 7: The very next day,
DISMAL DAN: Dismal Dan!
DEVILISH DICK: Devilish Dick!
DREADFUL DAVE: And Dreadful Dave!
CITIZEN 7: rode into Brimstone, yelling like crazy men and shooting
wild.
DAN, DICK, & DAVE: (hoot and holler, prance, wave guns and shoot)
CITIZEN 3: Windows shattered
CITIZEN 6: and citizens scattered.
CITIZEN 4: Then Lightning Larry showed up. He never warned them.
CITIZEN 5: Never even stopped smiling.
CITIZEN 1: Just shot three little bolts of light.
LIGHTNING LARRY: Zing! Zing! Zing!
DAN, DICK, & DAVE: (stop and fall when hit)
CITIZEN 8: Hit those outlaws right in the heart.
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CITIZEN 2: Larry �s shots knocked the outlaws to the ground. They lay
there trying to figure out what had hit them. Then they got up and looked
around.
DISMAL DAN: Looks like we did some damage, boys.
CITIZEN 7: ...said Dismal Dan.
DEVILISH DICK: Hope nobody got hurt!
CITIZEN 3: ...said Devilish Dick.
DREADFUL DAVE: We �d better get to work and fix this place up.
CITIZEN 6: ...said Dreadful Dave.
CITIZEN 4: They spent the rest of the day replacing windows and
apologizing to everyone who �d listen.
CITIZEN 5: Then for good measure, they picked up all the trash in
the street.
�
CITIZEN 1: Evil-Eye McNeevil had lost three more of his meanest men,
CITIZEN 8: and he was furious!
CITIZEN 2: He decided to do something really nasty.
CITIZEN 7: The next day,
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STINKY STEVE: Stinky Steve!
SICKENING SID: And Sickening Sid!
CITIZEN 7: walked into the 79th National Savings and Loan, with guns
in hand.
CITIZEN 3: They wore masks,
CITIZEN 6: but everyone knew who they were -- from the smell.
STINKY STEVE: Stick up your hands.
CITIZEN 4: ...said Stinky Steve.
SICKENING SID: Give us all the money in your vault.
CITIZEN 5: ...ordered Sickening Sid.
CITIZEN 1: They were just backing out the door with the money bags,
when Lightning Larry strolled by.
CITIZEN 8: Didn �t even slow his step.
CITIZEN 2: Just shot those bandits in the back.
LIGHTNING LARRY: Zing! Zing!
CITIZEN 7: Went right through to the heart.
CITIZEN 3: The puzzled outlaws stopped and looked at each other.
STINKY STEVE: Seems a shame to steal the money of hardworking cowboys.
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SICKENING SID: Wouldn �t want to make their lives any harder.
CITIZEN 6: They holstered their guns and walked back to the teller.
CITIZEN 4: They plunked the money bags down on the counter.
SICKENING SID: Now, you keep that money safe.
CITIZEN 5: Then they pulled out their wallets and opened up
accounts.
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CITIZEN 1: That was the last straw for Evil-Eye McNeevil. It was
time for a showdown!
CITIZEN 8: The next day, at high noon, Larry was sipping lemonade at
the Cottonmouth Saloon. Evil-Eye burst through the doors and stamped up to him.
EVIL-EYE McNEEVIL: I �m Evil-Eye McNeevil!
LIGHTNING LARRY: (with a huge smile) Hello, Evil-Eye! Can I buy you a lemonade?
EVIL-EYE McNEEVIL: This town ain �t big enough for the both of us.
LIGHTNING LARRY: Seems pretty spacious to me!
EVIL-EYE McNEEVIL: I �ll be waiting for you, down by the Okey-Dokey Corral.
29 Apr 2009
