• Narrator
• Arrowana
• Green kingfisher
• Howler monkey
• Big-headed turtle
• Macaw
• Bôto Dolphin
• Tambouqui

• Three-toed sloth
• Agouti
• Ukari
• Tucan
• Pipa toad
• River Dolphin
• Electric eel
• Squirrel monkey

The scene opens in a small section of the Brazilian rainforest. The toucan and the howler monkey are in their trees. The three-toed sloth is hanging from a branch.

Narrator

The Flooded Forest of the Amazon is just waking up - deep in the forest we can hear the first sounds of the birds. Loudest of all are the macaws.

Macaw

(flying in) What a beautiful day. It smells like there is a Brazil nut tree around here.

Toucan

Keep off! Private! These are my Brazil nuts.

Macaw

But there are enough nuts for everybody.

The birds argue in the tree.

Narrator

Silly birds! Now if we listen carefully we can hear the arrowana splashing about in the water.

In the water - schoal of tetras

Arrowana

There's a nice, juicy fly - my favourite breakfast - up I go!

Launches itself into the air to take the insect.
Tetras move off.

Arrowana

Its only when the forest is flooded that I can reach the bugs in the trees.

Enter River dolphin and Bôto dolphin.

Bôto Dolphin

What a lovely morning! We'll have to hurry if we want to catch some tetras before they are frightened away.

Pipa toad

(waking up) What's all that splashing? You just scared away all the tetras.

Green kingfisher

(hovering above the water) Too true! I have an empty hole to fill and little ones to feed back in the nest.

The birds are still arguing. Some seeds drop in the water.

Tambouqui

Thank you birds for sending these seeds down - a nice delivery! Those birds are always fighting and I'm usually the one that wins the prize.

Bôto Dolphin

Now that the river has flooded the forest the humans are taking a lot of our fish.

River Dolphin

We are lucky that the humans do not harm dolphins - they seem to believe that it is bad luck to kill us!

Bôto Dolphin

I suppose you're right for once. Why don't we swim up the Rio Negro? There are more fish there and the humans do not usually visit that far.

The dolphins exit.

Macaws

(flying off to another tree) I've had enough of that Toucan. Let's try another type of tree. We might be luckier.

Toucan

And I've had enough of you, macaws. Thank goodness you've moved away and left me alone.

Macaws

'Bye 'bye, Toucan.

Howler monkey

(Appearing in tree) Get out and leave me alone. I'm enjoying my breakfast and I'm in no mood to be interrupted. You are always disturbing me with your daily squabbles.

Three-toed sloth

Oh stop being greedy, Howler and let the Macaws have some fruit.

Howler monkey

Alright but you must leave me alone, Macaws. I'm going to the upper canopy where the best fruit is, so you keep away.

Three-toed sloth

Why do these animals waste their energy on fighting? They should take life in a more relaxed way, like sloths.

Narrator

Look - more animals are arriving in the flooded river.

Enter electric eel

Electric eel

There are lots of animals to eat - which one shall I shock?

Big-headed turtle

Not me because I've a lovely shell to protect me from your electric shocks.

Electric eel

I might not be able to shock you, turtle but that Tambouqui is definitely shockable and well within my range.

Tambouqui

What's that strange feeling?

Noise of electric shock. Small fish scatter. Shock stuns Tambouqui who falls down & off stage. Eel follows.

Pipa toad

Thank goodness the eel didn't stun me or the babies I am carrying on my back might have been injured.

Big-headed turtle

My shell is heavier than your babies, toad. That's why I move so slowly.

Arrowana

You turtles at least have a shell to protect you from the eel's shock. I'd better get out of here before he comes back.

Pipa toad

Good thing that the arrowana's left - he won't scare away the smaller fish now.

Narrator

And what is this? I can see an agouti coming to the water's edge.

Enter agouti

Agouti

I need to find food quickly - I haven't eaten in ages. Now that the forest is flooded all the seeds fall into the water and I have to swim to get them.

Three-toed sloth

I may be lazy but at least I know how to swim and climb trees. I'm never hungry - Ha! Ha!

Macaws

(Squawk!) Help! Squirrel monkey alert!

Toucan

I'm safe because of my size but I'll stay sitting on my eggs to protect them.

Enter squirrel monkey, followed by ukari

Squirrel monkey

Never mind - there are plenty of fruits and insects around in the trees.

Ukari

Don't touch those red fruits over there - I've got my eye on them.

Howler monkey

Not my fruits, you haven't. I'll have to start charging these animals if they keep coming to my tree like this.

Ukari

But that's not fair! This tree and its fruits belong to everybody, so stop being selfish.

Howler monkey

But I fought for this tree and now its mine. There are plenty of trees in the forest and I've already got macaws lodging here.

Ukari

But I was here before the macaws so it's you that should get out.

Agouti

You're so stupid - you squabble over fruit when its everywhere. seeds are much harder to find at this time of year.

Macaws

If that Toucan would only fly away we'd be able to steal one of its eggs.

Toucan

There are too many predators after my eggs - I'll stay here all day if I need to to protect them.

Arrowana

I'm annoyed that the squirrel monkey has shown up. It'll eat most of the insects in the trees over the water.

Pipa toad

You and your insects! I have to go and hide - my babies are hatching.

Three-toed sloth

Its late. It will be dark soon - I have to find a safe place to sleep.

Agouti

Oh bother! The day's almost over and I've only found a few seeds.

Narrator

And now, as darkness falls, let's say good night to the animals.

Each animal comes into the light and takes a bow