The Reluctant Dragon (I) (1941)
Barnett Parker: The Dragon (segment "The Reluctant Dragon")
Photos
Quotes
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The Dragon : Sweet little upside-down cake / Cares and woes, you've got'em / Poor little upside-down cake / Your top is on your bottom / Alas, little upside-down cake / Your troubles never stop / Because, little upside-down cake / Your bottom's on your top.
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The Dragon : You've got to be mad to breathe fire, but I'm not mad at anybody.
The Boy : But try real hard. Concentrate.
[the dragon tries, but all he can muster is a puny smoke ring]
The Dragon : Not very good, is it?
The Boy : Nope. Too bad you're not a real dragon, instead of a punk poet.
The Dragon : [Angry] "Punk poet"?
[Now fire is coming out of his mouth]
The Dragon : Ooh, say that again.
The Boy : Punk poet.
The Dragon : Again.
The Boy : Punk poet.
The Dragon : Again.
The Boy : Punk poet.
The Dragon : [Delighted] Ooh, I'm mad! I'm mad! I'm mad!
The Boy : Punk poet! Punk poet! Punk poet!
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Sir Giles : Uh, the time has come, you know.
The Dragon : [clapping excitedly] You mean... I die now?
Sir Giles : Oh yes indeed. As per-agreed, we'll seal our pact, old thing.
[placing the lance under the Dragon's arm]
Sir Giles : Take that!
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The Boy : Do you mind if I recite a poem?
The Dragon : You, boy? Why, well, oh, not at all!
Sir Giles : Oh, of course, of course. Rather, rather!
The Boy : 'Tis evening / From the stars above / A soft mysterious light / Brings thoughts of friendship, joy and love.
[shouts]
The Boy : Now how 'bout that fight?
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The Dragon : Well, that's splendid!
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The Boy : Have you had any nice battles lately?
The Dragon : Battles? Oh, no, no, no battles. No.
The Boy : Oh. Oh, probably too busy scourging the countryside and devouring fair damsels, then.
The Dragon : Scourging? Devouring? Good heavens, no.
The Boy : But don't you ever do anything desperate?
The Dragon : Well, yes, I... I do make up poetry.
The Boy : Poetry?
The Dragon : Verses, you know? Care to hear my latest sonnet?
The Boy : Well, I...
The Dragon : Oh, you'll love this. I call it, "Just A-Drifting".
[sings]
The Dragon : Just a-drifting o'er the leaves/Like a dewdrop, fancy free,/Playing with the gentle breezes,/Romping with the bumble beezes./Oh, what fun! Joy never ceases,/Just a-drifting.