(Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” playing) ♪ - Peter and the Wolf.

That's the name of our story, and here are our heroes.

Peter.

(Peter’s theme plays) Peter's best friend, the bird.

(Bird’s theme plays) And now let's meet our other characters.

Here is the duck.

I said, here is the duck.

(Duck’s theme plays) And the cat.

(Cat’s theme plays) Peter's grandfather.

(Grandfather’s theme plays) And what would the story of Peter and the Wolf be without a big gray wild wolf?

(Wolf’s theme plays) Of course, Peter will need help, and he'll get it from the hunters.

(Hunters’ theme plays) And now that you've met our characters, here's the story everybody is waiting for.

The story of Peter and the Wolf.

(opening theme plays) Early one beautiful sunny morning, Peter opened the gate and went out into the big green meadow.

(Peter’s theme plays) (inaudible) (Bird’s theme plays) Yes, yes.

Everything is quiet here.

(music) Soon the duck came waddling around.

(Duck’s theme plays) She's very glad Peter had not closed the gate.

She decided to have a nice swim in the deep pond in the meadow.

(music continues) And the bird said to the duck, “What kind of a bird are you if you cannot fly?” To which the duck replied, “What kind of a bird are you if you cannot swim?” (music continues) (inaudible) (Cat’s theme plays) And the cat thought to herself, “The bird is busy arguing with the duck.

If only I could grab it!"

Stealthily she crept forward on her velvet paws.

(music continues) (music intensifies) (Cat’s theme plays) And the cat thought to herself, “Is it worth climbing so high?

By the time I get there, the bird will have flown away.” (Grandfather’s theme plays) Grandfather was angry because Peter had gone into the meadow, for he had told Peter many times that the meadow was a dangerous place, because a wolf could come out of the forest.

(Grandfather’s theme continues) But boys, like Peter are not afraid of wolves.

(inaudible) (Peter’s theme plays) (Grandfather’s theme plays) (Wolf’s theme plays) (Cat’s theme plays) (Duck’s theme plays frantically) And this is how things stood: The cat was sitting on one branch up in the tree.

(music) And the bird was sitting on the other branch of the tree, not too close to the cat.

(music) And the wolf was walking around and around below looking at them with his greedy eyes.

(music) Peter, without the slightest fear, sat on top of the wall and watched all that was going on.

He ran home, found a strong rope, and hurried back.

(music) Peter said to the bird, “Fly down and circle around the wolf's head.

But take care he doesn't catch you.” (music) (Hunters’ theme playing) (Kettle drums banging) (Hunters’ theme continues) (Kettle drums banging) (coughing) Wati!

You don't have to shoot.

Peter and the bird have already caught the wolf.

Please help them take him to the zoo.

(music) “This is all very well,” said Grandfather.

“But what if Peter had not caught the wolf?

What then?” And the bird was chirping merrily.

“Look at us.

Aren't we smart, Peter and I?

See what we have caught.” (music) And if you listen very carefully, you can hear the duck quacking away inside the wolf because the wolf, in his haste, swallowed her whole and the duck is still alive.

(music)