The Rifleman: The Wizard of Oz

Chapter 10

Mark, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Toto are walking deep in the forest is dark. Mark felt nervous and scared upon hearing spooky noises.

Mark: (Scared) I don't like this forest. It's dark and creepy.

Scarecrow: Of course, I don't know, but I think it'll get darker before it gets lighter.

Mark nods and turns to Tin Man.

Mark: Do... Do you suppose we'll meet any wild animals?

Tin Man: Mmm, we might.

Mark gasped.

Scarecrow: (Nervously) Animals that eat straw?

Tin Man: Uh, some but mostly lions and tigers and bears.

Mark: Lions!

Scarecrow: And tigers?

Tin Man: And bears!

Mark: (Gasps) Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!

Mark, Tin Man, and Scarecrow: (Together and they march fearfully down the road) Lion and tigers and bears! Oh my! Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my! Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!

Scarecrow jumps back in fear upon hearing the lion roar. Mark, Tin Man, and Scarecrow get scared as the lion approached them. He gets up on his feet and he roars at them as Scarecrow and Tin Man cower on the ground. Mark hides from behind the tree.

Cowardly Lion: (Challenging Scarecrow and Tin Man) Put em up! Put em up! Which one of you first? I'll fight you both together if you want. I'll fight you with one paw tied behind my back! I'll fight standing on one foot! I'll fight with my eyes closed! (To Tin Man) Oh, pulling an axe on me, eh? (To Scarecrow) Sneaking up on me, eh? Why... (Growling at Tin Man)

Tin Man: Here, here. Go away and let us alone.

Cowardly Lion: Oh, scared, huh? Afraid huh? How long you stay fresh in that can? (Chuckling) Come on, get up and fight, you shivering junkyard. (To Scarecrow) Put your hands up, you lopsided bag of hay!

Scarecrow: Now that's getting personal, Lion.

Tin Man: Yes, get up and teach him a lesson.

Scarecrow: What's wrong with you teaching him?

Tin Man: Well, I hardly know him.

Toto barks at Lion.

Cowardly Lion: (To Toto) Well, I'll get you anyway, peewee.

Lion chases Toto which shocks Mark and he comes to his defense picking him up. As Lion approached him trying to attack him, Mark slapped Lion in the nose.

Mark: (Scolding) Shame on you!

Cowardly Lion: (Crying) What did you do that for? I didn't bite him.

Mark: No, but you tried to. But it's bad enough picking on a straw man but when you go around picking on poor little dogs.

Cowardly Lion: Well, you didn't have to go and hit me, did you? Is my nose bleeding?

Mark: Well, of course not. (Lion wipes his tears with his tail) My goodness, what a fuss you're making! Well, naturally when you go around picking on things weaker than you are. Why, you're nothing but a great big coward!

Cowardly Lion: You're right, I am a coward! I haven't had any courage at all. I even scare myself! Look at the circles under my eyes. I haven't slept in weeks.

Tin Man: Why don't you try counting sheep?

Cowardly Lion: That doesn't do any good. I'm afraid of them.

Scarecrow: Oh, that's too bad. (To Mark) Don't you think the Wizard could help him too?

Mark: I don't see why not. (To Lion) Why don't you, come along with us? We're on our way to see the Wizard now. To get him a heart.

Tin Man: And him a brain.

Mark: I'm sure, he could give you some courage.

Cowardly Lion: Well, wouldn't you feel degraded to be seen in the company of a cowardly lion? I would.

Mark: No, of course not.

Cowardly Lion: Gee, that's awfully nice of you. My life has been simply unbearable.

Mark: (Wiping Lion's tears with his handkerchief) Oh. Well It's all right now. The Wizard will fix everything.

Cowardly Lion: It's been in me so long. I just gotta tell you how I feel.

Mark: Well, come on!

Cowardly Lion: (Singing as they continue walking down the road with them) Yeah, it's sad, Believe me missy. When you're born to be a sissy. Without the vim and verve. But I could show my prowess. Be a lion, not a mouse. If I only had the nerve. I'm afraid there's no denying. I'm just a dandy lion. A fate I don't deserve. I'd be brave as a blizzard.

Tin Man: (Singing) I'd be gentle as a lizard.

Scarecrow: I'd be clever as a gizzard.

Mark: (Singing) If the Wizard is a wizard, who will serve.

Scarecrow: (Singing) Then I'm sure to get a brain.

Tin Man: (Singing) A heart.

Mark: (Singing) A home.

Cowardly Lion: The nerve!

Mark, Scarecrow, Tin man, and Lion: (Singing together) Oh, we're off to see the Wizard. The wonderful Wizard of Oz. We hear he is a whiz of a wiz. If ever a wiz there was. If ever, oh ever a wiz there was. The Wizard of Oz is one because. Because, because, because. Because, because. Because of the wonderful things he does. We're off to see the Wizard. The wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Mark, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and Toto continue their journey to the Emerald City.