Poppyladdin

Street Rat meets Prince

(Daytime in the marketplace. Poppy and Perky are up to their capers again. They are on top of the awning of a fruit stand)

Poppy: Okay, Perky. Go!

(Perky dips over the edge and looks at the Melon Merchant)

Moe Szyslak: (To passing crowd) Try this, your taste buds will dance and sing. (Perky grabs a melon and hangs there, distracting his attention.) Hey, get your paws off that!

Perky: (Blows raspberry)

Moe Szyslak: Why, you! Get away from here, you filthy hairball!

(He grabs the melon away from Perky. But in the foreground, Poppy dips down and snatches another melon from the stand)

Perky: (Chitters)

(She zings back up. Moe takes the melon to the front, where he places it on top of a stack. He looks confused, like he has just done this)

Poppy: Nice goin', Perky. Breakfast is served.

(Poppy and Perky on the roof break open the melon and eat) 

(Branch was walking through the marketplace)

Pot Merchant: Young man, buy a pot. No finer pot in brass or silver.

Nut Merchant: Sugar dates, sugar dates and figs! Sugar dates and pistachios!

Necklace Merchant: Would the young man like a necklace? A pretty necklace for his pretty lady.

(He is charmed by the action, but is startled by a fish thrust into his face)

Fish Merchant: FRESH FISH! We catch 'em, you buy 'em!

Branch: I don't think so. (He backs away, but bumps into a fire eater, who is startled into swallowing his fire) Oh, excuse me. (He gulps, then belches fire from his mouth. Branch is disgusted. He is pleased and taps his stomach. Poppy sees her, and a strange look comes over her face) I'm really very sorry.

Poppy: (Falling deeply in love with him) Wow.

(He pulls the hood of his cloak over his head. Perky sees her and jumps up on her shoulder, waving her paw in front of Poppy's face)

(Branch stops at the fruit stand and sees a young homeless child reaching for a piece of fruit. He picks one up and gives it to her)

Branch: Oh, you must be hungry. Here you go. (The girl runs off.)

Mrs. Tweedy: You'd better be able to pay for that.

Branch: (Mystified) Pay?

Mrs. Tweedy: No one steals from my cart.

Branch: Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't have any money.

Mrs. Tweedy: Thief!

Branch: Please, if you let me go to the palace, I can get some from the queen.

Mrs. Tweedy: Do you know what the penalty is for stealing?

(She takes his hand and pins it down on the table, intending to chop it off)

Branch: No, no please!

(The knife drops, but her hand is stopped by Poppy's)

Poppy: Thank you, kind lady. I'm so glad you've found him. (To Branch) I've been looking all over for you.

Branch: (Whispering) What are you doing?

Poppy: (Whispering back) Just play along.

Mrs. Tweedy: You know this boy?

Poppy: Sadly, yes. He is my brother. He's a little crazy. (She circles her finger around her ear. Branch is shocked. Mrs. Tweedy grabs her by the dress)

Mrs. Tweedy: He said he knows the queen.

Poppy: He thinks the grinchilla is the queen.

(Perky is picking a pocket. She hears this, then straightens up. Branch, playing along, kneels and bows to Perky)

Branch: Oh, wise queen. How may I serve you?

Poppy: (Chitters)

Poppy: Tragic, isn't it? (She leans forward, picking up another apple from the cart with her foot) But, no harm done. (Walks over to Branch) Now come along, bro. Time to go see the doctor.

Branch: (To a camel standing nearby) Oh, hello doctor. How are you?

Poppy: No, no, no. Not that one. (To Perky, whose pockets are bulging.) Come along, your majesty. 

(Perky bows to the crowd and everything she's stolen from the cart falls out)

Mrs. Tweedy: Huh? What is it? (Perky picks up what she can carry, and the trio run off) Come back here, you little thieves!

(Chelsea's lab)

(Meowth is running on a gear in a bizarre contraption. At the top of the contraption is a storm brewing)

[Explosion]

Meowth: (Huffing and puffing) With all due respect, Your Rottenness, couldn't we just wait for a real storm?

Chelsea: Save your breath, Iago. Faster. (She places Rosiepuff's ring in the contraption.)

Meowth: Yes, O mighty Evil One. [Panting]

(Meowth runs faster. A lightning bolt streaks through the ring, passing into an hourglass below. The sands begin to swirl)

Chelsea: Part, sands of time. Reveal to me the one who can enter the cave. (The sand in top forms the Cave of Wonders. It falls through into a storm, but it shows Poppy climbing up a ladder, followed by Branch, who is covered in his cloak.) Yes... Yes! There she is. My diamond in the rough.

Meowth: That's her? That's the twerp we've been waitin' for? (Meowth loses his footing and is sucked into the gears)

Chelsea: Let's have the guards extend her an invitation to the palace, shall we?

(Meowth goes flying past and slams into the wall upside down)

Meowth: Swell. [Coughs]

(Chelsea laughs hideously)

End of part four