Madeline's Rescue
Morning dawns in Paris.
Narrator: In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived thirteen little girls In two straight lines.
Madeline follows her friends by sliding down the banister.
Narrator They left the house at half passed nine in two straight lines; in rain or shine. The oldest one was Riley…
As they reach a footbridge over the River Seine, Madeline sees a black cat on the rampart.
Narrator: … and the smallest was Madeline.
She chases it up onto the rampart, pretending she is exploring a wild jungle.
Madeline:
If you believe you must be big
In order to be tough,
Then you should get to know me-
I'll teach you other stuff!
12 Girls:
If you believe you must be big
In order to be tough,
Then you should get to know her-
She'll teach you other stuff!
Madeline:
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
And though I'm very small,
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
And Inside, I'm tall!
12 Girls:
She may be teeny-tiny,
Diminutive, petite,
But that has never stopped her
From being pretty neat!
Madeline :
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
I'm not some little twig.
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
And Inside, I'm very big!
12 Girls:
Dum dee dum dee dum!
Madeline:
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
I'm not afraid at all!
I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline,
And bravest of them all!
12 Girls:
Dum dee dum dee dum.
Dum dee dum dee dum,
She's Madeline, she's Madeline,
We hope you have it straight.
She's Madeline, she's Madeline,
And inside, she's...
Madeline:
Dum dee dum dee dum...
ALL 13 GIRLS:
GREAT!
Narrator: And nobody knew quite so well how to frighten Miss Clavel like on the day she slipped and fell.
The cat climbed higher and higher up on the rampart, and Madeline continued following it. She wobbled precariously, struggling to keep her footing on the wall. Suddenly, she stepped on a slippery, wet spot and fell into the water!
"Whoa!" she shrieked before the water closed over her head. Struggling back to the surface, she shouted, "Help! Help! Help! Help! HELP!"
"Oh, Madeline!" cried Miss Clavel, rushing to the side of the bridge.
Riley followed her and hopped off the side, adding to Miss Clavel's dismay. "Madeline!" she shouted. Hearing Miss Clavel's protestations, she called, "Um, Miss Clavel, Aunt Kathy never taught Madeline how to swim but she taught me! I'll be fine!"
Riley swam hard and harder, but she couldn't catch up with Madeline, who was slowly drifting away in the current.
During all of this, Susan, a neighbor, called for her lost dog. "Here Jenny, Jenny!" she called, but Jenny was nowhere to be seen. "Jenny! Jenny!" But her dog was nowhere in sight.
Back at the river, two police officers rushed up with poles and extended them into the water, but they were not long enough to reach poor Madeline. A barge captain tossed her a life preserver, but Madeline missed it! "What are we to do?!" everyone cried.
At that moment, a large, brown dog, bounded up barking and leaped into the water.
"Finally!" Riley exclaimed, "Madeline keep your head up- no, not down, up! Ohh, she can't hear me, Miss Clavel!"
Meanwhile, the dog swam and swam until she reached Madeline. She grabbed Madeline's coat and swam back to the shore where the girls, Miss Clavel, the police officers, and now Dr. Cohn were waiting.
Narrator: Poor Madeline would now be dead, but for a dog that kept its head. She dragged her safe from a watery grave.
Riley raced down the steps and was the first to reach Madeline's side. "Oh Maddie, don't your ever scare me like that again, sis! I can't lose you!" she said, hugging Madeline tightly.
"You were very brave in trying to save Madeline, Riley, but please, don't wander away from us like that," said Miss Clavel, "Oh Madeline, are you alright?"
An officer held out a light green blanket to Madeline. "Here is a blanket," he said.
"Merci, Officer!" said Riley as she helped wrap it around her twin. Madeline nodded her thanks.
Dr. Chon checked Madeline to make sure that she was not hurt. "Bon, Madeline, you must rest now. You have had quite a busy day," he said kindly.
Once she got permission from the doctor, Miss Clavel picked Madeline up in her arms. "Come Madeline, ma petite, we will go home now. You heard what Dr. Chon said."
"Wait!" Madeline exclaimed, "Where is the dog who saved my life? I must thank her! Here, wonderful dog, come here!"
"Come here, you smart dog," cooed Riley.
The dog looked at the two little girls on each side of her, her tail wagging furiously with happiness.
"Oh, Madeline, Riley, I am sure that dog belongs to someone," said Miss Clavel.
At this, the dog only licked Miss Clavel's cheek, making her giggle.
"See Miss Clavel? She likes you, and she has no collar," said Madeline, "This dog is a hero! She must come home with us."
"Madeline is right Miss Clavel," Riley insisted, "If it wasn't for the dog, Madeline could have drowned!"
"Well, we cannot just abandon her, so we will keep her until we find her owner," Miss Clavel conceded, patting the dog on the back.
"Yay!" cheered the girls, and they began petting their new furry friend. The dog licked their faces affectionately.
Back at home, Miss Clavel said, "Riley, be a dear, and see if Miss Murphy would make a cup of tea while I give Madeline a hot bath."
"Sure Miss Clavel," said Riley.
Miss Clavel filled up the bathtub and got Madeline into the warm water.
"I will take Madeline's clothes downstairs. Her green robe is on the stool," said Chloe.
"Thanks, Chloe," said Miss Clavel.
In the kitchen, Ms. Murphy said, "Here is Madeline's tea, Riley," handing her a teacup of steaming tea.
"Merci, Ms. Murphy!" said Riley, and she went upstairs to find her sister.
Narrator: In the living room, the dog chewed a bone that was savory, and the little girls give her a ribbon for bravery.
"From now on I hope you would listen to me," said Miss Clavel. She gave Madeline the teacup from Riley. "And here is a cup of Chamomile tea."
Madeline took a sip. "Yuck, Riley, how can grown-ups think this is good tea? Please take it away, thank you."
"Oh, Madeline, Miss Clavel will want to you drink it to warm you up! Just a few more sips," said Riley.
Madeline made a face, but she drank the rest of her tea. Then she patted the dog on the back. "Come doggie, I will show you your new home," she said.
Madeline:
This old house is where we live,
This old house is where we play,
This old house is where we laugh,
And this old house is where you'll stay!
Madeline showed the dog the dining room, the bathroom,
Madeline:
This old room is where we eat,
This is where we break our bread,
This is where we brush our teeth,
And here is where we go to bed.
Madeline turned the 'No Dogs Allowed' sign on the bedroom door over.
Madeline:
This is where we pillow fight
When Miss Clavel turns off the light!
And here's the home of Monsieur Mouse-
He scurries in and out at night.
Madeline ran outside with the dog rest of the girls to show off the yard.
Madeline and the girls:
This old yard has ladybugs,
This old yard has trees to climb,
This old yard has secret paths,
And here is where we tell the time.
As they went back inside, they sang,
Madeline and the girls:
This old house is where we live,
This old house is where we play,
This old house is where we laugh,
And this old house is where you'll stay!
Madeline sat on a table and swung her feet up on it. The dog jumped up on the table and curled up beside her.
"Now Madeline, you know the rules. Lord Cucuface said do not put your feet on the furniture!" Miss Clavel reminded.
"Ha, what good is to have furniture if you can't put your feet on it?" asked Riley.
The dog barked, and Madeline jumped from the table. "She wants to know who Lord Cucuface is," Madeline explained.
"Maddie, how can you understand the dog?" asked Riley.
"Easy, just listen to the barks!" said Madeline.
"Then we will have to answer our friend's question," said Miss Clavel, "Lord Cucuface is the president of the board of trustees, and he makes the rules around here."
The dog barked happily at this, and Miss Clavel hugged her.
Riley and Madeline laughed.
"Now, then, Madeline go and get dressed for dinner, please. I'm sure you will all enjoy tonight's dinner," said Miss Clavel.
"Oui, Miss Clavel!" said Madeline.
Narrator: Then the girls sat down and broke their bread.
Girls: "We love our bread, we love our butter, but most of all, we love each other!"
Narrator: And brushed their teeth, and want to bed.
"Good night, little girls! I hope you sleep well," said Miss Clavel as always.
"Good night, good night Dear Miss Clavel!" chorused the girls.
Narrator: Miss Clavel turned out the light, after she left, there was a fight about where the dog should sleep that night!
"The doggie will sleep with me tonight," Chloe announced.
"Oh no, with me!" said Nicole.
"No, no, with me!" cried Danielle.
Madeline groaned, tired of the quarrel. "Excuse mes amies, but since this doggie saved my life, I think she should sleep with me," she said.
"Maddie is right," said Riley.
"Says who?" asked Danielle, who was not at all ready to give up her claim.
At this, the girls began a pillow fight, and things were beginning to look very bad when Danielle suddenly asked, "Where is the doggie? Where did she go?"
The girls stopped fighting and began looking around the room.
"Where is the doggie?" they asked.
Then Riley laughed. "Voila! I guess she has made the decision for us!" she exclaimed.
There the dog lay, stretched out comfortably between Riley and Madeline's beds.
The girls were happy that their new friend had picked more than one person to sleep by, and they went to bed.
Narrator: The girls were the most willing to care for their new pet. They brushed her, they pampered her, they cuddled her, and yet…
"She has no name. What should we name her?" asked Madeline one day as they were playing with the dog.
"I don't know, I am in charge of her delicious food," said Danielle.
"Oui, oui, and I bring her fresh water," said Chloe.
"I made the dog bed," said Nicole thoughtfully, "Why don't you name her, Madeline and Riley?"
"Very well," said Riley eagerly, "What do you want to be called, ma petite Cherie?"
"Oh Riley, I think we should ask her what letter her name begins with. Then we can find a good name for her!" said Madeline.
"Oui! Oui!" the rest of the girls agreed.
Madeline and Riley went through the alphabet, but at A, B, C, D, E, and F, the dog looked uninterested.
"How about G?" asked Riley.
The dog perked up at her question and began wagging her tail excitedly.
"Look! It begins with a G!" said Nicole, "Could it be Giselle?"
The dog only shook her head at that name.
"Let me guess, could it be Genevieve?" asked Madeline.
The dog, now Genevieve, barked and began running around the girls happily, making them laugh.
"She likes that name! Now we must give her a second name so that she has a proper full name," said Lulu.
So, Madeline and Riley went through the alphabet again, and the girls waited for the dog's approval at a letter with bated breath.
When they had reached the letter M, Genevieve barked happily again.
"Look! it begins with a M! Could it be Max?" said Chloe.
Genevieve barked her displeasure at this.
"Hmm, could it be Genevieve Marie?" asked Riley.
Genevieve Marie barked happily again and licked the girls' faces. Then she and the girls went to tell Miss Clavel about Genevieve's new name.
Narrator: The new pupil was so helpful and clever.
During class, Miss Clavel said, "Alright girls, how much is 9 minus 6?"
Chloe's hand shot up.
"Chloe?"
"Two," said Chloe.
From the back of the classroom, Genevieve Marie barked, "9 minus 6 is 3!"
"Excellent!" said Miss Clavel, "What a clever new pupil. Now, what is the capital of Spain?"
"Barcelona," said Danielle.
"No, no, little girls," said Miss Clavel. Then she exclaimed and pointed to Genevieve. "Oui Regardez! She is spelling Madrid. Madrid is the Capital of Spain!" Remarkable. Not only she was a hero, but so well educated and polite too!
The girls and Miss Clavel clapped as Genevieve finished writing.
Narrator: She could sing and almost talk.
"Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, so-do!" sang Madeline.
"Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do! So-do!" Genevieve howled in almost perfect harmony.
"Riley! Genevieve Marie can sing! She can sing!" Madeline squealed.
"Maddie, it could just be your imagination," said Riley, but Genevieve sang the scale again.
"Was there ever such a clever dog?" said Miss Clavel in awe.
Narrator: She enjoyed the daily walk when the first of May came near. There was nervousness each year, for on that day, there arrived a collection of trustees for the annual inspection.
Riley and Chloe ran into the classroom just as Miss Clavel went to the door to let the inspectors in. "Don't worry, Maddie, we have Genevieve Marie hidden and out of sight!" they whispered.
The girls stood beside their desks as the inspectors passed though the classroom.
In the dining room, they stood beside the long table as the inspectors checked the room.
When they had reached the girls' room,, Madeline nudged Riley discretely. "It is almost over. Where did you hide the dog, Riley?" she whispered, but Riley couldn't answer her for at that moment, an inspector went up to her to commend her on the tidiness of the room.
Then things went terribly wrong!
Narrator: The inspection was most tough, much to everybody's sorrow.
Genevieve Marie began to awake and yawned loudly.
Lord Cucuface heard her and said "Hmm whatever could that be? Come out and let me see!"
He looked under Riley and Madeline beds and gasped. "Dear me it is a dog! Isn't there a rule that says that dogs aren't allowed in school? Miss Clavel get rid of it at once, please!" he demanded.
Narrator: …said the President of the Board of Trustees.
"But the children love her so! Please do not make her go. We tried to find her owner, but it turned out she was a stray," said Miss Clavel.
"I daresay," Lord Cucuface said with a disdainful sniff, "It's a perfect disgrace for young ladies to embrace this creature of uncertain race!"
Michel, his son who had joined him in the inspection piped up, "But dad, please, can't the girls keep the dog?"
"Michel, no," said Lord Cucuface firmly, "Come with me my son." Then he turned to poor Genevieve, who was looking up at him sadly. "Off with you! Go on, run! Scat! Go away, and don't come back you mutt! Mario, please take this mangy beast for a long drive in the countryside, and Michel, I will see you at home. Your homework had better be done."
"Yes Sir," said Michel glumly.
The girls cried as Mario took Genevieve away, and Miss Clavel looked upset.
Inside the inspectors' car, Mario said, "Now then, Michel, please cheer up. The dog well be in good hands. I know it. Susanna is meeting us, and she says that her dog was under lost and found. This one matches her exact description!"
The car eventually pulled up to the side of the wood. Mario jumped out and went to a charming house nearby. He knocked on the door and waited for the lady to open it.
"Susanna is you name, Madame, yes?" he asked.
"That is me, Sir," said Susanne.
Mario led Genevieve, who was growing nervous, to her. "Well, I have a dog here. I think it is your dog by the name Jenny?" he asked.
Susanna exclaimed in joy and hugged the dog. "Oh Jenny, I was so worried! You are going to have your puppies any day now!"
Jenny only lay down obstinately.
"Jenny, come, let's get you inside, you poor dear," Susanna cooed, but Jenny didn't move.
Back at the Old House, Miss Clavel said, "Aw, little girls, it's no use moping about. Let us get dressed and go out. The sooner we are ready, the sooner we will Found Miss Genevieve Marie," she said.
"I will never stop looking until I find her!" Madeline declared.
"If we do find her, Maddie. She could be anywhere!" said Riley.
Narrator: They went looking high…
"Have you seen our dog?" asked Madeline to everyone she met.
Narrator: …and low…
"Have you seen our dog?" Riley asked.
Narrator: …and every place a dog might go.
Riley:
Have you seen our dog?
Have you seen our dog?
She has four legs and she is brown.
She might be in this part of town.
Oh, have you seen our dog?
Madeline:
Have you seen our dog?
Have you seen our dog?
Riley and the girls:
She rarely barks, she doesn't growl.
She never whines, she doesn't howl.
Have you seen our dog?
Madeline:
Have you seen our dog?
Oh, have you seen our dog?
Riley, Madeline and the girls:
She eats and drinks and reads and swims.
She sings opera, jazz, and hymns.
Have you seen our dog?
Riley:
Have you seen our dog?
Madeline:
Have you seen our dog?
She has black eyes and has no fleas.
All the girls:
If you find her, tell us, please!
Have you seen our dog?
Narrator: In every place, they called her name.
"Genevieve! Genevieve!" called the girls.
Narrator: But no one answer was the same. They visited the pound, but Genevieve could not be found.
"No, none of them are brown," said Riley sadly as they looked at the dogs in the pound.
Narrator: Hours after they had started, they left for home, brokenhearted.
"Oh Miss Clavel, I am too tried to walk back home," said Chloe.
"Me too," said Nicole.
"Me three!" Danielle agreed.
"Miss Clavel, I have to go and talk to Aunt Kathy. See you all at home alright?" said Riley.
"Be safe, Riley. I will call a taxi," said Miss Clavel, "Taxi! Taxi!"
All the girls and Miss Clavel:
Have you seen our dog?
Have you seen our dog?
She has four legs and she is brown.
She might be in this part of town.
Whatever will become of our dog?
"We will never ever find another dog like Genevieve Marie!" Madeline wailed.
Meanwhile, at Aunt Kathy's House, Riley rang the doorbell.
Kathy opened the door and exclaimed, "Riley! What are you doing out so late?"
"I know, Aunt Kathy, but please, have you seen Genevieve Marie around?" asked Riley.
"Genevieve Marie," said Aunt Kathy thoughtfully, "Who is that?"
"Our new dog who saved Madeline after she fell into the water!" said Riley.
"Oh! Well, why didn't Miss Clavel call me for several weeks? I think I know where she it, but I will have to ask around," said Aunt Kathy. "Come, let's get you home before dinner."
Narrator: they went home, and they broke their bread…
Girls: "We love our bread, we love our butter, but most of all, we love Genevieve!"
Narrator: …and brushed their teeth, and want to bed. Poor little Madeline could not sleep, for all she could do was weep.
Madeline looked out of the window, sniffling.
Madeline:
Have you seen our dog?
Have you seen our dog?
Oh, Genevieve, where can you be?
Genevieve, come back to me,
Come back to me!
Something was wrong, and Riley knew it from the moment she woke up. She didn't know what it was, but something had awoken her. She heard a soft whimper escape from her twin before hearing a louder cry from the end of the room. "Maddie? You okay?" she asked, getting out of bed before cautiously heading to window were Madeline sad.
"Riley, what if we never find Genevieve Marie again?" Madeline whimpered, trying not to cry again, "I'm sorry I woke you."
"Maddie, I promise you, we will find Genevieve Marie again... shh. Alright?" said Riley, but she was not as hopeful as she sounded.
Narrator: In the middle of the night, Miss Clavel turned on the light and said,
"Something is not right!" said Miss Clavel.
Miss Clavel:
Something is not right.
Something is quite wrong.
Something is not right,
And so, I sing this song.
At night it should be calm.
At night it should be still.
But I heard something stir,
and it's giving me a chill!
Something is not right.
Something is quite wrong.
Something is not right,
And so, I sing this song.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. "Who is there?" called Miss Clavel.
Narrator: There in the light of the open door was Genevieve Marie. She was lost no more!
"I am sorry for disturbing you. It seems like my former dog missed you. She won't eat!" said Susanna.
"Please come in Susanna," said Miss Clavel warmly.
Genevieve Marie barked at the sound of her voice.
Up in the girls' room, Riley heard the bark. "Huh?" she said sleepily, then she became wide awake as Genevieve barked again. "Madeline! Madeline! Wake up! It sounds like Genevieve Marie!" she exclaimed, shaking her sleeping twin.
Narrator: The girl cooked Genevieve Marie a wonderful meal, the smell of which made their favorite dog squeal. Extra biscuits and extra beef- only the best for dear Genevieve! She was patted, she was fed, and everybody wanted to go back to bed.
"Good night little girls! I hope you sleep well. Thank the Lord that Susanne brought Genevieve back," said Miss Clavel.
Narrator: Miss Clavel turned out the light, and again there was a fight. Each little girl cried, "Genevieve is mine tonight!" For the second time that night, Miss Clavel turned on her light and said,
"Something is not right," said Miss Clavel.
Narrator: And afraid of a disaster, she ran fast and faster.
As she opened the door to the girls' room, Riley's pillow flew into Miss Clavel's face!
The girls gasped when they saw Miss Clavel standing in the doorway.
"If there is one more fight about Genevieve, I am sorry, but she will have to leave," said Miss Clavel sternly.
Narrator: That was the end of the riot. Suddenly, all was quiet.
Miss Clavel patted Genevieve. "Bon Genevieve, you can sleep here," she said, showing her to the dog bed in another room. Genevieve licked her cheek gratefully and curled up to go to sleep. Miss Clavel went back to bed, but was soon woken up again by exclamations from the girls.
Narrator: For the third time that night, Miss Clavel turned on the light.
Miss Clavel went to the girls' room to find the half of the girls gone. She went to the room where Genevieve was sleeping, only to find her missing! "Genevieve? Genevieve Marie? Where are you?" she exclaimed.
Madeline ran up to her. "Miss Clavel Miss Clavel! Hurry, hurry! Come with me!" She grabbed Miss Clavel's hand and almost dragged her to another room.
Madeline pulled back the large curtain, and Miss Clavel gasped.
Narrator: To their surprise, they found that suddenly there were enough hounds to go around!
"Susanna helped with the puppies. Hey why don't we take Genevieve Marie's dog bed to our room, and put it in between our beds, Maddie," Riley suggested.
"Great idea, Riley!" said Madeline, and the girls and Miss Clavel carefully helped Genevieve and the puppies to the girls' room.
Narrator: Several weeks later, at the front door, who should appear but there least favorite landlord.
Miss Clavel opened the door at the sound of insistent knocking.
"I can smell that hairy beast from miles away. You have disobeyed my direct order!" snapped Lord Cucuface, "I have a feeling there is a filthy creature in there!"
"Ouch! Humph!" he said as the mice angrily bounced on and off his legs. But he continued his search for Genevieve.
"It sounds somewhere near- ah ha! Just what I suspected, but thirteen times worse!" he exclaimed, seeing Genevieve nursing the puppies, "Shoo! Get lost all of you!"
Miss Clavel grabbed his arm. "I read somewhere that these are supposed to be man's best friend," she said.
"Eh?" Lord Cucuface stopped and regarded the puppies more carefully, his expression changing from anger to curiosity. He had to admit that they were very cute and oh so friendly. "Well… ah… perhaps it would be good for someone of my position to have such a friend," he said thoughtfully.
"Oui! Oui, Lord Cucuface, absolutely!" the girls said.
Lord Cucuface picked up a puppy that pawed at him playfully. "I will take him home, Miss Clavel, n'est-ce pas?" he asked, looking at the tiny brown creature almost reverently.
"It is up to Genevieve Marie," said Miss Clavel.
Genevieve Marie barked.
"What did she say?" asked Lord Cucuface.
"Genevieve Marie says you may take the puppy home if you treat him with kindness and if she and the other puppies may still live here," said Madeline.
"Oh, why yes I will! They can stay, of course," Lord Cucuface agreed.
Narrator: He picked up the pup, and headed for the door.
Lord Cucuface chuckled as the puppy licked his hand, its tail wagging happily. "Kindness, yes, absolutely!" he said fondly to it.
Narrator: And that's all there is. There isn't any more.