Narrator: Many years ago, England was going through hard times.
Narrator: Some villages were very poor.
Narrator: But everyone still needed to eat and laugh.
Narrator: This is a story about how strangers become friends.
Morris: I say, Stanley, this looks like a good spot.
Stanley: Right-o, Morris. We'll stop here for the evening.
Morris: Shall we start making the soup?
Stanley: A fine idea.
I'll get the water and a stone.
Narrator: Morris and Stanley were on their way to London.
Narrator: They were traveling on foot.
Narrator: Along the way Morris and Stanley stopped at villages.
Narrator: Each time, they made stone soup.
Stanley: Morris, old pal, here's the water.
Morris: Smells delicious.
Stanley: And here's a stone.
Morris: That's a fine one, Stanley.
Our soup will be very tasty tonight.
Narrator: Just then Mrs. Tweedy from the village [n3@and her son Wilbert walked by.
Narrator: They were returning from the market.
Morris: Good day, madam.
Mrs. Tweedy: Good day, gentlemen.
Stanley: Would you care to join us for some soup?
Wilbert: Oh, yes please!
Mrs. Tweedy: Wilbert! We must get home and prepare supper.
Morris: Wilbert? Is that your name?
Wilbert: Yes, sir, it is.
Morris: Why, that boy with the three-legged cat was named Wilbert too.
Wilbert: Three-legged cat?
What happened to its other leg?
Morris: Well, it was born with four legs, of course, but then . . .
Narrator: Morris and Stanley told the story of the [n3@boy with the three-legged cat.
Narrator: Even Wilbert's mother listened.
Narrator: Just then Mr. Podger from the village walked by.
Narrator: He was carrying a loaf of bread.
Morris: . . . And that's the story.
Wilbert: Is it true?
Mr. Podger: Is what true?
What's going on here?
Mrs. Tweedy: Oh, Mr. Podger, please come and meet Morris and Stanley.
Narrator: Everyone said hello to each other.
Stanley: Morris, is it just me or does Mr. Podger remind you of someone?
Morris: Hmm, yes. He reminds me of Otis and Oliver, the twin barbers!
Stanley: Exactly what I was thinking.
Mr. Podger: Twin barbers? Where?
Stanley: In Windermere. They're quite the barbers, [n3@Otis and Oliver. You see . . .
Narrator: Mr. Podger sat down and listened to the story of the twin barbers.
Narrator: A few minutes later, Miss Mabel from the village walked by.
Narrator: She was carrying a bag of potatoes.
Miss Mabel: Good day, all.
May I ask what you're doing here?
Mr. Podger: Miss Mabel! Come and meet Morris and Stanley.
Morris: I say, Miss Mabel, what a splendid coat.
Miss Mabel: Why, thank you.
Stanley: It looks like the one worn by Queen Francesca of Spain.
Morris: Indeed! We met her in Chester.
Miss Mabel: A coat like mine on a queen?
Do tell all!
Narrator: So Morris and Stanley told the story of the Spanish queen.
Narrator: Everyone laughed. They had a great time [n3@talking with the strangers.
Narrator: Before long, it was getting dark.
Mrs. Tweedy: Thank you for a lovely time.
Mr. Podger: I haven't laughed so much in ages.
Miss Mabel: Oh, I hope your soup is not ruined.
Wilbert: Why is there a stone in the soup?
Morris: Because it's stone soup.
Mrs. Tweedy: That doesn't sound very tasty.
Stanley: It's actually quite good.
Morris: Last night it tasted of turnips.
Stanley: And the night before, it tasted of peas.
Narrator: Now, the villagers did not think stone soup could be tasty.
Narrator: They looked at each other and wondered.
Morris: Oh yes, this is very tasty.
What do you think, Stanley?
Stanley: Delicious! But I think it needs just a little extra something.
Mrs. Tweedy: I have some carrots and onions here.
Mrs. Tweedy: Let's put them in the soup.
Miss Mabel: I have some potatoes. In they go!
Mr. Podger: And I've got fresh bread.
Just the thing to have with soup.
Narrator: Stanley and Morris took turns stirring the pot.
Narrator: Soon the stone soup turned into a hearty vegetable soup.
Stanley: The best I've ever tasted! Help yourselves!
Morris: Delicious! Which reminds me of another story . . .
Narrator: So Morris told them another funny story.
Narrator: Everyone ate and laughed.
It was a wonderful evening.
Mr. Podger: You must come and stay the night at my house.
Morris and Stanley: Oh, thank you, sir!
Narrator: Morris and Stanley left the next morning.
Narrator: But the villagers never forgot the two men.
Narrator: They often talked about how Morris and Stanley made them laugh.
Narrator: And everyone remembered their wonderfully delicious stone soup.
Narrator: The people of this town had been strangers.
Narrator: But now they were friends. The end.