[CAT IN THE HAT] (spoken)
Our story begins
With a very strange sound–
The drums of a jungle
Beginning to pound.

(Jungle drums begin.)

[CAT]
Now, imagine a sky.

[BOY]
I'll imagine bright blue!

(The BOY and CAT create a blue sky and a jungle setting.)

[CAT]
It's the Jungle of Nool!

[BOY]
Near the River Walloo!

(The CAT and the BOY watch as the Jungle of Nool is revealed. The JUNGLE CITIZENS enter, along with the BIRD GIRLS, a flamboyant "girl group" of the Jungle.)

[JUNGLE OF NOOL CITIZENS] (singing)
WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO WHO WAH DAH DAH DAH
WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO WHO WAH DAH DAH DAH
WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO WHO WAH DAH

WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO WHO WAH DAH DAH DAH
WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO

[CAT] (spoken)
Now think of an elephant lumbering through.

(We now see HORTON THE ELEPHANT.)

[JUNGLE CITIZENS] (singing)
WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO WHO WAH DAH DAH DAH

[BOY] (spoken)
Horton!

[CAT]
Yes, Horton!

[CAT, & BOY]
Horton Hears a Who!
[HORTON THE ELEPHANT] (singing)
ON THE FIFTEENTH OF MAY,
IN THE JUNGLE OF NOOL,
IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY,
IN THE COOL OF THE POOL,
HE WAS SPLASHING

[JUNGLE CITIZENS] (spoken)
Splash!

[HORTON] (singing)
ENJOYING THE JUNGLE'S GREAT JOYS,
WHEN HORTON THE ELEPHANT

[BOY]
HORTON THE ELEPHANT

[JUNGLE CITIZENS, & BIRD GIRLS]
HORTON THE ELEPHANT

[HORTON]
HEARD A SMALL NOISE.

[MAYOR] (spoken)
(Offstage, distant and tiny)
Help! Help!
[BIRD GIRL #1] (singing)
SO HORTON STOPPED SPLASHING.
HE LOOKED TOWARD THE SOUND.

[HORTON]
"THAT'S FUNNY."

[BIRD GIRLS]
THOUGHT HORTON.

[HORTON]
THERE'S NO ONE AROUND.

[BIRD GIRL #2]
THEN HE HEARD IT AGAIN!

[BIRD GIRL #3]
JUST A VERY FAINT YELP

[HORTON]
AS IF SOME TINY PERSON
WERE CALLING FOR HELP.

[MAYOR] (spoken)
(Offstage, distant and tiny)
Help! Help!

[HORTON] (singing)
"I'LL HELP YOU"

[BIRD GIRLS]
SAID HORTON

[HORTON]
"BUT WHO ARE YOU?
AND WHERE?

[BIRD GIRLS]
HE LOOKED AND HE LOOKED.

[BIRD GIRLS, & HORTON]
HE COULD SEE NOTHING THERE
BUT A SMALL SPECK OF DUST
BLOWING PAST...

(ALL follow an invisible speck of dust with their eyes, as it shoots past and stops in front of HORTON.)

[HORTON, & BIRD GIRLS]
THROUGH THE AIR.

[HORTON] (spoken)
I say! How confusing! I've never heard tell
Of a small speck of dust that is able to yell.
So you know what I think? I think there must
Be someone on top of that small speck of dust!
Some poor little person
Who's shaking with fear
That he'll blow in the pool!
He has no way to steer!
He's alone in the universe!

[HORTON] (singing)
I'LL JUST HAVE TO SAVE HIM
BECAUSE AFTER ALL,
A PERSON'S A PERSON, NO MATTER HOW SMALL.
A PERSON'S A PERSON NO MATTER HOW—

[JUNGLE CITIZENS, & (HORTON)]
WHO WHO WAH DAH (SMALL...)
WHO WHO WHO WAH DAH DAH DAH
WHO WHO WAH DAH
WHO WHO

[BIRD GIRLS]
SO, GENTLY, AND USING
THE GREATEST OF CARE,
THE ELEPHANT STRETCHED
HIS GREAT TRUNK THROUGH THE AIR,
AND HE LIFTED THE DUST SPECK
AND CARRIED IT OVER
AND PLACED IT DOWN,

[HORTON] (spoken)
Safe!

[BIRD GIRLS] (singing)
ON A VERY SOFT CLOVER.

(The SOUR KANGAROO makes an impressive entrance.)