(Charlie’s father returns home dispirited. He’s had no luck looking for work but has managed to find an old chair leg to go on the fire and he’s found a notebook for Charlie. It still has a few blank pages at the back. As the family go through their evening routine, Charlie tries to do his homework but is distracted by thoughts of chocolate…)

[CHARLIE, spoken]
Dear Mr. Wonka…
(sung)
I know that you’re a busy man
You must have lots of mail to read
I’m writing for my fam’ly cause
There’s nothing special that I need

The time you take to read this letter
Will be time well spent
Because I’ve made a list of things
You might want to invent

[MR. BUCKET]
How’s your homework?

[CHARLIE]
Almost done

[MR. BUCKET]
That’s my Charlie, that’s my son

[CHARLIE]
For dad, who’s always on his feet
You might please grant me this one wish
To keep his shoes attached to him
Some bootstraps made from licorice
For Josephina I have drawn
A recipe beneath
For molars made of marzipan
When she can’t find her teeth

[MRS. BUCKET]
Have you scrubbed up?

[CHARLIE]
Yes, i did

[MRS. BUCKET]
That’s my Charlie, that’s my kid

[CHARLIE]
When I was smaller than I am
I think one day we saw the sea
My mum, she had an ice cream
And was happy as a mum can be

For her I would invent
An ice cream that would never melt
So she can feel all day the way
I wish she always felt

For Grandpa George and his Georgina
Something not in any store
Some pillows made from marshmallows
To keep the noise down when they snore
For Grandpa Joe who soon is turning
Ninety and one half
A joke book made from jellybeans
Cause he just loves to laugh

[GRANDPA JOE, JOSEPHINE, GEORGE & GEORGINA]
Off to bed now!

[CHARLIE]
Counting sheep

[GRANDPA JOE, JOSEPHINE, GEORGE & GEORGINA]
Hope we don’t die in our sleep

[CHARLIE]
I think I’ve thought of everything
For you to add your special touch
And when these things are all complete
If it’s not asking far too much
Please drop them off yourself
So we can ask ya “how d'ja do?”
And, well, I’d like one Wonka bar
That I would share with you

Signed, Charlie Bucket
[GRANDPA JOE, JOSEPHINE, GEORGE, GEORGINA, MR. BUCKET & MRS. BUCKET]
Goodnight, Charlie Bucket

[CHARLIE]
Signed, Charlie Bucket;
Inventor

(Charlie signs his letter, folds it into a paper aeroplane and sends it flying out into the night.)