Narrator Hello. Alice is having lots adventures in Wonderland. Now, she’s in a courtroom full of animals. Everybody is waiting for the trial to start. The Queen and the King of Hearts have already arrived and they are sitting on their thrones. The rest of the room was filled with birds and animals and the whole pack of playing-card people. Alice saw the White Rabbit. He was holding a trumpet in one handand alarge piece of paper in the other. The White Rabbit blew the trumpet.
White Rabbit Silence in the court!
Narrator The trial started. The King was the judge and twelve animals were the jury. The King spoke first.
King Read the accusation!
White Rabbit The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day.
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts
And took them quite away.
King Knave of Hearts, what do you say?
Knave of Hearts It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!
King Silence! Call the first witness!
White Rabbit Bring in the first witness!
Narrator The first witness was the Hatter. He looked very nervous. He came into the court with a cup of tea in one shaking hand and a piece of bread and butter in the other.
King Give your evidence Hatter, and don’t be nervous, or you’ll lose your head!
Narrator The King’s words made the Hatter even more frightened. He was so confused and that he took a large bite out of his teacup instead of his bread and butter.
Hatter I’m a poor man, your Majesty.
King You’re a very poor speaker.
White Rabbit Poor Hatter. He didn’t use to be mad, you know. He used to be quite normal.
Alice And I used to be taller…
Narrator Alice began to have a curious feeling. It was a feeling she remembered.
Alice Ohh.. I’m growing again!
Narrator No-one noticed that Alice was getting taller. They were all watching the Hatter, who was too frightened to speak.
King You may go. Call the next witness!
Narrator The next witness was the cook.
King Cook, what are tarts made of?
Cook Pepper, mostly.
Narrator Everybody started sneezing. Nobody seemed to notice Alice growing taller and taller. By the time they stopped sneezing, the cook had disappeared.
King Never mind! Call the next witness!
Narrator Alice watched as the White Rabbit studied the piece of paper, looking for the name of the next witness. Imagine her surprise when he straightened up, took a deep breath and shouted the name of the next witness…
White Rabbit Alice!
Narrator Everybody in the courtroom turned to look at Alice. Alice felt herself grow a little taller, as she took a deep breath, and stepped forward. Next time, I’ll tell you what happened when Alice gives her evidence and the White Rabbit reads a letter from the Knave of Hearts. Curiouser and curiouser… Goodbye.
Vocabulary
thrones (singular: throne) the special chair a King or Queen sits on
trumpet a musical instrument made of metal that you blow into
judge the person who is in charge of a court of law
jury a group of people in a court who decide if the person on trial is innocent or guilty
tarts (singular: tart) a kind of pie made with pastry and fruit, jam, meat or vegetables
witness a person who saw something and tells the court what they saw
nervous frightened and anxious
Credits
Produced by Catherine Chapman
Cast: Darren Benedict, Alice Brown, Catherine Chapman, Neil Edgeller, Sophie Napleton, BBC Learning English Team
Illustration: Shan Pillay
Scriptwriter: Nicola Prentis
Sound: Paul Scott
Music: Vera Harte