The MERL - 'HAVE A VERY MERLY Christmas'

THE MERL: WE WISH YOU A MERLY CHRISTMAS
It’s Christmas in the 18th century, in the living room of the BEALE FAMILY home
Very nice snow falls outside the window, each piece wearing tiny yet beautiful Christmas hats
In the distance sheep sing Christmas carols with perfect pitch
Back in the home, a fire burns brightly, and it’s really cosy
Suddenly, an excited family runs into the living room: MUM, DAD, RICHARD BEALE, and chicken
DAD checks his stopwatch
MUM:
Ok family – you may now begin
FIRE:
	Am all fired up !
DAD blows a whistle
RICHARD BEALE and CHICKEN begin unwrapping their presents menacingly
CHICKEN:
	Wow thank you RICHARD for these beautiful TROUSERS
RICHARD:
Wow thank you parents for this GREAT BOOK called How to Draw Dogs that Look Like Ghosts
DAD:
	Son and chicken, we also got you another gift
MUM:
A gift that will never leave you. A gift for a lifetime
MUM and DAD gesture to the window BOTH:
	Look outside
RICHARD and CHICKEN run to the window and the camera follows closely
Outside on the hilltop behind the sheep, in a halo of sun, stands THE MUSEUM OF ENGLISH RURAL LIFE. It is surrounded by puppies also wearing hats
THE MUSEUM OF ENGLISH RURAL LIFE, MUM and DAD all speak in unison:
	A MUSEUM ISN’T JUST FOR CHRISTMAS
A BAT flies past carrying a very beautiful banner
	HAVE A MERLY CHRISTMAS