The Little Drummer Boy (1968) - full transcript

(Miss Garson) And it came to
pass that there went
out a decree

from Caesar Augustus that all
the world should be taxed.

And all went to be taxed.
Everyone to his own city.

For to disobey the
Roman Emperor

meant certain death.

Oh, there were young people
and old people.

There were the
famous and mighty.

And some not yet known

but whose names would
eventually linger

and be revered for all time.

There were good people who
could ill afford



the cruel tax about to be
imposed upon them.

And there were others.

[instrumental music]

Observe, Ali. The little
drummer boy Aaron.

Are-are those animals dancing,
Ben Haramed?

They certainly are.

Faster, old friends. Faster.

'You, Samson. Smile.'

hee haw

'And you, Bin-Babba, be
lighter, happier.'

baa

'Oh, Joshua, you
can do better.'

Oh, with this marvel in
my show caravan

I will be as rich as Solomon.



But it is said, Aaron
dislikes all humans.

He will not join us willingly.

Fool. Why do you think we
brought the rope?

Ah!

[instrumental music]

Let me go! Do you hear me?
Let me go!

Get the camel.

hee haw

No! The donkey too, fool.

chomp

The lamb, you oaf.
Grab the lamb!

How? I have only two hands.

Stop concerning yourself
with details. Do it!

baa

[grunting]

Drummer boy, you may
not believe me

but this is the luckiest
day of your life.

♪ Come they told me ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ A new born King to see ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Our finest gifts to bring ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ To lay before the King ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ So to honor Him ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ When we come ♪♪

The little drummer boy Aaron

fought Ben Haramed and Ali
with all his might.

He most definitely did not want
to join the showman's caravan.

A journey into the
crowded city.

For it was true, Aaron
hated people.

All people.

No, no! I won't go with you.

Huh, stop struggling, boy.

There is money to be made.
We can be rich.

While those taxpayers, are
waiting to be counted

they will grow bored.

They will crave the
entertainment

which only I, Ben Haramed, king
of the desert showman

and of course, you too,
can provide.

But I do not want to go
near that mob.

I hate people. All people.

And do you think I love people?

Ha! What a beautiful world it
would be without people.

But alas, one must
exist with people.

And indeed it is better to be
crowded and rich..

...than crowded...and poor.

[Arabic music]

♪ When the day is good and
the wind is dry ♪

♪ And the goose is
hanging high ♪

♪ I can't work like
other men do ♪

♪ When the goose is
hanging high ♪

♪ When the sun is bright in
the big blue sky ♪

♪ And the goose is
hanging high ♪

♪ The devil steals my
heart away ♪

♪ When the goose is
hanging high ♪

♪ Gold and silver on my mind ♪

♪ Mischief in my soul ♪

♪ I wanna live like a
rich man lives ♪

♪ With life in my control ♪

♪ When the day is bad ♪

♪ And the wind is wet ♪

♪ And the goose is flying low ♪

♪ I got to work like
other men do ♪

♪ When the goose is
flying low ♪

♪ But when ♪

♪ The day is good ♪

♪ And the wind is dry ♪

♪ And the goose is
hanging high ♪

♪ I can't work like other men
do when the goose is
hanging high ♪

♪ When the goose is
hanging high ♪♪

Oh, Ben Haramed was a wily
old desert jackal.

Only he could've talked Aaron
into visiting the crowded city.

For you see, Aaron truly did
hate all people.

Now, it wasn't always this way.

For Aaron was once a
happy farm lad.

The son of a shepherd.

Father, mother.

And why this exceptional
greeting today, my son?

Oh, no reason.

Happy birthday, Aaron.

Oh, father, mother, did you
bring me something?

I don't suppose this would
interest you, young man?

A drum.

My very own drum. Oh, father.

Try it out, Aaron.

And perhaps, because it
was a gift of love

the drum had an almost
magical quality.

And the animals, when
they heard it

began to dance to its sound.

[instrumental "Little
Drummer Boy"]

But Aaron's
happiness was to end

all to soon.

For one night, bandits of
the desert attacked.

[dramatic music]

What's going on out there?

- Father! - You must run,
my son. Escape.

- But-- - Run!

They burned the farm and
took the sheep

and Aaron's happy life had
changed forever.

And so Aaron roamed the land,
a lonely orphan.

His only friends, three of the
farm animals who had escaped.

He vowed to hate all humans

for what they had done
to his family.

And he kept that vow.

(Ben) Ah, Jerusalem at last!

Here we shall make our fortune.

(Aaron) All these people.

Aha! The rest of my
show caravan.

Hello. Hello.

'Jameel, Misal.'

Set up our performing carpets
and let us be on with the show.

[drum roll]

[trumpet blaring]

Ladies and gentlemen.

Fellow taxpayers, the day need
not be all gloomy.

For I, Ben Haramed, king of
the desert showman

have brought at great expense

direct from the palace of
the Emperor of China

the toast of royalty,
Misal and Jameel.

'Tumblers extraordinary.'

Hup. Hup.

Hup. Hup!

Hup, hup!

Wonderful, wonderful.

Perhaps, you will show
your appreciation

for such a performance.

Philistine.

And now, let's move
it right along

with Ali of Arabia.

'Greatest juggler
under the sky.'

[instrumental music]

thud

Aaron, you perform next.

The crowd is restless, you
must please them.

- Are you ready? - I'm ready.

No, no. Smile, smile.

See, only a smile
pleases the crowd.

Smile. Smile.

I cannot. Not at them.

You stubborn little fool, then
wear a painted one.

There. That's better.

When do I go on?

Now. Before that dolt juggles
me out of my life savings.

[instrumental music]

♪ You never heard a
lion laugh ♪

♪ You never saw a gator grin ♪

♪ A goose in a gaggle never
gives a giggle ♪

♪ Why can't the animals smile ♪

♪ You never saw a
smiling frog ♪

♪ A tickled lamb, a happy hog ♪

♪ A light-hearted camel, a
merry old mammal ♪

♪ Why can't the animals smile ♪

♪ A barrel of monkeys, a pack
of silly donkeys ♪

♪ An elephant, a caribou ♪

♪ Have never been heard to
chuckle a word ♪

♪ Or twitter like people do ♪

♪ You never heard a
mouse to fall ♪

♪ A crow that did much
more than caw ♪

♪ Is an eagle too regal or
is it all illegal ♪

♪ Why can't the animals smile ♪

♪ Why can't the
animals smile ♪♪

[crowd cheering]

You heard them. More, more.

Don't let them get away
before I pass the hat.

But as Aaron looked at the
faces of the cheering mob.

A great rage rose
up inside him.

How dare they laugh
and be happy?

After what their kind did
to his family?

Stop. Quiet.

I hate you all for
what you did.

You're all brain
thieves and bandits

and naives and..

[crying]

Run for it.

And so the troop was chased out
of Jerusalem by the mob.

Boy, you shall pay for
this indignity.

Ben Haramed, look.

(Ben) 'By the hums of heaven.'

'It is the caravan...of a king.
We're in luck.'

'Can I believe my luck?
Two kings.'

Hold me up, three.

'Three Kings.'

And behold there came wise
men from the East.

Three Kings of the Orient.

And lo, the star which they saw

went before them.

[instrumental music]

Yes, it was the star
of Bethlehem

which shone so brightly and
graced the lonely

darkening desert with
its silver light.

But the little troop did not
see the star's beauty.

For the soul of Ben Haramed and
Ali were too filled with greed

and the heart of Aaron too
overflowing with hatred

to take any note of the
wonder just above them.

Now, you listen, drummer boy.

If you give this
one performance

half the money shall be yours.

Then you are free.

Aaron agreed.

Only because he knew, that
with the king's money

he will be free to
go his own way

and never again have to trouble
himself with humans.

And so they approached
the three kings.

Melchior, Caspar
and Balthazar..

It is night, we
must break camp.

And swiftly. The star
waits not for us.

Strike the tents,
pack the camels.

[Arabic music]

No. Don't go.

We just got here.

- Halt. - Out of my way.

We must perform.

Down, naive. Down.

Ben Haramed, a naive?

Uh, I am crushed.

Lower your spears.

These desert vagabonds seem
to mean us no harm.

Why do you come to us?

We are a troop of players,
Your Majesty.

Uh, majesties.

We have no time for making
merry, as you see.

- We break camp and-- - But
that's ridiculous.

Uh, begging your pardon.

Nobody travels the
desert by night.

We do. For we follow the star.

(Ben) 'How very convenient.'

- That, uh-- - Enough.

Be gone.

Now, to resume our journey.

So close.

My fortune was so close.

And see what they load on the
camels, great one.

'Gold. Oh, it's too painful.'

Argh!

And more valuable
even than gold

'the precious eastern resins.'

'Frankincense and Myrrh.'

She is too weak to go on,
Your Majesties.

Poor creature. She has been
weakened by the long journey.

Have we no extra beasts?

All are laden. Almost
beyond their strength.

Wait. Did that player
not own a camel?

Perhaps he would sell it.

No.

You strike a hard bargain,
player.

I've had a hard life.

Now load the beast, and let
us be on our way.

[instrumental music]

Ah! I don't feel it.

The weight of it.

The look of it.

Uh, uh, your share.

I don't want it.

I don't want any part of you.

Come, Samson, Babba.

We must find our old comrade.

- No. - 'Let him go.'

We're done with him.

[laughing]

Aaron climbed the tallest
hill he could find.

But the royal caravan was
no where in sight.

What is it, Babba?

Samson?

The star?

Yes.

The kings were
following that star.

If we follow it. We are sure to
catch up with them.

Come, quickly.

And so they followed the
gleaming star.

Little realizing where it
was leading them

♪ You can hear the music ♪

♪ If you listen ♪

♪ With your heart ♪

♪ One star in the night ♪

♪ Shone o'er Bethlehem ♪

The town of Bethlehem.

And as Aaron glanced back out
over the country side

he saw what seemed to be a
gentle army of poor shepherds.

All of them being lead
toward the tiny town.

Why, they are all
following the same star.

♪ Angel's lullaby ♪

♪ On that holy night ♪

♪ Sung unto a Savior ♪

♪ Who was born ♪

♪ Beneath its glow ♪

♪ One Star in the night ♪

Look, Samson, Babba, by that
old stable up ahead.

See.

♪ One night to remember ♪

♪ On that peaceful night ♪

♪ The King of Kings ♪

♪ Was born ♪♪

The royal caravan.

'We found it.'

'See, there is old Joshua.'

'Joshua!'

Their hearts were
so full of joy

that they did not look where
they were going.

Suddenly, something came
careening out of the darkness.

Out of my way, ragamuffin.

Babba!

[instrumental music]

Oh, Babba, you mustn't die.

You mustn't.

Who can help me?

[grunts]

Yes, the kings.

The kings are wise.

They will be able
to save Babba.

Please, I've got to get inside
to see the kings.

You must let me through!

And when Aaron came to the
entrance of the stable

he could hardly
believe what he saw.

[mellow music]

And she brought forth her
first born son

and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes

and laid him in a manger.

Because there was no room
for them in the inn.

(Aaron) 'Oh, Your Majesty.'

- You must-- - Shh.

Oh, the player boy.

My lamb has been injured.

- You must save him. - He
is near death.

Oh, lad, there is
nothing I can do.

But-but you are a king.

A mortal king only, but..

...there is a king among kings

who would save your
little friend.

The babe?

But I do not understand.

(king) 'It is not necessary
that you understand.'

- 'Go to him.' - But, uh..

I...I have no gift to bring.

Go. Look upon the
new born King.

["Little Drummer Boy"]

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ I am a poor boy too ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ I have no gift to bring ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ That's fit to give the King ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Shall I play for you ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ On my drum ♪

♪ Mary nodded ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ The ox and lamb kept time ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ I played my drum for Him ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ I played my best for Him ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Pum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Then He smiled at me ♪

♪ Pa rum pum pum pum ♪

♪ Me and my drum ♪♪

(male narrator) And as Aaron
looked at the babe

he thought it was the most
beautiful sight

he had ever seen.

(Aaron) And yet...there is
something more about him.

So much more.

Your gift, little drummer boy

given out of the
simple desperation

of a pure love is the one
favored above all. See.

[bleating]

(Miss Garson) Aaron's
heart was filled

with joy and love.

And he knew at last

that the hate he had carried
there was wrong.

As all hatred will
ever be wrong.

For more powerful, more
beautiful by far

than all the eons of
sadness and cruelty

and desolation which
had come before

was that one tiny,
crystalline second

of laughter.

Blessed are the pure in heart

for they shall see God.

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