[instrumental "Little Drummer Boy"]
(Miss Garson) And it came topass 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.
Areare those animals dancing, Ben Haramed?
They certainly are.
Faster, old friends. Faster.
'You, Samson. Smile.'
hee haw
'And you, BinBabba, 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 ♪
♪ 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 lighthearted 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.
Butbut 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 ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ 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.
[instrumental "Little Drummer Boy"]