The Little Drummer Boy (1968) Movie Script
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.
Observe, Ali, the little
drummer boy, Aaron.
Are those animals
dancing, Ben Haramed?
They certainly are.
Faster, old friends. Faster.
You, Samson, smile.
And you, Bimbaba,
be lighter, happier.
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!
Let me go! Do you hear me?
Let me go!
Get the camel!
Ah!
The lamb, you oaf!
Grab the lamb!
How? I have only two hands!
Stop concerning yourself
with details! Do it!
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.
Our newborn 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,
and journey
into the crowded city.
For it was true. Aaron
hated people, all people.
No! No! I won't go with you!
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 showmen,
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?
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.
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 want to 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've got to work
Like other men do.
When is 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.
Oh, Ben Haramed was
a wily, old desert jackal.
Only he could have 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.
But Aaron's happiness
was to end all too soon,
for one night, bandits
of the desert attacked.
What's going on out there?
Father!
But...
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.
Ah, Jerusalem at last.
Here, we shall make our fortune.
All these people.
A-ha!
The rest of my show caravan.
Hello! Hello!
Jamilie, Meshaw!
Set up our performing carpets,
and let us be on with the show.
Ladies and gentlemen,
fellow taxpayers,
the day need not be all gloomy.
For I, Ben Haramed,
king of the desert showmen,
have brought, at great expense,
direct from the palace
of the Emperor of China,
the toast of royalty,
Meshaw and Jamilie,
tumblers extraordinary!
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 stars.
Boy, you perform next.
The crowd is restless.
You must appease 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 the dope juggles
me out of my life savings!
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 guffaw.
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?
More! More! More! More!
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 preying thieves
and bandits and knaves and...
Run for it!
And so, the troupe was
chased out of Jerusalem by the mob.
Boy, you shall pay
for this indignity.
Ben Haramed! Look!
By the hounds 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.
Yes, it was the Star of Bethlehem
which shone so brightly
and graced the lonely darkening
desert with its silver light.
But the little troupe
did not see the star's beauty,
for the souls
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 kings' money, he
would be free to go his own way
and never again have to
trouble himself with humans.
And so they approached
the three kings,
Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar.
'Tis night. We must break camp.
And swiftly! The star
waits not for us.
Strike the tents!
Pack the camels!
No! Don't go! We just got here!
Halt!
Down, knave! Down!
Ben Haramed, a knave?
I am crushed.
Lower your spears.
These desert vagabonds
seem to mean us no harm.
Why do you come to us?
We are a troupe of players,
Your Majesty.
Er, majesties.
We have no time for
making merry, as you see.
We break camp, and...
Begging your pardon.
Nobody travels the desert
by night!
We do, for we follow the star.
How very convenient.
But, uh...
Begone.
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.
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.
Gold. Ah...
I adore the feel of it, the
weight of it, the look of it.
Wow!
Ah! Yes, ah.
Your share.
I don't want it! I don't
want any part of you!
Come, Samson, Baba.
We must find our old comrade.
Let him go!
We're done with him!
Aaron climbed the
tallest hill he could find,
but the royal caravan
was nowhere in sight.
What is it, Baba?
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 on Bethlehem.
The town of Bethlehem.
And as Aaron glanced
back out over the countryside,
he saw what seemed to be a
gentle army of poor shepherds,
all of them being led
toward the tiny town.
Why, they're 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! Baba!
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!
Baba!
Oh, Baba, you mustn't die!
You mustn't!
Who can help me?
Yes. The kings.
The kings are wise.
They will be able to save Baba.
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.
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.
Oh, Your Majesty! You must...
Hmm.
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 you're 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.
It is not necessary
that you understand.
Go to him.
But I...
I have no gift to bring.
Go. Look upon the newborn king.
Baby Jesus.
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 our 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.
Rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum.
Then he smiled at me.
Pa rum pum pum pum.
Me and my drum.
And as Aaron
looked at the babe,
he thought it was the most
beautiful sight he had ever seen.
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?
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.
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.
Observe, Ali, the little
drummer boy, Aaron.
Are those animals
dancing, Ben Haramed?
They certainly are.
Faster, old friends. Faster.
You, Samson, smile.
And you, Bimbaba,
be lighter, happier.
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!
Let me go! Do you hear me?
Let me go!
Get the camel!
Ah!
The lamb, you oaf!
Grab the lamb!
How? I have only two hands!
Stop concerning yourself
with details! Do it!
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.
Our newborn 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,
and journey
into the crowded city.
For it was true. Aaron
hated people, all people.
No! No! I won't go with you!
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 showmen,
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?
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.
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 want to 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've got to work
Like other men do.
When is 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.
Oh, Ben Haramed was
a wily, old desert jackal.
Only he could have 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.
But Aaron's happiness
was to end all too soon,
for one night, bandits
of the desert attacked.
What's going on out there?
Father!
But...
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.
Ah, Jerusalem at last.
Here, we shall make our fortune.
All these people.
A-ha!
The rest of my show caravan.
Hello! Hello!
Jamilie, Meshaw!
Set up our performing carpets,
and let us be on with the show.
Ladies and gentlemen,
fellow taxpayers,
the day need not be all gloomy.
For I, Ben Haramed,
king of the desert showmen,
have brought, at great expense,
direct from the palace
of the Emperor of China,
the toast of royalty,
Meshaw and Jamilie,
tumblers extraordinary!
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 stars.
Boy, you perform next.
The crowd is restless.
You must appease 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 the dope juggles
me out of my life savings!
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 guffaw.
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?
More! More! More! More!
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 preying thieves
and bandits and knaves and...
Run for it!
And so, the troupe was
chased out of Jerusalem by the mob.
Boy, you shall pay
for this indignity.
Ben Haramed! Look!
By the hounds 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.
Yes, it was the Star of Bethlehem
which shone so brightly
and graced the lonely darkening
desert with its silver light.
But the little troupe
did not see the star's beauty,
for the souls
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 kings' money, he
would be free to go his own way
and never again have to
trouble himself with humans.
And so they approached
the three kings,
Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar.
'Tis night. We must break camp.
And swiftly! The star
waits not for us.
Strike the tents!
Pack the camels!
No! Don't go! We just got here!
Halt!
Down, knave! Down!
Ben Haramed, a knave?
I am crushed.
Lower your spears.
These desert vagabonds
seem to mean us no harm.
Why do you come to us?
We are a troupe of players,
Your Majesty.
Er, majesties.
We have no time for
making merry, as you see.
We break camp, and...
Begging your pardon.
Nobody travels the desert
by night!
We do, for we follow the star.
How very convenient.
But, uh...
Begone.
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.
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.
Gold. Ah...
I adore the feel of it, the
weight of it, the look of it.
Wow!
Ah! Yes, ah.
Your share.
I don't want it! I don't
want any part of you!
Come, Samson, Baba.
We must find our old comrade.
Let him go!
We're done with him!
Aaron climbed the
tallest hill he could find,
but the royal caravan
was nowhere in sight.
What is it, Baba?
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 on Bethlehem.
The town of Bethlehem.
And as Aaron glanced
back out over the countryside,
he saw what seemed to be a
gentle army of poor shepherds,
all of them being led
toward the tiny town.
Why, they're 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! Baba!
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!
Baba!
Oh, Baba, you mustn't die!
You mustn't!
Who can help me?
Yes. The kings.
The kings are wise.
They will be able to save Baba.
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.
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.
Oh, Your Majesty! You must...
Hmm.
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 you're 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.
It is not necessary
that you understand.
Go to him.
But I...
I have no gift to bring.
Go. Look upon the newborn king.
Baby Jesus.
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 our 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.
Rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum.
Then he smiled at me.
Pa rum pum pum pum.
Me and my drum.
And as Aaron
looked at the babe,
he thought it was the most
beautiful sight he had ever seen.
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?
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.