Who Needs Rules

This fun and engaging script explores the importance of rules in our daily lives, highlighting how they keep us safe, healthy, and make life better. Henry, at first, dreams of a world with no rules, but as Bill and Homer discuss real-life examples—like traffic laws, respecting others' property, and avoiding harmful substances—he starts to realize that rules are there to protect us.

The script also emphasizes a strong anti-smoking, anti-alcohol, and anti-drug message, reinforcing the idea that some choices can have lasting consequences. By the end, Henry and Homer embrace rules as a necessary part of life, recognizing that even God’s Ten Commandments were given to guide and protect people.

Use Puppets for a fun, animated experience!
Or Perform It Live! This script works great with 3 live actors, using natural dialogue and expressions to connect with audiences.

✔️ Minimal set required – Can be performed on a puppet stage OR a small acting stage
✔️ Casual costumes for live actors – No special outfits needed
✔️ Engaging & humorous script that resonates with kids and families

Cast Size:

• 3 Characters (Henry, Homer, Bill)
  • 2 Puppets OR Actors (Henry & Homer)
  • 1 Live Actor (Bill)

Estimated Runtime: 10 minutes

Who Needs Rules – Scene Excerpt

(Henry is laying back, motionless. Homer is trying to talk to him.)

HOMER: Whatcha doin’ Henry, all layin’ back, all dreamy like?

HENRY: Huh?

HOMER: I said, whatcha doin’ Henry, all layin’ back, all dreamy like?

HENRY: Huh?

HOMER (annoyed, very loud): For the last and final time, I said, whatcha doin’ Henry, all layin’ back, all dreamy like?

BILL: What ever is going on here you two, screaming and caterwallerin’ around, like to burst my eardrums, seems like!

HOMER: All Henry’s fault, him just layin’ back, all dreamy like, won’t answer me when I say, whatcha doin’ Henry, all layin’ back, all dreamy like?

BILL: Seems like you could have answered Homer’s question, Henry... Henry... Henry... (screams and shakes Henry) HENRYYYYYYYYYY!

HENRY: Wha... whatttttttt? What’s goin’ on here, everyone yellin’, screamin’, shakin’ folks around?

BILL: Well, me and Homer, we were worried about you...

HOMER: Yeh, and you just layin’ back, all dreamy like, won’t answer me when I say, whatcha doin’ Henry, all layin’ back, all dreamy like?

HENRY: Guess I did not hear you, Homer, and for that I surely am mighty sorry is what.

HOMER: Well...?

HENRY: Well... what?

HOMER: Are you gonna tell me?

HENRY: Tell you... tell you what, exactly?

HOMER: I am flat out about to explode! Tell me why you are just layin’ back, all dreamy like, won’t answer me when I say, whatcha doin’ Henry, all layin’ back, all dreamy like? That’s what I want you to tell me is what I want you to tell me is what!

HENRY: Oh, that. Oh, certainly, I for sure would be for certain honored to do so, I sure enough would.

(Henry again lays back, motionless.)

HOMER: OK, that did it! Fact is now I purely don’t even wanna know!

HENRY: Well, I was just layin’ back here thinkin’ how nice it is, havin’ no rules. No one tells me what I can do, what I can’t do, what is good for me, what is bad for me. That there is what I have been thinkin’ is what.

BILL: No rules?

HENRY: Not one single solitary rule is what.

BILL: But everyone has rules.

HENRY: Shouldn’t be rules, not even one.

HOMER: Seems to me, Bill, maybe Henry, he’s on to somethin’ here. I mean, it would be nice not to have rules. I mean, then I could stay up late on school nights, not eat my spinach, fly my toy airplane in the bathroom.

BILL: But if you stayed up late on school nights, you would be tired in school, likely fall asleep. And if you didn’t eat your spinach, you wouldn’t grow up big and strong.

HENRY: Mind sharing with me what for you would want to fly your toy airplane in the bathroom, Homer, old pal?

HOMER: Actually, I was just using that as a weird example.

HENRY: Seems like to me you batted in a home run on that one, Homer. It was a purely weird example all right. But back to my plan. Old people, teachers and such, they are forever telling us, “Don’t do this, don’t touch that, don’t go here, don’t even touch that.” What a pain! Let us find out for ourselves is what I say.

HOMER: Makes sense to me.

BILL: Sense? I don’t think so. Rules are meant to protect us, keep us from harm.

HENRY: Give me one for instance.

BILL: OK, well, when I am in my car, driving down the street, there are rules about how fast I can drive.

HOMER: And that shouldn’t be! Man should be able to drive as fast as he wants, I always say.

HENRY: Me too! I like to drive down the street, top down, wind whistling through my hair.

BILL: But that is not a good thing for everyone involved.

HOMER (looks up at the top of Bill’s head): I can see that, all you have for the wind to blow through is mostly skin.

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