Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series)

The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1985)

Eric Idle: The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Robert Browning

Quotes 

• The Pied Piper : If you break the promise that you made... this is the only time I'll warn... by the time the sun has changed to shade, you'll wish you all were never born!

  Mayor : Do you threaten us, fellow? Go, do your worst! Blow your pipe until you burst!

  [the councillors make sounds of agreement] 

  The Pied Piper : So be it.

  [Turns to leave, but at the door turns back] 

  The Pied Piper : Hamelin's... cursed!

  [Leaves, closing the door behind him] 

• The Pied Piper : [to the Mayor and council after they've tried to cheat him]  Folks who put me in a passion... may find me pipe after another fashion!

• The Pied Piper : How's Hamelin fixed for rodent slayers?

  Alderman : Oh no, not another necromancer! We're giving none a second chance, sir!

• Lame Boy : Are you an actor?

  The Pied Piper : You might call me a rat attractor.

• Willie : But I'm on holiday! What's the point of being on holiday if you can't stay up?

  Robert Browning : That's a very clever argument, young Willie, to be sure! And while I'm certain I can't answer it as you phrased it, put like that I see no reason why you shouldn't stay up until dawn; that's what holidays are for.

• [last lines] 

  Robert Browning : [softly and gently]  So, Willie... let me and you be wipers of scores out with all men... especially pipers. And whether they pipe us free from rats or from mice, if we've promise them aught... let us keep our promise.

• Robert Browning : [the young townswoman is seen sitting by the bed of her missing child]  Alas... alas for Hamelin.

  [She bends over the bed and begins sobbing] 

• The Pied Piper : This I'll promise... the time may come when I wear out my current welcome. Should that happen, you have my word I'll remember what I heard and give you my protection.

  Lame Boy : Against what?

  The Pied Piper : Why, unnatural selection.

• Robert Browning : You put me in mind of Saint Augustine's observation that the innocence of children is due less to the purity of their hearts than the weakness of their limbs.