SIDE 1

BERT

What's the matter and who's after you?

JANE

The nastiest nanny in the world.

BERT

Is she really as bad as all that?

MICHAEL

She looks like something that would eat its young.

JANE

Miss Andrew was Daddy's nanny.

MICHAEL

Which explains a lot.

JANE

Poor Daddy. Ever since he stopped working, he just sits and mopes... Mary Poppins used to say he needed our help, but now it's too late.

BERT

Oh, I wouldn't say that. I tell you what: why don't we start things off with a bit of a shake for good luck?

(BERT holds out his hand.)

JANE

Why would shaking hands with you bring us luck?

BERT

Didn't anyone ever tell you it's lucky to shake a chimney sweep's hand?

(JANE does so, and so does MICHAEL. From his large bag, BERT extracts a beautiful red kite with streamers.)

JANE

Michael, look! It's a real one!

(BERT holds the kite out to MICHAEL, who is resistant.)

What's the matter? You've always wanted to fly a proper kite.

MICHAEL

I've always wanted to fly one with Daddy.

BERT

(crouches before MICHAEL, speaking gently)

O' course you have. But you need to know how it's done. Get some training in, and you'll make him the proudest father in the whole bloomin' empire!

SIDE 2

MARY POPPINS

Hello, Bert.

BERT

Hello, Mary. Hello, kids.

JANE, MICHAEL

Hello.

MARY POPPINS

We're off to Mrs. Corry's Talking Shop. Care to join us?

JANE

Talking Shop?

MICHAEL

Who's Mrs. Corry?

BERT

"Who's Mrs. Corry?" Mrs. Corry is older than anyone in the world. She talked to William before he went conquering, to Vlad before he went impaling, and to Alexander before he weren't so great.

JANE

That's impossible!


MARY POPPINS

Anything can happen if you let it.

(They enter the shop.)

MRS. CORRY

Well, well, well... if it isn't Mary Poppins! With Jane and Michael Banks!

MICHAEL

She knows us?


MRS. CORRY

And how is poor little Georgie?

MICHAEL

Who?

MRS. CORRY

Georgie Banks. Your father. He used to give his nanny the slip and come into my shop here in secret. I remember Georgie used to love my gingerbread stars. Now, Mary Poppins, what can I do for you?