Certainly!

Here's a puppet show script based on "The Rainbow Fish Keeps His Scale (Alternate
Ending by Topher Payne)" for your group of five students to perform for 4-year-olds:

### **Characters:**
1. **Narrator**
2. **Rainbow Fish**
3. **Little Blue Fish**
4. **Fabulous Catfish**
5. **Starfish & Octopus** (one student can play both roles)

---

### **[Scene 1: The Beautiful Rainbow Fish]**

**Narrator:** (Cheerfully) A long way out in the deep blue sea, there lived a fish. But not just any
fish—this fish was the most beautiful fish in the entire ocean! His scales were every shade of
blue, green, and purple, with sparkling silver scales among them. The other fish were amazed at
his beauty and called him... Rainbow Fish!

**Rainbow Fish:** (Proudly) Look at my scales! Aren't they the most beautiful in the ocean?

**Narrator:** (Excitedly) The other fish would call out...

**All Fish (offstage):** Come on, Rainbow Fish! Come and play with us!

**Narrator:** But Rainbow Fish would just glide past, proud and silent, letting his scales
shimmer.

---

### **[Scene 2: The Little Blue Fish's Request]**

**Little Blue Fish:** (Swims up excitedly) Rainbow Fish, wait for me! Please give me one of your
shiny scales. They are so wonderful, and you have so many!

**Rainbow Fish:** (A bit annoyed) You want me to give you one of my special scales? Who do
you think you are?

**Narrator:** (Sadly) The little blue fish swam away, feeling very upset. He told all his friends
what had happened.

**All Fish (offstage):** (In a whisper) No one would talk to Rainbow Fish anymore. They turned
away when he swam by.
---

### **[Scene 3: Talking to the Starfish]**

**Rainbow Fish:** (Lonely and sad) What good are my dazzling scales if no one admires them?

**Narrator:** (Sympathetically) One day, Rainbow Fish poured out his troubles to a Starfish.

**Starfish:** (Wisely) I can't answer that for you. But if you go beyond the coral reef to a deep
cave, you will find the wise Octopus. Maybe she can help you.

**Narrator:** And so, the Rainbow Fish found the cave. It was very dark inside.

---

### **[Scene 4: The Wise Octopus & Fabulous Catfish]**

**Narrator:** (Mysteriously) Suddenly, two eyes caught Rainbow Fish in their glare, and the
Octopus emerged from the darkness.

**Octopus:** (With a deep voice) I have been waiting for you. The waves have told me your
story. My advice: give a glittering scale to each of the other fish. You will no longer be the most
beautiful fish in the sea, but you will discover how to be happy.

**Rainbow Fish:** (Startled) I... I can’t...

**Narrator:** But before he could finish, the Octopus disappeared into a dark cloud of ink.

**Fabulous Catfish:** (Appearing with flair) Excuse me, little Rainbow Fish, what did that
Octopus just say to you?

**Rainbow Fish:** (Confused) The Octopus told me to give away all my glittering scales so that I
could make friends.

**Fabulous Catfish:** (Sighing dramatically) Oh, give me strength! First of all, we do not take life
advice from reclusive octopuses who live alone in dark caves and only talk to waves!

**Rainbow Fish:** (Nods) But the Starfish sent me here!

**Fabulous Catfish:** (Laughs) Did you notice that Starfish was all by herself? She’s been shady
since school! When someone tells you how to be, consider the source.

---
### **[Scene 5: The Rainbow Fish Learns a Lesson]**

**Fabulous Catfish:** (Calmly) Now, Rainbow Fish, I’ve seen you swim solo these days. Why is
that?

**Rainbow Fish:** (Looking down) The other fish don’t want to play with me because they’re
jealous of my glittering scales.

**Fabulous Catfish:** (Gives the fish equivalent of arching an eyebrow) Or maybe because you
forgot to appreciate others? Every creature in the sea has something that makes them special.
When someone tells you your scales are beautiful, say thank you and give a compliment in
return!

**Rainbow Fish:** (Excited) You have very impressive whiskers!

**Fabulous Catfish:** (Pleased) Thank you! And you have soulful eyes. No one had ever
complimented Rainbow Fish’s eyes before.

**Rainbow Fish:** (Smiling) Compliments are fun!

**Fabulous Catfish:** (Encouragingly) Now, look for what is exceptional in others. Celebrate
what makes each of us unique, and you’ll become part of a community.

**Rainbow Fish:** (Gratefully) Thank you, Fabulous Catfish! I’m so glad I didn’t listen to that
rude Octopus!

---

### **[Scene 6: A Happy Ending]**

**Narrator:** (Joyfully) And so, the Rainbow Fish began his journey home, appreciating his
wonderful neighbors along the way.

**Rainbow Fish:** (To various sea creatures) Hello, Mackerel! You’re the fastest swimmer I’ve
ever seen. Hi there, Squid! I heard you have three hearts—that’s so cool! What’s up, Prawn?
You can change colors—awesome! Hello, Muscles! I appreciate your wide range of viewpoints!

**Little Blue Fish:** (Shyly) Hi, Rainbow Fish...

**Rainbow Fish:** (Warmly) And hello, Little Blue Fish! You don’t need one of my scales to be
special. You’re a desert pupfish—you can thrive in water up to 113 degrees! That’s some
superhero stuff!
**Narrator:** (Excitedly) And the most amazing thing began to happen. The other creatures of
the sea spoke of Rainbow Fish, but not for his dazzling scales. They talked about his kindness
and how wonderful it was to spend time with him. Soon, everyone was following his example,
and Rainbow Fish was part of a community where everyone felt appreciated and unique.

**All Characters:** (Together) Hooray for friendship!

**Narrator:** And that, my friends, is something far more beautiful than glittering scales. The
end!

---

This script captures the essence of the alternate ending while keeping it simple and engaging
for young children. Enjoy your puppet show!