Pinocchio ran into the theater. The show had already started. Two wooden dolls were on the stage. Their names were Harlequin and Pulcinella. They were fighting with sticks.
The theater was full of people. Everyone was laughing at the dolls.
Suddenly, Harlequin stopped talking. He looked at the people. He pointed at Pinocchio.
“Look! Is that Pinocchio?” Harlequin shouted.
“Yes! It is Pinocchio!” Pulcinella screamed.
“It is our brother Pinocchio!” all the dolls yelled. They ran onto the stage. “Hurrah for Pinocchio!”
“Pinocchio, come here!” Harlequin shouted.
Pinocchio jumped onto the stage. All the wooden dolls embraced him. They were very happy to see him.
The people in the theater were angry. They wanted to see the play.
“Start the play!” the people shouted.
But the dolls did not listen. They lifted Pinocchio on their shoulders. They carried him around the stage.
Then, the Director came out of his room. His name was Fire Eater (the man who owned the theater). He looked very scary.
He had a very long black beard. His mouth was as wide as an oven. He had yellow teeth. His eyes were red like fire. He had a big whip in his hand.
The dolls were very afraid. No one moved.
“Why are you making noise in my theater?” the Director asked. He had a very loud, scary voice.
“It is not my fault, sir,” Pinocchio said.
“Be quiet! I will talk to you later,” the Director said.
The show finished. The Director went to the kitchen. He was cooking a lamb on a spit (a long metal stick used to cook meat over a fire). He needed more wood for the fire. He called Harlequin and Pulcinella.
“Bring that new doll to me,” the Director said. “He is made of good wood. He will make a great fire for my dinner.”
Harlequin and Pulcinella were afraid. But they obeyed their master. They went to get Pinocchio.
They carried Pinocchio to the kitchen. Pinocchio moved his body and tried to escape. He cried loudly.
“Father, save me! I do not want to die!” Pinocchio cried.