NCERT Textbook: The Book that saved the Earth | English Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


F ootprints without Feet 56
Mother Goose is a well-known book of
nursery rhymes in English. Do you think
such a book can save Planet Earth from
a Martian invasion? Read this play,
set four centuries in the future, and find out.
The Book That Saved the Earth
9
Characters
HISTORIAN LIEUTENANT IOTA
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK SERGEANT OOP
APPRENTICE NOODLE OFFSTAGE VOICE
CAPTAIN OMEGA
SCENE 1
READ AND FIND OUT
• Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
• Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
TIME : The twenty-fifth century
PLACE : The Museum of Ancient History: Department of the Twentieth
Century  on the Planet Earth
BEFORE RISE : Spotlight shines on Historian, who is sitting at a table down
right, on which is a movie projector . A sign on an easel beside
her reads: Museum of Ancient History: Department of the
Twentieth Century. She stands and bows to audience.
HISTORIAN : Good afternoon. Welcome to our Museum of Ancient
History, and to my department — curiosities of the
good old, far-off twentieth century. The twentieth
century was often called the Era of the Book. In those
days, there were books about everything, from ant
eaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, and when
to, and where to, and why to. They illustrated,
educated, punctuated, and even decorated. But the
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


F ootprints without Feet 56
Mother Goose is a well-known book of
nursery rhymes in English. Do you think
such a book can save Planet Earth from
a Martian invasion? Read this play,
set four centuries in the future, and find out.
The Book That Saved the Earth
9
Characters
HISTORIAN LIEUTENANT IOTA
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK SERGEANT OOP
APPRENTICE NOODLE OFFSTAGE VOICE
CAPTAIN OMEGA
SCENE 1
READ AND FIND OUT
• Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
• Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
TIME : The twenty-fifth century
PLACE : The Museum of Ancient History: Department of the Twentieth
Century  on the Planet Earth
BEFORE RISE : Spotlight shines on Historian, who is sitting at a table down
right, on which is a movie projector . A sign on an easel beside
her reads: Museum of Ancient History: Department of the
Twentieth Century. She stands and bows to audience.
HISTORIAN : Good afternoon. Welcome to our Museum of Ancient
History, and to my department — curiosities of the
good old, far-off twentieth century. The twentieth
century was often called the Era of the Book. In those
days, there were books about everything, from ant
eaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, and when
to, and where to, and why to. They illustrated,
educated, punctuated, and even decorated. But the
Reprint 2024-25
The Book That Saved the Earth 57
strangest thing a book ever did was to save the Earth.
You haven’t heard about the Martian invasion of 2040?
Tsk, tsk. What do they teach children nowadays? Well,
you know, the invasion never really happened, because
a single book stopped it. What was the book, you ask?
A noble encyclopedia? A tome about rockets and
missiles? A secret file from outer space? No, it was
none of those. It was — but here, let me turn on the
historiscope and show you what happened many
centuries ago, in 2040. (She turns on projector, and
points it left. Spotlight on Historian goes out, and comes
up down left on Think-Tank, who is seated on a raised
box, arms folded. He has a huge, egg-shaped head, and
he wears a long robe decorated with stars and circles.
Apprentice Noodle stands beside him at an elaborate
switchboard. A sign on an easel reads:
MARS SPACE CONTROL
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
(Bow low before entering)
NOODLE : (bowing) O Great and Mighty Think-Tank, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe, what are your orders?
THINK-TANK : (peevishly) You left out part of my salutation,
Apprentice Noodle. Go over the whole thing again.
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (in a singsong) O Great and Mighty
Think-Tank, Ruler of Mars and her two moons, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe — (out of breath) what-are-your-orders?
THINK-TANK : That’s better, Noodle. I wish to be placed in
communication with our manned space probe to that
ridiculous little planet we are going to put under our
generous rulership. What do they call it, again?
NOODLE : Earth, your Intelligence.
THINK-TANK : Earth — of course. You see how insignificant the place
is? But first, something important. My mirror. I wish
to consult my mirror.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


F ootprints without Feet 56
Mother Goose is a well-known book of
nursery rhymes in English. Do you think
such a book can save Planet Earth from
a Martian invasion? Read this play,
set four centuries in the future, and find out.
The Book That Saved the Earth
9
Characters
HISTORIAN LIEUTENANT IOTA
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK SERGEANT OOP
APPRENTICE NOODLE OFFSTAGE VOICE
CAPTAIN OMEGA
SCENE 1
READ AND FIND OUT
• Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
• Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
TIME : The twenty-fifth century
PLACE : The Museum of Ancient History: Department of the Twentieth
Century  on the Planet Earth
BEFORE RISE : Spotlight shines on Historian, who is sitting at a table down
right, on which is a movie projector . A sign on an easel beside
her reads: Museum of Ancient History: Department of the
Twentieth Century. She stands and bows to audience.
HISTORIAN : Good afternoon. Welcome to our Museum of Ancient
History, and to my department — curiosities of the
good old, far-off twentieth century. The twentieth
century was often called the Era of the Book. In those
days, there were books about everything, from ant
eaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, and when
to, and where to, and why to. They illustrated,
educated, punctuated, and even decorated. But the
Reprint 2024-25
The Book That Saved the Earth 57
strangest thing a book ever did was to save the Earth.
You haven’t heard about the Martian invasion of 2040?
Tsk, tsk. What do they teach children nowadays? Well,
you know, the invasion never really happened, because
a single book stopped it. What was the book, you ask?
A noble encyclopedia? A tome about rockets and
missiles? A secret file from outer space? No, it was
none of those. It was — but here, let me turn on the
historiscope and show you what happened many
centuries ago, in 2040. (She turns on projector, and
points it left. Spotlight on Historian goes out, and comes
up down left on Think-Tank, who is seated on a raised
box, arms folded. He has a huge, egg-shaped head, and
he wears a long robe decorated with stars and circles.
Apprentice Noodle stands beside him at an elaborate
switchboard. A sign on an easel reads:
MARS SPACE CONTROL
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
(Bow low before entering)
NOODLE : (bowing) O Great and Mighty Think-Tank, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe, what are your orders?
THINK-TANK : (peevishly) You left out part of my salutation,
Apprentice Noodle. Go over the whole thing again.
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (in a singsong) O Great and Mighty
Think-Tank, Ruler of Mars and her two moons, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe — (out of breath) what-are-your-orders?
THINK-TANK : That’s better, Noodle. I wish to be placed in
communication with our manned space probe to that
ridiculous little planet we are going to put under our
generous rulership. What do they call it, again?
NOODLE : Earth, your Intelligence.
THINK-TANK : Earth — of course. You see how insignificant the place
is? But first, something important. My mirror. I wish
to consult my mirror.
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 58
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (He hands Think-Tank a mirror.)
THINK-TANK : Mirror, mirror, in my hand. Who is the most
fantastically intellectually gifted being in the land?
OFFSTAGE VOICE : (after a pause) You, sir.
THINK-TANK : (smacking mirror) Quicker. Answer quicker next time.
I hate a slow mirror. (He admires himself in the mirror.)
Ah, there I am. Are we Martians not a handsome
race? So much more attractive than those ugly
Earthlings with their tiny heads. Noodle, you keep on
exercising your mind, and someday you’ll have a
balloon brain just like mine.
NOODLE : Oh, I hope so, Mighty Think-Tank. I hope so.
THINK-TANK : Now, contact the space probe. I want to invade that
primitive ball of mud called Earth before lunch.
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (He adjusts levers on switchboard.
Electronic buzzes and beeps are heard as the curtains
open.)
SCENE 2
READ AND FIND OUT
• What guesses are made by Think–Tank about the books
found on earth?
TIME : A few seconds later
PLACE : Mars Space Control and the Centerville Public Library
AT RISE : Captain Omega stands at centre, opening and closing card
catalogue drawers in a confused fashion. Lieutenant Iota
is up left, counting books in a bookcase. Sergeant Oop is at
right, opening and closing a book, turning it upside down,
shaking it and then riffling the pages and shaking his head.
NOODLE : (adjusting knobs) I have a close sighting of the space
crew, sir.
(Think-Tank puts on a pair of enormous goggles and
turns towards the stage to watch.) They seem to have
entered some sort of Earth structure.
THINK-TANK : Excellent. Make voice contact.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


F ootprints without Feet 56
Mother Goose is a well-known book of
nursery rhymes in English. Do you think
such a book can save Planet Earth from
a Martian invasion? Read this play,
set four centuries in the future, and find out.
The Book That Saved the Earth
9
Characters
HISTORIAN LIEUTENANT IOTA
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK SERGEANT OOP
APPRENTICE NOODLE OFFSTAGE VOICE
CAPTAIN OMEGA
SCENE 1
READ AND FIND OUT
• Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
• Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
TIME : The twenty-fifth century
PLACE : The Museum of Ancient History: Department of the Twentieth
Century  on the Planet Earth
BEFORE RISE : Spotlight shines on Historian, who is sitting at a table down
right, on which is a movie projector . A sign on an easel beside
her reads: Museum of Ancient History: Department of the
Twentieth Century. She stands and bows to audience.
HISTORIAN : Good afternoon. Welcome to our Museum of Ancient
History, and to my department — curiosities of the
good old, far-off twentieth century. The twentieth
century was often called the Era of the Book. In those
days, there were books about everything, from ant
eaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, and when
to, and where to, and why to. They illustrated,
educated, punctuated, and even decorated. But the
Reprint 2024-25
The Book That Saved the Earth 57
strangest thing a book ever did was to save the Earth.
You haven’t heard about the Martian invasion of 2040?
Tsk, tsk. What do they teach children nowadays? Well,
you know, the invasion never really happened, because
a single book stopped it. What was the book, you ask?
A noble encyclopedia? A tome about rockets and
missiles? A secret file from outer space? No, it was
none of those. It was — but here, let me turn on the
historiscope and show you what happened many
centuries ago, in 2040. (She turns on projector, and
points it left. Spotlight on Historian goes out, and comes
up down left on Think-Tank, who is seated on a raised
box, arms folded. He has a huge, egg-shaped head, and
he wears a long robe decorated with stars and circles.
Apprentice Noodle stands beside him at an elaborate
switchboard. A sign on an easel reads:
MARS SPACE CONTROL
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
(Bow low before entering)
NOODLE : (bowing) O Great and Mighty Think-Tank, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe, what are your orders?
THINK-TANK : (peevishly) You left out part of my salutation,
Apprentice Noodle. Go over the whole thing again.
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (in a singsong) O Great and Mighty
Think-Tank, Ruler of Mars and her two moons, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe — (out of breath) what-are-your-orders?
THINK-TANK : That’s better, Noodle. I wish to be placed in
communication with our manned space probe to that
ridiculous little planet we are going to put under our
generous rulership. What do they call it, again?
NOODLE : Earth, your Intelligence.
THINK-TANK : Earth — of course. You see how insignificant the place
is? But first, something important. My mirror. I wish
to consult my mirror.
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 58
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (He hands Think-Tank a mirror.)
THINK-TANK : Mirror, mirror, in my hand. Who is the most
fantastically intellectually gifted being in the land?
OFFSTAGE VOICE : (after a pause) You, sir.
THINK-TANK : (smacking mirror) Quicker. Answer quicker next time.
I hate a slow mirror. (He admires himself in the mirror.)
Ah, there I am. Are we Martians not a handsome
race? So much more attractive than those ugly
Earthlings with their tiny heads. Noodle, you keep on
exercising your mind, and someday you’ll have a
balloon brain just like mine.
NOODLE : Oh, I hope so, Mighty Think-Tank. I hope so.
THINK-TANK : Now, contact the space probe. I want to invade that
primitive ball of mud called Earth before lunch.
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (He adjusts levers on switchboard.
Electronic buzzes and beeps are heard as the curtains
open.)
SCENE 2
READ AND FIND OUT
• What guesses are made by Think–Tank about the books
found on earth?
TIME : A few seconds later
PLACE : Mars Space Control and the Centerville Public Library
AT RISE : Captain Omega stands at centre, opening and closing card
catalogue drawers in a confused fashion. Lieutenant Iota
is up left, counting books in a bookcase. Sergeant Oop is at
right, opening and closing a book, turning it upside down,
shaking it and then riffling the pages and shaking his head.
NOODLE : (adjusting knobs) I have a close sighting of the space
crew, sir.
(Think-Tank puts on a pair of enormous goggles and
turns towards the stage to watch.) They seem to have
entered some sort of Earth structure.
THINK-TANK : Excellent. Make voice contact.
Reprint 2024-25
The Book That Saved the Earth 59
NOODLE : (speaking into a microphone) Mars Space Control
calling the crew of Probe One. Mars Space Control
calling the crew of Probe One. Come in, Captain
Omega, and give us your location.
OMEGA : (speaking into a disk which is on a chain around her
neck) Captain Omega to Mars Space  Control.
Lieutenant Iota, Sergeant Oop, and I have arrived on
Earth without incident. We have taken shelter in this
(indicates room) — this square place. Have you any
idea where we are, Lieutenant Iota?
IOTA : I can’t figure it out, Captain. (holding up a book) I’ve
counted two thousand of these peculiar items. This
place must be some sort of storage barn. What do you
think, Sergeant Oop?
OOP : I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, but I’ve
never seen anything like this. Maybe they’re hats.
(He opens a book and puts it on his head.) Say, maybe
this is a haberdashery!
OMEGA : (bowing low) Perhaps the Great and Mighty Think-
Tank will give us the benefit of his thought on
the matter.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


F ootprints without Feet 56
Mother Goose is a well-known book of
nursery rhymes in English. Do you think
such a book can save Planet Earth from
a Martian invasion? Read this play,
set four centuries in the future, and find out.
The Book That Saved the Earth
9
Characters
HISTORIAN LIEUTENANT IOTA
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK SERGEANT OOP
APPRENTICE NOODLE OFFSTAGE VOICE
CAPTAIN OMEGA
SCENE 1
READ AND FIND OUT
• Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
• Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
TIME : The twenty-fifth century
PLACE : The Museum of Ancient History: Department of the Twentieth
Century  on the Planet Earth
BEFORE RISE : Spotlight shines on Historian, who is sitting at a table down
right, on which is a movie projector . A sign on an easel beside
her reads: Museum of Ancient History: Department of the
Twentieth Century. She stands and bows to audience.
HISTORIAN : Good afternoon. Welcome to our Museum of Ancient
History, and to my department — curiosities of the
good old, far-off twentieth century. The twentieth
century was often called the Era of the Book. In those
days, there were books about everything, from ant
eaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to, and when
to, and where to, and why to. They illustrated,
educated, punctuated, and even decorated. But the
Reprint 2024-25
The Book That Saved the Earth 57
strangest thing a book ever did was to save the Earth.
You haven’t heard about the Martian invasion of 2040?
Tsk, tsk. What do they teach children nowadays? Well,
you know, the invasion never really happened, because
a single book stopped it. What was the book, you ask?
A noble encyclopedia? A tome about rockets and
missiles? A secret file from outer space? No, it was
none of those. It was — but here, let me turn on the
historiscope and show you what happened many
centuries ago, in 2040. (She turns on projector, and
points it left. Spotlight on Historian goes out, and comes
up down left on Think-Tank, who is seated on a raised
box, arms folded. He has a huge, egg-shaped head, and
he wears a long robe decorated with stars and circles.
Apprentice Noodle stands beside him at an elaborate
switchboard. A sign on an easel reads:
MARS SPACE CONTROL
GREAT AND MIGHTY THINK-TANK, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
(Bow low before entering)
NOODLE : (bowing) O Great and Mighty Think-Tank, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe, what are your orders?
THINK-TANK : (peevishly) You left out part of my salutation,
Apprentice Noodle. Go over the whole thing again.
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (in a singsong) O Great and Mighty
Think-Tank, Ruler of Mars and her two moons, most
powerful and intelligent creature in the whole
universe — (out of breath) what-are-your-orders?
THINK-TANK : That’s better, Noodle. I wish to be placed in
communication with our manned space probe to that
ridiculous little planet we are going to put under our
generous rulership. What do they call it, again?
NOODLE : Earth, your Intelligence.
THINK-TANK : Earth — of course. You see how insignificant the place
is? But first, something important. My mirror. I wish
to consult my mirror.
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 58
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (He hands Think-Tank a mirror.)
THINK-TANK : Mirror, mirror, in my hand. Who is the most
fantastically intellectually gifted being in the land?
OFFSTAGE VOICE : (after a pause) You, sir.
THINK-TANK : (smacking mirror) Quicker. Answer quicker next time.
I hate a slow mirror. (He admires himself in the mirror.)
Ah, there I am. Are we Martians not a handsome
race? So much more attractive than those ugly
Earthlings with their tiny heads. Noodle, you keep on
exercising your mind, and someday you’ll have a
balloon brain just like mine.
NOODLE : Oh, I hope so, Mighty Think-Tank. I hope so.
THINK-TANK : Now, contact the space probe. I want to invade that
primitive ball of mud called Earth before lunch.
NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (He adjusts levers on switchboard.
Electronic buzzes and beeps are heard as the curtains
open.)
SCENE 2
READ AND FIND OUT
• What guesses are made by Think–Tank about the books
found on earth?
TIME : A few seconds later
PLACE : Mars Space Control and the Centerville Public Library
AT RISE : Captain Omega stands at centre, opening and closing card
catalogue drawers in a confused fashion. Lieutenant Iota
is up left, counting books in a bookcase. Sergeant Oop is at
right, opening and closing a book, turning it upside down,
shaking it and then riffling the pages and shaking his head.
NOODLE : (adjusting knobs) I have a close sighting of the space
crew, sir.
(Think-Tank puts on a pair of enormous goggles and
turns towards the stage to watch.) They seem to have
entered some sort of Earth structure.
THINK-TANK : Excellent. Make voice contact.
Reprint 2024-25
The Book That Saved the Earth 59
NOODLE : (speaking into a microphone) Mars Space Control
calling the crew of Probe One. Mars Space Control
calling the crew of Probe One. Come in, Captain
Omega, and give us your location.
OMEGA : (speaking into a disk which is on a chain around her
neck) Captain Omega to Mars Space  Control.
Lieutenant Iota, Sergeant Oop, and I have arrived on
Earth without incident. We have taken shelter in this
(indicates room) — this square place. Have you any
idea where we are, Lieutenant Iota?
IOTA : I can’t figure it out, Captain. (holding up a book) I’ve
counted two thousand of these peculiar items. This
place must be some sort of storage barn. What do you
think, Sergeant Oop?
OOP : I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, but I’ve
never seen anything like this. Maybe they’re hats.
(He opens a book and puts it on his head.) Say, maybe
this is a haberdashery!
OMEGA : (bowing low) Perhaps the Great and Mighty Think-
Tank will give us the benefit of his thought on
the matter.
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 60
THINK-TANK : Elementary, my dear Omega. Hold one of the items
up so that I may view it closely. (Omega holds a book
on the palm of her hand.) Yes, yes, I understand now.
Since Earth creatures are always eating, the place
in which you find yourselves is undoubtedly a crude
refreshment stand.
OMEGA : (to Iota and Oop) He says we’re in a refreshment stand.
OOP : Well, the Earthlings certainly have a strange diet.
THINK-TANK : That item in your hand is called a sandwich.
OMEGA : (nodding) A sandwich.
IOTA : (nodding) A sandwich.
OOP : (taking book from his head) A sandwich?
THINK-TANK : Sandwiches are the main staple of Earth diet. Look
at it closely.(Omega squints at book.) There are two
slices of what is called bread, and between them is
some sort of filling.
OMEGA : That is correct, sir.
THINK-TANK : To confirm my opinion, I order you to eat it.
OMEGA : (gulping) Eat it?
THINK-TANK : Do you doubt the Mighty Think-Tank?
Reprint 2024-25