Editing Toad of Toad Hall (section)

==Synopsis==
The play comprises a prologue, four acts and an epilogue:

*Prologue and Act 1
:*Down by the Willows
:::The play is framed by scenes featuring two characters not in Grahame's book: a 12-year-old girl, Marigold, and her [[nanny|nurse]], sitting near a river. Marigold tells her nurse about the riverbank animals, and the scene fades into the main action. Marigold and the nurse are not seen again until the epilogue of the play. Mole emerges from his underground home, and meets Rat and Badger for the first time. They are joined by Toad, who persuades Mole and Rat to join him on a holiday in his new horse-drawn caravan, pulled by the querulous horse Alfred. Unseen, the weasels, ferrets and stoats curse Toad, whom they hate. The caravan is in collision with a motor-car, and Toad becomes instantly obsessed with becoming a motorist. Mole and Rat lead him homewards.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 1–24</ref>
*Act II
::1. The Wild Wood
:::In deep snow, Toad, who has once again crashed his car (his eighth), walks fearfully through the wood, harried by the weasels and their allies. When he has gone, Mole stumbles on, lost, and is rescued by Rat, who has been looking for him. They find themselves at the entrance to Badger's house and ring the bell.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 25–32</ref>
::2. Badger's House
:::Safely inside Badger's underground house, Mole and Rat refresh themselves, and discuss with Badger the excesses Toad has been committing, squandering his fortune on expensive cars and crashing them. Toad now finds Badger's house, and seeks refuge. Badger lectures him about his foolish ways, but Toad is unrepentant. Badger says that Toad must stay with him until his motor-mania has worn off, and Toad is locked into the guest-bedroom.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 33–46</ref>
::3. The Same. Some Weeks Later
:::In the absence of Badger and Mole, Toad tricks Rat into letting him escape from his confinement at Badger's house and he flees, singing a gleeful and boastful song to himself.
*Act III
::1. The Court-House
:::Toad is on trial for stealing a motor-car, driving recklessly, and, most seriously, being grossly impertinent to a police officer. He is found guilty and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 47–66</ref>
::2. The Dungeon
:::Phoebe, the jailer's daughter, takes pity on Toad, and helps him escape by disguising him as a washerwoman.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 67–75</ref>
::3. The Canal Bank
:::Toad shakes off the pursuing forces of law and order, and hitches a ride on a canal barge. He quarrels with the barge-woman, steals her horse and rides off.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 76–84</ref>
*Act IV
::1. Rat's House By The River
:::Toad makes his way to Rat's house, where he learns to his horror that his grand residence, Toad Hall, has been occupied by the weasels, ferrets and stoats. When Mole and Badger enter, the four discuss how to drive the occupiers out.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 85–95</ref>
::2. The Underground Passage
:::In a secret underground passage the four friends prepare to enter Toad Hall and catch the occupiers unawares.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 96–98</ref>
::3. The Banqueting-Room at Toad Hall
:::The Chief Weasel's birthday party is in progress. Badger leads the attack and the enemy is quickly routed. Toad sings a song about his homecoming and gradually the other characters of the play – including the weasels, Mole, Rat, the judge, Alfred, the barge-woman, Phoebe, and last of all Badger – join in dancing in a circle round the triumphant Toad.<ref>Milne (1946), pp. 99–110</ref>
*Epilogue
::The Wind in the Willows
:::The scene at Toad Hall fades away and the setting is as it was for the prologue. Marigold is asleep; a badger, a water-rat, a mole and finally a toad pass the slumbering child, before the nurse tells her it is time to wake up and come home.<ref>Milne (1946), p. 111</ref>