The Characters

The widow BRISBY, a meadow mouse
Mr. AGES, an alchemist, Brisby's gruffish confidant and friend
JEREMY, a clownish Crow
A SHREW, greatly in need of some taming
NICODEMUS, wise ruler of the Rats
JUSTIN, the Rats' Captain of the Guard
JENNER, a Rat of high regard and a villainous traitor
SULLIVAN, Jenner's lackey
PATRICK, Nicodemus' clown
The OWL, wisest of all the Animals
Brisby's children, CYNTHIA, TIMOTHY, MARTIN, and TERESA
A FARMER
A MESSENGER
The Rats' PRIEST
Various RATS

Table of Contents

Introduction

• 1.1: In which Mrs Brisby makes an important call on Mr Ages: her small son Timothy is deathly ill
  
• 1.2: In which Mrs Brisby makes a friend: Jeremy, the crow
  
• 1.3: In which Martin irritates the shrew and his mother, and we learn that the planting is coming. Spring is no longer Timmy's saviour, but a masquerading villain
  
• 1.4: In which Mrs Brisby wakes to a unsettlingly quiet day, and learns to value her friendship more than her fear
  

• 2.1: In which Mrs Brisby arrives at the Owl's house, and is curiously able to persuade the indifferent Owl into action
  
• 2.2: In which the shrew resignedly wreaks havoc on poor Timothy, and Martin's good shines through
  
• 2.3: In which we meet Jenner and Sullivan, on their way to the Council Hall, and Jenner lets the audience in on a little secret
  
• 2.4: In which the Owl has told Mrs Brisby everything she needs to save her family; well, at least where to find everything she needs to save her family. She happily returns home that night
  

• 3.1: In which the shrew is humiliated, in which Mrs Brisby cannot stay set in one place, and in which a new day breaks to a measure of promise
  
• 3.2: In which Mrs Brisby is confronted by Mr Ages at the rosebush, and in which she meets Jenner and Justin, the Captain of the Guard of the mysterious Rats
  
• 3.3: In which the Rats hold their ill-delayed council meeting, and Jenner opens the frothy mare's floodgates
  
• 3.4: In which Brisby is confronted and then comforted by Patrick, who doubles as Nicodemus' son and his clown
  
• 3.5: In which Brisby finally comes to Nicodemus' chamber and first hears the story of the Rats of NIMH and her husband's death, and Patrick strikes the first chord in the night's doings
  

• 4.1: In which all is achatter at the Brisby home sans Mrs Brisby, and Martin as always speaks the loudest of all
  
• 4.2: In which Nicodemus, Ages, Justin, Patrick and a priest make a rather large request of Mrs Brisby
  
• 4.3: In which, much to the shrew's distress, Mrs Brisby tells her family of her new task, and glows with joy
  
• 4.4: In which Mrs Brisby braves the farmer's house and again learns something of great importance
  
• 4.5: In which Mrs Brisby returns home to find Jeremy encumbered with a rather heavy burden: the shrew
  

• 5.1: In which Mrs Brisby tells Ages something which reveals the immediate necessity of Nicodemus' plan
  
• 5.2: In which the Rats of NIMH move Mrs Brisby's house, but almost do not, and in which chaotic doings ensue
  
• 5.3: In which Justin delivers a eulogy for Nicodemus
  
• 5.4: In which the play comes to an end