Urinetown Bobby Strong Lines

Pennywise: You hear the news? They carted Old So-and-So off to Urinetown the other day.

Is that so? What'd he do?

Pennywise: Oh, such-and-such, I hear.

Well, what do you know? Old So-and-So.

Hope: Excuse me, sir, but can you tell me the way to the private company that controls these public bathrooms?

You mean Urine Good Company?

Lockstock: You'll meet the guy who runs Urine Good Company later. That there's his daughter.

It's quite a ways from here, ma'am. This here's the bad part of town.

Hope: So it is.

But if you squint, you can just make out their headquarters rising above the skyline.

Hope: The gleaming tower on the hill?

That's the one.

Hope: Gosh, it's beautiful.

You most certainly are.

Hope: Pardon?

It most certainly is.

Hope: Oh dear, I'm late already. Thanks ever so much for the directions and such. Bye!

Anytime.

Tiny Tom: No shorter than yesterday. Unless I've grown. (Scene One)

He's my pa, Ms. Pennywise. Can't he come in for free? Just this once?

Pennywise (after a brief monologue): And every morning some of you got reasons why ya ain't gonna pay. And I'm here to tell ya, ya is gonna pay!

But Ms. Penny-

Pennywise (singing): If you've paid the proper fee, for the privilege to pee.

But Ms. Pennywise-

Pennywise (singing): So you're no different, then, from lowly me.

The Poor (singing): Me, Lowly me, Lowly me, lowly me, lowly me!

But Ms. Pennywise-

Pennywise and The Poor (singing): Wah!

Pa! Pa, what are ya doin'?! Have ya lost your mind?!

Old Man Strong: What if it is? I feel better now, and that's all I cares about.

Oh, Pa.

Old Man Strong: Bobby!

Pa!

Old Man Strong: Don't forget me, Bobby!

I won't, Pa!

Old Man Strong: And tell yer mother . . . tell yer mother that I love her!

I will, Pa! I will!

Lockstock (singing): Remember how he made a mockery. He shunned the crockery. Off to the dockery! Don't be like him.

"What became of him"? What do you mean by that?

Soupy Sue: We'll all pay, Bobby Strong! Always and forever, just so long as you keep lettin' us pay!

Oh, Pa! What's to become of you?

Hope: Even criminals.

Even policemen?

Lockstock: Out a bit late, don't you think?

Out late taking care of another late-night rush is all. There's talk of more few hikes, people are getting edgy.

Lockstock: Are they? Well, I'm glad to hear you were otherwise engaged. Wouldn't want to put you under suspicion for taking a late-night-behind-the-bushes—

I don't need to do that anymore, Officers. Not while I work for Penny, I don't.

Barrel: But you still need to keep your head out of the clouds now, don't you?

What do you mean by that?

Lockstock: What he means is, you're a good boy, Bobby Strong. See that you don't end up like your father.

And how did my father end up?

Hope: You were rather brave with them.

I don't care for policemen. Not those two, anyway.

Hope: Policemen protect the peace.

Do they?

Hope: Usually.

Didn't I see you down by the amenity this morning?

Hope: That was me. I was rushing off to work, first day.

Find your way all right?

Hope: The gleaming tower on the hill? Couldn't miss it.

Beautiful.

Hope: It's rather shiny, that's true enough.

Did you mean what you said to those policemen? About everyone having a heart?

Hope: Well, sure I did.

Because . . . well, because mine feels awful cold just now.

Hope: Cold?

Or empty. One of the two.

Hope: Not because of me, I hope?

Oh, no. Because of something I did.

Tiny Tom: No shorter than yesterday. Unless I've grown. (Scene Three)

Or, rather, something I didn't do.

Hope: If it feels cold, then it must still be there, don't you think?

Unless there's a vacuum where it used to be.

Hope: A vacuum? In your chest? It sounds so implausible.

I did something wrong this morning is all I'm trying to say. I can't seem to get it out of my head.

Hope: The vacuum?

My action. I let someone down that I love dearly. I feel real bad about it.

Hope: Well, maybe that's nature's way of telling you that now's the time to lift someone up?

Really?

Hope: Sure. Do you think you'd be feeling as bad as you do if you didn't have a heart?

I don't know. I suppose not.

Hope (singing): Be still, hear it beating, It's leading you. Follow your heart.

Follow my heart? But to where?

Hope: To wherever your heart tells you to go.

Even . . . There?

Hope: Even to the clouds, if that's what your heart commands. What's it saying now?

I don't know. I don't know how to listen to my heart.

Hope: You have to listen carefully. Here, let me try.

Do you-

Hope: You see there? Even your heart knows you should follow your heart.

"Peace and joy." "Plenty of Water." I guess I do want those things.

Hope: There's something else your heart was saying. Maybe something I shouldn't have heard.

There was?

Hope: I think so. It was barely audible, but I definitely heard something.

Well? What was it?

Hope: "Someone is waiting there"? Why, my heart was saying those exact words just the other day.

It was?

Hope: Sure it was. "Squalor and noise," "hopes and joys." It was telling me about all those things.

I didn't know two hearts could speak as one.

Hope (after Follow your Heart): Well, good night . . .

Bobby. Bobby Strong.

Hope: Good night, Bobby Strong. (kiss)

And good night . . .

Hope: Hope.

Good night, Hope. I won't forget what you said, about the clouds and my heart.

Hope: Wait a minute, when can I see you again?

In this darkness, I'm afraid you can't see me at all. But a bright, shining world is waiting to start, I can feel it. Come to Amenity Number Nine tomorrow. I'll show it to you.

Pennywise: And it'll be off to Urinetown for me if I don't. Now get in line and have your money ready-the new fee-hike money, that is!

Ms. Pennywise!

Pennywise: Bobby Strong! Where the hell have you been?!

Sorry I'm late, Ms. Pennywise. I was up all night thinking, is all.

Pennywise: Up all night thinking, is it?! You work here now, Bobby, you don't need to go in the bushes anymore.

I wasn't-

Pennywise: Like father, like son, that's what I say. Now let's get to work.

But it was about my father that I was thinking, Ms. Pennywise. About what happened to him yesterday. About what's happening to all of us.

Pennywise: He broke the law yesterday, Bobby, and that's the end of it.

But what if the law is wrong?

Pennywise: What did you say?

I said, what if the law is wrong, Ms. Pennywise?! What if all this is wrong?!

Josephine (after a portion of Look at the Sky and a Pennywise line): I am!

Ma!

Josephine (after another portion of Look at the Sky): Here's all I have Bobby. Is it enough?

You hold on to that money, Ma.

Pennywise: The fee is the law, Bobby Strong. She'll abide by it or she'll join her husband.

And what if there's a new law in town, Ms. Pennywise? A new law that didn't come from any voting process or elected body or process of judicial review, but a brand new law that came from an organ. That's right, a muscular, blood-pumping organ. Like this one. Right here.

Pennywise: A muscular organ?

Can't you see it, Ms. Pennywise? Well, if this one's too small for you, why not try this one on for size?!

Pennywise (after a portion of Look at the Sky): Don't do this, Bobby. You'll regret it.

I don't think so. C'mon, Ma. This one's on the house. For everyone! Forever!

The Poor (singing): Where the people's allegiance must go!

Tell me where!

(Scene Six Opening Line)

One at a time! One at a time! Everyone will get a turn!

Soupy Sue: Here's some cash, Bobby. Just for you.

Keep your cash, friend. And relieve yourself in happiness.

Josephine: A busy day so far. Busiest on record, if your books are right. How's the urinal holding out?

A little spillage, nothing to be concerned about. The people are happy, that's the main thing.

Robby the Stockfish: Run!

Wait! Wait! Please, everyone, remain calm!

Lockstock: It'll take a lot of explaining to keep us calm, Bobby Strong.

We've taken control of this amenity, Officers. The people here pee for free.

Hope: Bobby?!

Hope?!

Hope: What are you doing, Bobby?! I told you to follow your heart, not seize an amenity!

I did follow my heart, Hope. Thanks to you.

Pennywise: The amenity won't take much more of this uprising, Caldwell. Bobby's a sweet boy, but not sweet enough to sweeten that spillage, not by a long shot.

The amenity will take as much as it has to, Ms. Pennywise. The days of deprivation are over for these people.

Cladwell: The days of deprivation have just begun if this madness continues a moment longer.

Sure, Mister Cladwell, that's what you've been saying for twenty years. And for twenty years we've waited for the long-term solutions that never came. Well, we're done waiting, you see, for a new day has dawned today. A day of hope and happiness when the idea of human dignity is more than just a forgotten notion, but a living, breathing reality. A day-this day-when the people pee for free , because the people are free!

Pennywise (after a portion of Act 1 Finale): Uh, perhaps best to stay back here with your father, Hope dear. The police will want to charge soon.

Your father?

Cladwell (after a portion of Act 1 Finale; singing): What of tomorrow, Mister Strong?

But what of today?! (x2; second time with the Poor after "Think of tomorrow, Mister Strong")

Cladwell: Officer Lockstock! Prepare your . . . man.

Everybody into the amenity! We'll be . . . relatively safer in there.

Hope: Oh, Bobby, why didn't you tell me you were going to start a revolution?

Maybe for the same reason you didn't tell me you were a Cladwell.

Hope: I'm the same girl I was last night.

The girl last night would've joined us by now, Hope.

Hope: I can't fight against my father, Bobby.

And I can't not fight against him. So you can join us or you can stand aside.

Hope: Stand aside?

You heard me.

Cladwell (after a portion of Act 1 Finale): Now release the girl. It's time you faced your punishment like a man.

Release?! No one's holding-

Hope (after a portion of Act 1 Finale): So what'll it be, Bobby?

Looks like we're in a real tight spot, doesn't it?

Hope: Your fellow revolutionaries seem to think so.

I suppose we should leave.

Hope: Oh, Bobby. They'll never let you leave now.

Old Man Strong: Remember me, boys! Oh God, what have I done?! Remember me!!! (Scene Six)

Not without you, they won't. Which is why you're coming with us.

Hope: Coming with you? I told you, Bobby, I won't fight against my father.

And I told you I won't not fight against him.

Cladwell and Co (after a portion of Act 1 Finale; singing): You're wrong, Mister Strong! You're wrong!

Keep your men back, Cladwell! We've got your daughter and we're not letting her go!

Hope: Bobby, what are you-?

Josephine: In the name of the sky, you're coming with us!

We're walking out of here, Mister Cladwell, and you're going to let us! That is, if you care about your daughter.

Cladwell: You're making a terrible mistake, Mister Strong.

Pennywise: Let the girl go, Bobby, she's done nothing wrong!

Don't let go of the girl. And follow me!

Hope: Help me!

Pennywise: Help her!

Now run, everybody! Run for your lives! RUN!!

Josephine: That was a close one, Bobby. I thought Barrel saw us there for sure.

We'll have to keep on our toes, Ma. At least until we've distributed the rest of these memos to the other assistant custodians around the city.

Josephine: Do you think they'll join us?

Hard to say. They're scared like we used to be scared, but if it's true what they say about everyone having a heart, they'll have to join us. (What is Urinetown? begins)

Josephine (after a portion of What is Urinetown?): Your heart is like a stallion?

I'll explain along the way, Ma. C'mon, let's go.

Soupy Sue: Kill her!

Robby the Stockfish: Hang her!

Little Becky Two-Shoes: Kill her!

Enough!

Little Sally: Bobby Strong.

No one's going to be killing anyone around here.

Soupy Sue: But we're so afraid, Bobby. Killing her might make us feel powerful for a moment.

Friends, I know you're afraid. But this has got to be about more than just revenge and the vicarious thrill of stringing someone up who can't defend herself.

Little Sally: I think he's just in love with her, that's what I think.

Maybe I am.

The Poor: Whaa-?!

And maybe I made a promise up there. A promise that from this day forward, no man would be denied his essential humanity due to the condition of his pocketbook. That no man in need would be ignored by another with the means to help him. Here and now, from this day forward, because of you, and you, and you, we will look into the faces of our fellow men and see not only a brother, but a sister as well.

Little Becky Two-Shoes: All I remember him saying was "Run! Run for your lives! RUN!!"

Well, that was in the heat of battle. And in the heat-the actual hotness of battle- the cry of freedom sounds something like . . . (Run Freedom Run begins)

Tiny Tom (after a portion of Run Freedom Run): I'm frightened!

As well you should be. Freedom is scary; it's a blast of cool wind that burns your face to wake you up.