Music of Denali Lines- Dan

(Start of Show)

Around the turn of the century, there was a lot of activity and

excitement to be found in this great land. With the discovery of

gold, this area became alive in the pursuit of dreams and fortunes.

Along with the gold they discovered, there was a great mountain

here, the highest mountain in all of North America, and this started

dreamfires burning in every adventurer who heard about it.

PIANIST: Thus, the title of our show, “The Music of Denali”.

Wow. Would you look at that.

"I Dream of the Mountain” Ends (First Part)

ANGIE! Angie, get up here quick!

ANGIE: I’m right behind you Dan.

Oh, there you are. I just wanted you to see this.

ANGIE: Oh Dan! I never thought we’d make it this far.

This far?! Babe, these are just foothills! I thought we’d be here by

yesterday!

ANGIE: (Takes a guidebook with local folklore from her pack) So, that must be Karstens’ Ridge and over there is Harper’s Glacier.

Harper’s and Karstens’ what?

ANGIE: The first men to climb to the top. You know…

Oh, no! You’re going to give me another travelogue lecture from

that dumb book.

ANGIE: This book is fascinating. It’s full of all this great Denali folklore, but if you don’t want to know…

I want to climb. Come on, let’s get moving! If I’m going to drag you up this mountain, the key is movement.

ANGIE: Excuse me, Mister! You are not dragging me up this mountain! I’m your partner on this expedition. What’s gotten into you? The altitude has turned you into a real pain in the….

Angie, let’s go!

ANGIE: Can’t we just stay here a moment, and take in the majesty of it all?

Okay, moment’s up. Come on, let’s go! I think I see a snowbridge across that crevasse.

ANGIE: Dan, secure that rope to your harness! I don’t want to say I lost a man to a mountain.

Don’t worry about me, darlin’!

This is my DREAM!

ANGIE: (To audience) His dream? His dream! This was supposed to be our dream.

HELP! ANGIE… THE SNOW’S GIVING WAY!

ANGIE: Oh, Dan… (As the line goes slack, Angie falls backwards)

AAAAAAANNNNNNGGGGGGIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!

WALTER: I didn’t know you had a good side.

( begins to moan and come to)

HARRY: (nudging DAN with his toe) Get on up now. You’re all right.

Where am I? What happened?

HARRY: Nah… Yeah! Precautions! (Jabs his thumb towards WALTER) He’s a walkin’ dictionary!

I remember falling… I should be hurt…

Who are you?

WALTER: This is Harry Karstens, and I’m Walter Harper.

(dazed) Pleased to meet you.

HARRY: Well, I wish we could say the same.

Wait a minute… (Points to wrong ones) Harper and Karstens?

HARRY: (correcting him) Harry Karstens, Walter Harper.

Angie just mentioned those names. (points) You’re named after a

glacier and you’re named after a ridge?

HARRY: No, dagnabbit! (hits DAN with his hat) Don’tcha know yer local

history, boy? We was the first to climb Denali!

Yeah… Sure… Those guys have been dead for

nearly fifty years!

HARRY & WALTER: (ghostly) Woooooooh!

Does that mean I’m dead, too?

Will somebody please tell me what’s going on here?

WOMEN: Hello, Harry

Pretty women? Oh my gosh, Angie! I forgot about Angie! She’s up there all alone. She’s not an experienced climber like me. I gotta get outta here! I gotta get up there and help her!

KITTY: Now just calm down a minute son. I think Angie can take care of herself just fine. Looks like you’re the one who needs the helpin’.

Who are you?

ANGEL: Excuse me, Mister, but can I have my hand back?

I’m sorry… I know you from somewhere…

HARRY: And of course, you already met Walter and me.

Well, Harry, what brings you to Alaska?

HARRY (singing): AND FROM THESE MOUNTAINS NEAR AND FAR

I KNOW I’LL NEVER ROAM

This is all great, but I still haven’t figured out where I am or what’s

happening to me. And since the sun never goes down, I can’t even

figure out what time it is.

“The Land of the Midnight Sun” ends

So… How long did it take to reach the top of Denali?

ANGEL: Oh no, I like that story! Danny, it’s an amazing story!

Just tell me this: who made it there first?

Yeah, that’s what I really want to know!

WALTER: That’s all anyone ever wants to know.

bet it was you, Harry, wasn’t it? Tell me, what was it like to be the

first man to reach the summit?

HARRY: Boy, it ain’t no contest! It’s a privilege just bein’ up there. Ya gotta respect just how many men’s shoulders you’re standin’ on.

What do you mean?

HARRY: But here’s the kicker, Dan. The North Summit

that they had climbed is 850 feet lower than the South Summit.

So… you guys climbed the South Summit?

“Kantishna” Ends

All right, all right, now don’t get me wrong, I love all the characters and stories you’ve been telling me, but I still want to know how things ended on the mountain.

HARRY: Walter Harper was the one. Walter led us to the top.

So it was you, Walter. You were the first one on top of Denali.

ANGIE: (comes rushing in from stage right) Oh, Dan! Dan! Are you

alright? Are you okay?

Oh Angie! Angie! I never thought I’d see you again. (they hug each other) You’ll never believe what’s happened to me. Angie, I’ve had this… wonderful… (pauses to decide just what to call his experience) dream… and you were there Angie. I know now that it was you.

ANGIE: (looks at DAN, bewildered) Dan…??

It’s a long story, but you’ll love it, Angel.

ANGIE: You haven’t called me Angel in a long time. (pause) Are you ready to come down now?

No, not just yet. Let’s stay here for a moment and take in the majesty of it all.