The Music Man :) - Marian

Did you drop your-

No!

Didn’t I meet you in-

No!

I will only be in town a short while

Good!

That you, Daughter?

Yes, mama. Keep on Amrayllis. I’ll be there in a minute.

(Yes, mama. Keep on Amrayllis. I’ll be there in a minute- Amaryllis plays wrong chords and stuff)

Hello mama.

Fine dear, now your excersizes.

I don’t remember the library being open last fourth of july

It was, Mama, all evening. Mama, a man with a suitcase has been following me all over town

Oh, who?

I never saw him before

Did he say anything?

He tried

Did you say anything?

Mama, of course not. Now don’t dawdle, Amaryllis. So do la re ti mi a little slower and please keep the fingers curved as nice and high as you possibly can.

Don’t get faster, dear

If you don’t mind my sayin so, it wouldn’t have hurt you to find out what the gentleman wanted

I know what the gentleman wanted

What dear?

You’ll find it in balzac

Excuse me for livin but ive never read it

Neither has anyone else in this town

And takin it all too much to heart

Now, Mama, as long as the Madison public library was entrusted to me for the purpose of improving river city’s cultural level, I can’t help my concern that the ladies of river city keep ignoring all my council and advice.

All them other high falutin greeks

Mama, if you don’t mind my sayin so you have a bad habit of changing every subject

i HAVEN’T change the subject, i was talkin about that stranger

what stranger?

with the suitcase who may be your very last chance

Mama, do you think that i’d allow a common masher, now really mama, i have my standards where men are concerned, and i have no intention

And your libary full of books!

Well, if that isn’t the best I’ve ever heard!

Thank you, can I have a drink please

May i have a-

May I have a drink please?

Yes, dear.

Why does he get so mad at people just because he lisps?

It’s not only because he lisps. That’s just part of it, Amaryllis

Whats the other part?

Never mind, dear. It’s just that he never talks very much

not even to you and your mother?

No dear, We all have to be a little patient

Goodnight my winthrop, sleep tight

There darling, don’t cry. You have lots of time. If not winthrop, there’ll be someone else

I’m sorry miss Marian, can I play my crosshand piece

May I play my-

May I play my cross hand piece?

You may

See, without a sweetheart, you have no one to say goodnight to on the evening star

I know amaryllis. For the time being just say goodnight, my someone. You can put in the name when the right someone comes along

All right, its better than nothing

Yes it is. Now you can play your cross hand piece

Now I may play my crosshand piece

(Goodnight my someone)

SCENE 6

SCENE 6

I don’t suppose you live alone or anything?

No!

I’ve got some wonderful caramels at the hotel if you’d-

Mister Hill!

Professor Hill

Professor? Of what? At what college do they give a degree for annoying women on the street like a saturday night rowdy at a public dance hall?

oh i wouldn’t know about that. I’m a concervatory man myself. Gary Indiana, class of ‘05

Even should that happen to be true, does that give you the right to follow me around wherever I go? Another thing, MISTER Hill, I’m not as easily mesmerized or hoodwinked as some people in this town and i think it only fair to warn you that I have a shelf full of reference books which may very well give me some interesting information about YOU.

Good day.

SCENE 7

SCENE 7

It’s all right, i know everything and it doesn’t make any difference

What are you talking about?

You were probably very young. Anyone can make a mistake

What-

the sadder but wiser girl for me-

Will you please make your selection and leave?

i have

Well? What do you want to take out?

The librarian

Quiet please

with an American flag in the middle. I think I’ll drop em

No!

SCENE 10

SCENE 10

Why yes- gold metal class of ‘05. Hodado, Miss Paroo

(how do you do lol) Hodado, Mister Hill

He wants to put winthrop in the band!

We’re not interested, Mama.

Oh, your husband musical? Well, I’d like to have a talk with him, I’m sure we-

Do you burst in on everyone’s home like this? Prying into personal affairs? We’re not intersted

Now thats one for and one against. Why not let the boy’s father decide?

The boy’s father is dead. Anything else?

Oh, im sorry. bUT thats all the more reason why your brother should have something like this

My brother is a ten year old problem child who can’t understand why his father was taken away. Would you care to explain it to him? He’s been brooding about it for two years. As to your musical tricks, why don’t you go into business with some nice carnival man who sells gold-painted watches and glass diamond rings?

iM sure that at heart, shes as lovely as yourself. Good day to ya widda paroo

Has he gone?

He has. And I hope not forever, darlni,. DOn’t you ever think of your future? Gary Indiana class of ‘05. Now darlin-

Now mama. Surely a girl’s future doesn’t depend on encouraging every fast talking, self centered, woman chasing, traveling man who comes to town. And the fact that he claims his commodity in music does not, in this particular case, impress me

if you keep the flint in one drawer and the steel in another, you’ll never strike much of a fire

Mama!

\
Winthrop! Winthrop! I know you’re there.

Please go to the library and ask Miss Grubb to give you the book I set aside. It’s the Indiana State Educational Journal 1890-1910. It’s a large brown volume with black corners

Do I hafta?

You won’t have to talk to anyone. I’ve written it all down.

Thank you, dear.

Now what are you up to? Why do you need books at this hour of the night?

I have a feeling the Indiana Journal may help me poke some large holes in the Professor’s claims

Well, I give up. At your age, if you don’t mind my askin, what kinda white knight do you expect to come ridin along?

Well I’m not waiting for Luther Greiner who backs me into the Ancient History shelf every time he comes into the library

He does?

Or Ed Gammage and that buggy of his with the removable back seat. But I’m not waiting for a man in shining white armor either.

\
(my white knight plays)

SCENE 11

SCENE 11

the school board is singin up the street and down alley instead of tending to city matters, my oldest girl is bodling around with some wild kid and my buisness has fallen off so far I can’t find the balance sheet!

Mayor Shinn, I’ve found something very interesting in this book about Professor Hill’s Alma Mater

His who?

His university

I know all about that. In fact, it’s the only thing I can ever get out of him. Gary concervatory, class of ‘05

If you just take tie to read a little bit about the Conservatory, I don’t think you’ll have to look further. It’s on page-

END ACT 1

END ACT 1

SHIPOOPI

SHIPOOPI

Get his papers or get him in jail! Couldn’t i make myself any clearer if I’se a button hook in the well-water!

Professor Hill, I think mayor Shinn behaved abominably. And I think it was wonderful of you coming to Tommy’s defense.

Oh that was nothing

Yes it was!

I couldn’t think of asking you to do a thing like that

Why, PROFESSOR Hill.

You would?

I’d be glad to. I just wish I was a little more informed. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about Winthrop’s Cornet.

His Cornet? Mother of pearl keys-

I’m sure it’s fine. But you see, he never touches it. Oh, the first week or so, he made a few- ah, experimental….blats? I guess you’d say?

Yes, yes, blats

And he sings the “minuet in G de da” almost constantly

La de da de da de da de da. La de da. La de da-

But he ever TOUCHES the Cornet

Well you see-

He says you told him it wasn’t necessary

Well

He tells me about some Think System. If he thinks the “minuet if G,” he won’t have to bother with the notes. Now Professor-

But if you’ll allow me to call- when may I call?

Why any night this week-

PICK A LITTLE SONG

CHEEP CHEEP CHEEEEEP

LIDA ROSE

LIDA ROSE

Scene 3, after Lida Rose

Scene 3, after Lida Rose

wILL YOU EVER STOP ARGUING WITH yourself? Will you ever tell him? Won’t you ever tell him. aH YES, ah no, ah fiddlesticks, just open your mouth and let it come out!

Now, mama-

Now nothin. If he ever comes to call again, you see him ALONE. And if you haven’t the gumption to tell him how you feel-

Tell him??

With Harold!

You mean Professor Hill?

Mhm! And look! I thill have some wormth left!

Did you have a good time?

THAT CAN LIGHT MY FATH

GARY INDIANA

GARY INDIANA

NOT LUEETHEANA, PARITH FRANTH OR ROME BUT

GARY INDIANA

GARY INDIANA,

GARY INDIANA, MY HOME SWEET HOME

I have to show Amaryllis my live frog! LA de ada de da dad eda dea d aed

Leave the dishes, I’ll do them, mama.

Don’t you have to change for the sociable?

There’s time later

Shinns live around here somewhere?

The Shinn’s home is on East Elm. This is West Elm.

You must know about this Hill fella formin a Boys Band here?

Yes

Wish it was 20. Would sure like to concentrate 5 minutes on you girly girl

Who are you?

Names charlie cowell….’m out to protect the good nae of the travellin fraternity from this swindler

Mr. Cowell, you’re making a big mistake

Mistake my old lady’s corsette cover…Say what kind of a music teacher are you? You didn’t see through him? He’s no more Professor-

I know all about that. Band leaders are always called professor. It’s a harmless deception. He’s a FINE director and his scholastic-

Now wait a minute. fiNE Director? Have you heard one note of music from any band?

No, but

But nothin girly girl! he’s never formed a band in hsi life and he never will!

If you’ll just listen to me for a minute-

Id like to…with somebody on the way to the depot. Bye girly girl, see you next time though

You’ll never make that train at the depot, you’ll have to catch it at the crossing.

No sir, I’ve got to leave word. And I can see you ain’t the one to leave it with.

Just a minute- Mr. Cowell, you don’t know me yet

Is that an invitation?

No- I meant I don’t know you, and-

Yes, I’d need more time anyway

I mean, as well as I’d like to

No trouble there, girly girl

I never met a man who sells anvils. That’s something, well, quite different

Takes a real salesman…..I miss that train, I’ll get fired! And I got to leave word about that fellow Hill!

Leave word with me!

Not on your tintype. How do I know that you’d deliver these letters?

Try me.

(Kiss him, Lida rose plays while I talk?)

There’s your train! Now run for it!

You and Marian come up and sit. I’ve got some jelly on the stove

There’s no jelly on the stove, mama

Shall we sit as your mother said?

Well, I-

You did ask me to call-

Did I? I didn’t mean anything-

Now Miss Marian…there always seemed to be people around. Mostly ladies I thought

Yes. Mrs. Squires and several of the ladies

I’m glad. I wouldn’t want anyone beating my time…see you at the sociable later

PROFESSOR HILL! Is it true that you’ve…had a hundred- what I’m trying to say is…