Meredith Willson’s

THE MUSIC MAN

https://teatrosanmateo.wixsite.com/cuarto

Adaptation by Jimena Cornejo

 ACT I
Scene 1

A Train Station.
TRAIN DRIVER:
All aboard!
Men getting on the train, we see Charlie running
away from three angry men with shovels and
pitchforks. Charlie gets on the train safely
while the train doors are closing.
ANGRY MAN:
Let him go! We made it plain, we don’t want
no traveling salesmen in Brighton...
1ST SALESMAN:
Credit is no good for us salesmen.
2ND SALESMAN:
What is wrong with credit?
1ST SALESMAN:
It’s old-fashioned

TRAIN DRIVER:
Next stop: River City, Iowa.
The train starts moving while the men on board
move as the train goes.

1ST SALESMAN:
Cash for the merchandise, cash for the button hooks
3RD SALESMAN:
Cash for the cotton goods, cash for the hard goods

1ST SALESMAN:
Cash for the fancy goods, cash for the soft goods
2ND SALESMAN:
cash for the noggins and the piggins and the frikins

3RD SALESMAN:
Cash for the hogshead, cask and demijohn. Cash for
the crackers and the pickles and the flypaper
4TH SALESMAN:
Look whatayatalk. whatayatalk, whatayatalk,
whatayatalk, whatayatalk?
5TH SALESMAN:
Wheredyagitit?
 2.

4TH SALESMAN:
Whatayatalk?
1ST SALESMAN:
You can talk, you can talk, you can bicker you can
talk, you can bicker, bicker, bicker, you can talk,
you can talk, you can talk all you want, but it’s
different than it was.
CHARLIE:
No it ain’t, no it ain’t, but ya gotta know the
territory.
RAIL CAR:
Shh shh shh shh shh shh shh

3RD SALESMAN:
Why it’s the Model T Ford made the trouble, made the
people wanna go, wanna get, wanna get up and go
seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve,fourteen, twent-two,
twenty-three miles to the county seat

1ST SALESMAN:
Yes sir, yes sir.
3RD SALESMAN:
Who’s gonna patronize a little bitty two by four
kinda store anymore?
4TH SALESMAN:
Whaddaya talk, whaddaya talk?
5TH SALESMAN:
Where do you get it?
3RD SALESMAN:
Gone, gone gone with the hogshead cask and demijohn,
gone with the sugar barrel, pickle barrel, milk pan,
gone with the tub and the pail and the fierce

2ND SALESMAN:
Ever meet a fellow by the name of Hill?
1ST SALESMAN:
Hill?

CHARLIE:
Hill?
3RD SALESMAN:
Hill?

4TH SALESMAN:
Hill?
 3.

1ST NEWSPAPER
Hill?
2ND NEWSPAPER:
Hill?
5TH SALESMAN:
Hill?
2ND SALESMAN:
Hill?
ALL BUT CHARLIE AND 2ND SALESMAN:
NO!
4TH SALESMAN:
Never heard of any salesman Hill
2ND SALESMAN:
Now he dosen’t know the territory
1ST SALESMAN:
Dosen’t know the territory?!?
3RD SALESMAN:
Whats the fellows line?

2ND SALESMAN:
Never worries bout his line
1ST SALESMAN:
Never worries bout his line?!?

2ND SALESMAN:
Or a doggone thing. He’s just a bang beat, bell
ringing, big haul, great go, neck or nothin, rip
roarin’, every time a bull’s eye salesman. Thats
Professor Harold Hill, Harold Hill

3RD SALESMAN:
What’s the fellows line?
5TH SALESMAN:
What’s his line?

CHARLIE:
He’s a fake, and he doesn’t know the territory!
4TH SALESMAN:
Look, whaddayatalk, whaddayatalk, whaddayatalk,
whaddayatalk?

2ND SALEMAN:
He’s a music man
 4.

1ST SALESMAN:
He’s a what?
2ND SALESMAN:
He’s a music man and he sells clarinets to the kids
in the town with the big trombones and the rat-a-tat
drums, big brass bass, big brass bass, and the
piccolo, the piccolo with uniforms, too with a shiny
gold braid on the coat and a big red stripe runnin

1ST SALESMAN:
Well, I don’t know much about bands but I do know you
can’t make a living selling big trombones, no sir.
Mandolin picks, perhaps and here and there a Jew’s
harp ...

2ND SALESMAN:
No, the fellow sells bands, boys bands. I don’t know
how he does it but he lives like a king and he
dallies and he gathers and he plucks and shines and
when the man dances, certainly boys, what else? The
piper pays him! Yes sir ,yes sir, yes sir, yes sir,
when the man dances, certainly boys, what else? The
piper pays him!
ALL:
Yessssir, Yessssir

CHARLIE:
But he doesn’t know the territory!
The train stops as the men speak

TRAIN DRIVER:
River City!
CHARLIE:
Well... I’ll tell you about this Harold Hill

2ND SALEMAN:
You know him?
CHARLIE:
I never saw him in my life. But he is the reason I’ve
been kicked out of the last town. They hete salesmen
because of him.
5TH SALESMAN:
How you know it’s his fault?

CHARLIE:
He goes around selling band instruments, uniforms and
instruction books by guaranteeing to teach the kids
to play.
 5.

4TH SALESMAN:
What is wrong with that?
CHARLIE:
He doesn’t know a note from another. And when all the
town buys the stuff... he leaves. He is a fraud! That
is why they hate us.
3RD SALESMAN:
They think we are going to steal from them too.
CHARLIE:
Some day I will catch him! But here in Iowa, I won’t
find him. This people are too tough for this guy.
HAROLD 1:
Gentlemen, you intrigue me. I think I’ll have to give
Iowa a try.

When Hill stands up he shows his case that says

"PROFESOR HAROLD HILL"
CHARLIE:
It’s him!

The train starts moving again and Harold Hill

gets off on time.
SCENE 2

IOWA- The people do not pay attention to Harold

Hill as he tries to speak or ask for directions.
HAROLD 1:
Hi, Hello! (nobody pays attention) Good morning.
Could you kindly direct me to the center of town?

MAN:
Runs right down the midde of the street.
Harold continues walking and sees people gather
around a pool table box.

HAROLD:
Hello! What do you folks do for excitement?
WOMAN:
Mind our business

HAROLD:
Well, you folks do know how to make someone feel at
home.
TOWN PEOPLE:
Oh, there’s nothing halfway about the Iowa way to
treat you, when we treat you which we may not do at
all.
 6.

TOWN PEOPLE:
There’s an Iowa kind of special Chip-on-the-shoulder
attitude. We’ve never been without. That we recall.

TOWN PEOPLE:
We can be cold as our falling thermometers in
December, if you ask about our weather in July. And
we’re so by God stubborn we can stand touchin’ noses
for a week at a time And never see eye-to-eye. But
what the heck, you’re welcome, join us at the picnic.
You can have your fill of all the food you bring
yourself. You really ought to give Iowa a try.
TOWN PEOPLE:
So leave

The people continue looking at the pool table

box. Harold continues walking and finds an old
friend.
HAROLD:
Marcellus? Marcellus Washburn!
MARCELLUS 1:
Gregory!
HAROLD:
Shh! Professor Harold Hill is the name on this trip.
MARCELLUS:
Still selling illusions, ha? Well here in Iowa you’re
not getting anything. They got a stuck-up librarian
that teaches piano. She’ll expose you before you
unpack your bag.
HAROLD:
You know maiden lady librarians who teach piano are a
specialty of mine

MARCELLUS:
Let me take you over to the hotel.
HAROLD:
Not sure I’m going to stay yet. I got to find a way
to get into some of these Iowa boodlebags. What is
new here? What’s the trouble
MARCELLUS:
River city is not in trouble.
HAROLD:
We must create a desperate need in your town for a
boys’ band. What is going on there?
MARCELLUS:
Oh, they just got in a new pool table.
 7.

HAROLD:
That will do it. And if you see that teacher be sure
to make a sign.

(He moves his fingers as if he was playing

piano. Marcellus does the same as Harold gets
close to the people)
HAROLD:
Well, either you’re closing your eyes To a situation
you do not wish to acknowledge Or you are not aware
of the caliber of disaster indicated By the presence
of a pool table in your community. You got trouble,
my friend, right here, I say, trouble right here in
River City. Why sure I’m a billiard player, Certainly
mighty proud I say I’m always mighty proud to say it.
I consider that the hours I spend With a cue in my
hand are golden. Help you cultivate horse sense And a
cool head and a keen eye. Ever take and try to give
An iron-clad leaf to yourself From a three-rail
billiard shot? But just as I say, It takes judgement,
brains, and maturity to score In a baulk-line game, I
say that any boob can take And shove a ball in a
pocket. And I call that sloth. The first big step on
the road To the depths of deg-ra-Day-- I say first,
medicinal wine from a teaspoon, Then beer from a
bottle. And the next thing ya know, Your son is
playing for money In a pitch-back suit. And listening
to some big out-a-town Jasper Telling all about
horse-race gambling. Not a wholesome trotting race,
no! But a race where they set down right on the
horse! Like to see some stuck-up jockey’boy Sitting
on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil? Well, I should
say. Now friends, let me tell you what I mean. You
got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a
table. Pockets that mark the difference Between a
gentlemen and a bum, With a capital "B," And that
rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool! And all
week long your River City Youth’ll be frittering
away, I say your young men’ll be frittering!
Frittering away their noontime, suppertime, chore
time too! Get the ball in the pocket, Never mind
getting Dandelions pulled Or the screen door patched
or the beefsteak pounded. Never mind pumping any
water ’Til your parents are caught with the Cistern
empty On a Saturday night and that’s trouble, Oh, yes
we got lots and lots a’ trouble. I’m thinking of the
kids in the knickerbockers, Shirt-tail young ones,
peeking in the pool Hall window after school,you got
trouble!, folks! Right here in River City. Trouble
with a capital "T" And that rhymes with "P" and that
stands for pool! Now, I know all you folks are the
right kind of parents. I’m gonna be perfectly frank.
Would ya like to know what kinda conversation goes On
while they’re loafing around that Hall? They’re
trying out Bevo, trying out cubebs, Trying out Tailor
maids like Cigarette Fiends! And bragging all about
 8.

HAROLD:
How they’re gonna cover up a tall-tale breath with
Sen-Sen. One fine night, they leave the pool hall,
Heading for the dance at the Armory! Libertine men
and Scarlet women! And Rag-time, shameless music
That’ll grab your son and your daughter With the arms
of a jungle animal instinct! Mas-steria! Friends, the
idle brain is the devil’s playground! Trouble!

PEOPLE:
Oh we got trouble,
HAROLD:
Right here in River City!

PEOPLE:
Right here in River City!
HAROLD:
With a capital "T" That rhymes with "P" And that
stands for Pool,
PEOPLE:
That stands for pool.
HAROLD:
We’ve surely got trouble!
PEOPLE:
We’ve surely got trouble!
HAROLD:
Right here in River City,
PEOPLE:
Right here!
HAROLD:
Gotta figure out a way To keep the young ones moral
after school!
PEOPLE:
Our children’s children gonna have Trouble, trouble,
trouble, trouble, trouble...
HAROLD:
Mothers of River City! Heed the warning before it’s
too late! Watch for the tall-tale sign of corruption!
The moment your son leaves the house, Does he
rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee? Is there
a nicotine stain on his index finger? A dime novel
hidden in the corn crib? Is he starting to memorize
jokes from Captain Billy’s Whiz Bag? Are certain
words creeping into his conversation? Words like
’swell?" And ’so’s your old man?" Well, if so my
friends, Ya got trouble!
 9.

PEOPLE:
Oh we got trouble!
HAROLD:
Right here in River city!
PEOPLE:
Right here in River city!
HAROLD:
With a capital "T" And that rhymes with "P" And that
stands for Pool.
PEOPLE:
That stands for pool!

HAROLD:
We’ve surely got trouble!
PEOPLE:
We’ve surely got trouble!

HAROLD:
Right here in River City!
PEOPLE:
Right here!

HAROLD:
Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden
Rule!
PEOPLE:
Our children’s children gonna have
trouble,trouble,trouble(cont.)
HAROLD:
Oh, we’ve got trouble. We’re in terrible, terrible
trouble. That game with the fifteen numbered balls is
a devil’s tool!
PEOPLE:
Devils Tool!
HAROLD:
Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble!
PEOPLE:
Oh we got trouble here,we got big big trouble!
HAROLD:
With a "T"!
PEOPLE:
With a capital T!
 10.

HAROLD:
Gotta rhyme it with "P"!
ALL:
And that stands for Pool!!!
As the song finishes Marcellus makes the sign
and the piano teacher Marian enters. Harold trys
to get her attention but it doesn’t seem to
work.

HAROLD:
Did you drop your-
MARIAN:
No

HAROLD:
Didn’t I meet you in-
MARIAN:
No

HAROLD:
I’ll only be in town a short while.
MARIAN:
Good! (leaves)
SCENE 3
The whole town is in a meeting with the Mayor.
MAYOR 1:
As Mayor of River City, I welcome you all to the
Fouth of July excercises. And now my wife has
prepared...
A boy from the crowd stands up and trys to hit
the mayor with a rock.

MAYOR:
Who did that?
GIRL:
Tommy Djilas did it!

MAYOR:
What a surprise from a certain young ruffian who is a
disgrace to our city.

MARCELLUS 2:
He is trouble!
ALL:
Yes!
 11.

HAROLD 2:
We heard there’s a pool table in town!
MAN:
That’s what I heard
MAYOR:
Allow me to get on with the exercises.
MAN:
We don’t want any more excercises until we get this
pool table matter settled.
Everybody dicusses
MARCELLUS:
We have to protect our children
Continue discussion
HAROLD:
Folks, Listen! May I have your attention please?
Attention, please! I can deal with the trouble
friends, with the wave of my hand, this very hand!
Please observe me if you will, I’m Professor Harold
Hill, And I’m here to organize a River City Boys’
band, brrrr-rrt!

Oh think, my friends, how can any pool table

ever hope to compete with a gold trombone? Raa
raa, rah dee dat dah dah, raa-a raa!
Remember, my friends, what a handful of trumpet
players did to the famous, fabled walls of
Jericho, Oh, billiard parlor walls come
a-tumblin’ down!
Well, a band’ll do it, my friends, Oh yes, I
said a boys’ band, do ya hear me? I said River
City’s gotta have a boys’ band and I mean she
needs it today!
Well, Professor Harold Hill’s on hand: River
City’s gonna have her boys’ band. As sure as the
Lord made little green apples, and that band’s
gonna be in uniform: Johnny, Willy, Teddy, Fred!
And you’ll see the glitter of crashing cymbals,
And you’ll hear the thunder of rolling drums And
the shimmer of trumpets, tah tah-dum!

And you’ll feel something akin to the electric

thrill I once enjoyed: When Gilmore, Liberati,
Pat Conway, The Great Creatore, W.C. Handy and
John Philip Sousa all came to town on the very
same historic day!
 12.

Seventy six trombones led the big parade with a

hundred and ten cornets close at hand They were
followed by rows and rows of the finest
virtuosos, the creme of every famous band!

Seventy six trombones caught the morning sun

with a hundred and ten cornets right behind
There were more than a thousand reeds springing
up like weeds there were horns of every shape
and kind!

There were copper bottom timpani in horse

platoons: thundering, thundering, all along the
way! Double-belled euphoniums and big bassoons:
each bassoon, having his big fat say!

There were fifty mounted cannon in the battery:

thundering, thundering, louder than before!
Clarinets of every size, and trumpeters who’d
improvise, a full octave higher than the score.
ALL:
Seventy six trombones hit the counter point while a
hundred and ten cornets blazed the way to the rhythm
of harch, harch, harch all the kids began to march,
and they’re marching still right today!

As the music fades four men enter with the

mayor.
GUY 1:
There ain’t nothing like a brass band.

GUY 2:
It is going to be great.
GUY 3:
I bet no town has something like it.

GUY 4:
Not even in the world.
MAYOR:
My town will shine with this band.

MARIAN 1:
What band? Along comes this salesman and you all
believe him.
MAYOR:
She is right. I want to see this man’s credencials!

Tommy enters running, he is being chased. He

gets caught by the mayor
 13.

MAYOR:
I’ll teach this boy a lesson.
HAROLD:
Don’t worry sir. The band needs this kid.
MAYOR:
I’ll talk to you on Monday morning about this band
thing. 10 o’clock sharp. (He leaves with the four
guys)

HAROLD:
Tommy, I want to talk to you about the band.
TOMMY:
Gee profesor, that is for little kids.

HAROLD:
You won’t be playing, you will be leading the band.
And as our leader, you need to tell your friends to
join.

TOMMY:
Leader. Me? Yes sir! (He leaves)
Scene 4
The mayor’s wife and friends are walking. Harold
enters.
HAROLD 3:
Hello, ladies!
MAUD:
Oh, hello professor.
MRS. HICKS:
Everyone’s excited about the band.
ETHEL:
I am Ethel, this is Mrs. Hicks, Avis Grud and of
course Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, the mayor’s wife.
EULALIE:
In deed. My husband will wish to investigate this
man, I’m sure.
HAROLD:
I understand Mrs. Shinn. But part of my music plans
include a dance committee. And you look like you are
a terrific dancer.

EULALIE:
Well I do dance.
 14.

HAROLD:
Oh, your grace. What a natural flow of rhythm! Please
help me and enlight us with your knowledge. Musn’t
she ladys? Say yes, please.
LADIES:
Say yes.
EULALIE:
Well... yes.
HAROLD:
Thank you, Mrs Shinn. Now, where can I find Marian
Paroo?
MRS. HICKS:
She is a bad influence for the girls.

ETHEL:
He wouldn’t talk about her if she didn’t try talking
to him.
ALMA:
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a
little, Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little
more
ALMA AND ETHEL:
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, Talk a
little, cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little
more
ALL THE LADIES:
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, Talk a
little, cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little
more
MAUD:
Professor, her kind of woman doesn’t belong on any
committee. Of course, I shouldn’t tell you this but
she advocates dirty books.

HAROLD:
Dirty books!
ALMA:
Chaucer

ETHEL:
Rabelais
EULALIE:
Balzac!

MAUD:
And the worst thing Of course, I shouldn’t tell you
this but-
 15.

ALMA:
I’ll tell.
ETHEL:
The man lived on my street, let me tell.
EULALIE:
Stop! I’ll tell. She made brazen overtures for a man
who never had a friend in this town till she came
here.

ALMA:
Oh, yes That woman made brazen overtures With a
gilt-edged guarantee She had a golden glint in her
eye And a silver voice with a counterfeit ring .Just
melt her down and you’ll reveal A lump of lead as
cold as steel Here, where a woman’s heart should be!
LADIES:
He left River City the Library building But he left
all the books to her

ALMA:
Chaucer
ETHEL:
Rabelais

EULALIE:
Bal-zac!
LADIES:
Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a
little, Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a little
more Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little,
talk a little, Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, pick a
little more Pick a little, talk a little, pick a
little, talk a little, Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep
cheep cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep
cheep cheep Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep
cheep Pick a little, talk a little, cheep!
As women talk, the quartet enters.
GUY 2:
Wait a minute there!
GUY 3:
We need your credentials.
HAROLD:
Certainly, gentlemen. I have just what you want over
at my hotel. Come with me. (To ladys singing) Good
night ladies.
 16.

QUARTET: (SING)
Good night ladies, Good night ladies. Good night
ladies, we’re goimg to leave you now. Farewell
ladies, farewell ladies. Farewell ladies, we’re going
to leave you now.
As they all continue singing Harld leaves.
SCENE 5

The library. Everybody is reading quietly.

Harold enters and sees Marian working.
HAROLD 4:
I know everything about you.

MARIAN 2:
Please be quiet, or leave.
HAROLD:
Marian. Madam Librarian What can I do, my dear, to
catch your ear I love you madly, madly Madam
Librarian...Marian Heaven help us if the library
caught on fire And the Volunteer Hose Brigademen Had
to whisper the news to Marian...Madam Librarian! What
can I say, my dear, to make it clear I need you
badly, badly, Madam Librarian...Marian If I stumbled
and I busted my what-you-may-call-it I could lie on
your floor unoticed ’Till my body had turned to
carrion....Madam Librarian. Now in the moonlight, a
man could sing it In the moonlight And a fellow would
know that his darling Had heard ev’ry word of his
song With the moonlight helping along. But when I try
in here to tell you, dear I love you madly, madly,
Madam Librarian...Marian It’s a long lost cause I can
never win For the civilized world accepts as
unforgivable sin Any talking out loud with any
librarian Such as Marian.....Madam Librarian.

As the song finishes Winthrop enters.

HAROLD:
Who is this young fellow?
MARIAN:
Come on Winthrop say hello to the professor.
WINTHROP:
Hello proff..es..sor.
Everybody laughs beacause he spits as he talks.
Winthrop starts crying.
HAROLD:
Don’t worry. That talent will help in my band. Would
you like to be my special clarinet player?
 17.

MARIAN:
What band? Winthrop go home. And for you, don’t lie
to my little brother and leave.

HAROLD:
But
MARIAN:
Now!

Harold leaves. Marian picks up a book.

MARIAN:
Indiana State educational journal. from 1890 to 1910.
I will show the mayor this and prove that professor
Harold Hill is a fraud.

SCENE 6
MARIAN 3:
Mayor. I found something interesting in this book
about Prof. Harold Hill’s alma matter.

MAYOR 2:
I know. Gary Conservatory, class of ’05.
MARIAN:
If you take time to read you’ll see that the
conservatory...
GIRL:
Papa, the Wells fargo wagon is here with all the
instruments.

PEOPLE:
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ down the
street, Oh please let it be for me! O-ho the Wells
Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ down the street, I wish, I
wish I knew what it could be!

FIRST VOICE:
I got a box of maple sugar on my birthday.
SECOND VOICE:
In March I got a gray mackinaw.

THIRD VOICE:
And once I got some grapefruit from Tampa.
FOURTH VOICE:
Montgom’ry Ward sent me a bathtub and a cross-cut
saw.
PEOPLE:
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ now Is it a
prepaid surprise or C.O.D?
 18.

FIFTH VOICE:
It could be curtains!
SIXTH VOICE:
Or dishes!
SEVENTH VOICE:
Or a double boiler!
EIGHTH VOICE:
Or it could be People: Yes, it could be Yes, you’re
right it surely could be Somethin’ special
PEOPLE:
Somethin’ very, very special now

EIGHTH VOICE:
Just for me!
PEOPLE:
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ down the
street. Oh, don’t let him pass my door! O-ho the
Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ down the street I wish
I knew what he was comin’ for.
NINTH VOICE:
I got some salmon from Seattle last September.

TENTH VOICE:
And I expect a new rockin’ chair.
ELEVENTH VOICE:
I hope I get my raisins from Fresno.

QUARTET:
The D.A.R. have sent a cannon for the courthouse
square.
WINTHROP:
O-ho the Wellth Fargo Wagon ith a-comin’ now, I don’t
know how I can ever wait to thee. It could be
thumpin’ for thumone who is No relation but it could
be thump’n thpethyul Just for me! People: O-ho, you
Wells Fargo Wagon keep a-comin’ O-ho, you Wells Fargo
Wagon, keep a-comin’. O-ho you Wells Fargo Wagon,
Don’t you dare Make a stop Until you stop for me!
HAROLD 5:
Here are your instruments folks!
WINTHROP:
Oh it’s beautiful (runs toward his sister) Look!
MARIAN:
What?
 19.

MAYOR:
We will talk later, Mrs Marian.
WINTHROP:
Isn’t it the most beautiful instrument. I never
thought I’d ever see anything like it. I am so happy.
All thanks to the Professor. I even spitt less while
I speak, he is helping me.
MARIAN:
It is true!
HAROLD 5:
(To the people)
Now remember. Stay off the streets, pay attention to
your instruments and think about the "Minuet in G"
(He sings)
ALL TOWN:
LA LA LA (Minuet)
MAYOR:
Well Mrs. Marian, about that book.
MARIAN:
Oh! I brought the wrong one. But I’ll give it to you
tomorrow at the party.

EULALIE:
Oh YES! We must leave. I have to rehearse with the
girls
HAROLD:
Come on Winthrop let’s go practice. Mrs. Marian, I’ll
see you at the sociable.
Singing together while exiting
HAROLD AND WINTHROP:
Gary Indiana, Gary Indiana not Luisianna...
Marian stays alone. Charlie enters
CHARLIE:
Do the Shinns live around here somewhere?

MARIAN:
The Mayor’s home is on the East Elm. This is West
Elm.
CHARLIE:
Oh dear! (Leaves and retunrs) You must know about
this fellow Hill forming a boy’s band here.
MARIAN:
Yes!
 20.

CHARLIE:
Don’t let that worry you more. I got the goods on
him. That’s why I got to see the Mayor.
MARIAN:
Who are you?
CHARLIE:
Name’s Charlie Cowel. Anvil salesman. Protecting the
traveling fraternity’s good name from Hill.

MARIAN:
Mr. Cowell, you are making a big mistake. Listen to
me.
CHARLIE:
(Looking at here)
I’d like to do more than that if I had the time. But
I have to speak with the Mayor before my train
leaves, and I got 8 minutes left.
MARIAN:
Oh really? That is so sad to hear...
Music from Opera Carmen plays The Habanera.
Marian starts dancing and makes Charlie dance
with here.

CHARLIE:
What am I doing? If I miss the train I’ll lose my
job. Amd I got to leave word about Hill.
MARIAN:
Leave word with me.

CHARLIE:
Oh no. I know now you are the piano teacher and
surely Hill got you like other gal’s in every county
in Illinois. All piano teachers... just to keep your
mouth shut.
At the distance the train whistles.
CHARLIE:
My train! (He exits)

MARIAN:
I have to know the truth! (She exits)
SCENE 7
The sociable. All the town is dancing and having
a party.
MAYOR 3:
And now we arrive at the high-water mark of the
evening’s festivity
 21.

TOMMY:
We want to dance
ALL:
Yes!

MARCELLUS 3:
Well, let’s go
SHIPOOPI

Now, a woman who’ll kiss on a very first date is

usually a hussie. And a woman who’ll kiss on a
second time out is anything but fussy. But a
woman who’ll wait till the third time around
head in the clouds, feet on the ground She’s the
girl he’s glad he’s found she’s his Shipoopi
Shipoopi, Shipoopi, Shipoopi, (The girl who’sh
ard to get) Shipoopi, Shipoopi, Shipoopi, (But
you can win her yet.)

Walk her once just to raise the curtain, Walk

around twice, and you’ve made for certain. Once
more in the flower garden, She will never get
sore if you beg your pardon.
Do re mi fa so la si do si fa so la mi re do.

Squeeze her once when she isn’t looking, Get a

squeeze back that’s fancy cooking. Once more for
a pepper-upper, She will never get sore on the
way to supper.

Do re me fa so la si do si do
Now little ole Sall’s a no-gal as anyone can
see, Look at her now: she’s a go gal who only
goes for me. Squeeze her once when she isn’t
looking, Get a squeeze back that’s fancy
cooking. Once more for a pepper-upper, She will
never get sore on the way to supper.
Do re me fa so la si do si do

Shipoopi, Shipoopi, Shipoopi, (The girl who’s

hard to get) Shipoopi, Shipoopi, Shipoopi, (But
you can win her yet.) Shipoopi, Shipoopi,
Shipoopi, (The girl who’s hard to get, )
Shipoopi, Shipoopi, Shipoopi, (But you can win
her yet yoouu caann wiinn heerr yeeeettttt...
SHIPOOPI!
MARIAN 4:
Come professor. I have to talk to you.
(Marian takes Harold to a quiet place)
 22.

HAROLD 6:
Are you intrigued about the thinking System. It’s
really simple, like whistling. Think the note and try
to ...

MARIAN:
Are all music teachers as dense as I am?
HAROLD:
All music teachers?

MARIAN:
They say you’ve met dozens... Are they all fascinated
about... the... Thinking System.
HAROLD:
Well, one really helped me develop.
MARIAN:
So that’s the way you complete the job.
HAROLD:
Where does that come from?
MARIAN:
One hears rumors about traveling salesmen.

HAROLD:
Oh, you mustn’t believe everything you hear. After
all, one even hears rumors about librarians.
MARIAN:
I presume you’re refering to Uncle Maddy. He was my
dad’s best friend, no matter what they say, he left
that library job to me so Mother, Winthrop and I
could have security. You don’t believe...
HAROLD:
No! That is my point. Rumors! Come from people that
are...
MARIAN:
Jealous mostly.
HAROLD:
And jealousy mostly starts rumors about traveling
salesmen. Come on, you don’t believe...
MARIAN:
I just believe you coming here has saved us all. I am
gratefull for what you’ve left behind, for me.

HAROLD:
Mrs. Marian, I have to tell you who I am...
Marcelus enters
 23.

MARCELLUS:
Greg... Harold!
HAROLD:
Oh, excuse me for a second. (Goes to Marcellus) What
is it?
MARCELLUS:
The uniforms are here. Tommy collected the money. You
are free.

HAROLD:
At what time does the last train leave?
MARCELLUS:
Nine thirty.

HAROLD:
Oh no... well. That is the way.
Marcellus leaves

HAROLD:
Well... Where was I?
MARIAN:
You were gonna tell me about how professor Harold
Hill and the Gary Conservatory of Music Gold Medal
Class of ’05 is no true.
HAROLD:
How... did... you?

MARIAN:
I am a librarian. I research. But don’t worry I knew
all along. An there is a guy trying to stop you.
All town and Charlie enter.

CHARLIE:
There he is!
HAROLD:
Winthrop, where are you going?

WINTHROP:
Let me go I don’t want to see you!
HAROLD:
Let me explain. Please

WINTHROP:
Are you a liar?
HAROLD:
Yes
 24.

WINTHROP:
Then leave me, you big liar!
HAROLD:
That is the truth. And also. You are a wonderful kid.
That is why I wanted you in the band. So you’d stop
moping around feeling sorry for yourself.
MAN:
I want my money back!

ALL:
Me too.
MRS. HICKS:
He just made promises

MARIAN:
And he made them true.
MAYOR:
How?

MARIAN:
I know what he promised us, and it all happend just
like he said: The lights, the colors, the cymbals and
the flags.

WINTHROP:
Where was all that?
MARIAN:
In the way every kid in town walked around summer and
looked and acted. Especially you. All of you.
MAYOR:
But where’s the band? Where is the band?
Tommy enters dressed with his unifom and sounds
the whistle. More boys enter with their uniforms
and there instruments and form a line.
MARIAN:
(Grabs a stick and gives it to Harold)
Come on. Try it. The thinking System

HAROLD:
(grabing the stick)
But I don’t know. (to the band) Ok boys, think.
He moves the stick and the boys start playing
badly the Minuet in G.
ETHEL:
That is my boy!
 25.

MRS. HICKS:
That is my Barney
MAYOR:
The band is here. Bravo!
HAROLD:
We have a lot to work boys.
MARIAN:
Don’t worry, I will help.
Band continues playing