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<title> More Than a Beautiful Thing -- the musical</title>
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<h1> More Than a Beautiful Thing </h1>
<h2> a country girl comes to the city to sing</h2>
<h3>  by Dennis Shasha and Barbie Grizer</h3>
<p>
</p>
<h3> Main Cast: </h3>

<p>
Narrator, teenage and mid-20s B
</p> <p>
Young B
</p> <p>
Young Molly
</p> <p>
Mom
</p> <p>
Actress of One Night/Celine
</p> <p>
Doctor/Dad/Sebastien/Pastor
</p> <p>
Older Molly
</p> 
<h3>
Act 1 Scene 1
</h3>

<p>
Narrator B is a young woman in her late teens sitting in a chair with a blanket over her knees (we don’t know whether she can move). She’s on one side of the stage facing the audience. [We will have her only in these early scenes.]

</p> <p>
Narrator B: I’m going to tell you my story. In many ways, it’s everyone’s story. In some ways, only mine.

</p> <p>
She turns and we see what she sees as she keeps talking. The figures trace her words but silently.

</p> <p>
Narrator B: First, you have to know that I’m a country girl and this is what my part of the country looked like: woods and animals and kids. Lots of kids, screaming with pleasure and horsing around. Lots of animals. Lots.

</p> <p>
She stops talking and we see kids running around.

</p> <p>
Narrator B:   But we aren’t any country kids. We live in a community of god-fearing folks here in Blessed Lake, Ohio. I love the songs in church.
</p> <p>
<i> Perform church songs like “All to Jesus I surrender…” </i>
</p> <p>
Narrator B: That’s me. I’m ten years old.  I learned to use my compass very early. Molly and me – that’s Molly my best friend – we often went exploring.
</p> <p>
Molly and young B appear. We watch Molly and young B walking using their compass.

</p> <p>
Narrator B: Yup. We played outside more than most girls. More than most boys too. Mom spanked me once when for going too far, but I never listened. 
</p> <p>
Young B: Mom, you say Jesus loves me right?
</p> <p>
Mom: Yes, blessed daughter.
</p> <p>
Young B: And Jesus can do anything right?
</p> <p>
Mom: Right.
</p> <p>
Young B: So Jesus won’t let me get hurt. Even when you spanked me that didn’t hurt.
</p> <p>
Then she runs off.
</p> 
<h3> Act 1, scene 2 </h3>
<p>
Molly: B, I found a great tree for climbing. Wanna come?
</p> <p>
B: Sure.
</p> <p>
We watch Molly and young B go into the woods. Molly points out the tree and young B runs there. All of a sudden she falls down in great pain. Her foot is caught in a trap.
</p> <p>
B: Molly, help!!! My foot is caught in a trap.
</p> <p>
Molly sees the trap: Oh no, it’s a fox trap.
</p> <p>
We watch Molly run to get help. People come with a stretcher and take young B, trap and all away. Young B has fainted.
</p> 
<h3> Act 1, Scene 3 in the Hospital</h3>
<p>
Doctor to Mom: Sister Rachel, we have to cut off the leg. Otherwise it might get infected and kill her.
</p> <p>
Mom to Doctor:  Save the leg, brother Samson. Just save the leg. She won’t die. I’ll see to it. There’s a prayer circle for brother James going on. We’ll pray for B too.
</p> <p>
Doctor: With help from Jesus, nothing is impossible.
</p> <p>

Molly is sitting there crying.
</p> <p>
Doctor to Molly: Go away little girl. A hospital is not a place for you.
</p> <p>
Molly just shakes her head.
</p> <p>
Doctor to Molly: Here I’ll call your Mom. She’ll come to get you.
</p> <p>
Molly sobbing: It's my fault. All my fault. Save her leg docs.
With the help of Jesus.
</p> <p>
Doctors work on young B.
B’s Mom gathers the other congregants and they prayed for B all night. Molly is there too.
We see this happening as Narrator B sings on the opposite side of the stage from where doctors are.


</p> <p>
</p>
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<p> What Does Prayer Do? </p>

<h3> Act 1. Scene 4. </h3>

<p>
Young B is in a whellchair. She wheels around quite expertly. Sometimes she moves and winces in pain.
</p> <p>
Little B reads…
</p> 
<pre>
Dear God. You are my friend. 
Will this pain ever end? 
I want to go outside 
I want to run and hide.

Jesus, I know you love me.
You want to cure me.
Jesus, I promise to be good.
Let me play in the woods
</pre>
<p>
B and her Mom go to the doctors.
</p> <p>
Young B in wheelchair to Doctor: Can I go outside? 
</p> <p>
Doctor: No. 
</p> <p>
Young B: Can I get crutches? 
</p> <p>
Doctor: No….
</p> <p>
Young B pauses: Can you say anything else besides no?
</p> <p>
Doctor: Ask me if you can put sparkles in your hair.
</p> 

<h3> Act 1, scene 5 </h3>
<p>

We see young B pulled into a knitting room full of adults. She watches the other kids play with longing but no tears. The adults sit down and begin to knit.
</p> <pre>

Adult 1: Did you know that sister Nancy’s sweater
Bless her heart
Is a bright ugly lavender?
May God love her.

Adult 2: Or that the preacher’s son
Went on a drunken run?
He was nearly hit  
By Brother Bill Lynch’s son.
</pre>
<p>

B is writing in her journal and she says out loud:
<pre>
They love all sinners,
For whose souls they do pray
For without those sins
They’d have nothing to say.
</pre>
<p>

Later, we see young B whisper something to Molly and they both giggle.
<h3> Act 1, scene 6 </h3>
<p>
Narrator B: They told me to pray and I did.  One day they stood around me.
</p> <p>
Church scene where congregants stand around Narrator B and pray out loud. Then they fall silent. 
</p> <p>

 At the end, she rises. After possible applause from the theatre audience, Narrator B reads from her poem:
<p>
</p> <pre>.

When I first go out
And walk about
Each step I take,
I celebrate.

What other kids
Take as their due
Makes me sing
Thanks to you.
</pre>

<h3> Act 1, scene 7 </h3>

<p>
B hears a Pirates of Penzance song that a friend is playing. Later she has a conversation with her Dad. 
</p> <p>
B: Could we get that song?
</p> <p>
Dad: No.
</p> <p>
B: But it comes from this movie. Can’t we get that?
</p> <p>
Dad: No.
</p> <p>
B: Ok, can I get the book?
</p> <p>
Dad: No.
</p> <p>
B: Do you ever say yes to anything?
</p> <p>
Dad: I’ll take you hunting.
</p> <p>
B to the audience: As a result, I’m pretty good with a gun.
</p> <p>
She pulls one out and points it to the audience.
Don’t worry this one is not loaded.
</p> <p>

She points it to a target on stage and a dart flies out.

</p> <p>
B: Not with bullets that is. 

</p> <p>
B walks across the stage:
Anyway, my Dad always said no, but my Mom kind of liked the idea of the stage.
</p> <p>
Teenage B is singing scales. Mom comes in.
</p> <p>
Mom: B, find some nice clothes. We’re going out.
</p> <p>
B: Where to?
</p> <p>
Mom: Hush. Just don’t tell Dad.
</p> <p>

Audience sees mother and daughter sneak away as if they were thieves. Should be funny. They go to a theatre.
</p> <p>
B writes a poem about the experience.
</p> <p>
</p> <pre>
One night my Mom said “Come
We’re going out dear one.
I hear you sing every day.
It’s time you saw a real play.

“There’s laughter and song,
Tonight, forget it’s wrong.”
Yes, Mom broke Dad’s rules
We slipped out by the pool.

Chorus:
As we drove out that night.
It was dark but felt bright.
On the stage, sang a woman
Her notes flowed from heaven.

“The hills are alive.”
She sang of light and sky.
I floated in space
From my seat to her place.


B turns to the audience and says:
On my way home that night, I talked to my Mom. She didn’t need all that much persuading. I wrote a poem about that too.

“Mom, I’ve got to sing too.
It’s what I must do.
Please grant me this gift
I feel God’s Will in it.”


So Mom paid for the lessons.
Ignored Dad’s objections.
She helped my voice grow,
As I prepped for each show.


No matter what was my role,
I sang with full heart and soul.
Each day I could feel
How music could heal.

One play became several.
I whirled on a carousel.
I bowed often on stage 
I turned a new page.

B walks across the stage and looks out to the audience:

I looked up at the sky
The world looked so wide.
It was time that I left.
Should I head east or go west?
</pre>


<p>
</p>
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<source src="Fences.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" ><br>
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<p> Fences </p>

<h2> Act II </h2>

<h3> Act II, scene 1 </h3>
<p>
We see B leaving for New York. She gets on a bus, she arrives and is all excited to be in the big city.
</p> <p>
B to the audience: Well, finally here. Boy, I’m starvin’
</p> <p>
She walks into a MacDonalds. 
B: Could I have a Big Mac?
</p> <p>

B eats with delight.

</p> <p>
The phone rings.
B gets a call: Hi Mom. Yes, I’m fine. No, I’m not kidnapped. I’m in New York. Yes, really New York. I’m fine, really. It's nice here...
</p> <p>
A young man approaches. He seems nice. He strikes up a conversation with B.
Young Man: Where are you from?
</p> <p>

B: You’ve never heard of it.
</p> <p>

Young Man: Try me.
</p> <p>

B: Blessed Lake.
</p> <p>

Young Man: Blessed Lake,  Ohio?
</p> <p>

B: You know about it.
</p> <p>

Young Man: I’ve been there sister. I know pastor Jacob. I’m from the mountains of West Virginia. You know what we call you down there?
</p> <p>
B: What?
Young Man: Lake Weed
</p> <p>
B laughs: Funny. We call you Mountain Berries... Anyway, I’ve left all that.
</p> <p>
Young Man: Me too.
</p> <p>
B smiling: What’s your name?
</p> <p>
Young Man: Eliot.
</p> <p>
B: What do you do Eliot?
</p> <p>
Eliot: I’m an electrician.
</p> <p>
B: Oh yeah, need some help?
</p> <p>
Eliot: Well, actually yeah.
</p>

<h3> Act II, scene 2 </h3>

<p>
Eliot hires B and invites B to share an apartment. She pays rent. Things are going all right. Mom calls every day. 

</p>
<h3> Act II, scene 3 </h3>
<p>

One day Mom calls. She asks about Eliot. Eliot is listening from the other room.
</p>
<p>

Mom: When are you going to get married?
</p>
<p>

B: Married? We’re just friends.
</p>
<p>

Mom: You’re two young people living together. If you don’t get married, you’re living in sin.

</p> <p>
B: No, really we’re just friends. We have separate rooms. I don’t see him as a life partner in any way.
</p> <p>

Mom: What about “Be fruitful and multiply”
</p> <p>

B: I don’t want children. Ever.
</p> <p>

Mom clearly upset: No children. But it’s a commandment from God.
</p> <p>

B: God never told me.
</p> <p>

Mom: Blasphemy. You had better take that back.
</p> <p>

B: Mom, don’t you get it?. I’m not part of the church any more.
</p> <p>

Mom: Sinner! Listen carefully. We don’t want to hear from you until you repent your sinful ways. Do you hear?
</p> <p>

B: But, Mom?
</p> <p>

Mom hangs up. B is upset.
</p> <p>

Eliot: What happened?
</p> <p>

B: I’ve just been disowned.
</p> <p>

Eliot hugs her: To heck with them. We’re here. We’re free. Let’s enjoy life.
</p> <p>

He tries to kiss her. 
</p> <p>

B pushes him away: No. sorry.
</p> <p>

Eliot comes back and grabs her: Sure you are. You’re just being coy.
</p> <p>

B: No I’m not.
</p> <p>

Eliot pins her to a wall B slaps him and gives him a black eye.
</p> <p>

Eliot: Get out of here, you Lake Weed. I took you in. Gave you a room.
</p> <p>
B: I've been paying rent.
</p> <p>
Eliot: You’ve got 15 minutes. 
See what it’s like to be out on the street. 
</p> <p>

B looks at him with fury: It’s how people treat you when you’re down that shows their true colors. Sure. I’m gone.
</p> <p>

B leaves the apartment, guitar and a small bag, kicking the door closed as she goes. It starts to rain.
We watch people going back and forth with umbrellas. B starts to cry. 

