SCENE EIGHT
#10 Cousin Dudley (Cousin Dudley, Lads, Lasses)
NARRATOR (Cont'd)
HEAL ME.
(TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY is looking at his own reflection in the mirror. The LIGHTS flash up. Time has passed. TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY is suddenly alone at home with COUSIN DUDLEY, his new "baby-sitter." COUSIN DUDLEY surveys the scene from on top of the back of a chair to TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY'S left.)
COUSIN DUDLEY
WE'RE ON OUR OWN, COUSIN.
ALL ALONE, COUSIN.
(COUSIN DUDLEY stands on the chair and glances at the door.)
LET'S THINK OF A GAME TO PLAY
NOW THE GROWNUPS HAVE ALL GONE AWAY.
(COUSIN DUDLEY gets down and crosses to behind the sofa, snapping his fingers behind TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY'S head on "blind.")
YOU WON'T BE MUCH FUN,
BEING BLIND, DEAF, AND DUMB,
BUT I'VE NO ONE TO PLAY WITH TODAY.
(COUSIN DUDLEY puts a lampshade on TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY'S head and steps back to admire the image like a work of art.)
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY HIDE AND SEEK?
TO FIND ME IT WOULD TAKE YOU A WEEK.
(COUSIN DUDLEY grabs his chair and puts it behind TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY, sitting him down in it on "freak.")
BUT TIED TO A CHAIR YOU WON'T GO ANYWHERE…
THERE'S A LOT I CAN DO WITH A FREAK.
(COUSIN DUDLEY whips off the lampshade and throws it off STAGE LEFT on "bath.")
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF I TURNED ON THE BATH,
(COUSIN DUDLEY goes back to the chair and whirls it around to the front door on "started to laugh.")
DUCKED YOUR HEAD UNDER AND STARTED TO LAUGH?
(COUSIN DUDLEY grabs TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY forcefully and shoves him outside,tossing the chair off STAGE LEFT on "shut.")
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF I SHUT YOU OUTSIDE,
(COUSIN DUDLEY proceeds to the sofa and stands on it.)
TO STAND IN THE RAIN
AND CATCH COLD SO YOU DIED?
(COUSIN DUDLEY gets bored with the confines of 666 Godric's Hollow, jumps off the sofa, and crosses DOWNSTAGE.
The house dissembles and vanishes.)
I'M THE SCHOOL BULLY!
THE CLASSROOM CHEAT!
(COUSIN DUDLEY crosses to his cousin and smacks his hands together, then attempts to smother him into his chest on "tread on your feet.")
THE NASTIEST PLAY-FRIEND
YOU EVER COULD MEET.
I'LL STICK PINS IN YOUR FINGERS
AND TREAD ON YOUR FEET…
(THEY cross to a trash can. COUSIN DUDLEY empties the garbage out, sticks TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY into the trash can, puts the lid on it and sits on top, contemplating TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY'S fate.)
WE'RE ON OUR OWN, COUSIN.
ALL ALONE, COUSIN.
LET'S THINK OF A GAME TO PLAY
(HE tips the trash can on its side and rolls TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY around on "away.")
NOW THE GROWNUPS HAVE ALL GONE AWAY.
YOU WON'T BE MUCH FUN,
BEING BLIND, DEAF, AND DUMB,
BUT I'VE NO ONE TO PLAY WITH TODAY.
(COUSIN DUDLEY looks off LEFT.
The Church Youth Club has assembled around them. It's full of tough looking boys and girls – the LADS and LASSES. It's a simple, no frills hang out for children ten and above sponsored by the MINISTER. There is a snooker table, a juke box – and a Bally Pinball Machine.)
COUSIN DUDLEY, LADS, LASSES
MAYBE A CIGARETTE BURN ON YOUR ARM
WOULD CHANGE YOUR EXPRESSION TO ONE OF ALARM.
I'LL DRAG YOU AROUND BY A LOCK OF YOUR HAIR
(COUSIN KEVIN and PIERS dump TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY out of the trash can in a heap on "top." The LADS AND LASSES crowd around him, COUSIN DUDLEY standing threateningly over him as PIERS tosses the trash can off LEFT.)
OR GIVE YOU A PUSH AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS…
(GORDON and MALCOLM pull TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY up by his arms on "i'm the school bully." THEY join in the other LADS and LASSES, also taking considerable delight in tossing TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY back and forth between them like a bean bag and treating him as if he were a living mannequin by putting a girl's hat on his head on "the classroom cheat," a scarf around his neck on "the classroom cheat," a cigarette in his mouth on "the nastiest play-friend," and a pool stick under his arms behind his back on "you ever could meet" so that he looks like a scarecrow.)
COUSIN DUDLEY
I'M THE SCHOOL BULLY!
THE CLASSROOM CHEAT!
THE NASTIEST PLAY-FRIEND
YOU EVER COULD MEET.
I'LL PUT GLASS IN YOUR DINNER
AND SPIKES IN YOUR SEAT…
LADS, LASSES
(Simultaneous with above)
AHHHH…
(The MINISTERand his WIFEenter and EVERYONE is immediately on exemplary behavior, quickly undressing TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY and rushing off to their original corners. COUSIN DUDLEY brings TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY over to the Pinball Machine. The MINISTER seems pleased that COUSIN DUDLEY has brought TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY. HE pats them both approvingly and leaves.)
COUSIN DUDLEY, LADS, LASSES
WE'RE ON OUR OWN, COUSIN.
ALL ALONE, COUSIN.
(COUSIN DUDLEY brings TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY center stage.)
LET'S THINK OF A GAME TO PLAY
(The LADS and LASSES surround TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY again.)
NOW THE GROWNUPS HAVE ALL GONE AWAY.
YOU WON'T BE MUCH FUN,
BEING BLIND, DEAF, AND DUMB,
BUT I'VE NO ONE TO PLAY WITH TODAY.
(THEY are all bored with TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY now and PIERS and MALCOLM carry him over to the Pinball Machine. Jokingly, COUSIN DUDLEY puts a penny in the Pinball Machine. HE stands TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY in front of it and sticks his hands on the buttons that operate the flippers. EVERYONE laughs.
#10A Intro to "Sensation" (Orchestra)
COUSIN DUDLEY goes over to play snooker with his loutish mates and leaves TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY. TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY stares at the mirrored surface of the backboard. HE begins to play.
#11 Sensation (Narrator, Lads, Lasses)
The machine comes to life. One by one the others notice. COUSIN DUDLEY runs DOWNSTAGE RIGHT and gawks in slack-jawed shock. TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY keeps playing. The LADS and LASSES begin to gather around him. He is winning. He plays hypnotically, beating the machine. He's beginning to rack up an incredible score. LIGHTS FLASH, BELLS RIGHT, BUZZERS SOUND. TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY stares into the mirrored surface and plays. The LADS and LASSES are astounded. Unobserved by them, the NARRATOR clings on to a ladder high above them.)
NARRATOR
I OVERWHELM AS I APPROACH YOU,
MAKE YOUR LUNGS HOLD BREATH INSIDE!
LOVERS BREAK CARESSES FOR ME,
LOVE DISTRACTED, DON'T KNOW WHY.
YOU FEEL ME COMING,
A NEW VIBRATION.
FROM AFAR YOU'LL SEE ME.
I'M A SENSATION…
I'M A SENSATION!
(SIRIUS enters and sees TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY playing. He is amazed and somewhat unnerved. The NARRATOR climbs down the ladder and now has one foot on the ladder and the other on the top of the Pinball Machine.)
THEY'RE MOVED BY ME AND ALL I TOUCH;
HAZY-EYED, THEY CATCH MY GLANCE.
(SIRIUS leaves quickly, shaken.)
PLEASANT SHUDDERS SHAKE THEIR SENSES.
MY WARM MOMENTUN THROWS THEIR STANCE.
(The LADS and LASSES start cheering TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY on. The NARRATOR moves onto the Pinball Machine and jumps down onto the glass surface. The LADS and LASSES start dancing a couple at a time.)
YOU FEEL ME COMING,
A NEW VIBRATION.
FROM AFAR YOU'LL SEE ME.
I'M A SENSATION….
I'M A SENSATION!
LADS, LASSES
(Simultaneous with above)
AH – SENSATION…
(The LADS and LASSES spread out on the stage and begin to dance more freely.)
NARRATOR
SOON YOU'LL SEE ME.
CAN'T YOU FEEL ME?
I'M COMING…
LADS, LASSES
AH – SENSATION…
NARRATOR
SEND YOUR TROUBLES DANCING.
YOU KNOW THE ANSWER:
I'M COMING…
LADS, LASSES
(Simultaneous with above)
OOH – AH – SENSATION…
NARRATOR
I'M COMING…
(The NARRATOR slides down on his knees, remaining on the glass surface of the Pinball Machine.)
I'M A SENSATION!
LADS, LASSES
(Simultaneous with above)
AH – SENSATION!
(The LADS and LASSEScontinue to dance and celebrate wildly as TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY'S score continues to mount. The NARRATOR does upper body movements while still on the pinball machine. Finally, HE jumps off the Pinball Machine and moves UPSTAGE RIGHT. HE turns and watches the LADS and LASSES as they crowd around TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY once again.)
NARRATOR
I LEAVE A TRAIL OF ROOTED PEOPLE
MESMERIZED BY JUST THE SIGHT.
ALL THESE LOVERS FEEL ME COMING,
LOVE AS ONE – IN LOVE TONIGHT.
(The NARRATOR approaches TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY.)
YOU FEEL ME COMING,
A NEW VIBRATION.
(The NARRATOR places his hands on TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY'S shoulders.)
FROM AFAR YOU'LL SEE ME.
I'M A SENSATION…
I'M A SENSATION!
(The NARRATOR moves back to his UPSTAGE RIGHT position.)
I'M A SENSATION…
I'M A SENSATION!
(The NARRATOR works his way through the crowd towards the ladder once again and begins to climb it.)
LADS, LASSES
(Simultaneous with above)
AH – SENSATION!
AH – SENSATION!
AH – SENSATION!
AH – SENSATION!
AH – SENSATION!
SENSATION…
(TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY'S score reaches astronomical proportions. SIRIUS is back. HE has brought HARRY'S mother and father. The NARRATOR appears back on the ladder.)
NARRATOR
I AM THE LIGHT.
(The NARRATOR disappears.
LILY walks calmly to her son. The LADS and LASSES make way for her. SHE gently pulls TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY back from the machine. The machine stops flashing. The score freezes. LILY hugs her son and turns him away from the machine. JAMES rushes forward and kneels before TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY, staring into his blank green eyes. JAMES looks up at LILY and she looks at her husband. It's clear that they feel they've found a moment of hope.
#12 Sparks (Reprise) (Orchestra)
JAMES stands up and he and LILY lead TEN-YEAR-OLD HARRY to the exit. SIRIUS follows them while COUSIN DUDLEY, the LADS, and the LASSES watch them go.
The Youth Club disassembles.)
END OF SCENE EIGHT
Yet another chapter done. And this, in my opinion, was the first most exciting part of Act One. The second most exciting part of Act One comes at the first act finale.
Green Tea: Yeah, it took me a while to get into the original show that this is based on as well. A lot of it confused me at first. Then, the show grew on me and now I can't get enough of it. Thanks for being so loyal.
Thank you to glory07 and elegy jo margins. I don't know what the reviews had to do with the story, but they were filled with some very interesting information.
Okay, since Scene 9 and Scene 10 are so short, I'll probably post them together, along with Scene 11, since the song in ten continues into eleven. And I'm warning you now: Be afraid. Be very afraid. So far, Harry's been molested by Uncle Vernon and tortured by Dudley and his mates. What else could possibly happen to this kid, especially now that he can play pinball? Does this mean there's hope for him yet?
And by the way, the rights of the original Broadwayshow The Who's Tommy belongs to Music Theatre International.
Until next time!