The Speakeasy
T. Keough
Copyright 2014
Summary
Two act play with 3 scenes, black, white and grey. White scenes are in the glory days
when the club was at it’s peak. Black set will be noire on upper stage left for Pip, so main
stage can flip without affecting it. It is a black dusty version of White set, lit with greens
etc. to make it look somewhat eerie. Grey set is Black set with different lighting to show
the damage and ruin, becoming more of a stark reality, beat up and abandoned looking
as the play goes on and the lights come up brighter.
The story is a tale of Big Al’s place, a speakeasy somewhere in the US during the late
1920’s. It was the modern era and everything was changing. Prohibition was in full swing
and gin joints popped up everywhere as people looked for a place to wet their whistles.
Big Al’s was the fanciest place in town with all of the richest clientele and top stars
anywhere playing the center stage. Big Al had everyone from Broadway stars to foreign
specialty acts and with the stock market continuing to grow every day, it seemed the good
times would never end.
In October of 1929 however, things started to go sour. Stocks began to tumble and people
started to panic. Big Al had invested so much money in the stock market that he knew he
was going to lose it all if he didn’t act fast. His plan was to blow the place up in the middle
of the night after the big New Year’s eve party of 1929, right at midnight. He had made
sure Pip would be away from the club at midnight so she would be safe. Al plans to be
across town at another function as his alibi. Pip was away and survived, and her guilt
seems to hold the spirits of the others stuck there in a state of limbo as log as she is
there. Everyone who was in the hotel is stuck, entertainers, cigarette girls & waitresses,
wearing what they were wearing when the end came. Everyone is waiting for Pip to
“leave” the club so they can all move on to where they would prefer to be, but no one can
go anywhere until Pip is finished. The waiters keep serving, the players keep playing and
all get more and more miserable with the constant void. They continue to drink, smoke
etc. but everything is black. Black champagne, black cigarettes etc.
3
Characters
Vera Del Mar - Diva songstress, smart, sarcastic, uses connections with rich businessmen to get financial info & gain, caring but cautious due to being burned. Is the only one who did not lose all her money in the crash, having moved it into gold before the crash.
Young Pip – Child who lives at the club. Mother was a waitress who dies when she was 3 or 4 and Big Al more or less adopted Pip. Some think that Big Al is Pip’s father though this is never confirmed. Pip does odd jobs around the club and helps the performers with whatever they need. She looks at her job as very important because she is taking care of such important and famous people and she dreams of being one of them.
Old Pip – Long after the Speakeasy is left to ruins, Pip is still there, becoming an adult and growing more and more insane each day. She lives as a homeless person or squatter inside the ruined hotel/club and often “sees” the club performers and staff which may be dreams, insanity or spirits. Lives life in deep guilt over what happened at the clubs demise.
Carlos the Magnificent - Magician (hack?) who is constantly doing tricks, often to the annoyance of others? (rabbits from hats, cane into flowers etc, all very visual but easy.
Maria - Carlos' sister and assistant in the magic act. When the incident happened, she was in the middle of a magic act where she appears out of a box, which means in all black scenes she is stuck in the box so Carlos must move her around, but she is out of the box from the waste up including arms.
Rex Reynolds - Club MC / Piano player / band leader Hosted the club events during the white era, now stuck having blown and lost all his money during the boom times. Always looking to play the angles.
Cigarette Girl: (CG:) Classic twenties Betty Boop type character with tray hanging off. Along with the waitress they will provide comical interludes throughout the play.
Waitress: Similar to cigarette girl but carries a tray of drinks, regular in white scenes and black in black scenes. Continues to serve drinks throughout and provides comical interludes throughout the play with Cigarette girl.
Banker 1: Banker / Fore closer who has one scene at the end of the first act and Another near the end of the second act.
Banker 2: Second Banker for above scenes. Banker could have newspaper dated 1937 in first act scene.
4
Songs
Opening cover song Vera (partial – Cover, Button up your overcoat)
Five Dollar Bill – Rex
I’ll put my faith in me – Vera
Once in awhile – young Pip & old Pip
Over and Under - Vera
Old friend – Rex & cast
5
Act 1 Scene one
Set – Black Scene opens to stage left noire set, with Old Pip sitting in a cardboard “room” like a homeless person. Main stage is grey but as dark as possible to conceal detail and back lighting slightly as well.
Old Pip: Back in twenty five we had a saying. God bless prohibition and may it never end. (Chuckles) Boy, those were the days. Back when the Speakeasy was the hottest place in town. When stars like Louis Armstrong played to packed houses every night, with Rex Reynolds keeping the crowd fired up all night long. Back then everyone was so happy and care free, ah….. it was wonderful. (shakes head slowly) Not quite the same today. Back in those days this place was owned by Big Al. Al the Pal they used to call him. Al was the greatest guy in the world. He gave me my start in show business. (Pauses) Well, not show business really, but I got to work with the stars when they’d come to play the club. Getting them food or drinks, running errands, anything they needed. What a life they had. Everything was so glamorous and all the customers loved them and cheered for them. (sighs) What that must have been like. I would have given anything to be up there on that stage………. Ah but who am I kidding? How could I ever be on the same stage as someone like Ester Walker, or Emmet Miller, or, or…….. Vera DelMar. (sighs) She could always make my heart shiver when she took the stage. I’d always be there when they were backstage getting ready to go on. They’d get the call that it was time to take the stage, and then out they’d come, looking so beautiful and glamorous. (pauses)
Fade to black
Flip to white scene. Vera is on center stage. Cigarette girl walks across front of stage with placard that reads “’New Year’s eve 1925”. This will change years with each flip to the white zone.
Vera is finishing a song, either on piano or with orchestra
Cover song – Vera (may be last part of song)
Rex: Ladies and gentlemen, for your New Year’s pleasure on this last night of 1925, Miss Vera DelMar. (crowd claps)
Song ends, crowd cheers.
Lights come up as Vera moves off stage toward the bar. Rex is at the piano. Young Pip brings Vera a glass of champagne and fusses about her fawning.
Young Pip: Here’s your champagne Miss Vera, just how you like it.
Vera: Thanks little Pip, what would I do without you?
Young Pip blushes and moves off stage.
Rex: Nice job Doll. Real smooth like.
Vera: Thanks, you too Rex. (sips from glass) It’s a pretty good crowd tonight. Say, have you seen Big Al?
Rex: He’s probably upstairs talking to his broker. You know the Dow hit 156 today. 156!
They say it might go as high as 200 by next year. Can you imagine? 200!
Vera: (dismissive) 200 what? Pounds? Sounds like quite a man.
Rex: Not a man you nutty dame. It’s the stock market. Big Al’s been making a killing investing in all kinds of different companies. Everybody is.
Vera: (more interested) A killing eh? Tell me more about this Dow fellow.
6
Rex: I told ya, he’s not a he, it’s an it. It’s kinda like a big sample plate of companies who are all selling shares in the stock market. The Dow is a bunch of them added together and then divided up to get an average.
Vera: Divided up? Now how is that going to work? I mean, say you got one factory making hubcaps, another making peanut butter and a third making shoelaces. If you divide them you’ll have pans of sticky stringy stuff everywhere…(interrupted by Rex.)
Rex: Oh for the love of…..(sighs) Forget about it.
Vera: (Laughing) Oh come on Rex, I’m just teasing you! I know what the Dow is. You don’t get to where I am by waiting for your ship to come in.
Rex: You do? Ah….. So you were just bustin’ my chops. Nice.
Vera: You’re welcome. Now, tell me a bit more about Big Al and this killing he’s making.
Rex: It’s unbelievable. He’s been on a winning streak like you wouldn’t believe! One after another. every time he buys shares in a company, they go up and he cashes in.
Vera: I don’t know, sounds kind of risky. I mean, what does Big Al know about investments. Cement shoes sure, but investments? Ha!
Rex: That’s the beauty of the stock market! You don’t have to know anything to cash in! Just watch the numbers and buy what’s going up then wait and cash in when it does.
Vera: Well, why do they go up?
Rex: Because people are buying them!
Vera: Yeah but what if they stop? Then won’t they go down?
Rex: That’s when you sell, and buy em back again when they hit bottom. It’s genius!
Vera: Genius? Sounds scatterbrained to me. If I’m going to invest my money in something, I want to know what I’m doing first. (Looks around) Where’s that nice young Hughes fellow? He seems to know a lot about money, (pauses) or at least he has a lot of it!
Rex: Howard? He was in the poker room earlier, haven’t seen him since then.
Vera: I’m going to pick his brain a little, see if I can’t get in on some of this Dow fellow’s action. (smiles)
Rex: I told you it’s not a….. ah, ya got me again!
Vera: That’s because you’re too predictable Rex, you always have been. Ta ta. (Vera exits opposite stage)
Fade to black, flip to black and lights up on Pip in front of black.
Old Pip: (Wipes a tear) What a wonder they were. (blows nose into hanky) And talented, you should have been there to hear them. How I used to dream of being like them, up there on the stage with the band playing and the crowd cheering. (stares off) They were such special people, (Pauses) but then, I was so young and naïve. (Leans back and falls asleep.)
Lights go black on Old Pip and come up on Vera and Rex at the piano, Rex sitting and Vera standing. They are dressed in black. Occasionally a waitress will pass by with a tray of black drinks or a cigarette girl with her tray. Rex, Vera and they will take them without comment.
Rex: Well, that was a bit depressing.
Vera: What do you mean? I thought it was sweet.
7
Rex: Sweet? Heck it might have been sweet twenty years ago, but now it’s just getting tired. Why doesn’t she just hurry it up already?
Vera: (laughs) She can’t hurry it up you idiot! She doesn’t even know it’s coming. Just relax, we’ll get there.
Rex: That’s what you said last year, and the year before that, and…….
Vera: I know, I know, but heck, it’s not like she’s doing it on purpose.
Rex: (Laughs) Those sure were good times though, weren’t they? Back when the club was packed and the cash was flowing. Too bad it had to end.
Vera: Well what do you expect? It all got out of hand didn’t it?
Rex: I suppose.
(Carlos walks in with a suitcase, looks at his watch, sets the suitcase down and sits on it, periodically checking his watch.)
Carlos: Did the bus arrive yet? (checks his watch)
Rex: Oh come on now! Again? Carlos you fool. Every day it’s the same thing.
Carlos: (indignant) Well, how do you know today’s not going to be the day?
Rex: The same reason I knew yesterday and the day before and the day before that! I know because it doesn’t matter what I want or Vera wants or even what the great Mandrake wants…
(Vera interrupts)
Vera: It’s Carlos!
Rex: Whatever! None of us have a say. If we did, you and your sister would be back in Spain, (nods toward Vera) you’d be in New York and I’d be soaking up the sun in Palm Springs! But we’re not. We’re stuck here with the Princess of crazy. (nods towards Old Pip) Dear god, she’s drooling again. Pip! Pip!
Vera: She can’t hear you, you idiot. You really are thick. It’s no wonder you ended up here.
Rex: Hey! We’re all here, not just me, all waiting for her majesty there. (Mocks) “What I
wouldn’t have given to be like them, up on the stage with the band playing and the crowd
cheering”. Bah!
Vera: (smiles) She was a fan. (pause) And she was a nice young girl who deserved better than what she got.
Rex: Hell, we all deserved better than what we got. I deserved better than what I got! (Vera looks at him doubtfully)
Rex: Well, maybe not much better, but better.
Vera: And what would you have done with that better if you’d had it? You know damn well you’d have bet it all on big Al just like you always did. (shakes her head) That’s the problem with you Rex, you never learn.
Rex: Well, I’ve got lots of time to work on it now don’t I?
Vera: Oh, looks like she’s coming around, we’d better go before she sees us again.
Rex: Don’t be so hasty, it might speed things up. (laughs)
Vera laughs and mock slaps him as the lights fade to black
8
Lights fade up on Old Pip in black set.
Old Pip: (Muttering awake) What.. huh… Who’s that? (Looks back and forth) Somebody up there? Rex? (Pauses and looks longingly) Big Al? (shakes her head rapidly as if clearing it)
Old Pip: Now Big Al, there was a successful guy. He started the Speakeasy back in 1920, just after the Volstead act passed and prohibition started. Back then they used to call it a Juice Joint. (giggles) Imagine that. They didn’t serve much juice I can assure you. No, it was all booze and lots of it. Whisky from Canada, Gin from England and Champagne all the way from France. (looks over shoulder) What’s that? (pauses, then clears head again) I’ve been at the club since the day I was born, but in 1926 I started working for Big Al official like. He paid me five dollars a week, but I made way more in tips. See, most of the people who frequented Big Al’s club had a lot of money and they didn’t mind spreading it around. With the stock market continuing to grow, everyone was getting in on the action. Rex was giving his money to Big Al to invest, and Vera was taking advice from all kinds of businessmen on when to buy and when to sell. Everyone sure was happy.
Lights fade on Old Pip as she slips off to sleep again. Lights come up on black set with Rex at the piano. He is tinkling away while Vera drinks black Champagne and behaves a little drunk and/or annoyed.
Rex: The problem with money is that it’s never there when you need it. Like a fair weather friend, you think he’ll always be there but one day someone calls in a marker and he’s nowhere to be found. (takes a drink) Man oh man, when I think of the money that passed through these hands back then. Oh to have it all to do over again.
Vera: (calls drunkenly from across the stage) You’d have done the same things!....... Cause you’re an idiot! (laughs)
Rex: Pipe down you drunken fool! You’ll wake her up again. Now, where was I? Oh yes.
Begins playing chords for Five dollar bill song
10
(Vera is snoring a bit louder as he goes on)
Rex: The twenties were the best of times, when life seemed such a blast. Day’s when gin flowed like a river and ran right smack into mount morality, and for awhile there we all thought the good times would last forever. But nothing lasts forever, (pauses then throws something toward Vera who is snoring louder) Back then the money was so easy that we could make two or three times what Big Al paid us with all the cash those big shots threw around. I mean, think about it, back in those days the average annual salary was less than twenty three dollars a week! Why I was making over a hundred a night for awhile there! It seemed every rich guy with a gal on his arm couldn’t resist showing off how much money he had. All I had to do was tell a few jokes, sing a song and they’d keep dropping the bills.
They’d leave a five dollar, ten dollar, twenty dollar bill
They’d leave a ten dollar twenty dollar, fifty dollar gave me such a thrill
Never thought the good times would end.
Now I’m all alone can’t find me a friend…..
Rex: Yep, that’s money for you, here today and gone tomorrow.
Vera (yelling drunkenly) Idiot! (laughs)
9
Rex: Witch! What does she know about money? She was the big star! She never had to depend on tips like the rest of us. If only I’d thought to put just a little aside instead of buying more stocks. Would have sure helped in the last while there. It’s the foolishness of youth that’s to blame. In the summer of your life you can always find a buck or two but you’re too irresponsible to appreciate it. Later on when the cold winter comes and your belly’s growling sure as anything your pockets are empty. Oh man, back in the day I had high rollers laying big bills on me just for singing a song. If I’d have kept even half of it I’d have been living like a King by the summer of 29’ instead of being stuck here in limbo. What I wouldn’t give to have one more chance. (Softly singing)
Five dollar, ten dollar, twenty dollar bill
They’d leave a ten dollar twenty dollar, fifty dollar gave me such a thrill
Five dollar, ten dollar, twenty dollar bill
They’d leave a ten dollar twenty dollar, fifty dollar gave me such a thrill
Five dollar, ten dollar, twenty dollar bill
They’d leave a ten dollar twenty dollar, fifty dollar gave me such a thrill
Never though the good times would end.
Now I’m all alone can’t find me a friend…..
(Old Pip stirs, and everyone scatters offstage as lights fade on set and up on Old Pip)
Old Pip: What? Huh?..... (snorts) Vera? Rex? Happy New Year? (shakes head confused) Oh…… yeah.
New Years Eve, now that was an event back at Big Al’s place. Wow! What a spectacle! All the best food and drinks you can imagine, and all free! New Years was invitation only and all the richest and most famous people would be there schmoozing with Big Al. Yes sir we all had one big party ringing in the New Year. Why, they even treated me just like I was one of them! Think of that! Me! (sighs) Just like one of the beautiful people! Now back at the end of 1928 Big Al brought in a new brother and sister act from Spain that was hired to play for the full year, until New Years eve 1929 that is. (Pauses), They never quite made it the full twelve months …………. (shakes head) Ah… but they were something! They were called Carlos the Magnificent and the mysteries of the world. He did all kinds of magic tricks, he even sawed his sister in half! Wow, it sure was something. It’s so sad that……. (Pip fades off to sleep again.)
Fade to Black
Flip Scene to white
Lights up on White scene
Cigarette girl walks by with placard reading “New Year’s eve 1928” Carlos is on stage with his magic show. There is a box on wheels that his assistant appears from the top out as the band plays “Ta Da” music. Crowd Applauds . Box is moved off stage by Pip as Carlos takes a bow. Carlos moves toward the piano. His assistant puts on a robe and then renters, chatting with Waitress &/or Cigarette Girl stage left.
Carlos: (to Rex) Ola Senior Rex. How are you doing on this fine last day of 1928?
Rex: Me, oh I’m doing great Mac, just great. The market is high, the drinks are free and the girls are already getting tipsy!
Carlos: Ah, you are a romantic eh? You like the Senoritas?
Rex: Well of course I do! Who wouldn’t? (Looks toward Assistant) Say, what’s the story with that assistant of yours? (smiles) She’s real bendy! (leers)
10
Carlos: Ah, my sister Maria? Oh, yes, she is very flexible. It helps cut down expenses when we travel.
Rex: Why’s that?
Carlos: Because if we are low on money she can climb into the suitcase and we only have to pay for one fare.
Rex: Wow! But, how long does she stay in there? I mean, isn’t it uncomfortable?
Carlos: Well, the suitcase is a bit heavy yes, (rubs shoulder) but I manage ….. (interrupted by Rex)
Rex: Not for you, you Mexican jumping bean! I meant for her.
Carlos: (indignantly) I am from Spain.
Rex: Ok, you Spanish jumping bean! I meant isn’t it uncomfortable for her?
Carlos: For her? Well, I don’t know, I never asked. But we only do this for short trips, no more than 4 or 5 hours. Half a day at most! I think she sleeps through most of it.
Rex: Half a day! Good grief! (Rex walks off to find a drink)
Maria walks over to Carlos
Maria: What did he want?
Carlos: I’m not sure. (smiles) I think he’d like to borrow my suitcase sometime. (Pulls flowers out of cane) For you my dear.
Maria: Save it for the tourists Chico!
Carlos: It’s Carlos! You know I hate it when you do that!
Maria: Whatever. You can call yourself whatever you want as long as I get paid after each show.
Carlos: Yes, Yes, of course. (takes out some cash and hands it to Maria) Here you are my dear. You know, it would be much simpler if you let me pay you at the end of each week. Or even once a month! After all, I’m your brother!
Maria: (Flips through the cash) Brother or not, we’ve worked too many shows where things went wrong and there was no money left over at the end of the week. No thanks! I get paid every day. That way if something happens I only lose a days pay, not a month! No more trips in the suitcase for me!
Carlos: But what could go wrong? I mean, here we are in America drinking fine wine and performing for rich and famous people. It is like being in heaven.
Maria: Heaven! Maybe you should try climbing in and out of that box and then tell me it is heaven. No, you pay me after each show and I’ll look after myself from there, Ricardo. (she walks offstage)
Carlos: She knows it’s Carlos! Vera walks up to Carlos.
Vera: Why hey there Rodriguez? How’s the first day going?
Carlos: Oh, hello Miss Del Mar. Ah, It’s Carlos actually, but, it’s going very well, thank you.
Vera: Great. It’ll be nice to have some culture around here for a change, instead of the usual riff raff.
Carlos: Riff Raff? Who is this? Is he a performer?
11
Vera: (looks over at Rex) Yeah, a bit of a performer you might say. (laughs, then looks at her watch) Oops! I forgot I promised to meet that nice young Hughes fellow for a drink in the billiard room. Ta Ta Enrique!
Carlos: (Looks toward floor) It’s Carlos. (He moves to rear stage and practices magic)
Waitress walks in and sets tray down on Piano. Cigarette girl joins her. She has a newspaper on the tray.
Waitress: Say, is that today’s paper? (Takes paper and flips through it)
CG: What are you are looking for?
Waitress: I’m checking the entertainment section to see what pictures are showing at the Odeon. Louie said he’d take me tonight.
CG: Oh, do you see anything good?
Waitress: Well here’s something. It’s a review of that new talking picture I heard about, Sunny Side Up. I hear it’s all the rage! It’s even a musical.
CG: A musical? You know, these talking pictures really might catch on. What do they say about it?
Waitress: Here, I’ll read the review. Sunny Side up, starring Charles Farrell and Annette Gaynor. Quote, The Times and The New York Times both express the opinion that the film, and the singing voices of Gaynor and Farrell, are all tolerable if not exactly worthy of praise. (Pauses) Tolerable? Well, that doesn’t sound too great.
Rex comes back over to the piano area and sits down.
Rex: Hey there fruit juice fans! How’re tricks?
Carlos: (excited) You’d like to see some tricks! Of course Mr. Rex, of course! (begins doing magic, pulling hankies out of mouth etc., moving to other side of stage.)
Rex: What a maroon!
Waitress: Hey! That’s not nice. Roberto seems like a nice young man. (giggling)
CG: You mean Chico. (snickers)
Carlos: It’s Carlos! All ignore him. CG and Waitress get back to walking about, leaving the paper. Vera enters and moves to piano.
Rex: (Looking at paper, Vera comes back to stage area with Pip following behind) Holy Cow! The Dow is at 300! 300! That’s an all time high. Hey now Vera, did you take my advice and get in on this stock market action?
Vera: Oh, I am dabbling a little here and there. (holds up some papers from purse.) In fact, I just bought some new stocks today. My businessman friend tells me they’re a sure thing.
Rex: Sure thing eh? Lets see. (looks over the sheets of paper) Oh, this doesn’t look good. Oh, no, no no no………. tsk tsk tsk……..
Vera: Why? What’s wrong?
Rex: Well it’s clear that you’ve got no stock market experience. I mean, well, look at this one here for instance. Kodak? What the heck is a Kodak?
Vera: Not a what, a who. Kodak is a fellow who invents all kinds of cameras and film stuff, even moving picture film! I think he’ll do well.
12
Rex: You won’t make a dime, I guarantee it. Now what about this one? Kool Aid? What in
the name of Pete is Kool-Aid? Some kind of special fan or something?
Vera: No you idiot! It’s a fruity drink for kids.
Rex: Oh my poor Vera! You really are naïve. Why don’t you let me invest that money for you? Or better yet, give it to me or Big Al. I mean, no offense but you are just a woman. After all, you only got the right to vote a few years ago. What makes you think you can handle investing?
Vera: Oh I’ll be just fine thank you very much. Besides, I learned the hard way to keep control of my own money and my own destiny. Why if I hadn’t trusted so many men in my life I’d probably be a millionaire by now.
Rex: Oh come on now Vera, all men aren’t the same, you’ve just got to trust the right guy. (Smiles) Why don’t you let me take care of building you a nest egg? You know you can trust me!
Vera: Fat chance of that! (Moves to the middle of the stage where other women are as if she is talking to them)
Vera: You see, the problem with men is….. well…… They’re men! (all laugh) I mean, they try to do the right thing, but there’s something built in that doesn’t let any of them stay on the high road. A kind of magnet pulling them right down into the ditch. I’ve heard every story you can imagine from every kind of man. One needs you to help him get his business back on track, another has a line on a sure thing at the track. Scoundrels, all of them!
CG: Oh come on now Miss Vera, surely all men can’t be that bad?
Waitress: Yeah, I mean, my Louie’s not perfect but I trust him. (pauses) Well, there was that one time last year I caught him messing around with the coat check girl. And a few months ago he spent all the rent money gambling. (Pauses, looking more perturbed) And last week he forgot to pick me up after work. (Counting on fingers as she mutters to herself on more points about Harry.)
CG: (Pushes Waitress aside) Now don’t you listen to her Miss Del Mar! All you have to do is find the right fella and things will all fall into line. Besides, a girl needs a man to take care of, you know, all the details.
Vera: I can take care of my own details! Besides, with all the men I’ve met, if there were a good one out there I’d have noticed by now!
CG: Nonsense! You’ve just gotta’ have faith!
Vera: Faith! Faith!
Lights change as music begins
13
I put my faith in some men, they said they’d treat me right
I used to play the Broadway stage, was sold out every night
But anyone can tell you, the good times never last
No Man, No love is strong enough, To overcome the lying
So it’s no more playing nice girl, I’ve had enough of that
Just when you start to love a man, you find out he’s a rat
It’s always the same story, they say trust me and you’ll see
But till’ something better comes along,
I’ll put my faith, in me
Now most men want to tell you, their smooth and all of that
But when you put your trust in them, they’ll always leave you flat
And when the party’s over, when it’s time to pay the bill
They’re off and gone and running and
You’re standing all alone again it’s
Now more playing nice girl, I’ve had enough of that
Just when you start to love a man, you find out he’s a rat
It’s always the same story, they say trust me and you’ll see
But till’ something better comes along,
I’ll put my faith, in me
So it’s no more playing nice girl, I’ve had enough of that
Just when you start to love a man, you find out he’s a rat
It’s always the same story, they say trust me and you’ll see
But till’ something better comes along, I’ll put my faith, in me
till’ something better comes along, I’ll put my faith, in me
till’ something better comes along, I’ll put my faith, in me
As song ends, Happy New Year!” is heard as scene fades
Lights fade Scene flips to Black
14
Old Pip: (Sleepily) Happy New Year!(smiling, then looks around and realizes she is alone) Oh, right. Ahem……
(wipes eye with a hanky) Yes sir, those sure were some wonderful people. And what a wonderful time it was too. Everyone was so happy. They were all making lots of money in the market and with the Speakeasy doing so much business, Big Al said the only thing that could ever mess things up would be if they ended prohibition. (Pauses) If I only could have seen…….. (wipes eyes and then fades off into sleep again.)
Lights dim on Old Pip and up on Black set, where Vera is peering into a wineglass as if to spot something inside. She flicks something aside and then takes another sip.
Rex: Yeah, if only she could have seen alright. If only any of us could have seen.
Vera: Yes, well…… it was a nice night though, wasn’t it?
Rex: Yeah it sure was. (laughs, nodding toward Old Pip) Remember her? All drunk on shoe juice and dancing like a fool!
Vera: I thought she was cute.
Rex: Yeah, I guess she was kinda’ cute at that, wasn’t she?
Carlos: She was always very nice to me, but I never really paid much attention to be honest. Maria, did you notice Pip much back then? Maria? Maria? (Steps slightly off stage.) Oh, there you are. (He rolls out the magic trick box onto the stage, where Maria is stuck). I always forget.
Maria: Forget! Forget! How nice it must be to forget something like this!
Carlos: Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry.
Maria: Sorry! (chastises him in Spanish) If only you could have been on time to start the last show. I was only a few seconds from being out of this box when…. well, you know. (sniffs as if crying a little)
Vera: Hey now little missy, don’t cry.
Maria: I’m sorry, I’m just so tired of being stuck in this stupid box! It’s, it’s……. humiliating.
Rex: Now come on there sugar, it’s just us. And besides, Vera is right. (looks over at Old Pip) I mean, how much longer can she take anyway?
Carlos: (smiling) Yes, Yes! This is why I have my suitcase today!
Vera: You have your suitcase every day you numbskull.
Maria: Si, everyday he tells me, Maria! Today is the day we go home to Spain, I’m sure of it! And every day I am here again, stuck in this box while you people are all fine.
Rex: Fine? Fine? You call this fine? I’ve worn this hat now for twenty years! I’m hot and sticky and, and….. and if I could smell I’d probably find that I stink too! At least you’ve got Antonio there to push you around.
Carlos: It’s Carlos.
Vera: He knows you’re name Francisco! (laughs) Say Rex, whatever happened to those banker fellows that were here last month? I thought maybe they were going to help speed things up?
Rex: So did I, but so far nothing. I just can’t figure it out. When they said the place was finally selling I thought we were home free. I mean, the new owners will for sure take a wrecking ball to the place. Wouldn’t that do it?
Vera: How should I know? Do you think someone gave me a program for this? I just know for now she’s here, which means we’re here, plain and simple.
15
Maria: But, she is old, yes?
Carlos: I find it hard to tell the age of Caucasians. It is easier with the Spanish. The Spanish have much more, character.
Rex: Nice try Pedro. Old or young, old Pip there is the stick that is keeping the gears from moving on.
Vera: Don’t feel so bad, you could be like them, (nodding toward waitresses) silently serving with never a break.
Maria: Oh yes, that would be so much worse, being able to leave this box and walk around and.. (breaks into Spanish ramblings of frustration & anger) But no, I’m stuck in a box thanks to Pedro the great!
(Pip begins to stir. Vera and Rex exit pushing Maria ahead of them. Carlos turns to follow, then pauses to look directly at the Audience.)
Carlos: (as lights are fading) It’s Carlos.
Fade to black
Flip to grey scene
Lights come up half way on Grey set. There is evidence of damage to the building, scorched walls, holes, beams down etc… Bankers enter stage right. Old Pip is still asleep.
Banker 1: Miss Johnston? Miss Johnston. Hey, maybe she’s already left and saved us the trouble.
Banker 2: No such luck, she’s right over there, sleeping as usual. Miss Johnston! Miss Johnston! (Old Pip stirs awake, looks at the two, a bit startled.)
Old Pip: What’s the meaning of this? Who are you people? Who said you could be in here?
Banker 1: We’re from the bank Miss Johnston, don’t you remember?
Old Pip: Bank? What do I want with a bank? Nobody’s got any money anyway. Didn’t you hear the market crashed? Everyone lost everything!
Banker 2: Market? What’s she talking about?
Banker 1: Nothing, she’s crazy. Now Miss Johnston, you remember what we talked about a few weeks ago don’t you? I told you the building has been sold and you’re gonna have to find someplace else to live. Miss Johnston?
Old Pip: Sold? Move? This can’t be. Big Al would never…… I mean, who’ll look after them? They need me. I’m the one that takes care of everything.
Banker 2: Them? Who are you talking about Miss Johnston?
Old Pip: Why Miss Vera, and Rex, and Mr. Carlos and Maria, and, and……. Oh this won’t do, this won’t do. I’ve got to find Big Al. I need to talk to Big Al…. (Old Pip runs out of the room babbling)
Banker 1: Crazy old fool. Thinks she’s back in the twenties! (laughs) Probably gone crazy from all that bad moonshine.
Banker 2: What’s her story?
Banker 1: She pretty much grew up here back in the good old days. Her mother worked in the kitchen and she and Pip lived in one of the rooms upstairs. After the mother died I guess big Al felt sorry for her and let her stay, helping out around the place, working for tips. She was in charge of helping the entertainers and making sure they had everything they needed. Boy did she look up to them!
Banker 2: So why’s she still here?
16
Banker 1: No where else to go. After what happened that last night things pretty much went to the dogs everywhere. This place was in ruins, along with lots of others. Heck, nobody had any money to buy booze anyway after that. You’re lucky you were just a kid.
Banker 2: So she just stayed here? With no water or electricity? I mean, well, it was so long ago!
Banker 1: Lots of people had no power those days, and fewer still had any money to pay the bill if they did. Even the folks who still had money were so careful with it you couldn’t get a dime out of anyone. Lot’s of people ended up just as crazy as she is, talking to the darn pictures on the wall. Come on now, let’s get going.
End scene
End Act 1 Fade to black
17
Act 2
Scene opens to the White scene in the afternoon before opening. People are milling about,
Rex is tinkling at the Piano. Cigarette girl walks by with Placard that reads “September 3rd, 1929”. She walks to where
Waitress is standing by Rex reading the paper. Vera and Pip are center stage.
Young Pip: Please tell me another story about when you were on Broadway Miss Vera! Please!
Vera: Maybe some other time little Pip. Right now I’ve got to talk to Rex for a bit.
Young Pip: (staring off dreamily) It must have been wondrous!
Music begins as spot on Young Pip and Old Pip watching from Box.
Young Pip:
Once in awhile I wonder, how it would feel
With all those people on their feet
What does it mean to know that you are the one they love
Acting so grand just like a king or a queen
Greeting my people every night
What I would give to feel the lights on me oh so bright
Old Pip:
But there’s hard time coming
You better brace yourself
Cause your sure not ready
For the rest of the story ……….
(Piano plays melody)
Old Pip:
But I like your spirit
And you seem so happy
It’s like a broken window
But their ain’t no rainbow …….
Young Pip & Cast: (Old Pip shaking head as if trying to warn Young Pip)
Once in awhile I dream that I am the one
With all those people on their feet
How does it feel to know that you are the one they love, The one they love The …. One …. They … LOVE………….
18
Lights fade and then come back up on same white scene as people continue about.
Waitress is reading paper beside Cigarette girl.
CG: Oh man, my dogs are barking! (rubs feet as if sore) What’re you reading?
Waitress: Oh I was readin’ this interesting article about Charles Lindbergh when he flew his plane all the way from New York to Paris, non-stop!
CG: New York to Paris! Wow! How long did it take him?
Waitress: It says it took him thirty three and a half hours!
CG: Thirty Three and a half hours in an airplane! Why I bet he could have flown around the world in that much time.
Waitress: Good Grief!
Swats CG with paper then tosses it on the piano and they both move off stage right. Vera walks up to Rex.
Vera: Hey there Rex. Have you seen the papers?
Rex: Have I? 381! Can you believe it? 381!
Vera: Big Al must be grinning from ear to ear.
Rex: Him and me both. Remember, for every dollar Big Al makes old Rex here is making at least a nickel. Man, another year of this and I’ll be on easy street. I can move down to Palm Springs and live the good life.
Vera: Be careful what you wish for Rex, I’d say your life here is pretty good now.
Young Pip: That’s right Mr. Rex, and besides, you wouldn’t want to leave the club now would you? (Looks at Vera) You’d never leave would you Miss Vera?
Vera: Well, at some point everything has to change now doesn’t it sweetie?
Young Pip: I don’t want anything to change. I wish we could all just stay and live here at the club forever!
Rex: Oh sure kid, this is great for now, but lets face it, I can’t rely on my good looks and charisma forever.
Vera: (looks him up and down) I would have to agree with you there. (laughs)
Rex: You know what I mean. You’re the one who’s always saying people should be looking out for themselves. Well, that’s all I’m talking about.
Vera: I do say that, yes.
Rex: Yes, and since I’ve been betting everything on Big Al, every day gets me that much closer to having it all. By the way, how are those dud investments of yours doing? Making any money?
Vera: Oh, a little. That young Howard Hughes fellow has been gave me some pointers. He even said he might put me in one of his motion pictures. Imagine that.
Rex: Motion pictures? Well, good for you.
Waitress: (interrupts) Excuse me Miss Del Mar, there’s a telephone call for you, a Mr. Hughes?
19
Vera: Speak of the devil! Walks to phone, which is stage left. rolled out by the waitress and taken offstage after the calls. Howard? Howard is that you? Oh high darling, how nice of you to call. (Pause) What? (pause) Sell? Are you sure?(shocked) Really? Oh dear. Well yes, yes of course Howard, I’ll call my broker and have him sell everything right away. Yes, I’ll make sure to do just like you say Howard. No, I won’t tell a sole, I promise. Bye Bye dear. (hangs up)
Vera makes another call while the scene switched back to Rex near the piano talking to Carlos and Maria.
Carlos: How are you today Mr. Rex? I hear the papers had good news for you?
Rex: They sure did Julio, they sure did. Why I was just telling Vera there that another year of this and I’ll be able to retire and live the good life down south.
Carlos: It’s Carlos actually.
Rex: Right, right, Carlos. Well listen Carlos. You should be getting in on this bull market while it’s hot. I mean listen to what this economist Irving Fisher says here in the Times, “Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau”. See there! And this is a famous economist! If anyone would know it would be him! You’re crazy to not get on board.
Carlos: A bull? (smiles) My uncle raises these near Madrid for the fighting. (mimics matador action)
Maria: Not El toro Bull idiot! (turns to Rex) I keep telling him about this investing but he never listens. If we took advantage of all this I might be able to travel back to Spain in first class instead of squeezing into a suitcase. (looks toward audience) Oh Mio, my back gets so sore!
Carlos: Maria! Mind your manners. Our family does not take these kinds of risks. You should be happy I agreed to let you come and work for me on this voyage. It was mother’s idea not mine!
Maria: Oh come now little brother, you know without me you’d never have found the ship from Spain in the first place. You are useless on your own!
Carlos: Well, that may be, but I am still the head of the family and you should be showing me more respect!
Maria: Oh I’m so sorry! How could I show disrespect to Crawfish the Magnificent! (she laughs and walks offstage)
Carlos: It’s Carlos! (follows Maria offstage)
(Vera walks back over toward piano)
Vera: Say there Rex, I was thinking, you know, you’ve already made a lot of money in the market, so why don’t you play it safe and cash in now while you’re on top?
Rex: Are you crazy? Cash in now? Right when things are finally going my way? Not on your life. Why would you say such a thing Vera?
Vera: (nervously) Ah, well, no reason, it’s just that you’ve been up before and ended up on your keester, remember?
Rex: Oh, yeah but that was gamblin’, you know, dice and cards. This is legit! It’s the real deal, the bee’s knees, the cat’s pajamas! It’s all business! When has business ever let anyone down? I mean, come on kid! Cash in now? No way!
Vera: Yeah, well, it’s your money. I’d just hate to see things turn south on you, you know?
Rex: Now don’t you worry about me my dear. I’ll be just fine. In fact, you can be my first guest at the Casa del Rex in Palm Beach, maybe for New Year’s eve next year!
Vera: (sighs) That sounds great Rex. Now, you’ll have to excuse me honey, I’ve got to go see, ah, my tailor, he’s doing some hemming for me. Ta Ta…(Vera exits stage right).
20
Rex: (laughing) That Vera, what a gal. Trying to give me investment advice, ha! She has no idea of how much I’m making by following one simple rule.
Waitress: What rule is that Mr. Rex?
Rex: A good question! A good question indeed.
CG: Do you have a special way of picking stocks?
Rex: Nope!
CG: Do you specialize in something? Like gold or copper?
Rex: Nope!
Waitress: Well what is it? What’s your secret?
Rex: Oh, I don’t know girls, I mean, this thing is big, I don’t think I should…..
CG: & Waitress: (Together) Ah common, p l e a s e!
Rex: Well, alright. I guess it can’t hurt. You see girls, my entire investment platform is founded on one thing and one thing only. I never deviate from it, I never question it and I never hesitate to put all my money on it.
Music starts
I always bet my money on Big Al
He’s rich he’s bright he’s funny yes he truly is a Pal
When Al’s around you here the sound of money rolling in
So always bet your money on big Al
I used to be a man of little means
Was praying for a savior, wore the knees out of my jeans
When the market bell is ringin and you really need a pal
You should always bet your money on Big Al
Always bet your money on Big Al
He’s rich he’s bright he’s funny yes he truly is a Pal
When Al’s around you here the sound of money rolling in
If you always bet your money on big Al
Drum riff
Always bet your money on Big Al……………a
Song ends and scene flips to black set Lights come up on Old Pip
21
Old Pip: (Wiping eyes) If only he would have listened. Poor mister Rex. (shakes head) Now early that Fall everyone everywhere was living life like the money would never end. Buying fancy cars and beach houses, all on credit taken against the stocks they had, borrowing sometimes two or three times what they had! If only I had been smarter I could have warned them all before things went bad. I mean, after all, it was my job to look after them, Big Al said so. (shakes her head and fades off to sleep)
Black scene fades up with Rex at the piano and Vera on one side. Carlos and Maria are near the entrance and the waitress and cigarette girl move in and out through the scene. Old Pip is lit dimly during this scene.
Rex: Poor kid. She really thought she should have saved us? How could she have saved us from ourselves?
Vera: No one could ever save you from you Rex. (laughs) That’s what makes you, you! All mouth and hands and no ears in sight! Why that poor girl figured she could help you is beyond me!
Rex: Hey! I wasn’t that bad. (looks over to Old Pip) And she is hardly a girl anymore is she?
Vera: Oh, I guess not. It’s still hard for me to think of her other than the way she was when……
Rex: Well, she was certainly easier to look at in the old days. Much less drool.
Vera: Rex!
Rex: I’m just kidding. But you were right you know, she did deserve better than to spend her days fawning over a bunch of unappreciative trumped up fools like us. Say! You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to write Old Pip a song for when the time comes, you know, something special, just for her.
Vera: Why Rex, that is about the nicest idea you’ve ever had. And here I thought you had a heart of stone.
Rex: Oh no, my heart was flesh and blood, it’s my common sense that was made of stone. And right to the bottom it sunk, didn’t it? (Tinkles on piano, Pip stirs and Rex & Vera exit)
Old Pip: (waking) Wha… huh….. thought I heard …., but….. (shakes head). In October of twenty nine things started to change. I didn’t really understand it, but everyone was looking worried and nervous. October 24th they called “Black Thursday”, but actually it was a clear sunny day. October 28th they called, “Black Monday”, Then the 29th they called Black Tuesday. Seemed like there were only black days no matter which way you looked. Even Big Al looked worried, and I never saw him worry about anything. He kept talking about coming up with a way out of it, but I never knew what he meant. (pauses) If only I had………
(Old Pip fades off to sleep and lights fade on black scene, then flips to white.)
22
Scene fades up on White set, dimly lit. Cigarette girl walks by with placard that reads October 29th, 1929. Vera is center stage in spotlight. Various headlines will show under spots during song, with rest of stage black.
Over and under your luck dashed like thunder with all of your hopes on the line
Lower and higher for what you desire, So willing to die on the vine
Winner or loser is always a matter of old fashion luck every time
Better or worse this dance we’ve rehearsed, To turn what is yours into mine
Over and under you’ve still not a wonder, why luck doesn’t linger and grow
Dropping like flies in a pit of despair, Not admitting the truth that you know
Winner or loser they make such a chatter and think that their luck’s finally changed
Day after Day they keep risking it all, They don’t even know it’s a game
Over and Under the luck rolls like thunder
Over and under the luck rolls like thunder
Over and under and over and under and over and under and…….
Song ends
Fade to black
23
Lights come up on white set with everyone looking sad as Rex enters looking happy.
Rex: Well hello my fellow gin hounds! Why so glum.
Vera: Rex! Where have you been? We’ve been looking all over for you.
Rex: I just got back from a week at my old man’s hunting lodge up north. Feel like a million bucks! Why? What’s up?
Vera: Hunting lodge? So you haven’t heard? You don’t know?
Rex: Know what? (looks around) Say, why is everybody looking so glum anyway?
Vera: Glum? Glum? I’ll tell you why we’re all so glum, but you’d better sit down.
Rex: Sit down? Oh come on now, surely it can’t be that bad.
Waitress: It’s that bad and worse! (picks up the paper) Ahem, The fall of the American economy. October 24th, the Dow lost 11%. Everyone thought it was a blip and things would get right back up there, but then on Monday, it dropped another 13%. That’s over 16 billion dollars, gone!
Rex: Oh no, this can’t be.
Vera: That ain’t the half of it. Tuesday it lost another 14 billion. Companies have been closing up all over the country. Banks are going under left and right, nobody can get their money out of their own accounts. It’s, it’s terrible. Sorry kid, but it looks like ah, we’re ah… all going to lose everything and then some.
Rex: But all my money…… this is awful.
Vera: Ah but don’t worry, we’ve still got this place. I’m sure Big Al will let anyone who needs to stay on until things pick up again. Say, speaking of Big Al, has anyone seen him today?
Rex: Yeah, I need to see if I’ve got anything left at all!
Waitress: I think he’s in his office talking to little Pip.
Rex exits stage right. Carlos and Maria are at the rear of the stage, listening in.
Vera: Poor Rex, bet everything on Big Al and rolled snake eyes as usual.
Waitress: Looks like everyone rolled snake eyes miss Vera. I guess I’m lucky my money is in one of the banks that didn’t go under.
CG: How about you miss Vera? Did you lose everything too?
Vera: Well, don’t tell anyone this, but to tell the truth girls, I cashed in all my stocks back when they were at the top. I had a, ah, friend who told me to move everything into gold for security, so actually, all my money is safe and sound in a safe deposit box at Wells Fargo.
CG: Wow! Too bad Rex never thought of that.
Vera: Oh it wouldn’t matter what anyone did or said, Rex Reynolds would have done what he always does, which is plod forward with his tongue out and eyes closed!
Waitress: (laughing) Oh Miss Vera! That’s mean!
Vera: It’s not my fault Rex is a knucklehead! I mean, never in my life have I known a man who gets so many chances at success only to have them fall through his pocket every time!
24
Waitress: Maybe it’s because he’s such a nice guy?
Vera: Nice? Ha! It’s because he’s an idiot! (Rex enters stage right and stands, listening)
CG: Miss Vera!
Vera: It’s true, I swear. Why Rex Reynolds doesn’t have the common sense god gave a goose! It wouldn’t matter what anyone did or said, he’d never listen. Buffoon!
Rex: Ahem!
Vera: (looks over toward Rex) Oh Rex, ah, sorry darling.
Rex: How could you say that to me?
Vera: Now Rex darling don’t be silly. That wasn’t meant for your ears, I didn’t know you were there. I was talking about you, not to you!
Rex: Well I didn’t like it either way.
Waitress: It’s ok Rex, Vera was just joking, weren’t you Vera?
Vera:(hesitates) Yeah, Yeah of course I was.(laughs) And you thought I was serious!Say, what did Big Al say about your investments? Did anything survive?
Rex: It doesn’t look like it. Who would have thought things would go like this? I mean, even the banks aren’t safe. Over 600 of them have already gone under, with all of their customer’s money with them.
Vera: Oh dear! Well what do you think Big Al is going to do? I mean, will he be able to keep the club open?
Rex: For now at least. Al says he can hold out until the end of the year, but not long after that. He said he’s working on something that will get him out of the red by then though.
Carlos: So this is why Mr. Big Al has not been around much the past month? He has lost
all his money? Will that mean he cannot pay us?
Maria: Oh my, I guess it’s back to the suitcase for me.
Vera: Oh now don’t worry kids, I’m sure it’ll all work out. And after all, you’ve already got your return passage to Spain booked haven’t you?
Carlos: Well, yes, I have a single ticket on a ship sailing January first, right after our last night.
Maria: A single ticket?!? (rants at him in Spanish) A single ticket! Why didn’t you buy two!
Carlos: Why should I buy your ticket? Why don’t you buy your own? After all, you insist that I pay you after every show. Where has this money gone?
Maria: (looks at floor) I, I,……..
Carlos: Yes, You, You……
Maria: Alright, Alright, I lost it all in the stock market too!
Carlos: Stock market! You! But Maria, I told you that this was not something we should be involved with. I told you no good could come of this!
Maria: Yes, Yes, I know I know! But since when have you ever been right?
25
Vera: Well, he was sure right this time.
Rex: I’ll say.
Lights fade and scene flips to black. Lights up on Old Pip
Old Pip: (staring off sadly) Yeah, those were dark days. With few customers coming in and none of them with much money, things just weren’t the same in the last couple of months of the year. Everyone just came and went, waiting for things to get better. No one saw much of Big Al at all. He was out trying to scratch his way back for most of November and December, and there was even a rumor that there wouldn’t be a New Year’s eve party that year. Imagine! A New Years eve without a party at Big Al’s.(sniffs) But then on December 30, the day before the last day of the year, Big Al showed up early in the morning, when everyone was asleep. He was with another man in a truck and they had a big wooden crate they were moving in. I called out to ask if they needed my help and Al had a look on his face different than I’d ever seen. He told me to get off to my room, that I had a big day ahead planning the big New Year’s eve party. Well that got me so excited I was jumping all around and yelling!(pauses) I didn’t notice them putting the crate into the store room. (pauses and sniffs) I just didn’t notice…..
Lights fade on Old Pip and up on black set. Vera and Rex are at the piano, Carlos and Maria are at rear of stage. All are looking toward Old Pip somberly.
Rex: I hate to see her beat herself up about it all the time.
Carlos: Yes, it isn’t right, I mean, how could she have known?
Vera: She couldn’t have. Pip just took it all too much to heart when Al said her job was to look after all of us. Here we were, her idols in every way, never giving her a second thought and all the time she was worshiping the ground we walked on.
Maria: It is so sad. (sniffs)
Rex: Now come on folks, cheer up. I mean, how could we have known she was taking it all so serious? And even if we did, would any of us have done anything different?
Vera: We should have had her on stage.
Maria: Yes! This is perfect!
Rex: On stage! Are you nuts? Why would we have her on stage?
Vera: Because it was all she ever wanted you numbskull! She spent each and every day doing whatever any of us wanted with never so much as a how do you do and all she wanted was to be one of us. Not a fan, but a friend, a peer!
Carlos: She always remembered my correct name.
Maria: She always helped me with my packages.
Vera: She always brought me flowers and champagne.
Rex: Ah come on now, you’re gonna’ make me start. (pauses) She always made me feel like a big shot. She shouldn’t put all of this on her shoulders.
26
Lights fade on black and upon Old Pip.
Old Pip: (Looking sadly) I spent the whole next day getting things ready for the big party. Spare no expense Big Al said. He wanted everything to be just perfect.(pauses)Then Big Al called me into his office just before seven to make sure everything was all set and he asked me to do something strange.. He said he had to go across town for a few hours for a big meeting with an investor that was going to help bail him out. Said he was leaving me in charge of everything! Me! In charge! He even gave me cash to buy a new dress!(Smiles, then slowly looks solemn again) Big Al said there was only one thing I had to promise him, and that was That I would take a bottle of his best whisky over to Mr.Gibbs at the train station across the street just before midnight and ring in the new year with him, on account of he was all alone and all. It didn’t seem like much to ask……..
Lights fade, set flips to White. Cigarette girl has placard that reads “New Years Eve, 1929”. Music of party is heard, laughter and glasses clinking. Rex is at the piano. Carlos and Maria are getting ready to do their act.
Rex: Hey look, he said to nobody, it’s Carlos the magnificent!
Carlos: (walks to piano) Thank you mister Rex. Only one more show to do and then our contract is completed.
Rex: I don’t know why you bother chump. I mean, there’s hardly anyone here and them that are wouldn’t notice one way or the other. Besides, Big Al’s not even gonna be able to pay you!
(Maria walks over and joins them)
Carlos: Ah but not performing would be dishonest on my part! Mr. Al has hired us for the entire year and I cannot in good conscience leave without fulfilling our arrangement. No, we will do the midnight show and then toast the New Year with all of you, our friends.
Maria: Oh that is right. Benito is far too honorable to take even one penny of payment without earning it.
Carlos: (annoyed) Maria! Stop that! Mister Rex, have you seen Pip? I need her to arrange for my trunks to be taken to the ship in the morning.
Maria: Yes, and I must limber up in order to be comfortable in my luxury suitcase!
Vera enters stage right and joins everyone at the piano
Vera: Why hey gang! Why so glum? It’s almost time to ring in the New Year!
Rex: New Year, Old Year. What’s the difference? We’re all penniless either way you look.
Vera: Yeah, right, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have one more night of fun here at Big Al’s place does it? I mean, why not? For old times sake.
Rex: Oh I don’t know Vera. I mean the only one who’s been excited about tonight is young Pip, mostly cause she doesn’t know any better.
Vera: Well where is Pip anyway? It’s almost midnight, she’s going to miss the big countdown.
Rex: She’s not going to be here until later on. It’s the oddest thing. She said Big Al made her take a bottle of his best whisky over to old Sam Gibbs at the train station and ring in the New Year with him. Imagine that?
Vera: But that doesn’t make any sense. Big Al always hated Gibbs, why he wouldn’t even let him into the club. Said he smelled of diesel.
27
Maria: This is true. Many times I have heard Mr. Big Al say how he disliked Mr. Gibbs. He would even drive to the next town if he had to take the train, just to avoid talking to him.
Carlos: Well, perhaps he is feeling guilty for this behavior and wants to start the New Year off in a more generous and friendly manner, one befitting a business owner.
Rex: Now I hate to burst your bubble Mack, but if I know one thing it’s that Big Al never in his life did anything for anybody without getting something in return.
Vera: Boy, you can say that again. (pauses) Except maybe for Pip. He always treated Pip like she was family, you know? Always looking out for her.
Maria: Yes, it was nice to see this. Pip looked up to Mr. Al and always wanted to please him.
Rex: Yeah, well I think you can kiss that act goodbye! Now that Big Al is on the verge of losing this joint and everybody is broke anyway, I doubt he’ll have time to worry about strays anymore.
Vera: Rex! That’s not nice! Pip is a nice young girl. I think it’s unfair that Al is making her miss the New Year’s eve countdown with all of us. Especially to take whisky to someone he doesn’t even like!
Maria: Yes, this is strange. Why would Mr. Big Al not want Pip here at midnight?
Carlos: Who can know? Come Maria, it is time to do the last show.
Scene Fades to black as 3, 2, 1 Happy New Year by many, and then thunderous noise is heard
Flip set to Black scene. Lights up on Old Pip against black.
Old Pip:(Staring at stage sadly, shaking lightly, speaks softly) It wasn’t right. I should have been with them.(sniffs, coughs and clears his head.) Mr. Gibbs at the train station couldn’t believe Big Al would do anything nice for him and he made me stay there and listen to Auld Lang Syne on the radio with him. He had it turned up so loud we didn’t hear anything until the first Fire truck went by……(coughs, then shakes head clear)
It was the insurance you see, that was his way out and Big Al wanted me safe from harm. Everyone else he didn’t care about. (pauses, wiping eyes) But it was my job to take care of them! They were everything that mattered. It wasn’t fair! (pauses, getting softer) I should have been there. Pip fades off as lights dim and come up on black set
Vera: Oh, that poor girl.
Rex: Yeah. After all this time, she still thinks she could have done something about it?
Maria: No, I think she is regretting she was not with us, (pauses) then…….
Carlos: Yes, I agree. We may be stuck here, but at east we have each other. She has been stuck nowhere for so long now.
Rex: We’ve all been stuck nowhere for too long.
Vera: Someone’s coming! All exit as stage goes dark. Flips to grey scene. Lights slowly come up
Bankers enter stage left
Banker 1: Good grief! What a mess!
Banker 2: You can say that again! It’ll sure be good to get this wreck down and gone.
Banker 1: (Looks over at Old Pip) Oh, no! Why is she still here? I thought we made it clear last time that….. Miss Johnston. Miss Johnston!
28
Old Pip stirs awake
Banker 1: Miss Johnston? It’s time to go now ma’am.
Old Pip:(confused) Go? Go where? I can’t go anywhere. Who would take care of them?Who would make sure they were safe?
Banker 2: Take care of who Miss Johnston?
Old Pip: The performers of course! (Looks proudly) It’s my job to look after them, to get the things they need and arrange things for them.
Banker 1: Performers! What performers? There hasn’t been a performer here since…. Since….
Old Pip: Since what? Don’t tell me about this club! I’ve worked in this club all my life! It’s my job to take care of all the stars who come to perform. This is my life!
Banker 2: Yeah, well, you know Miss Johnston. There hasn’t been anyone but you here since New Year’s eve 1929, you know, when, (pauses) well, you know what happened that night.
Banker 1: Yes, and now it’s time to move along to somewhere new, so we can take a wrecking ball to this place and build something new. It’s for the best, don’t you see?
Old Pip: For the best? I don’t know what you’re talking about! You just get on out of here now and leave me be!
(struggles to push bankers away) You’ve no right to, (jerks in pain) no right to…..
(has apparent heart attack and collapses at their feet in front of her hovel)
Banker 1: Miss Johnston! Miss Johnston! (both bankers kneel behind Old Pip. Banker 2 checks her pulse)
Banker 2: Oh my. She’s, gone.
Banker 1: Crazy old woman. Wasted her life away living in the past, talking to ghosts. Grab me one of those old blankets there and then we have to get to a phone and call the coroner to come get her.
They cover Old Pip up with a blanket, heavy enough so he can slip out and Young Pip can slide under in the dark.
Bankers then exit stage left. Set flips to White scene, but only a spot light come up on where Pip lies under the blanket. Vera slowly steps closer, along with rest of cast, circling around behind Pip. Rex is at the piano. Everyone is in finest wear but lights diminish this at first.
Vera: Pip? Pip, are you there?
Maria: Pip? Pip?
(Others join in, softly saying his name)
Rex begins playing piano. Cast stands in semi circle behind the blanket covering young Pip.
29
Old, Friend, So glad you finally made it now you’ve reached the end
Time, Flies, So fast at times there’s hardly time to dry your eyes
But now at last you’re there, You’re friends are round the corner and their waiting
Chorus
And a knock comes on the door, Stage man calling
You’re on in just five minutes, Time to take the floor
And then the band begins to play, Crowd is yellin’, Play on cause we ain’t going
Let us dance some more I know you’re boss won’t mind and if so what the hell
Young Pip rises from the floor as the lights come up on the stage. Everyone shows affection to her as she looks in awe. Carlos puts a fine robe on her shoulders.
Lights, Stage, Bring such a sense of wonder never mind your age
Crowds, Build, You hear them getting louder gives you such a thrill
You’ll never fear again, You’re friends are backstage and their waiting for you
Chorus
And now at last you’re there
You’re friends are backstage and their waiting for you
Chorus
And a knock comes on the door
Stage man calling
You’re on in just five minutes, Time to take the floor
And then the band begins to play
Crowd is yellin’, Play on cause we ain’t going
Let us dance some more I know you’re boss won’t mind and if so what the hell he’s drunk he won’t remember nothin……
Rex continues playing piano as everyone else exits opposite stage. Twenties music comes up as Young Pip runs back on stage and leads Rex off to the others.
Twenties music plays in background as curtain call is taken.