# More Than a Beautiful Thing

## a country girl comes to the city to sing

### by Dennis Shasha and Barbie Grizer

### Main Cast:

Narrator, teenage and mid-20s B

Young B

Young Molly

Mom

Actress of One Night/Celine

Doctor/Dad/Sebastien/Pastor

Older Molly

### Act 1 Scene 1

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.]

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

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

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.

She stops talking and we see kids running around.

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.

Perform church songs like “All to Jesus I surrender…”

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.

Molly and young B appear. We watch Molly and young B walking using their compass.

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.

Young B: Mom, you say Jesus loves me right?

Mom: Yes, blessed daughter.

Young B: And Jesus can do anything right?

Mom: Right.

Young B: So Jesus won’t let me get hurt. Even when you spanked me that didn’t hurt.

Then she runs off.

### Act 1, scene 2

Molly: B, I found a great tree for climbing. Wanna come?

B: Sure.

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.

B: Molly, help!!! My foot is caught in a trap.

Molly sees the trap: Oh no, it’s a fox trap.

We watch Molly run to get help. People come with a stretcher and take young B, trap and all away. Young B has fainted.

### Act 1, Scene 3 in the Hospital

Doctor to Mom: Sister Rachel, we have to cut off the leg. Otherwise it might get infected and kill her.

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.

Doctor: With help from Jesus, nothing is impossible.

Molly is sitting there crying.

Doctor to Molly: Go away little girl. A hospital is not a place for you.

Molly just shakes her head.

Doctor to Molly: Here I’ll call your Mom. She’ll come to get you.

Molly sobbing: It's my fault. All my fault. Save her leg docs. With the help of Jesus.

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.

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What Does Prayer Do?

### Act 1. Scene 4.

Young B is in a whellchair. She wheels around quite expertly. Sometimes she moves and winces in pain.

Little B reads…

    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

B and her Mom go to the doctors.

Young B in wheelchair to Doctor: Can I go outside?

Doctor: No.

Young B: Can I get crutches?

Doctor: No….

Young B pauses: Can you say anything else besides no?

Doctor: Ask me if you can put sparkles in your hair.

### Act 1, scene 5

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.

    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.

B is writing in her journal and she says out loud:

    They love all sinners,
    For whose souls they do pray
    For without those sins
    They’d have nothing to say.

Later, we see young B whisper something to Molly and they both giggle.

### Act 1, scene 6

Narrator B: They told me to pray and I did. One day they stood around me.

Church scene where congregants stand around Narrator B and pray out loud. Then they fall silent.

At the end, she rises. After possible applause from the theatre audience, Narrator B reads from her poem:

    .

    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.

### Act 1, scene 7

B hears a Pirates of Penzance song that a friend is playing. Later she has a conversation with her Dad.

B: Could we get that song?

Dad: No.

B: But it comes from this movie. Can’t we get that?

Dad: No.

B: Ok, can I get the book?

Dad: No.

B: Do you ever say yes to anything?

Dad: I’ll take you hunting.

B to the audience: As a result, I’m pretty good with a gun.

She pulls one out and points it to the audience. Don’t worry this one is not loaded.

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

B: Not with bullets that is.

B walks across the stage: Anyway, my Dad always said no, but my Mom kind of liked the idea of the stage.

Teenage B is singing scales. Mom comes in.

Mom: B, find some nice clothes. We’re going out.

B: Where to?

Mom: Hush. Just don’t tell Dad.

Audience sees mother and daughter sneak away as if they were thieves. Should be funny. They go to a theatre.

B writes a poem about the experience.

    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?

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Fences

## Act II

### Act II, scene 1

We see B leaving for New York. She gets on a bus, she arrives and is all excited to be in the big city.

B to the audience: Well, finally here. Boy, I’m starvin’

She walks into a MacDonalds. B: Could I have a Big Mac?

B eats with delight.

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...

A young man approaches. He seems nice. He strikes up a conversation with B. Young Man: Where are you from?

B: You’ve never heard of it.

Young Man: Try me.

B: Blessed Lake.

Young Man: Blessed Lake, Ohio?

B: You know about it.

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?

B: What? Young Man: Lake Weed

B laughs: Funny. We call you Mountain Berries... Anyway, I’ve left all that.

Young Man: Me too.

B smiling: What’s your name?

Young Man: Eliot.

B: What do you do Eliot?

Eliot: I’m an electrician.

B: Oh yeah, need some help?

Eliot: Well, actually yeah.

### Act II, scene 2

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

### Act II, scene 3

One day Mom calls. She asks about Eliot. Eliot is listening from the other room.

Mom: When are you going to get married?

B: Married? We’re just friends.

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

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

Mom: What about “Be fruitful and multiply”

B: I don’t want children. Ever.

Mom clearly upset: No children. But it’s a commandment from God.

B: God never told me.

Mom: Blasphemy. You had better take that back.

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

Mom: When you were little and hurt yourself in the woods, God didn't do that too punish you. He did it to save you. He did it so you wouldn't attract attention and fall into sin. After all God did for you, why do you abandon Him?

B: Mom, if God did me a favor by putting me in that trap, I don't want any part of that God.

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

B: But, Mom?

Mom hangs up. B is upset.

Eliot: What happened?

B: I’ve just been disowned.

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

He tries to kiss her.

B pushes him away: No. sorry.

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

B: No I’m not.

Eliot pins her to a wall B slaps him and gives him a black eye.

Eliot: Get out of here, you Lake Weed. I took you in. Gave you a room.

B: I've been paying rent.

Eliot: You’ve got 15 minutes. See what it’s like to be out on the street.

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.

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. She sees a stray kitten, shivering in the rain. In the Rain

B gets up and tries to figure out how to go to work. Talking to herself: A sunshower, just a sunshower. Still I could get wet. Wait, I've got an idea!

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Umbrella Samba

Molly is the woman. She’s dressed in simple black clothes, fashionable. Hair is a wild purple. B doesn’t recognize her because of her wild hair, but Molly recognizes B and leaves her card in her pocket.

B arrives at her destination and starts waitressing. Somebody asks for change. She looks in her pocket and sees a card.

B to the audience: What’s this? Molly Sharp, architect. That was Molly!? Wait. There is an address and a note.

Molly speaks from off stage: B, I need a roommate. Would you like to come over and share?

B calls her: Molly, is that really you?

Molly: Who else? I have short hair and I wear pants. So what?

B: But I couldn’t imagine that I’d find you here of all places.

Molly: Where else would I be?

She moves in with Molly.

### Act II, scene 4

B pours out her heart to Molly. B: Mom said I blasphemed God.

Molly: They define God the way they want to. They just want to control you. Here you can be free.

B: Eliot’s idea of free was to keep me as his prisoner.

Molly: Forget Eliot. He won’t be the last jerk you meet in New York.

B: And what about what my Mom said?

Molly: Do you really believe you’ve sinned just because you’re not yet married with four kids?

B: No. Absolutely not.

Molly: Do you believe you're damned because you think differently from your parents and their church?

B beginning to strum: Absolutely not.

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Damned

### Act II, scene 5 Molly's apartment

B: Molly, you have a great job. I’m just making ends meet. What if it doesn’t work?

Molly: B, listen to me. You are a great artist. Staying in Blessed Lake would get you nowhere

B: Yes, but I have no money. Should I get a bartender job? If I wear a tight tee-shirt…

Molly: No. You have to be true to yourself. Take this chance but take it without compromise. Think about what you’ve gone through – you nearly lost your leg to a trap and we both have escaped the trapped life of Blessed Lake. Then the trap of Eliot. You can face any obstacle. When you go to work at the caberet restaurant tomorrow, smile like the winner you are.

### Act II, scene 6

In the restaurant/caberet where B is a server. We see: B walking around, smiling everywhere. She walks with a great step. As she walks everyone greets her. The bakers, the shopkeepers, everyone smiles when she passes. She is a much more successful waitress. Lots more tips.

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When I Smile

A well dressed, middle aged man named Sebastien leaves her a large bill.

B looks confused: I’ll get you change sir.

Sebastien: No need Mademoiselle …?

B: B. My name is B.

Sebastien: No need, Mademoiselle B. It’s all yours. What do you do when you’re not a waitress?

B: Well, thank you for asking, sir… I’m a singer.

Sebastien: Great. I'm a violinist. Would you mind if we went out to dinner. There’s a nice restaurant in the East Village named Bowery Cuisine.

B pauses, looks at Sebastien, decides he’s ok, and says: Ok, sure.

### Act II, Scene 7

We see them at the restaurant. He walks her home. They hug.

### Act II, Scene 8, Molly's apartment

B to Molly: Yes, he was really nice. He’s a violinist and his wife is a singer at the opera. He didn’t want to tell me her name.

Molly: So, did you like him? Do you want to see him again?

B: No. Maybe he’ll be like Eliot.

Molly laughs: You should free yourself a bit.

B smiles and starts putting away dishes: There you go with that word again. I’m free enough.

Molly: Do you ever say yes?

B laughs: That’s the question I usually ask.

Molly: Exactly. Your parents, the doctors, they all said "no" because they were afraid. What are you afraid of?

B laughs: Goblins.

B, then serious: Why don’t you have any fear?

Molly: But I do.

B: Really, you?

Molly: All the time. I have to fight it. Molly starts singing Dear Fear but B joins at the end (on the verses with “my voice is what I give”).

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Dear Fear

B and Molly embrace. B: You’re right. I have to fight it. By the way, did I tell you I have an audition for a musical called The Sunset?

### Act II scene 9

In a theatre.

We see B going to auditions. She sings some songs.

Director: Ok, you sing beautifully. What is your bikini size?

B: Bikini?

Director: Yes, this is a beach scene. So you have to be in a bikini.

B: Look if I wanted to do burlesque, I could get paid a lot more than this.

Director: But this is art.

B: You’re about my Dad’s age. Do you have a daughter?

Director: Yes.

B: What if someone told your daughter she had to sing light opera in a bikini?

Director: I’d kill him.

B: Exactly.

She walks off the stage.

### Act II scene 10

Agent: You can shoot and ride horses. Maybe we can play you as the lead girl in the TV serial “Annie, the cowgirl detective”

B: But I want to do opera.

Agent: Sure. Later, later. Could you practice your lassoing skills? Also we’ll have to think of a screen name. How about Classy Annie?

B walking off: Let me think about it….

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Beautiful Thing

### Act II Scene 11

B is in New York with Molly. B has just come back from an opera.

Molly: You should have seen her. What a voice! What clothes! What style! Molly waves a magazine.

B giggling: Show me. Show me.

Molly: Her name is Celine de Po. She’s an aristocrat.

B: Great name. Let me see.

Molly and B look at the magazine.

Molly: Her singing is so true, but in the magazine, it says she lives a superficial, glamorous life. Here she is with her husband…

B: That’s Sebastien!

Molly: You mean the guy who has been half-courting you.

B: That’s the one. Why would he want me over Celine?

### Act II Scene 12

Sebastien: You should see my wife Celine. Clothes, jewelry, wine and cheese. She was so, how you say, authentic, when I met her, but now she cares only about things. She makes so much more money than I do, so she yells at me. When I was a child, my parents always yelled at each other, threw things at each other, sometimes hit each other. So, when Celine yells, I say nothing.

Sebastien reaches for B's hand.

B holds his hand, pauses, then says: I can’t. You’re wonderful and I love you but I don’t love you that way.

Sebastien: Just hold my hand.

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Honey and Lime

Sebastien: Thank you for that. Actually, you’re not my type.

B surprised and her vanity is a little hurt: Oh, ... what a relief... What is your type?

B: Sounds like my roommate.

Sebastien: I’d love to meet her. How are you doing by the way?

B: Money problems as always. Worse than ever since my parents disowned me.

Sebastien: Would you like to babysit for our twins?

B: How old?

Sebastien: Three.

B: Sure. I need the work.

### Act II Scene 13

Sebastien and Celine’s apartment. Beautiful and fancy. A chandelier. Twins in very designer clothes.

Celine: Now girls, this is B. Please be nice to your babysitter.

Celine leaves.

Twin one: Does she play dolls?

Twin two to twin one: If she doesn’t play dolls, let’s take out her lipstick and smear it all over.

Twin one: Yeah!

B hears all this and smiles: Ok, girls. No lipstick and no dolls. We’re going outside.

Twins one and two: What?

B takes them by the hands.

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Sweet Twins

### Act II Scene 14

Tension between Sebastien and Celine. Celine screams at him.

Sebastien: Dearest Celine, I have loved you, but I cannot take this. I don't want to fight. I'm leaving.

Celine is shocked. Cries to B. Then says “I’m strong. I can take this.” Calls for a very expensive spa treatment.

### Act II Scene 15

Celine resumes her life of luxury and attention. She is a diva after all. Walks in the park full of distractions and luxury. Almost gets hit. Newspapers write about how she barely escaped death.

### Act II Scene 16

B sees the article and composes a song that she sings to the kids.

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Crossing Angels

Celine hears it and stops short. “You speak to me in that song. I want you to play opposite me in my next musical. Your name will be on the billboard.”

B is very excited: Great! What is it about? When do we rehearse?

Celine: A woman who doesn’t know what she wants until she finds her love.

B: What role do I play?

Celine: You’ll see. You’ll get the words when you’re on the stage. The music will make it clear how to sing.

B: No rehearsal?

Celine: You’ll do fine.

### Act II Scene 17

B to Molly: I'm not sure you'll like him, but you're exactly what he wants.

Sebastien meets Molly. Exactly his type. The attraction is mutual.

Sebastien: I feel we know each other already.

Molly hesitating and breathing deeply: I know.

Sebastien: What do you do?

Molly: I'm an architect.

Sebastien: B had told me that. I suppose you know I'm a violinst.

Molly: B says you're very good. I'd love to hear you play.

Sebastien: Sure. Let's meet at the cloisters garden. I know just the thing.

Sebastien plays at the garden. They embrace. Then Sebastien pulls away.

Sebastien: I can't. Love is too dangerous. I never choose the right person.

Molly caresses him and says: We've all made mistakes. We're not responsible for our parents' mistakes either.

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Time To Shout

### Act II. Scene 18

The play starts. Celine invites her to the stage.

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Impossible Love

They sing the English verses together. They hold hands with an implicit understanding that this is real. They come home and the twins rush to B, so happy to see her. Molly and Sebastien are there.

B’s cellphone rings.

Mom: You were brilliant tonight.

B: What?

Mom: Of course I was there. Celine let me know. Don’t you worry. I’ll make Dad come round.