Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Scene I

In the town. Adam enters.

ADAM:

(Glances around)

Must be early...

(begins humming, then singing)

SONG 1:
"BLESS YOUR BEAUTIFUL HIDE"

During the first verse, ADAM eyes LIZA and SARAH as they walk by; they look back and give him flirtatious smiles.

Second verse, CAROLINE walks in with LEM far behind.

ADAM:

Good morning, ma'am.

CAROLINE:

Morning sir.

ADAM:

Nice day for marryin', isn't it.

LEM enters, puts his arm around CAROLINE

LEM:

It sure is, Carrie.

CAROLINE:

Aw Lem, I thought you'd never ask!

The pair walk away, ADAM looks upset. Continues the song.

Meanwhile, SAM and TOM enter. They sit at the table and start talking.

ADAM finishes singing and sits on a bench. MILLY enters. ADAM watches her, and finishes the song.

MILLY:

(sighs) Alright boys, what can I get you?

SAM:

Hey Milly, when are you gonna marry me ?

MILLY:

Oh, next week Sam.

TOM:

She's gonna marry me, ain't ya Milly?

MILLY:

Oh Tom, what would your wife say?

(The three laugh, ADAM chuckles.)

Anyways, what can I get you?

SAM:

Just the usual, Mill.

ADAM clears his throat, Milly looks up and goes over to him.

MILLY:

Haven't seen you around her. You new to town?

ADAM:

Live up the mountain. Just coming down to trade up some furs, get some supplies. Got a nice place up there.

(MILLY smiles)

MILLY:

Sounds lovely. Would you like anything to eat? Got some fresh stew in the back there.

(ADAM nods)

ADAM:

Smells good enough to eat.

MILLY:

Tastes good too, so they tell me.

ADAM:

Got any ketchup handy?

MILLY (confidently)

My stew can stand on its own feet.

MILLY exits, returning with three bowls of stew. She gives one to the BOYS,

then goes over to ADAM.

MILLY:

So, how long're you in town for?

ADAM:

Well, I guess it depends.

(Pause)

MILLY:

Depends on what?

ADAM:

Oh uh, you know.. the price of furs, the supplies...

MILLY:

I see.

ADAM:

Name's Adam. Adam Pontipee.

MILLY:

Quite a name, I must say.

ADAM:

Name ain't nothin' in comparison to the farm. Sheep, cows, chickens, 58 acres of wheat up there. Only thing it ain't got is a woman.

MILLY:

Shame.

(starts to walk away)

ADAM:

How 'bout it?

MILLY:

(stops)How 'bout what?

ADAM (smiling)

I just told ya. How 'bout marryin' me?

MILLY, incredulous, sits down to stare at him. She opens her mouth to speak, ADAM interrupts.

I know it's short notice. I mean, back east we would've met in church. Six months later, I'd ask to walk you home. Next three years I'd take you out, but out here there's no time. I've gotta get home before dark, and it'll be another five months before I'm back down here with my grain. You wouldn't ask me to wait five months for your pride's sake, would ya?

MILLY:

Well, I... I'd have to finish my chores first.

ADAM:

That's it! From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were the gal for me.

(Gets up to leave.)

I'll just go clean up and call on the parson.

Adam EXITS, leaving Millie with a dazed expression.

--

Scene II

At Reverend Elcott's home. Milly and Adam stand, with the reverend in front of them. Alice sits behind him.

REVEREND:

Milly, as your guardian, I must say that I do not approve of this marriage.

MILLY:

Oh Reverend, you're always telling me I should get married. It isn't proper for a woman to be single, you said.

REVEREND:

But I was hoping for one of our boys. They're from good stock.

ADAM:

And I'm not?

REVEREND:

We barely know anything about you!

MILLY:

Reverend, believe me, I tried. I'd say yes to one, then I'd get this... this sinking feeling down in my heart. Oh, when he asked me I was waiting for that feeling to come, but it never came. And now... now I'm so happy I could cry.

ALICE:

Well, I think it's lovely. Love at first sight...

ADAM:

(chuckles) You ought to meet Gideon.

MILLY:

Who?

ADAM:

Oh, erm... never mind.

REVEREND:

Oh well then, let's get on with it. Take hands, and repeat after me. I, Adam Pontipee...

ADAM:

I, Adam Pontipee...

REVEREND:

Take this woman...

ADAM:

Take this woman...

REVEREND:

To be my lawful wedded wife in the sight of God.

ADAM nods, and smiles at Milly. Scene ends, all exit.

- - -

Scene III

In the Pontipee house. MILLY and ADAM enter through the door. Milly hangs her hand on the nail; Adam flops his on the table.

ADAM:

So erm... this is the kitchen.

MILLY:

This place is... beautiful.

ADAM:

Could use a bit of cleanup, but otherwise it's a nice place.

MILLY:

You know, my whole life - well, when I worked in the inn, I dreamed of cooking and cleaning for just one man.

ADAM:

Well...

MILLY:

Oh, but it would be so nice here. Just the two of us... well, perhaps not for long.

SONG 2:
"WONDERFUL DAY"

Just the first verse, chorus and bridge. Milly glances at Adam, who seems uneasy about the whole thing.

ADAM:

Milly, there's something I should probably tell you...

CALEB enters.

CALEB (loudly)

Hey Adam! I saw the buggy out front; what'cha get?

(sees Milly)

ADAM:

Milly, this is my brother Caleb. Caleb, this is my wife Milly.

CALEB:

Your wife? Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!

(yells) Hey Dan, he did it, he got married!

EPHRIAM and DANIEL enter, running.

ADAM:

Um, my brothers Dan and Ephriam.

MILLY:

Which one is Ephraim and which is Daniel?

DANIEL and EPHRIAM

Me.

MILLY:

Oh. Well, do y'all live around here?

CALEB:

Not 'round. Just here.

MILLY (disheartened)

Oh...

ADAM:

Well, um... I may as well show you the upstairs..

GIDEON, BENJAMIN and FRANK enter.

BENJAMIN:

Hey Adam, is this the girl?

ADAM (with a sigh)

Boys, this is Milly. MIlly, these are Gideon, Benjamin and Frank.

MILLY:

Well, hello there.

FRANK:

Hey.

MILLY (to Adam)

Please tell me there aren't any more.

ADAM:

Nope, that's it.

MILLY glances around at the boys, frightened just a little.

MILLY (smiling)

Well, you all have very... rather strong names. Bible names, right?

BENJAMIN:

Yeah, that was Ma's idea. Thought it'd be right to bring up good Christian boys. Named us by the alphabet - Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephriam and Gideon. How you know who's wo, just know your ABCs.

MILLY:

Well, there's just one name that I don't recognize. Frank, is that from the bible.

FRANK (sheepishly)

Well...

EPHRIAM:

There weren't any F names in the bible, so she named him Frankincense.

CALEB:

'Cause he smelled so sweet.

FRANK pushes EPRHIAM to the ground, the two begin fighting. The other boys laugh and join the fight.

MILLY:

Allright, everyone out! There'll be no fightin' in the kitchen while I'm here, or no dinner for y'all!

BOYS exit hesitantly, MILLY begins cooking. Light's dim to signify time passing, then MILLY rings the dinner bell. Lights normal.

BOYS (minus Adam) run in and scrounge at the food. MILLY looks on in disgust.

MILLY:

Don't you boys know any manners? Ain't you ever said grace?

The boys don't respond, but continue eating. ADAM enters.

MILLY (infuriated)

You don't even know what I'm talking about!

ADAM:

What's all the fuss 'bout?

MILLY:

Look at your brothers!

ADAM:

Hey, this must be good!

ADAM joins the boys, and MILLY crosses her arms.

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