The Music Man Page #12

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Winthrop!

I hate you, you liar.

Wait a minute here, son.

WINTHROP:
I'm not your son! Leave me go!

Not till I talk to you for a minute.

I won't listen! You wouldn't tell the truth anyway.

I would, too.

Would not.

Would too! Tell you anything you wanna know.

Can you lead a band?

No.

Are you a big liar?

Yes.

Are you a dirty rotten crook?

Yes.

Now, leave me go, you big liar!

What's the matter? You wanted the truth, didn't you?

Now I'm bigger'n you and you're gonna stand here and get it all,

so you might as well quit wiggling.

Now, there's two things you're entitled to know.

One, you're a wonderful kid.

I thought so from the first.

That's why I wanted you in the band, just so you'd stop

mopin' around feeling sorry for yourself.

What band?

I always think there's a band, kid.

What's the other thing, I'm entitled to know?

Well, actually the other thing

isn't any your business now that I think of it.

I wish you'd never come to River City!

No, you don't, Winthrop.

Sister, you believe him?

I believe everything he ever said.

But he promised us.

I know what he promised us.

And it all happened just like he said.

The lights and the flags and the colors and the cymbals.

WINTHROP:
Where's all that?

In the way every kid in this town

walked around here the last three weeks, and looked and acted.

Especially you!

And the parents, too.

Does Mama wish he'd never come to River City?

No.

WINTHROP:
Well you do, don't you?

No, Winthrop, I don't.

Now go, please, Harold.

Go on, Professor, hurry up.

I can't go, Winthrop.

Why not?

For the first time in my life, I got my foot caught in the door.

There was love all around

But I never heard it singing

No I never heard it at all

Till there was you

MARCE:
Greg!

Greg, they're here.

Get out!

Get out any way you can!

Go on, Professor. Do as he says.

Sorry, Marce.

Let's go.

MAYOR:
As soon as I spoke to Charlie Cowell,

it was oblivious to me that something had to be done.

Which is why I interrupted the program when I did.

Rest assured, this snake in our bosom

would have been misapprehended by this time.

Yes! And always remember,

fellow River Citizians, I can only remind you,

that I did everything in my power to prevent

this dire happening from happening.

What have you done to get our money back?

That Professor collected nearly three hundred dollars for uniforms, just last night.

We haven't seen any uniforms yet.

He's slippery. I told you.

I haven't seen my boy since just after supper.

He's a kidnapper.

Fine situation here.

Virtue has triumphed.

The sword of retribution has cut down

Professor Harold Hill!

And if there are those, as I have heard,

who are melting tar and collecting feathers,

I will not say them nay.

Well, I think there ought to be some of you who could forget

our everlasting Iowa stubborn chip-on-the-shoulder arrogance long enough

to remember River City before Harold Hill arrived. Do you remember?

Well, do you?

Surely some of you ought to be grateful to him

for what he has brought to River City

and if so, I should think you would want to admit it.

You're wasting a great deal of time here.

If there's a person in this hall who doesn't think

this man Hill should be tarred and feathered,

let him stand up.

Come on.

MAN:
Go ahead, stand up.

Eulalie, sit down.

And the rest of you, standin' there like a coat of Shropshire sheep,

have you people forgotten how you bought expensive uniforms,

technical instruction books and high-priced band instruments?

Have you forgotten the clear understanding and warrantee

that your children would be taught to play in a band?

Well, where's the band?

Where's the band?

(GIRLS GIGGLING)

Think, men, think.

One, two...

(BAND PLAYING OFF KEY)

That's my Barney!

That tuba's my Barney!

Just look at him.

He's so wonderful.

Thank you.

Linus, play to me, son, play to me!

MAN:
(SHOUTING) That the way, Steve.

That's Eddie's coronet.

Davey, my Davey.

MAN:
That's my Garrett.

(BLOWS)

Mrs. Paroo, that's Winthrop.

(CROWD CHEERING)

(BELL RINGS)

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