Jack anJ the Beanstalk

AS THB JJIGH'i'S uo:;-s HP ~·TE HEAR THE VOICE OF JACK 11 S l\IOTHRR CALLIUG 'l'O HH!. JACK LNS-n~RS 11 I 11N C0~·1IHG 11 • HE IS SITTil~G ATOP A Ll~DDB:{ ~;;.a Cil IS :F TJACED TO ONE SIDE OF THE OVAI1 . (l~O'l'1~ ~1!.\.'.l' ALl DIR"ECTIOl'l'J GIVI~:.~ ARB FOR THEATETI IN THE ROU!~:D) TilER~ IS NO OTll~R SET ON THE STAGE.

Jack It feels good up here. I feel so close to the sky . I climb up here all the tlme. And I sit. It's lil::e being on a cloud. I can almoDt reach out and touch a star. I wonder if there is anything out the~e. I mean anything other than stars ~ and the mooon, and the sun. Maybe a place where a young man could make his fortuuc . Maybe if I sit here long enough and look hard enougbo

(s:i.ngs )

Maybe if I sit here and try To anchoi~ doi·T!l 11y cloud in the Gky This nakc believ~ feeli~g I feel lllll ma1:e my make believe -.-iorld seem real.

If everyo:o.c aroDnd cot.:.ld coL.oo:i.ve '£hat thinf;C r.re ho~: re children. be lei ve This make believe fccl~DG I feel i·lould ma.l~e my 1!1a1:e believe vrorld seem realo

Pa.pe:t 'b 1):· E-JS co11.lcl be I!!:::t:utr::;n:sxx hills And tbern 1 f; no rc<:>.son i'Tby I cen ' t lenve my windowsill On a rug that reo.lly flies.

Somed~y you ' ll wake up and you'll find That tbin~s are how you pictured in your mind That K~kc believe feeling you feel Will m8ke your make believe world seem real Will wake your make believe world seem real.

J ACK 11 S NOTHE11 CO~lES Oi-1 CARRYD!G 'r~'iO LAUHDRY BASK"STS . ONE IS EHPTY Mm 'l'H~ O~HER IS FULJJ OF CLOTEY.~Se liHIIJr~ SHB IS 'fAI~KI!:!G SHE FOLDS THE CLOTH~~~; A}!D 11 LACE3 THE~ IN THE Ei-1PTY BASKi1T .

Hother Jack, arc you out here wasting time again? Come here thit instant.

•

2

Jack (coming d01m) Yes,nother.

Mother Jack, you heve got to stop wasting time.

Jack I i·rasn 1 t really i7Z.sting time , mother . I vras planning a •ray to make my fortune.

Hother You rrere daydreaming again. That ' s what you i'lere doing. J ack , somet:l.mes I just don 't kno"''r rJ'hat to do about you . You will soon be old enough to go out i nto the world and I look at you and I still see a little boy.

J ack I am old enough to go out into the world now, mother .

Mother And you may have to. It has not been easy for uo since your father died. \'fc have 11 ttle money left and I don ' t kbmr iThere i·le are going to get any. Oh , your poor father . He died of heartbreak.

Jack lilother, ue vrere once vealthy. Hhy did you never tell me what happened? Tell me now.

Hoth :;r Eell, yes you are old enough to hear. Your father went off one day to take our gold to the village bank. It should have been there all along, but your father vras so stubborn. But I finally convinced him to take it there • . Anyway be was going through the 1-roods on the outskirts of the village uhcn he 1·ras

confronted by a giant who took the gold and threw your father to the ground . Your father says that he Has lucky to have escaped rli th his life.

Jack A giant?

~1other That is uhat he satd . Of course, I cannot believe that it i·ras a g:tant . But E·UJ1ray the shock 1~C:E:xrrcxt;:rc,"!tx of losing our life long savings was too great for your father and •• well, you knoow th ercst .

Jack Oh, if I could find that Giant. What I woul~ do to him.

3

Mother Oh , Jnck. Don ' t start that. I had enough of that with your father . There are no such things as giants .

Jack Oh, but mother •••••

Hothcr Oh , Jack . (she leaves)

Jacli:: ~.l::f.:c:gcrJ~xxx Grm·mups don ' t believe in anything .

(sings)

Someday you ' ll wake up and you 1 ll find That things arc ho~ you pictured in your mind Tht~ make believe feeling you feel 'Hill make yotn• make believe uorlcl seem real Will make your make believe world seem realo

EXITS

l-1RS. SKEFPIFGTON :eNTERS \'liTH J ACIC 1 S l-W':J~HER . THJIT BOTH CARRY CiiAIUS \iHI 01{ THBY PLAC£: Oi.'lSri'AG E IJ'l'D SIT Oi'l. HHS o SKEFFINGTON IS rm;;:::CU'3LXX~mr,~~fD{I!ilXXX OBVIOUSLY \TELL TO DO AND HOULDN ' T \TANT IT ANY OTHlJR 1-fAY.

}1rs. s. You uorry too much about money.

Not her That ' s e&sy to say uhen you have a lot of it.

1-1rs . S Nonsense.. If the shoe 1rcre on the other foot, I ·Houldn ' t rrorry as much as you do. I just know I wouldn't. I am not the type. And neither G~.r-e you. I tell you, you a~ce not the type to i'Tor:cy .

}1other Than why do I do it.

}1rs. s . That part I have yet to figure out. But loolc. ,.That ' s the lf you ' re r:t ch or poor? That ' s 1·rhat I ahre.ys 8ay. '\'That ' s

l f'll !:. \.. • ,... '!. "'. ~ ~J .:- ~l ; .... t , S r~ o N Vj . Hother One eat s and the other starves.

Hrs . s.

difference the diif~rcncc

If you feel ~t..hat '\·n::.y about it, uhy don ' t you sell that silly old con that you have. That 1rould get some money.

~·!other Oh , we ' re so attached to that cow.

!-1rs . S. So , you ' re not attached to your stomachs?

Hothcr But , she ' s like one of the family.

Hrs . s. I can thinlc of a fm·r members of my family that I i·rouldn' t mind selline;.

Mother You don ' t mGan that.

Hrs. S. Make me an offer.

Nether Oh, if only 1·re ba.dn ' t. lost our fortune.

Hrs . s. Oh , be g:t•ateful. Koncy is re..elly a curse on humcmi ty . PreYents you from enjoying the simple things in life.

(sings)

Money is the root of all evil

Hother And I uish I had some

Mrs . S. Money is the curse of all people

Mother AAt! I 1·rish I had some

.s+, ;~ ~1rs . s . Money is a worry for us all Rich or poor

Hother And hm·r

Hrs. S. c::..V.1. ) ch. Nancy is the root of all 'EY·r:!:"l

l•1other Still I lrish I had some ,'€:.:7:~-l noH. •

5

Mrs . s.

You have to think of all the happy people ivho 't·rere poor. Little boy blue 1-m.s happy blovring his horn. And i f that rich old spider hadn ' t happened along, l i ttle Hiss Muffett woul d have been perfectly content on her tuffet . Sitting there eating he r curds and i~hcy. :t-rot steak oind you, but cn:rds and uhey . And Jack lloL101' uas oh so happy u l th his one solitary plum. One pl um from the pie and his eyes lit up 14JJ~t fireflies . r tell you happine3s is for the poor . L, ~~

{sings)

Money i s tho root of all evi l

Hother And I 1::-ish I had some

Hrs . s . Money i s the curse of all people

Nether And I i"rish I had some

Hrs . s. Money i s a worry for us all Ri ch or poor

Hothe:c And hOii

Hrs . s . Money i s tho root of all evil

Hothe:r Still , I wish I had some now.

Nrs . S . H~ve you stopped to think about all the people that money has rui ned?

Hother Like \-Tho ?

Nrs . s . We l l there l~s •••• well , ••• • • t here was ••• and • ••• • • Oh , there are j ust too many to menti on .

6

( sine;s)

Money i s the root of all evil

Hother And I 1·lish I had some

Mrs. s . Money i s the curse of ~11 people

Ho·i.iher Anc.l I l:ish I had some

'f.1rs . s . Money is C worry for fus all Ri ch or poor

l1other And hOH' .

~1rs . S . Money i s the root of all evil

Nether Still , I uish I had some

Mrs . s . Better off to have none

Mother Still , I uish I had some nou .

!-iRS . S . PICKS UP 'l':tl:E CHAIRS AlfD EXITS . JACK ENrnms.

Hother Jach: , rre ba.vc to sell the coH .

Jacl~ Hothers no .

Nether I' m afraid it ' s the only answer. We just have to get some money . Now , I want you to take her into the village and sell he:c to the highest bidder . And mind ·i.ihat you get a good price for her. (cx:i.t)

Jac}c Sell t he cou . H01·1 caa I do it?

7

AS J AOK IS TALKING T!m SLAESMAN ENTERS AND Ki~OOKS ON THB DOOR .

Sal esman J

AnS\.;er quicldy or I might go a Hay .

Jack Come in .

Sa l esn1an TUc.n1:you. (\:·a.lts under the l adde r)

Jack

I s there sorr.cthine; that I can do for you?

Salez.

No , but there mie;ht be something that I can do for you. Allor: mN· to introduce myself.

I am Jonathcn Jonel"o

Jack

Hy nar:Je is Jac~.

J ohn.

Johnat.han and Jock. I like the sou..nd of that.

J ack

What are you eoine; to do for me?

J ohn.

I beg your pa:rdon?

J ack

You s~id that I couldn ' t do anything for you, but that you might be able t o do

so!'wthing- for me.

Jolm

Oh, yes. And I can. You see , I am a salesman. Not just an ordinary salesman ,

mind you , but a sales~ill supreQe. I sell everythine.

Jack

E\·erything?

Jolm

Evcrythinc;o •

8

Jack

Well , it's nice that you sell everything. But I can't buy anything.

John

Why not?

Jack

I don't hnve any money.

John

That • s a good Hhy not . •dell, maybe you have something that you • d like to trade.

I promise to £P_ve you something better than you give me.

Jack

Hell, I real] y don 1 t have anything to trade either. r~y mother \'I ants me to sell our

coH, but I real~ d n • t l·!ant to do i t6

Joh.""l

Why not?

Jack

Hell , the coH is really a good friend. ~ife've had her for such a long time. Well ,

i t8s like lnvinG to sell one of your family.

John

~Tell, Maybe I could give you something for the coN that 1·:ould m.:ike it \'rorth your l·rhileo

J ack

Oh, you'd have to give Iue money , because that ' s "'ha.t we need..

John

Oh , I see. \·Tell , \•:hy don • t I take a look at her?

Jack

Okay. (calls off) Here Bessie. Here Bessie. ( cm·r coMes from the aisle) Over here, girl .

John

\;lolJ., she 1 s n0 t a bo.d looking cou.

Jack

She • s a c;ood look.inz coH.

John

That Is what I 80.id. -r~ ~"' ~ ..... ~ -r 1.)\,.J " !,.., ':\ I ... \ ..

9

J ack

And she's the best friend that I ' ve got.

Jolm

You knou, I 1 ve met lob of people Hith lots of f:riend::J , but you 're the firs t person

I • ve ever met Hho h"ld. a CO\·T for a friend. It's kind of strange.

Jack

\'That ' s so strange about it?

~Tnhnxxx.xxxxx

(~~~·~:x:xxx:x.xx

John

Well ... o Hell •••• Hldl , what do you talk abouto (CO\'/' mono)

(sings)

Oh, a cat \·~ill meo·nr

And a ebB b:m rTO'tl<:>

And a roost;;;r coes cockle doodle doo

That is fine for a pet

Eut it's hard to accept

\·.'l1en your x::l:cy.x very best friend e;oes moo.

Oh, a bird rr.akcs a cheep

And a road runner beeps

Y.a I've o bscf,...,.ed f:r.orn a seat at the zoo

At the zoo that is fine

But it rrorks on the Glind

~/hen your very best friend goes moo.

J have heard in the ocea.n

There's a ,.,hale "'i th a notion

Thnt his eJ ubble elubblc glubble makes the 'l':orld go round

I rrill make no in Lrusion on the younB "hale ' s .t>!:i:tili~.±?,ID'.X delusion

But bebiccn the th·o of us , it ' s quite an ordinary sound.

10

It can shake up n joint

\fumt a pig Oin~,: Oinks

And a &host docs the sa:Le 'I'Ti th a boo

But make no mistclce

Jt's the ~rentc::;t of shakes

Hhen tbe ho-1rt that you kno1·: is true

B<r z ~ !:0 x :i:'J i±. ruc;y...mo.-x.r: :·:c c:x x

Gives to you n suryrise

Gazing into your eyes

&'.1y in~ , Hoo , Hoo , Hoo.

John

Tell you uhat . I can't give you any money for your cor: , but J can ~ive you something

a lot bet tero

Jack

\·lha t' s better than r.:on<:>y?

John

(producins a bean) This.

J·ack

That ' s a beano

John

'!'hat ' s right.

Jack

But I can9t sell Bessie for a bean.

John

\•!ai t a I:!linuteo Just D minuteo Tjis is not an ordinary bean.

Jack

It ' s not'(;·

John

It ' s not .

J.,ck

'!'hen \:hat kind of a bean is it?

11

John

It ' s a mag~c bean.

Jack

A ma£P.c bean?

John

That ' s v1ha t I said.

Jack

It looxs like an ordinary bean.

John

\ofell , Bessie looh:s like an ordinary corr, but she isn ' t . If: she?

Jack

No ••••

John

Hell , there you are .

Jack

vlha t does the bean do?

John

'\'Tell , I can't tell you that . It mieht affect the uwgic. But I ncsure you, you <H'e in for

a big surprise. ls it n deal?

Jack

i"xtl•:u-2tx Geet J don't kno>·r ... .

John

D:>n ' t p.:tss up tllis eolden opportunity.,

Jack

A ma~i c bean., . ..

Jolm

! knc\·: you Hera a :;ruart boy. Here.. (hands Jack the bean and rushes off 1-1i th the cor~)

Jack

vlai t . I ' d like io think it overo v/ai t . \'Jai t.

Hother

(entering) Jack; l-:h?. t arc you scl'ea:ninG about.

12

Jack

Oh, mother. Hello •

Nothcr ..

Jack, is anythin.; urcng?

Jack

No . Nothingo Uh.. . . Hother, I ••• sold the COii.

Mot!lCr

Oh, ,Tack, that's ~1onderful. I know you re~lly didn't Hant to sell her , and

neither did I. But we did need the ~oncy. And there is so much that we can do 1-:ith it.

\Vhere is it?

Jack

\>!here's 1·1hat?

Hother

'l'he:: money.

Jack

'tlell , I don't have the money.

Mother

Oh , Jack , you didn't let the buyer pro:Jise to send you the money, did you?

J ack

Oh, no, ~nother . He paid me right a~:ay .

Hothur

ThwJ.;: eoodnes::>. Bnt, if he paid you, then ~1hy don' i you have the money?

Jack

He didn ' t p.3y me rnoney .

Hother

Jack, r don't understand . If he didn't give you money , then \·ihat did he give you?

Jack

This. ( sho~1s the bcm1)

~~other

That?

Jack

You ~>old our COH for one bean?

But it isn ' i junt n bean. It's a maeic beru1. •

13

Hothcr

Jack , hou could you?

Jack

HoVT could I \·:hat?

!'.other

Ho\v could you let someone sheat you out of our coH that vtay~

Jack

But , mother • ••

Mother

No butso V.axtlnx lt;;nm:.U.:x Don ' t I have enough to Horry about? You ' re all thnt I

hmrc to depend on ;mel look at 11hat you've done .

But, r .. .. Nother

(sings) Problems , problei:lS,

Proble::~s , probletns ,

Problem::; , proble10s

\·/hat <lm I to do?

All I

All I

ever seem to have are

ever seen to have are

Problcn~ come fro!'.l all arou:nd ancl noll they come from you .

\vorry , vtorry, all I ever seem to get

Worry , \·lorry , all I ever secro to get

'vlorr.t , worry

'vihat am I to do

~lorry comcsfrom all armmd e.nd no\.; it

Often I just ~it e.nd Homier

\·/ill there ever be a day

W'ncn this heavy cloud I ' m under

~Till eo a Hay.

i s

is

CO !'lOS fro:n you .

14

Problcr.:s, problems , aJl I ~ver S(;em to hnve are

Problems, p1o1Jlcns, all I ever seem to have arc

Problems , problculS

\t,'hat am I to do?

\·lha t az1 I to de?

t·lr s . Skcffin{;tori

(she hrts entered during the sone;)

Hhat ' s the prob1e;n nm-e

Did you sell the co11?

v,rhat•s the p1·oblem no1·1?

Jack

I don't ,,·ant to sell hero

t·1other

Hrs. Sl:effington, do you lmou \·:hat he did?

Mrs . s. Hhat "rho did?

!~other

\·il1at Jack did .

t4rs. s.

I

l~o, I don 't knOi·l Hbat Jack did . Jack , 1·1hat did you do?

Hother

I ' 11 t ell you \'rhat he did •

.r:trs . s~

I sort of thoueht yon \·:ould.

t·iother

He sold our COWoo ••

Hrs. So

Good for himo I kncH that boy had a head on his shouldcrso

r-:other

He sold our co,·: fo1· a bean.

15

Hrso S.

f.lothcr

A beano

You kno•: 6or a m:i.nutc I thout;h you s<Rid that Jack sold your co;, for a • •• for

a bear.? \'lh<>.t ' s the nntter l·li th that boy? Doesn ' t he have a head on his shoulders?

Jack

But, it's a maglc be.:t11.

Nrs . So

f·1agic? \,'hat do you me;:....n rna.?-c? Does it sing and dance~

Jack

No •••

Mrs. S.

You traded it for a cmr. It should at lca.st sing and danceo

Jack

But ":ho ever hea:rd of a bean th<>.t could sine and d<mce?

Nrs , s. So \/hO ever hcrtr-d of a rnngic bean? Yl:::::x:::!'!t::l<:l:d..xhc:.\:c::.x;:rtxh~a:~.:b::tra~<~d.x±txfl!lrz.::xGl-:i:Y~nnu:

XY • .XX

And onJy one? You ccm't evE:n make a pot of soup. You could of at least held out

for a C'hickcno (to nother) You could of had a nice pot of chicken coup. At

least you ' d be hea.l thy.

Jack

But , you ' re not suppossed to ee.t it.

~·!other

'fhen 'l';hat do \·re do rTi th it?

f·1rn . s. Play hopscotch !1laybe.

Jack

I ' m not sure • •••

f·:rs . S.

He 1 f.1 not sure. He 1 s got a bean and he docsn ' t kno\·: what • to do '~>ri th it.

f•:othnr

Jack , co io your roon.

16

Jack

Buto • • •

Nother

Go to your room.

Jack

Yes, mother. ( cx.it)

It.rs . s. Noll if thc:re is anythinG at all that I can do to help , you shouldn't hesitate to ask.

rr.other

No, thankyou , ~~rs . SkP.ffinr;ton.

HI's. S.

I r-..R.:mJ:x mean that • s v1hat friends are for. (they start off) I al1·:ays sa.y to my hue band,

husband I say, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Of course that isn•t original with

rne, hut it is true all the same. I ah1ays say •• •.••.........•....•••

Jii.C:f.. E:·lTimS CARRYH!G A P.ALL~~Trl' A!m PUTS IT On THE FLOOR.

Jack

HO\·: can I c;o to sleep 1;hen I feel so horrible. I • ve been chca ted. UO'tl l·.re don 1 t

even h~ve Bessie" !\ll 1·1e have is this horrible be.:lllo I I!li5ht as \·lOll toss it out of the

•iindo;.; for all it • s l·rorth. In fact that • s just 1·;ha t I •11 do. (ne does f;o)

f.S:o::::x John

( he ha~ entered and is standine outside of the 11Hindo·.·T 11 )

Hey. \·lhat arc you doinG?

Jack

It ' s you.

Jchn

\\'ell , the L'lst time I looked I \·las still me.

Jn.ck

vlhy are you throHil18 the bean army?

\·lell, what arn I :::upposscd to do Hi th it? You chen ted me, and nm·T my mother is

anGry , and ue stiJl don 1 t ha.ve any money ;md everythings all I'Trone.

John

1JP.y, Hait a minute . 1 didn ' t ch~at you. I paid you for the co;.;. I eave you r:1y

17

Jack

Yes , but 11hnt does your wa.gic bean do?

John

v:0ll, why don't you plant it and find out?

Jack

Plant it?

John

Yes , plant ito \'!hat did you think you Here goinG to do with one bean? Com~ on.

(sings)

I'm e;onna plant me a bean

From it I '11 gro'<I me a dream

t·~Y hopes nrc aimin ' high

I'm c;onna build V(fself a castle up in the sky

Time for wy {Sray l:·kies to fade

~1.)' fort11n0 I $ eot to be ffi~de

All of my &ood luck ' s due

\·!ai t' 11 you see this ma~ic Lenn vJill really corae through

r~y 1 og.ic is hasically sound

_one magic bean in the eround

\•fiJ 1 produce, I 11n not sure what

But f:ro:n this bcnn has got to gr0\·7

Sornr)thing vronderfu1 , tl1is I kn01~ .

'•/ai t for Lhc r.:orning to co:ne

I'm eonn~ rise Eith the sun

And thc:t. L sun \·I ill shine

And I ' ll be foclins fine

And tonon·o1·: ;.;ill be minco

AS TJJF:Y HEPr:£~'1' 'rl!::; SONG '!'m:Y PI.!.NT 'l"riR DSAN BY 'fill:~ LADDSR Al'W 'f'IIE EEANS'I'ALK

S~'!.ll'N;; '.ro GP.O':.' . l'l' GH0\'3 'fO 'l'dE 'fOP OF 'l'Ii'E LADm:n AiW JOHN SHOUT::> '1'0 JACK

'fO "CO:·J!': ON" AJ:D THI~Y CLTt1R UP T!lB LADDJ.m AS 'l'J!E SOHG ENDS AND THE LIGHTS

PADfo: OU'l' .

J & B Act II

We hear John calling from offstage, "This way, Jack" and they enter. The stage is covered with a white mist. The ladder is now XI»XX lying flat on the oval.

Jack Gee, Johnathan. I still can't figure out where we are. What about you?

John What about me?

Jack Canyou figure out where we are?

John Oho Well, give me a little time. That climb up the beanstalk has worn me out a little. Let's go across this bridge and see what's on the other side.

Jack Okay.

THEY i·TALK Dm-TN THE RUNGS OF THE LADDER.

John Look over there?

Jack rThat is it?

John See that big door?

Jack Gosh. It is awfully big. Who do you suppose lives there?

John With a door that big it must be a giant.

Jack A giant? Do you really think so?

John Oh, I "Yras just kidding. There are no such things as giants.

II 2

Jack Are you sure?

John Of course, I'm sure.

John But suppose you're right , and a giant reaaly does live there?

John I just told you ••• (sings)

I have travelled all around Everyplace the piper sounds Not a giant have I found There are no such things.

I have never seen a broom That could fly from room to room Sweeping in Uhe doom and gloom There are no such things.

Witches don't make magic potions Warlocks don't have secret lures Serpents don't live in the oceans

Jack But are you ••• ?

John Yes, Jack I am very sure.

~ am also sure of this All the ogres don 't exist And genies don't pop out of magic rings I knoi·T that there are no such things.

DURING THE SONG JOHN HAS PUT THE LADDER UPRIGHT AGAIN.

Jack Why don't we go over and see what's inside?

John All right, let's.

:fDX:HXXEXllSXEN)DI:X.flNJCJCUJXG0n~XHERXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

II 3

THEY lfALK TO~·TARDS THS HIAGINARY DOOR AND :STAND ON THEIR TOES TRYING TO PEER IN.

Jack Can you see anything?

John Just a cage .

Jack A cage?

John Yes .

Jack What ' s in it?

John Nothing .

THE VOICE OF THE GIANT IS HEARD SINGING 11 FEE FIE FOE FUH 11

Jack Did you hear something?

John Yes . It sounded like someone singing.

THE GIANT IS HEARD AGAIN

Jack There it goes again.

John Let's push on the door. Maybe we can open it •

THEY PUSH ON THE DOOR AND \HTH HUCH EFFRT MANAGE TO OPEN IT A LITTLE.

Jack Look, it ' s open just enough for us to squeeze through.

John Come on .

THEY GO INTO THE GIANT"S CASTLE.

II 4

Jack Wow. Look how big everything looks .

John Yeh. I wonder wh~ thato••

THE SINGING IS HEARD AGAINo

Jack I t' s that sound againo

John I thi nk I hea~ someone coming . We ' d better hide until we find out who it i s . Come on.

THEY GO OUT INTO THE AISLE. THE GIANT m~TERS CARRYING THE HARP AND THE GOOSE.

Gi ant Fee , Fi e , Foe , fum , Fee , Fie , Foe ••••• (sniffs air) Something smells funny in hereeo Why it almost smells like ••• no, it coul dn ' t be. (putting the harp in the cage ) Come my pretty. You must go back into your cage. You shall sing again for me la~er. And you, little goose . Stay right here beside her. Rest up, my little goose , for tomorrow you shall lay enough golden eggs to fill the new room in my treasury. (Jack sneezes) Vihat vras that? I heard something . Is anyone here? (to harp) No , who could be here? Did you sneeze , my pretty? Are catching a cold? vle must take care . We wouldn ' t want you to lose your lovely voiceo (Jack sneezes again) ~fuat? I ' m sure I heard something that time . And it wasn ' t you, my pretty. (he walks in the direction where Jack and Jo~~ are hiding) No I must be imagining things . !-lay be I ' d better eat somethlng . x::t!~x The noise I heard was probably my stomach grorrling . (exit)

Jack I thought you said that there were no such things as giants?

John Wel l , I'm entitled to one mistake .

Jack i'Tell, before you make another, let ' s get out of here .

John Wait a minuteo Didn ' t that giant say thAt that goose lays golden eggs?

Jack Yes , but it can ' t be true can i t?

II 5

Har p Yes , it can .

John Who said that?

Harp I did .

Jack I t sounded like it came from over ther e .

Harp The goose does lay golden eggs .

John The harp talks .

Harp Yes , and I sing . I used to sing all the timeo I sing the most beautiful music in the world . But now I sing only when the gi ant tells me to sing .

John Why does he keep you in that cage?

Harrp So that I don ' t run away. Not that there is anyplace to goo Of course , if some one could take me away •••

Jack Then you do want to leave?

Harp Oh , yes . He ' s really a very mean giant .

John You kno~ , Jack . If we had that goose , you and your mother would never have to worry about money . Just think , eggs of pure gold .

Harp I f you take the goose , will you take me?

Jack Sureo If you 1·1ant to come .

Har p Oh , I do . If I we r e wi th you , I would play for you whenever

you '·iished o

Jack Do you ~xreally sing while you play?

Harp Let me out of my cage and I 'll show you .

THEY TAKE HER FROH BENEATH THE LADDER.

John There you are .

Har Oh,nit feels good to be out of the cage and not have the giant around . (she strums the stri ngs of her harp)

(sings)

Dance to XkRX my beautiful musi c Dance all around me I pray Sway to the sound of my music And I ' ll play all day

Sing to the sound of my music Sing all your troubles a'lray Dance to my beautiful music And I ' ll play all day

Ahhhh • • •••••• • •••• • ••• •• o ••

Dance to my beautiful music Dance all around me I pray Svray to the sound of my music And I ' ll play all day ./t..nd I 11 11 play all day.

GIANT IS HEARD SINGING

FEE, FIE , FOE , FUM I SHELL THE BLOOD OF AN EN"GLI SMAN

Harp Oh he ' s coming back. You ' d better hide . I ' ll get back in the cage. (she does so and John r~«ksxkzxx shuts it . )

John Over here , Jack. (theyhide)

Giant Is there anyone here? I smell the blood of an Englishman here . (looking at cage) Oh, my pretty. I forgot to lock your cage . (he does so) There, that ' s better. Not that you ifould try to run aHay . 'Hould you, my pretty? ( Jack starts to sneeze , but John covers his mouth) lThat was that . Is there someone here, my pretty? Do I really smell the blood of an Englishman? (Jack sneezes and falls out of hiding) Hhat ' s thisZ Ah ha . There is someone hereo Come here you little rascal . (there is a chase dur.ing which the giant catches Jack. John avoids being seen)

II 7

Gi ant Now, into the cage with you . (puts Jack i n t o the cage)

Jack Let me out of hereo Let me out .

Giant Want to get out , hey? Don ' t worry. I won ' t keep you t her e l ong . I just had lunch, but you ' ll make a nice dinner.

Jack Yfnat?

Gi ant I t ' s been a long time s i nce I had Engli sh stew.

Harp Oh, l et h i m go . He didn ' t mean any harm.

Gi ant Quiet , my pretty. A lit tle nap and I ' ll be ready to take care of him. Sing for me , my pretty. Lull me to sleep. (he gets on the floor to sleep)

Harp Yes , yes . (she sings as the gi ant falls asleep )

lfTHEN THE GIANT IS SNORING JOHN SNEAKS OVER TO THE CAGE .

John vTell , this is a fine mess . \'·Thy do you sneeze so much?

Jack I guess I ' m al lergic to giants .

Harp The key to the gage is on the giants belt . If you 're careful you can get it and release us .

John I s he a sound sleeper?

Harp I' ll keep playing. That will help .

John Okay.

Jack Be careful .

II 8

JOHN GOES OVER TO THE GIANT . HE MAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE KEY , BUT IS PREVENTED BY THE GIANT ROLLING OVER.

John Now what?

Harp Take one of the feathers fro~ the goose and tickle the giant~s nose. Maybe that will get him to roll over.

John Okay.

HE GETS THE FEATHER AND TICKLES THE GIANT . THE GIANT FINALLY ROLLS OVER AND JOHN GETS THE KEY .

Jack He ' s got it. Let us out.

JOHN OPENS THE CAGE AND JACK k"'TD THE HARP CONE OUT, BUT DURING THE EXCIT:S:LEl,TT THE GI~lT FLINGS OUT HIS ARH IN HIS SLEEP AND IT LANDS AROUND JOHN'S LEG .

Harp Oh, be careful.

Jack Can you move?

John I don ' t lmovr.

Harp Slip out very carefully.

HE TRIES , BUT HE IS NOT CAREFUL ENOUGH AND THE GIANT \'TAKES UP.

John Head for the beanstalk.

JACK GRABS THE GOOSE P~D HE AND THE HARP START TO RUN . THERE IS (of course) A CEASE DURING ·wHICH THE GOOSE Cn.ANGES HANDS (football style) SEVERAL THIES . AS THE LIGHTS FADE liE SEE THE THREE BEING CHASED OFF BY THE GIANT.

WHEN THE LIGHTS COHE UP , THE LADDER IS AGAIN RIGGED HITH THE BEAN STALK, BUT THIS TIHE THERE IS AN E.."'<TENSION OF THE STALK UP THE AISLE.

II 9

Mrs, s.

You shouldn't worry.

Hother How can I not worry. I haven't seen him all day. He 1-1asn 1 t in his bed this morning ,

r.trs . S. I told you , cheated hin (looking at

Hother

He probably just went out to find that salesman that out of that cow. He 'll be back at any time, the beanstalk) t•That 1 s that?

It's a beanstalk, I found it there this morning. I don 't know where it came from .

l-irs . S It 1 s an avrfully big beans talk, I can't even see rrhare i t ends.

Not her I'm tempted to chopit down, In fact that's what I think I'll do .

Hrso S. Wait. rTait , Don ' t be so hasty, If it ' s a giant beanstalk, maybe it grows giant beans . And beans are food ,

Mother Yes , I guess you ' re right, Oh, I vTish that Jack would come back,

Nrs . S Just yesterday , you "'·Te re saying what a problem he was. Now he ' s out of the way for a little while and you're complaining.

Mother Oh , he gives me problems, but when he ' s not around I miss him.

Mrs . s. Yes, I guess you're right . It ' s like my condition

Hother Your what?

Mrs . S . My condition. You knm-T I've got a condition. The doctors don ' t know exactly what it is, but they know I ' ve got it . Anyway, my condition gives me lots of cause to worry , but sometimes I 1-ronder uhat I'd do if it ever went avrayo That ' s hmv it is with your Jack .

II 10

Mother

(sings)

He 1 s a worry Can't deny it Causes headachexx after headache every day .Any mess up He rrlll try it And his toys are ahrays getting i n the way

But rrhen he is not around How I miss those boyish sounds

Together Oh, we miss you jack Yes , we miss you Jack How we miss you Jack Oh, we miss you Jack Oh, we miss you Jack Oh, we miss you Jack Oh, we miss you ~ack Jack, come back.

Hother Got a way of Haking problems Causes situations that I can 1 t describe Just to think of His involvments I s enough to make you run array and hide

Mrs . s. But when he i s not around

Together Hmv we miss those boyish sounds

&kporEX![:i:X chorus

THERE IS A GREAT COMHOTION HEARD

1·1rs. s. What ' s all that noise?

Hother I don ' t knovr.

II 11

JACK C01-fES 11 CLH!BING 11 Dm-TN THE BEANSTALK. HE RUNS TO HIS MOTHER AND HANDS HER THE GOOSE.

Jack Hold this , mother. (he runs off)

Mother Jack, where are you going?

~irs . s . Well , he got a goose . That's better than a bean.£xxxxi wonder if goose soup is as good as chicken soup~

JOHN COHES ON vTITH THE HARP . \'TE HEAR THE GIANT AT THE TOP OF THE AISLE.

Mother (to John) ~fho are you? And what is all that noise at the top of the beanstalk?

Hrs . s . Come to think of it, Yihere are you all coming from? (to mother) They all climbed down from that beanstalk.

Jack (running in) Here it is.

Nether Jack, vThat are you doing with that ax?

John (taking the ax) Good .

Hrs . s . (screams) Nad killer. Had killer.

THE GIAlTT"S VOICE IS MUCH LOUDER NOW . JOIDT STARTS TO CIIOP DOYTN THE BE.ANSTA.LK. HE CUTS IT AT THE BASE OF THE LADDER AND AS I·TE HEAR THE GIA11T SCREAH AND FALL HE SEE THE BEANSTALK BEING PULLED UP THE AISLE .

Hot her Jack, what is going on?

Jack Oh, mother. \ve nver have to rrorry again. That goose lays golden eggs. And that harp plays beautiful music. And we just killed the giant . And ••• and •••

~1other Jack , rTai t . \·Tai t .

II 12

Jack Oh , Hothero It doesn 1 t matter. All that matters is that I'm back. And everything is going to be all r ighto

Hrs. S It is?

John Yes , it is.

Mrs . s . (to Jack)1fuo is that? (indicates John)

Jack Oh, he sells magic beans .

Hrso S Nagic Beans?

John That ' s 1·rha t he said o

(sings)

Hy logic is basically sound One magic bean in the ground

?-irs. s . 'i'lill produce?

John I 1m not sure vrhat But from that bean is sure to grow Something 1·ronderful, this I know

Mother , Someday you 'Hill wake up and find That things are how you pictured in your mind That make believe feeling you feel Will make your mkae believe world seem real Will make your make belive world seem real .

All i·Tai t for the morning to come I 1m gonna rise vTi th the sun And that sun -vrill shine And I 111 be feeling fine And tomorrm-1 '·Till be mine o