The Brainstorm - Script
The Brainstorm
A Children's Musical
Book and Lyrics
by
Scott Patrick Wagner
SONG #1
OPENING NUMBER: "FORWARDS (FOUR WORDS)"
(ENSEMBLE)
There are four words
That ev'ry fairy tale should say
To move it forwards
And send the heroes on their way
What are these four words
That this song is speakin' of?
These "can't-ignore" words
To take this show from push to shove
This forward motion
That starts with "o" (oh!) "n" "c" "e"
Makes the commotion
That moves our plot from a to z
(Rap break:)
This fable you're about to behold
Is not a tale you've ever heard told
It's got some good and bad guys, that's true
When this thing's done, we'll bring it to you.
(DANCE BREAK)
(Rap:)
Singin', dancin', actin' and goofin',
We're so stoked it might cave the roof in
Keep your seat, and keep lookin' here
This show's just for you, izzat clear?
We're lookin' forward
To getting busy here for you
There's not much more (word!)
Before we cue the acting crew
("Baroque" break:)
We've our share of kingdoms and magic
Prince and princess, deeds bright and tragic
But don't think it's all sweet and frail
This is not your grandma's fairy tale.
Forwards
Is the way this play should go
And with those four words
We can get on with the show
We'll start with "once" (once!)
And then "upon" is next to chime
You'll hear an "a" (uh!)
And by that time, it's time for "time"
Once!
Upon!
A!
Time!
(You go!)
NARRATOR
Once upon a time, in a town not so different from this one,
there lived a husband and wife. (MOTHER AND FATHER COME
AROUND FROM BEHIND FLAT, STAGE RIGHT) They were very happy,
and very much in love. And they became even happier the day
their twins arrived. (THEY EACH HOLD A BLANKET-WRAPPED
BUNDLE.) They had a boy and a girl, and they named the boy
Jimmy--
FATHER
I'll call him James.
NARRATOR
--and they named the girl Jennifer.
MOTHER
I'll call her Jenny.
(MOTHER SITS, HOLDING BABIES, WITH
FATHER STANDING BEHIND HER.)
NARRATOR
[MUSIC CUE]And the happy young mother would sing her babies
to sleep with a sweet tune that her mother had sung to her
when she was little.
SONG #2
"DREAMS" (SHORT VERSION)
(MOTHER)
Dream of your life, let your wishes run free,
Trust in your dreams, and they'll all come to be.
Dreams can be magic, or so they seem
Dream what you love, let my love help you dream
NARRATOR
But things in life--and in stories--can't always be happy,
and one day the worst thing imaginable happened, and Jenny
and Jimmy's father died. (FATHER EXITS BEHIND FLAT.)
Now, Jenny and Jimmy were still babies, so it didn't mean
much to them. But from that moment on, their mother never
sang to her children again. (MOTHER STANDS AND EXITS BEHIND
FLAT.)
So Jenny and Jimmy grew older. (JIMMY AND JENNY ENTER, HE
SITTING ON THE CHAIR WITH PENCIL AND PAPER, SHE DOING A LEG
STRETCH ON THE BACK OF ANOTHER CHAIR.) And each of them had
a very special dream:
JIMMY
I want to write, to tell all the stories that I have inside
of me.
JENNY
I want to dance, and express everything that I feel inside of
me.
(MOTHER ENTERS, LOOKING OLDER.)
NARRATOR
But their mother felt differently.
MOTHER
You two have to stop all this foolishness. (MOTHER TAKES THE
PENCIL AND PAPER AWAY FROM JIMMY, AND MAKES JENNY STOP
DANCING.)
NARRATOR
You see, she worked very hard to support her family alone,
andŠthough she was a good and loving personŠshe was very
worried, and felt that her children had to give up these--
MOTHER
--Silly dreams!--
NARRATOR
--and be practical.
MOTHER
Dreams won't put food on the table and a roof over your
heads. Now, I don't want to hear any more foolishness about
stories and dancing. I won't let you throw your lives away on
dreams!
(MOTHER EXITS. JIMMY AND JENNY CROSS,
JOINED BY BULLY, BAD ATTITUDE, AND
JERK.)
NARRATOR
And things were even worse for Jimmy and Jenny at school.
BULLY
Oh, look! Here come the Artsy weirdos! What a coupl'a
losers!
JERK
Yeah...weirdos!
BAD ATTITUDE
Yeah...get normal, you weirdos!
BULLY
Hey, Jimmy, why don't you tell us a story...about how lame
you are!?
JERK
Yeah...and Jenny, you can do your part to end world
hunger...by dancing!
BAD ATTITUDE
Yeah [MUSIC CUE]...what a couple of weirdo loser creep things
to want to do!
SONG #3
SONG: "WAKE UP (YOU WEIRDOS)"
(BULLY, JERK, BAD ATTITUDE)
(Bully:)
Let's play a really good game
I don't mean Tag or Parcheesi
It's called "So Who's the Most Lame?"
Finding the winners is easy
Can't miss 'em, they're too peculiar
Here's a hint: their names start with "J"
They play "pretend" all schoolyear
How weird will they act today?
(Jerk and Bad Attitude:)
Wake up, and smell the cocoa
You're gonna get left in the dust
You're either jerks or you're loco
You get our total disgust
(Bully:)
These clueless twerps are uncool
Acting artistic and swoony
There's no one weirder at school
Touch them and you might turn goony!
(Bad Attitude:)
You're king and queen of all losers
No one likes you...ooh, what a shame!
(Jerk:)
Weird beggars can't be choosers
That's the price of being so lame
(Jerk and Bad Attitude:)
Wake up, we're losing our patience
You think you're really unique
You've won our great admirations
For being the number-one freak
(Bully:)
Wake up, you twerp little jerk-os
Get a clue, get a life, get a friend
Everyone has to go where the work goes
You won't change the world with pretend
(All Three:)
You won't change the world with pretend
JENNY
Why don't you just leave us alone?! What's so wrong with the
things we like?
JIMMY
Don't bother, Jenny. They'll never understand.
BULLY
What's to understand, Story-boy? When I grow up, I'll be
making a million dollars, and you'll be makingŠa dork of
yourself!
JERK
Yeah...and I'll be married and happy and have a great career,
and Jenny'll be in the Doofus Dance Company of Stoopidville!
BAD ATTITUDE
Uh-huh! And I'll be...in a really good place. And you two'll
be...not in so good a place--(TO BULLY AND JERK, AS THE THREE
EXIT:) You guys took all the good insults!
NARRATOR
It seemed that, wherever they looked, Jimmy and Jenny found
nothing to support their dreams. And, while this made Jenny
terribly unhappy and frustrated, it was even worse for Jimmy,
whose mind began to question whether he should even dream at
all.
(NARRATOR EXITS)
JIMMY
Oh, Jenny, what if what everybody says is true? Maybe it is
stupid to have these dreams!
JENNY
But Jimmy [MUSIC CUE]...it feels like it's meant to be when
you start telling stories...and that's how I feel when I
dance....
SONG #4
"IF ONLY"
(JIMMY, JENNY)
JIMMY
(SUNG:) If only there was someone who knew what we should do
JENNY
(SUNG:) If only we could find a place where dreamer's dreams
come true
If only, for a moment, we could just be
me and you--
JIMMY
(SPOKEN:) Oh, "if only, if only"! We could be here "if only"
ing till we're a hundred and two, and it won't change
anything!
JENNY
(SUNG:)But what if simply wishing made more diff'rence than
we knew?
(SPOKEN:) Hey...maybe that's it! Maybe
if we both wish as hard as we can...
JIMMY
(FRUSTRATED) Wishing?! What is that gonna accomplish?! That
is so stupid!
JENNY
(A LITTLE HURT:) Jimmy...
JIMMY
Well, it's just all so pointless...and hopeless! We should
just give up!
JENNY
Jimmy, now you're starting to sound like all of them!
JIMMY
Well, maybe all of them are right, and I am just a silly
artsy weirdo!
JENNY
(SUNG:) If only we could find a place, a world with our
dreams in it
And what if we just wished for that, if only for a minute?
JIMMY
(TALK/SUNG) If only I just stopped my dreaming...I am such a
jerk
JENNY
What if we could have our dreams
JIMMY
(TALK/SUNG) If only that would work! [MUSIC OUT]
JENNY
(SPOKEN:) Please, Jimmy! Let's at least try!
(JIMMY AND JENNY TAKE EACH OTHER'S
HANDS AND CLOSE THEIR EYES,
CONCENTRATING VERY HARD. SOUND
CUEŠRUMBLE AS A LIGHTNING BOLT SHAPE
STARTS TO RISE FROM BEHIND THE FLAT.
JIMMY AND JENNY OPEN THEIR EYES, AND
THE LIGHTNING BOLT DUCKS BACK DOWN.)
JIMMY
I don't feel anything happening. Do you?
JENNY
No...but let's keep trying just a little longer.
(THEY CLOSE THEIR EYES AGAIN, AND THE
PROCESS REPEATS: SOUND CUEŠRUMBLE
AGAIN, MORE OF THE LIGHTNING BOLT
REVEALED. THEY OPEN THEIR EYES AGAIN,
AND IT VANISHES.)
JENNY
Maybe this was a silly idea...
JIMMY
No...let's keep trying...
(THEY REPEAT THE PROCESS. SOUND
CUEŠLONG MOUNTING RUMBLE, WHICH
SUSTAINS THIS TIME AND GETS LOUDER. THE
LIGHTNING BOLT REVEALS THAT IT IS
SPARKIE'S HEADPIECE. THE RUMBLE
CONTINUES GETTING LOUDER. THEY OPEN
THEIR EYES, BUT THE ACTIVITY DOESN'T
STOP THIS TIME.)
JENNY
Jimmy, what's happening?!
JIMMY
I...I don't know!
(SUDDENLY, SPARKIE JUMPS RIGHT BETWEEN
THEM, AS SOUND CUE BUMPS.)
SPARKIE
(VERY COOL ATTITUDE, WEARING SHADES:) Hi...somebody page me?
(SPARKIE'S MOVEMENTS ARE SHARP AND
ERRATIC...ELECTRICAL AND CHARGED.)
JENNY/JIMMY
Who are you?!!
SPARKIE
Why...I'm a brainstorm! You can call me Sparkie, if you
like!
JENNY
What's going on?!
SPARKIE
Don't worry, Jenny! I'm not here to hurt you and Jimmy! Far
from it!
JIMMY
How do you know our names? And how'd you get in here?
SPARKIE
Hey, chill, my little thunderclouds! I came in through the
window...of your imaginations. And why wouldn't I know your
names?...I'm a part of you!
JENNY
This doesn't make any sense...
JIMMY
I don't understand...
SPARKIE
I'm here 'cause you summoned me [MUSIC CUE]...because right
now you two really need to spark your creativity! So brace
yourselves for some heavy-duty precipitation, my friends,
'cause there's a major brainstorm headed this way!!
SONG #5
"BRAINSTORM!"
(SPARKIE, JIMMY, JENNY)
There's a special magic and wonder
A lightning bolt of thought to be born
Let yourself be led by the thunder
When your life goes dry and forlorn...
Have a brainstorm!
You've got a wish, now don't deny it
To fulfill your heart's desire
You'll never know until you try it
Set your expectations up high'r
Let your spark turn into a fire
With a brainstorm!
You have to grab the golden ring
You've got to grok all the wonder
Be bright, be great, be bold and sing
Tear preconceptions asunder
Crank up the juice from down under
Let out your natural thunder
Have a brainstorm!
(Riff:)
Don't lose it
Just choose it
You never need to excuse it
Provoke it
Don't choke it
Set off the flame to invoke it
Rejoice now
There's choice now
You'll start to hear your own voice now
Brainstorm!
(DANCE BREAK/SET CHANGE)
Buckle up, your flight's on the runway
We're about to soar through your mind
Hang tight, cut loose, go the fun way
Juice it up, who knows what you'll find
In a brainstorm
Don't flake out if you lose the juice, now
You will ride the current once more
Just break out of that tight papoose, now
Let your mental energy soar
Push the pedal straight to the floor!
That's what having Sparkie is for!
(Riff:)
Don't fight it
Invite it
Spark up your brain and ignite it
Get fired up
Inspired up
Hook up your power, get wired up
It's here now
No fear now
You feel your dreams crystal clear now
Brainstorm!
BY THE END OF THE SONG, THEY ARE IN THE
DREAM LAND. THE SET HAS CHANGED AND
THEY ARE SUDDENLY WEARING ROYAL TUNICS
INSTEAD OF THEIR REGULAR CLOTHES.
SPARKIE
Well, here we are!...Buh-bye!
JENNY
What?! Wait! You're leaving us here...wherever here is?
JIMMY
You can't just go! How are we supposed to find our way
around?!
SPARKIE
Oh, you won't have any trouble with that! Just
relax...you'll know what to do!
(SPARKIE EXITS)
JIMMY
Oh, great! Now we're lost in some really weird place!
JENNY
Jimmy...
JIMMY
Huh...?
JENNY
Is it really weird...or is it just really different? Like
you and me?
JIMMY
Well...whatever...but we still don't know where to go or what
to do!
JENNY
Look at these clothes! They're so--
(THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER.)
JIMMY/JENNY
--Different!
(ROBIN ENTERS)
ROBIN
(LIFELESS, MONOTONE:) Oh, great...a worm...yummy.
JENNY
Um...excuse me?
ROBIN
Oh...your majesty!
JENNY
Huh?
JIMMY
Do you know her?
ROBIN
Oh...your other majesty!
JENNY
You know him, too?
JIMMY
Why are you calling us "majesties"?
(DUCK AND OWL ENTER, WITH CHICKEN
FOLLOWING ALONG CLUELESS)
DUCK
Hey, Robin, you know any good duck ponds around here? Aw,
never mind...what's the point of swimmin' if I'm not allowed
to quack?
OWL
I have come to only one conclusion...life is an existential
nightmare. Though we owls are incredibly intelligent,
without my unique vocal signature, I just don't...give a
hoot!
CHICKEN
(DEPRESSED:) P-kawk...
ROBIN
(LOUD WHISPER TO OTHER BIRDS:) Hey! You guys! Look! We're
not alone!
(DUCK, OWL, AND CHICKEN NOTICE JIMMY
AND JENNY)
DUCK
Sufferin' swampgas! Your majesties!
CHICKEN
P-kaawk!
OWL
My word! Prince James and Princess Jennifer!
JIMMY
Prince James?
JENNY
Princess Jennifer?
ROBIN
Oh, please forgive us for not seeing you! Ever since the
Baron began that no-creativity law, with the no-chirping rule
-
DUCK
--And the no-quacking clause--
OWL
--And the no-hoot addendum--
ALL THREE
--We just haven't been ourselves!
CHICKEN
P-kaawk.
JIMMY
The Baron? Who's the Baron?
OWL
That would be Baron von Kreepula...
DUCK
The miserable despot...
CHICKEN
Pawk!
ROBIN
He's been ruling the land ever since he told us that your
father, the King, was dead.
DUCK
I miss the King!
CHICKEN
P-kawk.
ROBIN
And your mother, the Queen, fell into an enchanted sleep.
OWL
What a catastrophic anomaly!
CHICKEN
P-kawk?
ROBIN
It's enough to make me chirp the blues...except that would
violate the "no-creativity" law!
JENNY
"No-creativity" law? That sounds horrible!
DUCK
Oh, it is, your majesty! [MUSIC CUE: FALSE START PRE-6] Where
is a duck without his quack?
ROBIN
What is a bird without her song?
OWL
Who is an owl without his "hoo"? Who?
ROBIN
What?
DUCK
Where?
CHICKEN
P-kawck!
[MUSIC OUT]
OWL
No, no, we mustn't! We can't start singing...we'll be
fricasseed!
JENNY
Oh, but please! We want to hear your song!
DUCK
You do?!
OWL
My word...that is a serendipitous expository permutation!
DUCK
Yeah...it's a seren--...a seren-expo--...it shocked the heck
outta me!
ROBIN
But the Baron! He would never tolerate us singing!
DUCK
Yeah! Dead duck! Dead duck!
OWL
Well....perhaps it would be okay, if we didn't actually sing
[MUSIC CUE]...I mean, since they asked....
SONG #6A
MUSICAL NUMBER: "FOR THE BIRDS"
(ROBIN, DUCK, OWL, CHICKEN)
(THE BIRDS DO NOT SING, BUT RATHER TALK
THE FIRST (PATTER) PART OF THE SONG.)
(ROBIN:)
This used to be a wonderland
Bright skies and really nice worms
Then Baron von Kreepula took command
And laid down the law on his terms
(OWL:)
All singing would be forbidden
As well as dancing and play
(DUCK:)
Keep your creativity hidden
Or there would be heck to pay
(3 BIRDS:)
It's for the birds
This whole arrangement's for the birds
(OWL:)
This mean estrangement from our words and our singing
(ROBIN:)
What good is winging if you have no tune
(DUCK:)
It shouldn't happen to a loon
(OWL:)
Or a duck
(ROBIN:)
Or a chicken
(CHICKEN:)
P-kuuuck!
(DUCK:)
I am just a simple duck
With no great expectations
A pond to swim, some down to pluck
And minimal frustrations
(OWL:)
Although I'm wise and rather droll
The local smart sensation
My brain just won't go on a roll
Since our great deprivation
(CHICKEN STARTS TO "SING" THE BEGINNING OF A NEW VERSE, BUT
HE'S ONLY "P-KAW"-ING. MIDWAY THROUGH THE SECOND EIGHT, HE
GETS BUMPED, AND THEY JUMP TO THE CHORUS.)
(3 BIRDS)
It's for the birds
(OWL:)
Like a dictionary with no words
(ROBIN:)
Or Miss Muffet's bowl of curds, with no whey
(DUCK:)
Our dark-blackest day is now here before us
(3 BIRDS)
And we can't even sing the chorus!
JENNY
It's okay, you guys! We want you to sing it!
ROBIN
But the Baron...!
CHICKEN
P-kuuck...!
JIMMY
Now, wait a second [MUSIC OUT]...we're the Prince and
Princess, right?
(THE BIRDS BOW WITH ANOTHER FLOURISH)
JIMMY
Well...aren't a Prince and Princess more important than a
Baron?
(ROBIN LOOKS TO DUCK. DUCK LOOKS TO
CHICKEN. CHICKEN LOOKS AWAY. DUCK
LOOKS TO OWL. OWL THINKS.)
OWL
Ummm...yes, of course.
THREE BIRDS
(AD LIB) Oh, this is nice to know! My feathers are getting
warm and fuzzy! Yes, this is a good thing! Etc.
JENNY
Jimmy...uh, Prince James, you're right! We have more say-so
than a Baron!
JIMMY
That's right...Princess Jennifer!
JENNY
And we want to hear your song!
JIMMY
Yes! It's...our royal decree! [MUSIC CUE]
(THE BIRDS ARE IMPRESSED, AND PREPARE
FOR THEIR "BIG FINISH," WHEN THEY
REALLY SING THE MELODY LINES:)
SONG #6B
It's for the birds
This mute detention's for the birds
Some intervention must be quickly usurping
Our painful non-chirping of
Music and words--
(ROBIN:)
Because our lack of tweeting
Bears no repeating
(DUCK:)
This stupid silence
Could lead to violence
(OWL:)
This whole shmegeggy
Is lay-an-egg-y
(CHICKEN:)
Puk-puk-puk-p-kawk
Puk-puk-puk-puk-kaawk
(3 BIRDS + CHICKEN:)
And positively for-- the-- birds!
ROBIN
[MUSIC/SOUND CUE: ROBIN'S THOUGHTS] Oh! Owl! Duck!
Chicken! My special thoughts...I think they're coming back!
DUCK
Really?!
CHICKEN
P-kawwwk?!
OWL
Oh, how sensational....logical but overwhelming nonetheless!
DUCK
Oh boy, oh boy! Robin's thoughts are back!
(DUCK, OWL AND CHICKEN AD-LIB A HAPPY
LITTLE CHIRP/HOOT AND JUMP WITH JOY.)
JIMMY
What kind of thoughts, Robin?
OWL
Robin sometimes gets the most wonderful thoughts in her
head...and this is the first time they've happened since the
Baron forbade all creativity.
ROBIN
Please...I'll just bust if I don't share them! And they're
specially for you two! Please may I? Huh, may I?
JENNY
Of course, Robin! Please do!
SONG CUE #7
ROBIN'S TRANCE
ROBIN
The spell on the Queen, that no one has broken
Requires a sweet creation unspoken
The King isn't dead, but no one knows where he is
Only you can end the Baron's nefarious
Rule of intolerance, so we can be free
He's only as fearful as you let him be
JENNY
"The spell on the Queen, that no one has broken, requires a
sweet creation unspoken"...what does that mean?
JIMMY
"The King isn't dead"...how can we be sure of any of that?
OWL
You can't, your grace...you have to take a chance.
ROBIN
Trust in what you feel inside....it works for me!
JIMMY
But how do we explain how we learned this?
DUCK
Just say that a little bird told you...
OWL
The castle's straight ahead...good luck!
DUCK
We're all counting on you!
CHICKEN
P-kaaawk!
OWL
Oh, Prince James and Princess Jennifer? We know you haven't
changed the Baron's law yet, but...
JENNY
Yes, Owl?
OWL
Well...do you think it would be all right if we sang on the
way out?
JIMMY/JENNY
Absolutely!
BIRDS
Yes!
[MUSIC CUE]
SONG #8
BIRDS
There are four birds
That ev'ry fairy tale should keep
To move things forwards
And help the heroes fight the Kreep
(BIRDS EXIT STAGE RIGHT, AS JIMMY AND
JENNY CROSS STAGE LEFT. A KREEPETTE
[#4] PEEKS OUT FROM BEHIND THE FLAT,
LETTING OUT A HIDEOUS SHRIEK AND
DISAPPEARING.)
[MUSIC CUE: INTRO MUSIC/PRE-9]
(FOREBODING MESSAGES COME BOOMING OVER
THE SOUND SYSTEM.)
V.O. MESSAGES
Warning! You are not allowed here!
Danger! Turn back at once!
You do not belong here!
The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of
Kreepettes only!
No trespassing!
No singing!
No breathing!
Turn back or suffer terrible punishment!
Terrible, terrible punishment!
(BARON ENTERS, BOOMING VOICE:)
BARON
So what part of "terrible punishment" didn't you understand-
...oh...it's you two.
JENNY
(TIMID) Hello?
JIMMY
(TENTATIVE) Baron von Kreepula?
BARON
Well, who were you expecting...The Lion King?
[MUSIC CUE]
SONG #9
BARON SINGS: "BE AFRAID"
Welcome Prince and Princess, my lieges
Nice to have you barge in the place
Sad about your folks, it's egregious
But now I'm in charge in the place
Kingdoms like this don't run on their own
The King is dead, and Queenie's asleep
Guess you know who's now on the throne
I'd thank the little people, but talk is cheap
The law of the land is really quite simple
Leave artistic thought at the border
Creativity is a pimple
On the face of my perfect order
JIMMY
(SPOKEN:) Excuse me, Baron, but we wanted to talk to you
about--
BARON
Silence!!
(SUNG:) Who told you your childish opinion
Pulled some weight or had any merit?
I'm your elder, I have dominion
Life is rough, and you have to bear it.
Look how small and worthless you are
You don't know a thing, you ashame me
Be afraid, my reach goes quite far
Little snots! Do not disobey me!
Now I see you're getting afraid
Good; it means you're learning the truth
Be embarrassed, stay in the shade
Don't give in to the folly of youth
BARON
(SPOKEN:)Where are my Kreepettes?!
(THE KREEPETTES ENTER. THEY ARE
DRESSED AS MIDGETS, IN RAGS, SNARLING.
THEY WEAR DISHEVELED, FACE-OBSCURING
WIGS.)
KREEPETTES
Be afraid, be afraid, feel despair now
You are gettin' down and forlorn
Be afraid, cuz nobody cares now
Whether you two ever got born
You're too artsy
Stop actin' cheeky
If you knew the way you appear
People laugh at you
Cuz you're freaky
If you're smart, you'll start feelin' fear
Learn to be just like all the others
Don't make waves, it's not worth the pain
One man's thoughts are just like another's
Don't speak up; there's less to explain
Be afraid, you're on the wrong track. now
Would you trash your lives for a song?
Grow up, or we won't take you back, now
Here's the scoop: you got it all wrong!
BARON
ENOUGH! Now you brats have two choices! Either run away
right now, or become Kreepettes!
KREEPETTE #1
Losers!
KREEPETTE #2
Give up!
KREEPETTE #3
You're in so much trouble!
KREEPETTE #4
I wouldn't be caught dead in that outfit!
BARON
WELL...?!
JIMMY
(SOTTO, TO JENNY:) Jenny, we better run while we can!
JENNY
(SOTTO, TO JIMMY) Jimmy, I know he's really scary. But
remember what Robin said about him.
JIMMY/JENNY
"He's only as fearful as you let him be"
BARON
Silence!!
JIMMY
(SOTTO) That's pretty fearful...!
KREEPETTE #1
Good-for-nothings!
KREEPETTE #2
Little babies!
KREEPETTE #3
Scaredy cats!
KREEPETTE #4
Fashion disasters!
JIMMY
Baron....since we're the Prince and Princess, we should--
BARON
Prince and Princess?! Of what?! Your King is dead, and I run
things now!
JENNY
(TO JIMMY:) James, that's not what Robin told us! She said
that the King wasn't dead!
JIMMY
That's right! Listen, Baron, I don't believe the King is
dead!
(THE KREEPETTES GASP)
BARON
You dare contradict me?! My word is the law! Kreepettes,
take them away!
(KREEPETTES MOVE IN ON THEM
MENACINGLY.)
JIMMY
NO!
(THE KREEPETTES GASP.)
KREEPETTE #1
He said no!
KREEPETTE #2
He said no!
KREEPETTES #3/#4
He said no!
BARON
No?! You dare say "no" to me?!!
(JIMMY, INTIMIDATED, LOOKS TO JENNY.)
JENNY
"He's only as fearful as you let him be."
JIMMY
I say the King isn't dead! And...we belong in this Kingdom!
BARON
(SNEERING) Is that so....?
(KING ENTERS)
KING
That's what the Prince said, Baron.
ALL KREEPETTES
(GASPING:) The King!!
(THE BARON BOWS BEFORE THE KING.)
BARON
Your highness, I thought you were--
KING
It's not for you to think, Baron. It's for Prince James to
decide...he is the Master of the Story!
BARON
Yes, your highness!
JIMMY
You mean...you really aren't dead?
KING
Not in your story, James. You and your sister have the power
here...all the power of your imaginations. Why, Princess
Jennifer, I'll bet those little demons wouldn't really be bad
after all, under the power of your creativity.
JENNY
Really? What could I do to make things different?
KING
Why, use the power of your belief, Daughter! You never
doubted in your brother's gift as a storyteller. Even when
his head was full of Baron von Kreepula thoughts, you always
believed in him. I wonder what would happen if someone gave
that kind of support to these little miscreants...
BARON
Keep yer hands off of my miscreants!
KING
Baron!
BARON
(INSTANTLY BACKS OFF:) Yes, my king...
JENNY
(TENTATIVELY, TO KREEPETTES:) Y'know, I like the way you all
sing...
KREEPETTES
(AD LIB) Oh, really? Gee, that's nice to hear! Groovy. Etc.
JENNY
Is...um...being Kreepettes what you really wanted to do with
yourselves?
KREEPETTES
Oh, no!
KREEPETTE 1
This is all we thought we were allowed.
KREEPETTE 2
Baron von Kreepula said we were lucky to be Kreepettes.
KREEPETTE 3
Would we be allowed to do something else?
BARON
No!
JENNY
Yes! You can be whatever you want to be! I'm the Princess
and I say so!
KREEPETTES
Really?!
(TO A SOUND CUE, THE KREEPETTES' RAGS
BREAK AWAY, AND THEY STAND TALL, ONE BY
ONE TAKING OFF THE WIGS.)
KREEPETTE 1
I want to learn to play the trombone, and be in a marching
band!
AD LIB EXCITED APPROVAL.
KREEPETTE 2
I want to be an artist, and create wonderful paintings!
AD LIB EXCITED APPROVAL.
KREEPETTE 3
I want to write really neat computer software programs!
BEAT.
KREEPETTE 3
Well, that's my dream...(DEFENSIVE:) it's creative...
AD LIB SUDDEN (COMPENSATING) EXCITED
APPROVAL.
KREEPETTE 4/NARRATOR
(PULLING OFF HER WIG AND REVEALING HERSELF AS THE NARRATOR.
TO THE AUDIENCE:) And I want to go back to talking to all of
you. So the Kreepettes were all freed from the enslavement
of Baron von Kreepula.
KING
Oh, Baron...this place is a mess.
BARON
Yeah? So?
KING
Prince James and Princess Jennifer, who do you think should
clean it up?
JIMMY/JENNY
(LOOK AT EACH OTHER, THEN, POINTING TO BARON:) You!
(GRUMBLING, KREEPULA PICKS UP THE
SCATTERED CLOTHES AND EXITS WITH THEM
BEHIND THE FLAT.)
NARRATOR
Baron von Kreepula was removed from power. But there was
still one very important thing left to do.
JIMMY
The Queen...she's still in the enchanted sleep!
Father...isn't there anything you can do?
KING
It's not up to me now, my children. It's up to you. Use
your gifts to make it happen...I know you can do it!
JIMMY
But...
KING
I believe in you.
JIMMY
Yes, sir. (TO JENNY:) Use our gifts...what can we do to wake
her?
JENNY
Well...I remember what Robin told us..."The spell on the
Queen, that no one has broken, Requires a sweet creation
unspoken."
JIMMY
What does that mean?
(BARON RE-ENTERS QUIETLY.)
JENNY
Well...maybe it means you're supposed to write a song to wake
her.
JIMMY
A song? I've never tried to write a song....
BARON
A song? You can't write a song! You've never done it
before!
JIMMY
Maybe he's right...
JENNY
Or maybe it'll wake the Queen! You'll never know until you
try!
BARON
Ridiculous! How could a song break the spell?! Nothing can!
Everyone has tried and failed...and they're all bigger and
smarter than you! It's hopeless!
JIMMY
(TO JENNY:) Is that what I sometimes sound like?
JENNY
Well...sometimes.
JIMMY
Then I'm not gonna sound like that anymore! Forget you,
Baron von Kreepula! We're gonna try this!
(BARON EXITS.)
NARRATOR
So Prince James got very busy, writing a song that he felt
from deep inside of himself.
[MUSIC CUE] And because it felt so "meant-to-be," it seemed
to fall into place in no time at all...
SONG #10
("WAKE UP (DESPIERTATE)")
There's a time to give, and a time you can take
Life is filled with diamonds and with coal
There's a time to rest, and a time to awake
Shake the sleep and join the singing
There are virtues to extol
The alarm is loudly ringing
If you listen with your soul
Wake up (Despiértate), there's a world of life to live
Wake up (Levántate), cuz there's so much love to give
Rise up (Con alegría), share your contribution
Get up (En harmonía), ev'ry problem has a solution
JENNY
(SPOKEN:) Oh, Jimmy, it isn't working!
JIMMY
Well, we can't give up! "A sweet creation unspoken" must
mean more than just a song....It must be a dance, too! It's
up to you now, Jenny!
JENNY
Me...?
JIMMY
You have to provide the dance. C'mon, Princess Jennifer...I
believe in you!
(THE FOLLOWING IS SUNG ON THE OFFSTAGE
MIKE, AS JENNY BEGINS THE DANCE
SECTION.)
Wake up (Despiértate), you're essential
Pick up (Levántate) your potential
Let love (Sin rechazos) be your teacher
Wake up (Con abrazos) ev'ry living creature
(THE QUEEN BEGINS TO STIR, HER BODY
AWAKENING FIRST TO THE RHYTHM. SHE
OPENS HER EYES AND RISES, DOING A DANCE
DUET WITH JENNY. THE BACK-UP GIRLS
JOIN THE DANCE.
THE QUEEN DANCES INTO THE ARMS OF THE
KING, AND THEY DO A CLOSE DANCE
TOGETHER, AS JIMMY AND JENNY LOOK ON
HAPPILY. THEN A SHORT GROUP DANCE.)
Wake up!
QUEEN
Oh, James...Jennifer...you have awakened me!
KING
Yes, my children...I am so very proud of you.
(SOUND CUEÐSUDDENLY, A SLIGHTLY-DISTANT
VOICE-OVER:)
MOTHER (V.O.)
Jimmy!...Jenny!...Dinner's in five minutes! Go wash your
hands now...
JENNY
What--...Jimmy...is that...Mom calling us?
JIMMY
Yeah...it's Mom...we forgot all about her...
JENNY
Oh...Jimmy...I love Mom...but I don't want to leave here...is
that terrible of me?
JIMMY
Well, if it is, then I'm terrible too...everything's so great
here!
JENNY
Yeah...in this place, it's okay for you to write and for me
to dance....
JIMMY
And we even have a father here...
KING
It is time, though.
JIMMY
But things are so hard back there!
JENNY
And Mom doesn't want us to use our creativity...
QUEEN
Children, I want to give you something very precious to me.
It's a special song...one that I want you to have for your
very own. (SHE TOUCHES THEM MAGICALLY NEAR THE HEART,
ACCOMPANIED BY SOUND CUEÐMUSICAL GLISS FROM "DREAMS.") When
you close your eyes and take a deep, sweet breath, the song
will be yours. (QUEEN EXITS BEHIND FLAT.)
KING
And now we must say goodbye.
JENNY
No...!
JIMMY
Father...please don't leave...!
KING
Jennifer...James...you will always have me with you...no
matter where you are. Remember...this is your story...I live
right here (POINTS TO THEIR FOREHEADS) in your imaginations!
I'll always be as close as your thoughts and dreams...and
you'll hear me supporting you when the Kreepula voices get
too loud.
SOUND CUE
(JIMMY AND JENNY RETURN TO THE REAL
WORLD, MEETING MOTHER.)
JENNY
Mom! Mom! We just had the most amazing adventure!
JIMMY
Yeah! Jenny was Princess Jennifer, and I was Prince James!
And we defeated Baron von Kreepula, andÐ
MOTHER
This is what you were doing instead of your homework? Making
up more silly stories?!
(JIMMY AND JENNY ARE DEFLATED.)
JIMMY/JENNY
Ad lib "Sorry."
(SOUND CUEÐVOICE OVERS:)
KING (V.O.)
I have confidence in you...
QUEEN (VO.)
Take a deep, sweet breath...
(JENNY AND JIMMY CLOSE THEIR EYES AND
TAKE A DEEP BREATH. SOUND CUEÐMUSICAL
GLISS OF OPENING CHORD FROM "DREAMS."
THEY OPEN THEIR EYES AND LOOK AT EACH
OTHER, ASTONISHED.)
JENNY
Jimmy, do you have a song in your head, all of a sudden?
JIMMY
Yeah...you too?!
MOTHER
All right, supper is ready, so just stop [MUSIC CUE] all this
nonsense andÐ
SONG #11
(JIMMY AND JENNY INTERRUPT HER, SINGING
OPENING OF "DREAMS." MOTHER IS
STUNNED.)
JENNY
Dream of your life, let your wishes run free
JIMMY
Trust in your dreams, and they'll all come to be.
MOTHER
(SPOKEN) Why...that's the song I heard as a little girl!
HowÐ?
JIMMY
It's the power of our imaginations, Mom!
JIMMY/JENNY
Dreams can be magic, or so they seem
Dream what you love, let my love help you dream
MOTHER
But I only sang it when you were just babies...!
JENNY
Mom...you used to sing?
MOTHER
Why...yes! I used to love to sing!
JENNY
Like I love to dance?
JIMMY
And I love to tell stories?
MOTHER
Yes...I guess maybe it's exactly the same.
(MOTHER JOINS JENNY AND JIMMY SINGING
2ND VERSE:)
Dreams are for living, and life is for dreams
See how a wish is much more than it seems
Dreamers are special, they light the way
Free all your dreams, let your work be your play
(MOTHER SINGS THE BRIDGE, AS FATHER
APPEARS BEHIND THE FLAT)
Into ev'ry journey some heartache will fall
And the darkest cloud may descend
Hold on to your dreams, over time, overall
You will see the heartache will end
(MOTHER:) Life is a doorway,
(JIMMY/JENNY:) Dreams are the key
(ALL 3, UNISON:) Let them propel you beyond what could be
(MOTHER/FATHER:) Through all your travels, your vision stays
true
(ALL 4:) Stand by your dreams, let my love stand by you
(FATHER DISAPPEARS BEHIND THE FLAT)
(MOTHER:) Live out your dreams, let your heart see you
through.
(HOLD FOR APPLAUSE. MOTHER, JIMMY, AND
JENNY EXIT. NARRATOR ENTERS, MOVING
BACKDROP PIECE INTO PLACE FOR FINALE,
OPENING LIGHTNING BOLT ON WORD "AFTER,"
AND RUNNING BACK OFFSTAGE.)
NARRATOR
And they lived hopefully ever AFTER [MUSIC CUE]!
SONG #12
(THE WORD "AFTER" CUES THE INTRO MUSIC
TO THE FINALE REPRISE OF "BRAINSTORM!"
FEATURING DANCE BREAK AND BOWS.)
There's a special magic and wonder
A lightning bolt of brilliance, no doubt
Let yourself be led by the thunder
Feel your inner spark coming out
Have a brainstorm!
You have to grab the golden ring
You've got to grok all the wonder
Be bright, be great, be bold and sing
Tear preconceptions asunder
Crank up the juice from down under
Let out your natural thunder
Have a brainstorm!
(The riff:)
Don't fight it
Invite it
Spark up your brain and ignite it
Don't lose it
Just choose it
You never need to excuse it
Get fired up
Inspired up
Hook up your power, get wired up
Rejoice now
There's choice now
You start to hear your own voice now
It's here now
No fear now
You feel your dreams crystal clear now
BRAINSTORM!
THE END