Russel and the Crystal Ball
ACT TWO.
- MUSIC IN: "The Bicycle Expert." (Pantomime. The background suggests a busy schoolyard with kids milling around, walking back and forth. RUSSEL and JAMAL enter, heading for school, engaged in animated conversation. Suddenly, another BOY steps up to RUSSEL and pulls HIM over to where a bicycle is standing. The BOY asks RUSSEL for some information about the bicycle. RUSSEL answers his question. The BOY nods, listening carefully. CASEY, in the background, jerks his thumb at RUSSEL and walks off, turning on his heel.
-
MUSIC IN: "Facing the Music."
DUDLEY Oh, no! I couldn't do that! [singing]ANYTHING
IS BETTER THAN FACING THE MUSIC!
NOTHING
IS SHOWN AS MORE PRONE
TO MAKE YOU SICK.
BUT YOU'RE THE ONE,
IF THERE'S ANYBODY AT ALL,
WHO CAN GO INSIDE
AND HELP THOSE WHO HIDE
IN THE CRYSTAL BALL!
(MUSIC continues under the following dialogue:)
RUSSEL: Me? No way! That's your problem!DUDLEY: But if you help me, I think I can help you.RUSSEL: How can you help me?DUDLEY: Listen, Madam Mumm will take you back into the crystal ball again if you ask her. You can talk to those people!RUSSEL: And then what?DUDLEY: And then you tell her the deal is off, just like you did before!RUSSEL: No![singing]
I KNOW I LOOK THE HERO TYPE,
BUT THIS IS TOO RISKY, SO FORGET IT.
YOU KNOW WHO IS WHO INSIDE,
SO YOU GO ON IN, AND TAKE THE CREDIT!
DUDLEY: DON'T SAY THAT! (As they sing together, DUDLEY keeps bumping into things, in rhythm with the music)DUDLEY: ANYTHING—IS BETTER THAN FACING THE MUSIC!
NOTHING
IS SHOWN AS MORE PRONE
TO MAKE YOU SICK.BUT YOU'RE THE ONE,
IF THERE'S ANYBODY AT ALL,
WHO CAN GO
INSIDE
AND HELP THOSE WHO HIDE
IN THE CRYSTAL BALL!
RUSSEL: YOU'RE WASTING TIME.
...I'M OVER THIS WAY.
YOU'RE THE OBVIOUS ONE TO DO IT.
LISTEN, DUDLEY:
THIS IS YOUR BIG IDEA
COME ON, LET ME SEE'YA
GO TO IT!
NO, YOU'RE THE ONE
IF THERE'S ANYBODY AT ALL...
YOU CAN GO INSIDE,
AND HELP THOSE WHO HIDE
IN THE CRYSTAL BALL.(The SOUND of one person applauding can be heard. DUDLEY and RUSSEL look at the source of the sound, just behind the tree.)
DUDLEY Madam Mumm!MADAM MUMM: You get some backup singers and a strobe light, maybe can make a video. [sarcastically, becoming sinister] Russel, why do you listen to someone who can't see his hand in front of his face!(As if picking up the challenge, DUDLEY puts up one hand in front of his face and tries to find it with the other — unsuccessfully. DUDLEY gives up searching for his hand.)
MADAM MUMM: I'm not making prisoners out of anybody! Come with me again—just for a moment—and I'll show you. No one is a prisoner there!RUSSEL: No! I'm not interested!MADAM MUMM: Scared? Chicken, leetle boy? Come on, Russel! Take a chance! Go for the gold! Ask yourself: Is your life out here so wonderful it couldn't stand a little improving?DUDLEY: [a confidence] Please, Russel! This is your chance!MADAM MUMM: Yes, and you are under no obligation whatsoever!RUSSEL: That's what a man said who tried to sell Dad some lemon groves in Colorado.MADAM MUMM: The difference is, I mean it! You come with me, and if you like what you find, the ball is mine again. If not, you and the others are free to go whenever you like. -
MUSIC IN: "A Lugubrious Salutation"
(The Music seems to signal that RUSSEL has indeed decided to take a chance.)
MADAM MUMM: Excellent! Let's have it.(RUSSEL hands her the crystal ball in his pocket.)
Sit down, and place your hands on the ball. [HE does so.] And this time, Dudley, touch nothing!
DUDLEY: [obediently] Yes, Madam Mumm. [furtively, patting RUSSEL on the shoulder as he passes him:] Be careful, Russel!(The LIGHTS dim out; we see only shadows and eerie colored lighting on the back wall; and although we left RUSSEL in daylight, he is heading for a much darker world inside the ball. Some shadows belong to various CHANGELINGS, lit from behind so that their features cannot be seen clearly. As the lyrics are heard, RUSSEL and MADAM MUMM walk among the shadows. Every now and then, we catch a glimpse of one or two of the Changeling people standing in various character costumes. One is a ballerina, two are Roman Senators, one is a glamorous fashion model being photographed, and others are King Arthur and Robin Hood. THEY bring forward a table of props, costumes, and racks of cheap outfits they use to make quick changes into various forms to tempt RUSSEL. THEIR faces range from pretty masks to faceless stocking-mask demons.)
CHANGELINGS [singing:] BEGIN...
PEEK IN...
STEP IN...
YOU'VE ARRIVED.
DON'T LEAVE...
BELIEVE
WHAT WE'VE
CONTRIVED.YOU KNOW
THERE'S A LINE
OF FINE
DESIGNS
TO SHOW.
YOU KNOW
YOU CAN SHINE AMONG
THE BRIGHTEST STARS TO GLOW!RUSSEL: [daring:] A star! That's it, I want to be a cool film star!(A WOMAN, CHANGELING #1, walks into the scene. SHE is wearing a set of headphones and is carrying a lavalier microphone which she starts to hook around Russel's neck.)
CHANGELING #1: Russel! You're on the air in thirty seconds!(A MAN, CHANGELING #2, steps into the frame and hands RUSSEL a script.)
CHANGELING #2: Here's your script, Mr. Kunkle: "The RUSSEL OF SPRING." Revisions on pages 2 and 81.(A television camera is pulled from the wings. Two chairs are set side by side, and RUSSEL is place in one, with a powder puff gone over his face, putting an IFB in his ear, etc.)
CHANGELING #3 [The CAMERAMAN]: Fifteen seconds to air, Mr. Kunkle.CHANGELING #1: Guest for the interview!(A WOMAN CHANGELING #4 steps into the picture. SHE is wearing a blue lab coat.)
CHANGELING #1: [introducing CHANGELING #4] Russel, this is Dr. Frances Calorie, the inventor of the jelly bean.RUSSEL: [a command] Better than that!(CHANGELING #1, turns to the changing table and now stands with the CHANGELING #3: the FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER.)
CHANGELING #1: Russel, this is Frank de Flicker, the inventor of the monster movie.RUSSEL: Not good enough!(CHANGELING #1, suddenly seats HELEN KUNKLE, looking sweet and demure.)
CHANGELING #1: Russel, this is Nursing Magazine's Woman of the Year—your mom!RUSSEL: [very angry] You leave my mother out of this!(CHANGELING #1 is now standing next to RUSSEL's double, dressed in a conservative suit and tie.)
CHANGELING #1: Russel, this is the first boy-President of the United States—you!RUSSEL's DOUBLE [as the President] I am not a crook!RUSSEL: No, that's too much work! I want to have fun!MADAM MUMM: [suspicious] What game are you playing here?(Several CHANGELINGS dance before RUSSEL now, all dressed like circus clowns.)
CHANGELINGS [singing]
WE ARE,
AND YOU'RE THE STAR...
...IN OUR
...REPERTOIRE!(The CHANGELINGS now thrust a top hat on RUSSEL's head, and with a false moustache and a whip, he becomes a ringmaster...)
CHANGELING #4 [woman, singing as a bass:] ENJOY THE POSSIBILITY
OF CHANGEABILITY.(MR. KUNKLE, HELEN, BARBARA, and PAULINE jump out from behind the tree and stand together, singing a sarcastic, atonal quartet:)
CHANGELINGS:
YOU WANT US TO BE!(The CHANGELINGS all laugh and run off. RUSSEL looks about, as if he cannot see where THEY have gone.
RUSSEL: This is kid stuff. I want to have some real fun!(HE does not see AL CAPONE stepping up behind him. AL carries a violin case.)
CHANGELING #3: Okay, kid, we push over the comic book store at noon. Let's go! You get to play the clarinet.RUSSEL: [shakes his head; giving orders just as fast as he can] Cowboys!CHANGELING #3:
Wwokay, kid.(AL CAPONE scurries over to the table, furiously looking for an outfit. MADAM MUMM rushes over, anxious.)
MADAM MUMM: Stop this!(CHANGELING #4 now steps behind RUSSEL; he is caught in mid-costuming, and for the first time his rotting features can now be seen clearly.)
CHANGELING #4: Aw come on, Madam Mumm! This is fun!(RUSSEL turns towards the CHANGELING.)
RUSSEL: Just who are you people?(MADAM MUMM grabs RUSSEL by the shoulders. SHE spins HIM around to face HER.)
MADAM MUMM: No!(CHANGELINGS #2 and #3 appear behind MADAM MUMM, dressed as cowboys.)
CHANGELING #3: Let's go shoot up Dodge City, Russ!RUSSEL: [dodging around MADAM MUMM] Astronauts!(The COWBOYS eagerly run off. MADAM MUMM tries to pull RUSSEL around to face her again.)
MADAM MUMM: I forbid you!CHANGELINGS: [disappointed] Awww!(MUSIC UNDER. ALL the CHANGELINGS now appear as they really are: ugly, horrible, pathetic.)
CHANGELING #2: [to MADAM MUMM] You're spoiling our fun!CHANGELING #1: We haven't had a workout like this in years!MADAM MUMM [very angry] You fools! He sees you!RUSSEL: [horrified] Look at yourselves!CHANGELING #4: Why?RUSSEL: You're all... rotting away in here! (CHANGELING #3 holds up his unwholesome fingers.)CHANGELING #3: You mean this? Oh, it's just something that happens to you after you've been in here awhile. [cheerily:] You'll get used to it.RUSSEL: You've got to get out before it's too late!MADAM MUMM: So that's your game!CHANGELING #4: We don't need to get get out! We can just pretend we're beautiful!CHANGELING #2: Come on! Let's play some more!MADAM MUMM: Yes, Russel! Play some more! Play forever!(MADAM MUMM grabs the crystal ball from RUSSEL and disappears behind the tree. The CHANGELINGS appear unaffected by HER disappearance. They continue to sing, ambling around RUSSEL in a grotesque dance.)
CHANGELINGS [singing]
WE ARE,
AND YOU'RE THE STAR...
...IN OUR
...REPERTOIRE!
ENJOY THE POSSIBILITY
OF CHANGEABILITY.
FOR WE CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT US TO BE!RUSSEL: Look, if you don't face the truth about what's happening to you, pretty soon there won't be anything left of you! I tell you, we gotta get out of here!CHANGELING #2 [snickering] Oh, I don't think you'd like it very much out there now. Look!(The CHANGELINGS sweep the clothes off the changing table and stand the table on its side. It has a top [now appearing as a side] of clear material. THEY press RUSSEL against it, as though we were looking at him inside the crystal ball. HE puts up his hands as if on the inside edge of a giant goldfish bowl.)
RUSSEL: Oh, no!(MADAM MUMM is blithely strolling about RUSSEL's yard, giving unheard orders to a servant. The Servant turns out to be RUSSEL's DOUBLE, who, zombie-like, plods around the yard, finally going into the house and emerging with what appear to be valuable items, which MADAM MUMM directs be put into a carpet bag for her own use.)
RUSSEL: Help! Help! Get me outta here!(HE pounds on the clear surface of the table, but he cannot escape. RUSSEL's DOUBLE emerges from the house with a silver tea service and RUSSEL's mug with "Russell" written over and over on it. IT gives the mug to MADAM MUMM while putting the silver in the carpetbag.
MADAM MUMM nods, finishes off the cocoa in a trice and throws the mug over her shoulder. If it does not really shatter, a sound effect says so. DUDLEY looks on helplessly.)
RUSSEL: [a little calmer now] I don't get it! How can I be in two places at once?The CHANGELINGS are still standing behind RUSSEL. THEY all move about behind the table, but observe it as a barrier.
CHANGELING #3: Oh, that's just your body out there. You don't need it in here, so it stays out there.RUSSEL: But why's she giving me...[correcting himself] uh, "it" orders?CHANGELING #4: See for yourself.(The RUSSEL-ZOMBIE walks out of the house. HE is carrying a piggy bank and a silver bowling trophy which he hands to a delighted MADAM MUMM.)
RUSSEL [peering through the glass] Oh, I get it now. Some humanitarian she is!CHANGELING #2 I don't want to look anymore.CHANGELING #4: It makes me remember.CHANGELING #1: I don't want to remember.CHANGELING #2: I want to have fun!CHANGELING #2 [desperately]: Let's be cowboys again!(The CHANGELINGS run out, but in the background, we can see one CHANGELING pathetically trying to struggle into a pair of chaps. RUSSEL turns toward the edge of the crystal ball to look out into the yard again. Outside, the RUSSEL-ZOMBIE emerges with a "boom box" and some costume jewelry which HE hands to MADAM MUMM.)
MADAM MUMM: Oh, I needed some new bracelets! And the radio will come in handy for the World Series.(The RUSSEL-ZOMBIE turns around and heads back for the house, presumably to get more loot. As this creature passes DUDLEY, HE reaches out, trying to make communication.)
DUDLEY: Wait! [feeling out his hands, trying to find where Russel has gone] Russel?(But the CREATURE does not respond to DUDLEY's presence, and moves off, into the house. DUDLEY stands thinking it over for a moment, and then HE kneels down, feeling the ground carefully with his hands until HE finds the place where the crystal ball is resting. As DUDLEY bends to the ground, finding the crystal ball, HE touches it gingerly.)
DUDLEY [softly]: Russel? Russel, are you still in there?(RUSSEL, behind the glass table, all but smashes his face against it, yelling muffedly:)
RUSSEL: Yes! Dudley! Here I am! Help me!DUDLEY: No, that's silly. He was just out here. [DUDLEY stands up, still lost in his own thoughts.] Or...or was that really him? [DUDLEY squats back down again, staring at the ball.] Russel?...Russel? [DUDLEY then picks up the ball very carefully and raises it to his ear.]RUSSEL: [inside the ball] Hel-l-l-l-o-oooo! Dudley! It's me! Get me out of here!(DUDLEY's eyes grow wider.)
DUDLEY: Russel! [referring to the ZOMBIE] I knew that wasn't you! What do you think I should do?RUSSEL: Tell her there's no deal!(DUDLEY nods. MADAM MUMM all the while, has pulled her lawn chair into the shade of the tree. SHE begins to read a map, titled "New Mexico's Wonderland.")
MADAM MUMM: [to herself] ...and then you take a left turn at Albuquerque...ehh, we've seen all that.(DUDLEY dodders over to her, holding the crystal in one hand.)
DUDLEY: Madam Mumm!MADAM MUMM: [not looking] Not now, Dudley, I'm busy.DUDLEY: Russel says there's no deal.(SHE puts the map down. A beat.)
MADAM MUMM: What did you say?(DUDLEY licks his lips. A beat.)
DUDLEY: Russel told me to tell you the deal is off. He wants you to let him out of here.(DUDLEY holds the ball out in front of HIM. MADAM MUMM stands up.)
MADAM MUMM: Oh, he says that—does he?RUSSEL: Dudley! Listen! She'd gonna try to grab the crystal!DUDLEY [dividing his attention]:
(MADAM MUMM does not answer. Knowing DUDLEY cannot see, SHE reaches out to grab the ball back from him. DUDLEY senses what SHE is about to do, and HE pulls away from her, and SHE lunges, HE feints, and SHE falls to the ground.)
MADAM MUMM: Give me that! Give that back to me!(The crystal gets shoved back and forth. All the CHANGELINGS smash up against the glass of the table, and as the real crystal ball gets dramatically hefted left and right, so do the CHANGELINGS and RUSSEL throw themselves in the same direction, as though we were looking at a magnified version of what were happening between MADAM MUMM and DUDLEY.)
CHANGELING #3: What's going on?RUSSEL: Dudley is getting us out of here!CHANGELING #1: What?CHANGELING #2: But we don't want to get out!MADAM MUMM I tell you there's no way to get him out now!DUDLEY: Then I'll just have to let him out!(DUDLEY runs away, causing HER to stumble and fall.)
MADAM MUMM [realizing what he intends to do]: No! Don't break it!(DUDLEY drops to his knees and starts to pound the earth with the ball. Those inside the ball jump up and down with appropriate sound effects of discomfort)
DUDLEY: Gotta find something harder!(As HE stands, MADAM MUMM runs at him and falls at his feet.)
MADAM MUMM: Come back here!(DUDLEY is madly looking for something to break the crystal with; HE and MADAM MUMM have numerous near-collisions, echoed in the ball. The CHANGELINGS try to keep RUSSEL from communicating, but RUSSEL breaks free...)
RUSSEL: The glasses, Dudley! Take them off! [shouting] Dudley! Take off your... Iaahh!(But RUSSEL is not able to finish the sentence. The CHANGELINGS pick themselves off the floor and grab RUSSEL from behind, silencing him.)
(DUDLEY falls suddenly, tripped by MADAM MUMM. The crystal rolls just ahead of them, and both are scrabbling to find it. MUMM's perceptions are clouded by her shawl falling over her head. DUDLEY could plainly see the ball ...if...)
DUDLEY: Take off what? Russel, I can't hear you! Grasses? Tassels?RUSSEL: Glasses! Glasses! Take off your —CHANGELINGS [trying to confuse]: Tassels! Mussels! Bustles! Whistles! Goobers! Glipnots!(MADAM MUMM recovers and risesm grabbing the ball. SHE the crystal up, triumphantly.)
MADAM MUMM I have it now, you blind fool!RUSSEL: Dudley! think for yourself, Dudley! Face the music!(In a flash, DUDLEY stands up and almost instinctively whips his glasses off. LIGHTS may even come up a little here to emphasize his being able to see. MADAM MUMM realizes his power now, and tries to head for the hills. But HE tackles her, and grabs the ball.)
MADAM MUMM Dudley—no! — don't break it! What will happen to me???(DUDLEY looks contemptuously at HER and the crystal ball. Then HE goes over to her carpetbag and deliberately pulls out the bowling trophy and raises it to smash the ball. MADAM MUMM recoils in horror, as to the CHANGELINGS, who cover their faces. Only RUSSEL is pressed against the glass, hoping DUDLEY will do the right thing.)
MADAM MUMM No! ...(As DUDLEY dramatically smashes the ball, the whole cast gives a huge cry of joy, and all the CHANGELINGS, as well as RUSSEL come bursting out, and tumble out into the yard. MADAM MUMM silently disappears behind the tree, and we do not see her again. For a second, everyone sits there and just pants with expectation. Then DUDLEY rushes over to RUSSEL. DUDLEY still has the glasses in one hand.)
DUDLEY: Russel! Are you all right?RUSSEL: [looking up at Dudley] I don't know. How do I look? -
MUSIC IN: "Everyone."
(The CHANGELING people seem somewhat dazed. THEY have regular, if not ordinary faces now, and they manage to pull on everyday clothes from their vast wardrobe as DUDLEY sings. DUDLEY realizes for the first time that the glasses are off. HE looks down at them, and tosses them aside.)
DUDLEY [singing] NOW THAT I CAN SEE AGAIN,
THE FLOATING BLUR IS GONE.
I KNOW THE ONLY REASON WHY
I OPENED MY MOUTH WAS TO YAWN.
I DON'T REGRET I'VE WASTED TIME,
FUMBLING AND WORN,
I FEEL MY EYES HAVE JUST BEEN OPENED.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE JUST BEEN BORN!
WE'RE ALWAYS WAKING UP FROM SOMETHING.
SOMETHING HAS TO SNAP INSIDE,
AND YOU NOTICE—
HERE I AM!
THIS IS ANOTHER SIDE OF THE COIN.
THIS IS THE HUMAN LIFE,
WHY DON'T YOU JOIN?(RUSSEL sings with DUDLEY now. THEY move about the yard to sing to the CHANGELING-PEOPLE, who gradually seem to understand why DUDLEY is so happy.)
DUDLEY and RUSSEL: FROM NOW ON I CAN BE SOMEONE
I HAVE NEVER KNOWN.
I LOVE THE FEELING LIFE IS STEALING
SOMETHING I ALREADY OWN.
AND NOW I WANT TO SHOUT ABOUT IT,
SOMETHING, ANYTHING!
ANYTHING TO EVERYONE!
SLEEP IS OVER,
OVER THE WALL,
AND LIFE HAS JUST BEGUN!
WE'RE ALWAYS WAKING UP FORM SOMETHING.
SOMETHING HAS TO SNAP INSIDE,
AND YOU NOTICE—
HERE I AM!
THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN.DUDLEY [alone] THIS IS THE HUMAN LIFE,
OF HUMAN DREAMS,
BUT DREAMS DON'T CARRY YOU TO THE END,
I CAN SEE AGAIN!(At the finish of the song, DUDLEY and the CHANGELINGS embrace as friends, and then start to walk from the yard. RUSSEL waves to them, and then stops, remembering his own predicament.)
RUSSEL: Dudley, wait! You said you'd help me!DUDLEY [quietly]: H'm. Open your eyes!(DUDLEY and the others, with great enthusiasm, leave the stage, and suddenly RUSSEL is alone. There is a SOUND of the approaching voices of JAMAL and PAULINE.)
RUSSEL: Oh, no! They're here! Help me, Dudley!(PAULINE and JAMAL enter and stand facing RUSSEL. HE looks at them helplessly.)
PAULINE: All right, where is it! I saw your dad's car out front.RUSSEL: My Dad's here?(JAMAL rolls his eyes.)
PAULINE: Where's your new bike?RUSSEL: [straight from the shoulder] Pauline, I'm not gettin' it. My Mom and Dad decided I couldn't have one. [hastily] Yet.PAULINE: What? [starts to sputter] But... but...(RUSSEL motions for HER to be silent — the sight of something miraculous behind PAULINE causes his eyes to widen and his jaw to drop.)
-
MUSIC IN: "The Dream Machine."
(To the original music we heard in the beginning, we see a bike being pushed on the scene. It looks like the poster come to life, with perfect spokes and seat tube: the Harley-Fellini, the world's greatest, best, and most dazzling bicycle the world has ever seen— just as Russel has pictured it in his dreams.)
RUSSEL: It's here!...It's here!...I can't believe it! ...The best bicycle in the world...(The person walking the bicycle into the yard, of course, is CASEY HOLLENSTEIN, looking as smug as it is possible for a boy to look.)
RUSSEL: Casey! You actually got one!CASEY: [mystified at RUSSEL's behavior] Yeah, Kunkle, I got one. Now where's yours?RUSSEL: [too busy to care] Oh, my folks changed their minds. I'm not gettin' one.CASEY: I knew it, you little...!RUSSEL: [not listening] Casey, this is beautiful! I've never even been this close to one before.(CASEY is too astonished to know how to react. At the house, MR KUNKLE and HELEN have stepped out on stage to see what all the fuss is about. BARBARA is standing behind them anxiously.)
CASEY: Yeah, but...?RUSSEL: [looking at CASEY for the first time] How's the ride?CASEY: Oh, great! Fantastic! I think. I mean, I don't see what's so great about this thing. The pedals are too low, and the gear shift thing...RUSSEL: [interrupting, taking charge] That's 'cause your seat tube hasn't been adjusted for your height. I'll show you how these gears work. You're trying to change them like your old one. Can we take it out to the street?CASEY: Wait a minute, Kunkle. Let me get this straight. You're not gettin' one of these bikes. So I have the only one in the neighborhood? And you're not even ticked off?RUSSEL: Why would I be? Man, are you lucky!CASEY: [still a little bewildered] Uh, yeah! You know it!PAULINE: [sidling up to CASEY] Casey, can I be the first one to have a ride?(SHE grabs the bike's handlebars and starts walking the bike out towards the street.)
CASEY: Sure, Pauline. Hey! watch the paint!(HE takes off after her, leaving JAMAL and RUSSEL.)
JAMAL: I don't get it — Casey got the bike you wanted, you got nothing, and you're happy about it?RUSSEL: Sure! It's, uh ... all how you look at it!JAMAL: How do you look at it?RUSSEL: Well ... it's his bike, but I'm the only one who knows how it works.(JAMAL nods, and on RUSSEL's signal, THEY start to follow CASEY and PAULINE around the corner of the house. But suddenly, RUSSEL stops. For the first time HE notices his parents and sister, watching him. JAMAL turns his head in the direction RUSSEL is looking.)
Mr KUNKLE: [to HELEN] See how important it is to him? I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't talk to me.HELEN: You're right. I guess trying to avoid to the problem just made things worse.Mr KUNKLE: Hey, everything doesn't have to be a problem. It's ... uh, all how you look at it.(HELEN and MR KUNKLE walk back as to the house. BARBARA is left alone, and JAMAL walks off, leaving RUSSEL alone in his back yard. BARBARA looks hopeful. RUSSEL smiles and gives her the "thumbs up" sign. BARBARA returns it, smiling, and the two run off in opposite directions.)
- MUSIC. "TAG."
BLACKOUT.
- MUSIC. "EXITS/BOWS"
THE END
In the area where the children all park their bicycles. There is a crowd of children standing around. THEY call RUSSEL over, and in a moment he is there, kneeling in the center of a crowd, fixing someone's sprocket chain. CASEY, conspicuously without his flashy-trashy bike, has a similarly flashy headset on, listening to music. He leads a few of his friends around, points at RUSSEL, laughs, and runs off. Those KIDS rush forward, some with their bicycles, toward the others to see what RUSS is up to. CASEY comes back to see where his friends went, and he watches enviously.
CASEY's friends seem to be won over by RUSSEL's attention to their bikes. RUSSEL, of course, has no bike. CASEY is furious. As the MUSIC ends, and on the last beat, tears off his headset and throws it down, annoyed.)
MUSIC OUT. BLACKOUT.
Scene 2
(When the LIGHTS come up, BARBARA is washing dishes, and RUSSEL is drying. BARBARA has storm clouds lowering over her head; RUSSEL looks as though he waiting for the other shoe to drop. Finally, BARBARA decides to break the silence.)
(RUSSEL is drying off his special ceramic cup with "RUSSEL" printed over and over on it.)
(BARBARA walks out. RUSSEL leans against the edge of the sink, abjectly miserable. HE carefully puts the "Russell" mug away. The DOORBELL rings, and RUSSEL goes to answer it. JAMAL'S voice is heard at 78 rpm offstage before they come on and walk out into the back yard.)
(From behind THEM, PAULINE approaches, and overtakes the TWO. SHE is carrying an armful of school books.)
(RUSSEL pauses, wrestling with himself. The SOUND of MADAM MUMM's laughter can be heard faintly—only by RUSSEL, whose eyes widen.)
(SHE drops her books into RUSSEL'S outstretched arms. They do weigh a ton. As RUSSEL struggles to get some kind of grip on them and his own books, THEY all start walking along together, back into RUSSEL's house, to study. JAMAL trails after the other two.)
(THEY ad lib, into the wings. JAMAL continues, trudging along. PAULINE's chatter continues.)
(JAMAL makes a distorted face on the last syllable.
The word is like an electric shock to RUSSEL. He tears himself away from the other two, and as they obliviously walk on and the LIGHTS CHANGE, HE stands in the middle of his yard, with the sun coming up, with his pajama top on, and we know it is indeed the next day.)
Scene 3
(HE has changed into his shirt and looks over to the treehouse. Someone is moving about in it.) Hey, who's up there?
(RUSSEL chases the mysterious figure around the tree, using any vaudeville routine which seems appropriate, and finally surprises him in the treehouse, where he falls out onto the ground with a rather familiar yelp...)
(The sun comes up a bit more, revealing DUDLEY sprawled out on the ground. RUSSEL hops next to him.)
(DUDLEY impulsively stands and thrashes about and trips over a root, causing him to fall on the ground.)
(RUSSEL tries to follow him, but DUDLEY is too quick; finally, he grabs hold of one part of DUDLEY's shirttail.)