Cradle Will Rock script

[Wellesnet]

Scene 1
STREET CORNER. MOLL AT LAMP POST.
Moll (At lamp post): I’m checkin’ home now, call it a night. Goin’ up to my room, turn on the light. Jesus, turn off that light. I ain’t in Steeltown long. I work two days a week; The other five my efforts ain’t required. For two days out of seven, Two dollar bills I’m given. So I’m just searchin’ along the street, for on those five days it’s nice to eat. Jesus, Jesus who said let’s eat?
(Enter Gent)
Gent: Hello baby.
Moll: Hello big boy.
Gent: Busy baby?
Moll: Not so very.
Gent: I’d like to give you a hundred bucks, But I only got thirty cents.
Moll: Say, would you wait till I catch my breath, On a count of it’s so immense. Make it a dollar.
Gent: Honest kid, nix, that’s all I got. Thirty cents.
Moll: Go on, make it eighty.
Gent: Thirty cents.
Moll: Seventy-five.
Gent: I said thirty.
Moll: Come on, big boy, don’t be that way. Half a buck?
Gent: Listen you, I said what I mean—thirty cents. Get me?
(She takes his arm)
What’s the idea?—hey, leggo my arm.
Moll: Listen, big boy, I’ll be nice, come on big boy, Don’t be a sap, come on and listen mister, please- Now you know – I wouldn’t – mister –
Gent: Leggo my arm – yah – I know – lay off all the sob stuff –Try to – rush me huh? – Cheese it. A dick.
(Enter Dick)
Dick: What’s goin’ on here?
Moll: O nothin’.
Dick: O yeah? Nothin’ huh?
Gent: Nothin’ officer, nothing at all. We was just talkin’.
Dick: Talkin’ huh? – Heard you a mile away. Masher, huh?
Gent: Now look here officer –
Dick: Slip us your dough, quick –
(Gent pulls out bill, hands it over)
Okay, melt.
(Gent exits)
Gent: Melt…? Oh, melt –
(Exit)
Moll: He was kinda – annoying me.
Dick: Yeah?
(Goes to telephone at post)
Hello. Dick talking’. Wassat? Yea, I’ll stick around, I know there’s a union drive tonight – union trouble ain’t no news in this berg – I said I’d stick around. What? Yeah, got a little number – naw, brunnete. You call me if you need me, huh? I won’t be far.
Moll: Whatsa trouble tonight? Where’s everybody?
Dick: All down in front of union headquarters I guess. Big union drive tonight. Just your luck I happened to be around here.
Moll: Yeah? Well
(Edging away)
I think maybe I’ll go down and see the fun.
Dick: Wait a minute there. You’re kinds cute, say where you been all these years, I guess some private hustlin buys you your beers. Come on and smile now, sister.
Moll: Say, you got me wrong.
Dick: Yeah, you speak nicer to me, I’m an easy talkative one with the girls. But I ain’t so pleasant when I get mad. Now then, come on be cheerful, let’s can the gloom, How about a little earful up in your room?
Moll: I mighta known that was comin. Ya…Why you’re no better than that two-bit clod. Maybe you’re part of the new vide squad.
Dick: Howd’ya guess it baby?
Moll: So that’s the way you work it, now I see A Romeo that’s on the make. Try to throw a little scare in me. Because I need a break to make a livin’. What the hell do you care what I do? As long as you get what I’m givin’. Ain’t it nice knowin’ that you got me coming and goin’?
Dick: Hey, I don’t getcha. You don’t wanna go with me…Well, whatsa matter with me?
Moll: Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved you all along, Yes indeed, you’re just my style. All the girls go crazy at your call. You’ve got that certain smile that makes ‘em fall. Come on you lug, go put me in the jug. You think you’re wise, you think you won me? I’ll show you guys -
(Phone rings)
Dick: Hello. Yeah. What’s up? Square in front of Union Headquarters? Who phoned in? Virgil, go on sight of them—what are they, strikers?—listenin to a speech, is that all? You Virgil- Wait a minute. Here he comes now.
(Hangs up)
Liberty Committee: But officer -You can’t arrest us -Do we look like Union organizers? It was that man -Do we look like steel workers?
Cop: You’re under arrest! — I said you’re under arrest!
Liberty Committee: Why we were sent…Why Mister Mister -This is rich, this is staggering, I never heard - That man who was making the speech, it was him you were supposed to -
Cop: Then what’d you run for?
Dick: So this is the crew.
Liberty Committee: Crew? What crew?
Cop (Proud): Nice job, huh? Just like that, wasn’t out five minutes. Eight of ‘em count ‘em. What you got there Dick?
Dick: Little hustler. We can take ‘em all in together.
Cop: Suits me – only these are mine.
Liberty Committee: Together? Us? With that – with her? But do you know -Do you realize, man - Oh, you fool you fool, you!
Cop: O, callin’ me names now!
Liberty Committee: Go right ahead. We only happen to be the newly-formed Liberty Committee that you’re arresting.
Cop: What’s at?
Liberty Committee: You never heard of the Liberty Committee? Did you ever hear of the Daughters of the American Revolution?
Cop: You ain’t one of ‘em are you? Hey, did you say revolution? I knew it! Come on!
BLACKOUT

Scene 2
NIGHT COURT – HARRY DRUGGIST SITS ALONE.
Druggist: Gosh i’s cold in here - You don’t have it heated like you did last Thursday.
Clerk: Well, when you get brought in next Thursday, I’ll see you get a cozy fire and a fur-lined rocking-chair. Would you like that?
Druggist: It’s nothing, only I am a little chilly – you’re kidding me.
Clerk: No.
(Enter with commotion – Dick and Moll followed by Cop bringing in Rev. Salvation, Editor Daily, Yasha, Dauber, President Prexy, Professor Mamie, Professor Trixie, Dr. Specialist)
(Moll finds a seat next to Druggist)
Dauber: Hurry up and telephone to Mister Mister, to hurry up and come to the rescue.
Chorus: Hurry up and telephone to Mr. Mister, To hurry up and come to the rescue.
Daily: Hurry up and telephone to Mister Mister, To hurry up and come to the rescue. This is quite an outrage, To be arrested this way.
Prof. Mamie: This is quite indecent. They don’t know who we are.
Chorus: Phone to Mr. Mister. To come and bail us all out.
Cop: Cut out the remarks now, You’ll do your talkin’ later.
Dauber: Think of what my people would think if they could see me.
YASHA: Think of what my public, would think if they could see me.
PROF. TRIXIE: You know Mister Mister, He’ll come and bail us all out?
CHORUS: Phone to Mister Mister. To come and bail us all out.
MOLL: Gee, but they make a lot of noise. I’m kinda scared.
DRUGGIST: There’s nothing to be frightened at. Tell me, what are you in for?
MOLL: Solicitin’, I guess. But really because that flatfoot couldn’t make me say yes. Gee, do you know the others here? They wouldn’t talk to me. I can see that I ain’t in their class. And say, that goes for you, too.
DRUGGIST: I must admit they’re new to the place, but their faces should be seen more often in this place. Just like mine: I get arrested every week, Yes and sometimes twice a week, Vagrancy it’s called, I guess that’s me.
MOLL: A crazy life, I’d find it.
DRUGGIST: Well, really I don’t mind it, I like the company. It’s lonely looking where my drugstore used to be.
PRES. PREXY: We’re the most respectable families in the city. We’re Steeltown’s Liberty Committee.
YASHA: We’re against the union! We’re against the drive!
DICK: Hey, Virgil, tell me now- What it’s all about tonight?
COP: What I told you at Union Headquarters. That’s about all tonight. Mister Mister sent in orders. Arrest everybody formnin’ a crowd. A fella started makin a speech? I pulled in all the guys I could reach.
PROF. MAMIE: But we were there to stop the man who was making the speech! He’s a red, one of those agitators! We wanted you to arrest him.
EDITOR DAILY: Why I drew up the manifesto! “Steeltown is clean, Steeltown’s a real town: We don’t want a union in Steeltown”.
YASHA: But the other one was mine: “America, Cradle of Liberty! Steeltown, Cradle of the Liberty Committee”.
PROF. MAMIE: I’m the secretary.
DR. SPECIALIST: I’m the chairman, and Mister Mister’s personal doctor.
DAUBER: I’m his daughter’s Art Instructor.
CHORUS: We’re Mister Mister’s Liberty Committee.
DICK: I hope you ain’t made a bad break; They’re a kinda refined looking bunch you know.
COP: Maybe I made a mistake; I got my orders, that’s all I know.
DRUGGIST: That’s why they’re all in here then. The cop got his signals mixed. Shall I tell you a secret? We’re in the same old trade as you.
MOLL: You mean you’re all solicitin?
DRUGGIST: Not quite but so to say. They won’t buy our milk-white bodies, so we kinds sell out in some other way – to Mister Mister.
MOLL: Who is this Mister Mister?
DRUGGIST: Better ask me who he’s not. He owns steel and everything else too. Because of him my son was killed six months ago…Now he’ll come and bail them out.
MOLL: Say, would he bail us out too?
DRUGGIST: I don’t know. I’m drunk.
REV. SALVATION: I wonder if I hadn’t better phone Missus Mister? I know her so much better than I know Mister Mister.
EDITOR DAILY: I’m afraid Mister Mister’s got his hands full tonight.
PROFS. MAMIE AND TRIXIE: Will it keep him from coming here? Will it?
EDITOR DAILY: That drive tonight —He’s going crazy trying to kill it.
DAUBER: Officer, Officer, where’s the man who made the speech?
CHORUS: Yes, where’s the man who made the speech?
PRES. PREXIE: We’re in here -
CHORUS: But where’s he? Where’s the man who made the speech?
COP: Alright, take it easy, we got him, don’t get sore. He’ll be here, the boys are givin’ him a little workout next door. Anybody want to join him?
CHORUS: What a filthy night court. A place for common tramps and bums. Don’t they know nice people when they see them? We prosecute defendants: it’s not our place to be them! Come and save your pet committee from disaster…Where’s the Judge? Where’s the Judge? We want the Judge!
CLERK: Order in the courtroom! Order in the courtroom! The Judge will be here shortly. In the meantime I’ll take down the names. First case. Name?
REV. SALVATION: I am Reverend Salvation…I wear the holy cloth. My name is known to all God-fearing people in Steeltown. The Liberty Committee has been formed by us to combat Communism in Steeltown and to uphold the constitution.
CLERK: Alright, alright. Charge?
COP: Well, I had orders – loiterin’ I guess – or maybe obstructin’ traffic.
REV. SALVATION: This is preposterous: the officer has made a dreadful mistake. I insist that it be put in the record.
DRUGGIST: So they got old man Salvation in the night court at last. Do you know what the charge ought to be? “Habitual prostitute since 1915.”
BLACKOUT

Scene 3
MISSION…MRS MISTER AND REV. SALVATION
REV. SALVATION: My dear Missus Mister.
MRS MISTER: Reverend Salvation, how are you? It’s been weeks, I wanted to meet you and to greet you: I’m a stray lamb too. And I’ve brought along our monthly present.
(Hand him envelope)
But one thing’s not so pleasant. Father dear, I fear that things cannot continue forever. Hard times, I can assure you. Hard times, poor us and poor you. Hard times, Father, what can we do? The market hasn’t been ideal: We have to sell our steel to French or English or German, though the latter are vermin: Father, please, in your sermon Sunday. I rely upon you to implore that we stay out of the war.
REV. SALVATION (Mounts pulpit): Thou shalt not kill…So saith in the Bible. So must it be. Thou shalt not kill. Peace on Earth towards men good will. Nothing but good will. As your shepherd I implore, turn from thoughts of wicked war, War we do abhor. Women, save your husbands, sons and sweethearts. Men, be resolute, refuse, refuse to shoot. Or into the loathsome fray we’ll be tossed. Everything be lost: O’ peace at any cost.
CHORUS: AMEN
REV. SALVATION: Collection.
(The next year, 1916)
(Druggist’s voice)
(Salvation steps off pulpit)
MRS MISTER: Reverend Salvation, I’m worried. Things are not proceeding so nicely, or precisely in the way they should. And my husband, Mister Mister, said it’s something about bank credits. Father dear, they fear for steel, and oil and rubber. So we must set the town right.
(Hands him envelope)
Please don’t be quite so downright. Simply answer both yes and no. It’s true you’ve preached for so much peace. But now it seems that peace may be a little expensive. Just restrain your intensive ardor. You might mention that you do deplore, the German side of the war.
REV. SALVATION (Mounts pulpit): Thou shalt not – um……….Righteousness conquers, iniquity perishes. But when I say peace, I’m referring to inner peace. Let there be no misconception; the peace you remember which passeth beyond understanding. We must remember our honor, and the valor and pride which is ours to cherish and use. Knowing well that peace without honor no good American should excuse. Surely I need not remind you of the war which is simply dreadful for everyone. There we take no sides. Still we know who defends sweet peace from the Savage Hun.
CHORUS: Amen.
REV. SALVATION: Collection.
(Druggist’s voice…But in 1917)
MRS. MISTER: Reverend Salvation! News! Front page news! Headline news! Strictly, mind, confidential news! But such news! Ha! My husband’s just got back from a conference. And he says it’s the only way to recoup our profits. It’s all fixed, and everything’s ready for the first guns! War! War! Kill all the dirty Huns! War! War! Kill all the dirty Huns! War! War! We’re entering the war! For Mister Mister’s shown the President how things are. England has simply been a darling! Eyes right! Think of the rallies! Eyes left! I’m going to knit socks! Eyes front! Steel’s going to go up sky high! All you clergymen must now prepare a special prayer, and do your share! O yes – your share!
(Hands envelope to him)
REV. SALVATION (Mounts pulpit): Thou shalt -
BOTH: War! War! Kill all the dirty Huns! And those Austro-Hungarians! War! War! We’re entering the war! The Lusitania’s an unpaid debt. Remember Troy, remember Lafayette, Remember the Alamo! Remember our womanhood! Remember those innocent unborn babies! Don’t let George do it, you do it! Make the world safe for Democracy. Make the world safe for Liberty! Make the world safe for Steel and the Mister Family -
REV. SALVATION: Of course it’s peace we’re for - This is War to end all war.
CHORUS: AMEN.
MRS. MISTER: I can see the market rising like a beautiful bird.
REV. SALVATION: Collection!
BLACKOUT
FLASHBACK TO NIGHTCOURT
CLERK: Order in the courtroom! Order in the courtroom! Next case: name?
EDITOR DAILY: I am Editor Daily of the Steeltown News.
CLERK: Charge?
COP: Uh! The same – I guess you know about these things -What have I got these people for – Loiterin’ - Obstructin’ traffic.
DRUGGIST: Change that to read, “Procurer, also known as Pimp” To Mister Mister – to Junior Mister – to Sister Mister -
(FADEOUT)

SCENE 4
HAMMOCK – JUNIOR AND SISTER MISTER DISCOVERED
JUNIOR: Croon, croon till it hurts baby, Croon, my heart asserts baby, Croonin’ in spurts baby. Is just the nerts for a tune.
SISTER: Wait a minute, Junior. Spoon, in my canoe baby. Spoon, one built for two baby. Just me and you baby. I can, canoe baby, spoon?
JUNIOR: O, the crooner’s life is a blessed one. He makes the population happy. For when all one’s debts have distressed one -
SISTER: O to spoon is grand in the June day sun. You spoon and spoon and never get tired. But it’s nicer at night than in the noonday sun, cause then you’re Gary Cooper, and I’m Jean Harlow -
JUNIOR: Just croon, even the poor are not immune; If they’re without a suit, they shouldn’t give a hoot. When they can substitute -
SISTER: You say you’re wearing out? That’s a fine turnabout! Listen, you ex-Boy Scout -
JUNIOR: When they can substitute – croon.
SISTER: Spoon.
(Enter Mister Mister and Editor Daily)
MISTER MISTER: Do we disturb you two unduly? I have business with Editor Daily.
JUNIOR: O, I was going anyway, to see if my flannel pants were dirtied up enough to be in style for tonight’s dance.
SISTER: And I got a date, with a fig. Get it?
(They exit)
MISTER MISTER: The children are rather witty…I have called you here fairly early, my dear Editor Daily, because I have something on my mind.
EDITOR DAILY: All my gift at prose’ll be at your disposal. Mister Mister, you’ve been very kind.
MISTER MISTER: I believe newspapers are great mental shapers. My steel industry is dependent on them really.
EDITOR DAILY: Just you call the News. And we’ll print all the news, from coast to coast, and from border to border.
MISTER MISTER: Yes, but some news – can be made to order.
BOTH: O the press, the press, the freedom of the press. They’ll never take away the freedom of the press. We must be free to say whatever’s on our chest -With a hey-diddle-dee and ho-nonny-no, for whichever side will pay the best.
MISTER MISTER: I should like a series on young Larry Foreman. Who goes around stormin’ and organizin’ unions.
EDITOR DAILY: Yes, we’ve heard of him. In fact, good word of him. He seems quite popular with workingmen.
MISTER MISTER: Find out who he drinks with and talks with and sleeps with. And look up his past till at last you’ve got it on him.
EDITOR DAILY: But the man is so full of fight, he’s simply dynamite. Why it would take an army to tame him.
MISTER MISTER: Then it shouldn’t be too hard to frame him.
BOTH: O the press, the press, the freedom of the press, you’ve only got to hint whatever’s fit to print. If something’s wrong with it, why then we’ll print to fit. For whichever side will pay the best.
MISTER MISTER: Have his picture fill the front page of your paper, this drunkard and raper who’s out to gull the people.
EDITOR DAILY: Just a minute, I’m not being indiscreet - I must consult the owner of my sheet.
MISTER MISTER: Please don’t try to cross your good-humored new boss - I’m the owner of your famous paper since this morning.
EDITOR DAILY: In that case, I wonder if my place is not worth more? The other crowd would like me to shake you.
MISTER MISTER: Then you’ll see just how neatly I’ll break you.
BOTH: O the press, the press, the freedom of the press. They’ll never take away the freedom of the press.
MISTER MISTER: The Foreman Series now?
EDITOR DAILY: Yes, Mister Mister, yes!
BOTH: With a hey-diddle-dee, And a ho-nonny-no.
MISTER MISTER: No?
EDITOR DAILY: Yes sir! Yes! Yes!
BOTH: For whichever side will pay the best.
EDITOR DAILY: I agree with you absolutely, Mister Mister.
MISTER MISTER: Really? I am deeply touched.
EDITOR DAILY: And I think I understand what it is you want. You see, I was literary advisor for years to Princess Wallawallahuance - The Hawaiian Islands you know -
MISTER MISTER: I didn’t know.
EDITOR DAILY: She’s an old lady now, we still correspond.
MISTER MISTER: She’ll probably die and leave you her whole estate, eh?
EDITOR DAILY: I wouldn’t go so far – she’s a bit piqued with me. Feels I haven’t the islands’ interest at heart any more.
MISTER MISTER: A Literary advisor to a Princess!
EDITOR DAILY: Yes, well, spelling and things…You were saying?
MISTER MISTER: You can count on the new Liberty Committee to help you against this union business…that’s what I made it for. I hear that young Foreman’s got some sort of committee of his own, for the union. I don’t want my name used, they’d smell a rat…remember this isn’t 1919 anymore, we’ve got to be smarter. But you have got Reverend Salvation, Dr. Specialist, the others, and yourself of course…O yes, about Junior -
EDITOR DAILY: I do like Junior!
MISTER MISTER: With the union trouble now, this town’s no place for him. He’s got a way of landing on the front pages at bad moments. Do you suppose you might work an outside job for him on the paper, as correspondent or something?
EDITOR DAILY (Gulps): On the paper? Working? I wonder -
(Enter JUNIOR and SISTER, dancing)
JUNIOR AND SISTER: Let’s do something! So unconventional, And so intentional, People all around get pale. Let’s do something, Before we’ve got too old, I’m glad I’m not too old to tie a can to a puppy’s tail. Go to church and be on time. For excitement, and indictment, would be swell if we invent a crime - Let’s do something! To kill the monotony, let’s go in for botany. If they’ve got any, and if not any, then…Let’s do something!
EDITOR DAILY: Have you thought of Honolulu, where your boredom would be banned? Bid your family toodle-oo-loo, Sail away to that fair land, That’s just the isle for you - And you’ll have your work too.
(Junior is startled)
A little scribbling on your father’s journal. O, nothing ever happens over there.
MISTER MISTER: Son, they say the climate’s fresh and vernal.
SISTER: You could learn to play the ukelele.
MISTER MISTER: Now Junior, listen to Editor Daily.
EDITOR DAILY: Have you been to Honolulu?
JUNIOR: Are the women nice down there?
EDITOR DAILY: Demure, and so high born. Just pure September Morn.
JUNIOR: I don’t care if they’re highborn, Just as long as they’re highbreasted!
MISTER MISTER: Junior please don’t get arrested.
EDITOR DAILY: Picture when the sun sets in Oh-wah-hee
(Junior is blank)
That’s the island Honolulu’s on. Dusky maidens dancing in the starlight -
SISTER: Wasn’t some young debutante seduced there?
MISTER MISTER: You’d be our official correspondent.
SISTER: You’re a fool if you don’t go now.
JUNIOR (Fortissimo): La la la la la la. La la la la la la.
EDITOR DAILY, MISTER MISTER, SISTER: Junior’s going to Honolulu. Junior’s going to be a journalist.
JUNIOR: Can I drive over eighty miles an hour?
EDITOR DAILY: Ruby lips are waiting to be kissed.
SISTER: I’d be satisfied with one big Zulu.
EDITOR DAILY: Chocolate arms are open like a flower.
JUNIOR (Dressy): How the hell do you spell Honolulu?
EDITOR DAILY, MISTER MISTER, SISTER: Junior’s going to be a journalist.
EDITOR DAILY: There’s a woman there who wants you…
JUNIOR (Fortissimo): La la la la la la. La la la la la la.
EDITOR DAILY: Have you been to Honolulu?….
(BEGIN FADEOUT)
Sail away to that fair land…Dusky maidens in the starlight…
(LIGHTS OUT)