The Magic Circus The Magic Circus - Scene 22
The Magic Circus - Scene 22
Monday, 08 December 2008 23:21
Monk looking down at page. He sees Joe the Monkey (JTM) alone in his trailer office, smoking, pacing.
JTM – (snuffing out cigarette) Baahh!
JTM throws ledgerbook into his briefcase, slams it shut, storms outside, and walks down steps into fading daylight and a much quieted circus grounds. In the distance he sees Nellie the Elephant. He ignores the hubbub around him and heads for Nellie. When he gets to the shark tank, though, he stops and watches Wally the Wombat (WTW) in top hat standing on the top step of a 12-step ladder coaxing Bruce the shark up the steps.
JTM shakes head, shouts at WTW.
JTM – Wally!?!
WTW – Oh, hello, Joseph. How are we today?
JTM – We’re fine, Wally. (sighs) What are you doing?
Wally – New Act. It’s Bruce’s 12-Step Program. He’s evolving, you know. Made it to Step 8 yesterday. By Saturday he’ll be over Step 12 and able to get a real job like everyone else.
JTM – Wally…
WTW – Yes, Joseph.
JTM - …it doesn’t work like that, evolution takes time and there’s no guarantee…
WTW – (interrupting) JOSEPH! You, of all people, should know better. Just because something’s never happened before doesn’t mean it CAN’T happen. It means it hasn’t happened YET, but WILL.
JTM – MIGHT! Wally, the thing is…oh, nevermind. Take care. (Shouting at Bruce in tank) TAKE CARE, BRUCE!
Bruce smiles and winks. JTM walks away Wally calls after him waving his top hat.
WTW - Wait 'til Saturday, Joseph! You'll see! You'll believe!
JTM - (walking, muttering) This is going to take a miracle.
JTM's phone rings. He looks at the number and answers.
JTM - Howdy, Cap'n. What can I do ya' for?
Captain Koala (CK) - A lot.
JTM - What's that supposed to mean?
CK - Nothing. Hey, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to make the gig on Saturday.
JTM - What?!
CK - (speaks slowly) I'm-not-sure-I'm-going-to-be-able...
JTM - I heard you. I meant 'why'?
CK - Well then why didn't you say 'why'?
JTM pulls out a pack of smokes, bites a cigarette out of pack, shifts briefcase to his tail, squeezes phone between shoulder and bent head, pulls out matches and lights cigarette, still walking.
CK - That's the thing about you, Joe, you make things way too complicated. Just say what you mean.
JTM - It's not that simple.
CK - It could be simple.
JTM - (exhales) Whatever. What's so important you're gonna miss the most important show of our career?
CK - OUR career? Now, you're getting it. Listen, I've got an audition 'cross town. Who knows how long it'll take. You know how those things go.
JTM is now approaching Nellie, who watches JTM talk.
JTM - No. No, Cap'n, I don't know.
CK - Well, anyway, I thought I'd let you know. See ya' later.
CK hangs up.
JTM - Fantastic.
JTM drops suitcase. Looks at Nellie in exasperation. An orangutan walks by trying to juggle, drops ball, kicks it. JTM slaps forehead.
Nellie walks over and puts his trunk around Joe's shoulder.
Nellie - I told you not to hire a juggler without a prehensile tail. We auditioned a very talented baboon.
JTM - Just what I need, another BABOON around.
JTM collapses into hay pile.
JTM - Speaking of auditions. The Captain has picked Saturday to launch his solo career.
Nellie - (sits on large round stepstool) Who needs him. If he's not loopy on eucalyptus, he's hitting on your newest female hire.
JTM - (lets out primal screem) AAaaahhh!! What next?!
Nellie stands on large stool, surveys the circus grounds. From his vantage he can see Wally coaxing Bruce up the stairs, the rat girls exiting the big tent, rollerskates slung over their shoulders, CTC bringing up the rear. He hears an eagle shriek and looks up into the gloaming sky. Then he sniffs the air, rotating trunk.
Nellie - (not looking at JTM) Hey, do you smell something burning? (He turns to see hay pile on fire, lit by MTM's butt) JOE! Wake UP, JOE!
JTM gets up, pats flames off his suit, rolls on the ground, gets up, frantically looks for something to put out flames, pulls blanket from Nellie's stall and tries to smother the fire. Nellie, meanwhile, has thundered to Bruce's tank, sucked up water, and is thundering back. Like a gushing firehose, Nellie spews out the water extinguishing the fire and drenching JTM. Belated alarm bells go off, everyone comes running. The entire circus stands staring at JTM singed and soaking wet.
The Cat slinks amidst the crowd.
End Scene