The Miller/ Seldin Homepage presents
SING-A-LOT
An Eighty-Eights Fantasy
by John Kenrick (with apologies to Alan & Fritz)
(On a chilly, wind-swept night, AUTHOR – a lone man dressed in black, wearing a Secret Garden t-shirt – stands on West 10th Street outside the former site of Eighty-Eights. He leans against a wall while scribbling a few thoughts in a notebook. A boy of about 10 enters whistling "Where Is Love" from Oliver and stops in front of the building. He looks around as if searching for something.)
AUTHOR
Who are you, boy? Why are you whistling?
BOY
(Walking over to Author) I seem to have gotten lost. I was whistling a
showtune to keep up my courage.
AUTHOR
(Impressed) Apparently, there is still hope for the future. But, it's the middle
of the night. You ought to be in bed.
BOY
My parents and I are staying with my brother and his partner a few
blocks from here. I snuck out – I just had to find Eighty-Eights.
AUTHOR
You're a few years too late. Even if it was still here, you're too young to go to a
bar.
BOY
Oh, but Eighty-Eights is not just a bar. It's a place where great songs
are sung and wonderful dreams come true.
AUTHOR
And would you make friends in this place?
BOY
Oh yes, a great many, I hope. I shall be one of . . . Les Millerables.
AUTHOR
(Surprised) When did you decide upon this non-existent career? Was your
brother one of Les Millerables? Maybe you saw them on Donahue?
BOY
Oh no, sir. I only know of them from the stories people tell.
AUTHOR
(A strange light comes into his eyes)
And what do you think you know of Les Millerables?
BOY
I know everything! Karen and Rochelle and Erv . . . Ruby and Hazel . . .
The Wizard of Oz with the falling farmhouse! Doing "Climb
Ev'ry Mountain" as a tango, clapping whenever a key changes!
"On the Twentieth Century" and "Officer Krupke"!
"Dream a Little Dream" and the "Hallelujah Chorus"!
Everything!
AUTHOR
Here, my boy. Take this.
(Removing something from his lapel, he pins it
on the boy's coat)
BOY
(Looking at the object) An Eighty-Eights pin!
AUTHOR
You may have it on two conditions – first, that you go back to
your bed immediately.
BOY
(Disappointed) Yes sir.
AUTHOR
(Kneels so he and the Boy are eye to eye)
And as long as you live, you
must remember what I now tell you.
Each evening, from December to December,
Before you hit the bars or meet your dates,
Think back on all the dish that you remember
Of Eighty-Eights.
Ask every person if they've heard the story
And tell them (till you're drooping heart elates),
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Called Eighty-Eights.
Eighty-Eights! Eighty-Eights!
Now say it out with love and joy!
BOY
Eighty-Eights! Eighty-Eights!
AUTHOR
Yes, Eighty-Eights my boy.
Where showtunes once rang out till almost sunrise,
An hour there and ev'ry care had flown.
Recall the loves and hates,
And how we dared the fates,
For one, brief shining moment
In a place called . . . Eighty-Eights.
(KAREN MILLER enters, walking two dogs.)
KAREN
Hey – what are you doing here . . .?
AUTHOR
Karen! How perfect! (He leads KAREN and the dogs over to the Boy –
the pooches leap on the Boy, lapping at his face as he giggles with
glee) There boy . . . the vizslas have dubbed you an honorary member of Les
Millerables! Now run home and do as I told you.
BOY
(Hugging the dogs) Yes sir!!
KAREN
What's going on here? Battling with memories again?
AUTHOR
Battle? We've won our battle, Karen! What we did and sang here will be
remembered. You'll see. Now run boy! (The boy rushes off.)
KAREN
Who is that boy, Author?
AUTHOR
One of what we all are, Karen – less than a thread in the great motion of
a spot-lit ball gown. But it seems some of the threads sparkle, Karen! Some
of them do sparkle! Run boy! Run!
(The music swells – the dogs bark – KAREN and AUTHOR smile)