Audition Central: The Music Man JR.

Script: Mrs. Paroo

HAROLD
Mrs. Paroo, do you realize you have the facial characteristics of a cornet virtuoso?

MRS. PAROO
I don't know if I understand you entirely, Professor.

HAROLD
If your boy has the same firm chin, and those splendid cheek muscles - By George! Not that he could ever be really great, you understand, but -

MRS. PAROO
Oh, is that so. And in the name of St. Bridget, why not?

HAROLD
Well - you see all the really great cornet players were Irish - O' Clark, O' Mendez, O'Klein -

MRS. PAROO
But Professor, we are Irish!

HAROLD
No! No! Really! That clinches it! Sign here, Mrs. Paroo. Your boy was born to play the cornet! Fine, fine. That will be seven dollars earnest money. Nothing more due until the first installment payable at opening of band practice. Oh thank you. And of course, I'll need the boy's measurements for his band uniform.

MRS. PAROO
His uniform!

(WINTHROP peeks from behind Mrs. Paroo filled with excitement. HAROLD and MRS. PAROO are somewhat surprised)

HAROLD
Hello, son.

WINTHROP
(Drawing an imaginary line down the outside of his leg)

Would it have& a& a& ?

HAROLD
A stripe? Certainly, my boy, a wide red stripe on each side. What do you think of that?

(WINTHROP drops his eyes suddenly and runs off)

MRS. PAROO
You'll have to excuse Winthrop, Professor. We can't get him to say three words a day even to us. So if you get him to play in the band it will be a miracle. Where are you from, Professor?

HAROLD
Gary, Indiana. In fact, Gary Conservatory was my Alma Mater.

MRS. PAROO
Was she now?

HAROLD
(Aware of MARIAN'S approach)

Gold Medal Class of '05. Hello, Miss Paroo.

MARIAN
(Entering the stage)

Mr. Hill.

MRS. PAROO
He wants to put Winthrop in the band!

MARIAN
Do you burst in on everyone's home like this?

MRS. PAROO
Marian!

MARIAN
We're not interested.

HAROLD
Now why not let the boy's father decide?

MARIAN
The boy's father is dead. Anything else?

(MARIAN EXITS into house)

MRS. PAROO
Professor, I do hope you'll excuse Marian. She's not really -

HAROLD
Please. I'm sure that at heart she's as lovely as yourself. Good day to you, Mrs. Paroo.

(HAROLD exits)

MRS. PAROO
Good day to you, Professor. Marian Paroo!

MARIAN
Has he gone?

MRS. PAROO
I hope not forever. Darlin', don't you ever think of your future? Gary Indiana Conservation Class of ought 5-now darlin'--

MARIAN
Now mama, the fact that he claims his commodity is music does not, in this particular case, impress me.

MRS. PAROO
All right, darlin' all right. Only it's a well-known principle that if you keep the flint in one drawer and the steel in another, you'll never strike much of a fire.

MARIAN
Mama! Winthrop! Winthrop I know you're there. Please go to the library and ask Miss Grubb to give you the book I set aside. It's the Indiana State Educational Journal 1890-1910. It's a large brown volume with black corners.

WINTHROP
Do I hafta?

MARIAN
You won't have to talk to anyone. I've written it all down.

MRS. PAROO
Now what are you up to? Why do you need books at this hour of the night?

MARIAN
I have a feeling the Indiana Journal may help me poke some large holes in the Professor's claims.