Bozeman - A Musical Read online

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  Bozeman

  Characters

  Characters:

  Charlotte Jones- Clark's Sister. Extremely private. Afraid. (16)

  Clark Jones- Charlotte's Brother. Very attached to Charlotte (8)

  Annie Silverman- Foster child. Not a stereotypical mean girl, but doesn't care for Charlotte. Been through a lot (14)

  Sarah Karison- Foster Child. Compassionate yet cold (15)

  Madison Elenois- Foster Child. British. Clearly struggles with her transfer to America. Sweet. (13)

  Mayzie Letoire- Foster child. Left brained, dark, hard to the world. (17)

  Landon Brooks- Foster child. Cares for his group home, (17)

  Act 1

  Scene 1

  Pitch black. Nothing is scene. A voice is heard.

  Charlotte: We are all temporary. Nothing is forever, neither our families, nor our friends will be around for eternity. We are all bound to a limited life on Planet Earth.

  Lights open on CHARLOTTE. She stand center stage in a room with a couple bunk beds in Bozeman, Montana. It is the "Willow Hills Group Home". It is empty. It is winter and the weather is extremely snowy, almost Blizzarding.

  Charlotte: We grow up, we learn, we work, we think, we die. Nobody thinks about living until it's too late.

  CLARK enters and crawls into one of the bunk beds. The lights open on the whole stage

  Charlotte:January 9th, 2012. Dear diary, Our first and only night in Willow Hills Group Home. A house for screwed up foster kids that nobody else wanted.

  Dear diary it's another snowy day in Montana

  Dear diary, I'm feeling pretty lonely on my own

  I know Clark is here, I'll stay beside but I'm feeling so lost in the world

  Dear diary, Bozeman is not much different from my home

  But dear diary, god I'm still feeling so alone

  But I know

  Life is just for right now

  It doesn't last forever

  If I make the most of life who knows how far I could go

  Life is just right now and I mean,

  This is all I got

  And I only got just right now

  Dear diary, I fear the kids will hate me once they know me

  Dear diary, I fear that all the kids won't like what they see

  But Clark and I can take this, we can take it by the ear

  Because life is more than only what we fear

  There's few things in life that are this unclear

  But I know

  Life is just for right now

  It doesn't last forever

  If I make the most of life who knows how far I could go

  Life is just right now and I mean,

  This is all I got

  And I only got just right now

  Dear Diary, Dear universe, please let them like me

  Dear diary, dear universe, please don't push me down

  Dear diary, dear universe I feel so unsteady

  But I know, but I hope that I will rise above

  The madness that life throws at me and

  Everyone will one day remember me as the girl

  Charlotte Jones who bore all of life and took it on the chin.

  So I know

  Life is just for right now

  It doesn't last forever

  If I make the most of life who knows how far I could go

  Life is just right now and I mean,

  This is all I got

  And I only got just right now

  CLARK gets off the bunk bed and goes to CHARLOTTE.

  Clark: Where are all the other kids, Charlotte?

  Charlotte: They're at a museum today. They'll be here. I promise.

  Clark: When?

  Charlotte: I don't know, Clark.

  Clark: Why don't you know?

  Charlotte: What do you mean, why don't I know?

  Clark: You should know.

  Charlotte: Clark, not now.

  Clark: You scared?

  Charlotte: I mean, yeah. I've never been to a group home before.

  Clark: We've never.

  Charlotte: Yeah, sorry. We've never. I'm sorry Clark, I'm just... I'm a little scattered today.

  Clark: Why?

  Charlotte: I'm just really tired right now. That's all.

  Charlotte: (To audience) I was terrified. I'd never had to go to foster care before. I was scared. Clark wasn't easy to keep happy, so I needed to make sure he thought I was in tip-top mental shape.

  SARAH, ANNIE, MADISON, and MAYZIE enter

  Annie: He was climbing all over it!

  Sarah: But the sign said not to!

  Madison: When has Landon ever listen to rules?

  They laugh

  Sarah: Oh, hi! You must be...

  Clark: Clark.

  Sarah: Cool name, and you?

  Charlotte: Uh- Charlotte.

  Annie: Did you forget your name?

  Madison: Come on, Annie. Give her a break.

  CHARLOTTE smiles at MADISON

  Annie: I was kidding, I didn't mean to- I'm Annie. Nice to meet you.

  ANNIE and Charlotte shake hands.

  Madison: Madison.

  Sarah: I'm Sarah.

  Charlotte: Nice to meet you all. (to audience) Mayzie was the dark one, she didn't say much. It seemed like nobody really cared what she had to say anyway.

  Sarah: You know you're not really supposed to be in this room, right?

  Charlotte: What?!

  Sarah: Not you, your brother! The guys room is across the hall. Better not get caught in here. It's never pretty.

  Charlotte: (Far too concerned) What happens if they get caught in here?

  All the girls, except MAYZIE respond to CHARLOTTE'S question by looking down and avoiding eye contact.

  Charlotte: Uh-sorry. I didn't mean to upset you-

  LANDON enters.

  Landon: So you're the new kids?

  Annie: Landon, you can't be in here. We were just telling Charlotte and Clark that they can't-

  Landon: Annie, Annie, Annie. Relax. West isn't even here.

  Clark: West?

  Sarah: Peter West. The house parent here.

  Annie: Where'd he go?

  LANDON shrugs

  Charlotte: I'm Charlotte, by the way.

  Landon: Charlotte? That's a little fancy.

  Charlotte: My mom liked nice things.

  Landon: Well, Charlotte. I guess all there is to say is welcome.

  Welcome to Willow Hills

  It's a house, but the people make it home

  The people, oh the people they're all family here

  And it's time for you to join the pack

  Annie:

  We're all friends here, a perfect little squad

  Of misfits and orphans who are much too far from god

  We have waited for you to meet with us here

  Sarah:

  We've been hoping that you're learn to love it, dear

  It's not much, but it's our special little place

  A place where I am safe from the world

  A place where no one hears you

  But a place where we mean well

  It's my home

  Isn't it swell

  Madison:

  I've been here since I was 7 years old

  Since I moved from Paris to here

  It's strange

  And its small

  But if there's one thing I know

  You're welcome here

  At Willow Hills.

  Lando

  At Willow Hills

  You'll have a family

  At Willow Hills we'll be your home

  At Willow Hills we'll set the world on fire

  Just for you

>   All for you

  At Willow Hills

  We'll be your family

  At Willow Hills we'll be your home

  At Willow Hills we'll set the world on fire

  Just for you

  All for you

  At Willow Hills.

  Welcome to Willow Hills

  Landon: So, how bad did she screw up to get you here.

  MAYZIE shoots a look at Landon, clearly signaling his question was inappropriate.

  Sarah: Landon, you shouldn't ask-

  Landon: It's necessary information.

  CHARLOTTE and CLARK look uncomfortable.

  Landon: So?

  Charlotte: Um-My mom had a drinking problem.

  Landon: And your dad?

  Charlotte: He died.

  Landon: See? It's not that awful, you two. I was fine asking.

  Sarah: It's the principal, Landon. I'm sorry about that, Charlotte. And you made her talk about her dad who happens to be- Landon you really can't ask things like that.

  Charlotte: It's fine, really. (to audience) My mom never had a drinking problem. She tried to kill Clark and I. She killed my dad. We called the police. She's in jail. So we're here.

  Madison: Landon, why don't you show Clark the boys bedroom?

  Landon: Kicking me out already, eh?

  Sarah: You weren't supposed to be here in the first place, Brooks.

  Madison: Clark, go with Landon-please.

  CLARK reluctantly goes with LANDON, he hugs CHARLOTTE as he leaves.

  Annie: Ugh, boys.

  Madison: Tell me about it.

  Sarah: I'm sorry he was a jerk.

  Charlotte: Like I said, it's really fine. I don't mind at all.

  Sarah: You sure?

  Charlotte: Completely.

  Annie: So, tell us about you. What do you like. Who are you?

  Charlotte: (to audience) I'm an honest person, I swear. But just this once. I needed to keep my life a secret. (to ANNIE) I'm pretty boring. I like to read, and listen to music. I've lived in Bozeman all my life. (to audience) I just moved here last night. (to ANNIE) I don't know, I just, am who I am I guess.

  Sarah: What school do you go to?

  Charlotte: Bozeman High School. (to audience)I've taught myself using the internet since 5th grade, my mom never took us to school. I don't know how we got away with it. (to SARAH) I love it there.

  Sarah: Cool! Me too!

  Madison: Sorry you have to be here, but I'm glad you're here with us!

  Sarah: Yeah! We're lucky to have you!

  Charlotte: Thank you. I appreciate it. But um- do you have like a bathroom with like- a shower.

  Annie: No, actually, we used buckets for showers, and we have an outhouse.

  CHARLOTTE looks horrified

  Sarah: She's kidding. I promise.

  Charlotte: Oh thank god, where is it?

  Madison: Down and to the left.

  Charlotte: Uh, thank