CHANGES
Opening
blue wash – guitar playing. Villagers look like birds at rest. Gutman is in a
position with a cat of nine tails at his back – no shirt and slash marks on his
back. It is midnight. Quixote is already
on stage. Evan comes through with hoop. No guards on stage at beginning. After
he says lonely, everyone shifts as birds. G puts shirt and jacket back on. Old wanderer’s
dream - Our old beginning.
Prudence
– bark more.
Casanova
– what has happened – weariness and disgust.
A wind sings across the plaza,
a dry gourd rattles. The Survivor’s
head sags forward. He sits down
slowly. Jacque strikes the terrace
again with his cane and starts toward the Survivor. The Guard seizes his
elbow.
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Remain on the terrace, please, Signor Casanova.
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Loan
Shark: I don’t want no ……8.50. No Dice. Kilroy turns around and crosses DCS.
Casanova
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(Complement) You have a spark of anarchy in your spirit, and
(warning) that’s not to be tolerated. (MORE SECRETIVE) It has to be
extinguished.
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Casanova
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Later, after the wine. He takes
his cords, wraps them around her, and pulls the front of her dress up with
his cane.
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Marguerite
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anxious old hawk!
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Casanova
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There’s a rumor of something called the Fugitvo….a
non-scheduled flight.
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Marguerite
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how does one get on it? …HE
PULLS THE CORDS TIGHTER AROUND HER ARMS AND HANDS. (She looks at him
and he avoids her glance). The
truth of the matter is that you’re terrified of the Terra Incognita
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Casanova
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I’m terrified of any place on earth without you with me!
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Marguerite
IMPORTANT
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Caged birds accept each other but flight is what they long for. SHE
BREAKS FREE OF THE BONDS. CUT HONOR AND CAPE AND CANE LINES
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THIS
BONDAGE SCENE LEADS TO LADY MULLIGAN SAYING -
I DON’T UNDERSTAND……(GUARD GIVES HER A BOTTLE OF WATER WHEN SHE ENTERS)
PEOPLE
CROSSING OVER THE LADDER MUST SHOW
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEFORE/AFTER.
Marguerite
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(Jacques returns with a bag of money) I have thousands of francs!
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Pilot
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Payment is only accepted in pounds.
Next, please.
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Marguerite pounds her forehead
with her fists. She thrusts bills at him.
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CASANOVA
IS DOWN ON HER LEVEL WHEN SHE IS ON THE GROUND. –BLOCK 10
Marguerite
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We’re a pair of captive hawks
caught in the same cage, and we’ve
grown used to each other. That’s what passes for love in the
Camino Real (REEL). What is
this feeling between us? when I clasp
your anxious old hawk’s head to my
breast? The violets in the
mountains can’t break the rocks!
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Esmeralda
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Champ!
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Kilroy
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I used to be Champ. SHOUT
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Esmeralda
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Be champ again!
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Gypsy
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Not eligible!
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Esmeralda
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You’re still the undefeated Champ of the golden gloves!
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Kilroy
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Nobody’s called me that in a long time!
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Esmeralda
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Champ!
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Kilroy
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My resistance is crumbling!
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Esmeralda
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Hero!
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Kilroy
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Geronimo! (He takes a flying leap from the steps to the center of the
plaza. He turns to Esmeralda.
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With the
new lines we added about being in the dark – Esmeralda is empty – scared –
lonely.
CUTS
Casanova
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Excuse me, Madam. (He tears himself from her and rushes into
the Siete Mares.)
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Prudence
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You’ve got to be
realistic on the Camino Real!(reel)
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Gutman
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(Gutman has come out on the terrace: he announces quietly). Block one on the Camino Real.
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Block One
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Jaques
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Signora, all of
these things…..
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Prudence
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What? (Gutman laughs. A woman at a distance sings).
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Casanova
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Dreams! (Prudence continues with less assurance)
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Prudence
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You’re not so
young as I thought when I saw you the terrace by candlelight. Ho Ho!
I bet there is one old
fountain in this plaza that hasn’t gone dry! (Casanova recoils when she pokes him. Gutman laughs).
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Prudence
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A dream is nothing to live in, why it’s gone like a….(Casanova moves, but she grabs his arm.)
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Casanova
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Excuse me,
Madam. (He tears himself from her and rushes into the Siete Mares.)
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Prudence, dazed
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What block is
this?
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Gutman
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Block one.
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Gutman
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Questions are passed amongst them like something illicit and
shameful. (He leans forward and
whispers.)
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Gutman
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What is this place? What
is the meaning of …SHHHHH…. Ha Ha
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Gutman:
(Reworded) You will be after a night at the Ritz Men Only if the check doesn’t
arrive tonight.
Gutman
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Revolution only needs good dreamers
who remember their dreams, and
the love of the people belongs
safely only to you… their Generalisimo! (The described action is being enacted. The Survivor is now blinded.)
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Officer
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What is it you want?
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Kilroy
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Where is Western Union?
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Officer
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No hay Western Union.
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Kilroy
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That is very peculiar. I had to retire from the prize ring because of
my heart. I was the light heavyweight champion of the
West Coast, won these gloves! --before
my ticker went bad--- (Places the guard’s hand on his chest) I’ve got a heart in my chest as big as the head
of a baby. Ha Ha! The medics wouldn’t
okay me for no more fights. They said
to give up liquor, smoking, and sex!
My real true woman would have stuck with me, but it was all spoiled
with her being scared and me, too, that a real hard kiss would kill me! He
notices a lack of attention in the officer and he grins.)
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Officer
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What is it you want?
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Kilroy
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What is this country? I was
so glad to get off that rotten tub that I didn’t ask nothing of no one except
my pay. (He jerks out his wallet.) Ha
Ha!
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Officer
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Ha Ha!
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Kilroy
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Ha Ha!
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Officer
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(Making it sound like a
death rattle) Ha ha ha ha
ha (He turns and starts into the
cantina. Kilroy grabs his arm)
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Officer
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What do you want?
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Kilroy
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What is the name of this country? (Officer thrusts his elbow in Kilroy’s
stomach and twists his arm loose with a Spanish curse. He kicks the swinging
doors open and enters the hotel. As
soon as the Officer exits, the Street People come forward and crowd about
Kilroy with their wheedling cries)
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Kilroy
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Thanks, but tonight I’m going to sleep under the stars.
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Kilroy
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Don’t try to hang no vagrancy rap on me! I was robbed and I got plenty of
witnesses to prove it. Check other people, but only ask nursie – You were
a witness?
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CROWD LAUGHS HYSTERICALLY
WHEN HE IS CALLED THE PATSY.
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Gutman
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The uniform of a Patsy.
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Kilroy
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I know what a Patsy is… a
clown in the circus who takes prat-falls ( a humiliating fall onto one’s
buttocks) , but I’m no Patsy!
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Gutman smoothly
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You are now the Patsy.
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With a pathetic attempt,
Kilroy tries to make friends with the Officer.
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CUT SHANGHAIED LINE
Kilroy to audience
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What did he say?
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Nursie
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Where is my lady bird?
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Gypsy
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Idiot! I told you to keep
her door locked!
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Lord and Lady Mulligan – enter from DLS as if you are
exiting from hotel. Streetcleaners enter from URS. They pause CS then follow Lord and Lady out.
(may save some time). Lord OOOO after giggle at me. Lady M pushes Lord ahead of
her as she tries to protect him.
Lady Mulligan
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STOP!
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Lord Mulligan
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SHUT UP!
(Gutman speaks to the
audience)
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Kilroy
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My resistance is crumbling!
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Kilroy
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I don’t know what the hero is chosen for.
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Gypsy
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(She shuffles and deals.)
Ask me a question.
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Kilroy
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Has my luck run out?
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Gypsy
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Baby, your luck ran out the day you were born. How big is your heart?
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Kilroy
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I hope that you sail the dangerous night to the golden port of morning!
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Casanova
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Thanks, Brother!
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BLOCK FIFTEEN
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La Madrecita crosses to the
fountain. The gurney is wheeled to DSC covered with a
white sheet. Besides the table stands a Medical Instructor addressing
students and nurses fall in white surgical outfits. They lean the gurney and
the streetcleaners move him toward the gurney where he leans against it. The two assistants fasten bars across him.
Kilroy awakens.
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Instructor
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This is the body of a vagrant.
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La Madrecita
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This was thy son, America…
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Instructor
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He was found along the Camino Real.
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La Madrecita
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Remember his time of greatness, when he was not frightened.
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Instructor
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His death due to natural causes.
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The students take notes and
there are keening voices. He takes out knife & assistants hand instructor
the heart.
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La Madrecita
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Blow wind! (whispering wind is heard offstage) (louder keening voices)
Keen for him, all maimed creatures, his homeless ghost is your
own.
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Instructor
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First, we will examine his heart.
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La Madrecita
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His heart was pure gold and as big as the head of a
baby. Humankind cannot bear much
reality. HE STIRS She says – Rise Ghost, Go, bird!
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At the touch of her CROSS,
Kilroy stirs and pushes himself AWAY FROM THE BONDS. HE rubs his eyes and looks around him. Voices
offstage – Ole! Ole! Ole!
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Kilroy
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Where am I?
He notices the dissection room
and approaches. The instructor removes
a glittering sphere from a dummy corpse.
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Kilroy
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My heart! Yes, siree, that’s my heart!
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Gutman
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Block Sixteen!
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Kilroy
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(Kilroy rushes forward)
That’s mine!
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Kilroy, panting
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It don’t belong to no State, not even the USA. help me get out of
here! I don’t understand
what’s…… happening, it’s like a …..dream…just
like a….dream.
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A clear shaft of light falls on
him. He looks up into it crying.
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Esmeralda appears in a childish
nightgown on the Gypsy’s roof.
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Kilroy, softly
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It’s just… like a …..dream
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He leans holding his heart like
a football, watching Esmeralda.
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Esmeralda –SHE MUST STEP ON
HIS DREAM LINE
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I want to dream of the
Chosen Hero, Mummy.
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Kilroy
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I had one true woman which I can’t go back to, but now I’ve found
another.
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Quixote
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DON’T …PITY…… YOURSELF!
(Quixote takes out a pocket mirror and combs
and grooms his beard and mustache)
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Awkward scenes –
Kilroy’s entrance.
Guards
Officer
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You just dreaming that you
have money. (He spits between his
teeth. The officer crosses to the
fountain. Kilroy stares at him, then
bawls out)
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Kilroy
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I can remember that I used to be ---- CHAMP!
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Baron
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Used to be is the past tense, meaning useless.
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Kilroy
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Not to me, Mister. These
gloves are gold. I never hit a low
blow and the fixers never got to me. (Loan
Shark and Baron clap hands slowly three times to show sarcasm)
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Loan Shark
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Congratulations! My final
offer Take it or leave it.
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Kilroy
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I’d hustle your heart on
this street before I’d leave my golden
gloves.
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Loan Shark
laughing
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Baron
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The name of the Camino is not unreal! ( bum sticks his head out a
window and shouts)
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Kilroy
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This place is confusing.
Nothing seems real.
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