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Complete Works of L. Frank Baum

Page 884

by L. Frank Baum


  I wish it to be understood that I have no

  confederate. And as I have no

  confederate will some gentleman please

  step forward and kindly assist me?

  ----Anyone at all ----no matter who.

  (Bus)

  Thank you, I’ll take this gentleman.

  (Bus)

  Watch me closely now, for you’ll find that

  my hands are quicker than your eyes. I

  place the egg within the handkerchief

  ---so!

  (Bus)

  and with a few magic passes --- is gone.

  Presto! Change!

  (Bus)

  Gyle

  It’s a fake -- fake -- fake. He’s a faker!

  Wizard

  Now for the marvels of marvels - my

  famous magic basket.

  (Bus)

  I have here a basket which contains

  nothing but gleamerin’ blades which go

  round and round. To satisfy yourselves

  you can all step up and examine the

  inside of the basket.

  (Bus)

  Now, I’m pleased to know that you’re all

  satisfied that the basket contains nothing

  but gleamerin’ knives, and as I have no

  confederate will some gentleman kindly

  step forward and assist me? Anyone at

  all. You can select whoever you like.

  (Bus)

  Thank you, I’ll take this gentleman.

  (Bus)

  Now he’s in the basket. We immediately

  turn the basket over.

  (Bus)

  Then we secure the dangerous burning

  acid. Fire in the liquid.

  (Bus)

  The burning acid I pour all over the

  basket.

  (Bus)

  Don’t be alarmed. I’m here. Then we

  secure the sword,--

  (Bus)

  The poison tipped sword, piercing the

  basket through and through

  (Bus)

  Opening the basket, he’s gone.

  (Bus)

  Closing the basket, and back to its

  original place and opening up the basket,

  and out he jumps, as lively and hearty as

  ever.

  (Bus)

  Gyle

  That’s nothing. I can do it. I can do it.

  Wizard

  You can?

  Gyle

  Yes, me or any other fraud.

  Wizard

  I have to laugh in my sleeve.

  (Ha ha’s in his sleeve)

  (To crowd)

  Laugh at him.

  (They laugh “HA”.)

  Again!

  (They laugh again “Ha.”)

  You see, they give you the ha-ha.

  Gyle

  (To Crowd)

  Can’t you see that he’s no wizard? Just a

  plain human humbug! If I prove that, and

  save the country from a tyrant will you

  make me king?

  Guard

  Prove it.

  Gyle

  If he’s a Wizard let him defy this bomb.

  (Throws bomb at Oz’s feet. It bounces off

  stage - he throws a second with the same

  result)

  Wizard

  (Smilingly)

  I’m a regular bomb charmer. Merely by a

  glance of the eye I hypnotize the

  dynamite.

  Bardo

  (Seizing Gyle)

  What shall we do with him?

  Wizard

  Throw him out of the palace. He’s not

  worth taking seriously.

  Gyle

  (Waving third bomb)

  Some day one of these will work.

  Wizard

  That’s more than you’ll do.

  (Two guards remove Gyle C.)

  Now, Bardo, the royal entertainment

  being over you may pass the royal hat.

  (Crowd starts)

  Here, come back. Don’t run away.

  (Bus. Bardo passing hat. Crowd does not

  respond with contributions. Bardo

  returns)

  What’s the matter, Bardo?

  Bardo

  They’re very sorry, but they won’t have

  anything to spare till pay-day.

  “

  PAY-DAY” SONG.

  (Oz and full chorus)

  (Chorus exits on the refrain. Bardo exits)

  (Oz Xes R. and sits on throne chair)

  Cynthia

  (Enters C.)

  Ah, there sits my Niccolo, brooding over

  his love for me. Beneath that awful mask

  beats the heart of my own true lover.

  (Coming down C.)

  Good morrow, most noble king!

  Wizard

  Good morning, Carrie.

  Cynthia

  Will you come rowing me with in my

  garden?

  Wizard

  Rown’ in the garden? I’ll have to

  disappoint you; I’m just going out for a

  walk on the lake.

  Cynthia

  ‘Tis a deep sea garden the soft shell crabs

  are all in bloom, and as we row we’ll

  dredge for oyster plants. And we’ll build

  us a beautiful house of tinted pearls and

  butterflies to wait on us - and June

  bugs---

  Wizard

  She’s bug house.

  Cynthia

  Come with me to the bottom of the sea

  and be my king-fish.

  Wizard

  No, I’d sooner stay here and stick to my

  perch.

  Cynthia

  Ah, sneer if you will; you cannot turn me

  from my purpose. Think, my darling

  think---

  (Bus)

  Wizard

  I think I’ll think up here.

  (Jumping up on chair)

  Cynthia

  My head is full of thoughts; they go

  round and round---

  Wizard

  Those are not thoughts - they are roller

  skates.

  (Aloud)

  The lady has hallucinations.

  Cynthia

  My brain is on fire.

  Wizard

  Yes, and I’m getting a little hot-headed

  myself.

  (Comes down from throne)

  Cynthia

  (Lovingly)

  Oh, Niccolo! Bewitched and transformed

  as you are, you must recognize your old

  sweetheart. Don’t you remember we used

  to wander together.

  Wizard

  And now you’re wandering alone. Dinny

  open the gate - open the gate.

  Bynthia

  But I have found you. Come, fly with me.

  Wizard

  I will as soon as my wings come back

  from the laundry.

  Cynthia

  Niccolo - Niccolo. Don’t you remember

  your old sweetheart? Your little Cinnie,

  whom you swore to love forever? Think

  Think! You were younger then and your

  hair was parted in the middle. And Nick,

  ---you had another face.

  Wizard

  That’s a hard one - that’s a hard one. I beg

  pardon, but from childhood up this face

  grew on me. Now, see here, my good

  lady, we had better come to an

  understanding. Your ideas are all right in

  a way, but even at that you’re wrong. You

  think you’re speaking to the party that

  you are, but you’re not - you’re talking to

  me.

  Cynthia

  Do you spurn the heart I lay at your feet?

  Alas, al
as! I am undone.

  (Bus)

  Wizard

  You’re all right behind.

  Cynthia

  Monster! If I cannot have my Nick I’ll

  have revenge!

  (Fires pistol at Oz)

  (Bell rings off stage)

  (Oz takes large bullet from mouth, throws

  it on floor and exits R.)

  (Bus. for Cynthia)

  He’s made of asbestos. Would that all

  lovers were fireproof.

  CYNTHIA (Exit)

  (Captain at Guard enters C. with

  Dorothy, Tin Woodman and Scarecrow)

  Scarecrow

  Is this where the Wizard does his

  principal wizzing?

  Captain

  Can’t you see it’s his palace? Haven’t you

  got any brains?

  Scarecrow

  That’s just what I came here to get.

  Dorothy

  (To Captain)

  He’d like a few brains and I’d like a pass

  to Kansas.

  Capt.

  (To Tin-man)

  And what do YOU want of the Wizard?

  Tin-man

  I’ll take a heart.

  Capt.

  I’ll announce you wants. But, be warned.

  Don’t make light of aught in his presence.

  Scarecrow

  If I made light of anything they’d cancel

  my fire insurance.

  Dor.

  (To Capt)

  We’ve come a long way to get the Wizard

  to help us. Do you think he can?

  Captain

  I cannot tell. He alone knows.

  Scarecrow

  Don’t worry, Dottie. If you have to stay

  here we’ll take care of you.

  (To Tin-man)

  You’re in on that, Pie-plates?

  Tin-man

  That’s right, Dottie. With all my heart -

  when I get it.

  (Flourish of trumpets heard off)

  Capt.

  His Majesty approaches!

  (Flourish of trumpets and enter Oz, R

  followed by Bardo)

  Tin-man

  Here comes the Wizard!

  Wizard

  (Seeing Dottie)

  What! Strangers here!

  Scarecrow

  Yes; little Dottie.

  Wizard

  You all look a little Dottie.

  Dorothy

  Oh no, I’m Dorothy Gale. Are you the

  great Magician?

  Wizard

  Am I? Watch!

  (Bus. Thunder each time he makes a pass

  with his hands.)

  All done by the passes of the hand.

  Dor.

  Then you can send me back to Kansas

  with a pass.

  Wizard

  I am not a Congressman.

  Scarecrow

  (Coming C.)

  Brains, please.

  Wizard

  How will you have your brains, plain or

  sizzled?

  (Bus. for Scarecrow)

  Dorothy

  (To Scarecrow)

  Have them scrambled, by all means.

  Tin-man

  Yes, have them strangled.

  Wizard

  How would you like a Russell Sage

  thinker with just a Dash of Hetty Green.

  Scarecrow

  You’re the doctor.

  Wizard

  Bardo - my book, please.

  (Bus. and Oz reads from book)

  “One pound of Angustora Phosphorus

  plant-tissue lyonised with tincture of

  fundamental and double distilled extract

  of Graphohoneical essence.” Now, as far

  as I’ve got, how does that suit you?

  Tin-man

  When you get it tuned up, play

  something.

  Wizard

  Tuned up?

  Tin-man

  Say, Wiz, never mind that blended brain;

  just mix him up a little of that straight

  Mark Hanna brand.

  Wizard

  Correct. How would you like to have a

  Mark Hanna brain?

  (Bus. for Scarecrow)

  Tin-man

  That’s it - take it.

  Scarecrow

  I’ll take it.

  Wizard

  That’s it. Take the best, it’s the cheapest.

  The other would make you daffy. Brains,

  the real genuine Mark Hanna grey matter.

  Now, for the oraments. Would you like to

  have a dash of orange bitters?

  Bus

  Tin-man

  Take all you can get.

  Scarecrow

  Take all I can get?

  Wizard

  That’s right. This way, please.

  (Scarecrow goes towards him, warbling)

  Oho! So you’re a warbler, eh?

  Scarecrow

  I’m so happy.

  Wizard

  Well, you’ll be happier by the time I’m

  through with you. Now do you know

  where you want your brains?

  (Bus)

  On the roof. Correct. Over here, please.

  (Bus)

  We start in by making a small incision.

  ---

  Tin-man

  Say, Wiz, that’s no watermelon.

  Wizard

  Certainly not. No watermelon.

  (Bus)

  Ah, I see he’s troubled with a little hay

  fever -- and an over-abundance, too, at

  that. I’ll remove---

  (Bus)

  Now, we’ll see further.

  (Bus)

  Well, what have we here? In all my

  experiences in trephining I never saw

  anything to equal the likes of this.

  (Bus)

  And the further you go the better they get

  - a regular squirrel’s nest.

  (Taking peanuts from Scarecrow’s head

  and handing them to Tin-man and others)

  Search that. I don’t think there’s a blank

  among any of them. The real genuine

  article.

  (Bus)

  This feller is nutty.

  (Bus. to Scarecrow)

  The first thing you know you’ll have

  rubber brains. Keep quiet if you can’t

  keep still.

  (Bus)

  We’ll start in---

  (With knife)

  at the frontal bone, passing along the

  seam of imagination, crossing over to the

  pocket containing paroties of thought---

  (To Bardo)

  The Gridoler----

  (Bus)

  Now----

  (Bus)

  Well, brains---

  (Bus)

  Steady - steady!

  (Bus. Scarecrow)

  Man dear, yer losin’ yer senses. Couldn’t

  you see?

  (Bus)

  The mucilage!

  (Bus)

  A few layers of the phrenological salve,

  and you’re all right.

  (Bus)

  There you are. Your Mark Hanna roof is

  well shingled.

  Scarecrow

  (Rising, coming down feeling his head)

  Oh, oh, how I love the poor workingman!

  Wizard

  How do you feel now?

  Scarecrow

  Like making speeches to the intelligent

  voter. I’ll write one.

  (Retires up, produces pad and pencil and

  writes)

  Tin-man

  (Going to Oz) (Bus)

  One heart haben.

  Wizard

  What size heart do you wear?

  Tin-man

  Six-seven eights.

  Dorothy


  Wouldn’t you like to be considered a

  big-hearted man?

  Tin-man

  I couldn’t afford it Dottie. I’ve got lots of

  tin, but I hate to part with it.

  Wizard

  Would you like to have your heart hot or

  cold?

  Tin-man

  Warm.

  Wizard

  Warm?

  Tin-man

  Luke?

  Wizard

  Here’s one, left by a young lady named

  Sapho.

  Tin-man

  Then it’s second handed. Very expensive?

  Wizard

  Well, it used to be a dear heart, but this

  being bargain day I’ll give it to you

  cheap. A dollar thirty-eight.

  Tin-man

  (Taking heart)

  There’s a flaw in it. I’ll give you sixtyeight.

  Wizard

  It’s yours.

  Tin-man

  That’s a bargain.

  Wizard

  Will you have it wrapped or sent?

  Tin-man

  I’ll take it wth me.

  Wizard

  Where will you have it?

  Tin-man

  (Pointing to head)

  Don’t put it in there.

  Wizard

  Certainly not.

  Tin-man

  Sink it in those.

  (Putting hand on breast)

  Wizard

  What do you want, a sink, or a ---Bardo,

  my surgical instruments.

  (Bardo throws tools at foot of throne)

  Tin-man

  Say, what are you? A plumber?

  Wizard

  No. I think I’m a tinsmith.

  (Bus)

  Tin-man

  I think you’re a----wait a minute.

  (Bus)

  Wizard

  What’s the matter? Nervous?

  Tin-man

  Just a little excited, that’s all.

  Wizard

  I’ll stop that.

  (Bus. with mallet)

  Tin-man

  Wait a minute. There’s no hurry about

  this.

  Wizard

  Oh, yes there is, there’s others waiting.

  Tin-man

  Well, let them wait. I guess I’ll call in

  to-morrow.

  Wizard

  Now, don’t be heartless. Have a heart.

  (Bus)

  What’s the matter with you?

  Tin-man

  Oh, Wizzie, ---nice little Wizzie -- will

  you do me a favor?

  Wizard

  Certainly I will - what’s the matter? What

  are you shaking about?

  Tin-man

  Just a little case of nervous prosperity.

  (Bus. of Oz putting heart into Tin-man)

  Wizard

  I’ll fix that.

  (Bus)

  Tin-man

  That didn’t hurt. Shine!

  Wizard

  I’m going to put a little absinthe on your

  heart.

  (Bus. of putting absinthe on heart and

  putting it into Tin-man)

  There, your heart will beat in two

  minutes!

  Tin-man

  It’s working already.

  (Bus. and going L.)

  Wizard

  (To Dorothy)

  Don’t be alarmed. I suppose you want a

  pair of feet.

  Dorothy

  No, I want a pass to Kansas.

  Wizard

  I’m afraid my Kansas passes are all

 

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