Bozeman - A Musical
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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