SETTING:

The same. After the matinee.

AT RISE:

The CHORUS GIRLS enter.

SUE

Did you see that cute guy in the front row?

TERRI

Mmmm.

TONI

He couldn't take his eyes off of me.

TERRI

He couldn't take his eyes off of me!

TONI

Why would anyone want to look at that, when they could look at this?

TERRI

Some men prefer a girl whose personality hasn't all run into her chest.

(ANGELA enters.)

Angela! Did you see the guy in the front row? Was he looking at me or Toni?

ANGELA

You mean the hunk on the aisle seat?

TERRI

That's him.

ANGELA

The one with his hand on his boyfriend's knee?

TERRI

It was not!

TONI

I knew he was too good to be true.

ANGELA

I've got a bar that needs to be retaped. I'll be back in a minute.

SUE

If somebody wants to know we'll tell him.

(ANGELA exits into the big top.)

TERRI

Maybe his hand slipped. He was looking at me. He might be waiting outside right now hoping I'll come out.

TONI

Oh who cares? I'd rather have 'em old and rich.

(DAVID enters.)

SUE

Look who's here. It's David. What a surprise. How are you David?

TERRI

Hi David.

TONI

Hi David.

SUE

She's in the big top.

DAVID

I...

TONI

You could at least let him ask first.

SUE

Watch out for Roberto.

(DAVID exits into the big top.)

TERRI

I don't know why Roberto doesn't like David. I think he's cute.

TONI

Counting his hands he has four left feet. Could you see a kid of David's on the trapeze? Ouch!

(SUE has moved over to the costume rack. SHE sees TIM.)

SUE

Look!

TERRI

What is it?

TONI

Where?

SUE

It's a boy.

TONI

He's hiding in my feathers. The little darling.

TERRI

He's so sweet.

(TERRI hugs HIM. TONI hugs HIM.)

SUE

Wait a minute! I found him.

(SUE hugs him even more completely, if possible.)

Well hello honey. What's the matter, don't you talk?

TIM

(Nods yes, no, maybe, I'm not sure.) I...

TERRI

I think he's the cutest thing.

TONI

Look at his hair. It's all rumpled.

(SHE rumples it some more.)

SUE

So we caught you hiding. These are ladies costumes you know.

TIM

I got lost.

TONI

Poor little baby. How'd you like to come back in ten years and get lost in my feathers?

TERRI

Do you think he wants to run away with the circus?

SUE

What's your name?

TIM

Tim.

TERRI

Tim what?

TIM

Tim Smith.

SUE

Did you see the show this morning Tim?

TIM

Uh huh. (yes) I saw the clowns and and the horses and the lions and the man on the trapeze!

TONI

Did you see me?

TERRI

Who could miss Mt. Rainier and the Matterhorn?

SUE

Shh. Where are your folks?

TIM

My mom's not here.

SUE

What about your father?

TIM

I don't have a dad.

TERRI

Ohh! The poor baby!

SUE

Does your mother know you're here?

TIM

(reluctantly) No.

SUE

Don't you think she'll be worried about you?

TIM

No.

SUE

Why don't you give us your phone number? We'll call up your mom for you so she can come and take you home.

TIM

I don't want to go home.

TERRI

I told you. He wants to run away with the circus. He's got sawdust in his shoes. Isn't it exciting?

SUE

We've got to let your mother know where you are. You know that, don't you?

(TIM keeps an obstinate silence.)

TONI

I don't think he knows that.

(FIRENELLI enters.)

FIRENELLI

Excuse me. I am looking for Angela. What is this?

TERRI

It's a boy.

FIRENELLI

I can see that it's a boy.

(TIM is awestruck.)

SUE

We found him in the costumes.

FIRENELLI

In the costumes? Let me guess. You hid a trap in your feathers to catch a man but you caught this instead. He is too young. You will have to throw him back.

TERRI

He was asleep.

FIRENELLI

He has a look about him. Give him to me for a year and I will teach him how to fly like a bird. Angela, you have seen her?

TERRI

She went outside to tape a bar.

FIRENELLI

Outside?

TERRI

Outside.

(FIRENELLI exits. Not into the big top.)

SUE

David owes you one.

TIM

Did he really mean it? Could I really learn how to fly?

SUE

Nobody gets near the trapeze without his mother's permission. Now tell us, how we can get in touch with her?

TIM

She wouldn't let me on the trapeze anyway.

SUE

What's your phone number?

(TIM is silent.)

TONI

Aren't kids wonderful?

TERRI

If I was him I wouldn't tell either.

SUE

What are we going to do with him? I don't want to call the police.

TONI

Don't look at me. Children give me hives.

TERRI

Can he stay with me? He can sleep with my cat.

TONI

Hurry up and make up your minds. My pillow is waiting. My appointment calendar distinctly has nap written in before tonight's show.

SUE

I guess it's the police.

TERRI

You can't call the police. I won't let you send him to jail.

SUE

He won't go to jail. If he won't tell us how to get a hold of his mom I don't see what else we can do.

(DAVID and ANGELA enter. ANGELA has a trapeze bar.)

TIM

Hi. You're the lady on the trapeze. You're beautiful.

ANGELA

Thank you.

SUE

Angela, David, that's Tim. He's a stray.

TERRI

We found him sleeping in the costumes.

TONI

Terri wants to know if she can keep him.

TERRI

He's cute.

TIM

Is that a trapeze bar?

ANGELA

Would you like to see it?

(ANGELA hands the bar to TIM.)

You have to put tape on it so you won't slip. It's very important to do it just right. Would you like to try?

(SHE hands HIM the tape.)

TIM

I never touched a trapeze before. Do you have to practice a lot?

ANGELA

All the time.

(TIM holds up the bar with both hands, like he is hanging from it. DAVID motions to ANGELA. THEY each take a side of the bar and pick TIM up off of the ground. THEY run forward toward MR. BEANS and the CHORUS GIRLS then backwards.)

TIM

Hey! Look at me!

(ANGELA and DAVID carry TIM forward again then start backwards. MIKLOS enters behind THEM. THEY can't see HIM and HE doesn't see THEM until it is too late. TIM crashes into MIKLOS, knocking HIM down.)

TIM

I'm sorry.

MIKLOS

You again?

ANGELA

Are you all right?

MIKLOS

Yes, of course I am. But watch out for this one, he is a boomerang.

TERRI

You should be more careful.

(The CHORUS GIRLS crowd around Miklos.)

MIKLOS

I should take out more insurance. Jaspar is playing his tricks again.

(THE GIRLS help MIKLOS up. In the confusion DAVID has gotten the tape all tangled and wrapped around HIS hand.)

Well Tim. An hour ago you don't have a ticket, now you are more at home here than the dancing bears. Your mother has not come yet?

SUE

He won't give us his phone number.

MIKLOS

He is stubborn? I should have known. (to Jaspar) Jaspar. He is stubborn. I know you are not surprised. I am not surprised too.

(FIRENELLI enters.)

SUE

(to DAVID and ANGELA) Watch out.

(DAVID and ANGELA separate quickly, but not before FIRENELLI has a glimpse of THEM together. DAVID ends up next to TIM.)

MIKLOS

Good morning Roberto.

FIRENELLI

Angela. Your friends told me you were outside.

MIKLOS

You have met Tim Roberto?

FIRENELLI

Yes. He is a good looking boy. He must watch the company that he keeps.

TIM

I...uh...I really liked you on the trapeze.

(TIM is still holding the trapeze bar.)

FIRENELLI

You hold the bar like it is your friend. That is good. Is someone coming for him?

SUE

We don't know who he belongs to. He won't tell us his phone number.

(MR. BEANS enters, without his clown make up.)

FIRENELLI

This town is your home?

TIM

Yes.

FIRENELLI

You think you will run away with the circus?

TIM

Could I learn the trapeze?

FIRENELLI

Young man, I am afraid you are out of luck. The day is gone when a boy can run away with the circus. Angela!

ANGELA

Yes Papa.

FIRENELLI

You are to stay away from this clown.

(Indicating DAVID.)

ANGELA

Papa!

FIRENELLI

You are to stay away from him. Come. I must use this bar young man.

(FIRENELLI takes the bar from Tim.)

Angela, it is time for us to go. Where is the tape?

(ANGELA looks for it. SHE cannot find it. It is wrapped around DAVID'S hand. HE holds out HIS hand with the roll of tape dangling from it. FIRENELLI contains HIS anger.)

We will find another roll.

(FIRENELLI exits. ANGELA follows. DAVID is crushed.)

SUE

Don't worry David.

DAVID

How could I be so stupid? Look at this?

(HE holds up HIS taped hand.)

TONI

Poor baby. Let me kiss it and make it all better.

(DAVID runs off.)

TERRI

Toni!

TONI

I can't help it. The kid's brought out my mothering instinct.

(SUE sees MR. BEANS and crosses to HIM, surprising HIM from behind with a big hug.)

MR. BEANS

Sue!

SUE

You are so irresistible.

MR. BEANS

(embarrassed) I am not!

SUE

Every time I see you I get this incredible urge to squeeze that big red nose of yours.

MR. BEANS

I'm not wearing my big red nose.

SUE

You're not?

MR. BEANS

No.

SUE

Are you sure?

MR. BEANS

Yes.

SUE

Then what is that thing on the front of your face?

(SHE squeezes HIS nose.)

MR. BEANS

Sue!

(TIM sees MR. BEANS and thinks HE recognizes HIM. TIM crosses to SUE and MR. BEANS.)

TIM

Hi! I remember you. You're the clown that doesn't talk.

TERRI

He wants to run away with the circus. He won't tell us his phone number.

MR. BEANS

Why don't you just look it up in the book?

SUE

What a great idea! We'll just let you handle it. See you after dinner.

(SUE, TONI, and TERRI start off.)

His name is Tim. Tim Smith.

(The girls exit.)

MR. BEANS

What? Wait! --- Smith? What am I going to do with him?

MIKLOS

Buy a roll of quarters. Maybe five or six rolls of quarters. There's a payphone on the corner.

(MIKLOS exits.)

MR. BEANS

Stop! Don't go!

(MR. BEANS looks at TIM.)

Smith?

(TIM nods yes.)

Don't you want to tell me your phone number?

(TIM shakes HIS head no.)

Why don't we get some dinner?

(BLACKOUT)

End of Scene 4