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Script
Audition Central: Annie JR.
Script: The Orphans
SIDE 1
MOLLY
(Awaking from a dream and crying out)
Mama! Mama! Mommy!
PEPPER
Shut up!
DUFFY
Can't anybody get any sleep around here?
MOLLY
Mama. Mommy.
PEPPER
I said shut your trap, Molly.
(Shoves MOLLY to the floor, DOWNSTAGE CENTER)
JULY
Ahh, stop shovin' the poor kid. She ain't doin' nuthin' to you.
PEPPER
She's keepin' me awake, ain't she?
JULY
No, you're keeping us awake-
PEPPER
You wanna make somethin' out of it?
JULY
How 'bout I make a pancake outta you?
(PEPPER and JULY fight)
TESSIE
Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, they're fightin' and I won't get no sleep all night. Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.
(ANNIE, who is 11, runs in with a bucket. SHE has been up cleaning)
ANNIE
Pipe down, all of ya. Go back to sleep.
(To MOLLY)
It's all right, Molly. Annie's Here.
MOLLY
It was my Mama, Annie. We was ridin' on the ferryboat. And she was holdin' me up to see all the big ships. And then I couldn't find her no more.
(ANNIE holds a hanky for MOLLY)
ANNIE
Blow. It was only a dream, honey. Now, you gotta go back to sleep. It's after three o'clock.
MOLLY
Annie& read me your note.
ANNIE
Again?
MOLLY
Please?
ANNIE
Sure, Molly.
PEPPER
Here it comes again.
ANNIE
(Takes a crumpled note from her pocket, unfolds it and reads it to MOLLY)
"Please take good care of our little darling. Her name is Annie."
KATE
(Mockingly; she has heard this note read a thousand times before)
"She was born on October 28th. We will be back to get her soon."
PEPPER
(Mockingly)
"We have left half of a silver locket around her neck and kept the other half-
PEPPER, DUFFY, KATE
-so that when we come back for her you will know that she's our baby."
TESSIE
Oh my goodness, now they're laughing.
ANNIE
(To the others)
All right. Do you wanna sleep with your teeth insida your mouth or out!
(Lovingly folds her note and puts it back in her pocket)
MOLLY
Gee, I dream about havin' a mother and father again. But you're lucky. You really got 'em.
SIDE 2
(A faraway CHURCH BELL chimes four a.m. ANNIE goes up to the window looking out into the street, then returns to her bed and starts putting some things into a small basket. The ORPHANS are dimly seen, waking up as ANNIE turns on a flashlight)
PEPPER
Now what?
KATE
Annie, whatta ya doin'?
ANNIE
Runnin' away.
TESSIE
Oh my goodness.
ANNIE
(Puts on her sweater) My folks are never comin' for me. I gotta go find them.
JULY
Annie, you're crazy. Miss Hannigan'll catch you.
TESSIE
And give you the paddle.
ANNIE
I don't care. I'm getting' outta here.
(With a basket under her arm)
Okay. I'm ready. Wish me luck.
ALL EXCEPT PEPPER
Good luck, Annie.
PEPPER
So long, dumbbell. And good luck.