ACT ONE
1. PRLOGUE: RAGTIME
THE LITTLE BOY
In 1902 Father built a house at the crest of the Brodview
Avenue hill in New Rochelle, New York, and it seemed for
some years thereafter that all the family's days would be
warm and fair.
PEOPLE OF NEW ROCHELLE
The skies were blue and hazy,
Rarely a storm. Barely a chill
WOMEN
La la la la...
PEOPLE OF NEW ROCHELLE
The afternoons were lazy,
Everyone warm. Everything still.
MEN
La la la la...
ALL
And there was distant music,
Simple and somehow sublime,
Giving the nation
A new syncopation-
The people called it Ragtime!
FATHER
Father was well-off. Very well-off. his considerable
income was derived from the manufacture and sale of
fireworks and other accoutrements of patriotism. Father
was also something of an amateur explorer.
MOTHER
The house on the hill in New Rochelle was Mother's
domain. She took pleasure in making it comfortable
for the men of her family and often told herself how
fortunate she was to be so protected and provided for
by her husband.
YOUNGER BROTHER
Mother's Younger Brother worked at Father's fireworks
factory. He was a genius at explosives. But he was also
a young man in search of something to believe in. his
sisterwondered when he would find it.
GRANDFATHER
Grandfather had been a professor of Greek and Latin. Now
retired and living with his daughter and her family, he
was thoroughly irritated by everything.
PEOPLE OF NEW ROCHELLE
The days were gently tinted
Lavender pink, lemon and lime.
MOTHER
Ladies with parasols
YOUNGER BROTHER
Fellows with tennis balls
FATHER
There were gazebos, and...
The were no negroes.
PEOPLE OF HARLEM
And everything was Ragtime!
Listen to the Ragtime!
COALHOUSE
In Harlem, men and women of color forgot their
troubles and danced and reveled to the music of
Coalhouse Walker, Jr. This was a music that was theirs
and no one else's.
SARAH
One young woman thought Coalhouse played just for her,
Her name was Sarah.
PEOPLE OF HARLEM
Ooooh...
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
Booker T. Washington was the most famous Negro
in the country. He counselled friendship between the
races and spoke of the promise of the future. he had no
patience for Negroes who lived less than exemplary lives.
PEOPLE OF NEW ROCHELLE
Ladies with parasols,
Fellows with tennis balls.
There were no Negroes
And there were no immigrants.
TATEH
In Latvia, a man dremed of a new life for his little girl.
It would be a long journey, a treeible one.
He ould not lose her as he had her mother.
His name was Tateh. He never spoke of his wife.
The Little Girl was all he had now.
Together, they wouuld escape.
LITTLE BOY
Houdini! Look it's Houdini!
CROWD
Ooh...aah!
Ooh...aah!
HOUDINI
Harry Houdini was one immigrant who made and art of
escape. He was a headliner in the top Vaudeville circuits.
HOUDINI'S MOTHER
Ich bin die Mutter des grossen Houdinis!
HOUDINI
He mad his Mother proud. But for all his achievements, he
knew he was only an illusionist. He wanted to believe
there was more...
Hello, sonny.
LITTLE BOY
Warn the Duke!
HOUDINI
What did you say?
PEOPLE OF NEW ROCHELLE
And there was distant music
Changing the tune, changing the time,
PEOPLE OF HARLEM
Giving the nation
A new syncopation:
ALL
La, la, la.
MEN
La, la, la...
J.P. MORGAN
Certain men make a country great.
HENRY FORD
They can't help it.
MORGAN
At the very apex of the American Pyramid-
FORD
-That's the very tip-top!-
MORGAN
Like Pharoahs reincarnate, stood J.P. Morgan.
FORD
And Henry Ford.
MORGAN
All men are born equal.
FORD
But the cream rises to the top!
EMMA GOLDMAN
Let me at those sosn of bitches! These men are the
demons who are sucking your very souls dry! I hate them!
MORGAN
Someone should arrest that woman!
EMMA GOLDMAN
The radical anarchist Emma Goldman fought against the
ravages of American capitalism as she watched her fellow
immigrants' hopes turn to despair on the Lower East Side.
EVELYN NESBIT
La la la
La la la la
Whee!
EMMA
But America was watching another drama.
EVELYN NESBIT
Evelyn Nesbit was the most beautiful woman in America,
If she wore her hair in curls, every woman wore her hair
in curls.
STANFORD WHITE
Her lover was the eminent architect, Stanford White,
designer of the Pennsylvania Station on 33rd street.
HARRY K. THAW
Her husband, the eccentric millionaire, Harry K. Thaw,
was a violent man.
EVELYN
After her husband shot her lover, Evelyn became the biggest
attraction in Vaudeville since Tom Thumb.
NEW ROCHELLE WOMEN
La la la la la
MEN
Bang!
NEW ROCHELLE WOMEN
La la la
MEN
Bang!
NEW ROCHELLE WOMEN
La
MEN
Bang!
EMMA GOLDMAN
And although the newspapers called the shooting the
Crime of the Century, Goldman knew it was only 1906...
ALL
And there were ninety-four years to go!
EMMA
Whee!
ALL
And there was music playing,
Catching a nation in its prime...
Beggar and millionaire
Everyone, everywhere
Moving to the Ragtime!
ALL
And there was distant music
Skipping a beat, singing a dream.
WOMEN
La la la la
ALL
A strange, insistent music
Putting out heat,
Picking up steam.
MEN
La la la la
ALL
The sound of distant thunder
Suddenly starting to climb...
It was the music
Of something beginning,
An era exploding,
A century spinning
In riches and rags,
And in rhythm and rhyme.
The people called it Ragtime...
Ragtime!
Ragtime!
Ragitme!
2. GOODBYE MY LOVE
MOTHER
Goodbye my love.
God bless you.
And I suppose,
Bless America, too.
You have places to discover,
Oceans to conquer,
You need to know
I'll be there at the window
While you go on your way.
I accept that.
But, what of the people
Who stay where they're out,
Planted like flowers
with roots underfoot.
I know some of those people
Have hearts that would rather
Go Journeying
On the sea.
Tell me,
What of the people
Whose boudaries chafe,
Who marry so bravely
And end up so safe.
Tell me how to be someone
Whose heart can explore
While still staying here.
Let this be the year
We both travel...
Goodbye, my love
Journey on.
3. JOURNEY ON
FATHER
It's an honor to go on an expedition with you,
Admiral Peary. It's men like you who've made this
country great.
ADMIRAL PEARY
It's men like you who'll keep it great.
HENSON
All sails set, Admiral.
PEARY
Thank you, Mr. Henson. This is my First Officer, Mr.
Matthew Henson.
FATHER
Good evening.
HENSON
Welcome aboard.
FATHER
What's that? In the distance? Such a ghostly glow.
PEARY
They're called rag ships. Immigrants from every cesspool
in Western and Eastern Europe. Most of them become very
Patriotic Americans. They're your future customers.
HENSON
My people were also brought here on ships.
PEARY
Good watch, Henson.
FATHER
You're a brave man, whoever you are. Coming so far,
expecting so much.
A salute to the man
On the deck of that ship!
A salute to the immigrant stranger.
Heaven knows why you's make
Such a terrible trip.
May your own god protect you from danger.
Is it freedom or love
That you pray for
In you guttural accent?
Too late, long gone.
A salute to a fellow
Who hasn't a chance.
Journey on.
TATEH
If people ask, how old are you?
LITTLE GIRL
I don't answer.
TATEH
Your name?
LITTLE GIRL
No name.
TATEH
Where your mother is?
LITTLE GIRL
Dead.
TATEH
This is my father. He speaks fo both of us.
LITTLE GIRL
This is my father. He speaks for both of us.
Is that other ship going back home?
TATEH
No, no. America is our home now.
America is our shtetl.
TATEH & LITTLE GIRL
Amekhaye khlebn.
LITTLE GIRL
Look. Someone is waving. Where is he going?
TATEH
He's a fool on a fool's journey.
You depart on a ship
From a country like this.
Why on earth would you want to
Be leaving?
was it something you lost
That you suddenly miss?
Are you angry,
Or possibly
Grieving?
Do you see in my face
What you've lost, sir?
Are you moved by the death ship
We sail upon?
Well, perhaps you're a man
Who's in search of his heart.
Journey on.
FATHER
Journey on.
BOTH
Two ships passing
In the kinship
Of the darkness-
FATHER
One going from-
TATEH
One coming to-
BOTH
America
Two men meeting
At the moment
Of a journey.
For a moment,
In the darkness,
We're the same...
MOTHER FATHER TATEH
And what of the people
Whose boundaries chafe, I salute you,
My friend
Who marry so bravely
And end up so safe? May you
Find what
You need
I will be journeyin
Here, my love,
As you go As you go As you go
Journeying
Journeying
Journeying
On the sea. On the sea. On the sea.
ALL THREE
We're two ships passing
At a distance,
Through the darkness,
FATHER
One going from...
MOTHER & TATEH
One coming to...
ALL THREE
...America.
Strangers sharing
The beginnings
Of a journey
FATHER
I salute you!
TATEH
God be with you!
MOTHER
I will miss you...
ALL THREE
In the Darkness
Of the dawn-
Journey on!
4. THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY
JUDGE
And now, testifying for the defense, Miss Evelyn Nesbit.
EVELYN
Whee! CHORUS GIRLS
La la la la
La la la la la
Whee!
La la la la
La la la la la
EVELYN
Your honor,
I was once the lady friend of Stanford White.
CHORUS GIRLS
He's the famous architect!
EVELYN
Yes, that's right.
He put me on a velvet swing,
And made me wear... well... hardly anything!
Ruined at the age of fifteen,
Your honor!
Then I went a married Mr. Harry Thaw...
EVELYN & CHORUS GIRLS
Eccentric millionaire.
CHORUS GIRLS
Oh! Oh!
EVELYN
Harry's a jealous man.
CHORUS GIRLS
Bang! Bang!
EVELYN
That was the end of Stan.
CHORUS GIRLS
Boo hoo!
EVELYN
Your honor, be fair!
My Harry went crazy, I swear!
CHORUS GIRLS
La la
La la la
ALL, EVELYN
Now it's the
Crime of the Century!
Crime of the Century!
Giving the world a thrill!
EVELYN
Harry's in trouble
And Stanny's in heaven
Ane Evelyn is in Vaudeville!
ALL, EVELYN
The Crime of the Century!
Crim if the Century!
All for a youthful fling.
Fortune fame
And a ruined name!
EVELYN
And now I'm the girl on the swing!
YOUNGER BROTHER
Mother's Younger Brother was in love with Evelyn Nesbit.
From his regular seat in the front row of the second balcony,
he would lean far over the railing, hoping his goddess would
notice him. One night he almost he almost fell. Evelyn caught
sight of him and smiled. Life was suddenly full of delicious
possibilities.
CHORUS GIRLS
Oh! Oh!
EVELYN
Harry must not be hung!
JUDGE
Let's have that verdict sung!
CHORUS GIRLS
Boo hoo!
JURY FOREMAN
Your honor we find
That Harry's not guilty...
EVELYN
My Harry's not guilty!
ALL
'Cause Harry is out of his mind.
And it's the Crime of the Century
Crime of the Century
Making the world go "whee"!
Harry's in trouble
And Stanny's in heaven
EVELYN
And Evelyn gets publicity!
ALL
The Crime of the Century,
Crime of the Century,
Not such an awful thing-
EVELYN
Stanny's killed,
But my mother's thrilled
'Cause now I'm the girl on the...
ALL
Now she's the girl on the...
EVELYN
Now I'm the girl...
ALL
On the swing!
EVELYN
Whee!
5. WHAT KIND OF WOMAN
MOTHER
Get Kathleen
LITTLE BOY
Get Kathleen, I tell you! Call the doctor!
KATHLEEN
Is it alive? Oh, please, God, let it be.
MOTHER
It's alive. It's a Negro child. A newborn baby boy.
What kind of woman
Would do such a thing?
Why in God's name
Is my husband not here?
I'm such a fool!
Why did I say
He was free to go?
What am I to do?
Where are your instructions,
My dear?
You left me lists.
Everything in lists!
Well, your little lists
Aren't very helpful,
I fear!
Each day, the maids
Trudge up the hill.
The hired help arrives.
I never stopped to think
They might
have lives beyond out lives...
POLICEMAN
We found her in the cellar of a home on the next
block. She's a washwoman there. Her name is Sarah.
MOTHER
Where will you take her?
POLICEMAN
to the charity ward. Eventually she will have to
stand trial.
YOUNGER BROTHER
What charges?
POLICEMAN
Well, attempted murder, I should think.
MOTHER
What's going to happen to the baby?
DOCTOR
They have places for unfortunates like this.
MOTHER
I will take responsibility for mother and child.
Please take Miss Sarah inside.
What kind of woman
Would do what I've done-
Open the door
to such chaos and pain!
You would have
Gently closed the door,
And gently turned the key,
And gently told me not to look,
For fear of what I'd see.
What kind of woman
Would that have made me?
6. A SHTETL IZ AMERIKE
TATEH, LITTLE GIRL
A shtetl iz Amerike
Amekhaye khlebn
TATEH, LITTLE GIRL, JEWISH IMMIGRANTS
Es rut oyf ir di shkinele
ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS
Merica, Merica. bel massolino do fior.
TATEH, LITTLE GIRL ITALIAN HAITIAN
JEWISH IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRANTS
Gran mesi,
Washington,
Mir zoln azoy lebn Bel massolino Ki ba nou l'Amerik.
Di fior.
Mik khomes, biksn Merica, Merica,
Mentshn blut Bel massolino Gran mesi,
Di fior Washington,
A gubernator darf Merica, Merica, Gran mesi,
Mennit, Washington,
A keyser oyf Bel massolino
Kapores. di fior. Ki ba nou l'Amerik.
Amerike! Merica! Merica! L'Amerik!
Amerike! Merica! Merica! L'Amerik!
Amerike! Merica! Merica! L'Amerik!
Amerike! Merica! Merica! L'Amerik!
America! America! America!
7. SUCCESS
TATEH
I promised you America
And little one, we're there.
IMMIGRANTS, LITTLE GIRL
America!
TATEH
Out feet are on the solid ground
And hope is in the air!
IMMIGRANTS, LITTLE GIRL
America!
TATEH
You'll soon be eating apple pie
From off a china plate.
Pretty dresses, pretty dolls,
Just wait!
For shining in your Tateh's eye
And just beyond this gate-
ALL
America!
TATEH IMMIGRANTS
Here in America
Anyone at all can succeed.
America! Here in America!
Do what you do,
And the world will come to you
Guranteed!
America! Here in America!
I may be just a maker of art,
But here you can start with less
And make a success!
TATEH
Step right up and have a silhouette made by
a real artist! With ordinary paper, a pair of scissors
and some glue I will give you a thing of such
beauty! A life-like portrait of someone you love.
Silhouettes of your favorite celebrity.
Evelyn Nesbit. Hey look!
She's on her Vaudeville stage.
harry Houdini. He practically escapes
From the page.
Only a nickel.
Don't walk away!
Someday these will impress
When I'm a success!
IMMIGRANTS(2 groups)
America, America.
TATEH
Look at the silhouettes
Here in the tenements,
Bent over sewing
Or dancing or arguing
Thouands of silhouettes,
Thousands of stories to tell.
Look at them, little one,
Such opportunity!
Right on the corner of
Orchard and Rivington.
We'll make our silhouettes,
Think how they'll sell.
We'll join the parade
or Americans all doing well!
IMMGRANTS
Success!
Success!
MORGAN
I'm J.P. Morgan my friends
The wealthiest man on this earth!
IMMIGRANTS
Success!
MORGAN
You immigrants, look up to me
And you'll see what money is worth!
IMMIGRANTS
Success!
MORGAN
One day your immigrant sweat
Might get you the whole U.S.!
HOUDINI
And if you're trapped
And failure seems imminent,
Think of Houdini,
That fabulous immigrant!
Break those chains with all you possess!
MORGAN, IMMIGRANTS
This is America!
This is the land of success!
SAME & TATEH
Success!
EMMA GOLDMAN
The angry, fetid tenements of the Lower East Side were
worse than anything Tateh and his wife suffered in Latvia.
The Little Girl was often sick now. Tateh wrapped her in his prayer shawl. What rabbi would disapprove?
IMMIGRANTS
America!
TATEH
Look at my daughter, God.
Why have you brought us here?
How can I feed her or clothe
Or protect her here?
Where's the America
We were supposed to get?
Was it a silhouette?
hey, mister,
Here in America
Anything you want, you can be!
Sucker, step up,
And I'll cut you out your own guratee!
Come see the artist!
Big shot, oh yes!
red, white and blue!
Hoorau and God bless!
I'm a success!
I'm a success!
Success!
Success!
HOUDINI
And if you're trapped
And failure seems imminent,
Think of Houdini,
That fabulous immigrant!
Break those chains with all you possess!
TATEH
I promised you America,
And little one...
We will find it.
8. HIS NAME WAS COALHOUSE WALKER
PEOPLE OF HARLEM
His name was Coalhouse Walker.
SOLO MAN #1
Was a native of St. Louis some years before.
SOLO WOMAN #1
When he heard the music od Scott Joplin
SOLO MAN #2
In St. Louis
SOLO WOMAN #2
Bought himself some piano lessons
Working as a stevedore.
SOLO MAN #3
Here was a music
That truly inspired.
LADIES
Dancers required him.
MEN
Club owners hired him.
ALL
the strivers of Harlem
Respected and admired him
SOLO MAN #4
For turning Harlem into art
COALHOUSE
But Coalhouse had a broken heart.
The Good Lord looked down, saw me lonely and loveless,
and thought to Himself: "Enough is enough. I'm putting
Sarah in Coalhouse's life."
And he did.
This wasn't a woman. This was an angel, a gift of God.
Coalhouse loved this woman, but not wisely and not
too well. She left me without a word or trace. There was
no pity for me.
SARAH'S FRIEND
None whatsoever, Coalhouse.
COALHOUSE
Now she is haunting me
Just like a melody-
the only song I seem to know.
Sarah, my life has changed.
Sarah, I miss you so.
Sarah, I did you wrong.
sarah, where did you go?
And then this morning, the miracle happened. I found
out where she is and I'm going to do my damnedest to
see she takes me back. Ladies and gentlemen, the
Gettin' Ready Rag!
9. THE GETTIN' READY RAG
ALL
Gettin' Ready Rag...
Gettin' Ready Rag...
Gettin', Gettin', Gettin' Ready Rag.
WOMEN
Anything it takes.
MEN
Anything you need.
ALL
you gotta find your girl, Coalhouse
And win her back!
ALL
Gettin' Ready Rag!
MEN
Ready as you'll ever get-
COALHOUSE
Not yet!
WOMEN
Gotta win the girl, Coalhouse.
COALHOUSE
Think of what a better man she'll see
When Mr. Henry Ford puts me
At the wheel of a Model T!
10. HENRY FORD
FORD
See my people?
Well, here's my theory
Of what this country
Is moving toward.
Every worker
A cog in motion.
Well, that's the notion of
Henry Ford!
One man tightens
And one man ratchets
And one man reaches
To pull one cord.
Car keeps moving
In one direction.
ENSEMBLE
A genuflection to
Henry Ford!
Hallelujah!
Praise the maker
Of the Model T!
FORD
Speed up the belt.
Speed up the belt, Sam.
ENSEMBLE
Hallelujah!
COALHOUSE
Hell, I'll take her!
ENSEMBLE
Sure amazin'
How far some fellas can see!
FORD
Speed up the belt.
Speed up the belt, Sam.
Speed up the belt.
Speed up the belt, Sam!
ENSEMBLE & FORD
Speed up the, speed up the, speed up the speed up the belt!
ENSEMBLE
Mass production
Will sweep the nation.
A simple notion,
The world's reward.
FORD
Even people who ain't too clever
Can learn to tighten a nut forever,
Attach one pedal
Or pull one lever
ENSEMBLE
For Henry Ford!
Henry Ford!
Henry Ford!
Henry Ford!
FORD
Grab yor goggles
ENSEMBLE & FORD
And climb aboard!
COALHOUSE
I'm ready, Lord!
11. NOTHING LIKE THE CITY
TATEH
Mister, please, where is this?
CONDUCTOR
You're in New Rochelle. You can atke the rope off her.
This ain't the city.
LITTLE BOY
Mother!
MOTHER
I see! I see! He's afraid of losing her. Immigrants
are terrified of losing their children. So are we but
just not so conspicuously. Don't stare. It's not
polite to stare.
TATEH
He's a rude little boy. Ignore him. poeople of good
breeding do not stare at other people. they acknowledge
htem politley with a bow... like this.
Good day.
MOTHER
Good day, sir.
TATEH
She called me "sir."
Without a doubt,
We're really out
Of New York City!
MOTHER
Fine weather, isn't it?
TATEH
Isn't it?
Now that we're out of the city,
Isn't it?
BOTH
Nothing like the city...
LITTLE GIRL
He's still staring.
TATEH
Never mind.
LITTLE BOY
My father's at the North Pole,
With Admiral Peary and eskimos!
Where is your mother?
LITTLE GIRL
Dead.
MOTHER
Edgar!
LITTLE BOY
My name is Edgar. We're off
To visit out foreworks factory.
What is your name?
LITTLE GIRL
No name.
LITTLE BOY
That's impossible.
Everyone had a name,
Even the little Negro baby
Who lives in our attic!!!
MOTHER
Sshh. Do not be rude! LITTLE BOY
He talks. I never knew anyone
Who stayed on a rope
Like a puppy dog.
What does it feel like?
TATEH
I see that. LITTLE GIRL
Safe.
MOTHER
He also stares. LITTLE BOY
Safe?
You'd think
He'd never LITTLE GIRL
Seen someone Yes.
From New York City
LITTLE BOY
Everyone's safe
TATEH In New Rochelle.
That's children,
Isn't it? Little Girl
Safe?
MOTHER
Isn't it? LITTLE BOY
Yes.
BOTH
Always another surprise,
Isn't it?
CONDUCTOR
Boston Post Road trolley! Boston!
MOTHER
Well.
TATEH
Well.
Have a pleasant day, ma'am.
MOTHER
Have a pleasant trip, sir...
MOTHER & TATEH
Nothing like the city...
CONDUCTOR
Mamaroneck! All aboard for Mamaroneck!
LITTLE BOY
We know those peopl.
MOTHER
That's ridiculous. They're poor foreigners.
LITTLE BOY
Then we're going to know them.
MOTHER
Who put such thoughts in your head?
12. YOUR DADDY'S SON
SARAH
Ooh...
Daddy played piano,
Played it very well.
Music from those hands could
Catch you like a spell.
He coul dmake you love him
'Fore the tune was done.
You have your daddy's hands.
You are your daddy's son.
Ooh...
Daddy never knew
That you were on your way.
He had other ladies
And other tunes to play.
When he up and left me,
I just up and run.
Only thing in my head-
You were your daddy's son.
Couldn't hear no music,
Couldn't see no light.
Mama, she was frightened,
Crazy from the fright.
Tears without no comfort,
Screams without no sound.
Only darkness and pain,
The anger and pain,
The blood and the pain!
I buried my hear in the ground!
In the ground-
When I buried you in the ground.
Daddy played piano.
Bet he's playin' still.
Mama can't forget him.
Don't suppose I will.
God wants no excuses.
I have only one:
You had your daddy's hands.
Forgive me.
You were your daddy's son.
13. THE COURTSHIP
MOTHER
Sarah, let me take him for a while. You haven't slept.
(There is a knock at the door)
MOTHER
Yes?
COALHOUSE
I'm looking for a woman of color whose name is Sarah.
She is said to reside in one of these houses.
LITTLE BOY
She's here. She's living in our attic.
COALHOUSE
Will you tell her, please that Mr. Coalhouse Walker Jr.,
desires to speak with her?
MOTHER
Certainly. Please wait here.
LITTLE BOY
This is Sarah's baby. You want a cookie?
MOTHER
Sarah, you have a caller. A Mr. Walker. Will you come
down to the kitchen?
SARAH
No Ma'am. Send him away, please.
MOTHER
Well, that's the most words you've spoken since you've
been here.
COALHOUSE
Hmmm...
MOTHER
Sarah is unable to see you. Good day.
COALHOUSE
Thank you Ma'am. Tell her I'll come back next Sunday.
GRANDFATHER
Such was the coming of the colored man in the car
to Broadview Avenue.
ALL
Each Sunday, he'd come driving.
Curtains would part,
Neighbours would peek.
MOTHER
I'm sorry, Mr. Walker. Sarah still will not receive you.
COALHOUSE
Will you see that she gets these flowers, Ma'am?
MOTHER, ALL
Week after week!
And aftyer weeks of Sundays
MOTHER
Sending him off seemed a crime...
Mr. Walker, it must be a long drive for you. Perhaps
you would like a cup of tea before you go?
COALHOUSE
This piano is badly in need of a tuning.
MOTHER
Oh yes. We are terrible about that.
GRANDFATHER
Do you know any coon songs?
COALHOUSE
Coon songs are made for Minstrel shows. White men
sing them in blackface. This is called Ragtime.
14. NEW MUSIC
FATHER
Where have I been?
How did we change,
Caught in this strange
New music?
Say,
Was I away too long?
MOTHER FATHER
Just like that tune,
Simple and clear,
I've come to hear
New music. New music.
Why,
Why can't you hear the song?
YOUNGER BROTHER
His fingers stoke those keys,
And every note says "Please",
And every chord says "Turn my way."
MOTHER, FATHER
I thought I knew
What love was but these lovers play...
MOTHER, FATHER, YOUNGER BROTHER
New music!
Haunting me,
And somehow taunting me-
My love was never half as true.
FATHER
And I as myself,
Why can't I sing it too?
WORKERS, NEIGHBORS
His fingers stoke those keys,
And every note says "Please",
And every chord says "Turn my way."
WORKERS, NEIGHBORS, FAMILY
I thought I knew
What love was
but these lovers play
New music!
ALL
Haunting me,
And somehow taunting me-
My love was
Never half as true.
COALHOUSE
Sarah, my life has changed.
Sarah, you've got to see.
Sarah, we got a son!
Sarah, come down to me...
SARAH COALHOUSE
You and your music
Singing deep in me,
Making nice to me,
Saying something so new- New
Changing everything,
Meaning everything, Music
Calling my heart to you...
All for you, girl.
Play that melody, You, Sarah.
Your sweet melody,
Calling my heart to you. You.
ALL(except Coalhouse & Sarah)
Just like that tune,
Simple and clear,
I've come to hear
New music-
Breaking my heart,
Op'ning a door,
Chamging the world!
New music!
I'll
Hear it forevermore!
15. WHEELS OF A DREAM
COALHOUSE
I see his face.
I hear his heartbeat.
I look in those eyes.
How wise they seem.
Well, when he is old enough
I will show him America
And he will ride
on the wheels of a dream.
COALHOUSE SARAH
We'll go down South
Go down South,
And see your people
See my folks.
Won't they take to him
They'll take to him
Like cats to cream!
Mmm...
COALHOUSE
Then we'll travel on from there.
SARAH
California or who knows where!
BOTH
And we will ride
On the wheels of a dream.
COALHOUSE
Yes, the wheels are turning for us, girl.
And the times are starting to roll.
Any man can get where he wants to
If he's got some fire in his soul.
We'll see justice, Sarah,
And plenty of men
Who will stand up
And give us our due.
Oh, Sarah, it's more that promises.
Sarah, it must be true.
A country that let's a man like me
Own a car, raise a child, build a life with you...
COALHOUSE SARAH
With you...
With you...
BOTH
Beyond that road,
Beyond this lifetime
That care full of hope
Will always gleam!
With the promise of happiness
And the freedom he'll live to know.
He'll travle with head held high,
Just as far as his heart can go
And he will ride-
Our son will ride-
On the wheels of a dream.
RAGTIME PAGE II
