MARIA
MAX
BARONESS SCHRAEDER
CAPTAIN
LIESL
MARTA
GRETL
BRIGITTA
FRIEDRICH
LOUISA
KURT



DISSOLVES TO:
INT. BALLROOM
Another day. The once dark ballroom, now brightly lit. The Baroness & Max sit in front of a puppet theater. The Captain peeps behind the theater, then joins Max & the Baroness. All 3 applaud as the music begins. Maria & the children stand backstage.

MARIA (whispers) Marta! (calls to Marta) Curtain!

The curtain opens to reveal a marionette…a shepherd wearing lederhosen.

MARIA (sings) High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Lusty & clear from the goatherd's throat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Above the stage, the children work the puppet strings. On stage, goats dance alongside the shepherd.

CHILDREN (singing) O ho lay dee odl lee o, o ho lay dee odl ay
O ho lay dee odl lee o, lay dee odl lee o lay

MARIA (whispers) Marta! Marta!

Marta unrolls a new backdrop: a castle.

MARIA (whispers) Gretl! The prince!

Gretl shoves a prince puppet onstage.

MARIA (sings) A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo

2 bearded male puppets w/ backpacks walk on.

THE BOYS (singing) Men on a road w/ a load to tote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

A curtain rises to show: A beer hall. A puppet carrying many mugs of beer to 2 men sitting at a table w/ forks & knives at the ready. Marionette musicians play while marionette customers drink mugs of marionette beer.

THE CHILDREN (singing) Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
MARIA (sings) Men drinking beer w/ the foam afloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Marta blows the foam from a beer & splashes Maria who coughs. A girl puppet w/ blonde braids appears to join the shepherd.

MARIA (sings) 1 little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
BRIGITTA (sings) She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

The blonde girl's bosomy mother appears & pushes the girl to the shepherd.

MARIA (sings) Soon her Mama w/ a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
What a duet for a girl & goatherd

MARIA AND THE CHILDREN (singing) Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Mother & daughter dance w/ the shepard. 3 couples dance the polka as the band continues to play. Above them, Maria & the children manipulate the puppets w/ all the consummate skill of professional puppeteers like, o, for example, Bill & Cora Baird. Max, the Baroness, & the Captain laugh w/ delight.

MARIA AND THE CHILDREN (singing) Ummm (ummm)…
Odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee)
Odl lay ee…

Maria breaks out into a serious case of yodeling. She sighs, wipes her brow, & signals to Marta for the next backdrop. Onstage, a boy & girl goat replace the shepherd & his girlfriend.

BRIGITTA (sings) 1 little girl in a pale pink coat heard
MARIA (sings) Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hoo hoo
BRIGITTA (sings) She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
LIESL (sings) Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

The girl goat's mother appears & bucks her daughter into the boy goat.

MARIA (sings) Soon her Mama w/ a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hmm hmm
What a duet for a girl & goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

The 2 goats snuggle & that's all it takes for a baby goat to appear &
dance w/ them.

MARIA AND THE CHILDREN (singing) Happy are they lay dee olay dee lee o…
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Soon the duet will become a trio
MARIA (sings) Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
MARIA AND THE CHILDREN (singing) Odl lay ee, odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee),
Odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay odl lay (odl lay odl lay),
Odl lay odl lee (odl lay odl lee)
Odl lay odl lee (odl lay odl lee)
Odl lay odl lay odl lay

THE CHILDREN Whoo!

Max, the Captain & the Baroness laugh & applaud. The children jump out from behind the stage to bow & curtsy.

THE CAPTAIN, MAX AND THE BARONESS Bravo! Wonderful! etc.
GRETL Can we really keep the puppet show, Uncle Max?
MARTA Yes, may we?
MAX Of course, you may, my darlings. Why else would I have told Professor Kolitz to send the bill to your father?

The children chatter w/ excitement & exit w/ Max. Maria emerges & leans against the theater, exhausted.

CAPTAIN Well done, Fraulein.

Maria smiles modestly.

CAPTAIN I really am very, very much impressed.
MARIA They're your children, Captain.

Their eyes meet in a lingering gaze. The Captain shifts uncomfortably, then takes the Baroness' arm & starts out of the room.

BARONESS (coolly) My dear, is there anything you can't do?
MARIA Well, I'm not sure I'll make a very good nun.
CAPTAIN O ho ho.
BARONESS Well, if you have any problems I'd be happy to help you.

The Baroness smiles coldly & walks into the grand front hall. The Captain keeps looking at Maria in her blue dress.

MAX Attention! Attention, everyone! I have an announcement to make! Surprise, surprise. Today, after a long & desperate search, I have finally found a most exciting entry for the Salzburg Folk Festival!

The Captain knows full well what Max has in mind.

CAPTAIN Congratulations, Max. Who will you be exploiting this time?
MAX Ha ha!
BARONESS (guessing) The Saint Ignatius Choir?
MAX Guess again!
CAPTAIN Um…let me see now, uh…the Klopmann Choir?
MAX No, no, no, no, no.
CAPTAIN No?
MAX No, no.
LIESL Tell us.
MAX A singing group all in 1 family. You'll never guess, George.
CAPTAIN What a charming idea! Uh, whose family?
MAX (laughs) Yours.
CAPTAIN O.
CHILDREN (they love the idea) Ohhh!
MAX They'll be the talk of the festival.
CAPTAIN Hm!

The Captain studies Max w/ an amused grin & laughs.

MAX Well, now, what's so funny?
CAPTAIN You are, Max. You're expensive…but very funny.

The children laugh.

MAX But you heard them. They'll be a sensation.
CAPTAIN No, Max.
CHILDREN (disappointed) Ohhhh!
MAX It's a wonderful idea! Fresh, original…
CAPTAIN Max, my children do not sing in public.
MAX Well, you can't blame me for trying.
MARIA Children, who shall we hear from next?

The children huddle around Maria. Liesl leans forward & whispers something to Maria.

MARIA Who?
CHILDREN Yes. Yes.

Maria picks up her guitar & looks uncertainly at the children who nod.

CHILDREN Yes. Yes.

Maria clears her throat & walks over to the Captain & holds the guitar
out to him.

MARIA The vote is unanimous. You, Captain.
CAPTAIN Me?

Max laughs.

CAPTAIN I don't understand.
MARIA Please.

Maria holds out the guitar to the Captain. The Captain looks at the children, realizes what they're up to.

CAPTAIN No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
MARIA I'm told that a long time ago you were quite good.
CAPTAIN Well, that was a very, very, very long time ago.
LIESL I remember, Father.

Maria holds out the guitar to the Captain again.

FRIEDRICH Play us something we know.
BRIGITTA O, please, Father.
MARIA Please.

He smiles at the children affectionately.

CAPTAIN Well…

The Captain takes the guitar & strums a few chords. The children settle on the floor in front of him. Liesl takes a seat. Maria leans against a wall. Max & the Baroness sit together.

BARONESS Why didn't you tell me?
MAX What?
BARONESS To bring along my harmonica.

Max chuckles.

CAPTAIN (sings) Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small & white, clean & bright
You look happy to meet me

The Captain smiles at Maria. The Baroness observes them shrewdly.

CAPTAIN (sings) Blossom of snow, may you bloom & grow
Bloom & grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

He looks at the Baroness who smiles eagerly, then nods to Liesl as he sings another refrain. Liesl joins in.

CAPTAIN AND LIESL (singing) Edelweiss, (edelweiss) edelweiss (edelweiss)
Every morning you greet me
Small & white (small & white), clean & bright (clean & bright)
You look happy to meet me

CAPTAIN (sings) Blossom of snow, may you bloom & grow
Bloom & grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Gazing at Maria, he grins & shrugs modestly.

MAX Any time you say the word, George, you can be part of my new act…

The Captain laughs.

MAX …the Von Trapp Family Singers.
BARONESS I have a wonderful idea, George. Let's really fill this house w/ music. You must give a grand & glorious party for me while I'm here.

The children gasp w/ delight.

CAPTAIN A party?
CHILDREN Yes, yes, Father, please! O, Father, please.
BARONESS Yes, I think it's high time I met all your friends here in
Salzburg, & they met me. Don't you agree?
CAPTAIN I see what you mean.
CHILDREN O, please. Please! Please!

Maria walks over to the children.

MARIA Children! It's time to go to bed! Come now. Say good night.
CHILDREN (disappointed) Ohhh…

The children stand up.

CHILDREN Good night, Father. Good night. Good night, Baroness Schraeder. Good night, Uncle Max.

The Captain kisses & hugs his children. They dash out of the room, beaming w/ excitement. Gretl runs to catch up, then stops & turns in the doorway.

GRETL It will be my first party, Father.

*Bianca/Martha practices the songs and waits for the others before rehearsing again *

Louisa , Practices her part Wow I have so much to catch up on