添加到百度搜藏
The Sound of Music
(In an abbey, Salzburg, Austria, in the last Golden Days of the Thirties.)
Halleluyah!
Bernice: Reverend Mother…
Reverend Mother: Sister Bernice.
Bernice: I simply cannot find her.
Reverend Mother: Maria?
Bernice: She’s missing from the abbey again.
Sister A: Perhaps we should have put a cowbell around her neck.
Sister B: Have you tired the barn? You know how much she adores the animals.
Bernice: I looked everywhere, in all of the usual places.
Reverend Mother: Sister Bernice, considering that is Maria, I suggest you look in some place unusual.
(Later, Maria gets back and comes to see Reverend Mother.)
Reverend Mother: I’m here, my child. Now sit down.
Maria (Short for M): Oh, Reverend Mother, I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t help myself. The gates were open and the hills were beckoning and before…
Reverend Mother: I know! I have not summoned you here for apologies.
M: Oh, please Mother; do let me ask for forgiveness.
Reverend Mother: If it will make you feel better.
M: Yes. Well you see, the sky was so blue today and everything was so green and fragrant. I just had to be a part of it! And you know those birds kept meeting me higher and higher as though it wanted me to go right through the clouds with it.
Reverend Mother: Child, suppose darkness had come and you were lost?
M: Oh, Mother, I could never be lost up there. That’s my mountain; I was brought up on it. It was the mountain that led me to you.
Reverend Mother: Oh?
M: When I was a child, I would come down the mountain and climb a tree and look over into your garden. I’d see the sisters at work and I would hear them sing on their way Vespers, which brings me to another transgression, Reverend Mother. I was singing out there today without permission.
Reverend other: Maria, it is only here in the abbey that we have rules about postulant singing.
M: I can’t seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what’s worse, I can’t seem to stop saying things. Everything and anything I think and feel.
Reverend Mother: Some people would call that honesty.
M: No, but it’s terrible,
Reverend Mother. You know how sister Beth always makes me kiss the floor after we had a disagreement? Well lately I’ve taken to kissing the floor when I see her coming just to save time.
Reverend Mother: Maria, when you saw us over the abbey wall and longed to be one of us, that didn’t necessarily mean that you were prepared for the way we live here, did it?
M: No, Mother: But I pray and I try and I am learning. I really am.
Reverend Mother: What is the most important lesson you have learned here, my child?
M: To find out what is the will of God and to do it whole-heartedly.
Reverend Mother: Maria, it seems to be the will of God that you leave us.
M: Leave you?
Reverend Mother: Only of a while, Maria.
M: Oh, please, Mother, don’t do that. Please don’t send me away! This is where I belong. It’s my home. My family. It’s my life.
Reverend Mother: Are you truly ready for it?
M; Yes, I am.
Reverend Mother: Perhaps if you go out into the world for a time, knowing what we expect of you. You will have a chance to find out that you could expect it from yourself.
M: I know what you expect; Mother, and I can do it. I promise I can!
Reverend Mother: Maria…
M: Yes, mother. It is God’s will.
Reverend Mother: There is a family near Salzburg that needs a governess until September.
M: September?
Reverend Mother: To take care of seven children.
M: Seven children?!
Reverend Mother: Do you like children Maria?
M: Oh yes, but seven…
Reverend Mother: I will tell Captain Von Trapp to expect you tomorrow.
M: A captain?
Reverend Mother: A retired officer of the Imperial Navy. A fine man and a brave one. His wife died several years ago, living in the dorm with the children, and I understand he has had a most difficult time managing to keep a governess there.
M: Er.. Why difficult, Reverend Mother?
Reverend Mother: The lord will show you in His own good time
(Maria, with her bag and guitar in hands, walks sullenly out of the abbey.)
M (singing): What will this day be like, I wonder.
What will my future be, I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free.
My heart should be wildly rejoicing,
Oh, what’s the matter with me?
I’ve always longed for adventure, to do things I’ve never did. Now here I’m pacing adventure, then why am I so scared?
Then why am I so scared?
(Oh, help.)
I have confidence in confidence alone,
Besides which you see,
I have confidence in me.
( In front of the Von Trapps’house, Maira wonders at its grandeur. She knocks at the door. A man appears.)
M: Hello, here I am! I’m form the convent. I’m the new governess, Captain.
Franz: And I’m your butler,
Fraulein.
M: Oh, well, how do you do?
Hmm.
Franz: Wait here, please.
(While waiting, Maria enters a hall. It is such a magnificent hall, that she can’t help dancing. Then the Captain appears.)
Captain (Short for C): Why do you stare at me that way?
M: Well, you don’t look at all like a sea captain, sir.
C: I’m afraid you don’t look much like a governess. Turn around, please.
M: What?
C: Turn. Hat off. It’s the dress. You have to put on another one before you meet the children.
M: But I don’t have another one. When we enter the abbey, our worldly clothes are given to the poor.
C: What about this one?
M: The poor didn’t want this one.
C: Hmm.
M: I would have made myself a new dress but there wasn’t time. I can make my own clothes.
C: Well, I’ll see that you get some material. Today, if possible. Now, Fraulein…er….
M: Maria.
C: Fraulein Maria, I don’t know how much the Mother has told you?
M: Not much.
C: You’re the twelfth in a long line of governesses, who have come to look after my children since their mother died. I trust that you will be an improvement on the last one.
She stayed only two hours.
M: What’s wrong with the children, sir?
C: There was nothing wrong with the children, only the governesses. They were completely unable to maintain discipline. Without it, the house cannot be properly run. Please remember that, Fraulein.
M: Yes, Sir.
C: Every morning you will drill the children in their studies. I will not permit them to dream away their summer holidays. Each afternoon they will march about the ground, breathing deeply. Bedtime is to be strictly observed. No exceptions.
M: Excuse me, sir. When do they play?
C: You’ll see to that they conduct themselves at all time with the utmost orderliness and decorum, I’m placing you in command.
M: You, sir.
(Captain blows his whistle. After slammings of doors, the children appear on the terrace in a line, then walk down one be one.)
C: Now, this is your new governess, Fraulein Maria. As I sound your signals, you will step forward and give your name. You, Fraulein, will listen carefully. Learn their signals so you can call them when you want them.
Liesl: Liesl.
Frederick: Frederick.
Louisa: Louisa.
Kurt: Kurt.
Bargitta: Bargitta.
Marta: Marta.
(The youngest girl steps forward.)
C: And Gretl. Now, let’s see how well you listened.
M: Oh, I won’t need to whistle for them,, Reverend Contain. I mean, I’ll use their names. And such lovely names.
C: Fraulein, this is a large house. The grounds are very extensive. I will not have anyone shouting. You will take this, please. Learn to use it. The children will help you, Now, when I want you, this is what you will hear.
M: No, sir. I’m sorry, sir. I could never answer to a whistle. Whistles are for dogs and cats and other animals but not for children and definitely not for me. It would be too humiliating.
C: Fraulein, were you this much trouble at the abbey?
M: Oh, much more, sir.
C: Hmm.
M: Excuse me, sir, I don’t know your signal.
C: You may call me Captain. (Captain leaves.)
M: At ease. Well now that there are just us. Would you please tell me what are your names again and hoe old you are?
Liesl: I’m Liesl. I’m sixteen years old and I don’t need a governess.
M: Well, I’m glad you told me, Liesl. We’ll just be good friends.
Frederick: I’m Frederick. I’m fourteen. I’m impossible.
M: Really? Who told you that, Frederick?
Frederick: Fraulein Josephijne.
Four governesses ago.
Louisa: I’m Bargitta.
M: You didn’t tell me how old you are, Louisa.
Bargitta: I’m Bargitta, she’s Louisa. She’s thirteen year old and you’re smart. I’m ten and I think your dress is the ugliest one I ever saw.
Kurt: Bargitta, you shouldn’t say that.
Bargitta: Why not? Don’t you think it’s ugly?
Kurt: Of course, but Fraulein Helder’s was ugliest. I’m Kurt. I’m eleven. I’m incorrigible.
M: Congratulations!
Kurt: What’s incorrigible?
M: I think it means you won’t be treated like a boy.
Marta: I’m Marta and I’m going to be seven on Tuesday. And I’d like a pink parasol.
M: Well, pink is my favorite color, too. Yes, you’re Gretl, and you’re five years old? My, you’re practically a lady! Now I have to tell you a secret. I’ve never been a governess before.
Louisa: You mean you don’t know anything about being a governess?
M: Nothing. I’ll need lots of advice.
Louisa: Well, the best way to start is to be sure to tell father to mind his own business.
Freserick: You must never come to dinner on time.
Bargitta: Never eat your soup quietly.
Kurt: And during dessert always blow your nose.
Gretl: Don’t believe a word they say, Fraulein Maria.
M: Why not?
Gretl: Because I like you.
Frau Schmidt: All right now, children! Outside for your walk. Father’s orders. Now, hurry up! Quick. Fraulein Maria, I’m Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper.
M: How do you do!
Frau Schmidt: How do you do! I’ll show you to your room. Follow me.
(Oh the way to her room. Maria feels something strange in her pocket. It is a toad. She cries out and throws it away. The children watch this and leave in laughter. Latet the dinner is served, Maria is late.)
M: Good evening. Good evening children.
Children: Good evening, Fraulein Maria.
(Without noticing a pinecone on her chair, Maria sits on it, jumps up with pain and immediately.)
M: Ha Ha.
C: Enchanting little tune. Something you learned at the abbey?
M: No, erm… it’s eh…rheumatism. (Sits down again) Excuse me, Captain, haven’t we forgotten to thank the Lord? For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful? Amen.
C: Amen.
M: I’d like to thank each and every one of you for the precious gift you left in my pocket earlier today.
C: Erm… what gift?
M: It’s meant to be a secret Captain, between the children and me.
C: Aha. Then I suggest that you keep it and let us eat.
M: Knowing how nervous I must have been. A stranger in the new household. Knowing how important it was to feel accepted. It was so kind and thoughtful of you to make my first moments here so warm and happy and pleasant.
(Marta crying.)
C: What is the matter, Marta?
Marta: Nothing.
(The children burst into tears one by one)
C: Fraulein, is it to be at every meal or merely at dinnertime that you intend to lead us all to this rare and wonderful new world of indigestion?
M: They’re all right, Captain. They’re just happy.
Chapter 3
Rolfe and Liesl
(Outside the house, Rolfe knocks at the door.)
Franz: Ah, Rolfe. Good evening.
Rolfe: Good evening, Franz. I trust everything is under control?
Franz: Yes,yes.
Rolfe: Good.
Franz: Are there any developments?
Rolfe: Perhaps. Is the captain at home?
Franz: He’s at dinner.
Rolfe: With the family?
Franz: Yes.
Rolfe: Please give him this telegram at once.
Franz: Certainly.
(Inside, Franz gives the telegram to the captain. He reads it.)
Liesl: Franz, who delivered it?
Franz: That young lad Rolfe, of course.
Liesl: Father, may I be excused?
C: Hmm. Children, in the morning I shall be going to Vienna.
Children: Not again, father!
Gretl: How long will you be gone this time, papa?
C: I’m not sure Gretl. I’m not sure.
Louisa: To visit the Baroness Schneider again?
Frederick: Mind your own business.
C: As a matter of fact, yes, Louisa.
Marta: Why can’t we ever get to see the Baroness?
Louisa: Why would she want to see you?
C: It just so happens that you are going to see the Baroness.
I’m bringing her back with me to visit us all.
Children: Good!
C: And uncle Max.
Children: Uncle Max!!
( Liesl goes out to the yard)
Liesl: Rolfe! Oh, Rolfe!
Rolfe: No, Liesl. We mustn’t.
Liesl: Why not, silly?
Rolfe: I don’t know. It’s just…
Liesl: Isn’t this why you’re here waiting for me?
Rolfe: Yes, of course. I’ve missed you, Liesl.
Liesl: You have? How much?
Rolfe: So much that I even thought of sending you a telegram, just so that I’d be able to deliver it here.
Liesl: Oh, that’s a lovely thought. Why don’t you? Right now.
Rolfe: But I’m here.
Liesl: Please Rolfe. Send me a telegram. I’ll start it for you. Dear Liesl.
Rolfe: Dear Liesl, I’d like to be able to tell you how I feel about you. Stop. Unfortunately this wire is already too expensive. Sincerely, Rolfe.
Liesl: Sincerely?
Rolfe: Cordially.
Liesl: Cordially?
Rolfe: Affectionately.
Liesl: Hmmm….
Rolfe: Will there be any reply?
Liesl: Dear Rolfe, Stop. Don’t stop. Your Liesl.. If only we didn’t always have to wait for someone to send father a telegram. How do I know when I’ll see you again?
Rolfe: Well, let’s see. I could come here be mistake. With a telegram for Colonel Schneider. He’s here form Berlin staying with the…. No one is supposed to know he’s here. Don’t tell your father, now.
Liesl: Why not?
Rolfe: Well, your father is so…so Austrian.
Rolfe: We’re all Austrian.
Rolfe: Well, some people think we ought to be German. And they’re very mad at those who don’t think so. They’re getting ready to… Well, let’s hope your father doesn’t get into any trouble.
Liesl: Don’t worry about father. He’s a big naval hero. He was even decorated by the Emperor.
Rolfe: I know. I don’t worry about him. But I do worry about his daughter.
Liesl: Me? Why?
Rolfe: Well, you’re so…
Liesl: What?
Rolfe: Well, you’re such a baby!
Liesl: I’m sixteen, what’s such a baby about that?
Rolfe: (singing): You wait, little girl, on an empty stage, for fate to turn the light on. Your life, little girl, is an empty page,
that men will want to write on.
Liesl (singing): To write on.
Rolfe (singing): You are sixteen, going on seventeen.
Baby, it’s time to think,
Better beware, be canny and careful.
Baby, you’re on the brink.
You are sixteen, going on seventeen.
Fellows will fall in line.
Eager young lads and Ruez and Kuz will offer you food and wine.
Totally unprepared are you, to face a world of men.
Timid and shy and scared
Are you,
things beyond your kin.
You need someone older and wiser,
Telling you what to do.
I am seventeen, going on eighteen.
I’ll take care of you!
(It begins to rain; Liesl and Rolfe run into a pavilion for shelter.)
Liesl (singing): I am sixteen, going on seventeen.
I know that I’m naive.
Fellows I meet may tell me I’m sweet,
And willingly I believe,
I am sixteen, going on seventeen.
Innocent as a rose.
Bachelor of dandy’s, drinkers of brandy’s.
What do I know of those?
Totally unprepared am I,
To face a world of men.
Timid and shy and scared am I,
Of things beyond my kin.
I need someone older and wiswr,
Telling me what to do.
You are seventeen, going on eighteen.
I’ll depend on you.
Chapter 4
The Night of the Thunderstorm
(Inside)
M: Come in. Frau Schmidt.
Frau Schmidt (showing the material): For your new dresses, Fraulein Maria. The Captain had these sent out from town.
M: Oh, how lovely. I’m sure these will make the prettiest clothes I’ve ever had. Tell me, do you think the Captain would get me some more material if I asked him?
Frau Schmidt: How many dresses does a governess need?
M: Not for me, for the children. I want to make them some playclothes.
Frau Schmidt: The Von Trapp children don’t play, they march.
M: Surely you don’t approve of that?
Frau Schmidt: Ever since the Captain lost his poor wife he runs this house as if he were on some of his ships again. Whistles, orders. No more music, no more laughing. Nothing that reminds him of her. Even the children.
M: It’s so wrong.
Frau Schmidt: Ah, well. How do you like your room? There’ll be new drapes at the windows.
M: New drapes? But these are fine.
Frau Schmidt: Nevertheless new ones have been ordered.
M: Oh but I really don’t need them.
Frau Schmidt: Good night, now.
M: Frau Schmidt, do you think if I asked the Captain tomorrow about the material…
Frau Schmidt: He’s leaving for Vienna in the morning.
M: Oh, yes, of course. Well, how long will he be gone?
Frau Schmidt: It all depends. The last time he visited the Baroness he stayed for a month. I shouldn’t be saying this, not to you; I mean I don’t know you that well. But if you ask me, the Captain is thinking very seriously of marrying the woman before the summer is over.
M: that’d be wonderful. The children will have a mother again.
Frau Schmidt: Yes. Well, good night.
M: Good night.
(Maria is praying.)
M: Dear Father, now I know why you sent me here. To help these children prepare themselves for a new mother. And I pray that this family will become a happy family in my sight. God bless the Captain. God bless Liesl and Frederick. God bless Louisa, Bargitta, Marta and little Gretl. And… Oh I forgot the other boy, what’s his name? Well, God bless what’s his name? God bless the Reverend Mother and sister Margarita and everybody at Mamburg Abbey. Now, dear God. About Liesl. Help her to know that I’m her friend. And help to tell me what she’s been up to.
(Liesl climbs in from the window)
Liesl: Are you going to tell on me?
M: Shhh…Help me to be understanding so that I may guide her footsteps. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen,
Liesl: I was out taking a walk and somebody locked the doors earlier than usual and I didn’t want to wake everybody up so when I saw your window open… You’re not going to tell father, are you?
M: Hmm... How in the world did you climb up here?
Liesl: How we always got up to this room to play tricks on the governess. Louisa can make it with a whole jar of spiders in her hand!
M: Spiders?! Oh, Liesl, were you out walking all by yourself? You know, if we would wash out that dress tonight nobody would notice it tomorrow. You could put this on. Take your dress in there; put it to soak in the bathtub. And come back here and sit on the bed. We’ll have a talk.
Liesl: I told you today I didn’t need a governess. Well, maybe I do.
(Outside are thunders and lightenings. Gretl runs in.)
M: Gretl, are you scared? You’re not frightened by the storm, are you? You just stay right here with me. Where are the others?
Gretl: They’re asleep. They’re not scared.
(Other girls also appear at the door)
M: Oh, no? Look. All right, everybody, up here on the bed.
Children: Really?
M: Well, just this once, comes on! Now all we have to do is waiting for the boys.
Liesl: You won’t see them, boys and brave.
(Frederick and Kurt turn up too.)
M: You boys weren’t scared too, were you?
Frederick: Oh no. We just wanted to be sure that you weren’t.
M: That was very thoughtful of you, Frederick.
Frederick: It wasn’t my idea. It was Kurt’s.
M: Kurt. That’s the one I left out. God bless Kurt.
Gretl: Why does it do that?
M: Well, the lightning says something to the thunder and the thunder answers back.
Gretl: The lightning must be nasty.
M: Not really.
Gretl: Why does the thunder get so angry? It makes me want to cry.
M: Well, when anything bothers me and I’m feeling unhappy, I just try and think of nice things.
Children: What kind of things?
M: Uh, well, let me see. Nice things. Daffodils. Green meadows. Skies full of stars. Raindrops on roses. And whiskers on kittens.
(singing) Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings,
these are a few of my favorite things.
Gream colored ponys and crisp apfel strudels,
Doorbells and sleigh bells schnitzel with noodles,
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes.
Silver white winters that melt into springs,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I’m feeling sad.
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don’t feel so bad.
Louisa: Does it really work?
M: Of course it does! You try it. What things do you like?
Marta: ……Pussy Wallop!
Gretl: Christmas!
Kurt: Bunnyrabbits!
Frederick:No school!
Louisa: Pillowfight!
Liesl: Telegram!
Bargitta: Birthday present!
Kurt: Any present!
Marta: Achool!
M: Gesundheit! See what fun it is!
(Singing) *Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings.
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the dog bites….
(While Maria and the children are enjoying themselves, the Captain comes in.)
M: Well…hello.
C: Fraulein, did I not tell you that bedtime is to be strictly observed in this house?
M: Well, the children were upset by the storms so I thought that if I… You did sir.
C: Do you or do you not have difficulty remembering such simple instructions?
M: Only during thunderstorms sir.
C: Liesl?
Liesl: Yes, father?
C: I don’t recall seeing you anywhere after dinner.
Liesl: Oh really? Well, as a matter of fact…
C: Yes?
Liesl: Well, I was…
M: What she would like to say Captain is that er.. she and I had been better acquainted tonight. But it’s much too late now to go into all that. Come along children, you heard your father, go back to bed immediately.
C: Fraulein, you have managed to remember that I am leaving in the morning. Is it also possible that you remember that the first rule in the house is discipline? Now, I trust that before I return you will have acquired some.
M: Captain.. er… I wonder if before you go I could talk to you about some clothes for the children.
C: Fraulein Maria…
M: But if I could just have some material…
C: There are obviously many things not the least of which is repetitious.
M: But the children!
C: Yes, and I’m their father. Goodnight.
Chapter 5
The Sound of Music
(Maria makes the children’s play clothes out of the drapes and takes the children out to enjoy the out-door activities.)
Louisa: Fraulein Maria, can we do this every day?
M: Don’t you think you’d soon get tired of it, Louisa?
Louisa: I suppose so. Every other day?
Kurt: I haven’t had so much fun since the day we put glue on Fraulein Josephine’s toothbrush.
M: I can’t understand how children as nice as you manage to play such awful tricks on people.
Bargitta: Oh, it’s easy.
M: But why do it?
Liesl: How else could we get father’s attention?
Bargitta: Yes.
M: Oh, I see. Well, we’ll have to think about that one. All right everybody, over here.
Liesl: What are we going to do?
M: Let’s think of something to sing for the Baroness when she comes.
Kurt: Father doesn’t like us to sing.
M: Well, perhaps we can change his mind. Now, what songs do you know?
Frederick: We don’t know any songs.
M: Not any?
Marta: We don’t even know how to sing.
Bargitta: No.
M: Well, let’s not lose any time. You must learn.
Liesl: But how?
M: (singing) Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.
When you read you begin with?
Gretl: ABC.
M: When you sing you begin with Do Re Mi.
Children: Do Re Mi.
M: Do Re Mi, the first three notes just happen to be; Do Re Mi.
Children: Do Re Mi.
M: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti. Let’s see if I can make it easier.
Doe, a deer, a female deer,
Ray, a drop of golden sun.
Me, a name I call myself,
Far, a long, long way to run.
Sew, a needle pulling thread.
La, a note to follow Sew.
Tea, a drink with jam and bread.
That will bring us back to Doe, oh, oh, oh. (repeat.)
Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do! So Do!
M: Now children, Do Re Mi Fa So, and so on are only the tools we use to build a song. Once You have these notes in your heads you can sing a million different tunes by mixing them up. Like this: So Do La Fa Mi Do Re. You do that?
Children: So Do La Fa Mi Do Re.
M: So Do La Ti Do Re Do.
Children: So Do La Ti Do Re Do.
M: Now, put it all together.
Children: So Do La Fa Mi Do Re, So Do La Ti Do Re Do.
M: Good!
Frederick: But it doesn’t mean anything.
M: So we put in words. One word for every note. Like this: (singing) When you know the notes to sing, You can sing almost anything.
Together!
Children(singing): When you know the notes to sing,
You can sing almost anything.
Doe, a deer, a female deer,
Rey, a drop of golden sun,
Me, a name I call myself,
Far, a long, long way to run,
Sew, a needle pulling thread,
La, a note to follow Sew…
Chapter 6
Captain Returning Home
(Captain returns with the Baroness and uncle Max. On their way home, Captain sees his children climbing the trees.)
Baroness: This really is exciting for me, George, being here with you.
C: Trees, lakes, mountains, when you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all.
Baroness: That is not what I mean and you know it.
C: Ah, you mean me. I’m exciting.
Baroness: Is that so impossible?
C:No,just..er..highly improbable.
Baroness: There you go, running yourself down again.
C: Well, I’m a dangerous driver.
Baroness: You know, you’re much less of a riddle when I see you here, George.
C: In my natural habitat?
Baroness: Yes, exactly.
C: Are you trying to say that I’m more at home here, among the birds and flowers and the wind that moves through the trees like a restless sea.
Baroness: How poetic!
C: Yes, it was rather, wasn’t it? More at home here than in Vienna. In all your glittering salons. Gossiping gaily with balls I detest, soaking myself in Champagne. Stumbling about the Waltzes by Strauss. I can’t even remember. Is that what you’re trying to say?
Baroness: More or less, yes.
C: Now, whatever gave you that idea?
Baroness: How I do like it here, George. So lovely and peaceful. How can you leave it as often as you do?
C: Oh, pretending to be madly active, I suppose. Activity suggests a life filled with purpose.
Baroness: Could it be running away form memories?
C: Or perhaps just searching for a reason to stay.
Baroness: Oh, I hope that’s why you’ve been coming to Vienna so often. Or were there other distractions there?
C: Oh, I’d hardly call you a mere distraction, darling.
Baroness: Well, what would you call me, George?
C: Lovely, charming, witty, graceful. The perfect hostess. And..er.. you’re going to hate me for this; in a way, my savior.
Baroness: Oh, how unromantic!
C: Well, I would be an ungrateful wretch if I didn’t tell you at least once that it was you who brought some meaning back into my life.
Baroness: Oh. I am amusing I suppose. And I do have the finest couturier in Vienna. And the most glittering circle of friends. I do give some rather gay parties.
C: Oh, yes.
Baroness: But take all that away and you have just wealthy unattached little me. Searching just like you.
(Maria and the children are rowing a boat along. Seeing the Captain, the children are too excited to balance the boat. All fall into water.)
M: Oh, Captain, you’re home!
C: Come out of that water at once!!
M: Oh, you must be Baroness Schneider.
C: Straight line! This is Baroness Schneider. And these are my children.
Baroness: How do you do.
C: All right, go inside, dry off, change your clothes, report back here. Immediately! Fraulein, you will stay here, please.
Baroness:I..er..think I’d better go see what Max in up to.
C: Now, Fraulein. I want a truthful answer from you.
M: Yes, Captain?
C: Is it possible, or could I have just imagined it. Have my children by any chance been climbing trees today?
M: Yes, captain.
C: I see. And where, may I ask, did they get these..er..these..er…
M: Playclothes.
C: Oh, is that what you call them?
M: I made them. From the drapes that used to hang in my bedroom.
C: Drapes?
M: They still have plenty of wear left. The children have been everywhere in them.
C: Do you mean to tell me that my children have been roaming about Salzburg dressed up in nothing but some old drapes?!
M: Hmm-mm, and having a marvelous time.
C: They have uniforms.
M: Straitjackets, if you’ll forgive me.
C: I will not forgive you for that!
M: Children cannot do all the things they’re supposed to if they have to worry about spoiling their precious clothes.
C: I haven’t heard a complaint yet!
M: Well, they wouldn’t dare!
They love you too much. They fear you too much.
C: I don’t wish you to discuss my children in this manner.
M: Oh, you’re got to hear from someone! You’re never home long enough to know them.
C: I said I don’t want to hear any more from you about my children.
M: I know you don’t, but you’ve got to! Now, Take Liesl.
C: You will not say one word about Liesl, Fraulein.
M: She’s not a child anymore. One of these days you’re going to wake up and find she’s a woman. You won’t even know her. And Frederick. He’s a boy but he wants to be a man, like you, and there’s no one to show him how!
C: Don’t you dare tell me about my son!
M: Bargitta could tell you, if you’d let her get close to you. She notices everything.
C: Fraulein…
M: And Kurt pretends he’s tough not to show how hurt he is when you brush him aside..
C: That will do.
M: The way you do all of them. Louisa I don’t know about…
C: I said that will do!
M: but someone has to find out about her, and the little ones just want to be loved! Oh, please Captain. Love them. Love them all!
C: I don’t care to hear anything further from you about my children!
M: I am not finished yet, Captain!
C: Oh, yes you are, Captain. Fraulein. Now, you will pack your things this minute and return to the abbey. (Hearing somebody singing.) What’s that?
M: It’s singing.
C: Yes, I realize it’s singing, but who is singing?
M: The children.
C: The children?
M: I taught them something to sing for the Baroness.
(The Captain hurries into the house to see children singing to the Baroness. He smiles and joins them; Maria passes the door when the Captain stops her.)
C: Fraulein. I behaved badly. I apologize.
M: No, I’m far too outspoken. It’s one of my worst faults.
C: You were right. I don’t know my children.
M: There’s still time, captain. They want so much to be close to you.
C: You’ve brought music back into the house. I’d forgotten. Fraulein, I want you to stay. I ask you to stay.
M: If I could be of any help.
C: You have already. More than you know.
(Maria stays happily with the family. She is leading the children in performing an excellent puppet show.)
M: Curtain!
M plus Children (singing): High on a hill was a lonely goatherd.
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd,
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard,
Lusty and clear from the goat-herd’s throat heard,
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard,
Men on the road with a load to tote heard,
Men in the midst of a table d’hote heard,
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard,
*One little girl in a pale pink coat heard,
She yodeled back to the lonely goat herd,
Soon her mama with a gleaming gloat heard,
What a duet for a girl and goat-herd. (Repeat)
Happy are they,
Soon the duet will become a trio.
(The Captain highly praises the puppet show and thanks Maria)
Max: Attention, attention, everyone. I have an announcement to make. Surprise, surprise. Today, after a long and desperate search I have finally found a most exciting entry for the Salzburg Festival.
C: Congratulations, Max. Who will you be exploiting this time. Haha!
Baroness: The St. Ignatius Choir?
Max: Guess again.
C: …er… Let me see now. The Glockmann Choir?
Max: No, no, no, no.
Children: Tell us.
Max: A singing group all in one family. You’ll never guess George.
C: A charming idea! Whose family?
Max: Yours. They’ll be the talk of the festival. What’s so funny?
C: You are Max. Expensive, but very funny.
Max: But you heard there will be a sensation.
C: No, Max.
Max: It’s a wonderful idea. Fresh, original…
C: Max! My children do not sing in public. Well, I can’t blame you for trying.
M: Children, who shall we hear from next?
(Children gather around Maria. Maria comes up, presents the guitar to the Captain.)
M: Yes. The vote is unanimous! You, Captain.
C: Me? I don’t understand.
M: Please.
C: Ahaa…No, no, no, no, no.
M: I’m told that a long time ago you were quite good.
C: Well, that was a very, very, very long time ago.
Liousa: I remember, father.
Marta: Play us something we know, please.
C: Well.
Baroness: Why didn’t you tell me?
Max: What?
Baroness: To bring along my harmonica.
C (singing):
Edelweiss, edelweiss,
Every morning you greet me.
Small and white,
Clean and bright……
Max: Any time you say the word, George, you can be part of my new act. The Von Trapp family singers.
Baroness: I have a wonderful idea, George. Let’s really fill this house with music. You must give a grand and glorious party for me when I’m here.
C: A party?
Baroness: Yes. Yes, I think it’s high time I met all your friends here in Salzburg and they met me, don’t you agree?
C: I see what you mean.
M: It’s time to go to bed. Now, say good-night.
Children: Good night, father.
C: Good night.
Gretl: It’d be my first time, father!
(A grand party is held by the Von Trapps. The children are watching the adults dancing at a side door.)
Frederick: The women look so beautiful.
Kurt: I think they look lovely.
Louisa: You just say that because you’re scared of them.
Kurt: Silly, only grown up men are scared of women.
Gretl: I think the men look beautiful.
Louisa: How would you know?
(Liesl is dancing alone)
Bargitta: Liesl, who are you dancing with?
Liesl: Nobody.
Bargitta: Oh, yes you are.
Frederick: May I have this dance?
Liesl: I’d be delighted, young man.
(Maria coming up)
M: Why didn’t you children tell me you could dance?
Kurt: We were afraid you were going to make us all dance together. The Von Trapp family dancers!
Gretl: What’s that they’re playing?
M: It’s the Lendler, it’s an Austrian folk dance.
Kurt: Show me.
M: Oh, Kurt, I haven’t danced that since I was a little girl.
Kurt: Oh, you remember. Please?
M: Well….
Kurt: Please?
M: All right. Come on over here. Now you bow, and I curtsy.
Kurt: Like this?
M: Fine! Now we go for a little walk. This way. One, two, three, one, tow three, one tow three, step together. Now step hop, step hop. Nod to another. Not quite! This way, hop step, hop, and under. Kurt, we’ll have to practice.
(Captain comes out, watching)
C (to Kurt): Erm…Do allow me, will you?
M: Hmm-mm.
Chapter 7
Maria Leaving the Von Trapps
(Maria dances with Captain. They stares at each other closely. The baroness happens to come out and sees all this. Later, Maria get the children perform before the guests. It wins applause. Maria is asked to stay and she goes upstairs to change dress. Baroness offers to help Maria and follows her into the bedroom.)
M: It’s very kind of you to offer to help me, Baroness.
Baroness: I am delighted to do.
M: I really don’t think I do have anything that would be appropriate.
Baroness: Now, where is that lovely little thing you were wearing the other evening? When the captain couldn’t keep his eyes off you?
M: Couldn’t keep his eyes off me?
Baroness: Come, my dear. We are women. Let’s not pretend we don’t know when a man notices us. Here we are.
M: The captain notices everyone and everything.
Baroness: There’s no need to feel so defensive, Maria. You are quite attractive, you know. The captain would hardly be a man if he didn’t notice you.
M: Baroness, I hope you’re joking.
Baroness: Not at all.
M: But I’ve never done a thing to…
Baroness: You don’t have to, my dear. There is nothing more irresistible to a man than a woman who is in love with him.
M: In love with him?
Baroness: Of course. What makes it so nice is, he thinks he’s in love with you.
M: But that’s not true!
Baroness: Surely you’ve noticed the way he looks into your eyes. And you know..er..you blushed in his arms when you were dancing just now. Don’t take it too hard. He’ll get over it soon enough, I should think. Men, do you know?
M: Then I should go… I mustn’t stay here.
Baroness: If there’s something I can do you help…
M: No, nothing. Yes, please don’t say a word about this to the captain.
Baroness: No, No. I wouldn’t dream of it. Good-bye, Maria. I’m sure you’ll make a very fine nun.
(Maria leaves a note and starts to the Abbey immediately. After Maria has left, the children become very unhappy. No more music, no more laughter fill the house.
Baroness tries to please the children by playing ball with them. The monotony and her insincerity fails the children. They stop the game.)
Bargitta: Uncle Max, where’s father?
Max: I think he’s in the house. What’s the matter with all you gloomy pussies?
Bargitta: Nothing…
Max: I know what we’ll do; let’s have a rehearsal.
Bargitta: What for?
Max: Let’s make believe that we’re standing on the stage at the festival.
Bargitta: I don’t feel like singing, not without Fraulein Maria.
Max: Liesl, get the guitar. Come on. Marta. Everybody in the group. You know your places in the group. Get in your place, that’s right. Now be cheerful. Right. Give us the key, Liesl. Now, impress me. Frederick, Gretl, why don’t you sing?
Gretl: I can’t. I’ve got a sore finger.
Max: But you sang so beautifully the night of the party. Come on, all of you. Sing something, try something you know. Enjoy it. Be cheerful. All right, Liesl.
(singing): The hills are alive, with the sound of music.
With songs they have sung, for a thousand years.
The hills fill my heart,
With the sound of music…
(Captain comes out and hears their unhappy sing, frowning.)
Max: They just wanted to sing to me, blessed old heart.
C: It’s lovely, lovely. Don’t stop.
Baroness: Something long and cool, George?
C: No, thank you darling.
Bargitta: Father?
C: Yes, Bargitta?
Bargitta: Is it true Fraulein Maria isn’t coming back?
C: Fraulein Maria? Yes, I suppose it’s true, yes. (to Baroness) What have we got here?
B: Pink lemonade.
Max: Least with the lemonade. Bargitta: I don’t believe it, father.
C: Hmm? Don’t believe what, darling?
Bargitta: About Fraulein Maria.
C: Oh, Fraulein Maria? Didn’t I tell you what her note said? Oh, I was sure I did. She said she missed her life at the abbey too much. She had to leave us. And that’s all there is to it. I think I’m brave enough to try some of that.
Bargitta: She didn’t even say Good-bye.
C: She did in her note.
Bargitta: That isn’t the same thing.
Baroness: Not too sweet, not too sour.
Max: Just too pink.
Gretl: Father?
C: Hmm?
Gretl: Who is our new governess going to be?
C: Well… You’re not going to have a governess, any more.
Children: We’re not?
C: No. You’re going to have a new mother.
Liesl: A new mother?
C: We talked about it last night. It’s all settled. And we’re all going to be very happy.
(The children come to the Abbey to see Maria. Sister Margarita answers their bell.)
Margarita: Yes, my children?
Liesl: My name is Liesl.
Margarita: Yes, Liesl?
Liesl: We—my brothers and sisters—we want to see Fraulein Maria!
Margarita: Fraulein Maria? Oh, Maria! Come in please. Wait here. (She went, and later…)
Margarita: I’m Sister Margarita. I understand you’ve been inquiring about Maria.
Liesl: We have to see her. Will you tell her we’re here. please?
Margarita: I’m afraid I can’t do that.
Liesl: Oh, but you’ve got to, we have to see her.
Bargitta: She’s our governess!
Liesl: We want her back!
Bargitta: She didn’t even say Good-bye!
Freserick: It’s very important.
Liesl: All we want to do is talk to her.
Margarita: I’m very sorry, children. But Maria is in seclusion. She hasn’t been seeing anyone.
Kurt: She’ll see us, I know she will.
Gretl: I want to show her my finger.
Margarita: Oh, some other time, dear. I’ll tell her that you were here. It was good of you to call.
Liesl: We have to see her!
Margarita: Go along, children. Going along. Go along home!
Liesl: Sister Margarita, please!
Margarita: Good-bye, children.
(The children unwillingly go away. Reverend Mother happens to see it.)
Reverend Mother: What was that about, Sister Margarita?
Margarita: The Von Trapp children, Reverend Mother. They want to see Maria.
Reverend Mother: Has she spoken yet? Has she told you anything?
Margarita: She doesn’t say a word, Reverend Mother. Except in prayer.
Reverend Mother: Poor child.
Margarita: It’s strange. She seems happy to be back here, and yet, and yet she’s unhappy, too.
Reverend Mother: Perhaps I have been wrong in leaving her alone so long. I think you’d better bring her to me, even if she’s not yet ready.
Margarita: Yes, Reverend Mother.
(Maria goes into Reverend Mother’s room.)
Reverend Mother: You’ve been unhappy. I’m sorry.
M: Reverend Mother.
Reverend Mother: Why did they send you back to us?
M: They didn’t send me back Mother, I left.
Reverend Mother: Sit down, Maria. Tell me what happened.
M: Well, I… I was frightened.
Reverend Mother: Frightened? Were they unkind to you?
M: Oh, no! No, I was confused. I felt… I’ve never felt that way before. I couldn’t stay. I knew that here I’d be away from it. I’d be safe.
Reverend Mother: Maria, our abbey is not to be used as an escape. What is it you can’t face?
M: I can’t face him again.
Reverend Mother: Him? Thank you, Sister Margarita. (Sister Margarita goes out) Captain Von Trapp? Are you in love with him?
M: I don’t know. I don’t know..I… The baroness and I… She said he was in love with me, but I didn’t want to believe it. Oh, there were times when we would look at each other… Oh Mother, I could hardly breathe.
Reverend Mother: Did you let him see how you felt?
M: If I did, I didn’t know it. That’s what’s been torturing me; I was there on God’s errand. To have asked for his love would have been wrong. Oh, I couldn’t stay. I just couldn’t. I am ready this moment to take my vows. Please help me.
Reverend Mother: Maria. The love of the man and the woman is holy too. You have a great capacity to love. What you must find out is how God wants you to spend your love.
M: But I pledged my life to God, I…I pledged my life to his service.
Reverend Mother: My daughter, if you love this man it doesn’t mean you love God less. No, you must find out. You must go back.
M: Oh Mother, you can’t ask me to do that! Please let me stay, I beg you.
Reverend Mother: Maria, these walls were not built to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live.
Chapter 8
Captain Courting Maria
(At the Von Trapps. The children return from the abbey but are late for dinner. Captain is asking them where they’ve gone.)
C: Now, it’s not like my children to be secretive.
Louisa: We’re not being secretive, father.
C: Hmm-mm. And it’s not like my children to be late for dinner.
Frederick: We lost track of the time.
C: Ah. I see.
Children: Yes.
C: All right. Now who’s going to be the first one to tell me the truth? Frederick? Bargitta? Liesl?
Louisa: Where do you think we were, father?
C: Hmm? Well……
Louisa: Well, if you don’t believe us, you must have some idea where you think we were.
(Captain says nothing. Marta can’t help laughing.)
C: Aha, Marta!
Marta: Yes, father?
C: You tell me.
Marta: Frederik told you father. We were berry-picking.
C: I forgot. You were berry-picking.
Children: Yes.
C: All afternoon?
Louisa: We picked thousands of them.
C: Thousands of them. Really?
Children: Yes, yes! They’re all over the place.
C: What kind of berries?
Frederick: Er…blueberries, sir.
C: Blueberries! Hmmm! It’s too early for Blueberries.
Freserick: They were strawberries!
C: Strawberries!
Freserick: It’s been so cold lately they turned blue.
C: Ahh….very well. Show me the berries.
Children: Erm…we…well….
C: Show me the berries you picked. Come on.
Kurt: We don’t have them anymore.
C: You don’t have them anymore. Well, what happened to them?
Louisa: We…we…we ate them!
C: You ate them?!
Children: Yes, yes!
C: All of them?
Liesl: Yes, they were so good.
C: Very well. Since you’ve obviously stuffed yourself full of thousands of delicious berries you can’t be hungry anymore so I’ll…er…just simply tell Frau Schmidt to…er… skip your dinner.
(Captain goes into the room, laughing. The Children are a little blue.)
Kurt (to Frederick): It’s all your fault! We should have told him the truth!
Frederick: And made him boiling mad at us?
Kurt: It’s better than starving to death.
Bargitta: We didn’t do anything wrong. We just wanted to see her.
Kurt: My stomach’s making noises.
Marta: The least they could have done was to let us say hello.
Kurt (looking at grass): I wonder what grass tastes like.
Gretl: I feel awful.
Bargitta: When Fraulein Maria wanted to feel better, she used to sing that song, remember?
Children: Yes!
Liesl: Let’s try it.
(singing)Raindrops on roses. And whiskers on kittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Gretl: Why don’t feel better?
(Singing) Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my noes and eyelashes.
Silver white winters that melt into springs.
These are a few of my favorite things.
(Another voice joins in. The children are surprised to see Maria and they all jump up to greet her.)
Children: You’re back! You’re back!
(Singing) When the dig bites, when the bee stings,
when I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things.
And then I don’t feel so bad.
M: Oh, children, I’m so glad to see you!
Louisa: We missed you.
M: I missed you! (to Kurt) Kurt, how are you?
Kurt: Hungry.
M (stooping to Gretl): Gretl, what happened to your finger?
Gretl: It got caught.
M: Caught in what?
Gretl: Frederick’s tea! (all laughing)
M: LiesL, are you all right?
Liesl: Just fair.
M: Many telegrams’re been delivered here lately?
Liesl: None at all, Fraulein. But I’m learning to accept it. I’ll be glad when school begins.
M: Oh, Liesl. You can’t use school to escape your problems, you have to face them! Oh, I have so much to tell you all.
Louisa: We have things to tell you too.
M: I’m sure you do.
Bargitta: The most important thing is that father is going to be married.
M: Married?
Louisa: Yes, to Baroness Schneider.
M: Oh, I see.
(Captain comes out of the house)
Children: Oh, father, look! Fraulein Maria! Fraulein Maria has come back from the abbey!
M: Good evening, Captain.
C: Good evening. All right! Everyone inside, go and get your dinner!
Children: Dinner!
(The children run to the house, leaving Captain and Maria facing each other. Captain walks down to Maria.)
C: You left without saying good-bye. Even to the children.
M: But it was wrong of me. Forgive me.
C: Why did you?
M: Please don’t ask me. Anyway, the reason no longer exists.
Baroness: Fraulein Maria! You’ve returned. (to Captain) Isn’t it wonderful, George?
M: May I wish you every happiness, Baroness. And you too, Captain. The children tell me you are to be married.
Baroness: Thank you, my dear.
(Maria passes by.)
C: You are back to …stay?
M: Only until arrangements can be made for another governess.
(In the evening, Maria wanders alone in front of the house. Captain sees Maria from the terrace, lost in thought. Baroness comes out.)
Baroness: There you are.
(They two stand on the terrace. She sees Maria.)
Baroness: I really must speak the cook about Wiener Schnitzel. It is entirely too delicious for my figure. And it makes you much to quit at the dinner table. Was it the wine?
C: Undoubtedly the wine.
Baroness: You have no idea what kind of trouble I’m having trying to decide what to give you for a wedding present. Oh, I know, I’m enough. But I do want you to have some little trifle for the occasion. At first I thought of a fountain pen, but you’ve already got one, And then I thought, perhaps a villa in the south of France. But they are so difficult to gift wrap. Oh, George, how do you feel about yachts? A long sleek one for the Mediterranean or a tiny one for your bathtub?
C: Elsa…
Baroness: And where to go on our honeymoon. Now that is a real problem. I thought a trip around the world would be lovely. Realize that I don’t know that there must be some place better to go. And don’t worry darling…
C: Elsa..
Baroness: Yes, George.
C: It’s no use. You and I. I’m being dishonest, to both of us. And utterly unfair to you. When tow people talk of marriage…
Baroness: No, don’t …don’t say another word, George. Please. You see..er..there are other things that I have been thinking of. Fond as I am of you, I really don’t think you are the right man for me. You’re much too independent. And I…I need someone who needs me desperately. Or at least needs my money desperately. I’ve enjoyed every moment we’ve had together. I do thank you for that. Now, if you’ll forgive me. I’ll go inside, pack my little bags and return to Vienna where I belong. And somewhere out there is a young lady, who I think will never be a nun.
(In the yard, Maria is sitting on a bench. Captain walks to her.)
C: Hello. I thought I just might find you here.
M: Is there something you wanted? (standing up)
C: No, no, no, sit down please. Please. Er…may I? (sitting down) You know I was thinking, I was wondering tow things. Why did you run away to the abbey, and come back.
M: Well, I had an obligation to fulfill and I came back to fulfill it.
C: Is that all?
M: And I missed the children.
C: Yes. Only the children?
M: No. Yes! Isn’t it right I should have missed them?
C: Yes, yes of course. I was only hoping that perhaps you… perhaps you might… er…
M: Yes?
C: Well…er…nothing was the same when you were away. And it’ll be all wrong again after you leave. And I just thought that perhaps you might..er..change your mind?
M: I’m sure the baroness will be able to make things fine for you.
C: Maria, there isn’t going to be any baroness.
M: There isn’t?
C: No.
M: I don’t understand.
C: Well, we’ve..er..called off our engagement, you see and..er..
M: Oh, I’m sorry.
C: Yes…You are?
M: You did?
C: Yes. You can’t marry someone when you’re in love with someone else, can you? I love you.
M: Oh, can this be happening to me?
(singing): Perhaps I had a wicked childhood.
Perhaps I had a miserable youth.
But somewhere in my wicked miserable past,
There must have been a moment of truth.
For here you are, standing there, loving me,
Whether or not you should. So somewhere in my youth or childhood,
I must have done something good.
Nothing comes from nothing.
Nothing ever could.
So somewhere in my youth or childhood,
I must have done something good.
C: Do you know when I first started loving you? That night at the dinner table when you sat on the ridiculous pinecone.
M: What? I knew the first time you blew that silly whistle.
C: Oh, my love.
(singing) For here you are, standing there, loving me,
whether or not you should.
M: So somewhere in my youth or childhood,
I must have done something good.
Chorus: Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could. So somewhere in my youth or childhood,
I must have done something good.
Chapter 9
The Confliction
(They get married. Afterwards they go to Europe on their honeymoon. At this time, Nazi Germany annexes Austria. The shadow of war is hovering over the country. Everywhere flutters the Nazi Flag and goes the military force. The children are rehearsing with uncle Max when Zeller comes to them.)
Zeller: Get right on! Heil Hitler!
Max: Good afternoon, Herr Zeller.
Zeller: Perhaps you’ve not heard. I’m now the gauleiter, Heil Hitler!
Max: (hesitating) Heil Hitler!
Zeller: I have just come from the house of Captain Von Trapp. Incidentally the only one in the neighborhood not flying the flag of the Third Reich since the Anschluss. But we have dealt with that situation. The housekeeper told me that I would find you here. It was the only information the woman would give me.
Max: What king of information are you looking for?
Zeller: We want to know when the captain will be returning.
Max: Well, he’s on his honeymoon trip..er.. He’s not been in touch with us.
Zeller: Are you asking me to believe that the captain has not communicated with his children in over a month?
Max: Herr Zeller, how many men do you know who communicate with their children while on their honeymoon?
Zeller: When he does return he will be expected to fill his proper position in the New Order.
Max: Naturally, naturally. And may I congratulate you that is your people on deciding to allow the festival to go on tonight as planned.
Zeller: Why should it not go on? Nothing in Austria has changed. Singing and music will show this to the world. Austria is the same. Heil Hitler!
Max: Heil Hitler. Come on children, let’s ho home.
Gretl: Why was he so cross?
Max: Everybody is cross these days, darling.
Marta: Maybe the flag with the black spider on it makes people nervous.
Louisa: Is father going to be in trouble?
Max: He doesn’t have to be. The thing to do these days is to get along with everybody. I want you all to remember that tonight at the concert.
Bargitta: Are we really going to sing before a whole lot of people tonight?
Max: Of course. (Bringing out the program) Look, the Von Trapp family sings. They’ll hear your names: Liesl, Frederick, Louisa, Bargitta, Kurt, Marta and Gretl.
Gretl: Why am I always last?
Max: Because you are the most important.
Grelt: Oooh….
Max: There we go.
Bargitta: Uncle Max, are you sure father will approve of our singing in public?
Max: Oh, he’ll be pleased and proud.
Bargitta: Liesl, do you think so?
Max: Don’t you trust me?
Bargitta: No!
Max: You’re a very intelligent girl. (Rolfe comes to them.)
Rolfe: Liesl. Liesl!
Liesl: Rolfe! Rolfe, I’m so glad to see you! It’s been such…
Rolfe: Good afternoon. You will take this please, and deliver it to your father as soon as he comes home.
Liesl: He’s on his honeymoon.
Rolfe: I know that.
Liesl: You do?
Rolfe: We make it our business to know everything about everyone.
Liesl: Who’s “we”?
Rolfe: See that he gets it.
Liesl: What is it?
Rolfe: It’s a telegram from Berlin.
Liesl: Don’t you want to come over tonight and deliver it yourself?
Rolfe: I am now occupied with more important matters. And your father’d better be too, if he knows what’s good for him.
Liesl: But…Rolfe…
(Back at home, Captain and Maria return. Captain pulls down the Nazi flag hanging on the front house, tearing it apart. The children come in.)
C: Hello, hello, hello!
Kurt: Did you bring us any souvenirs from Paris?
Frederick (To Maria): Oh, why didn’t you telephone us?
(Captain with flag in hand, stares at Max and throws it into the car.)
Max: I had nothing to do with that, George.
C: We came back as fast as we could. Well, well, well, well. We missed you!
M: We missed kissing you goodnight.
C: We missed all the noise you make in the morning telling each other to be quiet! (all laugh)
Bargitta: Oh, you came back just in time. (Takes the program from Max) Look Fraulein Maria… I mean mother. We’re going to sing in the festival tonight.
M: What?
(Captain takes the program from Bargitta.)
Max: Surprise, surprise! All right. Surprises for you on the terrace.
C: We’ll talk about this inside.
Max: George, I would have told you, but you were away. I had to make a last minute decision. I was fortunate to enter them at all.
C: Max…
Max: They’ll be the talk of the festival. Imagine seven children in one family.
C: Max! Somehow I recall having made it quite clear to you how I feel about my family singing in public.
Max: But the committee heard and they were enchanted.
C: Oh, Max, what did they say?
Max: I have never heard such enthusiasm.
M: Oh darling , don’t you think just this once?
C: Absolutely out of the question.
Max: George, this is for Austria.
C: For Austria? There is no Austria!
Max: But the Anschluss happened peacefully! Let’s at least be grateful for that!
C: Grateful? You know Max, sometimes I don’t believe I know you.
Liesl: Father, I forgot. This is for you.
(Captain takes the telegram and leaves.)
Max: Maria, he has got to at least pretend he is working with these people. You must convince him.
M: Max, I can’t ask him to be less than he is…
Max: Then I’ll talk to him. If the children don’t sing at the festival…well…it’ll be a reflection on Austria. I know. It wouldn’t do me any good either. (going away)
Liesl: Mother? That sounds so nice. I like calling you mother.
M: I like hearing it.
Liesl: You love father very much. I can tell you do.
M: Very much.
Liesl: Mother, what do you do when you think you love someone? I mean when you start loving someone. Or… when he stops loving you?
M: Well, you cry a little. And then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does.
Liesl: There are so many things I think I should know. But I don’t. I really don’t.
M: How can you?
Liesl: Sometimes I feel the world is coming to an end.
M: And then you feel it’s just beginning.
Liesl: Yes!
M: It was that way with me, Liesl. And for you it will be just as wonderful, I promise.
Liesl: Do you really think so?
M (singing): When you’re sixteen,
Going on seventeen,
Waiting for life to start,
Somebody kind who touches your mind,
Will suddenly touch your heart.
L (singing): When that happens,
After is happens, nothing is quite the same.
Somehow I know I’ll jump up and go,
If ever he calls my name.
M (singing): Gone are your old ideas of life,
The old ideas grow dim.
Grow and behold you’re someone’s wife,
And you belong to him.
You may think this kind of adventure never may come to you,
Darling sixteen,
Going on seventeen,
Wait a year or two.
Liesl: (singing): I’ll wait a year or two.
C:Liesl!
(Captain stands at the door, indicating Liesl to go away.)
M: What is it?
C: Berlin. They’ve offered me a commission in their navy. I’ve been requested to accept immediately and report to their naval base in Bremer haven tomorrow.
M: I knew something like this would happen. I didn’t think it would be so soom.
C: To refuse them would be fatal to all of us. And joining them would be unthinkable. Get the children all together. Don’t say anything that’s going to make them worry. Just get them ready. We’ve got to get out of Austria, and this house, tonight.
Chapter 10
The Escape
(When darkness falls, Captain and Max pull the car out of the garage. Maria with the children follow them.)
Max: If not only strain my back, it breaks my heart when I think of a certain singing group that will not appear at the festival tonight.
C: By the time you make the announcement we will be over the border.
Max: I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I’m making.
C: You have no choice.
Max: I know. That’s why I’m making it.
Bargitta: Why doesn’t father turn the motor on?
M: Because he doesn’t want anyone to hear us.
C: Shhh!
Liesl: What will Frau Schmidt and Franz say when they discover that we’re gone?
M: They’ll be able to answer truthfully they didn’t know anything about it if anyone asks them.
Liesl: Will we be coming back here?
M: Some day, Liesl. I do hope, some day.
Gretl: Are father and uncle Max going to push the car all the way to Switzerland?
M: Shhh!
(They get out of the gate and are ready to get in the car when suddenly lights are turned on. Zeller with some guards are waiting for them.)
Zeller: Something wrong with your car, captain?
C: Yes, as a matter of fact we couldn’t get it started.
Zeller: Guard! Fix Captain Von Trapp’s car so it will start. (The guard goes to start the engine and gets back.) Excellent car. I’ve not asked you where you and your family are going. Nor have you asked me why I’m here.
C: Well, apparently we’re both suffering from a deploring lack of curiosity.
Zeller: You were sent a telegram which you did not answer. A telegram from Admiral Von Schreiber of the navy of the Third Reich.
C: I was under the impression, Herr Zeller, that the contents of telegrams in Austria are private. At least the Austria I know.
Zeller: I have my orders. And they are to take you personally to Bremerhaven tonight where you will accept your commission.
C: I’m afraid that’s going to be quite impossible. You see, we…er..all of us…the entire family will be singing in the festival tonight. As a matter of fact, that’s where we are going now. I couldn’t possibly let them down now.
M: I just hope we’re not too late.
C: Yes.
Zeller: And you ask me to believe this?! That you, Captain Von Trapp, are singing in a concert?
C: Believe me, it will be a performance beyond anything even I’ve dreamt of.
C: Like you Herr Zeller, I too, am a man of hidden talents. (Max comes up to Herr Zeller with the program in hand.) Yes..er..here, the program.
Zeller: It says here only the names of the children.
C: It says “The Von Trapp family singers”. And I am the head of the Von Trapp family, am I not?
Zeller: And these..erm..these travel clothes that you’re all wearing?
M: Our costumes, naturally. Herr Zeller, this night here is not good for the children’s voices.
Zeller: Well, a slight delay in my orders would not be serious. Therefore, you will sing. You will all sing. But only because that’s the way I want it to be. It would demonstrate that nothing in Austria has changed. And when you are finished singing, you, Captain Von Trapp, will be taken to will Bremer haven. Now, if you will escort the Von Trapp family singers to the festival.
C: No escort will be necessary, Herr Zeller.
Zeller: Necessary? A pleasure, Captain. After all, we would not want you to get lost in the crowd, would we?
C: No.
(At the concert.)
C: My fellow Austrians, I shall not be seeing you again perhaps for a very long time. I would like to sing for you now, a love song. I know you share this love. I pray that you will never let it die.
(singing) Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me, small and white,
clean and bright,
you look happy to meet me. Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow.
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss,
Bless my homeland forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss,
Small and white,
Clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow.
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss,
Bless my homeland forever.
Max: (to Captain) I think it’ll work. I shall miss all of you. I shall miss the money I could have made with you. (to audience) Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. The festival competition has come to its conclusion. Except of course we don’t know yet what that conclusion will be. And while the judges are arriving at their decision, I have been given permission to offer you an encore. This will be the last opportunity the Von Trapps will have of singing together for a long, long time. Even now, officials are waiting in this auditorium to escort Captain Von Trapp to his new command in the Naval Forces of the Third Reich. And so, ladies and gentlemen, the family Von Trapp again, to bid you farewell.
The Von Trapps: (singing) There’s a sad sort of clanging form the clock in the hall, and the bells in the steeple too.
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird,
Is popping out to say “ cuckoo”.
Regretfully they tell us,
But firmly they compel us,
To say good-bye to you.
So long, farewell,
Aufwiedersehen, goodnight,
We hate to go and miss this pretty sight.
So long, farewell,
Aufwiedersehen, audieu, audieu, audeiu,
to you and you and you.
So long, farewell,
Aufwiedersehen, good-bye,
We yet, we float,
We fleetly fleetly fly.
So long, farewell,
Aufwiedersehen, good-bye,
The sun has gone to bed and so must I.
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye, good-bye.
Max: Ladies and gentlemen, I have here the decision of our distinguished judges. We will start with the award for third prize. For this honor the judges have named the first soloist of the choir of F St. Ignatius Church in Murback, Fraulein Schweiger. Second prize to: the Toby Reiser Quintet. And the prize, the highest honor in all Austria to the Von Trapp family singers. The family Von Trapp.
A guard (runs in): They’re gone!
(Zeller leades his men to run after the Captain. The family just arrived at the abbey. Reverend Mother leads them to a hidden place-the abbey cemetery.)
M: Reverend Mother, we didn’t realize we put the abbey in this danger.
Reverend mother: No, Maria. It was right for you to come here.
C: We thought we might borrow your caretakers car.
Reverend Mother: I’m afraid our car would do you no good now. I’ve been listening to the wireless. The borders have just been closed.
C: All right. The borders are closed. Then we’ll drive up in to the hills and go over those mountains on foot.
C: We’ll help them. They’ll be all right.
Frederick: We can do it without help, father.
Reverend Mother: Maria, you will not be alone. Remember, I will lift up my eyes on to the hills from whence cometh my help.
M: Yes, mother.
Marta: I’m scared.
Bargitta: Me too.
Reverend Mother: God be with you.
Gretl: Mother?
M: Yes?
Gretl: Would it help if we sang about our favorite things?
M: No, darling. This is one time it would not help. You must be very quiet. Hold tight to me.
(The guards search the place where the family hide, fortunately they don’t find them. They leave except Rolfe, he waits till the family came out of their hidden place. Rolfe is about to blowing his whistle.)
Liesl: Rolfe, please.
C: No, wait. Maria, Children.
(Indicating them to go)
Rolfe: It’s you we want, not them.
(Rolfe’s gun aims at Captain)
C: Put that down.
Rolfe: Not another move! Or I’ll shoot!
C: You’re only a boy. You don’t really belong to them.
Rolfe: Stay where you are.
C: Come away with us. Before it’s too late.
Rolfe: Not another step. I’ll kill you.
C: You give that to me, Rolfe.
Rolfe: Do you hear me? I’ll kill you.
C: Rolfe! You will never be one of them.
(Captain seizes the gun and runs quickly down.)
Rolfe: Lieutenant! Lieutenant, they’re here! They’re here! Lieutenant.
(The guards get on their car. But they can’t start the car, for some sisters of the abbey have taken some parts away. The Captain with his family successfully gets rid of the Nazi soldiers and walks on the mountain to Switzerland. The songs echo in the mountains.)
(singing) A dream that comes near,
all along you can hear,
every day of life,
for as long as you live.
On every mountain,
On every sea,
Follow every raindrop,
Till you find your dream.
(The end)
