VOLCANO BOY

THE GROWNUPS

Sing, the only song
How in youth we fought our fight
Turned all darkness into light
Banished night and made a right
From every wrong.

Sing, sing to remember
How we freed the valley fair
Built a happy country there
Settled down, forgot all care
Til this December.

Volcano Boy defeated ran away to hide
Never to return again
And here we built our kingdom on the valley side
Knew he'd return and wondered when
Now, now, our old foe has been released
Now, now, running savage as a beast
Got to put him back in jail now
Or slow him down, at least.

(Bursting through a side door come THE KIDS, except Henry and Serafina. They are all in a big hurry and each kids goes up to one of the grownups, tugging on their sleeve, asking questions, and gesturing this way and that.)

THE GROWNUPS AND THE KIDS

Now the people are talking
There's a rumor going round
That Volcano Boy's in town
And we're no longer safe and sound
When we're out walking

Now the danger is growing
We have heard the hungry howl
Of the wolf out on the prowl
And at night the whispering foul
Dark winds are blowing.

(Enter HENRY and SERAFINA from the opposite side from where the kids came. HENRY is clearly distraught and downcast and SERAFINA holds his hand solicitously. A couple KIDS and GROWNUPS go to HENRY to embrace him, while others continue the song)

And all we ever wanted was a peaceful road
A quiet life our one desire
But now beware the mountains they could soon explode
And fill the land with ash and fire
Now, now, our old foe has been released
Now, now, running savage as a beast
Got to put him back in jail now
To get a little peace.

(A large framed black and white photo of Henry's parents is placed on the wall, and candles are lit in front of it and beside it; all the KIDS and GROWNUPS take turns putting flowers and mementoes in front of and around the memorial.)


THE GROWNUPS
Sing the only song
THE KIDS
song of love, song of joy, how we beat volcano boy
THE GROWNUPS
Sing out all night long
THE KIDS
song of love, song of joy, how we beat volcano boy


(The GROWNUPS and the KIDS all join hands and kneel in a semicircle to make a silent prayer. They bow their heads, but immediately realize something is wrong; someone is missing; it is LITTLE JACK. They find him playing alone under the big table, his toy figures of Spot, Dick, Jane, and a Smiling Sun all round him. Then they gather up Jack into the semicircle and bow their heads in prayer for a moment.
When the prayer is done, CRAZY DAVIE enters, and he and some of the grownups gather Downstage, while the kids are still playing and looking out the window.)

THE GROWNUPS, CRAZY DAVIE

What we gonna do with the kids?
Where we gonna send them now?
What we gonna do with the kids?
Gotta get em outta here somehow.
Henry has a house!
Up north in the Crystal Lakes
The kids could be there well before dawn breaks!
What we gonna do with the kids?
We gotta send them away!
What we gonna do with the kids?
Gotta get em outta here today.
Henry has a house!
Pretty Tess still lives up there
The kids'll be fine in Teacher Tess's care.

(The GROWNUPS open a locked cabinet on one wall, and pull out swords and shields, and equipping themselves for battle. They straighten their helmets, sharpen their sword blades, and lace up their boots. When all are dressed for battle they huddle for a minute and then raise their swords with a great cry and clang of steel. Then they separate and gather the KIDS and all sing together....)

THE GROWNUPS, THE KIDS

SING THE ONLY SONG
---song of love, song of joy, how we beat volcano boy
------Henry's House is where the kids will be alright
SING OUT ALL NIGHT LONG
---song of pain, song of sorrow, for a better day tomorrow
------Henry's House is where the kids will go tonight

(Candles are blown out and the lights go down to a more ominous setting, backlighting, silhouettes, etc. The flashes outside the window and rumbles of distant explosions become much greater.)

Sing, sing out a warning
Now the children must take heed
With no parents there to lead
To the north they must make speed
Until the morning.

Sing, sing as we're riding
There's a battle close at hand
In our peaceful valley land
One more time to war we ride
Through our valley fair and wide
Up the rocky mountainside
Where the wolves and demons hide
To the demon's hidden lair
Where sulfur smoke pollutes the air
And our kids will leave from us
In the old Volkswagen Bus
They will drive til morning's glow
Up to Henry's House they'll go
Into hiding.

(One of the GROWNUPS hands CRAZY DAVIE a large Keychain. DAVIE pockets the keys and exits, (to pull up a minute later in the VW Bus), while the GROWNUPS go back to the KIDS, speak to them briefly, and start getting them bundled up in winter coats, hats, and scarves. Everyone exits and the stage blacks out while the music continues. When the lights come back up the scene has changed to the outside of the Tower, in a street surrounded by stone buildings; there is a blizzard, and huge gusts of wind are whipping the snow around, while flashes of light indicate the fires that rage in other parts of the city.)