CAROUSEL WIND Act 1 Scene 4

[On a passenger train Train, from the Jersey shore to Newark, George Montagne is sitting facing Enigmo, dressed as an engineer. It is early in the morning.]

Enigmo: [with a wry humor]

Shouldn't you be in the engine running this train?

George Montagne: Ha Ha Ha. That's very funny. These are my "work" clothes. I own a store called Union Station. We sell everything related to trains –— mostly model trains, but I also specialize in selling rare song sheets of train songs. People frame them and hang them on the wall... And you are one to talk, you look like you stepped off a gondola and were left stranded on a pole.

Enigmo:

This is my sad-eyed clown outfit. Usually I play a sad eyed clown, but today I am one in reality.

George Montagne:

How so?

Enigma:

For the first time in my life, I was stood up by a girl. I always play the part of a heart-breaker, now it is my turn to be heartbroken.

George Montagne:

You shouldn't let one girl get you down. There are more trains in the station. If I were in your shoes I'd forget about her. Supposing we were to change places for a moment. If I were in your shoes and you were in mine. You'd see the world in a different way. Sort of like story behind the Philosopher and the Clown, where two characters change roles.

Enigmo:

Why do I have the feeling you're gonna burst out in song.

George Montagne:

It happened at a train station when a clown was given the 'red light.'

That's circus parlance for being kicked out of your job. when a circus train stopped at a red light, you might get the boot. That was the precursor to today's 'pink slip.'

(Sings)

A philosopher was sitting by an old railway shack
Watching the moon as it trickled down the sky
Circus train came and stopped in its tracks
A clown stepped down with a tear in his eye

What's happened to my world
Things are all upside down
When clowns are philosophers
And philosophers clowns

The ringmaster looked in the philosopher's eye
Said "I need a new clown to get me some laughs
We travel a lot come on give it a try"
Philosopher was put in the car with giraffes

What's happened to my world
Things are all upside down
When clowns are philosophers
And philosophers clowns

The philosopher's writings were left there behind
As the train disappeared in smoke down the line
The clown found the writings to be pretty abstruse
Such as "Reason for being defied being defined"

What's happened to my world
Things are all upside down
When clowns are philosophers
And philosophers clowns

The philosopher soon helped raise the tent
And worked hand in trunk with a wise elephant
Then he made up his face and jumped in the ring
Amazed at the wonderful joy laughter brings

What's happened to my world
Things are all upside down
When clowns are philosophers
And philosophers clowns

Meanwhile the clown said "I think what I think"
And "Man only thinks to avoid the big void"
The literary world embraced his thin book
Entitled "Thinking of Jumping for Joy"

Enigmo:

I don't get it. How does that relate to me?

Great Engineer:

The way I see it, is this: The purpose of life is joy.

Enigmo:

Isn't the purpose of life — life?

George Montagne:

I guess you could say that, procreation is the ultimate joy. You could say that I'm pro-creation. But it is more than that. It is creating a family. When you come to the end of your life you want to look back and see that it has all been worth the trip. All that remains is the family you created. Imagine you're a clown at the end of your life, you may have made the world laugh, but what do you think of when the Grand Equestrian Director blows the silver whistle for the last time...[sings]

The dice game is endless
We're on the home run
This train's on a trestle
The trip's just begun
From the first engine
To the caboose
I'm like a cannon
On the loose
Cause I'm just an old clown
On life's circus train
Longing for the whistle to blow
To be on sawdust again
With the elephants all in a row
When the silver whistle blows

Into life's Grand Ballroom
I waltzed from the street
Tattered clown and a broom
Swept them off their feet
In London royalty
Rolled on the floor
But the laughter of children
That's what I live for
From the man on trapeze
To the web-sitter below
It's all the same you know
For us troopers on the go
The dice ain't ours to throw
When the silver whistle blows

I've got my own stateroom
That's a coup for a clown
With pictures of farms
Like in my home town
Country folk fit in the regime
They know it's no picnic
And can hang onto a dream

I recall in clown alley
My nose almost melt
I ran with my bucket
'A fire' someone yelled
Through all the confusion
And painful screams
A doll in the ashes
Was the worst thing I've seen
'The dice may be loaded
The deck may be stacked
But for hope
I've never lacked'
It's there in my heart
And God only knows
When the silver whistle blows

The Greatest Show
That's the world's spotlight
In a make-up mirror
I recall my first night
I winked there to Willy
He had this to say
'You can skip cherry pie
You're no First of May'
I tip my Dollar Derby
To everyone on this train
They'll stream through the gates
Come that final refrain
They'll be there on their toes
When the silver whistle blows

Through wintertime
I'll be painting the wagons
Putting gold leaf
On the old calliope
You'll never see
These ragged shoes a dragging'
Cause I can't stand
To be at liberty

Now I'm on the caboose
Looking all the way back
To that kid from Kansas
From a railway shack
For my last curtain call
With a roll of the drum
I'll remove my sad face
And embrace my dear mom
Life down here
Is a dog and pony show
Compared to that 'big lot'
Where all good Joeys go
Save some straw in the first row
When the silver whistle blows

Enigmo:

Now you've gone and made me homesick, I'm gonna fly back to Italy.

[The train stops and they both get off, walking opposite directions]