Script

SIDE 1

WARBUCKS

(OFFSTAGE)

Where is everybody?

(OLIVER WARBUCKS, trailed by a uniformed CHAUFFEUR, comes bustling in. WARBUCKS is carrying a bulging briefcase and the CHAUFFEUR is carrying two suitcases. WARBUCKS takes off his overcoat and hands it to DRAKE)

Hello, everybody.

SERVANTS

Sir.

GRACE

Welcome home, Mr. Warbucks.

WARBUCKS

It's good to be home.

DRAKE

How was your flight from Chicago?

WARBUCKS

Not bad… only took eleven hours. Grace?

GRACE

(Eagerly)

Yes, sir?

WARBUCKS

Messages?

GRACE

(consulting a notepad)

President Roosevelt wants you to call him at the White House.

WARBUCKS

I'll get back to him tomorrow.

GRACE

(Trying to introduce ANNIE to WARBUCKS)

Mr. Warbucks…

WARBUCKS

All right, good to see you all again.

SERVANTS

Sir.

WARBUCKS

Drake, dismiss the staff.

DRAKE

Yes, sir.

(The SERVANTS, not including GRACE, EXIT; WARBUCKS turns to speak to GRACE and,

for the first time, notices ANNIE)

WARBUCKS

And, Grace, if you'll get your notebook… Who is that?

GRACE

This is Annie, Mr. Warbucks: the orphan who will be with us for Christmas.

WARBUCKS

That's not a boy. Orphans are boys.

GRACE

I'm sorry, sir, you just said "orphan". So, I chose a girl.

WARBUCKS

Well, I suppose she'll have to do.

(Frowningly approaching ANNIE, assessing her)

Annie, huh? Annie what?

ANNIE

(Nervously)

Oh, I'm just Annie, Mr. Warbucks, sir. I haven't got any last name. I'm sorry I'm not a

boy.

WARBUCKS

(Obviously not meaning it)

Not at all. I couldn't be happier. Grace, we'll start with the figures on the iron-ore

shipments from… Toledo to…

(Made uncomfortable by the presence of ANNIE, aside to GRACE)

What are we supposed to do with this child?

GRACE

 

(Aside to WARBUCKS)

It is her first night here, sir.

WARBUCKS

(Aside to GRACE)

Hmm.

(To ANNIE)

Well, Annie, I guess we ought to do something special on your first night.

(Has an idea)

Would you like to go to a movie?

ANNIE

(Checking GRACE to see if this would be all right; GRACE nods "yes")

Gosh, Mr. Warbucks, I've never been to one.

WARBUCKS

Then you'll go to the Roxy. And then an ice-cream soda at Rumpelmayer's and a hansom cab ride around Central Park.

ANNIE

Golly!

WARBUCKS

Grace, forget about the dictation for tonight. Instead, you take Annie to the movies.

GRACE

Yes, sir.

ANNIE

(Obviously disappointed about something)

Aw, gee.

WARBUCKS

Something the matter, Annie?

ANNIE

It's just that… well… I thought you were going to take me.

WARBUCKS

Oh, no, I'm afraid I'll be far too busy tonight.

ANNIE

Aw, gee.

SIDE 2

WARBUCKS

Ah, finally.

(Opening the envelope, taking out a letter, and reading it)

Agent Gunderson located the manufacturer of Annie's locket. In Utica, New York.

ANNIE

Oh, boy!

(CROSSES to WARBUCKS, excited)

WARBUCKS

Over ninety thousand were made and sold.

ANNIE

Aw, gee.

WARBUCKS

Annie, I'm afraid the F.B.I. doesn't think that there's a chance in a million of tracing your parents through the locket. I'm sorry.

(Takes the locket from the envelope and puts it on ANNIE)

ANNIE

(CROSSING to the settee and sitting down dejectedly)

That's okay. You did your best. Anyway, I guess a kid can get along without folks. You didn't turn out so bad.

WARBUCKS

Grace?

GRACE

Yes, sir?

WARBUCKS

Do you have those legal papers I gave you the other day?

GRACE

Right here!

WARBUCKS

(CROSSES to the settee with ANNIE and sits)

Annie. I want to adopt you.

ANNIE

Adopt me?

WARBUCKS

Yes or no?

ANNIE

If I can't have my real mother and father, there's no one in the world I'd rather have for a father than you, Mr. Warbucks!

(They hug. As ANNIE and WARBUCKS embrace, GRACE starts to join them, but then catches herself, realizing that it is their moment, and steps back in embarrassment)

WARBUCKS

(Picking up ANNIE and swinging her around)

Annie, this isn't just going to be an adoption, it's going to be a celebration! And you can have anyone in the world you want to come to it. Who would you like?

ANNIE

Well, I guess I'd like Miss Farrell here. And Mr. Drake. And Mrs. Pugh. And, well, everybody here.

WARBUCKS

Drake?

DRAKE

(Entering)

Yes, sir.

WARBUCKS

Tell the staff to get spiffed up. They're going to be the guests at Annie's adoption party.

DRAKE

Yes, sir!

(Skips off for joy)

ANNIE

Oh, and the kids.

WARBUCKS

It'll be way past their bedtime now. But I'll tell you what, we'll have everyone from the Orphanage here tomorrow for a big Christmas party.

ANNIE

Miss Hannigan, too?

WARBUCKS

(Generous)

Why not?

SIDE 3

(DRAKE leads in ROOSTER and LILY, in their disguises as RALPH and SHIRLEY MUDGE)

ROOSTER

Excuse us, folks… Shirley, look. There's our Annie.

ANNIE

Who are you?

LILY

Honey, we're your Mom and Dad.

ROOSTER

Mudge is the name. Ralph Mudge. And this here is the wife, Shirley.

LILY

And you're Annie Mudge.

WARBUCKS

Annie Mudge?

LILY

We loved you, Annie, but we had to leave you behind.

GRACE

We’ve seen a great number of people who’ve…

ROOSTER

I expect you’ll be wantin’ proof of who we are. Here’s our driver’s licenses and Annie’s birth certificate.

(Takes them out and offers them to GRACE)

GRACE

(Takes the birth certificate and reads)

Baby girl, Name, Ann Elizabeth Mudge, born to Ralph and Shirley Mudge. New York, New York, October 28th, 1922.

ANNIE

October 28th, that’s my birthday.

LILY

Ralph, look! Annie’s wearin’ the locket!

ROOSTER

(To WARBUCKS and GRACE, taking out a piece of the locket)

When we left Annie at the Orphanage, we left half of a silver locket with her and kept the other half.

(Fits it quickly to ANNIE’S LOCKET and then puts it back in his pocket)

Yes. It fits perfectly.

LILY

Oh, thank God, Ralph, she s our Annie.

WARBUCKS

Mr. Mudge, what about money?

ROOSTER

Well, we ain’t got much, but we’d be glad to give you whatever…

WARBUCKS

You haven’t heard that I’ve offered a certified check for fifty thousand dollars to anyone who can prove they are Annie’s parents?

ROOSTER

No, sir. Anyway, we don’t want no money.

LILY

On the other hand, Ralph, remember that little pig farm out in New Jersey? With fifty thousand dollars, we could afford to bring Annie up right. In the country.

WARBUCKS

Would you mind if Annie stayed here until tomorrow morning, Christmas? Then you could come back to pick up Annie and the check.

ROOSTER

Whatever you prefer, sir.

LILY

Bye, Annie, love.

ROOSTER

Until tomorrow morning, honey. And then you’ll be spendin’ the rest of your life with us.

(As ROOSTER and LILY step back toward the door; ROOSTER bumps into GRACE, as in SCENE SIX)

Oops, pardon me, blondie. Merry Christmas.

(Suspicious, GRACE watches as ROOSTER and LILY EXIT STAGE RIGHT. ALL, especially ANNIE, are deeply steeped in gloom)

WARBUCKS

Well…this is…

GRACE

Wonderful news.

WARBUCKS

Drake. Champagne.

DRAKE

Yes, sir.

WARBUCKS

We must celebrate. Because we ve just had the most wonderful news in the world. Annie has found her mother and father. I propose a toast.

(ALL raise glasses)

To Annie Mudge.

GRACE

To Annie Mudge.

(ANNIE looks at the glasses, extended in toast, and bolts upstairs and EXITS. GRACE follows ANNIE halfway upstairs)

Annie!

WARBUCKS

I’ve lost her. I’ve lost Annie.

GRACE

Sir, I have the strangest feeling that I’ve seen that Mr. Mudge before, that he’s not who he says he is.

WARBUCKS

Then I won’t giver he up  ‘til we’re certain.

GRACE

But how…?

WARBUCKS

I’ll find a way! I’ll go straight to the top - to the President of the United States. Even if he is a democrat!

(WARBUCKS and GRACE EXIT. The LIGHTS slowly fade. DRAKE is left alone on stage. HE clasps his hands in despair and walks toward the STAGE RIGHT doorway. HE stops. The Christmas tree lights are still on. DRAKE CROSSES back to the tree and pulls out the plug. DRAKE EXITS and the night sky turns to morning. The room lightens)