THE SOUND OF MUSIC

CAST OF CHARACTERS Maria Captain Von Trapp Liesl Brigitta Louisa Marta Gretl Kurt Friedrich Baroness Butler THE PLAY Background Music: Narration: -

SCENE 1: IN THE MANSION

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MARIA:

(sings) I have confidence in confidence alone besides which you see I have confidence in me!

(She sprints across the circular gravel driveway and stops at the front door, setting her luggage down and pressing the door bell.) (Franz, the dour-faced butler, opens the door.) Oh! Hello! Here I am! Im from the convent. Im the new governess, Captain. FRANZ: MARIA: And Im the old butler, Fraulein. (disappointed) Oh How do you do?

(She shakes his hand. He doesnt smile.) 1

FRANZ:

Youll, uhwait here please.

(Maria wanders around the hall. She does an imaginary bow as if she is going to dance. A cold voice interrupts.) CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: In the future, you will kindly remember there are certain rooms in this house which you are not to disturb. Yes, Captain. Sir. Fraulein Maria, I want you to know that your job here is to maintain the discipline among the children. Yes sir! You have to make sure that they study and go to bed in exact time. Excuse me sir, when do they play? Children dont playthey march! I want you to be strict with them, and make sure that they follow your command. (with an overly enthusiastic salute) Yes, sir!

(The captain takes a whistle from his pocket and blows it. Maria was surprised as the children march toward them. The children fall in line. The captain paces back and forth before them, inspecting his troops.) CAPTAIN: (He drops Brigittas book on a nearby table.) Now, this is your new governess, Fraulein Maria. As I sound your signals you will step forward and introduce yourself.

(The captain blows his whistle. Each child responding to the whistle, steps forward in a military way, announces his or her name, and then steps back.) LIESL: Liesl! Im sixteen years old.

FRIEDRICH: Friedrich! Im fourteen. LOUISA: Louisa! Im thirteen.

KURT:Kurt! Im eleven. BRIGITTA: MARTA: Brigitta! Im ten. Marta! Im going to be seven on Tuesday. 2

(The littlest girl forgets to step out. The captain blows the whistle twice. She steps out, but forgets to shout her name.) CAPTAIN: MARIA: And Gretl. Ahem (Gretl holds up her hand showing her five fingers) And you are five years old. (Gretl nods in approval.)

Excuse me sir, I dont know your signal. CAPTAIN: (coldly) You may call me Captain. OK, children its time to know more about your new governess. (Captain exits) MARIA: (sighs) At ease. (In unison, they place their hands behind their backs.) Well, again Im Maria your new governess, and I want to know you better. (The children crowd to her.) LIESL: MARIA: I dont need a governess. Well just be good friends.

FRIEDRICH: Im impossible! MARIA: (laughs) Really? Who told you that, Friedrich?

FRIEDRICH: Fraulein Josephine. Four governesses ago. BRIGITTA: KURT: MARIA: KURT: MARIA: MARTA: MARIA: I think your dress is the ugliest one I ever saw. Im incorrigible. Congratulations! Whats incorrigible? I think it means you want to be treated like a boy. Id like a pink parasol. Well, pinks my favorite color too. (Gretl stamps her foot) Yes, youre Gretl, and youre five years old? My, youre practically a lady. 3

(Gretl and Marta laugh at this.) (Franz, the housekeeper, walks in clapping his hands.) BUTLER: All right now, children. Get yourselves ready for dinner. Now hurry up. Quick, quick, quick.

(The children walk slowly to the door.) How do you do? Ill show you to your room. Follow me. (The children pause and turn back to watch Maria suddenly drops her guitar, screams, and reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a frog and flings it down.) MARIA: What? Ah! Ah! Aah! Oh! Ohh! BUTLER: MARIA: Youre very lucky. With Fraulein Helga it was a snake. Ugh!
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SCENE 2: IN THE DINING ROOM

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(Captain Von Trapp and the children sit at a long dining table, waiting. Maria dashes in and stopped) MARIA: Good evening. (She walks to her seat.) Good evening, children.

CHILDREN: Good evening, Fraulein Maria. (Maria starts to sit on her chair and then leaps up.) MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: Whaaah ha ha ha! (A pine cone sits on her chair.) Cant you just sit down quietly and eat? Im sorry. (Maria sits. The captain starts to eat. The children follow suit.) Excuse me, Captain, but havent we forgotten to thank the Lord?

(The Captain, with a mouthful of food, stares at her for a second and 4

reluctantly puts down his fork. Everyone folds his hands and bows his head.) For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen. ALL: Amen. (Everyone starts to eat.)

MARIA: I want to thank you all for the warm welcome. You are all good to me. (Marta begins to sob) CAPTAIN: MARTA: What is the matter, Marta? Nothing. (Maria smiles. The children break down into sobs one by one. The Captain glances around the table, astonished.) CAPTAIN: Uh, Fraulein, is it at every meal that you intend leading us all through this rare and wonderful new world of indigestion?

MARIA: Oh, theyre all right, Captain. Theyre just happy. (The children sob louder. Moments later, the Butler hands the Captain a telegram.) BUTLER: LIESL: BUTLER: LIESL: CAPTAIN: MARTA: A telegram for you, sir. (The captain opens the telegram and reads it. Liesl glances toward the window.) Who delivered it, Franz? That young lad, Rolfe, of course. Father, may I be excused? (Grunts negatively.) No. (Maria notices Liesls disappointment) Children, in the morning I shall be going to Vienna. Oh, no, Father!

FRIEDRICH: Not again, Father. (The captain glares at them.) GRETL: How long will you be gone this time, Father?

(Liesl rises with her empty water glass and moves to fill it at a nearby table and secretly walks away.) CAPTAIN: Im not sure, Gretl. Im not sure. 5

LOUISA:

To visit Baroness Schraeder again?

FRIEDRICH: (To Louisa) Mind your own business! CAPTAIN: MARTA: As a matter of fact, yes, Louisa. (to the captain) Why cant we ever get to see the baroness?

KURT:(to Marta) Why would she want to see you? CAPTAIN: It just so happens, Marta, that you are going to see the baroness. Im bringing her back to visit us all.

CHILDREN: Good! Finally, we could see her!

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SCENE 3: SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN

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- Open Curtain (Liesl walks quietly to the garden. Excitement is all over her face.)

LIESL: Oh, Rolfe!

Rolfe! (Rolfe appears from behind a tree). She runs to him.) (They hug each other. Rolfe breaks the clinch.)

ROLFE: Oh! Ive missed you so much that I even thought of sending you a telegram. LIESL: now. ROLFE: Oh, thats a lovely thought. Why dont you? Right (laughs) But Im here! (She hugs him tightly.) LIESL: ROLFE: LIESL: ROLFE: Mmmmmmm! Well, youre so What? Well, youre such a baby! 6

LIESL: Music:

Im sixteen. Whats such a baby about that? Sixteen Going on Seventeen (They sing together.)
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SCENE 4: IN MARIAS BEDROOM

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(The thunderstorm continues outside. Maria is praying.) MARIA: Dear Father, guide me as I help this family. Bless them that they may become happy.

(Liesl enters quietly through the windows. She tries to get out of the room.) MARIA: And now, dear God, about Liesl. (Liesl stops and turns back to Maria.) Help her know that Im her friend, and help her to tell me what shes been up to. Youre not going to tell Father, are you? Shh. (finishes her prayer) Help me to be understanding so that I may guide her footsteps. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I was out walking and somebody locked the doors. I didnt want to wake everybody up. So, when I saw your window open

LIESL: MARIA:

LIESL:

(Maria hands Liesl a nightgown from her armoire.) MARIA: Change your dress and come back here, then we will talk. (Liesl goes to the bathroom.) Music/Effect: Thunder Clap (The door suddenly opens and Gretl runs in and stands stiffly.) MARIA: Gretl? Are you scared? (Gretl shakes her head.) Thunder Clap (Gretl runs into Marias arms.)

Music/Effect: MARIA:

Youre not frightened of a thunderstorm, are you? You just stay here with me. Oh! Uh, where are the others? 7

GRETL:

Theyre asleep. Theyre not scared.

Music/Effect: Thunder Clap (Maria cuddles Gretl. Louisa, Brigitta, and Marta run into the room.) MARIA: BRIGITTA: MARIA: LOUISA: Oh, no? Look. All right, everybody. Up here on the bed. Really? Well, just this once. Come on. (The girls crowd onto the bed.) Now, all we have to do is wait for the boys. You wont see them. Boys are brave.

Music/Effect: Thunder Clap (The girls bury their heads in the bed. Friedrich and Kurt run into the room, then force themselves to walk calmly. Maria grins.) MARIA: You boys werent scared too, were you?

FRIEDRICH: Oh, no. We just wanted to be sure that you are OK. Music/Effect: Thunder Clap (Everyone ducks. Maria looks at them with amusement.) MARIA: Well, now, when anything bothers me and Im feeling unhappy, I just try and think of nice things.

LOUISA & MARTA: What kind of things? MARIA: Uhwell, let me see, nice things. Daffodils. Green meadows. Skies full of stars. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Favorite Things (Maria and the children sing and dance.) When the dog bitesuh (The music abruptly stops. Maria suddenly runs into the captain.) Fraulein, did I not tell you that bedtime is strictly to be observed? Come along children. You heard your father. Go back to bed immediately. Fraulein, you have managed to remember that Im leaving in the morning? (Maria nods.) 8

Music: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN:

Is it also possible that you remember that the first rule in this house is discipline? (She nods again, reluctantly. Captain goes out of the room.) MARIA: (sings to herself) Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes. (Eyes widening in excitement, she runs across the room and grabs another curtain and drapes it over her head like a scarf and wraps it around herself as a dress.)
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SCENE 5: THE OUTING

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(Maria and the children are playing outside.) MARIA: BRIGITTA: MARIA: LIESL: BRIGITTA: MARIA: MARTA: MARIA: Music: I cant understand how children as nice as you can manage to play such awful tricks on people. Oh, its easy. But why do it? Well, how else can we get Fathers attention? Yes. Oh, I see. Well, well have to think about that one. All right, everybody. Over here. What are we going to do? Lets think of something to sing for the Baroness when she comes. (She picks up her guitar and strums her guitar and sings.) Do-Re-Mi (Maria and the children sing.)
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SCENE 6: THE ARGUMENT

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(The captain and the baroness were walking in the veranda.) BARONESS: You have such a wonderful place, Georg! Im sure you have wonderful children as well. CAPTAIN: Oh, wonderful indeed is this place, for soon this will be yours.

BARONESS: How sweet of you, my dear. (Both are smiling.) CAPTAIN: By the way, where are my children?

(They are shocked to see Maria and the children as they suddenly appeared.) CHILDREN: Papa! Papa! Papa! MARIA: (rising) Oh! Oh, Captain! Youre home! You must be Baroness Shraeder!

(Next to the grim-faced Captain, the baroness struggles not to laugh. Then the captain takes a whistle from his pocket and with one blast silences the childrens chatter. The children stand in attention.) CAPATAIN: Straight line! (The captain paces back and forth in front of his children. He pauses and pulls the flowered green scarf from Louisas hair. Maria frown sympathetically.) CAPTAIN: (smiles) This is Baroness Shraeder (His smile fades at the sight of his raggedy children.) (to the Baroness) and these are my children.

BARONESS: How do you do? CAPTAIN: All right. Go inside. Clean up. Change your clothes. Report back here. Immediately!

(The children scramble into the house. Maria frowns with disgust and follows them.) Fraulein, you will stay here, please! (Maria stopsher back to the captain.) 10

BARONESS: I, uh, think Id better go. (The baroness leavesMaria turns to face the captain.) CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: Now, Fraulein, I want a truthful answer from you. Yes, Captain? Do you or do you not understand clearly that discipline must be strictly imposed in this house? Yes, Captain. I do understand, but Can you remember very well that playing is not for my children? But they were having good times, as if it was their first time to go out and play. You dont understand, do you? Its you who dont understand, Captain. They love you too much. They fear you too much. (raising his voice to Maria) I dont wish you to discuss my children in this manner. They need you, Captain. Oh captainplease, be the father they want you to be. (in anger) I dont want to hear anything from you about my children! (The captain walks to leave when he heard the children singing.)

Whats that? MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: Its singing. Yes, I realize its singing, but who is singing? The children. (astonished) The children? I taught them something to sing for the Baroness.

(Ignoring her, the captain strides to the house. Maria watches him go, then follows.)
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SCENE 7: THE SONG FOR THE BARONESS

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The Sound of Music (The children are singing in front of the baroness. In the middle of the song, the captain joins them in singing.) (The children hug their father.) Oh, Father, we didnt know you can sing!

LIESL:

(Gretl hugs the baroness.) BARONESS: (to the captain) You never told me how enchanting your children are. CAPTAIN: (shakes his head as if to say no) I didnt realize it myself. (He turns, looks over at the doorway, and sees Maria who hurries to the stairs. He then goes to Maria as she reaches the stairs.)

Fraulein, Im sorry. I was wrong. Thank you for bringing the music back into my house. MARIA: Oh! Its nothing, sir. They are still kids. They need to enjoy life.

BARONESS: (stands from her chair) Why not fill the whole house with music. Lets show the people what these children have. CAPTAIN: Thats a nice idea. Lets have a party in this house!

(The children look so surprised.) LIESL: That would be great, Papa!

KURT:Im sure that would be a great party. CAPTAIN: All rightGo and get yourselves ready for dinner.

(The children rush out of the room. Maria clasps her hands and goes out from the living room with the children.)
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SCENE 8: THE PARTY

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Laender (Maria and Captain dance the Laender. In the middle of the dance their arms entwined and they gazed deeply into each others eyes. The baroness, trying to hold her jealousy in check, walks over to the captain.)

BARONESS: Why, that was beautifully done. What a lovely couple you make. CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: Yes. I think its time the, uh, children say good night. Yes. Well be in the hall in a moment. Weve got something very special prepared. Well, after you, Maria.

(All three exit with the captain and the baroness following Marias lead.) (Maria and the children entered the hall. Maria makes an announcement.) MARIA: Music: Ladies and gentlemen. The children of Captain Von Trapp wish to say good night to you. So Long Farewell (The children perform the song. The party guests wave as the children disappear into their rooms.)
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SCENE 9: MARIA BACK TO THE ABBEY

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(The baroness approaches Maria on the corner of the room.) BARONESS: Oh! There you are. Congratulations with the performance of the kids. You did an excellent job. MARIA: That is nice of you. Thank you. 13

BARONESS: By the way, Im sure youve noticed the way he looks at you when you were dancing. He couldnt keep his eyes off you. MARIA: Baroness, I hope youre just joking.

BARONESS: You look so in love with him. MARIA: In love with him?

BARONESS: And he thinks hes in love with you, too. MARIA: Then I should go. I mustnt stay here.

BARONESS: Is there anything else I can do to help? MARIA: NonoYes Please dont say a word to Captain.

BARONESS: No, I wouldnt dream of it. MARIA: Thank you. (Maria walks away from the room leaving the baroness with a smile.)

BARONESS: Goodbye, Maria!

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Narration: (Maria was back at the abbey)

SCENE 10: MARIA IS BACK

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(The children are playing outside. They lack energy. They look sad.) LIESL: Oh! I hate this kind of life without Fraulein Maria.

FRIEDRICH: (sitting beside Liesl) I dont even have the energy to do things. LOUISA: I miss her a lot. 14

KURT: MARTA: BRIGITTA: GRETL: LIESL:

Why do you think she left us? No one knows why? Will she ever come back? I really want to see her. I want to sing a song again with her. (Maria appears, singing the song My Favorite Things. The childrens emotions suddenly changed. They come rushing to Maria.)

LIESL: LOUISA: MARIA: BRIGITTA: married. MARIA: LOUISA: MARIA:

Fraulein Maria, why did you leave us? We have many things to tell you. Im sure you do. The most important thing is that Fathers going to be Married? Yes, to Baroness Schraeder. (stunned) Oh, I see

(The children see the captain walking towards them.) CHILDREN: Oh, Father, look. Look! FRIEDRICH: Father, Fraulein Marias come back from the abbey. MARIA: CAPTAIN: dinner. Good evening, Captain. Good evening. All right, everyone inside. Go and get your

CHILDREN: Dinner! Dinner! (The children happily rush into the house. The captain walks down to Maria.) CAPTAIN: MARIA: Are you back to stay? Well, only until you find another governess.
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SCENE 11: THE PROPOSAL

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(Captain watches Maria in the garden. Maria walks back and forth. The baroness comes to him.) BARONESS: She looks lovely, isnt she? CAPTAIN: Elsa

BARONESS: Yes, Georg? CAPTAIN: Its no useyou and I. Im being dishonest to both of us. When two people talk of marriage

BARONESS: No dont. Dont say another word, Georg, please. I can feel it. All I can do is to be happy for the both of you. (The captains eyes widen in surprise, then smiles.) Goodbye, darling. CAPTAIN: Thank you.

(The baroness exits, then the captains walks towards Maria in the garden.) CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: CAPTAIN: MARIA: Hello. Its so nice to see you back. I hope youll stay. I would love to. Your children are so wonderful. Can you stay here forever and make everything good? Im sure Baroness will be able to make things good. There isnt going to be a baroness. There isnt? I dont understand. Shes happy now. She knows that Im in love with you. You do? Oh, I cant believe this is happening.

(The captain holds Marias hand.) CAPTAIN: Maria, would you allow me to marry you? 16

MARIA:

Ohyes, I would.
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SCENE 12: THE FAREWELL

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BUTLER:

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming in here tonight. And now to give you a very special number, let us welcome the Von Trapp Family. Edelweiss (The captain sings. Liesl and the children join the captain in the middle of the song.) Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, thank you. This will be the last time the Von Trapps will be singing together. And so, ladies and gentlemen, the Von trap family to bid you farewell. So Long Farewell (Maria, Captain, and the children sing together.) THE END -

Music: BUTLER:

Music:

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