SEGMENT 04 of the musical "CANDELESCENCE" (written by Secretary Michael); illustrations by Jennifer Stolzer; the latest SCRIPT is found below; click to find the sheet music to this segment's necessary song: "Do What We Do"
Segment 4: Guru's First Student
(The construction is finished. A painted “Garden School” sign hangs near the entrance door. This scene takes place both inside and outside the new schoolhouse. TOOLIE enters pulling his tool wagon with a boy riding on top. BABA is working in the schoolyard and greets TOOLIE as he approaches.)
BABA
Good morning, Toolie! Who’s your little friend?
TOOLIE
This young fellow wants to go to school.
BABA
(excitedly)
A student?! Oh Toolie! You don’t know how important this is! Poor Guru’s been making posters and knocking on doors every day for months looking for students. He’s desperate for this good news!
TOOLIE
Desperate? (turns to Ace) Then I guess we better go in and cheer him up a little!
(Toolie pulls the wagon over to the schoolhouse door, motions to Ace to stay put, then knocks and opens the door.)
Anybody home?
GURU
Uncle Toolie! What brings you to Garden School?
TOOLIE
Young Guru! Just bringing the mail from the Commissioner’s office. By the way, I found one addressed to you. It’s from Canada! (Toolie hands Guru the envelope)
GURU
(puzzled)
Canada? Must be from that ad I put in Canadian Pen-Pal Magazine.
(now with comical bravura)
But it’s probably just another fan from some far corner of the world. I just can’t keep ‘em away, Uncle Toolie! I just can’t keep ‘em away!
TOOLIE
(chuckles a little)
Well, I best be moving on – don’t want yesterday to pass me by. Enjoy your fan mail, young Guru. Oh, by the way, I meant to ask how the new school’s coming along.
GURU
Couldn’t be better, Uncle Toolie! No students yet, but I kind of like it that way. It saves on supplies.
TOOLIE
(chuckles)
Yes, I guess it would. Oh, by the way, I have a young fellow out in the wagon who wants to be your student. But I guess you wouldn’t be much interested.
GURU
(suddenly serious)
A student?
TOOLIE
I’ll leave him here just in case you change your mind. And if things go okay, the Commissioner says he has several more for you. They all failed their Middle School entrance exams. He wants you to keep them occupied and out of trouble.
(Toolie motions for the boy to come inside; the cheerful boy hops down from the wagon and skips into the schoolhouse. Toolie closes the door behind him and exits.)
GURU
Hi! I’m your teacher! My name’s Guru – what’s yours?
ACE
(fascinated with Guru’s wheelchair)
I’m Ace. Can I ride on this?
GURU
(with a chuckle)
Maybe later, Ace. I kind of need it now.
ACE
Why do you need it?
GURU
Well, I need it to get around. I have a problem walking.
ACE
Why do you have a problem walking?
GURU
Because when I was in First Grade I had an accident.
ACE
How’d you have an accident?
GURU
Oh, it’s a long story, Ace. I’ll tell you about it someday when we have more time. Do you live here in Ko-Lat Village?
ACE
No, I live on the other side of Jeeno – in the refugee camp.
GURU
Oh my, that’s a long way to come every day!
ACE
But I’m fast. Watch.
(Ace runs back and forth down the center aisle)
See? I’m very fast. Someday I’m going to run in the Olympics.
GURU
(laughing)
Wow! You are very fast, Ace! Did your parents teach you to run so fast?
ACE
No. They disappeared. People think maybe the GGG took them away.
GURU
Oh, I’m so sorry, Ace. (pause) Well, one thing I do know – they’d sure be proud of you! Let’s work real hard and take that test again so you can get into the big school!
ACE
I can’t.
GURU
Sure you can! They give the test twice a year!
ACE
No, I mean I can’t pass it. I’ve tried two times. I think I have some kind of problem.
GURU
Problem? Oh I love problems! In fact I collect ‘em! That’s why I’ve got so many!
ACE
(laughs)
GURU
(singing)
THOSE OF US WITH PROBLEMS,
IN ORDER TO SUCCEED
HAVE GOT TO DO SOME CERTAIN THINGS
THAT OTHERS MAY NOT NEED.
SO LET’S GET UP AND DO THEM
AND FACE REALITY
SO WE CAN GET WHERE WE CAN GET
AND BE WHO WE CAN BE. WE’VE GOT TO:
WORK HOW WE WORK, JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER
PLAN HOW WE PLAN, JUST A LITTLE BIT SMARTER
COUNT EV’RY NUMBER AND WRITE EV’RY LETTER
DO WHAT WE DO JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
GOTTA LIVE LIKE WE LIVE WITH A LITTLE MORE VIGOR
SMILE LIKE WE SMILE BUT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER
WHATEVER THE HOUR OR WHATEVER THE WEATHER
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO, JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
ONE. TWO. WHAT WE GOTTA DO?
THREE. FOUR. EV’RY LITTLE CHORE.
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE
DO WHAT WE DO PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
GURU and ACE
(both singing together)
GOTTA WORK HOW WE WORK, JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER
PLAN HOW WE PLAN, JUST A LITTLE BIT SMARTER
COUNT EV’RY NUMBER AND WRITE EV’RY LETTER
DO WHAT WE DO, JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
ONE. TWO. WHAT WE GOTTA DO?
THREE. FOUR. EV’RY LITTLE CHORE.
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE
DO WHAT WE DO PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE
DO WHAT WE DO PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
END OF SEGMENT 4
