Or... Hey, Jude
By Marietta Weeden Slater
© Copyright 2006, Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.
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THE TREASURE OF HUCKLEBERRY RIDGE
Or… Hey, Jude
By MARIETTA WEEDEN SLATER
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(In Order of Appearance)
# of lines
TEX............................................ wrangler with a voracious
appetite
REX ........................................... wrangler; helpful
DEX ........................................... same
LAURIE...................................... one of Sadie’s guests
MILLIE ....................................... another
JOCELYN .................................. another; crazy ’bout cowboys
JUDE McLENNON .................... hero; ready to make a sad
song better
WINDY GALE ............................ villain’s sidekick; irts and
giggles obnoxiously
STORMY SKYE ......................... same
SADIE SAGEBRUSH ................ heroine; not the brightest
bulb in the chandelier, but has
something better than brains
MILTON MILLHOUSE ............... villain; denitely enough
of him to go around
BITSY ........................................ Tex’s girlfriend
ITSY........................................... Rex’s girlfriend
ANNIE........................................ one of Sadie’s guests
BETTY ....................................... another
ELLIE ......................................... another
IRIS............................................ another
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FLEXIBLE CASTING
ITSY and BITSY can be double-cast (just delete their joint appearance
at the end). For a smaller cast, combine MILLIE and JOCELYN. For a
larger cast, any number of extras can be used. GUESTS can be male
with slight changes in dialogue.
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SETTING
Time: The Old West, sometime in the late 1800s.
Place: The house of Sadie Sagebrush’s Huckleberry Ridge ranch.
The stage depicts the inside of a ranch house. UP LEFT is a coatrack
with coats and hats hanging on it. A small table and a couple chairs
are LEFT CENTER and a bench STAGE RIGHT. STAGE LEFT leads
to the rest of Sadie’s ranch. STAGE RIGHT leads outside.
Set could be decorated with harnesses, reins, horseshoes and
anything else that represents a dude ranch house.
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
Scene One: One morning at Sadie’s Huckleberry Ridge Ranch.
Scene Two: Later that evening at Sadie’s ranch.
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The Treasure of Huckleberry Ridge - Set Design
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THE TREASURE OF HUCKLEBERRY RIDGE
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Scene One
LIGHTS UP: One morning at Sadie’s Huckleberry Ridge Ranch. DEX
and REX are xing ropes sitting on bench STAGE RIGHT. TEX is
standing behind them, eating a plate of pancakes. LAURIE, MILLIE
and JOCELYN ENTER LEFT with suitcases.
LAURIE: Come along, girls. Let’s hurry up and leave before Sadie
comes out. I feel bad enough about leaving. (Sees DEX.) Oh,
Dex, we are so glad that you’re here. Will you please carry our
suitcases out to the wagon that Mr. Millhouse has provided?
DEX: Sure thing, ladies, but won’t you please reconsider?
TEX: (Eats pancakes.) Miz Sadie’s the sweetest hostess in these
parts. She makes the best pancakes around. And she’s known
far and wide for her huckleberry cobbler. (Takes another bite of
pancakes.)
DEX: That’s right. So you’d best stay with us. Remember, things aren’t
always as they seem.
MILLIE: Sorry, but we’re not staying here another minute. Milton
Millhouse’s Dude Ranch sounds so exciting. The way Mr. Millhouse
describes it is “Paradise on the Prairie.”
LAURIE: Right. Sadie’s ranch just doesn’t compare. Big open spaces
to ride, beautiful dreamy campres at night…
JOCELYN: You mean beautiful dreamy cowboys. Mr. Millhouse said
that he has the best-looking cowboys around. (Sighs.) I can hardly
wait to get there. (LADIES ALL agree.)
DEX: And what’s wrong with the cowhands here? (WRANGLERS
agree.) Girls, I still think that you are making a huge mistake.
JOCELYN: No, we’ve made up our minds. Now, please carry our
suitcases out. Milton Millhouse’s Dude Ranch. (Smiles.) Look out,
cowboys, here I come!
MILLIE: I’m ready! Let’s go, girls. (LADIES EXIT RIGHT with DEX
struggling with the suitcases. We hear JUDE riding up on his
faithful horse, Bob. SOUND EFFECT: CLIP-CLOPPING.)
TEX: (Still eating.) Jude McLennon has arrived. (SOUND EFFECT:
SICK HORSE WHINNY from OFFSTAGE.) What is wrong with
that horse? When is Jude going to get a tune-up on that steed of
his? (REX shrugs his shoulders.)
JUDE’S VOICE: (From OFF RIGHT.) Good morning, ladies. Leaving
so soon? Dex, take care of my faithful horse, Bob, will ya?
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JUDE: (ENTERS RIGHT, dressed in traditional cowboy garb.) Howdy,
everyone.
TEX/REX: Hey, Jude.
JUDE: How’s business going?
TEX: Well, thanks to Milton Millhouse, it’s not! He’s running everyone
off. We just lost three more paying customers. That makes a total
of eight in the past two days. Milton says he can give them a better
deal at his ranch.
JUDE: Which I don’t understand. Have you seen his nags? They are
so ugly. (TEX cues AUDIENCE to say “How ugly are they?”) Well,
they’re so ugly, the horseies wear blindfolds.
TEX/REX: (Look at each other and then at AUDIENCE.) That’s ugly.
JUDE: I’ve got to gure something to help Sadie keep this dude ranch.
It’s been in the Sagebrush family for years. Why, her grandpappy,
Amos Sagebrush, planted the rst huckleberry bush in this valley
80 years ago. I’ve got to nd a way to save Huckleberry Ridge
Ranch.
TEX: Hey, Jude, don’t be afraid. You’ve got to go out and get her.
REX: That’ll begin to make it better.
TEX/REX: We’ll help you.
TEX: We don’t want to see her lose the ranch, either. And besides, I
need to keep my job so I can go a-courtin’ Itsy.
REX: (Takes hat off and slaps TEX.) No, you mean Bitsy. I’m a-courtin’
Itsy.
TEX: Oh… (Ponders.) Well, that’s what I meant to say. (Pauses.)
Uh, Rex? Are you sure I’m a-courtin’ Bitsy? (Takes another bite
of pancakes.)
REX: Tex, if you would pay more attention to Bitsy than you do to
food, you would know who you’re a-courtin’.
WINDY/STORMY’S VOICES: (From OFF RIGHT.) Oohhh, yoo-hoo,
fellas. (They giggle obnoxiously—the louder and more obnoxious,
the better.)
REX: Oh, no. It’s Windy Gale and Stormy Skye. There’s something
brewing if those two are involved. I bet Milton sent them over. Let’s
hide. (He, TEX and JUDE quickly hide behind the bench.)
WINDY: (ENTERS RIGHT with STORMY, still giggling.) Oh, silly. You
can’t hide.
STORMY: We sees you. Hi, fellas. Hey, Jude! (Giggles obnoxiously.
WRANGLERS stand up while JUDE moves in front of bench.) We
just came over to say hello. (Both GIRLS go on either side of
JUDE and irt with him.)
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SADIE: (ENTERS LEFT, carrying a book.) Hey, Jude! Oh, no, not
you, too! Milton and his, his… friends are taking everything that I
own or love. (Starts to cry.)
JUDE: (Brushes away STORMY and WINDY and puffs out his chest.)
But Sadie, my love, don’t pay them any mind. (Goes over to SADIE
and takes her hand.) Don’t you know that we go together like ham
and eggs, nuts and bolts, hammers and nails…
SADIE: (Pipes in.) Like… like brooms and candles.
JUDE: Uh, Sadie… (Bewildered.) …brooms and candles?
SADIE: Why, of course. Brooms and candles go together. Everyone
knows that kitchens need to be swept. And at night, I need to light
a candle so I can see to sweep. So, brooms and candles.
JUDE: (Astonished; aside.) It’s a good thing she’s sweet and purdy,
as she shore is lacking in other areas. (Taps head.)
SADIE: Oh, Jude, what am I to do? I can’t compete with Mr. Millhouse.
(During the following exchange, DEX ENTERS RIGHT and stands
by TEX and REX. STORMY and WINDY start to irt with the
THREE WRANGLERS.) He under-prunes me.
JUDE: He what?
SADIE: He under-prunes me. You know, he charges less than I do.
JUDE: Oh, you mean he undercuts you?
SADIE: Yes, that’s what I just said. (Upset.) Stay with me, Jude. He
under-prunes me. I’ve tried to prune back.
JUDE: Cut back.
SADIE: What?
JUDE: You should say cut back.
SADIE: It doesn’t matter, Jude. It says right here… (Points to book.) …
in my “Miss Gloria’s Guide to Proper Language” book that to prune
means to cut. (Sighs.) Oh, Jude, I’ve got to think of something that
will save me money.
JUDE: Don’t worry. We’ll come up with something… (Puts arm around
her.) …together.
MILTON: (ENTERS RIGHT. He is dressed in traditional cape, top
hat and cane.) I, Milton Millhouse, have arrived. Applause? I don’t
get any applause? (WINDY and STORMY applaud, rush over
to MILTON and grab his arms, giggling.) Girls, please, there’s
enough of me to go around. (Looks at SADIE, throws off WINDY
and STORMY from his arms. He rushes to SADIE’S side, pushing
JUDE out of the way.) And who do we have here? My, my, my.
(Looks SADIE over.)
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SADIE: Sir, I don’t want to be rude, but please bequeath my premises.
(Pronounces it “pre-mices.”)
MILTON: (Yells.) Mices? Mices? (Jumps on chair.) Don’t let those
little creatures get me.
JUDE: Mr. Millhouse, Sadie means premises. There are no mice
here.
MILTON: Oh, of course. Girls, help me down. (WINDY and STORMY
ght to help MILTON down from the chair.)
SADIE: Mr. Millhouse, as I was saying, please bequeath!
MILTON: Bequeath?
SADIE: Yes, it says right here in my little book… (Pats book.) …that
bequeath means to leave. So, please bequeath! I don’t mean to
be rude, but you are not wanted here. Haven’t you done enough
already? What can you possibly want here?
MILTON: Don’t you know? (ALL except MILTON, WINDY and STORMY
FREEZE. To AUDIENCE.) She’s denitely not the brightest bulb
in the chandelier. That doesn’t matter, though, because she has
something more important than brains. Wait a minute. I know what
you are all thinking. (While walking around talking to AUDIENCE,
he places his cane on the table.) You’re thinking that I’m going
to say something about her beauty. But there’s something better
than her beauty. She’s the owner of pure gold, and she doesn’t
even know it. (Wicked laugh, rubs hands together.) And I’m going
to get it!
STORMY/WINDY: We’re going to get it.
MILTON: (To GIRLS.) That’s right. You’re going to get it! (Nods
knowingly to AUDIENCE. Then speaks once again to AUDIENCE.)
As I was saying, in the middle of Sadie’s ranch is buried treasure,
and I have a map. (Takes map out of pocket and unfolds it.) All I
have to do is run all of Sadie’s guests off, plus the hired peons…
(Extends hand to WRANGLERS.) …and I can safely look for the
buried treasure, and it will be mine—all mine! (Wicked laugh.)
STORMY/WINDY: Ours! (ALL UNFREEZE.)
SADIE: (Looks at MILTON.) My, are you still here? Didn’t I just tell
you to bequeath? (MILTON folds map and puts it back into his
shirt pocket.)
JUDE: Uh, Sadie, just tell him to leave.
SADIE: Jude, I just did tell him to leave when I told him to bequeath.
It says right here. (Indicates her book.)
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JUDE: That’s okay. (To MILTON. Puffs out chest.) Miss Sadie told
you to leave, so go. (WRANGLERS start to circle around MILTON.
STORMY and WINDY still irt with them.)
MILTON: Don’t touch the cape. I’m going because I had already
planned to go. Stormy. Windy. (Snaps ngers.) Make a path for
my exit. (GIRLS now vie for MILTON’S attention. Still ghting over
MILTON, the GIRLS and MILTON EXIT RIGHT, leaving the cane
on the table.)
JUDE: Dex and Rex, go keep an eye on Milton. He’s up to
something.
DEX: Shore thing, Jude. Anything to help Ms. Sadie. (He and REX
EXIT RIGHT. TEX goes back to working on the ropes.)
SADIE: Jude, would you like a piece of my huckleberry cobbler? (TEX
perks up with the mention of food.)
JUDE: Miss Sadie, I would ride far and wide… (Gestures “far and
wide” with his hands.) …to have a piece of your huckleberry
cobbler.
SADIE: Why, Jude, you don’t have to ride anywhere. Silly, you are
right here beside me.
JUDE: (First looks at the AUDIENCE in amazement, then links
SADIE’S arm.) Miss Sadie, you yourself are a rare fruit. (They
EXIT LEFT.)
BITSY’S VOICE: (From OFF RIGHT.) Hello. (Pause.) Hello? Tex,
where are you?
BITSY: (ENTERS RIGHT with picnic basket and goes over to TEX by
bench.) Hi, Tex.
TEX: Good day to you, Miss Bitsy. What brings you here?
BITSY: It’s a beautiful day. I thought we could go on a picnic. I brought
all of your favorites.
MILTON: (ENTERS RIGHT and looks around.) Where did I leave my
cane? Oh, there it is. (Walks over to the table, then looks at BITSY
and TEX, who are obviously enjoying each other’s company. To
AUDIENCE.) Now, that’s disgusting, they look like two starstruck
birds—loony birds, that is.
BITSY: Tex, see what I brought—fried chicken, potato salad, corn
pone, corn on the cob, apple fritters and stacked molasses cake.
Interested? (Takes several containers out of the basket, then
replaces them after showing them. TEX gets more and more
excited with each food item.)
MILTON: Are you guring on feeding an army? You have enough
there for an entire brigade!
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TEX: (To MILTON.) She better not be feeding an entire brigade. There’s
barely enough here for me. (To BITSY.) You bet I’m interested
in going on a picnic with you, Bitsy. There’s nothing much to do
around here, anyway, now that Miss Sadie’s guests are all leaving.
(Brightens.) Fried chicken, potato salad, corn pone, corn on the
cob, apple fritters and stacked molasses cake. Yum! Hey, didn’t
you bring me some fried apples soaked in maple syrup?
BITSY: Yes, of course I did. I know all your favorites. And I certainly
hope that list includes me. (Takes TEX’S arm as they EXIT
RIGHT.)
MILTON: Good, I thought they would never leave. (Takes out map.)
Sure wish I could read this map better. I can’t tell all the markings.
(Turns the map over and over, trying to gure out the correct
position.) Is this the right way or is it this way? Drat! And it’s all
smudged and stained. Is that mark this ranch house or is it a
stain?
SADIE: (ENTERS LEFT with JUDE. He is eating a bowl of huckleberry
cobbler. SADIE has her book with her. ANNIE and BETTY also
ENTER LEFT. MILTON quickly folds up the map and places it
back in his pocket. To ANNIE and BETTY.) What do you mean,
he’s promised you the moon? Our moon and stars are the same
as Mr. Millhouse’s. Please don’t go. We’re planning on having a
hayride this evening. And I have hot huckleberry cobbler. (Sees
MILTON.) Oh, haven’t you left yet?
MILTON: Oh, ladies. (To ANNIE and BETTY.) Have you decided to
depart this little hole in the wall and come join me at my worldrenowned ranch? It’s known all over the world for its beauty and
charm. I hire only the handsomest cowboys and the nest chefs, I
purchase only the sturdiest quarter horses and—
JUDE: —and have the most egotistical host.
MILTON: Surely you jest. Why settle for hamburger when one can
have let mignon?
SADIE: Jude isn’t eating hamburger, he’s eating some of my
huckleberry cobbler. (MILTON looks blankly at SADIE.)
BETTY: (To MILTON.) Oh, sir. Do you really hire the handsomest
cowboys and the nest chefs and purchase only sturdy quarter
horses? (MILTON nods. To SADIE.) I am sorry, Sadie, but, well,
you know. Mr. Milton says he has the handsomest cowboys and
the nest chefs, and well, he charges less than you do. I truly am
sorry.
ANNIE: Yes, Sadie. We wish things were different. (To MILTON.) Sir,
we’ll be packed shortly. Do send over your wagon for our things.
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MILTON: Certainly, my dears. I only want what is best for my guests.
(Aside.) What I really mean to say is that I only want what is best
for me and only me. (Wicked laugh. ANNIE and BETTY EXIT
LEFT.)
SADIE: Jude, I’m just so sad. There’s no melody in my heart right
now.
JUDE: (To SADIE.) Really? I seem to have a melody going all the
time… (Wiggles his nger in his ear.) Sadie, let’s go try one more
time to convince Miss Annie and Miss Betty to stay. I’m sure we
can take this sad song and make it better. (To MILTON.) I expect
you to be gone sooner rather than later. Got that? (MILTON growls
while SADIE and JUDE EXIT LEFT. MILTON then starts to pull out
the map again. His back is toward STAGE RIGHT.)
ITSY: (ENTERS RIGHT. If played by another actress, she should be
dressed just like BITSY. If the same actress plays both parts, then
have a change of blouses, hats or scarves—something that will
set the two apart slightly.) Excuse me, have you seen Sadie?
MILTON: (Surprised and ustered because he’s been caught with the
map. He quickly puts it back into his front pocket.) Yes, you just
missed her. She’s in the back of the house. (Turns and sees ITSY,
thinking that she’s BITSY.) Why aren’t you on your picnic? Surely
that human composter hasn’t consumed all that food yet. You’ve
only been gone a few minutes.
ITSY: Sir, what are you talking about? And who are you?
MILTON: I am the one and only Milton Millhouse.
ITSY: So you’re the one who has been stealing Miss Sadie’s guests.
(MILTON reacts.) How dare you? And what do you mean by a
picnic? What picnic? What food? What do you mean I’ve only
been gone for a few minutes? I just got here.
MILTON: (Growls.) Are you quite nished? (Aside.) I feel like I’m
married—being barraged with all these questions. (To ITSY.)
You were just here with a picnic basket lled with fried chicken,
corn pone, apple fritters, corn on the cob and— (ITSY looks
perplexed.)
ANNIE: (ENTERS LEFT with BETTY. Both are carrying suitcases.)
Oh, Mr. Millhouse. I just feel awful about leaving Sadie’s ranch.
She really is a good hostess. Is your place really as wonderful as
you say it is?
ITSY: (To ANNIE and BETTY.) Please don’t listen to Mr. Millhouse.
Miss Sadie needs your business. This ranch is all that she has.
MILTON: (Aside.) If she only knew what she really had in this place.
(To ANNIE.) Would I lie to one such as yourself—a woman of such
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beauty, charm and intelligence? (Aside.) Would I lie? Of course
I would lie. Lying is my middle name. Milton Lying Millhouse!
(Wicked laugh.) As soon as I get everyone out of here and can
nd that treasure, I’ll be long gone. (To ANNIE, faking sympathy.)
Of course, you are sorry about Sadie. But business is business,
my dear. Now if you are ready, we can transport you to the worldrenowned Milton’s Dude Ranch.
BETTY: (Hesitant at rst.) Well, okay. I guess we are ready. Here’s
our luggage, Mr. Millhouse. (LADIES hand luggage to MILTON,
who is appalled at their heaviness. He immediately goes down
with the weight of the suitcases.)
STORMY: (ENTERS RIGHT with WINDY.) Milty, there you are. We
done been looking all over for you. (Both GIRLS giggle.)
MILTON: (Sarcastic; aside.) Lucky me. (To STORMY and WINDY.)
And don’t call me Milty. It makes me sound all weak and cuddly and
soft-like. That’s disgusting. (Pause.) Oh, girls, I have a wonderful
job for you.
WINDY: (Excited.) Oh, Milty, thank you, thank you, thank you for
thinking of us. I will do whatever you ask. (Pushes STORMY out
of the way.)
STORMY: I was here rst. Milty, let me help you. Pllleeeease. (To
WINDY.) Get out of my way. (GIRLS continue to ght.)
MILTON: (Aside.) You know, watching them go at each other is
better than watching two tomcats ghting on a moonlit night. (To
WINDY and STORMY.) Girls. There’s one for each of you. (Hands
luggage to each.) Now, take these outside and wait for the wagon.
(WINDY and STORMY shove and ght all the way as they EXIT
RIGHT with the suitcases. MILTON makes a grand gesture and
escorts ANNIE and BETTY OUT RIGHT. SADIE ENTERS LEFT
with JUDE. SADIE is crying and still carrying her book.)
ITSY: Hey, Jude. Hi, Sadie.
SADIE: Oh, woe is me. Itsy, I’m so glad you’re here. (Goes to ITSY.)
What am I to do? I’m losing all my customers. If this keeps up, I
won’t have enough money to ac-ti-vate my ranch.
JUDE: Sadie, dear, you don’t activate a ranch. You run a ranch, you
operate a ranch, you—
SADIE:
Jude, according to “Miss Gloria’s Guide to Proper
Language”—
ITSY: (Comes between them.) Sadie! Jude! This is not solving Sadie’s
problem. How can we stop Milton from stealing all of Sadie’s
customers?
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JUDE: You’re right, Itsy. I’m sorry, Sadie. My correcting you isn’t
stopping that conniving Milton. I’d sure like to know what he’s up
to. I sent Dex and Rex to keep an eye on him.
ITSY: So that’s why I haven’t seen Rex here today. I think I’ll go nd
him and keep my eye on him. (Starts to leave, but stops.) Oh,
I almost forgot why I came over here, Sadie. Here’s the bonnet
pattern that I borrowed from you. Thanks. (Pull a piece of paper
from pocket and hands it to SADIE.) Bye, Sadie. Bye, Jude.
(EXITS RIGHT.)
SADIE: Jude, I’m so glad that you’re here to see me through this
hearing.
JUDE: I hear you just ne, Sadie.
SADIE: No, Jude, you don’t understand. I’m glad that you are here
to see me through my hearing. You know, my trial. According to
“Miss Gloria’s Guide to Proper Language,” hearing and trial are
cinnamons.
JUDE: (Whispers.) Cinnamons? (A little louder.) Cinnamons? Oh!
You must mean synonyms!
SADIE: (Points to page in book.) It says right here on page 76 that
trial and hearing are cinnamons. That means that they mean the
same thing.
JUDE: But, Sadie?
SADIE: (Flutters her eyelashes.) Yes, Jude.
JUDE: (Takes book from her and places it on the table. SADIE
continues to utter her eyelashes.) What’s wrong with your eyes?
Never mind. (Resigned.) You are absolutely right. Hearing and trial
are cinnamons. (Takes SADIE’S hands in his.) We were made for
each other, like Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Roy Rogers and Dale
Evans— (List any current couples with which your AUDIENCE is
familiar.)
SADIE: (Excited.) Like… like Romeo and Juliet.
JUDE: Uh, Sadie, didn’t they kill themselves?
REX: (Runs IN RIGHT with DEX and ITSY.) Hey, Jude! Jude! We
followed Milton just like you told us to.
DEX: And he was acting really peculiar, even for him! (Pause.)
JUDE: Well? What was he doing?
ITSY: He keeps looking at a map. He’s walking around in circles and
muttering to himself. What can that mean?
JUDE: A map? A map? Why would he be looking at a map?
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SADIE: (Mutters, picks up her book.) A map? A map? Can there really
be a map?
JUDE: What are you saying, Sadie?
SADIE: My grandpappy… (Puts her hand over her heart.) …God rest
his soul… (The OTHER FOUR put their hands over their hearts
one at a time in domino fashion.) …always told us that there was
treasure and that there was a map, but he had never seen the
map.
JUDE: Well, if there is a map, how could Milton have gotten ahold of
it? (SADIE shrugs her shoulders.)
TEX: (ENTERS RIGHT, rubs his stomach.) Hey, Jude. What’s
everyone doing? Sadie, do you have any more of your huckleberry
cobbler? I sure could use some. I’m still hungry. Bitsy just didn’t
pack enough food for our picnic.
SADIE: Sure thing, I’ll go get you a basinful for you.
JUDE: Even Tex couldn’t eat a basinful. (Spreads out his hand in a
wide circle.) Just get him a bowl, Sadie.
SADIE: But, Jude, according to my book, a basin is a bowl.
TEX: Hey, Jude, stay out of it! A basinful of Ms. Sadie’s huckleberry
cobbler sounds like just what I need.
SADIE: Come along, everyone. Huckleberry cobbler for one and all.
JUDE: While we’re eating, maybe I can gure out how and why Milton
has a map.
ITSY: We know you’re doin’ your best to help Sadie. But Jude, don’t
carry the world upon your shoulders. We’ll just all work on this
together. (EVERYONE agrees and EXITS LEFT. SADIE leaves
her book on the table. BLACKOUT.)
End of Scene One
OPTIONAL INTERMISSION: Bales of hay could be down in front of
AUDIENCE. SADIE, JUDE, DEX, TEX, BITSY, ELLIE and IRIS sit on
bales and lead the AUDIENCE in a sing-along. Additional dialogue
could be inserted if an olio is used.
Scene Two
LIGHTS UP: Later that evening at Sadie’s ranch. MILTON sneaks IN
RIGHT, holding the map. STORMY and WINDY sneak IN after him.
ALL start looking around for the treasure.
STORMY: (Heads for the table.) Milty, what exactly are we supposed
to be hunting for? (Starts to pick up Sadie’s book, then drops it.)
Oh, drat. I just done gone and broke my nail.
10
End of Script Sample
PRODUCTION NOTES
PROPERTIES
ONSTAGE: Bench, coat rack, table, two chairs, ropes, harnesses,
reins, saddles. Optional: bales of hay (down front for olio or singalong).
BROUGHT ON, Scene One:
Ropes (DEX, REX)
Plate of pancakes, fork (TEX)
Suitcases (LAURIE, MILLIE, JOCELYN, ANNIE, BETTY)
Book (SADIE)
Folded map (MILTON)
Picnic basket with at least seven containers (BITSY)
Bowl and fork (JUDE)
Piece of paper [bonnet pattern] (ITSY)
BROUGHT ON, Scene Two:
Map (MILTON)
Bits of straw in their clothing (SADIE, JUDE, ELLIE, IRIS)
Bonnet (SADIE)
Suitcases (LAURIE, MILLIE, JOCELYN, ANNIE, BETTY)
Bowl and fork (TEX)
SOUND EFFECTS
Clip-clopping, sick horse whinny.
COSTUMES
JUDE and WRANGLERS wear traditional cowboy garb. JUDE’S
costume is a bit more handsome and should be all white if
possible.
MILTON wears the classic villain’s black top hat and cape. He always
carries a cane.
ITSY and BITSY wear the same costume if played by two actresses.
If the part is played by one actress, she should wear a slightly
different costume for each role—perhaps a different blouse, scarf
or hat.
WINDY and STORMY wear costumes of the period, but might show
a bit more sass with bright colors or amboyant costume pieces
such as hats or boas.
SADIE and the GUESTS wear dresses of the period. SADIE should
be dressed a bit prettier than the other ladies—more white, more
lace, perhaps a bow on her dress or in her hair.
18
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