! Scene 5
(Back at the circus, people are rushing around unpacking and setting up. A.J. is overseeing the activity.)
ANTONIO: MARIA: ANTONIO: A.J.:
Alright everyone, as one of our circus family used to say, "Every day is a chance to make someone smile!"
Who said that?
Our first lion tamer. He invented the technique of training lions by pulling their tails and spraying water in their faces! (Everybody pulls their hats off and puts them over their heart, looking down in reverence.) And we miss him dearly …
(interrupting) Sorry Dad, but we're way behind schedule. I'm pretty sure I just saw the delivery boy from the dry cleaners. You'd better go get in your ringmaster costume.
(Antonio leaves. Shep races full-speed into the scene. He stops just long enough to say something to Annabelle, then dashes off, almost knocking A.J. over.)
Woah! Shep, what's the matter? SHEP:
Sorry, Mr. Parabalini, I'm trying … I, uh … (he doesn't finish his sentence as he disappears off stage)
ANNABELLE: Shep said he can't find one of his dancing sheep. A.J.:
One of his one hundred sheep? Who will notice? MARIA:
SOPHIA: TIA:
A.J.:
We should help him look! I'll go this way. (with a "ta-da" type flourish, point one direction)
I'll go this way. (same thing, different direction)
And I'll go this way. (lunges down on one knee toward the audience)
(The clowns look at each other and applaud. The girls rush off.)
Annabelle, the chef needs some help in the cookhouse. She wanted to know if you could spare some of your troupe to lend a hand?
ANNABELLE: (with a big grin) You mean, you want me to … A.J.:
(disgusted) Yes, yes … I want you to "send in the clowns."
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