STORY SYNOPSIS

Note: Contains some scatological language that some people may find offensive, as well as some subtle but adult situations. Not recommended for young children.

TRACK 2 - ACT ONE

New York City. The Depression. 1930’s. A poor neighborhood along the East River, adjacent to new luxury high rises. Neighborhood kids, DIPPY, SPIT, TB, and ANGEL, running from the cops for minor mischief reach the wharf, their regular hangout. Starting a card game, the kids sing IT’S IN DUH CARDS, about the people around them and their lot in life. After the song, we meet the DOORMAN of the luxury building; GIMPTY, an out of work architect; TOMMY, the gang leader; and DRINA, his activist sister, who may have a crush on GIMPTY. Afterwards, when TOMMY asks GIMPTY why he’s always drawing unfamiliar homes, GIMPTY sings PAPER HOUSES, about his vision for a better world, and his frustrations trying to turn his vision into reality. Following the song, we get a momentary glimpse of rich and poor world’s colliding during an exchange between the kids and older residents of the fashionable apartment building encroaching on the neighborhood. Two slickly dressed strangers appear, BABY FACE MARTIN and HUNK. MARTIN, we learn, is a product of this neighborhood and, growing weary of his criminal life on the run, has become nostalgic to see his mother and his childhood sweetheart, FRANCEY. Then there’s an exchange between the gang and the rich kid next door, PHILLIPE, leading into RICH FOLKS, illustrating comically how the kids perceive the rich. After the song, GIMPTY confronts MARTIN momentarily, who he thinks he might know. After, kids meet MILTY, the new kid on the block and attack him. DRINA shows up to break it up and confront her brother TOMMY and SPIT. DRINA talks with GIMPTY revealing a bit of their relationship as well as DRINA’s labor strike activism. GIMPTY mentions KAY, his new “girlfriend” and DRINA, inwardly jealous, subtlety reacts and leaves. GIMPTY encounters MARTIN again and makes the connection to the notorious gangster he knows from the neighborhood ten years before. GIMPTY says he’ll keep his mouth shut and MARTIN trusts him. HUNK, his sidekick, doesn’t. MARTIN, with GIMPTY dialogue, sings OUT WEST about realty vs. fiction and the media, providing a back story of his evolution from street punk to most wanted criminal, while making it clear to GIMPTY that there will be consequences if he turns him in. After the song, MARTIN explains he’s returned to see his mom and FRANCEY, his old girlfriend, part of him still hankering for traditional values like a home, family, and steady girlfriend. After MARTIN sends ANGEL to find his mom, we meet KAY for first time talking to GIMPTY. She’s in a loveless relationship with HILTON, a rich man who lives in the luxury building, but she has feelings for GIMPTY. She lets on that she may be leaving on a trip with HILTON soon. Segue to HILTON cocktail party leading into GET OVER IT, where members of the upper class express how they feel about the less affluent. After song, PHILLIPE tells his dad, GRISWALD, about gang threats. GRISWALD confronts gang from terrace. Cut to MARTIN checking with DIPPY to see if he gave message to his mom. A few hours later, the gang is playing cards and TOMMY lets them know he’s got some mischief planned for PHILLIPE. When kids from a rival gang show up to plan a fight, they notice a mark on him that leads gang into MARK OF DUH SQUEALUH. After song, MARTIN gives gang advice for their upcoming fight, which GIMPTY takes exception to, creating a further rift between the two. After GIMPTY tells TOMMY and the gang to take off, MARTIN and HUNK walk away and spot MARTIN’s MOM approaching. The encounter turns bitter between MARTIN and his MOM in GLAD TUH SEE YUH. Witnessing the encounter, GIMPTY comments to MARTIN, escalating their risky relationship almost to the breaking point. After MARTIN leaves, GIMPTY is left to reflect on his responsibility as a possible whistleblower and “rat” in STANDING ON A CORNER.

TRACK 3 - ACT TWO

MILTY returns, agreeing to steal a quarter from his mother, leading the gang into LOININ’, showing how kids are shaped by their environment. PHILLIPE encounters gang and is lured into the basement of the building where he is mugged. As the city lights come up, MARTIN encounters GIMPTY on the wharf, but before they can engage, KAY shows up. After MARTIN departs, KAY tells GIMPTY she may be leaving tomorrow. HILTON shows up, and seeing them together, becomes enraged and leaves in a huff. Afterwards, KAY talks GIMPTY into going to his place. Cut to gang celebrating beating and robbing PHILLIPE. Cut to PHILLIPE, hysterical, telling his father, GRISWALD, about what the gang did to him. PHILLIPE points TOMMY out, and when GRISWALD grabs him, TOMMY, panicking, pulls out ANGEL’s knife and cuts GRISWALD, then runs away. Hearing the ruckus, OFFICER MULLIGAN approaches and GRISWALD demands he apprehend the kid. After GRISWALD and PHILLIPE leave, DRINA returns from the picket lines, but GIMPTY doesn’t immediately tell her about TOMMY. Left alone, MULLIGAN and the DOORMAN discuss their lot in life stuck between the rich and poor in BLUE COLLAR BLUES. After, we catch up with GIMPTY telling DRINA that TOMMY’s in trouble, leading to a discussion about their neighborhood and poverty, and the effect it has on people, which leads to a more personal conversation about life and love. As GIMPTY tells his side, DRINA reveals (to the audience only) her feelings about going unnoticed and unrequited love in RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES. After the song, their conversation continues about a better life and their dreams and maybe GIMPTY getting a glimpse of who DRINA is. MULLIGAN, the cop returns with the name of the kid, “Tommy,” making inquiries. GIMPTY and DRINA pretend not to know him. After DRINA leaves, GIMPTY talks briefly about the rewards offered for helping to capture criminals like MARTIN. Overhearing, MARTIN approaches and plays along. GIMPTY hastily departs, leaving MARTIN with MULLIGAN. As MULLIGAN departs, HUNK shows up as MARTIN waxes about living a normal life. Minutes later, in a neighborhood bar, HUNK tries to get MARTIN to leave in KILLED ‘EM IN CHICAGO, after which he is sent off to find FRANCEY. Later in the evening, GIMPTY runs into KAY, who earlier fled from GIMPTY’S apartment after a stark reminder of what poverty looks like up close. Torn, she offers a compromise to GIMPTY, saying she’ll live with HILTON but see him, GIMPTY, on the side. The conversation gets bitter, escalating into IN ANOTHER WORLD, which makes it clear that in this world, the two of them won’t make it together. Cut to kids playing cards and the first suspicion that SPIT would squeal on TOMMY for reward money. After, HUNK shows up with FRANCEY, who is now a diseased prostitute. MARTIN, becoming delusional, sees FRANCEY as she was when they were childhood sweethearts in A MILLION YEARS AGO. As song ends, MARTIN is jarred back to reality and gives FRANCEY money and departs. A short while later, back in the bar, HUNK tries to console MARTIN on his double setback. MARTIN’s response is to consider kidnapping a kid for ransom. After, GIMPTY catches up with DRINA on the wharf and they discuss TOMMY and guys like MARTIN and the effect of poverty. DRINA accuses GIMPTY of only caring because of KAY, and sings a reprise of RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES, but GIMPTY responds within the song, having an epiphany about DRINA and that he must act to stop MARTIN from doing any more damage. Back to MARTIN and HUNK planning the kidnapping, when GIMPTY shows up to finger him to the feds. MARTIN and HUNK are shot dead. Left alone, GIMPTY is gripped with guilt and doubts about his actions which he expresses in a reprise to STANDING ON A CORNER.

TRACK 4 - ACT THREE

Back at their apartment, TOMMY reunites with DRINA, where they desperately seek a way out. During their conversation, DRINA tells TOMMY about a man she met in I MET A MAN that could save them both, then tells him it was just a dream. After DRINA promises to get them away and leaves, TOMMY imagines how life could be in SOMEONE LIKE ME. Afterwards, TOMMY plots with ANGEL to set up SPIT to confess ratting on him. When SPIT confesses, TOMMY appears and threatens to give him the Mark of the Squealuh as they sing a reprise of the MARK OF THE SQUEALUH. DRINA and GIMPTY intervene and stop TOMMY, but while they decide what to do, the DOORMAN and OFFICER MULLIGAN show up and TOMMY gives himself up. When GRISWALD arrives, DRINA pleads for mercy while GRISWALD and GIMPTY respond in WHAT’S THE HARM, a song about justice, mercy, and redemption. Though moved, GRISWALD tells the police to take TOMMY away. As TOMMY is led away, GIMPTY pledges to use his reward money to hire a lawyer to help TOMMY. After they’re gone, the DOORMAN yells at the kids as they return to the wharf and life as they know it.

THE END