SCENE 1

CIRCUS TENT
Absolute darkness. BARNUM, with top hat, his back to the audience, alone.

THE GREATEST SHOW

WHOA ( 8 bis)
LADIES AND GENTS, THIS IS THE
MOMENT YOU'VE WAITED FOR ( WHOA)
BEEN SEARCHING IN THE DARK, YOUR SWEAT SOAKING THROUGH THE FLOOR ( WHOA)
AND BURIED IN YOUR BONES THERE'S AN ACHE THAT YOU CAN'T IGNORE
TAKING YOUR BREATH, STEALING YOUR MIND
AND ALL THAT WAS REAL IS LEFT BEHIND
DON'T FIGHT IT, IT'S COMING FOR YOU, RUNNING AT YA
IT'S ONLY THIS MOMENT, DON'T CARE WHAT COMES AFTER
YOUR FEVER DREAM, CAN'T YOU SEE IT GETTING CLOSER
JUST SURRENDER 'CAUSE YOU FEEL THE FEELING TAKING OVER
IT'S FIRE, IT'S FREEDOM, IT'S FLOODING OPEN
IT'S A PREACHER IN THE PULPIT AND YOUR BLIND DEVOTION
THERE'S SOMETHING BREAKING AT THE BRICK OF EVERY WALL, IT'S HOLDING
ALL THAT YOU KNOW

SO TELL ME, DO YOU WANNA GO?

WHERE IT'S COVERED IN ALL THE COLORED LIGHTS
WHERE THE RUNAWAYS ARE RUNNING THE NIGHT
IMPOSSIBLE COMES TRUE, IT'S TAKING OVER YOU

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 OH, THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW
WE LIGHT IT UP, WE WON'T COME DOWN
AND THE SUN CAN'T STOP US NOW
WATCHING IT COME TRUE, IT'S TAKING OVER YOU
OH, THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW

IT'S EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANT

IT'S EVERYTHING YOU EVER NEED
AND IT'S HERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
THIS IS WHERE YOU WANNA BE (THIS IS WHERE YOU WANNA BE)
IT'S EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANT
IT'S EVERYTHING YOU EVER NEED
AND IT'S HERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
THIS IS WHERE YOU WANNA BE
( bis)

Young Barnum appears. They look a t each other. The circus fades out.

CHARITY’S HOUSE

YOUNG BARNUM (1 0) is waiting for his father to finish measuring Mr Hallett’s suit. YOUNG
CHARITY is a t a table, learning manners with her GOVERNESS.
GOVERNESS: Pinky up, arm extended, elbow out. Sip, never slurp Pinky in the air, arm
...

extended .. .

YOUNG BARNUM starts making a fake teacup. YOUNG CHARITY is tired.

GOVERNESS: Put your back straight. Keep your cup level, elbow out, slow and gentle, gracefully ...

YOUNG BARNUM mocking the governess. Suddenly Charity laughs and spits the tea over her dress.
YOUNG CHARITY: Oh no.

GOVERNESS: Young lady this is unacceptable. A lack of respect! Cleaning her clothes
MR. HALLETT: Charity, come here. Is this how we have taught you to behave? Like a person of no
breeding? Look at your dress!
She walks to her father, not looking a t Young Barnum.

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YOUNG BARNUM: It’s my fault, sir. I’m sorry. I made her laugh.
MR HALLETT: Well, thank you for your honesty.
He hits Young BARNUM on the face.
PHILO: He’s a bit touched in the head; you know. Come on, son. There’s work to do.

MR. HALLETT : You’ve done quite enough today, Mr. Barnum. There’s that for your troubles. (To
Young Barnum) And you stay away from my daughter. Don’t you dare get near her.

PHILO: Thank you, sir. Apologies again.

Mr. Hallett grabs Charity’s hand and walks out of the stage. She turns her head worried, Barnum
smiles and she smiles back. But then becomes worried again, dragged away by her father.
PHILO: Are you crazy? Let’s get home.

BLACKOUT

SCENE 2

BEACH

Young Barnum sits on a beach. He looks up to see young Charity approaching.

YOUNG BARNUM: How did you get out?
YOUNG CHARITY: I climbed out the window once father got into his work.
She sits down next to him. She is downcast as well.
YOUNG BARNUM: Were you scolded?
YOUNG CHARITY: Yes. Father is sending me to boarding school. Where you?
They share a look -- they both were.
YOUNG CHARITY: I’m going to miss you.
YOUNG BARNUM: When will I see you again?
She shakes her head.
YOUNG CHARITY: Never. He is caught off guard.
YOUNG CHARITY: I don’t know what my future will be. Father says I am to be a lady, but... It’s all so
dull when you’re not there.

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 A MILLION DREAMS

I CLOSEMYEYES AND I CAN SEE

THE WORLDTHA T'S WAITING UP FOR ME
THAT I CALL MY OWN

THROUGH THE DARK, THROUGH THE DOOR

THROUGH WHERE NO ONE'S BEENBEFORE

BUT ITFEELS LIKEHOME

THEY CAN SA Y, THEY CAN SA Y IT ALL SOUNDS CRAZY
THEY CAN SA Y, THEY CAN SA Y I'VE LOST MY MIND
I DON'T CARE, I DONTCARE, SO CALL SO CALL ME CRAZY
WE CAN LIVEIN IN A WORLDTHAT WE DESIGN
'CAUSE EVERY NIGHT I LIE IN BED
THE BRIGHTEST COLOURS FILL MY HEAD
A MILLION DREAMS ARE KEEPINGME AWAKE
I THINK OF WHAT THE WORLDCOULDBE BE
AVISION OF THE ONE I SEE
A MILLION DREAMS IS ALL IT'S GONNA TAKE
OH A MILLION DREAMS FORTHEWORLD WE'RE GONNA MAKE
THERE'S A HOUSE WE CAN BUILD

EVERY ROOM INSIDEIS FILLED

WITH THINGS FROM FARAWAY
THE SPECIAL THINGS I COMPILE
EACH ONE THERET O MAKE YOU SMILE
ON A RAINY AD Y

THEY CAN SA Y, THEY CAN SA Y IT ALL SOUNDS CRAZY

THEY CAN SA Y, THEY CAN SA Y WE'VE LOST OUR MINDS
I DON'T CARE, I DONT CARE IF THEY IF THEY CALL US CRAZY
RUNAWAY TO A WORLDTHA T WE DESIGN

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BARNUM: Sir, I know I don't come from much, but I will take care of your daughter and I will give
her a life as grand as this one.

He sees something over Hallet’s shoulder. Mr. Hallet turns to look. Charity, 1 8, carries a suitcase
down the grand staircase to the foyer.

MR HALLETT: She’ll be back. Sooner or later, she will be tired of your life, of having nothing and
she’ll come running back home.

Charity walks past him. Charity slips her arm through his, and they run off.
BARNUM: I see the future. OUR future.

CHARITY: And what does our future hold, Mr. Barnum?

BARNUM: Magic.
CHARITY: As long as we are together everything is magic.

EVERY NIGHT I LIE IN BED

THE BRIGHTESTCOLOURSFILL MY HEAD
A MILLION DREAMS ARE KEEPING ME AWAKE
I THINK OF WHAT THE WORLDCOULDBE BE
A VISION OF THE ONE I SEE

A MILLION DREAMS IS IS ALL IT'S GONNA TAKE

OH A MILLION DREAMS FOR THE WORLD WE'RE GONNA MAKE
HOWEVER BIG, HOWEVER SMALL

LET ME BE P ARTOFITIT ALL

SHARE YOUR DREAMS WITHMEME
YOU MAY BE RIGHT; YOU MAY BE WRONG
BUT SA Y THAT YOU'LL BRINGME ALONG
TO THE WORLD YOU SEE

TO THE WORLDI CLOSE MY EYES TO SEE

I CLOSE MY EYES TO SEE

EVERY NIGHT I LIE IN BED

THE BRIGHTEST COLOURSFILL MY HEAD
A MILLION DREAMS ARE KEEPINGME AWAKE
A MILLION DREAMS, A MILLION DREAMS
I THINK OF WHAT THE WORLDCOULD BE BE
AVISION OF THE ONE I SEE

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 A MILLION DREAMS IS ALL IT'S GONNA TAKE
A MILLION DREAMS FOR THE WORLD WE' RE GONNA MAKE
FOR THE WORLD WE'REGONNA MAKE

BLACKOUT

SCENE 3

BARNUM’S

Barnum enters, exhausted from work. He carries the pencil holder, and several large files. His
daughters, CAROLINE and HELEN, are playing around.
BARNUM: Hey
CHARITY: Oh God, you’re home early!

BARNUM: And until further notice. The whole float sank in the South China Sea. It was outrageous.
They went bankrupt. I lost my job.
He shows her the dismissal document.
CHARITY: Well I didn’t think you were long for that job.
BARNUM: Or any job, apparently.
CHARITY: That’s what makes our life together so exciting.
Hanging the sheets on the rope.
BARNUM: Charity. They stare a t each other. This isn’t the life I promised you.

CHARITY: But I have everything I want.

BARNUM: What about the magic?
CHARITY: What do you call those two girls?
Both daughters, playing and laughing together.
CHARITY: Hey girls, look who’s here to surprise us?
GIRLS: Daddy!
CAROLINE: Did you bring a present?
BARNUM: For what?

CAROLINE: For my birthday!

BARNUM: For what?

CAROLINE: My birthday
BARNUM: It’s not your birthday! Ha. Ok, I do have a present. Just sit down and wait to see.
He opens his suitcase and finds a present.

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CAROLINE: What is it?
BARNUM: It’s not just any present, oh no. The most amazing present ever. Built by the King of

Siam. Stolen by pirates. Lost in a great storm. It’s the only one in the whole world. It’s a wishing
machine. You tell it all your wishes and it holds them safe. Even if you forget them they are always
there. Happy birthday Caroline!
HELEN: Can I tell a wish? Barnum invites her to go ahead. My wish is to marry Santa Claus!

BARNUM: That’s a good wish! They giggle.

CAROLINE: I wish for a pair of ballet slippers, so I can be a ballerina.
Barnum smiles sadly and looks a t Charity.

BARNUM: And that’s a good wish too.

CAROLINE: What’s your wish mommy?
CHARITY: I wish for happiness like this forever. For all of us

REPRISE OF A MILLION DREAMS

BANK
BARNUM sits a t the banker’s desk. He receives a loan. They shake hands.

BLACKOUT

SCENE 4

BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM OF CURIOSITIES

BARNUM: Welcome to the BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM OF CURIOSITIES!

CAROLINE: What kind of museum is this?

BARNUM: A place to be transported, a wax museum.

CHARITY: Wax figures?
BARNUM: Oh yeah, here there are the most famous folks in history!
Barnum talking to Charity

BARNUM: I know how it looks!

7
CHARITY: I’m glad you can see it. If not I would be worried. That loan has to be paid every single
month.

BARNUM: Oh yeah, we’re gonna pay for it. We just need customers.
CHARITY: Yeah, hundreds of them.

BARNUM: We are gonna get them.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
The whole family is on the street giving away advertisements to people with no result. No one pays

8
attention. He tries again.
BARNUM: Welcome to the Barnum Museum! We have shows every single hour. Right this way,
folks! Come one, come all! See things you’ve never seen! Things you never imagined!

He stops. Dozens of people walk past, ignoring the museum.

BARNUM: Half price for anyone who is wearing a hat. Oh, that’s you Sir!
He walks by without grabbing the paper. No tickets are sold.
MAN: Load of garbage, this is rubbish.
BARNUM: How many tickets sweetheart?
CHARITY: None.
While Charity starts picking up papers from the floor his daughters are talking near him.

HELEN: I think there’s too many dead things in the museum.

BARNUM: Oh yeah? And what would you like?

CAROLINE: She’s right, you need something alive. Something sensational.

BARNUM: That’s a big word!

CAROLINE: It’s your word

HELEN: Something that isn’t stuffed.
CAROLINE: Like a mermaid.
HELEN: Or a unicorn.
BARNUM: Those things aren’t real.

CHARITY: Come, have one Charity offers a n apple to each one of the girls and Phin. The girls eat
...

them and Barnum stays staring a t it in silence.

BARNUM: Thanks sweetheart! Instrumental music. He stares a t the apple, everything else onstage
fades away, he remembers, the old woman, with a deformed face appears and fades a wa y.
BARNUM: It needs to be an experience -- an event! -- with music and magic and death-defying
feats! Something you’ll want to see over and over! With the most exotic people you’ve ever heard
of. Not a museum but a show! Not just any show--The greatest show on earth!
MAN by the STREET: Are you looking for freaks? I know where you can find one.

SCENE 5

STREET

9
BARNUM: Come on girls!
He walks following a female voice in the laundry.
BARNUM: Hello!
LAUNDRY LADY: Sir! You shouldn’t be here!
BARNUM: I’m sorry, who’s doing that singing?
Singing ends. LETTIE watches Barnum with fixed eyes.
BARNUM: It’s you, isn’t it?
LETTIE: Sir, I’ll have to ask you to leave.
BARNUM: You are so talented, blessed He moves away a sheet that is hanging and discovers her
...

bearded face.

BARNUM: Extraordinary. Unique. I would even say beautiful.

Women start laughing a t her.
LETTIE: Sir, please leave me alone.
Helen gives her a flyer and she stares right through her eyes.
BARNUM: They don’t understand but they will!
They walk away together with the girls grabbing her hands from each side.

BLACKOUT

SCENE 6

SMALL WOODEN CABIN

Barnum knocks on the door. A WOMAN opens it and peers out, not saying a word.
BARNUM: You must be Gertrude Stratton. I am looking for your son.

WOMAN: I don't have a son.

She starts to close the door. He stops her.
BARNUM: The hospital record says you do. Tom, right? Age 22?
He steps over a soldier left on the floor.
WOMAN: Thomas! Thomas!
Thomas comes in.
BARNUM: PT Barnum, at your service. I am putting together a show, and I need a star.
TOM: You want people to laugh at me.

10
BARNUM: They’re laughing anyway, kid. You might as well get paid.
He leaves and stops on the porch.
BARNUM: I see a soldier... No! A general! Riding across the stage! With a sword, a gun! The most
beautiful uniform ever made! People will come from all over the world

to see him ride and when they see him, they won't laugh.
Thomas opens the door.

BARNUM: They'll salute.

Tom smiles. An Oddity brings a hat and coat to Barnum. Tom dresses up as the music starts.

COME ALIVE

YOU STUMBLE THROUGH YOUR AD YS

AND YOU'RE MORE THAN YOU COULD
GOT YOUR HEADHUNGLOW EVER BE
YOUR SKIES' A SHADE OF GREY 'CAUSE YOU'RE DREAMING WITH
LIKE A ZOMBIE IN A MAZE YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN
YOU'RE ASLEEP INSIDE ANDYOUKNOWYOUCAN'T GOBACKBACK
BUT YOU CAN SHAKE AWAY AGAIN
'CAUSEYOU'RE JUST ADEADMAN MAN TO THE WORLDTHAT YOU WERE
WALKING LIVING IN
'CAUSE YOU'RE DREAMINGWITH
THINKING THAT'S YOUR ONLY OPTION
YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN
BUT YOU CAN FLP THE SWITCH AND
SO, COME ALIVE!
BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DARKEST AD Y
I SEE IT IN YOUR EYES
SUN IS UP ANDTHE COLOR'S
YOU BELIEVETHA T LIE
BLINDING THAT YOU NEEDT O HIDE YOUR FACE
TAKETHEWORLD AND REDEFINEIT F AFRAIDT O STEP OUTSIDE
LEAVE BEHIND YOUR NARROW MIND SO, YOU LOCKTHE DOOR
YOU'LL NEVER BE THE SAME BUT DON'T YOU STAY THAT WAY
COME ALIVE, COME ALIVE NO MORE LIVING IN THOSE SHADOWS
GO ANDRIDERIDE YOUR LIGHT YOU ANDME WEKNOW HOW THA T
LET IT BURN SO BRIGHT GOES

REACHINGUPUP CAUSE ONCE YOU SEE IT, OH YOU'LL

TO THE SKY
ANDIT``SOPENWIDE
YOU'RE ELECTRIFIED
WHEN THE WORLDBECOMES A
FANTASY

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