Veroni: So how's everything going, guys?

Jenny: Fine. Absolutly great.... except for Munkustrap.

Veroni: What's he done now?

Jenny: It's more what he hasn't done. He's been REALLY quiet since "Momma Look Sharp".

Jemi: TOO quiet.

(Munkustrap walks in with George under one arm, cell phone in the other.)

Munku: (speaking in a low voice) So my agent could get you book--- Why hello everyone!

Veroni: I'll take that! (snatches away the cell phone and sends it sailing out the window) And HIM! (grabs George away) Someone take him for a walk to reaquaint him with the REAL world.

Munku: HEY! I wasn't doing anything to him! I merely suggested that his talents could be best handled by a manager and prehaps a salary demand of some sort....

Veroni: You wouldn't!

Skimble: Trust me darlin'. HE WOULD!

(Act 2 opens with the War Committee returning from the army training grounds.)

Misto: Jefferson! We've been looking for you!

Munku: (starts to say something, but Misto just continues on)

Misto: We're back from New Brunswick and we have Maryland!

Bustopher: Chase is in Anapolis right now telling their legislature about the greatest military engagement! He's describing A ragtag group of provintial militia men who couldn't drill together, train together or march together.... until a flock of geese flew over and they saw their first meal in weeks and then? Sweet Jesus could they shoot together!

YUM!! FOOD!

Veroni: Bustopher! Stay with the script! Not THAT kind of egg.

All Three: We're waiting for the chirp, chirp, chirp

Of an Eaglet being born!

We're waiting for the chirp, chirp, chirp

On this humid Monday morning in this

Congressional incubator!

Bustopher: Everlasting Cat knows the temperature's hot enough

To hatch a stone. Let alone an egg!

Misto: We're waiting for the scratch, scratch, scratch

Of that tiny little fella

All Three: Waiting for the egg to hatch

On this humid Monday morning in this

Congressional incubator!

Misto: Everlasting Cat knows the temperature's hot enough

To hatch a stone!

Munku: BUT WILL IT HAAAAATCH ANNNNN EEEEGGG???

Veroni: Munku, if you can't sing it plain, DON'T SING IT AT ALL!!

Munku: I just wanted everyone out there to remember what a stunning voice I have.

Kittens: (hanging around George, still babbling about "Momma, Look Sharp") Yeah, yeah. Whatever Munkustrap.

Munku: I'm hurt.

Veroni: Remember what Matt said? These kittens are fickle. You're gone like yesterday's newspaper.

Jemi: Hopefully minus the being under tomorrow's litter pan thing though.

Munku: Gee, thanks for that great mental image.

(Well, we'll move on now. The three enter back into the congressional hall and the lights dim as a cat crosses over with a sign in her paws reading "Three Days Later...")

(Exotica-- the card carrying cat, trips and lands in a shrieking heap offstage)

Tugger: That added something to the moment....

Veroni: Nausea?

(The congress is sitting around making revision upon revision upon revision. They take out passages here, remove words there, add words here.... and as you can imagine, it gets both annoying and repetitive. So much so that Mistohn is on the verge of another chorus of "Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve"---)

Cats: NO!! ACK!! Give him whatever he wants, just don't let him sing that song again!

Misto: Funny. (back in character) OH GOOD GOD!! How long is this piddling to go on? We have been here for three days! We have endured, by my count, 85 separate changes and the removal of close to 400 words! Now would you whip it and beat it until you break its spirit? I tell you that document is a masterful expression of the feline MIND!

Rumpus: (breaks through the silence) If there are no further changes to be made, we can assume that the report of the declaration committee is comp---

Alonzo: (puts his paw up and speaks) Mr. President?

Bustopher: (under his breath, to Misto) Uh-oh. Look out.

Alonzo: *I* have a request. I was wondering if we could prevail upon the Secretary to re-read a small portion of Mr. Jefferson's declaration.

(In short, Alonzridge has a major problem with the part proclaiming that they should free their slaves.... He accuses them of being hypocritical and sings a memorable, yet biting song.)

Alonzo: Oooo! I get a fun song too, George!

Kittens: (look up with interest)

(The lights dim so there is only a single spotlight on Alonzo and shafts of eerie yellow light coming in through the shuttered windows.)

Alonzo: (sings) Molasses to rum to slaves!

Oh what a beautiful waltz!

You dance with us, we dance with you

In molasses and rum and sla-a-a-aaves

Vicky: Eeew! I would NEVER dance in molasses! Too sticky!

Alonzo: (throws her an icy glare... in character, making it even freakier) Who sails the ships out of Boston?

Laden with Bibles and rum?

Who drinks a toast to the ivory coast?

Hail Africa! The slavers have come:

New England with Bibles and rum.

Then it's off with the rum and the Bibles,

Take on the slaves CLINK CLINK!

Then hail and farewell to the smell of the African coast!

Cats: Eeeeeeeeewwww....

Molasses to rum to slaves

'Tisn't morals! TIS MONEY THAT SAVES!

Shall we dance to the sound

Of the profitable pound?

In molasses and rum and sla-a-a-a-a-aaves.

Who sail the ships out of Guinea?

Laden with Bibles and slaves!

'Tis Boston can boast to the West Indies coast!

"Jamaica! We've brung what ya craze!

Antiqua! Barbados! We brung Bibles and SLAVES!"

Jemi: Jenny? He's gettin' scarier than Macavity...

Alonzo: (so wrapped up in the song, doesn't even hear her) GENTLEMEN! You mustn't think our northern friends meerly see our black slaves as figures on a ledger. OH NO SIR, they see them as figures ON A BLOCK!!! Notice the faces at the auctions, gentlemen! WHITE faces on the AFRICAN worfs! "Put them in ships! Cram them IN THE SHIPS! STUFF THEM IN THE SHIPS!!!!" Alright gentlemen, let the auction.............. begin!!!

(chants nonsense words while he throws insults)

Can we hear? That's the cry of the auctioneer!

(more chanting and the sound of a whip accents his speach)

Slaves, gentlemen! BLACK GOLD! LEMON GOLD!!

THAT GOLD FROM ANGOLA!!! AND GUINEA, GUINEA, GUINEA!

THEM BLACK BIRDS FOR SALE!!!

Veroni: Wow. VERY convincing.

Jelly: I just hope he's not channeling Macavity here.....

Misto: (breaks in at long last) FOR THE LOVE OF THE EVERLASTING CAT, MR. ALONZRIDGE!!! PLEASE!!!

Alonzo: (singing as he drifts back to his seat) Molasses to rum to slaves

Who sail the ships back to Boston...

Laden with gold! See it gleam

Whose fortunes are made in the triangle trade

HAIL SLAVERY! The New England dreeeeeeam

(speaks) Mr. Adams, I give you a toast!

Hail Boston! HAIL CHARLESTON!

Who stinketh the MMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOST????

(The entire South walks out. Without their "Yea" votes, the cause is sunk for the Independance vote must be unanimous. Everyone is shocked into silence, for the colonies in favor of independance now believe all it's useless to try any more.)

Jemi: But...

Veroni: Huh?

Jemi: There must be a but in here somewhere... otherwise we're bordering on "Cat Miserables" depressing here.

(Just then, Chase returns from Maryland. He has pursuaded them to vote "Yea" but it seems a hollow victory.)

Misto: (silent for a long moment) Well... what are we all standing around for? We have work to do!!

Admetus: How? The vote is tomorrow. Face facts, Mistohn. We're finished. (he and the New Jersey delegation leave for the night)

Skimble: I'm sorry, Mistohn. (he and the Connecticut delegation depart)

Misto: MunGean! I want you to ride down to Deleware and fetch back Victor Rodney!

Mungo: Wot! 'E's a dyin' tom!

Misto: Well, can we get Deleware without him?

(MunGean considers this and hurries out to get bring back Victor.)

Munku: (sings) Bring him back!!!

Bring him back!! Bring him back.

He's like the son I might have known--

Veroni: MUNKU! CUT IT OUT!!!

Munku: Well, you were just talking about "Cat Mis"....

Bustopher: It's no use, Mistohn. The slavery cause has to go. It's a luxury we can't afford.

Misto: LUXURY? A million souls in chains and Dr. Franklin calls it a luxury! YOU SHOULD HAVE WALKED OUT WITH THE SOUTH!!!

(They exchange a few more heated words before Mistohn departs for the bell tower where he once again calls to mind his wife for comfort.)

Misto: Oh Abby! What am I going to do?

Jenny: (emerges from the stage smoke) "Do", Mistohn?

Misto: You must tell me what it is! I've always been dissatisfied, I know that. But lately I find I... I REEK of discontentment! It FILLS my throat and FLOODS my brain! And sometimes.... sometimes I fear there is no longer a dream, but only the discontentment.

Jenny: Oh, Mistohn! Do you really know so little about yourself? And can you think so little of me that you believe I'd marry the tom you described? Do you remember what you used to say to me?--- "Commitment Abby! COMMITMENT! There are only two creatures of value on the face of this Earth. Those with a commitment, and those who require the commitment of others." Do you remember that, Mistohn?

Misto: I remember.

(His reverie is interrupted when McNair enters and gives him a special delivery.)

Pounce: MR. ADAMS!!! MR. ADAMS!!!

Misto: What?

Pounce: These are for you. They just arrived.

Misto: Well, just a minute! What are they? What's IN them? WHO SENT THEM??

Jenny: Calm down!! I'm comin'! I'm comin'! I just got my skirts stuck in the doorway on my way to the stage!! Toms have NO patience, I swear to you!

Veroni: JENNY!!! YOU'RE BLOWIN' THE MOMENT!!!

(Abby appears in another stage-fog cloud and sings)

Jenny: Compliments of the Concord ladies coffee club!

And the sisterhood of the True Road synagogue!

And the Friday evening baptist sewing circle

And the holy christian sisters of St. Clair's!!

ALL FOR YOU..... MISTOHN!!!

I AM... AS I EVER WAS AND EVER SHALL BE...

YOURS, YOURS, YOURS, YOURS----

Misto: (breaks in) Just a minute, Abby! What's in these kegs?

Jenny: (sings) SALTPETER!!! MISTOHN!!!!!!!!

(With renewed confidence, Mistohn races back downstairs and pushes everyone into action. He vows that he WILL make this work... somehow.)

Cats: Oooooo! The action speeds ever onward!

(Everyone is gone now, except for the congressional secretary. They stand facing each other for a moment when the courier comes racing in as has become his trademark. Mistohn intercepts the paper and hands it to Platompson.)

Misto: Tell me, Mr. Platompson, out of curiousity.... do you stand with Mr. Dickenson, or do you stand with me?

Plato: I'm sitting.

Veroni: PLATO!!!! SCRIPT!!!

Plato: Oh fine!! (gets into character) I stand with the general. You see, lately I've had the oddest feeling that he's been writing to me. (clears throat) To the congress:

(sings)

I have been in expectation of recieving a reply

On the subject of my last FIFTEEN dispatches.

Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?

Is anybody there?

(he leaves quietly)

Misto: (walks over to the paper and picks it up. Speaks...) Is anybody there. Does anybody care. (sings)

Does anybody see what I see?

They want me to quit.

They say: "Mistohn, give up the fight!"

Still to England I say: "Goonight forever! GOODNIGHT!"

For I have crossed the rue beckon!

Let the bridge be burned behind me!

Come what may! COME WHAT MAY!

COMMITMENT!

The croakers all say: "We'll rule the day!"

There'll be HEL--- uhm.. HECK TO PAY!!!

IN FIREY PURGATORY!

Through all the gloom through all the gloom

I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory!

IS ANYBODY THERE??? DOES ANYBODY CARE???

DOES ANYBODY SEE WHAT I SEE?

I see fireworks! I see the pagent and pomp and parade!

I hear the bells ringing out! I hear the cannons roar!

I see Americans! ALL AMERICANS free forever more!

(gets very calm and reflective in a hurry) How quiet... How quiet the chamber is

How silent. How silent the chamber is...

Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?

(speaks, almost despirate) Does ANYBODY see what I see?

Old D: (has come in, unnoticed) I do, Mr. Adams.

Misto: I didn't see you come in.

Old D: I couldn't sleep. And in trying to resolve my inner dilemma, I remembered something I read once. "A tom owes his people not only his property, but his judgement. And if he compromises that to their opinion, he betrays them."

(Old D walks over to the voting board and slides the sign for Georgia into the "Yea" column.)

Veroni: And let's hear it for Old D for bailing out Tumblebrutus in a tight spot!

Tumble: It's YOUR fault you cast me as TWO guys!!

Veroni: Sorry, but I kinda ran out of toms. YOU came to mind as a possible filler.

Tumble: Do I get anything extra from you for this?

Veroni: Want a hug?

(Tumble runs as fast as he can)

Veroni: Knew that would work.

(Next morning arrives and the vote begins... just as Victor Rodney is brought back from Deleware to change the Deleware vote to a "Yea". Pennsylvania passes and New York abstains as usual. Other than that, everything is Yea UNTIL we get to the Carolinas.)

Alonzo: (to Mistohn) You have to believe I'll do what I said I'd do.

Misto: What is it you want, Mr. Alonzridge?

Alonzo: REMOVE THE OFFENDING PASSAGE, or South Carolina will now and forever bury your dream of independance.

Bustopher: (breaks the silence) Mistohn, I BEG you to consider what you're doing.

Misto: Mark me, Franklin! We give in on this subject and posterity will NEVER forgive us.

Bustopher: That's probably true, but it won't matter. We'll be long gone. Besides, what will posterity think we were? Demi-gods?

Demi: NAH! I'm far better looking than you all! Although I like the god part of that...

Bustopher: (rolls his eyes and tries to regain his train of thought) We're toms. No more, no less. Trying to get a new nation started against greater odds than a more generous Everlasting Cat would have allowed. First thing's first... independance, AMERICAN. If we don't secure that, what difference will the rest of it make?

Misto: Jefferson, say something.

Munku: What else is there to do?

Misto: Well, sir. YOU were the one who wrote it.

Munku: Yes sir. I wrote ALL of it. (slowly approaches the main table and takes a quill pen in hand..... crossing out the slavery clause.)

Alonzo: South Carolina says Yea.

Carbucketty: North Carolina says Yea.

(Now the only block remaining is Pennsylvania. Franklin and Dickenson cancel each other out, leaving Dickenson's loyal shadow, Jamaxo Wilson as the swing vote. Dickenson believes that his shadow will do as he says until....)

Mac: Mr. President! Pennsylvania says--

Bustopher: JUST A MOMENT!

Mac: Huh?

Bustopher: Mr. President, I wish a poll taken of the delegation.

Plato: Alright. Mr. Franklin?

Bustopher: Yea.

Plato: Mr. Dickenson?

Mac: Nay.

Plato: Mr. Wilson? (LONG silence) Mr. Wilson?

Bustopher: Alright, Jamaxo... it's all up to you now.

Cats: OOOOOOOHHH. THE PRESSURE!!!

Quaxo: Shut it! You're ruining my dramatic moment---

Bomb: -- where he FINALLY shows a little spine.

Quaxo: -- where I finally show a little--- HEY!

Bustopher: (continues with the pressure) A whole new nation ready to live or die at birth all on YOUR say so, sir. So which will it be? Every mapmaker in the world is waiting....

Mac: (getting nervous) Oh, come now, Jamaxo! Nothing's changed! Don't let Dr. Franklin create one of his confusions. It's just a simple question.

Quaxo: (finally speaks for himself) DON'T rush me, Mac. (sighs) I know what you WANT me to do.... but unlike you and the others here today, I don't want to be remembered. Especially not as the tom who prevented the creation of America. I... I just didn't bargain for that. My vote..... is Yea.

Bustopher: Mr. Secretary? Pennsylvania says Yea.

Mac: (stumbles backward like he's been shot)

Jenny: Oh if only that were the case.

Plato: The vote being 12 to none with one abstention... the resolution on independance IS adopted.

Misto: IT'S DONE! (pauses) It's done.

Rumpus: Mr. Platompson, is the declaration ready to be signed?

Plato: Yes, sir.

Rumpus: Then I say it should be done now. And for all of our securities.... no tom may be allowed to sit in this congress without attaching his name to it.

Mac: (speaks up and grabs his things, readying himself to leave) I'm sorry, Mr. President. But I cannot in good concince sign such a document.

Jemi: As if we didn't see THAT coming from a mile away.

Mac: (so wrapped up in the moment, doesn't even bother to hiss) And I will continue to pray for our eventual reconcilliation with England. But because, in my own way, I value America no less than Mr. Adams, I will join the army and fight in her defense. Even if I feel that fight to be useless.

Jemi: Now THAT I didn't see coming.

Veroni: Jemima, please put your side comments..... aside?

Munku: Oh and that made sense.

Veroni: (rolls eyes)

Misto: (stands up as Mac walks out) Gentletoms of the congress... I say ye Mac Dickenson.

(They do the 1770's version of applause.... stomping their walking sticks on the floor.)

(Exotica walks across again with a card in her paws reading "The Next Day"... this time managing to avoid tripping)

Pounce: Darn.

Rumpus: Alright, Gentletoms. Let's sign this thing now. (signs in BIG BOLD letters)

Gus: Mighty large there, isn't it Rumpohnny?

Rumpus: It's so fat George in England can read it WITHOUT his glasses.

George: HEY!!!!!!

Veroni: NOT YOU GEORGE!!

Rumpus: (turns to the others with quill pen in paw) Step right up, gentletoms! To miss your chance to commit treason!

(The courier rushes in one last time with a dispatch from Washington.... real dramatic moment here, but it starts out a little shakilly when George hastilly closes the door and gets his coat tails caught in it. In his eagerness to get off stage, he continues to walk and there is a loud RIPPING sound.)

George: Shoot.

Mungo: (still holding his prop gun) ALRIGHT!

George: NO! Don't shoot!!

Veroni: Just act!!

Plato: From the commander of the united coloni-- United States of America. Dispatch #1209.

Dear Mr. Hancock,
I can now report with some certainty that the eve of battle is near at hand. Toward this end, I have ordered the evacuation of Manhatten and directed our defences to take up stronger positions on the Brooklyn Heights. At the time, my forces consist entirely of Deleware Militia and small woods Marylanders. A total of 5000 troups to stand against... (gasps a little, but continues to read) 25,000 British troops. And I begin to notice that many of us are lads not even fifteen and old men, none of which can truly be called soldiers.

(He continues, plunging everyone deeper into the gloomy cloud they have been in since this whole thing began. Once he finishes, they vow that now is the time to sign the declaration. As a bell tolls in the background, they begin to sign.)

(Exotica and Cassandra start pushing a large replica of the Liberty Bell back and forth, making a nice crisp gong sound)

Plato: New Hampshire--- Dr. Billsiah Bartlett.

Bill Bailey: (walks up to the large piece of paper and puts a paw print on the page)

Plato: Massachusetts--- Mr. Mistohn Adams.

Misto: (walks up and puts his paw print on the declaration)

Plato: Rhode Island--- Mr. Stephen Guspkins.

Gus: (places his paw print on the paper)

Plato: Connecticut--- Mr. Roger Skimbleman.

Skimble: (places HIS paw print on the sheet)

Plato: New York--- Mr. Coribert Livingston.

Cori: (walks up and puts his paw print on it)

Plato: New Jersey--- The Reverand Admetohn Witherspoon.

Admetus: (places his paw on the sheet)

(Exotica slips and the bell speeds up as she rocks back and forth madly on it)

Plato: (rushing through it) Pennsylvania get up here! You too Deleware!!!

Mentioned Cats: (race up to keep in beat with the bell and place their paw prints on it)

(There is a cry... not because this is a very dramatic and sentimental moment, but because Veroni is watching the cats trash a very serious moment.)

(The rest race up to sign as the ceiling creaks and Cassandra and Exotica come crashing through it, wrapped up in the bell chord. They land first and the bell lands over them with a DONK.)

Veroni: AURGH!!!!!! NO!!!!

Tugger: We're done, then!!

Veroni: We're lucky that was the end, since now I have to go buy some ceiling repairing materials before we can do our next parody.

Cats; NEXT??

Cass and Exotica: (under the bell) Medic.

Veroni: (staring up at the hole) Hmmm... anybody have some spackle?