Carousel of Progress: Scene 3

[Father & Chorus]
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
Shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
And tomorrow is just a dream away.
Man has a dream and that's the start.
He follows his dream in mind and heart
And when it becomes a reality,
It's a dream come true for you and me.
So there's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
Shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
Just a dream away.

[Father]
Well, it's another Halloween here in the fabulous Forties. Everything is better than ever now. And we've got some amazing new wonders around the house to prove it. For instance, out refrigerator hold more food than ice cubes. And thanks to our new automatic dishwasher, I don't have to dry the dishes anymore after supper. Give's Rover and I more time to enjoy out evening stroll together.

(Rover barks.)

[Father]
Later boy. (to Audience) Oh, and here's something else that's new. I just heard a new term today on the radio. Fellow says, we've got something now called the 'rat race.' Did you ever hear that one? It sure describes my life. I'm involved with something now called commuting. I drive into the city for work all day, and then turn right around and drive all the way back. And the highway is crowded with other rats doing the same thing!

[Mother]
That's what they call progress dear.

[Father]
Ha ha ha ha. I guess she's right. But we do have television. When it works. Gives you something to do after you get home. I kind of like it, you know? A guy named John Cameron Swayze gives us all the news and then they have all this singing and dancing. A lot of fluff, but it's fun. You know, I predict that day that millions of people will learn Latin and Greek sitting in front of their TV sets.

(We see Grandma and Grandpa watching TV.)

[Grandma]
Are you awake dear?

(Grandpa snores. Grandma changes to channel to a boxing match.)

[Grandma]
(to the TV) Give him a left, you big lug!

[Father]
Ah yes, a new age of electronic civilization is upon us!

[Son]
Hey dad, what do you think of my jack-o-lantern?

[Father]
Oh! Boy, is that scary!

[Son]
That's 'cause I used my beautiful sister Patty's picture for a model!
Ha ha ha.

(Rover barks.)

[Father]
Down Rover. Jim, Rover appreciates your joke.

[Mother]
Now... you're always kidding poor Patty. She's certainly prettier than
either of you.

[Father]
You hear that? My daughter Patty is using that old exercise machine she rescued from the attic. It was all the rage in the Twenties. Grandma of course had to have one. Didn't work then, doesn't work now. Consistent at least. Makes a lot of noise and blows fuses.

[Daughter]
(On the phone.) As I was saying Babs, I think college is really swell! You should give it a try!

[Babs]
Oh Patty, are you going to the Halloween party tonight?

[Daughter]
Oh yes. And I'm hoping to lose a couple more inches by then. I'm going with that dreamboat, Wilfred.

[Babs]
Wilfred?! What a slug!

[Daughter]
He's coming as the headless horseman.

[Babs]
It fits.

[Daughter]
Come on Babs! That clodhopper Howard you're going with is no Crackerjack prize!

[Father]
Oh poor Howard. I wonder what they said about me when I was dating Sarah.

(The cuckoo clock rings. Rover barks.)

[Father]
You're lucky Rover. You don't have to date. Well, we're caught up in the do it yourself craze these days. We're remodeling our basement as something called a rumpus room. And we're looking forward to a few rumpuses I'll tell you, as long as they don't get out of hand.

(Mother is seen applying wallpaper to the walls.)

[Mother]
John, this papering is getting out of hand. I could use a little help.

[Father]
Now Sarah, didn't I set up that clever automatic paint stirring machine for you?

[Mother]
Yes John, you're a genius. Of course this will ruin my food mixer, not that you'd care.

[Father]
Oh good old Sarah. Always the last laugh.

(Mother shrieks.)

[Father]
What happened Sarah?!

[Mother]
Oh you and your progress! That paint mixer of yours just sloshed paint across my rump...er--rumpus room.

[Father]
How do you like that? I always say, if you're going to be married, marry a girl with a sense of humor. Well, it's time to move on. Let's cheer up Sarah by singing our song. Come-on. Everybody!

[Father & Chorus]
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
Shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
And tomorrow is just a dream away.
Man has a dream and that's the start.
He follows his dream in mind and heart
And when it becomes a reality,
It's a dream come true for you and me.
So there's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
Shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
Just a dream away.