[Lyric] Finale Ultimo (2009 Studio Cast of "Allegro")

Scene: The Lobby of the New Private Pavilion

(LANSDALE stands before a bronze plaque dedicated to DENBY. He addresses a group of TRUSTEES and GUESTS. Behind him stands an ENSEMBLE of simply-dressed people, representing opposing spirits, JOE's memories, the principles he has forgotten, his roots.)

[LANSDALE]
Bigby Denby, M.D.! Physician! Scientist! Humanitarian!

(Applause)

And better than all these... an executive!

(Applause)

To use a phrase of his own, hе has been "a good soldier". Bigby Denby has for years-

[ENSEMBLE]
Broccoli, hogwash, baldеrdash
Phoney baloney, tripe and trash

No one knows where his youth has gone
No one knows where his heart has gone
But the talk talk talk
Goes on and on
And on and on and on
Ya-ta-ta ya-ta-ta ya-ta-ta ya-ta-ta...

[DENBY]
Mr. Chairman... trustees... friends... the cup of my happiness runneth over! My heart is so full - words fail me!

And yet-

[ENSEMBLE]
(spoken)
The prattle and the tattle
The gab and the gush
The chatter and the patter
And the twaddle and the tush
Go on and on and on and on

Ya-ta-ta ya-ta-ta ya-ta-ta ya-ta-ta...

[DENBY]
...my co-worker, my young but very talented friend, Joseph Taylor, Jr. - the youngest man ever to receive this appointment!

[ENSEMBLE]
Joseph Taylor, Jr

(Applause)

[JOE]
Ladies and gentlemen, I look upon this appointment as a challenge. One must approach with deep humility the task of succeeding so illustrious a predecessor as Dr. Bigby Denby
(Applause)

He has been an ornament to medicine... an ornament to his city... an ornament...

(JOE and the ENTIRE COMPANY suddenly freeze in a still picture and remain motionless.)

[SOLO MEMBER OF ENSEMBLE]
(with ENSEMBLE on the first line, and then alone)
"Ornament."

A man's brain is sometimes cleared
By the sudden light of one word
In the flash of a split second
He sees a signpost, pointing down a new road
And he may take a new turning
That will affect the rest of his life

(with ENSEMBLE)

The split second is over

(The COMPANY relaxes from its frozen tableau.)

[JOE]
It takes a special talent to be an ornament. I am not blessed with this talent
(GRANDMA enters)

[GRANDMA]
Marjorie, look!

[JOE]
I must therefore, respectfully...

[ENSEMBLE]
One foot, other foot
One foot, other foot...

[JOE]
(With a sudden burst of courage)
I decline the appointment! As a matter of fact, I have another offer in a smaller hospital where my father is physician-in-chief. I'll be his assistant... I want to practice medicine again among people I understand. I'm going home

[ENSEMBLE]
Come home, come home
Where the brown birds fly
Through a pale blue sky
To a tall, green tree
There is no finder sight
For a man to see

[DENBY]
You can't do this! What'll I tell the papers?!

[LANSDALE]
Tell the papers he's just a small-town doctor

[JOE]
Okay! Tell'em that!

[ENSEMBLE]
Now you can do
Whatever you want
Whatever you want to do

[EMILY]
Dr. Taylor!

Can you use a nurse back there?

(JOE turns and holds out his hand to welcome her.)

[ENSEMBLE]
Here you are in a wonderful world
Especially made for you

[CHARLIE]
Hey! What about me?!

[DENBY]
Charlie!

[JOE]
(to Charlie)
C'mon!

[EMILY, JOE, CHARLIE AND ENSEMBLE]
One foot, other foot
One foot, other foot
One foot, other foot
One foot, other foot

Now you can do
Whatever you want
Whatever you want to do

One foot out, and the other foot out
One foot out, and the other foot out
One foot out, and the other foot out

And the world belongs to you!

(JOE walks away, out into the sunlight. EMILY and CHARLIE follow.)