Scene 1: Ethiopia

(Hadar, Ethiopia November 30, 1974. The stage is completely dark. Spooky music underscores
the beginning of this scene. Two archeologists enter with flashlights as though they are hunting
for something. They should have a lot of “scary fun” shining the light to see where they are
going…sometimes at the audience, sometimes to their own face or their partner’s face, etc.
They are excited and use loud stage whispers so that they can be heard)
Taki: Whoa! It’s dark in here. This is scary…there it is! This way, Tut! I’m telling you, this is the
best thing you’ve ever seen!
Tut: But Taki! I can’t see a thing! Ethiopia is scary in the dark!
Taki: Your basement is scary in the dark to you, Tut. You’ve got to see what we found
yesterday. I’m telling you, it must be the greatest archeological discovery ever!
Tut: But why do we have to look for it in the dark?
Taki: Because Doctor Gray and Doctor Johanson probably wouldn’t like us poking around in
their dig before they announce their discovery. Besides, it’s spookier this way. This is a show
you know.
(Gradually the lights are seen backing toward one another downstage center. They bump into a
skeleton that is hanging up centerstage. They both scream.)
Taki and Tut: AHHHH!
Tut: (very frightened) Wha…wha…what is it, Taki? (music fades out)
Taki: It’s bones, Tut! Bones! And according to my best carbon dating, they’re more than 3
million years old!
Tut: Wow! Three million years old. That makes it one of the oldest skeletons ever found. Can I
touch it?
Taki: We..e..ll, I don’t know if that’s a very good idea.
(Tut slowly reaches up to touch the skeleton anyway. As he does so, the skeleton-Lucy-comes
alive. At first, Tut pokes Lucy in the ribs and she giggles. Tut and Taki jump back.)
Tut: What was that?
Taki: I don’t know, but it’s not funny.
Tut: Who’s laughing?
(Taki reaches up and touches the skeleton under her chin.)
Lucy: (giggles) Hee hee hee…ah, cut it out.
Taki and Tut: (Jump back again) Yikes!
Taki: (To Tut) Cut what out? What are you talking about?
Tut: I didn’t say anything.
(They both look slowly at Lucy. They lean their faces in very close to hers to get a closer look.)
Lucy: BOOO!
Taki and Tut: AHHHH!
(They fun into each other and fall down. Lucy moves freely now and stands between the two of
them, laughing.)
Lucy: Hello, kids! My name is Lucy! What’s yours?
(After a moment’s hesitation, Taki and Tut look at the audience and scream again)
Taki and Tut: AHHHH!
Lucy: Kinda jumpy, aren’t ya guys? What’s the matter? Haven’t you ever seen a real fossil
before?
Taki and Tut: (Hesitate, then scream) AHHHH!
Lucy: (rolling her eyes) Good grief! Look, I’ve been lying around here for 3 million years. I’ve got
calcium deposits older than the two of you. Can’t we just be friends?
Tut: But you’re a…a…skeleton.
Lucy: (sarcastically, talking to the audience) Boy, we’ve got a smart one here! Is that your final
answer or do you wanna use a lifeline? (She laughs at her own joke.)
Taki: But skeletons can’t talk…can they?
Lucy: (playing dumb) Duh! Well, I don’t know. Let’s see…am I talking or not? Wait ‘til I decide to
sing, buddy…you ain’t heard nothin, yet!
Taki and Tut: (slowly together) Wow!
Lucy: In a way, all fossils can talk. By studying us, you can tell a whole lot about things that
happened in the world a long time ago.
Taki: I know that studying history is a good way to learn about where we came from, where we
are and where we are going.
Lucy: Now you’re talking. I’m Lucy! (She reaches out to shake their hands and help them up.)
Taki: (Tentatively taking her hand) Taki.
Tut: (Shakes her hand) And I’m Tut!
Lucy: Charmed, I’m sure. Now, come on! Let my friends and me show you a little of what has
happened in the world since I lay down here so long, long ago.
Taki and Tut: (in awe) Weird! Totally weird!
(A chorus of skeletons join Lucy for the song and dance.)
Song – So Long Ago
Scene 2: Mesopotamia
(Lucy, Tut, and Taki are on one side of the stage)
Taki: Wow, Lucy! Those are some interesting friends you have there.
Lucy: Well, what do you expect, Taki? Most of them have heads the size of a baseball.
(All the skeletons glare at Lucy as though they have been insulted and exit. The stage is
beginning to fill with dwellers of early Mesopotamia. They have hoes to garden with, baskets
full of goods, shepherd staves, etc.)
Lucy: But there still is a lot we can learn from them about the past.
Tut: Who are those people over there, Lucy?
Lucy: Ahh, good question, Tut! Those are the Sumerians from the land of Mesopotamia. What
you’re looking at there is pretty typical for 3000 B.C. That guy is the famous Gilgamesh.
(The trio watches as the scene is played out centerstage.)
Gilgamesh: (flamboyant and stuffy upper crust, King of the city of Uruk…clapping his hands to
get everyone’s attention) People! People! Work with me now! We’ve got to work together!
(All of the farmers and nomads, merchants, and gatherers stop and pay attention to him.)
One worker to another: Who died and made him King?
Gilgamesh: I heard that! Now look, I know you’re all used to working independently and getting
along just fine. But, it’s 110 degrees here and this land is as dry as a desert.
Enkidu: Sir! Sir!
Gilgamesh: What is it, Enkidu, my valiant friend and servant?
(Enkidu whispers something in his ear.)
Gilgamesh: Okay, so it IS a desert. But if we just work together a little bit, I think we can survive
here and maybe even create one of the first great civilizations.
(A murmur goes through the crowd and they all look doubtfully at each other.)
Enkidu: Gilgamesh is right, everybody. Working together, we can make sure that nobody
messes with Mesopotamia!
Gilgamesh: Well put, Enkidu! Well put!
Enkidu: Thank you, sir!
Gilgamesh: Now, look, we’ve got rivers on both sides of this plain. And what are they called?
All: (with conviction) Rivers!
Gilgamesh: (exasperated) I know that! But what are the names of these rivers?
All: (as though reciting something they’ve said a hundred times) The Tigris and the Euphrates.
Gilgamesh: “A” Plus! They’ve allowed our production of farm goods to go way up. So what’s the
problem?
Enkidu: The problem, sir, is that we need a more efficient way to transport these goods to
market.
Gilgamesh: Right! Right! Right you are, Enkidu. Well, who’s got a suggestion?
Wheel Inventor: (rolling a wooden wheel in from of them) Sir, if I might suggest…I’ve been
working on a small, round invention that I think might have great possibilities.
Gilgamesh: (looking doubtfully at the wheel) Hmmm! I can’t see it myself, but let’s go ahead
and give it a try. Now what’s next?
Money Maker: (holding a bulla – a football-shaped vessel with tokens inside) Well, sir, I’ve been
working on a system of currency that I think might help us keep track of what we trade and
what we owe.
Gilgamesh: (he takes the bulla, looks at it, and puts it into his robe pocket) A capital idea! Write
it down!
All: (looking at each other doubtfully) Write it down?
Enkidu: Write it down, sir?
Gilgamesh: (perturbed) Figure it out! Enkidu, I can’t do everything! (happy again) I’m so proud
of all of you! At this rate, we should be able to build a civilization that lasts for thousands of
years, right here between our own two beautiful rivers!
Song – The Land Between Two Rivers
Scene 3: Egypt
(The Mesopotamians exit and Egyptian laborers begin slowly entering. They are carrying square
and other shaped “rocks” or boxes that they will gradually put together into a pyramid.)
Tut: Who do we get to see next, Lucy?
Taki: Yeah, I never knew history could be so…so…alive!
Lucy: Alive? (she smiles) Well, we’ll see about that. Listen up! Here comes King Zoser of Egypt
and his trusted servant, Imhotep.
Tut: Wow, they look pretty good considering they lived four thousand years ago!
(The trio watches the scene centerstage)
Imhotep: (very worried) King Zoser! Grain is scarce.
Peasant 1: (in anguish) I’ve got no grain!
Imhotep: The fruit has all dried up.
Peasant 2: (desperate) Look at my fruit! It’s completely dried up!
Imhotep: People are so desperate that they are robbing their neighbors.
(Two peasants are standing together. One is holding a sandwich.)
Peasant 3: I’m so hungry! I can’t wait to eat!
Peasant 4: Wow! Look at that! (points to the sky)
(As the peasant, that is holding a sandwich, looks to where he is pointing, the speaker steals his
sandwich and runs away. The other chases him.)
(Children start to cry and old people wail in agony, “Woe is me! Woe is me!”)
Imhotep: Children are crying and old people are as sad as can be! What are we going to do?
Zoser: (very happy) I know! Build me a pyramid!
(Imhotep and the rest of the cast look at the audience in disbelief.)
Zoser: (very serious) But first, I must learn the name of the God of the Nile. Then we can offer
sacrifices to that god and he will help us. Everybody! (all stop moving and look at him) Go to
sleep at once!
(Everybody lays down and goes to sleep. Dream music plays. Enters the God KHNUM.)
Khnum: (In a big god-like voice) I am Khnum. That’s K-H-N-U-M. The H is silent. I know the River
Nile. When it covers the fields, it gives them life. Now the Nile will pour over the land without
stopping. Plants will grow, bowing down with fruit. The years of starvation will be over. Thank
you and good night!
(Khnum exits, music stops, and everybody wakes up)
Zoser: Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Egyptians, I have had a marvelous and rather brief
dream. The name of the God of the Nile is Khnum. That’s K-H- oh never mind. We must offer
him gifts. The years of hunger have ended. Now we can build the great Egyptian civilization that
people will talk about for generations to come. I know you’re hungry, but first things first. So,
we’ll start with a giant pyramid which shall be my tomb!
(all cheer)
Song – In My Tomb
Scene 4: Asia
Taki: Wow! I never realized that ancient Egypt dominated the entire earth for like, three
thousand years.
Lucy: Well, not the entire Earth, Taki. But they really were an amazing civilization.
Tut: What else was going on at that time that could possibly be as exciting as building
pyramids?
Lucy: Tut, Tut! Little Tut! Very good question. And to help me answer it, let me introduce you to
my good and very wise friend, Confucius.
(Gong sounds and Confucius enters)
Confucius: Confucius says: Good afternoon, young and curious friends of eras still to come.
Tut and Taki: Good afternoon, sir.
Confucius: Confucius says: Since you asked, I might inform you that at the same moment that
Egypt was flourishing, we of the East were creating dynasties of our own.
Tut: (to Lucy) Does he always talk that way?
Confucius: Confucius says: I heard that. (walks away to center stage)
Lucy: Confucius was a brilliant teacher some 2500 years ago. And he’s right. While Egypt
flourished in the west, India and the dynasties of China were thriving in the East.
Song – Empires of the East
Scene 5: Greece
(A group of choristers enter wearing Greek-style togas. They speak rhythmically in unison all the
time.)
Chorus: WE ARE THE CHORUS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS
WE HAVE TO ACT TOGETHER SO WE PRACTICE FOR WEEKS
LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY, FOR WHEN WE SPEAK
WE WILL TELL YOU OF THE WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS
Sophocles: (like the director of a play) No no, that will never do! Nobody will believe you if you
don’t give it more emotion! Now please…one more time with feeling!
Chorus: (with more emphasis, overacting like crazy)
WE ARE THE CHORUS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS
WE HAVE TO ACT TOGETHER SO WE PRACTICE FOR WEEKS
LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY FOR WHEN WE SPEAK
WE WILL TELL YOU OF THE WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS
Herodotus: How’s it going, Sophocles? Is the play almost finished?
Sophocles: Terrible, just terrible, Herodotus. The play festival in Athens is less than a week
away and I can’t get this chorus to work together for anything.
Herodotus: Well, what’s the new play about anyway?
Sophocles: It’s supposed to be about all of the wonderful things of Greece that will be around
thousands of years after we are all dead and gone.
Herodotus: Sounds interesting.
Sophocles: It is interesting. But I can’t seem to come up with the right hook to tie it all together.
Herodotus: How about…(dramatically as though he sees the name in lights) “The Odyssey?”
Sophocles: No. Homer beat me to it.
Herodotus: (again with drama) How about “Greece: The Musical!”
Sophocles: It’ll never fly.
Sophocles and Herodotus: (scratching their heads) Hmmmm!
Chorus: HOW ABOUT GREECE IS THE WORD?
Sophocles: What? What did you say?
Chorus: GREECE. GREECE IS THE WORD.
AND GIVE IT A GOOD DANCE GROOVE.
Sophocles: That’s it!!
Chorus: GLAD YOU THOUGHT OF IT. (entire chorus rolls their eyes)
Song – Greece is the Word
Scene 6: Rome
Taki: Gee, I had no idea that Ancient Greece had such a lasting effect on the world.
Tut: This is just great, Lucy. No bones about it, you really know your stuff. Get it? No bones
about it? Huh? Get it?
Lucy: I get it kid. (turning her back on Tut) You’re right, Taki, Greece did have a huge impact on
the world, as did the ancient Romans.
Tut: Oh, I remember! The Romans were the first to try a real Republic?
Lucy: Not to mention expanding to one of the most powerful Empires that ever existed. Why,
you can still see signs of ancient Rome as far away as Morocco, Iraq, and even England.
Taki and Tut: Wow!
Lucy: Wow is right! And legend says it all started with twin brothers and their dream to build a
city.
(We find Romulus and Remus arguing centerstage)
Remus: No, Romulus! I’m telling you, I had a dream. And in this dream I saw six vultures flying
over the exact spot where we should build the city.
Romulus: No, Remus! I too had a dream. And in my dream I saw 12 vultures flying over the spot
where we were found as babies in that basket and raised by that wolf! 12 is more than 6, and
so that is where we should build the city!
Remus: 6 is an omen from the gods and the spot I chose is right!
Romulus: 12 is a bigger omen!
Remus: 6!
Romulus: 12!
Remus: 6!
Romulus: 12!
Remus: I’m telling Mom! (he runs off the stage)
Romulus: What does she care? She’s a wolf, for pete’s sake! (he proudly unrolls bluesprints,
envisioning the city) Hmmm…I know! I’ll call it Rome!
(A couple of Romans walk in)
Roman 1: Hey, Romulus, how’s Rome coming along?
Roman 2: Yeah, Romulus! Heard you were having some problems with your aqueducts?
Romulus: Look guys! It can’t be built in a day, you know.
Roman 3: No need to be snippy, Romulus!
Roman 4: I just hope it’s ready for Caesar’s big bash on Saturday night.
Roman 1: Oh, rats! I forgot all about the big party. And I don’t have a thing to wear!
Roman 2: Don’t worry, Roman #1. The word is out that dress is white Toga, so you’re all set.
Roman 3: Togas! Great! I’ve got a linen closet full of them!
Roman 4: Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!
Song – Toga Party Tonight
Scene 7: The Future
Lucy: Well, that’s probably about enough for one day, guys. These old bones are aching and
needing a rest.
(She borrows one of their canteens and starts to pour them each a glass of water)
Taki: This has been such an amazing adventure, Lucy. I feel like we’ve learned so much.
Tut: No kidding! My brain can’t hold another thing!
Lucy: The great thing about studying the past is that you can learn so much about who we are
and who we might become.
Taki: Doesn’t it make you feel very, very small and insignificant, Lucy?
Lucy: Not really, Taki. It just makes me feel a part of something bigger than myself. It makes me
realize that everything anybody ever did before me, changed the world for me.
Tut: That means that everything we do will change the world for those who follow us!
Taki: That’s awesome!
All together: We matter!
(They hold up their glasses)
Tut: So here’s to the past, both big and small!
Taki: And here’s to the future for one and all!
Lucy: (looking at her bones and the cup of water) I really don’t know if this is going to work.
Song – Here’s to the Future
Song – So Long Ago (Reprise)
Exit Music (Curtain Call)
End