Author's Note
Yes, you read it correctly, I'm taking OCs in a musical, BUT I'm going to make something very clear. Much like an actual musical, not everyone will make the cut. Not to be rude, but some characters I just can't work into a musical setting. But, feel free to "audition" your characters. Try to be nice and descriptive, and use good judgment when submitting an OC. Rockers, super-human beings, and PTSD victims may work in other stories, but they're not very choice players in a musical.
On a side note, I'm going to say which songs I'm using before each chapter, so feel free to look them up beforehand if you wish. However, I may switch up the lyrics a little bit, so be warned. The songs used in this chapter are Footloose by Kenny Loggins and Paradise By the Dashboard Light by Meat Loaf.
I'm also going to write this in the style of a musical, but that may change. So please, buy a ticket, grab some popcorn, and please silence your cell phones so everyone can enjoy:
Happy Tree Musical
An Original Musical Featuring Not-So-Original Music
(Scene opens in front of an Ice cream shop, where numerous tree friends can be seen eating and socializing. Outside, Handy walks up to the shop, a stack of flyers balanced on his head. He attempts to put one on the wall of the shop, but because of his lack of hands, he fails. Finally, he slams his head into the wall, sending flyers everywhere He gives a dejected huff and begins singing.)
Handy:
Been workin', so hard.
I'm Punching mah card,
Eight hours, for what?
Oh tell me what I got?
(Nutty scrambles on stage and helps Handy pick up the flyers, singing along with him)
Handy+Nutty
Been workin', so hard
We're punching our cards
Eight hours for what?
(back and forth at each other)
For what? For what? For what? For what? For what?
Mole:
FOR WHAT?
(Mole enters, singing. His voice is deep and raspy, like that of a jazz singer)
Been workin' too damn hard,
I'm punching that same card!
Eight hours bustin' my butt,
Oh tell me what I got?
H+N+M
I got this feeling, that time's just holding me down!
I'll hit the ceiling, or else I'll tear up this town!
Tonight I gotta cut loose!
Footloose!
(all three break into dance)
Kick off your Sunday shoes!
Please, Louise,
Pull me offa my knees!
JACK! Get back!
C'mon before we crack.
Lose your blues,
Everybody cut Footloose!
(They all freeze, hands in the air. Applause ,then Handy, Nutty and Mole walk offstage. After a few moments, Cuddles exits the shop, with Giggles, Chunky, Petunia nearby. Chunky, hungry as usual, brought his tray of food out with him, munching on fries.)
Cuddles: Hey what's going on out here? (noticing and picking up a flyer on the ground.)Oh cool, a dance, next week!
Giggles: A dance? Where?
Cuddles: Says here it's over at Chez HTF, and there's gonna be food, music, and even a dance-off!
Petunia: *excited* A dance off?
Chunky: *worried* A, dance-off?
Cuddles: Says here that the couple with the best routine wins a nice trophy and some fancy necklace (He holds the flyer out to show them, it shows the Clubhouse, with spotlights and crowds of people piling in, and in the bottom corner a golden trophy of two poodles dancing with a diamond necklace at the bottom. Petunia's eyes light up at the sight of it.)
Petunia: Oh my god, Chunky we've got to enter!
Chunky: *Even MORE nervous at the idea* Oh, yeah totally… I'd, uh, love to?
Petunia: Great! We can go back to my place and start practicing our steps, if we work out a routine by tomorrow night we'll have plenty of-
Chunky: Whoah! Hold on now, um, I can't start tonight. I uh, have to help Uncle Disco with something.
Petunia; *Disappointed* Oh, I see. Well, maybe tomorrow?
Chunky: Uh, I'm not a hundred, erm, maybe if, BYE! (He dashes off, leaving Petunia standing alone)
Petunia: CHUNKY! (he runs back)
Chunky: Oh, right, how could I forget (Petunia holds her check out expecting a kiss, but Chunky bends over and stuffs the last of his food in his mouth. He then smooches her on the cheek, leaving ketchup on her fur) Bye Petunia!
Petunia: EW! (Scrubs her cheek ferociously with a napkin, and gives a depressed sigh) That Chunky, he's never romantic.
Giggles: Well, at least he's trying.
Petunia: I don't even know if he is, I mean what with the dance and all, it's like he doesn't even want to be there.
Giggles: Maybe he's just shy. (Flaky enters, looking around nervously)
Cuddles: Speaking of shy, hey Flakes, what're you doing here?
Flaky: Oh, uh, heh, I was just looking around and um, I just heard-
Cuddles and Giggles(Simultaneously): Flippy was here.
Flaky: *Blushes* Uh, yeah. Did you see him anywhere?
Cuddles: I think he's inside, you thinking about going to the dance with him?
Flaky: AH! No, nonononononono, maybe just a quiet night at home. I bought some board games and-
Giggles: Flaky, this is THE best opportunity for you to finally do something special with Flippy. Grow a backbone for Pete's sake!
Flaky: *Contemplative* Oh, do you really think I should?
Cuddles: Absolutely, nights like these make memories that last forever!
Giggles: Oh, like our first date!
Flaky: Hey, I think I remember that. Wasn't Fall Out Boy in town?
Cuddles: Nah, not that day, that was just the day we went steady, our first date was much more "interesting". (he gives a chuckle, but Giggles elbows him)
Giggles:*In a very, to-the-point way* It was a magical night.
Flaky: Was it really that great?
Cuddles; Heh, lemme explain it to you in detail!
(The lights dim, and music starts, it's a bouncy 1950's style rock n' roll. The lights flash back on, and Giggles and Cuddles are in a convertible, by a lake in the moonlight. Toothy, Flaky, and Lumpy are sitting in a tree nearby, and sing back-up for them)
Cuddles
I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Giggles
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
Cuddles
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Giggles
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Cuddles and Giggles
Ain't no doubt about it
Baby got to go and shout it
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Cuddles
Baby doncha hear my heart
You got it drowning out the radio
I've been waiting so long
For you to come along and have some fun
And I gotta let you know
No you're never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes I got a big surprise
It'll feel all right
Well I wanna make your motor run
Cuddles+Giggles
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
Paradise by the dashboard light
You got to do what you can
And let Mother Nature do the rest
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely-
Cuddles and Giggles
(Cuddles and Giggles face away from each other, speaking to themselves. Cuddles seems excited, while Giggles seems nervous)
We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go all the way
tonight's tonight...
We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go all the way
tonight's tonight...
(The lights go out, Toothy jumps from his spot on the tree and a spotlight shines on him, showing he's wearing a reporter's cap and holding an old-timey microphone. He speaks his part as if he was narrating a baseball game)
Toothy
OK, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker going here,
Two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth,
There's the windup, and there it is, a line shot up the middle,
Look at him go. This boy can really fly! He's rounding first and really
turning it on now, he's not letting up at all, he's gonna try for
second; the ball is bobbled out in center, and here comes the
throw, and what a throw! He's gonna slide in head first, here he
comes, he's out! No, wait, safe-safe at second base, this kid
really makes things happen out there. Batter steps up to the
plate, here's the pitch-he's going, and what a jump he's got,
he's trying for third, here's the throw, it's in the dirt-safe at
third! Holy cow, stolen base! He's taking a pretty big lead out
there, almost daring him to try and pick him off. The pitcher
glances over, winds up, and it's bunted, bunted down the third
base line, the suicide squeeze is on! Here he comes. squeeze play, it's gonna be close! Heres the throw. heres the play at the plate. Holy cow, I think he's gonna make it!
(The lights suddenly flash on, and Giggles and Cuddles are in their underwear.)
Giggles
(Holding her hand out defiantly)
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away, will you make me your wife?
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?
Do you need me!?
Will you never leave me!?
Will you make me happy for the rest of my life!?
Will you take me away , will you make me your wife!?
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?
Cuddles
(He seems nervous, but comes up with a bright idea)
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
I'll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
I'll give you an answer in the morning
(He goes in to kiss her, but Giggles won't take that for an answer)
Giggles
I gotta know right now
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away , will you make me your wife?
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
(Spoken)
Whats it gonna be boy? Come on...I can wait all night... Whats it gonna be boy... yes or no?? Whats it gonna be boy? YES OR NO???
Cuddles
(Pleading)
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Cuddles
(Along with Lumpy and Toothy, who are kneeling next to him and pleading with him)
let me sleep on it......
Giggles
(Along with Flaky and Petunia, who are standing above the boys looking down in anger)
I gotta know right now.......Do you love me will you love me forever? do you need me?
will you never leave me?
will you make so happy for the rest of my life?
will take me away will make me your wife?
i gotta know right now, before we go any further do you love me?
will you love me forever?
BOYS
Let me sleep on it..
GIRLS
Will you love me forever?
BOYS
Let me sleep on it..
GIRLS
Will you love me forever?
Cuddles
(Breaking away from the group and singing to the audience)
I couldn't take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!
So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
'Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do
Praying for the end of time,
So I can end my time with you!!
Cuddles
It was long ago and it was far away
And it was so much better than it is todayIt never felt so good
It never felt so right
And we were glowing like
A metal on the edge of a knife
Giggles
(Song ends, a brief pause for applause and then the scene cuts back to the front of the ice cream shop. Cuddles looks happy with the song, and Flaky is amazed, but Giggles looks furious)
Flaky: Wow, that does sound amazing, if I could share a night like that with Flippy…
Cuddles: Well, get moving, he might still be in there! (Flaky lets out an EEK of realization and runs into the ice cream shop) *Speaking, or more rather praising himself* Ah Cuddles, is there any relationship you can't save?
Giggles: OURS! (he turns around quickly, out of shock) I mean, you're praying for the end of time?
Cuddles: Baby, please that was just a joke, I was only-
Giggles: Well, I don't believe you were! And even if it was a joke, if you have the NERVE to make a joke of our most cherished memory then I think we should be seeing other people! (She storms off)
Cuddles: Ah jeez! (chasing after her)
Curtain close
Like it so far? I've been having ideas like this all the time, hearing songs and making little music videos in my head, it only makes sense I transfer them to stories with my writing prowess! Plus I love musicals. What? Tough guys can like musicals!
Oh, and about that baseball thing in the middle of the song, if you didn't quite get it, I'll tell you when you're older.
Well, don't forget to review, and always remember, musicals are MANLY!