Annie's Parents (8.28.12)

Ok--so I have always wondered, what were Annie's parents from the musical "Annie" were like. Were they really these wholesome people that Annie describes in the song "Maybe"? At the end of the show, Warbucks tells her that her parents, David and Margaret Bennett died when she was a baby in a fire. But how was the fire caused? This is my theory...

(Also for the record, I detest Annie and just like to fantasize that her parents were criminals who made liquor during the prohabition era)

#28: ANNIE’S PARENTS

Written

by

Sean Pollock

  

Time: The 20’s

Place: NYC

(Lights up on DAVID and MARGARET, bursting into their apartment. MARGARET is holding their daughter, ANNIE, a small baby)

MARGARET: Shit, Dave! They’re after us!

DAVID: I know, I know!

MARGARET: You said we’d be fine by making this stuff!

DAVID: I know—

MARGARET: What happened, David? Why are the police officers here?

DAVID: Someone ratted!

MARGARET: Who?

DAVID: I don’t know!

MARGARET: I should’ve never listened to you. Mama was right. I should’ve married a church boy. One that didn’t break the law by making alcohol in his bathtub!

DAVID: Margaret, you’re hardly to fall victim. You’re just as guilty as I am.

(A knock at the door)

POLICEMAN: (off-stage) New York Police! Open up!

MARGARET: David, what do we do?

DAVID: Um…

(He paces. Another knock at the door)

POLICEMAN: (off-stage) Open up! We know you’re in there!

MARGARET: Ralph, hurry!

DAVID: Ok. We have to run.

MARGARET: How?

DAVID: We gotta burn this place to the ground. Leave Annie behind.

MARGARET: Are you crazy?

DAVID: It’s our only option. Maybe she’ll be saved. Maybe they’ll take her to that Hannigan place for orphans on 43^rd.

MARGARET: But she’s our daughter!

DAVID: Do you want to go to jail or not?

POLICEMAN: (off-stage) We’re comin in!

(David takes a candle from the table, lights it and then throws it on the floor. Red and orange lights flood the stage, as the apartment burns to the ground

DAVID: Put her down! They’ll get her!

MARGARET: Oh my baby…

(She puts her down on the floor. The baby begins to cry. David and Margaret hop outside the window and run away. The policeman rush in. Lights fade…)