Scene 4: Baxters Hope is Crushed

Scene 4: Baxter’s Hope is Crushed

Murray (chuckling, shaking his head):
“Kid, I gotta say, that was entertaining—but you still ain’t got a shot in this town.”

Baxter (still trying to keep his confidence, puffing out his tiny rat chest):
“Oh yeah? Well, maybe you just don’t see talent when it’s right in front of ya!”

(Murray laughs—a deep, theatrical Broadway laugh.)

Murray:
“I been in this business longer than you been nibblin’ on stale baguettes in alleyways. And believe me—Broadway ain’t for rats.”

(Baxter flinches, but refuses to show it. The ensemble pigeons nod in agreement.)

Random Pigeon:
“Yeah, buddy. You might wanna stick to the subway tunnels. Heard there’s a new pizza crust in the Lexington line.”

(More laughter. Baxter swallows hard. He glances at his reflection in a polished floor tile—small, scrappy, just a rat in a place too big for him.)

Murray’s Final Blow 
Murray (grinning, taking a seat in a velvet chair):
“Tell ya what, kid. Why don’t you scamper back to whatever hole you crawled out of, huh? ‘Cause this? This ain’t your stage. This ain’t your world. Rats don’t belong on Broadway, and they never will.”

(The words hit hard. The remaining lights in the theater dim slightly as Baxter stands there, completely still. The laughter and footsteps fade away, leaving just him in the empty theater. He looks up at the massive Broadway marquee lights above him, flickering softly, as if taunting him.)

(He clenches his tiny paws, his tail curling inward. His ears droop. The weight of it all sinks in.)

(He takes a deep breath, staring at the empty stage. His voice is small now, uncertain.)

Baxter (softly, to himself):
“What if… they’re right?”

(The first few notes of “What If I Fall” play softly on a lonely piano as Baxter takes slow steps forward, his shadow stretching across the empty stage. His Broadway dream—so big, so bright—now feels very far away.)

(He lowers his head. And then—he sings.)

“I hear them whisper, I see them stare…”

(The stage light softly fades to a single spotlight on him. And the ballad begins.)

“What If I Fall?”

(A heartfelt solo ballad sung by Baxter, alone on stage, as he struggles wiff doubt about his Broadway dreams. The scene is dimly lit, the city skyline visible through a tiny crack in the theater’s foundation. A single spotlight shines on him as he sings, his voice soft but growing wiff emotion.)

I hear them whisper, I see them stare,

They say a rat could never belong up there…

Lights are blinding, the stage feels tall,

What if I try… what if I fall?

(He steps forward hesitantly, looking at his own reflection in a puddle, distorted by ripples.)

I’ve got a dream too big to hold,

But dreams can burn if they’re not bold…

What if I step into the light,

And find I’m just not built to shine?

[Chorus]

What if I fall, what if I fail?

What if my story’s a ship that sets sail—

Only to sink, lost in the tide?

What if I try and get left behind?

(He grips the edge of the tiny wooden crate he’s standing on, as if holding onto hope itself.)

I wanna dance, I wanna sing,

But what if Broadway won’t take a chance on me?

What if I fall… and I can’t rise?

[Verse 2]

(He looks toward where his brothers would be—laughing, cheering, believing in him even when he doesn’t believe in himself.)

They say I’m fearless, they say I’m strong,

But inside, I don’t know if they’re wrong…

Can a dreamer stand when the stage is steep?

Or is this a leap too high for me?

(A pause. The music softens. He takes a deep breath, almost giving up. Then—)

[Bridge – A Spark of Hope]

But what if I fly, what if I rise?

What if my name lights up the sky?

What if I take just one small chance,

And find my feet know how to dance?

(He stands taller now, stepping onto the crate wiff determination.)

What if I dream, what if I dare?

What if my heart belongs up there?

What if I fall…

(The music hushes to almost nothing. A long pause. Then—)

…But what if I fly?

(A single note lingers as the lights dim. The audience holds its breath, as Baxter finally dares to believe.)