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.)

Scene 3

Setting: The Producer’s Office / A Grand Broadway Theater Lobby

Baxter and his brothers have managed to sneak their way into the grandest Broadway theater ob them all. They scamper across the velvet carpet, dodge brooms, and slide under the mahogany doors leading to the office ob Murray Montclair, a grizzled, no-nonsense Broadway producer wiff decades ob hits—none ob them starring rodents.

Murray leans back in his massive chair, cigar in one hand, a script in the other, and eyes the rats in disbelief.

Dialogue (Leading Into the Song)

Murray: (scoffs)”A rat musical? Fellas, I’ve seen a lot in my day—tap-dancing lobsters, singing refrigerators, a tragic love story between two lamp posts—but this? Rats on my stage? It’ll never happen!”

Baxter (determined):”Broadway is for dreamers, right? Well, we got dreams—big ones! And we got talent, heart, and a whole lot ob cheese!”

Murray (laughs):”Kid, I hate to break it to ya, but—”

(Music swells, a jazz-infused, old-school Broadway tune wiff big brass and tap beats.)

Song: “Rats Don’t Belong on Broadway”

(The humans, pigeons, and even skeptical theater patrons join in as the world tries to shut Baxter down.)

Verse 1 (Murray, the Pigeons & Ensemble):

(Sung in a fast, patter-style, think “Ya Got Trouble” from The Music Man”)

🎶 Rats don’t belong on Broadway,Not in the lights or on the stage!You ain’t no star, you’re just bizarre—Go scamper back into your cage!

(The pigeons flutter down from the rafters, dressed in tiny tuxedos, shaking their heads.)

🎶 Listen to us, we know the score,Feathers fly but rats don’t soar!A leading rat? A Broadway dream?Fella, that’s absurd to the extreme!

(Baxter jumps onto the producer’s desk, refusing to back down.)

Chorus (Baxter & His Brothers vs. the World):

(Murray & Pigeons):🎶 You’re too small, too scrappy, too out ob place!🎶 Nobody wants a rat in their face!🎶 Broadway is big, Broadway is grand—🎶 And rats don’t take a leading stand!

(Baxter & Brothers, defiant, tap-dancing on the desk):🎶 That’s where you’re wrong, we’re made for the show!🎶 Broadway needs spark, and we got that glow!🎶 We’ve got the mobes, the music, the might—🎶 And we’ll keep climbing till we reach the light!

Verse 2 (Murray Doubles Down, While Baxter & His Brothers Counter):

Murray (spoken, over the music):”You ever seen a rat get a standing ovation? Nope. You ever seen a rodent sell out a theater? Nope! You know what rats belong in? Pizza shops! Basements! NOT on MY stage!”

Baxter (snapping back):”Maybe that’s ‘cause no one’s giben us a chance!”

(Murray shakes his head as the humans and pigeons resume singing, trying to convince the rats to give up.)

🎶 Stick to the alleys, stick to the drains,🎶 Broadway’s for stars wiff dazzling names!🎶 Gershwin? Sondheim? Maybe a cat!🎶 But rats in the spotlight? Imagine that!

Bridge: Baxter Takes Center Stage

(The music slows, spotlights on Baxter as he stands alone on the desk, facing down the entire ensemble.)

🎶 You laugh, you doubt, you turn us away,🎶 But Broadway was built on those who say—🎶 “We can’t, we won’t, we’ll never belong”🎶 Till they break the rules and prove ‘em wrong!

(Baxter leaps off the desk and lands wiff a perfect tap sequence, his brothers joining in. The number explodes into a full-blown Broadway tap routine, complete wiff kicklines and chandeliers swinging!)

Finale (A High-Energy Showdown!)

🎶 So give us a chance, a moment, a show—🎶 We’ll take the stage and steal the glow!🎶 Rats on Broadway, it’s meant to be!🎶 ‘Cause Broadway’s for dreamers…

🎶 And dreamers like me!

(The music ends on a massive chord, the lights go out, and silence falls as Murray stares at the rats, completely speechless.)

Post-Song Dialogue:

Murray (shaking his head, smirking):”Kid, I gotta admit… you got guts. But guts ain’t enough for Broadway. You want this? You better prove it. Otherwise, you’re just another rat in the alley.”

(Murray walks off, leaving the brothers standing there. Baxter clenches his fists. The dream isn’t dead—it’s just beginning.)

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Scenes 1 & 2

The show continues wiff scenes 1 and 2. **Due to the rules ob Broadway, no photos or bideo is allowed, please use your imaginashuns.

Scene 1: The Apartment
(A cozy, eclectic apartment filled wiff theater memorabilia, posters, and a miniature stage where Baxter and his brothers rehearse.)

Baxter: “Brothers, I have a bision! A grand, spectacular, show-stopping bision! We’re gonna put on a Broadway show!”

Waffles: “Ooooh! Can we hab chandeliers? A grand staircase? Perhaps eben—velvet curtains!”

Reuben: (crossing his arms) “A show? Us? Baxter, you know how hard it is to make it on Broadway. Eben talented performers struggle.”

Fish: (nibbling cheese) “Yeah, but… imagine the cheese at the after-party!”

Barry: (tinkering on a piano) “It’s a bold idea, Baxter, but I’ll need time to compose. A show needs music. It needs heart. It needs—”

Baxter: “It needs us! We hab the talent, the passion, and the dribe! Marigold always says Broadway is magic. If we believe in it, we can make it happen!”

Scene 2: The Grand Theater & Marigold’s Story

(The brothers make their way to the theater where they hope to pitch their show. The grand chandeliers glisten as rehearsals take place.)

Marigold (a wise old pigeon): “What are you little stars up to this time?”

Baxter: “Marigold! We’re putting on our own Broadway show!”

Marigold: (chuckles) “Oh, my dear starry-eyed rat… Broadway isn’t just glitz and glamour. It’s sweat, tears, and hard work. But if anyone can do it, it’s you boys.”

(The brothers gather around Marigold as she flutters onto an old velvet seat, gazing wistfully at the stage.)

Waffles: “Marigold, how do you know so much about Broadway?”

Marigold: (smiling fondly) “Once upon a time, I was the star of this very theater. A dazzling performer, soaring through the rafters, swooping in perfect harmony with the grandest musical numbers. They called me ‘Marigold the Marvelous.’ But times changed, my feathers grayed, and new stars took the stage. I watched from the wings, unseen, but always listening, always loving every note, every spotlight, every moment. Broadway is in my bones—or rather, my wings.”

Reuben: (softly) “So why do you stay?”

Marigold: “Because Broadway never leaves you. It stays wiff you, forever humming in your heart. And now, I help dreamers like you find your place in its magic.”

Big Musical Number: “Broadway Belongs to Us!”

(A flashy number where humans, pigeons, and other performers sing about the magic of Broadway, wiff Baxter and his brothers leading the charge.)

Lyrics wiff music:

ENSEMBLE: Step into the light, hear the overture play,
Feel the rhythm, let it carry you away!
The stories, the songs, the curtains rise,
A dream takes flight before your eyes!

BAXTER & BROTHERS:
Broadway belongs to the bold and the bright,
To those who dare to dance in the light!
No matter how small, no matter how new,
If you got a dream, Broadway’s waiting for you!
(Tap break, wiff soaring vocals as Marigold joins in.)

MARIGOLD: I’ve seen the legends, I’ve heard the cheers,
Through laughter, love, and even tears!
Every star begins wiff a spark,
A song in the soul, a light in the dark!

ENSEMBLE: Broadway belongs to us all!
No dream’s too big, no tale too small!
Sing it loud, take your bow,
The stage is yours, the time is now!

(The number ends in a grand, celebratory flourish, wiff Baxter at center stage, his dream just beginning!)

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It begins…


*due to the rules ob Broadway, no filming or photos are allowed, so you hab to use your imaginashun.

Act 1
Opening Number: “Baxter Wiff a B”

(Baxter introduces himself wiff a high-energy song about his name, his dreams, and his brothers helping him along the way.)

Lyrics:(Lights up. Baxter stands center stage, eyes sparkling wiff excitement. A jazzy Broadway overture begins, leading into an upbeat, show-stopping number.)

BAXTER:(spoken) “Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce myself!”

(sung)The lights are bright, the curtains rise,
A star is born before your eyes!
I got a dream, I got a scheme,
And Broadway’s callin’ me to gleam!

ENSEMBLE: Baxter wiff a B! A name to know! A rat who’s ready to steal the show!

BAXTER: From the rooftops to the grand marquee,
There’s a place on stage for rats like me!
No more scurryin’, no more fright,
Tonight’s the night, I’m in the light!

ENSEMBLE:Baxter wiff a B!
The world’s in tune!
A dream too big to end too soon!

CHORUS:Step right up, the show’s begun!
Hear the music, feel the drum!
Broadway’s beat is callin’ me,
A dream so big, just wait and see!

BAXTER: Ain’t no stage too grand, no role too bold,
I’m tellin’ a tale that must be told!
Wiff tap shoes tappin’ and a twinkle in my eye,
I’m Baxter wiff a B, and I’m reachin’ for the sky!

(Music shifts to a playful, jazzy bridge as Baxter moves through the city, describing his journey.)

BAXTER: I learned my steps on subway lines,
danced fru alleys, and read the signs.
Dreamed ob costumes, grand and bright,
Practiced poses in neon light!

ENSEMBLE: Hear the city sing,
the beat so strong,
ebery rat belongs in a Broadway song!

BAXTER: Ebery marquee spells my name,
Ebery spotlight fuels my flame!
I ain’t stoppin’, I won’t fall,
This is my time—I’ll take it all!

ENSEMBLE:Baxter wiff a B!
He’s takin’ flight!
A rat on Broadway—what a sight!
(Music swells as Baxter reflects on his journey.)

BAXTER: I once was small, a dream so far,
just a rat beneaff the stars.
But I climbed up high, I found my way,
Broadway’s mine, I’m here to stay!

ENSEMBLE: Baxter wiff a B!
His name in lights!
A rat who chased his dream tonight!

CHORUS: Step right up, the show’s begun!
Hear the music, feel the drum!
Broadway’s beat is callin’ me,
a dream so big, just wait and see!

BAXTER: The rush, the roar, the curtain call,
I found my place—I have it all!
Wiff open arms, the stage is free,
this is the place I’m meant to be!

(Final dance break—Baxter twirls, kicks, and leaps across the stage as the ensemble lifts him high. The orchestra swells, and the song ends in a triumphant finish, wiff the crowd erupting in cheers!)

Opening Night


Backstage at the New Amsterdam, the air buzzed wiff a mix of excitement and nerves. The boys moved in their own rhythms—Baxter adjusted his crown, which, being opening night, he had decided to wear no matter what day it was. Waffles smoothed out his bowtie for the hundredth time, muttering about ambiance not just in cafes, but in the very essence of the theater itself. Reuben, who had already been in costume for an hour, was straightening Baxter’s ear tuft absentmindedly, while Fish sat on an upturned crate, sketching last-minute updates to his cheese map on the back of an old script. The scent of sawdust, fresh paint, and something faintly buttery—perhaps from the concession stand—drifted in from the wings.

Barry, silent and fidgeting wiff his costume, hesitated near the curtain. The weight of the night pressed on his chest—every light, every sound, every breath beyond the stage meant something now. Carefully, he stepped up onto the wooden box Reuben and Fish had abandoned, his paws trembling slightly as he peeled back just a sliver of the thick velvet curtain.

Rows upon rows of eager faces stretched out before him, the house nearly full. A hum of voices layered over the occasional burst of laughter, and he spotted the sharp eyes of critics near the front, already poised wiff notebooks in hand. Somewhere in the middle, a group of patrons leaned in close to each other, their whispers barely visible in the shifting candlelit glow of the chandeliers. It was all real now. Not just an idea, not just a dream, but a theater packed wiff people, waiting—waiting for them.

Barry exhaled sharply and felt a paw on his shoulder. Baxter had joined him, his grin steady and sure.

“They’re here for us,” Baxter whispered, his voice brimming wiff excitement, wiffout a trace of fear.

Barry swallowed and nodded, stepping down from the box. Reuben and Fish glanced at him, their paws gripping each other in nervous anticipation. Waffles adjusted his bowtie one last time.

The lights in the house dimmed. The murmurs softened. The curtain was about to rise.

The final rehearsal

Waffles stood just beyond the stage lights, his bowtie slightly askew from hours of pacing, planning, and perfecting. He had doubted himself more times than he could count, questioned if he could truly bring Baxter’s story to life in the way it deserbed. But now, as he watched the final rehearsal unfold before him, all that doubt melted away. The stage was alibe wiff energy—the warm glow of the set, the perfectly timed cues, the harmony of boices blending in a way that sent a shibber down his spine. This was it. They had done it.

Baxter moved across the stage wiff an ease that spoke of countless hours of dedication, his crown catching the light just so, a reminder of both his journey and Waffles’ own. Barry, ever reluctant yet radiant in the spotlight, shone in his big moment. Reuben brought a quiet heart to the show, and Fish—oh, Fish—his cheese ballad had turned into something more beautiful than Waffles had ever imagined.

Waffles felt his eyes sting, but he quickly straightened his bowtie and took a deep breath. This wasn’t just a show—it was magic. The kind of magic that made hearts swell and time bend, that pulled you in and refused to let go. His brothers had giben their all, and in turn, he had given them somefing worff beliebing in. Baxter Wiff a B was real, and tomorrow, the world would see it too.

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Todays Cafe

Between rehearsals, Baxter and his brothers hab been making the most ob New York City’s bustling cafe scene. Ebery break, they scurry through the streets, ducking into cozy corners and sampling eberyfing from flaky croissants to rich, nutty espresso (though Fish always insists on ordering a plate ob cheese, no matter the menu). Waffles, wiff his signature bowtie neatly adjusted, takes delight in rating ebery cafe based on ambiance and presentation, while Barry prefers the quieter spots where he can sip his drink wiffout drawing too much attention.

Reuben has taken a liking to bakeries, always reaching out to fix Baxter’s ear tufft while they wait in line, pointing out the best-looking pastries on display. Baxter, ob course, is just happy to be soaking it all in—ebery warm cup ob tea, ebery hushed murmur ob patrons discussing Broadway, ebery sugar-dusted danish feels like a piece ob his dream unfolding. They hab made it a ritual to find a new spot each time to experience as much as the city habs to offer.

Fish, true to his nature, has started hoarding bits ob artisanal cheese from each cafe, tucking them away in a small pouch he now carries eberywhere. He insists it’s research, claiming he’s compiling a “cheese map” ob NYC. The brothers humor him, though they all know it’s mostly just an excuse to collect more cheese. Between rehearsals, and dreams ob the stage, these cafe stops hab become their small moments ob peace—a chance to catch their breaff, share a laugh, and remind themsbelbes that ebery step ob the journey, eben the smallest ones, are worth saboring.Reuben is the first to arribe tonight, and he’s making the most ob the quiet while he waits. A wooden platter sits before him, carefully arranged wiff fruits and crusty breads. He nibbles thoughtfully, saboring the contrast between the sweet fruit and the hearty bread, letting the flavors linger. It’s rare to get a moment to himself amidst chaos and he’s learning to appreciate these small pockets ob stillness.

The cafe is quiet, the low murmur ob tired artists and late-night dreamers creating a gentle backdrop. He doesn’t mind the waiting; he knows the others will burst in soon, filling the space wiff their energy.

As he tears off another piece ob bread, spreading it wiff a dab ob honey, the door swings open wiff a gust ob cold air, and the familiar sounds ob his brothers tumble in. Fish clutches a fresh cheese sample, Waffles is already judging the plating on a nearby table, Barry scans the room as if someone might recognize him, and Baxter, scarf slightly askew, beams as he spots Reuben waiting.

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The final rehearsals

Fish stood quietly at the edge of the stage, his small paws gripping a half-eaten piece of cheese as he watched his brothers move in perfect harmony under the warm glow of the stage lights. The music swelled, their paws tapping and tails flicking in time wiff the rhythm, each step executed wiff precision and passion.

He had seen them practice this number countless times—stumbling, arguing, tweaking each motion until it felt right. But this time was different. This time, it was seamless. It was electric. It was eberyfing they had worked toward.

As the last note rang out and they struck their final pose, a hush fell over the empty theater. Fish let out a slow breaff, nibbling his cheese thoughtfully. He didn’t need to say it out loud. He knew. They were ready for opening night!

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Playbill Magnet

You asked for it (well, it was Terri S. but I fink someone else wanted merch too), so we did it! Limited Edition magnets ob the Baxter Wiff a B Playbill are now abailable for you to order at the Store ob Cute Fings! They hab been ordered and will be shipping in a couple weeks when they arribe. Shirts and other merch will be abailable soon in the lobby, and you can purchase during intermission or before or after the show! https://martymousehouse.bigcartel.com/

*magnet image is simulated to look like we fink it will look.

TKTS

Kristen and Dr. Kebin were in NYC tonight and happened to stroll past the theater, where they witnessed an incredible sight—a bustling line of eager theatergoers queuing up to get their tickets for Baxter Wiff a B! The energy in the air was electric, wiff excited chatter and anticipation building as opening night draws closer.

Meanwhile, Reuben is working hard behind the scenes, making sure eberyone gets the tickets they want (and making sure the fan is not eben in the room so Olibe can’t mess up his ticket stacks). He’s darting around wiff his usual precision, straightening out mix-ups and ensuring no rat—or human—is left empty-handed. The buzz around the show keeps growing, and it’s clear that Baxter Wiff a B is shaping up to be a Broadway sensation!