A T O M I C

Book and Lyrics

Danny Ginges

Music & Lyrics

Philip Foxman

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September 2017
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 C H A R A C T E R S

LEO SZILARD (30) - A brilliant Hungarian physicist with an annoying

habit of always being right. He sees the future and science as the
way he's going to save it.

TRUDE WEISS (20) - A gifted doctor. She's smart enough to know how
tough a life with Leo will be, and strong enough to deal with that.

ENRICO FERMI (30) - Italian Nobel-winning physicist. If it's not

science, he's not interested.

ARTHUR COMPTON (30) - Nobel-winning quantum physicist and head of

the Chicago Metlab. Torn between science and religion, morality
and duty.
EDWARD TELLER (30) - A Hungarian genius like Leo with a more
aggressive World view. He wants a bigger bomb.

LEONA WOODS (20) - The only woman on the Metlab team, but she's not
going to let that stop her.

ROBERT OPPENHEIMER (30) - The bomb is his ticket to the recognition

his brilliance deserves. It's an expensive ticket.

GENERAL GROVES (30) - Highly intelligent and quite reasonable. Till

you get in his way. He will use the bomb to end the war. Yes he will.

PAUL TIBBETS (30) - A fearless young pilot with a keen sense of duty.
If he can't win the war single-handed, he'll show how it's done.

LAVERNE/MAE/LENA (20) - Rosie the Riveter meets the Andrews Sisters.

BARTENDER (20)

FEMALE SCIENTIST (20)

SCIENTIST (20)

U.S. Military men x 2 (20)

NY Commuters x7

VOICES: News Announcers, Scientist, Roosevelt, Truman, Japanese announcer

 S O N G S

ACT 1
THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE (1960) Ensemble

LITTLE FIRE Leo, Trude, Ensemble

THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS Leo, Trude

A RISK YOU TAKE Leo, Trude, Ensemble

THERE ARE LINES Fermi, Leo

DARK DAYS Leo, Fermi, Teller, Trude

HEADLIGHTS Trude

ATOM SMASHER Leona, Ensemble

STARS AND STRIPES Tibbets, Leo

WHERE IS HOME? Leo, Trude

ONE DAY Leo

ACT 2

HOLES IN THE DONUTS Laverne, Mae, Lena

GREATER BATTLE Leo, Ensemble

WORLD OF GRAY Compton, Leo

GREATER BATTLE REPRISE Leo, Fermi

THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE (1945) Leo

THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS REPRISE Leo, Trude

ONLY NUMBERS Leo, Trude, Tibbets

WHAT I TELL MYSELF Leona, Oppenheimer, Ensemble

FINALE Trude, Leo, Ensemble

 S C E N E S / S O N G S

SCENE LOCATION SONG

ACT I
1 Prelude (1960) 1. The Atom Bomb Is Here (1960)
2 Formal Gathering NY (1954) 1a. After The Bomb
3 Berlin (1933) 2. A Little Fire
4 AAC Office London 2a. Walk In The Rain
5 Southampton Row 3. The Force That Lights The Stars
6 Atlantic Crossing (1938) 4. A Risk You Take
7 Kings Crown Lobby (1939) 5. There are Lines
8 Columbia Lab 6. Dark Days
9 Columbia Campus
10 Columbia Montage 6a. Montage
11 Compton's Office (1941) 6b. Arthur Compton
12 Columbia Lab 6c. Hello Chicago
13 Trude's Place 7. Headlights
14 Metlab
15 The Bar Montage 8. Atom Smasher
8a. Atom Smasher Reprise
8b. The Phone Call Transition
16 The Bar 8c. Into The Bar
9. Stars and Stripes
17 Trude's Place (1943) 9a. Stars And Stripes Transition
10. Where Is Home?
10a. The Letter
18 The Road Back 11. One Day
19 Metlab
20 Alamogordo (1945)
ACT II
21 Formal Gathering NY (1954) 11a. Entr'acte
22 Oak Ridge (1945) 12. Holes in the Donuts
23 Transition 12a. Queen Elizabeth
24 Leo's Place 13. Greater Battle
13a. Leona Signs
25 Metlab 14. World of Gray
26 Above America 15. Greater Battle Reprise
27 White House 16. The Atom Bomb is Here (1945)
28 Washington Bar 17. The Force That Lights The Stars Reprise
29 Above Hiroshima 18. Only Numbers
30 Aftermath 18a. Aftermath
31 Formal Gathering NY(1954) 19. What I Tell Myself
32 Going home (1960) 20. Finale
 S C E N E S / C H A R A C T E R S

SCENE CHARACTERS

ACT I

1 Prelude (1960) COMMUTERS #1-7

2 Formal Gathering NY (1954) LEONA, OPPENHEIMER, TELLER, COMPTON
3 Berlin (1933) MAN, WOMAN, MAN 2, LEO, TRUDE, Ensemble
4 AAC Office London Leo, Trude
5 Southampton Row Leo, Trude, Ensemble
6 Atlantic Crossing Leo, Trude, Ensemble
7 Kings Crown Lobby Leo, Fermi, Teller
8 Columbia Lab Leo, Fermi, Teller, Trude, FRENCH, US,
ENGLISH & GERMAN ANNOUNCERS (VO)
9 Columbia Campus Leo, Fermi, Teller, Trude
10 Columbia Montage Leo, Fermi, Teller, Trude, ROOSEVELT (VO)
11 Compton's Office Compton, GROVES
12 Columbia Lab Compton, Leo, Fermi, FEMALE SCIENTIST
13 Trude's Place Leo, Trude
14 Metlab LEONA, Fermi, Teller, Leo
15 The Bar Montage Leo, Leona, Fermi, Teller, BARTENDER, SCIENTIST,
Compton, OPPENHEIMER
16 The Bar Leo, PAUL, Bartender
17 Trude's Place Leo, Trude
18 The Road Back Leo, Radio (VO)
19 Metlab Compton, Teller, Fermi, Leona, Leo, Truman
(VO)
20 Alamogordo Leo, Oppenheimer, Groves, Fermi, Compton,
Teller (optional)

ACT II
21 Formal Gathering NY (1954) Leona, Oppenheimer, Teller, Compton
22 Oak Ridge (1945) MAE, LENA, LAVERNE, MILITARY MEN
23 Transition Announcer
24 Leo's Place Leo, Trude
25 Metlab Leo, Fermi Female Scientist, SCIENTIST,
Compton, Leo, Leona, Ensemble
26 Above America Leo, Fermi
27 The White House Compton, Leo, Oppenheimer, Fermi, Groves
28 Washington Bar Leo, Paul, SOLDIER, Trude
29 Above Hiroshima Leo, Trude, Paul, Announcement (VO)
30 Aftermath Announcers x 4 (VO)
31 Formal Gathering NY (1954) Leona, Oppenheimer, Teller, Compton, Leo, Trude
32 Going Home Leo, Trude, Fermi, Ensemble
 SUGGESTED DOUBLING

1. Leo (m1)

2. Trude / Laverne / Commuter #1 (f1)

3. Fermi / Commuter #2 (m2)

4. Compton / Commuter #3 (m3)

5. Teller / Tibbets / Groves / Commuter #4 (m4)

6. Oppenheimer / Scientist / Commuter #5 (m5)

7. Leona / Lena / Commuter #6 (f2)

8. (Optional) Male understudy / Bartender

9. (Optional) Female understudy / Mae

 1.

ACT I
SCENE 1

AT RISE:

1 PRELUDE 1
New York 1960. The height of the
Cold War. Commuters in a state of
panic.

SONG 1: THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE (1960)

COMMUTER #2
U2 PLANE SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES
#3
EISENHOWER HELD TO BLAME
#4
RUSSIA DEMANDS AN APOLOGY
#2,3,4
WILL THIS END IN WORLD WAR THREE?
#6
WHAT DO THEY NEED THESE WEAPONS FOR?
#7
WILL MANKIND SURVIVE THE NEXT WAR?
#1
ARE THEY TARGETING NEW YORK?
ENSEMBLE
WHY DON’T THEY JUST SIT DOWN AND TALK?
ALL THAT WE HOLD DEAR
SOON COULD DISAPPEAR
THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE

#1
DUCK AND COVER KNOW THE DRILL
#4
SHELTER STOCKED BATHTUB FILLED
#7
RADIO AND FLASHLIGHT NEAR
ENSEMBLE
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD OF FEAR

HOW LONG DO THEIR BOMBERS TAKE?

SHOULD WE LEAVE OR IS IT TOO LATE?
(MORE)
 2.
ENSEMBLE (CONT'D)
HOW MANY WARHEADS DO WE NEED
FOR THE FREE WORLD TO SUCCEED?

IS THIS OUR FINAL SONG?

HOW DO WE GO ON?
UNDER THE ATOM BOMB
WE’RE ON THE BRINK OF MASS ANNIHILATION
WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE EXPLAIN
HOW WE GOT INTO THIS SITUATION?
HAS THE WHOLE WORLD GONE INSANE?

#1
CAN'T WE GO BACK?
CAN'T WE UNDO?

#3
CAN'T WE GO BACK
AND START ANEW?

#4
CAN'T WE GO BACK?
#5
CAN'T WE UNDO?
ENSEMBLE
BACK TO THE WORLD WE KNEW

TOO LATE TO SHED A TEAR

HOLD YOUR CHILDREN NEAR
THE ATOM BOMB IS
ATOM BOMB IS
ATOM BOMB IS HERE

LIGHTS FADE.
2 FORMAL GATHERING - NY (1954) 2
SONG 1A: AFTER THE BOMB
Four old friends over wine at a
table. LEONA WOODS, ARTHUR
COMPTON, EDWARD TELLER and J
ROBERT OPPENHEIMER. Teller stands,
smoking. The mood is sombre. Leona
breaks the ice.

LEONA
I know it’s a horrible thing to say, but I
actually prefer funerals to weddings. At least
I know what to wear.

TELLER
It’s good to be among friends Leona. Whatever
the occasion.
 3.

OPPENHEIMER
Friends Teller? Since when do friends stab each
other in the back?

TELLER
Good God Oppenheimer. I never told that inquiry
anything I haven’t said to your face. I’m a
scientist. I call it as I see it. You would
have lost your security clearance regardless of
my testimony.

COMPTON
Now is not the time. I for one am glad it’s
just us.

TELLER
Absolutely. I am so tired of the inevitable
question.

LEONA
‘Would you do it again. If you knew the
consequences?’ Don’t people ever get tired of
asking?

COMPTON
Of course we knew the consequences. The
consequences of failing. Losing the free world
to Hitler.

OPPENHEIMER
We didn’t know Jack Shit.
LEONA
Now we’re racing the Soviets to see who can
destroy the world faster. Just like Leo said we
would.

COMPTON
Learning God’s secrets doesn’t mean we inherit
his wisdom.

OPPENHEIMER
Are you still holding on to God, Compton? After
all he put us through.

COMPTON
God is the only reason I got through.
LEONA
Did any of us really get through?
TELLER
We had a job to do and we did it.
LEONA
That doesn’t keep you awake at night?
 4.

TELLER
I sleep like a baby. But then, I’m not Leo
Szilard. Trying to save the world.
LEONA
Poor Leo.
TELLER
He never knew when to quit. That was his
downfall. He was exactly the same when I knew
him, back in Berlin.
Teller lights a match for a new
cigarette. He watches the flame as
we are transported back to Berlin
in 1933.

TELLER (CONT’D)
Before the inmates took over the asylum.
SONG 2: LITTLE FIRE
LIGHTS FADE.
In the distance we hear a fire
siren. People screaming as
everyone races off stage.

3 BERLIN (1933) 3
MAN
Fire! Call the police!
WOMAN
Mein God, it’s the Reichstag!
MAN 2
The Reichstag? Who would do such a thing?
TRUDE WEISS (20) answers a frantic
pounding on her door.

LEO (OFF)
Trude. Hurry. Open up. It’s Leo.
A breathless LEO SZILARD (30)
races in with a suitcase.

TRUDE
Leo? What’s wrong?
LEO
Pack your things. We have to leave. Now!
 5.

TRUDE
Leave? What are you saying?
LEO
A LITTLE FIRE STARTED
IN BERLIN TONIGHT
THAT DISTANT GLOW’S THE REICHSTAG
UP IN FLAMES
THEY’RE ROUNDING UP THE COMMUNISTS
THEY SAY SET IT ALIGHT
OR IS IT OUR NEW CHANCELLOR’S
TO BLAME?

THAT FURNACE IN THEIR EYES

THE RAGE THE FEAR
THE REASON I LEFT HUNGARY
FOR HERE

TRUDE
For God’s sake Leo.
THAT LITTLE FIRE BURNING
IN BERLIN TONIGHT
WILL BE A FADED MEMORY
BY DAWN

WE’RE IN THE HOME OF CULTURE

THE CITY OF LIGHT
WHY DON’T YOU COME ON IN
AND GET WARM

A PAPER FOR MY
MEDICAL DEGREE
COULD BENEFIT FROM
YOUR ANATOMY

LEO
FOR MONTHS I’VE SEEN THIS COMING
THE TINDER IS DRY
ONE TINY SPARK WILL SET IT
ALL ABLAZE
MY BAGS WERE PACKED AND READY
AND NOW IS THE TIME
WE MIGHT NOT GET THE CHANCE
IF WE DELAY

TRUDE
MY STUDIES MY FRIENDS
MY WHOLE FAMILY
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS
YOU’RE ASKING OF ME
Trude exits. Leo, distraught,
calls after her.
 6.

LEO
Please Trude. You’ve got to believe me!
She returns after a long beat with
a suitcase, dressed for travel.

TRUDE
I do believe you Leo. Only because you have an
annoying habit of being right.
They walk past an angry rabble of
Nazi supporters.

ENSEMBLE
A LITTLE FIRE’S BURNING
IN BERLIN TONIGHT
IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF EVERY
GERMAN SON
A BETTER WORLD AWAITS THOSE
THAT CAN SEE THE LIGHT
ALL THE OTHERS BETTER
PACK THEIR BAGS AND RUN

LEO
A LESSON FOR HUMANITY TO LEARN
YOU START A LITTLE FIRE
EVERYTHING CAN BURN

Leo and Trude exit.

ENSEMBLE
A LITTLE FIRE’S BURNING
IN BERLIN TONIGHT
A LITTLE FIRE’S BURNING
IN BERLIN TONIGHT
LEO
EVERYTHING CAN BURN

ENSEMBLE LEO (CONT'D)

A LITTLE FIRE’S BURNING
A LITTLE FIRE’S BURNING
A LITTLE FIRE’S BURNING
IN BERLIN EVERYTHING CAN
TONIGHT BURN

Music out.
LIGHTS FADE.

4 AAC OFFICE - LONDON 4

Leo on the phone.

 7.

LEO
Professor Chadwick? Leo Szilard from the Academic
Assistance Council. (pause) Yes. (pause) Really?
Well it turns out Hitler’s stupidity is your good
fortune. I have a list of very recently unemployed
industrial chemists. Pioneers in their
field.(pause) Of course I will. Thank you.
TRUDE enters holding a paper lunch bag.

TRUDE
I brought us lunch.
LEO
Trude. What a nice surprise.
He takes the paper bag and weighs it in
his hand.

LEO (CONT’D)
Seeded rye. Chopped liver. And a sliced pickle from
Blooms.

TRUDE
One day you’ll get it wrong. Then I’ll be surprised.
My shift starts at two.
She takes a bite of her own sandwich.

LEO
I knew you’d land on your feet.
TRUDE
My supervisor said I’ll be a great doctor.
LEO
I could have told you that.
TRUDE
You did. Right after you told me I was lousy at
physics. On our first date.

LEO
Before that. I never date my students. But you were
lousy at physics.

TRUDE
I’m so relieved.
 8.
LEO
I need to mail some resumes
I’ll walk you to the hospital.

SONG 2A: WALK IN THE RAIN

They grab some umbrellas and head
to a rainy London street.

5 SOUTHAMPTON ROW - LONDON 5

They pass commuters holding
umbrellas.

TRUDE
Mailing resumes? You should get an assistant.
LEO
There’s no money for that.
TRUDE
They’re paying you to solve the world’s
problems by yourself?

LEO
They’re not paying me at all.
TRUDE
So how do you eat?
LEO
(holds up sandwich)
I have my sources.
TRUDE
No really.
LEO
You remember that family who died in their
sleep.

TRUDE
Of course. Their refrigerator leaked toxic gas.
You wanted to do something.

LEO
I did something. With my professor.
TRUDE
Einstein?
LEO
We developed a new refrigerator pump.
Electrolux paid good money for that patent.
Enough to last another year.
 9.

TRUDE
And then what? You’re also an unemployed Jewish
refugee. Why not use your position to find
yourself a job.

LEO
(holding up resumes)
These people will starve. I won’t. One
advantage of leaving early.

TRUDE
One day early. The very last train out. I
almost didn’t join you.

LEO
I wouldn’t have left without you.
(Music out)
In any case, I’m done with pure physics. I’d
like to do something that can help people. Like
biology.

SONG 3: THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS

LEO (CONT'D)
Imagine finding a cure for cancer. Or there’s
an exciting new field. Atomic physics. Only
last month they discovered neutrons.

TRUDE
Neutrons. Sounds like an alien life form.
LEO
The energy contained in atoms is the most
powerful force in the universe. What if we
could harness it?

IMAGINE UNLIMITED POWER

IMAGINE THE WORLD WE COULD BUILD
BATTERIES THAT LAST A HUNDRED YEARS
GAS TANKS THAT ALWAYS STAY FILLED
SHIPS THAT DON’T NEED REFUELLING
WITH FUNNELS THAT NEVER BLOW SMOKE
BREATHE COUNTRY AIR IN THE CITY
RIDING BUSES THAT DON’T MAKE YOU CHOKE
THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS
IMAGINE IF IT WERE OURS
THE POWER THAT IGNITES THE SUN
COULD LIGHT THE WAY FOR EVERYONE

A WORLD JULES VERNE NEVER IMAGINED

H G WELLS ONLY DREAMED
WE’LL BE RIDING A SHIP TO THE FUTURE
POWERED BY ATOMS NOT STEAM
(MORE)
 10.
LEO (CONT'D)
AND WHEN THIS PLANET’S TOO SMALL TO SUPPORT US
WE’LL FIND OTHERS TO HARBOUR OUR RACE
WITH ROCKETS THAT FLY ON FOREVER
THROUGH ENDLESS FRONTIERS OF SPACE
THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS
IMAGINE IF IT WERE OURS
THE POWER THAT IGNITES THE SUN
COULD LIGHT THE WAY FOR EVERYONE

TRUDE
Sounds impossible.
LEO
The experts all agree with you.
TRUDE
So prove them wrong.
IF THERE’S AN ANSWER OUT THERE
I KNOW YOU’LL FIND IT
AS SURELY AS THE DAY FOLLOWS THE NIGHT
YOU HAVE THE MIND
I’VE SEEN YOUR WORK TIME AFTER TIME
YOU GET THINGS RIGHT
YOU’LL GET THIS RIGHT
LEO
THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS
TRUDE
YOU’LL FIND IT

LEO
IMAGINE IF IT WERE OURS

TRUDE
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

LEO
THE POWER THAT IGNITES THE SUN
COULD LIGHT THE WAY

BOTH
THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS
IMAGINE IF IT WERE OURS
THE POWER THAT IGNITES THE SUN
COULD LIGHT THE WAY
FOR EVERYONE
TRUDE
Seems you’ve chosen your path.
LEO
I wish I knew where to start.
 11.

TRUDE
(laughs)
Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t know a neutron if
it hit me in the face.

LEO
(amused)
Of course you wouldn’t. A neutron has no
charge. It would pass right through your --
(lost in thought. Music out.)
My God.
TRUDE
Leo?

LEO
A neutron. A neutron has no charge. No
resistance! Split the atom with a neutron! That
has to be the solution. But if I can think of
it, the Germans can too. We need to go.
TRUDE
Go?
LEO
America.

TRUDE
Leo. I left my home. My family. You said
England would be safe. And you were right. You
probably saved my life. But America? I have
friends here now. My work is here. I’m not like
you. I can’t live out of a suitcase that’s
always packed.

LEO
(excited)
Trude, America is the new Berlin. Everyone
including Einstein is either there or on their
way. Besides I don’t have a choice.
(on a serious note)
War is coming and this idea could decide it.
I’m an enemy alien here. I can’t work in
England if there’s a war. Not on any war
effort.

TRUDE
I won’t know anyone in America. Besides you.
Leo holds out his hand to Trude.
She takes it.

6 ATLANTIC CROSSING 6

SONG 4: A RISK YOU TAKE

 12.

Travellers enter wearing coats and

holding suitcases. Leo and Trude
join them.

ENSEMBLE
AAAAH

LEO
A RISK YOU TAKE
A HEART CAN BREAK
WHEN YOU TIE YOUR DREAMS
TO THE LIFE OF ANOTHER
ENSEMBLE
A RISK YOU TAKE
THE EARTH CAN SHAKE
WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING NEW
THAT YOU DISCOVER

TRUDE
MY HEART IS YOURS FOREVER
I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT FOLLOW
I PUT MY FAITH IN YOU
THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW

LEO TRUDE (CONT'D)

AND NOW WE SAIL TOGETHER SAIL TOGETHER
UNCHARTED OCEAN UNCHARTED OCEAN
NO LIFEBOAT ON THIS VENTURE OH
WE’LL SINK OR SWIM AS ONE SINK OR SWIM AS ONE
LEO
WITH EVERY STEP YOU TAKE YOU RISK A FALL
SO MANY DREAMS HAVE FAILED TO SCALE THAT WALL
BOTH
BUT THERE'S NO GREATER RISK YOU TAKE
THAN NO RISK AT ALL
ENSEMBLE
DREAMS CAN MAKE YOU
LOVE CAN BREAK YOU
DREAMS CAN BREAK YOU
LOVE CAN MAKE YOU

ENSEMBLE (CONT'D) TRUDE

DREAMS CAN MAKE YOU
LOVE CAN BREAK YOU TAKE CARE NOT TO FALL
DREAMS CAN BREAK YOU
LOVE CAN MAKE YOU WE MIGHT LOSE IT ALL
Interlude as Trude and Leo arrive
in America.
 13.

ENSEMBLE
DREAMS CAN MAKE YOU
LOVE CAN BREAK YOU
DREAMS CAN BREAK YOU
LOVE CAN MAKE YOU

ENSEMBLE (CONT'D) LEO & TRUDE

DREAMS CAN MAKE YOU
LOVE CAN BREAK YOU TAKE CARE NOT TO FALL
DREAMS CAN BREAK YOU
LOVE CAN MAKE YOU WE MIGHT LOSE IT ALL

LIGHTS FADE.
7 KING’S CROWN HOTEL LOBBY - NY (1939) 7
Leo is at reception on a public
phone.

LEO
Of course I know how cyclotrons work. I
designed one myself. (pause) So there was no
knock-on effect with indium. Can you run the
test again? Oh. I see. That’s disappointing.
ENRICO FERMI walks past. Leo
notices and ends the call.

LEO (CONT’D)
I have to go.
(chasing Fermi)
Enrico Fermi! Welcome to New York.
FERMI
You know me?
LEO
The man who just won the Nobel Prize in
physics? Of course. I’m a physicist myself.
(extending a hand)
Leo Szilard.

FERMI
(ignoring the hand)
Szilard. You wrote me from England. You were
trying to get Nobel laureates to boycott
Japanese academia.

LEO
You got my letter then.
FERMI
You crossed a line.
 14.

LEO
We’re scientists. It’s our job to cross lines.
Break new ground. Push boundaries.

FERMI
Not all boundaries.
LEO
I heard you’re starting at Columbia. Professor
of Physics. There’s a concept

SONG 5: THERE ARE LINES

LEO (CONT'D)
I’ve been working on that will surely interest
you --

FERMI
Some lines must not be crossed. Not ever.
The banter plays out like a tango,
with the speaker approaching the
listener, who retreats till it’s
his turn to speak.

FERMI (CONT’D)
MEN HAVE IDEAS BUT THERE’S NO PROOF
ONLY WITH SCIENCE CAN WE FIND THE TRUTH
UNDER THE OCEAN OR IN SPACE
THERE IS NO CHALLENGE THAT WE CAN-NOT FACE
BUT DANGER STALKS THE UNAWARE
AND KILLS YOU IF YOU’RE NOT PREPARED
SO LISTEN CLOSE BEFORE YOU’RE LOST
THERE ARE SOME LINES THAT CAN’T BE CROSSED
LEO
YES LINES WERE CROSSED
WHEN HIROHITO WENT TOO FAR
SENDING AN ARMY
INTO POOR MANCHURIA
IF THERE ARE LINES FOR WHAT
WE CAN OR CANNOT DO
DON’T YOU THINK THAT THERE
SHOULD BE LINES FOR OTHERS TOO?
FERMI
No!
STAND THERE AND ARGUE IF YOU MUST
THE RIGHTS AND WRONGS AREN’T UP TO US
YOU WANT TO TALK MORALITY?
GO TO YOUR SYNAGOGUE DON’T PREACH TO ME
AS SCIENTISTS WE NEED TO LEARN
THAT POLITICS WILL GET YOU BURNED
(MORE)
 15.
FERMI (CONT'D)
IGNORE MY WARNING AT YOUR COST
THERE ARE SOME LINES THAT CAN’T BE CROSSED
LEO
IT’S UP TO US TO STAND AGAINST INJUSTICE
FERMI
IF WE CHOOSE SIDES
WHAT GOVERNMENT WOULD TRUST US?
LEO
ISN’T OUR ROLE TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD?
FERMI
OUR JOB IS SCIENCE
NOT CRYING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL
LEO
I TOOK A PATENT OUT IN THIRTY-THREE
LODGED IN SECRET WITH THE ADMIRALTY
A SIMPLE CONCEPT THAT COULD SAVE MANKIND
I’D LIKE YOUR HELP WITH IT IF YOU DON’T MIND
FERMI
AAAAAAAYAA!
LEO
WHAT?

FERMI
LOOK WHAT YOU DID, YOU MADE ME SCREAM
A SECRET PATENT IS BEYOND OBSCENE
IF WE DON’T PUBLISH OUR IDEAS ARE LOST
THAT IS A LINE THAT CAN’T BE CROSSED
WE’RE BUILDING KNOWLEDGE
FOR THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE
IDEAS FOR MAN
NOT FOR YOU TO STUFF YOUR FACE
LEO
FERMI YOU’RE WRONG THAT PATENT
WAS NOT FOR ME
IT’S TIME YOU STEPPED OUT
FROM YOUR DARK LABORA-TRY

LOOK AT THE WORLD

THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
WE’RE STANDING ON THE BRINK
OF WORLD WAR TWO

WE BEAR THE DUTY

FOR SOME THINGS WE FIND
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO
CROSS A LINE
 16.

EDWARD TELLER enters.

FERMI
NO WE CAN’T

LEO
BUT WE MUST

FERMI
NO WE CAN’T!

LEO
WHERE’S SOME TRUST?
FERMI
GO TO HELL!
LEO
IF I MUST!!
FERMI LEO (CONT'D)
THERE ARE SOME LINES THAT THERE ARE SOME LINES THAT
CAN’T BE CROSSED! MUST BE CROSSED!
TELLER
Gentlemen. We left Europe to avoid war. Not
start one.

LEO
Teller. You’re a neutral party. Help us settle
this.

FERMI
He’s not neutral. He’s Hungarian like you.
TELLER
I’m not like Leo at all. I’m employed. At
Princeton. Professor Neils Bohr just gave a
talk there this morning. I thought you might
want to know. Your colleagues in Berlin split a
Uranium atom.

LEO
(alert and excited)
Hahn and Strassman?
TELLER
Yes.
LEO
Using neutrons.
TELLER
You heard?
 17.

LEO
Split it? You mean it transmuted to lighter
elements?

TELLER
That’s right.
LEO
So neutrons may have been released.
TELLER
Perhaps.
LEO
How many?

TELLER
(guessing)
I don’t know. Maybe one or two.
LEO
(firmly)
One? Or two?

TELLER
Who cares?

LEO
(insistent)
One? Or two?
FERMI
(suddenly getting it, excited)
One neutron that can split another atom,
releasing one or two more. And if it’s two. If
it’s two...
LEO
Exactly.

TELLER
The energy release would be exponential!
FERMI
(to Leo)
That was your idea! An atomic chain reaction!
LEO
I started at the wrong end of the periodic
table. We need to learn the number of neutrons.
Fermi?

FERMI
(excited)
I have the setup.
 18.

LEO
I’ll warn others in the field not to publish
anything that might alert the Germans --
FERMI
A line!
LEO
Forget your lines!!
TELLER
Szilard is right. With an atom bomb Hitler will
be unstoppable.

FERMI
A remote possibility. Perhaps ten percent.
LEO
A one-in-ten chance that Hitler could level a
city. Perhaps this city. I vote for secrecy.

FERMI
We do not keep secrets!
TELLER
I also vote for secrecy.
LEO
That’s settled. Two to one.
FERMI
What? That’s not scientific.
LEO
No it’s democratic. America is a democracy.
FERMI
A democracy! How the hell is it a democracy
with only three people in the whole world
voting?!

8 COLUMBIA LAB 8
SONG 6: DARK DAYS
The men put on lab coats. Leo and
Teller set up a wooden box on the
table.

LEO
The cadmium/radium source will fire slow
neutrons into the uranium target.

TELLER
If a chain reaction is possible, it will light
up like a Christmas tree.
 19.

FERMI
Gentlemen. The moment of truth.
They put on goggles.

FERMI (CONT’D)
IF NEUTRONS ARE PRESENT THEN WE SHOULD SEE
TELLER
FLASHES APPEAR ON THE CATHODE RAY SCREEN
LEO
FIVE YEARS I’VE CHASED THIS ELUSIVE DREAM
NOW I’M HOLDING ON TIGHT
TO THE HOPE I WASN’T RIGHT
ALL
TERRIFIED OF WHAT WE’LL FIND
DARK DAYS FOR MANKIND
Trude out carrying some medical
books.

TRUDE
I FOLLOWED YOU HERE TO
THIS GREAT UNKNOWN
ALL I HEAR IS TALK
OF A WAR BACK HOME

IN A CITY OF FACES
I’M ON MY OWN

Fermi opens an aperture on the

box. Nothing happens.
TELLER
WELL I GUESS WE WERE WRONG
FERMI
IT MIGHT HELP TO SWITCH IT ON
Fermi flicks a switch. The screen
starts flashing and clicking to a
fever pitch.

TRUDE
AM I BEING LEFT BEHIND?
ALL EXCEPT TRUDE
DARK DAYS FOR MANKIND

The men stare intently.

 20.

FERMI
NOW THAT WE’VE DONE IT
CAN’T KEEP IT TO OURSELVES

LEO
IF WE PUBLISH THE WORLD
IS GOING TO HELL
Teller walks in, waving a copy of
Science magazine.

TELLER
SEEMS LIKE THE FRENCH
NEVER HEEDED YOUR WARNING BELL
Fermi and Teller read from the
magazine in shock.

LEO
(Reads from journal aloud)
FERMI
WHAT DID I SAY?
THEY PUBLISHED ANYWAY
LEO
HOW CAN THEY BE SO BLIND?
ALL
DARK DAYS FOR MANKIND
LEO
THE WORD IS SPREADING RIGHT ACROSS THE GLOBE
SFX
Radio tuning static.
US ANNOUNCER
News from the Currie Institute of France has
the world of science buzzing with the promise
of a new source of energy.

LEO
IN NO TIME THE WHOLE WORLD IS GOING TO KNOW
ENGLISH ANNOUNCER
Extremely powerful bombs capable of leveling
any building in a ten mile radius could soon be
possible.

LEO
IT’S GOTTEN TOO BIG FOR US ALONE
 21.

ENSEMBLE
NOW THE RACE HAS BEEN CALLED
IF WE LOSE WE LOSE IT ALL
SECOND PLACE WON’T CROSS THE LINE
DARK DAYS FOR MANKIND

LIGHTS OUT.
9 COLUMBIA CAMPUS 9
Leo working at his desk. Trude
enters out of breath with two
paper lunch bags. She hands Leo
one.

TRUDE
Columbia is so far from Bellevue. We only have
a few minutes before I have to get back.
Leo takes the sandwich and kisses
her. Fermi walks past. Leo sees
him.

LEO
Thank you Trude. I’ll eat it later. I have to
go.

Trude chases after Fermi.

TRUDE
When will I see you?
She exits in frustration. Leo
catches Fermi. Teller joins them.

LEO
Fermi. You had your meeting?
FERMI
(a smile containing a sea of anger)
Washington is a wonderful city. The
architecture is amazing, especially the new
Pentagon. You know it’s actually shaped like a
pentagon.

TELLER
Will the Government help?
FERMI
In a word, NO.
LEO
You told them Germany leads the world in this
field.
 22.

FERMI
(firmly)
They. Weren’t. Interested.
LEO
There must be someone else we can talk to.
FERMI
(the anger breaks through)
Someone else?! How about the president of the
United States?! We only got that meeting with
the Pentagon because the dean knows some high
level brass. But even with that. Even with my
Nobel prize. All anybody saw was a fascist
enemy alien. With some crazy science fiction
idea. Crazy all right. Crazy for listening to
you. From now on I’m sticking to science. To
hell with politics. And to hell with both of
you!!

LEO
Fermi. You’re a genius.
FERMI
You fooled me once. Never again. I am a man of
principle. One principle. Never to listen to
you!

LEO
The military won’t listen to us. So we need to
find someone they can’t ignore. My old
professor!

FERMI
I don’t care if your old professor is Albert
Einstein. The military won’t listen!

LEO
The president might.
FERMI
The president?
LEO
It was your idea. And my old professor is
Albert Einstein.
TELLER
So Generaldirektor. You want Einstein to write
a letter to president Roosevelt. Warning the
possibility of a German atomic bomb!
LEO
Exactly.
 23.

It’s so crazy it will probably work.

LIGHTS FADE.
SONG 6A: MONTAGE

10 COLUMBIA MONTAGE 10
In a montage, Leo travels between
Trude’s place and the Columbia
University lab.

Leo, Teller and Fermi in Lab

coats. Leo pores over formulae and
diagrams while Teller and Fermi
look on.

LEO
Ten months. Not a word.

FERMI
Your plan worked. The president agreed. We’ll
get our funding. Be patient.

LEO
The German project has full military backing.
We can’t be patient.

TELLER
We can’t do anything without funding. More than
the $6000 they promised. A lot more.

LEO
So we do all we can with the resources we have.
And pray.
The men all pore over the
blueprints. Leo looks at his
watch, runs home.
Music sting and out.
LEO (CONT’D)
(out of breath)
Sorry I’m late.

TRUDE
Late? I never see you.
LEO
I’ve been so busy.
TRUDE
Busy on what?
 24.

LEO
This and that. How’s work?
TRUDE
Since I moved to obstetrics, I’ve not stopped.
LEO
You see I told you. The threat of war will lead
to stockpiling, and--

TRUDE
(impatient)
--and the shortage of rubber to more babies.
What sort of ‘this and that’?

LEO
It’s a new project with some Government
funding.

TRUDE
You’re worried I won’t understand it?
LEO
Trude. You don’t have clearance.
TRUDE
I see.
Trude clears the plates. Leo tries
to comfort her. She exits as Leo
puts on his lab coat.

TELLER
H2O is hopeless. It absorbed the neutrons.
FERMI
Heavy water then.
TELLER
Out of the question on our budget.
FERMI
What budget?
Leo moves to the others.
LEO
Carbon will work. Graphite. If it’s pure
enough. Let’s talk to the National Carbon
Company.
Music sting and out. Trude puts
candles and plates. Leo moves to
her.
 25.

LEO (CONT’D)
What’s this?
TRUDE
Shabbos.

LEO
We never --
TRUDE
We took a lot for granted in Europe. Things
that are no longer possible over there. I’m
holding on to what I can. Good Shabbos Leo.

A kiss.

TRUDE (CONT’D)
(muddling her way through)
Baruch Atah--
LEO
(harried)
Darling.
TRUDE
(shut up)
Leo.
(then, forgetting her place)
--melekh ha'olam. Asher kidishanu b'mitz'vosav
v'tzivanu--

LEO
I have to go back. Now.
TRUDE
(pushing through)
L'had'lik neir shel shabbas--

She opens her eyes. He’s gone.

TRUDE (CONT’D)
Amein.
Trude exits. Leo moves to Fermi
and Teller.

LEO
You got the results?
TELLER
Your note to the supplier to remove the boron
did the trick. Graphite will work.

FERMI
Once we get the money. Maybe they’ve forgotten
about us.
 26.

TELLER
It’s a pity we’re not at war.
They clean up the papers. Leo
returns home. Music sting.
Underscore reflects ‘A Risk You
Take’.

LEO
Trude? It’s four in the morning.
TRUDE
Apparently the only time I can see you.
LEO
I’m so tired.
TRUDE
Too tired?
She breathes Leo in.

TRUDE (CONT’D)
Your little girlfriend smells like a chemical
lab.
LEO
Eau de Laboratoire. The scent of the
intelligent woman. I’ll get you some.

TRUDE
Save it for an intelligent woman.
LEO
Trude.
TRUDE
I spend my days bringing babies into a broken
world. A world I don’t know how to fix. People
we grew up with are being rounded up like
cattle in Nazi work camps. And I don’t know how
to help them.

LEO
We help them by being alive. By being here.
TRUDE
It’s not enough! Leo, you are the smartest man
I know. I thought that if anyone could fix this
world it would be you. I followed you here. I
trusted you. And now? Now I never even see you.
Where the hell are you?

LEO
I’m here. Right here.
 27.

She breaks away.

TRUDE
Till you go.

Leo catches her. Embraces her.

LEO
Especially then. You are the force that is
driving me. To do what I need to do. To save
us.

TRUDE
(pushing him away)
No! I fooled myself into believing you. You’re
not always right. That idea you so believed
would change the world? Unlimited power for
mankind. That dream you spent all those years
chasing. You were wrong about that, weren’t
you.
Leo looks at Trude, wanting to
tell her. Her eyes plead for an
answer. In the silence Trude
senses the truth. She looks at
Leo. He looks back at her with the
weight of the world. Music ends.

LEO
I wish I were.
Trude understands and silently
walks away.

LIGHTS DIM.
SONG 6B - ARTHUR COMPTON

ROOSEVELT (ON RADIO)

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941. A date which
will live in infamy. The United States of
America was suddenly and deliberately attacked
by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome
this premeditated invasion. The American people
in their righteous might will win through to
absolute victory.

11 COMPTON’S OFFICE 11
Two men in silhouette, ARTHUR
COMPTON and GENERAL GROVES having
a heated discussion.
 28.

COMPTON
General. I’m not sure I’m the right person for
this.

GROVES
The dean of Chicago University? A Nobel
laureate? Compton, there is nobody in this
country more qualified.

COMPTON
A bomb that can level a city. You know I’m a
deacon of the church.

GROVES
And I spent ten years learning warfare. You
think I want another office job when there’s a
war to be fought? Wasn’t building their damned
Pentagon enough? You and I will do our duty
Compton. This country is depending on us.
Groves departs.
Music ends

12 COLUMBIA LAB 12
Arthur Compton turns to address
Leo, Fermi, Teller and others.

COMPTON
My fellow scientists. The United States is at
war. We know Germany has its best people at
work on an atom bomb. That it has secured
uranium supplies from Czechoslovakia and
Belgium. Heavy water from Norway. That it may
be ahead of us by as much as one year. My task
as your new Director of Research is to close
that gap fast.

FERMI
You see Leo? I told you to be patient.
COMPTON
Gentlemen. The project is moving to Chicago.
LEO
You’re joking. All the Uranium is at Columbia.
All of the technicians are at Columbia.
FEMALE SCIENTIST
Leo’s right.
The scientists murmur in
agreement. Compton glares at Leo.
 29.

(to Leo)
I don’t believe we’ve met.
FERMI
I’m sorry Professor Compton. This is Leo
Szilard.

COMPTON
Szilard. I’ve heard about you.
LEO
Likewise Arthur. Good things I hope.
COMPTON
Compton. Last name. This is a military
operation. Not co-eds on the quad.

LEO
Compton. I’ve put together a list of facilities
suited to our purposes right here in New York.

COMPTON
Keep up Szilard. Chicago’s already approved.
FERMI
Leo. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting
for. Arrivaderci Manhattan. Hello Chicago!

The scientists pack their things.

LIGHTS FADE.
SONG 6C: HELLO CHICAGO
13 TRUDE’S PLACE 13
Leo closes a suitcase as Trude
enters.

TRUDE
Where are you going?
LEO
The project is moving to Chicago.
TRUDE
You need to go, don’t you.
Music fades
LEO
I’m sorry.
 30.

TRUDE
Couldn’t they choose some place warmer? San
Diego would be nice.

LEO
That would be a wonderful place to work.
TRUDE
If it were San Diego I might have joined you.
LEO
(surprised)
You’re not coming?

TRUDE
I hardly see you here as it is. Chicago will be
worse. I have a life here. Not the life I
planned. But a life. Can I help you pack?
(beat. Leo is lost)
Of course. Your suitcase is always packed.
He kisses her and leaves. She
watches him go.

SONG 7: HEADLIGHTS
TRUDE (CONT’D)
SOME CONSPIRACY
HOLDS ME FROM MY DREAMS
IS THIS THE LIFE THAT I’VE CHOSEN?
IN LOVE WITH A MAN
WHOSE LOVE IS HIS WORK
AM I SPENDING MY LIFE ALONE?
I'VE KNOWN MEN
WHO WERE CARING AND KIND
DOTING ON MY EVERY WORD
WHO DON’T TRY TO SOLVE
EVERY PROBLEM THEY FIND
WHO CARE FOR MY NEEDS
MORE THAN THE WORLD
BUT TRY AS I MIGHT I CAN’T SEE
ANY FUTURE WITHOUT HIM FOR ME
I'M FROZEN WHERE I AM
CAN’T MOVE FROM WHERE I STAND
IN THE BLINDING BRILLIANT HEADLIGHTS
OF THIS LOVE
IN THE BLINDING BRILLIANT HEADLIGHTS
OF THIS LOVE
IF HE USED THAT INTELLECT FOR HIS OWN GAIN
HE'D RULE THE WORLD AND LIVE A LIFE SO FREE
WHAT RICHES COULD DENY THAT DAZZLING BRAIN?
(MORE)
 31.
TRUDE (CONT’D)
HE MIGHT FIND TIME TO SPEND WITH ME
BUT HE ALWAYS LEAVES HIS OWN NEEDS IN THE RAIN
A BETTER WORLD IS ALL HE WANTS AS PAY
I'M LONELY BUT HOW CAN I COMPLAIN?
I WOULDN'T WANT HIM ANY OTHER WAY

IN MY HEART I KNOW THERE’LL NEVER BE

ANY FUTURE WITHOUT HIM FOR ME
SO DESTINY BE DAMNED
I’LL STAY RIGHT WHERE I AM
IN THE BLINDING BRILLIANT HEADLIGHTS
OF THIS LOVE
IN THE BLINDING BRILLIANT HEADLIGHTS
OF THIS LOVE

LIGHTS FADE.
14 METLAB - CHICAGO 14
Fermi, Teller and Leo walk in on
Leona, who is working at her desk.

LEO
Excuse me miss. We’re looking for Professor
Compton.

LEONA
He’s at mass. You must be the newbies from
Columbia. Lets see. (pointing) Teller, Szilard
and Enrico Fermi.
FERMI
Perfecto!
LEONA
Leona Woods. Welcome to Chicago.
TELLER
You work for Professor Compton?
LEONA
We all work for Compton. And Compton works for
General Groves. And the general works for the
president. But if you’re asking if I’m a
secretary? I’m a physicist. Post-grad under
Mulliken and Mrozowski. I’m developing the
detectors for monitoring the flux of neutrons
in the pile. And when you’re ready, I can show
you our Employee Lounge. Signori?
FERMI
Per favore.
Leo and Fermi begin to exit.
 32.

TELLER
(flirting)
Are you single?

LEONA
Do you have a Nobel prize?
LIGHTS FADE.
15 THE BAR MONTAGE 15
In a montage we move between the
bar and the lab.

A bartender pours drinks as Leo,

Leona & Fermi sidle up to the bar.

SONG 8: ATOM SMASHER

LEONA
Here’s where all the lab rats go after we close
up shop. This kind of work goes down better
with a little bourbon chaser.

Another shot.

LEO ENSEMBLE
Should you really drink so YOU BETTER
much?

LEONA ENSEMBLE (CONT'D)

Our business deals in ‘can DROWN YOUR SORROWS
we’s not ‘should we’s. WE MIGHT ALL
LEO ENSEMBLE (CONT'D)
But considering what we’re DISAPPEAR
doing.

LEONA ENSEMBLE (CONT'D)

You’ve got it the wrong way YOU BETTER DROWN YOUR SORROWS
‘round. We drink so we can WASH AWAY THOSE FEARS
deal with what we’re doing. UNLESS WE GET THROUGH THIS
WE MIGHT ALL DISAPPEAR
LEONA
WHEN YOU BLAZE A TRAIL FROM A DUSTY ROAD
THERE’S NO RULES TO FOLLOW BUT YOUR OWN CODE
AND THE SKY’S SO CLOUDY
NO SUN CAN SNEAK BELOW
YAY-YEAH-YEAH...

LEONA (CONT'D) ENSEMBLE

WELL YOU’RE TIRED AND THIRSTY COME SO FAR
AND COME SO FAR
 33.

LEONA ENSEMBLE (CONT'D)

THEN YOU SEE THE BODY COUNT FROM THE WAR
FROM THE WAR
LEONA ENSEMBLE (CONT'D)
AND IT JUST AIN’T SO THEORETICAL
THEORETICAL ANYMORE

LEONA YAY- ENSEMBLE (CONT'D)

YEAH-YEAH... YOU BETTER DROWN YOUR SORROWS
WASH AWAY THOSE FEARS
UNLESS WE GET THROUGH THIS
WE MIGHT ALL DISAPPEAR
KEEP YOUR SLIDE-RULE SLIDING
WITH ANOTHER ROUND
IF WE’RE NOT THERE FIRST
WE’LL BE SIX FEET UNDERGROUND

LEO
Water please.
BARTENDER
First day?
ENSEMBLE
BETTER DROWN YOUR SORROWS
WASH AWAY THOSE FEARS
UNLESS WE GET THROUGH THIS
WE MIGHT ALL JUST DISAPPEAR
A lab meeting. Leona, Fermi,
Teller and Leo complain to
Compton.

LEO
We can’t have the world expert on atomic
disintegration on our team. Because he’s an
enemy alien!

LEONA
Like who in this room isn’t?
FERMI
I’m not allowed to discuss anything with Hans
Bethe. Because he’s not in our “group”!

TELLER
The engineers can’t utilize my designs. Because
I’m not an authorised engineer.

LEONA
But they can’t initiate designs themselves.
Because they’re not atomic physicists!
 34.

COMPTON
Military bureaucracy can be frustrating. I’ll
speak to General Groves about your concerns.

LEO
General Groves is the one throwing up these
roadblocks. Who will you speak to about him?

COMPTON
General Groves is the man who will get this
done. He just got us the highest priority
rating of any US war project. Ever. Following
protocol is a small price to pay. Now get back
to work.

Compton exits

LEO
Compton won’t help us.
FERMI
What can you do? We can’t go above his head.
LEO
What is more important? Protocol? Or winning
this war? I’m calling the Defence Research
Committee.
Leo exits. Fermi and Teller
follow.

TELLER
(to Fermi)
Perhaps we should promote Generaldirektor to
Feldmarschall Szilard.

SONG 8A: ATOM SMASHER REPRISE

Leona is left alone. Lighting
change. Teller returns. He looks
over her notes in quiet awe.

LEONA
What do you need, Gefilte Fish?
TELLER
Boron. We removed it from the graphite because
it stops neutrons. You’re using it to detect
them. You figured this out yourself?

LEONA
Yeah. I did. Now back off!
TELLER
Hey! What gives?
 35.

LEONA
What gives is I’m tired.
TELLER
Why don't you go home?
LEONA
Because I have two brothers over there. Used to
be three. And every day we don’t figure this
out is another day with a fucking knot in my
stomach. Wondering how many are coming back.
LEONA (CONT’D)
AND WE ALL LEFT COLLEGE
WITHOUT A GOD
WITH NO ROAD MAP SAYING
WHAT’S RIGHT OR NOT
SO WE PRAY TO NO ONE
WE’RE DOING WHAT WE OUGHT

BETTER DROWN YOUR SORROWS

WASH AWAY THOSE FEARS
UNLESS WE GET THROUGH THIS
WE MIGHT ALL DISAPPEAR

Music ends. Another staff meeting.

LEO
We know how much Uranium 235 is needed to make
a bomb. Because the British worked it out. We
could have worked it out ourselves. Eighteen
months ago. If Fermi and I had been allowed to
talk to Professor Urey at the US Office of
Naval Research.

COMPTON
I understand. But secrecy is of the utmost
importance to General Groves.

LEO
Secrecy among ourselves is killing us. We’re
racing the Germans to the bomb. They don’t have
this red tape to deal with.
(then)
I’m writing to the president.
COMPTON
Perhaps I’ve been unclear about the chain of
command. There’s the president. Then the
general. Then me. Then fifty feet of shit. Then
you. If you question my authority again --

LEO
(cutting in)
Science is questioning!
 36.

COMPTON
The military is not! It’s about following
orders.

LEO
Do you have a stamp?
COMPTON
Excuse me?
LEO
I’m writing that letter.
SONG 8b: THE PHONE CALL TRANSITION
Leo storms out. The phone rings.
Compton answers. Groves appears on
the other line.

GROVES
Compton. You still have a problem.
COMPTON
Not Szilard again.
GROVES
Are you going to fix it? Or am I?
COMPTON
I don’t think that’s necessary General.
Unfortunately nobody can quite do what he can.
Who did he speak to this time?

GROVES
The Defence Research Committee.
COMPTON
That is unacceptable to be sure.
GROVES
No one is irreplaceable Compton.
COMPTON
I take full responsibility. This will not
happen again.

Compton hangs up.

LIGHTS FADE.

The scientists are working. Leo

storms in with a letter.
 37.

FERMI
What are you so excited about Leo?
TELLER
His citizenship.
FERMI
That was yesterday.
TELLER
It’s a big deal.
LEO
The president!
FERMI
Roosevelt?
LEO
Lady Roosevelt. She agreed to pass my letter on
to the president.

FERMI
(to Teller)
Now that’s a big deal.

LEONA
This calls for a drink!
COMPTON (OFF)
Leo Szilard.
LEO
He used my first name. I’m in trouble.
Compton enters.

COMPTON
There is a letter. A letter I specifically
directed you not to write.

LEO
Arthur, the president can (help us) --
COMPTON
(cutting in)
Compton.
LEO
Compton. You’re a either a scientist or a
soldier. You can’t be both.

COMPTON
I’m here to bridge the divide, Szilard. And if
you can’t follow orders, I can’t protect you.
 38.

LEO
I don’t need your protection.
COMPTON
You wrote a letter to the president. With the
involvement of Albert Einstein.
LEO
Yes.
COMPTON
Who does not have clearance.
LEO
For God’s sake! It was a letter of introduction
--
COMPTON
(cutting him off)
Szilard! The general is looking for an excuse.
Any excuse. To incarcerate you for the duration
of the war. What good will you be to anyone
locked away in a military prison?
A door opens. a very self-assured
and slickly dressed J ROBERT
OPPENHEIMER enters.

COMPTON (CONT’D)
I’d like you all to meet Robert Oppenheimer. He
will now be heading the cooling systems
division.

LEONA
That’s Leo’s role.
OPPENHEIMER
Let’s do that again. It’s J Robert Oppenheimer.
The capital letter J. On its own. Always. But
enough about me. What an honour it is to meet
all of you.
(smiles as he approaches Leo)
Especially the man who made all of this
possible.

LEO
Oppenheimer. I remember you from Berlin. You
tried to poison your supervisor. An apple
coated in some nasty chemicals.

OPPENHEIMER
Oh my poisoning days are over. Like Moses in
the desert, you have shown us the path to
salvation. A promised land where scientists
like us get the recognition and funding we so
rightly deserve.
 39.

LEO
Compton, you cannot be serious.
COMPTON
Miss Woods, can you show Mister Oppenheimer to
his office.

LEONA
Right this way.
Oppenheimer takes her arm.

OPPENHEIMER
(to Leo)
Moses never made it into the promised land
either.
The scientists exit, leaving Leo
and Compton.

LEO
(angry)
You’re firing me?
COMPTON
I’m having you transferred back to Columbia.
You can work with us from there.

LEO
It’s hard enough working with you from here.
From Columbia it will be impossible.

COMPTON
I know how important you’ve been to the
project. But but we don’t need two generals.
Right now I need team players. I’m sorry Leo.
You’re out.

LIGHTS FADE.
16 THE BAR 16

SONG 8C: INTO THE BAR

The bartender cleans up as Leo
drinks a beer alone. A brash young
army airman PAUL comes in and
takes a seat nearby.

PAUL
Johnny Walker. Neat.
(It’s served. He pounds it.)
Another please.
(It’s served. He pounds it. Jesus.)
Another!
(Leo snatches the shot)
 40.

LEO
Are you old enough to be drinking?
PAUL
I’m old enough to fight and die for my country,
so yeah, I think I can have a fucking drink if
I want.

LEO
(to waitress)
Actually, make it Schlitz. Two please.
(passing one beer to Paul)
Easier on brain cells. You might need them one
day.

PAUL
(decides, then)
Thanks. Paul.

LEO
Leo. Shipping out?
PAUL
Got my wings. Army Air Corps. First lieutenant.
LEO
A pilot. You’ll most certainly need those brain
cells.

PAUL
I’ll drink to that.
They drink.
LEO
Your parents must be proud of you.
PAUL
Mom’s proud. Dad still wants me to be a doctor.
I told him where he can stick his thermometer.

LEO
You told him that?
PAUL
Sure. Isn’t free speech what we’re fighting
for?

LEO
I’m an American citizen now. Do you think I
could tell my boss where he can stick his slide-
rule?
 41.

PAUL
That’s not just your right. It’s your patriotic
duty. Just like it’s my duty to tell the
emperor of Japan where to shove his chopsticks.

LEO
You speak Japanese?
PAUL
He’ll get the message. I’m hoping to deliver it
in person.

LEO
You’re not worried about the walls of flack he
might greet you with?

PAUL
What’s the worst that can happen?
LEO
You can get yourself killed.
SONG 9: STARS AND STRIPES

PAUL
So I die defending my country in its time of
need. Protecting the boys who are up there with
me. Risking their necks to protect mine. Worry
about what might happen, you’ve already lost.

PAUL (CONT’D)
WE DIDN’T RAISE OUR HAND FOR WAR
WE NEVER SAID ‘INVADE OUR SHORE’
THEY HAD A CHOICE TO STAY AWAY
THEY DREW FIRST BLOOD AND NOW THEY’LL PAY
I LOVE THIS LAND WHERE I WAS BORN
OUR FREEDOM IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR
I GOT MY WINGS AND NOW IT’S TIME
TO RAIN SOME PAYBACK FROM THE SKY

GONNA STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT

DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE
HIT ‘EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES
THE STARS AND STRIPES WILL RISE
(MORE)
 42.
PAUL (CONT’D)
THOSE JAPANAZI JERKS WILL PAY
FOR MESSING WITH THE USA
WHEN OUR COUNTRY CALLS WE STAND PROUD AND TALL
AND NOTHING’S GONNA GET IN MY WAY

GONNA STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT

DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE
HIT ‘EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES
THE STARS AND STRIPES WILL RISE

I CAN’T KNOW IF I’M THE ONE WHO MAKES IT

BUT BY GOD I’LL LIGHT THE WAY
RAISE THE FLAG UNTIL ANOTHER TAKES IT
DON’T GIVE IN WE’LL WIN THE DAY

GONNA STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT

DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE
HIT ‘EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES
THE STARS AND STRIPES WILL RISE

LEO
You’re right. I can’t give up. Not without a
fight.
I CAN’T KNOW IF I’M THE ONE WHO MAKES IT
BUT BY GOD I’LL LIGHT THE WAY

PAUL
RAISE THE FLAG UNTIL ANOTHER TAKES IT
BOTH
DON’T GIVE IN WE’LL WIN THE DAY
LEO
GONNA STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT
PAUL
DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE

LEO
HIT ‘EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES
BOTH
THE STARS AND STRIPES WILL RISE
LEO
I started this. I have to finish it.
PAUL
You tell ‘em Pops.
BOTH
GONNA STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT
DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE
HIT ‘EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES
 43.

PAUL
THE STARS AND STRIPES WILL
LEO
STARS AND STRIPES WILL
BOTH
STARS AND STRIPES WILL RISE
LIGHTS FADE.

17 TRUDE’S PLACE - NY 17

SONG 9A: STARS AND STRIPES TRANSITION

LIGHTS UP ON:
Leo is asleep at the table by an
empty bottle of scotch. Trude
arrives home with mail. Angry.

TRUDE
Leo. You’ve been here for months now. I know
your job meant a lot to you. But you might
prepare dinner once in a while.
(picking up bottle)
What’s this?

LEO
You don’t know.
TRUDE
Know? Know what?
LEO
Today’s paper.
TRUDE
Leo, I’ve just finished a double shift.
He hands her the paper, pointing
to an article.

LEO
Here.

TRUDE
The State Department confirmed the existence of
Nazi extermination camps and the murder of --
up to two million Jews. (Beat) Million?
Million!? My God Leo. How is that even
possible?

LEO
Livestock is an industry. Why not murder?
 44.

TRUDE
You saw this coming.
LEO
Not this. Not in my wildest dreams.
TRUDE
I always thought it would pass. That one day,
we’d go back. We can’t go back, can we?

SONG 10: WHERE IS HOME?

LEO
There’s nothing to go back to.
She breaks down. Leo holds her.

LEO (CONT’D)
I ONCE HAD A HOME IN HUNGARY
THEN BERLIN WAS HOME TO ME
VIENNA WAS A PLACE WE LOVED TO ROAM
TRUDE
THE CAFES WHERE WE USED TO MEET
THE TEMPLE ON DONHANY STREET
THOSE PEOPLE WEREN’T JUST OUR FRIENDS
THEY WERE OUR HOME

LEO
HOW CAN SOMEWHERE THAT’S HOME
WHEN YOU’RE IN IT

BOTH
FEEL SO EMPTY AND COLD
THE NEXT MINUTE?

I KNEW THINGS WERE HARD

BUT NOT COLD AND HARD AS A STONE
ARE THEY GONE?
ARE THEY GONE?
HOW COULD THEY LEAVE US
SO ALONE?

GONE
ARE THEY GONE?
I’M A CITIZEN
WHERE IS HOME?

TRUDE
FRIDAY NIGHT BY CANDLE LIGHT
TELLING JOKES ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT
OLD MEN PRAYING CHILDREN LAUGHING
BOTH
HOW COULD WE KNOW?
 45.

TRUDE
HOME IS NOT GEOGRAPHY
IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DEAR TO ME
THE MINDS THE IDEAS
WHERE DID THEY GO?
HOW CAN SOMEWHERE THAT’S HOME
WHEN YOU’RE IN IT
FEEL SO EMPTY AND COLD
THE NEXT MINUTE?

BOTH
I KNEW THINGS WERE HARD
BUT NOT COLD AND HARD AS A STONE
ARE THEY GONE?
ARE THEY GONE?
HOW COULD THEY LEAVE US
SO ALONE?

TRUDE
WE CAN’T JUST SIT HERE
AND MOURN OUR FATE
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
IT CAN’T BE TOO LATE
LEO
I AM ONLY ONE MAN

TRUDE
BUT YOU’RE NOT ALONE

LEO
GONE
TRUDE
HOLD ON THERE’S SO MUCH TO BE DONE
LEO
ARE THEY GONE?

TRUDE
FIGHT ON TILL THE BATTLE IS WON
LEO
GONE
TRUDE
NOBODY CAN DO WHAT YOU DO
LEO
ARE THEY GONE?

TRUDE
HOLD ON WE’RE DEPENDING ON YOU
 46.

LEO
I’M A CITIZEN

BOTH
WHERE IS HOME?

TRUDE
Leo. You have to stop them.
LEO
I was fired.
TRUDE
What happened to you? Once nothing could stop
you.

LEO
I tried my best Trude. What more could one man
do?

TRUDE
On his own.

Music out.
This strikes home. Leo sees
himself for the first time.
LEO
You’re right. No man is an island. Except for
Leo Szilard.

TRUDE
I fell in love with a fighter. And the war
isn’t over.

LEO
They took away my clearance Trude. I can’t talk
with my colleagues about work. I can’t even
walk down the street without Government agents
following me. Monitoring my calls. Reading my
mail.

TRUDE
(in her hands)
This mail?
SONG 10A: THE LETTER
Leo takes an envelope, opens and
reads it.
LEO
They don’t even bother resealing it. Germany
made a big mistake invading Russia. They’ve
lost. It’s only a matter of time before -- No.
(MORE)
 47.
LEO (CONT'D)
(he stops cold)
It’s not possible.
TRUDE
What is it?
LEO
Teller. He got a message from a friend in
Berlin. Fritz Houterman. Working on the German
bomb.

TRUDE
What does he say?!
LEO
They’re getting close.
(beat)
I have to go back.

SONG 11: ONE DAY

TRUDE
A moment ago you were fired.
LEO
We have to beat them Trude. Whatever it takes.
She kisses him and exits.
18 THE ROAD BACK - CHICAGO 18

LEO
TEN YEARS AGO A PASSING THOUGHT
LED ME TO WHO I AM
THESE PATENTS I HOLD
COULD SEE ME A WEALTHY MAN
I MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE RAGING STORM
THERE'S FOOD ON MY PLATE MY BED IS WARM
I TRIED MY BEST THEY SENT ME AWAY
THAT WAS OKAY UNTIL TODAY
TODAY IT'S RAINING MURDER
AND THERE’S NO END IN SIGHT
TEN THOUSAND SOULS ALIVE NOW
COULD BE ASHES BY TONIGHT

AS ONE MAN ON MY OWN

I HAVE NO VOICE
THESE CIRCUMSTANCES LEAVE ME
NO CHOICE

I CAN'T JUST HOPE THIS

CLOUD WILL BLOW AWAY
 48.

RADIO (OFF)
A press association report from Warm Springs,
Georgia has confirmed the passing of president
Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

LEO
ONE DAY WHAT AM I SAVING FOR
IF THERE'S NO ONE LEFT TO SAVE ANY MORE
ONE DAY AS I FADE AWAY
DON'T LET ME RUE THE CHOICE I MADE ONE DAY
19 METLAB - CHICAGO 19

COMPTON
Szilard. What are you doing here?
LEO
Collecting the fee the government owes me for
my chain reaction patent. As well as my half of
the nuclear reactor design patent. Together
they’re worth millions. Without them you have
no bomb.

COMPTON
At a time like this. You’re asking the U.S.
Government for money?

LEO
I don’t care about the money. I care about
beating Germany to the bomb. Tell Groves he can
have my patents. If you’ll have me back.

COMPTON
It means that much to you.
LEO
What could mean more.
COMPTON
(beat)
A team player?

LEO
A team player.
Compton extends a hand. Leo shakes
it.

COMPTON
Welcome back to The Manhattan Project.
Leo puts on a lab coat and is met
by Leona, Teller and Fermi. They
begin working around the table.
 49.

LEO
THE RICHES I’D HOPED FOR
HAD TOO GREAT A COST
I CAN’T SAVE FOR TOMORROW
WHEN THE FUTURE MIGHT BE LOST

DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH

OF A DIFFERENCE I CAN MAKE
I JUST PRAY THAT I’M NOT
ONE DAY TOO LATE
Fermi and Teller take their coats
off.

FERMI
Leo. We’re going to Los Alamos. Working with
Oppenheimer on the bomb design.

TELLER
Come with us. We’ve built the reactor. The
foreplay is done. Now for the sex.

LEO
I’m working on a fast-neutron reactor design.
To speed-up plutonium production. I need to be
here.

They hug. Fermi and Teller leave.

LEO (CONT’D)
ONE DAY WHAT AM I SAVING FOR
IF THERE'S NO ONE LEFT TO SAVE ANY MORE
ONE DAY AS I FADE AWAY,
DON'T LET ME RUE THE CHOICE I MADE
Leona rushes in.

LEONA
It’s president Truman.
TRUMAN ANNOUNCEMENT
I wish that Franklin D Roosevelt had lived to
see this day. General Eisenhower informs me
that the forces of Germany have surrendered to
the United Nations. The flags of freedom fly
all over Europe.

The two are overjoyed.

LEONA
(hugging Leo)
We beat them Leo. We won!

LEO
The war is over.
 50.

Compton enters.
COMPTON
Our war is far from over. The Los Alamos team
need to test the implosion lens on a working
plutonium device.

LEO
We don’t need the bomb now.
COMPTON
The plane leaves in an hour.
Compton and Leo exit. The music
shifts.

LIGHTS FADE.

20 ALAMOGORDO 20
Pre-dawn. Fermi, Compton, Leo and
General Groves watch the horizon.
Oppenheimer addresses the crowd.
OPPENHEIMER
Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the Grand
Premiere of the greatest achievement of man.
The most colossal, most monumental, most
astronomical power ever wielded by any mortal
or god. You are about to witness the dawn of a
new age for mankind.

LEO
This is madness!
Oppenheimer strides up to Leo,
moving him away from the group.

OPPENHEIMER
Leo. So glad you’re here to witness the fruits
of all our labours.

LEO
The explosion will be seen and felt from
Albuquerque to El Paso. How will you explain it
to the public?

OPPENHEIMER
Leo. Haven’t you learned the hard way where all
this negativity leads? We are Gods here.
Science is the shining beacon, leading this
country to a blazing future.
An impatient General Groves joins
them.
 51.

GROVES
What’s the hold-up now?
He sees Leo and smiles, like
someone who knows they hold all
the cards.
Of course. Szee-lard.
LEO
General. You can’t keep this a secret. The
Russians will learn of it and --

COMPTON
(to Leo)
Szilard. You’re breaking our agreement.
GROVES
Earplugs people. This is gonna shake the world.
SFX
Warning Siren
LEO
Are you blind? It’s going to lead to an arms
race with the Soviets that could end
civilization!

COMPTON
As scientists that’s not our concern.
FERMI
Compton is right.
LEO
Germany surrendered. We don’t need the bomb!
GROVES
Oh it never was about one bomb.
All put on their goggles and exit,
leaving Leo alone.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Initiating sequence. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.
LEO
TODAY ALL THAT I FEARED HAS COME
RISING LIKE A THOUSAND SUNS
AND I PRAY THAT I’M NOT TOO LATE
TO STEM THIS TIDE I HELPED CREATE
GOD SAVE US FROM THE CHOICE I MADE
ONE DAY
 52.

SFX
The bomb explodes.
BLACKOUT.
Leo disappears in a flash of light
and smoke.

HOUSE LIGHTS UP ON:

An empty stage.

END OF ACT I
 53.

ACT II

AT RISE:

21 FORMAL GATHERING - NY (1954) 21

SONG 11A - ENTR’ACTE
Leona, Compton, Oppenheimer and
Teller.

LEONA
Did Leo really think he could have stopped it?
COMPTON
Not alone. But once Germany was defeated it
should have been clear to all of us.

OPPENHEIMER
I’ll tell you what was clear. That the
Government had spent two billion dollars racing
the Germans to a bomb they never had.

TELLER
Neils Bohr was right when he said producing
bombs would turn the country into a factory.
Chicago, Los Alamos, Hanford, Oak Ridge.
130,000 people working around the clock.
There’s no way we could have stopped that.

COMPTON
We were the only ones who had any hope of
stopping it. Apart from us and maybe a handful
of others, nobody had any idea what they were
even working on.

LIGHTS FADE.

22 OAK RIDGE 22
SONG 12: HOLES IN THE DONUTS
LAVERNE, LENA & MAE, factory girls
at an assembly line. They march in
with their assembly trays.

GIRLS
WE GET UP EVERY MORNING
WHEN THE WHISTLE BLOWS
WHAT IT IS WE MAKE ALL DAY
WE STILL DON’T KNOW
US GIRLS ARE LEARNING FAST
IT’S BETTER NOT TO ASK
(MORE)
 54.
GIRLS (CONT'D)
THEY TELL US WHAT TO SAY
NOT SURE THAT IT’S OK
BUT WE SAY IT ANYWAY
WE’RE MAKING HOLES IN THE DONUTS
LIGHTS FOR THE LIGHTNING BUGS
MABEL WAS A PRETTY GIRL
FROM BALTIMORE
THEY TOLD HER TO KEEP QUIET
BUT SHE SAID WHAT FOR?
NEXT DAY SHE DISAPPEARED
BUT HER THINGS ARE ALL STILL HERE
THEY TELL US WHAT TO SAY
NOT SURE THAT IT’S OK
BUT WE SAY IT ANYWAY
WE’RE MAKING HOLES IN THE DONUTS
LIGHTS FOR THE LIGHTNING BUGS

LENA LAVERNE AND MAE

LAST YEAR THIS WAS A FARM
IF YOU BELIEVE THE TALK BELIEVE THE TALK
BELIEVE THE TALK
NOW THE POWER BILL IS BIGGER
THAN NEW YORK THAN NEW YORK
THAN NEW YORK

GIRLS
THE BRIGHTEST THING YOU’LL SEE
IN ALL OF TENNESSEE
WE’RE MAKING HOLES IN THE DONUTS
LIGHTS FOR THE LIGHTNING BUGS
DON’T KNOW WHAT THE SECURITY IS ALL ABOUT
TRUCKS ARE COMING IN BUT NOTHING’S GOING OUT
NO CLUE WHAT IT’S FOR
BUT IT’S SUPPOSED TO WIN THE WAR
THEY TELL US WHAT TO SAY
NOT SURE THAT ITS OK
BUT WE SAY IT ANYWAY
WE’RE MAKING HOLES IN THE DONUTS
LIGHTS FOR THE LIGHTNING BUGS

Laverne is escorted out by one of

two military men.

WE’RE MAKING HOLES IN THE DONUTS

LIGHTS FOR THE LIGHTNING BUGS

Lena is escorted out by the second

man.

MAE
WE’RE MAKING HOLES IN THE DONUTS
 55.

Mae is escorted out by both men.

LIGHTS DIM.

23 TRANSITION 23

PRE-RECORDED MARCHING SONG

ANNOUNCER
The world’s largest ocean liner, Queen
Elizabeth, pulls into New York harbour to a
hero’s welcome. Aboard, almost 15,000 happy
G.I.s. These are the guys that helped win it
for us against the Nazis. And the entire nation
welcomes them home.
LIGHTS UP ON:

24 LEO’S PLACE - CHICAGO 24

An enthusiastic Trude enters and
is greeted by Leo. They embrace.

TRUDE
I tried calling you. Germany surrendered. Leo,
we finally get our lives back.
LEO
Yes.
TRUDE
Now we can go to San Diego like we always
talked about.
(Noticing his unease)
What’s wrong?

LEO
It’s not over Trude.
TRUDE
They still want to use the bomb? Berlin
surrendered.

LEO
On Japan.
TRUDE
Japan has the bomb?
LEO
Japan has nothing, apart from the will to keep
fighting. The way things are going, we’ll be
lucky to find a city left to bomb.
 56.

TRUDE
They want to use your bomb on a city? Of
people?

LEO
There’s no point using it on anything else.
TRUDE
When?
LEO
This week. Next week. As soon as a device is
ready. They’re making a terrible mistake.

TRUDE
You can’t blame yourself Leo. It’s war. So many
have died. So many cities destroyed. What’s one
more?

LEO
I’m not worried about one city Trude.
SONG 13: GREATER BATTLE
I’m worried about the human race. If it’s okay
for us to use nuclear weapons to solve our
problems, then it’s okay for others. How will
the war after this one be fought?

TRUDE
You can’t stop it, can you?
LEO
No, I can’t. Not alone.
LEO (CONT’D)
THE WAR WE FEARED AND FOUGHT AGAINST IS OVER
THE DAY WE LONGED AND PRAYED FOR HAS NOW COME
OUR GREATEST FEAR PROVED WRONG
THERE WAS NO GERMAN BOMB
THE DEAD NOW NUMBER IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS
AND THOUGH SO MUCH WAS LOST THE WAR IS WON
IT TOOK TWELVE TRAGIC YEARS
BUT THERE'S NO TIME FOR TEARS
Leo takes a folder from a drawer.
He looks to Trude. She nods,
kisses him, and leaves.

LEO (CONT'D)
A NEW AND GREATER BATTLE'S ON THE WAY
AND IF WE LOSE WE'LL HAVE THE WORLD TO PAY
CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE FOR OUR SOUL?
 57.

25 METLAB - CHICAGO 25
Leo presents the petition to a
female scientist.

FEMALE SCIENTIST
What is it?
LEO
A petition to President Truman. Stating we
built the bomb as a defensive measure against a
German bomb. We do not condone its use against
Japan.

FEMALE SCIENTIST
Okay. Okay.
LEO
WE CAN'T GO BACK AND UNDO
WHAT WE STARTED
UNPLANT THE SEED AND
TAKE BACK ALL WE'VE DONE
THE ATOM WE HELPED FREE
IS NOW THE ENEMY

Fermi enters.
FERMI
You realize this bomb could save thousands of
American lives.

LEO
Fermi. I’m thinking about our grandchildren's
lives.
TO USE THE BOMB WILL COST US
ALL WE FOUGHT FOR
IT'S NOT WINNING WHEN YOU'VE LOST
ALL THAT YOU'VE WON

LEO (CONT'D) CHORUS

THE GREATEST CASUALTY AHHHH
OUR OWN HUMANITY
WHERE'S OUR MORALITY?

LEO FERMI
THIS IS INSANITY THIS IS INSANITY!
LEO CHORUS
A NEW AND GREATER BATTLE'S ON AHHHH
THE WAY
AND IF WE LOSE WE'LL HAVE THE AHHH
WORLD TO PAY
 58.

LEO & CHORUS

CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE FOR OUR SOUL

SCIENTIST
Leo? What are you doing here?
LEO
I need you to sign a petition.
LEO & CHORUS
CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE FOR OUR SOUL
A NEW AND GREATER BATTLE’S
ON THE WAY

CHORUS LEO
AND IF WE LOSE WE’LL HAVE WE’LL HAVE THE WORLD TO PAY
THE WORLD TO PAY
LEO & MEN WOMEN
CAN YOU HEAR THE CAN YOU HEAR THE
WAR DRUMS ROLL WAR DRUMS ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE IN THIS NEW BATTLE
CAN YOU HEAR THE CAN YOU HEAR THE BATTLE
WAR DRUMS ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE
ALL
CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE FOR OUR SOUL

LIGHTS FADE.
Leo rushes in.
SONG 13A: LEONA SIGNS

LEONA
Where are you going?
LEO
Los Alamos. I need all the signatures I can
get.

LEONA
About all that. I’m worried. That list of
yours.

LEO
The petition?
LEONA
I know Oppenheimer. Anyone who signs that
petition. I mean. There’s only one place that
employs Atomic Physicists.
 59.

LEO
I know.
LEONA
Okay. It’s a big risk.
LEO
Yes. It is.
Beat.
LEONA
May I borrow your pen? I’d like to sign.
(She takes his pen, signs, and hands it
back)
Good luck Leo.
She leaves. Leo packs up. Compton
appears.

Music ends.
COMPTON
How’s the petition coming?
LEO
(a little surprised)
Ninety-nine signatures. Yours would round it up
nicely.
He offers it. Compton considers
before waving it off.

COMPTON
It won’t make any difference. I shouldn’t be
telling you this. A few weeks ago, the general
informed President Truman about the bomb.

LEO
(Jumping in)
He didn’t know?

COMPTON
He didn’t need to know.
LEO
He was the vice-president!
COMPTON
Listen. Groves told Truman that the entire
operation was created and the bomb built,
solely to drop on the Japanese.

LEO
We have to tell him the truth.
 60.

COMPTON
The truth? They’ve spent billions on this
project. Without congressional approval. And
the president who authorised it is dead. That’s
the truth.

SONG 14: WORLD OF GRAY

COMPTON (CONT’D)
They have to use the bomb.
LEO
(looking at petition)
This won’t stop it.

COMPTON
Nothing will stop it.
LEO
And you can live with that?
COMPTON
I’VE BEEN TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
SINCE I FIRST LEARNED TO SPEAK
ONE FOOT PLANTED FIRM IN SCIENCE
ONE IN MY BELIEF
QUANTUM PHYSICS BOUGHT ME FAME
AND SOME PROSPERITY
ALL THE WHILE MY FAITH IN GOD
WAS SORELY TESTING ME

I WAS STRUGGLING WITHOUT A CLUE

DUAL REALITIES TORE MY SOUL IN TWO
TILL MY TO-THE-DEATH FIGHT
BETWEEN DARKNESS AND LIGHT
RIPPED AWAY
A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF GRAY
LEO
You’re looking to science for morals Compton?
Science has no morals!

COMPTON
WE SIGNED UP TO THIS PROGRAM
WITH OUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR
THE ALTERNATIVE TO WINNING
WAS A WORLD OF FEAR
BRIDGING SCIENCE AND THE ARMY
TOOK A POINT OF VIEW
THAT AN ANSWER MIGHT BE FALSE
YET IT COULD STILL BE TRUE

LEO
This is madness.
 61.

COMPTON
IF YOU STAND THERE AND JUST DISAGREE
THEN IT’S ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE COIN YOU SEE
BUT WHEN BLACK SPINS TO WHITE
IT MIGHT SHED SOME NEW LIGHT
ON YOUR DAY
A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF GRAY
IN THE WORLD OF QUANTUM REALITY
CHOOSE BOTH RIGHT AND WRONG
‘CAUSE THEY BOTH CAN BE
WITH NO CONFLICT IN
YOUR VOCAB’LARY
HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT
SIMULTANEOUSLY

LEO
YOU CAN HIDE BEHIND YOUR SCIENCE
AND YOUR NOBEL PRIZE
WE HAD THE MINDS TO GET HERE
THAT DOESN’T MAKE US WISE
CAN’T YOU SEE THE ENDLESS SUFFERING
THIS BOMB WILL CAUSE
IF OUR ACTIONS MAKE ITS USE
ACCEPTABLE IN WAR?

COMPTON
OR THE BOMB COULD MEAN THIS WAR WILL END
AND NO ONE WILL USE ITS LIKE AGAIN
BOTH THE THING YOU MOST FEAR
AND SALVATION APPEAR
ON ONE TRAY
A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF GRAY
LEO
You may be right Compton. But I need to live
with myself after this. I’m stopping it.

COMPTON
You can’t stop it.
LEO
Then by God I’ll light the way!
Leo storms out, leaving Compton
shaken to the core.
 62.

COMPTON
(reflective)
I’VE BEEN TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
SINCE I FIRST LEARNED TO SPEAK
ONE FOOT PLANTED FIRM IN SCIENCE
ONE IN MY BELIEF
I CAN SEE TRUTH IN ALL THAT YOU SAY
BUT THERE’S TEN BILLION TRUTHS
IN THIS QUANTUM GAME
SO YOU BEND YOUR WORLD VIEW
TO THE TRUTH THAT GETS YOU
THROUGH YOUR DAY
A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF GRAY
LIGHTS FADE.
The sound of a propeller airplane
starting.

26 ABOVE AMERICA 26
Leo and Fermi flying to Los
Alamos, speaking loudly above the
engines.

FERMI
You okay Leo?
LEO
How long ‘til we’re in New Mexico?
FERMI
You need to go to the bathroom again?
FERMI (CONT’D)
Did you go to the doctor? It might be serious.
LEO
It’s nothing.
FERMI
So what are you worried about? The war will be
over soon.

LEO
After they use the bomb. And I can’t stop it.
FERMI
Your petition.
LEO
It’s not enough.
 63.

FERMI
Look. Either A, we drop the bomb and a lot of
people die. Or B, we don’t drop it. The war
goes on. And a lot of people die. We shouldn’t
get involved.

LEO
(suddenly excited)
Maybe there’s an option C.
(beat)
What if we warn the Japanese. Tell them we’ll
destroy a certain city. On a certain date. Let
them evacuate first. They still get to use
their bomb.

FERMI
On an empty city.
LEO
Exactly.
FERMI
So nobody dies.
LEO
Nobody dies.
FERMI
That’s so crazy, it will probably work!
LEO
Let’s keep it between us for now.
SONG 15: GREATER BATTLE REPRISE

FERMI
You should tell everyone!
LEO
No. Not everyone. Not yet

LEO (CONT’D)
WE’LL NEED TO LAY THE GROUND FOR THIS IDEA
PROTECT IT FROM THE HAWKS WHO’LL TEAR IT DOWN
WE HAVE TO PLAY IT RIGHT
SO WE CAN WIN THIS FIGHT
LEO (CONT'D) FERMI
A NEW AND GREATER
BATTLE’S ON THE WAY TO SAVE A CITY FAR AWAY
TO DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION
AS A PLAY AND SOAR TO VIC’TRY DAY!
 64.

BOTH
WE’LL END THE WAR DRUMS ROLL
AND NOT LOSE A SINGLE SOUL

LIGHTS FADE.
27 THE WHITE HOUSE 27
Leo, Fermi, Oppenheimer, Compton
and General Groves.

GROVES
Thank you for your report gentlemen. And for
your conclusion. I’m sure President Truman will
concur. Nobody will ever say we have not given
this matter the most careful consideration.

LEO
They’ll say you gave it less than a moments
thought.

COMPTON
My apologies General. Szilard, I warned you.
GROVES
(as to a child)
And what is it you think we’ve missed?
LEO
We built the bomb to deter the Germans. From
using their own atomic bombs against us. Japan
has no bomb. No allies. No effective navy or
air force. They’re finished.

COMPTON
And how many more have to die, on both sides,
before they surrender?

OPPENHEIMER
The American people have given us two billion
dollars for this. They will demand results.

LEO
Results? By using the bomb, we are endorsing
its use as a weapon of war. A weapon only we
possess. Russia will take it as a threat and
build their own bombs to use against us. That
will be your results!

GROVES
All right Sea-lard.
LEO
It’s Szilard.
 65.

GROVES
I could listen to you. Or I could listen to
your Nobel prize-winning colleagues. Who have
told me in writing that there is no acceptable
alternative to dropping the bomb on Japan.

LEO
I have a petition here. With over a hundred
signatures on it. Some of the sharpest minds in
the country. Who are against dropping the bomb
on Japan. Especially at this late stage of the
war. If you must use the bomb, why not warn the
--
GROVES
(cutting in)
Warn the Japanese first? And then drop it on an
empty city? Perhaps because your own colleagues
have considered that proposal and advised
against it. Right here. In their report.

Throws the report on the table.

OPPENHEIMER
Leo. The bomb has never been tested in battle.
If it doesn’t work, America will be humiliated.
LEO
You would actually condemn a city of people for
the sake of your reputation?

OPPENHEIMER
Our reputations. All our names. Our country’s
name. Do you want to be the man who made the
bomb that didn’t go off? America would look
weak. Worse, vulnerable.

GROVES
Here’s the thing Zee-lard. The signatories of
this report are people President Truman trusts.
You? You he’s never heard of. And believe me,
he never will.

LEO
So it’s Oppenheimer’s word against mine.
GROVES
It’s also signed by Compton.
LEO
Of course.
GROVES
And Fermi.

Beat.
 66.

LEO
Fermi?

Leo looks to Fermi who looks away.

GROVES
Compton. Oppenheimer. Join me outside for a
word.

OPPENHEIMER
Thanks again Leo. We couldn’t have done it
without you.
Oppenheimer and Compton exit
leaving Fermi and Leo.

LEO
You told them?
FERMI
Leo listen.
(beat)
I had a moment alone with Oppenheimer. I
thought if I could explain your plan to him,
he’d surely get it and love it.

LEO
And prepare a plan to counter it.
FERMI
Oppenheimer said it. As scientists, we have no
claim to special competence in solving
political, social and military problems. That
was also stated in the report. That is what I
signed.

LEO
No acceptable alternative? That’s not science.
That’s Oppenheimer playing God. With your
endorsement.

FERMI
(close to tears)
I once told you. There are lines that cannot be
crossed. If you had listened to me then, there
would be no letter to Roosevelt. There would be
no race against an imagined threat. There would
be NO BOMB!!
Leo is shaken to the core. The two
men look at each other for a long
beat. Fermi turns to leave.

LEO
You’re right Fermi. I wanted to save the world
through science. I failed.
 67.

FERMI
You know they won’t let you work in atomic
physics after this.
LEO
I know.
FERMI
I will never understand you.

LEO
You and I live in different worlds. In mine,
science is a means. In yours, it’s the whole
point. But somehow we managed to work together
for a common cause. It’s been a great honor
Fermi.
Leo extends his hand. Fermi takes
it.

FERMI
For me too.
SONG 16: THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE (1945)
The men hug. General Groves
returns.

GROVES
That will be all Fermi, Sea-lard.
FERMI
(angry)
His name is Leo Szilard!
Fermi and Groves leave. Leo is
alone.

LEO
OF COURSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM
OF COURSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE
I'VE BEEN DOWN THE MINES WHILE OTHERS
BASK IN THIS ATOMIC SUN

I WASN’T WORKING FOR A PRIZE

I WASN'T CHASING FAME OR WEALTH
I GAVE EVERYTHING AWAY
TO HELP THE WORLD NOT HELP MYSELF
WHAT WILL THEY SAY ABOUT THE MEN WHO DID THIS?
FRONT PAGE HEROES WASHED IN FAME
AND THIS MAN ALONE WHO TRIED TO STOP IT
WILL THEY EVEN KNOW MY NAME?
(MORE)
 68.
LEO (CONT'D)
IN A LAND THAT’S FAR FROM HERE
ACROSS SIX THOUSAND MILES OF SEA
A CITY TUCKED INTO ITS SLUMBER
UNAWARE OF WHAT WILL BE
A SILVER PLANE ON A RED DAWN SKY
TARGET SIGHTED AND CONFIRMED
WILL OPEN ITS HEART TO QUESTIONING EYES
SOON THE SECRET WILL BE LEARNED

SO MANY WAYS TO TEACH THE ATOM’S STORY

THE CLOSEST ONES ARE SPARED THE PAIN
TOUCHED BY A SUN IN ALL IT’S BURNING GLORY
WHERE PEOPLE STOOD SHADOWS REMAIN

SURVIVORS BURNED AND NAKED

BODIES CARPETING THE STREETS
SHOES MELTED INTO PAVEMENT
SKIN PEELING OFF IN SHEETS

AND NOW THE SHOCK WAVE BLASTS A WORLD OF ASH

ERASING TRACES OF THE PAST
SHARDS AND NAILS CROSS RIVERS TO IMPALE
RADIATION COMPLETES THE TASK

THE PERIL I ONCE SAW

IS HERE FOREVER MORE

IT STOPPED THE WAR SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES

THE NEWSMEN WILL BE TOLD TO SAY
WHEN ALL BELIEVE THEN IT'S NO LIE
WHAT DOES IT MATTER ANYWAY?

AND HERE I AM THE MAN WHO DREAMED IT

PLANTED THE SEED AND WATCHED IT GROW
THIS STUPID MAN WHO THOUGHT HE'D SAVE US ALL
HOW LITTLE DID I KNOW?

THE SWORD IS BEING DRAWN

THE AGE OF FEAR IS BORN
I MAY DISAPPEAR
BUT THE ATOM BOMB IS HERE
28 WASHINGTON BAR 28
Leo arrives at a bar. He sits near
a soldier. A waitress pours Leo a
scotch. He indicates her to keep
pouring. Trude enters, distraught.

TRUDE
This is where you come to escape?
LEO
Trude? How did you find me?
 69.

TRUDE
When were you going to tell me?
LEO
You know?
TRUDE
The oncologist called my place looking for you.
LEO
He told you I have cancer?
TRUDE
He didn’t have to.
LEO
Trude. I wanted to tell you.
TRUDE
(sarcasm)
Yes. You’ve had a lot on your plate.
LEO
I failed. What good is being right? Of knowing
with certainty what will happen. And not having
any power to change it?

TRUDE
Stop trying to fix the world. Fix yourself.
There are ways to treat this.

LEO
They don’t work. Most people die.
TRUDE
If you don’t get help you’ll certainly die.
LEO
Get help and die. Don’t get help and die.
(He pauses in thought, and is suddenly
excited)
Maybe there’s an Option C!
TRUDE
Leo please!
LEO
(excited)
What if we used beta radiation?
TRUDE
Radiation? You’re not serious.
 70.

LEO
Beta radiation has a short range. Millimeters.
We could insert a tiny seed. A surgical
implant. Kill the cancer from within.

TRUDE
We. You want me to help you. I know you’re not
used to doing anything where you’re not the
world authority. But I’m a doctor. Trust me.
There are experts in this field.

LEO
Experts! People who are very good at telling
you what can’t be done.

TRUDE
They know what they’re doing! I didn’t tell you
how to make a bomb.

LEO
It’s not a bomb Trude. It’s the Bomb. Like the
Earth. Or the Sun. Because there is nothing
else like it. And the Bomb, which I am largely
responsible for, is about to destroy a city. Is
that what God gave me this mind for? I had
wanted to help people.

TRUDE
You can’t help anyone if you won’t get help
yourself.

SONG 17 - THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS (REPRISE)

LEO
Then help me. Work with me.
(he takes her hand)

LEO (CONT'D)
You know medicine. I know radiation. And if any
two people can beat this cancer, we can.

THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS

TRUDE
(taking back her hand)
YOUR BLINDED
LEO
IMAGINE IT WERE OURS

TRUDE
WHY CAN’T YOU SEE?
 71.

LEO
THE POWER THAT IGNITES THE SUN
COULD LIGHT THE WAY

TRUDE
YOU’VE FOLLOWED THAT DREAM
YOU’VE SEEN WHERE IT LEADS

LEO
THE FORCE THAT LIGHTS THE STARS
TRUDE
I TRUSTED YOU

LEO
IMAGINE IT WERE OURS

TRUDE
NOW TRUST ME TOO

LEO
THE POWER THAT IGNITES THE SUN
COULD LIGHT THE WAY FOR EVERYONE

TRUDE
I WON’T HOLD YOUR HAND
WHILE YOU KILL YOURSELF
YOU CAN’T ASK ME TO
Trude storms out in tears. Leo
returns to the bar and downs his
scotch. He pours another. The
soldier seated next to him
notices. It’s Paul.

PAUL
You might need those brain cells one day.
LEO
I doubt it.
(turning in surprise)

Paul?
PAUL
Yeah, right.
LEO
(extending a hand)
Leo. I see you’re a colonel now.

PAUL
(indicating insignia)
Got this silver bird in January. And a bigger
silver bird this morning (spreads his arms like
a plane). Put my mom’s name on her.
 72.

LEO
You shouldn’t celebrate something like that
alone.

PAUL
(raising his glass)
I’m not.
Leo raises his own glass. Both men
drink.

LEO
So what are you doing in Washington?
PAUL
Playing taxi driver. To General Eisenhower.
LEO
You must be pretty good.
PAUL
I’m the best. What brings you here?
LEO
I also happen to be one of the better people at
what I do.

PAUL
Which is?
LEO
We -- make the holes in the doughnuts.
PAUL
And the -- light in the lightning bugs?
LEO
You know?
PAUL
Yeah. I didn’t know you did too!
LEO
Yeah!
They realize they’re being loud.
PAUL
I have nooo one I can talk to about this!
LEO
I know! And it seems like it will happen any
day now.
 73.

PAUL
Tell me about it. How terrible are those
fucking Japs?
(beat)
I mean, we’re dropping napalm left and right. Sixty-
seven cities burned to a crisp. And still nothing.

LEO
We’re talking more than napalm.
PAUL
Oh yeah? We firebombed Tokyo in March. Burned
sixteen square miles of city to the ground.
More than a hundred thousand people fried.
There is no way you’ll do more with one of
those. And it’s really more humane if you ask
me.

LEO
Humane?
PAUL
Ever see a person burn to death? With this,
(snaps his fingers) they’re gone. And the war
will be over. At least that’s what I tell
myself to get through another day at work.

SONG 18: ONLY NUMBERS

LEO
The bomb may end the war. I’m not sure the
world can afford the price. Take care Paul.
PAUL
You too Leo.
Paul puts on his jacket and walks
off to work. The back of his
jacket reads ‘Enola Gay’.

LIGHTS FADE.

29 ABOVE HIROSHIMA 29

We see Paul in his plane.

PAUL
THOSE PEOPLE DOWN BELOW, JUST NUMBERS
NOBODY THAT I KNOW, JUST NUMBERS
IT WASN'T ME THAT MADE THE CALL
BUT IF IT ENDS THE WAR
THEN I'M GIVING IT MY ALL
 74.

TRUDE
COUNT THE DEAD IN THE ROAD TOLL JUST NUMBERS
SAME AS LAST YEAR MAYBE MORE JUST NUMBERS
IT'S ONE THING WHEN A NUMBER'S IN THE NEWS
ANOTHER WHEN HE'S EVERYTHING TO YOU

LEO
THE SECONDS OF A LIFE JUST NUMBERS
PEOPLE ALWAYS DIE JUST NUMBERS
WE LOSE SO MANY WHEN WE FIGHT
WILL ONE MORE NUMBER SET THINGS RIGHT?
ANNOUNCEMENT
Target in site. Drop when ready.
ALL
WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS
YOU HAVE TO DO
TAKE A BREATH CLOSE YOUR EYES
TRY AND SEE IT THROUGH
TALK ALL YOU WANT
HERE AT THE END
WHEN IT'S LIFE OR DEATH
YOU OR THEM
SOMEONE'S GOT TO LOSE
ONLY NUMBERS

LEO
IT'S TIME TO CHOOSE

ALL
THEY’RE ONLY NUMBERS

PAUL
PLAY OR LOSE
ALL
ONLY NUMBERS
TRUDE
WE'VE GOT TO TRY

ALL
THE DAY WE DON'T FIGHT IS THE DAY THAT WE DIE
TRUDE
WHEN THE NUMBER HAS A NAME
AND THE NUMBER HAS A FACE
WHEN THE NUMBER IS YOUR LIFE
AND IT CANNOT BE REPLACED

ALL LEO
NUMBERS WHEN YOU'VE DONE ALL
YOU CAN DO
 75.

ALL TRUDE
ONLY NUMBERS AND SAID ALL YOU CAN SAY
ALL
TAKE A BREATH
CLOSE YOUR EYES
BLOW A MILLION DREAMS AWAY
Tibbets releases the bomb.

SFX
Bomb release and falling. Explosion.
BOOM! A flash of light. A cloud of
smoke. Tibbets exits. Leo flinches
in pain. Trude goes to him.

LEO
Trude. You’re here.
TRUDE
Only because you have an annoying habit of
being right.
She holds him and leads him
offstage.

BLACKOUT.

30 AFTERMATH 30

SONG 18A: THE AFTERMATH

Darkness. News reports on the
dropping of the bomb from around
the globe.

ANNOUNCEMENT
One of the decisive factors which brought us to
the threshold of peace was the use of the
atomic bomb.

ANNOUNCEMENT 2
In the words of President Truman it was used to
shorten the agony of war. To save the lives of
thousands and thousands of young Americans.

TRUMAN ANNOUNCEMENT
Everybody was most happy and most relieved that
the first bomb of its type had been released.
And there was quite a lot of hilarity on the
part of everyone concerned.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Tokyo admits extensive damage caused by the
atomic bomb at Hiroshima.
 76.

JAPANESE ANNOUNCEMENT
Naku yekechima. Hashiyista. Naku Kechunawa.
Enola Gay.

TRUMAN ANNOUNCEMENT
We shall continue to use it until we completely
destroy Japan’s power to make war.

LIGHTS UP ON:

31 FORMAL GATHERING - NY (1954) 31

Leona fills Oppenheimer’s glass.
He encourages her to keep pouring.

OPPENHEIMER
Keep going. It’s not like I have to work
tomorrow.

TELLER
You never did have the stomach for weaponry.
None of you did.

LEONA
After we saw what those two bombs did? Two!
COMPTON
The order was drop when ready. When the second
bomb was ready, it was dropped. Nobody’s
decision. No moral dilemma. Automated warfare.

OPPENHEIMER
Welcome to the future.
LEONA
I feel sick.
TELLER
I told you. No stomach.
Leo and Trude enter. Dressed for a
wedding. Their own.

LEO
It’s called being human, Teller. You should try
it some time.

TRUDE
Maybe you should try talking about something
else for a change. Especially today.

LEONA
You look absolutely radiant Trude.
TRUDE
Thank you Leona.
 77.

TELLER
Marriage suits you. It only took thirty years.
But better late than never.

TRUDE
Perhaps we needed that year in hospital for
Leo’s treatment, to show us we can work
together. Maybe even live together.

LEO
Facing your own mortality does change one’s
perspective. Anyway, it’s wonderful that you
all could come.
LEONA
Not all.
A sad moment for all.
LEO
No. It’s funny, but I still here his voice
sometimes. Hard to believe he’s gone.

OPPENHEIMER
Fermi was in a class of his own. A true
scientist till the end.

COMPTON
He put science ahead of everything. Even his
own health.

LEONA
(raising her glass)
To Fermi.
They raise their glasses for a
toast.

ALL
To Fermi.
OPPENHEIMER
Cancer’s a horrible way to die. And we did that
to people. To kids.

COMPTON
To each other. In the name of what? Progress?
LEONA
At least Leo tried to stop it.
TELLER
A pointless exercise. He had no hope of
stopping it.
 78.

TRUDE
You think he didn’t know that?
LEONA
We all knew it was hopeless. Even those of us
who signed his petition.

LEO
It was war. We didn’t know anything for
certain. Just like the Japanese didn’t know we
even had atomic bombs till we dropped them.

OPPENHEIMER
Or that we’d allow them keep their Emperor.
COMPTON
Or that Russia would declare war on them.
Overwhelm their army in Manchuria with over a
million Soviet troops.

LEONA
Yeah. The very day we bombed Nagasaki.
TELLER
And ended the war!
LEO
(to Teller)
Suppose Germany had developed two bombs before
we had any. Dropped one on Rochester and the
other on Buffalo. Then ran out of bombs and
lost the war. Can anyone doubt we would have
sentenced those responsible to death at
Nuremberg. And hanged them?

TELLER
Who cares? We won. And winners get to write the
history books. I didn’t sign your petition
because I love what I do. I’m proud to live in
a country that takes shit from no one.

LEONA
Spoken like the true father of the Hydrogen
Bomb.

TELLER
Do you know why I was for it when all of you
were against it? Not because a bigger bomb was
needed. But because it was possible. Isn’t that
our role as scientists? To push the boundaries
of the possible? To follow that insatiable
curiosity without fear or favor? Fermi would
have certainly agreed.

OPPENHEIMER
He never agreed. Neither did I.
 79.

TELLER
No, you didn’t. That’s what cost you your
precious security clearance.

COMPTON
The petition wasn’t a pointless exercise.
TELLER
(cutting in angrily)
Truman never even saw that stupid petition! You
know it’s still a classified military secret.
No one cares any more!

TRUDE
Let the man speak, Ed. Go on Arthur. Please.
COMPTON
As scientists we know that the universe is
governed by uncertainty. We can’t know where
our actions will lead. But God always gives us
a choice. Even if it seems like a hopeless
choice at the time. Leo showed us that.

SONG 19: WHAT I TELL MYSELF

COMPTON (CONT’D)
We didn’t need to see what that awful weapon
could do.

TELLER
Of course we needed to see it. There will never
be a direct conflict between the United States
and Russia. Because now we know exactly what
the result will be.

LEO
That knowledge came at a terrible price Teller.
I pay it every single day.

LEONA
We all do.
LEONA (CONT’D)
WHEN MY BOY WAS YOUNG I TOLD HIM SON
I’LL KEEP YOUR MONSTERS ON THE RUN
HE’D FEEL SO SAFE AND FALL ASLEEP IN MY ARMS
AND AS I TUCKED HIS SHEETS IN TIGHT
I’D KISS HIS HEAD AND PRAY I MIGHT
FIND WAYS TO KEEP MY BABY SAFE FROM HARM
NOW I TURN AROUND SURPRISED TO SEE
THAT THE MONSTER HE HAD FEARED IS ME
 80.

LEONA/COMPTON
WHAT I TELL MYSELF
TO GET TO SLEEP AT NIGHT
WHAT’S DONE IS DONE
WE SAVED A MILLION LIVES
SO WHY CAN’T I SLEEP AT NIGHT
OPPENHEIMER
I met President Truman. Not long after Japan
surrendered. Told him I had blood on my hands.
He gave me his handkerchief. Called me a cry-
baby to his staff. Is remorse such a terrible,
terrible thing?

ON MY BABY GIRL’S FIRST PRE-SCHOOL DAY

SHE SQUEEZED MY HAND AND SAID “DADDY, STAY”
FOR FEAR SOME BULLY KID WOULD TREAT HER MEAN
SO I SAT IN THAT LAST ROW OF CHAIRS
TILL SHE DIDN’T NEED ME THERE
NOW TEN YEARS OLD SHE THINKS OUR NAME’S UNCLEAN
WHAT I NEVER DREAMED WOULD FEEL SO BAD
THE BULLY SHE NOW FEARS IS DAD

ALL EXCEPT LEO

WHAT I TELL MYSELF
TO GET TO SLEEP AT NIGHT
IF THE WAR DRAGGED ON
MILLIONS WOULD HAVE DIED

ALL
SO WHY CAN’T I SLEEP AT NIGHT?
LEONA
We’re the first generation of humans capable of
wiping ourselves from the planet. Is that our
legacy?

LEO
We can’t turn back the clock. But perhaps we
can spin it forward. Evolve into the species we
need to be in order to survive. And Teller is
right. Building the bomb was a hell of an
achievement. Because it showed us that when we
work together, anything is possible.

TRUDE
Even a new cure for cancer.
COMPTON
Maybe science gets to save the world after all.
COMPTON/LEONA LEO
I DID WHAT I DID CAUSE I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD
THOUGHT IT WAS RIGHT
 81.

COMPTON/LEONA/OPPENHEIMER LEO (CONT'D)

I DID WHAT I DID CAUSE I DID ALL THAT I COULD
THOUGHT IT WAS RIGHT

ALL BUT LEO LEO (CONT'D)

I DID WHAT I DID
CAUSE I THOUGHT IT AND WHAT WAS THE GOOD?
THE RIGHT THING TO DO

IT’S WHAT I TELL MYSELF WHAT I TELL MYSELF

TO GET TO SLEEP AT NIGHT SLEEP AT NIGHT
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT LIGHTS GO OUT

ALL
WE SAVED A MILLION LIVES
THE CHOICE WE MADE WAS RIGHT
They leave, shaking hands and
hugging.

LIGHTS FADE.

32 GOING HOME - NY (1960) 32

Trude comes in with the mail. She
kisses Leo and hands him a letter.

TRUDE
Another letter from Jonas Salk?
LEO
My work in biology is attracting attention.
Salk offered me a chair at a new research
facility he was planning to open in Baltimore.
I declined.

Leo opens the letter.

TRUDE
Leo, please. You could do great things in a
place like that. It’s the chance of a lifetime.

LEO
We are not going to Baltimore. I know where you
want to go.

TRUDE
I don’t care where we go. As long as I’m with
you. Call him back. Say you’ve reconsidered.

Reading the letter. He smiles.

LEO
Do you think our old suitcases will survive one
last journey Trude?
 82.

TRUDE
What did he say?

LEO
(reading)
The board agreed with my suggestion.
SONG 20: FINALE
The new Salk Institute for Biological Studies
will be opening in San Diego.

Trude is hit by a train of

emotion.

TRUDE
Oh Leo!

They embrace.
ENSEMBLE
DREAMS CAN MAKE YOU
LOVE CAN BREAK YOU
DREAMS CAN BREAK YOU
LOVE CAN MAKE YOU
DREAMS CAN MAKE YOU
LOVE CAN BREAK YOU
DREAMS CAN BREAK YOU
LOVE CAN MAKE YOU

Hand in hand, Trude and Leo head

to exit before Leo stops in
thought.

Music ends.

TRUDE
Leo? What is it?
LEO
What if a dedicated phone line was set up
between the White House and the Kremlin? A
hotline.

TRUDE
(excited)
Any misunderstandings could be cleared up
before they got out of hand. It’s brilliant
Leo.

LEO
You really think so?
Fermi enters.
 83.

FERMI
It’s a so crazy it will probably work. You
should tell everyone!
The ensemble enter and face the
audience.

CHORUS LEO
A NEW AND GREATER BATTLE’S ON A NEW AND GREATER BATTLE’S ON
THE WAY THE WAY
AND IF WE LOSE WE’LL HAVE THE WE’LL HAVE THE WORLD TO PAY
WORLD TO PAY

LEO & MEN WOMEN

CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS
ROLL ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE IN THIS NEW BATTLE
CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS CAN YOU HEAR THE BATTLE
ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE
ALL
CAN YOU HEAR THE WAR DRUMS ROLL
IN THIS NEW BATTLE FOR OUR SOUL?

CURTAIN