(FANFARE PLAYS)

(MUSIC ENDS)

GROUP:
♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

PHINEAS: ♪ Ladies and gents,

this is the moment you've waited for ♪

GROUP:
♪ Whoa ♪

♪ You been searchin' in the dark ♪

♪ Your sweat soakin' through the floor ♪

GROUP: ♪ Whoa ♪

PHINEAS:
♪ And buried in your bones ♪

♪ There's an ache that you can't ignore ♪

♪ Takin' your breath ♪

♪ Stealin' your mind ♪

♪ And all that was real is left behind ♪

♪ Don't fight it,

it's comin' for you, runnin' atcha ♪

♪ It's only this moment ♪

♪ Don't care what comes after ♪

♪ Your fever dream, can't you see ♪

♪ Gettin' closer ♪

♪ Just surrender 'cause you feel

the feelin' takin' over ♪

♪ It's fire, it's freedom,

it's floodin' open ♪
♪ It's the preacher in the pulpit ♪

♪ And your blind devotion ♪

♪ There's somethin'
breakin' at the brick ♪

♪ Of ev'ry wall that's holdin'

all that you know ♪

♪ So tell me do you wanna go ♪

♪ Where it's covered

in all the colored lights? ♪

♪ Where the runaways

are runnin' the night? ♪

♪ Impossible comes true,

it's takin' over you ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

♪ We light it up, we won't come down ♪

GROUP:
♪ and the sun can't stop us now ♪

PHINEAS: ♪ Watchin' it come true,

it's takin' over you ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

PHINEAS:
♪ It's everything you ever want ♪

♪ It's ev'rything
you ever need ♪

♪ And it's here right in front of you ♪

ALL:
♪ This is where you wanna be ♪

♪ It's ev'rything you ever want ♪

♪ It's ev'rything
you ever need ♪

♪ And it's here right in front of you ♪

♪ This is where you wanna be ♪

PHINEAS:
♪ It's everything you ever want ♪

(SLOWS)
♪ It's ev'rything you ever need ♪
- ♪ And it's here right in front of you ♪
- (MUSIC STOPS)

♪ This is where you wanna be ♪

(QUIETLY)
I It's everything you ever want ♪

- ♪ It's ev'rything you ever need ♪

- (EERIE LAUGHTER ECHOES)

- ♪ And it's here right in front of you ♪

- (TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

I understand, yes.
Thank you so much, Mr. Jeffries.

Thank you. You'll have

the money by the end of the day.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Let's go.

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLARES)

Phineas, hurry up.

We're gonna miss the train.

Stand up straight.

Wipe that muck off.

WOMAN:
Pinkie up.

(CUP CLINKS)

Arm extended, elbow out.

Sip, never slurp.

Pinkie in the air, arm extended...

elbow out.

Keep your cup level.

Gently lower your cup.

Shall we do it again?

Pinkie in the air...

arm extended, elbow out.

Gracefully.
(SPITS, LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

Charity, come here.

Your dress.

Is this how we've taught you to behave?

It's my fault, sir.

I made her laugh.

Well, thank you for your honesty.

(SLAPS)
(GASPS)

Stay away from my daughter.

(SIGHS)

How'd you get out?

The window.

Father is sending me to finishing school.

I don't know what my future will be.

I do.

♪ I close my eyes and I can see ♪

♪ A world that's waiting up for me ♪

♪ That I call my own ♪

♪ Through the dark, through the door ♪

♪ Through where no one's been before ♪

♪ But it feels like home ♪

♪ They can say, they can say ♪

♪ It all sounds crazy' ♪

♪ They can say, they can say

I've lost my mind ♪

♪ I don't care, I don't care ♪

- ♪ So call me crazy ♪
- (GIGGLES)

♪ We can live in a world that we design ♪

♪ 'Cause ev'ry night I lie in bed ♪

♪ The brightest colors fill my head ♪

♪ A million dreams ♪

- (SCREAMS)
-♪ Are keepin' me awake ♪

♪ I think of what the world could be ♪

♪ A vision of the one I see ♪

♪ A million dreams
is all it's gonna take ♪

♪ Oh, a million dreams ♪

♪ For the world we're gonna make ♪

♪ They can say, they can say ♪

♪ It all sounds crazy' ♪

♪ They can say, they can say ♪

- Enough!
- ♪ We've lost our minds ♪

PHINEAS:
Charity!

♪ I don't care, I don't care ♪

♪ if they call us crazy ♪

♪ Run away to a world that we design ♪

♪ 'Cause ev'ry night I lie in bed ♪

♪ The brightest colors fill my head ♪

♪ A million dreams are keepin' me awake ♪

♪ I think of what the world could be ♪

Hey!

♪ A vision of the one I see ♪

♪ A million dreams is all ♪

- No!
- ♪ It's gonna take ♪

♪ Oh, a million dreams ♪

♪ For the world we're gonna make ♪

PHINEAS: Newspapers! Amazing stories
from around the world!

♪ A million dreams are keepin' me' ♪

(IN UNISON) ♪ Awake ♪

♪ I think of what the world could be ♪

CHARITY:
♪ A vision of the one I see ♪

♪ A million dreams
is all it's gonna take ♪

♪ Oh, a million dreams ♪

♪ For the world we're gonna make ♪

MAN:
Come! Join the Great American Railroad!

Three meals a day. Roof over your head.

Fair and ample wages.

Come, make your fortune!

See the open plains of America!

Opportunity awaits you, sir,

out on the rails!

PHINEAS: Sir, I...

I know I don't come from much, but...

I will take care of your daughter

and I will give her a life

as grand a♪ this one.

CHARITY:
Bye, Mother.

She'll be back.

Sooner or later,
she'll tire of your life...

of having nothing,

and she'll come running back home.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

♪ Ev'ry night I lie in bed ♪

♪ The brightest colors fill my head ♪

♪ A million dreams are keepin' me awake ♪

♪ I think of what the world could be ♪

♪ A vision of the one I see ♪

♪ A million dreams
is all it's gonna take ♪

♪ Oh, a million dreams ♪

♪ For the world we're gonna make ♪

♪ However big, however small ♪

♪ Let me be a part of it all ♪

♪ Share your dreams with me ♪

♪ You may be right, you may be wrong ♪

♪ But say that you'll bring me along ♪

♪ To the world you see ♪

BOTH:
♪ To the world I close my eyes to see ♪

♪ I close my eyes to see ♪

♪ Cause ev'ry night I lie in bed ♪

♪ The brightest colors fill my head ♪

♪ A million dreams are keepin' me awake ♪

♪ A million dreams, a million dreams ♪

BOTH:
♪ I think of what the world could be ♪

♪ A vision of the one I see ♪

♪ A million dreams
is all it's gonna take ♪

♪ A million dreams for the world ♪

♪ We're gonna make' ♪

♪ For the world we're gonna make ♪

- CHALMERS: Mr. Smith?

- SMITH: Yes.

- CHALMERS: Have a look at this.

- SMITH: Of course.

(TYPING AND CLACKING)

(TYPING AND CLACKING CONTINUES)

SMITH:
Yes, yes, I see it.

Thank you, Chalmers, that'll do.

Sir, Phineas Taylor Barnum.

Uh, if I may, sir,

I believe I have skills and ideas

that go well beyond punching numbers

into an adding machine.

Well, I've read about this German fellow,

Lilienthal, I believe, who's developed

a glider that can take

a man in the air, sir.

Isn't that amazing?

I mean, if you were

to apply that to this business,

- it would be revolutionary.
- Gentlemen!

Can I have your attention?

You're all dismissed.

Bankrupt?

I thought the company

had a dozen trading ships.

Yes, at the bottom of the South China Sea.

Typhoon sank 'em all.

(INDISTINCT MURMURING)

(SIGHS)

(WATER DRIPPING)

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

(IMITATING GUNFIRE)

(SQUEALING, GIGGLING)

- Tag, you're it!

- Oh, you're in for it!
- Hey.
- Oh, God!

You're home early.

And until further notice.

Well, I didn't think

you were long for that job.

Or any job, apparently.

That's what makes our life

together so exciting.

Charity.

This isn't the life I promised you.

But I have everything I want.

What about the magic?

What do you call those two girls?

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Hey, you partners, look who

moseyed into the corral.

Daddy!

- PHINEAS: Come here!

- Did you bring a present?

- A present for what?

- (LAUGHING)

- For my birthday!
- Your what?

- My birthday.
- It's not your birthday.

Okay, I do have a present...

but not just any present. Oh, no.

The most amazing birthday present ever.

This extraordinary machine

was originally created

by Leonardo da Vinci, 400 years ago.

But the blueprints had been

lost for centuries
until just last week, on a stormy night,

when a sunken pirate ship washed up

on the shores of Nantucket.

They found skeletons and treasures

and the blueprints were recovered

by none other than J.W. Mercantile.

The blueprints crossed my desk

very briefly

but I managed to commit them to memory.

And if I have remembered correctly...

Happy birthday, Caroline.

This is a wishing machine.

You tell it your wishes...

and it keeps them safe

until they come true.

Even if you forget them,

they're always there.

Can I tell a wish?

Step right up. Go ahead.

I wish to marry Santa Claus.

(CHUCKLES)
That is a good wish.

I wish...

for ballet slippers.

Hey, that's» that's a good wish, too.

What's your wish, Mommy?

I wish...

for happiness like this forever

for you and you...

and for your father.

Boring!

- (PHINEAS LAUGHS)
- CHARITY (LAUGHS): Boring?

Since when has happiness ever been boring?

♪ Ev'ry night I lie in bed ♪

♪ The brightest colors fill my head ♪

♪ A million dreams are keepin' me awake ♪

GIRLS:
♪ I think of what the world could be ♪

♪ A vision of the one I see ♪

♪ A million dreams
is all it's gonna take ♪

PHINEAS:
♪ A million dreams ♪

♪ For the world we're gonna make ♪

- (TYPING, CLACKING)
- (MAN LAUGHING)

The goat prices go up,

so the pork bellies go down.

(DOOR OPENS)

- Charles, we're leaving.

- Huh?

This bank only wants to lend money

to people with money.

What are you looking at, flop-doodle?

Mr. Barnum.

This venture you propose

is risky and somewhat bizarre.

It's a good bet is what it is, sir.

People don't want to admit it...

but they're fascinated

with the exotic and the macabre.

It's why we stare at it.

The bank is going to need

substantial collateral.

Of course. I, uh--
I wouldn't suggest otherwise.
The deed and title
to my entire flotilla of trading vessels.

CHARITY:
Why would a bank loan us $10,000?

Because we put up collateral.

But, dear, we don't have any collateral.

Sure we do. In the South China Seas.

CHARITY:
In the South China Seas?

Deep in the South China Seas. (LAUGHS)

CHARITY:
And what did we buy with this loan?

"Barnum's American Museum of Curiosities."

What kind of museum is it?

(LAUGHS)

A place to be transported.

A place where people can see things

they've never seen before.

Huh?

- Wax figures?
- Yeah. Yeah.

They're all the rage in Europe. Look.

Marie Antoinette with the

sore throat. Napoleon.

Come here. See?

You've already met some

of the most famous folks in history.

But they're not all wax.

This is the great... O'Malley.

Master of sleight of hand.

A king of deception.

You don't look like a magician.

I'm a thief.
A very good thief.
I caught him nicking my watch.

- (SPITS)
- (COIN CLATTERS)

- See?
- An elephant!

PHINEAS:
Not just any elephant.

I can get you somethin' real nice.

Just say the word.

CHARITY:
Oh. Thank you.

Oh, yeah. This is a ten-ton bull

straight from the plains of Africa.

- And look at that.

- (LAUGHING)

The tallest giraffe in the world.

CAROLINE:
Can I climb up its leg?

- Absolutely not. Okay.

- (GIGGLING)

Now... I know how it looks.

If you didn't, I'd be worried.

I mean, it just
needs a little work, but...

The loan has to be paid back every month.

Oh, yeah, we're gonna pay it.

We just need customers.

- Hundreds of them.
- We're gonna get them.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Welcome to the Barnum Museum.

It is one hour of your time, sir,

but it will change your life.

- We have shows on the hour every hour.

- I love your dress.
Surely not for the faint of heart,
but I can tell you're gonna love it.

Half price for anyone who's wearing a hat.

Ho, ho! That's you, sir.

- Welcome to the Barnum Museum.

- (SIGHS)

(HORSE NEIGHS)

MAN:
Load of garbage.

WOMAN:
Goodness, no. It's rubbish.

Welcome to the Barnum Museum,

where everyone's special...

How many tickets?

- Three.
- Three.

(SIGHS)

CAROLINE:
Daddy.

Daddy.

Did you sell any more tickets today?

A few. Yeah.

Most everyone was rushing home,

it's Friday, but...

we sold a few.

I think you have too many dead

things in your museum, Daddy.

Do you?

She's right. You need something alive.

Go to sleep, both of you.

Something sensational.

That's a big word.

It's your word.

Something that isn't stuffed.

- Like a mermaid.
- Or a unicorn.

CAROLINE:
Unicorns aren't real.

HELEN:
Well, mermaids aren't real either.

(DOG BARKING)

You must be Gertrude Stratton.

I'm looking for your son.

I don't have a son.

The hospital record says you do.

Charles, right? Age 22?

GERTRUDE:
Charles!

Charles!

(DOOR UNLOCKING)

P.T. Barnum, at your service.

I am putting together a show

and I need a star.

You want people to laugh at me.

Well, they're laughing anyway, kid,

so might a♪ well get paid.

I see a soldier, no, a general

riding across the stage

with a sword and a gun,

and-- and--

and the most beautiful uniform ever made.

People will come from all over the world,

and when they see him, they won't laugh.

(DOOR OPENS)

They'll salute.

II'
How's it looking, girls?

MAN:
Hey! You looking for freaks?

I know where you can find one of them.

Really?

(WOMAN VOCALIZING)

Come on, girls.

(VOCALIZING CONTINUES)

Hello.

Sir, you shouldn't be here.

I'm sorry. Who's doing that singing?

(SINGING ENDS)

It's you, isn't it?

WOMAN:
Sir, I'll have to ask you to leave.

You are so talented, blessed...

extraordinary.

Unique.

I would even say beautiful.

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

Sir.

Please leave me alone.

They don't understand, but they will.

II'

This line is so...

Oh, my God! Oh, goodness.

PHINEAS: Okay. Anne and W.D. Wheeler.

Brother and sister?

- ANNE: Yes, sir.

- PHINEAS: Terrific. And what do you do?

- Trapeze.
- PHINEAS: Trapeze.
- Okay.
- You know, people aren't gonna like it

if you put us on the stage.

Oh, I'm counting on it.

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

- Is this over... your...

- Entire body.

Terrific. I don't need to see it.

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

- Now. (LAUGHING) Yes!

- (SHOUTS)

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

Can I just ask how heavy you are?

Do you have a number for that?

- I prefer not to say, but...

- Just between you and me.

500 pounds.

-750 pounds, you said?

-750 pounds, it is!

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

What is your name?

Vasily Palvos, sir.

Yeah, we're gonna change that name.

Uh, I think you're Irish.

(CASH REGISTER DINGS)

We have a show!

That's good,
but I need it five times bigger!

And I want it everywhere!

Carriages, sides of trains,

trolleys, crates, milk bottles,

everywhere they look!

Barnum's American Museum.

MAN:
Nice to see you, sir.

♪ You stumble through your days ♪

♪ Got your head hung low ♪

♪ Your sky's a shade of gray ♪

(SNAPPING)

♪ Like a zombie in a maze ♪

Two, please.

♪ You're asleep inside ♪

♪ But you can shake awake ♪

♪ Cause you're just a dead man walkin' ♪

♪ Thinkin' that's your only option ♪

♪ But you can flick the switch ♪

♪ And brighten up your darkest day' ♪

♪ Sun is up and the color's blindin' ♪

♪ Take a world and redefine it ♪

♪ Leave behind your narrow mind ♪

♪ You'll never be the same ♪

♪ Come alive, come alive ♪

♪ Go and light your light ♪

♪ Let it burn so bright ♪

♪ Reachin' up to the sky ♪

♪ And it's open wide ♪

♪ You're electrified ♪

♪ And the world becomes a fantasy ♪

♪ And you're more than you could ever be ♪

♪ 'Cause you're dreamin'

with your eyes wide open ♪

Whoa!

♪ And you know you can't go back again ♪

♪ To the world that you were livin' in ♪

♪ 'Cause you're dreamin'
with your eyes wide open ♪

- ♪ So come alive! ♪
- Whoa!

(PEOPLE GASPING)

Lettie! Lettie!

- They're waiting!
- For what?

- For you.
- No.

They don't know it yet...

but they are gonna love you.

Trust me.

(PEOPLE GASP)

Tom! Up, up!

♪ I see it in your eyes ♪

♪ You believe that lie ♪

♪ That you need to hide your face ♪

♪ Afraid to step outside ♪

♪ So you lock the door ♪

♪ But don't you stay that way' ♪

LETTIE:
♪ No more livin' in those shadows ♪

♪ You and me, we know how that goes ♪

♪ 'Cause once you see it ♪

♪ Oh, you'll never, never be the same ♪

LETTIE:
♪ A little bit of lightnin' strikin' ♪

♪ Bottled up to keep on shinin' ♪

PHINEAS:
♪ You can prove there's more to you ♪

♪ You cannot be afraid ♪

ALL:
♪ Come alive, come alive ♪
♪ Go and light your light ♪

♪ Let it burn so bright ♪

♪ Reachin' up to the sky ♪

♪ And it's open wide ♪

♪ You're electrified ♪

♪ And the world becomes a fantasy ♪

♪ And you're more than you could ever be ♪

♪ 'Cause you're dreamin'

with your eyes wide open ♪

♪ And we know we can't go back again ♪

♪ To the world that we were livin' in ♪

♪ 'Cause we're dreamin'

with our eyes wide open ♪

♪ So come alive! ♪

- (APPLAUSE)
- Bravo!

MAN:
That was great!

- More!
- Fantastic!

O'MALLEY:
This is bad.

"Criminal." "Degrading."

"A circus." I like "circus."

MAN:
That's right, fat boy!

(DISTANT SHOUTING)

You gonna protect that bearded lady?

PHINEAS:
Hey!

- Hey! That's enough!

- MAN: Freak!

Walter!

Inside, all of you. Right now.

Look at 'em run!

- We don't want your kind!

- Get outta here!

That's right, you freaks!

Your master's calling!

That's quite enough, sir.

Nothing more to look at!

At your service!

Reprint this review

in every paper in New York.

Half price tickets

to anyone who brings it in.

ALL:
♪ Come one, come all ♪

♪ Come in, come on ♪

♪ To anyone who's bursting with a dream ♪

ALL:
♪ Come one, come all ♪

♪ You hear the call ♪

♪ To anyone who's searching

for a way to break free ♪

ALL:
♪ I Break free ♪

♪ Break free! ♪

♪ And the world becomes a fantasy ♪

♪ And you're more than you could ever be ♪

♪ 'Cause you're dreamin'

with your eyes wide open ♪

♪ And we know we can't go back again ♪

♪ To the world that we were livin' in ♪

♪ 'Cause we're dreamin'

with our eyes wide open ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ And the world becomes a fantasy ♪

♪ And you're more than you could ever be ♪

♪ 'Cause you're dreamin'

with your eyes wide open ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ And we know we can't go back again ♪

♪ To the world that we were livin' in ♪

♪ 'Cause we're dreamin'

with our eyes wide open ♪

♪ 'Cause we're dreamin'

with our eyes wide open ♪

♪ So come alive! ♪

♪ Come alive ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

- (BREATHING HARD)
- (INAUDIBLE)

(APPLAUSE BEGINS)

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

VENDOR:
Peanuts. Get your peanuts here.

Hot, salted peanuts. Piping hot!

MAN:
One for me, one for the lady.

(CLEARS THROAT)
O'Malley.

Ah, Mr. Bennett from the Herald.

Come to take in another show, huh?

Tell me, Mr. Barnum,

does it bother you

that everything you're selling is fake?

Do these smiles seem fake?

It doesn't matter where they come from.

The joy is real.

So, you are a philanthropist?

Well, hyperbole isn't the worst crime.

Men suffer more from imagining
too little than too much.

The creed of a true fraud.

Mr. Bennett, when was

the last time you smiled

or had a good laugh?

Like a real laugh?

A theater critic who can't

find joy in the theater.

Now who's a fraud?

Oh, Mr. Bennett.

That word you used to describe my show?

Has a nice ring to it.

- (GIGGLING)
- And right this way.

Don't you think there's enough

blind trust in my life?

Well, isn't that what makes it fun?

Keep coming. Okay. Are you ready?

- CHARITY: Is it?
- PHINEAS: It is.

Come on. Let's go.

Push.

- Oh.
- Wow.

Helen, that's for you.

(GASPS)

And, Caroline, this is for you.

There's a ballet school

right down the street.

Just past your parents' house, actually.

Don't tell me you bought this house

just to rub my parents' noses

in your success?
Well, that wasn't the only reason.

This is the life I promised you.

Shall we?

Phin...

it's beautiful,

but you know, we don't

need all of this to be--

- (LAUGHS)
- PHINEAS: It only took me 25 years, but...

welcome home, Charity Barnum.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS)

(APPLAUSE)

(INDISTINCT MURMURING)

- Hello, there.
- MAN: There goes Barnum.

PHINEAS: Hey, sweetheart,

who's that young man over there?

Oh, that's Phillip Carlyle.

A bit of a scandal, they say.

His last play was a hit in London.

- Play?
- Mmm.

You pay good money to watch people

stand around and talk for two hours,

and they call me a con man.

Ew, what's that smell? Do you smell that?

Ew. Something does smell.

Oh, I know what it is. Peanuts.

(GIRLS SNICKERING)

I can see it right now.

"Youngest prima ballerina

in the history of the City Ballet."

I'm quitting.
What? Why would you quit?

I started too late. I'll never catch up.

Caroline, you were the best

dancer on that stage.

What? You think I can't spot talent?

Ballet takes years of hard work.

It's not like the circus.

You can't just fake it.

She can't quit. No.

No, I mean, she just...

She just feels out of place

with the other girls.

Well, I should certainly hope so.

I've never seen so many

little prima Donnas in my life.

Yeah, but those prima Donnas

are the most important thing

in the world to her right now.

She'll learn to ignore them

just like I did.

She shouldn't have to.

New York society will never accept us.

If they did, they'd have to stop judging

and actually do something

with their lives.

This isn't about me.

Oh.

So it's different
than everything else then?

I just want her to be proud

of who she is, of her family.

She is proud.

We don't have to be the Carlyles.

Mr. Carlyle. You produced this play?

Yes, I did indeed.

Refunds are available

at the front box office.

(CHUCKLES)
P.T. Barnum.

From the circus?

Yes. You-- you've been?

(CHUCKLES) God, no.

But I have seen the crowds.

People leave your shows a great deal

happier than when they came in,

which is much more

than I can say for my play.

And yet, you have

no trouble selling tickets.

That's because I'm selling virtue.

Can I buy you a drink?

I wanna go after the carriage trade.

Present legitimate acts,

expand our appeal, go after the snobs.

If you only knew how suffocating they are.

So come join the circus.

You clearly have a flair

for show business.

Teach me how to appeal to the highbrows.

- Are you serious?

- Mm-hmm.

Mr. Barnum, I can't just run off

and join the circus.

Why not? Sounds thrilling, doesn't it?

(TAPS BAR)

Let's just say that I find it

much more comfortable

admiring your show from afar.

Comfort, the enemy of progress.

Do you understand that
just associating with you

could cost me my inheritance?

Oh, it could cost you more than that.

You'd be risking everything.

But, on the other hand, well,

you just might find yourself a free man.

(♪♪♪)

♪ Right here, right now,

I put the offer out ♪

♪ I don't wanna chase you down,

I know you see it ♪

♪ You run with me,

and I can out you free ♪

♪ Out of the drudgery

and walls you keep in ♪

♪ So trade your typical

for somethin' colorful ♪

♪ And if it's crazy,

live a little crazy ♪

♪ You can play it sensible ♪

♪ A king of conventional ♪

♪ Or you can risk it all and see ♪

♪ Don'tchu wanna get away' ♪

♪ From the same old part you gotta play? ♪

♪ 'Cause I got what you need ♪

♪ So come with me and take the ride ♪

♪ It'll take you to the other side ♪

♪ 'Cause you can do like you do

or you can do like me ♪

♪ Stay in the cage

or you finally take the key ♪

♪ Oh, damn ♪

♪ Suddenly you're free to fly ♪

♪ It'll take you to the other side ♪

♪ Okay, my friend, you wanna cut me in ♪

♪ Well, I hate to tell you,

but it just won't happen ♪

♪ So thanks, but no,

I think I'm good to go ♪

♪ 'Cause I quite enjoy the life

you say I'm trapped in ♪

♪ Now, I admire you

and that whole show you do ♪

♪ You're on to somethin' ♪

♪ Really, it's somethin' ♪

♪ But I live among the swells ♪

♪ And we don't pick up peanut shells ♪

♪ I'll have to leave that up to you ♪

♪ Don'tchu know that I'm okay ♪

♪ With this uptown part

I get to play? ♪

♪ 'Cause I got what I need ♪

♪ And I don't wanna take the ride ♪

♪ I don't need to see the other side ♪

♪ So go and do like you do,

I'm good to do like me ♪

♪ Ain't in a cage,
so I don't need to take the key ♪

♪ Oh, damn ♪

♪ Can'tchu see I'm doin' fine? ♪

♪ I don't need to see the other side ♪

♪ Now, is this really

how you'd like to spend your days? ♪

♪ Whisky, misery and parties and plays? ♪

♪ if I were mixed up with you ♪

♪ I'd be the talk of the town ♪

♪ Disgraced and disowned,
another one of the clowns ♪

♪ But you would finally live a little ♪

♪ Finally laugh a little ♪

♪ Just let me give you

the freedom to dream ♪

♪ And it'll wake you up ♪

♪ And cure your aching I

♪ Take your walls and start 'em breaking ♪

♪ Now that's a deal

that seems worth taking ♪

♪ But I guess I'll leave that up to you ♪

♪ Well, it's intriguing ♪

♪ But to go would cost me greatly ♪

♪ So what percentage of the show ♪

♪ Would I be taking? ♪

♪ Well, fair enough ♪

♪ You'd want a piece of all the action ♪

♪ I'd give you seven,

we could shake and make it happen ♪

♪ I wasn't born this morning ♪

♪ Eighteen would be just fine ♪

♪ Why not just go ahead

and ask for nickels on the dime? ♪

♪ Fifteen ♪
-♪ I'd do eight ♪

- ♪ Twelve ♪
-♪ Maybe nine ♪

♪ Ten♪

Umm...

Sir, it looks like you

have yourself a junior partner.

(REGISTER DINGS)

What I have is an
overcompensated apprentice.

BOTH:
♪ Don'tchu wanna get away ♪

♪ To a whole ♪
♪ New ♪

BOTH:
♪ Part you're gonna play ♪

- ♪ 'Cause I got ♪
-♪ What you need ♪

BOTH:
♪ So come with me and take the ride ♪

♪ To the other side ♪

♪ So if you do like I do ♪

♪ So if you do like me ♪

BOTH:
♪ Forget the cage ♪

♪ 'Cause we know how to make the key ♪

♪ Oh, damn ♪

♪ Suddenly we're free to fly ♪

♪ We're goin' to the other side ♪

-♪ So if you do like I do ♪
- ♪ To the other side ♪

-♪ So if you do like me ♪
- ♪ Goin' to the other side ♪

♪ 'Cause if you do ♪

-♪ We're goin' to the other side ♪

- (LAUGHS)

♪ We're goin' to the other side ♪

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE FADES)

(♪♪♪)

(APPLAUSE)

Who is that?

Hey, hey! No one's buying hats

back here. Get out front, go!
W.D., Anne, I wanna introduce

my newest hire, Mr. Phillip Carlyle.

- It's a pleasure to meet you.

- Yeah, pleasure.

And what is your act, Mr. Carlyle?

I don't have an act.

(ANNE CHUCKLES)

Everyone's got an act.

O'MALLEY:
Mr. Barnum!

Yeah.

You better come see this.

PHINEAS:
Phillip, keep up!

- (INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
- A bit of a nasty element.

There always is, isn't there?

Nothing draws a crowd quite like a crowd.

We don't want you in our city!

Go home, you freaks!

Freaks!

PHINEAS:
"Shame of the city."

"The protests cement

Mr. Barnum's reputation

as a purveyor of the offensive

and indecent."

"Offensive and indecent."

Mr. Bennett, I am blushing.

HELEN:
No, I'm blushing. (GIGGLING)

WOMAN: What do you care

what Bennett thinks?

- LETTIE: He's a prig.

- And a snob.
Yeah, and all the snobs
in New York read him.

He does their thinking for them.

Whatever happened
to thriving off controversy?

Yeah, well-- hey.

- Do you have any thoughts on this?

- HELEN: Phillip!

You know what?

As a matter of fact, I do.

- Helen, come on.

- (HELEN GIGGLES)

"The Master of the Household

"has it in command of the Queen

"to invite Mr. Phineas T. Barnum

"and his theatrical troupe

to a reception at Buckingham Palace."

The Queen Victoria? Is this real?

I had to pull a few strings.

If you want society to accept you,

you may a♪ well start...

-at the very, very top.

- (9I9QLE$)

Are we all invited?

I guess I'll just have to tell the Queen

that either all of us go...

or none of us will.

(CHUCKLES)

(CHEERING, LAUGHING)

The Queen of England!

Can't get much better than that.

PHILLIP:
Why aren't we in tails?
PHINEAS:
We're the entertainment.

LETTIE:
Don't see you in a costume.

Your Majesty,
Mr. Phineas T. Barnum and his...

Oddities from America!

(INDISTINCT MURMURING)

WOMAN:
Is that-- is that real?

(INDISTINCT WHISPERING,
MURMURING)

Your Majesty.
May I present Mr. Barnum.

The honor is mine, Mr. Barnum.

And I've heard all about

your little colonel

from my friends in America.

General, ma'am.

You're even smaller than I imagined.

Well, you're not exactly

reaching the top shelf

yourself, sweetheart.

(CROWD GASPING)

(LAUGHING)

(CROWD LAUGHING)

That went well.

(FANFARE PLAYING)

STEWARD:
Your Majesty.

PHINEAS:
Phillip.

Miss Jenny Lind.

WOMAN:
She is luminous.
Who's that?

PHILLIP:
The opera singer?

Singer, huh?

She's the most famous performer

in all of Europe.

She's sold out La Scala a dozen times.

Not to mention the French Opera.

Ah.

- What are you doing?

- Following you,

- so you can introduce me to Miss Lind.

- PHILLIP: Introduce you?

- PHINEAS: Yeah.
- PHILLIP: I don't know her.

Everybody knows her.

You just said so yourself.

Yeah, exactly. You don't just

march up to someone like this.

Why not? We're personable.

She's a person.

(PHINEAS CLEARS THROAT)

Miss Lind.

My name is Phillip Carlyle.

And this extraordinary gentleman

next to me...

Phineas Taylor Barnum.

The pleasure's mine.

Of course, you are the American.

I believe I might have heard of you.

Oh, well, if you've heard of me

all the way over here,

I must be doing something right.

That, or something very wrong.

Well, in the world of publicity,

there's hardly a difference.

I believe those are the words

of a scoundrel, Mr. Barnum.

A showman, Miss Lind, just a showman.

The best on my side of the Atlantic.

Well, if you do say so yourself.

I do, but I don't have to.

- Oh, no. No.

- Right?

No, he is one of the best.

Oh, that's very kind of you.

Miss Lind...

let me get to the point.

I'd like to bring you to New York.

And if you agree, I'll make you

the most famous singer

not in Europe, but in the entire world.

Mmm.

And have you heard me sing?

- Absolutely.
- No. No, I haven't.

But like mine,

your reputation precedes you,

and, well, I trust your reputation

more than my own taste, so...

I've never been to America.

You will sing in the grandest theater

with the finest orchestra

in the greatest city on Earth.

"Jenny Lind.

"One night only."

- (LAUGHS)
- Or maybe two.

And at 20 percent of the gate,

it'll be a queen's ransom
for your efforts.

I give most of my earnings

to charity, Mr. Barnum.

To orphans and widows.

"Voice of a Nightingale,
Heart of an Angel."

That's brilliant. I mean,

the press will go crazy for that story.

That's not a story.

May I ask you something, Mr. Barnum?

Anything.

Why me?

People come to my show

for the pleasure of being hoodwinked.

Just once, I'd love to give them

something real.

MAN:
Miss Lind.

Everyone is here. Look at this.

Even the Winthrops.

Are you happy?

I will be if this works.

Oh, God. I hope she can sing.

PHINEAS:
What's taking her so long?

They're still taking their seats.

- Speaking of which.
- Yeah?

Tom and Lettie, the others,

they've just arrived.

- What?
- (AUDIENCE MURMURING)

Where should I put 'em? Your box?

That box? No, no, no,
that's a bit visible.

- Visible?
- The acoustics are actually better

in the standing room.

That's where they should be.

Miss Lind's ready now.

Okay. Thank you, thank God!

This is so awesome.

-Isn't it wonderful?
- Yeah.

- I love it.
- Look at the curtain.

(CONDUCTOR TAPPING BATON)

(AUDIENCE QUIETS)

Ladies and gentlemen,

thank you for your patience.

MAN:
He's out of his element.

MAN 2:
What is this about?

MAN 3:
Is that Barnum?

WOMAN:
This isn't the circus.

I recently had the privilege

of hearing the most divine voice

I've ever heard.

Suddenly, he's a connoisseur.

PHINEAS: Now, I know that sounds

like Barnum humbug...

but I have 100 bottles

of good champagne on ice

that says this isn't just

another sideshow novelty.

(AUDIENCE TITTERS)
May I present...

the Swedish Nightingale...

Miss Jenny Lind.

(APPLAUSE)

(♪♪♪)

♪ I'm tryin' to hold my breath ♪

♪ Let it stay this way' ♪

♪ Can't let this moment end ♪

♪ You set off a dream in me ♪

♪ Gettin' louder now ♪

♪ Can you hear it echoing? ♪

♪ Take my hand ♪

♪ Will you share this with me? ♪

♪ 'Cause, darlin', without you ♪

♪ All the shine of a thousand spotlights ♪

♪ All the stars we steal

from the night sky ♪

♪ Will never be enough ♪

♪ Never be enough ♪

♪ Towers of gold are still too little ♪

♪ These hands could hold the world ♪

♪ But it'll never be enough ♪

♪ Never be enough ♪

♪ For me ♪

♪ Never, never ♪

♪ Never, never ♪

♪ Never, for me ♪

♪ For me ♪

♪ Never enough ♪

♪ Never enough ♪
♪ Never enough for me ♪

♪ For me, for me ♪

♪ AH the shine of a thousand spotlights ♪

♪ All the stars we steal

from the night sky ♪

♪ Will never be enough ♪

♪ Never be enough ♪

♪ Towers of gold are still too little ♪

♪ These hands could hold the world ♪

♪ But it'll never be enough ♪

♪ Never be enough ♪

♪ For me ♪

♪ Never, never ♪

♪ Never, never ♪

♪ Never, for me ♪

♪ For me ♪

♪ Never enough ♪

♪ Never, never ♪

♪ Never enough ♪

♪ Never, never ♪

♪ Never enough ♪

♪ For me, for me ♪

♪ For me ♪

♪ For me ♪

(LAUGHS SOFTLY)

(MUFFLED CHEERING)

(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)

MAN:
Brava!

WOMAN:
Brava!
More!

MAN 2:
Wonderful!

Bravissima!

More!

Excellent!

MAN 5:
BRAVA!

Encore!

(APPLAUSE CONTINUES)

(PODS)

Jenny, this is my wife,

Charity, and our girls.

Of course, and I've heard

so much about you!

And your father tells me

you're a fan of the ballet.

Yes, I'm studying ballet.

Are you?

- Of course, I am.
- And, of course, she is.

And what about you, Helen?

You look like a princess, ma'am.

(ALL LAUGH)

I have to admit, Barnum...

she is remarkable.

Enough to bring joy

to the most joyless critic, isn't she?

Mmm. And in the hands

of a real purveyor of the arts,

- she could be something in this country.

- (LAUGHS)

Shame, she's fallen in with you.

You really are better

on the page, Mr. Bennett,
hard as that is to believe.

WOMAN:
Mr. Barnum, I'd love to meet Miss Lind.

- PHINEAS: And you will meet Miss Lind.

- WOMAN: Would you introduce us?

- If you just give me a moment--

- Phineas.

Yes.

You've... done well.

Thank you.

Allow me to introduce you.

Uh, excuse me, Jenny.

I'd like you to meet Charity's parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Hallett.

Ah, pleasure.

- How do you do? Very nice to meet you.

- Good to meet you.

- Mother.
- Hello, dear.

- (CLEARS THROAT)
- MRS. HALLETT: Are these--

Yes, yes, those are your granddaughters.

- Phineas, not here.

- Not here?

You afraid I'm gonna

embarrass your parents

in front of their fancy friends?

I-- I really don't think

I have that power.

An insignificant man like me

who was clearly destined

to lead an insignificant life.

All that fortune,

and still just the tailor's boy.

Get out.
Well, Phineas...

I believe I told you that free champagne

is a recipe for disaster.

- Charity.
- Now would everyone please

- raise their glasses?

- PHINEAS: Charity.

To Mr. Barnum,

who has shown once and for all

that a man's station is limited only

by his imagination.

- To Barnum! To Barnum!
- Thank you.

To Mr. Barnum.

Thank you.

It's hard to understand

wealth and privilege

when you're born into it.

(CHUCKLES)

(WHISPERS)
I sometimes don't feel like I belong here.

You?

I was born out of wedlock...

and that brought shame upon my family.

And life always manages to remind me

that I don't deserve

a place in this world.

And that... leaves a hole that

no ovation can ever fill.

(BOISTEROUS LAUGHTER)

- Mr. Phineas!
- Guys...

Lord, that lady can sing!

I know.
Think she likes a man in uniform?

I'm sure she does.

Okay, what are you doing here?

You got a show in an hour, okay?

That's enough time for us

to have at least three drinks, right?

- Come on, let's go.

- No, no, no. Lettie!

- What?
- It's very crowded in here, okay?

And I can't have you mingling-- guys!

Who's gonna pay admission if you're

out there for all the world to see?

- Okay? Have a great show.

- Wait.

- (GLASS CHIMES)
- PHINEAS: Ladies and gentlemen, a toast!

Jenny, America may not know it yet...

but they are going to love you.

CROWD:
To Miss Lind!

(SOBS)

LETTIE:
♪ I am not a stranger to the dark ♪

♪ Hide away, they say ♪

♪ 'Cause we don't want your broken parts ♪

♪ I've learned to be
ashamed of all my scars ♪

♪ Run away, they say ♪

♪ No one?! love you as you are ♪

♪ But I won't let them

break me down to dust ♪

♪ I know that there's a place for us ♪

♪ For we are glorious ♪

♪ When the sharpest words

wanna cut me down ♪

♪ I'm gonna send a flood ♪

♪ Gonna drown 'em out ♪

♪ I am brave, I am bruised ♪

♪ I am who I'm meant to be ♪

♪ This is me ♪

♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪

♪ And I'm marchin' on ♪

♪ To the beat I drum ♪

♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪

♪ I make no apologies ♪

♪ This is me ♪

(VOCALIZING)

(CROWD MURMURING)

What are they doing here?

♪ Another round of bullets hits my skin ♪

♪ Well, fire away ♪

♪ 'Cause today
I won't let the shame sink in ♪

LETTIE:
♪ We are burstin' through the barricades ♪

♪ And reachin' for the sun ♪

ALL:
♪ We are warriors ♪

♪ Yeah, that's what

we've become ♪

ALL:
♪ Yeah, that's what we've become ♪

♪ I won't let them break me down to dust ♪

♪ I know that there's a place for us ♪

Go home!

♪ For we are glorious ♪

♪ When the sharpest words
wanna cut me down ♪

♪ I'm gonna send a flood,

gonna drown 'em out ♪

♪ I am brave, I am bruised ♪

♪ I am who I'm meant to be ♪

♪ This is me ♪

♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪

♪ And I'm marchin' on ♪

♪ To the beat I drum ♪

♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪

♪ I make no apologies ♪

♪ This is me ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Ey, ey ♪

- ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

- ♪ Ey, ey ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

- ♪ Ey, ey ♪
- ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪
♪ Oh!♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ This is me ♪

- ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

- ♪ Ey, ey ♪

♪ And I know that I deserve your love ♪

♪ There's nothing I'm not worthy of ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ When the sharpest words

wanna cut me down ♪

♪ I'm gonna send a flood ♪

♪ Gonna drown 'em out ♪

♪ This is brave, this is bruised ♪

♪ This is who I'm meant to be ♪

♪ This is me ♪

♪ Look out,
'cause here I come ♪

♪ Look out, 'cause here I come ♪

♪ And I'm marchin' on to the beat I drum ♪

♪ Marchin' on, marchin', marchin' on ♪

♪ To the beat I drum ♪

♪ I'm not scared to be seen,

I make no apologies ♪

♪ This is me ♪

♪ Whenever the words wanna cut me down ♪

♪ I'll send the flood to drown 'em out ♪

- LETTIE: ♪ I'm gonna send a flood ♪

- ALL: ♪ Oh ♪

- LETTIE: ♪ Gonna drown them out ♪

- ALL: ♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ This is me ♪

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

PHILLIP: Why can't you just put

more shows in New York?

Why do you need to tour the country?

Why did Napoleon march on Russia?

Napoleon was defeated.

Napoleon didn't have a 60-piece orchestra.

A 60-piece orchestra?

Just get the cheapest musicians

you can and watch that.

We'll still have to board them.

We'll get married ones,

they can share a bunk.

O'Malley, that's Caroline's piggy bank.

- PHILLIP: Custom sets?
- PHINEAS: Yeah.

- PHILLIP: Fireworks?
- PHINEAS: Uh-huh.

Inside theaters?

That's genius.

No. Hey, P.T.

These are the most

famous theaters in the country.

They make you buy the seats

in advance just to book them.

Yeah. I took out a loan.

- And we have to pay Jenny in advance?

- It was a large loan. Okay?

You're not gonna see a penny of profit

until your 40th show...

41st, actually.

You're risking everything

you've built here.

How do you think I built it?

We'll have plenty of profits

to go around after this.

- P.T.?
- What?

Your attention has been

divided long enough.

Our gate is down,

we have more protesters every day.

You just need to get people to come back.

"If you haven't been

to the Barnum Museum lately,

you haven't been at the Barnum Museum."

They come to see you.

Your crazy ideas...

your new acts, the unusual.

Well, then how about you show

them a smile? That'd be unusual.

Keep rehearsing. Just make it very clear

I expect them to afford you

all the deference you deserve

and that they should

be nice to you anyway.

LETTIE:
Ain't that a sight for sore eyes?

(SCOFFS)
Couldn't even say "hello."

Or "goodbye." He's going on tour.

- Sorry, guys.
- Oh, pull yourself together, Carlyle.

Don't you have somewhere to be?

- (TOM CHUCKLES)
- (QUICK FOOTSTEPS)

(ORCHESTRA TUNING)

Anne Wheeler.
Mr. Barnum said he left a ticket for me.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I'm-- I'm sorry.

I-- I believe there's

only supposed to be one.

No, there's meant to be two.

I wasn't sure you'd come if I asked.

MAN:
Five minutes to curtain.

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (BELL DINGING)

I've always wanted to go to the theater.

MR. CARLYLE:
Phillip, is that you?

Mother. Father.

This is Anne Wheeler.

Phillip...

have you no shame?

Associating yourself with that

Barnum business is one thing...

but parading around with the help?

Anne.

Anne! Anne!

(DOOR CLOSES)

How dare you speak to her like that.

You forget your place, Phillip.

My Place?

Mother, if this is my place...

then I don't want any part of it.

Anne.

They're small-minded people.

Why do you care what they think?

It's not just them.

You've never had somebody look at you

the way your parents looked at me.

The way everyone would look at us.

♪ You know I want you ♪

♪ It's not a secret I try to hide ♪

♪ I know you want me ♪

♪ So don't keep sayin'

our hands are tied ♪

♪ You claim it's not in the cards ♪

♪ And fate is pulling you miles away ♪

♪ And out of reach from me ♪

♪ But you're here in my heart ♪

♪ So who can stop me if I decide ♪

♪ That you're my destiny? ♪

♪ What if we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Say you were made to be mine? ♪

♪ Nothing could keep us apart ♪

♪ You'd be the one I was meant to find ♪

♪ It's up to you ♪

♪ And it's up to me ♪

♪ No one can say what we get to be ♪

♪ So why don't we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Maybe the world could be ours ♪

♪ Tonight ♪

(PULLEYS RATTLING)

♪ You think it's easy? ♪

♪ You think I don't want to run to you? ♪

♪ But there are mountains ♪

♪ And there are doors

that we can't walk through ♪

♪ I know you're wonderin' why ♪

♪ Because we're able to be ♪

♪ Just you and me within these walls ♪

♪ But when we go outside ♪

♪ You're gonna wake up and see ♪

♪ That it was hopeless after all ♪

♪ No one can rewrite the stars ♪

♪ How can you say you'll be mine? ♪

♪ Ev'rything keeps us apart ♪

♪ And I'm not the one

you were meant to find ♪

♪ It's not up to you ♪

♪ It's not up to me ♪

♪ When everyone tells us what we can be ♪

♪ How can we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Say that the world can be ours ♪

♪ Tonight? ♪

BOTH:
♪ All I want is to fly with you ♪

♪ All I want is
to fall with you ♪

♪ So just give me all of you ♪

-♪ It feels impossible ♪
-♪ It's not impossible ♪

♪ Is it impossible? ♪

BOTH:
♪ Say that it's possible ♪

♪ How do we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Say you were made to be mine? ♪

♪ Nothing can keep us apart ♪

♪ 'Cause you are the one

I was meant to find ♪

♪ It's up to you
and it's up to me ♪

♪ No one can say what we get to be ♪

♪ Why don't we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Changin' the world to be ours ♪

♪ You know I want you ♪

♪ It's not a secret I try to hide ♪

♪ But I can't have you ♪

♪ We're bound to break

and my hands are tied ♪

First, it was buying a house

on the same street as my parents.

Then, meeting the Queen.

Then bringing Jenny Lind,

then my father the other night.

When will it ever be enough for you?

I'm doing this for Caroline and Helen.

Look around you. They have everything.

- You don't understand.

- I do understand.

No, you don't understand.

How could you?

My father was treated like dirt.

I was treated like dirt...

and my children will not be.

You don't need everyone to love you, Phin.

Just a few good people.

I know that.

Sir.

No, no! Daddy!

Daddy!

Daddy, no! Wait!

- Daddy!
- PHINEAS: Go!

Wait, Daddy!

♪ Some people long for a life ♪

♪ That is simple and planned ♪

♪ Tied with a ribbon ♪

♪ Some people won't sail the sea ♪

♪ 'Cause they're safer on land ♪

♪ To follow what's written ♪

♪ But I'd follow you ♪

♪ To the great unknown ♪

♪ Off to a world ♪

♪ We call our own ♪

♪ Mountains and valleys ♪

♪ And all that will come in between ♪

♪ Desert and ocean ♪

♪ You pull me in ♪

♪ And together we're lost in a dream ♪

♪ Always in motion ♪

♪ So I risk it all ♪

♪ Just to be with you ♪

♪ And I risk it all ♪

♪ For this life we choose ♪

♪ Hand in my hand' ♪

♪ And you promised to never let go ♪

♪ We're walkin' a tightrope ♪

♪ High in the sky ♪

♪ We can see the whole world down below ♪

♪ We're walkin' a tightrope ♪

♪ Never sure ♪

♪ Will you catch me if I should fall? ♪

(INAUDIBLE)

(MUFFLED APPLAUSE)

(MUFFLED APPLAUSE)

(MUFFLED) Brava!

(MUFFLED APPLAUSE)

♪ Well, it's all an adventure ♪

♪ That comes with a breathtakin' view ♪

♪ Walkin' a tightrope ♪

♪ With you ♪

♪ Oh, oh, 0h, oh ♪

♪ With you ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ With you ♪
♪ With you ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ With you ♪

♪ Oh, 0h, oh ♪

♪ With you ♪

JENNY: "It is as though we have learned

for the first time...

what singing really is."

"Miss Lind deserves

our nation's highest esteem

and most lavish ovations."

- I mean...
- The world at our feet.

- Well, Mr. Barnum.

- (GLASS CLINKS)

- (LIQUID POURS)
- This...

is...

(BOTH LAUGH)

to making dreams come true.

Thank you, Jenny.

(GULPS)

(QUIETLY)
It's two hours to curtain.

I've given you the world, haven't I?

I-- I, uh-- I should go. I...

I've become a distraction.

I'm sorry, Jenny.

- No.
- You should finish the tour without me.

What? You're leaving?

- Well, the itinerary's well in hand.

- So, that's it.

What do you mean?

I'm just another one of your little acts.

- Jenny.
- I'm done.

(THUDS)

Jenny. Jenny, please.

You have to finish the tour.

Must I?

It-- it will ruin me.

(SCOFFS) When you're careless

with other people, Mr. Barnum,

you bring ruin upon yourself.

I have risked everything.

Well, so did I.

And it seems we both lost.

♪ All the stars

we steal from the night sky ♪

♪ Will never be enough ♪

(VOICE BREAKING)
♪ Never be enough ♪

♪ Towers of gold are still too little ♪

♪ These hands could hold the world ♪

♪ But it'll never be enough ♪

♪ Never be enough ♪

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

(SIGHS)

(APPLAUSE)

(APPLAUSE CONTINUES)

Thank you.

What was that?

(CLEARS THROAT)

That was goodbye.

PHILLIP:
Hey, thank you very much for coming.

- Tell your friends and neighbors!

- What a wonderful show!

Who enjoyed themselves? You? You?

Tell everyone how much fun

you had at the circus!

New acts every night!

MAN:
Hey! Ringmaster.

Gentlemen, gonna have to ask you to leave.

- (MEN SNICKERING)
- This is our town, son.

We think you should leave.

You and your freaks.

And your spooks.

PHILLIP: Sir.

I will only ask once more.

Then what, boy?

Hey! Stop!

Get him!

Charge!

(INDISTINCT YELLING)

- (MEN GRUNTING)
- (GLASS SHATTERS)

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

- WOMAN: Could that be her?

- MAN: I think so.

GIRLS:
Daddy!

- (PHINEAS LAUGHS)
- Daddy!

- Girls, girls, girls!

- Daddy!

Oh, you've grown so much. Stop it.

What made you decide to come back early?

I missed you. I missed you.

- That sounds an awful lot like humbug.

- (BELL RINGING)

- Fire!
- Move aside! Move aside!

- Come on!
- Hurry! It's coming from the circus.

MAN:
Run! Let's go! Fire!

Girls, stay with me. Come. Quick, quick!

Everyone, stay close!

(SCREAMING)

Phillip! Is everyone out?

- Is everyone okay?
- Yeah.

The animals? The animals?

Yeah, we set them free.

What else could we do?

W.D., where's Anne?

PHINEAS:
Where's Anne? Where's Anne?

No, Phillip! No!

- Hey, hey! Outside!

- You can't go in there!

- Anne!
- Phillip!

Keep pumping! Keep pumping!

- W.D.!
- Here she is! Here she is!

Anne! Oh my God!

PHINEAS:
Phillip!

- Phillip!
- Daddy!

- No. Daddy!
"Daddy!

- Daddy!
- (CROWD SCREAMING)

(BUILDING GROANING)

MAN:
Stay back! Please!

(GM CRYING)

Daddy!

- (GASPS)
- (CROWD MURMURS)

(COUGHING)

FIREMAN:
Stretcher!

Stretcher!

He's taken a lot of smoke.

He's still breathing. Come on.

- (COUGHING)
- FIREMAN 2: Come on, let's get him on!

Up!

(ELEPHANT BLOWS)

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

(SOFTLY)
♪ What if we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Say you were made to be mine? ♪

♪ Nothing can keep us apart ♪

(SHAKILY)
♪ You are the one I was meant to find ♪

MAN:
Here we go, guys!

Come on! Straight ahead!

Thomas, help me break this up.

(COUGHING)

If you've come to gloat, I wouldn't.

They caught the thugs

who started the fire.

I thought you'd like to know.

(SIGHS, CLEARS THROAT)

I never liked your show.

But I always thought the people did.

They did. They do.

(SCOFFS)

Mind you, I wouldn't call it art.

Of course not.

But...

putting folks of all kinds

on stage with you...

all colors... shapes, sizes...

presenting them as equals...

Why, another critic

might have even called it...

"a celebration of humanity."

I would've liked that.

Mmm.

- Well, I hope you'll rebuild.

- Hmm.

I mean, thank God for Jenny's tour.

We can borrow off the profits,

we'll be fine.

You don't know?

Hmm?

- (GASPS)
- I'm sorry.

Charity?

Oh, God, Charity.

- I am--
- I don't wanna talk to you.

N-- nothing happened. This is ridiculous.

Oh, sure. Nothing happened.

It's on the cover

of every paper in New York.

Because she orchestrated the photo.

I'm not in love with her!

Of course you're not.

Not with her, not with me,

not with anyone.

Just you and your show.

(SCOFFS) What are you doing?

I'm going home.

This is your home.

The bank...

they're evicting us.

Why didn't you ask me before...

I would've said yes.

I never minded the risk,

but we always did it together.

(DOOR SLAMS)

(TOM GROANS)

(SIGHS)

Figured you'd end up here.

- Feeling sorry for yourself.

- (DOOR OPENS)

Folks, if you've come to get paid,

the money is gone. All of it.

- Nothing left to give you.

- Shut up, Barnum.

You just don't get it.

Our own mothers were ashamed of us.

Hid us our whole lives.

Then you pull us out of the shadows.

And now you're giving up on us, too.

Maybe you are a fraud.

Maybe it was just about making a buck.

But you gave us a real family.

And the circus... that was our home.

We want our home back.

♪ I saw the sun begin to dim' ♪

♪ And felt that winter wind blow cold ♪

♪ A man learns who is there for him ♪

♪ When the glitter fades

and the walls won't hold ♪

♪ 'Cause from that rubble ♪

♪ What remains ♪

♪ Can only be what's true ♪

♪ If all was lost ♪

♪ There's more I gained ♪

♪ 'Cause it led me back ♪

♪ To you ♪

♪ I drank champagne
with kings and queens ♪

♪ The politicians praised my name ♪

♪ But those were someone else's dreams ♪

♪ The pitfalls of the man I became ♪

♪ For years and years ♪

♪ I chased their cheers ♪

♪ A crazy speed of always needing more ♪

♪ But when I stop ♪

♪ And see you here ♪

♪ I remember who all this was for ♪

♪ And from now on ♪

♪ These eyes will not

be blinded by the lights ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ What's waited 'til tomorrow ♪

♪ Starts tonight ♪

- ♪ It starts tonight ♪
- (CHEERING)

♪ And let this promise in me start' ♪

♪ Like an anthem in my heart ♪

- ♪ From now on ♪
- (LETTIE LAUGHING)

- ♪ From now on I
- GROUP: ♪ Hey! ♪

♪ From now on ♪
- GROUP:♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

- ♪ From now on ♪
♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ From now on ♪
♪ And we will come back home ♪
♪ From now on ♪

♪ Yes! ♪
- ♪ Home again ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

-♪ From now on ♪
-♪ Home again ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ These eyes will not

be blinded by the lights ♪

GROUP:
♪ From now on ♪

♪ What's waited
til tomorrow starts tonight ♪

♪ It starts tonight ♪

♪ Let this promise in me start ♪

♪ Like an anthem in my heart ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ From now on ♪
- GROUP: I' And we will come back home ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ And we will come back home ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

You're here.

GROUP:
♪ From now on ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ From now on ♪
♪ Home again' ♪

(VOCALIZING)

♪ From now on ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ Home again' ♪

Caroline! He's here.

(SIGHS)

I would like to see my wife.

She's not here.

She's at the beach!

(LAUGHING)

I brought hardship on you and our family.

You warned me...

and I wouldn't listen.

I just...

I wanted to be more than I was.

I never wanted anything

but the man I fell in love with.

(SHAKILY)
♪ Let this promise in me start ♪

♪ Like an anthem in my heart ♪

♪ However big ♪

♪ However small ♪

♪ From now on ♪

From now on.

Bank said no?

Emphatically.

Repeatedly.

I don't think there's a banker

left in the country

I can fool into loaning me

more money, so...
I'm really sorry to disappoint you all.

Don't worry, Barnum.

We've gotten used to it by now.

- (LAUGHTER)
- PHILLIP: You know, Barnum...

when I first met you...

I had an inheritance, acclaim,

an invitation to every party in town.

And now, thanks to you, all that's gone.

All that's left is

friendship, love, and work that I adore.

(SIGHS)

You brought joy into my life.

- LETTIE: Into all our lives.

- Hear, hear.

If only the bank

would take joy as collateral.

They may not...

but I will.

I own 10% of the show.

Knowing who I was working for...

I had the good sense

to take my cut weekly.

Phillip, I can't let you gamble it on me.

- Sure you can.

LETTIE:
Don't turn sensible on us now.

PHILLIP:
Partners.

50-50.

(LAUGHING)

(ALL LAUGHING)

Partners.
MAN:
Yeah!

PHILLIP: The only thing is...

I don't know how

we're gonna afford a building.

Right. (SIGHS)

PHINEAS: Building. We don't need a building.

Real estate in Manhattan

is a terrible investment.

Why, I can get land

down by the docks for almost nothing!

All we need is a tent.

- ♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

- Come on, come on!

GROUP:
♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Colossal we come ♪

♪ These renegades in the ring ♪

GROUP:
♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Where the lost get found ♪

♪ And we crown 'em the circus kings ♪

ALL: ♪ Don't fight it,

it's comm' for you, runnin' atcha ♪

♪ It's only this moment,

don't care what comes after ♪

♪ It's blindin', outshinin'

anything thatcha know ♪

♪ Just surrender 'cause you're comin" ♪

♪ And you wanna go ♪

♪ Where it's covered

in all the colored lights ♪

♪ Where the runaways

are runnin' the night ♪

♪ Impossible comes true ♪

♪ Intoxicatin' you ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

♪ We light it up, we won't come down ♪

♪ And the sun can't stop us now ♪

♪ Watchin' it come true ♪

ALL:
♪ It's takin' over you ♪

- ♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

- (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

PHINEAS:
♪ It's everything you ever want ♪

♪ It's ev'rything
you ever need ♪

♪ And it's here right in front of you ♪

ALL:
♪ This is where you wanna be ♪

♪ It's ev'rything you ever want ♪

♪ It's ev'rything
you ever need ♪

♪ And it's here right in front of you ♪

PHINEAS:
♪ This is where you wanna be ♪

♪ This is where
you wanna be ♪

ALL: ♪ Where it's covered

in all the colored lights ♪

♪ Where the runaways

are runnin' the night ♪

- ♪ Impossible comes true ♪

- This is for you.

♪ It's takin' over you ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

What will you be doing?

Watching my girls grow up.

- The show must go on.

-♪ We light it up, we won't come down ♪
♪ And the sun can't stop us now ♪

♪ Watchin' it come true ♪

♪ It's takin' over you ♪

PHILLIP:
♪ This is the greatest show! ♪

ALL: ♪ Where it's covered

in all the colored lights ♪

♪ Where the runaways

are runnin' the night ♪

PHILLIP AND ANNE: ♪ Impossible comes true,

it's takin' over you ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

ALL:
♪ We light it up, we won't come down ♪

♪ And the walls can't stop us now ♪

♪ Watchin' it come true,

it's takin' over you ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

♪ 'Cause ev'rything you want

is right in front of you ♪

♪ And you see the impossible

is comin' true ♪

♪ And the walls can't stop us now ♪

-♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

- ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

♪ Oh! Oh! ♪

Daddy!

- ♪ Oh! Oh! ♪
(GIRLS LAUGHING)

- ♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

- PHINEAS: Hey, girls!

- Hey!
♪ Oh! Oh! ♪

- ♪ Oh! Oh! J'

- Make way.
♪ Oh! Oh! ♪

♪ Oh! This is
the greatest show! ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

♪ Oh! This is
the greatest show! ♪

♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

-♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! ♪

-♪ This is the greatest show! ♪

-♪ Oh! This is the greatest show! Oh! ♪

-♪ This is the greatest ♪

♪ This is the greatest show! ♪

(APPLAUSE)
(PLANO MUSIC PLAYS)

(SOFTLY)
♪ It's everything you ever want ♪

♪ It's ev'rything you ever need ♪

♪ And it's here right in front of you ♪

LETTIE:
♪ Look out, cause here I come ♪

♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪

♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪

♪ I make no apologies ♪

♪ This is me ♪

GROUP:
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, Oh

♪ Oh, Oh, Oh ♪

♪ Oh, Oh♪

♪ Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh ♪

♪ Oh, Oh, Oh ♪

LETTIE:
♪ Another round of bullets hits my skin ♪

♪ Well, fire away ♪

♪ Cause today, I won't let
the shame sink in ♪

♪ We are burstin' through the barricades ♪

♪ And reachin' for the sun ♪

ALL:
♪ We are warriors ♪

LETTIE:
♪ Yeah, that's what we've become ♪

ALL:
♪ Won't let them break me down to dust ♪

♪ I know that there's a place for us ♪

♪ For we are glorious ♪

♪ When the sharpest words

wanna cut me down ♪

♪ I'm gonna send a flood,

gonna drown 'em out ♪

♪ I am brave, I am bruised ♪

♪ I am who I'm meant to be ♪

♪ This is me ♪

♪ Look out, cause here I come ♪

♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪

♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪

♪ I make no apologies ♪

- ♪ This is me ♪
- ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, this is me ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

LETTIE:
♪ And I know that I deserve your love ♪
♪ There's nothing I'm not worthy of I

ALL:
♪ Oh, oh ♪

LETTIE: ♪ When the sharpest words

wanna cut me down ♪

♪ I'm gonna send a flood,

gonna drown 'em out ♪

♪ This is brave, this is bruised ♪

♪ This is who I'm meant to be ♪

♪ This is me ♪

ALL:
I' Look out, cause here I come ♪

LETTIE:
♪ Look out, cause here I come ♪

ALL: ♪ And I'm marching on

to the beat I drum ♪

LETTIE:
♪ Marching on, marching on ♪

ALL: ♪ I'm not scared to be seen,

I make no apologies ♪

♪ This is me ♪

♪ When the sharpest words

wanna cut me down ♪

♪ I'm gonna send a flood

to drown them out ♪

LETTIE:
♪ I'm gonna send a flood ♪

♪ Gonna drown them out ♪

ALL:
♪ Oh, oh, oh, this is me ♪

PHILLIP:
♪ You know I want you ♪

♪ It's not a secret I try to hide ♪

♪ I know you want me ♪

♪ So don't keep saying

our hands are tied ♪

♪ You claim it's not in the cards ♪

♪ And fate is pulling you miles away ♪

♪ And out of reach from me ♪

♪ But you're here in my heart ♪

♪ So who can stop me if I decide ♪

♪ That you're my destiny? ♪

♪ What if we rewrite the stars ♪

♪ Say you were made to be mine ♪

♪ Nothing could keep us apart ♪

♪ You'd be the one I was meant to find ♪

♪ It's up to you ♪

♪ And it's up to me ♪

♪ No one can say what we get to be ♪

♪ So why don't we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Maybe the world could be ours' ♪

♪ Tonight ♪

ANNE:
♪ You think it's easy ♪

♪ You think I don't want to run to you ♪

♪ But there are mountains' ♪

♪ And there are doors

that we can't walk through ♪

♪ I know you're wondering why ♪

♪ Because we're able to be

just you and me ♪

♪ Within these walls' ♪

♪ But when we go outside ♪

♪ You're gonna wake up and see ♪

♪ That it was hopeless after Al ♪

♪ No one can rewrite the stars ♪

♪ How can you say you'll be mine? ♪

♪ Everything keeps us apart ♪

♪ And I'm not the one
you were meant to find ♪

♪ It's not up to you ♪

♪ It's not up to me ♪

♪ When everyone tells us what we can be ♪

♪ How can we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Say that the world can be ours ♪

♪ Tonight? ♪

BOTH:
♪ All I want is to fly with you ♪

♪ AH I want is to fall with you ♪

♪ So just give me all of you ♪

- ANNE:♪ It feels impossible ♪

- PHILLIP:♪ It's not impossible ♪

ANNE:
♪ Is it impossible ? ♪

BOTH:
♪ Say that it's possible ♪

♪ How do we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Say you were made to be mine ♪

♪ Nothing can keep us apart ♪

♪ Cause you are the one

I was meant to find ♪

♪ It's up to you ♪

♪ And it's up to me ♪

♪ And no one can say what we get to be ♪

♪ Why don't we rewrite the stars? ♪

♪ Changing the world to be ours ♪

ANNE:
♪ You know I want you ♪

♪ It's not a secret I try to hide ♪

♪ But I can't have you ♪

♪ We're bound to break

and my hands are tied ♪

(MAJESTIC MUSIC PLAYS)