Carousel, Act II: Geraniums in the Winder - Stonecutters Cut It on Stone

"Enoch

Geraniums in the winder,

Hydrangeas on the lawn,

And breakfast in the kitchen

In the timid pink of dawn,

And you to blow me kisses

When I headed fer the sea –

We might hev been

A happy pair

Of lovers –

Mightn’t hev we?

(another sob from Carrie)

And comin’ home at twilight,

It might hev been so sweet

To take my ketch of herring

And lay them at your feet!

I might hev hed a baby –

Jigger (spoken)

What?!

Enoch

To dandle on my knee,

But all these things

That might hev been,

Are never,

Never to be!

(At this point Carrie just lets loose and bawls,

and buries her head in Jigger’s shoulder.

Some people hear this and enter as Jigger

consoles her.)

Jigger (sung)

I never see it yet to fail,

I never see it fail!

A girl who’s in love with a virtuous man

Is doomed to weep and wail.

Stonecutters cut it on stone,

Woodpeckers peck it on wood:

There’s nothin’ so bad fer a woman

As a man who thinks he’s good!

(Carrie bawls out one loud note. More people

enter, Nettie is with them.)

Enoch (spoken)

Nice talk!

Jigger

My Mother used to say to me,

‘When you grow up, my son,

I hope you’re a bum like your father was,

’Cause a good man ain’t no fun.’

Jigger and Chorus

Stonecutters cut it on stone,

Woodpeckers peck it on wood:

There’s nothin’ so bad fer a woman

As a man who thinks he’s good!

Enoch

’Tain’t so!

Jigger

’Tis too!

Enoch’s Chorus

’Tain’t so!

Jigger’s Chorus

’Tis too!

(Enoch crosses to right, followed by Carrie.)

Carrie (spoken)

Enoch – say you forgive me! Say somethin’

sweet to me, Enoch – somethin’ soft and

sweet.

(He remains silent and she becomes

exasperated.)

Say somethin’ soft and sweet!

Enoch (turning to Carrie, fiercely) (spoken)

Boston cream pie!

(He turns and exits. Carrie cries. Billy enters

and crosses to Jigger.)

Billy (spoken)

Hey, Jigger – don’t you think?

Jigger (spoken)

Huh?

(catches on, raises his voice to all)

When are we goin’ to start that treasure

hunt?

Nettie (spoken)

Right now! Y’all got yer partners? Two men to each team.

You got half an hour to find the treasure. The winners can kiss any girls they want!

(A whoop and a holler goes up and all the Men

and the Dancing girls start out. Julie enters

from down left and sees Billy starting out

with Jigger.)

Julie (spoken)

Billy – are you goin’ with Jigger? Don’t you

think that’s foolish?

Billy (spoken)

Why?

Julie (spoken)

Neither one of you knows the island good.

You ought to split up and go with –

Billy (brushing her aside) (spoken)

We’re partners, see? C’mon, Jigger.

Carrie (spoken)

I don’t know what gets into men. Enoch put

on a new suit today and he was a different

person.

(They all group around Julie.)

First Woman

I never see it yet to fail.

All Women

I never see it fail.

A girl who’s in love with any man

Is doomed to weep and wail.

First Woman (spoken)

And it’s even worse after they marry you.

Second Woman (spoken)

You ought to give him back that ring, Carrie.

You’d be better off.

Third Woman (spoken)

Here’s Arminy – been married a year. She’ll

tell you!

Arminy (sung)

The clock jest ticks yer life away,

There’s no relief in sight.

It’s cookin’ and scrubbin’ and sewin’ all day,

And Gawd-knows-what-in’ all night!

All Women

Stonecutters cut it on stone,

Woodpeckers peck it on wood:

There’s nothin’ so bad fer a woman

As a man who’s bad or good!"