SHORT PLOT SUMMARY
Waiting for completed orchestration,
but script is available for submission.
Time Will Tell
"Time Will Tell" is a whimsical, off beat musical comedy about the mysteries of time. The story begins with six college students struggling at a not very prestigious university, having to complete a demanding history class assignment requiring extensive research—but without the use of their accustomed digital aids. The students are forced to spend time in the library (God forbid) where they encounter Doxie Argyle, a quirky elderly librarian protecting a secret mystical archive.
After scheming to access these forbidden materials, two students, Austin and Jodi, accidentally fall back through time to 1923. There, they run headlong into the very people who are the subjects of their projects—the endlessly bickering Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. In order to fit into this strange time, they assume the roles of student reporters.
Shortly after the disappearance of their students, Doxie and her long-time companion, Professor Gibson, recall their own unique time travels, since they came here from 1923 fifty years ago. They decide to return to rescue the kids.
Jodi and Austin are thunderstruck by the sudden arrival of Doxie and Gibson in1923. The four of them conspire to reverse their travel through the wormhole, with the assistance of Edison and Tesla.
Meanwhile, back at the university in the present day, the remaining four students scramble to manage the fallout of their friends’ disappearance, including distracting their families during Parents Weekend.
Realizing how much she misses her life in 1923, Doxie decides at the last minute to remain behind. She sends Jodi and Austin back through the wormhole, as she and Professor Gibson grapple with their own past relationship and make decisions about returning to the present.
Ultimately, Doxie and Gibson reconcile their feelings and come back as well. The four time-travelers are joyously welcomed home. Jodi and Austin learn how similar the past and present are; Doxie and Gibson realize their feelings for each other are the same no matter where or when; and everyone learns a cautionary lesson about the use and value of time.
FULL SYNOPSIS
ACT 1
“Time Will Tell” is a musical comedy about six college students (Austin, Jodi, Harlan, Lani, Johan and Eva) striving for advanced degrees in a college they feel is second-rate, (“This Year”/ “Ballad of the Backup School”). After President Briggs welcomes them back, Austin and Jodi, discuss their personal issues and the struggles involved at this particular university, (“Not Gonna Coast”). With the six students attending a history class, Professor Samual Gibson, announces their major written project must be done without cellphones or Internet, insisting they go to the library to use reference books. Each student must choose a historical figure who has a personal meaning to them. After much whining, they go to the library where they meet Doxie Argyle, elderly, eccentric lady, excited to finally have students in her library, (“Books, Books, Books”). Doxie, in her bewitching manner, reveals her confidential archives, which must be used discreetly, only with her consent. The students desperately want to get in there to enhance their essays, (“The Scheme”). Professor Gibson enters to vehemently prohibit it.
With an elaborate plan, Harlan, Johan, Eva and Lani distract Doxie as Austin and Jodi sneak into the archive, where they experience strange, eerie sensations. While researching Austin’s essay subject, Thomas Edison, they accidentally fall through a wormhole, landing in 1923, during his Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony, (“I’m Edison”) The remaining four students freak out, but Doxie and Gibson understand what has happened and attempt to explain it, (“Time Rules”). They reminisce about their time-travel days as a couple and how it all began, (“Snapshots”). Doxie yearns to return to the time they came from, the 1920’s, (“I Want to go Back”), but Gibson doesn’t agree, being happy with Doxie in the present, (“Better Than Never”). Trying to assimilate 1923, Austin and Jodi pretend to be student journalists and convince Edison and Nikola Tesla, (Jodi’s essay subject) to be interviewed, revealing the icons’ contentious relationship. Austin is looking for advice from Edison about succeeding with his dyslexia and Jodi asks Tesla how he managed to persevere with so many prejudices surrounding him, (“What I See”). Doxie and Gibson decide to travel back to 1923 to rescue the kids.
ACT 2
With Parent Weekend the following day, Briggs, and the four students in the present, plan to distract the parents of the missing Austin and Jodi, (“The Conference Call”), while mourning about never seeing their friends again, (“Life Feels Small”). In 1923, Doxie convinces the group to go to her favorite speakeasy, (“Men On the Line”), where Austin and Jodi hope to get information from Gibson on how to return home. He says he knows how to reverse the wormhole, but Doxie wants to stay, in order to find an old flame from 50 years ago. Meanwhile, back at the university, Austin and Jodi’s parents arrive, but they’re sidetracked by Briggs and the other students, (“Excuses”), (“We Want Our Children”).
After completing a harrowing trip back through the wormhole, Austin and Jodi successfully return to the present, (“100 Years”), without Doxie and Gibson, who have remained in 1923, Doxie finally acknowledges her love for Gibson, (“My Tender Place”), and agrees to return. As Briggs is grading the six students on their projects, Doxie and Gibson magically reappear, (“Time Will Tell”). Surprisingly, Edison and Tesla emerge from the vortex to check on Austin and Jodi, just as a person from 2123, Kevin, unexpectedly jumps out of the wormhole to scold them for abusing the vortex, (“Global Limousine”), but he is ultimately shoved back in by Gibson. Time: Time is what we value the most but use the worst.
CAST LIST
AUSTIN PEARSON: A rebellious, jock, English major. Wants to be a teacher. (age 20)
JODI JAMESON: A bright, ambitious, physics major. Wants to join NASA. (age 20)
HARLAN: A flamboyant, witty, biology major. Wants to be a doctor. (age 20)
JOHAN: An earnest, intellectual, math major. Wants to be an electrical engineer. (age 20)
EVA: A quirky, sharp-witted chemistry major. Wants to be a pharmacist. (age 20)
LANI: A brilliant, geeky, math major. Wants to be a computer engineer. (age 19)
DOXIE ARGYLE: The eccentric University librarian. Born in 1903, then time travelled in 1923 to 1973 at age 20. Lived in this time period for 50 years and is now 70.
SAMUEL GIBSON: Professor of History at the University. Same age data as Doxie.
DR. SIDNEY BRIGGS: The officious President of the University. (age 60)
THOMAS EDISON: As himself in 1923. (age 76)
NIKOLA TESLA: As himself in 1923. (age 67)
ENSEMBLE: (2M, 2F)
Library Assistants.
1923 partygoers, including Mrs. Edison.
Nightclub singer, Lola.
Trombone Guy, Charlie Sparks.
Speakeasy crowd.
Austin and Jodi’s Parents.
Kevin.