TINY TIM
I know that I speak for an entire country when I say that the name Oliver Twist makes me want to stand up and say—no, makes me want to stand up and shout—”I will do better.
I will be better.” But if the rumors are true, and the worst has come to pass, I will not cry. I will want to cry, but I won’t. I will be strong.
I will be as strong as Samson, as strong as Hercules, as strong as Atlas as I take up Oliver Twist’s mighty mantle, and I say to this nation and indeed to this planet, I am ready.
(Beat.)
I say to each and every one of you, lean on me when you’re not strong. And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.
(The chorus is ecstatic.)
Because I have a dream, and you have a dream, and my dream is to inspire you not only to reach new heights that you could only dream of before, but to go beyond them, to even newer heights that were beyond the dreams you’ve been dreaming now.
(The chorus scratches their heads, trying to do the mental math on this line. Tiny Tim realizes he needs to get them back.)
There once was a crippled boy who walked with a crutch. And now that boy is before you, a man, standing on the shoulders of angels.
(Mrs. Cratchit holds up giant pictures of Scrooge and Bob Cratchit. They’re even bigger now.)
I have cast aside my crutch. And now it’s your turn. Stand. Stand with me. Cast aside your crutch, no matter what it is, and stand.
(Beat.)
Maybe for you, that crutch is your fear of what your friends will think of you, or maybe it’s the nagging doubt inside that your answer might be wrong, or maybe it’s…a crutch. It doesn’t matter. Let it go, because together, we shall overcome.