2. There's Gotta Be a Better Way     Listen...   Quick Midi
(Characters speak the following lines in rhythm to accompaniment)
Harold:
I’ve got so much to do,
I’m running out of paint,
I’m running out of energy,
I think I’m going to faint!

Rob:
You think you got it bad?
Well, what about this bike?
If I don’t get the pedals on
My kid will have to hike!

Stan:  
You think you got it bad?
I’m running out of time.
If I don’t get the dryer fixed,
I can’t throw out my line!

Mothers:   
You think you got it bad?
You call our life a breeze?
Unless we put it on a list,
There isn’t time to sneeze!

All kids but Charlie:   
And we’re not wild about
The work we have to do,
Like clean our rooms,
And take out trash,
Wash the dishes;
Dry them, too!

Charlie:   
I haven’t got a job to do.

All:  (to Charlie)  
 LUCKY YOU!
 
All:  
 There's got to be a better way so we don't spend our Saturdays
Doing the things that we gotta get done, instead of the things we want.
There's got to be a nicer way that we can spend our Saturdays:

Helen:    Meeting a friend in the middle of town, for lunch in a restaurant.

Albert:    There's a movie that I'd like to see.

TJ:          Any place but here is where I'd rather be!

Harold:    I'm missing a golf game; I miss the sand in the trap.

Becky:    I'm missing my Game Boy.

Charlie:    I'm missing a nap!

(Music interlude with actions. Then...)

All sing:     
There's got to be a better way so we don't spend our Saturdays
Doing the things that we gotta get done; it’s boring beyond a doubt!
There's got to be a nicer way that we can spend our Saturdays

Margaret:    Soaking my poor, tired feet in a tub.    

Stanley:    And I'd gladly fish them out!

Heather:    My best friend is waiting at the mall. But it looks like I won't get there get there after all

Gloria:    I’m missing my cross-stitch, and that's the absolute truth!

Rob:    I'm missing The Big Game.

Charlie:    I'm missing a tooth!

All:  
 There's got to be a better way so we don't spend our Saturdays
Doing the things that we gotta get done, instead of the things we want!

Back

5. For Just a Low, Low Price     Listen...   Quick Midi
Sadie:       For just a low, low price you can have Paradise; the lap of luxury,
                From the Near Excellent (no down payment) Robot Company!
                It's just a small amount; won't hurt your bank account, or if that is too hard,
                I can give you a break; I can take your fav'rite credit card.

Mothers:    Can it do the cooking and the laundry?

Fathers:     Can it shovel snow and mow the grass?

Kids:        Can it use a broom? Clean a messy room?
                Do the dishes and take out the trash?

Sadie:      Down to the last red cent, this great investment comes with a guarantee,
                From the Near Excellent (no down payment) Robot Company!

(On Repeat of measures 2-37, Sadie hands out copies of the Guarantee, which the families crowd around and read aloud together…)

ALL:
"This robot is guaranteed for your lifetime, or the lifetime of the robot- whichever comes first. All robots are maintenance-free, provided they are regularly oiled, coiled and…par-boiled? Guarantee is automatically cancelled if this product is bent, spindled, or mutilated."

(The Stevenson's  mime their decision to be programmed, too. Sadie does this as the music continues to the end of the repeat. Their robot starts putting the bike together. Robots continue to work till the end of the song.)

Mothers Sing:       
We would never have to play the chauffeur!

Fathers:    We could find the time for ev'ry sport!

Kids:    Maybe it can do all our homework, too;
            Teachers would give us a good report!

Sadie:   What are you waiting for? This is an open door to opportunity,
             From the Near Excellent (no down payment) Robot Company!

(Families get out money and pay Sadie while singing)

ALL:        What are we waiting for? This is an open door to opportunity!
                From the Near Excellent,
                Never a dent,
                Money well-spent down to the last cent,
                From the Near Excellent (no down payment) Robot Company! 

Back

9. The Nature of the Beast     Listen...   Quick Midi
(Sing with short, clipped, robot-like words and actions)

Robots and/or Chorus:  
 It is our nature to obey,
That’s what we have been taught to say;
We on-ly follow programs that are programmed in our heads.

It’s not our fault if you should fail
To let good common sense prevail,
For we are simply doing what our programmer has said.

Be careful what you ask of us;
We don't want you misled.   
It’s possible that you could end up in over your head.

(During the measure 35-42 interlude, the robots trade and try out each others’ new-found “toys.”  The singing resumes…)

Though nuts and bolts is what we are,
We can do deeds spectacular.
But sometimes what looks very good is very bad instead!
Very bad instead!

Back

12. Something Has Got to Be Done     Listen...   Quick Midi
Parents:   
Something has got to be done!
Something has got to be done!
We've had enough of this robotic stuff!    
Something has got to be done!

Someone has got to be brave;
Teach the things how to behave;
Learn 'em a lesson they'll never forget,
Someone has got to be brave!

(Actions follow)

Parents:   
Someone has got to be tough!
Let 'em know we had enough!
Give 'em what for, and show 'em the door;
Someone has got to be tough!

Someone has got to be smart;
This isn't good for the heart!
We're going nuts, no if's, and's, or but's.
Someone has got to be smart!

(Actions follow)

Parents sing:   
Something has got to be done!     
Something has got to be done!     
Time to revolt                             
Against nut and bolt;                   

All sing:
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!

Back

14.  Once and for All, Part I    Listen...   Quick Midi
Max:   
You were not meant to be    
Run by machinery;
Machines should serve the man!
Try the Once And For All
Robot Recall
Home Improvement Plan.

Wouldn't you like to be
Returned to sanity?
Well, now at last you can,
With the Once and For All
Robot Recall
Home Improvement Plan!

Neighbors:   
Can you make them disappear forever?
Can we go right back to where we were?
Can you rearrange 
Ev'ry single brain,  
With the robot interceptor?

Max:  
For just five bucks a day
I'll take them all away
And get them off your hands,
With the Once And For All
Robot Recall
Home Improvement Plan!
Back

15. Once and for All, Continued     Listen...   Quick Midi
(During the singing, Max collects money from the crowd and exits. )

Neighbors:  
What are we waiting for?
This is an open door
To opportunity,
With the Once And For All,
Never to be
Threatened by this machinery!
With the Once And For All
Robot Recall
Home Improvement Plan!


16. Some Folks     Listen...   Quick Midi
Sadie, Max:  
Some folks will never learn;
Some folks will always get burned.
They want to have an easy ride;
They walk through life all starry-eyed.
Those folks, those folks belong to us!

Max:       
Some folks will take the bait,
Repent when it is too late.

Sadie:       
Their common sense is way off base;
It's orbiting in outer space.
Both:      
Those folks, those folks belong to us!

Now, you can't fool some folks ev'ry time,
But there's always just a few who fall for any line!
Those folks, those folks belong to us!
Yes, folks, those folks belong to us!

Back

0. Overture    Listen...   Quick Midi
1. TJ Pitching   Listen...   Quick Midi
3. Robot's Theme     Listen...   Quick Midi
4. Robot's Theme (repeated)     Listen...   Quick Midi
6. First Vignette    Listen...   Quick Midi
7. Second Vignette     Listen...   Quick Midi
8. Third Vignette    Listen...   Quick Midi
10. Robot Music     Listen...   Quick Midi
11. Something (Intro)     Listen...   Quick Midi
13.  Battle Hymn       Listen...   Quick Midi
(Spoken over music)
"Some day the world will have a new robot... an improved robot... one that will obey and not overstep its bounds... one that will serve and not enslave... one that can give to every man, woman and child in this great nation of ours, his constitutional right- the persuit of happiness and the American dream."
17. End       Listen...   Quick Midi
18. Curtain Calls     Listen...   Quick Midi