[The big top bustles with the happy-go-lucky sound of circus tunes blaring from the speakers on each support pole. What is not bustling is the crowd, which consists of just a few stragglers. Not that this deters Klaus Way, who is fired up and animated, as ever.]
“Ladies and gentlemen, and children of all ages, welcome one, welcome all to the greatest show you’ve never seen before. Unless you were here before, in which case WELCOME BACK!“
[Those last two words are slightly more agressive than they needed to be.]
“Now folks, let me ask you a question. Some crowd participation if you will. What is the most expected thing at a circus like mine?”
[The crowd is silent.]
“CROWD PARTICIPATION REQUIRES THE CROWD TO PARTICIPATE!”
[Klaus is so incensed by their silence that spittle is foaming and flinging from his mouth, and a vein throbs in the side of his head. But just as quickly as he flared up, he is peaceful once again.]
“Correct. It is of course… clowns. Most people, if they went to a circus and there was nary a clown in site would DEMAND their money back. Why do you think I was blowing up Haywire’s phone when I got here? But alas…”
[He allows a brief sadness to cross his face.]
“But a good circus is only a good circus with a great clown on it’s books. I’ve been searching and searching for many years, but I think I might just have hit the jackpot.”
[He fizzes with delight!]
“The perfect clown is one with an a smile you just CAN’T remove. The perfect clown is one that entertains kids and adults alike and can hold an audience captive. The perfect clown has a name made for the circus stage. Like, for example… MR. SUNSHINE!“
[He claps and cartwheels towards the crowd, ending the cartwheel in a cross-legged seated position.]
“I would recruit you in an instance, Mr. Sunshine, but I would have to do my homework first. You see the problem with clowns is they have that smile you CAN’T remove. They paint that Make-Up on with a builders trowel, and the reason they do that is to hide the sadness, friend. Clowns are some of the most DEPRESSIVE people I’ve ever met. They struggle to find a lover. Their kids get bullied, if they can even get it to work enough to have kids. IT’S JUST SCIENTIFIC FACT! And that’s why I would have to look into you a little more, Mr. Sunshine. Someone who smiles as much as you must be an INCREDIBLE clown, but you’re hiding some deep, deep sadness behind that smile. A sadness that is dark and disturbing. And I don’t want anything dark and disturbing to scare away my crowds now.”
[He stands up, using his cane for support.]
“What is your darkness all about, Mr. Sunshine? What is the Make-Up HIDING? I just need to know. And maybe – just maybe – if you tell me, you’ll hear that magic phrase…”
“Welcome to the FREAK SHOW, let us show you the Way!”