Enter three witches.

Enter the legendary JOHN HENRY. The WITCHES dance to his song.

Blackout.

In a home in modern West Virginia, BOBBY (a boy) is lying on a couch, playing video games. Also in the scene is a dining table and a table with a broken train set. Enter GRAMPS (BOBBY'S grandfather).

Aside, enter POLLY (BOBBY'S mother and GRAMPS' daughter) as the lights dim on BOBBY and GRAMPS.

[Polly sings about how she's tired of being the only adult in this house. She's overworked, lonely, grieving her husband, raising Bobby, managing Gramps, and desperate for help.]

POLLY exits, and the lights brighten on BOBBY and GRAMPS.

BOBBY tries to escape.

"HAMMER IN MY HAND 1"

Aside, enter CHORUS GIRL 1 dressed as a railroad WORKER.

Aside, enter CHORUS GIRL 3, dressed as an ENGINEER. She brings with her a MACHINE (a man in a steampunk robot costume holding a sledgehammer).

The MACHINE flexes his muscles and intimidates the workers.

Enter JOHN HENRY.

One WORKER holds spikes for JOHN. The ENGINEER holds spikes for the MACHINE.

Enter JOHN HENRY's wife (POLLY).

BOBBY joins the scene.

The MACHINE exits in shame.

JOHN HENRY dies.

POLLY mourns as the CHORUS GIRLS console her.

Exit POLLY and the CHORUS GIRLS.

JOHN HENRY gets up.

Exit JOHN HENRY.

Aside, enter WITCH 1.

Enter WITCH 2 and WITCH 3.

BOBBY returns to his video game.

Enter POLLY (Bobby's mother).

Enter MACH 21 (the MACHINE now as a cyberpunk robot).

MACH 21 dances "the robot".

GRAMPS storms off.

MACH 21 sweeps POLLY into his arms.

BOBBY steps aside as POLLY and MACH 21 black out. Enter GRAMPS.

Blackout.

Aside, enter JOHN HENRY and WITCHES.

Exit WITCHES. The light dims on JOHN HENRY as BOBBY enters.

[BOBBY sings a soul-searching song revealing his longing for a real father (including grief for his lost father) and to develop into a man himself.]

He pretends to be a railroad worker.

Aside, enter JOHN HENRY.

Aside, enter WITCHES.

[In this song, they (Bobby and the witches) (1) magically bring John Henry back, (2) have a joyful meeting, and (3) pledge their commitment to save the family and, by extension, the world. (4) The witch declares that, due to the cost of magic, the spell that's bending reality will only work for one week, after which time John Henry (or someone in his stead) must return to the grave in order to restore equilibrium.

Blackout.

MACH 21 is giving POLLY dance instructions.

MACH 21 places POLLY's hand on his chest.

Off, GRAMPS retches.

POLLY takes BOBBY aside.

JOHN HENRY and MACH 21 size each other up.

Exit MACH 21. JOHN HENRY examines the train set.

[A guarded "could this be love?" song in which John and Polly put forth awkward, flirtatious small talk while second-guessing their impressions, listing off the reasons why this couldn't possibly be love at first sight, let alone second sight. Meanwhile Bobby, delighted at seeing their interactions, sneaks off in order to leave them alone. This song should reveal that both of them are lonely and both are unsure of what is real.]

BOBBY drags GRAMPS on with him.

MACH 21 enters with a tray loaded with dinner.

Everyone but MACH 21 takes a seat.

Everyone laughs.

[JOHN HENRY sings an antiquated something that both endears him to the family as well as plants a seed in POLLY's mind that JOHN HENRY might be telling the truth.]

MACH 21 break-dances to M.C. Hammer or some boisterous pop song, killing the mood.

JOHN HENRY gives MACH 21 his hammer, hiding his resentful glare from POLLY.

He kisses POLLY's hand, then gets to work on clearing the table. JOHN HENRY starts grabbing dishes.

MACH 21 exits with the dishes.

[Song in which John Henry freezes time and asks himself if he's finally found the place he belongs (a reprise of the opener). Maybe Polly does something similar as they sing a duet aside from each other.]

Enter MACH 21 with blankets and pillows for JOHN HENRY.

Exit POLLY.

MACH 21 assumes a karate stance.

Perhaps he shows off.

GRAMPS swings a punch at MACH 21. MACH 21 catches GRAMPS' fist with superhuman speed and effortlessly throws GRAMPS down.

JOHN HENRY grabs his hammer from where MACH 21 has set it aside and attacks. Not only does MACH 21 dodge the blow, but he throws JOHN HENRY down as well, swipes the hammer, and points it at JOHN HENRY.

Exit MACH 21.

[Epic training song with the guys and the chorus girls that takes the best of the Rocky themes to the next level. Aside, Mach 21 does something tough like splitting wood with an axe, singing his own threatening addition. The scene ends with JOHN HENRY, BOBBY, and GRAMPS standing heroically with a "bring it on" look.]

Blackout.

It's the next morning. JOHN HENRY, BOBBY, and GRAMPS are lying around, exhausted. Enter POLLY.

Enter MACH 21 with another meal.

Half awake, JOHN HENRY, BOBBY, and GRAMPS join POLLY at the table, where MACH 21 serves them. GRAMPS takes a bite of steak.

GRAMPS chows down.

POLLY shoots GRAMPS a glare.

Both JOHN HENRY and POLLY shift uncomfortably.

BOBBY forces POLLY to nod her head.

Blackout.

It's evening time. Enter CHORUS GIRLS.

Enter MACH 21.

The ascot is, indeed, a snazzy addition.

Enter POLLY in evening wear.

MACH 21 whispers into JOHN HENRY's ear.

JOHN HENRY helps POLLY into her seat before taking his own seat.

Enter BOBBY with their dinner.

BOBBY, GRAMPS, and MACH 21 intently watch POLLY and JOHN HENRY.

Exit BOBBY and MACH 21.

Exit GRAMPS.

They laugh.

JOHN HENRY stands up.

JOHN HENRY steps aside and paces with frustration as POLLY blacks out. Enter BOBBY.

Enter GRAMPS.

Enter POLLY.

POLLY steps aside as JOHN HENRY works on the train set with BOBBY.

[POLLY brings up the question again of "what do women want". She lists all of the practical answers, hinting at how John meets none of the criteria and how Mach 21 meets all of it. Entire days pass as she sings, and she watches as John continues to engage Bobby, such as through painting, cooking, dance lessons, strength training, throwing a ball, and finally fishing. Throughout, Mach tries to make himself useful but is always driven away (probably by Gramps). The climax of the song is when JOHN and BOBBY finally get the train running.

BOBBY runs off.

For a moment it looks as if they just might kiss. Enter MACH 21.

Enter GRAMPS and BOBBY.

Exit POLLY.

MACH 21 lifts a couch [which is (production secret) inflatable]. He tosses it around, then throws it at JOHN HENRY, who jumps out of the way. Exit MACH 21.

[An escalated though short reprise of the training song with the chorus girls.]

JOHN HENRY collapses in exhaustion.

Exit JOHN HENRY.

Blackout.

It's the next day. We hear the sound of a lawnmower. GRAMPS is depressed. Enter POLLY.

The lawnmower stops.

Enter BOBBY.

Enter MACH 21.

MACH 21 picks up and throws the couch, blocking the door.

POLLY, GRAMPS, and BOBBY struggle against MACH 21. By working together, they're able to temporarily incapacitate him before running off. Blackout.

[JOHN HENRY sings his own heroic ballad, though now with the sad irony of a broken man.]

Enter POLLY.

Enter BOBBY.

BOBBY runs up to and hugs JOHN HENRY. Enter GRAMPS.

Enter MACH 21.

After a moment of decision.

The family watches as JOHN HENRY and MACH 21 face off, and history repeats.

Enter CHORUS GIRLS.

JOHN HENRY tosses his hammer aside.

The fight continues, even more intense than before. In the distance, we hear a train approaching.

JOHN HENRY lands a triumphant blow, knocking MACH 21 down.

Something snaps in MACH 21. Rising back to his feet with red, glowing eyes, he reveals unbridled ferocity.

He zaps JOHN HENRY with electricity.

One of the CHORUS GIRLS becomes the WITCH.

He zaps JOHN HENRY again.

He zaps JOHN HENRY again. JOHN HENRY falls onto the tracks.

He picks up the hammer and prepares to give JOHN HENRY a finishing blow.

An enraged BOBBY charges against MACH 21.

MACH 21 is knocked off balance and drops the hammer. BOBBY picks up the hammer and uses it to knock MACH 21 down.

The train sounds very close. BOBBY helps JOHN HENRY up.

JOHN HENRY, leaning on BOBBY, is so weak, he can barely move. GRAMPS and POLLY run to rescue them, but MACH 21 throws them back. The train's horn is blaring. MACH 21 charges at BOBBY and JOHN HENRY and pushes them off of the tracks. All goes black as we hear a loud crash.

Blackout.

2.5 - HOUSE

BOBBY, GRAMPS, POLLY, and JOHN HENRY sit somberly, perhaps with a few tears. JOHN HENRY has his arm around POLLY.

JOHN HENRY demonstrates a bad rumba.

The doorbell rings.

He answers the door, and in walks MACH 22.

GRAMPS shakes MACH 22's hand.

JOHN HENRY takes and kisses POLLY's hand.

POLLY kisses JOHN HENRY on the cheek.

JOHN HENRY kisses POLLY on the lips.

[Probably a reprise of "John Henry"]