NARRATOR
Planet Earth, eighteen thirty-five
Chester Thomas sits behind a desk
The owner of the New York Sun
Member of the NYC elite

THOMAS
We're the top, and everyone knows it
They will always know it
Samuel, my friend, come in!

SAMUEL
Sir, have you seen Rose or Benjamin? I haven't seen them all morning

THOMAS
Guess who I met right before you got here

SAMUEL
I don’t know

THOMAS
City Hall
They saw how I single-handedly
Picked our paper up off the floor
They were quite impressed to say the least
SAMUEL
(groans) Aren't we all

THOMAS
Now the mayor is knocking at my door

CHORUS
The leadership you've shown
To draw blood from a stone
A lesser man would have gotten nervous

THOMAS
But not me!

CHORUS
Intelligent and wise
As good as advertised
Have you given thought to public service?

THOMAS
Well, now that you mention it...

CHORUS
Senator Chester Thomas
Has a distinguished ring
THOMAS
But why should I stop there
When I've got the moon on a string?

CHORUS
President Chester Thomas
From washed up to Washington
Andrew Jackson would not stand
A chance if you ever run

SAMUEL
(laughs)

THOMAS
What's so funny?

SAMUEL
It seems the Stratfords
Aren't the only ones
Spinning fictions for the New York Sun
Future voters, I submit
Chester Thomas won't commit
Chester Thomas, hypocrite

THOMAS
Then you would be a candidate
For my ticket’s running mate
We're the same
SAMUEL
Get this straight
We're nothing alike

THOMAS
Are you sure?
What is this I see?
Am I sensing guilt?
If the truth comes out
Say goodbye to what we've built
We'd be disgraced
The Sun would fold
You'll be at that paper stand
“Til you and Rose grow old
No one hires you to write
Your dreams become a cage
The Stratford Family story
Wouldn't even fill a page

ROSE
Samuel!

SAMUEL
Rose, where have you been?

ROSE
It’s been a busy morning... and we have a problem