Prologue: Calamari

Sorry I'm late, Rhoda

You're always late

I was
Working on the Spring Song
Is he angry that he doesn't have the Spring Song yet?
I bet

No, he's angry that he doesn't have the Yes Song

I hate the Yes Song
I hate the Spring Song
I hate
Mr. Bungee and this job
God, it's bad
Working on Mr. Bungee's lily pad–

Y'all work for Mr. Bungee? I love that TV show!

The specials today
Though not many are especially good
First the fish of the day:
Calamari!
Which isn't a fish
But lives in the sea
As said in the dish
It happens to be the fish
Of the day
Okay
Plus there's ziti
With a sauce that's meaty
It's fun!

Fun?

And there's a lot
And that's the specials!

Thank you!

I'll have the ziti and a Diet Coke

Uh, okay, and I will have the goat cheese salad–no cheese

Oh, thank you

So, talk to me!

He's taking up the brunt of my time

It's called a job

I don't have time to write
My real stuff
But I feel stuff

You're a mess!

I can't express
What I mean to convey
So of course I didn't
Write enough today!

If you don't keep writing you'll be shown the door
You know Mr. Bungee hates you

I hate Mr. Bungee

I think he hates you more!

Why does Mr. Bungee hate me?

First off:
You've gotta finish a song!

Oh, God!

You scoff
But dammit write the Spring Song
Write the Yes Song
Don't let your career
Go to the dogs!

As you can tell
I don't write well for frogs!

Mr. Bungee is aquatic
And despotic!

I'm having frog hallucinations...

Mr. Bungee's oceanic
And satanic!
Nyahaha!
Mr. Bungee's said to be
Tyrannical at times
But Mr. Bungee always rhymes!

He's not here right now, is he?

Whee!

I love Mr. Bungee
Yes indeed-y
Here's your ziti
I love Mr. Bungee
When he makes his scenes

I love Mr. Bun–
Did someone order scallopini?
I love Mr. Bungee
Here's your Diet Coke
And here's your greens!
I love Mr. Bungee
I love Mr. Bungee!

First write your song then next
You'll write the epic

Oh, sure!

First kids, TV, then next
The Broadway shows

Ha!

It's a rocky road from lily pad
To where you want to get to, dear, but
Rhoda always knows...

Him, a Broadway show?
I don't think so!

Inside me I feel washed up and through

Oh, come on, Gordon...

Writing this shit's killed my talent

That is not true!

And whatever's left to kill
Then Bungee will grind that down to squat!
I used to be!

You're still!

I was!

I don't agree!

I once was but I'm
Not!

Oh my...
Not a...

Hey, come on, sit down...

Something is wrong

Gordon, are you ok?

Something is wrong

Gordon, you're scaring me...

Something is very, very, very–
Wrong