Inklings // February 2025

Hello, friends!

This is spring break for me so while I've got plans for the actual full week, I thought I'd pop in and write a quick post! February went by unbelievable quickly (very rude!) so we're still catching up, but having fun while we do it. This is therefore my entry in Heidi's February Inklings!

How it works:

    1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt, including a link back to the original post in your post.

    2. Leave a link to your post in the comments section of the monthly post and she'll post all your links with the next prompt.

Click HERE to see all of my past entries, and click HERE to see all of the entries for this month! February has the following prompt:

A scene at the piano

I'm choosing a couple of moments from The Music Man (1962). Because when talking about musicals last month this never really came up, so I'm not throwing away my shot now.

This scene starts about 20 minutes in, and mostly serving to introduce characters so there are no spoilers!

And yes, this is technically two different scenes because there's a scene that splits them, but they take place in the same room at sequential times and one is resolving the other.

If you think I'm indecisive for picking too, then know that there are other piano scenes in this movie, including a "player piano player!", so I have made some decisions.

This scene involves two songs, so here is the first.

Marian Paroo is the librarian of River City and she is coming home to teach piano. We first hear the piano from outside. The little girl, Amaryllis, hits a wrong note, and Marian's mother, Mrs. Paroo, reaches over to correct her. A few seconds later Amaryllis does it again. Hitting the exact same wrong note.

The third time she does it Marian corrects her.

Marian and her mother get into a debate about the stranger who followed Marian home.

Marian turns instead to instructing her pupil.

"Now don't dawdle, Amaryllis."

"Don't get faster, dear."

Mrs. Paroo thinks Marian was too hasty when it came to the stranger and Marian scoffs instead with literary references. Which is her job as a librarian, but how no one will listen to her recommendations.

"I can't help my concern that the ladies of River City
Keep ignoring all my council and advice."

Mrs. Paroo thinks there are other factors involved.

"...Even if you can quote Balzac and Shakespeare
And all them other highfalutin' Greeks."

"Momma, if you don't mind my sayin' so
You have a bad habit of changin' ev'ry subject"

And we're back to talking about the stranger.

"I have my standards where men are concerned."

"There's not a man alive

Who could hope to measure up to that blend'a

Paul Bunyan, Saint Pat and Noah Webster

You've got concocted for yourself outta your Irish imagination,

Your Iowa stubbornness, and your liberry fulla' books."

Marian gasps at her mother's words. Just then Amaryllis stops playing. 

"Well, if that isn't the best I ever heard."

To which Amaryllis cheerily says: "Thank you!"

Skipping ahead a few minutes, the second part of this scene is when Amaryllis asks:

"Can I play my crosshand piece?"

"May I."

"May I play my crosshand piece?"

And it is quite an impressive crosshand.

Amaryllis's notes turn into the song "Goodnight, My Someone."

Thanks to Heidi for giving me a chance to talk about one of my favorite movies! Have any of you seen this? How well do you play piano? I admit that Amaryllis is better than I am. 

Happy March! If you don't have a spring break then I hope you have sunny days!

Chloe the MovieCritic