Beat Breakdown

Key to understanding this breakdown...
Line 1 begins with the beat or scene number, followed by what I have entitled the beat, and lastly there are the page(s) you can find the text on. Line 2 lists the characters with the major dialogue in the scene (other characters may be on stage and can be plugged in during works) and those needed for blocking. The third line is the first sentence that begins the beat... and then the second half is the end of the last sentence in the beat. The best thing to do is cut and paste this on a blank page, and then print it out. Go through your script and write in these beats so you can ask me any questions you have asap.

ACT I

1a: Introductions 13-14
All
(Ladies and Gentleman... Our archery instructor.)

1b: Grease Is The Word 15
All
(Good evening, friends... Sister if you will.)

1c: Veni Creator Spiritus/Nunsense 15-18
All
(SONG)

2a: Julia, Bingo, And Drag Queens... Oh My!!! 18-19
RM, H
(Oh, thank you... Next song is all about.)

2b: A Difficult Transition 19-24
All
(You see, we started... SONG)

3a: Quiz Time 24-25
RM, H, A
(Sister Amnesia, Sister Amnesia... Gentle, but firm.)

3b: Gentle But Firm 25-26
A
(Gentle, but firm... me to push'em off.)

3c: Falling To Pieces 26-27
A
(Okay, question number two... all the Sisters were buried?)

3d: Benedicite 27-28
RM, L
(Well, I think that's about enough... SONG)

4a: Famous Ballerina 28-29
H, L
(Sister Mary Leo that was just... become a famous ballerina.)

4b: Biggest Ain't The Best 29-32
H, L
(Sister Leo!... SONG)

5a: The Cockroach 32-33
RM, RA
(Well, that was just dandy... not a musical comedy star!)

5b: Playing Second Fiddle 33-35
RM, RA
(I realized that from...SONG)

5c: NO!! 35
RM, RA, A
(Reverend Mother, I'm Ready... NO!!)

5d: Second Fiddle Conclusion 35
RA
(SONG)

6a: Duck, Duck, Goose 36
RM, A
(You know in some ways... Eye on her, Hubert.)

6b: So You Want To Be A Nun 36-39
A
(Hello. My name is... SONG)

6c: Nuns On The Run 39-40
RM, H, RA, L
(Why didn't someone... generosity this evening.)

7a: One Last Hope 40-41
RM, H, RA, L
(Really... SONG)

7b: Healthy? 41
All
(Reverend Mother we don't have a boat... see if anything's happened.)

7c: Sha, Na, Na 41-42
RA, H, RA, L
(This is just awful... Stop it!)

7d: Message At The Tone 42
All
Reverend Mother, Reverend Mother... see if she is alright.)

8a: The Rev Speaks 43
RM
(I tell ya... I gotta tell ya something-)

8b: Turn Up The Spotlight 44-45
RM
(SONG)

9a: Mae West 45
RM, H, A
(Well, you're turning out... Not quite, dear.)

9b: Lilacs Bring Back Memories 45-47
RM, H, A, L
(Lilacs... SONG)
10a: The Witching Hour 47-48
All
(I'll get you my pretty... I'm melting)

10b: RUSH 48-50
RM
(If only she could... I've fallen and I can't get up!)

11a: Turn Off That Spotlight 50-51
All
(SONG)

11b: Tackle That Temptation 52-53
All
(SONG)

ACT II

12a: Joking Around 55-56
H, RA, A, L
(Sister Hubert, may I tell... No Problem!)

12b: The Veil 56-57
RA
(Are you sure... Such a strange flower!)

12c: Deplora... The Explora 57
RA
(Let's not mention... It was a long time ago.)

12d: Growing Up Catholic 58-59
H, RA, A, L
(SONG)

13a: Guidance Counseling 59
All
(This is a catastrophe... Take a look!)

13b: We've Got To Clean Out The Freezer 59-61
H, RA, A, L
(SONG)

14a: Euthanasia Is Easy 61-62
All
(I'll get it I'm...a single penguin joke!)

14b: Just A Coupl'a Sisters 62-65
RM, H
(SONG)

15a: Soup's On- The Dying Nun 65-66
RM, RA, L
(And now ladies and gentleman-... DANCE)

15b: Storma Norma 66
RM, H, RA, L
(Sister!!... Now she's corrupting the novices.)

15c: Baking With The BVM 66-67
RM, H, A
(Oh, she's not that bad... She can do it in italian, too.)

16a: How To Fix A Crucifix 67-68
RM, H, A
(Well, now folks... Brownies REAL HOT!)


16b: Joan's Rib Shack 69-70
All
(It's a misprint... some extra money.)

16c: Sing Out Louise 70-71
All
(I could do my tongue... Let me count the ways.)

17a: I just Wanna Be A Star 71-73
RA
(SONG)

18a: Oh Hail... Mary 73
RM, RA
(You're no help at all... I'm watching you!)

18b: The Drive-In 73-75
RA, A, L
(SONG)

18c: Let's Go To The Movies 75-76
All
(FILM... Could ya die!)

19a: Only The Lonely 76-77
A
(I don't think this was supposed... It's about me.)

19b: Could've Gone To Nashville 77-79
A
(SONG)

19c: Light The Corners Of My Mind 79
All
(Come out here, everybody... isn't it, Hubert?)

20a: Fransican Free 79-80
All
(You know, I remember... We're rich!)

20b: Gloria! 80-81
All
(Gloria in Excelsis deo... first "nun ballerina!")

21a: Final Remarks 81
RM, H
(Of course, dear... What?)

21b: Holier Than Thou 81-85
All
(SONG)

22a: Nunsense Reprise 85-86
All
(SONG)