Setting: New York City, present day

 

 

On a quiet street in downtown New York City, a well-dressed man (Brad) takes an evening stroll with a flashy woman. As they approach a pile of garbage, she tugs on his arm, causing them to skirt around it. Arising from the heap of trash come echoes of regret,  revealing the homeless living within. Above, a streetlight faintly flickers. Along comes an unkempt middle aged woman (Anita) who, though weary,  moves along walking through night into morning.  The morning rush begins and the streets become bustling with activity (ON THE STREET).  Through the crowd, Brad an impeccably dressed young businessman appears on his way to work.   Not far away is Nancy, a simply dressed woman who is the director of a modest homeless shelter,  heading to work as well.   A red-faced homeless man (Red) approaches the street corner soliciting for money. Brad refuses and comments under his breath that the money will be put to ill use. Nancy overhears this and is annoyed by such a remark!  When Brad, Nancy, and the working people disband, Anita is left behind amongst the homeless. (ON THE STREET REPRISE)  

 

Shortly after, Brad arrives at his luxurious Wall Street office only to learn that a deadline for an upcoming merger has been moved up. As he initiates a meeting, his colleagues Gail and Greg  begin to fantasize about their impending bonuses from this lucrative deal. (MAKE THE DEAL). While Brad conducts his meeting in a towering skyscraper,  not far away Nancy is about to conduct the lunchtime service in her soup kitchen located in her shelter.  She is interrupted by her hilarious brother Elliot, questioning why she didn't attend his cocktail party thrown in her honor. Nancy shows little interest, but Elliot is determined to help her find ONE FINE MAN. Shortly after lunch is served. (SOUP KITCHENS AND SHELTERS) Along comes Anita who, on her way into the shelter is stopped by Sammy, the quintessential charismatic homeless man. He attempts to convince her not to go inside. For Sammy, the streets offer freedom, independence and a place to apply his skills when OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

 

However, Anita chooses to head into the shelter and approaches Nancy to ask for help. She reveals that she once had a decent job and a life full of hopes and dreams. Losing her job triggered a series of events, resulting in her downfall. Nancy offers to find her a bed at a women’s shelter for the night and after a brief stay, Anita leaves. As Nancy returns to her work, including the discussion of her shelter’s financial worries, she realizes she is low on shelter supplies and heads out to get them. On her way back she encounters Red once again, who is begging on the corner. When she reminds him that he could be taking advantage of free meals at the shelter, he dismisses her as always. At that moment, Brad happens to be passing by on his way back from getting his usual afternoon cup of gourmet coffee. Suddenly, right in front of them, Red trips and falls in the street sending gasps in the air and coins all over! Nancy tries to lift Red back up, but is unsuccessful. Reluctantly, Brad comes to her aid. Together, they lift the homeless man to his feet, and an unexpected spark is ignited! As Nancy nervously retreats, offering a timid thank you to the man who came to her rescue, Brad is taken back by how this selfless woman is refreshing! Her unconditional love and compassion have captured his interest, and so he impulsively blurts out an offer to volunteer at her shelter.  She judgmentally dismisses his offer, though she hands him her business card to be polite.  Unaccustomed to rejection, Brad is even more intrigued now. Afterward, Nancy returns to her office, where her security guard Adrienne and brother Elliot playfully bicker as usual. To her surprise, Brad appears! Determined to get to know her, he boasts about his success and reveals that he works for a top mergers and acquisitions firm. But Nancy is already all too familiar with his company, as they are often responsible for massive layoffs and consequentially many homeless. After she turns down Brad’s offer yet again and sends him away, she wonders if she might have made a mistake. (ONE FINE MAN-REPRISE) Brad returns to his office, ego bruised and offended that she judged him to be a callous, money- making, corporate ladder climber. For the first time he no longer feels proud of his success and countless possessions. Instead, he wonders how he could possibly win over a woman as noble as Nancy. (NANCY)

At the end of the day, the city people head home, but the homeless are left behind (GOING HOME). Anita waits on a park bench hoping a bed will open up for her. Feeling alone and full of regret she wishes things were different. (IN ANOTHER PLACE). Shortly after, she is placed in a women’s shelter for the night where she offers a prayer in desperation.

 

ACT II

 

The next day, Anita walks past the park and places her duffel bag down on the park bench. The bag displays the logo of the company she once worked for, and is all she has left despite years of service. She retrieves a Styrofoam cup from the trash and begins to beg.  Two women her age pass by and exhibit an awkward pity toward her (DON’T LOOK THIS WAY). Brad sees this.  In an effort to change, he approaches Anita and gives her money, carelessly commenting on her bag.  At that moment he is faced with a harsh reality when Anita reveals that a prior deal of his dismantled the company she worked for. He was instrumental in causing her to be put out on the street. Feeling sick inside, he hurries back to his office to be alone, but there he finds no consolation as Greg reminds him of his numerous deal-earned possessions. (MAKE THE DEAL- REPRISE)

 

Meanwhile Nancy, alone in her office, is faced with her own harsh reality, that she’s been eating the same boring sandwich for years. Her own actions have prevented her from finding love.  She reflects on the feelings she felt for Brad and wonders if it’s better to risk heartbreak or play it safe and perhaps wonder someday WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Brad is drawn to visit Nancy again, knowing now that she was right about him after all. On his way back to the shelter he sees a commotion outside with police activity. Making his way through the crowd, he learns that Red was hit by a car and has died. As the bystanders callously comment, Brad feels for the lifeless homeless man lying in front of him, the same man he once rejected. Nancy appears, distraught, for she feels to blame. As Brad consoles her, he learns that Red was once a successful businessman, who coincidentally was Brad's first mentor. Shocked by the news, he confesses to Nancy that she was right about him, but he wants to change. Nancy apologizes for being judgmental. Together they conclude that the homeless have brought them together and helped them find what was missing in their lives. (THE MISSING PIECE).

It’s the end of another day (GOING HOME –REPRISE) and Anita is back at the women’s shelter filling out a job application. There, she is approached by some of the shelter women who feel hopeless and abandoned. In a selfless act, she puts her own needs aside and lifts their spirits, giving them hope (THE WINDS OF LIFE). Nancy and Adrienne witness this and join her as they are touched and impressed by this capable woman! Afterward, Elliot visits Nancy again and this time she informs him that she no longer needs his matchmaking services (ONE FINE MAN-REPRISE II), but immediately after, she is informed that the rent for the shelter is delinquent.

 

Meanwhile, on the eve of Brad’s big business deal, he tries to pitch a different approach to his boss in an attempt to minimize the massive layoffs, but his boss is not interested in his idea. Sitting alone in his office, Brad wonders if he has the courage to stand up for what he now believes is right. (STREETLIGHT). He takes a walk along the street and sees Sammy, offering him some cash and compassion.  In stopping to do so,  he spots a vacant building for lease. Could this be a way he can make good on his past? With excitement he vows to put his words into action. The next day he helps Nancy go through her budget, finding cuts to support more staff, which she desperately needs. Not having revealed his idea to her, he receives a phone call causing her to doubt whether he has really changed or is focused on making a deal to lay off more people. Adrienne, as a good friend, explains to Nancy that she should separate the man from his job.

Anita visits Nancy once again, revealing she has a job interview set up by Brad but needs guidance in obtaining interview attire. After her experience with the shelter women, she feels confidence that her worth goes far beyond a set of office skills! At the same time Nancy has decided to trust Brad. Together Anita and Nancy close the chapters of their past (SAY GOODBYE).

 

It’s the end of the day and the deal is done. Brad is helping out at the shelter, repairing a broken sign. When he sees his reflection in the shelter window he remarks on how Nancy changed his life, leading him to find true happiness (ANGEL). Gail and Greg appear and reveal to Nancy that at the closing of the deal, Brad successfully made the case to eliminate a majority of layoffs, attributing his change of heart to Nancy’s shelter. Nancy is surprised to hear that, but then Brad reveals an even bigger surprise, that he found a larger building for them to move the shelter to. Together, they will care for the homeless.  Often, getting another chance in life can make all the difference.  Evening falls, the streets come alive, and a streetlight lights the way (FINALE).