The Hills of Tomorrow / Merrily We Roll Along (1980) / Rich and Happy

[STUDENTS]
Behold the hills of tomorrow
Behold the limitless sky
Fling wide the gates
To a world that waits
As our journey starts
Behold! Our hearts are high!

Beyond the hills of tomorrow
Are skies more beautiful still!
Behold! Begin!
There are worlds to win!
May we come to trust
The dreams we must
Fulfill!

[VALEDICTORIAN, spoken]
Now, it is my privilege to introduce our distinguished alumnus who wrote that song here 25 years ago. The great songwriter and film producer, Mr. Franklin Shepard!

[Applause as the speaker enters.]

[OLDER FRANK, spoken]
I am Franklin Shepard, and I also was my class valedictorian here 25 long years ago. Are these kids swell? We don't have to wonder what happened to the world's ideals anymore, this gang behind me has taken them all! So, would I be hanged if I told you young innocents a few realities? I can save you guys so much pain and hurt if I can make you understand today that life isn't about doing the best; it's about doing the best you can. 

[YOUNGER FRANK, spoken]
No, it isn't. It's doing the best. 

[OLDER FRANK, spoken]
A goal is something you aim for more than something you achieve. 

[STUDENT, spoken]
It's the old "tell it like it is" speech. 

[OLDER FRANK, spoken]
I'm thinking you better start by hearing the word "practical," right here, right now, today. 

[STUDENT, spoken]
Where's the exit?

[OLDER FRANK, spoken]
Someday I guarantee you'll know "practical" very well. 

[STUDENT, spoken]
Wow. 

[OLDER FRANK, spoken]
Fate has a way of introducing us to "practical" eventually. 

[STUDENT, spoken]
Give us a break, Mr. Shepard. 

[OLDER FRANK, spoken]
And it's the same with the word "compromise."

[STUDENT, spoken]
Compromise? I haven't even started!

[YOUNGER FRANK]
How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?

[GUSSIE]
What did you have to go through?

[BETH]
How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?

[MEG]
Boy, did they do it to you. 

[ALL]
Some roads are soft
And some are bumpy
Some roads you really fly
Some rides are rough
And leave you jumpy
Why make it tough
By getting grumpy?
Plenty of roads to try

[YOUNGER FRANK, spoken]
How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?

What did you have to go through?

[ALL]
How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?

How did you get to be you?

Bending with the road
Gliding through the countryside
Merrily we roll along
Roll along
Catching at dreams

Dreams that will explode
Waking up the countryside
Everybody merrily, merrily
Sing 'em your song
Rolling along!
Rolling along!
Rolling along!
Rolling a—

[The students throw off their graduation robes and reveal themselves as early middle-aged Hollywood swingers, party-goers at Frank's house, chattering to each other.]

[TERRY]
So we bought this little condominium...

[KATE]
So we found this little Chinese gardener...

[JEROME]
It's a clear case of studio politics...

[PHOTOGRAPHER]
We were stuck on the freeway till half past six...

[TERRY]
So we bought this little condominium...

[FOUR GUESTS, individually]
Great...
Smog...
Points...

[Everyone takes a snort cocaine.]

[ALL]
Party!

[FRANK]
Life is swinging
Skies are blue and bells are ringing
Every day I wake up singing
"Look at me, I'm rich and happy!"

Days are sunny
Working hard for lots of money
Filled with people smart and funny
Filled with people rich and happy!

Who says, "Lonely at the top"?
I say, "Let it never stop!"
It's my time coming through
All my dreams coming true:
Gorgeous house, gorgeous wife
Who wants any more from life?

Skies are beaming
Future bright and prospects gleaming
Best of all, I don't stop dreaming
Just because I'm rich
And famous
And therefore
Happy, too!

[ALL]
Party!

[GUEST]
Well, you must admit the movie's terrible...

[ANOTHER GUEST]
I imagine Frank is feeling terrible...

[MARY]
These are the movers
These are the shapers
These are the people
That fill the papers

[ALL]
Terrible...

[MARY]
These are the friends of Frank...

[ALL]
Wasn't it just terrible?

[MARY]
They all have Frank to thank

[ALL]
When you see a movie that bad
What on earth can you say?

(To Frank)
Congratulations!

[FRANK, spoken]
Thanks!

[MARY]
These are the movers
These are the shapers
These are the people
That give you vapors

[FRANK, to Mary]
Twenty years ago who'd have guessed
Who'd have guessed
I'd be standing here
Playing host to the very best
All the powers that be?

[ALL]
Terrible...

[FRANK]
Everybody I see...

[ALL]
Wasn't it just—

[FRANK]
And look who's one of them—me!

[GROUP I]
Terrible...

[GROUP II]
Beautiful, Frank!
(To each other)
Wasn't it just terrible?

[GROUP I]
Beautiful, Frank!

[ALL, EXCEPT MARY & FRANK]
When a movie's that bad
What on earth can anyone say?
Party!

[ALL, EXCEPT MARY]
Life is swinging
Skies are blue and bells are ringing
Every day I wake up singing
"Look at me, I'm rich and happy!"
Days go zipping
Sitting by the pool and tripping

[MARY]
Everybody's flip or flipping
Everybody's rich—

[ALL]
And happy!

[FRANK]
Who says all our dreams get burned?
Every bit of this was earned
It's our time coming through
All our dreams coming true
All our days full of beans—

[ALL]
This must be what happy means!

Skies are beaming
Future bright and prospects gleaming!
Best of all, we don't stop dreaming
Just because we're rich—

[FRANK]
And famous—

[ALL]
And suntanned—

[FRANK]
And influential—

[ALL]
And on the covers of magazines
And in the columns and on the screens
And giving interviews
Being photographed
Making all the important scenes
And at the parties cutting capers
And on the talk shows and in the papers
And unbelievably
Happy, too!