At a last minute rehearsal for the show, King and Alice perform a comedic hobo number (“Professional Showbizness Comedy”), King has promised Alice one gag for tonight’s show; however, he keeps stepping on all of her funny lines. Alice stops the music and says that she is not continuing. King lets her have her gag, and with that, a bunch of clowns enter and bind and “gag” King. She’s finally got her big chance to shine! She tells a series of jokes, has fun with a striptease number, and eventually finishes with a tambourine and kickline of clowns. Everyone at the studio raves about the number. Even King supports the idea of airing it live. The floor manager then announces that there are five minutes until air. Benjy enters with Swann, dressed in his Musketeer costume. Everything seems to be perfect except that Swann panics when he hears the show is broadcast live. Also, to further complicate matters, Belle has come backstage to tell Swann she’s met his daughter, who’s sitting next to her in the first row. Belle leaves and Swann confronts Benjy, blaming him for bringing Tess to the show. Benjy confesses. Swann announces that he’s not doing the show; Benjy promises to the crew that he will work everything out. The show begins. Benjy enters Swann’s dressing room to find Swann searching for and finding his last hidden pint. Benjy tries reasoning with him: Swann finally has a chance to make it up to the daughter who still deeply loves him. Swann is uninterested and defeated (“The Lights Come Up). He leaves. On stage, the Musketeer Sketch begins, but when it comes time for Swann’s entrance, he isn’t there. Benjy is preparing to accept the fact that Swann has abandoned him and the show when, all of a sudden, Swann pops up through a window in the set! Swann performs the sketch perfectly and it is a rousing success. Amidst all the joyous chaos, Benjy steps out of the scene, looking back at this beautiful moment in his life. Tess runs to her father’s arms, Swann is redeemed, King and Alice are happy, his first sketch is a success, and he has finally found happiness in love, work, and family (“My Favourite Year”). MUSICAL NUMBERS: 1. Overture/Twenty Million People 2. Larger Than Life 3. The Musketeer Sketch 4. Waldorf Reveal/Waldorf Suite 5. Rookie in the Ring 6. Manhattan 7. Naked in Bethesda Fountain 8. The Gospel According to King 9. The Musketeer Sketch Rehearsal 10. Funny/The Duck Joke 11. Welcome to Brooklyn 12. If the World Were Like the Movies 13. Exits 14. Shut Up and Dance 15. Professional Showbizness Comedy 16. The King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade 17. The Lights Come Up 18. Maxford House 19. The Musketeer Sketch Finale 20. My Favorite Year
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