Cinematic Adventures: The Greatest Showman

A Bad Day

An array of grey clouds lined the sky on a dreary afternoon in New York City. Phineas Taylor Barnum typed away on a typewriter for his job, as an editorial for an accounting firm. Day after day was the same routine for Mr. Barnum, typing away for what little money he could make for his family. As he typed away, he thought back to the events of the day before and he still couldn't believe all of it had happened.

Unable to believe that a group of colorful talking ponies, a teenage dragon, and a former opera ghost were now staying with him and his family. Granted they were a very nice bunch, more than willing to help them out, it just seemed unbelievable. It made him wonder what else could be possible in the world. He was then suddenly shaken from his thoughts when his boss, Mr. Smith, started walking through the office.

"Mr. Smith?" Chalmers called out.

"Yes?" Smith responded.

"Have a look at this," Chalmers spoke, handing out a document.

"Yes, yes I see it... thank you Chalmers, that will do."

Phineas quickly jumped from his desk and raced behind Smith with a look of determination on his face.

"Sir, Phineas Taylor Barnum," He introduced himself. "Uh, if I may sir, I believe I have skills and ideas that go well beyond punching numbers into an adding machine. I read about this German fellow, Lilienthal, I believe, who's developed a glider that can take a man in the air, sir. Isn't that amazing? I mean, if you were to apply that to this business, it would be revolutionary."

Smith seemingly ignored him as he made his way to the front of the office and turned back to address all of the employees.

"Gentlemen!" He spoke loudly. "Can I have your attention?"

Everyone looked up from their desks toward their boss, who seemed rather disheartened.

"You're all dismissed."

Everyone soon broke into light chatter, not knowing exactly what their boss was talking about. Barnum grabbed the piece of paper Smith was carrying and his eyes widened upon noticing what exactly was written on it.

"Bankrupt?" He asked, in shock. "I thought the company had a dozen trading ships."

"Yes, at the bottom of the South China Sea," Smith responded. "Typhoon sank 'em all."

And just like that, Mr. Smith walked off leaving a now unemployed Phineas Barnum shocked beyond words. Here he was a man already struggling to make ends meet as it were when he was employed. Except now he no longer had a job. How was he possibly going to provide for his family now?

<>

Later that evening, as Phineas was returning home, all he could think about was how to break this news to his family. Having no job meant that likely he and his family will be evicted from their apartment, cast out onto the streets. Especially now that he was unable to find some form of income to support the family. Pushing the apartment door open, Phineas huffed upon noticing the still-leaking roof. He shook his head in shame knowing everything that was happening to him, and his family, had come so fast. One of the talking ponies, Rara he believed was her name, approached Barnum to greet him.

"Welcome back, Mr. Barnum," She greeted sweetly. "I hope your day went wonderfully."

"Yes... wonderful," He grumbled sarcastically.

"Are you alright sir?" Rara asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine," Barnum brushed off. "Where are all the others?"

"I believe they're playing up on the roof."

Phineas released a chuckle and shook his head. Of course they'd do something like that. Just as he was about to head off to climb the fire escape to the roof, he instantly stopped in his tracks when he heard a voice softly singing.