VOICES OF DESPAIR AND PAIN OVER GORECKI STYLE CHORDS FILL THE AIR.  OVAL OFFICE. PRESIDENTE SEATED AT DESK HANDS OVER HIS EARS.  A-d-C LURKING IN BACKGROUND.

 

 

1  fall out

 

 

Was it them or was it us,                                           PRESIDENTE

Was it me?

How many people

Died that night?

How many more will there be?

What a simple

Construction:

Fall-out.

Did we fall out

With our enemies?

Will the napalm

Fall out of the sky:

A false reply

To fool our own people.

Was it them,

Or was it us?

What will the fall-out be?

 

And why did we do it?

What could be worth

One half a million souls?

What were the goals

We had to achieve?

What for us was victory,

And whose name did it call?

The name it screamed was misery,

Disaster for us all.

 

And you tell me to get a grip?

You tell me that now

Is not the time to weaken?

You're a fool,

We're on the run.

They ruin all we do,

Those faceless forest spooks,

Do you think the bombers will ever fly?

They have it all sewn up,

There's no way they can fail,

Let's get out now

Before they come,

Before they have us

Both in jail!

 

top

A-d-C MOVES FRONT STAGE WITHOUT AT FIRST DEIGNING TO LOOK AT P.

 

2  call in the twister

 

 

Presidente, what a speech!                                    AIDE DE CAMP

A dirge for defeat.

The city is burning

With news of their crime,

And all understand

How evil they are,

These spooks in the jungle,

This enemy far from our grasp.

There isn't a man

A woman or child

Who's not on your side:

They think you're so brave;

They'll all fight like demons

This country to save!

HA!

May I breathe a quick word:                                  SARCASTIC

A face has turned up,

One much like the first

But this one's fully intact

Not shot in the head,

And better off dead;

Yes, I think we've a bird

Who will deliver this time.

 

You say we've a prisoner?                                       PRESIDENTE

He may be the key,

Call in the Twister,

We'll twist him and see;

Call in the Twister:

We'll make him recall

His friends in the jungle

And we'll have a ball

Or two to play Jacks with;

Yes, we'll call in the Twister,

There's hope for us yet:

News of the spooks'll

Help the whingers forget;

Call in the Twister,

We'll soon have the proof..

 

FOOTSTEPS ON HARD FLOOR APPROACH

 

Meet the man with a mission

For twisting the truth.

 

• top

TWISTER IS DRESSED SEEMINGLY AS A NAZI OFFICER

 

 

 

3  a man with a mission

 

 

Abends, Mein Herren,                                                THE TWISTER

Some verk, I believf

For ein Mann vith zis mission

To aid und relievf

Ze pain off too much knowledge.

 

At last von off zeirs who's

Completely intact:

Hands und eyes schtill in pairs,

Nails to extract.

Imagine:

Ze pain off too much knowledge.

 

Chust come to my chamber

Und votch me take pains;

I'll show you vot I do vith

Eine foll basket off brains:

How to

Tease out ze knowledge.

 

By ze vay,             nearly spoken

Do you like ze accent?

I like to sink

It suits my schtyle,

It is, erfter all,

Vot you've come to expect.

 

I'll show you the pincers,                                           SUDDEN CHANGE TO

The scalpels, the flails,                                                UPPER CRUST

The electrical baton,                                                 ENGLISH ACCENT

The hammers, the nails;                                            COSTUME TRANSFORMED

Just come to my chamber,                                     TOP HAT TAILS

I'll teach you respect:

I'll show you your future

If you choose to defect;

What happens to people

Who are not on our side?

Just come to the chamber,

You won't be surprised.

 

 

Chust come to my chamber

Und votch me take pains;

I'll show you vot I’ll do vith

This foll basket off brains

 

Just come to my chamber,

I'll teach you respect:

I'll show you your future

If you choose to defect;

What happens to people

Who are not on our side?

Just come to the chamber,

You won't be surprised.

 

LAST WITH PRES. AND AIDE DE C. JOINING IN JOYFULLY, SUBSTITUTING 'we'll' FOR 'I'll' THROUGHOUT

 REPEAT AND FADE (They dance together like Tiller Girls- follie berger)

 

• top

SLOWS UP AFTER BADDIES EXIT ARM IN ARM. LONG GRINDING, PAINFUL CHORDS OVERLAY A DIRGE. SCENE BECOMES FOREST HOME ON ONE HALF OF STAGE. UNSEEN THE OTHER HALF BECOMES A TORTURE CHAMBER.

 

 

"Was it them or was it us?" he asks.  Does it really matter?  The fact is the reactor blew and took with it the half million people who lived nearby and left another half million dying from radiation burns and fall-out.  It happened: no sense arguing about whose fault it was.

But of course that is not how people think: people need to blame, they need to punish, they need a scapegoat.  The easiest of all manipulation is to offer them one.  On the streets the crowds are baying for blood.  If the Presidente cannot offer them an alternative it's a fairly safe bet they'll be after his.

This is a sorry time indeed for Ammal to fall captive.  And for Rhianne to realize her loss.

 

 

 

 

4  are we right

 

 

My Love,           RHIANNE

Ours is a cause

I cannot now defend:                                               half-spoken

Must all these people suffer

To bring an end to this Hell,

Whatever that could be?

My Love,

Ammal,

Can you hear me?

 

Are we right,                  sung

Ammal my life,

Are we right

To struggle on?

Is it fair,

Ammal my Love,

Or are we wrong?

 

They'll never know,

Ammal my heart,

They'll never know

How strong we are:

Is it fair,

Ammal my soul,

To lead them on to war?

 

I see them fall,

Ammal I see,

I see them fall

Beneath our heels.

Is it fair,

Ammal, to see

To see them crushed?

 

Your mind is dark,

Ammal, Ammal,

Your thoughts are far

And painful;

What have they done,

Ammal, Ammal,

To take you from my arms?

 

We have made a cause,

A cause we cannot defend,

To crush their life,

Their way, their world,

Because they dared to send

An iron road to shake our Home.

             to shake our Home.

 

The road is dark,

Ammal my Love,

The road is dark

Without you near;

What made you go,

Ammal my life,

What is it that I fear?

 

INSTRUMENTAL (STRINGS)

 

What made you go,

Ammal my life,

What is it that I fear?

 

Here I stand,

Without my Love,

Pity me:

My heart and soul will die, forever

I'll be lost

To tender words -

Oh, without your love, my dear,

How can I still my fear,

And fight what fight to save our Home for

The tiny life

I carry here?

With empty hands

To God I pray

And swear that though the world's insane

She will live her life in freedom come what may...

 

Ammal, my Love, is that                                           IN BACKGROUND INDISTINCT

Your voice I hear?                                                      WORDS, SLURRED, SLOW

Where are you now?

I long to hear your voice.

 

• top

CUT TO DUNGEON

 

5  can you hear?

 

 

My wife,                                                                          AMMAL

Can you hear me?                                                      STANDING

My thoughts are dark:                                               IN CHAINS

No light shines on my soul,

No light shines in this prison,

Deep down in this tomb.

 

My wife, my Love,                                                        BREATHLESS

Oh stop your ears:

They mean to make me scream your name,

They mean to make me suffer;

My agony is not for you,

Oh stop your ears my Love.

 

They think that they can gain

From every cut, from every cry

They make me cry,

From every word they make me say.

I am not strong enough alone

To break free from their nets,

But never can they make me speak,

Make me cry your name

And call you to this hell.

 

My wife, my Love,

Oh can you hear,

Oh can you hear me weeping?

Oh stop your ears,

Stop your ears,

Or soon your heart will break.

 

Soon he comes,

The Twister comes,

My wife, my Love farewell.

 

PAUSE

 

My brother found

No better end:

His mind was shot to darkest hell.

The thoughts he thinks,

The dreams he dreams,

He thinks and dreams alone,

His words I cannot tell.

 

And I have failed

To bring him home,

And I have failed

To bring me back,

And neither will you see

Ever from this day my Love,

My wife, my Love farewell!

Now stop your ears,

My wife, my Love,

The Twister comes,

Farewell!

Now stop your ears

My wife, my Love,

The Twister comes,

Farewell!

 

• top

ENTER THE TWISTER AND THE AIDE DE CAMP

 

6  wired for sound

 

 

The Presidente owes me one this time:                 A de C

I've gone and saved his bacon.

Unless I'm much mistaken

This porker's going to squeal.

Soon he will reveal

All I need to know:

Where to aim our blow.

Our special agent: Agent Orange,

Is ready now and willing,

And he's bound to make a killing.

He only needs co-ordinates

To send those bastards to their fates.

So, Twister switch the switch

And make this twitcher really twitch.

He's wired for sound:

Let's see how loud

He squeals.

 

• top

CUT TO FOREST:  RHIANNE FEARING THE WORST OBLIQUELY BEGS THE ANCIENT FOR HELP.

 

 

7  no better now

 

Father of our conscience,                                        RHIANNE

Will you listen to my plea?

Will you listen to my sorry words,

Accept from me our tears of shame,

Accept this poor apology?

 

A million innocents have died

To bring us to our senses.

The odds were stacked against their fight:

We were far too strong for their defences,

And still we thought it justified:

We thought our might was right.

 

Forced to leap at desperate chance

They overleaped and lost;

Their poor machines betrayed at once

All their hopes of victory

And made them pay the cost

In life and liberty.

 

Prisoners of their pride,

No better now are we;

Prisoners of their fear,

In hate they do not see that

Their grasping leaders lied

And cost the people dear but

 

No better now are we,

No better now are we,

No better now are we.

Are we?

 

• top

BACK TO TORTURE CHAMBER

 

 

8  power and pain

 

 

I really enjoy the power,                                            A. DE C.

I really enjoy the pain.

I really enjoy the way they squirm,

The tortured man's refrain:

He wants me to listen,

Will tell me any lie,

Would even tell the truth

If I'd stop to let him die,

But the truth is not important

The truth can go and hang,

As long as his friends

All think he cracked,

So long as they think he sang;

So long as they think he's suffering

They'll come into the open,

And to give them a little nudge

We'll send them a little token:

Come Twister twist

Until he breaks,

We'll send them a little token.

Come on Twister twist

Until he breaks,

We'll send them   a little token.

 

SCREAM!!

 

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CUT TO FOREST AS BEFORE

 

 

9  neither far nor near

 

Do you remember now:                                            ANCIENT

 

A million died to bring us news                               CHORUS OF ELDERS

Naught we ever say or do

Nothing we could ever be

Could ever be called mighty.

 

There is a lie of commission                                       ANCIENT  spoken

In the word mighty;

A sin of incomprehension

To which all men are prey.

Do you understand that?

 

You want me to listen       ANCIENT  sung

As I listened to you before?

You want me to listen

So you can ignore

What I say?

 

Of course I will listen,

And of course I shall lend

My thought and my strength

If I can depend

On your faith.

 

Mistakes I have made,

Lives have been lost:

You were wrong, you were right,

But dear was the cost

Of my pride.

 

I was blinded by conflict,

I feared only for Home;

You were blinded believing

The way to save Home

Was in war.

 

And now I learn

Ammal my son is held.

I want to tear their souls apart

And blast them all to hell,

And I could...

 

But life is not so simple:

The time has come for other ways,

For other means, decisions

Hard but clear.

Now is my time to act!

Home is a wide wide place, Rhianne,

Neither far nor near

It is wherever men live.

 

And now is the time to ask,

Time to ask for help, Rhianne:

We need the one who bends the lines,

We need the one who turns the eyes,

Who captures all the lies;

 

We'll pull him from his slumber,

Wake him from the rapture,

We must make our plea,

Explain our need,

Pay homage to…

The Catcher.

 

• top

10  invocation

 

 

Ammal                                                                           ANCIENT

Ammal                                                                           RHIANNE

My Son                                                                            A

My Love    chorus                                                         R

Hold on                                                                           A+R

My Son                                                                            A

My Love                                                                          R

 

We call                                                                            R

We call                                                                            A

For help                                                                           R

My son                                                                             A

We call                                                                            R+A

The Catcher in.

 

chorus

 

We call                                                                            CHORUS OF FRIENDS + ELDERS

We call

The Catcher in

We call

The Catcher in

 

chorus

 

We call                                                                            R+A

For help

To save

Our Love

 

And turn them                                                             A

From their sin

 

chorus

 

We call                                                                            CHORUS OF FRIENDS + ELDERS

We call

The Catcher in

We call

The Catcher in

 

We call                                                                            ALL

We call

The Catcher in

We call

The Catcher in

 

 

WHISPERED CHANT BEGINS

 

catchercomecatchercomecatchercomecatchercomecatchercome

 

THIS CHANT ALMOST KICK STARTS THE CATCHER WHO IS SEEN IN HIS TOWER TO NEARLY ROUSE HIMSELF.  SEVERAL TWISTING BENDING BASE NOTES FROM LEAD GUITAR THAT PETER OUT.

 

CHANT CHANGES AND BECOMES LOUDER

 

comecatchercatchercomecomecatchercatchercomecomecatchercatcherc omecomecatchercatchercome

 

MORE LEAD GUITAR RESOLVING INTO RHYTHM.  CATCHER ELECTRIFIED RESPONSE. EXTREMELY QUICK DESCENT FROM TOWER MAYBE ON A WIRE

• top

 

11  enter the dream-time catcher

 

 

They call me the mind connector                          CATCHER

I'm writer of the scene;

They call me the thought collector

Captain of the team;

I am the brain-witchdoctor:

I'm Master of the Dream.

 

The Catcher can, the Catcher can                                                          CHORUS

I'll show you how to cut the evil cords that bind!                                  CAT.

The Catcher can, the Catcher can                                                          CHORUS

I'll show you how to open up the eyes that lied!                                    CAT.

 

They call me the cool predictor                                                                   CAT.

I'm teller of the times;

They call me the Dream director

I'm music to the mime;

I'm promptor to the actor:

Reader of the lines.

 

The Catcher can, the Catcher can                                                          CHORUS

Open up a doorway to their Hearts and Minds                                     CAT.

The Catcher can, the Catcher can                                                          CHORUS

Give them back their Freedom and the dreams that died               CAT.

The Catcher can, the Catcher can                                                          CHORUS

Shift them from the Evil and their dark design                                        CAT.

The Catcher can, the Catcher can                                                          CHORUS

Rescuing the Hope that all the hate denies                                           CAT.

 

Because they call me the lie detector                                                      CAT.

I'm checking all the signs;

They call me the Truth conductor

The orchestra Divine;

You know I'll always be the victor:

I call to me what's mine.

 

The Catcher can, the Catcher can                                                           CHORUS

Open up a......

........hate defies.

 

Y'know they call me the cool Creator                                                       CAT.

The man with ways and means;

They call me the line connector

I'm wielder of the themes;

They call me the dream-time Catcher:

I'm weaver of the dreams

Weaver of the dreams

Weaver of the dreams

Of the dreams.

 

OK

• top

12  the gathering

 

a.

 

Come gather round,                                                                                       CATCHER

Elders, young,

Come gather round me!

I need your help,

Need your love,

Need your strength to see!

We will stop this work

They have begun,

We'll stop their thoughts of hate;

We'll take their evil minds and twist

And twist them from their fate!

 

TOGETHER: REPEAT FROM "We will.."  > "..fate" TWICE

CATCHER ARRANGES THEM ALL IN PATTERNS THROUGH NEXT

 

b.

 

Did he take their brains                                                                                  BAND

And blast them all to hell?

Did he break their bones

And break their hearts

And make his power tell?

 

Did he break the land of Himavante?

 

Where twenty million minds were set,

Set to seek revenge:

Could they break free

From tears and hate,

Seek peace and not revenge?

 

Could there be peace in Himavante?

 

What can be done

To change it all?

What can be done

To alter hearts

And free the minds of all?   rpt

 

Shall we pray for the soul of Himavante?

 

c.

 

We will start at the seat of evil,                                                                    ANCIENT

Not with threats or lies:

Our Love will conquer more than fear,

Will bring us closer to the prize.

 

 

 

SYTHESIZERS MUST PRODUCE GRINDING SOUNDS THAT GRADUALLY COME TOGETHER: each sound represents an individual mind.  MUST SOUND POWERFUL AND DANGEROUS.  IN ANY STAGE PRODUCTION THE BACKDROP SCREENS WILL REPEATEDLY FOCUS IN ON A NEW FACE EACH TIME A NEW NOISE IS FOUND.  IN CONCERT IT WILL BE THROBBING BUT IN A MORE ATTRACTIVE WAY THAN THE POWER STATION BUILD (though clearly reminiscent).  LOVELY BEETLING/TINKLING SOUNDS WILL ESCAPE

 

OCCASIONALLY ONLY TO BE PULLED BACK IN.  ALL THIS TO BE BACKDROP SOUND TO NEXT SECTION, PULSING IN WAVES.

SUDDENLY SINGLE SPOT ON CATCHER THEN HOPEFULLY BACKDROP SCREENING TO ILLUSTRATE THE FOLLOWING. CAMERA IS THEIR VIEW.

 

 

• top

 

13  they saw the road

 

 

They saw the road                                                     BAND

To lead them on,

They saw the shining towers,

The city streets

They hurry through

Made silent by their power.

Their vision burst

Through iron doors

Closed to make secure

The victims of

The hate and fear;

The government made sure

The walls were proof

Against the screams

Escaping from the jail,

And proof against

The cries outside

Where wives and mothers wail

And curse the filth

Who take their sons

And take their daughters too,

But what is proof

Against the crimes

That evil makes them do?

Do they ever tire

Of wicked deeds,

Regret they're slaves to lust?

Will they ever seek

A cure before

Their mem'ry turns to dust

And Earth and history sucks them up,

The filth of yesterday?

Do they ever yearn

For kindly words?

Will they ever stop to pray?

 

REPEAT LAST LINE, LAST WORD ECHOED, HOLLOW

 

 

Into this hell

Their vision burst

And saw such scenes

Of tortured fright

Their spirits quailed before the sight

And only love

For the father's son

And the wife's young man

Could keep them on

Their course.

 

• top

TORTURE CHAMBER

 

14  they come to the chamber

 

 

They come to the chamber

Where he's held,

Where he's burned and battered;

They come to the men

Who twist his screams

And turn his will to tatters.

He had a power

To kill at need

With nothing more than thought,

But killing never was his aim:

Against their guns he fought:

Against their metalled energy,

The planes and trains and cars,

Against their greed for more each day,

The never healing scars

They cut into the forest Home,

They cut into their hearts.

When he came to the chamber

Deep in hell

Where his dreams and hopes were riven,

He could not bring himself

To kill,

Such deeds are not forgiven;

Such deeds are not forgiven

By one above or one below

Or a guilty mind unshriven.

 

They come to the chamber

Where the Twister

Twists with all his might,

Where the Aide de Camp grins

Cheek to cheek,

Orgasmic from the sight,

And the father's son

He bleeds and breathes

In painful, ragged measure

And screams his screams

For their delight

And dances for their pleasure.

 

They come to the chamber,

Shed their tears,

Their rising anger quell:

All violent passions

Make things worse -

They learn their lesson well.

Their purpose here

Is not to blast

The evil foe to hell,

Their purpose here

Is to help and cure

And make the sickness well.

• top

EACH ELEMENT OF THE INCANTATION SHOULD BE SUNG BY A SEPARATE VOICE (distinct pitch, timbre, volume and style) ON EACH BEAT OF THE BAR.  OCCASIONALLY THE CATCHER WILL SING A WHOLE PHRASE (in bold).  ANCIENT LIKE A CALLER AT A DANCE ALMOST. SLOWS DOWN FROM PREVIOUS FRANTIC TRACK.

ANCIENT                                                                                       CHORUS + CATCHER

 

15  to free one soul                                                                                        incantation

 

Think thoughts of peace                                                                                     peace

My daughters, sons,                                                              must        soon       come

Think thoughts of peace to mend                              love  can  mend  time  will

Think thoughts of love                                                               heal    or     pain    will

Of common good                                                                          rule        so          end

To these fools a virtue send.                                                  the   hate  ill  will  must

 

Think thoughts to tell them                                              go   time   to   con-  quor

What we know:                                                                            hat-       -red         cut

That life is all and sacred                                                the   blame  no   one  bind

That to live a life                                                                    the    wounds    gain    is

Of lies and hate                                                                    blind    beat    the   urge

Is to live a life that's wasted;                                                and    find    the    truth

 

Think thoughts to show them                                                 give    life    learn    to

Pleasures new,                                                                              trust        hope      turn

Reject the greed in lust,                                                       the   face  of  evil  learn

And don't believe that                                                                to    trust    give    life

Pride can't bend                                                                        new         hope          a

To the pow'r of love and trust.                                       day  will  come  free  from

 

"Oh, if only that were                                                                 fear     self    less    be

true,"  you say,                                                                                  not         self-      ish-

"If we only could believe                                                        ness     feel    the    way

That an evil nature                                                             open    heart   set    them

Can be saved,                                                                                 free        learn         a

That his crimes can be redeemed."                              new  let   hope   be   born

 

"On Earth," you say,                                                              dark-   ness    past   take

"Their way is set,                                                                          this    gift    love   must

There's Heaven never after.                                         stay  your hand  your night

To think our strength                                                          must    break   free   from

Could bring reform                                                                     fear        con-      -quer

Will bring us to disaster."                                            hate  peace  must come fear

 

Never think that way!                                                           will pass  will  pass  time

Did we not learn from yesterday,                                      to kill  the lies  and can-

Have we not learned from long ago:                         cel pain  and  throw it out

When selfish deeds are all we know                      now the time once you loved

It's then we court disaster.                                             shift a blame and feel this

 

So feel thoughts of love,                                                         truth     be     rea-    dy

My weary ones,                                                                            for     the     fut-    ure

Be steadfast,                                                                                      so                    learn

Hold the line.                                                                                  to          trust       and

I feel them waver...                                                                    learn         to       hope

I hear a doubt…

Begin to see the signs

 

MUSIC PLUMMETS TO BRING US TO THE DUNGEON.  TWO BACK SCREENS FOCUS ONE EACH ON THE FACES OF THE A-d-C AND THE TWISTER - DAWNING AWARENESS AND DAWNING FEAR.

 

         A de C                                                    Twister

 

        I heard...                                         ........a voice

        I hear......                                        ....the words

       I see........                                            .........a way

       I fear........                                               .......I fear

         The day........                                      .......I may

                                  I fear

        The voice.....                                     ......I heard

 

I feel them waver,                                                                 peace       must       soon

Feel their doubt,                                                                       come        love        can

Begin to see the signs:                                                          mend    time    will   heal

One mind is moved                                                                      or    pain     will    rule

One soul is changed,                                                                so     end     the     hate

One keeps his thoughts malign.                                               ill    will     must    end

• top

16  nowhere left to run

 

The Twister pauses                                                               BAND

in his work,

The Aide de Camp is still:

The mystery holds their minds in thrall

And bends them to its will,

And one is changed

And one retains

His urge to maim and kill.

 

The aide de camp

Stands tall above

The Twister's twisted frame,

And reaches for a gun..

He takes his aim                                                                    CATCHER BACKS OUT OF CROWD

And pulls the catch                                                            INTO WINGS

And prays for Kingdom come.

The Twister gasps,

The Twister turns

With nowhere left to run,

And quails in fear,

Begs mercy for

Whatever he has done.

 

 

Enough of your cowardly cries                                          AIDE DE CAMP

I end this work we have begun.

Our wants were shallow lies

We told ourselves to keep at bay

The truth:

That life is life,

And life is death

For rich and poor just the same,

And selfish deeds can bring no more

Than misery and pain.

I see it clearly now:

The reasons harsh and barren,

The power we sought

Too dearly bought.

We were fools to seek to rule

Against the will of those we rule.

 

Now is the time for change!

Now is the time for change!

Now is the time for change!

Are you with me

Or against?

 

PAUSE, GUNSHOTS.    THE THEME FROM 'now is the time for change' IS BASIS OF INSTRUMENTAL SECTION - ON STAGE SCENES OF CONFUSION WITH PRESIDENTE AND OFFICIALS AND SOLDIERS SCARED, THROWING AWAY GUNS, EMPTYING SAFES, DOING A RUNNER.  ALL COUNTERPOINTED BY OTHERS STOPPING TO HELP VICTIMS ETC.

 

Watch him run                                                                       NARRATOR

And watch them all

All the Twister's crew.

They heard the voice,

They heard the word,

There's nothing left to do.

The rats are set to jump the ship,                                       CHANTED

The Presidente's packed his bags:                                   VOICE LEFT

For the sake of health

Must take a break                                                                 A.D.C. RELEASES

He's keen to make a trip                                                     AMMAL

 

On his Lear-fan jet

With his flight plan set

Across the nearest border;                                                  PRESIDENTE LEGS IT

His money waits

To ease his pain

In snowy St. Moritz.

 

And here reborn                                                                    A.D.C. + AMMAL

The Aide de Camp,                                                              MOVE FRONT STAGE

His thoughts reformed

By their power;

And with him, weary,

One they love

And one they missed

They praise the hour.

 

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A-d-C AND AMMAL RIGHT STAGE / PEOPLE OF HOME LEFT STAGE

 

17  miracle

 

 

Though miles apart                                                              RHIANNE

I feel your love,

I feel your love.

 

Through all the miles

I feel your pain,

I feel your pain.

 

But I will make you well my love,

But I will make you well

 

With a phrase, with the news

You are, my love,

The father of my child, my love,

The father of my child.

 

Rhianne, my life,                                                                    AMMAL

My love, my wife,

Mother of my child,

It won't be long,

Rhianne my love,

Before you see my smile.

 

Ammal, my son,                                                                     ANCIENT

Be still my son:

A miracle is due.

Ammal, my son,

We'll bring you home,                                                          REPEAT WHOLE SONG

Our strength will pull you through.                                  AS ROUND OF 3 VOICES

 

SEPERATED BY MID STAGE AMMAL AND RHIANNE DANCE TOGETHER

 

***************************************************************

 

OPTIONAL

 

 

I need you here,                                                                                               spoken

Ammal, my son,

There's work for us to do.

 

SURGE IN POWER CHORDS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS HAPPENING.  ON STAGE BY SOME CONTRIVANCE (hologram trick?) AMMAL MUST TINKLE OUT - 'BEAM ME UP SCOTTY' - REAPPEARING ON FOREST HALF OF STAGE

 

 

Well, there's a neat trick: they snatched him back, just like that.

 

***************************************************************

 

 

This IS a day of miracles and no mistake.  And what could be happier than news of a first child?  Somewhere here I did have a speech prepared, just in case.  Something like:

 

    "Witness friends

    What goodness brings

    From times of doubt,

    Witness friends

    What goodness brings

    From days of tears.."

 

Months of hard work and sleepless nights, if I know anything.  But now, who's this stepping forward?  It's that dirty turncoat: the Aide de Camp, the man who began as a traitor to all that is decent and now become a traitor to all the evil crew currently departing on platform nine.  And I do believe he's smiling.

 

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18  all in a name

 

 

My name is Paul!                                                                   A de C

I have a name,

Not just a task,

An office or title;

I have a name:

My name is Paul.

My name is Paul!

 

I heard a call,

I left the game,

Was called to ask

Was glory vital?

To end my game

I heard the call.  rpt

 

I faced a wall:

The wealth, the fame

In which I basked

Was all deceit!

So kill the fame

And break the wall!                                                   rpt

 

No more to fall,

I shoulder blame,

Take off my mask,

Reject the title;

I take the blame,

No more to fall.                                                            rpt

 

My name is Paul!

I have a name,

I have a task:

A new new task!

I have a name:

My name is Paul!                                                         rpt

 

 

My word, what goodness does bring!  I could be impressed.  We all could but.. but I have to say, a tidy bit of magic to recover your darling boy, and to give a man his name, well: it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans, really, now does it?  When the rats leave the ship you can bet your life the ship is sinking.  Himavante's a disaster area: no power, a million dead, no food that's not contaminated, poor people in need of help, fall out ripping the life from their bones, mayhem on the streets;  Himavante is Hell on Earth.

So, good and noble folk of Home, now that your precious forest is safe, what are you going to do about Himavante?  What are you going to do?  You weren't thinking you might just leave them to it, by any chance?   Let them get on with the starving and the dying and such?

Well, demigods of Home, what now?

What now?  What was the point to all this?

There's no point unless… unless…

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INTERRUPTED BY RESURGENCE OF MUSIC.  ANCIENT STEPS FORWARD, COMMANDS ATTENTION.  SORT OF GREEK DRAMA FEEL TO IT.

 

19  to leave

 

 

The army is scattered,                                                         ANCIENT

The government in tatters

And on the streets,

Without a doubt,

Without the law,

The looters make a killing;

I say we let the bandits

Play no more!

The time has come

For better days, for better ways,

For good men and for the poor.

We must aid their cause

Just as we vowed

And let them cry no more.

LISTEN TO ME,

Children of Home,

I have for us a new way:

The time has come

To leave the wood,

To leave the ground

Our parents made secure.

We live too well

Our hidden lives,

Wake only at a threat,

But now is time

To open eyes,

And leave without regret.

That lack of care

We showed before

For those we had the power

To help

Condemns the good of Home.

 

Elders of our noble Home,                                                  AMMAL

If only we could say it's wise                                              SOMEWHAT WEARILY

To keep our ways,

Stay safely hid

While all the world about us dies,

When all around is war:

The head count set to rise.

LOOK BEYOND the forest Home,

With all your hearts and see:

Good men still fall

And crime has won;

Can we stand by and watch

As evil hands turn up the heat

And law is rule of gun?

What are we to do?

Their sorry doom grows closer every day:

Time for us to act!

I see that gives you pause,

What now do the Elders say?

 

We say we hear the crying voice                                     CHORUS OF ELDERS

Of a people we have wronged:

It shakes the earth beneath our feet.

The peace for which we longed

Is gone, all gone forever:

It's time to change the song.

 

We say the years of Home are past

And DUTY calls us out:

We cannot stay here safe and free,

We cannot stay here safe and see

The world about us die:

The Future calls us out!

 

The Future calls us out!

 

MUSIC STARTS TO MARCH

 

 

That's it!  That's what it's all about:  They lived too well their hidden lives, woke only at a threat.  They had the power to change everything: hearts and minds and all, but what did they do?  They kept themselves tucked up warm in bed, looked after number 1, and thought they had it right for 2000 years.  But at last they understand: now they know,  there's no point sitting at home watching everything fall to pieces, not when you have the power to help.  There's no sense to it: you can't build walls forever strong, it's far safer to come out.

That's what it's all about.

 

You people out there, up there, masters of the air, observers of this fit, watch them now, watch closely as the people of Home march out, as they leave their self imposed exile, leave their safe warm bed.

Is it not the best they have done?

 

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20  finale

 

MUSIC COMES IN OVER MARCH AS REPRISE OF WEDDING SONG.  RE-ENTER ALL OF HOME INCLUDING THE CATCHER WHO SKIPS ABOUT ENJOYING HIMSELF, NOW WEARING A JESTERS THREE POINT HAT WITH BELLS.

 

Together we are strong                                                     ALL

Our word will ever last,

We know that we belong

To the tears of the past

But there's a future here for us all.

 

MUCH DANCING TO THE WEDDING DAY DANCE INSTRUMENTAL BUT QUIETENS DOWN, THEN FIRST ONE VOICE (RHIANNE) IS JOINED BY ANOTHER (AMMAL), THEN TWO OTHERS (ANCIENT + A DE C) THEN CHORUS ETC. IN:

 

Here we stand                                                                       R

Before you all,

To sing the truth:                                                                  R + A

Together joined forever

Is all we need                                                                         R + A + ANC

To make us free,

We’ll bravely face the trials                                               ALL

We’ll walk the weary miles

With laughter in our eyes and hearts;

So take my hand,                                                                 AMMAL

To all we pray:

Though the world seems daily dark and cold,            RHIANNE

We all can see our dreams unfold                                   AMMAL

If we can live our lives together                                      A + R

Come what may;

We will live our lives together                                            LL

Come what may.

 

ROLLING REPEATS FROM 'Together we are strong..' COMING IN OVER TAIL OF 'come what may' .  ON STAGE CATCHER IS CAPERING ABOUT, EXCITABLE, CHEERING, LAUGHING..

 

SUDDEN DEAD, CAVERNOUS SILENCE - (STAGE BLACK) - EXCEPT FOR VOICE OF THE CATCHER:

 

Caloo, calay; Oh Frabjous Day! Yippee-eye-ay! Yippee -eye-  ay?

 

SPOT ON CATCHER AS HIS CHEERS GRIND TO A HALT. HE TAKES OFF HIS JESTERS CAP AND CONTINUES AS NARRATOR:

 

Hmm.  A bit over the top, you reckon: all pie in the sky, the world's not like that and never will be.  You smile sarcastically and call me a fool.  You tell me there's no such easy solution, that there's too much selfishness and hate and greed; you tell me we are all helpless anyway: that there's nothing we could do even if we wanted - there's certainly no such thing as magic…  there's no power anywhere that could change a single mind.

Well, you can tell me all that but you can't stop ME dreaming.  It's what I do best. 

 

 CATCHER BEGINS TO PULL ON HIS HAT ONCE MORE

 

Yes I know it's been said before but can't you see what we all could do if we only put our minds to it.  The future's out there, folks, and it's just waiting for us to go out and make it our own.  It can't be true, can it, that we really have no power at all?  And have we really no imagination or will?

 

Well? 

 

LIGHTS UP, CUT BACK TO FINALE, CATCHER TURNS AWAY, REJOINS THE THRONG MERRY AS BEFORE.  GRADUALLY MUSIC EBBS AWAY AS CAST LEAVES STAGE.

 

 

CURTAIN


 

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