NANA'S SCRIPT | Mysite

sonme scenes from Nana's script Bipolarity, an avant-garde musical

ACT I - SCENE 1: CROSSROADS

Setting: Denver, Colorado, outside at a pedestrian crossroads like the 16th Street Mall/ Larimer Square. 2005, a couple of years before marijuana was legal in Colorado. Winter-cold. Twilight

OPENING BEAT OF PLAY

(2 Workers each from real estate, health clinic, judicial courts and Petsmart on benches in respective quadrants, on lunch hour, ignoring action)

(Hear screeching tires.)

(Audible gasps from all workers on benches)

(ENTER: JEROME stumbles onto down stage left, bandages on wrists)

(Pills fly out of pill container and onto the floor in front of JEROME)

(Jerome bends down to pick them up- one by one)

JEROME

(Sings slowly, slowly starts taking pills)

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream

A paradigm shifting scheme And when you fall asleep, you awake

(Staggers to bench#2, taking pills one by one, hidden yet deliberately)

(PETSMART workers vacate bench. EXIT)

(JEROME sits down on bench #2)

Quadrant 4 Health Care-Hospital Workers cop #2

Bench # 4

b b

Quadrant 1 e e Quadrant 3

Real Estate workers n n Workers: Judicial

c c

h h

#1 #3

Action bench #2

Cop 1 acts like toreador Quadrant 2 Pet Smart

(ENTER: MICHAEL from down-stage right)

MICHAEL

(Plays bull in toreador interplay with COP 1)

(BEAT) Lo FIN

Be-GIN the Be-GUINE

JUX-ta-pose SCENES

OR-che-strate SCHEMES

NEUR-ons con-NECT

MOR-als in ef-fect

(Bow to COP1)

Give ELDERS due re-spect

JEROME

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream, A paradigm shifting scheme. (beat) And when you fall asleep, you awake

MICHAEL

(POETRY SLAM with exaggerated hip hop dancing)

DIS-sect ____ re-AL-i-ty,

BI-fur-cate the FAL-la-cy

SYN-chron-ize du-AL-i-ty

AL-ter bel-li-CO-si-y,

A-MEL-li-or-ate a-TRO-ci-ty,

PUNC-tu-ate de-MOC-ra-cy

Re-CAL-ci-trant ve-LO-ci-ty

RE-ver-ENT phi-LO-so-phy,

C OS-mic STEL-lar FAC-to-ry,

PRO-bing frac-tal SUR-gen-cy

MER-ci-ful a-BIL-i-ty,

VA-nish-ing re-DUN-BEN-cy

Con-VERGE op-posing VA-can-cies.

JEROME

(Perks up. SLAMS)

PIX-els, PAX-els, WHEELS and AXLES SOULS a-LIVE, NO sur-PRISE

MICHAEL

(Interacts with JEROME)

PIX-els, PAX-els, WHEELS and AXLES SOULS a-RISE, GRAND re-PRISE

JEROME

GRAND re-PRISE, SOULS a-RISE

(Increased interaction SLAM, MICHAEL and JEROME)

MICHAEL

(stomp) SO-lar FLAR-ing

JEROME

(stomp) NA-ture DAR-ing

MICHAEL

(stomp) o-VERT-ly CAR-ing

JEROME

(stomp) fac-TOR-i-al SHAR-ing

MICHAEL

(stomp) GOD pro-POSES

JEROME

(stomp) RIS-ing ROSES

MICHAEL

(stomp) THORN op-POSES

JEROME

(stomp) MICH-ael’s MOSES

PIX-els, PAX-els, WHEELS and AXLES

SOULS a-LIVE, NO sur-PRISE

MICHAEL

PIX-els, PAX-els, WHEELS and AXLES

SOULS a-RISE, GRAND re-PRISE

TEAR my hair OUT. WHY do I SHOUT?

Our WORLD’S in a DROUGHT. We MUST come a-BOUT

JEROME

HI-jacked MEDS

Bipolar and AIDS

No HOS-pi-tal BEDS

(BEAT) HOPE FADES

MICHAEL

Money disap-PEAR-ring, be-GUINE bar-ri-CADES.

(COPS 1 and 2 close in on MICHAEL and JEROME, cuffs in hand)

(JEROME puts out wrists to be cuffed. MICHAEL notices bandages)

(MICHAEL shakes head “no” to Cops/JEROME)

(MICHAEL moves down road. Pulls JEROME out of path of Cops)

(MICHAEL fakes lf, then rt, rt then lf, then which way-Past COPs 1 & 2 )

(MICHAEL mimics being speared)

(COP 2 laughs playful with MICHAEL)

(MICHAEL turns, signals for JEROME to come with him.)

(JEROME waves him off and shakes head NO)

(MICHAEL blows air in hands and rubs. Shivers)

(MICHAEL does jumping jacks to EXIT under scaffolding)

JEROME

(Turning over empty pill bottle)

Life, (beat). It’s a dream. (beat) A paradigm shifting scheme (beat)

And when you fall asleep, you awake

(Lies down on bench)

Dis-solving- WALLS, Running start,

WATER falls, the world takes HEART.

(Curls into fetal position)

Throwing DARTS, bull ahead.

Piercing point, End of dread .

(Collapse. Falls off bench)

(Real estate and legal workers stand watching at their bench)

(Health care RN and PA rush over to help)

WORKER-RN

(Grabs JEROME’s hand for a pulse, notices wrists)

Quick! Let’s get him to the hospital. These are fresh bandages.

COP 1

(Picks up bottle)

Looks like he’s doing drugs.

COP 2

(Picks JEROME’s pocket, gets wallet. Takes bottle from COP 1)

(Matches name on bottle with license)

I’d say illegal possession of a controlled substance. The name on the bottle and the name on the driver’s license don’t match.

COP 1

I was gonna take him down to the police station. Let him sleep it off there.

RN-WORKER

This is not a “sleeping it off” kind of thing!

PA-WORKER

We need to get him to an ER fast. This young man needs medical attention now! Help us lift him. Our ER is right behind here.

(All on stage help carry JEROME’s droopy body to the ER under scaffolding)

(EXIT all)

(LIGHTS OUT)

(Remove benches and crossroads indicators)

SCENE 2: WOODLAWN APARTMENTS

Setting - Apartment complex parking lot- 6a the following morning

(IN-VOICE________ ON TOP. MICHAEL center stage- performing platform, sitting on floor)

(MICHAEL/IN-VOICE________ pop up same time/same pose)

(IN-VOICE________ mimes everything MICHAEL says and does in whole scene)

MICHAEL

(IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

(Pick up phone. Dials. Phone rings x3. Talk into it)

DAD

(Downstage. Picks up phone)

Hell-o

MICHAEL

(Excitedly, pressured speech…fast. Frolicking around)

Hey, Dad. Whattya’ doin’? I called to tell you how great you are. (beat) How amazing that you eat sliced turkey sandwiches and three Oreo cookies every day for lunch. (beat) How you…

DAD

Mike, it’s six o’clock. Are you CRAZY?

IN-VOICE________

(Sing-song in style of the nursery rhyme… still frolicking around)

(MICHAEL mimes his talking and actions)

Six, six, six…pence, a pocketful of die.

Plenty, plenty flap jacks and a cherry pie.

When the pie was opened, the king began to sing.

DAD

Michael, are you all right? Where are you?

IN-VOICE________ (MICHAEL mimes his talking )

Now wasn’t that a dain-ty, dain-ty,

(Confused...has forgotten words)

MICHAEL

Dain-ty, dain-ty, ME?

DAD

Michael! I’m worried about you. Where are you?

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes MICHAEL’s talking)

Hey, Dad.

(Sing song-y)

Don’t worry. Be happy.

I called to tell you that I think you’re great. (beat) You love pool. (beat) You love bowling. (beat) You love tennis. (beat) You love to eat dinner every night at six. Hey, you said it was 6 now. You must be eating dinner? Sorry for interrupting. Do you want me to call you back later?

DAD

No, Mike. I am NOT eating dinner. It’s six in the MORNING! What are you doing up? Where are you? No one’s seen or heard from you for over a week. We’ve been worried sick!

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

Six in the morning? But, it’s still dark out. How could it be morning?

DAD

Stop a second and listen carefully. Can you tell me where you are right now?

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

Yeah, I’m at Jim’s.

DAD

Jim, who?

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

Jim from high school, who used to live next door to Mom.

DAD

Can I talk to Jim?

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

No. He’s in his apartment.

DAD

Then, where are you?

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

(Looking around immediate surroundings)

I’m in a parking lot.

DAD

This is the first any of us have heard from you since you left your mother’s.

MICHAEL

No, I call Grandma so she can tell you I’m OK.

DAD

(Trying to get emotions under control)

Yes, you did. Thank you for that. Now, where does Jim live? Does the place have a name?

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

Wait a second. I see a sign.

(Walking over to look at the sign)

DAD

Good, good.

MICHAEL

It says “Woodlawn Apartments two-zero-four-five” (pause) Do you want me to read you this whole thing?

DAD

Yes, yes! That would be great. Read the WHOLE thing!

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

“Woodlawn Apartments, two-zero-four-five DRAYS-DEN Road.”

Hey, Drays-den Road.

Dr. Dre must have a DEN here.

Dr. Dre comes out to play.

Dr. Dre, El Pres-i-den-te!

The country’s slipping away from his grasp and his task.

El Presidente has to clean up the world in a tisket a tasket.

I gotta go to the basket, I mean, bathroom.

Bye now, Dad. Have a great day.

(MICHAEL/IN-VOICE________ hang up. Each saunters to far rt, peeing pose. FREEZE)

(DAD freezes)

(MOM enters sleepily. Looks for phone, realizes “it’s the phone.” Turns on light.)

(Picks up the receiver)

MOM

(Groggy, quizzically squints)

HUL-LO?

DAD

(Unfreeze)

Michael just called. (pause) If you want to see your son alive again, you’d better get yourself down to 6th and Dresden right now. Michael’s completely out of his mind.

MOM

He called you; don’t you think he’d rather see you than me? He ran away from my house, remember?

DAD

You know I’ll never find the place. I have no sense of direction. Besides, I think the car’s low on gas.

MOM

You’re kidding me, right?

DAD

Look, Meg! You didn’t hear him. He’s completely crazy. He’s talking gibberish. Something‘s really wrong with him. You gotta go and figure this all out. (beat) I better get off or I’ll wake Darcy. She and I have to work today. You’ve got Ben to go with you.

MOM

Ben’s in California at a retreat and I don’t really care if Darcy-schmarcy has to work today. We ALL have to work today!

DAD

You know what I mean.

MOM

(shaking head in exasperation)

No, not really.

DAD

I’ll call the HMO and see what they suggest you do when you pick him up.

MOM

Look, I’m leaving. If he’s really sick, we’re heading straight for the ER. You can meet us there or not.

(Gets steering wheel and circles around, under the scaffolding)

(DAD EXITS)

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

(UNFREEZES)

I am feeling fine—happy, actually, on top of the world. I just talked with my dad. He’s doing great!

(Jumps up on a car hood hip hop dancing freestyle to the music in his head)

My brain moves fast and then my brain moves faster.

I’m the number one receiver and the number one passer.

Britney’s the best but she knows I’ll outlast her.

When my tour hits your city

(three arms movements, each with a stomp)

I’m a natural disaster!

(pause) Holy shit! That looks like my mother driving into the parking lot. How did she know where to find me?

(MICHAEL prancing/frolicking/dancing on hood. IN-VOICE________ ON TOP mimics)

(MOM pulls her car up to the one Michael’s standing on)

MOM

Hey, Mike.

IN-VOICE________

She never calls him Mike!

MOM

(Matter-of-factly-not angry, not demanding, even a little soft, mom-like)

Get in the car.

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

(A good few seconds contemplating jumping down and getting in the car)

(Recalling past events, MICHAEL turns on a flash. Stomps away)

(Screaming w/a deviled face)

You kicked me out! You let me go! You don’t want me back. I’m not coming down off this hood (pause) and I am NOT getting into the car. I’m not going anywhere with you!

(MICHAEL/IN-VOICE________ pantomiming ranting in background, as MOM speaks.)

MOM

(Pleasing, pleadingly, stays calm. Motions for MICHAEL to get down and into car)

I didn’t kick you out. YOU left. Anyway, that was then. This is now. We have a whole different set of circumstances working here. You’ve been away for over a week. Don’t you think it’s time to try to solve our differences in another way, not with you living at Jim’s apartment? You are still my son and I love you and I want to make sure you’re OK.

(IN-VOICE________/MICHAEL indignant Peter Pan pose. Staring at action)

(MICHAEL/IN-VOICE________, like reminding selves “ no, don’t go with her.”)

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

I’m doing just fine, thank you

MOM

Michael, it’s 6 in the morning. You’re standing on the hood of a car that’s not yours or mine, in the middle of an apartment complex parking lot and it’s freezing cold outside. February is an awful time to be gallivanting around without a coat. At least come down and get in the car to warm up.

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

I’m not cold.

MOM

Maybe not yet… it’s warm in here and we can talk better. We’ve all missed you. We’ve been very worried.

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

I called Grandma to let you know I was OK. She told me she’d tell you.

MOM

Yes, thanks. She called us every time you called her. That was very thoughtful of you. She was very worried, too.

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

You know I love Grandma! I didn’t want her to worry.

MOM

Yes, I know you love Grandma. (beat) But, now it’s time to get in the car.

(MOM, IN-VOICE________, MICHAEL—miming a continued conversation, acting possessed like something is taking over their bodies while talking to one another)

(MICHAEL/IN-VOICE________ start swirling in circles)

MICHAEL (IN-VOICE________ mimes his talking)

Crash. Boom. Bash—I am flying out of the universe,

(IN-VOICE________, MICHAEL still swirling)

(MOM collapses over steering wheel)

Three songs from the show:

JEROME

(Yells. Hands in the air)

It’s Lo FIN, Be-GIN the be-GUINE.

(MUSIC starts 8 BARS intro)

MICHAEL

(BEAT) Lo FIN,

Be-GIN the be-GUINE.

JEROME

JUX-ta-pose SCENES.

OR-ches-trate SCHEMES.

MICHAEL

NEU-rons con-NECT.

MOR-als in ef-FECT.

JEROME/MICHAEL

Give ELDERS due re-SPECT.

JEROME

DI-ssect re-AL-i-ty.

BI-fur-cate the FALL-al-lacy.

MICHAEL

SYN-chro-nize du-AL-i-ty.

AL-ter bel-li-COS-si-ty.

JEROME

a-MELIO-rate a-TRO-ci-ty.

PUNC-tu-ate de-MOC-ra-cy.

MICHAEL

Re-CAL-citrant ve-LOC-i-ty.

REV-e-nant phi-LOS-o-phy.

JEROME

COS-mic stellar FACT-or-y,

PROB-ing fractal SUR-gen-cy

MICHAEL

MER-ci-ful a-BIL-i-ty.

VAN-ish-ing re-DUN-dan-cy.

JEROME/MICHAEL

Con-VERGE op-POS-ing VA-can-cies.

(intro 6 BEATS to chorus)

JEROME

Pixels, paxels, wheels and axles

Souls alive, no surprise.

MICHAEL

Pixels, paxels, wheels and axles

Souls arise, grand reprise.

JEROME

(BEAT) solar FLAR-ing.

(BEAT) nature DAR-ing

MICHAEL

O-VERT-ly CAR-ing,

fac-TOR-ri-al SHAR-ring

JEROME

(BEAT) god pro-POSES,

(BEAT) ris-ing ROSES

MICHAEL

(BEAT) thorn op-POSES,

(BEAT) Michael’s MOSES

JEROME

GAND-di-esque THEMES

Ne-CESS-i-tates DREAMS

MICHAEL

SCRIBED on REAMS,

Al-MIGHTY re-DEEMS.

JEROME

Es-CAP-ing the MAZE

Re-CEIVES high PRAISE.

MICHAEL

PER-me-ates HAZE,

Pan-DEM-ic GAZE.

JEROME

RIGID STAYS

Me-DI-ci-nal DAYS.

MICHAEL

Pro-to-TYP-i-cal EYES

not PIERC-ing the SKY

JEROME

WRINKLES im-PEDED.

L’INGLE de-FEATED

(intro 4 BEATS to chorus)

JEROME

Pixels, paxels, wheels and axles

Souls alive, no surprise.

MICHAEL

Pixels, paxels, wheels and axles

Souls arise, grand reprise.

JEROME

TEAR my hair OUT.

WHY do I SHOUT?

MICHAEL

WORLD’S in a DROUGHT.

We MUST come a-BOUT.

JEROME

Fill PAGES with WORDS.

At-TACH them to BIRDS.

MICHAEL

HI-jacked MEDS,

In-SID-i-ous AIDS,

JEROME

No HOS-pi-tal BEDS,

(BEAT) hope FADES.

MICHAEL

MONEY dis-ap-PEAR-ing,

Be-GUINE bar-ri-CADES

JEROME

Dis-SOLV-ing WALLS,

a RUN-ing START.

MICHAEL

WATER FALLS

The WORLD takes HEART.

JEROME

THROW-ing DARTS,

BULL a-HEAD.

MICHAEL

PIERC-cing POINT,

JEROME/MICHAEL

(BEAT) end of DREAD.

(JEROME/MICHAEL dive/fall opposite shoulders to DOCKERS’ arms)

(EVERYONE: gasps audibly, then cheers/screams with joy)

(On backs. JEROME lifts fists into the air. MICHAEL follows gesture-same

(Crowd goes wild)

(LIGHTS OUT)

FINALE

All-cast – BIPOLARITY

(JEROME/MICHAEL/IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

(ALL CAST dance in choreographed unison)

(MUSIC starts abruptly, first two guitar chordsx1 of Pinball Wizard by The WHO)

MICHAEL

With SO many HOOKS, I’m CASSIOUS the CAPTAIN

JEROME

With SO much CASH I CAN’T stop LAUGHIN’

MICHAEL

With SO much LAUGH-ter, thank GOD I’m a RAP-per

ALL CAST

Your SISTER I MACKED her….

her BOY-friend’s no FACTOR

(BEAT BEAT BEAT)

MICHAEL

If LIFE were CHESS and we PLAYED for our LIVES

JEROME

BeTWEEN you and I, FISH-er sur-VIVES

Till we MEET in the FINALS and he RUNS and HIDES.

ALL CAST

I’ve PASS-ed all the TESTS; we KNOW who’s the BEST

If there are ANY tests LEFT? leave ‘um AT the front DESK

(BEAT BEAT BEAT)

JEROME

The KING of the WEST, always FULL of one LINERS.

MICHAEL

Born to DIE for the NINERS, wanna SMACK the PACKERS.

FARVE’S a SLACKER, Mon-TANA’S the MAS-ter.

JEROME

If GIRLS are re-CEIVE-ers, I’m the NUM-ber one PASS-er.

MICHAEL

I LIKE ‘um from SMITH but I’ll TAKE ‘um from VASS-ar.

JEROME

If their BRAIN moves FAST, my BRAIN moves FAST-er.

ALL CAST

BRIT-ney’s the BEST, but she KNOWS we’ll out-LAST her.

When “r “ TOUR hits your CITY,

(BEAT BEAT BEAT)

We’re a NAT-tral dis-ASTER

“R” brains moves FAST, and then “r” BRAINS move FAST-er

JEROME

we’re the NUMB-er one re-CEIVERS and the NUMB-er one PASS-ers

MICHAEL

BRIT-ney’s the BEST But she KNOWS we’ll out-LAST her.

ALL CAST

When “r” TOUR hits your CITY,

(BEAT BEAT BEAT)

WE’RE a natural disaster!

MICHAEL/JEROME

WE run TOURS;

YOU seek GUIDES.

ALL CAST

WE play DOMES;

YOU play DIVES.

MICHAEL

HAVING nine LIVES

the LEO am I

STEP on STAGE;

I DARE you to TRY

ALL CAST

WE fly HIGH;

you STRUGG-le to get BY.

TELL yourself you’re COOL;

I like to HEAR fools LIE.

JEROME

MY, oh, MY,

my words go DOWN like PIE.

They’re HOT, they’re FRESH

but I’m NO baked GUY

MICHAEL

Y’ALL run in PACKS,

you CLAIM to strap GATS.

JEROME

I’m the LEAD-er of the PACK;

the GREAT White at-TACKS.

ALL CAST

“R” brains moves FAST,

and then “r” BRAINS move FAST-er

JEROME

I’m the #1 receiver

and the #1 passer

MICHAEL

Britney’s the best

But she knows I’ll outlast her.

ALL CAST

When “r” TOUR hits your CITY,

(BEAT BEAT BEAT)

We’re a NA-tral dis-ASTER!

(BOWS – eliminating cast from stage and singing)

JEROME

I fill BACKPACKS with GREEN backs, sport TOMMYs with KAKS

MICHAEL

my UNCLE’S my ac-COUNT-ant, so I NEV-er pay TAX.

JEROME

I’m seein’ ONE-eyed JACKS etched on PLAT-tinum PLAQUES.

MICHAEL

I run the MA-trix; YOU are the HACKS.

JEROME

I VER-ify the TRUTH “USE ME,” I’m SEAL-ing WAX.

MICHAEL

Smith and WES-son in-SURES, SEE them on the racks.

JEROME

ProTECTED by my ADZE, it’s a TWO-headed ZAX

MICHAEL

(Looks straight into Jerome’s eyes)

WATCH me turn my BACK

(turns HIS back to JEROME)

JEROME

I test LIMITS to the MAX.

MICHAEL/JEROME

My BRAIN moves FAST,

and then my BRAIN moves FAST-er

I’m the NUMB-er one re-CEIV-er

and the NUMB-er one PASS-er

BRIT-ney’s the BEST

But she KNOWS I’ll out-LAST her.

When “r” TOUR hits your CITY,

(BEAT BEAT BEAT)

WE’RE a natural disaster

(Take their bows)

LA-SHAWN

Connecting cyber-spatially to the worlds around them, with a spanking new song, and I mean spanking, take a magic carpet ride into cosmic CONSCIOUSNESS. Give it up for the TRANSFORMERS, Mav-rick Mike and Just Jerome, morphing into the extreme.

(Prancing around/singing. IN-VOICE________/ LA-SHAWN playful with each other)

(MICHAEL/JEROME hip hop free style)

(MUSIC STARTS 8 bar INTRO)

JEROME

HOW would you ACT

if every ACT-tion’s re-PORTED?

THOUGHTS re-CORDED,

GOOD deeds re-WARDED?

MICHAEL

Take a SEC-ond to re-VIEW

WHAT has been SAID.

Every SEC-ond, they’re TAP-ped

IN-side your HEAD.

JEROME

MAY-be not CAUGHT,

you ES-cape the LAW.

Shot a MAN in the BACK,

NO-body SAW.

MICHAEL

But THAT’S the POINT,

someone AL-ways SEES.

No eye WIT-ness, PLEASE

Ex-cept for WIRES in TREES

JEROME

If for EV-ry bad DEED

you spent a YEAR in HELL.

How MUCH illegal STUFF

WOULD you still SELL?

MICHAEL

If for EV-ry LIE,

you FELL down the LINE?

For HEAV-en’s SAKE,

would you ACT more KIND?

JEROME

If you KNEW you were WATCH-ed,

and KARMA took PLACE,

How MANY of YOU

would try and HIT e-RASE?

MICHAEL

You see, these THOUGHTS turn ACID

into a BASE, no TRACE.

So, I PEN with the FURY

of the HU-man RACE.

Be-FORE I’m dis-PLACED.

JEROME

LIV-ing as THOUGH

I’m being VIDEO-TAPED.

Using WORDS and THOUGHTS

as my in-VIS-i-ble CAPE.

ME and POTTER

taming HYPER-SPACE

(4 beats/2bars THEN 3 beats of sticks)

JEROME/MICHAEL

(From ladders):

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-scious-NESS

a-CROSS the VEIL,

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-science (BEAT)

isn’t IN the MAIL.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-science (BEAT)

isn’t UP for SALE.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

Let’s SHOW the WORLD

we WILL not FAIL.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

REACH-ing OUT

a-CROSS the SEA.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

REACH-ing (BEAT)

for com-MUN-i-TY.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

My ACTS show YOU

how I will BE.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

The CHOICE is YOURS,

MICHAEL/JEROME/IN-VOICE________

I WILL be ME

(LA-SHAWN EXITS down ladder)

(JEROME/MICHAEL/IN-VOICE________/DOCKERS as ROBOTS dance in unison)

JEROME

KIDS get HIT

by PAR-ents who DRINK.

Not ABLE to ES-cape

this ge-NE-tic LINK.

MICHAEL

They CHOOSE not to THINK

or o-BEY the LAW

LIGHT gone to DARK-ness

is WHAT I just SAW.

IN-VOICE________

A CAR full of KIDS

HIT by a TRAIN.

POINT “oh” TWO

Im-PAIR-ing his BRAIN

JEROME

TURN-ed six-TEEN

just TWO days be-FORE.

Stole a BOTT-le of JACK,

Six-PACK, (BEAT)

NO-body SAW

MICHAEL

AL-ready LAUGH-ing

as he STRUTS out the DOOR.

a whole CAB-i-net, GRAB-bin’ it.

No CARE for the LAW

IN-VOICE________

They HARD-ly SEE

what BAD has been DONE.

Giving this NEW ge-ner-RA-tion

its OWN loaded GUN.

JEROME

CARS are CRASH-ed;

BRAINS bashed IN.

PREG-nant WO-men,

lives NEV-er be-GIN.

MICHAEL

BLOOD-y-ing MIR-a-cles,

SIN after SIN.

MICHAEL/JEROME/IN-VOICE________

(Demonstrative pose-shout it)

WHO really WINS?

IN-VOICE________

There is NO next of KIN.

(4 beats/2bars THEN 3 beats of sticks)

JEROME/MICHAEL

(From ladders):

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-scious-NESS

a-CROSS the VEIL,

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-science (BEAT)

isn’t IN the MAIL.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-science (BEAT)

isn’t UP for SALE.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

Let’s SHOW the WORLD

we WILL not FAIL.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

REACH-ing OUT

a-CROSS the SEA.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

REACH-ing (BEAT)

for com-MUN-i-TY.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

My ACTS show YOU

how I will BE.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

The CHOICE is YOURS,

MICHAEL/JEROME/IN-VOICE________

I WILL be ME

JEROME

KNOW-ing all NAZIS

will IN hell be BURN-ed,

A FATE we all FEEL

they’ve RIGHT-ful-ly EARN-ed.

MICHAEL

KNOW-ing all RAP-ists

will GET that DATE,

In HELL they’re pinned DOWN.

NEV-er to ES-cape.

IN-VOICE________

WIFE beaters BEAT,

KILLERS are KILL-ed.

One THOUS-and times OVER,

BLOOD will be SPILL-ed.

JEROME

Mo-LEST-ers mo-LEST-ed,

NONE for-GIVEN.

You’ve CREATED the HELL

that we ALL must LIVE in.

MICHAEL

We SHOULD be a-SHAME-ed,

so I NOW seek CHANGE.

It’s STRANGE to KNOW

I’m JUDG-ed in LIFE,

IN-VOICE________

MOR-als not BUDG-ed,

self-SAC-ri-FICE.

JEROME

I’ve GOT my PAST

you’ve GOT yours, TOO.

The REAL question IS

what WILL we both DO?

MICHAEL

Our MYS-try ge-ne-RA-tion

sees the GLASS not THERE.

They see GLARE, un-a-WARE,

no REA-son to CARE.

IN-VOICE________

They LIVE like BEARS

wake UP (BEAT)

SPRING’S in the AIR.

JEROME

HERE’S a DARE,

from ME to YOU

And from YOU to ME

“HOUR” ge-ne-RA-tion

of MYS-te-RY,

IN-VOICE________

To-GETHER (BEAT)

MICHAEL/JEROME/IN-VOICE________

Let’s make HIS-to-RY.

(4 beats/2bars THEN 3 beats of sticks)

JEROME/MICHAEL

(From ladders):

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-scious-NESS

a-CROSS the VEIL,

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-science (BEAT)

isn’t IN the MAIL.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

CON-science (BEAT)

isn’t UP for SALE.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

Let’s SHOW the WORLD

we WILL not FAIL.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

REACH-ing OUT

a-CROSS the SEA.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

REACH-ing (BEAT)

for com-MUN-i-TY.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

My ACTS show YOU

how I will BE.

(Crack of leather whip by IN-VOICE________ ON TOP)

The CHOICE is YOURS,

MICHAEL/JEROME/IN-VOICE________

I WILL be ME

(MUSIC STOPS)

(IN-VOICE________ freeze pose)

(JEROME /MICHAEL dive/fall shoulder first into arms of DOCKERS)

(EVERYONE: gasps audibly)

(JEROME/MICHAEL on backs. JEROME lifts fists into air. MICHAEL follows suit)

(The crowd goes wild)

(DOCKERS to TOP)

(LIGHTS OUT)