6. THE LADY'S GOT POTENTIAL
CHE
The Lady's got potential, she ought to go far
She always knows exactly who her best friends are
The greatest social climber since Cinderella
But Eva's not the only one who's getting the breaks
I'm a research chemist who's got what it takes
And my insecticide's gonna be a best-seller

Che brandishes a large bicycle pump type insecticide sprayer, and is joined by a shrill and enthusiastic trio of girls for his fly-killing choruses)
Just one blast and the insects fall like flies!
Kapow! Die!
They don't have a chance
In the fly-killing world
It's a major advance
In my world
It'll mean finance
I'm shaping up successful capitalist-wise

But getting back to Eva she just saw those guys
As steps on the ladder to the ultimate prize
And he goes by the name of Colonel Perón
He began his career in the army overseas
Teaching all the other soldiers all he knew about skis
When others took a tumble he would always stay on

Sure Perón could ski but who needs a snowman?
He said:
PERON
Great men
Don't grow on trees
I'm one
I ain't gonna freeze
Dictators
Don't grow on skis

CHE
Perón would be no number two to no man

He'd married in the meantime but the poor girl died
Imagine if she hadn't we'd have been denied
The heart-warming tear-jerking rise to fame of Eva
Now my insecticide contains no dangerous drugs
It can't harm humans but it's curtains for bugs
If you've got six legs I ain't doing you no favour

Just one blast and insects fall like flies!
Kapow! Die!
They don't have a chance
In the fly-killing world
It's a major advance
In my world
It'll mean finance
I'm shaping up successful capitalist-wise

Kapow! Die!
They don't have a chance
In the fly-killing world
It's a major advance
In my world
It'll mean finance
I'm shaping up successful capitalist-wise

Oh yes - Perón joined a faction called the G.O.U.

PERON and OFFICERS
G - Government
O- Order
U - Unity

CHE
And they were the gang behind a military coup
So Perón was a heartbeat away from control of the nation
They thought that Hitler had the war as good as won
They were slightly to the right of Atilla the Hun
And Eva set her sights on Perón - and his situation
And Eva set her signts on Perón - and his situation

PERON and OFFICERS
The G.O.U. is a three-pronged operation
Government - unopposed and allied
With Order - ruthlessly applied
And Unity - those not on our side
Are subject to the process of elimination

7. Charity Concert/I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You
A concert held in Buenos Aires in 1944 in aid of the victims of an earthquake in the Argentine town of San Juan. Eva, by now a successful actress, and Perón, by now a successful politician, are both present. Eva's old friend Magaldi is once again finishing his act.

MAGALDI
On this night On this night On this night of a thousand stars Let me take you to heaven's door Where the music of love's guitars Plays for evermore!

(Good applause. Perón leaps onto the stage)
PERÓN
Tonight I'm proud to be the people's spokesman
You've given help to those who've lost their homes
But more than that conclusively shown
That the people should run their affairs on their own
Make sure your leaders understand the people!

(The crowd begin to chant 'Perón, Perón' Perón leaves the stage with the sound of his own name ringing in his ears.)

EVA
Colonel Perón?

PERÓN
Eva Duarte?

EVA & PERÓN
I've heard so much about you!

EVA I'm amazed! For I'm only an actress Nothing to shout about Simply a girl on the boards But when you act, the things you do affect us all

PERÓN I'm amazed! For I'm only a soldier One of the thousands Defending the country he loves . . .

PERÓN
But when you act, you take us away from the squalor of the real world
Are you here on your own?

EVA
Yes. Oh yes.

PERÓN
So am I
What a fortunate coincidence
Maybe you're my reward for my efforts here tonight

EVA
It seems crazy but you must believe
There's nothing calculated, nothing planned
Please forgive me if I seem naive
I would never want to force your hand
But please understand
I'd be good for you

I don't always rush in like this
Twenty seconds after saying hello
Telling strangers I'm too good to miss
If I'm wrong I hope you'll tell me so
But you really should know
I'd be good for you
I'd be surprisingly good for you

I won't go on if I'm boring you
But do you understand my point of view?
Do you like what you see and would you be
Good for me too?

I'm not talking of a hurried night
A frantic tumble and a shy goodbye
Creeping home before it gets too light
That's not the reason that I caught your eye
Which has to imply
I'd be good for you
I'd be surprisingly good for you

PERÓN
Please go on - you enthrall me!
I can understand you perfectly
And I like what I hear, what I see, and knowing me
I would be good for you too

EVA
I'm not talking of a hurried night
A frantic tumble and a shy goodbye
Creeping home before it gets too light
That's not the reason that I caught your eye
Which has to imply
I'd be good for you
I'd be surprisingly good for you

EVA and PERÓN (but neither seems aware that the other is singing)
There is no one, no one at all
Never has been and never will be a lover, male or female
Who hasn't an eye on
In fact they rely on
Tricks they can try on their partner
They're hoping their lovers will help them or keep them
Support them, promote them
Don't blame them, you're the same

(Eva and Perón leave together)

8. Another Suitcase in Another Hall
Perón's flat. Eva bursts in to throw Perón's 16-year-old Mistress out.

EVA (almost affectionately)
Hello and goodbye!
I've just unemployed you
You can go back to school
You had a good run
I'm sure he enjoyed you
Don't be sad or surprised
Let's be friends, civilized
Come on, little one!
Don't sit there like a dummy!
The day you knew would arrive
Is here - you'll survive
So move, funny face!

I like your conversation - you've a catchy turn of phrase
You're obviously going through an adolescent phase
Maybe you've got something more than just a pretty face
Maybe not -

(Eva has by now bustled the Mistress out)

Outside in the hall.
MISTRESS
I don't expect my love affairs to last for long
Never fool myself that my dreams will come true
Being used to trouble I anticipate it
But all the same I hate it - wouldn't you?
So what happens now?

CHE + CHORUS
Another suitcase in another hall

MISTRESS
So what happens now?

CHE + CHORUS
Take your pictures off another wall

MISTRESS
Where am I going to?

CHE + CHORUS
You'll get by you always have before

MISTRESS
Where am I going to?

Time and time again I've said that I don't care
That I'm immune to gloom that I'm hard through and through
But every time it matters all my words desert me
So anyone can hurt me - and they do
So what happens now?

CHE + CHORUS
Another suitcase in another hall

MISTRESS
So what happens now?

CHE + CHORUS
Take your pictures off another wall

MISTRESS
Where am I going to?

CHE + CHORUS
You'll get by you always have before

MISTRESS
Where am I going to?

Call in three months' time and I'll be fine I know
Well maybe not that fine but I'll survive anyhow
I won't recall the names and places of this sad occasion
But that's no consolation here and now
So what happens now?

CHE + CHORUS
Another suitcase in another hall

MISTRESS
So what happens now?

CHE + CHORUS
Take your pictures off another wall

MISTRESS
Where am I going to?

CHE + CHORUS
You'll get by you always have before

MISTRESS
Where am I going to?

CHE + CHORUS
Don't ask anymore

9. DANGEROUS JADE
Two factions of Argentine society that were never to accept Eva were the military and the aristocracy

ARMY
The man is a fool - breaking every taboo
Installing a girl in the Army HQ
And she's an actress! The last straw
Her only good parts are between her thighs
She should reach for the ceiling not reach for the skies
Or she could be his last whore
The evidence suggests
She has other interests
If it's her who's using him
He's exceptionally dim
Bitch!
Dangerous Jade!

ARISTOCRATS
We have allowed ourselves to slip
We have completely lost our grip
We have declined to an all-time low
Tarts have become the set to know

ARMY
It's no crime for officers to do as they please
As long as they're discreet and keep clear of disease
We ignore, we disregard
But once they allow a bit on the side
To move to the centre where she's not qualified
We should all be on our guard
She should get into her head
She should not get out of bed
She should know that she's not paid
To be loud but to be laid
Slut!
Dangerous Jade!

CHE (in the guise of a reporter)
This has really been your year Miss Duarte
Tell us where you go from here Miss Duarte
Which are the roles that you yearn to play
Who did you dine with yesterday?

EVA (the glamorous movie star, protected by two Heavies)
Acting is limiting, the lines not mine
That's no help to the Argentine

CHE
Can we assume then that you'll quit?
Is this because of your involvement with Colonel Perón?

HEAVIES (pushing Che aside and Eva out)
Goodnight and thank you

ARMY
She won't be kept happy by her nights on the tiles
She says it's his body but she's after his files
She should get into her head
She should not get out of bed
She should know that she's not paid
To be loud but to be laid
The evidence suggests
She has other interests
If it's her who's using him
He's exceptionally dim

CHE (producing his fly-spray again)
To see an underdog succeed
Is the encouragement I need
Opportunity is back!
If she can make it by efforts in the sack
Then a man who offers more -
Me! Will have the world beat a pathway to his door

ARISTOCRATS
Things have reached a pretty pass
When someone pretty lower class
Graceless and vulgar, uninspired
Can be accepted and admired

10. A New Argentina
1945. No secure leader has emerged from the group of officers who seized power in 1943. Perón has the support of the workers and because of this, the strongest movement within the military heirarchy is an anti-Perón feeling rather than one pro-anybody else.

PERÓN
Dice are rolling, the knives are out
I see every bad sign in the book
And as far as they can - overweight to a man
They have that lean and hungry look

EVA
It doesn't matter what those morons say
Our nation's leaders are a feeble crew
There's only twenty of them anyway
What is twenty next to millions who
Are looking to you?
All you have to do is sit and wait
Keeping out of everybody's way
We'll --
You'll be handed power on a plate
When the ones who matter have their say
And with chaos installed
You can reluctantly agree to be called

PERÓN
There again we could be foolish
Not to quit while we're ahead
For distance lends enchantment
And that is why
All exiles are distinguished
More important, they're not dead
I could find job satisfaction in Paraguay

WORKERS' VOICES
Perón! Perón!

EVA
This is crazy defeatist talk
Why commit political suicide?
There's no risk there's no call for any action at all
When you have workers on your side

DOLAN GETTA (A union leader)
A new Argentina!
The chains of the masses untied!
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people
Cannot be denied!

EVA
There is only one man who can lead any workers' regime
He lives for your problems, he shares your ideals and your dream
He supports you for he loves you
Understands you, is one of you
If now - how could he love me?

GETTA + MOB
A new Argentina!
The old one has gone sadly wrong
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people
Rings out loud and long!

EVA
Now I am a worker I've suffered the way that you do
I've been unemployed and I've starved and I've hated it too
But I found my salvation
In Perón - may the nation
Let him save them as he saved me

GETTA + MOB
A new Argentina!

CHE
They'll all go along for the ride
The same old clichés
But let them have their freedom -
The free buy insecticide!

GETTA'S SIDEKICK
Nationalization of our industries
That the foreigner's control
Participation in the profits that we make
Shorter hours, higher wages
Votes for women, larger dole
More public spending, a bigger slice of every cake

PERÓN
It's annoying that we have to
Fight elections for our cause
The inconvenience - having to get a majority
If normal methods of persuasion
Fail to win us applause
We have other ways of establishing authority

SECRET POLICE
We have ways of making your vote for us, or at least of making you abstain

EVA
Perón has resigned from the army and this we avow
The descamisados are those he is marching with now!
He supports you for he loves you
Understands you - is one of you
If not - how could he love me?

GETTA + MOB + EVA + PERÓN + POLICE
A new Argentina!
The chains of the masses untied!
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people
Cannot be
And will not be
And must not be
Denied!

PERÓN
There again I could be foolish
Not to quit while I'm ahead
I can see me many miles away
Inactive
Sipping cocktails on a terrace
Taking breakfast in bed
Sleeping easy, doing crosswords
It's attractive

EVA
Don't think I don't think like you, I often get those nightmares too
They always take some swallowing
Sometimes it's very difficult to keep momentum if it's you that you are following
Don't close doors
Keep an escape clause
Because we might lose
The Big Apple
But -
Would I have done what I did
If I hadn't thought
] If I hadn't known
We would take the country?

End of Act One

© 2001