EVITA LIBRETTO - LONDON
ACT ONE
1. A CINEMA IN BUENOS AIRES, 26 JULY 1952
We are in a cinema in Buenos Aires on the above date. A fairly dire movie is in progress - black and white,
probably of U.S. origins with Spanish voices dubbed. The film grinds to a halt. The reason is soon made clear
to the audience - Eva Perón, The First Lady of Argentina, wife of President Juan Perón, has died.
[FILM SOUNDRACK]
Until this moment my lips have not dared to speak of my love for you.
Oh Carlos!
And they shall do more than speak to you - my senses are flooded with desire.
Oh Carlos!
Was that a boot on your father's gravel? If it's that bounder Rodolphe, my sword will not remain long unsheathed.
Be careful, Carlos!
There is an announcement from the Secretary of the Press
ANNOUNCER
It is the sad duty of the Secretary of the Press to inform the people of Argentina that Eva Perón,
spiritual leader of the nation, entered immortality at 20.25 hours today.
We hear the above speech in Spanish. Che and the other moviegoers leave the cinema in silence.
2. REQUIEM FOR EVITA/OH WHAT A CIRCUS
Eva's funeral. Che is the only non-participant we see. After some time he moves away from the crowds.
CHE
O what a circus! O what a show
Argentina has gone to town
Over the death of an actress called Eva Perón
We've all gone crazy
Mourning all day and mourning all night
Falling over ourselves to get all of the misery right
O what an exit! That's how to go!
When they're ringing your curtain down
Demand to be buried like Eva Perón
It's quite a sunset
And good for the country in a roundabout way
We've made the front page of all the world's papers today
But who is this Santa Evita?
Why all this howling hysterical sorrow?
What kind of goddess
Has lived among us?
And how will we ever
Get by without her?
She had her moments - she had some style
The best show in town was the crowd
Outside the Casa Rosada crying 'Eva Perón'
But that's all gone now
As soon as the smoke from the funeral clears
We're all going to see - and how! - she did nothing for years!
CROWD
Salve regine mater misericordiae
Vita dulcedo et spes nostra
Salve, salve regina
Ad te suspiramus gementes
Et flentes O clemens O pia
CHE
You let down your people Evita
You were supposed to have been inmortal
That's all they wanted
Not much to ask for
But in the end you
Could not deliver
Sing you fools! But you've got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven't got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
She's not coming back to you
Show business kept us all alive
Since 17 October 1945
But the star has gone, the glamour's worn thin
That's a pretty bad state for a state to be in
Instead of government we had a stage
Instead of ideas, a prima donna's rage
Instead of help we were given a crowd
She didn't say much but she said it loud
Sing you fools! But you've got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven't got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
She's not coming back to you
CROWD
Salve regina mater misericordiae
Vita dulcedo et spes nostra
Salve, salve regina Perón
Ad te clamamus exules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramos gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
THE VOICE OF EVA
Don't cry for me Argentina
For I am ordinary, unimportant
And undeserving
Of such attention
Unless we all are
I think we all are
Ride on my train O my people
And when it's your turn to die you'll remember
They fired those cannons
Sang lamentations
Not just for Eva
For Argentina
Not just for Eva
For everybody
So share my glory
So share my coffin
So share my glory
So share my coffin
CHE
It's our funeral too
3. ON THIS NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS/EVA AND MAGALDI/EVA BEWARE OF THE CITY
CHE
Now Eva Perón had every disadvantage
You need if you're going to succeed
No money, no class
No father, no bright lights
As this tango singer found out
(Che indicates Magaldi, on stage in the club)
A tango singer! Agustín Magaldi -
Who has the distinction of being the first man
To be of use to Eva Duarte
(The cabaret is nearly over. Magaldi sings the final song of his performance with great gusto:)
MAGALDI
On this night of a thousand stars
Let me take you to heaven's door
Where the music of soft guitars
Plays for evermore!
In the glow of those twinkling lights
We shall love through eternity
On this night in a million nights
Fly away with me!
I never dreamed that a kiss could be as sweet as this but now I know that it can
I used to wander alone without a love of my own I was a desperate man
But all my grief disappeared and all the sorrow I'd feared wasn't there anymore
On that magical day when you first came my way - mi amor!
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!
Magaldi joins the Duarte family at their table. Che is loitering nearby at the bar.
EVA (starry-eyed, to Magaldi)
To think that a man as famous as you are
Should love a poor little nothing like me
MAGALDI (to the family in general)
The audience seemed
Extremely heavy going -
CHE
Listen chum face the fact
They don't like your act
MAGALDI
But this is the sticks!
If this were Buenos Aires
I have that town at my feet
I dare not even meet
Members of the public
They'd tear me apart -
CHE
I understand their feelings
EVA
I wanna be a part of BA
Buenos Aires - Big Apple!
FAMILY
She wants to be a part of BA
Buenos Aires - Big Apple!
CHE
Just listen to that!
They're on to you Magaldi
I'd get out while you can
EVA
It's happened at last!
I'm starting to get started
I'm moving out with my man
MAGALDI
Now Eva don't get carried away
EVA
Monotony past
Suburbia departed
Who could ever be fond of the back of beyond?
MAGALDI
Don't hear words that I didn't say
FAMILY
What's that? You'd desert the girl you love?
MAGALDI
The girl I love? Who?
FAMILY
She really brightened up your out-of-town engagement
She gave you all she had - she wasn't in your contract
You must be quite relieved that no one's told the papers -
So far
EVA
I wanna be a part of BA
Buenos Aires - Big Apple!
Would I have done what I did
If I hadn't thought -
If I hadn't known
We would stay together?
CHE
Seems to me there's no point in resisting
She'd made up her mind, you've no choice
Why don't you be the man who discovered her?
You'll never be remembered for your voice
MAGALDI
The city can be paradise for those who have the cash
The class or the connections - what you need to make a splash
The likes of you gets swept up in the morning with the trash
If you were rich or middle class --
EVA
Fuck the middle classes!
I will never accept them
And they will never deny me anything again!
My father's other family were middle class
And we were kept out of sight, hidden from view, at his funeral (This line sung by Eva and her family)
If these are the people of Buenos Aires
I welcome the chance to shine in their city
And trample their rotten values into the ground!
CHE
Do all your one-night stands
Give you this trouble?
MAGALDI
Eva, beware of the city
It's hungry and cold, can't be controlled, it is mad
Those who are fools become swallowed up whole
And those who are not become
What they should not become
Changed - in short they go bad
EVA
Bad is good for me, I'm bored, so clean and so ignored
I've only been predictible - respectable!
Birds fly out of here so why
Oh why the hell can't I?
I only want variety of society
I wanna be a part of BA
Buenos Aires - Big Apple!
FAMILY
She wants to be a part of BA
Buenos Aires - Big Apple!
MAGALDI
Five years from now I shall come back
And finally say, you have your way, come to town
But you'll look at me with a foreigner's eyes
The magical city a
Younger girl's city, a
Fantasy long since put down
EVA
All you've done to me - was that a young girl's fantasy?
I played your city games all right - didn't I?
I already know what cooks - how the dirty city feels and looks
I tasted it last night - didn't I?
I'm gonna be a part of BA
Buenos Aires - Big Apple!
FAMILY
She's gonna be a part of BA
Buenos Aires - Big Apple!
MAGALDI
Eva beware your ambition
It's hungry and cold - can't be controlled, will run wild
This in a man is a danger enough
But you are a woman, not
Even a woman, not
Very much more than a child and whatever you say
I'll not take you away!
4. BUENOS AIRES
Eva and Magaldi arrive in Buenos Aires - Magaldi lost the argument.
EVA
What's new? Buenos Aires
I'm new - I wanna say I'm just a little stuck on you
You'll be on me too!
I get out here, Buenos Aires
Stand back - you oughta know what'cha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of star quality!
Fill me up with your heat with your noise with your dirt overdo me
Let me dance to your beat make it loud let it hurt run it through me
Don't hold back you are certain to impress
Tell the driver this is where I'm staying
Hello Buenos Aires
Get this - just look at me, dressed up somewhere to go
We'll put on a show!
Take me in at your flood give me speed give me lights set me humming
Shoot me up with your blood wine me up with your nights watch me coming
All I want is a whole lot of excess
Tell the singer this is where I'm playing
Stand back Buenos Aires
Because you oughta know what'cha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of star quality!
And if ever I go too far
It's because of the things you are
Beautiful town - I love you
And if I need a moment's rest
Give your lover the very best
Real eiderdown - and silence
During the orchestral break at this point Che tells a tale of a typical day for the Argentine aristocracy.
CHE
On the 9th of February 1935, one of the most important polo matches of the Buenos Aires season took place
between a team of leading Argentine players and the touring British side. The home team won, but as the
British Ambassador pointed out, the result did not reflect badly on British horsemanship. Three of the
Argentine players were Old Harrovians. He refrained from pointing out that the entire Argentine side had had
British nannies or governesses.
EVA
You're a tramp you're a treat you will shine to the death you are shoddy
But you're flesh you are meat you shall have every breath in my body
Put me down for a lifetime of success
Give me credit - I'll find ways of paying
Rio de la Plata! Florida! Corrientes! Nuevo de Julio!
All I want to know!
Stand back Buenos Aires
Because you oughta know what'cha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of star quality!
5. GOODNIGHT AND THANK YOU
CHE
Goodnight and thank you Magaldi
You've completed your task what more can we ask of you now
Please sign the book on your way out the door
And that will be all
If we need you we'll call
But I don't think that's likely somehow
EVA
Oh but it's sad when a love affair dies
But we have pretended enough
It's best that we part, stop fooling ourselves
CHE
Which means get stuffed
CHE
Having arrived it matters to be
Photographed, noticed continually
(Eva is besieged by photographers. Che addresses one particular photographer)
Goodnight and thank you whoever
She's in every magazine, she wouldn't have been on her own
We don't like to rush but your case has been packed
If we've missed anything you could give us a ring
But we don't always answer the phone
EVA
Oh but it's sad when a love affair dies
But when we were hot we were hot
I know you'll look back on the good times we've shared
CHE
But Eva will not
CHE and EVA
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 lover will help them or keep them
Support them, promote them
Don't blame them
You're the same
CHE
Now you are recognized, visually known
You need to be on the microphone
(Eva is besieged by radio men. Che addresses one particular radio man)
Good night and thank you whoever
We're grateful you found her a spot on the sound radio
We'll think of you every time she's on the air
We'd love you to stay
But you'd be in the way
So do up your trousers and go.
EVA & REJECTED LOVERS
Oh but it's sad when a love affair dies
The decline into silence and doubt
Our passion was just too intense to survive
CHE
For God's sake get out!
Fame on the wireless as far as it goes
Is all very well but everyone knows
She needs a man she can monopolize
With fingers in dozens of different pies.
6. THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE
THE OFFICERS OF THE G.O.U. (including PERÓN)
One has no rules
Is not precise
One rarely acts
The same way twice
One spurns no device
Practising the art of the possible
One always picks
The easy fight
One praises fools
One smothers light
One shifts left to right
It's part of the art of the possible
Cut to Eva broadcasting)
EVA
I'm only a radio star with just one weekly show
But speaking as one of the people I want you to know
We are tired of the decline of
Argentina with no sign of
A government able to give us the things we deserve
(Back to the officers)
OFFICERS
One always claims
Mistakes were planned
When risk is slight
One takes one's stand
With much sleight of hand
Politics is the art of the possible
EVA (on the air - she is very emotional, perhaps a little too emotional)
I still feel destroyed by the news from San Juan
By the earthquake that has now taken over three thousand lives
But at last I can tell you how you can help the injured and survivors
The leaders of the government and of the entertainment world have organized a concert in aid of the victims
I want you all to come
I pray that you all will come
(Back to the officers)
OFFICERS
One has no rules
Is not precise
One rarely acts
The same way twice
One spurns no device
In politics - the art of the possible
1. A CINEMA IN BUENOS AIRES, 26 JULY 1952
