SCRIPT by David Woollcombe
Music & Lyrics by David Gordon
Story adapted from “The Peace Book” by Bernard Benson
© May 1983 – The Peace Child Foundation
A C T I
S C E N E O N E
Prologue and Opening Number
Music. Futuristic, ethereal – the Lighting Preset changes, fades to BLACK OUT. Bring up bluish pre-dawn light as offstage, we hear a voice singing:
I was a child who ran full of laughter
I was a child who lived for a day My eyes full of sunshine
My heart full of smiles
I was a child for a day – !
The voice comes on stage in the person of a teen-ager made up to look about sixty years old.(The child may be of either sex – it makes no difference. This child becomes the Story-teller/narrator of the show, and also the ‘Raggedy Man’ or ‘Wise Old Woman’ of Scene Eight. For the purposes of simplicity only, I have referred to this character as masculine, but note that to date, only females – Jane Alexander and Susannah York – have played this role.)
The Child yawns and stretches, looking at the sunrise:
Child It’s going to be a beautiful day! (he turns to. the audience) Peace Day! – Children’s Day! – they call it different things in different parts of the world…. My Day – ! (He laughs and kicks away an imaginary stone) ‘Course, there was no such thing when I was a child. Back in the nineteen eighties, the big problem was that we didn’t have peace. We still have big problems – over-computerisation, de-humanisation, de-foliation, over-population…. But it’s a better world in my opinion – certainly a safer world. Anyway, It’s Peace Day! – today there’ll be dancing in the streets, songs, stories – lots of different things commemorating that Day all those years ago when Peace broke out across the planet. There’ll be some kind of Celebration here I expect.(noises off) – Listen, I think I hear them coming –
The doors at the back(or side) of the auditorium are thrown open and two older chorus members(OCMs) come in, lit by spotlights, singing:
Come into my Joy! Come into my Pain!
Come you be a friend of mine – I’ll be the same.
The Child watches with pleasure as the two singers process down the aisles singing·; a small unseen backing group joins them in the choruses:
As I go through my years with many thousand tears I’ve never seen my guiding light
The clouds in front of me won’t ever let me see I’ve grown so weary of the night
I’ve tried so many times to read between the lines But the words keep turning round
And a thousand fears are ringing in my ears And I’m so weary of the sound –
So give me Peace enough – Peace Enough Peace enough I !
So give me peace enough for peace of mind Everything coming up sunshine!
So many different ways arid now forgotten days When I’ve been searching through my mind,
When will my head be clear, when will I feel the air, When will the world begin to shine ?
I’ve tried so many times to read between the lines But the words keep turning round
And a thousand fears are r1ngimg in my ears And I’m so weary <!if the sound –
So give me peace enough – Peace Enough! Peace Enough !
So give me peace enough for peace of mind Everything coming up sunshine !!
Come into my joy,
Come into my pain,
Come you be a friend of mine,
I’ll be the same! (Repeat)
The lights fade centre stage; the two Older Chorus Members (OCMs) walk to either side as a brilliant sunrise glow rises up the back of the stage. The music slows, lights come up on the older chorus members, downstage left and right, as they raise their arms to greet the children of the Large Chorus who now appear in all the entry points of the auditorium, singing:
ALL (Majestically) PEACE DAY, PEACE DAY, WE ALL SAY!!
HAPPY WORLD, – HAPPY DAY I
WEAR A LEAF AND SHOW THE WAY
CELEBRATING THIS PEACE DAY !l
The music whips back into fast tempo, and the children dance with simple movements in the aisles, showering the audience with streamers, flowers, and symbols of celebration. On stage, trained dancers do a choreographed piece, vigorously evoking, the j;oy of the new Peace Day. Led by the small backing group of singers, the children sing:
Peace Day Peace Day we all say
Happy world, holiday,
Wear a leaf and show the way Celebrating this peace day.
Peace Day Peace Day – sing and dance
It will be a big romance People of the world as one Peace day peace day has begtm
Celebrations, jubilations – Laughter, shouting – lots of ftm!
Singing dancing, – take your partner, Celebrations have begtm!
Celebrations, jubilations –
Laughter shouting, lots of fun
Smiling dancing – take your partner,
Happiness for everyone.
Peace enough for all mankind
Healthy body, happy mind,
Faith and love – the world as one,
Peace Day, peace day has begtm!
Come into my joy, Come into my pain,
Come you be a friend of mine
I’11 be the same… (repeated x 3)
The song rises to a magnificent climax as the children, divided into four groups, ascend the stage to join the dancers, one group to each repeat of the chorus. Flailing ribbons, they kneel to the audience, as a rainbow unfolds down the backwall of the stage. –
Tableau for a moment. Then the children break it, leaping up, hugging and kissing each other, wishing everyone, “Happy Peace Day!” exchanging presents as though it was everybody’s birthday.
DISCUSSION NOTES
S C E N E T W O
Setting the Scene for the ‘Peace Child’ Story
The cast slowly sort themselves out, the older chorus members (OCMs) gravitating towards the back of stage, the younger chorus members (YCMs) circling the Storyteller. As the noise dies down, a little voice pipes up:
YCM 1 Who’s going to be the Peace Child??
OCM 1 Well –
OCM 2 We wondered if you might like to learn a new story this year…??
OCM 3 We do Peace Child every year….
OCM 4 We think it’s time we did something new!
OCM 5 W – something different!
YCM 2 (amid general groans of disappointment from the YCMs) But it’s Peace Day!!
OCM 1 Peace is really not the major problem any more
OCM 2 We’ve got a ton of other problems we need to look at….
OCM 3 It’s been a really long time since any of us had to worry about nuclear weapons!
OCM 4 – or the Arms Race!
OCM 5 This new story is about the challenge of fresh water, the colonisation of outer space, green energy
OCM 6 The Future!!
The young chorus members are not impressed. A Trio walk downstage, disconsolate:
YCM 2 I wanted to do Peace Child so much!
YCM 3 So did I –
YCM 4 It wouldn’t be Peace Day without it….
YCM 1 It’s not fair!!
ST (His/her mind changing) How many of you know the children’s parts?
Children (a forest of hands shoot up, and excited voices clamour) – Me, me – I know them all (etc.)
OCM 1 All of you?!
Children Yes!! Yes!! (severally) Please let me be the boy! Can I be the Girl?? I know all the songs… etc.
YCM 2 We’ve got the costumes and stuff all ready –
YCM 1 (pulling on a trunk) Right here!
OCM 2 (asking the Story Teller) What do you think?
ST I think…. I think we should let the kids do what the kids want to do….
Children Hoo-RAY!!
OCM 3 Question is: do we remember the parts??
OCM 2 I remember the US President’s part – I think?!
OCM 1 I can do the Russian
OCM 4 Will you help us if we forget any of it??
Children Yes!! Yess – of course we will!
YCM 1 Oh thank you!!!
There can be some business here with the children pulling a bearskin out of the trunk – a cowboy hat, and a Ronald Reagan mask etc. The Older Chorus Members pass them round – growling at the younger kids. One of them pulls out the Big Peace Child Story-book and hands it to the Story-teller.
S T So – do you remember how it begins?
OCM 1 “9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 – remember” (They all nod)
S T Of course! Off you go, then – and we’ll find ourselves a couple of children….
OCM In the Old way, right (music starts)
OCM 3 – that’s right: In a circle…. They Exit
The Younger Children and Chorus Members gather round the Story-teller and kneel down as s/he instructs
S T Eyes closed, minds at peace. Silence!! Let the Peace Child be chosen…
Ethereal music begins as one of the young chorus members hands the Story-teller a basket of different shaped silvery flakes. The Children kneel as they sing – and reach up their hands as the flakes are scattered over them, grasping at them – and hoping to catch the golden leaf that will identify them as this year’s Peace Children – the Boy and the Girl. The whole chorus sing softly:
Now if you close your eyes, you can be what you want,
And if you close your mind, you can feel what you need –
Don’t you see, it’s your destiny –
Can’t you see, it was meant to be –
It’s happening everywhere!
People waking up!
Together facing a great new dawn –
Reaching out for Love!
Do you believe in miracles? – have faith in things unseen?
Take a good look around you now – no, no! It’s not a dream.
As the Storyteller scatters the leaves, the band plays a short interlude. Quickly, two children stand up – they are the chosen ones for this year’s Peace Child – and they struggle to conceal their excitement. They are congratulated by the other Younger Chorus Members who withdraw to their places downstage right where they will sit, listening to the Storyteller. The Storyteller blesses the two chosen children who come forward, bow to the Storyteller, and to each other and the to the full chorus, before running offstage. The chorus come forward singing:
So open up your eyes – and fly beyond the sky!
And open up your mind – you can feel beyond your dreams!
Now open up your hands – you can touch the Universe!
Then put your hands in mine and behold: – a brand new world!
Quick Black-out – apart from a Spotlight which picks out the storyteller, who moves down stage right to start reading the story.
S C E N E T H R E E
The Story Begins
The storyteller stands in a pool of light – a group of smaller children around his/her feet. They listen intently as the story begins:
ST Once upon a Time, a long time ago –
When our Universe was young
Our world was a paradise made of love
According to a heavenly plan
Soon there came a light from the universe
As bright as bright could be –
Making Man out of dust and earth
And leaving him to Destiny.
A pattern soon emerged of things to come,
And problems Man would face:
Tribes of men – not quite the same –
Would compete for food
And the best bit of land
Starting off the game called “War”
Music. The sinister introduction to “Fireball.” The dancers come forward, miming to the meaning of the words, and taking up their positions for the start of the song:
S T It began with a stone, then came a stick
Soon there was an axe and a spear
Then came a club, then an arrow – then a gun! –
And bullets were flying everywhere!
Conflict raged all over the world
Hatred and envy in every land!
Tribe against tribe, man against man!
Nobody seemed to care!
With each generation passing by
Men found new skills of war
Empires rose and Empires fell
And the death toll started to soar,
So we come to a time not so long ago
When it reached an unbelievable peak.
The weapons that we had could kill a thousand worlds
And one of them was about to explode……..
Crash in the music with instant lighting change. The thumping beat of the Fireball song fills the stage as the Dancers, in dark leotards covered with strips of vermilion, ochre rags, scarlet cellophane gymnastically express the agony, death and annihilation of nuclear war. Smoke machines and Strobe lights can be used if available. The Chorus sings:
Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one –
Push that button, let it be done –
Look out!! Here it comes!
!! EXPLOSIONS !!
Fireball, burning in the sky
Building ever brighter – are we going to die?
Fireball – rising from the ground
Growing ever brighter, why is there no sound?
Fireball!!
Where’s my child,
Where’s my home
Where’s the street I used to know
How can it be?
How can a city disappear?
Fireball! Fireball! Fireball!!
Will I be the only survivor
Lost in this world – a sea of burning of fire!
Will I be the only one – ?
Oh dear God, what have we done?!
Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one –
Let it go! Let it be done –
Look out!! Here it comes!
!! EXPLOSIONS !!
Fireball! – glowing and alive
Pushing out its poison, nothing will survive!
Fireball! – bursting into flames
My body is on fire – But I feel no pain – !
Fireball! Fireball! Fireball!
The BIG Explosion! Smoke and flame effects engulf the dancers as they flail in death agonies, and then flee the stage. As the smoke clears and the roar of the explosion fades, the Story-teller and the small group of children come forward and stand in the smouldering light, watching the dancers go. A child asks a question:
Ch 5 Did you ever fight in a war – ?
ST No – but my father did.
Ch 2 Was it very horrible ?
ST Very, very horrible
Ch 5 Wasn’t it just a little bit exciting too?
ST The idea of war has always excited people. The reality is death, and pain, and loss….
Ch 5 What was the bomb that could blow up a thousand worlds?
ST There wasn’t just one – there were thousands of them. Fifty thousand at one time. We only used them once – at Hiroshima and Nagasaki – you learned about that, right?
Children Yes!
ST Well – people carried on making them for forty years after Hiroshima – bigger and better bombs until they had one that was a thousand times the power of the one that devastated Hiroshima.
Ch 5 What did they look like?
S.T. They weren’t very big: a bomb this size could wipe· out a whole city – ! (holding out his/her arm at shoulder-level)
The children gasp, and smile nervously at each other.
Ch 6 We’d have been all right, – we live in the (suburbs) -(name a well-known suburb local to your town)
S.T. Oh no you wouldn’t. You· see there was radiation. When a nuclear bomb drops, it throw-s up a cloud of poisonous dust which blows all over a wide area, and when you breathe it into your body, you die –
Children Urrghh – !
Ch 7 Why would anyone want to make something like that?
S.T. Well you may ask! – pride, fear, stupidity perhaps, greed – Ch 3 But it was a madness – !
S.T. Yes.
Ch 1 Didn’t everybody see that?
S.T. Most didn’t know how bad it was, and those that did – well, grown-ups have a habit of turning their backs on things they don’t want to know about.
Ch 3 I wouldn’t –
Ch 7 – neither would I – !
S.T. But you’re a child! – you’re children. It took the mind of a child to see beyond the madness of the grown-ups….
Ch 8 The Peace Child?
S.T. Yes – the Peace Child.
Ch 5 Who was the Peace Child?
Music. The introduction to ‘Child for a Day’. The lights fade on the Story-teller’s group. The girl emerges upstage right, the boy downstage left. They drift towards each other as the lighting moves into a garden atmosphere. Both children carry drinks.
Discussion Notes
S C E N E F O U R
The Children Meet
G Hallo
B Hi!
G Is this your garden
B No – I just came from the terrace up there. My parents are with a load of other people – drinking!
G Cocktail Party?
B Reception –
G Same thing. My parents are at one too. Over there…
B Kinda boring, aren’t they? What do they give you to drink?
G Champagne cocktails ( – moving upstage, talking)
B Champagne! All we get is lousy orange juice!
ST (to the audience) We’re in Washington DC in the mid-nineteen eighties. All the nations of that time had things called Embassies where different people could meet and try to be friends. In summer evenings, there used to be several such “meetings” down Embassy Row. While their parents sipped drinks on the terraces, the children would slip away and talk amongs themselves……..
B (coming forward, pointing) Hey Look! See there! – ??
G Where?
B There! See – a black squirrel. That’s unusual
G Oh yes! He’s pretty! We have big fluffy red ones in our country.
B Yeah? There used to be some of those here. They all died out. So where are you from?
G (Hesitantly) I’m – I’m from the Soviet Union…
B (horrified) Russia!!!!??? Are you a COMMUNIST??!!
G Yes I suppose – whatever that means.
B Oh my Lord! You a communist!! This could be dangerous…
G Why? Do I look dangerous?? You are an American, yes?!
B Sure
G So – I could call you a wicked Imperialist!
B (not registering) – but communist! Communists are the pits. They send people to Siberia, bury them in salt mines, and it’s cold and awful –
G – and the men drink Vodka and slap their thighs, and the women are fat and ugly – ?
B Yeah!
G Yes?! (smiling at him – she is not unattractive)
B (laughing) Well I guess they made that bit up…. So – what does a “vicked Impeeriallist” look like?
G He’s a big man with a bushy beard, a stripey hat, and dollar signs all over his coat…. ! (They Laugh)
B Hey look, I’m sorry I called you a communist – It’s OK. I get it all the time from Americans …
G So – what do you really think is a communist?
B (thinking a moment) – Everyone my dad doesn’t like
G What does your father do?
B Works at the Pentagon.
G Oh –
B What’s your’s?
G Military attache ….
B At the Russian Embassy???!! (he whistles) Oh Boy! (going) well it’s been good talking to you, but I’d better get back up there now….
G Don’t go – !
B Come on, you know how it is! If we were caught together, this could be the start of world war three!
G You think I’m a spy? (going after him)
B You could be!
G KGB ? !
B Probably –
G (Changing the subject) Do you think there’s going to be a war between us?
B A what – ? (stopping, turning)
G A war. My father thinks there will be a war soon.
B Between us ? !
G Yes. Don’t you ever think about it? –
B War? – not much.
G This next war will kill every living thing on this planet – doesn’t that worry you?
B Ah! (understanding) – the nuclear! I never really thought about it.
G But it’s our lives at stake – our future! We must think about it!!
B Why? – my Dad’s an expert on all that, – keeping the balance and stuff. Leave it to them – !
G Them!! – they are just piling up more and more weapons. What use is that? – you know what worries me the most: there are so many of these weapons now, on ships, in planes
– even out in space! One day, one of them is bound to go off by accident! Our whole world could die because of a stupid mistake – by a computer or something….
B Well – we’ve got a nuclear shelter….
G Nuclear shelter?! – nuclear shelter!! Ha! – do you believe in those things? – no, when a nuclear war comes, everything will die: we will kill our world.
B (marveling at her concern) It really gets to you, doesn’t it?
G I don’t want to die. I want to live – I want to grow up, have a full life, a job, family, children of my own –
B Yes – !
G – I’d like to be old,_ like my grand-mother, and tell my grand-children stories… I’d like to travel, make friends, meet people – I want, – I want to live!
B Everybody wants to live. I wonder why we let our leaders build these weapons that could kill everything – ?
G It is because we are afraid –
B I’m not frightened of you.
I am frightened. of dying in a nuclear war. Do they tell you what it would be like?
Music starts
G No – but I saw the photographs, – children with burnt faces.
B There was a forest fire once, in Idaho. Animals were running everywhere, and there was this deer came out right near me, and her fur was all on fire, and she was screaming and squealing and howling, rolling about trying to put the flames out. It was horrible – and then a ranger came up and shot her – and she was all right then when she was dead.
Isn’t that what a nuclear war would be like – for millions and millions of people – ?
G – and animals – Yes.
B And there’d be no rangers to shoot them, –
G I don’t want to die like that.
B Neither do I
I want to live, I want to live
The right to live my life
I want to search far and wide
Have the chance to wonder why
I want to learn all the secrets
The world has to give
The chance to see it all
I want to live – I want to live –
I want to feel that I am real
To find a reason for who I am
I want to know that I belong
To learn what’s right and wrong
I want to glide through the air
Like a bird in the sky
I want the chance to show the world
What I am before I die –
INTERLUDE
I want to be, I want to see
A world that’s good and free
I want a home, someone to love
To share their life with me,
I want to have and to hold
A child of my own,
I want to live, I want to love,
The right to grow old –
I want to live, I want to live
The right to live my life
I want to search far and wide
To know the reasons why –
I want to glide through the air
Like a bird in the sky
I want the chance to show the world
What I am before I die….
I want to – Live.
Girl (coming out of her reverie) It mustn’t happen. We must stop it. Boy Us? – what can we do?
G I don’t know. There must be something –
B It’s crazy, isn’t it: in all our story-books, war is made out to be so exciting –
G There’s nothing exciting about killing people… B Yet all our great heroes killed thousands
G Our’s too. My grand-father was a great general –
B Oh yeah? What did he do?
G You see, you are interested! War is exciting! To die is exciting! Peace is boring
B No – !
G It is late, I must go back –
B You never told me your name –
G You never asked: Katya –
B Katya! what a beautiful name. I’m Bobby. So – what you doing for the rest of the evening?
G Nothing – but….
B Why don’t we go out to a movie or something?
G It’s difficult for me. I go home to Russia tomorrow –
B Tomorrow! When do you come back?
G I don’t know. Maybe I go to school in Moscow now….
B So I may never see you again – ?
G Maybe not.
B That’s a pity ‘cos – …. You see I think you and I could do something to stop this stupid nuclear thing.
G Us — ?! I
B Well – if you and I can be friends, why can’t our presidents be friends, ‘cos if they were friends, they wouldn’t need to waste all this money preparing to blow each other up!
G Yes ! !
B But how do we get to tell the Presidents to be friends?
K That’s difficult. (thinking hard)
B (joking) I suppose we could just drop by the White House anp. say “Hi l Mr President – we want you to be friends with that· Russian guy – how about you send him some flowers?”!!
K (serious) Flowers – that’s good. · (her face lights up) I know! – we get on TV!! The evening news: the president must watch the ·evening news – !
B Which channel?
K All channels!! We will tell· everyone that Russia and America can·be friends. It will be the best news the world has ever heard!
B Don’t be ridiculous. News is about people being murdered, strikes, the economy and stuff –
K This is more important than any of that –
B They may not think so.
K So what do.. you want to do? Go to a movie!? – wouldn’t it be more exciting to save the world?!
B OK – !! I’m happy to try anything. (He starts to go to her) Kind of a crazy way to spend your last evening in America!
K Ahgl – what about our parents ?!
B They’ll be OK! When they see us on TV, they’ll know where we are.
K Yes. I hope we have time – (moving to go)
B (stopping her) Of course we have time!! – i we’ve got the rest of our lives!!
They exit quickly. Cross fade to next scene.
DISCUSSION NOTES
S C E N E F I V E
The Media
The pool of light comes up around the story-teller as the children exit. He reads:
S T The children were to find that it wasn’t that easy to get into a TV Studio. The guard at the gate thought they were, mad and told them to run along. But Bobby, and Katya were not ones to give up. They found a way in through the kitchens, and started to search down the corridors for the newsroom….
As this is being read, the stage is being set up for a TV talk show. Two or three large easy chair are set, a low plastic coffee table, glasses of water. If possible, a real video camera is wheeled on with a tripod; operators and floor managers with headphones start moving about busily. , ·
An older chorus member wears a white tuxedo, and a black bow tie with sequins. One of the younger chorus members applies make up on his face liberally. Another is dressed in fishnet stockings and leotard, holding an applause card. A sound man with a boom completes the crew.
The Talk Show Host(TSH) is holding an interview with a shy and beautiful starlet and her gross, pot-bellied film director/Svengali. The lights on them are muted as the spotlight picks out the two children scuttling down the aisle.
Bobby Down here, I think – !
Katya There’s a red light up there –
B Ssssh! There’s somebody coming – (They cower nervously) It’s nobody. (out loud) What do we do when we get there? Ssssssshh!!
K We go straight up and talk to the camera, yes – ?
B Right –
K You get frightened now, – ?
B No! – but we’ve got to be careful, Katya. We’re only going to get one shot at this thing….
K You be terrific, Bobby! Look – here comes someone: I’m going to ask them?
The “Personality” walks down the aisle towards the children.(This may be the story-teller doubling as a well-known personality, or another older chorus member/local celebrity who is known to support the cause of Peace). Bobby hangs back to see what happens:
K Excuse me, do you know where is the studio – Live News?
Personality You mean ‘Friday Night Live’? – certainly, I’m going there myself…. Follow me.
B You mean – now?!
Pers. Yes – come on, I’m late.. .
The Personality leads them out – Bobby following somewhat bewildered but Katya well-pleased with her initiative.
Lights go up brightly on the centre stage area, as a studio interview draws to a close. The Talk Show Host (TSH) talks to a glamorous starlet and a fat, gross Director who is called Mickey
TSH But the gorilla put you down before the end of the picnic?
Mickey (silencing the starlet) I think if your viewers want the answer to that question, they’ll have to buy a ticket and see the movie….
TSH (Ignoring him) Tell me, darling, what do you want to do – now you have finished Mickey’s bizarre epic?
Mickey (cutting in) Gayla’s future plans are undecided at this present time, but you may be sure you’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the future in most revealing parts which will do credit to her great talent. I assure you, Charlie, we are talking about a star of world class here, and I want you to know something else, we.are both great fans of your show, Charlie: I didn’t want her to do talk shows at all, but we both love your show so much, we decided we’d just do this one. (beaming broadly) I knew she would be in safe hands….
TSH (turning to him, charmed by the flattery) Did you, did you really? – well that’s a mighty fine thing for you to say, Harold, thank you. Why don’t you stick around to meet my next guest – you might know her? – Albert Etnstein’s last wife? (an example of the kind of “Personality” to have)
Mickey Oh I knew Albert back in the forties; great actor;I worked on some of his best movies…… Which wife? I knew them all,
TSH (standing up) Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest was not just the wife of a great man, she is also a great personality in her own right. Would you give a big “Friday Night Live” welcome to – Sacheverall Einstein!! ·
The girl in the fishnet stockings leaps up and down waving her “Applause” cue card, as the personality we have· met in the aisle comes on stage, not tremendously enthused with the prospect of being there.
Mickey (Upstaging TSH and embracing the personality first) Sacheverall darling, it’s been years…..
TSH (cutting in) Thank you, thank you – it’s great to have you on the show –
Personality: It’s great to be here. Fine audience you’ve got here tonight – !
TSH They are good, aren’t they! Let’s have a round of applause for the audience – (gesturing to the applause girl) – all right!! Thank you! – thank you very much. (sitting the personality down) Now – I know there’s a question that everybody’s longing to hear the answer to, I must ask you this – I know you won’t mind – Ladies and gentlemen, Sashy and I have been friends for so long – we went to school together! Do you remember…?? – but I digress. The question on the tip of everybody’s tongue is – “Did Albert wear black underwear in the bath?” Did he? (He waits anxiously for an answer)
Pers. Well – ….
TSH Another question, another question!! The last thing I want to do is embarrass you! Is it true that your husband was having an affair with the Marquis de Sade’s grand-daughter the week before he died???!!!
Pers. I really don’t know, but listen, you’re always open to new ideas, aren’t you Charlie – ?
TSH New ideas!!! – OF COURSE!! That’s what this show is all about!
Pers. Well, while I was waiting back there, I had a fascinating conversation with a couple of children. I’d like you to meet them……
TSH Children!! How beautiful. We were only saying a moment ago about how we must look to the young for the new ideas of the future, weren’t we Josh, – bring ’em on, Please!
The children are brought on by a Floor Manager, looking extremely nervous. The personality introduces them…..
Pers. This is Bobby
TSH Good to see you, Bobby – where are you from
B Washington DC
TSH Washington DC !! – the Nation’s Capital, very good! (applause for Bobby)
B – and this is Katya!
TSH Katya, Katya – what a beautiful name! Where are you from… ?
K The Soviet Union.
TSH (stunned silence – intense concern; then he clicks his fingers seeing how to make a virtue out of it) – A little communist on my show! All the way from Russia, Hey! I bet you Merv and Johnny haven’t done that yet! Come on kids, what have you got to say… ?
Pers. Tell the people what you just told me –
TSH – only thirty million of them watching!!
K (battling nerves) Well – you see -(gripping his hand)
B We’re friends –
K Yes!!
B – and our presidents are enemies…..
K – and we want them to be friends!
B – ‘cos if they were friends, we wouldn’t need all those nuclear bombs!
K (filling the si1ence) – they could send each other flowers!!
TSH and the Gross Director exchange ‘glances. The gross director, starts to snigger; TSH breaks the tension by pretending it is the most uproarious joke he’s ever heard, bursting into great gobs of laughter –
TSH – It’s a hit!! –
B No wait – it’s serious. (Enraged by their laughter)
Pers. Hear the boy out.
B It’s very serious! I don’t want to die. There are hundreds of millions of people on this planet: they don’t want to die either, yet just because a few of our leaders want to have these bombs, it looks as though we may be going to – in a horrible nuclear war!
K I don’t want to die – I want to Live!!’ We want all you people out there to rise up and say to your leaders, “No! ! – we don’t want these bombs! We want you to stop making any more of them, and get rid of the ones you’ve already got…. And be Friends!”
B That’s what we came here to say……
The shy starlet, Gayla, who has been excluded so far, listens enrapt. She breaks the silence by applauding the boy; others join her – TSH. and Mickey look totally perplexed, but start to clap anyway. The boy is hugged by Gayla on one side, and Katya, on the other. FADE TO BLACK OUT
Eight members of the chorus(a mix of older and younger), have planted themselves about the theatre, dressed in rain-coats, vests(waist-coats) , and the kind of paraphenalia that identifies them as people of the press – cameras, note pads etc.
In the blackout, wait for total silence, then ring a bevvy of shrill electric bells – the Press Chorus speak into imaginary telephones.(If the theatre is sufficiently dark, pick them out with flashlights; also give then individual bells – the cacophany of bells from different areas of the auditorium is more effective than a single-source sound.)
Who ? What ? Where ?
When ? How’d he?
What the – ? Who the – ?
Communist with a little American boy?
Russian ?!! !
Pentagon!!!
You’re putting me on – !?
Well – (singing) It could be a story!
Perhaps we got a story – Front page story –
Or maybe just some headline news!!
During this, they all hurry up to the stage, where the lights come up to reveal the children chatting informally with the Personality and the Talk show people . The press chorus sweep out all but the children whom they engulf in a deluge of questions:
Who are you – ? Where you from -? Were you paid – ?
Who’s your boss – ? What’s his name – ?
Is she rich – ?
Are you friends ? What’s the game -?
The children are driven literally up against the wall by the barrage of questions – repeated over and over, until one member of the chorus separates:
Nahl – It’s not a story
There’s no meat – no bite! (the others appear to agree)
Yes there is!
So what’s the lead?
– what’s the hook?
It’s obvious!
Romance?
Right!
You mean they’re in love – ?
Of course !
Aa-aahh !!! (singing more eagerly now)
It’s a story – we really gotta story,
Headline story – a human interest story!
The Photograph, the photograph
We’ve got to have a photograph –
They hurry the children round into position –
The photo, the photo – we’ve got to have the photo
Side by side
– closer in
– make ’em smile
– cheesey grins
– out my way
– whatdya say?
– you’re blocking my frame!
– stop being a pain!
The flash cubes pop n a spatter of strobe light. The Press Chorus suddenly goes very silent and studious: they cross· their legs, and sit as though typing, backlin in silhouette.
Down Left: two older chorus members appear equally suddenly: these are Katya’s parents. They stand silently as the children part.
K (noticing her parents) I must go –
B You can’t go now! – we’re just at the beginning!
K You will do better now alone. Good luck (she gives his hand a squeeze in parting) Come to Moscow… Soon! (SHE EXITs)
During this, the press chor. make sounds like the tapping of a type writer.
A tic a tac a shoo-ee
A tic a tac a shoo-ee
A tic a tac a tic a tac a tic a tac a shoo-ee (repeat)
As the boy gapes,watching the departing Katya, he is suddenly surrounded by the press, shouting and waving papers:
Press Chor. Extra, Extra – read all about it
Headlines, headlines – no doubt about it Extra Extra! – read all about it,
Headlines, Headlines! – take it home and shout it!
They hurtle down the aisles, taking their news ;· to the audience. On stage the Story-teller comes forward into the pool of light, where Bobby has finished up. He/she puts an arm around his shoulder and narrates the story from memory:
S.T. So – the children created a media sensation! Overnight they became famous! – their photographs smiled off every morning newspaper, and by nightfall, there wasn’t a person in the land who had not heard of them. One person in particular was quick to take advantage of their popularity….
One of the Press Chorus is walking across the stage, carrying a long print out. He stops, agape, – addled in his tracks by what he reads: he begins to emit little bleating noises in his excitement:
Press 1 Ab – Ab – ee-eekh!! It’s a scoop! Hey! – you guys – ?
The chorus at the back of the hall, turn in the aisles:
Press Chor. What – ?
Press 1 The President!! – the president will hold a press conference tomorrow morning for the little boy…………………… !
Press Chor. What?! (they move back to the stage)
Press 1 A press conference – the president and the little boy!!
Press Chor. WHAT ? ? ! !
Press 1 No holds barred!!
Press Chor. I don’t believe it.
(seizing the boy and starting to sing) He’s a hero – we really gotta hero,
Headline hero, a little bit of front page news.
Newsnight, satellite, print it right I
Broad side, nationwide, any sidel
Front page, centre fold, get it sold
Extra! Extra! – read all about it
Headlines, headlines – no doubt about it!
Extra! Extra! – read all about it I
Front Page !
Build it high!
Print it bold!
Reach the sky!
Make ’em shout –
Make ’em cry !!
“PEACE CHILD MEETS THE PRESIDENT”
The President emerges centre stage with a swish of the star-spangled banner: the press chorus create a tableau, presenting the child to him.
DISCUSSION NOTES
S C E N E S I X
In the Office of the President
The President stands expecting applause. He wears a sober suit with medals pinned to his jacket. He should not in any way resemble a known president: this is not a caricature. He should be a calm, gentle, loving human being, with great personal integrity, and a heavy sense of the responsibilities of his position.
He is flanked by two deferential aides, one carrying a smart file of papers, the other a small black briefcase. He moves to greet the boy to a drum roll or suitable music(the “Star Spangled Banner” perhaps. There should be a sense of the processional about this moment: remember that “Peace Child” is an annual ritual for these children. The entry of the Presidents is always a grand moment for them.)
Boy and President pose briefly for photographs – they do not exchange words. The Television camera is wheeled on for the press conference, accompanied by the same floor manager who gives the president his cues.
The President takes his position behind a large desk which has been set up downstage right. The desk has three telephones on it, one of which is red. The Aides show the boy to a small chair which has been set for him, and go to their positions either side of the president. The flag is draped prominently behind the desk. The first Aide places the file in front of the President and opens it. The Press Chor. stand in a tableau around the boy, their pens and cameras poised. The President addresses the press and the millions that lie beyond them:
US Pres. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I want to welcome you to this informal talk which I hope will help you all understand what we are doing to ensure the security of this great country of our’s. To help me,·I have invited along young – er – (consulting the file) – Bobby here who ,has been asking some extremely intelligent questions on this subject, questions that I believe should not go unanswered. Now, one of the things he’s been saying is that we should “get rid of the nuclear bombs we’ve made and stop making any more…” Well fine, I’d get rid of our bombs tomorrow if the other side would, but they don’t: they keep right on building new ones, bigger and nastier ones,(and if this escalation continues……)
Bobby So do you – (interrupting his flow)
Pres. So do I what – ?
Bobby Keep right on building _ bigger and nastier ones….
Pres. We have to, just to keep ahead in the game!
Katya But sir, it seems to me your “game” is going to destroy this planet. If you and your friends want to play games, please find a less dangerous – one.
The press chorus stifle titters. The President and his aides regard the boy coldly, their smiles frozen to their faces. Coolly, the President lifts another piece of paper and reads from the prepared notes.
Pres. Bobby, our world is a very complex, difficult place. The military establishment is an essential part of the machinery which keeps the seaways free for trade, the airways free for you to go on vacation, and our country free so that you can say the kinds of things you have been saying.
Bobby What does building bombs to blow up the whole world have to do with all that?
Pres. The bomb is the deterrent !
Bobby… I don’t understand: do you mean that if we have the bomb, we won’t use it, but if we don’t have it. – we will?
Pres. Something like that –
The President turns and glares at his aides. Their prepared notes have obviously failed miserably. The Press Chor. find it very funny. The boy is non-plussed. Hastily, one of the Aides selects another paper and hands it to the President. He says, with forced conviction –
Pres. The bomb cannot be un-invented
Bobby Why not?
Pres. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle –
Bobby What bottle?
Pres. It’s just an expression, look – ·don’t you want to talk about Arms Control?
Bobby What?
Pres. (reading) – The Baruch Plan, the ‘Open Skies’ proposal, The McCloy/Zorin agreement, the Zero Option – none of that interest you? (the boy looks blank) – what about the Peace-keeper missile?
Bobby How can a missile keep peace if people want war?
Pres. (looking to his aides who are defied for an answer. The President smiles) OK, Bobby – what did you want to ask me?
Bobby I want to know why you and that Russian guy haven’t had a talk yet?
Pres. (to the aides, mimicking) – ‘Why haven’t me and the Russian guy had a talk yet’? – Hm? – Hmm?!
The Aides confer hurriedly together in whispers, suggesting answers to the President. He listens politely, replacing the papers neatly in the folder, which he then hands to one of them.
Pres. I won’t be needing this – or you.(indicating that they leave) Take the gentlemen of the press with you – give them a drink. I’ll handle this – Child! – on my own.
The Aides leave, ushering out the press chor.
Pres. Now! – why should I have a ‘talk’ with the Russian Leader?
Bobby You could become friends….
Pres. (sitting on the desk, to the boy) Bobby: I think you should know a little about the country you are so keen for us to make friends with. It is a cruel, corrupt dictatorship which manipulates the newspapers, the Television, and even the school system until the people aren’t really people at all. They are robots, believing whatever their leaders tell them to believe.
Bobby You mean like those cults in California … ?
Pres. (eyes narrowing momentarily, but continuing) No – Let me tell you a story about Russia: There was a rich peasant who hid away some grain so that he could feed his family through the long Russian winter. The authorities knew he had the grain, so they kidnapped his son and tortured the boy until he told where the grain was hidden. Then they killed the rich peasant and took the grain. That’s what actually happened. Now hear how the Russians tell the story to kids in schools! – the peasant is a wicked land-owner whose son, with the interests of his dear comrades at heart, goes and tells the authorities where the grain is hidden, so that the police may punish the father for his selfishness, and the grain be retrieved. The Son is a hero in Russian folklore – a hero! – for betraying his own father!!
Bobby That’s terrible –
Pres. It is truly terrible, Bobby – and there are many more terrible things I could tell you about Russia –
Bobby -. but surely nothing worth blowing up the world for?
Pres. What?
Bobby OK – so we’re different. We’ve got different ways of doing things. So? OK! We don’t have to blow up the world just because Russian kids don’t like their daddies.
Pres. You’re missing the point, Bobby! The nuclear bomb is there to deter! · To stop the Russians invading us. You saw how they invaded Afghanistan –
Bobby You think they’re going to invade us?
Pres. They could.
Bobby When?
Pres. Any time –
Bobby This week? – next week?!! Come on! I don’t believe they’re planning to invad. e us! Why don’t you call the guy up and ask him?
Pres. Because he’d say no!
Bobby What would you say if he called you?
Pres. We have plans to invade anybody….
Bobby Well if neither of you are planning to invade each other, then neither of you need the weapons….
Pres. But… He’d be lying!!!
Bobby He’d think you were lying!
Pres. (raising his hands in frustration) Ach, this is getting us nowhere!(he looks longingly for some of his notes)
Bobby (filling the silence) Where’s the button you push to launch the missiles?
Pres. There’s no button: there’s a series of computer commands, locked in this case… (he reaches for the briefcase which has been left beside his desk, pleased for the diversion.) He pulls out a key and goes to unlock the case – )
Bobby Is that the key to the case – ?
Pres. (leaning forward) Yes –
Bobby May I see it? (standing up, taking the key) So this little key gives you the power to start a nuclear war which could destroy our world I
Pres. Not all nuclear wars would be so destructive
Pres. But no nuclear war is winnable! Whatever happens, when you turn this key, millions of people who want to live would die….
Bobby Suppose there was another key, a key which, when you turned it;would lock away all the nuclear bombs in the world forever. Wouldn’t you turn that key?
Pres. (pondering deeply a moment) No, No I wouldn’t…. You see, Bobby, the difference between you and. me is that I know that there are things worth defending in this life –
Bobby Like what?
Pres. Freedom! I would rather die than live in a world where people were told what to think, where to go, what to do! I would want to stop anyone who tried to take that freedom from me with every ounce of my being, and Yes! – I’d want those weapons to help me!
Bobby But would they help? Think of the accidents! How can you talk of freedom when the weapons you are building could take away everyone’s Freedom just to be alive!
Pres. What accidents?
Bobby The moon rising which your computers thought was a Russian Missile attack. That bomb which dropped out of a plane by accident and almost went off in North Carolina…. You know a nuclear war could start by accident any minute!! Why don’t you tell the people?
Pres. The people have been advised of the dangers many times. They elected me to be their president because they believe in the value of the nuclear deterrent in the long term!
Bobby But in the long term, one of them is bound to go off, by mistake if not on purpose….
Pres. – and that you fear could be the end of everything – ?
Bobby Yes !
Pres. (reflective suddenly) – you could be right. You’d better give me back that key…
Bobby Please – throw it away!
Pres. (re-asserting himself) Never! – the people depend on it for their protecti6nl •
Bobby The people need protection from the key. That key is no protection for them]
Pres. Hrmmm. You may feel differently when you get a little older.
Bobby If things go on as they are, I won’t have the chance to get any older. Where will you go when the nuclear war starts?
Pres. (startled) When?!! – If! – If! you mean – ! In the event of a nuclear emergency, I would go to my bunker.
Bobby Would you make a final broadcast to the nation?
Pres. No. TV and radio would be full of civil defense information.
Bobby Would you phone your wife?
Pres. My wife?! my wife would be with me…. I hope, –
Bobby What about your children, your friends, your little grand children? They couldn’t all be with you. Would you call them up to say “Good-bye”?
Pres. Hm. This has gotten to be a pretty morbid conversation.
Bobby But it’s a pretty morbid war you’re planning !! It doesn’t have to end like that – does it?
Think of all the happiness you would bring to the world if you stopped preparing for war and started preparing for Peace! Think! – think what great joy you would bring to the world if you persuaded all the leaders to unite for Peace! You would be remembered as the greatest man who ever lived – the man who gave the world – Peace I!
Music begins
The boy’s words are beginning to work on the president. He looks sad – rather old suddenly. He creates a space by himself and starts to sing:
I’m sorry – I wish I could
But I can’t, it·’s too late,
We’ve gone too far to change our ways
To undo what has been done –
Forgive me – I know you’re right,
It all may happen some future time,
But I am helpless on my own
To undo what has been said –
It’s an Impossible Dream –
One I’d love to share,
An impossible dream,
If only I could dare….
I’m sorry, what can I do?
If only I was more like you,
It seems so simple, it could be done
To move a mountain, to move a sun!
Powerless though I am
To change a world that’s upside down
If only I could see it through
And believe – believe like you –
An Impossible Dream
One I want to share
An Impossible dream –
If only I could dare…..
The President comes forward, deep in thought, not looking at the boy:
Pres. You’re right, Bobby, – it’s been clear to me a long time what’s going to happen to this world of our’s. We’re draining it of resources, polluting it, taking out far more than we can put back. We’re squeezing it dry like a sponge, and the only way it can end is – ‘speuchk l ‘ – the big bang. It probably won’t be in my life-time, but it might be in your’s….
Bobby No –
Pres. You know, Bobby, the saddest thing? – when I look at some of the people around me, their greed, their selfishness, the corruption! I sometimes find myself thinking it’d be no bad thing –
Bobby What?
Pres. To blow up the planet and start over again….
Bobby It’s in your power to blow it up.·
Pres. I know –
Bobby It’s not in your power to start over again. If we want to save the people, we’ve got to save the world first.
Pres. You have to Bobby – I _can’t. I’m up to here in the system and they’d eat me for breakfast if I even tried, but – I want you to know that, in my heart, I’m on your side. I want to live too….. (he looks up at the boy) If there’s anything I can ·do – ?
Bobby (brightly) You can send me to see Katya’s President – !
Pres. (it takes him a moment to register; he laughs)- you mean? Him?? He wouldn’t want to see you?
Bobby Why not? He probably wants to live too. Why don’t you call him up and ask him? – that red phone’s the hot-line to him, isn’t it?
Pres. Yes, but – you are seriously suggesting that I send you to meet with the President of the Soviet Union – ?!
Bobby Yes. I’ll phone him if you like –
Pres. (quickly covering the phone) No.
Bobby What about all those press people out there? What are you going to tell them – ?
Pres. (thinking)You want to see that little girl again?!
Bobby I want you and him to be friends, that’s all
Pres. Hmmm. (composing a text) “This child wishes to carry a message of peace from the children of the United States to the children of the Soviet Union.” Might be an interesting gesture? How does it sound to you?
Bobby Sounds great!
Pres. OK, Bobby, I think you just got yourself a deal. Shall we go face the mob?
Bobby You mean it?
Pres. Sure I mean it! Come back everybody, I’ve got an important announcement ….. (the aides usher back the eager Press Chor.) “Ladies and gentlemen: following a most interesting private talk with me, I have decided to send this child to carry a message of peace from the children of the United States to the children of the Soviet Union. I trust you will give him your. fullest support, as I do.”
He turns and shakes the boy’s hand as he finishes. There is a moment of stunned silence as the magnitude of the boy’s achievement sinks in: then there is tumultuous applause. Women rush up and kiss the boy; the children at the Story-teller’s feet stand up and look on with pride at their friend. Music starts. The President stands back as members of the Large Chorus come forward raising the boy as a hero in the song, “SING!”
All Sing! I do wish the world would sing!
I do wish the world would say
How they love to live and play
How they need each other’s
Peace! – that is all we want to have
That is all we want to share,
Let us live our lives in peace,
Oh let us give this life a chance to –
Love! – love is all I need,
Love is all I want,
Love is everywhere –
Peace! – peace is all I want,
Peace is all I need,
Peace – everywhere
Love! – it will help us all to sing, It will teach us all to dance,
I do wish the world would sing, • I do wish the world would
Say! – how they love to live in Peace How they love to sing and dance,
All we need is one more chance,
Won’t you give us one more chance to – (repeat)
As the song repeats, four of the older chorus members raise the boy and girl on their shoulders, and lead a procession of the cast out through 1 the auditorium in two columns. They stop at the back of the hall, turning about, filling the aisles with their music, – alternating the choruses, thus:
Come into my Joy! Love – Love is all I need,
Come into my Pain! Love is all I want,
Come – you be a friend of mine, Love is everywhere I’ll be the same!
Come into my joy!
Peace – peace is all I want, Come into my pain!
Peace is all I need, Come – you be a friend of mine,
Peace – everywhere! I’ll be the same!
The final refrains are repeated as the houselights come up, the cast spreading their song through the audience, – singing, dancing, clapping their hands as the number builds to a massive celebratory climax
DISCUSSION NOTES
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