1968
An Opera in Three Acts
by Jim Jordan
OVERTURE
ACT ONE
A and B Choruses
Come into our
vinyl nightmare
take a trip to
the end of nowhere
what you see is
hallucination
what you feel is
automation
you’re young and free
you’re on the move
you’re outta sight
you’re in the groove
get the picture
get the image
you’re the stars
here’s the stage
step into our
time machine
tune your mind
to our TV screen
the first of June
New York City
psychedelic streets
all is pretty
ecstatic action
everywhere
there’s something magic
in the air
now you feel it
now you see it
now you know just
how to be it
this is the past
this is the future
this is the end
of human nature
What’s the date?
Nineteen sixty eight
What’s the date?
Nineteen sixty eight
What’s the date?
B Chorus
Valerie Solanas
is open us
Who is she?
wait and see
(spotlight on Valerie)
Val
I’m a tough chick
with a bop cap
don’t mess with me
B Chorus
She means it
Val
I’m a tough chick
with a bop cap
don’t shit with me
B Chorus
Talk dirty
Val
I’m a dyke
I know what I like
don’t get in my way
B Chorus
Dig it
Val
I’m feeling minimal
just like an animal
don’t talk to me
I’m hip
I’m cool
I’m nobody’s fool
don’t talk to me
B Chorus
Cause she don’t like it
Val
Don’t mess with me
B Chorus
Don’t mess with her
Val
Don’t shit with me
B Chorus
Don’t shit with her
Val
I’m a tough chick
with a bop cap
and I got plans
B Chorus
What kind of plans?
Val
I got plans
B Chorus
What kind of plans?
Val
I’m gonna make some noise BC Hey!
I’m gonna shoot some boys BC Hey!
I’m gonna crack some skulls BC Hey!
I’m gonna trim some balls BC Hey!
It’s time for men to pay
The time for women is—TODAY
(enter Viva, perhaps in accompaniment to the chant, doing a “modern dance”, snake-like. Valerie is entranced and draws closer to her.)
Val
ooooo, what’s you’re name
Viva
I’m an enigma
Val
ooooo, tell me please
Viva
They call me Viva
(Viva remains elusive, snakey, as Valerie, throughout this passage, attempts to pin her down. Viva is coy, aggressive, tantalizing, slippery.)
Val
Come here and let me eat out your heart
Is something moving in your dark part?
You feel the icy edge of anger?
Give it to me, it’s only danger.
Love would be a nice slit in your derision.
You’re my savior, hormones is my religion.
You know what you want, it degrades you lover.
You want my strong arm around your neck some more.
Isn’t your hurt lovely, you’re pain so severe.
You need a Daddy, well I’m here.
Greed is living is giving my disease.
Let your pleasure show, I’m here to please.
Andy
I like art
everything is pretty
I like art
everything is great
I like art
people are funny
I like art
people are great
(party may repeat these lines)
A Chorus
Andy, what is art?
Andy
Art is ingenuity
it’s what you do
When you’re tired of puberty
it’s like life
only not so clinical
it’s like sex
only more hygienical
it takes the boring
and makes it sorta formal
it takes the ordinary
makes it not so normal
some people like to live
somewhere in the past
but I’m just a crazy
iconoclast
if it’s now
if it’s for the masses
if it’s like Jackie
and Onassis
if it’s energetic
if it turns the light on
then it’s art
A Chorus
Andy, Andy right on!
Val
ANDY!
(silence)
Val
Andy Warhol
Where’s my play?
A Chorus
What’d she mean?
What’d she say?
Val
You whimp fag
I want my play
I want it now
I want it today
A Chorus
She’s an evil pig
just ignore her
Andy likes her
but we abhor her
she’s the biggest leech
in the city
she’s got no talent
she’s not pretty
she wrote a sick play
about a lesbian
who kills her baby
because it’s a son
she gave it to Andy
to make a movie
but he don’t like it
cause it’s not groovie
she started the society
for cutting up men
they’re all losers
they’re all vermin
now she wants her play back
but she can’t have it
it’s our legal property
that’s just tough shit
Val
Andy Warhol
I want my play
I want it now
I want it today
Morrisey
Valerie be cool
don’t be uptight
just hang loose
it’ll be alright
we have your play
it’s a legal matter
just play it cool
till you feel better
Val
Hey you jew
I’m not talking to you
B Chorus
She wants her play
She wants it on the double
She wants her play
don’t give us no trouble
A Chorus
Shut up Valerie
and lets have a party
this isn’t fun
this isn’t arty
party party party
let’s have a party
party party party
let’s have a party
(This disintegrates into a party, as before, Valerie exits with her chorus).
Everyone
(in beat, chants)
LSD SDS RFK STP PLO LBJ
DDT IBM NEA GMC DEO USA
ESP ABM JFK ITT HHH KKK
THC AMX PTA IUD AMX IDA
SST UFO AOK TCB UAR CIA
(and various permutations of these)
Valerie delivers SCUM Manifesto, without meter, to everyone.
The speech may be found here.
Everyone
Let’s all riot
let’s all riot
let’s all riot tonight
let’s all riot
let’s all riot
let’s all riot tonight
let’s all riot
let’s all riot
let’s all riot tonight
etc.
(Valerie is triumphantly carried out.)
ACT ONE IS DONE
ACT TWO >>>