CHE (To EVA’S FIRST LOVER)
Goodnight and thank you whoever
She’s in every magazine, been photographed, seen
She is known
We don’t like to rush but your case has been packed
If she’s missed anything
You could give her a ring
But she won’t always answer the phone
EVA
Oh but it’s sad when a love affair dies
But we have pretended enough
It’s best that we stop fooling ourselves
CHE
Which means………
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
Goodnight and thank you Emilio
You’ve completed your task, what more can we ask Of you now?
Please sign the book on your way out the door
That will be all If she needs you she’ll call
But I don’t think that’s likely somehow
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
Which means……………
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 her
You’re the same
EVA
There is no soap, no soap like Zazz
No detergent, lotion or oil with such power in the shower
It’s the mother and father of luxury lather
The talk of the bath
The great ointment
One little frolic
With new Zazz carbolic
Your scented
You’ll be sent.
CHE
Goodnight and thank you SeГ±or JabГіn
We are 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
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
Which means……………….
(By now a fairly long line of EVA’s rejected LOVERS has formed)
LOVERS
This is a club I should never have joined
Someone has made us look fools
Argentine men call the sexual shots
Someone has altered the rules
EVA
Fame on the wireless as far as it goes
Is all very well, but every girl knows
CHE
She needs a man she can monopolize
With fingers in dozens of different pies-
LOVERS
Oh but it’s sad when a love affair dies
9. The Lady’s Got Potential
CHE
In June of 43 there was a military coup
Behind it was a gang called the G.O.U.
Who did not feel the need to be elected
They had themselves a party at the point of a gun
They were slightly to the right of Attila the Hun
A bomb or two and very few objected
Just one shell and governments fall like flies
Ka-pow, Die
They stumble and fall
Bye bye
Backs to the wall
Aim high
We’re having a ball
The tank and bullet ruled as democracy dies
The lady’s got potential
She was setting her sights
Of making it in movies
With her name in lights
The greatest social climber
Since Cinderella
Okay she couldn’t act
But she had the right friends
And we all know a career depends
On knowing the right fella to be stellar.
Just one shell and governments lose their nerve
Ka-pow, Die
They stumble and fall
Bye, bye
Backs to the wall
Aim high
We’re having a ball
That’s how we get the government we deserve
Now the man behind the president
Calling the shots
Involved so discreetly in a lot of their plots was Colonel Juan Peron would-be dictator
He began in the army out in Italy so
Saw Mussolini’s rise from the very front row
I reckon he’d do likewise sooner or later
Just one blast and the tear gas falls like rain
Ka-pow, Die
They haven’t a chance
Bye bye
The terrorists advance
But one guy
Doesn’t dirty his hands
Peron was biding time out in the slow lane.
Suddenly a earthquake hit the town of San Juan
Ka-pow, Die
They stumble and fall
Bye bye
Keep away from the wall
But one guy
Was having a ball
The tragedy a golden chance for Peron
He organized a concert with incredible flair
He named off all the victims such a grand affair Politicians, actors, stars of every flavor
It was January 22, 1944 A night to remember yeah that’s for sure
For that’s the night that Peron first met Eva
For that’s the night that Peron first met Eva.
10. CHARITY CONCERT/THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE
(Backstage at the charity concert. EVA by now a successful actress, and PERON, by now one of the most powerful men in the military government, are both present. EVA’s old friend MAGALDI is finishing his act on stage.
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!
(MAGALDI comes off stage and runs into EVA)
EVA
Magaldi?
MAGALDI
Eva Duarte?
EVA
You’re act hasn’t changed much.
MAGALDI
Neither has yours.
AUDIENCE:
Peron, Peron, Peron.
(MAGALDI leaves. The crowd begins to call for PERON. PERON pushes his way onto the stage.)
PERON
I stand here as a servant of the people.
As we come together for a marvelous cause
You’ve shown by your presence, your deeds, and applause
What the people can do true power is your’s
not the government unless it represents the people
CHE
One always picks the easy fight
One praises fools
One smothers light
One shifts from left to right
Politics the art of the possible
11. I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You
(PERON leaves the stage and finds himself face to face with EVA)
EVA
Colonel Peron?
PERON
Eva Duarte?
EVA and PERON I’ve heard so much about you!
I’m amazed for I’m only an actress (a soldier)
Nothing to shout about (One of the thousands)
Only a girl on the air (Defending the country he loves).
EVA
But when you act, the things you do affect us all.
PERON
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.
PERON
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 hear, what you see, and would you be
Good for me too?
I’m not talking of a hurried night
A frantic tumble then 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
PERON
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 then 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 PERON arrive at PERON’s apartment. PERON’s 16 year-old MISTRESS is in bed.)
12. HELLO AND GOODBYE
EVA
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 act 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
Your obviously going through some adolescent phase
MISTRESS
So what happens now?
So what happens now?
Where am I going to?
CHE
You’ll get by you always have before
MISTRESS
Where am I going to?
EVA
Don’t ask anymore
13. PERON’S LATEST FLAME
CHE
At the watering-holes of the well-to-do
I detect a resistance to…
ARISTOCRATS
Precisely!
CHE
…our heroine’s style
ARISTOCRATS We’re glad you noticed
CHE
The shooting sticks of the upper class
ARISTOCRATS
Give her an inch…
CHE
Aren’t supporting a single ass
That would rise for the girl
ARISTOCRATS
…she’ll take a mile
Such a shame she wandered into our enclosure
How unfortunate this person has forced us to be blunt
No, we wouldn’t mind seeing her at Harrod’s
But behind the jewelry counter—not in front
CHE
Could there be in our fighting corps A lack of enthusiasm for…
ARMY
Exactly!
CHE
…Peron’s latest flame?
ARMY
You said it brother
CHE
Should you wish to cause great distress
In the tidiest officer’s mess
Just mention her name
ARMY
That isn’t funny!
Peron is a fool, breaking every taboo
Installing the girl in the army H.Q.
And she’s an actress! The last straw
Her only good parts are between her thighs
She should stare at 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
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
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 center where she’s not qualified
We are forced 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!
(EVA, the glamorous movie star, enters, flanked by HEAVIES.)
CHE (dressed as 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
Whom did you sleep—dine with yesterday?
EVA
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 Peron?
HEAVIES
Goodnight and thank you (They drag CHE away)
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
So get back onto the street!
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
ARISTOCRATS
Things have reached a pretty pass
When someone pretty lower class
Graceless and vulgar, uninspired
Can be accepted and admired
14. A NEW ARGENTINA
PERON
Dice are rolling, the knives are out
Would be presidents are all around
I don’t say they mean harm, but they’d each give an arm
To see us six feet under ground
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
PERON
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
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 unions on your side
MOB
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 dreams
He supports you for he loves you, understands you,
is one of you If not—how could he love me?
MOB
A new Argentina!
The workers’ battle song!
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 Peron—may the nation
Let him save them as he saved me
MOB AND EVA
A new Argentina!
A new age about to begin!
A new Argentina!
We face the world together and no dissent within
PERON
There again we could be foolish
Not to quit while were ahead
I can see us many miles away
Inactive, sipping cocktails on a terrace,
Taking breakfast in bed, sleeping easy,
Doing nothing, 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?
EVA
Peron 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?
ALL
A new Argentina!
The chains of the masses untied!
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people cannot be, and must not be, denied!
CHE
How annoying that they have to fight elections for their cause
The inconvenience—having to get a majority.
If normal methods of persuasion fail to win them applause
There are other ways of establishing authority
ALL
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!
