Vorläufige Fassung - nur zur Ansicht Libretto (engl.)
Musik und Songtexte von
BENJ PASEK & JUSTIN PAUL Buch von
PETER DUCHAN
Bühnenvertrieb in Deutschland:
Musik und Bühne Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Bahnhofstraße 44-46 | 65185 Wiesbaden ----------------------------------------------------------------e-mail:
[email protected] Internet: www.musikundbuehne.de 10/2013
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Musik und Bühne Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Bahnhofstraße 44-46 | 65185 Wiesbaden ----------------------------------------------------------------e-mail:
[email protected] Internet: www.musikundbuehne.de
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13
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DOGFIGHT CHARACTERS EDDIE BIRDLACE, U.S. Marine, Private First Class, careless & lost, from Buffalo, NY ROSE FENNY, diner waitress, dreamer BERNSTEIN, U.S. Marine, Private First Class, inexperienced, from Cleveland, OH BOLAND, U.S. Marine, Private First Class, handsome Southern cad MARCY, brash and crass, nearly toothless prostitute FECTOR, U.S. Marine, Private, not too bright STEVENS, U.S. Marine, Private First Class, cocky GIBBS, U.S. Marine, Private First Class, Midwestern MAMA RUTH TWO BEARS LOUNGE SINGER The following roles may be played by the actors playing FECTOR, STEVENS, GIBBS, MARCY, MAMA, RUTH TWO BEARS, and LOUNGE SINGER, doubling as indicated, or by other actors as desired: BUS PASSENGERS PETE, played by LOUNGE SINGER MARINES SERGEANT, played by LOUNGE SINGER PEGGY, played by MARCY LIBRARIAN, played by RUTH TWO BEARS PRAYING DRAG QUEEN, played by LOUNGE SINGER DINER PATRON, played by LOUNGE SINGER STEVENS’ PARTY DATE, played by GIBBS, as female, in cast of eleven FECTOR’S PARTY DATE (SUZETTE), played by MAMA CHIPPY, played by RUTH TWO BEARS WAITER, played by LOUNGE SINGER BIG TONY, played by LOUNGE SINGER HIPPIES
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DOGFIGHT MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT ONE 1. PRELUDE: TAKE ME BACK……………..……Rose, Birdlace, Ensemble (Pete) a. BEFORE SOME KINDA TIME……………...Boland, Bernstein, Birdlace 2. SOME KINDA TIME……………………………………...All Marines (Sergeant) a. SOME KINDA TIME (PLAYOFF)….…………………………..Orchestra 3. WE THREE BEES………………………..…………..Birdlace, Boland, Bernstein 4. HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’…………………………Women, All Marines (Librarian, ………………………………………………………...Praying Drag Queen, Alice) a. HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ (PLAYOFF)…………………………..Orchestra b. GIVE WAY (AT THE DINER)..………………….Rose (Mama, Birdlace) 5. COME TO A PARTY……………………………...……...Birdlace, Rose (Mama) 6. NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL…………………………...................Rose a. TRANSITION TO THE STREET……………….........................Orchestra 7. COME TO A PARTY (REPRISE)…….……....Rose, Birdlace, Boland, Bernstein, Fector, Stevens a. WALK TO THE PARTY………………………………………..Orchestra b. NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL (REPRISE)......…………….Rose c. BEFORE THE PARTY………………………………………...……..Rose DOGFIGHT SEQUENCE…………..……………..Lounge Singer, Boland, Bernstein, …………………………….Stevens, Fector (Birdlace, Rose, Marcy, Ruth Two Bears) 8. BLAST OFF!.....................................................................................Lounge Singer a. THAT FACE………………Lounge Singer, All Marines (except Birdlace) b. IT’S JUST A PARTY…………………………………...….Lounge Singer 9. DOGFIGHT...........………………………….………………….…......Marcy, Rose a. IT’S JUST A PARTY (REPRISE)…………………….……Lounge Singer b. TRANSITION TO ROSE’S ROOM……………………………..Orchestra 10. PRETTY FUNNY………………………………………………………….....Rose ACT TWO 11. ENTR’ACTE……………………………………………………………..Orchestra 12. HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE……..…All Marines (Chippy) a. BACK TO ROSE…...……………………………………………Orchestra 13. FIRST DATE/LAST NIGHT..……….…..………………………...Rose, Birdlace a. FANCY RESTAURANT MUSIC……………………………….Orchestra b. FIRST DATE/LAST NIGHT (REPRISE)……………….…Rose, Birdlace 14. HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE (Reprise)…Bernstein, Boland a. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE………………………………………Orchestra 15. BEFORE IT’S OVER….………………………...…………………….….…..Rose !" AFTER BEFORE………………………………………….……..Orchestra#
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16. GIVE WAY………………..……………………….….Ensemble, Rose (Birdlace) 17. SOME KINDA TIME (REPRISE)………………………..…...All Marines (Rose) a. WAR SEQUENCE (PART I)………………………………….All Marines b. WAR SEQUENCE (PART II)…………………………………All Marines c. TRANSITION: TAKE ME BACK………….………...………...…Women 18. COME BACK….……………………………………………………….....Birdlace 19. FINALE: TAKE ME BACK…………………………..Ensemble (Rose, Birdlace) 20. BOWS……………………………………………………………………Orchestra 21. EXIT MUSIC…………………………………………………………….Orchestra
SETTING DOGFIGHT is set in 1967 and, in memory, 1963. In 1967, Eddie Birdlace, recently discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, rides a Trailways bus to San Francisco. As he recalls the last day/night he spent stateside before deploying four years earlier, the setting shifts and his memories come to life. Most of the action takes place in various locations in the city of San Francisco on November 21, 1963.
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 ACT ONE. SCENE ONE. (Lights reveal ROSE FENNY singing and playing her guitar. The “Prelude” exists in a time outside of time, a dreamy limbo where memories take human form.) [Song: “Prelude: Take Me Back” – ROSE, BIRDLACE, ENSEMBLE] ROSE DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA SOME KINDS OF TIME ARE REAL QUICK TO LEAVE YOU SOME KINDS OF TIME YOU CAN’T DREAM AWAY (EDDIE BIRDLACE appears, damaged, broken. He shares this dream-like space.) SOME KINDS OF TIME ARE SET TO DECEIVE YOU BIRDLACE/ROSE SOME KINDS OF TIME REPEAT AND REPLAY ROSE OH A SMELL, A SOUND CAN TAKE YOU BACK BIRDLACE/ROSE OH TAKE ME BACK ROSE A SMELL, A SOUND A MEMORY YOU FOUND CAN TAKE YOU BACK ENSEMBLE OH, TAKE ME BACK BIRDLACE/ROSE TAKE ME BACK ENSEMBLE DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA
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Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA (Eventually, we find BIRDLACE on a Trailways bus. ROSE disappears. It’s 1967. PASSENGERS sleep in a midnight hush. BIRDLACE looks out the window, lost in his own thoughts. His seatmate, PETE, watches him.) PETE You a Marine? (BIRDLACE is momentarily startled out of his daze.) I see you’re wearing the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Semper Fi, right? Vietnam? BIRDLACE Yes, sir. PETE I was an Army man myself—Korea. (No response from BIRDLACE.) This your first trip to Frisco? BIRDLACE (after a moment) I been before—just once—back in ’63. PETE Make the trip about once a year. Still can’t stand this long bus ride. What are you, a Sergeant? BIRDLACE Staff. PETE Good for you. I was working my way up to Corporal by the time I got out. Hey, that’s quite a tattoo you got. Bumblebees, right? (BIRDLACE looks at the tattoo on his forearm: three bees.) BIRDLACE …Yeah. Three of ‘em.
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(BOLAND and BERNSTEIN appear—not as passengers in 1967, but as they were, uniformed, in 1963.) PETE Do they do anything? They don’t fly? BIRDLACE No, sir. PETE I got one that dances. (pats his belly) This is no place to be showing off my belly, or else I’d let you see her moves. So what’re they supposed to mean? BIRDLACE (with effort) Don't mean nothing, sir. Just something we did, my buddies and me. There’s Boland… [Song: “Before Some Kinda Time” –BOLAND, BERNSTEIN, BIRDLACE] BOLAND SOME KINDA TIME SOME KINDA HAZE WHEN WE HIT IT HARD AND LIT THE SKY ABLAZE BIRDLACE (“stein” rhymes with “fine”) …and there’s Bernstein… BERNSTEIN SOME KINDA TIME SOME KINDA HUM AS IF SOMEBODY’S CALLIN BIRDLACE …and me, I’m Birdlace. PETE (gets it) Oh, I get it. The Three Bees. BERNSTEIN/BOLAND SOME KINDA TIME
PETE (under, fading out)
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 SOME KINDA MAZE TO A YOUTH OF BENDED TRUTH AND BETTER DAYS
8 Bet your bees can’t dance the hula, can they? She’s bigger than she used to be though, that’s for sure.
BERNSTEIN/BIRDLACE/BOLAND SOME KINDA TIME CUT ALL OUR STRINGS WE’LL BE KINGS FOR AN EVENING WHAT D’YA SAY TO SOME KINDA TIME? (A new rhythm and feeling take over. Muscular, punchy. Bright morning sun. The bus becomes a military bus, now filled with uniformed MARINES on their way to San Francisco. November 21, 1963. An explosion of energy. In addition to the overlapping dialogue below, all MARINES ad lib. Noisy, rowdy, boisterous energy.) [Song: “Some Kinda Time” – ALL MARINES] BERNSTEIN Ante up, ante up if you got it! BIRDLACE Gonna be a big one. BERNSTEIN Twenty-six assholes so far. BOLAND You’re gonna turn to stone when you take a look at my girl. BERNSTEIN Says who? BOLAND Frisco, here we come! BIRDLACE YOU BETTER CALL THE COPS AND GIVE ‘EM WARNING BOLAND SOUND A SIREN! BERNSTEIN BANG THE BELL!
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 BOLAND A MEAN MARINE ROLLS IN THIS MORNING BOLAND/BIRDLACE ON HIS WAY TO RAISE SOME HELL! BERNSTEIN NO SWEEPIN’ US OUT BIRDLACE OR KEEPIN’ US QUIET THREE BEES TRY IT! BERNSTEIN THROUGH THE GOLDEN GATE ACROSS THE WATER BIRDLACE SEE US COMIN’? THREE BEES HIT THE DIRT! BIRDLACE LOCK YOUR DOOR AND HIDE YOUR DAUGHTER BOLAND WOULDN’T WANT HER GETTIN’ HURT! THREE BEES GOIN’ ALL IN THROWIN’ A DOGFIGHT BIG NIGHT! THE PARTY’S ON WE GOT TILL DAWN WE’LL BE HAVIN’ SOME KINDA TIME SOME KINDA TIME LIVIN’ IT LARGE MAKIN’ NOISE BECAUSE THE BOYS ARE NOW IN CHARGE
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SOME KINDA TIME CUT ALL OUR STRINGS WE’LL BE KINGS FOR AN EVENING GONNA BE HAVIN’ SOME KINDA TIME (FECTOR, STEVENS, and GIBBS approach BIRDLACE, BOLAND, and BERNSTEIN on the bus.) STEVENS Ladies. I want you to meet Private Fector. BERNSTEIN Fecked her? I hardly knew her. (BOLAND swats BERNSTEIN. MARINES laugh it up.) FECTOR (cuts through the group’s noise) Stevens tells me you guys are sponsoring a little get-together. The dogfight. I want in. BIRDLACE You know the rules? FECTOR The Marine with the ugliest date wins the pot. BOLAND No lookers, no hookers, no retards. GIBBS So I can't bring your mother. (Rowdy laughter.) BIRDLACE You break the rules, you’re disqualified. You got that? FECTOR Loud and clear. BERNSTEIN You got the fifty bucks? FECTOR (offers a wad of cash) Sure do.
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13
BOLAND Looks like an outstanding candidate to me. Out-fuckin’-standing! (The MARINES, preparing to take the city by storm, change into their civvies.) BIRDLACE WE’RE GONNA RUN THE STREETS AND FIND SOME TROUBLE BERNSTEIN ONE LAST NIGHT WE DON’T FORGET FECTOR/STEVENS DRINK SO DEEP WE’RE SEEIN’ DOUBLE ALL MARINES ONE LAST NIGHT WITH NO REGRET! FECTOR/GIBBS ANYTHING GOES BOLAND/STEVENS SLOPPY AND BOOZIN’ CRUISIN’ (Amidst the MARINES’ rambunctious horseplay, ad lib, we focus on BIRDLACE.) BIRDLACE A BAND OF BROTHERS YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN PRIDE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU’D FEEL THE SHITTY LIFE THAT YOU WERE LIVIN’ BARELY SEEMS LIKE IT WAS REAL ‘CAUSE WHEN IT GETS ROUGH YOUR BUDDIES’LL PULL YOU RIGHT THROUGH YOU GET THAT AND MORE WHEN YOU JOIN THE CORPS YOU’RE IN STORE FOR SOME KINDA TIME (The rest of the MARINES join BIRDLACE, excitement building.) ALL MARINES SOME KINDA TIME DON’T THINK IT THROUGH
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Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 BIRDLACE/BOLAND ‘CAUSE YOUR GUT WILL TELL YOU WHAT YA GOTTA DO ALL MARINES SOME KINDA TIME CUT ALL OUR STRINGS WE’LL BE KINGS FOR AN EVENING DON’TCHA MISS OUT ON SOME KINDA TIME (SERGEANT appears.) GIBBS Ten-hut. (SERGEANT barks at the MARINES.) SERGEANT Shipping out tomorrow morning, 0500. It’s your last night. Have at ‘em, boys. Dismissed! (He goes. Now the MARINES are on their own, dressed and ready, unstoppable.) ALL MARINES GOODBYE TO CHILI FRIES TO APPLE PIES AND DINAH SHORE SO LONG TO WAFFLE CONES NEW TWILIGHT ZONES AND LESLEY GORE FAREWELL TO CHEVROLETS TO WILLIE MAYS THE CORNER STORE HATS OFF TO YOU RED WHITE AND BLUE SO RAISE YOUR CUP
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Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13
BIRDLACE/GIBBS/STEVENS AND LIVE IT UP BERNSTEIN AND LIVE IT UP BOLAND/FECTOR AND LIVE IT UP ALL MARINES AND LIVE IT UP A WILD RIDE ON MY LAST NIGHT STATESIDE (MARINES descend upon the city, chugging beers at the first bar they see.) THE WHOLE DAMN TOWN IS OURS TO BORROW NOTHIN’ STANDIN’ IN OUR WAY THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD MIGHT CHANGE TOMORROW SO WE GO FOR BROKE TODAY MAKIN’ IT COUNT TAKIN’ THAT ONE SHOT WE GOT BERNSTEIN/FECTOR/GIBBS/STEVENS YA JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE THE NIGHT MIGHT GO BIRDLACE/BOLAND HERE’S TO JFK ALL MARINES AND THE USA SOME KINDA TIME TAKE WHAT WE OWN WITH A “WHAM, BAM, THANK YOU MA’AM” YOUR BOYS HAVE GROWN SOME KINDA TIME
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CUT ALL OUR STRINGS WE ARE KINGS FOR AN EVENING WHADDAYA SAY TO SOME KINDA FECTOR/GIBBS/STEVENS TIME
THREE BEES NO ONE’LL MIND A GOTTA GO FIND A LEAVIN’ BEHIND A
ALL MARINES GONNA BE HAVIN’ SOME KINDA TIME (BUS DEPOT. MARINES exit, leaving BIRDLACE, BOLAND, and BERNSTEIN, who stick together.) BIRDLACE (natural leader, gets their attention) All right, gang: fall in! (BOLAND and BERNSTEIN immediately stand at attention.) Roll call: Birdlace! BOLAND Boland! BERNSTEIN Bernstein! (BOLAND and BERNSTEIN line up. BIRDLACE “inspects” them, straightening a collar here, a sleeve there. A parody of military precision.) BIRDLACE One question, men: are we assholes or Marines? BOLAND & BERNSTEIN Sir, assholes, sir! BIRDLACE Wrong! We’re Marines! And tonight we got a special mission! BOLAND & BERNSTEIN Sir, yes, sir! BIRDLACE
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Tell me, Bernstein, just what is that mission?! BERNSTEIN To get me laid, sir! (Wrong answer.) BIRDLACE ‘Scuse me? BERNSTEIN I want a handful of grade-A San Francisco tit, sir, and I want it now! (BIRDLACE enlists BOLAND’s help getting BERNSTEIN back on track.) BIRDLACE Boland— BOLAND Sir! BIRDLACE —will you kindly remind this bottom-feeding waste of oxygen: what were our orders?! BOLAND To find us some droolin’ and slobberin’ dogs, sir! BIRDLACE Attaboy. (To the side, PEGGY, a buxom blonde with looks and attitude to spare, carries a large suitcase. BERNSTEIN gawks, eyes bulging.) BERNSTEIN Target located, 10 meters. BIRDLACE There will be distractions. (BERNSTEIN approaches PEGGY, laying it on thick, largely clueless about women.) BERNSTEIN (stiff, put on) What seems to be the problem, Miss? PEGGY Pardon?
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 BERNSTEIN (takes her suitcase, with effort) Let me help you with that. PEGGY (flattered, flirtatious) Well, someone ate his spinach today, thank you! Are you boys with the armed forces? BERNSTEIN (salutes, proud) United States Marines, reporting for duty. PEGGY You make it sound so serious. BERNSTEIN Your protection is something I take very seriously. BIRDLACE (interrupts, takes PEGGY aside, away from BERNSTEIN) It’s a shame we have to cut this meeting so short. (BOLAND holds back BERNSTEIN, keeping him from PEGGY.) BOLAND You see, Miss, we’re on a special mission, classified as hell. BIRDLACE So you better go now—it ain't safe here. BOLAND I’m sorry, that’s all we're at liberty to say. PEGGY Oh my. Well, good luck to you boys… (She gives them a weak, winking salute, then goes. BERNSTEIN is frustrated by this missed opportunity.) BERNSTEIN Dammit, I couldda had her. BIRDLACE There'll be other girls, after the dogfight. BERNSTEIN With a figure like that?
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BIRDLACE Frisco’s lousy with ‘em. Keep your head in the game. And the game ain’t over ‘til the fat lady barks. BOLAND We ain’t sending you over there a boy. You’ll get yours. BIRDLACE You’ll get more. ‘Cause we’re no ordinary, regular Marines. What are we?! BOLAND Sir, the Three Fuckin’ Bees, Sir! (BIRDLACE and BOLAND launch into their group’s upbeat song of friendship, hoping to get BERNSTEIN realigned with the mission.) [Song: “We Three Bees” – BIRDLACE, BOLAND, BERNSTEIN] BIRDLACE/BOLAND WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING (No response from BERNSTEIN. BIRDLACE and BOLAND try again.) WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING BERNSTEIN (acquiesces, unenthusiastic at first) BZZZZ BZZZZ BIRDLACE AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING THREE BEES BZZZZ BZZZZ BERNSTEIN (now he’s getting on board) WE THREE BEES LIVIN’ SEMPER FI THREE BEES BZZZZ BZZZZ THICK LIKE BLOOD AND WE’RE DO OR DIE BZZZZ
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BZZZZ CAN’T YOU HEAR IT BOYS? CAN’T YOU HEAR THAT NOISE? COMIN’ COMIN’ COMIN’ COMIN’ BIRDLACE WE THREE BEES ARE FOREVER YOUNG THREE BEES SO WATCH YOUR BACK OR YOU MIGHT GET STUNG BIRDLACE Happy hunting, boys. [Song: “Hey, Good-Lookin’” – WOMEN, ALL MARINES] (BIRDLACE, BOLAND, and BERNSTEIN separate, spread across the city in their search. WOMEN appear. Odd, quirky WOMEN. A flurry of energy. Other MARINES appear, chasing WOMEN, hunting for the perfect date.) WOMEN DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT DOOT (During the song, MARINES direct their sung and spoken lines out, to unseen WOMEN.) BERNSTEIN HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ YOU’RE SO OUTTA SIGHT I just had to stop and say hello. BOLAND HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ WHATCHA DOIN’ TONIGHT? Don’t do it for me, do it for your country! GIBBS HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ HOW’S ABOUT A DATE? ¿Dónde está la biblioteca? FECTOR/STEVENS
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HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ PICK YOU UP AROUND EIGHT STEVENS Hey! FECTOR Where you runnin’ off to? ALL MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE) HEY, HEY, HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ WHAT’S A GUY TO DO? SAY, SAY, SAY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ SEARCHED THE WHOLE WORLD THROUGH I BEEN LOOKIN’ FOR YOU (Another flurry of energy as MARINES chase unsuspecting WOMEN across the city.) WOMEN DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT (Suddenly, stillness amidst the chaos as we focus in on BIRDLACE’s search. He sits on a park bench next to an odd duck LIBRARIAN. He pushes aside the newspaper she’s reading, demands her attention.) BIRDLACE Where is he? LIBRARIAN Who? BIRDLACE Your husband. LIBRARIAN I don’t have a husband. BIRDLACE So where’s your fiancé? LIBRARIAN I’m not engaged. BIRDLACE Boyfriend?
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LIBRARIAN No. BIRDLACE Wait a minute—a pretty thing like you—no husband, no fiancé, no boyfriend. Well, if you ain't a lesbian, my name's Eddie Birdlace. (LIBRARIAN rejects him, annoyed. She escapes. Another flurry of energy, MARINES growing more desperate. Now the city seems increasingly overrun with MARINES chasing WOMEN.) WOMEN DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT DOO STEVENS HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ I’M BRAND NEW IN TOWN BERNSTEIN So there I am at lunch with Perry Como… BOLAND HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ DON’T GO TURNIN’ ME DOWN FECTOR And now the cancer’s spreading to my liver… BERNSTEIN HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ WE COULD HAVE SOME FUN
FECTOR HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ YOU COULD BE THE ONE
GIBBS/STEVENS HEY, GOOD LOOKIN’ TOOK MY BREATH AWAY BOLAND HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ YOU COULD MAKE MY DAY
BERN/GIBBS/STEV HEY,
BOL/FECT HEY,
HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ WHAT’S A GUY TO DO?
HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13
21 WHAT’S A GUY TO DO?
BERN/GIBBS/STEV SAY,
BOL/FECT SAY,
ALL MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE) SAY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ SEARCHED THE WHOLE WORLD THROUGH I BEEN LOOKIN’ FOR— (We focus again on BIRDLACE’s search. Church pews. A large “woman” kneels, hands obscuring her face, veiled and dressed conservatively for church. Next to her, BIRDLACE kneels, just completing his own “prayer.”) BIRDLACE I can’t believe it: it's a miracle. I prayed for you and here you are. You’re everything I want in a girl. PRAYING DRAG QUEEN (basso) And more. BIRDLACE Fuck. ALL MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE) HEY GOOD-LOOKIN’ GOT ME ON MY KNEES HEY GOOD-LOOKIN’ GOT ME BEGGIN’ YA PLEASE BOLAND HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN'
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN'
BERNSTEIN HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
STEVENS HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOOD-
FECTOR
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
GIBBS
WOMEN DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT
HEY, GOOD- DOO DOOT LOOKIN’ DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT HEY, GOOD- DOO DOOT LOOKIN’ DOOT DOOT DAH DOO
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 LOOKIN’ I THINK I SAW YOU AT CHURCH LAST SUNDAY
YOUR DAD ATTENDED MY BARMITZVAH
I’D BE THE LUCKIEST GUY
I'M PRETTY SURE
22 HEY, GOODLOOKIN’
DOOT DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT
YOU AND ME A SECOND ME AND YOU COUSIN
DOO DOOT YOU AND ME THE KENNEDYS BABY DOOT DOOT BABY THAT’S A FACT WON’T YOU DAH DOO DOOT
YOU FOXY HOLD ON! LITTLE THING HOLD ON!
BABY WHERE YA RUNNIN' TO? DON'T BE SHY
WELL MAYBE I COULD GET GET YOUR NUMBER
BABY WHERE BABY WHERE YOU AND YA RUNNIN' YA RUNNIN' ME BABY TO? BABY TO? BABY ALL I'M ASKIN' ALL I'M ASKIN' YOU IS YOU IS
WAIT JUST A MINUTE HONEY WON'T YOU
BABY WHERE YA RUNNIN' TO? DON'T BE SHY
YOU AND ME ME AND YOU
BERNSTEIN LET ME TAKE YOU OUT TONIGHT
DOO
BERNSTEIN/BOLAND LET ME TAKE YOU OUT TONIGHT
DOO
BERN/BOL/FECTOR/GIBBS LET ME TAKE YOU OUT TONIGHT
DOO
DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT
DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT
WOMEN
BERN/BOL/FECTOR/GIBBS/STEV LET ME TAKE YOU OUT ALL MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE) HEY, HEY, HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ THREE MARINES WHAT’S A GUY TO DO?
TWO MARINES WHAT’S A GUY TO DO?
HEY, HEY, HEY! ALL MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE) SAY, SAY, SAY, GOOD-LOOKIN’ SEARCHED THE WHOLE WORLD THROUGH SEARCHED THE WHOLE WORLD THROUGH AND I BEEN LOOKIN’ FOR
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FOUR MARINES TWO MARINES (INCLUDING BIRDLACE)
WOMEN
YOU
YOU AND ME BABY
DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT
BABY WHERE YA
DOO DOOT DOOT DOOT DAH DOO DOOT
I BEEN LOOKIN’ FOR YOU
I BEEN LOOKIN’ FOR YOU
RUNNIN’ TO? I BEEN LOOKIN’ FOR YOU ALL MARINES
LOOKIN’ FOR YOU Shit! (The MARINES are so far unsuccessful. By the end of the number, the Diner has materialized around BIRDLACE. His search continues.)
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ACT ONE. SCENE TWO. (A typical diner. BIRDLACE flirts with MAMA while she works. A PATRON sits at the counter. In the corner, ROSE plays her guitar quietly, her back to us, unnoticed at first, working on a new composition.) MAMA What can I get you? BIRDLACE Haven't had a good cup of coffee since before basic training. Bet a pretty thing like you could fix that. MAMA (unamused) Coming right up... (She moves away to fetch his order. BIRDLACE looks around the diner, desperate for any potential dates. Time is running out.) [Song: “Give Way” – ROSE] ROSE (figuring out chords as she plays, struggling) A FLOWER BOWS TO AUTUMN CHILL OCTOBER RIVER, FROZEN STILL (BIRDLACE notices ROSE. Swivels in his seat to watch her.) GIVE WAY GIVE WAY— BIRDLACE (approaches) Wow. (ROSE stops, turns. We see her for the first time. She is shy, awkward, perhaps overweight, and not quite comfortable in her own skin, but she is lit from within. BIRDLACE tries to mask his desperation. ROSE could be his last shot at snagging a date.) Please, don’t stop. You sound real good. ROSE Gee, thanks. BIRDLACE
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What’s that song you’re playing? I just love that kind of music. ROSE You do? BIRDLACE It’s all I listen to. Actually, that song reminds me a lot of…of Jim Swain’s music. You know what I mean? ROSE Swain? BIRDLACE Oh wow, Jim Swain? ROSE …I don’t know him. BIRDLACE Well he’s just—you’ve heard of Dylan, right? Bob Dylan? (ROSE laughs: of course she knows Dylan.) Jim Swain’s music is a major influence on Dylan. ROSE I thought Woody Guthrie was Dylan’s influence. BIRDLACE Well, yeah. There’s Woody—and then there’s Jim Swain. In fact, I think Swain and Guthrie wrote some songs together. If I’m not mistaken. ROSE I always thought Woody wrote pretty much on his own. BIRDLACE Sometimes he did, he did, most definitely. But sometimes he would, you know, get together with Swain. In other words, Woody would write the words and Swain wrote the music. Other times, they’d switch and Swain wrote the words and Woody wrote the music. See what I’m saying? Like that famous song of his. You know the one I mean. ROSE “This Land Is Your Land?” BIRDLACE “This Land Is Your Land.” Exactly. Yeah, that was an original by Swain and Guthrie.
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ROSE I’ve got the sheet music upstairs. I don’t remember seeing his name. BIRDLACE He was a ghostwriter. Sometimes. In fact, most of the time. ROSE It’s funny, I feel like I still should’ve— MAMA (interrupts) A little help, Rose. Gotta get this place set up for tomorrow. ROSE Sorry, Mama. (MAMA hands ROSE a large bag of sugar, then tends to her own work elsewhere. ROSE turns to BIRDLACE.) So…I gotta get back to work. MAMA Better drink up, soldier, we’re closing soon. (ROSE begins moving from table to table, refilling sugar jars. BIRDLACE follows, overeager.) BIRDLACE You got a last name, Rose? I wanna look for you in the record store. ROSE You won’t find me. No one’s paying to hear me sing. (She moves past him to refill another table’s sugar jar.) BIRDLACE That’ll change, trust me. ROSE You think so? BIRDLACE Abso-fuckin’-lutely. (She’s surprised by his language.) Hey, my apologies. I’m just a dumb jarhead—I’m not used to ladies being around.
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(ROSE moves to another table. BIRDLACE reaches for the bag of sugar.) Lemme help you with that. ROSE It’s okay. (ROSE holds onto the bag, fills another glass jar. An awkward, momentary silence.) What’s a jarhead? BIRDLACE Oh, that’s just what we call ourselves. I’m a Marine, see? (BIRDLACE hands her his military I.D. card. She looks it over.) It’s okay if we say it, but if a squid says it—you know, a sailor—then it’s fist city. But it’s all right if a woman says it. ROSE (reading his I.D. card) Edward Baines Birdlace. (She laughs.) BIRDLACE Okay, okay, it's not that funny. ROSE I'm sorry, it's a nice name. BIRDLACE Thanks. ROSE Gosh, you look so angry. BIRDLACE Not angry. Just ready. ROSE Ready for what? BIRDLACE Ready for…hell, for anything, I guess.
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ROSE Date of Birth, November 26, 1942. Tuesday’s your birthday. BIRDLACE Yup. The big two-one. Couple more years and my age’ll match my I.Q. ROSE Well, happy birthday, Birdlace, Eddie. (He smiles. She does too. A moment, then BIRDLACE goes for it, attempts to seal the deal.) BIRDLACE I better shove off soon. Gotta get to a party. ROSE A birthday party? BIRDLACE Naw, just sort of a regular party. (“a sudden idea”) Say, maybe you’d like to go with me? ROSE A party—oh well I, actually, I’m still on the clock. I got a lot of sidework. BIRDLACE Don’t bullshit me, Rose, I’m a Marine. Marines are jerks. Everybody knows that. If you don’t wanna go just say so. ROSE No, I don’t think you’re—it’s just—I mean, I just met you. [Song: “Come to a Party” – BIRDLACE, ROSE] BIRDLACE WELL, YOU KNOW MY BIRTHDAY NOW SHOWED YOU MY MIDDLE NAME SEE I’M AN OPEN BOOK, HAVE A LOOK THIS AIN’T NO PICKUP GAME (She reacts, shy.) I HEARD YOUR PRETTY VOICE THEN WE SAW EYE TO EYE
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 ON ALL THAT MUSIC STUFF NOT ON FLUFF WE DIDN’T HAVE TO TRY NOW ISN’T THAT RARE? THAT KINDA CONNECTION SO WHY NOT COME TO A PARTY WITH ME? WHY NOT COME TO THIS PARTY? A FIVE-PIECE BAND I’LL TAKE YOUR HAND, ROSE, AND TWIRL YOU AROUND BUY YOU A DRINK DON’T STOP TO THINK, SAY YES COME TO A PARTY WITH ME JUST SAY YES ROSE I dunno, Eddie. BIRDLACE My old man’s always saying, you can’t steal second base with your foot on first. Sometimes you gotta gamble, Rose. You can bet on me. BORN IN BUFFALO TO HUMBLE CHRISTIAN FOLKS MY OLD MAN RAISED ME RIGHT REAL POLITE NO TELLIN’ DIRTY JOKES A WALLY CLEAVER TYPE ATE EV’RY BRUSSELS SPROUT MY MAMA’S PRIDE ‘N JOY GOLDEN BOY YOUR AV’RAGE EAGLE SCOUT NOW LOOK IN THESE EYES THEY AIN’T GONNA HURT YOU SO WHY NOT COME TO A PARTY WITH ME? C’MON IT’S JUST A PARTY
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A GREAT EXCUSE TO CUT IT LOOSE, ROSE, AND DO WHATCHA FEEL Hey, JUST FOR A NIGHT NO HOLDIN’ TIGHT LET GO LET’S GO COME TO A PARTY WITH ME Gonna be a real nice time, c’mon, whaddaya say? ROSE IF I GO WELL, YA KNOW MA WOULD BE HERE ON HER OWN SHE WOULD DIE I COULD LIE I COULDN’T LIE TO MY— IF I GO SHE WOULD KNOW LOOK, I’M NOT READY WE'RE CLOSING, AND EDDIE, I'VE STILL GOTTA WORK (BIRDLACE grabs a rag from her.) C'MON, DON’T BE A JERK GIVE IT BACK, EDDIE, STOP! LOOK, I STILL GOTTA MOP PLUS I DON’T REALLY DRINK SEE, I REALLY DON’T THINK I CAN (BIRDLACE begins to “help” ROSE with chores, carelessly wiping surfaces, chairs— accomplishing little in terms of actual cleaning but more in terms of charming ROSE.) BIRDLACE COME TO THIS PARTY WITH ME LOOK, YOU CAN’T MISS THIS PARTY YOU’LL MEET MY FRIENDS AND WHEN IT ENDS, ROSE, I’LL RACE YOU RIGHT HOME OR WHY CAP THE NIGHT? WE’LL GO GRAB A BITE
ROSE COME I CAN’T JUST GET UP AND GO MAMA NEEDS ME AROUND I’D LIKE TO BUT I—
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TABLE FOR TWO JUST ME AND YOU Eddie, gimme that! CANDLES AND WINE HANDS INTERTWINE
I got work to do! MAMA (interrupts)
Rose! (ROSE and BIRDLACE separate, just as electricity was building between them. MAMA speaks to BIRDLACE.) It’s closing time now. Better run along. (MAMA switches the sign to “CLOSED,” turns off most of the lights. BIRDLACE looks to ROSE. He heads to the door, giving it one last try.) BIRDLACE YOU’LL MISS OUT ON ONE HELLUVA TIME SHOULD BE ONE ROUSIN’ PARTY WELL, I’M GLAD WE MET I GOTTA GET, ROSE, BUT GOSH YOU SEEM SWELL STILL, IT’S A SHAME I THOUGHT, IF YOU CAME, WHO KNOWS? MAYBE WE COULDA – (salutes) Have a good night now. (BIRDLACE moves to exit the diner. ROSE watches him go, considers, torn. Just as he’s about to make it out the door to the street, she shouts to him, stops him.) ROSE Eddie, wait! I’m going with you, okay? Just lemme run upstairs and change. BIRDLACE Okay! ROSE Okay! (She’s about to go, then)
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Eddie, I've never— (stops herself) What kind of party is it? BIRDLACE A party party. ROSE A dress up party? BIRDLACE (too good to be true) Yeah, a dress up party. ROSE Okay! (ROSE runs off, excited. BIRDLACE celebrates his success, shifting instantly from charming to callous.) BIRDLACE WHAT A GEM, WHAT A PICK IN A PINCH WHAT A GIRL FOR THIS PARTY YOU'LL WALTZ HER IN YOU’RE SET TO WIN ONCE YA TWIRL HER AROUND SHE’LL BE A SMASH SCORE YA SOME CASH (He smirks, chuckles) OFF TO A PARTY WITH YOU (Music and focus shift to ROSE’S BEDROOM. Album sleeves cover the walls: Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Malvina Reynolds, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Odetta. Extremely excited, she tears through her closet, considering and rejecting dress after dress.) [Song: “Nothing Short of Wonderful” - ROSE] ROSE (feeling so many things) Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 HOLY COW, WHAT TO WEAR? AND YOUR HAIR, WHAT A MESS, PICK A DRESS, OH MY GOSH ARE YOU MOURNING A DEATH? TAKE A BREATH WHAT A LOOK I MISTOOK YOU FOR BUTTERNUT SQUASH OH MY GOSH KEEP IT SOFT, KEEP IT BRIGHT, BE A GIRL, SOMETHIN’ PINK DON’TCHA THINK? JUST A TOUCH NOT TOO MUCH, HE LIKES YOU JUST BE YOU, HE WON’T CARE WHATCHU WEAR! I DON’T KNOW SHOULD I GO WITH THE PINK OR THE BLUE? WHAT TO DO FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL? NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL JUST A GIRL, JUST A GUY BUT IT’S HIM AND IT’S YOU AND IT’S TRUE, WHAT YOU’VE HEARD, LIKE A BIRD, HOW YOU LIFT AND YOUR CHEST FEELS A PULL LIKE YOU’RE FULL OF A JOY ‘CAUSE A BOY INTERRUPTED YOUR SHIFT LIKE SOMETHING NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL (MAMA enters. She is loving and concerned.) MAMA Rosie, what are you doing up here? ROSE He's taking me to a party. MAMA Now? ROSE Which dress, Mama? MAMA
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Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 Sweetie, you can't accept a date the night of. Then you weren't the first one he asked. ROSE Well I'm the one he got—and he doesn't seem to mind. MAMA We don't know him, Rose. ROSE Not yet. HE COULD BE NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL IT COULD BE NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL MAMA Honey, slow down. What's gotten into you? ROSE WHAT IF, WHEN WE’RE DANCING I’M CLUMSY OUR FEET COLLIDE? WHAT IF, WHEN WE’RE DANCING HE DIPS ME OUR LIPS MEET AND WE GLIDE ACROSS THE ROOM AND IT FEELS NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL? NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL MAMA Rose, be careful, you're letting yourself— ROSE I will, Mama. Tell him I'll be right down. MAMA Rose—really— ROSE Go! (MAMA acquiesces, goes.) HURRY UP, HE WON’T WAIT, HE CAN’T WAIT HALF THE NIGHT EITHER WHITE, OR MAROON,
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Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 YOU’RE A LOON, YOU’RE A MESS AND YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BUST BUT YOU'VE JUST GOT TO CHOOSE PICK THE SHOES AND DECIDE ON THE DRESS AND YOU'LL BE NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL NOTHING SHORT OF WONDERFUL OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH ON A DATE, ON A DATE BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE HIM WAIT NO YOU CAN’T MAKE HIM LATE AND YOUR ROOM IS IN HEAPS AND YOU CAN’T SEE THE FLOOR BUT YOU FINALLY GET WHAT A GIRDLE IS FOR Oh my gosh. OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH (ROSE finds the dress.) OH MY GOSH!
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ACT ONE. SCENE THREE. (Street corner. BOLAND and MARCY. He puffs on a cigarette, already at the end of his rope.) BOLAND So whaddaya say? You comin’ or what? MARCY Gimme a drag of that. BOLAND I got one thing on my mind tonight, Marcy—and it’s winning that prize. MARCY What kinda grub they got at this place? BOLAND Who cares? Ain’t no blue plate special in the deal. You come along, you get the fifty bucks, that’s all. MARCY If I gotta put up with you all night, fifty bucks don’t sound like enough. I do better business down at the Kiwanis Club, and they at least buy me carnations. BOLAND All right, how’s this: you win me that prize, I’ll give you seventy-five. MARCY I ain't got time for small peckers with small pockets. Gotta get a full night's work in before Perry Mason. BOLAND Okay, okay: eighty bucks. And, remember, it’s our secret. You keep your trap shut or there ain’t gonna be a payday for neither one of us. MARCY You got any idea how lucky you are to find me? There ain’t more than a handful of girls out there can do what I do. BOLAND You are trying my patience, little lady. I’ll give you a hundred—not a penny more. MARCY With all you stand to take in? I deserve half. BOLAND
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Half! You gotta be kidding me. MARCY Not with my serious face on. BOLAND You think you’re worth half the pot? MARCY I know I am. And I know you’re gonna give it to me. BOLAND You‘re a fine one to be barkin’ orders. You’re talking to a United States Marine. MARCY (big laugh) You think you got balls as big as the A-bomb, don’t ya? God’s gift to women, my ass. You wanna have a good time with me, you’re gonna give me half the dough—and a goddamn steak dinner. BOLAND I am? MARCY ‘Cause I can guarantee I’ll win. BOLAND Oh you can now? MARCY Darn tootin’. BOLAND How’s that? (She takes out her teeth, rendering her nearly toothless. BOLAND is shocked at first, then laughs, whoops.) MARCY Half the money, right? BOLAND (it’s a deal) Ralphie Boland, you're a goddamn genius. MARCY Shouldda asked for more…
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(ROSE appears at home, putting the finishing touches on her outfit. Elsewhere, we see MARINES preparing for the dogfight. BIRDLACE appears, waiting outside the DINER.) [Song: “Come to a Party (Reprise)” – ROSE, BIRDLACE, BOLAND, BERNSTEIN, MARCY, FECTOR, STEVENS, GIBBS] ROSE OFF TO A PARTY WITH HIM LOOK YOU'RE OFF TO A PARTY MARCY A FIVE-PIECE BAND ROSE HE’LL TAKE YOUR HAND BOTH AND HE'LL TWIRL YOU AROUND MARCY BUY YOU A DRINK ROSE DON’T STOP TO THINK MARCY/ROSE JUST GO! OFF TO A PARTY WITH HIM (MARCY and BOLAND exit. Elsewhere, ROSE exits.) BERN/GIBBS/FECT/STEV OFF TO A PARTY WITH ME
BIRDLACE COME TO A PARTY WITH ME
PERFECT DATE FOR THIS PARTY
SHE JUST CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS PARTY
THE ROOM WILL STOP AND JAWS WILL DROP ONCE THEY LAY EYES
HERE’S LOOKIN’
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ON HER
AT YOU
PICKED FROM THE POUND I FIN’LLY FOUND MY GIRL
PICKED FROM THE POUND I FIN’LLY FOUND MY GIRL
OFF TO A PARTY WITH ME
OFF TO A PARTY WITH ME
HERE’S TO A PARTY WITH ME CHEERS TO A PARTY WITH (ROSE appears, now fully dressed and ready. She has gussied herself but her earnestness in doing so has only obscured what could be attractive about her. BIRDLACE takes in the sight, excited by this new development.) BIRDLACE (to himself, unheard by ROSE) Jesus God. MARINES (EXCEPT BOLAND)/ROSE OFF TO A PARTY (Now, BIRDLACE and ROSE are alone. A moment of uncertain quiet.) BIRDLACE Wow. ROSE Yeah? BIRDLACE Yeah, Rose. ROSE Thanks. I wasn’t sure about the dress. I mean, I love the color—but I haven't worn it since my cousin's wedding and I— BIRDLACE We better head over. (They walk. BIRDLACE leads a brisk pace. Awkward silence.)
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ROSE It’s so good to get away from the restaurant. You’re the first person all day I didn’t have to read the specials to. (Beat.) Wanna hear ‘em? Nah. BIRDLACE C’mon, Rose, keep up. ROSE So...how long’ve you been with the Marines? BIRDLACE Almost five months now. But I’m just getting started. ROSE Five months. Must be hard to be so far away from home. BIRDLACE Gonna be a hell of a lot farther before they’re done with me. ROSE Where are you gonna be? BIRDLACE Well, first, I’m off to Okinawa. But I’m aiming for this little country near India they call Vietnam. ROSE (concerned) Vietnam? But they’re fighting there. BIRDLACE So? Kick a little ass, take a few names, be back in a couple of months. ROSE The way you talk it sounds like a buncha guys getting rowdy at a bar. BIRDLACE You got something against Marines, Rose? ROSE No, I just mean—well, you don’t seem worried.
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BIRDLACE Nothing to worry about. We’re going over there as advisors more than anything. Somebody’s gotta teach ‘em how to take care of the Commies. ROSE Well, it sounds dangerous to me. BIRDLACE Rose, I got thirteen weeks of training under my belt. ROSE (warm, compassionate) Eddie, aren’t you scared at all? BIRDLACE That’s a first class waste of time. Besides, I got a little extra protection. See: (BIRDLACE pulls a Medal of Honor from his pocket. He shows her, proud.) ROSE Is it—is this a real medal? BIRDLACE Looks real, don’t it? My old man won it. Damn near took that beach all by himself. They’re still talking about it. ROSE (returns the medal) It’s lovely. But I’d still be scared. I mean, I don't know much about fighting. One day maybe I wanna join the Peace Corps, help out in some village or somewhere. BIRDLACE That's chicken shit. Just a buncha Melvins looking for a reason not to shave. If you wanna change the world, Rose, you join the Marines and start shooting. Shooting changes things pretty quick. ROSE But you shoot at people and, what, you got people shooting back. I don't know how that's helping anything. BIRDLACE All I know is President Kennedy's sending us across the big waters to make some changes, and he didn't issue us no guitars. There's talking and there's doing--and there's a pretty big difference. ROSE But why's the doing always gotta be done the same way?
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BIRDLACE (changing the subject) You know, you got real nice lips. (ROSE is taken aback by the abrupt shift. They stop walking.) ROSE What? BIRDLACE You wearing any lipstick? Looks like it’s rubbing off there. ROSE Should I put some on? BIRDLACE Yeah. (ROSE starts carefully applying the lipstick. BIRDLACE hovers.) Let me try. (She hands him the lipstick, unsure. He does it badly on purpose, crudely spreading color over her lips and beyond, making a mess of her.) ROSE Eddie—Eddie— BIRDLACE Hold still. ROSE You’re supposed to put it on the lips—it’s all over! (She stops him, still good-natured and unsuspecting) You put lipstick on about as good as I do. (She opens her compact, shocked by what she sees. She starts to fix what he’s done.) [Song: “Nothing Short of Wonderful (Reprise)” – ROSE] OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH I CAN MAKE THIS ALRIGHT
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‘CAUSE TONIGHT IS MY FIRST... WELL, TONIGHT SHOULD BE GREAT I HAVE NOT REALLY GOTTEN TO DO THIS A LOT You know… GO OUT WITH A GUY... ON A DATE (ROSE takes a moment, stops fixing her face, opens up to BIRDLACE, honest and sweet.) WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT THIS MORNING THAT I'D BE... THAT YOU'D APPEAR I'M JUST SO EXCITED THAT I WAS INVITED AND THAT...OH, EDDIE, I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE (BIRDLACE turns away from her. Unsure exactly what he’s feeling—guilt, embarrassment—but acutely feeling it.) So…how do I look? BIRDLACE Rose, maybe we shouldn’t— BOLAND Birdlace! (BIRDLACE turns to see BOLAND and MARCY, approaching the club. BIRDLACE’s demeanor immediately changes, at attention in BOLAND’s presence.) BIRDLACE Boland. BOLAND Fine woman you got there. I’ll be sure to include this in my report to the Inspector General. ROSE I’m Rose. BOLAND
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This here’s Marcy. MARCY Charmed. BOLAND (suggestive) I think I may have finally found the one. ROSE Nice to meet you. BOLAND The party’s inside. Come on, doll. (BOLAND and MARCY head inside. ROSE moves to follow but BIRDLACE stops her.) ROSE They seem friendly. BIRDLACE Rose, this party’s really no big deal. We don’t have to go in there. ROSE No, I’d like to— BIRDLACE We could go somewhere else, if you wanna grab a bite. ROSE Oh. If I embarrass you or something, if you don’t wanna be seen with me, you can just say so. BIRDLACE No, that’s not it. ROSE (genuine, even sweet) Then what is it, Eddie? Tell me. (BIRDLACE can’t bring himself to admit the truth.) You invited me to a party. I wanna go. [Song: “Before the Party” – ROSE] JUST FOR A NIGHT
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 NO HOLDIN’ TIGHT LET GO Come on, jarhead. BIRDLACE (acquiesces) Semper Fi, Do or Die. (BIRDLACE offers his arm and leads her into the club as we transition into the Dogfight…)
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ACT ONE. SCENE FOUR. (THE NITE LITE, a low rent club. Scattered tables., A sleazy LOUNGE SINGER appears in spotlight. MARINES and their DATES dance on a small dance floor) [Song: “Blast Off” – LOUNGE SINGER] LOUNGE SINGER BABY TRASH THAT MASHED POTATO OH THE TWIST WILL NOT BE MISSED THAT WAS ‘62 GIVE ME SOMETHING NEW A DANCE THAT DON’T EXIST YOUR ROCKET RIDE HAS JUST BEGUN COUNT DOWN 5 4 3 2 1! BLAST OFF (The THREE BEES share a table with their dates: BIRDLACE and ROSE, BOLAND and MARCY, BERNSTEIN with his date, RUTH TWO BEARS, who is fresh off the reservation, preferably round-ish, and largely without interpretable expression. They’ve all been drinking.) BERNSTEIN No, no, no—see, in bootcamp you line up according to height. In ITR— BOLAND —that’s Infantry Training after bootcamp— BERNSTEIN —there it’s alphabetical order. BOLAND So we were always lining up together. Got to be pretty tight. BERNSTEIN They started calling us the Three Bees—and we stuck together ever since. Getting ourselves inked up later tonight to celebrate. BOLAND Three fuckin’ Bees, for forever. MARCY So you got to be friends from standing in line? (She laughs heartily.)
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Oh boy, I’m gonna need another drink. (She snaps at BOLAND, who makes no move to help.) LOUNGE SINGER START MOVIN’ LIKE YOU’RE GROOVIN’ ON THE MOON YEAH YEAH YEAH (A bit later. A bit drunker.) BERNSTEIN (to MARCY) You live around here? MARCY What do you care? You ain’t coming over. BIRDLACE (loud) Where’s our fuckin’ drinks? ROSE You guys really like to swear, don’t you. BIRDLACE No, we like to drink. BOLAND No big thing, Rose. It’s just words. After a while you don’t even hear it. Don’t mean shit. ROSE (to BIRDLACE, their inside joke) Buncha jarheads, right? MARCY (loud) Who do you have to fuck to get a drink in this place? BOLAND Hey now. MARCY (unapologetic) I can’t afford to be shy at an open bar. How ‘bout you girls? (to RUTH TWO BEARS)
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You want another, honey—what’s your name? RUTH TWO BEARS (stone-faced, as always) I’m Ruth Two Bears. BERNSTEIN (proud of his catch) I met this fine lady over at the Transbay Terminal. All the way from Albuquerque. ROSE Well, I just wanna say how happy I am to have met you. All of you. I’m having a real nice time. If Eddie hadn’t’ve walked into the diner, I’d be home now, listening to my records. BERNSTEIN Oooh, whaddaya got? Four Seasons, Bobby Vee? ROSE No, not that kinda music. I’m talking about music that really says something, that has the power to bring people together. You ever heard of the song “We Shall Overcome?” (BOLAND and BERNSTEIN can’t hold in their laughter.) What? What’s so funny? BIRDLACE (doesn’t want ROSE to hear) It’s nothing. ROSE Why are you laughing? Have you even heard the song? BOLAND We heard it. BERNSTEIN Yeah, we goof on it all the time. ROSE You goof on it? BIRDLACE Forget it. BERNSTEIN/BOLAND
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 WE ALL WANT TO CO-O-OME… WE ALL WANT TO— BIRDLACE (assertive) All right, all right, knock it off. ROSE That’s actually a pretty important song, you know. You shouldn’t be making fun of— BIRDLACE How ‘bout another drink, Rose? ROSE Oh, I’m on my second already. BIRDLACE It’s just a Mai Tai, it’s a child’s drink. (an order) Bottoms up. (ROSE takes an acrid gulp.) MARCY (to ROSE) That’s it, honey, you’re gonna wanna be good and loose when he drags you out on the floor. ROSE (excited) We’re gonna dance, Eddie? (BIRDLACE is silent, stiff—but boiling underneath.) MARCY Oh you gotta—those are the rules. BOLAND (tries to silence MARCY) Angel face— ROSE Rules? MARCY
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Oh sure, they gotta— BOLAND (stopping MARCY) Hell, you’re on a date, ain’t you? If he asks you out and he don’t take you dancing, he’s a right sonofabitch—that’s all Marcy’s saying. MARCY No, what I’m saying— BOLAND No one cares, Marcy, trust me. LOUNGE SINGER START MOVIN’ LIKE YOU’RE GROOVIN’ ON THE MOON BLAST OFF! (The song ends. Applause.) Thank you, thank you. [Song: “That Face” – LOUNGE SINGER, STEVENS, BERNSTEIN, BOLAND, FECTOR] (A slower, more romantic intro begins to play. LOUNGE SINGER smugly draws attention to it. The MARINES know what that means: the slow dance is the judging portion of the event. All MARINES are expected to present their dates for inspection.) Here’s one for all you lovers in the crowd. Got some bewitching beauties in the house tonight. I wanna see ‘em all out here dancing. Cheek to cheek and heart to heart. BOLAND Gentlemen, I say we dance. Looks like about that time. Right, Eddie? BIRDLACE Rose and I’ll be there in a minute. She’s gotta finish her drink. ROSE That’s okay. It’ll be here when I get— BIRDLACE And I got another one coming. BERNSTEIN They’re starting the slow one. Let’s hit it, Birdlace. BIRDLACE
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(harsh, firm) I said we’ll be right there. Move it. You better learn to take a fuckin’ command, Bernstein. BOLAND (a warning to BIRDLACE) Hey. Let’s have fun out there, Marine. (BERNSTEIN shakes it off, throws himself into the dogfight.) BERNSTEIN How about it, Miss Two Bears? You wanna show me how the shiksas shake it? (RUTH TWO BEARS gets up, stoically heads to the dance floor. She has yet to crack a smile.) I just hope she doesn’t start a fuckin’ thunderstorm. (BOLAND and BERNSTEIN share a laugh as they take their places on the dance floor with their dates. BIRDLACE and ROSE sit in fraught, loaded silence.) LOUNGE SINGER YOU BORN ON A CLOUD ANGEL SO FAIR ANGEL SO FINE ROSE (tentative) Are you mad at me? BIRDLACE No. For chrissakes. ROSE Well, you sure seem mad. BIRDLACE I’m happier than a two-peckered owl. (shouts, to unseen waiter) Where’s my fuckin’ drink? (ROSE recoils, confused.) LOUNGE SINGER
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YOU CLEAR IN A CROWD ANSWER MY PRAYER SAY YOU’LL BE MINE (FECTOR approaches, arm in arm with his extremely shy date, SUZETTE. They are both trashed, FECTOR so much so that he is surprisingly sweet with her, awkwardly affectionate.) FECTOR Hey, Birdlace. You gotta meet Suzette. BIRDLACE (drunk, cold) Yeah, yeah. ROSE Hi, I’m Rose. FECTOR We’re gonna cut a rug, right babe? SUZETTE Anything you like. FECTOR Long as it makes you happy. SUZETTE I’m happy doing whatever you want. FECTOR I want you to have a good time. SUZETTE I’ll have a good time dancing. FECTOR After you. SUZETTE After you. FECTOR After you.
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(They head to the dance floor together. Another silence as BIRDLACE drinks, numbing himself.) ROSE We’re the only ones not dancing. BIRDLACE Rose, you’re a nice girl. This is a fucked up place. ROSE Please, Eddie. BIRDLACE You want a dance? You asked for it. Semper Fi, Do or Die. (BIRDLACE gives up, leads her to the dance floor. They join the other couples in a slow dance.) LOUNGE SINGER I SEE YOU STANDING THERE I CAN ONLY STARE AND SIGH WHEN I SEE THAT FACE THAT UNMISTAKABLE FACE TRAFFIC HALTS LOVERS WALTZ THAT FACE THAT ALMOST BREAKABLE FACE CHURCH BELLS CHIME THERE’S NO TIME OR SPACE WHEN I SEE THAT FACE OOOOH OOOOH (During a break in the music, ROSE and BIRDLACE dance and talk.) ROSE How come you say that—Do or Die, Semper Fi—that stuff? BIRDLACE It’s a kinda motto. We say it whenever we got something hard to do, I guess. (ROSE processes this, quickly reaching an unfortunate conclusion.) ROSE I’m hard to dance with?
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BIRDLACE What? Naw...you’re great. (Feeling guilty, he suddenly pulls her close, pulls her into a real dance, more confident and sweeping as they go around the floor and the song comes back in full force.) LOUNGE SINGER IF YOU LOOKED AT ME LIKE I LOOK AT YOU BABY, YOU WOULD KNOW SO PLAIN TO SEE THAT MY LOVE IS TRUE MAKING ME SING WHOA-OH-OH-OH-OH (MARINES parade their dates for LOUNGE SINGER, who is the judge of this dogfight. He holds up a numbered scorecard—1 through 10—to render his judgment of each MARINE’s date. Each MARINE takes his turn showing off his girl. It’s important, of course, that the girls not realize this is happening. BERNSTEIN goes first, showing off RUTH TWO BEARS.) YOU GODDESS ABOVE WHISPER THE WORDS POETS WILL WRITE
BERNSTEIN IT’S ABOUT TO GET UGLY
YOU FILL ME WITH LOVE MAKING THE BIRDS SING THROUGH THE NIGHT (LOUNGE SINGER holds up a scorecard with a large 8 on it. This is RUTH TWO BEARS’ score. BERNSTEIN is pleased with the result.) WHOAH
BERN/BOL Whoa…
BUT WHEN YOU’RE STANDING THERE I CAN ONLY STARE AND SIGH OH (FECTOR displays SUZETTE for LOUNGE SINGER to judge. Unaware eyes are on her, she takes a chance and plants a big, sloppy kiss on FECTOR. He is surprised. And pleased.) LOUNGE SINGER WHEN I SEE THAT FACE THAT UNMISTAKABLE
STEVENS WHAT A BUNCHA LOOKERS
BERN/BOL WHAT A BUNCHA
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 FACE
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TRAFFIC HALTS LOVERS WALTZ
BOLAND GOT A DOGFIGHT IN THE RING BERNSTEIN WOOF WOOF BABY
(STEVENS shows off his DATE for LOUNGE SINGER. She gets a 7.) STEVENS BIG FOOT ALERT
THAT FACE THAT ALMOST BREAKABLE FACE LOUNGE SINGER CHURCH BELLS CHIME THERE’S NO TIME OR SPACE
BERNSTEIN BEAST IN A SKIRT BERN/BOL OH MY GOD
STEVENS OH MY GOD
LOOK AT 'EM
LOOK AT ‘EM
(The MARINES notice FECTOR and SUZETTE drunkenly kissing in a corner, wet and slobbery.) LOUNGE SINGER WHEN I SEE THAT FACE
STEVENS THAT SONOFABITCH HE ROPED A NASTY ONE
BOLAND HERE WE GO BERNSTEIN YOU SONOFABITCH
(BIRDLACE, hiding his growing shame, shows of ROSE. LOUNGE SINGER gives her a 6. Relieved, BIRDLACE dances her out of the spotlight.) STEVENS JESUS CHRIST BERNSTEIN HE'S BARELY GOT HIM A SIX! THAT FACE
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BERNSTEIN THUNDER THIGHS STEVENS WHAT A CHICK (BOLAND takes his turn, shows off MARCY.) BOLAND WE’VE GOT ‘EM BEAT (LOUNGE SINGER determines MARCY has earned a 6. BOLAND and MARCY are displeased with the result.) LOUNGE SINGER WITH A SWEET EMBRACE WHEN I SEE THAT… (MARCY makes sure LOUNGE SINGER gets a good look at her foul teeth. Disgusted and impressed, he changes his verdict. He holds up the scorecard marked 10.) FACE (MARCY’s score has won BOLAND the prize. The song ends. Applause. MARINES crowd BOLAND, the champ. Couples abandon the dance floor. Only BIRDLACE and ROSE remain.) [Song: “It’s Just a Party” – LOUNGE SINGER] ROSE (queasy) Ohhh. BIRDLACE What’s wrong? ROSE I don’t feel so good. (She rushes off to the bathroom, obviously on the verge of throwing up. LOUNGE SINGER moves on to the next song.) LOUNGE SINGER BABY HAVE ANOTHER DRINK
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(At the bar, BERNSTEIN and STEVENS celebrate BOLAND’s victory.) STEVENS Congratulations, you piece of shit. BOLAND Thank you very much. BERNSTEIN That mouth! Where the hell did you find her? BOLAND I’m afraid that’s above your pay grade, Gentlemen—and a long fuckin’ story. Carry on, assholes. (BOLAND goes. STEVENS catches BIRDLACE.) STEVENS Birdlace, my man. How much you give that girl to drink? BIRDLACE Rose? BERNSTEIN (laughs) Holy Jeezus. She’s puking up her guts! That’s gotta be worth something. C'mon— honorable mention? STEVENS (holds out a small wad of cash, BIRDLACE won’t touch it) Twenty-five bucks. She earned it. Here. BERNSTEIN Go on, take your money, before that blimp comes back from the kennel. (BIRDLACE suddenly grabs BERNSTEIN by the collar.) BIRDLACE Why don’t you shut up for once in your life? I gotta swallow a steaming pile of your shit each and every day. I’m sick of it. Grow up. (BIRDLACE tosses BERNSTEIN aside. BERNSTEIN is shaken, hurt.) LOUNGE SINGER DANCIN' FEET SUGAR SWEET IT'S JUST A PARTY
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ACT ONE. SCENE FIVE. (We find BOLAND and MARCY in the LADIES ROOM, mid-argument.) BOLAND Come on, Marcy, cut me some slack will ya? You ain’t been no picnic. MARCY Slack? No, you’ll find slack in the dictionary between shit and syphilis. You owe me half. BOLAND What about the cab fare? I paid for that. MARCY This ain’t the chaplain you’re talking to, Boland. You come to me for help, I help—for half the money. That was the deal. So don’t be giving me no shit about some cab. BOLAND I’m not giving you shit, you lousy slut. Take your goddamn money. (Tosses cash on the floor, a few coins jangle. BOLAND goes.) MARCY Stinkin’ jarheads. Gawd! (MARCY kneels down to gather her prize money. Toilet flushes, ROSE enters meekly from a stall. She’s heard all of it, but understands only a little. She instinctively moves to help MARCY.) ROSE What’s wrong, Marcy? MARCY He comes to me, he says, how’d you like to make a bundle and you don’t have to do nobody? So I say sure. I even offer not to wear my teeth. And why not? Free cocktails, free beer, and they gotta be polite. Those are the rules. ROSE What rules? MARCY Nevermind. ROSE No, Marcy, I'd like to hear. MARCY
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The rules of the dogfight. See, they each put in some money, like fifty, seventy, seventyfive bucks. ROSE Who does? MARCY The heroes, the Marines. And outta that, they rent the joint, pay for the food and the booze. And the rest goes for prize money. The thing that gets me is how great they think they look. Ha! You ever seen such a pack of pukes in your whole life? ROSE (beginning to get it) There’s prize money? MARCY That’s right, honey. The ugliest girl wins a wad of dough for the guy who brung her. I’m the ugliest, so I win. Only, see, I ain’t really that ugly. (pops in her teeth) You gotta see me when I’m really dressed up. ROSE (overwhelmed, unsure how to react) Oh gosh, this is... (looks to MARCY) Marcy, you must feel terrible. MARCY (thick-skinned, hardened) It’s not so bad. At least I got some cash. All you got was sick. [Song: “Dogfight” – MARCY, ROSE] SO SOME LITTLE PRICK WITH A KNOB FOR A DICK IS GONNA GET YOU DOWN? Please. BOYS ARE THE SAME AND THEY ALL GOT A GAME SO FULLA SHIT THEIR EYES TURN BROWN
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 DON’T EXPECT NOTHIN’ THAT’S HOW THEY’RE MADE ‘CAUSE TWO SWEATY BALLS MEANS A LUSH IN A RUSH TO GET LAID SEE IF I’M GETTIN’ SCREWED I’M AT LEAST GETTIN’ PAID AT THE DOGFIGHT DOGFIGHT DOGFIGHT IN THE RING GOTTA LEARN IT FACE IT HEAR IT DING DING DING THEY ONLY PAY WHEN A LOAD IS BLOWN SO YOU SIT AND STAY TILL YOU GET YOUR BONE AT THE DOGFIGHT ROSE Marcy. My God. MARCY SO HE FED YOU A LINE TALKIN’ CANDLES AND WINE BET HE SPREAD IT THICK Yeah… BUT WHERE IS HE NOW? GETTIN’ CASH FROM THE COW WHILE THE COW’S IN THE CAN ALL PUKIN’ SICK! YOU TAKE YOUR MONEY TAKE WHAT YOU MADE IF YOU DON’T PLAY THE GAME HE’LL BE GONE YOU’RE A PAWN THAT HE PLAYED ‘CAUSE WE’RE ALL GETTIN’ FUCKED SO WE BETTER GET PAID AT THE DOGFIGHT DOGFIGHT DOGFIGHT TAKE THE CROWN GOTTA CLAIM IT WIN IT
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OWN IT AND DON’T BACK DOWN BETTER HOLD YOUR NOSE WHEN YOU SWALLOW DIRT IF YOU DON’T GET SOFT THEN YOU WON’T GET HURT AT THE DOGFIGHT (MARCY moves to exit the bathroom. ROSE stops her.) ROSE HOW CAN YOU LET A PACK OF JERKS TELL YOU THIS IS HOW THE WORLD WORKS? (MARCY laughs.) MARCY HONEY, THEY'RE GONNA GET THEIR FIX TIME TO LEARN A FEW NEW TRICKS WHERE’S YOUR BARK? LET’S SEE YOUR BITE YOU LEARN TO BITE MARCY AT THE DOGFIGHT
ROSE HOW CAN YOU LET SOME PACK OF JERKS TELL YOU THIS IS HOW THE WORLD WORKS? WHO ARE THEY? WHO ARE THEY?
DOGFIGHT DOGFIGHT IN THE RING
THEY’RE THE DOGS NO THEY’RE THE SLIMES WHO HURT NICE GIRLS FOR REAL NICE TIMES AND YOU DON’T NEED SOME WORTHLESS DIMES FROM A DOGFIGHT MARCY/ROSE DOGFIGHT DOGFIGHT IN THE RING IT’S A DOGFIGHT (DOGFIGHT) DOGFIGHT MARCY
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HEAR IT DA DING DING DING (As ROSE and MARCY face off, challenging each others’ points of view, the bathroom dissolves and the club setting reappears around them.) MARCY/ROSE NO YOU CAN’T GIVE IN AND YOU CAN’T PLAY DUMB WHEN YOU GET THICK SKIN THEN YOU’RE QUICK TO NUMB YOU LET THEM WIN AND A DOG’S WHAT YOU BECOME AT THE DOGFIGHT AT THE DOGFIGHT AT THE DOGFIGHT (ROSE finds BIRDLACE at the bar and, on the button of the song, SLAPS him!) BIRDLACE Hey! ROSE (furious, hurt, unfettered) Don’t hey me, don’t you dare hey me. You are a cruel, heartless, ignorant jerk. Who gave you the right to treat people like this? You have no feelings. You’re just a worthless excuse for a human being. BOLAND Hey that’s my buddy you’re talking to— ROSE Shut up you creep! (to BIRDLACE) Everything out of your mouth tonight has been just rotten, dirty lies. I hope you die, Eddie Birdlace. I hope there’s a war and you get killed, all of you, that’s what I hope. (ROSE starts to go. BIRDLACE reaches for her, tries to stop her.) Let go of me! (ROSE rushes off.) BERNSTEIN God, what a bitch. Where’d you find her?
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RUTH TWO BEARS Jerk! (She tosses her drink in BERNSTEIN’s face, storms off.) [Song: “It’s Just a Party (Reprise)” – LOUNGE SINGER] LOUNGE SINGER LEAVE YOUR WORRYIN’ BEHIND UNWIND IT’S JUST A PARTY YEAH
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ACT ONE. SCENE SIX. (ROSE arrives home, escapes to her bedroom. Elsewhere in the house, MAMA calls to her, checking in.) MAMA Rose? (ROSE works hard to hide her emotions, hold back her tears.) ROSE What? MAMA Back already? What kind of a party ends so early? ROSE I decided to come home. MAMA You have a good time? ROSE Yeah, it was nice. MAMA Goodnight, sweetie. ROSE 'Night. (MAMA smiles warmly, disappears. ROSE is finally alone. Rejected dresses are scattered about the room. She considers the scene.) [Song: “Pretty Funny” – ROSE] ROSE CLOSE THE WINDOW, DRAW THE CURTAIN HIDE THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF THE MOON HANG THE DRESSES, UGLY DRESSES NO ONE LIKES MAROON WIPE OFF ALL THAT STUPID LIPSTICK RETURN THE EARRINGS TO THEIR CASE MAKEUP WON’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IT’S STILL THE SAME OLD FACE
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ISN’T IT FUNNY? ISN’T IT FUNNY? ISN’T IT FUNNY YOU BELIEVED THAT IT WAS REAL? PRETTY FUNNY ALL DISASTERS HAVE AN UPSIDE YOU CAN FIND ONE IF YOU TRY YOU WENT DANCING, YOU WERE DANCING YOU WERE DANCING WITH A GUY ISN’T IT FUNNY? ISN’T IT FUNNY? AREN’T YOU FUNNY? PATHETICALLY NAIVE AND DESPERATE TO BELIEVE YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND SOME GOOD WELL YOU MISUNDERSTOOD OR YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING ‘CAUSE PEOPLE ARE JUST CRUEL SHUT THE LIGHT OFF, TURN THE BED DOWN NO MORE CRYING, DON’T YOU DARE YOU’LL WAKE UP SOME TIME TOMORROW AND FORGET TO EVEN CARE ISN’T IT FUNNY? ISN’T IT FUNNY? FOR A MOMENT, HE CONVINCED ME I COULD BE PRETTY FUNNY (ROSE has pushed all the dresses off the bed, onto the floor. She lies down, settling into bed.) (As the coda of the song plays out, we find BIRDLACE and PETE on the bus in 1967, as at the start of the show. BIRDLACE continues to stare out the window, lost in his own thoughts and memories. PETE stirs.) PETE You still up? Better try for some shut-eye, kid. Won’t be getting to Frisco ‘til morning. (PETE turns away, resumes sleep. Lights fade on BIRDLACE as the bus barrels towards San Francisco in the dead of night.)
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ACT TWO. SCENE ONE. (An ARCADE. Later the same night. BIRDLACE plays a shooting game. BERNSTEIN uses the coin-operated peepshow. He slams the machine in frustration.) BERNSTEIN I’m telling you, they got this thing rigged. First it stops just when she’s about to take off her brassiere—now it shuts off when she’s this close to losing her panties! BIRDLACE (involved in the shooting game) Yeah, take it! Right between the eyes! BERNSTEIN (deposits another coin) Come on, baby, it’s your friend Bernstein. Don’t break my heart now. (BOLAND enters, holding two beers. He goes to BIRDLACE.) BIRDLACE Christ! BOLAND Got you a beer. BIRDLACE Sonofabitch! BOLAND (offering the beer) Here. Marine. BERNSTEIN (to the peepshow machine) C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon. BIRDLACE (to the game) Aw, fuck you, you goddamn sonofabitch! I’ll blow your fuckin’ head off! (BOLAND notices BIRDLACE’s odd, intense behavior.) BOLAND Hey, what’s your problem? Pissed you got your ass kicked by a girl tonight? BIRDLACE (turns on BOLAND, suddenly charging)
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 The fuck you tryin' to say, you miserable piece of shit? BOLAND Hey now, settle down. BIRDLACE (gets in his face) I don’t got a fuckin’ problem. You do. BOLAND (alpha) Hey. I'm just drinkin' a beer. He's just lookin' at titties. BERNSTEIN Trying. BOLAND Trying. You need to stand down. (BIRDLACE backs off.) She really got under your skin, huh. BIRDLACE (convincing himself, rationalizing) What do I care? Marines been throwing dogfights since they been defending the Constitution. BOLAND That’s right, shake it off. BIRDLACE (it’s working) My dad, your dad, all the fuckin' dads. BOLAND Attaboy! BERNSTEIN (gives up on the peepshow) Dammit! BIRDLACE (renewed energy and swagger) Enough with the machine. We gotta find you the real thing. BOLAND
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Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 The time has come: Dickie Bernstein, you’re about to become a man. BERNSTEIN Finally. BIRDLACE (to BERNSTEIN) Tonight, you pay for it. (music beat) When we come back…they’re gonna be lining up. (music beat) Anything you want, on a silver fuckin' platter. That's what they promised us. (music in) You're a goddamn U.S. Marine. You are un-fuckin'-stoppable! [Song: “Hometown Hero’s Ticker Tape Parade” – ALL MARINES] NO-NAME SCHOOLBOY AWFUL GREEN TRAINED, ORDAINED AS A MEAN MARINE NOW THEY CAN’T FUCK WITH THE TOUGH YOUNG BUCK CRADLIN’ AN M-FOURTEEN DA DAT DA DA TEACH A GOOK TO HOLD A GUN SERVE YOUR YEAR AND THEN YOU’RE DONE HOMEWARD BOUND AND THE BOY GETS CROWNED AS CLEVELAND’S NEW FAV’RITE SON (That’s BERNSTEIN.) AT THE HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE COTTON CANDY AND LEMONADE THREE BEES IT’S A HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE BIRDLACE CAN’T GET THAT AT THE PENNY ARCADE DA DAT DA DA
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DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DA (BOLAND and BERNSTEIN are on board, sharing in this fantasy, adding to it.) THREE BEES DA DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DA DA DA BIRDLACE MAIN STREET BLOCKED ALL AFTERNOON BERNSTEIN A BAND ON HAND WITH A MARCHIN’ TUNE BOLAND YOUR NAME IS WAILED BIRDLACE THE BLIMP’S UNVEILED BERNSTEIN YOUR FACE ON A BIG BALLOON (BERNSTEIN imagines the roaring crowd. It’s as if all three of them can hear it.) THREE BEES DA DAT DA DA BOLAND WATCHIN’ BUSTY BLONDES COMPETE
BERNSTEIN/BIRDLACE AIN’T THAT SWEET
DRAWIN’ CLAWS LIKE CATS IN HEAT
OOH YEAH
BERNSTEIN LET ‘EM FIGHT TO SPEND THE NIGHT BOLAND AND STAIN UP THAT NICE WHITE SHEET
BERNSTEIN/BIRDLACE YEAH
THREE BEES AT THE HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE
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BIRDLACE TELLIN’ TALES OF A BRAVE BRIGADE THREE BEES A HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE BERNSTEIN IT’S YOUR TIME TO SHINE BIRDLACE/BOLAND TIME TO GET LAID (That’s the plan. They lead BERNSTEIN to his fate.) THREE BEES DA DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DA DA DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DA DA DA (We find BIRDLACE, BOLAND, BERNSTEIN, FECTOR, and GIBBS in a prostitute’s dingy room. Milk crates as chairs. A “sleeping” area hidden, perhaps by a bed sheet hung up like a curtain. STEVENS emerges from the hidden room, having just had his turn, smug and self-satisfied.) STEVENS Who’s next? (BERNSTEIN salutes.) BERNSTEIN How was it? STEVENS Best she ever had. (CHIPPY enters, donning a threadbare robe. She is tired. She’s had it with servicemen tonight.) BERNSTEIN (formal, polite) Good evening, I’m Bernstein. CHIPPY Okay, listen sweetheart, I hate to do this, but I gotta change our plans.
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BERNSTEIN How do you mean? CHIPPY It’s been a long night. A girl can only take so much, you know. BOLAND You kidding with this shit? CHIPPY You don’t like it, there’s the fuckin' door. STEVENS (slaps CHIPPY’s ass) Make ‘em and break ‘em, what can I say? BERNSTEIN We’re United States Marines, Ma’am. Can’t you make a little exception? CHIPPY Not tonight. BERNSTEIN (getting worked up) But tonight’s all I got. I can’t go over there a—a— (BOLAND gives BERNSTEIN a private word of encouragement. Then BERNSTEIN turns back to CHIPPY.) I’m gonna do it if it kills me. CHIPPY Not with me, you ain’t. BIRDLACE (intervenes) Let’s go, Bernstein, we’ll find you one who will. BERNSTEIN I’m ready now! C’mon, it’s not fair: we got money, we got plenty. (BERNSTEIN crowds CHIPPY, in her face.) It’s no big deal, just one more— CHIPPY
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 Watch it, peanut. (Now, BERNSTEIN grabs her.) Hey! (BERNSTEIN is determined, unwilling to fail in front of his friends.) BERNSTEIN You give it out all the time, no problem. So, what, you think you can just jerk me around— CHIPPY Listen you little piece of— BERNSTEIN (throws her towards the bed) I’m not a little anything. BIRDLACE Bernstein— CHIPPY Get your paws off— BIRDLACE Hey— BOLAND He asked you nice— BIRDLACE (pulls BERNSTEIN off her) Enough! (Everyone freezes. CHIPPY surveys the room. Six MARINES. She’s obviously outnumbered.) CHIPPY Okay. Okay. (to BERNSTEIN) Just you. Fifty bucks. BOLAND (to BERNSTEIN, fraternal)
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You take your time now. BERNSTEIN Semper Fi, Do or Die. (BERNSTEIN follows CHIPPY to the bed area. She closes the makeshift curtain for privacy. BOLAND turns to BIRDLACE, who is clearly shaken, angry.) BOLAND He’s gotta learn. That’s how it’s done. My dad, your dad, all the fuckin’ dads. BOLAND A HERO DON’T GET SOFT A HERO DON’T RETREAT HE’S GONNA GET HIS WAY ‘CAUSE HE WON’T ACCEPT DEFEAT
FEC/GIBBS/STEV DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DAT DA DA
GUYS LIKE ME AND YOU WE’RE HEROES THROUGH AND THROUGH SEMPER FI DO OR DIE
OH SEMPER FI DO OR DIE
BOLAND YOU’RE A GODDAMN HERO (BIRDLACE grabs his jacket, fed up.) Hey, where you goin’?! Birdlace! (BIRDLACE runs off, leaves.) BOLAND
FEC/GIBBS/STEV (in BERNSTEIN’s direction) CAN'T YOU HEAR IT BOYS?
YOU’RE A GODDAMN HERO! CAN'T YOU HEAR IT COMIN' COMIN' COMIN' COMIN' (A triumphant BERNSTEIN reemerges from behind the curtain. Mission accomplished.) BERNSTEIN I’M A GODDAMN HERO! (As the song progresses, the MARINES will move beyond the confines of the prostitute’s den and into the street. They own the night.)
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ALL MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE) COMIN' COMIN' COMIN' AT THE HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE NO CONFETTI FOR THE BOYS WHO STAYED HOMETOWN HERO’S TICKER TAPE PARADE YOU WIN A WAR YOU PICK A WIFE YOU GET RESPECT YOUR WHOLE DAMN LIFE YOU’RE A HOMETOWN HERO WHO GETS A MOTHERFUCKIN’ TICKER TAPE PARADE! DA DAT DA DA DAT DA DA DA DA DA (The song ends with the MARINES triumphant and ready for anything, terrifyingly fearless.)
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ACT TWO. SCENE TWO. (BIRDLACE is in the street outside the DINER. ROSE stands in the doorway, having just come downstairs She is not pleased. BIRDLACE doesn’t know what to say. A lengthy silence before either one of them speaks.) ROSE I'm down here, Eddie. You got me out of bed. What do you want? (He presents a single rose.) BIRDLACE A rose for a Rose. (ROSE is silent, nearly seething.) I thought you’d like it. ROSE That’s all you got to say? (He can’t think of anything else. ROSE takes a moment to prepare her next statement. She delivers it carefully, directly.) I just want you to know one thing, and it’s the only reason I came out here: you’re the ugly one, not me. (BIRDLACE, not knowing how to respond, says nothing.) You know that girl, Marcy? She said she won first prize. (BIRDLACE acknowledges this, embarrassed.) Your friend Boland didn’t find her—he hired her. BIRDLACE (disbelief) Aw, come on. ROSE (insistent) He hired her. I heard them fighting. He was trying to weasel her out of her share. He's not only a moron and a cheat—he's a cheapskate. BIRDLACE (now he believes it) No shit.
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(Beat. ROSE gathers the courage to ask this next question.) ROSE Did I win anything? BIRDLACE (lying as convincingly as possible) No. In fact, you were disqualified. Too pretty. (ROSE shoots him a look: she doesn’t buy it.) ROSE And what about all those other girls? What about their feelings? Don't they have feelings? BIRDLACE Hey, they didn’t know nothing about it. Besides, you’re different. How many jarheads in that shithole? And how many tried to talk their girl outta going? And before dancing too, ‘cause when you dance, that’s final judging. ROSE What are you saying, I should take that as a compliment? BIRDLACE Yeah. ROSE A compliment is when you say something nice about someone, not when you— BIRDLACE I’m telling ya, it’s a compliment. ROSE There’s no such person as Jim Swain! He doesn’t even exist! You don’t know anything about music. You don’t know who Pete Seeger is or even Woody Guthrie. You don’t even know how to apologize. You think you know everything—but you don’t. Good night, Eddie. (ROSE turns to go back inside.) BIRDLACE Hold it! Rose! Please! I know you’re sore—I feel rotten about it. Lemme make it up to you. You gotta believe me: I’m sorry. I wanna take you to dinner. ROSE Dinner? Is that your idea of a joke?
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BIRDLACE I mean it, hey. I don’t care what you look like. ROSE (stung) I wish you did. BIRDLACE There’s lotsa shit I don’t know, Rose. I came all the fuck way back here, I don’t know why. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, yapping at you like a goddamn idiot. I don’t know what’s the right thing to say—but I wanna be here with you, Rose, I know that. I just—I can’t help it. (He waits for her response, but she’s silent, undecided.) If you don’t want me around, just tell me to leave and I’m gone, okay? I’m fuckin’ outta here. ROSE You’re gonna stop swearing. BIRDLACE Okay. (Pause. ROSE makes her decision.) ROSE Okay. BIRDLACE Okay what? ROSE Okay, let’s go to dinner. But if this is some part of your stupid dogfight, I swear I’ll kill you. BIRDLACE No, Rose, it’s not. Promise. Just you and me at a nice joint, having a nice meal. ROSE And we won’t ever mention the dogfight again. BIRDLACE Roger that. ROSE And it’ll be just like going on a regular date, right?
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BIRDLACE Just two regular people on a regular date. ROSE Right. BIRDLACE Good. ROSE Okay. BIRDLACE Fine. (BIRDLACE again offers ROSE the rose and this time she accepts. Awkwardly, hesitantly, their date begins. They walk.) [Song: “First Date, Last Night” – ROSE, BIRDLACE] ROSE STREETLAMP DIM GLOW A LIGHT TO BLANKET NIGHT LIKE SUMMER SNOW WELL, LET IT POUR JUST COVER UP WHATEVER CAME BEFORE BIRDLACE SEA BREEZE WHIPS THROUGH AND MAKES YOU DO SOME SHIT YOU’D NEVER DO TALKIN’ QUEER WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL HERE? BIRDLACE/ROSE AND WE GO BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM DON’T KNOW WHY I DECIDED TO COME DON’T KNOW WHY I DECIDED TO COME
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ROSE MEET ME HALFWAY A TOUCH AND GO OF DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY DO WE TALK? (BIRDLACE coughs.) What? BIRDLACE Huh? ROSE DON’T EXPECT TOO MUCH JUST WALK BIRDLACE BLANK SLATE BLANK STARE YEAH YOU MADE HER CRY, WHY DO YOU CARE? WHAT TOOK HOLD? LOOK AT HER SHE LOOKS SO… (About to express something potentially dismissive of ROSE, he looks at her and notices something.) COLD (BIRDLACE gives ROSE his jacket. She is pleasantly surprised by the gesture.) BIRDLACE/ROSE AND WE GO BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM DON’T KNOW WHY I DECIDED TO COME DON’T KNOW WHY I DECIDED TO COME ROSE
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TWISTING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE ROSE YOU’D BE SLEEPING
BIRDLACE YOU’D BE DRUNK
BIRDLACE/ROSE IF YOU HAD STAYED AND YOU MIGHT MISS ANY GOOD THAT COULD COME AFTER THIS ROSE FIRST DATE BIRDLACE LAST NIGHT BIRDLACE/ROSE NOT QUITE WHAT YOU PICTURED BUT ALRIGHT BIRDLACE SO TAKE HER OUT ROSE GIVE HIM A SHOT BIRDLACE/ROSE ‘CAUSE PEOPLE CAN SURPRISE YOU OR NOT AND WE GO BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM (They end up at a very FANCY RESTAURANT. Ambient classical music. A snooty WAITER greets them.) WAITER Good evening. Do you have a reservation? BIRDLACE
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Uh, no...not like that should matter, seeing as there’s plenty of room. WAITER Yes, sir, there is—but we don't seat patrons without a reservation. BIRDLACE Yeah, well, next time I'll have my secretary call ahead. What's for dinner? WAITER I’m afraid, without a reservation, it’s just not possible. BIRDLACE I'm a United States Marine. Good enough to protect you but I ain’t good enough to eat your chow, that it? WAITER I’m going to have to ask you to lower your voice. BIRDLACE (loud) Not a fuckin’ chance. ROSE (pulls BIRDLACE aside) Eddie, what are you doing? (ROSE goes to the WAITER.) I’m real sorry about that, sir—and you don’t have to make any exceptions for us—it’s just—you see, it’s our wedding night. (She acknowledges her non-wedding attire.) I know, look at me. But we—well, we don't have money for a dress you only wear once. (BIRDLACE watches her in action.) And it’s my fault, you know, ‘cause I wanted this night to be just perfect. A beautiful meal like the kind you make here. The two of us. (She touches her belly.) The three of us. (She starts to "cry.") Oh, there I go again—I promised myself, no tears tonight. I'm sorry.
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(She cries on BIRDLACE's shoulder. He awkwardly comforts her. Stiff.) WAITER (gives in) Let me see if I can’t find you a table somewhere. ROSE (to BIRDLACE, proudly) See? No black eyes or nothing. (WAITER walks them to an empty table. ROSE looks around the restaurant.) It’s so nice. WAITER Here we are. ROSE I’ve never been here before. WAITER (forced smile) Is that so? (WAITER pulls out a chair for ROSE. BIRDLACE pulls out the other chair, offers it to ROSE. She accepts BIRDLACE’s offer.) BIRDLACE (loudly, laying it on thick) Here, this is for you. A buck. WAITER That won’t be necessary. BIRDLACE You’re worth a buck—now, isn’t he, Rose? You’ve been so kind—you earned it. (BIRDLACE stuffs the bill into WAITER’s jacket pocket.) WAITER Thank you. (WAITER flees. BIRDLACE takes his seat. He picks up the menu, triumphant. ROSE is not pleased.) ROSE
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You really showed him, huh. BIRDLACE Wait ‘til I’m through with that prick: he won’t know whether to shit or go blind. ROSE (drops her menu, giving up) Okay, Eddie, if you’re gonna spend the rest of the night trying to make that man miserable, I’m going home. BIRDLACE We came here to have a nice dinner. I’d like a little respect from the man, that’s all. ROSE We’ll have a nicer dinner if you just leave him be. What’s the point of spending all your time and energy trying to get even with everybody? BIRDLACE Because it feels great! It feels fuckin’ great. Especially when there’s an asshole getting in my— ROSE And what’s the point of every word out of your mouth being a curse word? I asked you a hundred times. You sound awful. How would you like it if I talked that way? BIRDLACE Wouldn’t bother me. (WAITER reappears, approaches the table.) WAITER (cautiously) So? May I get you anything to— ROSE (as gruffly as she can manage) Yes, goddammit, you can. I’ll have the fucking poached salmon, with the son-of-abitching rice, and some dirty bastard salad with a shitload of Roquefort dressing. Who knows what this asshole wants. (WAITER is stunned. Turns to BIRDLACE.) BIRDLACE I’ll just take a fuckin’ beer. WAITER Yes, sir. Coming right up.
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(WAITER escapes as fast as he can. BIRDLACE and ROSE can’t help but laugh. After the laughter subsides, ROSE seems concerned.) ROSE That’s all you’re gonna have? A beer? But you must be starving. BIRDLACE (bravado) Me? No way. I hadda cheeseburger last week. (An awkward moment. She eyes him suspiciously.) Whatchu looking at? ROSE Nothing. I was just wondering what you’d look like with a real head of hair. BIRDLACE Well, not much better, that’s for sure. We got a saying: “Shot at ‘n’ missed. Shit at ‘n’ hit.” That’s me. ROSE ‘Specially with your eye all swollen. BIRDLACE And it hurt too. You got a boxer for a dad? There’s guys in the corps can’t take a swing like that. ROSE I didn't mean what I said before, back at the party. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I was just mad. What you did made me real mad. BIRDLACE I know. ROSE You deserved it. (Beat. It felt good to say that to him.) And my dad wasn’t a boxer, at least I don’t think. I don’t know much about him. He died in the war. BIRDLACE You got his Purple Heart?
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ROSE I don’t think so. I mean, if we do, I’ve never seen it. Mama doesn’t talk about him. I never even met him. (Beat. BIRDLACE pulls the Medal of Honor from his pocket, hands it to ROSE.) BIRDLACE It’s not the same thing, but…you can hold onto it. ROSE What? Eddie, no— BIRDLACE Keep it. ROSE It’s important to you—it’s your father's. BIRDLACE It’s nothing to me, okay? Only worth what I paid for it at that pawnshop back in Buffalo. No one’s giving my dad a prize for anything, Rose. Packed up and split when I was six, didn’t have the decency to even say goodbye. ROSE I’m sorry. BIRDLACE I’m not. Only one looking out for you is you. At least I know it. (Beat.) Keep the medal. Or leave it for a tip. I don’t want it. (WAITER delivers ROSE’s meal and BIRDLACE’s beer.) WAITER Here you are: poached salmon and rice pilaf. ROSE Oh, that’s beautiful, thank you. WAITER And a beer. ROSE Look at it, Eddie. Looks too good to eat.
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BIRDLACE That looks good, real good. WAITER (backing away quickly) Thank you. ROSE (grabs knife and fork, digs in) This is—mmm. (As she takes the first few bites, BIRDLACE watches her—watches her food. She notices.) See, you are hungry! BIRDLACE No sir, honest. ROSE I work in a diner. I know a hungry look when I see one. Why didn’t you order something? BIRDLACE (considers her, then) Because I couldn’t pay for it. (ROSE is aghast.) Don’t worry, I can pay for yours. And this. (The beer.) But that’s all ‘til payday. (She considers him. Then she slides half her food onto the empty plate in front of him.) Hey—what’s that for? Hey… (She persists.) Thanks. (She smiles. He smiles.) [Song: “First Date, Last Night (Reprise)” – ROSE, BIRDLACE] ROSE
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 FIRST DATE BIRDLACE LAST NIGHT BOTH NOT QUITE WHAT YOU PICTURED BUT ALRIGHT ROSE SORTA STRANGE BIRDLACE KINDA BIZARRE BOTH BUT NOT A BIG DISASTER SO FAR AND WE GO BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
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ACT TWO. SCENE THREE. (BIG TONY’S TATTOO, a sleazy Tattoo Parlor. BIG TONY smokes a cigarette, hard at work on BOLAND’s arm. BERNSTEIN stands at the window, watches the street, ansty. They haven’t seen BIRDLACE in hours.) BERNSTEIN Almost a full hour late, the bum. Maybe he can’t find it or something. BOLAND (about his tattoo in progress) Lookin’ good over here. (BERNSTEIN approaches, check it out.) BERNSTEIN It sure is, how about that. And it doesn’t hurt too much, does it? BOLAND Nothin’ I can’t handle. BERNSTEIN ‘Cause that’s a ticklish place. I was thinking it might be too tender. But it’s beautiful, just beautiful. That’s the handiwork of a real professional, you can tell. I mean, you are a professional, right? You got a license for this sorta thing? BOLAND Would you give it a rest, come on! After what you done tonight, you oughtta be all calmed down. You’re still revved up as ever. (BOLAND’s tattoo is now complete.) BIG TONY There ya go. BOLAND (admiring the tattoo) Well, I’ll be: Ralphie Boland, new and improved. BIG TONY You’re up. Same thing on him, yeah? Bumblebee? BOLAND Hell yeah. BERNSTEIN Did you sterilize that thing—
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BIG TONY Park it. BERNSTEIN (sits) Yes, sir. BOLAND One more too. If he shows. BERNSTEIN He’ll be here. He said he’s gonna and he wouldn’t lllll… (BIG TONY gets to work. BERNSTEIN can’t take the pain.) …llllucky fuckin’ strike! Sonofabitch! You gotta do it so hard? (BERNSTEIN leaps out of the chair, away from BIG TONY. BOLAND doesn’t have any more patience for BERNSTEIN’s antics.) BOLAND You a Marine or a little girl or what? BERNSTEIN Hey, I’m cool, I just—I oughtta save the best for last, you know, let Birdlace take his turn first. BOLAND (certain) Our friend Birdlace ain’t comin’. BERNSTEIN Don’t say that. Why would you say that? BOLAND 'Cause I ain't blind. We're supposed to have each other's backs. We gotta count on each other. The fuck does he think he's doing, running out on us? Now don't you go soft on me too. You can’t take a fuckin’ tattoo, what the hell you gonna do when you got something real to be scared of? Get your ass over there. Now. (BERNSTEIN sits, offers his arm to BIG TONY. BIG TONY resumes work. A silence. BERNSTEIN breaks it.) BERNSTEIN Hey, Boland? What is it we’re supposed to be scared of?
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BOLAND Huh? BERNSTEIN You said. Something real? (Beat.) You mean over there? BOLAND Yeah, guess I do. (BERNSTEIN, perhaps without even realizing it, begins to pep talk BOLAND.) BERNSTEIN It’s not such a big deal. BOLAND ‘Course not. BERNSTEIN I mean, it’s what we trained for, right? They gave us the gun and they taught us how to use it. If they forgot something…well, we’ll learn it. You help me and I’ll help you, you know? Three fuckin’ bees. For forever. (BERNSTEIN sings softly, occasionally wincing from the pain of BIG TONY’s work, but always intent on supporting BOLAND.) [Song: “Hometown Hero’s Ticker Tape Parade (Reprise)” – BERNSTEIN, BOLAND] BERNSTEIN A HERO DON’T GET SOFT A HERO DON’T RETREAT HE’S GONNA GET HIS WAY ‘CAUSE HE WON’T ACCEPT DEFEAT (BIG TONY finishes BERNSTEIN’s tattoo. BERNSTEIN and BOLAND compare their new bumblebees. Proud, forever bonded.) BERNSTEIN & BOLAND GUYS LIKE ME AND YOU WE’RE HEROES THROUGH AND THROUGH SEMPER FI DO OR DIE
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 YOU’RE A GODDAMN HERO YOU’RE A GODDAMN HERO (Lights fade on the TATTOO PARLOR as music transitions us to…)
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Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 ACT TWO. SCENE FOUR. (GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. BIRDLACE and ROSE take in the sight. BIRDLACE is overwhelmed.) BIRDLACE Wow. Oh man. ROSE You can see the Pacific on that side. And here’s the Bay. BIRDLACE And the whole city, jeez. (BIRDLACE has started to climb.) ROSE Careful, Eddie, what are you doing? BIRDLACE (shouts) Wake up, San Francisco! ROSE Get down from there. BIRDLACE Come on up. ROSE No way, are you crazy? It's dangerous. BIRDLACE Not if you know what you're doing. It's nothing. (offers his hand) Come here. (She considers, then takes his hand. BIRDLACE pulls her up. She is scared.) ROSE Oh my gosh. Eddie— BIRDLACE I got you.
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(He holds her tight.) ROSE Don’t look down. BIRDLACE I got you. (She takes in the sight. They observe together.) ROSE I've never seen it so clear. It’s usually pretty foggy. BIRDLACE (the view) That’s something, huh. ROSE I thought you'd like it. (Beat. They are physically closer than they’ve been so far—and they’re both aware of it. Then, BIRDLACE sees something.) BIRDLACE Whoa, look at that beauty. Come tomorrow morning, that could be my ship. ROSE So it is tomorrow, Okinawa? BIRDLACE First thing, yeah. ROSE I thought it might be. (Pause. Then ROSE starts to climb down. BIRDLACE follows.) BIRDLACE Hey, where are you going? ROSE Eddie, why didn’t you tell me you’re leaving so soon? BIRDLACE I dunno... I guess, I didn't think it was gonna matter. ROSE
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Of course it matters. You knew you were leaving—why’d you come back and invite me to dinner? BIRDLACE I dunno...I wanted to see you. I felt bad, okay. I don't know what you want me to say. ROSE I don't understand you. BIRDLACE I guess I screwed this up too. (Beat.) Why'd you come with me, Rose? ROSE Why? BIRDLACE Yeah—dinner. Why'd you say yes? ROSE 'Cause if I didn't, I'd just be what you thought I was. A lonely, pathetic, ugly fat girl. That's all I'd be. [Song: “BEFORE IT’S OVER” – ROSE] AN AWKWARD GIRL WITH HER GUITAR KEEPIN' TO HERSELF FRIDAY NIGHTS ALONE WITH THE RECORDS ON HER SHELF A WAITRESS POURIN' GINGER ALE AND COKE SOMEONE YOU ASK OUT AS A JOKE I'VE BEEN THAT GIRL WHO FADES AWAY ACCEPTING WHAT I'VE GOT STUCK IN WHAT I AM AND EVERYTHING I'M NOT I'VE ONLY SEEN THIS TINY WORLD I'M IN WHERE I CAN ONLY BE WHAT I'VE BEEN SEE A WORLD BEAUTIFUL AND STRANGE SPINNIN' OFF SOMEWHERE SAYIN' “MEET ME THERE” LOOK, LOOK HOW FAST IT RUNS AWAY
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 SINGIN’ “FOLLOW CLOSE AND REACH FOR ME SEE THAT YOU'VE GOT SO MUCH MORE TO BE BEFORE IT’S OVER BEFORE IT’S OVER” I CAN'T GO WRITE ANOTHER SONG I'M TOO AFRAID TO PLAY OR DREAM HOW THINGS COULD CHANGE BUT ONLY SEE WHAT'S IN MY WAY CAN'T GO BACK TO WHAT I WAS BEFORE NOW THAT I CAN SEE SO MUCH MORE SEE A WORLD BEAUTIFUL AND STRANGE ON A ONE-WAY TRACK AND IT WON'T COME BACK LOOK, LOOK HOW FAST IT RUNS AWAY SINGIN' "FOLLOW CLOSE AND REACH FOR ME SEE THAT YOU'VE GOT SO MUCH MORE TO BE BEFORE IT'S OVER" I NEVER EVEN KNEW A WORLD WAS WAITING SOMEHOW SOMETHING AWFUL MADE THAT WORLD APPEAR MAYBE THIS SOUNDS CRAZY BUT I'M HAPPY THAT IT HAPPENED HAPPY THAT I CAME HAPPY THAT I'M HERE I CAN SEE A WORLD BEAUTIFUL AND STRANGE CAN YOU SEE IT TOO? IT’S SO CLOSE DON’T LET IT GET AWAY THERE’S SO MUCH TO DO BEFORE IT’S OVER (After the song, an awkward moment. Neither knows what to say.) So I guess you gotta go meet your friends. (She is disappointed but sweet.) I wish you weren’t leaving tomorrow. (realizes)
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Today. BIRDLACE As long as I’m back for formation in the morning, I’m okay. ROSE You sure? I thought— BIRDLACE I’m sure. I’m with ‘em every day. I wanna spend my last night with you. I like you. (Elsewhere, ENSEMBLE members appear in shadow, gently encouraging this fledgling bond.) [Song: “Give Way” – ENSEMBLE, ROSE] FEMALE SINGER 1 A FLOWER BOWS TO AUTUMN CHILL OCTOBER RIVER, FROZEN STILL FEMALE SINGER 1/MALE SINGER 1 GIVE WAY GIVE WAY ROSE I could play you some of my records. They’re back at my place. We gotta be real quiet though ‘cause Mama’s gonna be sleeping— BIRDLACE Okay. ROSE Okay. (ROSE leads him to her apartment.) FEMALE SINGER 2 BUT THE SPARROW WITH HIS BROKEN WING BURROWS DOWN TO WAIT FOR SPRING FEMALE SINGER 2/MALE SINGER 2 GIVE WAY GIVE WAY FEMALE SINGER 1/FEMALE SINGER 2 SPARROW, SPARROW
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TOO AFRAID TO FLY ENSEMBLE SINGERS SPARROW, SPARROW TOO PROUD TO TRY AND HE’S OH SO FAR FROM HOME (They end up in ROSE’S BEDROOM. She considers her record collection.) ROSE So what are you in the mood for? We could try the Kingston Trio—or, you’ve never even heard Odetta. (teasing him) Oh look, Jim Swain. (They laugh.) And there’s always Woody. You know why he came up with “This Land Is Your Land?” BIRDLACE Didn’t even know the guy wrote it ‘til today. Why? ROSE ‘Cause he was sick of hearing “God Bless America.” He thought it was a lie. Woody's song is about people. And now you hear it all the time. Everybody knows it, all over the whole country. BIRDLACE So what are you doing making music all alone in your room? (BIRDLACE picks up ROSE’s guitar, holds it as if it's a rifle.) ROSE Eddie, careful with that. BIRDLACE I don’t know why you’re so afraid to play this for people. ROSE I’m not, I just…I’m waiting for my hair to get a little longer…I need time to work on my songs. BIRDLACE (offers her the guitar) Sing something. Anything. Like that song you were playing before at the diner.
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ROSE That song’s not really finished. BIRDLACE So play me what you got. ROSE I don’t wanna wake Mama. BIRDLACE One song, that’s all I’m asking. It’s my last night, Rose. Please, it’s just me. (ROSE takes the guitar. She takes a deep breath, about to sing for her first audience.) ROSE A SPRING AND SUMMER SONG TOO BRIEF THE STEADY TURN OF A FALLING LEAF GIVE WAY GIVE WAY AND JUST BEFORE THE WINTER STORM OFF TO SOMEWHERE SAFE AND WARM GIVE WAY GIVE WAY SPARROW, SPARROW TOO AFRAID TO FLY SPARROW, SPARROW TOO PROUD TO TRY AND HE’S OH SO FAR FROM HOME (She finishes. BIRDLACE is genuinely impressed.) BIRDLACE Rose—oh man, you’re—that was really— ROSE The song doesn’t have a bridge yet— (Awkwardly and impulsively, he kisses her. After the kiss, she carries on talking, picks up where she left off.) —and the last verse is rotten. I think if I keep working on it— (BIRDLACE kisses her again. This time, after, she is quiet. Some awkwardness.)
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Maybe I should—I could change? (She takes a long, unsexy nightgown off a hook, looks to BIRDLACE.) BIRDLACE Yeah? ROSE Maybe you could…why don’t you turn the other way. BIRDLACE Okay, Rose, sure thing. (He turns his back to her. She starts undressing. After a moment, he starts to unbutton his shirt. Stops.) Hey, Rose? (She freezes.) It’s only fair. ROSE Oh. Okay. (She turns away from him. They undress with their backs to each other. BIRDLACE retrieves a condom from his wallet. Stashes it on her bed, under her teddy bear.) Eddie? BIRDLACE One sec. ROSE Okay, I’m done over here. (She is fully dressed and ready in her long nightgown. He very quickly tears off his button down and pulls off his pants.) BIRDLACE Me too. (He now wears boxers and an undershirt. They turn to face each other slowly.) BIRDLACE That’s a real pretty night…dress…thingy.
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ROSE Thanks. (She sits on the bed. He takes a deep breath, sits next to her. Silence. He kisses her. He can tell she is nervous. He is too and tries to hide it.) BIRDLACE Is that—everything okay? ROSE Okay. BIRDLACE You sure? ROSE It’s so bright in here. I’m just gonna… (She starts turning off all the lamps in the room. The last one is right by the bed. She reaches for it. As the music reaches its climax, BIRDLACE grabs her wrist, stops her.) BIRDLACE I wanna see you. (He pulls her onto the bed and into a deep kiss as the ENSEMBLE sings.) ENSEMBLE SINGERS GIVE WAY GIVE WAY GIVE WAY GIVE WAY GIVE WAY GIVE WAY (The voices crescendo. Lights fade on their lovemaking.)
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ACT TWO. SCENE FIVE. [Song: “Some Kinda Time (Reprise)” – ALL MARINES] (The next morning, early. BERNSTEIN and BOLAND, drunk and exhausted, stumble towards their destination.) BERNSTEIN/BOLAND SOME KINDA TIME SOME KINDA HAZE WHEN WE HIT IT HARD AND LIT THE SKY ABLAZE SOME KINDA TIME SOME KINDA HUM AS IF SOMEBODY’S CALLIN' (ROSE’S BEDROOM. ROSE sleeps. BIRDLACE stands, dressing in his uniform. Sober.) BIRDLACE SOME KINDA TIME
BERNSTEIN/BOLAND SOME KINDA TIME
SOME KINDA SIGHT SOME KINDA SIGHT IT’S STRANGE HOW SOMETHING CHANGES SOME KINDA NIGHT OVERNIGHT THREE BEES SOME KINDA TIME SOME KINDA DRUM LIKE THERE’S SOMETHING BEGINNING (ROSE stirs.) ROSE Good morning. BIRDLACE Hey. ROSE You get any sleep? BIRDLACE Barely. I guess I’m too riled up.
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ROSE Today’s the day, huh. They make you wear the uniform all the way there? BIRDLACE I think now I pretty much wear it all the time. ROSE Ask me how my first date was. (BIRDLACE smiles.) It was nice. BIRDLACE Yeah. ROSE Was I all right? BIRDLACE You were great. (Beat. BIRDLACE makes a shameful admission.) Not that I got anything to compare it to. (Beat. They lock eyes.) I better go before your mom wakes up. ROSE (scribbles her address on a sheet of paper) Here’s my address. When you get to where you’re going, Eddie, you’re gonna tell me how to get in touch. I wanna write you. BIRDLACE Me? Sure thing, Rose. Thanks. That'd be great. ROSE (gives him the address) Keep it safe. (He takes her address and kisses her softly, sweetly.) BIRDLACE GOODBYE
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UP AT DAWN GETTIN' GONE I'M ON MY WAY GOODBYE SHIPPIN' OUT IT'S ALL ABOUT TO START TODAY GOODBYE LEAVIN’ NOW BUT DON'T KNOW HOW (ROSE disappears as we move from ROSE’S BEDROOM to the BUS DEPOT, where the rest of the MARINES wait, some already lining up in formation.) ALL MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE)
BIRDLACE TO SAY GOODBYE
GOODBYE TO CHILI FRIES TO APPLE PIES AND DINAH SHORE SO LONG TO WAFFLE CONES NEW TWILIGHT ZONES AND LESLEY GORE BERNSTEIN/BOLAND A WILD RIDE ON MY LAST NIGHT STATESIDE (BOLAND and BERNSTEIN find BIRDLACE.) BERNSTEIN Birdlace! There you are! BOLAND Prodigal fuckin’ son. (BIRDLACE’s attitude immediately changes; he snaps into his pompous, cocky persona. He furtively slides Rose’s address into his back pocket. BOLAND notices.) BERNSTEIN Where the hell have you been? BOLAND Spit it out, asshole. BIRDLACE
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Okay, okay, but you gotta keep it down…‘cause she was married. BERNSTEIN She was married?! You fuck! BOLAND Good lookin’? BIRDLACE We’re talking blonde, thirty-two, built like a— BOLAND Thirty-two? What are you, some kinda grandma-fucker? BIRDLACE If your grandma looked like this, you bet your ass. BERNSTEIN Well, we had a pisser of a time. And since we know how to report when we’re called, we got these too. (BERNSTEIN rolls up a sleeve.) BOLAND Check it out. Bernstein got yours for you. You owe us a bee. (BERNSTEIN shows him the tattoo. BIRDLACE studies it: two bees. He whistles his appreciation.) BIRDLACE Three fuckin’ bees. BERNSTEIN (the tattoo) C’mon, fellas. Gotta show 'em our new ink. BIRDLACE (stops BOLAND) Go on. We’re right behind ya. (BERNSTEIN leaves them, joins the rest of the MARINES.) BOLAND What’s up? BIRDLACE That toothless sack you took to the party? I know it was a set up.
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BOLAND The hell you talkin’— BIRDLACE Don’t bullshit me, I’m sick of it. BOLAND Who told you? BIRDLACE I just know. (BOLAND reaches into BIRDLACE’s back pocket, fishes out the sheet of paper.) BIRDLACE Hey— BOLAND What’s this? BIRDLACE Gimme that. BOLAND (bursts out laughing when he reads it) Well, I’ll be! You think this is gonna keep you safe and warm on the other side of the world? (He tosses the note to BIRDLACE carelessly then speaks seriously but without fanfare or fuss, direct and clear.) You want the straight shit, Birdlace? That stuff don’t matter where we’re going. This— (his Three Bees tattoo) This is ‘bout the only thing that does. That’s why you ain’t gonna spill about me fixing that fight…and I ain’t gonna tell nobody ‘bout you spending the night with Rose. BIRDLACE How’d we get to be so full of shit? BOLAND That’s the thing about bullshit: you hit me with a little, I buy it. I hit you with a little, you eat it up. That don’t make us assholes. That makes us buddies.
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(BOLAND moves on, grabs his duffel alongside BERNSTEIN, FECTOR, STEVENS, and GIBBS. BIRDLACE considers ROSE’s note, pulled in opposite directions by two powerful forces.) MARINES (EXCEPT BIRDLACE) GOODBYE TO SUMMER HAZE TO LAZY DAYS ON YOUR FRONT LAWN
BIRDLACE SAY GOODBYE SAY GOODBYE SAY GOODBYE
GOODBYE TO HIGH SCHOOL PALS TO PRETTY GALS WHO LEAD YOU ON GOODBYE TO WHAT YOU THINK ‘CAUSE ONCE YOU BLINK YOU’LL BE GONE
SAY GOODBYE
(Decision time: BIRDLACE tears up ROSE’s address and scatters the tiny pieces.) ALL MARINES HATS OFF TO YOU RED WHITE AND BLUE (This night in 1963 recedes. We see the MARINES in Vietnam. Marching proudly.) [Song: “War Sequence” – ALL MARINES] ALL MARINES GOODBYE TO CHILI FRIES TO APPLE PIES GOODBYE TO CHEVROLETS TO WILLIE MAYS MARINES (EXCEPT THREE BEES) GOODBYE TO SUMMER HAZE TO LAZY DAYS
THREE BEES WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING
GOODBYE TO HIGH SCHOOL PALS
WE THREE BEES LIVIN’ SEMPER FI
Dogfight – Duchan, Pasek, Paul – 7/14/13 TO PRETTY GALS
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ALL MARINES CAN’TCHA HEAR IT BOYS? CAN’TCHA HEAR THAT NOISE COMIN’ COMIN’ COMIN’ COMIN’? (Silence. Everyone on the lookout, on edge, weapons pointed straight out, trained and ready for anything. Suddenly, chaos! Machine gunfire, exploding bombs, ringing in their ears, confusion.) SERGEANT MARINES Gooks two-hundred meters, front. Base of (variously, overlapping, ad lib) fire. Base of fire. Fector, Stevens: right Contact, direct front. Get down! On your flank. Gibbs: move left, move left. Go! Go! left. Enemy troops in the open. Push up. Down, down, down! Radio, radio! Watch your right. Rush! Suppressing fire. I’m up. Buddy rushes. NVA in the open. Where are they? He’s down, he’s down. Ammo! Corpsman up. Doc! (The THREE BEES advance together, scared, trying to stay focused on the mission as all hell breaks loose around them.) THREE BEES WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING WE THREE BEES LIVIN’ SEMPER FI THICK LIKE BLOOD AND WE’RE DO OR DIE WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING (BOLAND is hit. He falls to ground, surely dead. BIRDLACE and BERNSTEIN push on, terrified, unrelenting.) BERNSTEIN/BIRDLACE WE THREE BEES LIVIN’ SEMPER FI THICK LIKE BLOOD AND WE’RE DO OR DIE WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING WE THREE BEES LIVIN’ SEMPER FI THICK LIKE BLOOD AND WE’RE DO OR DIE WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING
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(Now BERNSTEIN is hit. He stumbles, falls—a goner. BIRDLACE is alone. He presses on, fulfilling his duty, advancing.) BIRDLACE WE THREE BEES LIVIN’ SEMPER FI THICK LIKE BLOOD AND WE’RE DO OR DIE WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING WE THREE BEES LIVIN’ SEMPER FI THICK LIKE BLOOD AND WE’RE DO OR DIE WE THREE BEES HAVE A MIGHTY STING AND WE COME PREPARED FOR ANYTHING WE THREE BEES ARE FOREVER YOUNG SO WATCH YOUR BACK OR YOU MIGHT GET STUNG (Chaos all around him, BIRDLACE advances alone. Eventually a helicopter is heard overhead amidst the cacophony, signaling his rescue. The collage of sound becomes deafening until it cuts out completely and BIRDLACE snaps out of this nightmare and right into the next scene.)
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ACT TWO. SCENE SIX. (San Francisco, 1967. BIRDLACE starts, as if from a nightmare. He doesn’t quite shake it off. He may never.) PETE Welcome to San Francisco, kid. (Their bus has arrived in San Francisco. PETE hands BIRDLACE his duffel. BIRDLACE takes in his surroundings.) BIRDLACE Don’t look a thing like what I remember. PETE Not much does. (worried about BIRDLACE) You know where you’re going? Staying with friends? BIRDLACE Don’t got any. PETE What about your bees? (BIRDLACE looks at his Three Bees tattoo, gets lost in the thought. Beat. PETE backs off.) Well…good luck to you. (PETE leaves. BIRDLACE wanders San Francisco. HIPPIES pass. In the swirl of the city, BIRDLACE sees his friends BOLAND and BERNSTEIN everywhere he looks.) FEMALE HIPPIE #1 DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA BIRDLACE Excuse me— (FEMALE HIPPIE brushes past him.) ADD FEMALE HIPPIE #2 DA DA DA DA
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DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA BIRDLACE Can you help me out? (Again, BIRDLACE is dismissed by the woman whose help he solicits.) ADD FEMALE HIPPIE #3 DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA (BIRDLACE approaches another FEMALE HIPPIE.) BIRDLACE Can you help—I'm looking for a diner— (This FEMALE HIPPIE spits in his face. Silence, music out. BIRDLACE contains himself, wounded. He wipes his cheek with his shirt cuff, then rolls up his sleeve. He sees his Three Bees tattoo. Aching, he stares at it.) [Song: “Come Back” - BIRDLACE] BLUE INK SINKS IN LIKE A GHOST THAT WON’T WASH OFF YOUR SKIN IT STILL COMES BACK IT STILL COMES BACK BEES FIGHT BEES STING WATCH THEM DIE AND YOU CAN’T DO A THING THEY WON’T COME BACK WHERE DO YOU GO? I DON’T KNOW I DON’T KNOW ANYMORE THERE IS NO BEFORE ONLY NOW THEY SCOFF, THEY SPIT NO PARADE
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ALL YOU GET IS SHIT WHEN YOU COME BACK WHEN YOU COME BACK REPEAT, REPLAY EACH DEATH, EACH DAY THERE’S A GUILT THAT YOU CAN'T SHAKE AWAY FOR COMING BACK WHERE DO YOU GO? I DON’T KNOW I DON’T KNOW I DON’T KNOW HOW TO COME BACK COME BACK COME BACK COME BACK COME BACK (BIRDLACE has entered ROSE’s Diner. He sees ROSE.) COME BACK (Their eyes meet. Recognition. Silence. Neither knows what to say, how to proceed. They speak carefully, slowly, accompanied by a melody, quiet at first. There is a wealth of unspoken feelings between them and much uncertainty.) [Song: “Finale: Take Me Back” – ENSEMBLE] ROSE Eddie. BIRDLACE Hi, Rose. ROSE I never heard from you. I didn’t know if you were alive or… BIRDLACE Shot at and missed… (Beat.) I'm sorry.
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ROSE It's okay. I stopped waiting. I'm okay. (BIRDLACE shows her his tattoos: three bees.) BIRDLACE I don’t know why them…why not me… ROSE (understands he’s lost his best friends, compassionate) Oh, Eddie. I’m so sorry. (BIRDLACE is unable to contain his erupting feelings, trying so hard to do so that he shakes, throbs with their intensity. ROSE sees.) FEMALE SOLO OH A SMELL A SOUND CAN TAKE YOU BACK
MALE SOLO TAKE ME BACK TAKE ME BACK TAKE ME BACK
(Slowly, tentatively, ROSE goes to BIRDLACE, drawn by his evident need for compassion.) WOMEN OH TAKE ME BACK A SMELL, A SOUND A MEMORY YOU FOUND CAN TAKE YOU BACK
MEN OH TAKE ME BACK TAKE ME BACK TAKE ME BACK TAKE ME BACK ENSEMBLE
TAKE ME BACK (Finally, she pulls him into a deep, long hug. He hugs her back, with much feeling, cries on her shoulder, lets it all out.) ROSE Welcome home. (End of play.)
