SEGMENT 19 of the opera/musical "CANDELESCENCE" (written by Secretary Michael); the latest SCRIPT is found below; click to find the sheet music to this segment's necessary songs: "Segment 19 Recitative" and the "Do What We Do" reprise.
Segment 19: Ace Makes Changes
(Early morning; Guru is already up and working at his desk in the schoolroom; Ace enters in his pajamas;)
GURU
(singing)
Good morning, Ace! You got up very early!
ACE
(spoken)
I like to get up early!
GURU
(singing exaggeratedly operatic)
I like to get up early!
ACE
(whining)
Oh, do I have to?
GURU
(singing comically nasal)
Oh, do I have to?
GURU (CONT’D)
(singing normally - see recitative score)
When we look into the sky, we see many stars
We are in Twimfina’s story, just like she’s in ours
ACE
I don’t want to criticize or be derogatory
But there are times when I’m not thrilled to be inside her story
GURU
And there are times, like when she’s in there washing out your drawers
That maybe, maybe, maybe she’s not thrilled to be in yours
(Ace laughs)
But she enriches both our lives, and so it’s no big thing
That when we have some words to say, we try our best to sing
ACE
Then let me try my best to sing of problems with your story
GURU
But you just said you didn’t want to be derogatory
ACE
A month ago, dear Father, that is how I might have opted
But now I’m free to speak my mind – now that I’m adopted.
GURU
(laughing)
You hid it very well from us – your free and open spirit!
But I am stronger than I look, and so, my Son, let’s hear it
ACE
#1
I didn’t like the scene where the Commissioner appeared
You made him seem so crabby and a person to be feared.
You need to do that part again, with singing and guitar
So we and the Commissioner can be the way we are
#2
And then you gave the GGG a silly song and dance
If that was meant a Fountain-Flush, you really blew your chance
You didn’t have the Fountains, you didn’t have the Flush
You didn’t have observers, it was all a kind of mush
You need to write that part again, and make the GGG
As ignorant and shallow and repulsive as can be
Fill the stage with Fountains – as many as you can
And if you choose to use a Flush, let Toolie be your man.
#3
Then you should write an ending – an ending that is fun
An ending that we all can sing – each and ev’ry one
An ending that convinces us that peace is in our reach
If peace is something we can learn, it’s something we must teach.
GURU
I cannot guarantee that I can make my story “fun”
But all the other things you ask, I’ll try to get them done.
ACE
And I will help you all the way with anything you need
For if we work together, then together we’ll succeed
GURU and ACE
(melody begins)
So let’s get up and do it, and face reality
So we can get where we can get and be who we can be
We’ve got to:
GURU and ACE
(both singing together in harmony)
WORK HOW WE WORK, JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER
PLAN HOW WE PLAN, JUST A LITTLE BIT SMARTER
COUNT EV’RY NUMBER AND WRITE EV’RY LETTER
DO WHAT WE DO JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
GOTTA LIVE LIKE WE LIVE WITH A LITTLE MORE VIGOR
SMILE LIKE WE SMILE BUT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER
WHATEVER THE HOUR OR WHATEVER THE WEATHER
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO, JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
ONE. TWO. WHAT WE GOTTA DO?
THREE. FOUR. EV’RY LITTLE CHORE.
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE
DO WHAT WE DO PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
GOTTA WORK HOW WE WORK, JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER
PLAN HOW WE PLAN, JUST A LITTLE BIT SMARTER
COUNT EV’RY NUMBER AND WRITE EV’RY LETTER
DO WHAT WE DO, JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
GOTTA LIVE LIKE WE LIVE WITH A LITTLE MORE VIGOR
SMILE LIKE WE SMILE BUT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER
WHATEVER THE HOUR OR WHATEVER THE WEATHER
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO, JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
ONE. TWO. WHAT WE GOTTA DO?
THREE. FOUR. EV’RY LITTLE CHORE.
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE
DO WHAT WE DO PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
GOTTA DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO WHAT WE
DO WHAT WE DO PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
END OF SEGMENT 19
