Stampa questo copione

CHESS

di Tim Rice - Björn Ulvaeus - Benny Andersson

Personaggi:

THE MAYOR

THE AMERICAN

THE RUSSIAN

MOLOKOV

THE ARBITER

FLORENCE

SVETLANA

CITIZENS

DIPLOMATS

CIVIL SERVANTS

MERANO

CITIZENS OF MERANO

O light the heart

That lingers in Merano

Merano!  The spa no

Connoisseur of spas would miss

So healthy

Highly recommended

Is this sweet metropolis

Mental and physical bliss!

The gods have smiled

And bless-ed is Merano

Merano!  There are no

Fitter burghers to be found

Such vigour!

Take the time to taste us

We'll give you a welcome that's typically Tirol

For then we are sure of our ground

Fight now we're Italian -- we used to be German

The border keeps shifting around

MAYOR

Speaking as one of the patriarchs

I don't mind taking your lira or marks

CITIZENS

Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of Merano

Rosy-cheeked Merano

Flourishing to a fault

The sparkling streams, the bracing air

The therapeutic salt

I'd have to be carried away to call a halt!

Oh I feel great in this bouncing state o hail to the Merano

Hearty hale Merano

Any objections?  Nein!

Where breathing in will turn you on

Where water tastes like wine

Get out your get up and go and get in line

It's living your life in a show by Rodgers and Hammerstein!

O sad the soul

Who passes by Merano

Merano! so far no

Soul has ever passed us by

They love us

Why not stay forever?

Oh so many reasons why

All those in favour say "Aye"

Aye!

So sing a song

Let's hear it for Merano

Merano! Soprano

Alto, tenor, bass agree

We're wholesome

What a happy haven

This is a place where your arteries soften

Cholesterol hasn't a chance

From mountain to valley the natural goodness

Is fighting pollution's advance

MAYOR

So come to us and feel the force

All major credit cards taken of course

CITIZENS

Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of Merano

Rosy-cheeked Merano

Flourishing to a fault

The sparkling streams, the bracing air

The therapeutic salt

I'd have to be carried away to call a halt

Once in a while all the gods will smile on little old Merano

Humble shy Merano

Suddenly hits the press

And I report with all the pride

And joy that I possess

Half of the world and his wife has our address

Our little town will be rife with games of chess!

CITIZENS 

Get up your get up and go and get in line

It's living your life in a show...

THE AMERICAN

What a scene!  What a joy!

What a lovely sight

When my game is the big sensation!

Has the mob's sporting taste

Altered overnight?

Have they found new sophistication?

Not yet!  They just want to see

If the nice guy beats the bum

If it's East-West

And the money's sky-high

They all come

You can raise all you want

If you raise the roof

Scream and shout and the gate increases

Break the rules -- break the bank

I'm the living proof

They don't care how I move my pieces

I know I'm the best there is

But all they want is a show

Well that's all right -- I'll be glad to oblige

All right!  I'll be glad to oblige

All right!  I'll be glad to oblige

S.R.O.  S.R.O.

MAYOR & CITIZENS

Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of Merano

Rosy-cheeked Merano

Flourishing to a fault

The sparkling streams, the bracing air

The therapeutic salt

I'd have to be carried away to call a halt

Oh I feel great in this bouncing state o hail to the Merano

Hearty hale Merano

Any objections?  Nein!

Where breathing in will turn you on

Where water tastes like wine

Get out your get up and go and get in line

It's living your life in a show by Rodgers and Hammerstein!

Now for the sell

We put the ice into paradise, we are the salt of the earth

Sound as a bell

Check out the waters

And check out the hygiene

At which we excel

Check into an hotel

And schnell

Body and soul

Get well!

THE RUSSIAN & MOLOKOV/ WHERE I WANT TO BE

MOLOKOV

The man is utterly mad -- you're playing a lunatic --

THE RUSSIAN

That's the problem.  He's a brilliant lunatic and you can't tell

which way

he'll jump -- like his game he's impossible to analyse -- you

can't dissect

him, predict him -- which of course means he's not a lunatic at

all.

MOLOKOV

What we've just seen's a pathetic display

From a man who's beginning to crack

He's afraid

He knows he isn't the player he was

And he won't get it back

THE RUSSIAN

Nonsense!

Why do my seconds

Always want to believe

Third-rate propaganda --

MOLOKOV

My friend, please relax

We're all on your side

You know how you need us --

THE RUSSIAN

I don't need my army of so-called 'advisors'

And helpers to tell me

The man who's revitalised chess single-handed

Is more or less out of his brain

When it's very clear

He's sane

MOLOKOV

Listen, we don't underestimate anyone

We won't get caught in that trap

After all, winning or losing reflects on us all --

THE RUSSIAN

Oh don't give me that crap!

I win -- no one else does

And I take the rap if I lose

MOLOKOV

It's not quite that simple

The whole world's tuned in

We're all on display

We're not merely sportsmen --

THE RUSSIAN

Oh please don't start spouting that old party line

Yes I know it's your job but

Just get out and get me a chess-playing second

In thirty-six hours we begin

That is if you want to win!

Who needs a dream?

Who needs ambition?

Who'd be the fool

In my position?

Once I had dreams

Now they're obsessions

Hopes became needs

Lovers possessions

Then they move in

Oh so discreetly

Slowly at first

Smiling too sweetly

I opened doors

They walked right through them

Called me their friend

I hardly knew them

Now I'm where I want to be and who I want to be and doing what I

always said I would and yet I feel I haven't won at all

Running for my life and never looking back in case there's

someone

right behind to shoot me down and say he always knew I'd fall.

When the crazy wheel slows down

Where will I be?  Back where I started.

Don't get me wrong

I'm not complaining

Times have been good

Fast, entertaining

But what's the point

If I'm concealing

Not only love

All other feeling.

Now I'm where I want to be and who I want to be and doing what I

always said I would and yet I feel I haven't won at all

Running for my life and never looking back in case there's

someone right behind to shoot me down and say he always knew I'd fall

When the crazy wheel slows down

Where will I be?  Back where I started.

THE OPENING CEREMONY

ARBITER

I've a duty as the referee

At the start of the match

On behalf of all our sponsors

I must welcome you

Which I do -- there's a catch

I don't care if you're a champion

No one messes with me

I am ruthless in upholding

What I know is right

Black or white -- as you'll see

I'm on the case

Can't be fooled

Any objection

Is overruled

Yes I'm the Arbiter and I know best

CHORUS

He's impartial, don't push him, he's unimpressed

ARBITER

You got your tricks

Good for you

But there's no gambit I don't see through

Oh I'm the Arbiter I know the score

CHORUS

From square one he'll be watching all 64

ARBITER

If you're thinking of the kind of thing

That we've seen in the past

Chanting gurus, walkie-talkies,

Walkouts, hypnotists,

Tempers, fists -- not so fast

This is not the start of World War Three

No political ploys

I think both your constitutions are terrific so

Now you know -- be good boys

I'm on the case

Can't be fooled

Any objection

Is overruled

Yes I'm the Arbiter and I know best

CHORUS

He's impartial, don't push him, he's unimpressed

ARBITER

You got your tricks

Good for you

But there's no gambit I don't see through

Oh I'm the Arbiter I know the score

CHORUS

From square one he'll be watching all 64

ARBITER

Yes I'm the Arbiter I know the score

CHORUS

From square one he's watching all 64

DIPLOMATS

No one can deny that these are difficult times...

It's the U.S. versus U.S.S.R.

Yet we more or less are --

No one can deny that these are difficult times...

-- to our credit putting all that aside

We have swallowed our pride

These are dangerous and difficult times...

It really doesn't matter who comes out on top, who gets the chop

No one's way of life is threatened by a flop --

But we're gonna smash their bastard

Make him wanna change his name

Take him to the cleaners and devastate him

Wipe him out, humiliate him

We don't want the whole world saying

They can't even win a game

We have never reckoned

On coming second

There's no use in losing

It's the U.S. versus U.S.S.R.

Yet we more or less are --

No one can deny that these are difficult times

-- to our credit putting all that aside

We have swallowed our pride

These are very difficult and dangerous times...

The value of events like this need not be stressed

When East and West

Can meet as comrades, ease the tension over drinks

Through sporting links

As long as their man sinks

MERCHANDISERS

Whether you are pro or anti

Or could not care less

We are here to tell you

We are here to sell you chess

Not a chance of you escaping from our wiles

We've locked the doors, we've blocked the aisles

We've a franchise worth exploiting

And we will -- yes we will!

When it comes to merchandising

We could kill

When you get up --

When you get up in the morning

Till you crash at night

You will have to live your life

With bishop, rook and knight

Clean your teeth with chequered toothpaste

Wear our vests

Our kings and queens on bouncing breasts

You could even buy a set

And learn to play

We don't mind we'll sell you something

Anyway

We've done all our market research

And our findings show

That this game of chess could be around

A month or so

Maybe it's a bit confusing

For a game

But Rubik's Cubes were much the same

In the end the whole world bought one

All were gone

By which time we merchandisers

Had moved on

By which time we had moved on!

ARBITER

I'm on the case, can't be fooled

Any objection is overruled

Don't try to tempt me -- you've no hope

I don't like women, I don't take dope

I'm the Arbiter I know the score

CHORUS

From square one he'll be watching all 64

ARBITER

You got your tricks -- good for you

But there is no gambit I don't see through

I'm the Arbiter and I know best

CHORUS

He's impartial don't push him he's unimpressed

ARBITER

I'm the Arbiter my word is law

CHORUS

From square one he'll be watching you...

EVERYONE

Don't you find it rather touching to behold

The game that came in from the cold

Seen for what it is -- religion plus finesse

Countries, classes, creeds, as one in

Love of chess

QUARTET/ A MODEL OF DECORUM

MOLOKOV

We wish, no must, make our disgust at this abuse perfectly clear.

We're here for chess -- are the U.S.?  If so, why foul the

atmosphere?

FLORENCE

I must protest -- our delegation has a host of valid points to

raise,

Our player's sporting attitude's beyond all praise,

as any neutral would attest

But we concede the fact his masters bend the rules is not a

player's fault --

We'll overlook their crude political assault

and under protest will proceed

MOLOKOV

We wish, no must, make our disgust at this abuse perfectly clear

we're here for chess -- are the U.S.?  How can you make such a

claim?

MOLOKOV                               ARBITER

If your man's so sweet                Point 17

Then why his fighting talk?           No one-way screen

If he's not a cheat                   Will be allowed

Then why on earth                     In the hall

Did he go take a walk?

                                      FLORENCE

Why let him loose?                    I am not surprised

He'll soon reduce                     He wanted fresher air

This great event                      Once he realized

To a brawl                            There was no hope

                                      Of your lot playing fair

It's very sad                         How sad

To see the ancient and                To see

Distinguished game                    What used

That used to be                       To be

BOTH

A model of decorum and tranquillity

Become like any other sport

A battleground for rival ideologies

To slug it out with glee

THE RUSSIAN                           MOLOKOV

Through the elegant yelling           We wish, no must, make our

disgust

Of this compelling dispute            At this abuse perfectly

clear

Comes the ghastly suspicion           We're here for chess --

are the U.S.?

My opposition's a fruit               If so, why foul the

atmosphere?

FLORENCE                                   ARBITER

I don't suppose                            Point 23

You'd understand the strain and pressure   The board will be

getting where he's got                     Made in Sweden

For then you'd simply call him             Non-aligned wood

highly strung and not

Imply that he was one of those

THE RUSSIAN                        MOLOKOV

But how can you                    It seems to us

Work for one who                   There's little point in

waiting here

Treats you like dirt?              all night for his return

Pay must be good                   And since a peaceful match

is our

                                   sole concern

FLORENCE                           We won't make an official fuss

I'm not getting rich                   In short we rise

My only interest                       Above your guy's

Is in something which                  Tantrums, dramas,

Gives me the chance                    Dirty tricks

Of working with the best.

                                       ARBITER

THE RUSSIAN

                                       Point 31

I can only say                         No game begun

I hope your dream comes true           By noon goes on

Till that far-off day                  After six

I hope you cope

With helping number two.

THE RUSSIAN & FLORENCE

How sad

To see

ARBITER & MOLOKOV

It's very sad to see

The ancient and distinguished game that used to be

ALL

A model of decorum and tranquillity

Become like any other sport

A battleground for rival ideologies

To slug it out with glee

THE AMERICAN AND FLORENCE/ NOBODY'S SIDE

FLORENCE

You want to lose your only friend?

Well, keep it up, you're doing fine

Why this humiliation?

Why treat me like a fool?

I've taken shit for seven years

And I won't take it anymore

THE AMERICAN

I'm only teasing Soviets

With gentle bonhomie

And you've a better reason to be anti-them than me.

FLORENCE

There's a time and there's a place.

THE AMERICAN

Is this the girl who always said

She wants to know the truth?

FLORENCE

There's a time and there's a place...

CHORUS

1956 -- Budapest is rising

1956 -- Budapest is fighting

1956 -- Budapest is falling

1956 -- Budapest is dying

THE AMERICAN

I'd have thought you'd support

Any attack on these people

On the people who ran

Mindlessly over your childhood

Don't let them fool you for

Thirty years on they're the same

They see chess as a war

Playing with pawns just like Poland

If you walk out on me

They will have won their first battle

Wouldn't your father

Have begged you to stay in the game?

FLORENCE

He would -- but he didn't know you

He'd loathe your behaviour and so do I --

Why'd you have to do this to me?

What's going on around me

Is barely making sense

I need some explanations fast

I see my present partner

In the imperfect tense

And I don't see how we can last

I feel I need a change of cast

Maybe I'm on nobody's side

And when he gives me reasons

To justify each move

They're getting harder to believe

I know this can't continue

I've still a lot to prove

There must be more I could achieve

But I don't have the nerve to leave

Everybody's playing the game

But nobody's rules are the same

Nobody's on nobody's side

Better learn to go it alone

Recognize you're out on your own

Nobody's on nobody's side

The one I should not think of

Keeps rolling through my mind

And I don't want to let that go

No lovers ever faithful

No contract truly signed

There's nothing certain left to know

And how the cracks begin to show!

Never make a promise or plan

Take a little love where you can

Nobody's on nobody's side

Never stay too long in your bed

Never lose your heart, use your head

Nobody's on nobody's side

Never take a stranger's advice

Never let a friend fool you twice

Nobody's on nobody's side

Everybody's playing the game

But nobody's rules are the same

Nobody's on nobody's side

Never leave a moment too soon

Never waste a hot afternoon

Nobody's on nobody's side

Never stay a minute too long

Don't forget the best will go wrong

Nobody's on nobody's side

Never be the first to believe

Never be the last to deceive

Nobody's on nobody's side

Never make a promise or plan...

TERRACE DUET

FLORENCE

This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid

Nothing I say will convince him this isn't a trick.

THE RUSSIAN

A drink on a clear moonlit night -- I relax, she smiles

There's something peculiar going on.

FLORENCE

So with immaculate timing, I'm left to carry the can

Embarrassed, outnumbered, marooned --

THE RUSSIAN

Now she can't be working for them -- I mean us --

She seems so very straightforward -- but where is he?

FLORENCE

He has to come back -- he wanted this meeting, well didn't he?

THE RUSSIAN

Maybe he's scared -- just as scared as he was in the game.

FLORENCE

Oh, I just couldn't care less

He can go right ahead, go and wreck his career, I know I've done

my best

THE RUSSIAN

Well at least she's a good-looking spy.

FLORENCE

What if my Russian friend thinks that my plans

Are more of an intimate kind?

If I don't say something else soon

He'll go -- Nobody's on nobody's side!

THE RUSSIAN

Listen, I hate to break up the mood

Get to the point, begin the beguine

Haven't you noticed we're a protagonist short

In this idyllic, well-produced scene?

FLORENCE

All I can say is moments ago

He was right here ready and waiting

THE RUSSIAN

Never mind him -- I haven't missed him so far.

BOTH

Maybe it won't do any harm

To struggle on without his charm

Funny how all at once I feel that he can go jump off the mountain

I won't care

FLORENCE

This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid

THE RUSSIAN

My dear opponent -- I really can't imagine why

FLORENCE

So I am not dangerous then? -- what a shame!

THE RUSSIAN

Oh, you're not dangerous -- who could think that of you?

BOTH

You -- you are so strange -- why can't you be what you ought to

be?

You should be scheming, intriguing, too clever by half --

THE RUSSIAN

I have to had it to you

For you've managed to make me forget why I ever agreed to this

farce.

BOTH

I don't know why I can't think of anything

I would rather do

Than be wasting my time

On mountains with you.

FLORENCE QUITS

THE AMERICAN

So you got what you want

What a nasty ambition!

Set me up, pull me down

Then exploit my condition

I should have guessed, woman

That if pressed, woman

You're on nobody's side but your own

And you're behaving

Like a mere woman

It's so clear, woman --

It's your sex!

Once they start getting old and getting worried

They let fly, take it out

On the one who supports them --

That's you I'm talking about

THE AMERICAN & FLORENCE

Who'd ever think it?

Such a squalid little ending

Watching you descending

Just as far as you can go

I'm learning things I didn't want to know

Who'd ever guess it?

This would be the situation --

One more observation --

How'd we ever get this far

Before you showed me what you really are?

FLORENCE

You'll be lost without me

To abuse like you're used to

THE AMERICAN

Go away!  Just get out!  Be someone else's parasite!

I'm not the kind to be vindictive

Holding some childish grudge

How could I be?  I'm in the spotlight

Half of the world my judge

All I demand is those I work for

Those I give all my skills

All my time and pain

Those that I entertain

Give me the same compassion in return

But the fools never learn!

EMBASSY LAMENT

CIVIL SERVANTS

Oh my dear how boring

He's defecting

Just like all the others

He's expecting

Us to be impressed with what he's done here

But he

Hasn't stopped to think about the paperwork

His gesture causes

We've an embassy to run here

If these people can't strike

Blows for freedom

With a valid visa

We don't need 'em

If we seem offhand then please remember

This is nothing very special

He's the fourth we've had since last November

Who do these foreign chappies think they are?

And when he's safely in the West

He'll be the hero to discuss

The media will lionise him

Fame and fortune plus

No-one will recall it's

Thanks to us

Have you an appointment

With the consul?

If you don't we know what his

Response'll

Be, he will not see you, with respect it

Buggers up his very taxing schedule

Pushing peace and understanding

Let us hope this won't affect it

Far too many jokers

Cross the border

Not a single document

In order

Russia must be empty

Though we're all for

Basic human rights it makes you wonder

What they built the Berlin wall for

Who do these foreign chappies think they are?

And when you've filled in all the forms

And been passed clear of all disease

Debriefed debugged dedrugged disarmed

And disinfected please

Don't forget the guys

Who cut your keys

ANTHEM

THE RUSSIAN

No man, no madness

Though their sad power may prevail

Can possess, conquer, my country's heart

They rise to fail

She is eternal

Long before nations' lines were drawn

When no flags flew, when no armies stood

My land was born

And you ask me why I love her

Through wars, death and despair

She is the constant

We who don't care

And you wonder will I leave her -- but how?

I cross over borders but I'm still there now

How can I leave her?

Where would I start?

Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart

My land's only borders lie around my heart

ACT II

ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK

THE AMERICAN

Bangkok, Oriental setting

And the city don't know that the city is getting

The creme de la creme of the chess world in a

Show with everything but Yul Brynner

Time flies -- doesn't seem a minute

Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it

All change -- don't you know that when you

Play at this level there's no ordinary venue

It's Iceland -- or the Philippines -- or Hastings -- or --

  or this place!

COMPANY

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster

The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free

You'll find a god in every golden cloister

And if you're lucky then the god's a she

I can feel an angel sliding up to me

THE AMERICAN

One town's very like another

When your head's down over your pieces, brother

COMPANY

It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity

To be looking at the board, not looking at the city

THE AMERICAN

Whaddya mean?  Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town --

COMPANY

Tea, girls, warm, sweet

Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite

THE AMERICAN

Get Thai'd!  You're talking to a tourist

Whose every move's among the purest

I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine

COMPANY

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble

Not much between despair and ecstasy

One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble

Can't be too careful with your company

I can feel the devil walking next to me

THE AMERICAN

Siam's gonna be the witness

To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness

This grips me more than would a

Muddy old river or reclining Buddha

And thank God I'm only watching the game -- controlling it --

I don't see you guys rating

The kind of mate I'm contemplating

I'd let you watch, I would invite you

But the queens we use would not excite you

So you better go back to your bars, your temples, your massage

parlours --

COMPANY

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster

The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free

You'll find a god in every golden cloister

A little flesh, a little history

I can feel an angel sliding up to me

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble

Not much between despair and ecstasy

One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble

Can't be too careful with your company

I can feel the devil walking next to me

HEAVEN HELP MY HEART

FLORENCE

If it were love I would give that love every second I had

And I do

Did I know where he'd lead me to?

Did I plan

Doing all of this for the love of a man?

Well I let it happen anyhow

And what I'm feeling now

Has no easy explanation

Reason plays no part

Heaven help my heart

I love him too much

What if he saw my whole existence

Turning around a word, a smile, a touch?

One of these days, and it won't be long, he'll know more about me

Than he should

All my dreams will be understood

No surprise

Nothing more to learn from the look in my eyes

Don't you know that time is not my friend

I'll fight it to the end

Hoping to keep that best of moments

When the passions start

Heaven help my heart

The day that I find

Suddenly I've fun out of secrets

Suddenly I'm not always on his mind

Maybe it's best to love a stranger

Well that's what I've done -- heaven help my heart

Heaven help my heart

ARGUMENT

FLORENCE

I would have thought in the average affair

That the first hint of trouble would be

Oh so small; barely perceptible, easy to miss

Why is ours on TV?

THE RUSSIAN

Listen -- you know as I do

Nothing's altered at all

I have no intention --

FLORENCE

Your personal life's

The lead on the news!

How do we ignore that?

THE RUSSIAN

I do and I must because otherwise I say

Goodbye to my hopes of retaining my title

If I should succumb to emotional blackmail I'm done --

FLORENCE

Looking after number one!

THE RUSSIAN

What do you mean?

FLORENCE

I mean it's always I this and I that

What happened to us?

THE RUSSIAN

All that I'm saying is I must make certain

That nothing distracts me from chess

When I've won

Then I'll attend to the secondary things --

FLORENCE

Things like me I suppose!

THE RUSSIAN

No, no -- you're reacting

Exactly the way that they want

FLORENCE

It's the way I have to

If I feel concerned I can't put it off

And come back to it later

THE RUSSIAN

Well if you're determined to jump when they tell you

Then maybe it's best that you do it alone

Watch "TV, read the papers, have the miserable time of your life

You could even call my wife!

I KNOW HIM SO WELL

FLORENCE

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally

Perfect situations must go wrong

But this has never yet prevented me

Wanting far too much for far too long.

Looking back I could have played it differently

Won a few more moments who can tell

But it took time to understand the man

Now at least I know I know him well

FLORENCE                          SVETLANA

Wasn't it good?                   Oh so good

Wasn't he fine?                   Oh so fine

Isn't it madness

He can't be mine?                 He can't be mine?

But in the end he needs

A little bit more than me --

More security                      He needs his fantasy

                                   And freedom

I know him so well.

SVETLANA

No one in your life is with you constantly

No one is completely on your side

And though I move my world to be with him

Still the gap between us is too wide.

FLORENCE                          SVETLANA

Looking back I could              Looking back I could

Have played things                Have played it

Some other way                    Differently

                                  Learned about the man

                                  Before I fell

I was just a little

Careless maybe

                                  But I was

                                  Ever so much

Now at least                      Younger then

I know him well                   Now at least

BOTH

I know I know him well

SVETLANA                          FLORENCE

Wasn't it good?                   Oh so good

Wasn't he fine?                   Oh so fine

Isn't it madness

BOTH

He won't be mine?

Didn't I know

How it would go?

If I knew from the start

Why am I falling apart?

FLORENCE                          SVETLANA

                                  Wasn't it good?

                                  Wasn't he fine?

Isn't it madness

He won't be mine?                 He won't be mine?

But in the end he needs a

Little bit more than me --

More security                     He needs his

                                  Fantasy and freedom

I know him so well

                                  It took time to understand him

BOTH

I know him so well