-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chess Music: Benny Andersson + Bj?rn Ulvaeus Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Tim Rice Premiere: Wednesday, May 14, 1986 London record: 1984 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHESS Script as per performances in the Prince Edward Theatre in June 1986. *indicates spoken line or speech NB: Chess commentaries by William Hartston are not included in this script, neither are counterpoint/backing lyrics in some scenes, e.g. the Prologue. � 1986 by Tim Rice PROLOGUE: THE STORY OF CHESS (NB: The Chorus portray at various times characters in the lyric of the Prologue.) ARBITER Each game of chess means there's one less Variation left to be played Each day got through means one or two Less mistakes remain to be made chorus Each game of chess means there's one less Variation left to be played Each day got through means one or two Less mistakes remain to be made Not much is known Of early days of chess beyond a fairly vague report That fifteen hundred years ago two princes fought Though brothers, for a Hindu throne Their mother cried For no-one really likes their offspring fighting to the death She begged them stop the slaughter with her every breath But sure enough one brother died Sad beyond belief She told her winning son You have caused such grief I can't forgive this evil thing you've done He tried to explain How things had really been But he tried in vain No words of his could mollify the queen And so he asked the wisest men he knew The way to lessen her distress They told him he'd be pretty certain to impress By using model soldiers on A chequered board to show it was his brother's fault They thus invented chess Chess displayed no inertia Soon spread to Persia, then west Next the Arabs refined it, Thus redesigned, it progressed Still further yet And when Constantinople fell in 1453 One would have noticed every other refugee Included in his bags a set Once in the hands And in the minds of leading figures of the Renaissance The spirit and the speed of chess made swift advance Through all of Europe's vital lands Where we must record The game was further changed Right across the board The western touch upon the pieces ranged King and queen and rook And bishop, knight and pawn All took on the look We know today, the modern game was born With such success We see a game that started by mistake in Hindustan And boosted in the main by what is now Iran Reach every corner of the globe with nation Squaring up to nation to determine, no holds barred, Who owns, who made, who will parade The champion of chess *arbiter The international chess federation of which I have the honor of being president announces that the next world championship will take place in Merano, Italy. The current world champion, Anatoly Sergievsky of the Soviet Union, will defend his title against Frederick Trumper of the United States of America. The first player to achieve six victories will be declared champion. The first game will begin on March 27th. ACT ONE Scene One : The Main Square of Merano, Italy. Is this The Sound of Music? Tirolean hats, leather pants, yodels and dancing. Snow- capped mountain peaks and icy rivers. Narrow, crowded, colourful streets of shops. Grapes and the benefits of the spa. The MAYOR and CITIZENS are waiting for an important arrival at the station. ciTIzens of merano (including MAYOR) 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 Right now we're Italian - we used to be German The border keeps shifting around MAYOR (solo) 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 thee 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 reason why All those in favour say "Aye" Aye! So sing our 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 (solo) 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! (A whistling/orchestral interlude during which a train rushes through the station) Get out your get up and go and get in line It's living your life in a show by Rodgers and Hammerstein! Another train. This one stops. The man more responsible than any other for the enormous interest in a World Chess Championship match, the current world champion, the American FREDERICK TRUMPER, gets off the train and pushes his way through the melee. He brushes aside the official reception. He is flanked by his second/lover FLORENCE VASSY and two or three other members of his delegation (males) one of whom is also the man who is ostensibly head of the American TV production company covering the event, WALTER DE COURCEY. FREDERICK surveys the town, its people and its visitors with patronising amusement. FREDERICK 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 *Florence! (He takes a photograph of FLORENCE) 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 S.R.O. S.R.O. FREDERICK and his entourage leave. Determined to have their welcoming ceremony, the MAYOR & CITIZENS give the full works to a bewildered stranger who happened to be on the same train. 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 thee Merano Hearty hale Merano Any objections? Nein! Where breathing in will turn you on Where water tastes like wine Get up you 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! Scene Two : Frederick's Suite/Press Conference The Palace Hotel, Merano. FREDERICK's (and FLORENCE's) suite. FREDERICK is alone, playing chess against a computer. *COMPUTER Knight D 5. *FREDERICK Bishop A 5 - check (FLORENCE enters with a bundle of newspapers) florence Well, we can't complain that you're being ignored by the press *FREDERICK What'd they say? What'd they say? florence They're not too polite FREDERICK They say I'm a shit? florence (Well), yes *They pulled you to pieces in five different languages (FREDERICK goes up to FLORENCE, kisses her quickly, and starts looking through some papers) *Here we are - The Times - You "thrive on unpleasantness" (FREDERICK finds this amusing, and FLORENCE seems to too) *Le Monde: "FREDERICK Trumper La Honte des echecs." FREDERICK I don't believe that they can't see my game I'm like that tennis player, what's his name? They love to hate me and for us that's dollars! florence *Die Welt: Trumper die gross lecker skandal die schatz! (Trumper - the greatest scandal of chess!) FREDERICK Hey, look here's a piece that some idiot's written on you *"Florence Vassy, petite Hungarian...
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