The Black Parade
Prologue
[The stage is mostly dark, but we can see a dimly lit hospital room with an illuminated radio next to the bed. It is playing, and we hear a song playing over the radio]
Blood
Singer on radio Well they encourage your complete cooperation,
Send you roses when they think you need to smile.
I can't control myself because I don't know how,
And they love me for it honestly, I'll be here for a while.
So give them blood, blood, gallons of the stuff!
Give them all that they can drink and it will never be enough.
So give them blood, blood, blood.
Grab a glass because there's going to be a flood!
A celebrated man amongst the gurneys.
They can fix me proper with a bit of luck.
The doctors and the nurses they adore me so,
But it's really quite alarming cause I'm such an awful fuck. (Oh thank you!)
I gave you blood, blood, gallons of the stuff,
I gave you all that you can drink and it has never been enough.
I gave you blood, blood, blood,
I'm the kind of human wreckage that you love!
[The radio light phases out and the stage is flooded with darkness, we now hear the sounds of the hospital come to life]
Scene 1
[We are now inside a Doctor's office, we see a large desk with a Doctor behind it. In front of the room stands The Patient, he is deathly pale and is coughing. They are talking to one another, The Doctor's tone is grave]
Patient Please tell me you got some good news doc,I'm having a shitty week.
Doctor Please, take a seat.
(The Patient does so, coughing as he does)
Patient Alright Doc, lay it on me. I can take it.
[A small beeping is heard, like that of a heart monitor in a hospital room. The sound is very faint]
Doctor I'm afraid that your condition is a lot worse than we originally had anticipated [The sound now begins to pick up] During the surgery we found a complication in your hear.. [The sound is much louder, however is still slow]
Patient So.. You can't do anything? I'm fucked?
Doctor Well now I wouldn't- (The Patient cuts him off)
Patient Is it going to kill me?
Doctor Now Mister -
Patient Am I going to die?! [The sound is extremely loud, in the background a man wearing a black marching band uniform and a face resembling that of a skeleton enters the stage, unseen. He is The Conductor.]
Doctor Yes, I'm afraid it is terminal. You only have a few weeks to live, four at most. I am very, truly sorry.
[The lights cut out, only shining on The Conductor]
The End
Conductor Now come one come all to this tragic affair
Wipe off that makeup, what's in is despair
So throw on the black dress, mix in with the lot
You might wake up and notice you're someone you're not
If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see
You can find out firsthand what it's like to be me
So gather 'round piggies and kiss this goodbye
I'd encourage your smiles I'll expect you won't cry
Another contusion, my funeral jag
Here's my resignation, I'll serve it in drag
You've got front row seats to the penitence ball
When I grow up I want to be nothing at all!
I said yeah, yeah!
I said yeah, yeah!
C'mon C'mon C'mon I said
(Save me!) Get me the hell out of here
(Save me!) Too young to die and my dear
(You can't!) If you can hear me just walk away and
(Take me!)
[The sound returns and blasts away extremely fast, the scene transforms into a hospital room some time later with The Patient lying in a bed. The Conductor now sings to him as a chrous of dead patients begin to swarm the stage]
Conductor
Yeah!
(He sings to the Patient, who is lying in bed)
And if your heart stops beating
I'll be here wondering
Did you get what you deserve?
(The Patient sits up in bed, confused)
The ending of your life
And if you get to heaven
I'll be here waiting, babe
Did you get what you deserve?
The end, and if your life won't wait
Then your heart can't take this
(The Conductor pulls The Patient from bed)
Conductor and Chrous
Have you heard the news that you're dead?
No one ever had much nice to say
I think they never liked you anyway
Oh take me from the hospital bed
Wouldn't it be grand? It ain't exactly what you planned.
And wouldn't it be great If we were dead?
Ohh dead.
(The conductor pushes the patient to the floor as he tries to speak)
Conductor
Tongue-tied and oh so squeamish
You never fell in love
Did you get what you deserve?
(Patient Who are you?)
The ending of your life
And if you* get to heaven
I'll be here waiting, babe
Did you get what you deserve?
(Patient I'm not dead!)
The end, and if your life won't wait
Then your heart can't take this
Conductor and Chorus
Have you heard the news that you're dead?
No one ever had much nice to say
I think they never liked you anyway
Oh take me from the hospital bed
Wouldn't it be grand to take a pistol by the hand?
And wouldn't it be great if we were dead?
(The Doctor returns to the stage)
Doctor
And in my honest observation
During this operation
Found a complication in your heart
So long, 'Cause now you've got (now you've got)
Maybe just two weeks to live
(Screaming at the both of them) Patient
Is that the most the both of you can give?
Conductor
One, two, one two three four!
All
LA LA LA LA LA!
LA LA LA LA LA LA!
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!
Patient
Well come on,
All
LA LA LA LA LA!
LA LA LA LA LA LA!
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!
Patient
Oh motherfucker,
Conductor If life ain't just a joke (LA LA LA LA LA!)
Patient Then why are we laughing? (LA LA LA LA LA LA!)
Conductor If life ain't just a joke (LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!)
Both Then why are we laughing?
Patient If life ain't just a joke (LA LA LA LA LA!)
Conductor Then why are we laughing? (LA LA LA LA LA LA!)
Conductor If life ain't just a joke (LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!)
Patient
Then why am I dead?
All
DEAD!
(The patients disappear as The Patient glares at The Conductor)
Patient So what, this is Heaven or something?
(The conductor laughs loudly at The Patient, confusing the Patient further. He becomes instantly terrified, fearing he may be in Hell, but seeing The Patient's face the Conductor stops laughing)
Conductor No, not dead. Not yet.
Patient Then what the fuck was that all about? (The conductor lets out a chuckle)
Conductor This is your judgement. You are going to die rather soon though, if I'm being honest.
(The patient scoffs and begins talking to himself while pacing
Patient This is a fucking dream. I must be in a coma or something, oh fuck I'm not waking up from this am I?
(The Conductor replies grimly)
Conductor No, I'm afraid not.
Patient But I never even had a chance to say goodbye. You can't just let me fucking die without saying goodbye!
(He proceeds towards the Conductor, who backs away from him)
Conductor Now easy there, I don't control when you die or how you die, only thing I control is where you're sent!
Patient Aren't you the grim reaper or some shit? You can't just wake me up long enough to say goodbye?
Conductor Grim Reaper? (He laughs loudly) That guy's a fucking dick! I'm The Conductor!You may have heard of my world famous marching band, The Black Parade!
(The Patient looks at him, puzzled)
Patient I'm not going to die alone… am I?
(The Conductor snaps his fingers and now we see The Patient in his bed, while a beautiful woman sits at his bedside. The Patient walks towards the bed and touches her face, but she doesn't move. He whispers to himself)
Patient Helena.. .
(The Conductor touches his shoulder)
Conductor She can't hear you..
(The Patient sighs heavily)
Patient Why would you show me myself dying? (He get up and looks at The Conductor) And why is she even here? The last thing she said to me is "I hate you"
Conductor(sadly) People say stupid things when they're upset, something I'm sure you know a lot about (The Patient swings around from looking at Helena and glares at him)
Patient Excuse me?
(The Conductor smiles)
Conductor You loved her, and whether she loved you back is irrelevant. She came back, and that is all that matters.
Patient Thanks but if I wanted to hear something like that I'd look through her movie collection (Her turns back to her, smiling sadly)
Conductor
This is How I Disappear
(The Conductor sinks into the stage while Helena hugs the lying patient. The Patient standing begins to sing to her, even though she cannot hear him)
Patient
To un-explain the unforgivable,
Drain all the blood and give the kids a show.
By streetlight this dark night,
A seance down below.
There're things that I have done,
You never should ever know!
(A projection on the back shows The Patient doing drugs, having sex with prostitues, and other things during this part, as he says "know" it shows him and Helena together)
And without you is how I disappear,
And live my life alone forever now.
And without you is how I disappear,
And live my life alone forever now.
(The scene is now Helena's house, she is sitting at a dining table, crying)
Who walks among the famous living dead,
Drowns all the boys and girls inside your bed.
And if you could talk to me,
Tell me if it's so,
That all the good girls go to heaven
Well, heaven knows
That without you is how I disappear,
And live my life alone forever now.
And without you is how I disappear,
And live my life alone forever now.
(He tries to throw something, but cannot move it. He calls out to Helena)
Can you hear me cry out to you?
Words I thought I'd choke on figure out.
I'm really not so with you anymore.
I'm just a ghost,
So I can't hurt you anymore,
So I can't hurt you anymore.
(She walks off and the scene disappears)
And now, you wanna see how far down I can sink?
Let me go, fuck!
So, you can, well now so, you can
I'm so far away from you.
Well now so, you can.
[The hospital scene reappears]
And without you is how I disappear,
And without you is how I disappear,
Conductor
Whoa whoa... (Patient And without you is how I disappear)
Whoa whoa... (PatientAnd without you... is how, is how, is how...)
Both
Forever, forever now!
END OF SCENE
Scene 2
[We are now introduced to a large bar. Patrons, one of them including a somewhat younger Patient, are drinking. We now hear the Patient speaking to the bartender]
Patient (By the way he speaks, it is obvious that the Patient is drunk) I just don't understand! I mean, the government thinks they like, own the country or some shit! (He looks at the bartender, then laughs loudly) Another one!
Bartender Don't you think you've had enough, sir?
Patient(grabbing the bartenders forearm) I think not! I'm plenty thirsty, and it is your fucking job to quench my thirst!
(A large patron steps up, but the bartender dismissed him with a wave of his hand)
Bartender Your money bub, not mine. Would you like the same, or something different?
Patient (Beaming) Give me a shot of something….. adventurous
The Sharpest Lives
(The bartender searches while the Patient sings dreamily to his empty glass)
Patient and Bartender(Disguised as the bartender,the conductor sings in an evil whisper)
Well it rains and it pours
When you're out on your own
If I crash on the couch
Can I sleep in my clothes?
'Cause I've spent the night dancing
I'm drunk, I suppose
If it looks like I'm laughing
I'm really just asking to leave
(The Bartender pours him a drink)
Patient
(Holding his glass up in the air and staring at it)
This alone, you're in time for the show
You're the one that I need
I'm the one that you loathe
You can watch me corrode like a beast in repose
'Cause I love all the poison
Away with the boys in the band
(The patrons all stand from their seats)
Patient and Patrons
I've really been on a bender and it shows
So why don't you blow me a kiss before she goes?
(They all hold up their glasses)
Give me a shot to remember
And you can take all the pain away from me
A kiss and I will surrender
The sharpest lives are the deadliest to lead
A light to burn all the empires
So bright the sun is ashamed to rise and be
In love with all of these vampires
So you can leave like the sane abandoned me
(The Patient sings to the Patrons, who all look at him as he stands on top of the bar)
Patient
There's a place in the dark where the animals go
You can take off your skin in the cannibal glow
Juliet loves the beat and the lust it commands
Drop the dagger and lather the blood on your hands, Romeo
Patient and Patrons
I've really been on a bender and it shows
So why don't you blow me a kiss before she goes?
Give me a shot to remember
And you can take all the pain away from me
A kiss and I will surrender
The sharpest lives are the deadliest to lead
A light to burn all the empires
So bright the sun is ashamed to rise and be
In love with all of these vampires
So you can leave like the sane abandoned me
(All the Patrons sit down, while the Patient downs his drink)
Bartender So, how about we talk about what you owe me?
Patient Can't I have another one? I don't want to go home, my place is a fucking nightmare!
(The Bartender sighs, clearly annoyed by The Patient at this point)
Bartender Sir, I'm afraid you may be needing to go!
(The Patient scrambles through his pockets to find his wallet, and when he does it slides onto the bar, and into the Bartender's hands. He pulls a large amount of money out, counts it, and hands the wallet back to The Patient)
Patient Fine, if you must insist!
(He grabs his jacket and leaves the room)
End of Scene
Scene 3
[The scene has now transformed into a crowded city street. There is a metal barricade blocking off the people from a large portion of the stage, which is clearly a street. There are children and their parents within the crowd, including a YOUNG PATIENT and his FATHER]
(The Young Patient pulls impatiently at his father's sleeve)
Young Patient Daddy! When is it starting?
Father Soon, just… let's get to the front okay?
(The father, holding his son's hand, pushes through the crowd, before another angry father shoves back)
Man Hey! What the hell are you doing?!
Father Sorry mister, I'm just trying to get my son to the front so he can see, excuse me. (The man shoves the father back)
Man Hey, my son's gotta see too!
(The Patient walks onto the stage with the Conductor)
Patient Wow, I remember this. (He laughs lightly) My dad...
Conductor You know... They say that death comes in the form of your fondest memory..
(The Patient looks to the Conductor)
Patient Well... Does it?
(The Conductor shrugs)
The Conductor Everybody dies, death comes in all sorts of ways
Patient Yeah, but haven't you worked with other people?
Conductor Yes and no...I can't tell you how it came to others, I am specifically here for you...
Patient So... What? You're like, a figment of my imagination? If I'm dead, how can I be imagining you?
Conductor Like I said before, you're not quite dead yet. And besides, its too hard to explain..
Patient I don't give a fuck, I've got all the time in the world
Conductor Where are we?
Patient (annoyed) The city, don't try and change the -
Conductor No, explain it to me.. Why are we here?
(Piano music begins to play and The Conductor disappears)
Welcome to the Black Parade
Patient
When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
(Drums are heard and suddenly a marching band is seen, led by The Conductor. This is The Black Parade)
He said, "Son when you grow up,
would you be the saviour of the broken,
the beaten and the damned?"
He said "Will you defeat them,
your demons, and all the non-believers,
the plans that they have made?"
"Because one day I'll leave you,
A phantom to lead you in the summer,
To join The Black Parade."
Conductor and Chorus
When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said, "Son when you grow up,
would you be the saviour of the broken,
the beaten and the damned?"
(The parade stops and the young patient jumps up and down in glee, extremely happy. The lights dim and flashes of the Patient's mother are projected)
The Patient
Sometimes I get the feeling she's watching over me.
And other times I feel like I should go.
Patient and Chorus
And through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streets.
And when you're gone we want you all to know.
We'll carry on,
We'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And in my heart I can't contain it
The anthem won't explain it.
The Patient
A world that sends you reeling from
decimated dreams
Your misery and hate will kilon
us all.
Patient and Chorus
So paint it black and take it back
Let's shout it loud and clear
Defiant to the end we hear the call
To carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated
Your weary widow marches
Patient
On and on we carry through the fears
Chorus
Ooh oh ohhhh
Patient
Disappointed faces of your peers
Chorus
Ooh oh ohhhh
Patient
Take a look at me cause I could not care at all
The Black Parade
Do or die, you'll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Go and try, you'll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part
I won't explain or say I'm sorry
I'm unashamed, I'm gonna show my scar
Give a cheer for all the broken
Listen here, because it's who we are
I'm just a man, I'm not a hero
Just a boy, who had to sing this song
I'm just a man, I'm not a hero
I! don't! care!
The Patient and Chorus
We'll carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated
Your weary widow marches on
The Black Parade
Do or die, you'll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Go and try, you'll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part (Patient We'll carry on)
Do or die, you'll never make me (Patient We'll carry on)
Because the world will never take my heart (Patient We'll carry on)
Go and try, you'll never break me (Patient We'll carry)
We want it all, we wanna play this part (Patient We'll carry on)
(Lights Out)
END OF SCENE
Scene 4
(Lights up on The Patient's living room. There is a large couch and a small table in front of it. We see The Patient and Helena talking, arguing perhaps.)
Helena You know that just as well as I do..
Patient Well yeah, but I was willing to go anywhere with you! I would've quit to travel the world...
Helena I know, and that just makes me think that.. (She pauses and looks at him sadly)
Patient What? It makes you think what?
Helena You're not mature enough for this kind of thing, you rush in head on without giving any thought..
Patient But why is that bad? I'm spontaneous, you love that!
Helena I thought I did, but now I need consistency. I need closure, the assurance that -
Patient I can give you that! You know I can!
Hele a No, I don't think you can. You're in a dead end job with no way out... Maybe it's just better if we both move on from this...
Patient Move on?
(Helena shakes her head and starts to walk out, but he grabs her arm)
The Patient What happened? You can't just tell me I have to move on! What the fuck is that?
(She pulls away from him)
Helena Look, you do okay? Something has changed, we're becoming different people.
Patient (confused) ... Different peo- the fuck is that? Different people? How in the fuck does that even make -
Helena Please! Just stop cursing!
(The Patient approaches Helena and tries to touch her face, but she brushes away his hand)
Helena Just stop..
Patient Helena, baby... I love you, you know I love you...
Helena (sadly) I know but... It's over... It always has been... Sometimes people fall in love and sometimes people think they do...
Patient I know I love you... Do you not love me?
(She sighs and walks out, leaving the Patient behind)
Patient Helena... (Calling out now) Do you not love me? (He waits, and then swings around) FUCK! (He knocks over the table, then kicks it before slinking down to the floor. He calls out again) Helena!
(Music begins playing now)
I Don't Love You
(He grabs a guitar from behind the couch, sits on it and begins to play)
The Patient
Well, when you go
Don't ever think I'll make you try to stay
And maybe when you get back
I'll be off to find another way
And after all this time that you still owe
You're still the good-for-nothing I don't know
So take your gloves and get out
Better get out
While you can
(The other instruments now come into play)
When you go
Would you even turn to say
"I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday"
(He throws down the guitar and stands up)
Sometimes I cry so hard from pleading
So sick and tired of all the needless beating
But baby when they knock you
Down and out
It's where you oughta stay
And after all the blood that you still owe
Another dollar's just another blow
So fix your eyes and get up
Better get up
While you can
Whoa, whooa
When you go
Would you even turn to say
"I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday"
Well come on, come on
(Flashbacks of the Patient and Helena are projected while The Patient sings to photos that he holds in his hand)
When you go
Would you have the guts to say
"I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday"
(He rips up the photos)
I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday
I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday
(He throws the shreds to the floor and walks off stage)
(Lights Out)
END OF SCENE
Scene 5
(The scene returns to the hospital room. Helena sits at the bedside when a doctor walks in. The Patient is lying in bed and the Conductor stands on the other side of the bed, the side Helena isn't on. Helena walks out of the room with the Doctor and The Patient sits up.)
Patient What do you suppose that was about?
Conductor I don't know, I'm technically a part of your subconscious, meaning I know just about as much as you do.
(Helena walks in, crying. She approaches the bed and kisses the Patient's forehead)
Helena (sniffling) I'm so sorry... Oh God... (She walks out of the room crying)
The Patient I'm dying... Something must have gone wrong...
Conductor You're condition is worsening, you don't have much time...
Patient No... No no no, I have to wake up! I have to wake up! I have to say goodbye, apologise to everyone. I can't get stuck in Hell, you won't let me!
(The Conductor shrugs and the Patient jumps out of bed and begins pacing back and forth)
Conductor Calm down, just -
Patient You shut the fuck up! If you can't help me, then keep your goddamn mouth shut!
(The Conductor approaches him, but the patient walks away from him)
Patient Leave me the fuck alone. I thought maybe this meant I had a chance, but youre just gonna let me rot.
(The Conductor shakes his head)
Conductor That's not why I'm here, I'm here to -
Patient I said shut the fuck up! Get out of here!
Conductor Fine, you can save yourself.
(He starts to walk but turns around and walks back to the Patient)
Patient What?!
Conductor You can save yourself. You're just scared, come with me... (He walks to the Patient, who shoves him away. He ignores this and walks towards the Patient, who punches him now. Music begins playing as the Conductor falls to the floor and the hospital bed sinks into the stage)
House of Wolves
(The Patient stands over the Conductor)
Patient
Well, I know a thing about contrition,
Because I got enough to spare.
And I'll be granting your permission,
'Cause you haven't got a prayer.
Well I said hey, hey hallelujah,
I'm gonna come on sing the praise.
And let the spirit come on through ya,
We got innocence for days!
(He walks off from the Conductor and swings around and shoves him down as he tries to get up again, placing his foot on him)
Well, I think I'm gonna burn in hell,
Everybody burn the house right down.
And say, ha
What I wanna say
Tell me I'm an angel,
Take this to my grave.
Tell me I'm a bad man,
Kick me like a stray.
Tell me I'm an angel,
Take this to my grave.
(He walks away from The Conductor and the scene becomes a Hell like area, with demons raiding the stage)
Demons
S-I-N, I S-I-N
S-I-N, I S-I-N
S-I-N, I S-I-N
S-I-N, I S-I-N
Patient
You play ring around the ambulance,
Well like you never gave a care.
So get the choir boys around you,
It's a compliment, I swear.
And I said, ashes to ashes, we all fall down,
I wanna hear you sing the praise,
I said, ashes to ashes, we all fall down,
We got innocence for days!
Well, I think I'm gonna burn in hell,
Everybody burn the house right down.
And say, ha
What I wanna say
Tell me I'm an angel,
Take this to my grave.
Tell me I'm a bad man,
Kick me like a stray.
Tell me I'm an angel,
Take this to my grave.
(The Demons chase The Patient, and the Conductor gets up and shoves the Patient down now)
The Conductor
You better run like the devil,
'Cause they're never gonna leave you alone!
(The Patient stands up and the Conductor gets in his face)
You better hide up in the alley,
'Cause they're never gonna find you a home!
(The Patient shoves the Conductor away)
The Patient
And as the blood runs down the walls,
You see me creepin' up these halls.
I've been a bad motherfucker
Tell your sister I'm another
Go! Go! Go!
The Patient and Demons
And I said, say,
What I wanna say
Tell me I'm an angel,
Take this to my grave.
Tell me I'm a bad man,
Kick me like a stray.
Tell me I'm an angel,
Take this to my grave.
(He punches the Conductor, who falls down to the ground)
The Patient
Tell me I'm
Patient and Demons
a bad, bad, bad, bad man.
The Patient
Tell me I'm
Patient and Demons
a bad, bad, bad, bad man.
The Patient
Tell me I'm
Patient and Demons
a bad, bad, bad, bad man.
The Patient
Tell me I'm
Patient and Demons
a bad, bad, bad, bad man.
The Patient
So get up!
(He pulls the Conductor up)
So get out!
(He throws him away)
The Patient and Demons
S-I-N, I S-I-N!
(Lights Out)
END OF SCENE
Scene 6
(Before the lights come a lot of shouting is heard followed by the sound of gunshots and loud explosions. These sounds continue and every time there is an explosion the lights flash brightly. Finally, though the sounds continue, a light shines on a chair, where we see The Patient sitting and writing a letter. Next to him on either side are soldiers lying down presumably dead. A guitar is heard now)
Mama
The Patient
(He begins writing)
Mama, we all go to hell.
Mama, we all go to hell.
I'm writing this letter and wishing you well,
Mama, we all go to hell.
(He puts down the pen for a moment, thinking, and then begins writing again)
Oh, well, now,
Mama, we're all gonna die.
Mama, we're all gonna die.
Stop asking me questions, I'd hate to see you cry,
Mama, we're all gonna die.
(The lying soldiers leap up)
Patient and Soldiers
And when we go don't blame us, yeah.
We'll let the fires just bathe us, yeah.
You made us, oh, so famous.
We'll never let you go.
The Patient
And when you go don't return to me my love.
Mama, we're all full of lies.
Mama, we're meant for the flies.
And right now they're building a coffin your size,
Mama, we're all full of lies.
(A soldier in a wheel rolls onto the stage)
Wheelchair Soldier
Well Mother, what the war did to my legs and to my tongue,
(Another Soldier sings)
Wounded Soldier
You should've raised a baby girl,
Wheelchair Soldier
I should've been a better son.
Wounded Soldier
If you could coddle the infection
Wheelchair Soldier
They can amputate at once.
Wounded Soldier
You should've been,
Wheelchair Soldier
I could have been a better son.
The Patient and all soldiers
And when we go don't blame us, yeah.
We'll let the fires just bathe us, yeah.
You made us, oh, so famous.
We'll never let you go.
She said: "You ain't no son of mine
For what you've done they're gonna find
A place for you
And just you mind your manners when you go.
And when you go, don't return to me, my love."
That's right.
Mama, we all go to hell.
Mama, we all go to hell.
It's really quite pleasant
Except for the smell,
Mama, we all go to hell.
Mama! Mama! Mama! Ohhh!
Mama! Mama! Mama! Ma...
(At the edge of the stage we see The Patient's mother)
Patient's Mother
And if you would call me your sweetheart,
I'd maybe then sing you a song
The Patient and soldiers
But there's shit that I've done with this fuck of a gun,
You would cry out your eyes all along.
Patient's Mom, The Patient, and the Soldiers
We're damned after all.
Through fortune and flame we fall.
And if you can stay then I'll show you the way,
To return from the ashes you call.
The Patient and Soldiers
We all carry on (We all carry on)
When our brothers in arms are gone (When our brothers in arms are gone)
So raise your glass high
For tomorrow we die,
And return from the ashes you call.
(The soldiers all fall back down to the floor and more gunshots are heard.)
(Lights Out)
END OF SCENE
Scene 7
(Loud whistling is heard followed by loud footsteps, there are people running. More whistles are heard and finally the lights are up on a barracks like setting. A group of bunk beds flood the stage, with a number of young men and women dressed in white undershirts and camo cargo pants doing push ups, all while a drill sergeant blows his whistle. At the end of the stage we see The Conductor and the Patient examining the scene)
Conductor Do you remember this?
Patient Yes... Yeah, of course I do... I was just a kid...
( A young man runs past them and when the Drill Sergeant cannot see him, he throws himself down as if doing push ups.)
Conductor I can only assume that's you..
Patient (laughing) yeah... That's me..
(The Drill Sergeant turns around)
Drill Sergeant Alright! That's good enough, now get ready to go to bed. Light's out at 23:00!
(The students start to get up, but the Sergeant puts his foot on the teenage Patient)
Drill Sergeant Except you cadet, you can give me the regular 50 And then 20 more for being late, and another 30 for trying to get away with it.
Teenage Patient Yes sir!
(He drops down and begins doing push ups. After he reaches ten there is a "time warp" and he suddenly becomes tired and exhausted)
Teenage Patient 97... 98... 99... 100!
(He jumps up to his feet and stands at attention, saluting the Sergeant)
Drill Sergeant Right, if you're late again its 150, another 50 if you try to be sneaky about it. Am I understood?
Teenage Patient Yes sir, Sergeant, sir!
Drill Sergeant At ease you idiot
(He walks off, and the young patient snaps his arm out into a Nazi salute. The other students are cleaning up their bunks, minding their own business. The younger patient walks over to his and tosses over his mattress.)
Teenagers
Teenage Patient
They're gonna clean up your looks
With all the lies in the books
To make a citizen out of you
Because they sleep with a gun
And keep an eye on you, son
So they can watch all the things you do
(A cadet stands on the top bunk of their bed now)
Cadet
Because the drugs never work
They're gonna give you a smirk
'Cause they got methods of keeping you clean
Teenage Patient
(Climbing to the top bunk of his own bed)
They're gonna rip up your heads,
Your aspirations to shreds
Another cog in the murder machine
(Some of the cadets climb the ladder and remain there while the others wheel all the bunks to the front of the stage)
Teen Patient and Cadets
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me
(They all leap off of the beds and the bunks are rolled off stage, leaving a bare stage while the Patient runs to the back)
Teenage Patient
The boys and girls in the clique
The awful names that they stick
You're never gonna fit in much,kid
(A podium rises out of the stage, but it is ignored)
But if you're troubled and hurt
What you got under your shirt
Will make them pay for the things that they did
(The cadets all move in unison now)
Cadets
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me
Teenage Patient
Ohhh yeah!
(The Patient stands behind the Podium, and it slowly rises up with him. His younger self rallies all the Cadets in front of the podium)
They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me
The Patient
All together now!
All
Teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me
Teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me
(The podium blasts pyrotechnics and sinks down into the stage, with The Patient walking towards his younger self while the beds return to the stage. The cadets all go to sleep, and The Conductor approaches.)
Conductor The military... But why remember this? Its such a strange thing to remember...
Patient It's not this... Well it is, but its what happened afterwards. This was my last day before they shipped me out
(Lights out on everything except The Patient and the Conductor, who stand at the front of the stage. Loud explosions and gun shots are now heard as well as screaming.)
The Patient They all died... Everyone of my friends was dead, and I barely made it out.
Conductor How long?
Patient Shouldn't you know?
(The Conductor shrugs)
Patient (annoyed) Three weeks, then I was shot. (He points to his abdomen, around his heart) The bullet missed my aorta by one hundredth of an inch. I was lucky to be alive, but I guess that dont mean much anyway.
Conductor Of course it does, he lived much longer, didn't you?
Patient Yeah but what for? Besides the injury leave me out for that long.
Conductor They sent you back.
Patient No, but when it fucked me up pretty bad.
(An extremely loud explosion is heard and the sounds of battle return. The lights go out but the sounds continue. Finally the lights come back on and we can see the Patient lying up in bed, he gasps for air and then begins breathing heavily. His mother enters the room, and then approaches him. She sits on the bed))
Mother Another nightmare?
Patient It's nothing... Go back to sleep Mom
Mother It's okay, you can talk to me.
The Patient I'll be fine..
(His mother begins to cry)
Patient Mom, I'm okay!
(She nods her head, kisses his forehead, and then walks out of the room, still crying. The Patient lies back down, and then a radio transmission is heard along with loud gunshots and shouting in the background)
Radio Transmission Like last night, they are not like tremors, they are worse than tremors, they are these terrors. And it's like, it feels like as if somebody was gripping my throat and squeezing and...
Sleep
(He sits up in his bed)
The Patient
Some say, now suffer all the children
And walk away a savior,
Or a madman and polluted
From gutter institutions.
Don't you breathe for me,
Undeserving of your sympathy,
Cause there ain't no way that I'm sorry for what I did.
(He gets up and walks to the center of the stage)
And through it all
How could you cry for me?
Cause I don't feel bad about it.
So shut your eyes,
Kiss me goodbye,
And sleep.
Just sleep.
(The scene disappears and more gunshots and explosions are heard. A projection now shows scenes of war, graphic and violent.)
The hardest part is letting go of your dreams.
(The Patient retreats to one edge of the stage. We now see a Teenage Patient, wearing the clothing of a soldier and carrying a gun)
Teenage Patient
A drink for the horror that I'm in,
For the good guys, and the bad guys,
For the monsters that I've been.
Three cheers for tyranny,
Unapologetic apathy,
Cause there ain't no way that I'm coming back again.
(He runs off to the other corner of the stage)
Patient
And through it all
How could you cry for me?
Cause I don't feel bad about it.
Teenage Patient
So shut your eyes,
Kiss me goodbye,
Patient
And sleep.
Teenage Patient
Just sleep.
Patient
The hardest part's the awful things that I've seen.
(The radio transmission returns)
Radio
Sometimes I see flames.
Patient
Just Sleep
Radio
And sometimes
I see people that I love dying and...
Teenage Patient
Just Sleep
Radio
it's always...
Patient and Teenage Patient
Just sleep.
Just sleep.
Just sleep.
Just sleep.
(The lights go out, but the projection of the war is still seen as an instrumental continues and the radio plays its final transmission)
Radio
And I can't... I can't ever wake up
END OF SCENE
Scene 8
(We see the hospital room once again, Helena and The Patient's mother both sit at the Patient's bed side. The Mother looks to Helena and speaks to her.)
Mother Have you... (She chokes back tears) Have the doctors said anything?
(Helena looks up at the Mother, bursting out into tears when she says this. She calms herself and then looks into the eyes of the mother)
Helena They... They said his condition has worsened... He may only have a few hours..
(The Patient's mother bursts out into tears while Helena comforts her. The Patient watches this, and the Conductor placed his hand on the Patient's shoulder.)
The Conductor Where did you meet her?
(The lights go out as the scene transforms. The scene opens up and we see a large group of people mixed together. It's a huge party, and the song KILL ALL YOUR FRIENDS plays as the party goes on. At one area, we see The Patient, shooting heroin, when Helena walks by, shooting him a glance. She wears a very short skirt, which the Patient tries to look up. She walks out of sight, and Patient turns to one of his friends)
Patient (shouting over the music) Hey! Who's that?
Friend Who?!
Patient Her?! (He points to Helena, who is now dancing with a group of friends. The Patient's friend laughs loudly)
Friend Nah man, She's too much even for you!
Patient Oh yeah? We'll see about that!
(He walks off from his friend and moves through the dancing guests, approaching Helena. She looks at him, but continues dancing.)
Patient (Still shouting over the music) Hey! Baby, you got a name?!
(She looks at him, and then laughs)
Helena Doesn't everybody?
(She continues dancing)
Patient What about a phone, got one of those?
(She pulls the phone from her shirt, shows him, then places it back)
Patient Mind giving me the number to that phone?
(She laughs again, and then pulls him close. She whispers something into his ear and then shoves him away. She walks off, and after a few seconds so does The Patient.)
Friend Woah... (He giggles wildly)
(Lights Out, we hear Helena moaning loudly for a few seconds, until the lights come on to the balcony, where we see Helena bent over and the Patient standing over her, his pants down. He backs up and pulls his pants up, while Helena adjusts her skirt. The Patient then pulls a small packet of white powder from his pocket, and hands it to her.)
Helena They call me Helena..
(Lights out again and we hear punk like music beginning. The lights come on and before the party-goers is a band, and they begin singing.)
My Way Home is Through You
Band
Gonna take off all my skin,
Tear apart all of my insides,
When they rifle in,
Mom and Dad think you'll be saved,
They never had the time,
They're gonna medicate your lives,
You were always born a crime,
We salute you in your grave.
Can't find my way home,
But it's through you and I know,
What I'd do just to get back in her arms,
Can't find my way home,
But it's through you and I know,
What I'd do just to get back in her arms.
(Helena drags Patient out to the dance floor.
Helena [spoken] Well my gun fires seven different shades of shit, So what's your favorite color, punk? (He pulls her into a kiss, which she returns. They continue to kiss)
Band
Do you wanna hold my hand?
Could you sign this photograph,
'Cause I'm your biggest fan,
Would you leave me lying here?
We're not here to pay a compliment,
Or sing about the government,
Oxycontin genocide,
Adolescent suicide,
I'll give you my sincerity,
{Don't give} a fuck about a Kennedy,
Here's what I've got to say.
Can't find my way home,
But it's through you and I know,
What I'd do just to get back in her arms,
Can't find my way home,
But it's through you and I know,
What I'd do just to get back in her arms.
No way home why
[x4]
[in background]
We've got to go
[x7]
Can't find my way home,
But it's through you and I know,
What I'd do just to get back in her arms,
Can't find my way home,
But it's through you and I know,
What I'd do just to get back, well, in her arms.
I can't find the way
[x6]
Come on angel, don't you cry
[x4]
(Helena leads Patient past his friend and off stage, but before Patient is off stage he turns around and pulls Helena's panties from his back pocket, tossing them at his friend who laughs insanely)
(Lights Out)
END OF SCENE
Scene 9
(The lights are out but we can hear The Doctor's voice echo throughout the theatre)
Doctor's Voice Yes, I'm afraid it is terminal. You only have a few weeks to live, four at most. I am very, truly sorry.
(The lights come on to The Patient's living room, where we see Helena helping the Patient to sit on the couch.)
Helena There you are.. Do you need anything else?
Patient No, I'm okay.. (She looks at him, and then looks down)
Helena I.. (Her voice breaks) Goodbye.. (She starts to leave)
Patient Helena, wait... (She turns back) Why are you helping me?
Helena Because I... I care about you... You're my friend...
Patient Right... Friend...
(She turns to leave again, but turns back and walks to him.)
Helena You know if you ever need anything I-
Patient Be there.. Yeah I know, that's exactly what everyone else said. I'm fucking dying, what could I possibly need? All I fucking need is people to act normal for once, stop treating me like a god damn charity case!
Helena Stop it! We a care about you, it isn't all about you! Not everyone wants to see you go...
Patient (bitterly) Maybe they should move on then, right?
Helena (hurt and shocked) You need to let go! You're going to fucking die, and you're hung up on a fucking break up? Who the fuck are you? (She storms off and leaves the Patient alone)
Disenchanted
Patient
Turn away,
If you could get me a drink
Of water 'cause my lips are chapped and faded
Call my aunt Marie
Help her gather all my things
And bury me in all my favorite colors,
My sisters and my brothers, still,
I will not kiss you,
'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you.
(He tries to stand up, but he falls back to the couch)
Now turn away,
'Cause I'm awful just to see
'Cause all my hairs abandoned all my body,
Oh, my agony,
Know that I will never marry,
Baby, I'm just soggy from the chemo
But counting down the days to go
It just ain't living
And I just hope you know
That if you say (Chorus If you say)
Goodbye today (Chorus Goodbye today)
I'd ask you to be true (Chorus Cause I'd ask you to be true)
'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you
'Cause the hardest part of this is leaving you
(The lights go out on the couch, and as the music transitions we see the Patient's mother and Helena at opposite ends of the stage)
Mother
Well I was there on the day
They sold the cause for the queen,
And when the lights all went out
We watched our lives on the screen.
I hate the ending myself,
But it started with an alright scene.
Helena
It was the roar of the crowd
That gave me heartache to sing.
It was a lie when they smiled
And said, "you won't feel a thing"
And as we ran from the cops
We laughed so hard it would sting
(Lights up on The Patient now)
The Patient
Yeah yeah, oh
If I'm so wrong (Chorus so wrong, so wrong)
How can you listen all night long? (Chorus night long, night long)
Now will it matter after I'm gone?
Because you never learn a goddamned thing.
The Patient, Mother, and Helena
You're just a sad song with nothing to say
About a life long wait for a hospital stay
And if you think that I'm wrong,
This never meant nothing to ya
The Patient
I spent my high school career
Spit on and shoved to agree
So I could watch all my heroes
Sell a car on tv
Bring out the old guillotine
We'll show 'em what we all mean.
Yeah yeah, oh
If I'm so wrong (Chorus so wrong, so wrong)
How can you listen all night long? (Chorus night long, night long)
Now will it matter long after I'm gone?
Because you never learn a goddamned thing.
All
You're just a sad song with nothing to say
About a life long wait for a hospital stay
And if you think that I'm wrong,
This never meant nothing to ya
Helena and the Patient
So go, go away, just go, run away.
But where did you run to? And where did you hide?
Go find another way, price you pay
The Conductor
Woah, Woah, Woah, Woah, Woah, Woah
(The song slows down and The Conductor sings quietly)
The Conductor
You're just a sad song with nothing to say
About a life long wait for a hospital stay
And if you think that I'm wrong,
This never meant nothing to ya, come on
(The song picks up again)
All
You're just a sad song with nothing to say
About a life long wait for a hospital stay
And if you think that I'm wrong,
This never meant nothing to ya
The Patient
At all, at all, at all, at all
END OF SCENE
Scene 10
(The lights open up on the hospital room, with the Patient lying down and Helena speaking to him. The Patient has not yet been in a coma, meaning this is also a flash back.)
Helena I... I don't know what to say.. (Her voice breaks, and she tries to stifle a sob while she hugs the Patient)
Patient I don't know what to say either.. (He chuckles, but then begins to cough)
Helena Shhh... Try not to speak so much, save your energy..
Patient For what?
Helena Just... You need a lot of rest, okay? I don't want you to be in pain.
Patient But you said... (He coughs) It's like you said, it isn't about me...
Helena No! Of course it is! I.. I was just...
Patient You don't give a fuck about me... You won't have anyone to feed off of when I die, that's what upsets you..
Helena That's not true! I lo-
Patient Oh spare me (he coughs violently) your false sentiments, we all know you couldn't give a FUCK about me...
Helena (her voice breaking) You're a sad, lonely, miserable little man. I once thought I loved you, but I FUCKING hate you! (She storms out of the room, and The Conductor walks in, wearing the patient's hospital gown. The Patient gets out of bed, and it appears as if he is wearing something under the gown, but this will not be revealed yet.)
Patient (Noticing what The Conductor is wearing) Is this a joke?
(The Conductor doesn't move or even respond to him, he simply stands where he is, watching The Patient.)
Patient Well… Are you gonna say anything? (He approaches the Conductor and waves his hand in front of him, but still he remains still.) Fuck this. (He starts to walk off, but the Conductor grabs his arm and looks to him)
Famous Last Words
The Conductor
(Sung)
Now I know,
That I can't make you stay.
But where's your heart?
But where's your heart?
But where's your -
(The Patient cuts him off)
The Patient
And I know.
There's nothing I can say.
To change that part.
To change that part.
To change.
(We now see Helena standing by the bed, holding the mother's hand.)
The Patient
So many,
Bright lights they cast a shadow,
But can I speak?
Well is it hard understanding
I'm incomplete?
A life that's so demanding,
I get so weak.
A love that's so demanding,
I can't speak.
The Patient and The Conductor
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you could say can stop me going home
(Lights out except for on The Patient)
The Patient
Can you see my eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side
Of a jet black hotel mirror and I'm so weak
Is it hard understanding I'm incomplete?
A love that's so demanding I get weak
The Patient and Chorus
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you could say can stop me going home
(Lights on again and we see The Conductor lying in The Patient's bed.)
The Patient, Mother, Helena, and Chorus
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you could say can stop me going home
(The Patient takes center stage)
The Patient
These bright lights have always blinded me
These bright lights have always blinded me
I say
(The music slows drastically. Lights on only Helena and The Patient, the latter of whom looks to the former.)
The Patient
I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead
(Chorus How can I see, I see you lying)
'Cause I see you lying next to me
(Chorus How can I see, I see you lying)
With words I thought I'd never speak
(Chorus How can I see, I see you lying)
Awake and unafraid
(Chorus How can I see, I see you lying)
Asleep or dead!
'Cause I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead!
'Cause I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead!
(The lights come on, where we see the entire company surrounding the Patient's deathbed)
All
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home
The Patient, Mother, Helena, and Chorus
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home
The Patient, Mother, and Helena
I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
The Patient and Helena
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going
The Patient
home
(The lights go out but we can still hear the sound of marching band drums.. This sound continues for some time and then picks up somewhat the lights come onto a the hospital bed scene ,with only Helena and the Mother next to the bed. We see The Patient standing with the Black Parade, but the Conductor is missing. The drums continue playing and when the Patient starts to sing, he tears off his hospital gown, revealing The Conductor's clothing. The Patient is the Conductor, as well as a part of the Black Parade.)
The Black Parade
When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said, "Son when you grow up,
would you be the saviour of the broken,
the beaten and the damned?"
(The lights slowly dim, and the sounds of the heart monitor return and then begin to slow down, until a flatline is heard. As the flatline is heard the lights are out on everything except for the radio next to the hospital bed, which begins to play.)
Blood
Singer on radio Well they encourage your complete cooperation,
Send you roses when they think you need to smile.
I can't control myself because I don't know how,
And they love me for it honestly, I'll be here for a while.
So give them blood, blood, gallons of the stuff!
Give them all that they can drink and it will never be enough.
So give them blood, blood, blood.
Grab a glass because there's going to be a flood!
A celebrated man amongst the gurneys.
They can fix me proper with a bit of luck.
The doctors and the nurses they adore me so,
But it's really quite alarming cause I'm such an awful fuck. (Oh thank you!)
I gave you blood, blood, gallons of the stuff,
I gave you all that you can drink and it has never been enough.
I gave you blood, blood, blood,
I'm the kind of human wreckage that you love!
THE
END