Sypnosis- Even in death, Sissi cannot escape her tragic fate…
Disclaimer:
The musical production "Elisabeth" is directed by Harry Kupfer.
Story and lyrics in the "Elisabeth" musical belongs to Michael Kunze.
Sissi belongs to herself.
We all belong to Der Tod!
This fic is dedicated to my friend Vivienna! Thanks so much for introducing me to the musical- life is good again with all this wonderful music! The story is inspiring as well, my only complaint is you have left a gaping emptiness in my soul (which will be filled up when I finally get to see the show in Vienna, I reckon!)
This fic is also dedicated to any Elisabeth lovers out here! I hope no one gets offended by the format. I find it more comfortable to use a script format because that's how I learnt about the story.
Beyond the Veil- The Wake
(Scene 1: A bedroom in the castle of Death's domain… Elisabeth is lying in a glided coffin. She has been busy dying yesterday and is now sleeping soundly. Some figures approach her silently…)
ELISABETH (to herself):
My God, I'm so tired… it must have been all that totentanz I did with der Tod yesterday… what a night! Great music, great dancing, and great sex- who says dying isn't cool? And the best thing about it is, I can sleep as long as I like and not…
FIGURE:
Wake up!
ELISABETH (still dreaming):
That voice… it sounds familiar- impossible!…
(The second figure shakes Elisabeth's shoulders. The ex-empress's eyelids flutter open and she gives a gasp (before remembering she no longer needs to breathe) as she beholds Archduchess SOPHIE, a restless dead.)
SOPHIE:
My dear, you can't sleep in for so long!
ELISABETH (disbelieving):
But I'm tired!… And…dead!
SOPHIE:
So am I… Just because you're dead doesn't mean you have to sleep like one, my dear!
ELISABETH:
But…
(Two other restless dead, Sophie's handmaidens, yanks Elisabeth out of her coffin.)
SOPHIE:
Your hair's a mess! And this dress is completely inappropriate!
ELISABETH (incredulously):
Well? What's inappropriate about it?
SOPHIE:
You are the Empress of Death now, not the Empress of Austria! Therefore, you have to wear something more fitting for your position- I think plain black leather should do nicely!
(For the first time, Sissi notices that her ex-mother-in-law is wearing a slick black leather jacket and tights that are normally sold in kinky shops (the kind that comes with a whip, and handcuffs, etc…).)
ELISABETH (defiant):
But I don't want to wear that! It looks ridiculous! I'd rather die-AAAAHHHHH!
SOPHIE:
An Empress must shine and do her duty, which is sacrificing herself to keep this dynasty… er… dead… GET HER DRESS CHANGED!
ELISABETH (despairing):
Help me der Tod my mother-in-law is torturing me… AGAIN!
(Scene 2: The courtyard of Death. DEATH has just returned from his, for want of a better word, work. The angels of death are unloading the dead from his carriage.)
DEATH (sings seductively):
Elisabeth, come out and join me,
I am longing so much for you
Don't let me wait…
(Two of his angels collapse due to nosebleed at the end of the song… Ex-Archduchess Sophie approaches.)
SOPHIE:
Majesty, it is time to hold court!
DEATH:
What's that?… I'm not your son! Now leave me alone and rest in peace!
SOPHIE:
I can't rest in peace because I like to help people run their kingdoms! The dead are restless, your majesty! They want you to address their grievances so that they can have eternal sleep!
DEATH (grumbles to himself):
Damn, I shouldn't have killed her…
(The dead Cardinal Archbishop Rau enters.)
RAU:
Majesty, the dead are disappointed because there is no Heaven or Hell!
DEATH:
Who cares?
SOPHIE:
Outrageous!
RAU:
Majesty, the Holy Church wishes to have supervision of the dead's spiritual guidance!
DEATH (yawns):
Whatever…
SOPHIE (glares at Death and mutters to herself):
You're even worse than Franz Josef!
EVERYONE IN COURT:
He gives everybody what s/he deserves
He does everything for our posthumous good
God Save and Protect our Death!
(The Archbishop exits. A dead mother enters.)
MOTHER:
Majesty, my son is held in a concentration camp and longs for death!
SOPHIE:
Serves these Jews right!
MOTHER:
Mercy, Mercy, please go and end his torture! Give him eternal peace!
(Death checks his organizer.)
DEATH:
How about… next Monday?
SOPHIE:
Impossible! Next Monday you have to take care of that plague in Egypt! Declined!
DEATH (annoyed):
I am supposed to decide!
SOPHIE:
Be cold… be hard…
DEATH (at a loss for words):
……….
(The wailing mother is dragged out.)
SOPHIE:
What do we have next?
(The dead Prince Sch… who can remember his name anyway enters.)
PRINCE:
Majesty, here's the assessment of the political situation: World War I is on the brink of eruption- We must choose whether we side with Germany or Russia to reap the most dead!
SOPHIE:
Tell us the details.
PRINCE:
Russia has more troops, but Germany has better weapons! An alliance in any case will be fatal… for one of them, at any rate…
SOPHIE:
The Emperor of Death can take both Germany and Russia!
DEATH (furious):
Damn you, that's MY line!
SOPHIE:
I beat you to it! Haha!
CHORUS:
He gives everybody what s/he deserves
He does everything for our posthumous good
God Save and Protect our Death!
(To be continued)