PHARAOH SUPERSTAR Act One
HEAVEN ON THEIR MINDS (Kaiba's Home)
(Kaiba sits alone in his house contemplating the situation)
KAIBA
My mind is clearer now.
At last all too well
I can see where we all soon will be.
If you strip away the myth from the man,
You will see where we all soon will be.
Pharaoh!
You've started to believe
The things they say of you.
You really do believe
This talk of God is true.
And all the good you've done
Will soon get swept away.
You've begun to matter more
Than the things you say.
Listen Pharaoh I don't like what I see.
All I ask is that you listen to me.
And remember, I've been your right hand man all along.
You have set them all on fire.
They think they've found the new Messiah.
And they'll hurt you when they find they're wrong.
I remember when this whole thing began.
No talk of God then, we called you a man.
Please believe me, my admiration for you hasn't died.
But every word you say today
Gets twisted 'round some other way.
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied.
Nazareth, your famous son should have stayed a great unknown
Like his father carving wood he'd have made good.
Tables, chairs, and oaken chests would have suited Pharaoh best.
He'd have caused nobody harm; no one alarm.
Listen, Pharaoh, do you care for your race?
Don't you see we must keep in our place?
We are occupied; have you forgotten how put down we are?
I am frightened by the crowd.
For we are getting much too loud.
And they'll crush us if we go too far.
If we go too far...
Listen, Pharaoh, to the warning I give.
Can't you see that I want us to live?
But it's sad to see our chances weakening with every hour.
All your followers are blind.
Too much heaven on their minds.
It was beautiful, but now it's sour.
Yes it's all gone sour.
Yes it's all gone sour.
Yes it's all gone sour.
Yes it's all…gone sour…
WHAT'S THE BUZZ? (Hangout near Kyoto, Friday Night)
(Pharaoh sits amongst his followers who are all getting impatient.
Kaiba sits nearby, somewhat intrigued by what's going on.)
FOLLOWERS
What's the buzz?
Tell me what's a-happening.
PHARAOH
Why should you want to know?
Don't you mind about the future?
Don't you try to think ahead?
Save tomorrow for tomorrow;
Think about today instead.
FOLLOWERS
What's the buzz?
Tell me what's happening.
PHARAOH
I could give you facts and figures.
Even give you plans and forecasts.
Even tell you where I'm going.
FOLLOWERS
When do we ride into Kyoto?
PHARAOH
Why should you want to know?
Why are you obsessed with fighting?
Times and fates you can't defy?
If you knew the path we're riding,
You'd understand it less than I.
FOLLOWERS
What's the buzz?
Tell me what's happening.
TEA
Let me try to cool down your face a bit.
PHARAOH
Tea that is good,
While you prattle through your supper,
Where and when and who and how.
She alone has tried to give me
What I need right here and now.
FOLLOWERS
What's the buzz?
Tell me what's happening.
STRANGE THING MYSTIFYING
KAIBA
It seems to me a strange thing, mystifying
That a man like you can waste his time on women of her kind.
BELOWSKI
Hey, cool it man.
KAIBA
Yes, I can understand that she amuses,
But to let her kiss you, stroke your hair, that's hardly in your line.
(Kaiba proceeds to slap Tea hard.)
It's not that I object to her profession,
But she doesn't fit in well with what you teach and say.
It doesn't help us if you're inconsistent.
They only need a small excuse to put us all away.
PHARAOH (advancing on Kaiba)
Who are you to criticise her?
Who are you to despise her?
Leave her, leave her, let her be now.
Leave her, leave her, she's with me now.
If your slate is clean, then you can throw stones.
If your slate is not, then leave her alone.
(To his followers.)
I'm amazed that men like you can be so shallow, thick and slow
There is not a man among you who know or cares if I come or go.
FOLLOWERS
No, you're wrong!
You're very wrong!
No, you're wrong!
You're very wrong!
No, you're wrong!
You're very wrong!
No, you're wrong!
You're very wrong!
How can you say that?
How can you say that?
How can you say that?
How can you say that?
PHARAOH
Not one, not one of you!
THEN WE ARE DECIDED.
(Yuma and Chazz meet by a fence to discuss the Pharaoh situation.)
CHAZZ
We've been sitting on this fence for far too long.
YUMA.
Why let him upset us?
Chazz please let him be.
All those in pursuit will see
He really doesn't matter.
CHAZZ.
Pharaoh is important.
We've let him go his own way before.
And while he starts a major war,
We theorise and shatter.
YUMA.
He's just another scripture-thumping hack from across the sea.
CHAZZ.
The difference is they call him King,
The difference frightens me!
What about the Obelisks,
When they see King Pharaoh crowned?
Do you think they'll stand around cheering and applauding?
What about our people,
If they see we've lost our nerve?
Don't you think that they deserve something more rewarding?
YUMA.
They've got what they want.
They think so anyway.
If he's what they want,
Why take their toy away?
He's a craze.
CHAZZ.
Put yourself in my place,
I can hardly step aside.
Cannot let my hands be tied.
I am law and order.
What about our priesthood,
Don't you see that we could fall?
If we are to last at all, we cannot be divided.
YUMA.
We'll take him to the council.
But don't rely on subtlety.
Frightened them or they won't see.
CHAZZ.
Then we are decided?
YUMA.
Then we are decided…
EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT (Tea's Home)
(While Pharaoh relaxes, Tea and her friends tend to him.
Meanwhile, Kaiba is angry that the Pharaoh is shirking his duties.)
TEA
Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you.
Oh, don't you know?
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
And we want you to sleep well tonight.
Let the world turn without you tonight.
If we try, we'll get by, so forget all about us tonight
GIRLS
Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes.
TEA
Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you, and anoint you.
Myrrh for your hot forehead.
Oh, then you'll feel
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
And it's cool and the ointment's sweet
For the fire in your head and feet.
Close your eyes, close your eyes and relax,
Think of nothing tonight.
GIRLS
Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes.
KAIBA
Woman your fine ointment, brand new and expensive
Could have been saved for the poor.
Why has it been wasted? We could have raised maybe
Three hundred silver pieces or more.
People who are hungry, people who are starving
Matter more than his feet and hair!
TEA
Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you.
Oh, don't you know?
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
And we want you to sleep well tonight.
Let the world turn without you tonight.
If we try, we'll get by, so forget all about us tonight
GIRLS
Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes.
PHARAOH (advancing on Kaiba)
Surely you're not saying we have the resources
To save the poor from their lot?
There will be poor always, pathetically struggling.
Look at the good things you've got.
Think while you still have me!
Move while you still see me!
You'll be lost, you'll be so, so sorry when I'm gone.
TEA
Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you and anoint you.
Myrrh for your hot forehead.
Oh, then you'll feel
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine.
And it's cool and the ointment's sweet
For the fire in your head and feet.
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Think of nothing tonight.
GIRLS
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Think of nothing tonight…
TEA
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Think of nothing tonight…
GIRLS
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Think of nothing tonight…
TEA
Close your eyes, close your eyes, and relax
Think of nothing tonight…
PHAROAH, KAIBA, APOSTLES.
Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes…
ALL
Tonight!
(Kaiba leaves)
THIS PHARAOH MUST DIE (Ruins near Kyoto, Sunday)
(As Pharaoh makes his way into Kyoto, Chazz, Yuma &
The Associates meet to discuss what to do with Pharaoh.)
ASSOCIATE ONE
Good Chazz, the council waits for you.
Your beloved associates are here for you.
CHAZZ
Ah gentlemen, you know why we are here.
We've not much time, and quite a problem here
(Just then, distant chanting is heard nearby. Chazz and the others run out-
-side to see people have gathered around Pharaoh welcoming him to Kyoto.)
MOB
Hosanna! Superstar!
Hosanna! Superstar!
Hosanna! Superstar!
Hosanna! Superstar!
YUMA.
Listen to that howling mob of blockheads in the street!
A trick or two with lepers, and the whole town's on its feet.
ALL
He is dangerous!
(The chanting gets louder as the mob get closer…)
MOB
Pharaoh Superstar!
ALL
He is dangerous!
(The chanting continues…)
MOB
Tell us that you're who they say you are.
ASSOCATE TWO
The man is in town right now to whip up some support.
ASSOCIATE THREE
A rabble rousing mission that I think we must abort.
ALL
He is dangerous!
(The mob is really close now.)
MOB
Pharaoh Superstar!
ALL
He is dangerous!
(The associates continue to watch this spectacle.)
ASSOCIATE TWO
Look Chazz, they're right outside our yard.
ASSOCIATE THREE
Quick Chazz, please go and call the guard.
CHAZZ
No, wait!
We need a more permanent solution to our problem.
(They now begin to weigh their options.)
YUMA
What then to do about Pharaoh of Kyoto?
Miracle wonderman, hero of fools.
ASSOCIATE THREE
No riots, no army, no fighting, no slogans.
CHAZZ (smugly)
One thing I'll say for him - Pharaoh is cool.
YUMA
We dare not leave him to his own devices.
His half-witted fans will get out of control.
ASSOCIATE ONE
But how can we stop him?
His glamour increases
By leaps every moment; he's top of the poll.
CHAZZ
I see bad things arising.
The crowd crown him king; which we surely would ban.
I see blood and destruction,
Our elimination because of one man.
Blood and destruction because of one man.
ALL
Because, because, because of one man.
CHAZZ
Our elimination because of one man.
ALL
Because, because, because of one, 'cause of one, 'cause of one man.
ASSOCIATE THREE
Oh, what then to do about this 'Pharaoh' mania?
YUMA
How to we deal with a carpenter king?
ASSOCIATE ONE
Where do we start with a man who is bigger
Than John was when John did his baptism thing?
CHAZZ (shouting)
Fools, you have no perception!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high!
We must crush him completely,
So like John before him, this Pharaoh must die.
For the sake of the nation, this Pharaoh must die.
ALL
Must die, must die, this Pharaoh must die.
CHAZZ
So like John before him, this Pharaoh must die.
ALL
Must die, must die, this Pharaoh must, Pharaoh must, Pharaoh must die!
HOSANNA
(The people in Kyoto have come out to welcome the Pharaoh.)
CROWD
Hosanna
Hey Sanna, Sanna, Sanna Hosanna
Hey Sanna Hosanna
Hey PC, PC won't you smile at me?
Sanna Hosanna
Hey Superstar
CHAZZ (To Pharaoh)
Tell the rabble to be quiet, we anticipate a riot.
This common crowd, is much too loud.
Tell the mob who sing your song that they are fools and they are wrong.
They are a curse. They should disperse.
CROWD
Hosanna
Hey Sanna, Sanna, Sanna Hosanna
Hey Sanna Hosanna
Hey PC, PC you're alright by me
Sanna Hosanna
Hey Superstar
PHARAOH (To Chazz)
Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd?
Nothing can be done to stop the shouting.
If every tongue was stilled
The noise would still continue.
The rocks and stone themselves would start to sing:
CROWD
Hosanna
Hey Sanna, Sanna, Sanna Hosanna
Hey Sanna Hosanna
Hey PC, PC won't you fight for me?
Sanna Hosanna Hey Superstar
PHARAOH (To the crowd)
Sing me your songs,
But not for me alone.
Sing them for yourselves,
For you are bless-ed.
There is not one of you
That cannot win the kingdom.
The slow, the suffering,
The quick, the dead.
CROWD
Hosanna
Hey Sanna, Sanna, Sanna Hosanna
Hey Sanna Hosanna
Hey PC, PC would you die for me?
Sanna Hosanna Hey Superstar
(All of a sudden, Pharaoh feels unsure.)
BELOWSKI
(Belowski and a group of friends have come out to see the Pharaoh, believing
That this man has the power to free them from the threat of the Obelisks people.)
CROWD
Pharaoh you know I love you.
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God
So tell me that I'm saved.
Pharaoh you know I love you.
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God
So tell me that I'm saved.
Pharaoh I am with you.
Touch me, touch me, Pharaoh.
Pharaoh I am on your side.
Kiss me, kiss me, Pharaoh.
BELOWSKI
Pharaoh, what more do you need to convince you
That you've made it, and you're easily as strong
As the filth from O who rape our country,
And who've terrorized our people for so long…
CROWD
Pharaoh you know I love you.
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God,
So tell me that I'm saved.
Pharaoh you know I love you.
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God,
So tell me that I'm saved.
Pharaoh I am with you.
Touch me, touch me, Pharaoh.
Pharaoh I am on your side.
Kiss me, kiss me, Pharaoh.
BELOWSKI. (CROWD.)
There must be over fifty thousand,
Screaming love and more for you.
And every one of fifty thousand
Would do whatever you asked them to.
Keep them yelling their devotion,
But add a touch of hate at O.
You will rise to a greater power.
We will win ourselves a home.
You'll get the power and the glory. (Glory! Power!)
For ever and ever and ever. (Glory! Power!)
You'll get the power and the glory. (Glory! Power!)
For ever and ever and ever. (Glory! Power!)
You'll get the power and the glory. (Power! Glory!)
For ever and ever and ever. (Power! Glory!)
For ever and ever and ever… (Power! Glory!)
For ever and ever and ever. (Power! Glory!)
You'll get the power and the glory. (Glory!)
For ever and ever…Amen! (Amen! Amen!)
POOR KYOTO
(While his intentions may be pure, he knows he cannot help them.)
PHARAOH
Neither you Belowski, nor the fifty thousand.
Nor Obelisk, nor Slifer, nor Kaiba, nor the Twelve.
Nor the Associates, nor the Scribes,
Nor doomed Kyoto itself.
Understand what power is,
Understand what glory is.
Understand at all… understand at all.
If you knew all that I knew, my poor Kyoto.
You'd see the truth, but you close your eyes,
But you close your eyes.
While you live your troubles are many, my poor Kyoto.
To conquer death, you only have to die,
You only have to die.
(Belowski and the crowd look on disappointed.)
MARIK'S DREAM (Evil Marik's House, Monday Morning)
(Evil Marik explains a dream where he met the Pharaoh.)
EVIL MARIK
I dreamed I met a Duellist;
A most amazing man.
He had that look you very rarely find:
The haunting, hunted kind.
I asked him to say what had happened,
How it all began.
I asked again, he never said a word.
As if he hadn't heard.
And next, the room was full of wild and angry men.
They seemed to hate this man.
They fell on him, and then
Disappeared again.
Then I saw thousands of millions
Crying for this man.
And then I heard them mentioning my name,
And leaving me the blame.
CHOIR.
Marik…
THE TEMPLE (The Temple)
(Pharaoh arrives at his temple only to see it's become a place of thievery and degradation.)
MONEYCHANGERS AND MERCHANTS
Roll on up Kyoto,
Come on in Kyoto,
Sunday here we go again,
Live in me Kyoto.
Here you live Kyoto,
Here you breathe Kyoto,
While your temple still survives,
You at least are still alive.
I got things you won't believe,
Name your pleasure I will sell.
I can fix your wildest needs,
I got heaven and I got hell.
Roll on up, for my price is down.
Come on in for the best in town.
Take your pick of the finest wine.
Lay your bets on this bird of mine.
What you see is what you get.
No one's been disappointed yet.
Don't be scared give me a try,
There is nothing you can't buy.
Name your price, I got everything.
Hurry its all going fast.
Borrow cash on the finest terms.
Hurry now while stocks still last.
Roll on up Kyoto,
Come on in Kyoto,
Sunday here we go again,
Live in me Kyoto.
Here you live Kyoto,
Here you breathe Kyoto,
While your temple still survives,
You at least are still alive.
I got things you won't believe,
Name your pleasure I will sell.
I can fix your…
(Pharaoh runs in and tears the place apart)
PHARAOH
My temple should be a house of prayer,
But you have made it a den of thieves.
Get out! Get out!
(Everyone leaves the area. Kaiba watches the merchants run for their lives. He
Then gives the Pharaoh a look of disbelief. Is the Pharaoh really losing his grip?)
My time is almost through.
Little left to do.
After all, I've tried for three years.
Seems like thirty, seems like thirty…
(Suddenly, what seems like a hundred or more lepers all gather around Pharaoh)
CROWD
See my eyes I can hardly see.
See my legs I can hardly walk.
I believe you can make me whole.
See my tongue I can hardly talk.
See my skin I'm a mass of blood.
See my legs I can hardly stand.
I believe you can make me well.
See my purse I'm a poor, poor man.
Will you touch me, will you mend me Pharaoh?
Won't you touch me, will you heal me Pharaoh?
Will you kiss me, you can cure me Pharaoh?
Won't you kiss, won't you pay me Pharaoh?
PHARAOH
There's too many of you – don't push me.
There's too little of me – don't crowd me!
EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT (Reprise) (Tea's Home, Night time)
(While Pharaoh remains worried, Tea tries to reassure him.)
TEA
Try not to get worried, try not to turn onto problems that upset you.
Oh don't you know that everything's alright yes, everything's fine.
PHARAOH
And I think I shall sleep well tonight,
Let the world turn without me tonight.
TEA
Close your eyes, close your eyes
And forget all about us tonight…
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM
(As the Pharaoh rests, Tea struggles with her feelings for him.)
TEA
I don't know how to love him.
What to do, how to move him.
I've been changed, yes really changed.
In these past few days when I've seen myself,
I seem like someone else.
I don't know how to take this.
I don't see why he moves me.
He's a man. He's just a man.
And I've had so many men before,
In very many ways,
He's just one more.
Should I bring him down?
Should I scream and shout?
Should I speak of love
And let my feelings out?
I never thought I'd come to this.
What's it all about?
Don't you think it's rather funny,
I should be in this position.
I'm the one who's always been
So calm, so cool, no lover's fool,
Running every show.
He scares me so.
I never thought I'd come to this.
What's it all about?
Yet, if he said he loved me,
I'd be lost. I'd be frightened.
I couldn't cope, just couldn't cope.
And I'd turn my head. I'd back away.
I wouldn't want to know.
He scares me so.
I want him so.
I love him so.
DAMNED FOR ALL TIME (Ruins near Kyoto, Tuesday)
(Kaiba, fearing the worst for the Pharaoh, seeks help from Chazz and his associates.)
KAIBA
Now if I help you, it matters that you see
These sordid kinda things are coming hard to me.
It's taken me some time to work out what to do.
I weighed the whole thing out before I came to you.
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm ... damned for all time.
I came because I had to; I'm the one who saw.
Pharaoh can't control it like he did before.
And furthermore I know that Pharaoh thinks so too.
Pharaoh wouldn't mind that I was here with you.
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm ... damned for all time.
Yuma, you're a friend, a worldly man and wise.
Chazz, my friend, I know you sympathise.
Why are we the prophets? Why are we the ones
Who see the sad solution - know what must be done?
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm damned for all time.
BLOOD MONEY
(Chazz and the others now try to convince
Kaiba to tell them what they want to know.)
YUMA
Cut the protesting, forget the excuses.
We want information. Get up of the floor.
CHAZZ
We have the papers we need to arrest him.
You know his movements. We know the law.
YUMA
Your help in this matter won't go unrewarded.
CHAZZ
We'll pay you in silver, cash on the nail.
We just need to know where the soldiers can find him.
YUMA
With no crowd around him.
CHAZZ
Then we can't fail.
KAIBA
I don't want your blood money!
CHAZZ
Oh, that doesn't matter, our expenses are good.
KAIBA
I don't need your blood money!
YUMA
But you might as well take it - we think that you should.
CHAZZ
Think of the things you could do with that money,
Choose any charity - give to the poor.
We've noted your motives.
We've noted your feelings.
This isn't blood money - it's a…
YUMA
A fee.
CHAZZ
A fee nothing more…
(Kaiba slowly walks towards them and takes the money.)
KAIBA
On Thursday night you'll find him where you want him.
Far from the crowds, in the Garden of Kyoto.
CHOIR
Well done, Kaiba. Good old Kaiba.
(Kaiba walks off with his money, all the while feeling guilty for what he's just done.)