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My musical HYPATIA begins at the turn of the century when an OLD DIVA wanders the grand opera stage where she performed during her career. The theatre is slated to be torn down the next day. Her deepest wish is that the Heroines she portrayed be set free from their tragic plots. After she trips on a trap door, she is visited in a dream by HYPATIA, Crown Priestess of Destiny, who proclaims, "Souls born from man's imagination, challenge the premise of your creation. Stop you can be free - You can change your destiny."
CARMEN, from the opera by Bizet, takes HYPATIA's journey by singing a lament, confronting her composer and visiting the author of her book, Mérimée., Her wish comes true when she changes her destiny to gain the strength of the Indian snake goddess Nagina, a free spirit.
SCENE: MOUNTAINS
AT RISE: The scene starts by depicting the end of "Carmen", the opera. DON JOSE has stabbed CARMEN with a knife while cries of victory for the bullfighter, CARMEN'S new lover, emanate from the bullring. The backdrop is a sunset pink that merges into the appearance of a mountain cave.
CARMEN lies on the ground as JOSE stands over her with an uplifted knife. We hear the crowd in the bullring shout, "Viva Viva Escamillo". The chant eerily fades and reemerges as "Viva Viva Carmen". CARMEN rises slowly and when JOSE tries to stab her again, she grabs the knife and kicks him over with an expert Karate chop. He falls and CARMEN walks towards the mountain.
CARMEN
The mountains are cold at night I need fire, I need light.
She sits on the rock, arranges twigs and lights a fire.
CARMEN
WHEN I DIED, I DIED WITH PRIDE
NOW EVERY TIME MY OPERA PLAYS
MY DEATH INSPIRES DEEPER RAGE
TO DIE ONCE IS JUST
BUT EACH TIME I SAY ENOUGH
STOP I WANT TO BE FREE
I WANT TO CHANGE MY DESTINY
She takes Tarot cards from her skirt and deals a hand on the rock in front of her. She picks The High Priestess.
CARMEN
Instead of the Card of Death....
Yes, the High Priestess
I will have power - sight
to see into the soul's dark night
She picks two more cards.
CARMEN
Stars - my divine purpose
to bring ignorance to light.
CARMEN (sings)
NO SACRIFICIAL LAMB WILL I BE
ON THE TABLE OF MAN'S PROFANITY
I WILL NOT SACRIFICE MY PLEASURE
TO ENTERTAIN MAN AT HIS LEISURE
I CAN SAY YES AND I CAN SAY NO
I - THE DARK SORCERESS - NAGINI MY NAME
LET THEM WHO DEFILE ME BURN IN THE FLAME
OF ALL THE MYTHS WOMEN HAVE FULFILLED
TO SCREW, SCREAM AND BE KILLED IS MAN'S DESIRE
IF A MAN REJECTS LOVE AND HAS SELF HATE
A BATTERED PROSTITUTE WILL BE HIS MATE
I CAN SAY YES AND I CAN SAY NO
WOMEN - LOOK AT STARLETS IN HISTORY
TO PAST- PRESENT AND FUTURE AND BEWARE
YOU WILL BE WELL PAID AND BE JEWELED
BUT EARLY DEATH TO YOU - YOU FOOL
IN MY NEW DESTINY - THE LAMB IS MAN
I WILL TAKE MY PLEASURE AND RETURN THEM
FROM WHENCE THEY CAME - TO THE GREAT MOTHER
WOMEN HEAR MY WORDS AND YOU CAN CHOOSE
TO BE THE LAMB AND BE SLAUGHTERED OR
TO LOOK AT YOUR DEATH IN MEN'S MYTHS
AND BURN IT WITH THIS WISH
STOP I WANT TO FREE - I WANT TO CHANGE MY DESTINY
CARMEN is lit by a pink sunset and her body melds into the fire.
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