Scene Seven


Twenty minutes later. We are back in the Forum with the same kinds of activity we saw at the opening. The music of "Come Back in Seventeen Years" is played at an accelerated pace as a very determined CATALUNI marches on from the right. In a semi-balletic pantomime, we see him approach FOUR DIFFERENT SHOPKEEPERS upstage obviously asking for a job, and in each case, their shaking their heads no. Then HE approaches THREE pushcart PEDDLERS, and they too refuse to hire him. As this is in progress, the lights begin to alter from bright daylight to early evening. At last, CATALUNI stops in disgust and stands dead center facing the groups of wealthy citizens passing by.
 
CATALUNI
There’s so much wealth in Rome,
There’s so much goddamned riches---
While you keep every crumb of it,
I tell you I want some of it,
You sons o’ bitches!

Where’s mine?
Where’s my villa by the sea
Which has every luxury
Like a room where I can pee---
Where’s mine?

Where’s mine?
Where's the lamb, the pork, the peas?
Where's the wine, the fruit, the cheese?
So I can throw them up at ease.
Where’s mine?

Where are my furs and leathers?
Clothes make the man;
Where are my peacock feathers
Which all my slaves use as a fan
The moment I settle on my divan?

A life of ease
Is easy
And suits me just fine!
So where’s mine?
Where’s mine?
Where’s mine?
 

(A GROUP OF POOR PEOPLE have gradually gathered behind him, truly impressed with what he is singing. Now as CATALUNI begins to do an old-fashioned tap routine, THEY repeat the chorus.)
 
POOR PEOPLE
Where’s mine?
Where’s my villa by the sea
Which has every luxury
Like a room where I can pee?
Where’s mine?

Where’s mine?
Where's the lamb, the pork, the peas?
Where's the wine, the fruit, the cheese?
So I can throw them up at ease.
Where’s mine?

Where are my furs and leathers?
Clothes make the man;
Where are my peacock feathers
Which all my slaves use as a fan
The moment I settle on my divan?

A life of ease
Is easy
And suits me just fine!
So where’s mine?
Where’s mine?
Where’s mine?
 

(Led by CATALUNI, THEY ALL go into a wild tap routine which builds to a smashing finale. THREE POLICE GUARDS appear from stage right and disperse the Group as CATALUNI storms off.)
 
 
 
LIGHTS DIM
 
 


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