SEVEN RABBITS ON A POLE
An Opera based on the play by John C. Picardi
Music by Pasquale Tassone, Libretto by Elizabeth Searle
ACT I
SCENE 1
Late May, 1936; mid-morning in a farmyard setting. During
the prelude music, 'Q' enters dressed in tattered hobo
clothes. He is silhouetted against the stage backdrop and is
carrying on his back a pole loaded with dead rabbits.
He moves wearily across the stage and exits as the prelude
music ends. The lights rise to reveal the other players.
JULIA enters wearing boy's clothes and swinging a rag doll
wildly-- ENIO is holding a shovel and standing by a small
shed; LAWRENCE is at his easel; both stand frozen in poses
but will come to life and move when Julia skips up to them.
Julia takes center stage, stares straight up and sings to the
'sky.'
JULIA (SINGS INSISTENTLY):
"My mama, my mama, sits on the moon
The clouds will pass, I'll see her soon
The sun comes up, it touches her face
Then I see her here in her heavenly place--"
Julia skips up to Enio; he comes to
life begins shoveling.
JULIA (SINGS):
Mama is not dead, Mama is NOT dead--
My Mama, she lives up high in the sky--
(Julia dances around Enio as he
stoically shovels)
JULIA:
Right, Papa? Right, Papa?
Mama, my Mama
Alive in the sky--
Enio stops shoveling, smiles wearily and shakes his head.
Unseen by Enio, 'Q' the hobo appears on the edge of the
stage as if drawn by Julia's singing. Q stays 'hidden' but watching.
Enio is unaware of Q and focused on Julia.
He starts to speak but Julia continues her exuberant singing.
JULIA (DANCING AND SWINGING HER DOLL):
My Mama, my Mama, she lives in the sky
I see her there every dark night:
alive and bright, alive and bright
just like Jean Harlow in darkest night--
By the birds! By the clouds! By the stars!
Right, Papa? Right, Papa? My Mama, she's a-live
Alive in the sky; My Mama alive in the sky--
Enio grabs the doll's arm to halt Julia.
ENIO:
Madonna Mia, Julia
My Renata, your Mama
Gone over twenty years--
Julia's face falls; Enio softens his tone to a sing-song)
ENIO:
Ju-lia, Ju-lia, you're twenty two-
Ju-lia, what will we do with you-?
Porca Miseria! (spoken)
Julia laughs as if he's just joking and grabs her doll back;
Enio sighs and picks up the shovel again.
Enio (as an aside to himself, as he begins shoveling.)
Miseria Ladra! (spoken)
ENIO (SHOVELING AND SHAKING
HIS HEAD):
What goes on inside that pretty head--
Madonna Mia, Mother of God!
Julia, go bother your brother instead--
ENIO brusquely exits the stage as if to
go and get something. As he exits 'Q'
ducks back into the stage shadows as if
afraid of Enio's obvious anger.
Oblivious to 'Q', Julia skips over to
Lawrence at his easel. He comes to life
as she nears; he begins painting vigorously.
From offstage, we hear a tractor backfiring loudly;
Peter shouts, cursing--
PETER (SINGING OS):
Merda! Merda!!
Papa! Papa!
This tractor, it will never start!
Damn tractor, we have killed it--
JULIA (DANCING ROUND LAWRENCE):
Not killed, not dead! Not killed, not dead!
Julia halts and stares with open bewilderment at Lawrence's canvas.
JULIA:
Tell me Lawrence, tell me:
Are you painting the sky?
Are you painting my Mama?
Is she here in the sky?
LAWRENCE (INDULGING HER):
Yes Julia, my sister:
It's mama in the sky, with the birds, clouds and angels.
Our mama's in the sky.
Julia, enchanted, joins in.
Q again emerges from the stage shadows
and stands in view, watching Julia and
Lawrence with interest, swaying to
their song.
JULIA AND LAWRENCE (TOGETHER, PLAYFULLY):
With the birds and clouds and angels
Our mama's in the sky.
Mama, alive in the sky--
Mama, alive in the sky--
Q steps into view with his Rabbits at song's end, smiling and lifting a hand
to Lawrence. Lawrence waves back and Q comes closer as JULIA watches wide
eyed. Q introduces himself genially.
Q:
Rabbits, fresh-killed Rabbits
Rabbits, rabbits: nice and fresh--
Good day folks, I don't mean to intrude
Good day young lady, don't mean to be rude--
JULIA (giggling, shy)
Poor rabbits, poor rabbits!
Look at them, Lawrence; they're DEAD!
Q (smiling kindly):
Look here, pretty lady, don't be shy--
The rabbits won't harm you and neither will I--
JULIA beams. Lawrence protectively takes her arm.
JULIA:
What's that in your pocket, Mister!
Q:
A harmonica for music, my dear!
See if you like what you hear...
Q. sets down his pole of rabbits
carefully. He plays a few notes and
JULIA beams, swaying to the harmonica.
LAWRENCE:
My sister, she does not understand--
Q:
She seems to understand music just fine.
You can take a look at the harmonica, Miss...
JULIA happily takes the harmonica.
Q Launches into his "pitch".
Q:
Got some fine rabbit meat and you got a fine barn, sir?
Wondered if I might stay a few nights--
for some chores and the rest of these rabbits...
LAWRENCE
Sorry if you are down on your luck, I'd like to help you out--
But my father would not approve and you must be on your way--
Q:
Oh no I am no HOBO, sir, I've got kids, and a family like you--
My name, kind sir, is 'Q'; I'm one of 17 kids;
My mother named by the alphabet see;
ran outa names when she got to me!
So I just go by 'Q'--
JULIA laughs, gazing at Q. Under his
tattered clothes, he is attractive.
JULIA:
You are funny Mr. Q.!
And you need to get
Some brand new SHOES!
She points to his shoes tied together with string.
Offstage, the tractor backfires again with a final loud bang.
PETER (OS):
Damn it! It WILL NEVER start!
Damn it damn it-- this tractor is DEAD--
JULIA hands Q. back the harmonica.
JULIA
Oh that is Peter, so mad, so sad! We ought to give you
Peter's OLD SHOES-- before he gets a look at YOU!
Julia impulsively tugs on Q.
Lawrence tosses down his paintbrush and pulls her back,
Q smiling understandingly.
LAWRENCE:
Julia! You cannot give shoes to this Q!
Q:
Truly, sir, I mean no harm
I could help out here on the farm--
LAWRENCE (following them off stage)
You know your way around a farm, Mr. Q?
Look, I'd like to help a Working Man like you-
I'll show you a hidden place you can nap,
under trees near the creek in the back--
Lawrence exits with Q and his pole of rabbits, Julia following behind,
looking fascinated by Q.
Peter strides onstage in a rage, smudged with grease.
He throws down an oilcloth.
PETER:
Damn it! It will never start! Damn it!...this tractor is dead!
One more thing on this farm
One more thing in this family
we can never ever-- FIX!
ENIO follows close behind with his
shovel, caught up in their quarrel.
PETER (SINGING URGENTLY):
Papa, LISTEN to me--
Listen to your oldest son, for once--
Enio rolls his eyes and starts shoveling again.
PETER (GESTURING OFFSTAGE):
Papa, we got a FARM, we got that new LAND,
New land, old tractor!
New land, killed the tractor--
clearing that new land!
Papa, you act like you're still running-- a vegetable stand!
Enio stops shoveling, looks at peter with irritation.
Peter takes the shovel from him.
PETER (GESTURING OUT TOWARD 'THE LAND'):
Papa, why'd you take on all that land?
Why'd Doctor Wilson GIVE you this land?
Doctor Wilson, he was no FDR
Giving away land for free--
Doctor Wilson, why would he care
about you and our family?
Enio turns on Peter angrily, raising his shovel.
ENIO (WAVING THE SHOVEL
DRAMATICALLY):
Basta! Basta!
Faccia tosta-- what a nerve, what a son--
Enough with your questions!
Don't question your Papa's good luck!
Don't question your Papa's-- love!
Peter stares sardonically at Enio brandishing his shovel.
PETER:
THIS you call LOVE?
Such love, it will FLATTEN me!
ENIO drops the shovel.
ENIO (spreading open his arms):
THIS I call LOVE-
Let me embrace you,
my ungrateful son--
Peter backs off, sticking out his hand awkwardly.
Enio throws up his hands, picks up his shovel and stalks off.
Peter is left standing with his hand out; (lights dim.)
PETER:
Papa, we need to PLANT!
Papa, we still got no tractor!
Peter throws up his hands exactly as his father had done.
BLACK OUT.
SCENE 6
Behind them, voices are heard; Q enters holding a hoe, looking guilty
and distracted. JULIA follows still in her nice work dress, talking
determinedly.
JULIA
Q, Q-- why do you run from me? Q, Q-- I want to talk to you!
In the barn, in the hay
On this sunshiney day-
Why won't you go in the barn with me-
So I can take off my hot dress-- see?
JULIA starts to unbutton her dress and
Q reaches out and stops her, takes hold
of her shoulders.
Q:
Julia no- it was wrong, I was wrong! It never should have
happened; I was wrong to let it happen!
JULIA:
But I wanted it to! I wanted you to love me!
I WANT you to love me-
Q (desperately)
You don't love me; I am a married man, a man with children!
Please don't, please don't-
JULIA
But I do; please yes: I do, I do, I DO love you-
You think I am a simple girl, like the fat lady said!
You think there is something wrong in my head!
Maybe that is true but, oh Q-
I do, I do, I DO love you!
She kisses Q, clinging to him.
Offstage PETER's voice is heard.
PETER
Julia? JULIA? Is that YOU?
JULIA, what are you doing, JULIA-?
PETER comes stampeding in. Q and Julia are both frozen in place, stunned.
PETER is in overalls, sweaty and pop-eyed, gaping at Q and JULIA
PETER (enraged)
What are you doing, YOU TWO?
What are you doing to JULIA-
Q? You tell me NOW-- BASTARDO!
PETER lunges at Q but Julia plants
herself between them, pleading.
JULIA
No, Peter, NO-- I wanted Q. To love me! To love me in the
barn, in the hay-- like you and Irene and, and--
PETER (thundering)
In the BARN, in the HAY
In the BARN, like Irene and ME?
Is this true? Is this true, BASTARDO Q?
What did you do to my sister?
What did you do to my SISTER?
JULIA (begging)
Shut up Shut up Shut UP!
He is my man, my HUSBAND-MAN!
Q (helplessly)
Peter, it was not what you think, it was not-- She came to me one night-
I knew it wasn't right, I never should have let anything go on-
I know it was, I was terribly wrong-
PETER
You get OUT! Porco bastardo!
Peter throws Q down; Julia throws herself down and grips Q; Peter pulls
her away.
Q
Don't hurt me! I have children!
Please Peter, let me live, let me go!
JULIA (grabbing PETER and clinging to him)
Peter, no, I hate you!
PETER
Out of here, Q! Right now!
Q sits up shakily and pulls off Peter's old shoes.
Q
I'm going, I'm going! Just let me get my things; let me get
my STARFISH! The children are counting on the starfish! Just let me, I'll be quick-
JULIA tries to bite Peter
PETER thrusts JULIA away from him.
PETER (facing Q)
Out NOW! I will kill you, KILL YOU-
Q. turns from Peter and grabs the
stepladder wildly.
Q
Just- Please- Just the starfish!
Let me get them, the dried ones
on the other side of the roof! Let me please!
For my kids, they need hope! They can't live without HOPE-
JULIA (grabbing Peter again)
Let him! Let him! The starfish, the stars-
PETER
Get them and be get the hell out! Va! Va!
Q hurries 'offstage' with the stepladder. JULIA fights PETER's hold,
trying to follow.
JULIA
I'm going with Q! I'm going to climb to the sky and get
stars too!
PETER (restraining her)
Stop this now! Calm down now!
JULIA (overlapping)
I hate you! Let me GO! I love Q!
I'm going to climb to the sky and get the stars too!
Peter (overlapping)
Julia, stop it, stop it, stop it!
JULIA
Q, Q! I'm going with you-
PETER (gripping her tighter)
Julia NO!
She bites his arm, Peter drops his hold, wincing.
And Julia runs offstage, going after Q
PETER (gazing after her)
Ouch, shit! Ouch, Julia! Julia watch out-
Get away from that LADDER, don't try to climb-
A loud CRASH of wood is heard.
PETER
Jesus, Mary and Joseph!-- JULIA!
He runs offstage.
JULIA (offstage)
Q! Q!
ENIO and LAWRENCE hurry onstage,
looking alarmed and bewildered.
ENIO
Peter, PETER! What is all the SHOUTING?
PETER (OS)
Come, Lawrence, COME! Q hit his head! Q fell off the BARN!
Lawrence rushes offstage.
JULIA
Q, Q! No-- Q! Papa, PAPA!
JULIA runs into view and seizes Enio.
JULIA
No, oh no!
PETER and LAWRENCE come in carrying Q. Q's head is bloody. They rest Q's body on
the bench. Lawrence feels for a heartbeat with his hand. LAWRENCE
shakes his head.
LAWRENCE:
He is dead--
ENIO
Oh dio mio! (crosses himself)
JULIA (screaming)
No no, NO NO!
ENIO
Julia, no; stay here-
JULIA picks up Q's shoes and runs back towards the house-
(Harmonica music plays as Peter and Lawrence lift the body
from the bench and carry it offstage.)
SCENE 8
Later that night. Sounds of crickets and voices in the dark.
PETER and JULIA creep onstage as the stage lights
come slowly up, suggesting night.
JULIA is wearing Q's shoes and holding her doll.
PETER carries two suitcases.
PETER
Quiet, Julia, we must keep quiet!
No one must see us leave, remember?
It's our secret trip, remember?
JULIA
Why do we have to GO?
I know I've been bad, I know!
Because I got sick, because I ate all the JAM?
Can't we stay and I will be a good girl?
Mrs. Wilson always says what a good girl I am...
PETER
Shh, Shh! Papa must not wake!
Shh, Shh! It's a secret trip
That we must take!
JULIA
Are you taking me to a place for simple-minded bad girls
A place like the fat lady said I should be, a girl like me?
Please Peter Please, I don't want to be in the bad-girl place-
PETER
Shh Shh! You are a good girl, you are!
Shh Shh! You will ride in a train car!
Yes, you are a good girl, you are MY good sister
And you have a good secret inside of you--
JULIA
I do? I do?
I do! I do!
Something secret inside of me, yes it's true!
Something secret inside, you know what- you do!
PETER (gently, setting down the suitcases)
JULIA, sit a moment with me.
JULIA, I need to talk to you.
JULIA, you know your own secret, I think you do...
PETER and JULIA sit on the two
suitcases, facing each other.
PETER
You always say you want to be a Mama someday
Well Julia, you have a BABY growing inside you now-
JULIA (jumping up from her suitcase)
A baby, a baby inside of ME!
Yes, I do, I do!
Yes, I know this is TRUE!
But who will the PAPA be?
Of this baby inside of me?
PETER
You have me, your big brother to take care of your baby—and you.
You have me to be a brother and a kind of Papa too...
JULIA (laughing)
Don't be silly Peter Pumpkin eater-- YOU are simple-minded,too!
You are not the baby's Papa-- the Papa is Q!
Q put his private inside me; he put this baby inside me--
Because he loves me, because he loves me!
PETER (with difficulty)
Yes, Julia, it's true-- Q put this baby inside of you-
JULIA
That's the Birds and the Bees!
Only who is the Bird and who is the Bees?
PETER
Julia, please!
You must be quiet!
We can talk about this on the train-
We will have a long journey to talk about the baby--
But we must take the baby away-
Bad plans were hatched today--
You don't want your baby in the sky with Mama, do you?
JULIA
No, NO! I want my baby HERE, here with ME!
PETER
So do I; I want your baby here too--
Julia, per piacere, listen to me-
You must come away with me,
With me and your baby--
JULIA
Can I leave my dolly? So they won't miss me so bad?
Can I leave my dolly here for Papa and Lawrence and Mrs. Wilson too?
So they won't miss us, me and you?
PETER
Yes, leave your dolly, Julia--
You will have a real baby soon
But that's a secret between me and you
JULIA
And Q--
PETER
And Q.
JULIA sets her doll on the bench and lifts her own suitcase.
PETER smiles and takes his bag and then takes JULIA's hand.
JULIA
I'm never taking my Q shoes off, never, OK?
Don't ask me no more, OK? I am walking in Q's shoes-
Or I won't go away!
PETER
OK, Julia, OK- You are walking in Q's shoes and you are going
away--
He starts to lead her offstage.
JULIA
Will Mama and the stars follow us?
PETER
Mama and the stars will always follow us-
JULIA
Can we sing about Mama and the stars?
PETER
Softly, Julia, softly we can sing-
We can sing while we are leaving...
JULIA and PETER sing quietly as they
slowly leave the stage.
JULIA AND PETER
My Mama, my Mama sits on the moon
The clouds will pass, I'll see her soon...
They exit together,
BLACKOUT.
SCENE 11
(Epilogue)
May, 1937 Lights up on the Farmyard which looks subtly different--
the bench is in another place. PETER and JULIA enter, looking around as if noticing differences. PETER carries JULIA's suitcase. JULIA carefully carries her bundled baby in a blanket. She wears a more grown-up dress and a new hairstyle.
PETER wears a suit.
JULIA
The berry bushes got so big--Jeepers Creepers!
Where's Papa, will he remember you and me?
Will he remember my baby-- how can he?
Because no, he has never SEEN my ba-by!
PETER
It's been a year now, Julia-
But Papa's been missing you, you know-
Mrs. Wilson told us so-
And now it's time for me to say goodbye
Goodbye for now to you
And to little Q--
JULIA
Why can't you even come IN?
PETER
Because I might not come out again!
And Irene needs me back home,
so it's back to California for me-
You know she and I will soon have our own ba-by-
JULIA (rocking her baby)
You KNOW I know, Peter Pumpkin Eater!
And you know I'm your sister FOREVER!
PETER pats her shoulder.
MRS WILSON comes out, bustling. She is dressed in farm clothes.
MRS WILSON
You came, you really came; oh my, oh oh!
I didn't dare believe, didn't dare tell Enio!
PETER
Thank you for tracking us down- and telling me--everything.
I was wrong about you and wrong about Julia too--
Now that she's had her baby, she needs to be here,
in her old home--
And here with-- with you.
JULIA (BEAMING, CALLLING)
Papa, Papa-- I'm a Mama now, SEE?
Papa, Papa-- I had a real live ba-by!
Papa, Papa-- it's Julia; remember ME?
MRS WILSON (fussing over the baby)
Your Papa is asleep but I'm sure he'll be up soon
and happy to see you-- and that dear baby too!
PETER
Thank you for telling us Lawrence left-
I'm worried he'll get killed over there-
MRS WILSON
Your brother had to go fight in Spain; he wanted it more than
anything in the world; it's good for him to get away-
PETER
Good for Julia and me-
But what of Papa, how is he...?
ENIO enters, looking older and more stooped but more gentle too.
He stares, dazed then wonderstruck by the sight of JULIA and PETER.
ENIO steps up to JULIA, embracing her and the baby, gazing into the baby
blanket in wonder.
ENIO (his voice softened)
Julia, my child! And a grandchild, such a perfect boy--
And Peter too-- what did I do to deserve this joy?
PETER
Papa, I cannot stay-
I am going back to LA,
Back to Irene my wife
Back to my new life-
ENIO
Irene? You are back with her?
Irene is your wife now-
I was wrong, back then, about her
Wrong about so much, my son-
PETER
I got a new life, Papa.
Got a job in sales, making a good wage-
Got a baby on the way-
ENIO
My son is a salesman! I am proud of my son--
proud that you will be a Papa!
You will be a better Padroni, a better Papa than me--
PETER
We'll see...
JULIA
Yes, you WILL be! You are so funny with my ba-by!
Peter is the best Uncle, I'm the Mama, Papá is the Grandpa-
And Mrs Wilson: can you be Aunt and Grandma too? For baby Q?
MRS WILSON
I'd love to be an Aunt and Grandma too!
For you and for- oh dear, a dear Baby named Q!
PETER
Julia, I must be going-
Irene and I will think of you and Q-
ENIO wipes his eyes, overcome.
JULIA
Papa don't be sad! Peter's not sad- not no more!
ENIO
I'm .. not sad...not now, not no more
A beautiful baby, a beautiful boy-
I have so much to be thankful for-
JULIA
Do you love him?
You can hold him!
ENIO (taking the baby)
Yes I love him, my dear Julia
I love him and you!
Madonna Mia- I do!
JULIA (chattering happily)
Yes, Papa, I’m the Mama and Q's last name is Padroni, our name!
And guess what? I had a pineapple once in L-A! And guess who I SAW one time?
Clark Gable who's gonna be Gone With the Wind and guess who else?
Norma Shearer who said I was a darling and let me touch her hand!
Oh Papa, have you ever been to Hollywood-land?
ENIO (laughing, to the baby)
How about that? How about your Mama?
No one like your Mama! No one like my Julia--
PETER
No one like Julia, no one-
I will miss you, silly sister-
I will miss you and your fine son-
JULIA hugs PETER hard. Peter starts to
leave.
PETER
Goodbye now Julia; Goodbye Papa-
ENIO gently hands JULIA the baby.
ENIO (shyly, holding out his hand)
Will you, my son,
will you take my hand before you go?
You don't want to; you don't have to, I know-
PETER steps forward, pauses, takes in ENIO with his teary eyes.
PETER gives ENIO a quick hard HUG.
ENIO
Goodbye my son-
Ti voglio bene, Ti voglio bene.
PETER leaves the yard. MRS WILSON takes the baby and bounces him.
MRS WILSON
You're all right, baby Q!
We'll take care of you!
JULIA
Guess what? There is no such thing as Storks! No stork, no
birds no bees--
Babies come out of vaginas! My baby came outa ME!
And boy did it hurt; I had to walk funny for days and days--
ENIO (laughing)
Julia, Julia-- you are something!
No one is like my Julia
No one is like my Julia!
How lucky I am to have you-
How lucky I am to have YOU!
MRS WILSON
This little baby is lucky to have you too--
This little baby needs a rest, little Q...
MRS WILSON carries Q away. JULIA comes to stand by ENIO. The lights begin to
dim, the sun is setting.
JULIA
Papá, did you see the same stars as me?
Far out in LA, Peter said you saw the same stars,
the same nightime sky!
He'd say that so I wouldn't cry!
The same stars where we lived and where Mama lives too-
And that way we’re all together in the stars-
Our family, I know that we are!
ENIO puts his arm around JULIA;
lights dimming further, with pinprick stars
showing in the background, behind ENIO and JULIA, who gaze up.
ENIO
The stars follow us, my pretty girl.
My pretty lady, I say now!
My Julia, my Julia
Yes, our stars follow us all--
Peter, Q and Lawrence, possibly behind a scrim, in a quasi-pantomime, join Enio, Julia and Mrs Wilson.
Yes our stars follow us all
Belle stelle, Belle stelle.
~THE END~
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