Pippin: His Life and Times (1981) - full transcript

[instruments warming up]

♪

[vocalizing]

♪

♪ Join us,
leave your fields to flower ♪

♪ Join us,
leave your cheese to sour ♪

♪ Join us,
come and waste an hour or two ♪

Ah!

♪ Doodle-ee-doo

♪ Journey, journey to a spot

♪ Exciting, mystic,
and exotic ♪



♪ Journey through
our anecdotic revue ♪

♪ We've got magic to do
just for you ♪

♪ We've got miracle plays
to play ♪

♪ We've got parts to perform

♪ Hearts to warm

♪ Kings and things
to take by storm ♪

♪ As we go along our way

[laughs]

♪

♪ Intrigue,
plots to bring disaster ♪

♪ Humor,
handled by a master ♪

♪ Romance,
sex presented pastorally ♪

♪ Aw, dee-dle-ee-dee

♪ Illusion,
fantasy to study ♪



♪ Battles,
barbarous and bloody ♪

♪ So join us,
sit where everybody can see ♪

♪ We've got magic to do

♪ Just for you

♪ We've got miracle plays
to play ♪

♪ We've got parts to perform

♪ Hearts to warm

♪ Kings and things
to take by storm ♪

♪ As we go along our way

♪

[Leading Player laughs]

♪

[chatter]

♪

Thank you so very much
for coming.

We do hope you enjoy yourselves
this evening.

♪

♪ We've got magic to do
just for you ♪

♪ We've got miracle plays
to play ♪

♪ We've got parts to perform

♪ Hearts to warm

♪ Kings and things
to take by storm ♪

♪ As we go along

♪ We've got magic to do
just for you ♪

♪ We've got magic to do
just for you ♪

♪ We've got foibles
and fables ♪

♪ As we go along our way

♪ As we go along our way

♪

[applause]

[laughs]

♪

We thank you.

This evening, for your
entertainment pleasure,

we present our most mysterious
and miraculous tale.

A stunning example of...

-Magic!
-And merriment!

You will witness acts of...

-Lust!
-Murder!

-Holy War!
-Love!

And a climax,

ladies and gentlemen,

a climax never before seen
on a public stage.

Now now, later.

[laughter]

♪

Our tale today concerns
the first-born son

of Charlemagne,
and is entitled:

♪

But, before we begin,

let me assure you
what you are about to see

is the true life story
of Pippin.

You see there have been
many misconceptions about Pippin

-One that he was:
-A hunchback.

-That he was:
-Enormously tall.

-That he was:
-A midget.

-That he was:
-Completely bald

at the age of 14.

[Leading Player laughs]

But I beg you,

please cast all previous
misconceptions aside,

and accept what we
enact for you today.

The life of Pippin begins:

[baby crying]

Pippin, as a child,

showed a tremendous
thirst for knowledge:

Immersed in these pursuits,
the years went by quickly.

Charlemagne sent Pippin
to the University of Padua.

And the faculty
of that university

granted him the special title
of scholar of the house.

Pippin replied
to this offer

in his own
deeply moving words.

[rhythmic clapping]

Um, he may be
a little nervous.

This is his first time
playing this role.

Could I have
a little more light, please?

[Leading Player laughs]

Well, he's not that nervous.

[claps]

Gentle tutors,

respected members
of the faculty,

I'm very grateful
for the knowledge

that you have given me.

But I'm afraid
what I'm looking for

can't be found in books.

I'm not exactly sure
what I want to do,

where I want to go.

♪ Everything has its season

♪ Everything has its time

♪ Show me a reason
and I'll soon show you a rhyme ♪

♪ Cats sit on the window sill

♪ Children fit in the snow

♪ Why do I feel I don't fit in
anywhere I go ♪

♪ Rivers belong
where they can ramble ♪

♪ Eagles belong
where they can fly ♪

♪ I've got to be
where my spirit can run free ♪

♪ Gotta find my corner
of the sky ♪

♪ Every man his daydreams

♪ Every man has his goal

♪ People like the way dreams
have of sticking to the soul ♪

♪ Thunderclouds
have their lightning ♪

♪ Nightingales
have their song ♪

♪ Don't you see I want my life
to be something more than long ♪

♪ Rivers belong
where they can ramble ♪

♪ Eagles belong
where they can fly ♪

♪ I've got to be where
my spirit can run free ♪

♪ Gotta find my corner
of the sky ♪

♪ So many men seem destined
to settle for something small ♪

♪ But I won't rest
until I know I'll have it all ♪

♪ So don't ask where I'm going,
listen when I'm gone ♪

♪ Far away you'll hear me
singing softly to the dawn ♪

♪ Rivers belong
where they can ramble ♪

♪ Eagles belong
where they can fly ♪

♪ I've got to be
where my spirit can run free ♪

♪ Gotta find my corner

♪

♪ Of the sky

[vocalizing]

♪

[applause]

And Pippin made a promise:

I promise not to waste my life

on commonplace,
ordinary pursuits.

Terrific.

You see, I know that
there is something, um...

Fulfilling?

Something completely fulfilling?

Yes.

That's it, that's it.

Something completely fulfilling.

Oh, fantastic.

And I'm going to find it.

[chatter]

♪ Journey, journey to a spot

♪ Exciting, mystic,
and exotic ♪

♪ Journey through
our anecdotic revue ♪

[laughs]

♪

[laughs]

♪

The royal court
of Charles the Great.

The first day
I was home from Padua,

I tried to get an audience
with my father,

but they told me
he was too busy.

The second day I tried
to speak with him at dinner,

but he was too drunk.

The third day, today,

he came to visit me.

Enter: Charlemagne.

This part
is to be portrayed

by an actor
of enormous power.

A giant on the battlefield
and in the bedroom.

[laughter]

Oh, thank you so much.

[laughter]

Good morning.

Good morning, sir.

Well, welcome home, son.

Oh, Father, I wanted
to talk with you so badly.

Uh, talk, talk.

Yes, talking is good.

Hello, son.

♪

Hello.

You look thinner.

Oh, yes, I know.

So, son...

So?

♪ Last night
didn't you miss dinner ♪

No, Father,
I was right there,

but you were drinking.

Ah, yes, so you were,
I remember.

I always remember.

Now, tell me

how things have been going
with you in Padua.

Not very well, sir,
some of my tutors--

Good, good.

I'm a firm believer
in education.

And yet you've become
the most powerful man

in the world without it.

The most powerful man
in the world?

Pippin, don't exaggerate.

What about the Pope?

Oh, I rank you
ahead of the Pope, sir.

Well, I happen
to agree with you.

Enter Lewis!

♪

Pippin's half-brother,

offspring
of Charles and Fastrada,

and, after Pippin,
heir to the throne.

Addicted to the physical,

Lewis loves weight lifting.

Lewis loves wrestling.

But most of all,

Lewis loves Lewis.

[laughter]

♪

Yah, yah, yah, yah!

Ah, well done, brother.

Well done? Ha!

That was magnificent!

Did you know this arm
slew 20 Frisians last year?

And it's going to slay
even more Visigoths.

Enter Fastrada.

Pippin's step-mother.

Devious, crafty,
cunning, untrustworthy,

but a warm
and wonderful mother.

[laughter]

Dedicated to gaining
the throne

for her darling son, Lewis.

Yoo-hoo, Lewis!

[laughs]

Guess what Mommy
has for you.

No, no, no.

Surprise!

Oh! Oh, thank you, Mother.

Oh, look at this!

Isn't it a beauty?

Oh, that's really beautiful.

Look how I shine.

Ha, Visigoths!

Oh, my babe.

♪

[applause]

♪

Oh, we're so proud of Lewis,
aren't we, dear?

Oh, my darling,
before I forget,

the royal treasurer
informs me

I'm overdrawn
in my allowance account.

You're overdrawn again?

Now, now, my lord,
don't be angry with me.

You know how confused
I get about money.

After all, I am just an
ordinary housewife and mother,

just like all you housewives
and mothers out there.

[laughter]

[applause]

[laughter]

Well, son, now we can
have our little chat.

♪

How've things
been going with you?

Well, sir, not very well.

♪ Welcome home, son,
welcome home ♪

♪ I'm so glad to hear
there's nothing wrong ♪

♪ Welcome home, son,
glad you're home ♪

♪ Will you be staying long

Well, sir, that's what
I wanted to talk to you about.

-I wanted to ask you--
-♪ Welcome home, son,

welcome home ♪

♪ Well, I've got to go,
it's almost noon ♪

But, Father, I wanted
to ask you something.

♪ Welcome home, son,
glad you're home ♪

♪ We'll talk again soon ♪

♪

The preparations
for the Visigoth campaign

were reaching a peak.

Marksmen tested
their bows and arrows.

♪

Swordsmen tested themselves
against one another.

♪

The panoply of war
was being assembled.

The sights, the sounds
of glory were in the air.

♪

The royal court
of Charles the Great,

Emperor of
the Holy Roman Empire.

And a giant
in the bedroom.

[laughter]

And a giant in the bedroom...

[laughter]

...is prepared
to hear petitions.

I beseech you
to reduce my levy

of foot soldiers,
cattle, and wheat.

-Due to a famine--
-Denied. Next.

But, sire, that is unjust
and tyrannical.

Oops.

Take that man away
and hang him!

Charlemagne, you are a tyrant!

Next!

Oh, great leader,
blessed by God--

Oh, no. Out!

Everybody out!

Council is dismissed.

-Wait! Father!
-Yes?

I know what I want to do now.

Good, good.

-I want to be a soldier.
-What?

I want to join you
in your campaign

against the Visigoths.

-Denied.
-But that's not fair.

To an emperor,
fairness is irrelevant.

But you're taking Lewis.

Yes, your brother Lewis
is an ideal soldier.

He is strong and stupid.

[laughter]

You, on the other hand,
are educated.

Father, I have to talk to you.

I am busy.

You're always
either busy or drunk.

You're suffering me the insults
of ungrateful offspring?

I'm sorry, Father.

Well, very well, go ahead.

I'm listening.

Well, sir,
I'm your eldest son,

I'm your heir.

That means I'm going
to be king one day,

and fighting wars
is an important part

of being king, isn't it?

Fighting wars is the most
important part of being king.

I mean, the Pope and I
have dedicated ourselves

to bringing Christianity
to the entire world,

even if we have to kill
every non-believer to do it.

[laughter]

Well, that's what
I'm talking about, sir.

You're dedicated
to something,

and I just want to be
dedicated to something, too,

with all my heart
and all my soul,

and whatever it is,

I want to do it as well
as I possibly can.

That's a nice thought.

-Thank you.
-You're welcome.

Otherwise, my life won't
have any meaning at all.

So you want your life
to have meaning, do you?

Yes, I do.

That's very ambitious
of you, Pippin.

Father,
stop all this bullshit

and take me with you.

Well, that's more like it.

Get yourself a decent helmet
and come along.

♪

-I'm a soldier.
-Right.

[laughter]

Me, a warrior.

Finally, a chance to be a part
of something important.

A chance to use my sword,

and my arm,

and maybe even my blood.

♪

Blood!

Ha!

Glory!

Ha!

Hah!

♪

Gentlemen, be seated.

♪

Map!

♪

Well, gentlemen,
it's been a long, hard march.

This is where we are, here.

Tomorrow morning at sunrise
we go against the Visigoths.

Hah, Visigoths!

Sit down, Pippin.

Now the main factor
in tomorrow's battle

is the terrain.

So look at the map.

Study it.

Remember it.

Father, why don't we
just go out there

and slaughter them?

Nyuk-nyuk.

-You spoke, Pippin?
-Well, sir, I just feel

since we're stronger
than they are and we're braver,

we might as well just
go out there and kill.

Doo-dah, doo-dah.

War is a science, Pippin.

Well, that takes half the fun
out of it right there.

There's plenty of fun
when you win.

♪

♪ War is a science
with rules to be applied ♪

Ya!

♪ Which good soldiers
appreciate,

recall,
and recapitulate ♪

Ha!

♪ Before they go to decimate
the other side ♪

♪

Now, this is the plan
for tomorrow's skirmish.

♪ The army of the enemy
is stationed on the hill ♪

♪ They've got sabers
in position,

and they're ready
for the kill ♪

♪ So we've got to draw them
down here onto the plains ♪

♪ And suddenly, successfully,
usurp them at a range ♪

♪ Then we go horsemen,
into full effect ♪

♪ And it all
must be accomplished

in a way they won't detect ♪

♪

♪ But if the fates
feel frivolous

and all our plans
they smother ♪

♪ Well, suppose
this war does shrivel us,

there'll always be another ♪

-Yeah!
-Oh yeah!

♪ And then the men
go marching ♪

Pippin!

[laughter]

I shall not caution you again.

War is a very serious business!

I'm sorry, Father!

♪ And then

♪ And then

♪ Gentlemen, and then

Doo-la!

Now, gentlemen, now!

♪

♪ And then the men go marching
out into the fray ♪

♪ Conquering the enemy
and carrying the day ♪

♪ Hark! The blood
is pounding in our ears ♪

♪ Jubilations! We can hear
a grateful nation's cheers ♪♪

♪

[applause]

Nicely done, Father.

Pippin!

There's one more thing.

I always like to spend the night
before battle praying,

and I would like
my two sons to join me.

♪

Oh God,
we who fight in your name

and in the name of your Son,

ask for victory
in combat tomorrow.

Give us the strength
to butcher the infidel

that the righteous
may flourish

upon the face of the Earth.

♪

Lewis, Pippin, it's time.

You're going to be
very proud of me, Father.

I'll try not
to disgrace you, sir.

Oh, very well, follow me.

♪

♪ Battles,
barbarous and bloody ♪

♪

[laughs]

♪

♪ Glory

♪ Glory

♪

♪ Glory

♪ Glory

♪

♪ Praise be
to Charles our Lord ♪

♪ Triumphant
is his Sword ♪

♪ Allegiance is his Word

♪ Glory

♪ Glory

♪

♪ Glory

♪ Glory

♪

♪ Blood

♪

Blood, yes indeedy.

♪

♪ Blood is red as sunset

♪ Blood is warmer than wine

♪

♪ Warmer than wine

♪ The taste
of salty summer brine ♪

♪

♪ Steel

♪

♪ Steel

♪

-♪ Steel
-Get it!

♪

♪ Uh, steel is cold
as moonlight ♪

♪ Uh, steel is sharper
than sight ♪

♪

♪ Sharper than sight

♪ The touch
of bitter winter white ♪

♪

[shouting]

♪

♪ Shout it out
from the highest tower ♪

♪ Shout it out
in the darkest hour ♪

♪ Charlemagne,
you lead us on to power ♪

♪

-War!
-War.

♪

-War!
-War.

♪

♪ War is strict
as Jesus ♪

♪ War is finer
than spring ♪

♪ Service to Christ
and to our King ♪

♪

♪ Shout it out
from the highest tower ♪

♪ Shout it out
in the darkest hour ♪

♪ Charlemagne,
you lead us on to power ♪

♪

♪ The Gates of Heaven await

♪ Thrown wide
by Charles the Great ♪

♪ We follow him through
by serving his state ♪

♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo,
doo-doo-doo-doo, woo ♪

♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo,
doo-doo-doo-doo, woo ♪

♪ The gates, the gates,
the gates of Heaven ♪

♪ The gates of Heaven await

♪ The gates, the gates,
the gates of Heaven ♪

-♪ The gates of Heaven await
-I'll do it, I don't know.

♪ Thrown wide
by Charles the Great ♪

♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo,
doo-doo-doo-doo ♪

♪ Doo-doo-doo-doo,
doo-doo-doo-doo ♪

Hey, let's hear it
for a couple of those

old time favorites
still on the charts.

Holy Wars,
285,000 killed or wounded,

War of Roses,
22,000 killed or wounded.

And that sentimental favorite,

World War I,
8,528,821 killed.

3,463,904 wounded.

And let's not forget
that all-time favorite,

World War II.

Between 35 and 60 million
killed or wounded.

♪

Ta-dah.

[applause]

♪

♪ War is strict as Jesus

♪

♪ War, war is finer
than spring ♪

♪

Dah, you ain't seen
nothin' yet, folks!

♪

♪ The Gates of Heaven await

♪ Thrown open wide
by Charles the Great ♪

♪

♪ Glory

♪ Glory

♪

♪ Glory

♪ Glory

♪

Glory!

Yeah!

[applause]

Thank you.

We've won!

We've won.

Well, another victory
for me and God.

I killed at least 25
of them myself, Father.

Yes, you and Pippin
both did very well.

Well, now we also have to sing.

That's absolutely essential
to victory.

♪

Pippin, you're not joining in.

Fall to, men.

♪

Eat.

Drink.

Rape.

Give thanks to God
for granting us this victory.

♪

I thought there'd be
more...plumes.

♪ Rivers belong
where they can ramble ♪

♪

♪ Eagles belong
where they can fly ♪

♪

♪ I've got to be
where my spirit can run free ♪

♪

♪ Gotta find my corner

♪

♪ Of the...

♪

♪ Well I'll sing you a story
of a sorrowful lad ♪

♪ Had everything he wanted,
didn't want what he had ♪

♪ He had wealth
and pelf and name

and fame
and all of that noise ♪

♪ But he didn't have
none of those simple joys ♪

♪ His life seemed
purposeless and flat ♪

♪

♪ Aren't you glad
you don't feel like that ♪

♪ So he ran from
all the things he'd done ♪

♪ He ran from things
he'd just begun ♪

♪ Ran from himself,
now that's mighty far to run ♪

♪ Out into the country
where he played as a boy ♪

♪ He knew he had to find
those simple joys ♪

♪ He wanted someplace
warm and green ♪

♪ We all could use
a change of scene ♪

♪

♪ Sweet summer evenings,
hot wine and bread ♪

♪ Sharing your supper,
sharing your bed ♪

♪ Simple joys
have a simple voice ♪

♪ It says why not go ahead

♪ Wouldn't you rather be
a left-handed flea ♪

♪ A crab on a slab
at the bottom of the sea ♪

♪ Than a man who never
learned to be free ♪

♪ Not till he's underground

Enter Berthe.

[applause]

♪

Pippin's grandmother.

Warm, strong.

Still attractive.

[Leading Player laughs]

Still attractive.

Charlemagne's mother.

Exiled from court
due to a personality conflict

with her daughter-in-law,
Fastrada.

Now she lives
in the country,

where she enjoys those...

♪ Sweet summer evenings,
sapphire skies ♪

♪ Feasting her belly,
feasting her eyes ♪

♪ Simple joys have
a simple voice ♪

♪ It says time's
a living prize ♪

♪ And wouldn't you rather be
a left-handed flea ♪

♪ A crab on a slab
at the bottom of the sea ♪

♪ A newt on the root
of a banyan tree ♪

♪ Or a fig on a twig
in Galilee ♪

♪ Than a man
who never learned to be free ♪

♪ Not till the day,
not till the day ♪

♪ Not till the day,
not till the day he dies ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na, na,
na, na, na, na, na, na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na,
na, na, na, na, na, na ♪♪

[vocalizing]

[applause]

Berthe!

Damn!

I hate needlepoint!

Berthe?

Yeah, what it is?

It's me, Pippin.

Pippin?

Pippin.

Oh, Pippin,
I can't believe it.

Oh, it's so good
to hold you in my arms,

just like I used to hold you
when you were a little boy.

Remember, Pippin?

Of course I remember,
Grandma,

that's why I came here.

Oh, you look terrible, Pippin.

You need some fresh air,
some sun, some good food,

some, uh, frolicking?

Some hanky-panky, maybe?

I don't know
what I need, Grandma.

Oh, I know what I need, Pippin.

Grandma, you know,
you haven't changed one bit.

You have, Pippin.

Something's the matter.

What have you been doing
with yourself?

Well, I went to war.

Ohh, that's why
you look so terrible.

Men and their wars.

Sometimes I think
men raise flags

when they can't get
anything else up.

[laughter, applause]

Grandma, sometimes you
really say shocking things.

Well, I try my best.

What's wrong, Pippin?

I don't know, I just...

I feel so empty and vacant.

Empty and vacant?

Now, you listen to me, Pippin,

and you're gonna hear
something very wise.

Don't take life so seriously.

Just take things as they come.

And don't plan too much,

and don't think too much.

How's that for wisdom so far?

Well, frankly, Grandma,
it sounds kinda dull.

Well, it'll be much better
with music.

Maestro.

♪

Thank you.

♪

Oh, he's cute...

♪ When you are as old as I,
my dear ♪

♪ And I hope
that you never are ♪

♪ You will woefully
wonder why, my dear ♪

♪ Through your cataracts
and catarrh ♪

♪ You could squander away
or sequester ♪

♪ A drop of a precious year

♪ But when your best days
are yester ♪

♪ The rest are twice as dear

♪ What good is a field
on a fine summer night ♪

♪ If you sit all alone
with the weeds? ♪

♪ Or a succulent pear
if with each juicy bite ♪

♪ You spit out your teeth
with the seeds? ♪

♪ Before it's too late,
stop trying to wait ♪

♪ For fortune and fate
you're secure of ♪

♪ But there's one thing
to be sure of, mate ♪

♪ There's nothing
to be sure of ♪

♪ Oh, it's time
to start livin' ♪

♪ Time to take a little
from the world we're given ♪

♪ Time to take time,
for spring will turn to fall

in just no time at all ♪

But Grandma, it's time
that I'm worried about.

Now you sit down,
you just sit down.

I don't wanna hear
another word out of you,

not until I'm finished.

I've got three more choruses
to do.

And you all can join me,
if you wish.

And that goes for all of you
out there, too.

Yeah.

But just the choruses,
the verses are all mine.

♪ I've never wondered
if I was afraid ♪

♪ If there was a challenge
to take ♪

♪ I never thought about
how much I weighed ♪

♪ If there was still
one piece of cake ♪

♪ But maybe it's meant
the hours I've spent ♪

♪ Feeling broken
and bent and unwell ♪

♪ But there's still no cure
so heaven-sent ♪

♪ As the chance
to raise some hell ♪

Everybody! Okay,
one, two, three, four.

♪ Oh, it's time
to start livin' ♪

♪ Time to take a little
from this world we're given ♪

♪ Time to take time, 'cause
spring will turn to fall

in just no time at all ♪

Come on, now,
you know it all!

Come on now, sing it, sing it.

♪ Oh, it's time
to start livin' ♪

♪ Time to take a little
from this world we're given ♪

♪ Time to take time, 'cause
spring will turn to fall

in just no time at all ♪

Out, out!

♪ Sages tweet
that age is sweet ♪

♪ Good deeds and good work
earn you laurels ♪

♪ But what could make you feel
more obsolete ♪

♪ Than being noted
for your morals? ♪

♪ Here is a secret
I never have told ♪

♪ Maybe you'll understand why

♪ I believe if I refuse
to grow old ♪

♪ I can stay young till I die

♪ For I've known the fears
of sixty-six years ♪

♪ I've had troubles and tears
by the score ♪

♪ But the only thing
I'd trade them for

is sixty-seven more ♪

♪ Oh, it's time
to start livin'... ♪

Out, out, out, out,
out, out, out!

You up there--out.

Now, this time, I'm gonna
take it all by myself.

All right?

And I'm gonna take it
from center stage.

[applause]

Boys?

♪

♪ Oh, it's time
to keep livin' ♪

♪ Time to take a little
from this world I'm given ♪

♪ You are my time
so I'll throw off my shawl ♪

♪ And watching your flings
be flung all over ♪

♪ Makes me feel young
all over ♪

♪ In just no time at all ♪

Remember that, Pippin!

♪

[applause]

I will!

She's absolutely right.

It's time for me to start living
and stop worrying.

Maybe that's the secret.

Just to enjoy all
the simple things in life.

♪

Like the fresh air.

And the cool, clean water.

And fresh fruit
right off the--

♪

Oh yes. Women.

♪ Sex presented pastorally ♪

Women, of course!

They're perfect.

♪ My days are brighter
than morning air ♪

♪ Resplendent on
the glistening dew ♪

♪ But all my days
were twice as fair ♪

♪ If I could share
my days with you ♪

Excuse me.

♪ My nights are
star-laden citadels ♪

♪ And warmed by coals
of glowing hue ♪

♪ But nights were warm
beyond compare ♪

♪ If I could share
my nights with you ♪

♪ To dance in my dreams

♪ To shine when I need
the...sun with you ♪

♪ To hold me
when dreams are done ♪

♪ And oh, my dearest love

♪ If you will take my love

♪

♪ Then all my dreams
are truly begun ♪

♪ And time weaves
ribbons of memory ♪

♪ To sweeten life
when youth is through ♪

♪ But I would need
no memories there ♪

♪ If I could share
my life with you ♪♪

Yahoo!

♪

♪

I've gotta see this, oh!

♪

[exclaiming]

♪

[blowing whistle]

♪

[cheers, applause]

Come on, Pippin,
there's so much more...

No, just leave--
leave me alone!

[laughter]

Boy, when you frolic,
you really frolic, don't you?

[laughing]

Well, how do you feel now?

Nothing's changed.

I still feel empty and vacant.

There has to be
something worthwhile

that I can do with my life.

Hey, look, you just started.

There's a whole lot of things
you can try yet.

Like what?

Take a look at this.

♪

Good morning!

Peasants revolt.

King slays thousands.

The king warned
that any further dissent

would be treated
in the same manner!

I can't believe that!

My father can't just
tell people what to think.

-Why not? He's the king.
-I don't care!

People have that right
to speak out freely.

There's no doubt about that.

Well, something's got
to be done about it.

You're absolutely right.

We're surrounded by
injustice and tyranny.

And prejudice,
don't forget about prejudice.

We're talking about
the execution

-of innocent people.
-That's right.

Well, I'm finally
beginning to see

what my father really is.

He forces people to fight
and die over land

that they couldn't
care less about.

That's right!

Well, I think
it's got to stop.

It has gotta stop!

It's time for a change.

Dammit, it is
time for a change

We have to dedicate ourselves
to a better world

-for all people.
-Testing, one-two, testing.

Peace and justice must be
restored to this great land.

[recording of wild cheering]

[with echoed amplification]
The tyrant must be overthrown.

Terror and bloodshed
must be ended.

I'm a politician.

You're a revolutionary,

and, baby,
you're beautiful.

We need a leader

with the wisdom
and the courage

to sweep out the old order

and create a better world.

[wild cheering]

Down with Charles!

Up with...

...me!

♪

[all urgently whispering
"Revolution!"]

Follow Pippin!

-Pippin forever!
-Pippin, our leader!

Power!

[laughter]

We pledge to stand by Pippin
forever!

[together]
Forever!

Now, gentlemen.

First, let me say
that I admire

the dedication
and the courage

which has brought you all here
this evening.

[together]
Forever!

Thank you.

Second, let me be
perfectly honest

about some of the dangers
which may lie ahead.

-Yes, yes, tell us.
-Right on!

If, during this insurrection,
any one of us is caught,

the king's vengeance will be
swift and terrible.

You will undoubtedly
be tortured,

cruelly maimed,

broken on the wheel,

even...dismembered.

Forget that!

But I am sure

that the prospect
of these terrible agonies

will not deter you
in joining me in my...

Uh...

They may appear frightened now.

But once the deed is done,

once action against the king
is taken,

they will flock to my side...
maybe.

[gasps]

Mama, if Pippin kills Father...

You'll be next in line
for the throne, darling.

But if Father discovers Pippin's
plot and executes him?

You'll be next in line
for the throne, darling.

Mama, no matter what happens,
I'll move up?

Yes, darling.

In fear of my beloved
husband's life,

I brought Pippin's activities
to his attention.

♪

Pippin is disloyal to you,
my lord.

Every son is disloyal
to his father

at one time or another,
my lady.

But Lewis loves you, my lord.

Lewis is an asshole, my lady.

Mama!

[crying, whining]

♪

Despite this rejection,

I took upon my tiny shoulders

the task of effecting
a rapprochement

between two men
for whom I felt...deeply.

♪ Lord knows we've seen enough
troubles already ♪

♪ We've had our fill
of gray skies ♪

♪ So put down the vinegar,
take up the honey jar ♪

♪ You'll catch many more flies

♪ And if we all could
spread a little sunshine ♪

♪ All could think
before we strike ♪

♪ We all would
be a little closer

to the world we'd like ♪

My lord!

Yes, my lady?

Will you be praying
at Arles next month?

No, I don't think so.

My lord, you always feel
so much better

after your yearly prayer
on the 15th.

Yes, I do, don't I?

I sought out Pippin.

♪

Your father loves you, Pippin.

Freedom and dignity for all men
are more important

than the love between
one father and one son.

Still, your name will be
on his lips when he prays

at Arles next month.

He prays at Arles next month?

♪

Alone and unguarded.

Alone and unguarded.

-What date?
-On the 15th.

-What time?
-When the cock crows.

[laughter]

Oh, Pippin, I beg you,

bring this estrangement
to an end.

I intend to.

May I tell your father
of this resolve?

No.

Let it be a surprise.

A surprise.

How sweet.

Oh, Pippin, your intentions
make me very happy.

You've been of great help
to me too, Fastrada.

[she squeals happily]

Oh, what sweeter words
could a mother hear?

♪ I know the parables
told in the holy book ♪

♪ I keep close on my shelf

♪ God's wisdom teaches me
when I help others ♪

♪ I'm really helping myself

♪ And if we all could
spread a little sunshine ♪

♪ All could lend
a helping hand ♪

♪ We all would be
a little closer ♪

♪

♪ To the promised land

♪

Closer, closer, closer,
closer, closer, closer.

It suddenly occurred to me,

Pippin may be planning
to harm my Charles.

I therefore decided to warn him.

Well, I'm off to Arles to pray.

Goodbye, my lord.

♪

Oh!

In the hustle and bustle
of my lord's departure,

I completely forgot to warn him.

♪

[their fingers snap]

Oh my.

What a busy day.

Events move so swiftly

it's hard for a simple woman
like me to keep up.

But something tells me
that one day soon,

I will be able to say
what every mother wants to say:

"My son, the king."

♪

[recorded shouts, wolf whistles]

♪

♪ And if we all could
spread a little sunshine ♪

♪ All could lend
a helping hand ♪

♪ We all would
be a little closer ♪

♪

♪ To the promised land ♪

[vocalizing]

♪

After all, I'm just an ordinary
housewife and mother,

just like all you housewives
and mothers out there.

Ow!

[vocalizing]

♪

[applause]

♪

♪ Intrigue
plots to bring disaster ♪♪

The chapel at Arles.

♪

It's all right, Father,
you may come in.

♪

I'm sorry to disturb you,
my son.

I know you like to pray alone.

You know who I am, Father?

Of course, my son.

You want something
from me perhaps?

A favor, advancement?

No.

Then what, Father?

I've come to be with you
for one moment,

to touch you,

to look into your eyes.

And what do you see?

I see the death of thousands,

the slavery of millions.

I see terror and bloodshed.

You see all that in my eyes?

-Do you deny it?
-Deny it?

Why, I'm proud of it.

I brought order out of chaos.

If slavery, blood, and death
are part of that order,

so be it.

But those are words
from the past.

Time has passed you by, my son.

And your time has come,
my son?

Yes, Father.

It's very easy
from where you stand

to judge the things
that I have done.

But when I fought,

the blood of the enemy
was in my eyes.

I sank in the mud
on the shores of the Volga.

I drowned two legions
in the Vistula.

Why, eagles, ospreys, even
vultures had a better view.

From the heights,
all things are very clear.

Birds float on the wind.

But, by God,

I blew my breath
across a continent

and shaped an empire with it.

That was beautiful, Charles.

-Did you like it?
-Oh, I loved it.

♪

So. You think you can do
better than I?

Yes, I do.

Well, if you truly
believe that,

there's only one thing
that you can do.

Thank you.
I brought my own.

Then why don't you use it?

Father, there must be
another way that we can--

None!

So if you've no further
business with me, go,

and leave me
to my prayers.

♪

What do you pray for, Father?

Strength.

And may God give you the same.

♪

[they both scream]

Oh, my God!

[groaning, panting]

[spiteful chuckling]

♪

♪ Why won't my hands
stop shaking ♪

♪ When all the earth
is still? ♪

♪ When ancient ghosts
are waking ♪

♪ So many plans need making

♪ So many steps need taking

♪ I think I will

♪

♪ I think I will

♪

Your Majesty!

King Pippin!

Your Majesty.

Your Highness.

King Pippin!

King...Pippin.

♪ Morning glow,
morning glow ♪

♪ Starts to glimmer
when you know ♪

♪ Winds of change
are set to blow ♪

♪ And sweep this whole land
through ♪

♪ Morning glow
is long past due ♪

♪

I'm sorry, Father.

I hope I can make
a better world.

♪

♪ Oh, morning glow

♪ I'd like to help you grow

♪ We should have started
long ago ♪

♪ So, morning glow
all day long ♪

♪ While we sing
tomorrow's song ♪

♪ Never knew
we could be so strong ♪

♪ But now it's very clear

♪ Morning glow is almost here

♪

♪ Morning glow,
by your light ♪

♪ We can make
the new day bright ♪

♪ And the phantoms of the night

will fade into the past ♪

♪ Morning glow is here

at last ♪♪

[applause]

Long live the King!

[all, sarcastically]
Long live the King.

Uh, it's a little big.

Yes, a little tissue paper
ought to fix that right up.

King Pippin,

Emperor of
the Holy Roman Empire,

is prepared to hear petitions.

Sire, it is my duty
to inform you

that the Infidel Hun
has attacked in the East.

He has destroyed three villages,

raped hundreds of women,

tortured and murdered thousands
of your royal subjects.

[horrified gasps]

I await your orders.

♪

I hereby order you
to seek out the enemy

and negotiate a settlement.

Very well, sire.

King Pippin the Peaceful!

[Fastrada weeps]

Sire, the treasury refuses me
my royal allowance.

Mine too.

Oh, come on, you two.

From now on, all royalty
including myself

must forego luxury
and extravagance.

[she chuckles]

Isn't that a crock?

King Pippin the Humble!

Sire!

I have met with the Hun,
he will withdraw

on one condition.

There, you see?

Now, I told you.

There isn't one problem
that can't be solved

by just sitting down
and talking it over.

Now, what's
the one condition?

He demands your
reproductive organs

separated from
the rest of your anatomy.

[laughter]

What?

Oh.

Well, in that case,
I declare w--

...a limited police action.

-Hooray!
-Boo!

-Hooray!
-Boo!

-Hooray!
-Boo!

Hey, what the hell?

You can't please everybody.

But, sire, I have no more men
to wage a campaign.

I have no money
to buy supplies.

I have no army.

Excuse me a minute.

Nobles?

Uh, you remember that decree
I made a little while ago

about land and taxes?

Yes, sire, what about it?

Well, it's off.

Off?

You mean you want me
to pay taxes again

and raise an army?

Yeah, that's right.

But, sire, without land,
I have neither money

nor power over the peasants.

Oh. Yes.

That's a very good point.

That's a very good point!

[sarcastic laughter]

Then I hereby suspend
land reform.

Suspend land reform?

Why the hell should I work
when the poor get handouts

from the royal treasury?

Uh-huh!

I'll bet he says,
"You're absolutely right."

You're absolutely right.

I hereby revoke
charity to the poor.

Up thine, sire!

Take that man away and hang him!

[chuckling]

No, wait.

Stop!

Wait!

Could you please
just let me think a minute?

Oh, the King is thinking!

Please, let the King think.

The King is thinking.

Darling, you're doing
a wonderful job.

But I haven't been able
to change one single thing!

That's exactly what I mean.

Your father would have been
so proud of you.

Now, about my royal allowance,
I need--

[they bombard him with requests]

Denied, denied,
denied, denied!

King Pippin the Unpopular.

♪

What are you praying for?

I'm praying for strength.

Is there anything else
you'd like?

I'd like to give my father
back his job.

[chuckling]

Is that what you want, baby?

Yes.

You want it,
you got it.

[snaps fingers]

♪

I'm sorry, Father.

Oh, that's all right, Son.

Just don't let it happen again.

[laughing]

♪

Dammit!

Oh, nothing ever turns out
the way I thought it would.

All right, I know this is
a musical comedy,

but I want my life
to mean something.

And it will!

It will!

It will.

It will.

It will.

Oh, it will.

♪

♪ You look frenzied

♪ You look frazzled

♪ Peaked as any alp

♪ Flushed, rushed,
and razzle-dazzled ♪

♪ Dry your lips

♪ Damp your scalp

♪ Now I can see
you're in a rut in ♪

♪

♪ Disarray

♪ And I'm not one to butt in

♪ But, in fact, I must say

♪ If you'd take it easy,
trust awhile ♪

♪ Don't look blue

♪ Don't look back

♪ You'll pull through
in just awhile ♪

♪ 'Cause you're on

Come here, come on.

♪ The right track

-♪ On the
-♪ Yeah, babe

♪ Right track

♪ On the right track

♪ On the right track

♪ On the right track

♪ Why be flurried

-♪ Flustered
-♪ You keep those

♪ Hopes aloft

Woo!

♪ Keep cool as custard

♪ Trying hard

♪ Stepping soft

♪ There's no trick
to staying sensible ♪

♪ Despite each cul-de-sac

♪ 'Cause each step's
indispensable ♪

♪ When you're on
the right track ♪

♪ On the right track

♪ On the right track

♪ On the right track

♪ On the right track

Watch.

♪

Ha! Yeah!

♪

Ah! Easy!

Go!

♪

-How do you feel now?
-Good.

Yeah! You should.

♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪

Woo!

-Hey!
-Woo!

♪

-Be-bop!
-Be-bop!

Be-bop, be-bop!

Go!

♪

-Ya!
-Ya!

Ya, ya!

Yeah, get out of here.

Pippin jumps back into life
with his usual zest.

He tried art,
the creative life,

and you know something,
he wasn't too bad.

But what he discovered was:

You got to be dead to find out
if you were any good!

He dedicated himself
to the church.

He sought God in the highways,

he sought the man
in the byways!

Well, he finally corners Him
in this huge cathedral.

What he found out was:

The church isn't saving souls.

It's investing in real estate.

♪

♪ Many when things get dank

will feel their grip ♪

♪

♪ Go, we stay, ooh, tranquil

♪ Spirits high

♪ Pulses low

♪ But what I've left behind
looks trifling ♪

♪ What's ahead looks black

♪ Am I doomed to spend my life
a-lingering on ♪

♪ Lingering on

♪ Just lingering on

♪ Malingering on

Oh, I'll never find it!

Never, never, never!

Ah, shit!

♪

♪ Easy, baby

♪ You're on the right

♪

♪ Track ♪

[applause]

Enter Catherine.

♪

A widow with a small--

Where the hell is she?

Well, get her to come out here!

Where's Catherine?

Enter Catherine!

♪

I'm sorry! I couldn't get
my eyelash on

and then my slipper was stuck!

All right!

We'll just try it again.

♪

When I first saw Pippin,

he was lying in the road
like a discarded rag.

I would have passed him by.

Perhaps I should have
passed him by.

But there was something
about his...

♪

...foot.

Ugh, it was the arch
of his foot

that caught my eye.

What I did was merely
an act of Christian charity.

Well, Pippin, I'm sure
there are many things

you'd like to know about me,
aren't there?

No, nothing at all.

Good.

♪ Ooh, ah

-Did you say something?
-♪ Ooh, ah

My name is Catherine.

I'm a widow.

I have a son.

I own this estate.

♪ I'm your average,
ordinary kind of woman ♪

♪ Competent and neat

♪ Making life a treat

♪ Others as nice

♪ You meet often I know

♪ At least once or twice

♪ Every decade or so

♪ I'm your everyday,
customary kind of woman ♪

♪ Practical as salt

♪ Modest to a fault

♪ Conservative with a budget

♪ Liberal with a meal

♪ Just your average ideal

♪ My telling you this

♪ May seem sudden and strange

♪ It may not interest you
much at all right now ♪

♪ But things change

♪ Plink

♪ Things change

♪ Plink

♪ Still I'll understand
if I'm not your kind of woman ♪

♪ Anyone can make

♪ One terrible mistake

♪ And I've no special glamour

♪ No bait I can twirl

♪ For I'm just a plain,
everyday, commonplace,

come-what-may,
average, ordinary ♪

♪ Wonderful

♪

♪ Ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

♪ Ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

♪ Ah, ah,
ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah ♪

♪ Ah

♪ Girl

♪ She's a wonderful girl ♪

[applause]

God!

What a challenge.

That was my best number.

♪

Enter Theo!

A small, lovable boy

and his large, lovable duck!

Pippin! Pippin!

Say hello to my duck!

How do you do?

Guess his name!

-Augustus.
-Wrong!

His name is Otto!

You're not very smart!

I'm smart enough to know
that a duck belongs in a pond

and not in a bed!

[blowing raspberry]

Obviously hopeless.

Rejecting a small lovable boy
like that.

Well, I had picked him up
off the road.

I could throw him
back out again.

Out he goes!

♪

I'll give him another chance.

Pippin, you have been lying
in this bed for seven days!

Now what is the matter with you?

Nothing you could
possibly understand.

Well, try me.

Give me a chance!

Please.

Pippin, please.

All right.

I have this overwhelming need
to be completely fulfilled.

And it has never,
ever happened,

and so I'm in abject despair!

And that's it?

Yeah, that's it.

Oh, my.

Uh, Pippin,
this is such a large estate,

and I'm all alone here,

and I can't possibly do
all this work myself.

Couldn't you please help me?

Hold it!

Hold it!

Jesus!

Actresses.

Look, you're supposed
to read the line naggingly.

But he touched my hand.

They don't usually do that.

I don't care
where he puts his hands!

Read the line naggingly!

Naggingly.

Pippin, this is
such a large estate,

and I am all alone here,

and I cannot possibly do
all this work myself!

Now can't you please help me?

All right! All right!

Anything to shut you up!

But only for a little while.

♪

Well, Pippin was finally
out of bed and working

and, slowly, he became
a part of everything,

part of our everyday life.

♪

How often do we do this?

Every day.

Every day?

Uh-huh.

♪

Did you say something?

Uh, no, no.

♪

I know that look.

That's the look of a widow
with a small boy

and a large estate

and no one to sit
at the head of the table.

Now, for a while,
Pippin didn't show

much enthusiasm for the work.

♪

But as time went on...

♪

...he showed
no enthusiasm at all.

Keep up the good work, guys!

What are you staring at?

Uh, nothing, nothing.

Oh, Pippin, there is something.

The roof on the chicken house
has sprung a leak.

If you could get to that
tomorrow.

-Wait a minute.
-Or the day after tomorrow.

Hey, wait!

The roof on the chicken house
has sprung a leak.

I used to be emperor
of the Holy Roman Empire!

All right, so I screwed it up.

But still!

♪ Patching the roof,
pitching the hay ♪

♪ Is not my idea
of a perfect day ♪

♪ When you're extraordinary

♪ You got to do
extraordinary things ♪

♪ Oh, it's hard
to feel special ♪

♪ You know, it's hard
to feel big ♪

♪ Feeding a turtle
and walking a pig ♪

♪ It's so secondary

♪ To someone who is very

extraordinary like me ♪

♪

♪ If the moat
won't stop leaking ♪

♪ And the goat
won't stop shrieking ♪

♪ And the griffin keeps losing
its hair ♪

♪ And the west wing is rotting

♪ And our best wine
is clotting ♪

♪ Well, I'm terribly sorry,
but I don't care ♪

♪

♪ I've got to be
someone who lives ♪

♪ All of his life
in superlatives ♪

♪ When you're extraordinary

♪ You need to do
extraordinary things ♪

♪

♪ The fact that I'm different
is easy to see ♪

♪ So, why doesn't anybody
know it but me ♪

♪ I'm extraordinary

♪ I need to do
extraordinary things ♪

♪ Every so often
a man has a day ♪

♪ He truly can call his

♪ Well, here I am
to seize my day ♪

♪ If someone would just tell me
when the hell it is ♪

Oh!

♪ Oh, give me my chance,
and give me my wings ♪

♪ And don't make me think
about everyday things ♪

♪ They're unnecessary

♪ To someone who is very

extraordinary ♪

♪ Like me ♪

♪

[applause]

I am.

[applause]

I am!

I think I am extraordinary.

Well, that's it, boy,
I'm getting out of here.

♪

[laughing]

♪

[grunting]

♪

Oh!

♪

[laughing]

I'm sorry.

No.

I'm sorry.

-It was my fault.
-No, it was my fault.

It's been such a long time
for me.

I just forgot.

Oh, you know what I think?

Yes?

It'll be better.

[laughing]

-Next time?
-Next time!

♪

[grunting]

♪

[applause]

[laughing]

♪

Look, uh, I think we're gonna
skip part of this.

Um, nothing much happens.

A little bit of this,
a little bit of that.

A whole lot of that.

But the seasons change
as they always do.

Paint just fell off
the calendar

and blew away in the wind.

And then it happened.

Suddenly, shamelessly
and without warning,

as it must
in all musical comedies,

they were struck by
a love song.

♪

♪ Sitting on the floor
and talking till dawn ♪

♪ Candles and confidences

♪ Trading old beliefs
and humming old songs ♪

♪ And lowering all defenses

♪ Singing a love song

♪ La-la, la, la-la,
la-la, la, la-la ♪

♪ Love song

♪ La-la, la-la

♪ Private little jokes
and silly pet names ♪

♪ Lavender soap and lotions

♪ All of the cliches
and of the games ♪

♪ And all of
the strange emotions ♪

♪ Singing a love song

♪ La-la, la, la-la,
la-la, la, la-la ♪

♪ Love song

♪ La-la, la-la, la

♪ They say the whole
is greater ♪

♪ Than the sum of the parts
it's made of ♪

♪ If it's true of anything

♪ It's true of love

♪

♪ How can you define a look
or a touch ♪

♪ How can you weigh a feeling

♪ Taken by themselves,
now they don't mean much ♪

♪ Together,
they send you reeling ♪

♪ Into a love song

♪ La-la, la, la-la,
la-la, la, la-la ♪

♪ Love song

♪ La-la, la-la, la

♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la,
la-la, la-la, la ♪

♪

♪ La-la-la-la-la,
la-la, la-la, la ♪♪

♪

-Close your eyes.
-Why?

Because we've got
a surprise for you!

Surprise, we've got a surprise!

-We've got a surprise!
-Oh, a surprise!

Now, Pippin,
keep your eyes closed

and no fair peeking!

I usually don't like surprises!

Well, you're gonna like
this one.

Here we go.

Now, Pippin, you sit here.

Can I open my eyes now?

No, not yet.

Okay! Now you can.

Ta-da! Quince pudding flambé.

I don't know what to say.

Well, let me say
something then.

In the six months
that you've been with us,

a lot of water has flowed
under the dam.

Over the dam.

Water flows over the dam.

I'm sorry, I seem to be
a little bit confused.

Oh, yeah, yeah, I can see that.

You try sticking to the part.

I will.

I will.

In the six months
that you've been with us,

a lot of water has flown
over the dam.

And in that six months,
you've come to mean

a great deal to me, to us.

And now, Pippin, now we have

so many good years ahead of us!

Oh, Pippin, sit here.

Sit here,

right at the head of the table.

Oh.

Isn't this wonderful?

Well, isn't anybody
going to eat my pudding?

I am!

I got to get out of here.

Pippin.

-What's the matter?
-I just can't stay here.

-Well, I don't understand.
-Because I've got to go.

-Go?
-Yes, I've got to go.

Why?

Because this is not enough!

Are you sure?

Yes, I'm sure.

And I'm not gonna be stuck

doing the same damn thing
every day.

And night?

Don't you see?

There has to be something
more than this.

There has to be.

I know that there is.

♪

♪ Rivers belong
where they can ramble ♪

♪ Eagles belong
where they can fly ♪

I loved my husband very much.

And then one day,
he was struck by--

Struck by...

I can't remember my next line.
What is it? I'm--

-♪ Got to find my corner ♪
-Something has gone wrong!

It's not supposed
to be like this!

Pippin, I really want you
to stay!

I love you, Pippin!

I love you.

♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

[laughing]

♪

Well, Pippin, I guess
you finally realized

what we knew
from the beginning.

-What's that?
-That your search

for fulfillment and perfection
was doomed from the start.

Nothing ever turns out
the way you think it's going to.

It's all flawed in one way
or another.

-Isn't that true?
-Nothing has been

completely fulfilling,
now has it, Pippin?

Has it?

No.

I guess there is nothing.

[laughing]

Wait a minute.

Hey.

Wait a minute!

There is something!

-There is?
-Yes!

What?

♪

The only completely perfect act
in our repertoire:

The finale!

♪

-Now?
-Now.

♪

[shouting]

♪

[cheering]

♪

Ta-da!

That was the finale?

But that was just a trick!

Yeah, yeah, um,

when he does it,
it's just a trick.

But when you do it,
it'll be for real.

[laughing]

When I do it?

♪

You mean you want me
to get in that box

and set myself on fire?

♪

Wait a minute.

You will step into
that flame, Pippin!

Become part of that flame.

Be engulfed by that flame.

Become flame itself!

And for one moment shine
with unequalled brilliance!

And in that flame,
you'll become

the glorious synthesis
of life and death!

And life again.

Why, the final affirmation
of life:

Death.

Death, yes.

♪

Ladies and gentlemen,

presenting the great Pippin

in our grand finale

never before seen
on a public stage!

♪

Wait!

Wait a minute!

If this finale
is so spectacular,

why doesn't one of you try it?

Cute.

Now that's really cute.

But we're just ordinary
run-of-the-mill people.

Just your everyday men
and women

who keep this old world
spinning.

Hell, we're nothing.

But you, Pippin, you're
an extraordinary human being

with extraordinary aspirations
and dreams.

You deserve
an extraordinary climax!

An unparalleled finale!

It's everything
you've been looking for.

-Your dreams!
-Perfection.

Perfection, like the sun
blazing in the sky.

The sun as its zenith.

♪

♪ Think about the sun, Pippin

♪ Think about
her golden glance ♪

♪

♪ How she lights the world up

♪ Now it's your chance

♪ With the guardian
of splendor ♪

♪ Inviting you to dance

♪ Pippin, think about the sun

[indistinct whispering]

♪

Pippin?

Pippin, it's time!

Look, you're not gonna
disappoint all these people

at $25 a seat, now are you?

Well, look,

it's just that
if this isn't it,

I'm gonna have
a pretty tough time

trying something else.

Oh, for Christ's sake, Pippin!

Pippin, you show
a certain lack of poise.

-Think of the radiance.
-Remember the beauty!

-Admiring glances!
-Thunderous applause!

The audience will love it!

Think of the word-of-mouth.

♪ Think about your life,
Pippin ♪

♪ Days are tame
and nights the same ♪

♪ Now think about the beauty

♪ In one perfect flame

♪ And the angels
of the morning ♪

♪ Are calling out your name

♪ Pippin

♪ Think about the sun

-More lights, perhaps.
-You want more lights?

Let's get this angel some light.

♪ Think about your life,
Pippin ♪

♪ Think about the dreams
you planned ♪

♪ Think about the moment

♪ That's so close at hand

♪ When the power
and the glory ♪

♪ Are there at your command

♪ Pippin

♪ Think about your life

♪ Think about the sun, Pippin

♪ Think about
her golden glance ♪

♪ How she lights the world up

♪ Well, now it's your chance

♪ With the guardian
of splendor ♪

♪ Inviting you to dance

♪ Pippin

♪ Think about the sun

♪ Think about your life,
Pippin ♪

♪ Think about the dreams
you planned ♪

♪ Think about the moment

♪ That's so close at hand

♪ When the power
and the glory ♪

♪ Are there at your command

♪ The power and the glory

♪ Are there at your command

♪ The power and the glory

♪ Are there at your command

-♪ Pippin
-♪ Pippin

♪ Think about your life

♪

Come on!

-Come on!
-Come on!

♪ Rivers belong

where they can ramble ♪

♪ Eagles belong
where they can fly ♪

♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪

No!

♪

♪ I'm not a river
or a giant bird ♪

♪ That soars to the sea

♪

♪ If I'm never tied
to anything ♪

♪ I'll never be free

What the hell are you doing
out here?

♪

Pippin. Pippin!

Where are you going?

Pippin, cut out the nonsense.

The finale, Pippin!

We promised these people
a great finale.

Coward!

Compromiser!

Compromiser!

I might have known
you'd screw things up,

you and that damn
lovable kid of yours.

All right.

All right!

You'll see what it's like
without us.

Take away the sets,
all the sets!

Start trickling out.

Colored lights, out!

Take 'em out, Phil!

[laughing]

♪

Well, now!

That's not too flattering,
now is it, Pippin?

♪

Makeup off, costumes off.

Get that wig off her head now!

Move it, move it!

[laughing]

♪

How do things look to you now,
Pippin?

Ah!

Mole.

She has a mole on her face.

You're gonna spend
the rest of your life

with a woman
with a mole on her face?

This kid is gonna whine
24 hours a day!

"Oh, give me this.

Oh, give me that."

[shouting]

How can you do this to us?

Is this what you want, baby?

No...

No costumes.

♪

No makeup.

♪

No...

No colored lights.

♪

And no magic!

Look! What?

Oh!

♪

Ladies and gentlemen,

we apologize
for the inability

to bring you all
a grand finale.

Yes, it seems that our--

our extraordinary young man

has elected to compromise
his aspirations.

Now, I know that there are
many of you out there,

extraordinary people,

exceptional people,

who would gladly trade
your ordinary lives

for the opportunity to perform
one perfect act,

our grand finale.

Now, now, now,
if you should decide to do so,

we'll be there for you,
waiting.

Anytime you want us,

why, we're right
inside your heads,

and we promise you sets,

costumes, magic,

and a short,
but spectacular career!

♪

[indistinct chatter]

It'll be perfect,
you'll always be remembered.

Come on.

Okay, okay, that's it!

Out, let's go.

♪

Take out the rest
of the lights.

Orchestra, pack up your fiddles,
your horns, guitars,

and let's--let's get
in the truck.

♪

Take your damn hands
off that keyboard.

[laughing]

[applause]

You try singing without music,
sweetheart.

Pippin?

Do you feel
that you've compromised?

No.

Do you feel like a coward?

No.

Well, then, how do you feel?

♪

♪ I wanted magic shows
and miracles ♪

♪ Mirages to touch

♪ I wanted such a little thing
from life ♪

♪ I wanted so much

♪ I never came close, my love

♪ We nearly came near

♪ It never was there

♪ I think it was here

♪

♪ They showed me crimson,
gold, and lavender ♪

♪ A shining parade

♪

♪ But there's no color
I can have on earth ♪

♪ That won't finally fade

♪ When I wanted worlds
to paint ♪

♪ And costumes to wear

♪ I think it was here

♪

♪ 'Cause it never was there

♪

♪ I think it was here

♪

♪ Yes, I know that it's here ♪

♪