Central Bazaar (1976) - full transcript
For this remarkable experimental film, the provocative avant-garde legend Stephen Dwoskin gathered together a group of strangers and filmed them as they explored their fantasies over a period of five days: a project that now sounds a little like TV's Big Brother. The ceremonial gowns and make-up here not only evoke the eroticism of European horror movies but also highlight the film's interplay between performance and intimacy. Jonas Mekas called it "theatre of life".
Once upon a time...
there were three little pigs
who all lived together in a forest.
Now, those three little pigs
had nowhere to live
and they really wanted
somewhere to live
because they didn't like
sleeping under trees and in bushes
and it got very cold when it rained.
One day, their old aunt
left them some money
so that they could build
themselves a house.
She left them enough money
that they could build themselves
a house each.
"I know what I'm going to do,"
said the first little pig.
"I'm going to build
myself a house of straw.
That way I can get it done in a day
and go off and spend the rest of the money
and have a good time."
So he went off to the farmer
and he bought some straw
and he quickly made himself
a straw house shaped like that.
Once he'd done that,
he went off and played.
"Ha!" said the third little pig,
"that's no good!
What'll you do if
the Big Bad Wolf comes along?"
"I don't care,"
said the first little pig,
"I'm gonna go off
and have a good time."
And he went off down the road,
dancing and singing,
"Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf!
The Big Bad Wolf!
The Big Bad Wolf!
Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf!
Not me, me, me, me, me."
Second little pig said,
"I'm going to build
my house of wood,
that way it'll be safe
but it'll also be cheap
then I can spend lots of money
on good food."
So, he went to the woodsman
and he bought lots of wood
and he built himself a little shack
that was one floor
and shaped like that.
That only took him
a couple of days to build
and then he went off to market
and he bought himself
lots of good things to eat.
"Ha!" said the third little pig,
"You are a lazy bunch, aren't you?
I'm going to build a proper house
with bricks and mortar
and a roof
and a chimney
and windows with shutters
and a big strong door.
So that if
the Big Bad Wolf comes,
he won't be able
to get into my house."
And he set to work.
First of all he went
to the brick makers
and he bought lots of bricks
and lots of mortar
and then he spent the next month
building his big brick house.
It was a beautiful house.
The bricks were red and blue
and the roof was green
and he had a lovely chimney
and he painted the shutters red
and the door green
to match the roof
and he put flower pots
outside the windows
and it was a beautiful house
although it took him
a long time to finish it.
First little pig
and the second little pig
thought he was very stupid,
very stupid indeed
because he took so long
and he was so careful.
"Ha!" said the first little pig,
"I don't know
what you're bothering with,
doing all that and taking all that time.
Here you are still sleeping
out in the rain having a...
"Ha!" said the second little pig,
"I think you're very very silly!"
"Why?" said the third little pig.
"I think you're silly
because I'm perfectly safe
and all right in my wooden hut
and nobody will be able
to get into it
and I've brought
all that money left over
from great heart
and I've been able
to go to the market
three times this week
and buy lots of lovely food."
But the third little pig wasn't bothered
one way or the other
and just went on very quietly
building his house
and having a lovely time doing it.
It hadn't been long
when he'd finished it
when the Big Bad Wolf arrived.
He sniffed, "I smell a little pig!"
And he strolled along
very quietly indeed
until he saw the three little pigs
sitting together
talking to each other.
"Aha!"
said the Big Bad Wolf,
"If I creep up very quietly indeed
I'll be able to catch them."
So he crept up
very quietly indeed
but just before he got up
to the three little pigs,
third little pig said
"Shhh! I hear something!"
And they all stopped
and they all listened.
And then first little pig said,
"It's the Big Bad Wolf!
Run everybody! Run!"
So they all ran to their homes
as quickly as possible.
First little pig ran to his straw house
and shut the door.
Second little pig ran to his wood house
and closed the door.
The third little pig ran
to his brick house,
slammed the door, pushed the bolt shut
and felt safe.
The wolf very slowly walked up
to the first little pig's house
and he knocked on the door.
"Let me in, little pig!"
he said.
"No, no! Go away!
I don't want anything
to do with you!"
said the first little pig.
"Let me in little pig
or I'll huff and I'll puff
and I'll blow your house down."
The first little pig said,
"No, you're can't!
I've got my own home now,
I'm perfectly safe!"
"Aha!"
said the Big Bad Wolf,
"I'll blow your house down
in no time at all!"
And he took a big breath
and he went...
The straw house shook
and it trembled
and it blew away,
far far away,
leaving the first little pig
shaking in his shoes
and he looked at the wolf
and he went "Oh! Oh! Oh!"
And he ran as fast as he could
to the second little pig's
wooden house
and he knocked on the door
and said
"Let me in! Let me in,
as quickly as you can!"
And the second little pig
opened the door,
let him in
and slammed it shut.
"Ha!"
said the first little pig.
"I'll be all right here."
Then the wolf walked up
to the second little pig's door.
"Let me in,
or I'll huff and I'll puff
and I'll blow your house in!"
"Oh no, you won't"
said the second little pig.
"No you won't.
This is a wood house,
I'm perfectly safe."
"Oh, yes?"
said the Big Bad Wolf
and he took a deep breath
and he...
Blew as hard as he could
but because
it was a wooden house
the house just shook
very very hard
but it didn't go down.
"Aha!"
said the second little pig,
"I told you!"
"Ha!" said the wolf,
"Just you wait and see!"
And he took another
big breath...
and this time
the wood house fell in pieces.
Clunk!
Leaving the first
and the second little pig
hanging onto each other
absolutely terrified.
"Quick! Quick!"
said the second little pig,
"Let's run as quickly
to the third little pig's house
and maybe we'll be
all right there."
So they ran and they ran
as quickly
and they knocked
on the door and said
"Let us in! Let us in!
We're being chased
by the Big Bad Wolf."
"Hmm!"
said the third little pig,
"All right!"
And he opened the door
"but didn't I tell you so!
I told you those houses
weren't safe!"
And then he slammed
the door shut
and shut the bolt...
Isn't that more...
I mean...
wouldn't you think
that would be more exciting
than staying in the same place
all the time
doing the same thing.
I mean, that -
to me that would be
a safe situation...
always in the same...
Oh sure I couldn't get into that.
I mean that's really like terrible.
Yeah, yeah.
Um I think because -
I mean in a way I...
see it's...
I mean it's not that I objecti -
In a way I do objectify.
I mean I'm more happy
when I am with people
than I am with myself.
Well, I find concentration
pretty hard.
Like if you're a kid
and you're given homework
you um that develops -
I mean that may not be
a very good thing
but it nevertheless...
Because I think people
really turn me on.
I mean I really like people.
People are
so highly conditioned...
to uh behave -
you know, to...
be told what to do.
At least in public you're told
where to walk and you know.
It was a bit like that, yeah.
It was like showing off, you know.
It was - I liked
that aspect to it...
and uh... and butterflies
in the stomach, you know.
I mean I would have applied
to be a samurai maybe,
a bit like that you know.
That, sort of, shadowboxing
where in a way you sort of
access one another
and you sort of in a way you kind of
get it out of the way.
I mean, the problem with that
really is that it -
it's gotta be a person
who's quite in tune with me.
I mean I really got
sort of hung up
about my parents
you know.
But that's the sort
of the street thing, isn't it?
- Uh-huh.
- You know?
Like going to the fun fair
you sort of go -
I mean I could never
make my mind up what to go on
if I only had
a small amount of money to spend
and you just end up...
looking uptight -
I can't go on that because maybe
that's better you know.
So you're shooting all around.
Daydream and fantasise
you know.
Which you're gay,
I mean, that could bring us back
to what's happening here.
I just told some things...
I don't know
what I did enjoy but...
I think
it's the kind of thing that...
it's nice to have behind you,
you know.
I think I've done a lot of things
like that,
that I've never really enjoyed
but I sort of thought
well get this one behind me.
I don't know,
I just can't work in a vacuum.
I'll do another one.
Umm...
I'll do - uh...
Greensleeves...
Alas, my -
that's wrong again...
Alas, my love,
you do me wrong
To cast me off
discourteously
No, that's wrong.
Alas, my love,
you do me wrong
To cast me off
discourteously
When I have loved you
so long
Delighting in your company
Greensleeves was all my -
I can't do it.
Greensleeves was all my joys
And greensleeves
my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my delight
And who but
my lady greensleeves
Another one now...
How should I
my true love know
From another one?
No, wait.
I started it wrong. Fuck!
Well, that was right.
How should I
my true love know
From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff
and his sandal shoon
I can't do it, it's wrong!
Wait!
He is dead -
I gotta start again.
Alright - um -
He is dead and gone, lady
He is dead and gone
At his head a grass-green turf
At his heels a stone
How should I
my true love know
From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff
And his sandal shoon
He is dead and gone, lady
He is dead and gone
At his heels
a grass-green turf
At his head a stone
White his shroud
like the mountain snow
Larded with green flowers
Which bewept
to the grave did go
With true love showers
I can't do that one anymore.
Um, I'll sing...
Should I sing
one of my brother's songs?
He'll kill me for this.
And if you want me
You'll know where I'll be
Right here in the kitchen
where you left me
I haven't stirred
since I heard your last word
"Goodbye"
And I want you
ever before me...
I can't sing that...
It's too hard.
there were three little pigs
who all lived together in a forest.
Now, those three little pigs
had nowhere to live
and they really wanted
somewhere to live
because they didn't like
sleeping under trees and in bushes
and it got very cold when it rained.
One day, their old aunt
left them some money
so that they could build
themselves a house.
She left them enough money
that they could build themselves
a house each.
"I know what I'm going to do,"
said the first little pig.
"I'm going to build
myself a house of straw.
That way I can get it done in a day
and go off and spend the rest of the money
and have a good time."
So he went off to the farmer
and he bought some straw
and he quickly made himself
a straw house shaped like that.
Once he'd done that,
he went off and played.
"Ha!" said the third little pig,
"that's no good!
What'll you do if
the Big Bad Wolf comes along?"
"I don't care,"
said the first little pig,
"I'm gonna go off
and have a good time."
And he went off down the road,
dancing and singing,
"Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf!
The Big Bad Wolf!
The Big Bad Wolf!
Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf!
Not me, me, me, me, me."
Second little pig said,
"I'm going to build
my house of wood,
that way it'll be safe
but it'll also be cheap
then I can spend lots of money
on good food."
So, he went to the woodsman
and he bought lots of wood
and he built himself a little shack
that was one floor
and shaped like that.
That only took him
a couple of days to build
and then he went off to market
and he bought himself
lots of good things to eat.
"Ha!" said the third little pig,
"You are a lazy bunch, aren't you?
I'm going to build a proper house
with bricks and mortar
and a roof
and a chimney
and windows with shutters
and a big strong door.
So that if
the Big Bad Wolf comes,
he won't be able
to get into my house."
And he set to work.
First of all he went
to the brick makers
and he bought lots of bricks
and lots of mortar
and then he spent the next month
building his big brick house.
It was a beautiful house.
The bricks were red and blue
and the roof was green
and he had a lovely chimney
and he painted the shutters red
and the door green
to match the roof
and he put flower pots
outside the windows
and it was a beautiful house
although it took him
a long time to finish it.
First little pig
and the second little pig
thought he was very stupid,
very stupid indeed
because he took so long
and he was so careful.
"Ha!" said the first little pig,
"I don't know
what you're bothering with,
doing all that and taking all that time.
Here you are still sleeping
out in the rain having a...
"Ha!" said the second little pig,
"I think you're very very silly!"
"Why?" said the third little pig.
"I think you're silly
because I'm perfectly safe
and all right in my wooden hut
and nobody will be able
to get into it
and I've brought
all that money left over
from great heart
and I've been able
to go to the market
three times this week
and buy lots of lovely food."
But the third little pig wasn't bothered
one way or the other
and just went on very quietly
building his house
and having a lovely time doing it.
It hadn't been long
when he'd finished it
when the Big Bad Wolf arrived.
He sniffed, "I smell a little pig!"
And he strolled along
very quietly indeed
until he saw the three little pigs
sitting together
talking to each other.
"Aha!"
said the Big Bad Wolf,
"If I creep up very quietly indeed
I'll be able to catch them."
So he crept up
very quietly indeed
but just before he got up
to the three little pigs,
third little pig said
"Shhh! I hear something!"
And they all stopped
and they all listened.
And then first little pig said,
"It's the Big Bad Wolf!
Run everybody! Run!"
So they all ran to their homes
as quickly as possible.
First little pig ran to his straw house
and shut the door.
Second little pig ran to his wood house
and closed the door.
The third little pig ran
to his brick house,
slammed the door, pushed the bolt shut
and felt safe.
The wolf very slowly walked up
to the first little pig's house
and he knocked on the door.
"Let me in, little pig!"
he said.
"No, no! Go away!
I don't want anything
to do with you!"
said the first little pig.
"Let me in little pig
or I'll huff and I'll puff
and I'll blow your house down."
The first little pig said,
"No, you're can't!
I've got my own home now,
I'm perfectly safe!"
"Aha!"
said the Big Bad Wolf,
"I'll blow your house down
in no time at all!"
And he took a big breath
and he went...
The straw house shook
and it trembled
and it blew away,
far far away,
leaving the first little pig
shaking in his shoes
and he looked at the wolf
and he went "Oh! Oh! Oh!"
And he ran as fast as he could
to the second little pig's
wooden house
and he knocked on the door
and said
"Let me in! Let me in,
as quickly as you can!"
And the second little pig
opened the door,
let him in
and slammed it shut.
"Ha!"
said the first little pig.
"I'll be all right here."
Then the wolf walked up
to the second little pig's door.
"Let me in,
or I'll huff and I'll puff
and I'll blow your house in!"
"Oh no, you won't"
said the second little pig.
"No you won't.
This is a wood house,
I'm perfectly safe."
"Oh, yes?"
said the Big Bad Wolf
and he took a deep breath
and he...
Blew as hard as he could
but because
it was a wooden house
the house just shook
very very hard
but it didn't go down.
"Aha!"
said the second little pig,
"I told you!"
"Ha!" said the wolf,
"Just you wait and see!"
And he took another
big breath...
and this time
the wood house fell in pieces.
Clunk!
Leaving the first
and the second little pig
hanging onto each other
absolutely terrified.
"Quick! Quick!"
said the second little pig,
"Let's run as quickly
to the third little pig's house
and maybe we'll be
all right there."
So they ran and they ran
as quickly
and they knocked
on the door and said
"Let us in! Let us in!
We're being chased
by the Big Bad Wolf."
"Hmm!"
said the third little pig,
"All right!"
And he opened the door
"but didn't I tell you so!
I told you those houses
weren't safe!"
And then he slammed
the door shut
and shut the bolt...
Isn't that more...
I mean...
wouldn't you think
that would be more exciting
than staying in the same place
all the time
doing the same thing.
I mean, that -
to me that would be
a safe situation...
always in the same...
Oh sure I couldn't get into that.
I mean that's really like terrible.
Yeah, yeah.
Um I think because -
I mean in a way I...
see it's...
I mean it's not that I objecti -
In a way I do objectify.
I mean I'm more happy
when I am with people
than I am with myself.
Well, I find concentration
pretty hard.
Like if you're a kid
and you're given homework
you um that develops -
I mean that may not be
a very good thing
but it nevertheless...
Because I think people
really turn me on.
I mean I really like people.
People are
so highly conditioned...
to uh behave -
you know, to...
be told what to do.
At least in public you're told
where to walk and you know.
It was a bit like that, yeah.
It was like showing off, you know.
It was - I liked
that aspect to it...
and uh... and butterflies
in the stomach, you know.
I mean I would have applied
to be a samurai maybe,
a bit like that you know.
That, sort of, shadowboxing
where in a way you sort of
access one another
and you sort of in a way you kind of
get it out of the way.
I mean, the problem with that
really is that it -
it's gotta be a person
who's quite in tune with me.
I mean I really got
sort of hung up
about my parents
you know.
But that's the sort
of the street thing, isn't it?
- Uh-huh.
- You know?
Like going to the fun fair
you sort of go -
I mean I could never
make my mind up what to go on
if I only had
a small amount of money to spend
and you just end up...
looking uptight -
I can't go on that because maybe
that's better you know.
So you're shooting all around.
Daydream and fantasise
you know.
Which you're gay,
I mean, that could bring us back
to what's happening here.
I just told some things...
I don't know
what I did enjoy but...
I think
it's the kind of thing that...
it's nice to have behind you,
you know.
I think I've done a lot of things
like that,
that I've never really enjoyed
but I sort of thought
well get this one behind me.
I don't know,
I just can't work in a vacuum.
I'll do another one.
Umm...
I'll do - uh...
Greensleeves...
Alas, my -
that's wrong again...
Alas, my love,
you do me wrong
To cast me off
discourteously
No, that's wrong.
Alas, my love,
you do me wrong
To cast me off
discourteously
When I have loved you
so long
Delighting in your company
Greensleeves was all my -
I can't do it.
Greensleeves was all my joys
And greensleeves
my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my delight
And who but
my lady greensleeves
Another one now...
How should I
my true love know
From another one?
No, wait.
I started it wrong. Fuck!
Well, that was right.
How should I
my true love know
From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff
and his sandal shoon
I can't do it, it's wrong!
Wait!
He is dead -
I gotta start again.
Alright - um -
He is dead and gone, lady
He is dead and gone
At his head a grass-green turf
At his heels a stone
How should I
my true love know
From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff
And his sandal shoon
He is dead and gone, lady
He is dead and gone
At his heels
a grass-green turf
At his head a stone
White his shroud
like the mountain snow
Larded with green flowers
Which bewept
to the grave did go
With true love showers
I can't do that one anymore.
Um, I'll sing...
Should I sing
one of my brother's songs?
He'll kill me for this.
And if you want me
You'll know where I'll be
Right here in the kitchen
where you left me
I haven't stirred
since I heard your last word
"Goodbye"
And I want you
ever before me...
I can't sing that...
It's too hard.