CHE
People of Argentina! Your newly elected President--
Juan Peron!
(The CROWD begins to chant "Peron! Peron!")
PERON
Argentinos! Argentinos! We are all shirtless now!
Fighting against our common enemies--
Poverty, social injustice, foreign domination of
our industries!
Reaching for our common goals--
Our independence, our dignity, our pride!
Let the world know that our great nation is awakening
and that its heart beats in the humble bodies of Juan
Peron--and his wife, the first lady of Argentina,
Eva Duarte de Peron!
CHE
As a mere observer of this tasteless phenomenon, one has
to admire the stage management--
(HEAVIES move in on Che)
There again--perhaps I'm more than a mere observer -
listen to my enthusiasm, gentleman! Peron! Peron!
Peron!--Look, if I take off my shirt, will you-
(HEAVIES bundle CHE away)
(The CROWD by now are beginning to chant
"Evita! Evita!")
EVA
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom
Running around trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They are not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me
Don't cry for me Argentina...
(EVA breaks down; the CROWD takes up her tune)
EVA
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
Have I said too much? There's nothing more I can think
of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at me to know that every
word is true
(The CROWD is ecstatically enthusiastic; EVA goes
inside from the balcony)
Just listen to that! The voice of Argentina! We are
adored! We are loved!
OFFICER
Statesmanship is more than entertaining peasants
EVA
We shall see, little man
CROWD
Evita Peron! La Santa Peronista!
(EVA goes back onto the balcony)
EVA
I am only a simple woman who lives to serve Peron in his
noble crusade to rescue his people! I was once as you are
now! I have taken these riches from the oligarchs only for
you--for all of you! One day you will inherit these
treasures! Descamisados! When they fire those cannons,
when the crowds sing of glory, it is not just for Peron,
but for all of us! All of us!
AN ARISTOCRAT (mocking applause)
Things have reached a pretty pass
When someone pretty lower class
Can be accepted and admired-
EVA
But your despicable class is dead! Look who they are calling
for now!
People of Argentina! Your newly elected President--
Juan Peron!
(The CROWD begins to chant "Peron! Peron!")
PERON
Argentinos! Argentinos! We are all shirtless now!
Fighting against our common enemies--
Poverty, social injustice, foreign domination of
our industries!
Reaching for our common goals--
Our independence, our dignity, our pride!
Let the world know that our great nation is awakening
and that its heart beats in the humble bodies of Juan
Peron--and his wife, the first lady of Argentina,
Eva Duarte de Peron!
CHE
As a mere observer of this tasteless phenomenon, one has
to admire the stage management--
(HEAVIES move in on Che)
There again--perhaps I'm more than a mere observer -
listen to my enthusiasm, gentleman! Peron! Peron!
Peron!--Look, if I take off my shirt, will you-
(HEAVIES bundle CHE away)
(The CROWD by now are beginning to chant
"Evita! Evita!")
EVA
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom
Running around trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They are not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me
Don't cry for me Argentina...
(EVA breaks down; the CROWD takes up her tune)
EVA
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
Have I said too much? There's nothing more I can think
of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at me to know that every
word is true
(The CROWD is ecstatically enthusiastic; EVA goes
inside from the balcony)
Just listen to that! The voice of Argentina! We are
adored! We are loved!
OFFICER
Statesmanship is more than entertaining peasants
EVA
We shall see, little man
CROWD
Evita Peron! La Santa Peronista!
(EVA goes back onto the balcony)
EVA
I am only a simple woman who lives to serve Peron in his
noble crusade to rescue his people! I was once as you are
now! I have taken these riches from the oligarchs only for
you--for all of you! One day you will inherit these
treasures! Descamisados! When they fire those cannons,
when the crowds sing of glory, it is not just for Peron,
but for all of us! All of us!
AN ARISTOCRAT (mocking applause)
Things have reached a pretty pass
When someone pretty lower class
Can be accepted and admired-
EVA
But your despicable class is dead! Look who they are calling
for now!