Fallen | Pilot Episode Audio

Libretto | Act I, scene i

Off of a massive central open space with kitchen and living area,
we see FRED (an idealistic young public defender) through a doorway inside his very small, cramped bedroom.
He is working at his computer with headphones on.

GASTON (his best friend, a smooth, worldly corporate lawyer) bustles into what we discover is a well-appointed New York loft apartment.
He simultaneously takes off his coat, puts his bag down and sorts through the mail, all the while texting/looking at his cellphone.
He sees two similar large envelopes sent by the Annual Law Gala, opens his, drops everything and races into FRED's room.

He knocks and enters at the same time.

GASTON
We got it!

FRED
What?

GASTON
Invitations to the Annual Law Gala!

FRED (not taking off his headphones)
Oh, that’s great.

GASTON
Finally!
How long do you need to practice law in this town before getting invited?!! This is going to be the best party,
All the most powerful, all the most beautiful,
the most famous people will be there—
We will connect with the best of the best!

FRED
You’re overconnected as it is.

GASTON
Never enough!
And this, my small-time public defender friend, is your chance to finally get a real job,
with real cases, and real money.

FRED (finally takes off his headphones and turns to G)
Never enough, huh?

GASTON
Never! Aah, I can’t wait to tell my lovely Loreen!

FRED
Oh, right— this is the thing you need a plus one for? Then you can count me out.

GASTON
Whaaat?

FRED
I don’t have a date.

GASTON
What are you talking about?
Errr... what was her name again... Christine?

FRED
Kristin you mean? It’s over, never even started.

GASTON
And that cute paralegal in your office?

FRED
Mixing work and romance is a recipe for disaster.

GASTON
Ah? You who work eight days a week
and never go out,
where do you think you’re going to find romance?

FRED
Look, Gaston,
Not everyone can be as dashing and successful as you are.

GASTON
Oh come on, I know you and your history with the ladies!

GASTON swipes FRED's cellphone from the desk and starts clicking through it.

Let's go through these contacts!

FRED
Hey— Give me that!

FRED grabs for the phone, GASTON pulls it out of his reach.
FRED leaps out of his chair and starts chasing GASTON around the apartment.
GASTON swerves around adroitly, avoiding him while manipulating the phone.
After a scuffle, GASTON still has the phone.
FRED flops on the couch in a gesture of exhausted submission.

CONTACTS DUET

GASTON
Let's see... Annabelle?

FRED
She's sexy but so selfish. Now give that back!

F swipes again, misses.

GASTON
What about Brooke?

FRED
She’s selfless, but... uhhh.

F makes a gesture indicating she's less than sexy.

GASTON
Ohhh.... Ah, there’s Chloe!

FRED
The boss’s assistant.

GASTON
And Diana?

FRED
That’s the boss! Now can we stop this?

GASTON
Wait! Erin?

FRED
Writes inexcusably bad poetry.

GASTON
Fiona?

FRED
Has a scary knife collection.

GASTON
Who’s Gretchen?

FRED
Her idea of culture is Lulu Lemon.

GASTON
Helena?

FRED
Moved to Nebraska.

GASTON
Ooh! That’s ugly. Irina?

FRED
Hates me for no reason!

GASTON
Janet?

FRED
She's way too into me.

GASTON
Kevita?

FRED
She calls me once per season.

GASTON
Lilly?

FRED
Hey, that’s my sister!!

GASTON embarrassed
Ah! That’s right - how is she by the way? How are the wedding plans?

FRED
She’s fine,
Her fiancé’s family is very WASP-y.
At least my father is happy. Grasps for the phone
Are we done here?

GASTON
Hmmm, not yet. Marissa?

FRED
In love with herself.

GASTON
Narcissa?

FRED
Insecure!

GASTON
Olivia?

FRED
Way too young for me.

GASTON
Who’s Pam?

FRED
Older than she reports.

GASTON
What happened to Quinn?

FRED
A shopaholic.

GASTON
And Robin?

FRED
Narcoleptic.

GASTON
How ‘bout Sally?

FRED
Alcoholic!

GASTON
And Tam?

FRED
Her cat has claws.

GASTON
Who’s Ursula?

FRED
Ran off with her naturopath.

GASTON
Vivian?

FRED
Electrocuted. In her bath.

GASTON
Yikes! And Wilhelmina?

FRED sighs, suddenly misty
I should have never let that one go!

GASTON
There’s Xenia?

FRED
Don’t feel her.

GASTON
Yasmina?

FRED
Yasmina?

GASTON
Yes, Yasmina?

FRED
Our seventy-year-old cleaner??

GASTON
Oh, maybe not.
So that leaves...
Ah, Zoe and Zephyr, the twins? Two for the price of one?

FRED
STOP IT!

GASTON throws FRED his phone back in frustration.

GASTON
What’s your problem man??
You’re a straight male living in a city of women!

FRED’S ARIA

FRED
Having choice doesn’t mean I can’t be choosy.
As I wait to hear the voice that truly soothes me,
As I seek the eyes that will see deep into me,
I’m well enough alone,
Well enough alone.

I don’t need someone else who doesn’t know me,
I must be free to follow justice and truth,
I can’t waste my heart on someone who has nothing to show me.
I’m well enough alone,
Well enough alone.

I used to want to have a date
With every beautiful girl,
But lately I can’t tolerate
The slightest distraction away from my mission
To make the world a better place!

I’m well enough alone
Well enough alone.
I’m well enough alone.

GASTON huffy
Well great! You’re alone! Congratulations!

FRED
And what’s wrong with going to the party alone?
Will the dating police be there?
Sorry Sir, no arm candy, no entry?

GASTON suddenly inspired
Wait— that’s it!
We’ll find exactly what you need.
A beautiful, perfect, brilliant, luscious piece of arm candy for the night!

GASTON types on FRED’s computer and brings up paid escort websites.

FRED
Are you crazy? A prostitute?

GASTON lecturing
No, they’re called paid escorts—
and you certainly don’t have to sleep with them if you don’t want to.
Although it would be a shame not to... look at that!

GASTON is clicking through photos of scantily-clad, lasciviously-posed women.

FRED
Gaston, are you insane?
I will not participate in a transaction
That is inherently degrading to women,
All my life and my work are geared to freeing and protecting such innocent—

FRED stops abruptly as he sees PURRPLE's image come up on the screen.
GASTON notices it and clicks on her profile.
A video comes up where she sings a song.
As she sings FRED is seen melting, transfixed by the screen.
He's clearly falling in love. GASTON witnesses this transformation with eye-rolling incredulity.

PURRPLE’S ARIA

Purrple
You think you’ve seen it all?
You think you’ve known the best?
You think you’ve been with all 

the smart, the great, the good, the blessed?

You think you’re like a god?
You think you’re such a king?
Allow me to suggest I’m not impressed with that kind of thing!

Most people aren’t worthy
Of my faintest little smile,
What makes you think you’ve got what it takes
To shake with me a little while?

Aah, think you’re the best?
And that gives you the slightest right
This beauty to possess?

You think you’re like a god?
Some kind of king?
Allow me to suggest
I’m not impressed with that kind of thing!

Most people aren’t worthy
Of my faintest little smile,
What makes you think you’ve got what it takes
To shake with me a little while?

Go find someone else to play.
Unless you’re the best in every way
Unless you’ve got the looks, the goods, the glory, and the sass—
Purrple will take a pass,
Purrple will take a pass.
Find some other lass!
‘Cause Purrple will take a pass.

PURRPLE waves derisorily, which image turns into a GIF, playing constantly backward and forward.
FRED continues to gaze adoringly at the image during the subsequent exchange.

GASTON smirking
So that has you hooked, huh?

FRED
I’ve never seen such a beautiful soul.
Look, behind the facade, can you see it?
The vulnerability? The deep deep sadness?
She needs someone to see her for what she really is.
She needs someone to take care of her, forgive her, to love her.
She needs someone like me.

GASTON still incredulous, but seeing advantage in this turn of events
So you’re just like the rest of us after all,
Mr. Public defender?
Well, you want her, you can have her

For the small nightly fee of...

clicking at the computer, he trails off

FRED leaving his reverie
What is it? What’s the matter?

GASTON
Her nightly fee…

FRED
Is?

GASTON
Seventeen thousand dollars!

FRED
Seventeen thousand dollars!

GASTON
Seventeen thousand dollars!

FRED
Seventeen thousand dollars!

GASTON
Seventeen thousand bucks!

FRED
But that’s a quarter of my yearly salary!

GASTON
Well, there you have it-- she IS out of your league.

FRED
I know I need to reach her,
I have so much to say,
I need a chance to tell her,
There is another way,
She’s better than this!

GASTON
Can’t you see she’s out of your league?

FRED
I need to show her.

GASTON
Seventeen thousand dollars!

FRED
I really need to show her
She doesn’t have to live like this.

GASTON
You’ll never find a way to ever say it.

FRED
I need to find a way!

FRED rushes out, GASTON chasing behind.

Enregistré les 25 et 30 janvier 2021 aux studios The Bridge à Williamsburg, New York.

Orchestre: Metropolitan Opera Chamber Players
Violon 1: Yoon Kwon
Violon 2: Angela Shen
Alto: Milan Milisavich
Violoncelle: Joel Noyes
Piano: Jonathan Kelly
Percussion: Satoshi Takeishi

Ingénieur: Amon
;
Mixage: Tom Lazarus, ClassicSound

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