CARRIE
Music by Michael Gore Lyrics by Dean Pitchford Book by Lawrence D. Cohen
Based on the novel by Stephen King
Score © 1988 by Michael Gore & Dean Pitchford Book © 1988 by Lawrence D. Cohen
THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL DRAFT
SCENE & MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I
Overture
Prologue:
In Miss Gardner and Girls
Dear Lord Carrie White
Scene 1: The Locker Room
Dream On Girls and Carrie
Shower Room Scene Miss Gardner and Sue
Scene 2: The Street
Carrie Carrie
Scene 3: The White Home
Open Your Heart Margaret and Carrie
And Eve Was Weak Margaret and Carrie
Jesus Watches Carrie (Off-Stage)
Scene 4: Drive-In Movie Theater
Don’t Waste the Moon Sue, Chris, Tommy, Billy The Teens
Scene 5: The White Home
Evening Prayers Carrie and Margaret
Scene 6: Gym
Unsuspecting Hearts Miss Gardner and Carrie
Scene 7: The Cavalier
Do Me a Favor Sue, Chris, Tommy, Billy The Teens
Scene 8: The White Home
ACT II Scene 1: Pig Farm
Crackerjack, Out for Blood Chris, Billy and Boys
Scene 2: Gym
Dream On – Reprise Girls and Sue
White Star* Sue (*Alternate Song:
It Hurts to Be Strong) Scene 3: The White Home
I’m Not Alone Carrie
Carrie (reprise) Margaret
When There’s No One Margaret
Scene 4: The Prom
Wotta Night Students
Unsuspecting Hearts Miss Gardner and Carrie
Heaven Tommy and Full Company
Alma Mater Full Company
The Destruction Carrie
Epilogue: The White Home
Finale: Carrie Margaret
NOTE: Any lyrics in brackets [] and italicized are alternate lyrics that are up to you to decide.
ACT ONE:
PROLOGUE: THE GYMNASIUM
PERCUSSIVE RHYTHMS surround us, building into the OVERTURE. The MUSIC builds -- with intensity. The black CURTAIN rises and the LIGHTS reveal the stage full of GIRLS in the middle of an arduous
workout with MISS GARDNER: GIRLS
UP! DOWN! GO TO TOWN!
GIVE IT ALL YOU‟VE GOT! LEFT! RIGHT!
KEEP IT TIGHT!
KEEP THOSE MUSCLES HOT! ONE! TWO!
SHAME ON YOU!
OVERWEIGHT‟S A SIN! THREE! FOUR!
MAKE IT SORE!
KEEP THOSE BODIES THIN!
GARDNER ALL RIGHT LADIES, I WANNA SEE SWEAT!
I KEEP A‟ LOOKIN‟ BUT I AIN‟T SEEN IT YET! THE MORE YOU SUFFER THE TOUGHER YOU GET! SO C‟MON LADIES! WORK! WORK! WORK! WORK!
GIRLS EVERY DAY,
I JUST PRAY
EVERY MOVE I MAKE IS RIGHT WHO I KNOW,
WHERE I GO
HOW I WEAR MY HAIR COME SATURDAY NIGHT AND I WORRY,
WHAT IF ALL MY ENDS SHOULD SPLIT I WORRY,
WHAT CAN I POSSIBLY DO TO FIT IN!
GIRLS (CONT.) SMACK! RIGHT ON TRACK
WHAT COMES CLOSE TO THAT? UNTIL YOU‟VE BEEN IN
YOU AIN‟T WHERE IT‟S AT CUZ WHEN YOU‟RE OUT IT‟S JUST THE PITS YOU CAN NEVER WIN THERE‟S NO DOUBT THAT LIFE JUST DOESN‟T BEGIN UNTIL YOU‟RE
IN! OUT!
SCREAM AND SHOUT!
KEEP THOSE BUNS IN SHAPE! GRUNT! GROAN!
PANT AND MOAN!
THERE IS NO ESCAPE!
GARDNER
I‟M NOT SCREAMING TO HEAR MY OWN VOICE!
DON‟T TRY TO FIGHT ME CUZ YOU AIN‟T GOTTA CHOICE! YOU EITHER BURN OFF OR YOU TURN OFF THE BOYS! SO C‟MON LADIES! BURN! BURN! BURN! BURN!
GIRLS BOUGHT THE CLOTHES,
DID MY NOSE
GOD I‟VE FOLLOWED EVERY RULE I‟M ON TRIAL,
ALL THE WHILE
THERE‟S TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO THINK ABOUT SCHOOL
I GO CRAZY!
NOBODY CARES WHAT IT DOES TO ME! IT‟S CRAZY!
I WOULD GO OUT OF MY MIND! TO FIT IN! (IN!)
WHAT COMES CLOSE TO THAT?
UNTIL YOU‟VE BEEN (BEEN) IN (IN)
YOU AIN‟T WHERE IT‟S AT (YOU GOTTA KNOW WHERE IT‟S AT) CUZ WHEN YOU‟RE OUT (OUT)
IT‟S (IT‟S) JUST THE PITS
GIRLS (CONT.) YOU CAN NEVER WIN
THERE‟S NO DOUBT (DOUBT) THAT (THAT) LIFE JUST DOESN‟T BEGIN (DOESN‟T BEGIN) UNTIL YOU‟RE IN!
(Dance sequence – sport in musical form follows. Then):
GARDNER GIRLS
I WANT YOU TO PULL IT ALL IN LADIES! IN! OUT!
DON‟T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT! GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT! KEEP IT TIGHT! KEEP IT TIGHT! LEFT! RIGHT!
KEEP IT TIGHT!
KEEP THOSE MUSCLES HOT! HOT! HOT! SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOU! ONE! TWO! OVERWEIGHT‟S A SIN! SIN! SIN!
MAKE IT SORE! THREE FOUR!
MAKE IT SORE!
KEEP THOSE BODIES THIN! THIN! THIN! THIN!
KEEP THOSE BODIES! IN!
KEEP THOSE BODIES! IN!
KEEP THOSE BODIES THIN! IN!
KEEP THOSE BODIES! IN!
KEEP THOSE BODIES! IN!
KEEP THOSE BODIES THIN!
GIRLS GARDNER
SOMEDAY! SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY!
IF I DON‟T STAND OUT ONE BIT! I‟M TRYING TO SHOW YOU THE WAY
OH SOMEDAY! SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY!
I MAY BE NORMAL ENOUGH! THIS IS IT!
TO FIT IN! IN!
SMACK! (SMACK!) RIGHT ON TRACK SMACK! ON TRACK! THERE
WHAT COMES CLOSE TO THAT? AIN‟T NOTHING COMES CLOSE TO THAT UNTIL YOU‟VE BEEN (BEEN) IN (IN) UNTIL YOU‟VE BEEN! IN!
YOU AIN‟T WHERE IT‟S AT YOU GOTTA KNOW WHERE IT‟S AT!
CUZ WHEN YOU‟RE OUT OUT!
IT‟S JUST THE PITS IT‟S! JUST THE PITS!
THERE‟S NO DOUBT THAT DOUBT! THAT! LIFE JUST DOESN‟T BEGIN
GARDNER OH, LIFE DOESN‟T BEGIN!
LIFE JUST DOESN‟T BEGIN!
GARDNER (cont.)
NO LIFE! NO! NO! (The GIRLS form a HUMAN PYRAMID
IN! IN! IN! FAST!)
ALL UNTIL YOU‟RE IN!
(Then it COLLAPSES, scattering the GIRLS in slow-motion.):
GIRLS
(Screaming, overlapping, and echoing) Carrie! CARRIE!!! CARRIE!!!
(CARRIE WHITE emerges from the rubble. As the LIGHTS CHANGE and the other GIRLS freeze, she sings):
CARRIE FATHER ABOVE,
HEAR MY PLEA
DON‟T LET THIS HAPPEN, NOT TO ME
TAKE ME AWAY FROM ALL OF THIS AGONY DEAR LORD,
NOTHING I DO IS EVER DONE RIGHT THAT‟S ALL THAT I HEAR
OH, DEAR LORD
I‟D LIKE TO FADE INTO THE SUNLIGHT AND JUST DISAPPEAR
[MOMMA, I’M LOST
WHAT WENT WRONG?
CAN’T YOU COME HOLD ME? MAKE ME STRONG?
ISN’T THERE SOMEWHERE I CAN BELONG?
EVERYTHING’S BETTER WHEN YOU’RE NEAR ME YOU’RE BRAVE WHEN I’M NOT
OH, MOMMA,
IF I CRY OUT I HOPE YOU HEAR ME YOU’RE ALL THAT I’VE GOT]
(From the mass of GIRLS, one voice rings out.):
CHRIS HARGENSON Carrie White eats shit!
(The class bell RINGS – an end to the period and a return to reality. As the GIRLS pick themselves up and move away, overlapping rhubarb):
GIRLS Jesus, Carrie…
What a loser! Thanks, Carrie…
Wouldn‟t choose her! What a mess!
How she‟s dressed!
Shh, she‟ll hear -- Such a clod!
Look at that bod -- What a freak!
Stupid geek… Pain in the ass!
Late for class!
Everything she does is wrong! Just doesn‟t belong!
Never has -- And never will!
(And so on -- tapering off, fading now as the GIRLS exit, heading for the
Showers. After all the GIRLS have gone, CARRIE slowly follows the path of the GIRLS, making her way towards the showers as well.)
ACT ONE
SCENE 1: SHOWERS, LOCKER ROOM The GIRLS undress and enter the showers. From behind the glass
partitions, they sing of their hopes, aspirations, secret thoughts, dreams: GIRLS
(SUE) SILVER LACE WITH A BLUE GRAY BODICE (CHRIS) BROKE HIS HEART AND I‟M GLAD I DID
[CALL ME BACK BUT HE NEVER DID] (MADDY) ALMOST THREE IN THE MORNING
(SHELLY) DON‟T YOU HATE WHEN YOU HATE YOUR BODY (JAMIE) TREATING ME LIKE I‟M STILL A KID
(CATH) TOUCHING ME WITH OUT WARNING
(MARY ANN)FIXING ME UP CUZ HE‟S GOT THIS FRIEND
(ROSE) PROMISED ME, MAYBE HE‟S TAKING ME TO THE PROM (ALL) DREAM ON
DREAM ON DREAM ON DREAM ON
(NORMA) TOLD HIM „NO‟, BUT HE KEPT INSISTING I SAID „NO‟, BUT HE DOESN‟T HEAR
(KELLY/FRIEDA) I DON‟T KNOW WHY HE TRIES (SUE) TOMMY TOLD ME HE LOVES ME
(MICHELLE) YOU COULD DIE FROM HIS EYES (MARY ANN)I SAID „YES‟, BUT HE KEPT RESISTING
SO I GO, „DO YOU WANNA BEER?‟
(MADDY) WITH YOUR PARENTS AT HOME? (SUE) TOMMY TOLD ME HE LOVES ME
(CHRIS) DREAM ON
(CATH) I WAS HIS FIRST (ROSE) HE TOLD ME THAT TOO
(SHELLY) BUT HE SAYS IF I STOP
EATING I CAN LOSE 20 POUNDS BY JUNE (ALL) DREAM ON
DREAM ON DREAM ON DREAM ON
(We highlight CARRIE in the shower.) CARRIE
IN MY DREAMS NO ONE EVER HATES ME IN MY DREAMS I HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS JUST ONE FRIEND WOULD BE LOVELY
MOMMA‟S THERE AND HER SONG AWAITS ME MOMMA‟S THERE WHEN THE NIGHTMARE ENDS MOMMA SAYS THAT SHE LOVES ME
SOMETIMES I DREAM THAT I COULD BE STRONG
MAYBE I‟M WRONG BUT SOMETIMES I DREAM I BELONG [WHY’D THEY LAUGH, WHEN THEY KNOW I’M TRYING
MOMMA SAYS ‘EVERYBODY SINS’ SAINTS AND ANGELS ABOVE ME
I WOULD DIE IF THEY CAUGHT ME CRYING I WOULD LOVE IF I HAD A TWIN
SOMEONE TELL ME THEY LOVE ME
SOMETHING IN PINK WITH ORCHIDS TO WEAR
SOMEONE TO CARE AND MAYBE I’D FINALLY BELONG]
GIRLS DREAM ON (DREAM ON)
DREAM ON (DREAM ON)
(SUE) SILVER LACE WITH A BLUE GRAY BODICE
(CHRIS) SO I TOLD HIM HE DOESN‟T DESERVE ME (MADDY) BRACES SUCK, BUT I‟M ALMOST DONE
(CATH) I‟VE GOT DRESSES TO BURN (3 GIRLS) WHY ME?
(4 GIRLS) BILLY NOLAN IS SO HOT!
(MICHELLE) HE‟S GOT SO MUCH TO LEARN! (SUE/CHRIS) SO WHAT?
(KELLY) SIX FOOT THREE – (MARY ANN) AND HE‟S IN HIS FORTIES (JAMIE) HE CALLED ME – (NORMA) GET A JOB
(FRIEDA) BUT IT‟S NEVER FUN (VARIOUS GIRLS) ... FUN! FUN! FUN! (SUE) TOMMY TOLD ME HE LOVES ME
(3 GIRLS) HE ALWAYS SAYS THAT HE‟S MINE
(3 OTHERS) YOU‟RE WASTING YOUR TIME (3 MORE) WELL HE SHOULD MAKE UP HIS MIND --
(3 MORE) IF HE‟S TAKING ME TO THE PROM (3 GIRLS) HE TURNED ME DOWN
BUT HE‟LL COME AROUND
(ALL) DREAM ON (DREAM ON) DREAM ON (DREAM ON)
(CARRIE looks down at her hand: it‟s full of blood. She screams. The GIRLS come over to see what‟s wrong.)
CHRIS What‟s wrong? JAMIE Who is it? SUE It‟s Carrie! CARRIE Help me! Please help me!
CATH What did she do now?
FRIEDA She‟s hurt! SHELLY Jesus! ROSE Somebody help! CARRIE I‟m bleeding! KELLY Look! MADDY It‟s blood! MICHELLE
Oh, gawd…
CARRIE Bleeding!!!
SUE
Carrie! It‟s just your period! For God‟s sake, Carrie! You‟ve got your period!
(The laughter begins to swell in.) CHRIS
Oh hey everybody! Carrie‟s got the curse!
CARRIE (Confused) Curse?
CHRIS
(Taunting, a chant)
Praying Carrie‟s got the Curse! Carrie‟s got the curse! GIRLS
CARRIE‟S GOT THE CURSE! CARRIE‟S GOT THE CURSE! CARRIE
I‟m dying!
SUE Well clean yourself up!
CHRIS The curse! Carrie‟s got the curse!
(Led by CHRIS, the GIRLS crowd around CARRIE, encircling her, shrieking with laughter as the chanting becomes a jungle of echoes):
GIRLS THE CURSE! THE CURSE! THE CURSE!
(Seesawing through) PERIOD! PERIOD! PERIOD!
(Against which) THE CURSE! THE CURSE! THE CURSE!
(Moving into) PLUG IT UP! PLUG IT UP! PLUG IT UP!
(CARRIE runs from one to the other -- her bloody hand outstretched for help. The GIRLS are a choreographed mob:
treating it as a joke, forming a chain, pushing her back, chanting):
GIRLS CARRIE!
(Tossing her back) CARRIE!
(One final lunge) CARRIE!
(The chain breaks, revealing GARDNER. Hysterical, CARRIE reaches up and
clutches her white shorts -- leaving a bloody handprint.)
CARRIE Help me!
GARDNER Damn it!
(To calm her, GARDNER slaps CARRIE. At that same instant, there is a BRIGHT FLASH OVERHEAD as a NEO LIGHT sizzles and explodes like a FLASH OF LIGHTNING -- SPARKS FLYING DOWN from above. A long beat -- everyone freezes as it sizzles out. Then):
GARDNER Carrie?
NORMA Gawd…
MARY ANN Didja see that?!
MADDY What the hell?
SHELLY Jesus!
Omigod…
CARRIE I‟m bleeding.
GARDNER Stand up and take care of yourself.
CARRIE It … hurts.
GARDNER
C‟mon, now, Carrie, it‟s just your period. CARRIE
My period?
GARDNER Don‟t you know?
(realizing she doesn‟t know) Oh, Carrie... CARRIE My period? GARDNER Yes. Yes. (a beat) You‟re okay. You‟re safe.
KELLY What‟s the matter?
SUE Didn‟t her mother tell her?
JAMIE Not a clue. FRIEDA Looking so dumb NORMA Look at her CHRIS Just her period.
GARDNER Don‟t you all have a class?
(The GIRLS start to move off -- just CHRIS and SUE remain.)
CHRIS
Do you believe that stupid bitch never knew?! GARDNER
Okay! That‟s enough! Class dismissed! CHRIS She never knew!
GARDNER Chris!
SUE But Chris is right, Miss Gardner.
GARDNER Sue, I‟m surprised at you.
SUE
Well, her mother should have told her.
(MISS GARDNER, SUE, CHRIS and CARRIE remain: each in their separate world, lost in her private thoughts. Only
occasionally do they address each other directly.)
GARDNER I CAN‟T BELIEVE
SHE NEVER LEARNED
SHE‟S SO NAÏVE AND SO AFRAID CHRIS
Do you believe her? Bleeding like that? Ha! What a joke! She got what she deserved.
SUE HER MOTHER SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER
CHRIS What that holy-roller mother of hers?
GARDNER SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER
CHRIS
Always ranting how everyone is going straight to hell. Except her and her previous little Carrie!
SUE MY GOD WHAT HAVE WE DONE HERE? I‟D NEVER TRY TO HURT HER
CHRIS
Remember the time she got down on her knees? Praying in the cafeteria? On her goddam knees!
GARDNER THE GIRLS WENT WILD
I WAS SHOCKED THE WAY THEIR FACES BURNED CHRIS I‟D EXPECT BUT NEVER SUE
CHRIS Goddam, prayin‟ Carrie.
SUE SHE CRIED LIKE SHE WAS BROKEN
CHRIS
And that light bulb breaking – it was perfect! SUE & GARDNER SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER
CHRIS
(addressing Sue) Oh, she was squealing like a stuck pig!
SUE Chris!
CHRIS Well she was! She was!
SUE
You know, you‟re my best friend but sometimes I don‟t understand you! CHRIS
SUE C‟mon, think of Carrie.
CHRIS Oh, my heart bleeds for her.
GARDNER Carrie, go home for the rest of the day.
SUE Why do we always pick on her?
CHRIS Because she‟s different? I don‟t know!
SUE Well maybe she needs help!
CHRIS You can say that again!
SUE
Chris, you‟ve got Billy. I‟ve got Tommy. Carrie has no one. CHRIS
Sure she does, she‟s got her mother. SUE Well maybe we could try helping her.
(As SUE begins exiting, CHRIS calls out after her):
CHRIS You know what Shelly calls her?
SUE Chris, please.
GARDNER It‟ll be alright, Carrie...
CHRIS
Shelly calls her Scary White! I just call her stupid bitch! SUE
(leaving) That‟s enough Chris!
GARDNER You‟ll see, trust me...
CHRIS Scary White! Do you love it!
GARDNER
(leaving too) I‟ll make it right, I promise.
CHRIS Scary White! Scary White!
(And now on tape, pure CACOPHONY
surrounds CARRIE as a catalog of fears and nightmares, the Girls‟ chants and calls – and through them all, Chris‟s voice.)
CHRIS Scary White! Scary White! Scary White!
CARRIE That‟s not my name! That‟s not my name!
(singing) THAT‟S NOT MY NAME!
DOESN‟T ANYBODY EVER GET IT RIGHT? CARRIE!
WHY DON‟T THEY REMEMBER I AM CARRIE WHITE? CARRIE!
IS IT ANY HARDER TO SAY THEN GODDAM TOAD AND CRAZY
AND WEIRDO AND DUMB BITCH
AND DOESN‟T ANYBODY THINK THAT I CAN HEAR? I HEAR!
ESPECIALLY WHEN I GOT THEM SCREAMING IN MY EAR I HEAR!
WHEN DID EVERYBODY DECIDE I‟M THE ONE WHO‟S THE FLOP?
IF I HAD A WISH, GOD I‟D WISH THEY‟D STOP! I WISH THEY‟D STOP.
(Light change now, taking us to:)
ACT ONE
SCENE 2: THE STREET She continues:
CARRIE I WILL NOT CRY, I‟M OKAY
I TRY SO HARD TO PLAY IT THERE WAY WHY DO THEY FIND IT SO HARD TO SAY CARRIE
WHY DO THEY ALWAYS TREAT ME SO BAD THEY ALL KNOW MY NAME
IT‟S CARRIE
I DON‟T KNOW WHY THEY ALL GET SO MAD IT‟S ALWAYS THE SAME
WHAT‟S GOING ON DEEP IN ME
THERE‟S SOMEONE NEW WHERE I USED TO BE ONE OF THESE DAYS, THEY‟RE GONNA SEE CARRIE!
SOMETIMES THEIR HATRED IS OUT OF CONTROL GOD HOW THEY HURT ME
MOMMA SAYS SUFFERING IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL BUT THEY HURT ME
AND IF I COULD I‟D BRING THEM ALL DOWN TO THEIR KNEES
CARRIE! CARRIE! CARRIE…
I WISH I WAS BLESSED
WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NOT LIKE THE REST I‟D CLOSE MY EYES
AND SUDDENLY HE‟D BE THERE HANDSOME AND WISE
AND PROBABLY A PRINCE WHO COULD DANCE ON AIR AND HE‟D ASK ME OUT EVERY NIGHT
I‟D SAY ALL RIGHT
AFTER A WHILE, HE‟D ASK ME TO WEAR HIS RING MOMMA WOULD SMILE
AND GIVE US HER BLESSINGS FOR EVERYTHING AND THE WORLD WOULD SEE THIS IS LOVE
AND THEN EVERYONE WOULD BE JEALOUS OF CARRIE! CARRIE (cont.)
THEN ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO SCREAM NIGHT AND DAY „POOR PRAYING CARRIE‟
THEY‟D SEE ME WITH HIM AND THEY MIGHT EVEN SAY „LOOK IT‟S CARRIE‟ IT‟S CARRIE!
AND FINALLY
I‟D HEAR THAT WORD SOUNDING SO SWEET THOUSANDS FO VOICE FOREVER REPEATING CARRIE! CARRIE!
CARRIE! I AM THE SOUND OF DISTANT THUNDER! THE COLOR OR FLAME! I‟M CARRIE!
I AM A SONG OF ENDLESS WONDER THAT NO ONE WILL CLAIM
BUT SOMEDAY, OH MY SOMEDAY SOMEONE WILL KNOW MY NAME!!!
(TOMMY ROSS and the BOYS enter playing basketball, and discussing the plan for the night. CARRIE, caught in the
middle, watches them.) GARY
Hey, Tommy. You coming to the drive in, tonight? TOMMY
KEVIN Hey man, are you bringing Sue?
TOMMY What do you think?
KEVIN Hey! Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Ross!
DAVID She‟s got you man!
MATTHEW Hey, it‟s praying Carrie!
ERIC
Gee, I wonder who‟s taking her to the drive in? KENNY
Billy Nolan!
JOEY No! Her mother!
(The BOYS laugh. CARRIE turns away in humiliation. TOMMY looks at her in
guilt. He does not laugh at the remarks by his friends and so steps in.)
TOMMY
Okay, guys. That‟s enough. Leave her alone. MARK
Come on guys, let‟s go.
(The BOYS exit offstage. TOMMY lingers behind. He approaches CARRIE.)
TOMMY You okay? All right.
(TOMMY exits the way the others did. CARRIE watches him leave. She then continues on her way home. The MUSIC changes -- beautiful, hymn like now as we go to):
ACT ONE
SCENE 3: THE WHITE BUNGALOW
We reveal the White living room –
dominated by a large CRUCIFIX of Jesus. And then we find MARGARET WHITE. She sings with the purity, ecstasy and reverie-like devotion of a true believer.
MARGARET OPEN YOUR HEART
LET JESUS IN OPEN YOUR HEART LET JESUS IN
LORD, YOU HAVE FOUND ME A-WONDERING IN THE DARKNESS LIGHT MY WAY WITH YOUR TRUE FAITH
AND I‟LL SING WITH JOY OF MY NEW FAITH
LORD TAKE ME GENTLY AND LEAD ME TO YOUR PASTURES TO YOUR HANDS I SURRENDER
IN THE HOPE OF LOVE EVER TENDER
SHOW ME THE WAY
I KNOW THE JOURNEY IS FRAUGHT WITH PAIN AND DANGER I SUSTAIN PERSECUTION IN THE HOPE OF YOUR ABSOLUTION JESUS POSSESS ME: SWEET SAVIOR BE MY SHEPARD
BLESS EACH ENDEAVOR
TILL I FINALLY JOIN YOU FOREVER CARRIE Hello, Momma.
MARGARET Carietta, come pray with me.
CARRIE (quietly) OPEN YOUR HEART
MARGARET Lift up your voice, Carietta.
LET JESUS IN
CARRIE OPEN YOUR HEART
BOTH (counterpart) LET JESUS IN
LORD I WILL SEE CHOIRS OF SAINTS AND ANGELS SINGING FINALLY FREE FROM TEMPTATION
AND THE FLAMES OF HELL‟S DEVASTATION
THEN HE WILL TAKE ME AND WASH ME IN THE RIVER I WILL MAKE CELEBRATION
IN THE JOY OF FINAL THE LIGHT OF FINAL
THE FIRE OF FINAL SALVATION CARRIE I love you, Momma.
MARGARET I love you, Carietta.
CARRIE
(slowly, tentatively)
MARGARET
Terrible things are the Lord‟s way of testing us, Carrie. CARRIE
I know. But the other girls --
MARGARET You‟re not like the other girls.
CARRIE
But I am, Momma. I am! I never thought so, but -- MARGARET
No, you‟re not, Carrie. You are special. CARRIE You‟re not listening to me, Momma.
MARGARET I‟ve heard all I want to hear.
CARRIE
Momma, in the showers, the other girls -- MARGARET
You are forbidden to shower with the other girls. CARRIE
I know but, Momma --
MARGARET (softly, implacable) Forbidden! CARRIE I started to bleed! MARGARET
(A long beat, then) What...?
CARRIE
I started to bleed and the others girls laughed at me. And they called me names and they pushed me and I fell and –
What else?
CARRIE
Miss Gardner, Miss Gardner came in and she slapped me. MARGARET
What else?
CARRIE
And there was a flash and a bang and a light bulb broke. They got me dressed and then --
(FULL STOP. Silence. Then): MARGARET
God! Oh God!
CARRIE Momma, what is it?
(No answer) Why are you looking at me like that?
(Still no reply) Momma, you‟re frightening me.
MARGARET The Curse of Blood! The Curse of Power!
CARRIE Momma?
MARGARET
Bow your head and pray. „And God made Eve from the rib of Adam. And Eve was weak and loosed the raven on the world.‟
CARRIE Momma, don‟t shut me out!
MARGARET
„And the raven was called Sin. And the first Sin was the Sin of Lust. The Lord visited Eve with a Curse, and the Curse, was the Curse of Blood.‟
(MARGARET begins to sing while CARRIE entreats her.)
MARGARET CARRIE
AND GOD MADE EVE FROM ADAM‟S RIB
AND EVE WAS WEAK Why didn‟t you tell me? AND EVE WAS WEAK
AND GOD MADE EVE TO BEAR THE CURSE It‟s not a curse, Momma! THE CURSE OF BLOOD It‟s something all girls THE CURSE OF BLOOD go through.
THE CURSE OF BLOOD You should have told me!
(MARGARET‟s hand flashes down and
strikes CARRIE; the MUSIC kicks in, the VAMP plays through, she instructs
CARRIE.) MARGARET
Get to the cellar and pray, woman! Pray to Heaven for your wicked soul!
CARRIE Momma! I‟m changing!
MARGARET CARRIE
THE RAVEN CAME TO PLAGUE THE WORLD
ITS NAME WAS SIN IT‟S NOT A SIN
MARGARET (cont.) CARRIE (cont.)
ITS NAME WAS SIN OH, MOMMA
ITS NAME WAS SIN, BEGIN! IT‟S NOT A SIN! AND LUST WAS HOW THE SIN BEGAN
THE SIN WAS MAN I DON‟T UNDERSTAND
Well understand! NO!
THE SIN WAS MAN WHAT HAVE I DONE
GOD HAS SEEN YOUR SINNING! JUST BEGINNING!
PRAY FOR YOUR SALVATION! FROM DAMNATION!
PRAY OR
HE WILL BURN YOU! HE WILL BURN YOU!
THE SEED CONVEYS THE POWER MOMMA,
AND IT‟S COME AGAIN WHAT IS THIS SEED?
IT‟S COME AGAIN DON‟T YOU CARE
IT‟S COME AGAIN! THAT I STARTED TO BLEED UNTIL THE SEED IS CRUSHED
THE POWER NEVER ENDS IT NEVER ENDS
IT NEVER ENDS
MOMMA, I WAS SO SCARED AND THEY ALL STARED I THOUGHT I WAS DYING! I STARTED CRYING!
MOMMA!
YOU‟LL BECOME SATAN‟S BRIDE PLEASE DON‟T HURT ME! PRAY FOR MERCY, GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES
YOU‟VE GOT JEZEBEL‟S PRIDE PLEASE DON‟T HURT ME! AND YOUR SOUL IS A WHOLE OF DISEASE
I CAN SEE YOU INSIDE DON‟T BELIEVE WITH YOUR EYES I CAN SEE HOW YOU LIED BUT I NEVER TOLD LIES!
THAT‟S HOW LUCIFER FELL! MOMMA HOW COULD I KNOW! AND YOU‟RE HEADED FOR HELL
I WON‟T LET YOU GO!!! MOMMA LET ME GO!!!
(MARGARET opens the cellar door and drags CARRIE toward and down into the trap door.)
MARGARET CARRIE
HEAVEN HATES A SINNER! I‟M NOT A SINNER [SATAN LOVES A SINNER!]
HATES [LOVES] NOT A SINNER!
SAVE YOUR SOUL FROM BURNING! MOMMA, STOP, THAT‟S BURNING! GOD SHE‟S BURNING! STOP IT‟S BURNING!
PRAY OR MOMMA!
HE WILL BURN YOU NO! NO! PLEASE! MOMMA! HE WILL BURN YOU NO! PLEASE! MOMMA! NO!
(MARGARET manages to whirl CARRIE into the small cellar space below, locking the door on top of her. As she does so, the CRUCIFIX begins to bleed. Then): MARGARET
AND GOD MADE EVE FROM ADAM‟S RIB AND EVE WAS WEAK
AND EVE WAS WEAK AND I WAS WEAK
I PRAYED THIS DAY WOULD NEVER COME I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN NOW I‟M ALONE
I‟M SO AFRAID
OH, LORD I‟VE SEE THIS POWER BEFORE! THE FLESH IS WEAK AND I IMPLORE! FATHER DON‟T FORSAKE HER
FATHER TAKE HER!
CLEANSE AND PURIFY HER! WITH THE FIRE!
AND THE POWER! AND THE GLORY!
FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER! AMEN!!!!!!!!
(Blackout. LIGHTS come up slowly to reveal SUE, waiting for TOMMY. While she waits, MISS GARDNER passes by.) SUE
Miss Gardner. About what happened with Carrie. GARDNER
Yes?
SUE
I just wanted you to know I didn‟t mean anything by it. GARDNER
That doesn‟t make it right, Sue. Not with me and not with Carrie. Have you ever stop to think that maybe Carrie White has feelings? Have any of us ever stopped to think?
(GARDNER exits, leaving SUE alone. In an eerie echo, we hear CARRIE
offstage.) CARRIE (O.S.) JESUS WATCHES FROM THE WALL
BUT HIS FACE IS COLD AS STONE IF HE LOVES ME
WHY DO I FEEL SO ALL ALONE?
(And then, TOMMY‟s voice.) TOMMY (O.S.)
C‟mon, Sue! We‟re gonna be late for the drive-in! SUE
I‟m coming!
(She runs off.)
ACT ONE
SCENE 4: THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
The latest teen horror film is being projected to an audience of what at first appears to be empty cars – the KIDS in them, making out like crazy, in various stages of undress. Then, an angry BILLY NOLAN shoots into view.
BILLY
HEY, BABY, WHAT‟S THE DEAL?
I‟M JUST TRYING TO SHOW YOU HOW I FEEL? WHY DID WE COME HERE IF YOU‟RE GONNA FIGHT?
CHRIS
ME FIGHT?
THAT‟S RIGHT, THAT‟S RIGHT!
CHRIS
SURE, SCREW ROMANCE!
YOU‟RE JUST TRYING TO GET INTO MY PANTS HOW CAN YOU RUIN SUCH A PERFECT NIGHT?
BILLY OH, RIGHT CHRIS YOU MIGHT BILLY NOT QUITE CHRIS
SEE? BOYS LIKE YOU
YOU DON‟T EVEN CARE FOR LOVE
BILLY
ME?! THAT‟S NOT TRUE I NEVER GET ENOUGH
(TOMMY and SUE pop up into view in the next car):
SUE
TOMMY WON‟T YOU TAKE ME HOME
I THINK THAT I WOULD RATHER BE ALONE
I‟VE STILL GOT HOMEWORK AND IT‟S TEN O‟CLOCK
TOMMY OH GREAT! SUE IT‟S LATE! TOMMY NOW WAIT!
HEY, BABY DON‟T GET MAD
I DON‟T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL BAD
BUT YOU SHOULDN‟T TREAT ME LIKE I‟M JUST A JOCK!
SUE
TOMMY JUST THEN
SUE
OH MEN!
SEE! BOYS LIKE YOU
NEVER THINK OF SOMEONE ELSE
TOMMY
ME? THAT‟S NOT TRUE I‟M JUST TRYING TO HELP
SO BABY DON‟T WASTE THE MOON NOW THAT THE NIGHT IS OURS OH DON‟T, BABY DON‟T
WASTE THE MOON AND THE STARS
TOMMY
Is it something I did?
SUE
It‟s not you, it‟s Carrie.
TOMMY
Praying Carrie?
SUE
Don‟t call her that.
TOMMY
That thing in the shower, teasing Carrie White?
SUE
We were hurting her.
TOMMY
Oh, c‟mon it was a joke.
SUE
It wasn‟t and I was apart of it.
TOMMY
Well if you are gonna be sorry, why don‟t you show me how sorry you really are.
SUE
(CHRIS and BILLY reappear.)
CHRIS
That goddam Scary White!
BILLY
Who the hell is Scary White?
CHRIS
YOU DON‟T HEAR A WORD I SAY
MAYBE CUZ YOUR BRAIN GETS IN THE WAY
I THINK YOU‟RE THE VICTIM OF AN ACTIVE GLAND
BILLY OH, YEAH? CHRIS OH YEAH! BILLY OH YEAH?
YOU! WHAT A TWISTED MIND!
DON‟T YOU KNOW THAT BOYS ARE GOING BLIND?
CUZ THEY DON‟T HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN LEND A HAND
CHRIS THAT‟S SMART! BILLY MY HEART CHRIS DON‟T START!
SEE! BOYS LIKE YOU!
WHAM AND BAM! AND THANK YOU MA‟AM
BILLY
ME? THAT‟S NOT TRUE WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?
SO BABY DON‟T WASTE THE MOON NOW THAT THE NIGHT IS OURS! OH, DON‟T BABY DON‟T
CHRIS Oh, but she‟s such a pig!
BILLY
I think you are so hot!
CHRIS
Seventeen years old and not a clue!
BILLY
C‟mon, Chris, this Carrie stuff is driving me crazy!
CHRIS
Oh, Billy! What a scream!
BILLY
Oh baby, don‟t talk right now!
CHRIS
I‟m trying to talk about Scary White!
BILLY
Who the hell is Scary White?
BOYS
GEE, WHAT‟D I DO?
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO MEAN?
GIRLS
SEE, BOYS LIKE YOU!
WE SHOULD JUST WATCH THE SCREEN!
ALL GIRLS
DON‟T YOU TREAT ME LIKE SOME LITTLE TOY
OR I‟M JUST GONNA TREAT YOU LIKE ONE OF THE BOYS
ALL BOYS
WELL YOU DON‟T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE A MAN GODDAM! I‟M DOING THE BEST THAT I CAN!
(DANCE BREAK here; then we go back into):
ALL
DON‟T WASTE THE MOON!
NOW THAT THE NIGHT IT OURS! OH, DON‟T BABY DON‟T
GIRLS ALL WE EVER DO IS PARK
THEN FOR HOURS YOU GROPE ME IN THE DARK WE WOULD GO BOWLING IF YOU REALLY CARED YOU DON‟T! BOYS I DO! GIRLS YOU DON‟T! BOYS
„KAY! BE THAT WAY!
GOOD GIRLS GO TO HEAVEN SO THEY SAY BUT BAD GIRLS, THEY GO EVERYWHERE
GIRLS NO FAIR! BOYS SO THERE! GIRLS I SWEAR!
SEE, BOYS LIKE YOU!
YOU DON‟T EVEN CARE FOR LOVE!
BOYS
ME? THAT‟S NOT TRUE I NEVER GET ENOUGH!
GIRLS BOYS
SEE! BOYS LIKE YOU! DON‟T WASTE THE MOON
YOU CAN BARK BUT YOU WON‟T BITE NOW THAT THE NIGHT IS OURS ME! I‟LL COME THROUGH OH, DON‟T, BABY DON‟T
IF YOU JUST TREAT ME RIGHT WASTE THE MOON AND HE STARS ALL
(A cappella) DON‟T WASTE THE MOON!
NOW THAT THE NIGHT IS OURS! OH DON‟T, BABY DON‟T
WASTE THE MOON AND THE STARS!
(Music in) DON‟T WASTE THE MOON!
OH, DON‟T, BABY DON‟T
WASTE THE MOON AND THE STARS!
(The song comes to an end. As the scene shifts, the KIDS sing the final verse of “Don‟t Waste the Moon” as they dance offstage. Then):
ACT ONE
SCENE 5: THE WHITE BUNGALOW
Absolute stillness – just candles illuminating the crucifix of Jesus; CARRIE is in the small cellar space where MARGARET has locked her.
CARRIE JESUS WATCHES FROM THE WALL BUT HIS FACE IS COLD AS STONE IF HE LOVES ME
ALONE?
BABY SAVIOR MEEK AND MILD
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH MY PRAYERS? IF YOU HEAR ME
WHY DO I FEEL THAT NO ONE CARES? THERE‟S A MOVEMENT IN MY HEAD CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE? SOMETHING‟S SHIFTING
SOMETHING‟S LIFTING WHY DO I FEEL
IT‟S SOMETHING STRANGE?
(MARGARET stands in the doorway, opposite the figure of Christ.) MARGARET
FATHER ALMIGHTY, SHE‟S ONLY A CHILD BUT THE WOMAN IS WAKING INSIDE HER
SHE WILL BE LOST IF HER PASSION RUNS WILD SO I CAN‟T LET HER STUMBLE AND FALL
AS YOU HELPED YOUR CHILD DIVINE
GIVE ME THE STRENGTH THE TO HELP MINE CARRIE
MOMMA SEES INSIDE MY SOUL BUT HER FACE IS COLD AS STONE IF SHE LOVES ME
WHY DO I FEEL SO ALL ALONE?
MARGARET You can go to bed now, Carietta.
CARRIE Yes, Momma.
MARGARET You must forget what happened today.
CARRIE Yes, Momma.
MARGARET The Lord will protect us.
Yes, Momma.
MARGARET God will forgive us.
CARRIE Yes, Momma.
MARGARET Say your prayers.
(CARRIE moves over to MARGARET and kneels to pray.)
CARRIE NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP
PRAY THE LORD MY SOUL TO KEEP IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE
PRAY THE LORD MY SOUL TO TAKE
(She stands to leave, but MARGARET grabs her hand.)
MARGARET I NEVER WANTED TO CAUSE YOU SUCH PAIN BUT THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN MY LIFE IS SO FRIGHTENING
MAYBE I DO THINGS THAT I CAN‟T EXPLAIN BUT MY FEELINGS FOR YOU NEVER CHANGE [I DO THE BEST I CAN UNDER THIS STRAIN
BUT I’M LEARNING AS I GO ALONG]
YOU ARE STILL MY PRECIOUS ONE CAN YOU FORGIVE
WHAT I‟VE DONE?
===============================BOTH TOGETHER=============================== MARGARET
I WAS WRONG
AND, IT HURTS ME TO HAVE TO HURT YOU I‟D RATHER DIE THAN SEE YOU SUFFER
ONE DAY YOU‟LL BLESS ME FOR LIGHTING THE WAY CAN YOU LOOK INSIDE YOUR HEART?
THAT‟S WHERE FORGIVENESS MUST STAR AFTER ALL
WE HAVE NO ONE EXCEPT EACH OTHER
WHEN THEY BETRAY YOU I‟LL ALWAYS BE HERE YOU‟RE THE REASON I‟M ALIVE
YOU‟RE THE ONLY REASON I SURVIVE
IN MY LIFE THERE‟S ONLY ONE THING TRUE I LOVE YOU
CARRIE
MOMMA YOU DON‟T NEED FORGIVENESS FROM ME OH I KNOW THAT YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO I WANT TO DRY ALL THE TEARS SO YOU‟LL SEE THAT I‟M SORRY FOR LETTING YOU DOWN
WON‟T YOU BLESS ME NOW
CAN YOU LOOK INSIDE YOUR HEART? OH, MOMMA
SHOW ME THE MERCY THAT YOU‟VE ALWAYS SHOWN I DEPEND ON YOUR GOODNESS TO GUIDE ME
I‟M SO AFRAID THAT YOU‟LL LEAVE ME ALONE AND I‟D DIE IF YOU PUSHED ME AWAY
PROMISE YOU‟LL BE HERE
YOU‟RE THE REASON I‟M ALIVE YOU‟RE MY SURVIVAL
IN MY LIFE THERE‟S ONLY ONE THING TRUE I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
===============================END TOGETHER=============================== (They embrace and the enormity of their
love is so overwhelming for CARRIE that her powers spill over: the flames of the candles literally rise, growing in height. Blackout.
The LIGHTS come up to reveal the BOYS in discussion about the Prom. BILLY NOLAN tags, behind them, separate.)
GARY
You got a date for the prom?
KEVIN Sure, I‟ve got Maddy.
DAVID Cath said yes.
MATTHEW Tommy‟s bringing Sue.
ERIC What else is new?
KENNY What about Chris?
JOEY She hasn‟t decided yet.
MARK She can take her pick.
CHRIS
I heard she‟s taking Billy Nolan to the prom. SCOTT
Her father must‟ve croaked.
GARY Billy Nolan? KEVIN To the prom? DAVID Jesus.
(The BOYS exit, BILLY follows behind them, hearing everything they said. Even he himself feels almost like an outcast among his peers. Then):
ACT ONE
SCENE 6: THE GYMNASIUM
Same as ACT I, Scene 1: GIRLS in their gym outfits, GARDNER striding in front of them.
GARDNER
GIRLS What?!?!
GARDNER
Each and every one of you is going to tell Carrie you‟re sorry for what you did. If you don‟t, you‟re out of the prom.
CHRIS You‟re joking.
GARDNER Try me.
(She exits to get CARRIE.) CHRIS
Oh, that goddam Carrie!
SUE Let it go, Chris!
CHRIS Like hell I will!
SUE What did she do to you?
CHRIS
Hey, hey -- tell me if I‟m wrong, but who was that in there with the rest of us?
SUE Me. Me. But I‟m sorry.
CHRIS Oh, you‟re sorry.
SUE Yeah.
CHRIS Hey, everyone, Sue‟s sorry.
(Chant.) SUSIE‟S SORRY!
SUSIE‟S SORRY! SUSIE‟S SORRY!
GIRLS SUSIE‟S SORRY!
SUSIE‟S SORRY! SUSIE‟S SORRY!
(The GIRLS giggle, just as GARDNER reenters with CARRIE.)
GARDNER
Okay, class. You have something to say to Carrie? CARRIE
Miss Gardner, please.
GARDNER Who‟s going to be first?
SUE Carrie…about the other day…I‟m sorry.
GARDNER Next. FRIEDA (A glance at Sue) Sorry, Carrie. GARDNER (to Norma) Your turn. NORMA
(a glance at Chris; mutters) Sorry.
GARDNER
(Addressing them all) Girls.
(All the GIRLS -- minus CHRIS -- join together, echoing.)
SHELLY Sorry, Carrie…
MADDY Sorry, Carrie…
JAMIE Sorry, Carrie… CATH Carrie, sorry… MICHELLE Sorry, okay? MARY ANN Sorry. KELLY Sorry, Carrie. ROSE I‟m very sorry, Carrie.
(Long beat. Then): GARDNER
Chris.
(Chris says nothing) CHRIS.
CARRIE Please, it‟s okay.
GARDNER We‟re waiting, Chris.
(Chris mutters something unintelligible) What?! Speak up!
CHRIS Carrie, I –
CARRIE You don‟t have to.
GARDNER We‟re still waiting.
CHRIS Carrie White eats shits!
(The GIRLS, except SUE, react with giggles and nervous laughter. Over which):
GARDNER That‟s it, Chris! You‟re out of the prom!
CHRIS What the hell did you say?
GARDNER You heard me. You are out of the prom.
CHRIS
You can‟t get away with this, you bitch!
(GARDNER throws CHRIS to the floor, hard.)
CHRIS
I‟ll talk to my Daddy and he‟ll get you fired for this! GARDNER
Class. Dismissed. Move it!
CHRIS
Hey! She can‟t get away with this! If we stick together -- (They‟re all leaving)
Norma...? Frieda...? Jamie? Sue? SUE Shut up, Chris. Just shut up.
CHRIS You‟re going to be sorry.
(Striding past Gardner; Past Carrie as well) They‟re gonna be sorry.
(CHRIS runs off. Just GARDNER and CARRIE now.)
GARDNER Shh...Carrie, shh, it‟s okay.
They laughed at me. They‟ve always laughed at me. Why do they always laugh?
GARDNER
Carrie, I‟m sorry. I didn‟t think Chris would go this far. CARRIE
Oh, Miss Gardner, you can‟t. You just can‟t! GARDNER
Don‟t worry, Carrie, she won‟t hurt you. CARRIE
No, you don‟t understand. You‟ve just got to let her go. You‟ve just got to.
GARDNER What do you mean?
CARRIE The prom. It‟s very important to Chris.
GARDNER And what‟s right is important to me.
CARRIE But the prom – the Prom is everything.
(halting, then)
It‟s the one night everyone gets all dressed up and they look beautiful...all starry and grown up...and they dance with each other...and, oh, it‟s like a dream. The most perfect dream of all!
GARDNER Who are you going with?
CARRIE Oh, me? I‟m not going.
GARDNER
Sure you are. You just said everyone‟s going to be there. CARRIE
I‟m different.
GARDNER Not that different.
CARRIE I am!
GARDNER Everybody feels that way.
CARRIE No they don‟t. They‟ve all got someone.
GARDNER And so will you. You never know.
CARRIE No.
GARDNER
Oh, come on! I‟ll tell you what. Let‟s pretend. CARRIE
Oh, Miss Gardner.
GARDNER
(overriding)
-- Pretend -- that a certain young Prince Charming comes up to you. CARRIE
He wouldn‟t.
GARDNER
So there is someone. And this really cute guy. He‟s probably really shy, too. And he says „Carrie, will you be my date for the prom?‟
(A long pause; CARRIE almost caught up in the fantasy)
Well what would you say?
CARRIE No.
GARDNER Carrie! Why not?
CARRIE I‟m not pretty.
GARDNER Yes you are. That‟s a pretty girl.
SO MANY YEARS
YOU CRIED YOUR TEARS ALONE
FRIGHTENED THAT LIFE MIGHT PASS YOU BY THEN HE APPEARS
SOMEONE WHO CARES FOR YOU
THIS IS NO TIME TO QUESTION WHY
LOVE CAN FIND YOU WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT FUNNY HOW TWO LIVES CONNECT
THAT‟S HOW IT STARTS TWO UNSUSPECTING HEARTS
LET SOMEONE IN [LET YOURSELF GO] GIVE SOMEONE HALF A CHANCE
MAYBE HE‟S WAITING JUST FOR YOU ONCE YOU BEGIN [YOU NEVER KNOW] IT CAN BE PARADISE
MAYBE YOUR DREAMS JUST MIGHT COME TRUE BUT YOU‟LL NEVER KNOW HOW LOVE MIGHT GROW ONCE YOU‟VE SHARED YOUR FIRST HELLO
THAT‟S HOW IT STARTS TWO UNSUSPECTING HEARTS
CARRIE Oh, I don‟t think so, Miss Gardner.
GARDNER
But you‟ll never know if you don‟t take the chance. Listen to me. You have beautiful eyes.
CARRIE Me?
GARDNER
Yes, you, silly, you! And your lips, with the right shade of lipstick…
CARRIE Lipstick? But my mother…
GARDNER
Shh…if you fix your hair up and with the right dress, oh, Carrie, it could be wonderful!
IN A WORLD WHERE NOTHING‟S SURE AND NOTHING‟S EVER GUARANTEED YOU SHOULD TRUST THE WAY YOU FEEL THAT‟S THE ONLY THING THAT‟S REAL
IT‟S LIKE MAGIC HOW YOUR SPIRITS SOARS ONCE YOU FEEL HIS HAND IN YOURS
THAT‟S HOW IT STARTS TWO UNSUSPECTING HEARTS!
(DANCE BREAK -- as GARDNER moves CARRIE into the spell. Then back into):
GARDNER IN A WORLD WHERE NOTHING‟S SURE AND NOTHING‟S EVER GUARANTEED YOU SHOULD TRUST THE WAY YOU FEEL THAT‟S THE ONLY THING THAT‟S REAL
IT‟S LIKE MAGIC HOW YOUR SPIRITS SOARS ONCE YOU FEEL HIS HAND IN YOURS
THAT‟S HOW IT STARTS TWO UNSUSPECTING HEARTS!
CARRIE
IT‟S LIKE MAGIC HOW YOUR SPIRITS SOARS BOTH
ONCE YOU FEEL HIS HAND IN YOURS GARDNER THAT‟S HOW IT STARTS
CARRIE THAT‟S HOW IT STARTS
GARDNER & CARRIE TWO UNSUSPECTING HEARTS!
ACT ONE
SCENE 7: THE CAVALIER
A nightspot where the KIDS hang out; TOMMY comes upon a pensive SUE.
SUE
TOMMY LATELY, I‟VE JUST NOT BEEN FEELING RIGHT
I‟M SO ASHAMED AT HOW WE‟VE ALL BE TREATING CARRIE WHITE AM I CRAZY; AM I GETTING TOO UPSET?
I NEVER DREAMED OF ASKING BUT YOU NEVER FAILED ME YET DO ME A FAVOR…
(CHRIS zeroes in on BILLY.)
CHRIS
Oh Billy…
BILLY
What now, Chris?
CHRIS
I‟ve got something I want you to do for me.
BILLY
Why don‟t you go ask your Daddy?
CHRIS
MY DADDY CAN BUY ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WON‟T
MY DADDY SUPPLIES ME WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU DON‟T THERE‟S NOTHING THAT DADDY EVERY DENIES ME
THERE‟S JUST ONE WAY THAT DADDY DOESN‟T SATISFY ME ONLY YOU CAN DO IT
ONLY YOU CAN REALLY GET DOWN TO IT THIS GIRL IS DESPERATE
C‟MON AND SAVE HER BABY, BABY, BABY, BABY DO ME A FAVOR, OH BABY DO ME A FAVOR, SAY MAYBE DO ME A FAVOR, OBEY ME DO ME A FAVOR, UH-HUH
TOMMY
C‟MON! NOTHING‟S TOO GOOD FOR MY GIRL SUE WHAT‟S WRONG? ASK ME FOR ANYTHING I‟LL DO
MY BEST! I‟VE BEEN SO WORRIED CUZ YOU‟RE TOO DEPRESSED I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YOU
SUE TOMMY
DO ME A FAVOR YOU KNOW,
I ONLY WANT YOU TO FEEL FREE
DO ME A FAVOR LET GO,
I CAN ASSURE YOU IT‟LL BE NO SWEAT
DO ME A FAVOR ANYTHING YOU
CAN WANT FROM ME YOU‟LL GET
DO ME A FAVOR YOU SAY
THE WORD AND I‟LL AGREE
GIRLS BOYS
DO ME A FAVOR, OH BABY WHAT NOW?
DO ME A FAVOR, SAY MAYBE WHAT‟S ON YOUR MIND? DO ME A FAVOR, OBEY ME SO NOW YOU NEED ME? DO ME A FAVOR, UH-HUH ... UH-HUH
CHRIS
THERE‟S SOMETHING THAT CARRIE WHITE WILL JUST HAVE TO LEARN IF SHE PLAYS WITH FIRE THEN SHE‟S GONNA GET BURNED
I WANT HER TO PAY UP FOR ALL THAT SHE‟S COST ME
AND MAKE HER GOOD AND SORRY THAT SHE EVERY CROSSED ME YOU‟VE GOT TO HELP ME!!
SUE
IF YOU HELP ME
I COULD EVEN UP THIS DEBT
AND WE CAN ALL GIVE CARRIE WHITE A NIGHT SHE WON‟T FORGET
BILLY
YOU ALWAYS AMAZE ME WITH THE WAY THAT YOU THINK IF I WAS YOUR DADDY I WOULD BUY YOU A SHRINK BUT OKAY, I‟LL DO IT
YOU‟RE MY INSPIRATION
JUST MAKE SURE YOU SHOW ME YOUR APPRECIATION
CHRIS & SUE BILLY & TOMMY ONLY YOU CAN DO IT YOU KNOW I CAN DO IT ONLY YOU CAN REALLY
THIS GIRL IS DESPERATE YEAH… C‟MON AND SAVE HER YEAH…
CHRIS & SUE (cont.) BILLY & TOMMY
BABY, BABY, BABY, BABY,
BABY, BABY, DO ME A FAVOR BABY, BABY,
SUE
I‟VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HAPPY SHE WOULD BE
IF ONLY YOU‟D TAKE CARRIE TO THE PROM INSTEAD ON ME TOMMY
DO WHAT? WHO DO YOU WANT TO INVITE?
I THOUGHT YOU‟D BE WITH ME ON FRIDAY NIGHT
BUT WHOA, I KNOW YOU‟RE TRYING TO DO WHAT‟S RIGHT BUT NO, I WON‟T BE TAKING CARRIE WHITE, NO GO!
SUE TOMMY KIDS
THINK OF CARRIE DO ME A FAVOR!
CARRIE‟S REALLY HAD IT ROUGH I KNOW
I TOLD HER I WAS SORRY I MAY DO ME A FAVOR!
BUT THAT‟S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH OKAY! OKAY! OKAY!
===============================ALL TOGETHER=============================== SUE
IF YOU HELP ME,
I CAN EVEN UP THIS DEBT
AND WE CAN ALL GIVE CARRIE WHITE A NIGHT SHE WON‟T FORGET
TOMMY
YOU KNOW, I ONLY WANT YOU TO FEEL FREE LET GO, I CAN ASSURE YOU IT‟LL BE NO SWEAT
ANYTHING YOU CAN WANT FROM ME YOU‟LL GET YOU SAY THE WORD AND I‟LL AGREE
CHRIS
THERE‟S SOMETHING THAT CARRIE WHITE WILL JUST HAVE TO LEARN IF SHE PLAYS WITH FIRE THEN SHE‟S GONNA GET BURNED
I WANT HER TO PAY UP FOR ALL THAT SHE‟S COST ME
AND MAKE HER GOOD AND SORRY THAT SHE EVERY CROSSED ME YOU‟VE GOT TO HELP ME!!
BILLY ONLY I CAN DO IT!
ONLY I CAN REALLY GET DOWN TO IT I‟LL BE YOUR WHITE KNIGHT
I‟LL BE YOUR SAVIOR BABY, BABY, BABY, BABY I‟LL DO YOU YOUR FAVOR
KIDS DO ME A FAVOR! DO ME A FAVOR! DO ME A FAVOR! ===============================END TOGETHER=============================== CHRIS
If Carrie is going to the prom and I‟m not, you know what I want, Billy? BILLY
What, Chris? What?
CHRIS
Pig‟s blood for a pig, Billy! Pig‟s blood for a pig! BILLY
Pig‟s blood?
CHRIS Yeah! Blood! Blood! Blood! Blood!
ALL
FAVORS ARE PROMISES YOU DON‟T WANT TO BREAK!
DON‟T TURN YOUR BACK WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH AT STAKE! [DON’T GET DISCOURAGED WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH
WHO CAN YOU TURN TO WHEN YOU CAN’T GET ENOUGH]
I‟M BEGGING! I‟M PLEADING!
I‟M DOWN ON MY KNEES!
IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME WELL, THEN BABY! BABY! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! ---
(Suspending, holding as we envelope into the next scene, going right into the Invitation. TOMMY addresses CARRIE.)
TOMMY
...I know this is last notice but if you don‟t have a date for the Prom, would you like to go with me?
What? What?
TOMMY
To the prom? It‟s next Friday and --
KIDS (softly)
DO ME A FAVOR...
CARRIE (softly)
Why me? I don‟t like to be tricked. I know who you go around with. (TOMMY looks over to SUE, shrugs: see?)
SUE
Just try...
TOMMY
Look, Carrie, I‟m asking you.
KIDS
DO ME A FAVOR...
CARRIE
Why are you doing this?
SUE
Do it for me...
KIDS
DO ME A FAVOR…
TOMMY
I don‟t know. Just say yes.
SUE
Make her say yes... CHRIS Do me a favor... TOMMY Say yes. MARGARET Carrie? TOMMY
SUE Do it for me... CHRIS Do me a favor... MARGARET Carietta? KIDS (whispered) DO ME A FAVOR!
CARRIE (she decides)
Yes.
(LIGHTNING and THUNDERCLAP)
SUE Thank you. CHRIS Thank you. CARRIE Thank you.
ACT ONE
SCENE 8: THE WHITE BUNGALOW
CARRIE joins MARGARET. Outside, the storm worsens – LIGHTNING, claps of THUNDER. CARRIE Momma? MARGARET Yes? CARRIE
MOMMA DON‟T YOU THINK IT‟S TIME I SHOULD TRY TO GET ALONG
MARGARET
Whatever are you going on about Carrie? Now quiet down and let us just sit here in peace.
CARRIE
I DON‟T HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS I WISH I COULD FIT RIGHT IN
MARGARET
Being different is the Lord‟s blessing, Carrie. It is written „He who hears my voice alone shall be saved.‟
CARRIE
MOMMA CAN‟T WE STOP AND TALK
THERE‟S THIS BOY NAMED TOMMY ROSS
MARGARET
CARIETTA!
CARRIE
I‟VE BEEN INVITED TO THE PROM
PROM?
CARRIE
HE ASKED ME TWICE
I STILL CAN‟T BELIEVE I SAID YES GOSH, HE‟S SO NICE
BUT MOMMA I STILL HAVE TO MAKE MY DRESS
CARRIE (Cont.)
NOW I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK SOMETHING IN PINK?
MOMMA I‟M SCARED
I NEVER LEARNED HOW TO DANCE I‟M SO UNPREPARED
BUT WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN HE TAKES MY HAND? THIS IS ALL I DREAMED IT COULD BE
MOMMA, WHAT IF HE FALLS IN LOVE WITH ME?
(MARGARET leaves CARRIE – turns her back on her.)
CARRIE
His name is Tommy Ross and he‟s a very nice boy... He‟s promised to stop in before and meet you... And he‟ll have me home by midnight. It‟s next Friday. I‟ve said yes, Momma. Momma, I‟ve said yes.
MARGARET
(quietly, as if entering a trance)
I REMEMBER HOW THOSE BOYS COULD DANCE, PRESSING CLOSE ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.
THEY COULD SWEEP ME AWAY.
CARRIE
Momma?
MARGARET
OH, HOW THOSE BOYS WERE DEMONS OF ROMANCE, IN THEIR CARS WE'D CHASE THE LIGHTS.
I KNOW JUST HOW BOYS WILL BEHAVE.
CARRIE
You‟ll like this boy Momma. He‟s not like the others. He‟s so sweet and polite. He‟s nice, Momma. You‟ll like him, really you will.
(silence from Margaret)
Everyone isn‟t bad, Momma. Everything‟s not a sin.
OH, HOW YOUR FATHER WHISPERED IN MY EAR. FIRST THE KISS AND THEN THE TOUCH,
MIXING LIES WITH THE TRUTH.
HE WOULD SIGH AND TRY TO DRAW ME NEAR. OH, HE'D SWEAR HE CARED SO MUCH,
THAT'S WHAT THE BOYS DO.
MARGARET (CONT.) THEY'LL MAKE PROMISES.
THEY WILL BREAK YOUR HEART. THEN THEY'LL LAUGH AT YOU, WATCHING YOU FALL APART. DON'T YOU THINK THAT I KNOW,
DON'T YOU THINK THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE?
IT'S THE SMELL OF THE BLOOD THAT WILL DRIVE THEM MAD, CHASING YOU LIKE A WHORE!
CARRIE MARGARET
NO! YES!
BUT I DID NOTHING WRONG I‟VE BEEN GOOD FOR SO LONG
IT‟S THE VERY FIRST TIME I‟M AFRAID FOR YOUR SOUL MOMMA IT‟S NOT A CRIME YOU‟LL BE OUT OF CONTROL TOMMY ASKED ME TO GO YOU WILL TURN THAT BOY DOWN IT‟S TOO LATE TO SAY NO OR WE‟LL MOVE FROM THIS TOWN ONCE YOU MEET HIM YOU‟LL FIND YOU‟RE A MOTH TO HIS FLAME HE‟S SO GENTLE AND KIND MEN ARE ALL THE SAME!
MARGARET CARRIE
DON‟T YOU KNOW THEIR GAME YOU DON‟T KNOW HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND HOW GOOD HE MAKES CAN‟T YOU SEE SATAN‟S PASSION
HAS MADE YOU BLIND
AND THIS BOY‟S LIKE THE REST
AND THEY‟RE ALL THE SERPENTS WHO CRAWL YOU DON‟T EVEN UNDERSTAND YOU CAN BEG ALL YOU WANT TO
BUT I RECALL
HOW YOUR FATHER CAME TO ME THAT NIGHT THAT DOESN‟T MEAN THAT
THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN TO ME
WITH THE SMELL OF SMOKE AND GIN GIVE ME A CHANCE AND YOU‟LL SEE WITH THE LUST IN HIS EYES
AND HE TOOK ME AND TOUCHED ME
I TRIED TO FIGHT! GOD, MOMMA HAVE YOU HEARD EVEN ONE WORD THAT I SAID
SATAN MADE YOU FATHER SIN! SOMETIMES I WISH YOU WERE DEAD! BUT THE SIN NEVER DIES!!!!
CARRIE I said yes, Momma! I said yes!
MARGARET You‟ll say no! Come and pray!
CARRIE Momma, please stop!
MARGARET You‟re not going.
CARRIE I‟ve already said yes, Momma!
MARGARET
Then say no! Say no or you‟ll never go back to that school again! CARRIE
Don‟t say that, Momma!
MARGARET The subject is closed!
CARRIE Please talk to me, Momma!
MARGARET Go to your closet!
CARRIE No, Momma.
MARGARET Go to your closet and pray!
(She opens the cellar door – only for CARRIE to flex: it slams shut.)
CARRIE No more praying, Momma! No more!
MARGARET
Spawn of the devil! Satan‟s Child! CARRIE
NO! (Flexes – grabs Margaret) NO! (Forces her into a chair) NO! (Fire spurs from the stage)
NO! (Everything freezes)
(With another whoosh of power, she
levitates MARGARET in the chair into the air – high over the apron of the stage.) MARGARET (hissing)
Witch!
(louder, a blood-curdling shriek) WITCH!!!
(Flames burst from CARRIE‟s hands. Then):
CARRIE
I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU AT ALL I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE I HAVE POWER I CAN USE
NOTHING YOU CAN SAY OR DO WILL EVER STOP ME
AGAIN!
ACT TWO
SCENE 1: HENTY‟S PIG FARM
Later that same night. The STORM rages – RAIN, THUNDER, LIGHTING. BILLY‟S GOON SQUAD tumbles out of the darkness,
followed by BILLY and finally CHRIS. CHRIS
I BELIEVE IN GETTING EVEN THAT‟S WHAT I BELIEVE
BUT I JUST DON‟T FORGIVE AND FORGET I DON‟T TAKE NO ATTITUDE
WHEN I KNOW I‟VE BEEN SCREWED
CARRIE WHITE‟S GOT A LOT TO REGRET BILLY Shit! Look at all these pigs!
GOONS Heey, piggies!
-Yo, porkers! Piggie-wiggie!
-Soo-ee! Soo-ee! Soo-ee!!!
CHRIS SWEET REVENGE REQUIRES PLANNING I‟VE DONE ALL I CAN
NOW IT‟S YOUR CHANCE TO PROVE YOU‟RE A STUD! [BUT NOW I NEED A MAN WITH YOUR SKILL]
IT‟S A SIMPLE LITTLE GIG! YOU HELP ME KILL A PIG!
AND THEN I‟VE GOT SOME PLANS FOR THE BLOOD! [YOU’VE GOT ALL THE BASICS DOWN
SO NOW WE CAN GO TO TOWN
AND LET’S START MOVING IN FOR THE KILL]
GO! GO! GO!
OH, BABY SHOW ME HOW I WANT WHAT I WANT NOW!
BILLY Keep your tits on, baby.
CHRIS C‟mon, Billy, do it!
BILLY Do what?
CHRIS What I want!
BILLY
WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANT? WAY DOWN DEEP INSIDE THAT ROCK YOU CALL A HEART
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO FINISH WHAT YOU‟RE ASKING ME TO START? CUZ THIS IS REAL SICK!
SOME TRICK!
YOU‟VE GOT YOUR PLAN PERFECTED BUT WHAT ABOUT THE UNEXPECTED?
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR NICKEL BUYS TILL YOU GRAB A BOX OF CRACKERJACKS AND OPEN UP THE PRIZE
IS IT WHAT YOU THOUGHT? I BET NOT!
REMEMBER GO TOO FAR AND THERE‟S NO TURNING BACK REMEMBER CRACKERJACK
CRACKERJACK
GOONS
KILL THE PIG, BILLY! KILL THE PIG NOW! KILL THE PIG, BILLY! KILL THE PIG NOW!
CHRIS Please, Billy, now. Do it now!
BILLY Says who?
CHRIS Says me!! Says me!
THERE‟S A STORM INSIDE MY BRAIN A RAGING HURRICANE
BUT I BET YOU CAN HANDLE THE FLOOD! YOU KNOW ME THERE‟S HELL TO PAY IF I DON‟T GET MY WAY
CHRIS (cont.) AND I‟M NOT OUT FOR KICKS
I‟M OUT FOR BLOOD!
GOONS CHOP! KILL THE PIG! PIG, PIG! KILL, KILL! KILL, KILL!
WE'LL MAKE 'EM BLEED.
HERE'S HIS BLOOD! BLOOD, BLOOD! OOOH! BLOOD! KILL THE PIG! MAKE HIM BLEED!
LET'S GET THE BLOOD, THAT'S ALL WE NEED! CRACKERJACK!
OOH, WE GOTTA KILL THE PIG, MAKE HIM BLEED! LET'S GET THE BLOOD, THAT'S ALL WE NEED! CRACKERJACK, OUT FOR BLOOD!
BILLY
WHAT DO I, WHAT DO I, WHAT DO I GET?
TOO DAMN LONG I LET YOU PUSH ME TO THE WALL IF YOU WANT WHAT I CAN OFFER NOW,
YOU‟RE GONNA HAVE TO CRAWL
WE‟LL DO THIS MY WAY, WHEN I SAY YOU‟VE GOT YOUR PLAN PERFECTED! BUT WHAT ABOUT THE UNEXPECTED?
BILLY & GOONS YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU‟RE GONNA FIND WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE DARK AND DIRTY CORNERS OF YOUR MIND
YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? NOT ME!
THE WAY YOU‟RE HEADED NOW IS EASY TO TELL! YOU‟RE GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL!
STRAIGHT TO HELL!
CHRIS
BILLY
OH, YOU WANT IT NOW, YOU WANT IT SO BAD
SO DAMN BAD THAT YOU‟LL GO STABBING IN THE DARK BUT THE SMELL OF BLOOD‟LL DRIVE YOU CRAZY
HUNGRY LIKE A SHARK
YOU WANT A REAL SCARE? A NIGHTMARE? WELL YOU CAN‟T STOP THAT BITCHIN‟ YOU‟LL GET WHAT YOU‟VE BEEN WISHIN‟ YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE DREAMIN‟
BUT WAIT UNTIL YOU WAKE UP SCREAMIN‟!
ALL
WE'VE GOT TO STRIKE WHILE THE IRON'S HOT NOW YOU'VE FINALLY GOT HER BEGGIN', BILLY, GIVE HER ALL YOU'VE GOT.
SHE WANTS TO PLAY ROUGH? HUH! SO GET TOUGH!
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE HER THINK SHE'S HAVIN' HER WAY, AND THEN YOU'LL MAKE HER PAY.
MAKE HER PAY!
(DANCE BREAK into):
BILLY & GOONS CHRIS
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR NICKEL BUYS GO! TILL YOU GRAB A BOX OF CRACKERJACKS GO!
AND OPEN UP THE PRIZE GO!
IS IT WHAT YOU THOUGHT? OH, BABY
I BET NOT! SHOW ME
REMEMBER GO TOO FAR
AND THERE‟S NO TURNING BACK HOW REMEMBER CRACKERJACK
CRACKERJACK REMEMBER GO TOO FAR
AND THERE‟S NO TURNING BACK I WANT HAT
REMEMBER CRACKERJACK I
CRACKERJACK WANT NOW!
GOONS CHRIS
BLOOD! Now, Billy – now!!!
BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!
BLOOD! CHRIS & BILLY
(BILLY raises the sledgehammer over his head – the sound of the pigs squealing below. One more giant FLASH OF
LIGHTNING as the whole sky turns blood-purple, highlighting them in a hellish silhouette as he brings the hammer down on the BLACKOUT.)
ACT TWO
SCENE 2: GYMNASIUM
Out of the darkness that was the storm, comes a giant star carried by members of the Prom Decoration Committee. As it‟s hoisted up to become part of
“Heaven,” we find SUE at the center of gossip among the GIRLS.
GIRLS
(KELLY) DID YOU HEAR? ALL THE RUMORS FLYING?
(FRIEDA) COULD YOU DIE? (JAMIE) TOMMY AND WHO? (MADDY) SUE‟S IN TEARS (ROSE) TOMMY SAID „SO LONG!‟
(SHELLY) MADE HER CRY (MICHELLE) WHAT WILL CARRIE WEAR? [FINALLY WASHING HER HAIR] (NORMA) I HEARD CHRIS MIGHT SURPRISE US!
(MARY ANN) YOU THINK SHE‟LL BE THERE? (FRIEDA) GARDNER‟S MAD CUZ SHE THINKS SUE‟S LYING
(MADDY) THREW A FIT (ROSE) WAS THERE A FIGHT? (KELLY) SUE MIGHT SMILE BUT THERE‟S SOMETHING WRONG
(MARY ANN) WHAT A TWIT! OTHERS: WRONG WRONG
OTHERS: SOMETHING‟S GOT TO BE WRONG (NORMA) CHRIS IS GREAT AT DISGUISES
(SHELLY) NO SHIT! SUE
I ONLY PRAY THAT CARRIE HAS FUN AT THE PROM GIRLS THE PROM THE PROM THE PROM THE PROM SUE
SURE, I KNOW, EVERYBODY‟S TALKING
I DON‟T CARE; LOOK IT‟S JUST ONE NIGHT THIS MIGHT MAKE CARRIE FEEL GOOD
AFTER ALL WHAT WE DID WAS SHOCKING MAYBE NOW I CAN SET THINGS RIGHT
GIRLS YOU?
SUE ME? I‟M REAL GOOD
GIRLS
THIS IS ONE NIGHT I‟LL NEVER FORGET
WE‟VE NEVER SEEN A SCANDAL AS GOOD AS THIS I WANNA SEE IF TOMMY AND CARRIE KISS
I‟LL BE THERE EARLY, OH I DON‟T WANNA MISS ONE SINGLE MOMENT OF BLISS
THE PROM!!
NORMA Just a second, Sue.
FRIEDA Hold it right there.
JAMIE We want to talk to you.
MADDY How do you plead, Sue?
SHELLY Guilty or innocent? What‟s it to be?
SUE
MICHELLE Sure you are. You owe us an apology.
SUE
Forget it! I have nothing to be sorry for. CATH
You‟re ruining the prom!
ROSE You‟re spoiling it for the rest of us.
KELLY You were supposed to come with Tommy.
MARY ANN He was your date.
KELLY Now he‟s bringing her.
SUE That‟s between Tommy and me.
NORMA But she doesn‟t fit in, Sue.
MADDY She doesn‟t belong.
JAMIE She never has and she never will.
ROSE Everything she does is wrong.
SUE Leave Carrie alone!
FRIEDA
Just what are you trying to prove Sue? Why did you do it? SUE
I just thought this would set things right. JAMIE
SUE I don‟t know!
MICHELLE You‟re not one of us anymore, Sue.
CATH You don‟t fit in.
MARY ANN You don‟t belong.
NORMA What you are doing is wrong.
(The GIRLS exit, MISS GARDNER walks on, going past SUE.)
GARDNER
You‟ve done the right thing, Sue. A really nice thing.
(She exits offstage. Then, CHRIS and BILLY enter chuckling.)
CHRIS
What‟s the matter, Sue? Trouble in paradise?
(They exit offstage laughing. Then, TOMMY enters.)
TOMMY
You sure you want to go through with this? SUE
Yes. Yes.
TOMMY I‟ll make it up to you, I promise.
SUE It‟s no big deal.
TOMMY I‟ll miss you.
It‟s what I want. TOMMY Yeah, sure. SUE Tommy! TOMMY But, Sue, Senior Prom – of all nights!
SUE ONE NIGHT, JUST FOR ONE NIGHT
IT‟S A SACRIFICE I FEEL I OUGHT TO MAKE
I‟M OKAY, I‟LL BE FINE AND I SWEAR IT‟S NOT LIKE MY HEART‟S GONNA BREAK
I‟M FINE LONG AS YOU‟RE STILL MINE
(She kisses him on the lips; then gives him a gentle shove, and he exits. Alone now):
SUE WHITE STAR
WHY AREN‟T YOU SHINING
YOU HANG ALL ALONE LIKE A TEAR IN THE SKY NIGHT SKY
COULD YOU BE PINING
FOR SOME OTHER STAR YOU COULD DANCE WITH ON HIGH? HEAVEN
THERE‟S HEARTACHE IN HEAVEN
I GUESS HEAVEN KNOWS THAT MY LOVE IS SO FAR AWAY BRIGHT STAR
MY SILVER LINING
I WISH YOU COULD BRING HIM BACK TO STAY HOPES AND DREAMS CAN VANISH WITH THE DAWN YOU BLINK AND THEY‟RE GONE
IT‟S THE CHANCE LOVES TAKE BABY, BABY, WE HAD IT ALL BUT ANGELS CAN FALL
AND HEARTS CAN BREAK HEAVEN
YOU PROMISED ME HEAVEN
HOW CAN MY LOVE FIND ME HERE WITH THE MOON SO DIM BRIGHT STAR
PLEASE KEEP ON SHINING
AND SHINE „TIL I‟M FINALLY BACK WITH HIM (Blackout.)
*Alternate Song Choice: “It Hurts to Be Strong” SUE
I USED TO THINK I KNEW THAT
WE WERE AS CLOSE AS PEOPLE COULD BE WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THEM?
BETTER YET, WHAT‟S HAPPENED TO ME?
DID I CROSS SOME LINE BY SPEAKING MY MIND? IN MY HEART, I KNOW I‟M NOT WRONG
I JUST NEVER KNEW IT HURTS TO BE STRONG I HAD A PERFECT CHILDHOOD
I ALWAYS FELT AT HOME IN A CROWD I DID THE THINGS A CHILD WOULD I SANG ALONG BUT NEVER TOO LOUD
THEN I MADE A CHOICE BY RAISING MY VOICE NOW I‟M ALL ALONE IN MY SONG
YOU KNOW HOW THAT FEELS? IT HURTS TO BE STRONG I KNOW TWO PLUS TWO I KNOW FALSE FROM TRUE
I JUST DON‟T KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN BRIDGES BURN
I GUESS YOU‟VE GOTTA LEARN SO I‟LL LEARN
MAYBE I‟VE DONE SOME STRANGE THINGS SOONER OR LATER, EVERYONE DOES
I WASN‟T TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS I LIKED MY LIFE THE WAY THAT IT WAS BUT I CAN‟T CONCEAL THE WAY THAT I FEEL SO I WIND UP PLAYING THE FOOL
THAT‟S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DON‟T LEARN IN SCHOOL
IF I STAND APART AND FOLLOW MY HEART WILL I EVER TRULY BELONG?
IT‟S HARD TO BE SURE IT HURTS TO BE STRONG
ACT TWO
SCENE 3: CARRIE‟S BEDROOM
Prom Night. A nervous CARRIE stands in her slip, staring at herself in the mirror, trying to work up her courage.
CARRIE
I‟LL CLOSE MY EYES AND SUDDENLY HE‟LL BE THERE
HANDSOME AND WISE AND PROBABLY A PRINCE WHO COULD... (She breaks off)
Oh, God, I‟m so scared … so scared.
(MUSIC resumes.) WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
I SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST BUT WHAT IF I‟M STRONG?
MY LOVELY BALLOON DOESN‟T HAVE TO BURST IF I CONCENTRATE I MIGHT FIND
THAT THE ONLY DEMONS ARE ALL IN MY MIND
(PULSING TEMPO now as she fantasizes): WAS IT HIS VOICE?
WAS IT HIS SMILE?
I HAVEN‟T FELT SO WONDERFUL IN QUITE A WHILE
ALL OF THIS TIME THERE WAS JUST ME
I‟M NOT ALONE
SOMEBODY‟S FREED ME FROM THIS LONELY TOWER SOMEBODY‟S BY MY SIDE AS I FACE THE UNKNOWN I‟M NOT ALONE
SPEAKING HIS NAME, I NEVER FELT SUCH POWER BEFORE I‟M NOT ALONE ANYMORE
(As she continues, she begins to use her powers playfully. She flexes and her
hairbrush come to life. Then her shoes, her lipstick.)
CARRIE WHERE THERE WAS ONE
NOW THERE ARE TWO
THAT‟S THE KIND OF MAGIC ONLY LOVE CAN DO
CARRIE (CONT.) THINKING OF HIM
THRILLS ME SO MUCH
I COULD MOVE A MOUNTAIN NOW WITH JUST A SINGLE TOUCH I‟M NOT ALONE
SOMEBODY‟S FREED ME FROM THIS LONELY TOWER SOMEBODY‟S BY MY SIDE AS I FACE THE UNKNOWN I‟M NOT ALONE
SPEAKING HIS NAME, I NEVER FELT SUCH POWER BEFORE I‟M NOT ALONE ANYMORE
(Finally as the fantasy reaches its peak, she makes her PROM DRESS rise and float in the air. She dances with it.)
I KEEP FLOATING
TWO FEET OFF THE GROUND I FORGET MY FEARS
WHEN HE‟S AROUND
HEARTACHES, HEARTBREAKS THEY DON‟T BOTHER ME
AS LONG AS THERE‟S SOMEONE WHO CARES THEN I‟LL NEVER BE
ALONE
NO MORE LONELY TOWER
SOMEBODY‟S BY MY SIDE AS I FACE THE UNKNOWN I‟M NOT ALONE
SPEAKING HIS NAME, I NEVER FELT SUCH POWER BEFORE I‟M NOT ALONE
ANYMORE
(MARGARET enters. The dress falls to the floor.)
MARGARET Give me the dress.
CARRIE No.
MARGARET Give me the dress. We‟ll burn it together.
CARRIE No, Momma.
MARGARET I won‟t let you go!
CARRIE Leave me alone!
MARGARET He‟s not coming.
CARRIE He is coming, Momma. MARGARET He‟s not. CARRIE He is! MARGARET He mustn‟t come! Don‟t you understand?
CARRIE I don‟t want to fight with you, Momma.
MARGARET My mother... she had the power...
CARRIE Go away, Momma.
MARGARET This is Satan‟s power.
CARRIE It‟s not Satan. It‟s me.
MARGARET It is evil.
CARRIE
It‟s not evil. I don‟t want to hear it, Momma. MARGARET
Sin...
CARRIE It‟s not sin, Momma. It‟s fun. Look –
(She flexes levitates the hand mirror and whirls it in a pattern.)
MARGARET
God forgive her! The Lord will not be mocked, Carietta! CARRIE
It‟s fun, Momma.
MARGARET
It‟s danger, sin. There will be judgment! This power will destroy you! CARRIE
NO!
(CARRIE flexes and pushes her mother into the wall.)
MARGARET You are stronger than I am.
Yes, Momma.
MARGARET Why are you punishing me?
CARRIE Because you make me.
MARGARET
So will they! Will you punish them like you punished me? Will you hurt them like you hurt me?
CARRIE No. MARGARET Will you? CARRIE No. MARGARET Will you? CARRIE No. MARGARET Will you?! CARRIE NO!
(CARRIE flexes again and MARGARET is pushed to the floor.)
MARGARET You are a witch.
CARRIE
I‟m not a witch. I‟m not. I‟m Carrie. Momma, I thought of all people, you would understand. Don‟t you see who I am?
MARGARET You‟re my child.
CARRIE I have to get ready.
