SCENE 6: HASTE

1958

The construction site. The sound of demolition. Men with ropes straining against some weight offstage.

WORKERS

Look out!

Stand clear,

She's comin’ down.

Look out!

Stand clear,

She's comin’ down.

PREMIER

This is what I like:

The old coming down...

WORKERS

Pull it down,

Tear it down.

PREMIER

...The new going up,

That's progress!

WORKERS

Tear it down,

Pull it down.

PREMIER

You’re in a brave new world,

Engineer.

We’re not like you Brits,eh?

ENGINEER

It's true Mr.Premier.

I can't imagine our government

Attempting a building this daring.

PREMIER

The old world's too bound by tradition,

But with no tradition

There's no fear.

ENGINEER

It’s like a project from some other

Place and time.

It's an adventure,

A great adventure.

WORKERS

Tear it down,

Pull it down.

ENGINEER

But I must say I feel a bit like Columbus:

These are completely uncharted waters.

PREMIER

We're relying on you

To make the bloody thing stand up!

ENGINEER

There's no doubt in our minds.

I've worked with hundreds of architects,

And this one’s the best, the best.

PREMIER

That's not enough.

Out here it will even count against you:

Messiahs quickly outstay their welcome.

Do you believe in god?

ENGINEER

I believe in man.

PREMIER

Then what you’re building

Is our cathedral.

We can’t let them drive him away!

WORKERS

Tear it down ,

Pull it down.

PREMIER

He must not be driven away...

WORKERS

Tear it down,

Pull it down.

PREMIER

...Driven away.

I want construction to begin at once.

ENGINEER

That's impossible!

The drawings aren't ready yet.

The architect will never agree.

PREMIER

It can't wait.

ENGINEER

We haven't even begun to solve

The structural problems of the roof...

PREMIER

It can't wait.

ENGINEER

But you don’t understand...

PREMIER

It can’t wait!

ENGINEER

But we can't build the foundations

‘til we know what they need to support...

PREMIER

Guess!

ENGINEER

We don't yet have an inkling

How much it will cost...

PREMIER

Make something up!

ENGINEER

I can't.

PREMIER

If you don't

Then I will.

Does three million sound reasonable?

ENGINEER

It will cost even more

If we’re forced to start now

And then run into problems.

PREMIER

Three and a half then.

I’ll be frank:

If you want to see that building

Rise more than a few inches

Then you'll start construction

Before the next election!

ENGINEER

That would be totally irresponsible.

PREMIER

Work must be so far advanced

That nothing can stop it.

There can be no turning back,

So by the time the spoilers realise

What it costs to build a wonder,

A wonder of the world,

They’ll be lookin’ at one.

I'm no fool,Engineer,

And I'm not young.

I want to leave more than

My name on expressways.

If we delay

I can't guarantee

I'll have enough power:

Enough power

To see this thing through.

ENGINEER

It’s dangerous...

PREMIER

It’s an adventure,

A great adventure.

WORKERS

Look out!

Stand clear,

She's coming down.

PREMIER

And there's something else

I should make clear to you.

I intend to pay for this

With a public lottery

So strictly speaking it’s not a state building.

WORKERS

Look out!

Stand clear,

She's coming down.

PREMIER

The Department of Works has it’s own axe to grind

And this is too important to trust to a bunch of public servants,

So you’ll work to me

And we’ll stymie the bureaucrats.

Through an appointed committee

Of course...

All above board.

ENGINEER

You'd make a good engineer, Mr. Premier.

PREMIER

Just make me a great building, Mr. Engineer.

WORKERS

Tear it down,

Pull it down.

Look out!

Stand clear!

She's comin’ down,

Comin’ down, comin’ down.

The Premier clutches his stomach in pain.

PREMIER

Ah...

ENGINEER

What's wrong Mr.Premier?

PREMIER

Nothing...

An ulcer.

Not important.

I've watched brick by brick

As they tear this down,

And I'll watch brick by brick

As the opera house goes up.

WORKERS

Brick by brick we tear it down.

Down to earth,

Back to bare earth.

PREMIER

Brick by brick,

Day by day,

I’ll watch it rise from the bare earth .

WORKERS

Week by week and month by month

We work to clear the land

For the dedication.

PREMIER

Brick by brick,

Day by day,

I’ll watch it rise.

MUSICAL TRANSITION

1959

“The ladies of Sydney in their big hats”, reporters and guests assemble to join the workers, the Premier and the Engineer for the dedication ceremony. The architect enters. He has his daughter (now 12), his wife, and two sons (14 and 2) with him. They look the perfect picture of a perfect family.

PREMIER

Two years we've planned this moment.

In the coming election campaign

Many issues will be raised,

Many controversial issues.

I am glad to say, however,

That the Opera House is purely

Non political,

And I venture to predict

That no party

Will attempt to make an issue of it.

CROWD

Hooray! Hooray!

REPORTERS

If you'd swallow that,

You'd swallow anything.

CROWD

Shut up, Shut up!

We want to listen,

shh shh.

PREMIER

Indeed my opponent

Has sent this message:

"The time for controversy is over

Let us work together

In a spirit of goodwill

To bring this magnificent concept

Into being."

CROWD

Hooray! Hooray!

REPORTERS

If you'd swallow that,

You'd swallow anything.

CROWD

Shut up!

Shh,Shh.

PREMIER

When I threw down the gauntlet

To the architects of the world,

I knew I'd find

Someone with vision

To answer the challenge

With something sublime.

FOREMAN

Three cheers for the architect

Hip hip...

CROWD

Hooray!

FOREMAN

Hip hip...

CROWD

Hooray!

FOREMAN

Hip hip...

CROWD

Hooray!

MEN

He's the man for the job.

This man is going places,

No doubt about it.

He’s one of us now,

He’s one of us.

Listen...

WOMEN

He's so charming,

So European!

Look at his wife.

She’s so elegant!

And the kiddies are so nice,

So charming.

REPORTERS

Who is this clown?

What’s he done before?

Are the runs on the board

Or are we being sold a dump?

ENGINEER

Inspired...

PREMIER

Just a few words

Architect...

WOMEN

So nice!

CROWD

Listen, listen.

Shh!

ARCHITECT

In Elsinor a castle stands

Where Hamlet Prince of Denmark stood,

And where the sea breaks hard

Upon a point of land.

In Elsinor I lived.

In Mexico I stood atop

A pyramid the Aztec built,

And felt the stones breathe life

Though long ago the Aztecs died.

In Mexico I dreamed.

A world away from knowing you,

A moment away from knowing myself.

Now the promise of a dream;

The fulfilment of a life,

Meet on this point of land.

A meeting place

For dreams and life;

A place for all of you:

Ha! A “common” place

In this far from common place.

So far...

Far...

The Premier coughs to bring the architect back down to earth.

To have the honour

To build on this amazing site

Your opera house,

Is the thrill of my life.

I do not believe there is a happier man

On earth

CROWD

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Together the Architect and the Premier lay the foundation plaque. The Premier raises his hand and a police siren sounds "this was the signal for six men, poised with their pneumatic drills, and a bulldozer to go into action preparing the site. The band played 'with a little bit of luck' and the guests adjourned for afternoon tea."

The crowd disperses leaving the workers and the Engineer to get on with the job. The Premier returns to view the construction.

ENGINEER

The adventure has begun...

WORKERS

Day by day

And week by week,

Driving deep,

Deep in the earth.

ENGINEER

Stage one has begun

PREMIER

Day by day,

Week by week,

I'll watch it rise.

ENGINEER

The adventure has begun.

WORKERS

Week by week and

Month by month,

We cut the rock,

We shape the earth,

We lay the foundations.

PREMIER

Just make me a great building

Mr Engineer,

A great building.

Ah...

The Premier is in pain again

Day by day,

I'll watch it rise...

Agggh

He collapses in pain.

ENGINEER

Mr.Premier!

WORKERS

Driving deep into rock,

We shape the earth

We make our mark.

A small crowd has gathered but work on the site continues.

ENGINEER

Get a doctor!

A worker rushes off.

WORKERS

Here in the earth...

PREMIER

I’ll watch it rise!

WORKERS

We make our mark.

PREMIER

Into the sky...

ENGINEER

Somebody get an ambulance,

Quick!

Another worker rushes off

PREMIER

Into the sky...

WORKERS

Here in the Earth...

A stretcher is brought on and the Premier is carried offstage.

Scene 7