Preservation: Act 1

Scene: flash is on the run and he goes to belle for help.
He sings this song with belle.

Flash: when we were young and green
We shared our dreams together,
And you were my friend.

Belle: we had our good times pal,
We thought they'd last forever.
But nothing lasts forever,
Nothing lasts forever.
Time goes by and people change
It's best we go our separate ways
And it was wrong to think our love would never end
My friend
Nothing lasts forever,
Nothing lasts forever.
Time goes by it takes us all,
Nations crumble and empires fall
And who are we
To think that we would always be,
You see nothing lasts forever,
Nothing lasts forever.

Flash: i know that you'll survive
And you'll get by whatever.
Though you say goodbye.
My love will never die,
It will last forever.

Your love will die but mine will last forever,
Your love will fade but mine will last forever.
Your feeling might go but mine will last forever.
And though you're gone you're in my mind forever.

Sung by everybody

Hear me brothers, hear me sisters,
Citizens and comrades hear my song.
The old life's dead the order's changing
It's time for all of us to move along.

Got no time to live a life
With old worn-out traditions
Swallowed my pride,
Changed my ways,
And found a new religion.
There you go.

Sick and tired of living on loans,
Driving around in a car that i don't own.
Tired of looking at wealthy faces
Flying off to far out places.
The workers of the world
Shall give the profits to the people.
Class will disappear
And we will live our lives as equals.
There you go.

And we'll all walk along
And we'll all sing a song
And we'll all mark time as we go.
Yes, we'll all walk along
And we'll all sing a song
As we walk down salvation road.

Goodbye youth, goodbye dreams,
The good times and the friends i used to know.
Goodbye freedom, hello fear,
A brave new world has suddenly appeared.
Got to be hard,
Don't look back
And no more reminiscing.
Times are rough,
We've got to be tough,
And concentrate on living.
There you go.

And we'll all join hands,
And we'll all march along
And we'll all mark time as we go.
Yes, we'll all walk along,
And we'll sing a song,
As we walk down salvation road.

We'll all walk along
And we'll all sing a song
And we'll all mark time as we go.
Yes, we'll all walk along
And we'll all sing a song
As we walk down salvation road.

Scene: mr. black's army is closing in on flash & the spivs.
After a long day's campaigning flash, having overindulged
The alcohol, has fallen asleep in his den.

Voice: cooee. cooee. flash. flash

Flash: who is this?

Voice: wake up flash. can you hear me flash?

Flash: who is this? who dares to wake me from my slumber?

Voice: need i announce myself? am i such a stranger to you?

Flash: say your name. speak!

Voice: i am your soul.

Flash: my soul?

Voice: i have come to show you who you are.

Flash: show me who i am? i know who i am you upstart! how
Dare you intrude.

Voice: you lied and schemed and took over a simple village and
Turned it into a vulgar playground for your own money-
Making ends. before you came people lived simple lives.
This was a happy place. then you ploughed up the fields,
Sold off the land and lined your own pockets with the profits.

Flash: lies! lies! i did it to help the nation

Voice: you did it for your own preservation!

Flash: no! no!

Voice: prepare yourself flash, there are many who suffered at your
Hands. they are craving for vengeance. time is running out.

Flash: can this be the end? can this be the swan song? the final
Elbow? i will not go. the people need me.

Voice: men like you will always come and go, but the people will go
On forever. take one final look at the past flash. enjoy it,
Because you have no future.

Flash: no! no! no! i can't stand this.

Trumpets herald the final confrontation between flash and himself.

Announcement 1 (track 1)

"it has been rumored that a new people's army has been formed by a certain
'commander black'. a few minor incidents have already been reported, and further
Unconfirmed reports suggest that this is a definite attempt to overthrow the
Present government which is led by mr. flash.

"we would like to stress that these are only unconfirmed rumors, but we will
Of course bring you up-to-date news and information on these reports as they
Come in. meanwhile we do urge the population not to panic and to remain calm
During the crisis."

Please stay tuned to this station for further bulletins.


Announcement 2 (track 5)

Announcer 1: "in just a few moments, mr. black is due to address the people.
We are now going over to live coverage of his speech."

Announcer 2: "well the scenes here are absolutely indescribable. i've personally
Never seen anything like it before. a crowd of around, what, thirty-thousand people
Have been waiting all day for the arrival of mr. black and his entourage. and it is
Expected that one of the main topics of his speech this evening will be the controversial
Anti-(something) corruption bill, which mr. black wants brought into effect immediately
To put an end to the current widespread decline in public moral standards.

"and, just a minute, there he is. i can see mr. black now. he's surrounded by, of
Course, all his bodyguards. (something) the crowd is growing wild with excitement --
It's clapping, it's cheering -- as mr. black finally makes his way on that far side
Onto the platform. and now -- yes, there he is -- he's about to speak.


Announcement 3 (track 11)
"news has just reached us of a major victory for mr. black and the people's army.
The battle took place on the outskirts of a small village somewhere in the northern
Zone. casualties on both sides are reported to have been very high, indeed. and
Our on-the-spot correspondent describes the fighting as some of the fiercest in
Living memory. no quarter has been shown on either side."


Announcement 4 (track 17)
"at six a.m. this morning the victorious people's army overthrew the corrupt regime
That has been ruling over our country. it is reported that mr. flash and his
Gang were all been taken prisoner. they have been taken to a secret hideout where
They will be tried for treason by a people's court."


Announcement 5 (track 20)
"a state of emergency was declared by the government at eight a.m. today. it was
Stated that this step has been taken in the interest of national security. and the
Emergency measures set out in today's announcement will remain in force for an
Indefinite period.

"curfew will take effect as from this evening, and will operate between nine p.m. and
Six a.m. each day. the curfew will be enforce by patrols from the people's army,
And severe penalties are to be imposed on anyone found on the streets during the
Daily curfew period.

"food rationing is to be introduced immediately, and shops will only be allowed to
Open for a period of three hours each day. restrictions on the use of petrol start
Immediately. restrictions on the use of electricity, gas and water will also be
Announced shortly.

"all places of public entertainment will be closed until further notice. all
Television channels are now closed down, and radio broadcasts will operate on this
Channel only.

"and now, here is the people's choir singing the new nation anthem, which led our
Victorious troops into battle!"

Scene: into flash's den - a night club

Scene: in flash's den, a night club partly converted into an office.
Sung by flash, floosies and spivs:

Show me a man who says he can live without bread
And i'll show you a man who's a liar and in debt.
There's no one alive who can't be purchased or enticed
There's no man alive who wouldn't sell for a price,
Money talks and we're the living proof,
There ain't no limit to what money can do
Money talks, money talks.

Money can't breathe and money can't see,
But when i pull out a fiver people listen to me.
Money can't run and money can't walk,
But when i write out a cheque i swear to god i hear money talk.
Money talks and, baby, when you've been bought
You pay attention everytime money talks.
Money talks, money talks.

Money talks and there's no doubt about it
Money talks and we can't live without it,
What's the point of living unless you've got money?
I just couldn't function without money.
Money talks, money talks,
Money talks, money talks.

Show me an upright respected man
And i'll have him licking my boots when i put money in his hand.
It rots your heart, it gets to your soul,
Before you know where you are you're a slave to the green gold.
Money talks and we're the living proof
There ain't no limit to what money can do.
Money talks you out of your self-respect,
The more you crave it the cheaper you get.
Money talks, money talks.

Money buys you time and people listen,
Money can buy a smile and make life worth living.
If you're ugly money can improve you.
I just couldn't face the world without mazuma.
Money talks, money talks.

Sung by the tramp

I can't understand why everybody's quarreling,
Nobody gives in case they lose face,
And everybody's guilty and everybody's innocent,
And the fact of it is nobody gives any more.

It's the same throughout all history,
Nobody gives unless they receive,
And nobody trusts or is willing to believe
And nobody gives or is willing to concede.

Back in nineteen hundred and twenty-five
There were thousands of people struggling to survive.
There was hunger, unemployment and poverty,
Then in 1926 they decided to be free
So they all went on strike and
The workers told the unions, who blamed it on the government,
The politicians blamed it on the strikers and the militants,
Everybody's guilty and everybody's innocent,
But the fact of it is nobody gives any more.

Back in nineteen hundred and thirty-nine
There were scores of german military waiting in a line,
And the fatherland wanted what the world wouldn't give,
And then hitler decided he could take what was his,
So they all went to war and said
Kill all the left-wing intellectuals,
Annihilate the jews and wipe out their race,
Eliminate the weak because they're ineffectual,
And the fact of it is nobody gives any more.

I'm only sitting here watching it all go on
And listening to both sides.
Yeah, why can't we talk it out,
Why can't we sort it out,
We'll work it out if we try.
Why can't we sit down and work out a compromise,
Why not negotiate and try to be civilised?
I'll tell you why, because nobody gives a damn.
Nobody listens and no one will understand.
Yet i'm wondering, sitting here wondering,
And listening to both sides.
Why can't we work it out?
Why can't we sort it out?
We'll work it out if we try.
Why can't we sit down and work out a compromise,
Why not negotiate and try to be civilised?
I'll tell you why, because nobody gives a damn.
Nobody listens and no one will understand.
Yet, i'm wondering, sitting here wondering,
Yet i'm wondering, sitting here wondering
Listening to both sides.
Nobody gives, nobody gives, nobody gives.

The workers told the unions who blamed it on the government,
The politicians blamed it on the strikers and the militants,
Everybody's guilty and everybody's innocent.

Nobody gives. nobody gives a damn any more.
The politicians, unions, workers and the militants,
The fact of it is nobody gives any more.

Sung by: the tramp and the do-gooders

In a world full of jive,
Full of homicide and suicide,
There's no room for love and romance.
In a world full of spite
Full of hatefulness and bitterness,
Sincerity don't stand a chance.
And every night i close my eyes
And ask the stars above,
Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where is love?

Where is love and romance,
And appreciation of storybooks, fairytales
And the ordinary things people did long ago.
Where did it go?
Where is love?
Where is hope?
Where is sympathy and trust?
Where is faith?
Where is joy in simplicity?
And where is regard and respect?
Oh where, oh where is love?
This world is spinning and turning
And my head is full of learning,
But my thoughts keep on returning
To the things i used to know.
I should be stronger,
But my mind continually wanders
And deep inside
A voice keeps crying
Where, oh where is love?

Where is love and romance,
And appreciation of storybooks, fairytales,
And the ordinary things people did long ago?
Where did it go?
In a world full of jive,
Full of homicide and suicide,
There's no room for love and romance.
In a world full of rape,
Full of hatefulness and bitterness,
Sincerity don't stand a chance.
And every night i close my eyes
And ask the stars above,
Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where is love?
Where oh where is love?
Where is love?
Where is hope?
Where is sympathy and trust?
Where is faith?
Where is joy and simplicity
And where is regard and respect?
Oh where, oh where is love?
Oh where oh where is love?
Oh where oh where is love?

Sung by the tramp:

While the rich get their kicks with their affluent antics
Mr. black sits and ponders their fate.
He just sits in the gloom of his dimly-lit room
Waiting for them to swallow the bait.
While the rich run their rackets he sits in his attic
And casually clocks their defeat.
While the politicians cover up mistakes that they've made
And all the promises, the lies and deceits.
A military coup has been long overdue.
Now there's fighting and panic in the streets.
Amid the mass disillusion, disorder and confusion,
He will rise now his plan is complete.
But me, i'm only standing here
Watching it all go on and i'm watching it all go wrong
And it's painfully clear that the battle is near
And i wish i could just disappear.

While flash and his men drink champagne in their den
And debase life with crude ostentation,
The poor cry for more, but they're reaching the point
Where the people can't stand any more.
But me, i'm only standing here
Watching it all go on, and i'm watching it all go wrong
And it's painfully clear that the battle is near
And i wish i could just disappear.