The Good-Sided Story of Evita

This video collection tells the story of Eva Perón's good side of her lifetime.

Kimberly Jordan as herself

## Musical assistance

* The Washington D.C. National Symphony Orchestra
* Conductor - Marin Alsop
* The Washington D.C. National Choir

## Transcript and lyrics

**Kimberly AJ:** Has anyone remembered that Andrew Lloyd Webber was inspired by the life of Evita herself? For those who haven't heard of it before, I saw from the very beginning that in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1952, the people were watching a film that is kind of like adventure and romance, when unexpectedly, the secretary of the press turned off the video projector in the middle of the scene from the top behind, he came down to the people who were disappointed and frustrated in that result and he told them...

**Man:** It is my sad duty to inform you that Eva Perón, spiritual leader of the Nation, entered immortality at 8:25 this evening.

(Requiem For Evita starts playing)

**Kimberly:** And as they heard, they all started to cry consoling each one another. Some just have cloth tissues to try drying their tears, I think, and almost everyone left the movie room, except for Ché. He seems to be neutral of feelings, sometimes. So one of the few results of Evita's death is that the movie theater is shut down. You can see more in history pages if you like. Until then, let's keep an eye on the choir.

**[American choir of children and adults]**

   **Kimberly:** All the townspeople are standing at the edges of the street as they watch the funeral procession with the military force leading. Up on the balcony, people were sprinkling flower petals and there were so many pictures of Evita herself. And behind the military and the calvary, I see service people pulling the funeral wagon that had Eva's glass coffin on top. Who put up a sign that says silence? Her corpse was followed by her relatives (including her widowed husband) and a school class of young kids holding hands with nurses on their side. And what's behind all in the move, a truck with a funeral torch turned on ablaze. And I think that's how the procession occurred.

**[American choir of children and adults]**

Requiem aeternum dona Evita (2x)
Requiem Evita (2x)
Evita (4x)
**Aquata:** Hi. I'm Aquata, and I'm one of Ariel's 6 older sisters. My sister Andrina and I are preparing for the next musical number and she's got her guitar well-tuned. And as for Attina, I think she can bring her harp in. Is everything set?

**Attina:** I'm certainly ready.

**Andrina:** Just got this guitar on the perfect pitch.

**Ariel:** And I recently made my very own castanets.

**Aquata:** That's terrific. And a 1, and a 2...(cymbal running)...and a 1, 2, 3, 4!

(Andrina playing the intro to Oh, What A Circus with her own guitar and Aquata plays the bongos in the first verse afterwards)

**[Ché]**

Oh, what a circus; oh, what a show
Argentina has gone to town
Over the death of an actress called Eva Perón
We've all gone crazy (Fluttershy plays the triangle)
Mourning all day and mourning all night
Falling over ourselves to get all of the misery right
(Rarity plays the scraper)

Oh, what an exit; that's how to go
When they're ringing your curtain down
Demand to be buried like Eva Perón
It's quite a sunset
And good for the country in a roundabout way
We've made the front page of all the world's papers today
But who is this Santa Evita? (Pinkie Pie playing maracas)
Why all this howling, hysterical sorrow?
What kind of goddess has lived among us?
How will we ever get by without her?
(instruments playing together with Ariel clicking her castanets)

She had her moments, she had some style
The best show in town was the crowd
Outside the Casa Rosada crying, "Eva Perón"
But that's all gone now
As soon as the smoke from the funeral clears
We're all gonna see and how, she did nothing for years
(Sexton Mouse and his wife Little Sister start playing the organ with Attina on the harp, Harmony Care Bear on the bass guitar and Fluttershy on the triangle)

**[American choir of children and adults]**

Salve regina, mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, salve regina
Ad te clamamus, exules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens, o pia
Hail, oh queen, mother of mercy
Our life, sweetness, and hope
Hail, hail, oh queen
To you we cry, exiled sons of Eve
To you we sigh, mourning and weeping
Oh clement, oh loving one

**[Ché]**

You let down your people, Evita,
You were supposed to have been immortal
That's all they wanted, not much to ask for
But in the end you could not deliver
(Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie offscreen about to play their rock-&-roll instruments)

Sing you fools, but you got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven't got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
And she's not coming back to you
(other Disney Princesses start clapping their hands in various rhythms)

Show business kept us all alive
Since 17th October, 1945
But the star has gone, the glamour's worn thin
That's a pretty bad state for a state to be in
Instead of government we had a stage
Instead of ideas, a prima donna's rage
Instead of help we were given a crowd
She didn't say much, but she said it loud
Sing you fools, but you got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven't got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
She's not coming back to you
(sustained and extended rock conclusion)

**Pinkie Pie:** (squee) OK, kiddies, go ahead.

**[Choir of children and women]**

Salve regina mater misericordiae
Vita dulcedo et spes nostra
Salve, salve regina Perón
Ad te clamamus exules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes
O clemens o pia
(Kettle drum, clash cymbals and gong strike at once as the orchestra swells, then snare drumroll followed by kettle drum, clash cymbals and gong strike together)

**Kimberly:** Just after entering the hall, all the mourners get in line to say goodbye to her. Some have their candles lit and I remember what the creative professionals call an Easter egg - a sailor-suited soldier paid her respects by setting a white carnation right next to her coffin with a glass top. I can see from the full view, the front is decorated and clustered with lots of the same thing. And surrounding her are four vigil torches still keeping ablaze. And the rest of the military force are just standing. What made Ché come to the same place?

**[Spirit of Evita Perón]**

Don't cry for me, Argentina
For I am ordinary, unimportant
And undeserving of such attention
Unless we all are - I think we all are
Ride on my train, oh, my people
And when it's your turn to die, you'll remember
They fired those cannons, sang lamentations
Not just for Eva, for Argentina
Not just for Eva, for everybody
So share my glory, so share my coffin
So, share my glory
So, share my coffin
**[Ché]** It's our funeral too

(orchestra concludes with Octavia Melody being seen)

**Kimberly:** Tons of Argentine locals in her time believed she did good things like giving the poor what they needed. And now, I'm preparing to wait for her spirit to come. I think she must be somewhere in the clouds. (distant wind whistling) Here she comes. (the spirit of Evita appears) Evita! I never had met you in all my life. I'm Kimberly Jordan from Maryland, USA and I have some questions for you. Were you the first one to pay respects to your father despite the argument between your mother and another widow?

   **Evita Perón:** Why, yes, Kimberly, I have when I was a child. And my mother was right. When her "enemy" called me a mean word, I just ran into the church and did my thing. And before I was dragged away, I kissed my father.

**Kimberly:** That's what happened in Chivilcoy, 1926, huh?

**Evita:** Right. Along with my family, I wanted to travel to find him and after we went home, I told mama that I had succeeded. Where would I find my father?

**Kimberly:** Oh, he's just waiting for you as his daughter and I know he's gonna love you like you loved him.

**Evita:** I hope so.

**Kimberly:** And then, about 10 years later, you, your mother, and all your siblings grew in Junín and the first guy you encountered was the tango singer, Agustín Magaldi. Your dream of going to Buenos Aires came true when you both got in the train. I hear you used to dance tango there. How many men did you dance with?

**Evita:** Hmm. That's an interesting question. 7 of them, as seen by your eyes.

**Kimberly:** So, each time you traded a man, you obtained your career?

**Evita:** Oh, sure, I remember - model, actress and radio star. And then in the 1940's, I first met Juan Perón backstage, when he was a colonel.

**Kimberly:** Since the San Juan earthquake in '44?

**Evita:** You're quite right. I was backstage in a charity concert until he came to me. We promised to be good to each other. And all around Argentina, we went to different places, so many people saw me. I met the military and for one night, Perón and I were entering the luxurious apartment. I heard the crowd chanting his name outside.

**Kimberly:** That's what I told my daddy when I watched your film. Let's roll the flashback, shall we?

(scene flashes to men outside the apartment)

**Crowd of men:** Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!

**Kimberly:** And as your colonel opened the doors, the police decided to arrest him, whatever the paper said.

**Evita (in flashback):** Don't let them take you.

**Juan Perón:** Eva, I have to go.

**Kimberly (offscreen):** I can also see and have heard that you were crying out your protests, because you love him, right?

**Evita (offscreen):** Yes. And then, the crowd was demanding his release the next day.

**Kimberly:** So, days and nights passed until the government agreed for Perón's freedom. And the commander said...

**Domingo Mercante:** Release him.

**Kimberly:** And finally...

**Evita:** I was happy with Perón again. I know. You're always curious as you say sometimes.

**Kimberly:** Yeah! \*giggling\* Also in one of your next days, you and Perón had a wedding in the church. And then, more of your people in your generation kept on supporting him electing him for president. And much to your delight, he won the election!

**Evita:** Really? I guess he did.

**Kimberly:** And the following night, you and your relationships were in the Casa Rosada waiting for your people to support you, right?

**Evita:** We sure had.

**Kimberly:** In that case, it's time to roll another flashback.

(drumbeats)

**Full crowd:**Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!

**Juan:** Argentinos!

**Full crowd:**Perón! Perón! Perón!

**Juan:** Argentinos!

**Full crowd:**Perón! Perón! Perón!

**Juan:** We are all workers now...fighting against our common enemies; poverty...social injustice...foreign domination of our industries...reaching for our common goal...

**Full crowd:**Perón! Perón! Perón!

**Juan:** ...our independence, our dignity, our pride!

**Fluttershy:** Um... excuse me, ladies, I don't have the right to cut you off, but who is this ghost?

**Kimberly:** She's Evita Perón, Fluttershy, she was once Argentina's first lady in her husband's marriage.

**Fluttershy:** Then can you tell me what kind things she had done?

**Kimberly:** Later, Fluttershy. Now, where were we? Oh, yes. Juan Perón continued saying...

**Juan:** Let the world know that our great nation is awakening, and that its heart beats in the humble bodies of Juan Perón and his wife, the first lady of Argentina...Eva Duarte de Perón!

**Kimberly (offscreen):** And as the crowd cheered, they started to chant your name like this...

**Full crowd (some members in counterpart):**  Evita! (Perón! Perón!) Evita! (Perón! Perón!) Evita! (Perón! Perón!) Evita! (Perón! Perón!) Evita! (Perón! Perón!) Evita! Evita! Evita...!

**Evita (voiceover):** Oh, I see your details, Kimberly. And this is when I had the opportunity. My husband took my hand and my brother and sisters had always been supporting me. And we stepped to the balcony of the Casa Rosada as my people cheered on.

**Kimberly (offscreen):** Like you haven't even expected?

**Evita (voiceover):** Kind of. And there, the light shone on this balcony.

**Kimberly (offscreen):** Well then, here it comes--- here's Ché in the middle of the crowd, just watching you up there. So, you were about to have a speech?

**Evita (voiceover):** Sort of more like a song, and this is how I do it.

**(singing in flashback)**

It won't be easy, you'll think it's 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're 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......
**Kimberly (offscreen):** I can hear people humming in their minds. And as I look closely to some crowd members, they were waving at you...

**Evita (voiceover):** And I gave them a blowkiss. I know. It was a breezy night and this is where I continued.

**(singing in flashback)**

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
**Kimberly (offscreen):** And louder than thunder, your people cheered ever than before. I think your family must be very proud of that.

**Evita (voiceover):** I know. As a whole family, we just moved on changing from lower class to upper class, I admit. So, you're saying that I played the role of the countess in one of the movies I was part of as an actress?

**Kimberly (offscreen):** Yep. And there was an anonymous actor who portrayed a man named Pablo. (flashback fades away) I didn't realize that Alan Parker seemed to be part of this film as your director.

**Evita:** An Argentine film director?

**Kimberly:** Yep. And now, I do. I wonder what's next?

(Kimberly and Evita hear water sloshing in the surface)

**Hanon Hosho:** Hi, Kimberly. I just overheard the message from the seashell cam.

**Kimberly:** Glad to see you, Hanon, I would like to introduce you Argentina's so-called goddess, Evita Perón.

**Evita:** Hello.

**Hanon:** Hi, Evita, I'm Hanon Hosho, a Mermaid Princess from the South Atlantic Ocean. I hear you used to live in Argentina. Is that the place close to the South Atlantic?

**Evita:** Since I didn't learn much about geography, I suppose it really is.

**Hanon:** Then there is something I like to show you. But first, I need to come ashore. (raises both arms up) Aqua Pearl Voice! (last word echoing)

(Hanon's transformation music playing, Kimberly and Evita watch Hanon transforming)

**Kimberly:** Isn't she amazing?

**Evita:** I suppose so.

**Hanon (after her transformation as she catches her E-Pitch and twirls):** Ha, ha! Ta-da!

**Kimberly:** Whoa...that's quite amazing, Hanon, now what do you have in mind?

**Hanon:** My leader Lucia Nanami left this music box that plays music. They name it the Pearl Music Box and some call it an orgel. Kimberly, can you do me a favor by holding my E-Pitch while I show this to you?

**Kimberly:** Sure. I'd be honored to do it. (takes Hanon's E-Pitch for hold)

**Hanon:** I've just got this programmed with a new song. (turns the crank) Listen closely.

(Pearl Music Box playing Don't Cry For Me Argentina)

**Evita:** Hanon, I was too late longing to tell you that you like my background music; it sounds so beautiful.

**Hanon:** Thanks, Evita.

**Kimberly:** So, Hanon, I was just telling her how she did good deeds for her people in her side of the story. Would you like to hear it?

**Hanon:** I never heard this story before, so yes, I'd be happy to hear it.

**Fluttershy:** So would I.

**Kimberly:** OK. This story continues with Evita and her family being delighted by the cheers of the crowd.

**[Evita (in flashback)]** Just listen to that, the voice of Argentina, we are adored, we are loved

**[Officer]** Statesmanship is more than entertaining peasants

**[Eva's sister]** We shall see, little man

**[Crowd outside the balcony]** Evita Perón, la Santa Perónista (repeated and sped up)

**Kimberly:** That part means "saint of the Perónists". Evita stepped into the balcony, feeling the praise. All around Argentina, everybody listens to her saying...

**Evita (in flashback):** I am only a simple woman who lives to serve Perón in his noble crusade to rescue his people. I was once as you are now, and I promise you this; we will take the riches from the oligarchs only for you, for all of you; and one day, you too will inherit these treasures. ¡Descamisados, mis compañeros! When they fire those cannons, when the crowds sing of glory, it is not just for Perón, but for all of us! For ALL OF US!"

(crowd cheering wildly)

**Kimberly:** That phrase means "shirtless ones, my companions" in Spanish.

**Fluttershy:** Oh, that's a pretty good translation, Kimberly.