The Spirit of Allah

a musical about Ruhollah Khomeini and the Iranian Revolution

Posted by Jew from Jersey
15 July 2003

Scene3. “I have a dream”

Mohammed-Reza Pahlavi and Farah-Diba Pahlavi

[Stage as before, but now empty of people, except the Shah and Shahbanou.]

• MRP: My country languishes, O what a fate
• And to think that I’m descended from Cyrus the great
• Once the Persian empire was vast and wide
• Now I’m king of the superstitious and blind

• FDP: Your duty, O king, is to your people, not to history
• You must be their father, not a man of mystery.

• MRP: What this country needs is self-respect
• A sort of place in the sun, I often reflect
• The third world’s in bad need of a role model
• I think we could be just the thing for them to follow

• FDP: Your love for your country, my king, is surely beyond doubt
• But is it its or your glory you’re dreaming about?

• MRP: But they’re one and the same, don’t you see that it’s true?
• I need the people to make it, and they need me, too

[Interesting light show begins, involving a blue planet earth replacing the sun as the half-globe behind the lion/sword image.]

• MRP: For I have a dream and it’s too big to keep to myself
• I have a dream all Iranians will live in style and wealth
• I have a dream the whole world will bow to the lion and the sword
• This is the greatest nation on earth, and I am their sovereign lord

• This feudal economy has got to go, we’ve got to grow
• Cuz that’s not how things are done anymore
• We’ve got sights worth seeing, mountains for skiing
• Oil and caviar and iron ore
• There’s no need to weave rugs or grow rice, build mud houses cooled with ice
• Wait till you hear what I’ve got in store
• We’ll build refineries and ports, cinemas and resorts, hotels and casinos galore

[Images of hotels and casinos, etc. float by on the horizon. Spotlights dance.]

• MRP: I’ll take the land from the mullahs, those parasite rulers
• And give it to the peasants
• They’ll approve of my scheme, and share in my dream
• After receiving such presents
• The mullahs can still wear turbans, and keep their positions
• They’ll receive an apology
• They shouldn’t feel hurt, I’m not going to convert
• Anyone to Buddhism or Scientology

• For I have a dream, etc.

• And these backward traditions, primitive social conditions
• I find these things to be beyond the pale
• We’ll liberate servants and wives, we’ll civilize the tribes
• The ship of state has set sail
• And the mullahs’ controls, taking money for souls
• Will be to no avail
• No more child marriages, horse-drawn carriages,
• We’ll even save the whales

• And each and every Iranian, of every race or religion
• Will be my own subject
• From the cradle to the grave, every stone will be paved
• Every need will be met
• My advisers will plan the economy, and my ministers perfect democracy
• You’ll never worry or fret
• The Americans will drool, the Soviets will look like fools,
• I’ll get this country some respect

• For I have a dream, etc.

[Lights dim as MRP raises his arms. FDP bows her head but remains silent.]