Music by: Derek Bermel
Libretto by: Sandra Cisneros & Derek Bermel

Derek and Sandra’s new opera, based on Sandra’s novel The House on Mango Street, is a dramatic rendering of the coming-of-age story of Esperanza Cordero. The two acts present a musical retelling of a year in the life of Cordero, a Mexican-American teenage girl, whose challenges assimilating into her new neighborhood on Mango Street (in a barrio of Chicago) have enthralled more than 6 million readers in 25 languages. After a week-long workshop, this special project is to have a public reading at Norton Hall followed by a conversation with the creators.

The House on Mango Street was a 2017 Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) selection and a CLSC Young Readers selection.

ACT 1

SCENE 1 (early spring)

GERALDO

Agua-refrescos-cigarros-chicle-chocolate-pistache-garapiñados-los purOOOOS.

[Drinks, refreshments, cigarettes, gum, chocolates, pistachios, sugared almonds, cigarrrrrs!]

SHAMANAS

TAMALES!  ATOLE!

RAFAELA

Papaya, coco, guayaba.

[papaya, coconut, guava.]

TITO

TWENTY DOLLARS!  

RACHEL AND LUCY

FIFTEEN! 

SIRE

We’re just friends.  And she happens to be a girl.  Gimme a break already!

ELENITA

Open the path to my powers, and let all the demons depart, yeah!

BUM MAN

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

EDNA

I SAY OFF MY PROPERTY, YOU BIG STUPID!

MRS. VARGAS

Reynaldo, Marcus, Rigoberto, Javier, McGyver, whatever your name is, shut up!

PREACHER MAN

Have you made a friend with the Lord today?

DARIUS

See this stick?  It touched a rat!

LUCY & RACHEL

Aaaaah!

CHORUS (ALL)

You know me.

I don’t like to talk.

SOLO 1

I don’t even know the name

of the creep across the street.

ALL

But that house,

they bought that house.

SOLO 5

You know which one I mean.

ALL

You know me.

SOLO 2

I mind my own business.

SOLO 6

Never dish the dirt.

SOLO 3 & SOLO 7

I keep my hocico [snout] shut.

ALL

But that house,

they bought that house.

SOLO 1

You know which one I mean.

SOLO 8

It cost them….

SOLO 4

How much?

SOLO 9

No!

ALL MEN

Just wait until the rain comes through.

ALL WOMEN

Wait until the rooftop leaks.

ALL MEN

Wait until the cold comes in.

ALL WOMEN

Wait until the mouse comes out.

ALL

Get what I’m saying about that house?

About that house?

SOLO 6

I don’t like to talk

But I hear the pipes leak.

SOLO 8

Imagine!

SOLO 9

You’re kidding!

SOLO 1

Cockroaches waltz in the door without a knock.

SOLO 10

¡Valgame Díos!

[Oh my God!]

ALL

Yes, that house,

They bought that house.

SOLO 3 & SOLO 8

I’m just telling you what they told us.

SOLO 9

You must be kidding!

ALL

You know me.

SOLO 7

 Bochinche [gossip} is beneath me.

SOLO 1

No like el güiri-güiri [yadda yadda].

SOLO 2 & SOLO 5

Too much trash around here talking trash.

ALL

But that house,

they bought that house.

SOLO 1

It gives me escalofrios [shivers].

SOLO 8

That piece of….

SOLO 7

¿Cuanto?

[How much?]

SOLO 9

¡No me digas!

[You don't say!]

ALL MEN

But Edna the landlady says….

ALL WOMEN

Agnes the dog lady says….

ALL MEN

Mister Benny from the corner store says….

ALL WOMEN

His wife Blanca says….

SOLO 1 & SOLO 3 & SOLO 8 & SOLO 9

Earl the juke box repairman says….

ALL

Wouldn’t set foot inside that house,

Inside that house.

ESPERANZA

One day a real house, they said.  One day we won’t have to share with the downstairs landlord, they said.  One day a bathroom all our own, so we don’t have to tell the whole world when we take a bath.  One day… A house with flowers, and all around green.  Yeah, right.

PAPA CORDERO

Mija, no te worries.  Un día cuando ganemos la lotería.

Daughter, don't worry.  One day, when we win the lottery.

MAMA

For crying out loud?  What do you want?

ESPERANZA

What do I want? 

Some place

quiet enough to hear

pen talking to paper. 

GUY

Aw, Baby, you a yellow taxi with the keys in the ignition!

MOTHER

Esperanza, Come inside.  You’re not one of those girls!

ESPERANZA

Some day, some way

I’ll jump out of my skin

And shake the sky

Like a hundred violins.

But today I’m just me. 

PAPA

 Esperanza.  Pórtate como una mujercita.

[Esperanza.  Behave like a lady.]

NENNY

How many kids you want when you grow up?

BROTHER

No dude’s gonna kiss you, the way you look.

ESPERANZA

What do I want?

I don’t know.

But I know

I don’t

want this.

ESPERANZA

Not a flat.

Not an apartment in back.

Not a man’s house.

Not a daddy’s.

A house all my own,

With my porch and my pillow,

My books and my stories.

A house all my own.

A house all my own.

With my porch and my pillow,

My pretty purple petunias.

A house all my own,

With my books and my stories.

My two shoes waiting beside the bed.

A house of my own.

Nobody to shake a stick at.

Nobody’s garbage to pick up after.

A house of my own.

Only a house quiet as snow,

A space for myself to go,

Clean as paper before the poem.

A house of my own.

CATHY

You live there?   What’s your name?

ESPERANZA

I wish my name was Lisandra or Maritza or Zeze the X.  Esperanza.

CATHY

Je suis Cathy . . .

[I am Cathy . . .]

I am the great great grand cousin of the queen of France.

I live upstairs, over there,

Next to Joe the baby-grabber.

Keep away from him!  Beware.

He is full of danger.

Benny and Blanca own the corner store.

They’re okay except don’t lean on the candy counter.

BENNY

I heard they moved in today.

BLANCA

You mean THAT house?

CATHY

Two girls raggedy as rats live across the street.

You don’t want to know them.

Edna is the lady who owns the building next to you.

She used to own a building big as a whale,

but her brother sold it.

CHORUS

Their mother said . . .

EDNA

No, no, don’t ever sell it.

ONE MALE CHORUS MEMBER

I won’t.               

FULL CHORUS

And then she closed her eyes and he sold it.

CATHY

Alicia is stuck-up ever since she went to college.

ALICIA

Due process, habeas corpus, equal protection under the law ….

CATHY

She used to like me but now she doesn’t.

CATHY & ESPERANZA

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la

CHORUS

Cathy who is queen of cats has cats and cats and cats.

Baby cats, big cats, skinny cats, sick cats.

Cats asleep like little donuts.

Cats on top of the refrigerator.

Cats taking a walk on the dinner table.

ESPERANZA

Her house is like cat heaven.

CATHY

You want a friend.

Okay, I’ll be your friend.

But only till next Tuesday.

That’s when we move away.

Got to.

The neighborhood is getting bad.

TITO

Tweeenty dollars, brand new!

LUCY & RACHEL

Tito!  Tito!  Tito!  Tito!

CHORUS

Cathy’s father will have to fly to France one day

And find her great great distant grand cousin on her father’s side

And inherit the family house.

ESPERANZA

How do you know this is so?

CHORUS

She told me so.

In the meantime

They’ll just have to move a little farther north from Mango Street.

ESPERANZA

A little farther away

Every time people like us keep moving in.

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la

RACHEL

What’chu looking at?  Jealous?

ESPERANZA

Those clothes are so . . . glamorous.

RACHEL

Got a light?

LUCY & RACHEL

Tito!  Tito!  Tito!

RACHEL

We gots ten.

TITO

I said fifteen, cootie girls!

RACHEL & LUCY

If you give us five dollars

We will be your friend forever.

Si nos das cinco pesos

We will be your amiga pa’ siempre.

Five dollars, I will be your friend forever!

ESPERANZA

If I had a friend forever, all my own,

I would never never never never ever be alone.

Nenny’s too young to be my friend.

She’s just my sister.  And that’s not my fault.

RACHEL

You don’t pick your sisters.

LUCY

You just get them.

RACHEL & LUCY

Five dollars!  Five dollars!

If we had a bike forever, all our own,

We would never never never ever be uncool.

We gots ten dólares already.

ESPERANZA

A friend forever all my own.

RACHEL & LUCY

A bike forever all our own.

ESPERANZA

A friend I can tell my secrets to.

A friend who will understand my jokes

Without my having to explain.

RACHEL & LUCY

A bike we could show off around the block.

One that will make the other kids cry.

Five dollars! Cincos dollars!

ESPERANZA

[to the audience] Five dollars is cheap

Since I don’t have any friends.

Except Cathy, who is my friend till Tuesday.

RACHEL

Five dollars!  Only five!

ESPERANZA

Wait a minute!

RACHEL

Uuuuyyyy, ahi viene el cucuuuy.

[Uh-oh, here comes the boogieman!]

LUCY

I ride first, huerca [kid].

RACHEL

Cállate el hocico, babosa.

[Shut your snout, fool.]

LUCY

My name is Lucy.  This here is Rachel, my sister. 

RACHEL

I’m her sister.  Who are you?

ESPERANZA

. . . Esperanza.  In Spanish it means . . .

LUCY & RACHEL  [together]

Hope!  We know, you dope!

LUCY

Her was born here, but ME, I’m Texas. 

ESPERANZA

You mean SHE.

LUCY

No, I’M from Texas.

RACHEL

Today the bike is mines!  Lucy’s tomorrow, and you day AFTER tomorrow.

ESPERANZA

Why don’t we take turns tomorrow?  Today it belongs to all of us.

RACHEL

Lucy, wáchale, ¡WÁCHALE [Watch out]!

LUCY

Can’t help it!  The wheels are like spaghetti.

LUCY & RACHEL

We will be your friend forever.

We will keep your secrets

and braid your hair.

We will laugh at all your jokes.

Peel a scab from your knee

and eat it on a dare. 

We would.  For you.

We will be your friend forever. 

When the snobby kids in school

Try to make you feel not cool

We’ll pretend that we don’t hear (la la la!)

Chew a piece of gum

And stick it in their ear

We would. For you.

We will be your friend forever.

VERY LARGE LADY

My, you got quite a load there!

RACHEL

You got a quite a load there too!

ESPERANZA

If we had a phone . . .

LUCY & RACHEL

We don’t!

ESPERANZA

We could text each other.

LUCY & RACHEL

We won’t!

We don’t need nobodies but each other.

LUCY

Her and me.

RACHEL

I and she. 

LUCY & RACHEL

Us and you.

We will be your friends forever.

RACHEL

Come on, or we’re never ever going to be your friend again forever!

ESPERANZA

Wait.  I just wanna watch for a sec.                                

LUCY

Ay, tú, Maria Cantú.

[You think you're so special!]

Traca Traca

Traca Traca

[Rattle-rattle]

Beware of being where you ought not to be.

Beware of being where you ought not to be.

SIRE

To be or not to be; that’s the way it got to be

Mango Street — optimum spot for me

Sweat my block, now you playing the lottery

Got to remove you from my property

You wack MCs trying to speak hip-hop to me

I melt ya dome, now ya brain all chocolatey

Like a doctor giving you a lobotomy

Droppin’ psychology, can’t stop me, G

No college be teaching this knowledge thoughtfully

I’ll serve ya hemlock tea like Socrates

Knock ya knees, now heed my philosophy

All’s well that ends well, so let’s end this properly

All good, ‘cause in your ‘hood you’d be on top of me

Cold gang-banging like a human shopping spree

So step off because we playing monopoly

Mango Street is my beat; to be or not to be

SIRE & TITO

Traca Traca

Traca Traca

Beware of being where you ought not to be.

Beware of being where you ought not to be.

TITO

One night coming back from the game

Fell asleep on the El train

Hopped off at the last stop

Made my way to a bus stop

But I had no change

Now in my hood I’m a tough guy

Kinda rough guy

Never woulda dreamed I’d be a cream-puff pie

But now you see me out my element

‘Cause my skin got too much melanin

Bystander make me feel like a felon and

Trying hard to look intelligent

Legs like gelatin, shake like a skeleton

Toes like dough, walking heavy like an elephant

Wanna yell, but it wouldn’t go well and then

5-O gonna put me in a cell again

Breathing hard, heaving down the boulevard

Large front yards with armed guards

It’s a dragnet, I’m a target

Don’t wanna die by the bullet yet

Can’t forget where I come from

Mango Street call me home like a talking drum

Please God, just lemme make it back

To my one-block universe—

Traca Traca

SIRE & TITO

Traca Traca

Traca Traca

Beware of being where you ought not to be.

Beware of being where you ought not to be.

SIRE & TITO

Try not to die

The Rule we live by

SIRE

Me personally,

I’m sick of getting jumped

I’m sick of getting thumped

Sick of getting chased, chopped, erased

Sick of getting stabbed, jabbed, robbed, nabbed

Sick of getting out the way of melee mayday

I’m sick of gun-running and funerals

I’m sick of being called delinquent juveniles

Yo, I’m sick of fists, rocks, bricks, cops

I’m sick of only hearing shots when the music stops, while we

SIRE, TITO, & DARIUS

Try not to die

The Rule we live by

Try not to die

The Rule we live by

Try not to die

The Rule we live by

PREACHER MAN

You’re not my daughter! Come home right now and wash that cheap paint off your face!

RACHEL

¡Hijo Jesuuuuuuu! [Son of Jesus!] Now she’s gonna get it.

LUCY

Shut up, flaca [skinny girl]

 RACHEL

I’m only saying . . .

LUCY

I told you cállate! [be quiet!]

ESPERANZA

I hope she’ll be alright.

LUCY

Maybe.

ESPERANZA

Might.

RACHEL

Could. 

LUCY, ESPERANZA, & RACHEL

Maybe might could!

ESPERANZA

I wish I had a black coat and black suede shoes like that girl Sally.  If I did maybe the boys . . ..

RACHEL

Boys!  ¡Fuchi!  [Phooey!]  Wish I had twelve dozen socks that matched.

LUCY

¡Órale!  [That's it!]  Instead of a dozen that doesn’t. Wish I had a Big Gulp and a Twinkie. 

RACHEL

Have you ever eated dog food? 

LUCY

Wish I had two chilidogs with cheese, two pops, French fries, and a frozen cream pie.  . . . And wish I didn’t have to share.

ESPERANZA

Wish I didn’t have to share a room with my sister Nenny.

RACHEL

Wish we had a bedroom alls our own, so we don’t gots to sleep with the six pissy baby sisters.  Chinelas [Dang], I wish we had a bedroom.

LUCY

A bedroom with a door.  Maybe one day we might.  Maybe one day we could.

ESPERANZA

Maybe.

LUCY

Might.

RACHEL

Could! 

ESPERANZA, LUCY, & RACHEL

Maybe might could.

ESPERANZA

If I had a house of my own, it would be quiet and clean.

ESPERANZA, LUCY, & RACHEL

Maybe might could.

LUCY

Wish we had a ‘frigerator with an ice cream machine.

RACHEL

Wish we had a ‘frigerator that worked!

ESPERANZA

Maybe.

LUCY

Might.

RACHEL

Could. 

ESPERANZA, LUCY, & RACHEL

Maybe might could. 

LUCY

Wish I had two hips like holsters, and a baby on each side like a pair of pistols.  Pyoo pyoo!  Pyoo pyoo! Wish I had  . . . a handsome husband.

RACHEL

You crazy!

ESPERANZA

All she wants is to love and to love and to love, and no one could call that crazy.  

RACHEL

I call it CRAY-ZEE!

LUCY

Who you calling crazy, loca?

RACHEL

Babosa!  Cut it out!

SCENE 2 (late spring)

RUTHIE

Once I was beautiful. 

Once we met at a school bazaar. 

Once he said he loved me. 

Once I said I do. 

Once long ago I had a house,

pillowcases and plates,

towels and a toaster,

an alarm clock and drapes. 

scrubbed linoleum roses,

ceiling smooth as wedding cake.

Once when I was beautiful. 

Once when he said he loved me. 

Could’ve been.

Might’ve been. 

Should’ve been. 

Once. 

BUM MAN

Once was good at numbers—twice.

Once with women and once with dice.

Got a kid, maybe two somewheres.

And somewheres a wife and a wife.

Seemed easy to run when I was young.

Lately think might’ve been better to stay. 

Water over the bridge, water under the . . .

Damn!  Never could keep that shit straight.

Even before my life ran away

from me.  Always a few

steps ahead or behind.

Try not to let it upset me.

No use to live with regret.

All I need is my bottle of forget.

Could’ve been.

Might’ve been. 

Should’ve been. 

Once. 

RAFAELA

Once, 
around my neck
I wore a key.  
Locked and unlocked 
the door myself.

I fed my brothers.  
I was the oldest.  
It was up to me.

My mother left early.
She came home late.
Worked two jobs, 
Sometimes three.

And though I loved 
my island home and family,
I dreamed the dream of a silver key.

Once a silver man arrived
promising to look after me.  
Mother gave her blessing, 
cried, threw rice, gave no advice.
We left the island for our new life.

My husband calls me
his precious thing.
That’s why he keeps me
on a silver string.
Now I dream again

the dream 
of a silver key.

GERALDO

Una vez 

tuve una vida

donde nadie me preguntaba.

¿De dónde eres?

Una vez fui hijo

hermano, marido, y padre.

Un pobre fui

sin darme cuenta,

que era rico.

¿Mi días ahora?

Agua 

escurriendo

de mis dedos.

¿Mi vida ahora?

Un catre

y almohada.

Una vez fui hijo

hermano, marido, y padre.

Un pobre fui

sin darme cuenta,

que era rico.

Sueño en volver

a esa vida.

Un día. 

Ojalá.

Quizás.

Ojalá.

[Once

I had a life

Where no one asked me

"Where you from?"

Once I was son,

brother, husband, and father.

I was poor

without realizing

I was rich.

My days now?

Water

running through

my fingers.

My life now?

A cot

and a pillow.

Once I was son,

brother, husband, and father.

I was poor

without realizing

I was rich.

I dream of returning

to that life.

One day.

I hope.

Maybe.

God willing.]

PAPA CORDERO

Once you wanted to sing

with velvety lungs

powerful as morning glories.

All you wanted was

to sing with velvety lungs

powerful as morning glories.

For love of me

you put aside your

glory dreams.

But sometimes

now and then when

you add the tomato sauce

to the rice browning in oil,

the roar rises from the skillet

like a Carnegie Hall applause.

And I catch you take your bow.

I catch you take your bow.

MAMA CORDERO

Once you wanted a job

where you came home

with your hands clean.

All you wanted was

to come home

with your hands clean.

Wanted to use this [points to head]

and come home

with your hands clean.

One job. Two. 

Leave early. 

Come home late.

Never complain.

Yet each night

in front of the TV,

your same command: 

hot water and a wash tub please

to soak my calloused hands.

CHORUS

Once we believed in maybe might could.

Once

PAPA & MAMA

Could have been….

CHORUS

Once

PAPA & MAMA

Might have been….

CHORUS

Once

PAPA & MAMA

Should have been….

CHORUS

Once

PAPA

Always

MAMA

Siempre

PAPA & MAMA

What I’ve done with love, and only love,

siempre sale bonito

[always turns out beautiful.]

SCENE 3 (early summer)

CHORUS

The Monkey Garden.

Far away from where mothers can find them.

The Monkey Garden.

Far away from where mothers can find them.

ESPERANZA

Sally, come on!

SALLY

Cut it out, you’re getting my stockings muddy!  Play with the kids if you want, I’m staying here.

SALLY

Come on!  Give them back.  You guys!  Come on!

SIRE

Ha!  Come and get ‘em!

TITO

They’re over here.

SALLY

You jerks.  Quit it already.  I’m gonna get in trouble.

SIRE

You can have your ol’ keys . . . But you gotta pay.  A kiss for each key.

ESPERANZA

Don’t do it, Sally!  You’re not . . . one of those girls.

SALLY

It’s just a kiss.  So?

BOYS

Why doesn’t she go play with her dolls?

ESPERANZA

No, no, no!

ESPERANZA

Your son and his friends stole Sally’s keys and now they won’t give them back unless she kisses them and right now they’re making her kiss them.

MRS. VARGAS

Those kids.

ESPERANZA

That’s all?

MRS. VARGAS

What do you want me to do, call the cops?

ESPERANZA

Hold on, Sally, I’m coming! Let her go, you creeps!

MAMA CORDERO [offstage]

Esperanza!

BOYS

Esperaaan-zaaa! Your mommy’s calling. 

SALLY

Don’t embarrass me.

ESPERANZA

They are the only ones who understand me.

I am the only one who understands them.

Four skinny trees

With skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine.

Four who do not belong here but are here.

Four raggedy excuses planted by the city.

From our room we can hear them.

TREES

Keep, keep, keep

ESPERANZA

Trees say when I sleep.

TREES

Keep, keep, keep

ESPERANZA

They teach.

Their strength is their secret.

They send ferocious roots beneath the ground.

They grow up and they grow down

And grab the earth between their hairy toes

And bite the sky with violent teeth

And never quit their anger.

Let one forget his reason for being.

They’d all droop like tulips in a glass

Each with their arm around the other.

This is how they keep.

When I’m too sad

And too skinny to keep keeping

When I’m a tiny thing against so many bricks

Then it is I look at trees

When there is nothing left to look at on this street

Four who grew despite concrete.

TREES

Keep Keep Keep

Oooooo.

ESPERANZA

Four who reach and do not forget to reach.

Four whose only reason is to be

Whose reason is to be and be.

SALLY

Holy mother of a father!  Were you crying?

ESPERANZA

I tried to help you.  I tried to save you.

SALLY

Save me?  I don’t need to be saved.  We was just kissing. Haven’t you never been kissed before?

ESPERANZA

Sure.  Plenty of times. 

SALLY

Ha, I bet!

SALLY

Listen Miss Priss,
I’m gonna give you an education.
A kiss is just negotiation.
It don’t mean yes.
Don’t mean no.
Might mean . . .

ESPERANZA

Maybe might could?

SALLY

Do I gotta school you
in every little thing, Miss Priss?
Miss Little-Lost-in-the-City.
If you don’t know
your way around town by now

How you gonna belong?
How you gonna belong?

Don’t you wanna belong?
 

SALLY + CHORUS OF YOUNGER WOMEN [RAFAELA & OTHERS]

Take and take.

Take and take.

Have your cake

and have your eat it.

Take and take.

Take and take.

Have your cake

and have your eat it too.

SALLY

Toss your eyes like dice.
Tell him that he’s so hot.
Even if you know he’s not.
Best him, test him.
Tell him, “Tie my shoes.”

ESPERANZA

And if he does?

SALLY

Grand prize.

ESPERANZA

Whoa!

SALLY [laughs]

I know what I know.
If he says, “You fine”,
What’s your answer?

ESPERANZA & CHORUS

Maybe, might, could?

SALLY

No!
Tell him, “I got no time.”

“I gotta go.”

ESPERANZA
[disappointed]

For real?

SALLY

For real.
You want him to know,
but you gotta go slow.
Poco a poco [little by little]
But not too little,
Or he maybe might go.
First ojitos [eyes],
Then besitos [kisses],
Then... quizás [maybe]…

ESPERANZA

Maybe what?

SALLY
[rolls eyes]

Forget it.

SALLY & CHORUS

Take and take.

Take and take.

Have your cake

and have your eat it.

Take and take.

Take and take.

Stay awake,

or you’ll get eaten too.

SALLY, ESPERANZA, & CHORUS

Take and take.

Take and take.

That’s the lesson you can follow.

Take and take.

Take and take.
Nunca sabes what tomorrow brings.

SIRE

Pssst, Sally!  I got cigarettes  . . ..

SALLY

I gotta go, Espy.

Wait, will you?  Waaaaait!

ESPERANZA

Wait, wait, wait.  That’s the story of my life.

 CHORUS
[the nosy neighbors watching all come forward from their perches]

Good girls wait.

ESPERANZA

For what?

ALTOS

For exactly the right moment.                                                        

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

BASSES

Till someone comes to fetch you.

ESPERANZA

You gotta be kidding.

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

SOPRANOS

You don’t want to be called a floozy.

SALLY

Who you calling a floozy, floozy?

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

ALTOS

A good girl is choosy.

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

SOPRANOS

Wait ‘til you’re old enough to get married.

TENORS

You don’t really want to make us ashamed.

BASSES

Do you?

SOPRANOS

Can’t you see we’re much better than that trash?

TENORS

We’re just here ‘til we get back on our feet.

BASSES

You’ll see.

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

ALTOS

Get a job where you keep your hands clean.

ESPERANZA

Dishwasher!?

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

  ALTOS

Study hard so you can become Presidenta!

 CHORUS

Good girls wait.

SOPRANOS

Make sure you earn your own money.

ESPERANZA

You got that right!

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

ALTOS

Never marry a Mexican.

SIRE

Bull!

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

TENOR SOLO

Take your little sister with you.

ESPERANZA

Always!

BASSES

How are you going to manage if you can’t cook?

ESPERANZA

I’ll have a chef!

ALTOS

Don’t go out in the sun without a slip on.

ESPERANZA

Hello! I’m wearing jeans.

SOPRANO

Don’t wear a bra till you’ve got something to fill it!

ESPERANZA

Mind your own business!

CHORUS

Good girls wait.

Good girls wait.

Good girls wait.

Good girls wait.

MAMA

Esperanza, get in here.  It’s getting dark.

ESPERANZA
(on the stoop)

Sheesh!  Can’t a girl get any privacy around here!!! 

ESPERANZA

I want to sit out bad at night.

I want to be all new and shiny.

A boy around my neck

And the wind under my skirt.

I want to sit out bad at night.

I want to feel like I’m a real human being.

That can’t be wrong.

I want to be bad so bad, so bad.

I want to know what it feels like to love.

To feel I belong to someone.

Just for a little.  Just once.

To feel not alone.

Just for a little.  To finally belong.

To feel at home.

Everything’s holding its breath inside me.

Everything is waiting to explode.

I’m tired of stretching my neck outside my window

Imagining what I don’t know.

Once a boy held me so hard, I swear,

I could feel the weight of his arms around me.

But it was a dream.

TREES

Wait, just wait.  Wait.  Wait.

ESPERANZA

I’m sick of waiting all my life.

I’m tired of never ever after.

Is it a crime to want to sit out bad?

All I want is to love and to love and to love.

And no one can call that crazy.  To love.

Just for a little.  To love.

To never feel alone.

Just for a little.  To finally belong.

To feel at home.

To finally come home.

CHORUS
(THREE MEN)

Ay que calor

Ya no aguanto.

Ay que calor

Ya no aguanto.

[Oh, it's so hot

I can't take it anymore.

Oh, it's so hot

I can't take it anymore.]

SCENE 4 (late summer)

GERALDO

Aguas, refrescos, cigarros, chicles, chocolates, cacahuates, pistaches, garapiñados, los puroooos!

[Drinks, refreshments, cigarettes, gum, chocolates, pistachios, sugared almonds, cigarrrrrs!]

LUCY

Fresh air!   Fresh air!  Five cents five minutes.

EDNA

I pay you ten cents FOR YOU TO GET LOST.

RACHEL

Okay, okay.  How’s about FIFTEEN and we get lost?

EDNA

GET OUTTA!

LUCY

FRESH AIR!  GET YOUR FRESH AIR!

PREGÓN

La tarde suda como un borracho.

[The afternoon sweats like a drunkard.]

CHORUS (coro)

Ay que calor.

PREGÓN

El pobre sufre como un mártir.

[The poor man suffers like a martyr.]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

PREGÓN

Si esta noche es mi último baile…

[If this night is my last dance…]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

PREGÓN

…por lo menos baila conmigo, mi amor.

[…at least dance with me, my love]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

Ay que calor

Ya no aguanto.

Ay que calor

Ta no aguanto.

SALLY

You think I’m blind or something? 

SIRE

I told you, we’re just . . .  friends.

SALLY

Friends?  Friends?!!!  Awright.  I’m gonna dance with MY friend.

SIRE

Yeah, right.  You ain’t got no friends but me.

CHORUS

Ay, que calor, tanto aguanto.

PREGÓN

Ya no aguanto.

CHORUS

Ay, que calor, ya no aguanto.

PREGÓN

Que calor, que calor.

GERALDO

Agua/refrescos/cigarros/chicles/chocolates/pistaches/garrapiñados/los purooooos!

SALLY

¿Como te llamas?

[What's your name?]

GERALDO

Geraldo.

SALLY

Geraldo que?

[Geraldo what?]

GERALDO

Pues . . . solo Geraldo.

[Just . . . Geraldo.]

SALLY

¿Bailamos?

[Wanna dance?]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

GERALDO

No, no puedo.

[No, I can't.]

CHORUS

Ya no aguanto.

SALLY

Ándale.

[Come on.]

CHORUS

Ay, que calor.

SALLY

Te enseño.

[I'll teach you.]

PREGÓN

Si el sol seca mis aspiraciones…

[If the sun dries my dreams…]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

PREGÓN

Si el huracán borra mi camino...

[If a hurricane erases my path…]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

PREGÓN

Si el río llora y me ahoga…¡Ay, que dolor!

[If the river weeps and drowns me… Oh, what pain!]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

PREGÓN

…por lo menos baila conmigo, mi amor.

[…at least dance with me, my love.]

CHORUS

Ay que calor.

PREGÓN

Que calor, que dolor.

CHORUS

Ay que calor

Ya no aguanto.

Ay que calor

Ya no aguanto

PREGÓN

¡Bailemos (todos)!

[Dance (everyone)!]

SIRE

¿Oyes, buey, que haces bailando con mi mujer?

[Hey, you big ox!  What are you doing dancing with my woman?]

GERALDO

Hombre, no busco pleito. ¿Que te pasa, cabrón?

[Man, I'm not looking for trouble.  What's the matter with you, jerk?]

SIRE

Who you calling cabrón . . . MOJADO?

[Who you calling a jerk, wetback?]

HOLD ME BACK!

LUCY & RACHEL

¡Pleito!

[Fiight!]

COP ONE

Police!  Freeze!

COP ONE

I told him FREEZE!  Shit!  Call an ambulance  . . .. Damn it.  No pulse.

SALLY

It’s my fault.  Like my daddy said.

ESPERANZA

It’s not your fault.  It was the . . ..

MAMA CORDERO

Mija!

[My daughter!]

PREACHER MAN

Ya vez.  Te dije.  Ya no eres mi hija.

[You see, I told you.  You're not my daughter.]

COP ONE

You all saw what happened.  I said “freeze.”  I told him “freeze.”  And he kept…running, I mean, grabbing, for something.  Like a gun.  Could’ve had a gun.

COP TWO

Self-defense.  Anybody could see that. Even you, Missy, with the camera. Anyone know his name?

ESPERANZA

His name is . . . was Geraldo .  .  . .

COP TWO

Geraldo. Geraldo what?

ESPERANZA

That’s all I know.  He sold candy.

BUM MAN

And cigarettes.  Sometimes he gave me one for free.

COP TWO

Operating an illegal business. Address?

DARIUS

He ain’t got no address, no family here, he’s from . . . .

NEIGHBOR LADY MOM

Shhh.  Cállate.

[Be quiet.]

COP TWO

Okay, folks. Uhhh, from the looks of it, just another wetback.  Probably didn’t even speak English. Tssk. ¡Por favor, amigos, por favor, si un oficial de policía te dice "Freeze!" significa “¡Alto!” ¿Entendido? Que pena. [Please, friends, please.  If a police officer says 'Freeze', it means 'Stop'.  Understand?  What a shame.]  Geraldo.  No last name.

ESPERANZA

Everybody’s got a last name.

MAMA

Mija, please!

CHORUS

His name was Geraldo

and his home is in another country.

The ones he left behind are far away.

His name was Geraldo.

CHORUS

Do you remember?  Say his name.

SHAMANA 1

Geraldo se fue al norte.

SHAMANA 2

He went north.

SHAMANA 3

We never heard from him again.

CHORUS

We never heard from him again.

CHORUS

Ay, que dolor.

que horror.

Ay, que dolor.

Que horror.

[Oh, how horrible.

Oh, what pain.

Oh, how horrible.

Oh, what pain.]

ACT 2

SCENE 1 (early autumn)

SALLY

It’s like we’re sisters now, right?  Mama says you can stay as long as you want.  This is going to be… Oh!  How…?  Who would ever do this to someone like you?

SALLY

He never hits me hard. 

ESPERANZA

I thought you said you fell.

SALLY

Mama rubs lard on all the blue places.

ESPERANZA

The stories they tell, are they true, Sally?

SALLY

He just went crazy between the buckle and the belt.

ESPERANZA

But why?

SALLY

It’s my fault.  Sometimes he’s forced to drive away the wild.

PREACHER MAN

Discipline harvests righteousness and peace.  Hebrews 12:11

SALLY

Says to be this beautiful is trouble.

ESPERANZA

Trouble to who?

PREACHER MAN

The choice is heaven or hell.

SALLY

Promise you won’t tell.

PREACHER MAN

The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the daughter he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11.

ESPERANZA

Sally, do you sometimes wish you didn’t have to go home? 

SALLY

He’s just looking out for me, that’s all. 

ESPERANZA

Do you wish your feet would one day keep walking and take you far away from Mango Street?

SALLY

He thinks I’m like his sisters who all ran away.

PREACHER MAN

Remember your tías who walked a path of sin. 

SALLY

It all reflects on him.

ESPERANZA

No nosy neighbors watching, no motorcycles and cars, no sheets and towels and laundry. No mothers and fathers, no boys, no belts, no fights, no police, no guns.  Only trees and more trees and plenty of blue sky.

ESPERANZA

You can never have too much sky.

SALLY

You can fall asleep and wake up drunk on sky.

ESPERANZA

And sky can keep you safe when you are sad.

SALLY

Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky.

SALLY & ESPERANZA

Butterflies too are few and so are flowers and most things that are beautiful.

Still we take what we can get and make the best of it.

SALLY

Look…!

Today the world is full of clouds,

The kind like pillows.

PREACHER MAN

Please . . . come back.  This is the last time. 

SALLY

Daddy!

ESPERANZA

I don’t understand.

MAMA CORDERO

Mijita.

[My little one.]

SCENE 2

ALÍCIA

It’s on the video.  The cop shot him in the back.

COP
(ON VIDEO)

Police! Freeze!

ALÍCIA

Homicide, second degree.  What more do you want?  If we don’t speak up, nothing will change.  Carpe diem; acta, non verba.
[Seize the day. Action, not words.]

ESPERANZA

Why can’t you post it yourself?

ALÍCIA

Because . . . Promise not to tell? I don’t have papers.  I’m technically . . . not authorized to be . . ..

ESPERANZA

Here?

ALÍCIA

In the United States.  Yo soy [I am]. . . persona non grata.

ALÍCIA

Who cares if not us?

Who sees us if not us?

Who loves us if not us?

Who’s gonna save us if not us?

Step up.

You can’t unsee what you saw.

You can’t undo what you know.

You can’t unbe who you are.

Step up.

Who’s gonna risk it if not us?

Who’s gonna love us if not us?

Who’s gonna testify, yeah?

Whatever you do next,

Do it with puro corazón [all your heart]

Y corazón puro [and a pure heart].

ESPERANZA

Whatever you do for those you love

With love and only love...

ALÍCIA

…siempre sale bonito.

ALÍCIA & ESPERANZA

…always turns out bonito [beautiful].

ALÍCIA

La divina Providencia [Divine Providence]

Lights the next step,

Never the whole camino [way].

ESPERANZA

Just the next step.

ALÍCIA & ESPERANZA

Nunca el camino.

ALÍCIA

So, amiga [my friend] Espy,

Will you post this for me?

Are you going to help?

Or are you part of the problem?

It’s your choice.

Decide.

SCENE 3 (late autumn)

ELENITA

The planets are bright tonight.  How about I tell your fortune?

CASANOVA

I already know my fortune.  I’m going to play in the NBA.

SQUINKY

Yeah, the NBA alright.  No booty around.

MUNCH

Aww, nothing but vieja [old woman] mumbo jumbo.

SHAMANA

No hay que reir mucho el viernes porque el domingo lloras. 

CASANOVA

What did she say?

SQUINKY

It means don’t laugh on Friday cause by Sunday you’ll cry. Laugh, but that crap freaks me out.

MUNCH

C’mon, let’s shoot hoops.

ELENITA

Gimme a dollar,

and I’ll tell you all I see.

Money back guarantee.

[To SALLY:]

You!  Your gift is like a fire hose

Spinning out of control.

¡Cuídate! [Be careful!]

[To ESPERANZA:]

And you, hope of hopes,

You don’t know

what you got yet.

¡Despiértate! [Wake up!]

Gimme a dollar

and I’ll tell you all I see.

Money back guarantee.

ELENITA

Mmmmmm.  I see a home in the heart.

ESPERANZA

Is that all?

ELENITA

That’s what I see. I’ll look again, baby.  Yup, I was right, a home in the heart.

SALLY

C’mon, we gotta get changed. 

SALLY

Hey, there, cute things.  Can a girl play too?

CASANOVA

Whoa!  Yeah, sure.

SQUINK

Aww, man.

ESPERANZA

I know. I’ll hold your backpack.

SALLY

Like this?

CASANOVA

Yeah, shoot.

SQUINKY

Aww!

MUNCH

She should be teaching you!

ESPERANZA

Hey, where you going??

SALLY

I’ll be right back.  Wait for me by the Red Clowns.

ESPERANZA

I don’t know why I came here.  I just end up holding her change.  Holding her brush.  Holding her purse.  I don’t even like carnivals.

SQUINKY

Might as well make yourself at home. 

MUNCH

Guess you haven’t suffered enough, huh?

ESPERANZA

I’m just waiting for my friend.

SQUINKY

Well, your friend’s not waiting for you.

MUNCH

Hey, where you going?  We didn’t mean nothin’. You want a cigarette? 

ESPERANZA

Sure. I’m not used to cigarettes without filters.  I prefer clove.  Cost more, but they’re worth it, right? 

SQUINKY

Yeah, sometimes stuff costs more cause it’s better.  Like, I want to get some tats from this guy uptown, but it costs a lot. 

ESPERANZA

I knew a friend who had a dozen.  EVERYwhere!

SQUINKY

For real? 

ESPERANZA

Yeah.  Everywhere you looked.  Every nook and cranny.  Cats, cats, cats.  Unbelievable.   But it smelled bad.

SQUINKY

Wait.  You talking about tats or cats?

ESPERANZA

I meant cats. CATS not tats.

SQUINKY

You’re okay, school girl.

ESPERANZA

Well, I guess I should be going. My friend will be worried.

MUNCH

Naw, sit down.  She don’t miss you.

SQUINKY

Yeah, keep making us laugh.

MUNCH

Let’s play Monkey Do Monkey Does, come on.

ESPERANZA

What’s that?

SQUINKY

You gotta tell us something nobody else knows, like that you never told nobody.  Ever. 

MUNCH

I’ll start . . . Squink is called Squinky because in fourth grade he peed in his pants.

SQUINKY

Did not.

MUNCH

Did too.  I was there.  Now it’s your turn, Spanish girl.

ESPERANZA

Um. . . My friend gets beat up by her father with the belt.

MUNCH

Big deal.  What else you got?

ESPERANZA

I witnessed  . . . a murder!

SQUINKY

For real?

ESPERANZA

I got the video. 

MUNCH

Nuh-uh.  Let’s see.

ESPERANZA

I don’t know if I’m gonna show you. 

MUNCH

Aw, come on.  Don’t be a tease.

ESPERANZA

I shouldn’t.

SQUINKY

Hey, look what I found!

ESPERANZA

THAT’S MINE!

SQUINKY

Woohoo!

MUNCH

This is good.  Listen up.  “His name was Jer-ral-do.  Jer-ral-do.  I said Jer-ral-do.  He sold candy!” 

ESPERANZA

Give it back!

MUNCH

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down!

ESPERANZA

THAT’S MINE!  Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally, Sally!

SQUINKY

Munch, make her quit it.  Make her shut up!

MUNCH

I love you, Spanish girl.

SCENE 4 (winter)

Naca’ gunaa gule sti bieque, naca’.

Soy la mujer renacida, soy.

I am the woman reborn, I am.

Naca’ gunaa rusianda, naca’.

Soy la mujer que se sana, soy.

I am the woman who heals herself, I am.

Naca’ gunaa ni nanna.

Soy la mujer que sabe.

I am the woman who knows.

Naca’ gunaa ranaxhii yaga laa, naca’.

Soy la mujer que los arboles aman, soy.

I am the woman the trees love, I am.

Naca’ biaani’ne ra riuu biaani’, rabe’.

Soy luz y la puerta a la luz, digo.

I am light and a door to the light, I say.

Naca’ gunaa ni nanna.

Soy la mujer que sabe.

I am the woman who knows.

Naca’ ni ruza’diidxa’ ne zacá rusianda’ naa, rabe’.

Soy cuentista y así me sano, digo.

I am a storyteller and this is how I heal myself, I say.

Ti guendaruí diidxa’ rusianda, rabe’.

Porque contar historias es medicina, digo.

Because storytelling is medicine, I say.

Naca’ gunaa ni nanna.

Soy la mujer que sabe.

I am the woman who knows.

Ti guendaranaxhii rusianda, rabe’.

Porque el amor nos sana, digo.

Because love heals us, I say.

Ti guendaranaxhii rulá laanu, rabe’.

Porque el amor nos salva, digo.

Because love saves us, I say.

Naca’ gunaa ni nanna.

Soy la mujer que sabe.

I am the woman who knows.

Naca’ gunaa ni bi’ya’.

Soy la mujer testigo.

I am the woman witness.

Naca’ gunaa ruzetenala’dxi’

Soy la mujer memoria.

I am the woman who remembers.

Naca’ gunaa ni rucaa.

Soy la mujer escritora.

I am the woman writer.

Dxi rucaa ni nanna’ riziiladxe’

Cuando documento lo que sé,

me desahogo.

When I document what I know,

I undrown.

DUENDE 1

Esperanza.

DUENDE 2

Esperanza.

DUENDE 3

Esperanza.

DUENDE 1

When you leave you must remember to come back ...

DUENDE 2

. . . for the others. 

DUENDE 3

A circle, understand? 

ESPERANZA

A home in the heart.

Only a house

Quiet as snow

A space for myself to go

Clean as paper before the poem.

A home in the heart.

A house of my own.

LUCY

 N’ombre.   Olvídalo.

[No way, man.  Forget it.]

RACHEL

You crazy.  Puro sexy [really sexy].

LUCY

Owww!

LUCY & RACHEL

Good lucky we gots one another.

Good lucky we gots you and me.

Good lucky, good lucky.

RACHEL

I takes care of you . . .

LUCY

…and you takes care of me.

LUCY & RACHEL

It’s a good-lucky good thing. 

It’s a good-lucky luck thing. 

It costs a lot, but good lucky it’s free.

I takes care of you, and you takes care of me.

LUCY, RACHEL, & QUARTET

It’s a good lucky good thing.

It’s a good lucky luck thing.

It costs a lot, but good lucky it’s free.

QUARTET

We’re the roof over your head—

LUCY & RACHEL

—Without holes!

QUARTET

We’re the solid foundation—

LUCY & RACHEL

—Without cracks!

QUARTET

Walls to keep you safe and sound.

LUCY & RACHEL

Sano y salvo.

[Safe and sound.]

QUARTET

Doors that open.

LUCY & RACHEL

Stoop to rest your bones.

QUARTET

Home in the heart.

LUCY & RACHEL

Place you can call home.

LUCY, RACHEL, & QUARTET

It’s a good-lucky good thing. 

It’s a good-lucky luck thing. 

It costs a lot, but good lucky it’s free. 

I takes care of you, and you takes care of me!

ESPERANZA

I like to tell stories.

I tell them inside my head.

I tell them after the mailman says…

LADY MAILMAN

…”Here’s your mail.”

ESPERANZA

“Here’s your mail,” she said.

I like to tell stories

I make a story for my life,

For each step my brown shoe takes.

I say…

ESPERANZA

…“And so she trudged up the wooden stairs,

Her sad brown shoes taking her to the house she never liked.”

ESPERANZA

I like to tell stories.

I am going to tell you a story about a girl who didn’t want to belong.

We didn’t always live on Mango Street.

Before that we lived on Loomis on the third floor,

And before that we lived on Keeler.

Before Keeler it was Paulina.

But what I remember most is Mango Street.

ESPERANZA & CHORUS

Sad red house,

The house I belong but do not belong to.

ESPERANZA

I put it down on paper

And then the ghost does not ache so much.

I write it down and Mango says goodbye sometimes.

She does not hold me with both arms.

She sets me free.

One day I will pack my bags of books and paper.

One day I will say goodbye to Mango.

I am too strong for her to keep me here forever.

One day I will go away.

Friends and neighbors will say…

CHORUS

…”What happened to Esperanza?

Where did she go with all those books and paper?

Why did she march so far away?”

ESPERANZA, adding in a few more from the chorus each line:

They will not know I have gone away to come back.

For the ones I left behind.

For the ones who cannot out.

END

General and Artistic Director: Steven Osgood 
Music Administrator: Carol Rausch 
Managing Director: Daniel Grambow 
Director of Production: Michael Baumgarten
Arts Marketing Specialist: Makayla Santiago-Froebel 
Company Scheduler: Rick Hoffenberg
Company Managers: 
Claudia Torres 
Austin Terris 
Music Staff:
Miriam Charney
Rick Hoffenberg
Dottie Randall
Carol Rausch
Kristin Roach
Emily Jarrell Urbanek
Allison Voth
Arts Marketing Associate: Jessica Mack