Song & Dance of a 3-Time Cancer Survivor
歌舞慶重生第三段《時鐘的旋轉公仔》
Act 3
REVOLVING CLOCKWORK FIGURES
Heroine's stays in hospital – like going through a production line, yet there is human failing that causes unnecessary suffering.
Heroine's opening speech:
During my long battle with cancer, I was in and out of many hospitals for this and that. Let's see how I can entertain you with my experience – (with an enigmatic smile) – and there's a message too!
Now the music begins:
('Tick Tock' instrumental music)
Chorus:
Time for your pill.
Time for your blood test.
Time for your drip.
Time to get undressed…
Heroine:
Time to undress!
Into this gown that splits at the back
and does not cover your behind!
Chorus:
Convenient for nurses and doctors
at the expense of patients' dignity.
Heroine:
Ah! That clever woman has learnt to walk
holding the splits at the back of her gown together.
Male lead:
You should be glad you were not put into a mixed ward wearing this,
and surrounded by men wearing all-front-but-no-back gowns.
Heroine:
They take your blood, your clothes, your dignity,
and give you in return –
pills and jabs and skimpy gowns.
Some deal!
Chorus:
No time to be ill.
No time to be depressed.
No time to be still.
No time for a rest.
Tubes, tests, tablets –
tabs, jabs, tabs, jabs.
Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!
Heroine:
Amidst routines that seem reassuring,
there is human failing:
This nurse ticks all the wrong blood tests.
Once the blood is put in the wrong tube,
it is wasted,
and I have to go through all this hell again!
Chorus:
Any human failing
may lead to unnecessary suffering.
Male lead:
At such a traumatic time,
no time to complain.
Heroine:
All those unnecessary sufferings
caused by human failings.
When one has cancer,
one still needs to think.
When clockwork can go wrong –
not so much the consultant,
but the lower ranks,
one cannot leave everything in the hand of others.
For self-preservation and survival
I must think and be alert.
No time to die,
But be alive!
_ _ _
The Heroine had many operations.
So how did she make fun out of this?
See next, Act 4:
Ouch! Ouch! Operations!
Joking about an operation!
You must be joking!
(Visit Scores page for music score of Act 3, and listen to the midi playback of the score.)