William Finn
Marvin at the Psychiatrist (A 3-Part Mini-Opera)
[JASON]
My father says that love
Is the most beautiful thing in the world
I think games are
I think chess is the most
Beautiful thing
Not love

[WHIZZER]
Marvin at the Psychiatrist, a three-part mini-opera
Part One:

[MENDEL]
Do you love him?

[MARVIN]
Sorta kinda

[MENDEL]
Do you need him?

[MARVIN]
Sorta kinda
He makes me smile a lot
Especially at mealtime
It makes me feel I'm sort of smart
[MENDEL]
Mm-hm
Is he special?

[MARVIN]
He's delightful

[MENDEL]
And romantic?

[MARVIN]
Yes, and spiteful
But yet it seems that so am I

[MENDEL]
Just enjoy what you can
Love the boy, not the man

[MARVIN]
Man
Sorta stylish

[MENDEL]
Kinda very

[MARVIN]
Mmm, very very sorta
[MENDEL]
And kind of hard to describe...?

[MARVIN]
Yes, you know, I think that's true

[MENDEL]
When he's naked-

[MARVIN]
Yes?

[MENDEL]
Does he thrill you?

[MARVIN]
Yes!

[MENDEL]
Is he vicious?

[MARVIN]
Yes!

[MENDEL]
Would he kill you?
[MARVIN]
Yes...
I think he's sorta kinda mean
But I love him, and I need it
If he loved me, I'd concede it

[MENDEL]
Don't despise what you feel
Love the friend, not the heel

[MARVIN]
Heel

[MENDEL]
He's sometimes worthless

[MARVIN]
Sometimes evil

[MENDEL]
Sometimes smarmy

[WHIZZER]
Part Two:

[MENDEL]
It's queer, Mr. Marvin- Sorry

[MARVIN]
Jesus...

[MENDEL]
Strange, Mr. Marvin
How your wife, your ex-wife’s meager glories
Coupled with her tragic stories
Move me in unreported ways

[MARVIN]
She's a very good woman
She's a wonderful woman

[MENDEL]
Do you mind that?
She was here to speak of Jason
And I find that
I hope Jason acts out more
'Cause there’s a few more things we need explored

[MARVIN]
Oh no, I understand

[MENDEL]
Good, very good, very very good
I feel a lot better already
Going on

Was she a vicious woman?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
Did she beat the child?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
Did she ever drive you wild?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
Never?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
Never?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
Never, never, never, never?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
Never?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
Never?

[MARVIN]
No, no, no!

[MENDEL]
Was she faithful? Be objective

[MARVIN]
Oh, yes

[MENDEL]
She was faithful

[MARVIN]
Yes

[MENDEL]
And her last caress was

[MARVIN]
Careless

[MENDEL]
You mean careful?

[MARVIN]
Careful
Not to show she cared

[MENDEL]
So you weren't prepared
For the crying
And the screaming

[MARVIN]
And the beating of the breast
Oh- I don't wanna be rude

[MENDEL]
Does she sleep in the n***?

[MARVIN]
No

[MENDEL]
No, going on
Did you like that?
Would she change it if she knew you didn't like that?
Did she wear a negligé?
Could you blow and it would blow away?

I don't mean to interfere
I would like to make that very clear

[WHIZZER]
Part Three:

[MARVIN]
My son's distressing

[JASON]
My father's snide

[MARVIN]
I'm convalescing

[JASON]
He's morbid and dissatisfied

[MARVIN]
What should I do now?

[JASON]
He loves another

[MARVIN]
I agree

[JASON]
I love my mother

[MARVIN]
Why not me?
We go to ball games

[JASON]
The ball is tossed

[MARVIN]
The pitcher's handsome

[JASON]
And our team lost

[MARVIN]
Is that my problem?
Should I be blamed for that?

[JASON]
Explore museums

[MARVIN]
Admire art

[JASON]
We stand together

[MARVIN]
But we stand there looking miles apart
How do I reach him?
What words of wisdom?
What should I do now?

[JASON]
My father says that love
Is the most beautiful thing in the world
I think games are
I think chess is the most
Beautiful thing
Not love

[WHIZZER]
Marvin at the Psychiatrist, a three-part mini opera
The End