Put the needle down

This story is loosely based on "Mind the paint, girl" by Arthur Wing Pinero (died 1937) and the magical musical creation of Admiral Bob [Put the needle down] CC-BY with seperate piano stems. From the original play I am only keeping one line "The world would be a better place if the goverment put a tax on your jokes."

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Scarlet has been a very naughty girl. She had a hard life growing up as an orphan. When Scarlet suggests a re-union with her birth mother, the woman admits that she has concealed evidence of childbirth from her new husband and tries to murder Scarlet. Scarlet has learned how to look after herself, however and manages to escape. Thereafter she moves in with a female minder Harley, who hears her singing for a free wash at the laundrette. The minder introduces her to a recording studio producer.

The producers most reliable and productive musician is straining to produce a new song for an album when she comes to visit. During her 'audition' with the owner, Scarlet discovers a syringe hidden in the bathroom. The musician hears a scuffle and the words "Put the needle down, girl" which inspires him to finish writing the song. The song becomes his magnum opus and also Scarlet's ticket to broadway.

Along the way Scarlet meets a returned soldier (war hero) turned teacher who is steadfast and reliable and in every way a foil for her too exciting life. He can offer steadiness and solidity, but no excitement or the flashy lifestyle she is acquiring. The comic part of the dialogue revolves around her cool rebuff of a string of unsuitable admirers, gently fended away by her retainer. Scarlet also reveals she has been making ends meet in the employ of a movie entrepreneur (we never meet). Naughty Scarlet buys stolen identities and under assumed names uploads torrents of intellectual property to disable the competitors income. Not complicated but nasty fictional stuff.

It all comes to a head when the producer holds a premiere trash party to celebrate her showtime debut and it is discovered he has been tempting her to experiment with hard drugs. Harley goes to town on the producer. With Harley's help, Scarlet signals her acceptance of he affections of the steady lover by rejecting a roomful of money, and the drugs. The idea is to have a comedy with one song repeated twice. First as a poignant duo by Scarlet and the musician as they discover their (musical) chemistry and again at the final curtain, in order to 'theme' a comic play with one good song rather than attempt a musical without enough songs.

PUT THE NEEDLE DOWN - Key of G

Do you remember when you were young Playing that first LP Remember how you sang along When you put the needle down

Now the kids they’ve got webcams While they’re singing to your song Don’t you know they feel as free as when you put that needle down

But sharing songs is just a start When the music’s in your heart

Now you’ve got to play that jazz Or maybe hip-hop’s where it’s at But the song remains the same When you put that needle down

So if I give to the kids What my eight track gave to me It won’t hurt the man If I put the needle down

But sharing songs is just a start When the music’s in your heart

I hear the ghosts of the blues Kick off the blue suede shoes We’ve got nothing to lose When we put the needle down

Now the kids they’ve got webcams Your song’s all over Youtube land How can you not give a damn When they put the needle down?

But sharing songs is just a start When the music’s in your heart