My American Moment

[HELENA, spoken]
A girl like me from tiny square in Krakow
She doesn’t need the blonde hair or the blue eyes or the perfect shape of the face
No, what makes her unique, this is what makes her beautiful too

(singing)
This is the time to reach my goal
My American moment
I hereby take a vow
I vow to win the heart and soul
Of American women
This is my mission now

I’ll show them they have faces
Of power and resplendеnce
A backbone and a basis
To assert thеir independence

When they achieve their rightful role
Their American moment
Equal and adored
That American moment will be my reward

(spoken)
My husband hides away in Paris with books
So many books
Making love to a Swiss girl half his age
My son Leroy, off to Oxford to study
But I know the truth
“I suffocate him,” he says
And little Horace, my baby?
In London, drinking stout and catching motor cars
You are all I have left, Harry
You

(singing)
I see these single women
In veils to mask their faces
In dimly lighted cafes
They slip in and take their places

What are they doing by themselves?
They are sitting at tables
Dining all alone
Can I count on you, Harry?
One man, all my own

[HARRY, spoken]
Count on me?! I’m with you every minute of every day!

[HELENA, spoken]
As you should be!

[HARRY, spoken]
I need a life of my own!

[HELENA, spoken]
I know about this life of yours
The twilight men with their soft handshakes and their green carnations
One of them came to me
He asked for money
You put me, you put the company, at constant risk!

[HARRY, spoken]
Perhaps I should spare you the liability
If you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling sick

[ELIZABETH]
If you want recognition
Permit me to advise you
You need a new position
With the credit she denies you

Might I suggest you take my card?
If you aren’t too busy
Call me when you’re free
The American woman will remain with me