lyrics:
VINCENT
TEN MINUTES ‘TILL LECTURE
A PATH TO RETRACE.
OTHER STUDENTS JOIN,
HEADED THE SAME EXACT PLACE.
POURING OUT OF BUILDINGS
MARCHING TO CLASS.
FILING THROUGH ARCHES.
REFLECTED IN GLASS.

ALL WALKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, 
SPILL OUT OF A NARROW STREET AND CROSS THE ROAD.
FROM ABOVE, WE LOOK LIKE FLIES SURROUNDING SOMETHING THAT HAS DIED,
A CARCASS OVERFLOWED. 
I AM SCARED OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND I WISH I COULD STOP MOVING BUT I CAN’T TRY.
EVEN IF I DO, THE MINDLESS SWARM WILL SPLIT IN TWO AND PASS ME BY.


DO THEY NOT FEEL TRAPPED?
EVERY MOVEMENT MAPPED?
DO THEY FEEL MY STARE?
DO THEY EVEN CARE?
THE SWARM STARTS TO SEETHE (STUDENTS: AND IT’S HARD TO BREATHE)
AND IT’S HARD TO BREATHE (STUDENTS: AND IT’S HARD TO BREATHE)
WHERE CAN I RUN?

THEY DICTATE WHAT I DO AND I DICTATE WHAT THEY DO 
AS WE CONTROL THE MASS.
WE ARE AN ENDLESS STREAM OF FLESH SO ALL THE VEHICLES AROUND US WAIT FOR US TO PASS.
DRAWN INTO A VORTEX WHERE I CAN’T TELL IF I’M LEADING OR I’M BEING LED.
PART OF THEIR POTENTIAL, I CAN FEEL I HAVE A PURPOSE WAITING UP AHEAD

DO THEY NOT FEEL CAUGHT? 
IS THIS WHAT THEY’RE TAUGHT?
DO THEY NOT FEEL SMALL? 
DO THEY FEEL AT ALL?
DO THEY NOT FEEL LED? (STUDENTS: DO THEY NOT FEEL LED?)
DO THEY KNOW THEY’RE DEAD? (STUDENTS: DO THEY KNOW THEY’RE DEAD?)
WHERE CAN I RUN?

NO ONE WOULD NOTICE IF I EVER VANISHED
THEIR BODIES WOULD SUSTAIN
THIS NEVER-ENDING ARMY
LIKE BLOOD PUMPING THROUGH A VEIN.

NO ONE WOULD NOTICE IF ANYONE VANISHED. 
IF NATURE CULLED THE HERD.
THIS CROWD OF PULSING FOOTSTEPS
WOULD KEEP MOVING UNDETERRED.

(THE OTHER STUDENTS join in as they rush around VINCENT, who is standing still.)

NO ONE WOULD NOTICE IF I EVER VANISHED
THEIR BODIES WOULD SUSTAIN
THIS NEVER-ENDING ARMY
LIKE BLOOD PUMPING THROUGH A VEIN.
NO ONE WOULD NOTICE IF ANYONE VANISHED. 
IF NATURE CULLED THE HERD
THIS CROWD OF PULSING FOOTSTEPS
WOULD KEEP MOVING UNDETERRED.

(Suddenly, the students disperse. VINCENT is alone. )

BUT THE FOOTSTEPS PASS
HEADED OFF TO CLASS.
AND I’M LEFT BEHIND
SAYING I DON’T MIND.
I TRY NOT TO CARE,
BUT WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
IF I’M NOT TRAPPED HERE
I’LL JUST DISAPPEAR. 
WHEN IT’S SAID AND DONE,
WHERE CAN I RUN?

Where Can I Run (Adamandi Demo)

lyrics:
VINCENT:
DEAR MS. REPORTER, I’M HONORED TO BE HERE
OH, MS. REPORTER, I’VE HAD A BUSY YEAR
IF YOU WANT PARTICULARS
MY EXTRACURRICULARS
HAVE BEEN QUITE FULFILLING
AS I MADE A KILLING!

I’VE BEEN SILENT, QUICK, AND DEADLY
AS I FOUND EACH NOMINEE.
THIS PRIZE LIST’S GOTTEN SHORTER
AND IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF ME! 
I STARTED OFF EASY 
WITH THOSE JOCKS IN THE GYM.
I’M LUCKY IT WAS AMBROSE.
I MEAN, ANYONE WOULD KILL HIM!

OH MS. REPORTER, YOU LOOK A LITTLE FAINT.
WELL, MS. REPORTER, I’VE SHOWN GOOD SELF-RESTRAINT.
NO ONE ELSE SUSPECTS A THING
OR LOOKS AT ME IN STUDY HALL
OR ASKS ME WHERE I’M HEADED TO
IT’S LIKE THEY’VE NEVER CARED AT ALL.

HOW CAN THEY NOT NOTICE?
I’M SO NEAT AND PRECISE!
FEEDING THEM TO SQUIRRELS
OR THE LABORATORY MICE.
THE ADMIN WON’T STOP ME.
NO SURVEILLANCE INCREASED.
YOU WOULD THINK, REPORTER, 
THEY WOULD CANCEL CLASS AT LEAST! 

OH, MS. REPORTER, I’VE HID THEM QUITE WELL
AND, MS. REPORTER, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL
I COULD KILL THEM ON THE GREEN
OR LEAVE THEIR BODIES IN THE SQUARE
BURN STUTTON HALL TO ASHES
AND THE ADMIN WOULDN’T CARE!

AND I THINK THAT I’M THE PROBLEM
IT’S LIKE EVERY OTHER YEAR.
EVEN IF I TRY TO PLEASE THEM,
IT’S LIKE I WAS NEVER HERE.
ALWAYS PART OF SOMEONE’S SHADOW
ALWAYS PUT BACK IN MY PLACE
(to GHOST AMBROSE)
I’LL NEVER HAVE THE MONEY
OR THE BIRTHRIGHT, OR THE FACE. 
(GHOST AMBROSE mirrors VINCENT’s movements for the rest of the song) 
I’VE CHOKED THEIR RICH MACHINE WITH BLOOD
BUT THE WHEELS JUST KEEP ON TURNING.
THEY’D NEVER LET A COUPLE DEATHS
DISRUPT A PLACE OF LEARNING. 

OH, MS. REPORTER, I CAN’T SAY THIS TO YOU
BUT, MS. REPORTER, I MEAN, WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? 
WHAT ELSE COULD MAKE THEM WANT ME?
IS IT SOMETHING I CAN’T SEE? 
WOULD THEY NOTICE ANYTHING
IF IT WAS DONE BY ME? 
THERE’S NO MORE RULES TO TEMPT ME
OR CONTESTANTS TO PURSUE 
PLEASE, MS. REPORTER, 
PLEASE, MS. REPORTER,
PLEASE, DON’T TELL ME,
BUT WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? 
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? 
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? 
WHAT ELSE CAN I- 
WHAT ELSE CAN I-
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

Oh, Ms. Reporter (Adamandi Demo)

Litany of the Martyrs (Adamandi Demo)

Vocals by Lara Priya Sachdeva. Lyrics:
PORTIA:
TALKS ON THE ROOF.
WRITING IN THE DARK.
THEORY BY THE WINDOW, UNREAD.
WAITING OUTSIDE
TO THE SOUNDS OF CRYING...
LIFE ON THE BONES OF THE DEAD.
SEARCH FOR YOUR FRIEND.
TELL THEM THEY’LL BE FINE.
TRY TO MAKE THEM GO HOME, INSTEAD.
WEIGHING YOUR LIFE
LIKE A HEAVY POUR...
LIFE ON THE BONES OF THE DEAD.
YOU TRY TO BE GOOD.
TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS.
EVERY DAY FEELS LIKE YOUR LAST.
THEN IT ENDS.
WALKS IN THE SNOW.
WAITING FOR A TRAIN.
STRIPPING ALL THE SHEETS OFF YOUR BED.
HOW CAN YOU LEAVE,
IF SO MANY STAYED?
NO MORE OF THE BONES OF THE DEAD.
NO MORE OF THE BONES OF THE DEAD.

Bones of the Dead (Adamandi Demo)

A demo for our new show Thy Sinful House. Vocals by Lara Priya Sachdeva (Atreus) and Lana Gaige (Thyestes.) Lyrics by Mel Hornyak and music by Elliot Valentine.

Lyrics:
THYESTES
I want to see my children! Where are they?

ATREUS forcibly sits her down, and tucks a napkin into her shirt.

ATREUS
YOUR KIDS ARE RIGHT HERE!
NO NEED FOR ALARM.
STAY FOR DESSERT, EAT A COUPLE MORE COURSES!
THEY'RE IN YOUR EMBRACE.
THEY WON'T COME TO HARM.
AT LEAST, NOTHING WORSE FOR YOUR KIDS THAN DIVORCE IS!

HAVE ANOTHER DRINK, THYESTES!
HAVE ANOTHER ROLL.
YOU’LL HAVE FAMILY BONDING
UNTIL YOU’RE QUITE FULL.
HAVE A LITTLE BREAD, THYESTES!
DRINK A LITTLE WINE.
AS YOU MADE CLEAR,
THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE:
WHAT’S MINE IS YOURS
AND WHAT’S YOURS MUST BE MINE.

THYESTES
What have you done with them? 

ATREUS
YOUR KIDS ARE QUITE SAFE.
THEY'RE ALWAYS WITH YOU.
INSIDE YOUR HEART - WELL, A LITTLE BELOW. 
THEY WON'T LEAVE YOUR SIGHT
ONCE DINNER IS THROUGH.
YOU’RE THE ONE KIND OF MOTHER THEY'LL NEVER OUTGROW.

HAVE ANOTHER DRINK, THYESTES!
TAKE A LITTLE REST!
I MADE THIS MYSELF
AND IT’S MADE FROM THE BEST.
HAVE ANOTHER SWEET, THYESTES.
EAT ANOTHER CAKE!
IF THEY DON’T RETURN
THEY WON'T HAVE TO LEARN
THAT WHAT FAMILY GIVES YOU
IT ALSO WILL TAKE!

THYESTES
Where are they? 

ATREUS
OH, THE LITTLE BRATS ARE FINE!
THEY'RE IN THE BREAD, THE MEAT, THE WINE
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I'M ABLE
TO MAKE THEM JOIN US AT THE TABLE! 
IT’S NOTHING WORSE THAN GIVING THEM A HOUSE WE BUILT ON SIN!
(Thyestes starts gagging)
I HOPE THEY TASTE WORSE COMING OUT
THAN THEY DID GOING IN!

(Thyestes starts choking)

ATREUS
HAVE ANOTHER DRINK, THYESTES!
(she spills the wine onto the floor)
HAVE ANOTHER BITE!
(she tips the tray of meat off the table)
THEY WON'T TASTE GOOD TOMORROW
SO DON’T WASTE A SCRAP TONIGHT!
(she pushes the table over, chases Thyestes down, and starts pouring wine on her)
HAVE ANOTHER PLATE, THYESTES!
[DON’T KNIT YOUR PRETTY BROW!]
YOUR KIDS ARE PROTECTED!
YOU’RE ALWAYS CONNECTED!
TELL ME, THYESTES-- 
(Opening a cloche. Inside are TANTALUS and PLISTHENES' heads.)
DO YOU RECOGNIZE THEM NOW? 

THYESTES
I recognize my sister. 

Have Another Drink (Thy Sinful House demo)

Vocals by Subin Kara Ahn. Lyrics:
HAO:
I HOPE I'M NOT RIGHT.
I HOPE YOU WON'T THINK ME INSANE.
BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH JÓZEF.
I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT.
BUT THE THOUGHTS I HAVE REMAIN.
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH JÓZEF.

HE COMES HOME TOO EARLY.
COMES HOME TOO LATE.
COMES HOME TOO DRUNK.
WANTS FOOD ON HIS PLATE.
A DIFFERENT STEP.
A DIFFERENT SMELL.
FORGETS A SONG
HE SHOULD KNOW WELL.
FORGETS A SONG
HE SHOULD KNOW WELL.

SOMETHING HIDES INSIDE YOUR SKIN.
I DON’T KNOW WHEN I LET IT IN.
WATER DROPLETS ON THE DOOR.
I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE.
ONLY BREATHING WHEN YOU’RE GONE.
SEEK THE HORSE I’M SITTING ON.
WATER PUDDLES ON THE FLOOR.
I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE.

HIS SKIN TOO LOOSE.
HIS VOICE TOO LOW.
HIS EYES TOO SCARED.
I STOP, HE'LL GO.
HE FEELS LIKE DEATH.
HE LOOKS THE SAME.
HE KNOWS MY LOVE
BUT NOT MY NAME. 
HE CALLS ME “LOVE”
BUT NEVER MY NAME.

SOMETHING HIDES BEHIND YOUR EYES.
SOMETHING FEEDS ON MY SURPRISE.
SOMETHING THAT I CAN’T IGNORE.
I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE.
YOU FORGET THE WAY WE WALKED,
ONLY SHOUT THE WAY WE TALKED;
ASKING WHAT I’M FRIGHTENED FOR.
I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE.

MY GRANDFATHER SAID NOT TO PLAY NEAR THE SHORE.
IF SOMEONE HAD DROWNED THEMSELVES THERE BEFORE.
THEIR GHOST GRABS YOUR ANKLE AND SWITCHES YOUR PLACES.
A GHOST WITH A THOUSAND FAMILIAR FACES.
WHEN DID YOU CHANGE? 
WHY WASN’T I THERE? 
WHY DID YOU DROWN? 
WHY COME UP FOR AIR? 

I WILL CAST OUT A ROPE
TO THE AFTERLIFE’S SEA
YOU WILL NOT HAVE HIM
YOU WILL NOT HAVE ME.

I HOPE I’M RIGHT.
I HOPE YOU DON’T GET WHAT YOU WANTED.
HOW DARE YOU WRONG MY JÓZEF? 
I HOPE I’M RIGHT. 
I DON’T KNOW WHY THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED.
HOW DARE YOU WRONG MY JÓZEF?

I Don't Know You Anymore (Ghost Story Demo)

This page is for our website portfolio; demos for in-progress projects are posted to https://soundcloud.com/elliotvalentinelee

We are Mel Hornyak (Book/Lyrics) and Elliot Valentine (Book/Lyrics/Music), two New York-based musical theater writers who work under the artist name Melliot. Our musicals use speculative genres like sci-fi, horror, and fantasy to defamiliarize power, love and identity.