Forrest Day

Without a Trace

Hoarders

Reverse - Jhariah

Lyrics by Mel Hornyak, music by Elliot Valentine, book by Mel Hornyak and Elliot Valentine.

Find Mel Hornyak and Elliot Valentine on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Tumblr @melliotwrites.

[ANTHONY and JOEY, in a bar that is really just their apartment. Younger and hungrier. ANTHONY perches by the edge of the stage, looking into the dance floor like he is going to fall off in a second. JOEY leans on the bar with affected casualness, but after he shifts a little to sip his drink, he carefully repositions himself exactly back to where he was. Neither of them are dancing.]

ANTHONY:
TRY NOT TO WISH THAT I’D JUST STAYED HOME IN BED
TRY TO IGNORE GUYS TALKING OVER MY HEAD
CHOKE DOWN A CHASER, PRETENDING TO TEXT
MAKE SURE MY LOCK SCREEN CROPS OUT MY EX

JOEY:
TRY NOT TO FREEZE AGAINST A FOREST OF EYES
PULL DOWN MY JEANS TO TRY AND BREAK UP MY THIGHS
TRY NOT TO SPEAK SO MY VOICE DOESN’T CRACK
IGNORE HOW THEY TITTER WHEN I TURN MY BACK

ANTHONY/JOEY:
BUT THIS WILL BE GOOD

JOEY:
DESIRE LIGHTS ME UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE

ANTHONY/JOEY:
THIS WILL BE GOOD

ANTHONY:
BUT EVERY HEATED GLANCE I CATCH AT MISSES ME

ANTHONY/JOEY:
THIS WILL BE GOOD, AS GOOD AS I CAN DO
'CAUSE BOTTOM-FEEDERS ARE STILL FISH IN THE SEA
JUST LOOK, I'LL BE GOOD
GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU

ANTHONY:
I SEE THIS ALL-AMERICAN BOY BY THE BAR
HIS SHIRT'S STILL ON, DOES HE KNOW WHERE WE ARE? 
LEANING LIKE HE'S LOOKING FOR HIS PICKET FENCE
HE'S NODDING TO THE MUSIC BUT HIS SHOULDERS ARE TENSE
I'M ALWAYS SOMEONE'S PORCELAIN DOLL
OR HIS BRITTLE DREAM OF BAMBOO
I CAN BE THE BOY YOU NEED 
IF YOU SNAP ME RIGHT IN TWO

AND WHO ARE YOU,
ALL CORN-SILK HAIR AND MAPLE TREE,
DON'T YOU KNOW
WHAT I THINK I KNOW YOU WANT FROM ME? 

I SWEAR I'M STILL GOOD
THE LAST BRUISED PEACH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BIN
I’M STILL GOOD
SINCE WHEN IS NOT BEING CHOSEN A SIN?
I'M GOOD, AS GOOD AS ANY OF YOU
‘CAUSE THE RUNT OF THE LITTER TRIES HARDEST TO WIN
I SWEAR I'LL BE GOOD
GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU

JOEY:
DON'T SNIFF THE BAIT IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA BITE
IT'S GETTING LATE, IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT
I DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR “ONLY EXCEPTION”
OR TREATED LIKE A BACHELORETTE
I CAN REEL YOU IN WITH A PRIMED PERCEPTION
BUT I HAVEN'T MASTERED HOOK-AND-SINKER YET

AND WHO ARE YOU,
WITH PRETTY EYES, SOFT INGENUE, 
DON'T YOU KNOW
WHO I THINK YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO? 

I SWEAR I'M STILL GOOD
THE CRUSHED UP CHIPS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
I'M STILL GOOD
I COULD HAVE A DATE, BUT I'M JUST GOING STAG
I'M GOOD, AS GOOD AS ANY OF YOU
THE KID WHO'S IT ALWAYS WANTS TO PLAY TAG
I SWEAR I’LL BE GOOD
GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU

JOEY:
GOD, YOU'RE FLAWLESS

ANTHONY:
GOD, YOU'RE STUNNING

JOEY/ANTHONY:
YOUR LOVE COULD MAKE ME PERFECT, TOO

ANTHONY:
MY HAIR WOULD BE BLONDER-

JOEY:
MY VOICE WOULD BE LOWER-

JOEY/ANTHONY:
I’LL WAKE UP JUST AS HOT AS YOU

AND I WON’T HAVE ANY REASON
NOT TO DANCE IN THE LIGHT

JOEY:
I KNOW YOU'LL REGRET THIS-

ANTHONY:
YOU'LL REGRET THIS

JOEY/ANTHONY:
BUT I'LL GET YOU FOR TONIGHT

BUT I SWEAR YOU'RE STILL GOOD
SO NO NEED TO LOOK FOR BRUISES THAT I COULDN'T SEE
YEAH, YOU'RE STILL GOOD
BECAUSE I MIGHT DISCOVER YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME
YOU'RE GOOD,
BUT MAYBE IF YOU ARE THEN YOU CAN TEACH ME TO BE
STILL GOOD
GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU

Good Enough (GHOST STORY demo by Mel Hornyak and Elliot Valentine)

Ferryman

Summoning

Yellow House

Imagine That

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)

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)

Mouthful of Diamonds (Remastered).wav

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.