Miss Underground
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Libretto by Paul Gallico
1943, unproduced
Act I: The story opens during World War II on the interior of The Golden Rat, a Montmartre café next door to the Cirque Medrano, at which the renowned Victoria circus family is headlined. Three members of the Gestapo enter and inquire of the whereabouts of the American Susan Jones. German officers arrive with plans to secure the services of the cute Chita Victoria as “entertainment” for General Goernitz, chief of the German occupying forces. American playboy Nicky Malden, dining with Folies-Bergère star Desirée, is interrupted by Susan, posing as a flower girl and clearly jealous of the attention that Nicky is paying to Desirée. Susan hides while the Gestapo trio quizzes Nicky about Susan. They believe him to be a friend, with anti-American sentiments—in reality, he is working for the Resistance. A telegram arrives inviting the Victoria family to perform at Madison Square Garden—Papa Victoria knows, however, that the Germans would never issue a pass for them to leave Paris. To avoid being caught, Susan has disguised herself as a Victoria family member. The Gestapo trio, having revealed that Susan is working for a New York detective firm, is suspicious—they will be at the circus that night to make sure that allfamily members are performing. Susan admits to the Victorias that Nicky’s family has offered her $10,000 to come to Paris and bring him back to the States—she has no idea of his underground work. When Nicky announces to Papa that the Germans want Chita to give a command performance for Goernitz at the Folies-Bergère and that, as a result, he might issue a travel pass, Papa agrees, unaware of the General’s real intentions with Chita. That evening, at the circus, Susan saves herself by managing to ride a horse and thus convince the Gestapo that she is really one of the Victorias.
Act II: One week later, Nicky tells Desirée that his room was searched the night before—she encourages him to leave Paris, but he will not until he has met with Goernitz. Nicky reveals to Susan that she is constantly in his thoughts. When the General arrives for Chita’s command performance, he is confronted by a flirtatious countess, really Susan in disguise, who convinces him to issue the pass and makes him believe that she is his for the evening. Nicky, unaware of Susan’s objectives, is outraged. Desirée convinces him that Susan is on their side and gives him an envelope—all know that his feigned position as a German cooperator is precarious. When quizzed by Susan as to the contents of the envelope, he replies that it represents three years work, is “dynamite,” and that it would be “all over” for him if the Nazis got hold of it. As Chita performs for Goernitz, the Gestapo trio arrives and invades Nicky’s box. Susan takes the envelope from him and leaps upon the stage. The lights go out—when they come back on, Nicky and Susan are nowhere in sight. The scene shifts to the border between France and Spain. The Victoria family, with pass in hand and accompanied by Susan, but not Nicky, are permitted to cross into Spain. The final scene is on a Portuguese freighter as it comes within view of American land. Susan, distraught and staring endlessly at the water, sings to herself. From the crow’s nest is heard an echo—it is Nicky.
