Synopsis

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Of all the films and stage shows with a transgender relevance, the Rocky Horror Show is the one most central to the hearts of most outgoing trannies, and the film has a long-established cult status.

You know the story; Brad and Janet, a square couple, have just got married. Driving away on honeymoon, in a dark and stormy night, their car breaks down near a spooky, weird-looking house.

They go to the house, hoping to use the phone to get help for their car, and the door is opened by the spooky, weird-looking character, Riff-Raff.

Riff-Raff is my favourite character in the whole thing, because of his deliciously dry sense of humour. Delaying them at the door in the pouring rain, he eventually observes,

"You're wet".

In stage versions, the audience participation just before this line goes: "Look between Janet's legs", but we'll let that pass.

Magenta appears, as a sort of French maid; Riff-Raff and Magenta explain that the house belongs to Dr Frank-N-Furter, a scientist. They take Brad and Janet to see him.

Janet (to Magenta): Is he, Frank I mean, your husband?

Riff-Raff: The Master is not yet married. Nor do I think he ever will be. We are simply his servants.

Riff-Raff explains that a Transylvanian convention is in progress. Riff-Raff demonstrates with a song and dance, The Time Warp, which is the best remembered and most-often performed part of the film.

The Time Warp

RIFF RAFF:
It's astounding; time is fleeting: Madness takes its toll
MAGENTA:
Ahh.
RIFF RAFF:
But listen closely
MAGENTA:
Not for very much longer
RIFF RAFF:
I've got to keep control.
I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The blackness would hit me.
RIFF RAFF and MAGENTA:
And the void would be calling

GUESTS:
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again!
CHORUS and NARRATOR:
It's just a jump to the left
GUESTS:
And then a step to the right!

NARRATOR:
With your hands on your hips
GUESTS:
You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust
They really drive you insane.
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again!
MAGENTA:
It's so dreamy -- oh fantasy free me
So you can't see me -- no not at all
In another dimension -- with
Voyeuristic intention
Well secluded I see all
RIFF RAFF:
With a bit of a mind flip
MAGENTA:
You're in for a time slip
RIFF RAFF:
And nothing can ever be the same
MAGENTA:
You're spaced out on sensation
RIFF RAFF:
Like you're under sedation
GUESTS:
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again!

COLUMBIA:
Well I was walking down the street
Just having a think
When a snake of a guy
Gave me an evil wink
Well it shook me up, it took me by surprise,
He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing -- never would again
GUESTS:
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again!
CHORUS, NARRATOR and GUESTS:
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again!
COLUMBIA (dancing):
Ah!
Oh oh!
Ahhh!
GUESTS:
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again!
CHORUS, NARRATOR and GUESTS:
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again!

Sweet Transvestite

They finally get to meet Frank-N-Furter

FRANK: How d'you do? I ... see you've met my ... faithful handyman
He's a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman
Don't get strung out by the way I look
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man
By the light of day
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual ... Transylvania
Ah ha.
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
BRAD:
I'm glad we caught you at home: could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry
JANET:
Right!
BRAD:
We'll just stay where we are, then go back to the car, We don't want to be any worry.
FRANK:
Well you got caught with a flat
Well how about that
Well babies don't you panic
By the light of the night
It'll all seem all right
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
I'm just a sweet transvestite
from Transsexual Transylvania
Ha ha
Why doncha stay for the night?
RIFF RAFF:
Night
FRANK:
Or maybe a bite
COLUMBIA:
Bite
FRANK:
I could show you my favourite obsession
I've been making a man
With blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my tension
I'm just a sweet transvestite
from Transsexual Transylvania
I'm just a sweet transvestite
GUESTS:
Sweet transvestite
FRANK:
From transsexual
ALL:
Transylvania ... Ha ha
FRANK:
So come up to the lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with antici ... pation
But maybe the rain ... is really to blame
So I'll remove the cause ... But not the symptom!

Frank-N-Furter now announces that he will reveal his latest creation, a good looking young man he has made himself, Frankenstein-like. The man is Rocky, not yet a complete man. However he is very muscular.

Meat Loaf now appears as Eddie on a motor bike and creates mayhem.

It is now the end of the evening, and Brad and Janet go to bed, separately. Frank-N-Furter goes to where Janet is resting and pretends to be Brad.

And then he goes to Brad pretending to be Janet.

It is left to our imagination just how far these indulgences went, but Brad and Janet each see separately the outcome on television screens. Meanwhile Rocky seems to have escaped and is roaming loose in the grounds. The dogs have been set on him, and later he is slightly wounded, indoors. Janet finds him and comforts him, and realises that she finds him attractive. Magenta and Columbia are watching on a hidden television screen and their own emotional state is aroused together as they watch Rocky and Janet.

A Doctor Scott, a rival scientist, is now observed in the grounds, and he gains admittance. He is known as a friend to Brad, and as an enemy to Frank-N-Furter. While the introductions are taking place, Janet and Rocky reveal themselves, resulting in accusations all round. However dinner is ready, so everyone sits down rather tensely to the meal. However the tension eventually gets to Frank-N-Furter and he reveals Rocky, in suspended animation, stored under the dinner table. A crisis follows swiftly during which he uses a special device to turn nearly everyone to stone.

That only left Frank-N-Furter, Riff Raff and Magenta -- the Transylvanians seem to have disappeared. Still rather tense, Frank-N-Furter gives the others his instructions, that the floor show shall commence. We notice now that Riff Raff and Magenta aren't quite as deferential as they were previously. The floor sow consists of reversing the medusa effect, of turning the others to stone, and each of them gives a performance on a stage. Frank-N-Furter has dressed each of them in corset and suspenders.

While the floor show is in progress, Riff Raff and Magenta have been preparing themselves; they now return, and Riff Raff states that he is now in command, and the others are his prisoners. Frank-N-Furter has failed in his mission. "Prepare the transit beam!"

Frank-N-Furter makes a last appeal to be forgiven, on the grounds that he felt more at home on earth, but Riff Raff isn't going to allow such a weak excuse.

So Brad and Janet, and Scott, are allowed to leave the house, and the whole building then blasts off, to return to the planet Transsexual, in the galaxy of Transylvania.

HF May 2005

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