Seasons Of Love

Happy New Year

Voice Mail #3

Happy New Year B

Take Me Or Leave Me

Seasons Of Love B

Without You

Voice Mail #4

Contact

I'll Cover You-Reprise

Halloween

Goodbye Love

What You Own

Voice Mail #5

Finale

Your Eyes

Finale B

Seasons Of Love

COMPANY
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure - measure a year?

In daylights - In sunsets
In midnights - In cups of coffee
In inches - In miles
In laughter - In strife

In Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love

Seasons of love
Seasons of love

SOLOIST #1
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?

SOLOIST #2
In truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died

ALL
It's time now - to sing out
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends

Remember the love
Remember the love
Remember the love
Measure in love

SOLOIST #1
Measure, measure your life in love

Seasons of love
Seasons of love

(New Year's Eve. The scene opens on the street outside the apartment.
one table, lying on its end, serves as the door)

MARK (carrying mock door)
Pan to the padlocked door. New Year's Rocking Eve. The
breaking-back-into-the-building party

(ROGER and MIMI try in vain to pry a padlock from the door. They
appear to be happy)

MIMI
How long till next year?

ROGER
Three and half minutes

MIMI
I'm giving up my vices
I'm going back - back to school
Eviction or not
This week's been so hot
That long as I've got you
I know I'll be cool

I couldn't crack the love code, dear
'Til you made the lock on my heart explode
It's gonna be a happy new year
A happy new year

(MARK enters the scene)

MARK
Coast is clear
You're supposed to be working
That's for midnight
Where are they?
There isn't much time

MIMI
Maybe they're dressing
I mean what does one wear that's apropos
For a party that's also a crime

(MAUREEN enters wearing a skintight "cat burgualr" suit and carrying
a bag of potato chips)

MAUREEN
Chips, anyone?

MARK
You can take the girl out of Hicksville
But you can't take the Hicksville out of the girl

MAUREEN
My riot got you on TV
I deserve a royalty

MIMI
Be nice you two
Or no god awful champagne

(MAUREEN takes out a cellular phone and dials)

MAUREEN
Don't mind if I do
No luck?

ROGER
Bolted plywood, padlocked with a chain
A total dead end

MAUREEN
Just like my ex-girlfriend
(on cellular phone)
Honey...?
I know you're there
Please pick up the phone
Are you okay?
It's not funny
It's not fair
How can I atone?
Are you okay?
I lose control
But I can learn to behave
Give me one more chance
Let me be your slave

I'll kiss your Doc Martens
Let me kiss your Doc Martens
Your every wish I will obey

(JOANNE enters)

JOANNE
That might be okay
Down girl
Heel...stay
I did a bit of research
With my friends at legal aid
Technically, you're squatters
There's hope
But just in case
(JOANNE whips out)

MARK & JOANNE
Rope

MARK (pointing off)
We can hoist a line-

JOANNE
To the fire escape

MARK
And tie off at

MARK & JOANNE
That bench

MAUREEN
I can't take them as chums

JOANNE
Start hoisting...wench

(All three cross upstage and attempt to throw up the length of rope over
a plank. ROGER and MIMI are laughing and holding each other)

ROGER
I think I should be laughing
Yet I forget
Forget how to begin
I'm feeling something inside
And yet I still can't decide
If I should hide
Or make a wide open grin
Last week I wanted just to disappear
My life was dust
But now it just may be a happy new year
A happy new year

(COLLINS enters with ANGEL. COLLINS, dressed in black and wearing
sunglasses, carries a bottle of champagne. ANGEL wears a plastic dress
and blonde wig: a small blowtorch is slung over his shoulder)

COLLINS
Bond - James Bond

ANGEL
And Pussy Galore - in person

MIMI
Pussy you came prepared

ANGEL
I was a boy scout once
And a brownie
'Til some brat got scared

COLLINS (to MIMI)
Aha! Moneypenny -- my martini!

MIMI
Will bad champagne do?

ROGER
That's shaken - not stirred

COLLINS
Pussy - the bolts

(COLLINS takes a swig of champagne as ANGEL grabs the blowtorch)

ANGEL
Just say the word!

(ANGEL turns on the blowtorch)

MIMI
Two minutes left to execute our plan

COLLINS
Where's everyone else?

ROGER
Playing Spiderman

MARK
Ironic close up: tight
On the phone machine's red light
Once the Boho boys are gone
The power mysteriously comes on

(Lights up on MRS. COHEN, who's standing on a chair and holding up a
phone)

MRS. COHEN
Mark, it's the wicked witch of the west your mother
Happy new year from Scarsdale
We're all impressed that the riot footage
Made the nightly news
Even your father says Mazeltov
Honey- call him
Love, Mom

(MRS. COHEN, stepping off the chair, passes the phone to ALEXI
DARLING)

ALEXI DARLING (on the chair)
Mark Cohen
Alexi Darling from Buzzline

MARK
Oh, that show's so sleazy

ALEXI DARLING
Your footage on the riots: A-one
Feature segment network dealtime
I'm sending you a contract
Ker-ching ker-ching
Marky give us a call 970-4301
Or at home try 863-6754
Or - my cell phone at 919-763-0090
Or - you can e-mail me
At Darling Alexi Newscom dot net
Or -- you can page me at-
(Beeeep!)

MAUREEN
I think we need an agent

MARK
We?

JOANNE
That's selling out

MARK
But it's nice to dream

MAUREEN
Yeah it's network TV
And it's all thanks to me

MARK
Somehow I think I smell
The whiff of a scheme

JOANNE
Me too

MAUREEN
We can plan another protest

JOANNE
We?

MAUREEN
This time you can shoot from the start (to MARK)
You'll direct (to JOANNE)
Starring me

(Lights shift back to downstairs)

ALL
5, 4, 3... Open sesame!!
(The door falls away, revealing MARK, JOANNE, and MAUREEN)
Happy new year
Happy new year
Happy new...

BENNY (entering)
I see that you've beaten me to the punch

ROGER
How did you know we'd be here?

BENNY
I had a hunch

MARK
You're not mad?

BENNY
I'm here to end this war
It's a shame you went and destroyed the door

MIMI
Why all the sudden the big about face

BENNY
The credit is yours
You made a good case

ROGER
What case?

BENNY
Mimi came to see me
And she had much to say

MIMI
That's not how you put it at all yesterday

BENNY
I couldn't stop thinking about the whole mess
Mark you want to get this on film

MARK (picking up his camera)
I guess

BENNY
I regret the unlucky circumstances
Of the past seven days

ROGER
Circumstance? You padlocked our door

BENNY
And it's with great pleasure
On behalf of CyberArts
That I hand you this key
(BENNY hands him the key)

ANGEL
Golf claps
(They oblige)

MARK
I have no juice in my battery

BENNY
Reshoot

ROGER
I see this is a photo opportunity

MAUREEN
The benevolent god
Ushers the poor artists back to their flat
Were you planning on taking down the barbed wire
From the lot, too?

ROGER
Anything but that

BENNY
Clearing the lot was a safety concern
We break ground this month
But you can return

MAUREEN
That's why you're here with people you hate
Instead of with Muffy at Muffy's estate

BENNY
I'd honestly rather be with you tonight than in Westport

ROGER
Spare us old sport, the soundbite

BENNY
Mimi since your was are so seductive

MIMI
You came on to me

BENNY
Persuade him not to be so counterproductive

ROGER
Liar

BENNY
Why not tell them what you wore to my place?

MIMI
I was on my way to work

BENNY
Black leather and lace
My desk was a mess
I think I'm still sore

MIMI
Cause I kicked him and told him I wasn't his whore

BENNY
Does your boyfriend know
Who your last boyfriend was?

ROGER
I'm not her boyfriend
I don't care what she does

ANGEL
People! Is this any way to start a new year?
Have compassion
Benny just lost his cat

BENNY
My dog- but I appreciate that

ANGEL
My cat had a fall
And I went through hell

BENNY
It's like losing a
How did you know that she fell?

COLLINS
(Hands BENNY a glass of champagne)
Champagne?

BENNY
Don't mind if I do
To dogs!

ALL BUT BENNY
No, Benny- To you!

ANGEL
Let's make a resolution

MIMI
I'll drink to that

COLLINS
Let's always stay friends

JOANNE
Tho' we may have our disputes

MAUREEN
This family tree's got deep roots

MARK
Friendship is thicker than blood

ROGER
That depends

MIMI
Depends on trust

ROGER
Depends on true devotion

JOANNE
Depends on love

MARK (to ROGER)
Depends on not denying emotion

ROGER
Perhaps

ALL
It's gonna be a happy new year

ROGER
I guess

ALL
It's gonna be a happy new year

ROGER
You're right

(ANGEL brings ROGER and MIMI together. ANGEL and others move
away from MIMI and ROGER)

ANGEL
It's gonna be a happy new year

ROGER & MIMI
I'm sorry

ROGER
Coming?

MIMI
In a minute I'm fine go

(ROGER kisses MIMI and exits. THE MAN appears)

THE MAN
Well, well, well. What have we here?
(He walks over to MIMI and holds out a small plastic bag of white
powder)
It's gonna be a happy new year
There, there...etc.

(Fade out)

MARK
Valentine's Day.Pan across the empty lot. Roger's down at Mimi's, where
he's been for almost two months now - although he keeps talking about
selling his guitar and heading out of town...Still jealous of Benny... God knows
where Collins and Angel are...Could be that new Shanty Town near the river
or a suite at the Plaza...Maureen and Joanne are rehearsing...
JOANNE
I said once more from the top

MAUREEN
I said NO!

MARK
That is, if they're speaking this week. Me? I'm here. Nowhere

(Lights up on the scene)

JOANNE
The line is 'Cyber Arts and its corporate sponsor, Grey Communications,
would like to mitigate the Christmas Eve riots.' What is so difficult...?

MAUREEN
It just doesn't roll off my tongue. I like my version.!

JOANNE
You - dressed as a ground hog. To protest the ground breaking!

MAUREEN
It's a METAPHOR!

JOANNE
Well, it's less than brilliant!

MAUREEN
That's it, Ms. Ivy League!

JOANNE
What?

MAUREEN
Ever since New Year's, I haven't said boo. I let you direct, I didn't pierce my
nipples because it grossed you out! I didn't sta and dance at the Clit Club that
night, 'cause you wanted to go home

JOANNE
You were flirting with the woman in rubber

MAUREEN
That's what this is about!? There will always be women in rubber, flirting with
me... Gimme a break

Every single day
I walk down the street
I hear people say,
"Baby's so sweet"
Ever since puberty
Everybody stares at me
Boys - girls
I can't can't help it baby
So be kind
Don't lose your mind
Just remember that I'm your baby

Take me for what I am
Who I was meant to be
And if you give a damn
Take me baby or leave me
Take me baby or leave me

A tiger in a cage
Can never see the sun
This diva needs her stage
Baby - let's have fun!
You are the one I choose
Folks'd kill to fill your shoes
You love the limelight too, baby
So be mine
Or don't waste my time
Cryin' -- "Honeybear -- are you still my baby?"

Take me for what I am
Who I was meant to be
And if you give a damn
Take me baby or leave me

No way can I be what I'm not
But hey don't you want your girl hot!
Don't fight don't lose your head
Cause every night who's in your bed?
Who's in your bed, baby?
(Pouts in JOANNE's direction)
Kiss, Pookie

JOANNE
It won't work
I look before I leap
I love margins and discipline
I make lists in my sleep
Baby what's my sin?
Never quit I follow through
I hate mess but I love you
What to do
With my impromptu baby?
So be wise
This girl satisfies
You've got a prize
But don't compromise
You're one lucky baby
Take me for what I am

MAUREEN
A control freak

JOANNE
Who I was meant to be

MAUREEN
A snob yet over-attentive

JOANNE
And if you give a damn

MAUREEN
A lovable, droll geek

JOANNE
Take me baby or leave me

MAUREEN
And anal retentive

BOTH
That's it!

JOANNE
The straw that breaks my back

BOTH
I quit

JOANNE
Unless you take it back

BOTH
Women

MAUREEN
What is it about them?

BOTH
Can't live
With them
Or without them!
Take me for what I am
Who I was meant to be
And if you give a damn
Take me baby or leave me
Take me baby
Or leave me
Guess I'm leavin'
I'm gone

(They both sit)

COMPANY
In diapers report cards
In spoke wheels in speeding tickets
In contracts dollars
In funerals in births
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you figure
A last year on earth?

Figure in love
Figure in love
Figure in love
Measure in love
Seasons of love
Seasons of love

(Three beds appear downstage. One, a hospital bed, is occupied by
ANGEL. ROGER sits on another, JOANNE on the third. MIMI
approaches ROGER, and then appears to be in a hurry)

ROGER
Where were you?

MIMI
I'm sorry I'm late.

ROGER (interrupting)
I know. You lost your keys. No, you went for a walk; you had to help your
mother. (As he picks up the guitar) And how's Benny? I'm gonna work
upstairs tonight

MIMI
Wait
I should tell you
I should
Never mind

ROGER
Happy Spring

(ROGER exits. MIMI pulls out a just-purchased stash and angrily flings it
across the room. As she sings the following, a stylized "musical beds" is
choreographed around her; during the bridge of the song, COLLINS
carries ANGEL from the hospital bed and ROGER takes his place. By the
end of the song, MAUREEN and JOANNE are reunited, as are ROGER
and MIMI. COLLINS and ANGEL have lain down together, where
ANGEL dies)

MIMI
Without you
The ground thaws
The rain falls
The grass grows

Without you
The seeds root
The flowers bloom
The children play

The stars gleam
The poets dream
The eagles fly
Without you

The earth turns
The sun burns
But I die
Without you

Without you
The breeze warms
The girl smiles
The cloud moves

Without you
The tides change
The boys run
The oceans crash

The crowds roar
The days soar
The babies cry
Without you

The moon glows
The river flows
But I die
Without you

ROGER
The world revives

MIMI
Colors renew

BOTH
But I know blue
Only blue
Lonely blue
Within me, blue
Without you

MIMI
Without you
The hand gropes
The ear hears
The pulse beats

ROGER
Without you
The eyes gaze
The legs walk
The lungs breathe

BOTH
The mind churns
The heart yearns
The tears dry
Without you

Life goes on
But I'm gone
Cause I die

ROGER
Without you

MIMI
Without you

ROGER
Without you

BOTH
Without you

ROGER & MARK'S ANSWERING MACHINE
"Speak" ... ("Beeeep!")

ALEXI DARLING
Mark Cohen
Alexi Darling
Labor Day weekend
In East Hampton
On the beach
Just saw Alec Baldwin
Told him you say hi
Just kidding
We still need directors
You still need money
You know you need money
Pick up the phone
Don't be afraid of ker-ching ker-ching
Marky -- sell us your soul
Just kidding
We're waiting

(The COMPANY forms two main groups. As the music begins, a group of
dancers start a sensual life and death dance, while a group of actors
gather around a table centerstage to speak words of passion which
punctuate the dancing. Eventually, the actors converge on the table and
cover themselves with a white sheet, while moving to the music)

GROUP A (ROGER, MARK, JOANNE, BENNY)
Hot-hot-hot-sweat-sweet
Wet-wet-wet-red-heat
Hot-hot-hot-sweat-sweet
Wet-wet-wet-red-heat
Please don't stop please
Please don't stop stop
Stop stop stop don't
Please please please please
Hot-hot-hot-sweat-sweet
Wet-wet-wet-red-heat
Sticky-licky-trickle-tickle
Steamy-creamy-stroking-soaking

GROUP B (MIMI, COLLINS, MAUREEN, ANGEL)
Hot-hot-hot-sweat-sweet
Wet-wet-wet-red-heat

COLLINS
Touch

MAUREEN
Taste

MIMI
Deep

COLLINS
Dark

MAUREEN
Kiss

COLLINS
Beg

MIMI
Slap

MIMI, MAUREEN & COLLINS
Fear

COLLINS
Thick

COLLINS, MIMI & MAUREEN
Red, red
Red, red
Red, red please

MAUREEN
Harder

ANGEL
Faster

MAUREEN
Wetter

MIMI
Bastard

COLLINS
You whore

MAUREEN
You cannibal

MIMI & ANGEL
More

MAUREEN
You animal

MAUREEN, COLLINS & MIMI
Fluid no fluid no contact yes
No contact

ALL
Fire fire burn-burn yes
No latex rubber rubber
Fire latex rubber latex bummer
Lover bummer

(The music explodes into a fevered rhythmic heat as ANGEL is revealed
in a lone spotlight, dancing wildly)

ANGEL
Take me
Take me
Today for you
Tomorrow for me
Today me
Tomorrow you
Tomorrow you
Love
you
Love you
I love
You I love
You!
Take me
Take me
I love you

(The music dies as ANGEL vanishes)

ROGER'S VOICE
Um

JOANNE'S VOICE
Wait

MIMI'S VOICE
Slipped

COLLINS' VOICE
Shit

JOANNE'S VOICE
Ow

ROGER'S VOICE
Where'd it go?

MIMI'S VOICE
Safe

COLLINS' VOICE
Damn

MAUREEN'S VOICE
I think I missed
Don't get pissed

ALL
It was bad for me - was it bad for you?

JOANNE
It's over

MAUREEN
It's over

ROGER
It's over

MIMI
It's over

COLLINS
It's over

MIMI
Angel was one of my closest friends. It's right that it's Halloween, because it
was her favorite holiday. I knew we'd hit it off from the moment we met. That
skin head was bothering her, and she said she was more of a man than he'd
ever be, and more of a woman than he'd ever get

MARK
and then there was that time that he walked up to this group of tourists
and, they were petrified, because, a) they were obviously lost, and b) they had
probably never spoken to a drag queen before in their lives...and he...she just
offered to escort them out of Alphabet City, and then she let them take a
picture with her, and then she said she'd help 'em find the Circle Line

MAUREEN
so much more original then any of us...you'd find an old table cloth on the
street and make a dress...and next year, sure enough - they'd be mass
producing them at the Gap. You always said how lucky you were that we
were all friends. But it was us, baby, who were the lucky ones

COLLINS
Live in my house
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover
And I'll cover you
Open your door I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
I'll be there I'll cover you
I think they meant it
When they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease you were, my love, on life
All my life
I've longed to discover
Something as true
As this is

(The following is sung simultaneously.)

JOANNE & SOLOIST
So with a thousand sweet kisses
I'll cover you with a thousand sweet kisses
I'll cover you with a thousand sweet kisses
I'll cover you iwht a thousand sweet kisses
I'll cover you

COLLINS
If you're cold and you're lonely
You've got one nickel only
When you're worn out and tired
When your heart has expired

COMPANY
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred measure a year
Oh lover I'll cover you
Oh lover I'll cover you

COLLINS & COMPANY
Oh lover
I'll cover you
Oh lover

COLLINS
I'll cover you

COMPANY
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand seasons of love

COLLINS
I'll cover you

MARK
(On the pay phone)
Hi. It's Mark Cohen. Is Alexi there?...No, don't bother her. Just tell her I'm
running a little late for our appointment...Yes, I'm still coming... Yes, I signed
the contract... Thanks

How did we get here?
How the hell
Pan left - close on the steeple of the church
How did I get here?
How the hell...
Christmas
Christmas Eve last year
How could a night so frozen be so scalding hot?
How can a morning this mild be so raw?
Why are entire years strewn
On the cutting room floor of memory
When single frames from one magic night
Forever flicker in close-up
On the 3D Imax of my mind
That's poetic
That's pathetic
Why did Mimi knock on Roger's door
And Collins choose that phone booth
Back where Angel set up his drums
Why did Maureen's equipment break down
Why am I the witness
And when I capture it on film
Will it mean that it's the end
And I'm alone

(The PRINCIPALS emerge from the church)

MIMI (to ROGER)
It's true you sold your guitar and bought a car?

ROGER
It's true- I'm leaving now for Santa Fe
It's true you're with this yuppie scum?

BENNY
You said you'd never speak to him again

MIMI
Not now

MAUREEN
Who said that you have any say
In who she says things to at all?

ROGER
Yeah

JOANNE
Who said that you should
Stick your nose in other people's

MAUREEN
Who said I was talking to you?

JOANNE
We used to have this fight each night

MARK
Calm down

JOANNE
She'd never admit I existed

MARK
Everyone please!

MIMI
He was the same way he was always
"Run away hit the road
Don't commit" you're full of shit

JOANNE
She's in denial

MIMI
He's in denial

JOANNE
Didn't give an inch
When I gave a mile

MARK
Come on

MIMI
I gave a mile

ROGER
Gave a mile to who?

MARK & BENNY
Come on guys chill

MIMI & JOANNE
I'd be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had
Someone to live for unafraid to say I love you

ROGER
All your words are nice Mimi
But love's not a three way street
You'll never share real love
Until you love yourself I should know

COLLINS
You all said you'd be cool today
So please for my sake
I can't believe he's gone
(to ROGER) I can't believe you're going
I can't believe this family must die
Angel helped us believe in love
I can't believe you disagree

ALL
I can't believe this is goodbye

(MAUREEN and JOANNE look at each other)

MAUREEN
Pookie

JOANNE
Honeybear

(They embrace)

JOANNE
I missed you
MAUREEN
I missed your smell

JOANNE
I missed your mouth...Your

(They kiss, but MAUREEN pulls away)

MAUREEN
Ow

JOANNE
What?

MAUREEN
Nothing, Pookie

JOANNE
No, baby, you said ow...What?

MAUREEN
Well, you bit my tongue

JOANNE
No, I didn't

MAUREEN
You did I'm bleeding

JOANNE
No, it isn't

MAUREEN
I think I should know

JOANNE
Let me see

MAUREEN
She doesn't believe me!

JOANNE
I was only trying to

(They laugh, hug, and wave goodbye, exiting stage right. The PASTOR
from the church emerges on the above)

PASTOR
Thomas B. Collins

COLLINS
Coming

(The PASTOR exits above and COLLINS exits into the church. BENNY
stands off to the side as MIMI approaches ROGER, who turns away. She
hesitates before leaving with BENNY. ROGER and MARK are left alone)

MARK
I hear there are great restaurants out west

ROGER
Some of the best. How could she?

MARK
How could you let her go?

ROGER
You just don't know How could we lose Angel?

MARK
Maybe you'll see why when you stop escaping your pain
At least now if you try- Angel's death won't be in vain

ROGER
His death is in vain

(MIMI reappears up left, in the shadows. She overhears ROGER and
MARK's conversation)

MARK
Are you insane?
There so much to care about
There's me- there's Mimi

ROGER
Mimi's got her baggage, too

MARK
So do you

ROGER
Who are you to tell me what I know, what to do

MARK
A friend

ROGER
But who, Mark, are you?
"Mark has got his work"
They say "Mark lives for his work"
And "Mark's in love with his work"
Mark hides in his work

MARK
But from what?

ROGER
From facing your failure, facing your loneliness
Facing the fact you live a lie
Yes, you live a lie tell you why
You're always preaching not to be numb
When that's how you thrive
You pretend to create and observe
When you really detach from feeling alive

MARK
Perhaps it's because I'm the one of us to survive

ROGER
Poor baby

MARK
Mimi still loves Roger
Is Roger really jealous
Or afraid that Mimi's weak

ROGER
Mimi did look pale

MARK
Mimi's gotten thin
Mimi's running out of time
Roger's running out the door

ROGER
No more! Oh no
I've gotta go

MARK
Hey, for somebody who's always been let down
Who's heading out of town?

ROGER
For someone who longs for a community of his own,
Who's with his camera, alone?
(ROGER takes a step to go, then stops, turns)
I'll call
I hate the fall
(ROGER turns to go and sees MIMI)
You heard?

MIMI
Every word
You don't want baggage without lifetime guarantees
You don't want to watch me die
I just came to say
Goodbye, love
Goodbye, love
Came to say goodbye, love, goodbye

MIMI
Just came to say
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Goodbye

ROGER
Glory
One blaze of
Glory
Have to find

(ROGER exits. BENNY returns. MIMI steps away)

MIMI
Please don't touch me
Understand
I'm scared
I need to go away

MARK
I know a place a clinic

BENNY
A rehab?

MIMI
Maybe could you?

BENNY
I'll pay

MIMI
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Came to say goodbye, love, goodbye
Just came to say
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Hello disease

(MIMI runs away. After a moment, COLLINS quicjkly enters, with the
PASTOR trailing behind him)

PASTOR
Off the premises now, we give no handouts here

MARK
What happened to Rest In Peace?

PASTOR
Off the premises, queer

COLLINS
That's no way to send a boy to meet his maker
They had to know we couldn't pay the undertaker

BENNY
(To COLLINS) Don't you worry 'bout him
(To PASTOR) Hey, I'll take care of it

(The PASTOR acknowledges BENNY and exits)

MARK
Must be nice to have money

ALL THREE
No shit

COLLINS
I think it's only fair to tell you, you just paid for the funeral of the person who
killed your dog

BENNY
I know... I always hated that dog
Let's pay him off, and then get drunk

MARK
I can't... I have a meeting

BENNY & COLLINS
Punk! Let's go

(COLLINS and BENNY exit)

MARK (imagining)
Hi. Mark Cohen here, reporting for Buzzline. Back to you, Alexi! Coming up
next, vampire welfare queens who are compulsive bowlers... Oh my God,
what am I doing?

MARK
"Hi, Mark Cohen for Buzzline...Back to you Alexi. Coming up, vampire
welfare queens who are compulsive bowlers."
Oh God, what am I doing?

Don't breathe too deep
Don't think all day
Dive into work
Drive the other way
That drip of hurt
That pint of shame
Goes away
Just play the game
You're living in America
At the end of the millennium
You're living in America
Leave your conscience at the tone
And when you're living in America
At the end of the millennium
You're what you own

(Lights up on ROGER)

ROGER
The filmmaker cannot see

MARK
And the songwriter cannot hear

ROGER
Yet I see Mimi everywhere

MARK
Angel's voice is in my ear

ROGER
Just tighten those shoulders

MARK
Just clench your jaw till you frown

ROGER
Just don't let go

BOTH
Or you may drown

You're living in America
At the end of the millennium
You're living in America
Where it's like the Twilight Zone
And when you're living in America
At the end of the millennium
You're what you own
So I own not a notion
I escape and ape content
I don't own emotion - I rent

MARK
What was it about that night

ROGER
What was it about that night

BOTH
Connection- in an isolating age

MARK
For once the shadows gave way to light

ROGER
For once the shadows gave way to light

BOTH
For once I didn't disengage

(MARK goes to the pay phone and dials)

MARK
Angel I hear you I hear it
I see it I see it
My film!

ROGER
Mimi I see you I see it
I hear it- I hear it
My song

MARK (on the phone)
Alexi--Mark
Call me a hypocrite
I need to finish my own film
I quit

ROGER
One song glory
Mimi
Your eyes

BOTH
Dying in America
At the end of the millennium
We're dying in America
To come into our own

And when you're dying in America
At the end of the millennium
You're not alone
I'm not alone
I'm not alone

(Blackout)

(In blackout, once again the phone rings)

ROGER & MARK'S ANSWERING MACHINE
"Speak..." (Beep)

ROGER'S MOTHER
Roger, this is your mother
Roger, honey, I don't get these postcards
"Moving to Santa Fe"
"Back in New York
Starting a rock band"
Roger, where are you? --Please call

(The following is sung simultaneously)

MIMI'S MOTHER
Mimi, chica, donde estas?
Tu mama esta llamando
Donde estas Mimi - - Call

MR. JEFFERSON
Kitten wherever are you - Call

MRS. COHEN
Mark - are you there - are you there
I don't know if he's there
We're all here wishing you were here too
Where are you Mark are you there are you where are you
Mark - are you there - are you there
I don't know if - Please call your mother

ALL SEVEN HOMELESS
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
How time flies
When compassion dies
No stockings
No candy canes
No gingerbread
No safety net
No loose change
No change no

ONE HOMELESS MAN
"Santy Claus is coming"

ALL
Cause Santy Claus ain't coming
No room at the Holiday Inn again
Well, maybe next year
Or -- when

(Lights shift back to the loft. A small prjector rests on a milk crate,
which is on a dolly)

MARK
December 24th, ten p.m. Eastern standard time
I can't believe a year went by so fast
Time to see what we have time to see
Turn the projector on
(A rough title credit, "Today 4 U: Proof Positive," appears, followed by
a shot from last Christmas of ROGER tuning his guitar)
First shot Roger
With the fender guitar he just got out of hock
When he sold the car
That took him away and back

ROGER
I found my song

MARK
He found his song
If he could just find Mimi

ROGER
I tried - you know I tried

(MARK's image appears on-screen)

MARK
Fade in on Mark
Who's still in the dark

ROGER
But he's got great footage

MARK
Which he's cut together

ROGER
To screen tonight

(BENNY's image appears on screen)

MARK
In honor of Benny's wife

ROGER
Muffy

MARK
Alison
Pulling Benny out of the East Village location

(The projector blows a fuse. Blackout)

ROGER
Then again, maybe we won't screen it tonight

MARK
I wonder how Alison found out about Mimi?

ROGER
Maybe a little bird told her

(COLLINS enters in the dark, with several twenty-dollar bills in each
hand)

COLLINS
Or an angel
(Lights fade up)
I had a little hunch that you could use a little flow

ROGER
Tutoring again?

COLLINS
Negative

MARK
Back at N.Y.U.?

COLLINS
No, no, no
I rewired the ATM at the food emporium
To provide an honorarium to anyone with the code

ROGER & MARK
The code
Well...?

COLLINS
A-N-G-E-L
Yet Robin Hooding isn't the solution
The powers that be must be undermined where they dwell
In a small, exclusive gourmet institution
Where we overcharge the wealthy clientele

ALL THREE
Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe
With a private corner banquette in the back

COLLINS
We'll make it yet, we'll somehow get to Santa Fe

ROGER
But you'd miss New York before you could unpack

ALL
Ohh

(MAUREEN and JOANNE enter, carrying MIMI)

MAUREEN
Mark! Roger! Anyone - help!

MARK
Maureen?

MAUREEN
It's Mimi - I can't get her up the stairs

ROGER
No

(They enter the loft)

MAUREEN
She was huddled in the park in the dark
And she was freezing
And begged to come here

ROGER
Over here
Oh, God

(They lay her down carefully on the table)

MIMI
Got a light - I know you - you're shivering

JOANNE
She's been living on the street

ROGER
We need some heat

MIMI
I'm shivering

MARK
We can buy some wood and something to eat

COLLINS
I'm afraid she needs more than heat

MIMI
I heard that

MAUREEN
Collins will call for a doctor, honey

MIMI
Don't waste your money on Mimi, me, me

COLLINS
Hello 911?
I'm on hold

MIMI
Cold...cold... would you light my candle?

ROGER
Yes we'll oh God - find a candle

MIMI
I should tell you
I should tell you

ROGER
I should tell you
I should tell you

MIMI
I should tell you
Benny wasn't any

ROGER
Shhh--I know
I should tell you why I left
It wasn't cause I didn't

MIMI
I know
I should tell you

ROGER
I should tell you

MIMI (whispering)
I should tell you
I love you
(MIMI fades)

ROGER
Who do you think you are?
Leaving me alone with my guitar
Hold on there's something you should hear
It isn't much but it took all year

(MIMI stirs and ROGER begins playing acoustic guitar at her bedside)

ROGER
Your eyes
As we said our goodbyes
Can't get them out of my mind
And I find I can't hide
From your eyes
The ones that took me by surprise
The night you came into my life
Where there's moonlight I see your eyes
(Band takes over)
How'd I let you slip away
When I'm longing so to hold you
Now I'd die for one more day
'Cause there's something I should have told you
Yes there's something I should have told you
When I looked into your eyes
Why does distance make us wise?
You were the song all along
And before this song dies
I should tell you I should tell you
I have always loved you
You can see it in my eyes
(We hear Musetta's Theme, played correctly and passionately. MIMI's
head falls to the side and her arm drops limply off the edge of the table)
Mimi!

(Suddenly, MIMI's hand twitches. Incredibly, she is still alive)

MIMI
I jumped over the moon

ROGER
What?

MIMI
A leap of moooooooooooo

JOANNE
She's back

MIMI
I was in a tunnel. Heading for this warm, white light

MAUREEN
Oh my god

MIMI
And I swear Angel was there and she looked GOOD! And she said, "Turn
around, girlfriend, and listen to that boy's song"

COLLINS
She's drenched

MAUREEN
Her fever's breaking

MARK
There is no future there is no past

ROGER
Thank God this moment's not the last

MIMI & ROGER
There's only us
There's only this
Forget regret or life is yours to miss

ALL
No other road no other way
No day but today

(As the finale grows, the entire COMPANY makes its way on stage)

WOMEN
I can't control
My destiny
I trust my soul
My only goal is just to be

MEN
Will I lose my dignity?
Will someone care?
Will I wake tomorrow
From this nightmare?

(MARK's film resumes, along with two more films projecting on the back
wall, "Scenes from RENT...")

WOMEN
Without you
The hand gropes
The ear hears
The pulse beats
Life goes on
But I'm gone
'Cause I die
Without you
I die without you
I die without you
I die without you

MEN
There's only now
There's only here
Give in to love
Or live in fear
No other path
No other way
No day but today
No day but today
No day but today
No day but today

ALL
No day but today

texttext

The Best Of Rent
Rent (2005 Movie Soundtrack) Disc1
Rent (2005 Movie Soundtrack) Disc2
Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast) Disc1
Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast) Disc2