Overture

Good Morning, Good Day .......... Barbara Baxley

Sounds While Selling .......... Trude Adams

Thank You, Madam .......... Trude Adams

Days Gone By .......... Ludwig Donath

No More Candy .......... Barbara Cook

Three Letters .......... Barbara Cook

Tonight at Eight .......... Daniel Massey

I Don't Know His Name .......... Barbara Baxley

Perspective .......... Nathaniel Frey

Goodbye, Georg .......... Trude Adams

Will He Like Me? .......... Barbara Cook

Ilona .......... Jack Cassidy

I Resolve .......... Barbara Baxley

Romantic Atmosphere .......... Wood Romoff

Tango Tragique .......... Barbara Cook

Dear Friend .......... Barbara Cook

Overture

Try Me .......... Ludwig Donath

Where's My Shoe? .......... Barbara Cook

Ice Cream .......... Barbara Cook

She Loves Me .......... Daniel Massey

Trip to the Library .......... Barbara Baxley

Grand Knowing You .......... Jack Cassidy

Twelve Days to Christmas .......... Giovanni Battista Conforti

Ice Cream (Reprise) .......... Barbara Cook

Curtain Call

Instrumental

ARPAD:
Good morning!

SIPOS:
Good day!

ARPAD:
How are you this beautiful day?
Isn't this a beautiful morning?

SIPOS:
Very!

ARPAD:
Hey, Sipos, how's this?...

SIPOS:
That's a very elegant pose,
But is all that elegance necessary?

ARPAD (speaking): And why not? I represent Maraczek, don't I?
We're not a butchershop or a hardware store--we're a parfumerie!
And that means we're...we're...

SIPOS (singing):
We're stylish.

ARPAD:
That's it!

SIPOS:
With a quiet dignity.

ARPAD:
Yes, and we get the tilt of our hats right.

SIPOS:
That's right!

ARPAD:
When I ride my bike,
People see what Maraczek's like,
So I think it's very important that I look my best.

[ILONA enters.]

ILONA:
Good morning!

SIPOS & ARPAD:
Good day!

ILONA:
How are you this glorious day?
Have you seen a lovelier morning?

SIPOS & ARPAD:
Never!

ILONA:
It's too nice a day to be inside shuffling soap;
I have no more energy whatsoever.

[KODALY enters]

KODALY:
Good morning!

SIPOS, ARPAD & ILONA
Good day!

KODALY:
How are you this radiant day?
What a rare magnificent morning!

SIPOS & ARPAD:
Is it?

KODALY (to ILONA):
Good morning, my dear! How are you this ravishing day?
Do you know, you've never looked more exquisite.

ILONA:
Thank you, kind sir.

KODALY (speaking): What a lovely dress!

ARPAD: It's the same one she had on yesterday, Mr. Kodaly.

[GEORG enters]

GEORG (singing):
Good morning!

THE OTHERS:
Good day!

GEORG:
Isn't that a beautiful sky?
What a perfect sample of summer weather!
It's too nice a day to be indoors counting out change.
What a waste of holiday weather!
All together,
Let's all run away.

ILONA:
Wouldn't it be something if we all took off from work?

SIPOS:
Leaving Mr. Maraczek without a single clerk!

ARPAD:
Why not have a picnic?

SIPOS:
I could bring my wife's preserves.

KODALY:
Champagne might be nice with hot hors d'oeuvres!

ALL:
It's too nice a day to be stuck inside of a store.
We could all be getting our summer suntan!
It's so nice a day to be dozing under a tree--

SIPOS:
And we'll all be out of a job--

ILONA:
If it costs that much to get suntanned--

SIPOS:
I'll stay untanned.

KODALY:
Pale, but solvent.

ALL:
A picnic--a picnic--
Oh, well.

1st WOMAN:
I would like to see a...

KODALY:
...face like yours...

2nd WOMAN:
...cracked...

SIPOS:
...but we carry...

1st WOMAN:
Do you have a cream for...

2nd WOMAN:
...very red...

3rd WOMAN:
...skin?

KODALY:
Oh, I see what you mean!

GEORG:
You will look enchanting...

3rd WOMAN:
...bright lips...

KODALY:
...glamorous as Garbo...

SIPOS:
...big mouth...

KODALY:
I would recommend a...

SIPOS:
...bath today.

2nd WOMAN:
A sale, did you say?

GEORG:
Put a little lipstick...

KODALY:
...on your nose...

SIPOS:
...twice.

3rd WOMAN:
Morning and evening.

1st WOMAN:
And a little brush for...

2nd WOMAN:
...combing my...

GEORG:
...teeth!

KODALY:
...absolutely!

WOMEN:
Wrap it up and send it! Thank you so much!

GEORG, KODALY & SIPOS:
Is there something else before you go?

WOMEN:
Yes...
[Countrapunctal passage; words indecipherable]

1st WOMAN:
I could also use a...

3rd WOMAN:
...bottle of...

2nd WOMAN:
...hair.

GEORG:
We have a splendid...

KODALY:
Here's an inexpensive perfume called...

SIPOS:
...rat.

2nd WOMAN:
I'd never use one.

GEORG:
If you want to clip your...

KODALY:
...earlobes...

SIPOS:
You may want to dye your...

GEORG:
...hangnails...

KODALY:
Dab a little on your...

SIPOS:
...husband's face.

WOMEN:
Won't he be surprised!

1st WOMAN:
I would like an eyebrow...

3rd WOMAN:
...under my...

2nd WOMAN:
...chin.

1st WOMAN:
There's an idea...

KODALY:
Madam, I am filled with...

GEORG:
...very soft...

SIPOS:
...soap.

WOMEN:
That should do it.
Wrap it up and charge it! Thank you so much!

ALL:
Always such a pleasure seeing you!

GEORG, KODALY, SIPOS, ILONA:
Thank you, madam.
Please call again.
Do call again,
Madam.

MARACZEK:
Young, strong...oh, I was something in days gone by.
With some girl who'd just happened to catch my eye.
Slim, straight, light on my feet,
Shoes just skimming the ground,
One-two-three, one-two-three, follow the beat
Around, around, around.
All night circling the floor
Till dawn lit up the sky...
No one's younger than I
In days gone by.

AMALIA:
We become indiscreet
Eating sweet after sweet,
Though we know very well where that may lead.
So this box was designed
With the two of us in mind
As the kind of reminder we need.
When you lift the lid, the music plays
Like a disapproving nod.
And it sings in your ear:
"No more candy, my dear!"
In a way, it's a little like the voice of God.

GEORG:
Dear friend:
When the day brings petty aggravations
And my poor frayed nerves are all askew,
I forget these unimportant matters
Pouring out my hopes and dreams to you.
As I sit here looking out my window,
I can see the summer disappear.
Oh, dear friend, all at once, autumn's here!

Dear friend:
With November just around the corner,
I've a feeling you may also share:
Do you feel an undertone of discord
And a sense of tension in the air?
If it weren't for your endearing letters,
I'd be flying south with all the geese!
By the way, have you read "War and Peace?"

Dear friend:
Have you set your calendar for Tuesday,
When we bring this...

AMALIA (reading) & GEORG (writing):
...chapter to a close?
When I meet my lady of the letters
Who puts tiny faces in her O's?
In the freezing weather of December
I'll be warmly waiting for our date.

AMALIA (reading):
Until then, count the hours--
Oh my lord, I'm late!
I'm late for work!

GEORG:
I'm nervous and upset
Because this girl I've never met
I get to meet
Tonight at eight.
I'm taking her for dinner to
A charming old cafe, but who
Can eat
Tonight at eight?
It's early in the morning,
And our date is not till eight o'clock tonight,
And yet already I can see
What a nightmare this whole day will be.
I haven't slept a wink,
I only think
Of our approaching tete-a-tete,
Tonight at eight.
I feel a combination
Of depression and elation;
What a state!
To wait
Till eight!
Three more minutes, two more seconds, ten more hours to go!
In spite of what I've written,
She may not be very smitten,
And my hopes, perhaps,
May all collapse,
Kaput--tonight at eight.

I wish I knew exact-
Ly how I'll act
And what will happen when we dine
Tonight at eight.
I know I'll drop the sil-
Verware, but will
I spill the water or the wine
Tonight at eight?
Tonight I'll walk right up and sit right down
Beside the smartest girl in town
And then it's anybody's guess.
More and more I'm breathing less and less!
In my imagination
I can hear our conversation
Taking shape
Tonight at eight.
I'll sit there saying absolutely nothing
Or I'll jabber like an ape
Tonight at eight!
Two more minutes, three more seconds, ten more hours to go!
I'll know, when this is done,
If something's ended or begun,
And if it goes
All right,
Who knows?
I might
Propose
Tonight
At eight!

ILONA SPOKEN:
Tell me, what's he like Amalia? Tell me all about him. I love to suffer.

AMALIA SINGS:

I don't know his name or what he looks like,
But I have a much more certain guide,
I can tell exactly what he looks like inside.

When I undertook this correspondence,
Little did I know I'd grow so fond,
Little did I know our views would so correspond.

He writes me what his feelings are,
Ensure, Flobere, Chopin, Renoir,
The more I read the more I find we're one in mind and heart,
I know the kind of home we'd share,
The books, the prints, the music there,
A home, a life, thats warm and full and rich in love-
And art.

I don't need to see his handsome profile,
I don't need to see his manly frame,
All I need to know is in each letter,
Each long revealing letter,
I couldn't know him better,
If I knew his name.

AMALIA SPOKEN:
Oh I know him so well Ilona,
I know that he's a very successful person
And he's terribly well educated and he's gentle and kind and soft spoken.
I know all this about him and so much more-
It's just that I never met him,
Thats all.

ILONA SINGS (AMALIA SINGS):
If he isn't too handsome, true it doesn't much matter,
(He writes his deepest thoughts to me)
But his personal habits are more important than his looks,
(On Swift, vermeer he on every scene)

Supposing he snores like a locomotive,
Supposing he grinds his teeth, supposing he's a knucklecracker, Amalia,
(The more he does deman, decan, defear, defay, defoe)
Good luck with your books.

And another small detail, that you haven't yet mentioned,
(He thinks as I, he feels as I)
I am speaking of sex dear, when you and he are all alone,
(He shares the same ideas as I)

Come to think of it maybe you're right,
Maybe it doesn't matter at that,
Maybe I'd do much better myself with a library card,
(I'll never find a man who's so sabatical)
And a gramaphone
(alone)

AMALIA SINGS (ILONA SINGS):
I don't need to see his handsome profile,
(I was taken in by someone's profile)
I don't need to see his manly frame,
(I was taken in by someone's frame)
All I need to know is in each letter, each long revealing letter,
(How I could have used one long revealing letter)
I couldn't know him better,
(I hope you do much better)
If I knew his name,
(I knew his name)

BOTH:
What's in a name?

[Thanks to sar_n84@yahoo.co.uk for lyrics]

[Sipos, spoken]
I'm an idiot. But at least I'm an idiot with a job.

(sung)
Call me fool,
That's alright with me.
Here's my rule,
Never disagree.
Where's my pride?
Swallowed long ago.
Deep inside,
Where it doesn't show.
Bowing, scraping, nodding, beaming
Always humble
Not an ounce of self respect.
Yes sir, yes sir, you're so right sir
Black is white sir
'Scuse me while I genuflect.
How do I remain so calm and cheerful?
How do I retain my piece of mind?
Let me just explain my rationale
It's all in your perspective.
Listen! Listen!
To an old Hungarian's philosophy.

(singing dialogue)
I am only one of
several in a rather small parfumerie.
Which is only one of several in this city.
Which is one of many cities in this country which
Is only one
Of many countries
Which are on this continent
Which is only one of seven on this not so special planet
Which is one of several in our solar system
Which is only one of many solar systems
In this vast, and inconievable affair, that is the universe
Sooooooo
In this infinite, incomprehensible scheme
If a dot called Maraczek should scream
At a speck called Sipos
What on Earth does it matter?
Sooooo

(regular singing)
Call me fool,
That's alright with me.
Here's my rule,
Never disagree.
Where's my pride?
Swallowed long ago.
Deep inside,
Where it doesn't show.
Just maintain a true perspective
And it's easy to avoid a clash of wills
Just maintain a true perspective.
And make sure you're well supplied with stomach pills.
Let me put it bluntly,
I'm a coward.
With a wife and children to support.
Actually my creed is sort and simple
Five essential words Georg:
Do not
Lose
Your job!

[Customers]
(sing 2x)

[Clerks,overlapping]
(Sipos, Arpad,
Ritter, Kodaly)
(wait until 2nd time)

I would like a cake of
Castel soap
And a powder puff shampoo

Goodbye Georg

Is there a sale on?
Do you have a hair net?
Bubble bath.
How much do you charge
For your Mona Lisa?

Maraczek's won't
be the same without you

[Kodaly]
Sorry to see you go
[Arpad]
If I can ever help
[All]
Let me know

Can you recommend an
Unusual perfume
Something rather chic
But inexpensive
That will make a
Lovely Christmas gift
I think you know the
Kind that I'm after

Do you have a lipstick
Guaranteed kiss proof?
Coconut oil

Goodbye Georg

What kind of mascara
Do you have a jar of
Vanishing cream
And a bottle of your best
??
Wrap it as a gift and
Send it ??
Thank you very very much
It's always such a
Pleasure shopping here

[Sipos]
I wish there
were time for a proper
farewell
[All]
But for now good luck and
goodbye Georg
So long
So long
Please keep in touch
Do keep in touch
Won't you?

Will he like me when we meet?
Will the shy and quiet girl he's going to see
Be the girl the he's imagined me to be?
Will he like me?
Will he like the girl he sees?
If he doesn't, will he know enough to know?
That there's more of me than I may always show,
Will he like me?
Will he know that there's a world of love
Waiting to warm him?
How I'm hoping that his eyes and ears
Won't misinform him
Will he like me, who can say?
Oh, this evening seems a million years away
It's insanity to worry so all day
I'll try not to
Will he like me?
He's just got to
Will he like me?
He's just got to

Come with me, ilona
I've missed you so much.
How I envy you each evening
when work is through
For I have only me to be with
While you have you.
Ilona

How cold my lonely life has grown
Are you happy alone
Ilona, Ilona
My own

Come with me, Ilona
Come with me, cherie.
Mistletoe I long for someone
Please tell me who
Like some divine divining rod
It points straight to you.
Ilona

The sunny nights we knew before.
If you'll just say the word
Ilona
We'll know them
Once more.

ILONA:
I resolve not to be so stupid,
I resolve not to play these games,
How often I've been a sitting duck for cupid,
How often I've let him shoot me down in flames,

I resolve not to be so trusting,
It's high time, time that I awoke,
Whatever I've got up here is up here rusting,
My feminine intuition is a joke,

I must be cousin to a cat,
I always wind up with a rat,
I'm through with momentary thrills,
I find I can't afford the best,

I resolve,
Come what may,
I will not be this girl one more day,

I resolve not be so brainless,
I resolve not to be so dumb,
My usual brush with love is far from painless,
And suddenly I have got to know how come,

I resolve not to blame the others,
Just because I'm an easy mark,
I wanna know why I never meet their mothers,
Where men are concerned I'm always in the dark,

I must stop thinking with my skin,
I will not be a mandolin,
That someone strums and puts away,
Until he gets the urge to play,

I resolve,
Here and Now,
I will be a different girl,
Somehow.

[Thanks to sar_n84@yahoo.co.uk for lyrics]

Waiter: (Sung) Butterfingers do that again that's the end of your career!

(Spoken) How do you do sir? How do you do madam?

(Sung) Don't you know we try to preserve a romantic atmosphere?

(Spoken) It's good to see you again Mr. List!

(Sung)
That's what all our patrons expect,
so every jarring note will be ruthlessly checked.
Gently does it, try to preserve a romantic at-mosphere!

Think of all the love affairs we assist!
What more noble calling is there than ours?
Tending each new beautiful bud of love,
making sure each delicate seedling flowers.

Treat each trist and rondevouz as your own,
bearing in mind the gravity of your task.
All these lovers want is one shining hour,
is that such a terrible lot to ask?

Look around you, see for yourself! The romantic atmosphere.

(Patrons) Victor! Stephanie!

(Waiter) That's what all our patrons demand,
that's the reason why they're here!

(Patrons) Victor! HUGO?!?!

(Waiter)
They all come here just for the mood
(and if you don't believe me try tasting our food!)
That's why we have got to preserve a romantic atmosphere!

(Tango interlude)

SUCH BEHAVIOR WON'T BE ALLOWED!
...but every now and then we just get the wrong crowd.
Gently does it, try to preserve a romantic atmosphere!

[Thanks to Bluchikee@hotmail.com for lyrics]

texttext

The flowers, the linen, the crystal I see
Were carefully chosen for people like me.
The silver agleam and the candles aglow...your favorite songs on request.

Each colorful touch in the finest of taste,
and notice how subtly the tables are spaced.
The music is muted, the lighting is low; no wonder I feel so depressed.

Charming, romantic, the perfect cafe
Then as if it isn't bad enough a violin starts to play
Candles and wine, tables for two, but where are you dear friend?

Couples go past me, I see how they look.
So discreetly sympathetic when they see the rose and the book.
I make believe nothing is wrong, how long can I pretend?
Please make it right, don't break my heart, don't let it end, dear friend.

I make believe nothing is wrong, how long can I pretend?
Please it right, don't break my heart, don't let it end, dear friend.

[Thanks to bluchikee@hotmail.com for lyrics]

Instrumental

ARPAD SINGS:
I have trained myself,
Going shelf by shelf,
And I know every item in the store,
Every tube, jar, box, bottle, carton and container,
Where they are,
What they cost,
What they're for,

Although it's something you have never thought about Mr Maraczek,
Try me,
You need a man who knows the business inside out Mr Maraczek,
Try me,

You need help or I'd have never spoken,
And why break someone in?
when I'm already broken.

In this emergency I wouldn't let you down Mr Maraczek,
Try Me,
Oh I can see by the uncertain way you frown that you ask yourself,
Why me?
For first class clerking and consciencious working,
Mr Maraczek, why not,
Try me.

MR MARACZEK SPOKEN:
Alright. This cream is sour. Very sour. Take it back.

ARPAD SINGS:
You wish to return this jar madam,
Certainly right you are madam,
You say it smells like a drownded cat -
It does at that,
At Maraczek's madam we claim with pride the customer must be satisfied,
The customer must be satisfied,
By the way we have a special sale on autumn heather -
Let me spray some on your hand,
Here we'll smell it together,

(SPOKEN)It has the three elements of good perfume,
Attractive to the nose,
Invisible to the eye,
And fuctional,

(SINGS)My wife has used it time and again,
It's very appealing to us men,
I use it myself every now and then,

MR MARACZEK:
I'll take it!

ARPAD:
(SPOKEN) Certainly madam. Ah Miss Ritter, (cough) Miss Ritter,

(SINGS)
Thats twenty and six for the autumn heather,
Eight and three for the cream,
Thirty two even for that bottle of mermaids dream,
One and three for the eyebrow pencil,
Nine for the large shampoo,
And then for the jar you're bringing back thats four and two for you,
That's a total of ninety eight less four and two for the jar,
Out of a hundred,
Here's your change,
Five and two,
There you are,
the biggest sale in several years I believe,

Thank you madam,
Please call again,
Glad I could help,
Here is my card,
Thank you madam,
Please call again,
Do call again, madam.

I would glady grow a moustache if you like Mr Maraczek,
Try me,
And I would even think of giving up my bike Mr Maraczek,
Try me,

For first class clerking and consciencious working,
Mr Maraczek, why not,
Try me.

[Thanks to sar_n84@yahoo.co.uk for lyrics]

Amalia: (Spoken) So you've come to see if I'm really sick! Is that it?

George: (Spoken) No! no

Amalia:
So you can tell everyone there's not a thing wrong with me (no,no,no)
That I just don't care about my job! (No, no..I)
Well Mr. Nowack, you're not going to have that chance!
What time is it? (What?) I won't be very late....

(Sung) Where's my other shoe, help me find my other shoe!
Don't just stand there like that where's my shoe
(I think you should lie down!)

Help me find my other shoe,
I can't leave until I do.
Will you give me my hat where's my shoe?
(Please Miss Balash, lie down!)
I hate to disappoint you, now that you've got your hopes up;
thrilled to be doing something mean! (Miss Balash do be sensible)
Just tell me if it's cold out, come help me pick a sweater,
I can't decide on white or green....
(Now Miss Balash you're sick and you ought to lie down!)

Where'd you put my shoe? That's a sneaky thing to do!
You don't want me to go do you?
I can see right through you!
Where's my shoe? You shouldn't be on your feet!
Where's my shoe? Be a good girl and go
My right.... Back To....

If I were a shoe, where would I have gotten to?
Now, if I were a shoe I'd be there! (Please Miss Balash lie down!)
Is it very cold? Yes, you told me it was cold.
Tell me what kind of dress should I wear? (You've a fever I think)

I couldn't wear a sweater, that wouldn't fit my mood now.
I feel like wearing something gay!
I'm feeling so much better, I feel so gay and giddy!
One shoe and I'll be on my way....

Hahahaha see? There is nothing wrong with me!
I am going you can't stop me! Stop it now please drop me!

Put me down!
Where's my shoe?
My right shoe!

[Thanks to bluchikee@hotmail.com for lyrics]

Amalia: (Spoken) Dear Friend...

(Sung)
I am so sorry about last night, it was a nightmare in every way,
but together you and I will have that last night someday....

Ice cream. He brought me ice cream!
Vanilla Ice cream! Imagine that!
Ice cream, and for the first time, we were together without a spat!
Friendly, he was so friendly, that isn't like him; I'm simply stunned.
Will wonders never cease? Will wonders never cease?
It's been a most peculiar day!
Will wonders never cease? Will wonders never cease?....

(Spoken) Oh, where was I!

(Sung)
I am so sorry about last night,
it was a nightmare in every way but together you
and I will have last night someday!

I sat there waiting in that cafe and never guessing that you were fat...UGH!
That you were near..you were outside looking bold...Oh my!

Dear Friend,
I am so sorry about last night....

Last night I was so nasty!
Well, he deserved it but even so,
That George is not like this George, this is a new George that I don't know.

Somehow it all reminds me of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
When right before my eyes a man that I despise has turned into a man I like!
It's almost like a dream as strange as it may seem...
He came to offer me Vanilla ICE CREAM!

[Thanks to bluchikee@hotmail.com for lyrics]

Well! Well! Well! Well! Well!
Well! Well! Well! Well! Well!
Well! ?? never sees...
I didn't like her!
I didn't like her!
I couldn't stand her
I couldn't stand her!
I wouldn't have her!
I never knew her,
But now I do!
And I could...
And I would...
And I know...

She loves me
And to my amazement
I love it knowing that she loves me
She loves me,
True, she doesn't show it
How could she,
When she doesn't know it.
Yesterday she loathed me, ah!
Now today she likes me, ah!
And tomorrow, tomorrow...
AAAAAAAAAAAh!

My teeth ache from the urge to kiss her
I'm speechless for I mustn't tell her
It's wrong now, but it won't be long now
Before my love discovers
That she and I are lovers
Imagine how surprised she's bound to be,
She loves meeeeeeeeeee!

I love her, isn't that a wonder?
I wonder why I didn't want her.
I want her, that's the thing that matters,
And matters are improving daily.

Yesterday I loathed her, ah!
Now today I love her, ah!
And tomorrow, tomorrow...
AAAAAAAAAAAh!

I'm tingling such delicious tingle,
I'm trembling, what the hell does that mean?
I'm freezing that's because it's cold out.
But still I'm incandescent
And like some adolescent
I'd like to stroll on ev'ry wall I see
She loves me!
She loves meeeeeeeee!

"How did you like the library Ilona?"

Spoken:

You've never seen such a place
So many books
So much marble
So quiet

Sung:
And suddenly all of my confidence dribbled away with a pitiful plop
My head was beginning to swim and my forehead was covered in cold perspiration
I started to reach for a book and my hand automatically came to a stop
I don't know how long I stood frozen a victim of panic and mortification

Oooooh, how I wanted to flee
When a quiet voice, a gentle voice, whispered, Pardon me

"Pardon me?"

Uh huh

And there was this dear, sweet, clearly respectable thickly bespectacled man
Who stood by my side and quietly sad to me - mam', don't mean to intrude, but I was just
ondering are you need of some help,
I said no, yes I am.

The next thing you know I'm sipping hot chocolate and telling my troubles to Paul
Whose tender brown eyes kept sending compassionate looks
A trip to the library has made a new girl of me. For suddenly I can see, the magic of books!
I have to admit in the back of my mind I was praying he wouldn't get fresh
And all of the while I was wondering why an illiterate girl should attract him
Then all of a sudden he said that I couldn't go wrong with the way of all flesh
Of course it's a novel, but I didn't know or I certainly wouldn't have smacked him!
Well he gave me a smile that I couldn't resist
And I knew at once how much I liked this
Optometrist

"Optometrist?"

Optometrist

You know what this dear, sweet, slightly bespectacled gentlemen said to me next?
He said he could solve this problem of mine
I said, how?
He said, if I'd like he'd willingly read to me some of his favorite things, I said when?
He said now
His novel approach seamed highly suspicious and possibly dangerous too, I told myself, wait,
hing, dare you go up to his flat?

What happens if things go wrong,
It's obvious he's quite strong,
He read to me all night long.

Now how about that!

It's hard to believe how truly domestic and happily hopeful I feel
I picture my Paul there reading aloud as I cook.
As long as he's there to read, there's quite a good chance indeed, a chance that I'll never
eed to open a book.
Unlike someone else
Someone I dimly recall.
I know he'll only have eyes for me
My optometrist Paul

[Kodaly]
It's been grand knowing you
Grand knowing you
Grand being your friend.
You've been kind, loyal, and so generous
Right down to the end.
Please don't grieve watching me leave
That would be much too painful to stand.
It's been fun
Now I must run
But it's been grand, perfectly grand!

Ilona, farewell cherie, be brave.
Chin up, it's been sublime.
You mustn't waste a precious moment over me.
You don't have time.
Just remember if you lonely or blue,
There's a hollow in my pillow for you.

And Sipos, what can I say?
Ah, Sipos.
No tears be gay, you know old friend
I'm in your debt.
I owe you more than I can possibly repay.
I won't forget.
Give your wife a little kiss from Kodaly.
I've never met her, but I will
By and by.

Though I hate leaving you,
Hate leaving your warm intimate club.
It's a small pleasure but I'll treasure
Each warm intimate snub.
It's been grand let me say
And let me say "Au revoir" not goodbye
For it's grand knowing you'll all be working
For your friend,
Kodaly!

Ensemble:
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me. Ooh..

Amalia: Good morning, Mr. Novak.
Georg: Good morning, Ms. Balish. How are you today?
Amalia: Oh, I'm ready for thousands of customers.
Georg: Well, only twelve days to go!

Ensemble/Customers:

Fa la la la la la la la
Fa la la la la la la
Fa la la la

Twelve days to Christmas,
Twelve days to Christmas,
Plenty of time to do your Christmas shopping
These are the people who shop in time, shop in time, plenty of time
These are the people with time to spare who shop at their convenience

Twelve days to Christmas,
Twelve days to Christmas,
Look at the way they do their Christmas shopping
They can go shopping and still remain calm and sedate
These are the people we envy and the people that we hate!

Thank you, Thank you
We'll call again
We'll call again, thank you

Amalia: Quite a day, eh, Mr. Novak?
Georg: It certainly was, Ms. Balish.
Amalia: Oh thank you for the book, it was excellent.
Georg: Oh, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Will you be taking the bus home today, Ms. Balish.
Amalia: Yes, I will.
Gerog: May I walk you to the bus stop?
Amalia: Oh, I'd like that Mr. Novak, thank you.

Ensemble/Customers:
Twelve drummers drumming,
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping,
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a leaping
Nine

Nine days to Christmas,
Nine days to Christmas
Still enough time to do your Christmas shopping
These are the people who shop in time, shop in time, still enough time
Sensible people who organize the time at their disposal
Nine days to Christmas,
Nine days to Christmas,
Still enough time to do your Christmas shopping
These are the people who plan their days wisely and well
These are the people who shop in time, and they can go to hell!

(Simultaneously)

Cashiers: Thank you, thank you, please call again, do call again, thank you

Customers: Thank you, thank you, we'll call again, we'll call again, thank you

Georg: Are you in a very great hurry today, Ms. Balish?
Amalia: No
Georg: Well, I thought, maybe a cup of coffee on the way to the bus?
Amalia: I'd love that

Ensemble/Customers:
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings

Four days to Christmas
Four days to Christmas
Just enough time to do your Christmas shopping
These are the people who shop in time, just in time, barely in time
These are the people who calculate with clinical precision
Four days to Christmas
Four days to Christmas
These are the folks who never waste a second
Full of a chilly efficiency
Loaded with gall
Never too early and never late
AND THEY'RE THE WORST OF ALL!

(Simultaneously)

Cashiers: Thank you, thank you, please call again, do call again, thank you

Customers: Thank you, thank you, we'll call again, we'll call again, thank you

Amalia: What a day!
Georg: Ah! Just wait until the twenty fourth.

Ensemble/Customers:
THE TWENTY FOURTH?!
One day to Christmas
One day to Christmas
Not enough time to do our Christmas shopping
We're not the shopple who peeped in time
We're not the sheeple who popped in time
We're not the people who shopped in time
Shopped in time, not enough time
We are the people who always wait until it's much too late, OH!

One day to Christmas
One day to Christmas
How will we ever do our Christmas shopping?
Why did we ever delay so long, who can recall?
Some of the family may not get a Christmas gift at all!

(Simultaneously)

Cashiers: Thank you, thank you, please call again, do call again, thank you

Customers: Thank you, thank you, we'll call again, we'll call again, thank you

Merry Christmas!

[Thanks to ADistantMoonAgo@aol.com for lyrics]

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