Rent Synopsis

            It is Christmas Eve in an East Village, New York City industrial loft. A young filmmaker, Mark, sets up his camera, as Roger tunes his guitar. (TUNE UP 1)The phone then rings and we learn from Mark's mother(VOICE MAIL 1) that he has recently lost his girlfriend(Maureen) to another woman (JoAnne). Another phone call from Tom Collins(old friend & former roomate), downstairs, is cut short as he is mugged. (TUNE UP 2)Yet another phone call is from Benny (another former roomate), the new landlord, demanding the rent.(TUNE UP 3 3) Finally the power in the loft blows, leaving Mark and Roger to rage (RENT). Yet another phone call comes this time from Maureen, begging for Mark's technical help with her performance piece. He agrees to do what he can.
            Outside, Collins is discovered and consoled by Angel,(YOU OK HONEY?) a street musician, who offers some bandages and a date. The instant attraction is heightened with the realization that both are HIV-positive. Mark urges Roger to come out that evening, but Roger refuses, takes his AZT, and works on his dream, to write one last great song before he dies.(ONE SONG GLORY). He is interrupted by Mimi, a beautiful stranger from downstairs who needs a match because the electricity is gone (LIGHT MY CANDLE). They are attracted to one another, but Roger backs away due to his own fears and Mimi's drug promblem.
            Mark returns with Collins and Angel, decked in glorious drag, who shares the story about how he made $1,000 that day (TODAY 4 YOU). Benny barges in with a deal: stop Maureen's protest that night (about clearing a tent city from Benny's vacant lot), and he will forgive they rent they owe (YOU'LL SEE).
            At the lot Mark gathers his courage to meet Joanne,who has also usurped Mark's stage manager duties. She accepts his help .They begin to talk andboth realize how manipulative and irrestable Maureen can be (TANGO: MAUREEN). Angel and Collins attend an AIDS support meeting and Mark arrives late to tape the event. The group affirms its determination to live without fear; "no day but today" (LIFE SUPPORT). Meanwhile, Mimi gets dressed up and begs Roger to take her out (OUT TONIGHT )but he refuses ,due to fear. Simultaneneously a young support group member quietly asks "Will I lose my dignity?". His question is echoed by every member of the community,including Roger. Roger grabs his coat and leaves the flat.(WILL I..)Mark, Collins,and Angel rescue a homeless woman from police harassment,but she is hardly grateful(ON THE STREET). On their way home, Mark, Angel, and Collins fantasize about leaving New York to move far away (SANTA FE). Mark leaves to check on Roger before Angel and Collins affirm their love (I'LL COVER YOU).
            Joanne dials Maureen from a pay phone,while juggling two other calls.(WE'RE OKAY).On the street, the homeless, sidewalk vendors, junkies, and cops scurry around in their X-mas routines (CHRISTMAS BELLS). Angel and Collins shop for a coat, Mark finds Roger, and Roger finds Mimi, and asks Mimi for a dinner date (and drags her away from her dealer) which she accepts. Maureen arrives and performs her piece calling for a communal "leap of faith" against Benny and his new commercial development (OVER THE MOON).
            After the performance, everyone meets at the Life Cafe where Benny gloats that Bohemia is dead, but Mark and company reject his pronouncement (LA VIE BOHEME). He leaves but hounds Mimi, who seems to be a former lover. AZT buzzers sound from Mimi, Roger, Angel,and Collins and Roger realizes he and Mimi share the same illness. Happy and scared, they resolve to assume the risk of romantic involvement (I SHOULD TELL YOU).
            Joanne is fed up by Maureen's orders and announces they are over. A riot has also broken out on Avenue A (LA VIE BOHEME B). Benny has padlocked the loft and called the police, but the people refuse to move. The riot continues and Roger and Mimi share a small, lovely, kiss.

            During the riot, the community pauses and ponders "How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?" They decide the answer is a "measure in love." (SEASONS OF LOVE)
            It is now New Years Eve while Mark begins to films/hosts a break-in party to their old building, now padlocked (HAPPY NEW YEAR). All of the couples are present,and Maureen wins back JoAnne's favor.After breaking-in, Mark finds a message from a tabloid T.V. show hostess, Alexi Darling, (VOICE MAIL #3)who wants footage of the riot/to offer Mark a job. Benny crashes the party to apologize and present the tennants with their new keys. Roger is suspicious and Benny grows angry, implying that Mimi helped change his mind by sleeping with him. Mimi denies, but Roger is jealous. They quickly apologize,but the damage is done.(HAPPY NEW YEAR B) Mimi leaves and his cornered by her drug dealer as he reassures her that it will be a "Happy New Year".
            A short time has passed and it is Valentine's Day. Roger and Mimi are still together, but he's still jealous, Collins and Angel just try to survive however and wherever they can, and Joanne and Maureen feud (TAKE ME OR LEAVE ME) before breaking up again.
            Spring. Everyone feels the coming changes(SEASONS OF LOVE B). Later in the Spring, Roger leaves Mimi, and Mimi mourns the impending loss of love while Collins nurses his dying Angel (WITHOUT YOU). The end of Spring brings a shaky reconcillition between the lovers.
            The end of summer shows much love making with many frustrations with safe sex (CONTACT) ending in more break-ups between the lovers. Collins and Angel are separated more permanently however... Angel has died. At his funeral each friend offers a kind memory and Collins sings for his love. (I'LL COVER YOU-REPRISE.) Mark leaves the funeral and takes the job Alexi Darling has been offering. He realizes how much has changed in one year (HALLOWEEN). All lovers are feuding and Collins asks them to stop as he mourns Angel's departure. Joanne & Maureen reunite. Mimi and Benny leave together.
            Mark tries to convince Roger to stay in New York and confront his pain, but Roger lashes out, accusing Mark of also remaining detached, hiding behind his camera. Mark wonders whether Roger is simply afraid to watch Mimi die. Mimi appears and lets Roger off the hook, insisting that she has just come to say goodbye.(GOODBYE, LOVE). Roger leaves for Santa Fe and Mimi begs Mark for help. Benny appears and offers to pay for rehabilitation. She refuses and runs away. Benny pays for Angel's funeral & takes Collins out to get drunk. And Mark prepares for his meeting with Alexi. Mark and Roger question their decisions.(WHAT YOU OWN.) Roger begins to discover and write his song and Mark decides to finish his film instead of working for Alexi.
            As the Holidays draw nearer Roger, Mimi, Joanne, and Mark's parents ponder where their children are(VOICE MAIL 5).
            By Christmans Eve, both Mark & Roger are back and living together and Mark prepares to screen his film (FINALE). The power reminiscently blows again before Joanne and Maureen appear with Mimi. Mimi is so ill they have trouble getting her up the stairs. She is laid down and she finally tells Roger she loves him. Roger sings his song for her as a plea for her not to leave him (YOUR EYES). He whispers "I always loved you" as Mimi slips away. He cries her name, and a few seconds later she awakens, with tales of Angel and a bright light (FINALE B). Celebrating the wonder of life's terrible uncertainty, the community re-affirms love as the strongest force we know, acknowledging there is always, "No day but today."

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