Finale A
(The lot & the loft.)
ALL SEVEN HOMELESS PEOPLE 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 projector 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.)
Mark
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 NYU?
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 THREE Ohh –
(MAUREEN & 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.)
To Top
Your Eyes
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 the 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!
To Top
Finale B
(Suddenly, MIMI's hand twitches. Incredibly, she is still alive.)
Mimi
I jumped over the moon!
Roger
What?
Mimi
A leap of mooooooooooooo –
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...")
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
I die without you
I die without you
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
No day but today
ALL No day but today
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