Rent Page #13

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)

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 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!

FINALE B:

(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

THE END:

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