William Finn
What Would I Do? (Falsettoland)
[MARVIN]
What would I do
If I had not met you?
Who would I blame my life on?
Once I was told
That all men get what they deserve
Who the hell then threw this curve?
There are no answers, but
Who would I be
If you had not been my friend?
You're the only one
One out of a thousand others
Only one my child would allow
When I'm having fun
You're the one I wanna talk to
Where have you been?
Where are you now?
(WHIZZER appears behind MARVIN, dressed as we first saw him. MARVIN turns around, sees WHIZZER and catches his breath.)
What would I do
If I had not loved you?
How would I know what love is?
God only knows
Too soon, I'll remember your faults
Meanwhile, though, it's tears and schmaltz
There are no answers, but
What would I do
If you had not been my friend?
[WHIZZER]
All your life you wanted men
And when you got it up to have them
Who knew it could end your life?
[MARVIN]
I left my kid and left my wife
To be with you
To be insulted by such handsome men
(They face each other.)
[WHIZZER]
Do you regret–?
[MARVIN]
I'd do it again
I'd like to believe that I'd do it again
And again and again
And
[MARVIN]
What more can I say?
How am I to face tomorrow
After being screwed out of today?
Tell me
What's in store
Yes, I'd beg or steal or borrow
If I could hold you
For one hour more
One hour more
One hour, one hour more
What would I do
If I had not seen you?
Who would I feast my eyes on?
Once I was told
That good men
Get better with age
We're just gonna skip that stage
There are no answers, but
What would I do
If you had not been
My friend?
No simple answers
But what would I do
If you had not been
My friend
[WHIZZER]
...What more can I say?
After being screwed out of today
Tell me what's in store
One hour more
One hour more
One hour, one hour more
What would I do
I had not seen you
Who would I feast
My eyes on?
Once I was told
That good men
Get better with age
There are no answers
But what would I do...
(WHIZZER exits)
[MARVIN]
My friend
My friend...
(First JASON, then everyone else gathers around MARVIN.)
[MENDEL]
Homosexuals
Women with children
Short insomniacs
We're a teeny tiny band
Lovers come and lovers go
Lovers live and die fortissimo
This is where we take a stand
Welcome to Falsettoland
(DR. CHARLOTTE walks in and joins the circle at the same time as MENDEL. TRINA consoles MARVIN.)
(Fade to black.)