Jason Howland
Our Finest Dreams
[Jo, spoken]
Years from now, people will talk about us:
One Christmas eve, four penniless and ragged sisters
Put on an operatic tragedy for all of Concord

[Meg & Beth, spoken]
Oh, Jo, no!

[Jo, spoken]
Filled with blood and guts
Two massacres, a masked ball
And several heart-wrenching scenes

(sung)
We'll dim the lights, the crowd will hush
We'll start the overture and Beth will surely blush
And when Clarissa starts to bleed
Christmas will exceed our finest dreams

[Meg, spoken]
Jo, do I die again in this one?

[Jo, spoken]
Yes

(sung)
Meg you will die like none before
The world will shudder when your body hits the floor
For when Rodrigo makes you bleed
Christmas will exceed our finest dreams
Now Amy as Clarissa, only passion is permissible
This tragedy depends upon the fire in your eyes

And Beth when you're the Mother
You'll be noble, you'll be pure
All hearts will melt the moment mother cries

(spoken)
Let us begin!

[Amy, spoken deadpan]
Mother, dear mother, do not cry

[Jo, spoken]
No no no, Amy. Expression
From the heart

Mother, oh no dear Mother do not cry!

[Amy, spoken]
Mother oh no dear–
Jo, I am teased and ridiculed at school
And all that concerns you is your silly little tragedy

[Jo, sung]
I know you're tired
I know it's hard
But we will triumph when Rodrigo yells "en garde"
[Meg, Beth & Amy, spoken]
Touché!

[Jo, sung]
Christmas will be thrilling
Christmas will be gory
Christmas will exceed our finest dreams

(spoken)
I've made an important decision today
As you all know I've been writing stories forever
With much satisfaction, and people seem to like what I write

[Beth, spoken]
We love it, Jo

[Jo, spoken]
Absolutely
So I've decided to become a world-renowned writer
I will write great books and earn barrels of money
And I will give you all everything you've ever dreamed of

[Meg & Amy, spoken]
Oh, Jo!

[Beth, spoken]
Jo can do anything!
[Jo, spoken]
But we must promise to remain just as we are
Solid, like a fortress
No matter what happens we must promise
That it will always be the four March sisters, forever

[All, spoken]
Forever!

[Jo, spoken]
Come, let's rehearse

[Amy]
Mother, oh mother, do not cry

[Beth]
Not my daughter, you wretch

[Meg]
You will have me, or no one

[Amy]
No one!

|[Jo]|[Meg, Amy, Beth]|
|I've got my boots and hat.|Before we are done the crowds will roar|
|My mustache is curled|We'll make their spirits soar|

|I'm making my entrance now|Our success is guaranteed|
|With curtains unfurled|Christmas will be thrilling|
|I'll show them all I'm no little woman|Christmas will exceed|
|In a dress all buttoned and pearled|Our finest dreams|

|I'm ready to take a bow|When sweet Clarissa beams|
|I've taken a solemn vow|When brave Rodrigo screams|
|With all that I am, somehow|When the villain's glassy eyeball beams|

[Jo, spoken]
My dearest Mama, there will be Christmas after all!

[Amy, sung]
Christmas

[Beth, sung]
Christmas

[Meg, sung]
Christmas

[Jo, sung]
Christmas

[All]
Will exceed our finest dreams