[BILL]
Excuse it if I'm lyrical
But the past is just passé
The future is the miracle
The future's here to stay!
Electric light by Edison
Marconi's wireless wave
The sulfa drugs in medicine
The safety razor shave

[PRUDENCE]
It all sounds so mechanical
This dream that you adore
Machines can be tyrannical
And what's more
The thing that seems to bother me
Is how much happiness will there be

[BILL]
Think of trains with the speed of lightning

[PRUDENCE]
Oh, it all sounds rather frightening
But I shall not mind those trains
If love remains
[BILL]
Think of planes and a horseless carriage

[PRUDENCE]
Will there still be love and marriage?
I won't mind those cars and planes
If love remains

Oh, the future looks bewildering
All the shapes of things to be
But so long as there are homes and flowers and children
The future is all right with me

[BILL]
Think of talkies and television

[PRUDENCE]
In my heart there's one decision
I don't care what the future contains
If love remains
If there's someone to love and love remains

[WOMEN]
And who cares about the future
And who cares about the past?
There is nothing like the present
When your heart is fast
[Dance sequence.]

[PRUDENCE, spoken, whispering]
Hey, stop. 

[WASHINGTON, spoken]
At ease, men.