Stephen Sondheim
Second Midnight
[WITCH, spoken]
Two midnights gone!

[JACK, spoken]
You can live without fathers, but not without friends. 

[JACK'S MOTHER]
I don't understand it
Every other child reflects its mother
I don't understand it
Can't I have a child like every other?
What did I do wrong?

[JACK]
Mothers oughta trust you
Mothers oughta just leave you on your own

[JACK'S MOTHER]
What did I do wrong?

[JACK]
I don't understand it

[STEPMOTHER, spoken]
You can never love someone else's child the way you love your own. 
[CINDERELLA]
All you said was, "Always be good
And make me feel proud"
Was that enough to guide her?

[JACK]
I just wanna please her

[CINDERELLA]
I just want to always be good
So she would feel proud
How can I tell if she would feel proud?
When I've been denied her
Mother isn't here

[CINDERELLA'S FATHER, spoken]
I always wanted a boy. 

[CINDERELLA]
Mother cannot guide me

[STEPMOTHER, spoken]
I always wanted a girl. 

[CINDERELLA]
I don't understand
[FLORINDA & LUCINDA]
Other people's children
Defy you
Deny you
Other people's children
Are force fit

[ALL]
I don't understand

[FLORINDA & LUCINDA, spoken]
Other people's children
Are ridiculous
Despicable
Embarrassing
Convenient

[ALL]
What did I do wrong?

[CINDERELLA'S FATHER, spoken]
Other people's children are much easier to talk to than your own. 

[CINDERELLA'S MOTHER]
Careful with what you say
Children will listen
Careful with what you do
Children will see
And learn
[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, spoken]
Mother said
"Straight ahead"
Not to delay
Or be misled

[JACK'S MOTHER]
Children may not obey
But children will listen
Children will look to you
For which way to turn
To learn what to be

[CINDERELLA'S MOTHER & JACK'S MOTHER]
Careful before you say
"Listen to me"
Children will listen

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE, spoken]
It's hard to step into the shoes of your father especially when he's a king. 

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE, spoken]
And after your father takes care of the kingdom, it's time to take care of your father. 

[BAKER, spoken]
Maybe we just weren't meant to have children. 

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]
Don't say that!
Of course we were meant to have children. 

[BAKER, spoken]
And what do I know about being a father?
I hardly was ever a son. 

[BAKER'S WIFE]
I want a child

[BAKER]
I want a child

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]
Look, you're a good person
And I'm a good person
You'll be a good father
We'll know what to do

[BAKER, spoken]
If...

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]
When. 

[BAKER & BAKER'S WIFE]
How do you say to your child in the night
Nothing's all black, but then nothing's all white?
How do you say it will all be all right
When you know that it mightn't be true?
What do you do?
I don't understand

[RAPUNZEL, spoken]
What do you say when you look at your mother and think, "Did I come from that?"

[PARENTS]
What do you leave to your child when you're dead?
Only whatever you put in its head
Things that your father and mother have said
Which were left to them, too
Careful what you say

[CINDERELLA]
I don't understand it

[JACK]
I don't understand it

[RAPUNZEL]
Doesn't every child reflect its mother?
I don't understand it

[JACK]
I don't understand it

[FLORINDA & LUCINDA]
I don't understand it

[RAPUNZEL]
Maybe if I'd ever seen another
What did I do wrong?

[FLORINDA & LUCINDA]
What did we do wrong?

[CHILDREN]
Mothers ought to trust you
Mothers ought to just leave you on your own
I don't understand

Why does every other fuss and bother?
Why does every other child have a father?
What did I do wrong?

Fathers can advise you
Fathers realize you can be alone
What will we do wrong?

[RAPUNZEL & JACK]
How do you show them what they want to see
Still being true to what you want to be?
How do you grow if they never agree
To your wandering free
In the wood?

[BAKER, spoken]
How can you teach without someone to learn from?

[CINDERELLA & JACK]
When they know you could

[BAKER'S WIFE, spoken]
If we can make it through this, we can surely survive being parents. 

[PARENTS]
How do you say to a child who's in flight
Don't slip away and I won't hold so tight
What can you say that no matter how slight
Won't be misunderstood
What, except:
Be good
Make me proud
Have a little patience
Watch out for the wolves

[CHILDREN]
I will

[PARENTS]
Don't be foolish
Don't be frightened

[CHILDREN]
I won't

[PARENTS]
Be sure of what you want

[CHIILDREN]
I promise

[PARENTS]
Wait

[CHILDREN]
Don't worry

[PARENTS]
Think

[CHILDREN]
I love you

[PARENTS]
I love you

[CHILDREN]
I don't understand

[PARENTS]
Careful with what you say
Children will listen
Careful you do it, too
Children will see
And learn

Guide them but step away
Children will glisten
Tamper with what is true
Children will turn
If just to be free

The more you protect them
The more they reject you

[CHILDREN]
The more you reflect them
The more they respect you

[PARENTS]
Don't worry

[CHILDREN]
I'm fine

[PARENTS]
Be polite

[ALL]
It will all be all right