Jeanine Tesori
Helen’s Etude
[ALISON]
I want to know what's true
Dig deep into who
And what and why and when
Until now gives way to then...

[ROY, spoken]
Woah. Nice room

[BRUCE, spoken]
Here's the wallpaper. It's not William Morris but it's close. It's pretty close

[ROY, spoken]
You read all these books?

[BRUCE, spoken]
Oh, working on it

[ROY, spoken]
That is not something I can imagine

[BRUCE, spoken]
No, I remember from class; you're not much of a reader

[ROY, spoken]
No. Read some good books in your class, though
[BRUCE, spoken]
It's my job... to make it interesting

[ALISON, spoken]
It's like a 1950s lesbian pulp novel
"Their tawdry love could only flourish in the shadows."

[SMALL ALISON, spoken]
I like Roy. He's funny

[HELEN, spoken]
Alison, find something to do. I'm practicing

[SMALL ALISON, spoken]
Did Chop-In write "Chopsticks"?

[HELEN, spoken]
It's "Sho-Pahn." Alison, stop bothering me

[ROY, spoken]
This place is like a museum. What's that stuff?

[BRUCE, spoken]
Sherry. Want some?

[ROY, spoken]
Is it any good?
[BRUCE, spoken]
Yeah

[ROY, spoken]
Sure
I remember this house before you moved in. We used to ride our bikes here all the time when we were kids. You've done a shit-load of work

[BRUCE, spoken]
I did. By myself, most of it

[ROY, spoken]
You must be in good shape, old man

[BRUCE, spoken]
Not too bad, if I say so myself

(sung)
I might still break a heart or two
You'd be surprised just what
A guy my age knows how to do

(spoken)
Want it?

[ROY, spoken]
Yeah
[BRUCE, spoken]
Unbutton your shirt

[ROY, spoken]
Is that your wife playing the piano?

[BRUCE, spoken]
Don't worry about her

[HELEN]
La la la la
La la la la la
La la la la, la la la
La la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la

Maybe not right now
Maybe not right now[HELEN]
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la[BRUCE]
I want, I want

I want, I...


I…
I…[ROY]
I know this type
This type of married guy
I could just give him the slip
But why
It's not a big deal
I know he wants me 
[ROY]
I know this type
This type of
​married guy
I could just
Give him the slip
But why?
It's not a big deal
I know he wants
​just 
[HELEN]
I want, I want

I want,​ I…




La la la la 
[BRUCE]
I
​might still
​break a
​heart
​or
​two
I want
​just[KIDS]
Ba ba
​ba ba

Ba ba ba ba

Ba ba ba ba


Ba ba ba ba[ROY, HELEN & BRUCE]
Me and him
Me and him
Me and him