Rent The Musical Lyrics: You’ll See

YOU’LL SEE

(BENNY enters.)

BENNY
Joy to the world–
Hey, you bum — yeah, you, move over
Get your ass off that range rover

MARK
That attitude toward the homeless is just what
Maureen is protesting tonight.
(Holding camera up to BENNY)
Close up: Benjamin Coffin the third, our ex-roommate who married Alison Grey,
of the Westport Greys — then bought the
building and the lot next door from his father-in-law in hopes of starting a cyber-studio.

BENNY
Maureen is protesting
Losing her performance space
Not my attitude

ROGER
What happened to Benny
What happened to his heart
And the ideals he once pursued?

BENNY
The owner of that lot next door
Has a right to do with it as he pleases

COLLINS
Happy birthday, Jesus!

BENNY
The rent

MARK
You’re wasting your time

ROGER
We’re broke

MARK
And you broke your word — this is absurd

BENNY
There is one way you won’t have to pay

ROGER
I knew it!

BENNY
Next door, the home of Cyberarts, you see
And now that the block is re-zoned
Our dream can become a reality
You’ll see boys
You’ll see boys
A state of the art, digital, virtual interactive studio
I’ll forego your rent and on paper guarantee
That you can stay here for free
If you do me one small favor

MARK
What?

BENNY
Convince Maureen to cancel her protest

MARK
Why not just get an injunction or call the cops

BENNY
I did, and they’re on stand by
But my investors would rather
I handle this quietly

ROGER
You can’t quietly wipe out an entire tent city
Then watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ on TV!

BENNY
You want to produce films and write songs?
You need somewhere to do it!
It’s what we used to dream about
Think twice before you pooh-pooh it
You’ll see boys
You’ll see boys
You’ll see — the beauty of a studio
That lets us do our work and get paid
With condos on the top
Whose rent keeps open our shop
Just stop the protest
And you’ll have it made
You’ll see — or you’ll pack

(BENNY exits.)

ANGEL
That boy could use some prozac

ROGER
Or heavy drugs

MARK
Or group hugs

COLLINS
Which reminds me —
We have a detour to make tonight
Anyone who wants to can come along

ANGEL
Life support’s a group for people coping with life
You don’t have to stay too long

MARK
First I’ve got a protest to save

ANGEL
Roger?

ROGER
I’m not much company you’ll find

MARK
Behave!

ANGEL
He’ll catch up later — He’s just go other things on his mind
You’ll see boys

MARK & COLLINS
We’ll see boys

ROGER
Let it be boys!

COLLINS
I like boys

ANGEL
Boys like me

ALL
We’ll see.