(The lot and the loft)
ALL SEVEN HOMELESS
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
Christmas bells are ringing
How time flies
When compassion dies
No stockings
No candy canes
No gingerbread
No safety net
No loose change
No change no
ONE HOMELESS MAN
“Santy Claus is coming”
ALL
Cause Santy Claus ain’t coming
No room at the Holiday Inn — again
Well, maybe next year —
Or — when
(Lights shift back to the loft.
A small projector rests on a milk crate, which is on a dolly.)
MARK
December 24th, ten p.m. Eastern standard time
I can’t believe a year went by so fast
Time to see what we have time to see
Turn the projector on
(A rough title credit, “Today 4 U: Proof Positive,” appears,
followed by a shot from last Christmas of ROGER tuning his guitar.)
First shot Roger
With the fender guitar he just got out of hock
When he sold the car
That took him away and back
ROGER
I found my song
MARK
He found his song
If he could just find Mimi
ROGER
I tried — you know I tried
(MARK’s image appears on-screen.)
MARK
Fade in on Mark
Who’s still in the dark
ROGER
But he’s got great footage
MARK
Which he’s cut together
ROGER
To screen tonight
(BENNY’s image appears on screen.)
MARK
In honor of Benny’s wife
ROGER
Muffy
MARK
Alison
Pulling Benny out of the East Village location
(The projector blows a fuse. Blackout.)
ROGER
Then again, maybe we won’t screen it tonight.
MARK
I wonder how Alison found out about Mimi?
ROGER
Maybe a little bird told her.
(COLLINS enters in the dark, with several twenty-dollar bills in each hand.)
COLLINS
Or an angel.
(Lights fade up.)
I had a little hunch that you could use a little flow
ROGER
Tutoring again?
COLLINS
Negative
MARK
Back at N.Y.U.?
COLLINS
No, no, no
I rewired the ATM at the food emporium
To provide an honorarium to anyone with the code
ROGER & MARK
The code —
Well…?
COLLINS
A-N-G-E-L
Yet Robin Hooding isn’t the solution
The powers that be must be undermined where they dwell
In a small, exclusive gourmet institution
Where we overcharge the wealthy clientele
ALL THREE
Let’s open up a restaurant in Santa Fe
With a private corner banquette in the back
COLLINS
We’ll make it yet, we’ll somehow get to Santa Fe
ROGER
But you’d miss New York before you could unpack
ALL
Ohh–
(MAUREEN and JOANNE enter, carrying MIMI.)
MAUREEN
Mark! Roger! Anyone — help!
MARK
Maureen?
MAUREEN
It’s Mimi — I can’t get her up the stairs
ROGER
No!
(They enter the loft.)
MAUREEN
She was huddled in the park in the dark
And she was freezing
And begged to come here
ROGER
Over here
Oh, God —
(They lay her down carefully on the table.)
MIMI
Got a light — I know you — you’re shivering…
JOANNE
She’s been living on the street
ROGER
We need some heat
MIMI
I’m shivering
MARK
We can buy some wood and something to eat
COLLINS
I’m afraid she needs more than heat
MIMI
I heard that
MAUREEN
Collins will call for a doctor, honey
MIMI
Don’t waste your money on Mimi, me, me
COLLINS
Hello — 911?
I’m on hold!
MIMI
Cold…cold… would you light my candle?
ROGER
Yes — we’ll — oh God — find a candle
MIMI
I should tell you
I should tell you
ROGER
I should tell you
I should tell you
MIMI
I should tell you
Benny wasn’t any–
ROGER
Shhh–I know
I should tell you why I left
It wasn’t cause I didn’t —
MIMI
I know
I should tell you
ROGER
I should tell you
MIMI (whispering)
I should tell you
I love you–
(MIMI fades)
ROGER
Who do you think you are?
Leaving me alone with my guitar
Hold on there’s something you should hear
It isn’t much but it took all year
(MIMI stirs and ROGER begins playing acoustic guitar at her bedside.)
