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Tale of Two Cities
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
THE STORY
Dr. Manette is released from the Bastille after 17 years of unjust imprisonment and journeys to England to live with his young daughter, Lucie, whom he has never known before. On the voyage home, Lucie and Manette befriend a young French expatriate, Charles Darnay, who is arrested on mysterious treason charges upon his arrival in England. At Darnay's trial, he is rescued by the efforts of a drunken but brilliant lawyer, Sydney Carton. Having saved Darnay's life, Carton finds the Frenchman his principal rival for Lucie Manette's affections. But it doesn't really matter, Carton has no faith in himself and never makes an effort. Although Dr. Manette has misgivings about Darnay because of his aristocratic background, (Manette was imprisoned by an aristocrat) he gives his blessing and Darnay and Lucie are married. They have a little girl and live peacefully for a time with Carton a frequent visitor. When the French Revolution breaks out, Darnay is lured back to France by Madame Defarge, a fanatic bent on the destruction of Darnay's aristocratic family. With Darnay sentenced to be executed, Carton again finds himself all that stands between Darnay and disaster. Realizing that Madame Defarge will come after Lucie and her child next, Carton methodically makes plans to get them safely out of France. Then, under the pretense of visiting Darnay in his cell, he knocks him unconscious and changes places with him so that Darnay can return to his family. Darnay is carried out and brought to join his family by an old acquaintance whom Carton is blackmailing. Secure in the knowledge that they are all safe, Carton goes to his death; redeeming his wasted life by sacrificing himself for their happiness.
LIST OF SONGS
Act I
The Shadows of the Night It Won't Be Long
Up in the Garrett Who Are You
You'll Never Be Alone No Honest Way The Trial
Reflection Round and Round I Can't Recall
Resurrection Man All in My Mind If Dreams Came True
Out of Sight, Out of Mind Little One Until Tomorrow
Act II
Recalled To Life The Tale Without a Word No One Else
LYRICS
IT WON'T BE LONG
WHEN PEOPLE ARE THIRSTY
AND READY AND WILLING
THEN IT WON'T BE LONG
TIL SOMETHING ELSE
BUT WINE IS SPILLING.
THE BUTCHER IS IDLE
WHEN PEOPLE ARE STARVING
BUT IT WON'T BE LONG
TIL THERE'S ANOTHER
KIND OF CARVING.
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
AND WHAT DO YOU SEE THERE?
AND IF WE DO NOTHING
CAN YOU GUARANTEE WE'LL BE THERE?
STOP CALLING TO HEAVEN,
STOP PRAYING FOR ANSWERS.
JUST KNOW THE DIVINEST
INTERVENTION IS THE HAND OF MAN!
AND WHERE DOES IT FINISH?
JUST WHERE IS THE ENDING?
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?
WHEN ARE WE PAST
THE POINT OF BENDING?
WE EAT FROM THE STREETS NOW.
WE FIGHT FOR A HAND-OUT.
WHICH ONE IS MORE PITIFUL?
THE TRICK IS HOW TO STAND OUT.
WE'RE NOT ABOVE BEGGING.
WE'RE NOT ABOVE STEALING.
AND PRIDE IS A LUXURY WE'RE
PAST THE POINT OF FEELING.
THE WEALTHY GET RICHER.
AND WE KEEP ON WAITING.
WE'VE LEARNED TO BE PATIENT.
WE'VE LEARNED TO KEEP HATING.
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
AND WHAT DO YOU SEE THERE?
AND IF WE DO NOTHING
CAN YOU GUARANTEE WE'LL BE THERE
FOR THE THINGS TO COME:
THE FUTURE DAWN,
THE DISTANT DRUM,
THE CUP FROM WHICH
WE ALL CAN DRINK?
IT'S LATER THAN
THE SCHOLARS THINK.
AND IT WON'T BE LONG!
IT WON'T BE LONG!
LYRICS
IF DREAMS CAME TRUE
IF DREAMS CAME TRUE
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BETTER MAN.
IF DREAMS CAME TRUE
YOU MIGHT HAVE SET ME FREE.
BUT GOD IS KIND.
FOR YOU HE HAD A BETTER PLAN
AND SPARED YOU FROM THE PAIN OF LOVING ME.
AND EVEN IF I'D NOT SURRENDERED LONG AGO
ALL YOU CAN EVER DO FOR ME YOU'VE DONE.
YOU'VE BEEN THE FINEST DREAM
A MAN COULD EVER KNOW -
THAT THIS ABANDONED FIGHT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WON.
OLD VOICES I HAD THOUGHT LONG SINCE DEAD
WHISPER OF ANOTHER LIFE I MIGHT HAVE LED.
BUT DAYLIGHT WAKES DREAMS AWAY.
DREAMS THAT LEAVE A SLEEPER WHERE HE LAY.
AND EVEN IF THE DREAM WERE NOT IMPOSSIBLE
I KNOW TOO WELL THE ENDING WOULD BE SAD.
FOR IT TAKES MORE THAN WISHES
TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE.
A WISH WAS ALL THIS DREAMER EVER HAD.
BUT THERE'S A PART OF YOU I CAN LOVE.
JUST LIKE YOU, YOUR CHILD SEES GOOD IN EVERYONE.
WHEN I LOOK INTO HER EYES
THERE'S NO DISAPPROVING GLANCE.
KNOWING HER'S AN ENDLESS SECOND CHANCE.
IF I COULD TAKE THAT SECOND CHANCE -
IF I COULD MAKE MY LIFE ANEW -
IF ONLY DREAMS CAME TRUE...
WHAT ARE YOU WEEPING FOR?
I AM NOT WORTH THE TEARS YOU WASTE.
NOT FAR FROM NOW I'LL SINK ONCE MORE
AND OUTWARD MOCK THE HEART
THAT LOVES YOU CHASTE.
THE LOW COMPANIONS, LOW DESIRES
I SCORN BUT YIELD TO ENDLESSLY
WILL RENDER ME LESS WORTH YOUR TEARS
AS ANY WRETCH WHO ROAMS THE STREET.
I WON'T FORGET YOU WEPT FOR ME.
IF DREAMS CAME TRUE
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BETTER MAN.
IF DREAMS CAME TRUE
YOU MIGHT HAVE SET ME FREE.
BUT GOD IS KIND.
FOR YOU HE HAS A BETTER PLAN.
AND MAYBE TIME WILL TELL
HE HAS SOME PLAN FOR ME.
AND MAYBE THEN
I'LL SEE MY DREAMS COME TRUE.