Overture / Night Waltz (Love Takes Time)

[DESIREE]
Love takes time

[CHARLOTTE]
Entirely too much, but sublime

[ANNE]
Frightening, love is
Full of quicksand

[PETRA]
Enlightening, love is
Full of tricks, and

[DESIREE, CHARLOTTE, ANNE & PETRA]
It does take time

[MADAME ARMFELDT]
Which really is rather a crime

[FREDERICKA]
Curious, love is

[ERICH]
Self-tormenting

[FREDERICK]
Embarrassing, love is

[CARL-MAGNUS]
Unrelenting

[ALL]
A labyrinth, love is
Just resenting
The time love takes
Compounds the confusion it makes

[FREDERICK]
One muddles the facts with the fakes

[DESIREE]
And love is a lecture
On how to correct your
Mistakes

[ANNE]
What shall I wear?

[CHARLOTTE]
Where is my parasol?

[FREDERICK]
Do I compare?

[CARL-MAGNUS]
Would you dare?

[DESIREE]
Have I missed it?

[FREDERICKA]
Will I ever?

[DESIREE]
Did he notice?

[ERICH]
What will they say?

[FREDERICKA]
Should I care?

[FREDERICK]
Must I remember it again?

[ANNE]
Why can't we stay just the way—?

[FREDERICKA]
Will I ever?

[CHARLOTTE]
Was I ever?

[ERICH]
Can I ever?

[MADAME ARMFELDT, spoken]
I have no questions

[ALL]
Loves comes first

[CHARLOTTE & ANNE]
It matters the most at its worst

[DESIREE]
You always feel underrehearsed

[CARL-MAGNUS]
One sets the conditions
Then finds the positions
Reversed

[ALL]
The time love takes
Awakens the heart that it breaks
And think of the new friends it makes
Yes, love is a lecture
On how to correct your
Mistakes

[ALL, variously]
What shall I wear?
Where is my parasol?
Do I compare?
Would you dare?
Have I missed it?
Will I ever?
Did he notice? What will they say?
Why should I bother? Why should I care?
Why can't I stand it? Why can't we stay
Will I ever—? Just the way—?
Did I ever—?
Can I ever—?
How shall I sleep?
What am I doing? Am I too cold?
Where were you? Are you so jealous?
When does it start?
Would she ever?
Did she ever?
Was I too eager?
Would you ever?
Are you ever—?
When will I learn?
Why are they laughing?
Is he unhappy?
Why did I say that?
Am I too late?

[The questions blend into a cacophony.]

[MADAME ARMFELDT, spoken]
I have no answers

[ALL, variously]
What shall I wear?
Where is my parasol?

[MADAME ARMFELDT, spoken]
I have no time