Quartet / There’s a Man (Transition)

[ARCHIBALD, spoken]
Last night I dreamed I walked through the maze to Lily's garden, and saw Lily and Mary standing there. Mary standing right there in Lily's garden. I turned away, I couldn't watch them. I was afraid.

[NEVILLE]
Why won't he say what he wants?
Why must he speak in dreams?
Why can't he see what he wants?
To disappear, it seems
He should send this haunted girl far away
Leave the house and lands to me

[ARCHIBALD]
I watched them walk around the garden
She stood tall, grown strong and bold
Then they turned and asked my pardon
I couldn't speak, my heart grown cold

[NEVILLE]
Why can't he see what he wants?
He wants the past undone
Why can't he know what he wants?
His losing battles won
To have never loved her
Never known how complete a loss can be

If she could disappear, he'd start again
And live like other men
He could be happy then
If she'd disappear, he could be free
Cut off from pain and loss
A bit like me

[ROSE, spoken]
You can't marry this Archibald. He's a gloomy, miserable cripple who hides himself away in that horrible house. He can't believe you love him. And neither can I.

[LILY, spoken]
No one is asking for your approval, Rose.

[ROSE, spoken]
Lily, think about your children. Do you want your children to be crippled as well?

[LILY]
I will marry him!

[NEVILLE, ROSE]
I can arrange what he wants (Don't do this)
He's left it all to me (Don't wed him)
Now he can have what he wants (Don't bed him)
Unfettered he will be (Don't do this)
Set him free to wander (Set him free)

[NEVILLE & ROSE]
Through the world
Let him go
His lonely way

[ARCHIBALD, LILY]
Then I longed to join them
Know the peace they feel (Now that I love him)
Their journey done
Then I woke once more without them (I will love for him)
Knew I must wander on and on (Live just to love him)

[ROSE, ARCHIBALD]
I won't forgive you (I go)
Won't see you live there (Life to find)
Lily, I swear I'll never see you

[NEVILLE]
Just to disappear is to be free

[LILY]
Do what you will, then
I'll never leave him!

[NEVILLE]
Cut off from pain

[ROSE & ARCHIBALD]
Cut off from pain

[NEVILLE]
Cut off from pain

[ROSE, LILY & ARCHIBALD]
Cut off from pain

[NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD]
I'll help him disappear and start again (Disappear)

[ROSE, LILY]
Now you must leave him (How can I leave him?)
Yes, you must leave him (I'll never leave him)

[NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD]
And love like other men (Leave loss behind me)

[ROSE, LILY]
You must believe me (Nor e'er deceive him)

[NEVILLE]
He could be happy then

[ROSE, LILY]
Lily, promise (Rose, I promised)

[NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD]
Just to disappear is to be free (Live unseen)

[ROSE, LILY]
Now you must leave him (Never to leave him)
You must believe me (No, I won't leave him)

[NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD]
Disappear (Disappear)

[ROSE, LILY]
Lily, think about the children (I will wed and bear him children)
Lily, think about the children (He will love me, love the children)

[ARCHIBALD, spoken]
I shan't be gone long. Perhaps just 'til the autumn.

[NEVILLE, spoken]
And Mary?

[ARCHIBALD, spoken]
I'll write her a note from Paris. Now, I'll go look in on Colin.

[NEVILLE, spoken]
Just see you don't wake him.

[ARCHIBALD, spoken]
In ten years have I ever awakened the boy?

[ALICE & CLAIRE]
There's a man whom no one sees
There's a man who lives alone
There's a heart that beats in silence for
The life he's never known