SONG:  “Out of Nothing”

                                                           

 

     Mundo            

Until this morning, I was a lover of all women. Then the Emperor set me to marry Espi. And I knew, in that one instant, it could not be her. And I knew, in that same instant, it could be . . . someone.

 

     Eldora           

Someone?

                             

            (Mundo and Eldora stare awkwardly at each other.)

 

     Eldora           

I HAVE NEVER LOVED A MAN,

AND I DON’T KNOW THAT I EVER SHALL.

 

     Mundo            

NOR HAVE I LOVED A WOMAN,

BUT IT COULD BE . . .

 

     Mundo & Eldora

SOMEONE.

 

            (Eldora deflects from the line of conversation.)

 

     Eldora

The Emperor was his usual indecision today, flitting and floating . . .

 

     Mundo

He is searching for something, for someone.

 

     Eldora           

You talk much about ‘someone,’ Mundo. Who is this ‘someone’?

 

     Mundo

It is one’s true love And it is no one.

 

     Eldora           

How can one’s true love be no one?

 

     Mundo            

Because love grows on nothing. It is all lovers’ imaginations. Surely you have heard how blind lovers are. He adores her chin.

 

     Eldora           

She worships his dimples.

 

     Mundo            

He writes sonnets to her eyebrows.

 

     Eldora           

She is sick from two hours’ absence.

 

     Mundo            

Love is like a madness that sees visions where others see not a whit. Love is as made-up as those new fashions that designer sawed out of empty air for the Emperor today.

 

     Eldora           

I don’t see it.  A happy invention is still an invention.  True love must be firm, like truth.

 

     Mundo           

I see.  Love is not from the heart.  Love is out there, glittering like the Emperor’s fancy new finery.

 

     Eldora           

And you don’t see it.

 

     Mundo            

But I am a fool, proved so today . . .

           

     Eldora           

And I am a fool, too.

 

     Mundo            

No, certainly not. For your sake, that is. For my own sake . . . I would not . . . be alone.

 

     Eldora           

Nor I.

 

     Mundo

But I am not the fool. Nor you. They are the fools.

            (Urgently)

Do you see, Eldora?

 

            (Eldora turns away and sings a pretty tune, but it’s not love.)

 

     Eldora           

(a capella)

PEOPLE SAY LOVE IS SPRINGTIME AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS.

PEOPLE SAY LOVE IS AFTERNOONS ON A QUIET RIVER BANK.

PEOPLE SAY LOVE IS SIPPING WINE IN THE CORNER OF A CROWDED ROOM.

 

      Mundo           

BUT THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND THE AFTERNOONS

AND ALL THE CROWDED ROOMS

ARE NOTHING BUT TO LOVERS.

 

I don’t see it like everybody sees it. Like you and me, we could be lovers. I mean, not ordinary lovers – there’s every reason in the world against us. But none of those reasons has anything to do with . . . Love. Love comes from nowhere you can put your finger on.

 

I SAY WE LIVE IN THE BLACKEST NIGHT

WITH NOTHING ABOVE OR BELOW.

I SAY WE LIVE IN EMPTINESS

SILENT AS MOONS COME AND GO.

 

AND OUT OF THE DARK WE BRING LIFE.

OUT OF THE NIGHT WE BRING LOVE.

AND INTO THE LIGHT I . . . BRING . . . YOU!

 

OUT OF NOTHING

I SAY YOU ARE MINE.

STANDING NOWHERE

I STIR YOU TO SHINE.

STEP THROUGH THE DARK,

THERE YOU ARE.

ALMOST NEAR, ALMOST FAR,

AND WE SWIRL AROUND EACH OTHER LIKE THE STARS.

 

HERE WE ARE,

WONDERING WHO.

SUDDENLY THERE,

SUDDENLY YOU.

 

     Eldora           

MAYBE I SEE IT THE WAY THAT YOU SEE IT.

MAYBE WE LIVE IN AN EMPTY WORLD.

MAYBE WE DREAM UP THAT SPECIAL FEELING

TO FLOW BETWEEN YOU AND ME.

 

AND OUT OF THE DARK WE BRING LIFE.

OUT OF THE NIGHT WE BRING LOVE.

AND INTO THE LIGHT  I . . . BRING . . . YOU.

 

OUT OF NOTHING

YOU GLOW LIKE A FLAME.

WE SPEAK OF LOVE

WITH NO TOUCH OF SHAME.

STEP THROUGH THE DARK,

THERE YOU ARE,

ALMOST NEAR, ALMOST FAR,

AND WE SWIRL AROUND EACH OTHER LIKE THE STARS.

 

     Mundo & Eldora

HERE WE ARE

WONDERING WHO.

SUDDENLY THERE,

SUDDENLY YOU.

           

     Eldora

            (turning away, a capella)

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT LOVE IS SPRINGTIME AND CHERRY

                        BLOSSOMS . . .

 

            (Eldora runs off.)