Chapter Text
I’m in the loft with Roger. I grab my camera, setting it up onto the tripod. I turn it on, recording the wall that the projector, which I’ve been messing around with for most of today, is pointed towards. “It is December 24th, 1990, 10pm Eastern standard time. I can’t believe a year went by so fast...” I walk over to the projector. “Time to see what we have time to see. Turn the projector on!” I turn it on, video displayed on the only clear wall of the loft. A rough title credit says ‘Today 4 U: Proof Positive. A Mark Cohen Film.’ followed by a shot from last Christmas. Roger is seen 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.” “I found my song!” “He found his song, if he could just find Mimi.” “I tried...” Rogers' voice softens, sounding defeated. “You know I tried.” My image appears on-screen next. “Fade in on Mark, who’s still in the dark.” “But he’s got great footage!” “Which he’s cut together” Roger smiles. “To screen tonight.” Benny’s image comes up after mine. “In honor of Benny’s wife.” “Muffy!” “Alison.” I say sternly to Roger. “Pulling Benny out of the East Village location.” The projector then blows a fuse, everything blacking out. I sigh. Roger speaks up. “Then again, maybe we won’t screen it tonight.” “I wonder how Alison found out about Mimi?” “Maybe a little bird told her.” “Or an angel.” Collins’ voice cuts into the conversation, the light from the window shining upon him at the doorway. “I had a hunch that you could use a little flow.” “Tutoring again?” “Negative” He says, looking at Roger. “Back at N.Y.U.?” “No, no, no. I rewired the ATM at the food emporium to provide an honorarium to anyone with the code.” “The code?” Me and Roger both say. We wait for an answer that doesn’t come. “Well?” Me and Roger say in unison once again. “A N G E L” He spells out. “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. Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe, with a private corner banquette in the back. We'll make it yet, we'll somehow get to Santa Fe, But you'd miss New York before you could unpack.” “Oh-” We’re all cut off by a voice yelling up from the street. “Mark! Roger! Anyone, help!” We all rushed out onto the balcony, looking down. “Maureen?” I yell down. Her and Joanne are down there, holding who looks to be Mimi. “It's Mimi, I can't get her up the stairs!” Rogers' eyes widened in fear. “No!” He cries out. We go down, Roger picking up Mimi and bringing her inside. “She was huddled in the park in the dark, and she was freezing. She begged to come here.” “Over here. Oh, God.” Roger brings her over to the table, everyone helping to lay her down carefully with a pillow under her head. Mimi tries talking, her voice coming out very hoarse. “Got a light, I know you... You're shivering...” “She's been living on the street” Joanne mentions. “We need some heat.” Roger says. “I'm shivering...” I speak up, trying to keep my voice steady to hide my panic. “We can buy some wood, and something to eat..” “I'm afraid she needs more than heat...” Collins says warily. “I heard that.” Mimi looks over to Collins. Maureen puts a hand on Mimi. “Collins will call for a doctor, honey.” Mimi shakes her head. “Don't waste your money on me..” Collins got on the phone, speaking into it. “Hello, 911?” He pauses for a beat. “I'm on hold!” He yells out. “Cold...cold... Would you light my candle?” Mimi leans to Roger. “Yes, we'll- Oh god... Find a candle!” Roger looks back over at us. He snaps his head back to Mimi once she starts talking again. “I should tell you, I should tell you..” “I should tell you, I should tell you.” “I should tell you, Benny wasn't any-” “Shhh... I know.” He cuts her off. “I should tell you why I left, It wasn't ‘cause I didn't-” “I know. I should tell you,” “I should tell you” Mimi whispers now, her voice becoming faint. “I should tell you, I love you...” Mimi fades, laying in Rogers arms on the table. Roger chokes back a sob and any tears that threaten to fall, looking down at Mimi. “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 as Roger grabs his acoustic guitar, beginning to play at her side. He sings sweetly to her. “Your eyes, as we said our goodbyes. Can't get them out of my mind... And I find I can't hide from your eyes. The ones that took me by surprise, the night you came into my life. Where there's moonlight, I see your eyes. How'd I let you slip away? When I'm longing so, to hold you. Now I'd die, for one more day, 'cause there's something I should have told you. Yes, there's something I should have told you when I looked into your eyes. Why does distance make us wise? You were the song all along... And before this song dies, I should tell you, I should tell you, I have always loved you. You can see it in my eyes... Mimi!” Roger plays Musetta's Theme, it is done correctly and oh so passionately. His singing fades to a stop, the guitar strumming coming to a halt. We all stand together in silence, some people looking at Mimi’s body laying on the table, others looking down to the ground. I stand looking off to the side, in silence with the others. Roger then perks up. Mimi’s hand had twitched, us all looking at her now in awe. Incredibly, she’s still alive. Love heals, I guess. “Mimi...?” Roger asks. She sits up in a jolt. “I jumped over the moon!” “What?” Roger asks in confusion. “A leap of mooooooo-” “She’s back!” Joanne exclaims. “I was in a tunnel. Heading for this warm, white light...” “Oh my god!” Maureen says. “And I swear, Angel was there! And she looked good! She said, ‘Turn around, girlfriend, and listen to that boy's song’” Collins goes over to Mimi. “She's drenched.” He says with a small smile. “Her fever's breaking” Maureen smiles wider. “There is no future, there is no past...” I look over to Roger, him smiling at Mimi. He glances at me with a smile still displayed on his face. “Thank God this moment's not the last” “There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.” “No other road, no other way. No day but today!” I walk over to my projector, Collins standing beside me. “I can't control my destiny, I trust my soul. My only goal is just to be...” “Will I lose my dignity? Will someone care? Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?” I flick the projector on and it resumes my film, everyone gathering together to watch it. My documentary finally put together, playing on the wall. Clips from the past year all cut together. Videos of those who I love and care for, all come together into one film. My film. Their laughs, smiles, and life are all there. The final product in all its glory, shown to those that it matters to most. “Without you, the hand gropes. The ear hears, the pulse beats. Life goes on, but I'm gone, 'cause I die without you. I die without you.” “There's only now, there's only here. Give in to love, or live in fear. No other path, no other way. No day but today.” We all sit and stand together, watching the completed project. All of it comes to an end, the last frames being Angel. She was the perfect ending to our story. To this story. No day but today.
Thank you, Jonathan Larson.