original broadway cast of follies - "you'll be a good wife phyl..." lyrics
young ben: you’ll make a good wife, phyl
young phyllis: i’ll try. oh ben, i’ll try so
hard. i’m not much now, i know that, but i’ll
study and i’ll read and i’ll walk my feet off in
the metropolitan museum
the older couples:
phyllis: i tried so hard. i studied and i
read. i didn’t think i was much—i was
terrific. and i walked my godd+mn feet off
(to young phyllis) what happened to you
phyl?
young phyllis: i love you, ben
ben (to young ben): she did—and what
did you give her?
young ben: someday i’ll have the biggest
godd+mn limousine
ben (to young ben with loathing): you were so smart
phyllis (to young phyllis): where did you
go?
young phyllis: we’ve got each other, ben
what difference does it make?
ben (to young ben): you had it all and you
threw it away
(buddy еnters, steaming.)
buddy: therе you are you b+st+rd
ben (wrenching himself into the present):
what?
buddy: you fourteen+carat b+st+rd
(young buddy enters)
young buddy: you’re my best friend, best i ever had, ben
ben: what’s all this about?
buddy: you know d+mn well what this is
about
young buddy: you wouldn’t screw around
with sally. take her dancing, maybe, but that’s all, right?
ben: i don’t understand
buddy: yes, you do
young buddy: that’s all—right, ben?
young ben: she’s a sweet kid, but that’s
where it stops
young buddy: you’re a godd+mn liar
young ben: screw you
buddy: what did you do to her?
sally (appearing with young sally; to
ben): it’s getting late, ben. we should go
phyllis (to ben): you’re not in love with
sally. boy, you take the cake
sally: have you told phyl yet?
ben: but i never said i loved you, did i?
young sally: now, if you really love me
young ben: love you, yes, i love you
young sally: then why not?
ben: i’m sorry, i never meant to hurt you
but, sally, it was finished years ago
young buddy (to young sally): you really
love me, don’t you, kid?
young sally: with all my heart, buddy .
buddy (to young sally): that’s a lie
sally: please, ben, i’d like to go now
buddy (to sally): ben ran out and i was
there. that’s all it was
young sally (to young ben): i want a reason. am i cheap? is that it? i’m not good enough
young ben: think what you godd+mn please
young sally: don’t leave me, ben
i’ll k!ll myself! i’ll die!
sally (turning on young sally): you fool!
young phyllis (to young ben): i want a baby, ben
sally (to young sally): you could have had him, but you played it wrong
young phyllis (to young ben): ben, can’t we have one, can’t we try?
(sally and buddy speak simultaneously.)
sally(to young sally): you had him crazy
for you but you let him up your skirt too
soon!
buddy (to young buddy): you took her
back. she two+timed you and you married
her
(phyllis and ben speak simultaneously.)
phyllis (to ben): now i see right through
you. hollow, that’s what you are. you’re an
empty place
ben (to young ben): you never loved her
why’d you marry her? because it made
sense? is that all, for chrissake?
(all four speak simultaneously, each of them
turning on their past self with mounting rage
as if they mean to do physical violence to
the memories.)
ben (to young ben): smart. you knew what
you were doing: both eyes open. you can’t
spend your life with someone you don’t
love. it’s crazy. you unfeeling b+st+rd on the
make. look what you’ve done to me!
buddy (to young buddy): she never loved
you and you knew it. in your guts you d+mn
well knew it. what did you expect, for
chrissakes? married to a girl like that. you
p+ssed my life away, that’s what you did to
me
phyllis (to young phyllis): he never loved
you and you knew it. deep down you knew
you thought he’d change if you loved him
enough. you silly b+tch, you fool. you threw
my life away!
sally (to young sally): the only man i ever wanted, and you lost him for me
everything, you lost me everything. you
tramp. you left me here with nothing. i
could k!ll you. i could die!
(all eight at once. it’s now senseless, and frightening.)
young buddy (to young sally):
baby i love you so much. the moon, i’ll buy it for you. everything you ever wanted, baby, that’s what buddy’s going to get for you
young sally(to young buddy): honey, you’re the only one. the things you do to me. the way you make me feel. i love it, buddy. geez, i love you
young phyllis (to young ben): dearest, oh my dearest ben, i’ll be so good for you, you’ll be so happy, i’ll be everything you
ever wanted, just for you
young ben (to young phyllis): darling, to the top. that’s where we’re going: straight up, and the view from there, the view is something
buddy (to young buddy): i could have had
a great life all along. i had the wrong wife
that was all. you’ve screwed me and i’ll get
you for it!
sally (to young sally): i’ll pay you back
that’s what i’ll do. for all the things i never
had. you’re gonna pay!
phyllis (to young phyllis): i’ve had no life
—i haven’t lived. you can’t do what you’ve
done to me and get away with it
ben (to young ben): you k!lled me—i’ve
been dead for thirty years. it’s all your work+ you did it!
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