Andrew Lloyd Webber
“What a Dreadful Town!...”
RAOUL:
What a dreadful town, what a vulgar place
What an awful mistake to have come here
To be on display in that shameless way
For the crude common lower-class scum here
How do they dare to treat us so - ?
GUSTAVE:
Father dear, come play with me
Come and see this toy I've got -
RAOUL:
What a snub at most from our so-called host
Did he think sending freaks would be funny?
Could the fool have thought that our pride was bought
By his filthy American money?
What a farce
What an outright slap in the face
It's an utter disgrace
(I've got a mind to pack and go. Never you mind the debts we own! Who would believe we've sunk this low?)
GUSTAVE:
Father please, come play with me -
RAOUL:
(Please tell the boy the answer's no!)
[CHRISTINE softly plays the piano]
RAOUL:
(Must you make that racket?)
CHRISTINE:
(It's the aria I'm to sing tonight - )
RAOUL:
(It hurts my head!)
CHRISTINE:
Please, let's not fight, dear
I'm sure that no one intended a slight, dear
RAOUL:
Don't you patronize me!
It's your fault we came here!
CHRISTINE:
We need the money, that's all
That's why things haven't been right, dear
RAOUL:
Why doesn't it surprise me
That I get the blame here?
CHRISTINE:
Let's leave tonight, dear
If that would serve to ease
Your troubled mind
Leave the hurt behind
GUSTAVE:
Father dear, come over here
And look at what they gave to me
Wind the top and, Father, see
Look, it plays a melody
[GUSTAVE's toy plays a melodic tune.]
RAOUL:
(I need some air.)
CHRISTINE:
(Raoul, please...)
RAOUL:
(Please, what?)
CHRISTINE:
Nothing, nothing, only...
Raoul...don't drink anymore...)
GUSTAVE:
Father never plays with me
Doesn't he love me?