You - Stephen Sondheim

Never let a chance go by, Hollis

Don’t you see that here’s your chance?

How to stoke the fire

Is the problem in acquiring a patron

Every patron has a matron

Let her feel fulfilled

Trust me she’ll be thrilled

Once she sees the house

That I’m going to build

And you’ll get your guild…

Aunt Eva, Uncle Edward, allow me to introduce you to your new house

(The hotel vanishes and a house appears.)

Look at it!

(The house moves into place.)

Look at it, look at it!

(spoken)

Oh, Hollis, darling, you may put me at the head of the list of sponsors for

your artist colony.

You may even name the administration building the Eva—and

Edward—Stotesbury Building.

If Mr. Mizner will design it, of course

Just as soon as my… schedule permits…

You…

Where have you been all my life?

You…

You’re the answer to my prayers

You…

You’re one in a million

You…

Where have you been all my life?

Look at it

Look at it

Notice the detail

Remember the breakfast nook?

Look at it

Look at it

(spoken)

What’s that?

It’s enormous

Wait til Edith Trumbauer sees it…

Now about that administration building—

Hollis.

Bessamer

Hello, Edith

Where’s this Michaelangelo you’ve found for your Aunt Eva?

Mr. Mizner,

the house you built Eva is a work of art!

You must build me one exactly like

it!

No

No?

No, it has to be something for you

(sung)

I see cypress arches, mosaic floors

Reminiscent of the conquistadors

I see colonnades

In a hundred shades

With a Roman cloister

To house the maids

I see—

(Addison waves his building plans and a new mansion appears and begins moving

into place.)

Lovely, isn’t it?

(Her husband nods and starts to write a check.)

(To Hollis)

You…

You’re the answer to my prayers

Lovely, absolutely lovely!

You…

You’re one in a million

Edith, I’m sure Aunt Eva’s told you about this artist’s colony—

Yes, yes, yes, but why is mine smaller than hers?

(Edith's husband stops writing the check and Addison’s face falls)

…that's merely the west wing…

(Hollis nods at Addison, who alters his plans, and another part of the mansion

appears.

Edith smiles and the music resumes.)

You…

Where have you been all my life?

You…

They have the money—

We—

Both have a dream

Me, too

Who knew

That you’d come into my life?

Where have you been?

You…

Where have you been all my life?

You…

You have the vision—

We—

Both have a dream

Me…

I’d say we’re a team

Who knew

That you’d come into my life?

Where have you been?

Hollis Bessemer!

Lily Cosden.

I know, say hello to Addie Mizner

My Joshua’s been very naughty, Addie.

He insists on giving me one of your

handsome houses for my birthday

When’s your birthday?

March tenth!

I’ll… see what I can do…

Make it like Edith Trumbauers', only in blue

Blue is for Norwegians dearie

Blue is not you

No?

No!

You’re a hacienda

A happy fusion of

Indonesian

And Andalusian

I see gingerbread

I see Chinese red

And a huge Victorian potting shed—

Fine, fine, just as long as it’s finished by March 10th

(Sung under his breath)

And a pond where you can go soak your head…

Uh, happy birthday!

(A new mansion appears.)

Look at it, look at it

Their house has a view of the ocean

Addison, such a view of the ocean

Yes, but yours has the acreage

Yours has the privacy

Yours has the cupola

The cupola?

The cupola

That Addie’s just designed for you!

Looking down on the Cosdens and out at the ocean!

Down on the Cosdens!

And out at the ocean!

You…

Yoo-hoo, Mr. Mizner, a house for me!

We’ll take two

Make that three

A house for Mrs. DuPont

Pardon me, I was next

A house for Mrs. Wanamaker

I see minarets

I see parapets

I see gargoyles!

A house for Mrs. Fipps

Grottos!

Another house for Mrs. Fipps

A house for me!

A house for us!

A house for them!

A house for me!

Us!

Them!

Us!

You…

Where have you been all my life?

You…

Where have you been all our lives?

You…

You’re the answer to my prayers

You’re the answer to our prayers

We…

Will make a paradise here

You’re one in a million

And with your permission

And your ambition

And their tradition

Of acquisition

We’ll build a place where

{ALL]

A brand new world can play

Where have you been all my life?

Don’t go away!

Yes, but theirs has a floating gazebo!