Love Never Dies

The pier

Momoko enters, pulling Hana along. Hana squirms, but Momoko holds her in a vise-like grip.

Hana:
Please, Miss Asuka...
I want to go back...
I want my Mama...

Momoko: (in a cracked and broken voice)
The world is hard, the world is mean,
It's hard to keep your conscience clean...

Hana: Please...you're hurting me.

Momoko: (ignoring her)
The sea is calm, the sea is gray,
It washes everything away...

She has brought her to the very edge of the pier. Dark water churns below.

Hana: I can't swim...

Momoko: Don't worry, it's almost over...
Sink into the deep...
Blue and cool and kind...
Then drift off to sleep...
Let the past unwind-
Leave the hurt behind...

Suddenly:

Doremi: Hana!

Akatsuki, Doremi, and Minori have arrived. At the sound of her mother's voice, Hana looks up.

Hana: Mama...?

Momoko: No, I'm not done yet...

Akatsuki waves the others back, and he strides purposefully toward Momoko.

Akatsuki: Let go of the girl, now!

He moves closer and closer. Then: Momoko pulls out the gun and points it at Akatsuki. The child wriggles free and runs to Doremi.

Momoko: (wildly)
Not another step!

Akatsuki stops.

Akatsuki: (through clenched teeth) Let go of her, girl, or I promise you-

Momoko: (wheeling on him, gun pointed)
Not another word!

Akatsuki takes a step back.

Momoko:
Always wondered how
To make you watch-
Well watch me now!
(plaintive)
I took a little trip to Coney Island.
I took a little trip, because of you.
I did as Mother said,
And followed where you led
And tried to do what little I could do.

Well, here's the way it works on Coney Island-
They make you pay for every little crumb.
I gave what they would take,
I gave it for your sake,
Now look at me and see what I've become.
(with self-loathing)
Bathing Beauty,
On the beach...
Bathing Beauty,
In her dressing room...
Bathing Beauty,
In the dark,
On their laps,
In their arms,
In their beds-

Minori: (in horror) Momoko, my little Momoko-

Akatsuki: What are you saying?

Momoko:
Who helped you raise the money?
Who helped the permits come through?
Who greased the wheels
Of you high-flying deals,
Bought you time when the bills came due?

Who swayed the local bosses?
Curried favor with the press?
(pointing gun at Minori)
No, not her!

And who kept singing,
Desp'rate for you favor?
Who kept dancing,
Hoping you would save her?
Who kept dying,
And this is what you gave her!
(gestures with the gun; all flinch, except Akatsuki)
Now that I've got your attention at last...
Here's the big finish, and then you can go...

She lowers her gaze, and puts the gun to her own head.

Akatsuki: (softly, with rising intensity)
Give me the gun, Momoko...
Give me the hurt and the pain and the gun, Momoko...
Give me the blame for not seeing the things
That you've done, Momoko...
Give me the gun, Momoko...
Give me the chance to see you clear at last...

Momoko: (wanting to believe)
See me clear at last...

Akatsuki:
You feel ugly, you feel used,
You feel broken, you feel bruised,
Ah, but me,
I can see
All the beauty underneath...

Momoko: (wavering)
Yes...

Akatsuki: (inching closer to her)
You've been robbed of love and pride,
Been ignored and pushed aside-
Even so,
I still know
There is beauty underneath...

Momoko: (mesmerized, going slack)
Yes...!

Akatsuki: (moving still closer)
Diamonds never sparkle bright
If they aren't set just right...
Beauty sometimes goes unseen...
We can't all be like Doremi-

Momoko: (suddenly angry)
Doremi!
Doremi!
Always Doremi!

She points at Doremi with the gun. And suddenly-it goes off, with a shockingly loud crack.

Everyone freezes.

Then Doremi begins to fall.

Momoko: No...! I didn't mean to...!

Minori stands frozen, in shock.

Hana:
Mama dear,
Say something,
Say anything!

Akatsuki: Asuka! Go get help! Go!

Minori jars herself into motion, runs off.

Akatsuki kneels next to Doremi, who is cradled by her daughter.

Hana:
Where's Papa?
He should be here!
(speaks)
Where's Papa?

Doremi: Your father - your real father -

Hana looks up at Akatsuki, eyes wide. Tentatively, Akatsuki reaches out to console her. Hana instinctively recoils.

Doremi:
Look with your heart.
And not with your eyes.
The heart understands.
The heart never lies.
Believe what it feels,
And trust with it shows,
Look with your heart.
The heart always knows.

Love's not always beautiful,
Not at the start...

She falters. Hana picks up the melody.

Hana:
So open your arms...

Doremi:
And close your eyes tight...

Hana:
Look with your heart...

Doremi:
And when you find love...

She breaks off...and swoons. She is fading quickly.

Hana: Noooooooooooooooo!

Hana sobs, and Akatsuki takes her from her.

Akatsuki:
Once upon another time,
Our story had only begun...
I had a taste of joy...
The most I ever knew...

Now there isn't any time,
And somehow our story is done...
And what about the girl...
What am I to do?

Doremi:
Just love...
Just live...
And give what you can give...
And take the love that you
Deserve...

Doremi & Akatsuki:
Just love...
Just live...

Doremi:
And give-

She breaks off, unable to continue.

Akatsuki:
I'll give all that I have...
And take what little I deserve.

Doremi:
Come closer,
I beg you...

Closer still...

Remember...

Love never dies...
Kiss me one last time...

They kiss. And then...Akatsuki pulls away from Doremi's lifeless lips.

Akatsuki lays her body gently in the sand. He looks across her lifeless form at Hana, who looks back at him.

They stare at each other for a long moment.

Then, Hana reaches out. She places one hand on Akatsuki's mask.

Akatsuki stays still... And in a gesture of tender acceptance, the girl removes the mask and gazes unflinchingly at Akatsuki's ruined face. Father and daughter look into one another's eyes...

The end