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                                    PART ONE SELECTIONS

Click on sound files  below to hear samples with  corresponding text.  

THE OVERTURE

THE MOOR CHORUS


THE MOOR HAS WROUGHT US
IT IS HERE WE STRIVE AND FALL
WE ARE THIS PLACE, THIS PLACE IS US
BRUISED LAND STAINED WITH ANCESTRAL BLOOD
MOORS THAT CARE NOTHING FOR AN HOUR
OR A MILLION YEARS
WHERE THE GROUSE CRY ‘GO BACK’

WE ARE BORN OF THIS MOOR
THE MOOR IS MUSE AND MOTHER
PRIMAL WINDS
LIKE CHARIOTEERS
DRIVE OUR PASSIONS
DRIVE OUR FEARS
THE MOOR CARES NOTHING FOR AN HOUR
OR A MILLION YEARS

THE MOOR HAS FORMED US
IT IS HERE WE START AND END
GHOSTS WE SEE HERE, GHOSTS WE’LL BE HERE
STRONG WILLS MADE WITH CHISELED HEARTS
MOORS THAT CARE NOTHING FOR AN HOUR
OR A MILLION YEARS


THE LOVE DUET

THE CRAG, THE MOORS IN SPRING  SPLENDOR
     (After a duet as children, CATHY and HEATHCLIFF re-appear as the young lovers  about 18 years old. They climb to the crag- clifftop.)
                                                                                                                            CATHY
                                                                                    CLIMB WITH ME HIGH UP TO OUR KINGDOM
                                                                                    EACH STEP WE TAKE CLOSER TO FREEDOM
                                                                                    EVENING SUN MAKES  OUR CASTLE GOLDEN
                                                                                    BIRDS ALONE WITNESS OUR ABANDON
                                                                                                                            CATHY
                                                                                    FREEDOM IS THERE
                                                                                                                            HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                    WE CAN FIND DIGNITY
                                                                                                                            CATHY    
                                                                                    YOU RULE THE MOOR
                                                                                                                          HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                    ONLY TO YOU I YIELD
                                                                                                                           CATHY
                                                                                    NO MORE HIDING
                                                                                                                         HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                     NO MORE YELLING
                                                                                                                        CATHY
                                                                                     NO MORE SERMONS
                                                                                                                     HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                    NO MORE CHIDING           
                                                                                                                    HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                    COME WITH ME WHERE WE CAN CONSPIRE
                                                                                    EACH STEP WE TAKE FURTHER FROM THAT MIRE
                                                                                    HOSTILITY DIES AS WE GO HIGHER
                                                                                    AND RAGE MELTS INTO DESIRE
                                                                                                                  CATHY/HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                      FREEDOM IS HERE
                                                                                      WE CAN FIND DIGNITY
                                                                                      WE RULE THE MOOR
                                                                                       ONLY TO YOU I YIELD 
                                                                                                                     CATHY
                                                                                      ONLY LOVING
                                                                                                                    HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                      TRULY LOVING
                                                                                                                  CATHY
                                                                                        ONLY GIVING
                                                                                                                   HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                        TRULY LIVING
                                                                                                                   CATHY/HEATHCLIFF
                                                                                        SINS ENDING
                                                                                        WOUNDS MENDING
                                                                                        HEARTS BLENDING
                                                                                        SOULS ASCENDING
                                                                                        THIS STONE
                                                                                        OUR THRONE
                                                                                        ONLY LOVING ONLY GIVING
                                                                                        WOUNDS HEAL
                                                                                        HEARTS REEL
                                                                                        SINS GONE
                                                                                        HEARTS STRONG
                                                                                        THIS STONE
                                                                                        OUR THRONE
                                                                                        ONLY LOVING ONLY GIVING

                                                                                        NEVER COULD THERE BE FINER RICHES
                                                                                        THAN OUR HILLTOP PARADISE
                                                                                        SHOUT IT O’ER ALL THE COUNTRYSIDE
                                                                                        LET IT ECHO
                                                                                        FAR AND WIDE
                                                                                        MINUTES ARE LIKE HOURS HERE
                                                                                        STOLEN FOR A MILLION YEARS
                                                                                        OUR LOVE IS FOR-EVER

                                                                                        TWO ARE ONE
                                                                                        OUR DANCE GOES ON
                                                                                        NEVER FINISHED
                                                                                        NEVER DONE
                                                                                        ROUND AND ROUND TOGETHER
                                                                                        THE WORLD BELOW IS A TOMB
                                                                                        OUR LIFE HERE IN FULL BLOOM
                                                                                        MORTALS LET THEM DIE
                                                                                        OUR SPIRITS FILL THE SKY

                                                                                        SINS ENDING
                                                                                        WOUNDS MENDING
                                                                                        HEARTS BLENDING
                                                                                        SOULS ASCENDING
                                                                                        THIS STONE
                                                                                        OUR THRONE

                                                                                        HERE WE ARE SAFELY IN OUR KINGDOM
                                                                                        HAND IN HAND WE MAKE THE VOW
                                                                                        BOUND TO YOU I WILL BE FOREVER
                                                                                        BOUND TO YOU I WILL LEAVE YOU NEVER

                                                                                        TRUTH LIES WITHIN
                                                                                        THIS IS NO FAIRY TALE
                                                                                        LOVE WITHOUT SIN CANNOT FAIL
                                                                                        NATURE PRESSES US TOGETHER
                                                                                        HEAVEN BLESSES US TOGETHER
                                                                                        HEAVEN BLESSES

                                                                                        FREE SOULS
                                                                                        HOLD DEAR
                                                                                        PURE SOULS
                                                                                        STAY NEAR
                                                                                        OUR LOVE
                                                                                        TRUE LOVE

                                                                                        BOUND TO YOU I WILL BE FOREVER
                                                                                        FOREVER

 

 

 

MASTER EARNSHAW'S DYING FAREWELL TO CATHY AND HEATHCLIFF

EARNSHAW
DEAREST CHILD
MY LASS WICKED AND WILD
NOT A MINUTE’S SERENITY
THAT YOU AREN’T IN MISCHIEF
NO PLIANT TRANQUILITY

CATHY
OH PAPA, MOST IS JOSEPH’S HEARSAY

EARNSHAW
SPIRIT ALWAYS AT HIGH WATER MARK
ALWAYS LAUGHING SINGING LIKE A LARK
PLAGUING ALL WHO WILL NOT DO THE SAME
A SLIP OF A LASS I COULD NOT TAME
ALWAYS WITH BOLD LOOKS AND READY WORDS
WHEN CHIDED MOST YE SEEM MOST ASSURED
YET THE BONNIEST EYE SWEETEST SMILE
AND THE LIGHTEST FOOT IN THE PARISH
BUT DAUGHTER YOU ARE MUCH TOO FOND
OF THIS ONE WHO’S GROWN SO TALL
HE DOES ONLY YOUR BIDDING ABOVE ALL
YE HAVE MORE POWER O’ER HIM WITH YOUR WAYS
THAN I WITH ALL THE KINDNESS OF MY DAYS

I DID NOT LEAVE THAT POOR HOMELESS ONE
AND AFTER TIME HE TURNED A LOYAL SON
THE GREATEST PUNISHMENT I SEE
WOULD BE TO SEPARATE THE TWO OF YOU
YOUNG SOULS COMFORT EACH OTHER
CATHY, WHY CANST THOU ALWAYS BE A GOOD LASS?

 CATHY
Why can’t thou always be a good man, father?

EARNSHAW
A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO BE
A FATHER IS ALL I TRIED TO BE
GOOD FATHERS TRY TO DO
WHAT THEY THINK
BEST FOR YOU
YOUR LIVES I HOPED TO SHIELD
BUT TIME DEMANDS I YIELD
DID I HELP OR HARM
HIDING YOU FROM HATE?
MY TALE ENDS
TIED ONLY TO YOUR FATE

ONCE A JOB WITHOUT MEASURE
A FATHER’S WORK TURNS TO PLEASURE
BUT NOW MY  TASK IS THROUGH
ENDED TOO SOON
I GAVE WHAT I COULD GIVE TO YOU
BUT I CANNOT LIVE THROUGH YOU
REMEMBER LIFE LONG
THE LAND THAT MADE YOU STRONG
IF YOU ARE FORSAKEN
HEARTS AWAKEN
AND FORGIVE

THE RETURN OF HINDLEY.  THE WHIPPING.

WUTHERHING HEIGHTS GREAT ROOM

     (CATHY, HEATHCLIFF, NELLY prepare dinner. Evident now  is true intimacy between Heathcliff and Cathy.   HINDLEY enters with no respect for the current  household.  He presents his extremely pregnant wife , FRANCIS.)

  CATHY
Hindley, so long you’ve been gone.
We expected you sooner. Father is already buried.

  HINDLEY
Yes, well, damned horse and mud … Well, may father rest in peace. Cathy, this is Francis, my wife. Well Nelly, don’t just stand there gawking, greet your new mistress and finish setting a table. We’ve had a long journey.

 HINDLEY
Joseph! A bottle of wine to celebrate my homecoming—one befitting a Cambridge scholar.
Come Cathy, join your brother and new sister at the table. We are a family again—the Earnshaws reunited. Nelly, you will sup in the kitchen with Joseph and the rest of the servants from now on.

 HINDLEY
GYPSY..
STILL IN THE SHADOWS I SEE
TO THE KITCHEN GYPSY
OUT OF MY SIGHT
BORN IN A SHADOW
BACK TO A SHADOW
TOGETHER AGAIN
EARNSHAWS REUNITE
COME  CATHY, SIT
SHOW YOUR JOY
ANOTHER MOUTH TO FEED
WITH LUCK A BOY
TOGETHER AGAIN
EARNSHAWS  REUNITE
AT LAST A PROPER HEIR TO RULE THE HEIGHTS
DRINK , CELEBRATE

                          SCENE 6
Later that same evening.
HINDLEY
 WHERE ARE YOU, BEGGAR?
(Hindley whips and kicks Heathcliff.   Hindley staggers in drunkenness. Cathy enters in   pursuit of Hindley.)
CATHY
 Hindley! Stop it!

HINDLEY
YOUR PATHETIC MASQUERADE IS DONE
FATHER CANNOT PROTECT YOU NOW
EVERY DAY OF MY EXILE
I MADE BUT ONE SINGLE PLEDGE
EACH KIND WORD FATHER SPOKE TO YOU
I NOW REPLACE WITH MINE

DEFILE  DEFORM  DISGRACE
DISMISS  DEVASTATE  DEBASE
THESE ARE MY VOWS TO YOU
NO MORE LESSONS
NO BOOKS
EDUCATE YOU?  NEVER
YOUR LIFE A GAUNTLET TO BE RUN
STABLE BOY AS  SCHOLAR
IS HERE AND NOW UNDONE
EDUCATION LOST FOREVER

REVOLT  REPULSE RAMPAGE
RESIST  RETALIATE  ENRAGE
SUCH VOWS YOU  MAKE TO ME
ALL ARE IMPOTENT FOR NAUGHT
LIBERATE YOU? NEVER!
BOUNTY REPLACED WITH BONDAGE
DREAMS OF FORTUNE CUT DOWN
GYPSY BLOOD YOU ARE BOUND
WEAR THESE SCARS YOU  LOWLY  VAGABOND
AND IF YOU ESCAPE TO THE MOOR AGAIN
I  SHALL BOLT  THE  DOORS
AGAINST THE BOTH OF YOU

NELLY'S ENCOURAGEMENT:  "ACT AS IF, AND SOMEDAY IT SHALL BE"

NELLY
HEATHCLIFF DO NOT GO TO BED
WITH A PROUD HEART AND EMPTY STOMACH

HEATHCLIFF
HIS HAIR IS LIGHT
HIS SKIN FAIR

NELLY
LET ME DRESS YOU SMART BEFORE DINNER

HEATHCLIFF
HIS FINE BREECHES, HIS FINE BOOTS

NELLY
EDGAR LINTON SHALL LOOK A MERE DOLL
BESIDE YOU.  EH MAN, YOU COULD KNOCK
HIM DOWN IN AN INSTANT

HEATHCLIFF 
IF I KNOCKED HIM DOWN TWENTY TIMES
I WOULD STILL NOT HAVE GREAT BLUE EYES
FINE CLOTHES, EVEN A CHANCE OF SUCH MONEY!

NELLY
COME TO THE GLASS
CHANGE THOSE SCOWLING EYES TO
HOPEFUL ONES FOR MISS CATHY

HEATHCLIFF
FOR CATHY

NELLY
YES CATHY, AND YOURSELF

HEATHCLIFF
CATHY

NELLY
YES LAD! 
ACT “AS IF” AND SOMEDAY
IT SHALL BE
WHO KNOWS BUT WHAT MISS CATHY SAYS
IS TRUE?

HEATHCLIFF
TELL ME AGAIN NELLY

NELLY
THAT YOU HAVE COME FROM A GLORIOUS
KINGDOM FAR FAR AWAY
THAT YOUR FATHER WAS EMPEROR OF CHINA
YOUR MOTHER AN INDIAN QUEEN
EACH ONE OF THEM ABLE TO BUY
WITH ONE WEEK’S INCOME
BOTH YOUR WUTHERING HEIGHTS AND
THE LINTON’S GRANGE
THAT YOU WERE KIDNAPPED BY WICKED
PIRATES TO BE BROUGHT TO ENGLAND
TO BE SOLD
AND FOR THAT REASON
MASTER EARNSHAW SAVED YOU

HEATHCLIFF
IF CATHY BELIEVES IT
AND SHE SAYS I COME FROM ANOTHER KINGDOM
I DO AND SOMEDAY I WILL FIND IT


NELLY
YES LAD WERE I IN YOUR PLACE
I WOULD FRAME HIGH NOTIONS OF MY BIRTH
THOUGHTS OF WHAT I WAS
AND WHAT I COULD DO
AND THAT WOULD BRING COURAGE
TO FACE ALL TYRANTS AND FOOLS
YES, ACT AS IF YOU ARE THESE THINGS
AND SOMEDAY IT SHALL BE SO
ACT AS IF AND SOMEDAY IT SHALL BE

 

FANTASY WALTZ AT THE GRANGE

THRUSHCROSS GRANGE ESTATE: BALLROOM, TERRACE, GARDEN

The Grange is splendid—a country estate of enough status to bring city society to the country—a vivid contrast to Wuthering Heights. CATHY and HEATHCLIFF view the interior Grange life from the outside, not only because Cathy is injured peeking through the window, but because it denotes their social position—the outsiders looking in.

            MOOR CHORUS
ISN’T IT GRAND
ISN’T IT STRANGE
ONCE THROUGH THE GATES
OUR RANKS RE-ARRANGE

ISN’T IT GRAND
ISN’T IT STRANGE?
ONCE AT THE DOOR
AU REVOIR TO THE MOOR

BRILLIANT ASSEMBLAGE
EMINENT NOTABLES
HERE DIGNITARIES THERE LUMINARIES
FELICITY
GAIETY
GALLANTRY
COQUETRY
VANITY
ROYALTY

            MEN
SAVILE ROW WAISTCOATS
CRAVATES DE PAREE

           WOMEN
ST. PETERSBURG ERMINE
PEARLS OF SOUTH SEA

            MEN                
NOUS PARLONS FRANCAIS ICI

            WOMEN                      
PAS DE FAUX-PAS ICI

            MEN  
WE FEEL LIKE MEN OF THE WORLD
CURRYING FAVOR, MOMENTS TO SAVOR
SO DEBONAIR

            WOMEN
  WE ARE ICONS OF BEAUTY
  DISPLAYING OUR FAVORS, MOMENTS TO SAVOR
  DANCING ON AIR

            ALL
(GALLENTRY COQUETRY VANITY ROYALTY
AS THEY’RE WALTZING IN PAREE AND WIEN
(MANIFIQUE FANTASTIQUE QUELLE MUSIQUE)
AT THE GRANGE WE YEARN TO BE SEEN

HEARTS ARE RACING
HEARTS ARE POUNDING
(HOW LUCKY ARE WE? HOW LUCKY TO BE
HOBNOBBING WITH SUCH PEDIGREE)

THE THRILL IS BRACING
THE MUSIC RESOUNDING
BEAU-MONDING DEMI-MONDING

CIRCULATING WHIRLING TWIRLING
FANTASIZING GLANCING PRANCING
HYPNOTIZING WINKING BLINKING
MESMERIZING WINGING FLINGING
SLIDING GLIDING
SLIDING SHIMMERING GLIMMERING

AS LONG AS WE DANCE
NOTHING DIES
NO GOODBYES
DON’T LOOK IN OUR EYES

ONE MORE FLAUNT
NO DENOUEMENT
IGNORE THE CLOCK’S CLANG
MORE CHAMPAGNE
IT’S HUMANE

CANDLES BURN BOTH ENDS
NOT ONE YAWN
WE CHEAT DAWN
IGNORE THE CLOCK’S CLANG
CANDLES BURN BOTH ENDS

AS LONG AS WE DANCE
WE FORGET
ANY DEBT
TONIGHT WE PROCLAIM
HOW THE WALTZ
GAVE US FAME

CATHY'S CONFESSION

CATHY
(covers her heart)
HERE                   
HERE IS THE OBSTACLE
 
NELLY
OUR MAKER HAVE MERCY

CATHY
LAST NIGHT I DREAMED
I WAS IN HEAVEN
BUT IT WAS NOT MY HOME
MY HEART BROKE
FOR ALL MY WEEPING
I CRIED TO COME BACK TO EARTH
THE ANGELS WERE SO ANGRY
THEY FLUNG ME OUT
I FELL HARD ONTO THE MOOR
TO OUR KINGDOM
ATOP THE MOOR
WHERE I WOKE SOBBING FOR JOY
MOORS ARE MY HEAVEN
HEATHCLIFF MY GODSEND
WE DON’T BELONG BELOW
AS WE GO FURTHER
AS WE CLIMB HIGHER
STRONGER AND BOLDER WE GROW
WHEN WE’RE THERE TOGETHER
NATURE SERENADES
HARMONIES RING
ALL CREATURES SING
WE GO SOARING
AND ONLY THERE
HIGH UP THERE IS REAL
YOU SEE NELLY
THIS IS MY SECRET
I KNOW WHAT I DO IS WRONG
HEATHCLIFF SHALL NEVER KNOW I LOVE HIM
NOR HOW STRONG

NELLY
WHEN YOU MARRY EDGAR LINTON
HEATHCLIFF IS THEN FORSAKEN
HIS FRIEND
HIS LOVE HE LOSES
OH MERCY THEN BE TAKEN

     (HEATHCLIFF enters unseen by Cathy.  Nelly hears  something but Cathy continues before Nelly can stop   her.)

CATHY
HEATHCLIFF IS SO LOW NOW
IT WOULD BE DEGRADING
TO MARRY HEATHCLIFF NOW
SURELY BEGGARS WE WOULD BE               

     (HEATHCLIFF, overcome with shock and pain, lurches out the door. It SLAMS. THEY realize Heathcliff has overheard them.)

CATHY
HEATHCLIFF!
LAST NIGHT IN MY DREAM
I DID NOT WANT TO BE IN HEAVEN
TONIGHT I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
I LOVE ONLY HEATHCLIFF
WILD AND FREE
OUR LOVE IS NOT TAME
WHATEVER SOULS ARE MADE OF
OURS ARE THE SAME
HIS MISERIES HAVE BEEN MINE
EACH ONE I ENDURED
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
EACH ONE I HAVE CURED

WE HAD A KINGDOM
WE HAD A WORLD
MY DREAM IS MY TRUE LIFE
IF HE PERISHED
ALL THE UNIVERSE
WOULD BE A STRANGER
HE LIVES IN MY MIND

EVERY SECOND OF EVERY SECOND OF EVERY HOUR
A MILLION YEARS
NELLY, OH NELLY
I AM HEATHCLIFF!

   

HEATHCLIFF'S VOW TO REVENGE

THE MOOR CRAG
     (HEATHCLIFF is on the clifftop crag where he and   Cathy vowed their love.)

HEATHCLIFF
ACT “AS IF
SOMEDAY SHALL BE”?
I AM
I AM  ALREADY HE

LIKE THIS MOOR WIND
ALL WILL BEND AND FOLD
ONLY IN MY DIRECTION
SHALLOW ROOTS UPROOTED EXPOSED
NEVER REGAINING HOLD
SOULS FREELY SOLD TO ME
I WILL PAY THEM BACK
BETTER YET,
THEY PAY ME

AS LONG AS IT TAKES
WHATEVER IT TAKES
MONTH INTO MONTH
YEAR INTO YEAR
WHEREVER I SHALL GO
WHENEVER I APPEAR
NO MERCY WILL I SHOW
CATHY I’LL CHANGE DESTINY
YES HINDLEY BACK TO THE SHADOWS I GO
BUT NOT TO COWER
BUT TO CELEBRATE
MY DARK BLOOD
MY POWER
CATHY YOU ARE MINE
HERE YOU MADE YOUR VOW
TRUSTING IN ME FOREVER
DAMN YOUR SECRET WORDS
TEAR AND MOCK MY SOUL
NEVER WILL I LET GO
RAGE AND HATRED FORM
I WILL WIN YOU BACK
RAGING NOW COMES MY STORM

AS LONG AS IT TAKES
WHATEVER IT TAKES
MONTH INTO MONTH
YEAR INTO YEAR
WHATEVER ROAD I CHOOSE
WHENEVER I NEXT APPEAR
ALL WILL STAND ACCUSED
CATHY WAIT FOR ME
ACT AS IF? =
SOMEDAY SHALL BE?
I AM ..HE

     (HEATHCLIFF collapses on the rocks, falls into dream/hallucination of his childhood with the gypsies.)



HEATHCLIFF'S COLLAPSE AND  HALLUCINATION OF HIS ORPHAN CHILDHOOD.  THE GYPSY DANCE.

The following audio of The Gypsy Dance was recorded  at the first  read-thru rehearsal in Buenos Aires under the baton of Maestro Chaslin as they prepare for a concert at the Teatro Colon where the Gypsy Dance was performed.

CATHY'S VOCALISE: HER GOODBYE TO HER BELOVED WUTHERING HEIGHTS AND HEATHCLIFF.

HEATHCLIFF WANDERS IN SEARCH OF CATHY, SEEING HER IMAGE IN THE SNOWY SKIES ABOVE THE MOOR.

HINDLEY'S DEBAUCHERY AND DELIRIUM CONTINUE.  THE DRINKING SONG:  "PRETTY WITTY NELL".

WUTHERING HEIGHTS GREAT ROOM

(A crude, boisterous bacchanal atmosphere. Coarse MEN drink with vigor and gamble with dice. TOWN HARLOTS hang on the men.HARETON crouches in a corner. Seated at the table is HINDLEY drunk, playing  cards. His opponent gathers a pile of winnings. Angry at his loss, Hindley holds out his mug for a refill.  HINDLEY’S WENCH, fills his glass and works to divert his attention. She motions the other Harlots over and they begin rubbing against Hindley, urging him from the gambling table to sing the drinking song.)

 HINDLEY’S WENCH
AH COME ON HINDLEY
SING IT FOR ME

WENCH 2
AYE! THE ONE ABOUT THE HARLOT WHAT
CAUGHT A KING IN LONDONTOWN

HINDLEY’S WENCH
COME ON NOW, THE SPORTIN’
LADIES OF COVENT GARDEN

MEN

AYE, AYE!  A TOAST TO SPORTIN’ LADIES
OF LONDONTOWN
AND TO OUR OWN HARLOTS OF GIMMERTON TOO

CHORUS
OH OF ALL THE STRUMPETS IN LONDONTOWN
THERE’S ONE WHAT HAS THE MOST RENOWN
THAT’S PRETTY WITTY NELL
WHO GOT TO HEAVEN
BY WAY OF HELL
OF ALL THE WONDERS OF LONDONTOWN
HER STORY WAS THE MOST PROFOUND
THAT’S PRETTY WITTY NELL
GOT TO HEAVEN BY WAY OF HELL

HINDLEY

THERE WAS A MISS RATTLETRAP
A RIVAL FROM PALL MALL
BOASTS A RIDE FOR EVERY NEED
BUT CAREFUL! RIDERS OFTEN FALL
SHE STARTS OUT AT FULL SPEED
SHE’S FIRST RATE FOR THRILLIN’
BUT COSTS ALL YOUR SHILLIN’
 PRETTY WITTY NELL
GOT TO HEAVEN BY WAY OF HELL

NOW MISS MAY IS A STRAPPIN’ WENCH
AT HOME, IN HAY, ON BED OR BENCH
POSSESSED THEY SAY WITH EVERY CHARM
TRICKS NO MAID LEARNS ON A FARM
HER RATES ARE HIGH FOR EXPERIENCE
INCLUDES ALL CHARGES BUT ADD A PENCE
BUT NONE COMPARE TO NELLY GYWN
SELLIN’ FRUIT FOR THE MADAME MOLL
CAPTURED THE EYE OF CHARLES THE KING
AND LIFE BECAME A BANQUET HALL
BUT WHEN KING CHARLES FELL FOR ANOTHE
 HE COMMANDED OF HIS BROTHER
NO MATTER WHAT
“DON’T LET NELLY STARVE”

            (HINDLEY moves away from crowd and drifts into his paranoid delirium.)

HINDLEY
NO MATTER WHAT

CHORUS
DON’T LET NELLY STARVE

HINDLEY
CANNOT STARVE
A BIT MORE FORTUNE

CHORUS
A BIT MORE FORTUNE HE HAD TO CARVE

HINDLEY
MORE FORTUNE
MORE FORTUNE
MUST BE CARVED
YES MORE FORTUNE MUST BE CARVED
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY
I NEED MORE MONEY
WITH NO FORTUNE
WITH NO WIFE
FRANCES, YOU LEFT ME NOTHING BUT AGONY
AND ALL IS LOST
LOST
A FORTUNE LOST
NO, STOLEN!
TO END LIKE A STINKING BEGGAR
GYPSY BEGGAR, MIND THIS WEAPON
 STINKING LOW LIFE
LOOK AT THIS GUN
MY HOUSE, MY GOLD YOU’VE BEEN STEALING
BUT SOON YOUR BLOOD WON’T BE CONGEALING 

CHORUS
PRETTY WITTY NELL
GOT TO HEAVEN BY WAY OF HELL
HER RIVALS STARVED
AND SUFFERED CATAPLEXY
NELL ATE WELL
BUT DIED OF APOPLEXY
PRETTY WITTY NELL

HINDLEY/CHORUS
SO RAISE A FULL GLASS
TO PRETTY WITTY NELL
CHUG, CHUG, CHUG
TO THE FINAL BELL
TO HER WHO MADE A BIT O’ HEAVEN
LAUGHING AT THE GATES OF HELL
LAUGHING!

CATHY'S MADNESS ARIA

 

CATHY’S BEDROOM, GRANGE

            (NELLY enters. CATHY, gravely ill, is engaged in a childish diversion with the down feathers of a pillow she has torn open. The bed and floor are strewn with feathers.)

CATHY
THAT IS A NIGHTINGALE’S
AND THIS
A BIRD OF PARADISE
AND HERE
AMONG A THOUSAND I WOULD KNOW IT
HERE IS A LAPWING
A BONNY BIRD
LOOK!
IT’S WHEELING
WHEELING
WAY UP HIGH
WATCH IT SOAR
O’ER OUR HEADS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOOR
WE SAW ITS NEST
FULL OF LITTLE SKELETONS
I MADE HEATHCLIFF PROMISE ME
NEVER SHOOT A LAPWING
YES BUT HERE
I FIND MORE
MORE FEATHERS OF LAPWING
NELLY, DID HE SHOOT MY LAPWING
ARE ANY OF THEM RED?
ARE ANY OF THEM RED NELLY?

NELLY
Give over that baby work. What a mess.     
THE DOWN IS FLYING LIKE SNOW

CATHY
HEATHCLIFF WILL YOU DARE?
IT IS MIDNIGHT AND WE HAVE BRAVED THE
GHOSTS BEFORE
REMEMBER STANDING
ON THE GRAVES
DARING THEM TO COME?
HINDLEY WILL BE WAITING
LET HIM WAIT A LITTLE LONGER
LOOK! THERE’S MY ROOM
WITH MY CANDLE
IN THE OLD HOUSE
HEAR THE WIND
IN THE FIR TREES
ON THE WINDOW TAPPING
TAPPING
NELLY LET ME FEEL IT NOW
LET ME BREATHE IT
I MUST FEEL IT
I MUST HAVE ONE BREATH
HINDLEY ORDERED US TO SEPARATE
I AM IN MISERY
TORN FROM THE HEIGHTS
EXILED
OUTCAST FROM MY WORLD
I AM BURNING
I WISH TO BE OUTDOORS
I AM GIRL AGAIN
WILD AND FREE
LAUGHING AT INJURY
UNDER THE CRAG
OUT ON THE MOOR
IN OUR KINGDOM
ATOP THE MOOR
NELLY PLEASE
IF I CAN WALK THERE AGAIN
I WILL BE MYSELF AGAIN
OPEN THE WINDOW
WIDER WIDER
I MUST FEEL THE WIND!

NELLY

WHY DON’T YOU MOVE?

(NELLY shuts the window, takes CATHY back to her   bed. Cathy is focuses only on the window and the moonlit moors beyond. The wind blows the window open again billowing the drapes. Nelly secures it and exits.)

THE DYING DUET

CATHY’S BEDROOM

(Cathy sits in the recess of the open window.    Her loose white gown reveals her imminent   childbirth.  She is altered; an unearthly aura around her.  NELLY enters with a tray.)

NELLY

All are gone to church. You must start to eat something.
I have a letter for you Miss Cathy. You must read it immediately, before everyone returns.                                                      
IT IS FROM HEATHCLIFF. HE IS HERE TO SEE YOU.

            (HEATHCLIFF enters. With a stride or two, he sweeps Cathy in his arms. They neither speak nor loosen their embrace for a period. Heathcliff covers Cathy with kisses.)                                 
HEATHCLIFF
CATHY
MY LIFE
HOW CAN I BEAR IT

CATHY
WHY SHOULDN’T YOU SUFFER
I WISH TO HOLD YOU
TIL WE’RE BOTH DEAD
BUT YOU HAVE KILLED ME
I AM AHEAD
FOR YOUR SUFFERING
I CANNOT CARE
YOU WILL FORGET ME
IN TWENTY YEARS
HEATHCLIFF
DON’T TORTURE ME AS YOU ARE DYING
BRANDING YOUR WORDS ON MY MEMORY
EATING DEEPER
AFTER YOU DIE
I HAVE NOT KILLED YOU
THAT IS A LIE

CATHY
THAT IS CATHERINE EARNSHAW’S GRAVE
YOU WILL SAY HENCE
I LOVED HER LONG AGO
BUT I’VE LOVED MANY SINCE
THAT IS PAST AND NOW
MY CHILDREN ARE DEARER
I DRAW THEM NEARER
IS THAT WHAT YOU’LL SAY IN TWENTY YEARS?

HEATHCLIFF
YOU WILL BE FINALLY IN PEACE
I’M LEFT TO HELL
I SEE HOW CRUEL YOU’VE BEEN
YOU BETRAYED YOUR HEART
AND TWENTY YEARS HENCE
MY QUESTION SHALL BE
WHAT RIGHT HAD YOU TO LEAVE?
THAT IS WHAT I WILL SAY IN TWENTY YEARS

CATHY
IF I HAVE DONE WRONG
FOR IT I AM DYING
I’M NOT GOING TO LIVE
LET ME ALONE
FORGIVE

HEATHCLIFF
IT IS HARD TO FORGIVE
WHILE I LOOK IN YOUR EYES
AND FEEL YOUR WASTED HANDS
I LOVE MY MURDERER
KISS ME AGAIN
AND DON’T LET ME SEE YOUR EYES

NELLY
Master Linton is coming

CATHY
Don’t go. 

HEATHCLIFF
Another hour.

NELLY
Not another minute.

CATHY
It’s the last time.

HEATHCLIFF
If he shot me now,
I’ll die with blessing on my lips

NELLY
Damn the fool! Master’s here!

(CATHY collapses in Heathcliff’s arms. EDGAR rushes in. HEATHCLIFF reluctantly hands over the collapsed Cathy to Edgar. He exits.) 

HEATHCLIFF'S CURSE ARIA

CHURCH GRAVEYARD AT EDGE OF MOORS

(HEATHCLIFF stands removed—as well as HARETON, who makes sure to keep his distance behind Heathcliff. They watch EDGAR, NELLY, NEIGHBORS pay last respects to Cathy at fresh grave site. The crowd disperses. The last few mourners leave crying in the distance.)

  
HEATHCLIFF
STOP THAT CRYING
PUT YOUR KERCHIEFS AWAY
SHE WANTS NONE OF YOUR TEARS
FOR EACH THOUGHT SHE HAD OF HIM
A THOUSAND TO ME
I LOVED MORE IN ONE DAY
THAN HE COULD IN EIGHTY YEARS
DAMNATION TO YOU ALL
SHE’S NOT THERE NOR WILL SHE BE
I HAVE ONE PRAYER
ONE WISH
COME BACK TAKE FORM
DON’T LEAVE
YOU SAY I KILLED YOU
THEN COME BACK TO HAUNT
TAKE ANY FORM
AND COME BACK TO STALK
AND IF I KILLED YOU THEN
COME BACK TO KILL
SPIRIT COME PHANTOM
OBSESS POSSESS
SHADOW DON’T GO
GHOST COME, ANY TRACE
DWELL HERE COME CLEAR
MY LIFE MY SOUL
I CURSE THAT I AM STRONG
LIVING ENDLESS WRONG
I CANT LIVE WITHOUT MY LIFE
I CANT LIVE WITHOUT MY SOUL
MEET ME IN THE MOOR HIGH ABOVE
IN OUR KINGDOM
WE BELONG THERE
THERE NO DEVILS GODS OR MEN
CAN STAND BETWEEN US
MAY YOU NOT REST AS LONG AS I AM LIVING
I’M BEGGING YOU TO HAUNT ME
JUST DON’T LEAVE ME
WHERE I CAN’T FIND YOU
IN THIS NIGHTMARE
MEET ME IN THE MOOR HIGH ABOVE
WHERE NO DEVILS GODS OR MEN
CAN STAND BETWEEN US

 

PART TWO: THE SECOND GENERATION

"BEWILDERED ARIA"

            “I AM BEWILDERED”

CATHY'S DAUGHTER

  I AM BEWILDERED
I DON’T UNDERSTAND
WAS FATHER EVER YOUNG?
WHY THIS REPRIMAND?
MOTHER WHY DID YOU LEAVE
AND TAKE THE COMFORT OF YOUR HAND?
WERE THEY TOGETHER
SHARING YOUNGER LIFE
AND CHASING MYSTERIES?
WHAT EVER CAUSED STRIFE?
DID THEY LAUGH KISS DREAM
A HAPPY HUSBAND AND HIS WIFE?

                                    WHAT WAS CREATED
                                    TO MAKE SOMEONE HATED?
                                    WHAT UNKNOWN DEEDS WERE DONE
                                    TO ONE ANOTHER
                                    THAT CAN’T BE FORGIVEN?
                                    IF HERE NOW COULD YOU TELL ME MOTHER?
                                    WHY IS THIS FAMILY TORN AND SEPARATED?
                                    SOMEONE ILL-FATED
                                    I WANT TO BE ILLUMINATED
                                    WHO’S AT FAULT?
                                    WHO’S TO BLAME?
                                    IN QUESTIONS I’M INTOXICATED
                                    WILL IT BE WHEN I AM OLD
                                    THE SAME FOR ME?

OH FATHER MOTHER TOO
I YEARN TO KNOW YOU
I LOVE YOU SO
MY GRATITUDE IS SO DEEP
BUT YOU GUARD TOO WELL
THE SECRETS YOU KEEP
WHY CAN’T I BE WITH WHO I WANT?
IT’S TIME I GO WHERE I WANT
ITS TIME I SEE WHAT I WILL SEE
ITS TIME I LOVE WHAT I WILL LOVE
IT’S TIME I KNOW THESE MYSTERIES
LIFE’S PASSIONS AND ECSTASIES
FATHER AND DEAR LOST MOTHER
YOU MAY NOT FORGIVE
I HAVE NO FEAR TO BE GROWN
TO SEEK THE UNKNOWN
WHY BE SURPRISED?
I AM THE SEED YOU HAVE SEWN
THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO
TO LIVE
TO FLY