Passion - Happiness Lyrics

Clara
(quietly)
I'm so happy, I'm afraid I'll die
Here in your arms
What would you do if I died like this -
(She languishes across him)
Right now, here in your arms?
That we ever should have met
Is a miracle
Giorgio
No, inevitable -
Clara
Then inevitable, yes,
But I confess it was the look
Giorgio
The look?
Clara
The sadness in your eyes
That day when we glanced at each other
In the park.
Giorgio
We were both unhappy.
Clara
Unhappiness can be seductive.
Giorgio
You pitied me...
Both
How quickly pity leads to love.
Clara
All this happiness
Merely from a glance in the park
So much happiness, so much love...
Giorgio
I thought I knew what love was.
Clara
I wish we might have met so much sooner
I could have given you -
Giorgio
I thought I knew what love was.
Clara
- my youth.
Giorgio
I thought I knew how much I could feel.
Clara
All the time we lost...
Giorgio
I didn't know what love was.
Clara
I've never known what love was.
Giorgio
But now -
Clara
And now -
Both
- I do.
It's what I feel with you,
The happiness I feel with you.
Clara
So much happiness -
Giorgio
You are so beautiful...
Clara
- happening by chance in a park.
Giorgio
Not by chance, by necessity -
Clara
Surely, this is happiness -
Giorgio
- by the sadness that we saw in each other.
Clara
- no one else has ever felt before!
Both
Just another love story, that's what they would claim.
Another simple love story - aren't all of them the same?
Clara
No, but this is more, we feel more!
Both
This is so much more!
(Smiling at each other)
Like every other love story.
Some say happiness comes and goes.
then this happiness is a kind of happiness
No one really knows.
Giorgio
I thought I knew what love was.
Clara
I'd only heard what love was.
Giorgio
I thought it was no more than a name for yearning.
Clara
I thought it was what kindness became.
Giorgio
I'm learning -
Clara
I thought where there was love there was shame.
Giorgio
- that with you -
Clara
But with you -
Both
- there's just happiness.
Clara
Endless happiness...
(Music continues underneath as they lie silently
next to each other for a long moment)
What?
Giorgio
Not now...
Clara
Tell me... please.
Giorgio
I received my orders from headquarters.
I've been transferred to the Fourth Brigade.
Clara
(sad)
When?
Giorgio
I leave in five days.
(Clara takes this news in, then slowly
reaches for her chemise)
Clara, don't look so sad.
Clara
You're the one that makes me happy.
Giorgio
We'll make the most of the next four days. I'll steal as
much time as I can. Then after I leave, we'll write to
each other ever day. We'll make love with our words.
You'll be with me ever day, Clara.
(She starts to dress while Giorgio watches her)
Clara
I must go. I'm expected.
Giorgio
God, you are so beautiful.
I love to see you in the light,
Clear and beautiful, memorize
Every inch, every part of you to take with me.
Clara
Giorgio...
Giorgio
Your feet so soft,
As if they'd never touched the ground.
Clara
I must go...
Giorgio
Your skin so white, so pure, so delicate.
Your smell so sweet, your breathe so warm.
I will summon you in my mind,
I'm painting you indelibly on my mind.
Clara
Let me go...
Giorgio
We must fill every moment.
Clara
All this happiness ended by a word in the dark.
Giorgio
Oh my love, oh my darling...
Clara
So much happiness wasn't meant to last.
Giorgio
I am here, I am with you
I am yours.
Clara
I never knew what love was.
Giorgio
Your skin, your silken hair...
Clara
I always thought I didn't deserve it.
Giorgio
Your breasts, your lips...
Clara
I didn't know what love was.
Giorgio
I want you every minute of my life...
Clara
I don't know how I'll live when you're gone!
Giorgio
I will always be here.
Clara
I don't know how I'll live...Giorgio...Don't leave me...
(As they move away from each other, military drums
join the orchestra, quietly at first, then building in
intensity to a climax. This time the drums drown the
orchestra, and we segue into a military formation, which
takes us into the Officers' mess hall)


Scene Two

The dining quarters of the post's commanding officer,
Colonel Ricci. At center is a large dining table.
At the back of the stage is a long staircase which leads
to the living quarters. Around the table sit: Colonel Ricci,
a rather taut gentleman, who carries the weight of his
position with authority and ease; Lieutenant Torasso,
a man often given to laughter and opera singing; Major Rizzolli,
a sober, straight-arrow type; Lieutenant Barri, a veterinarian
with a love of gambling and not much else; and Doctor Tambourri,
a somewhat aloof and distinguished older officer.
As the lights bump up, a Cook (Sergeant Lomabardi)
is overseeing the serving of the meal. Torasso breaks into
an aria from "Rigoletto" while the others talk amongst
themselves, ignoring him. After a beat:

Colonel
(having had enough)
Thank you Lieutenant.
(Torasso stops singing)
Doctor
How was "Rigoletto"?
Torasso
Terrible. These touring companies get no better.
Lombardi
Nor do you.
Torasso
I sing to lighten the weight of your cookings.
Barri
(examining his plate)
Sergeant, what is this?
Lombardi
It's veal.
Barri
Again? We had veal four days ago. And from the
looks of it, it was this veal.
Lombardi
Lieutenant Barri, if I hear -

(They are suddenly interrupted by a woman's distant
scream upstairs. They pause momentarily before resuming
their conversation, as if nothing unusual had occured)

Rizzolli
Colonel, I've heard a rumor that the King is about to
sign a treaty with the French.
Doctor
Really?
Colonel
I've heard no such rumor, Major.
Doctor
Where did you come by this information?
Rizzolli
(uncomfortable)
In town.
Colonel
You can't believe everything you hear in a whorehouse.
Rizzolli
(serious)
That is where Garibaldi got much of his information, sir.
Doctor
Ah, so that's why you go there!
(Giorgio enters)
Colonel
Ah, Captain Bachetti.
Welcome. We wondered when you were going to arrive.
May I introduce Doctor Tambourri, Major Rizzolli...
Torasso
Lieutenant Torasso.
Barri
Lieutenant Barri.
Lombardi
Sergeant Lombardi
Barri
Our cook.
Colonel
Come. Come and join us.
(Giorgio hands a letter to Augenti.)
Giorgio
Could you post this one for me?
(Giorgio sits; to his right remains an
unoccupied chair and place setting)
Lombardi
You'll have to excuse our rather limited menu, Captain.
It's difficult to grow vegetables in this mountain soil.
Doctor
We're a bit isolated here, Captain.
Not only from anything green and edible, but also from life and ideas.
Rizzolli
I just add vinegar to everything
Torasso
Captain Bachetti, the Colonel has been telling us
of your triumphs pinning down the Russian infantry.
Giorgio
I'm not sure that my actions worried your attention.
Torasso
Come, come. Didn't you rescue a wounded man in the midst of
fire and then carry him on your horse to camp?
Giorgio
Only to our battalion.
Barri
Say you brought him back to camp! Why settle for being half
a hero when full-fledged is just a white lie away?
(The lights suddenly bump up; music under, agitated. Clara
enters to the side of the stage, singing from a letter she holds.)