Various Artists Tune Up #2 lyrics

Various Artists
Rent Soundtrack, Cast Recording
Tune Up #2
MARK
Tell the folks at home what you're doing Roger

ROGER
I'm writing one great song --

MARK
The phone rings.

ROGER
Yesss!

MARK
We screen.

ROGER & MARK'S ANSWERING MACHINE
"Speak" ... ("Beeeep!")

(Lights fade up on the street: the front-door area of MARK and
ROGER's building. Nearby is a battered public pay phone. TOM
COLLINS stands at the phone.)

COLLINS
"Chestnuts roasting ---"

ROGER & MARK
(as MARK picks up the phone)
Collins!

COLLINS
I'm downstairs

MARK
Hey!

COLLINS
Roger picked up the phone??

MARK
No, it's me.

COLLINS
Throw down the key.

MARK
A wild night is now pre-ordained

COLLINS
I may be detained.

MARK
What does he mean...?
What do you mean "detained"?


BENNY
Ho ho ho.

MARK & ROGER
Benny! Shit.

BENNY
Dudes, I'm on my way

MARK & ROGER
Great! Fuck.


BENNY
I need the rent

MARK
What rent?

BENNY
This past year's rent which I let slide

MARK
Let slide? You said we were 'golden'

ROGER
When you bought the building

MARK
When we were roommates

ROGER
Remember -- you lived here!?

BENNY
How could I forget?
You, me, Collins and Maureen
How is the drama queen?

MARK
She's performing tonight

BENNY
I know.
Still her production manager?

MARK
Two days ago I was bumped

BENNY
You still dating her?

MARK
Last month I was dumped

ROGER
She's in love

BENNY
She's got a new man?

MARK
Well -- no

BENNY
What's his name?

BOTH
Joanne

BENNY
Rent, my amigos, is due
Or I will have to evict you
Be there in a few

(ROGER defiantly picks out Musetta's theme from Puccini's La
Boheme on the electric guitar. The fuse blows on the amp.)

MARK
The power blows ...