Dear Old Friend

5, 6, a-5, 6, 7, 8
Bathing beauty, on the beach
Bathing beauty, say hello
What a cutie, what a peach
Bathing beauty, watch her go
(Alright, Meg, take 5, girls, take it one more time)
Bathing beauty, on the beach

Very nice, Meg
Do you think so, mother, really?
You've come a long way since the beginning of the season
Does he agree?
It's been three months, he never comes to see the show
Even a word from him, just one

You may get more than that
He has been composing again, late at night
Not this cheap Vaudeville trash, something glorious
For, for me?
Continue to work hard
Make yourself useful to him

Mother
Patience, Gustave, first I must find the stage manager
My dressing room, the musical director
Then we'll go look for our friend and go see the island?
I'm sure he'll send for you when he's ready
Well, excuse me, miss, would you mind?

Heaven help me, could it be?
No, it couldn't possibly
Sorry, do I?
Yes, I think you do

Have we?
Go on, take a guess
Wait, it can't be, is it?
Yes
Oh, my God, I can't believe it's you

Look at you, Christine
Regal as a queen and beautiful
Meg, and you as well
I could hardly tell it's you

My dear old friend
Can't believe you're here, old friend
After all this time
So glad you came
You look sublime
You look the same

My sweet old friend
Never thought we'd meet, old friend
Look at you, a star
And you, a wife

And isn't life a splendid thing?
And here we are
To see the sights
And sing

To sing?
And of course, as a treat for my son
Meg, meet Gustave
Who hired you to sing here?

You
It can't be you
Is this a jest?
How can this be?

We've come to work
At whose request?
The contract's here
I want to see

My God, the price
It's rather high
Why, it's absurd
Oh, yes, I know

Inform your boss
That by the by
The fee goes up
Or else we go

My dear old friend
Here's how things appear, old friend
He who pays the bill
Times two or three
Be sure he will
And handsomely

And dear old friend
Now that we are clear, old friend
That's all very well but till you're gone
You'll wait upon my boss' whim
Ah, yes, your boss and who is that?
It's him

Sorry, did I hear you right?
Here to sing
Tomorrow night?
I'm afraid there must be some mistake

You can't be performing
Why?
Mainly, dear 'cause so am I
I'm in fact the star, for heaven's sake

What are you to sing?
Just one little thing, an aria
Please you needn't fret
I'm sure you will get your due

Him?
That's what I said
You work for him?
Now so do you

And my poor wife
We thought him dead
She'll be appalled
Unless she knew

Darling, please, are you alright?
(Tell me now, that music, who was its creator?)
Darling, please don't squeeze so tight
(Something's going on here, I'll deal with you later)

Did you know?
How could I know
Why would they come?
Why won't they go?

My dear old friend
Can't believe you're here, old friend
Speaking as your host
As an artist
What a surprise
To say the least

Yes, dear old friend
That's a happy tear, old friend
I can't conceal, try though I may
The way I feel so I pretend
I'm sure it's clear
To such a dear old friend

You mustn't stay
Why would I leave?
Why are we here?
Don't play naive

What dear old friends
Don't we all revere old friends?
Nothing has been changed
And never will
Just rearranged
And yet we're still

Such grand old friends
Such devoted and old friends
Words cannot suggest
What's in my heart
And for the rest
Why even start?

My dear old friends
So much longer near, old friends
Back again at last
With everyone
Isn't this great
Won't this be fun?

With dear old friends
Utterly sincere old friends
Honey, break a leg
Madame, good day
Enjoy your stay
Hope it extends

So glad you're here
A lovely dear old friend
Old friend

Gustave, Gustave, Gustave?
Must we always be chasing after the boy?
I promise you, when I find him
No, I will look for him

Break's over, Meg, back to work
A-5, 6, 7, 8
Bathing beauty, on the beach
Bathing beauty, say hello
What a cutie, what a peach
Bathing beauty, watch her go