light my candle

(…) he is interrupted by a beautiful stranger from downstairs, Mimi. Mimi needs a match, her electricity is down too. She and Roger are instantly drawn to each other, but Roger resists. Mimi, she recognizes, is a junkie.


(Roger) What'd you forget?
(Mimi) Got a light?
(Roger) I know you? -- You're -- You're shivering
(Mimi) It's nothing They turned off my heat And I'm just a little Weak on my feet Would you light my candle? What are you staring at?
(Roger) Nothing Your hair in the moonlight You look familiar Can you make it?
(Mimi) Just haven't eaten much today At least the room stopped spinning. Anyway. What?
(Roger) Nothing Your smile reminded me of -
(Mimi) I always remind people of - who is she?
(Roger) She died. Her name was April
(Mimi) It's out again Sorry about your friend Would you light my candle?
(Roger) Well -
(Mimi) Yeah. Ow!
(Roger) Oh, the wax - it's
(Mimi) Dripping! I like it - between my --
(Roger) Fingers. I figured... Oh, well. Goodnight. (Mimi exits; then knocks again) It blew out again?
(Mimi) No - I think that I dropped my stash
(Roger) I know I've seen you out and about When I used to go out Your candle's out
(Mimi)I'm illin' - I had it when I walked in the door It was pure - Is it on the floor?
(Roger) The floor?
(Mimi) They say I have the best ass below 14th street Is it true?
(Roger) What?
(Mimi) you're staring again.
(Roger) Oh no. I mean you do -- have a nice -- I mean -- You look familiar
(Mimi) Like your dead girlfriend?
(Roger) Only when you smile. But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else --
(Mimi) Do you go to the cat scratch club That's where I work - I dance - help me look
(Roger) Yes! They used to tie you up -
(Mimi) It's a living
(Roger) I didn't recognize you Without the handcuffs
(Mimi) We could light the candle Oh won't you light the candle
(Roger)Why don't you forget that stuff You look like you're sixteen
(Mimi) I'm nineteen - but I'm old for my age I'm just born to be bad
(Roger) I once was born to be bad I used to shiver like that
(Mimi) I have no heat - I told you
(Roger) I used to sweat
(Mimi) I got a cold
(Roger) Uh huh I used to be a junkie
(Mimi) But now and then I like to --
(Roger) Uh huh
(Mimi) Feel good
(Roger) Here it -- um --
(Mimi) What's that?
(Roger) Candy bar wrapper
(Mimi) We could light the candle What'd you do with my candle?
(Roger) That was my last match
(Mimi) Our eyes'll adjust, thank God for the moon
(Roger) Maybe it's not the moon at all I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street
(Mimi) Bah humbug ... Bah humbug
(Roger) Cold hands
(Mimi) Yours too. Big. Like my father's You wanna dance?
(Roger) With you?
(Mimi) No - with my father
(Roger) I'm Roger
(Mimi) They call me They call me Mimi

"light my candle from RENT" by Jonathan Larsson