May or June, '62
sitting on the stairs outside the set
smoking a Gold Flake cigarette
She, the lead
he made his muse
giving her the lines she had to say
the cameras rolled and the actress played
And oh sweet pageantry
tangled itself in reality
he began to believe he could make
her see things differently.
Scene 2...
Cue the lights
the girl at night
standing on the stairs outside her door
he's waiting inside on the second floor1
Turn to leave
but pause and breathe
knowing this is under your control
she'll leave him for you while the credits roll
And oh sweet pageantry
tangled itself in reality
She began to believe all the lines were really happening
Scene 3...
2But I'm starting to notice
you've been talking in riddles
and the frame's out of focus
do it over
There's a wordless reaction
that I'm tired of seeing
I just want you to need me
when it's over, when it's over
I swear I'm not inclined to falling hard
deep bruises leave their mark on a lonely heart
I guess I got carried away
but I need you to stay in character
So I'll give you the role that you play in my dreams
so that I'm always asleep
it's easy to take that way and I won't wake up
to a cruel reality
But I'm starting to notice
you've been talking in riddles
and the character's broken
do it over
There's a wordless reaction
that I'm tired of feeling
it's the reason I'm leaving
when it's over
Please don't try and pretend to be blindsided
there was nothing I could do to please you
I'm just a shadow on the screen
and I don't think you'll ever see
That the ending is as inevitable as the start
Stop trying to change the script, play the part
We were meant to be together why can't you see?
But I'm starting to notice
you've been talking in riddles
and the character's broken
and its over
There's a wordless reaction
that I'm tired of feeling
it's the reason I'm leaving
when it's over
1. this refers to the person the actress is already with--possibly a cast member2. switch from narrators voice to first person