Light My Candle

Roger:
What'd you forget?

(Mimi enters, holding a candle and looking for a match; her electricity is out, too)

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
(He lights her candle. Mimi starts to leave, but stumbles)
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 discreetly blows out the candle)

Mimi:
It's out again
Sorry about your friend
Would you light my candle?

(Roger lights the candle. They linger, awkwardly)

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.

(Rogers gestures towards the door. Mimi exits. Roger heads back toward his guitar on the table. There is another knock, which he answers)

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 gets down on all fours and starts searching the floor for her stash. She looks back at Roger, who is staring at her again)

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

(Mimi douses the flame again)

Roger:
I didn't recognize you
Without the handcuffs

Mimi:
We could light the candle
Oh won't you light the candle?

(Roger lights it again)

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 is -- um --

(Roger stoops and picks up a small object: Mimi's stash)

Mimi:
What's that?

Roger:
It's a candy bar wrapper

(Roger puts it behind his back and into his pocket)

Mimi:
We could light the candle

(Roger gently blows out the candle)

Mimi:
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

(Mimi places her hand under his, pretending to do it by accident)

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