MARTHA - NANCY/PLUNKETT DUET-ACT IV
From the Bel Canto Opera production of Martha, Act IV, Nancy (aka Julia) has revealed her plan to get Lionel married off to Lady Harriet aka Martha, but Plunkett fears for a future on his own. Nancy has a plan for that, too.
PLUNKETT: What's to be?
NANCY: What's to be? Don't ask me!
PLUNKETT: We'll wait and see!
NANCY: Though my plan may be ambitious
And the omens aren't auspicious
It may be a great success
He may acquiesce
And may answer "yes"
PLUNKETT: When that's said...?
NANCY: They will wed!
PLUNKETT: After that, what then?
NANCY: What then?
PLUNKETT: I can think of one thing only
One thing only, one thing only
In this house, I'll be so lonely
No one here to say 'good night'
Somehow that just don't seem right!
NANCY: I can think of one solution
You must find a substitution!
Someone nice and kind who shares
Your worries and your cares
Shares your worry and your cares!
PLUNKETT: I don't like to be alone!
NANCY: You look sad!
PLUNKETT: T'will be bad!
NANCY: What about...
PLUNKETT: Well, spit it out!
NANCY: What about a double wedding?
Look around and find a match.
PLUNKETT: That is where I think I'm heading
Lizzie Hare thinks I'm a catch!
Farmer Hare would give her hand
Plus ten acres of his land
NANCY: If you have the nuptials planned
Ask her father for her hand
She sounds absolutely grand,
A farm girl with a patch of land!
That's your lot!
PLUNKETT: Don't be so quick!
NANCY: Pray, why not
PLUNKETT: She's two planks thick!
NANCY: If she's stupid, that won't do, Sir,
Find a lass who's bright as you.
PLUNKETT: Girl next door has been to Oxford,
And she says she loves me too
But she don't half like to boast
And she's ugly as a post
NANCY: If she's told you that she loves you
She is cleverer than most
Educated far above you,
And as ugly as a post.
Will she do?
PLUNKETT: Oh no! Oh, no!
NANCY: Well, then who?
PLUNKETT: Quite so. Who then? Quite so!
There's a girl who's just the ticket
Though she's brazen as can be
She be lively as a cricket
but looks down her nose at me!
She can't cook a donkey's dinner
Nor can spin as housewives can
Still I'd like to woo and win her
If she'd take me for her man
NANCY: You have painted someone charming
Full of fun and full of life
Witty, clever and disarming
But she'd make a rotten wife!
She'd be hopeless at home-making
Spinning, baking, household chores,
But her hand is for the taking
Say the word and she is yours!
PLUNKETT: Really?
NANCY: I'm waiting
PLUNKETT: My dear Julia...
NANCY: Yes?
PLUNKETT: No! Not quite yet!
Lionel comes first! I've sworn it with a vow I can't forget.
NANCY: Vow?
PLUNKETT: that's right.
NANCY: And us?
PLUNKETT: Not yet.
NANCY: Say the word.
PLUNKETT: It must wait
NANCY: That's absurd.
PLUNKETT: He's my mate!
NANCY: So your friend delays your wooing!
PLUNKETT: I must choose one thing or other
NANCY: That's an odd thing to be doing!
PLUNKETT: He to me is like a brother.
NANCY: You should finish what you started!
PLUNKETT: It must wait till he's departed
NANCY: You would leave broken hearted
PLUNKETT: Then I'll say the word
yes, say the word is what I'll do!
I'll come back and say the word
That is what I plan to do!
I will say the proper word to you!
The word to you!
NANCY: Ah! Please come back and say the word
Ah! Bear in mind what you must do!
I await the proper word from you!
The word from you.
words © Tom Boyd