Charity Lyrics

PANHANDLERS
CHARITY
IS THE POOR MAN'S LAST RESORT. (BUM, BUM, BUM) CHARITY
IS THE RICH MAN'S FINEST SPORT.
IF YOU'RE BROKEN, DRUNK AND DESOLUTE
AND YOUR DEAR OLD PALS DON'T GIVE A HOOT
GRAB AN OLD TIN CUP AND TATTERED SUIT
AND PLEAD
YOUR NEED
FOR CHARITY...
Jane is outside the bathroom door.
JANE
Anna, we cannot allow you to bathe three times a day.
ANNA
Very well! I shall not bathe! I
shall march around like a wild, odiferous creature and the oh-so- clean, deliriously boring people of Auburn, New York will be content to mock and throw orange rinds at me, yelling: look at the dirty yak! 'Dirty yak! Dirty yak!? But as they criticize me, remember they will be criticizing you!

ANNA insolently climbs out of the tub.
PANHANDLERS
CHARITY
IS THE POOR MAN'S LAST RESORT.
ANNA
SO THIS IS HOW I END.
PANHANDLERS
CHARITY
ANNA
IN AUBURN, NEW YORK.

PANHANDLERS
IS THE RICH MAN'S FINEST SPORT.
ANNA
LIVING AND DEAD.
PANHANDLERS
IN HER WEATHERED SHAWL AND FLAPPING BOOT,
A WOMAN'S SELF-RESPECT IS MOOT;
IF SHE'S TOO DECREPIT TO PROSTITUTE...
LET'S HEAR
A CHEER
FOR CHARITY...
JANE
Anna...My husband...We---
ANNA
I know what you will tell me. I have to leave.
JANE
(with a sob)
Oh, Anna...
ANNA
Why are you crying? You are not sixty-three-years-old and without money. You are not unwanted, Jane. You still have choices. Not many. But you still have choices for a way of life. Complacency breeds fear. I feel my death here.
THERE IS GREATNESS IN ME IT SHALL BE REVEALED.
18
BLINDING GREATNESS IN ME: IT CAN'T BE CONCEALED.
I CANNOT LIVE AS ORDINARY. I AM NOW HEADING TOWARD THE VERY
ESSENCE OF WHAT I AM MEANT TO BE:
WHAT AM I MEANT TO BE?
God help me. God? No. I will help myself. I have always had to help myself. Where to go?
A blast of a train whistle and steam.
A TRAIN CONDUCTOR
Next stop: Niagara Falls!