Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella Script

Act II

ACT II, SCENE I: LEAVING THE BALL

CINDERELLA WALTZ

TEN MINUTES AGO (REPRISE)

TOPHER:

TEN MINUTES AGO, I MET YOU,

ENSEMBLE:

TEN MINUTES AGO!

TOPHER

AND WE MURMURED OUR 'HOW DO YOU DO'S.

ENSEMBLE:

'HOW DO YOU DO'S!

ALL

I WANTED TO RING OUT THE BELLS

AND FLING OUT MY ARMS

AND TO SING OUT THE NEWS!

I HAVE FOUND HER! / I HAVE FOUND AN ANGEL!

WITH THE DUST OF THE STARS IN YOUR EYES!

WE ARE DANCING,

WE ARE FLYING

AND YOU'RE TAKING ME BACK TO THE SKIES!

IN THE ARMS OF MY LOVE, IM FLYING

OVER MOUNTAIN AND MEADOW AND GLEN,

MEN:

AND I LIKE IT SO WELL...

WOMEN:

AND I LIKE IT SO WELL...

MEN:

THAT FOR ALL I CAN TELL...

WOMEN:

AND I LIKE IT SO WELL!

ALL:

I LIKE IT SO WELL,

THAT FOR ALL I CAN TELL,

ENSEMBLE:

I MAY NEVER COME DOWN...

ELLA/ TOPHER:

I MAY NEVER COME DOWN AGAIN!

(TOPHER and ELLA kiss as the clock strikes midnight.)

ELLA: Oh, I must go!

TOPHER: Oh, but it's only midnight! We only just met!

ELLA: I know! I would love to stay. Really, I would, but I have to leave now or something terrible will happen! I'm very sorry! Oh, but I have to ask something of you first! Something very important!

TOPHER: Yes?! Anything!

ELLA: Please try to see how you are affecting your kingdom. People are starving and losing their homes. Please help them. That's all I ask. I have to go!

(ELLA exits.)

TOPHER: I've never had someone speak so truthfully about my kingdom before... I must find her!

(TOPHER exits.)

(Enter ELLA and TOPHER on the grand staircase. ELLA stumbles on the last step and loses a slipper. TOPHER catches up to her.. Both of them dart for the shoe, but ELLA snatches it. They pause an stare into each other's eyes. ELLA exits with the slipper in hand.)

TOPHER: Wait! No! Please wait! Come back! I don't even know your name!

(Enter LIONEL.)

LIONEL: What is it, sire?!

TOPHER: That girl... She spoke so truthfully about my kingdom. She's both beautiful of face and kind of heart. I must have her. She's the one!

(Enter GUARD)