Lyrics below, including book excerpts by Duane Poole.

*****

An angry Rappaccini turns to the frightened Beatrice.

DR. RAPPACCINI
Who was that man? Do you know him?

BEATRICE
I don’t.

DR. RAPPACCINI
Have you spoken? Of course, you’ve spoken. Why else would he have come?

BEATRICE
I’ve done nothing wrong.

DR. RAPPACCINI
You must let it go no further. Avoid this man. Don’t see him, don’t speak to him.

BEATRICE
We only talk. He has a kind voice. What harm could there be?

DR. RAPPACCINI
(sings: YOU ARE THE WORLD TO ME)

WHAT HARM, YOU ASK
YOU ARE SO TRUSTING
THERE IS DANGER EVERYWHERE YOU LIE TO ME
IT IS DISGUSTING
MY LOVE WITH YOUR RAVEN HAIR

(speaks)
You remember the boy from town.

BEATRICE
-- who heard rumors and wanted to see for himself. He was nothing to me.

DR. RAPPACCINI
Yet we know how that ended. And the medical student? And the artist?

BEATRICE
They were curious, hateful. They were moments. This man --

DR. RAPPACCINI
No! No man! No other man!

(sings)
WHO ELSE COULD UNDERSTAND YOU AS I DO?
WHO ELSE COULD EVER GET SO CLOSE TO YOU?

I HAVE BUILT THIS WORLD AROUND YOU
AS PERFECT AS CAN BE
I AM YOUR SUN, YOUR MOON, YOUR STARS
AND YOU
ARE THE WORLD
TO ME

(speaks)
Beatrice, there is no one, there is nothing outside this property for you.

BEATRICE
There is life!

DR. RAPPACCINI
There is only death.

(sings)
YOU ARE MY GALAXY, MY UNIVERSE
MY FIRMAMENT, MY SKY
MY VAULT OF HEAVEN, MY CELESTIAL SPHERE
THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WHO MATTERS
THERE IS ONLY YOU AND I
AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR YOU ANYWHERE BUT HERE

Rappaccini takes a rubber glove from his pocket, snaps it over one hand, and pulls Beatrice to him as he lifts the needle.

DR. RAPPACCINI (CONT’D)
I HAVE BUILT THIS WORLD AROUND YOU
AS PERFECT AS CAN BE
I AM YOUR SUN, YOUR MOON, YOUR STARS AND YOU
ARE THE WORLD
TO ME

Rappaccini plunges the needle into her arm, injecting the poison.