#pathologic musical

[HARUSPEX wakes up in a large, high-ceilinged room, seemingly underground. Odonghe and butchers scurry about, and in the center of the room, before its most obvious feature – a massive pit, the bottom of which is obscured in darkness, making it impossible to tell how deep it is – stands FOREMAN OYUN, an enormous man with his arms crossed and an impassive expression on his face. HARUSPEX picks himself up off the ground.]

HARUSPEX

I am-

OYUN

I know who you are, Kindred One, son of Isidor Burakh. Address me as Elder.

HARUSPEX

Elder Oyun. I-

OYUN

You have been away too long. You forget our ways.

HARUSPEX

No, I-

OYUN

Be silent.

Perhaps you think that things have changed

since you’ve gone away;

but you’re the one who’s strayed.

Perhaps you think the world had stopped

to wait while you were gone,

but everything keeps moving

and I see your mind’s moved on.

Isn’t that right, Kindred One?

Welcome home,

now your journey’s at an end.

The error of your ways,

you will learn… yes, you will mend.

Do you know who I am?

HARUSPEX

A menkhu, my uncle, the foreman of the abattoir.

OYUN

Do you know who you are?

HARUSPEX

A soldier, a surgeon, a son of the earth-

[echoes of Artemy, Artemy, Artemy from the song Burakh]

Artemy Burakh.

OYUN

You will help me revive the Kin;

we can build a force that can win,

don’t look back, stand tall at my side,

and we’ll regain our pride.

But first, you must pass a trial, a gauntlet,

prove yourself to me.

Drink this elixir, all of it, here,

and after that… we’ll see.

[OYUN picks up an iron cup and pours dark liquid into it. He hands it to HARUSPEX, who drinks it. HARUSPEX stumbles, then falls. OYUN turns his back on the fallen man.]

OYUN

Welcome home, welcome home,

I’ll be sure you pay your dues.

Welcome home, welcome home…

Lyrics:

[BACHELOR rushes into the Cathedral and finds EVA YAN dead, only moments too late. The final chord from What A Life (Eva Yan’s Death) stumbles into the much faster opening piano of this song.]

What do I do now

I cannot see how

to undo

the choice you’ve made here

There’s no time to mourn

I’m trapped within a storm

here before me

my life’s one mission

before me

my greatest ambition

before me

my only vision

I’m always with it locking eye to eye

but death has this way of sneaking by

I wasn’t even here,

I wasn’t even thinking

I only looked ahead

when right behind me you were sinking,

and there is Peter in my ears,

trapped in his drinking,

and there is Andrey at my heels,

his cold heart shrinking

but where were you?

And where was I?

When it matters most

who sees our lives pass by?

Who fears, who falls, who holds the gun,

who steps apart from everyone,

I know you hoped for more from me

than I could ever give

I failed

I failed you, I failed

Would you have lived if I had done this right

If I had told you everything’s all right

If I’d said I loved you too, if I had lied

the price I’d pay to keep you here alive

But it’s late

the bells have chimed

the world moves on

I haven’t got the time

to dwell on how you’re gone

this fact won’t change,

I must focus on what can

while I remain.

I’m sorry

I failed

Lyrics:

Welcome home, Artemy,

you’re safe with me,

oh, I wish, Artemy,

that the townsfolk all

could see the good I see

in you

Welcome home, Artemy!

Oh, won’t you stay a while?

Do you recall, Artemy,

at this table we would sit

and take our lessons with your father

every Monday,

long ago

when we were children.

Settle down, Artemy,

sit here, don’t worry,

oh, I know, here’s a thought,

I could call over our friends

just like we used

to do

Oh, do you remember,

when both our fathers were alive,

they’d sit up at the table,

and the four of us would hide

so we’d have more time together

before you all went home.

It never lasted long,

but how we tried,

and how we laughed.

And we all had our nicknames,

I was Gravel, you were Cub,

and Grigory was Grief, and Stakh, well,

you know how he was,

he’s training as a doctor now,

and Grief’s just getting by,

and I stay here and wonder how

my friends left me behind.

But I still try to do my part to help.

I’m calling this the Shelter,

it’s where anyone can rest,

so long as they’ve

a will to stay

I turn away no guest.

But family, anyway, never need knock

the guest bed’s in the corner,

and the kitchen’s always stocked.

No one in my house need ever fear. Whenever you have need, you’ll find me here.

You recall, Artemy,

how the four of us would play,

how we called ourselves

the apple basket gang.

it makes me glad to see

that, at least, the two of us remain.

It’s been so very long

since I last got to bid you