The Next Step/Three Long Months

Ben:

No more looking back

Only facing forward,

Watch as the horizon gets closer.

Nothing can go wrong.

If it takes us long to walk the mile,

Years to run the distance

That's how long it takes, but we'll make it.

Don't lose faith in me.

'Cause this is our journey,

One big adventure,

Why stand and watch it pass by from the side?

It's time to get going

And yes there's no knowing

The dangers ahead.

How can you fly with your feet on the floor

When what comes after is better than before?

It'll be fine, I promise.

As long as you're sharing it with me.

Can we please agree that we walk the same direction?

Take a little comfort in moving ahead as one.

Each and every bend in the road that we follow

Will lead us further, on and on

But I cannot do this alone.

We made a promise to stick by each other.

For once, thanks to you,

There's no hilltop that's too big to climb.

Ami:

It's not the greatest area, is it?

Ben:

It's on its way up! Come on, take a look at the flat. I know you're going to fall in love.

I've spent thirty years drifting place to place.

If something got hard then I'd quit to save face.

Only me, drifting by all alone.

I never had a father who called me each day

From foster home to foster home was always the way

But now I've ended here,

We're finally here.

What do you think? Come on, be completely honest.

Ami:

Well...

Ben:

All right, not completely.

Ami:

I like that stain.

It's very Marc Chagall.

Ben:

Oh come on, Chagall's brushwork is much more self-contained...

And I now realise that the important thing is that there's a stain over there.

I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's got four solid walls!

Ami:

Don't lean on that one.

I did and nearly went straight through.

Ben:

Three and a half solid walls, then, and a roof over our heads.

Ami:

I can smell gas!

Ben:

That's not gas!

It's mice!

Look beyond the cracks

Sure it isn't perfect.

Nothing ever is,

But believe me

Beauty can be found.

Ami:

Is that water coming in?

Ben:

Only when it rains?

Take a look around,

This place has charm - just like you, it's quirky -

Needs a little work,

But I love it.

Build a home with me.

Ami:

Ben, the carpet is the colour of sick.

Ben:

We can change the carpet.

Ami:

This place is a dump.

Ben:

Yes, but it's our dump!

I want a family

I want a future,

I want to wake each day in your arms

Where no one will find us

Break or unbind us...

I bet there are amazing floorboards under this carpet. And we can salvage furniture from the local tip!

Ami:

What?

Ben:

I'll learn wiring and plumbing

And this place will be just right:

A home of our own full of joy and laughter!

You are the best part of me.

You are the one thing I need in my life.

All of these dreams fall apart at the seams without you.

Ami:

Why do I keep falling for this?

Ben:

I don't know, but I am so glad that you do.

Ami:

Maybe what comes after is

Better than before

Better than before

Ben:

Better than before

Ami:

Better than before

What comes after is better than -

Ben:

- before you leave and walk out the door

Take a moment and marvel at what we've achieved.

Ami:

No time!

Ben:

Three long months of cleaning and scrubbing.

Three long months of plaster and paint.

Three long months of dust and debris in our hair.

Now we're finally there

And it's better than perfect,

Finally there

As I dreamt it would be.

You, standing there, next to our new décor,

Proves that what comes after is better than before.

Well, except for the tap that won't stop dripping, upstairs and their taste in music, and the bastard who stole my bike.

Ami:

****! I'm going to be late!

Ben:

Have a good day. Love you.

Ami:

Love you too.

Three long months of being so tired.

Three long months of asleep at my desk.

Three long months of working all day and night.

Something's not right.

Yes, the flat is perfect

But something's not right with me...

"Jonathan". Oh god. Not again. Don't answer it, Ami. But I have to! It will be bad and you'll regret it, you know you will. But I have to! I can't stop thinking about what he said.

Why can't it all go away

And I can just think about Ben instead?

I wish I could -

I can't ignore it, I'll miss my chance. Imagine never seeing him again, never holding him again.... Jonathan. Hello... Yes, I'm sorry... No this isn't a bad time. So this is serious...