Finale Act Two

Lyrics

[SIR JOHN] Here's a kiss I'll give you this As keepsake of my love I'll pledge my love anew Ever dear Will help me to remember— [SIR JOHN dozes off to sleep. BETSY enters with a lighted lantern and hangs it on a bracket. As she does, there's a shot offstage and BETSY staggers back. The shot wakes SIR JOHN.] [SIR JOHN, spoken] Who's there? Stand by That light That light's a signal! [SIR JOHN rushes to extinguish the lantern. BETSY points a gun at him.] [BETSY, spoken] Don't come a step nearer [SIR JOHN, spoken] Betsy! Good Lord! You, you'd do this to me? [BETSY, spoken] Not to you, to Britain! [SIR JOHN, spoken] So you hold your damned rebel cause Higher than anything in the world [BETSY, spoken] Yes, I hold my damned rebel cause Higher than anything in the world [SIR JOHN, spoken] To think I believed you, you loved me [BETSY, spoken] Sure I love you But would you have me sell my country for a kiss? [SIR JOHN, spoken] Shoot! Go on and shoot! [SIR JOHN rushes to BETSY, grabbing the weapon out of her hand, and shoots at the lantern extinguishing the light.] The damned signal is out! [BETSY, spoken] No, the damned signal has just been given and you gave it! [SIR JOHN, spoken] What? [BETSY, spoken] The signal for General Putnam to pass was light on and light off I put it on, and you put it off I am grateful to you, Sir John Copeland [SIR JOHN, spoken] You spitfire! [GENERALS HOWE, TRYON & CLINTON rush down the stairs.] [TRYON, spoken] What's that noise? [HOWE, spoken] Who fired that shot? [SIR JOHN, spoken] This young lady lit that lamp as a signal and I shot it out [Sounds of men marching and rifle shots are heard offstage.] [HOWE, spoken] What's that? [BETSY, spoken] It's Putnam They're joining the main forces and you can't stop them now [TRYON, spoken] It is Putnam! And he's joining Washington [HOWE, spoken] Madam, you'll be held to account for this The British command in New York now you know Good day [BETSY, spoken] John! John! [BETSY faints in SIR JOHN's arms. MRS. MURRAY & JANE rush down the stairs.] [MRS. MURRAY, spoken] I heard shots [JANE, spoken] Oh my goodness, Betsy [MRS. MURRAY, spoken] Are you all right, dear? [JANE, spoken] She's hurt [MRS. MURRAY, spoken] Oh, Betsy [SIR JOHN, spoken] Betsy, you're wounded Look up, Betsy Speak to me, speak to me I love you I love you [SIR JOHN] Here in my arms it's adorable It's deplorable That you were never there When little lips are so kissable It's permissible For me to ask my share Next to my heart it is ever so lonely I'm holding only air While here in my arms it's adorable It's deplorable That you were never there! [MRS. MURRAY & JANE take BETSY from SIR JOHN. MORGAN'S SCOUTS enter.] [FIRST SCOUT, spoken] Frank, here's another one of them damned redcoats [SCOUTS seize SIR JOHN.] [SECOND SCOUT, spoken] You're a prisoner