--BASIL--
THIS IS HARD FOR ME TO SAY
BUT WHEN I SPEAK OF DORIAN GRAY
THERE ARE REACTIONS
FROM SUCH ANGRY FACTIONS
SAYING YOU’LL PAY
FOR HORRIBLE SIN

TELL ME HOW DID THESE RUMORS BEGIN?
HOW THEY MAKE MY HEAD SPIN.

HAVE YOU HEARD
THE AWFUL LIES?
I CAN’T IMAGINE ANY WHYS
TO ACCUSATIONS
OF YOUR ABERRATIONS
THE STREETS FILL WITH OUTCRIES
ANGRY AND STRONG

PLEASE BELIEVE ME
I KNOW THEY ARE WRONG
FOR IT’S NEVER TOO LONG
BEFORE
WHAT A MAN IS
ALTERS HIS FACE
ALL HIS SINS ON HIS FEATURES
WILL TRACE
A PATTERN SO PLAIN TO READ

IN YOUR CASE
WE ALL MUST CONCEDE
YOU’RE THE PICTURE OF INNOCENCE
HONESTY AND YOUTH
IF YOU WERE A MONSTER
WE’D ALL SEE THE TRUTH
WOULDN’T WE PLAINLY SEE?

--DORIAN--
YES YOU WOULD WHY DO YOU GO ON?
DON’T MISS YOUR TRAIN I WISH YOU WERE GONE

--BASIL--
THEY SAY NO PURE MINDED GIRL
SHOULD MEET YOU
AND PEOPLE WHOM YOU ONCE KNEW
WON’T GREET YOU

AND THERE’S THE TALK
ABOUT THE DARK
DISASTROUS INFLUENCE
YOU’VE HAD ON CERTAIN LIVES
MANY REPUTATIONS RUINED
SCANDAL LIKE A CANCER
ON THEM THRIVES
HOW CAN YOU ANSWER?

--DORIAN--
AM I SUPPOSED TO BE
A MASTERMIND OF VICES?
A SVENGALI WHO ENTICES?
AS YOU CONFESS
THE HONESTY YOU SEE IN ME SUFFICES
AS MY WITNESS

--BASIL--
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE A MAN
BASED ON WHAT EFFECT HE HAS
ON THE PEOPLE HE’S BEFRIENDED

--DORIAN--
THESE BUSYBODIES WHOM YOU’VE DEFENDED
WOULD LOVE TO SEE
EVERY THOUGHT SUSPENDED
IF THEY COULD HAVE THEIR WAY
THE WORLD WOULD HAVE TO BOW
TO EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO SAY
ONE RELIGION ONE STATE
THESE PIOUS SOULS WOULD DICTATE
EVERY MOVE WE MAKE
AND ALL DISSENTERS
WOULD BURN AT THEIR STAKE

--BASIL--
That’s not the point!

--BASIL--
I NEED TO HAVE AN ANSWER NOW
WILL YOU CONTINUE TO ALLOW
THIS VILE DEFAMATION
OF YOUR REPUTATION
YOU MUST STOP IT SOMEHOW
WHY DOES IT SEEM
YOU DON’T KNOW THAT YOU
SHOULD REDEEM
YOUR GOOD NAME AND ESTEEM?

WHAT A MAN IS ALTERS HIS FACE
ALL HIS SINS ON HIS FEATURES WILL
TRACE
A PATTERN SO PLAIN TO READ
IN YOUR CASE
ARE WE RIGHT TO CONCEDE
YOU’RE THE PICTURE OF INNOCENCE
HONESTY AND YOUTH?

IF YOU WERE A MONSTER
WOULDN’T WE SEE THE TRUTH?
WOULDN’T WE PLAINLY SEE?

--DORIAN--
(In counterpoint to Basil.)
HOW CAN YOU BE SO VERY DULL?
WHO PUT THOSE THOUGHTS IN YOUR SKULL?
WHY DON’T YOU KNOW
THAT YOU
HAVE ALWAYS WEARIED ME SO
WHEN WILL YOU GO?

I HEARD YOU BEFORE
I HAVE NO FEAR ON THAT SCORE
WOULD YOU LOOK AT ME
WOULD YOU LOOK AT ME?

BASIL PLEASE BASIL YES
YOU’VE MADE IT PLAIN
YOU THINK THAT I HAVE GONE INSANE DON’T YOU
BASIL?

HOW COULD THAT TRULY BE?

OF COURSE YOU WOULD
YOU TALK
AS IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME

--BASIL--
KNOW YOU?
I WONDER DO I REALLY KNOW YOU?
BEFORE I COULD ANSWER THAT
I’D HAVE TO SEE YOUR SOUL
BUT ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT

--DORIAN--
MAYBE NOT
PERHAPS YOU SHALL SEE MY SOUL
YOURSELF TONIGHT
WITH YOUR OWN EYES

--BASIL--
TALK SOME SENSE DORIAN

--DORIAN--
DO YOU THINK IT’S IMPOSSIBLE
FOR YOU TO SEE INSIDE MY SOUL?

--BASIL--
IF I COULD
AT LEAST I’D HAVE THE ANSWER
THAT I NEED
A SOUL IS INSCRIBED
WITH EVERY DEED