But down there amid the rubble, the Balladeer briefly swims back into consciousness. The back of his head's wet. There's wood sticking through his clothes, and through...oh. Oh.
For a moment he almost expects the curtains to swish shut around him, or for rough hands to drag him offstage. There's the red-and-white, the lights, he's been here before. But - no. The only thing there is Janis, in a glittering halo above him. The Balladeer tries to push himself up on an elbow, slips, and falls back again. He tries to speak, but his words come out slurred and too-quiet. He takes a breath and tries again.]
- limited. And just look at you. You can do all I - I couldn't -
[But the curtain's falling, and he can't finish his verse.
no subject
But down there amid the rubble, the Balladeer briefly swims back into consciousness. The back of his head's wet. There's wood sticking through his clothes, and through...oh. Oh.
For a moment he almost expects the curtains to swish shut around him, or for rough hands to drag him offstage. There's the red-and-white, the lights, he's been here before. But - no. The only thing there is Janis, in a glittering halo above him. The Balladeer tries to push himself up on an elbow, slips, and falls back again. He tries to speak, but his words come out slurred and too-quiet. He takes a breath and tries again.]
- limited.
And just look at you.
You can do all I - I couldn't -
[But the curtain's falling, and he can't finish his verse.
The Balladeer is dead.]