[Intro — Lone Harpsichord] [One Bell] May I have your attention? Only for a moment. [Card flick] Perfect. [Verse 1 — The Invitation] Take any road you like tonight, I'll promise not to lead. Choose any door, believe your eyes, Believe what you believe. The street you knew becomes a hall, The hall becomes a stage. And somewhere someone rings a bell... Though no one's there to play. [Pre-Chorus] Left or right? Near or far? Tell me where you think you are. One more step. Don't hesitate. The curtain's rising— You're already late. [Chorus] A thousand lies, one beautiful truth, A thousand roads beneath your shoes. Choose any door, Believe what you see— Every path eventually Leads back to me. A thousand faces, A thousand views, Every one convincing you. So choose what is real. Choose carefully. The stage is everywhere tonight... And everyone's watching me. [Verse 2 — The Many Faces] There's Vezio laughing by the door. There's Vezio overhead. There's Vezio bowing on the stage— And one behind your head. A mirror swears I'm standing still. A shadow walks away. Another me removes his hat... And asks you if you'll stay. [Pre-Chorus] Count the bells. Count the doors. Count the footsteps on the floor. One is wrong. Perhaps it's two. Perhaps the only thing that's wrong... Is you. [Quiet laugh] [Chorus] A thousand lies, one beautiful truth, A thousand roads beneath your shoes. Choose any door, Believe what you see— Every path eventually Leads back to me. A thousand faces, A thousand views, Every one convincing you. But somewhere inside This grand reverie... There's something perfectly real You're forgetting to see. [Instrumental — Grand Masquerade Opens] [The Wandering Fool melody appears in violin] [Between Reflections answers in cello] [Both begin overlapping] [Choir enters] [Verse 3 — Time Fractures] Haven't we already sung this verse? No? How very strange. I'm certain you were standing there... Before the scenery changed. You chose the left-hand door before. Or was it number three? You haven't made that choice just yet? [Pause] Then why remember me? [Masquerade Break — Music Fractures] One bell. Two doors. Three shadows crossing the floor. Four faces. Five different skies. Six little truths... Wearing a thousand lies. [Music abruptly stops] [Whisper from behind] Found me. [Grand Chorus] A THOUSAND LIES, ONE BEAUTIFUL TRUTH! A thousand worlds I've shown to you! Every mirror, Every disguise, Every impossible road before your eyes! A thousand Vezios taking their bows! Tell me— Which one are you watching now? The Fool? The Watcher? The shadow you see? Or the man who has been standing here... Exactly where he said he'd be? [Final Movement — Illusions Collapse] [Orchestra begins disappearing instrument by instrument] A thousand mirrors. A thousand skies. A thousand beautiful little lies. You searched every doorway. You followed each clue. You watched every reflection... Except the one watching you. [Harpsichord alone] Because the finest trick Was never making me disappear. It was convincing you... That I wasn't already here. [Long Pause] [Vezio, quietly] The truth? [Single card placed on table] There was only ever one. [Whisper] Me. [Bell] [Silence] [Distant applause]
