(Kartini enters stage with Ngasirah and gets dressed for the big wedding day. Then, Kartini performs a solo dance while a Javanese singer, Nana, sings pangkur acapella. Regent of Rembang comes in halfway through and the two have a partner dance before they get seated for the wedding ceremony.)

How Could I? (Reprise)

by Rukmini, Stella and Kartini

RUKMINI

I SEE HER EMPTY GAZE, 

ALTHOUGH SHE LOOKS DOWN TO HIDE IT

I SEE HER EYES OF REGRET,

BUT SHE WON’T PUT UP A FIGHT

HER HAIR IS FULL OF SECRETS,

HER SWEET FRAGRANCE HIDES HER TRUTH

THE GOLD WRAPPED AROUND HER FINGER,

SHE WISHES BACK HER YOUTH

HOW CAN I TURN A BLIND EYE? 

AT WHAT COST AM I LOOKING AWAY?

DO I FIGHT FOR MY SISTER,

OR DOES SHE NOT WANT TO BE SAVED?

CAN I FIGHT FOR HER, 

IF SHE CHOOSES HIM?

OVER EUROPE, OUR LIFE-LONG DREAM

COULD IT BE?

IS SHE HAPPY?

I DON'T KNOW

STELLA

I HEARD THE WEDDING NEWS 

I’M SO GLAD YOU FOUND THE ONE 

BUT I HOPE YOU WON’T FORGET 

YOUR BIG DREAMS

EVER SINCE THE FIRST DAY

THAT YOU WROTE TO ME

YOU COULD ONLY SPEAK OF EUROPE

SO HOW COULD IT BE?

HOW COULD I TURN A BLIND EYE?

WHERE’S THE GIRL THAT I THOUGHT I KNEW?

SHE WAS A FIGHTER

SHE COULDN’T BE TOLD WHAT TO DO

RUKMINI & STELLA

CAN I FIGHT FOR HER, 

IF SHE CHOOSES HIM?

OVER EUROPE, HER LIFE-LONG DREAM

COULD IT BE?

IS SHE HAPPY?

(Choreography of Kartini and Regent of Rembang. For a moment, she is starting to fall in love. Just as she begins to settle in her marriage, he starts dancing with another woman, and it looks like they are falling in love. She is disappointed.) 

KARTINI

Dear Stella,

I HAVE JUST TURNED A BLIND EYE 

AT WHAT COST AM I LOOKING AWAY?

I’M NOT FIGHTING FOR WOMEN,

IT IS JUST SOMETHING I SAY…

IT WAS ALL TOO GOOD

TO BE TRUE 

HE’S NOT THE MAN I THOUGHT I KNOW

MY OWN HUSBAND,

I HAVE LOST

HOW COULD I?

(Kartini runs down the aisle, crying.)