In the lot, Mark, Angel and Collins rescue a homeless woman from police harassment. The woman, however, is hardly grateful. Mark, Angel and Collins fantasise about leaving New York behind to live the good life, far away. Mark goes to check on Roger, leaving Angel and Collins alone to declare their new-found love. Joanne dials Maureen from a payphone, simultaneously juggling two other calls on her mobile phone. In St. Mark's Place, the homeless, sidewalk vendors, junkies, drug dealers, and cops comprise a human mosaic. Angel buys Collins an overcoat, Mark meets up with Roger, and Mimi hunts for a fix. Roger spots her, apologises for his behaviour in the loft, and invites her to dinner. She accepts. Maureen arrives and presents her performance piece, a satirical protest that calls for a communal "leap of faith" against Benny's commercial development. Afterward, everyone meets at the Life Café, where they hear a gloating Benny declare that Bohemia is dead. Mark and his fellow bohemians joyously reject Benny's pronouncement. Benny exits in anger, stopping only long enough to hound Mimi, who is, it would seem, a former lover. As her beeper sounds, Mimi pauses to take her AZT. Roger discovers that his secret and his illness are Mimi's also. Exhilarated and frightened, they resolve to assume the risk of romantic involvement as well. Joanne has several times been ordered back to the lot by Maureen. Fed up, she finally rebels, announcing that their relationship is over. She also informs everyone that a riot has broken out on Avenue A. Benny has padlocked Mark and Roger's building and called the police. The bohemians continue to celebrate. The riot continues to rage. Roger and Mimi share a small, lovely kiss. ACT II In the wake of the riot, the community pauses to ask, "How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?" The unqualified answer- "measure in love". New Year's Eve. Mark films a "breaking back into the building party". Mimi and Roger are there and in love. Maureen humbles herself to earn back Joanne's favour. The celebration is complete when Collins and Angel arrive with a blowtorch. Once inside, Mark discovers a phone machine message left for him with a job offer from a tabloid television show hostess named Alexi Darling. Benny gate-crashes the party to apologise ostentatiously, offering the boys new keys to their old loft. Suspecting Benny's motives, Roger balks. Furious, Benny implies that Mimi helped change his mind by sleeping with him. Mimi angrily denies this, but the damage is done; Roger is bitterly jealous. Mimi is cornered outside by her dealer with a little something to assure her "happy new year." Valentine's Day. Roger is living with Mimi, but remains terribly jealous, often threatening to leave. Angel and Collins survive together wherever they can. Mark still lives behind his camera. At their apartment, a warring Joanne and Maureen issue each other an ultimatum. Neither backs down-they split up once again. Spring. Everyone feels the coming changes. The community asks: "How do you measure a last year on earth?". Roger walks out on Mimi, accusing her of being unfaithful with Benny. Alone, Mimi mourns the impending loss of love, while Collins nurses the increasingly ill Angel. The end of Spring brings reconciliation for Roger and Mimi, as well as Maureen and Joanne, but all is tentative at best. Summer's end, and Alexi is still calling, enticing Mark with big money. Much love-making is witnessed, framed by attendant frustrations in the age of safe sex. By the autumn, Roger, Mimi, Joanne and Maureen are all on the outs again. Collins and Angel's separation, however, is profound and final. Angel has died. At Angel's memorial each friend offers a loving tribute. Clutching the overcoat Angel gave him at Christmas, Collins reaffirms his undying love. Outside the church, Mark phones Alexi and accepts her job offer, despondent at how drastically life has changed since that Christmas night just one year before. As the mourners exit the church, Mimi learns that Roger is leaving town for good. A nasty scene ensues, with arguments erupting between all the estranged lovers. Collins, in sorrow, begs them all to stop. Maureen and Joanne are moved to try once again to reconcile. Mimi and Benny leave together. Mark tries to convince Roger to stay in New York and confront his pain, but Roger lashes out, accusing Mark of also remaining detached, hiding behind his camera. Mark wonders whether Roger is simply afraid to
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