La Bohème
1
Paris - Mother of the
Arts - -
2
Bohemia - the Latin
Quarter - where
young talent suffers
and starves...and waits
for fame.....
3
More certain than love
or fame - the visit
of the landlord on the
first of the month -
4
Marcel would have
starved to produce
a masterpiece...as yet
he had succeeded only
in starving.
5
Rodolphe ... who had
hopes of becoming
a great playwright.
6
"Ah! - Such a figure! -
ah! - divine - ravishing! -
aaah!"
7
"Silly old goat - what
do you know about
a figure?"
8
"I am the landlord -
and this is the first
of the month!"
9
"Your memory is as
bad as your manners -
the first of the month
was just a week ago!"
10
"My rent -- my rent!
Where is it?"
11
"The devil knows! - We
haven't even a franc
to pay the model - -
and she has a frightful
temper!"
12
"Pay up tonight - -
or out you go!"
13
"Zut! - I'm an honest
girl - I don't work for
love! - Zut!"
14
"Well - to pay the rent,
I suppose I must write
that silly article for the
editor of the Cat and
Dog Fanciers' Journal!"
15
Mimi, the embroiderer...
Orphaned, friendless...
facing life with a glorious
courage.....
16
"Pretty little hands! -
What a pity to spoil
them...when you have
such a pretty face!"
17
"M'sieu, please! - a few
more days and I can
pay you."
18
"If she does not pay
up tonight - - put
her out!"
19
"You ought to call
that note back and
tame it!"
20
"What beautiful eyes
you have! And you
have suffered, too!"
21
"How much do you want
to borrow, Schaunard?"
22
"Borrow is a vulgar word.
I offer you the honor
to render temporary
pecuniary assistance to
genius."
23
"Gladly - but you'll have
to wait until my first
play is accepted!"
24
"Farewell, little piccolo -
the pawnshop is calling!"
25
"Oh, Art she is a jolly tart,
She's the wench who broke my heart!
La, la, la! la la!"
26
"Oh, Art she is a fickle jade,
If you work for her, you'll ne'er be paid!
La, la, la! la la!"
27
"Oh, Art she is a lovely rake,
We gladly starve for the old girl's sake!
La, la, la! la la!"
28
"If I could lose the habit
of eating, I'd never have
to write stuff like you!"
29
Where saint and sinner,
genius and guttersnipe,
meet as equals - - the
Mont de Piété, municipal
pawnshop of Paris.
30
"I asked you for a ten
inch article on a cat -
and you give me eight
inches on a rabbit!"
31
"Shades of genius - -
must I sell my brains
by the yard?"
32
"Give me something
sentimental about a
cat - or get out!"
33
Vicomte Paul, a true
aristocrat, who did
nothing, but did it very
gracefully.
34
"I beg Mademoiselle to
forgive my horses -
they are only beasts -
they do not appreciate
exquisite beauty - -"
35
"Thank you, M'sieu, but
I live here."
36
"Ten francs for the
greatest painting ever
rejected by the Salon!
It's an outrage, thank
God!"
37
"I sold my book for a
franc - and then I saw
one I'd been seeking for
ten years. Forgive me -
I bought it!"
38
"What a man can't do,
a monkey can! A tin
cup - - and behold,
the rent!"
39
"To the landlord - may
his wife have thirteen
children - and not one
of them French!"
40
"Sorry, M'amselle Mimi,
but M. Bernard insists
on the full amount -
or the room."
41
"Here's the rent for the
four of us - and one
cent tip to celebrate!"
42
"Now that our rent is
paid, we can all starve
to death comfortably."
43
"I wonder what monkey
stew tastes like?"
44
"Come, Marcel....dinner
is served....and I love
you!"
45
"My little pigeon! My
sweet Musette! She
loves me! And she
has food!"
46
"God has sent me
Musette - but he has
neglected you, my
friends. Let's see what
we can do - -"
47
"Cherie, you are so
beautiful! So generous!
May I invite a friend
to dinner?"
48
"Queen of beauty and
kindness! - Such food! -
and so much of it! -
May I ask a friend of
mine to dinner?"
49
"I almost forgot! You are
kind and beautiful -
and there's a friend
of mine out there in
the draft!"
50
"Your little hands
are so cold!"
51
"Since you would not
come to the feast,
the feast has come
to you!"
52
"The poor little one!
She was so cold!
And she looked so
hungry!"
53
"Let's send her in a big
plate of food - -"
54
"Wine, Rodolphe - wine
for the little one - that
will warm her!"
55
"To Mimi we give our
friendship - our love -
a share in everything
we have!"
56
"Beautiful ..... very
beautiful!"
57
"Ravishing!"
58
"Mimi - Schaunard has
just sold his new
song - - We're all
celebrating in his
studio! Come on!"
59
"One dozen handkerchiefs...
Two embroidered shawls...
Six lace collars."
60
"I am a most generous
patron - but - er - I
request - er - a little
particular attention -"
61
"Forgive me....I have
no right to be
jealous....but I can't
help it...."
62
"He is rich....he could
give you so much....
why should you not
prefer him....?"
63
"Foolish one....foolish,
foolish one...."
64
Easter .... and to
the world and its
sorrow....comes another
Spring....
65
....The country calls....
and like light-hearted,
emotional children....
the artists answer....
66
"Methinks he does not
trust us!"
67
Her first picnic! Mimi's
heart fluttered with
excitement .... and
suspense at what she
read in Rodolphe's eyes.
68
"Mimi....Mimi....why
did you run away?"
69
"...because...because...
I love you..."
70
He was in love. Now
his dreams had a
focus, his words an
object, his play a motive.
71
She was in love. Now
she had someone
to care for, to cherish,
to serve as only a
woman can.
72
"Rodolphe? Is he still
alive? He is four
weeks too late for
last week's edition!"
73
"But, Monsieur under-
stands - - he is so
busy now on his new
play - -"
74
"Monsieur understands
that Rodolphe is a fool -
wasting my time on
his plays - - he is
through - discharged!"
75
Rodolphe must not
know he had been
discharged...all the way
home Mimi planned her
generous deception....
76
"There's your money,
dear. The editor was
so pleased - he said
you are a genius!"
77
"Did you count the
money? He'd cheat
you, the old skinflint!"
78
"These few francs mean
much to us now....my
success....our happiness."
79
"My play...I've finished
the first act! Never was
there an inspiration like
you, Mimi!"
80
"My Rodolphe! You're
wonderful!"
81
For Mimi, there were
long night hours of
toil...when only love
gave her strength to
keep up the deception.
82
"You can't fool us with
blankets! You worked
all night again!"
83
"Your face is so thin -
look what you are
doing to yourself!"
84
"You will lose your
looks...and then he
will not care for you
any more!"
85
"You remember Nanette...
She worked night after
night - and you know
what happened!....."
86
"I don't mean to frighten
you....but...."
87
"Soon everyone will be
talking about Rodolphe -
as they now talk about
this man Victor Hugo!"
88
"I love her - Mon Dieu,
I love her!"
89
"The author is a friend
of yours?"
90
"Perhaps I can interest
a theatrical manager in
the play - you know
a word from me, would
mean a great deal -"
91
"You are so kind,
Monsieur. The play is
not quite finished yet -
but I can show you
how it goes - -"
92
"- a work of genius! -
You will convince the
manager! - You must
come to the theatre
with me - - ?"
93
"Don't forget - - the
manager - and come
alone - -"
94
"You wanted to be alone
with that fop!"
95
"That's why you locked
me in! - -"
96
"You know I love you
madly! How can I
write...how can I live...
if you are faithless?"
97
"He wanted to help?
Damn him! I'd starve
first!"
98
"...where are my keys?"
99
Rodolphe had sought
to forget his bitter-
ness by fleeing - -
but flight is a poor
substitute for love.
100
"I haven't been home
for four days - what's
the use - I can't write -
nothing interests me
any more -""
101
To the desperate Mimi, the
one hope of Rodolphe's
encouragement lay in
Vicomte Paul's promise...
and Musette, wise in the
ways of nobility, arranged
everything.
102
"Musette dressed me
up....."
103
"I have the play. Please,
can we see the manager
now?"
104
"Could you advance me
five francs against my
next article?"
105
"You must be drunk!
You were discharged
five weeks ago!"
106
"I cannot understand
it! Mimi delivered the
articles....and brought
back the money."
107
"These women - I never
knew where Musette
got her money either -"
108
"You have his address?
You will see him? And
tell him to keep on?"
109
"If you come to me,
you will never have to
concern yourself about
trifles like this play."
110
"You have been out
with Vicomte Paul! -
Answer me! I want
the truth!"
111
"I - I was delivering
orders. And I took
your last article to
the editor...he was
so pleased with it."
112
"Don't lie to me any
more...The editor told
me tonight I had
been discharged...five
weeks ago!"
113
"Don't be angry! I did
it for you - for your
play...I want you to be
a success....."
114
"But the money you
brought me....where
did you get it? From
Vicomte Paul? Answer
me!"
115
"No, no, Rodolphe. I
have been working
nights - I don't want
you to give up your
play - I am happy
doing it!"
116
"So it was all lies -
every word - !"
117
"Where did you get
these clothes? You
are like Musette....a
light woman....!"
118
"From now on I'll take
care of you - I'll give up
my play...earn money!
You shall get well!"
119
"But you mustn't...I am
all right...don't worry
about me...."
120
A frantic search for a
doctor...a sudden
realization of her
sacrifice....
121
For months Rodolphe
searched...but found
no trace of Mimi. And
out of his bitter despair
came a great play.....
122
...Hidden in the slums of
Paris, Mimi worked...
and waited...
123
"There is one who should
be here tonight. Let
us drink to her."
124
"I can do nothing. She
won't live through the
night."
125
"Mimi - - come back
to me!"
126
"....I am tired....so
tired...."
127
"Your room has been
kept, Mimi....just as
you left it."
128
"Mimi, my love...you've
come back - - you've
come back - -"
129
"It is growing so dark,
Rodolphe....I can't
see you....and I want
to see you...."
130
"I'm here, Mimi...you
mustn't cry...you're
going to be strong...
your pretty cheeks will
be rosy again...."
131
"Pretty...will I ever
be pretty again?"
132
"Wait and see! You'll
be the loveliest lady
in all Paris....!"
133
"....your play....
Rodolphe....?"
134
"...a success...and all
because of you!"
135
"This is just like...old
times. My Rodolphe...
my dear, dear friends...
all smiling...all happy..."
136
"- - and there is yet
another friend - one
who will sing when he
sees you - -"
137
"Why do you weep,
Musette? Rodolphe...
success...I'm so happy...
So...happy."
138
"No...no...she can't
leave me now! I won't
give her up...ever...
ever!"
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