Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg

Lyrics by Alain Boublil & Stephen Clark

FRANCE

1560

ARTIGAT

A QUIET VILLAGE NEAR THE SPANISH BORDER IS NOT YET TOUCHED BY THE RELIGIOUS WARS THAT ARE TEARING FRANCE APART.

MEANWHILE FAR NORTH OF ARTIGAT A BATTLE IS RAGING BETWEEN THE CATHOLICS AND THE PROTESTANTS.

ACT I

On a battlefield, Martin Guerre, weary after so many years of fighting with the Catholic army, is consoled by his only friend, Arnaud du Thil. Moved by Arnaud’s concern, Martin confides in him the story of his childhood (Live With Somebody You Love).

Seven years earlier, in his home village of Artigat, the villagers are preparing for a very important day. Pierre Guerre, a wealthy landowner, has arranged that his reluctant nephew, Martin, should marry Bertrande, the daughter of his close friend Madame de Rols (Your Wedding Day). Everyone rejoices except Guillaume, Bertrande and Martin’s childhood friend who is secretly in love with Bertrande. A few months later the celebration turns sour; Bertrande is not pregnant and Artigat has been hit by a freak deluge which threatens to destroy the new crop. In a village rife with religious superstition Guillaume has no trouble convincing his fellow villagers that God has turned his back on Artigat because Bertrande’s womb is now as barren as the land. They believe the lack of conception has invited Satan into their midst.

Martin Guerre soon becomes the scapegoat for the whole community and he is ritually beaten by the Priest, Father Dominic, in an exorcism ceremony. Hurt in his body and heart he takes the unusual risk of leaving his wife and family to start another life (I’m Martin Guerre).

On the battlefield - 1560. Arnaud, astounded by this revelation, still urges Martin to go back home, after so many years, and find out what his own feelings towards Bertrande and his own people are. Full of gratitude Martin decides that indeed the day has come for him to make the journey back to his past (Without You As A Friend). But a sudden attack from the Protestant army cuts short his plans. As he is shielding Arnaud he himself is stabbed. Having saved Arnaud’s life he is left for dead on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, in Artigat, Bertrande is under huge pressure from the villagers to give up hope for Martin’s return and to marry Guillaume (How Many Tears?). The only people who offer any comfort to her are Catherine and Andre, two of a tiny community of Protestants worshipping secretly in Artigat.

Artigat is now suffering a terrible drought at the end of a never-ending summer. Just as the village blamed Martin for the deluge seven years earlier, they now attribute the drought to Bertrande’s unholy behaviour. They believe her refusal to marry and to procreate has angered God and that He is sending fires from the sky as punishment. At her lowest point of despair, Benoit, the village idiot, announces that a young man has arrived looking for Bertrande.

Benoit was in the fields with his friend, Louison, a scarecrow, when the stranger appeared. As if by a miracle, a thunder clap is heard for the first time in months and soon the name of Martin Guerre is on everyone’s lips. The newcomer, Arnaud du Thil, who has only travelled so far to bring Bertrande the news of Martin’s death, is hailed as the prodigal son before he is able to say who he really is (Welcome To The Land).

However, as soon as he is alone with Bertrande, Arnaud confesses the truth (Don’t). But as he is about to leave he realises that the villagers won’t let their saviour desert them. He has already done too much for them. They want him to stay.

Bertrande and Arnaud start living together in a strange distant relationship in separate rooms, getting closer as Arnaud soon becomes second in command to his ‘uncle’, Pierre. Meanwhile, the Protestant order has quietly grown within Artigat and Bertrande has joined in their clandestine worship.

When Arnaud and Bertrande eventually consummate their growing love, she tells him her secret and takes him to witness a Protestant service for himself (The Holy Fight). Guillaume, whose love for Bertrande is as potent as ever, spies on the service and realises he has the opportunity to dispose of ‘Martin’. He also knows that the child that Bertrande is carrying will be a Protestant child who will taint the blood of the Guerres.

After denouncing what he saw to Pierre Guerre, and thinking he would now be given Bertande as his wife, he incites the village to purge the leader of the Protestants in their midst. Just as he is threatening to kill Martin, Benoit, the village idiot, believing it will save Martin, reveals the secret he has held since his first encounter with the stranger. “He is not Martin Guerre.” In the face of such a huge revelation the village is split into two camps: the Catholics who despise Martin and the secret Protestants, who support him. On the orders of Pierre Guerre, Arnaud is arrested to be tried (The Day Has Come).

What no one knows is that the wounded Martin has survived his near fatal injury and is on his way back to Artigat (If You Still Love Me).

ACT II

Arnaud, still claiming to be Martin, is brought before the court to stand trial for his deception. A succession of witnesses appear before the court until the central witness, Benoit, confuses the judge even further (Who?). Bertrande, when called, speaks movingly of the man she loves, but avoids declaring his name (All That I Love). While the judge retires to consider the case, the villagers are divided.

The hate intensifies between Catholics and Protestants, people from the same village, once part of a close community. They now examine their consciences and look once again for the ultimate scapegoat that would return God’s favours to Artigat.

Just before the judge is about to dismiss the case through lack of evidence, a last witness asks to be heard. Martin Guerre is finally back home. He has travelled from the far North of France and on the way he has heard about an imposter having taken his name and his life in his own village.

Now the Judge pronounces the verdict. Arnaud du Thil’s fate is left to Martin’s judgement while Bertrande Guerre will obviously go back to her husband as she has never legally ceased to be his wife. The community is torn even further apart by this verdict. The Catholics, especially Guillaume, expected Arnaud to be hanged. The Protestants feel betrayed by Arnaud’s deception, however fond they were of him.

However, they all, except for Guillaume, look at Martin as a potential new saviour but he has no such intention. The anger from his early years is still very much alive. Guillaume seizes the moment as his last chance to save Bertrande from the evil that he believes has corrupted her soul, and to lead a crusade against the Protestants (Justice Will Be Done). Guillaume is quickly supported by his fervent followers and Andre becomes their first victim. He is rescued at the last minute by his wife, Catherine and their Protestant friends, all incensed and ready to fight. In the eruption of violence, the innocent Benoit, carrying his Louison, is the Catholic’s second victim. They call Louison a Protestant and breaks her to pieces.

Meanwhile, Bertrande is at the jail reassuring Arnaud that she will always love him. Martin suddenly enters the jail and the three of them confront their feelings, dreams and hopes about one another. Finally, in the name of their friendship, Martin decides to let them both go free.

Guillaume and his followers arrive at the jail to seize Arnaud and see that justice is done. They see Martin setting Arnaud and Bertrande free. Guillaume is incensed by the sight.

Artigat begins to burn. The Protestants and the Catholics fight a bloody battle. During the heat of the fight Father Dominic is accidentally stabbed by Andre. Father Dominic dies in Andre’s arms. Everyone freezes in terror and panic. Guillaume, driven to the edge of sanity, seizes Bertrande and puts a knife against her throat. Arnaud tries to speak to Guillaume while Martin moves towards him, both saying “I’m Martin Guerre”. Finally Arnaud takes the thrust of the knife that was intended for Martin. Arnaud falls. Before Benoit can reach Martin, Benoit arrives and beats Guillaume’s head with a large piece of wood left from Louison’s body. Whilst most of the villagers kneel around Father Dominic’s corpse, Arnaud is dying in Bertrande’s arms. Pierre and all the Villagers are in shock.

The dying Arnaud renews his friendship vow to Martin and gives his unborn child to the safekeeping of Martin. In the name of their friendship, Martin make’s Arnaud’s eulogy in front of the villagers and speaks of their communal responsibility for all that has happened. He speaks with an understanding of life and love he has learnt from his friend.

ARNAUD
It's a day to be shared with a woman you long for.
It's a day made by God for the peace of the heart.
You take her hand in your hand and it's just her and you,
strolling through the morning dew.

Live with somebody you love,
let your love bless each day
as the years slip away,
and you never can say goodbye.
Wish each day was the same,
as she whispers your name,
while she closes her eyes,
and you know that the night
will keep both of you warm. So...

Live with somebody you love.
Fill your soul with her light
ev'rytime you return
so the fire will burn,
when she gives you that smile of hers.

She makes each day of your life
the first morning of spring
and you run through the dawn
as your new life is born.

ARNAUD
Live

MARTIN
As long as someone loves you too.

ARNAUD
with somebody you love.

MARTIN
Who would want to be loved by you?

ARNAUD
Fill your soul with her light

MARTIN
Have you been drinking too much wine?

ARNAUD
So the fire will burn

MARTIN
Stay in the shade, my friend,
the sun's begun to shine.

ARNAUD
when she gives you that smile of hers.

MARTIN
My friend,

TOGETHER
She makes each day in your life
the first morning of spring
and you run through the dawn
as your new life is born
and you thank God above
that you may always life
with somebody you love.

VILLAGERS
It's your wedding day
the day you say, "I do".
When the Priest will ask
"Do you take her?", you do.

To be your lawful,
your wedded wife.
Two little words, now
and you're married for life.

MME DE ROLS
It's your wedding day
I give my girl away.
Hear her swear her vows,
Love, honour, and obey.

MME DE ROLS & PIERRE
May Jesus bless you
make you multiply
May you with God's help
give us a child,
with God's help
give us a child.

MEN
When at last the sacred day arrives,
when we tie the knot with our new wives

ALL VILLAGERS
All of us rich, or poor share your fear.
Young or old, all of us shed a tear
Then go on with our lives.

It's your wedding day,
your life has just begun.
Keep all sins away
until this day is done.

Gone are the demons
keep them at bay
Pray there's no spells cast
on this your wedding day.

MARTIN
They say they follow the Lord's will,
still they torture, still they'd kill
to make a young man reach his prime.
They say he's cursed, he's Satan's child,
I'm just a boy, betrayed, defiled,
all a young needs is time.

Damn them all,
while they run with the pack.
They will pay
for the scars on my back.

They want my blood,
they're ready to feed.
They don't even know
the man that they bleed.

As if a man can love on demand,
accept his life already planned.

There's no demon inside,
just a man full of pride,
for my hopes haven't died.
Look...
Look...

Look,
I'm Martin Guerre,
too young to love
but still above
the lie they live.
Yes!
I'm Martin Guerre,
a man who knows
how evil grows
and can't forgive.

Soon they will see
a man can choose to be free.

They all look for someone to blame
but I swear it out loud,
I will be proud
that Martin Guerre is my name.

First I trusted Pierre,
I was sold at the shrine.
Then I trusted the priest,
now my blood runs like wine.
And then there was Bertrande.

It seems all love must turn to dust,
there must be someone I can trust.

Look,
I'm Martin Guerre,
father I'm brave,
and from your grave
you'll keep me strong.
Yes,
I'm Martin Guerre,
for they will learn
when I return
that I belong.

Soon you will see
that I can choose to be free.

They all look for someone to blame
but I swear it out loud,
I will be proud
I'm Martin Guerre.

They all look for someone to blame
but I swear it out loud,
I will be proud
that Martin Guerre is my name!

ARNAUD
Martin, my friend, just look at me here,
just think how much I'd give to be you.
A chance to find if her love survived,
A chance to find out what you really feel.

MARTIN
You're right,
the day has come to return

My friend,
how you know me so well.
The years
that we spent here together
You can tell
where my journey will end.
Where would I be
without you as a friend?

ARNAUD
My friend
all the good times we share
the tears
that we ended in laughter

MARTIN
and I swear
Who am I pretend?
Where would I be
without you as a friend?

My friend,
our lives are in God's hands now,
perhaps
we're the luckiest of men.

ARNAUD
The life
you left belongs to you now.
I hope
one day we'll meet again...

You find

MARTIN
You find

TOGETHER
just one friend in a lifetime.
On your word
I can always depend
where would I be
without you as a friend?

Where would I be
without you as a friend?

BERTRANDE
Oh Lord,
I'm not the one to blame.
Oh Lord,
why must I live in shame?
Each night I light
a candle in his name.

How many tears
through the years must I cry?
How many prayers
to the Lord must I try?

Still the pain
tears at my broken heart.
Sometimes I feel
I was cursed from the start.

All I could hold,
all I could see,
so full of promise,
each day reaching out before me.
Once...
Now there's nothing,
lost as if you never saw me.

How many tears
through the years must I cry?
How many tears
until my heart runs dry,

through the fights
that a girl needs to fight
only to do
what she feels must be right.

Sometimes I wonder
if someone hears.
Why must I live through
so many tears?

MATILDE
Bless my soul!
He's grown up and he looks so strong and supple.

JEANNE
With Bertrande
today I think they'll make a perfect couple.

PAUL
Oh my God,
his father would have been so proud to see him.

EMILE
We should be so proud
for we did everything to free him.

LUBIN
Look, the sky is dark now.

ARNAUD
Wait a minute

FATHER DOMINIC
God has sent his favour

ARNAUD
Listen to me

GUILLAUME
He's not even spoken.

EMILE
But Martin is our Saviour.

PIERRE
Son, this is a miracle
we've prayed not in vain.

ALL VILLAGERS
Martin you are heaven sent
You've brought us the rain

Welcome to the land
that we're born to live for
welcome to the land
where we all a belong.
Welcome to the land
that has made us strong

welcome back,
welcome son,
welcome home
this is where you stand
back at last
from the past
welcome to your land

PIERRE
Soon the rivers will be full

MME DE ROLS
We'll see the land turn green.

SIMON
At last the trees will bear their fruit.

MATILDE
At last we'll get you clean.

MARIE
There'll be no sleep for me tonight.

ROSE
I know just what you mean.

MARIE & ROSE
Whenever there's a thunderstorm
the men are twice as keen.

GASPARD
Welcome to the land
that you're born to live for

ANDRE
Welcome home at last,
God is on our side.

CATHERINE
He must want you safe

MME DE ROLS
We all thought you'd died.

PIERRE
Welcome back,
welcome son

MEN
Welcome home
as the Lord God planned.
Let us pray
it will stay
as good Cath'lic

GUILLAUME
What is this,
are you all blind,
are you sure he's Martin?
Can't you see,
it's a trick?
How can this be Martin?

Only God brings the rain
all he brings us is

WOMEN
Welcome to the land
that you're born to live for
working on the land,
it is where we're blessed.
Loving for the land,
it is where we rest.

MEN
Land to last,
as it's passed,

ALL VILLAGERS
man to son,
when it's done
then we'll pray
it will stay
as good Cath'lic land.
Amen.

ARNAUD
Don't.
Don't let it start.
Know in your heart
each step we take
takes us too far.
Don't.
Don't fall for this.
From the first kiss
we'd start to lose,
lose who we are.

Don't
let the tides of your heart
rise,
or they'll tear you apart.

Bertrande,
never reach for my hand,
never let me come near you
or I fear you
will regret...

One day,
that I first kissed you
one day,
that I let myself hold you,
when I told you
all I feel.
Please don't.

BERTRANDE
I hear each word you say,
for I feel them each night.
Yet if ev'rything is wrong
why does something feel right?

I cannot watch you go.
Despite the lie
our love is truer than we know.

ARNAUD
Don't

BERTRANDE
This is not wrong.

ARNAUD
But for how long?
This is too good,
too good to last.

BERTRANDE
Don't

ARNAUD
No one's this strong.

BERTRANDE
Here you belong,
This is your land.
This is your past.

ARNAUD
For

BERTRANDE
For all our lives

ARNAUD
I will be Martin Guerre.

BERTRANDE
You brought the rain.

ARNAUD
Don't

TOGETHER
There is no one who'd dare.
Please don't

never reach for my hand,
never let me come near you
or I fear you
will regret...

One day,
that I first kissed you
one day,
that I let myself hold you,
when I told you
all I feel.

ARNAUD
Please don't.

BERTRANDE
Come my love,
just one kiss.
One kiss
and then we'll say
goodbye.

PROTESTANTS
Here tonight,
see the light,
pray together
round the candlelight.

God is love,
God is might.
Feel his power
as we pray before him,
let us pray
for guidance
for the holy fight.

ANDRE
Voices rising
as we tell God's story.

ANDRE & CATHERINE
In our faith united
by his heav'nly glory,

ALL PROTESTANTS
in the kingdom of the Father,
see the holy light that's always shining.

Here tonight,
see the light,
pray together
round the candlelight.

God is love,
God is might.
Feel his power
as we pray before him,
let us pray
for guidance
for the holy fight.

BERTRANDE
I was a child
waiting for my life to unfold,
as I whispered my prayers
always longing for a man I could hold.

Now he's here with me,
ev'ry day so full of promise at last.
All the love that he brought,
now there's no need for looking back to the past.

My life was changed
from that first kiss,
you can't touch love
as pure as this...

The day has come
like the moment in the dark
when you begin to see.
The day you know
there is somewhere you'll find shelter
from the storm.

BERTRANDE & ARNAUD
Each day that comes
is as precious as a love
we thought we'd never find.
Each day we live
is as fearless as the fire
that keeps us warm.

The day has come
in our heart of hearts
we know the day has come.

GUILLAUME
Don't you see this is another trick?
Can't you see this is another lie!

FATHER DOMINIC
Lord help us now,
only you know the truth.
What have we done?

BERTRANDE & ARNAUD
The love we make
is the love we'll make together
all our lives.

The day has come

GUILLAUME
Now the day has come,
I will have her at last!

BERTRANDE & ARNAUD
And there's nothing in the world
to change the love we know.

PIERRE
Whoever he is,
this man must be tried!

BERTRANDE & ARNAUD
The day has come.

MME DE ROLS
It's all there in his eyes,
all he's spoken are lies,

BERTRANDE
And I'll trust each word you say
until we die

GUILLAUME
He's bewitching Bertrande

BERTRANDE, ARNAUD, FATHER DOMINIC, PIERRE, MME DE ROLS, GUILLAUME
The day has come
in our heart of hearts
we know the day has come!

EVERYONE
The day has come
it is judgement day, O Lord
the day has come.

ARNAUD
If you still love me
The way you love me,
As long as hope survives,
We will fight for the day we are free
to love ev'ry dawn,
soon we'll see
sunlight.

MARTIN
If you still love me
the way you loved me,
before the night began,
who knows how our lives could have turned,
who knows what our love would have learned

Who knows...
Right from the first kiss,
right from the dawn,
we would have felt this...

The faith that found when trust is won,
we would have known the heat
when love's begun
in the sunlight.

If you still love me
the way you loved me,
make this our morning.

ARNAUD
If you still love me

MARTIN
A man should love before he dies

ARNAUD
the way you loved me

MARTIN
and will I see love in your eyes?

ARNAUD
as long as hope survives.

MARTIN
Ev'ry day the sun will rise.

ARNAUD
The sun should not rise on regrets

TOGETHER
and if love never fades or forgets
you'll be mine

though the night is black,
in the darkness I see,
the light will keep burning
if you still love me.

BENOIT
Who
knows who
you know
and who knows
if it's you
I know
I have
a name
but who knows if it's true?
I have one name
but all of you have two
so who knows?
I don't even know who chose
my name, was it you?

If I call him Martin then he's Martin to me
If he calls me Benoit then I'd have to agree
Who?

VILLAGERS
Who?

BENOIT
He's who?

VILLAGERS
Who?

BENOIT
Who me?

VILLAGERS
No!

BENOIT
I see,
Who is he?

VILLAGERS
You'll see what happens if you play this game.
You'll hang beside the man who stole a name.

JUDGE
Let him finish what he has to say he's doing the best that he can
now tell me Benoit, who is this man?

BENOIT
Ah...

Who
knows who
is who you
never know for sure
and now
you ask
for me
you never asked before
you call
me fool
I know that's not my name
see, it's strange names can always change
yet I'm still the same.

Who can say why Louison has such beautiful hair?
Can I know who he is if I'm not Martin Guerre?

Who?

VILLAGERS
Who?

BENOIT
He's who?

VILLAGERS
Who?

BENOIT
Who me?

VILLAGERS
No!

BENOIT
I see
Who is he?

VILLAGERS
You'll see what happens if you play this game.
You'll hang beside the man who stole a name.

JUDGE
I will have ev'ryone thrown out of this court if this turmoil
happens once more
Just tell us the truth, you're protected in here
Tell me now!
Benoit, who is this man?

BENOIT
Who?
He's who
you all
want him to be for you.

JUDGE
Bertrande, what is the truth?

BERTRANDE
It is easy to say,
just as night becomes day.
The truth's here before me for

All that I love,
all that I know,
In God's name
this is the man I gave my life to.

All that I love,
all that I trust
is here to stay beside me,
and the child that will bear his name.

I prayed for the day
he would grow to be strong,
the day he would know
he could love and belong.
He answered my prayers
who can say love is wrong?

All that I need,
all that I've planned
returned to his land
and made my life worth living.

All that I love

ARNAUD
I will always be here

BERTRANDE
All that I know

ARNAUD
Let a new life begin

BERTRANDE
All that I need

TOGETHER
That I knew from the start
would belong
in my heart.

All that is true,
All that is strong,
I'll spend my life loving you.

GUILLAUME
Think of all our fathers
fighting for this land.
Think of all your children,
their future in our hands.

Shall they all be poisoned?
Will you tell them why?
Have we lost our courage?
Will we let them die?

Stand up for your homeland,
proud beneath the sun,
In the heat of battle,
justice will be done.

All that you have loved here;
remember what you're worth.
All that you have worked for;
grown within this earth.

Fields where you have laboured,
soon they'll be defiled.
Plagues of sin will spread
through the blood of ev'ry child.

Come the day of glory,
fight until we've won.
If you love your country,
justice will be done.

We must claim what's ours
by the stroke of the blade.

LUBIN & GALOCHE
They will die for their treason,

GUILLAUME
they will die for their shame.

PAUL & EMILE
they will die by the sword,

GUILLAUME
they will die by the flame!

Bring them to the streets now,
soon they'll run with blood.
Then we'll see they have no souls,
red rivers bursting, see them flood.

Feel the touch of evil,
this is how it starts.
Satan's here within us
fighting for our hearts.

Let us join together,
stand up one by one.
In the name of Jesus
justice will be done!