Produced by Frank J. Morlock
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By
Translated and Adapted by
Frank J. Morlock
C 1986
CHARACTERS:
The Baron
The Widow, his neighbor
Argon, another neighbor
Girard
Lucas, farmer
Lisette, the coquette
Girard (holding two letters and reading them)From Paris. To Monsieur Le Baron of Hamlet. Let's take care of thisletter for him. He's not at home. (putting the Baron's letter in hispocket, he opens the other letter) And the other's for me, Girard. Idare to hope that the list of winning lottery numbers is in thisletter. Right, my cousin, the master printer in Paris, favors the roleI've taken. Love is my guide in this roguery. With this false lotterylist I am going to obtain Lucas' daughter as my wife.
Widow (entering)
I am waiting for Mr. Argon. Why hasn't he come?
Girard (reading the letter)From Paris. "My dear cousin, before having distributed the list oflottery winners, I've sent you a false list, as you asked me to do, soyou can have a big joke in your village. You can make your rivalbelieve that Farmer Lucas won the grand prize of one hundred thousandfrancs." With this, I hope to obtain my Lisette. Lucas, believing hisfortune made, will cede me his lease on the farm. He's the type to becaught in such a snare. At bottom, it's for his own good. By making mehis son-in-law, he can't lose. (to Widow) But, why are you standingaround dreaming?
Widow
Because Mr. Argon is supposed to come find me.
Girard
He'll be here soon. He's still in the chateau.
Widow
I'm getting impatient.
GirardWhat for? You're not excited by a tender love. It's an old lover, andyou should wait without impatience, coldly.
Widow
Shut up, Girard. Shut up. You know how I value him.
GirardTo believe an old man is an old grey beard is no big crime. I honorhim more, being his collector. The collection is small and for you,with all my heart, I wish I could pay him a one hundred thousand francsof income.
WidowThat would be too much for me, a former maid. That's what I was when Iwas in Paris. But here I have a higher rank which I obtained from mylate husband, a head magistrate. Thus, I've been ennobled in thisvillage, a fine nobility at bottom and which is worth a good bit, anobility that one can take to Paris.
GirardLet's renew our discussion and talk of Lisette again. Because, havingso much power over her, being her neighbor, and a sort of surrogate